US2885845A - Method and apparatus for aseptically canning - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1959 J. F RYAN, JR

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING Filed March 21, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ml QM 9m m Em mvw May 12, 1959 J. F. RYAN, JR

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Q METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING Filed March 21 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR ASEPTICALLY CANNING James F. Ryan, Jr., Castro Valley, Calif., assignor to W. F. and John Barnes Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application March 21, 1956, Serial No. 573,033 11 Claims. (Cl. 53-112) The present invention relates to a novel apparatus for canning various products, and more particularly to a novel aseptic canning apparatus.

Systems heretofore proposed for aseptic canning generally utilize separate but interconnected apparatus for sterilizing containers and closures and for sterile filling and sealing. Thus the apparatus heretofore proposed is extensive and often complicated so that it is relatively expensive to manufacture and maintain and requires a considerable amount of floor space. Furthermore, in certain types of apparatus heretofore proposed the rate of production is limited by the time required for sterilizing the containers, and many problems are raised by the necessity for transferring sterilized containers from a sterilizing apparatus to a filling apparatus while maintaining sterile conditions.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel unitary apparatus for sterilizing containers and filling and sealing the containers under sterile conditions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel aseptic canning apparatus of the above described type which is capable of sterilizing, filling and sealing a continuously moving line of containers in a rapid and economical manner.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel aseptic canning apparatus which is of relatively economical construction and which may be easily manufactured and maintained.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above described type which permits the use of a fluid such as steam under super atmospheric pressures for sterilizing purposes without requiring large pressure chambers for the containers or intricate pressure sealing valves for admitting or discharging the containers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the above described type which enables the atmosphere sealed in a container to be con trolled so that, if desired, oxygen may be eliminated from the container without vacuum sealing the container.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the principles of this invention partially broken away in order to show certain details of the construction;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view as viewed alongline 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 5-5 and partially .broken away to show certain elements of the apparatus in greater detail;

Fig. 6 is a simplified sectional view similar to Fig. 5

and showing the manner in which apparatus functions;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary partial sectional view showing the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the mechanism of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, wherein like parts, are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, anapparatus 10 shown for the purpose of illustrating the present invention comprises a base orplatform 12 supported on a plurality oflegs 14. A stationaryhollow center post 16 is secured to the base by any suitable means such aspins 18, and turret means 20 described in detail below is rotatably rotated on the center post bybearings 22 and 24 and is spaced above thebase 12 by aspacing ring 26.

Theturret 20 comprises a centralcylindrical section 28 and upper and lower outercylindrical portions 30 and 32, respectively, having relatively large and relatively small diameters and joined to the central cylindrical section by radially extendingportions 34, 36 and 38. An annular gear member 40 is secured to thesection 38 and is driven so as to rotate the turret by means of apinion 42 secured to ashaft 44, which shaft is driven from amain drive shaft 46 throughbevelled gears 48 and 49. Any suitable source of power, not shown, may be provided for driving theshaft 46.Annular flanges 50, 51 and 54, respectively, extend radially from upper, intermediate and lower portions of thecylindrical turret section 30 for the purpose described below.

Spaced around the turret are means for receiving and supportingsuccessive containers 56. Each of these means comprises alifter pad 58 mounted on arod 60 slidably disposed for vertical movement in apertures provided in theturret flanges 52 and 54. Acam follower 62 is secured to the lower end of each of therods 60, and the cam followers are disposed for engagement with acam 64 mounted on thebase 12.Cam 64 is shaped so that the lifter pads are lowered adjacent container receiving anddischarge stations 66 and 68, respectively, and raised during the travel of the pads between these stations to permit sterilizing and filling of the containers in the manner described below. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the containers are successively delivered to the lifter pads from a chute orconveyor 70 by means of astar wheel 72 and acooperable guide 74. It should be noted that thecontainers 56 are delivered with caps orclosures 76 loosely disposed thereon. It will be appreciated that any type of container and closure which are adapted for a simple one stroke sealing operation may be used. The filled and sealed containers are stripped from the lifter pads at the discharge station by aguide 78 and are transferred by astar wheel 80 to a suitable conveyor 82. The star wheels are driven in timed relationship with the turret from themain drive shaft 46 through bevelled gears 84 and 86 andshaft 88 shown in Fig. 4. Agear 90 is fixed to the upper end of theshaft 88 and meshes withsimilar gears 92 mounted onshafts 94 and 96 which, respectively, support the star wheels.

