US2338258A - Continuous conveyer - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 4, 1944. D. RAY 2,338,258

CONTINUOUS GONVEYER Filed June 30, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Jan. 4, 1944. I RAY 2,338,258 A CONTINUOUS CONVEYER Filed June so, 1942 7 Sheets-$heet 2' INVENTOR '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 D. RAY

Jan. 4, I944.

CONTINUOUS CONVEYER Filed June 30 Jan. 4, 1944. I D. RAY 2,338,258

CONTINUOUS CONVEYEI'.

Filed June 50, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 50m 54); INVENTOR Arron/vs):

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 is 004 RA); INVENTOR Nu v I D 1 J D lllllllllllllll l -l lllllllllllllll ll Jan. 4, 1944. o. RAY

CONTINUOUS CONVEYER Filed June 30, 1942 mm. dww vw Q Nu n mw um u hm ww i i "6o Jan. 4, 1944. D. RAY 2,338,258

' CONTINUOUS CONVEYER Filed June 30, 1942 T Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR I BY a? ,477'0RA/EX Jan. 4, 1944. RAY 2,338,258

CONTINUOUS CYONVEYER Filed June so, 1942 v Sheets-Sheet '7 Dom/64 INVENTOR Arromvnt Patented Jan. 4, 1944 CONTINUOUS CONVEYER Don Ray, Beverly Hills, Califi, assignor to Bensel- Brice Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application June 30, 1942, Serial No. 449,195

26 Claims. (01. 198-143) This invention pertains to apparatus including housing ports and conveyers, the various elements, individually and collectively, being adapted for many different uses but particularly designed for use in heating, cooking, pasteurizing or sterilizing of food stuffs and other commodities,

in a continuous manner.

The present invention is primarily directed to the provision of means wherebythe process disclosed in Patent No. 2,231,791 issued to Duryea Bensel, February 11, 1941, may be economically 'and rapidly carried out in a continuous manner. It is to be understood, however, that the various elements hereinafter described and claimed are adapted for use in other fields of endeavor and all uses to which the present invention may be put are embraced thereby.

.atmospheric temperature (and pressure, if necessary) without the loss of appreciable amounts of heat or pressure.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means whereby the individual receptacles into which the containers are placed for the heat treating or cooking operation may be rapidly filled, closed, passed through the retort or cooker, chilled, opened and the containers discharged from the receptacles, in a substantially auto :matic manner and without manual operations.

In general, the present invention is directed to a combination and arrangement of elements whereby the various requirements of the process are met and the procedure facilitated in an automatic, timed and continuous manner.

It is an object of the present invention, there- .fore, to disclose and provide improved continuous means for processing food stuffs in flexible, lightweight containers.

Another object is to disclose and provide a continuous apparatus adapted to heat treat, cook,

sterilize or pasteurize food stuiis while they are in lightweight, relatively weak containers.

A further object is to disclose and provide an improved conveyer construction.

An object is to disclose and provide a self-seating port adapted to receive a conveyer provided 'with receptacles having releasable closures, said port being arranged to permit entry or discharge of the conveyer without appreciable loss of pressure from a chamber provided with such ports.

A further object is to provide means for driving a conveyer through a retort, the driving means cooperating with a port in the retort to seal the port.

.A still further object is to provide a conveyer and means forcontinuously driving the same through a retort, the driving means cooperating with the conveyer and with a portin the retort to maintain the port in a substantially sealed condition. I

These and various other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of an exemp ary form of apparatus specifically designed for use in the performance of the Bensel process hereinbefore referred to.

In the drawings appended hereto: 7

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the-present inventions.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the other side of said apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the plane IIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the plane IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section through a port in communication with the housing or cooker.

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a receptacle and two spacer elements which may be employed in constructing a conveyer.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged elevation, partly broken away, of the conveyer and means for closing and sealing the receptacles.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section and end view, the

- section being taken along the plane VIIL-VIII of Fig. '2. 1

' Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

' the conveyer in association with means for opening the receptacles. Fig, 10 is an end view of a portion of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the conveyer and closure release means shown in Fig. 9. Figs. 12 and 13 diagrammatically illustrate two positions of the means for closing covers on the r receptacles.

