US1791825A

US1791825A - Filling machine

Info

Publication number: US1791825A
Application number: US335521A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Maxwell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-01-28
Filing date: 1929-01-28
Publication date: 1931-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 1948-02-10

Description

w. J. MAXWELL 1,791,825

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 10, 1931.

INVENTOR Willldiil fflfaz'well Z.

in), Aw

Feb. 10, 1931. w, MAXWELL v 1,791,825

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Wi'llzkrzz fg fgwell 1 ATTOR EY Feb. 10, 1931. w. J. MAXWELL 1,791,825

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 4 Sheet's-Sheet 4 if INVEINTOR i 1761110112 fflarwell Patented Feb. 10, 1931 ,U NIrE-n stares.

WILLIAM J. MAXWELL, OF IELU'SI -IING, NEW YORK FILLING MACHINE Application fiIedJ'anuary 28, 1929. Serial No. 335,521.

This invention relates to filling machines, and has for its general object and purpose to provide-a machine of. large capacity for quickly filling cans or other containers with accurately measured quantities of acomp0- sition or other commodity. t is a more particular object of the in-' vention to provide a machine of this kind embodying a continuously moving conveyer by which the cans or containers are moved in spaced parallel rows over. a supporting table orv platform, and means for automatically discharging.measured quantities of a liquid composition simultaneously into the containers in each row during their travel over said platform.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide simple and novel means for discharging the liquid from a hopper or container inmeasured quantities which maybe easily adjusted to vary the quantity ofthe liquid discharged and isalso positive and reliable in its operation and not likely to get out of order. r

It is also an object of my invention to provide a machine of the above character which consists of comparatively few'parts of simple mechanical form, occupying relatively little floor space and which can be produced at nominal manufacturing cost.

With the-above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved filling machine, and in theform, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andsubsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims;

In the drawings, wherein I- have illus- 4 trated one simple and practical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a filling machine constructed in'accordance with a. pre ferred form of my present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken 7 on. the line 3:3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is. an enlarged vertical sectional view through the liquid containing hopper illustrating the measuring and discharging means; y 7

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4, and 7 7 Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 2 showing the float valve control means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level within the hopper.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the several operating parts of the machine may be mounted and supported upon a frame of suitable construction. As herein shown, this frame consists of similar side-members 5- rigidly connected with each other by the transverse bars 6. Upon the upper ends of these frame members, the longitudinally extending guide rails 7 are secured. Theseguide rails are in the .form of angle bars and to their inwardly extending flanges, the opposite side edges of a horizontal sheet metal tab-1e or platform 8 are suitably secured.

To the opposite end of each frame member 5 laterally projecting bearing arms 9 and 10 respectively, are secured. In these bearing arms the ends.of the

transverse conveyer shafts

11 and 12 are journalled, said shafts being provided at their opposite ends with the

sprockets

13 and 14 with which the endless conveyer chains 15 are engaged. The links of these spaced conveyer chains at suitably spaced intervals are connected by the transverse rods 16.v The .upper stretches of the conveyer chains are guided over the surface ofthe platform 8 by the upstanding flanges of-the-guide rails Various means may be providedfor operating the conveyer above described, but for this purpose, I. have herein shown a suitable electric motor 17 having. its shaft connected with reduction gearing contained in the housing 18, and, the low speed shaft 19 extending axially from the housing beyond. one side of the frame being connectedby the chain 20 with one end of a transverse shaft 21 journalled in suitable bearings on the frame members 5. The other end of this shaft has a. small cog gear 22 fixed thereon which meshes with the relatively large gear 23 on one endof a second transverse shaft 24. The other end of this shaft is connected by the chain 25 with the sprocket 26 fixed to one end of the con veyer shaft 12. Suitable slack take-up devices indicated at 27 and 28 are respectively engaged with one stretch of the

chains

20 and 25. By means of a conveniently mounted switch 29, electric current may be supplied to the motor 17. It will thus be understood that through the medium of they reduction gearing and the driving connections between shaft 19 and the conveyer shaft 12, the conveyer will be driven at a very low speed and the upper stretch thereof will move slowly from left to right as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 of the drawings over the table or platform 8.

To one of the frame members 5 a U-shaped supporting bracket is secured, the upstanding arms 30 of which are provided at their upper ends with suitable bearing seats. To the opposite frame member a single bracket arm 31 is secured and is positioned transversely of the machine intermediate of the arms 30 and is likewise provided with a bearing seat at its upper end. These bearing seats of the

arms

30 and 31 are adapted to removably receive the pins or

studs

32 and 33 respectively, which are fixed to the opposite ends of a supply hopper 34 to which the liquid material is delivered through a pipe 35. The bottom wall 36 of this hopper is inclined longitudinally and downwardly in the direction of movement of the upper stretch of the conveyer and at the inner side of the front side wall of the hopper and at the bottom thereof a plurality of spaced funnels 37 having upper open ends are arranged. These funnels discharge through openings in the bottom wall 36 into the outlet spouts 38 fixed to the hopper wall 36. A constant level of liquid within the hopper 34 is maintained by means of a valve 39 interposed between the control valve 40 in the feed pipe 35 and a fioat chamber 41 which is in communication with one end of the hopper 34. The float 42 in this chamber has a threaded connection at 43 with the rod or stem 39 of the valve 39. This float may thus-be readily adjusted on the rod 39 and retained in adjusted position by the nut 44 so as to effect the closing of the valve 39 by the rise of the liquid level in the chamber 41 and the hopper 34. As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the liquid level L is slightly below the upper open ends of the funnels 37.

