US2367085A - Ampoule filling machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1945. w, BARKER 2,367,085

' AMPOULE FILLING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR mlliam ZBarlrer l 19 BY 9 gk/oflawww r ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1945. w. T.- BARKER AMPOULE FILLING MACHINE Filed March'l8, 1959 4 Sheets-Shet 2 \NVENTOR Wuhan: 7. Barker.

m E N9 bf v at 4 7 Mn; as; g S a? 2 PE @k 8\ Y m V 5.. mm 5 m4: o mm .H ma N. m an N2 a N 4N ATTORNEY Jan. 9, 1945. w. T. BARKER AMPOULE FILLING MACHINE 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Filed March 18, 1939 Wm. mm.

INVENTOR MIljamTBarker ATTORNEY Y w. T. BARKER AMPOULE FILLING MACHINE Jan. 9, 1945.

Filed March 18, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 iNVENTOR 14/112137" I B ark 67.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 9, 1945 UNITED STAT -s PATENT oer] CE MACHINE WillianfTfiBarker, Mount Vernon; NLY.

.vApplicationiMarch 118, 1939,; Serial 0.:262367 This invention relateswto the automatic filling of. ampoules and'the like, -and rmore particularly to a machine for filling-ampoules, :which :are adapted to serve as containers for .serums, vacclues, and other medicinal preparations.

One object of ithisinvention is to'xprovidexan improved ampoule filling machine of 'the.,:above nature which will-be relatively inexpensive .to manufacture, simple "in construction, :vcompact, substantiallyautomatic in operation, :and very efiicient and durable in 'use.

With these andvother objects inlviewymhi'ch will appear as the description pr'oceedspthere has been illustrated in' the accompanyingdrawings, one form in which -..the invention may :be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. .1 is a top planl'viewpfa machine embodyin the principles and .featuresof this :invention.

Fig. 2 is .a longithdinalsectional view rthrough the machine, taken on "theI-ine 2- 2 of Fig'il, looking in the direction of :the: arrows.

Fig. 3 is a brokeniongitudinalsectionalview taken on the line 3-13-of Fig.11,.1ooking in "thedirection of the arrows.

. Fig. 4 is artransverse cross-sectional viewztaken on .the line 44 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 5 is atransverse;cross-sectional-view, taken on'the line 55 of Fig. 1, lookinginitheopposite direction from Fig 4.

Fig. .6 is a transverse crossesecftional view, taken on the line*6"6- ofFig."1.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged broken; plan view; looking in the direction-of thesarrowsfl -ll in -Fig. 2.

Fig.3.8 is an enlarged broken vertical sectional view taken generally: on :the: line:=-'8--8 -of=-Fig.i fi. Fig. 9isa sectional view takenzon the line s-"9 of Fig.-:8. I

Referring "now to the idrawings wherein like,

tion through :both sides-.ro'f "the machine,- proti-- sion is made .of "two :parallel :verticallynspacew apartv helical :screws. Ilsand fl 8 whichsextend'ebetween and are journaled inzthezplates-i lflmnd-i l I.

The feed screws I1 and I8 are rprovidedrwith' right and. left:hand.:helicaltgrooves 139 sand 17.20,

said'ampoule; 'ThespiraL-groovesW9 and 20 are of equal pitch, 'and-the-screws I 1 and t8 are arranged tobe rotated in-opposite directions 'so that ampoules directed against the front side of saidscrews-will be fed:to the.1eft,'-as viewed in Figs. :1 and 2, from :the plate I I'towar'd the plate tfl -and in so doing,- will pass the'ampoule filling and sealing stations. "The ampoules directed against therear of the-screws 'II and-I8 will be likewise fed to "the left, and will pass the printing 'stationvwhere suitable :indicia will be stamped upon thebody portion 22 of the ampoules. The mechanism v.is so arranged as to cause the ampoules to make one turn for each revolution of'the'screws I1 and I8.

. It will be understood that the filling and sealingudevices atthefrontof the. machine or the printing device attherear maybe .simultaneously or selectively operated as desired. The ampoulesare introduced into the-machine by separateguides orchutes 23 and 24, .eachcomprising .three- :metalt bars, down which said ampoulesslide by gravity toward .the feed screws: I I and I 8;respective1y.

