US2937670A

US2937670A - Container filling machine

Info

Publication number: US2937670A
Application number: US638017A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard C Eisenberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-02-04
Filing date: 1957-02-04
Publication date: 1960-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1977-05-24

Description

May 24, 1960 B. c. EISENBERG CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1957 INVENTOR R Q j M w W H )m )3 QR H w n r M w W WM ii ATTORNEY May 24, 1960 a c. EISENBERG 2,937,670

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 6

INVENTOR Erma J 612M BY M 5.

ATTORNEY May 24, 1960 B. c. EISENBERG 2,937,670

' CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENIOR E rner/54414146 'ATTORNEY May 24, 1960 B. c. EISENBERG 2,937,670

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY May 24, 1960 Filed Feb. 4; 1957 B. c. EISENBERG 2,937,670

CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR- ATTORNEY May 24, 1960 B. c. EISENBERG 2,937,670

' CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 99 g F1 W M I00 14 9a A 2 I 7a S (LI! U FIG. If 99 700 99 707 Q 0 Q M F l G. 76

INVENTOR Err/70f! fix/715x17 BY 6 & 4

ATTORNEY United States Patent CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE Bernard C. Eisenberg, 120 13th St., Brooklyn, NY.

Filed Feb. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 638,017

18 Claims. (Cl. 141-78) This invention relates to a machine for filling containers with objects of various shapes and sizes, including fruits, vegetables and the like.

The instant invention is an improvement on the device shown in applicants Patent 2,719,661.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine for filling containers with objects which may vary in shape and size; which may be soft or hard; and where the containers to be filled may be of different sizes or shapes. In each case, the machine may be readily adjusted to the variation in either the container to be filled or in the objects to be packed in said containers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container filling machine of the rotary drum type with lifting buckets on the drum, wherein the capacity of the buckets may be adjusted in accordance with the capacity of the containers to be filled and correlated to other conditions of the filling operation whereby the contents of the buckets may pass to the containers in an efiicient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a container filling machine of the rotary drum type wherein buckets on the drum pick up material to be packaged in containers, at a lower position of the drum in its rotation, lift said material to a higher position of the drum where said material is discharged for passage into the containers; the buckets being adapted to have their capacity varied; the capacity being pre-set at the pickup point in the rotation of the drum to fill each bucket with a determined quantity of material, the capacity of each bucket thereafter being increased so that the level of the contents of the buckets is lowered as the drum moves toward its higher position, thereby avoiding loss of material from the buckets during their movement between the lower and higher positions.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, buckets adapted to be opened at their lower ends, whereby in the discharge of the contents of said buckets at the higher position of the drum, the movement of the contents out of the bucket is facilitated and of a uniform nature, irrespective of the specific shape of the objects making up such contents.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described, improved container conveying means movable through the rotary drum for receiving the contents discharged from the buckets on the drum, said conveying means including guide means for accommodating containers of various sizes and shapes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, conveyor means including guide rails adjustable to tilt containers carried on the conveyor means to selected angular positions while said containers receive contents discharged by the buckets, whereby the mouth of the containers cannot be obstructed when the contents take the form of elongated objects, slivers or the like, which otherwise might tend to straddle the mouth of the containers.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, container con.- veyor means in endless form and made up of inter pivoted, elongated links of circular cross section; together with improved means for vibrating portions of the conveyor, the form of the conveyor links facilitating the tilt of the containers contacting the same, providing for improved transmission of vibrations to such containers, and facilitating the cleaning of the conveyor means.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, improved guide means located within the rotary drum for directing material discharged from the buckets to the containers, such guide means being vibrated in an improved manner and including interchangeable guide surface members selected in accordance with the nature of the material passing to the containers to facilitate the movement thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, universally adjustable defiector means associated with the guide means for forming a channel therebetween of determined size and position to facilitate the movement of the contents of the buckets to the containers, particularly when such contents is in the form of elongated, fiat, sliced or slivered objects.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, improved driving means for-rotating the drum about a horizontal axis, said driving means also being used to vibrate the guide means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, improved conveyor means for carrying containers to be filled, together with adjustable guide rails adapted to accommodate containers of various sizes and shape and to properly position the filled containers for vibration to settle the contents within the containers into a well packed association therein.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is one end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is another end elevational View thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse view of the drum portion of the machine, showing the buckets;

Fig. 5 is an end view of a bucket assembly;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 7 is a partial view of a drum portion showing the drum rotating means, guide actuating means, deflector means and container conveyor;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the conveyor vibrator assembly;

Fig. 10 is .a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a link element formin a part of the conveyor;

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 13 is an end view at one end of the link;

Fig. 14 is an end view at the other end thereof;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of a guide frame member;

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of one form of guide member for association with the guide frame member;

'Fig. 18 is an end view thereof; i

Fig. 19 is a side elevational view of another form of guide member for association with the guide frame member;

Fig. 20 is an end view thereof; and

Fig. 21 is a top plan view of the guide rail assembly associated with the conveyor in relation to the drum.

