US2859858A - Sealing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 11, 1958 Original Filed Sept. 20, 1946 H. E. s-rovER SEALING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BYXWW JTTORNEY 1958 H. E. s-rovER 2,859,858

SEALING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 20, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

H. E. STOVER SEALING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 20, 1946 Nov. 11, 1958 H. E. STOVE SEALING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 20, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet JTTORNEY Nov. 11,1958.

Original Filed Sept 2o, 1946 SEALING MACHINE e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

"WWW

JTTORNEY Nov. 11, 1958 E. STOVER SEALING MACHINE 6' Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Sept. 20, 1946 SEALING MACHINE Harry E. Stover, Lancaster, Ohio, assignor to Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation, Lancaster, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original application September 20, 1946, Serial No. 698,124, now Patent No. 2,618,425, dated November 18, 1952 Divided and this application January 15, 1952, Serial No. 266,535

3 Claims. (Cl. 198-34) The present invention, a division of my .co-pending application Serial No. 698,124, filed September 20, 1946, now Patent No. 2,618,425, relates to the sealing art and embodied additions to and improvements upon the machine of my prior application, Serial No. 579,671, now Patent No. 2,529,199. Both prior applications have been assigned to the assignee of the present application.

. Certain of the improvements may be embodied in sealing machines generally, but the preferred embodiment illustrating the invention utilizes vapor for forming a high vacuum in a container at the time the closure is sealed to it. The injection of the vapor at and shortly prior to the time of sealing reduces the amount of vapor required, reduces the amount of condensate both inside and outside the package, and increases the vacuum within the package. As described in my Patent No. 2,529,199, steam superheated to a high temperature is utilized to sterilize the head space and the inside of the closure, to reduce the quantity required, to reduce the amount of resulting condensate, to form a higher vacuum, and to otherwise improve the sealing operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved sealing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for eliminating or minimizing the jamming of jars at the entrance to the machine.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the machine with the head spacer mechanism omitted;

"Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the machine including the head spacing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view along'the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 illustrating the interior of the machine and the drive for various parts thereof;

Fig. 5 isa sectional view along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 illustrating a safety feature of the drive for the machine;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through the base of the machine taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the helicoid and parts of the drive therefor;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating parts of the helicoiddrive taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view through the superstructure of the machine taken along the line 9 -9 of Fig.

3 illustrating .the'drive connections in the superstructure for parts thereof; and

2,859,858 Batented Nov. 11, 1958 GENERAL DESCRIPTION As a convenience in understanding the invention, a short descriptionwill now be given of the major parts of the machine before giving detailed descriptions thereof. Referring more particularly toFigs. 1 to 3, the preferred embodiment of the machine is illustrated with a base 1 which serves to house the drive in the lower part of the machine and to support a table 2 with its associated mechanisms. A superstructure 4, vertically adjustable with respect to the table carries parts of the machine.

A conveyor 5 extends longitudinally over the table and over the sprockets 6 mounted on the extensions 7 which are secured to the ends of the base 1. An adjust able guide rail 8 extends along one side of the conveyor, and a helicoid 9; and adjustable rail along the other side of theconveyor. A device or bumper 10, having resiliently mounted fingers 11 thereon, and a retarder 12 co-operate with the helicoid 9 in starting'the containers through the machine. The conveyor carries the containers intoa star wheel 14 which cooperates with the helicoid in holding the containers in upright position as they pass the cap feed 15 and its associated mechanism for placing a cap firmly on the rim of the container. As the container leaves the cap applying means it passes under a sealing head 16 which forces the closure completely down on the container so that the sealed package is ready for labelling and shipping.

The forward end of the superstructure 4 has a head spacer 17 mounted thereon with discs which register with and extend into the mouths of the containers passing under the head spacer to displace any excess liquid in them so that each container will be filled substantially to the same level and so that all of the containers have at least a predetermined head space to facilitate. a proper seal and a proper vacuum within the container. As the filled containers are carried away from the spacer on the conveyor they pass under the cap positioning means 15, also mounted on thesuperstructure, where a cap is forcefully placed -on the rim of the container. Just before the cap is forced down and while one side of the cap is spaced from the rim of the container, steam is injected under the the side of the cap until it is applied to the container in order to displace the air thereinwith vapor and to form a vacuum seal when the vapor condenses. The mechanism 15 preferably applies suflicient pressure to the closure to seat it firmly :on the rim of the container and to form a vacuum seal thereon when the vapor within the, head spacer condenses, which is practically simultaneous with the placing of the cap firmly on the container. The pressure head 16 later forces the closure completely down on the container. Preferably the vapor is highly superheated to sterilize the inside of the closure and the head space at the time of sealing and to minimize the amount of steam required and the resulting condensation.