Each of thelifter pads 58 is disposed beneath and associated with one of a plurality of circumferentially spacedmeans 98 on the turret in which the containers are not only sterilized but also filled and sealed. As shown best in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, each of themeans 98 comprises acylinder 100 having its upper end fitted within an opening in theturret flange 50 .and welded and sealed to the flange as at 102. Eachcylinder 100 provides a chamber adapted to receive a container when the lifter pad is raised, and anannular seal ring 104 is provided at the lower end of each cylinder for engaging a raised associated lifter pad to seal the lower end of the cylinder.

this portion of the Valveblocks 106 are secured to theturret flange 52 in association with each of thecylinders 100, and each of the valve blocks is provided with an opening 108 therethrough axially aligned with its associated cylinder and a radially extendingbore 110 receiving aslide valve 112. Anannular seal ring 114 is provided at the upper end of each of thecylinders 100 for engaging the associated valve block and sealing the upper end of the cylinder. A flangedcylinder 116 is secured as by screws or the like to the upper face of thevalve block 106 in axial alignment with theaperture 108, and a cap or closure sealingdie 118 is slidably disposed in thecylinder 116 and actuated in the manner described below. An

annular seal ring 120 is provided between the cylinder flange and the valve block and another seal ring 122 is provided between thecrimping die 118 and thecylinder 116 so as to seal the upper end of the chamber provided by thecylinder 100 and theaperture 108.

In order to remove a loosely assembled cap orclosure 76 from a container so as to permit sterilizing and filling ofthe container, apermanent magnet 124 is associated with each of thecrimping dies 118, which magnet picks up and retains the cap or closure when the crimping die is partially lowered prior to the sterilizing and filling operations. As shown best in Fig. 3, each of themagnets 124 is secured to ashaft 126 slidably mounted in its associated crimping die, andspring means 128 is provided for normally yieldably biasing the magnet to a position for engagement with a cap or closure before the crimping die has been lowered sufliciently to crimp the cap onto the containen.

Areservoir 130 for the product to be filled into the containers is mounted on radially inner end portions of thevalve blocks 106, which reservoir is provided with acover 132 and adomed bottom 134. The bottom is provided with a plurality of circumferentially arrangedoutlet openings 136 each of which registers with apassageway 138 in an associatedvalve body 106. Eachpassageway 138 is adapted to register with a flat orchannel 140 provided in its associatedslide valve 112 when the valve is shifted radially inwardly or toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3. When the slide valve is shifted radially inwardly, the product in the reservoir may flow through theopenings 136 and 138 and thechannel 140 and up through anopening 142 in the associated valve body. Ameasuring cylinder 144 is secured to each of the valve bodies in registration with theopenings 142, andpistons 146 are respectively slidably disposed in thecylinders 144. During the upstroke of thepiston 146 when theslide valve 112 is shifted radially inwardly, a predetermined quantity of the product is drawn into thecylinder 144. Subsequently the slide valve is shifted to the position shown in Fig.3 and thepiston 146 is lowered as will be described more in detail below so that the product is ejected from thecylinder 144 and is directed through thechannel 140 and a pasageway 148 formed in the slide valve into the open upper end of a properly positioned container.

In order to actuate theslide valves 112, each valve is, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, pivotally connected by apin 150 to alever 152. Eachlever 152 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at 154 on theradial turret section 34 and extends downwardly through slots 156 and 158 in theradial turret sections 34 and 36 respectively.Cam followers 160 are mounted on the lower ends of thelevers 152 and engage a laterally disposedcam 162 on an upstandingannular member 164 mounted on thebase 12. Each of thelevers 152 is resiliently biased so as normally to urge theslide valves 112 outwardly and to maintain thecam followers 160 in engagement with thecam 162 by means ofsprings 166. Each of thesprings 166 is looped around its associatedlever pivot 154 and has one leg anchored to theturret section 34 as at 168 and another leg yieldably pressing outwardly against thepivot pin 150.

In order to actuate the crimpingheads 118, acam follower 170 is secured to each of the crimpingheads 118, which cam followers project throughslots 172 in their respective associatedcylinders 116 and are disposed betweenannular cam elements 174 and 176. The cam elements are supported by bracket means 178 which are fixed onupstanding posts 180 mounted on thebase 12. Each of the measuring and fillingpistons 146 is also provided with acam follower 182, which cam followers are disposed betweenannular cam elements 184 and 186. Thecam elements 184 and 186 are also mounted on theposts 180 by bracket means 188.

