US2062535A - Can treating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1936. R? HOMPSON 2,062,535

CAN TREATING APPARATUS.

Filed March 13, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEAYITORV l/er f if fi m.

qiTT EY.

Dec; 1, 1936.

A. R. THOMPSON CAN TREATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sh e'et 2 Filed March l5, 1954 INVENTOR. i/er/ fi. 7304000. (52,5 54

, ATT EY Dec. 1, 1936.

CAN TREATING APPARATUS Filed March 13, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. l/arf. ff, Tfiagr/sarz.

A. R. THOMPSON I 2,062,535 v Dec. 1, 1936. A TH N FSOI 2,062,535

CAN TREATING APPARATUS Filed March 13, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ABHHHHHHHHHIIHHHHHHH IIII IIIIIIIDIIIIII 'JIIHRHHHRHHHHHHIHHH BIIIIIIIIIIDHEIIII,U

rr NEY Dec. 1, 1936. A. R. THCMPSON 2,062,535

CAN TREATING APPARATUi Filed March 13, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. l/zr/f fi. [Jam J00.

p 7- QATTO. EY."

Patented Dec. 1, 1936 PATENT OFFICE.

CAN TREATING APPARATUS Albert R. Thompson, San Jose, Calii'., assignoi: Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Call! a corporation of Delaware Application March 13, 1934, Serial No. 115.279

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to can treating apparatus such as may be used in the canning industry for cooking, cooling, or otherwise processing or treating canned goods and the like, and is particularly concerned with the provision of a novel form of apparatus of this character for the continuous treatment of such goods, as distinguished from socalled batch" treatment thereof.

.Among various undesirable features'which have may be mentioned their general inability to accommodate cans of various sizes or shapes, thus necessitating duplication of equipment whenever canned goods of various sizes or shapes is required to be processed. Moreover, the general limited capacity of such machines in proportion to their size is well known, and this characteristic requires the provision of large and ponderous equipment where any considerable capacity is desired. Obviously, the expense of such equipinent and the provision of adequate floor space therefor present serious problems.

My invention is concerned with the provision of -a continuous treating machine in which the foregoing disadvantages, as well as various others well known to the art, are largely overcome. For.

example, it. may be stated that among the important objects of my invention are the provision of a continuous treating apparatus which is of unusually large capacity, as well as the provisionof such an apparatus which is capable of handling any size or shape of cans.

It is also an important object to provide a ma chine of this. character which... although having a large capacity, is. relatively small in size and occupies a minimum of floor space as compared with prior machines of comparable capacity.

- Another object is to provide a continuous treating machine through which canned goods may be passed with substantially no agitation of their contents, this being a highly desirable feature,

particularly in the processing of certain kinds of I canned foodstufis which break down if they are over agitated during processing.

Another object is to provide a continuous treating machine through which canned goods may be passed without danger of abrasion 'to the can bodies, this being a disadvantage heretofore commonly met with. The ordinary tin cans in which .such a large proportion of comestibles are marketed are customarily made of sheet iron over laid with a very thin coating of tin which is easily worn off, thereby exposing the sheetiron tion, of a practical application 01 the invention body therebeneath, which not only make the cans unsightly, but exposes them to rust.

Still another object'is to provide a can treating apparatus through which it is possible to pass the cans in indiscriminately timed arrangement, thereby eliminating the necessity for special timing or positioning mechanism in feeding the cans thereto.

A further object is to provide a combined cooking and cooling apparatus in which the speed 01 1o operation of the cooker may be-varied independently of the cooler and the feed, transfer and discharge devices, whereby the cooking period may be varied without afiecting the rateof operation of the latter devices or the cooler.

Still further objects are to provide a machine for the purpose described in which the cans undergoing 'trea.tment'cannot jam the machine irrespectivg of their shape or condition; which'is of I greatly simplified construction; is comparatively inexpensive to build and maintain; and which is withal highly efllcient andthoroughly satisfactory in operation. a a

With these objects and advantages in view, as well as numerous others which will become more apparent as the description proceeds. it is believed that the invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in secas embodied in both a cooker and cooler, which are illustrated as being interconnected for the continuous cooking and cooling of canned goods.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same equipment.

