US3645303A

US3645303A - Filling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3645303A
Application number: US70125A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sidney T Carter
Original assignee: ATO Inc
Current assignee: Scott Technologies Inc
Priority date: 1970-09-08
Filing date: 1970-09-08
Publication date: 1972-02-29
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-28
Also published as: GB1358198A; FR2106272A5; BR7105913D0

Abstract

In a filling machine comprising a plurality of filling head assemblies movable along a predetermined path, each filling head assembly including a telescopically associated nozzle and sealing member adapted to be moved downwardly in unison toward a bottle supported therebelow to introduce the nozzle into the bottle and apply the seal to the top of the bottle, cam means for controlling the movement of the nozzle and sealing member to cause the nozzle of each assembly to be lowered into the bottle to an initial position such as to effect rapid filling without foaming up to the neck and then while raising the nozzle from such position to effect withdrawal from the neck but before breaking the seal effecting final filling to a predetermined final level without overfill, thereby to provide for a maximum rate of filling per filling head and means for adjusting the cam means during the operation of the machine by means of which the initial filling and final filling positions of the nozzles may be altered during operation to adjust the level of the final fill without altering the capacity of the machine for filling.

Description

United States Patent Carter 51 Feb. 29, 1972 [54} FILLING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Sidney T. Carter, Schrewsbury, Mass. [73] Assignee: A-T-O Inc, Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 70,125

[52] U.S. Cl. ..14l/7, 141/59 [51] Int. Cl. ...B65b 1/04, B65b 3/04 [58] Field 01 Search ..l4l/l,4-8,37-64, 141/128, 144-152, 165, 177, 181, 182, 295, 263, 264, 266, 275,276, 278, 288, 312, 372, 374, 376,

Primary Examiner1-louston S. Bell, Jr. Attomey-Roberts, Cushman & Grover [57] ABSTRACT In a filling machine comprising a plurality of filling head as semblies movable along a predetermined path, each filling head assembly including a telescopically associated nozzle and sealing member adapted to be moved downwardly in unison toward a bottle supported therebelow to introduce the nozzle into the bottle and apply the seal to the top of the bottle, cam means for controlling the movement of the nozzle and sealing member to cause the nozzle of each assembly to be lowered into the bottle to an initial position such as to effect rapid filling without foaming up to the neck and then while raising the nozzle from such position to effect withdrawal from the neck but before breaking the seal effecting final filling to a predetermined final level without overfill, thereby to provide for a maximum rate of filling per filling head and means for adjusting the cam means during the operation of the machine by means of which the initial filling and final filling positions of the nozzles may be altered during operation to adjust the level of the final fill without altering the capacity of the machine for filling.

69 Claims, 37 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB29IB72 sum 020F 14 PATENTEUFEB 29 I972 SHEET UUUF 14 PATENTEDFEB 29 I972 SHEET USUF 14 PAIENTEflFEsze I972 SHEET USUF 14 PAIENTEOFB29 m2 SHEET USUF 14 PATENTEUFEB29 I972 SHEET IUUF 14 PATENTEDFEB 29 I972 SHEET 120F 14 PATENTEDFEB 2 9 I972 SHEET l'HJF 14 FILLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a filling machine operating on the vacuum principle the tip of the nozzle must be within the container (bottle) and the container must be sealed airtight before filling begins.

Usually the sealing means would comprise a mass of soft resilient material which must be kept under heavy pressure to prevent entry of ambient air during the actual filling operation. The seal must continue to be effective even though the position of the nozzle tip within the the bottle may change during filling, and the seal must remain operative until filling is complete.

In a high-speed rotary machine the bottle travels along a circular are while filling takes place,-the segment of the circular arc which must be reserved for the reception of the bottle and its discharge, when filled, must be made as short as possible in order to reserve sufficient of the path for the actual filling operation. Thus the time taken for introducing the bottle; inserting the filling tube; establishing the vacuum, and the reverse operation of withdrawing the nozzle; removing the seal and discharging the bottle must necessarily be very short. Thus the designer of a machine of this type is confronted with several serious problems; for example, a minor problem is that of applying the requisite pressure to the sealing element in the very short period of time available, without an attendant shock such as to endanger breaking of the bottle. This, among other problems, has been solved satisfactorily according to the present invention by causing the seal first to come into contact with the bottle by the action of gravity rather than by the application of mechanical force, and then to apply force to the resilient seal to assure leaktight contact. Other problems have been solved by arranging the seal to slide, airtight relative to the nozzle.

The basic advantage of the sliding seal is that it allows the filled height to be changed while the machine is in motion. Particular advantages of the sliding seal are that the base of the bottle may be used as the reference level from which the filled level is measured, thus providing for uniform filling even though bottles vary in height. By the use of appropriate means such, for example, as hereinafter described, the tip of the filling tube may be located, when filling starts, at a relatively low position in the bottle, thus to facilitate fast filling, and it may remain at that position in the bottle for a period of approximately three-fourths of the filling cycle and then be raised to a final filled height at which the filling operation is completed,all without raising the sliding seal from the bottle or breaking the vacuum. The present invention provides simple mechanism (in several embodiments) whereby most of the problems to be met by the designer have been solved.

Among the several embodiments of the invention is one above referred to wherein the actual delivery of fluid from the nozzle is governed by a sleeve valve slidable relatively to the nozzle and which prevents discharge of liquid from the nozzle until the nozzle tip is within the bottle, but opens automatically as the tip enters the bottle.

SUMMARY The filling head of the present invention is designed for use in a bottle-filling machine of the type wherein liquid is aspirated into the bottle in response to the establishment of subatmospheric pressure in the bottle and wherein a bottle to be filled travels along a predetermined path and remains at the same level while being filled and then continues along the same path to a discharge position. A plurality of such heads are supported for rotation in unison with a support on which empty bottles are continuously loaded for filling and from which filled bottles are removed following filling and in accordance with this invention each filling head assembly includes a telescopically associated nozzle and sealing member adapted to be moved downwardly in unison toward bottles supported therebelow to introduce the nozzles into the bottles and apply the seals to the top of the bottles. During such rotational movement of the heads and bottles, cams provided for this purpose are arranged to control the movement of the nozzles and sealing members to cause the nozzle of each assembly to be lowered to a predetermined initial position such as to effect rapid filling without foaming up to the neck and then while raising the nozzle from said initial position to effect withdrawal from the neck but before breaking the seal effecting final filling to a predetermined final filling level without overfill thereby to provide for a maximum rate of filling per filling head. Manually operable means is provided for raising and lowering the cams during operation of the machine by means of which the initial filling and final filling positions of the nozzles may be altered during operation to adjust the level of final filling without altering the capacity of the machine. Each filling head comprises an elongate vertical nozzle which is rigidly attached to a vertically movable assembly being raised to inoperative position by a cam but moving down to dispose the nozzle tip in filling position solely by the action of gravity. The elongate vertical nozzle has therein passages for air and liquid respectively, said passages leading to orifices at or adjacent to the tip of the nozzle. A sealing assembly, coaxial with the nozzle, is slidable relatively to the nozzle but in airtight relation to the noule, said sealing device being provided with a sealing member which, by contact with the top of the bottle, prevents leakage of air into the bottle. The sealing assembly, when the filling head is in inoperative position, is spaced from the tip of the nozzle a distance which is desirably somewhat less than the distance between the top of the bottle and the inlet port of the vacuum passage of the nozzle during the filling operation.

The nozzle assembly and sealing member move downwardly concomitantly from the inoperative position until the sealing member is stopped by contact with the bottle top and subjected to pressure. The nozzle assembly continues to move down and moves the nozzle through the sealing member to enter the bottle, whereupon fill starts. The nozzle tip continues to move downwardly until it arrives at the initial filling position where it remains until the level of the liquid reaches the inlet of the vacuum passage in the nozzle. The nozzle tip then rises to a predetermined final position and dwells while the liquid rises into the neck of the bottle. When the liquid reaches the aforesaid predetermined final position of the nozzle, the nozzle rises, whereupon the sealing member is removed from the bottle and returned to its initial position relatively to the nozzle tip.

