US1530516A - Container feed valve - Google Patents

Description

March 24, 1925. 1,530,516

A. K. RARIG CONTAINER FEED vALyE Filed April 19. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 24. 1925. 1,530,516

A. K. RARIG CONTAINER FEED v'ALvE Filed April 19. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l graue n to; 'Q/'rfferz'y,

wf Mw@ ffnung Patented Mar.` 24,V 1925.

AALEXANDER x. mais, or' sAN raANcIsco, cuiromrn.

CONTAINER FEED VALVE.

. Application Med Api-i1 19 1924. Serial No. 707,758.

To all 'l1-:hom haag concern:

B e it known thatl I, ALEXANDER' f RARIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of` San Fran-4 cisco and State of California, have invented new-.and useful Im rovements in Container Feed Valves, of w ich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can feed valves'- for canning machines, and particularly to feed valves of that type. designed f or introducing cans or other containers into and discharging them from a processing chamber, such as a steam pressure cooking chamber 5 or vacuumizing chamber, in which the inlet and outlet of the" chamber shouldbe kept sealed against the loss of steam or ingress of air during the passage of the cans therethrough. A

. One object of my invention is to provide a feed valve, i. e., a combined feeder and valve, that can be operated at a high rate of speed without jamming the cans or otherwise -injuring them or marring their surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to pro.-

vide an oscillatory valve of 180 movement type which on each half oscillation will effect the delivery of a can or container.

e Still another object of the linvention is to provide operating means of simple, reliable and efiicientvcliaracter for actuating the valve and can ejecting means associated therewith at properly timed periods.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichz' Figure 1 is a top .plan view of a can feed valve embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a' view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

-v Figure 6 is a view of the ejector actuating cam and parts operated thereby.

Figure horizontal section -on' line is a detail section through the upper head of the valve casing, showing the upper drum bearing.

igure 8 is a similar viewv through the lower head of the valve casing, showing the lower drum bearing.

Figure 9 is. -a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure 8. 1

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view Killustrating the operation of the drum actuating means on one-half oscillation ofthe drum. Figure 11 is a companion view to Figure 10 illustrating the action 'of the throw cranks of the ejector actuating means on the same half oscillation ofthe drum.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view -illustrating the action of the throw cranks `and gear segment in the motionv of the working parts shown inv Figure 11.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are viewsv similar to Figures 10, 11 and 12, illustrating the actions of the drum actuating means, throw crank actuating means, throw cranks and gear segment on the remaining half revolution of the drum.

In the practical embodiment of my invention as herein disclosed, I'provide a feed valve comprising a circular casing 1 having an integral to head 2 and a detachable botl tomhead 3, t e latter being secured in position by any suitable type of fastening means. its diametrically opposed side walls with4 openings 4- and 5 of a size for the passage of a can or container of any intended diameter or diameters. Either one of these openings may be employed as an inlet and the other as an outlet, accordingly asthe valve is intended for use as an injector valve or discharge valve. In the presentinstance the valve is shown as constructed for use as an injector valve, being provided for such purpose with a -neck forming'a passage communicating with the openin 45, and which neck is designed in practice to be hermetically secured to the wall of a chamber 7 fra mentarily shown, having an inlet opening t rough which the` cans are introduced into such chamber. Thisl chamber may be a steam heated cooking chamber or a vacuumizing chamber, and the neck 6 may receive one end of a conve or or other intermediate transfer. device or conveying the cans from the outlet of the injector valve to a cooking drum or seami'ng machine with- Tliis casing is' formed in two ofv in thechamber. yBy simpllly reversing the working position of the v ve dis sing the neck 6 for communication with the inlet 4, the device may be employed as an ejector valve for discharging the cans or containers from the outlet of the chamber, without in any manner varying the construction or operation of the working parts of the valve device. It is therefore to be understood that the subject-matter of the appended claims covers a valve device designed for either injecting or ejecting purposes and for use with steam cooking, vacuumizing or other like chambers which are to be .suppliedwith articles to be treated andin which the inlet or exit passages of the chamber or both, are to be kept sealed inst the ingress or egress of air, steam or ot er fiuids while the cans are being fedthereinto and therefrom.

