US3299606A - Automatic filling machine - Google Patents

Description

"Jan. 24, 1967 Filed May 21, 1964 AUTQMATIC FILLING MACHINE FIG-[1. {a 32 R. -J.' WEIKERT 'INVENTOR.

ROY J. WEI'KERT ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet '1 JaQn. 24, 1967 J WEIYKERIT 3,299,606

AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHIN Filed May 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R INVENTOR. .93 ROY J. WEIKERT ATTORNEYS ,Jan."24,1967, v R. JJNEIKERT v 3,299,506

AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet L5 Filed May 21, 1964 FIG-1O 752 \I I56 158 I54 I40 15a INVENTOR.

ROY J. WEIKERT ATTORNEYS Jan. 24, 1967. R. J. WEIKERT AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 21, 1964 INVENTOR.

ROY J. WEIKERT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,299,606 AUTOMATIC FILLING MACHINE Roy J. Weikert, Covington, Ghio, assignor to General Fihns, Inc, Covington, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,175 11 Claims. (Cl. 5337) through flexible tubes in the lower portions of the containers. Plastic milk containers with disposable plastic liners are finding substantial acceptance because they provide a greater degree of sanitation than heretofore available in the metal cans which are diificult to clean and subject to denting and corrosion. Moreover, the conventional metal cans are often filled in such a manner that the product is exposed to contamination and various parts of the cans are handled manually which decreases the acceptability of these containers from a sanitation point of view.

This invention relates to apparatus for filling such plastic container and disposable liner combinations, and particularly to containers of the type shown and described in the United States patent application of Roy J. Weikert, Ser. No. 315,055, filed Oct. 9, 1963, now Patent No. 3,212,681, for Container Structure, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

Accordingly, an important object of this invention is to provide a process and apparatus for automatically filling a milk container or the like having the disposable liner type without requiring manual contact with any product contact surface of the milk container during the opening, filling, or closing of the liner thus improving the sanitation of the milk container.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the aforesaid type which will engage and remove the cap of the plastic liner in response to simple manual movements and which will similarly replace the cap on the liner once the filling operation is completed, and particularly to provide such cap handling apparatus which performs its function without manual contact with the cap, the cap seat, or any other portion of the container which contacts the liquid being placed into the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the aforesaid type which is simple in design and construction for dependable operation and ease in cleaning, and further to provide a simplified process for opening and closing the cap of a plastic liner without manually touching the liner or cap.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for filling a container having a plastic liner therein which includes mechanism for removing and replacing the cover, the moving of the fill mechanism into operative relation with the inlet port, and the control of liquid flow so that only a predetermined amount flows into the liner after which the flow is terminated and the fill mechanism automatically retracted.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of fill apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the fill apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container assembly which is used in conjunction with the invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the fill port assembly on the container;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the fill port and its support bracket;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view through the cap remover;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the cap remover shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view partially in section showing the valve mechanism;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is another sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an elevation view of a portion of the operating mechanism for the fill apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of the pneumatic system for the weighing apparatus; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuitry for the weighing apparatus.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, FIGS. 13 illustrate a filling machine 10 in accordance with the invention for automatically filling a container 11 (FIG. 4) with milk or other liquids or semi-liquids. The apparatus includes a cabinet 12 supported on the four legs 14 and a conventional weighing scale 15 having a table 16 mounted in the cabinet for determining the weight of the container 11 and its content to indicate when the container is full, or has reached a predetermined weight setting. A conveyor table 17 (FIG. 3) may be provided on either side of the scale table 16 to facilitate movement of the containers 11 onto and from the scale table 16. The scale 15 also includes an indicator 18 mounted in a housing 21 and an adjustable balance arm 21 which moves the indicator 18 in response to vertical movement of the table 16.

The vertical support rods 22 are mounted on the right and left sides 23 and 24 and the back 25 of the cabinet by the clamp members 27 which can be manually loosened 1 and 2 with side tables added thereto;

for lowering or raising the rods 22 with respect to the cabinet 12 to move correspondingly the control unit 31) mounted on the upper ends of the rods 22. The control unit 30 includes an aircylinder 31 which opens and closes the control valve 32 and both this valve and air cylinder are supported on the control unit 30 by the L-shaped member 33. The inlet pipe 34 is connected to the valve 32 at one end and the other end thereof is supported on the top of the support 22 and the back 25 of the cabinet 12 for connecting the valve to the source of liquids to be placed into the container 11. The bracket 35 which has a horizontal U-shaped portion is secured on the vertical side wall 36 of the control unit 30 for engaging the fill port assembly 37 which is secured to the liner 38 of the container 11.

