US1531081A - Vacuum sealing machine - Google Patents

Description

'Marhll. 1-925.

A. S. DONDERO'ET AL VACUUM SEALING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 W TNESS l INVENTORS ALB/N0 5. DONUE'QO GEOEGf A. BAEDETT kwdy I ATTORNEYS March 24. 1925. 1,531,081

A. S. 'DONDERO ET AL VACUUM SEALING MACHINE Filed June 1, 192; e Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5b Jr .98 4/ III 2 Z7 WITNESS INVENTORG.

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March 24. 1925. I 1,531,081

I A. S. DONDERO ET AL VACUUM SEALING MACHINE FiledJune 1, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 r WITNESS INVENTORS meme 5. Don/0:120 Gears: 4. BARDET Zhflmw 2&4 ATTORNEYS March 24. 19 25.

A. S. DONDERO ET AL VACtJUM SEALING MACHINE Filed June 1, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 WITNESS JV. 5

INVENTORS ALE/NO 3 DOA/0520 64 0665 A. 1571x057" BY Mt Mfannq ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES, PATE "1,531,0 1 NT OFFICE.

ALIBINO DONDERO, OF OAKLAND, AND GEORGE A. BABDET, OF BERKELEY, GALI- I'ORNIA.

VACUUM SEALING MACHINE.

Application filed June 1,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Anemo S. DoNoE'Ro and GEORGE A. BARDET, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of Oakland and Berkeley,respectively, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented a new and useful Vacuum Sealing- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to machines for sealing vacuumized containers.

'One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a vacuum sealing or tipping machine in which each can to be operated on is placed in an individual vacuumized chamber and there automatically tipped and then discharged. Another object of the invention is the provision of a vacuum sealing or tipping machine having individual .vacuumizing chambers for the can to be operated upon, in which provision is made for preventing movement of the can head relative to the can body during the sealing or tipping-process. Another object of the invention is the provision of a vacuum sealing or' tipping machine having individual vacuumizing chambers, and in ,which means are provided for preventing variation in the degree of vacuum due to influx of air from any other chamber. Another object of the invention is the provision of a tipping iron, the heat of which .is automatically mainta-ined at substantially a constant point.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means for feeding cans to be operated upon into the machine.

()ur invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, withthe foregoing, will beset forth in the following descri tion of our invention. It is to be understood thatwe do not limit ourselves to the showing made by the said descrip positioned within the casing and t e tipping iron in ope atio Fig. 5'is a horizontal can heads are 1921. Serial No. 474,239.

sectional view of a portion of the mechanism, taken in a plane indicated by the line 5" for the left hand side of Fig. 5 and in a plane indicated by theline 5 of F ig. 2 for can to be sealed or tipped upon each table during the rotation of the frame. Above each, table is arranged a vacuumizing chamber adapted to receive the can on the table, and means are provided for raising the table during the rotation of the frame to position the can within the vacuumizing chamber, and then to exhaust the air from the chamber and from .the can. Means are provided for preventing the air exhausted from any one chamber from lessening the degree of vacuum in any other chamber, and means are also provided for preventing movement of the can ,headmelative to the can body during the sealing or tipping operation. When the cans enter the machine each bears upon its head adjacent to the vent therein a small portion of solder.

One of the great difliculties in tippin machines hitherto has been the flipping 0d of the solder by the sudden movement of the can head at the moment of vacuumization. Another grave difliculty which has hitherto barred success has. been the puncturing of the fluid solder by the flow of air, either into or out of the can. Sudden variations in the vacuum in the .vacuumizing chamber of course result in a current of air thru the vent in the can head. If this occurs while the solder is still in a melted condition, it is blown'off the vent or sucked into the can and the vent remains open. Both of these-difficulties have been overcome in our machine in which the vacuum in each chamber is maintained substantially constant until the. solder has cooled, and the re'vented from movement which will dispiiwethe solder before it is fusedover the vent. Eflicient means is also provided for carefully and closely regulating the heat of the tipping iron. This is entirely automatic, as is also the movement of the tipping iron into engagement with 1 the solder. After the tipping 11'011 is with-- completely vacuumized and sealed. The

operation of the machine is rapid and con tinuous. In a long test run just completed less than one per cent of the cans passed thru the machine were found by subsequent tests to be defective. a

More particularly our device tomprises a bed plate 2 on which is rigidly fixed the ver tical hollow shaft 3 uponwhich are rigidly fixed the lower cam track plate 4 and the upper cam track plate 6. Supported on the upper cam track plate by suitable studs 7 is the insulator plate 8 upon which the con tact rings 9 are mounted. At the lower end of the shaft 3 a thrust hearing 11 is arranged and resting on the thrust bearing and rotatably mounted onthe shaft is a rotary frame comprising. horizontal elements 12, 13-and 14 connected by suitable vertical elements 16 and 17. Se-

cured to the lower portion of the rotary 7 thereof is the bevel ear 18 driven by a suit-' able pinion on the horizontal shaft 19 the outer end of which is provided with a worm A. worm driven by the shaft 22 imparts mo-' 49 wheel enclosed within the casing 21.

