Apparatus and method for sensing a container positioned about a filling spout

Abstract

An apparatus for filling at least one container defining an opening is provided. The apparatus includes a filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material. The filling spout is configured to enable the opening of the at least one container to fit about the filling spout. At least two stationary sensor assemblies are positioned about the filling spout. The at least two stationary sensor assemblies are configured to detect whether a container is positioned about the filling spout.

1 . An apparatus for filling at least one container, the at least one container defining an opening, the apparatus comprising: 
 a filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material, the filling spout configured to enable the opening of the at least one container to fit about the filling spout; and    at least two stationary sensor assemblies positioned about the filling spout, the at least two stationary sensor assemblies configured to detect whether a container is positioned about the filling spout.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the at least two stationary sensor assemblies are radially positioned about the filling spout, each stationary sensor assembly of the at least two stationary sensor assemblies comprising one of a laser sensing component, an ultrasonic sensing component and a photoeye sensing component.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each stationary sensor assembly of the at least two sensor assemblies comprises a laser sensing component configured to emit a light beam directed at a spatial location on an outer surface of the filling spout.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the laser sensing component is positioned within a housing.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the spatial location is radially positioned about the outer surface of the filling spout at about 120° with respect to adjacent spatial locations.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the spatial location is substantially planar with adjacent spatial locations.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 5  wherein a first spatial location of a light beam emitted from a first stationary sensor assembly of the at least two stationary sensor assemblies is positioned at a first position along a length of the filling spout and a second spatial location of a light beam emitted from a second stationary sensor assembly of the at least two stationary sensor assemblies is positioned at a second position along the length of the filling spout different from the first position.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 3  wherein each stationary sensor assembly is configured to measure a first distance between a laser sensing component position and a corresponding spatial position on the outer surface of the filling spout and a second distance between the laser sensing component position and a spatial location on an outer surface of the container positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein each stationary sensor assembly is positioned about the filing spout to measure a substantially equal first distance.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a controller operatively coupled to each stationary sensor assembly and in operational control communication with the filling spout, wherein, upon each stationary sensor assembly detecting the second distance, each stationary sensor assembly transmits a confirmation signal to the controller indicating that a container is properly positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein, upon at least one stationary sensor assembly detecting the first distance, the at least one stationary sensor assembly prevents a confirmation signal from being transmitted to the controller indicating that a container is properly positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 8  wherein, upon at least one stationary sensor assembly detecting the first distance, the at least one stationary sensor assembly transmits a container positioning error signal to the controller indicating that a container is not properly positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a support configured for receiving, in succession, a plurality of containers, the support configured to maintain each successive container in an upright, substantially erect orientation, with the opening extending toward the apparatus.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a sealing apparatus including at least one sealing member configured to be reciprocably moved between a sealing position in operable engagement with the opening and a standoff position substantially removed from the container.  
   
   
       15 . A detection system for determining whether a container is positioned about a filling spout of an apparatus for filling at least one container, the filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material, the filling spout configured to enable an opening defined by the container to fit about the filling spout, the detection system comprising: 
 at least two stationary sensor assemblies positioned about the filling spout, each stationary sensor assembly of the at least two stationary sensor assemblies including a sensing component, the sensing component configured to measure a first distance from a sensing component location to a first spatial location on an outer surface of the filling spout and a second distance from the sensing component location to a second spatial location on an outer surface of the container positioned about the filling spout.    
   
   
       16 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the sensing component comprises one of a laser sensing component, an ultrasonic sensing component and a photoeye sensing component.  
   
   
       17 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 15  wherein each sensing component comprises a laser sensing component configured to emit a light beam directed at the first spatial location on an outer surface of the filling spout, the laser sensing component electrically coupled to a controller configured to measure a first distance from a laser sensing component location to the first spatial location and a second distance from the laser sensing component location to the second spatial location.  
   
