US3321887A

US3321887A - Method and apparatus for adding liquid fill to containers having solids therein

Info

Publication number: US3321887A
Application number: US381081A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herman D Manas
Original assignee: MRM Co Inc
Current assignee: MRM Co Inc
Priority date: 1964-07-08
Filing date: 1964-07-08
Publication date: 1967-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-30

Description

May 30, 1967 Filed July 8, 1964 H. D. METHOD AND APPARATUS F MANAS OR ADDING LIQUID FILL TO CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS THEREIN FIG.I

LOWER FILLING HEAD INTO CONTAINER HAVING SOLID CONTENT AN D SE AL CONTAINER BLOW THROU G H --SUCTION CHANNE L TO CLEAR LATTER '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHANNEL TO EVACUATE DIRECT SUCTION VIA AIR FROM CONTAIN ER VACUUM BREAK VACUUM IN CONTAINER BY OPENING RESUME SUCTION AND FILLING WITH LIQUID TO DESIRED LEVEL IN CONTAINER RESUME SUCTION IN FILLING HEAD TO ATMOSPHERE AND REMOVE FILLING HEAD FROM CONTAINER TO PREVENT DRIP- PING OF LIQUID FROM HEAD TO VACUUM INVENTOR. HERM AN D MANA S ATTO NEYS M y 1967 H. MANAS ,32l,887

METHOD AND APPARA FOR ADDING LIQUID FILL TO CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS THERE INT 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1964 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. HERMAN D. MANAS BY Z L/ ATTORNEYS May 30, 1967 H. D. MANAS 3,321,887

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING LIQUID FILL O CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS THEREIN '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 8, 1964 FIG SPACER DEVICE DRIVE 3 INVENTOR. HER MAN D M ANAS ATTO NEYS May 30, 1967 H. D. MANAS 3,321,337

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING LIQUID FILL TO CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS THEREIN 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 8, 1964 RS 0 A MN A W M m m N A M R E H ATTORNEYS 3,321,887 IQUID FILL HER May 30, 1967 H. D. MANAS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING L TO CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS T EIN 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 1964 FIG.6

WAC.

NON-ROTARY HEADER VALVING 6 ARRANgEMENT 7 BEARING PLATE ROTARY VALVE E LEMENT E mn K Hr w RA R N 7 mwBE O .l. S T A 6 W m M II AT v O N T I D R F FN G M MU W R UL P E E W H R CF R E M D W MT 8 UN m M A mP O T m Mm U T WN m T EC SU 58 %R DIA IIE ML CC May 30, 1967 H. D. MANAS ARA TO CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS TH METHOD AND APP TUS FOR ADDING LIQUID FILL EREIN 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 8, 1964 INVENTOR.

HERMAN o. MANAS ATT RNEYS- LOW PRESSURE May 30, 1967 MANAS 3,321,887

H. D. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDING LIQUID FILL TO CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS THEREIN Filed July 8, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 DRIVE GEA SPE D REDU CER INVENTOR HERMAN 0. MANAS HORNE/2 United States Patent 3,321 887 METHOD AND APPARATUS F OR ADDING LIQUID FILL T0 CONTAINERS HAVING SOLIDS THERE- IN Roslyn Estates, N.Y., assignor to Inc., Plainview, N.Y., a corporation This invention relates to method and apparatus for adding liquids such as brine, syrup or other viscous liquids to containers having solid packs such as fruit, vegetables, pickles or the like therein so as to effectively fill all voids in the container with such liquid. In addition there are other solids packaged in containers which require addition of preservative liquids to the container prior to scaling. As with the food products just mentioned, effective filling of all voids in the container is essential. This invention contemplates a method and apparatus applicable to the packaging of any kind of solid in a container which requires the addition of such preservative liquid thereto and filling of such voids as well as avoidance of damage to such solid.

It is conventional in the packaging of solid fruits such as cherries, pears, nuts, pickles and other solid food products in containers to submerge such products in preservative liquids such as viscous syrup, brine or the like. In such cases, it is essential that the liquid fill all voids in the container even though the solid contents are relatively tightly packed therein. The purpose is to eliminate bubbles and voids so that the liquid phase is in continuous contact with the solid fragments.

In the past, the viscosity of the fluid or the presence of air pockets, or clogging of the liquid filling line or other mechanical difficulties has prevented complete filling of the voids with the required liquid, or else the apparatus employed for filling has been found to cause damage to the solid food products by crushing, piercing or abrasion thereof by parts of such apparatus during liquid filling with consequent unsightliness of the packaged product as well as deterioration thereof during storage.

