US1264844A - Vacuum sealing appartus. - Google Patents

Description

E. NORTON 6( L. C. KRUIVHVIEL.

VACUUM SEALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION F|LD1UNE29.1914.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

mmm 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

E. NORTONL l.. C. KRUMIVIEL.

VACUUM SEALING APPARATUS.

APPLlcATloN FILED JUNE'29. |914.

6%44h Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wf/ig. Ng

A gp,

E. NORTON L I.. C. KRUIVIIVIEI..

VACUUM SEALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZS. 1914.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N ill wm M f NI@ @liromwg I. E. NomoNvLiL. `c`.KRuI\/|MEL.

VACUUM sEALINGAPPAR/Ius. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. |914.

` I I Patented A151130, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

` .6W Wip.

Snom/toc @M MW l illustration one embodiment 'of the inven- UNITED STATES PATENT'A orrrcn.

EDWIN NORTON, OF PAGET WEST,

BERMUDA, AND LOUIS C. KR'UMMEL, OF BROOKLYN,

NEW YORK;l SAID KRUMMEL ASSIGNOB. TO PERFECT VACUUM CANNING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Al CORPORATION OF MAINE.

VACUUM SEALIN G APPARATUS.

To all 'whom z't may concern:

Be it known that we, Enwnv NORTON and `Louis C. KRUMMEL, citizens of the United States, residing at Cedar Lodge, Paget West, Bermuda, and vBrooklyn, in thecounty of Kings, State of New York, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Sealing Apparatus, of which'the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

The invention relatesto new and useful improvements in machines for closing cans or containers, and more partlcularly to machines wherein the air is exhausted from the which includes means for exhausting the-air from the can or container, and means for closing the 'can or contalner while 1t 1s stlll connected with the vacuum creating means,

which rotating support is also fed with ther cans or containers during the continuous travel thereof. These and other'objects will in' part be obvious, and will in part be hereinafter morefully disclosed.

In the-drawings, which show by way of tion,

Figure 1 is a view partly in section' and partly in side eleva'tlon, showing an apparatus embodying our improvements.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through theupper part of the apparatus.y

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the vsupportingv table and the path of travel of the conlSpeciication of Letters Patent. Patented Apr.. 3U, llgl; Application filed .Tune 29, 1914. Serial No. 847,980.

tainers durin the exhausting of the air and the closing o the same.

fFlg. 4 is a detail showing the upper end o chamber in contact therewith.

Fig. 5 is a similar View, showing the aperture, in the container closed.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the valve in one of the vacuum pipes.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the tripping pin for the valve which controls the vacuum.

Fig. .8 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale 'showing the upper part of 4the supporting post and the various devices supported thereby.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the 'valve for controlling the vacuum.

The invention consists generally in providing an apparatus in which the containers to be closed are received by a continuously traveling support, with which are associated separate y operating sealing chambers and solder heating devices, so that thecans may be fed in succession on to the traveling support, and during the travel of the support,

the container in section and the sealing p the air is exhausted from each can or 'cony tainer, after which the aperture formed therein isfclosed by solder or otherwise.

Thesealing chamber is so constructed as to engage the end only of the container and surround the aperture through which the l.air is exhausted from the container. Said sealing chamber is provided at its lower end with a bell-shaped elastic member which engages directly the'end or outer wall of the container, so that the atmospheric pressure on said rubber wall will tend to form a tight joint between the same. Each sealing chamber is provided with a the vacuum chamber, and a valve in the pipe is operated in timed relation to the travel of the support and container, so that the air is exhausted from the container after which a soldering iron melts the soldersurrounding the aperture in the container,so as to close the aperture, and after the aperture pipe leading to is closed and the solder cooled or set, the

tact with the container` so it may be dis-v charged from the traveling support.

The apparatusalso lincludes devices Whereby'the pipe leading from the vacuum creating means to each vacuum chamber is held closed-unless a can is presented to the closing device, and devices are also provided for releasing the vacuum in the vacuum chamber subsequent to the raising ofthe vacuum chamber from contact with the can or container.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, the invention consistsjn an apparatus for closing containers, which ispreferably provided with a supporting j base 1,V from which rises a vertical post 2, around which a table or support `3 is rotate'd. This support 3 is carried by a sleeve 4, which surrounds the fixed post 2, and said sleeve 4 at its lower end carries a gear which meshes with a worm gear on the main shaft 5.- The main'shaft 5 may be driven by a suitable belt wheel 6. 'The rotation ofthe main shaft will cause the support 3 and the sleeve onv which it is mounted to rotate about the central fixed' post 2. This support 3 fis preferably drlven at a uniform speed and movescontinuously. The containers 7 to be closed, are preferably of the type shown in detail in Figs.y 4 and 5.

