US 12,459,689 B2
Filling machine and method of operating the same
Thiemo Scheerer, Linnich (DE); and Christian Pringal, Krefeld (DE)
Assigned to Elopak ASA, Spikkestad (NO)
Appl. No. 18/031,887
Filed by Elopak ASA, Spikestad (NO)
PCT Filed Oct. 19, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/078991
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 14, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/084340, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 28, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20202636 (EP), filed on Oct. 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0399137 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B65B 43/12 (2006.01); B65B 3/02 (2006.01); B65B 55/04 (2006.01); B65B 65/02 (2006.01); B65G 54/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 43/126 (2013.01) [B65B 3/025 (2013.01); B65B 55/04 (2013.01); B65B 65/02 (2013.01); B65G 54/02 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A filling machine comprising a processing unit comprising at least one processing station and a conveyor system configured for conveying container precursors through the at least one processing station, the conveyor system comprising a plurality of first shuttles or carriers configured for carrying the container precursors along a first track through the at least one processing station and a first shuttle propulsion system allowing each first shuttle or carrier to be individually propelled along the first track,
the filling machine comprising a container precursor forming unit configured for forming bottom-sealed container precursors, and a transfer unit configured for transferring the bottom-sealed container precursors from the forming unit to the processing unit, the transfer unit comprising a plurality of second shuttles or carriers configured for carrying the container precursors along a second track from the forming unit to the processing unit and a second shuttle propulsion system allowing each second shuttle or carrier to be individually propelled along the second track,
the transfer unit comprising a transfer station configured to receive the second shuttles or carriers in single file and transfer the container pre-cursors to the first shuttles or carriers in the processing unit in two or more parallel processing lanes.