A rock shaft 45 extends transversely of the machine through the hopper 34 and to said shaft within the hopper, spaced arms 46 are fixed at one of their ends, said arms corresponding in number to the number of the funnels 37. The other end of each arm 46 is connected by a swinging link 47 with a measa uring pan 48. This measuring pan gradually decreases in depth from its rear closed end adjacent the shaft 45 to its forward open end and the pivotal connection 49 between the link 4'? and said pan is located forwardly of the center of gravit of the pan.

In advance of the link 47 a yoke bar 50 is fixed at its ends to the opposite side walls of the pan 48 and is provided at its intermediate portion with an adjustable stop screw 51 adapted for contact with the link 47 to limit the pivotal or tilting movement of the pan in one direction'andthereby determine the degree of inclination of the bottom wall of the pan with respect to a horizontal plane when the pan is lifted above the liquid level L.

Above each of the funnels 37 and suitably fixed to the front wall of the hopper 34, spaced rods 52 extend laterally beyond the inner side wall of the funnel and have their extremities downwardly curved as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. These curved ends of the rods are adapted to engage the transversely projecting ends of a rod 53 which is fixed to the bottom wall of the pan 48 adjacent the open end thereof.

To one end of the rock shaft 45 exteriorly of the hopper 34, an arm 54 is fixed at one of its ends. The other end of this arm carries a swiveled guide member 55 through which one end portion of a rod 56 is freely movable. head 57 which is swiveled upon a stud or pin 58 projecting from the outer face of the gear 23 in suitably spaced relation from the axis thereof. A collar 59 is fixed on the rod 56 and is adapted to abut against the lower side of the member 55 in the rotation of gear 23 to thus move the arm'54 upwardly and rock the shaft 45 in one direction.

There is also secured to the rock shaft 45 a second arm 60 which projects. downwardly from said shaft. A rod 61 is supported in suitable bearings 62 and is adapted to be manually rotated to position a blade or plate 63 on said rod in the path of movement of the lower end of the arm 60 and thus sustain the arm 54 in its uppermost position and prevent gravity downward movement of the pans 48 and rotation of the rock shaft 45. Thus, the operation of these measuring pans may at any time be temporarily interrupted Without stopping the operation of the conveyor mechanism. 7

Immediately beneath each of the outlet tubes or spouts 38 the table or platform 8 is provided with an opening 64 and a trough 65 having an inclined base wall is mounted in the frame beneath these openings. To the lower end of the trough wall a suitable discharge tube 66 is connected. Thus any drip from the tubes 38 will be collected in the trough 65 and discharged through tube 66 into a suitable receptacle.

Preferably, the lower stretch of the conveyer is supported on roller 67 mounted be- The other end of this rod has a this purpose.

tween bearing arms 68 at opposite sides of the machine frame. 1

In the operation of the machine as above described, the'cans or other containers indicated at C are arranged in rows between the spaced rods 16 of the conveyer. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, I have shown four such cans in each row, but it will be obvious that the machine may be built so as cessively brought into position beneath the I respective spouts or tubes 38.

The operation of the mechanism is so timedthat when the individual cans are in apprentmately the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 with respect to the spouts '38, the several pans 48 have been lifted from the dotted line position shown in said figure to the full line position. During this lifting of the pans, as soon as they are carried above the level of the liquid, the surplus liquid drains off from each pan, and the quantity of liquidremaining therein is of course, determined by the inclination of the bottom wall of the pan with respect to a horizontal plane which is definiteestablished by the contact of the adjustable stop screws 51 against the links 47. In the continuedupward movement of the pans 48, the rods 53 carried thereby are brought into engagement with; the under sides of the curved ends of rods 52 and said pans are rocked or tilted relative to the links 47 to ubstantia-lly the position shown in full lines in Fig. t so that the liquid will flow from the pans into the several funnels 37 and be discharged therefrom through tubes 38 into the respective containers C. The diameter of the containers C and the speed of movement of the conveyer is such that there is ample time for this operation to take place and for all of the liquid contained in the pan 4:8 to be discharged therefrom and delivered into the respective containers. Thus, an absolutely uniform quantity of liquid is supplied to each of the cans or containers. Nhen the measuring pans are lifted from the liquid in the hopper 8%, the float valve 39 immediately opens and the normal level of the liquid in said hopper is restored. After the"discharge of the liquid from the pans 38 and in the downward movement of the rod 56 through the swiveled member on the end of arm 54:, the measuring pans 48 will drop by gravity and return to their submerged positions in the liquid in the hopper 34 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. e of the drawings.

