US 12,378,018 B2
Cartridge filler and capping machine for filling and capping cartridges with consumable fluids
Steve Scafaria, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Derek Nelson, Stevensville, MI (US); and Tammy Lui, Mendon, MI (US)
Assigned to Technical Packaging Systems, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Steve Scafaria, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Derek Nelson, Stevensville, MI (US); and Tammy Lui, Mendon, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/809,227.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/362,146, filed on Mar. 30, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/215,187, filed on Jun. 25, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0174257 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B65B 3/18 (2006.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); B65B 3/14 (2006.01); B65B 39/00 (2006.01); B65B 39/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 3/18 (2013.01) [A24F 40/42 (2020.01); B65B 3/14 (2013.01); B65B 39/004 (2013.01); B65B 39/04 (2013.01)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cartridge handling machine for successive filling of cartridge bodies with a viscous consumable fluid, comprising:
a filling module disposed adjacent a filling station into which each of the cartridge bodies may be placed empty and then removed after filling, wherein said filling module comprises:
a feed supply for supplying a bulk quantity of the consumable fluid which defines a fill fluid dispensed by the filling module for filling of the cartridge bodies;
a pump which receives said fill fluid from said feed supply and in turn pumps said fill fluid downstream under pressure; and
an injector assembly, which receives said fill fluid under pressure from said pump and dispenses said fill fluid from an injector nozzle for injection into said cartridge body located in said filling station, said injector assembly being reversibly movable downwardly from a raised position, wherein said injector nozzle is separated from a mouth of the cartridge body, to a fill position in which said injector nozzle is engageable with the cartridge body in a filling operation during which said fill fluid is injected into said cartridge body, said injector body being displaceable after filling of the cartridge body to return to said raised position for subsequent removal of the cartridge body from the filling station after the respective filling operation, and positioning of another said cartridge body in said filling station for filling in successive filling operations;
said injector nozzle being configured for sealing engagement with an open mouth of the cartridge body to prevent leakage of the consumable fluid when pressurized during filling and having an annular injector passage that injects said fill fluid into the mouth of the cartridge body in an annular pattern.