US2760703A

US2760703A - Detector mechanism for bottle filling machine

Info

Publication number: US2760703A
Application number: US471216A
Authority: US
Inventors: Norman W Lyon
Original assignee: Package Machinery Co
Current assignee: Package Machinery Co
Priority date: 1954-11-26
Filing date: 1954-11-26
Publication date: 1956-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 1973-08-28

Description

N. W. LYON Aug. 28, 1956 DETECTOR MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 26, .1954

N ORMAN VV LYON N. W. LYON Aug. 28, 1956 2,760,703 DETEC'I'OR` MECHANISM FOR BOTTLE' FILLING MACHINE A Filed Nov. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 YIIIIIIIIIIIII FIG. 4.

IN V EN TOR. N ORMAN W LYON United tates DETECTOR MECHAWISM FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE Application November 26, 1954, Serial No. 471,216

Claims. (Cl. 226-960 This invention relates to a paper container or cardboard bottle filling machine and in particular to an elevating means and detector mechanism associated therewith in a machine of the type in which a bottle support on a revolving turret-operated machine is adapted for vertical reciprocation in order to present the bottle to a filler spout for the filling operation.

One object of the invention is to provide in a bottle filling machine of this type simplified means for detect'ng the absence of a bottle and/ or an improperly opened bottle and for preventng the elevation of the bottle support under such circumstances.

The invention will be described in connection with a revolving turret-type machine for handlng cardboard containers or bottles which have a recessed type of closure plug fixed on the container top wall and hinged for swinging 'to a scaling position in the bottle opening. specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the detector mechanism on a revolving turret-type filling machine with the casing of the latter cut away to show the elevating means;

Fig. 2 is a view with parts cut away and similar to Fig. 1 on a reduced scale showing the parts in bottle-filling elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts latched by the detector mechanism to prevent the elevation of a bottle support and bottle to bottle filling position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a bottle top showing the hinged closure plug.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a turret base frame member 1 with a turret frame 2 supported thereon as on roller bearings as shown at 3 for revolving the turret on the base. On the periphery of the turret at the upper portion thereof are a series of angularly arranged bottle receiving wall members 4 between which a cardboard carton may be disposed during its passage around the turret iframe. The turret is also provided with a lower skirt portion 5 on which is arranged a series of elevator platform mechanisms, such as generally designated by the numeral 6. Platform mechanisms 6 include a pair of vertically spaced support bearing lugs 7 in the bearings of which a slidable stern 8 is carried. Above the upper hearing 7 the stern 8 is threaded, nuts 9 being mounted thereon for vertical adjustment. Stern 8 carries at its upper end an overhang 10 of a platform support element 11. The bottom of a carton c is adapted to be seated on an adjustable post 12 vertically positioned in member 11.

The turret 2 is adapted to be intermittently advanced to successively present a series of cartons c at Stations annularly disposed about the periphery of the turret for the various Operations of loading the platform, opening the carton, filling the carton, closing, and sealing and capping the same and for unloading the carton from the turret. The mechanism herein illustrated constitutes lifting and atent intermediate the ends of the lever.

detector mechanism as positioned adjacent the filling station for the purpose of lifting or detecting and preventing the lifting of an unopened or improperly opened closure flap on the bottle as it is presented to the filling mechanism. In Fig. 5 the top of a milk bottle or carton is shown with the closure plug p hinged at 13 adjacent the inner side of the opening 14 of the bottle top wall. The plug p is formed with a recessed portion as at r and is adapted to swing from the full line position of Fig. 5 to the dotted line position shown therein so that the recess may be sealed within the edges of the opening 14. Prior to being presented at the filling station at which station a filling spout 15 (Fig. 2) is adapted to be extended within the opening 14 for the filling operation it will be appreciated that the plug p is folded back against the top wall of the carton in the full line position of Fig. 5. Thus the plug will cause no interference with the insertion of the filling spout 15 in the bottle opening 14 as the bottle is raised. The mechanism as disclosed herein is adapted to prevent the raising of the bottle for such insertion in the event the plug p is not 'folded back properly. If the plug is properly positioned the container will be lifted vertically and the valve lever 15' pushed upwardly against its spring 16 on the valve spout. The filling operation takes place in the raised condition of the carton.

In the drawings Fig.` l represents the non-filling position of the bottle elevator mechanism; Fig. 2 represents the filling position thereof; and Fig. 3 represents the relative position of the parts of the elevating means with the detector' mechanism in latched position, wherein the operation of the lifter mechanism is rendered inactive.

As best shown by Fig. 1, the lifter means includes a lever mechanism generally indicated by numeral 17 with the lever pivoted as at 18 on a frame bracket mounting 19 The pivot 18 is posi tioned inwardly of the vertical wall of frame support 1 at one side of the vertically reciprocable bottle support 6 at the bottle filling station. The lever extends through the sidewall of the frame 1 and at its outer end is formed with a lifter portion 20 for engagement against the lfting stem 8 and carriage of the same upwardly. Portion 20 thus elevates the bottle support from non-bottle filling to its bottle filling position. Inwardly of the pivot 18 at the inner end of the lever a cam roller 21 is carried for engagement by a cam wheel 22 fixed on a drive shaft 23 suitably driven by a motor (not shown) through the chain and sprocket connection indicated at 24. The cam 22, as best shown by Fig. 4, is formed to hold the inner end of the lever 17 depressed for the greater period of one revo- 'lution of the cam and thus serve to hold the elevated position of platform 6 during the filling operation.

' At the outer end of lever 17 is an underslung extension 25 with an upwardly turned end 26 pivotally linked to a vertically disposed detector rod 27. The rod 27 extends from the link 26 to a guide support 28 suitably fixed to the bottom end of the filling chamber housing indicated at 29 and from which the filling spout 15 depends. The rod 27 is freely slidable in the block 28 and carries in lower spaced relation thereto a latch arm stop 30 adjustably fixed on rod 27. Pivotally carried in block 28 and at right angles to the rod 27 is a rotatable latch pin 31 extending in the direction of the spout 15. On pin 31 adjacent block 28 is fixed a depending latch arm 32 adapted to freely hang with its tip upwardly adjacent stop collar 30 of rod 27. In this position the arm 32 prevents upward movement of rod 27. Also fixed on pin 31 at the end thereof is a bent detector finger or feeler 33. The finger 33 is angularly set with 'elation to the arm 32 and is adapted to hang freely with its outer bent end 34 in the path of a recessed plug of a carton when the plug, as in Fig. 5, is folded back away from the opening 14. Thus, when a carton is brought into registration at the filling sta-