US2358001A - Container filling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Sept. l2, 1944. G,| ,-C|0ss ETAL 2,358,001'

' CONTAINER FILLING MECHANISM Filed Jalh 29, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOJ Sept. 12', 1944. G.' l.. cRoss Erm.

CONTAINER FILLING IVIIECIAIIISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1942 Patented sept. i2, 1944 CONTAINER FILLING MECHANISM George L. nCross and William F. Miller, Albany, N. Y., assgnors, by mesne assignments, to Tobin Packing Co., Inc., Fort Dodge, Iowa, a corporation oi.' Delaware Application January 29, 1942, Serial No. 428,762

6 Claims.

" Tins invention relates to container mung 'meenanisms, and more particularly to an apparatus for compressing articles or materials such, for' example, as boned hams, and forcing them into cans tobeprocessed.

Heretofore it has been the common practice -Qin the canning of boned hams to first partly compressl the ham, place it in a mold, and partially cook the ham while in the mold. 'I'he ham is then removed from the mold and'placed in a can :for further processing. Such operations not only require substantial time and labor, but also result in a definite loss of flavor from the ham due to the partial cooking before the ham is canned, much of the natur'aljuices of the ham I.

being lost.

An important object ofthe present apparatus is to provide a simple and novel apparatus which is both time and labor saving in that it permits a ham or other article to be quickly deformed to a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the can, and then to be gnuickly forcedinto the can to be processed there.-

A further object is to provide lsuch an apparatus wherein the natural juices normally lost from food products are s aved by the procedure referred to, the apparatus serving to quickly and easily deform the uncooked ham into the proper ,cross-sectionalshape for insertion endwise into a.

can of uniform cross-sectional shape and area to be wholly cooked within the can. v

A :further object is to provide an apparatus having an article forming mechanism of a novel construction which permits such an article as a boned ham to be wholly received therein and to be quickly deformed thereby into a. cross-sectional shape corresponding to that of a'can and to provide means in conjunction with such mechanism .for immediately forcing the ham into the can while it is held in the cross-sectional shape of the can., l

A further object is to vprovide novel means cooperating with the ham deforming mechanism for supporting beneath such mechanism cans of uniform cross-sectional shape of different length to( adapt them to receive hams *of different sizes,

whereby the upper end of a can of any length may besuprorted in a position to directly receive a hamA from vthe defforming mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings we have -shown Yone embodiment of the invention. In this showing- Figure l is a side elevation ofthe apparatus, Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof,

Figure 3` is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical sectional view through a portion of the apparatus, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 4 is a horizontalfsectional view on line I-I of Figure 3, and,

Figure 5 is a similar view on line 5--5 of Figure'v 3, parts being shown in elevation. l0

`Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I0 designates a relatively heavy base which may be secured to any suitable horizontal support and is provided with a heavy vertical standard II secured thereto. The standard II carries a hopper indicated by the numeral I2 in which hams orv other articles of food are to 'be deformed in the manner to he described. Referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that th hopper comprises side walls I3 and a rear wall I4, integral with each other and preferably integral with supporting collars I5 surrounding the standard II and iixed thereto in any suitable manner as, for example, by set screws I5.. The hopper wall I4 is secured to the two collars I5 through integral connections I'I and reinforcing webs I8 may be formed'integral with the wall I3, collars I5 and connecting members I'I. As will become apparent, the

hopper I2 remains xed against vertical move-- ment in the operation of the apparatus.

The hopper I2 further comprises a front wall I9 having a boss 2|! through which a shaft 2l -ex- I' tends, to pivotally connect the wall I9 adjacent its lower end to the side walls I3. Mechanism is provided for swinging the wall I9 inwardly to a vertical position parallel to the rear wall Il. The

.wall I9 is provided with a pair `of ears 22 between which is arranged one end of a lever 23, and a bolt or shaft 24 extends through the ear 22 and the end of the lever 23 referred to. The other end of the lever 23 is pivotally connected as at 25 to one end of a crank 26 and this crank is fixed to a shaft 21 journaled in the side walls I3 as at 28.

