US2749005A

US2749005A - Mold filling mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2749005A
Application number: US334787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Plusquellic Louis
Original assignee: NAT DAIRY RES LAB Inc
Current assignee: NAT DAIRY RES LAB Inc; NATIONAL DAIRY RESEARCH LABORATORIES Inc
Priority date: 1953-02-03
Filing date: 1953-02-03
Publication date: 1956-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-05

Description

June 5, 1956 PLUSQUELLIC 2,749,005

MOLD FILLING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 5, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 4.

, I 22 p "WM l L I 2/ j NH M2: z/

:3 I: 1\ I V g /7 A? FIGI. I 1 W P l] \l 44 I. I L! U! I I 1 /4 4 2? 4;

M? E Z! INVENTOR.

LOUIS PLUS QUELLIC ilwww ATTORNEYS June 5, 1956 L. PLUSQUELLIC 2,749,005

MOLD FILLING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 3, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

FIG. 3. BY

in ,4 T TUIZNEYS.

June 5, 1956 PLUSQUELLIC 2,749,005

MOLD FILLING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 3, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5.

g 1% /0 j (II III lmI l/ ln n III!" I IL "I" 2/4 IR VITALIZER REGGLATOR 50 OILER & FIL ER 7 DOUBLE ACTING AIR CVL.FOR I 46MAKEUP VALVE.

5f EEL REGULATOR. 1 DOUBEACTING AIR CYL. FOR

L MOLD STOP 5/ 55E DOUBLE ACTING AIR CYL. FOFZ FILLING VALVE.

IN V EN TOR.

. LOUIS PLUSQUELLIC FIG. 6.

J1me 1956 1.. PLUSQUELLIC MOLD FILLING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1953 N OE /J ATTOENE Ys.

United States Patent F MOLD ILLING MECHANISM Louis Plusquellic, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to National Dairy Research Laboratories, Inc., Oakdale, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 3, 1953, Serial No. 334,787

7 Claims. (Cl. 226-95) This invention relates to liquid mold filling mechanisms and, more particularly, to such mechanisms as illustrated in, my co-pending application Serial No. 212,940, filed February 27, 1951, now Patent No. 2,674,397, dated April 6, 1954, for Liquid Mold Filling Mechanism. In mechanisms of this general character, congeyors are provided for feeding molds successively to a filling position Where the liquid subsequently to be frozen is filled into the cavities of the mold preparatory to advancing the mold into suitable refrigeration mechanism. In these mechanisms and operations of this character, it is extremely important that a precise quantity of liquid be introduced into each of the plurality of mold compartments formed in the respective mold units or trays.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of liquid mold filling apparatus by means of which a precise quantity of liquid is filled into each of the molds after the mold has been advanced to and positioned in the filling position.

These and other objects are attained by providing in combination with suitable conveying and mold positioning mechanism, a filling mechanism wherein a supply valve is provided for each individual mold compartment, these valves communicating with a common reservoir for the liquid supply, suitable volume control mechanism being provided for the reservoir to insure a desired head of material therein at all times.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention Will be understood more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an end view, partly broken away and in section, showing a liquid mold filling apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on the plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section, taken on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the liquid supply valve shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section, taken on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows, this view showing the mechanism for locating the mold and maintaining them in filling position;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the fluid system for operating the valves and mold stop mechanism of this invention; and

Figure 7 is a Wiring diagram showing the circuits by means of which the valves, timing mechanism and mold locating mechanism may be operated.

Referring to the above drawings, and particularly to Figures land 2, a conveyor supporting guideway is shown at 10 andis provided with a movable conveyor band or belt 11 which moves longitudinally over the support Ill Patented June 5, 1956 ice in order to advance molds 12 to a filling mechanism indicated generally at 13.

