US2390443A

US2390443A - Apparatus for filling containers

Info

Publication number: US2390443A
Application number: US383044A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald B Mckinnis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-03-12
Filing date: 1941-03-12
Publication date: 1945-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1962-12-04

Description

Dec. 4, 1945. R B McK|NN|5 I 2,390,443

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed March 12, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l af 79 42 l,

62 I F3, 44 3g l I '7/ 45 ,72 46 1335 ,7.3 47 37 /W l f7# Z 419 s Y v 5 .J5 6 6 j J# 53J7 i 35 y I 1 60 x 69 65 J0 .33 70 f .f2 5l 344 63 GMW@ Dec. 4,' 1945. R. B. MCKINNIS APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS l Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March-12, 1941 Dec. 4, 1945. R. B. McKlNNls .2,390,443

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed MarhlZ, 1941` 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 4, 1945 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Ronald B. McKinnis, Winter Haven, Fla. Application March 12, 1941, Serial No. 383,044

(Cl. 22e-6s) 2 Claims.

` My invention relates to apparatus for lling containers. The invention is particularly adaptedl for lling containers with liquids while preventing oxidation of the liquids, though the invention is not to be .0f this nature.

` In those cases in which liquidswhich are easily oxidized are iilled into containers, particularly precautions have to be exercised to prevent oxidation, and it is one of the objects of this invention to provide systems andrapparatus for control of the iilling of containers to prevent oxidation of the liquid. The old style bottom ller mechanisms have been found to be somewhat complicated and slow in operation. The present invention contemplate filling from the top of the container, the container remaining open during the filling operation, yet by reason .of .proper blanketing of the surface of the liquid during the iilling operation either with inert gas vor steam, or some other fluid, oxidation is prevented Among the types of liquid which are `very sensitive to oxidation may be classed the juices of citrus fruit, `such as oranges, and other `fruit and vegetable juices.

In the apparatus which I employ I control the operation of filling s that the open container is subjected to a blast of inert gas or steam to force `out atmospheric air.

After a predetermined interval of "time this blast of blanketing fluid is followed by the introduction of Va stream of the liquid, such as orange juice, the liquid being enclosed in a tube of moving inert gas or steam. Among the inert gases I may employ are nitrogen, carbon dioxide, a mixture of the two, or other inertgases.

In addition to the objects above indicated, another object of my invention is to provide a simple apparatus which is easy to operate and positive in action, and which will fill the cans to a desired depth so that the top edge of the can in eiect becomes the gauge by which is determined the amount of liquid permitted to flow into the can.` Thus variations in can sizes can be filled While still maintaining a constant head space in all cans. A further object of the invention is to provide a simple valve construction which is positive in operation and easy to clean, repair and replace.

With these and `other objects in view, which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied limited solely to operations in construction, proportions and arrangements, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 1

In order to make my invention more clearl understood, I have shown in the accompanying` drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular con-` structions which, for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings: Figure 1 `is a View partly in section showing the construction of the liquid and blanketing fluid valves; Fig. 2 is a View taken along the lineu22 o Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; v

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 Of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;`

Fig. 4 is a, view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows? Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevationof the steam or` inert gas nozzle, and the liquid nozzle, parts being broken away, the parts being shown" in' the position when steam or inert gas only is being injectcd into the can; 'l

Fig'. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, the partsbeing shown in the position in which juice is being iilled into the can while being blankete'd with steam or inert gas; f

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the control system for controlling the filling operation.`

Referring to the drawings I have shown a valve mechanism indicated generally by the numeral I,

. which'is adapted to control the liquidA which is juice pipe `6 through which sterile unoxidizedjuice is adapted tobe fed from some suitable source of supply, not shown. An interiorly screw-threaded coupling, indicated generallyv by the numeralf, joins the extension 4 to the juice conduit BS j A cleaning aperture 'l is provided in the valve 4body 3 which is adapted to be closed by a screw cap 8.

The valve 2 is provided with a body 9 which is provided with an extension I0 which is exteriorly screw-threaded, having an exteriorly screwthreaded nipple II to which is adapted to be attached a conduit for steam or inert gas. The extension 4 of valve body 3 and the extension I0 of valve body 9 are adapted to t into holding apertures formed in a bracket I2 formed on a frame I3 of the valve supporting mechanism. The extension,4.is,he1d in placeby means oi a holding,rrutv I4iwliile th extensioni Irisi held in place by a nutV I5'.

