US2605948A - Machine for filling containers with semiliquid products - Google Patents

Description

E. W. BRIDGE Aug. 5, 1952 MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS Filed July 14, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet l 5, 1952 E. w. BRIDGE 2,605,948

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMIDIQUID PRODUCTS Filed July 14, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 a rwcmto c,

E'dwara' WBrLdye,

Aug. 5, 1952 E. w. BRIDGE MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 14, 1947 E. W. BRIDGE Aug. 5, 1952 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 14. 1947 M J n E 1 2 E m x Q a Z 3 Y3 1 a l m g r a Q yr :5: :======F n l E t f r I I m Jug 95% gwuc/wfo'c Edward, W Bridge,

alike unm 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 E. W. BRIDGE MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS Filed July 14. 1947 Aug. 5, 1952 Qwwe/Mm, Eda/uni WBrz'cZye,

E. W. BRIDGE Aug. 5, 1952 MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS Filed July 14, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 gvwwto v 15 olward W Bridye,

E. W. BRIDGE Aug. 5, 1952 MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS Filed July 14, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 M 1 W M Edward Br A 5, E w. BRIDGE 2,605,948

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS Filed July 14, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet s I i I l 1 n 5 47 I j. j 745 95 /33 web a .3, mo 34 7:

99 I I r? 95 22 m 3r/3e f' {1 I 1/ r 1 n: T, I /4 "14 0 1 Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFF-ICE] MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS Edward w. Bridge, Philadelphia, Pa. Application July 14, 1947, Serial'No. 760,750

My invention, which relates generally to machines'for filling portable receptacles, more par ticularly seeks to provide 'a'machine for filling paper bags and soft boxes, as wellas the more rigid containers of glass, tin or'strong paper. The invention has for'its-further objects to;

provide l. A machine bymeans of which containers of tin; glass, and strong papercan-be filled automatically.

2. A machine on which the automatic feature maybe replaced by manual controlfor filling receptacles of soft paper; such'as soft boxes,

waxed or cellulose paperbags; etc.

3.'A machine in which the containers-them selves govern the automatic "filling'operation of the machine.

4. A machine in which containersof different heights may be filled under the automatic procedure.

9 Claims; (01. 2269 -1117).

5. A machine in which containers of different I horizontal dimensions can be automatically filled.

6. A machinehaving two ormore sets of measuring valves and-pumpsreceiving material from a common hopperandseparately delivering the'material to individual containers.

75A machine whose valves are so designed that, regardless of the -number of valve and pump units in bank-that may be= employed in'the machine, any-one-ormore ofthe'valvesand pump cylinders can be eiiectivelycleanedwithout disturbing the-others- I 8. A machine whose' pumpsare -all operated simultaneously but whoserespective valves are so constructed that only the valve or-valves underrwhich the receptacles pass to be-filled will. dispense the product, the pumps of the remaining valve unitssimply: drawing in the material from the supply hopper and returning the material .to the hopper. without dispensing" 9; A machinein which measuring'va-lve units of the plug-valve type are usedand inrwhich' the pumps are disposed co-axially with the valve plugs," the ports of the .valve plugs being disposed ,to pass the material fromza hopper having a discharge outlet whose axis is normal to that of the plug and co-incidental with the dischargespout'of the valve unitythe smaller'endof" the valvepl-ug being adjacent the discharge endof its pump so that by removal of the plug' direct access to the valve housing andiseat' andxto. the pump barrel: is had iorcleaning purposes:

10. A machine in which arlarger number"of? valve units per hopper may be placed'side by-' sidewithd'ut mte'rfe'ring with one *another; such as occurs in machines heretofore on =the market and with which I am familiar; and without r preventingeasy-withdrawal ofthe valve---p1ugs for "cleaning the valve unit parts; and without having' to'di'sconnect the valve-bodiesirorn the" from the nozzles when the-receptacles-are filled,

the table having a movable section- (hereinafter called the rising' table} beneath l the monies, which movable sectionis: raised -and lowered -at predetermined intervals "to I carry the receptaclesi up to the valves-to be filled and b'ack-down :again' after filling, the conveyor operating on the stepby-step principle:

12. A machine-which" can easily and quickly" be changed over from an automatically operat-- ing one to one which-is manually controlled? Other objects will in part be-obvious and inpart will be pointed out hereinaften.