Figure 3 is an irregular sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1. p

Figure 4 is a'detail view, partly-in elevation and partly in section, showingthe construction of the helical can advancing actuating mechanism, this being the same in both the cooker and the cooler. 4

Figure 5 is a detail cross sectional view taken, for example, alongthe line 5-5 of Figure 3, illustrating in larger scale the construction of the helical canway and carrier bars and showing the manner in which the cans are supported and ad- 'vanced.

Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the cycle of.

movement or the carrier bars.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the driving gears and cam mechanism for operating the heli-' cal carrier bars in both thecooker and the cooler.

[Figure 8 is a plan view of the gear and cam mechanism shown in Figure 7. Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the cam illustrated in Figs. land 8.

I through.

, shell I is an upwardly dished plate 5 which serves The cooking unit A includes a vertical cylindrical shell I closed at its upper end by a transverse channel iron bridge member 2 and cover plates 3 and 4, the bridge member 2 also serving to support the'bearings for the shafting. shown mounted thereon. In the lower, portion of the as a bottom closure for-the cooker, and above this plate there is disposeda steam coil 6 which is suitably apertured to permit discharge of steam therefrom for the purpose of heating the interior of the shell to a suitable cooking or sterilizing temperature.

The cooling unit also includes a vertical cylindrical shell I which may be open at its top as shown, if desired, and extendingacross its top is another channel iron bridge member 8 which also serves as a support for bearings, gears and shafting mounted thereon. An upwardly dished plate 9 forms a bottom closure for the cooler, corresponding to the dished plate 5 of the cooker.

Drain pipes are provided at I0 and II for discharging, respectively, the condensed heating medium from the cooker and the used cooling liquid from the cooler.

The cans to be processed are introduced in indiscriminate order into the cooking or sterilizing. chamber within the cookershell through an inlet opening I2 by means of a rotary feed disc I3 situated, in part, in the inlet opening. The feed disc I3 is mounted for operation on a vertical shaft I4 about. the center' of which the discrotates, and incoming cans may be delivered to the feed ,disc, preferably in upright positions, by means .of a chute I5 from which they move onto the upper surface of the disc for introduction into the cooker. The side walls of the chute I5 are extended and curved as at I 6 and I! so as to deflect the incoming cans and cause them to move onto the upper extremity of a helical canway I8, down which the cans are periodically advanced in step by step movement by a carrier mechanism presently to be described.

Situated at the lower'extremity of the cooker canway I8 and mounted on a vertical shaft I9, disposed intermediate the cooker and the cooler,

is a rotary transfer disc 20 which projects on one side into the cooker through a discharge opening 2| in the cooker shell I and on the opposite side into the .cooler through an inlet opening 22 inthe cooler shell I. is to transfer cans from the: lower extremity of the cooker canway to the lower extremity of a similar helical canway 23 in the cooler, from which point the cans are advanced upwardly over the cooler canway in the same manner as they are advanced through the cooker. During the travel of the cans through the cooler they are subjected to the action of. a cooling medium, which may be in the form of a showerof cooling water, discharged in sprays from' a shower pipe 24. disposed.

in the top portion-of the cooler.

Situated near the topand partly within the cooler, is a rotary discharge disc 25 mountedon a vertical shaft 26. This discharge disc is disposed in registration with the upper extremity of the cooler canway and arranged to receive cans therefrom and to discharge them from the cooler by way of -a discharge chute 2'I.

The function of this disc The directions of rotation of the feed, transfer, and discharge discs l3, 20 and 25, respectively, are indicated by suitable arrows in connection with each. These discs are connected together through shafts 28, I9 and 30, respectively journalled in suitable sets of bearings 3I3I, 32-32 and 33-33, and the several bevel gears 34 to M, inclusive, are driven by an electric motor 42 through the medium of a chain .43 trained around the motor sprocket 44 and a sprocket 45 mounted on a shaft 46; asecond chain 4I trained around a sprocket 48 on shaft 46 and sprocket 49 on the outer end of a shaft 50 which carries a bevel gear 5| on its inner end intermeshing with a bevel gear 52 keyed to the shaft 30.