In one embodiment the sealing member is subject to pressure by cam means and in another embodiment pressure is applied to the sealing member through the instrumentality of a device which frictionally grips the stem of the nozzle assembly.

In another embodiment the nozzle is provided with a sleeve valve, movable lengthwise of the nozzle tube, whereby the actual delivery of fluid from the nonle is governed, without reference to the valve which controls the supply of fluid to the nozzle. A sleeve valve such as that just referred to is advantageous, as compared with other types of valve, in that neither the valve itself not the means for actuating the valve uses any substantial part of the space reserved for the reception of the nozzle.

Desirable embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation illustrating one embodiment of the improved filling head, partly in section, shown in the inoperative position but axially aligned with a bottle in readiness to be filled;

FIG. 2 is an elevation in a plane at right angles to that of FIG. 1, showing the parts in the same position relative to the bottle to be filled;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIG. 2, showing successive positions of the filling head relative to the bottle, FIG. 3 showing the centering member about to engage the top of the bottle, the tip of the filling nozzle about to enter the neck and the sealing member still elevated; and FIG. 4 showing the centering member engaged with the bottle, the filling nozzle located in the neck at the point most desirable to prevent foaming and the sealing member engaged with the top of the bottle;

FIG. 5 is a section through the filling nozzle assembly illustrating one desirable form of the filling tube;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary diametrical section of the lower part of the filling nozzle assembly with the filling tube removed;

FIG. 7 is a diametrical section at the tip of the filling nozzle tube;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the filling nozzle tube of FIG. 5, showing the vacuum and liquid ports;

FIG. 10 is an elevation of the support on which the filling head is mounted;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view showing the support of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a diametrical section, to larger scale, partly in elevation, showing a sealing assembly separated from the filling head assembly;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the sealing assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the top of the sealing assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a modification of the sealing as sembly of FIG. 12 provided with an upper clamping member;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in FIG. 15, as seen in the direction of the lines 16-16;

FIG. 17 is a diametrical section, to larger scale, partly in elevation, illustrating a bottle-centering assembly;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary bottom view of the centering assembly of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the top of the centering assembly of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a view of a modified form of filling head assembly with the filling nozzle and sealing member in inoperative position;

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 20 wherein the sealing member is engaged with the top of the bottle and the filling nozzle is lowered into the bottle;

FIG. 22 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, illustrating a filling head in which the sealing assembly is controlled by a fixed cam and the filling nozzle includes a sleeve valve;

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22, showing the tip of the filling nozzle located within the neck of the bottle and the sleeve valve retracted to expose the delivery ports at the tip of the nozzle;

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 20, showing the sleeve valve embodied in a filling head of the kind in which the sealing assembly is actuated by frictional engagement with the filling nozzle assembly;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24, but showing the tip of the nozzle within the neck of the bottle and the sleeve valve retracted so that the delivery ports at the end of the nozzle are open;

FIG. 26 is a diametrical section of the sleeve valve assembly for controlling the discharge of fluid from the filling nozzle as embodied in a filling head of the kind in which the sealing assembly is controlled by a cam;

FIG. 27 is a plan view at the top of the assembly shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a bottom view of the assembly shown in FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a view generally similar to FIG. 26, but illustrating a sleeve valve assembly designed for use in a filling head of the kind in which the sealing assembly is actuated by friction means;

FIG. 30 is a plan view of the top of the assembly shown in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a vertical section showing a modified'form of filling nozzle assembly;

FIG. 32 is a fragmentary section, to much larger scale, at the lower part of the nozzle shown in FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating, partly in section, the frame of the filling machine by meansof which the filling head assemblies and bottles are supported in relation to each other;

FIG. 34 is a plan view, to much smaller scale, from the top of the apparatus showing the path of movement of the filling head assemblies and bottles during the filling operation and the means for delivering empty bottles to the apparatus for filling and removing filled bottles therefrom;

FIG. 35 is a diagrammatic developed elevation showing a filling head assembly in relation to a bottle asit moves circula.rIy through a filling cycle;

FIG. 36 is a similar diagrammatic developed elevation in which the sealing assembly is actuated by a cam and in which a sleeve valve is provided; and

FIG. 37 is a diagrammatic developed elevation showing a filling head assembly of the type in which the sealing assembly is actuated by friction and which also includes a bottle-centering assembly and sleeve valve for controlling fluid delivery.

The machine herein illustrated is designed to fill a succession of containers delivered thereto by a conveyor and after filling to be removed therefrom by another conveyor. The number of filling heads will be determined by the size of the machine and/or the need for a particular installation and each filling head, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a filling noz zle assembly 10 by means of which a liquid is delivered to and injected into a bottle or other container, a sealing assembly 12 arranged to seal the open top of the bottle during the injection and optionally a centering assembly 14 operable to center the tops of the bottles with respect to the filling nozzle assembly and sealing assembly. The

aforesaid assemblies

10, 12 and 14 are mounted on a vertically disposed hanger 16 for vertical movement from an elevated position above the top of a container, as herein illustrated a bottle 18, to a depressed position as illustrated in FIG. 4, in operative relation to the top of the bottle.

Each filling nozzle assembly (FIG. 5) .comprises an elongate externally smooth, cylindrical filling tube 20 having fixed to its lower end a delivery cap 22 (FIG. 7) provided with small, downwardly divergent ports 2424 and a central port 26. The divergent ports 24--24 at the tip of the filling tube nonnally allow fluid to flow in response to pressure on the liquid or a vacuum in the bottle but are so small that when there is no pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the bottle, surface tension prevents flow. Within the filling tube 20 there is arranged an interior tube 28 of smaller diameter, providing an axial vacuum passage 30 communicating, at its lower end, with the central port 26, and which provides means by which air may be withdrawn from the bottle being filledthe annular space 32 between the filling tube 20 and the interior tube 28 providing a flow channel through which liquid may reach the ports 24-24 to discharge and divert the jet into the bottle.

If desired, the interior tube 28 may be eccentric to the filling tube 20 and the central port 26 may then be placed in the side wall of the filling tube 20 and slightly spaced from the extreme end thereof as will be described hereinafter.

The upper portion of the filling tube 20 is fitted, leaktight into a rigid sleeve member 34 whose upper portion is secured, leaktight, within a chamber 36 (FIG. 5) in the body portion 38 of the nozzle assembly 10, comprising an elongate cylindrical stem 42 coaxial with the filling tube 20. The body portion 38 (FIG. 6) is provided with a passage 44, opening into the upper par off the chamber 36, to which there is connected the end portion of a rigid tube 46. A flexible tube 46' connected to the tube 46 provides for delivery of liquid from a supply (not shown) through the tub 46 i0 the chamber 36 and from thence into the passage 32 into the filling tube.

The chamber 36 in the body portion 38 (FIG. 6) has an upward extension 48 of smaller diameter in which the upper end of the interior tube 28 fits leaktight and with which there communicates the passage 50 which receives the end of a rigid tube 52 to which there is connected a flexible tube 52' which, in turn, provides a connection to an air pump or to a chamber (not shown) in which subatmospheric pressure is maintained.

Air from within the bottle being filled may be withdrawn through the central port 26 at the lower end of the interior tube and upwardly through the passage 30 into the tube 52.

The body portion 38 of the nozzle assembly is provided with a radial socket 54 which receives a stub shaft 56 on which there freely turns a cam follower roll 58 which is engageable with a normally stationary cam M (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) so contoured as to raise the nozzle assembly at certain times during the travel of the bottle and at other times to permit the nozzle assembly to descend by gravity until the tip portion of the filling tube is down in the bottle at a predetermined filling position.

