US3491804A - Apparatus for filling containers or the like with fluent or flowable material - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1970 G. NICLAS 3,491,804

G. APPARATUS FGR FILLING CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE WITH FLUENT OR FLOWABLE MATERIAL Filed July 31, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E0 L52 A i 2 '3 3? m2 0 o ,0 0 0) 0 Q o o o o 0 o o o o o o o 37 3s 35 I02 o Jan. 27, 1970 G. G. APPARATUS FOR FILLING LIKE WITH FLUENT 0R F Filed July 31, 1967 Fig. 2

NICLAS CONTAINERS OR THE LOWABLE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. A

Jan. 27, 1970 G. G. N-ICLAS APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS OR THE 'LIKE WITH FLUENT 0R FLOWABLE MATERIAL Filed July 31. 1967. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 27, 1970 as. NlCLA-S APPARATUS FOR F ILLING CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE WITH FLUENT OR FLOWABLE MATERIAL Filed July 31. 1967 4 Sheets$heet 4 United States Patent O 3,491,804 APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE WITH FLUENT OR FLOWABLE MATERIAL Giulio Giuseppe Niclas, Milan, Italy, assignor to Ejectoret SA., Geneva, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed July 31, 1967, Ser. No. 657,248 Claims priority, application Italy, Aug. 6, 1966, 18,301/ 66 Int. Cl. B67c 3/02; B65b 1/04, 43/42 US. Cl. 141-125 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Filling fiowable materials into containers or the like by means of a dosing mechanism for filling a dosed material into such containers. There is provided at least one apparatus for receiving a container to be filled. Each such receiving apparatus comprising grooved rail means for guiding at least one carriage member which is displaceable in the lengthwise direction of said grooved rail means. Further, a head member is arranged at the region of the outer end of the grooved rail means for insertably receiving the container which is to be filled, the carriage member being displaceable towards such head member. Additionally, a filling funnel is provided for the head member, and a support member is provided at the carriage member for supporting at least a portion of the container. Also, means are provided for transporting the receiving apparatus in a direction approximately transverse to the direction of displacement of the carriage member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for filling fluent or molten material into containers or the like.

The manufacture and preparation of different pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, for instance lipsticks, deodorant sticks, as well as also suppositories, require the introduction of a previously molten substance into a container or a mold where such previously flowable or molten mass hardens. However, the introduction of the fluent or molten material into the containers or molds must occur as quickly and completely as possible in order to prevent the entry of dirt particles. Furthermore, the subsequent packaging of the products must proceed as much as possible without any further handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a'primary object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus which is capable of reliably and elfectively fulfilling the previously mentioned requirements.

A further object of this invention relates to an improved apparatus for filling flowable material into containers or the like in a highly economical, elfective and sanitary manner, and further, wherein it is possible to carry out the loading of the apparatus with empty containers or molds, the filling of the containers as well as the removal of the products in a manner lending itself to mass production by assembly line techniques while employing machines which are as fully automated as possible.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved apparatus for filling fiowable materials into containers or the like in an extremely sanitary, efficient and reliable manner, thereby increasing production while reducing manufacturing costs.

Generally speaking, the apparatus for filling flowable materials into containers or the like is of the type having a dosing mechanism equipped with at least one nozzle for filling a dosed material into the containers, means for removing the filled containers and for delivering such for further processing, and means for the stepwise transport of the containers from a location for the introduction of the containers into the apparatus to said dosing mechanism and from the latter location to a removal station.

Now, in order to fulfill the foregoing objects as well as others which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, there is provided at least one apparatus for receiving a container to be filled which cooperates with the stepwise transport means. Each such receiving apparatus advantageously comprises grooved rail means for guiding at least one carriage member which is displaceable in the lengthwise direction of such grooved rail means. The grooved rail means possesses an outer end at the region of which there is arranged a head member for inserta-bly receiving the container to be filled, with the carriage member being displaceable towards said head member. Additionally, the head member is provided with a filling funnel, and a support member is provided at the carriage member for supporting at least a portion of the container. Further, means are provided for transporting the receiving apparatus in a direction approximately transverse to the direction of displacement of the carriage member.