To the attainment of the aforesaidobjects-and ends; the invention also resides in the novel de' tails of construction, combinations andarrange ments of parts, all of 'which'willflrst be'fully described and then will bespecific'ally pointed outin the appended claimsyreference being had to the accompanying drawings in -whichr Fig. 1 is airontelevation-of the machine which embodies my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side (righty elevation ofthe same.

Fig. 3 is a side (left) elevation"ofthe"same.-

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section, on an-enlarged scale, on-the line 4--4 of Fig.2;

Fig.5 isa detail elevatiomparts being broken away, showing the rising-table elevating mechanism, on thescale' of Figs'l to3 inclusive.-

Fig; 6 is a detail section on the-line 6-6- of Fig'. 5, the table part 6, shown in Fig.5 'beingy omitted.

Fig. '7 is an inverted plan viewof'the rising table slide bar bearing frame per 'se.

Fig. 8 is a detail'view: of a portion of a-con veyor slat and its chain-bracket.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail'horizontal section showing the clutch and'its shifting yoke.

Fig.10 is adetail sectional viewon the-line l0l0 of'Fig. 9.

Fig. 111'is a detail view, on the scale of "Figs;

1 to 3 inclusive, of a portion ofa'pump rod and its adjustable stops and slide block.

Fig; 12 is an enlarged 'central vertical longi- 11. A machine-having astationary table over which an endless conveyor carries the receptacles-:- to and beneath thedischarge nozzles, and-away:

Fig. 17 is a detail section on-the line I1---|1 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 18 is a detail front elevation of one of the T-plate guides and the valve lift which slides thereon.

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the parts in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of one of the yokes shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17.

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit arrangement used in the second embodiment of my invention. p g H r Fig. 22 is a plan view of thevalve-lift adapter used with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 when the automatic operation is to be dispensed with.

Fig. 23 is a front elevation of the same.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, I represents the frame of the machine, which has an opening2 in which is mounted the bearings I1 for the cam shaft I8 andthe bearing 53 for the driving shaft 53'.

The frame includes cross braces 3 having bearing lugs4 and threadedlugs 5 for table raising and lowering screws 8. The screws 8 are swivelly mounted in brackets 1 on the sides of the tableT. One of the screws 8 has a hand wheel 9 and each screw has a sprocket I0. And endless chain II passes over the sprockets III of all four screws 8, so that by turning the hand wheel :9 the table can be raised-or lowered at will.

Secured rigidly to and between the side bars 6 of -the adjustable table T are two slide bar bearings I2, best shown in Figs. 2 and'3 and 5 to '7 inclusive. These bearings support a slide bar 25 which has a slotted arm I3 that carries, adjustably, a stud I5 on which is a roller I4 that is engaged "by a rising-table cam I9 on the cam shaft I8. The bar 25 is pivoted to a pin 24 which works in a slot 23 in arising-table-gear-operating arm 22. The arm 22 is carried by a shaft 2| that is journalled in bearing brackets 20 that are rigidly secured to the side bars 6 of the table T. Areturn spring I6 continuously tends'to keep roller I4 in contactwith cam' I 9.

The adjustable table includes a cover 32 which has a removable section 28 that is carried by a rising-table frame 21,.to which gear racks 3| are secured. The frame'21 is slidably mounted in guides 29 mounted on the table T and cross braced as at 30. The shaft 2| has gears 26 which mesh with the racks 3| to effect the rise and fall of the rising-table frame 21.

At each end of the adjustable table T is mounted, in suitable bearings 33, a conveyor shaft 34, carrying sprockets 35, over which endless chains 36 pass. The chains also pass under idler sprockets 50 on supports that are secured to and between the side bars 6 of the table T.