Frame and drive Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 9, a description will now be given of the drive'connections to the operative parts of the machine.

The interior of the machine and the drive connections are shown more particularly in Fig. 4, which is a vertical section alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2, in Fig. 6 which is a horizontal section through the base along the line 6--6 of Fig. 3, and in Fig. 9, which is a horizontal section through the superstructure along the line 979 of Fig. 3.

Referring more'particularly to Figs. 4 and 6, the

.base 1 has mounted therein bearings 19 for supporting a pair of vertical shafts or columns 20 which extend through the table 2 with their upper ends secured to the superstructure 4 of the machine to adjustably support it and the parts thereon. Threaded members 21 are adapted to raise and lower the vertical columns 20 when bevel gears 22 at their lower ends are rotated by means of a handwheel 24 on shaft 25 having bevel gears 26 thereon meshing with bevel gears 22. In this manner the superstructure may be raised and lowered to accommodate different heights of containers.

The motor for the machine and the reducing gears are carried in the base of the machine and comprise a motor 27 (Figs. 4 and 6) having a pulley 28 carrying a belt 29 extending about a pulley 30 forming a part of the reduction gears 31. The motor is preferably slidably mounted as shown at 32 (Fig. 4) so that it may be moved toward and away from the reduction gears 31 by means of a handwheel 34 on shaft 35 which is threaded into the motor base. In this way a constant speed motor may be used and the speed of the machine varied by operating the handwheel 34 to change the position of the motor with respect to the reduction gears. A detailed description of the speed change mechanism is not necessary as it is a common form of drive sometimes known as a Reeves drive.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, means are shown for disconnecting the drive from the entire machine when excessive overloads are encountered to prevent breaking of parts of the machine. As illustrated in the preferred embodiment, the pulley 30 is connected to the reduction gears through the intermediation of a disc 36 secured thereto by a shear pin 37 mounted in bushings 38. When an excessive overload is encountered the pin 37 shears and stops the machine. This, of course, does not occur frequently and in such emergencies the shear pin may be replaced very quickly by removal of the disc 36 and inserting another pin.

The speed reducer 31 has a vertical shaft with a bevel gear 39 thereon meshing with a bevel gear 40 on shaft 41. Shaft 41 is mounted in bearings 42 and extends horizontally through the upper part of the base of the machine in suitable position to be connected to other parts of the machine.

A worm gear 44 on shaft 41 (Fig. 6) meshes with a gear 45 on shaft 46 carrying the star wheel 14. The star wheel preferably comprises two stars 14a and 14b mounted on the opposite sides of the member 140 and spaced a substantial distance from each other to retain the containers in upright position. A cover plate 140! holds the keyed member 140 in place.

A bevel gear 48 also on shaft 41 meshes with a bevel gear 49 on shaft 50 to drive the helicoid 9 through a chain of gears described hereinafter.

A gear 52 also on shaft 41 meshes with a gear 54 on shaft 55 to drive the conveyor 5 through the reduction gear 56 (Fig. 2).

A bevel gear 59 (Fig. 4) meshes with a bevel gear 60 on the vertical shaft 61 to drive the superstructure parts by means of a bevel gear 62 slidably keyed to shaft 61 and meshing with a bevel gear 64.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 9, illustrating a horizontal section through the superstructure, the bevel .gear' 62 on shaft 61 meshes with bevel gear 64 on shaft 65 for driving the pressure head 16. The bevel gear 64 on shaft 65 meshes with a bevel gear 66 on shaft 67 which in turn has a gear 68 (Fig. 4) on its end meshing with gear 69 on shaft 70. The shaft 70 has a 45 degree angle gear meshing with a similar gear 72 on shaft 74, which in turn has a 45 degree angle gear 75 meshing with a similar gear on the vertical shaft 76 to which the cap feed is connected at its upper end 77. V

The shaft 70*(Fig. 9) also has a bevel gear 78 at its end meshing with, a bevelgear 79 on a horizontalshaft 80 which drives the head spacer 17.

By means of the drive connections described generally above, the star wheel, the conveyor and the vertical shaft 61, leading to the superstructure, are driven from the horizontal shaft 41 in the upper part of the base of the machine. The sealing head, the head spacer and the cap feed are driven from shafts 67 and 70 in the superstructure of the machine operated by bevel gear 62 on the vertical shaft.

Conveyor and helicoid The conveyor 5 may be ofany suitable type, preferably composed of a series of plates as described in my Patent No. 2,529,199. Suitable sprockets 6 (Fig. 3) mounted at the ends of extensions 7, secured to the base, carry the conveyor, one of the sprockets being driven through the reduction gear 56 operatively connected to shaft 55 which is connected to the machine drive. The table 2 supports the conveyor as it passes through the machine so that containers placed on it are carried through the machine where the several operations are performed in the sealing of them.

