US1743135A - Milk-can variable feeding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1930. HAGELINE 1,743,135

MILK CAN VARIABLE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l M- W Z5? M miarne Jan. 14, 1930. E. HAGELINE 1,743,135

MILK CAN VARIABLE FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Emil Ha eZi/ze ev7 I flak; itfwvzqy.

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Jan. 14, 1930.

E. HAGELINE 1,743,135

MILK CAN VARI ABLE FEEDING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 25. 1928 Patented Jan. 14, 1930 warren stares man. HAGELINE, OF CHICAGO,

serene ILLINOIS HULK-CAN VARIABLE FEEDING ME CH-IANISM Application filed November 26, 1928. Serial No. 321,838.

This invention relates to milk can conveying mechanism of the general type disclosed in the patents of McEwan, 1,454,124 of May 8, 1928, and 1,649,073 of November 15, 1927, respectively. More particularly the invention relates to variable means for conveying milk cans along a trackway in connection with a cleansing process.

The object of the present invention is to provide improved means for intermittently moving cans on a trackway in such a manner thatthe cleansing operations for the individual cans may be performed in varying spaces of time.

Another object is to provide an improved method and meansfor accelerating or retarding the intermittent actuation of the can conveying mechanism so that the number of cans washed in a given length of time may be multiplied if desired.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form'of my invention, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feeding end of a can washing machine, parts being broken 3 away to more clearly illustrate the construction. V A

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower portion of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is .a cross section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a milk can in position to be moved forward.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of, the mechanism controlling the driving pulley.

Fig. 5 is a view of the mechanism taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the control being set for three cans per minute.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the can controlling mechanism set for six cans per minute. Q

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 4.: 1

Fig. 8 is .a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 9 is a detail end face view ofa clutch employed in the mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a plan view ofthe star-wheel in position for handling six cans per minute.

Fig. 11 is a view taken on line 1111 of Fig. 10.

' Fig. 12 is a detail view of a clutch element.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of a-bearing having a clutch shoe thereon.

Fig. 14 is a side view of the shifting pulley clutch.

In the drawings, 15 designates a suitable supporting frame in the upper portionof which are mounted spaced, centrally positioned, longitudinally extending stationary guide rails 16, adapted to provide a guide for suitably supporting the milk cans A, which are guided thereby into the mechanism serving for the washing and cleansing operations. Similarly mounted on the left side is a longitudinally extending rail 17, serving as a guide for the milk can covers B also to be cleansed.

The conveying-of the cans A along the guide rails in a step by step movement, is accomplished by a feeding device comprisingelongated angle bars 18 which are arranged; between the guide rails 16 and reciprocate. ingly mounted on-rollers 19.

Pivotally connected to the angle bars 18 by pins 20 are trip fingers or pawls 21, which in normal position are substantially in the relation shown in Fig. 1, in which the forward ends thereof project above the upper edges of the guide rails 16*whereby the cans A on the guide rails are engaged for the forward advancing movement thereof, this being best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 the trip fingers are limited in their downward rocking movement by the flanges 18 of the angle bars 18. When the angle bars '18 are reciprocated, the pawls 21 pivoted thereto will on the forward movement en;

gage the cans A and cause them to be slid or pushed along the guide rails 16. On the return movement of the angle bars, the trip fingers 21' will yield downwardly pivoting about the pins 20 as an axis, in this manner permitting the cans to pass thereover, to be again engaged by the tripv fingers upon the forward movement of same as the an le bars 18 reciprocate. The step by step 'orward move-:

ment of the cans, as set forth above is accomplished by the reciprocating movement of the .feeding mechanism, the forward distance each can moves being predetermined by the actual sweep of the reciprocating parts. It will be observed that the cans are individually engaged by a corresponding number of trip fingers or pawls so that any one or a number ofthe cans may be intermittently conveyed through the machine by the step by step movement of the elements referred to above.

The mechanism for advancing the covers B through the machine in a step by step movement is of similar construction to the details described in connection with the actuation of the can feeding mechanism. This cover moving mechanism includes reciprocating bars 22 positioned on the left of the guide rails 17 these feeding bars also having trip bar 26 being provided with a downwardly projecting extension 27 having an elongated slot 28 wherein rides a roller 29 loosely I'nounted on a stud 30 secured to an arm 31, the latter being pivoted to a shaft 32 by a set-screw 33. The shaft 32 is rotatably' mounted in bearings 34 and 35 on a platform 36 secured to the frame 15 by the angle irons 37.

