US1210403A

US1210403A - Can-filling machine.

Info

Publication number: US1210403A
Application number: US1040315A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Blake
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-02-25
Filing date: 1915-02-25
Publication date: 1917-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 1934-01-02

Description

n E RQQEPTACLES.

G. W. BLAKE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPucmoN msn H3925. 1915.

1,210,403. Pat'ented Jan. 2, 1917.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Sig Z .ACH 4 f/ 45 45 Q I 25 F 45 o f, T2/M0 499 465 -i im 'Iglu 155 l 59 @mw/Mio@ 9@ Ceofgew @I0 IXe,

Y PORTABLE RE CEPTACLES.

G. W. BLAKE.

CAN HLLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,191.5 1,210,403. Patented Jan, 2,1917.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@unaniem Sum/W PTACLES G. W. BLAKE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25, IsIs.

7u 1 N4. IT 2n .w mi TW.. drm es Lma e l au DI.

L www 'Ing IIIIIIII IIII QIII IIIII Qcorgew. @la Ie,

ance/wmf awr num; prrns w.. morbumo.. msmnamn. nin

LGSING POR'I'ABIB RiibvlAvLL-.m M I G. W. BLAKE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, Isls.

1,210,403, Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

" FORTABLE REcEpTAcLEs,

G. W. BLAKE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED rEB.25, 1915.

1,210,403. Patented Jan. 2,1917.

8 SHEETS-SHEET E.

-I, RTABLE RECEPTAGLES:

G. W. BLAKE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1915* 1,210,403e I Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

j@ IO.

- 'M i ILM @i .Il l

3mm/whole eorgew '310km G. W. BLAKE.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. I9I5.

l ,2 l @,463 Patented Jan. 2, 1'917.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

gwoon/tez QOeW. lalie.,

wams rnns eo.. pnumuma.. msmnzran, n c' ABLE RECEPTAMLEE r' i1 PemABLE RscEprAcLEs.

.Qi-...-w ...mais ATENT Frio.

CAN -FILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Application led February 25, 1915. Serial No. 10,403.

To all lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. BLAKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Wyandotte, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This is an improvement of the filling machine disclosed by Patent No. 740,735 granted to me Oct. 6, 1903, and besides having the same objects in view as d isclosed by my -prior patent, the present 1nvention aims to provide a filling machine for expeditiously and economically lhng cans or receptacles with any kind of powdered, granulated or disintegrated material, and in the general make-up of the machine, the parts are constructed with a view of reducing the cost of manufacture and at the same time retain features by which accuracy, a minimum waste, durability, simplicity and ease of fabrication are secured, the machine intermittently delivering a plurality of filled cans or receptacles that can be easily removed, closed and otherwise prepared for the market.

My invention further aims to provide a novel filling machine wherein agitators and vibrators of novel construction are compactly arranged and controlled to insure perfect filling of predetermined quantities of material and the various instrumentalities and coperative elements of the machine are assembled to insure a perfectly balanced structure that is highly efficient for the purposes for which it is intended.

My invention in its broadest aspect involves positive and reliable means for feeding agitated material into a plurality of measures or fillers, each having an individual capacity regulator, and these measures or llers are automatically shifted to deposit the contents thereof into cans or receptacles properly positioned and pneumatically vibrated whereby each can or receptacle will be properly filled.

