Patent Publication Number: US-6662828-B1

Title: Telescoping filling head

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/292,753 filed May 22, 2001. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to filling heads for bottling machines. Specifically, this invention relates to a telescoping filling head which extends from its rest position in two stages, diminishing the need to elevate the bottle onto the nozzle. This filling head may be used to retrofit an existing machine to improve performance when adequate elevation of the existing filling head cannot be obtained. In addition this filling head may be incorporated into new machines to speed up the rate at which liquid can be dispensed into the bottles. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Liquid filling heads for rotary filling devices are known in the prior art. When a rotary filling device is used in a traditional manufacturing environment, each bottle is elevated to a bottle guide on the filling head. The bottle is held between a bottle guide and a support plate while the bottle is filled using a nozzle which extends through, or is flush with, the bottle guide. This traditional setup is difficult to use to fill tall bottles with liquids, as the liquids tend to foam. To minimize foaming, a longer nozzle can be used, which can be placed closer to the bottom of the bottle and thus submerged in the liquid. If a longer nozzle is used, however, the bottle must be moved under the nozzle and lifted a distance slightly greater than the desired nozzle depth in the bottle. Another option is to introduce the liquid more slowly through a shorter nozzle, which does not extend as deeply into the bottle. 
     In an existing filling device the amount a bottle can be elevated is limited by the structure of the machine. Thus it may be impossible, particularly when filling tall bottles, to use any currently available longer nozzle to avoid the problem of foaming during filling. This is because there is often insufficient room to lift the bottle enough to accommodate a nozzle that is long enough to dispense the liquid at an appropriate depth. Therefore manufacturers have been forced to use shorter nozzles, which require elevating the bottle less. The use of a shorter nozzle requires that the liquid be dispensed into the bottle at a much slower rate. In addition, when a shorter nozzle must be used with a bottle with a long neck, the longest nozzle that may be accommodated in the existing structure of the filling device may not reach below the neck of the bottle. Because of this, the liquid must be introduced at an even slower rate. These practices increase production costs for the product. 
     Thus there is a need for a filling head for a rotary filling device which requires only minimal elevation of the bottle and which has a nozzle that can extend deep into the bottle opening during the filling process. 
     In addition, even where the existing structure of the rotary filling device does not limit the amount the bottle can be elevated, the process of elevating the bottle, and precisely guiding a protruding nozzle into the bottle, slows the filling process. Thus there is a need for a filling head for a rotary filling device which requires minimal or no elevation, which enables faster filling of the bottle, and which may be utilized on either an existing or a newly manufactured machine. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head for a rotary filling device which requires minimal elevation of the bottle. 
     It is an object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head for a rotary filling device which permits the insertion of the filling head nozzle into the bottle to a depth greater than the bottle elevation. 
     It is a further object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head for a rotary filling device that permits the introduction of foaming liquids into a bottle more quickly than the currently available filling heads. 
     It is a further object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head for a filling device which can precisely direct the product flow toward the shoulders of the bottle being filled. 
     It is a further object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head for a rotary filling device in which the nozzle depth can be precisely adjusted for use with bottles which have different neck and shoulder configurations. 
     It is an object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head for a rotary filling device that can be retrofitted onto an existing machine. 
     It is an object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head for a filling device that can be used with newly manufactured machines. 
     It is a further object of an exemplary form of the present invention to provide a filling head that performs the functions described above and that can be fitted to a non-rotary filling device. 
     Further objects of exemplary forms of the present invention will be made apparent in the following Best Modes For Carrying Out Invention and the appended claims. 
     The foregoing objects are accomplished in an exemplary embodiment by a filling head which comprises a two-stage telescoping nozzle attached to a nozzle block which may be driven by a pneumatic cylinder. The filling head may be used to dispense liquids into bottles as part of the manufacturing process. The use of the descriptive references herein to bottle is not intended to exclude using a telescoping filling head to fill containers other than bottles. In an exemplary embodiment of this invention, the filling head may be attached to a rotary filling device. In other embodiments, it may be attached to an inline filling device. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the bottle to be filled moves toward the filling device. Once it is aligned with the filling head, it may be elevated so that the lip of the bottle is brought flush with a bottle guide that may be attached to the filling head. The lift plate, which elevates the bottle, may hold the bottle tight against the bottle guide during the filling process. In other embodiments, the lip of the bottle may or may not contact the bottle guide, and the bottle may be held stable by other means, with or without elevation. 
     In an exemplary embodiment once the bottle is seated and secured, a two-part inner nozzle unit may begin to telescope into the opening of the bottle, initially, both parts of the inner nozzle unit move together into the opening in the bottle. The two-part inner nozzle unit may be located inside an outer nozzle. The motion of the outer part of the inner nozzle unit may be stopped when outer flanges on one end butt against the inner end of the outer nozzle. The inner part of the inner nozzle unit continues to move and to slide through the outer part of the inner nozzle unit. When it is fully telescoped, apertures on the inner part of the inner nozzle unit may be revealed. The telescoping movement of the nozzle may be caused by a driving arm that may be attached to a pneumatic cylinder. Although in this exemplary embodiment, the device that powers the driving arm may be a pneumatic cylinder, it should be understood that in other embodiments it may be powered by hydraulic devices, electromechanical devices, or any other device that may be operable to extend and retrieve a telescoping nozzle. 