As shown, the body portion 38 is integral with the stem 42, preferably joining the latter, as shown in FIG. 5, so as to provide a concave fillet 60. At its upper end the stem 42 has a collar 62 fixed thereto by a thumbscrew or setscrew 63, the collar being engageable, at times, with a limiting stop to terminate downward movement of the filling tube thereby determining the filling position of the nozzle tip. By adjustment of the collar on the stem a limiting position of the nozzle tip may be altered to adjust the filling position for best operation depending upon the geometry of the bottle being filled and the foam ing characteristics of the liquid.

The nozzle assembly 10 is supported on the hanger 16 by a horizontally disposed bracket plate 64 bolted to the top of the hanger and spaced parallel guides 66-66 (FIG. 11) bolted to the face of the hanger. The bracket plate 64 contains a vertical opening 68 for slidably receiving the stem 42 and the guides 6666, as shown in FIG. 11, contain vertically disposed, spaced parallel grooves 69-69 for slidably receiving oppositely disposed lugs 7070 on the body portion 38. The hanger 16 contains a vertically elongate slot 72 through which the

flexible tubes

46 and 52 are adapted to extend and to be free to move vertically with the nozzle assembly.

The sealing assembly 12 is supported in concentric relation to the filling tube 20 and comprises, as shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, top and

bottom members

74 and 76, respectively, which are rigidly united and held in spaced relation by parallel rods 78. The upper ends of the rods 78 are secured in diametrically opposite screw-threaded bores in the member 74 and their shouldered lowered ends are screw-threaded and secured by nuts 80 in diametrically opposite hole in the member 76. The member 74 (FIG. 12) has a bore 82 for the reception of the stem 42 of the nozzle assembly and the member 76 has a bore 84 having a circumferential groove 86 (FIG. 12) which receives an O-ring 88 operative to make a leaktight sliding contact with the filling tube 20. The member 76 has an integral, downwardly directed nipple 90 coaxial with the bore 84 to which the upper portion of a sealing member 92 is permanently secured. The sealing member 92 is a thick, softly resilient sleeve, for example, of rubber, having a bore through which the filling tube 20 passes and is frictionally engaged. The lower edge of the sealing member when pressed into contact with the bottle top is effective to prevent leakage of air into the bottle.

The upper member 74 of the sealing assembly is provided with lugs 94-94 (FIG. 14) which slide in the grooves 69-69 of the guides 66-66 shown in FIG. 11. The upper member 74 of the sealing assembly has a radial stub shaft 96 on which there is freely tumable a cam follower roll 98 adapted by engagement with the stationary cam M1 to, at times, hold the sealing assembly in tight engagement with the top of the bottle.

Optionally, as heretofore related, a container-centering assembly 14 may be employed (FIGS. 17, 18 and 19) comprising an upper member 100 and a lower member 102, these parts being rigidly connected in spaced parallel relation by parallel rods 104 whose lower ends are fixed in sockets in the part 102 and whose upper, shouldered ends pass through diametrically opposed holes in the member 100 and are held secured therein by nuts 106. The member 100 has a central bore 108 of a diameter such as to receive the stem 42 of the nozzle assembly with a sliding fit-this bore 108 flaring downwardly in diameter as shown at 110 to accommodate the fillet 60 (FIG. 5) at the junction of the stem 42 with the body portion 38"of the nozzle assembly. The lower member 102 contains a central opening 112 which is of a diameter less than that of the top of the bottleneck but flares downwardly at 114 to provide a beveled edge for engagement with the edge of the bottle top thereby to assist in centering the bottle accurately with reference to the nozzle.

Since the bore 108 in the member receives the stem portion 42 of the nozzle assembly with a sliding fit but is not large enough to receive the body portion 38, the contact of the fillet 60 of the nozzle assembly with the surface of the member 100 serves to lift the centering assembly 14 when the nozzle assembly is moved upwardly from operative position thus freeing the bottle from the centering assembly. On the other hand, the centering assembly is permitted to move downwardly freely into a position to contact the top of the bottle as the nozzle tipis lowered toward the bottle.

When the nozzle assembly is in the inoperative elevated position relative to the bottle, as shown in FIG. 2, the centering member 102 is at an elevation above the level of the bottle top such as to permit a bottle to be moved laterally into axial alignment with the filling tube preparatory to the filling operation. At this time, also, the sealing assembly is elevated and, in particular, the sealing sleeve 92 is spaced above the tip of the nozzle tube.

As pointed out above, the centering assembly 14 is a desirable element; however, it is now necessary to the operation which would not be impaired if the assembly was omitted.

Assuming that the bottle and the filling tube are coaxial and in readiness for the beginning of the filling operation, as shown in FIG. 2, downward movement of the nozzle assembly permits the sealing assembly 12 and the centering assembly 14 to begin to move downwardly by gravity, the sealing member 92 due to its frictional engagement with the filling tube 20 being held up in its inoperative position. Since the member 102 of the centering assembly is lowest it will precede the sealing assembly and filling tube and the beveled surface 114 of the member 102 will accurately center the top of the bottle relative to the filling tube. The tip of the filling tube will enter the bottle neck but the sealing member 92 will be stopped by contact with the bottle top. The filling tube will continue to move down as permitted by the shape of the cam M so that the tip of the filling tube will enter the neck of the bottle (FIG. 4), leaving the sealing member 92 in contact with the top edge of the bottle neck. The tip of the filling tube continues to move downwardly relative to the sealing member 92 until stopped by engagement of the collar 62 with the bracket plate 64the tip of the filling tube now being at a predetermined filling position which may be such that the liquid discharged from the nozzle and which is directed diagonally outwardly by the ports 24-24 contacts the inner surface of the bottle in a direction such as to minimize foaming. During this latter downward motion of the filling tube the sealing member 92 is substantially compressed by engagement of the follower 98 with the cam M1 thus forming a firm leaktight seal wit the top of the bottle.

Assuming that the tube 52 above described has been connected to a source of low pressure, air will have been entering the central port 26 at the tip of the filling tube but without substantial effect until the sealing member 92 has finnly contacted the top of the bottle whereupon evacuation of the'bottle commences with the result that the liquid is aspirated from the supply through the tube 46 and flows through the annular space 32 in the filling tube for discharge through the ports 2424.

If it be assumed that, in accordance with customary practice in the vacuum filling of bottles, the liquid is supplied through the tube 46 to a container from which air is being withdrawn, the filling operation will continue until the liquid rises to the tip of the filling tube 20, whereupon liquid will commence to be withdrawn from the bottle through the passage 30 substantially as fist as it enters the bottle thus maintaining a constant level in the bottle.

The contour of the cam M is such that when the filling operation is nearly complete it raises the nozzle assembly to a position corresponding to the desired filling height of the liquid in the bottle and eventually withdraws the nozzle from the bottle. Until this latter time the sealing member 92 will have been kept in contact with the bottle by the engagement of the cam Ml with the cam roll 98. When the bottle is finally filled the filling tube continues its upward motion while the cam roll 98, which controls the sealing assembly, is released from the cam M1 and the sealing assembly, due to its frictional engagement with the filling tube, will now move upwardly concomitantly with the upward movement of the nozzle assembly until the upper member 74 of the sealing assembly comes into contact with the bracket plate 64. The cam M continues the upward movement of the nozzle assembly thereby restoring the sealing assembly to its original position relative to the tip of the filling tube so that the assemblies are in readiness for the start of the next filling cycle. An important advantage of this type of arrangement as above pointed out, is the ability to adjust he final filling height without disturbing the sealing member 92 on the bottle while the apparatus is in operation. This is accomplished by adjusting the heightwise position of the cam M.

In the arrangement as thus described it is necessary to provide two cams M, M1 in performing the cycles related above. In a similar but modified form of the above apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a single cam M2 and a weight 116 are employed.

