US1151146A - Can-filling machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. MPWRIGHL- CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1913.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

I SHEETS-SHEET I.

(U CO gvwewtoz V I, v 35% M F. M. WRIGHT.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1913.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

7SHEETSSHEET 2.

FRaNK'MwmGHT WWW wi i mexmeo F. M. WRIGHT.

CAN FILLING MACHINE} ,APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1913.

Patented'Aug. 24, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FRHNK M. WRKSHT F. M. WRIGHT. CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FIPED MAY 21, I913- Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

7 SHEETSSHEET 4.

gmueuio'a FRHNK M- WRIGHT F. WRIGHT. CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZII 1913.

Patent-ed Aug. 24, 1915.

YSHEETS-SHEET 51 FRANK M- WRKSHT F. M. WRIGHT. CAN FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1913 Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

\III.

7 SHEETSSHEET 6.

awuzmoz FRBNK 1 1. WR\GHT wi/liweooeo F. M. WRIGHT.

CA'N FILLING MACHINE.- APPLICATION FILED MAY 21. 1913.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

7 SHEETSSHEET 7.

III In I ll IIFIHIII I I III] llllllllllHllll lllHlll STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. WRIGHT, OF LYONS, NEW YORK.

CAN-FILLING; MACHINE.

, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Ai g, 24, 1915,

Application filed May 21, 1913. Serial No. 769,106.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. WRIGHT, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Lyons, in the county of l/Vayne and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Mathis character which will be provided'withmechanism for receiving, righting and feedmg cans from a chute to a vertically movable plate to be raised to a spout or funnel v and receive the sauer kraut or other products from a feeding hopper. Another object is to provide a machine of this character which may be provided with means for automatically opening and closing a .cut off valve within the spout or funnel as the cans are engaged with and disengaged from said spout or funnel.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character which will be constructed in such manner that operation of the can feed: ing mechanism will be discontinued during the operation of filling the cans and again operated after the filling of each can until the succeeding can is delivered to the plate and raised into engagement with the spout or funnel.

Another object is to provide machine of this character which will be provided with a plurality of can feeding chutes, can conducting belts, etc., and an equalizer bar connected with each can receiving and raising plate or table and having a weight adjustably mounted thereon for regulating the amount of sauer kraut or other products or materials to be packed in each can.

- A further object is to provide a machine of this character which will be of such construction that the receiving hopper above each filling hopper will be divided into two I compartments with a screw extending transversely beneath the two compartments for feeding the sauer kraut from the receiving hopper; to the intermediate hopper from ing the filling spout-or funnel and a return screw beneath the second compartment of the receiving or uppermost hopper for preventing over-feeding of sauerkraut to the intermediate or second hopper and thereby interfering with the proper operation of the-radial plates upon the rotary shaft ,in said intermediate or second hopper for depositing the sauer kraut upon the feed worm within the feed hopper.

A further ob ect is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation electrical connections between certain operative parts of the device and generally increase. the etficiency and value of the machine.

With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in the novel features 'of construction, combination and arrangeof machines of this character and provide.

ment of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the ac companying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the complete device; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, looking at the opposite side of the machine, parts of the machine being broken away in this view for the sakeof clearness; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the complete machine; Fig. 4 is a detail vertical cross-sectional view 011- the line H of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow; Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the uppermost hopper and parts carried thereby; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view through the main frame member and can conveying chain with a can in position upon the chain with a portion of the can broken away, said view showing in elevation the rear end of the equalizer bar in position in its guide member also clearly illustrating themeans for retaining the equalizer bar in its uppermost position and the electrical contact memberscarried b'ythe equalizer bar and guide member; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the equalizer bar; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same and the poise or wei htcarriedthereby; Fig. 9 is a detail crosssectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detail view partly in section of the slide valve for the lower end of one of the spouts and the mechanism for operating the slide bar,-sa1d view also showing in dotted lines a can in posithis view in open position; Fig. 11 is a detail tion to be filled, the valve being shown in i top plan view of'the trigger bars in normal position, said view-also showing the parts connected with one of the trigger bars and the star-shaped can separating and raising wheel, showing in dotted lines a can in each of the longitudinal grooves of saldwheel,

the shaft of said wheel shown in cross-seetion; Fig. let is a detail view of one of the can righting wheels, showing the shaftof the same in cross-section; Fig. 15 is a detail elevational view of the maltese cross wheel .and'geneva gear for operating. the sprocket chain which impartsv intermittent rotary -'movement to the. turret shaft; Fig. 16 is a Fig. 20 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 21 is a side elevational view thereof with a portion of the depending member carried by the table broken away; and Fig.