Fi s. 14 and 15 illustrate, in part diagrammatically, positions of the closure release mechanism in operation.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that the complete apparatus illustrated comprises a housing I having an inlet port, generally indicated at'2, this housing comprisinga heating or 'length of the conveyer. "shown, for example, at l4, l5, I6 and IT in Fig. 7. Spacer elements are identified at [8, I9, 29 and 2|. ,Each receptacle is adapted to receive one or more Patent No. 2,231,791.

cooking chamber. Adjacent thereto is a cooler, generally indicated at 3. A sealable port leading from housing 2 to housing 3 is generally indicated at 4 whereas the outlet port from the cooler is identified at 5. The housings are mounted upon a suitable framework including a horizontal truss 6 and a continuous conveyer l is mounted on the truss so as to pass overa star wheel 8 past a filling station generally indicated by the dotted arrow 9, a cover closing mechanism, generally indicated at H], through the inlet port 2 and then by a circuitous path through the cooker l and scalable port 4 into the cooler 3. The conveyer is then discharged so as to pass over an outside roller II and over another inside star wheel 8' past the closure release mechanism, generally indicated at l2. The conveyer then returns within the truss or lower framework of the device to the first inside star wheel and on such return travel may be supported in any suitable manner, a supporting conveyer being generally indicated at l3.

The construction of the conveyer I may be best understood by referring to Figs. 6 and '7. The conveyer comprises a plurality of receptacles and spacer elements alternately arranged along the Such receptacles are flexible containers which had previously been filled with raw, partly prepared or cooked food stuff or other commodity.

It is to be understood that the containers (for "which this apparatus is designed) are made of 'flexible, impervious, lightweight sheet material =such as Pliofilm, so that the container could not normally be subjected to a temperature of say 250 F, for the purpose of sterilizing or cooking the contents thereof without rupturing the container, according to the teachings of the Bensel It is for this reason that the receptacles l-il have been provided, said {receptacles being adapted to slidably receive the containers, leaving but a very small space of say to about inch between the container and the inner walls of the receptacle.

In order to permit a large volume of food to be treated and a large number of containers to be carried by the conveyer within a minimum of floor space and length of conveyer, the receptacles preferably have their longitudinal axes transverse to the length of the conveyer, as best shown in Fig. 6. As there shown, each receptacle is provided with a cover or lid 22 hinged as at 23, the cover being adapted to closely fit and completely seal the contents of the receptacle It. If

desired, gasketing means may be embodied in the cover 22 for the purpose of assuring a complete seal. Means are also provided for latching the cover and such means may include arms 24 and 25 pivoted to the outer side walls of the receptacle l6 and connected by a roller 21' adapted to rise upon a flat formed in the top of the cover 22, and when the arms are in such dead center position, the cover or lid is positively held in closed position. A spring or springs 28 carried by the outer side walls of the receptacle may be provided, the spring or other yieldable means engaging the arms 26 and preventing inadvertent return of the arms 24 to a position adjacent the pivot pin 23. The cover 22 may alsobe provided with one or 'more upstanding curved lugs 29 against which I the roller 21 may strike when the latch is released, movement of the arms 24 in the direction of the cise alignment at all times. 'Fig. 5,. the starwheel 8" there shown is provided at 36 and 3| and it is to be noted that these pivot points are formed in lugs extending from the front and rear walls of the container It. In the form shown, the receptacle It extends below the line of pivot points as well as above such line. Each of the spacer elements, such as the spacer 2i, constitutes a link between adjacent receptacles as, for example, between the receptacles I6 and I! (Fig. 7). Each spacer element includes a web portion 34 which extends transversely of the conveyer from side to side thereof and from about the line of spaced pivot points to above the leveloi the tops of the receptacles. Each of the spacer elements may be provided with lugs 32 and 33 through which a pivotal connection is made with the adjacent receptacles, thereby spacing a spacer element from the walls of the containers on either side thereof a distance sufficient to permit the entire conveyer to be passed around an inside star wheel or an outside toothed roller with the spacer elements out of contact with the walls of the receptacles.

Preferably the longitudinal distance between the pivot points 30 and 3| to which the receptacle it is connected should not be less than the longitudinal distance between the pivot points 32 and 33 to which a spacer element is pivotally connected (see Fig. 6). The rods or pins extending through the pivot pins 30, 3!, 33 and the like are preferably provided with heads against which the arms 24 may rest when the cover 22 is open, as in Fig. 7. The spring 2.8 will maintain the arms in such open position and prevent the covers 22 from closing automatically when the receptacles are passing over the inner star wheel 8, as shown in Fig. 7.