It is desirable that the containers be spaced a predetermined distance so that they may register with the discs of the head spacer 17 and with the recesses in the star wheel 14 as they pass through the machine. A helicoid 9 is adapted to co-operate with the guide rail 8, retarder 12 and bumper 10 to achieve this objective.

The helicoid is a hollow member tapering slightly at its forward end as shown at 82 with a helical fin 84 extending thereabout. The helicoid is mounted upon a pair of swinging members 85 and 86. The swinging member 85 is mounted on a bolt 87 in bracket 88 .and is held in proper position by a second bolt 89 mounted in a slot 106 (Fig. 1) in the bracket 88. The upper end of the swinging member 85 has a protruding bearing 90 extending into the tapered end of the helicoid. The opposite end of the helicoid extends over the end of a member 93 seated on the protruding end of the shaft member 92 keyed to a gear 94. The gear is held on the shaft by the bushings 95 bolted to the swinging member 86. The bushing 95 has a hollow center with a threaded member '96 closing one end and a pin 97 closing its other end, said pin having a cammed or inclined end 98 engaging the inner of two balls 99, the outer one projecting into a recess 100 in the member 93. The pin 97 is forced into its outer position by a spring 101 whose tension may be regulated by the threaded member 96. Should the containers jam in passing through the machine, the pin 97 will be forced back against the spring 101 and the upper ball forced out of the recess 100 so that the helicoid will stop. Each time the ball 99 engages the recess, pressure will be applied to rotate the helicoid and if the resistance has been released the helicoid will start again properly synchronized with the head spacer. If desired, a disconnecting means similar to that described hereinafter with respect to the head spacer and the cap feed may be utilized instead of the one just described.

The swinging member 86 is mounted about a hollow projection 102 fitting in a bearing 104. A bolt 105 extends through a slot 106 (Fig. 1) permitting the member 86 to be swung in the bearing 104 about shaft 107. The bolt 105 also carries a gear 108 which meshes with gear 94 and 109. Thus the member 86 may be adjustably swung in the bearing 104 without interfering with its drive.

The shaft 107 has a bevel gear 110 on its end meshing with a bevel gear 111 on shaft 112 (Fig. 6) which in turn has a gear 114 meshing with a gear 115 on shaft 50. The shaft 50 is connected to the motor drive by means of a 'bevel gear 49 thereon, and by bevel gear 48 on shaft 41,

which is the horizontal shaft at the base of the machine and which is connected to the motor drive through bevel gears 39 and 40 and reduction gear 31.

The mechanism described can be easily connected to the machine drive by a shaft at the center of the machine and permits the helicoid to be swung toward and away from the conveyor to accommodate containers of different sizes. Usually the larger containers have greater height and as the helicoid moves away from the conveyor the height of it increases, which is helpful in having its contact nearer the middle of the jars. The helicoid may be removed and replaced by removal or loosening of the swinging arm 85 and may. beadjusted in position by loosening the nuts 89. and 103.

The so-called bumper, 10 (Fig. 2) facilitates entry of the jars into the machine. Preferably the bumper is substantially the same, as that illustrated in my Patent No. 2,529,199, and comprises a series of resiliently mounted fingers 11 which afford substantial resilience and permit the containers to adjust themselves in moving into the helicoid. A guide rail 8 (Fig. 2) extends from the bumper through the machine and is mounted by means of bolts 116 in inclined slots 117 for adjustment to and from the conveyor to accommodate different sizes of containers. By reason of the inclined slots 117 the adjustments retain the rail parallel to the median line of the conveyor.

A retarder 12 is mounted on the forward end of the rail 8 and may comprise a resiliently mounted member 118 held in the position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a spring 119 effective upon the end thereof beyond its pivot 118a. The purpose of the retarder 118 is to offer a resistance to the movement of each container so that the container is forced back into contact with the fin on the helicoid. Once the container touches the helicoid, retarder 118 rotates in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) to allow the container to pass. After the container clears retarder 118, the retarder is returned to the position of Fig. 2 by spring 119. Spring 119 is mounted on rod-like extension 119a of retarder 118 between end nut 119a and a stationary bearing 11% so that clockwise rotation of 118 compresses it. In this way the container will register accurately with the discs of the head spacer.

The guide rail 8 preferably extends from the bumper 10 to the star wheel 14 and from the star Wheel past the pressure head of the machine. A pair of spaced guide rails 120 (Fig. l) are mounted similarly to the guide rail 8 and extend on the helicoid side of the conveyor from the helicoid past the pressure head.