, 22 is a detail plan View showing the shafts upon which the canseparating and raising wheel and the can righting wheels are mounted, said view showing the operative connections between these shafts. Fig. 23

. is a detail sectional view on the line .2323

of Fig. 10; and Fig. 24 is a detail plan view of the extended end of the turret shaft and gears carried upon the same. Figs. 25 and 26 are fragmentary detail views of certain parts of the operating mechanism.

Referring more specifically to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 designates the receiving oruppermost hopper, which is divided into two compartments designated by the numerals 2 and 3 separated by the longitudinal vertical partition 4. Extending transversely beneath the compartments 2 and 3 and the partition 4E of'the hopper 1, is a trough 5 within which is positioned the feed screw 6, the shaft 7 of which extends through the opposite ends of the/trough 5. It will be understood that the trough 5 is located near the front edge of the lower portion of the hopper while a second trough 8 is formed under the hopper 1, adjacent the rear edge of said hopper, the bottom of the portion of the trough 8 beneath the compartment 2,

being inclined toward the outer side of said compartment, the purpose ofwhich will presently be apparent.

Within the portion of the trough 8 beneath the compartment'3, however, is positioned the return screw 9 which has the ends of its shaft 10 mounted in the partition 4: and the outer's'ide wall of the compartment 3. The shafts 7 and 10 are parallel to one anotherv and it will be understood tha the partition 4 is cut away below the shait 10 and also suitably cut away. above the trough 5 to accommodate the feed screw 6 and allow said feed screw to feed the sauer kraut or other product placed in the compartment 2 to the compartment 3. The return screw '9 serves to return the sauer kraut or other products to the compartment 2, should an over amount be fed to the compartment 3 by the feed screw 6, thereby eliminating all danger. of choking the intermediate h0pper 11.

The intermediate hopper 11 is positioned immediately beneath the second compartment 3. of thehopper l and is provided with flat vertical side walls and outwardly curved front and rear walls, as clearly shown in thedrawings. Extending centrally and transversely throughthe intermediate hopper 11 is a shaft 12 upon which are mounted radially extendingplates 13 upon which is de posited the sauer kraut or other product from the feed screw (3 and which in turn deposits the sauerkraut in the lower or feed hopper 14 and upon the feed worms 15 in the inclined bottom portion of said lower or feed hopper 1 1.

It will be understood that the portion of the trough 5 beneath the compartments 2 'and 3 of the hopper 1 opens into the intermediate hopper 11 while the trough S is provided with an open bottom beneath the compartment 3 and the solid inclined bottom beneath the compartment 2 of said hopper 1. The lower or feed hopper 1+. is provided with flat vertical sides and an inclined hinged back 14' forming a continuation of.

the curved back of the intermediate hopper 11, while the front of the hopper is vertical the hopper,-said spouts or funnels therefore being at the lowermost portion of the hopper 14-. It will also be seen that the lower ends of the feed worms 15 project into the spouts or funnels 18, said worms being formed upon the shafts 19 which have their gears 21 and operated by the latterjeach worm gear 21 being carried upon the upper end of a vertical shaft 22 which has a friction wheel 23 mounted upon its lower end.

Each spout or funnel 18 has a reduced circular lower edge 24 for engagement within theupper end of each can,25 during the operation of filling the same, he can being automatic-ally raised and its upper end engaged around said lower circu'l'i r edge 24 of the spout or funnel 18, by means of the novel and improved mechanism .which will be later fully described.

The spout or funnel 18 is normally closed by the cut-off valve 26 which is slidably engaged through the lower portion of said spout or funnel and'which has the upwardly extending lug 27 .formedu'pon its outer extremity and the upwardly and forwardly directed arm 28 inwardly of said extremity,

the forwardly directed portion of said arm being directed toward the outer extremity of the cut off valve, which it will be understood is in the form of a flat plate or strip having its rear end slidably engaged through the spout oixfunnel 18, as previously mentioned. The cut off valve 26 is opened and closed by means of the reciprocating latch dog 29 connected to the cam wheel 30 upon the shaft 31 which is continually in rotation.

The latch dog '29 is normally retained in raised position and out of engagement with the lug 27 by means of the pony jack 32, it being understood that the free extremity of the arm 28 is in a horizontal plane above the horizontal plane of the lug 27. The

pony jack 32 is held in normal position by means of the coil spring 33 and said pony jack has an operating rod- 34 connected therewith and with the trigger bar 35 whereby the pony jack 32 will be operated upon operation of said trigger bar in onedirection to allow the free end of the latch dog 29 to drop downwardly and engage the lug 27 and thereby draw the cut off valve 26 forwardly to open the same and allow the sauer kraut or other product to be forced from the spout or funnel 18' into the can25 engaged therewith. It willbe understood that the pony jack 32 is locked in this position by means of the spring latch 182 carried upon the support 190, as shown at 183.

