Seltzer filling apparatus and process

• US 4,617,973 A
• Filed: 02/20/1985
• Issued: 10/21/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Slzrco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dennis A. Lempert, Richard J. Hagan
• Inventors: Hagan, Richard J., Lempert, Dennis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/704,763
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1-12, 141/14-17, 141/250-284
• US Class Current: 141/2
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0456 Siphons, i.e. beverage containers under gas pressure without supply of further pressurised gas during dispensing

Abstract

A filling apparatus (20) for a syphon package has a pivotally movable cradle (26A, 26B, 26C) configured to receive a syphon bottle 1 in a first orientation. A permanent syphon filling head (38A, 38B, 38C) is near necked opening (2) of the bottle when the bottle is loaded in the cradle (26A). Arms (28A, 28B, 28C, 30A, 30B, 30C) move the cradle (26A, 26B, 26C) from the first orientation to the second orientation in which the necked opening (2) of the bottle (1) is directed downward. Linkages (42A, 42B, 42C, 44A, 44B, 44C) and plate (40A, 40B, 40C) urge the bottle (1) into engagement with the filling head (38). Rod (106) depresses lever (50) to activate filling head (38) for opening valve (4) in the neck ( 2) of the bottle (1). Lines (43A, 43B, 43C) supply liquid under pressure to the filling head (38). Lines (45A, 45B, 45C) remove gas from the bottle (1) during filling of the bottle (1) with the liquid (8). Linkages (42A, 42B, 42C, 44A, 44B, 44C) and plate (40A, 40B, 40C) allow bottle (1) to move out of engagement with filling head (38) after valve (4) is closed when cradle (26A, 26B, 26C) is pivoted from the second orientation to the first orientation.

Claims

1. A filling apparatus for a syphon package having a normally closed valve in a necked opening of the package, which comprises a pivotally movable cradle configured to receive a syphon package in a first orientation, a permanent syphon filling head attached to said apparatus proximate to the necked opening of the syphon package when the package is loaded in said cradle, said permanent syphon filling head including means for applying a valve opening force to the valve in the necked opening of the package, a pivoting means mechanically coupled to the cradle for moving said cradle from the first orientation to a second orientation in which the necked opening of the syphon package is directed downward, a biasing means configured to be activated during the cradle pivoting to urge the syphon package into engagement with said permanent syphon filling head, a head activating means coupled to said permanent syphon filling head to activate said valve opening force applying means for opening the valve in the neck of the syphon package, a source of liquid under pressure connected to said permanent syphon filling head, and means also connected to said permanent syphon filling head for removing gas from the syphon package during filling of the syphon package with the liquid, said biasing means being configured to allow the syphon package to move out of engagement with said permanent syphon filling head when said movable cradle is pivoted from the second orientation to the first orientation.

2. The filling apparatus of claim 1 in which said permanent syphon filling head is fixedly attached to said cradle.

3. The filling apparatus of claim 1 in which said biasing means comprises a plate movably mounted on said cradle to engage a bottom of the syphon package, and a first linkage mechanically connected to urge said plate against the bottom of the syphon package.

4. The filling apparatus of claim 3 in which said biasing means includes a second linkage mechanically connected to urge said plate against the bottom of the syphon package in tandem with said first linkage.

5. The filling apparatus of claim 3 in which said first linkage is configured to supply up to a predetermined amount of biasing force to the syphon package.

6. The filling apparatus of claim 1 in which said permanent syphon filling head has a seat having a layer of resilient material, said seat being configured to receive the neck of the syphon package in sealing engagement against the resilient material layer.

7. An attachment for converting a filling apparatus configured to fill a syphon package having a head mounted on the package to a filling apparatus for filling a syphon package having a normally closed valve in a necked opening of the package and being configured for subsequent attachment of a detachable head, which comprises a cradle configured to be pivotally attached to the filling apparatus, said cradle being configured to receive the syphon package in a first orientation, a permanent syphon filling head attached to said cradle proximate to the necked opening of the syphon package when the package is loaded in said cradle, said permanent syphon filling head including means for applying a valve opening force to the valve in the necked opening of the package, said valve opening force applying means being configured to be engaged by a head activating means on the filling apparatus to activate said valve opening force applying means for opening the valve in the neck of the syphon package, said permanent syphon head being configured to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure and a means for removing gas from the syphon package during filling of the syphon package with the liquid on the filling apparatus, a biasing means actuable to urge the syphon package into engagement with said permanent syphon filling head, said cradle being configured to be engaged by a pivoting means on the filling apparatus for moving said cradle from a first orientation to a second orientation in which the necked opening of the syphon package is directed downward, said biasing means being configured to urge the syphon package against said permanent syphon filling head when said cradle is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation and to allow the syphon package to move out of engagement with said permanent syphon filling head when said movable cradle is pivoted from the second orientation to the first orientation.

