US2147366A - Bottle filling machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. L, Ey FAGAN ET AL 2,147,366

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1957 12 sheets-sheet 1` r' Il i l No Y o L. E. FAGAN ET AL BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Feb. 14, 1939.

Filed Julie 7, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1939. L. El. FAGAN ET AL BOTTLE FlLL-ING- MACHINE F'iled June 7, 1957 l2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 14, 1939. L. E. FAGAN ET AL BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June '7, 1957 Imfenns -Zzgaiz Feb. 14, 1939. L E. PAGAN EAL y 2,141,366

l BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1937 l2 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June '7, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 14, 1939. i EL FAGANl ET AL. 2,147,366

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE F'iled June 7, 1937 l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 Feb- 14, 1939- l.. E. FAGAN ET AL BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed Junel 7, 1937 12 sheets-,sheet s E Y??? /O/omz zer Fb. 14, 1939. L, E. PAGAN ET' AL A 2,147,366 1 BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed June '7,1937 l2 SheetS-Sheef, 9

Feb. 14, 1939. L, E. FAGAN ET AL BOTTLE FILLING MACHTN l2 Sheets-Sheet lO l Filed June 7, 1937 Feb. 14, 1939. 1 E. PAGAN ET AL 2,147,366

I BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed June '7,1957 y 12 sheets-sheet 11 Imf@ n'lrs Feb. 14, 1939. L, E- FAGN ET AL 2,147,366

I BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1937 l2 Sheets-Shet 12 Iff i 30"?! 4/54 4%' Q' 45@ 4m la@ Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATESY PATENT OFFICE Application Jnne 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,808

'35Claims.

The present invention relates to bottle filling machines generally and has to do more particularly with machines of this class wherein a vacuum is used to draw theliquid into the bottles or otherreceptacles which it is to ll.

The invention is embodied in a machine designed as an improvement upon the lling machine of our prior Patent No. 1,966,889, granted July 17, 1934. j

In One object of the invention is to so construct' and arrange the various parts of the machine that they may be easily cleaned. In some instances this means separation and removal; in others accessibility.

i3 Another object is to so construct the parts that the liquid will be handled Witha minimum of admixture of air. This makes the machine useful in lling both light and heavy liquids, such as milk and other relatively light liquids on the one hand, and' cream, other relatively heavy milk products, mayonnaise, mustard and the like on the other hand. These heavier liquids do not throw oiI the air once it is admixed, so readily as do the lighter liquids. Hence, if air can be kept from mixing with the liquid whether light or heavy, improved results may be had..

Another object is to give the bottle lifters a smooth action, 'free from unnecessary movements. This is done by a novel application of the actuating air, especially at the time the lifters are being lowered. l

Another object is to improve the mechanism and filling heads so as to readily and effectively clear the latter :1f drip. Y

Another object is to produce a machine which will be simple and eiIective in operation, economical to manufacture and easily handled and repaired.

' These and other objects and advantages of the 40 invention will be more fully understood upon ref- Y erence to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended-claims.

In said description, milk will be taken as an il\` lustrative liquid and bottles as illustrative containers. But it should be borne in mind that the invention may'be used'jn connection with the filling of other liquids and substan'ces into not 50 only bottles but also other containers. And the claims should not be unduly limited in this re- In said drawings, Fig, l is a perspective view 'of a. machine constructed and arranged in accord (Cl. 226-116) v shown also in conjunction with a. capper of pre'- ferred construction; Fig. 2l is a partial sectional view of the upper portion of the lling machine shown in Fig. l, the plane of section being indi-Y cated by the line 2-2 of'Flg. 6; Fig. 3 is a similar 5 section through the lower portion of the machine, the plane-of section being indicated by the line :a 3-3 of Fig. 6; Fig. 4 is a plan view `of a portion of the trap tank and associated valves and operating mechanism; Fig. 5 is a vertical section, l0 upon an enlarged scale, through the same trap tank and mechanism, the plane of section being indicated by the lines 5-5 of Figs. 4 and 6; Fig.l

6 is a plan view of the lower portion of the machine, parts being shown in section, the position-*l5 of section being indicated by the line 6-6 of Fig, -2; Fig. 'I is a bottom plan view of 4the machine; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken near the bottom of therfilling machine and showing a portion of the gearing and the air channels for supplying air to the lifters and other mechanisms, the plane of section bengapproximately that indicated by the line 8-8 of Fig. 3; Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12 are transverse sections through the air channels in the stator of the machine, tne'sections being indicated by the lines 9 9, lil-l0, II-l i'and lZ-IZ, respectively, of Fig. 8; Fig. 13 is a vertical section through a portion of the main and Atrap tanks, illustrating particularly the inlet control valve, theplane of section being indicated by the .line I3 -i3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 14 is a similar section illustrating the outlet valve, the plane of section'being indicated by the line |4-i 4 of Fig. 4; Fig. 15 Vis an exploded view of the main parts of the machine showing how they are-separated for the purpose ofV cleaning, the parts being shown morev or'less diagrammatically; Fig.

` 16 isa vertical sectional view of one of the iilling heads employedin the machine, the plane of section being -indicated by the linev IB-IB of Fig.

