US2346056A - Filling machine - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1944. A. R. THoMP'soN FILLING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a is ATTORNEY April 1944. A. R. THOMPSON FILLING MACHINE Filed March 9. 1940 4 Sheets- Sheet s INVENTQR MRMY P E ww mam RAM A E 5 L Av- Aprii 4, 1944 A, R. THOMPSON 2,346,056

FILLING MACHINE Filed March 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ALBERT R. THOMPJO/V ATTORN Y.

Patented Apr. 4, 1944 UNIT D STATES .E ENT QF'Flfi 2 ;346,05 6

FILLING MACHINE Albert R.- Thompson, Los Gatos, Calitl, assignor "to Food Machinery Corporation, "Saii""J6se, Califi, acorporatiori of Delaware Application March 9, 1940, Serial N0..323, 153

. (iClairns. iQl. 226 9 8) he m n of th Y' lve's- Another object of the invention to machines for fillin i9 Hrsv a mai i W iQh. w l r iiuc v ous mater i o so ia ne fs 1 m an nc osed rvoir Wh re ubtl b th materi isfma n a ne under pressure and from which it is discharged through valveswhi ch are vented to the atmosphere.

Another-"object ofth'e invention is to provide a machine which-will fil l the container under ur o mini a s l i mar a Other objects will appear after the following has been embodied.

. h raw n ae .ati n. o t mach n Sn w th i rin e s m s q' q hiq h h ma hine i'catedlby. arrowsZTZ in J." I "5.

Fig; '6 'isa"fragmentary'ielevation of the earn track. The direction of: the view is indicated'by arrows 6i6 inFig. I

Figs. 7 and j'8 ar'e fragmentary sections, taken as indicated inFig". r

Fig. 9 is diagrammatic development of the earn track.

A n e r n o t e mash @4 51 h t m in which it arena wm' e 'w n era- The tomato-paste is deposited: in a supply tank Ill (Fig. -1) f -roin 'w-hic lffitis drawn by al p mp 'I'I.

and'force d through the ipe I"! into the reservoir I3. The reservoir has a lid l4 secured hy cla ps I5. The pump II maintainsthe pressure wit in the reservoir I3 above-atmospheric. A series'of valves. I3 is arrangedaround the bottor'n'ofthe reservoir. The -cans- I-I are carried in vertical alignment .withthevalves It in carriers I-8 which are. elevated by. en'gagement'oitl ie'irwrol le 's' l a with -aicam track '20... The carrierslii metamunison withthareservoir-JI 3 about-a ver ticalaxis around the machine each can I7 is raised into engagement with'its valve I6, openingthe'valve by Contact therewith. The paste is forced through the valve into the can; and excess paste displaced from the can are discharged through the pipes} I The paste overflow collects in the trough-22 from which it is drawn through the pipe 23 by the pump 24 and returned to the tank I!) through the pipe 25. The pressure in the-reservoir I3'is determined by the height of the stand pipe 26 which also serves to maintain the pressuresubstantially constant by by-p'as singthe paste to the tank. When the machine'is started, the pet cock 2} (Figs. 1 and 2) is open to exhaust airfrom the reservoir and to avoid air lock which might prevent delivery of paste to the eservoir; When'paste begins to issue from the pet cool; 2'! it is an indication that the reservoir isfilled with paste and the machine is ready to start filling cans. The valve 2'I is then closed. Y I

Proceeding now with the description of the machine itself, a supporting framework is provided which includes a. base ZBQTVertical standards 29, and-across piece 30 to whichthe downwardly? extendingsnpply'pipe 3I is s c re The central body 32 (Fig-L 2) "of the basejZB has a vertical bearing 33, a web 34, and a verticalfiange 35, upon the upper edge of which the main'ca'rn track 21] is The cam track 20 (Fig. 2) has a lower-level portion andan upperlevel portion M. The angular extent of these portions is shown in the plan view inFig. 5. The lower-level portion 90 is connected by an upwardly-inclined portion 92 with the upper-level portion '9 I which extends from the radial line 93 to the radial'line 94. "A

downwardly-inclined portion 95 connects the end of the upper-level portion 9| with the beginning of the lower-level portion 90. An auxiliary cain track 96 is mounted on the upper-level portion 9|. It comprises two arcuate segments 91, 98. Segment 9'! is securedby screws 99 to the main cam track 20. Throughout its length the segment 91 is one-half the width of the cam track 2|], as can be seen in the section Fig. 7; except at the end I00 (Fig--52 -.where extends the full width and has a' bevel IOI' (Fig. 6 The width of the segmentilfl is also just half'tha width of the cam track 20, so thatit can rest upon the track with a portion of its length in side by side relation with the segn ient 91, as shown'in Figs. 5 and 8. The-segmenttais -sli'dably mounted on track ZII-by ma'ns-o- L-shaped pieces "I02 (Fig.