The principal elements of the inventionnamely, the main frame and power shaft, vibratory frame and its actuating mechanism, main reservoir and the agitator thereof, measuring transfer fillers and individual capacity regulators, residue collector, vertical reciprocatory can holder and its actuating mechanism, pneumatic vibrators for the can holders, positioning fingers and operating mechanism, can receiving tray and buffer,-together with a summary of the operation-will be hereinafter separately and specifically described in detail, together with the novel arrangement and objects accomplished from such a combination of elements.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein-Figure 1 is a vertical sec tional View of the filling machine; Fig. 2, is a horizontal sectional View, taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1, illustrating in particular the can positioning fingers and the receiving tray; Fig. 3 is a similar View taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1, illustrating in particular the measuring transfer fillers and individual capacity regulators; Fig. 4L is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the machine taken on the line IV- IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of the machine showing the main reservoir; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the machine showing the reservoir, the agitator' therein and a measuring transfer filler; Fig. 7 is a plan of a portion of the machine illustrating the can positioning fingers, buffer and a portion of the can receiving tray; Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of a portion of the machine illustrating the residue collector, can positioning fingers, and reciprocatory can holders. Fig. 9 is an enlarged hori- Zontal sectional view of the machine, taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a transfer plate adapted to form part of the machine; Fig. 11 is a similar View of a portion of a channel casing, Fig. 12 is a perspective View of a portion of a capacity regulator. Figs. 13, 1i and 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating different positions of the rocking agitator of the machine, and Fig. 16 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine, showing the actuating means of the rocking agitator'.

In describing my invention by aid of the views above referred to, I desire to point out that I intend the same as merely illustrative of an example whereby my invention may be applied in practice, and I do not care to limit the invention to the eXact construction shown. The following description is therefore to be broadly construed as including substitute constructions and arrangements of parts which are other source of power.

the obvious equivalent of those to be hereinafter referred to.

Main frame and power shaft, (Figs. 1 and 4.)-In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 denotes side frames connected by eye beams 2 and by a horizontally disposed top plate 3. The rear and forward edges of the side frames 1, at the upper ends thereof, are provided with bearings 4 and adjustable in said bearings are screw bolts 5 fo-r increasing and decreasing the tension of coiled cushion springs 6 on said bearings. |The forward edges of the frames 1 at the upper ends thereof, are provided with brackets 7 connected by a transverse rod 8. The side frames 1 are cut away, as at 9, to provide clearance for certain operating mechanism and said side frames have inwardly projecting bearings 10 for a transverse drive or power shaft 11, said shaft having an end thereof provided with a belt or other power transmission wheel 12, whereby the filling machine can be operated from a motor or The outer sides of the frame 1, contiguous to the lower edges thereof, are provided with lugs 172 and adjustable in said lugs are screw bolts 173 adapted to be locked in adjusted position by nuts 174.

Vibratori; frame and its actuating mechamsm, (Figs. 1, 4 and 8.)-The outer sides of the frame 1 are out away as at 13 to provide guides for vibratory frames 14 which are retained in the guides by plates 15 connected to the outer sides of the frames 1. The upper ends of the vibratory frames 14 provide side walls 17 having inwardly projecting fianges and 176, the flanges 175 supporting a top plate 18 and the flanges 176 supporting a base 16, said top plate and base coperating with the walls 17, a rear wall 19 and a front wall 20 in providing a box like structure. The forward end of the box like structure rests upon the front cushion springs and the rear end of said structure is provided with bearing brackets 21 resting upon the rear cushioning springs 6. The bearing brackets 21 are provided with bearings 22 for a transverse shaft 23 and the ends of said shaft have sprocket wheels 24 over which are trained endless sprocket chains 24a passing under sprocket wheels 25 on the ends of the power shaft 11. Contiguous to the sprocket wheels 25 are toothed wheels 26 and engaging said wheels are case hardened inwardly projecting contact members 27 carried by the lower ends of the vibratory frames 14. As a matter of good construction these contact members are detachable whereby they can be hardened or renewed when worn. When power is applied to the shaft 11, the frames 14 are vertically reciprocated and the box like structure at the top of the machine is vibrated, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The front wall 20 is slidable between the base 16 and the top plate 18 and said front wall has a handle 177 and a slot 178 one end of which is open. The outer side of the wall 20, adjacent the slot 178 has guides 179 for an apertured slide 180, which is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The vibratory frames 14 are limited in their downward movement by the screw bolts 173 carried by the main frames 1.