19; Fig. 1'1- is a perspective view of the same head of, thecushion in place, the view being taken at a. different-'angle andthe cushion being shown in 46 centrl vertical section; Fig. 19 is a bottom plan view oi the head illustrating the cushion in position and .showing the relative positions vof the lling and vacuum ports; Fig. 20 is a central vertical section through one of the bottle supports or litters of the lling machine; Fig. 21 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the litters,` the plane of section being indicated by the line liv-2| of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a central vertical sectionthroughthethrustbearlngwhichcarriesthe i central rotary column of the machine, the plane of section being indicated by the line 22-22 of Fig. 3; Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the trap tank, detached from the rest of the machine, illustrating particularly the air valve openings and the wall which forms the inlet channel or vestibule of the trap tank; Fig. 24 is a plan view of a portion of the carrier of the machine illustrating the manner of adjusting the inner and outer portions of the carrier relatively to each other; Fig. 25 is a vertical section through an oiling device used in supplying oil to the interior of the bottle lifters; Fig. 26 is a diagram of a pneumatic control system for operating certain parts of the machine in proper timed relation, certain structural parts being shown in sections indicated as follows: the stator ring on line a-a of Fig. 8, the electric switch box on line b-b of Fig. 7, and the butterfly valve casing online c-c of Fig. 7; and Fig. 27 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of a leak valve used in the control of the electric switch. Throughout these Views like characters refer to'like parts.

As previously indicated, the full machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a filling machine and a capping machine. vThese are both mounted on a base A. In brief, the lling machine comprises a stator anda rotor. The stator includes the base A and a ring-shaped bearing member A' which rests upon the base A, together with other non-rotary parts carried by these. The rotor includes a central column or stem B which extends down through the center of the bearing member A' and rests in a thrust bearing B' hung from the under side of the base A. The stem B is vertically adjustable with reference to the bearing A' and is held in adjusted positions by suitable latch mechanism B2 associated in part with the column and in part with the bearing. The stem B carries la number of milk holding and controlling elements which move with the stem. Among these elements are a bottle carrier C; bottle lifters D located upon the carrier; a main tank E in which are located a float tank F; a trap tank G normally positioned in the upper portion of `the main tank; filling heads H carried by and just outward of the main tank and in vertical alinement with the lifters D one head being vertically above each lifter; a dump tank J adapted to rest as a cover upon the upper edges of the main and trap tanks, and, through the agency of a cushioning ring K of rubber or like material, to seal off a vacuum chamber L lying just outward of the upper edge of the main tank and beneath the peripheral portion of the dump tank. The milk or other liquid to be filled into the bottles or like receptacles M, is deposited in the tank J. Where the -same is brought into the tank through pipes, such as the piping N, a oat control valve C ispreferably employed to keep the liquid in the dump tank at a substantially constant level.

In operation, the milk passes from the dump tank J into the main tank E, the passage being controlled by the float F and its associated valve. Vacuum in the chamber L draws air through a vacuum passage in the head H, and, whenever a bottle is in position to be lled, the eiiect of the vacuum is to draw the air out of the bottle. Then because of the milk passage in the head H and its connection to the main tank E, into which milk has been fd,=milk will be drawn fromv said tank E into the bottle. Although'we say ..dra,w" or dra whe'i'describing this operation of the machine, yet it will be understood that in reality the milk is forced up from' the tank E into the head H and bottle M by reason of the greater pressure of the air upon the milk in the tank than in the bottle. However, to use the more popular language seems desirable and so we shall continue to speak in that way. Obviously, when the bottle is filled, the lifter F withdraws the bottle from the lling head H and thus the vacuum is cut off. The shape of the head is such that any drippage that forms on it is drawn up through the vacuum passage into the chambeii L. Furthermore, the milk in the milk passage on its way up to the bottle at the time the vacuum is broken, falls back into the tank E and thus helps to suck up the milk in the head near its milk outlet and bring it back into the main tank E. This syphoning of the milk into tank E is in addition to the drawing of the milk into the vacuum chamber L. Milk which is drawn up into the vacuum chamber is locked back again into the main tank E through the trap tank G. This locking of the accumulated milk through the trap tank is accomplished by regularly operated valve mechanism P. This mechanism includes two valves, one of which controls a passage between the vacuum chamber L and the trap tank G and the other of which. controls a passage between the trap tank G and the main tank E. These valves are operated at regular intervals and when the passage between chamber L and tank G is open then the passage from tank G to tank E is closed. At this time the pressures in the trap tank G and the chamber L equalize and the resulting pressure is below normal. When thus equalized, accumulated milk in the chamber L will passthrough the valve opening into the chamber G. In the alternate positions of the valves, the passage between chamber L and tank G is closed and that between tank G and tank E is open. When this occurs the air pressure fwithin the trap tank G again changes to that within the tank E. At this time the milk in thetank G flows out into the tank E. Itmust be remembered that the lifters D bring the bottles M into contact with the heads H and remove them therefrom at proper times just, as in our aforesaid Patent No. 1,966,889 and as pointed out more fully hereinafter.

'I'he capping machine may be of any preferred construction and in itself constitutes no part of the present invention. One like that disclosed in our aforesaid Patent No. 1,966,889 may be used. Or, again, one like that disclosed in our copending application Serial No.V 146,809, filed June 7, 1937 and granted November 29, 1938 as United `States Patent No. 2,138,271, may be used. The capper illustrated, namely, the capper Q, is like that disclosed in said latter patent. It is 'included in the general view of the drawings only because itforms part of the complete machine which has been built and operated and cannot very well be omitted from general views. In addition to the lling and capping machines, we have also disclosed certainconveying elements T, by which the bottles are brought to the lling machine and conveyed from itto the capping machine, and'then lfrom the latter to '-a delivery point. These conveying features are similar to those disclosed in our aforesaid Patent No. 1,966,889. They will be discussed more fully hereinafter.

