US2577546A

US2577546A - Can-feeding mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2577546A
Application number: US698412A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest P Tarot
Original assignee: FMC Corp
Current assignee: FMC Corp
Priority date: 1946-09-21
Filing date: 1946-09-21
Publication date: 1951-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1968-12-04

Description

Dec. 4, 1951 E, P, TAROT 2,577,546

CAN-FEEDING MECHANISM Filed'Sept. 21, 1946- 7 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIE l INVENTOR ERNEST E nnor ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1951 E. P. TAROT CAN-FEEDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 21, 1946 INVENTOR ERNfST R T4807 ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1951 p TAROT 2,577,546

CAN-FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l l l In 32 I I Al m 70 JIIIIIIIIIIL I w E I EM! n2. M" '70 48 III ll 21 25 I} we '74 24 O u I l 29 o lit-5311i: llllll I H 1 42 U I O m. "1| 4s i k puu' m! [M M u' I II I '51 l h I425 M m I Il a" O I 4a 4 II I O I u ez 3 'I I Ii m1 I'll 1 :1 i0

E. M TOR ERNEST R TAROT Maw Wyw/ w ATTORNEYS D60. 4, E. P. TARC'DT CAN-FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 4 lII- IIII llll-lllli 'lllilll l llhl lulu- 1 llll INVENTOR ERNEST I? TAROT ATTORNEYS 1951 E. P. TAROT 2,577,545

CAN-FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Lil" INVENTOR m/ve'sr P. mnar ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1951 CAN -FEEDING MECHANISM Ernest P. Tarot, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 21, 1946, Serial No. 698,412 6 Claims. (Cl. .19. 8-33) This invention relates to can feeding mechanisms and more particularly to conveyors for deliveringcans or similar bodies to the pocketed valve turrets of continuous canned goods cookers.

An object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism for feeding cans to moving receivers so that the cans are accurately and positively delivered to the receivers without damage or shock.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for feeding cans to the rotatable feed valves of continuous cookers and the like. in which the cans are conveyed toward the feed valves by .a fixed guide arranged to receive the cans in one position. to convey the cans toward the .feed valves in such position, and hav ing means for turning the cans .for delivery to the feed valves in a predetermined position.

.Still another object of the invention is to provide a can feeding mechanism of the above type in which the cans are moved through the fixed guide by a chain having can moving elements guided in the same relative position through the fixed guide and the can turning means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can feeding mechanism of simple construction and efficient operation which is non-clogging and requires no attention during, operation.

Another object of the invention to provide a can orienting device for can feeding mechanisms for turning the cans through a predetermined angle during movement of the cans therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can twister for turning the cans through a predetermined angle in which the cans are under control at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide can feeding mechanism for turning cans from one position to another position, in which the cans gravitate through the mechanism and the movement .of the cans through the mechanism is controlled at all times.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved can conveyor having .a fixed can guide formed with slots and a conveyor arranged outside of the guide and having can moving elements extending through .the slots, with which is combined .a can twister ior turn ing the cans from one position to another :position and having a slot extending -lengthwise thereof for guiding the can moving elements through the twister in the same relative position as the position ofthe elements in the slots oi the gu-ide.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the inlet end of a pressure cooker showing the can feeding mechanism of the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line -2-2 of Fig. 1; v

3 is a vertical sectional view taken alon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken alon the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 51s an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the conveyor and the valve turret in one position;

Fig. 6 ,is a view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. .5 showing the conveyor and the valve turret in another position;

Figs. '7 to 13, inclusive, are horizontal sectional views taken .along the lines 1-? to 13-13, inclusive of 5, illustrating the detail construction of the can twister;

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 14-44 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line l5l5 of F g. 2; and

1.6 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line liil6 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the drawings, the conventional form of continuous canned goods cooker in connection with which the presentjinvention has been illustrated herein, comprises a cooking chamber ll formed of a hollow cylindrical shell l2 closed at its ends. Since these cookers are well known in the art, only the Portion of the cooker at the inlet or the end through which the cans are delivered to the chamber ii for processing is shown. As is customary in these cookers, the interior Wall of the shell [2 is provided with a continuous spirally arranged guide rail 13 (Fig. 5) which forms a helical pathway for guiding the cans from the inlet to the outlet of the cooker. A reel, made up of ,a plurality of spider-wheels ,provided with -L-shaped rails 15, is mounted upon a rotatable shaft "is (Figs. 1 and 3), longitudinally extending through the chamber ll.