Generally described, the can conveying mechanisms in the cooker and cooler include the canways I8 and 23, constructed to include a series of longitudinally extendinginterstices or slots within whichoperate a plurality of movable can lifting and carrying members driven in circuitous paths, so that they alternately rise above the canways into supporting engagement with the crowd of cans thereon to lift and carry the cans bodily during their forward. movement, and then descend below the 'canways out of engagement with the .cans to leave the latter resting upon the canways during the rearward movement of the carriers, whereby the cans are periodically advanced over the canways in step by step move-,

ment.

Inasmuch as the can conveying mechanisms in the cooker and cooler are substantially identical, a description of that in the cooker. will suffice for both. As best seen in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the

canway I8 is made up of a series of concentrically extensive therewith. The movable carrier bars are mounted for operation by mechanism now to be described in circuitous paths, so that they rise above the canways to lift and carry the cans bodily during their forward movement, and descend below the canways out of engagement with the cans to leave the latter resting upon the canwa'ys during the rearward movement of the carrier bars."

As best seen in Figure 4, the carrier bars 56 are mounted upon a plurality of horizontal arms 51 projecting radially'from a series of stacked hub members 58, the arms 51 being interspaced between the stationary brackets 54 and arranged at stepped elevations in helical relation, similar to the steps of a spiral stairway. The hubs 56 are mounted upon a vertical shaft or axle .59 extending axially of the cooker shell and may be interlocked with each other by means of lugs 60 which project into complementary recesses in adjacent hubs, so-thatonly one of the hubs needs shaft 59 to insure actuation 54 by means of suitable spacers 6|; and 62, re-

spectively, in order-to allow space for the movable illustrated in Figure 5, without interference between the arms 51 and the bottom surfaces of the bars 53.

The driving mechanism for actuating the can carrier bars 56 is best illustrated in Figures 7, 8

and 9, and comprises a cast base member or supporting frame 63, a bearing 64, a chain sprocket 65, a beveled pinion 66, a b'evel'gear 61, a crank 68, a. cam member 69 having a slotted arm I6, and a camfollower member II secured to the shaft 59 and having a slotted arm I2 and carrying'a pair of cam rollers 13-13.

The sprocket 65 is driven continuously by a motor I4 through a variable speedltransmission axisof gear 67 engages the slot Illa in the lever farm I0 and causes that lever arm.to oscillate through an angle of approximately 28 degrees about the center of the shaft 59. Cam member 69, being integral with lever arm III is likewise oscillated arcuately through a similar angle about its vertical center, which is coincident with the axis ofshaft 59.' This cam member has a pair of oppositely inclined cam faces 69a and 69b, upon which rest the cam rollers "I3-'I3 respectively, which are carried by the follower 'II, and it will be apparent that oscillation of the cam 69 will result in alternately lifting and lowering the follower 'II and the shaft 59 with it. It will also be seenthat while the cam follower II is being repeatedly lifted and'lowered by the action of the cam, it is also being rotatively oscillated arcuately about its vertical axis by the lever arm 12," which is provided with an elongated slot 12a engaging a crank pin I8 carried by and offset from the center of rotation of bevel gear 61.

The stacked hubs 58 rest upon the cam follower II, which may be provided with a recess I9 engaging with the lug 60 on the lowermost hub.

The cycle of movement imparted to the can carrier bars 56 by the operation of the driving mechanism just described may best be understood by reference to Figure 6, in which their path of travel is diagrammatically illustrated. In this figure the line designated by reference numeral 56a represents the quasi-elliptical path followed by a point on the upper. surface of one of the carrier bars 56 throughout one complete cycle of thereby set the cans down on the stationary bars again. It is to be observed that the major axis of the quasi elliptical path followed by the carrier bars is inclined from the horizontal in the direction of inclination of the stationary bars 53, and the carriers move over a relatively flat trajectory so that during the major portion of the forward travel of the carrier bars the cans are carried along in a descending path generally corresponding in pitch to that of the'canway.

