ES349046A1 - Automatic dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a material such as batter into containers 10 comprises a dispensing valve C mounted above a conveyer B carrying the containers, the actuation of the valve being controlled by means of sensor 106 for sensing the approach of a first container to the dispensing valve and generating a first signal indicative thereof, a first timing means TDR1 responsive to the first signal for causing the valve to dispense a first measured quantity into the first container after a predetermined time delay and a second timing means TDR2 for causing the valve to dispense additional quantities of material at predetermined intervals. The valve C which is mounted below a hopper 34 for the material includes a body 40 in which a shaft 56 spring-loaded wiper blade 70 is adapted to rotate and a rotatable valve member 54 arranged to co-operate with the surface of the shaft and an outlet 48 an orifice plate 50 is held in the outlet by means of a clamp device 52. With the valve parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, the material fills the space below the wiper blade. Upon rotation of the valve 54, by means of a ram 86 and gears 76, 82, Fig. 8, the outlet 48 is opened and communication with the hopper 34 is closed by the valve sealingly contacting the shaft 56. When the shaft 56 is rotated by means of a ram 84 and gears 74, 80 the wiper forces a measured quantity of material into a container 10. The cycle of operation is started when a container passes over the sensor 106, Fig. 9, thereby actuating the timer TDR1 so that as the container reaches a position under the dispensing valve a switch is actuated to first energize a counter C1 and then operate the dispensing valve as described above. The cycle will not restart until a second container is sensed by the sensor 106. If the counter Cl is set to more than one count and the switch LSI actuated, a second timer TDR2 is operated and the apparatus will continue to dispense measured quantities as previously described until the counter counts out. The travel of the piston rod 94 of the ram 84 may be varied by means of an adjustable stop (96, Fig. 7) in order to vary the volume of material dispensed.