.At equal intervals the chains 36 carry brackets 31 that have cross bars or slats 38 secured to them, which slats serve, to push the containers along the table top to and past the filling nozzles.

The conveyor is given a step-by-step movement shown 4 by means of a ratchet 39 on one of the shafts 34. The ratchet has a number of teeth, which number is an equal divisor of the number of links in the chain. Mounted on the same shaft is a pawl-carrying crank 40 which carries a pawl 4| that engages the ratchet 39 and is slotted, adjustably to receive a pivot 48 to which one end of a connecting rod 41 is connected. (See Fig 3.) I

The rod 41 is also pivoted to one arm 44 of a bell-crank lever which is pivoted on a stud 43. The stud is carried by a block 42 mounted on the frame. The other arm 44 of the bell-crank lever carries a cam-engaging roller 45 that engages a cam 46 on shaft I8.

A driving motor 5| imparts its power through a transmission gearing 52 to the shaft 53. The shaft 53 has a pinion 54 that meshes with a driving gear 55 that runs on the sleeve 55 of a clutch device that is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10, by reference to which it will be seen that the sleeve 56 is suitably keyed to the shaft I8 and carries two clutch plates 51, 51*.

The plates 51, 51 are keyed to turn with the sleeve, and at least one of the plates is slidable along the sleeve. I The gear 55 is free to rotate on the bushing 56 between the clutch plates when released. A sliding yoke 58 is carried on the sleeve 56 and has a flange 58 on which freely turns a trunnion ring 59. The trunnion ring 59 carries a set of fingers 66 which engage pins I34 on levers 62 that are pivoted at 64 between pairs of cars 6| carried by an adjusting plate 60. The plate 60 is secured to sleeve 56. Ma set screw 65. The levers 62 carry rollers 63 which engage the adjacent clutch plate 51*.

A clutch yoke lever 61 is pivoted at 69 to a support 68 and is connected to the trunnions 59 on the trunnion ring 59.

Mounted on a bracket 1| that projects from the frame I, is a clutch shifting lever 12. The lever 12 is slotted -to pass a. connecting rod 10 one end of which connects to lever 61 as at 10*. Stop pins 13 pass through rod 10 at opposite sides of lever 12 (see Figs. 1 and 9).

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 12, 13, and 14, the construction of the measuring valve and pump units will be understood. Each unit comprises a valve body 14 having a flange 14 mounted on the cross plate I that is secured to the top of, and forms part of the frame I. The valve body has a tapered valve seat 18 for the valve plug 11. It also has an inlet passage 15 and a discharge passage 16, the passages 15 and 18 being co-axial and normal to the axis of the valve'plug 11. The valve plug has an axially disposed port 19 entering from the smaller end of the plug and communicating with an angle passage composedof two parts 89 and the part 80 serving to effect communication between port'19 and passage 15 when the plug 11 is in one position, while the part 8|! serves to effect communication between port 19 and passage 16 when the plug is in another position.

The valve body 14 has a counter-bore, internally threaded as at 83, to receive the cylinder adapter 82. The adapter 82 has a bore 84 that registers with port 19 and a counter-bore internally threaded as at 85 to receive one end of a pump cylinder '86. The valve body 14 has a counter-bore threaded at I21 to receive a discharge nozzle I26.

A pump piston 81 works in the cylinder 86 and is carried on' a piston rod 88 of square crosssection, the rod passing through a steadying rest 89, secured to; the frame-z! The; axis of. the ;cy1ine dersand thatof the plugcoincidez. The.stem..8.l

of the.- plug; I1 passes through; stop plate'1-9Il whichgis. held .inwcontaetz .with:;the larger end-of theplug by adiustablemscrews;93:1carried.by. a ring! that isheld inplaceon'the valve-body I4 byvv screws:.92.1 A. crank-:94; is. suitably secured;

onthe. valve stem and.-has:an elongated. slot 94 slidably-v to. receivea stud.'98:;mounted;oni a -valve-. lift 95.

