VALVE FOR ADJUSTABLE FILLING CHAMBER

摘要

A circular filling machine (10) rotates a plurality of filling units (20) through a plurality of actuator stations (30 and 32). The filling machine (10) is characterized by an adjustment valve, including a seal (38) and a positioning member (40), for determining the quantity of the material (14) to be filled into the chamber (34). The seal (38) is biased downwardly against the positioning member (40) by a spring (50) to hold the seal (38) against the inside of the chamber (34) in the closed position. The seal (38) may be moved vertically out of engagement with the positioning member (40) to an open position by a cam (62) and cam follower (64) to allow cleaning material (37) to flush the entire chamber (34). In addition, the vertical operating level of the seal (38) and positioning member (40) may be adjusted vertically in unison to adjust the level to which the chamber (34) may be filled to accommodate containers (11) of various different volumes. The positioning member (40) and the seal (38) both depend from a platform (52) by tubular columns (54 and 56) so that the vertical adjustment is accomplished by rotation of a threaded screw (58) threadedly engaging the platform (52).