The proper packaging of such solid food products, or other solids, requires complete filling of all the voids therein with the desired liquid irrespective of the viscosity thereof and without damage to the solid food products during the filling operations. Another requisite for proper packaging of such solids is that the final level of the liquid introduced into the container leave a predetermined head space at the mouth of the container to provide a residual air space of requisite amount essential for subsequent vacuum sealing of the container.

Principal objects and features of this invention are the provision of a novel method and apparatus for effecting the complete filling with liquid of the voids in the solid food content or pack of a container without in any way damaging such solid food.

A further principal object and feature of this invention is the provision of versatile, novel liquid filling means which may be readily adjusted to a variety of conditions arising during the packaging of different kinds of solid, to facilitate controlled determination of the head space so that a residual air space of requisite amount as is essential for subsequent sealing of the container bearing solid product is made available.

Other principal objects and features of the invention are the provision of novel liquid filling means which may be applied to the open mouth of each solid container without damage to the solid content or pack whereby the filling fluid may be introduced after evacuation of air from such container while the latter is under partial vacuum, whereby air at atmospheric pressure may be utilized with a tamping effect to force a portion of introduced liquid fully to the bottom and into all voids in each container, whereby thereafter, completion of fill of each container with the liquid may be effected under resumed. vacuum conditions and whereby thereafter said vacuum may be broken and the said liquid filling means may then be removed from each container.

Other objects and features of the invention are the provision of a novel filling head for effecting said containerfilling operations which may be used with various rotary and straight line type filling machines without requiring material modifications of such machines.

Further objects and features of the invention are the provision of novel valving arrangements for permitting continuous sequential control of the cyclic steps required to effect complete filling of the voids in the container and for automatic cleansing of blocking particles from the necessary suction passageways in the apparatus during the filling cycle.

Further features and objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a flow diagram of the method of practicing this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of a filling head for a filling machine as applied to the mouth of a container for practicing this invention;

FIGURE 2a is a section taken along line 2a-2a of FIGURE 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of a rotary type filling machine embodying the filling arrangements of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse partially broken away sectional view taken along line 4-4, of FIGURE 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating details of the camming means for lowering and elevating the filling heads of the machine during its operation;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken approximately along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 illustrating valving mechanism of this invention andtviewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, viewed in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a non-rotary part of the valving mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 6, viewed in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a bearing component of said valving mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIGURE 6, viewed in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a rotatable part of the valving mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a sectionalized view taken along the plane of line 10-10 of FIG. 4, and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 10a is a fragmentary elevational view of the outlet end of a filling head illustrating a principle of operation thereof to prevent drip therefrom during non-filling periods in the cycle of operation of the machine.

Generally speaking, the preferred apparatus of the invent-ion embodies a circular rotatable container supporting platform having an ingress and egress location, a conveyor for delivering containers to the ingress location and for removing them from the egress location of said platform, conventional spacing means for appropriately spacing the delivered containers on the supporting platform and a rotary turntable above said platform carrying a plurality of filling heads. The respective filling heads are independently, reciprocally movable vertically in the turntable for shallow insertion into and extraction from the mouths of successive different containers delivered to said platform.

Each filling head has a seal means applicable to the mouth of a container to effect a temporary seal of the container onto which it is lowered. Each filling head is provided with a conduit or passage via which filling liquid such as brine or syrup may be conducted under suction from a source for introduction into the container associated with it during the filling cycle.

Each filling head also is provided passage via which during the air may be evacuated from the container associated with it, or delivered to it under atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressures as required during such filling cycle.

Appropriate vacuum pumping means, air compressor means and valving arrangements are provided in connection with the machine so that the filling cycle may be acoomplished during rotation of the turntable carrying the filling heads. To this end, the valving arrangement includes a stationary valve part and -a rotatable valve part, the latter being rotatable relative to the former during rotation of the turnable to effect required cyclic phases of the filling operations on the successive containers.

Referring to the drawings and first to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the reference character denotes generally a rotary filling machine that may be used to practice this invention. This machine includes a rotary container supporting platform 11. Containers C having a previously inserted pack of solids such as pickles, cherries, nuts or other fruits or vegetables are delivered to the platform 11, via a horizontal conveyor 12. This conveyor 12 moves such containers C toward the ingress location I of the platform 11, through a guideway 13 and into engagement With a rotary spacer device 14 of the star Wheel type. This spacer device'14 is driven in conventional manner and serves to space the containers C uniformly as they are delivered to the ingress location I of platform 11.

