US2973609A - Radial machine for aseptic canning and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1961 H. A. MORGAN, JR 2,973,609

RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 PRODUCT '46 ISI VACUUM INVENTOR.

HARRY A. MORGAN JR.

FIG, I

March 7, 1961 H. A. MORGAN, JR

RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND THE LIKE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1959 )TQW w vm Q2 INVENTOR. HARRY A. MORGAN JR.

ATTORNEY March 7, 1961 H. A. MORGAN, JR

RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28', 1959 FIG. 3

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

HARRY A. MORGAN JR- ATTORNEY March 7, 1961 H. A. MORGAN, JR

RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MORGAN JR.

ATTORNEY A 9 l w H Y MY 8 B u 6 4 A 8 E m H O l O 32 Z 8 a 7 7 7 7 0 O 0 0 I l G 2 I 9 M mm 7 6 F I l 9 I x 3 H mm 99 7 u m l 7 6 9 54 o 4 2 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 2 3 IJ 9 6 6 6 7 H 9 l L t N 5 5 u 8 J 6 1 r .1 I 8 l 3 .1 l8 8 9 3 N 9 M 9 7 2 0 6 5 8 w a s a 9 8 w m w RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1959 March 7, 1961 H. A. MORGAN, JR

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. HARRY A. MORGAN JR.

ATTORNEY March 7, 1961 H. A. MORGAN, JR

RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. HARRY A. MORGAN JR.

' ATTORNEY I HARRY A. MORGAN JR.

NVENTOR :ZW W J ATTORNEY March 7, 1961 H. A. MORGAN, JR 2,973,509

RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 28, 1959 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 CHA CK ROTATION INVEN HARRY A- MORGAN TOR JRI

BY m

ATTORNEY United States Patent RADIAL MACHINE FOR ASEPTIC CANNING AND THE LIKE Harry A. Morgan, IL, Palos Verdes'Estates, Calif., assignor to Reddi-Wip, Inc.', Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Missouri Filed Sept. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 842,623-

rs Claims. 01. 53-112) The present invention deals with multiple-unit machines for processing articles in a timed sequence, particularly to those sequences of operation which must be performed within an environment different from the work room environment. The invention has particular application to the operations of aseptic canning, and is especially useful for the more complexvand diflicult canning operations such as the aseptic canning under gas pressure of sterile pre-gassed whipping cream.

The scope of the present invention is not to be defined by'a single usage, however. It comprises mechanism adapted for the mass-processing, under controlled environmental conditions, of articles, substances and containers therefor utilizing a variety of processing media, fluids and gases; and the performance of intricate operations, such as container sealing, within a controlled environment within the processing units.

In conventional aseptic canning processes, containers and container covers are sterilized and conveyed from the sterilizer through shrouded passages to can filling equipment. They are introduced into the .can filling equipment, which is itself shrouded, through doors which are protected from contamination by maintaining a positive pressure of sterile gas which constantly leaks outward therethrough. All operations are conducted under similar precautions. The procedure is so complex as to be usable only for relatively simple-canning operations; any failure in production, such as misalignment of cans and covers, failure to feed a cover, etc., may require stopping the entire production line, opening the shrouds and then resterilization of the entire apparatus before production can proceed.

Attempts have been made heretofore to provide sterile t duction such as the machine disclosed in the patent to Weatherby-Williams, No. 2,695,743, issued November 30, 1954. This machine, designed for filling bottles with beer, fruit or vegetable juices, etc., is a rotary machine having a plurality of filling heads each of which accommodates a single container, and which as they rotate, perform a series of operations including container sterilization.

The machine there disclosed however, is not believed to -be practicable for many reasons; nor is it applicable to many of the more complex and demanding aseptic cauning operations, for example, aseptic canning of whipping cream under pressure.

In contrast to the Wea'therby-Williams apparatus, the

present machine is a stationary machine with rotating cam controls and contrarotating container feed mechanism. By making the basic machine stationary, including all filling heads and connections, fixed manifolding connections may be provided from central reservoirs of supply sources. Such fixed connections are quickly sterilized and involve no likelihood of contamination.

The present invention takes advantage ofits stationary structure to provide a control cyclet'hrough the raising and lowering of lift pads or pistons which (being reciprocable in respect to a stationary mechanism) provide powerful forces necessary to overcome the pressures and vacuums involved in the cycle of operations. A sturdy, rotating bed of 360 control cams is provided: To feed empty, covered containers to the filling chambers in sequence around the'circle, a novel circular counter-rotating feed rack is provided which accepts the discharge of sealed containers and furnishes empty containers in proper sequence. V

The purposes of the present invention include: providing a stationary machine having central fluid supplies and fixed fluid manifolds and conduits serving a stationary circle of article-processing units; controlling its opera? tions by a rotating cam mechanism; providing a counterrotating concentric feed and discharge rack; and utilizing magnetic feed of containers whereby to withdraw them from the rotating rack to the stationary units, and providing, as such units, a plurality of closable processing chambers wherein a desired environment may be maintained during a sequence of processing operations, and in particular, the operations involved in aseptic canning.

For use in aseptic canning, p-re-sterilized containers, unsealed but covered by pre-sterilized covers or caps, may be conducted through an unsterile, unprotected atmosphere within the workroom as disclosed in my co-pending US. patent application 815,673, filed May 25, 1959, entitled Improvements in sterilizing Procedures for Aseptic Canning. A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a filler machine suitable for use with such procedures, in which the covers may be removed and the covers and containers briefly resterilized, the containers aseptically filled with an aseptic product, and the covers then-reapplied and sealed within a sterile atmosphere.

These and other purposes which will be apparent from the specification which follows, are accomplished inthe preferred embodiment of the invention which illustrates its working in the aseptic canning in sealed dispensing containers of pre-sterilized and pre-gassed whipping general construction of a machine including, in radial elevation, one of twenty-one processing units and showing in section portions of a rotary cam bed, a rotary feed and discharge rack, and provisions for central fluid supplies.

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E are a succession of plan fragments, principallly in section, taken at levels shown by the lines 2A-2A, 2B- -2B, 2C2C, 2D-2D, V

and 2E'-2E, respectively of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 33 of Figure 2A, with one detail shown in section.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a filling chamber including its superimposed product measuring apparatus, and showing in full lines a container raised to the level for grasping a container top therefrom and for crimping a container top thereon; and, in phantom lines, a container lowered to the position at which the container top is withdrawn prior to filling and returned after filling; also showing in dashed lines the container raised to a higher level for filling. V

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view taken at the level 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view taken at the level 6-60). Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the crimping mechanism, taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 'is a fragmentary perspective, taken generalinders.