Owing to these features it is now possible to arrange next to one another an entire row of such receiving apparatuses for the reception of the containers which are to be filled and to cause such receiving apparatuses to incre- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent, when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic in part front and in part perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus for filling containers or the like with flowable or molten material;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic in part end and in part perspective view of the apparatus depicted in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, taken along the line III-III thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus depicted in FIGURE 3, taken along the line IV-IV thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front view, partially in section, of the arrangement shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of inventive apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the apparatus depicted in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement depicted in FIGURE 7, taken along the line VIIIVIII thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Directing attention now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown therein an exemplary embodiment of inventive apparatus for filling fluent or molten material into containers or the like as will be more fully explained hereinafter. This apparatus 10 embodies a machine frame 11 provided with a suitable, schematically illustrated drive means D for imparting the desired transport motion to a stepwise or incrementally revolving conveyor or transport band 12 or the like. Further, a number of inventive apparatuses 13 are arranged at the stepwise moving transport band 12, and each such apparatus 13 serves to receive a respective one of the containers which is to be filled. During their stepwise feed or transport motion in the direction of the arrow 14, these receiving apparatuses 13 pass through a nonillustrated station or location serving for the preferably automatic infeed or introduction of the containers, a further station having a dosing mechanism 15 with at least one nozzle member 16 for introducing the dosed material into the containers, and possibly a still further non-illustrated station serving for the accelerated cool ing of the filled material within the containers, and finally, a further station for removal of the filled containers and delivery thereof by means of a chute 17 (FIGURE 2) for further handling or processing.

Since the drive means for the stepwise-transport of the conveyor band, the means for the insertion and removal of the containers, as well as the means for dosing of the material, do not form part of the subject matter of the present invention, and since such means are well known to those skilled in the art, no further description thereof is believed necessary, and these various components will only be described and referred to herein to the extent necessary to fully comprehend the inventive subject matter. Furthermore, insofar as the dosing mechanism 15 is concerned, such may be of the type described in my US. Patent No. 3,313,085, granted Apr. 11, 1967, and entitled Apparatus for the Dosing and Filling of Molten Masses for the Production of Cosmetic Articles and the Like.

Continuing, it is to be understood that the construction of the apparatuses 13 for the reception of the containers which are to be filled and the arrangement of these apparatuses 13 at the machine or apparatus 10 will be now described in greater detail, with particular reference being made to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. Thus, by inspecting these figures, it will be recognized that each receiving apparatus 13 incorporates a grooved rail means 31 having two internal grooves 32 extending in the longitudinal or lengthwise direction of the rail means 31. These internal grooves 32 serve as the lengthwise displaceable guide means for a first carriage or sled member 33 and a second carriage member 34 (FIG- URE 3). Both carriage members 33 and 34 are arranged behind one another. Further, it will be seen that the grooved rail means 31 has a free or outer end 31a, at the region of which there is supported a head member 35 having a frontal opening 36 for the insertable reception of a mold portion 100 (FIGURE 3).

This mold portion 100 can be the protective sleeve which can be later removed from the finished product, for instance a cosmetic stick. This mold half 100 is then completed by a cup member 101 which is inserted from the opposite side in the opening or aperture 36 in the head member 35. In so doing, the cup member 101 is already disposed at the sleeve or cartridge 102 of the finished product, so that after the pouring and removal operations only the cup member 101 together with the cosmetic mass or paste and the protective sleeve 100 need be retracted in the sleeve or cartridge 102 equipped with the standard feed or advancing means, as such is known in sticks of this type, such as lipsticks. Although in this instance each container consists of the components or portions 100, 101 and 102, it should be apparent that containers of other constructions could also be equally well employed, and further, that the term container as employed herein is used in its broader sense, and therefore, should not be construed as limited to the specific type of receiver or container shown and described herein which is purely for descriptive purposes.

Further, in order to fill the cosmetic mass in the mold embodying the sleeve member and the cup member 101, which mold is inserted in the head member 35, the latter is additionally provided at the top region with a filling funnel 37 or the like. This filling funnel 37 obviously communicates with the insert opening 36 extending transverse to the aforementioned filling funnel 37. In order to fill each container 100-102 the head member 35, together with its filling funnel 37, is placed beneath the nozzle member 16 of the dosing mechanism 15 (FIGURE 2). Thereafter, the medium or material flowing into the filling funnel 37 next flows into the mold assembly 100, 101 in the direction of the arrows depicted in FIGURE 3, whereby the sleeve member 100 and the cup member 101 are slightly spaced from one another in order to form an inflow channel 38, as shown.