Each spaced container C as it enters the platform 11 at said ingress location I is then positioned to underlie a filling head 15, a group of the latter being carried by a rotary turntable 16. The turntable 16 is carried on a vertical, rotary shaft 17 which is driven in any desired manner. Shaft 17 also has the platform 11 secured thereto for rotation with it. Each filling head is mounted as by screw and thread coupling 18 (FIG. 2) to the lower end of a vertically reciprocal supporting rod 19. Each rod 19 is vertically guided between a pair of spaced-apart parallel upper and lower

horizontal members

20 and 21 of the turntable 16. A block 22 is secured to the supporting rod 19 above the horizontal member 21. The block 22 guidedly engages a vertical rod 23 which extends between the

members

20 and 21 in parallel with the rod 19, thus preventing rotation of the supporting rod 19. A cam follower roller 24 is mounted at the end of the block 22. This roller 24 is engageable with a horizontally supported cam track 25. This cam track 25 has the elevated portion 26 (FIG. 5) and the descending

portions

27 and 28 which extend toward the member 21. As a result, during rotation of the turntable 16, a movement of the cam follower roller 24 over the cam track 25 provides for cyclic elevation and lowering of the supporting rod 19 of the filling head. Thereby, each filling head 15 may be alternately lowered into and raised from the open mouth of an underlying container C on platform 11. The position of the cam with a conduit or track 25 may be adjusted for differently dimensioned containers in conventional manner as by the elevating and lowering screw 29 which is manipulable by a hand wheel 30 and threadedly engages an eye 31 extending laterally of the cam track 25 (see 'FIG. 5). In this way, each filling head carrying rod 19 may have its location adjusted to operate with differently-sized containers and to regulate the depth to which the head 15 will be lowered into the mouth of a particular container C. Preferably, this depth is shallow and is adjusted, as seen in FIGURE 2 so that the lower end of head 15 lies above the solid pack in the container when head 15 is in its lowered position filling cycle to be described,

therein for filling of the container with syrup or brine or other requisite liquid.

Filling head Each filling head 15 as seen in detail in FIGURE 2 comprises a tubular body 32 having an axially extending bore 33. This bore 33 extends downwardly from the upper end of body 32 but terminates short of the lower end of said body. A vent passage '34 extends through the side wall of the body 32 into communication with the closed lower end of bore 33 in proximity to the lower end of said body 32. The bore 33 and its vent passage 34 provides a conduit for the delivery of filling liquid such as syrup or brine to a container C as will be described. The upper end 35 of the tubular body 32 is of reduced diameter for purposes presently to be described.

A longitudinally extending, flattened face 36 is provided on the outer surface of the body 32. A tubular sleeve 37 is fitted on the tubular body 32. This sleeve 37 and the flattened face 36 then define a longitudinally extending channel 38 which, as will be described, may be connected to a suction pump, or to a compressor, or to atmosphere as the need arises during the filling cycle of this invention. A lateral vent 38a near the lower end of sleeve 37 is provided for channel 38.

A supporting socket '39 is provided for the body 32. This socket 39 has axially bored-out

portions

40 and 41 into which the upper ends of body 32 and sleeve 37 respectively are fitted. Conventional O-sealing rings'42 and 43 are utilized to prevent leakage. The assembly of the socket 39 with body 32 and sleeve 37 may be maintained as by set screws 44. A chamber 45 is defined in the bore 40 about the upper open end of bore 33 and the portion 35 of reduced diameter of the body 32. A connector pipe or nipple 46 threadedly engaged in a Wall of the socket 39 communicates with this chamber 45. Connector nipple 46 in turn is connectable by a pipe 47 to a source of filling liquid, such as syrup or brine. In this embodiment, this source is a tank 48 conveniently located below the rotating platform 11 of the machine. The pipe 47 is ex tended at 47a through an appropriate opening in the rotary platform 11 into the liquid in said tank 48.