Immediately after the can has been filled and returned to its lowermost position with the table, thereby returning the eoualizer bar .40 to its uppermost position, engaging the contact plates 58 and 60, and completing a circuit, the electric current will pass through the wires 186 causing the magnet 185 to attract the lateral arm 184 of the spring latch 182 and thereby draw the free end of the spring latch 182 rearwardly to allow the spring 33 to return the pony jack 32 to nor mal position, said spring 33 being carried in the socket 192 connected to the support 190, thereby raising the reciprocating latch dog 29 and causing the same to strike the forwardly directed arm 28 of the cut off valve and force the same inwardly, closing the spout 18. The chain 50 will again be broughtinto operation to drawthe filled can from upon the table and bring the next can into position. It will be understood that owing to the fact that the pony jack is connected with the trigger bar 35 by means .of the rod 34, said trigger bar will be returned to its normal position upon the return of the pony jack to its normal position to be again operated upon outward movement of the trigger bar as the next can passes between the trigger bars 35 and 70, said pony jack riding over the spring latch 182 until a corresponding number of'spouts or funnels 18.. It will further be evident that a cut off valve 26 and means for operating the same must be provided for each spout or funnel and a. can receiving and raising plate or table 36 positioned'beneath each spout or funnel 18. A rod 37 is also connected at one end to the trigger bar 35 and has its opposite end engaged against the equalizer latch carrying bar 38 which has the equalizer latch member 39 mounted thereon for supporting the, free end of the horizontal arm of the equalizer bar 40 in its uppermost position, upon which arm is adjustably mounted the poise or weight 41. The vertical arm of the equalizer bar 40 depends from the opposite end of the horizontal arm and extends slightly forwardly and the equalizer bar is mounted at the junction of its arms upon the shaft 43, a suitable opening being provided at this point, as shown at 42, to accommodate the shaft. It will be understood that the shaft 43 is loosely mounted in the bracket member 52 and extends transversely therethrough. It will be understood that the vertical arm of the equalizer bar 40 is mounted upon the pin 44 in one end of the slide rod 45, said pin being carried in the rear end of the rod 45 sliding in the pivotally supported bracket arm 45, the opposite end of the rod 45 being provided with an elongated longitudinal slot 45 through which is engaged the pivot pin 46 mounted transversely in the lower end of the table raising post 46 which has its upper end securedto the under face of thetable 36. As herein embodied, the bracket arm 45' is pivotally engaged, as at -45, with the arm 45 depending from the frame member 49. As is believed to be self-evident, downward movement imparted to the post 46 under the influence'of the weight of a can positioned on the table 36. will impart such rocking movement to the rod lf) about the pivot &5 as to elevate the long or horizontal arm of the equalizer bar -i0. Upon removal of the weighted can from the table.6, the table will be returned to its uppermost position under the influence of the poise or weight e1, in a mannerwhich is believed to be self-evident.

Thecan receiving. and raising table 36 is provided'in its upper face with a deep longiti idinal channel 36 to accommodate the chain 50, as will be later clearly understood.

' commodatethechain 50, as will be readily understood. The chain is engaged over the sprocket wheels 52 and 53 at opposite ends of the main frame member and mounted in suitable brackets secured to the under face of said fI'tUDCiDGIHbGl, it being understood that the sprocket wheels 52 and 53 are carried upon the transverse shafts 54 and 55, respectively. The sprocket chain 50 has the laterally directed can engaging fingers 56 upon its outer or upper face and at spaced 1 distances for, engaging cans 25 and retaining the same in position as they are moved by the chain 50. The main frame member 49 ismounted upon suitable standards 57 which have their lower ends resting upon the floor or other stationary support. It will be apparent that the main frame member 49 may be formed of any suitable material and may be of any suitable length. It will be understood that the equalizer bar 40 has the contact plates 58 and -59 i1pon its upper and lower faces at the free end of its horizontal arm for engagement with the 7 contact plates 60 and 61, respectively, to

" complete different circuits when the equalizerbai' isin its uppermost position and lowermost position.- ranging the contact plates as just described is to complete-electrical circuits and cause proper operation of other parts of the machine at the proper time, as will be. laterclearly apparent. It will further be seen ber.