Figure 9 is a 360 layout of the rotary cams showing- The stationary structure The central structural member of the machine to be described is a heavy, hollow steel cylindrical column 21, which rises from the center of an inverted dished and reinforced steel base 22. It is supported about its periphery by a convenient number of vertical legs 23, which extend upward well beyond the base 22 to support an exterior fixed ring 24. The ring 24 is shown as a bent angle facing outward, to whose upwardly extending angle portion 25 is welded a heavy, horizontally inwardextending ring-like lower guide plate 26. On the outer margin of the guide plate 26 and jutting outwardly beyond the upward extending angle portion 25, is a track support 27, shown in Figure 8, by which is supported a horizontal, smooth-surfaced container track 28 having a raised outer guide rail portion 29.

Across the top of the column 21 secured, as by welding, a projecting circular top plate 30. Upon its center portion is mounteda plurality of manifolding reservoirs which are shown somewhat schematically in Figure 1. In the embodiment illustrated, the lowest of these is a circular metal vacuum reservoir 31 having a single vacuum connection 32 in its side surface, sealedly connected to a source of vacuum, not shown, and having around the I perimeter of its side wall a number of vacuum manifolding inlets 33, one to each processing cylinder hereafter described.

Stacked on the vacuum reservoir 31 is a vertical, hollow cylindrical wall 34 containing insulating material 35. The wall 34 is preferably the same in diameter as the vacuum reservoir 31. Supported on the upper edge of the wall 34 is a steam reservoir 36, constructed similarly to the vacuum reservoir 31 and having a single steam inlet 37 connected to a source of steam not shown, and a number of steam outlets 38 arranged around the periphery of its wall, one to each of the processing cyl- Stacked thereon is a second cylindrical wall 34 containing insulating material 35. Stacked thereon, and similar to the vacuum and steam reservoirs 31, 36, is a product gas reservoir 39 having a single side product gas inlet 40 and peripheral outlets 41, one for each filling chamber, located in the lower portion of its outer wall. Stacked thereon is a product reservoir 42, which may extend upward sufficiently to provide the necessary capacity. The reservoir 42 has a top central inlet 43 connected to a source of sterilized fluid product, which may be pre-gassed whipping cream under pressure. The inlet 43 is in a top wall 44 which may be sealedly clamped by familiar means to the circular cylindrical side wall 45. Just above the juncture of the side wall 45 and the reservoir base 46, the side wall is provided with a number of product outlets 47, one for each of the filling chambers. It is thus seen that the reservoirs for vacuum 31, steam 36, product gas 39, and product 42 are convenient central supply manifolds.

Rigid support arms 48 extend radially outward, as shown in Figures 1 and 28. If desired, one such arm v48 may be provided for each of the filling chambers.

The arms 48 overlay the center top plate and have supporting webs 49 welded to the upper portion of column 21, as shown in Figure 1. The arms 48 support at their outer ends a horizontal upper ring plate 50,

shown in detail in Figure 2B. The upper ring plate 50,-

twenty-one equally-spaced large circular bores 51, one

for each of twenty-one processing cylinders generally designated 52. i

For other uses, other types of article-processing units may be employed, similarly supported in a stationary circle and employing other sources of supplies by the use .of fixed connections or conduits thereto. An oddnumbered plurality of such processing units is employed, so as to utilize the preferred rotary feed-discharge rack hereafter described, rotating counter to the sequence processing steps.

Beneath each processing cylinder 52, the lower guide plate 26 is bored along the processing cylinderaxis 58 and there provided with a vertical piston guide bushing 53in which its associated piston rod 83 is slidingly received. The inner portion of the container track 28 is bored on the same centers to provide circular recesses 54 therein, to accommodate therein the piston heads 81 of the lifting pistons 79, with the upper surface of each piston head 81 flush with the surface of the track 28. Inner guide rail segments 55, elevated above the surface of'the track 28, restrict the width of the track 28, so that between the circular recesses 54 cans which move along the track 28 are then confined to its outer portion; but adjacent to each recess 54, the inner rail segments curve inwardly toward the recesses for feed of empty cans to the lift pad 79 and discharge of full cans therefrom.

The processing cylinders and associated elements Each of the processing units generally designated 52, shown in substantial detail in Figures 3 and 4, may be thought of essentially as a hollow cylinder which is open -at the bottom to accommodate a lifting pad or piston, thus to form a filling chamber enclosing a container,

but having a sideward extension within which a container cover is removed and held during the filling operation, for subsequent replacement.

These portions are most clearly evident in the crosssectional view Figure 4, which may well be compared, for clearer understanding, with Figures 3 and 6. I provide a processing cylinder casting 56 including lower hollow cylindrical open-ended portion 57 with a central cylinder axis 58; and having a sideward-extending housing portion 59 by which an enlargement 60 is provldeo in the hollow within the upper portion of the casting '56. This enlargement 60 is utilized to accommodate a crimper mechanism which holds the container cover sealedly housed but out of the bore of the processing cylinder 52 during the filling operation as hereafter de scribed.

The upper portion 61 of the processing cylinder casting 56.is thickened on its radially inner side, and bored to provide valve seats 62, 64, 66, for an inward-opening poppet valve 63 for vacuum, located on the radial crosssection Fig. 4, and for two outward-opening poppet valves 65, 67 for steam and for the product gas, respectively, displaced to each side of such cross-section. Each of the valves 63, 65, 67, has a stem 68; a com pression spring 69 bears against a rider 70 rigidly sccured to a stem 68. Each rider 70 is accommodate with- -in a hollow cylindrical valve housing 71 which is preferably cast integral with the processing cylinder casting 56. concentrically with the valve seats 62, 64, 66. The

valve stems 68 are supported for reciprocation through bored housing caps 72.

The housing 71 for the vacuum valve 63 has a vacuum inlet 73, inwardly of the rider 70 and connected by a vacuum conduit 74 to one of the vacuum manifolding inlets 33. Side inlets 75 are provided into the valve housings 71 for the steam valve 65 and product gas valve 67; the steam valve inlet 75 is connected by a the housing caps 62 and the valve stem 68 on the vacuunfand product gas valves 63, 67 to seal against possible contamination.