Screw driving. mechanism .electric .motor .25 ,serves as the common source .of power .for...al1.0f.the operating parts of the machinaandprovisionis made of aclutch part 2-6 rigidly secured .upon' theendlof the motor shaft 21. Another clutch .part28, which is adapted tohave frictional engagement with the clutch part -26, is slidably mounted...upon -a common drive .shaft. 29 extending through and .journaled in the frame plate I2, see. Fig. 2. .The .end 30 of tending from -the frame ,;plate II.

the driveshaft. 29 adjacent the frame. plate I I .is rotativelysupported upon .a. reduced end (3| of the ..1ower .feed screw I8, which .is extended through the .p1ate- I.l, f0r:.this .purpose'. The crank member 32 .of. a Geneva ;gear is secured upon secured tozand rotatable =with;.the disc .33;meshes with. a;;gear.;pinion iii-secured to the end 3 I I of the lowerfeedscrew I8,2whereby-said Geneva disc.33 willzbe :intermittently.;driven.

Another gear 31 is secured on the end 3| of the lower feed screw l8 and meshes with a gear said needle tube 69.

38 secured on one end 39 of the upper feed screw H, which is extended through the frame plate II for this purpose.

Th clutch part 28 is adapted to be slid along the shaft 29 by means of a clutch shifting lever 48 pivoted on a bracket 4| to the frame plate l2 and having a forked end 42 riding in a groove 43 formed in a hub member 44 of the clutch part 28. A hand wheel 45 is provided on the cultch part 28 whereby the shaft 29 may, if desired, be rotated by hand for the purpose of adjusting and timing the various devices driven by lower feed screw |8 adjacent the frame. plate H, and said cam 46 has curved camming surfaces 41 and 48 (Fig. '7) which serve to drive a pair of parallel slidable ampoule pushers 49 and 56 toward and away from the delivery ends of the chutes 23 and 24', respectively. The pushers 49 and 50 are carried, one at each side of the feed screws I1 and I8, by a cross-block 5| havin a longitudinal stem 52 which is slidably mounted in a sleeve 53 secured in and extendin from the frame plate I I over the cam 46. A pin '54 extending downwardly from the stem 52 is alternately acted upon by the camming surfaces 41 and 48 to simultaneously move the pushers 49 and 58 back and forth. The arrangement is such that at every stroke of the pushers 49 and 58, ampoules will be pushed from the delivery ends of both magazine chutes 23 and 24, along which the same are being fed, into the grooves l9 and the measuring device by a nut 14, surrounding The lower casing member 13 is secured to a square upper casing member 15 by means of a plurality of cap screws 16 which also clamp the measuring device to the tie rod I4. The screws 16 also clamp the casing members I3 and 15 about a non-corrosive cylindrical sleeve H, such as stainless steel, located between them. The interior of the cylindrical sleeve H is connected by a pipe 19 to an overhead source of liquid supply, such as a reservoir 18 (Fig. 3). The cylinder 11 is connected to the tube 69 by a lower aperture in which the screw 14 is located. It will be understood that the lifting of the ampoule at the filling station takes place during a dwell of the feed screw.

A piston 80, also of non-corrosive material, see Figsq8" and 9, is slidably mounted in one end of the cylinder 11, the other end of said cylinder being closed by a spring-cushioned non-corrosive hollow plug 8|. The adjacent ends of the piston 89 and the plug 8| are spaced apart when separated a determined amount to provide a space 82 having a capacity sufficient to receive the desired amount of liquid from the reservoir 18 when the port 19 is open. The hollow plug 8| is slidably mounted upon a stem 83 and embraces a coiled spring 84, which presses against the stem 83 being seated in a socket 83b therein. The stem 83 is provided with a flange 83a on its inner end. Moreover, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, the interior surface of the hollow piston plug 8| is provided 20 of the feed screws l1 and I8 to start the feed of the ampoules thereby.

' Ampoule filling apparatus As the ampoules are fed along toward the frame plate H] by the feed screws l1 and |8, their bases 55 will ride upon a support bar 56, and the body portions 22 of said ampoules are loosely held against the lower screw |8 by a side guide bar 51 (see Figs. 1, 6 and '7). As each ampoule is fed along thesupport bar 56 to the filling device, it rides onto an elevator plate 58 having. a downwardly projecting stem 59 (see Fig. 8) slidably mounted in a stationary sleeve 69. A horizontal pin 6| extending from the stem 59 is connected toone end 62 of a lever 53 pivoted at 64 to the frame plate H (see Figs. 3 and 7). The lever 63 is extended along the machine and has a roller 65' mounted upon an offset end 66-thereof (see Fig. l). The roller 65 is disposed to ride upon the periphery of a cam 61 secured to a sleeve 68, rotatably mounted upon the shaft 29. The rotation of the cam 61 will rock the lever 63 and cause the elevator plate 58 to lift the particular ampoule resting thereon into filling position with respect to a filling needle tube 69 extending downwardly from a liquid measuring device supported upon the tie rod l4 (see Fig. 8). The needle tube 69 is adapted to enter the neck portion 2| of the ampoulefora substantial distance whenthe ampoule i raised by the elevator 58.

