US1831388A - Conveyer for can washing machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1931. I l. HIPPENMEYER CONVEYER FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wax Nov. 10, 1931. I. R. HlPPENMEYER CONVEYER FOR CAN WASHING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1929 Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PA unass- TENTH oF ics I IRVING R. nrrrnmvrnynn, or WAUKE SHA, wrsconsm, ASSIGNOR'TO THE cRnAMEaY- PACKAGE MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATIONILIJINOIS CONVEYER FOR CAN WASHING M'ACHIN ES 2 Application filed m 5, 1929. Serial No. 376,254.

The invention relates to milk can Washing machines of the type in which the cans are moved through a succession of zones wherein they are subjected to cleansing treatment, and

more particularly relates to the conveying m ing zones means in such machines.

In themachine herein disclosed, an end-.

less conveyer is employed to' carry the cans through a circuitous arrangement of cleanswherein various treating. devices operate upon the succession of cans while they rest with the intermittent movement of the conveyer, as further disclosed in my co pending applications bearing SerialNumbers 376.255 and 376,256, filed July 5,1929. The principal object of the invention is to provide a horizontally operablegendless conveyer including a series of laterally supported spaced holders for milk cans and their covers by which the cans and covers are conveyed successivelyinto operative relation with the cleansingdevices. Other objects include provision in the conveyor of a construction whereby the laterally supported holders are maintained in upright position, a cover carrier which facilitates the placing and removal of the covers, and a can holder adapted to aid the removal of the can after treatment. Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the following detailed description of a. preferred embodiment of'the invention which I have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however,-that various changes in form, construction, and arrangement may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fractional side View in elevation of a portion of the conveyer as mounted on the machine frame. Fig. 2.is a partial cross-sectional view in elevation of the machine showing the conveyer as seen on the plane of the l ine 22 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of a portion of the conveyer showing-one of the can holders as seen on the plane oftheline 3--.3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailed plan .view ofthe bottom can supporting member in one of the holders line4+4 in- .Fig. 1.- Fig. 5 is a detailed plan view of one ofthe cover carriers. In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a vertically positioned drive shaft having itsbearings in brackets 2 and 3, supported upon the partition walls 4 of the machine. The drive shaft 1 isrotatedinten' miitently by means of a conventional Geneva stop mechanism 5 receiving power from a suitable source (not shown). Secured on the shaft 1 is an uppersprocket 116 and a lower sprocket 17- which extend through openings in the sidewalls 4 and respectively support, at one en-dof; their operative runs, of chain or link belts 18'and 19 extending longitudinally of the machine The opposite ends of thebelt runs are'supported upon a similarly positioned pair of idlerI sprockets and shaft (not shown). Regularlyspacedalong and securedto the belts .18v and 19 is a series of can holders, each comprising a pair of horizontally positioned laterally open U shaped straps20 providing lateral support fora can 21 standing within them, the outer ends ofthe upper and lower straps preferably being connectedas by upright straps 22. A bottom grid plate 23supports the weight of the can inverted thereupon with its open mouth portion resting uponithe open grid through which the cleansing fluids are introduced into the can; The side straps 20 are rearwardly fiXedupon an upright bar 24 which is attached at its upper and lower ends I lower roller brackets 25 and 26, the latter being secured to appropriatelyformed links inthe chain belts 18 and 19. g Each of the brackets 25 and 26 is provided with a pair of-rollers 27, the rollers of the upper brackets operatively bearing upon a stationary rail 28 andthose of the lower bra ckets bearing upon another stationary rail 29. ,The rails 28 and29. are positioned respectively below and and 19 throughout their paths of travel, and are suitably mounted upon the adjacent walls of the machine. The rails 28 and 29 support the weight and guide the movement of the can holders and their contents, while the belts respectively to upper and i parallel to the belts 18 as seen on the=plane of :the l 18 and 19 serve as operating and spacing means for the holders.

The grid plate 23 of each holder is rearwardly supported by horizontal pivotal attachment, as at 30, to the lower bracket 26,

and is frontwardly' supported by rollers 31 pivoted thereon'and bearing upon' a stationary rail 32 positioned outwardly of and parallel to the path of the bracket 26, and having suitable support on the frame of the machinery. The rail 32 serves to maintain the pivoted grid plates 23 in horizontal position throughout their travel, except at the point where the cans are discharged from the holders after the cleansing treatment is completed. As illustrated at 33, a portion of the rail is lowered a substantial distance, the lowered portion being disconnected at one end and inclined upwardly at the other end to the normal horizontal plane of the rail. As the can holders reach this lowered portion of rail, the rollers 31 pass from the level portion of rail and drop with the plate 23 to the'lowered portion 33, thus outwardly tipping acan supported on the plate to an angle causing it .to fall clear of the conveyer. IVith the further progress of the can holder, the upward inclination of the lowered portion of the rail to normal level lifts the plate 23 into horizontal position in readiness to receive another can.

