US2421708A

US2421708A - Apparatus for filling containers

Info

Publication number: US2421708A
Application number: US415123A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald B Mckinnis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-10-15
Filing date: 1941-10-15
Publication date: 1947-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1964-06-03

Description

June 3, 1947. RQ B. McKlNNls Y APPARATUS -FOR FILLING CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct'. 15,l 1941 x San@ Ill June 3, 1947.

R. BQ MCKINNIS APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERSy Filed Oct. l5, 1941:, y5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Ami ub@ wm, @,fam/

June 3, 1947. R. B. McKlNNls APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001'.. l5, 1941 zo 3% B.

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Nouvasdo Patented June 3, 1947 APPARATUS FORFILHNG CQNTALNEBSL Ronaldl B.l McKinnis, WintenHavenFla,

Application October 15, 1941 .Serieel NO- 41,5,'123l Claims.

My invention relates to amethod ,and apparatus for lling containers. This case is a continuation in part of my copending cases, Serial Nos. 299,386, filed October 13, 1939, n ow abandoned, and 299,387, led October 13, 1939, now abandoned- More partculariyA my inventiomrelates to the filling. of containers with` liquids which it is desired to maintain sterile and unoxidized. The

system hereinafter to be described may bey used toll containers with sterile unoxidized juices, such as citrus fruit juices, and the juices of vegetables, though it is not exclusively of use for this DUIDOSG.

Avcontrol process is herein described that is in part. automatic and in part manual. Apparatus and methods rforoperation of thew appar ratus have been devised with certain objects in view which will be apparent` from the ensuing description. Among oth'er objects the followf ing are rspecically pointed out.

An object of the invention is to devise amethod of llling containers with sterile unoxidized liquid which will Ibe automatic, atleastin part.

Another. object of the invention is to devise apparatus that is positive inaction, simple to manufacture and easy to repair and replace.l

Still another object is to furnish a system that will prevent, the. introduction of sterilizing liquid intothecontainer while tliejuice is being pumped into the container.

Yet another object is -to,.fur nish `a, system that will permit a number of containers to bev filled simultaneously.

The method and apparatus herein described are adapted to be used when the operator desires to till ,large containers for shipping 0r storage, and means have been provided for automatically stopping the feeding oi the desired liquid to a container when a predetermined amount has been delivered thereto,

With th'ese and other objects in View, which may be incident'to my improvements, the inventionv consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elementscomprising my inventiony may be Varied :in construction, proportions and arrangements, Without departing from the spirit and scope` of the `appended e claims.

In .order to make my invention more clearlyr understood, ,Iv have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical eiect without limiting the improvements in their useful appliatlonsto .the particular con,-`

ca ,valves 24,. and headers; 25.` are lilcewise4 opened.

vable con 2; structiops,wliiclticr,the purpcse of explanation, here been mede the subject of, illustrationln the drawings.:

.Fia 1 diagrammatically illustrates aisystem for. lline. a .plurality 0f containers Eig- 2,isadiesie.mmsti illustration of a .GQ12- trol system for the control of the fillingoperations in the system illustratedv inA Fig. 1.

Fia ,is a bitpipeN diagram. 0iv atypical fillips Operation,

Thefsysiem is of particular use, abovestated, in storingen@ shipping citrus fruit juices which' meybefextracted underthe ecndiiiciis, set forth Patent Not, 2,226,513,` granted December 24, 1940.

1p (incierto. utilize i0 themaximum the hot wav ter, suppl@ I` provide..- variable, speedpumping means se that the volumeoi .het sienflizine liquid delivercdftofany one refilleblc container may be ,balanced-,in accordance, with the amount of hot water available.

My system comprises .a series of large capacity re-usuable containers I having valves v2 and 3,. Thefarreneementissuch th'at-the'velves 2 and 3,

when ithe,ccritair-1cis :l are lled with fruit juice,

ce beplesed end the; containers remoyed from the-systemf-fop shipping vor ,storica- Eachcontainer:isesaptedto rest on a bese 4 formed*W-itliasiippcrt-: which rests, opl a scale beam 6 providedwith afmcyable weight 1 for adjusting thescaleie any desired weight- The sceletbeem is fulrumed Op a support 8 The ariiiistmentfcf the Weight along. the length of enaplesitte;betiltedfwhen each reps.- has been iilled t0` the desired amount Each @itl-,1e Containers Imaybe nexibly, connectedte the piping system, to bev describedztekpermit free operation ofy the scala,

I have the Ydrawingsa source of-hot water; supply Si; fedfby; afhctwsteripipe Hl',A controlledfby avalve vI l i .Adapted to draw hotster.- ilizinewateryfrem the: het water supply. Stare pipes.v l2; .Urend |44., Water issiicked through the pipes.y I2; I3 and; I4j -by reversible variable ispeedmumps I5;e t6 and l1, respectively.

