US2638257A

US2638257A - Sac filling machine

Info

Publication number: US2638257A
Application number: US722455A
Authority: US
Inventors: Knobel Max
Original assignee: WA Sheaffer Pen Co
Current assignee: WA Sheaffer Pen Co
Priority date: 1947-01-16
Filing date: 1947-01-16
Publication date: 1953-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 1970-05-12

Description

May 12, 1953 M. KNOBEL 2,638,257

SAC FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 12, 1953 M. KNOBEL sAc FILLING MACHINE .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 1Q, 1947 KNX INVENTOR. fw/@0M- wfwZ/z.

3 Sheets-ShamI 5 M KNOBEL SAC FILLING MACHINE May 12, 1953 Flled Jan 16, 1947 Patente-d May 12, 1953 sacv FrLLTNG MACHINE Max Knobel, Arlington, Mass., assigner to Wl A.

Sheaffer Pen Co., Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware Application Januaryl, 1947,

`SerialNo. 722,455

4;4 Claims. (Cl. 226-63) This invention relates to an apparatus` for fill-` ing a container with avi'scous fluid without entrapment vof air bubbles therein. More particularly it has to do with the lfilling of a'fl'exible sac with a'viscous Writing fluid, for example, a' sac and yfluid adaptable for use with a so--called ball'p'oint writing instrument Ball-point pens now` available generally em'- ploy a writing tip in the form cfa sphere of ap# proximately one millimeter diameter mounted for universal rotation in a socket having an ink passage -the'rethroughthe passage being in uid communication with an ink reservoir. For-use in a penof the ball-pointtype, a vviscousink, somewhat in the nature of printing inlg'is refquired, and in order to obtainruniform, uninterrupted ow of 'ink to-the ballQjit isl essential that no air bubbles be present the body of ink in the reservoir or the passages intermediate the reservoir and that part of the socket Whereat the ink adheres to the ball for transfer tothe Writing surface. Even a minute air bubble can interfere with the ink flow and cause a skip or f-aintness in the written line. s

One type of sac found preferable for use as a reservoir in a ball-point pen may comprise soft rubber, nylon or other materials capable oflending a flexible or fiaccid characteristic tothe s ac, whereby gradual reduction in the ink supply will permit collapse of the wall of the sac and assist in feeding of the ink therefrom. A sac of this type is generally mounted on a metallic or other nozzle part having means for securement into that portion of the 'pen in which the writing ball is mounted, and the nozzle part is provided with a small passage through Which the ink may issue. Due to the flaccid nature of the sac, it is impracticable to attempt to iill the sac proper with' ink,

and then to mount the same on the nozzle part,

not only for the reason that an air space will be left in the nozzle part, but because the handling of the filled sac as an entity is difficult and messy. Heretofore the filling `operation has been by means of an implement in the nature of a hypodermic needle which is diicult to handle, and, due to the viscous nature of the fluid, extremely slow. Moreover, the inclusion of air bubbles is practically unavoidable. Even that method by which the open end of the filling conduit, e. g., a hypodermic needle, is first inserted to the bottom of the sac and then gradually withdrawn as the liquid level rises, fails to yield a bubblefree supply. The theory of this latter operation is that the air is ejected by the rising liquid level. However, in order for this object to be accomf.

plished without wastage of ink, the needle'should be'withdrawn -at exactly the same ratethat the sac is filled, otherwise the tacky ink adheringfto the needle is wasted, 'and the same must be wiped before starting to fill the succeeding sac. If the' needle is withdrawn toofast and the stream ofl ink falls through-air beforebeconng part of the body of ink in the partially 'filled sac, there is almost av certainty'thatfsome air bubbles will be entrapped. It is almost impossible to adjust the rate'of Withdrawal ofthe needle to exactly equal the rate at which the sac is lled because not only is it impossiblev to maintain' constant flow from the needle 'but the sacs vary consider-V ably in internal crossfse'ction.l The present invention contempl-ates, =as cer-'- tain of its principal objects; a method of filling the sac and the provision of an apparatus for accomplishing the operations involved in a rapid, semi-automatic ymanner resulting'invl a substantialy increase in lprod'u'ctiii over processes and lequipment nowemployed. Such method vas herein to be described briefly comprises'a complete evacuation of the sac' and the rigid nozzle part to'which the sac is secured; then the filling of the sac under pressure' and under conditions rendering the inclusionv of air bubbles practically impossible', [andv then the suctioning of a predetermined small quantity ofthe ink from the sac to prevent'.- overflow thereof' under circumstances to be noted. For convenience in' what follows, the ilexiblesac and' nozzle assembly will be referred to as the sac-section.v f Another object is lto'provide apparatus for" accomplishingithe several steps yaforesaid in a clean, economicalmanner'byutilizing a valve operable through several phases to perform the steps in required sequence',4 andbytheallocation to each step'v of ytime .sufficient tol insure efcient carrying out o f eachpart of the cycle.