The inner star wheel 8 is designed to cooperatively engage the conveyer l, the receptacles and intervening spacer elements cooperating with the star wheel. Each star wheel, such as the star wheel 8, may be mounted for rotation on a shaft, such as the shaft 36. The star wheels 8 and 8' may be mounted in adjustable bearing blocks, an

adjusting rod being indicated at 35 (Figs. 1 and Each star wheel may comprise a plurality of radially extending imperforate ribs lying in planes passing through the axis of rotation of such wheel. Such ribs are indicated in Fig. 7 at '31, 38, 39, etc. These ribs are adapted to extend between the bottom portions of adjacent receptacles, as for example, the rib 38 is shown extending between receptacles M and H5. The outer ends of such ribs are formed to contact with and cooperatively engage the spacer elements, such as the spacer l8. This cooperation between the ends of the ribs and the spacer elements assures positive seating of the spacer elements upon the ends of the ribs so that each spacer element lies in substantially the same plane as its cooperating rib, as is evidenced by the position of spacer I9 with'respect' to rib 39 (Fig. '7). Moreover, the rib and spacer may be so formed as to prevent lateral movement of the spacer with respect to the rib, thereby maintaining the conveyer in pre- As best shown in With. ribs having an enlarged head, the outer face and support the bottoms of receptacles.

.ribs 31, 38 and 39. bottom of receptacle l rests upon the partition or stop 49, the upper edge of such partition 49 .-being parallel to a chord connecting the outer .ends of the ribs 38 and 39. These stops, to-

,5l attached to the frame 6.

of such head being provided with a groove 40 intermediate the ends of the rib. The spacer ele- -ments of the conveyer may be provided with a recess having the side walls 4| and 42 adapted to receive the enlarged head of a rib and a tooth or boss 43 adapted to enter the recess or cavity 40, thereby firmly locking the outer end of a rib with the lower surface or end portion of a spacer.

Inner star wheels of the character indicated at 8, 8' and 8" are also mounted on shafts 45, 45

Attention is also called to the fact that each of these star wheels of the type shown at 8 is provided with stops or partitions adapted to receive In Figs. 7 and 8 partitions 48 and 49 are shown between It will be noted that the gether with the means carried by the outer edges of each rib, and the lower portions of each spacer element web, cause the conveyer to be completely stable and move-around the shaft 36 as a rigid unit.

Outside rollers are employed whenever it is desired to change the direction of movement of the conveyer so as to curve its upper surface into concave shape. One such outside roller is shown journaled upon a shaft 50 carried by a bracket This outside roller or drum, generally indicated at 52, is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves .or depressions adapted to engage the upper or outer ends of the spacer elements l8-2l. For

example, the roller 52 may be provided with a groove or depression having inwardly inclined opposing walls 53 and 54 adapted to cooperate with the inclined longitudinally extending upper By referring be caused to pass over the outside roller 52 without slippage, provision having been made for cooperation between the roller and the receptacles and spacer elements so as to maintain all portions of the conveyer in their proper relation- 7 ship.

Outside rollers or drums of the type described are journaled on shafts 58, 59, 5B and GI (see Figs. 1 and 2).

The width of a conveyer may be varied, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 8. The conveyer herein referred to is two receptacles wide but it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates the use of either one line or a plurality of lines of receptacles carried by the same conveyer.

Movement may be imparted to the conveyer in any suitable manner. In the form of apparatus illustrated the inside star 8" mounted on shaft 62, as well as the stars mounted on shafts 46 and 41, are driven by suitable gearing from a countershaft 63 driven by a motor, not shown.

The countershaft 63 may be connected as by sprocket chain 64 to shaft 65, carrying a Worm .in engagement with a worm wheel mounted upon :75

drum 52.

tion of the standard 5|.

tially circular members 76 and H.

the shaft 62. Similar driving connections exist between the countershaft 63 and shafts 41 and 46. All of the other inner star wheels and outer toothed drums or rollers may be driven by the conveyer itself.

As previously stated, the conveyer 1 moves over the inner star wheel 8, past a filling station 8 and the sealed containers are placed in the receptacles.