Outwardly of the hopper, the shaft 21 carries a crank 29 having its free end pivotally connected as at 3D to one end of a link 3|. Thislinkhas its other end pivotally connected as at 32 to a hand lever 33 the lower endof which is pivotally connected as at 34'to a boss 35' formed integral with the body portion of the hopper l2. It will be obvious that if the lever 33 is swung'in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, the link 3I will turn the crank 29 in a counterclockwise direction to impart similar movement to the crank 26 to cause the latter to operate through the link wall I9 occupies its normal position shown in ,Figures 1 and 3, the shape and capacity of the hopper I2 is such as to adaptit to receive various sizes of boned hams. The operation of the lever 33 in the manner stated deforms the ham, causing it to partake of a uniform cross-sectional shape to be forced downwardly inw the can to be described. 'I'he wall I3 adjacent the lever 33 is provided with a lug 33 to serve as a stop for limiting movement of the lever 33.

A vertical guide 34 (Figures 3 and 4) having guide grooves 25, is arranged adjacent and parallel to the standard II. The guide 34 may be formed integral with collars 36 slidably surrounding the standard and normally fixed against movement with respect thereto by set screws 31. A can holder indicated as a whole by the numeral 38 is supported by but normally does not slide with respect to the guide 34. The can holder comprises a rear wall 39 having integral connection as at 4l with a plate 4I. the edges of which are arranged in the guide grooves 35. A pin 42, extending through the guide 34 (Figure 3) supports the plate 4I in its normal position.

Two door elements respectively indicated as al whole by the numerals 43 and cooperate with the wall 3l to encircle a can in the holder 3l. Each door element comprises a side wall 4I and a front wall section 4t, the front wall section cooperating to close the front of the can holder when brought together to the position shown in Figure 2. Each door element is provided with upper and lower ears 41 pivoted as at 4I to ears 49 formed integral with the integral connections 4l. Each of the ears 41 of the door elements is formed integral with and 4as an extension of integral reinforcing iianges il formed on the door hopper and in order to seal the gap between elements, as will be apparent.

` One front wall section 44 is provided with an integral lug II engaged by a manually operable latch element 52 carried by a link 53 pivotally connected tothe other front wall section 4 8. The unlocked position of the latch element B2 isshowninligurei and itwillbeobvious that when the doors are swung to closed position the latch element 52 swings with the link 53, andthen swings lindependently of these links to a locked position in engagement with the lug 5|. This type of latch mechanism obviously is conventional, and it will be apparent that any lockr I ing means for the door elements may be em- AplayedV Means is preferably provided for effecting simultaneous movement of the door elements 43 and 44. A connecting link 54 is pivotally conf nected at oneend as at 5S to an'ear 54 carried by the reinforcing flange. Il of one door element,

while 'the other end of the link B4 is pivotallyV connected as-at 51 Vto the flange Il of the other door element, thearrangement of the pivot points li and l1 with respect to the respective pivots 48 being such as to provide reverse swinging rotation of each door element with respect to the other. movement ot-one door element toward open pomtion therefore results in movement of the otherrdoor element in the opposite direction toward its'open position. j

vWhenthe door elements are inthe closed positionshowninrigurelandshownindotted linesinngure4,theydeiineaverticalspaceof .general rectangular form'corresponding to the the apparatus. It will be obvious, of course, that the invention is not limited to use with cans of any particular cross-sectional shape. The inner face of thewall 39 is provided with a series of spaced grooves 58,7while thevinner surfaces of the side walls 45 and end wall sections 4I are similarly provided with spacedsets of grooves 5l, each'groove i8 being arranged in the plane of one groove 59 of each door element. These grooves are provided for the purpose of receiving beads at the lower ends of the cans to be filled, and a plurality of spaced grooves is provided to accommodate cans of different heights.

A crosshead 80 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the 'guide 24. This crosshead is provided with an integral arm 6I terminating in a bearing 62 in which is slidably arranged a screw shaft 63 having a vertical groove 64 for splined connection with the bearing i2. 'I'he upper end of the screw 63 carries a head l5 forming the lower end ofthe can holder and constituting a pressure element for a purpose to be described.

'I'he head 65 is vertically adjustable in accordance with the heights of different cans. ForV this purpose a bevel gear 88 is supported by the bearing 62 and is threaded on the shaft 63. The

article in the hopper I2 the can holder and associated elements are movable upwardly to close the gap between the upper end of the can holder and the lower end of the hopper I2. The can holder is normally slightly spaced beneath the these two elements whenthe can holder is moved upwardly, the side and rear walls of the hopper are provided with a thin depending flange 1I integral therewith and adapted to project downwardly into the upper end of the can holder.

