US1998462A - Art of liquid filling - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1935. J. D. LE FRANK 1,993,462

ART OF LIQUID FILLING Filed July 3, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jayr J gag INVENTORKV Y a ATTORNEYS J. D. .LE FRANK ART OF LIQUID FILLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1933 April '23, 1 35.

.dtented Apr. 23, 1935 4 7 v v I UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ART F LIQUID FILLING John. Daniel Le Frank, Maplewood, J., assignmto American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 3, 1933, Serial No. 678,96 11. Claims. (01. 226-116) The present invention relates to the art of Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are plan sectional views taken liquid filling and has particular reference to 1311- through the valve unit and illustrating different ing liquid into tin cans or the like by means of valve settings; and v vacuum so that the height of fill within the can Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are schematic transverse sec- 5 is accurately controlled by control of the degree tional views of the valve showing a part of the 5 I of vacuum. can being taken respectively along the section The invention contemplates the vacuumizing lines 6-6, 1-1 and 8-8 in the respective plan of the interior of a can at a substantially high views 3, 4 and 5.

degree of vacuum and thence introducing given It is the'present purpose to illustrate only suifilO quantities of atmospheric air into the vacuum-- cient of an apparatus to'give a clear understand- 10 ized space so that the degree of vacuum is reduced ing of the features of the 'present invention and to a point where the proper head space will result to this end the'drawings disclose a portion of a, in the can after filling, to the end that the height vacuum filling head which may be a part of a of fill is easily controlled and easily varied withmore elaborate machine. i

[5 out the necessity of changing vacuum pumps or Such a disclosure embodies a liquid tank 2| 5 other vacuum producing means for the original (Fi 1) which is closed at its bottom by a plate withdrawal of air from the can. 22 located in a depression 23 formed in the bot An important object of the invention is the tom 24 of the tank. This tank is adapted to provision of a method and such parts of an appa- Contain a filling liquid 25 which is to be put into 30 ratus as will create in'a simple manner, a definite t A filling head unit 3| is S cu 0 t vacuumized condition within a can which when outer Wall Of t tank 21 and is supported theresubjected to the flow of a liquid will produce a y. t is u t being adapted to receive a an 3 liquid fill in the can to a predetermined height. which in most cases will partially contain a solid The invention also contemplates a ready a d content 33 such as tomatoes or the like and 33 exact adjustment of the amount of air introduced which is 130 be filled with liquid 25 into a vacuumized can so that an adjusted degree The fllling h ad u 3| Comprises a dy 35 i of fill within limits may be easily obtained. (Fi 1 a d w ich is fo med Witha reduced One simple form of apparatus contemplated for c 36 merging into a Vertically extending ht ellecting the desired results requires merely the angled foot 31 y means of which it s j t- ;0 operation of a valveto present a clamped or h ably secured to and carried on the outside Wall open mouth can successively to several operations the bank Q foot P 37 ay be wherein the all is first substantially removed clamped to the side wall o the tank in any suitfrom the-can interior, then the degree of vacuum able mahnerr in the can is reduced by admission of a predeter- The unit body Carries a rubber ng 4 i d m nt of atmospheric air for t purpose which is vulcanized or otherwise secured on the 35 of regulating the amount of liquid which will be Outside of a holding ring 2. Th ho din i drawninto the vacuumized interior at the next is formed with a top plate 43which rests against or filling step, the result of these operations the under Surface ofthe y A pp 44 effecting a fill while leaving a definite head space is located on the under Side Of this .p t 3 10 in the can, the amount of air introduced at the and the ring 42 and pp 44 a e held in fixed.

second step giving such control. position 011 the y 35 y a Screw 45.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the rubber ring 4| y b med with an invention will be apparent as it is better underinclined lower edge which is adapted 170 e enstood from the following description, which, ia d by the pp p d of the can 32'when :5 taken in connection with the accompanyin the latter is raised into position on a can sup- 45 drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment P Unit The resiliency 0f the ring 00- thereof. operates with the support to efiect a tight seal Referring to the drawings: between the head and the open end of the can Figure 1 is a sectional view of apart of an apwhi w n a p d against the rubber ring is .0 paratllsembodying a filling head, a valve u it, in position for vacuumizing and filling. The can and clamping devices for holdinga can sealed support unit 46 may be raised in any suitable against atmosphere while vacuumizingand fillmanner to effect the clamping function. ing, the filling head and valve positions shown It is contemplated that a .high vacuum will being a sectional disclosure as viewed along the usually be first drawn or, in other words, the r broken line ll in Fig.2; air will be removed substantially from the interior of the clamped can 32 prior to filling and in order to preventcollapse or distortion of the can wall by the excessive atmosphericpressure on the outside can, encircling and protecting instrumentalities are provided.