A support or holder member 39 is mounted upon the carriage member 33 in order to provide the longitudinally displaceable supporting device for the sleeve member 102 provided with the cup member 101. Furthermore, the carriage member 34 serves to bring about the longitudinal displacement of the carriage member 33 as a function of the stepwise movement of the receiving apparatus 13 in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal extent of the aforementioned receiving apparatuses 13. It will be noticed that this carriage member 34 carries an attachment member 40 at the end thereof confronting the other carriage member 33. This attachment member 40 serves to house a plunger 41 or the like tending to elastically or resiliently urge the sleeve or cartridge member 102 against the head member 35 during the filling operation. In so doing, this plunger member 41 is subjected to the action of a spring member 42 tending to press the plunger member 41 towards the right, into the position depicted in FIG- URE 3. Furthermore, at the portion 40a of the attachment member 40 which overlaps the carriage member 33 there is provided a longitudinal groove 43 into which engages a pin member 44 depending from the carriage member 33, as shown.

As should be readily evident by inspecting FIGURE 3, during displacement of the carriage member 34 in the depicted position towards the right, the carriage member 33 will likewise be displaced towards the right due to impact of both of the neighboring confronting carriage ends 33a, 34a. Such displacement of the carriage member 33 takes place until the plunger member 41 presses against the end 10211 of the sleeve member 102 with the pressure of the spring member 42, and thus, pushes this sleeve member 102 against the wall 35a of the head member 35. On the other hand, if this carriage member 34 is displaced towards the left, then initially the spring member 42 is relaxed and after impact of the pin member 44 at the right wall or boundary surface 43a of the groove 43 the carriage member 33 is entrained towards the left. In so doing, the path of displacement of the carriage member 33 is of such length that the material which has solidified in the cup member 101 and the protective sleeve member 100 and, if desired, together with this protective sleeve member 100, is retracted out of the head member 35. The retraction of the protective sleeve member 100 along with the retraction of the cup member 101 occurs because the material which has solidified in the cup member 101 and protective sleeve member 100 is in one piece and in frictional engagement with the internal surface of the protective sleeve member 100 and cup member 101. Consequently, the finished product or article can easily be lifted away from the support member or carrier 39, as such will be more fully described hereinafter.

At the rear or other end 34b of the carriage member 34 there is provided a control roller 50 for displacing the carriage member 34 and therefore also the carriage member 33 as a function of the treatment steps undertaken at the stepwise advanced receiving apparatus 13. Th s control roller 50 engages a guide track formed by a pair of spaced cam- like members 51 and 52 provided at the machine frame 11 along the path of travel of the individual receiving apparatuses 13. FIGURE 3 shows, in section, the control roller 50 supported on a bearing member with the control roller in engagement with the walls of a track formed by spaced cam- like members 51, 52. FIGURE 1 shows, schematically, at its extreme left the arrangement for guiding the rollers 50 and actuating the receiving apparatuses 13 thereby.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the recelving apparatuses 13 are closely arranged or assembled to provide a transport or conveyor band 12, the previously considered movement of the carriage members 33, 34 be ng substantially transverse to the rotary or revolving mot on of this conveyor band 12. The connectionand guide means at the conveyor band 12 are here shown to comprise traveling roller members 60 and 61 WhlCh IOll upon a roller track means 11a provided at the machine frame 11 (FIGURES 3 and 5 More precisely, each receiving apparatus 13 is equipped with a roller member 60 and a roller member 61 which are secured by the supports 60a and 61a, respectively, at the underside of the associated grooved rail means 31. Both of these traveling roller members 60 and 61 bear against guide rails 60b and 6112, respectively, which prevent lifting of the receiving apparatus from the roller track means 11a.

FIGURE 5 shows in greater detail how the individual receiving apparatuses 13 are interconnected with one another by web members 62. These web members 62 are pivotably connected at their opposite ends to the pivot.

bolts 60c and 610 of the neighboring tandemly arranged traveling roller members 60 and 61 respectively, to thereby form the chain links of an endless chain member This chain member C together with the individual receiving apparatuses 13 carried thereby form the previously described conveyor or transport band unit 12 of FIGURE 1. Further, as should be readily apparent, suitable nonillustrated stepwise driven deflecting or turning gears are provided at the turning locations of this conveyor or transport band 12 at the sides of the machine, these defiecting gears engaging with the web members or chain links 62 and bring about the feed motion of the transport band 12 having the receiving apparatuses 13.