The crosshead 8l is provided with adepending projection 13 engaging a cam element 14 and this means supports the crosshead 'I4 in the de- .sited position and is operative, under conditions.

to be described, for moving. the crosshead and its associated elements and the can holder upwardly when the can is to be lled. Thecam 14 is carried by a shaft 1l journaled in an ear 16 carried by the guide 34.- A crank 11 is carried by the shaft 1l and is pivotally connected as at 18 with the lower end of a link 1l. The upper'end of this link is pivotally connected as at QI with one end of a lever II and this lever is pivoted as at l2 to. an enlargement carried by he lower of the two collars Il. The other end I3 of the lever is reduced in sine and bears upon a cam I4 welded or otherwise secured to the lever I3. It will become apparent that operation of the lever Il to swing-thewall Il (Figure 3) of the hopper I2 likewise operates the lever li,link1l,crank11andcam14toelevatethe A guide groovell (Figure 3) is formed in a supprtltsecured as at I1 to the standard II and preferablysecuredatlts lowermdinanysuitable manner (not shown) tothe wall I4. A verticalI rackbarllisslidableinthegroov'ellandcarcro-sectionalahapeofthentvbeillledwith rlesatltslowerendaheadn auf 3. The teeth su of 'the rack bar ss mesh with a pinion 9I -carried by a shaft 92 rotatably supported in bearings 93 formed integral with the support 86. A hand wheel 94 Aon the shaft 92 permits an operator to actuate the head 89.

In forcing a hamor other food article downwardly into a can in the holder 38 it is highly desirable to permit the free escape of air from I' the bottom of the can so that the can may be properly evacuated priorto the processing operation. Referring to Figure 5, the numeral 98 designates a vertical. rib welded to or formed integral with one corner portion of the hopper I2 and having its projecting portion of taperedv shape as shown. This rib 95 extends substantially throughout the height of the hopper I2, as

- shown in Figure 3. Avsheet metal vent element 96 is bent transversely so that its interior corresponds in cross-sectional shape and size to the tapered portionv of the rib 95. The vent element' is slightly longer than the total vertical' length of the hopper I2 and the longest can to be lled with the apparatus. The vent element v96 normally has its lower end terminating at or slightly above the bottom of the hopper I2 so that its upper end projects a substantial distance above the hopper, as shown-in Figure 1.

end ofthe vent element 96 is provided with a` The upper iinger piece 91 to facilitate the operation of this element.

The operation of the apparatus isas follows: The door elements 43 and 44 of the can hold-` can toa point adjacent-the bottom' thereof. The boned ham is then dropped into the top of the hopper I2 with the parts arranged in the posi- I tion shown in solid lines in Figure 3. It will be apparent that with the forwardwall I9 of the hopper in its-outer inclined position, the capacity of the hopper is such as to easily 'receive a ham of the largest size ordinarily employed in canning. Such ham will be in a loose open vposition due to the removal of the bone therefrom and the ham is dropped endwise'intothe hopper.

The operator will then grasp the handle at the upper end of the lever 33 -and move it forwardly, that is, to the right as viewed in Figures 1 and 3. This action swings the crank 29 (Figures 1 and 3) in a counter-clockwise direction to impart'similar movement to the crank 26. The free end of the crank 26 will force the 'link 23 inwardly, thus swinging the wall I9 toward vertical position. The operator, because of the leverage provided can readily swing the lever 33 until the wall I9 assumes a vertical position: When this position is` reached, the lever 33A ,willv engage the lug 33' to limit further movement of the lever, and the crank 26 and link 23 will assume positions in alignment with each other so that the pressure therefore that no force is required on the part oi' the operator to hold the wall I9 in position. y

ing mechanism are opened to the position shown f in Figure 4, whereupon the operator selects a can of the proper height in accordance with the f volume of the ham or other article to be canned.

