Container filling system

Abstract

.Iadd.The present invention provides a simplified control apparatus for a system which fills a plurality of containers with fluid. The control apparatus functions to hold and to advance containers on a continuously moving conveyor while synchronizing the filling cycle for the containers. .Iaddend.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for filling a plurality of containers with fluid, comprising, structure including a pair of spaced movable members defining a filling area, continuously operating means sequentially passing said containers into and out of said filling area, pump means delivering a predetermined amount of said fluid to said containers while within said filling area, first and second means responsive to the operation of said pump means to automatically control the respective movement of each of said movable members, one of said movable members retaining a portion of said containers within said filling area to be filled by said pump means while the other of said movable members separates said portion of said containers from the remainder thereof, said one movable member releasing said portion of said containers when filled and then returning to the retaining position, said other of said movable members releasing said remainder of said containers to permit another portion thereof to pass into said filling area and then returning to the retaining position to separate said another portion of containers from the remaining containers. 
     
     
       2. A system for filling a plurality of containers with fluid, comprising, structure including a pair of spaced, movable members defining a filling area, continuously operating means sequentially passing said containers into and out of said filling area, pump means delivering a predetermined amount of said fluid to said containers while within said filling area, first means automatically extending one said movable members to retain a portion of said containers in the filling area to be filled by said pump means and then retracting said one movable member to permit said portion of containers, when filled, to be passed out of said filling area, and second means automatically extending the other of said movable members to separate the remainder of said containers from said portion thereof passing out of said filling area and then retracting said other movable member to permit another portion of containers to pass into said filling area. 
     
     
       3. The system as recited in claim 2 and additionally, means responsive to the presence of at least one container before said filling area to power said pump means, whereby when said at least one container is absent said pump means is inoperative. 
     
     
       4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said continuously operating means is a conveyor. 
     
     
       5. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said pump means includes a shaft and said first means and second means each include a cam mounted thereon, a switch responsive to said cam, and solenoid actuated cylinder means responsive to said switch and having its piston connected with a movable member. 
     
     
       6. A system for filling a plurality of containers with fluid, comprising, structure including a pair of spaced movable members defining a filling area, continuously operating means sequentially passing a pair of said containers into and out of said filling area, a pair of pump means each delivering a predetermined amount of said fluid to its respective container while in said filling area, a shaft connecting said pair of pump means with each other for simultaneous operation, first actuating means including a first cam mounted on said shaft to automatically extend one said movable members to retain said pair of containers in said filling area to be filled by said pair of pump means and retract said one movable member to permit said pair of containers, when filled, to pass out of said filling area, and second actuating means including a second cam mounted on said shaft to automatically extend the other of said movable members to separate the remainder of said containers from said pair thereof passing out of said filling area and then retract said other movable member to permit another pair of containers to pass into said filling area. .Iadd. 7. A system for filling a plurality of containers with fluid, comprising, means including a pair of spaced movable members defining a filling area, means sequentially passing said containers into and out of said filling area along a predetermined path, pump means delivering a predetermined amount of fluid to said containers while within said filling area, and control means including first and second means responsive to the operation of said pump means to automatically control the respective movement of each of said movable members, one of said movable members retaining a portion of said containers within said filling area to be filled by said pump means while the other of said movable members separates said portion of said containers from the remainder thereof, said one movable member releasing said portion of said containers when filled and then returning to the retaining position, said other of said movable members releasing said remainder of said containers to permit another portion thereof to pass into said filling area and then returning to the retaining position to separate said another portion of containers from the remaining containers, and third means including a third member which senses the presence of at least one container along said path and is operable to stop the operating cycle in the absence of said at least one container to prevent fluid spillage. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein only a single third member is provided. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said third member is located along said path outside said filling area. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said third means is operable to open the energizing circuit of a motor driving said pump means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. A system according to claim 7, wherein said third member is located along said path outside said filling area. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A system according to claim 7, wherein said third means is operable to open the energizing circuit of a motor driving said pump means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A system for filling a plurality of containers with fluid, comprising, a pair of spaced, movable members defining a filling area, continuously operating means sequentially passing said containers into and out of said filling area along a predetermined path, pump means delivering a predetermined amount of fluid to said containers while within said filling area, and control means for controlling the operating cycle of the system including first means automatically extending one said movable members to retain a portion of said containers in the filling area to be filled by said pump means and then retracting said one movable member to permit said portion of containers, when filled, to be passed out of said filling area, second means automatically extending the other of said movable members to separate the remainder of said containers from said portion thereof passing out of said filling area and then retracting said other movable member to permit another portion of containers to pass into said filling area, and third means consisting of a single sensor disposed along said path for sensing the presence of at least one container to be filled in said filling area and for interrupting the operating cycle in the absence of said container. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said third means senses the presence of a predetermined number of containers to be filled. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. A system according to claim 13, wherein said third means is operable to assure that a predetermined number of containers is always present in said filling area before enabling said pump means to deliver the predetermined amount. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor is located along said path outside said filling area. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said third means is responsive to the presence of at least one container entering said filling area to energize said pump means, whereby when said at least one container is absent said pump means is rendered inoperative. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. The system is recited in claim 13, wherein said continuously operating means is a conveyor. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said pump means includes a shaft and said first means and second means each include a cam mounted thereon, a switch responsive to said cam, and solenoid actuated cylinder means responsive to said switch and having its piston connected with a movable member. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A system for filling a plurality of containers with fluid, comprising, a pair of spaced movable members defining a filling area, continuously operating means sequentially passing a predetermined number of said containers into and out of said filling area, a plurality of pump means each delivering a predetermined amount of fluid to its respective container while in said filling area, a shaft connecting said pump means with each other for simultaneous operation, first actuating means for automatically extending one said movable members to retain said containers in said filling area to be filled by said pump means and for retracting said one movable member to permit said containers, when filled, to pass out of said filling area, second actuating means for automatically extending the other of said movable members to separate the remainder of containers which are present upstream thereof, from said predetermined number passing out of said filling area and for then retracting said other movable member to permit another predetermined number of containers to pass into said filling area, and control means operatively connected with said first and second actuating means and including sensing means for sensing the presence of said predetermined number of containers to be passed into said filling area to thereby enable operation of said pump means to fill said containers only in the presence of the predetermined number of said containers in said filling area. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A system according to claim 20, wherein only a single sensing means is used. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said sensing means is located along a path of the containers passed by said continuously operating means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A system according to claim 22, wherein said sensing means is located upstream of said second movable member. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. A system according to claim 20, wherein said sensing means is located upstream of said second movable member. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 25. A system according to claim 20, wherein said sensing means is located along the path of the containers passed by said continuously operating means. .Iaddend.