It has been found in practice that in order to insure for a faultless filling of the containers 100, 101 the apparatus should possess an inclination to the head member 35 of about 25 to 50 which respect to the horizontal, as such will be seen by referring to FIGURE 2. In so doing, and in order to prevent a drooping or throughhang of the transport band 12, a guide 63 is provided at the machine frame 11 and against which each receiving apparatus bears by means of a guide roller 64 secured to the grooved rail means 31, as shown.

Continuing, it should be apparent that after filling the containers 100, 101 and after the solidification of the cosmetic mass or the like, a surplus or excess quantity of such cosmetic mass likewise solidifies in the filling funnel 37 of each receiving apparatus 13. This surplus in the filling funnel 37 must obviously be removed prior to pouring or filling a new container 100, 101. To this end, FIGURE 5 shows that a scraper or doctor blade 70 is provided which, during predetermined time intervals, scrapes such surplus material out of the associated funnel 37 or the like. Accordingly, this scraper or doctor blade 70 is mounted to be rotatable about a shaft 71 supported at the machine frame 11. Further, such scraper 70 is provided with a feeler member 72 cooperating with an entrainment member 73, illustrated in FIGURE 3 at the head member 35 of each receiving apparatus 13 in such a manner that, during each passage of a receiving apparatus 13 beneath the scraper 70 the latter is rocked against the action of a non-illustrated spring member owing to the entrainment motion between the feeler member 72 (FIGURE 5) and the entrainment member 73 (FIG- URE 3), thereby scraping out the associated funnel member 37.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 depict a further embodiment of apparatus for filling fluent or fiowable material into containers or the like. As evident by inspecting FIGURE 6, the previously considered receiving apparatuses 13' are likewise inclined at an inclination upon a circular table 75 which may have the configuration of a cone or a frustum of a cone. The circular table 75 is rotatable in stepwise fashion about a shaft 76 by means of a suitable indexing or stepping mechanism 77 which cooperates with cams 78 at the underside of this circular table 75, as such is readily known in the art. Furthermore, non-illustrated loading means for the containers, filling means, cooling means, and removal means for the finished products, are arranged in spaced or distributed fashion at the circular table 75 in such a manner that each receiving apparatus 13 during its revolving motion must pass through the aforementioned stations performing the previously considered individual operations.

In contrast to the previously considered embodiment of transport apparatus, here as shown in FIGURE 7 the individual receiving apparatuses 13' together with the grooved rail means 31 are rigidly or fixedly mounted to a base plate 75a of the circular table 75. Futhermore, as best shown in FIGURE 6 the disposition of these receiving apparatuses 13' upon the base plate 75a is such as to provide a substantially ring-shaped arrangement. Still, also in this embodiment the displacement of the carriage members 33' and 34' likewise takes place by means of spaced cam-like members 51' and 52 which are stationarily arranged at the machine frame or table 11. However, in contrast to the first described embodiment, in this embodiment the head member for receiving the containers 100, 101 is not arranged at the carriage member 33', rather at the outer end or rim of the table support plate 75a, so that the individual head members 90 preferably form a closed ring 90a (FIGURE 6). The infeed or filling funnel of each of these head members 90 is formed by a vertically extending groove 93 (FIGURES 7 and 8) in which there is guided a scraper or doctor blade 91. This scraper 91 serves to remove the surplus cosmetic material or the like from the filling funnel 93 after solidification and removal of the finished product. To this end, the illustrated scraper 91 is displaced upwardly. A slot 94 provided at the scraper 91 serves to limit the motion of such scraper towards the top and bottom, this slot 94 cooperating with a limit stop screw member 95 or equivalent structure. As should be further evident by referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, the scraper 91, when in its lower terminal or extreme position, limits the filling funnel 93, so that the upper front end 97 thereof forms the floor or bottom of such filling funnel 93. A slide roller 92 is provided at the lower free end of the scraper or doctor blade 91 in order to bring about displacement of the scraper 91 for removal of the surplus material as a function of the revolving motion of the table 75. This roller 92 cooperates with an inclined surface 96 provided at the machine frame 11'. Suitable non-illustrated spring means or a suitable further non-illustrated inclined surface can be provided for returning the scraper member 91 into the depicted filling position.

It is also here pointed out that it would be readily possible to provide the circular table 75 with receiving apparatuses 13 wherein the head member is constructed like the head member 35 of the embodiment of FIGURE 3, and further, it would also be possible to provide a head member 90 similar to that of FIGURES 7 and 8 at the apparatus having the revolving transport or conveyor band 12.

