Method and machine for filling a flexible pouch having a fitment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9272801-B2
Application number	US-201013515271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2010
Priority date	Dec 10, 2009
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

A machine for filling a flexible pouch having a fitment assembly, a gripper and a filler. The fitment assembly having a tap and a fitment mounted to the pouch body. The gripper operable to remove the tap from the fitment, retain the tap during filling operations, and mount the tap back onto the fitment after filling operations. The fitment assembly having a tap operable to be mounted on the fitment in a transport position and a fixed position, wherein in the transport position a first predetermined amount of force is required to remove the tap. In the fixed position, a second predetermined amount of force is required to remove the tap. The second predetermined amount of force is substantially larger than the first predetermined amount of force.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A machine for filling flexible pouches having a tap mounted onto a fitment, the tap having a catch and the fitment having a base, the machine operable to fill the flexible pouches with a beverage, the machine comprising:
a gripper having a lower lip configured to retain the catch of the tap, the gripper operable to remove the tap from and then mount the tap onto the fitment, the gripper movable between an engaging position and a retaining position, in the engaging position the lower lip of gripper is positioned so as to engage the tap so as to pull the tap upwardly, in the retaining position the gripper retains the tap and is displaced from the fitment, the gripper having a housing adapted to fit the tap, the housing including a pair of movable side walls, the pair of side walls movable linearly with respect to each other so as to close onto and release the tap;
a filler having a first line in fluid communication with the beverage and an opening configured to deliver the beverage, the filler movable between the fill position and a ready position, in the fill position the filler is positioned so as to engage the fitment, in the ready position the gripper is displaced from the fitment; and
a support, the gripper and filler mounted on the support, the support movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the gripper is positioned in the engaging position while the filler is positioned in the ready position and in the second position the filler is positioned in the fill position while the gripper is positioned in the retaining position.

2. The machine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the gripper includes a an upper lip disposed on each of the pair of movable side walls, the upper lip spaced apart from a respective lower lip so as to define a channel disposed above the lower lip, the channel adapted to receive an opposing portion of the catch of the fitment, the pair of side walls movable between an open position and a closed position wherein in the open position each of the pair of side walls are displaced from each other so as to receive the tap, and wherein in the closed position each of the pair of side walls are displaced towards each other so as to engage the catch.

3. The machine as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each of the pair of side walls include a chamber adapted to accommodate the tap when the pair of side walls are in the closed position.

4. The machine as set forth in claim 2 , further including a first motor operable to move the pair of side walls between the open and closed positions.

5. The machine as set forth in claim 2 , further including a first drive operable to move the gripper to and from the closed position.

6. The machine as set forth in claim 1 , further including a keep having a slot configured to receive a portion of the fitment, the keep operable to retain the fitment in a fixed position for tap removal, tap mounting and pouch filling operations.

7. The machine as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the support pivots between the first position and the second position.

8. The machine as set forth in claim 7 , further including a shield having a shield surface facing the opening of the filler when the support is in the first position.

9. The machine as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the shield is angled so as to direct drippings from the filler away from the flexible pouch.

10. The machine as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the support includes a stand, a pair of arms pivotably mounted to the stand, the gripper mounted to one of the pair of arms, and the filler mounted to the other of the pair of arms.

11. The machine as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the stand is generally upright and each of the pair of arms extends radially from the stand.

12. The machine as set forth in claim 7 , further including a support motor operable to move the support between the first and second positions.

13. The machine as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the support moves linearly between the first position and the second position.

14. The machine as set forth in claim 13 , further including a clamp, the clamp movable between a clamped position and an unclamped position, wherein in the unclamped position the clamp is configured to receive the fitment, and in the clamped position the clamped is configured to retain the fitment.

15. The machine as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the clamp includes a first clamp member and a second clamp member, each having a clamp edge configured to engage the fitment, the first and second clamp member movable between the unclamped and clamped positions.

16. The machine as set forth in claim 15 , further including a clamp motor operable to drive the first and second clamp members between the clamped and unclamped positions.

17. The machine as set forth in claim 13 , wherein in the first position the filler is positioned to fill the flexible pouch while the gripper retains the tap, and in the second position the gripper is positioned to remove the tap from and mount the tap onto the fitment.

18. The machine as set forth in claim 13 , further including a rail extending axially along a generally horizontal plane, the support is mounted to the rail.

19. The machine as set forth in claim 14 , further including a first conveyor and a second conveyor, the first conveyor having a first upper surface, the first conveyor operable to feed flexible pouches to the gripper, the second conveyor having a second upper surface, the second upper surface of the second conveyor disposed below the first upper surface of the first conveyor.

20. The machine as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the second conveyor is disposed downstream the first conveyor, and wherein the clamp is disposed above the second conveyor.

21. The machine as set forth in claim 13 , further including a sensor operable to detect the presence of the tap, mounted to the machine so as to detect when the fitment is in alignment with the gripper.

Assignees

• Murray R Charles
• Pouch Pac Innovations Llc

Inventors

• Murray R Charles

Classifications

• B65B7/2821

  applying plugs or threadless stoppers (for bottles or jars B67B1/04) · CPC title

• B65B43/54

  Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation · CPC title

• B65B43/465 Primary

  for bags · CPC title

• B65B3/045

  for filling flexible containers having a filling and dispensing spout, e.g. containers of the "bag-in-box"-type · CPC title