Main, reservoir and the agitator thereof, (Figs. 5, 6, 13, 14, 15 and 16.)-The top plate 18 of the box like structure is provided with a transverse trough 28 having inclined side walls approximately half the depth of the box like structure, and communicating with this trough is a main reservoir 29 having the end walls thereof provided with longitudinally alining

openings

30 and 31, while the front wall of the reservoir has a slide 32 which facilitates the installation of a rocking agitator within the reservoir. The agitator comprises

shafts

33 and 34 extending through the

openings

30 and 31 respectively and journaled in supports 35 on the top plate 18. Upon the

shafts

33 and 34, within the reservoir and in proximity to the end walls thereof, are

cross heads

36 and 37. The cross heads 36 are fixed to the shaft 34 and the ends of said cross heads are provided with pivoted hangers 37L connected, as at 38 to the upper edges of agitator plates 39. These plates are arranged in parallelism and each plate is apertured, as at 40 and eut and stamped to provide staggeredly arranged agitators 41, some of which project from one side of the plate and some from the other. The lower edges of the plates are slitted, as at 42 to provide diverging agitators and extending through the endmost agitators are the ends of the cross heads 37 ,1 which are loose upon the shaft 33. To prevent accidental displacement of the lower ends of the agitator plates, the ends of the cross heads 37 are provided with transverse pins 43. Secured to the shaft 33 and extending into the trough 28 are spaced inverted V shaped agitators 44, and outside of the reservoir 29 is a coupling member 45 connected by adjustable links 46 to rods 47. The rods 47 are pivotally connected as at 48, to a cross head 49 upon the shaft 34. The ends of the shaft 33 have cranks 50 terminating in stirrups 51. One leg of each stirrup 51 is longer than the other and constitutes a retaining member, designated 52, which prevents the crank 50 from becoming accidentally displaced relative to the actuating mechanism. The crank 50 is adapted to be operated and impart a rapid movement to the

shafts

33 and 34, consequently the agitator plates 39 will be vertically reciprocated within the reservoir 29 and agitate the contents thereof, precluding any possibility of the powdered material solidifying or cloge vnaarmate RECEPrAcLEs,

ging the trough 28. In some instances, when granular materia-l is placed in the reservoir, the agitators tend to disintegrate the same and place the material in a better condition for packing purposes.

Measuring transfer jllers (mtl mlz'm'dual capa-city regulators, (Figs. 1, 3, 6, 10, 11 and 12.)-The walls 17 forming the box like structure are longitudinally slotted, as at 53 and connected to lugs 54 at thev outer sides of the walls 17 are parallel rails 55, one of which conforms to a V-shaped tongue 56. This tongue prevents lateral displacement of a transfer plate 57 slidable between the rails 55 and horizontally disposed in the box like structure to normally close the lower end of the trough 28. The transfer plate 57 has the side edges thereof provided with trunnions 58 and on said trunnions are pitmen, 59 connected by eccentrically disposed wrist pins 60 to the outer sides of the sprocket Wheels on the shaft 23. The trunnions 58 are also engaged by the crank 50 associated with the agitator of the main reservoir. The transfer plate 57 has a depending front wall 61 and this wall is provided with rearwardly extending integral pockets 62 and the upper and lower ends thereof are open. Adjustable in the pockets 62 are capacity regulators, comprising heads 63 having concave sides coperating with the walls of the pockets in forming co1npartnients that are can shaped. The heads 63 have forwardly extending top and

bottom tongues

64 and 65 slidable in groo-ves 66 provided therefor in the top and bottom of a transverse channel casing 67 secured to the front wall 61 of the transfer plate 57 by screw bolts 68 or other fastening means. The channel casing 67 is partitioned and the rear wall thereof is provided with openings 69 to receive socket members 70 carried by the heads 63. The rear wall of the channel casing 67 is also grooved, as at 71 to receive the partitions forming the walls of the pockets 62, thereby bracing the dividing walls of the pockets. The channel casing 67 has a detachable front wall 72 and rotatable in said wall are a plurality of screw sockets 73 corresponding in number to the heads 63. The outer ends of the screw sockets 73 are provided with rods 74 having hand wheels 75, said rods being of a suflicient length to permit rotation thereof at the forward sides of the machine. The inner ends of the screw sockets 73 are provided with screws 76 connected to the socket members 70, as at 77, whereby when one of the rods 74 is rotated, the head 63 controlled by said rod can be advanced or retracted in its pocket, thereby regulating the capacity of the same.