A temporary sealing closure 49 having a sealing pad 49a of rubber or the like is mounted adjustably as by a set screw 490 on the sleeve 37 of head 15 for engagement with the mouth of a container C to seal it temporarily when the head 15 is lowered into said container. A cou pling nipple 50 also threadedly mounted in the socket 39 provides communication with the channel 38. This coupling nipple 50 is connected by a flexible hose 51 to one of the nipples '52 of the rotary element 53 of the novel valving arrangement 54 of this invention. Thus, when closure 49 is in place on the neck of container C as shown in FIG. 2 and suction is exerted via hose 51, air will be withdrawn from the container via vent 38a and channel 38. Thus, the pressure within the temporarily sealed container C will fall and brine or other filling liquid will be sucked from tank 48 via pipes 47, 47a and will enter said container C via bore 33 and passage 34. It will continue to fiow as long as suction is maintained in hose 51.

Valviizg arrangement-F1 G URES 61 0 of the rotary element 53 into communication with a hole I 57 which opens only into the upper smooth face 58 of the 7 5 element 53.

A circular bearing plate 59 (FIGS. 6 and 8) of appropriate wear-resisting gasketing material, such as Telflon or nylon, or of any other suitable wear-resisting gasketing material is secured to the upper smooth face 58 of the rotary element 53 as by screws 60. A plurality of holes 61 extending through the thickness of said plate 59 and which correspond in number and in location to the holes 57 in element 53 are provided in the bearing plate 59. Thus, when plate 59 is secured to element 53, each hole 61 is axially aligned with an underlying hole 57 in said rotary element.

The valving arrangement 54 also includes an upper non-rotary header part 62. This header part 62, in the embodiment shown, is mounted around the drive shaft 17 above the bearing plate 59 and is displaceable axially along said shaft. It has its lower, smooth face 63 biased against the upper, smooth surface of bearing plate 59 as by the adjustable biasing spring 65 which, together with the coupling pins 66 that engage in fixed part 67 secured to the main bearing 68 of the drive shaft 17 me vent rotation of the header member 62. The pressure of the biasing spring 65 is adjustable as by the adjustment screws 69. These springs 65 serve to maintain effective seals between an upper rotary surface of the bearing plate 59 and the lower engaging non-rotary surface 63 of the header part 62.

The lower smooth surface 63 of the header part 62 is provided with a group of three, concentrically disposed, spaced-apart, long arcuate grooves, or recesses, or

slots

70, 71 and 72 (FIG. 7). The width of these grooves or recesses 70, 71 and 72 are slightly in excess of the diameters of the holes 61 which they overlie. The

recesses

70, 71 and 72 are each of substantially arcuate lengths. In addition, a concentrically disposed recess 73 of relatively short arcuate length is positioned between the adjacent ends of the

recesses

71 and 71. Similarly, another recess 74 of relatively short arcuate length is positioned between the adjacent ends of

recesses

71 and 72. Furthermore, an additional recess 75 of relatively arcuate short length is positioned between the adjacent ends of the longer

arcuate recesses

70 and 72. All of the recesses 70 to 75 inclusive are concentrically disposed so that during rotation of the rotary valve element 5 3 and its attached bearing plate 59, each successive hole 61 will be brought into communication successively with the

recesses

75, 70, 73, 71, 74 and 72 in the order named.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, recess 70 of the header 62 is connected by a nipple 76 to a vacuum line 77. Recess 73 opens via a hole 78 in the header 62 to atmosphere; recess 71 is connected via nipple 79 to a vacuum line 80; recess 74 opens via a hole 81 in the header 62 to atmosphere; recess 72 communicates via nipple 82 to a vacuum line 83; recess 75 communicates via nipple 84 and hose 85 to a source of compressed air (not shown). The

respective vacuum lines

77, 80 and 83 are all connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) which is maintained in continuous operation during the filling cycle. For convenience, with respect to

recesses

70, 71 and 72, they will be termed the first, second and third vacuum recesses; recesses 73 and 74 as the first and second atmosphere recesses and recess 75 as the compressed air recess.

Operation The operation is as follows:

Containers C bearing the solid pack are positioned in open condition on the conveyor 12 and are moved thereby and with the aid of guideway 13 and spacer device 14 onto the rotary platform 11 in such a way that as they arrive on the platform 11 at ingress location I, each successively underlies a filling head that is carried by the turntable 16. As the turntable 16 and platform 11 rotate, the cam follower 24 moves down the descending position 27 of cam track 25 and the lower end of a filling head 15 descends into the open mouth of container C until its sealing closure 49 and pad 49a engage the said mouth and temporarily seal said container. This seal is maintained during the liquid filling cycle that now occurs. At this time, head 15 extends only to a shallow distance in the container C and does not injure the solid pack therein.

