APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FILLING AND SEALING CONTAINERS
An apparatus ( 100 ) for filling and sealing containers comprises a carousel ( 401 ) with a plurality of stations ( 106 ) revolving about an axis ( 104 ), each station ( 106 ) comprising a holder ( 108 ) adapted to accommodate a container ( 110 ), a filling tool ( 126 ) for dispensing a fluid product in the container, and a sealing tool ( 200 ) for applying a closure ( 202 ) to the container ( 110 ); at each station ( 106 ), the holder ( 108 ) is mobile in a radial direction (R) of the carousel between a first, retracted position substantially aligned with the filling tool ( 126 ), and a second, extended position substantially aligned with the sealing tool ( 200 ).
1 . An apparatus for filling and sealing containers, comprising a carousel comprising a plurality of stations revolving about an axis of the carousel, each of the stations comprising:
a holder adapted to accommodate a container positioned therein;
a filling tool adapted to cooperate with the container and dispense a quantity of a fluid product therein; and
a sealing tool adapted to apply a closure, to the container;
at each station, the holder is mobile in a radial direction of the carousel between a first, retracted position wherein the holder is substantially aligned with the filling tool; and a second, extended position wherein the holder is substantially aligned with the sealing tool.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a contoured rail, the contour of the contoured rail substantially corresponding to the displacement of each of the plurality of holders over a single rotation of the carousel, each of the plurality of holders further comprising a follower configured to engage the contoured rail and displace accordingly the corresponding one of the holders.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the follower of each station comprises a mechanical linkage.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holders are positioned about the axis of the carousel at substantially uniform angular intervals.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the holders further comprises a gripper configured to selectively grasp a container.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing tool is configured to apply a cap to the container.
7 . An installation for filling and sealing containers, comprising: an apparatus for filling and sealing containers, comprising a carousel comprising a plurality of stations revolving about an axis of the carousel, each of the stations comprising a holder adapted to accommodate a container positioned therein, a filling tool adapted to cooperate with the container and dispense a quantity of a fluid product therein, and a sealing tool adapted to apply a closure to the container; at each station, the holder is mobile in a radial direction of the carousel between a first, retracted position wherein the holder is substantially aligned with the filling tool, and a second, extended position wherein the holder is substantially aligned with the sealing tool; a container-feeder for providing a plurality of empty containers to the apparatus; and a container-remover for conducting filled and sealed containers from the apparatus.
8 . The installation according to claim 7 , further comprising a cap-loading apparatus configured to load a cap into each of the plurality of sealing tools.
9 . The installation according to claim 7 , wherein the container-feeder and container-remover are transfer wheels.
10 . A method for filling and sealing a container, comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus for filling and sealing containers, comprising a carousel comprising a plurality of stations revolving about an axis of the carousel, each of the stations comprising a holder adapted to accommodate a container positioned therein, a filling tool adapted to cooperate with the container and dispense a quantity of a fluid product therein, and a sealing tool adapted to apply a closure to the container; at each station, the holder is mobile in a radial direction of the carousel between a first, retracted position wherein the holder is substantially aligned with the filling tool, and a second, extended position wherein the holder is substantially aligned with the sealing tool, the carousel of the apparatus revolving at a substantially constant speed;
inserting the container into one of the plurality of holders;
positioning the holder in a first, retracted position;
placing the filling tool in fluid communication with the container and dispensing a quantity of fluid therein;
positioning the holder in a second, extended position;
sealing the container with the sealing tool; and
extracting the container from the apparatus.
11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the steps of the method are executed over one rotation of the carousel.
12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the steps of the method are executed over several rotations of the carousel ( 401 ).
13 . The method according to claim 10 , comprising a step for loading the sealing tool with a closure prior to the step for sealing the container.
14 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein during the step for inserting a container a gripper is closed on the container so as to retain it in place within the holder, and wherein during the step for extracting the container the gripper is opened.
15 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the method is repeated at each station of the carousel.
16 . (canceled)