These clamp against the wall of the can and by preventing their movement during the vacuumizing operation prevent distortion or collapse. For this purpose a fixed jaw 5| (Fig. 1) is secured to the can support unit 46 and is carried up with the can and the unit. The inner wall of this jaw corresponds in size and curvature with the exterior wall of the can body 32 and is substantially a half cylinder so that a substantial section of the can body is engaged by the jaw.

A movable jaw 52 is provided for encircling the opposite half portion of the can wall. The jaw 52 is secured to a holding member 53 which is provided with spaced arms 54 which are pivotally mounted on a pin 55 carried in the body part 35. The movable jaw can be hinged on the pin 55 through practically 135 of movement and a cam, or more accurately, two cams control such movement.

In one position the movable jaw 52 is raised so that the can 32 may be properly inserted on the lifting device 46 and in the other position (Fig. l) the movable jaw is held in can wall protecting position where it cooperates with the fixed jaw 5|, the two jaws encircling the can body during its vacuumization and filling.

The arms 54 provide bearings for a horizontal pin 56 which carries a cam roller plate 51. The cam roller plate carries a shouldered and headed stud 6| which is held by a locknut 62. The stud 6| provides a rotatable support for a cam roller 63 which rides against a cam track 64 when the movable jaw 52 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The roller 63 also cooperates with another cam when swinging and holding the jaw 52 away from the can.

The horizontal pin 56 rocking in its bearings allows for sliding movement between the frame part 53 and the cam roller mounting 51 and provides for a yielding clamping action of the movable jaw 52 on the wall of the can as it is held in the filling head. When in this clamping position stop lugs 65 do not touch the jaw frame 53 and have no mission but do so engage the frame to limit movement of the plate 51 on the frame when the jaw 52 is lifted. The stop lugs are formed as integral parts of the mounting 51.

The frame part 51 is provided with a bore 1| in which a spring barrel 12 is slidably mounted. A spring 13 located in the spring barrel normally tends to push the latter outwardly against the jaw 52 to hold the cam roller 63 against the can 64 and this provides the yielding connection previously referred to. With the can 32 securely clamped within the filling head 3| and its upper edge engaging the rubber 4| the can is ready for the first or vacuumizing step.

To control this vacuumizing step and also succeeding steps in the filling of the can, a valve unit is utilized which cooperates with the filling head. The valve unit is carried in a bracket 8| provided with a foot 82 located in a vertical groove 83 formed in the tank wall 2| directly above the filling head body foot 31.

Provision is made for a fine adjustment of the vertical position of the valve position and a vertical adjusting bolt 84 is located within the foot 82 of the bracket 8| for this purpose. This bolt is threadedly connected at 85 with the bracket and is formed with a head 86 which rests in 9.

slot 81 formed in the filling head body foot. The upper end of the bolt 84 extends above the bracket BI and carries a nut 88 which is pinned on the bolt. This-nut provides means for turning the bolt to raise and lower the bracket into the desired position. After the bracket has been properly located it is secured to the tank wall 2| in any suitable manner.

Each bracket 8| supports the actuation or -control for a rotary valve 9| which is located above the filling head body 35. The valve 9| is formed with a smooth bottom surface which engages a similar upper surface of the body member and these surfaces are closely fitted that they provide an air tight and liquid tight joint which is maintained during rotation of the valve to effect the various filling operations.

The valve 9| has a stem 92 which connects in a slot and tongue joint 93 to the lower end of a vertically extending sleeve 94. This sleeve is rotatably mounted in the bracket 8| and extends upwardly to a point above the bracket. The upper end of the sleeve carries an operating spider 95 by means of which it is actuated to rotate the valve 9| through substantially at each operation. A spacer block 96 is also mounted on the sleeve 94 below the spider 95 and the locknut 91 threadedly engaging the upper threaded end of the sleeve, holds the parts together as a unit and in rotatable position within the bracket 8|.

