IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0563308
(2006-11-27)
|
등록번호 |
US-7484345
(2009-02-03)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Woods,Elmer B.
- Bliefnick,Bruce A.
- Maslowski,James P.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
69 |
초록
▼
A filling machine operable to dispense a fluid from a fluid supply to a container having an opening and a cap configured to cover the opening. The filling machine includes a housing that defines a fill chamber and a cap removal assembly at least partially located within the fill chamber. The cap rem
A filling machine operable to dispense a fluid from a fluid supply to a container having an opening and a cap configured to cover the opening. The filling machine includes a housing that defines a fill chamber and a cap removal assembly at least partially located within the fill chamber. The cap removal assembly is operable to remove the cap from the opening of the container within the fill chamber. The filling machine further includes a fill line assembly having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to be coupled to the fluid supply and the outlet is located within the fill chamber. The outlet is configured to be placed in fluid communication with the opening of the container. The fill line assembly is removably coupled to the filling machine, and fluid flowing from the fluid supply to the container flows through the fill line assembly.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A filling machine operable to dispense a fluid from a fluid supply to a container having an opening and a cap configured to cover the opening, the filling machine comprising: a housing that defines a fill chamber; a cap removal assembly at least partially located within the f
What is claimed is: 1. A filling machine operable to dispense a fluid from a fluid supply to a container having an opening and a cap configured to cover the opening, the filling machine comprising: a housing that defines a fill chamber; a cap removal assembly at least partially located within the fill chamber and operable to remove the cap from the opening of the container within the fill chamber; a fill line assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to be coupled to the fluid supply, the outlet located within the fill chamber and the outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with the opening of the container, wherein the fill line assembly is removably coupled to the filling machine, and wherein fluid flowing from the fluid supply to the container flows through the fill line assembly; and a flow meter including a passageway through which the fluid flows, the flow meter being operable to measure the fluid flowing through the passageway, wherein the fill line assembly includes a liner portion positioned within the passageway, the liner portion being removably coupled with the flow meter such that fluid flowing through the passageway flows through the liner portion without contacting an inner surface of the passageway. 2. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein fluid flowing from the inlet of the fill line assembly to the container flows through the fill line assembly without directly contacting the filling machine except for the fill line assembly. 3. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the fill line assembly includes plastic tubing. 4. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising a valve operable to substantially inhibit a flow of the fluid through the fill line assembly, wherein the fill line assembly includes a portion positioned within the valve, the fill line assembly being removably coupled to the valve such that fluid flowing through the valve flows through the fill line assembly without directly contacting the valve. 5. The filling machine of claim 4, wherein the fill line assembly includes flexible tubing, and wherein the valve is a pinch valve operable to pinch the flexible tubing to substantially inhibit the flow of the fluid through the fill line assembly. 6. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the container defines a body portion and a fill conduit extending from the body portion, the fill conduit in fluid communication with the body portion, wherein the opening of the container is defined by the fill conduit, and wherein the housing further defines an aperture in fluid communication with the fill chamber and configured to receive the fill conduit of the container such that the body portion of the container does not enter the fill chamber. 7. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the fill line assembly includes a nozzle configured to be at least partially received by the opening of the container. 8. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the cap removal assembly includes a hollow member that receives the cap, the filling machine further comprising a vacuum generator operable to generate a vacuum within the hollow member to remove the cap from the container. 9. The filling machine of claim 8, wherein the cap removal assembly is operable to transport the removed cap to a cap disposal container. 10. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein insertion of the cap into the cap removal assembly initiates a filling sequence of the filling machine. 11. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising a carrier assembly, wherein the fill line assembly includes a nozzle that defines the outlet, the nozzle removably coupled to the carrier assembly for movement with the carrier assembly, and wherein a portion of the cap removal assembly is coupled to the carrier assembly for movement with the carrier assembly and the nozzle. 12. The filling machine of claim 1, further comprising an air handling unit in fluid communication with the fill chamber and operable to supply air to the fill chamber such that the fill chamber is at a positive pressure. 13. The filling machine of claim 1, wherein the container includes a body portion and a fill conduit extending from the body portion, the fill conduit defining the opening of the container, the filling machine further comprising a conduit sealing assembly operable to seal the fill conduit. 14. The filling machine of claim 13, wherein the conduit sealing assembly includes a radio frequency sealer. 15. The filling machine of claim 13, wherein the conduit sealing assembly is substantially located outside of the fill chamber. 16. A filling machine operable to dispense a fluid from a fluid supply to a container having a body portion and a fill conduit extending from the body portion, the fill conduit defining an opening of the container, the filling machine comprising: a housing that defines a fill chamber and an aperture configured to receive the fill conduit to position at least a portion of the fill conduit within the fill chamber; a conduit sealing assembly operable to seal the fill conduit; a fill line assembly having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured to couple to the fluid supply, the outlet located within the fill chamber and the outlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with the opening of the container, wherein the fill line assembly is removably coupled with the filling machine, and wherein fluid flowing from the fluid supply to the container flows through the fill line assembly; and a flow meter including a passageway through which the fluid flows, the flow meter being operable to measure an amount of fluid flowing through the passageway, wherein the fill line assembly includes a liner portion positioned within the passageway, the liner portion being removably coupled with the flow meter such that fluid flowing through the passageway flows through the liner portion without contacting an inner surface of the passageway. 17. The filling machine of claim 16, wherein fluid flowing from the inlet of the fill line assembly to the contain flows through the fill line without directly contacting the filling machine except for the fill line assembly. 18. The filling machine of claim 16, wherein the conduit sealing assembly includes a radio frequency sealer. 19. The filling machine of claim 16, wherein the conduit sealing assembly utilizes a heat sealer. 20. The filling machine of claim 16, wherein the conduit sealing assembly includes a first member and a second member movable with respect to the first member, the first and second members operable to pinch the fill conduit to facilitate sealing the fill conduit. 21. The filling machine of claim 16, wherein the conduit sealing assembly is substantially located outside of the fill chamber. 22. The filling machine of claim 16, wherein the conduit sealing assembly includes a portion located within the fill chamber. 23. The filling machine of claim 16, wherein the fill line assembly includes plastic tubing. 24. The filling machine of claim 16, further comprising a valve operable to substantially inhibit a flow of the fluid through the fill line assembly, wherein the fill line assembly includes a portion positioned within the valve, the fill line assembly being removably coupled with the valve such that fluid flowing through the valve flows through the fill line assembly without directly contacting an inner surface of the valve. 25. The filling machine of claim 24, wherein the fill line assembly includes flexible tubing, and wherein the valve is a pinch valve operable to pinch the flexible tubing to inhibit the flow of the fluid.
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