Both of the previously described machines operate in the following manner:

Initially, the transport or conveyor band 12 (FIGURE 1) or the circular table 75 (FIGURE 6) are placed into rotation. Then, the receiving apparatuses 13 or 13 with their control rollers 50 or 50 at the carriage members 34 or 34' come into the operating zone of the guide tracks both of the spaced cam- like members 51 or 51 and 52 or 52' during the stepwise traveling motion of the conveyor band 12 or circular table 75 in the direction of the arrow 14. As a result, the carriage members 33 or 33' and 34 or 34' are retracted from the head member 35 or 90 respectively. This position of the carriage members 33 or 33, 34 or 34' is maintained, by appropriate design of the length of the spaced cam- like members 51 or 51' and 52 or 52, for such time until certain predetermined operations can be carried out during this portion of the revolving movement of the apparatuses 13 or 13.

More precisely, now initially, and advantageously in an automatic fashion, the container components or sleeves 100 or 100' are placed into the relevant head members 35 or 90 respectively, and the cup member 101 or 101 together with the cartridge or sleeve 102 or 102 is placed upon the associated support member 39 or 39. At the end of the previously described operating phase which is determined by the guide track formed by spaced cam- like members 51 or 51' and 52 and 52, and which can be conveniently considered as the loadingand unloading phase, there occurs an advancement of the carriage members 33 or 33' and 34 or 34' towards the corresponding head member 35 or 90 respectively, due to appropriate de sign or configuration of the control cams 51 or 51 and 52 or 52'. In so doing, the carriage member 34 or 34' initially presses the carriage member 33 or 33' in the direction of the associated head member 35 or 90, until the plunger member 41 or 41 comes to bear against the associated cartridge or sleeve 102 or 102. During further displacement of the carriage member 34 or 34 the plunger member 41 or 41 now presses by means of the sleeve 102 the free end of the cup member 101 or 101' into the opening 36, 36' of the head member 35 or 90, until the front end or rim of the sleeve member 102 or 102 bears against the wall 35a or 90a of the head member 35 or 90 respectively, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 7. A small further displacement of the carriage member 34 or 34 causes the plunger member 41 or 41 to come under the action of the spring member 42 or 42, bringing about the required contact pressure of the sleeve 102 or 102 against the head member 35 or 90. This described position can be conveniently designated the filling-position and is maintained during the revolving motion of the receiving apparatuses 13 or 13' until the latter again arrive at the loadingand unloading zone. This filling-position is maintained by contact of the control rollers 50 or 50' at the cam or track 51 or 51.

Now, during their further movement through the prescribed path of travel the head members 35 or 90 arrive beneath the nozzle 16 of the filling mechanism or device 15, only conveniently shown in FIGURE 2, so that there occurs filling of the containers 100 or 100', 101 or 101'. Thereafter, the receiving apparatuses 13 or 13' with the filled containers 100 or 100', 101 or 101 advantageously pass through a suitable, non-illustrated cooling device which accelerates solidification or hardening of the filled material. Thereafter, the receiving apparatuses 13 or 13 once again arrive at the loadingand unloading zone.

Upon arrival of the relevant apparatus 13 in such zone the carriage member 34 or 34' is again retracted due to the action of the guide track upon the guide roller 50 of the carriage member 34 or 34. As a result, and as already explained, initially the plunger member 41 or 41' releases the cartridge or sleeve 102 or 102' and thereafter, the carriage member 33 or 33' is also retracted. Consequently, the finished product consisting of the sleeve 102 or 102, the cup member 101 or 101', the protective sleeve 100 or 100' and the material between the cup 101 or 101' and protective sleeve 100 or 100' which has hardened in the meantime, is retracted out of the associated head member 35 or 90. In this regard, means can be provided which initially fixedly retain the finished article or product upon the support member 39 or 39' and means which assist the displacement of the article out of the head member 35 or by acting from the outside upon the protective sleeve or 100'. Surplus material in the filling channel 38 between the protective sleeve 100 or 100' and the cup member 101 or 101 can be scraped out of the hollow wall of the associated head member 35 or 90.

Naturally, it would also be possible to fixedly retain the protective sleeve 100 at the head member 35 or 90, and then to remove the solidified material out of this sleeve 100 or 100'.