As the cycle commences, first of all, the particular aligned

holes

57 and 61 in rotary valve element 53 and bearing plate 55 that are associated with this particular filling head 15 first moves into registry with the compressed air recess of header 62. As a result, a momentary blast of compressed air from line '85 is blown into the particular container C underlying said head via said

particular holes

61, 57, bore 56, nipple 52, hose 51, nipple 5t and channel 38 and its vent 38a. This brief blast serves to rid channel 38 and its vent 38a of any blockage that may have been caused by particles of solid pack from the previous cycle. The same hole 61 then is rotated by movement of valve element 52 to clear recess 75 and into registry with the first vacuum recess 70.

As soon as this occurs, air is evacuated from the particular container C via vent 38a, channel 38, nipple 50, hose 51 and ultimately said particular hole 61 as Well as said recess 70. This evacuation of air from the particular container C results in a flow of liquid (brine or syrup) under suction from tank 48 via

pipes

470, 47, nipple 46, chambers 45, bore 3 3 and vent 34 of the particular filling head 15 into the particular container C. This flow of liquid continues as long as said particular hole 61 remains in registry with the first vacuum recess 70. The recess '70 is long enough extending over an arc in excess of to permit introduction of a substantial amount of said liquid into the particular container. However, dur ing such filling flow, the viscosity of said liquid either retards its descent toward the bottom of the particular container of its entry into voids in the pack which must be filled with it. In order to speed such descent and force the liquid into the lower voids, suction is interrupted and air under atmospheric pressure is introduced into the particular container via channel 38 and vent 38a of its said filling head.

To this end, the same hole 61 moves around in its circular travel path out of registry with suction recess 70 and into registry with the first atmosphere slot 73 and air hole 78 in header 62. As a result, suction from vacuum line 77 is interrupted and air rushes into the particular container. This temporarily stops feeding of liquid fill to this particular container. At the same time, air under atmospheric pressure surges into the particular container C via hole 78, slot 73, hole 61, hole 57, hose 56, nipple 52, tube 51, channel 38 and vent 38a. This inward surge of air effects a tamping action that serves to accelerate the descent of the fill liquid already introduced in said particular container fully to the bottom of the latter and also to cause flow of such liquid into voids that may exist in the solid pack. Only a short period of time is required to effect this tamping phase of the filling cycle. For this reason, recess '73 is of very short arcuate length.

Thereafter, liquid filling must be resumed. To this end, the same hole 61 of the rotary valve element 53 now moves out of registry with atmosphere recess 73 and into registry with the second vacuum recess 71. This reestablishes suction removal of air from the particular container C via vent 33a of the said head 15, and re-starts flow of filling liquid under suction from tank 48 via bore 33 and vent 34 of the particular head 15 into the particular container C. The arcuate length of recess 71 is preferably admeasured to insure delivery of suificient liquid from tank 48 to complete filling of the particular container C therewith. As seen in FIGURE 7, the arcuate length of second vacuum recess 71 is slightly under 90. Its length is selected to insure completion of liquid fill of the particular container.

When completion of fill has been effected, it is necessary to again break suction to the particular container in order to stop suction-caused flow of filling liquid to the latter container. The same particular hole 61 will then have moved around in its circular travel path out of registry with second vacuum recess 71 and into registry with the second atmosphere recess 74 and its air hole 81. As a result, suction in the particular filling head from vacuum line 79 and recess 71 will be cut off, stopping further suction feed of fill liquid to the particular container. At the same time, air under atmospheric pressure again surges into said container C via hole 81, recess 74, channel 38 and vent 38a. This inward surge of air serves primarily at this time to break the temporary seal between the sealing pads 49a and the mouth of the container so that the entire filling head may be readily elevated from the container without lifting the latter.

At this time, while no suction exists in container C, the particular filling head 15 is elevated from the mouth thereof as cam follower roller 24 moves upwardly on the ascending slope 28 of cam track 25. This lifts seal ring 49a from the mouth of the particular container C and lifts the bottom end of said filling head 15 clear of the said container mouth. This occurs about the time the container arrives at the egress location B of the rotary platform 11 whence it may be guided by the curved guide 1% and spacer wheel 161 back into conveyor 12. This filled container then may be conducted to appropriate capping machinery not forming part of this invention.