Thesepllmps-inihe. rst; cycle of my operatipiift are adapted to .feed het sterilizing Water throughvalves I8, ,lfepd- 20 through. valves 3, tQiihe containersl. 4

By causing the,piiiiiisrl5l llaricl.` llic'pilmp hot Water through the. linesll, 22131191123 all@ valves: 3-,to the containers l, thecontainers l may belled witnhot weterendzsterilized. 1n

thistiillirie operation ille valves Zerevpenepl, and

The valves 24 control the flow of the hot sterilizing liquid to a vent line 26 which feeds back at its lower end into the source 9 of hot water supply. The valves 27 in the headers 25 are closed during this illing operation. Thus all air and gas in the apparatus and lines are purged out by the hot water and the lines and apparatus are sterilized.

The next step is to fill the lines and apparatus with a sterile non-oxidizing gas displacing the water. I have shown a pipe 28 leading from the gas supply source to a gas sterilizer 29 through a valve 30. The supply may be any inert nonoxidizing gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen. The gas is sterilized by a sterilizer 29 and passes to a cooling coil 3|, which is shown diagrammatically in a simple coil form. From the cooling coil 3I the gas iiows throguh a line 32, and through valves 2'I which are now open, the valves 24 having been closed, through the headers 25 and valves 2 into the containers I,

The variable speed pumps I5, I6 and I 'I have been reversed and pump the sterilizing water back through lines 2I, 22 and 23, and into the hot water tank 9. This hot water passes out of the tanks I in front of the cool sterile non-oxidizing gas.

When the tanks I and the lines 2|, 22 and 23 have had the water removed from them, and are lled with the inert gas, the valves I8, I9 and 2G are closed. From a suitable source of supply (not shown) through a pipe 33, a sterile non-oxidized liquid, such as orange juice, is drawn, and is pumped by means of a juice pump 34 through a line 35 and a heating coil 36. Here the juice may be sterilized, if it has not been previously sterilized. From the heating coil 36 the juice is pumped through a cooling coil 3'I and a line 38 into a header 39. From the header 39, through valves 49, 4I and 42, the sterile unoxidized juice is pumped, through valves 3 into tanks I. The valve-s I8, I9 and 20 are closed during this operation, as before explained.

The juice passes through header 39, valves 40, 4I and 42 and valves 3 into the containers I until they are iilled to the desired level, at which time the scale beam will indicate that the correct weight of juice has been discharged into the tank. Valves 3 and 2 are shut and the containers I can be removed for storage or shipment.

I have described the construction and operation of my system in detail, but in summary it can be said that the reversible variable speed pumps I5, I6 and I'I in the sterilizing cycle pump hot water into the tanks I until the tanks I are filled, and the vent line 2E discharges hot water back into the hot water supply tank 9. Following the sterilizing cycle, there is a gassing cycle in which the system is lled with inert gas.

The next cycle is one in which the tanks are lled with juice which has been sterilized and cooled. The juice pump 33 moves the juice through the header 39, into the tanks I, driving out through valves 2, headers 25, valves 24 and vent line 26, the sterile inert gas. Alternatively this gas can be driven out through valves 2, header 25, valve 2l, pipe 32, back to the gas supply or gas storage. When the tanks have been filled to the desired amount, as indicated by the scale beams, the valves 2 and 3 are shut, and the tanks can be removed from the system.

The system I have described is iiexible, and one, two or more tanks can be lled at one time by manipulation of the valves in the headers 25. Moreover the rate at which the tanks I can be lled with the hot water is individually controllable through the reversible variable speed pumps I5, I6 and Il. Where only one tank, for instance, is to be iilled, the speed of the pump can be greatly increased, as the operating conditions permit such accentuated rate of pumping over that which exists when a plurality of containers are to be lled.

The variable speed water pumps are designed not only to regulate the speed of admission of water, but the speed of withdrawal as well, so that the rate of withdrawal of water may be denitely correlated to the gas supply.

The system which I have shown in Fig. 1, and which has just been described, is adapted to be controlled by a control system which is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. In order to clarify the description, it is thought that the operation should be set forth so that the desired results will be apparent as the description of the control system is given.