T-he cans are delivered into the cooker by means of a feed valve device 2i comprising a casing having a cylindrical wall 22 and end walls 23 and 2-4 which are detachably secured to the cy-lindrioal'wall '22 by means of bolts 25, as shown in Fig. 1. The cylindrical wall 22 of the feed valve casing is formed with an inlet port or opening 26, and an outlet port or opening 2'! (Fig. The outlet opening 21 is disposed in registry with an opening 28 provided in the shell i2 of the cooker. The feed valve casing as a unit is secured to the shell [2 by means of bolts 29, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5.

A valve turret 3| mounted on a shaft 32, rotates within the casing of the feed valve 2 I. The turret 3| has a series of pockets 33 (Fig. 5), formed in the periphery thereof for receiving the cans and for successively feeding them through the outlet opening 2? onto the L-shaped rails l5 of the reel within the chamber II. The pockets 33 are separated by radially disposed walls 34, and have a can supporting surface 35 that moves 4 been the practice to arrange the can feeding conveyors in a plane disposed at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cookers. When the conveyors are thus disposed, they occupy considerable space and block the aisles between adjacent lines of cookers. When the conveyors are arranged parallel with the longitudinal axis of thecookers, such as is the arrangement of the conveyor 45'with the cooker II, the aisles between adjacent lines of cookers will be unobstructed and also the aisles need not be as downwardly past the inlet opening 26 during rotation of the turret in the direction of the arrow- 35, as shown in Fig. 5.

In cookers of the type herein shown, the shaft 32 is supported in bearings 31 (Fig. 1) so that the feed valve turret 3| is rotatable about a horizontal axis, and the pockets 33 are arranged -toreceive the cans so that the longitudinal axis of each can delivered to the turret is disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cooker. In the present instance, the inlet port or opening 26 is located in the wall 22 of the casing 2| at a point substantially in alignment with a line passing in a horizontal plane through the axis of rotation of the turret. This arrangement of the inlet opening 26 with respect to the axis of the valve turret 3! is somewhat different than has been the practice heretofore. In the cookers of the prior art to which the present invention is applicable, it was usually the custom to locate the inlet opening at some point in the casing of the feed valve above the axis of the turret, so that cans delivered by the conveyor to the feed valve would drop by gravity into the pockets of the turret as the pockets successively registered with the inlet opening during rotation of the turret. However, as herein shown, the inlet opening 25 has been arranged in the side of the feed valve casing at a point where the cans can be introduced into the pockets of the turret Without dropping therein.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 22 of the feed valve turret 3| is provided with a gear 42 -keyed thereto and having its teeth in meshing relationship with the teeth of a gear 43 keyed to shaft l6. Shaft I6 is driven in well known manner from a suitable source of power (not shown) and from said driven shaft and gear 43, power is derived for driving all units of the mechanism of the present invention, in the manner to be hereinafter described.

The can feeding mechanism of the present invention is especially adapted for feeding the cans to and placing them into the pockets 33 of the valve turret 3|, and comprises in general a conveyor 45, which extends outwardly a suitable distance from the inlet end of the cooker to a convenient point (not shown) where the cans, after they have been filled and closed, are delivered in single file to the receiving end portion of the conveyor.

As shown in Fig. 1, the conveyor 45 is located at one side of the longitudinal axis of the cooker in proximity to the feed valve device 2|. Preferably the conveyor is disposed substantially in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cooker. Heretofore, in some instances, it has wide as the width of the aisles required when the conveyors are disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the cookers. Another advantage in arranging the conveyor parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cooker is that the filling and closingmachines can be arranged substantially in alignment with the cooker and the cans fed in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cooker, thereby reducing to a minimum the amount of space required between adjacent lines of equipment on the cannery fioor.

