US2787436A

US2787436A - Potato chip packing machine

Info

Publication number: US2787436A
Application number: US501898A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter J Reynolds
Original assignee: WALTER J REYNOLDS CO
Current assignee: WALTER J REYNOLDS CO
Priority date: 1955-04-18
Filing date: 1955-04-18
Publication date: 1957-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-02

Description

April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS 2,737,436

POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1955 5 Sheet s-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. Q WALTER J'. REYNOLDS ATTORNEYS April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1955 INVENTOR.

WALTER J. REYNOLDS ATTORNEYS P Z 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS 2,787,436

POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE Filed A ril 18. 1955 5 She'ets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. WALTER J'- REYNOLDS ATTORNEY:

April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 18, 1955 FIG. \0

FIG.8

' INVENTOR. WALTER J. REYNQLDS A T TORNEKS' April 2, 1957 w. J. REYNOLDS 2,787,436

POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. WALTER J'- REYNOLDS A TTORNEYS United States Patent POTATO CHIP PACKING MACHINE Walter J. Reynolds, Portland, reg., assignor to Walter J. Reynolds Co., Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Oregon Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,898

13 Claims. (Cl. 249-18) My present invention comprises an improvement in machines for filling receptacles with dry materials, particularly for filling bags or other containers with light and possibly fragile articles such as potato chips, macaroni, noodles, prepared dry breakfast cereals, and the like. While the machine is primarily designed for filling bags with such relatively light, fragile articles, it is to be appreciated that it is likewise adapted for filling containers with other articles or commodities which are bulk packed, as distinguished from articles which are packaged in alignment such as soda crackers in a rectangular box, examples of such articles being pellet type candies, beans, dried vegetables, grains, coflee, corn meal, and various fabricated articles. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an automatic machine which will operate at high speeds to produce uniform packages of exact weight.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the foregoing character which will not damage the commodity or articles being packaged.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the foregoing character in which the filling charge is uniformly settled down into the bag or open container so that the material of the charge will not be damaged by bag-closing or other machinery through which the package is subsequently passed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the foregoing character which is quiet in operation, and the various parts of which operate smoothly and free from shocks whereby the machine is assured of a long life and the operators are given relatively quiet surroundings during Working hours.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following specification wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed as a typical machine for handling certain products such as potato chips.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a packing machine having the present invention enclosed therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away in vertical section, of the machine disclosed in Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a bag-filling turntable comprising a portion of the present invention, the view being taken from the plane 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section looking upward from the plane 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial, vertical section taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section taken substanially along line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section taken substantially along line 7--7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical section taken substantially along line 8-8 of Fig. 2 and illustrating a scale-tripping 2,787,435 Patented Apr. 2, 1957 ice mechanism employed in the present invention as it appears immediately following tripping of the scale;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating the scaletripping mechanism at rest;

Fig. 10 is a similar view illustrating the action of the scale-tripping mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating the scale-tripping mechanism at its subsequent position of rest;

Fig. 12 is a partial side view of a portion of the scaletripping mechanism taken along line 1212 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a view, in perspective, of a modified form of means for feeding material to the scale;

Fig. 14 is a similar view of a further modification of feeding means for the scale;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a modified form of scaletripping mechanism;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view, partially in section, of a detail of the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a schematic side elevation of a modified form of dribble feed control mechanism.

The typical machine disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a supply hopper it into which bulk material may be dumped by any suitable means. The supply hopper feeds material into an elevator 3.1 which elevates the material in a regulated manner and feeds it into feeding mechanism generally indicated at 12. The feeding mechanism advances the material into individual charge-forming mechanism generally indicated at 13, from which the individual charges are dumped into bags on a turntable 14. Bags may be placed on the turn-table by suitable means, in the present instance manually, and are automatically removed therefrom and progressed elsewhere by a removing conveyor 15. It is to be appreciated at the outset that the present invention i concerned primarily with the feeding mechanism 12, the charge-forming mechanism 13, and the turntable 14. However, sufiicient disclosure of the supply hopper, elevator and removing conveyor is given herein in order that the complete operation of the important features may be understood.

Supply hopper The supply hopper (Figs. 1 and 2) comprises a suitable bin 16 having a bottom 17 and a forward wall 18, along the lower edge of which there is a slot 19. The bin is suitably supported in supports 20 and 21 whereby it is free to be vibrated in a material-feeding manner by suitable means such as an electric vibrator (not shown) whereby the material issues through the slot 19 in a constantly flowing stream which is roughly regulated to the capacity of the succeeding mechanism. It is to be appreciated that the supply hopper is representative of various types of mechanisms for advancing the material from intermittent supplying sources such as potato chip cooking machinery to the remainder of the mechanism in a somewhat regulated, constantly flowing stream.