   
       18 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the first spatial location of the light beam emitted from each laser sensing component is positioned radially about the outer surface of the filling spout at about 120° with respect to adjacent first spatial locations.  
   
   
       19 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein each first spatial location is substantially planar with adjacent first spatial locations.  
   
   
       20 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein a first spatial location of a light beam emitted from a first laser sensing component is positioned at a first position along a length of the filling spout and a first spatial location of a light beam emitted from a second laser sensing component is positioned at a second position along the length of the filling spout different from the first position.  
   
   
       21 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein each laser sensing component is calibrated to measure a substantially equal first distance.  
   
   
       22 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein, upon each laser sensing component detecting the second distance, each laser sensing component transmits a confirmation signal to the controller indicating that a container is properly positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       23 . A detection system in accordance with  claim 17  wherein, upon at least one laser sensing component detecting the first distance, the at least one laser sensing component transmits a container positioning error signal to the controller indicating that a container is not properly positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       24 . A method for filling at least one container, the at least one container defining an opening, an apparatus being positioned along a processing path, the method comprising: 
 placing a container on a support configured for receiving, in succession, a plurality of containers, the support configured to maintain each successive container in an orientation, with the opening extending toward the apparatus;    confirming that the container is positioned about a filling spout of the apparatus, the filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material, the filling spout configured to enable the opening of a container to fit about the filling spout; and    filling the container with filling material.    
   
   
       25 . A method in accordance with  claim 24  wherein confirming that the container is positioned about a filling spout further comprises: 
 positioning at least two stationary sensor assemblies with respect to the filling spout, each sensor assembly of the at least two stationary sensor assemblies including a laser sensing component configured to emit a light beam directed at a spatial location on an outer surface of the filling spout;    calibrating each laser sensing component to measure a first distance from a sensing component location to a spatial location on an outer surface of the filling spout;    detecting a second distance between each sensing component location and a spatial location on an outer surface of the container positioned about the filling spout; and    confirming that the second distance is less than the first distance.    
   
   
       26 . A method in accordance with  claim 25  wherein, upon each sensing component detecting the second distance, each sensing component transmitting a confirmation signal to a controller in operational control communication with the filling spout indicating that a container is properly positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       27 . A method in accordance with  claim 25  wherein, upon at least one sensing component detecting the first distance, the at least one sensing component transmitting a container positioning error signal to a controller in operational control communication with the filling spout indicating that a container is not properly positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       28 . A method in accordance with  claim 27  further comprising preventing flow of filling material through the filling spout until each sensing component detects the second distance.  
   
   
       29 . A method in accordance with  claim 24  further comprising sealing the container with a sealing apparatus while maintaining the container in the upright position on the support.  
   
   
       30 . A method in accordance with  claim 24  further comprising reciprocably pivoting and translating the filling spout between a horizontal filling position and a retracted position, in which the filling spout is tilted, filling nozzle upward, and moved backward from the horizontal filling position.  
   
   
       31 . A method for determining whether a container is positioned about a filling spout of an apparatus for filling at least one container, the filling spout in flow communication with a source of filling material and configured to enable an opening defined by the container to fit about the filling spout, the method comprising: 
 providing at least two stationary sensor assemblies positioned with respect to the filling spout, each stationary sensing assembly of the at least two stationary sensor assemblies including a sensing component;    calibrating each sensing component to measure a first distance from a sensing component position to a position on an outer surface of the filling spout; and    measuring a second distance between each sensing component position and a position on an outer surface of the container positioned about the filling spout.    
   
   
       32 . A method in accordance with  claim 31  wherein, upon each sensing component detecting the second distance less than the first distance, each corresponding sensor assembly transmits a signal to a controller in operational control communication with the filling spout indicting that a container is positioned about the filling spout.  
   
   
       33 . A method in accordance with  claim 31  wherein, upon at least one sensing component detecting the second distance equal to the first distance, a corresponding sensor assembly transmits a signal to a controller in operational control communication with the filling spout that a container is not positioned about the filling spout.