The conveyor 45 is adapted to move the cans in uniformly spaced apart relationship and delivers them one by one, successively, into the successive pockets 33 of the valve turret 3 l, the said conveyor and the said valve turret traveling in timed relation with respect to each other, both being driven directly from the same rotary memher, i. e., shaft 32. Y

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the cans 46 may be cylindrical in form and may have a length somewhat greater than their diameter. The conveyor receives the cans 46 and transports them toward the feed valve device 2| with the longitudinal axis of each can arranged perpendicular or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pockets 33 of the Valve turret 3|. Means are provided in the conveyor, preferably at a point adjacent to the inlet opening 26, for turning the cans, in themanner to be hereinafter more fully described, so that each can will enter a pocket 33 with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pocket.

The conveyor 45 comprises a single endless double strand chain 48 which travels around a drive sprocket 49, Figs. 2 and 3, located in proximity to the feed valve 2|. It will be understood that the chain 48 also travels around suitable guide means, such as a drum or sprocket (not shown) rotatably mounted at the can receiving end of the conveyor in well known manner. The sprocket 49 is fixed to a shaft, 58 rotatably mounted in a bearing 51 formed in the long arm of a Y-shaped bracket 52. In addition to the long arm having the bearing 5|, the bracket 52 has two short arms formed with

bearings

53 and 54, respectively. Fixed to the short arm of the bracket 52 having the bearing 53 is another bracket 55 which is mounted on the shell l2 of the cooker so that the bracket 52 will be rigidly supported thereby.

The chain 48 is driven from the valve turret shaft 32 by the following mechanism: As shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, fixed to shaft 32 is a gear 56 which meshes with a gear 51 keyed to shaft 58 mounted in the

bearings

53, 54 and also a bearing 59 of a bracket 60. Shaft 58 has a bevel gear 6| keyed thereto which gear meshes with a bevel gear 62 fixed to shaft heretofore described. Thus, rotation imparted to the valve turret shaft 32 by

gears

43 and 42 is transmitted to the shaft 50 on which is mountedthesprocket 49. In this manner the conveyor chain 48 is simultaneously o erated in timed relation with the valve turret The chain 48 is composed of links 66 pivoted together by pins 61. Each link of the chain is formed of four bars of suitable length arranged in two sets of pairs side by side, and in order to maintain the bars of each pair spaced apart,

rollers 68 are mounted on each pivot pin 6'! be--' apart so as to provide can receiving spaces therebetween. Also, the studs are preferably formed from round bars of a length determined by the length of the cans so that they will be at least coextensive of the cans being transported by the conveyor. The reason for utilizing round 'studs is to provide a single line or point of contact between the studs and the cans.

As shown in Fig. 2, the upper flight of the chain 48 is associated with an upper fixed guide portion of the conveyor generally indicated at ll, and the lower flight of the chain 48 is associated with a lower fixed guide portion of the conveyor generally indicated at I2. The two fixed guide portions II, '52 of the conveyor may be rigidly tied together by bars l3, Fig. arranged at suitable intervals throughout the length of the entire conveyor structure, and the portion of the conveyor structure herein illustrated is rigidly secured to the cooker, as indicated by bolts M, Figs. 1 and 5.

As shown in Fig. 2, intermediate the length of the conveyor 55 a section may be substantially horizontally disposed in a plane a suitable distance above the cooker. Directly over the inlet feed valve device '2 l the upper fixed guide portion H of the conveyor is formed with an arcuate portion 15 which extends downwardly from the horizontal portion. Below the arcuate portion 15 there is a substantially vertical portion I6 which has a flange TI at its lower end.