By reference to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the pockets 62 and the capacity regulaters thereof are disposed at a slight angle relative to the channel casing 67, consequently when the transfer plate 57 is reciprocated, the upper and lower ends of the pockets will have a wiping action at the bottom of the trough 28 and upon the base 16 of the box like structure. This wiping action is essential since the machine has been primarily designed for placing caustic soda, chlorid of lime and other moisture absorbing matter in cans. The chemical properties of caustic soda are such that it becomes sticky, hard to handle and has a tendency to cake. F or this reason the capacity regulators are disposed at a slight angle relative to the channel casing 67 whereby caustic soda or similar matter can be worked or wiped off of the base 16 of the box like structure, and not pushed back and forth, which would cause the caustic'soda to cake and interfere with the operation of the machine. lVhen the transfer plate 57 is reciprocated, through the medium of the pitmen 59, the pockets 62 receive material from the trough 28 and the measured quantities of material are transferred to openings 7 8 in the base 16. These openings are in communication with chutes 79 connected to the bottom of the base 16, as at 80. The chutes are en bloc and the lower ends thereof are provided with spouts 81 surrounded by a gasket 82. Resting upon the transfer plate 57 is a follower plate 83 and the rear edge of this plate is beveled as at 84 and held in engagement with the lower beveled edge of the trough wall by coiled retractile springs 85 connecting said follower plate to the trough wall. The follower plate is provided with a plurality of cylindrical air chambers 86 having the lower ends thereof open to communicate with the pockets 62, whereby said pockets can discharge into the chutes 79. The upper ends of the air chambers 86 extend through the top plate 18- and are provided with caps 87 having closures 88. The air chambers prevent a partial vacuum from being formed in the pockets 62, and the closures 88 are only closed during a cessation in the operation of the machine, said closures being otherwise opened to admit air to the chambers 26. The forward edge of the follower plate 83 has bolts 89 extending through the top plate 18 and encircling said bolts, between the top plate 18 and the follower plate 83 are coiled compression springs 90 which firmly seat the follower plate upon the transfer plate 57 as the same is shifted forwardly to deposit the contents of the pocket 62. The rods 74 extend through the apertured slide 180 of the box like structure. The bottom of the channel casing 67 has openings 181 adapted to register with openings 182 in the bottom tongues of the head 63, said openings permitting of the interior of the channel casing being flushed and thoroughly cleansed. The top and bottom walls of the channel casing 67 have the inner sides thereof provided with longitudinal ribs 183, best shown in Figs. 4 and 11, said ribs providing a purchase for fastening means employed in retaining the front wall 72 in engagement with the channel casing.

Residue collector, (Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 9.)- The base 16 of the box like structure is provided with a transverse trough or housing 91 and longitudinally of said trough is a spiral feed screw 92 which has the ends thereof journaled in the frames 14. One end of the feed screw 92 is provided with a small sprocket wheel 93 and trained over said sprocket wheel is a sprocket chain 94 that passes under a sprocket wheel 95 on an end of the power shaft 11. An end of the trough or housing 91 is in communication with an elbow 96 provided with a down pipe 97, and any material that accumulates upon the base 16 is swept into the trough or housing 91 by the rear walls of the pockets 62 on the front wall 61 of the transfer plate 57. rThe residue is collected and returned to the reservoir 29.