Furthermore, there isv certain adjusting mechanism W by which the rotor of the machine may aimons be raised and lowered. Then, too, there are the driving motors X and Y and the associated suction pump IZ.

Having setyforth the general nature of our improved filling machine' and its operation, attention may be directed more particularly to the details of its several parts.

AThe base A, in the present instance, is a casting or fairly regular outline provided with an upper oor 30 and a lower flange 3|, both of which extend inwardly from amore or less vertical web 32. The floor 30 extends over the en. tire extent ofy the base except vwhere it lies directly beneath the iilling and capping machine rotors. At those points it isprovided with circular openings for the reception of the rotary elements. The ange 3|, on the contrary, extends only a short distance inward from the peripheral web 32. 'Ihe particular arrangement of these various base parts is not a matter of great importance; different designers might desire dierent arrangements.

This base, or frame,V is provided in thepresent 36 may be varied with reference to the associated legs and in this way irregularities in the iioor or foundation upon which the machine is positioned may be counteracted and the machine properly leveled. As clearly shown,A particularly in `Eig. '7, there is a pair of these legs at each end of the base, one pair being located beneath the=lling machine and the other pair beneath the capping machine.

33 into widened portions 29 of the ange 3|' of the frame and thus secure the legs to the frame.

The bearing member A', located upon the base A, includes an outer rim or ring 40, radial spokes 4| and a hub member 42. 'I'he rim or ring 40 is carried by the ange 3| of the base A. Interposed adjusting screws 43 furnish the points of support. As in the case of our prior Patent No. -1,966,889, there are three screws 43 and thus 'a three-point suspension is provided. Each of the screws 43 is furnished with a lock nut 39. The bearing A' is held down upon the base A, preferably by passing the screws 43 -upward into threaded engagement with tapped openings in Athe under side of the ring 40. Once the screws bearing sleeve '45, which comes into direct wear-- ing engagement with the ilxed wearing sleeve 44, a flange 46 on' the sleeve 45 and an associated outer ring-41. The ring 41 is secured in place beneath the iangeV 46l by screws 48 which pass through the ange into threaded engagement with tapped openings-in the ring 41. Just in- .ward of the sleeve 45 is an additional wearing sleeve 49 o f suitable metal. 'I'he latter sleeve en- Heads 35 formed upon the screws v Suitable machine screws 31 pass through flanges 38 at the upper ends of the legs 3 gages the column or stem B of the machine. Although the carrier and its hub rotate with the column B, yet the -latter is vertically adjustable relative to the former and therefore it is desirable to employ the sleeve 49 of softer bearing to the same. Upon examination, it will be noted that the column B includes an outer tube 50 and an inner tube 5|. The vouter tube has a number of circumferential kerfs or grooves 52 which cooperate with parts of the catch mechanism Bz in holding the column in its different adjusted positions relative to the bearing member A and the'carrier C. The two tubes 50 and 5| are secured together by centering bushings 53 and 54, located, the one at the upper end of the tube 50, and the other at itslower encl.v The bushings 53 and 54 have threaded engagement with the Theyalso have shoulders which bear against the ends of the tube 50 when the bushings are screwed home. A

` From what has been said, itvwill be seen that the member A' forms part of the statoror fixed part of the machine while the other parts which are mounted within the hub 42 of the bearing member A are rotatable and, therefore, form parts of the rotor.- In this connection, it should be noted that lthe column B is not only rotatable with the hub of the carrier C but it is capable of vertical adjustment with reference to both said carrier andthe bearing member A'.

Turning now to a consideration of the catch mechanism B2, by which the column B is held in its diiferent vertical positions, it will be noted that a catch ring 55 carried by and rotated with the hub of the carrier cooperates with the grooves` 52 in the outer tube 50 of the column B to hold l I the latter in its diierent vertical adjustments. In order that the catching edge of the ring 55 may reach the grooves 52, it is necessary Ithat the sleeve u be provided with a horizontal slot 45B. 'Ihis slot extends about two-thirds of the way around the sleeve, namely, from the point m to the point n as the parts are viewed in Fig. 8.

The wearing sleeve 49 is also, of course, similarly slotted. It will also be noted that each groove corresponds to a different vertical setting of the column. The ring 55 has a large central opening,l as clearly shown 1n Fig. 8. By horizontal movement, the edge of the ring at the left, as the parts are shown in Fig. 3, may be moved through the slot 45ai in sleeve 45 and the cooperating registering slot in the.wearing sleeve 491cm into the grooves 52 for the different vertical settings' of the column. I'hese vertical adjustments Iare -made for the purpose of raising the upper portion of the machine to diierent elevations rela'- tive to the carrier C, and thus to suit the machine to operating with bottles or other receptacles of different'heights. Obviously, a suitable number of grooves 52 should be provided to care for all the different settings ofthe machine which are required inservice.l

It wm also be noted that the catch ring 55 is provided with a block 56 which is suitably secured to the ring, as by means of one or more bolts |54 having suitable nuts, as shown. The

blockr 55 'is radially apertured for the passage of a rod or stem 51 which is tlrrnly seated and retained atoneendwithinarecessformedinthe ring 41. A compression spring 58 acts between the block 56 on the one hand and the ring 41 on the other to move the catch ring 55, to which the-block 56 is xed, into groove-engaging position. Such Va position is illustrated in Fig. 3. As before noted, the ring l55 and the associated parts rotate with the hub of the carrier during the normal operation of the machine. Since this is so, some special provision must be made for actuating the ring when it is desired to change the vertical adjustment of the column B.

