US2122148A - Filling machine - Google Patents

Description

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FILLING MACHINE v l A INVENToR. Jos-PH L. LA wes/vcr,

' BY' I ATTORNEY 35 clutch. governing movement of the piston and ter of Figure '7 with certain parts broken away 35 55 for the all important factor of cleanliness. An 23, and the latter projects inwardly to p rovide a 65 Patented June 28, 1938 A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FmLrNG MACHINE Joseph L. Lawrence, San Francisco, Calif., assgnor to Walter King, San Francisco, Calif.

Application April 3, 1937, Serial No. 134,857

3 Claims. (Cl. 226-99) This invention relates to lling machines of the example of this is found in these devices which type which will measure a predetermined quanutilize a valve of considerable area through which tity of material and discharge the same into a the material must pass into the measuring chamreceptacle. More specifically it is of the suction ber. In those devices varying quantities of the 5 iiller type in which means are provided for drawmaterial are left within the valve means at the 5 ing n quantity of material into a measuring cylconclusion oi each individual operation which inrlei1 or chamber and to thereafter discharge the tends to materially decrease the eiliciency of the same into a container. measuring means.

It is an object of this invention to provide a It is believed that these and other objections device of the class described which will comto the prior art structures are overcome in the 10 pletely discharge all material drawn into the present invention. measuring area and thereby prove self-cleaning. In the drawings forming a part of this specili- It is another object of the invention to provide cation,

a device of this character which will not only be Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the lllng self-cleaning but which will cut the iiowgoi the and measuring means forming a part of the sub- 15 material being handled oi sharply at the point of ject matter of this invention, discharge, thus eliminating dripping between Figure 2 is a top plan view of the whole device positioning of empty receptacles. with the cover means removed to show the clutch Additional objects of the invention are the and other control means,

provision of a filling machine which is compact, Figure 3 is a side elevation of the subject mat- 20 inexpensive to constructA and operate, as well as ter of Figure 2, one which has a desirable minimum of working Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line I-I DartS- of Figure 2, f

In general. these and other ObleetS to become Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 apparent aS this Specification Proceeds, are atof Figure 1 showing the relation of charge and 25 tained by the Provision 0f B' ller in Which a discharge ports in the oscillating cylinder and piston is caused to reciprocate in an oscillating the easing therefor during the discharge of macylinder. The oscillating cylinder is provided terial,

With Charge and discharge Ports adapted to be Figure 6 is a sectional view of the subject matalternately brought into registry With oorreter of Figure 5 during the charging of the cylin- 30 spending ports in the casing surrounding the der with materiel, f cylinder. Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line 1-1 Another novel feature of the invention is the of Figure 2, showing the detail of the clutch, provision of a no-can no-iill" control wherein a Figure 3 is e, top plan view 0f the subject metoscillation of the cylinder, is adapted to be confor sake of clarity, trolled by oncoming empty receptacles. In the Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the eccentric absence of proper introduction of empty reoepmounting for the connecting rod of the piston, tacles the clutch controlis not effected and conend 40 sequently no material is handled by the device. Figure 101s a fragmentary sectional view, taken 40 In addition. I provide novel means for adjustalong the line lu-io-cf Figure 1,111ustrating the ment of the stroke of the piston in the cylinder eccentric mounting of Figure 9 with the connectgoidetleximidrlie the measurement of the substance ing rod secured thereto e ng n ed. l I am conversant with many of the llers of this my; runrrleelfalylliirgithcly;gggelomg 45 'smgc;uggculohgemllnnlv oscillated in a manner presently to be described. by discharge to a container. It is observed that 'The opter-cylinder I5 is bolted or otherwise se' substantially all, if not all, of the prior art struccured to' the housing Il provided for a clutch 5o tures leave much to be desired. One of the most mechanism and these elements together with 50 serious objections seems to be the fact that they conventional Speed reducer 's and a prime mover are not wholly self-cleaning, e. g.,v they do not I9 are Supported Orl a table 2U by the Standdischarge the material down to the last drop and ard 2|. are therefore inaccurate and they do not provide Cylinder l5 has a head 22 bolted thereto, aS at bearing 24 for the oscillated cylinder i5 (see Figure 1).

Charges of the material to be handled are received by the cylinder I6 through a top port 25 therein and, in turn, from a source of supply through the pipe 26 secured in the extension 21 at the top of the cylinder I5, which has a port 28 `brought into registry with the port 25 during oscillation of the cylinder I8 (see Figure 6).