Attached to the upper side of the valve body 3 is a vertical sleeve I5 which is held t the valve body 3 by means of holding screws IFIiwhichzeX- tend through ange I8 of the sleeve I6. Between the ange I8 of the sleeve I6 andthe top'of the-- valve body 3 is held a neoprene? diaphragm I9:v

The neoprene diaphragm I9 is held between a valve closer 29 and a valve stem ZI. The' valve closer; Zll islprovidedx with.. a. head. 2-2. carrying a omima-Ld facef 23:- whichi is, adaptedi. to lie against the conical aperture 24 formed inzthe lower: portion!` of thefvalvei body;I 3l.' The. valve stem 2,I is atiacheditoan armature25r of. a. solenoid. mechanisrmindicated.gener-allyl thenumeral. Z6., The armature'is adapted. toislide in,a;solenoid,barrel 2,1: carriedfinf a.cupshaped.solenoid cover 2B. The upper: movement ofthe; armaturejZds limited.` by meansfof-f aa set-:screwv mechanism, indicated generally'by the numeral 29. The sclenoidZr is provided: with*` the', usual; solenoidy winding 3!` which upon beingz energizediisadaptedtoma? se the arma..- ture 25, and hencey raises the valve closerv 219.y to open. the. valve., -Thefneoprene diaphragm, preventsfanyf liqnidf in thefva-lvlebvady` 3-` from. coming in contact With'.- the.- solenoid. and. its.. immediately associated: parta. The cup-shapedcover 28.. is

screw-threaded. ont tofafflange, 3I i formed on the ofi' fluid into the can,aroundfthe=juice-. entering the; cani;

The valve 2 is normally closed, with the parts Y mrt-he position. shown'A in-'Fig-ureslI 1y andiZ.. The

verticallsleevef I,61is;providiediwith aislot having mountedthereimarpivotpin 3:1 onfwhichfisfpivoted av lever- 38. which: basa-.lost motionsloti39 in.- one end; 'Iiislost motionfslotts oven aftrunnion'40 formed oni the.I valve: stem', 2A closen-zfintothe down-positiorrs aspring 4I. is 'provided Whichais. attachedl toa= supporting screw 4Z mountedl on: the Icupeshapedl cover 28 of.. the

soienoidi 26.f The other?v end. ofA the springj M. is

attachedzata to .theV lever:A 38; This-tendsfto hold theevaelve closer-in the positionA shown,l in Figureszl and2, 'llhefleverr 3.3r isi-provided. witha pivot pin Mwhiclrisjadaptedito. fit; in alost motion slot-45 formed?. irr: aflink: member- 46z which is pivotally jpinedr ati t1, to operating rod. 48. which is lmounted.torreciprocalimotion in a` support memben attached to thewal'vezb'ody 3f. Theoperatingfred-Afis attached tor,` an: insulating block: 58

- Wha'uzzlricis;vl adapted: tocarry shut-ofi electrodesA 5 I The: block. 50, is attached. to the operating rod 4Iir2tl'irough` nuts.' 52y and- 531mounted on' the operating rod 48. lAbove the nut 53 is mounted a.

'Ifol urge. the, valve cup-shaped spring receiver 54 in which the end of a compression spring 55 is mounted. The other end of the compression spring 55 is adapted to rest in an aperture 56 formed on the under side of the support 49.

The details of the shut-off electrode construction are shown in Figure 5. The insulating block is shown made in two pieces. Each of the elecrodes 5I is provided with screw-threads 51 and knurledif; heads 58 so that4 the distance which the tips ofthe electrodesprotrude below'the surface of the block 50 can be regulated. Electrical contact is made with the electrodes 5I through 'Ii-shapedY sleevesvz 59 set 4mto the interior of the block 58. Each of the T-shaped sleeves 59 carries a-binding'post B0 through which connection is madefto a..winding 6I of a relay 62, which will vbeA later described in detail.

Itisto. be noted that in the lowemost position. ofthe block 50 it is adapted to restonH the rim 6 3 ofJa caninto which` the juice is adapted to befill'edl The tips of the' electrodes 5I. can be. made of `tantalum,. orl any othermetal which does. notl oxidizel readily;` and which is n'otsube ject' to electrolytic decomposition.