The advantage of so moving the carrier bars, as

will be apparent, is that it minimizes the head space required for the cans so that the convolutions of the canway may be spaced as closely together as possible, thereby utilizing the capacity of the treating chamber to maximum advantage.

The rearward or return movement of the carrier bars is along a path extending entirely below the canway, so that during this period the cans remain at rest on the canway. As the carrier bars approach the end of their return movement they begin to rise again and their upper surfaces come flush with the canway just at the beginning of their next forward movement, whereupon the cans are again lifted free of the canway and advanced another step, the cycle being successively repeated during operation of the machine.

It is believed that the construction and operation oflthe can conveying mechanism and its associated driving mechanism, as provided in the cooker, will now be apparent, and it will be understood that the corresponding mechanisms in the cooler are identical therewith, but are driven in an opposite direction in order to advance the cans upwardly along the cooler canway instead of downwardly, as in the cooker. The corresponding cycle of movement of the can carriers in the cooler would, accordingly, be exactly the reverse of that shown in Figure 6. Power may be supplied to the driving mechanism ,in the cooler from the shaft 46 driven by chain be understood that so far as the functions to be I performed are concerned the path of movement might be rectangular or elliptical or some other form of cyclical or circuitous movement if desired, provided always that the carrier bars 56 rise above the stationary bars 53 during their forward movement and descend below the stationary bars during their return movement,and further provided that they do not rise above the stationary bars to such an extent as to cause the cans to strike the bars above. It will be obvious, therefore, that the particular drive mechanism disclosed may be modified, if desired,- or other forms of drive mechanisms might be provided which would impartequivalent paths of movement to the carrier bars, and the term "circuitous? as used herein andin the claims is intended to be inclusive of any such endless pathsirrespective of their particular shape, whether it be circular, elliptical, rectangular, or otherwise. It is to be observed that thecooker and cooler are driven independently of each other, the former' from the motor 13 through the variable speed transmission I5, and the latter from the motor 42, which may be of the constant speed type. and

the feed, transfer and discharge discs I3, 26 and' pending uponthe character of the product, and 75 l in order to use the same equipment for processing a. variety of products of different cooking time requirementsdt isnecessary to make provision for varying the cooking period.

While it has heretofore been proposed to vary the cooking period by varying the speed of the cooker, it may be said that the maximum permissive speed of cookers of the character heretofore generally employed is seldom more than 100 cans per minute, due to limitations imposed by the character of the feed, transfer and discharge devices. This may be explained by the fact thatsuch apparatus is almost universally of the type in which the cans are advanced therethrough by pocketed conveyors, such as the well known reel and spiral construction, thus requiring that the cans be fed, transferred and discharged by pocketed devices operated in accurately timed relation therewith. The result is that the speed of the can advancing mechanism in the cooker cannot be varied without correspondingly varying the speed of the cooler and the feed, transfer, and discharge devices in order to maintain the proper timing, and the latter devices are not ordinarily capable of handling more than 100 cans per minute without damaging the cans. Moreover, as the speed of the several mechanisms is increased, agitation of the can contents is likewise increased, and this may be highly undesirablewhen delicate products such as certain berries,

and fruits are being processed. Furthermore it will be appreciated that the cooler must be of the maximum size required to provide a treating path therein of sufficient length to properly cool the cans when operated at the maximum speed, even though at lower speeds a smaller cooler would sumce.

By reason of these diiliculties it has been the general practice in the past to operate the cooker and cooler at a constant speed and to vary the cooking period by varying the length of the treating path through the cooker, as, for example, by providing it with a plurality of inlets or outlets through which the cans may be passed selectively so as to shunt them around a portion of the treating path.