The measured quantities of the material being handled are discharged through the ports 32 and 33 in the cylinders I8 and I 5. respectively, (see Figure 5) as the oscillations of cylinder I6 bring the two into registry. It will be noted from Figure 1 that ports 32 and 33 take the form of elongated slots. It has been found that by the provision of ports of -this character the accurate and complete discharge of materials is greatly facilitated.

The measurement of materials within cylinder I8 is caused upon operation ofthe piston 35 therein. This piston has a connecting rod 36 which is adjustably connected to the eccentric drive, illustrated to best advantage in Figures 1, 9 and 10, by means of an enlarged elongated loop 31.

A frame 48 secured at right angles to the end of shaft 4l in any conventional manner, is provided with a T-shaped slot 42 to receive a block 43.

A bolt 44, secured thereto, projects outwardly through the slot 45 in the plane of the shaft 4I. Since bolt 44 serves as a stub shaft for connecting rod 36, and adjustable eccentric drive thereof is desirable, the following means is provided for adjustment of the block 43 in slot 42. Bolt ,48 has a shoulder 46a received by a bore (shown in dotted lines in Figure 9) in the bottom of frame 48. The shoulder 46a has an annular groove 41 which is engaged by a pin 48 through frame 48. Thus bolt 42 is retained against longitudinal movement but left free for turning. Since bolt 82 has a threaded connection with block 48, it will be seen that by turning its conventional head, block 43 will be moved in frame 80 with respect to the axis of shaft 4| to readjust the eccentric drive.

A sleeve bearing 55 on bolt 44 has a shoulder 88 set flush with the face of the frame 48, and is adapted to be retained by a nut 51, and a common washer, on bolt 44.

The connection of the connecting rod to the mechanism just described is effected through the provision of a sleeve bearing 58 on sleeve bearing 55. A rim or shoulder 59 on bearing 58 engages one side of the loop 31 of the rod 36 and the opposite side is engaged by a common washer and a ring nut 80.

It will thus be seen that the loop 31 and its bearing member 58 are free to be driven by rotation of shaft 4I and the eccentrically mounted stub shaft or bolt 4i to reciprocate the piston 35.

The clutch about t0 be described is of the onecycle type. That is one complete cycle thereof effects the charging of cylinder I8 and the discharge of material therefrom. As heretofore pointed out, it is desirable in devices of this class that some provision be made to prevent discharge of the material being handled in the absence of a can to receive the charge. It was with this factor in mind that the novel clutch control means forming a part of the subject matter of this invention was devised.

It will be noted that shaft 4i is journaled in suitable bearings 65 and 66 in post 61 (see Figure 3) and the housing head 88, respectively.

A gear 'I0 and a clutch plate 'Il integral therewith, are free on shaft 4I. Gear 19 engages a gear 12 mounted on shaft 13, which in turn, is rotated by its connection to the reducing gear I8 and the prime mover I 9. Thus, while the running of the prime mover I9 (here shown to be an electric motor) is constant, it will be understood that gear 10 and the integral clutch plate 1I are merely idling on shaft 4i subject to engagement of the clutch.

A second clutch plate 14 is pinned to the shaft 4I, as at 15, and engagement of the two clutch plates is effected in the following manner: Clutch plate 1I has a pin 18 wedged therein with a beveled end 11 projecting in the path of the pin 18, ln the bore 89 in clutch plate 14, and having a similar beveled end 19. TheI pin 18 is provided with a. spring 80, in its bore 8l, with which it is adapted to telescope. The function of spring is to urge the pin outwardly into engagement with pin 16 in clutch plate 1I. This movement is limited by means of a pin 82 in a slot 83 in the said pin (see Figures 7 and 8).

'I'he clutch thus comprised is effectively controlled by means of a finger 85, on shaft 86, which rides in a slot 81 in clutch plate 14 to engage pin 18. As will be noted from Figureu8, pin 18 is provided with an angular slot 88 between its beveled face 19 and the slot 83. 'Ihe slot 88 consists in a cut made at a 45 angle terminating in a transverse cut in the pin 18. Thus when finge;` 85 is riding in the slot 81 and comes into engagement with the angular slot or groove 88, pin 18 is moved against the tension of the spring 88 into the clutch plate 14 and out of engagement with the complementary pin 16 in clutch plate 1l.

