US2434952A - Container positioning mechanism for filling machines - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 27, 1948. R. E. J. NORDQUIST- 2,434,952

CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I N VEN TOR. M My 2W5) I BYDLWK W Jan. 27, 1948. R. E. J. NORDQUIST 2,434,952

CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Jan. 27, 1948. R. E. J. NORDQUIST CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Original Filed Sept. '7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

A T TO EA/EYS Patented Jan. 27, 1948 CONTAINER POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR FILLING MACHINES Ronald E. r. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. 1., assignor to American Can, Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Original application September I, 1940, Serial No. 355,845. Divided and this application December 21, 1944, Serial No. 569,241

The present invention relates to a machine for treating containers and has particular reference ing a wide range of varieties, such as ordinary milk, chocolate milk, buttermilk, cream, heavy cream, etc., have been packaged in fibre containers. In order to meet the demands of the trade these products are packaged in different sizes of containers which include half-pint, pint, quart and the like containers. The smaller sizes of containers such as the half-pint and pint sizes, due to the relatively smaller volume of liquid to be packed, are usually smaller in cross sectional dimensions than the quart size, but they are of different heights to accommodate the different volumes. Nearly all dairies handle this variety of containers.

When the filling and closing of such a variety of containers is effected by automatic machinery it is usually necessary to have a special machine for each size of container. Thi usually works a hardship on the smaller dairies which may lack facilities for purchasing and maintaining and housing such a variety of machines.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difliculty by providing in one machine a device which may be set to locate and centralize at. a working station in the machine, a definite size of container selected from a range of containers of different sizes.

An object of the invention is the provision in a container treating machine of centralizing devices wherein containers of different heights and cross-sectional dimensions may be selectively located at a working station in the machine so that the same machine may be used to treat or operate upon a variety of sizes of containers.

Another object is the provision of such a centralizing device wherein the device may be manually set for a predetermined size of container and thereafter operate in time with the passage of the containers in a continuous procession through a working station of the machine, to locate and centralize individual containers of the procession at the working station preparatory to an operation being performed on them at the station.

11 Claims. (Cl. 226-94) Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment there- Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a machine including a container centralizing device embodying the instant invention, with parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine parts shown in Fig. 1 with a. container in place in the centralizing device and with portions of the container and the machine parts being broken Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a container shown in the centralizing device, with parts omitted; and

Fig. 4 is a combined top plan view of a container and horizontal sectional view of the centralizing device showing how the latter fits containers of different cross-sectional sizes.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate a container centralizing device and principal parts of the container sealing portion of a machine for filling milk products into square fibrecontainers of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall, on Container. Such .a container designated by the letter A in Figs. 2,

3 and 4, isformed with a filling and dispensing opening B located in the top of the container. When the container is filled the opening B is closed and sealed with a plug closure element C which is hingedly connected to the container top adjacent the opening.

The containers A advance through the machine in an upright position and in a continuous procession. Only one size of container is filled and sealed in the machine at one time, After being filled the containers are advanced in a step-bystep or intermittent manner through a, sealing station illustrated in the drawings. This advancement of the containers is effected by feed dogs ll (Fig. 2) which are secured at spaced intervals to a pair of horizontally disposed endless chain conveyors l2 which operate over drive sprockets l3 carried on avertical drive shaft journaled in bearings l4 mounted on a frame l5 which constitutes a portion of the main frame of the machine. The drive shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner. The lower sprocket l3 and its associated chain conveyor 12 are vertically movable vertically on its support bar I 3 to ac-,

commodate the table to the proper level for containers of diilerent heights. The lower conveyor. driving sprocket 13 moves with the table.-

At the sealing station, a container A temporarily comes to rest and its closure element is expanded within the filling and dispensing open-- ing B of the container to seal it against accidental opening during further handling of the container. This expanding of the closure element C is effected by a suitable closing head which is preferably of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,170,821 issued August 29, 1939, to John M.-Hothersall et al., on Can closing machine.

Theclosing head 25 is mounted on a vertical stem 26 carried in an arm 21 secured to the upper end of a vertically movable rod 28 slidably carried in a vertical bearing or column 23 fastened to the machine main frame. The rod is actuated in any suitable manner in time with the other moving parts or the machine. Vertical movement of the rod 28 lowers the closing head 25 into engagement with a container A at the sealing station to eflect the expanding operation hereinabove mentioned and then lifts the head clear of the container after the expanding operation so the container may be discharged from the machine.

A container to be sealed must be properly lo cated relative to the closing head 25 when it comes to rest at the sealing .station so that its closure element C will be in exact vertical alignment with the closing head. For this purpose a 4 Through this connection the centralizing member 32 is rocked by the closing head 25.

In the different sizes of containers herein considered. the closure elements C and the filling openings B are the same size and are all in the same location relative to one corner of the container top as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4.

Each container therefore must be centralized in a predetermined position relative to its closure element and this in turn is brought into a predetermined position relative to the sealing head 25 when a container is stopped thereunder.