The particular elevated filling head 15 that has been removed from the container is maintained on the elevated portion 26 of the track which has a substantial arcuate length sufficient to permit movement of the elevated filling head 15 with the turntable 16, back to the ingress position I for insertion into a new container for repetition of the filling cycle therewith.

During traverse of the particular elevated filling head 15 with the turntable 16 from the egress to the ingress locations, E to I, i.e. while it is idle, it is desirable to prevent drip of liquid from the head. To this end, the same hole 61 now rotates into registry with the third vacuum recess 72, thus bringing vent 38a of the particular filling head 15 into connection with vacuum line '83. This creates an atmosphere of reduced pressure in the vicinity of the vent 34 of the filling bore 33 of the particular idle filling head 15 which has a tendency to eliminate drip of any residual liquid in said vent or bore 33. This is advantageous in preventing fouling of the platform 11 or conveyor 12 with dripped liquid from the idle filling head 15 in the period of rotary transit of turntable 16 from its egress to its ingress locations and any accumulation of such liquid on said platform or conveyor.

The arcuate vacuum recess 7 2 has a length which is approximately the same as that of the elevated portion 26 of cam track 25. Thus, by the time the cam follower 24 of the particular head 15 again reaches the descending portion 27 of said track, the same hole 61 moves out of registry with suction recess 72 and is ready to move into registry with the compressed air recess 75 for recomrnencement of the filling cycle with a particular head in a fresh container. Each revolution of the valve element 53 provides a cycle like that just described.

The filling of each container thus occurs in a cycle like that described. Since a plurality of filling heads 15 are available, a plurality of containers C are undergoing respective stages of the described filling cycle at any particular time during their travel around on the platform 11 from its ingress location I to the egress location E.

In summarized fashion, the process of this invention is as follows with reference to FIGURE 1:

A particular container C which has a solid food pack therein has a filling head 15 lowered to a shallow depth into its open mouth to seal said container temporarily. The lower end of the filling head is blunt and may even be rounded to prevent piercing or abrasion of the solid food pack in the container.

Directly after its insertion into said particular container and the temporary sealing of the latter, an air blast from the compressor line 85 is delivered to the said particular ainer via the channel 38 and vent 38a of said par- 0 ticular head 15. This clears said channel and vent of any solid blocking material from a previous cycle.

Next the particular channel 38 is disconnected from compressor line and connected to suction line 76. This serves to evacuate air from the particular container and at the same time to suck filling liquid into said container from tank 48 via bore 33 and vent 34 of said particular filling head. This sucked-in fluid distributes itself in the container C and tends under gravity action to move toward the bottom of said container and into voids in the pack. However, this movement may be sluggish because of the viscosity of the liquid. To expedite the movement of said liquid, the suction connection to particular channel 38 is interrupted and the latter is connected to atmosphere. A surge of air then flows into the particular container C via channel 38 and its vent 38a. This surge accelerates fiow of the previously delivered liquid to the bottom of the container and into the voids in the pack, serving to tamp down the liquid thus far delivered.

Thereafter, the particular channel 38 is reconnected to vacuum via suction line 79. Flow of filling liquid from the supply source via bore 33 and vent 34 to the container is thus resumed. This resumed flow is now maintained until a required further amount or the remainder of 'desired liquid has been delivered to the container.

Then the suction connection to the particular channel 38 is again interrupted and it is again connected to atmosphere. A second surge of air then fiows into the particular container via said channel 33 and its vent 38a. This second surge accelerates tamping of the additional liquid delivered to the particular container into the remaining voids in the container. Italso breaks the vacuum in the container so that the particular filling head 15 now can be withdrawn from the said container. The liquid filled container is then removed from the machine for subsequent permanent capping. Although only two tamping operations have been described as effected by interruption of suction, it is to be understood that the tamping operation may be effected once or several times, it merely being necessary to modify the valving to fit the circumstances as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

After the filling of a particular container with the desired liquid including the repetitive tampings and also the removal of the filling head from a filled container, it is desirable to prevent drip of liquid from the removed head while it is idle prior to inserting into a new container. To this end, suction is again connected to channel 38 and its vent 38a from suction line 82 while the filling head is idle. This suction acts to prevent drip of residual liquid from the 'filling head while it is idle.

