The present application relates to container filling apparatus and more particularly to a container guide for use with a container filling apparatus.
Products, such as liquids, are frequently transported and/or sold in containers. Often times, these containers are formed to be convenient for consumer handling and attractive for display.
Containers, including flexible containers, are frequently filled using automated processes. Such processes can sometimes operate at relatively high speeds in order to increase productivity and production speed. Additionally, automated processes frequently require the containers to change direction. Due to these relatively high speeds and direction changes, product sometimes spills from open tops of the containers after filling the containers and prior to sealing the containers with a lid. This spillage can be caused, for example, by a sudden direction change, or by deflection of the containers' flexible walls. In some cases, spilled product may remain on the containers' outer surfaces even after the containers are placed on display for sale, which may cause customer dissatisfaction with the product. Container guides formed from various fixtures, rails and brackets are frequently employed to aid in guiding containers during filling processes.
In an aspect, for a container filling apparatus including a fill turret, a container guide for use in guiding containers along a path from the fill turret is provided. The container guide includes an upper guide member defining an upper guide surface and a lower guide member defining a lower guide surface that is spaced apart from the upper guide surface. The upper and lower guide surfaces are configured to cooperate to define an arcuate edge of the path where the upper guide surface is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the lower guide surface. The upper guide surface is located to contact a container at a first location and the lower guide surface is located to contact the container at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location. The upper and lower guide surfaces are capable of maintaining the container in an upright position as the container moves along the edge of the path.
In another aspect, a container filling apparatus includes a fill turret configured to carry a plurality of containers along a first portion of a path as the containers are filled with liquid. A container guide is mounted in fixed relation to the fill turret, the container guide defining an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface spaced apart from the upper guide surface. The upper and lower guide surfaces cooperate to define an edge of a second portion of the path, where the upper guide surface is located to contact a container at a first location and the lower guide surface is located to contact the container at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location. The upper and lower guide surfaces maintain the container in an upright position as the container moves along the edge of the path.
In another aspect, a method of guiding a container during a filling operation is provided. The method includes forming a container guide including an upper guide member having an upper guide surface and a lower guide member having a lower guide surface. The upper and lower guide surfaces are spaced apart from each other. The container guide is mounted in fixed relation to a fill turret that is configured to carry containers along a first portion of a fill path. The upper and lower surfaces cooperate to define an edge of a second portion of the fill path leading from the first portion of the fill path toward a container outfeed.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
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R1 and R2 and the circumferential distance of P1 and P2 are selected to alter the trajectory of the containers by between about 90 degrees and 180 degrees from the incoming trajectory (i.e., the approach angle of the containers as they come into contact with the container guide 26). R1 and R2 are also selected to provide a smooth change of direction as the container travels along P1 and P2, to maintain the containers in an upright, standing position as the trajectory of the containers are being altered, and to minimize or even eliminate deflection of a container's outer wall (in cases where a flexible container is being filled, such as a plastic milk container), which can, in turn, minimize or even eliminate product, such as liquid, spillage, e.g., due to tangential acceleration, deceleration and/or sidewall deflection, sometimes referred to as “oil canning”. As a first example, R1 and R2 may be about 11 inches (about 28 cm) for guiding a gallon-sized, plastic milk-type container. As another example, R1 and R2 may be about 10 inches (about 25 cm) for guiding a one-half gallon-sized, plastic milk-type container. In some embodiments, R1 and R2 may be of differing lengths.
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The width of the guide surfaces 34, 36, 38, 40 may also be selected as desired. In some embodiments, the thicknesses of the guide members 28, 30 and their associated guide surfaces 34, 36, 38, 40 are relatively thin, e.g., between about 0.1 inch and about one inch, such as about 0.19 inch and/or 0.25 inch, to expose relatively little area to the wall 48 of the container 50 as the container 50 slides along the guide surfaces 34, 36, 38, 40.
Suitable methods for forming the upper and lower members 28 and 30 including guide surfaces 34, 36, 38 and 40 include, for example, laser cutting. Laser cutting can provide the desired fill path contour within tolerances, in some embodiments, of about 0.015 inch or less. Other suitable methods for forming the upper and lower members include bending in cases where the contour of the guide surfaces can be accurately held, and/or machining. Suitable materials for forming the upper and lower guide members 28, 30 include metals, such as steel and steel alloys including stainless steel. In some embodiments, the container guide 26 is assembled and the upper and lower members are aligned using, e.g., fasteners, counterbore/pilot arrangements and/or dowel pins. Other suitable methods may include welding.
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As noted above, the container guide 26 is suitable for use with flexible containers, such as, for example, those suitable for containing water, milk, juice, distilled spirits, wine or any other substance that may be packaged in either a liquid or a non-liquid state, e.g., jelly, powder, numerous components such as fasteners, etc. In some embodiments, the container guide 26 may be used with rigid-walled containers.
A number of detailed embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, in some embodiments, the guide surfaces of the upper and lower members may alter the trajectory of the containers by an angle greater than 180 degrees or less than 90 degrees from the incoming trajectory. In other embodiments, the container guide may include only an outfeed side 29 capable of guiding a container from the fill turret as described above, only an infeed side 27 capable of guiding a container to the fill turret, or in some cases, multiple container guides may be used, e.g., where one container guide includes only an infeed side 27 capable of guiding a container to the fill turret as described above and another container guide includes only an outfeed side 29 capable of guiding a container from the fill turret as described above. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.