Thecover 8 yor upper end of the container is seamed on to the same in any desired way, and said cover has an aperture 9- through which the airv may exhausted from the container. A protecting cap 10 is preferably secured to the under face of the cover, di-

rectly beneaththe' aperture 9, and this cap` isformed with suitable openings, so as to permitthe .air to be exhausted through the aperture 9,. but prevents any solid floating parts in the container from contacting with the aperture, so as -to prevent a proper exhaustinglof the air. y

Solder is preferably used for closing the container, and as shown in Fig. 4, the solder disk 11 is attached to the cover, and is per-` forated so that the aperture through the solder is in alin'ement with the aperture in the cover. It is obvious however that solderA may beffed to the tipping iron instead of being applied to the cover of the can.

The containers to be closed are fed to the rotating support 3 inthe present embodiment of the invention, by a rotating drum 12, which is provided` with a spiral thread 13 projecting slightly above a support 14 on which the'containers are placed, and alon'g which support the containers are fed. This drum may be rotated by a lsprocket chain connection 15 with the main shaft 5. The containers may be fed to the drum if desired, or placed lon the support 14, and will be conveyed along the same in proper timed relation to the travel of the support 3so they may be forced on.'to the traveling supportl by the thread on the drum.

r The traveling support 3 is provided with suitable gages to properly locate the containers in spaced relation to one another thereon. The present apparatus is designed so that there are twelve independent sealing chambers and solder heating devices, each of which travels with the travelin support 3. The sleeve 4 on which the trave ing support 3 is mounted, also carries a head 16, which has laterally projecting arms supporting a web 1T. The web 17 carries a series of bearings 18 and 19.

The sealing chamber for each closing device is formed of a sleeve 20, which is journaled in the bearing 18. This sleeve 20 at its lower end is threaded to receive an open cage or head 21. A glass sleeve 22 rests against a washer at the lower end of the sleeve 20, and an elastic bell-shaped member 23 restsa ainst the lower edge of said glass sleeve. T e cage 21 has a flange 24, which engagesthe rubber or elastic member 23 and presses the same against the glass sleeve, and theglass sleeve in turn against the packing washer at the lower end of the sleeve 20. This cage 21, as. herein l shown, has two tached to the central post 2 of the apparatus. e A set screw 33, and feather, may be used for this purpose. The head 30 carries a roller 34, which runs in a groove 35 in a cam ring 36, which cam ring is also rigidly fixed to the collar 37, which is mounted on the head 30, and this permits the head to rotate freely in the collar as the gear 31 rolls about the stationary gear wheel 32.

The hub 16 rotates with the traveling table and this causes the bearings 18 and 19 to travel, and the sealingchamber and rod 29 will travel with said hub and bearings. As the head 30 is moved relative to the fixed cam ring 36, the roller 34 will travel along the cam .groove in said ring. This groove is so proportioned aseto raise and lower the rod 29.

A collar 38 is fixed to the rod 29, and a spring 39 is interposed betweensaid xfed `collar and a screw cap 40 threaded into the gear wheel 32. The roller 34 is carried by a aaeaeaa to engage the upper wall of the sleeve 20, and when the rod 29 is raised, sald sleeve 2O will be raised therewith. When the rod 29 is is depressed, however, the sleeve 20 will move .downward therewith until the arms 26 engage the topl of `the container, whlch will lnnit the downward movement of the sleeve and permit the rod to have a `further downward movement compressing the spring 39..

.5 When the cage 21 rests on the upper end of the container, the elastic" member 23 w1l1 be forced against the upper'end of the con-` tainer, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This rubber section, as above noted, 1s bellshaped, and isprovided with a thin edge.

` The atmospheric pressure on the outerface of this rubber member when the air is exhausted from the sealing chamber, assists `inl forcing said thin `edge of the rubber member against the container top, and forms a tight sealing joint.

The rod 29 at its lower end isv formed with a tipping iron 42. This tipping iron is electrically heated, and is so positioned relative to the container that when itis moved downward by the cam roller 35,11t will contact with the solder surrounding the aperture,

lthe collar 51 and this ring at and meltthe same. causing the aperture to be closed, as clearly shownv in Fig. 5. 30

The tipping iron 42 is electrically heated. @ne of the Vwires 43'leading to the tipping iron is connected to the metal work of the machine or apparatus for the return line 0f the current; while the other wire 44 leads upward throughthe head and is connected v to atermina'lf45, which in turnisl connected to a collar 46. This collar 46` is mounted on a sleeve `47 of insulating material. A second collar 48 also mounted on said sleeve contacts with the rst collar 46.V This second collar 48 is attached to a rod 4 9, and the vcurrent :tor heatingthe tipping iron is supp plied through ,this rod. This connection permits the head with the y'tipping l,rod t0 be rotated'. The sleeve 20'formingthe seal` ing chamber does not rotate with the tipping rod, but moves up and'down in timed relation to the reciprocations of the tipping rod. I f