-Disposed Awithin the casing 1 is an 0m11- I latory drum 8, having an oscillatory motion in an are of 180 and provided at diametrically opposite sides thereof with peripheral can receiving seats, pockets or lrecesses 9 and 10, each having a bottom can supporting wall and which are alternately movable by .the oscillations of the drum into and out of register with the openimlr 4 and 5. Tlie'drum is provided at to and bottom with stub shafts 11`and 12 Journaled. in anti-friction bearings 13 and 14, which are'loosel -iitted for adjustment in openings 15 an .16 in the heads 2 and 3 of the casing 1. Set in the walls of the casing 1 ad'acent to the outlet is a wear liner 17 of abbitt metal or other suitable comparativel soft metal, against which the adjacent si ve of the drum 8 bears. In the use of the valve in connection with a vacuuniizing chamber, the suction pull due to the vacuum in that chamber draws the drum tightly against the liner 17 so as to seal the opening 5 against the ingress of air, whereby a high degree of vacuum in the vacuumizing chamber may be.

obtained. Set screws 18 mounted upon the heads 2 and 3 areprovided for engagement with the bearings 13 and 14 for adjusting the same inthe openings and 16 to regulate the ressure of the drum under the suction pul against the wear liner 17, whereby any undue binding action may be prevented and a tight sealing action. at the same time maintained. v

Fixed to the stub shaft 11 isa gear 19 with which meshes a gear segment 20 suitably mounted upon the top of the casing 1 and which is alternately movable in opposite directions to communicate oscillatory motion through the ar 19 to the drum 20, whereby the drum wil first be turned in one direction from, for example, the positiony shown in 4Figure 3, to reverse theposition of the pockets 9 and 10 and cause them to respectively register with the outlet 5 and inlet 4, i

, however, or

- outlet 5i for the disc ar shown as disposed to receive a can or container introduced throu h the inlet 4 and adapted throu h a half oscillation of thev drum 8 to be rou ht to register with the of the can or container through said out et, in which operation the pocket 9, which as shown in Figure 3 registers with the outlet 3, is moved into registry with the inlet 4 to receive acan, the res ive pockets on the subsequ t or remaining half oscillationof the drum ournaled upon one side ofthe casing 1 is a drive shaft 21 designed in practice to ieceive continuous rotar motion in one direcf tion from any suita le source of ower. Fixed to the upper end of this sha t is a crank arm 22 carryin a. wristpin 23 to Which'is pivotally coup ed one end of a connectingl rod 24. The opposite end of this rod is provided with a slotted portion 25 slidably and pivotally engaging a wrist pin or stub 26 fixed u n the gear segment 20. On one half revolution of the shaft 21 the connecti'n lrod 24 is moved in one direction ent 20 1n one directo shift t e ear se tion, and on t e remaining half revolution of the shaft 21 the connecting rod 24 is moved l revolution of the sha-ft in the shifting of the rod from the end of one working action across its dead center position to the beginning of its next working action, the drinn 8 remains at rest lfor an'interval suiicient for the reception of a can into its pocket wliichis in receiving position and the ejection of a can from its pocket which is in discharge position.

A reciprocating double ejector 27 is provided for alternately ejectmg the cans .or containers from the pockets 9 and 10. This ejector comprises a bar having opposite end can engaging surfaces 28, said ar being slidably mounted in a guideway extending across the drum between the inner ends of in shifted back again to the positionishown ig" iis the pockets 9 and 10 for reverse shiftin and the dotted line The segment` 30. fits Within a recess in the bottom 'of the drum and `is heldin position by a detachable head 32, secured lto the drum body by any suitable type of fastening means, and which head carries the lower stub shaft 12. Thev shaft 31 extends downward through this head- 32 into *the space between it and the casing head 3 and has fixed to its lower end an actuating lever 33 provided with oppositely extending arms 34 and 35. l

The arms 34 and 35 are adapted for cooperation respectively with engaging pins 36 and 37 upon crank throw arms 38 and 39 fixed to shafts 40 and 41 journaled in and extending downwardly through the head 3 ofthe casing, the throw arms 38 and 39 being disposed in the space between the heads 3 and 32 for rocking movements between inactive and active positions to respectively engage the'lever arms 34 and 35 and thereby transmitting reverse swinging movements to the segment 30. The arms 38 and 39 normally lie when inactive radially to the axis of the drum 8, as indicated by the full line position of the arm 39 in -Figure 3, and said arms are movable outwardly on their working motions to the full line position of the arm 38 and dotted line position of the arml 39 shown in Figure 3, .which also shows yin full and dotted lines `the working movements of the lever 33 in' the working movements of said arms 38 and 39.