     The outer nozzle may be attached to a nozzle block. In this exemplary embodiment, the nozzle block contains an inlet for the introduction of liquids to be dispensed. That inlet may be in fluid connection with a passage through the nozzle block which has an outlet to the outer nozzle. Liquid may flow from the inlet through the nozzle block, into the outer nozzle, into the outer part of the inner nozzle unit, and through the apertures in the inner part of the inner nozzle unit into the bottle. In this exemplary embodiment, there may be one inlet to the nozzle block. In other embodiments there may be more than one inlet to the nozzle block so that more than one kind of liquid may be dispensed, or the same kind of liquid may be dispensed from more than one source. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, once the bottle is filled, the inner nozzle unit may be pneumatically retracted. It retracts in the reverse order in which it telescoped. Once the telescoping nozzle has been retracted, the bottle can be removed from the filling station. In an exemplary embodiment the bottle may be lowered, which releases it. In other embodiments the release process may include lifting the filling head or releasing the bottle from a holding mechanism. 
     An adjustable bumper stud may be attached to the surface of the nozzle block, on the side opposite the outer nozzle. The driving arm butts against the bumper stud at the bottom of the telescoping stroke, stopping the telescoping motion of the inner nozzle unit. In an exemplary embodiment in which the lip of the bottle may be held against a bottle guide, the depth to which the nozzle may be inserted in the bottle is approximately equal to the distance between the top of the bumper stud and the base of the driving arm. In other embodiments, in which the bottle guide hovers above the lip of the bottle, the depth of insertion will be slightly less. 
     Adjustments may be made to the depth of the nozzle insertion by adjusting the height of the bumper stud. In an exemplary embodiment, in which the bottle guide holds the bottle, minor adjustments to the depth of the nozzle insertion may also be made by adjusting the bottle guide position with respect to the outer nozzle. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the orientation of the apertures in the perforated portion of the inner nozzle unit may be fixed by means of a ring attached to the top of a nozzle holder. The ring on the nozzle holder contains detents on its upper surface, near the edge, into which a spring plunger may be snapped to fix the position. In other embodiments, there may be other mechanisms for selecting and adjusting the orientation of the apertures in the perforated portion of the inner nozzle. In addition the filling head may be fitted with two springs, which bias the filling head to return it to the closed position in the event the driving device fails. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of the filling apparatus at rest for one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the filling apparatus with the bottle in the initial position. 
     FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the filling apparatus with the bottle elevated. 
     FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the filling apparatus with the bottle elevated and the nozzle in telescoped position. 
     FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view of the filling apparatus with the bottle elevated, the nozzle elevated and open for filling. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the driving arm. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the nozzle holder. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded partial cutaway view of the first and second nozzle bushings. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the inner nozzle. 
     FIG. 10 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the telescoping nozzle. 
     FIG. 11 is a partial cutaway view of the outer nozzle. 
     FIG. 12 is a partial cutaway view of the bottle guide. 
     FIG. 13 is a view of the second end of the bottle guide. 
     FIG. 14 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the spring guide. 
     FIG. 15 is a representational view of a flow control valve 
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown therein an exemplary embodiment of a telescoping filling head, generally indicated  10 . The telescoping filling head  10  includes a nozzle portion  14 , a driving portion  16 , a driving arm  28 , and an air cylinder  20 . The air cylinder  20 , driving arm  28 , and driving portion  16  are adapted to extend and retract the nozzle portion  14 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the nozzle portion  14  may be driven by an air cylinder  20 . It should be understood that in other embodiments it may be driven by other devices adapted to telescope and retract the nozzle portion  14  of the telescoping filling head  10 , including hydraulic devices, motors, or other fluid, mechanical, or electrical driving devices. In addition, although in this exemplary embodiment the air cylinder  20  is shown in parallel with the nozzle and driving portions  14 ,  16  of telescoping filling head  10 , in other embodiments it may be placed in series with the nozzle portion  14  and driving portion  16 , driving the nozzle portion  14  directly. 
     The driving portion  16  includes first and second driving rods  22  and  24  which are slidably inserted in the upper surface of the air cylinder  20 . Both the first and second driving rods  22  and  24  are fixedly attached to the base of a driving plate  26 , which, in this exemplary embodiment, may be a rectangular block. A driving arm  28  may be fixedly attached to the driving plate  26 . 
     The driving arm  28  is shown in more detail in FIG.  6 . When viewed from the perspective shown in FIG. 6, the driving arm  28  may include a thick block in the shape of a “T” with portions of the underside removed. In this exemplary embodiment, the driving arm  28  comprises first and second portions  30  and  32 . The first portion  30  of the driving arm  28 , the bar of the “T,” may be attached to the driving plate  26 . The second portion  32  of the driving arm  28 , the stem of the “T,” extends into the driving portion  16  of the telescoping filling head  10  and may be perpendicular to the driving rods  22  and  24 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment, a rectangular block shaped portion may be removed from the underside, as viewed from the perspective in FIG. 6, of the first portion  30  of the driving arm  28 . The cutaway portion  31  has dimensions which may match those of the driving plate  26  so that the driving plate  26  may fit precisely in the cutaway portion  31  of the first portion  30  of the driving arm  28 . In this exemplary embodiment, the driving arm  28  may be fixedly attached to the driving plate  26  by fasteners such as screws  500 ,  502 ,  504 , and  506 . In this exemplary embodiment the width of the first portion  30  of the driving arm  28 , shown A-A′ in FIG. 6, may be the same as the width of the corresponding dimension of the driving plate  26 . In other embodiments, the width of the driving plate  26  and first portion  30  of the driving arm  28  may not be identical. In this exemplary embodiment, driving plate  26  may be attached to the driving arm  28  by the use of four screws. In other embodiments, the attachment may be accomplished by different fasteners, or by using fewer or more screws. 