Fig. 3 is a chart illustrating graphically the steps which are to be performed by the control system. There is a timer motor which in a given operation is shown to be on for a period of eighty minutes. This period can be shortened or lengthened depending on the operating conditions, During the time the timer motor is working, it operates to control, rst, the hot water valve which is left open during the whole period of the timer moto-r operation. The vent valve for venting the gas already in the system at the start of the operation is shown to be on for approximately fty minutes. During this time the water pump is operating in the direction indicated as forward. That is to say,'hot sterilizing water is being pumped into the tanks I, and into the lines leading to the tanks, so that the tanks and the lines are sterilized. The next cycle is one in which the water pump is reversed. This sucks the hot water out of the system through the open hot water valve.

The water pump is reversed at the same time the gas valve is open. This gas valve is the one that controls the introduction of inert sterile gas into the system, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, a mixture of the two, or other inert gases. The gas is sucked in the container and the lines as the hot water is evacuated. This cycle may operate for thirty minutes, more or less, depending on the operating conditions. At the end of this time the hot `water valve is closed, the timer motor is then stopped and the operation of the water pump in reverse is stopped. The gas valve controlling the sterile inert gas is still left open. The system is full of the inert sterile gas, the system having been, as above indicated, sterilized prior to the introduction of the sterile inert gas.

The timer motor having now stopped, there is a time space before any other operation begins. The time space can be made as long 0r as short as is desired, as the next cycle is manually controlled. As above stated, the gas valve is open, the juice valve is then opened by manual operation and the juice pump turned on, thus pumping juice into the system and into the juice container until the desired amount of juice has been pumped into the container.

By operation of the scale balance and of a mercury switch on the scale beam, to be later described, the juice 4pump is then automatically turned off. The sterile inert gas has been discharged by the juice as it filled the container. The container may now be disconnected by closing. valves-2; and 315 and: theecontainer; maar; be shippedor 'storedgas desired- To; summarizethe; operation; .the:followingopi erations are automatic.v Timer-motorfautomatically controls the opening5-vof. the -hot water .valve, the .opening ofthe vent yvalve, the startingof .the Water pump; to rpump .sterilizing Watersthrough the` system, the reversal Eef-the lwater pumnrthe opening of the'gas-valve land the-passage-,of;the inert sterile gas linto thesystem.; The giiSi/alve hasbeen opened automatically andremainsopen.

The opening of the fjuicefvalveandthe turning on=of the juicepump areemanually'performed operations.

The turning oir.'ofi-thezjuice-pump .and the clos ing of the,Y juice valve'are."r automatically. controiled.

I have provided means-for -theoperation :of :the system and control oithe cycles just described. The system I have illustrated is one that is .partly pneumatic and partly electrical. A-portion ofthe operation lis controlled automatically, whilepart of the operation ismanually controlled.

The desiredsequence of operation having just been described, the arrangement of apparatusto effect this operation vvillnorvbe explained. Reference is made to Fig. .2 Where-I have illustrated a juice container I connected vthroughavalve 2 to a vent line 26 through thevalve 24 anda gas line 32 through the valve 21. TheI Valve 3.at the bottom of the juice.. containerf is connected through the valve I 8f to the. water line 2|;and through the Valve 40.to the juice line.39..

The illustration `shown in Fig.` 2..only indicates one juice container, though it .is apparent that the system therein .depicted can be expanded v to take care of any desired number of containers. The system shown is partlypneumatic and partly electrical.

The air line will be` traced so. that the lcomponent parts will be. apparent. Airunderpressure isY introduced through a line lnhaving. therein a valve IOI, thence. the airpasses to a water trap and lter I02.and thence toa line |03 inwwloich is mounted a pressure gauge |04.

The air Valve |01 controls the flow' of airinto a line I |9which connects to a line| I terminating in a pneumatic switch II2. Theline also has apressuregauge II3. Line ||0 -is connected .to a diaphragm operator I I4 which is adapted .to open the .vent yValve-.24.. The ventvalve 24 `is normally constructed to remain closed exceptwhenpositively. keptopen through theoperation of.. the valveoperator I I4.

Line ||0 connects to a line ||5 which carries a .double diaphragm operator I I6 which is adapted to open the water valve I8. As with vent valve 24, the water valve I8 only remainsopen when held open .by the pneumaticvalve operator H6. Another way to state this is to saythat both .valves 24 and Y|38 are direct acting..

In line is a diaphragm valve operator ||1 which is also direct acting and which is adapted to open the juice valve 40'.