The filling mechanism comprises a supporting table 14 which, in the form of the invention illustrated herein, comprises a continuation of the conveyor supporting element 10, this structure being mounted upon suitable framework 15 and legs 16. In Figures 1 and 2 a mold 17 is illustrated as being located in proper filling position beneath a filling valve shown generally at 18. The valve 18 comprises upper and lower plates 19 that are mounted upon supporting brackets 20 carried by the frame 15 by means of bolts 21 and springs 22 which normally urge the plates 19 together. Aligned ports 23 are formed in the plates 19 in number and position corresponding to the number of individual receptacles formed within the mold pans 17. As illustrated in Figure 3, there are four receptacles transversely of the mold pans and six longitudinally thereof, requiring a corresponding number and positioning of the ports 23 in the plates 19.

Between the plates 19 a movable gate valve plate 24 is provided, this plate being formed with ports 25' that correspond .in number and position to the ports 23. Plate 24 is moved to and from its closed position (as illustrated in Figure 2) by means of a valve actuator rod 26 which is actuated by the plunger 28 of a fluid or electrically operated cylinder or solenoid 29 that is mounted upon the frame by means of a bracket 27. The mechanism 29 preferably is a Z-position mechanism, one of the positions of which may be secured by actuation of the device in one direction by means of a spring.

Liquid is supplied to the ports 23 by means of a reservoir 30 mounted upon the upper plate 19 and supplied with liquid through a filler tube 31 carried by a cover 32 of the reservoir. Liquid is introduced through the filler tube 31 by means of a valve mechanism 33, including a movable valve plate 34 that is actuated by a valve rod 35 (Figure 4) that is controlled by a fluid or electrically operated mechanism 36. Here again the valve plate 34 is moved between open and closed positions (the open position being shown in Figures 2 and 4), the timing of the valve in its open position serving to provide a desired feed of fluid into the reservoir 30. Liquid is supplied to the valve 33 by means of a supply pipe 3'"! and any other suitable mechanism.

In order that the molds 12 may be successively positioned in the filling position occupied by the mold 17 a mold locating mechanism is provided, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 5. As molds are advanced from the left (as viewed in Figure 5) by the conveyor, they are properly positioned laterally of the conveyor by means of guides 38 and thus enter the filling mechanism. Stop

pins

39 and 40 are mounted upon a plate 41 which is moved toward or away from the conveyor 11 by means of an actuator rod 42 that is operated by an actuating mechanism 43 which, with the valve actuating mechanism, may be either fluid or electrically operated. The frame 15 is provided with a light source 44 by means of which a beam of light is directed transversely across the frame above the conveyor and in the path of the molds that are moved by the continuously moving conveyor 11. A photoelectric cell mechanism of conventional form, illustrated generally at 45, has the light beam from light source 44 focused upon it and is utilized to control the actuating mechanism 43 so that, when the light beam is uninterrupted by the molds, the plate 41 is in its retracted position (as illustrated in Figure 5), and molds may be moved into the filling position by means of the conveyor 11. When, however, the beam of light from the light source 44 is interrupted by a mold, the actuator mechanism 43 is actuated to move the

stop pins

39 and 40 into the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 5. This. position of pin 39 arrests movement of all approaching molds and prevents them from entering into the filling machine. At the same time the pin 40 interrupts the forward movement of a mold that has advanced into the filling machine and maintains it in its filling position within the machine during the filling operation.

After the filling operation has been completed, the actuator 43 is caused to retract the stop pins and permit the filled mold to be removed from the machine and an empty mold advanced into filling position.

Accurate filling of a predetermined quantity of liquid into the individual mold compartments is accomplished by providing timing mechanism for the valve actuator 29, this timing mechanism being illustrated generally at 46. Makeup liquid for the reservoir 30 is also controlled by a timing mechanism 47 for controlling the valve actuator mechanism 36. The fiuid system is illustrated schematically in Figure 6, as including a conduit 48 for air under pressure, suit-able mechanism 49 commonly utilized in pneumatic systems and including an oiler and filter for beneficiating the bellows mechanism of the various actuators,

conduits

50 and 51 in each of which air pressure regulator mechanisms 52 are provided, the

conduits

50 and 51 being connected to the actuators for the makeup valve and mold stop valve, and the actuator for the filling valve, respectively.