The machine of the instant invention is adapted to fill containers such as jars or the like, which may vary as to shape, capacity and form of opening, with objects of varying size and shape. Such objects may be spherical, as in the case of olives; flat as in the case of beet or cucumber slices; elongated or in sliver form, as well as various asymmetrical shapes. The objects may be of the edible type and carried in a liquid vehicle such as brine, syrup or the like; or may be non-edible and of a hard consistency which does not require liquids for association therewith in the filling and packing operation.

As shown in the drawings, the machine embodying the invention, generally indicated at 10, comprises a frame 11 for supporting a drum 12 arranged for rotation about a horizontal axis, the drum 12 being rotatably supported at peripheral portions thereof within a tank 13 which receives the lower portion of said drum, and a conveyor 14 arranged to carry containers C in a horizontal path through opposed openings in the side walls of the drum 12.

Frame 11 comprises a pair of upright frame members 15, 16 interconnected by horizontal members 17. Frame member comprises a pair of uprights 18 connected by transverse members 19 and having inwardly turned upper end portions 20. Frame member 16 is similar to member 15 except that one upright 18a is shortened at its upper end and carries a horizontal motor mounting plate 21. Tank 13 is supported on members 17 and a pair of parallel roller shafts 22 are disposed within the tank; the shaft ends being secured to frame members 15, 16 through the end walls of the tank; suitable liquid seals being provided at the shafts ends to prevent leakage from the tank.

Drum 12 comprises a pair of flat ring shaped

members

23, 24 interconnected in opposed relation by a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced bars 25 of half-round section. Annular tire members 26 are fixed to the outer faces of

members

23, 24, with their outer edges projecting beyond the outer edges of

members

23, 24. Tires 26 are engageable with flanged rollers 27 mounted on shafts 22, thereby supporting the drum 12 for rotation.-

The drum 12 further comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical sheet metal jackets 28 disposed with their inner surface portions in contact with the outwardly facing flat surfaces of bars 25, and extending at their sides to the inner faces of

members

23, 24. Jackets 28, which may be perforated as at 29, are arranged for quick removal from the drum, by having side edge portions thereof on one side thereof releasably engageable with hooks 30 on one bar 25a, and quick release latches, not shown, on the other sides thereof for releasably interconnecting the adjacent edges of said jackets.

The drum is rotated by means of a motor-speed reducer assembly 32 mounted on plate 21 and having a sprocket wheel 33 on the shaft thereof which engages studs 34 extending axially from member 24 in closely spaced, circumferential arrangement around the perimeter thereof. Studs 34 may be provided with nylon sleeves to reduce wear and insure eflicient operation.

The openings in

members

23, 24 are closed by circular

stationary plates

35, 36 which are fixedly attached to frame portions 20 and to other portions of frames 15, 16 by spacer members not shown.

The plate 35, which closes the opening in member 23, is formed with a rectangular shaped chute opening 37 and a container opening 38 with a conveyor recess 39 communicating therewith at the lower end thereof. Plate 36, which closes the opening in member 24, is formed with a container opening 40 which is horizontally aligned with opening 38 in plate a conveyor recess 41 communicates with opening and is aligned with recess 39.

It is understood that the objects with which containers C, which may be wide mouthed jars, are to be .filled;

are introduced into the interior of drum 12 by way of chute opening 37, by suitable chute means, not shown. Assuming that the objects are of a soft, edible nature, such as fruits, olives, vegetables in various forms; then the tank 13 may be filled with a suitable liquid such as water, syrup or the like, which passes into the lower portions of the rotating drum 12 by way of jacket perforations 29. Such liquid facilitates the container filling operations and substantially reduces possible bruising or damage of the objects.

