Patent ID: 7059104

Claim:
A system for filling and closing fluent material containing cartridges comprising: a supply station for cartridges having a hollow interior and an integral closure movable from an open to a closed position; a filling station including means for conveying fluent material from a remote source and discharging the fluent material into the interior of the cartridge; a sealing station including a collar for contacting and securing an end of the cartridge and an associated plunger movable relative to the collar for contacting the closure of the cartridge to axially move the closure from an open position to a closed position; a discharge station including means for guiding the filled and sealed cartridges to a point of discharge from the system; and conveyor means for sequentially conveying cartridges from said supply station to said filling station with the closure of the cartridge in an open position, thence conveying the cartridges filled with fluent material to said sealing station and causing the closure to be moved to a closed position sealing the fluent material therein, and finally conveying the sealed cartridges to said discharge station, wherein said conveyor means includes a base having a trench for receiving a portion of the closure in a closed position.