The elements of this system form no part of the pres ent invention, but rather, are conventional devices commonly known in the art and, therefore, need not be described in further detail herein.

In order that the valve actuators and the mold stop mechanism may be controlled in accordance with this invention, reference will now be made to Figure 7 wherein there is shown a wiring diagram of electrical circuits for accomplishing the control of the various operations in accordance with this invention. A suitable source of electricity is provided by a supply line 53 and switch 54, by means of which the source of current may be furnished to leads 55 and 56. A double pole single throw relay 57 is connected to the

leads

55 and 56, the actuator coil 58 thereof being connected to the lead 56 and, by means of

wires

59 and 60, to the lead 55. A double pole double throw relay 61, through one of its contactors, controls the flow of current through the

wires

59 and 60, one pole 62 thereof operating between contacts A and B and establishing connection between such contacts and the contact C connected to the pole.

The actuating coil 63 of the relay 61 is connected to the photoelectric cell 45 by means of a circuit 64 in order that the relay 61 may be actuated by the photoelectric cell. Power is supplied to the photoelectric cell mechanism by means of leads 65 which are connected across the power supply leads 55 and 56, the light source 44 receiving power through low voltage leads 65'. The other pole 66 of the relay 61 controls the actuation of timing mechanism 67 for the mold filling valve, this pole receiving current from the lead 60 by means of a bridge connection 68 and energizing the motor of the timing mechanism 67 through a lead 69 connected to contact A of the relay 61. A lead 70 serves to connect the motor with a lead 71 that, in turn, is connected to the lead 56. The lead 71 is connected to the contact B of the relay 61 through a telltale light 72 in order to indicate the condition of the circuit.

The timing mechanism 67 is utilized to control the actuation of the makeup valve as well as the mold filling mechanism and solenoid stop, this being accomplished by means of a power

circuit including wires

73 and 74 that are connected to the double pole single throw relay switch 57. The wire 74 is connected to the terminals of a microswitch 75 that is actuated by the timing mechanism 67, the

wires

73 and 74 thus providing a power supply for the actuating coils 76 and 77 of the respective relays 78 and 79 as controlled by the timing mechanism 67.

Solenoid control mechanism is provided for the mold filling valve, this mechanism being indicated at 80 as being formed with coils 81 and 82. The mold stop mechanism is actuated by solenoid control mechanism shown generally at 83 and including

coils

84 and 85. The makeup valve for furnishing makeup liquid to the reservoir is actuated by means of solenoid control mechanism indicated at 86 and includes solenoid coils 87 and 88. In order that a relatively low voltage source of power supply may be furnished for actuating the solenoid mechanisms above referred to, a transformer 89 is provided, the primary being connected across the

leads

55 and 56 by means of leads 90. The secondary of the transformer is connected to power supply wires 91 and 92, wire 91 being connected to the common terminal C of each of the solenoid controls 80, 83 and 86.

In order that the mold filling valve and the mold stop mechanism may be actuated upon the appearance of a mold between the light source and photoelectric cell, the movable switch or pole 93 of the relay 78 is connected to the wire 92 by means of a lead 94, and contacts A and B of the relay 78 are connected to the coils AC and BC of the

solenoid mechanisms

80 and 83, respectively, by means of loads 95 and 96. It will thus be seen that when the coil 76 of the relay 78 is energized,

current will flow across the contacts AC of the relay 78, and the coils 81 and 34 will be energized to open the mold filling valve and to move the

stops

39 and 40 into mold engaging position. Upon de-energization of the coil 76, contacts B and C will be connected together to actuate the coils 82 and 85, thus to cause the mold filling valve to be closed and too retract the aforesaid stops 39 and 4-9. Energization of coil 76 is accomplished by closing the microswitch 75 of the timing mechanism 67.

