Patent GB-1366361-A (GB)
Title: Filling machine for containers
IPC: B67C7/00
Filed: 1971-10-28
Abstract: 1366361 Rotary table filling machines A-T-O Inc 28 Oct 1971 [30 Oct 1970] 50252/71 Heading B8T A rotary table filling machine is provided with liquid and vacuum conduits so that gravity and vacuum or vacuum only operated nozzles may be used by changing only the nozzle attached to the carriers (280), Fig. 8 (not shown). Liquid from a tank 84, Fig. 3, which is elevated with respect to the liquid chamber 42, Fig. 4, of the manifold 28, flows through conduit 90, Fig. 3, and line 76 and into the liquid chamber 42 via supply conduit 62. Air is drawn from the bottle through the flexible conduit 52, into the vacuum chamber 44, Fig. 4, and into conduit 92 and tank 98 from which it is drawn into the vacuum pump 102 through conduit 104. The vacuum created in the bottle drains the liquid from the liquid chamber 42 into the bottle through a flexible conduit 46. The separator plate 40, Fig. 4, has a drain hole (110), Fig. 5 (not shown), so that any liquid drawn with the air from the bottle through conduit 52 flows down through conduit 62 and along line 128, Fig. 1, and into tank 98 placed at a level below the manifold. A pump 132 is provided to transfer liquid from tank 98 to tank 84 if the liquid in tank 98 exceeds a predetermined level. The gravity and vacuum nozzle, Fig. 9 (not shown), has a liquid filling stem (332) joined to the supply conduit 46 which is surrounded by a tube (364), the space between the stem and tube defining a vacuum passage which is in communication with vacuum conduit 52 and which is sealed when the tube (364) rests against an 0- ring (342), Fig. 10 (not shown), provided at the bottom of the filling stem (332). On lowering the nozzle into a container, a member (368) contacts the container top preventing further downward motion of the tube (364) and allowing the filling stem (332) to move further into the container, thus opening liquid openings (338). The flow of liquid is stopped when the nozzle is raised and the tube (364) closes openings (338) on contacting the 0-ring (342). A plug (378), Fig. 11B (not shown), which includes a vacuum tube (374) extending up to a portion (376) where it enters the vacuum passage, may be used to draw off any excess liquid in the neck after filling, Figs. 11A, 11B (not shown).  The nozzle operated by vacuum only, Fig. 14 (not shown), has a liquid passage surrounding a vacuum tube which terminates at a member (442). Liquid is delivered when sealing member (446) contacts the bottle top and a vacuum is formed in the bottle which draws the liquid through the openings (444). The nozzle is attached to the liquid and vacuum supplies by means of a vacuum body (408), Fig. 15 (not shown), in which liquid enters the nozzle through axial passageways (422) and the vacuum enters the vacuum tube (430) through a fitting (428) and passageway (424). The raising and lowering of the nozzles is operated by a cam plate 292, Fig. 1, held on plate 296, the elevation of the cam being adjusted by a hand wheel 302 connected to a chain and sprocket arrangement. The cam rollers (290), Fig. 8 (not shown), of the nozzle carriers (280) ride on the cam 292 and move the nozzles between a raised and lowered position. Where a plug (378), Fig. 11B (not shown), is provided, an auxiliary cam (382), Fig. 12 (not shown), raises the nozzle to an intermediate position between the fully raised and lowered positions. The cam rollers (290) rest against the ring 294, Fig. 1, when the nozzle is in its lowest position, the elevation of ring 294 and thus the lowest position of the nozzle being adjustable by means of a hand wheel 316 and a chain and sprocket arrangement. The elevation of the auxiliary cam is adjusted by a handle 396, Fig. 13. The rotatable table 6, Fig. 1, is driven by a motor 170 coupled to a spur gear through a clutch 174, the spur gear 166 driving the bull gear 152 of table 6. The gear (168), Fig. 6 (not shown), driven by gear 152, is connected to a belt (230) through a clutch mechanism (214, 218) which drives the timing screw (16), Fig. 2 (not shown), by means of shaft (234), Fig. 7 (not shown), and 90 degree gears (256, 258). The gear (168), Fig. 6 (not shown), also drives the infeed wheel (18), Fig. 2 (not shown). The clutch (180), of the feed wheel (18) and clutch of the spacer (16) are provided to break the power train should a container jam the spacer or infeed wheel. Safety devices.-If, after filling and before discharging from the filler, the container has not separated from the nozzle, the arm (516), Fig. 18 (not shown), provided close to the container discharge position and which normally should pass between the nozzle and container would be rotated about post (518) and a switch (526) activated which would stop the machine operating. The nozzle may include a breakable neck portion (536), Fig. 19 (not shown), between the nozzle (10) and its support (288) where damage to the nozzle may arise if a lateral load is applied to the nozzle, the portion being fractured by such a load. A centring bell, Fig. 17 (not shown), may be provided to align the containers with the nozzles and hold the containers during nozzle withdrawal after filling to prevent the container being retained by the nozzle. The vertical movement of the bell may be operated by cam means.