Before describing the filling apparatus in more detail, the container 11 and the various components thereof will be described. Initially it is noted that the container is similar to that disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid copending application and per se forms no part of the invention. In particular, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, the fill port assembly 37 which defines the fill port 40 is mechanically secured in a fluid tight manner to the bag or liner 38 without the use of heat, and this assembly includes a frustoconical hollow male member 42 which has three parallel circumferential grooves 43 (FIG. 5) in the outside surface near the larger end thereof. A V-shaped groove 44 having a sharp downwardly extending shoulder is formed above the uppermost of the grooves 43 and the flange 46 is formed at the larger end of the member 42.

The port assembly 37 also includes a resilient cap 47 and retainer 48 which are initially formed and placed onto the male member 42 together (.FIG. The retainer 48 is used to secure the assembly 37 to the liner 38 by first cutting an aperture in the liner 38 having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the central or mid-portion of the male member 42 so that when the member 42 is inserted therethrough, the liner 38 will cover at least the grooves 43. The integral cap 47 and retainer 48 are then forced onto the male member 42 causing the complementary friction rings or projections 50 to engage the grooves 43 and lock the retainer 48 to the male member 42, with the liner 38 being clamped tightly therebetween since the smallest diameter of the projections 50 is slightly smaller, e.g., 7 inch, than the corresponding inner diameter of the grooves 43. In addition, the lip 51 on the inner periphery of the retainer 48 engages the groove 44 and locks these members together.

The cap 47 is separated from the retainer 48 as it is forced onto the male member 42 since the thin connection 52 therebetween is broken as the outer surface 53 of the male member 42 forces the downwardly extending tubular flange portion 55 of the cap 47 outwardly. The adjacent portion of the retainer cannot flex to the same extent as the portion 55 due to the increased radial thickness in this area, and thus the connection 52 is severed.

The cap 47 is locked in place on the smaller end of the male member 42 by engagement between the external radial projection 57 on the upper periphery of the member 42 with the complementary groove 58 formed at the inner juncture of the side wall 55 and the top surface of the cap 47. In addition, the cap is locked to the member by the downwardly sloped circumferential lip 60 on the top of the cap, which is tightly received in the complementary groove 61 in the inner surface 62 of the male member 42 thus resisting inward deformation of the projection 57 and providing a fluid-tight seal between the member 42 and the cap 47.

The port assembly 37 is releasably secured to the cover 64 of the container 11 by engagement with the periphery of the keyhole slot 65 (FIG. 4) formed in the cover 64 of the container to insure complete drainage of the associated bag by holding the liner 38 upright in the container 11. The upper and lower flanges 67 and 68 extend circumferentially around and radially outward from the retainer 48 for engagement with the periphery of the slot 65 to hold the port assembly 37 in place. A shoulder 70 is formed intermediate the flanges 67 and 68 for cooperation with the upper flange 67 to help guide the retainer 48 into place.

Referring again to the filling machine 10, the U- shaped bracket 35 includes a vertical mounting flange 72 (FIGS. 2 and 6) which is secured to the front surface 36 of the control unit 30 and a horizontal portion 73 having the U-shaped slot 75 therein. The inner periphery 76 of the portion of the bracket which defines the slot 75 has a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the retainer 48 between the upper flange 67 and shoulder 78, and the inwardly extending projections 77 in the bracket are provided in the bracket for insuring that the retainer 48 and thus the port assembly 37 will be held securely in position. The distance between the projections 77 is less than the outer diameter of the retainer 48 between the flange 67 and shoulder 70 but the retainer 48 is sulficiently resilient so that it can be manually forced into and removed from the bracket 35. The peripheral portion 76 of the bracket is reduced to a thickness equal to the distance between the flange 67 and shoulder 70 for elimination of relative axial movement of the port assembly 37 when it is mounted in the bracket 35 and the remaining portion of the bracket is heavier for strength and rigidity.