Within the lower open end portion 57 of the casting 56, and along its axis 58, a reciprocable lifting piston or piston-like lift pad generally designated 79, is provided, of sufiicient diameter to accommodate a container such as the dome-topped can 80, insertable frombelow with an unsealed cover on its mouth. The lift pad 79 includes a piston head 81 grooved and carrying an O-ring seal 82 at the upper end of a lift piston rod 83. On the upper surface of the piston head 81 along its radial inner side is a slender upstanding shoe 84, grooved as at 85, just above the intersection with the piston head 81 to receive the outstanding seam 86 at the base of the can 80.

At its upper margin, the casting 56 is flaringly enlarged to the circular shape shown in the plan view taken at the level of Figure 6, the circular enlargement being designated ,87, terminating in an outwardly flanged rim 88; which matingly receives a flaringly-enlarged circular bottom portion 89 of a superposed product-measuring casting generally designated 90, attached by a clamp ring 91. The flaring bottom portion 89 of the product-measuring casting 90 serves as the top wall for the processing cylinder casting 56. It covers not only the cylindrical hollow therein but also the enlargement 60 in the lower surface of the product measuring casting 90.

Upwardly along the axis 58 from the casting 56 is a product-supply bore or opening in the bottom portion 89 of the casting 90. As shown in Figure 4, it has a large counter bore 93 in its lower surface, deep enough and of sufiicient diameter to accommodate readily the upstanding can mouth 94 for drip-proof filling. Above the product-supply bore. 92, the product-measuring casting is provided with a cone-shaped lateral bore 95, extending toward a radially outward apex as shown in Figure 4; and the'casting 90 is provided thereabove with the other elements of a familiar Dickerson-type double-acting-measuring cylinder mechanism 96 used for filling containers, such mechanism being described in US. Patent 1,365,773, and having a cone valve 97. a I

. The cone valve 97 is held sealed by a compression spring 98 acting against a bore cone valve guide plate .99. On the outer end of the shaft of the cone valve 97 is a ratchet 100. A combined compressionand torque spring 101 on the shaft of the cone valve 97 engages against the end surface of the collar portion 102 of a floating ratchet housing 103. The outer end of the torque spring 101 presses, for torsion, against a shoulder projection 104 on the collar portion 102; the inner end is presented against a similar shoulder projection 105 on the outer surface of the guide plate 99. The housing 103 has a hollow shaft portion 106 which extends radially outward to an enlarged solenoid housing portion 107, having a bracket 108 to which is pivotally attached an upper actuating link 109, connected to a lower actuating link 110, in turn connected to a filler actuating rod 111 which passes downward through a bore 112 in the upper ring plate 50.

Within the solenoid housing portion 107 is a normally retracted solenoid mechanism 113 which, when energized, projects a hollow plunger 114 inward. Within the plunger 114 reciprocates a ratchet do-g shaft 115, urged inwardly by the coiled compression spring 116, but coaxial spring 117 returns the plunger 114 outward when the solenoid mechanism is not actuated. Therefore only when the solenoid mechanism 113 is energized electrically will the ratchet dog shaft 115 engage the ratchet 4100 on a downward stroke, as shown in Figure 3. The a spring 116 permits the ratchet dog shaft to ride upward from the position shown in phantom lines back to the position shown in solid lines. Actuation of the solenoid mechanism.1l3 is by electrical power supplied by connectors, not shown, from-a power source, not shown, through a microswitch 118, shown in Figure 7, having a sensor mounted in the housing portion 59 to sense the presence of a container cover. This switch 118 is normally off, and is energized only when a steel container cover 119 (here shown bearing the stem-type valve 120 for a pressure dispenser such as is used for canned whipped cream) has been transported into the housing portion 59 by the crimping mechanism hereinafter described.

Cast in the flared bottom portion 89 of the productmeasuring casting 90, spaced outwardly from the Dickerson measuring mechanism 96, and away from the cylindrical hollow in the casting 56 but upwardly adjacent to the enlargement 60 thereof, is an integral crimping shaft guide sleeve 121 which extends vertically and establishes an axis 122 (parallel to but offset from the cylinder axis 58) for rotation and reciprocation of the cover crimping mechanism hereafter described. On the axis 122 is mounted a crimper shaft 123, sealed at the level of the casting portion 89 with an O-ring 124. The shaft 123 has a solid upper end and an open-bottomed axial hollow 125 terminating upwardly in an inner end face 131. An inner shaft 126 is received in the hollow 125; between its upper end and the inner end face 131 is a first crimper spring 130. Beneath the surface of flared casting portion 89 which serves as the top of the housing shown in Figure 7, the crimper shaft 123 has a 90 arm portion 127 which extends an amount greater than the distance from 'the cylinder axis 58 to the crimper shaft axis 122. The arm portion 127 bears part of the cover sealing mechanism, specifically a hollow, downward-extending crimping plunger 128 having a downward and inward tapering lower end 129. In the hollow of the crimping plunger is received the stem of the valve 120.

The crimper shaft 123 has a squared up er end 132 on which is mounted a vertically-cut gear sector133, engaging for rotation a second gear sector 134 mounted on a vertical cover removal actuator shaft 135. Rotation of theactuator shaft 135 rotates the crimper shaft 123 and swings its arm 127 so that the crimping plunger 128 and associated mechanism is rotated from the center line cylinder axis 58, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 4, completely into the sideward enlargement of the housing 60 as shown in Figure 7.

The inner shaft 126 will rotate with the crimper shaft 123, for at the inner shaft lower end 136 a second, lower arm 137 carries means which cooperate with the crimping plunger 128 to efiect a crimping-namely, crimpingsegments 138 which are tiltable and extendable outward by the camming action of the taper on the lower end 129 of the crimping plunger 128. A second crimper compression spring 130, surrounding the plunger 128, bears between the segments 138 and upper arm 127. A magnetic ring 139, set in the lower surface of the arm 137 outwardly of the crimping segments, attracts and holds the steel container cover 119 securely. The inner shaft lower end 136 maintains bearing contact against the bottom of the housing 60 and does not reciprocate.

Rotating cam bed and associated mechanism Onto the lower portion 'of central column 21 there is mounted, by upper and lower tapered roller bearings 144 shown schematically, a rotating cam bed generally designated 145. It consists of a circular horizontal bed plate 146 supported by and extending outwardly from a central hollow cylindrical support 147, which receives the bearings 144. A plurality of radial vertical support ribs 148, located at angular intervals, lends rigidity to the'outer portions of the bed plate 146 and provides for variations in level at which the concentric 360 cams carried thereby may be steadily supported. These con-' centric cams are of two types; vertical-actuation cams $153 on the cam bed 145. single short downward movement, just prior to the 300 frotation position of Figure 9, at which it pulls each against the resistance of the springs 130, 130.

l Q ans-tbs which operate push or pull rods, and horizontal-throw cams which operate torque rods. They will be taken up in order, lettered a to h, inclusive, starting at the outer periphery of the rotating cam bed 145.

