US2979875A - Bottle stoppering apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1961 w. G. KLETTKE BOTTLE STOPPERING APPARATUS Filed July 21, i958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 n. 3 a 7 8H a A JP 6 m 3 5 l 5 c E z AR a J m 0,? PM 2 m mw &

Ma m HTTORNEYS April 18, 1961 w. G. KLETTKE 2,979,875

BOTTLE STOPPERING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet s HTTORNEYJ' M V m r w E M EL 3 R 7; a E L a; m w fix W M 4 m m April 196l w. G. KLETTKE 2,979,875

BOTTLE STOPPERING APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 {35 5 24a Zia 262 27a INVENTOR. We; new 6. Azzrnr:

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HTTQR/YEYS Unit BQTTLE STOPPERIN G APPARATUS Filed July 21, 1958, SerJNo. 749,714

10 Qlaims. (Cl.-53-320) This invention relates to a bottle filling and stoppering machine and it relates particularly to a machine adapted for filling and stoppering multi-compartmented containers having a relatively narrow portion connecting and providing communication between the multiple compartments of the container.

The particular need out of which the present invention arose in one existing in the pharmaceutical industry and hence the particular example here chosen and the following discussion of a preferred embodiment of the invention will be set forth in connection with its use in and by the pharmaceutical industry. However, it will be recognized that the principles underlying the invention are operable in a large number of other specific applications and that bottle filling and stoppering machines embodying the invention may be utilized in a wide number of industries other than the pharmaceutical industry. .Accordingly, while all of the following description will for convenience proceed in connection with the development of the present invention for the pharmaceuticalindustry, it will be understood that such specific reference is for the purpose of illustration only. I

The pharmaceutical industry has long faced ,a problem involving the use of materials which are prepared in .a dry form, often a frozen dry form, which are sold ,in such dry form and are then reconverted into solution form immediately prior to use and at the scene of use. This is particularly common with many types of antibiotics which are prepared in solution, subjected to a drying process to convert the antibiotic material into a stable form for storage, sale and transportation and which is then re-dissolved into a suitable solute, often distilled water, immediately prior to its introduction into a suitable hypodermic device for injection into a patient. This is true in both human medicine and veterinary medicine.

However, while this procedure has been well known for many years, there is frequently a serious problempre- .sented in the use of this type of product in that suitable solute is not always readily available atthe time and'point at which the .dried material is to beused. Examples-of this are in the use of antibiotics where. steriledistilled water is needed for reconverting the materialintosolution form and where the antibiotic is .to. be used under home conditions, under emergency conditions removed from the doctors ofiice or hospital and .-in the-case of veterinary medicine where an antibiotic is to .be used in the field, such as on a cattlerange- .Suchproblems have been present for a large number of years and it imposes serious handicap upon the widespread use of this type of product andupon thismethod of 'packaging and sale, which products, method of packaging and sale are all otherwise highly advantageous for a variety of reasons well-known to the industry.

To meet this problem there'has been offered to the passageway and which container has a conventional'botfle tates Patent r 2,979,875 Patented Apr. 18, 1961 price .shown and described in United States Patent Nos. 2,610,-

628 and 2,725,683. In these containers, the dried material is normally placed in the lower compartment, a suitable fiuid impervious plug placed in the passageway for separating the two containers and the proper amount of .a suitably prepared solute is placed in the upper container. A stopper is provided at the neck of the container in substantial contact with the liquid in the upper container and the parts are so arranged and proportioned that upon manual inward pressing of the stopper, the force applied thereby to the liquid in the upper container will be transmitted to the plug in the passageway between the containers to force such plug out of said passageway and into the lower container. This permits intermixing of the liquid in the upper container with the dry material in the lower container and the formation thereby of a solution which is ready for immediate .use. The hypodermic needle is then passed in the usual manner through the stopper and the liquid within the containers drawn into the hypodermic device and utilized as desired.

This type of container has been widely received in at least some sections of the industry and appears from a use standpoint to have many great and well-recognized values. However, in the filling and stoppering of such containers there has been presented so many problems that thus far the filling and .stoppering of containers of this type has been carried out primarily by hand. This necessity for filling and stoppering these containers primarily by hand has rendered the use of these containers undesirably expensive and has therefore seriously restricted the commercial employment of containers of this type in spite .of their many other material and well appreciated advantages.

Further, in working out a machine capable of handling the problem above outlined, there is encountered a prob lem applicable to bottle filling and stoppering machines generally but which was peculiarly serious in the present instance in view of the multiple operations which it was desired to have the machine perform in a relatively small space.