The cap remover 88 (FIGS. 1, 3, 7, 8 and 9) includes an elongated body 81 having a handle 82 on one end thereof and a pivot support 83 extending outwardly from the body 81 opposite the handle 82. The pivot support 83 has the outer end thereof enlarged to accommodate the universal bearing member 84 which is suitably secured to the vertical pivot pin 85 on the top surface 86 of the control unit 38 for pivotal movement of the cap remover 88 in a horizontal plane about the axis of the pivot pin 85, as well as in a vertical plane at a right angle to the axis of the pivot pin 85.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lower surface of the cap remover body 81 is relieved between the parallel shoulders 87 and 88, including the relatively flat central portion 90 which is parallel to the top surface 91 of the body 81, and the tapered portions 93 extend from the central portion 90 to the opposite side edges 94 and 95 of the body 81. A bottom plate 96 having a configuration similar to the lower surface 97 of the body 81 is then secured to the body adjacent the lower surface by the screw 98 and the pivot support 83 both of which extend through flanges 181 and 102 on the plate 96 and into threaded engagement with the body 81. The vertical spacing between the central portion and the inner surface of the plate 96 is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the peripheral flange 1114 around the top of the cap 47. The spacing between the tapered portion 93 and the plate 96 gradually decreases from a distance adjacent the edges 94 which is substantially greater than the thickness of the flange 184 to define an entrance slot for easy engagement of this flange 104 by the cap remover 88. The plate 96 has a curved slot 186 therein having a width slightly greater than the diameter of the cap 47 just below the flange 184 so that the cap remover 80 can readily grasp the cap 47 as it is pivoted about the pin 85. A narrow curved slot 188 may be provided in the body 81 above the slot 186 for use in removing caps 47 which have a flexible discharge tube 47a extending centrally from the top surface thereof, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9.

The fill valve 32 is positioned in precise alignment directly above the bracket 35 so that, when the port assembly 37 is held in bracket 35 and the cap 47 removed, the container 11 can be automatically filled, as will be explained. The fill valve 32 is shown in FIGS. 10l3, and includes a central support member secured to the L-shaped member 33 which supports the valve in position. The air cylinder 31 is mounted on the member 110 and includes a hollow body or cylinder 112 in which the piston 113 reciprocates to move similarly the piston rod 115 which extends through the lower end 116 of the cylinder 112. The spring 117 is interposed between the upper end 118 of the cylinder and the piston 113 to urge the piston toward its lowermost position, and a source of air can be connected to the air cylinder through the port 120 which communicates with a chamber 121 formed between the piston 113 and the lower end 116 of the cylinder 112. Thus the spring 117 normally positions the piston rod 115 in its extended position, and when air pressure is connected to the chamber 121 the piston rod will be retracted into the cylinder 112.

Releasably coupled to the lower end of the support member 110 is an elongated tube 122 having a tubular inlet 123 extending therefrom for connection to the inlet pipe 34 of liquid being handled by the fill valve 32. The upper end of the tube 122 is connected to the central support member 110 by a releasable coupling 125 which includes the pair of semi-circular members 127 held together at one end by the hinge 128.

The other ends of members 127 have the hooks 129 formed therein which can be locked together by the fastening loop 130 which is tightened into locking relation by pivoting the handle 131 over center with the nose portion 132 in engagement with the one of the hooks 129. The ends of the loop 130 are connected to a nut member 133a mounted in slots 133b and having an adjustment screw 1330 cooperating therewith to vary the size and tension of the coupling 125. Each of the semi-circular members 127 has the inwardly extending flanges 134 on the upper and lower edges thereof which cooperate with the radially outwardly extending flanges 135 and 136 on the member 110 and the upper end of the tube 122, respectively, so that when the members 127 are tightened in position this tube is rigidly secured to the support 110. It is also desirable to place a rubber gasket between the flanges 135 and 136 for a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

An elongated valve member 138 extends axially through the tube 122 and through the apertures 140 and 141 formed in the support member 110 and in the upper end wall 142 of the tube 122 with the O-ring seal 144 being provided on the valve member 138 for sealing against leakage between the valve member 138 and the end wall 142 of the tube. A releasable coupling 145 is provided (FIG. 13), for securing the valve member 138 to the piston rod 115 and includes a tubular bushing member 147 which reciprocates on the lower end of the piston rod 115, and is urged downwardly by the coil spring 150 interposed between the shoulders 151 and 152 on the rod 115 and bushing 147, respectively.