'A motor 38 is mounted on the platform 36,

. the motor being coupled to a conventional gear transmission 39 having a driving shaft 40 mounted in a bearing 41 supported on the platform 36. A pulley 42 is fixed to the shaft 40, power being transmitted therefrom by a belt 43 which also passes over a larger pulley wheel 44 mounted on shaft .32. An idler friction pulley 45, engaging the belt 43, is

mounted on a rod 46 swingingly supported on the arms 47, 48, secured to arock shaft 49 mounted in bearings 50 on the platform 36, these bearings 50, being secured to the platform by cap-screws 51. The rock shaft 49 has an arm 52 integral therewith and extend- 'ed 'at right angles, this arm being pivotally connected by pin 53 to a manually operable lever 54, slidably guided in a slot 55 inan upright member 56 of the frame, the lever 54 h'av-inga handle 57 and a plurality of notches 58, the latter providing means whereby the levers may be locked in operative or in inoperative position in the slot 55. The manually operable lever 54 serves to swing the friction pulley against the belt 43 thereby tightening the latter about the'pulley wheels 42 and 44, and consequently insuring the positive transmission of power from the motor to the can feeding mechanism.

The larger pulley wheel 44, as best shown in Fig. 4 has a hub 59 with two projecting pins 60, 61 secured to the periphery thereof and spaced 180 apart. When the pulley wheel 44 revolves, these projecting pins periodically engage the teeth of a star-wheel 62 freely rotatable on a shaft 63 mounted in bearings 64, 65, secured to the platform 36 by cap-screws 66, these details being best shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 13 a marginally positioned outwardly projecting shoe 67 is provided on the side of the bearing 64, this shoe covers approximately 60 or more of an arc of the annular margin of one side of the bearing 64. It will also be n ted the starwheel has likewise a segmental shoe 68 that coacts with and engages the shoe 6? of the bearing 64, as the star-wheel is rotated. The teeth of the star-wheel are six in number, these being engaged by the pins 60, 61 on the hub of the pulley-wheel 44 whereby each half revolution of the pulley-wheel will engage one of the projecting pins 60, 61 with one of the teeth of the star-wheel, it being observed therefore that every complete revolution of the hub 59 will move the star-wheel one-third of arevolution.

The opposite face of thestar-wheel 62 is provided with four lugs 69,1'spaced approximately 90? apart, these lugs-engaging a corresponding number of lugs 70,3150 spaced 90 apart, formed on the interior of a cap 71 secured in the end of shaft 63 by prongs 71' and locked thereon by "a cap-screw 72. Confined between the cap'7l and the star-wheel 62 is a coil spring 73 which serves to hold the cap and star-wheel out of engagement until the segmental shoe 68 of the stai wheel rides up on the inclined surface of the segmental shoe 67, of the bearing 62, thereby locking the cap and star-wheel together at the moment when the lugs of the star-wheel and cap mutually engage. See Figs. 4, 7 8, 10 and 11. In the position shown in Fig.4 the segmental shoes 67 and 68 are in full engagement, the spring 73 being thereby compressed.

On a female clutc element 74 pinned to the shaft, 63, two lugs 7 5, spaced 180 apart are provided, these lugs coacting with lugs 7 6 formed on a coacting male clutch member 77, normally held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by the coil spring 7 7 which is confined between the bearing on the clutch member 77,-the latter being slidably secured to the shaft 63 and movable thereon by a yoke member 7 8 loosely mounted in an annular recess -=formed on the male clutch member 77, the :yoke member having arms 79 pivoted on projecting pins 80 provided on a collar, 81, clamped to the interior of a male clutch ele ment' 85, the collar 81 consisting of two sections, 82,83 secured by cap-screws 84. The clutch member 85 is slidably secured by a spline 85 on the shaft 32, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 14 and has two. projecting lugs 86 coacting with the lugs 87 on the side of the hub 59. A pin 88 rearwardly projecting from the clutch member 85 is adapted,

of three cans per minute.

when this clutch member is slid on the shaft 32, to be received in a'hole orrecess in a joist 89 secured on the platform 36.

A regulating rod 90 having a shoe 91 on the end thereof, is provided with a knob 92 having an indicating finger 93 integral therewith, the rod 90 being turnably supported in the bearings 64, 65. A pawl 94 pivotally mounted in a side wall of the bearing is adapted to engage notches 95 in a collar 96 fastened to the rod 90, the pawl serving to lock the regulating rod in position for controlling a three per minute or six per minute feeding operation. A lug 97 on shaft 63, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, engages the pawl 94 on every revolution of this shaft, the pawl 94 being hereby automatically disengaged from the notches 95. The chief purpose of the lug 97 is to permit the manipulation of regulating rod 90 at the proper time for selecting the three per minute or six per minute feeding operations.