Still anotherobject is the provision of appara-v tus as aforesaid including a supply of ink and means for feeding` the ink through the valve and to thesac section under carefully controlledpresf sure conditions.

' `A further. object is to'p'rovide a sac-filling apparatus 'utilizing anovel form of holder `for the sac section wherebyloading of the section in operstitive relation to the apparatus is greatly facilia ed. Y `An additional object resides in providing apparatus for the purpose stated which "includes rapidly operable means for receiving the holder .aforesaidtomaintain the inlet of the sac section in iillinglositon*,fw. A i

Other objects will become apparent as the de scription proceeds.

In carrying out my invention in one form I provide a reservoir for storing a substantial supply of ink and associated pressure means for insuring and maintaining a predetermined out-- ilovv of ink from the reservoir to a valve. Such valve is preferably of the rotary piug type, and is provided with a connection to a source of vacuum for evacuation of air or withdrawal of ink from the sac. By providing passages of novel form in the valve and means for rotating the movable part of the valve through a cycle, the several steps of the process are expeditiously performed in a clean and uniform manner. apparatus is motor-driven, and manually controlled for each successive sac handled thereby.

In the drawings which show a preferred einn bodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 shows a front elevational view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a 'planvieim partly in section, of the `apparatus f Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail view partially in cross section to show the reservoir and `means for applying pressure to the ink supply.;

Fig. 4 is a detail in yperspective of the rotary plug member of the valve.;

Fig. 5 is a front .elevational detail of the valve with certain parts sectioned;

Fig. 6 is a cross-.sectional view taken on the line G-G of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view in detail of the sac holder carriage;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lin 9-'9 Of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional'view taken on the line ylll-'Ill of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 11a, 11b,-1lc, 11d, and l-le are diagrams representing the functions of the cycling valve.

By Way ofexemplication, that form Aof the apparatus ofthe invention lto beherein described is adapted to charge `a sac sectionfof thekind illustrated in Fig. 10, the same comprising a sac Il] of flaccid material such as latex or nylon which sac may be `of any cross section, secured to a metallic nozzle-like part Il by contraction of the sac about a neck I-2 Aof the nozzle and banded by means (not shown) to insure thorough engagement. Nozzle il has an axialaperture I3 therethrough for passage of the ink fromthe sac to the tip of the pen and is moreover chamfered at I4 for intermating with other part-s of the pen not pertinent here, but which lpermits suitable loading of the Vsac section with respect vto the ink outlet lof the lling apparatus.

Due to the iiexible or iiaccid construction of the sac lli, I have found it preferable to carry the sac section in a holder I6 (Figs. 2 and 10) comprising an open-ended tubular body IT slit at one end at several spaced apart vpoints I8 about its circumference, the metal therebetween thus being rendered easily bendable to form a plurality of clamping `fingers l'9 adapted to grip the nozzle Il, a shoulder22 thereof abutting the ends of the fingers to fix the axial location of the sac section relatively to the vholder i6. To provide or to release clamping pressure of the fingers I9, a sleeve 23 having a knurled periphery is arranged for sliding vmovement on the body Il. It is desirable to be able to View the sac as it is being lled, and for that purpose an elongated opening 24 is provided in the 'holcler I6.

The l Now referring to Figs. l and 2, the apparatus comprises a base

3l having platforms

32 and 33 defining a depressed base portion 3d. To secure the machine to its support, a plurality of apertures may be provided, the latter being in flanges 36 and 3T forming extensions of the base 3|. Supported by posts 35 (Fig. 3) on platform 32 isa reservoir 4| having a 'screwed filling cap 4-2 into Which'a nipple l5 is secured, a T being then connected thereto. Into one outlet 0i T fit a `needle valve is tapped, the other side ci the valve being in communication with. a source of air pressure, and into the other outlet of the T, a tube 46 `is connected, the opposite end of the tube extending downwardly into a vessel el, e. a test tube.

