GB931846A - Improvements to filling-heads for counter pressure filling machines - Google Patents

Abstract

931,846. Counter-pressure filling machines. ETABLISSEMENTS CHELLE. June 8, 1960 [June 9, 1959; Jan. 27, 1960], No. 20186/60. Class 125(2). A filling-head for a counter-pressure filling machine comprises an obturating member having ports 30, which act as guideways for projections 31 on a liquid valve 6, and a base 33 which is brought into contact with the underside of the projections 31, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to prevent air, trapped in the bottleneck after filling of the bottle, from passing the valve 6 in its open position and so entering the main liquid-container. The filling-head comprises a fixed nozzle 1 having a seating 5 for the valve 6 provided with a seal 7, the valve 6 being secured to a nozzle 8 having an air return port 10. A member 2 is slidable on a column 3 to enable the nozzle 1 to engage a bottle neck. A tube 11 integral both with the valve 6 and a guide-piece 12 is slidable within the stem 13 of a gas valve 14 accommodated in a tube 16 which slides, with the aid of a spring 21, on a tube 17 secured to the main container. The member 12 is urged upwards by a spring 24. The obturating member is secured to a spring 31a anchored at 32 on the tube 11 and its upward movement is limited by a stop 34 fixed to the tube 11. The tube 17 has ports 35, 36 for the passage of liquid from the main container. Operation. The gas valve 14 pressurizes a bottle on release of a control device bearing on a cap 25, thereby enabling the spring 21 to lift the gas valve sleeve 13 by means of an inward rib 19 on the tube 16. Gas pressure is passed underneath the valve 6 which is raised together with the parts 11, 12 and 34. Liquid from the main container flows through the ports 35, 36 and into the bottle. The pressure of the liquid maintains the obturating member in the position shown in Fig. 1, the ports 30 having allowed the valve 6 to move upwards relatively to the obturating member, Fig. 2 (not shown). The flow stops when liquid reaches port 10 in the nozzle 8, so creating an air lock. The obturating member is then raised by the spring 31a into contact with the stop 34 which brings the base 33 up against the underneath of the projections 31 on the valve 6 to make an airtight seal due to surface tension of the liquid surrounding the base 33. After the bottle is removed, the valve 6 falls on to its seating carrying the obturating member with it. Four modifications are described, Figs. 5-14 (not shown).