tion to the worm wheel and in turn is driven by the pulley 23 fixed on the-outer end of the shaft 22. The pulley 23 is connected by 1 belt 24 to the motor 26 mounted on a su1t-' able bracket arranged on the bed plate;

Fixed to the-rotary frame are a plurality of tubular brackets 27 which extend downwardly on the outside of the stationary wall 28 mounted on the bed plate. Slidably mounted in each tubular bracket is a shank 29 on the top of which is fixed the table 31 upon which the can to be operatedupon is placed, the fixed flange 32 serving to center the. can on the table. A plunger 33 having the'head 34 normally lymg flush with the top of the table is shdably arranged within the tables shank and at the lower end sis.

fitted with a fixed block-36, between which 60 andfthe lower end ofthe' shank 29 the coil spring 37 'is'interposed. The block 36 is formed with a, side extension adapted to slide in the slot 38 formed on the inner side of the tubular bracket. Rotary movement of the plungenin the block and of the table on" frame and forming the bottom member ture.

the plunger is prevented by suitable splines interposed between the parts. A roller 41 mounted on the block 36 engages in the cam track 42 fixed on the circular wall 28, and thus by appropriate shape of the cam track I vertical movement as desired may be imparted to the table and lunger.

Alined above each tab e 31 is an open bottom casing 43 rigidly mounted upon the rotary frame by means of the bracket 44. The lower edge of the casing is flanged and provided with a conformable gasket 45, and the proportions of the cam track 42 and related parts are such that at the desiredtime' table 31 is raised into sealed engagement with the gasket thus tightly closing the casing. With the seating of the table 31 against the gasket, a small further advance of the cam raises the plunger a small amount thus lifting the can off of the table. The diameter of the plunger head is considerably smaller than that of the can so that the lower can head is pressed inwardly to hold it from flexing movement during the vacuumizing process. I

Means are also provided for holding the upper can head from such movement. Ar- Y ranged in the casing 43 is a slide 46 provided with a flange 47 adapted to engage the upper head of the can about the vent therein w en the can is raisedinto the casing. A screw 48 which engages a suitably formed slot inthe side of the slide revents the slide from falling out of the casing. Spring pressed stops 49 are arranged to'engage the end'of the casing as the table 31 is seated against the gasket. Thus the weight of the slide 46, plus the pressure exerted by the spring pressed stops 49, tends to press inwardly the upper head of the can, preventing. all flexure during the subsequent proc esses. It will be understood of course that the cans are uniform in size and that the parts of the mechanism are proportioned to tension the can head sufiiciently to prevent movement without incurring danger of rup- Arranged in the upper portion of each casing are two valves 51 and 52. As bestshown in Fig. 5 each valve is normally closed by a spring 53 and opened by the pressure of the rocker arm 54 against the valve'stem 56. The rocker arm 54 is pivotally moimted between the two valve stems and rocking motion thereof alternately opens and permits to close the valvein the 12 head of the casing. The rocker arm is controlled byailink 57 pivoted to the rocker arm 58 mounted on the ivot pin 59 set in the frame above t e cam track plate 7 4. roller 61 mounted on the rocker 58 115 and .engagingin the cam track 62 fixe'd on the plate 4 imparts motion to the rocker 54 andalternately opens and :closes eachof the valves 1n the 'casin headQ j Valve '52 opens Into the atmosphere but vacuumized to a high degree by suitable means of well known character connected thereto by means of the pipe 66 connected into the chamber 64 from the casings.

into the walls-of the chamber 64 by a suitable slip coupling67. A check valve 68 is inserted in each pipe 63 so that when air -is drawn out of the casing it cannot flow back to the casing. This arrangement is effective in preventing variations in the vacuum in the various casings or vacuumizing'chambers since in the operation of the machine cans are constantly being taken'in and discharged and hence air is constantly fiowirig it were not for the check valve 68 in each passage, there would be a tendency for air sucked in from one vacuumizing chamber to reduce the vacuum in other chambers. This would give a fluctuating pressure in the vacuumizing chambers which would be disastrous to satisfactory work.

Means are also provided for automatically fusing the piece of solder with which each can is introduced into its casing. In forming the can heads the center of the upper head is slightly depressed and punctured. The puncture serves as a vent thru 1 which the air may be drawn from the in- Y tors 74 and 7 5.

terior of the can before the can is sealed in the vacuumizingchamber and the depression serves as a recess to hold the particle of solder dropped thereon immediately prior to the entrance of the can into the ma-' chine. Referring particularly to'Figs. 3, 6,.

and 7 the tipping orfsolderingiron comprises a 'sha t slidably mounted in the stuffing box 71 in the head of the casing.