Each filling head body 3| (Figs. 1 and 2) is formed with a vertical passageway IOI which connects with an inclined passageway I02. This latter opening communicates with an inclined passageway I03 formed in the bottom 24 of the tank 2|. The opposite end of the passageway I03 terminates in the side wall of a chamber I04 which is located in the bottom of the tank below the bottom plate 22. This chamber I04'is suitably connected at all times with a source of vacuum such as a vacuum pump or vacuum tank and any air introduced into the chamber I04 is immediately withdrawn.

Other passages are also formed in the filling head body 35 as well as in the valve 9| and it is the mission of the latter to connect certain of these body passageways. Different positions of the valve provide for the proper selection of such of these connections as are desired to produce a given result as will now be explained.

An oblong chamber IN is formed in the lower part of the valve 9| and one end of this opening is at the center of the valve and is therefore at all times in communication with the upper end of the passageway IOI.' It is accordingly exhausted of air at all times. When the can 32 is first raised into the filling head the valve and body are in the relative position as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 the passageway IOI being the only connection at such time with the chamber I01. At the same time the interior of the can is open to atmosphere by means of passages in both valve and filling head body.

The filling head body 35 is cut through with a nearly vertical passageway III, the lower end of which registers with an opening |I2 cut through the top 43 of the ring 42 and this opens into the space within the ring and at the top part of the clamped can 32. The upper end of the passageway I l registers at this time with an inclined port II3 formed in the valve 9| and it is by means of these openings II3, III, II! that the upper open end of the can is in communication with the atmosphere.

ing at all times in communication with the charti- Both the head body 35 and the valve 9| in. the plan views (Figs. 2 to 5jinclusive) are marked with arrows which indicate a definite point on each and by referring to the different views and to the relative positions of the head and valve arrows, the angular valve position may be easily noted. The valve movement takes place in acounter-clockwise direction. The neutral valve 90 of travel and the position of the parts after such movement is indicated in Fig. 2 where it will be observed that the two arrows o are 90 separate. This valve position gives the'vacuumizing step of the apparatus and at such time the interior of the can is in communication with the vacuum 7 chamber I 04.

It will also be observed that the chamber I01 (Figs, 1 and 2) now joins the passageways IDI,"

H I and air is accordingly withdrawn from the interior of the can through the openings I I2, I I I, I01, IDI, I02, I03 and the 'chamber I04. Since the chamber I64'is at all times. on vacuum which is preferably a high degree of :vacuum the interior of the can is correspondingly brought into' the highly vacuumized state.

The sec. 1d movement of the valve is through.

a further 90 of turn or from the position of Figs. 1 and 2 through or pastthe-valve positions of Figs. 4 and 7. This is, a fly position which means-that the valve does not stop there but i 'moveson to its stop position, the arrows o .in Fig. 4 indicating that the valve has not quitereached .its full 90 of turn.

' The relation of the parts shown is utilized for the introduction "of a given quantity'of atmospheric air into the interior of the highly vacuumized can. The short time in which connection is made for this purpose between the atmosphere and the interior of the can is purposely provided to limit the amount of atmospheric air passing into the can. This passage of air into the can and the purpose of the operation will now be described. i The stem 92 of the valve 9| is provided with a counter bore I I5 (Figs. 1 and 6) in which a packing gland H6 is disposed to provide an air tight I seat for the lower end of a tube II! which is is provided with a thumb screw H9 which conlocated inside of the sleeve 94. This tube is inserted from above and its lower end where it passes into the valve stem is inserted in the packing gland I I6, this construction permitting free rotation of the valve relative to the tube but .pre-' venting lateral movement.

A needle valve I I8 is threadedly engaged in the upper end of the tube II'I,-this being at a point above the locknut 91 of. the sleeve 94. This valve trols a valve opening I2I formed in the valve body and which leads into the interior of the tube I H. A lateral port I22 is formed in the body of the valve '8 and is open to atmosphere, the air passes the position of Figs. 4 and '7 an inclined port I26 connects the chamber I25with the passageway III, the upper end of the port I26 beber- I25. Atmosphere passes through the tube II! but its amount is controlled bythe n eedle valve I I8. It expands andfills the interior of the vacuumized can.