The horizontal section of the upper fixed guide II of the conveyor is substantially of channel form in cross section, as shown in Fig. 15, consisting of a fiat bottom can supporting member I8, preferably formed of sheet metal, and sides I9, 89 upstanding from the longitudinal side edges of the can supporting member I8. The horizontal section of the upper fixed guide II is open at the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 15, and the channel form of said guide is continued in the arcuate portion I5 and the vertical portion 15. However, in order to prevent lateral displacement of the cans traveling down the portions 15 and I6 of the conveyor, the open portion of the channel is closed by an arcuate cover plate 8| which is se- C}.l l' d to the sides 79 and 69 by means of bolts 82, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The side 19 of the upper fixed guide TI is formed of a pair of

bars

83,, 84 arranged in par allel spaced relation to each other so as to provide a slot 85 therebetween, and similarly the side 85 is formed of

bars

86, 8?, spaced apart to provide a slot 88 therebetween (Fig, 15).. The studs in of the chain 48 are disposed in the

slots

85, 88 so as to be guided thereby. The can supporting member '58 and the sides I9, 80 may be constructed in any suitable manner so that the

slots

85, 88 will be continuous and unobstructed and thus permit freemovement of :thestudstherein 6. throughout the entire length or the upper fixed guide II. 1

Also formed as a part of the upper fixed guide H, is a track for the chain '48 comprisin a pair of angle bars '90, SI, both of which are disposed at one side of the fixed guide and arranged above and below the chain, as shown in Fig. 1 5. The angle bars 90, 9! are secured, respectively, to the two spaced

bars

83, 84 of the side 19 so as to provide a space or slot '92 between them to receive the rollers 68. The angle bars 90, 9| are also mounted in spaced relation to the side bars 83, 84 by means of

spacers

83, 94, the parts being secured together by bolts or machine screws 95. The purpose of the

spacers

93, 94 is to provide a channel QSextending longitudinally of the upper fiight of the conveyor in registration with the slot '85. The channel 96 is arranged to receive a plurality of guide plates '91 on the chain "48. As shown in Figs. 2, -5, and 15, each guide plate '9'! comprises a rectangular body which is mounted on a stud 1U andwhich is also perforated to receive pivot pins 61 at opposite sides of each stud. Thus each link (56 of the chain 48 which carries a stud I0 is reinforced by an additional bar in the form of the guide plate at. These plates 91 retain the studs 18 in position perpendicular to the chain 48 during travel of the chain through the upper fixed guide ll of the conveyor and downwardly through the portions 715 and I6 thereof.

The fixed guide I2 for the lower flight of the conveyor chain 48 is substantially of channel form in cross section, as shown in Fig. 16, consisting of a flat bottom chain supporting member I having upstanding sides I02. The member NH, and its sides I02 may be formed of sheet metal. and mounted on the member Illl in spaced relation to the sides I02 are bars I03, I04. These bars extend lengthwise of the fixed guide 12 and provide a support for the 'chain'48, the rollers 58 of said chain engaging the bar I03 and the outer end portions of the studs '10 restin upon the bar I0 3. The purpose of the bars is to keep the guide plates 91 from contacting the surface of the supporting member Ill-I so that the chain will move freely on its trackway.

As shown in Fig. 2, the fixed guide 12 extends from a point in proximity to the sprocket 49 upwardly for a suitable distance, and thence horizontally in substantially parallel relationship to the horizontal portion of the upper guide II. From the left hand portion of the conveyor, as viewed in Fig. 2, th'e guides H and '12 may be inclined downwardly at a suitable angle toward the feed end of the conveyorinot shown).

At a suitable point above the inlet opening -26 the conveyor 15 is formed with a can twister,

generally indicated at I I I, Figs. 2, 3, and 5. The can twister comprises two separate vertically disposed sections I I2, I13 which are secured to the flange T! of the fixed guide I! I by bolts I'M.

The interior of the section .II2 is formed lengthwise thereof with a plurality of twisted surfaces H5, H6, H1, and H8, and'the interior of the section H3 is formed with a plurality of twisted surfaces I20, I21, I22, and I23. The twisted surface H6 is disposed at right angles or perpendicular to the twisted surfaces I I 5 and I I! (Figs. 7 and 8), and the twisted surface .8 is disposed at right angles or perpendicular to the twisted surface H5 (Figs. 10, '11, 12, and 13). The twisted surface 12] is disposed at right angles or perpendicular to the twisted surfaces I20 and 1.22 (Figs. land 8) and the twisted surface I23 is disposed'at right angles or perpendicular to the twisted surface I20 (Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13). The section H2 is also formed with plain faces I25, I26 arranged vertically along the sides thereof, and the section H3 is formed with plain vertical faces I21, I28 along the sides thereof. When the two sections H2, H3 are assembled in the manner shown in Figs. 7 to 13, inclusive, the faces I25, I26 are spaced from the faces I21, I28, respectively, a suitable distance to provide a vertical slot I30 between the sections through which slot the studs of the chain 40 are adapted to freely pass. The slot I30 aligns with the