The outermost cam, designated a, is the container lift pad cam shown in Figure 1 at its lowermost position. Cam (1 is a rigid steel ring supported by the radial ribs 148. Its upper surface is the cam surface; and it bears upwardly against the follower rollers on the lower end of each of the lift piston rods 83. The travel of cam a is shown schematically in thecam lay-out of Figure 9. The position in Figure 1 for corresponds to the feedand-discharge level. The cam a then rises, in the stages shown in Figure 9, to a maximum height fairly close to the level of the bed plate 146, corresponding to filling position of the container. The variations in cam a are discussed under the heading Sequence of Processing Operations.

Next radially inward a small amount (in fact nearly directly above cam a) is the closure removal mechanism cam b, located above the level of the bed plate 146. Cam b is formed on the outer edge of a ring-like flat plate supported at the outer margin of the cam bed 145. It has a horizontal throw which turns the cover removal torque rods 135 for each filling unit or station, by means of their follower rollers mounted on their lever arms 145. The pattern is shown in Figure 9.

Cam c, as shown in Figure 8 and as laid out in Figure 9, is of the vertical actuation type, formed on the lower projecting surface of a radially outermost circular ridge Its cam pattern shows only a crimper rod 150 downward. Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 5, a projecting crimping hammer 151 is attached to the upper end of each crimper rod 150. When the rod 150 is pulled downward, the crimping hammer 151 strikes the upper end of the crimper shaft 123, moving it downward to the position shown in phantom lines in Figure 7 This downward movement is permitted by the sliding of the vertically-cut teeth of the sector 133 in those of the sec- .ond sector 134, the thickness of these sectors being sufficient to permit such downward displacement without disengagement.

A greater degree of travel is provided for the downward operating filler actuating rods 111. To afford this greater travel, the bed plate 146 is provided, radially inward of the ridge 153, with a bed plate depression or circular groove 152, bounded on its inner side by a second concentric. ridge 154 beneath whose outer projecting surface the cam d is formed. The groove 152 is of sufiicient width to accommodate the bottom end of the filler actuating rod 111 and the cam follower secured on it.. The actuating rod 111 is drawn from the uppermost position shown in the cross-section in Figure 1, by the throw of the product fill cam d, from its upward released position,

shown in Figure 1 (corresponding to the flat portion of servoir 42 to the other side of the piston, displacing through the productsupply bore 92 all the fluid product. A second downward stroke of the filler actuating rod 111 turns the cone valve 97 to a closed position. For the next filling cycle, the first stroke opens the cone valve 97 -to a reverse flow pattern, returning the free-floating piston to its original position while'emptying the measured con- -tents; A following'stroke will a'gain close the cone valve :97.. The cam pattern foream d is two downward-andreturn strokes, as shown in Figure 9, with the filling taking place during that interval following the first stroke which is necessary to empty the Dickerson measurer 96. p

A third circular ridge 155, radially inward of and extending higher than the others and supported on its inner side by a plurality of welded webs 156, has.a similar outwardly projecting upper rim, whose radially outer surface forms cam h, the push-bar cam. Between the ridges 154 and 155, the bed plate 146 supports three ring-like valve actuator cam plates 157, 158, 159 for the valve operating cams e, f, and g, respectively. The patterns of'their outer cam edges are laid out in Figure 9; and the relation of the cams to the crank arms 160, 161, 162, respectively, is shown in Figure 2 and in Figures 5 and 6. These crank arms 168, 161, 162 operate valve torque rods 163, 164, 165, respectively, at the upper ends of which are afi'ixed valve stem actuating arms 166, 167, 168, respectively actuating the stems for the product gas, steam and vacuum valves 67, 65, and 63. It is noted that arm 168 pushes inward on the stem 68 of the vacuum valve; the other two valves are operated by pulling.

In order to avoid confusion in the drawings, I have not shown the conventional means, such as ordinary torque springs, which would obviously be used for holding the cam followers attached to the crank arms 160, 161, and 162 against the cams e, f, g; nor similar means for holding the crank arm 149 against cam b. Such torque spring might be provided adjacent to the bores which accommodate the actuating rod and permit their passage through the upper ring plate 50 and the lower guide plate 26. Likewise, for clarity, I have not illustrated any springs or equivalent means for holding the vertical-operating piston rod 83, crimper rod and product filler actuator rod 111 against the cams a, c, and 0., respectively; nor for returning inwardly the radial push-bars 169 hereafter described.

Cam h, in its position elevated above the container track 28, operates the radial push-bars 169, each supported in a radial bushing 170 held in an upright bracket 171 which extends upwardly from the lower guide plate 26 inward of the container track 28. The axes of the bushings 170 intersect the vertical axes 58 of each cylinder 57. At the outer end of each push-bar 169 is a magnetic yoke 172, having upper and lower members curved to make contact with a can above and below its center of gravity, the lower portion of the magnetic yoke 172 being immediately above the level of the shoe 84 of the lift pad 7'9 when in lowered position as shown to the right in Figure 8. At inward position of the pushbars 169, their yokes 172 are slightly inward of the lift pad shoes 84.

The pattern of cam 11 as laid out in Figure 9, is perfectly circular except for the discharge-feed lobe 173 shown in Figure 8. As the leading edge (or discharge portion) of this lobe 173 of cam h encounters the push-bars 169 successively, it moves them outward, their yokes contacting the cans on lowered lift pads and removing them outward to the track 28. Continued rotation, for a few degrees, results in the magnetic yoke 172 attracting an empty steel container; the follower of the push-bar 169 then retracts inward along following edge (or feed portion) of the lobe 173, drawing a can magnetically from the track 28 onto the lift pad 79 at the particular station.

Secured to the base of the cylindrical support 147 for the cam bed 145 is a ring gear 174. A pair of pillow blocks 175, aligned horizontally and radially, support a guide shaft 176 on the base 22; the shaft 176 drives a bevel gear 177 which engages the ring gear 174 as shown in Figure l. The preferred power source is an electric motor, not shown.