The lower end of the shaft is provided with a copper point/72 which is surroundedby a heating element 73 'energized'thru conduo; Conduc r 74 is connected by the usual means th u fuse-wire 77 to the lead 78.' Conductor 5 is simi1arly conj-L nected by fuse wire 79 tothe spring.81 nor-rimally maintaining contact with the contact point82 which is the terminal of'lead 83. .l nterposed betweenthe spring and a lava block 84 setsome distance downwardly from the upper end of the shaft is a rod 86 which is of course affected bythe temperature of the tippingiron. With an excessive rise in temperature of the tipping iron the expansion of the rod 86 breaks the circuit by lifting the spring out of engagement with the contact point 82.

is thus secured nd after adjustment the soldering or. tip mg iron 15 mamtamed at tion. ing a worm wheel 108 fixed on the shaft.

With a drop in the temperature ofthe tipping iron contraction of the rod 86 permits reestablishment of the circuit. A very close degree of regulation substantially aconstant temperature. At

the proper time in the sequence of operation the tipping iron is lowered thru the annular I flange 47 into contact withth'e solder on the the lever at the proper time.

' The leads 7 8 and 83 are connected to bind; ing posts 92 and 93 respectively. The lower portions of the binding posts are provided with brushes 94 which form contacts with the rings 9. Heavily insulated conductors 96 passing upwardly thru the hollow central shaft supply the rings with current.

Means are provided for automatically seating cans upon the can tables during the rotation of the rotary frame. Adjacent the peripheral edge of the rotary frame element 12 is a stationary platform 97 along the outer edge of which the conveyor 98 is arranged. The conveyor runs over a sprocket 99 mounted on the shaft 101 which on the outer end is provided with a bevel gear 102 driven by a similar gear on the shaft 103 which in turn is driven by a gear 104 on .retain thercans thereon and on the opposite side a shaft 107 performs a similar func- The shaft is drlven by a worm engag- 101.. The conveyor carries the cans intothe star wheel 109 mounted on the shaft 111 and driven by the gears 119. from theshaft 19. In order to insure presenting a can to the star wheel in position to be properly engaged thereby, we provide means on the shaft 107 for synchronizing the movement of the cans on the conveyor so that a can is always in the proper position to be caught by thestar wheel without injury. This is accomplished by a helical "ane or thread .113 arranged on the shaft. The movement of therconveyor 98 is considerably faster than the peripheral speed of the star wheel and as the can enters between the guide rail 106 on one side and the shaft 107 on the other side it encounters the helical vane and is thereafter retarded in its movement on the conveyor by the speed permitted by the ven though the cans are placed on the conveyor 98 at irregular intervals, they will bunchup as they approach the star wheel and be fed, one at a time into the recesses thereof. As the can is caught by the star wheel it is moved off of the conveyor onto theplatform 97 and carried around in contact with the guard rail-114 upon the rotary frame and finally seated against the flange 32 on the table, all "of the speeds being of course synchronized to sult. s

Means are provided for removing the can from the ti ping operation. An outgoing conve 116 is driven by a sprocket mounted o the shaft 101 and a table or platform 117 bridges the space between the edge of the rotary frame 12 and the conveyor 116.

Guiderails 118 intercept the cans and defleet them off of the table onto the platform 117 and onto the. outgoing conveyor.

Opmtion.'Th'e incoming cans, which it will be understood have been packed, the

v into the upper part of the casing and upon dition obtains by the time the rotation of the the vcompletion of the movement of the plunger, the casing is tightly sealed and the can is firmly held, between the plunger head and the flange 4L7 on the slide, with a.

1 venting flexure of the can head during the pressure sufiicient to make relative movement of the can head impossible. This conframe has carried the can to the position 121 at which point the valve 51 is opened and the air suckedout of the casing and the can thru the pipe 63. With the vacuumiza tion of the chamber surrounding the can the pressure of the air within the can would normally, before it could escape thruthe vent,- throw the headsoutwardly and dislodge the solder. Thismovement is'howf ever 'preventedby the means described and the can is vacuumiz ed without disturbance "of the solder. 5 Vacuumization continues for about one-half a\revolution' of the rotary frame and as the can reaches the position .122 the soldering iron'is moved downwardly for a moment into contact with "the -solder and then raised, only the briefest period he ing required to fuse the solder over the vent. The fused solder is then given an-opportunity to cool without fluctuation in the degree of jvacuum and when the can has pro- 7 mediately thereafter the table begins its re- 65.

turn fidthe lower position and at position permit of this re-.

e machine upon the completion of.