Vertical reciprocable canl holder and its actuating mechanism, (Figs. 1, 4, 7, S and 9.)-The inner sides of the frames 1 are provided with oppositely disposed vertical guides 98 for the ends 99 of a carrier 100. Beneath the ends 99 of the carrier are adjustable screws 101 supported from the side frames 1 for limiting the downward movement of the carrier 100. The top of the carrier, at the ends thereof, is provided with posts 102 in the form of screw bolts and movable upon said posts is a horizontally disposed can holder 103. The can holder 103 is yieldably supported by coiled compression springs 104 encircling the posts 102 and with these pos-ts in the form of screw bolts, said bolts can be adjusted to correctly position the can holder relative to the chutes 79. The can holder 103 is normally supported at the forward edge of the top plate 3, whereby said can holder can receive empty cans or receptacles from said top plate. The rear edge of the can holder 103 has a detachable stop 105 and the upper edge of this stop is beveled whereby the can can be readily pushed over the same, but said stop is adapted to prevent a rear movement of the cans by positioning fingers, that will be hereinafter referred to. Liners can be interposed between the stop 105 and the can holder 103 whereby the can holder will accommodate cans or receptacles of various diameters. The carrier 100 is provided with sets of depending apertured lugs or bearings 106 for revoluble anti-friction rollers 107 normally engaging cams 108 mounted upon a shaft 109, journaled in bearings 110 carried by the inner sides of the frames 1. The shaft 109 has a sprocket wheel 111 and trained over said wheel is an endless sprocket chain 112 extending under a sprocket wheel 113 upon the power shaft 11. The cams 108 are shaped to provide a dwell of the carrier 100, whereby cans or receptacles held by the can holder 103 will be in position beneath the chute 79 to receive material conveyed thereto by the measuring transfer fillers. It is through the medium of the adjustable posts 102 that the tension of cans or containers against the gaskets S2 of the chutes 79 is regulated to insure a positive connection between cans and the chute. It is through the medium of the detachable stop 105 that the cans cannot become accidentally displaced upon the can holder due to crowding of cans upon the tray.

Pneumatic vibrator for the can holder, (Figs. 1, 4 and 9.)-Extending through one of the side frames 1 is an air supply pipe 114 which has the opposite end thereof closed and supported by the other side frame. rlhe air supply pipe 114 is provided with a manually controlled shut olf valve 115 and with an automatically controlled valve 116, which may be a gate valve or any type that may be easily actuated. This valve has the stem thereof connected to a lever 117 fulcrumed upon a bracket 118 secured to one of the inwardly projecting bearings 10. The lever 117 extends over the power shaft 11 and is actuated by a small cam 119 on said shaft. The cam 119 'intermittently opens and closes the valve 116, and the air supply pipe 14 is provided with connections 120 for sections of hose 121 or other flexible conduits. The sections 121 are connect-- ed to pneumatic vibrators 122 suspended from the can holder 103 and extending through openings 123 provided therefor in the carrier 100. The pneumatic vibrators are of the conventional form having reciprocable pistons which jar the vibrators; when air is admitted to the same, said vibrators impart a vibratory movement to the can holders. Since the pneumatic vibrators 122 are of the conventional form, it is apparent that other types of vibrators, for instance electric, can be used for vibrating cans upon the holder while the same are receiving material from the chute 7 9. The vibrating of the yieldable can holder coperates with the vibrating of the box like structure of the machine in causingcaustic soda and similar material to properly fill a can, and when handling caustic soda it is necessary to continually keep the same in motion to prevent it from adhering to any part of the machine and also to properly pack the caustic soda in the can.

Positioning fingers ami their operating mechanism, (Figs. 1, 4, 7, S and 9.)-The top plate 3 is provided with parallel guides 124 and at the inner sides of said guides the `ride into engagement with the walls of cans 5 1" l UKLABLJ; muy. itu-...W