In the case of rotary filling machines, the cycle sequence described is effected continuously and sequentially on a plurality of containers with the aid of a valve device whose movable control part is rotated as the containers are moved around a substantially circular path on the rotating platform, as described. In the case of straightin-line filling machines, the filling cycle described occurs periodically and simultaneously in like manner to all of a group of containers located under a corresponding group of filling heads, the necessary successive steps of the cycle being controlled for each cycle by the rotation of the movable part of the valve device which in such event is rotated by an independent motor or manually.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, variations in detail within the scope of the appended claims are possible and are contemplated. There is no intention of limitation to the exact details shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A process of filling the voids in containers having portions of solid fill pack therein completely with liquid comprising the steps of temporarily closing off the solid fill bearing container, subjecting the container to suction to eliminate air therefrom, introducing filling liquid into the air evacuated container to partially fill it, interrupting the suction and admitting a surge of air at atmospheric pressure into the container to force the liquid so far introduced toward the bottom of the container and into voids within the container in a tamping action, reinstating suction in the container and resuming filling with said liquid under the reinstated suction, thereafter breaking the reinstated vacuum and subsequently permanently sealing the container.

2. A method for adding protective liquid to a container which has previously been filled with chunks of solid matter to eliminate voids and to insure continuous protective contact between the liquid and said chunks comprising providing a source of protective liquid, temporarily sealing the chunk-bearing container, applying suction to the temporarily sealed container to evacuate air therefrom and utilizing such suction to aspirate protective liquid from said source into said container to partially fill it, interrupting such suction to halt such aspiration and admitting a surge of air at atmospheric pressure into said container to provide a tamping action on the liquid thus far aspirated into said container to force such liquid into the voids and toward the bottom of the container, resuming the suction to provide additional aspiration of protective liquid from said source into said container in further partial filling of it, interrupting the resumed suction to halt such additional aspiration, admitting a further surge of air at atmospheric pressure to said container to provide additional tamping action on the liquid so far aspirated into the container and also break the temporary seal of said chunk-bearing container.

3. A process for filling completely with liquid the voids in containers having portions of solid fill pack therein comprising the steps of temporarily sealing the container, evacuating air from the container and thereby establishing a flow of said liquid into it under suction from a source, interrupting said flow after partial filling of the container and admitting a surge of air at atmospheric pressure into the container thereby to efiect a tamping action on the liquid thus far introduced into the container to force such liquid into the voids and also towards the bottom of the container, resuming evacuation of the air from said container and thereby re-establishing a flow of said liquid into it, continuing such resumed flow until liquid filling of the container is completed, thereafter again admitting a surge of air under atmospheric pressure into the container to break the vacuum therein and halt the flow of liquid fill thereto and also to break the temporary seal of said container and to effect a further tamping action on the liquid flowed into said container.

4. A method for filling with liquid a container having a pack of solid fill and voids therein to efiect substantially complete penetration of the voids and envelopment of the pack by said liquid comprising the steps of temporarily sealing the container, then by suction evacuating air from the container and establishing a flow of liquid from a source to said container by said suction to partially fill it, interrupting this flow by breaking the suction and admitting a surge of air into said container, said surge providing a tamping action accelerating movement of the liquid thus far flowed into the container toward the bottom thereof and into voids in the pack, then resuming evacuation of air from the container by renewed suction thereby resuming flow of liquid from said source to said container, maintaining the resumed flow of liquid by suction to completion of fill of the container with the liquid and then breaking the renewed suction by again admitting air into the container thus halting the resumed flow of liquid to said container and breaking the temporary sealing of the container, and thereafter permanently sealing the liquidfilled container.

5. A method for filling a container having a pack of solid fill and voids therein with liquid to effect substantially complete penetration of the voids and envelopment of the pack by said liquid comprising the steps of temporarily sealing the container, then evacuating air from the container and effecting a vacuum induced How of liquid from a source to said container to partially fill it, breaking the vacuum and halting filling flow of liquid, then admitting air into the container in a surge, said surge providing a tamping action accelarting movement of the liquid then present in the container toward the bottom thereof and into voids in the pack, then resuming evacuation of air from the container and thus -reestablishing flow of liquid from said source to said container, maintaining such reestablished flow of liquid to completion of fill of the container therewith and then breaking off evacuation and halting the re-established flow of liquid to said container by again admitting air into the said container.