Elevator The elevator mechanism comprises an upwardly inclined trough 22 having a lower end wall 23, and which is open at the top, and which is supported on a lower support 24 resting on the floor or the building and an upper support 25 mounted on top of a cabinet 26 housing suitable control means (not herein disclosed). A pair of guide Wings 27 fixed to the lower end of the trough, guide the material falling through the relatively wide slot 19 into the relatively narrow trough 22. A guide chute 28 pivotally mounted between the Wings 27 projects forwardly beneath the slot 19 and receives the falling material, thus breaking the fall into short steps and an intervening slide. A depending counterweighted switch controller 29 fixed to the chute 28 controls a switch 30 which is normally open. However, if ma- U terial should pile up on the chute 28 because of failure of the elevator to take the material away, the switch will be closed to stop the vibration of the supply hopper through suitable connections (not shown).

The material is elevated within the chute 11 by the upwardly traveling upper flight of an endless belt 31 spanning the side walls of the conveyor and provided with a plurality of transverse cleats 32. The belt 31 is trained about a lower idler roll 33 and an upper drive roll 34 which is driven by a motor 35 through a speed reducer 36, a V-belt 37 and suitable pulleys (not shown), which J-belt and pulleys are enclosed within a guard 38. The material drops from the upper end of the elevator onto a control pan 3@ which is pivotally mounted at the forward end of the elevator trough and which is provided with a switch controlling plunger for operating a switch 40. As long as material drops onto the pan 39, the switch 4t? r mains closed and causes current to flow to the motor 35 through suitable connections (not shown). H wever, if the material ceases to flow across the inclined bottom of the pan 35, the circuit is opened and the elevator is stopped. it will be appreciated that the control pan breaks the fall of the material into two short steps and an intervening slide, so as to prevent breakage. terial fed thereto is progressed into the feeding mechanism 12 at a controlled rate correlated to the speed of the succeeding mechanism, the elevator serving to supply the material at a fairly constant rate in evenly distributed, intermittently supplied, small portions.

Feeding mechanism The material is progressed from the elevator 11 into the individual charge-forming mechanism by the intervening feeding mechanism 12, which comprises a first vibratory feeder 4i and a succeeding second vibratory feeder The first vibratory feeder comprises a longitudinally extending vibrating pan 43 which is mounted on an electric vibrator 44, the vibrator in turn being supported by spring feet 45 secured to cross-members 46 on top of the cabinet 26. As is well known in the art, such constructions feed the material forwardly along the bottom of the pan 43 by reason of the motion imparted to the pan by the electric vibrator.

The material from the first vibratory feeder drops into the pan 47 of the second vibratory feeder which is mounted upon an electric vibrator 48 supported by spring feet 49 on the top of a suitable frame. The frame includes uprights 5 lower longitudinal bars 51, upper longitudinal bars 52, and a forward crossbar 53. The vibratory pan 4'7 projects forwardly beyond the crossbar 53 and the material fed therefrom drops into the individual charge-forming mechanism as will be described.

in accordance with the present invention, the characteristics of the two electric vibrators 54 and 48 are such that a more rapid feeding movement is imparted to the material in the second vibratory feeder than it is in the first vibratory feeder during a main or bulk feeding operation. By reason of this construction the intermittently fed charges are run together to form a constantly flowing, uiform stream of material in the first vibratory feeder. For short periods of time the feeding rate of the second feeder may be made less than that of the first feeder to provide a dribble feed, and this feed may be interrupted to accommodate the intermittent action of the weighing mechanism, as will appear.

Individual charge-forming mechanism The individual charge-forming mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 7 to 12, inclusive. The material which falls from the forward lip of the vibrating pan 47 drops into a scale bucket 54 which is mounted on arms 55 and 56 extending around the crossbar 53 from the end of a scale beam 57 pivoted at 58 on a suitable support rigidly secured to a portion 59 of the The speed of the elevator is such that the maframe. A depending portion 60 of the support is pivotally connected at its lower end to a horizontal link 61 which in turn is pivoted to a vertical link 62 extending upwardly and pivotally connected to the forward end of the scale beam. A second horizontal link 63 extends rcarwardly from a pivotal connection to an intermediate point on the depending portion 60 and is pivotally connected to a second vertical link 64 which is in turn pivotally connected to the rear end of the scale beam. The link 64 is formed to support removable scale weights 65 which determine the weight of the individual charge. Various fine details of the scale are not herein illustrated, this type of scale being Well known to those skilled in the art.

The scale bucket 54 is in the form of a vertically extending, open-ended conduit of rectangular cross-section throughout. A short, vertical partition 66 (Fig. 7) extends fore and aft between the front and rear walls along an intermediate portion of the bucket, the partition being located midway between the side walls. Directly above the upper end of the partition 66 there is a horizontal rock shaft 67 which extends fore and aft and is journaled in the front and rear walls of the bucket. Directly below the lower end of the partition 66 there is a second similar rock shaft 68. A guide vane 69 is fixed to the rock shaft 67 and extends toward the upper edge of the bucket. A pair of gates 70 are fixed to the rock shaft 68, the gates being at an angle of about 100 degrees with respect to each other and of sufficient length to extend horizontally across one-half of the bucket. The gates are so arranged that when one is in horizontal position the other is extending downwardly into the lower end of the bucket. The

rock shafts

67 and 68 extend forwardly through the front wall of the bucket, and are fixed respectively to links 71 and 72 (Fig. 8) connected together by a vertical link 73 whereby rotation of one rock shaft is accompanied by co-extensive rotation of the other rock shaft. The arrangement is such that when the guide vane 69 is thrown toward one side, thus directing the material toward the opposite side of the scale bucket, that opposite side is blocked by one of the gates 70 to form a pocket for a charge of material. Simultaneously a previously formed charge is dumped from the bucket from beneath the guide vane 69.