Vessel 41 .is partially filled with a heavy iiuid, preferably mercury, indicated at 5 l, and serves as a `pressure regulator. The lower open end of tube 415 lies beneath the level of the mercury whereby air in reservoir "di Iand tube 4% is therefore restrained 'from escaping through the end or" the tube by the-presence of the mercury. It will be apparent, however, that if the air pressure inthe reservoir exceeds a certain value the air Will force the mercury `out Of the lower end of tube il and will bubble vup through the lmercury and escape. This will relieve the air pressure in .the reservoir and maintain it at a definite value. Acasing 52 havinga base 53 supports the vessel 41 yand the vesseland casing assembly is rendered vertically adjustable by providing a threaded stud 5d carried in an aperture 55 in the platform 3-2. Lock nuts 56-56 are provided for obvious reasons. To provide fluid communication between the reservoir-lll .and the valve shortly -to be described ,there is provided an elbow 5l and coupling 5B.

In Aaccordance with the invention, the sac first yevacuated, then lled, and subsequently a small portioncf `the contents suctioned oli. Desirably, i perform these functions in a tim sequential manner by means ci a vali e. Turning to Figs. 2, fi, 5 and e, the valve bloei; or casing ySi isinountedon the platform 52 by screws (not shown) ytaking into aperture* and includes an inl; inlet port tt rev ing the coupling titi. lSubstantially at the lon .idinal midaxis the `block ti! is positioned a rotary valve member or plug t5, the saine being preferably of frusto-conical form to insure a constant snug fit `into the mating aperture tt. Plug (iii is pro vided with an extension for connection with driving mechanism to bedescribed, the aperture t6 is rmade slightly longer than the corresponding `tapered part of the plug S5 to permit axial adjustment of the latter to accommodate wear.

Valve plug best seen in 4, include-s a plurality of channels or passages as follows: ll, 'traversing the entire periphery and in alignment axially with port d3; extending, in this einbodiment, over 231 of the periphery and. in alignment with the ing outlet `port il, and provided with three axially extending branches "M and 'i5 lall in communication with channel li; lli extending axially from the inner end of the plug to the -inkoutlet port Ti; and 'J3 also extending axially from the inner end of the plug end terminating beyond the port il.

'Coaxially in alignment with the plug t5 is a suction aperture 182 4to which is tted a coupling 8'3 in turn receiving -a pair of separating vessels 234-484, a vacuum pump S5 being connected to nozzle a.

clamped'sac section there is provided a carriage 88 in the form of anelongated'parallelepiped slidably supported on a 4block l89 secured to the platform 32 (Figs. 2, 7 and 10). Carriage 88 is disposed with a diagonal of an end face in a horizontal plane and gibs 9 |-9I bearing on the sloped upper sides ofthe carriagey 88 retain-the latter in sliding relation withv'the block 89; the sloped lower sides 92-92 slidablyengagingcorrspondingly shaped portions of the block 89. Projecting upwardly vfrom the carriage 88 is a pair of

integralsaddles

93 and 94 each having asubstantially semi-cylindrical channel at the top thereof, the channels associated with thel saddles" 93 and v94 having radii corresponding VAto the body I1 and sleeve 23 respectively ofthe sac section hold- 'er I5. Accordingly when the holder vis positioned 'operatively with respect to the port 11 in a manner to be described,-the

saddles

93 and 94 provide lateral guiding, and thefrontfacefof the saddle A93,beingfirrabutment withvthe sleeve'- 23, may force the nozzle into tight yeng-agementwith the port while simultaneously'assistingV in maintainingthe grip-ofthe sleeve 23 on'thefngers I9; The holder |6,rcarriagef88 and block 89 may be said to constitute a jig for supporting the sac section in operative relation with the apparatus. Irlorder to maintainthecarriage-88YV rearwardly in Fig.A 2,-orto the right vvin Fig. 10,thereis provided a compression*springr 91v supported ona pilot" screw 98 entering -an aperture- 99 in Ithe carriage, the screw 'being' threadedly v"engaged in aplate 9| secured tothe front face of the block 89.' Forward retraction of the carriage is effected bya handle |94 pivoted on a shoulderscrew |95 mounted on the platform 3L-the inner endl of the handle being circular in outline and engaged in a slot |66 inthe carriage, the handle clearing the block 89 through aslot |91.r "I'o provide 'a-snug, leakproof connection lbetween the port 11 and nozzll'efll,y there is (Figs.