A pair of mating bevel gears 178, one located radially outward on the shaft 176 and the'other at the bottom of a'vertical' can rack drive shaft 179 'brackefisupported say about one-half of the can height.

which slidingly propels cans, both empty and full, in

separate pockets along the smooth surface of the track 28. Each pocket or conveyor space is a distinct conveyor portion which serves a particular one of the processing units or filling cylinders. The order of their arrangement is alternate, as compared to the arrangement of the filling cylinders themselves; this is later discussed in connection with Figure 10. Giving to successive fil1- ing cylinders the numerals I-XXI, inclusive, and numbering their discharge pockets 1d, 2d, etc. and their feed pockets 1 2), etc., the order of arrangement of these pockets is 1d, 1 12d, 12 2d, 2 13d, 13 etc. Figure 2C shows these pockets along a portion of the periphery of the machine. The shaded circles represent containers; all containers in the discharge pockets are filled and sealed; while those in the feed pockets are empty and have covers loosely carried on the container mouths.

At the upper end of the can rack drive shaft 179 is a spur gear 180, which engages outward-projecting teeth on a peripheral ring gear 181 portion of a can rack ring 182, which has a horizontal lower surface and an inner cylindrical surface, both supported by nylon bearing rings 183 (or other raceway provisions) on the stationary angle 24. The outer surface of the can rack ring 182 extends outward of the guide rail 29 sufficiently for clearance. Onto the outer surface of the can rack ring 182 are attached, at forty-two equally spaced intervals, the upright legs 184, 185 of two alternating types of spacer members; the discharge pocket follower spacers 186 and the feed pocket follower spacers 187, there being twenty-one of each. These forty-two spacers, together with the can rack ring 182 to which they are attached, form a bottomless f'eed-and-discharge rack for cans, which they propel slidingly along the track 28.

As shown in Figure 8, the discharge pocket follower spacer 186 and feed pocket follower spacer 187 are arranged alternately. In addition to the upright legs 184, 185, each has two inward-extending horizontal spacer leaves, identical in plan form and spaced vertically, the lower being immediately above the guide rail 29 and the upper being a convenient distance thereabove, The width of these leaves is such as to leave between them pockets or rack spacings sufficiently large to accommodate a single can 80 of the desired diameter.

The discharge pocket follower spacers and feed pocket follower spacers 186, 187 extend radially inward from their upright legs 184, 185 across the outer portion of the track 28, close to the outer edges of the circular receptacles 54 which accommodate the lift pads 79. Each of the discharge pocket follower spacers has a-forward edge 188 which is radial, and an aft edge 189 which first slants aft and inward and then is radial. Each of the feed pocket follower spacers has a forward edge 190 and an aft edge 191, both of which have radial outer portions but inwardly slant toward each other, like flatirons. Can deflector-inlet bars 194, are attached to the inner rails 55 at a chosen angular position for discharging full cans from, and receiving empty cans into, the rack. The deflector bars 194 are horizontal, and extend across the track 28, outwardly and forwardly in the direction of rotation of the can rack ring 182, at a slant which corresponds to that of the outer portions of the aft edge 189 of a discharge pocket follower spacer 186.

Extending radially outward and adjacent to the can rack at a position to cooperate with the deflector bars tition 195, a feed conveyor outer wall 196 and a discharge conveyor outer wall 197, these latter two being flared slightly outward adjacent to the can rack. The feed conveyor outer wall 196 is apertured adjacent to the track to permit passage of the horizontal spokes of an intermittently actuated star wheel 198, whose vertical shaft 199 is actuated at intervals timed in association with the rotation of the drive shaft 176. The star wheel 198 propels empty containers off the inwardmoving radial feed conveyor 192 at such intervals, timed to fill the successive feed pockets 1 12 2f, 13 etc. which alternate with the respectively-numbered discharge pockets as shown in Figure 10. The star wheel shaft actuation is' by any chosen intermittently-acting mechanism, such as an escapement mechanism, familiar in the art; therefore such mechanism is not shown.

Referring to Figure 2, star wheel 198 will be actuated to propel an empty container into a feed pocket each time the aft-and-inward tapering aft edge 189 of a discharge pocket follower spacer 186 reaches the position, shown in Figure 2C, s ufficiently beyond the deflector bars 194 to permit an empty container to be pressed therebetween.

Referring to Figure 2, as the forward edge 188 of the next discharge pocket follower spacer 186 approaches the deflector bars 194, the container in discharge pocket 4d will be cammed outward, thus passing onto the belt of the discharge conveyor 193. The inward tapers or slants of the forward and aft edges 190, 191 of the feed pocket follower spacers 187, facilitate the movement of the containers inwardly beyond their reach, for feeding to the lift pads 79; and also their return outwardly from the lift pads to the discharge pockets.

The radial discharge conveyor 193 and feed conveyor 192 are shown in Figure 2C between fillingchambers III and IV. They might be located at any convenient place around the periphery. In the position illustrated, an empty container which is to be fed to filling chamber III will pass almost directly from the radial feed conveyor 192 into the rack pocket 3d and thence, after only a few degrees of travel, inward to the filling chamber III. However, containers discharged from filling chamber III into the associated rack pocket 3d must travel almost 33(2)" before their discharge onto the discharge conveyor Can discharge-feed sequence In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an odd-numbered plurality of stationary filling processing units arranged in a circle, are utilized, controlled by rotating means which programs and times the operations of the processing units consecutively in their order about the circle; the articles to ,be processed being unloaded from and fed to the units by a rotating circular conveyor, contra-rotating at the same angular velocity, distrnct portions of Which unload and feed each of the processlng units.

This construction satisfies the condition that the relative speeds and senses of rotation of the rotating control means and the rotating conveyor be such that, for each 360 of rotation of the control means, the distinct feed portion of the conveyor associated with a particular processing unit passes a feed demand portion of the rotating control means when both are in angular registration with the particular processing unit, but with no other. An empty can will be available in the particular feed pocket of the conveyor, whenever the feeddemand portion of the can lobe 173 calls for one, and there will be a vacant discharge pocket each time the leading edge, or discharge portion of the lobe 1 73 calls for an empty pocket within which to discharge a filled container.

In the principal embodiment of invention described, the. angular speed of rotation of the circular conveyor is identical with the angular speed of rotation of the rotating control means. This is most advantageous because it'permits a relatively low-speed of movement of l1 thecan rack, and the processing units may operate with fewest practical problems as to timing the discharge-and- ;feed operations.