A snap ring 154 is positioned in a groove on the lower end of the piston rod 115 so that downward movement of the bushing 147 beyond contact with the ring 154 is prohibited. When the bushing 147 is moved upwardly, the balls 156 which normally ride in the exterior groove 157 in the valve member 138 and the openings 158 in the piston rod 115, are allowed to move radially outwardly from engagement within the groove 157 so that the valve member 138 can be withdrawn from the rod 115. Thus, by releasing the clamp mechanism 125 and raising the bushing 147, the tube 122 and valve member 138 can be quickly separated from the stationary support member 1141 for ease in cleaning of the equipment.

The lower end of the tube 122 is adapted to engage the male member 42 of the port assembly 37, as seen vin FIG. 10. That is, when the fill valve 32 is lowered into operative relation with the fill port 37 the outer peripheral edge 160 of the tube 12 extends inwardly of the member 42 and has a shoulder 161 thereon for fluid tight engagement with the inner peripheral edge portions of the upper or smaller end of the male member 42 when the fill valve 32 is lowered into contact therewith. The lower end of the valve member 138 has an enlarged head 163 thereon which cooperates with the valve seat 164 on the lower end of the tube 138 so that, when the head 163 is in its lowermost position, fluid flow through the opening 165 in the lower end of the tube 138 is prevented. The entire fill valve is moved vertically by the L-shaped bracket 33 which is raised and lowered by an air motor 166 (FIG. 14) mounted in the control unit 30 for movement in the guide bracket 167, as will be explained.

The control unit 30 is best described in connection with the operation of the apparatus, and therefore the sequence of operations required to fill one container 11 is set forth. It is first assumed that the support rods 22 have been suitably adjusted with respect to the cabinet 24 for positioning the control unit 30 a prescribed distance above the scale table 16, and then suitable sources of electrical power and air pressure are connected to the control unit. The on-ofl switch 170 (FIGS. 1 and 16) on the control box 171 is then depressed to close the switches 172 and 173 in the conductors 174 and 175 so that the electrical system is ready for operation. The light 176 in the conductor 178 indicates when the on-off switch 170 is in the On position.

A container 11 is first placed on the scale table 16 with the top 64 open (FIG. 4) and the discharge tube 180 being sealed in the groove 181 by the pressure sensitive tape strip 182. The retainer 48 of the fill port assembly 37 is then placed in the U-shaped bracket 35, as described above and then the cap remover is manually pivoted in a horizontal plane so that the flange 104 on the cap 47 slides into the slot wherein it is held firmly. The cap remover 80 is then pivoted upwardly in a vertical plane, to first disengage from the male member 42 the edge of the cap farthest from the pivot pin 85 and then progressively the remainder of the cap 47. This progressive removal requires a smaller amount of force at any one time and decreases the possibility that any portion of the fill port assembly 37 will be torn or permanently distorted. Once the cap 47 is removed, the cap remover 80 is pivoted to its rest position above the top surface 86 of the control unit 30 away from the container 11 and operative components of the fill apparatus.

The fill switch 184 on the control box 171 is then momentarily depressed to complete a circuit through conduct-or 185 to the relay CR (FIG. 16). Energization of the relay CR immediately closes the normally open switch CR1 in the conductor 187 in parallel with the fill switch 184 to maintain energization of the relay CR after the fill switch 184 is released. Simultaneously therewith, the normally open relay CR2 in the conductor 187 is closed to energize the solenoid 1'90 and move the control valve 191 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 15, against the bias of the spring 192 to its fill position.

In this fill position, the air pressure from the line 193 (FIG. 15) is connected to the line 194 so that air is communicated to the valves 195 and 196 and the upper chamber 198 of the cylinder 166 which raises and lowers the fill valve 32. Pressurization of the chamber 198 causes the piston 2011 to move downwardly to move the rod 201 and the L-shaped member 33 connected thereto downwardly to lower the fill valve 32 so that the lower end of the tube 122 positions the outlet opening in the interior of the male member 42 which is being held in position on the bracket 35. As the tube 122 reaches this position, it also moves the valve 195 downwardly as shown in FIG. 15, to connect the air pressure in line 283 to the actuator 204 of the valve 196 through the line 206 to move this valve to the left as viewed in FIG. 15, against the bias of the spring. 207. The air pressure immediately flows through line 268 from the line 194 to the fill valve cylinder 121 causing the piston rod 115 and valve member 128 to be moved upwardly against the bias of the spring 117 so that milk or other liquid may flow through the tube 122 and into the liner 38 of the container 11.