It will be" understood that a The purpose of ai that the contact plate 60 is secured in the upper end of the Ushaped guide member. 38 while the contact plate 61 is carried at a lower point in said bar or guide 38, the contact plates 60 and 6libeing positioned atthe opposite ends of the elongated slot through which the end of the long arm of the equalizer bar 40 is engaged. The U- shaped guide members 38 has a depending portion 62 at its lower end through which bolts 63 or other suitable securing means are engaged for securing the U-shaped guide member 38 to the side'of the frame mem- The latch member 38 is in the form ofabar which is normally in vertical position and is fulcrumed to the rear face of theU-shaped guide member 38, as shown at 64, and has the latch lug 39 near its upper -end for engagement against the under. face of the long arm of the equalizer bar 4-0 to retain the same in its uppermost position. The latch bar 33 has a slightly curved lower end 66 whichis normally held partly over the opening through the car 67 projecting outwardly from the side of the U-shaped guide member 38, by means ofthe coil spring 68 which has one end secured to the curved lower end of the latch bar 38 while its opposite end is secured to a suitable lug '69 upon the. rear-face of the'lower end of the U-shaped guide member. 38'. The latch bar 38 isadapted to be swung upon its fulcrum M by means of the rear free end of the rod 37, previously mentioned, extended through the perforated car 67 when the rod 37,'Wl11(3l1 has its opposite end connected with the trigger bar 35, 1S swung in said car by outward movement of the trigger bar thereby withdrawing the lug 39 of the latch bar 38' from beneath theequalizer bar 40 and allowing said bar to drop to its lowermost position.

It will be understood that a second trigger bar 70 is positioned opposite the trigger bar 35 and turns in the bearing 71 provided therefor. The lower end of the trigger bar '70 is turned outwardly at about right angles.

as shown at 72, and connected with onc'end of the longitudinally extending spring 73 which has its other end connected to the lug 7% projecting laterally from the main frame member 419 near the lower end of the triggerbar. The sleeve 75 carries a clutch lever engagingprojection 7 6 near itslower end and said sleeve is adapted. for partial rotation around the stationarv rod 77 and 'upon turning of said sleeve 75 by the forward movement of the'bar 73, the clutch lever engaging member 76 will engage against the. .clutch lever 78 and swing the same upon its pivot 79 against the tension of the clutch lever spring 80 and thereby disengage the clutch member 81, carried upon the lower end of the lever 73 and slidably mounted upon the shaft 82, from the clutch member 83 carried by the'friction drive wheel 84, which latter is loosely mounted on one end of the shaft 82 and has the friction wheel, 85 engaged therewith. -The friction-wheel 85 is mounted upon the lowerend of the inclined shaft 86 which has forwardly and curved outwardly in oppos1te dlrections to receive therebetween, in

regular order, the cans 25 and guide said cans to proper position uporr the table 36. It will also be understood that the trigger bar 35 has a vertical portion rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket 35 upon the side of the main frame member 49 opposite the side upon which the bearing 71 is secured and that the forward end of the rod 37 is secured to the main or curved portion of the trigger bar, and to the lower end of the bar is secured one end of a suitable spring 35" which has its opposite end secured to the main frame member 49 and serves to resiliently retain the trigger bar 35' in normal position. As the trigger bar is resiliently retained in normal position by.

means of the spring 73 connected with its lower end and with the main frame member 49, it will be understood that when the trigger bars 35 and 70 are in normal position, the space between the curved upper ends thereof will be less than the diameter ofthe cans, thereby causing each can as it passes between the trigger bars to force the same outwardly and thereby operate the .parts connected with the trigger bars to stop movement of the chain 50 and release the equalizer bar 40 to allow the same to drop to its lowermost position and raise the table.

The gear wheel 89 is mounted upon one end of the shaft 82 and engaged with this transversely beneath the main frame mem- 65 tionecl parallel to the shaft 82 beneath the forward portion of the main frame member 419 and mounted in suitable brackets 95 carried upon the frame members 93. The friction wheel 23 is engaged against the large friction wheel 96 which is loosely mounted upon the shaft 91 and carries a clutch member 97. A second clutch menr ber 98 is keyed to the shaft 9% and adapted for engagement with the clutch member 97 to lock said member 97 and friction wheel 98 for rotation with the shaft 94: to drive the friction wheel 23 and thereby rotate the vertical shaft 2-2 and cause the 'worm 21 engaged with the worm wheel 20 to revolve the latter and thereby operate the feed screw 15. It will be understood that the clutch member 98 is engaged with the clutch member 97 by turning the clutch lever 99 upon its fulcrum 100 and against the tension of its spring .101 by engaging the clutch lever engaging member 102 with the upper end of said lever 99. The member 102 is carried by the sleeve 103 which is rotatably vmounted upon the stationary rod 104 and has a laterally projecting arm 105 to which is pivoted one end of a' rod 106,, as shown at 107. Electrical connections are formed between the opposite end of the rod 106 and the lower electrical contact plate 61 and a circuit is completed when the equalizer bar 40 drops to its lowermost position and the contact plate 59 carried'thereby engages with the contact plate 61, thereby drawing the rod 106 rearwa'rdly and rotating the sleeve 103 sufficiently to cause the lever engaging 'member 102 to swing the lever 99 upon its fulcrum 100, as will be clearly understood. It will therefore be seen that the clutch member 98 will be engaged with the clutch member 97 to operate the feed screw 15 after a can has been engaged with the lower end of the spout 18 and the valve 28 has been opened. It will also be understood that after the can 25 has been filled and the weight of the material within the same causes the can to move downwardly and re turn the table 36 to its normal position, thereby overcoming the weight of the equalizer bar 40 and poise 11' upon the same and returning the equalizer bar to its normal position, the contact plate 58 carried by the equalizer bar 40 will engage with the contact plate ()0 at the upper end of the shaped guide member 38 and thereby complete a circuit to draw the spring latch 182 to inoperative position and thereby allow the pony jack and parts connected there with to return to normal position and close the val'ie 26.