slots

85, 68 of the fixed guide II and provides a straight line continuation thereof so that the studs I0 are guided in the same relativeposition through the twister III of the conveyor. If so desired, the walls of the sections H2, H3 having the twisted surfaces II6, I2I, respectively, may have openings I32, I33 formed therein so that access may be had to the interior of the twister without dismantling the same.

The construction and arrangement of the parts of the twister I I I is such that a twisted can path is formed lengthwise thereof for the cans, the opposed surfaces IIB, I2I of the sections H2, H3, respectively, being substantially parallel, and the opposed surfaces I I5, I20 being substantially parallel. As shown in Fig. 7 at the upper end or can entrance of the twister, the two surfaces II 6, I2I are disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of the studs I0, and, as shown in Fig. 13, these two surfaces II6, I2I have been twisted so that at the lower or discharge end of the twister they are disposed substantially perpendicular or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the studs I0. Thus the construction of the twister III is such that a spiral canway, substantially rectangular in cross section, is provided (see Figs. 7 to 13, inclusive), by which the cans are turned through an angle of approximately 90. The overall dimensions of the canway thus provided in the can twister III are slightly greater than the size of the cans so that the cans will pass freely through the twister. In moving downwardly through the twister the cans are turned or oriented by the diagonally disposed surfaces indicated at I35, I36 in Fig. 8.

Fixed to the end of the section I I2 adjacent the plain face I 25 is an angle bar I38, and fixed to the end of the section II3 adjacent the plain face I2I is an angle bar I39. The angle bars I38, I39 are vertically disposed and spaced apart so as to align substantially with the lower portions of the angle bars 90 and SI. Between the angle bars I38, I39 is a slot I40 which is a continuation of the slot 92.

At a point adjacent to the feed valve 2I, the conveyor 45 is formed with a stripper MI, by means of which the cans, after they have been turned by the twister III, are' transferred from the conveyor to the valve turret 3|. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper end of the stripper MI is secured to the lower portion of the twister III by bolts I42, and, as shown in Fig. 5, the lower portion of the stripper is anchored to the valve casing 22 by the bolts 14 heretofore referred to. The bracket 52 is connected by a bracket I43 to the feed valve housing 2I, in the manner as shown in Fig. 3.

The stripper I4I (Fig. 14) is composed of two similarly formed sections I45, I46 which are spaced apart vertically so as to provide a slot I4I therebetween through which the studs I0 of the chain 48 pass in traveling downwardly through the stripper. The angle bars-I38, I39 depend from the twister III downwardly of the stripper HI and are secured to the ends of the sections I45, I46. The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that a continuous trackway is providedin the fixed guide I I, the twister I I I and the stripper I4I for the chain 48, as shown best in Figs. 7 to 16, inclusive.

As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 14, the sections I45, I46 of the stripper are formed with parallel opposed inclined walls I48, I49 which extend downwardly from the bottom of the can twister toward the inlet opening 26 of the feed valve 2I. The section I45 is formed with an end Wall I50 and the section I46 is formed with an end wall I5I. The end walls I50, I5I align substantially with the end walls of the pockets 33 of the valve turret 3| and prevent endwise shifting movement of the cans passing through the stripper to the valve turret. The construction of the parts is such that a clear smooth channel or canway is provided through which the cans are adapted to freely pass when being transferred from the conveyor to the feed valve 2I. The wall I48 extends obliquely across the path of the studs I0, the upper portion of said wall being arcuate and the lower portion of said wall being substantially straight. The wall I48 has a can supporting surface I52, the contour of said surface being such that each can, as it approaches the inlet opening 26 is cammed laterally toward a pocket 33 of the turret 3| as the pocket moves into registry wtih the inlet opening 26. The canway in the twister III and in the stripper MI is slightly larger than the cans so that the cans can travel toward the pockets 33 in the valve turret without interference. However, the width of the canway should not be of such extent that the cans will tip or cant endwise and become lodged at an angle with respect to the walls of the canway.