Within the loadingand unloading zone the finished article or product is now removed from the associated support member 39 or 39 and is transported away from the machine. Further, the relevant filling funnel 37 or 93 is cleaned by actuating the associated scraper 70' or 91 respectively, and the receiving apparatus 13 or 13' is once again loaded in the previously described manner so as to be ready to produce a further finished product or article.

Having now had an opportunity to fully consider the various embodiments of inventive apparatus described and shown herein, it should be obvious that certain features of one embodiment could be readily applied to the other embodiment insofar as such would not interfere with the explained function and structural characteristics of such other embodiment. Thus, while there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for filling flowable materials into containers, the improvement comprising:

(a) at least one apparatus for receiving a container to be filled that is formed of longitudinally spaced container sections, each receiving apparatus comprising:

(1) grooved rail means for guiding at least one carriage member which is displaceable in the lengthwise direction of said grooved rail means;

(2) a first carriage member displaceably mounted in and for movement along said grooved rail means, said grooved rail means having an outer end;

(3) a head member arranged at the region of said outer end of said grooved rail means for insertably receiving therein, in longitudinal spaced relation, the two container sections to be filled, said first carriage member being displaceable toward said head member;

(4) a filling funnel provided for said head member having an outlet opening, said container sections being positionable in said head member with the space therebetween in communication with said funnel outlet opening;

(5) a support member mounted on said first carriage member for longitudinally supporting thereon a sleeve member for surrounding said container sections;

(b) means for transporting said receiving apparatus in a direction approximately transverse to the direction of displacement of said carriage member;

(c). means for displacing said first carriage member.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1, further including a second carriage member guided together with said first carriage member at said grooved rail means, means for operably interconnecting said two carriage members with one another, said displacing means for said first carriage member being provided at said second carriage member and serving to displace both of said carriage members.

3. The improvement defined in claim 2, wherein both of said carriage members are displaceable into one extreme position defining a filling position, said second carriage member further including means for resiliently urging the container supported at said support member of said first carriage member against the inner front face of said head member, said resilient urging means being effective when said carriage members are disposed in said one extreme position.

4. The improvement defined in claim 3, said resilient urging means incorporating a bearing housing provided at said second carriage member, a displaceable plunger movably mounted at said bearing housing for movement in the direction of travel of said second carriage member, and spring means against the action of which said plunger is displaceable.

5. The improvement defined in claim 2, wherein said means for displacing said carriage members include a guide roller mounted at said second carriage member, track means with which cooperates said guide roller.

6. The improvement defined in claim 2, wherein said means for operably interconnecting said two carriage members with one another comprises a guide groove provided at one of said carriage members, a pin provided at the other of said carriage members, said pin engaging with play in said guide groove in the direction of displacement of both of said carriage members.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6, wherein said guide groove is provided at said second carriage member, said pin being provided at said first carriage member.

8. The improvement defined in claim 1, wherein there are provided a plurality of said receiving apparatuses, web means for interconnecting said plurality of receiving apparatuses with one another to form an endless conveyor chain capable of stepwise travel in an endless path of travel, said web means providing the chain links of said endless conveyor chain.

9. The improvement defined in claim 8, wherein each receiving apparatus is equipped with travelling roller means at the underside of the associated grooved rail means, roller track means upon which bear said traveling roller means.

10. The improvement defined in claim 9, wherein said roller track means inclined.

11. The improvement defined in claim 1, wherein said head member bears against said grooved rail means.

12. The improvement defined in claim 1, further including a substantially circular table, and wherein there is further provided a plurality of said receiving apparatuses each equipped with an associated grooved rail means, said grooved rail means extending radially and being fixedly mounted in substantially ring-shaped fashion upon the surface of said circular table.

13. The improvement defined in claim 12, wherein said circular table substantially possesses the configuration of at least a frustum of a cone.

14. The improvement defined in claim 12, wherein said head member bears against the edge of said circular table.

15. The improvement defined in claim 1, further including means for removing surplus filled material from said filling funnel of said head member.

16. The improvement defined in claim 15, wherein said removing means for surplus filled material comprises a scraper member mounted to be pivotably movable into said filling funnel of the associated head member.

17. The improvement defined in claim 15, wherein said removing means for surplus filled material comprises a slide member mounted to penetrate said filling tunnel of the associated head member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 772,195 10/1904 Vogel 141-151 X 1,949,536 3/1934 Ferguson 141151X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner EDWARD J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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