aswfl-l presentlyhedescribed. During its trasvl 55 8 welded 'thel -to whichelfibrac the 'flange I03 of the track. Set screws I64 serve to secure the segment 98 in adjusted position, and it will be apparent that by loosening these set screws, the segment can be adjusted lengthwise so as to vary the effective over-all length of the auxiliary cam track 96 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. The end I65 (Fig. 5) of segment 98 is beveled.

Journalled in the bearing 33 is a hollow shaft 3] upon which is shrunk the hub 38 (Fig. 2) of a circular table 39 having depending guides 49 formed integrally therewith. The can carriers. I8 are secured to plungers H which slide in the guides 46. Each plunger has a stub'shaft' extending laterally therefrom upon which a cam follower I9 is journalled. "Depending from the bottom of the reservoir I3 is a cylindrical portion 42 which is threaded onto the hub 38 at 43. has a vertical slot at 44 and a. clamping bolt45 for securing the reservoir in any vertically.ad-.

justed position with respect to the table 39 for rotation therewith. The table is rotated by means of a ring gear 46 driven by a pinion 41 on shaft 48 which is driven from drive shaft 49 by worm 56 and wheel 5|. v

The drive shaft 49 (Fig. 1) has a pulley 52 for receiving power from a suitable source. When the pulley 52 is rotated; the train of gearing just described rotates the table 39 by means of ring gear 46 and the reservoir, I3 rotates in unison with the table. The can carriers I8 are carried around by the table andare raised and lowered by the rollers I9 following the main cam track 26 and the auxiliary cam track 96. .When the cans I! are raised they openthe lift valves I6, which will now be described.-

As shown in Fig.3 the valve body 53 has a passage 36 opening into the reservoir I3 at its upper end. The body 53is cylindrical and a lift plate 54 is telescopically-guided thereon by means of a cylindrical flange 55. Leakage through this telescopic joint is prevented by a rubber jacket 56. The upper flange 5'! of the jacket 56 is held in contact with the flange 56 on the valve body by a compressionspring 59 coiled around the valve andibearing against a washer 60. The lower flange of the jacket 56is maintained in contact withthe lift plate 54 by the spring 59 bearing againsta washer 6I. 1

The lift plate 54 has a port 62 which is adapted to be closed by the fixed valve head 63 when in engagement with the annular rubber seat 64 on the lift 54, as shown at the left in Fig. 2. The valve head 63 is threaded: on a tube 65 (Fig. 3) which passes through av vertical bore in the valve body 53. A fitting 66 is'secured'to the'upper end of tube 65. When the valve head 63 is screwed onto the tube 65 the collar 61 of the fitting 66 is drawn tight against the face 68 of the valve body to hold the tube 65 rigidlyin placeso that the valve head 63 is fixed with respect to the valve body 53. v I

The valve head 63 has a central passage 69 formed therein which communicates with the passage 76 in the tube 65. In order to extend this vent and overflow passage to the exterior of the reservoir a fitting II is mounted in an aperture in the wall 12 of the reservoir. Thereis an inclined passage 13 formed in the fitting ,II, the inner end of which is connected to the passage I0 by a pipe Hand suitable couplings l5, 76. The outer end of the passage 13 is closed by. a .plug I1 wh icl i may be removed to permit the vent passages l3,-.'I4, 16, 69 to be cleaned out by steam, compressedair, or aflexible instrument. Communicating with the passage,l3 is a passage 78 which extends laterally and then downwardly. The passage 18 opens to the atmosphere to vent air from the can. After the air is exhausted from the can excess paste is forced out the vent passage and is discharged downwardly from the passage I8 into the trough 22.