In the construction provided by the present invention, it has been found in actual practice that the can advancing mechanism will satisfactorily operate at rates ashigh as 600 cans per minute without damage to the cans or their contents,

and since the construction 'is such that the cans are received and conveyed through the cooker and cooler in indiscriminately timed arrangement, obviously there is no necessity for feeding, transferring or discharging the cans in timed relation to the advancing mechanism, consequently the cooker speed may be varied at will while permitting the cooler, and the feed, transfer and discharge discs to be driven at a constant selected speed commensurate with the speed of the canning line as a whole, and low enough to insure that no damage will result to the cans.

As illustrative of a practical example, the cooker may be constructed to provide a twenty minute cook when driven at the rate of 150 cans per minute and the cooler, and feed, transfer and discharge discs may be driven at a constant speed to handle 150 cans perminute. If it is desired to decrease the cooking period to five. minutes, the cooker speed may be increased independently of that of the rest of the apparatus to 600 cans per minute, by adjustment of the variable speed transmission 15. Thus, while the same number of cans per minute continue to pass through theequipment, their rate of speed in passing through the cooker is quadrupled, thereby reducing the cooking period to one-quarter of the previous.

Summarizing the operation of the apparatus described, the cans to'be treated are fed into the cooker A preferably in upright positions by means of the feed disc l3, which delivers the cans directly onto the upper end of the helical cooker canway I8 in indiscriminate order, so that they are received by the canway in indiscriminately timed arrangement. Inasmuch as the canway is of a width approximating the radius of the cooking chamber so that it may accommodate a plurality of average sized cans transversely thereacross and its entire surface is available for the reception of cans, it will be observed that substantially the maximum can holding capacity of the cooker is utilized. Moreover, the width of the canway is such that it is not limited to any particular size or shape of can, and by reason of the absence of obstructions in the path of the cans passing over the canway it will be seen that there is little or no possibility of the cans jamming any of the cooker mechanism-to interfere with its operation, such as has heretofore sometimes occurred in prior machines of this character.

As the cans are delivered to the canway l8, formed by the helical supporting bars 53, they rest stationary thereon until the cycle of operation of the drive mechanism actuates the cam 69 to'lift the helical can carrier bars 56 upwardly through the interstices between the stationary canway bars into supporting engagement with the cans, whereupon the cans are collectively lifted from the canway, as illustrated in Figure 5. Whiiethe carrier bars are thus being lifted, they are also rotated about the axis of the canway, so that the cans are carried forward bodily over the canway until the carrier bars descend therebelow near the end of their forward travel, whereupon the cans are deposited back upon the canway where they again rest during the rearward move-, ment of .the carrier bars until the latter again teingage with the cans to repeat the cycle of operaons.

As the cans are thus advanced over the canway away from the feed disc 25, additional cans may be crowded continuously onto'the canway by the feed disc to fill the space left by the preceding cans until the entire canway is filled, the continuous repetition of the cycle of operations described resulting in the periodical and collective advancement of the cans bodily down the canway in step by step fashion by being successively lifted, carried forward along the canway a short distance and set down upon the canway in recurrent 'cycles. The stream of cans is thus moved downwardly and helically through the cooker to the point of discharge in such manner that their contents receive a minimum of agitation, which, as heretofore pointed out, is frequently undesirable in the processing of certain kinds of foodstuffs. Moreover, in addition, there can be no.

. cooking period ofdesired length, this being accomplished by manipulation of the hand wheel 17 to adjust the variable speed transmission 15.

As the cans reach-the lower end of the cooker canway they are delivered upon the upper surface of the rotating transfer. disc 20, which feeds them into the cooler B through the cooler inlet opening 22 and onto the lower end of the cooler canway 23. Here the cans are again picked up and bodily carried upwardly over the cooler canway in periodical step by step fashion in the same manner as they were previously advanced through the cooker, the canway in the cooler and its associated can advancing mechanism being substantially identical with that in the cooker, as heretofore stated. As the cans are discharged from the upper end of the cooler canway they are re-,

ceived by the discharge disc 25, which delivers them into the chute 21, which directs them to any point desired.