Theapparatus 10 is provided with means for sterilizing the containers after the containers have been lifted into thecylinders 100 and the bottoms of the cylinders have been sealed by thelifting pads 58. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this means includes a plurality ofconduits 190 mounted in and extending through thecylindrical turret section 30 and respectively communicating with the interiors of thecylinders 100. At the inner end of each of theconduits 190 there is mounted avalve body 192 having aport 194 communicating with the associatedconduit 190. Eachvalve body 192 also is provided withports 196 and 198, respectively, communicating withannular manifolds 200 and 202 throughconduits 204 and 206. The manifold 200 is connected with a source, not shown, of steam under pressure by apipe 208 which is connected with astationary pipe 210 extending through thecenter post 16 by rotary seal means 212. The manifold 202 is connected with a source of vacuum, not shown,

by apipe 214 which is connected to apipe 216 by a rotary seal 218. Thepipe 216 is centered within thepost 16 by flanges 218 and 220 which also serve substantially to seal thehollow center post 16 against the passage of air or the like therethrough. The lower projecting end of thepipe 216 is secured to aT connector 222 which is connected with apipe 224 extending to the source of vacuum, not shown. Asteam supply pipe 226 which has an external diameter smaller than the internal diameter of the T connector extends through one branch of the T connector and is connected with thesteam pipe 210 which is disposed within thevacuum pipe 216. A suitable fiexible sealing device 228 is provided between thesteam supply pipe 226 and the T connector.

Disposed within each of thevalve bodies 192 is aslide valve 230 for selectively establishing communication between the interior of thecylinder 100 and the steam and vacuum manifolds. These valves are also preferably adapted to selectively establish communication between the interiors of thecylinders 100 and the atmosphere within the turret, which atmosphere is preferably maintained as a sterile inert gas for the purpose and in the manner described below. Each of theslide valves 230 is provided with a reduceddiameter portion 232 so that when the valve is shifted in thebody member 192 communication may be selectively established between theport 194 and theports 196 and 198. In addition, eachvalve 230 is provided with apassageway 234 opening at the end thereof and adapted to establish communication between theport 194 and the atmosphere within the turret when the valve is in the position shown and theports 196 and 198 are blocked from theport 194. Thevalves 230 are actuated byrods 236 respectively made integral with or secured to each of thevalves 230, which rods slidably extend through suitable apertures in theturret sections 34 and 36. Each of therods 236 carries acam follower 238 at its lower end, and the cam followers ride on anannular cam 240 mounted on thebase 12.

The product to be packaged is supplied to thereservoir 130 in a sterilized condition through aconduit 242 which is connected with a suitable source of supply, not shown. In order to enable the product to flow from the reservoir by gravity, thecover 132 of the reservoir is provided with avent opening 244. The sterilized product within the reservoir is prevented from being contaminated by the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus by maintaining a sterile atmosphere above and around the reservoir, which sterile atmosphere is also maintained within the interor of the turret. More specfically, a housing is provided for confining a sterile atmosphere, which atmosphere is preferably composed of inert products of combustion. The housing comprises acylindrical wall 246 supported by theupstanding posts 180 and acover 248. Aring 250 is fixed within a lower margin of thecylindrical wall 246 and has aninturned flange 252 closely overlying but slightly spaced from theturret flange 52 so as to restrain the escape of the sterile atmosphere between the turrent and thewall 246. The clearance between theflange 252 and theturret section 52 need only .be sufficient to permit relative rotation between these parts and small amounts of the inert gases will escape between these parts so as to prevent the contaminated surrounding atmosphere from the entering the housing. Sterile gases are delivered by aconduit 254 through a substantially sealed opening in the top of the housing, which conduit is connected with apipe 256 that communicates with a source of sterile and preferably cool products of combustion or any other suitable sterile gas. The sterile gas is preferably inert and oxygen free since oxygen tends to damage various products. Theconduit 254 preferably extends through thevent 244 in the top of the reservoir and opens within the reservoir so as to insure the maintenance of a sterile atmosphere within the reservoir. The sterile gas is maintained under a slight pressure and after the reservoir has been filled, the excess gas flows out through thevent 244 and is directed by adeflector 258 throughout the housing surrounding the reservoir. As mentioned above, a small portion of the sterile gas leaks out between the turret flange section 54) and the lower margin of the housing so as to prevent the entry of contaminated atmosphere into the housing. In addition, the sterile gas passes between the valve blocks 106 and into the interior of the turret beneath the reservoir so that the sterile gas surrounds thevalve bodies 192 and is available for introduction into the containers. Small portions of the sterile gases also constantly leak through the openings in theturret sections 34 and 36 provided for thelevers 152 so as to prevent any contaminated atmosphere from entering within the turret.

