US2644629A - Can filling machine - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1953 o. D. VELlE 2,644,629

CAN FILLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1946 INVEN TOR ORV/LLE D. VEL/E y 1953 o. D. VELIE 2,644,629

CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed May 8, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmwvm i 1 5 ORV/LLE 0. I Z-L/E July 1953 o. D. VELIE 2,644,629

CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed may 8. 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet s w in ,5? -22a o I /5 \I O Elli III] 'INVENTORS ORV/LLE D. //L/ 54 E BY Patented July 7, 1953 CAN FIYLLING MACHINE I Orville D. Velie, Bellingham, Wash; Orrie W. Norton, executor of said Orville D; Velie, de ceased, assignor, by mesne assignments, to

James Q. Leavitt Company,

Washington a corporation of Application May s, 1946, Sea; No. 668,238

8 Claims. (01'. 226 965) This invention relates to filling machines for automatically filling cans or other commodity vending receptacles with measuredquantities of vegetables, fruits or other edible products.

' One of the primary objects of the invention, as herein disclosed, is to provide an automatic filling machine for compactly fi1ling m'easured quantities of uncut string beans or other. elongated vegetables or fruits into cans or'receptacles' oipredetermined capacity and without subjecting the same to excessive crushing pressuresl Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a rotating turret'carrying a plurality of circumierentially spaced charge-receiving chambers together with a plurality of measuring chambers mounted to'rotate in timed relation with the charger-receiving chambers, and means carried by the turret operati'vely controlling plunger means for e'xpellingthe beans or other material from the measuring chambers into the charge-receiving chambers.

A further object of the invention is to provide charge-receiving chambers each consisting of relatively movable sections, and means automatically operating in the rotation of said chambers, to actuate the movable chamber sections and compress the material. therein to the required bulk for reception in the vending receptacles.

A further objectof the invention is to provide measuring chambers of novel sectional construction with means for adjusting one of the chamber sections relative to the other to vary the capacity or for the reception therein of vegetable or fruit particles of predetermined length. c

A still further object of the'invention is to proide a novel arrangement of vertically reciprocating plungers carried by the. rotating turret together with operating means therefor, whereby upon the arrival of each compressed charge at the filling station it is ejected therefrom into the can or container.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple means for effectively clamping or holding the can or container in position at the filling station and subsequently releasing the filled can and discharging the same to a take-oft conveyor.

In general, it is the object and purposeof my present invention to provide an automaticfilling machine as above characterized which is distinguished by simplicity of construction, efficient. and reliable functional operation with low maintenance expense, and maximum output of the canned product.

With the-above, and other objects'in view,-;the invention comprises the improved automatic fill- 2 mgmacnine or apparatus and the construction and relativearrangernent of its several parts, as Willheie'inafter be I'fidr' fully described, illl'istrated in the accompanying drawings, and subse quently incorporated in the subjoined' claims,

In the drawings; wherein f have disclosed one simple andpra'ct'ic'al' embodiment of my invention anol in which similar reference characters iridicate corresponding parts throughout the several views": A i v v Figure l is aside 'elevationfillustrating a filling machine as constructed inaccordance with the present invention g T I Figure 2- is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is atop plan view. 1

Figure'xe is a vertical sectionalview' takenv substantially on the line's- 4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is'a detail vertical sectional view illustrating the drive mechanism for the can feeding and discharging disks.-

R eferring infu-rther detail to the drawings, in the selected embodiment of my invention the superstructure of" the machine is mounted upon a suitable base it" Which; in the present instance, is in the forzrr o'i'a housing enclosing parts of the drive mechanism for the machine. Upon the top of thishousing a base plate I? is secured by mcans'ef suitable bolts I' l which may also secure the lowerend Wall of a-hollow cylindrical standard or column listen the upper surface of the plate l2'. A hollow drum I-8 surrounds the upper end of this standard, theto'p wall 200i said drum havingan upwardly offset p'artextending over the upper endof the standard lB-an'd' being rigidly fixe'd thereto by the: bolts or screws 22. Immediately below the druml 8 and at its lower end, thewall-o-fthestandard H5 is formed withrelaitively thick portions'or has welded to the external surface thereof the bearing rings indicated at-24, the-purpose of which will be presently explained. v