The return of the equalizer bar to up per-most position and engagement of the contact plate 118 with the contact plate 60 cour- 1 4 ,N '1 1 pletes th r '1 curu "11in which is positioned the m 177, cr sing the latter to draw the roc r'erw Ly thereby turning the sleeve 75 against the tension of the spring 7 5 and causing the clutch lever engaging projection 76 to engage with the clutch lever 78 causing the same to engage the clutch member 81 with the clutch member 83 to cause the chain 50 to again move to carry the filled can fromupon the table 36 and bring the next can into position to be filled in like manner. It will also be understood thatas the free end of the equalizer bar moves upwardly the contact plate 59 will disengage from the contact plate 61 and allow the ,spring 101 to return the rod 106 and sleeve 103 and parts connected with the latter to normal position and thereby permit the spring 101 to swing the lever 99 upon its fulcrum 100 and disengage the clutch member 98 from the clutch member 97 and thereby discontinue operation of the feed screw 15 until the next can is in position to be filled and the valve 26 is again in open position, as will be readily apparent. It will also be understood that the transverse'shaft 94 is operated from the transverse shaft 82- by means of the longitudinal shaft 108 having the bevel gear 109 upon one end and engaged with the double bevel gear 110 carried upon the end of the shaft 82 opposite the gear wheel 89 while a bevel gear 111 is upon the opposite end of the shaft 108 and engaged with the bevel gear 112 upon the corresponding end of the shaft 94.

Engaged with the other face of the double bevel gear 110 is a bevel gear 113 upon the lower end of the long inclined shaft 114 which has a second bevel gear 115 upon its upper end and engaged with the bevel gear 116 mounted. upon one end of the shaft 7 upon which the screw 6 is carried. The shaft 7 also has loosely mounted upon this end, a gear wheel 117 having the grooved collar 118 carried thereby having the lever 119 engaged in the groove thereof with an operating rod 120 connected with its free end and running the full width of the machine, by means of which the lever 119 may be readily operated to move the gear 117 longitudinally upon the shaft 7 to cause the teeth to engage with the teeth of the gear wheel 121 mounted upon the shaft 10 of .the return screw 9 to operate said screw as oocasion may require. 1t will'be understood that cooperating clutch members 115 and 117 are carried by the bevel gear 116 and gear wheel 117' respectively, tov cause the former to rotate the latter when the clutch members are engaged.

The turret shaft 12 has a sprocket wheel 122 mounted upon its extended end and engaged around this sprocket wheel is a sprocket also engaged a1 und the 12 ),has a portion of its periphery concave,

as shown at 129' by cutting away a portion of said member and the pin or finger 130 projects radiallyfrom the center of the concave portion 129 for engagement in each of the slots 128 in turn, as the Geneva gear r0- tates with the gearing 112 and shaft 9%, rotating the Waltese cross one-fourth of a revolution upon each revolution of the Geneva gearing, the convex portions of the latter turning in the concave outer ends of the arms 127withoutihaving any effect on the Maltese cross, as will be clearly understood. It will therefore be seen that the turret 113 will be properly operated to deposit the saucr kraut or material upon the screws 15 and to return any excessive amount of material and presentthc same to the return screw 0 to be re turned by the screw to the compartment 2 of the hopper 1, as previously stated.

The cans 25 are conveyed to the chain from the chute 132 by novel mechanism which will now be described.

The lower portion of the long chute 132 is enlarged as shown at 133 and a shaft 131 is positioned transversely therethrough with the can lifting wheel 135 mounted thereon, said wheel having longitudinal grooves 130 formed in its face of proper size to receive one can and raise the same over the wheel as. the latter rotates, thereby separating the cans and preventing more than one can being deposited upon the chain 50 at a time. The wheel 135 may be provided with any suitable number of can accommodating grooves but I have provided the wheel with four such grooves and. it will be understood that the wheel is positioned in a horizontal portion of the chute 132 near its connection withthe lower vertical end of chute which tapers. toward its lower extremity and is of proper size to accommodate a can in upright position and prevent the same from turning upon its sidev The lower portion of the chute is designated by the numeral 137. The shaft 13% has a pair of spaced. bevel gears 138 mounted thereon at spaced distances from the opposite ends of the can separating and lifting wheel 35 and a pair of parallel shafts 130 extended at right angles to the shaft 13% and having the bevel ars lei-Q upon their inner ends and eiwag r with the bevel gears 138 to be operated l v the atter. ihe shafts 13 extend through the chute and liar the upper 'errical portion 137 of 142 mounted thereon and each can righting wheel comprises a hub 143 with curved spokes 144 projecting radially therefrom. As the shafts 139 are properly spaced from one another and rotated toward one another,