In this arrangement the collar 62 at the upper end of the stem 42 of the noule assembly constitutes a support for the weight which has a central aperture 118 which receives the upward extension of the stem 42 and a chamber 117 in its lower face for reception of the collar 62. In these views the bottle-centering assembly is omitted for simplicity in description but such a centering assembly, as that previously described may be provided when desired.

In this embodiment the sealing assembly 12 is substantially like that previously described and illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, differing therefrom in that the upper member 120 (FIGS. 15 and 16) has a central bore 122 for reception of the stem 42 of the nozzle assembly and is radially split to form two

separate jaws

124 and 126 which may be drawn together by a screw 128 so as to frictionally clamp the member 120 to the stem 42 of the nozzle assembly with a friction force sufficient to cause the sealing assembly to move with the stem 42, except for the provision of means whereby, at times, it may be constrained to slip relatively to the stem. A sleeve 123 may be provided to afford greater frictional contact with the stem 42.

Referring again to FIGS. 20 and 21, it may be assumed that the nozzle assembly is in the inoperative position as shown in FIG. 20, the weight 1 16 resting on the collar 62 at the top of the stem 42 and being located at a substantial distance above the bracket member 64. In this position the tip of the filling tube 20 is directly above the bottle top and in readiness to be moved downwardly into the neck of the bottle while the lower edge of the sealing member 92 is spaced a substantial distance above the central port 26 of the vacuum passage 30 of the filling tube. The roll 58 which is carried by the body portion 38 of the nozzle assembly engages the cam M2 as above described and because of its contour allows the nozzle assembly to drop downwardly (FIG. 21) to introduce thefilling tube into the neck of the bottle.

The clamping engagement of the upper member 120 of the sealing assembly by frictional engagement with the stem 42 moves downwardly together with the nozzle assembly until the downward movement of the sealing assembly is arrested by contact with the top of the bottle where it is held in leaktight engagement. Contact of the collar 62 with the bracket plate 64 limits downward movement of the filling tube thus determining the initial position of the tip of the filling tube for the filling operation. As related heretofore, the initial position of the tip of the filling tube may be adjusted by adjustment of the collar 62 on the stem'42. As the nozzle assembly nears the discharge position, when the liquid reaches the central port 26 at the lower end of the vacuum passage 30 there results an idle circulation of the liquid from the supply tank to the bottle and back again. The contour of the cam M2 is such that as the nozzle assembly is raised to the level at which the liquid is to be filled, the weight 116 is lifted from the bracket plate 64 while keeping the sealing member 92 compressed. The cam M2 is adjustable heightwise to enable adjusting the level of cutoff and hence the final. fill level. When the filling is complete the nozzle begins to rise and the member 120, because of its frictional engagement with the stem 42 lifts the sealing member 92 from the bottle until the sealing assembly engages the bracket member 64. The sealing member remains operative during the initial upward movement until the pressure is completely removed. Upward motion of the nozzle assembly continues, the stem 42 sliding relative to the sealing assembly until the nozzle tip is restored to its initial position with the nozzle assembly and sealing assembly in the relative positions shown in FIG. 20. In this arrangement the sealing member 92 is held in sealing contact with the top of the bottle by the gripping action of the member 120 so that only one cam is required.

FIGS. 22 to 32, inclusive, relate to an embodiment of the invention wherein the nozzle assembly 10 is provided with an automatic valve which, at times, closes the ports at the tip of the filling tube.

In FIG. 22 there is illustrated a filling head which is generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 and wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts'but wherein the nonle assembly comprises a filling tube 200 having ports 22a and 240 at its lower end and a sleeve valve such as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32. This sleeve valve is operative to control the delivery of fluid from the port 24a at the lower end of the filling tube and is disposed exteriorly of the filling tube 200 in telescoping relation thereto. The sleeve valve 130 (FIG. 26) comprises an assembly embodying an upper member 132 and a lower member 134 which are rigidly united in spaced relation by rods 136. The upper member 132 has a central opening 138 of a diameter such as to receive the stem 42 of the nozzle assembly with a free sliding fit, while the lower member 134 has a central bore 140 provided with a groove 142 for reception of an O-n'ng 144. The upper end of the valve sleeve 130 is fixed in the bore 140 of the lower member 134. This sleeve is of an internal diameter such as to have a sliding fit on the filling tube 20a. When the valve sleeve 130 is in the position shown in FIG. 22, it completely closes the

ports

22a and 24a at the lower end of the filling tube through which liquid is normally discharged and air evacuated from the container. At this position the nozzle assembly is fully retracted, the roller 58 resting on the upper surface of the cam M2; The sealing assembly if also fully retracted with the upper member 74 in contact with the undersurface of the bracket plate 64. In this position the valve sleeve is held closed by its own weight and by frictional engagement of its lower end with the O-ring 228 (FIGS. 31 and 32). This prevents escape of liquid from the supply through the filling tube.

As shown in FIGS. 23 and 36, the nozzle assembly has been permitted to move down by the cam M2 so that the tip of the filling tube is within the bottle. After the tip of the filling tube enters the bottle the sealing member 92 is stopped by the bottle top and the valve sleeve 130 moves down through the seal with the filling tube until the lower member 134 contacts the member 76, arresting the valve sleeve, whereupon the filling tube 2011 continues downward due to its own weight and the shape of the cam M2, exposing the

ports

22a and 24a until 62 contacts 64 limiting the downward movement of the filling tube 20a to the initial filling position.

As the nozzles as shown in FIG. 36 progress through the cycle and arrive at position IV, the cam follower 146- contacts cam M4 to raise the complete nozzle assembly up to the final fill height. This is accomplished due to the fact that the lower part 134 of the valve sleeve contacts the body portion 38 of the nozzle assembly. The

ports

22a and 24a will remain open and the sealing member 92 confined by cam M3 will remain in contact with the bottle top to allow filling at the final fill height.

At position V cam follower 58 attached to nozzle body 38 contacts cam M2 and cam follower 146 attached to sleeve valve 130 is released by cam M4 and restrained from upward movement by resilient cam M5. As cam follower 58 moves upward due to cam M2 contour, the

ports

22a and 24a are closed and flow of liquid is stopped. Since, at this point, sealing member 92 has also been released by cam M3, the complete nozzle assembly will travel upward to the inoperative position. The collar 62 is adjustable to determine the lower limit for best filling and the cams M2 and M4 are adjustable to determine the level of cutoff and hence the fill height.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show a filling head generally similar to that of FIGS. 20 and 21 in which the sealing assembly is actuated by friction means rather than by a cam but includes a sleeve valve 130 operative, at times, to close the delivery ports at the tip of the nozzle. In FIGS. 24 and 25 parts corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 bear the same reference characters. The sleeve valve 130 comprises an assembly (FIG. 29) embodying an upper member 150 and a lower member 152-these members being held in spaced relation by rods 154. The valve sleeve 130 is secured at its upper end in a central bore 156 in the lower member 152-this bore having an interior circumferential groove 158 for an O-ring 160. The valve sleeve 130 is of a diameter to receive the filling tube 20a with a leaktight sliding fit. The upper member 150 has a stub shaft 162 (FIG. 30) on which is mounted a cam follower roll 164.

The upper member 150 also contains a central bore 166 in which is fitted the lower end of a tubular actuating stem 168 which is of an internal diameter to receive the stem 42 of the nozzle assembly with a sliding fit. In this embodiment the upper member 120 of the sealing assembly comprises a clamp as illustrated in FIG. which embraces the actuating stem 168 of the valve assembly.