The trough 22 is stationary. It encompasses the reservoir I3 (Fig. 1) and is supported by the standards 29. A sump I9 (Figs. 1 and 2) is formed in the trough at the discharge point where the pipe 23 is attached for the purpose described. In order to convey the paste which collects in the trough to the sump I9 wipers are attached to the fittings 'II. The wiper has a rectangular blade 80 (Fig. 3) which fits in the trough 22. The blade is welded to a nut 8| (Figs. 3 and 4) which is threaded on a sleeve 82 which is threaded into the end of the passage 18. As the reservoir rotates, the wipers 86 carry the paste around the trough to the sump I9.

The operation is as follows: The tomato paste is put in the supply tank I0 (Fig. 1) from which it is transferred'under' pressure by the pump to the rotating reservoir I3. Each can I! is elevated by itscarrier I8 until its rim 83 (Fig. 3) comes into engagement with the annular rub-' her seat 64 which forms a pressure-seal connection between the rim of the can and the lift plate 54, so that the paste cannot escape therebetween. As the can is elevated further it raises the lift 54 against the spring 59, removing the seat 64 from the fixed valve head 63' and opening the port 62. I

The paste is forced from the reservoir I3 through the passage 36 in the valve body 53 out of the port 62 and then laterally over thetop of the valve head 63 and radially toward'the wall I varied by adjusting the threaded connection 43' (Fig. 2).. table 39 decreases the size of'the outlet 84', and vice versa.

Raising the reservoir I3 from the In filling the can the paste is forced out of the outlet 84 and descends the wallof the can. Being viscous it builds up from, the bottom and from the wall of the can, as indicated by the broken outline 85 in Fig. 2. The air pocket 85 shrinks as the paste closes in and .the'air escapes through the central opening 69in thevalve head 63 into the vent passage and out to the atmosphere. When the air is exhausted from the can and the can is full of paste; additional paste is forced in through the valve to displace paste up the vent passage to obtain a visible discharge from the fitting II into the trough 22 as an indication that the can is full. The valve head 63 is proportioned in thickness and diameter to act as a displacement head, it being-disposed below the rim ofthe can when the can is being filled, so that When-the-can is lowered away from the valve the paste will settle to'the desired level below the rim. g v I The time required to'fill-each can will depend on several factors, namely: the pressure head on the valve; the speed of rotation of the table 39; the efiective area of the discharge outlet 84; and certain other factors. such as the theless, it-is desirable to maintain this over-'- flow at. a minimum. This isaccomplished by adjusting the auxiliary tracker"), as'will now be described.

. The progress of the cans around. the machine is indicated by the series of brokenel'ine circles in Fig. 'The can enters the machine in the directionof the arrow Ilil where it is placed on a carrier whose roller is on the lower-level portion 90 of the main cam track 20. As the table rotates (clockwise in Fig. 5) the roller encounters the incline 92 (Figs. 5 and 9). When the roller reaches the upper level, the beginning ofv which is indicated by the radial line 93 in Fig. 5 and the corresponding vertical line 93' in Fig. 9, the carrier has elevated the can to the point where its rim 83 (Fig. 3) is in proximity to the rubber ring 64 on the lift 54. The carrier roller then rolls up the beveled end Iiil (Fig. 6) of the segment 9! onto the auxiliary track 96, opening the valve. The filling continues until the roller arrives at the point III (Fig. 9) when the roller descends the bevel I05 on the end of the adjustable segment 93 onto the upper level 9| of the main track 28, closing the valve, as shown in Fig. 1. When the roller reaches the point 94 (Figs. 5 and 9) it descends the slope 95, lowering the can away from the valve. The filled can then leaves the machine in the direction of arrow II2 (Fig. 5).

Referring to Fig. 9, the time the valve is open is represented by the distance from 93 to I I I. In practice the efiective length of the auxiliary track may be varied by endwise adjustment of the adjustable segment 98 to locate the cut-off point I I I where minimum overflow is obtained. During the time from III to 9 3 (Fig. 9) the valve is closed. By closing the valve at an advanced point in the cycle additional time is allowed for material to drip from the valve into the can.

I have found that machines embodying my invention can be economically constructed and are reliable in operation. This I attribute to the relative simplicity and ruggedness of the mechanism required, as compared to machines heretofore designed for handling material, such as tomato paste. I have also found that the use of my invention in a filling machine provides a machine which has a high capacity, in that it will fill containers with viscous substances at a rapid rate in spite of the normally sluggish movement of such substances.