124 the tipped can is free'ofthef casing in which it was vacuumized and immediately thereafter is caught by the guide rails 118 and diverted upon the outgoing conveyor.

We claim:

1. In a machine for tipping cans having vented heads, the combination of a casing for the can, means for vacuumizing said casing, andmeans for preventing fiexureof the can head around the vent during the sealing operation.

2. In a machine for tipping cans having vented heads, the combination of a casing for the can, means for vacuumizingisaid cas- "the vent, and means for preventing flexure of the can head around the vent during the tipping.

5. In a machine for tipping cans having ing, automatically operated means for fusing solder over the vent, and means for pretipping.

6. In a machine for tipping cans having vented headsfthe combination of a casing for the can, means for automatically introducing a can into said casing, means for vacuumizing said casing, automatically operated means for fusing solder over the vent,

and means for preventing movement of the,

body duxring the .vacuuniizing said casing, automaticallyopvented heads, the combination of a' casing for the can, means for vacuumlzmg saidcas- Y erated means for fusing solder over the vent, I means for preventing movement of the can head relative to the can bodyduring the tipping and means for automatlcally removing the can from said casing.

8. In a vacuum can-sealing machindthe combination of a plurality ofcasings for the cans, means for vacuumizmg said casings, and means for preventing a change in the degree of vacuum in one of the casings effecting a change in the degree of vacuum in any other casing. I

9. In a vacuum can-sealing machine, the

combination of a pluralityv of casings for the the flow of fluid to the casing.

10. In a machine for tipping'can's, the

combinationef a casing for the can, a stop in said casing for-engaging the upper head of the can, means for moving said can into said casing against said stop, and means for pressing the lower head of the can-wherebyflexure of the can heads is prevented.

' 1l.'In a machine for tipping cans, the combination of a casing for the can, a spring-pressed stop in said casing for engaging the upper head of the can, means for moving said can into the casing against said stop, means for resiliently pressing the lower head of the can, and means for tipping the can while the heads are so held.

12. In a machine for tipping cans, the combination of a frame, a plurality of casings arranged on said frame, a can table on said frame below each casing, means for raising each table to position the can there on Within its casing, means for vacuumizing the casings, means in each casing for preventing movement of the can heads relative to the can body, and means for tipping the can while the heads are so held,

13. In a machine for: tipping cans, the combination of. a frame, a plurality of casings arranged on said frame, a can table on said frame below each casing, means for raising each table to position the can thereon within its casing, means for vacuumizing the casings, means in each casing for preventing movement of the can heads relative to the can body, means for tipping the can while the heads are so held, means for releasing the vacuum in each casing, and means for lowering each table to remove the can thereon from its casing.

14,111 a machine for tippin combination of a frame, a plura ity of casings arranged on said frame, a can table on said frame below each casing, means for retating-said frame, a vacuum chamber on said i the vacuum chamber to each casing, a ,va ve controlling each of said passages, a release valve on each casing, a tipping iron slidably mounted in each casing, and means operative by the rotation of said frame for successivelyperforming the following functions in respect of each casing, raise the table toposition the can thereon within its casing, open the passage valve to vacuumize the casing, move the tipping iron to operative position. and return, close the 'passa e valve, open the release valve to release t e vacuum, and lower the table to remove the can from its casing.

cans, the

15. In a machine for tipping cans, the combination of a frame, a plurality of openbottom casings arranged on said frame, means on said frame below each casing for supporting a can and closing the casing,

means for positioning a can on each supporting means, means for raising each supporting means to position the can thereon within the associated casing and seal the bottom opening thereof, means for vacuumizing the casing, and means for tipping the can.

16. In a machine for tipping cans, the combination of a frame, a plurality of openbottom casings arranged on said frame, means on said frame below each casing for supporting a can and closingethe casing, means for positioninga can on each sup porting means, means for raising each supporting means to position the can thereon within the associated casing and seal the bottom opening thereof, means in each casing for preventing flexure of the heads of the can therein, means for vacuumizing the casing, and means for tipping the can.

l7. Ina machine for tipping cans, the combination of a rotary frame, a plurality of open-bottom casings arranged on said frame, a table slidably mounted on said frame below each casing for supporting a can and closing the casing, a plunger slidable in each table'and adapted to engage the lower head of the can thereon, a spring interposed between each table and the associated plunger, means operative by the rotation of said frame for raising each lunger to resiliently seat the associated against its casing and position the can in the casing on the plunger, a resilient stop against which the upper can head presses, means for vacuumizing the casing, and means for tipping the can.

18. In a machine for tipping cans, the combination of a rotary frame, a plurality of vacuumizing chambers arranged on said frame, means for sealing a can in each of table said chambers, a vacuum chamber. on said control and release valves, and means for tipping the can in' each vacuumizing chamber.-

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

ALBINO s'. DONDERO. v GEORGE A.. BARDET.

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