zand 5) a washer l ljl{oflyieiuabiematerial,e. g.,

neoprene' a forni of synthetic rubber, supported by-a'ihetal washer' I2 v'screwed to-i' l1e.'fro'r'1ty face of the valve block l'lth'e-r hole of -thewasher YI being of usuch size as 'to`rece'ive" the cl'iamferetl end I4 ofthe nozzle VI vina wedged fit/the spring 491 v'affording thereo'uisit'epressur to that end. For use in ball-point writinginstruments of the kindherein'referredl to, a lpaste-like ink is ypreferred.''ABeing viscoushit may more accurately @Onilelled'rid 111101:@ 'easily Passedfthlugh the various conduits, andparticularlywthe valve of the apparatus, if renderedmore fluid fAccordingly, I find it advantageous to provide means to 4heat the valve and thusto render the linkmore fluid thereaboutand therein. Such means preferablyconflprises an elezkztricp heating element |5 -of 'any suitable type (Fig. 5)v inserted in a hole 'U6 in the valve body (5|y .and retained by a setr sfere-w In. an additionai aperture na, maybe provided .coaxially withthe lroley IIB tol receive 4a prod for pushing the element |-54ffrorn its 4receptacle when removal isdesired. j 'To indicate 'the operating terriperatiireA of the valve, the bulb of a conventional thermometer I9 illig. 1) Amay be inserted in anaperturek 2I (Figs. 5 and 6) in4 the valve bodyy |6|. Moreoviy means of :a `suitable rheostat, the temperature ofjifilliey element 5 may be varied ,to'uobtain optimum visfcosity of the ink.l Athermostat (not shown)v of 'Q any usualrtype may .be vconnected 'invthe circuit .inludng .the elementi@ toV regulatefl'fhe-iiem- A convenientlyplaced lamp Rperature :'thereof.

|23 (Fig. v l) may be provided to indicate in a conventional manner whether or not the element is receiving current. The main current-interrupting switch is shown at |25, and a lamp |26 may be included to show whether the switch |25 is on or off.

f' Valve rotor 65 is arranged to turn 4through one revolution to perform the cycle involved in filling one' sac,"andis therefore arranged to be rotated through a f uni-revolutional clutch and motor drive. Referring to Figs. l, 2, 8 and 9, an electric inotor (not'shown) is connected through a belt |26 and-pulley |21 to the shaft |28 supported on bearings IZB-|29 secured to the platform 33. A pinion |32-`afixed to shaft |28 drives a gear |33 keyed'vto 'thestub shaft |34 supported in a bearing |35 carried on posts |36, the latter resting on the flanges of the underneath bearing |29, and screws |31 being employed to fasten both the .upper and lower bearings tothe platform 33. A' stop collar |4I, together with the hub of gear |33, retains the shaft |34 axially, the latter being enlargedY at its inner end and apertured to form a cup |42-1n`which the stem 61 of the valve rotor 65-y is freelyl rotatable. v Arranged for rotation relatively to-the'shaft |34 is a disc |43 having a notchl|44 in `itsperiphery and a rigid pin |45 extending axially therefrom and adjacent the periphery of the cup |42. Juxtaposed against the right end face of the valve block 6| is a collar |46 afxed by a set screw to the stem 61. A rigid pin '|41 projects from the outer face 'of the collar |46 in radial `alignment; with pin |45, the ends' of the two pins being overlapped as seen best in Fig.l9. A coiled-torsion-spring |49 closely surrounds the portion |42 and each looped end thereof is retained-aboutpins |45 'and`I41.' Adapted to cooperate with the disc |43 is a trip lever |52 including-aforward thumby piece' |53 and an integral dog |54 Ahaving a sloped tip for `engagement with the notch |44.v Lever |52 is pivoted on afpost |55 affixed to the base portion 34 and is guidedin a slot |55 ina `second post |51. yA compression spring |56 seated'in the post v|51 urges the lever |52 upwardly to maintain the dog 54 normally into'llocking engagement with the notchl44.