It will be understood that the can twister III of the present invention can be used either for cylindrical cans, as herein illustrated, or for rectangular cans.

In operation, after the cans have been filled and closed, they are delivered in a horizontal position by any suitable means to the upper fiight II of the conveyor 45. When a can enters the conveyor it is engaged by the stud I0 which is behind it and the stud propels the can forwardly along the upper can supporting member 18. The cans are then directed by the can supporting member downwardly of the portions I5, I6, and as the cans pass through the arcuate portion I5 they rest upon the studs I0 which are disposed below them. The cans are carried down the vertical portion I6 of the conveyor in a substantially horizontal position with the longitudinal axes of the cans disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axes of the studs, and in case the cans are cylindrical in form there is a single line contact of the cans with the studs. Thus, from the point at which the cans are delivered to the conveyor to a point above the feed valve 2I, the cans are propelled by the studs I0 of the conveyor chain 48, and during the travel of the cans downwardly toward the valve turret (H, the cans gravitate and rest upon or are supported by the studs and are lowered thereby through the spiral canway of the twister I I I and the canway of the stripper I4I. During gravitation of the cans downwardly of the conveyor the movement of the cans through the twister and the stripper is always under the control of the studs I0. In moving through the twister III the cans are turned in the manner heretofore described 'through an angle of approximately 90 degrees so that the longitudinal axis of each can will be disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the canway of the stripper Ml.

stud 10, at the point said surfaces cross a line passing horizontally through the center of the turret shaft 32, as shown in'Fig. 5. Furthermore, the can being lowered by a stud H! of the chain 48 engages the surface I52 of'the stripper as soon as the can passes through the lower end of the twister, and due to the construction and arrangement of the parts, when the upper surface of the stud on which the can is supported is substantially aligned with the supporting surface of a pocket, the can is pushed by the stripper off the end of the stud and enters the pocket, as indicated at I55, Figs. 5 and 6. In this way when the can moves obliquely across the stripper in a downward direction the can will be delivered on its side into a pocket of the turret without being dropped into the pocket, and due to the fact that the chain and the turret operate in timed relation the can is gradually lowered into a pocket of the turret valve as the surface 35 of the pocket and the stud it move down.

It will furthermore be noted that the vertical section of the conveyor provided by the twister Ill and the stripper Mi is disposed tangentially with respect to the periphery of the feed valve turret 3| and is arranged to convey cans rectilinearly downwardly in the same general direction as the direction in which the can supporting surfaces 35 of the pockets 33 of the valve turret 3| move past the inlet opening 26 of the feed valve so as to insure a smooth unbroken movement of the cans when the cans are transferred from the conveyor to the feed valve.

The disposition of the stripper l4! relative to the feed valve, and the manner in which the movement of the studs 7! in a downward vertical direction is in timed relation with the rotation of the feed valve turret 3!, is such that each can is delivered on its side into a pocket. The stripper It! thus constitutes means for intercepting a can carried by the conveyor and for gradually introducing the can into a pocket 33 of the turret whereby the can is transferred without shock or injury to the supporting surface 35 of the pocket which is moving downwardly past the inlet opening 26.

An advantage of the construction herein disclosed is that it provides an improved mechanism by which the gravitational speed of the cans moving through the can twister l l l is positively controlled. Another advantage is that the cans are turned through a predetermined angle from one position toward a desired position while supported on elements of a conveyor chain traveling at a predetermined speed. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the conveyor is so constructed that the chain and its studs are guided in the same relative position throughout the entire conveyor.

While in the drawings,.by way of example, the can feeding mechanism of the present invention extensive thereof, a conveyor chain arranged outside of the guide and disposed alongside one of the side walls thereof, said chain having can moving elements extending through the slotted side walls and arranged crosswise of the guide for moving cans lengthwise of the guide with the longitudinal center lines of the cans disposed at right angles to the line of travel, and a can twister for turning the cans from one position to another position, said can twister having a, slot formed lengthwise thereof in alignment with the slotted side walls of said guide through which the can moving elements of said chain travel in a straight line in the same relative position as the position of said elements in the guide.

