Centripetal container processing apparatus

Abstract

A container processing apparatus comprises a rotor, and a rotor support that is mechanically coupled to the rotor. The rotor comprises at least one container processing station. The rotor support is configured to facilitate rotation of the rotor around the rotor support. The container processing station is configured to releasably capture a container, to exert, via the rotation, centripetal force on the container, and to move material (liquid, granular, shredded, particulate or paste-like material) within the container via the centripetal force.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A rotor for mounting to a rotor support of a centripetal container processing apparatus, the rotor comprising:
 a plurality of arms extending radially outwards from a central hub; and   a container processing station mounted to at least one of the arms, the at least one container processing station being configured to introduce material into the container via a centripetal force, the centripetal force being exerted against the fluid during a rotation of the rotor about the rotor support, the at least one container processing station being further configured to one of cap and seal the container.   
     
     
         25 . The rotor according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one container processing station comprises a container filling head, the container filling head being configured to introduce the material into the container, and to maintain the introduced material in the container via the centripetal force. 
     
     
         26 . The rotor according to  claim 24  or  25 , wherein the at least one container processing station comprises a container cleansing head, the container cleansing head being configured to clean the container by injecting fluid into the container, and to remove the injected fluid from the container via the centripetal force. 
     
     
         27 . The rotor according to  claim 24 , wherein each said container processing station comprises a container cleansing head, a container filling head, and a container capping head. 
     
     
         28 . The rotor according to  claim 27 , wherein the container filling head is configured to introduce the material into the container, and to maintain the introduced material in the container via the centripetal force. 
     
     
         29 . The rotor according to  claim 28 , wherein the container cleansing head is configured to clean the container by injecting the material into the container, and to remove the injected material from the container via the centripetal force. 
     
     
         30 . The rotor according to  claim 29 , wherein the container capping head is configured to maintain the introduced matter in the container via the centripetal force while capping the container. 
     
     
         31 . The rotor according to  claim 27 , wherein the container cleansing heads all occupy a common cleansing head plane, the container filling heads all occupy a common filling head plane, and the container capping heads all occupy a common capping head plane, and the cleansing head plane is parallel to the filling head plane and the capping head plane. 
     
     
         32 . The rotor according to  claim 31 , wherein the arms extend horizontally from the rotor support, the container processing stations are fixed to the arms, the container filling heads are vertically adjacent the container cleansing heads, and the container capping heads are vertically adjacent the container filling heads. 
     
     
         33 . The rotor according to  claim 32 , wherein the container processing stations are mounted proximate outer ends of the arms. 
     
     
         34 . The rotor according to  claim 24 , configured to supply one of a number of different fluids to the container processing stations. 
     
     
         35 . The rotor according to  claim 34 , wherein the rotor support comprises a plurality of material delivery manifolds, each said manifold being coupled to a respective material delivery line and a respective portion of the container processing stations. 
     
     
         36 . The rotor according to  claim 24 , wherein the at least one container processing station comprises a container filling head, and the container filling head comprises a filling nozzle configured to introduce the material into the container during the rotation of the rotor, the filling nozzle comprising a valve spool, a telescoping nozzle diffuser slidably received within the valve spool, and an actuator coupled to the nozzle diffuser for moving the nozzle diffuser into and out of the valve spool, the valve spool being open at one end thereof, the nozzle diffuser including a stopper for closing the open end when the nozzle diffuser is disposed within the valve spool. 
     
     
         37 . The rotor according to  claim 36 , wherein the nozzle diffuser is coupled to a fluid source proximate one end thereof, the stopper being proximate the other end thereof, the nozzle diffuser including at least one aperture proximate the other end for introducing the fluid into the container when the nozzle diffuser moves out from the valve spool. 
     
     
         38 . The rotor according to  claim 37 , wherein the filling nozzle further comprises a magnetic stop, and the valve spool includes a radially-extending valve spool flange, the magnetic stop being configured to engage the valve spool flange as the nozzle diffuser moves out of the valve spool and enters the container. 
     
     
         39 . The rotor according to  claim 38 , wherein the magnetic stop is configured to release the valve spool flange before the nozzle diffuser is fully withdrawn from the container and after the stopper closes the open end of the valve spool. 
     
     
         40 . The rotor according to  claim 36 , wherein the container filling head comprises a filling nozzle configured to introduce the fluid into the container during the rotation of the rotor, the filling nozzle comprising a valve spool which is fixed relative to the associated arm. 
     
     
         41 . The rotor according to  claim 36 , wherein the container comprises a neckless pouch, and the container filling head comprises a filling anvil and a filling nozzle coupled to the filling anvil, the filling anvil being configured to capture the pouch at a mouth thereof, the filling nozzle being configured to open the neckless pouch via the introduced fluid. 
     
     
         42 . The rotor according to  claim 41 , wherein the filling nozzle comprises a primary nozzle valve, a secondary nozzle valve, and a flexible sleeve extending between the nozzle valves. 
     
     
         43 . The rotor according to  claim 42 , wherein the flexible sleeve has an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being secured to the primary nozzle valve, the primary nozzle valve being configured to align the outlet end with the mouth of the pouch. 
     
     
         44 . A rotor for mounting to a rotor support of a centripetal container processing apparatus, the rotor comprising:
 a plurality of arms extending radially outwards from a central hub; and   a container sealing head mounted to at least one of the arms, the container sealing head being configured to maintain fluid in the container via a centripetal force and to seal the container as the fluid is maintained in the container via the centripetal force, the centripetal force being exerted against the fluid during a rotation of the rotor about the rotor support