The makeup valve 34 is actuated by the mechanism 86 under the control of a timer 97, the actuating coil 98 of which is connected to lead 55 and to a lead 99 that is connected to contact B of the relay 79. Movable contact 100 of the relay 79 is connected to the lead 56 and thus controls, by its movement between contacts A andv B, the energization of the coil 98 of timer 97. The second pole 101 of the relay 79 is connected to the wire 92 and moves between contacts A and B, contact B being connected through lead 102 to the pole 103 of the timer 9'7. Pole 103 moves between contacts A and B of the timer 97 to establish connection between leads 104 and 105, respectively, these leads being connected to the respective coils 87 and 88. As a result, when micro switch 75 is closed, the coil 77 of relay 79 is energized and the contacts or poles 100, 101 thereof are moved into closed position A and A. In this position the actuating coil of timer 97 is de-energized and the contactor 103 establishes connection between contacts A and C of timer 97. However, since no lead is connected to contact A of the relay 79, no current flows through the circuit to coil 87 and the make-up valve does not open. Upon opening of the micro switch 75, the contacts of relay 79 engage terminals B and B causing current to fiow from wire 91 through the coil 87, leads 104 and 102 and return via the wire 92. Energization of coil 87 opens the make-up valve to furnish liquid to the reservoir. Engaging terminal B and B of the relay 79 energizes the coil 98 of timer 97, which tends to cause pole 103 to make contact across contacts C and B. This movement, however, is not instantaneous but is capable of being set at a predetermined time interval during which liquid continues to flow through the make-up valve. After a predetermined time interval pole 103 of timer 97 engages contact B so as to energize coil 38 and close the make-up valve, inasmuch as lead 105 will be connected to lead 102. Contact 103 of timer 97 remains in this position until the next cycle when energizing of coil 77 of relay 79 breaks the connection of pole 100 across C and B and deenergizes coil 98 of timer 97. The operation of the mechanism is as follows. When a mold passes between the light source 44 and the photoelectric cell 45, the relay 61 is actuated causing the confacts A, C and A, C, respectively, to be connected together, thus energizing the coil 53 of relay 57 to close the relay and energize the power supply provided by the

wires

73 and 74. At the same time, the timing mechanism 67 is actuated, causing the micro switch 75 to be closed and the timing motor to initiate its actuation in order that the micro switch may be opened after a predetermined interval of time. Energization of the

power circuit

73, 74 causes the relay 78 to be energized, thus energizing the coils 81 and 84 to open the mold filling valve 24 and to move the mold stop pins 39 and 40 into their dotted line position, as illustrated in Figure 5. The valve 224 permits the liquid to flow into the several molds until the timer 67 opens the micro switch 75, at which time the coil 82 is energized (coil 81 simultaneously being de-energized) to close the valve 24. Simultaneously therewith the coil 85 will be energized to withdraw the mold stop pins 39 and 40 from the path of the mold, and the filled mold is moved away from the mechanism by the conveyor 11 and a new mold is brought into the filling position, at which time the cycle is again initiated.

contemporaneously with the opening of the micro switch 75 of the timer 67, and the closing of the filling valve 24, the make-up valve is actuated inasmuch as a coil 87 of the make-up valve control 86 is energized with the de-energizing of coil 77 of relay 79 (as previously described). After a predetermined interval of time, timer 9'7 energizes coil 88 of makeup valve control 86, and flow of liquid to the reservoir stops. Thus liquid is furnished to the reservoir after the mold is filled, and before the succeeding mold interrupts the light beam to renew the filling operation.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Mold filling mechanism comprising a supporting surface, a continuously moving conveyor on the surface, stop means to position a mold over the supporting surface, stop means to prevent subsequent molds on the conveyor from approaching the supporting surface, liquid supply means, multiple valves positioned above the supporting surface and communicating with the liquid supply means, a photoelectric cell and light source mounted adjacent the conveyor, a first relay and circuit energized by the photoelectric cell, a second relay actuated by the first relay, a power supply circuit closed by the second relay, a switch in the power circuit, time delay actuating means for opening the last named switch, and means actuated by the first relay to close the circuit of the time delay actuating means.