For this purpose the centralizing member 32 is formed with a pair of spaced side wings 5|, 52 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) each provided with inwardly extending angularly disposed complemental cross webs 53, 54 as shown in the drawing and which are respectively radially equidistant from the axis of pivot shaft 33. The side wing it is straight throughout, while the side wing 52 is formed with an oflset'sectlon or portion 55. This section is connected with the wing 5| by a cross web 51.

centralizing device 3| is provided for locating and 5 holding containers of a selected size in place for and during the closure expanding operation.

The centralizing device 3| includes an H-shaped member 32 which is disposed adjacent the path of travel of the containers on the table l8. Member 32 is rotatably mounted on a short pivot shait 33 carried in a pair of substantially vertical side arms 34. The side arms in turn are mounted on a pivot pin 35 which extends through a spacer bearing 35 formed in a stationary horizontal bracket 31 which overhangs the path of travel of the containers. The bracket is secured to the upper end of the head actuating rod bearing 23.

The centralizing member 32 is adapted to be I periodically rocked into and out of the path of travel of the containers for the centralizing operation. This rocking motion is brought about by a yieldable link which includes a vertical rod 4| having its lower end secured ina pivot block 42 mounted on a pivot stud 43 carried by lugs 4| formed on the side arms 34. The upper end of 'the rod extends through the outer end of a horizontal bracket arm 45 and is held against displacement therefrom by a large head screw 46 which is threaded into the end of the rod. The bracket arm 45 extends outwardly from the closing head arm 21. A compression spring 4'! surrounds the rod and is interposed between the bracket arm and a nut 43 threaded on the rod 1 and thus forms the yieldableportion of the link.

Hence for a half-pin size container the ,centralizing member 32 is manually rotated on its shaft 33 to bring the cross webs '53 into a vertical position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The centralizing member then may be locked in this position by a removable pin 5| which is carried in a hole or bore 52 (Fig. 1) in one o! the side arms 34 and projects into an aligning hole or bore 63 (Fig. 3) formed in the side wing 52.

With the centralizingmember 32 in this set position it is moved by the closing head 25 toward the half-pint container then at rest at the sealing station. The side wings 5|, 52 straddle and engage the sides of the container in this movement and hold it against any movement longitudinally of the machine. The cross webs 53 also engage against the outer side of the con miner and force the container against a top guide rail 55 (Fig. 2). While the container is so held, the sealing or closure element expanding operation is performed by the closing head 25 coming into engagement with the container.

For setting the device for the pint size of container, the centralizing member 32 is rotated on its shaft 33 to bring the pair of cross webs 53 into a vertical position adjacent the path of travel of the containers. It is locked in this selected position by the pin 6i, the inner end of which now engages in a hole or bore 61 (Figs. 2 and 3) formed in the oil-set portion 56 of side wing 52. Since the pint size container is the same in cross section as the halt-pint size, the side wings 5|, 52 readily straddle the container and centralize it under the head .25. The cross webs 54, however, engage the container lower down, the pint container being higher or longer than the half-pint size. Such engagement is nearer the middle of the pint size container. For this size container the table I8 is lowered into a position suitable to the greater height of thecontainer. The sprocket l3 of the lower conveyor i2 is also simultaneously shifted with the table for this purp se.

For the quart size of container the centralizing member 32 is rotated to bring the cross web 51 into a vertical position adjacent the path of travel of the containers and the setting p n Si is locked in a hole 58 in the side wing 52. This brings the offset section 55 of the side wing 52 in position to accommodate the greater cross section of the quart size container. The cross web 51 is also nearer the pivot shaft 33 for this same purpose. The table l3 and the conveyor sprocket I! are retained in'their' same lowered position as for the pint size container.

Upon the completion of the sealing operation the closing head 25 moves up clear of the con tainer, as. hereinbefore mentioned. As the head moves up, it pulls on the centralizirg member 32, through its yieldablymounted rod 4| and side arms 34, and thus rotates or rocks the member 32 together with the attached side arms '34,

on pivot pin.35, outwardly away from the sealed ,container so that the member will be clear of the container when the dogs H of the chains I2 again engage behind the container upon the.

next stepped movement thereof and advance it further along the table for discharge from the machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may-be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material-advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereoL- I claim:

1. In a centralizing device forselectively locating difierent sized containers at a working station, the combination of a body member rotatable into difierent selected positions at said station, and spaced side wings on the sides of said body member, the associated wings on one side being differently spaced from those on another side, the distance between associated wings corresponding to the size of container at said station.

2. In a centralizing device for selectively locating different sized containers at a working station, the combination of a rotatable body member having spaced side wings, the associated wings on one side being differently spaced from those on another side, means for moving said body member into locating position to bring one set of side wings into position to straddle and locate the container at said station, and means for holding said member in a selected position with its spaced side wings corresponding to the size of container at said station.