Figure 10 schematically shows the discharge-feed operation of the machine which has been described. The cam bed rotation is clockwise, as shown by the arrows, and the discharge-feed lobe 173 is shown schematically in position opposite filling cylinder XXI. The feed-anddischarge rack rotation is counter-clockwise, at the same angular velocity. The distinct portions of the dischargefeed rack which are associated with the filling cylinders I, II, III, are identified by the brackets and numbers 1, '2, 3, etc. Each of these distinct portions consists of two consecutive pockets in the rack, the discharge pocket 1d being in advance of the feed pocket 1 etc. In Figure 10 the pockets 1d, 1 associated with filling cylinder I are shown opposite filling cylinder II. By the time the cam bed has rotated through an angular distance equal -to & of 360 to bring the lobe 173 opposite the filling cylinder I, these pockets 1d, 1 will also be opposite it. -When the cam lobe 173 has traveled of the circle, the discharge feed pockets 2d, 2 will have moved of a complete contra-rotation and will therefore be opposite this filling cylinder.

Unlike the consecutive sequence of the numbered filling cylinders, the sequence of the distinct rack portions associated respectively therewith is an alternate sequence: 1, 12, 2, 13, 3, 14, 4, 1.5, 5, 16, 6, 17, 7, 18, 8, 19, 9, 20, 10, 21, 11. Each of these distinct portions consists of .a discharge pocket and a feed pocket, thus: lid, 1 12d, 12f, etc.

In Figure 10, the discharge-feed cam lobe, which demands empty cans and directs the discharge of full cans from and to the rotating racks, respectively, is shown in angular registration with processing cylinder XXI. At

the same time the discharge rack portions associated with that processing cylinder are passing it. Referring again to Figure 10, it will be realized that 180 beyond the illustrated positions the discharge-feed cam lobe 173 -will again pass the same portions of the feed discharge rack; this time at a point halfway between the filling cylinders X and XI. Between filling cylinders, no discharge or feed operation can take place. Hence the oddnumbered plurality of filling cylinders is suificient.

In contrast, in the alternative shown in Figure 11 the feed-and-discharge rack rotates in the same direction as the cam bed but at twice the angular speed. In this embodiment an even number of filling cylinders may be used, ,shown to be twenty and numbered 1' to XX". The discharge-feed lobe of the cam is shown schematically opposite the filling cylinder XX. In of a full rotation of .the cam bed (that is, 18), the discharge-feed cam will be .opposite cylinder I; on the completion of another equal angle of rotation it will be opposite filling cylinder .11", etc. The feed-discharge rack rotates at twice the angular speed, in order that its portions associated with its several filling cylinders may arrive in angular registration at the time required.

The disadvantage of this arrangement, as compared with the arrangement of Figure 10, is that the angular speed of rotation of the feed rack is twice that at which the processing operations are directed by the rotating cam bed. The inertia forces operating on the containers, and their speed as they pass the magnetic push rod mechanism must not be so great as to render this arrangement unworkable; hence the arrangement shown in Figure 11 may be useful only for relatively low-speed operations.

Sequence of processing operations The processing operations can best be understood by a comparison of the several cam patterns in Figure 9, as they relate to the mechanism described, and particuIarly to Figure 4. Starting at the'left of Figure 9, the magnetic j yoke 172 is extended radially outward by its cam 12 and has discharged a filled,sealed can. 'It magnetically at filling opening.

tracts an empty can whose mouth is covered with a closure; and then is drawn inward by the return spring (not shown) to follow the lobe 173; pulling the empty can onto the lift pad 79 until the shoe 84 stops further inward movement and disengages the can from the yoke 172. Cam a then raises the piston 83 until the can is at the level shown in solid lines in Figure 4. At this level the upper rim of the closure contacts the magnetic ring 139 around the crimping segments. Being there engaged by the magnetic ring 139, the closure is held as the lift pad 79 lowers the can to the position shown in dashed lines in Figure 4. At this stage, the closure-swing cam b actuates the torsion rod which delivers the closure (and the entire crimping mechanism) from the cylindrical portion of the filling chamber to the hollow enlargement 60. Meantime the vacuum cam g has opened the vacuum valve 63, evacuating all air from within the filling chamber, which was sealed as the O-ring 82 entered the lower cylinder 57. As this evacuation operation ceases, the steam control cam 1 opens the steam valve 65, resulting in an inflow of sterilizing fluid to the entire interior of the filling chamber, the hollow containing the crimper and the closure, as well as the uncovered can. Assuming that the can and closure have been pre-sterilized according to the process which is the subject of my aforementioned pending application, this sterilization step may be brief, as therein described; hence it may be performed as .one of the operations of aseptic canning in high-speed production. As the sterilization operation progresses, the cam a gradually raises the lift pad 79. At the close of the sterilization operation (at approximately the ,point as shown in Figure 9) the steam is evacuated by opening the vacuum valve 63; and at the point the lift pad has raised the empty can to the level shown in phantom lines, with its mouth close to the product supply bore 92.

At this stage, the product gas earn 6 then opens the product gas valve 67, whereby a suitable inert sterile processing gas, compatible with the product, is supplied into a filling chamber at a chosen pressure. This may be merely an inert gas, supplied at a low pressure to fill the .head space within the container and prevent any inflow of air past the O-ring seal 82 while the filling operation progresses, However for processing pressurized products such as whipping cream, the gas may be nitrous oxide or .carbon dioxide or a combination of the two, supplied at a pressure equal to that at which pre-gassed sterile cream is delivered to the Dickerson measurer 96 and sufiicient to dispense the product in whipped form.

The product gas valve 6'7 continues open as the product fill cam d actuates the filler actuating rod 111, permitting the product in the Dickerson measurer 96 to be forced under the pressure at which it is supplied, downward .through the product supply bore 92. The mouth of the container is not pressed tightly against the counter bore 93; thus the pressure of the product gas is balanced against the inflowing product to maintain the desired pressure as the container is filled. The second of the two lobes in .the product fill can closes the cone valve 97, although the Dickerson measurer 96 previously completed .its fill operation by the closing of its floating piston against one or the other ends of the measurer cylinder.