The description set forth above is based on the operation of the machine with an output Assuming the pulley wheel 44 to be constantly turning, every half revolution-thereof will bring on'eof the two pins 60, 61 on the integral hub thereof into engagement with one of the teeth of the star-wheel to be turned, the latter as pointed out above being loosely mounted on the shaft 63. After three of the teeth of the star wheel have been moved by the engagement of the pins 60, 61, this being equivalent to one and a half revolutions of the pulley wheel 44,

further revolution of the pulley wheel will now cause the engagement of one of the pins 60, 61 with the fourth tooth of the star-wheel, this tooth bringing the shoes 67, 68 into engagement and consequently causing the sliding of the star-wheel to the left as the beveled surfaces of these shoes coact, thereby pushing the star-wheel against the resistance of the coil spring 73 'to the position shown in Fig. 4 where the lugs 69, engage. The cap 71 and the shaft 63 secured thereto will now move as the star-wheel is rotated. Further rotation of the pulley-wheel 44 will now bring one of the pins 60, 61 into engagement with the fifth tooth of the star-wheel.

Simultaneously with the actuation of the fourth tooth, the clutch element 78 is brought a into engagement with the clutch element 77,

consequently causing the rotation of shaft 32 from the moment these clutch elements are in engagement, which as shown in Fig. 4, occurs at the completion of the fourth revolution of the pulley-wheel 44. The next revowheel 62, the sixth tooth of which upon being actuated will move the star-wheel to effect the disengagement of the lugs thereon from the lugs of the cap, and simultaneously therewith the disengagement of the shoes 74, 7 5 the clutch element 85 likewise being slid to the right and released from theclutch element on the hub. When this occurs the pin 88 enters the recess in joist 89 thereby locking the shaft 32 from rotation. When it is desired to disconnect the source of power, the operating lever 54 will be manipulated to cause the friction pulley 45 to be released from the belt 43, causing the latter to slip on pulley 44. This completes one cycle of the functioning of the apparatus causing a forwardand backward reciprocation of the feeding mecha- 11isn1,-this cycle being repeated indefinitely.

When it is desired to double the output of cans washed per minute, the adjusting knob will be turned to position the regulating rod and consequently the shoe 91 to hold the starwheel constantly in the position shown in Fig. 4. Again assuming the pulley 44 to be continuously turning, the pins 60 and 61 will engage the teeth of the star-wheel 62, the lugs 69 of which will be engaged with the lugs 70 of the cap 71. It will now be apparent that the star-wheel, the cap and the shaft 63 will simultaneously revolve, the clutch element revolving therewith will in consequence engage the coacting clutch element 76 at every half revolution, causing the latter and the yoke 78 mounted thereon to slide the clutch member out of contact with clutch element 87 on the hub of pulley 44, in this manner the shaft 32 on which the clutch 85 is slidably splined will be periodically rendered temporarily idle, but the shaft 82 will be intermittently actuated double the number of times than in the disposition of parts described above with reference to the device timed for three cans per minute. In the present disposition of parts, it will be obvious the clutch elements 84 and 87 will be in engagement two of the three revolutions of thepulley 44 and out of engagement one revolution of the pulley,.this as pointed out above resulting in two complete reciprocations of the can feeding mechanism, to three revolutions of the pulleywheel. 0

While I have described with particularity a preferred form of construction it is distinctly to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the precise details of construction as set forth hence I do not confine myself to the exact details save to the extent these are circumscribed within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage, cam operated means on said carriage for engagement with acan for intermittently movin cans along said trackway upon reciprocatlon of said carriage, andmeans connected to the carriage for varying the rate of movement of said cans along the trackway. i

.2. Can feeding mechanism fc-omprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said trackway, adjustable means for reciprocating said carriage for the conveyance ofa predeterminednumber of cans in a given interval of time, and means to vary the movement of said reciprocatory carriage for doubling the rate of movement of said cans along the trackway.

'3. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving-cans and covers along said trackway, manually adjustable means for causing the reciprocation of said carriage a predetermined 'number of times in a given interval oftime,

and means to vary the reciprocating movement of the carriage, if desired.

4;. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said trackway, automatic means for intermittently conveying a predetermined number of cans along the trackway,

and means optionally 'engageable and man ually adjustable for varying the number of cans to be moved along the trackway.

5. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said trackway, means for varying the number ofcans to be moved along said trackway during any given interval of time, said means including a plurality of coacting clutches automatically and selectively engageable, said clutches being connected to said reciprocatory carriage.

6. Can feeding mechanlsm. comprlsing a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said trackway, and means for variably reciprocating said carriage, said means being automatically actuated and having manually adjustable elements connected to the trackway whereby the movement of cans along said trackway may be accelerated and retarded, as desired.

7 Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said trackway, means connected to said reciprocatory carriage for accelerating and retarding the movement thereof, said means consisting of a drive shaft and acounter-shaft interconnected through a ser1es of clutches, two of said clutches being mounted on said counter-shaft, the other of said clutches being slidable 'on said drive shaft. 7

8. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along .said trackway, means for reclprocating said carriage for the intermittent advancin of cans thereon in a forward direction, sai means consisting of a pair of clutches on a counter-shaft, each of' said clutches having a spring pressed element for acting clutch element, and a third clutch connected to a slidable element on one of the said first mentioned clutches.

9. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving'cans along said trackway, means including a pulley wheel having a hub provided with a pair of projecting pins coacting-with teeth on a star wheel, said star-wheel being freely rotatable on a counter-shaft and having integral lugs on the side thereof, said lugs coacting with corresponding lugs on a cap secured to said counter-shaft when the star wheel is slidably moved to bring said lugs into coaction, a second clutch on. said counter-shaft, said counter-shaft being intermittently moved by thelugs of said starwheel and said cap at times when a lug on the said star-wheel impinges against a corre-* sponding lug on a bearing supporting said counter-shaft, and a third clutch slidably splined on a drive-shaft, said third clutch having a connection to one of said first mentioned clutches whereby said pulley wheelis rotated, movement will be communicated to said star wheel and consequently to said counter-shaft and thence to said drive shaft,

said drive'shaftmoving at a differing rate of speed from said counter-shaft.

'10; In combination with can conveying I mechanism including a trackway and a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers along said trackway, a plurality of pins on the hub of a pulley wheel, a starwheel freely rotatable on a counter-shaft and having a plurality of teeth engaging said pins periodically, means to intermittently.

nnnect said star-wheel and shaft operatively I to intermittently connect said star-wheel and shaft operatively together, means to intermittent'ly connect a shaft with said countershaft, said shaft having a connection to said reciprocatory carriage, and means to Vary the number of intermittent connections of said shaft and counter-shaft.

12. In combination with can conveying mechanism including a trackway and a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers 'along said trackway, a counter-shaft operatively connected to andintermittently actuated by a power driven pulley freely rotatable on a shaft and means on said counter-shaft for intermittently disengaging and. locking a member from a clutch element integral with the hub of said pulley. e

13. In combination with can conveying mechanism including a trackway and a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers along said trackway, a counter-shaft 0peratively connected to and intermittently actuated by a power driven pulley freely rotatable on a shaft, a plurality of clutches on said counter-shaft, one of said clutches serving to connect and disconnect said counter-shaft intermittently with pins on the hub of said pulley, said second clutch providing an independent means of intermittently transmitting movementof said counter-shaft to an element slidable on said shaft, said last mentioned element being engaged with and disengaged from a clutch integral with the hub of sald pulley.

14. In combination with [can conveying mechanism including a trackway and a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans and covers along said trackway, a pulley freely rotatable on ashaft, said pulley having a hub provided with a pair of projecting pins, each of said pins-when saidpulley is rotating en-v gaging periodically one of a series of teeth on a star-wheel freely rotatable on a countershaft but engaging with and disengaging from an element fixed to said counter-shaft whereby as said countershaft is intermittently rotated by said star-wheel a second clutch in the counter-shaft provides an independent intermittentlyoperated' means for engaging and disengaging a clutch element slidable on said shaft and coacting with a clutch member integral with the hub of said pulley.

15. Can feeding mechanism comprising a.

trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along sald trackway, means forre-- ciprocating said carriage for the washing of a predetermined number of cans in a given a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage, and manually adjustable means connected tosaid can conveying mechanism for reciprocating said carriage a variable number of times in a given interval of time. I I

18. Can conveying mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said trackway, means for reciprocating said carriage a variable number of times in a given interval of time, said means including a shaft connected to a counter-shaft, said shaft being intermittently engaged and disengaged from a source of power by a plurality of clutches mounted on said counter-shaft, one of said clutches having a connection to a pulley connected to said source of power, and means manually operable for ,varymg the number of revolutions said counter-shaft makes in a given interval of time. 19. Can conveying mechanism comprising a trackway, areciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said tr'ackway, means for reciprocating said carriage at two difiering rates ofspeed, said means including a power driven pulley loosely mounted on a shaft and having a plurality of pins engaging a starwheel loosely mounted on a counter-shaft means to automatically engage said starwheel operatively to said counter-shaft, manually operable means fomengaging the starwheel to the counter-shaft, and means on said counter-shaft to intermittently disengage a clutch engaged by said pulley. In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification. 5) E HAGELINE interval'of time, said means including a shaft havlng an operative-connection to a countershaft, said counter-shaft being intermittently turned as said shaft is rotated, and a clutch on said counter-shaft connected to a clutch on said shaft to provide for the intermittent disengagement of said last mentioned clutch.

16. Can feeding mechanism comprising a trackway, a reciprocatory carriage for moving cans along said trackway, means for varying the number of cans to be moved alon said trackway during any given interval 0' time,

said means including a plurality of coacting clutches mounted on a shaft and counter v shaft operatively connected, said shaft being intermittently actuated through one of the said clutches on the counter-shaft, said counter-shaft beingaintermittently operated by a means rotatable with said sha 17'. Can conveying mechanism comprisingice

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