Since thefilling of a container of this type requires three operations to be performed on it following the :completion of the freeze-drying'of a solid material in the bottom compartment thereof, it necessarily requires a machine which is somewhat vmore complex than is usually required for filling and stoppering operations. Thus, thereis more opportunity for the machine to function improperly and for it thereby to become jammed; When such happens with the machine built according to conventional-designs, particularly where the stopper inserting rams are positively driven by fluid under pressure, any such malfunctioning may often break a container and thereby spill its contents on and around the machine and to require shut down of the machine for cleaning, and readjustment. Where the machine is apart of a production line, this can be extremely inconvenient andexpensive.

Accordingly, the objects of the invention are:

(1) To provide a machine for successively performing a .stoppering, filling and further stoppering action on ,a multicompartmented container having a passagewayconnecting the compartments;

(2) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, wherein both .stoppering and .filling operations can be successively performed within a relatively small space on a single con- .tainer;

(3) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which ,is safetied in such a manner that malfunctioning of the machinewill not result in breakage of, or otherserious damage to, the containers;

automatically stop the operation of a given function if no container is present on-a selected station to receive such function;

To provide a machine, as aforesaid, in which the stopping of a given function if no container is present to receive such function, will take place at a given station as required without affecting functions being performed at the other adjacent stations;

(6) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will be relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and will be equally simple and inexpensive in its maintenance requirements;

(7) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will have a high degree of accuracy and will be capable of long periods of troublefree operation;

(8) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will be readily adjustable for handling bottles -of different sizes: and

(9) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will 'be capable of extremely rapid action but capable of such action without sacrificing the accuracy of its action.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with devices of this type upon a reading of the following disclosure and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partially schematic and partially broken front elevational view of a machine with a front cover plate removed exposing the operating mechanism.

Figure 2 is an end view, partially schematic, of the machine as appearing from the rightward end in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top fragmentary view taken as a section on the line IVlV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line VV of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a rod and cam shaft structure of the machine, which structure is shown in operating association with the remaining parts of the apparatus in Figure 1, the view of Figure 6 being taken on the line VL-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII-VII of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of the cam driving the bottle feeding mechanism.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view taken on the line XX of Figure 11.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of the parts in the area of the final bottle stoppering operation and showing part of the mechanism in section, said sectional portion being taken on the line XI--XI of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view of the end of the stopper presenting mechanism.

General description In general. the apparatus consists of a conveyor supplying a plurality of containers serially to suitable positive feeding and positioning means, such as a star wheel, which means place the containers successively in at least three selected stations. As said containers successively occupy said stations, apparatuses operate thereon for performing successively the following functions: (1) inserting a plug into the passageway between the two compartments of the container, (2) filling the upper chamber of the container with the desired solute, and (3) placing a suitable stopper in the neck of the container. Each of these operations require the vertical movement of an operating device into and out of the neck of the bottle and accordingly each thereof requires a vertical movement of suitable means placed adjacent to each respective station. These operating devices are actuated by rods which in turn are associated with resilient devices for effecting a constant pull downwardly onto said rods. Shaft driven cam devices are provided for moving said rods upwardly when and as desired. The resilient devices are selected of such strength that they will not effect the downward movement of the rod with such force that a bottle will be broken if it is not in exactly proper alignment but yet this downward movement will occur quickly enough to provide for the desired speed of operation in any practical case. Suitably resiliently urged arms are placed for normally extending across each of said stations and when in such position they actuate means to block the downward movement of each of said rods. When a bottle properly occupies a given station, the arm associated with said station is then moved against said resilient means, a rod blocking mechanism is withdrawn and the rod is free to' move downwardly when permitted to do so by the abovementioned cams.

Detailed description Referring now in detail to the drawings, it will be recognized that certain terminology will for convenience be utilized in describing the particular embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration thereof. For example, the terms upward or downward and derivatives thereof and words of similar import will be understood to refer to directions taken with reference to the apparatus when in its normal position of operation as well as to directions with respect to the several drawings in connection with which this terminology may be used. The terms rightward" and leftward and derivatives thereof and words of similar import will refer to directions as appearing in the several drawings. The terms forward and rearward and derivatives thereof and words of similar import will refer to directions toward the side of the machine upon which the bottle filling and door stoppering operations are performed or away therefrom which directions may be otherwise identified in that the forward side of the machine appears as leftward in Figure 2 and the rearward side of the machine appears as rightward in Figure 2. Other terminology of generally similar character will be used for convenience in description and all thereof will he understood as illustrative only and for convenience in description only and as not importing any limitation excepting where the context expressly or by clear implication indicates otherwise.