The rock shaft 68 is intermittently moved by the following means. The rear end of the scale beam 57 carries a small magnet 74 (Fig. 2) which moves upward past a pair of

electromagnetic switches

75 and 76 as the scale bucket fills with material. Each of the electromagnetic switches is of the type comprising a glass capsule having a mercury pool at the bottom which is normally engaged by a small contact bar mounted within the capsule and connected to an armature which is attracted as the magnet 74 comes opposite thereto. Thus the switch is ordinarily closed but as the magnet moves opposite the armature the switch is opened to break a circuit to the con trolled mechanism. When the scale bucket is empty both switches are closed, then as the scale bucket lowers due to the accumulating charge therein, switches 75 and 76 are successively opened, the latter switch being slightly higher than the former. The switch '75 controls the amplitude and speed of vibration of the second vibratory feeder 42, or it may control the amplitude alone or the speed of vibration alone. This action is accomplished through a suitable circuit including relays and rheostats (not shown) whereby the rate of feeding by the second vibratory feeder is greatly decreased when the charge is nearly formed. For example, if a bag is to hold one and one-half ounces of material, the feeding rate may be rapid until one and one-quarter ounces have been deposited, whereupon the feeding rate is reduced to a dribble during the weighing of the last quarter ounce, and subsequently thereto until the charge is dumped. It will be recognized that the movement of the scale bucket is relatively short, likewise that of the magnet 74. For example, the magnet may move a total of one-half of an inch during the rapid feeding of the main portion of the charge and one-eighth of an inch during the subsequent dribble feed for the remainder of the charge. It will likewise be recognized that a high degree of precision may be achieved by appropriate adjustment of the relative position of the magnet and the switches, by suitable adjusting means (not shown), and that the mechanism is devoid of friction creating means other than the pivots of the scale links, which are accurately fabricated to reduce friction to an absolute minimum, as is well known in the art.

A solenoid housing 77 is mounted on the forward end of the upper bars 52, the bottom thereof being open and directly over the forward end of the rock shaft 68. A solenoid 78 (Fig. 8) mounted in the housing is provided with an armature 79 extending downwardly in vertical alignment with the rock shaft 68. The solenoid 78 is energized to project the armature 79 downwardly upon opening of the switch 76, which occurs as the charge in the scale bucket reaches exact weight. The armature 79 is normally held in vertical position by a pair of retracting springs 80 tensioned between the bottom of the solenoid and a crossbar 81 on the armature. The springs are strong enough to elevate the armature when the solenoid is deenergized but not strong enough to prevent rapid, forcefol, downward movement of the armature when the solenoid is energized, to an extent determined by abutments (not shown) on the armature and solenoid. The lower end of the armature is in the form of a socket in which is received the upper end of an operating rod 82 which is pivotally connected thereto by a pivot 83 whereby the operating rod may swing slightly in a transverse direction. The operating rod 82 is normally held in vertical alignment with the armature by a tapered coil spring 84 having one end fixed to the armature and the other end fixed to the operating rod. The lower end of the operating rod is pivotally connected by a pivot 85 to a transversely extending operating shoe 86, the arrangement being such that the shoe may cant toward either side to a considerable extent in a plane transverse to the axis of the rock shaft 68. A pair of coil springs 87 are tensioned between the outer ends of the shoe and a crossbar 88 fixed to the operating rod whereby the operating shoe is normally held substantially level'in a central position as seen in Fig. 9. The operating shoe is directly above a pair of arcuate cranks 89 fixed to rock shaft 68 and extending laterally to equal extents and upwardly toward the oper ating shoe to equal extents on the opposite sides of the prolongation of an imaginary line substantially dividing the angle between the gates 70.

The arrangement is such that when the solenoid is deenergized and the scale bucket empty, the tip of one of the cranks 89 rests beneath one lateral extremity of the operating shoe (Fig. 9). As seen in Fig. 12, the lower surface of the operating shoe is preferably trough-shaped so that firm engagement occurs, the trough being open at the ends so that relative lateral movement of the operating crank and the operating shoe may occur. When the solenoid is energized and the armature projected, the shoe gives a rapid shove to the engaged crank, thus causing the guide vane 69 and the horizontal gate 70 to start simultaneous movement. The