The neck portion 2| of the ampoule is accurately centered with respect to the needle tube 69 entering th same by a funnel-shaped member 18 mounted for free up and down sliding movement on the needle tube69 and hung from the liquid measuring device by fingers and- 12 secured toa squarelower casing member 13-of-- cry of the cam 85. A roller 94 on the lower end with threads 84a for receiving a hollow threaded screw plug 84b which surrounds the stem 83 and is screwed into the outer end of said hollow plug 8 I. It will thus be seen that the flange 83a on the stem 83 has an abutting engagement with the inner end of the screw plug 84b to limit the movement of the cushion plug piston 8| with respect to said stem 83. By means of this construction, movement of the piston toward the plug 8| will force the liquid from the cylinder down through the tube 69 into the ampoule, and when the piston 88 strikes the hollow plug 8|, the latter will slide upon the stem 83 and protrude out of the cylinder, thus giving a visible indication outside the casing 11 that the filling operation is completed. Simultaneously with the movement of-the piston 88 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 8, the hollow plug 8| will be caused to draw away from the piston 80 to open the lower port leading from the space 82 into the needle tube 69.

The piston 88 and the hollow plug 8| are arranged to be moved in the manner above described by cams 85 and 8.6, respectively, which cams (see Figs. 1 and 2) are secured upon the sleeve 68 to rotate therewith. The cams 85 and 86 have camming grooves 81 and 88, respectively, which serve to reciprocate the piston 80 and hollow plug 8| in timed relation with the rise and fall of the elevator 58 under the action of the cam 61. The cams 61, 85.and 86 are timed to operate the elevator, the piston 80 and the plug 8|., as above described, during the period of dwell when the screws l1 and I8 are at rest. The reciprocating piston 80 is connected to one end 89 of a rod 98 (see Figs. land 2), which is connected at its other end to the upper end 9| of 2. depending lever 92 pivoted at 93 to the tie rod l5 (see Figs. 2 and 4), and extending downwardly therefrom to a point adjacent the periphof the. lever 92 rides in the camming groove 87 ofthe cam 85 (Fig. 2)

. Therhollow plug 8 l. is connected through the stem 83"to" a'-lever -95- (see Fig. 9) which is pivgroove 88' of the cam-"86.

Operation-.0 ampoulefilling device ,Thexeamming grooves 87 and- '88 are of such contour that the piston-80: and hollow plug 8| will beicaused to i open and close the upper and lower ports ofthe cylinder "at the proper time, I and-the piston80 and hollow plug 8| aremoved in sucha mannerthat the liquid-in the space 82 will be forced downwardly through the needle tube -69 into the ampoule at the proper-time. After the liquidzin the space 182 has been entirely expelled therefrom, the piston 80 willbe retracted slightlygwhereby a partial vacuum will be pro duced in the space 82. .for..sucking. surplusliquid from the upper. end 2| of the ampoule .22 toprevent it from wetting the neck of the ampoule which :might later cause carbonization when said neck is fused during the sealing operation Both the, piston'80 and the hollow plug 8I will then simultaneously be retracted to the right (see Figs.

8 and 9), the piston 80 preferably traveling sorne-' what faster than the plug BI so as to maintain a slight vacuum in the space 82 forcausing the liquid from the supply reservoir 78 to .be rapidly suckeddown into the cylinder when the port 79 is next opened. Y

Ampoule "sealing device the path of. a. plurality of-small converging gas jets emitted from a likenumber of opposed openings I06 and I07 provided respectivelyin a pair of parallel spaced-apart burner bars I08 and I09 located above the feed screws I7 and I8.

The burner bars I08 and I09 are hollow and supplied with gas under suitable pressure by tubes 2 and II3 (Fig. 6) to a common pipe 4- which is secured to the tie rod I3 bya clamp- I I5. The supply tube II'4 extends from th clamp .I I5 to a burner regulator IJIB andthence to a source of gassupply- (not showrn' through a tube II7. Manual adjustment oflthe burner regulator IIB may be readily madeto. insure theproper blue flames of suflicient .heat to melt the top of the neckportions 2I of the ampoules during the dwell period of the spiral screws, whereby perfect seals I I8will be obtained.