As in the arrangement of FIGS. and 21, the upper end of the stem 42 of the nozzle assembly is provided with a weight 116. FIG. 24 shows the parts in their inoperative position with the tip of the filling tube 20a spaced above the top of the bottie; with the sealing member 92 above the tip of the nozzle; and with the valve sleeve 130 extending downwardly so as to close the

ports

22a and 24a at the nozzle tip. At this time the roller 58 rests on the cam M6 and holds the parts in their inoperative positionthe weight 116 being held elevated above the bracket plate 64 and the cam follower roll 164 of the sleeve valve assembly being held out of contact with its cam M6 by the frictional engagement of its lower end with the O- ring 228 (FIGS. 31 and 32). This prevents escape of liquid from the supply through the filling tube. When the cam follower roll 58 descends from the cam M6 the complete nozzle assembly drops down. The sealing member 92 is stopped by engagement with the top of the bottle; however, the sleeve valve 130 will slide through the sealing member and continue downward with the filling tube until the lower member 152 of the sleeve valve contacts 76 where the sleeve valve 130 will be arrested but the nozzle assembly will continue downward to expose the

ports

22a and 24a. The added weight 116 mounted on 42 is sufiicient to compress the sealing member due to the contact of the lower part of nozzle body 38 with 152 and 152 with 76.

The parts remain in this relative position with the

ports

22a and 24a open while the liquid in the bottle rises. As filling nears completion the cam M8, which is adjustable heightwise, raises the sleeve valve 130 which due to 152 being in contact with the lower portion of the nozzle body 38 also raises the nozzle tip keeping the

ports

22a and 24a open to the predetermined final fill height where it dwells. At this position the cam follower roll 164 of the sleeve valve assembly contacts a cam M7 which temporarily prevents the sleeve valve assembly from rising thus maintaining the sealing member 92 in contact with the bottle top. Following filling the cam follower roll 58 raises the filling tube, closing the

ports

22a and 244, up out of the bottle while the member 120, gripping the stem 168, lifts the sealing member 92 from the bottle and as the cam follower roll 164 has now moved out of engagement with the cam M7, the valve sleeve is carried upwardly until the member 120 of the sealing assembly engages the bracket plate 64 thus restoring the parts to the inoperative position. Heightwise adjustment of the cam M8 controls the level of cutofi and hence the fill height.

In the preferred form of the invention a plurality of filling heads are supported by their hanger plates 16 peripherally of a turret (FIG. 33) for rotation about a vertical axis within a frame 172 comprising a bottom plate 174 and a top plate 126 held in spaced parallel relation by vertical, peripherally spaced posts 178. The lower ends of the posts 178 extend through the bottom plate and provide legs which support the structure from the floor. A bottle support 180 is also mounted on the frame for rotation about a vertical axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the turret 170 and is guided during such rotation by a plurality of peripherally spaced rollers 182 which are supported in engagement with the peripheral edge of the support by brackets 184 fastened to the post. The several cams referred to above, to wit, cams M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7 and M8 are adjustably mounted on the posts 178 by means of thumb screws or set screws 179 as illustrated in FIG. 23. By the simple expedient of loosening the thumb screw, the brackets 177, to which the cams are secured, may be pushed upwardly or downwardly on the posts. If desired, split brackets may be employed provided with a thumb screw or set screw for binding them on the posts.

Bottles are moved into the bottle support 174 for filling and off of the bottle support following filling by conventional feeding and discharge means as shown in FIG. 34, comprising a screw 186 and a star wheel 188 for moving the bottles in proper spacing onto the support, and a star wheel 190 and screw 192 for moving the bottles off of the support.

For clarity in understanding the successive operations the machine is shown diagrammatically (FIG. 35) developed in a flat plane showing a single filling head 10 and a series of stations 1 to V1, inclusive, as it moves from the bottle-receiving position to the bottle-discharge position. At station I the filling tube is at its most elevated position and within the centering member 102 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The bottle 18 is shown positioned in axial alignment with the filling tube 20, with its top spaced below the centering member 102, the bottle resting upon the rotating support 180. The cam follower roll 58 of the nozzle assembly is resting on the upper edge 194 of the stationary cam M and the collar 62 secured to the upper end of the stem 42 is located at a substantial distance above the upper surface of the bracket plate 64. As the filling head travels to the left, the cam follower 58 moving along the upper edge 194 of the cam M arrives at the position shown at station II with no change in the relative position of the parts. The cam follower 98, which is mounted on the upper member 74 of the sealing assembly is carried along with the filling head at its elevated position due to frictional engagement of the sealing member 92 with the filling tube 20, until the filling head arrives at station III. In passing from station II to station III, the nozzle assembly moves downwardly, as permitted by the slope 196 of the cam M, permitting the centering member 102 to move down by its own weight into contact with the bottle top and projecting the tip of the filling tube downwardly into the bottle until at station IV further downward movement of the filling tube is prevented by engagement of the collar 62 with the fixed bracket plate 64. Also, as the filling assembly moves from station III to station IV, the cam follower roll 98 runs under the fixed cam M1 and pushes the sealing member 92 down into leaktight contact with the top of the bottle. As the filling head continues to move along the circular path of rotation of the turret it will approach station V, shown at the right side of FIG. 35, nearing the completion of the cycle with the parts of the filling head in the same relative position as shown

Claims

1. A filling head for use in a container-filling machine of the kind wherein the flow of liquid into the container depends upon the maintenance of subatmospheric pressure in the container during filling, said filling head comprising, in combination, an elongate nozzle having a delivery port near its tip, and a sealing assembly coaxial with the nozzle, said sealing assembly comPrising an annular sealing member, characterized in that the sealing member and the nozzle are relatively movable axially, and means for preventing leakage of air between the nozzle and sealing member.

2. A filling head according to claim 1, further characterized in that the nozzle is elongate, externally smooth and tubular and of substantially uniform transverse section, means within the nozzle tube defining longitudinally extending passages for air and liquid respectively, each passage having a port near the tip end of the nozzle, a sealing element operative to prevent leakage of air into the container while the container is being filled, and means whereby the nozzle may be moved axially, relatively to the sealing element.

3. A filling head according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element comprises an O-ring permitting relative axial motion of the nozzle and sealing member while preventing leakage of air between them.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that the sealing assembly comprises a rigid annulus having an internal circumferential channel, and an O-ring in said channel embracing the nozzle with a sliding fit, the annulus also having a coaxial thin-walled cylindrical nipple portion to which an annular sealing member is permanently bonded.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member resiliently embraces the nozzle, and means operative to cause the sealing member to partake of downward motion of the nozzle until the sealing member is positively stopped by engagement with the top of the bottle.

6. A filling head according to claim 1, further characterized in having a nozzle assembly comprising a body portion and an elongate stem, and the sealing member is an element of a sealing assembly movable longitudinally of the stem of the nozzle assembly.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein for holding the sealing member leaktight in contact with the bottle top there is provided a weight secured to the upper portion of the nozzle assembly, and means for limiting the downward motion of the weight thereby to determine the location of the tip of the filling nozzle during the filling operation.

8. In combination, in a bottle-filling machine according to claim 1, further characterized in that the sealing member has a bore which receives the nozzle with a sliding leaktight fit, means whereby the sealing member is caused to contact the top of the bottle, means whereby the lower end of the nozzle is advanced through the bore in the sealing member and into the bottle, and means for compressing the sealing member into airtight contact with the bottle top while the bottle is being filled, and releasing said pressure just before the nozzle is completely withdrawn.

9. The combination according to claim 4, further characterized in that, in addition to the rigid annulus to which the annular sealing member is attached, the sealing assembly comprises a second rigid member having an opening for the stem of the nozzle assembly, and rigid rods connecting said secured rigid members, in spaced relation, to the annulus, said second rigid member being provided with means whereby axial motion may be imparted to the sealing assembly.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein, for imparting axial motion to the sealing assembly said second rigid member is provided with a stud having a roller rotatably mounted thereon for engagement with a suitably shaped cam.

11. The combination according to claim 1, comprising means whereby, preparatory to filling, the nozzle is permitted to drop freely from an initial elevated, inoperative position, and means operative to terminate downward motion of the nozzle when its tip arrives at a predetermined distance from the bottle bottom.