The desired volume of liquid in the container 11 is reached when the scale indicator 18 contacts and opens the electrical switch 209 in conductor causing the relay CR to be deenergized and the contact CR2 to be opened. The solenoid is thus deenergized so that the spring 192 returns the control valve 191 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 15, to its inactive position. The action can also be effected in an emergency by closing the push button switch 170a in line 185. The line 194 is thus connected to the atmosphere so that the spring 207 returns the valve 192 to the right to again connect the line 208 and the chamber 121 of the air cylinder 111 to the atmosphere and permitting the spring 117 to extend the piston rod 115 and valve member 138. This action seats the valve member 138 on its seat 164 and terminates flow through the tube 122. In this position, the valve 191 connects the lines 193 and 210 to pressurize the lower chamber 211 of the actuator 166 causing the fill valve 32 to be moved upwardly to its retracted position spaced from the container 11.

The flow control valves 212 and 213 are provided in the lines 194 and 210 to regulate the flow of air to the actuator 166 thereby controlling the rate of the raising and lowering operation of the fill valve 32 so that the valve is closed before the valve 32 begins to move upwardly. The stop switch 170a is provided in the conductor 185 for effecting the same operation as occurs when the scale indicator switch 209 is actuated to open the circuit through conductor 185 so that the filling operation may be terminated in an emergency or for any other reason.

The cap remover 89 with the cap 47 therein is then pivoted to a position directly above the port assembly 37 which is held in the bracket and then is pivoted downwardly so that one edge of the cap 47 is forced onto the male member 42, and progressively the remaining portion of the cap 47 is forced in to a locked position on the male member 42. This progressive removal and replacement of the cap 47 is facilitated by the resil ence of the plastic material from which the cap 47 and male member 42 are constructed. Then the cap remover St) is pivoted in a horizontal plane to disengage the cap 47 from the slot 9t). The top of the container 11 is then secured in place with the port assembly 37 in the keyhole slot 65 so that the container is ready for storage, or shipment, as desired. The fill assembly is now ready to repeat the cycle to fill another of the containers ll.

The invention has thus provided improved process and apparatus for filling a milk container of the type described and covered in the aforesaid copending application. A bracket holds the port assembly in position for easy removal of the cap by the cap remover after which the liner is automatically filled in response to the actuation of a push button switch. When the container is filled the flow is automatically terminated and the fill valve retracted, after which the cap is easily replaced by the cap remover.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus for carrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of filling a milk container having a plastic liner bag therein with a retainer secured thereto defining a liquid inlet and a resilient cap removably held on the retainer comprising, the steps of temporarily securing said retainer to a bracket having a fixed position, engaging a radial flange on said cap by moving a pivot tool about a first axis parallel to and oifset laterally from the axis of said retainer, removing said cap from said retainer by pivoting said tool about a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said retainer and offset laterally therefrom, pivoting said tool with the cap therein about said first axis to a retracted position, filling said liner until a presoribed volume of liquid is in said liner, replacing said cap by movng said tool with said cap thereon to a position above said retainer and then pivoting said tool downwardly to engage progressively said cap with said retainer, and then removing said tool from said cap by moving the same about said first axis.

2. A method of filling a milk container having a plastic liner bag therein with a retainer secured thereto defining a liquid inlet and a resilient cap removably held on the retainer cOmprising, the steps of temporarily securing said retainer to a bracket having a fixed position, engaging a radial flange on said cap by moving a pivot tool about a first axis parallel to and offset laterally from the axis of said retainer, removing said cap from said retainer by pivoting said tool about a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said retainer and offset laterally therefrom, filling said liner, replacing said cap by moving said tool with said ca thereon to a position above said retainer and then pivoting said tool downwardly to engage said cap with said retainer, and then removing said tool from said cap by moving the same about said first axis.

