US1874854A - Master valve mechanism for vacuum sealing machines - Google Patents

Description

g- 1932- G. A. BARDET ET AL MASTER VALVE MECHANISM FOR VACUUM SEALING'MACHINES Filed Feb. 7, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 02057- OR6E V. Bazaar GEORLILVEHU'T R OR E 5 m Aug. 30, 1932.

MASTER VALVE MECHANISM FOR VACUUM SEALING MACHINES Filed Feb. 7. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 4/ I i?7 i l 4/ i i 27 (f 7 Ll P 6 J A? j II F L, l M

INVENTOR 01866 1?. Baeosr 'soes A TORNEYS i Patented Aug. '30, 1932 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. BARDET AND GEORGE V. BABDET, OI

EY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOBS TO M. J. B. (30., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIIOBNIA, A CORPORATION 01' DELAWARE MASTER VALVE MECHANISI FOR VACUUM SEALING MACHINE Application filed February 7, 1988. Serial No. 5252 520 This invention relates toimprovemerits in machines for sealing vacuumized containers,

' and it has particular reference to machines of that character described and illustrated 5 in U. S. Patent No. 1,531,018, issued on March and within which vented cans may be placed 7 for vacuumizing and sealing.

In the machine above referred to, all of the vacuumizing chambers have individual connections with a main vacuum chamber and for each chamber there are valves operable at proper times, first to efl'ect and then, later, to release the vacuum. In the operation of the machine, cans" to be vacuumized and sealed are delivered into the vacuumizing chambers as Athey are brought successively, by rotation of the machine, past a receiving station, then, as the chamber advances, it is closed tight and the valve in'its connection with the vacuum chamber is opened so that all air will be extracted from the vacuumizing chamber and also from the vented can. Then, while still under vacuum, the can vent is sealed and finally the sealed can is discharged from the machine in such time that the chamber may receive another can therein when it again reaches the receiving station.

'Machines of this type have proven very eflicient in operation, but it has been found that where but'one source of vacuum was employed and all the vacuumizin chambers were connected thereto, a fluctuation of vacuum occurs in all chambers connected to this main sourceeachtime a valve is opened for the vacuumizing of a newly charged chamber. This fluctuation sometimes causes the sealing metal, if it is still in molten state, to be blown ofl' the can vent or its being sucked into the can, thereby rendering the seal ineffective and necessitating another sealing operation.

In view of the above undesirable result, it has been the principal object of this invention to provide means for preventing the occurrence of any fluctuation of vacuum in any of the chambers wherein sealing is be ing done regardless of the opening or closing of connections with other vacuumizing cham- More specifically stated, the object of this invention resides in the elimination of the two valve mechanisms heretofore used with each of the vacuumizing chambers and their operating. devices, and in the substitution therefor of ifmaster valve for all the vacuumizing chambers; this being provided with two separate, vaouumized compartments, the

first 0 which is effective only for the initial vacuumizing of the chambers and the containers therein, and the other becomes connected with the chambers only after they have been vacuumized and disconnected from the first compartment, and its function is to maintain the vacuum previously created therein without fluctuation during the vent sealing operation.

Other objects of the invention reside in the various details of construction and the combination of parts and their mode of operatilon, as is hereinafter described. e

In accomplishing these objects, we have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherem- Figure 1 is a planview of a machine for vacuumizing containers, embodying a master valve mechanism constructed and applied in accordance with-the present invention. T

Figure 2 is an enlarged, sectional view of a part of the machine, showing one of the vacuumizing and can sealing unlts.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the master valve, showing also a connection with one of the vacuumizin chambers.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of the valve, taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a' vertical section through the machlne in its axial line.

The machine as shown comprises a bed plate 1, on which a hollow shaft 2'is vertically mounted and to the u per portion of this shaft is fixed a cam trac plate 3 upon which an insulator plate 4 is supported by a plurality of studs 5. On the insulator plate, two

concentric contact rings 66' are mounted.