Rigidly mounted on the upper end of the bar 24, in each of the can holders, is an L shaped bracket 3 1 extending laterally outward in the form of spaced arms 35. Pivotally supported between the arms 35 is a can cover carrier .36 comprising a pair of spaced U shaped plates rearwardly secured to a suitable spacer base, and adapted to receive and support a can cover 37 between their outwardly extending arms. A bell crank 38 is pivotally mounted upon the upper side of the bracket 34, one arm of the crank being pivotally connected to a link 39, the latter also being pivotally connected to the cover carrier 36 rearwardly of the carriers pivotal support. The other arm of the bell crank 38 carries a roller 40 extending into operative contact with a stationary cam rail 41 having suitable support on the frame of the machine, and positioned parallel to the path of movement of the bracket 3 except as to the portion 42 immediately over the lowered portion 33 of the rail 32, the cam rail portion 12 being curved inwardly for a substantial distance. The cam rail actuates the bell crank in control of the position of the cover carrier. The outer ends of the latter normally are uptilted to retain the cover by gravity during the cleansing treatment, and upon arrival at the point of discharge of'the can, the carrier is lowered to horizontal to facilitate removal of the cover and replacement by another to be cleaned, through the cam action of the portion 42 of the cam rail.

It will here be apparent that my compact arrangement of a conveyer for cans and covers, with a circuitous path of travel, permits saving of much space occupied by the machine as compared with other machines of the straight-a-way type giving as much cleansing treatment. I have retained the obvious advantages of the endless flexible belt as the actuating element in the conveyer, at the same time have provided for ma1ntaining the can holders actuated thereby in upright position for travel in a definitely controlled path in accurate register with the successive devices for applying cleansing treatment to the cans and covers.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a can washing machine, a can con veyer comprising a pair of endless belts operatively supported in, horizontal parallel spaced paths of movement, a common driving means for said belts,rand a series of upright can holders secured to said belts and extending laterally therefrom for movement thereby in a path laterally outward of said belts, said can holders being arranged for the lateral entry and removal of cans positioned therein.

2. In a can washing machine, acan conveyer comprising a pair of endless belts'having operative support for movement in horizontal parallel spaced paths, a pair of stationary rails positioned adj acentand parallel to said belts respectively, a series of upright can holders secured laterally to said belts for movement in a path laterally outward of said belts and having supporting brackets adapted for operative bearing upon said rails, said can holders having hinged bottom plates for the under support of cans positioned therein, and a stationa'ry rail positioned beneath the path of said hinged bottom plates, said rail normally supporting saidbottom plates in horizontal position and having a portion thereof positioned to cause said bottom plates to swing downward while passing thereover.

3. In a can washing machine, a can conveyer comprising a series of spaced can holders having lateral supporting brackets and having hinged can-supporting bottom plates, a pair of stationary horizontal spaced parallel rails positioned for operative bearing thereupon by said supporting brackets for the s'upport'of said holders. a belt attached to said can holders and operable to move said can holders along said rails, and a stationary rail positioned under the path of said hinged bottom plates to normally support said bottom plates in horizontal position, said last rail having a portion thereof formed to cause said bottom plates to swing ing thereover.

4. In a can washing machine, a can conveyer comprising apair of endless belts having operative support for movement in horizontal parallel. spaced paths, a pair of staand.

downward while passare ' tending can supporting bottom plate pivotally mounted on said lower bracket, and a sta tionary rail positioned beneath the path of movement of the free end of said bottom plate and supporting said free end, said last rail being formed to control therelative position of said bottom plate from normally horizontal to downwardly inclined.

5. In a can washing machine, a can conveyer comprising a pair of endless belts having operative support for movement in horizontal parallel spaced paths, a pair of sta- V tionary rails positioned adjacent and parallel to said belts respectively, a pair of brackets respectively attached to said belts and respectively bearing operatively upon said rails, an upright bar rigidly connecting said brackets, laterally extending can retaining straps mounted on said bar, and a laterally extending can supporting bottom plate mounted on the lower one of said brackets.

6. In a can washing machine, a can con veyer comprising a series of upright can holders, means for supporting and moving said holders progressively in a defined path, each of said holders having mounted thereon a laterally extending bracket, a cover carrier pivotally mounted on said bracket and adapted to receive and retain .a can cover, a lever pivotally mounted on said bracket, a

tion with said carrier, and a stationary rail having operative engagement with said lever to control the position of said carrier, said last rail being formed to cause said carrier to swing from normally upwardly inclined position to horizontal position when said bottom plate is caused to swing into down- 'wardly inclined position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto attached my signature. 1

IRVING R. HIPPENMEYER.

link pivotally connecting said carrier and said lever, and a stationary rail positioned adjacent to the path of movement of said bracket, said rail having operative engagement with said lever to control the position of said carrier and to cause said carrier to swing from normally inclined position to horizontal position.

7. In a can washing machine, a can conveyer comprising a pair of endless belts having operative support for movement in horizontal parallel spaced paths, a pair of stationary rails positioned adjacent and parallel to said belts respectively, a can holder attached to said belts and'having operative bearing support upon said rails, said can holder having a hinged can supporting bottom plate, a stationary rail positioned to operatively support said bottom plate in normally horizontal position and having a portion thereof formed to cause said bottom plate to swing downward while passing thereover, a bracket mounted'on said can holder, a cover carrier pivotally mounted on

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