The mechanism for operating the throw side of the head 3, and coupled at `the opposite side of its base by a llnk 49 to a connecting rod -50 connected at its ends by cranks 51 and 52 respectively to the lower ends of the shafts 40 and 41 of the throw arms 38 and 39. The rocker arm 47 is alternately movable in opposite directions by the cam portions 43 and 44 to alternately shift the throw arms 38 and 39 back and forth on their working and return motions, the successive actuations of the throw arms 38 andI 39 occurring during the time periods when the drum 8 is at rest between periods of half oscillation, the roller 46 travelling idly in the cam groove portion 45 after each movement of the throw arms. 38 and 39 and during the period when the drum 8 is making a half oscillation. Provision is thus made for the shifting of the ejector 27 in a osition of the arm 38'ai1d` proper direction to discharge a can frornthe rum pocket which. is in discharge posltlon, at the time when the drum is at rest and the other pocket is in receiving ositon.-

The workin operation o thc parts will be readily un erstood by reference 'to the diagrams, Figures 10 to 15, inclusive. Figure 10 shows the drum and drum operating means substantially as shown in Figure 1 with the exception that the crank 24 and rod 22 appear in full lines in one vof their dead center ositions between intervals of operation an in dotted lines the arrangement of the parts when about to reverse the v movement of -the.-drum. Figure 10 also shows the ejector in the reverse position to that shown in Figure 3 and with a can A positioned to enter the pocket'9 and a can -about to be lejected from pocket 10. Fi ures 11 and 12 show the corresponding f il and dotted line positions of the-ejector operating means. In thetravel of the crank 24 and r0d"22 fromf the full line tothe dotted line positions in Figure 1()A the stud 26 makesits idle travel from the inner to the outer end of the slot, during which the drum S'remains stationary and the parts 24-26 are brouvht to the position shown in Figure 1. 1in-ing this idle period of the drum the roller 46 passes from the in active groove portion 45 of the cam to the Working groove portion 43 thereof, thereby shifting the throw crank actuating mechanism, as -shown in Figures 11 and 12, from the full line position to the dotted line position, whereby the throw crank 38 is retracted and the throw crank 39 projected, the latter acting on the lever arm 35 to move the lever 33-to shift the gear segment 3,0 so as to shift the ejector 27 to the dotted line position in Figure 12, thereby forcing the can B from pocket 10- and lea-vino pocket 9 free for'the feed of the can A tlereinto, which can is enteredbefore the drum begins its reverse motion. The -drum shifting mechanism now begins its drum reversing action, the crank 22 and rod 24 operating to shift segment 20 from the positionshown in Figure 1 to the reverse posit-ion shown in Figure 13, as a result of which the drum 8 will be turned to the position shown in Figures 13 and 15, so as to bring the previously emptied pocket 10 into receiving position and the loaded pocket 9 into discharge to retract the throw crank 39 and vproject .0 fluids. Also it will be secn that a valve of 3 gage drum, operating devices are set f or a re tition of the firsthalf\oscillation of the rum p'reviously'described. While the drum is idle in the motion of the parts 24-26 just described, durin the drum turning action of which the ro ler 46 is travelling in the cam grooveportion 45, such roller 46 is enby the workin portion 44 of the cam oove, as shown'in igure 14, thereby shifting the thrcwcrank actuating means so as the'irst-half oscillation of the drum as here-l inbefore described.

From the foregoin description, taken in connection with the rawings, the construct'ion'and operation of my improved feed valve will be readily understood and it will be seen that a valve of this character is provided which will feed a can in an ,expeditious manner and without injury thereto, while at the same time 4securely sealing the outletofftlie valve against the passage of simple construction is provided, embodging a comparatively small number of wor ing parts of a-k'ind which will not easily get out of order, andwhich valve is of such a structure as to permit of easy and convenient assemblage, disassemblage and. re-

pairs or replacements of its parts.

It is to be understood that wherever the wor'd can or container is used in the specification and appended claims, such terms are designed to -refer to cans proper, jars, cartons, or other receptacles commonly used in the packaging of coffee, milk.' fruits, vegetables, meats, sea-foods` and all other foodstuifs, goods'or commodities packed in receptacles forV preservation. By the use of 4the term feed, I mean a valve designed for either feeding containers into a chamber or feeding them therefrom, the valve embodyin my invention being equally well adapted or use as an Aintroducing va ve -or discharge valve.

