US1319534A - Dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

W. P. ROBERTSON.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-28,1917.

1,15%, Patented 0012. 21,1919.

, OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. ROBERTSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN'OR TO THE CALOREX. CORPORA 'IION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. COMORATION OF NEW YORK.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.,

Application filed February 28. 1917. Serial No. 151.477.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM P. ROBERT- SON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of New York, in 'the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dispensing Devices, of which the following is a full description.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices of the type adapted to dispense a measured quantity of dry material such as flour, malted milk, sugar, spices, etc, and the objects of the invention .are to provide a simple and effective device of this character, in which a measured quantity of the material may be dispensed by the movement of a simple lever, and in which all the parts of the device will cooperate together to effectively perform the functions required of them.

The invention comprises the improved construction hereinafter described in detail in the following specification and the accompanying'drawing, showing an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device with certain portions cut away, and shown in section to better illustrate the various working parts of the device.

Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the device, the front casing being removed to show the working parts.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged truncated view of the means for regulating the amount of material to be dispensed, and showing the disposition of the spring operating the spring operated elements or parts.

Fig. 4 is a smaller view of the regulating means, viewed on the opposite side of the casing to Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the agitating; means placed in the lower sections of the hopper or container and engaging the screw oonveyer.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

In Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents the container for holding the material to be dis-- pensed, with a removable top. 2 represents the inner lOWer walls of the container converged to form an entrance into the tubular outwardly extending compartment 3, which tubular compartment has a discharge spout or outlet 4E.

as to receive other connecting elements hereinafter described.

The lower outer walls of the container 1 are flared or widened, in the sides parallel to the extension of compartment 3, as shown by dotted lines 5, 5 Fig. 2, to form a flat base that rests in the metal supporting plate 6, which latter has an under projecting plug or extension that fits into a socket in the upright or stanchion 7, being held securely thereto by the clamp screw 9.

The upright 7 is attached to a suitable base 8. The supporting plate, upright and base-plate may, of course, be made in one piece if desired while, with the construction as shown, the supporting plate may be attached to other means than shown for holding the device in secure operative position.

Placed within the compartment 3 is a screw spiral or worm conveyor 10, which may be freely revolved therein. The conveyer is supported within the compartmentcircular metal disk 12, attached to a plate 13,.

which latter is firmly attached by suitable means to the back face of the supporting plate 6.

Both ends of the screw conveyor terminate in circular disks, numbered respectively 14: and 15, which prevent the material conveyed from the container from passing to the bearings ofthe shaft 11.

Attached to the front of compartment- 3 is a metal casing 16, a circular metal disk 17 extends from the side of this casing and fits within the inner circumference of the front opening of compartment 3.

Attached to the casing 16 and extending back in both sides of compartment 3 are members 18 and 18. One being shown clearly in Fig. 1 and the other 18 by dotted lines in Fig. 2. These mem' ers rest upon the upper surface of the supporting plate 6 and are attached thereto by suitable screws, as shown. 7

It will thus be seen that the casing 16, with attached circular disk 17 through which the front end of the shaft 11 passes, are thus securely attached to the various other elements of the device before described.

To the front end of the shaft 11 is attached a small gear 19, which meshes with an internal toothed gear 20. On the opposite side of the gear 20, and forming a part thereof, is attached a ratchet 21. The gear 20 and the attached ratchet 21 revolve loosely upon a shaft 22, which latter is firmly attached to the backplate of the easing 16. A

Revolving loosely about the shaft 22 is a small gear 23 having a hub 24, to which is firmly attached, in the side next to the ratchet 21, an arm or projection 25, to which latter is pivoted a pawl 26, by means of a pin 26.

The pawl 26 isso set that it engages the teeth of the ratchet 21, when the arm 25 and the hub and gear to which it'is made a part, are moved from left to right, the pawl 26 being held in position to engage the teeth of the ratchet 21, bymeans of small sections of spring wire attached to the upper bend of the pawl, the detached end of said wire abutting against one side of the arm 25.

It will thus be seen that when the gear 23 is moved from right to left the pawl 26 slides over the teeth of the ratchet and does not take hold.

Firmly secured to a boss 27 attached to the back wall of the casing 16 (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3), and to the left side wall of said casing, as viewed in Fig. 2, is a shaft 28 in which pivots a supporting member 29 for the part circular rack 30, the teeth of which engage the gear 23. This is shown plainly in Fig. 2, and part of the rack supporting members in Fig. 3, but this part of the device has' been cut away by sectioning in Fig. 1.

The rack supporting member 29 is made up of several parts, which will be made clear by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. Attached to a hub 31, which revolves .upon the shaft 28 'is an upper arm 32 and a.lower arm 33.