3. In a centralizing device for selectively locating different sized containers at a working station, the combination of a table at said working station for supporting a container, said table being movable vertically into positions for containers of different heights, a conveyor horizontally movable relative to said table for advancing the container therealong, guide rails on said table for guiding the container along said table, said guide rails being relatively adjust able for containers of difierent sizes, a centralizing member rotatable upon a fixed axis into different selected positions at said station, and spaced pairs of side wings respectively disposed on opposite sides of said body member, the wings of a side pair on one side being difierently spaced from those of a pair on another side, the distance between associated wings corresponding to the size of container at said station.

4. In a centralizing device for locating containers of difierent cross sectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which the containers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of a centralizing member rotatable upon a fixed axis into difierent positions to compensate for containers of varying cross 6 sectional dimensions, said body member being movable into engagement with successive advancing containers for locating each container in a proper centralized position, and means for moving said body member into and out of tha path of travel of the containers to efiect the described centralizing or the containers.

5. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different cross sectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which the containers advance in a continuous procession,

the combination of a rotatable body member,'a

plurality of spaced side wingsextending laterally on different sides of said member, the wings on one side of said member being spaced apart differently from those on an-adjacent side to accommodate containers of corresponding crosssectional dimensions, and a rotatable mounting for said body member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said working station of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation of said body member into different fixed positions to selectively bring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a container of a particular cross sectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in a predetermined position.

6. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different cross sectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which the containers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of a rotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings on said body member, the wings on one side of said member being spaced apart a different distance from those on an adjacent side to locate containers of corresponding cross-sectional dimensions, a phirality of cross web sections extending laterally from said side wings to locate in a different direction said containers, and a rotatable mounting for said body member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the. containers moving through said working station of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation of said body member into the desired fixed position to selectively bring said side wings and their associated web sections into position adjacent the path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a container of a, particular cross sectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in a predetermined position.

7. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different cross sectional sizes at a working station of a. machine through which the containers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of a rotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings on said body member and extending laterally therefrom on different sides of said member, said'wings on the different sides of said member being spaced apart differently to accommodate containers of different cross sectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said working station of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation of said body member into different fixed positions thereon to selectively bring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a container of a particular cross sectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in a predetermined position, and means for locking said body member in a selectedflxedposition for containers or the same cross sectional dimensions advancing throug said station in a continuous procession.

8. In a centralizing device for locating containers of diiferent cross sectional sizes ata working station of a machine through which the containers advance in a continuous procession, thevcombination of a rotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings on said body memberextending laterally therefrom on different sides of said member, said wings on the dinerent sides of said member being spaced apart ditferently -to accommodate containers oi different 1 cross sectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said working station of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation of said body member into different fixed positions thereon to selectively bring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a container of a particular cross sectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in a predetermined position, and a removable locking pin carried in said mounting and insertable selectively into any one of a plurality .of locking holes in said side wings for looking said body member in a selected fixed Position for containers of the same cross sectional dimensions advancing through said station in a conber disposed adjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said working station of the machine, said mounting being arranged for i the rotation of said body member into diflerent fixed positions thereon to selectively bring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a container of a particular cross sectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it ina predetermined position, and means for shifting said body member into and out of the path of travel of the containers to effect the centralizing of individual containers passing through the station in a continuous procession,

10. In a centralizing device for locating containers of different cross sectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which the containers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of a rotatable body member, a pmrality oi spaced and parallel side wings on said body member and extending laterally thereirom on diiferent sides of said member, said wings on the diflferent sides of said member being spaced apart differently to accommodate containers of difierent cross sectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said working station of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation of said body member into diflerent fixed positions thereon to selectively bring said side wings into? position adjacent the path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a container of a particular cross sectional dimension to thereby licate it and temporarily hold it in a pred'etermined position, and a pivotal mounting for said rotatable mounting for swinging said body member into and out of the path of travel of the containers to effect the centralizing of individual containers passing through the station in a continuous procession.

11. In a centralizing device for locating containers oi difierent cross sectional sizes at a working station of a machine through which the containers advance in a continuous procession, the combination of a rotatable body member, a plurality of spaced and parallel side wings on said body member and extending laterally therefrom on different side of said member, said wings on the different sides of said member being spaced apart differently to accommodate containers of difl'erent cross sectional dimensions, a rotatable mounting for said body member disposed adjacent a path of travel of the containers moving through said working station of the machine, said mounting being arranged for the rotation of said body member into different fixed positions thereon to selectively bring said side wings into position adjacent the path of travel of the containers to straddle and engage a container of a particular cross sectional dimension to thereby locate it and temporarily hold it in a predetermined position, a pair of swing arms for said rotatable mounting, and means operable in time with the advancement of the containers for pivotally shifting said swing arms to move said body member into and out of the path of travel of the containers to effect the centralizing of individual containers passing through the station in a continuous procession.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST.

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

UNITED STATES PA'I'EN TS Number Name Date 2,353,523 Stewart July 11, 1944 2,086,065 Charlton July 6, 1937

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