3. A method of filling a plastic liner bag therein and having a frustoconical retainer secured thereto defining a liquid inlet, a resilient cap removably held on the retainer and having a frustoconical side wall for engaging the outer surface of the retainer, the cap and retainer having complementary circumferential groove and projections for securing the same together, comprising the steps of temporarily securing said retainer to a bracket having a fixed position, engaging said cap by moving a pivot tool about a first axis parallel to and offset laterally from the axis of said retainer, removing said cap from said retainer by pivoting said tool about a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said retainer and offset laterally therefrom to separate the groove and projection farthest from said first axis and progressively the remaining portion of said groove and projection to remove said cap from said retainer, pivoting said tool with the cap therein about said first axis to a retracted position, filling the bag until a prescribed volume of liquid is in the bag, replacing said cap by moving said tool with said cap therein to a position above said retainer and then pivoting said tool downwardly to engage progressively said groove and projection nearest said first axis to replace said cap on said retainer, and then removing said tool from said cap by moving the same about said first axis.

4. A method of filling a container having a frustoconical retainer secured thereto defining an inlet, a resilient cap removably held on the retainer and having a frustoconical side wall for engaging the outer surface of the retainer, the cap and retainer having complementary circumferential groove and projections for securing the same together, comprising the steps of temporarily securing said retainer to a bracket having a fixed position, engaging said cap by moving a pivot tool about a first axis parallel to and offset laterally from the axis of said retainer, removing said cap from said retainer by pivoting said tool about a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said retainer and offset laterally therefrom to separate the groove and projection farthest from said first axis and progressively the remaining portions of said groove and projection to remove said cap from said retainer, pivoting said tool with the cap therein about said first axis to a retracted position, and replacing said cap by moving said tool with said cap thereon to a position above said retainer and then pivoting said tool downwardly to engage progressively said groove and projection to replace said cap on said retainer.

5. Sanitary apparatus for filling a milk container or the like having an inlet port member with a resilient cap thereon comprising, a housing, scale means on housing for supporting the container, bracket means for engaging and holding the inlet port member to position the same in a preset position, cap remover means on said frame for removing and replacing said cap on the inlet port member while the latter is held by said bracket means, reciprocable valve means movable to an extended position in close cooperation with said bracket means for insertion into said port member when said cap is removed and to a retracted position spaced from said bracket, a valve member in said valve means for connecting a source of liquid supply to the interior of said container when said valve means is in said extended position, said scale means sensing when a predetermined amount of liquid is in said container to close sequentially said valve member and move said valve means to said retracted position.

6. Apparatus for removing a resilient plastic cap hav" ing a flat top and a peripheral flange from a tubular retainer, the cap and retainer having circumferentially engaging portions which mate to lock the cap and retainer together, comprising a frame, bracket means on said frame for holding said retainer securely in position, a handle having a pivot connection to said frame, said connection being spaced a predetermined distance from said bracket for pivotal movement of said handle about a first axis parallel to the axis of the cap and a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said cap, and means defining a recess in said handle for engaging the flange on the cap by pivotal movement about said first axis, said handle removing the cap from the retainer when pivoted about said second axis away from the retainer by first separating the engaging portions farthest from said pivot connection and progressively separating the portions closer to said pivot connection as said handle is moved away from the retainer.

7. Apparatus for removing a resilient plastic cap having a flat top and a peripheral flange from a tubular retainer, the cap and retainer having circumferentially engaging portions which mate to lock the cap and retainer together, comprising a frame, bracket means on said frame for holding said retainer securely in position, a handle having a universal pivot connection to said frame, said connection being spaced a predetermined distance from said bracket for pivotal movement of said handle about a first axis parallel to the axis of the cap and a second axis perpendicular to the axis of said cap, and means defining a slot in said handle for engaging the above cap below the flange when said handle is moved about said first axis, said handle removing the cap from the retainer when pivoted about said second axis away from the retainer by first separating the engaging portions farthest from said pivot connection and progressively separating the portions closer to said pivot connection as said handle is moved away from the retainer.