' Operation vofthe apparatus is as follows: The reservoir '4| is completely or partially lled with a`'s`upply of'ink through the open end normally 'closed by the v,screw cap 42. By means ofthe valve 45, compressed air from any suitable source is' supplied to the Vreservoir 4 l. If desired, a regulator may be installed in the compressed air line for'rnaintaining the pressure at a predetermined value, and" the flow may be further throttle'd through the needle valve. Only a few ounces of air pressure has been found sufficient to provide they-small additional pressure in excess of the head of inkin the reservoir necessary to main- 'tainflowgofrthe ink-to and through the cycling valve-Jr AThe rate'atwhlch the air is bled through thegrneelle valve is very slight and the pressure onthe surface of the ink in the reservoir is, there- Aforegveryu closely equal to the pressure corresponding'to a columnof mercury equal to the distance fronrthe lower open end of the tube 46 Vinfimersedin the mercury 5| to the top surface of the mercury. That is to say, the space Vabove the ink is virtually a dead space, because the rate at'which the inl: leaves the reservoir is negligible. The pressure on the ink is determined essentially bythe columnof mercury described and does not dependtoany substantial extenton the incom- 'ingair pressure. It willbe understood that the 7 regulator ahead of the needle valve just referred to may be, for example, of the conventional .diaphragm type having requisite sensitivity fat low pressures and the.additional means including the column of lmercury dispensed with.

Ink enters the cycling valve body 6.! through port .$3 and -iills the recess 1| Wherefrom it is channeled through paths new to be described. At stopped position of `the vuni-revolutional clutch, the parts are as shown yin Fig. .2. 'An empty sac section is :loaded into the holder y|55 in the manner heretofore detailed (Fig. l), andthe charged holder deposited on the carriage B8 in the position indicated At the time of loading, the handle iM has been manually operated to slide the carriageforwardly in Fig. 2, or to the left in Fig; l), against the vbias `of the spring y91 so that after loading the holder on lthe carriage and releasing the handle, the nozzle is moved against the washer |I and there firmly held by the spring 9.1. f

Following the operation aforesaid, the thumb piece |53 is Vdepri-:seed and dog .|54 Athus withdrawn from engagement with the notch IM. Spring |49 is of such dimensions that its normally/coiled state will cause it to grip the portion M2. Thus when-disc |43 is locked against rotation by dog :|54 the spring isuncoiled slightly and slippage may occur between the same and cup H2.. However, when the dog |54 is released from the disc |43., the spring may resume its smaller .diameter to grip the cup |42. Consequently the cup and .spring may rotate together and the collar M5, to which the inner end of the spring is secured, may, together lwith the rotor .I

B5, also rotate. I-nasmuoh as lever |52 is released immediately .following tripping of the clutch, the dog |54 is .free to enter the notch |44 under urging of spring S, andupon said notch rotating to the .locked position one revolution of the clutch has been completed and the valve rotor is in stopped position as shown. Pins and |41 are in overlapped relation, as stated, and insure proper angular positioningr between disc |43 and rotor v|55.

AThe various functional phases of rotor t5 are brought out in Figs. lla through lle, the several pertinent parts of the valve there :shown bearing the same reference characters as in Figs. 2 and 4.

In stopped position, the rotor and valve block are as `shown in Fig. lla and none of the passages ofthe rotor is in communicationwith outlet port 11. Upon rotation of the rotor passage 18 (Fig. 1lb) is brought into register with port 11 and communication provided from sac vl0, through port 11, channel 13., port 82, and separators 84 to vacuum pump S5 and the air in the sac is exhausted.

Continued rotation of the rotor carries the beginning of channel y12 into register with port 11 and communication is provided between the exhausted sac and recess 1| containing ink, and the sac begins to fill. During further rotation corresponding to the peripheral length of channel 12 the latter continues in register with port 11 until the sac is completely filled. It will be noted that passage 12 receives .ink from recess 1| through three cross passages 13, 14 and 15in order to insure adequate ink flow all during that portion of the cycle.

The practically complete evacuation of the sac section before lling makes it possible to ll the section substantially completely by first iilling the open end ofthe section and finally filling the closed end, the direct reverseI of the needle method heretoforev alluded to. Forall practical purposes the evacuation .of the sac is complete, but should the machine not function ideally, then any small amount of air .still present is at very low pressure, and this will all be forced ahead of the incoming ink and become evident as a tiny air bubble at the closed end of the sac, and at a place farthest from the writing point. Such small air bubbles in this position have never caused any diculty.