top plate 3 has longitudinal slots 125. Slidable between the guides 124 and over the slots 125 is a slide 126 provided with depending lugs 127 extending through the slots 125. Loosely connected to the lugs 127 are. the upper ends of arms 128 mounted upon a rock shaft 129 journaled in bearings 130, carried by the inner sides of the frames 14. The rock shaft 129 is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 131 and adjustable upon this arm is a weight 132 said arm and weight retaining the slide 126 in a retracted position. This retracted position is defined by a screw bolt 133 and a jamb nut 134 carried by a hanger 135 of the top plate 3. The lower ends of the arms 128 are beveled and engaged by cams 136 on the power shaft 11, said cams shifting the arms 128 whereby the slide 126 is moved forward. The slide 126 has a front wall 137 and connected thereto by screw bolts 138 and lock nuts 139 is a pusher head 140. When the slide 126 and the pusher head thereof are in a retracted position, there is clearance upon the forward edge of the top plate 3 for cans or receptacles which are fed on to the top plate 3 from a shelf 141 at the side of the machine and to prevent the end of the pusher head from interfering with the movement of cans on to the top plate 3, an end of the pusher head 140 is anged, as at 142. The pusher head 140 is provided with bearings 143 for fingers 144, said fingers having the forward ends thereof beveled or pointed to readily or receptacles and correctly position the same. The rear ends of the lingers 144 extend through openings 145, provided therefor in the front wall 137 of the slide and said fingers are pivotally connected, as at 146 to links 147. These links are pivotally connected to cranks 148 of a rock shaft 149 journaled in bearings 150, carried by the rear edge of the slide 126. One of the cranks 148 is connected by a coiled retractile spring 151 to the front wall 137 of the slide 126, said retraetile spring retaining the fingers 144 normally extended, and to retract said fingers, the rock shaft 149 is provided with a curved crank 152 having a roller 153 adapted to impinge the bracket 154, carried by the base 16. As the slide and pusher head thereof are retracted to permit of cans being placed upon the top plate 3, the roller 153 impinging the bracket 154 shifts the fingers 144 forward and said fingers correctly position the cans upon the top plate preparatory to the same being pushed on to the can holder 143. The lingers 144 are exchangeable whereby sets of fingers can be used that will permit of cans of various diameters being correctly positioned upon the can holder.

0cm receta/ng tray and buffer, (Figs. 1,

2, 3, 7 and 8.)-The front edge of the carrier 100 is provided with a plurality of slotted brackets 155 for a transverse rod 156, said rod having a vertical adjustment through the medium of set screws 157 carried by the brackets 155. The rod 156 supports the slotted depending portions 158 of

adjustable tray walls

159, 160 and 161, the

walls

159 and 161 forming the outer sides of the can tray and the wall 160 providing a central partition. These walls have the outer ends thereof loosely mounted upon the rod 8 connecting the brackets 7 of the side frames 1. Connecting the

walls

159, 160 and 161, above the rod 156 is a tie rod 162, this tie rod being in a plane with the rod 8. The

rods

8 and 162 support partitions 163, said partitions and said walls having portions extending above the cam holder 103. Between the

walls

159, 160, 161 and the partitions 163 are bottom rails 164 of less depth than the walls and partitions, thereby providing runways onto which cans or receptacles are pushed by the pusher head 140. The bottom rails, walls and partitions are suitably spaced through the medium of sleeves 164a and nuts 165. The tray wall 161 is of less length than the

walls

159 and 160 and hinged or otherwise secured to the rear end thereof, as at 166, is a buffer 167 yieldably held in longitudinal alinement with the wall 161 by a compression spring 168. The buffer 167 has a contact piece 169 and said contact piece is adjusted through the medium of screws 170 held in engagement with the buffer 167 by lock nuts 171. The buffer extends over the top plate 3, and as shown in Fig. 2, said buffer limits the movement of cans or receptacles into the machine correctly positioning the same in front of the pusher head 140.

Summary of the operation-The cams 136 impart movement to the slides 126, and cans having been previously shifted on to the top plate 3 from the shelf 141, the pusher head 140 engages said cans and the fingers 144 move between the cans and properly position the same as said cans are shifted on to the holder 103. The cams 108 elevate the carrier 100 and the can holder 103, placing the cans upon the holder in engagement with the gasket 82 of the chutes 79. During this operation the slide 126 has receded and the ngers 144 have been withdrawn by the roller 153 impinging the bracket 154. While the cans are held in engagement with the gasket 82, the cans receive material from the pocket 62 of the transfer filler, the cans being vibrated whereby they are completely filled. The air chambers 86 break any vacuum in the pockets 62, thereby allowing material to readily descend into the chutes 79 and the cans beneath said chutes. It is during a retractile movement of the transfer fillers and the partial forward movement of the same that the agitators 44 are rocked in the trough 28 and the agitator plates 39 vertically reciprocated within the reservoir.

