APPARATUS FOR FILLING THIN TUBULAR CONTAINERS WITH A LIQUID

• US 3,687,175 A
• Filed: 11/09/1970
• Issued: 08/29/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Victor Stephen Babey
• Original Assignee: Victor Stephen Babey
• Inventors: Babey, Victor Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Jr., Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US05/087,796
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 222/130,183,205,335 73/425.4D,425.6 141/8,18,31,59,67,238,242,248,325,369,115,326,327 23/253,259 211/60,68,69,32,242
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 19/024 Tube-like containers, e.g. straws
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/14 pneumatically

Abstract

This specification discloses an apparatus for filling cartridges of tubular straw-like construction with liquid such as animal semen whereby a vacuum manifold is set over the ends of the plurality of straws to draw out entrapped air from the straws when the straws have been set down into a tray of the liquid, thereby to draw up under vacuum a specific quantity thereof.

Claims

1. Apparatus for filling batches of thin tubular containers with a liquid for subsequent storage and shipping of said filled containers and comprising;

container support means for releaseably embracing and supporting a plurality of thin tubular containers intermediate their ends in predetermined spaced apart parallel relation, exposing both ends of said containers for access, said support means being adapted to release said containers after filling, for reception of another batch of containers therein;

tray means for supporting said liquid and dimensioned to receive one of said ends of all said containers simultaneously therein;

vacuum means removeably attachable to said other ends of said containers and operable to draw said liquid therein and fill the same to a predetermined level and being disconnectible therefrom after filling for attachment to a further batch of said containers; and

, liquid displacement means operable to remove a fraction of said liquid from each of said containers after filling, to provide a free space therein, the remainder of each said container retaining said liquid therein.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container support means includes movable clamping means for engaging said containers intermediate their ends and being movable between clamping and releasing positions, and fastening means for holding the same in said clamping position, thereby securely holding said tubular containers in their aforesaid predetermined relation.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including tubular container register means adapted to be employed with said container support means, and arrange and locate the same in their predetermined spaced parallel relation.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tray means is formed of thermoplastic material and is adapted to be disposable after use, and including means for locating and supporting said tray means in position during use.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vacuum means includes a vacuum manifold member, means for withdrawing air from the interior thereof, a plurality of communicating passageways, arranged in spaced parallel relation, and being adapted to register with one of said ends of each of said containers, and operatoR controlled means for regulating vacuum within said manifold.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid displacement means includes a plurality of spaced apart needle-like members, fixedly mounted in predetermined spaced apart relation, and adapted to register with and enter said one of said ends of said containers, after removal from said tray means thereby displacing a small fraction of said liquid therefrom.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a base means, spaced apart vertically oriented guide means supported on said base means, tray locating means between the lower ends of said guide means, and vertically slidable carriage means, adapted to receive and support said container support means, enabling the same to be moved vertically upwardly and downwardly towards any tray means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including base means, means for locating said tray means thereon in predetermined location, and horizontal slide means mounted on said base means, and adapted to receive and support said liquid displacement means, permitting the same to be slid to and fro over said tray means between operative and non-operative positions.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including base means, vertically oriented spaced apart parallel guide means, mounted on said base means, tray locating means between the lower end of said guide means, vertically slidable carriage means, adapted to receive and support said container support means, enabling the same to be moved vertically upwardly and downwardly towards said tray means, and horizontal slide means mounted on said base means, and adapted to receive and support said liquid displacement means, permitting the same to be slid to and fro over said tray means between operative and non-operative positions.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said vacuum means further includes elongated stop members, in respective said communicating passageways, dimensioned and oriented to enter said ends of said containers, and being of reduced diameter in relation thereto whereby to permit extraction of air therefrom.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said container support means is removably attachable to said vertically slidable carriage means, and including releasable retaining means, operable to engage and secure said container support means on said vertically slidable carriage means.