US2523540A - Jogging assembly for packaging machines - Google Patents

Description

. E. ODWYE y 2,523,540

JOGGING ASSEMBLY FOR PACKAGING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' sept., 26, 195o Filed May 12, 1947 HHIIHIIH HHHHHIHHMlil Imlllmglllulln.

A@ 1 INVENTOR.

Sept- 26, 195oA R. E. DWYER 2,523,540

JOGGING ASSEMBLY FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed May 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 um... ""IHHHIIM "EJ 1J '/IV 'nei fx Z0 36 INVENTOR.

BY.. I

ORNEYS.

Patented Sept. Y26, 195.0

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' JoeGING ASSEMBLY ron PACKAGING MACHINES Robert Emmett ODwyer, Kansas City, Mo., as-

signor to J. A. Folger & Co., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Nevada Application May 12, 1947, Serial No. 747,478

(Cl. 22B- 19) 9 Claims.l l

This invention relates generally to the field `of packaging and particularly machines for automatically filling a large number of containers with material requiring shaking or jogging in the container in order toutilize as nearly as possible the full capacity of such containers.

More particularly this invention relates to a jogging assembly for packaging machines adapted to impart a jogging or shaking action to the containers as the same are being filled, which simulates the shaking action that would be imparted thereto by manual manipulation of the container, all to the end that the material, such as coffee or other dry product, is compact within all containers.

The most important object of this invention is the provision of a jogging assembly for packaging machines having a pair of elongated rotatable rollers for receiving the containers being filled by the machine, said rollers being elliptical in cross section to impart a unique jogging action upon the container and the contents therein.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a jogging assembly for packaging machines having a conveyor for moving a number of the containers to a position where the same may be filled by the machine and having a bar underlying a stretch of the conveyor for automatically lowering the containers upon the aforesaid rollers for a predetermined period of time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a jogging assembly for packaging machines having an assembly for holding the packages in place upon the rotatable rollers which include a pair of spaced elongated members reciprocable to and from a position engaging the tops of such Dackages.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a jogging assembly having the aforesaid means for moving the conveyor out of engagement with the packages, means for interconnecting such conveyor element with the holding means for the containers, to the end that the latter moves into engagement with the containers as the same come toI rest upon the rollers.

Other objects of this invention include the way in which the major axes of the aforesaid elliptical shaped rollers are disposed in offset relationship as the same are simultaneously rotated, the manner in which the entire weight of the holding assembly rests upon the packages and is yieldably so held by a pair of springs and the way in which a cam periodically actuates an arm to simultaneously raise and lower the holding assembly and the conveyor lifting means.

Many other objects of this invention will be made clear or become apparent during the course of the following specicaton, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig, 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a packaging machine showing the jogging assembly operatably associated therewith, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof, taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed cross sectional view, taken on line III--III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of one of the arms of the holding assembly, taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on linev V--V of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which the bar 'M is mounted.

It is well known bythose skilled in the art that one of the most diflicult problems encountered in the packaging of materials, taking a light dry powdered form, such as coffee, is that of imparting a proper eiicient shaking action upon the containers as the same are being filled to cause packing of such material. Many packaging machines in use today have jogging assemblies of one form or another as a part thereof but none satisfactorily simulate manual shaking action.

Unique jogging action imparted to packages, which is accomplished by the assembly aboutto be described, has proved through use to be highly satisfactory and the means for accomplishing this action forms the most important feature of this invention.

Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates fragm'entarily a packaging machine for coffee. This machine, broadly designated by the numeral I0, has as a part thereof a suitable hopper (not shown) for the coifeeto be packaged. The coffee is directed into containers l2 through a plurality of conduits I4, having their lowermost open ends held in position above the containers I2 by suitable framework I6. An endless chain I8 underlies the conduits It and serves as a conveyor for the containers l2 to move the same in side by side relationship from a point remote from the machine Il) in the usual manner. This chain I8 operates continuously While the machine IIJ is in operation to move a number of the containers l2 in alignment with the conduits I4 and its container. Moving action is interrupted only while a number of the containers I2 are being filled, as hereinafter more fully described.

A pair of elongated rollers 2! and 22 are journalled for rotation in suitable bearings 24 and 2t at opposite ends thereof, which bearings are suitably mounted upon a portion of the framework of the packaging machine ill. These rollers rotated in any 'suitable manner. A prime mover not shown has a drive shaft 36 upon which is mounted a gear 32. This gear 32, as Well as a pair of meshing gears 34 and 36 are mounted in a gear box 28, as shown in Fig. 5. Gear 32 meshes with gear 34 to simultaneously drive both gears 34 and 36. Gears 34 and 36 are mounted upon shafts 38 and 48 respectively and each of these shafts 38 and 46 carry a pair of sprockets 42 and 44, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 also illustrates the manner in which one end of each of the rollers 2D and 22 carry a pair of sprocket wheels 46 and 48 to receive a pair of chains 50 and 52, which also pass over the respective sprockets 42 and 44 on shafts 38 and 4U.