The process for aseptically canning a product when using the apparatus described above is as follows. The system is initially sterilized by introducing hot sterile gases through the sterile atmosphere andproduct pipes 254 and 242 for heating the apparatus to a sterilizing temperature. After the sterilizing temperature has been held for a necessary length of time, cool sterile gas is introduced through thepipe 254 and a slight super-atmospheric pressure is maintained within the reservoir, housing, and turret. The product which has been previously sterilized by any suitable means, not shown, is introduced into the reservoir and a plurality of containers having caps or closures loosely assembled thereon is directed down thechute 70. Then as thedrive shaft 46 is rotated to drive the turret and the star wheels, the containers are successively transferred from thechute 70 and deposited onsuccessive lifter pads 58. As each lifter pad after having received a container at the loading station advances with the turret, it is raised by thecam 64 into sealing engagement with its associatedcylinder 100. It is then locked in engagement with the cylinder by an associated pivotally mounted lockingmember 260 which is adapted to he slipped into a recess in its associatedactuating rod 60. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the lockingmembers 260carry cam followers 262 engageable with a fixedannular cam 264. As will be understood, the cam slot of thecam 264 is shaped so as to shift themembers 260 to and from locking positions as the members revolve with the turret. The locking members serve to relieve thecam followers 62 on theactuating rods 60 from strain when sterilizing i 6 gas or stream under pressure is admitted to the chambers provided by the cylinders and thelifting pads 58.

After each lifting pad has been raised and locked in engagement with its associatedcylinder 100, its associated crimpinghead 118 is lowered by thecam elements 174 and 176 sufliciently to enable the magnet or other pickup device carried by the crimping head to engage the cap or closure of the container whereupon the associated crimping head is raised to the position shown best in Fig. 3. After this has been accomplished the associatedvalve 230 is shifted upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 by thecam 240 sufliciently to establish communication between thecylinder 1% and the vacuum line so that the interiors of the cylinder and the container therein are evacuated. Then the associatedvalve 230 is raised even further by thecam 240 so as to establish communication between thecylinder 100 and thesteam line 204. The steam readily enters the previously evacuated container so that contact of the steam with all portions of the container interior surface is obtained and proper sterilization of the container is assured. At the same time, the steam fills the space oraperture 108 in the valve block and sterilizes the cap orclosure 76 held by themagnet 124. Preferably, saturated steam under substantial super-atmospheric pressure is supplied for sterilizing purposes since the rate of heat transfer from saturated steam to a container surface is substantially more rapid than the heat transfer rate when a non-condensing sterilizing medium is used whereby the time for proper sterilization of the containers is reduced. In addition, the increased temperature of steam under super-atmospheric pressures which, for example, may range up to about p.s.i. further increases the rate of sterilization. For example, a container may be properly sterilized in about one second when saturated steam at 365 Fahrenheit and about 150 p.s.i. gauge is used.

After a container in a givencylinder 100 has been sterilized, the associatedvalve 230 is lowered by thecam 240 sufiiciently to again connect the cylinder with the vacuum line whereupon the steam and any oxygen present are substantially withdrawn from the container. Then the valve 23s is lowered further to the position shown in Fig. 3 so that the sterile atmosphere maintained within the turret is admitted to thecylinder 100 and into the container therein.