A rotating turret encloses the standard it. and drum I S said turret including a lower' cylirfdrical section 26 spaced irom'the standard It and.'hav-- ing' av fiang'e flfi' on its uppe'rerfid to .whi'chfthe lower ,end'of the cylindricalshelltfl of the-upperturret seeti'on secured. The up er end of the shell is closed byithe' top plate 32 .h ing anop'ening at, and a detachable cover is secured-to plate '32 by" the screw/s13. Atlits upper end; the

turret section 255: h'a'sian internally thickened fannular' portion 4'9 to which a bearing ring' iids wielded o therwise secured and haslr'otatable V t with,theperipl ieralsurface of the .73.? $3 Fmstandardi'igl Within the'ldwer 'e'nd ofthe turret" section 26,

the vertical flange of an L-shaped ring 44 is fitted and has a bearing ring 46 welded to its inner surface and in rotative bearing contact with the peripheral face of the lower bearing ring 24 on standard I6.

A large diameter spur gear 48 surrounds the lower end of turret section 26 and has a depending flange 50, which, together with the vertical flange of ring 44, is rigidly secured to the lower end of turret section 26 by suitablerivets, indicated at 52.

Below the upper section of the turret, a stationary elongated platform 54 is suitably fixed to the upper ends of vertical standards 56, secured to the top wall of housing I0. This platform is provided with an opening of suitable diameter in its rear end portion to receive the turret section 26 and the forwardly extending end of said platform is supported upon the intermediate portion 58 of a U-shaped frame member, the parallel legs 60 of which form inclined struts extending upwardly and forwardly from the front wall of the housing I0, to which they are bolted or otherwise rigidly fixed.

Immediately beneath the platform 54, a plurality of circumferentially spaced charge-receiving chambers are mounted upon the turret section 26 to rotate therewith. As herein shown, these chambers are located between the top and bottom annular plates 6| and 62 respectively, the latter plate at its inner edge having an annular flange 64 riveted or otherwise securely fixed to the wall of turret section 26 as shown at 66. This plate is formed with an annular series of spaced openings 68 of approximately the same diameter as the internal diameter of the can to be filled. The upper plate 6I is provided with an annular series of spaced, radially elongated openings I which are adapted to successively register with an opening I2 of similar form in the platform 54 at the forward side of the rotating turret.

Between the plates 6| and 62, at the inner side of the openings 68 and I0, the upper and lower ends respectively of charge-receiving chamber sections I4 are securely fixed. The opposed outer chamber sections 16 are radially movable between plates GI and 62 with respect to the chamber sections I4 and are each provided with a horizontal outwardly projecting arm I8 in which the spaced pins 80 are mounted to provide supporting journals for rollers 82 on the under side of arm I8. These rollers are engaged, respectively, with the inner and outer faces of a ring 84 eccentrically mounted and supported with relation to the rotating turret and standard I6 by suitable bracket members 86 projecting inwardly from the standards 56 (see Figure 1). It will be evident that, in the rotation of the turret, the outer charge-receiving chamber sections I6 are moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to the fixed sections I4.

In forwardly spaced relation from the chargereceiving chambers, a suitable bearing 88 is charge-receiving chambers. This gear carries 4 the adjustable measuring chambers. As herein shown, the metal sheet I04, suitably secured to the upper surface of gear 96, is formed with a series of bottomless upstanding chamber sections I06, in accurate register with each of the openings I02 in the gear. Complementary relatively adjustable chamber-sections I08 are formed upon the metal plate IIO, which is centrally provided with an opening receiving the nut Il2 engaged upon the threaded upper-end portion I I4 of the shaft 92., At its lower end, the nut H2 is formed with flange II6, underlying the plate H0, and is rotatively connected with the plate by means of a collar H8 secured to the set II2 by a suitable nut-screw. Thus the nut may be rotated upon the upper end of shaft 92 to move axially on said shaft with the plate H0, and thereby raise or lower said plate and chamber sections I08, with respect to the chamber sec tions I06, to vary the capacity or the vertical dimension of the measuring chambers in accordance with the length of the vegetable or other commodity to be received therein.

Below the plate 62, a ring I20 is secured to the periphery of turret-section 23 by rivets I22 and is provided with vertically spaced parallel flanges I24 having can end receiving notches or recesses I26 in alignment with the respective openings 68 in the plate 62.