     In like manner, a part of the second portion  32  of the driving arm  28  also contains a cutaway portion  33  from below, from the FIG. 6 perspective, leaving the second portion  32  of the driving arm  28  with a thickened area  180  adjacent to the first portion  30  of the driving arm  28 . This gives the driving arm  28  strength to perform the driving function. In an exemplary embodiment a T-slot  120  has been cut in the underside, from the FIG. 6 perspective, of the extreme end of the second portion  32  of the driving arm  28 . The T-slot  120  may be sized so that the cap of an alignment compensator  40  may be slid loosely into the T-slot  120 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a mounting plate  70  may be attached to the flat surface of an air cylinder  20  on the same side as the second portion  32  of the driving arm  28 . The mounting plate  70  may be a thin rectangular block. A thick, roughly rectangular, nozzle block  72  may be fixedly attached to the mounting plate  70  before attaching the mounting plate  70  to an air cylinder  20 . In this exemplary embodiment, screws  512 ,  514  are inserted through the mounting plate  70  into one end of the nozzle block  72 . A mounting plate  70  may then be attached to an air cylinder  20  by screws  508 ,  510  that are inserted through holes in the mounting plate  70  into the body of the air cylinder  20 . Although in this exemplary embodiment the mounting plate  70  may be attached to the air cylinder  20  by two screws and to the nozzle block  72  by two screws, in other embodiments it may be attached by different connecting devices, fasteners, or by different numbers of screws. 
     An air cylinder  20  may be adapted to include a flow control valve  200 , illustrated in FIG. 15 in operative connection with valve of the air cylinder  20  which exhausts the air cylinder  20  during the retraction of the telescoping filling head  10 , for the purpose of slowing the first stage of the retraction. 
     The nozzle block  72  may be a rectangular block with a cylindrical opening, inlet  82 , on the end of the nozzle block  72  that may be opposite the mounting plate  70 . Although in this exemplary embodiment the inlet  82  may be on the end of the nozzle block  72  opposite the mounting plate  70 , it should be understood that in other embodiments the inlet  82  may appear on other surfaces of the nozzle block  72 . In addition, in other embodiments there may be more than one inlet  82  to the nozzle block  72 . In still other embodiments, an inlet  82  may appear elsewhere on the telescoping filling head, so long as the inlet  82  is in fluid connection with the inner nozzle  100 . 
     The nozzle block  72  also has a roughly cylindrical passage  84  through the block that may be perpendicular to and in fluid connection with an inlet  82 . In an exemplary embodiment, the passage  84  may be generally in the shape of a stepped cylinder. The first portion  86  of the passage  84 , near the first surface  74  of the nozzle block  72 , has a diameter greater than that of the second portion  88  of the passage  84 . The transition between the first portion  86  and the second portion  88  may be stepped. 
     Moving to the telescoping filling head portion, an extension  77  protrudes from and may be perpendicular to the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 . The exterior of the extension  77  has a stepped cylindrical shape with a first portion, adjacent to the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 , with a smaller diameter. The extension  77  also has a second portion, farther away from the nozzle block  72 , with a larger diameter. The transition between the two portions may be predominately stepped, but has a slight taper to accommodate clamping by a sanitary seal  98 . The interior shape of the extension  77  may be that of a truncated cone, with the smallest base of the truncated cone closest to the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 . The taper on the cone matches the taper on the end of the second portion of the nozzle holder  54 . 
     The largest base of the truncated cone has a diameter that is generally smaller than the exterior diameter of the second portion of the extension  77 , creating a surface on the extension that is generally parallel to the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 . This surface may contain an annular groove  158 . The annular groove  158  may be adapted to accept a tri-clamp gasket  96 . 
     The nozzle portion of the filling head  14  extends from the extension  77  from the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72  toward the bottle  18  to be filled. The driving portion of the filling head  16  extends in the opposite direction from the first surface  74  of the nozzle block  72 . 
     Beginning with the driving portion of the filling head  16 , first and second cap support rods  36  and  38  are generally perpendicular to the first surface  74  of the nozzle block  72  and may be fixedly attached to the nozzle block  72 . The opposite ends of the first and second cap support rods  36  and  38  may be fixedly attached to an alignment cap  34 . In this exemplary embodiment, the cap support rods  36  and  38  may be externally threaded at the end that may be attached to the nozzle block  72 , and may be screwed into the nozzle block  72 . The opposite ends are attached to the alignment cap  34  by means of screws that pass through the alignment cap  34  into threaded recesses in the ends of cap support rods  36  and  38 . Although the cap support rods  36  and  38  are attached in this embodiment by means of screws or threading that may be machined directly onto or into the part, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the cap support rods  36  and  38  may be attached with other types of fasteners. It should also be understood that although there are two cap support rods  36  and  38  in this embodiment, that there may be a different number of cap support rods in other embodiments. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the alignment cap  34  may be a thick circular plate. A rectangular groove has been cut from the bottom of the alignment cap  34  along a diameter. The groove may be oriented so that it is generally parallel to the driving arm  28 . Although in this embodiment the alignment cap  34  may be a circular plate with a rectangular groove, it should be understood that in other embodiments it may have a different shape which functions in a similar manner. 