The valve-lift196. has a. T,-slot: 9]- to slidably fit the T-bar. 95 that isjsecuredrigidly-to the front face'of- {the valve: body ,14 in. any suitable way. Thevalveelift 96 alsorhasia'stud to which is pivoted one .end ofiabell-crank lever I00 that is. fulcrumed on a-stud: I02 secured totheside of the; valvebody'l l; Theayother end ;of1the bellcrank lever-- is pivotedat: I29 to one end ,of .a connecting rod I031 The-lever.- I00 hasa slot, IOI inwhich the stud 99 works.

Asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the rod I03 has its other end slotted as at I04 to receive the conneotingipinltll on. an arm I06 which issecured tov a rock shaft lllijournalled in the frame I. second arm I00 is secured-to shaft Ifie to which arm ;a cam yoke and connecting rod member; I08

is. pivoted as at I55.- The yoke part of the mem-l ber-; I08..-is slotted as-at I08F-to straddle. shaft I8. and .carries ,two cam-engaging rollers- I 09- to co-- operatewith avalve operating cam; I40 o-nshaft:

Two adjustable. stop blocks H3; II4are-secured to-thepump .rod 88. by long-wing .nuts I I5.

Betweengthe stops I I 3 and H4 is locateda slidable trunnion block III having.trunnions M2. to work in a slotted arm: Ila-that is secured to a rock shaft I I6 journalledin bearings I I] mounted on g the framed.

to arm. I I8. A piston stroke adjusting-block I20- Another slotted arm- I I9 is secured to shaft-I I6 at approximately right angles 7 ismounted in the arm I I9 and is adjustably held in positionbyascrew I25.- The blocl: I hasa stud I2I. to which is pivoted one.endofa connecting. rod I 22. whose other endis pivoted to a crankI 24 on a disc I23-that is secured totheoam shaft I8. (see Fig.3)-

In.the automatically operatingembodiment of my invention the valve-lift vBitineludes a..bifur-- catedfoot plateIZB .thatstraddles the nozzle I25. (see Figs. 12 and 13) for'a purpose that will pres-- ently beunderstooch When used without themtomatic feature, the valve-lift" 95- is replaced by a connector.- 96s,. oflike construction as the valve-. lift ,E excent thatth portionlselowsthe lug 98 is leftgofi. The connector is shown in Figs. 22';and

23. wherethosepartswhich correspond to similar.- 7

parts inFigs. 3,..12, and-13 bear the same refer-=- ence numberplusthe index letter a, and need.-

notbe. further. described herein.

The-second automatic I. embodiment of my inventiOnembodies-the same mechanism asthe first embodimentqof. the invention-with the-fol.- lowing exceptions. Instead of-the mechanism for mechanically opening the: measuring valvesv through the engagement of the valve-lift, shown: in Figs. 12 and-l3; with the container to be'fil1ed;;- I provide themechanism-shown in Figs; 15 to 21:-

for each measuringv valve unit: .To. each insulator-.1 is secured astationary'contact plate I32. A yoke; I34.is secured; in anygsuitable way'as :by a set screw I35, to each-'valvebody "Pin a diagonal position (seeFig. 16.)... The yoke-has bearings I36 for;two.rods; I3'I that aresecuredto a lifter plate I38. that:iszaperturedasat; I38 to pass freely along-the; nozzle I 26*.- Nuts liq'l limit the drop of the; lifter-plate; Theqglifterplate. I38 andits rods are preferably madeofrvery light material, such as aluminum, and the rods have a free-sliding'fit'in thebearings: I36. One of the rods I31 of. each.unit is .providedwith an insulated cap orbutton:l39 to which is secured a springy .wiperrcontact I40 that normally engages the insulator I3 I .adjacentto. it. When ;plate. I .38 is,raised,.con-.- tact I40 will engage contact I32 to complete., an*

electriccircuit, later:.again referred to;

The-connecting trod .I 03, instead of being slot-:.

ted atthe rear end which connects-to arm I06 is slotted atits frontend. The front end. slot is of L-shape in elevation and has a long leg MI. and a short leggl4l and. a seat portion, I42. The stud I29 works intheslot I4I, I4I