. 7 So far I have mentioned three distinct positions of the container inside the filling cylinder, as shown in Figure 4. The first inside position, shown in solid lines, is the one at which the closure is engaged to the crimper; the second .inside position, lower than the first and shown in dashed lines, permits the closure to be swung away; and the third inside position, shown in phantom lines, is higher than the first inside position and close to the top central raises the lift pad 79 to the first inside position, bringing the container mouth forcibly against the closure, with the lower portions of the crimping, segments 138 below the level of the container mouth and in position for crimping, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 4. The lobe of the crimper cam c then causes the crimping hmamer 151 to r be brought downward, whereby the crimping plunger 128 actuates the crimping segments 138 outward, sealing the container. At this time the product gas valve closes. The lift pad 79 then lowers the filled sealed container out of the filling chamber, down to the discharge level as shown in Figure 8; whereupon the discharge portion of the lobe 173 of the magnetic push-bar cam a drives the push-rod 169 outwardly, causing the filled container to be caught up by the forward radial edge 183 of the spacer 186 aft of the particular discharge pocket associated with the filling cylinder.

If a valuable product gas is being utilized, a portion of it may be saved by the following alternate procedure: after the container has been scaled and while the product gas valve 67 is still open, the container is lowered sufficiently to permit the closure swing mechanism to swing the crimper mechanism into the hollow as shown in Figure 7. The entire container is raised upward as much as possible, forcing part of the product gas back through its open valve 67. The valve then closes; the lift pad is then drawn downward, wasting only the amount of gas remaining therein.

The foregoing sequence of processing operations has necessarily been particularized. More generally, what has been done is to introduce an article to be processed into a chamber and close the chamber, whereupon a desired sequence of processing operations, involving the use-of fluent substances including gases isv carried on; The air evacuation step preliminarily establishes a desired environment for the steam sterilization step, which itself is both a processing and environment-controlling step; the environment is further controlled by the removal of steam or other processing fluid. The inflow of a product gas constitutes a further environment-establishing step as well as a filling step. The product-fill, cover replacement and sealing steps are all processing operations,

The particular mechanism which includes the magnetic rig 139 for cover removal and the crimping plunger 128 and crimping segments 138 for cover replacement and sealing, exemplify mechanism whereby a plurality of articles may be introduced together to the filling chamber, thereafter separated and subjected to processing steps, and then recombined together. The three inside positions for the lift pad 79 exemplify the use of the lifting piston not merely for bringing articles into a chamber at which a desired environment is to be established for processing, but also for use in the sequence of processing operations. I 7

It is apparent that various uses other than those which have been so particularized, will occur to persons skilled in the related arts; and that many modifications can be made in equipment to be utilized and the steps to be performed without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly this invention should not be construed narrowly, but instead as fully extensive with the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim: r

1. A multiple unit machine for processing articles in a timed sequence, comprising a base, a central support column having anupper portion and a lower portion, fixed means extending'radially from the upper portion and supporting a plurality of article-processing units in a stationary circle, a rotating bed supported by the lower portion of the support column beneath and radially inward ofsaid circle of article-processing units, timing cam means carried by said bed, means cooperating with said timing cam means whereby the processing units are operated in a sequence responsive to the rotation of said bed, a rotating article feed rack supported radially out- Ward of said rotating bed, means to rotate said bed and rack, and means to withdraw articles from said feed rack to said processing units and to discharge such articles from the processing units.

2. A multiple unit machine for processing articles with a fluid in a timed sequence, comprising a base, a central support column, fixed means extending radially from the column and supporting a plurality of article-processing units in a stationary circle, a central fiuid supply and a fixed manifold and conduits connecting each of said units to said supply, a rotating bed supported by the support column, timing cam means carried by said bed, means cooperating with said timing cam means whereby the processing units are operated in a sequence responsive to the rotation of said bed, an article feed rack rotatable adjacent to said circle of processing units, means to rotate said bed and feed rack, and means to withdraw articles from said feed rack to said processing units and to discharge such articles from the processing units.

3. The combination comprising a plurality of stationary article-processing units arranged in a circle, and a rotating circular feed-and-discharge rack concentric with and adjacent to the circle of stationary units, said rack including spacer members providing a single circular line of alternate discharge pockets and feed pockets, together with means to feed articles radially from said feed pockets to said processing units and to discharge articles radially into said discharge pockets.

4.'The combination defined in claim 3, said spacer members being of two types, arranged alternately, one type having a radial forward edge defining the aft side of a discharge pocket and having an aft edge defining the forward side of a feed pocket, said aft edge slanting aft and inward, the other type of spacer member having a forward edge defining the aft side of a feed pocket and having an aft edge defining the forward side of a discharge pocket, both said edges slanting inward toward each other.

5. Th combination defined in claim 3, the rotating feed-and-discharge rack being bottomless and supported for rotation radially outward of the circle of processing units, there being beneath said rack a fixed circular track having a radially-outer rail, whereby articles confined forward and aft by the spacer members of said rack may slide on said track and against said outer rail.

6. Processing mechanism comprising an odd-numbered plurality of stationary processing units arranged in a circle, means to control their processing operations consecutively in their order of arrangement about the circle, a rotating circular conveyor including distinct conveyor portions serving each of the processing units, said conveyor portions so associated with the respective processing units being arranged in an alternate order around said conveyor, a power source, and mechanism operatively connecting said processing units, control means and conveyor.

7. Processing mechanism comprising an odd-numbered plurality of stationary processing units arranged in a circle, rotating means to control their processing operations consecutively in their order of arrangement about the circle, a counter-rotating circular conveyor including distinct conveyor portions serving each of the processing units, a power source, and mechanism operatively connecting said processing units, control means and conveyor.

8. Processing mechanism comprising an odd-numbered plurality of stationary processing units arranged in a circle, rotating means to control their processing operations consecutively in their order of arrangement about the circle, said rotating control means including a feeddemand portion, a rotating circular conveyor including distinct conveyor portions feeding each of the processing units, the relative speeds and senses of rotation of the said control means and conveyor being such that for each 360 of rotation of the control means, the distinct feed portion of the conveyor associated. with a particular processing unit passes the feed-demand portion of the rotating control means when both are in angular registration with such particular processing unit but with no other, a power source, and means operatively connecting said processing units, said power source, control means and conveyor.

9. For use in processing articles, the combination comprising an odd-numbered plurality of stationary processing units arranged in a circle, means to conduct such articles at a determined angular velocity, along a rotary path adjacent to and concentric with the circle of processing units, means to withdraw such articles from such rotary path to such stationary processing units, and means to control the operation of said withdrawing means in a control sequence which proceeds around the circle of processing units in a sense of rotation opposite that of the rotary path and at the same angular velocity.