     When the telescoping filling head  10  is at rest, the second portion of driving arm  32  fits very loosely into the groove on the alignment cap  34 , and may be located between the alignment cap  34  and the nozzle block  72 . An alignment compensator  40  may be loosely fitted into the T-slot  120  in the driving arm  28 . The alignment compensator  40  resembles a double headed bolt with a second head  44  parallel to the first head  42  and connected to the first head  42  by a short stem. The first head  42 , which is farthest away from the threaded portion, comprises a circular the stem of the bolt between the two heads may be of a diameter appropriate to slide easily through the stem portion of a T-slot  120 . The second head  44  comprises a second thin circular plate, with two diametrically opposite sides of the second circular plate flattened so that it may be gripped for tightening. Although in an exemplary embodiment two sides of the second head  44  are flattened to permit tightening, in other embodiments different mechanisms may be used for this purpose. Similarly, although in an exemplary embodiment the alignment compensator resembles a double headed bolt, in other embodiments alignment compensation may be accomplished by alignment compensators of a different nature or appearance. 
     The threaded portion of the alignment compensator  40  may be placed through a hole in a spring guide  46  shown in more detail in FIG. 11. A spring guide  46  may be a thin circular plate with a stepped diameter comprising a first portion of greater diameter than that of a second portion. The first portion of the spring guide  46  may be adjacent to the second head  44  of the alignment compensator  40 . The diameter of the first portion of the spring guide  46  may be a few times that of the heads  42  and  44  of the alignment compensator  40 , and is generally greater than the exterior diameter of the compression spring  52 , which it guides, and which is discussed in more detail below. The diameter of the second portion of the spring guide  46  may be approximately equal to the interior diameter of the compression spring  52 . 
     After passing through the spring guide  46 , the threaded portion of an alignment compensator  40  may be screwed into one end of a nozzle holder  54 . An exemplary embodiment of a nozzle holder  54  is illustrated in FIG.  7 . In an exemplary embodiment, a nozzle holder  54  comprises a rod with first and second portions  56  and  58 . The end of the first portion  56  of the nozzle holder  54  may be internally threaded to accommodate the threads on the alignment compensator  40 . The first portion  56  of nozzle holder  54  generally has a smaller diameter than the second portion  58  of the nozzle holder  54 . The transition between the first portion  56  of the nozzle holder  54  and the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54  may be tapered, so that the change in diameters may be gradual rather than stepped. In this exemplary embodiment, the end of the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54  tapers outward, in a manner similar to the transition between the first and second portions  56  and  58  of nozzle holder  54 . 
     Extending from the tapered part at the end of the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54  may be an additional short cylindrical portion with an exterior diameter that generally matches the inner diameter of a spring  110 , discussed in more detail below. The transition between this flared portion of the nozzle holder  54  and the cylindrical portion of a smaller diameter may be stepped. The end of the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54  may be internally threaded to accommodate the threads of an inner nozzle  100 , discussed in more detail below. An annular groove may be cut into the inner surface of the end of the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54  and may contain an inner nozzle holder O-ring  92 . 
     The nozzle holder  54  extends from the base of the spring guide  46  through the previously described passage  84  in the nozzle block  72 . Surrounding the nozzle holder  54 , and attached to and seated in the first portion  86  of the passage  84  are first and second nozzle bushings  60  and  62 . These bushings are illustrated in FIG.  8 . The first nozzle bushing  60  comprises a plastic cylindrical tube with a uniform inner diameter and an outer surface that comprises three steps. The inner diameter of the first nozzle bushing  60  may be approximately equal to the diameter of the first portion  56  of the nozzle holder  54 . The first portion  122  of the first nozzle bushing  60 , the portion farthest away from the nozzle block  72 , has an exterior diameter approximately equal to that of the inner diameter of a compression spring  52 . The next, second portion  124  of the first nozzle bushing  60 , has a larger outer diameter. The third portion  126  of the first nozzle bushing  60  has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first portion. Although in an exemplary embodiment bushings of a particular design are described, bushings of a different but functionally equivalent design or functionally equivalent components other than bushings may be used in other embodiments. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the second nozzle bushing  62 , can be described in three portions. A first portion  128  of the second nozzle bushing  62  may be a thin circular plate with a hole in the center. The outer diameter of the first portion  128  of the second nozzle bushing  62  may be larger than the outer diameter of the second portion  124  of the first nozzle bushing  60 . The inner diameter of the first portion  128  of the second nozzle bushing  62  may be approximately equal to the outer diameter of the third portion  126  of the first nozzle bushing  60 . 