Withthe valve closed, the parts are positioned as in Figs; 15 and 16. When in this positionthe rod I03 may be operated without opening the valve. In order operatively toconnect rod I03 tolever I90 the .front end of the rod must. be lifted to bring seat I42 in register with lug I29". .This is accomplished by providing a pair of paral-' lel bars I43 which straddle the rod I03 and carry,

beneath the rod I03, a roller. I 45 on a connecting,

bolt I44. The bars I43 are connected at I48 to the core I41 of a solenoid magnet I46. that is mounted on the angle iron I30, therebeing a;

solenoid, etc., for eachbar I03 All solenoidsv I46. are electrically connected,. as at I49, to one terminal I50 of a switch S. All

wiper-contacts I 40 are connected,-as at I5I, to a terminal of a switch S.

I of the switch S. Each solenoid. I45-is connectedby a wire i49 -to its corresponding -contact plate I32.. When the switch isclosed by the blades I53 of themovable member I 54 of the switch and a contact I40 is raised to engage.

its plate I32, the circuit. throughv the-corresponding solenoidv I46 will be closed and rod I03 will be lifted thereby. Then when rod I03? moves forwardly, lever- I90 will effect the opening of the correspondingmeasuringvalve.

In all embodiments of myinvention, there is provided a hopper I55 that is mounted on the top plate P of the frame and is provided with on a counter-shaft I59, passes an endless chain inclusive. By referenceto these figures-it willbe. seen that those-parts shown which are like: corresponding parts in'the first embodiment bear-the:

samereference number plus theiindex letterfb. and-need-not bare-described.

In; the present embodiment I secure an angle iron I30 tothe frame I and mount. on the .iron 75 I30; by'bracketsg. I33, vertical insulators. I3I', one

I 62... Theshaft I59 .is journalled in a'bearing I58 and carries a second sprocket I63 'over which, and. over a sprocket I64 on'the cam shaft: The agitator. it will be seen, runs continuously 'while In. runs an.- endless driving chain I65;

the machine is in operation. One-:hopper I 56 communicates-with one or more measuring valves, .as may be desired and. as the size of the ;hopperwill permit. 1

Operation In operating my machine automatically, the' containers to be filled are placed on the table I betweenlongitudinally disposed 'container-posi- The slot has-its longer leg I4I running parallelto the length of the rod. I03 and its shorter leg, I4IF extended downwardly, asshown in Fig. 17, the:

seat I42 being at the lower-end of the slot.

The line-wires I50 respectively connect to the terminals !54 and a suitable agitator whose shaft I5! has'a sprocket IESI over. which, and over a similar sprocket I60,-

tioning cleats l6! and. are engaged byithe cross bars 38' which push a transverse row of containers onto the rising-table top 28. -"When the containers have been pushed onto the rising-table the conveyor stops and the rising-table is raised or elevated, whereupon the containers will 'en.-.

gage the plates I28 (or I38, as the case may be) to eflect the opening of the respective measuringval'ves, i. e., to bring valve plug passages 80 into communication with valve passages 16 and close ports 15. Pump pistons then operate to expel measured amounts of material into the respective containers. As the containers are filled, rising -table 21 will be lowered and rods I03 (or I03") will be operated to again close the measuring valves, i. e., close off passage 16 and open ports 15.

Should a container be missing when table 21 is raised, the valve corresponding to the place on the table where no container is present will not be' operated, due to the presence of the slot I04 (or |4ll42, as the case may be).

When containers of relatively stiff materials are to be filled, a machine like that of the firstdes'cribed embodiment will operate satisfactorily, but when thin-walled containers, such as paper boxes and bottles, the embodiment according to' Figs. 17 to 21 inclusive is preferred.

By diagonalling the plate i38 its ends will rest on the corners of square containerswhere the 31, I38, I39, and M0, and connecting wire l! to -v plates I32, and using switch S to open and close the solenoid circuits at will.

When any measuring valve remains closed. while another is open, the pump of the closed valve unit will simply suck in material from the hopper and expel it back into the hopper, which will assist the agitation of the material in the hopper.

