GB328459A - Improvements in and connected with automatic machines for filling and sealing ampoules, phials and like vessels - Google Patents

Abstract

328,459. Marzocchi, L. May 8, 1929. Capsules.-An automatic machine for filling and sealing ampoules, phials, and like vessels is provided with a cutting device whereby the neck of each vessel is cut or scored at a predetermined point, and with a hammer device adapted to strike the neck of the inverted vessel to sever the unwanted portion of the neck. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the ampoules are resiliently held in pairs in carriers 2 mounted on an intermittently rotated ring 1, and are first brought into contact with a cutting device, such as a vertically adjustable rotary disc 3 by spring means 4. The carriers are rotatable about an axis 2<1> and under the influence of a cam 5 are next brought into the position shown in Fig. 4, at which point the ends of the ampoules are removed by a hammer 7<1> whilst the ampoules rest on a support 6. Spring means restore the carriers to their normal upright position when the cam 5 is cleared, and at the filling station next reached, the necks are automatically centred by a cam-operated lever system 8, Fig. 1, slidably mounted by a yoke 37 on rods 40 and raised and lowered intermittently by a lever 37<1>. Operation of the lever system is effected by Bowden mechanism. The filling means may comprise a plunger operated syringe 11, needles 10 mounted on a sliding yoke 9, tube connections 12, 13 connected respectively to a liquid-supply tank 14 and the needles, and cam controlled closure means 16, 15 respectively for the tubes 12, 13. A two armed lever 17 operated by a. cam 18 is provided to keep the arm 16 raised and the tube 13 closed when no ampoules are at the filling station, as when operation of the machine is begun. The closure means are so operated that a part of the suction stroke of the plunger is used to withdraw excess liquid from the needles. Preferably the needles are operated through means such as a telescopic spring link to protect them against fracture. The filled ampoules are sealed as by blowpipe burners 20 on reaching the point 19, Fig. 3, the necks being again centred for this operation as by levers 19<b>, and are finally discharged by lever means 21 into a chute 39. A cam shaft 31 is utilized to operate the several units of the machine in proper sequences, and the ring 1 is driven by a Maltese cross gear 33.