Filling apparatus
A filling apparatus for serially filling multiple lanes of containers includes a plurality of piston pumps which receive flowable product from an associated source. Each pump includes a reciprocably movable pump piston, which can “float” upwardly during a filling stroke, as each pump is filled with product delivered thereto under pressure. The pump pistons can move upwardly independently, until each reaches a predetermined position, corresponding to the quantity of product with which each container is to be filled. After all of the pistons reach their respective predetermined positions, valves of the pumps are simultaneously operated, and the pistons simultaneously stroked so that respective containers are filled with the flowable product. The multiple lanes of containers are thereafter indexed, and the filling cycle repeated.
1. An apparatus for filling multiple lanes of containers with flowable product, comprising:
a plurality of pumps each having a (1) pump housing defining: an inlet for receiving said flowable product from an associated source, an outlet for discharging the product to a respective container, and a pump chamber which can communicate with the inlet and the outlet,
each said pump further including (2) a piston movably disposed within the respective pump housing, so that said product can be directed inwardly from said inlet to said chamber, and outwardly from said chamber through said outlet by reciprocable movement of said piston, and (3) a movable valve member positioned within said housing movable between a first position for joining said inlet with said chamber, and a second position for joining said chamber with said outlet;
each of said pistons being driven by said flowable product and being movable independently of the other ones of said pistons as said plurality of pumps each filled with said flowable product,
a valve drive motor operatively connected to each of said valve members for simultaneously moving each of said valve members between its first and second position;
a plurality of sensors respective operatively associated with each of said pumps to indicate when the respective piston has moved to a predetermined position attendant to flow of said product into the respective one of said chambers; and
a piston drive mechanism operatively connected with each of said pistons, said piston drive mechanism being operated when all of said pistons reach said predetermined position by flow of product into the respective ones of said chambers, said piston drive motor mechanism simultaneously driving said pistons, after said valve drive motor simultaneously moves each of said valve members from the first to the second position thereof, so that said pistons simultaneously force said product from the respective chambers through the respective outlets into respective ones of said containers,
said valve drive motor thereafter simultaneously moving each of said valve members from the second position to the first position thereof.
2. An apparatus for filling containers in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
each of said valve members comprises a rotatably positionable valve member.
3. An apparatus for filling containers in accordance with claim 2 , wherein:
said valve drive motor and said valve members are movable, as a unit, relative to said pump housings, to facilitate cleaning of said pumps.
4. An apparatus for filling containers in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said valve drive motor is operatively connected with each of said valve members by a rack-and pinion drive mechanism.
5. An apparatus for filling containers in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said piston drive mechanism comprises a servo-drive motor.
6. An apparatus for filling containers in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
said piston drive mechanism includes a plurality of adjustment motors for individually adjusting each of said pistons with respective to the piston drive mechanism.
7. A method for serially filling multiple lanes of containers with a flowable product, comprising the steps of:
providing a source of said flowable product;
providing a plurality of pumps each having a housing defining an inlet, an outlet for discharging the product to a respective container, and a pump chamber, each pump having a piston movably disposed within the chamber so that by movement of the piston said product can be received in said chamber from said inlet, and directed from said chamber to said outlet, by reciprocable movement of said piston, each said pump including a valve for alternate joining said chamber in communication with said inlet and said outlet;
directing said flowable product to each of said pumps,
each of said pistons being driven by said flowable product and being movable independently of the other ones of said pistons as said plurality of pumps each filled with said flowable product,
simultaneously positioning said valves in a first position wherein said product flows from the inlet into said chamber and acts against the respective piston to move the piston to a predetermined position corresponding to the desired quantity of product to be dispensed, said pistons being movable independently of each other;
simultaneously operating said valves, after all of said pistons have moved to their respective predetermined positions, to move each of said valves from said first position thereof to a second position for directing the product from the chamber out of the outlet of the pump into a respective container; and
simultaneously driving said pistons to move said product into respective containers.
8. A method for serially filling multiple lanes of containers in accordance with claim 7 , including:
individually adjusting the predetermined position of each of said pistons.
9. A method for serially filling multiple lanes of containers in accordance with claim 7 , including:
relatively moving said valves, in unison, relative to said housings of said pumps to facilitate cleaning of said pumps.