     A second portion  130  of the second nozzle bushing  62  generally comprises a thin cylindrical tube extending into the nozzle block  72 , with an exterior diameter approximately equal to the interior diameter of the first portion  86  of the passage  84 . The interior diameter of the second portion  130  of the second nozzle bushing  62  may be approximately equal to the exterior diameter of the third portion  126  of the first nozzle bushing  60 . 
     A third portion of the second nozzle bushing  62  generally comprises a flat ring  132  extending inward from the inner surface of the second portion  130  of the second nozzle bushing  62 . The interior diameter of this ring  132  may be slightly larger than the diameter of the first portion  56  of the nozzle holder  54 . The ring  132  may be formed at an appropriate depth so that the bottom of the first nozzle bushing  60  abuts the ring  132  when the first and second nozzle bushings  60  and  62  are properly seated in the nozzle block  72 . 
     As noted above, although in an exemplary embodiment bushings of a particular design are described, bushings of a different but functionally equivalent design or functionally equivalent components other than bushings may be used in other embodiments. 
     An inner nozzle seal  68 , which may be a shaped gasket adapted to form a seal between a second nozzle bushing  62  and the first portion  56  of the nozzle holder  54 , may be seated in the base of the first portion  86  of the passage  84 . The second portion  130  of the second nozzle bushing  62  fits into the first portion  86  of the passage  84  and abuts the inner nozzle seal  68 . The first portion  128  of the second nozzle bushing  62  may be held flat against the first surface  74  of the nozzle block  72  by means of keepers, of which one is shown and labeled with reference numeral  64 . Keepers  64  comprise roughly L-shaped tabs, the bases of which extend over the first portion  128  of the second nozzle bushing  62 . The keepers  64  in this exemplary embodiment are attached to the nozzle block  72  by screws. In this exemplary embodiment, there are two keepers  64  which are diametrically opposite each other, and which are attached by screws. In other embodiments, fewer or more or different connecting devices or fasteners may be used. 
     The third portion  126  of the first nozzle bushing  60  fits into the cylindrical second portion  130  of the second nozzle bushing  62 : The step between the second portion  124  of the first nozzle bushing  60  and the third portion  126  of the first nozzle bushing  60  may be flush with the outer surface of the first portion  128  of the second nozzle bushing  62 . The second portion  122  of the first nozzle bushing  60  may be attached to the first portion  128  of the second nozzle bushing  62  by means of three screws, of which one is shown and labeled with reference numeral  516 . 
     Extending between the spring guide  46  and the first nozzle bushing  60 , and surrounding nozzle holder  54 , may be a compression spring  52 . The compression spring  52  has an inside diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the second portion of the alignment cap  34  and the exterior diameter of the first portion  122  of the first nozzle bushing  60 . The spring may be biased to push the driving arm  28  away from the nozzle block  72 , in the absence of an opposing force. Although in an exemplary embodiment the biasing force is provided by a spring, in other embodiments it may be beneficial to use a different device to bias the driving arm  28  away from the nozzle block  72 . 
     Moving now to the nozzle portion  14  of the telescoping filling head  10 , as shown in FIG. 1 this portion extends away from the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 . It comprises an inner nozzle  100 , an inner nozzle tip  102 , a telescoping nozzle  106 , a spring  110 , and an outer nozzle  94 . In addition, the nozzle portion  14  of the telescoping filling head  10  includes various gaskets and O-rings which seal various connections or openings to prevent leakage. The inner nozzle  100 , nozzle tip  102  and telescoping nozzle  106  comprise the inner nozzle unit  12 . 
     An exemplary embodiment of an inner nozzle  100  and an inner nozzle tip  102  are illustrated in FIG.  9 . The inner nozzle  100  has first and second ends  174 ,  176 . The first end comprises a threaded portion with the same diameter as the threaded hole in the base of nozzle holder  54 . Adjacent to the threaded portion may be a thin circular first plate  134  with an exterior diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the spring  110 . Extending from the circular plate may be a thin second plate  136 , with an angular perimeter that can be grasped to attach the inner nozzle  100  to the nozzle holder  54 . Extending perpendicular to these plates may be a thin circular rod  138  with first and second ends  140 ,  142 , the first end  140  being attached to the second plate  136 . Although in this exemplary embodiment, the second plate  136  that may be gripped to attach the inner nozzle  100  to the nozzle holder  54  may be square, in other embodiments it may have a different shape that would permit it to be gripped for tightening. In addition, although in this exemplary embodiment the inner nozzle  100  and the nozzle holder  54  are distinct components of the telescoping filler head  10 , in other embodiments it may be beneficial to use a nozzle unit comprising the combination of the inner nozzle  100  and the nozzle holder  54 . 