The speed of operation of the can advancin mechanism in the cooler may be selected so that the cans pass through the cooler in the period of time required for the degree of cooling treatment desired, and is in no way affected by variations in the Speed of the cooker, and the feed, transfer and discharge discs being driven from the cooler drive are driven at a speed corresponding to that of the cooler.

new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber, can carrying means associated with said canway for transporting cans therealong, and means for operating said can carrying means into and out of supporting engagement with cans-on said canway to successively lift the cans from the canway, carry them bodily thereover, and lower them back onto the canway in recurrentcycles.

2. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically dis.- posed helical canway in said chamber, can carrying means associated with said canway for transporting cans therealong, and means for elevating, lowering, and longitudinally oscillating said can carrying means with respect to the canway, and intimed relation to cause said can carrying means to rise and fall beneath cans on said canway to successively lift them from the canway, carry the" bodily thereover, and lower themback onto the canway in recurrent cycles.

3. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said'chamber, can carrying means associated with said canway for transporting cans therealong, and means for operating the can carrying means over a circuitous path into and out of supporting engagement with cans on said canway to successively lift the cans from the canway, carry them bodily thereover, and lower them back onto the canway in recurrent cycles. I

4. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber, can carrying means associated with said canway for transporting cans therealong, and means for operating said can carrying means over a circuitous path to carry the same alternately above and below said canway whereby to liftv and carry the cans bodily over the canway in step by step movement.

5. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helicalcanway in said chamber, can carrier means associated with said canway for transporting cans therealong, and drive means for vertically reciprocating said can carrier means and. rotatively oscillating the same about the axis of said canway to repeatedly lift, rotate forwardly, lower, androtate backwardly said can carrier means relative to thecanway whereby to successively lift the cans from the canway,

carrythem bodily thereover,; and lower them back onto the canway in recurrent cycles.

6. In a can treatingapparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a. vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber, can carrier means associated with said canway for transporting cans therealong, and means for imparting compound vertical reciprocation and rotative oscillation to the can carrier means about the axis of said canway, to cause said can carrier means to move in a cyclical path extending above and below said canway, whereby-to lift and carry the cans bodily over .the canway in successive periodic steps.

'7. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber, a ver- V tically disposed helical can carrying device co- Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as.

axially associated with said canway for transporting cans therealong, and drive means for vertically reciprocating said can carrying device and rotatively oscillating the same about the axis of said canway to repeatedly lift, rotate forwardly, lbwer, and rotate backwardly said can carrying device relative to the canway whereby to successively lift the cans from the canway, carry them bodily thereover, and lower them back onto the canway in recurrent cycles;

. 8.v In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining .a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber upon which a plurality of cans may be supported in indiscriminately timed arrangement, and means for uniformly advancing said cans along said canway.

9. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical can conveying mechanism in said chamber formed by a plurality of helically trending bars arranged to support a group of cans thereon in indiscriminately timed arrangement, and means for imparting relative up and down and longitudinal movement to certain of said bars with respect to the others, for advancing cans bodily therealong.

10. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in, said chamber upon which a plurality of cans may be-supported'in indiscriminately timed arrangement, can carrying means associated with said canway for collectively transporting said cans there ong, and

means for. operating said can carryi g means into and out of supporting engagement with the cans on said canway to successively and collectively lift the cans from the canway, carry them bodily thereover,. and lower them back onto the canway in recurrent cycles.

11. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber 'therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber for accommodating a group of cans thereon in indiscriminately timed arrangement, can carrying means associated with said canway for collec tively transporting said cans therealong, and means for operating said can carrying means over a circuitous path to carry the same alternately above and below said canway into and out of supporting engagement with a. group of cans thereon whereby to successively and col-v lectively lift the cans from the canway, carry them bodily thereover, and lower them back onto the canway in recurrent cycles.