While a container in acylinder 100 of a given sterilizing and filling means 98 is being sterilized in the manner described above, theslide value 112 of this means 98 is held in a radially inwardly retracted position by thecam 162 so that communication is established between the product reservoir and the associated measuring and fillingcylinder 144. In addition, thepiston 146 associated with thiscylinder 144 is raised by thecam elements 184 and 186 so that a predetermined quantity of the product is drawn into the cylinder. Then after the container has been sterilized and the sterile atmosphere has been admitted to the container, theslide valve 112 is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 3 and thepiston 146 is lowered to discharge a predetermined quantity of the product into the container. Upon completion of the filling operation, theslide valve 112 is withdrawn to its retracted position and the associated crimpinghead 118 is actuated by thecam elements 174 and 176 to apply and seal the cap or closure to the container. Finally, the locking pin associated with this means 98 is withdrawn and thelifter pad 58 is lowered to position the filled and sealed container for removal from the turret at the discharge station. The supply of containers to the loading station may be interrupted for various reasons, and, therefore, the apparatus is provided with means for detecting the presence or absence of a container on a lifting pad leaving the loading station and for preventing subsequent discharge of the product into a container sterilizing and filling chamber in the event that a container is not disposed within the chamber. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 5 through 8, it is seen that the apparatus is provided with alever 266 pivotally mounted between its ends by pin means 268 to abracket 270, which bracket is, in turn, mounted on the fixedcam ring 264. The upper end of thelever 266 carries acontainer detecting shoe 272, and spring means 274 is provided for biasing the lever to the position shown in Fig. so that theshoe 272 is disposed for engaging containers on the lifter plates orpads 58 leaving the loading station. The lower end of thelever 266 is connected with alever 276 which has its opposite end pivotally connected with oneend of alever 278. The opposite end of thelever 278 is fixed to ashaft 280 which extends upwardly and is rotatably supported within suitable apertures in thebase 12 and acam ring portion 282 on theannular member 164. Agate element 284 is fixed on the upper end of theshaft 280 for rotation therewith. Thecam ring 282 is provided with a pair ofcam slots 286 and 288 which merge as at 290 at a location radially adjacent the loading station. Thegate element 284 is located adjacent thecam groove portion 290 so that it may be shifted to block selectively thegrooves 286 and 288.

A plurality ofdetents 292 is pivotally mounted on theturret section 36 bypins 294, which detents are respectively associated with the slide valve actuating levers 152. Each of thepins 294 extends through theturret section 36 and is fixed to one end of alever 296, and thelevers 296 are respectively provided withcam followers 298 which are adapted to enter either of thecam grooves 286 and 288, depending upon the position of thegate element 284. When thecam followers 298 are disposed in thegrooves 288, their respective associateddetents 292 are pivoted away from thelevers 152 so that the levers may be freely actuated to operate theslide valves 112 in the manner described above. However, if thecam followers 298 enter thegroove 286 theirrespective detents 292 are pivoted so as to positionshoulder elements 300 thereof behind their associatedlevers 152 so that the levers cannot be actuated to shift theirrespective slide valves 112 to container filling positions. Thegate element 284 is normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 5 by the spring means 274 so that as long as containers are not supplied to the lifter pads leaving the loading station, thecam followers 290 are directed into thecam groove 286 and the product cannot subsequently be discharged into the container processing chambers. However, when a container is positioned on a lifting pad leaving the loading station as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, thecontainer detecting shoe 272 is pushed outwardly and thelever 266 is pivoted so as to shift thegate element 284 in order to permit thecam follower 298 of the detent associated with the loaded lifting pad to enter thecam groove 288.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for packaging a product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of chamber means mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing successive containers each having a closure loosely disposed thereon, means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from and in vertical alignment with the container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, means for introducing a processing fluid into successive chamber means and containers therein for processing the containers and closures in the chamber means, and means including extendable and retractable means for projecting laterally into each chamber means beneath a raised closure for filling processed containers in successive chamber means with a product.

2. An apparatus for packaging a sterile product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of container processing and filling assemblies mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing successive containers each having a closure loosely disposed thereon, each of said assemblies including a chamber means having an opened end, a plurality of container support means respectively associated with each of said chamber means for receiving successive containers and inserting the containers into their respective chamber means and for engaging the open end of and closing their respective chamber means, means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from a container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, means for introducing a sterilizing fluid into successive closed chamber means, and each of said assemblies including means for measuring a quantity of a product from a supply of the product and for discharging the measured quantity of product into a sterilized container in its associated chamber means, each of said measuring and discharging means including extendable and retractable means for projecting between a raised closure and a container for directing the product into the container.

3. An apparatus for packaging a previously sterilized product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of container sterilizing and filling assemblies mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means, a product reservoir centrally mounted on said revolvable means, each of said assemblies including pressure chamber means for receiving and enclosing a container having a closure loosely disposed thereon, means for removing the closure from the container, means for delivering a sterilizing fluid under super-atmospheric pressure into said chamber means, means for withdrawing a predetermined quantity of the product from said reservoir and discharging the product into a sterilized container in said chamber means, means for securely applying said closure to the filled container, and means for maintaining a sterile atmosphere around said reservoir, said product discharging means and said closure applying means.