The operator will place the can in the can holder against therear wall 39 thereof with the head at the lower end of ther'can in the proper groove 58 in accordance with the height of the can, the top of the4 can being arranged approximately at the upper end ofthe can holder. The can will be held in position while the hand wheel 10 (Figures 1 and 2) is rotated in the proper direction to elevate the head 65 (Figure 3).` Ihe screw 6 3 is slidable in the bearing 42 but is fixed against rotation with respect thereto and accordingly rotation of the wheel 10 in the vproper direction causes thebevel gear B9 (Figure 2) to rotate the bevel gear '86 and thus feed the screw 83 upwardly o until the head 65 contacts with the bottom ofv thev can to support it. The operator will then move one' of the ldoor elements 4 3 or 44 manuallyto closed position andthe link 54 (Figure 4) will swing theother door element to the same position, whereupon the operator can engage the latch- 53 behind thelug 5| .to llock the 'door elements i3 and 44 .in the closed position shown'in Figures vary and require the use of `cans of dierent heights. ,It is for this reason that the means described above is provided, cans of different heights being employed in accordance with the volume of the ham.. The proper vcan having been selected, and placed in position, the operator will then press downwardly on the nger piece 91 (Figure l) to move the vent element 96 downwardly to project the lower -end of such element intoethe Y Referring to Figures v1 and 3, it will be noted that when the lever 33 is swung to the right to deform the ham within the hopper I2, the cam 34 will be moved -to the right and obviously swings 'about'the axis of the pivot 34. The cam 84 swings upwardly and to the right and engages 40 the reduced end 83 of the lever' 8-I to move it upwardly. This operation effects downward movement of the link 1.9 and downward swinging movement of the crank 11, and since the cam 14 is operable bythe crank 11, the cam 14 will swingl upwardly.v The depending projection 13 engages the cam -14 and upward movement of the latter accordingly moves the-'projection 13 and consequently the crosshead upwardly. This operation elevatesjall of the elements carried by the crosshead 80 and since the head 65 (Figure 3) is in firm engagement with the bottom ofthecan in theholder 38, and since the can is fixed .against relative vertical movement with respect` to the can holder byrengagement of the lower bead'thereof in the grooves 58 and 59', it will be apparent that upward movement of the 'head 65 elevates the can and-the entire holder 38. .This holderv is carried bythe plate ,4I which slides in the guide 34. It will be apparent therefore, that the operation' of the lever33 to deform the ham 20 simultaneously elevates the can and the holder" 38, andY this operation moves the upper end'fof the can holder approximately into contact-with the lower end of thehopper I2 while the flange 1I enters the upper end of the can.

The operator will now rotate the hand wheel 94 and engagement of the pinion SI will move the rack bar 88 and pressure head 89 downwardly. `As previously stated the head 89 .is of a shape and size corresponding to the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the inside of the hopper I2 when the wall i9 is in vertical position. It will be obvious, of course, thatone corner of the head 89 will be cut away to provide a notch through which the vent ,element 96 is operable. Downward movementoi the head 89 brings it into contact with the upper end of the deformed ham within the hopper and continued downward movement of the head 83 forces the ham downwardly into the can within the can holder 38. The flange 'Il (Figure 3) will extend into the upper end of the can and the head Il is movable downwardly to a position within the flange 1l to force the ham completely into the can with the upper extremity of the ham slightly below the upper extremity of the can to permit the latter to be readily capped.

It will be apparent that while the ham is being forced downwardly into the can, the vent element 06' will be in position within the can and will extend substantially to the bottom of the can. Thev ham will have been deformed to a shape and size ping of at least some air in the bottom of the can'.

and this air is not readily'removable when the can is evactuated at the time of the capping thereof. With the use of the vent .element described, the ham may be moved easily downwardly into contact with the bottom of the can, the'air in the bottom of the can freely escapinguupwardly through the vent element 36. Thus 'the building up of pressure is prevented and the formation of air pockets in the bottom of the can will be prevented, thus permitting proper evacuay tion of the can prior to processing.

After the ham has been forced into the can in the manner stated the operator will rst grasp the ilnger piece 91 (Figure 1) of the vent element, and will pull this vent upwardly to its inoperative position shown in Figure 3. The-vent element 3l slides upwardly over the rib 95 and substantially fits this, rib, and during upward movement of the vent element, the lower end of the rib l5 will scrape any vmeat or fat from the interior. of the vent element, thus keeping this element clean.

i When the vent element has been withdrawn, the operator will move the lever 33 back to its inoperative position shown in solid lines in Figures l and 3 and this operation will restore the wall Il to its inoperative position shown in solid lines in Flgure'3, and will swing the cam 'Il (Figure 3).

back to its inoperative position. The latter operation permits |the weight of the-can holder, slide il, etc., to move these elements back to their normalA positions, the plate 4I vof the cam holder again resting on the pin 42. The operator will then grasp the handle of the latch 52 (Figure 4) and swing it to.open position, whereupOn the door elements 43 and 44 may be swung to the open position shown in Figure 4 to permit the removal of thefllled can and the insertion of an empty can into the can holder.

. vFrom the foregoing it will be apparent that the presentapparatus greatly simplifies the Procedure involved in deforming hams or thelike and placing them in cans to be sealed and processed. An empty can of any desired height,v according to the volume of the ham, may be placed in the can holder and the ham dropped into the hopper I2,

whereupon it is merely necessary for the operator to swing the lever 33 to operative position, after having inserted the vent element into the can, and

then rotate the hand wheel 84. A11 of the various operations involved require very few seconds and accordingly it will be apparent that the apparatus, while quite simple and compact in construction, enects a great saving in the time and labor Vinvolved in filling the cans.