12. In a can treating-apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically dis.-

posed helical canway in said chamber for accommodating a group of cans thereon in indiscrimiiately timed arrangement, can carrier means associated with said canway for collectively transporting said cans therealong, and drive means for vertically reciprocating said can carrier means and rotatively oscillating the same about the axis of said canway to repeatedly lift, rotate forwardly, lower, and rotate backwardly said can carrier means relative to the canway whereby to successively and collectively lift the cans from the canway, carry them bodily thereover, and lower them back onto the canway in recurrent cycles.

13. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber for accommodating a group of cans thereon in indiscriminately timed arrangement, a vertically disposed helical can carrying device coaxially associated with said canway for collectively transporting said cans therealong, and drive means for vertically reciprocating said can carrying device and rotatively oscillating the same about the axis of said canway to repeatedly lift, rotate forwardly, lower, and rotate backwardly said .can carrying device relative to the canway whereby to successively and collectively lift the cans from the canway, carry them bodily thereover, and lower them back onto the canway in recurrent cycles.

14. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical grate-like canway in said chamber for accommodating a group of cans thereon in indiscriminately timed arrangement, can carriers mounted for operation through the interstices in said canway for collectively transporting said cans therealong, and means for elevating,.

lowering, and longitudinally oscillating said can carriers with respect to the canway, and in timed relation to cause said can carriers to rise and fall beneath cans on said canway to successively and canway to cause said can carriers to move in a cyclical path extending above and below said canway into and out of supporting engagement with a group of cans thereon whereby to lift and carry the cans collectively and bodily over the canway in successive periodic steps.

16. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber including a plurality of helically trending parallel spaced can supporting bars for supporting a group of cans thereon in indiscriminately timed arrangement, avertically disposed helical can carrier associated with said canway for collectively transporting said cans therealong, said can carrier including a plurality of helically trending parallel carrier bars interposed in the intervening spaces between said can supporting bars, and means for operating said carrier bars in a circuitous path to carry the same alternately above and below said can supporting bars into and out of supporting engagement with a group of cans thereon whereby to successively and collectively lift the cans from the supporting bars, carry them bodily thereover, and

lowerthem back onto the supporting bars in recurrent cycles.

17. In a can treating apparatus, a shell defining a treating chamber therewithin, a vertically disposed helical canway in said chamber including a plurality of helically trending parallel spaced can supporting bars for supporting a group of cans thereon in indiscriminately timed arrangement, a vertically disposed helical can carrier associated with said canway for collectively transportingsaid cans therealong, said can carrier including a plurality of helically trending parallel carrier bars interposed in the intervening spaces between said can supporting bars, and drive means for vertically reciprocating said carrier bars and rotatively oscillating the same about the axis of said canway in timed relation to move the carrier bars in a circuitous path extending alternately above and below said can supporting bars into and out of supporting engagement with a group. of cans thereon whereby to successively and collectively lift the cans from the supporting bars, carry them bodily thereover, and lower them back onto the supporting bars in recurrent cycles.

18. In a combined cooking and cooling apparatus, a cooker, a cooler, means in said cooker and cooler respectively for receiving and advancing cans therethrough, means for feeding cans to the cooker, means for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler in untimed relation, means for driving said can advancing means and said feed and transfer means, and means for varying the speed of the can advancing means in the cooker independently of the speed of the can advancing means in the cooler and of the feed and transfer means.

19. In acombined cooking and cooling apparatus, a cooker, a cooler, means in said cooker and cooler respectively for receiving and advancing cans therethrough in indiscriminately timed arrangement, means for feeding cans to the cooker in indiscriminately timed arrangement, means for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler in indiscriminately timed arrangement, means for driving said can advancing means and said feed and transfer means, and means for varying the speed of the can advancing means in the cooker independently of the speed of the can advancing means in the cooler and of the feed and transfer means.

20. In a combined cooking and cooling apparatus, a cooker, a cooler, means in said cooker and cooler respectively for receiving and advancing cans therethrough in indiscriminately timed arrangement, means for feeding cans to the cooker in indiscriminately timed arrangement, means for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler in ALBERT R. THOMPSON.

Images