Having thus fully described my invention,

1. A feeder valve comprising, in combination, a casing having diametrically disposed,l

inlet and outlet openings, an oscillato valve in said casing provided at diametrically opposite sides with peripheral holding pockets, and means for oscillating said valve for'alternately bringing the respective pockets into registry with the inlet and outlet openings, said valve having a sealing engagement with the walls of the easing in the region of at least one of said openings.

2. A feeder valve comprising, in combinaplacing containers therefrom, and means for oscillating the valve and actuating said ejecv tor.

, 3. A feeder valve comprising, in combination, a casing having diametrically-disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory -valve in said casing mounted to revolve upon 'a vertical axis and provided with diametrically disposed peripheral container receiv- -ing pockets, each having a can supporting4v bottom wall, means for alternately moving the valve in o posite directions with intermediate perio of rest, ejecting *means for dischar ng containers from the pockets, and means or operating the ejectingmeans during the periods of rest of the valve.

4. A eed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having diametrically disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory valve in Vsaid casing rovided with diametricall disposed poc ets for cooperation lwith sai openings, an ejector common to both pocketsand lmovable in opposite directions for alternately displacing containers from said pockets, means for imparting successive ha f oscillations to the valve with intervals of rest between them, and means for actuating the ejector during the intervals of rest of the valve.

5. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having inlet and discharge openin arranged atan angle of 180 to each ot er, a valve in said casing mounted tooscillate upon a' vertical axis and having peripheral pockets each rovided with a can supporting bottom wa l, said valve being oscillatable through an arc of 180 to alternately bring the pocket into registry with the inlet and outlet openings, mea-ns for imparting successive. half oscillations to said the ejector in opposite directions between' intervals of operation of the valve.

7. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a easing having diametrically disposed inlet` and outlet openings, an oscillatory lill! valve in said casing having diametrically disposed container receiving pockets for cooperation with said openings, gearing comprising a gear and gear segment for actuating the valve, and crank operated means for actuating said gearing having a lost motion connection therewith for moving idly between intervals of operation of the gearing.

8. A feed valve comprising, incombination, a casing having diametrically disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory valve in said casing provided with diametrically disposed container holding pockets for cooperation with said openings, a gear connected with said valve, a gear segment meshing with said gear and provided with a crank pin, a driven shaft, a crank arm connected with said shaft, and a connecting rod coupled to the crank arm and having a slotted end engaging the wrist pin ofthe gear segment.

9. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having diametrically disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory valve therein provided with diametrically disposed container holding-pockets for cooperation with said openings, means for irnparting periodic half oscillations to the valve, an ejector movable between and longitudinally of the pockets for alternatel Y displacing containers therefrom, an oscillhtory element for oscillating said ejector, and means for operating the oscillatory element between periods of ope-ration of the valve.

10. A feed valve comprisin in combination, a casing having diametrically disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillator valve in said casing provided with diametrlcally disposed container holding pockets for cooperation with said openings, means for imparting periodic half oscillations to the valve, ejecting means common to the pockets for discharging containers therefrom, and means for periodically operating said ejecting means for alternately discharging containers from the pockets at proper time periods.

11. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having diametrically disposed inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatorly valve provided with diametrically disposed pockets for cooperation with said openings, means for imparting periodic half oscillations to the valve, an ejector for alternately discharging containers from the pockets, gearing for reciprocating said ejector, and cam operated mechanism for actuating said gearing.

l2. A feed valve comprising, in combina,- tion, a casing having inlet and outlet openings, an oscillatory valve in said casing having a sealing engagement with the walls of thecasing in the region of one of said openings and provided with container holding means and operative to shift containers between the inlet and outlet, means for oscillating said valve, and means operative therewith for shifting containers therefrom through the o'utlet.

13. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and an oscillatory feed valve in said casing oscillatable on a vertical axis and provided with peripheral can receiving seats, and means for operating said valve for shifting 'containers between the inlet and outlet.

14. A feed valve comprising, in combination, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, an oscillatory feed valve provided with peripheral can receiving seats and oscillatable on a vertical axis in said casing for shifting the .containers between the inlet and outlet, an ejector for discharging containers from said seats through the outlet, and means for operating the valve and ejector at proper time periods.

In testimon whereof I alix my signature.

LEXANDER K. RARIG.

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