It is clear therefore, that the rollers 28 and 22 are driven simultaneously and at the same rate of speed when the prime mover 28, which constitutes an electric motor or the like, is operated. A portion of the frame of the packaging machine I8 illustrated by the numeral 54, pivotally carries a pair of spaced apart arms 56, as at 58. These arms 56 each extend laterally from frame portion 54 and terminate directly above the conveyor chain I8, as shown in Fig. 2. These arms 56 carry a holding assembly broadly designated by the numeral 60.

This assembly comprises a frame portion 62 having a pair of depending arms 64 at each end thereof. tion and are interconnected by a pair of elongated bars 66. These bars 66 are slightly inclined, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, to conform to the uppermost contour of the containers l2 and each is lined with a soft material 66 such as a fabric or rubberized substance to prevent breakage of containers I2 when the same are formed from glass and during the operation of the jogging assembly. This holding assembly 66= is pivotally mounted upon the arms 56 through the medium of a bolt or the like 18. Each of the arms 56 also carry a depending rod 12, which is pivotally secured to the respective arms 56, as at 13. These rods 12 each extend downwardly and below the rollers 28 and 22 to join with an elongated bar extending laterally from the frame 54. The rods 12 are each provided with a slotted head 11 at the lowermost end thereof to receive the bar 15, the latter of which is pivotally secured at one end thereof to the frame 54. The opposite end of bars 15 terminate below the roller 22 and in underlying relation to legs 8l depending from an elongated bar 14. A set screw 19 secures head 11 to bar 15. This bar 14 is at least co-extensive in length with the rollers 2D and 22 and serve to hold the upper stretch of chain I8 in a position for receiving the containers I2 when the bar 14 is at one end of its path of travel or as hereinafter more fully described.

The means for raising and lowering the holding assembly 60 and consequently the bar 14 constitutes a pair of cams 16, secured to a rotatable shaft 18, which cams 16 periodically engage a roller 80 on each of the arms 56, as shaft 18 rotates.

The containers I2 are guided into position and held upon the conveyor I8 as well as the rollers 28 and 22 by a pair of spaced apart walls 82, which extend upwardly to a position spaced above the top of the containers I2, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in overlapping relationship with the members 64. It is notable particularly in Fig. 3 that each of the rollers and 22 is elliptical in transverse cross section and that the major axes thereof are disposed in relative offset relation. In

These arms are in spaced apart relay 4 other Words, the major axis of roller 2U is substantially perpendicular to the major axis of roller 22.

It is also to be noted that the holding assembly 60 has a plurality of funnels 84, depending from frame 62 thereof, which register with respective conduits I4 and with the containers I2 when the latter are moved into underlying relationship therewith.

-In operation the conveyor chain I8 is placed in operation by mechanism not illustrated to move the containers I2 in a direction toward the packaging machine I0. At the same time the prime mover 28 is energized to cause continuous rotation of the rollers 26 and 22. As the chain I8 operates to move a number of the containers I2 into filling relationship with the funnels 84, the shafts 18, Which are operated by a suitable mechanism forming a part of machine I0, has rotated to a position where the cams 16 engage rollers B0 and hold the arms 56 in a raised position. By appropriate action the cams 16 move into a position permitting lowering of the arms 56 when a group of the containers I2 are moved by the conveyor I8 t0 a lling position below the funnels 84. This lowering of the arms 56 moves the bar 14 downwardly to a position where the uppermost stretch of the chain I8 is below the uppermost surface of the rotating rollers 20 and 22. The containers I2 are thus brought to a position resting upon the rollers 28 and 22 and at the same time the holding assembly 60 moves downwardly to rest upon al1 of the containers I2 below the respective filling funnels 84. It is readily seen that the rotation of rollers 20 and 22 are imparting thereon a jogging action upon all of the containers I2 resting thereon and that the weight of the assembly 60 upon the containers I2 will hold the latter tightly against the rollers 28 and 22.

A pair of springs 86 interconnect the arms 56 and one of the walls 82 to further aid in yieldably holding the assembly 60 tightly against the containers I2. After a predetermined period of time, governed by the speed of rotation of the shaft 18, the containers I2 will be filled with material and the chain I8 and holding assembly 68 both raised from the position shown in Fig. 2, permitting conveyor I8 to move the filled packages I2 from the machine to a point where sealing and other operations may take place.

Obviously the .peculiar shape of the rollers 2l) land 22, as well as the disposition of their axes, causes a jogging action upon the containers I2 being filled, which closely approximates the shaking action which would take place if the containers I2 were manually handled. It is notable that when the widest portion of one of the rollers 2D or 22 engages the containers I2, the narrowest portion of the other roller `underlies these containers, and thus both a vertically reciprocable action as well as a limited side action is imparted to the containers I2 when the rollers 20 and 22 are rotated.