12. In combination, in a rotary bottle-filling machine of the kind wherein liquid is aspirated into the bottle by withdrawing air from the bottle, a nozzle assembly including an elongate filing nozzle having a delivery port near its tip, and a Resilient sealing member having a bore which receives the nozzle with a sliding leaktight fit, means whereby the nozzle is caused to slide, relative to the sealing member, along the bore in the sealing member, in advancing into the bottle, means whereby the sealing member is pressed into leaktight contact with the bottle top, and mans operative, when a filling cycle is nearly complete, to raise the nozzle tip to a predetermined level, while the sealing member remains in contact with the bottle top.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the nozzle assembly is provided with a fixed, radially projecting stud on which a roller is mounted to turn whereby engagement of the roller with a suitable cam is effective to impart axial motion to the nozzle.

14. A filling head for use in a bottle-filling machine of the kind wherein the bottle is sealed to prevent entrance of ambient air during filling, said filling head comprising in combination a nozzle assembly having a body portion and an elongate stem, means constraining the stem to vertical movement, an elongate nozzle, and means for securing the upper end of the nozzle to the lower part of said body portion in coaxial relation to said stem, said nozzle having therein passages for liquid and air, and a sealing member coaxial with the nozzle which receives the nozzle with the leaktight sliding fit and which is movable into leaktight contact with the top of the bottle while the latter is being filled; further characterized in that the filling head comprises a bottle-centering member which is coaxial with the nozzle that the centering member may be moved axially relatively to the nozzle.

15. The combination according to claim 14, further characterized in having means so associating the centering member with the sealing member that the centering member may move axially relatively to the sealing member.

16. The combination according to claim 14, further characterized in having actuating means such that the centering member and sealing member engage the top of the bottle before the nozzle tip arrives at the predetermined filling position.

17. A filling head according to claim 14, further characterized in having means so supporting the centering member that it may move down, preceding the sealing member, until stopped by contact with the bottle as the body portion moves down to insert the nozzle tip in the bottle, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the centering member is lifted by the body portion as the latter rises to withdraw the nozzle from the bottle.

18. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the bottle centering member is a first rigid annulus with which is assembled, in spaced relation, a coaxial second rigid annulus, the latter of said annuli having a central aperture designed to receive said elongated stem with a sliding fit, such aperture being too small to admit said body portion, the aforesaid assembly of parts being such that as said body portion moves downwardly, the centering member moves into contact with the bottle top so as to center the bottle as the tip of the nozzle begins to enter the bottleneck, while upward motion of the body portion from the filling position lifts the bottle-centering assembly with it.

19. The combination according to claim 14, including, in combination with the filling head, cam means which allows the bottle-centering member, the sealing member and the nozzle to move downwardly toward the bottle top in succession, preparatory to the beginning of the filling operation.

20. The combination according to claim 19, further characterized in having means operative, at the completion of the filling operation, to raise the nozzle, the centering member and the sealing member to a position such that they do not interfere with removal of the filled bottle, said means being operative to raise the tip of the nozzle, relatively to the sealing member, a distance such as to leave the lower portion of the nozzle projecting below the sealing member.

21. THe combination according to claim 14, wherein the bottle-centering member is a first rigid annulus, with which is assembled, in spaced relation, a coaxial second rigid annulus, the latter of said annuli having a central aperture designed to receive said stem with a free sliding fit, the wall of said aperture being shaped to engage that part of the stem where it merges with the body portion, and means for so actuating the aforesaid assembly of parts that, as the body portion moves downwardly from inoperative position, the centering member moves into contact with the bottle top so as to center the bottle as the tip of the nozzle begins to enter the bottleneck, while upward motion of the body portion from the filling position lifts the bottle-centering assembly with it.

22. In combination with a filling head for use in a container-filling machine of the type wherein liquid is aspirated into the container in response to the establishment of subatmospheric pressure therein, said filling head comprising a vertically movable nozzle assembly comprising a body portion and an elongate stem, an elongate externally smooth tubular delivery nozzle of substantially uniform transverse section attached at its upper end to said body portion, means within the nozzle tube defining longitudinally extending passages for air and liquid respectively, each passage having at least one port near the tip end of the nozzle, means whereby the tip of the nozzle may be caused to enter the neck of a bottle, a sealing assembly comprising a sealing member operative to prevent leakage of air into the bottle while the bottle is being filled, the sealing assembly being movable lengthwise of the nozzle, means operative to prevent the passage of air between the sealing member and the nozzle, and means whereby the sealing member may be kept in engagement with the bottle top until just before the nozzle is retracted from the bottle.

23. The combination according to claim 22, comprising cam means whereby the nozzle assembly may be disposed in an operative position above a bottle to be filled or permitted to move down until the nozzle tip is within the bottle, the parts being so constructed and arranged that the sealing member moves downwardly into operative engagement with the bottle top as the nozzle moves downwardly into the bottle, and cam means operative temporarily to prevent the sealing member from moving upwardly with the nozzle as the latter commences its upward motion toward the inoperative position at the completion of filling.

24. The combination according to claim 23, wherein the upper end of the filling nozzle tube is fixed within a cylindrical chamber in the body portion, and the latter is provided with a fixed, radially projecting stud on which a roller is mounted to turn, whereby engagement of the roller with a suitable cam is effective to impart axial motion to the nozzle.

25. The combination according to claim 24, further characterized in having independent cam means operative to prevent the sealing assembly from rising with the nozzle as the latter is retracted from the bottle following filling to a predetermined height.

26. The combination according to claim 22, wherein the sealing member is resilient and is initially located at a distance above the nozzle tip less than the distance between the nozzle tip and the top of the bottleneck when filling is taking place, and means operative, as the nozzle is withdrawn from the bottleneck at the end of a filling cycle, to restore the initial relation of the nozzle and resilient sealing member.

27. The combination according to claim 22, further characterized in having means for frictionally clamping the sealing assembly to the stem of the body portion whereby the sealing assembly is constrained to move downwardly from inoperative position as the nozzle moves downwardly until the sealing member is stopped by contact with the bottle top while the tip of the nozzle continues to move downwardly, and abutment means operative to terminate upward motioN of the sealing member with the stem of the body portion as the nozzle is being withdrawn from the bottle when filling has been completed.

28. The combination according to claim 22, wherein the sealing assembly is frictionally clamped to the stem of the body portion so that the sealing member is moved downwardly from inoperative position concomitantly with the downwardly movement of the nozzle until it contacts the bottle top whereby its further downward movement is terminated while the nozzle slides relatively to the sealing member and continues its downward movement until its tip reaches the desired filling position, and cam means operative to limit upward motion of the sealing assembly with the stem of the body portion as the nozzle is restored to inoperative position thereby returning the sealing member to its initial position as respects the tip of the filling nozzle.

29. The combination according to claim 22, further characterized in having means operative, at the completion of the filling cycle, to restore the nozzle and the sealing member to an inoperative position where they do not interfere with removal of the filled bottle, said means being such as to raise the sealing member relatively to the tip of the nozzle a distance such as to leave the lower portion of the nozzle projecting below the seal.

30. The combination according to claim 22, wherein the sealing assembly is frictionally clamped to the stem of the body portion so that the sealing member moves downwardly from inoperative position concomitantly with the downward movement of the nozzle until it contacts the bottle top and its further downward movement is thereby terminated, while the nozzle continues its downward movement until its tip reaches the desired filling position, means operative, when a filling cycle is nearly complete, to raise the nozzle tip to the filling level, without disturbing the sealing member, and cam means operative to delay upward motion of the sealing assembly until the supply of liquid to the nozzle has been terminated.

31. The combination according to claim 22, further characterized in having cam means operative to initiate the downward movement of the nozzle assembly, including the nozzle and sealing assembly, preparatory to the filling operation, and independent cam means operative to prevent the sealing assembly from rising with the nozzle as the latter is retracted from the bottle after filling is complete and until just before the nozzle has risen above the bottle.