2. Mold filling mechanism comprising a supporting surface, a continuously moving conveyor on the surface, stop means to position a mold over the supporting surface, stop means to prevent subsequent molds on the conveyor from approaching the supporting surface, liquid supply means, multiple valves positioned above the supporting surface and communicating with the liquid supply means, a photoelectric cell and light source mounted adjacent the conveyor, a first relay and circuit energized by the photoelectric cell, a second relay actuated by the first relay, a power supply circuit closed by the second relay, a switch in the power circuit, time delay actuating means for opening the last named switch, means actuated by the first relay to close the circuit of the time delay actuating means, and means in the power circuit to actuate the stop means and the multiple valves.

3. Mold filling mechanism, according to claim 2,

wherein the actuating means in the power circuit comprises a third relay, a first electro-responsive means for controlling the actuation of the multiple valves, a second electro-responsive means for controlling the actuation of the stop means, and circuits energized by the third relay to energize the first and second electro-responsive means.

4. Mold filling mechanism, according to claim 2, wherein a liquid supply pipe and supply valve is provided to furnish makeup liquid to the liquid supply means, and wherein a fourth relay is provided in the power circuit, a third electro-responsive means for controlling the actuation of the supply valve, and a circuit controlled by the fourth relay to energize the third electro-responsive means.

5. Mold filling mechanism, according to claim 2, wherein the actuating means in the power circuit comprises a third relay, a first electro-responsive means for controlling the actuation of the multiple valves, a second electro-responsive means for controlling the actuation of the stop means, circuits energized by the third relay to energize the first and second electro-responsive means, a supply valve in the liquid supply pipe, a valve in the liquid supply pipe to furnish makeup liquid to the liquid supply means, a fourth relay in the power circuit, a third electroresponsive means for controlling the actuation of the supply valve, and a circuit controlled by the fourth relay to energize the three electro-responsive means.

6. Mold filling mechanism comprising a supporting surface, means for delivering a mold to the supporting surface, multiple valves above the supporting surface, an actuator common to all of the valves to effect the opening and closing thereof, a reservoir for supplying fluid to the multiple valves, a conduit through which the fluid is supplied to the reservoir, a valve in the conduit to control the flow of fluid therethrough, means responsive to the delivery of a mold to the supporting surface for operating the multiple valve actuator, and means associated with the multiple valve actuator and operated in timed relation therewith for opening the valve which supplies the fluid to the reservoir for the'purpose of maintaining a quantity of fluid therein.

7. Mold filling mechanism comprising a mold supporting surface, means to position a mold upon the supporting surface, multiple valves positioned above the supporting surface, a storage reservoir for the fluid which is to be introduced into the molds, said reservoir communicating with the multiple valves, a conduit supplying liquid to the reservoir, a valve controlling the flow of fluid through the conduit, means responsive to the presence of a mold over the supporting surface to open the multiple valves, time-controlled means to close the multiple valves, and tim-controlled means rendered operative after the closing of the multiple valves to open the valve which controls the flow of fluid to the reservoir for the purpose of maintaining the storage reservoir adequately filled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 766,329 Cunning Aug. 2, 1904 1,289,973 Valerius et al. Dec. 31, 1918 2,042,772 Fahlbeck June 2, 1936 2,167,894 Kotcher Aug. 1, 1939 2,259,777 Politsch et al. Oct. 21, 1941 2,341,705 Fedorchak et al. Feb. 15, 1944 2,559,242 Boegly et al. July 3, 1951 2,573,100 Haecks Oct. 30, 1951 2,574,595 Shaw Nov. 13, 1951