8. The filling apparatus of claim 7 in which said biasing means comprises a plate movably mounted on said cradle to engage a bottom of the syphon package, and a first linkage configured to connect said plate to the pivoting means.

9. The filling apparatus of claim 8 in which said biasing means includes a second linkage mechanically connected to urge said plate against the bottom of the syphon package in tandem with said first linkage.

10. The filling apparatus of claim 8 in which said first linkage is configured to supply up to a predetermined amount of biasing force to the syphon package.

11. The filling apparatus of claim 7 in which said permanent syphon filling head has a seat having a layer of resilient material, said seat being configured to receive the neck of the syphon package in sealing engagement against the resilient material layer.

12. A filling apparatus for a syphon package, which comprises a cradle configured to receive a syphon package having a necked opening with a normally closed valve in the necked opening, a permanent syphon filling head attached to said apparatus proximate to a necked opening of the syphon package when the package is loaded in said cradle, said permanent syphon filling head having a seat with a layer of resilient material, said seat being configured to receive the neck of the syphon package in sealing engagement against the resilient material layer, said permanent system filling head having a means for applying a valve opening force to the valve in the necked opening, a biasing means actuable to urge the syphon package into engagement with said permanent syphon filling head, a head activating means coupled to said permanent syphon filling head to activate said valve opening force applying means for opening the valve in the neck of the syphon package, and a source of liquid under pressure connected to said permanent syphon filling head.

13. The filling apparatus of claim 12 in which said permanent syphon filling head is fixedly attached to said cradle.

14. The filling apparatus of claim 12 in which said biasing means comprises a plate movably mounted on said cradle to engage a bottom of the syphon package, and a first linkage mechanically connected to urge said plate against the bottom of the syphon package.

15. The filling apparatus of claim 14 in which said biasing means includes a second linkage mechanically connected to urge said plate against the bottom of the syphon package in tandem with said first linkage.

16. The filling apparatus of claim 14 in which said first linkage is configured to supply up to a predetermined amount of biasing force to the syphon package.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 additionally comprising means connected to said permanent syphon filling head for removing gas from the syphon package during filling of the syphon package with the liquid.

18. An attachment for converting a filling apparatus configured to fill a syphon package having a head mounted on the package to a filling apparatus for filling a syphon package having a normally closed valve in a necked opening of the package and being configured for subsequent attachment of a detachable head, which comprises a cradle configured to be attached to the filling apparatus, said cradle being configured to receive the syphon package, a permanent syphon filling head attached to said cradle proximate to the necked opening of the syphon package when the package is loaded in said cradle, said permanent syphon filling head having a means for applying a valve opening force to the valve in the necked opening, said permanent syphon filling head being configured to be engaged by a head activating means on the filling apparatus to activate said valve opening force applying means for opening the valve in the neck of the syphon package and to be connected to a source of liquid under pressure, said permanent syphon filling head having a seat with a layer of resilient material, said seat being configured to receive the neck of the syphon package in sealing engagement against the resilient material layer, and a biasing means actuable to urge the syphon package into engagement with said permanent syphon filling head.

19. The filling apparatus of claim 18 in which said biasing means comprises a plate movably mounted on said cradle to engage a bottom of the syphon package, and a first linkage configured to apply force to said plate.

20. The filling apparatus of claim 19 in which said biasing means includes a second linkage mechanically connected to urge said plate against the bottom of the syphon package in tandem with said first linkage.

21. The filling apparatus of claim 19 in which said first linkage is configured to supply up to a predetermined amount of biasing force to the syphon package.

22. A process for filling a syphon package having a necked opening and a normally closed valve in the necked opening with a liquid, which comprises positioning said syphon package proximate to a head configured to engage the necked opening, the head including a means for applying a valve opening force to the valve in the necked opening, orienting the syphon package so that the necked opening faces downward, urging the syphon package into engagement with the head, activating the valve opening force applying means to open the valve, supplying the liquid through the head, the valve and the syphon of the package to the syphon package, closing the valve, and allowing the filled syphon package to move out of engagement with the head.

23. The process of claim 22 additionally comprising the step of periodically removing gas through the syphon of the package and the head.

24. A process for filling a syphon package having a necked opening and a normally closed valve in the necked opening with a liquid, which comprises positioning said syphon package proximate to a head configured to engage the necked opening, the head including a means for applying a valve opening force to the valve in the necked opening, urging the syphon package into engagement with the head, activating the valve opening force applying means to open the valve, supplying the liquid through the head, the valve and the syphon of the package to the syphon package, periodically removing gas through the syphon of the syphon package, the valve and the head, closing the valve, and allowing the filled syphon package to move out of engagement with the head.