The gear 48 is also provided with a series of openings I28 in alignment with notches I26 and openings 68, ineach of which a hollow cylindrical can clamping member I30 is slidably engaged. The upper end of this member is closed and between the same and a pin I32 telescoped therein a spring I34 is interposed. The lower end of the pin I32 is recessed to receive a freely rolling ball I36 bearing upon the marginal edge portion of the base plate I2. As will be seen from reference to Figures 1, 2 and 4, the upper surface of this marginal portion of the base plate has portions thereof disposed at two different levels, the lower level portion, indicated at I38, extending around the front side of the turret while the higher level portion I40 extends around the rear side thereof. The adjoining ends of these two portions of the surface of the base plate are connected by the sloping or inclined cam surfaces, indicated at I42, over which the balls I36'ride from one surface portion to the other.

The rotatable measuring chambers are preferably enclosed by the wall I44 which is supported with its lower edge in clearance relation to the gear 96 by means of a plurality of bracket members I46 fixed to'the platform 54. The rear portion of this enclosing wall where it extends beneath the upper section 30 of the rotating turret, is cut away as indicated at I48.

A bracket member, having vertical legs I50 and a horizontal connecting portion I52 extending transversely above the wall I44, is securely anchored to the platform 54. Upon the bracket part I52, at its approximate center, an ejector unit comprising a cylinder I54 is mounted and supplied with a suitable fluid pressure medium from a convenient source (not shown) for the operation of plunger I56, to the lower end of which a suitable form of pressure applying head or ejector I5 8 is secured. The operation. of plunger I56 is controlled by a suitable valve mechanism within cylinder I54, the valve rod or tured lug on. cylinder [541 When the plunger head IE8 is at the limitof its upward" movement, the arm I62 is di'sposedin a substantially horizontal position, and the other end of said arm is adapted to be engaged by circumferentially spaced obliquely inclinedicam-lu'gs I66, secured to the periphery of the upper turretsection 30.

.These cam-lugs correspond in number to the .number of measuring chambers, and are so positioned with respect to .the charge-receiving chambers that after a charge-receiving chamber comes into substantial alignment with one of the measuring'chambers,

armIBZ is then actuated by one of'the cam-lugs 166 to operate the valve mechanism whereby plunger head 15a is forced downwardly to dis place the measured quantity of material from the turret. To the outer periphery of'the wall i8, parallel cam-track bars Ill-disposed at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to the axis of rotation of the turret,--are;suitably secured; Be-

tween these bars and each piston rod I 68ra spacing bracket I M is secured to the rod by a bolt I16 having a head at one end upon which aroll er I]? ismounted between and in contact with the the spaced cam-trackbars I12 H Each piston rod I68 is provided at its lower end with a pressure-applyinghead I80, which is or" such diameter that when chamber section it is at the limit of its inward movement, and" the charge compressed, as seen at the left in Figure 4, said plunger head moves downwardly through the chamber in substantially concentric relation therewith. M e

As shown most clearly in Figure '3 of the drawings, as the plungers move downwardly from their elevated positions at the front side of the turret (shown at the right in Figure 4 after the charge has been compressed, they pass downwardly through a slot I82 in platform 54 extending through approximately 180 degreesaroundthe rear side of the turret 7 1 I While any suitable means may'beprovided: for rotating the turret, and the measuring chambers and for feeding the cans to charge-receiving position between thegear 43 andplat'e =t2iand for dischargingthe filled cans from themachine, we preferably provide the mechanism best shown in Figures 2, 3 and of the drawings. The housing in is of substantially rectangular form and adjacent one of the front corners thereof "a bearing I84 is secured'to the top wall'of :the housing in'which the loweriend 'of'l'a vertical shaft I86 is journalled. This shaft extends downwardly with- .in-the housing and-has a sprocliet'i88- fixed to the lower end thereo'fand connected by drive chain I98 with a .smaller..sprocket. I92 on the upper end of a shaft lfi l'journalled'in'the bearing I95 mounted on oneside wallof'the housing. A bevel gear I98 on thelowerendoffthis shaft is in constant mesh with'bevel 'pinion209'f'on the shaft of a motor mounted within housing. Iiland partially indicated at 202in Figure 4 of the drawngs. Abovethe.'bear-ing. I84,' gear. 20dis secured to shaft lBtandisiri constant'meshwith'the turret and charge-receiving I68 are vertically reciprocable through guide bushings I in the top and bottom walls 32 and 28 of the upper end section of At the other fruit corner of housing It, ope

