Filling devices
United States Patent Lansdale Apr. 1, 1975 FILLING DEVICES 2,210,971 8/1940 Bronson 137/312 x 3,097,671 7 1963 Bonettiet al. 141/116 [751 Invent Lansdale&#39; England 3,351,250 11/1967 West 141/117 x [73] A i Mather &amp; p n Limited, 3,580,302 5/1971 Rlesenberg 141/146 X Manchester England FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1&#39; Flledr p 1973 714,410 7/1965 Canada ..141/117 [21] Appl. No.: 347,763 I Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt [30] Forelgn Apphatlonfnomy Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion,  
 Apr. 5, 1972 Umted Kingdom 15675/72 Zinn &amp; Macpeak [52] US. Cl 141/116, 141/142, 222/108,  
  239/ l 20 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl B65b 3/04, B05d l/28 [58] Field of Search 137/312 625 A device for filling l1qu1d from a supply mto a con- 1 41 123 tainer in which the device has a liquid receiving cham- IO, bf can b put 11110 communication an out- 1 239/l20 let nozzle. The outlet nozzle has two relatively axial movable parts which co-operate to close the nozzle [56] References Cited save for a capillary passage until it is desired to dis- UNITED STATES PATENTS charge the contents of the chamber.  
 2,107,987 2/1938 Johnson 141/116 X 11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEU APR 1 SHEEI 1 BF 3 PATENTEDAPR 5 3.874.480 sum 3 of 3 FILLING DEVICES This invention relates to a filling deviceusedto transfer a liquid or semi-solid (hereinafter-supply referred to as a liquid) froma supply tank tocontainers to be filled, and to apparatus incorporating-such.filling devices. M g  
  According to the present inventionthere is provided a filling device comprising a liquid-receiving chamber in which is reciprocable a liquid-ejecting piston, and an outlet nozzle from the chamber and constituted by inner and outer nozzle parts relatively movable to permit and prevent outflow from the nozzle, a capillary passage being formed in the terminal end of the inner nozzle part such that with the nozzle closed and the piston moving back through the chamber any liquid drops at the end of the nozzle are sucked back into the nozzle through the capillary passage.  
  The inner nozzle part upstream of its terminal end is preferably formed-with an angularly-spaced series of slots through which liquid can pass from the chamber with a laminar flow under the action of the piston.  
  An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
  FIG. I is a perspective view of an apparatus incorporating filling devices according to the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a. perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 from another side and to a&#39;smaller scale;  
 FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus;  
  FIGS. 4 to 6 are sectional views of a filling device at various stages of its operation;  
 &#39; FIG. 7 is a&#39;fragmentary sectional view showing the nozzle outlet of FIG. to an enlarged scale;  
  FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a valve member of the filling device;  
  FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively diagrammatic plan and perspective views of the means for opening the filling device to fill a container; and,  
  FIG. I I is a scrap view showing the means for closing the filling device after completion of the filling operation.  
  The apparatus comprises a receptacle for holding the liquid to be filled into containers, such as cans, the receptacle 20 being rotated as shown in FIG. 3 by any convenient drive known to those skilled in the art. A series of equi-angularly spaced filling devices 21 are mounted on the receptacle 20 for rotation therewith, these devices being cam operated as will be described later.  
  Containers 22 to be filled are delivered, in known manner, in timed relationship to the angular speed of the receptacle 20 and operation of the filling devices 21 by an inlet conveyor 23, a worm conveyor 24, a first rotary star wheel 25. a second and main rotary star wheel 26 rotatable with the receptacle 20 and an outlet conveyor 27. The various conveyors and star wheels have side guide bars such as 28. The conveyors may be of any convenient form known to those skilled in the art as can the drive or drives for the various conveyors and star wheels.  
  The filling devices 21 are operated by a stationary annular cam assembly 29 surrounding the receptacle 20 and adjustably mounted on an annular frame member 30 carried on the apparatus by screw posts3l. .The annular cam assembly 29 is-pivotally mounted on the annular frame member 30 as indicated at 32, and at the other side of the apparatus it is connected to the annular frame member by a screw post 33 having a spoked handle 34 and locking nut 35. Thus the vertical disposition of the annular cam assembly 29 can be varied by relatively adjusting the annular frame member 30 and posts 31 while the inclined disposition of the annular cam assembly 29 can be varied relative to the annular frame member 30 by adjusting the screw post 33. It will be clear from the following description that the cam assembly inclination determines the amount of liquid received in each filling device.  