These arms are attached to the rack 30 in the hub side of the gear 23, therefore when the rack 30 is in the upper position, as shown in Fig. 2, it is evident that the lower arm 33 engages the lower face of the hub 24, and when the rack is in the lower position, the arm 32 engages the upper face of the hub 24.

Thus the rack can be moved up and down within the limit of the spread of the arms 32 and 33.

The supporting member as it extends beyond the rack is formed with a curved edge as shown in Fig. 2, and is farther extended outward to form a handle piece 34, to which is attached a handle 35, supported by a pin 36. Attached to the arm 32 and passing around the shaft 28 is a spring element 37 which is firmly attached at its lower end, by suitable means, to the side walls of the casing 16, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

This spring keeps the rack 30 in its normal upward position which is fixed by the lower arm 33 engaging with the lower face 'of the hub 24.

It will be. evident that if the upward movement of. the rack 30, through the tension of the spring 37, can be stopped at predetermined points, the effective range'of the rack 30 in revolving gear 23 can be varied. I accomplish this by the following means:

Attached to the hub 31, Fig. 3, are two projecting lugs, numbered respectively 38 and 39. Fitted on top of the boss 27 and engaging the inner side wall of the casing, is a slide piece 40. This slide piece is held in position with respect to the boss and casing wall by means of a small plate 41 on the opposite side of the casing wall from the side piece, by means of a screw passing through the plate 41, through a narrow slot 42 in the casing and thence into the side piece 40, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

By means of the screw head 43, the side piece 40 may be clamped and held firmly in various positions in the upper face of the boss 27 or hub 31, these positions being indicated by points marked in the face of the casing, as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that by moving the side piece 40 a suflicient distance to the left, on the hub 31, it will engage with the lug 39 on the up motion of the rack 30, and this position will be shown by the indicating point, marked two, in the casing.

Fig. 3, by moving the side piece 40, still farther to the left, lug 38 will be engaged, on the up motion of rack 30, and this position will be shown by the indicating point, marked one, in the casing, Fig. 4.

I have provided means for opening and closing the discharge spout 4, in Fig. 1, upon the down stroke of the handle 35. A gate 44 fits over the mouth of the spout 4, when inv closed position, this gate is provided with a rounded neck 45, through which a pin 46 passes, and is supported by the proper bearings attached to the lower inner face of the casing 16. Thus, when the neck 45 is relieved of pressure, the gate 44 will assume by gravitya normal vertical position, and the discharge spout will be open.

To place the gate 44 in closed position, pressure must be applied to the top of the curved neck 45. I provide for this purpose an L-shaped member, one arm of which 47, rests on the top of the curved neck 45, arm 47 is attached to a short shaft 48, this shaft is supported by and pivots in a bearing 49, attached to the inner side wall of the casing 16. (See Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.) The Attached also to the shaft 48 is a vertically disposed arm 51, the upper end of which is provided with means for engaging the outer curved face of 29 when the rack 30 is moved (downward by means of the handle 35.

Spring 37 is extended over as 52 to 'rest on top of the arm 47, which thus depresses the neck 45 and closes the gate 44.

The mechanism contained within the casing 16 is fully incased and held in position by the front casing 50, which fits about the casing 16. The shaft 22 in passing through the front casing 50 is threaded to receive the tightening screw head 53.

A slot is provided in the casing, through which the handle 34 passes, of sufficient length to permit free action of therack 30.

In handling material, such as malted milk, which easily packs, and has a tendency to cake or cling, means for agitating the material contained in the discharge end of the container 1, are provided and in the form of a rod 54, Fig. 5, to each end of which is firmly attached a strong resilient wire, respectively 55 and 56, the ends of which are bent upward and outward, to take the slope and to rest against the inner walls of the discharge end of the container 1, as shown in Fig. 1.

Attached to the rod 54 and spaced between the wire supports 55 and 56 are wires formed in the manner as shown in Fig. 5. Attached to the rod 54, midway between the supporting wires 55 and 56, is firmly attached a bar of'resilient metal 57 which is of sufficient length to be engaged by the screw conveyer 10. When the conveyer 1 0 is operated, the bar 57 is sprung in the direction of the motion of the conveyer until it slides ofi one face of the conveyer to have the action re peated by the next face.

The wires attached to the rod 54 being of a springy nature are thus kept in vibration and thus assist in keeping all material in motion toward the conveyer when the conveyer is rotating.