While I have described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for filling containers with materials of high viscosity, comprising a supply tank, an enclosed reservoir, 3, pump to transfer material from said tank to said reservoir, a by-pass to return excess material to said tank and to regulate the pressure maintained on the material in said reservoir, a valve in said reservoir for exhausting air therefrom and for indicating the presence of an adequate supply of material therein, a plurality of lift-type filling valves each having means to establish a pressure seal connection with the opening in the container, and an overflow passage from each valve to the exterior of the reservoir having an outlet open to the atmosphere for exhausting air from the container and for indicatingby discharge of overflow material from the container that the container has been filled with the material.

2. A machine for filling containers with materials of high viscosity, comprising a supply tank, an enclosed reservoir, a pump to transfer material from said tank to said reservoir, a by-pass to. return excess material to said tank and to regulate the pressure maintained on the material in said reservoir, a plurality of valved outlets in said reservoir, means on each outlet to establish a pressure-seal connection with the opening in the containenan overflow passage in each outlet to conduct excess material away from the container after the container has been filled with material under pressure, a conduit to collect the excess material from said overflow passages, and a pump to return the material in said conduit to said supply tank.

3. In a machine for filling cans, a rotary reservoir having filling valve units mounted in the bottom thereof, each unit comprising a valve body having a filling passage communicating with the reservoir, valve means to close the outlet of said passage comprising a valve head, a spring-pressed lift adapted to contact the rim of the can and be elevated thereby, and a seat for said valve head on said lift, a vent passage having an opening into the can through said head, said vent passage being provided by a pipe extending upwardly from the valve body into the reservoir and then through the wall of the reservoir to the exterior thereof and terminating in a depending end, a stationary trough underlying said depending ends of said vent pipes, and a wiper rotating with said pipes and fitting into said trough, whereby upon rotation of said reservoir the excess material from the cans will be discharged through said vent passages into said trough and conveyed around said trough to a discharge point by said wiper.

4. A machine for filling cans and the like with semi-liquid and pasty substances, comprising a supporting framework, an enclosed reservoir having filling valves in the bottom thereof, a series of can carriers beneath said valves, means to rotate said reservoir and carriers in unison, means including a cam track attached to said framework to raise and lower said carriers during each revolution, means to maintain a supply of the substance in said reservoir under substantially constant pressure, each of said filling valves having two passages therein, a filling passage to admit the substance to the can under pressure from the reservoir and an overflow passage to withdraw excess substance from the can, each of said filling valves having a lift plate which opens the valve when raised by a can, said plate having a seal which makes an air-tight connection with the rim of the can to prevent escape of the substance therebetween, said overflow passages in said filling valves discharging into an open trough secured to said framework, a pipe to withdraw the substance from said trough, and a wiper rotated in unison with said reservoir extending into said trough to sweep the substance discharged into said trough to said withdrawal pipe.

5. In a machine for filling cans with viscous substances, an enclosed reservoir, means to maintain a supply of the substance in said reservoir under pressure, filling valve units mounted in the bottom of said reservoir, each unit comprising a valve body having a filling passage communicating with the interior of said reservoir, a can-actuated lift valve to control the outlet of said filling passage, a vent passage, the lower end of sa'id passage opening into the can, said passage leading upwardly through said valve body and extending upwardly and outwardly through the wall ofsaid reservoir to the exterior thereof, a removable plug to close the upper end of said passage, :and a second vent passage, the inner end of said second passage communicating with said first vent passage adjacent the upper end thereof, the outer end of said second passage opening into the atmosphere.

6. A machine for filling open top containers with a viscous substance, comprising a supporting framework, an enclosed reservoir having a series of ports formed in the bottom thereof, a series of container carriers beneath said ports, means to rotate said reservoir and carriers in unison, means for maintaining a supply of viscoussubst'ance'in said reservoir under pressure, valve means nor.- mally closing said ports, means on said framework for raising said carriers during the united rotationof said reservoir and carriers to raise said containers with the open top thereof in engagement with the valve means for opening said ports, an open trough having an outlet formed therein and arranged on said framework concentric with said reservoir, vent means associated with said valve means for discharging excess substance into said open trough, a wiper extending into said open trough, and means for moving said wiper through the trough to urge the excess substance toth outlet formed in said trough.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON.

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