By making the number of links in the conveyor chain a multiple of the number of teeth on the ratchet, in order to feed containers of different horizontal lengths it is only necessary to lift the chains from the sprockets 35 and advance or retract the chains one or more teeth on the sprockets. A change of ratchets is not then necessary.

For containers of different heights, the table T can be raised or lowered accordingly, care being taken however to adjust the position of roller I4 so as always to line up horizontally with shaft [8, so that the lift of the table 21 above table T will always be the same.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that when the automatic feature of my invention is dispensed with the valves must be opened by hand, but the closing is still accomplished mechanically.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In' a container-filling machine wherein there is provided means for dispensing material from a hopper and conveying containers beneath said means for dispensing, the improvement which comprises: a dispensing valve that includes a valve body having an inlet passage in communication with the hopper and having an outlet passage, and having a rotary valve seat whose axis is normal to the axis of said inlet passage; a valve plug in said body and engaging said seat, said plug having an axially disposed port entering from one end and an angle passage having two branches and being in constant communication with said axially disposed pas sage, one of said branches being designed to register with said inlet passage when the valve plug is in one position and the other ofv said branches being designed to register with said outlet passage when the valve plug is in another position; a pump connected to said valve body in register with said axially disposed port for drawing material from the hopper via said inlet port and valve plug, and for dispensing the material via said valve plug and said outlet passage; means to operate said pump; container-controlled means to operate said plug to turn it to dispensing position; and means operating to turn said plug to non-dispensing position at times.

2. In a receptacle-filling machine wherein receptacles to be filled are conveyed along a table past a measuring valve and pump unit located above the table, the improvement which includes:

, a valve having a valve body that is provided with a straight-through passage intersected by an annular valve plug chamber having a plug-seat surface; a valve plug in said chamber with its axis located normal to that of said straight-through passage and dividing the passage into an inlet portion and an outlet port when the plug is in place, said plug having an axially disposed port entering from one end of the plug and having an angle passage constantly in communication with said axially disposed passage, one end of said angle port cooperating with said inlet portion and the other end of said angle port cooperating with said outlet portion; means on said valve body for holding said plug to its seat; a valve stem on said plug; an arm on said valve stem, said valve body having a pivot lug on its side; a lever pivoted on said me; an operative connection between said lever and said arm; means to rock said lever to close the valve; and means separate from said valve for alternately drawing material from a source of supply through said valve and dispensing the material through the valve into a receptacle being filled.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein th means to rock said lever to open the valve includes a foot plate operatively connected to said lever and operated by the receptacle to be filled.

4. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the means to open and close saidvalve includes a mechanically reciprocated rod having apin and slot connection with said lever and normally acting to close said valve, and means controlled by the receptacle to be filled for operatively efiecting said pin and slot connection to effect the opening as well asthe closing of said valve.

5. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said means to draw and dispense material includes a pump having a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod, a pair of adjustable spaced-apart stops on said piston rod, a slide block on said piston rod between said' stops, and cam-actuated means to move said slide block back and forth along the axis of said piston rod to reciprocate the same.

6. The improvement of claim 2 wherein said means to draw and dispense material includes a pump having a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod, a pair of adjustable spaced-apart stops on said piston rod, a slide block on said'piston rod between said stops, cam-actuated means to move said slide block back and forth along the axis of said piston rod to reciprocate the same, said camactuated means including a rock shaft, a slotted arm on said shaft and operatively connected to said slide block, a second arm on said rock shaft, a piston-stroke-adjusting block on said second arm, means to adjust said adjusting block toward and from said rock shaft, a rotating shaft having a crank, and a connecting rod between said crank and said adjusting block.