10. For use in processing articles .formed of material attractable by magnetism, the combination comprising an odd-numbered plurality of stationary processing units arranged in a circle, means to conduct such articles at a determined angular velocity, along a rotary path adjacent to and concentric with the circle of processing units, magnetic means to withdraw such articles from such rotary path to such stationary processing units, and means to control the operation of said magnetic means in a control sequence which proceeds around the circle of processing units in a sense of rotation opposite that of the rotary path and at the same angular velocity.

11. Mechanism whereby articles are subjected to a sequence of operations within a desired environment different from the work room environment, comprising an odd number, greater than one, of processing chambers arrranged in a circle, means to conduct articles to be processed at a determined angular velocity along a rotary path adjacent to and concentric with the circle of processing chambers, means to feed an article from such rotary path into each of the processing chambers and to enclose the article within the chamber, and to open the chamber and discharge the article therefrom after processing, means to establish the desired environment within each closed processing chamber, means to carry on desired processing operations therein, together with means to control the said feeding, enclosing, environmentestablishing, processing, opening and discharging in a control sequence which proceeds around .the circle of processing chambers in a sense of rotation opposite the sense of rotation of the rotary path and at the same angular velocity.

12. Container filling mechanism comprising an oddnumbered plurality of stationary container-filling chambers arranged in a circle, a source of supply of material to be filled, a connection therefrom to each of said filling chamber, means to conduct containers at a determined angular velocity along a rotary path adjacent to and concentric with the circle of filling chambers, means to feed such containers from such rotary path into said chambers, together with means to control the feed of the containers into, and their filling within, and their removal from the filling chambers, in a sequence which proceeds around the circle of filling chambers in a sense of rotation opposite the sense of rotation of the said rotary path and at the same angular velocity.

13. Canning mechanism comprising an odd-numbered plurality of stationary filling cylinders arranged in a circle, a lifting piston associated with and removable downwardly from each cylinder, conduit means fixedly connecting each cylinder to a source of productto be canned, means to conduct covered unsealed containers in a rotary path adjacent to the circle of filling cylinders, means to feed such covered containers from such rotary path onto said lifting pistons, actuating means to intro- ,duce the pistons and covered containers thereon upward tainers with the product to be canned, to replace the covers, to seal the covers onto the containers, then to withdraw the pistons with the sealed containers thereon downward out of the cylinders, together with means to discharge the containers so sealed from said withdrawn pistons back to the said rotary path-conducting means.

14. Aseptic canning mechanism comprising an odd numbered plurality of stationary processing cylinders arranged in a circle, a lifting piston associated with and removable downwardly from each cylinder, conduits fixedly connecting each processing cylinder to sources of vacuum, sterilizing fluid, processing gas, and product to be canned, means to conduct covered unsealed containers in a rotary path adjacent to the circle of processing cylinders, means to feed such covered containers from such rotary path onto said lifting pistons, actuating means to introduce the piston and covered container thereon upward into the cylinder with which it is associated, to remove the cover, to evacuate the cylinder, to introduce sterilizing fluid, to re-evacuate the cylinder, to introduce processing gas, to fill the container with the product to be canned, to replace the cover, to seal the cover onto the container, then withdraw the piston with the sealed container thereon downward out of the cylinder, together with means to discharge the containers so sealed from the said pistons.

15. For filling and sealing containers supplied with covers loosely placed on the container mouths, a canning machine comprising a filling cylinder having a top central opening and a side compartment, means inward of and adjacent to said opening for engaging a container cover, for removing it sidewise into the side compartments, and for returning it to center and crimping it onto the mouth of the container, valved means above said opening for supplying a quantity of product to be canned, together with a lifting piston and lift mechanism associating the lifting piston reciprocably with respect to said cylinder, said lift mechanism including actuating means establishing a position for said piston removed from the cylinder at which position containers are received on the piston, further establishing a first inside position within the cylinder at which the cover on the mouth of a container lifted on said piston will engage the cover-engaging means first aforementioned, further establishing a second inside position sufficiently lower than said first inside position to permit the cover to be withdrawn sidewise, further establishing a third inside position higher than the first inside position, wherein the mouth of the uncovered container is presented adjacent to the top central opening for filling.

16. For aseptic canning in containers supplied with covers loosely placed on the container mouths, a canning machine comprising a processing chamber having a top central opening and a side compartment, means inward of and adjacent to said opening for engaging a container cover, for removing it sidewise into said side compartment, and for replacing it and sealing it onto the mouth of the container, valved means above said opening for supplying a quantity of product to be canned, valved conduit means whereby to supply an aseptic processing fluid to said chamber, together with a container-lifting pad, and lift mechanism associating said pad reciprocably with respect to said chamber, said lift mechanism including actuating means establishing a position for said pad removed from the chamber at which position containers are received on the pad and discharged therefrom, further establishing a first inside position within the chamber tuating means having a pattern whereby the container is thereafter lowered to said second inside position at which the cover is returned from the side compartment to center by said first aforementioned means, and then raised to first inside position whereby to present its mouth against the cover, at which the cover is sealed onto the'container mouth by said first aforementioned means, and thereafter lowered out of the chamber to the pad-removed position, together with means sequencing the cover removal, supply of aseptic processing fluid, product supply, cover replacement and sealing operations aforementioned along with the operations of the lift mechanism actuating means.

17. Mechanism for filling containers and sealing covers onto the container mouths, comprising a vertical hollow cylindrical container-accommodating chamber having a top, a top central opening, and a source of product to be filled connected to said opening, a sideward-extending housing portion beneath and adjacent said top by which is provided a sideward-extending enlargement of the hollow within the cylinder, a vertical shaft mounted reciprocably and rotatably on an axis parallel to and olfset from the cylinder axis, and having an end extending to the outside, the shaft having an arm swingable from within the enlargement to the axis of the cylinder, reciprocatingly-operablecover-sealing mechanism mounted on said arm, and actuating means engaging the said outsideextending end of the shaft for swinging the cover-sealing mechanism from the axis of the cylinder beneath the top central opening to the enlargement and for returning the sealing mechanism to said axis, and for reciprocating the shaft and thereby operating the cover-sealing mechanism.

18. Mechanism as defined in claim 17, the sealing means so mounted including a crimping plunger, the shaft having a hollow concentrically accommodating a second shaft bearing a second arm swingable with the crimping plunger, said second arm supporting means cooperating with said crimping plunger to crimp covers within container mouths and thereby to seal them.

References Cited in the-file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1,109,075 Lange Sept. 1, 1914 1,469,560 Huntley Oct. 2, 1923 2,695,743 Wetherby-Williams Nov. 30, 1954 2,885,845 Ryan May 12, 1959

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