Connected to air valve |09 isair line. I I8 which is in turn connected. toa pneumatic switch. H9, apressure gauge and aline I2 I.

The line |2| is connected toa line |22which is. connected'to the double diaphragmfvalve operating mechanism I IBL The arrangement issuch that upon. pressure.being emitted to. line |22.

6 throughrtheffoper-ation of-.rthez-air val-vel09, the double diaphragmvalve;operating mechanism. I I8 willalso operate to holdropen the waterfvalve I8. Thus pressurefirr; eitherline ||5 .or line |22 will `holdopen thei'drectacting water valveyl.

Connected `to'line. y| I0 isa line |23 lwhich. terminates in apneumatic relay |24 for closing the circuit forloperating thewater pump'. motor in the iorwarddirection, as will be later de.- scribed.

Connected to line |2I is, aline I 25;wh.1`chA is connectedrto an airoperatedsrelay |26 .which is adaptedl to. close .the circuit. to control .the ereverse operationof thezwater pumpxmotor'as will be later described.

Connected to line |-25 .is a. line. |21 whichzterminates in a pneumatic switch I28.-:

The switches.1||2; H3', |28,1 and theirelays|24 andlZS yareallpadapted.` to operateito closefcircuits uponapplication .of pressure in the line. to these elements..

Ifhayeindicatedgenerallya timer motor. |29 having. a timing. cam |30 and-.a eld winding |3I. The field winding |3| ofthe timing motor .|29 is. in a circuit` I32,ccnnected.to a source of alternating. current. Current is adapted'to be passed through the eld winding ||3|, andthe timing motor. |29 started :bymeans .ofoa starter button |33 i which completes the. circuit l through asolenoid switchI |34znormal1y closed, as.- indicatedfin Fig. 2 and'through aswitch-.I52'f closed forautomatic-operation.

The starter switch button |33 lisfpressed down and thisenergizeswinding I3Iandr starts vthe .timer motor |29 to cause the cam |30-fto`rotate inY thedirection indicated by the arrow. The high portion of the cam passes under a-carn follower |35 on a pivoted arm |36;` When rthe cam follower` |35 hits thefhigh portion of--the-carn |30;` this operates to open the air valve |01. This lets air into the line ||0, line 4| I Vand air switch ||2v to close the circuit tothe field winding ||3| of the timer motor |29; Thereforey on release of the starter button |33, the circuit through the eld winding I3| -is still maintained and the starter .motor will continue its operation.

Air is also admitted under pressurev through the air valve |01 to the -line I0 and to diaphragm valve operating mechanism ||4 which -opensthe vent valve 24.-v Likewiserthe water valve I8 is opened through the-double diaphragm valveoperator IIfS. The pneumatic relay |24/is pushed into the down position to close a circuit to a -forward operating` relay to cause the current from an alternating current line |31 to operate a Water pump motor |38 in a forward direction to drive the pump l5 to pump water 'from the hot water supply 9 through the pipe 2| to the water valve I8'.

ankI.

As the hot sterilizing water vfrom the tank 9 is forced into the juice container through Water valve I8 and valve 3, any gases, such as air, which may be in the juice container I are forced out through valve 2 and vent valve 24, which is opened into the vent line 26. The operation is continued as long as the cam follower |35 is on the high part of the cam |30. When the cam follower |735 leaves the high part of the cam |30, the gases, such as air, should be thoroughly purged from the container.

The next part of the operation is the part of the operation in which the hot sterilizing water is drawn from the tank and sterile inert gas is substituted therefor.

Cam follower |35 now falls to the lowest portion of the cam |30. This closes Valve |01 and opens valve |09. It will be noted that the pressure in the valve operator I I4 has fallen and that the direct acting vent valve 24 is closed.

At the same time the switch ||2 opens and the relay |24 opens. At the same time air valve |09 is opened which closes pneumatic switch ||9, thus maintaining the circuit through the eld winding I3| of the timer motor |29, and thus causing the timer motor I 29 to continue its operation. The water pump motor is no longer going in the forward direction but is now shifted into the reverse direction by means of pneumatic relay |26 which closes the circuit to control the reverse direction of the water pump motor |38. The current flow from line |31 is now through line |31a, by-pass line 243, upper contacts of switch |26, lead 231, pole |52', switch |52, lead 238, lead 244, closed contacts |65 of relay IGI, leads 245 and 246, lower contacts of switch |26, lead 241, winding |64 of reverse control relay |63 to conductor |31b.