The conveyer then moves beneath the closing device In, which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 7, 8, 12 and 13. The shaft 5!) is driven by contact of the conveyer against the By a train of gears, rotation of the shaft is transmitted to shaft 66, this shaft being provided with two eccentrics 61 and 61, which operate the connecting rods or pitmans 68 and 58. Each of these connecting rods 68 is mounted for slidable movement through a block 59 pivoted near its lower end as at 10 to a por- The upturned covers of the receptacles bear against the blocks 69 into a partially closed position and the lugs 29 integral with the covers engage the roller 21 and start the roller by the inclined top of the cover towards the fiats hereinbefore mentioned. Further movement of the conveyer causes the pitman 58 to descend through the block 69 and simultaneously move the lower end of the pitman '63 in the direction of movement of the conveyer, as best shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the lower end of the pitman 68 engaging the roller 21 and moving said roller upon the flats of the cover 22 past the yielding resistance of spring 28, whereupon the upstroke of the pitman 68 causes the lower r end of such pitman to release its pressure against ;the roller 21 and move out of the way of the advancing conveyer.

containers may be employed and that the present invention is not limited to the precise form shown, which is simply illustrative of one mode of operation and construction, this preferred form being characterized by the absence of spring-actuated means which vary in tension and are not as positive as the mechanical means herein disclosed.

The conveyer, together with its closed receptacles, now moves into the port 2. The construction of this port may be best understood by referring to Fig. 5. The port is defined by a pair of opposing members provided with opposed concave cylindrical surfaces having a common center but different radii, the member having the surface of greater radius extending over an are not less than twice as long as the arc of the member of shorter radius. The center of shaft 62 on which the star wheel 8" is mounted coincides with the centers of curvature of these two members and the radius of the smaller member coincides with the length of the webs of the star 8".

More specifically, the port 2 (which forms a port of entry into the housing I) is defined by the member 12 having the inner concave surface 13 and the foot member I4 having the opposing concave surface 75. These opposing surfaces 13 and 15 should be highly polished, the inner surface being adapted to be in sliding contact with the outer ends of the webs of the spider 8". The sides of this port are closed by suitable, substan- The radius of curvature of the surface 13 is such that when the spacer elements 28, 2i and the like are properly seated upon the ends of the webs of the spider 8", the upper or outer edge portions 'of the spacer elements will be in substantially sliding contact with the surface 13, the combination of the imperforate webs of the spiders and the imperforate spacer elements forming a complete,

substantially steam-tight partition extending across the port. Simultaneously, ends of other web members of spider B" are in sliding engagement with surface 75 of the foot member, the length of the surface 15 being at least equal to the arcuate distance between adjacent webs of 8", thereby assuring maintenance of a seal across the lower portion of the port.

In order to insure thorough sealing action while the conveyer is passing through the port, each of the spacer elements may be provided with outwardly yieldably urged sealing strips and with means for limiting the outward movement of such sealing strips. By referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noted that the spacer element 29 is provided with a sealing strip Bi at each side and a strip 8! at its upper edge. By referring to the sections of sealing elements appearing in Fig. 5 it will be noted that the sealing strip 9! is slidably mounted in a groove or recess formed in the edge, said strip being yieldably urged outwardly by means of a spring pressing against the head of a pin connected to the strip, the spring being retained within a small housing 82 attached to thespacer element. A guiding member 83 is connected to the leading edge of the port member 12 so as to permit the sealing strip M to gradually come into alignment with the circular surface I3 and form a seal thereagainst. The side sealing strips 89 contact with the side members 16 and I1 of the port.

The ends of the various web members which comprise the inner star wheel may also be provided with similar sealing strips and such sealing strips are indicated at M. As a result, thorough sealing of the port is attained, permitting the housing I to be maintained at superatmospheric pressure or filled with steam without appreciable loss of such pressure or steam while the continuous conveyer is moving into and out of the housing. Similar driving and port sealing means are embodied in ports 4 and 5, leading into and out of the housing 3, wherein the receptacles and their contents may be cooled or chilled to substantially room temperature.

Upon being discharged from the housing 3, the continuous conveyer passes under the toothed roller or drum ii and then over the star wheel 8'. Adjacent the star wheel 3' there is positioned a means for unlatching the closures and opening the receptacles carried by the conveyer. This mechanism is best shown in Figs. 9 to 1 4 and 15. It will be noted from these drawings that the conveyer is moving toward the unlatching device I2 and means must be provided whereby the roller 2? connecting the arms 2 rapidly pivoted downwardly so as to move the roller 21 against the lugs 25! and thereby permit the cover 22 to open. Such pivotal movement of the arms 24 must overcome the yielding resistance of the spring means 28 and permit the arms 24 to be held in full open position until the conveyer passes the filling point 9 and the receptacles are closed again by the device It.