Ampou-Zemrinting device circular inking ratchet and pawl driven platens I I9 and I20 of the usual flat form, said platens being mounted for'rotation on a frame member plate I38 to the frame plate I0.

' ing plate I38.

which the pin I57 extends.

I22, 'Inking rollers 'I23an'd I24 mounted to rotate on a'common shaft I25 arearranged to be reciprocated over the surface of the platens II9 and I20, respectively, to collect ink therefrom and carryit toprintingtype I26 and I27 carried by holders I28 and I 29 respectively. The holders I28 and I29 are arranged to be swung toward and away from theampoules being fed by the screws I7 and I8, the bases 55 of said ampoles being slidingly supportedby an elongatedbar I30 (see Fig. 6). g 1

The movement of the inking rollers I23 and I24 over the'platens H9 and I20, and of the typeholders I28 and I29 toward and away from the ampoules being fed by screws I7 and I3, is effected by an eccentric disc I3I secured upon a sleeve I32 which is rotatably mounted on the common drive'sh'aft 29 adjacent the frame plate I2.- The periphery of the disc I3I has a groove I33 in which rides a ring I34. By this construetion, it will be seen that the continuous rotation of the disc I3I will reciprocate a connecting rod I35 connected to the ring I34 and cause it to rock an arm I36 secured to a rock-shaft I37 (Fig. 4) journaled in and extending between theframe plates II and I2. The rock-shaft I37 extends beyond the frame plate I I, and is also journaled in a bearing plate I38 which extends forwardly from the tie rod I6. A tie rod I39 connects the All arm I40 secured tothe rock-shaft I37 (Fig. 6) and extending upwardly therefrom is provided with an elongatedslot I4I in its upper end to receive one end of the inking roller shaft I25. An elongated bracket I42 secured to the arm I40 extends under the platens IISI and I20 and then upwardly as an arm I43. The arm I43 has" an elongated slo-t I44 inits' upper end to receive the other end of the shaft I25. Springs I45 are connected to each of the arms I 40 and I43 and to the adjacent ends of the shaft I25 to retain the respective shaft ends in the slots MI and I44.

A segment cam I46 (see Fig. 6) having a cam slot I47 'thereinis secured to the rock-shaft fI37, said cam slot embracing a roller I carried by a bell-cank lever I48 pivoted at I49 to the bear- The other end I5I of the lever I48 is connected by a. link I52 to an arm I53 secured to a shaft I54 journaled in a bracket I55 secured on the bearing plate I38. Ihe shaft I54 extends out of the bracket I55 toward the frame plate I0 and has an arm I 56 secured thereto (see Fig. 2). The arm I56 has a screw threaded pin I57 therein adjacent its freeend I58.

Provision is alsoimade of arms I59 and I60 rotatably mounted on the shaft I54, one on each side of the arm I56. Each of the arms I59 and I60 has an elongated slot I6I therein through Nuts I62 are screwthreaded on each end of the pin I57 to clamp each of the arms I59 and ltifito the arm I56.

A stud I63 is pivoted on a vertical axis in the upper end of eachof the arms I59 and I60, and

. The ampoule printing device includes a pair of Pins I65 are provided. in the upper end of each of the studs I63, saidv pins I65 extending from the studs I63 in'opposite directions for receiving lugs I66 extending rearwardly from the type holders I28 and I29 in which the pins I65 are iournaled. The lugs I66 are held in place on the pins I65 by set screws I67. the elongated slots I6I permits adjustment of the holders I28 and I29 toward and away from the ampoules in respect to the arm I56. The pivoted studs "I63 permit twisting of the type holders on The. provision of the pin I 57 and,

a vertical axis and the pins I65 permit movement of the type holders on a horizontal axis to adjust them relatively to the ampoules being fed-along by the feed screws I1 and I8. A rubber covered edge I68 of a stationary bar I69 engages the neck portions 2I of the ampoules as they are fed past the type holders I28 and I29 to cause said ampoules to spin about their vertical axes upon the supporting bar I30.

Operation of the printing device After the filled and sealed ampoules have been sterilized (by a separate operation outside of the machine) they are fed downwardly through the chute 24, and automatically pushed one at a time by the cam-actuated pusher 50 into the feeding grooves I9 and 28 on the feed screws I1 and I8 respectively. The screws I1 and I8 will then feed the ampoules toward and pastthe printing type I26 and I21 in the holders I28 and I29 respectively. While the ampoules are being pushed along by the feed screws I1 and I8, the type holders I28 and I29 will be rocked away from printing position at timed intervals to obtain ink for printing the desired indicia on the ampoules. Although two sets of type and type holders are herein shown, only one need be used, or when both are in use, different colored ink may be used on the ink low shaft I86 and has an arm I9I secured upon its other end. A detector finger I92 similar to the finger I83 is positioned to be engaged by ampoules as they are being fed toward the printing device from the chute 24 and has a stem I93 supported in a stationary'bearing sleeve I94 and adapted to swing on a vertical axis depending therefrom. An arm I95 is secured to the lower end of the stem I93 and is connected to the arm I9I by a link I96.