The valve construction 2,` whichv isI adaptedto control'l the flow of.' the steamV or, inert gas: for blanleting-` the juice hasa Valve body` 9;,as1has been previously indicated. This valve b'ody: is provid'edwith a central aperture 65; At' the. lower end of the valve is a threadedv nippleIS' which', through a` suitable coupling 6.1; is, attached to` a steam or inert gaspipe 68 which in. turn; throughr into. theconical" aperture. formed; in the' bottom offthe, valveY body 9"; The valver closer 1'4" is attachedt'o avalvestem 16,'v and in turn the valve stem1iisattached'to an armature .1.1 which is adapted'. to., slide' in aI solenoid barrel 18; of a solenoid; indicatedlgenerally by the numera119. Thesolenoicli19l is provided with a solenoidwind'- ing 89. A cup-shaped cover 81 forA the solenoid is held in place by being screwed overa screw.'- threadedflange 82 formed on thesleeve TI.

The armature 1Tisurged`in'to its down position by means' ofacompression spring,83', one endof whichrests onfthe top. surface ofthe armature 1&1, and theother end'ofwhich bears against the inner. surface of. an extensionY 84" madein the cup-shapedicover BEI... A.set.vscrew, indicated'generally bythe numeral85., limits the upper movement of thearmature 11. The springt?. urges the armature 11' into its Iowermost positionfi'n vvvhiclrtltie...valve isnormallyl closed.

Referringgthffigure. 9.' ILhave shown at control systennior providingT for the operation of? the filling cycle.. In general' the lling, cyclecomprises rstnthe purging. step inwliicri.A steam or insertjgasiis.dschargedlin a blast into` the` open receptacle., 641' andlatmospheric, air is discharged or. pnrgedlromthe. open receptacle SII.A Next, thelling step is started' in which juice is discharged in a stream into the receptacle, the juice being blanketed by a tube of insert gas or steam. The system disclosed in Figure 9 is adapted to carry out this cycle.

I have shown two electrical conductors and I 0I, which are adapted to carry, for instance, I I0 volt current, and two conductors |05 and |06 to carry a current of, for instance, 12 volts. The shut-oir electrodes are carried in a circuit |01 which is 'adapted to be closed when the liquid surface |08 rises to the proper height in the container 64 (see Fig. 5). The circuit |01 is connected at |09 to a conductor |06 and at IIO to a conductor |05. In the circuit |01 is the coil 6| of the shut-off relay 62. The shut-oir relay 62 comprises an amature I I I which is adapted normally to be in the position shown in Figure 9, i. e., in the normally closed position. Through the armature I I I and a lead I I2 connected to the conductor |06 circuit is closed to a lead I I3 which carries one contact II4 of a starting switch construction, and one contact II5 of a valve relay, indicated generally by the numeral II6.

The valve relay II6 is normally open, as indicated in Figure 9, and comprises a double arm switch II1 having a maintain arm IIB and an energizing circuit arm I I9. The maintain arm II8 of the switch II1 is connected to a lead |20 which carries a contact |2| which lies adjacent the contact II4 in the starting switch arrangement which I have indicated generally by the numeral |22. In the line |20 is an energizing coil |23 of the valve relay I I6. The energizing coil |23 is adapted to move the double arm switch II1. i

Adapted to contact the arm |,I9 of the valve relay switch II1 in its closed position is a contact I 24 which is connected to a lead |25 that connects with the winding 80 of the solenoid 2. The winding 80 of the solenoid 19 is connected to a. lead I 26 which connects to the electrical main |00.

In operation the receptacle or can 64 is placed underneath the valve assembly in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The starting switch |22 is operated, which closes the circuit between contacts |2| and II4. This energizes the coil |23 which moves the double pole switch II1 to cause arm I I9 to contact the contact |24 and maintain arm IIO to contact the contact II5. Circuit is thus closed by the maintain arm I I8 to maintain the current in the winding |23, and thus maintain the switch II1 in the closed position. In such closed position current flows through the winding |28 of the thermal switch |29 and through the winding 80 of the solenoid 19. Thus the steam or inert gas valve is opened, for the valve closer 14 is raised against the tension of the spring 83 and steam or inert gas is discharged downwardly into the container 64.