The machine herein described has been designed more particularly for automatically filling cans with shoe polish and has been found very serviceable and satisfactory for In such use of the machine,

the polish composition is supplied. to hopper 3 2 in a' heated condition so that it will flow freely. After delivery ofthe liquid composition to the'containers C,- it congeals or solidifies upon'cooling. However, it will of course, be apparent that the machine is not necessarily limited to suchuse but may also be adantageously employed for the filling of cans or other containers with any other liquidcommodities. When it'becoines necessary to adjust the stop screws 51 of the measuring devices, or to clean or repair this partof the mechanism, this maybe conveniently done by first uncoupling the inlet connection between the feed pipe 35 and the float chamber ll and then bodily lifting and removing the hopper from the supporting

arms

30 and 31. The member 55 on the end of arm 54 will of course, become disengaged from the end of the rod 56. After the desired adjustments have been made, or the cleaning of the apparatus com-- pleted, the hopper may then be readily relaced and again connected with the feed pipeor a or). V

In the foregoing description and in the drawings, 1 have shown an embodiment of "my present improvements which are entirely practical for the purpose in v ew, and in which the several cooperating elements'are of relatively simple mechanical form so thata machine of this construction may be produced at comparatively smallmanufacturing cost.

However, it is to be: understood that since the essential features of my present vdisclosure might also be exemplified in numerous other mechanical structures, I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly incorporated 1 within the spirit'and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a filling-machine, a p1atform,'a conveyer movable over-said platform andhaving means for retaining containers in spaced transverse rows for progressive movement from one end to the other of the platform, a liquid composition containing hopper mounted above said conveyer, operating means for the conveyer, and means within" the hopper geared to the conveyer operating meansand actuated in timed relation thereto to deliver the composition in measured quantities from said hopper into the containers in each row without interruption in the movement thereof, said meansincluding a plurality of inde- V pendently adjustable devices for variably regulating the quantity of the composition delivered to each container independently of the remaining containers. v

2. In a filling machine, means for delivering a liquid composition in measured quantities into a container including, in combination with ahopper, a measuringpan normally submerged in the compositioninaterial, means pivotally connected With said pan to lift the same above the level of the composition, means for limiting the pivotal swinging movement of said pan relative to said lifting means under the Weight of the material in one direction, adjustable means associated With said pan for positioning the same relative to the lifting means to variably regulate the quantity of composition material retained in the pan, a discharging funnel having its receiving end above the level of the composition material, and means for tilting said pan relative to the lifting means to dis charge the contents thereof into said funnel.

3. In a filling machine, means for delivering measured quantities of a liquid composition into containers including in combination With a hopper for the composition material, a rock shaft extending through said hopper, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, a measuring pan normally submerged in the composition material, a link pivotally connected With said arm and the pan for lifting the pan in the movement of the shaft in one direction, adjustable stop means carried by the pan and engaging the link to limit pivotal movement of the pan under the Weight of the material and determine the quantity of material retained in the pan, a receiving funnel, and means for tilting the pan relative to said link as the pan is lifted to discharge the pan contents into said funnel.

4. In a filling machine, means for delivering measured quantities of a liquid composition into containers including in combination with a hopper for the composition material, a rock shaft extending through said hopper, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, a measuring pan normally submerged in the composition material, a link pivotally connected with said arm and the pan for lifting the pan in the movement of the shaft in one direction, adjustable stop means carried by the pan and engaging the link to limit pivotal movement of the pan under the Weight of the material and determine the quantity of material retained in the pan, a receiving funnel, a transverse rod fixed to the bottom Wall of the pan adjacent one end thereof, and means fixed to a wall of the hopper and engaged by said rod as the pan is lifted to tilt the pan relative to said link and discharge the pan contents into said funnel.

5. In a filling machine, means for delivering measured quantities of a liquid composition into containers includingin combination With a hopper for the composition ma terial, a rock shaft extending through said hopper, an arm fixed to the rock shaft, a measuring pan normally submerged in the composition material, a link pivotally connected With said arm and the pan for lifting the pan in the movement of the shaft in one direction, adjustable stop means carried by the pan and engaging the link to limit pivotal movement of the'pan under the Weight of the material and determine the quantity of material retained in the pan, a receiving funnel, means for tilting the pan relative to said link as the pan is lifted to discharge the pan contents into said funnel, means for actuating said shaft to lift the pan, and manually adjustable means to coact with a fixed part on said shaft and sustain the measuring pan in an inoperative position above the level of the composition material While permitting of the continued operation of the shaft actuating means.

6. In combination with a material receiving hopper having a discharge outlet the open end of Which is above the level of the material in the hopper, means for delivering the material in measured quantities in the hopper into said discharge outlet, said means including a rock shaft, a measuring pan, means suspending said pan from the rock shaft for tilting movement relative thereto, said pan being tilted by the weight of the material therein as the pan is lifted above the material in the hopper in the rocking movement of said shaft in one direction, adjustable means for limiting such tilting movement of the pan to variably regulate the quantity of material retained therein, and

means for tilting the pan in the opposite direction in the continued elevation of the pan to discharge the pan contents into the open end of the discharge outlet of the hopper.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto;

WILLIAM J. MAXWELL.