Fig. 6 illustrates the manner in which the bar 14 is mounted. As shown in Figs 1, 2, 3, and 15, there is a track for both the upper and lower stretch of chain I8. Bar 14 forms a part of the uppermost track and should extend Ibeyond rollers 20 and 22 at each end thereof. These ends of bar 14 (not shown in Fig. 1) are each carried by a dog 88 secured to a transverse rotatably mounted shaft 90. A pin and slot assemblly 92, in bar 14 and dog 88 respectively, form the connection.

'Thus as arms 'i5 are raised by upward movement of rods l2, legs 8l will be contacted to cause bar l to be shifted to the full line position shown in Fig. 6. Stop means (not shown) limit the extent of rotationoi shafts 99 to the end that when arms l5 are at the lowermost ends of their paths oi travel, they will be spaced from legs 8l. Thus during the raising action of arms 56, holding assembly 9U will be raised before arms l5 actually function to raise containers l2. Manipulation of set screw i9 and the lock nut thereon as well as the head l'i because of its threaded attachment to rod T2 regulates the distance between legs Si and arms l5 when the same are in the lowered position.

While the assembly just described has been found to be particularly adaptable for packing coiee and although glass jars have been shown as the containers to be filled, it is to be understood that many different types of materials could be packed through use of this assembly and that only minor changes would need Vto be made if diierent types of containers were to be used.

In view of that fact, therefore, that many changes and modications could be made to the jogging assembly for packaging machines, forming the subject matter of this application, it is to be desired to be limited only by the spirit of this invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A jogging assembly for packaging machines comprising a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally disposed elongated rollers adapted to carry a package to be jogged in overlying relationship therewith, said rollers each having a plurality of unequal radii; and means for simultaneously rotating said rollers on their longitudinal axes, the major radii of said rollers being relatively offset whereby jogging action is imparted to the package on said rollers as the latter are rotated.

2. A jogging assembly for packaging machines, comprising aY pair of horizontally disposed elongated rollers, each having a plurality of unequal radii; means for simultaneously rotating said rollers on their longitudinal axes; a conveyor adjacent the rollers for the package to be jogged; and a bar normally holding said conveyor and the package carried thereby spaced above the uppermost surface of said rollers, said bar being shiftable to and from a position lowering the conveyor below the rollers, said rollers being arranged to receive the package when said conveyor is lowered.

3. A jogging assembly for packaging machines, comprising a pair of horizontally disposed elongated rollers, each having a plurality of unequal radii; means for simultaneously rotating said rollers on their longitudinal axes; a conveyor adjacent the rollers for the package to be jogged; and a bar normally holding said conveyor and the package carried thereby spaced above the uppermost surface of said rollers, said bar being shiftable to and from a position lowering the conveyer below the rollers, said rollers being arranged to receive the package when said conveyor is lowered, said rollers being spaced apart, said conveyor being disposed between the rollers.

4. A jogging assembly for packaging machines, comprising a pair of horizontally disposed elongated rollers, each having a plurality of unequal radii; means for simultaneously rotating said rollers on their longitudinal axes; a conveyor adjacent the rollers for the package to be jogged; and a bar normally holding said conveyor and the package carried thereby spaced above the uppermost surface of said rollers, said bar being shiftable to and from a position lowering the conveyor below the rollers, said rollers being arranged to receive the package whenl said conveyor is lowered, said rollers being spaced apart, said conveyor being disposed between the rollers, said bar underlying the package carrying stretch of said conveyor and having means for shifting the same through a vertical path of travel.

5. A jogging assembly for packaging machines, comprising a pair of spaced-apart elongated rollers, each rotatable on a horizontal axis; means for moving a plurality of packages to be jogged to a position overlying said rollers; structure for lowering said package moving means to a posi- -tion below the uppermost surface of the rollers when the packages overlie the rollers, said rollers being arranged to receive said packages in resting relation thereon when said means is lowered; reciprocable apparatus; and means for reciprocating said apparatus, said reciprocable apparatus having parts adapted to engage the packages and hold the same against the rollers when said apparatus is at one end of its path of travel and when said packages are resting on the rollers, said rollers each being elliptical-shaped in transverse cross section whereby jogging is imparted to the packages as the rollers rotate.

6. A jogging assembly for packaging machines, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said apparatus and said structure are operably interconnected whereby said parts move into engagement with the packages as the latter are moved to a position resting upon the rollers by said structure.

7. A jogging assembly for packaging machines as set forth in claim 5 wherein said parts cornprise a pair of spaced apart members overlying the packages and. arranged to bear against the uppermost face of the packages when the apparatus is at said one end of its path of travel.

8. A jogging assembly for packaging machines las set forth in claim 5 wherein said parts comprise a pair of spaced apart members overlying the packages and arranged to bear against the uppermost face of the packages when the apparatus is at said one end of its path of travel, and wherein said apparatus is provided with yieldable means for holding the members against the packages, as the latter are jogged by the rollers.

v9. A jogging assembly for packing machines as set forth in claim 5, wherein a major portion of the weight of said apparatus is carried by the packages when said parts of the apparatus engage said packages.

ROBERT EMMETT ODWYER.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the

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