Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Portable systems or track mounted supply means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-28
2003-07-22
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Portable systems or track mounted supply means
C141S128000, C141S129000, C141S083000, C141S153000, C141S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06595250
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure concerns an invention relating generally to methods and apparata for fluid dispensation, i.e., the dispensation of liquids and flowing powders, particulates, or other solids. The invention relates more particularly to methods and apparata which are particularly suitable for use in automatic and semi-automatic container fillers for filling containers with a desired amount of fluid product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The three most common types of fluid filling schemes are volumetric filling, time-metered filling, and weight-metered filling (also referred to as gravimetric filling). All are commonly implemented in semi-automatic or automatic filling systems wherein empty containers are carried by conveyors or other transport mechanisms to filling positions. Once the containers reach the filling positions, they are stopped, filled to the desired degree by filling heads (e.g., nozzles or other dispensing apparata), and then released upon completion of the fill. In other instances, no container transport mechanisms are utilized and the containers are simply placed by hand at the filling station, filled, and then removed by hand after filling.
In volumetric filling (also known as volume-metered filling), a set volume of fluid is dispensed into a container: a chamber is set to a desired volume, the chamber is filled with fluid, and the contents of the chamber are then dispensed into a container. The chamber is generally provided by a cylinder which is emptied by a piston. Volumetric filling is subject to the disadvantages that filling accuracy is limited by the accuracy of the control of the chamber volume, and filling speed is limited by the time necessary for refilling the chamber. Volumetric filling is also unsuitable where one wishes to fill a container with a desired weight of fluid: variations in fluid density will lead to variations in the weight of the fluid dispensed from the chamber and result in different weights being dispensed into different containers; viscous fluids may stick to the dispensing apparatus and result in incomplete dispensation; and so forth.
In time-metered filling (also known as time-metered volumetric filling), fluid is dispensed from a nozzle having a known volumetric flow rate for a set amount of time sufficient to fill the containers with a set volume of fluid. Time-metered filling is advantageous in terms of productivity insofar as one may reduce filling time per container to any desired level so long as the appropriate volumetric flow rate is obtainable. However, time-metered filling is subject to inaccuracy unless a constant flow rate is precisely maintained, and this is particularly difficult to attain where flow rates are high. Additionally, time-metered filling is subject to the same disadvantages as volumetric filling in that variations in fluid density will result in different weights of fluid being dispensed to different containers, even if the volume of the dispensed fluid remains relatively constant from container to container.
Weight-metered (gravimetric) filling utilizes a weight sensor which monitors the amount of fluid received by a container. The weight sensor provides feedback to the dispensing apparatus, which halts dispensation when a desired weight of fluid is received. Weight-metered filling can be more accurate than volume-metered and time-metered filling, but it unfortunately has several significant disadvantages. First, the weight sensors and feedback apparata are quite costly if any reasonable degree of accuracy is required. Second, the filling time per container tends to be significantly longer owing to the weight feedback; sensitive weight sensors need time to “settle” prior to giving accurate weight readings, and additionally slower filling rates must often be used since the flow must be cut off precisely at or slightly before the time the desired weight is reached, or overshoot will result in an overweight container with product “give-away”.
Regardless of whatever filling methodology is used, it has long been recognized that the versatility of filling units (i.e., the devices that perform the filling function) are significantly enhanced if the filling units are repositionable between different filling stations (i.e., the conveyors or other areas at which filling is to be performed), or to cleaning and maintenance areas. Apart from enhancing the ease of repairs and cleaning of filling units, this allows a single filling unit to be used at a variety of different filling stations, and additionally different filling units may be interchangeably used at the same filling station. As an example, mobile semiautomatic volumetric filling units have been well known for many years. As an example, the NEUMO Model SAF filling unit (Cherry Burrell, Delavan, Wis.) provided a piston/cylinder volumetric pump on a wheeled base, with the cylinder being supplied with fluid from a product hose (which could be connected to a product supply tank or the like) and in turn supplying a filling head. A foot pedal was supplied so that depression of the foot pedal would actuate the volumetric pump. Thus, a user could situate a container at a filling station, wheel the filling unit over to the filling station so that the filling head rested over the container, and the pedal could then be depressed to fill the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,548 to Neumann describes a mobile filling unit wherein a filling head is provided on a wheeled base. The filling head is supplied with fluid via a conduit which may be connected and disconnected from a fluid product source. The wheeled base is provided with retractable legs so that the filling unit may be fixed in position once it is wheeled to a desired filling station, with the filling head positioned over filling positions to which empty containers are indexed for filling. Metered filling is accomplished by means of monitoring the level of fluid received in the filled containers. As fluid is dispensed from the filling head, a collar surrounding the filling head floats or rides on the surface of the dispensed fluid, and the collar will eventually trigger a limit switch on the filling unit when the fluid fills the container to a desired level. Once filling is completed, an empty container is situated under the filling head and the operator recommences the filling process. Filling of subsequent containers is made somewhat easier by supplying them to the filling station on a conveyor, and additionally the filling head extends or retracts after each filling cycle so that the filling unit can more easily dispense fluids into containers in both lanes of a dual-lane conveyor.
Such semiautomatic filling systems, while useful, are not well suited for high production speeds and significant output of filled containers. In these situations, automatic filling systems are preferable, with containers being supplied by conveyors, indexers, or other container transport equipment (which will be collectively referred to as “conveyors” throughout the remainder of this document). Automatic filling systems are necessarily more complex because the extent of filling of the containers must be measured, either gravimetrically, volumetrically, or by other methods, and the filling units which effect filling must communicate with the conveyors to synchronize the filling operation with the container supply. Examples of prior automatic filling systems follow.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,577 to Sauer illustrates a mobile volumetric filling unit with twin filling heads. The mobile filling unit may be wheeled to various filling stations (such as conveyor lines) and positioned so that the filling heads are situated over filling positions to which empty containers are indexed. Fluid is volumetrically dispensed from each filling head, and dispensation is synchronized with the filling station/conveyor by a chain and sprocket arrangement. The filling unit may be disconnected from the filling station by removal of the chain, allowing the filling unit to be removed from the filling station and wheeled to cleaning areas, or
DeWitt Ross & Stevens S.C.
Fieschko, Esq. Craig A.
Ideal Manufacturing Sales Corp.
Jacyna J. Casimer
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