Means is provided for lifting quantities of said objects from within the lower portions of drum 12 to an elevated position thereof from where such objects may be discharged into containers C. To this end, there are provided a series of circumferentially spaced buckets generally indicated at 42 and respectively mounted on bars 25. Each bucket 42 comprises a pair of

opposed end walls

43, 44 secured at the upper end-s of their outer edges to bars 25, as by welding or the like, said walls 43, being parallel to drum

members

23, 24 and disposed inwardly thereof.

End walls

43, 44 are connected at their lower ends by a slightly curved bottom wall 45; the outer edges of

walls

43, 44 and 45 abut the opposed inner surface portions of drum jackets 28.

Each bucket 42 further includes a movable sidewall 46, pivotally mounted between

end walls

43, 44 at the upper ends thereof and adjacent the inner edges thereof. Side wall 46 comprises a sheet member 47 in arcuate form and fixed at side edge portions thereof to upwardly extending, opposed mounting

brackets

48, 49. Bracket 49 has a pin 50 projecting outwardly thereof and journaled in an opening in end wall 44. Bracket 48 has a laterally projecting bushing 51, aligned with pin 50 and an opening in end wall 43. Means for pivoting side wall 46 comprises a crank 52 having a rotatable shaft portion 53 passing through an opening in drum member 23 aligned with the opening in

adjacent end wall

43, 43 and received in bushing 51 and suitably secured thereto. Crank 52 further includes a lever 54 secured to the outer end of shaft portion 53 and disposed adjacent the outer surface of drum member 23; a cam follower 55 is journaled on a lateral projection at the lower end of lever 54, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Means is also provided for automatically shifting the movable wall 46 of each bucket 42 to determined positions relative to the opposed inner surface portion of drum jacket 28, at predetermined angular positions of said buckets during the rotation of the drum 12, thereby varying the capacity of the buckets, and further discharging the contents thereof from the lower ends thereof, as hereinafter described in detail.

To this end, as shown in Fig. 4, a cam track member 56 is fixed to peripheral portions of the outer surface of stationary member 35. Cam track member 56 comprises a continuous circular portion 57 having an angular extent of somewhat more than and a sho'rt circular portion 58 displaced from portion 57 and connected thereto by inclined, inwardly extending

linear portions

59, 60. The terminal ends of

track portions

57, 58 are spaced to receive therebetween a radially movable cam track section 61 which is mounted on a plate 62 slidably related to the outer face of member 35, by means of screws received in slots 64 formed in plate 62. An outer track section 61a is fixed in spaced relation to track section 61 to receive therebetween cam follower 55. Similarly,

track portions

58, 59 have complementary

outer portions

58a, 59a fixed in spaced relation to receive cam follo'wer 55 upon continued rotational movement of drum 12.

The containers C are carried on conveyor 14, which is in the form of an endless chain whose upper run passes through

recesses

39, 41 in

stationary members

35, 36 respectively. Such chain comprises elongated, cylindrical links 65, as shown in Figs. 11-14. Each link 65 comprises a clevis portion 66 at one end thereof with transverse openings 67 therein; and a finger portion 68 at the other end thereof, with a transverse opening 69 therein."

Thus, links 65 may be interpivoted with the finger 68 of one link received in the clevis of the succeeding link and suitable pivot pins passing through the registering

o'penings

67, 69.

The links 65 of conveyor 14 are entrained about octagonal grooved wheels 70, 70a mounted on standards 71, with one wheel 70 rotated by a pulley 72 on its shaft which is belted to a pulley 73 on a variable speed motor 74. The lower run of links 65 may be carried in a conduit 75 while the upper run thereof moves between a pair 70f longitudinally extending, spaced, stationary plates 76, 7.

Located between plates 76, 77 are longitudinally related sectional supporting units for carrying the interpivoted links 65 at a proper level in relation to the upper edges of plates 76, 77. Thus, one section extending from sprocket wheel 70 forwardly to drum 12 and another section extending from sprocket wheel 70a rearwardly to a point spaced from drum 12, comprises an elongated spacer member 78 secured between plates 76, 77 by cross pins 79. Fixed to the upper edge of spacer members 78 are grooved support members 80 for receiving the lower portions of links 65 therein.

A third link supporting section, indicated at 81, is disposed between the first and second mentioned sections and extends through drum 12 with a projection thereof extending toward sprocket wheel 70a. Said section 81 is arranged for reciprocal movement longitudinally of the conveyor in order to effect vibration of the containers C and the contents thereof.