various springs

80, 84 and 87 permit the shoe to slip laterally off the tip of the crank in very short order, and the shoe will descend between the cranks as seen in Fig. 10. However, the inertia of movement thus imparted, coupled with the fact that the charge above the closed gate 70 exerts a force tending to open the gate, causes continued movement of the guide vane and the gate to dump the charge, close the opposite side of the weighing scale bucket, and guide the material thereinto. The over-balanced mass of the guiding vane 69 causes the movement to be completed and is sutlicient to hold the guide vane and gate in the opposite position even though there should be some force tending to reopen the closed pocket as the shoe climbs upwardly from its position in Fig. 10 to that in Fig. 11 when the magnet is deenergized, Fig. 8 showing an intermediate position of the shoe during such climbing action following an actuation of the vane and gate in the opposite direction. Suitable controls (not shown) cause the energization of the solenoid to be of very short duration, whereby the shoe is rapidly projected downwardly and then rapidly retracted. The movement of the guide vanes 69 and the gates 70 is practically instantaneous. However, the emptied scale bucket moves slowly upward due to the inherent characteristics of scale mechanisms, so that the operating shoe has suflicient time to reassume a horizontal position and the various parts of the operating mechanism to reassume vertical alignment prior to reengagement of the opposite crank with the bottom of the shoe, as seen in Fig. 11. It will be appreciated that the action of the shoe on the crank is in the nature of a strong shove, which is terminated prior to complete movement of the crank, and therefore the mechanism is not subjected to hammer blows during operation.

The second switch 76 also controls a series of mechanisms which are operated in exactly timed sequence, to accomplish a series of results through suitable controls (not shown), including controls which energize a second solenoid mounted in the housing 77 (Fig. 2). The armature of solenoid 90 is projected upwardly to rock a bell crank 91 which is connected through suitable links, as seen in Fig. 2, to a rock shaft 92 supporting a depending brush 93 located above the end of the second vibrating pan 47 and which is normally in an outwardly inclined position, as shown in dash outline. Energization of the solenoid causes the brush to assume a vertical position across the open end of the feeding pan, as seen in full outline in Fig. 2, thus holding the material in the pan. Any material which is subsequently fed forward piles up against the brush. The rapid action of the operating mechanism for the cranks 89 assures reversal of the positions of the guide Vane 69 and gates "70 prior to sufficient upward return of the scale bucket to remove the magnet 74 from operating proximity to the electromagnetic switch 76. This reversal of parts occurs instantaneously whereupon the bucket starts to rise, and in very short order the magnet 74 descends far enough to allow reclosing of switch 76, thus causing the overbalanced weight of the crank 91 and the connecting linkage to return the brush to its open position. Material will thereupon commence falling into the newly created pocket even while the preceding charge is falling from the other pocket. Thus the creation of the succeeding charge commences prior to the time the preceding charge has left the scale bucket entirely, assuring maximum speed of operation of the machine.

The discharged material falls into the upper end of an intermediate chute 94 having a vertical front wall, inwardly inclined side walls 95, and an inwardly inclined rear wall 96. A fore-and-aft batile having oppositely sloped vanes 97 is located in the upper. portion of the chute. The lower end of the scale bucket 54 extends into the open upper end of the chute 94 and is slightly restricted by inwardly bent portions of the walls thereof whereby the opening from the scale bucket is substantially entirely above the inclined rear wall 96. The atrangement is such that the material falls a short distance onto one of the vanes 97, slides therealong, drops a short distance onto the inclined rear wall 96 or one of the side walls 95, and slides therealong, then through the open, horizontally situated, lower end of the chute, thereby minimizing the danger of breakage.

Turntable The turntable is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the principal element thereof being a flat top 100 comprising a rigid sheet of light aluminum alloy. Metal of light weight is preferred so that the inertia of movement as the table is indexed may be more easily overcome.

7 The table is polygonal in outline as illustrated, but could just as well be a disc. The table top rotates in a horizontal plane slightly below the horizontal open mouth of the chute 94, and is provided with a plurality of rectangular openings 101 through which the discharged material may drop. It it to be appreciated that the table is indexed in short steps so as to successively arrest the openings 101 beneath the chute. The upper surface is provided with a plurality of spaced pressure pads 102 close to the edge of the table and midway between adjacent openings. Directly beneath each pressure pad there is provided a cam 193 (Figs. 4 and 6) which inclined with respect to the lower surface of the table rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation.

A support 104 (Fig. 3) is mounted on the forward wall of a housing 105 which is fixed to and encloses the frame members 50, the support being slightly above the upper surface of the table top and including a forward portion extending substantially tangentially to the edge of the table. A lever 106 (Fig. 6) is pivotally mounted on the support by a horizontal pivot 107 and extends tangentially in the direction of rotation. This lever carries a roller 108 which is normally spaced from the surface of the table when the lever is in its lowermost position and the roller is adapted to ride up sli htly on each of the pressure pads $2. The extreme end of the lever 106 is bifurcated and is pivotally connected to the end of a spring housing cylinder 109 which extends rearwardly with respect to the direction of rotation in a position overlying the lever 106. A spring 110 is retained within the cylinder 109 and compressed between a forward abutment 111 and a rearwardly located piston 112. The rest position of the abutment 111 may be adjusted by an adjustment screw 113 extending throu h the end wall of the cylinder. The piston 112 is connected to a piston rod 114, which extends through the open end of the cylinder, and is connected to the upwardly extending rear arm of a bell crank 115 pivotally mounted on the housing by a pivot 116. The forwardly extending arm of the bell crank supports a roller 117 adapted to engage the cam 103, and the extreme end thereof is connected to the armature 118 of a solenoid 119 mounted on the housing.