each can, as it is raised by the wheel 135 and dropped upon the can righting wheels 142, owing to the fact that the length of the can is less than the distance between the can righting wheels, will be engaged by the curved spokes 144 of the can righting wheels and one spoke of the wheel at the open end of the can will enter the can and turn the same to upright position, thereby righting the can and causing the same to drop down the reduced and tapered portion 137 of the chute until its closed or lower end rests upon the portion of the chain 50 traveling upon the lower open extremity of the chute, it being understood that the chute is properly supported above the forward end of the main frame member 49 by suitable standards 145. It will be understood that the front of the lower portion of the chute 137 is provided with a suitable opening 146 to allow the can to move out of the chute and travel with the chain 50 upon the main frame member 49, it being understood that the can 25 is engaged by one of the fingers 56 projecting from the chain 50.- j

The shaft 134 is rotated by means of a suitatble gear 147 mounted upon the short shaft 148 and engaged with the bevel gear 149 upon an extended end of the shaft 143. llhe shaft 148 is rotated by means of a sleeve 150 which isengaged over one end of the shaft 148 and also over one end of the shaft 151 which has the bevel gear 152 mounted upon its lower end and engaged with the bevel gear 153 mounted upon the end of the shaft 5-1. The sleeve 150 is slidably mounted upon the upper and lower ends of the shafts 14S and 151 respectively, and has diametrically opposite elongated slots 154 in its upper end to accommodate the opposite ends of a pin 155, extending transversely through the shaft 148 while the lower end of the sleeve 150 is provided with the notches or recesses 156 in its lower end to receive the lugs 157 carried by the shaft 151. It will be seen that when this sleeve is in its lowermost position the shaft 148 will be rotatedupon rotation of the shaft 151. When the sleeve 156 is raised, however, to disen gage the notches 156 from the lugs 157, rotation of the shaft 151 will have no effect upon the sleeve 150 and shaft 148. The sleeve 150 may be readily raised by means of the lever 158 pivoted, as shown at 159, to the collar 160, which latter is loosely engaged around the reduced central portion 161 of the sleeve, the lever being fulcrumed to the fr.ame,,as shown at 162.

It will be understood that the latch dog 65 29 is jointed intermediate of its ends as shown at 163to allow the rear end of said dog to be raised by the pony jack 32, as previously described. It will also be understood that the roller 164 on the opposite end of the latch dog is normally retained in engagement with the cam wheel by means of the coil spring 165 and that the shaft 31 upon which the cam wheel 30 is mounted is continually operated by means-of the belt 166 which is connected in any suitable manner to the power shaft 91. It will further be understood that the cans 25 are retained in upright position and prevented from falling off of the chain during movement of the latter, by means of the guide rails 167 to opposite sides of the main frame member 49 and above the latter, said guide rails 167 being held in position by the short supporting uprights 168 having their lower ends secured to the opposite sides of the main frame member 4.9.

The poise or weight 41 is slidably engaged upon the horizontal arm of the equalizer bar 40, said poise having spaced upper fingers 169 with a slot 170 therebetween and a lower finger 171. The fingers 169 and 171 are engaged around the horizontal arm of the equalizer bar 40 and the poise or weight 41 carries the plate 172 resting in the lower finger 171 and provided with teeth upon its upper face for engagement with the teeth 173'upon the lower face of the horizontal arm of the equalizer bar to retain the poise or weight in adjusted position. It will be understood that the front face of the horizontal arm of the equalizer bar is provided with suitable markings 174 in order that the poise or weight 41 may be readily and accurately adjusted. Thepoise or weight 41 is locked in adjusted position by means of the wing nut 175 engaged upon the threaded upper end of the upwardly directed rod 176 projecting from the rear edge of the plate 172 and preferably formed with the same, the threaded upper portion of the rod 176 extending upwardly through the slot 170 and the wing nut, when tightened, bearing upon the upper face of the poise or weight 41.

It will be understood that the sleeve 75 and parts carried thereby are resiliently retained in normal position by the coil spring 7 5 having one end connected with the sleeve while its opposite end is suitably connected with the framework. It will also be under stood that the clutch and operating mechanism for locking the friction wheel 96 for rotation with the shaft 94 are similar to the clutch and operating mechanism for locking the friction wheel Stfor rotation with the shaft and clearly illustrated in Fig.