  The annular cam assembly 29 comprises a bottom ring member 36 and at its downwardly inclined length an additionaltop arcuate member 37.  
  The filling devices 21 are also operated on by an opening or liquid-ejecting arrangement 38 (FIGS. 9 and 10) and a closing arrangement 39 (FIG. 11) which will be described later. The opening arrangement 38 operates at top dead centre (TDC) of the annular cam assembly 29 while the closing arrangement 39 operates shortly after bottom dead centre (BDC).  
  Each filling device 21 comprises a cylinder 40 within which is disposed a piston 41 having at its top a roller 42 which runs on the bottom cam ring 36 so that the piston 41 is reciprocatcd within the cylinder 40. The top, arcuate cam member 37 ensures that the roller 42 is maintained on cam ring 36 during downward movement of the piston 41.  
  The cylinder 40 is formed with an internal wall 43 intermediate its ends and a diametral bore is provided between this wall 43 and the closed end 44 of the cylinder 40. The piston chamber is above the internal wall.  
  The internal wall 43 is formed with two ports, namely an inlet port 45 and an outlet port 46. The closed end 44 of the cylinder 40 is formed with an outlet port 47 in alignment with the outlet port 46 of the internal wall 43.  
 - A rotatable plug or valve member 48 is housed in the bore and is operated as will be described later by the opening and closing arrangements 38 and 39. The plug 48 has two passages disposed generally at right angles to each other. One passage 49 (the outlet passage) which is diametral serves to put the two outlet ports 46 and 47 in communication in one position of the plug 48. The other passage 50 (the inlet passage) extends between an end of the plug 48 and the circumference of the plug 48 at a location remote from said end and, in another position of the plug, places the inlet port 45 in communication with the cylinder exterior. This inlet passage 50 is in direct communication with an outlet 51 of the receptacle 20 for the liquid to be filled into containers.  
  The plug 48 mounts at its receptacle-remote end an arm 52 carrying a roller 53 which cooperates with the opening and closing arrangements 38 and 39.  
  An outlet nozzle 54 is in communication with the outlet port 47 at the cylinder closed end 44 and comprises an inner tube 55 surrounded by a sleeve 56 having an apertured end wall 57 through which the tube 55 passes and its other end wall being apertured as at 58 to permit liquid egress.  
  The tube 55 has an external peripheral collar 59 and a spring 60 is interposed between the collar 59 and end wall 57 of the sleeve 56.  
  A sealing ring 61 is provided at the spring-remote side of the coller 59.  
 The sleeve 56 is movable along the tube 55.  
  The tube. 55 has its terminal end, which is recessed, closed save for an axial capillary passage 62. Upstream of the terminal end, the tube wall is formed with an angular series of slots 63 forming outlets.  
  The terminal wall of the tube 55 co-operates with the outlet end of the sleeve 56, to close the nozzle save for the capillary passage 62 (see FIG. 4).  
  It will be manifest that the reciprocation of the piston 41 and rotation of the plug 48 are synchronised.  
  Reference is now made to FIGS. 9 and 10. When a container 22 is being moved by the star wheel 26 it strikes a lever 64 pivoted at 65 and this lever 64 via a linkage 66 operates a valve 67 which allows a compressed airflow to a double-acting piston-and-cylinder device 68 to extend the piston rod 69 outwardly. This movement places a roller 70 carried by the rod 69 in the path of the roller 53 of the next-approaching filling device 21. This roller 70 causes the roller 53 to enter a track 71 defined by two bars 72 thus rotating the plug 48 from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIGS. and 7. The container is thus filled, which filling operation occurs over the are 73 (see FIG.  
  As the container 22 passes the lever 64, the latter is spring-urged back to permit an airflow causing retraction of the rod 69 and roller 70.  
 If the lever 64 is not pivoted, i.e., no container, then the roller 53 merely runs along the top of the top bar 72 and the plug 48 is not rotated. i.e., no container, no filling. This, of course, prevents waste.  