For the purpose of actuating the catch ring 55 from the outsideof the machine, it will suiiice to locate actuating mechanism at one point in the stator and then when the rotor is stopped, move it by hand until the appropriate part of the `catch ring 55 is in position to be actuated lby the xed control mechanism. This is a simple operation since there is no need of keeping the carrier rotatingvwhen making the adjustment.

The mechanism for actuating the catch ring 55 includes a reciprocating rod 6| which carries a block 62. The latter has an upwardly extending projection 63 which is in position to engage the catch ring 55 at a point adjacent to the block 56 whenever the rotary elements of themachine are circumferentially positioned soas to bring the block 62 and projection 63 into alinement. The rod 6| is provided with a shoulder 64 which presses against a corresponding shoulder provided in a bore of the block 62 in which the rod 6| is located. A pin 65, or like device, is used to hold the rod against-withdrawal from the block 62. The rod 6| is provided with bearings 66 and 61 located in an auxiliary frame 68 secured to the ange 32 of the frame A by suitable screws 69. Within the member 68 is an enlarged bore or chamber 12 through which the rod 6| extends. The bearing 66 is formed by a sleeve located at one end of the chamber 12 and 'the bearing 61 is provided by the aperture in a plug threaded into the other end of the chamber. The

vrod 6| carries a flange 13 or equivalent device against which one end of a compression spring 14 presses. The other end ofthe spring presses against the bearing member 66 and thus there is a constant tendency exerted to move the rod 6| into its outermost position. Whenever it is in this position, the catch ring engaging lug 63 will be free of engagement with the catch ring 55 vas the latter rotates'. Obviously, when the rotary elements of the machine are properly `set, any inward thrust of the rod 6| would .cause the projection 63 to engage the catch ring 55 at' a point adjacent to the block 56 and, then, when the stem B is raised slightly to free the ring, the latter may be moved out of groove-engaging position .and it will be possible then to vertically.

adjust the stem as desired. Of course, the positionsl of adjustment are limited to the number and positions ofthe various grooves 52. Once lthe machine has'- been vertically adjusted to the desired setting, corresponding to a groove 52,' the catch ring 55 must be allowed to respond to the action of its spring 58 and thus be brought into groove engagement.V Such a movement of the catching ring 55 will be permitted whenever spring 14 associatedwith the, actuating rod 6| has been aliowedto move the latter to its normal outermost position.

The rod 8| may be shifted against the cornpression of its spring 14 by any suitable means. Preferably an actuating lever 15 is pivoted at 1li to one or more lugs 11 which project from the base A at a point adjacent tothe outer end of yamargas@ the rod 6I. Normally the outer end of the rod presses against the end 18 of the lever 15 and holds the latter in its normal position. To shift the rod 6| inward to operate the catch plate 55,

when the parts are properly set, it is only necessary to rock the lever 15 about its pivot 16 and thereby force the end or foot 18 of the lever against the end of the rod 6| and move the latter inward to bring about the action previously described.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 8, the upper edge of the ring 40 of the bearing member A is provided with two continuous grooves 88 and 8|. Both grooves are circular. The members A and A' are, when once adjusted to each other,

machine. On Vthe other hand, the portion of the f groove at the right, as viewed in the same figure, is connected to atmosphere at all times. Both these sections of the groove 88 are chambers or passages which cooperate with the carrier' C in providing compressed air supply and exhaust connection with the pneumatically operated mechanism P by which the valves of the trap tank is utilized in passing milk from the vacuum chamber L through the trap tank G to the main tank E. The upper bearing edge of the stator ring 40 and the cooperating ported under side of the carrier C thus constitute a distributing air lvalve for controlling the operations of mechanisms on the rotor.

When it comes tothe inner groove 8| in the stator ring 40, we have provided four segments. l,

These have connections to a compressed air supply and to atmosphere. 'Ihrough their agency, the bottle supports or lifters D are raised andlowered and thus the bottles are raised and lowered at the proper points in their rotation. There is also. a short section to be used in supplying lubricating oil to the interiors of the lifters. Four plugs 84, 85, 86 and 81 provide these four sections. The section between plugs 84 and 85 is a short section and one/used in applying the oil. vThe section between plugs 85 and 86 is a long section and is one by which compressed air is supplied to the lifters to raise them and the bottles upon them. The section between plugs 86 and 81 is a short exhaust section and allows for the loweringv of the lifter. And the last section, namely that between plugs 81 and 84, is a relatively long exhaust section and while the lifters travel over it they remain in their lowermost position'. Really the travel between plugs 86 and 84 is over an exhaust channel, but the plug 81 is inserted so that any sudden discharge of ai'r from any given lifter just after it has passed plug 86, will 'not kick up the lifter or lifters just in advance of it. Thus, any possible dancing of the litters by reason of a sudden release of air from any one of them-is prevented.

It will be apparent that the compressed air may be supplied from any suitable source and piped to the inlet ports 88 and 88. Thus, supply pipes 80, 9| lead respectively to the ports 88 and 89. In the case of the left hand segment of the outer groove 80, as the parts are viewed in Fig. 8, compressed air may also be supplied through pipes, but, preferably,the connection is made by\ rier ring member |8| h as connected to it a toothed bined air and oil and delivering them to the port 88 may be employed. Such devices are well known. One is illustrated in Fig. 25 and will be 5 described more fully hereinafter.