7. In a filling machine having containers to be filled conveyed over a table beneath a single material dispensing hopper positioned above the table, the improvement which comprises a plurality of measuring valves having aligned inlet and outlet passages with the inlet passage of each valve communicating with said hopper, each of said valves having a tapered valve seat with its axis arranged at right angles to the axis of said passages, a valve plug positioned in each of said valves in cooperative relation with said tapered valve seat, means to retain each of said valve plugs on its seat, each of saidvalve plugs having an axially disposed passage entering from one end of the plug, each of said valve plugs having a port in continuous communication with said axially disposed passage and adapted to register with either said inlet or outlet passage as the valve plug is actuated, a pump comprising a cylinder having a piston therein mounted on each of said valves in axial alignment with the valve plug of said valve with one end of the cylinder communicating with said axially disposed passage, means to operate the piston in each of the cylinders, means for operating each of said valve plugs independently of one another, comprising, a stem on each of said valve plugs, a slotted crank on each of said stems, a bell crank lever pivoted to each of said valves, a valve lift reciprocably mounted on each of said valves and operatively connected to its respective slotted crank and bell crank lever.

8. In a filling machine having containers to be filled conveyed over a table beneath a single material dispensing hopper positioned above the table, the improvement which comprises a plurality of measuring valves having aligned inlet and outlet passages with the inlet passage of each valve communicating with said hopper, each of said valves having a tapered valve seat with its axis arranged at right angles to the axis of said passages, a valve plug positioned in each of said valves in cooperative relation with said tapered valve seat, means to retain each of said valve plugs on its seat, each of said valve plugs having an axially disposed passage entering from one end of the plug, each of said valve plugs having a port in continuous communication with said axially disposed passage and adapted to register with either said inlet or outlet passage as the valve plug is actuated, a pump comprising a cylinder having a piston therein mounted on each of said valves in axial alignment with the valve plug of said valve with one end of the cylinder communicating with said axially disposed passage, means to operate the piston in each of the cylinders, means for operating each of said valve plugs independently of one another, comprising,

a stem on each of said valve plugs, a slotted crank on each of said stems, a bell crank lever pivoted to each of said valves, a valve lift reciprocably' mounted on each of said valves and operatively connected to its respective slotted crank and bell crank lever, mechanically actuated means for operating each of said valve lifts to close its respective valve independently of the other valves and means controlled by containers to be filled for actuating each of said valve lifts independently of one another for opening each of said valves independently of one another.

9. In a filling machine having containers to be filled conveyed over a table beneath a single material dispensing hopper positioned above the table, the improvement which comprises a plurality of measuring valves having aligned inlet and outlet passages with the inlet passage of each valve communicating with said hopper, each of said valves having a tapered valve seat with its axis arranged at right angles to the axis of said passages, a valve plug positioned in each of said valves in cooperative relation with said tapered valve seat, means to retain each of said valve plugs on its seat, each of said valve plugs having an axially disposed passage entering from one end of the plug, each of said valve plugs having a port in continuous communication with said axially disposed passage and adapted to register with either said inlet or outlet passage as the valve plug is actuated, a pump comprising a cylinder having a piston therein mounted on each of said valves in axial alignment with the valve plug of said valve with one end of the cylinder communicating with said axially disposed passage, means to operate the piston in each of the cylinders, means for operating each of said valve plugs independently of one another, comprising, a stem on each of said valve plugs, a slotted crank on each of said stems, a bell crank lever pivoted to each of said valves, a valve lift reciprocably mounted on each of said valves and operatively connected to its respective slotted crank and bell crank lever, mechanically actuated means for operating each of said valve lifts to close its respective valve independently of the other valves and means controlled by containers to be filled for actuating at least one of said valve lifts for opening one of said valves.

EDWARD W. BRIDGE.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,460 Geyer Sept. 26, 1922 1,127,822 Sturtevant Feb. 9, 1915 1,327,463 Larson Jan. 6, 1920 1,343,696 Urie June 15, 1920 1,461,707 Hanson etal July 10, 1923 1,695,501 Opitz Dec. 18, 1928 1,993,367 Geyer Mar. 5, 1935 2,037,691 Baldwin Apr. 21, 1936 2,106,492 Adams Jan.'25, 1938 2,152,339 Anderson Mar. 28, 1939 2,245,287 Minard June 10, 1941 2,336,355 Hollead et a1 Dec. 7, 1943

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