6. Apparatus for filling the voids in containers having a pack of solid fill material therein comprising a source of filling liquid, a filling head having a passage for filling liquid from said source and a separate air introducing and removing passage, means for lowering said head over the open end of a container having portions of solid fill pack therein, means for temporarily sealing said open end, means for blowing air through said second-named passage to rid it of obstructions, means to apply suction via said second passage to evacuate air from said container and thereby effect a filling flow of liquid from said source via said first passage into said container, means for interrupting application of suction via said second passage and for admitting a surge of air via said second passage into said container to effect tamping action on the fluid introduced into the container toward the bottom of the latter and into voids in the pack Within the container, means for reinstating vacuum conditions in said container via said second passage and thereby effecting resumption of fill flow of fluid from said source to the container, and means for thereafter breaking the vacuum and then removing said filling head from said container.

7. In apparatus for filling with liquid a container hav ing a solid pack and voids therein, valving mechanism for controlling flow of filling liquid to the container, said mechanism including a rotary valve member having an opening and a channel connected to said opening, a bearing plate fixed to said valve member and having an 0pening aligned therewith, a stationary header, means for biasing said valve member and bearing plate against said header, said header having a group of elongated concentrically disposed recesses with each of which said hearing plate opening may register on rotation of said valve member and bearing plate, suction creating means connected to three non-contiguous ones of said recesses, positive air compressing means connected to another of said recesses, and atmospherically connected air openings for two others of said recesses, whereby during rotation of said rotary valve member said channel will cyclically have compressed air in it, suction, atmospheric air, suction, atmospheric air and suction.

8. Apparatus for filling with liquid a container having a pack of solid fill and voids therein to effect substantially complete penetration of the voids and envelopment of the pack by said liquid comprising a filling head, means for lowering said filling head to a shallow depth in said container above said pack, means for then temporarily sealing said container, a source of filling liquid, suction providing means, and compressed air supply means, said head having a first passage connected to said source, and a second passage, valving means for connecting said suction providing means, said compressed air supply means and atmosphere directly to said second passage in a cycle to provide compressed air clearance of said second passage after the temporary sealing of said container, then suction in said second passage to evacuate the sealed container and sucking into the container of filling liquid from the source via the first passage, then breaking of the suction and admission of air via the second passage into the container to provide tamping flow of the liquid to the bottom of the container and into voids in the pack, then re-establishment of suction in the second passage and reestablishment of flow of filling liquid via the first passage to the container to completion of fill of the container and then re-breaking of suction and cessation of filling liquid flow and re-admission of air to the container and the breaking of the temporary seal of the container.

9. Apparatus for filling with liquid, a container having a pack of solid fill with voids therein to effect substantially complete penetration of the voids and envelopment of the pack by said liquid comprising a filling head having a passage for filling liquid with a discharge vent, and having a second passage for withdrawal of air from the container during one phase of operation and for introducing air into the container in another phase of operation, means for lowering said head to shallow depth into said container above said pack, means on said head for then temporarily sealing said container, means for blowing a jet of compressed air through said second passage to rid it of obstructions, a source of filling liquid, means for withdrawing air from said container via said second passage thereby providing suction conditions in said container and establishing a flow of filling liquid from said source into said container via said first passage, means for interrupting said withdrawal of air and said flow of liquid and for admitting air to said container in a surge via said second passage, means for resuming withdrawal of air from said container via said second passage and reestablishing flow of filling liquid from said source into said container via said first passage to completion of fill of the container with said liquid, means for then interrupting said resumed withdrawal of air and again admitting air into said container via said second passage thereby again halting flow of filling liquid via said first passage and means for then withdrawing the filling head from said container. 5 10. In apparatus for filling with protective liquid from a source, a container having a pack of solid fill with voids therein to effect substantially complete penetration of the voids and protective envelopment of the pack by said liquid comprising a filling head, means for inserting said head to a shallow depth in said container, means for effecting a vacuum induced filling fiow of liquid from said source via said head into said container, means for interrupting the vacuum induced flow of said liquid and providing a surge of air into said container to tam-p the already delivered liquid into voids in the pack and toward the bottom of the container, means for then resuming vacuum induced filling flow of liquid from said source via said head into said container, means for thereafter interrupting the resumed flow of liquid, means for then removing said head from said container, and means for preventing drip of said liquid from said head on such removal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,584,324 5/1926 Risser 141-59 X 2,543,788 3/1951 Loveland 14159 X 2,698,123 12/1954 Trotter 141-59 X 2,837,127 6/1958 Luther 14112 3,105,525 10/1963 Boucher 14161 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.