As shown in these figures, the unlatching device may be driven directly from the shaft 85 on which the star wheel 8 is mounted, this shaft carrying gear 8-3 which impartsrotation. through intermediate gearing to a gear 81 mounted upon drive shaft 88. The drive shaft 88 carries gear 89 in mesh with a pinion 90 mounted upon a jack shaft 9| carrying crank arms 92 which are pivotally connected to unlatching arms 93 provided with hooks 94, the lower ends of the unlatching arms 93 being pivotally connected as at 95 to links 96 pivoted at 91' to a part of the supporting bracket 98.

It will be noted that as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 the unlatching arm 93 is rapidly moved toward the conveyer and downwardly so as to permit the hook 94 to engage the roller 2'! and move it quickly against the lugs 29, thereby unlatching the receptacle and causing the cover 22 to pivot into an open position. As the cover opens, the unlatching arm 93 and hook 94 rapidly move out of the way of the oncoming receptacle and cover. Attention is also called to the fact that the sequence of gears between gears 85 and 81 causes the shafts 88 and 9| to rotate very rapidly but in timed relation to the rotation of the shaft 85, so that the motions of the arm 93 are extremely rapid. In the form of apparatus shown, the arms 93 engage the latching bars of the receptacles on every third stroke of the arms, the intervening two strokes being idle. More elaborate cam control devices for making each stroke of the arms eifective can be designed but the relatively simple arrangement here shown is entirely satisfacory.

While passing over the star wheel 8 and after the covers 22 have been opened, the receptacles are placed in inclined position and then into inverted position, permitting the contents to be discharged upon a slide 99 and discharge conveyer Iilfi, this discharge conveyer then taking the sealed and heat-treated container to a suitable packing shed or storage. The conveyer, on its return stroke, may be supported by means of a supporting conveyer I3 passing over sprockets IEH and I92, certain links of this supporting conveyer, such as the links I93, being provided with rollers I94 adapted to ride upon a guide rail I05 carried by the frame 6.

The lids or covers 22 are held in open position while moving from the opening means to the fill ing station and closing means by springs 28, heretofore mentioned, these springs engaging the arms 2 1 and 25 and holding them and their connecting roller 2! against the lugs 29.

The links or blocks I03 may be provided with grooves adapted to engage the outer ends of the spacer elements 20 so as to maintain the lower lay of the conveyer I in a substantially horizontal plane and free from sagging. The supporting conveyer I3 may either be driven by the conveyer I or it maybe driven by suitable motor means in timed relation with the movement of the conveyer I.

Various means for heating the enclosed chamber formed by the housing I may be provided. For example, the interior of the housing I may be equipped with steam coils, hot air passages, infra red heaters, or the interior may be substantially filled with steam, hot water, or the like. The cooling chamber 3 may include sprays or be filled with a body of water maintained at a desirable, low temperature. I

In the embodiment illustrated, steam may be admitted as by means of a line H9, this line including a valve III which is ordinarily closed. The line i I9 leads to a header provided with mixmg nozzles positioned near the bottom of the housing I, thehousing itself being substantially completely filled with water. The'by-p'ass line IIZ by-passes the valve III. The by-pass in cludes a temperature-controlled valve II3 which is responsive to the temperature of the body of water within the housing;

In starting operations,"the valve Ill is opened so as to admit steam into the housing and raise the temperature of the body of water to the re-'- 'quired degree, whereupon the valve'l I I is closed, further admission of steam 'beingflcontrolled by the temperature-responsive valve II3.

, An overflow line H4 is in communication with the upper portion of the housing I, this overflow line being connected to down line I I 5 having valve II6 therein, a continuation of this line, in-