The current to operate the motor flows through lines |31a, |31b and |31c to leads |38a, |38c and |3817 to the motor. It will be observed that the connections |3813 and |38c to the line |31 have been transposed to drive the motor in a reverse direction. The water valve I8 is still open by reason of the pressure in the line |22. The reversal of the water pump motor |38 causes the water pump I to draw water out of the juice container I. Simultaneously with the closing of the reverse control circuit for the water pump motor, pneumatic switch |28 has closed to close the circuit through a mercury switch |39 carried by the scale beam 6, or a solenoid switch |39', connected in parallel therewith, through a solenoid winding |40 and a source of alternating current |4I.

The solenoid switch |39 is closed normally and its winding is connected in series with the mercury switch |39. If the tank is full of water at the termination of the ilushing cycle and the mercury switch is open due to the overbalanced scale beam 6, the current may be supplied to the Winding |40 of the relay |42 through the switch |39'. As the Water is withdrawn from the tank and its decrease in weight again closes the switch |39, current is supplied to energize the winding of the switch |39 and cause it to open and permit the mercury switch |39 to break the circuit when the tank has become filled with juice.

The operation of the solenoid winding |40 closes a relay |42 whose upper contacts close a circuit to a solenoid |43 which opens the gas valve 21.

The pump I5 is now operating in reverse direction and is pumping water out of the juice container I. The gas valve 21 is open, and gas from the gas line 32 is admitted to the juice container. The cam follower |35 now assumes the position shown in Fig. 2, where it is on the intermediate portion of the cam, that is to say, the portion that is intermediate in height. When this happens, the air valve |09 is turned in the oli position. This opens the reverse relay |26 and stops the water pump motor |38. It likewise opens the pnerunatic switch |28. It is to be noted, however, that solenoid relay |42 is held in the up position by reason of the passage of current through a lower portion of the switch, thus completing a circuit through the solenoid winding |40 and the mercury switch |39. Thus the solenoid winding |40 is kept energized and the solenoid winding |43 is likewise kept ener gized, thus keeping the gas valve 21 open.

It is to be noted that the relay |42 is closed which causes the energization of a solenoid |44 connected by electrical conductors |45 through relay |42 to the line |4I. This opens the circuit through the switch |34. Thus it is impossible to start the timer motor |29 at this stage of the operation, for pushing the starter button |33 will not close the circuit through the eld winding I3| of the starter motor. Note also that pneumatic switches ||2 and ||9 are also opened so that the motor |29 no longer revolves.

Now the juice container is ready for the introduction of juice which can be manually effected at any desired time. The juice container is full of inert sterile gas which will not oxidize the juice upon its introduction into the container The operation of introducing the juice into the container is effected by pressing the on" button |46 which closes the circuit from the leads |4| through a solenoid |41 which closes the contacts of a relay |48 that energizes the control circuit |49 of the juice pump 34. y

Simultaneously, upon closing of the relay |48 a circuit is completed through the upper two sets of contacts to the winding |50 of the control valve and to the control circuit |49 of the juice pump. This circuit extends from conductor I4 Ia through lead 248 through the upper set of contacts of relay |48 through conductor 254, winding |50, lead 255, the intermediate set of contacts on relay |48, lead 252 and thence to conductor |4|b. It will be noted that the circuit |49 is connected in parallel with the Winding |50 and that upon energizing the winding |50 the control circuit of the pump |49 will likewise be energized.

The diaphragm air operator element ||1 for the juice valve 40 operates to open the direct acting juice valve 40 through operation of a solei9 noidf .operated'itwo-wayi control Valve J II 50' `which admits: airilfr'om'tlthe ilinef I05zto thev valve :operati-ngielement I I'I. `-Astexplained,:'.the valve '40: is thus fopenedlbyxreasonfof `theiconfipletion fo'ff the circuitziwhichalsorcontrols :the-starting of juicepump.

y.'Iheill'ower.` contacts of the; relay |48 keep' the circuit'ithrough 'the uppercontacts closed yby reason :of rthefsolenoid winding |41, the circuit through which .is' closed :through ran `oit :button |5.|. -Thus 1wfhenithe on'button isreleased, the circuit' through :thefoff button holdsthey relay |48 'in (its v`upyposition -until themercury.` switch |39zon the scalefbeamris tilted suiciently to break the circuit. vThisoccurs-when the tank I isiil-led tothe requisite amount Thebrealting of this circuitfopens the relay `|112. andthe relay I 48- stops the .juice .pump:34 .and closes the -juice vaiifeflll and -closesthe gas yvalve 2.1.

