subject: summary of filling machine [print this page] summary of filling machine summary of filling machine
A filling machine assembly (10) for filling a beverage container (12), such as a bottle or can, with a beverage, such as carbonated drinks, juices, or water. The filling machine (10) includes a support housing (14) for supplying the beverage to be discharged into the container (12). A valve housing (22) is mounted to the bottom of the support housing (14) for controlling the discharge of the beverage and a control device (24) is mounted to the top of the support housing (14). A vent tube (30) has a first end disposed within the control device (24) and a second end extending into the valve housing (22). An actuation device (54) moves the vent tube (30) a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non-use position. The filling machine (10) is characterized by the control device (24) including an adjustment mechanism (80) having a stop block (82) for repositioning the filling position upon movement of the adjustment mechanism (80) thereby adjusting the position of the predetermined stroke. Hence the downward most position of the vent tube (30), i.e., the filling position, may be adjusted without effecting the distance that the vent tube (30) travels between the non-use position and the filling position, i.e., the stroke itself.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A filling machine assembly (10) for filling a container (12) with a fluid material, said assembly comprising:
a support housing (14) having an upper surface (16) and a lower surface (18) for supplying the fluid material to be discharged into the container (12);
a valve housing (22) mounted to said lower surface (18) of said support housing (14) for controlling the discharge of the fluid material;
a control device (24) mounted to said upper surface (16) of said support housing (14);
a vent tube (30) having a first end disposed within said control device (24) and a second end extending into said valve housing (22); and
an actuation device (54) moving said vent tube (30) a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non-use position;
said assembly characterized by said control device (24) including an adjustment mechanism (80) for repositioning said filling position upon movement of said adjustment mechanism (80) thereby adjusting the position of said predetermined strokes said adjustment mechanism (80) including a stop lock (82) mounted adjacent said first end of said vent tube (30) and movable with said vent tube (30) between said filling and non-use positions.
A filling machine assembly for filling a container with a fluid material. The assembly comprises a support housing having an upper surface and a lower surface for supplying the fluid material to be discharged into the container. A valve housing is mounted to the lower surface of the support housing for controlling the discharge of the fluid material. A control device is mounted to the upper surface of the support housing. A vent tube has a first end disposed within the control device and a second end extending into the valve housing. An actuation device moves the vent tube a predetermined stroke between a filling position and a non-use position. The assembly is characterized by the control device including an adjustment mechanism for repositioning the filling position upon movement of the adjustment mechanism thereby adjusting the position of the predetermined stroke.
Accordingly, the subject invention provides a means for adjusting the downward most position of the vent tube while maintaining the predetermined stroke distance between the non-use and filling positions. The adjustment mechanism is a simple and efficient means for adjusting the position of the vent tube such that the filling machine can fill different sized containers without replacing the vent tube.
The filling machine assembly 10 comprises a support housing 14 having an upper surface 16 and a lower surface 18 defining an inner fluid chamber 20 for supplying the fluid material to be discharged into the container 12. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the fluid material, which is preferably a liquid beverage, fills a portion of the inner fluid chamber 20 while leaving a space above the liquid for a pressurized inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen. For illustrative purposes, supply and return pipes for the liquid and gas as well as the liquid and gas themselves are not shown. Also not shown are support members and a turntable for mounting the filling machine 10 to the filling mechanism. As discussed above and in the background section, the additional operating components of the filling mechanism are known to those skilled in the art. A common storage tank (not shown) feeds the inner fluid chamber 20 with the required liquid and gas.