Further rotation of the rotor cuts off the supply of ink to the .sac and carries channel 16 into register with port 11 to connect the sac .once more to vacuum and a portion of the ink is therefore sucked from the sac. y

Since the ink is forced into the sac under slight pressure there is a tendency, with sacs of certain materials, e. g., rubber, for the sac to become slightly distended beyond its normal dimensions, and accordingly the withdrawal of a small amount of ink after complete filling is a desirable step. On the other hand a sac of nylon, i. e., polyexamethylene adiparnide, being substantially non-distensible, would not fall in the aforesaid classification and a successful operation could be accomplished Without the nal suction ing step.

If the sac were stretched `before or during the screwing of the sac section into the writing tip, the sac section being open and the ink being under pressure, a certain amount vof ink would fiow out, making a messy operation. Furthermore, if under the foregoing conditions the sac section were placed in its protective casing and a usual form of spring and pressure bar inserted between the casing and sac, the bias of this spring added to the distended sac would cause too heavy an ink ilow and Weeping from the writing point when the pen is not in use. Accordingly the Withdrawal of a slight amount -of ink from the filled sac, is, under most circumstances, to be preferred.

Since final suctioning of part of the ink from the sac carries the ink into the vacuum line, the separators Sli-44%, comprising simple vessels open to the line, are provided to receive the ink caught in the line and prevent the same from being carried back to the vacuum pump 85. This final suctioning action serves another important purpose by drawing away from the port l1 some of the inl: therein, thereby avoiding dripping and consequent waste of ink. To catch any drippings from the port 11, I provide thereunder a container l5@ (Fig. 2), the valve block el being recessed at 60 on its front face (Fig. 6) to receive `one side of the container and to insure that any drippings reach the interior of the container.

The time found best for one .cycle of operation and for filling a sac having an internal diameter of 0.195 and internal length of 2.375 is five seconds, this period being subdivided as indicated in ila, wherein the preferred angular spacing of the air exhausting channel 13, the filling channel 12 and the ink suctoning channel 1.6 is as shown.

For storing a supply .of loaded or unloaded extra holders I6, a plurality of apertures |619 (Fi-g. 2) may be provided in the platform 33, and the same used in an obvious manner.

When filling a sac by a needle, the operation is necessarily slow since at high `velocity the thin Wall of the sac might be ruptured, and air present in the sac might be aspirated into the stream of ink filling it. In contrast, the lling operation as performed by my .apparatus is .substantially accelerated, and Without the dangers inherent vin the needle method.

While Iv have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it Will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover l -rotary valve, conduits interconnecting each of said sources with said valve, said valve having a port to which the container is adapted to be connected, and power-driven means for rotating said valve to interconnect said sources singly and in a predetermined sequence to said port, said power-driven means including a uni-revolutional clutch for actuating said valve from rest through one revolution;

2. Apparatus for filling a container with a viscous i'luid comprising in combination a valve including a rotary member, said valve having a iluid inlet, a fluid .outlet and a vacuum connection, a source of supply of fluid in communication with said inlet, a vacuum pump in communication with said vacuum connection, said rotary member having a plurality of channels so constructed and arranged that upon rotation of said member said fluid outlet is successively placed in fluid communication With said pump a rst time, said fluid source and said pump a second time in the order recited for one cycle of operation of the apparatus, a source of power for rotating said valve member, a uni-revolutional clutch intermediate said source of power and member for rotating said member through one cycle, and manual means for releasing said clutch for performance of a cycle of operation.

3. Apparatus for lling :a container with a fluid comprising in combination a valve having a fluid inlet and a lluid outlet, `a reservoir for holding a supply of luid, and a conduit between said reservoir and inlet, and means for maintaining slightly superatmospheric pressure on the body of fluid in the reservoir for insuring positive new of fluid from said reservoir to and through said valve, said means including a vessel containing a liquid of relatively heavy density and a tube having one open end thereof immersed in said liquid and the other end in communication with the space in the reservoir above the level of the fluid therein.

4. Apparatus for filling a container with a viscous fluid comprising in combination a valve having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, a reservoir for holding a supply of fluid and a conduit between said reservoir and inlet, and means for maintaining slightly superatmospheric pressure on the body of fluid in the reservoir for insuring positive lloW of fluid from said reservoir to said valve, said means including a vessel containing liquid of relatively heavy density, a tube having one open end thereof immersed in said liquid and the other end in communication with the space in the reservoir above the level of fluid therein, said vessel being shiftable with respect to the open end of the tube therein to vary the effective head of liquid above said open end.

MAX IQNOBEL.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wilson et al Mar. 2, 1948