Selective operation of filling and printing mechanism When a plurality of ampoules are being fed from the delivery end of the chute23 toward the filling and sealing mechanisms, they will automatically engage the detector finger I83 and swing it in a direction to rock the clutch control finger I16 out of the slot I18 in th clutch key l1I, whereupon the key I1I will be pressed into the key-way I13 in the hub I10 by the spring I14. The connection between the piston cam 85 and the hub I10 by the key I1I drivingly connects the piston cam 85, the plug cam 86, and the ampoule elevating cam 81 through the sleeve 68 to the common drive shaft 29. This causes the ampoules as they pass th filling device to be automatically filled with liquid and to continue past the sealing 'device as long as there ampoules.

Selective drive arrangement Since the ampoule filling and sealing mechanisms need not be in operation when the printing mechanism is in operation, means are herein provided to independently and selectively drive said mechanisms. For this purpose, provision is made of a small cylindrical hub I10 (see Fig. 2) keyed to the common drive shaft 29 and disposed between the sleeves 68 and I32, which are freely rotatable on the shaft 29. A pair of clutch keys HI and I12, which are freely slidable axially in the cam 85 and in the disc I3I respectively, are adapted to be slid into a key-way i13 formed in the hub I10 by springs I14 and I15 respectively. Clutch control fingers I16 and I11 are arranged to lie in beveled slots I18 and I19 formed in the clutch keys HI and I12, respectively, t hold the respective keys in retracted position and out of the key-way I13. The clutch control fingers I16 and I11 are urged and retained in key holding position by springs I80 and I8I (see Figs. 1 and 2) secured to a stud I82 extending from the plate I2 and to each finger I16 and I11, respectively.

The clutch control fingers I16 and I11 are adapted to be automatically held out of the slots I18 and I19 respectively to selectively release either of the keys HI and I12, so long as the ampoules are being fed along by the screws 11 and I8 from the delivery end of either of the chutes 23 and 24. When ampoules are being delivered in front of the screws I1 and I8 from the chute 23 and fed toward the filling device, they are caused to engage a filling detector finger I83 (see Fig. 7) having a stem I 84 supported in a stationary bearing sleeve I85 to swing on a vertical axis. The

are any ampoules in engagement with the detector finger I83.

When the supply of ampoules in the chute 23' is exhausted, the clutch control finger I16 will be swung into key-withdrawing position by the spring I80, and the above operations will be instantly stopped, thereby preventing the discharge of filling liquid from the needle tube 69.

When a plurality of ampoules are being feel I from the delivery end of the chute 24 toward stem I84 extends downwardly and is connected 1 the printing device, said ampoules will engage and swing the printing detector finger I92 in a direction to rock the clutch control finger I11 out of the slot I19 in the clutch key I12. This action causes the key 112 to be pressed into the key-way I13 in the hub I10 by the spring I15, thus drivingly connecting the eccentric disc I3I with the common drive shaft 29, whereupon the printing device will be actuated as above described.

When the ampoules are exhausted from the chute 24 and the detector finger I92 is released, the clutch control finger I11 will be urged into key-withdrawing position and the operation of the eccentric disc I3I and printing mechanism will automatically stop.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure, but may be embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claim.

I Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

In an ampoule filling machine, a vertical filling nozzle, means to support an ampoule below said nozzle in alignment therewith, means to deliver a charge of liquid to said nozzle comprising a horizontal cylinder located above said nozzle having a top inlet port connected with a source of liquid supply and a bottom outlet port connected with said nozzle, a hollow cushion piston having a vertical end face located at one I end of said cylinder for initially closing said outletport, a coiled spring in said hollow piston, a driven slidable stem member having a socket for enclosing the outer end of said spring, a hollow threaded plug screwed into the outer end of said hollow piston surrounding said stem member, a flange on said stem member having abutting engagement With the inner end of said screw plu to limit the outward movement of said piston with respect to said stem, a second piston having a vertical end face located in the other end of plete expulsion of said charge from said cylinder into said ampoule. p 7 WILLIAM T. BARKER.

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