2. A can feeding mechanism comprising a fixed guide having a can supporting surface and side walls provided with slots'formed lengthwise and coextensive thereof, a conveyor chain arranged outside of the guide and disposed alongside of one of the side walls thereof, said chain having can moving elements extending through the slotted side walls and arranged crosswise of the guide for moving cans disposed in a predetermined position on said supporting surface lengthwise of the guide, and means through which the cans and the can moving elements of said chain travel for turning the cans through a, predetermined angle from one position to another posi-- tion, the can moving elements of said chain passing through said can turning means in the same relative position as the position of said elements in the guide.

3. Mechanism for feeding cans to a feed valve rotatin in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis and having peripheral pockets each adapted to receive a can with its cylindrical axis parallel to that of the feed valve, comprising a conveyor having a portion disposed to elevate cans in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of said valve, said conveyor including a can support having slotted sides and a conveyor chain arranged at one side thereof with lateral pins extending through the slotted sides of said support for controlling the movement of containers alon said support, said conveyor having a vertically disposed portion for lowering the cans toward the mouth of said feed valve, said vertically disposed portion of the conveyor having spirally disposed inner surfaces for effecting turning of the cans from a position perpendicular of the axis of rotation of said valve to a position parallel thereto as the cans move toward said valve, said conveyor chain pins having single line contact with said cans as they turn between said spirally disposed surfaces so that the cans freely turn therebetween for admittance into the mouth of said feed valve in timed relation with registration of the peripheral pockets therewith.

4. An arrangement for delivering cans into a rotary feed valve of the type having peripheral pockets adapted to receive cans with their axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed valve and wherein said valve turns about a horizontal axis, said arrangement comprising a channel having an ascending run adapted to guide cans with their axes at right angles to said horizontal axis of rotation to a level above said valve, a descending run adapted to guide cans from a level above said valve to a point tangentially of said valve at the level of said axis of rotation, spiral guide surfaces arranged within said descending run to turn the cans from a position wherein their axes are at right angles to the axis of rotation of the valve to a position in which their axes lie parallel to said axis of rotation, a conveyor chain arranged to move along both the ascending and the descending run of said channel, and can-engaging elements carried by said chain and arranged to protrude into said channel to propel the cans through said ascending run and to retard their descent through said descending run.

5. A can feeding mechanism comprising a helical guide portion having can supporting surfaces extending from an upper to a lower level and arranged to turn a can from one position to another as the can moves along said helical guide portion, said guide portion having straight slots formed to extend lengthwise in opposite sides thereof, a flexible conveyor element arranged for lengthwise movement outside of the guide, a can engaging element mounted on said conveyor element to extend through said slots for engaging a can within said guide to control movement of the can through the helical guide portion, and power drive means mounted to advance said conveyor element and the can engaging element thereon lengthwise of said helical guide portion.

6. Can feeding mechanism comprising a can guide having a straight portion and a continuing helically twisted portion, a conveyor element mounted to travel lengthwise of said guide throughout both the straight and twisted portions thereof, a plurality of flight members mounted on said conveyor element to extend transversely of said guide and adapted to engage and control the movement of cans lengthwise of said guide throughout both of said guide portions, the twisted portion of said guide being slotted in a straight line lengthwise thereof to receive said flight members for guided travel along a planiform path substantially bisectin the twisted portion of said guide and extending lengthwise thereof, and power drive means connected to drive said conveyor element and the flight mem bers mounted thereon along said guide at a controlled rate of speed.

ERNEST P. TAROT.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 812,154 Scott et a1. Feb. 6, 1906 1,021,201 Larson Mar. 26, 1912 1,058,287 Baxter, Jr. Apr. 8, 1913 1,393,947 Colbert Oct. 18, 1921 1,925,395 Holland-Letz Sept. 5, 1933 2,387,211 Barnby et a1 Oct. 16, 1945 2,400,419 Hohl et al. May 14, 1946