The movement of finger B5 and hence control of the clutch mechanism is governed by the introduction of cans into the filling areal and this constitutes the no-can no-iill feature of the apparatus. A star wheel 98 is disposed beneath the housing I1 with its arms projecting into the lling area for engagement by cans 9| on conveyor 92. "'I'he star wheel 90 is pinned to a shaft' projecting through the dependent member 93 on housing i1, and to the other end of which shaft a collar member 94 is secured inside of the housing i1 (see Figures 1 and 3). The collar 94 in the present adaptation of the invention, has three grooves 95 in its upper face, corresponding to the number of arms on the star wheel 90, for engagement with a pin 91 in the link 98 which is secured to shaft 88.

The said shaft 88 is journaled in the post 81 and a second post 99, and the said link 98 is secured to that end of the shaft which projects beyond post 81.

As pin 91 is normally in one of the grooves 88 in the top of collar 94, flnger 85 fixed on shaft 88 is held in engagement with pin 18 and the clutch is thus retained in disengaged position. When a can, 9i, moving along on conveyor 82, contacts one of the arms of the star wheel 98, collar 94 is turned against pin 91 and the latter is forced out of the groove 95 and up on the flat top surface of the collar 94. Through lever 98 shaft 86 is partially turned and finger 88 is moved out of engagement with pin 18. Spring 88 thereupon urges pin 18 into engagement with the complementary pin 16 and the clutch is engaged for its one cycle. The pin 91 moves over the fiat top surface of collar 94 to the next groove 85 and when it drops into the same, finger 85 is caused to move back into slot 81 for I is as follows: When .have been made to 'through the medium of the linkage shown to best advantage in Figures 2 and 4. 'Here it will be noted that the cylinder I6 has a collar or -flange |05, at its inner end, which is provided with a projection |06 for engagement with a link |01. The link |01 is pivotally connected with a link |08 fastened on one end of the stub shaft |09 suitably journaled in the bottom of housing I1 as at |||l. At the opposite end of the shaft |09 I provide upstanding arm having a roller ||2 disposed at right angles thereto to ride in the cam slot ||3 in clutch plate 14. Due to the shape of the cam slot |3 (see Figures 2, 7 and 8) it will be appreciated that when the clutch is engaged and plate 14 revolves with shaft 4|, arm is moved t0 the left (looking at Figure 4) and, through the linkage just described, cylinder I6 is partially turned in a counter-clockwise direction (looking at Figure 5) to bring port 25 into registry with port 28 in cylinder I5 (see Figure 6). The movement of roller ||2 in slot ||3 is such that these ports remain in registry suiilciently long enough to permit a full charge of the material being handled to be drawn into cylinder I5. As the cycle of the clutch is completed, cylinder I6 is turned back to its original position (see Figure 5) to close port 28 and to bring ports 32 and 33 into registry for the discharge stroke of piston 35, in which position it remains between cycles of the clutch.

' It will be appreciated from the foregoing description and Figure 1 of the drawings that in order to adjust the mechanism to handle different quantities of material, only readjustment of the connections between connecting rod 36 and shaft 4| is necessary. In other words, the length of the charge stroke of piston 35 in cylinder I6 is the determining factor.

As previously stated, by turning the head of bolt 45, block 43 in frame 40 is caused to move with respect to shaft 4|, and thus the off-center adjustment of the stub-shaft 44 is effected. In this manner the length of the stroke of piston 35 in cylinder I6 is determined. It is to be understood that in making the adjustment it is necessary to first loosen nut 51 on stub shaft 44, to the end that block 43 will be free to move in frame 40 upon the turning of the head of bolt 45. By the same token when the desired eccentric position of stub shaft 44 has been determined, nut 51 is tightened to lock the block 43in position.

In order to carry out the self-cleaning principle of the invention, it islalso necessary to adjust for a full stroke of piston 35 against the cylinder head 22. By loosening nut 60, binding loop 81 of connecting rod 35 to the bearing member 58, piston 35 is free to be adjusted against cylinder head 22. In this adjustment only suflicient clearance is provided to prevent the piston 35 striking the head 22.