This is best shown in Figs. 13 to 16 in- 10 actuation of the agitator, by reason of the trunnions 58 sliding under the retaining members 52 of the cranks 50. rIhe retaining members hold the cranks 50 whereby when the transfer filler recedes or moves rearwardly beneath the trough 28 the trunnions 58 will engage the short legs of the cranks 50 and rock the agitators to such positions shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The oscillatory movement of the agitators, to and from the walls of the trough 28, prevents the trough from being packed. As some materials, such as caustic soda, are sticky and have a tendency to clog the reservoir and trough, it is necessary that the material be agitated, and

to prevent the material between the reservoir and trough from over crowding the pockets 62 of the transfer fillers, the follower plate 83 is employed.

During the above operation the cans are placed upon the top plate 3 and immediately upon the can holder being lowered, the slide 126 is again actuated causing the pressure head 140 to shift the filled cans on to the tray and the empty cans on to the can holder, and after the machine has been regulated for a predetermined material and cans of a certa-in size, it is only necessary for an attendant to supply the cans to the machine, although conveyers of a conventional form can be employed for carrying cans into the machine and from the trays thereof.

`What I claim is 1. In a can filling machine, the combination with main frames, vibratory frames and means for vibrating said vibratory frames, of a box like structure carried by said vibratory frames, a reservoir carried by said structure, an agitator in said reservoir, measuring transfer fillers in said structure, means for moving said fillers beneath said reservoir, and means actuated by a movement of said filler moving means to operate said agitator.

2. In a. can filling machine, the combination with main frames, vibratory frames, and means for vibrating said vibratory frames, of a box like structure carried by said vibratory frames, a reservoir carried by said structure, a rocking agitator in said reservoir, measuring transfer fillers in said structure, individual capacity regulators for said fillers, and means for simultaneously rocking said agitator and moving said llers beneath said reservoir.

3. In a can filling machine, the combination with main frames, vibratory frames, and means for vibrating said vibratory frames, of a box like structure carried by said vibratory frames, a reservoir carried by said structure, vertically reciprocating agitator plates in said reservoir, mgavsnring transfer fillers in YLsaid?,structure, individual ca'jciteglatirus for said fillers, means extending through the front wall of said structure for adjusting said regulators, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said agitator plates and moving said fillers beneath said reservoir, said means allowing said fillers to move independently of said agitator plates at predetermined times.

4. In a can filling machine, the combina- .tion with main frames, vibratory frames,

and means for vibrating said frames, of a structure carried by said vibrating frames, a reservoir carried by said structure, a rockinxgagitixtor iIwly SjglgQroir, reciprocating agitator plates in said reservoir actuated by said rocking agitator, measuring transfer fillers in said structure, and means for simultaneously rocking said agitator and moving said fillers beneath said reservoir.

5. In a can filling machine, a vibratory box like structure, means for vibrating said structure, a reservoir carried by said structure, an agitator in said reservoir, measuring transfer fillers in said structure, means operable at an end of said box like structure for moving said fillers beneath said reservoir, and means actuated by a movement of said filler moving means for operating said agitator.

6. In a can filling machine, a vibratory box like structure, means for vibrating said structure, a reservoir carried b v said structure, reciprocating agitator plates in said reservoir, measuring transfer fillers in said structure, individual capacity regulators for said fillers, means for moving said fillers beneath said reservoir, and means actuated by a movement of said filler moving means in one direction for reciprocating s aid agitator plates.

7. In a can filling machine, a vibratory box like structure, means for vibrating said structure, a reservoir carried by said structure, an agitator in said reservoir, measuring transfer fillers in said structure, individual capacity regulators for said fillers. means extending through the front wall of said structure for adjusting said regulators, means for moving said fillers beneath said reservoir, and means actuated by a movement of said filler moving means in one direction for operating said agitators.