4. An apparatus for packaging a product comprising rotatable turret means, means for continuously driving said turret means, a plurality of open ended chamber means mounted on and spaced around said turret means, a plurality of container supporting pads mounted on said turret means and aligned with said chamber means, means for delivering empty containers having closures loosely disposed thereon to successive pads passing one station, means for removing filled and sealed containers from successive pads at another station, means for successively shifting said pads advancing from said first mentioned station to locate containers thereon in associated chamber means and to close their associated chamber means, means associated with each of said chamber means for removing a closure from a container disposed therein, means for subsequently connecting each of said chamber means with evacuating means, a source of sterilizing fluid under pres sure, said evacuating means and a source of sterile gas, a product reservoir mounted on said turret means, cylinder and piston means associated with each of said chamber means for drawing a predetermined quantity of the product from the product reservoir and then discharging the product, slide valve means associated with each of said chamber means and their associated piston and cylinder means for selectively establishing communication between the cylinder means and the reservoir to permit filling of the cylinder means and communication between the cylinder means and said chamber means to permit the product to be discharged into a container in the chamber means, and means associated with each of said chamber means for securely applying the closures removed from the containers to the filled containers.

5. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, which includes means responsive to the presence of a container on successive pads for subsequently preventing the slide valve means associated with the chamber means from shifting to a product discharging position in the event that there is no container in the chamber means.

6. An apparatus for packaging a previously sterilized product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of containers, sterilizing and filling assemblies mounted on said revolvable means, a product reservoir centrally mounted on said revolvable means and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced product outlet openings in a lower portion thereof and respectively adjacent said assemblies, each of said assemblies including pressure chamber means for receiving and enclosing a container, piston means for withdrawing a predetermined quantity of the product from the reservoir and subsequently discharging the product, passageway means extending generally radially between each outlet opening and an adjacent chamber means, and members radially shiftably disposed in said passageway means for movement between radially inner and outer positions for selectively connecting said piston means with said reservoir and for connecting said piston means with said chamber means, each of said members including a passageway in an outer end portion thereof for directing the product from the piston means into a container enclosed by the chamber means when said member is in its radial outer position.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, which includes a hollow central shaft supporting said revolvable means, telescoping pipes extending through said shaft and respectively connectable to a source of sterilizing fluid and vacuum, and means for selectively connecting said pipes with interiors of said chamber means.

8. An apparatus, as defined in claim 7, which includes means for maintaining a sterile atmosphere around said reservoir and said piston means.

9. An apparatus for packaging a product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of chamber means mounted on and spaced around said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing at least portions of successive containers having openings therein and having closures loosely disposed thereon, means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from and above the container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, means communicating with said chamber means for providing a predetermined atmosphere within said chamber means, and means including extendable and retractable means for 10 projecting into each chamber means between a raised closure and an associated container for filling containers in successive chamber means with a product.

10. An apparatus, for packaging a product comprising revolvable means, a plurality of chamber means circumferentially spaced on said revolvable means for receiving and enclosing at least portions of successive containers having openings therein, means providing a source of a product to be packaged, a plurality of means respectively connected with said source and associated with each of said chamber means for measuring a quantity of a product from said source and for discharging the measured quantity of the product into a container in an associated chamber means, each of said measuring and discharging means including a cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein for drawing the product into the cylinder and discharging the product from the cylinder, mechanical means connected with exposed portions of said pistons for actuating said pistons, means for maintaining an inert atmosphere around said pistons, and means for providing an inert atmosphere in said chamber means during filling of the containers.

11. An apparatus, as defined inclaim 10, which is adapted to fill containers initially having closures loosely disposed thereon, said apparatus including reciprocable plunger means associated with each of said chamber means for initially removing and raising the closure from the container in each chamber means and subsequently applying the closures securely to the containers after the containers have been filled, said means for maintaining an inert atmosphere around said pistons also maintaining said inert atmosphere around said plunger means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,693,262 Taylor Nov. 27, 1928 1,893,716 Ronzone Jan. 10, 1933 1,894,403 Konopak Jan. 17, 1933 2,023,824 Tone et a1. Dec. 10, 1935 2,327,430 Jackson Aug. 24, 1943 2,553,250 Gross May 15, 1951 2,663,481 Krueger et al Dec. 22, 1953 2,695,743 Wetherby-Williams Nov. 30, 1954 2,761,605 Pahl et al Sept. 4, 1956

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