The operation of the apparatus thus described the preliminary adjustments determine the length of the stroke of the piston 35, e. g., the measurement of the material to be handled, pipe 26 is placed in communication with a source of supply of the material to be handled and conveyor 92, for cans 9|, is started. As the cans 9| progress and individually engage the arms of the star wheel 90 the latter is turned to raise pin 91 out of engagement with grooves 95 on the top of collar 94. Pin 91 moves over the iiat surface of the top of collar 94 toward the next succeeding groove 95. Finger 85, through link 98 and shaft 85, is thus caused to move out of engagement with pin 18, allowing spring to urge the same into engagement with the complementary pin 1B. The clutch is thus engaged for its one cycle movement.

As shaft 4| is caused to rotate upon engagement of the clutch piston 35 is withdrawn from the head of cylinder I6 while simultaneously the cam action of slot ||3 on roller ||2 has, through the described linkage, caused cylinder |6 to oscillate about piston 35 to bring the intake port 25 into registry with port 28 in cylinder I5. As piston 35 continues its movement a charge of the material is sucked into cylinder |6. At the moment piston 35 has been withdrawn its full stroke away from the head 22 of cylinder I6 the cam slot ||3 will cause further oscillation of cylinder |6 to close port 25 and swing ports 32 and 33 into 'registry for the discharge stroke of piston 35. Said piston 35 is thereupon driven the full length of cylinder i6, forcing the material within the cylinder through the ports 32 and 33 into the positioned can 9|.

At the precise moment piston 35 reaches the head 22 of cylinder I6, pin 91 has dropped into the next succeeding groove 95 in collar 94 and finger has once again engaged pin 18 to urge the same out of engagement with pin 16, and against the urge of spring 80, thus disengaging theclutch.

It will thus be understood that in the absence of a can there will be no handling of the particular material and that the same will remain in its source of supply and the conduit therefrom, en.

tirely outside of the mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention. In this way possible contamination of the substance being handled is greatly minimized and unnecessary wear on the apparatus is obviated.

As hereinbefore stated, one of the particular advantages of the present invention lies in the fact that the measuring cylinder I6 is completely self-cleaning and that no material remains therein from one filling to the next. This is a highly desirable factor when consideration is given to the fact that machines of this character frequently handle edible substances and other materials which have a highly corrosive effect on equipment of this sort.

It is to be appreciated and understood that in the drawings forming a part of this application I have illustrated and described but one form of the invention and while that is the preferred form, the principles of the invention are applicable to. many other variations and modifications Vwithout departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by grant of Letters Patent is:

1. In a filling device, the combination of a housing for a cylinder, a cylinder therein, said housing and said cylinder having intake and discharge ports adapted to be alternately brought into registry upon oscillation of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, means for reciprocating the piston to successively charge and discharge material from the cylinder, a clutch for said reciprocating means including two elements engageable by yieldable means, control means for said clutch comprising a receptacle actuated member on a shaft, a collar having a plurality of aiaasa grooves on the opposite end of said shaft, a second shaft at -right angles to the first, a link xed at the end of the second shaft adjacent said collar, a pin on said link normally disposed in one of said grooves in said collar, a finger fixed on the second named shaft at the end opposite to the link and acting upon said yieldable means in said clutch to normally disengage the same when said pin is in one of said grooves on said collar but retractable upon movement of said receptacle actuated member and the raising of said pin to the normal plane of said collar.

2. In a filling device of the type in which a piston is reciprocated within a cylinder to successively draw and discharge a quantity'ofA material, means for reciprocating the piston comprising the combination of a shaft, a slotted frame mounted on the end thereof, a block in said frame having a stub shaft projecting through the slot in a. plane parallel to the axis ofsaid shaft, a sleeve fixed on said stub shaft, a piston rod having an elongated slot in the end thereof, a bearing member for the sleeve on the stub shaft fixed in the slot in said piston rod.

3. In a filling device of the type in which a piston is reciprocated within a cylinder to successively draw and discharge a quantity of material, adjustable means for reciprocating the piston comprising the combination of a shaft, a slotted frame mounted on the end thereof, a block in said frame having a stub shaft projecting through the slot in a plane parallel to the axis of said first named shaft, means for determining the position of said block in said frame with respect to the rst named shaft, a sleeve fixed on said stub shaft, a piston rod having an elongated slot in the end thereof, said piston rod being operatively connected to said shaft by a bearing member in said slut and disposed on said sleeve, and retainer means fixing the position of said bearing member in said slot.

JOSEPH L. LAWRENCE.

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