Communicating with the air line |2'I' is a pneumatic switch- |56 which-is electrically connected infserieswith-thesolenoid |`4`| of the juice relay IAB-andthe current supply line HI. This switch wils-normally closed and` is opened-when .air isadmi-tted to it through the valvey |03. yHence duringfthe .--rstpart of the :tank sterilizing cycle, thecjuice switch |46-is .madeeinoperativehy the open switch |28 and l-dur.ing-.i'.he -last ypart `by- Vthe openlswitch |56.

Thusit .will beseen. that I have devisedasystem y.in which kit is not .possible` to introduce juice into the system `while sterilizingl-hot water is .in thesystem, lnoris .it possible to ,introduce sterilizing .hot .waterl while Ajuice is-beingintroduced.

.Under certainconditions, yit ,maybe :necessary to sterilize the tank` I .for .a longer period .of time tlianis provided-by the automatic timing 4rmechanism |29. I therefore providelmeans `whereby the Water pump |38 may be .manually operated through .its controlfIGIl. -A double 4polea-double throw-switch, |52 hasonepole |52V thereof connected to Aswitch the .motor control circuit. Iiil from fthe pneumatic relaysv I`2'4.and .|26to a pair of, push button switches -I5`31and |54to manually operate 'the 4waterpurnp .motor Yin eitherk a .forward.. or. reverse direction. The shift .from .automatic to manualoperation iseffected .before termination. of. the .sterilizing cycle andwhile cam I3I)v is in position to hold valveV IU'Lopen.

To insure posi'tiv'elylthat the vent, gas and V water Valves 2.4,.32fand I8 willbein aproperposition 'for circulating Athe water, .,the. second, pole |52".of..'the1sw.itch -|52 which .is connected in the lead '|3211 in series with. the. current. supply |32 and Winding' I3Ifoflthetimer motor |29 for automatic. operation is. shifted to ymanual operation.

`As a result, 'when the switchl52 is thrown for manual operationpf the water. pump,. the .timer motor' isdisconnected from. the. circuit .and the cam'l30 stops, thusholding valvefll, the Vent and water valves open.

After switch |52 isvv moved to a Lposition for manualoperation .upon pressingy buttonli a circuit 'is completedthrough relay vwinding |62 asfollows: Conductor. I3ib, relay winding IBZ, lead"242,' button. |53,leads 124| .andlfllll closed contacts |66A of' relay' |63, leads '239 Aand238, stop button`I`55, switch arm'IEZ'to conductor |310., thereby completing the circuit. Upon energizing windingy |62, relay ISI isclosed and then motor |38lis connected to the circuit '|37 in thesame manner as described in connection with the automatic operation.

`When the-motorA |38v `is tobe operated in the reverse dlreetionybuttoniItis moved tov-the lclosed position r`and A"this completes the 4 circuit through Winding' Izo'f relay |63 as lfollmvs:..Conductor' 'I 31h, :winding |84, lead 241,:.=push .button |54, lead -246,leadf245,..closed contacts |65fof relay |'6|-,1ead 2M, lead 2238, stop. switch 155, switcharm |52', conductor-I3`la. Upon-completion of this circuitthe winding M4 :is energized andthe relay I53is moi/edito Ia'position` to close its contacts, thereby *completingv .the'f circuit: .from motor |38 to theline `I31,vin themanner identical to that described iinfconnectionn'with .'theLlautomatic operation 'of-.the im'otor fin i' the :reverse direction.

The switches "|53,v and' |54'roperate `the'trelays I5 I .and |63 in' a :manner similar @to the automatic relays 24-and |26 to drive :themotor ISB inei-th'er a forward or reverse direction. "Thewmotionof the motor in either direction mayfbe'istopped 4hy opening the'push V'button switch |55 Whichzis connected `in series with maintaining contactsv |67 and |68 of the relays' v||| and |63, respectively.

It is to be understoodthat, iinorder-to prevent high vacuum in each container there iwill ordi/- narily be 'provision' to f create asuiiicientfpressure of. gas after the ycontainers have'sbeen filled to the desired level tolpreventcreation ot afdang'erfous vacuum by absorption of the'gasby the' juice. This may lbeaccomplished' by'meansrot aipump 28a. in a byepa'ss'line'28b o'fth'efgas line'28. .Itis contemplated .that gases v'fsuch fas nitrogen for mixtures of gases mayrbe employed. 'Nitrogeniis only slightly 'solubleiaridxdoes notpresent as'great a problem as does `pure carbon dioxide.

