Equipment for filling containers

Abstract

Containers ( 2 ), typically bottles ( 3 ), are filled by equipment ( 1 ) incorporating a fixed frame ( 6 ) and a rotating carousel ( 7 ) fitted with a plurality of filler units ( 8 ) distributed around the periphery, each comprising a first and a second dispensing outlet ( 9, 10 ) connected to respective first and second tanks ( 11, 12 ) holding first and second packageable substances, a supporting structure ( 13 ) on which to stand a container ( 2 ), and an actuator mechanism ( 15 ) associated with the supporting structure ( 13 ). The supporting structure ( 13 ) is caused to alternate by the associated mechanism ( 15 ) between a first filling position, in which the first outlet ( 9 ) is placed in alignment with a mouth ( 5 ) of the respective container ( 2 ), and a second filling position in which the second outlet ( 10 ) is placed in alignment with the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 2 ), so that the container ( 2 ) can be filled with two different substances in the course of a single pass around the carousel.

1 . Equipment for filling containers, comprising: 
 a supporting structure ( 13 ) affording a stand for at least one container ( 2 ) to be filled with at least one packageable substance;    a first outlet ( 9 ), connected to a first tank ( 11 ) holding a first substance, by which the first substance is dispensed into the container ( 2 );    a second outlet ( 10 ) connected to a second tank ( 12 ) holding a second substance, by which the second substance is dispensed into the container ( 2 );    characterized in that it comprises motion-inducing means ( 15 ) by which the supporting structure ( 13 ) is rendered capable of movement relative to the first and second dispensing outlets ( 9 ,  10 ) between a first position, in which the first such outlet ( 9 ) is placed in alignment at least with a mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 2 ), and a second position in which the second outlet ( 10 ) is placed in alignment with the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 2 ).    
   
   
       2 . Equipment as in  claim 1 , wherein the motion-inducing means ( 15 ) are associated actively with the supporting structure ( 13 ) for the purpose of moving the selfsame structure between the first and the second position.  
   
   
       3 . Equipment as in  claim 2 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) is anchored pivotably to a frame ( 6 ) of the equipment ( 1 ) and free thus to swing on a pivot axis (Y) extending substantially parallel to a predominating axis (A) of the container ( 2 ).  
   
   
       4 . Equipment as in  claim 3 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) is hinged to the frame ( 6 ) at a point between the first and the second outlet ( 9 ,  10 ).  
   
   
       5 . Equipment as in  claim 3 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) is hinged to the frame ( 6 ) in such a way that the relative pivot axis (Y) will lie equidistant from the first and second outlets ( 9 ,  10 ).  
   
   
       6 . Equipment as in  claim 3 , wherein the motion-inducing means ( 15 ) comprise a fluid power actuator ( 16 ) interposed and operating between the supporting structure ( 13 ) and the frame ( 6 ).  
   
   
       7 . Equipment as in  claim 6 , wherein the fluid power actuator ( 16 ) comprises a cylindrical housing ( 18 ) anchored to the frame ( 6 ), also a movable rod ( 19 ) engaging slidably with the cylindrical housing ( 18 ), attached to the relative supporting structure ( 13 ) at the end remote from the cylindrical housing ( 18 ) and able to stroke between a retracted position, in which the greater part of its length lies internally of the cylindrical housing ( 18 ), and an extended position in which the greater part of its length lies externally of the cylindrical housing ( 18 ).  
   
   
       8 . Equipment as in  claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical housing ( 18 ) is anchored pivotably to the frame ( 6 ) and the movable rod ( 19 ) anchored pivotably to the supporting structure ( 13 ), in such a way that the movement of the rod ( 19 ) between the retracted position and the extended position will produce at least a degree of angular movement in the fluid power actuator ( 16 ).  
   
   
       9 . Equipment as in  claim 8 , wherein the cylindrical housing ( 18 ) is hinged to a mounting flange ( 20 ) extending from the frame ( 6 ) and the movable rod ( 19 ) is hinged to a linkage flange ( 13   c ) projecting from the supporting structure ( 13 ).  
   
   
       10 . Equipment as in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ), the first outlet ( 9 ), the second outlet ( 10 ) and the motion-inducing means ( 15 ) combine to constitute a filler unit ( 8 ) of the equipment ( 1 ), and the frame ( 6 ) presents at least one substantially cylindrical carousel ( 7 ) drivable in rotation about a substantially vertical axis (X) and equipped with a plurality of filler units ( 8 ) distributed circumferentially about the axis of rotation (X).  
   
   
       11 . Equipment as in  claim 10 , wherein each filler unit ( 8 ) is furnished with sensing means ( 21 ) such as will indicate the level of the substance in the container ( 2 ) and allow and/or disallow the flow of the first or the second substance as and when predetermined quantities of the substances are dispensed into the respective container ( 2 ).  
   
   
       12 . Equipment as in  claim 11 , wherein the sensing means ( 21 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) comprise at least one weighing device ( 22 ) associated actively with the respective supporting structure ( 13 ) and serving to detect the variations in weight of a container ( 2 ) during the filling operation.  
   
   
       13 . Equipment as in  claim 12 , wherein each weighing device ( 22 ) comprises a weighing platform ( 23 ) on which to stand a respective container ( 2 ) being filled with the first and second substances.  
   