32. In combination in a filling head for use in a bottle-filling machine, said head comprising an elongate tubular nozzle whose delivery end is provided with at least two ports, one of which is a delivery port, a relatively small tube within the nozzle whose lower end registers with the other of said ports, a nozzle assembly comprising an elongate stem coaxial with the nozzle, means whereby subatmospheric pressure may be maintained within the smaller tube and means whereby liquid may be supplied to the space between the wall of the nozzle tube and the small interior tube, said space communicating with the delivery port at the tip of the nozzle and a sealing assembly comprising a tubular sealing member coaxial with the nozzle operative by compressive engagement with the top of the bottle to prevent leakage of air into the bottle while the bottle is being filled, further characterized in having an automatically operating valve which at times closes the delivery port said valve being slidable with a leaktight fit within said sealing member.

33. A filling head according to claim 32, further characterized in that the valve is a sleeve valve coaxial with the nozzle, said sleeve valve constituting an element of a valve assembly movable longitudinally of said stem and which comprises a part to which force may be applied for moving the sleeve valve relatively to the nozzle.

34. A filling head according to claim 33, wherein the sleeve valve is an element of a valve assembly which is movable longitudinally of tHe nozzle, said assembly comprising a cam follower member cooperable with cam means thereby to move the sleeve valve relatively to the nozzle.

35. The combination according to claim 32, and wherein the sleeve valve assembly comprises an actuating stem coaxial with the nozzle, and wherein the nozzle is attached to a nozzle assembly having an elongate stem, further characterized in having clamping means operative to transmit motion to the stem of the valve assembly from the stem of the nozzle assembly, whereby at times the valve assembly partakes of the motion of the nozzle.

36. The combination according to claim 33, wherein the tubular sleeve valve makes frictional contact with the nozzle and wherein the sleeve valve assembly comprises a cam follower roll, further characterized in having a cam which, when filling has been nearly completed, by engagement with the follower roll of the sleeve valve assembly, raises the sleeve valve assembly and the latter, by frictional engagement with the nozzle, raises the nozzle to a predetermined position.

37. A filling head according to claim 33, further characterized in that the sleeve valve constitutes an element of a valve assembly which is movable lengthwise of the nozzle assembly, said valve assembly including a friction clamp embracing said stem whereby, when said stem rises to remove the nozzle from the bottle, the sleeve valve tends to rise with it, and means operative to prevent rising of the sleeve valve so as to maintain the ports open at the end of the nozzle until said stem has risen in a predetermined distance.

38. A filling head according to claim 33, further characterized in that the sleeve valve is coaxial with the nozzle and is slidable leaktight longitudinally of the nozzle, and means so positioning the sleeve valve relatively to the nozzle, when the latter is in inoperative position, that it closes the delivery port of the nozzle until after the lower end of the nozzle has entered the bottle.

39. A filling head according to claim 33, wherein the valve sleeve is coaxial with the nozzle and of an internal diameter such that the sleeve valve may receive the nozzle with a sliding leaktight fit, a nozzle assembly for the nozzle, said nozzle assembly comprising an elongate guide stem coaxial with the nozzle, and friction means for transmitting motion from the nozzle assembly to the sleeve valve.

40. In combination, in a bottle-filling machine of the kind in which a bottle to be filled travels along an arcuate path and, while being filled, remains at the same elevation and, when filled, is carried to a discharge point, a filling head comprising a nozzle assembly having a body portion and an elongate rigid stem, means guiding the nozzle assembly for vertical movement, an elongate nozzle secured at its upper end to said body portion of the nozzle assembly, said nozzle being vertically elongate and having passages, one for air and another for liquid, said passages extending to ports near the tip of the nozzle, cam means so supporting the filling head that the tip of the nozzle, when in inoperative position and in readiness for the start of the filling cycle, is above the horizontal plane of the top of the bottle which is to be filled, a resilient sealing member constituting an element of a sealing assembly which is vertically movable relatively to the nozzle, the sealing member being operative to seal the bottle while being filled, the cam means which supports the filling head being such as to permit the nozzle and sealing member to move downwardly from inoperative position until the sealing member contacts the bottle top while the nozzle tip enters the bottle and eventually reaches a predetermined filling position, means for applying pressure to the sealing member thereby to insure against air leaking in, a friction clamp for transmitting motion from said stem of the nozzle assembly to the sealing assembly, and means for restoring the nozzle to inoperative position when the bottle is filled and for keeping the sEaling member in leaktight contact with the bottle until the filled bottles arrive at the discharge point.

41. The combination according to claim 40, further characterized in having a sleeve valve operative, at times, to close the delivery port at the tip of the nozzle, means whereby the sleeve value is closed and the sealing member is positioned above the nozzle tip before the filling cycle begins, means whereby the nozzle is permitted to move downwardly to dispose its tip within the bottle which is to filled, means whereby the sealing member is pressed into leaktight contact with the bottle top while the bottle is being filled, means whereby the sleeve valve is moved to open said port after the lower end of the nozzle enters the bottle, means operative, when the filling cycle is complete, to raise the nozzle in the bottle while temporarily leaving the sealing member in contact with the bottle top and keeping the sleeve valve open, and means for thereafter closing the sleeve valve, withdrawing the nozzle from the bottle and restoring the sealing member to the same position relative to the lower end of the nozzle as at the commencement of the cycle.

42. In combination, in a bottle-filling machine, a filling head comprising a nozzle having therein a passage through which liquid is delivered into the bottle and a second passage through which air is withdrawn from the bottle during filling, and a sealing member operative to prevent leakage of ambient air into the bottle during filling, a bottle-centering member, the centering member and the sealing member being movable relatively to the nozzle in an axial direction, the sealing member, when the filling head is in inoperative position, being spaced upwardly a predetermined distance from the nozzle tip and the centering member encircling the nozzle tip, means whereby the nozzle is allowed to move from inoperative position to a filling location by the action of gravity while the centering member and sealing member move down concomitantly with the nozzle until they encounter and are stopped by the bottle top while the nozzle continues its downward motion until the tip of the nozzle reaches the filling position where its tip is more distant from the sealing member than when the parts were in the inoperative position, and means operative, as the filling operation approaches completion, to restore the sealing member and centering member to their initial position relatively to the nozzle tip.

43. A filling head according to claim 42, further characterized in that for retracting the sealing member from operative engagement with the bottle top, the sealing assembly comprises a part having frictional engagement with the stem of the nozzle assembly whereby upward movement of the stem tends to move the sealing assembly upwardly.

44. In combination, in a filling head for use in a bottle-filling machine, said head comprising an elongate nozzle having orifices at its tip, a sealing member coaxial with the nozzle and which is movable, leaktight, axially of the nozzle, the tip of the nozzle being located below the sealing member when the parts are in inoperative position in readiness to commence filling a bottle positioned below and axially aligned with the nozzle, means whereby the nozzle is caused to move downwardly from said inoperative position to dispose its tip in filling position within the bottle and for concomitantly moving the sealing member from inoperative position until it contacts the bottle top, and means for pressing the sealing member in leaktight contact onto the bottle top until filling is complete, means operative, when filling is complete, to remove the nozzle from the bottle and restore it to its initial position, and means operative, before the nozzle has been removed from the bottle, to remove the sealing member from the bottle and thereafter return the sealing member to its original position relatively to the nozzle tip.

45. A filling head according to claim 44, and wherein the filling head also comprises a bottlE-centering member coaxial with the nozzle and which, when the nozzle is in the inoperative position, surrounds the nozzle tip and so does not interfere with placing an empty bottle in position for filling, means whereby, as the nozzle moves downwardly toward the bottle, the centering member is moved with the nozzle until it contacts the bottle top before the nozzle tip arrives at the filling position, and means whereby, when the nozzle is returned to its initial position, after filling has been completed, the centering member is restored to its initial position.