In the meantime the thermal switch |29 is becoming heated through the coil |28 and the movable element |30 is under the actuation of the rise of temperature causing contact |3I to approach contact |32. After a predetermined time contact |3I makes contact with contact |32, and this closes the circuit through the arm II9 of the switch II1 through lead |33, contact |32, contact I3I, movable member |30, lead |34, and winding 30 of solenoid 26 to the line I 26. `The solenoid 26 is therefore operated to move the armature 25 into the up position and to thus move the valve closer 20 into the up position and open the juice valve.

In Figure 7 the purging of the can with the steam or inert gas is diagrammatically illustrated. In Figure 8 it will be noted that there is a stream of juice |40 which is surrounded by an envelope of steam or inert gas |4I which completely surrounds the stream of juice and protects it from oxidation. The inert gas or steam lies on top of the rising liquid in the container 64 and prevents access of oxygen to the juice. There will be a considerable quantity of steam or inert gas which will nd its way in bubbles below the surface of the juice, but since this material is entirely non-oxidizing no deleterious effects will be obtained. In fact the foam on the surface of the juice as it rises in the can also tends to blanket the main body of the juice from oxidation.

The surface of the juice rises in the can to a point such as is illustrated in Figure 5, where the circuit is closed through the shut-off electrodes 5I by reason of the completion of the circuit through the body of the juice itself. Then coil 6I of the shut-off relay 62 is energized and this attracts the armature I I I of the shut-off relay, opening the circuit. This de-energizes coil |23, and the normally open valve relay switch III opens, thus breaking the circuit through winding 30 of the juice valve solenoid, and also opening the circuit through the winding of the steam or gas valve solenoid. Springs then return the solenoid armatures to the lowermost position, as shown in Figure 2, and the flow of juice and steam or inert gas is stopped.

It is to be noted that the insulating block 50, during the lling of the can with the liquid, rests on the upper rim 63 of the can. This gives a constant height to the juice in the iilled can, since cans of different heights may be employed, but the regulation of the height of the liquid in all cans is dependent on the amount that the shut-off electrodes project byond the bottom surface of the block 50.

My apparatus permits of thorough purging of Y the cans and the introduction of non-oxidized liquid into the cans, filling them from the top and using open cans. This greatly facilitates the filling, shortening the process and saving time, tand reducing the expense of the filling operaion.

I desire that my invention be limited only by the showing of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for iilling open containers with a desired amount of liquid comprising a source of the liquid, a stationary nozzle in communication with the source and terminating above the upper end of the container for discharging the liquid downwardly into the container, a` valve for controlling flow of liquid from its source to the nozzle, a reciprocating stem serving to open and close the valve, a reciprocating support member engageable with the upper rim of the container, a gauging' device carried by the support and projecting downwardly therefrom a; predetermined distance; into, the container whern the, support is in; engagement withitherixn-x of; the; containen-said gauging devicead.emptied-toyy contact; the; rising; surface of; the liquidfjor gauging. theidesired;lever of liquid in the. containen a, rocken arm: connecting; thesupport member V andr valve stem andactuated-,by said f stem to respectively' lower andvraisei the; support with; respect to; ther container; with; opening and closing movement of the: valve; stem.

2. An. apparatus forY llingf open containers withi a, desiredf. amount of liquidl comprising; a sourceof; thei liquid;` a stationary nozzle in cornmuni'cation; with, theV source, and terminating ahavefthe, upper end; of-` the. container for discharging theliquidA downwardly'into the contanenavalve; for'controllng, flow ofliquid trom its.; sources: to the; nozzlaga reciprocating stem serving: to openzandclose the-valveicontrol means for; regulatingthe amountot opening,l movement of the valve. stemt, a; movable)A support, member engageable with the upper rim of. the container, a. gauging,i devicey carriedby'the. support. and projecllgV downwardly. therefrom a predetermined distance. into the container When tl'iefsuplporttv is inf engagement`y with4V the, rim4 ofv the container, said gauging device eriaptecttovv contact the ris.

ing surfaceof the liquid for. gaugingfthe desired Y level; of liquid in the container, linkage means connecting the. support member and ValveA stem and actuated.- by. said stem. to respectively; lower and` raisey tlf-le support. with respect] tol the contaner with opening and closing.= movement'ofthe l valvei stemt,I andlost motionmeans constituting al part of; saidlinkage.tofpermitthe valve. to. open its full` regulated amount, after the. support has the container.

engaged the, rirnl` of y Y RONALD B.. MGKINNIS.