     Attached to the second end  142  of the rod  138  may be an inner nozzle tip  102 . The nozzle tip  102  comprises a hollow cylinder or passage that may be closed at one end by a flat surface that is generally perpendicular to the cylindrical walls. The second end  142  of the circular rod  138  may be inserted into the hollow center of the nozzle tip  102 , and may be attached to the nozzle tip  102  approximately at the center of the flat surface of the closed end of the nozzle tip  102 . The external diameter of the nozzle tip  102  may be smaller than the diameter of the first plate  134  and may be approximately equal to the inner diameter of the telescoping nozzle  106 . The nozzle tip  102  may have one or more apertures  104  in its cylindrical walls, near the closed end. The exterior of the nozzle tip  102  may contain an annular groove  146  near the closed end. The annular groove  146  may be adapted to hold a nozzle tip O-ring  114 . The nozzle tip O-ring  114  may seal the nozzle tip  102  against the telescoping nozzle  106  except when the telescoping filling head  10  is in the filling position. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the inner nozzle unit  12  further comprises the telescoping nozzle  106 . An exemplary telescoping nozzle  106  is illustrated in FIG.  10 . The telescoping nozzle  106  comprises a cylindrical tube or passage with an outer tapered flange  148  at a first end, the first end being closest to the nozzle block  72 . The outer portion of the flange  148  with the largest diameter may be cut away to create a lip  108 . The inner perimeter of the lip  108  has a diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of spring  110 . The inner diameter of the telescoping nozzle  106  maybe constant, with the exception of a small annular groove  150  near the first end which may be adapted to hold a retaining ring  112 . 
     The telescoping nozzle  106  surrounds the inner nozzle  100 . In the rest position, the second end of the telescoping nozzle  106  may be flush with the second end  176  of the inner nozzle  100 . In the filling position, the telescoping nozzle  106  has moved toward the first end  174  of the inner nozzle  100 , revealing the apertures  104  in the inner nozzle tip  102 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment the spring  110  surrounds the rod  138  of the inner nozzle  100 . It abuts the second end of the nozzle holder  54 , surrounding the cylindrical portion that extends from the flange  148 . The spring  10  extends from the end of the second portion  58  of the nozzle holder  54  to a lip  108  on the first end of a telescoping nozzle  106 , and surrounds rod  138  of the inner nozzle  100 . The spring  110  may be biased to force the nozzle holder  54  and the telescoping nozzle  106  apart, in the absence of an opposing force. Although in an exemplary embodiment a spring provides the biasing force, in other embodiments it may be beneficial to use a different device to bias the nozzle holder  54  away from the telescoping nozzle  106 . 
     In this exemplary embodiment the circular plate  134 , at the first end  174  of the inner nozzle  100 , the inner nozzle tip  102  at the second end of the inner nozzle  100 , the cylindrical extension on the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54 , and the spring  110  have at least one cross section that may be generally circular. In other embodiments, these cross sections may have different shapes, so long as the parts that fit together to drive the telescoping motion are of the same shape and cooperating dimensions. 
     Surrounding the inner nozzle unit  12  described above, may be an outer nozzle  94  illustrated in FIG.  11 . The outer nozzle  94  comprises a cylindrical tube or passage having a first and second end. The second end  152  of the outer nozzle  94 , the end farthest from the nozzle block  72 , may be partially closed and has a hole through the end with a diameter that may be approximately equal to the exterior diameter of the telescoping nozzle  106 . The inner shape of the second end  152  of the outer nozzle  94  matches the flanges  148  at the first end of the telescoping nozzle  106 . The partially sealed second end  152  of the outer nozzle  94  may be relatively thick, permitting an annular groove  154  to be formed in the wall of the hole through the second end  152 , into which a telescoping seal O-ring  116  may be seated. The telescoping seal O-ring  116  may seal the outer nozzle  94  against the telescoping nozzle  106 . 
     The first end  153  of the outer nozzle  94  may be open and may have an outer flanged portion  155  that approaches a stepped shape. The outer diameter of the flanged portion  155  of the outer nozzle  94  may be approximately equal to the largest outer diameter of the extension  77  on the bottom of the nozzle block  72 . The flanged portion  155  of the first end of the outer nozzle  94 , which may abut the extension on the bottom of the nozzle block  72  when clamped together with it, contains an annular groove  156 . The groove may be of the same diameter as the annular groove  158  in the extension  77  of the nozzle block  72 , and may be also adapted to accept a tri-clamp gasket  96 . After seating a tri-clamp gasket  96  in the matching grooves  156 ,  158 , the outer nozzle  94  may be clamped to the extension  77  of nozzle block  72  by means of a sanitary seal  98 , known to those skilled in the art. Although in this exemplary embodiment the outer nozzle  94  and the nozzle block  72  are connected by a sanitary clamp, in other embodiments the connection may be made differently. In addition, in some embodiments it may be desirable to form the outer nozzle  94  and the nozzle block  72  as a single component. 
     Partially surrounding the outer nozzle  94  may be a bottle guide  118  illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The bottle guide  118  comprises a short plastic cylindrical tube  160  with an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the outer nozzle  94  having first and second ends  162 ,  164 . The cylindrical tube may be partially closed at the second end  164  of the bottle guide  118  that is farthest from the nozzle block  72  and has a conical shaped base containing a central hole  166 . The hole  166  has a diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter of the telescoping nozzle  106 . Two rectangular grooves  168  that are perpendicular to each other, and meet at the central hole  166 , may be cut across the conical second end  164  of the bottle guide  118 . These grooves  168 , shown more clearly in FIG. 13, permit gases to escape from the bottle  18  as it is being filled with liquid. The exemplary cylindrical tube  160  illustrated contains four set screws, of which two are shown and labeled with reference numeral  170 . These set screws  170  are adapted to fix the position of the bottle guide  118  relative to the outer nozzle  94 . Although four set screws  170  are used in this exemplary embodiment, other embodiments may use fewer or more screws or a different method of attaching the bottle guide. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, a bumper stud  78  may be attached to the first surface  74  of nozzle block  72  and positioned in line with the thickened area  180  of the second portion  32  of driving arm  28 . The bumper stud  78  comprises a bolt with a shock absorbent stopper attached to its head. The bumper stud  78  may be screwed into a hole in the nozzle block  72 . Threaded onto the screws of the bolt portion of the bumper stud  78 , between the head and the nozzle block  72 , may be a lock nut  80 . The lock nut  80  may be used to lock the bumper stud  78  at a particular elevation with respect to the nozzle block  72 . 