dicated at H5, being connected to a suitable drain. A by-pass line III is provided with a pressure-controlled valve II8. In actual operation, the valve H6 is closed and valve II8 automatically opens whenever an excessive pressure develops within the housing I. The cooling portion of the housing may be provided with a valved inlet line I I9 by means of which cool water may be admitted into the cooling zone. An overflow pipe I29 is provided, this pipe including a thermometer by means of which the temperature of the'cutgoin'g cooling water may be observed. The valve I2I is used for controlling the outflow from the cooling chamber, the regulation of this valve together with the valved cold water inlet permitting control of the temperature of the outgoing .water within narrow limits. The construction and operation of the apparatus will be evident to thoseskilled in the art from the description givenhereinabove. Containers may be placed into the receptacles I6 either by hand or by suitable mechanism, the apparatus hereinbefore described then automatically closing the receptacles, passing them through the retort and chiller and opening the receptacles to discharge the processed containers. The star wheels such as 8" drive the conveyer and also act as valves to seal the ports. The spacer elements embodied in the conveyer cooperate with the web members of the star wheel and the sides of the port to seal the latter. Although the concave surface I3 has been shown semicircular in cross section, it need only be of an arcuate length equal to the arcuate spacing between the ends of the spacer elements when they areon the star wheel. The form, design and arrangement of the receptacles and their latching means may be varied; the lid closing means may be materially changed and the means illustrated may be even used as a lid opening means in the event the form of receptacles here illustrated is reversed so as to place the lid hinge at the trailing instead of the leading edge. The lid closing and opening means are shown driven by the conveyer, but they may be separately driven from countershaft 63 and suitable sprockets, chains and gears, or by separate motors. The number of housings, retorts, cookers, chillers, preheaters, etc. through which the conveyer is moved may also be modified, as it may be desirable to subject containers to alternate heating and cooling steps. Moreover the webs of spiders used in the ports from cooling or chilling chambers such as housing 3, need not be imperforate if such housings are not under pressure and a valving action is not essential. .fIhese and other changes and modifications may be made, and all thereof coming withinthe scope of the appended claims are embraced therey Iclaim: I 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing provided with inlet and outlet pdrts; a continuous conveyer having one lay extending through the inlet port into the housing and out through the outlet port, said conveyer including receptacles provided with releasabl closures and spacer elements intermediate the receptacles and pivotally connected thereto; each port of the housing being defined'by a pair of opposing mem: bers provided with opposing concave cylindrical surfaces having a common center but different radii; a star wheel rotatable within each port of the housing, each star wheel being provided with imperforate ribs whose outer edges are adapted to slidably" contact with the surface of smaller radius in the port, the ribs being adapted to 00 operate with spacer elements of the conveyer and to form therewith substantially imperforat mov able partitions in slidable engagement with the surface ofv greater radius. 2. In an apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, the provision of means for driving said conveyer, said drivin means being operably associated with and including said star wheelif 3. An apparatus of the character defined in claiml, characterized in that the surface of smaller radius has an arcuate length not less than the distance separating th ends of adja-: cent rib members of the star wheel.

4. An apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, characterized in that the surface of greater radiu is of an arcuate length not less than the distance separating the ends of spacer elements when they are in cooperative engage-, ment with the ribs of the star wheel. 5. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing provided with inlet and outlet ports and a continuous conveyer having one lay extending through the inlet port into the housing and out through the outlet port, said conveyer including a plurality of receptacles, each provided with a releasable closure, and spacer elements intermediate the receptacles and pivotally connected thereto, each spacer element constituting a link between adjacent receptacles and including a web portion extending transversely of the conveyer from side to side and to, above the tops of said receptacles, means for advancing the conveyer through said housing, and means cooperating with said spacer elements at said inlet and outlet ports to form movable seals in said ports.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing provided with inlet and outlet ports, a continuous conveyer having one lay extending through said housing and through said inlet and outlet ports, said conveyer including receptacles provided with releasable closures adapted to isolate contents of the receptacles from the interior of the housing and spacer elements intermediate the receptacles and pivotally connected thereto, means adjacent the inlet side of saidhousing and in cooperative relation to said conveyer for closing said receptacles, and means operably assc: ciated with the conveyer adjacent the outletport for opening said receptacles. 7. In an apparatus of the character defined in claim 6, the provision of means for driving said conveyer and for forming movable seals therewith at the inlet and outlet ports of the housing, said means comprising arotatable star wheel positioned in each port of the housing, each star wheel being provided withradially extend;

ing imperforate ribs adapted to cooperatively engage spacer elements of the conveyer.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing provided with inlet and outlet ports, a continuous conveyer having one lay extending through said housing and through said inlet and outlet ports, said conveyer including receptacles provided with releasable closures adapted to isolate contents of the receptacles from the interior of the housing and spacer elements intermediate the receptacles and pivotally connected thereto, and means for driving said conveyer and for forming movable seals with the spacer elements of the conveyer at the inlet and outlet ports of the housing. 9. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing provided with inlet and outlet ports, a continuous conveyer having one lay extending through said housing and through said inlet and outlet ports, said conveyer including receptacles provided with releasable closures and spacer elements intermediate the receptacles and pivotally connected thereto, and means for driving said conveyer and for forming movable seals therewith at the inlet and outlet ports of the housing, said means comprising a rotatable star wheel positioned in each port of the housing, each star wheel being provided with radially extending imperforate ribs adapted to cooperatively engage spacer elements of the conveyer.