The operation of the foregoing table arresting mechanism is as follows. The table top is rotated through a friction drive (to be described), which constantly tends to cause rotation. The spring 110 is compressed between the piston 112 and abutment 111 and tends to rock the roller 117 upwardly and the roller 1% downwardly. As the roller 117 engages the inclined surface of the cam 103, the spring resists movement of the rollers away from each other such that the gripping force exerted by the spring 110 through the rollers overcomes the driving force of the frictional drive for the table. The table is thus brought to a stop gently, without the usual banging of indexing mechanism. It is to be appreciated that the initial compression of the spring 110 may be controlled by means of the adjusting screw 113 whereby the table top may be brought to a stop as gently as desired and that the thrust of the roller 117 against the table during a stopping operation is resisted by the roller 133. It is likewise to be appreciated that the circumferential extent of the openings 191 is sufficiently great with re spect to the width of the chute mouth so that a reasonable range of variation in stopping points may be accommodated. The solenoid 119 is normally d energized, and is energized in suitably timed relation to the actuation of the solenoid 78 for dumping the charge to assure cornplete emptying of the charge prior to the next index'ng movement of the table, which takes place while the suc ceeding charge is being formed. Energization of the solenoid 119 lowers the roller 117 from contact with the cam 103, permitting the frictional drive to move the table. The solenoid is deenergized as soon as the cam 103 clears the roller, thus raising roller 108 in readiness to bring the table to a stop at the next filling position.

The table is rotated by a motor 120 (Fig. 2) mounted in the bottom of a housing 121 beneath the table. A belt 12?. connects the motor to reduction gear means 123 which drives a vertical shaft 124- extending upwardly within the housing. A flywheel 125 secured to the shaft supports the lower end of a spring 125 surrounding the upper end of the shaft 124. A driven shaft 127 is journaled in a socket in the upper end of the shaft 124 and in the upper end of an extension 123 of the housing, the upper end of shaft 127 being fixed to the center of the table The spring 12-5 thrusts upwardly upon a driving clutch disc 129 which is splined on the upper end of the shaft and thrusts against a driven clutch disc fixed to shaft 127. The friction between the discs 5.3 'nd is sufficient to rotate the table when the it g mechanism is disengaged, but is insufficient to drive the table when the indexing mechanism is engagcd as previously described.

A plurality of bag-supporting and filling chutes 131 are indi dually supported beneath the openings 101 in the table top. chute is supported at the outer end of a horizontal plate 132 extending radially outward from :1 depending block 133 fixed to the lower surface of the tabie top. The upper horizontal edge of the chute 131 is spaced from the lower surface of the table a short distance, and the plate 132 is formed of a spring metal, such as a suitable aluminum alloy, whereby jogging motion may be imparted to the chutes. The bag-supporting and filling chute 131 is rigidly secured to the free end of the plate which plate therefore comprises a resilient mounting permitting vertical jogging of the chute.

The motor also (iii-3E5 jogging mechanism as fol- T he motor is connected by a belt 134 and pulleys 135 raving a short throw, in the order of ta of an inch or less. wardly of 111v pivotally connected at portion of a jogging lever i ported by a transverse pivot the housing extension a. slotted at its attached en 50 that the driven shaft 127 may pass therethrough. he lever 137 is an irregularly shaped plate extending across the top of the housing extension and thcrebeycnd toward the charge-forming on A 37, which is pivotally sup- 133 mounted on the top of The jogging lever 137 is it T mechtn r illl" in a flange having two portions po ned at an angic to each other and each extending right angles to a radius of the table, the

angle between said portions being equal to the angle between a pair of adjacent filling chutes. A pair of wheels 1411 mou parallel to the two flange portions and in front of to an on fixed spindles 51 secured to the flanges. Each wheel supports a rubber tire 142. The