At the lower endof the shaft 2, a thrust motion to-the worm wheel and, in turn, is

driven by the pulley 20 fixed on the outer end of the shaft. The pulley 20 is connected by a belt 21 to a motor 22 mounted on a suitable bracket 23 arranged on the bed plate. 7

Fixed to the rotary frame, is a plurality of tubular brackets 27 which extend downward--- ly on the outside of the stationary, circular 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 operated on is placed, the fixed flange 32 serving to center the can on the table. A plunger 33, having the head 34 normally lying flush with the top of the table, is slidably arranged within the tables shank and, at the lower end, is fitted with a fixed block 36 between which and the lower end of the shank 29 the coiled spring 37 is interposed. The block 36 is formed with a side extension adapted to slide in the slot 38 formed in the inner side of the tubular bracket. Rotary movement of the plunger in the block and of the table on 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 shaping of the cam track, vertical movement as desired may be imparted to the table and plunger.

Alined above each table 31, is an open bottom casing 43 rigidly mounted upon the retary frame by means of a bracket 44. The lower edge of the casing is flanged and provided with a conformable gasket 45, and the purposes of the cam track 42 and the related parts are such that, at the desired time, table 31 is raised into sealed engagement with the gasket, thus tightly closing the casing; it being understood, of course, that the cams are of uniform size.

Means are provided for automatically seat-.v

ing cans upon the can tables during rotation of the rotary frame and for removing them from the machine upon completion of the vacuumizing and sealing operation. Briefly stated, the seating means comprises a conveyer belt 46 and a star wheel 47 which is synchronized to deliver cans from the belt onto the can tables, and the removing means consists of an outgoing conveyer belt 48 onto which cans are guided from the machine by contact with'a guidev plate 49.

' It will be stated here that, in forming the can'heads, the center of the upper head is slightly depressed and punctured, as shown in Figure 2. The puncture serves as a vent through which the air may be drawn from the interior of the can before the can is sealed in shaft is provided with a copper point 52 which is surrounded by a heating element 53 energized through suitable conductors which, in turn, are connected with leads 54 and 55 fixed to binding posts 56 and 57 on the plate 10. The lower ends of the binding posts are provided with brushes 58 which form contacts with the rings 6 and heavy, insulated conductors 60 leading upwardly through the hollow shaft 2 supply the rings with current. At the proper time in the se quence of operation, the tipping iron is lowered into contact with the solder on the can, fusing it over the vent, and is then immediately withdrawn. This is accomplishedby means of a lever 65 pivotally mounted on the bracket 44 and pivotally connected to the shaft 50 of the tipping iron at one end and mounting alroller 66 at the other end. A cam track 67, fixed on the cam track plate 3, provides means for moving the lever at the proper time.

The means provided for vacuumizing the" chambers after the cans have been placed therein and after the chambers have been closed, but prior to the sealing operation, is as follows: Located centrally above the machine, is a master valve through which all vacuumizing chambers are connected with a source of vacuum. This valve comprises a closed, inner housing 70, of cylindrical form, mounted coaxially upon the upper end of the shaft 2 just above the plate 10; the mounting means here shown consisting of a downwardly extending sleeve 71 formed on the bottom of the housing, that is fixed.

revolves with the revolving frame of the ma-.

chine. Formed in this base portion 81, at equally spaced intervals, and corraponding in number to the'number of vacuumizing chambers in the machine, are radially directed channels 82 which, at their inner ends,

are directed upwardly and open to the innerthrough the housin 70. Leading from the outer ends of the c annels 82, are pipes 87 which connect with the various vacuumizing chambers provided by the casings 43. The pipes 87 enter these casings 43 at the top, as shown in Figure 2. An oil seal may be pro: vided between the stationary and rotating valve parts to prevent any possible leakage,

and these parts may be held together by any suitable means, such as by the placing of an iron ring 88 overithe two parts and bolting the ring to the revolvin parts with spring tensioning devices 89 ho ding the stationary part in the oil seal.

