US2413194A

US2413194A - Filling valve

Info

Publication number: US2413194A
Application number: US548410A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clyde D Russell
Original assignee: California Packing Corp
Current assignee: Big Heart Pet Brands LLC
Priority date: 1944-08-07
Filing date: 1944-08-07
Publication date: 1946-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1963-12-24

Description

Dec'. 24, 1946. c. D. RUSSELL 2,413,194

FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 7, 1944 2 sheets-sheet i v. MZRIHCZQQL.

3v my Dec. 24, 1946. A C, D, RUSSELL 2,413,194

FILLING VALVE Filed Aug. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheel 2 Patented Dec. 24, 1946v FILLING VALVE Clyde D. Russell, Oakland, Calif., assignor'to California Packing Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of New York Application August 7, 1944, Serial No. 548,410

8 Claims.

This invention relates to filling valves, that is, to means for adding a predetermined quantity of liquid to cans or bottles partially lilled with lish, fruits or vegetables, or other foods which require a set or fixed quantity of liquid. Among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a filling valve of this character wherein the contents of the can is vacuumized prior to introduction of the liquid so that a substantial portion of the objectionable air content is removed.

Second, to provide a filling valve of this character wherein the liquid is added to the contents of the can while the vacuum therein is maintained, so that the liquid thoroughly and completely permeates the contents.

Third, to provide a iilling valve o this character which may be readily and accurately adjusted to deliver various quantities of liquid to meet the needs for various sizes of bottles and cans, or the various foods contained therein.

With the above and other objects in view, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are similar longitudinal sectional views through the filling valve, showing in Fig. 1 the initial position wherein the can to be filled has not as yet engaged the valve; showing in Fig. 2 the intermediate position wherein the can is being vacuumized; and showing in Fig. 3 the final position wherein the charge of liquid is introduced.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view from 4--4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Shown fragmentarily in the drawings is a table I adapted to rotate about a vertical axis. The periphery of the table is provided with a vertical wall 2 so as to form therewith a vessel or container for the liquid such as oil, or fruit or vegetable juices which it is desired to place in the cans of food. A series of plunger barrels 3 is secured'to the table I adjacent the wall 2. The table is provided with extensions 4 which are concentric with the plunger barrels 3. Mounted at the top of each plunger barrel is a sleeve 5 which is provided with a flange 6 at its lower end to form a closure for the plunger barrel. A bleeder port 'l is provided in the flange 6.

A hollow plunger 8 is mounted within the plunger barrel 3. The plunger 8 is closed at its lower end by a partition, and its upper end is through 2 provided with a cap in which is provided a bleeder port I8. A stem I I extends upwardly from the cap 9 through the sleeve 5, and its upper end is provided with a spider wheel I2. The spider wheel is provided with severall radiating arms I3. i

Suitably positioned at one side of 'the table I is a bracket I4 having a laterally extending trip arm I5 positioned so as to engage the spider wheel l2 and rotate it through a predetermined arc, in this case, a arc.

The hollow plunger 8 is provided near its lower end with a pair of diametrically disposed ports IS which register alternately with a port l1 provided in the plunger barrel 3.

A partition disc I8 is provided in the plunger 8 and forms a false top for the compartment dened by the hollow plunger. The partition disc i8 is equipped with a threaded stem I9 which extends upwardly through the stem I I, and is screw-threaded therein so that the partition disc I8 within the plunger 8 may be raised or lowered. A small bleeder passage is provided in the threaded stem I5. A lock nut 28 is provided on the projecting end of the stem I9 so that it may be locked in position. The partition disc I8 determines the effective volume of the plunger 8, that is,the

partition disc I8 denes with the closed lower end of the plunger 8, a chamber of predetermined volume.