Becauseof the importance of having the various sections of the channels 88 and 8| properly positioned with reference to the cooperating parts, in oder to obtain proper operation, some provision must be made for an accurate rotary adjustment of the ring 48 about the central stem B. To provide for such rotary adjustment, the lower flange 3| 'of the base A is provided with a pair of lugs 98 which lie on oppositeA sides of one of the spokes 4|. Through threaded openings in the lugs 98, oppositelypositioned screws 99 extend and are brought into engagement with opposite sides of the interposed spoke 4|. By unscrewing one of the screws and screwing down on 0 the other, an accurate positioning .of the spoke 4| may be had.- This means an accurate rotary positioning of the bearing member B'. When this bearing has 'been once set in proper rotary position, then lock nuts 88 upon ,the screws 99 5 may be turned down against the lugs 98 to hold the screws against dislodgement.

The bottle carrier C has an outer annular body 8| connected by spokes |82 tothe central hub ring 41 which, as before noted'is secured 0 to the sleeve 45 and is free to, rotate with reference to the hub 42 of the circular bearing A'. The inner portion of the annular body |8| is provided With a central apron |83 which extends into the vicinity of the hub members 45 and 41.

5 The apron |83 is secured to the ring |8| in any desired way. Preferably, this is accomplished by one ormore screws |84. Each screw |84 passes through a short circumferential slot 59 in a bossed portion of the apron |83, shown in Figs. 2 and o 24, into threaded engagement with a tapped .notched opening 18 through which a 'stud pastA 19 is adapted to extend. This post is set in a a vertical opening in a boss or lug |39v which ex- 5\ tends inwardly from the carrier ring |8|. A set iiscrew |48 serves to hold the post 19 in proper position. The upper end of the post 19 enters the space 18 between the lugs 68. Adjusting screws |4| are threaded through threaded openings in 0 the lugs V68 and abut against opposite sidesof the post 19 to hold thetwo carrier members |8I and |83 in properadjusted position. By letting offl on 'eit e\r screw and screwing up on the other, the adjustment may be varied as is obvious. 5' As clear \shown, the` lower portion of the car# ri g los.- suitable screws los pass through the righ |85 -into threaded engagement with the body of theinember |8|. This toothed ring |85, when mounted\\ n the ca rrier, constitutes a gear wheel by which iiejcarier is rotated through the agency of 4gearing which will be pointed out more-fully hereinafter. i-\ l The carrier ring \|-8| is provided with the bottle supports, which, in this embodiment, takes the form of lifters D, for raising'and lowering the bottles M, into and out of engagement with the filling heads H. The structure of these lifters is clearly disclosed in our aforesaid PatentNo. 1,966,889, and also in Figs-20 and 21 herein. The annular body |8| is provided with a number of vertical posts |81. Each post |81 is bored out at its center to provide a chamber or well |88. In this well a dash pot piston |89 is adapted to travel. This piston is carried at the lower end of a piston rod 8, the piston and rod beingv secured together by a transverse pin The rod ||8 is provided with opositely disposed grooves l2 which grooves cooperate with keys ||3 in guiding the rod ||8 and prevent rotation of the rod. The keys Ill f are secured on the inner side of the upper end of a tubular sleeve ||4 which fits down into thev well |88 in the post |81. The -sleeve ||4 is secured against removal -by a set screw ||5 ywhich is preferably covered by acap nut ||9 ntting down upon a gasket ||1 when in secured position. As clearly shown, the inner end of the g screw ||5 enters an opening in the wall of the 'f sleeve 4. The keys ||3 are narrow blocks which Y |81 and thekeys ||3 enter the slots ||2, then the piston rod ||8 will be free to move up and down but will be held against.rotation by the keys |.|3 in the slots I2. A coiled compression spring |28 acts between the upper side of the piston |89 and the under side of the underlying abutment ||9, and, since the sleeve ||4 is xed in the post |81 by the screw H5, the action of the spring'is to hold the piston |89 normally in the bottom of the welly |88.V The upper end of thepiston ||8 is secured to the lifter head 2|. 'I'he latter is preferably provided with a tubular sleeve |22 at itscenter, into which the end ofthe rod ||8 enters, and to which it is secured by a transverse pin |23. The vhead |2| alsol carries near its'Y periphery another annular" flange |24 tu which the vskirt '|25 or the nner 1s. smmbly secured as by soldering, indibated at the points |26. The skirt |25 is in fact a cylindrical sleeve which passes down over the outside of the post |81. The upper end of the post is provided with suitable `packing in the form of a cupped leather |21 which is secured between retaining rings |28 and |29 by'a plurality f screws |38 which pass down t ough the rin s and intervening leather into t readed engagement with tapped openings in the uv/'per end of the post |81. l

The packing |21 thus provides a reasonably air tight connection, and compressed "air which is admitted through the tubular passages |3I, |32,

and |89 will be retained within the space above the packing |21 and beneath the head |2| and by its force press the head |2| upward against the downward pressure exerted by -the spring |20. When the compressed air is no longer supplied but the passage |33 is open to atmosphere, then the compressed air will pass out of the chamber' beneath the lifter head |2| and the latter will be returned to its normal position by the spring |20. In order to suitably retard the action of the spring, the well |08 is partially lled with oil or other liquid which normally rests approximately at the level indicated at |34. The upward movement of the lifter head will be retarded by the spring |20 and the oil contained in the well |08. Likewise when the return movement of the head occurs, under the downward pressure of the spring |20, the retarding eiect of the oil in the well will also be brought into service. As the piston |09 passes up or down, the oil will find its way past the piston, both through the openings |35 through the piston and, to some extent, through the space between the piston and theassociated cylindrical wall. In other words, the lifter head is'raised by compressed air and lowered by gravity and spring pressure, the oil meanwhile retarding the movement in both di' rections. In this connection it may be pointed out that the lower end of the passage |33 terminates in' a port |31 in the annular face |36 in the under side of the carrier C.

