FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: OPENING OR CLOSING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
Subclass:: FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS

Description

B67C covers apparatus and methods for filling containers with liquids or semiliquids and for emptying such containers, encompassing bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, and similar rigid or flexible vessels. This subclass includes filling machines, emptying devices, dispensing systems, and associated equipment that are not classified elsewhere in the CPC system. Funnels and funnel-related devices for liquid transfer are also included here. The classification applies to general-purpose filling and emptying technologies across diverse industries, such as food and beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass B67C recorded 39,942 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 1,540 in 2013 to 5,435 in 2023 (+253%), peaking at 5,589 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B67 are KRONES (1,255 applications), KHS (781 applications) and LG ELECTRONICS (687 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

filling of AMPOULES for medical purposesfilling of CARPULES for medical purposes

4 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B67C 11/00 Funnels, e.g. for liquids
B67C 3/00 Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
B67C 7/00 Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
B67C 9/00 Emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B67, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

KRONES DE 1,255
KHS DE 781
LG ELECTRONICS KR 687
ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV BE 472
COCA-COLA COMPANY US 461
PEPSICO US 408
TRUKING TECHNOLOGY 401
HEINEKEN SUPPLY CHAIN NL 390
COWAY COMPANY KR 332
KRONES 321