tires rotate in vertic l pianes, normal to the surface of the table. An inverted strap is mounted on and depends from the bottom of an intermediate portion of each of the chute-mounting plates 13?. in position to engage the tires 1 12. Thus, the chute beneath the scale bucket and. the one succeeding in the direction of rotation are both jogged by the reciprocating pitman 36. The jogging is smoothly transmitted to the chutes by reason of the strap 143 engaging the top of the rubber tire 142, tion as to initially stress the 'dly. By reason of this en 2. the mounting plate does 9 bag is placed on the bag-holding chute by a worke sitting in the angle between the removal conveyor 15 and the housing 105. From inspection of Fig. 1 it may be seen that the operator has an empty bag chute within reach during a filling operation and during the movement prior and succeeding thereto. The lower edge of the chute 131 is sloped radially inward, so as to provide a wedge shape for facilitating entry of the chute into the open end of the bag. The bag is retained on the chute by a pair of upwardly inclined, gripping fingers 144 (Figs. 2 and 4) which are mounted on a bar 145 fixed to and depending from the plate 132. A pair of springs 1% tensioned between the bar and rearwardly projecting portions of the fingers 1M maintain the upper ends of the fingers pressed against the bag-holding chute. The upper ends of the fingers are preferably provided with rubber caps frictionally to grip the material of the bag and hold it firmly on the chute during the filling and jogging operation. A cam plate 147 mounted on a bracket extending radially outward from the housing extension 128 presses downwardly and outwardly against the rear portions of the gripping fingers as the filled and jogged bag reaches the end of the removal conveyor 15, thereby releasing the filled bag to drop upon the removal conveyor at the proper time. A second cam plate 148 is provided adjacent the operators station in position to lift the fingers from the surface of the chute so that the bag may be positioned without interference. When the operator has properly positioned the bag, he holds it lightly in position until the table is indexed again, thus causing the gripping fingers to pass beyond the cam plate 148 and engage the bag. A removable pin 149 is positioned beneath the weighing mechanism to salvage material which would otherwise drop onto the floor in the event the operator does not position a bag on the empty chute approaching the weighing mechanism.

Removal conveyor As illustrated in Fig. 1, the removal conveyor comprises an endless belt 151 mounted in a suitable frame 152 holding guide and drive rolls (not shown), the frame supporting suitable guide rails 153 at each side (one set being removed for convenience of illustration). It is to be appreciated that any other removal mechanism may be employed including means for feeding the filled bag or other container directly into sealing or closing mechanism.

Modifications Fig. 13 shows a modification of the vibratory feeding pan and which may be substituted for the pan of the vibratory feeder 42 of Fig. 1. The pan 155 of Fig. 13 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending interior partitions 156 at its forward end, which divide the open end of the pan into three parallel subdivisions. A rock shaft 157 mounts a pair of holding brushes 158, each of which is adapted to block off one of the outer subdivisions. These brushes are elevated during the bulk feed accomplished by high speed vibration of the pan, but are depressed to block off the outer sections of the pan during the low speed dribble operation. Thus only a certain limited amount of material can escape from the pan during the dribble feeding operation, which affords a greater degree of accuracy with some commodities. It is to be appreciated that the foregoing might be utilized in conjunction with a central brush which is actuated at the end of the dribble feed completely to block off the feeding operation.

A further modification of the foregoing is illustrated in Fig. 14 wherein the vibratory feeding pan 160 is subdivided into three sections by a pair of adjustable, longitudinally extending partitions 161, which are provided with hangers 162 extending outward over the upper longitudinal bars 52, the hangers being provided with elongated slots 163 through which pass screws extending into the bars, and whereby the respective widths of the several troughs thus formed may be altered to suit the particular conirnodity. As previously described, a rock shaft 164 supports a pair of brushes 165 for blocking off the outer troughs, with which there may be provided a central brush operated as previously described.

The modification disclosed in Figs. 15 and 16 illustrates a scale bucket which is particularly adapted for very fragile commodities which cannot be dropped, as in the scale bucket illustrated in Fig. 7. In order to take care of this situation, all surfaces past which the articles move during their fall from one level to another are inclined so that the material slides downwardly along the bottoms of troughs rather than dropping vertically through chutes. The scale bucket is likewise inclined, so that material will slide downwardly along the rear wall 171 thereof. As previously described, the scale bucket encloses a pivoted guiding vane 1'72 and a pair of gates 173 which are linked together by a linkage of the type previously described, and which are operated by an operating shoe 174 striking a pair of cranks 175 similar to the cranks 89 previously described. In this instance the operating solenoid 176 projects an armature 177 which is pivotally connected to an operating rod 178, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to the shoe 174, which is maintained in substantially central position by a pair of springs 1'79. The shoe is guided toward the operative crank 175 by a roller 18b surrounding a disc 181 fixed to the lower end of an arm 182 projecting downwardly from the rod 178. A ball 183 is retained in a central socket in the lower surface of the disc by a suitable retainer 184 through which the surface of the ball projects, and engages the upper surface of the upper wall 185 of the scale bucket. Thus, the operating rod 178 is maintained in substantial parallelism with the wall 185 so that the shoe is maintained in correct alignment with the operating cranks. It will be appreciated that even though the scale bucket is set at an inclination, its movement during weighing is substantially vertical, so that the pivotal connection between the armature 1'77 and the operating rod 178 is so formed as to permit play whereby the operating shoe may follow the bucket downwardly. The roller engages a pair of guide bars 186 fixed to the upper surface of the wall 185, the guide bars converging upwardly toward the solenoid. When the shoe is retracted the guide bars bring it toward the center of the equipment so that it will be in line with either crank 175, whichever is uppermost at the time.

