A filler head apparatus 20 for hygienically filling and emptying containers 22 through a fitment 24 incorporated with the container 22 includes a cylindrical outer housing 30 for receiving a hollow bore inner cylinder 32 which is actuated to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate about a central axis 33 within the outer housing. A transfer tube assembly 34 is mounted to the inner cylinder 32 to travel with the inner cylinder between an extended position engaged with the fitment 24 and a retracted position disengage from the fitment. When the transfer tube assembly is engaged with the fitment, flowable content or product may be transferred to or from the container 22. A fitment cap assembly 36 is also mounted to the inner cylinder 22 to travel with the inner cylinder to remove the cap 38 of the fitment 24 prior to either filling or emptying the container 22, and then to retract to a standby position while the container is filled/emptied, and thereafter replacing the fitment cap after filling/emptying has been completed.

A filler head apparatus 20 for hygienically filling and emptying containers 22 through a fitment 24 incorporated with the container 22 includes a cylindrical outer housing 30 for receiving a hollow bore inner cylinder 32 which is actuated to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate about a central axis 33 within the outer housing. A transfer tube assembly 34 is mounted to the inner cylinder 32 to travel with the inner cylinder between an extended position engaged with the fitment 24 and a retracted position disengage from the fitment. When the transfer tube assembly is engaged with the fitment, flowable content or product may be transferred to or from the container 22. A fitment cap assembly 36 is also mounted to the inner cylinder 22 to travel with the inner cylinder to remove the cap 38 of the fitment 24 prior to either filling or emptying the container 22, and then to retract to a standby position while the container is filled/emptied, and thereafter replacing the fitment cap after filling/emptying has been completed.

A funnel has upper and lower ends adapted to be inserted into bottles or containers to stack a first container above a second container to allow liquid to drain from the inverted first container into the upright second container. The upper end of the funnel includes resilient posts, with a spacer extending therebetween to provide a stable fit of the upper end into the first container. The tops of the posts include enlarged caps to preclude the spacer from sliding off the posts and possibly becoming lost.

A funnel has upper and lower ends adapted to be inserted into bottles or containers to stack a first container above a second container to allow liquid to drain from the inverted first container into the upright second container. The upper end of the funnel includes resilient posts, with a spacer extending therebetween to provide a stable fit of the upper end into the first container. The tops of the posts include enlarged caps to preclude the spacer from sliding off the posts and possibly becoming lost.

To reduce an amount of use of a replacement gas used for replacing air in a container. A gas replacement system includes: a washing machine that washes the container with water; a filling machine that fills the container with a content fluid; a sealing machine that seals the container transferred from the filling machine; a chamber that covers the filling machine and the sealing machine, and contains a replacement gas; and a water discharge mechanism (washing machine) that discharges the water in the container having been carried into the chamber while containing the water out of the container in the chamber. The water in the container is replaced with an ambient gas in the chamber along with the discharge of the water.

A filler head apparatus 20 for hygienically filling and emptying containers 22 through a fitment 24 incorporated with the container 22 includes a cylindrical outer housing 30 for receiving a hollow bore inner cylinder 32 which is actuated to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate about a central axis 33 within the outer housing. A transfer tube assembly 34 is mounted to the inner cylinder 32 to travel with the inner cylinder between an extended position engaged with the fitment 24 and a retracted position disengage from the fitment. When the transfer tube assembly is engaged with the fitment, flowable content or product may be transferred to or from the container 22. A fitment cap assembly 36 is also mounted to the inner cylinder 22 to travel with the inner cylinder to remove the cap 38 of the fitment 24 prior to either filling or emptying the container 22, and then to retract to a standby position while the container is filled/emptied, and thereafter replacing the fitment cap after filling/emptying has been completed.

A machine intended for cooling and draining contents of a metal beverage can comprising a refrigerated housing intended to receive a can; a tube projecting into the refrigerated housing and defining a bore. The machine further includes a removable subassembly including a stirrer mounted to slide with respect to the tube to pass through the bore between an upper position in which the stirrer projects above the upper edge of the tube and a position in which the stirrer is set back with respect to the upper edge of the tube; a duct having an outlet orifice and an inlet orifice communicating with the bore; a plug blocking or opening selectively the outlet orifice of the duct.

A machine intended for cooling and draining contents of a metal beverage can comprising a refrigerated housing intended to receive a can; a tube projecting into the refrigerated housing and defining a bore. The machine further includes a removable subassembly including a stirrer mounted to slide with respect to the tube to pass through the bore between an upper position in which the stirrer projects above the upper edge of the tube and a position in which the stirrer is set back with respect to the upper edge of the tube; a duct having an outlet orifice and an inlet orifice communicating with the bore; a plug blocking or opening selectively the outlet orifice of the duct.

A rack for supporting containers upside down for drainage. The rack includes container holders for maintaining the containers in a desired orientation during the drainage process.

The present invention relates to automated batch making assemblies where various component materials, at least, some in liquid form, are combined. Specifically, the invention provides a dispensing assembly that adds efficiency by increasing dramatically the speed with which a liquid is dispensed from a container and by providing means and methods to automate the addition of and account for the amount of each component.