In operation, the incoming cans, which, it is understood, have been packed, the heads seamed on and with a. vent in the upper head of each, are supplied by any desired means with a small quantity of solder and flux before they reach the star wheel which operates to deposit'a can on each table as the rotary frame revolves. As a can reaches the point A in Figure 1, the table is raised into contact with the lower edge of its corresponding vacuumizing chamber to seal the latter. Afte'r the chamber has thus been sealed,'the inner end of the channel 82 in the valve casing 80, with which the tube 87 leadin from this particular chamberconnects, is brought into registration with the valve slot 84 and, in this way, connection is provided, through the chamber 74 of the mastervalve and the pipe 76, with the source of vacuum. The chamber and can are thus vacuumized and the container is ready for sealing. Further rotative movement of the machine and the valve casing brings the channel 82 into registration with the slot 85 in the bottom wall of the compartment 75 and thus connection is maintained with the source of vacuum through this compartment and the pipe 77. During the time the channel 82 travels from the final end of slot 84 to the final end of slot 85, that is, through the interval designated from B to C in Figure 1, the sealing operation takes place byactuation of the soldering iron downwardly against the piece of solder carried'on the can top which causes the solder to melt and cover the vent in the can end. The fused solder is'then given a short cooling interval with no fluctuation in degree of vacuum and, when the can has progressed'to the position designated at D in Figure 1, the channel 82 comes into registration with the intake port 86 through the housing which permits air to rush into the vacuumized chamber. The can then begins its return to lowered position and, at the position E, is caught by. the guide 49 and diverted to the outgoing conveyer.

It is to be pointed out here that by providing the machine with a master valve of this character, having the two separate compartments each connected with a source of vacuum of great volume and with which the vacuumizing chambers are caused, as the ma: chine rotates, to be successively connected, the, previously noted damage done to the solder before it has cooled by fluctuation of vacuum in the sealing chambers is overcome; this being due to the fact that the chambers 43 are completely vacuumized through their connection with the first compartment of the master valve and this state of vacuum is maintained by connection with the second compartment. Fluctuation of vacuum will occur, of course, in the compartment 74 by reason of the fact that air filled chambers are being brought regularly into communication with it, butsealing of the containers does not take place while the chambers are incommunication with compartment 74 but only after they have been cut off from this compartment and brought into communication "with the second compartment. No fluctuation of vacuum will occur in this second compartment for the reason that the chambers are completely vacuumized by the time they are brought into communication with it.

It' is to be understood that a master valve of this character can be used with various types of rotary machines whether or not theyuse the same type of sealing or solderin mechanism. For this reason, it is not desirefi that our claims be confined to the use of a valve of this character only with that particular mechanism with which it has been described.

Having thus described our invention, what i we claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I f v 1. A vacuumizing machine comprising a plurality'of vacuumizing chambers, a source of vacuum'and a master valve for timing the application of vacuum from the source to each of the vacuumizing chambers.

2. A vacuumizing machine comprising a plurality of vacumizing chambers, a source of vacuum and a master valve for timing the application of vacuum from said source to each of'the vacuumizing chambers and releasing of the vacuum therefrom.

3. A vacuumizing machine comprising a plurality of vacuumizing chambers, a source of vacuum, means for sealing cans while contained in said chambers under vacuum and a under vacuum, a source of vacuum and a master valve connected with said source and with the several chambers for timing the api wherein sealing IS containers plication of vacuum and adapted to. preclude any inter-communicatlon, through the vacuumizing connections, between those chambers in progress and those wherein vacuumization is being efiected.

5. In a machine of the character described, comprising aplurality of vacuumizing chambers within which vented placed for sealing and means for sealing the while located in the chambers'under vacuum, a source of vacuum and a master valve for timing the application of vacuum to and its release from the chambers and Qwhereby the chambers in which the sealing operation is being carried on are disconnect ed from those wherein vacuumization is being effected and those which are open toatmosphere. l I

6. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of vacuumizing chambers and means for sealing vented cans while contained in said chambers under vacuum, a source of vacuum anda master valve connected with id source of vaccum through which all chambers may be vacuumized andwhereb each chamber, after being vacuumized and during the sealing operation', is caused to be disconnected from those chambers wherein vacuumizing is taking place.

7. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of vacuumizing chambers and means for sealing vented cans while contained in said chambers under vacuum,

. a source of vacuum and a master valve connected with the said source of vacuum and individually with each of the said chambers and comprising separate vacuumized compartments with which the chambers are successively connected, first for effecting their vacuumization and then for maintaining thisvacuum during the sealing operation.

8. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of vacuumizing chambers, means for sealing vented cans while contained in said chambers under vacuum, a constant source of vacuum and a master valve for timing the vacuumization of the chambers and comprising separate compartments individually connected with the source of vacuum and a member associated therewith operable to connect the-chambers, first with one of said compartments to effect vacuumization of the chamber, and then with the other compartment to maintain the vaccum during the sealing operation.

9. Ina machine of thecharacter described,

containers may be a M H comprising a plurality df vacuumizing chambers, a constant source of vacuum and a mas ter valve for timing the application of vacuum to the chambers, comprising a closed housing provided; with two separate compartmen'ts individually connected with the source of vacuum'and a movable member providing an individual connectlon w1th each of the vacuumizing chambers and which is mov- I able to successively connect the chambers,

first with one (if sa1d compartments for vacuumizing, and then with the other for maintaining the vacuum, and means operable to seal the cans while their chambers are in communication with the second of said compartments.

10. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of vacuumizing cham-- 'bers, a constant source of vacuum, a master valve for timing the application of vacuum to and its release from said chambers, com prising astationary housing provided with two separate compartments individually connected with the source of vacuum, and a casing fitted thereon through which individual connections are made with eachof the vacuumizing chambers and which is movable to successively connect the chambers, first with one of said compartments to effect vacuumization, and then with the other compartment to maintain the vacuum, and means for tipping the cans in the chambers during the periods of connection of said chambers with the second of said compartments.

11. In a machine of the character described, a rotary frame, a plurality of vacuumizing chambers carried thereby wherein vented containers may be sealed while held under vacuum, a constant source of vacuum, a master valve for timing the application of vacuum andits release from the said chambers, comprising a stationary housing provided -with two separate compartments having individual connections with the source of vacuum and a casing rotatable thereon with the frame and having channels therein connected individually with each of said chambers and adapted, by rotation of the casing, to be brought successively into communication, first with one of said compartments to effect vacuumization of the chambers. and then with the other to maintain the vacuum, and means operable to seal the cans while the chambers are in connection with the second compartment of the valve.

12. In a machine of the chara ter described,

a rotary frame, a plurality o vacuumizing chambers carried thereby wherein vented consource of vacuum, a casing fitted to said housing to revolve thereon with the frame; said casing being provided with channels connected individually with the vacuumizing chambers and adapted, on rotation of the casing to be brought successively into registration with the slots of said vacuumized compartments of the housing, and means for seal-' ing the cans in said chambers while the latter are in communication with the vacuum reached compartment.

13. In a machine of the character described, a rotary frame, a plurality of vacuumizing chambers carried thereby wherein vented containers may be sealed while held under vacuum, a constant source of vacuum. a master valve for timing the application of vacuum to and its release from the said chambers, comprising a stationary housing provided'with an exhaust port therethrough and two separate compartments having individual connections with the source of vacuum and a valve casing rotatable thereon and having channels therein connected individually with each of said chambers and adapted, by rotation of the casing, to be brought successively into communication, first with one of said compartments to efi'ect vacuumization of the chambers, then with the other to maintain the vacuum, and finally into registrationwith the inlet port to release the vacuum, and means for sealing the cans in the chambers while the latter are in communication with the second of said compartments.

Signed at San Francisco, California, this 30th day of January, 1928.

GEORGE A. BARDET. GEORGE V. BARDET.

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