   
       14 . Equipment as in  claim 10 , wherein each filler unit ( 8 ) comprises clamp means ( 24 ) such as will retain the respective container ( 2 ) on the relative supporting structure ( 13 ) in a stable position.  
   
   
       15 . Equipment as in  claim 10 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) is attached removably to the carousel ( 7 ).  
   
   
       16 . Equipment as in  claim 12 , comprising electronic control means connected to the sensing means ( 21 ), serving to monitor and govern the operation of filling the containers ( 2 ).  
   
   
       17 . Equipment as in  claim 16 , wherein the electronic control means comprise an actuating unit associated with the motion-inducing means ( 15 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) and serving to bring about the movement of the respective supporting structure ( 13 ) between the first and the second filling position.  
   
   
       18 . Equipment for filling containers, comprising: 
 a frame ( 6 ) with at least one rotating carousel ( 7 ) drivable in rotation about a substantially vertical axis (X);    a first supply tank ( 11 ) associated with the carousel ( 7 ) and holding a first packageable substance;    a second supply tank ( 12 ) associated with the carousel ( 7 ) and holding a second packageable substance;    a plurality of filler units ( 8 ) arranged circumferentially about the axis of rotation (X), each comprising a first and a second dispensing outlet ( 9 ,  10 ) connected respectively to the first and to the second tank ( 11 ,  12 ), and a supporting structure ( 13 ) affording a stand for a respective container ( 2 ) to be filled with the first substance and the second substance,    characterized in that each filler unit ( 8 ) is equipped with motion-inducing means ( 15 ) by which the supporting structure ( 13 ) is rendered capable of movement relative to the first and second dispensing outlets ( 9 ,  10 ) between a first filling position, in which the first outlet ( 9 ) is placed in alignment with a mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 2 ), and a second filling position in which the second outlet ( 10 ) is placed in alignment with the mouth ( 5 ) of the container ( 2 ).    
   
   
       19 . Equipment as in  claim 18 , wherein the motion-inducing means ( 15 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) are associated actively with the supporting structure ( 13 ) for the purpose of moving the selfsame structure between the first and the second position.  
   
   
       20 . Equipment as in  claim 19 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) is anchored pivotably to a frame ( 6 ) of the equipment ( 1 ) and free thus to swing on a pivot axis (Y) extending substantially parallel to a predominating axis (A) of the container ( 2 ).  
   
   
       21 . Equipment as in  claim 20 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) is hinged to the frame ( 6 ) at a point between the first and the second outlet ( 9 ,  10 ).  
   
   
       22 . Equipment as in  claim 20 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) is hinged to the frame ( 6 ) in such a way that the pivot axis (Y) of the structure lies equidistant from the first and second outlets ( 9 ,  10 ).  
   
   
       23 . Equipment as in  claim 18 , wherein the motion-inducing means ( 15 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) comprise a fluid power actuator ( 16 ) interposed and operating between supporting structure ( 13 ) and the frame ( 6 ), comprising a cylindrical housing ( 18 ) anchored to the frame ( 6 ), also a movable rod ( 19 ) engaging slidably with the cylindrical housing ( 18 ), attached to the relative supporting structure ( 13 ) at the end remote from the cylindrical housing ( 18 ) and able to stroke between a retracted position, in which the greater part of its length lies internally of the cylindrical housing ( 18 ), and an extended position in which the greater part of its length lies externally of the cylindrical housing ( 18 ).  
   
   
       24 . Equipment as in  claim 18 , wherein each filler unit ( 8 ) is equipped with sensing means ( 21 ) such as will indicate the level of the substance in the container ( 2 ) and allow and/or disallow the flow of the first or the second substance as and when predetermined quantities of the substances dispensed into the respective container ( 2 ).  
   
   
       25 . Equipment as in  claim 24 , wherein the sensing means ( 21 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) comprise at least one weighing device ( 22 ) associated actively with the respective supporting structure ( 13 ) and serving to detect the variations in weight of a container ( 2 ) during the filling operation.  
   
   
       26 . Equipment as in  claim 25 , wherein each weighing device ( 22 ) comprises a weighing platform ( 23 ) on which to stand a respective container ( 2 ) being filled with the first and second substances.  
   
   
       27 . Equipment as in  claim 18 , wherein each filler unit ( 8 ) comprises clamp means ( 24 ) such as will retain the respective container ( 2 ) on the relative supporting structure ( 13 ) in a stable position.  
   
   
       28 . Equipment as in  claim 18 , wherein the supporting structure ( 13 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) is attached removably to the carousel ( 7 ).  
   
   
       29 . Equipment as in  claim 24 , comprising electronic control means connected to the sensing means ( 21 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ), serving to monitor and govern the operation of filling the containers ( 2 ).  
   
   
       30 . Equipment as in  claim 29 , wherein the electronic control means comprise an actuating unit associated with the motion-inducing means ( 15 ) of each filler unit ( 8 ) and serving to bring about the movement of the respective supporting structure ( 13 ) between the first and the second filling position.  
   
   
       31 . Equipment as in  claim 18 , wherein the first and second tanks ( 11 ,  12 ) are located internally of a hollow casing ( 7   a ) carried by the carousel ( 7 ), furnished with first and second couplings ( 7   b ) interposed respectively between the first and second tanks ( 11 ,  12 ) and the first and second outlets ( 9 ,  10 ) and serving to connect the selfsame first and second outlets ( 9 ,  10 ) to the first and second tanks ( 11 ,  12 ).