Secured to the under side of the table I in concentric relation with each plunger barrel 3 and extension 4 is a vacuum valve cage 2| in the form of a short cylinder of substantially larger diameter than the extension 4. The vacuum valve cage 2| reciproca-Hy supports a vacuum valve 22 which is held against rotation relative to the cage 2l by key means 23. The vacuum valve is in the form of a disc with a iianged periphery riding in the cage 2 I, and is provided withl a central 'plunger 24 equal in diameter lto the hollow plunger t. The plunger 24 projects into the extension 4 and is attached to the lower end of the hollow plunger 8 by means of a bolt 25. The plunger 24 is hollow, open at its lower end and closed at its upper end. Ports 26 and 2l are provided in the confronting ends of the hollow plunger 8 and the plunger 24, respectively. The

ports

26 and 21 are closed when either of the ports i6 are in registry or in vertical alignment with the port I'I in the plunger barrel 3, and the' ports and 27 are adapted to register when the ports IE are in right-angular relation with the port Il. i

Springs 28 urge the vacuum valve '22 and consequently, the plungers 24 and 8 toward their lower position, which position is the one in which the ports i and |1 occupy a common plane.

The lower end of the plunger 24 is provided with an annular lip 29 which defines the radially inner wall of a channel S formed in the under side of the vacuum valve 22. The channel 3G' communicates through a vacuum port 3| to the periphery of the vacuum valve 22. The vacuum Valve cage 2| is provided with a vacuum passage 32 terminating in a port 33 so located in the side wall of the valve cage 2| that when the vacuum valve is in its intermediate position shown in Fig. 2, the ports 3| and 33 register. The vacuum passage 32 communicates vwith a rotating annular vacuum shoe 34 which rides in an annular channel provided in the table A stationary vacuum ring 35 rides in the vacuum shoe 34. Ports are so provided in the shoe 34 and ring 35 that the channel 33 is in communication with a source of vacuum pressure during a predetermined portion of the cycle of operation of the lling valve, as will be described hereinafter.

The bottom end of the vacuum valve 22 is provided with a sealing ring 36 formed of rubber or analogous material capable of forming a sealing contact with the upper edge or rim'of a can C, or bottle or other container of food. The can or the like is carried on a platform 31. A stem 38 extends downwardly from the platform 31 and is equipped with a roller V39 which rides on an annular cam 49 having lower intermediate and upper steps 4|, 42 and 43, respectively.

Operation of the filling apparatus is as follows:

The cans to be lled are fed from a suitable conveyor and transfer mechanism not shown, to a series of platforms 31 which are maintained under and in concentric registry with the vacuum valve 22 by means not shown. Initially, during movement of the platform on the lower step 4| of the cam, the can C clears the vacuum valve and the vacuum valve is in its lower position. This is the condition shown in Fig. 1. When the ports are in this lower position, one of the ports I5 is in .reg-

istry with the port l1 so that liquid from the tank or vessel formed by the table I and wall 2, may flow into the measuring or metering compartment within the hollow plunger 8, filling the spacevbetween the lower end of the plunger 8 and the partition disc I8. In the condition shown in Fig. 1, the ports 25 and '21 are out of registry as are also the vacuum ports 3i and 33. When the platform 31 rides upon the intermediate step of the cam 30, the vacuum ports 3| and 32 register as shown in Fig. 2. During at least a portion of the time f that the platform rides on the intermediate step of the cam, the vacuum passage 33 is in communication with the source of vacuum pressure so that the contents of the can are subjected to such vacuum pressure and air is vwithdrawn from the can and its contents. The

ports

26 and 21 remain out of registry during this vacuumizing operation.

When the platform 31 rides upon the upper step 43 of the cam 40, the vacuum ports 3| and 33 no longer register, and preferably the vacuum passage 32 is cut oi from the source of vacuum pressure. During the time that the platform 31 rides upon the upper step 43 of the cam, the spider wheel |2 engages the trip arm l5 to rotate the hollow plunger 8 relative to the lower plunger' 24, bringing the

ports

25 and 21 into registry. The vacuum created in the can and its contents, is maintained by reason of the fact that the port 3| is closed; consequently, the liquid is drawn from the hollow plunger 8 not only by gravity, but by the vacuum pressure existing in the can and its contents.