posite to the shaft I35, a bearing ZIB isfix'ed to the top wallthereof in which the lower end of vertical shaft 222? is journalled. A sprccke't1222 keyed to this shaft is connected by drivelchain 224 with the sprocket 2I2 on sh'aft 208'. To the upper end'portionof shaft 220, the connecting hub 226 between vertically spaced can feeding disks 2:28 is keyed orotherwise fi xed to rotate therewith and is held against axial movement on said shaft by means of shoulderZtIlon the shaft and plate 232 secured against the upper end of thehub by meansof nuts 234 threaded upon a reduced upper end eigtensionof the shaft; The edges of the disks 228 are suitably notched or recessed to receive the individual cans supplied theretofrom a suitable-conveyor mounted atone side of the machine (not shown)-. Below the lower disk 22s a can-supporting plate or diskfiii is fixed to the lower end of -hub 226.

At the same side of the machineand rearwardly of the turret, a bearing member; 238 is fixed to the top wall of housing. Land in this; bearing the lower end of stub-shaft 24d is iournalledl [Io this shaft sprocket member 242 is keyed and; is

connected by drive-chain 244 with the sprocket 2 It on shaft 203. To the upper end of shaft 240 a disk 24-6 is secured to receive the filled cans and discharge the sametoacarry-off conveyor extending rearwardly from the machine; 7

Having now disclosed the several novel structural features of my improved automatic filling machine, a complete operating cycle thereof may be described as follows V I Having first vertically adjusted the measuring chamber sections H23 in themanner heretofore described, in accordance with the known average length of the string beans or other commodities to be filled into the cans or containers, upon-energization of motor 252, the several cooperating units are relatively rotatedin the directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 3 of the drawings. In the rotation of the gear 96, as the measuring chambers successively approach the central front edge of platform 5 the attendant places a sufficient quantity of the string beans or other product, in each of said chambers to completely iill the same in a loosely coherent mass, the lower ends of the beans extending through opening 192 in the gear and resting on platform 5d;

The empty cans are successively ied by the disks 228 into the notches of flanges 424th the turret between drivegear 48 and'plate iit i' These-"cans, indicated at C in Figure {2 of the drawings, are positioned at the front, side of the/machine in alignment with the respective openings 58 inthe plate 52 and with theiropen upper ends spaced below said plate, since the'members I36 are in their-normal positions substantially flush with the top face of gear 46 and the balls I36 are moving upon the lowerlevel I33 of 'the marginal surfaceof plate I2.

the turret arrives at a position in substantial vertical alignment with one of the measuring mechanism whereby the plunger is forced downwardly so that the plunger head I58 will apply sumcient force to the upper ends of the beans to urge the same downwardly through opening I2 in platform 54 and into the charge-receiving chamber below said opening. Only a comparatively light pressure is required since by reason of the lubricating ,efiect of the natural fruit or vegetable juices, the entire mass will readily slide vertically from the measuring chamber into the charge-receiving chamber. Since the section 16 of the latter chamber is in its outer position, the charge is received in said chamber in substantially the same loosely coherent mass condition as initially prevailed in the measuring chamber. The distance between thebottom plate 62 of the measuring chamber and the plunger operating cylinder 15 i and the stroke of the plunger is accurately calculated so that all danger of crushing the beans or other commodities is avoided. Of course at this time, the plunger rod I68 associated with the particular chamber whichhas received the charge is at the extreme limit of its upward movement.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, as the turret with the charged chamber and the can continues to rotate in the clockwise direction, the ball I36 moves upwardly over one of the inclines I42 upon the high level surface portion I40 of the base plate I2. The pin I32 and member I30 are thus urged upwardly and the spring I 34 placed under compression to tightly clamp the upper open end of the can C against the under side of plate 62 around the opening 68 therein. Simultaneously, the plunger 168 is forced downwardly by the can track bars I12 and the plunger head I38 passes through slot I82 in platform 54 after the eccentric ring 84 has forced the chamber section 16 inwardly and compressed the charge in said chamber. In the continued rotation of the turret and the downward movement of plunger rod I88, the compressed charge is forced downwardly and into the can C, as shown at the left in Figure 4 of the drawings. Movement of the compressed charge is greatly aided by the natural juices thereof and the plunger stroke is accurately calculated to avoid all danger of crushing the beans or other product.