46. A filling head according to claim 44, further characterized in having means operative, when filling is nearly complete, to move the nozzle tip from the filling position to a predetermined final fill position without removing the sealing member from the bottle.

47. A filling head according to claim 46, further characterized in having means whereby the predetermined final fill level may be varied without removing the sealing member from the bottle.

48. A filling head according to claim 32, further characterized in having a sleeve valve coaxial with the nozzle and which is slidable leaktight relatively to the nozzle, said sleeve valve being operative, at times, to close the delivery port at the nozzle tip, said sleeve valve being in port-closing position when the nozzle is in the inoperative position preparatory to the start of the filling cycle, and means operative, as the nozzle moves down, so to move the sleeve valve as to open the delivery port after the nozzle enters the top of the bottle and after the sealing member has contacted the bottle top, and means operative, when filling is nearly complete, to prevent the sleeve valve from closing while the nozzle tip is moved upwardly to a predetermined final fill level, and means operative, when filling is complete, to restore the sleeve valve to the position, relatively to the nozzle, which it had when the nozzle was in the inoperative position.

49. A filling head for use in bottle-filling machine, said head comprising an elongate nozzle having a delivery port at its tip, and an annular sealing member of resilient material which is slidable leaktight relative to the nozzle, means whereby the nozzle is permitted to move downwardly from an inoperative position into a bottle positioned to receive it while the sealing member is moved, concomitantly with the nozzle, until it contacts the bottle top, means applying pressure to the sealing member as filling progresses to keep it in leaktight contact with the bottle top, means operative, as the filling cycle nears completion, to move the nozzle tip upwardly to a predetermined final fill level without breaking the contact between the sealing member and the bottle, and means operative, when filling is complete, to withdraw the nozzle after the sealing member is separated from the bottle, and for thereafter restoring the nozzle and the sealing member to their initial relative positions.

50. In a filling machine, a filling head assembly comprising telescopically arranged parts, a filling nozzle and a sealing member, said assembly being movable downwardly relative to a bottle supported therebelow to introduce the filling nozzle into the bottle and compress the sealing member against the top of the bottle, means for limiting the downward movement of the filling nozzle following engagement of the sealing member with the top of the bottle to determine the position of the tip of the nozzle for filling, and means operable when the bottle is nearly filled to raise the nozzle relative to the sealing member without breaking the seal to a predetermined higher level to position the tip of the nozzle for filling to a predetermined fill level.

51. A filling machine according to claim 50, wherein the means for limiting downward movement of the filling nozzle is adjustable to enable varying the distance the nozzle can be moved downwardly into the bottle.

52. A filling machine according to claim 50, wherein the means for raising the filling nozzle to the final filling level is adjustable to enable varying the level of the final fill.

53. In a filling machine, upper and lower supports, a filling assembly comprising telescopically arranged parts, a filling nozzle and a sealing member, a vertically slidable stem supporting the filling assembly on the upper support for movement downwardly toward a bottle resting on the lower support to introduce the nozzle into the bottle and compress the sealing member against the top of the bottle, a collar adjustably secured to the stem operable, by engagement with the upper support, to limit downward movement of the assembly and hence the nozzle following engagement of the sealing member with the top of a bottle to a predetermined initial filling position, and means for raising the filling nozzle relative to the sealing member without breaking the seal from said initial filling position to a predetermined final filling position.

54. Apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the last-named means comprises cam means adjustable to vary the final filling position of the filling nozzle.

55. In a filling machine wherein there are a plurality of filling head assemblies and bottle supports moving in unison along a predetermined path from a place where empty bottles are loaded on the supports to a place where filled bottles are removed from the supports, said filling head assemblies comprising telescoping filling nozzles and sealing members movable vertically while moving along said path to lower the assemblies relative to the bottles supported therebelow to introduce the nozzles into the bottles and compress the sealing members against the tops of the bottles, means limiting the lowermost positions of the filling nozzles following engagement of the sealing members with the tops of the bottles, means for raising the nozzles following filling relative to the sealing members without breaking the seals to higher levels for final filling, said last-named means being supported adjacent the path of movement of the filling head assemblies and operable as the successive heads are moved along said path to raise said filling nozzles in turn to said final filling position without breaking the seals, and means for adjusting the heightwise position of said last-named means to enable filling all of the bottles travelling along said path to the same predetermined final fill level.

56. A filling machine according to claim 55, wherein the first means is adjustable to enable changing the positions of the nozzles for initial filling.

57. Apparatus according to claim 55, wherein cam means arranged along said path controls lowering of the assemblies into the bottles to said lowermost positions and raising the nozzles to said final filling position.

58. Apparatus according to claim 55, wherein there is cam means for applying pressure to the sealing members as the latter are moved into engagement with the tops of the bottles and for releasing the sealing pressure before withdrawal of the nozzles from the bottles.

59. Apparatus according to claim 55, wherein there are weights for applying pressure to the sealing members while the latter are in engagement with the tops of the bottles.

60. Apparatus according to claim 55, wherein there is sliding frictional engagement between the telescoping parts comprising the nozzles and sealing members whereby downward movement of the nozzles into the tops of the bottles following engagement of the sealing members therewith applies sealing pressure to the sealing members.

61. In a filling machine wherein there are a plurality of filling head assemblies and bottle supports movable in unison along a predetermined path from a place where empty bottles are moved onto the supports said filling assemblies comprising telescoping filling nozzles and sealing members movable vertically while moving along said path to introduce the nozzles into the bottles and to compress the sealing members against the tops of the bottles, cam means compriSing a cam and followers on the respective assemblies operable by movement along said cam to engage the sealing members with the tops of the bottles and thereafter to lower the nozzles relative to the sealing members into the bottles to a predetermined initial positions to effect rapid filling, raise the nozzles from said initial positions up to predetermined final filling positions while holding the sealing members engaged with the tops to effect filling to said final predetermined positions, and following filling to said final predetermined positions simultaneously raising said sealing members from the tops of the bottles and withdrawing the nozzles.

62. Apparatus according to claim 61, comprising employing nozzles embodying filling tubes and aspirator tubes and effecting aspiration through said aspirating tubes at a rate such that when the nozzles are submerged liquid is aspirated at substantially the same rate that it is discharged into the bottles.

63. Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein the filling and aspirator tubes have ports at their lower ends, comprising sleeve valves telescopically associated with the nozzles movable to positions to close the ports at the instant the seals are disengaged from the tops of the bottles.

64. The method of filling a bottle to a predetermined level comprising lowering a nozzle, provided with a liquid dispensing passage and aspirator passage having adjacent open ends at the lower end of the nozzle such that when the lower end of the nozzle is immersed the aspirator passage will remove liquid from the bottle substantially as fast as the liquid passage dispenses it into the bottle, through a sealing member held against the top of the bottle to a predetermined initial filling position determined by the open end of the aspirator passage, filling the bottle to the open end of the aspirator passage, raising the nozzle to a predetermined final filling position while continuing to dispense liquid through the liquid passage into the bottle until the liquid rises to said final filling position as determined by the position of the open end of the aspirator passage at said final filling position, and then breaking the seal and removing the nozzle.

65. A method according to claim 61, comprising closing the open ends of the passages while at said final filling position.

66. A method according to claim 64, comprising holding the nozzle at said final filling position until the level of the liquid reaches the open end of the aspirator passage and then breaking the seal and raising the nozzle from the bottle.

67. A method according to claim 66, comprising closing the open ends of the passages while at said predetermined final filling position.

68. A method according to claim 64, comprising, by means of maintaining the seal and continuing aspiration until the liquid level reaches the open end of the aspirator passage, achieving final filling without overfill.

69. A method according to claim 64, comprising lowering the nozzle to an initial position such that rapid filling of the bottles can be achieved without foaming.