Moreover; the apparatus provides simple andefiective means for deforming an uncooked ham, without the necessity for partially cooking the ham before placing it in the can and accordingly all of the cooking of the ham takes place in the can. All of the natural juices ofthe haxn are thus preserved and the final 4'product is accordingly substantially improved in quality.

It is to be understood that the form ofthe invention herewith shown and described is to be a hopper having opposite para11e1 walls, a third Yposition parallel to said third wall to form a chamber of uniform cross sectional area, movement of said movable wall to its operative position being adapted to deform an article in'the hopper to cause it to assume a substantially uniform cross sectional shape corresponding to that of said chamber, a lever. and motion transmitting connections betweenI said lever and said movable wall, said connections comprising a crank, and a link pivotally connected to the' free 40 end of said crank and to said movable wall, the

points of pivotalcohnection of said link and the turning axis of said crank being arranged to lie substantially in a common plane when said mov able wall is in operative position.

2. An article. deforming and container filler mechanism comprising a hopper having a wall movable to deform an article in the hopper,

means for supporting an open-ended container ing movement longitudinally of said hopper, said supporting means further comprising an end member remote Vfrom said hopper mounted for movement independently of said walls, means for moving said end member relative said walls into engagement with the bottom of a can in' said walls, and common means for moving said end member toward said hopper to bring the open end of v*the can substantially into engagement therewith to receive an article therefrom and for moving the movable wall of s'aidiopper to deform an article therein. j 3. An articledeforming and container filling mechanism comprising an open-ended hopper having at least one wall Athereof movable to deform an article therein into .substantially uniform cross sectional shape, means for supporting an open-ended containerV adjacent one end of the hopper in alignment with the deformed article therein, said supporting means comprislng can-receiving walls mounted for movement in alignment with the deformed article and having limited movement away from said hopper, said supporting means having an end member mounted for movement for adjustment relative to said can-receiving walls to position a container in said supporting means in accordance with the length of the container, means for supporting said end member for such movement, arid means for bodily moving said supporting means, including said end member, to bring the open end of the container substantially into engagement with' said end of the hopper to receive the deformed article therefrom'.

4. An article deforming and container filling mechanism comprising an .open-ended hopper having at least one wall thereof movable to deform an article therein into substantially uniform cross sectional shape, means for supporting an open-ended container adjacent one end of the hopper in alignment with the deformed article therein, said supporting means comprising can-receiving walls mounted for movement in alignment with the deformed article and having limited movement away from said hopper, said supporting means having an end member mounted for movement for adjustment relative to said can-receiving walls to position a container in said supporting means in accordance with the length of the container, means for supporting said end member for such movement, means for bodily moving said supporting means, including said end member, to bringthe open end of the container substantially into engagement with said end of the hopper to receive the deformed article therefrom, and a lever for actuating said movable wall to deform` the article in the hopper, said lever being connected to said last named means to actuate it to move said container supporting means.

5. An article deforming and can filling mechoffthe cans, a head movable relative to said walls anism comprising a hopper open at both ends and operative for deforming an article therein to cause it to assume a shape having a uniform cross sectional area, can-supporting means adjacent one end of said hopper for supporting an open-ended canin alignment with the deformed article to receive the same, said supporting means comprising walls movable to open position to receive a can and provided with spaced grooves to selectively receive the beads adjacent the lower ends of the cans in accordance with the lengths of the cans, a head movable relative to said walls to engage the bottoms of cans of different lengths to supportthe cans during the nlling operation, and means for supporting said head for` such relative movement. l

6. An article deforming and can lling mechanism comprising a hopper` open at both ends and voperative for deforming an article therein to cause it to assume a shape having a uniform cross sectional area, can-supporting means adjacent dne endof said hopper for supporting an open-ended can in alignment with the deformed article to receive the same, said supporting means comprising Walls movable to open position to receive a can and provided with spaced grooves to selectively receive the beads adjacent the lower ends of the cans in accordance with the -lengths to engage the bottoms of cans of different lengths to support the cans during the filling operation, means for supporting said head for such relative movement, and mechanism having a common operating lever for effecting the deforming of the article in said hopper and'for bodily moving said can supporting means, including said head, to

c,bring the open end ofo the can substantially into contact with the adjacent end of the hopper to receive the article therefrom.

GEORGE L. CROSS.

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