After the liquid has discharged from the hollow plunger 8, the spider wheel may engage a second trip arm not shown, but similar to the trip arm l5 which rotates the upper plunger to its initial position in which the

ports

25 and 21 are out of registry, but one of the ports i6 is in at least vertical alignment with the port l1. The remaining portion, not shown, of the cam 40 returns to its initial or lower step. An intermediate step similar to the step 42 may be provided to again bring the vacuum ports 3| and 33 into registry. At this portion of the cycle of operation, however, the vacuum passage 32 may be open to the air so that the vacuum existing above the liquid now contained in the can, may be released and the can freed from the sealing ring 36.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A filling apparatus comprising: a tank structure; a vacuumizing means under said tank structure, a reciprocable member adapted to eiect sealing engagement lwith a container to be iilled and adapted by its movement to eiect communication between the interior of said container and a source of sub-atmospheric pressure; means dening a cylinder extending upwardly into said tank structure and having a lower open end communicating with the interior of said container; a hollow plunger means in said cylinder, including a lower part fixed to said reciprocablemember, an upper relatively rotatable part, and valve means between Asaid parts for discharging liquid from said upper part into said container; and other valve means between said upper part and the interior of said tank structure for admitting liquid into said upper part; said plunger means adapted by reciprocation and relative rotation of said upper and lower parts to control said valve means and thereby admit liquid into said upper part and thereafter discharge said liquid into said container sealed to said reciprocable member.

2. A construction as set forth in claim l, wherein the upper part of said hollow plunger means includes a partition element adjustable therein to vary the eiective volume of said upper part thereby to regulate the` volume cf liquid discharged into said container.

3. A lling apparatus, comprising: a tank structure including means dening a cylinder open at its lower end; a plunger structure reciprocable in said cylinder, and including a relatively rotatable upper plunger forming a measuring compartment and a lower plunger forming a container covering member adapted to eiect sealing engagement with a container pressing upwardly thereagainst; reciprocable and rotatable valve means controlled by reciprocation and rotation of said measuring compartment relative to said cylinder means and container covering member to admit liquid from said tank structure into said measuring compartment and to discharge said liquid into a container sealed against said container covering member.

4. A lling apparatus, comprising: a tank structure including means defining a cylinder open at its lower end; a plunger structure rcciprocable in said cylinder, and including a relatively rotatable upper plunger forming a measuring compartmentA and a lower plunger forming a container covering member adapted to effect sealing engagement with a container pressing upwardly thereagainst; reciprocable and rotatable valve means controlled by reciprocation and rotation of said measuring compartment relative to said cylinder means and said container covering member to admit liquid from said tank structure into said measuring compartment and to discharge said liquid into a container sealed against said container covering member; a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, and means controlled by movement of said plunger structure to expose the interior of said container to said sub-atmospheric pressure source prior to discharge of said liquid therein.

5. Alling apparatus, comprising: atank structure including means deiining a cylinder open at its lower end; a plunger structure reciprocable in said cylinder, and including a relatively rotatable upper plunger forming a measuring compartment and a lower plunger forming a container covering member adapted to effect sealing engagement with a container pressing upwardly thereagainst; reciprocable and rotatable Valve means controlled by reciprocation and rotation of said measuring compartment relative to said cylinder means and container covering member to admit liquid from said tank structure into said measuring compartment and to discharge said liquid into a container sealed against said container covering member; a valve device operable by reciprocation of said plunger structure to eX- pose the interior of said container to vacuum pressure, said valve device adapted to be closed prior to discharge of liquid into said container from said compartment.

6. A construction as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper plunger which forms said measuring compartment includes a partition element adjustable therein to vary the effective volume of said compartment thereby to regulate the quantity of liquid discharged into said container.

7. A construction as set forth in claim 5, wherein the upper plunger which forms said measuring compartment includes a partition element adjustable therein to vary the effective volume of said compartment thereby to regulate the quantity o-f liquid discharged into said container- 8. A lling apparatus comprising: a sealing member adapted to seal the end of a container to be lled; means defining a measuring compartment carried on said sealing member; a first valve means between said measuring compartment and said sealing member adapted to discharge the contents of said compartment into said container; a second valve means at the lower end of said measuring compartment for admitting liquid to said measuring compartment; actuating means for each of said valve means arranged to operate in sequence whereby liquid is rst admitted to said compartment and later discharged into said container; and means for subjecting the interior of said container to vacuum pressure prior to opening of said valve means, said first seal means adapted to maintain the vacuum thereby created in s-aid container until said valve means opens.

CLYDE D. RUSSELL.