     An exemplary embodiment comprises many well known components such as gaskets, sealing rings, bushing, biasing devices, and fasteners, many of which have functional equivalents. Although a particular component well known to those skilled in the art may be described in an exemplary embodiment, in other embodiments it may be beneficial to use a different but functionally equivalent component. 
     The operation of the telescoping filling head  10  is now explained with reference to FIGS. 2-5. During the filling process, a bottle  18  may be initially moved to a position in line with the nozzle portion  14  of the telescoping filling head  10 . This position is shown in FIG.  2 . In this exemplary embodiment, the bottle  18  may be then elevated slightly so that it comes into contact with the bottle guide  118 . During the filling process a bottle  18  may be held steady between the bottle guide  118  and a plate (not shown) on which the bottle  18  may be sitting. Because of the conical shape of the second end  164  of the bottle guide  118 , the bottle may adjust slightly relative to the bottle guide  118  so that it properly centers itself with respect to the bottle guide  118 . 
     Although in this exemplary embodiment the bottle  18  may be held steady by the opposing pressures from the bottle guide  118  and a plate which elevates the bottle  18 , in other embodiments the bottle  18  may be stabilized by other means and need not necessarily come in contact with the bottle guide  118 . In this exemplary embodiment, the telescoping filling head  10  may be mounted on a rotary filling device. In other embodiments, it may be mounted on another type of filling device. 
     Once the bottle  18  is in position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the air cylinder  20  may be activated to force the driving plate  26  toward the air cylinder  20 , causing the driving arm  28  to compress the compression spring  52  as it moves the spring guide  46  toward the nozzle block  72 . As the spring guide  46  moves, it forces the nozzle holder  54  and the inner nozzle  100  to move in the same direction. During the operation of the telescoping filling head  10 , the distance between the spring guide  46  and the second end  176  of the inner nozzle  100  remains constant. Although in an exemplary embodiment a telescoping filling head is described as being driven and biased using a particular component, in other embodiments it may be beneficial to use one or more different components to provide the drive or bias. 
     As the driving arm  28  initially forces the spring guide  46  to move toward the nozzle block  72 , both the telescoping nozzle  106  and the inner nozzle  100  move together away from the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72  into the neck of the bottle  18 . As it continues to move, the flanges  148  on the first end of the telescoping nozzle  106  butt against the inner surface of the outer nozzle  94 . This position is illustrated in FIG.  4 . This causes the telescoping nozzle  106  to stop moving. As the driving arm  28  continues to move toward the nozzle block  72 , it forces the second end  176  of the inner nozzle  100  out through the opening in the second end of the telescoping nozzle  106 . The motion of the inner nozzle  100  may be stopped when the driving arm  28  hits against the bumper stud  78 . Once fully extended, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the inner nozzle tip  102  may be exposed and the product may be delivered through the apertures  104  in inner nozzle tip  102  into the bottle  18 . 
     The liquid product flows through the inlet  82  and into the passage  84  in the center of the nozzle block  72 , around the nozzle holder  54 , through the outer nozzle  94 , around the inner nozzle  100 , and through the inner nozzle tip  102  into the bottle  18 . The fastest fill rate without foaming can be achieved by directing the flow through the apertures  104  in the inner nozzle tip  102  toward the shoulders of the bottle  18 . Although in this exemplary embodiment a particular fluid path is described, in other embodiments it may be beneficial to use a different fluid path so long as the inlet  82  is in fluid connection with one or more apertures  104 . In this exemplary embodiment, there are four apertures  104  in the inner nozzle tip  102 . In other embodiments, it may be desirable to have fewer or more apertures  104 . For example, if the bottle  18  to be filled is triangular in shape, three apertures  104  corresponding to the three shoulders of the bottle  18 , would likely permit the bottle  18  to be filled faster. 
     In this exemplary embodiment, the apertures  104  are positioned by means of a spring plunger  50 , attached to the same side of the driving arm  28  as the spring guide  46 , at a position that permits the spring plunger  50  to snap into the detents  48  in the spring guide  46 , as may be seen in FIG.  14 . Although in this exemplary embodiment the position of the apertures  104  may be fixed by means of evenly spaced detents  48  on a spring guide  46  and a spring plunger  50 , in other embodiments it may be accomplished by another method. 
     Filling efficiency also increases when the apertures  104  of the inner nozzle tip  102  are below the base of the neck of the bottle  18 . This positioning permits the product to hit the shoulders of the bottle  18  and to flow down the sides of the bottle  18 , further minimizing the foaming that may be associated with rapidly dispensing liquid into containers. Because the distance which the inner nozzle  100  extends is generally equal to the distance between the top of the bumper stud  78  and the base of the driving arm  28 , the depth of the nozzle in the bottle  18  may be adjusted by moving the bumper stud  78  up or down. In addition minor adjustments may be made by moving the position of the bottle guide  118  on the outer nozzle  94  either toward or away from the nozzle block  72 . 