In the modification disclosed in Fig. 17, an arcuate gate bucket 191i is interposed between the outlet end of the second vibratory feeder pan 191 and the scale bucket 192. A pivotally supported solenoid 193 is provided with an armature 194 connected to the gate through a crank 1%. Such a gate bucket may be used in lieu of the brush Q3 of the principal modification, and may be used to cut off the dribble from the central troughs of the modifications disclosed in Figs. 13 and 14. The gate bucket will accumulate material between weighing actions, which is dumped as a part of the bulk feed.

Having illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same permits of other modifications in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two weighing com partrnents for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable mean discharging one of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, said pivotal member having a pair of crank arms extending therefrom, an operating member reciprocable with respect to said pivoted member, said reciprocating operating member alternately engaging each of said crank arms of said pivoted member to alternately move it from one of said positions to the other upon successive recipro cations of said operating member in the same direction, and means responsive to a predetermined weight of said scale bucket and material therein for reciprocating operating member to move said pivoted member.

2. in a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two eighing compartments for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of said compartments and causing the i of said compartment to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocable along a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member, one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in one of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, and means for reciprocating said operating member to engage its free end with the one of said arms in said path and move said pivoted member from one of said positions to the other and then cause return of said operating member, said operating member being supported to have said free end movable out of said path by the other of said arms during said return.

3. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocable along a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member, one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in one of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, means for reciprocating said operating member to engage its free end With the one of said arms in said path and move said pivoted member from one of said positions to the other and then cause return of said operating member, said operating member being resiliently connected to said means tor reciprocating said operating member so as to have said l'ree end movable out of said path by the other of said arms during said return, said bucket having said compartments laterally disposed with respect to each other and having fixed bottom and top walls extending at an angle to the vertical from the inlet opening of the bucket to the discharge opening thereof, said pivoted member extending upwardly from said top wall and having its pivotal axis perpendicular to said top wall, said operating member having its path of reciprocation parallel to said top wall, and guide means carried by said reciprocating member and resting on said top wall.

4'. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocable along a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member, one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in one of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, means for reciprocating said operating member to engage its free end with the one of said arms in said path and move said pivoted memher from one of said positions to the other and then cause return of said operating member, said operating member being resiliently connected to said means for reciprocating said operating member so as to have said free end movable out of said path by the other of said arms during said return, said bucket having said compartments laterally disposed with respect to each other and having fixed bottom and top walls extending at an angle to the vertical from the inlet opening of the bucket to the discharge opening thereof, said pivoted member extending upwardly from said top wall and having its pivotal axis perpendicular to said top wall, said operating member having its path of reciprocation parallel to said top wall, and guide means carried by said reciprocating member and resting on said top wall, said guide means including an antifriction bearing engaging the top wall of said bucket and said top wall of said bucket having angularly disposed guide members engaging said guide means to return said free end of said operating member to said path at the end of said return.

5. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member reciprocable in a direction extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member, an actuating shoe having its midpoint pivotally mounted on the end of said opearting member, resilient means retaining said shoe in a position having its ends extending laterally of said direction, one of said crank arms being in the path of one end of said shoe when said pivoted member is in one of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in the path of the other end of said shoe when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, and means for moving said operating member along said path to engage said shoe with the one of said arms in said path and move said pivoted member from one of said positions to the other and then cause return of said operating member, said operating member being pivoted to the last-named means and movable laterally to clear the other of said arms during said return.

6. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, an operating member movable transversely of the pivotal axis of said member to move said pivoted member from one of said positions to the other, said feeding means including a first vibratory feeder receiving material to be weighed, a second feeder receiving said material from said first vibratory feeder and delivering said material into one of said compartments, said second vibratory feeder normally causing said material to be and means responsive to a predetermined weight of said scale bucket and material therein for first decreasing the rate of movement of material by said second vibratory feeder below that of the first vibratory feeder to provide a dribble of feed and for thereafter causing said operating member to move said pivoted member whereby an accurately weighed charge is formed and discharged.

7. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket for receiving said material, said feeding means including a first vibratory feeder, means for supplying said material to said first vibratory feeder, a second vibratory feeder for receiving said material from said first vibratory feeder and for delivering said material into said bucket, said second vibratory feeder normally feeding said material with a greater rate of movement than said first vibratory feeder, means responsive to a predetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for decreasing the vibration of said second vibratory feeder to reduce the rate of movement of material in said second vibratory feeder and provide a dribble feed into said bucket, means responsive to a greater predetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for blocking the discharge of said second vibratory feeder into said bucket to stop said dribble feed and for thereafter discharging said bucket, the last-named means being elfective to restore normal operation of said second vibratory feeder after said bucket has been discharged, a rotary table for holding a plurality of containers, a friction drive tending to rotate said table, means normally holding said table against rotation with one of said containers in position to receive material discharged from said bucket, and means also responsive to said greater predetermined weight for releasing said table after discharge of said bucket and for stopping and again holding said table with another container positioned to receive material discharged from said bucket.