50. This sleev ei"s' threadedA onto A lcollar 51, having a cone against the lower face ofV the the post. face=is seated sleeve 50 and `a .suitable packing is placedbetween these parts in order to make a tight joint. Aring 52, which is also cone shaped, .seats against rests on a collar 53, which isseated on `the shoulder at the upper end of the post. The" ring 52 turns freely on the post and is provided with 12 openings.

threaded into each openingand extends radially from the post, and overhangs the cam disk carried by the gear wheel At the upper end fo'ifthepost 2 is a sleeve n ed on to tube 16, andlcloses its lower side A pipe i 54 is l The outer end of thepipe 54 is connected by apipe 55 to the pipe 28. This 'pipe 55 has a flexible section 55a. vThe center of the post is formed with a chamber 2, and each oftheopenings in the ring is connected to this chamber 2a by means of a port 2b.

e vacuum chamber 2a? 'in the post is connected through a suitable dotted lines in 'Fig.g1, to a pump. Each pipe 54 is providedfwitli a valve 57. This valve is shown in 'detailfi-n Figs. 6 `and 9. Said valve 'is cone-shaped, and is held seated by a spring 58. The valve is turned by a double lever'59. Mounted on the fixed cam ring is, an adjustable pin 60 which isposi'- tioned so as to engage-tbe double lever or member 59 andopien the valve. similar pin is mounted on said cam ring and positioned so as 'to close the valve. The valve casing 57 is also provided with an outlet port 57a which leads :to the atmosphere.

e cone valve rot'atingflin the casing is a' threeway valve, havingvv ports a,` b and c.

When the valve is inthe-position shownfin Fig. `9, the 'vacuum chamber is connected with the vacuum apparatus s'o that the can or container will When the pin for closing the valve strikes the -double lever 591, it will swing the cone A mosphere prior'to .the raising ofthe head so as to move vthe chamberout of contact with the can or container.

A tube 61 is threaded into the upper'end ofthe post and connects with the chamber formed in said post. A ber disk 62 is mounted on said tube. A metal disk 63 rests on the liber disk, and is insulated from Athe tube by a sleeve 64 of insulating material. A second `metal disk 65 lrests on the disk 63, and a fiber disk 66 is clamped against the metal disk 65 by a nut 67.

The rods 49 are threaded into the metal `disk 63 and this metal disk turns with the e combined sealing and closing hub and t devices. he metal disk is held from turning, and is connected to a suitable source of electricity. A vacuum gage 68 is threadthe outer end of the same.

lin order to "control the" vacuum chamber so that when there isno can the vacuum pipe will not be open'to the atmosphere, the pipe 28 is connected with a sleeve 69 which contains a valve operated by an arm arm '70 is pivotally connected with a rod 71 which slides in a bracket 72. The

rod ex- Another' leading to the atpipe 56, shown in tends through the cage and a coil spring 7 3, bearing at one end against the bracket 72 and at the other end against a collar on the rod normally forces the rod downward. When the head descends on to the can body, the rod projects below the cage so as to strike the can body and be raised before the cage yengages the can body. This raising of the rod turns the valve in the pipe 55 so as to open the pipe and permit free access between the vacuum chamber and `the vacuum creating device when the valve 57 is opened. The lifting of the head will permit the spring 75 to move the rod downward and close this valve so thatif no can is placed underneath the head thepvacuum pipe 55 vwill-not beopen to the atmosphere, even though the valve 57 be turned by thel rotation of the support so as to connect the pipe 55 through the pipe 54.- with the vacuum creating means.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the above description. The

illedcontainers are fed by the drum .on to the rotating table. As the table rotates, the cam groove in the fixed cam ring will force the roller lldownward, and this will lower the sleeve 20 and carry the cage intol `contact with the kupper edge of the container, and at the same time carry the iexible rubber ring into contact with the cover about the central aperture therein.- By the V devices above described, if there is a can underneath the head, then the vacuum chamber contained inthe head will be connected with the pipe 55 so that the can may be placed under vacuum. As the table continues to rotate, the valve-operating lever 59 comes into contact with the pin 60, which opens the pipe and allows the air to be exhausted from the container. After the air is' fully exhausted from the container, a further downward movement of the rod 29 carries kthe tipping iron into contact with the solder surrounding the aperture in the container, and said solder will be melted and caused to closethe aperture. The sleeve 20 in maintained under a vacuum until the l solder is cooled' or set, after which it is raised by the upward movement of the tipping iron.

Before the vacuum head is raised, the valve 57 strikes thesecond pin above referred to which closes the pipe between the valve and the suction creating means and opens the pipe'28 through the valve to the atmosphere. It will thus be seen that the apparatus includes devices which exhaust the vair from the container during the continued travel of the same, and also includes devices for closingthe aperture in the container subsequent to the releasing of the container from the vacuum pressure.

