Method and apparatus for filling cartridges with a liquid
First Claim
1. A method for filling a cartridge (6) with a liquid, characterised by the stepsa) lowering a filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), b) feeding liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), c) detecting when the cartridge (6) is filled to its edge, d) stopping the liquid flow when the cartridge (6) is detected as being full allowing an excessive amount of liquid to form a drop over at the edge of the cartridge (6), and wherein c) the detection comprises the following two steps:
- c1) sending a beam of light from one side of the cartridge (6) to the other along a path immediately over an upper edge of the cartridge (6), and c2) reflecting the light beam back e) lifting the filling needle (5) out of the cartridge (6).
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Abstract
An apparatus for filling a cartridge with a liquid comprises, a platform on which the cartridge is supported and which can be lifted relative to a stationary filling needle (5) so that this filling needle is moved into the cartridge (6), a pump (1) feeding liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), a sensor head (10) from which a beam of light is sent from one side of the cartridge to the other along a path immediately over an upper edge of the cartridge (6), and a reflector (11) reflecting the light beam back to the sensor head (10), which is connected to a sensor box (12) which produces a signal stopping the pump (1) and causing the needle (5) to be drawn out of the cartridge (6) when this cartridge is full and the liquid forms a droplet over the opening of the cartridge, which droplet deflects the light beam.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for filling a cartridge (6) with a liquid, characterised by the steps
a) lowering a filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), b) feeding liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), c) detecting when the cartridge (6) is filled to its edge, d) stopping the liquid flow when the cartridge (6) is detected as being full allowing an excessive amount of liquid to form a drop over at the edge of the cartridge (6), and wherein c) the detection comprises the following two steps: -
c1) sending a beam of light from one side of the cartridge (6) to the other along a path immediately over an upper edge of the cartridge (6), and c2) reflecting the light beam back e) lifting the filling needle (5) out of the cartridge (6). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for implementing the method for filling a cartridge (6) with a liquid, comprising
b) means for controlled feeding of liquid through the filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), c) means for detecting when the cartridge (6) is filled to its edge, and d) means for stopping the liquid flow when the cartridge (6) is detected as being full, wherein the means allows an excessive amount of liquid to form a drop over at the edge of the cartridge, characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a) means for lowering a filling needle (5) into the cartridge (6), and e) means for lifting the filling needle (5) out of the cartridge (6) wherein c) the means for detection of a filled cartridge comprises a sensor head (10) from which a beam of light from a light source is sent from one side of the cartridge (6) to the other along a path immediately over an upper edge of the cartridge (6), and a reflector (11) reflecting the light beam back to the sensor head (10).
Specification