In the further clockwise movement of the turret, the ball I 36 moves downwardly upon the other of the inclines I42 to the lower level I38 of the marginal surface of the plate I2, thus releasing the clamping pressure on the filled can. Flanges I24 on the turret, then direct the filled can upon the rotating disk 245 by which it is discharged to the carry-01f conveyor for delivery to the briner and seaming mechanism.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an automatic filling machine of this type capable of delivering in rapid succession, cans or other containers of predetermined dimensions packed to full capacity with uncut and uncrushed string beans or other edible commodi ties. It will be seen that the machine comprises comparatively few parts which are of simple and rugged structural form and will operate in a positive and reliable manner at high speed for maximum quantity production of the canned product.

It will of course be understood that the form and number of the measuring chambers and the charge-receiving chambers shown in the accompanying drawings is merely suggestive, and that any desired number'of these chambers may be provided, of any selected form or shape as may be dictated by the particular form or shape of the can or container to be filled. Of course, it will also be understood that wherever required suitable means may be provided for supplying lubricant to relatively moving parts, such as the fittings 248 shown in Figure 1 through which lubricant is supplied to the contacting surfaces of the bearing rings 24 and d2. Also the lower face of the horizontal flange of ring 44 may be provided with a self-lubricating bearing metal indicated at 250.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Whatis claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for filling containers, a charging station and a filling station; a revolubly mounted turret; a plurality of circumferentially spaced charge-receiving chambers mounted on said turret for movement therewith between said charging and filling stations; means at the charging station, including a plurality'of measuring chambers mounted to rotate about a common axis spaced from and parallel to the turret axis to successively position said measuring chambers above and in coaxial relation with said charge receiving chambers; charge delivering means, including a movable member common to all measuring chambers to eject the charges therefrom into said charge receiving chambers; means for actuating said member in timed relation to the rotation of the turret; and means operatively controlled by the turret for ejecting the material from said charge-receiving chambers into the containers at the filling station.

2. Container filling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge-delivering means comprises a fluid pressure operated ejecting plunger mounted above the measuring chambers and operating means for a fiuid pressure control valve, together with means carried by the turret for actuatin said valve operating means.

3. Container filling apparatus as defined in claim '1, wherein the mounting means for said measuring chambers comprises astationary platform having an opening therein to register with said charge-receiving chambers, together with a shaft journalled in the platform and a driving gear mounted onsaid platform in fixed relation to the shaft and measuring chambers having openings thereinv registerin with the respective measuring chambers and the opening in said platform.

4. In apparatus for filling containers, a charging station and a filling station, a revolubly mounted turret,"said stations being located at relatively opposite sides of the turret axis, a plurality of circumferentially spaced charge-receivmg chambers mounted on said turret for movement therewith between said changing and filling stations, means for successively delivering measured charges of material to said chambers in the continuous movement of said turret and chambers, each of said chambers comprising a fixed section and a radially slidable section in constant parallel relation to each other and to the turret axis, stationary means common to all of said chambers and directly coacting with means on said slidable sections thereof to radially move said chamber sections in one direction and dispose the same in maximum spaced relation to the fixed chamber sections at the charging station, and to thereafter radially move said slidable sections in the opposite direction progressively during movement of said chambers between said stations and hold the material under compression at the filling station, and means for ejecting the compressed material from said chambers into the containers.

5. The container filling apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said common means comprises a continuous annular member eccentrically mounted in fixed position relative to the turret.

6. Container filling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said charge-delivering means comprises an ejector unit mounted in fixed position at one side of the turret and above the measuring chambers and control means there fore, together with means carried by the turret for actuating the control means.

7. In container filling apparatus, an annular series of charge receiving chambers, an annular series of charge-delivery chambers, means for mounting said two series of chambers for relative rotation about laterally spaced parallel axes with individual charge-delivery chambers movable in succession into closely superposed registering relation with individual charge-receiving chambers at a position between said axes, power driven means operatively connected with said two series of chambers, an ejector, means mounting said ejector at said position for movement in a fixed path relative to the registered chambers, and means rotatable with one of said two series of chambers operatively controlling effective operation of said ejector upon registration of said chambers to eject measured charges into said charge-receiving chambers.

8. The container filling apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said last-named means comprises a movable control member for said ejecting device and a series of spaced cam elements; co-acting with said member in successive order.

' ORV'ILLE D. .VELIE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 897,420 Small Sept. 1, 1908 1,072,428 Colbert Sept. 9, 1913 1,719,580 Ayars 'J'uly 2, 1929 1,891,830 Nicholson Dec. 20, 1932. 1,995,918 De Markus Mar. 26, 1935 2,176,449 Avars Oct. 17, 1939 2,196,403 Thompson Apr. 9, 1940

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