In section 81, several longitudinally spaced links 82 are pivotally mounted at their lower ends between plates 76, 77 by cross pins 83. At their upper ends, links 82 are pivotally connected to elongated spacer members 84 to which is attached at the upper edges thereof a grooved, elongated support member 80a, similar to member 80, with transverse pins 85 passing through members 84 and links 82. At the far end of section 81, link 82a includes a downwardly extending arm 86 which carries a cam follower 87 at the lower end thereof.

Means for reciprocating link support section 81 includes a pair of drop brackets 88 mounted on plates 76, 77; a horizontal shaft 89 being journalled in said brackets and carrying at one end thereof a multilated cam member 90 for engagement by cam follower 87. A gear or sprocket Wheel 91 at the other end of shaft 89 is connected to motor-speed reducer assembly 32 by suitable chain means, not shown, whereby rotation of shaft 89 v is translated into reciprocal movement of support member 80a through the action of cam 90 and follower 87, which imparts a pivoted movement to link 82a.

Link support member 80a is retracted in opposition to the action of cam 90 by means of a spring 92 anchored at one end to bracket 88 and at the other end to a projection 93 extending downwardly from the lower edge of spacer members 84. A shock absorbing spring 94 is mounted on a rod 95 between the head thereof and one side of projection 93; rod 95 passing through an opening 96 in said projection; the threaded end of said rod being received in an opening in bracket 88 with a nut 97 screwed thereon to regulate the compression action of spring 94.

Guide means for directing the objects discharged from buckets 42 when the same reach a discharge position during the rotation of drum 12, towards the openings of containers C, is provided as shown in Figs. 7 and 1548. Such guide means comprises a guide frame 98 made up of spaced side members 99 interconnected by parallel, transverse ro'ds' 100, 101. Pairs of aligned,

U-shaped clips

102, 103 are fixed to the opposite ends of members 99.-

Frame 98 is mounted in an inclined position within drum 12, with reciprocal movement substantially in the plane of the frame, by means of a pair of

parallel shafts

104, 105 journalled in

stationary plates

35, 36 which are connected by links 106, 107 to

rods

100, 101 on the frame. A portion of shaft 105 projecting through plate 36 has fixed thereto a lever 108 with a roller 109 at the lower end thereof for engagement by the teeth of sprocket wheel 33. A spring 110 urges lever 108 in a direction to maintain the engagement of roller 109 with said sprocket wheel.

Various forms of guide members may be associated with frame 98, in accordance with the form or shape of the objects to be directed to containers C. Thus, assuming that such objects are of spherical form, such as olives or the like, then guide member 111, shown in Figs. 17, 18 may be used with frame 98. Guide member 111 comprises parallel side plates 112 interconnected by transverse, parallel rods 113. Parallel wires 114 in suitably spaced relation are located between side plates 112, the ends of said wires being suitably embedded in rods 113. To use guide member 111, the rods 113 thereof are snapped into

clips

102, 103 of frame 98. The olives will move down over the screen-like surface presented by wires 114, their movement being accelerated by the vibratory, reciprocable movement of the frame 98 and any liquid associated with the olives passing downwardly between wires 114.

Alternatively, a guide member 115, as shown in Figs. 19, 20, may be used with frame member 98. Guide member 115 comprises a corrugated bottom wall 116 with side walls 117, with

cross members

118, 119 secured to the underside of wall 116. A pair of clips 120 depend from member 118 for detachable engagement with rod 100 of frame 98, and a rod 121 is mounted on member 119 for engagement by clips 103 of frame 98. Guide member 115 may be used when the objects to be filled into containers C are in flat, slice or sliver form, as for example beet slices and the like. Here, also, the reciprocable action of frame 98 facilitates the downward movement of the material discharged from buckets 42 toward the containers C. Guide member 115, may also be provided with side members 122 at the forward end thereof for slidably mounting thereon an apron member 123 with slotted side flanges 124 whereby to adjustably position the lower end of said apron member in relation to the mouth portion of aparticular container C.

Additionally, in order to further insure accurately guided movement of the material discharged from buckets 42 into the mouths of containers C, deflector means 125 is provided. Such deflector means comprises a pair of telescopically related plates 126, 127 universally mounted on suitable support means extending between

stationary plates

35, 36 and including a rod 128 fixed on said plates; split collar brackets 129 depending from rod 128, members 130 slidably mounted on brackets 129 and plates 126, 127 pivotally mounted at the end of members 130. Plates 126, 127 may thus be manipulated into any desired position in relation to apron member 123 to form a channel therebetween leading to the mouth of containers C.