. The operation of the device will be as follows:

A receptacle to receive the dispensed material having been placed under the discharge spout 4, the handle 35 is depressed, which thus depresses the rack 30, and as the rack 30 meshes with the gear 23, this gear will be rotated from left to right, through the action of the pawl 26, in ratchet 21, thus the small gear 19 meshing with the internal teeth of the gear 20 will be caused to rotate from left to right and at a speed greater than the gear 20, as the circumference of the gear 20 is larger than that of the gear 19.

As the gear 19 is attached to the shaft 11 of the screw conveyer 10, the latter will be rotated from left to right and will therefore, as it has a right hand pitch, convey toward the discharge spout 4, and discharge therein or therethrough, the material that discharges into compartment 3 from the container 1.

In depressing the rack 30 by means of the handle 35; after the rack has moved approximately one-half its full distance downward, the outer edge of the supporting member 29 engages with the arm 51 causing this arm to move a suiiicient distance to the right to lift the arm 47, this lifting the spring 52, which releases the pressure upon the neck 45 causing the gate 44 to drop open by gravity.

It will be evident that on depressing the supporting members of the rack 30, that the spring 37 will be placed under tension, therefore, upon releasing the handle 35, the rack 30 resumes its normal (or predetermined) upward position, the pawl 26 slides over the teeth of the ratchet 21, and no motion therefore is imparted to the gear 20, gear 19 or to the conveyer 10, furthermore the arm 51 resumes its normal upright position through the tension of the spring 52 acting upon the arm 46 which depresses the neck 45 and thus closes the gate 44.

To provide a free flow of material from the container into the conveyer compartment, agitating means, operated by the motion of the conveyer, are placed in the lower section of the container, an effective form' of such means, thoughl do not confine myself to this form, is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5. As the conveyer 10 rotates, it alternately flexes and releases the resilient or springy arm or bar 57, which imparts to the wires attached to the rod or bar 54 (Fig. 5), vibrating motion, which motion is imparted to the material in the container, keeps such material loosened up, and thus assists its ready flow into the conveyer or compartment.

It will be evident from the foregoing de-' 'scription that the amount of material discharged upon each full downward stroke of the handle 35 will depend upon the diameter and throw (or pitch of the screws) of the conveyer and the number of revolutions imparted thereto.

The number of revolutions of the conveyer will therefore be limited by the length of the rack 30, acting through the chain of gears as shown and described.

The maximum action of the rack will give the maximum discharge through the spout 4, and furthermore the amount discharged at each full operation of the rack will be approximately the same.

If the effective action of the rack be therefore shortened, a less amount will be discharged at each operation. I have therefore, provided means for simply and quickly varying the efiective action of the rack 30 by arresting its upward movement at predetermined points, these points being the starting points for the downward and effective action of the rack.

The means thus employed are shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which the lug 39 is so placed in the hub 31, that when the slide piece 40 is moved in position to engage this lug, the rack can only move upward twothirds of its maximum movement; upon being depressed, therefore, the effective action in the conveyer, through the gears, will only be two-thirds of the maximum, and the amount of material discharged will only be two-thirds of the maximum.

By sliding the slide piece 40 a farther dis- .tance along the hub 31, the lug 38 may be engaged, and this lug is placed in such a position on the hub 31 as will cut off a further one-third effective range of the rack 30, and one-third of the discharge, as explained above with reference to lug 39.

The degree of regulation is shown in a dial or scale, located in the casing, as shown in Fig. 4. Any degree of regulation can be provided depending upon the number, and proper positioning of lugs placed on the hub 31, and the regulation can best be effected when the rack 30 is in its full downward position.

The gate is always closed inall three regulations shown and only opens in the last effective third of the rack.

As many changes could be made in the above description and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention within the scope of the claims constructed, without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a dispenser and in combination, a container adapted to contain the material to be dispensed, a feeding worm adapted to feed material from the container, an agitat ing member in ,the container including a spring arm adapted to be engaged and moved by the worm, said arm being adapted to spring over the edge of the worm.

2. A dispenser having in combination a container for the material to be dispensed, a screw conveyer adapted to discharge material from the container, an agitating member within the container comprising elements of spring wire that may be set in vibration and a projecting spring arm attached thereto and adapted to loosely engage the screw conveyer and be set in vibration thereby when the screw conveyer is rotated.

3. In a dispenser, the combination with a screw conveyer of vibratory agitating means, adapted to be'engaged and set in vibration by the screw.

4. In' a dispenser, the combination with a screw conveyer of vibratory agitating means loosely engaging the screw and adapted to be set in vibration by the same when turned.

5. In a dispenser, the combination with a screw conveyer of an agitating device with spring wires having portion thereof extending into the screw conveyer and adapted to be engaged and set in Vibration thereby.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM P. ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. RYAN, PATRICK J. OHAGAN.

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