The gear wheel 32 is of suicient width to permit the gear wheel 31 to reciprocate with the tipping iron and still maintain its tion, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A vacuum sealing apparatus comprising a continuously traveling support for receiving apertured containers, means for feeding said apertured containers onto saidsupport during the travel thereof, and means associated with and moving with said traveling support for exhausting the air from said containers :and for closing the apertures therein, said last-named means includinga `closing head having a vacuum chamber, said head beingv adapted to engage the end ofthe container about said aperture, devices for placing the vacuum chamber under vacuum and whereby said vacuum chamber may be opened to the atmosphere prior to the moving of the vacuum chamber out of contact with the end of the container, and a tipping iron located in said vacuum chamber. l s

2. A vacuum sealing apparatus comprising a continuously traveling support for receiving apertured containers, means for feeding said apertured containers onto said support during the travel thereof, means moving with said traveling support for exhausting the air from said containers and for closing the apertures therein, said means including a closing head having a vacuum chamber, means for moving said head into contact with the end of the container about its aperture, exhausting the air from the container and withdrawing the same from contact with the container during a single rotation of said support, a tipping iron for sealing the containers, means for heating said iron, and means for moving said tipping iron into and out of contact with the aperture in the container after the air has been exhausted from the container and prior to the opening of the vacuum chamber to the atmosphere.

3. A vacuum sealing apparatus comprising a continuously traveling support for receiving apertured containers, means for feeding said apertured containers onto said support during the travel thereof, means moving with said traveling support for eX- hausting the air from said containers and for closing the apertures therein, said means including a closing head having a vacuum chamber, means for moving said head into rality of combined sealing and closing devices mounted on and moving with lsaid support, each of said devices including a sleeve movable up and down relative to the support, said sleeve having a chamber therein, and a member at its lower end adapted to engage a container about a central aperture therein, a pipe connected with the chamber in said sleeve for exhausting the air therefrom, a valve in said pipe, and means for automatically operating said valve during the travel of the hub for opening and closing said valve.

5. A vacuum sealing apparatus comprising a supporting base, a fixed post carried thereby, a sleeve rotatingabout said post', a table carried by said sleeve, a hub fixed -to said sleeve and carrying a support, a

plurality of combined sealing andclosing y devices mounted onl and moving with said lili ing a supporting base,

support, each of said devices including a sleeve movable up and down relative to thesupport, said sleeve having a chamber therein, and a member at its lower end adapted to engage a container about a central aperture therein, a pipe connected with the chamber in said sleeve for exhausting the air therefrom, a valve in said pipe, means for automatically operating said valve during the travel of the hub for opening and closing said valve, a tipping iron extending into said sleeve for closing the aperture in said container, and means for heating said iron.

6. A vacuum sealing apparatus comprisa fixed post carried thereby, a sleeve rotating about said post, a table carried by said sleeve, a hub fixed to said sleeve and carryingla support, a plu sealing and closing derality of combined a hub fixed to y said sleeve and carrying a support, a pluvices mounted on and moving with said support, each of said devices including a sleeve movable up and down relative to the support, said sleeve having a chamber therein, and a member at its lower end adapted to engage a container about a central aperture therein, a pipe connected with the chamber in said sleeve for exhausting the air therefrom, a valve in said pipe, means for automatically operating said valve during the travel of the hub for opening and closin said valve, a tipping iron extending into said sleeve for closing the aperture in said container, and means for heating said iron, a fixed cam, a head connected to said iron and having a roller engaging said cam for reciprocating said iron, said iron having means for positively raising for yieldingly depressing the same.

7. A vacuum sealing apparatus comprising a supporting base, a fixed post carried thereby, a sleeve rotating about said post, a table carried by said sleeve, a hub fixed to said sleeve and carrying a support, a plu-- rality of combined sealing and closing devices mounted on and moving with said support, each of said devices including a sleeve movable up and down relative to the support, said sleeve having a chamber therein, and a member at its lower end adapted to engage a container about a central aperture therein, a pipe connected with the chamber in said sleeve for exhausting the air therefrom, a valve in said pipe, means for automatically operating said valve during the travel of the hub for opening and closing said valve, a tipping iron Aextending into said sleeve for closing the aperture in said container, means for heating saidI iron, a xed cam, a head connected to saidL iron and yhaving' a roller engaging said cam for reciprocating said iron, said iron having means for positively raising the sleeve and for yieldingly depressing the same, and means for rotating said iron.

ln testimony whereof, we affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN NORTON. LOUIS C. KRUMMEL. Mr. Nortons witnesses:

GRACE P. BRERETON, G. B. WRIGHT. 4 Mr. Krummels witnesses: @SCAR M. S'rnvns, AGNES KRUMMEL.

the sleeve and'

Images