I claim:

1. Apparatus forf'rfilling a cont'ainerfwith v'a charging vliquid comprising'. sources Aof.; a' 'flushing liquid and the charging.liquid,f'conduits :respectively connecting 'said' sourceswith` the container, a pump associated withrea'chconduit 'for' effecting flow of liquid-therethrough,.a'norrnatlyfclosed valve in each conduit,.anactuator;responsive.to the application of fluid pressure thereto iorrop'ening the .flushing valve, aiisec'ond .actuator vfor opening the charging valve, .and Ameansresponsive to the pressure offuidapplied' 'to'thelilu'shing valve f actuator rendering` the chargingvalve actuator' inoperative.. to .prevent-'opening' of l the charging valve while ltheilushing "valve -isfopen l2. Apparatus for llilling .-a. container wwithha charging liquid comprising sources ofla vflushing liquid and the charging liquid, conduits respectively connecting saidsources with the t container, a pump associated with eachconduit for 'eiectlng 'ow of liquid therethrough, .a normallytclosed valve in each conduit, a pneumatic actuator for opening the -flushing valvepa solenoidl lfori/opening the charging Valve, lan energizing' circuit for the solenoid, said circuit including a 'normally closed, pneumatically opened switch,a"sourceiof air under pressure, conduit means connecting 'the air source both` with "the ilushi-ng.4 valve' .actuator and 'switch for' applying air` pressure thereto to open simultaneouslyxv the"flushing"valve vand fenergiz'ing circuit and thereby prevent'openingf f the charging valve whilethe'ushing valve is open, and control valve means in the' air conduit.

3. Apparatus for filling a container 4with a chargingliquid comprisingsources of a'flushing liquid and thecharging liquid, conduits respectively' connecting said sources with the container, a'pum-p associated with-each conduit for yeffecting'flow' of liquid therethrough, a normally' closed valve -in each conduit, `a pneumatic actuator for opening the 'flushing valve, a solenoid for opening 'thecharging valve, an energizingr circuit for the solenoid, said circuit including a normallyclosed.

pneumatically opened switch, a source of air under pressure, conduit means connecting the air source both with the ilushing valve actuator and switch for applying air pressure thereto to open simultaneously the flushing valve and switch and thereby prevent opening of the charging valve while the flushing valve is open, control valve means in the air conduit, and actuating means for the air control valve including a single rotation cam for iirst opening and then closing the said control valve during a cam cycle.

4. Apparatus for filling a container with a charging liquid comprising sources of a flushing liquid. and the charging liquid, conduits respectively connecting said sources with the container, a pump associated with each conduit for eiecting iiow oi liquid therethrough, a normally closed valve in each conduit, a pneumatic actuator for opening the flushing valve, a solenoid for opening the charging valve, an energizing circuit for the solenoid, said circuit including a normally closed, pneumatically opened switch, a source of air under pressure, conduit means connecting the air source both with the flushing valve actuator and switch for applying air pressure thereto to open simultaneously the flushing valve and energizing circuit and thereby prevent opening of the charging valve while the flushing valve is open, control valve means in the air conduit, actuating means for the air control valve including a single rotation cam for rst opening and then closing the said control valve during a cam cycle, an electric motor for rotating the cam, and an energizing circuit for the motor, said motor circuit including a normally closed switch having electromagnetic means for opening the same, said electromagnetic means being connected in the energizing circuit for the charging Valve solenoid and energized upon closing thereof to prevent opening of the iiushing valve while the charging valve is open.

5. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprising conduit means including a pump having a reversible driving motor operative in one direction to deliver a ushing iiuid from a source thereof into the container to ll the same and in a reverse direction to withdraw the iiushing liquid from the container back to said source, a control circuit for the motor including a forward and a reverse relay, an energizing circuit including a first switch for energizing the forward relay and a second switch for energizing the reverse relay, mechanism including a single rotation cam associated with said switches and operative to sequentially close and then open the first and then the second switch, a second conduit means including a pump having a driving motor operative to deliver the charging liquid from a source thereof into the container, an energizing circuit for the last named motor, switch means in the last named circuit, and actuating means operated by said cam to open the switch means during the cam cycle to render the last named motor inoperative during operation of the first named motor.

6. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprising conduit means including a pump having a reversible driving motor operative in one direction to deliver a flushing uid from a source thereof into the container to ll the same and in a reverse direction to withdraw the flushing liquid from the container back to said source, a control circuit for the motor including a forward and a reverse relay, an energizing circuit including a rst switch for energizing the forward relay and a second switch for energizing the reverse relay, mechanism including a single rotation cam associated with said switches and operative to sequentially close and then open the first and then the second switch, a second conduit means including a pump having a driving motor operative to deliver the charging liquid from a source thereof into the container, an energizing circuit for the last named motor, switch means in the last named circuit, actuating means operated by said cam to open the switch means during the cam cycle to render the last named motor inoperative during operation of the rst named motor, a starting switch in the last named circuit for closing the same to start the charging liquid pump, and a stop switch in the said circuit and responsive to a predetermined weight of the charging liquid in the container for breaking said circuit to stop the charging liquid pump.

7. Apparatus for lling a container with a charging liquid comprising conduit means communicating with the container and including a pump having a driving motor imparting flow to a flushing liquid to flush the tank, a second conduit means communicating with the container and including a second pump having a driving motor ior introducing the starting material from a source thereof into the container, a first circuit for controlling energization of the first motor, a second circuit for controlling energization of the second motor, circuit closing means in the first circuit responsive to the application of fluid pressure thereto for closing the first circuit, and circuit breaking means in the second circuit responsive to the application of fluid pressure to said circuit closing means to break the second circuit and render the second pump inoperative While the rst pump is operating.

8. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprising conduit means communicating with the container and including a pump having a driving motor imparting flow to a flushing liquid to flush the tank, a second conduit means communicating with the container and including a second pump having a driving motor for introducing the starting material from a source thereof into the container, a first circuit for controlling energization of the first motor, a second circuit controlling energization of the second motor, pneumatic circuit closing means in the first circuit, pneumatic circuit breaking means in the second circuit, a source of air under pressure, conduit means connecting the source with both the circuit closing and circuit breaking means, valve means in said conduit means, and mechanism including a single rotation cam for operating the valve means to nrst open and then close the same during a cam cycle whereby the second pump will be rendered inoperative while the iirst pump is operating.

9. Apparatus for iilling a container with a charging liquid comprising conduit means communicating with the container and including a pump having a driving motor imparting ow to a ushing liquid to flush the tank, a second conduit means communicating with the container and including a second pump having a, driving motor for introducing the starting material from a source thereof into the container, a first circuit for controlling energization of the rst motor, a second circuit controlling energization of the second motor, pneumatic circuit closing means in the rst circuit, pneumatic circuit breaking means in the second circuit, a source of air under pressure, conduit means connecting the source with both the circuit closing and circuit breaking means, valve means in Said conduit means, mechanism including a single rotation cam for operating the valve means to rst open and then close the same during a cam cycle whereby the second pump will be rendered inoperative while the first pump is operating, a motor for rotating the cam, an energizing circuit for the motor, the cam motor circuit including a series lconnected circuit closing and an electroresponsive circuit breaking switch actuated by energizing the second circuit to prevent starting the cam motor while the second circuit is energized.

l0. In a machine for iilling a container with sterile unoxidized fruit juice or the like, said container having a normally closed pneumatic vent valve, a, normally closed pneumatic sterilizing valve, a normally closed solenoid gas valve and a normally closed solenoid juice valve, a source of a sterilizing liquid, a source of sterile inert gas and a source of the juice, said sources connected respectively through said sterilizing juice and gas valve with the container, and said container being connected with the atmosphere through said vent valve, a rst energizing circuit for the gas Valve, a second energizing circuit energized by the iirst circuit for the juice valve, a normally open pneumatic switch in the rst circuit, a normally closed pneumatic switch and a normally open manual switch in series therewith in the second circuit, a source of compressed air, conduit means for supplying air from said source to the pneumatic valves and switches, a first valve in the conduit for controlling air supply to the vent valve and sterilizing valve, a second valve in the conduit for controlling air supply to the sterilizing valve and pneumatic switches, mechanism including a single rotation cam associated with the air valves operative to open and then close the rst valve during a rst portion of the cam cycle and to open and then close the second Valve during the remainder of the cycle, a reversible pump associated with the sterilizing valve, mechanism responsive to the air pressure supplied from the iirst valve to drive 14 the pump in a direction to introduce sterilizing liquid into the container to purge air therefrom and responsive to air pressure supplied through the second valve for reversing the pump to withdraw the sterilizing liquid from the container and replace it with inert gas, a juice pump associated with the juice valve, mechanism energized by closing of said manual switch for operating the juice pump to introduce juice into the container to displace the gas, and circuit breaking meansin said second circuit and responsive to a predetermined weight of liquid in the container to deenergize the mechanism and stop the pump.

RONALD B. MCKINNIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

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