Furthermore, guide rails are provided for guiding the movement of containers C on conveyor 14. Said guide rails comprising rods 131 transversely extending through lower portions of plates 76, '77; with collars 132 slidably mounted thereon for swingably mounting uprights 133. Split collars 134 are slidably mounted on uprights 133 and carry longitudinal rails 135. As shown in Fig. 21, such portion of the guide rail assembly extends through the drum 12 and allows containers C riding on links 65 of conveyor 14 to be tilted to any desired angle, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby facilitating the filling of such containers, particularly when the material passing into the containers is in elongated or sliver form. Such material which might span the mouth of containers C, is dislodged therefrom by the vibrations passing to links 65 and communicated to the bottom of said containers.

The portions of conveyor 14 in advance of the drum 12 and on the other side thereof, may have similar guide rails as above described, except that the tilting feature may be omitted. In both cases, the movement of

collars

132 and 134 may be adjusted to the size and shape of the containers moving on conveyor 14.

In the operation of machine 10 embodying the invention, assuming that objects have been supplied to the interior of drum 12 by way of chute opening 37; the rotation of the drum will be effective to fill buckets 42 as the same move downwardly from upper positions to lower positions. However, the capacity of each bucket 42 is preset in accordance with the capacity of the containers C to be filled, thereby insuring uniform flow of material to such containers with practically no recycling of the material due to excess amounts carried in the buckets.

This is accomplished by adjusting the position of cam track section 61 by slidable movement of plate 62 which is locked in place by screws passing through slots 64 therein. In this manner, the position of cam follower 55 is determined and the movable wall 46 of the buckets 42 is located to give the bucket the desired capacity, this occurring at a point in the rotation of the drum wherein the buckets are picking up quantities of material within the lower portion of said drum.

As said drum 12 continues its rotation, the cam follower 55 next engages cam track portion 58 which is so disposed as to move lever 54 in a direction to pivot the movable bucket wall 46 outwardly towards the outer edge of bottom wall 45. This action has the effect of increasing the capacity of the bucket beyond its pre-set capacity with the result that the level of the contents of the bucket will be lowered as said bucket is moving upwardly, thereby avoiding the loss of any of the contents of the buckets and consequent recycling of the same.

When, continued rotation of drum 12 brings each bucket 42 into positions opposite

cam track portions

59, 60, the cam follower 55 moves still further radially inward, causing the pivoted wall 46 to progressively move in an outward direction to open the bucket at the bottom thereof and thereby discharge the bucket contents directly from the bottom over the guide means such as members 111, 115. Thus the buckets are rapidly and completely discharged; and upon continued rotation of the drum 12, cam follower 55 is now caused to move outwardly on engaging

cam track portions

60, 57, pivoting bucket wall 46 inwardly to close the bucket and make the same ready for another cycle of operation.

It will be apparent that the cylindrical links 65 of conveyor 14 lend themselves to the tilting of containers C since the bottom of said containers make tangential contact with the links, in any angular position of the containers; the top edges of the side plates 76, 77 being beveled to accommodate the containers in their tilted position. Not only are the containers C efficiently vibrated to remove any excess at the top thereof and to properly pack the contents within the containers, but in addition, the link type conveyor shown lends itself to easy cleaning and does not readily attract and retain material being packed.

When the machine 10 is used to pack containers C with dry or hard objects, in various forms, shapes and sizes; the tank 13 may be omitted since liquid vehicles are then unnecessary. Also, the inclination of the guide means including frame 98 may be varied by varying the length of links 106, 107, thus correlating such guide means with the rolling or sliding characteristics of the specific material being packed in containers C. Additionally, the several

cam track portions

57, 58, 59 and 60, as well as the adjustable section 61 may be varied as to angular extent and relative position to properly cycle the sequential movements of the movable wall 46 of the buckets 42.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention herein described without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter contained herein shall be deemed illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. A machine for filling containers comprising a drum arranged for rotation about a horizontal axis, said drum having at least one end opening, means for supporting said drum for rotation, means for rotating said drum, means for conveying containers to the interior of said drum through the opening therein, means for delivering material to be packed in said containers into the interior of said drum, a plurality of buckets in spaced relation on the interior circumferential surface of said drum for lifting quantities of material to a position for discharge into said containers upon rotation of said drum, each bucket comprising fixed wall portions and a wall portion movable to selected positions relative to said fixed wall portions for varying the capacity of said buckets.