10. An apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, characterized in that each port of the housing includes a pair of opposing concave cylindrical surfaces having their centers coincidental with the axis of the rotatable star wheel positioned therein, one of said concave 'surfaces being adapted to slidably engage the ends of ribs of the star wheel, the other surface being adapted to slidably engage'the ends of spacer elements cooperating with other ribs of the star wheel.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing provided with inlet and outlet ports, a continuous conveyer having one lat extending through the inlet port into the housing and out through the outlet port and'having its return lay beneath the housing, said conveyer including receptacles provided with releasable closures and spacer elements intermediate the receptacles and pivotally connected thereto; each port of the housing being defined by a pair of opposing members provided with opposing concave cylindrical surfaces having. a common center but different radii, the surface of greater radius extending over an are which is not less than twice as long as the arc of the. surface of smaller radius; and a star wheel rotatable within each port of the housing, each star wheel being provided with imperforate ribs whose outer edge portions are in slidable contact with the surface of smaller radius in the port, the ribs being adapted to cooperate with spacer elements of the conveyer and to form therewith substantially imperforate movable partitions in slidable engagement with the surface of greater radius.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing provided with inlet and outlet ports, a continuous conveyer having one lay extending through said housing and through said inlet and outlet ports and its return lay beneath the housing, said conveyer including receptacles provided with releasable closures adapted to. isolate contents of the receptacles from the interior of the housing and spacer elements intermediate the receptacles and pivotally connected thereto, means adjacent the inlet side of said housing and in cooperative relation to said conveyer for closing said receptacles, said closing means being operated in timed relation to the travel of the conveyer, and means operably associated with the conveyer adjacent the outlet port for opening said receptacles, said unlatching means moving in the same direction as the conveyer but at a higher speed.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of longitudinally spaced receptacles, each provided with a closure and releasable means for holding the closure in closed position, spacer. elements extending transversely of said conveyer, the lower ends of each spacer element being pivotally connected to adjacent receptacles, and a star wheel provided with laterally extending ribs adapted to extend between bottoms of adjacent receptacles and into contact with lower edge portions of spacer elements, and supporting stops carried by the star wheel between adjacent ribs, said stops being adapted to receive and support the bottoms of receptacles.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of longitudinally spaced receptacles, each provided with a closure and releasable means for holding the closure in closed position, spacer elements extending transversely of said, conveyer, the lower ends of each spacer element being pivotally connected to adjacent receptacles at pivot points spaced from the ends of each receptacle whereby the lower portion of each receptacle extends below the pivotal points of connection of said conveyer and below said spacer elements, and a star wheel provided with laterally extending ribs adapted to extend between bottoms of adjacent receptacles and into contact with lower edge portions of spacer elements, and supporting stops carried by the star wheel between adjacent ribs, said stops being adapted to receive and support the bottoms of receptacles.

15. A conveyer adapted for use in the treatment of commodities, comprising: a plurality of receptacles and spacer elements alternately arranged along the length of the conveyer, each receptacle being'iprovided with longitudinally spaced pivot points at which said receptacle is pivotally connected to its adjacent spacer element, each spacer element constituting a link between adjacent receptacles and including a web portion extending transversely of the conveyer from side to side and from the line of spaced pivotpoints to above the tops of said receptacles, said spacer elements being spaceolfrom the walls of the receptacles a distance sufficient to permit said conveyer to be passed around a star wheel with the spacer elements out of contact with walls of the receptacles.

16. In the, combination defined in claim 15, the provision of' outwardly and yieldably urged sealing strips carried by the end portions of each spacer element.

17. Inan apparatusfor the continuous treatment of articles, a housing provided with a selfsealing port adapted to receive a conveyer, said port including a foot member having a concave circular surface, a star wheel rotatably mounted in said port, said star wheel having imperforate, ribs in planes passing through the axis of rotation of the star wheel, edge portions of the ribsbeing in sliding, contact with the foot member, said self-healing port including a concave member concentric to the axis of the star wheel but.

of larger radius than the surface of the foot member and radially spaced from the edges of the ribs of the star wheel, said last-named concave member being adapted to cooperate with a conveyer to seal said port.