8. In a weighing machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two Weighing compartments for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member movable toward said member along a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis of said member, one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in one of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, means repsonsive to a predetermined weight of said scale bucket and material therein for moving said operating member along said path to engage the one of said arms in said path and move said pivoted member from one of said positions to the other and then cause return of said operating member thereby discharging a weighed charge of material from one of said compartments, said operating member being movable out of said path by the other of said arms during said return, a rotary table for holding a plurality of containers, a friction drive tending to rotate said table, means normally holding said table against rotation with one of said containers in position to receive said weighed charge, and means for releasing said table after discharge of said weighed charge into said one container and for stopping and again holding said table with another container positioned to receive a weighed charge.

9. In a weighing and packaging machine, means for feeding material to be weighed, a scale bucket providing two weighing compartments for alternately receiving said material from said feeding means, movable means including a pivoted member carried by said bucket and movable over center between two alternate positions, said movable means discharging one of said compartments and causing the other of said compartments to receive said material when said pivoted member is moved from one of said positions to the other, said pivoted member having a pair of crank arms extending therefrom at an angle to each other, an operating member movable to- Ward said member along a path extending transversely of the pivotal axis or said rnember,.one of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in one of said positions and the other of said crank arms being in said path when said pivoted member is in the other of said positions, means responsive to a predetermined weight of said scale bucket and material therein for moving said operating member along said path to engage the one of said arms in said path and move said pivoted member from one of said positions to the other and then cause return of said operating member thereby discharging a weighed charge of material from one ofsaid compartments, said operating member being movable out of said path by the other of said arms during said return, a rotary table for holding a plurality of containers at positions spaced angularly around said table, a friction drive tending to rotate said table, means for normally holding said table against rotation with one of said containers in position to receive said weighed charge including a plurality of cam members spaced around said table each having an inclined surface, a stop member positioned to engage and be moved by said surfaces, resilient means resisting movement of said stop member by said surfaces to resiliently stop said table, and means for Withdrawing said stop member to release said table.

10. In a weighing machine, means including a scale bucket for forming and discharging a Weighed charge of material, a rotary table for holding a plurality of containers, a friction drive tending to rotate said table, means for stopping and holding said table with one of said containers positioned to receive said charge, means responsive to a predetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for discharging said bucket so as to deliver said charge into said container, said means for stopping and holding said table including a plurality of cam members on said table each having an inclined surface, a stop member normally in the path of said cam members for engaging said inclined surface so as to be moved thereby, a device for resiliently resisting movement of said stop member to resiliently stop and hold said table, and means actuated by said means responsive to said predetermined weight for releasing said stop member to release said table.

11. In a weighing machine, means including a scale bucket for forming and discharging a weighed charge of material, a rotary table for holding a plurality of containers, a friction drive tending to rotate said table, means for stopping and holding said table with one of said containers positioned to receive said charge, means responsive to a predetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for discharging said bucket so as to deliver said charge into said container, said means for stopping and holding said table including a plurality of spaced cam members on one surface of said table, each cam member having an inclined surface diverging from said surface of said table in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said table, a stop mechanism having a roller normally in the path of said cam members for engaging said inclined surfaces, resilient means for holding said roller in said path of said cam members to resiliently stop and hold said table, and means for momentarily disabling said resilient means to release said table.

12. A device for indexing a rotary table comprising a friction drive tending to rotate said table, means for stopping and holding said table at any one of a plurality of positions, said means including a plurality of angularly spaced cam members on one surface of said table, each cam member having an inclined surface diverging from said surface of said table'in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said table, a stop mechanism having a roller normally in the path of said cam members for engaging said inclined surfaces, resilient means for holding said roller in said path of said cam members to resiliently stop and hold said table, and means for momentarily disabling said resilient means to release said table.

13. In a weighing machine, means including a scale bucket for forming and discharging a Weighed charge of material, a rotary table having a plurality of angularly spaced container holding means each adapted to hold a container, a friction drive tending to rotate said table, means for stopping and holding said table to position one of said containers at a plurality of stations including a charge receiving station, means responsive to a predetermined weight of said bucket and material therein for discharging said bucket so as to deliver said charge into the container at said charge receiving station, said means for stopping and holding said table including a plurality of cam members on said table each having an inclined surface, a stop member normally in the path of said cam members for engaging said inclined surface so as to be moved thereby, resilient means resisting movement of said stop member to resiliently stop and hold said table, and means for momentarily disabling said resiliant means after said charge has been delivered into said container at said charge receiving station to release said table and and again cause it to stop with the last-mentioned container at a'subsequent station, said container holding means being resiliently mounted on said table, and a jogging means adjacent said table, said jogging means engaging said container holding means at said charge receiving station and at said subsequent station to jog said one container at the last-mentioned stations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 744,420 Smail Nov. 17, 1903 1,120,299 Fleming Dec. 8, 1914 1,881,859 Mullendore Oct. 11, 1932 2,564,544 Richardson Aug. 14, 1951 2,613,053 Dorringdon Oct. 7, 1952 2,624,539 Hartman et a1. Ian. 6, 1953 2,626,042 Aldridge Jan. 20, 1953 2,644,661 Avil July 7, 1953