As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3, the underneath bearing face |36 on the rotor rests upon and engages the upper bearing face on the stator ringv40. When so positioned, the port |31 of the passage |33 cooperates withl the inner channel 8| of the ring. 'Ihis means that, as the lifters are rotated by the travel of the carrier ring |0| over the flxed'ring 40, the port |31 will be brought into communication with the compressed air supply during part of each rotation and into communication with atmosphere during another part of each rotation. The segment covered during the communication with the compressed air supply is a long one, existing while the port I 31 passes from plug 84 over plug 85 and on to plug 86. Similarly the segment allotted to the atmospheric connection is relatively short, existing while the port |31 passes from plug 86 over plug 81 and on to plug 84.

In Fig. 8 where the grooves 80 and 8| of the stator are most clearly shown, the rotor will travel clockwise, as indicated by the arrow. Obviously, while compressed air is being applied to a particular lifter D, its head |2| will be thrust upward and maintained in its uppermost position. Onthe other hand, as soon as the lifter is brought into that portion of its travel wherein air at atmospheric pressure only is available, then the head of the lifter will return to normal position and remain there throughout the balance of the cycle. Obviously, as each lifter passes over that portion of the groove 8| which lies between the plugs 84 and 85, oil laden air will pass up into the interior of the lifter to a point abovev the cup leather |21 and serve to lubricate the parts available to the oil when liberated in thatv by suitable screws |39. As these plates become.

worn they may be replaced so as to maintain accuracy of adjustment with reference to the shifting of the bottles into proper filling engagement with the filler heads H.

Now, in addition to the port |31 and the associated passages 33, |32 and |30, by which actuating air for the lifters D is provided, there being one such port and set of passages'for each lifter, the outer ring |0| of the carrier is provided with a single port and set of passages which control the iiow of air to the valve mechanism P carried by the rotor. By reference to Figs. 3 and 5, the path for this flow of air may be readily traced. In line with the outer stator groove 80 is a port |42 located at the lower end of a passage |43 which connects with a short horizontal passage |44. The latter is provided with a pipe elbow |45 and to this is attached one end of a flexible tube |46 which has a certain amount of slack in its length to provide for adjustments when the upper portion of the rotor is elevated by raising the central column B. The slack portion of the tube |46 rests upon a supporting plate |41 carried by the carrier ring |0I. The other end of the tube |46 is passed up through a tubular guide |48, which cooperates with other guides |49, to be hereinafter referred to when describing the mountings of the main tank E. The tubular guide |48, which is carried by the apron |03 of the carrier C, telescopes with a sleeve |50 which is carried by the main tank E of the rotor. The flexible tube |46 passes up through these telescoping tubes- |48 and |50, and is fitted at its upper end to a head |5| located in the upper end of the sleeve 50. Suitable passages |52 within the head and a short length of pipe |53 place the tube |46 into communication with the bellows tting of the valve operating apparatus P. The

' eiect of the supply and withdrawal of the com- It comprises a cylindrical wall |58 and a dished bottom |59 which are suitably secured together at their meeting edges. Commonly the wall |58 and bottom |59 are welded together, as indicated at |60. The bottom |59 carries a series of bolts |6| which are spaced apart around'its periphery. Each bolt is fixedly secured to the bottom |59, preferably by welding. When assembling the parts, the bolts |6| are passed down through openings in the bowl |63 near its periphery. Cap nuts |62 upon the ends of the bolts |6| secure the tank and bowl together. This bowl is a casting which includes a tubular member |64 which functionally forms a continuation of the central tube 5 If. A washer |65 is positioned between the meeting ends of the tube 5| and the member |64. The tubular member |64 extends laterally to a point just beyond the periphery of the tank wall |58 and is there provided on its upper side with an opening for thereception of a removable vacuum pipe |66. Suitable packing and a packing gland |61 serve to make a reasonably air-tight joint. As clearly shown, the pipe or tube |66 extends into the interior of an vinverted'cup |51 formed on the bottom |68 of the dump tank J. The interior of the cupA 51 is in direct communication with the .vacuum chamber L when the parts are assembled. In practice the tank E rests upon the central column B. The two tubular members |64 and 5| are brought into vertical alinement and the former rests upon the latter, preferably with the washer in between. This washer |65 covering dump tank J, is an open-topped tank. i

is preferably composed of soft packing material. 78

in place preferably by a. rim |69 formed at the upper end of the tube 5|. In some instances the metal faces of the tube 5| and the member |64 may meet without the intervention of the washer. Where a washer is used any desired Way of holding it in place may be employed.