2. A machine as in claim 1 and including means oper ative to adjustably set the position of the movable wall portion relative to the fixed wall portions to provide said bucket with a predetermined capacity and means thereafter operative to move said movable wall to another position for enlarging the capacity of said bucket beyond said predetermined capacity.

3. A machine as in claim 2 and including means thereafter operative to move said movable wall portion to a position relative to said fixed wall portions whereby said bucket is opened to discharge the contents thereof into said containers.

4. A machine as in claim 3 and including means operative at a predetermined point in the rotation of said drum for actuating said movable wall setting means to locate said movable wall in the position increasing the capacity of the bucket, and means operative at another predetermined point, in the rotation of said drum for actuating said wall moving means to locate said movable wall in a position to allow the discharge of the contents of the bucket into said containers.

5. In a machine of the character described, comprising a rotatable drum including circumferential jacket portions, a plurality of variable capacity buckets circumferentially spaced on the inner surface portions of said drum, each bucket including fixed wall portions and a movable wall, and means operative to sequentially move said movable wall relative to said fixed wall portions to a first position to preset the capacity of said bucket, to a second position to increase the capacity of said bucket beyond said preset capacity, and to a third position to open said bucket at the lower end thereof.

6. In a machine as in claim 5, wherein each bucket comprises a pair of opposed end walls interconnected by a bottom wall, and a movable side wall, means for pivotally mounting said side wall on said end walls, a cam track located adjacent one end of said drum, and cam follower means ope'ratively connected to said movable wall and engageable with said cam track for sequentially moving said movable wall to said first, second and third positions in response to rotation of said drum.

7. In a machine as in claim 6 wherein said cam track includes an adjustable portion movable to selected positions for varying the first position of said movable wall.

8. In a machine as in claim 5 wherein said drum comprises opposed annular side walls, a plurality of circumferentially spaced studs extending axially outward from one of said drum side walls, and a rotatable sprocket wheel adjacent said one drum side wall for engaging said studs to rotate said drum.

9. In a machine as in claim 8, and further including object guide means movably mounted in an inclined position within said drum and having the upper end thereof adjacent the lower ends of said buckets in the discharge position thereof, and means for reciprocating said guide means substantially in its plane of inclination, and means sis-ears 9 for operatively connecting said reciprocating means with said sprocket wheel for actuation.

10. A machine as in claim 9, wherein said guide means comprises a frame member, and a plurality of guide members of different surface configurations for selective detachable connection to said frame member.

11. In a machine of the character described, a drum comprising a pair of opposed, flat annular side Wall members, means interconnecting said side wall members comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated members, a pair of semi-circular jacket members detachably mounted between said side wall members, a plurality of buckets abutting the inner surface of said jackets, said buckets being respectively mounted on said elongated members, each bucket comprising a pair of opposed end walls, a bottom wall interconnecting said end walls, a side wall pivotally mounted on the upper end portions of said end walls, and pivot means on said side wall and extending through one of said side wall members, a disc closing the opening in said one side wall member, cam track means mounted on said disc, cam follower means operatively connected to said pivot means and engageable with said cam track means, and means for rotating said drum relative to said disc whereby the interengaging cam follower means and cam track means is operative to sequentially move said pivoted side wall in one direction to positions relative to said end and bottom walls wherein (l) the capacity of said bucket is pre-set, (2) the capacity of said bucket is increased beyond said preset capacity, (3) the bucket is opened at the lower end thereof, and in the opposite direction whereby (4) the bucket is closed.

12. In a machine of the character described, a drum arranged for rotation about a horizontal axis, said drum including a pair of opposed interconnected annular side wall members, a pair of stationary discs respectively located adjacent the openings in said side wall members, buckets, circumferentially arranged within said drum, said buckets being open at the top and including means for discharging said buckets at the bottom thereof, conveyor means for containers extending through openings in said opposed discs and through said drum, adjustable guide rail means for tilting containers on said conveyor means to selected angular positions, guide means within said drum in an inclined position with the lower end thereof extending towards the mouths of said containers and the upper end thereof adjacent said buckets in the discharge position thereof, adjustable apron means depending from said guide means, means mounted on one of said discs for moving said guide means to vibrate the same substantially in the inclined plane thereof, and adjustable deflector means in opposed relation to said apron means for forming a chanel therebetween extending between said guide means and the mouths of said containers.