18. In an apparatus for the continuous treatment of articles, a housing provided with a selfsealing port adapted to receive a conveyer, said port including a foot member having a concave surface, a star wheel rotatably mounted in said port, said star wheel having imperforate ribs in planes passing through the axis of rotation of the star wheel, edge portions of the ribs being in sliding contact with the foot member, said selfsealing port including a concave member concentric to the axis of the star wheel and spaced from the edges of the ribs of the star wheel, and a conveyer including longitudinally spaced receptacles provided with releasable closures and spacer elements pivotally connecting the receptacles, said conveyer being adapted to pass through said port and over the star wheel, the spacer elements cooperating with the edge portions of the ribs of the wheel and with the concave surfaces of the port to form a seal.

19. In the apparatus described in claim 18, the further provision of a longitudinally extending recess formed in the edge of each of said imperforate ribs, said recess terminating short of the sides of each rib, and a key element formed in the bottom portion of each of said spacer elements, said key element being adapted to enter said recess.

20. In the apparatus described in claim 9, the further provision of a recess formed along the edge of each of the ribs of the star wheel, said recess terminating short of the sides of each rib, and a key element formed in the bottom portion of each of said spacer elements, said key element being adapted to enter said recesses.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, a conveyer including a plurality of longitudinally spaced receptacles, each provided with a closure and releasable means for holding the closure in closed position, spacer elements extending transversely of said conveyer, the lower ends of each spacer element being pivotally connected to adjacent receptacles; a star wheel provided with laterally extending ribs adapted to extend between bottoms of adjacent receptacles and into contact with lower edge portions of spacer elements, and supporting stops carried by the star wheel between adjacent ribs, said stops being adapted to receive and support the bottoms of receptacles; and a roller rotatably mounted in operable relation to said conveyer, said roller being provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves adapted to engage upper edge portions of said spacer elements and maintain said spacer elements in radial planes while said conveyer is passing around said roller.

22. An apparatus of the character described in claim 6, characterized in that the means for opening said receptacles includes a claw arm actuated by a crank driven by the conveyor.

23. A conveyer adapted for use in the treatment of commodities comprising: a plurality of receptacles and spacer elements alternately arranged along the length of the conveyer, each receptacle being provided with longitudinally spaced pivot points at which said receptacle is pivotally connected to its adjacent spacer element, each spacer element constituting a link between adjacent receptacles and including a web portion extending transversely of the conveyer from side to side, said spacer elements being spaced from the walls of the receptacles; a cover hingedly connected to each receptacle, an upstanding lug attached to the cover in the region of the hinge, and a pair of arms pivotally connected to the sides of the receptacle, said arms being connected by a closure roller and adapted to alternately hold the cover in closed position and to bear against said lug to hold the cover in open position.

24. In an apparatus of the character defined in claim 2, the provision of spring means carried by each receptacle and adapted to releasably hold said arms in each of said alternate positions.

25. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of: a conveyer comprising a plurality of receptacles and spacer elements alternately arranged along the length of the conveyer, a cover hingedly connected to each receptacle, a pair of arms pivotally connected to the sides of the receptacle, said arms being adapted to releasably hold the cover in closed position, and means for opening the receptacles while said conveyer is moving, said means being positioned in operative relation to the conveyer and including a claw arm, an idler link having one end hingedly connected to one end of the arm and its other end to a fixed pivot point, and crank means operably connected to the other end portion of the claw arm, said crank means being driven by the conveyer.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of: a housing provided with inlet and outlet ports; a conveyer extending through said inlet and outlet ports, said conveyer comprising a plurality of receptacles and spacer elements alternately arranged along the length of the conveyer; a cover hingedly connected to each receptacle; a pair of arms pivotally connected to the sides of the receptacle, said arms being adapted to releasably hold the cover in closed position; means for driving said conveyer and for forming movable seals therewith at the inlet and outlet ports of the housing and means for opening the receptacles while said conveyer is moving, said means being positioned in operative relation to the conveyer and including a claw arm, an idler link having one end hingedly connected to one end of the arm and its other end to a fixed pivot point, and crank means operably connected to the other end portion of the claw arm, said crank means being driven by the conveyer.

DON RAY.

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