  At the end of the are 73 is the closing arrangement 39 which merely consists of a curved bottom bar 74 and a straight top bar 75 so that when the roller 53 contacts the curved bottom bar 74, the lever 52 is pivoted to its vertical disposition thus allowing the plug 48 to rotate from the position FIGS. 5 and 7 to the position in FIG. 4.  
  Referring now to the filling device 21, as the piston 41 rises liquid is sucked into the cylinder via the plug inlet passage (FIG. 4). At top dead centre TDC the plug 48 is rotated as aforesaid to close the inlet passage 50 and place the outlet passage 49 in communication with the two outlet ports 46 and 47. On descent of the piston 41 the liquid is forced into the nozzle 54 and the liquid pressure compresses the spring which causes the sleeve 56 to move axially away from the tube 55 thus opening the nozzle (FIGS. 5 and 7). The slotted ports 63 in the tube 55 allow laminar flow of the liquid out of the nozzle 54.  
  At bottom dead centre BDC, the liquid pressure drops and the spring 55 acts to close the nozzle 54 save for the capillary passage 62. As the piston 41 reascends (FIG. 6) any drops of liquid on the nozzle 54 are sucked inwardly through the capillary passage 62. With the piston 41 past bottom dead centre BDC and any drops removed, the plug 48 is rotated as aforesaid to close the nozzle inlet and permit filling of the cylinder 4].  
  Surface tension prevents leakage through the capillary passage 62 at this time.  
 What is claimed is:  
 l. A container filling device comprising:  
 a. a chamber having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet,  
 b. a piston reciprocable within the chamber to suck liquid into the chamber in one direction of piston 4 movement and to expel liquid from the chamber in the opposite direction of piston movement, and  
 c. a nozzle assembly in communication with the chamber outlet, and comprising:  
 - i. an inner tubular member in communication with thechamber outlet, said member having an outlet end formed with a capillary passage, and aperture means for liquid egress upstream of the capillary passage,  
 ii. an outer tubular member coaxial with the inner tubular member and axially movable away therefrom under liquid pressure produced by the movement of the piston in said opposite direction, and  
 iii. resilient means between the inner and outer tubular members for urging the outer tubular member axially towards the inner tubular member to a position whereat it cooperates with the inner tubular member to seal off liquid flow from the aperture means, whereby when the piston reverses its stroke from said opposite direction to said one direction the liquid pressure ceases, the resilient means causes liquid flow from the aperture means to be sealed off, and any liquid remaining at the outlet end of the inner tubular.  
 member is thereafter sucked in through the capillary passage to prevent dripping.  
  2. A container filling device according to claim 1 in which the inner tubular member has an external peripheral collar and the outer tubular member has an apertured end wall, the resilient means comprising a spring disposed between the collar and the end wall.  
  3. A container filling device according .to claim 2, in which the outlet ends of the inner and outer tubular members have complementary inwardly inclined surfaces urged together by the spring to seal&#39;off liquid flow from the aperture means.  
  4. A container filling device according to claim 1, in which the aperture means in the inner member comprises circumferentially-spaced slots through which liquid can pass from the chamber with a laminar flow under the action of the piston.  
  5. A container filling device according to claim 1, further comprising valve means disposed between the liquid-receiving chamber and the nozzle assembly, and actuating means for operating the valve means alternately to permit inflow of liquid to the chamber and outflow of liquid from the chamber into the nozzle assembly.  
  6. A container filling device according to claim 5, further comprising a division wall across the chamber between its ends and provided with an inlet port and an outlet port, the bottom wall of the chamber having an outlet port aligned with the first-mentioned outlet port, and the valve means comprising a rotatable plug between the division and bottom walls and formed with two passages such that, in one position of the plug, the inlet port is placed in communication with an inlet port in the peripheral wall of the chamber while, in another position of the plug, the two outlet ports are placed in communication.  
  7. Apparatus including a receptacle for holding liquid to be filled into containers, and a plurality of container filling devices according&#39;to claim 6 mounted on the receptacle periphery, each with its peripheral wall inlet port in register with a port in the receptacle periphery.  
 arm is moved into its track by a roller disposed in its path by a container-actuated piston so that each filling device only operates to fill when a container is present.  
  11. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a second track engageable by the plug arm and arranged to rotate the plug back to its initial position after completion of filling.