13. A machine for filling containers with objects comprising a drum arranged for rotation about a horizontal axis, said drum having opposed open end portions, chute means for delivering objects into said drum through one open end portion thereof, conveyor means for carrying containers through the opposed end portions of said drum, bucket means on the interior of said drum for lifting quantities of said objects and discharging the lifted objects into containers on said conveyor means, said conveyor means comprising interpivoted cylindrical links, adjustable guide rail means for varying the angular position of said containers while contacting said conveyor links, reciprocable, longitudinally movable means for vibrating said conveyor links to uniformly transmit vibrations to said containers and the contents thereof in any angular position of said containers and means for reciprocating said reciprocable means of said containers.

14. A machine comprising a drum arranged for rota, tion about a horizontal axis, said drum comprising opposed annular side walls, cylindrical jacket means between said side walls, a plurality of buckets on said drum arranged in circumferentially spaced relation on the in ner surface of said jacket means, meansfor rotating" said drum, conveyor means forcarrying containers through the opposed open ends of said side walls and through the interior of said drum, chute means for delivering objects through the open end of one of said side walls into the interior of said drum, each bucket being open at the top thereof and including a movable wall for varying the capacity of said bucket and for opening said bucket at the bottom thereof, means for sequentially moving said movable wall to positions successively more remote from the opposed portions of said jacket means wherein said movable wall takes a first position presetting the capacity of the bucket while said bucket is in a lower position on the drum, to a second position increasing the capacity of the bucket while said bucket is in a raised intermediate position on the drum, and to a third position to open the bucket at the bottom thereof while said bucket is in an upper position on the drum, whereby objects picked up by the bucket in said first position have their top level within the bucket lowered below said level in the second position and are quickly discharged irrespective of their shape in the third position.

15. A machine comprising a drum arranged for rotation about a horizontal axis, said drum comprising op posed annular side wall members, a pair of stationary discs mounted adjacent the openings in said side Wall members, said discs being formed with opposed conveyor openings and one of said discs being formed with a chute opening, conveyor means passing through the interior of said drum through the conveyor openings in said discs, chute means extending toward the interior'of said drum through the chute opening in said one disc, bucket means on the interior of said drum, means for rotating said drum, inclined guide means reciprocably mounted within said drum on one of said discs, said guide means comprising a frame and a plurality of guide members of different surface characteristics for selective association with said guide frame, one of said guide members having a corrugated bottom wall and an apron member adjustably mounted at the lower edge of said bottom wall, and adjustable deflector means located adjacent said guide means for forming a channel between said deflector means and said apron member.

16. A machine comprising a drum arranged for rotation about a horizontal axis, said drum comprising opposed annular wall members, a pair of stationary discs mounted adjacent the openings in said Wall members, said discs being formed with opposed conveyor openings and one of said discs being formed with a chute opening, endless conveyor means having the upper run thereof passing through the interior of said drum through the conveyor openings in said discs, a plurality of bucket means circumferentially spaced on the interior of said drum and open at the upper end thereof, each bucket including a movable side wall, and means for moving said side wall to a position opening said bucket at the bottom thereof; and means for' automatically actuating said wall moving means at a predetermined point in the rotation of said drum.

17. For use in a machine of the character described, an open top bucket comprising a pair of opposed end walls, a bottom wall connecting said end walls, a fixed side wall and a movable side wall pivotally mounted between said end walls at the upper ends thereof, said bottom wall being curved to locate the bottom edge of said movable side wall adjacent the inner surface of said bottom wall in various pivoted positions of said movable side wall including a pivoted position to provide a bottom outlet for said bucket.

.18. In combination with a drum, a series of buckets mounted circumferentially on said drum and in spaced relation to each other, each bucket being open at the top and comprising opposed end walls, a bottom wall,

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a fixed side wall and a side wall arranged for movement towards and away from said fixed side wall, means for moving said movable side wall to selected positions relative to said fixed side' wall to adjust the capacity of said bucket, and means for moving said movable side wall away from said fixed side wall and outwardly of said bottom wall to a position providing a bottom outlet for said bucket between the bottom edge of said movable side wall and said bottom wall.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Keeler June 16, 1891 Campbell Mar. 26, 1918 McLaughlin Sept. 25, 1928 Crandall Sept. 27, 1932 Eisenberg Oct. 4, 1955