A machine (100) for filling containers (90) of a first type, such as bottles, and for filling containers (95) of a second type, such as cans, with a liquid substance. The machine (100) comprises a carousel filler (1), a first device (11) for loading the containers onto the carousel filler (1), a second device (12) for removing the containers (90) of the first type from the carousel filler (1), a third device (3) for removing the containers (95) of the second type from the carousel filler (1). Each filling unit (2) comprises a plate (21), which forms a resting surface (210) for a container to be filled, and a filling head (22) that is configured to fill containers (90) of the first type and to fill containers (95) of the second type. The first device (11), the second device (12) and the third device (3) are positioned in respective angular positions on the circumferential path (15) of the carousel filler (1), relative to which the third device (3) is in an angular position interposed between the first device (11) and the second device (12). The third device (3) is configured to assume an operating condition, in which the third device (3) removes the container that is located on a plate (21) passing through the angular position of the third device (3), and a non-operating condition, in which in use the third device (3) allows the container on the passing-through plate (21) to continue the path towards the second device (12).

A filling unit (1) for filling containers (90) of a first type, such as bottles, and for filling containers (95) of a second type, such as cans, with a liquid substance (99). The filling unit (1) comprises a dispenser (3), which in use faces towards a mouth of the container to be filled so as to dispense the liquid substance (99) through a dispensing opening (30) towards an internal volume of the container, and a valve (4) which is controllable for allowing and preventing the liquid substance (99) to be dispensed from the dispenser (3). The filling unit (1) further comprises a level sensor (51) for detecting a filled level of the liquid substance (99) in the container, a volume meter (52) for measuring a volume of the liquid substance (99) fed to the dispenser (3), and a control system for controlling the valve (4). The control system is configured to control the valve (4) based on the filled level detected by the level sensor (51), when the filling unit (1) is used for filling a container (90) of the first type, and is configured to control the valve (4) based on the fed volume that is measured by the volume meter, when the filling unit (1) is used for filling a container (95) of the second type.

A container fill station includes a seal bar configured to temporarily contact an open end of a container, to temporarily seal an interior of the container from a surrounding atmosphere, a fill head configured to be moved by a fill head actuator through a sealed opening in the seal bar, a fill head valve located in a fluid pathway between a liquid source and the fill head outlet, and an outflowing gas valve in fluid communication with the interior of the container. Therein, control of a liquid fill rate is provided by opening the outflowing gas valve a select amount while simultaneously opening the fill head valve. During a filling operation method, the interior of the container may be temporarily sealed and pressurized, or filling may be done at ambient/atmospheric pressure, preferably with the fill head outlet being disposed below the liquid's surface during filling.

A container fill station includes a seal bar configured to temporarily contact an open end of a container, to temporarily seal an interior of the container from a surrounding atmosphere, a fill head configured to be moved by a fill head actuator through a sealed opening in the seal bar, a fill head valve located in a fluid pathway between a liquid source and the fill head outlet, and an outflowing gas valve in fluid communication with the interior of the container. Therein, control of a liquid fill rate is provided by opening the outflowing gas valve a select amount while simultaneously opening the fill head valve. During a filling operation method, the interior of the container may be temporarily sealed and pressurized, or filling may be done at ambient/atmospheric pressure, preferably with the fill head outlet being disposed below the liquid's surface during filling.

A counter-pressure filler system includes a vertically-translatable platform capable of supporting a container, a pressurizable chamber having an entrance aperture, the chamber enclosing a seaming chuck and at least one seaming roller, a vertically-translatable enclosure comprising an upper portion configured to engage a portion of said chamber around the entrance aperture, thereby creating a pressurizable atmosphere within said vertically-translatable enclosure and the pressurizable chamber. The seaming chuck is configured to allow a beverage ingredient to pass therethrough and into said container.

The present invention relates to a filler machine and method. The filler machine and method allow efficient filling of containers (e.g., bottles) with liquids, and have particular application to filling containers with liquids while maintaining a low oxygen environment in the filled containers.

A method and apparatus of filing beverage combines pressurized beverage delivery (rather than gravity feed) with variable pressure control of the beverage flow into the can. By modulating beverage flow and especially beverage pressure, it is possible to fill a can's widget (gas reservoir) with gas with a shorter set of fill steps. In addition, the speed of beverage filling can be dramatically increased compared to small scale systems normally used. Unlike known large scale pressure systems, the beverage bowl may be located beneath the rest of the apparatus and modulated pressure may be used, making for a smaller and more portable unit.

Disclosed embodiments provide a liquid product dispensing system. Cans are transported onto a weigh plate. The weigh plate is coupled to a dispensing system such that, when the can is filled with product to a predetermined weight, the dispensing system stops the flow of product into the can. A transport system then moves the filled cans from the weigh plate and moves another set of empty cans onto the weigh plate, and the process continues, enabling high-speed production of canned beverages.

A filling machine for the hot filling of containers includes a line for feeding the containers to at least one supporting plate and a line for unloading the filled container from the supporting plate. Above the supporting plate there is a filling head associated with a respective valve assembly to convey the liquid from a containment tank into the container to be filled. The valve assembly is associated with an internally hollow feeder conduit which accommodates a suction conduit with at least one suction inlet configured to determine the liquid level inside the container. The filling head includes a sealing element having a first sealing body configured to engage hermetically against the upper edge of the container and is associated with a vent adapted to pass between a position for sealing the chamber for passing liquid from the supply feeder conduit toward the container and a position for venting.

The present disclosure is directed to a vent tube apparatus, system and methods incorporating a ball cage with a modified pill device design comprising a traceable material such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag for use in conjunction with a filling machine during container filling operations for a quicker and more accurate detection of the location of the pill device to the extent it becomes detached from the ball cage during filling operations, and to increase the safety of the filling operation and reduce costs and time when a malfunction occurs.