     Once the bottle  18  is filled, the air cylinder  20  may be activated to force the driving plate  26  away from the air cylinder  20 , pulling the nozzle portion  14  up out of the bottle  18 . As it initially retracts, because of the pressure of the spring  110  the inner nozzle  100  may be drawn into the stationary telescoping nozzle  106 . When the spring  110  is fully extended and the telescoping nozzle  106  butts against the retaining ring  112 , the telescoping nozzle  106  and the inner nozzle  100  move in concert out of the bottle  18 . Although in an exemplary embodiment a telescoping filling head is described as being driven and biased using a particular component, in other embodiments it may be beneficial to use one or more different components to provide the drive or bias. 
     In an exemplary embodiment it may be desirable to decrease the velocity of the first stage of the retraction, in order to reduce the load on the retaining ring  112 . This may be accomplished by means of a flow control valve  200  placed in operative connection with the valve which exhausts the air cylinder  20  during the first stage of retracting the telescoping filling head. It should be understood that although an air cylinder  20 , and an air flow control valve  200  are used in this exemplary embodiment to control the velocity of the retraction of the telescoping filling head, other means known to those skilled in the art may be used. In addition, it may be desirable to use one or more of such means to control any stage of the extension or retraction. 
     Once the nozzle portion  14  is fully retracted the bottle  18  may be moved away from the telescoping filling head  10 . 
     The interaction between the inner nozzle tip  102  and the telescoping nozzle  106  is generally the primary method of controlling the flow of product into the bottle  18 . The primary method may be assisted by a throttling action that occurs within the nozzle block  72 . The nozzle holder  54  moves back and forth within a passage  84  through the nozzle block  72 . This passage  84  may be connected to an inlet  82 . The diameter of the second portion  88  of the passage  84  through the nozzle block  72  may be approximately equal the diameter of the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54 . At rest, the second portion  58  of nozzle holder  54  fills most of the second portion  88  of the passage  84  and blocks most of the product from flowing through the passage  84  in the nozzle block  72  to the outlet  90 . 
     As the nozzle holder  54  moves through the passage  84 , in the direction of the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 , the diameter of the portion of the nozzle holder  54  which may be in the second portion  88  of the passage  84  gradually decreases, until the first portion  56  of the nozzle holder  54  enters the second portion  88  of the passage  84 . As the diameter of the portion of the nozzle holder  54  in the second portion  88  of the passage  84  decreases, the flow of product increases around the nozzle holder  54  through the outlet  90  in the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 . The flow rate of the product reaches its maximum at approximately the same time as the apertures  104  are opened by the full extension of the inner nozzle tip  102  through the telescoping nozzle  106 . 
     When the telescoping portion of the inner nozzle  100  is retracted, the process works in reverse. The flow of the product into the bottle  18  may be stopped by the retraction of the inner nozzle tip  102  into the telescoping nozzle  106 . The interaction between the inner nozzle tip  102  and the telescoping nozzle  106  may be assisted by the throttling action that may be created by the interrelationship between the physical dimensions of the nozzle holder  54  and the passage  84  through the nozzle block  72 . The nozzle holder  54  moves through the passage  84  in the direction of the first surface  74  of the nozzle block  72 , retracting the second portion  58  of the nozzle holder  54  into the passage  84  in the nozzle block  72 . As the diameter of the portion of the nozzle holder  54  which may be in the passage  84  gradually increases, the product flow correspondingly decreases around the nozzle holder  54  through the outlet  90  in the second surface  76  of the nozzle block  72 . It reaches a minimum flow rate when the second portion  58  of the nozzle holder  54  approximately fills the passage  84 . The dimensions of the parts are adapted so that this occurs at approximately the same time the apertures  104  are blocked by retraction of the inner nozzle tip  102  into the telescoping nozzle  106 . 
     As the driving arm  28  drives the motion of the telescoping filling head  10 , the alignment compensator  40  may shift slightly within the loosely fitting T-slot  120  in the driving arm  28 . This shifting ensures that the parts of the telescoping filling head  10  remain aligned as it moves, so that the parts do not jam or experience uneven wear. 
     It should be understood that the telescoping filling head  10  as shown and described herein is exemplary. Other telescoping filling heads  10  within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those having skill in the art from the teachings herein. 
     Thus the telescoping filling head achieves one or more of the above stated objectives, eliminates difficulties encountered in use of prior devices and systems, solves problems and achieves the desirable results described herein. 
     Thus the telescoping filling head  10  of the present invention achieves the above stated objectives, eliminates difficulties encountered in the use of prior devices and systems, solves problems and attains the desirable results described herein. 
     In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity and understanding, however no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the descriptions and illustrations herein are by way of examples and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described. 
     In the following claims any feature described as a means for performing a function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to those skilled in the art to be capable of performing the recited function, and shall not be limited to the structures shown herein or mere equivalents thereof. 
     Having described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which it may be constructed and operated, and the advantages and useful results attained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, equipment, operations, methods and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.