Therefore these parts have not been shown in detail in a separate view. lVhile any suitable electrical connections may be formed between the contact plates and 61 the bars 78and '76, I have shown two magnets 177 and 178' positioned respectively adjacent the free ends of the bars 73 and 106 for attracting these bars when the contact plates 58 and 59 carried by the equalizer bar flo'fll'e properly engaged with the re spective contact plates 60 and 61 carried by the U-shaped guide member 38, as previously described. It will beunderstood that a battery 179 is provided and suitable conducting wires 180 provided to form electri cal connections between the magnets 177 and 178, contact plates 60, 61, 5S and 59, and the battery 179. It will be evident that any suitable electricalconnections may be provided between the contact plates and the bars 73 and 106..

It is believed that the operation of the device will bereadilyunderstood from the foregoing taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings and therefore an extended explanation 'of i the operation is deemed unnecessary. The operation willbe briefly stated as follows: The cans are placed in the chute 132 and will be separated and raised, one at a time, by the can separating and raising wheel 135 and deposited upon the curved spokes of the can righting wheels 142 and as these wheels are continually rotated toward one another, each can deposited upon the same willbe turned to upright position and its closed end deposited upon the traveling endless chain 50: One of the can engaging fingers 56 will engage thecan and cause the same to move with-the chain 50 until it reaches the table 36'. As thecan passes over the forward edge of the table, it passes between the tri 'er bars and 70 and thereb se )arates said trigger bars. As previously described, outward movement of the trigger bar 33 will operate the mechanism supporting the free end of the horizontal arm of the equalzer bar 1O and allow the latter to swing to its lowermost position. This movement of gages the upper open end of the can with i the reduced lower end of the spout 18. As the equalizer bar reaches its lowermost position, the engagement of the contact plate 59 with the contact plate 61 turns the sleeve 103 through the electrical connections previously described, and disengages the clutch member 81 from the clutch member 83, and engages the clutch member with thereby causing oper- 0 feed the sauer raised can. i ii?! 05 dcusly gage the contact plate 58 with the contact plate 60, thereby breaking one circuit and closing another to allow the magnet 177 to draw the bar 7 the table 36 and bring the next can into position to be filled in the same manner as the can or cans ahead of the same. This return movement of the equalizer bar 10 and engagement of the contact plate 58 with the contact plate also breaks the circuit with which is connected the magnet 178 and there by allows the arm 106 to be moved away from the magnet 17S and the sleeve 103 to rotate under action of the spring 101 and thereby disengage the clutch members 97 and 98 and discontinue operation of the feed screw 15. It will be understood, however, that as each can is brought to position between the trigger bars and 70, and then deposited upon the table 30, the same operation just described will take place, thereby filling the cans and carrying the same to the rear end of the machine in turn.- It will also be understood that when desired, any set of can feeding, righting, and filling mechanism may be thrown out of operation by raising the proper sleeve 150, as previously described. I

ld hile I have shown the preferred form of my invention it will be understood that minor changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangements of the various parts of the machine and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the specificconstruction and arrangement of parts as shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

As shown in Fig. 2-11, the sprocket wheel 122 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 12 and has formed therewith the clutch member 122 which is resiliently retained in engage ment with the clutch member 187 by means of the coil spring 188 bearing against the opposite face or" the sprocket wheel 122, one end of said spring being engaged. against the flange 189 formed on the outer extremity of the shaft 12, as clearly shown in 1; 1e drawings. It will be understood that the clutch member 187 is rigidly mounted upon the shaft 12 and owing that the clutch member 122 1 the sprocket whee gement 3 forwardly and thereby engage the clutch member 81 with the clutch .member 83 to cause the chain 50 to again move and carry the filled can away from clogged in the hoppers and operation of the turret 13 retarded ortemporarily prevented, thereby eliminating all danger of breaking these parts.

'VVhat I claim is 1. A machine of the characterdescribed comprising a main hopper, a lower feed hopper, anintermediate hopper, means in the main hopper for feeding material to the, intermediate hopper, a spout carried by the feed'hopper, feeding means in the feed hopper, means carried by the intermediate hopper for depositing material from the main hopper to the feeding means and preventing clogging of the same, a table beneath the spout, a valve for the spout, means for placlng a can upon the table, means for raising the table when a can is placed upon the same to present said canto the spout, means for opening the valve and starting operation of the feeding means upon upward movement of the table, said table being adapted to move downwardly with its can after the same has been filled from the spout of the feed hopper, means for closing the valve, and means for stopping operation of the feeding means, and withdrawing the can upon return of the table to normal position. 2. A machine of the character described comprising a feed hopper, a spout depending from the said hopper, feeding means within said hopper and extending into the upper end of the spout, an endless can conveyer beneath the spout, means for feeding cans to the conveyer, a table in the path of the can conveyer and beneath the spout, means for supporting the table, an equalizer bar connected with the table, latch mechanism for retaining the equalizer bar in its uppermost position, means for stopping movement of the can conveyer as a can upon the same is brought to position above the table, means for releasing at this time the latch mechanism, and thereby allowing the equalizer bar to drop and raise the table with the can upon the same to bring the can to the mouth of the spout, means for starting operation of the feeding means upon downward movement of the equalizer bar, the table being adapted to be returned to its normal position by the weight of the material fed to'the can, the downward movement of the table causing the equalizer bar tobe returned to its uppermost position, means whereby the return of the equalizer to its uppermost position will prevent further operation of the feed screw and again start operation of the can conveyer to withdraw the filled can from upon the table and bring another can into position.