The opening I 2 I,in the needle valve I I6 is closely adjusted to control to an extremely delicate point theamount of air which will passinto the tube Ill and into theinteriorof thejvacuumized can during: the time the lower end of the port I26 is in register with the passageway .I I I. In this way an exact precletermined amount'of atmospheric air is introduced into the vacuumized in-' .terior of the can.v Sufficient air is thus 'brought;

into the space within the can and this ,air supply is cut off at the right time by'the continuedniovement of the valve.

The valve at its stop position cuts off registra tion between the port I26 and passageway III and locks any further inflow of air into the can. During the stop position or when thevalve 9| is on its second period of rest this air which has been introduced into the can has ample time to equalize and completely fills the interior of the can as an expanded or rarefied atmosphere.

The degree of rarefication is accurately figured in accordance with the height of liquid fill desired in the can.

.While the valve is at rest on its second stop position one .end of a chamber I3I formed in the valve BI is in communication with a vertical section I32 of a passageway I33 formed in the filling head body 35. This chamber (Fig. 4) is formed with arcuate side walls and rounded ends and the forward end of the chamber is just coming into communication with the passageway I32 as the valve passes its fly position of Fig. 4.

I -The passageway I33 in the body 35 is at alltimes in communicationwith a passageway I34 formed in the. bottom 24 of the tank 2I and the inner end of this passageway is open to the liquid 25 in the tank. The passageways I32, I33 and I34 areat-all time's filled with liquid as long as there is any liquid in the tanlband as soon as the chamber I3I comes intocommunication with the upper end of the passageway I32 the liquid flows into and fills the chamber I3I. It

is not until the next or third valve movement, however, that this chamber I3I has any other connection than with the passageway I 32.

The third quadrant of movement of the valve 9I positions the parts for filling, this being disclosed in Figs. 5 and 8. At such time the chamber I3I passes over and communicates with the upper end of a slightly inclined passageway I4I formed in the head body 35. As soon as this takes place the liquid within the chamber I3I flows through the passagewayMI- and through a communicating opening I42 cut in the top wall 43 of the ring 42 and oninto the interior of the can. This filling is very rapid since a substantial vacuum is in the can and atmosphere is at all times pressing down on the surface of the liquid in the tank.

It will be recalled that a given quantity of the can. v

This space above the liquid is constantly reduced as more liquid passes into the can interior and there comes a time when the resulting compression of air again equals atmospheric pressure or a little in excess of it to also overcome the hydrostatic head of the higher level in the tank. When such a point of compression is reached a balance takes place and the flow of liquid ceases.

The height to which the liquid rises in the can depends entirely upon the amount of air trapped in the can as determined by the amount of atmospheric air which is introduced into the interior of the can through the needle valve H8. Each can therefore passing through the machine with a given setting of the needle valve is evenly filled.

By changing the setting I IQ of the needle valve more or less air is introduced into the can and a, greater or lesser degree of vacuum is provided. This directly affects the head space eventually resulting in the can as it is filled and by means of such adjustment any desired height of fill of the liquid within the can is obtained. Thus it will be apparent that the vacuumizing energy need not be disturbed to adjust for the fill of liquid and the same vacuum pump installation is used for all fills. A high vacuum is naturally more desirable as this first vacuumization feature must be sufficient to cover or include the highest vacuum (highest fill) desired.

On the fourth movement of the valve 9| the parts are shifted from the position indicated in Figs.-5 and 8 back to the positions of Figs. 3 and 6 and in the latter position air flows into the top of the filled can. It is then free to be removed, all of the steps of filling having been completed at such time.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the steps of the process described and their order of accomplishm'ent without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the process hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height which comprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can, introducing a small quantity of atmospheric air into the vacuumized can to reduce the degree of vacuum to a desired amount in accordance with the amount oi fill desired, and thence flowing liquid into the can to the height permitted by the vacuumized condition of the can.

