Importance

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Abstract

A container filling assembly (10) including a carousel (12) having an in-feed station (20) and an exit station (30) for supplying empty containers (22) and exiting filled containers (22). A number valve stations (34) are supported by the carousel (12) for filling the containers (22). An enclosure (42) is associated with each valve station (34) for enclosing the container (22) on the valve station (34). The enclosure (42) has an elongated endless wall (44) with an upper periphery (46) for sealing engagement about at the valve station (34). An actuation device (48) moves the enclosure (42) vertically between a sealed position with the valve station (34) and an open position spaced vertically from the valve station (34). A bottom (50) is disposed within the endless wall (44) to create a sealed chamber (70) when the endless wall (44) is in the sealed position. The filling assembly (10) is characterized by the bottom (50) being fixed to the carousel (12) and remaining below the upper periphery (46) of the endless wall (44) during the movement of the enclosure (42). The subject invention also includes a method of dispensing the product into the container (22) through the plurality of valve stations (34). The method is likewise characterized by moving the elongated endless wall (44) of the enclosure (42) vertically between the sealed position and the open position while maintaining the upper periphery (46) above the bottom (50).

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First Claim