3. A. machine of the character described comprising a feed hopper, feeding means within the hopper, a spout at one end of the feed screw and having a reduced lowerend, a main frame member, a vertically movable table within said frame member, a can conveyer adapted for movement over the tables to bring a can into position above the latter, an equalizer bar connected with the table, means for retaining the equalizer bar in inoperative position, a valve for the spout, a dog for operating the valve, said dog being normally out of engagement with the valve, a pair of trigger bars to either side of the can conveyer and adapted to be separated by a can brought therebetween by the conveyer as the can reaches the table, connections between the dog and trigger bars, connections between the trigger bars and the means for retaining the equalizer bar in inoperative position, whereby as the can passes between the trigger bars the equalizer bar will be released and the dog will be thrown into position to engage the valve and open the latter, said equalizer bar when released being adapted to move downwardly and raise the table to engage the can with the reduced end of the spout, means for oper ating the feeding means to feed material to' the can while the latter is engaged with the spout, said table and can being adapted to a move downwardly after the latter has been filled and return the equalizer bar to normal position, and means for starting operation of the can conveyer to withdraw the filled can-and bring another into position upon return of the table to its lowermost position. i

4. A machine of the character described comprising a feed hopper, a spout depending from the feed hopper, a table beneath the spout, a can conveyer movably engaged over the table, means for feeding cans to the conveyer, means for righting each can as the same is fed to the conveyer, an engaging fingers carried by the conveyer causing the cans to move with said conveyer, a main frame member, the table and conveyer being mounted in the main frame member, means for stopping operation of the conveyer as a can upon the same is brought to position above the table, means for raising the table as a can is brought to position above the same to present theopen end of the can to the feed spout, and means for filling the can from the spout of the hopper, said can and table being adapted to be caused to move downwardly by the weight of the material and can after the latter has been filled, the downward movement of the table causing the conveyer to again operate to withdraw the filled can and, bring another into position.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a main hopper and a feed hopper, means for supplying material to the eed hopper from the main hopper, means or returning to the main hopper any exessive amount of material deposited upon the means for supplying material to the feed hopper and thereby preventing clogging of the feed hopper, a spout for vthe feed hopper, a can conveyer beneath the feed hopper, a table beneath the spout and inthe path of the can conveyer, means for operating the can conveyer, means for feeding cans to the can conveyer, guide rails for the cans, said conveyer being adapted to deposit the cans in succession upon the table, means for causing upward movement of the table and stopping operation of the conveyer operating means when a can is-placed upon the table, the upward movement of the table causing the upper end of the can to engage with the spout, means for opening the spout and feeding material from the feed hopper to the can by way of the spout when said can is engaged therewith, the table being adapted to move downwardly with the can when the latter is filled, and means for again throwing into operation the conveyer operating means and closing the spout when the can and table return to normal position.

6. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting framework, an

endless can conveyer mounted in said framework, means for feeding cans to one end of the endless conveyer, a plate positioned in the path of the endless c'onveyer, an-equal-- izer bar connected with said plate, means for looking the equalizer bar in its uppermost position whereby the plate will be normally retained in its lowermost position, a hopper above said plate, a spout depending from said hopper, a valve for said spout, said conveyer being adapted to deposit the cans in succession upon the plate, can guiding means above and to either side of the plate, eonnections between the equalizer bar locking means and the can gulding means, whereby the equalizer bar Wlll be released as a can travels between the can guiding means, the

nected with said plate, a can guiding means to either side of said plate and mounted on the framework, means for locking the equalizer bar in its uppermost position, means for operating the endless conveyer, a hopper above the plate, a spout for said hopper, a valve for said spout, operating means for said valve, connections between the can guiding means and the means for locking the equalizer bar in its uppermost position,

connections between said can guiding means and the valve operating means, and connections between the opposite portion of the can guidingmeans and the conveyer operating means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto, affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses. FRANK M. WRIGHT.

' Witnesses:

J. E. Jnnnnves, Eva E, LINHARD.

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