Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus for advancing flexible containers that are connected together seriatim in a continuous row, automatically, to a filling and capping station by preliminarily moving the filling spout of each container to a position adjacent the filling nozzle during the filling of the next previous container. Because the containers are flexible, excess container material forms a loop between the container spout at the filling station and the container spout at the pre-positioning station, and does not interfere with the filling operation, particularly since the empty flexible containers can be supported as they are advanced toward the filling station by guides which capture the filling spout itself. When a container is full, it is released from the filling nozzle and the filling spout of the next adjacent succeeding container, having been positioned close to the filling nozzle location, can be immediately positioned in the filling nozzle, avoiding the delays inherent in accelerating a complete line of waiting empty containers the full distance of one container's length. The apparatus thus takes advantage of the flexible nature of the containers to permit a reduction in the lag time between the capping of one container and the filling of the next container.

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First Claim