8. In a can filling machine, frames having a top plate, wnholder means adapted for filling cans on the canqhdlder, and means adapted for moving cans on to and off of said holder, said means comprising a slide on the top plate of said frame, a pusher head carried thereby, cam actuated means for moving said slide forward, and means brought into action by a forward movement of said head for correctly positioning cans on said holder.

9. In a can filling machine, frames having atop plate, a can holder, means adapted for filling cans on the holder, and means adapted to position the cans on said holder, said means comprising a slide on the top plate of said frame, a pusher head carried thereby, reciprocable fingers normally protruding from said pusher head, and cam actuated means for moving said slide forward upon said top plate.

10. In a can filling machine, frames having a top plate, a can holder, means adapted for filling cans on the holder, means adapted to position cans on said holder, said means comprising a slide on the top plate of said frame, an adjustable pusher head carried thereby, reciprocable fingers normally protruding through said pusher head, cam actuated means for moving said slide forward upon said top plate, means adapted to retract said slide, and means actuated by a retractile movement of said slide to retract said fingers.

11. In a can filling machine, frames having a top plate, a can holder, pneumatic vibrators for said can holder, means adapted for filling cans on the holder, means adapted for moving cans on to and ofi' of said holder, said means comprising a slide on the top plate of said frames, movable fingers carried thereby, and cam actuated means for moving said slide.

12. In a can lling machine, a can holder, vibratory chutes above said can holder, air chambers above said chutes, and means movable between said chutes and said air chambers adapted to deliver matter to said chutes.

ll' 'caurfilligiirer can positioning mechanism comprising a reciprocable pusher head adapted to move a plurality of cans, fingers protruding through said head to properly space cans, and means actuated by a rearward movement of said head to retract said fingers whereby cans can be placed in front of said head from one end thereof.

14. In a can filling machine, a vibratory box like struct-ure, a reservoir carried thereby, and measuring transfer fillers reciprocable in said structure and disposed at an angle thereto to have a scraping action on the base of said structure.

15. In a can filling machine, a. vibratory box like structure, a reservoir carried thereby, measuring transfer filler reciprocable in said structure and disposed at an angle to have a wiping action on the base of said structure, and a rngyoleresidue collector in said structure.

16. In a filling machine, a reservoir, movable fillers below said reservoir adapted to receive material therefrom, reciprocating agitator plates in said reservoir, a rocking agitator in the bottom of said reservoir and adapted to impart movement to said reciprocating agitator plates', means for moving said fillers, and means carried by said rocking agitator engaged by said filler moving means to impart movement to the rocking agitator.

17. In a filling machine, a reservoir, movable fillers below said reservoir adapted to receive material therefrom, reciprocating agitator plates in said reservoir, a rocking agitator lin the bottom of said reservoir and adapted to impart movement to said reciprocating agitator plates, means for moving said fillers, and means carried by said rocking agitator adapted to be engaged at predetermined times by said filler moving means to operate said rocking agitator.

18. In a can filling machine, a vibratory box like structure, means for vibrating said structure, a reservoir carried by said structure, an agitator in said reservoir, a measuring transfer filler in said structure, means for moving said filler beneath said reservoir, and means actuated b-y a movement of said filler moving means to operate said agitator.

19. In a can filling machine, a vibratory boX like structure, means for vibrating said structure, a reservoir carried by said structure, a rocking agitator in said reservoir, a. measuring transfer filler in said structure, a capacity regulator for said filler, and means for simultaneously rocking said agitator and moving said filler beneath said reservoir.

20. In a can filling machine, a vibratory box like structure, means for vibrating said structure, a reservoir carried by said structure, an agitator in said reservoir, a measuring transfer filler in said structure, means operable at an end of said boX like structure for moving said filler beneath said reservoir, and means actuated by a movement of said filler moving means for operating said agitator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. BLAKE.

Witnesses ANNA M. Donn, KARL H. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.