2. I'he method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height which comprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can to a vacuum higher than required for the amount of liquid fill desired, introducing a predetermined quantity of atmospheric air into the highly vacuumized can to reduce the degree of vacuum to the exact amount of vacuum required for the desired fill, and thence flowing liquid into the can to the desired height as determined by the degree of vacuum.

3, The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height which comprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can to a relatively high vacuum, introducing a predetermined quantity of atmospheric air into the highly vacuumized can to reduce the degree of vacuum, the exact amount of air so introduced being equal to that required for the desired head space for the filled can, and thence causing the liquid to flow into the can until stopped by the air in said head space.

4. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height which comprises, vacuumizing the interior of the can to a relatively high vacuum, holding the can in this vacuumized condition to stabilize its interior, introducing a predetermined quantity of atmospheric air into the highly vacuumized can and permitting its diffusion into said interior to reduce the degree of vacuum and to provide a head space atmosphere, and thence introducing liquid under gravity fiow into the can so that its rarefied atmosphere is constantly changed, the air being compressed as the can is filling, this air forming a head space above the liquid and when compressed to a sufficient degree to offset the force of gravity flow of the liquid preventing further filling of the can.

5. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height which comprises, sealing the open end of a can with an air-tight joint, vacuumizing the interior of the can to a higher vacuum than required for the filling while maintaining said seal, introducing a predetermined quantity of atmospheric air into the vacuumized can and permitting its diffusion into said interior while still sealed to reduce the degree of vacuum and provide a definite head space atmosphere for the can, and thence introducing liquid under a gravity flow into the can without bre king said seal so that the can is filled with its head space atmosphere above the liquid.

6. The method of liquid filling cans to a predetermined height which comprises, clamping the can by protecting walls to prevent its collapse during vacuumizing, vacuumizing the interior of the canwith a relatively high vacuum while so protected and clamped, introducing a predetermined quantity of atmospheric air into the highly vacuumized can and permitting its diffusion into said interior to reduce the degree of vacuum and to provide a head space atmosphere, and thence introducing liquid under a gravity flow into the can so that the rarefied atmosphere therein is constantly compressed as the can is filled until such compression is sufficient to offset the force of fiow of the liquid into the can.

7. A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, a filling head adapted to hold a can to be filled, means operating through said head for vacuumizing the interior of said held can, means for introducing a definite quantity of atmospheric air into said vacuumized can to alter its degree of vacuum, and means for filling said can with liquid to a predetermined level in accordance with its degree of vacuum.

8. A vacuum fillingmachine for filling cans with a liquid, comprising in combination, a filling head adapted to hold a can to be filled, clamping jaws for protecting the can wall against collapse, means operating through said head for vacuumizing the interior of said held can to a relatively high degree of vacuum, means for introducing a definite quantity of atmospheric air into said vacuumized can to reduce its degree of vacuum in amount required for the desired amount of fill, and means for filling said can with liquid to the predetermined level as determined by its degree of vacuum.

9. A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, a liquid supply tank, a filling head mounted adjacent said tank and adapted to hold a can to be filled, and a combination valve unit associated with said head for establishing communication when in one position between the interior of the held can and a source of vacuum, in a second position between said can interior and a quantity of atmospheric air, and in a third position between the interior of said can and the interior of the said supply tank whereby the said can is filled with liquid to a predetermined height.

10. A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, a liquid supply tank containing a liquid open to atmosphere, a filling head mounted adjacent said tank and adapted .to hold a can to be filled, and a combination valve unit associated with said head for establishing communication when in one position between the interior of the held can and a source of vacuum to vacuumize the can interior to a relatively high degree of vacuum, in a second position between said can and atmospheric air for a definite time to receive a predetermined quantity of air into the can, and in a third position between said can and the interior of the said supply tank whereby the former is filled with liquid to a predetermined height.

11. 'A vacuum filling machine for cans, comprising in combination, a filling head adapted to hold a can to be filled, means operating through said head for vacuumizing the interior of said held can, means for holding said vacuumized can in its vacuumized condition, means for introducing atmospheric airinto said vacuumized can to alter its degree of vacuum, means for filling said can with liquid, and means for altering the amount of atmospheric air introduced to adjust for a definite head space in the can being filled so that the liquid flowing therein will fill the can to a predetermined height of level.

JOHN DANIEL LE FRANK.

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