The containers entering the machine engage the spring fingers 11 of the bumper 10 and the forward end of the helicoid 9. Any jamming between the containers and the helicoid will be relieved by the spring fingers moving outwardly. By the time the container reaches the end of the bumper 10 it is between adjoining fins of the helicoid. As it leaves the bumper 10 it engages the inclined forward surface 118 of the retarder 12 which forces the container back against the fin of the helicoid, if it is not already in that position. The container then will move with the conveyor under the head spacer disks 121 and through the machine.

Operation In the operation of the machine, assuming that the machine has been adjusted for the proper height and size container, filled containers are placed on the left end of the machine, illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, without any particular arrangement or spacing of them. These containers are moved by the conveyor into the entrance between the bumper and the helicoid 9. Any jamming of the containers at this point is taken care of by the resiliently mounted fingers 11 of the bumper which co-operate in getting the containers into the helicoid. For example, if the forward portion of the fin on the helicoid engages a container and presses it against the bumper 10, the spring fingers will yield and prevent any damage to the container. In addition, they will tend to force the container in rope pos t on w th p c o ehe icoi After the containers passv the bumper, they engage. the retarding member 118, resiliently mounted by a spring 119, which tends to hold the respective containers against movement on the conveyor until they are engaged by the fin on the helicoid, thus positioning the container against the fin, in which position'the mouth should accurately register with the discs 121 of the head spacer 17 (Fig. 3). These discs displace any excess material out of the container leaving at least a minimum head space in each container into which vapor may be injected and condensed to form a vacuum seal. Where the head space is too small, less efficient results are obtained in forming a vacuum and in making a seal.

After the containers pass the head spacer they next engage the cap positioning means 15 and the pressure head 16 which seals the containers as is more fully described in my Patent No. 2,618,425.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, inexpensive machine for vacuum sealing of containers utilizing highly superheated vapor. The machine embodies improvements on and additions to the machine of my Patent No. 2,529,199. The entrance of the containers into the machine and accurate positioning with respect to the helicoid has been improved by the combination of elements, including the retarding mechanism, and various changes and improvements have been embodied in the present machine.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, an endless belt conveyor having a straight horizontal run for moving filled containers in upright position, means for spacing said containers uniformly apart on said conveyor run comprising a helicoid disposed above the level of the conveyor and extending parallel therewith and having a helical fin overlying one side margin only ofthe conveyor for engaging successive convolutions of said fin with successive containers on said conveyor, drive means for said conveyor and said helicoid moving them in synchronism, a device for directing each container generally laterally across said conveyor into a space between successive convolutions of said helicoid comprising resilient finger means, and means engaging the containers in the spaces between convolutions tending to retard the movement of any container spaced ahead of a convolution until engaged by said convolution, whereby said containers are maintained in upright position and in accurately spaced relationship by said helicoid while being supported and moved by said conveyor.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said separate retarder means comprises a retarder member rotatably mounted adjacent to said endless belt conveyor, a resilient member engaging said retarder member and removably holding a portion of said retarder member above a portion of said endless belt conveyor whereby said portion of said resilient member above said endless belt conveyor engages containers being moved by said endless belt conveyor thereby retarding their movement until the container is engaged by a convolution of said helicoid and is forced thereby past said retarder means as said retarder member is rotated clear of the container.

3. In a machine of the class described, an endless belt conveyor having a straight horizontal run for moving filled containers in upright position, means for spacing said containers uniformly apart on said conveyor run com prising a helicoid disposed above the level of the conveyor and extending parallel therewith and having a helical fin overlying one side margin only of the conveyor for engaging successive convolutions of said fin with successive 7 containers on ,said conveyor, drive means for said conveyorand said helicoid 'moving them in synchronism With'the linear speed of the helicoid in the direction of the conveyor travel equal to the conveyor speed, a device for directing each container generally laterally across said conveyor into a space between successive convolutions of said helicoid comprising resilient finger means, and separate retarder means engaging the containers in the space between convolutions tending to retard the movement of any container spaced ahead of a convolution until engaged by said convolution, whereby said containers are maintained in upright position with their rear side against the forward face of the helical fin and in accurately spaced relationship by said helicoid While being supported and I m'ovedby said conveyor.

UNITED- STATES PATENTS Taliaferro Oct. 12, Thomson Jan. 25, Nordstrom Apr. 24, Kruse Oct; 20, Chapman Oct. 10, Hullhorst Oct. 21, Gantzer- June 2, Rolker Oct. 2, Davies May 24, Oates July 31,

Bergmann June 3,

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