Since the bearing furnished by the faces of the members 5| and |64 is relatively small in contact; area, it is necessary to provide other holding means to maintain the tank E in its central position over the column B. The aforesaid posts |48 and |49 serve this purpose. As before pointed out, the post |48 is tubular and carries the exible air tube |46. The posts |49 are preferably solid as shown, although they might be tubular also, if desired. All these guide posts are preferably mounted in the same way.v It will suffice then to refer to the mounting of the tubular post |48, the mounting of which is shown in detail in Fig. 2. As there shown, the post |48 passes through an opening in the apron |03 near its periphery and is held in place therein by a set screw |10. Three guide posts |48, 49 are shown although, obviously, the number may be increased if desired. The manner of mounting the posts in the carrier member |03 may be varied but it is essential, however, that the posts guide and maintain the main tank E in its central position. In order to provide a proper guiding contact between the tank E and the posts |48, |49, the bowl |63, upon which the bottom |59 of the tank rests, is provided at points in radial alinement with the guide posts, with guide shoes |13. These are concavely curved on their outer surfaces to properly fit the cylindrical surfaces of the posts and each is provided with a stem which enters a socket |14 formed in the periphery of the bowl |63. The stem, when once positioned is held firmly in place by a set screw |15 which is threaded into an opening in the adjacent portion of the bowl and when screwed home presses firmly against the stem of the shoe. It will be obvious that with three or more guide posts |48, |49 in association with the cooperating shoes |13, the main tank E and the structure which it supports will be firmly held in central position and this will be true even when all the parts are rotating as will be the case when the machine is in operation. The bottom |59 of the tank E is provided with a drain pipe |16 in which is located a drain valve |11. As clearly shown, the bottom |59 of the tank is dished and the drain pipe |16 is located at the lowest point of the tank. In operation the drain valve |11 is normally in closed position, but, when it is necessary to empty the tank, then the same may be thrown into its open position and the liquid contents of the tank E drained off.

The outer wall |58 of the tank E is pierced by a number of milk supply tubes |18. These tubes terminate at their inner ends near the bottom |59 of the tank, and, as shown, extend upward and outward into communication with the filling heads H,.there being one tube |18 for each filling head. The tubes |18 are preferably reinforced by sleeves |19 at the points where they pass through` the tank wall |58. The tube |18, sleeve |19 and wall |58, in each instance, are all rmly and permanently secured together as by welding. Thus the several tubes |18 are symmetrically disposed about the tank axis and extend from points` well below the milk level to the heads H which are well above that level. It should be noted, while considering the milk v A 2,147,366 MIn the embodiment shown, the washer |65 is held search Roomtubes |18, that the lower ends of these tubes are cut of! along a horizontal plane. This makes all points of the lower end of each pipe an equal distance from the milk level. In other words, each-fpoint in each pipe inlet is subjected to the samel head of liquid pressure. Thus, the flow of the incoming milk, in the case of each tube |18, is the same at all points around the periphery of the inlet opening. This insures quieter action of the milk, which is much desired. It should also be noted in this connection that the milk is withdrawn from the lower part of the holding tank E. In this way there is a withdrawing of milk independently of foam which, if present, lies near the top of the tank.

Within the main tank E are the float tank F and the trap tank G. 'I'he float tank comprises a top |84, a bottom and an outer wall |86. In the embodiment shown the latter is conical in its lower portion and cylindrical in its upper portion. Besides these outer walls, is an inner tubular wall |81 which joins the top |84 and the bottom |85 and forms through its center a. tubular passage for a cooperating feed pipe |88. The latter, sometimes called the milk pipe, extends down through the tubular space formed by the wall |81 and is provided at its lower end with a valve seat |89. The latter takes the form of a short tub which is inserted in the lower end of the milk pipe and welded or otherwise secured therein.

On the bottom of the tank F is a yoke which is secured at its ends to the bottom |85 and provided at the center with a boss |9| which is apertured or socketed for the reception of the stem |02 of a disk valve |93. The latter, as clearly shown, is of sumcient size to properly seat itself upon the seat |89 when the two are brought together. The tank which carries the valve |93, being a float tanknormally rides on the body o! milk carried in the main tank E. When the valve is open, as it is in the position shown in Fig. 2, milk travels from the dump tank J down through the feed pipe |88 into the main tank E. This travel continues until the milk level |80 in the main tank rises suiiciently to cause the float to bring the valve |93 into engagement with the valve seat |89. As soon as the milk level |80 drops, as it will do by reason of the removal of the milk from the tank E, the float tank F will drop and, as it does so, it will open the valve |93, and, as a result, more milk will ow into the main tank. In order to reduce the friction between the exterior of the liquid supply pipe 88 and the interior wall |81 of the oat F, said wall is provided with two annular rings |94 which are formed by pressing the metal inward toward the axial center of the tank. Such protruding portions are the only portions which engage the feed pipe |88, and, thus, the friction between thev oat and the tube is greatly reduced. Thus, we see, the tank E is a liquid container adapted to hold liquid at a level below the level of the lling heads H.

The trap tank G is made up of a'cylindrical wall |98 and a dished bottom |99. The latter, as clearly shown, is bent convexly upward so as to drain liquid therein toward the periphery of the tank. The center of the bottom |99 is apertured for the passage of lthe feed pipe |88 and said pipe is firmly secured therein by welding or otherwise, and, preferably, is provided with reinforcing rings 200 which form part of a stout connection between the pipe and the tank bottom.

At this point, it may be well to notice the connection formed between the upper end of the feed pipe |88 and the bottom |88 of the dump tank J. It will be seen that the latter is provided with a nozzle 20| and that the upper end of the pipe |88 passes into this nozzle. Within the nozzle is a rubber ring 202 which is shaped to iit over a flange 203 formed on the inner wall of the nozzle 20|. The ring 202 is engaged by the upper end of the feed pipe |88 when the parts are in assembled position and a liquid tight joint is thereby provided. This joint is also reasonably air-tight since at certain times in the operation of the machine the interior of the trap tank G will contain air at vacuum or partial vacuum pressures. As clearly shown, the upper end of the milk pipe |88 is slightly contracted and thus a wedging t is made against the rubber ring 202, when the parts are set in nal position.

