Filling head mechanism that removes material from a spout of a filled container before completely disengaging from the spout
US6148874A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 1, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B2210/08
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A machine and method for filling bags with liquid through spouts attached to the bags, wherein a piston within a filling head that operates to control flow of the liquid from the filling head is also extended out of the filling head and into the spout, after the bag is filled, in order to push remaining material from the spout and through is bottom opening into the bag. The spout bottom opening is then closed, after which any remaining material adhering to the walls inside the spout and surfaces of the filling head are cleaned by forming a chamber between them through which a cleaning fluid is passed. This machine and method are particularly useful when filling bags with highly viscous and/or sticky liquids, such as thick food products. They avoid a result of having either to distribute messy bags of product with material remaining adhered to the outside of the spout and/or bag, or to first remove this material by an additional cleaning step.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.