8. Sanitary apparatus for filling a plastic bag having a semi-rigid inlet port member wit-h a lower portion secured to a plastic bag and a pair of spaced radially outwardly extending flanges on the lower portion exterior of the bag, a resilient cap engaging the port for closing and sealing the bag and having a flat top with a radial outwardly extending peripheral flange, said apparatus comprising a housing, scale means on housing for supporting the container, bracket means for engaging and holding the inlet port member between the spaced flanges to position the same in a preset position, cap remover means on said frame for engaging the flange on the cap to remove and replace the cap on the inlet port member while the latter is held by said bracket means, reciprocable valve means movable to an extended position in close cooperation with said bracket means for insertion into said port member when said cap is removed and to a retracted position spaced from said bracket, a valve member in said valve means for connecting a source of liquid supply to the interior of said bag when said valve means is in said extended position, said scale means sensing when a predetermined amount of liquid is in said bag to close sequentially said valve member and move said valve means to said retracted position.

9. Sanitary apparatus for filling a container having a resilient inlet port member with a lower portion secured to the container and a pair of spaced radially outwardly extending flanges on the lower portion exterior of the container, a resilient cap engaging the port for closing and sealing the container and having a flat top with a radial outwardly extending peripheral flange, said ap paratus comprising a housing, bracket means for engaging and holding the inlet port member between the spaced flanges to position the same in a preset position, locking means for releasably holding the port member on said bracket means, a universal pivot connection on said housing, a cap remover having one end secured to said pivot connection for movement in a first direction parallel to the flat top of the cap when the cap is secured on the port member and in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and means defining a slot in said cap remover for engaging the flange on the cap while the port member is held in said bracket and when said remover is moved in said first direction, said cap remover adapted to remove and replace the cap on the inlet port member when said cap remover is moved in said second direction.

10. Sanitary apparatus for filling a container having a resilent inlet port member with a lower portion secured to the container and a pair of spaced radially outwardly extending flanges on the lower portion exterior of the container, a resilient cap engaging the port for closing and sealing the container and having a flat top with a radial outwardly extending peripheral flange, said apparatus comprising a housing, bracket means for engaging and holding the inlet port member between the spaced flanges to position the same in a preset position, locking means for releasably holding the port member on said bracket means, a universal pivot connection on said housing, a cap remover having one end secured to said pivot connection for movement in a first direction parallel to the fiat top of the cap when the cap is secured on the port member and in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, and said cap remover having a central body portion with a recess therein of a width greater than the diameter of the flat top of the cap, a plate secured to said body member over said recess and having an open ended slot therein slightly greater in width than the diameter of the cap immediately below the flange, said slot having a distance between said recess and the closest part of said plate equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the flange, said slot adapted to engage the flange on the cap while the port member is held in said bracket and when said remover is moved in said first direction, said cap remover adapted to remove and replace the cap on the inlet port member when said cap remover is moved in said second direction.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said central body portion is provided with an open ended slot for accommodating a cap having a discharge tube extending from the flat top thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,106,230 =10/1-963 Laun 53-37 X 3,219,240 I l/196 5 Campbell 5337 X 3,242,951 3/1966 Curie et al. 53-37 X TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 2. A METHOD OF FILLING A MILK CONTAINER HAVING A PLASTIC LINER BAG THEREIN WITH A RETAINER SECURED THERETO DEFINING A LIQUID INLET AND A RESILIENT CAP REMOVABLY HELD ON THE RETAINER COMPRISING, THE STEPS OF TEMPORARILY SECURING SAID RETAINER TO A BRACKET HAVING A FIXED POSITION, ENGAGING A RADIAL FLANGE ON SAID CAP BY MOVING A PIVOT TOOL ABOUT A FIRST AXIS PARALLEL TO AND OFFSET LATERALLY FROM THE AXIS OF SAID RETAINER, REMOVING SAID CAP FROM SAID RETAINER BY PIVOTING SAID TOOL ABOUT A SECOND AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID RETAINER AND OFFSET LATERALLY THERFROM, FILLING SAID LINER, REPLACING SAID CAP BY MOVING SAID TOOL WITH SAID CAP THEREON TO A POSITION ABOVE SAID RETAINER AND THEN PIVOTING SAID TOOL DOWNWARDLY TO ENGAGE SAID CAP WITH SAID RETAINER, AND THEN REMOVING SAID TOOL FROM SAID CAP BY MOVING THE SAME ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS.

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