As clearly shown, the upper edges of the walls of the main and trap tanks terminate at about equal distances from the dump tank bottom |68. To make a tight joint at this point, the rubber ring K is provided. This has substantially the same thickness throughout, with grooves or depressions 203a on its under side for receiving the edges of the tank walls |58 and |98. As previously pointed out, the valve actuating mechanism P includes two valves, an inlet valve 204 and an outlet valve 205. These are shown in detail in Figs. 4, 13 and 14, respectively. Since the inlet valve 204 is intended to admit air below normal atmospheric pressure into the trap tank G from the vacuum chamber L, it is necessary to provide an air-tight passage for the purpose. Such a passage is provided by surrounding the valve opening 206 with a wall 2|5. This Wall is secured to the trap tank wall |98 and extends into close proximity to the main tank wall |58 when the parts are assembled. An opening 201 in the latter wall within the enclosure formed by the wall 2|5 completes the passage. In order to provide for a reasonably air-tight connection between this wall 2|5 and the adjacent wall |58, a rubber ring 208 is provided. This ring has on its inner face a depression 209 and thus enables the ring to be tted carefully upon the edge of the wall 2|5. When the parts are assembled, the contact is made as shown in Fig. 13.

The trap tank G is supported in its proper vertical position by pins 2|0, 2| preferably four` in number, which extend inward from the wall |58 of the main tank E. These pins are reduced in diameter at their outer ends and these reduced ends pass through openings in the wall |58. Preferably the pins 2|0, 2|| are shouldered so as to flt against the inner face of the wall and the outer reduced portions are threaded in each instance for the reception of a cap nut 2|2, somewhat after the manner of the bolts IBI and nuts |62, previously mentioned. The pin 2|0 is in the vicinity of the valves 204 and 205 while the pins 2| I are more distant from these valves. The pins 2|| are provided in each instance with an inclined nub or ridge 2|3 which extends inward and downward so that when the trap tank-G is pressed down into the main tank into position on the pins, the gasket ring 208, previously described, will be forced tightly against the adjacent tank wall |58 and a tight joint thereby be provided between the walls |58 and 2|5. where the rubber ring 208 is located.

Turning now to a consideration of the filler heads H associated with the outer ends of the supply pipes |18, it will be noted that these heads in general are similar in construction to those illustrated in Fagans Patent No. 1,929,736, granted October 1|), 1933. There are some differences, however, which are oi' genuine importance because the present head has been developed to deal with liquids of greater density and viscosity and to prevent, as far as possible, the admixture of air. The improved ller head is illustrated in detail in Figs. 16 to 19, inclusive. As there shown, it comprises a body 2|1 of sufiicient lateral extent to close the top of the bottle or other receptacle to be iilled. Through this head extends a downwardly inclined milk supply passage 2|8, terminating in a. milk supply port 2|9. Likewise, through the head 2|1 extends a vacuum passage, terminating in a vacuum port 22|. It will be noted that the port 22| is positioned in a face 222 which is practically horizontal and forms the lowest point of the head. Surrounding this face 222 is a more or less conical face 223, which extends from the apex face 222 outward and upward. The milk port 2|9 terminates in this inclined more or less conical face 223. The pipe |18 communicates with an apertured branch 224 which forms part of the body 2|1 but extends away from the same at an angle, all as clearly illustrated. The angle is that which lies between the inclined supply pipe |18 and a vertical line. 'I'his is necessary because the head 2| 1 must have a vertical axis. Such positioning of the head makes the apex face 222 practically horizontal, as previously stated. The branch 224 is suitably bored out to receive the end of the pipe I 18 which is preferably welded in place. The upper end of the branch 224 is open except for a plug 225 which closes the end of the passage when the machine is in service. It will be seen that when the plug 225 is removed, a swab rod or other cleaning device may be used to wash out and thoroughly cleanse the interior of the associated tube |18. The milk passage 2| 8 communicates at its upper end with the interior of the bore formed in the branch 224. Thus, milk ascending by way of the pipe |18 will pass into the supply passage 2|8 and be delivered at the port 2|9. The upper end of the vacuum passage 220 opens out into the interior of the vacuum chamber L. The upper end of the body 2| 1 passes through an opening in the lower wall 228 of the vacuum chamber L and is secured thereto in any suitable way, as by welding. The vacuum passage 220 has an upper portion 221 of constant diameter and a lower portion 228 in which the diameter varies, the portion 228, as illustrated, has a downwardly converging conical wall. It will be noted, too, that the diameter of the port 22| is considerably less than the diameter of the port 2|9. The axis of the milk passage 2|8 is also inclined to the vertical just enough to deliver the milk from the port 2|9 into a milk bottle against its side wall and thus cut down to a minimum the admixture of air due to the passage of the milk from the head into the bottle.

y The lower end of the body 2I1 is recessed around its periphery for the reception of an irregularly shaped packing or cushion 229 of rubber or like material which forms the member which contacts with the bottle or other receptacle. 'I'he peripheryof the rubber 229 is turned upwards with a lip 230 so as to provide a gutter for the accumulation of liquid which might pass down from the outside of the head. This gutter has an outlet 23| which is formed bycutting away a portion of the lip 230. This enables the liquid which accumulates in the gutter to ow on'. The

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