Referring now to the drawings, a supporting frame structure 1- is provided which frame structure can conveniently include suitable uprights of which certain ones thereof are indicated at 2, 3 and 4. Said uprights are connected by horizontal cross members which include numbers 6 and 7 (Figure 2). Suitable vertically adjustable feet are provided on the underside of said frame, some of which feet appear at 8, 9 and 11, respectively. A table 13 is supported near its front edge upon the frame 1 by means including the channels 12 and 12a (Figure I). Said table 13 is further supported near its rear edge by vertical elongations of the rear uprights, in-

cluding upright 4, together with its counterpart (not shown) at the other end of the machine. Said table plate 13 is covered by a table sheet 14 which will normally be made of any easily cleaned material, such as stainless steel.

A pair of conveyor belt pulleys of which one appears at 16 are supported upon the lower surface of the table 13 near the opposite ends thereof and a suitable conveyor belt 17 extends therearound and travels along the upper surface of the table sheet 14.

A star wheel 18 of generally conventional form is provided adjacent the belt 17 for receiving a plurality of containers C successively supplied thereto on and by the belt 17 and for presenting said containers to a series of stations, which stations may be indicated for reference :awasza purposes as I, II, III (Figure 4"). A guide 19 is provided for cooperating with the star wheel and for guiding said containers through the path leading to and through said stations and for ultimately cooperating with a fur- 'ther guide 21 for returning said containers to the belt 17. Said star wheel 18 is vertically rotatable on and by a shaft 22 (Figure 7) which is driven by suitable cam followers 23 in a manner to be further described hereinafter.

A plurality of vertically slidable rods 24, 25, 26 and 27 are provided adjacent said stations for effecting the desired operation on containers occupying said stations. Said vertically slidable rods may be arranged to actuate means for performing operations as desired on and with respect to said containers.

In the particular embodiment of the invention here shown to illustrate same, the rod 24 associated with station I is mechanically connected to a ram 29 by which said ram is moved upwardly and downwardly. Said ram cooperates with stoppers fed from the vibratory feeder 31 through a chute 32 for driving said stoppers through the neck of a container C into the narrow portion thereof to occupy the position appearing at 33 (Figure 7). Vacuum may be supplied to the ram if desired from a source 28 in the usual manner to assist in holding the stoppers in place on the'ram while they are being inserted. Further details on the method or means for supplying stoppers to a container and seating them in position within said container is set forth and described in the patent, among others, of Leonard T. Cookson No. 2,797,541.

Further in said specific embodiment, a sliding rod 25 associated with station II is fastened by the bracket 34 to a nozzle 37 for guiding same into the upper section -1 (Figure 7) of the container for supplying solute in a measured quantity thereto. In order to avoid splashing and other well-known undesirable results, it is desirable here, and is conventional, to place the lower end of said nozzle 37 near the bottom of the chamber C-1 of the compartment to be filled prior to the introduction of liquid thereinto. The liquid is supplied in measured and timed quantities by the pump 36 through a flexible conduit 35 (Figure 3) in any convenient manner.

Station III is associated with means for placing a stopper in the upper end of the apparatus which in the present embodiment consists primarily of a chute base 41 supporting the lower end of a chute 42 which is fed by the vibratory feeder 43 (Figures 1 and 11). A transfer device 44 is located directly below the discharge end of the conveyor 42 and functions to transfer stoppers from said chute to the neck of the containers. The transfer device has a central opening 45 therein for the reception of stoppers to be transferred and also has a passageway 46 therethrough connecting to a vent tube 47 which tube extends below the lower terminus of the opening 45 and into the Zone defined by extending further downwardly the walls defining the opening 45. A ram 48 is associated coaxially above the discharge location of the chute 42, the opening 45 of the transfer device 44 and the axis of the container C occupying station III. The vertically movable rod 27 is connected by arm 49 to the fitting 44 for effecting vertical movement thereof and the vertically movable rod 26 is connected by the fitting 1 (Figure 2) to the ram 48.

Further vertically slidable rods 53 and 54 are connected to the pump plungers 56 and 57 by connectors 58 and 59 respectively.

A cam shaft-containing box 60 is arranged dependin'gly from the lower side of the table 13. Through said box extends a cam shaft 61 rotatably supported therein and carrying a sprocket 62 on one end thereof by which the cam shaft is driven. Said cam shaft carries carns '63, 64, 66, 67, 68 and 69 thereon. Such sprocket 62 is driven by a chain 71 which is in turn driven from a gear box 72 which gear box .is driven 'bya motor '75.

'An adjustable pulley 73 is also driven from said gear box 72 and it acts through a belt 74 to drive a pulley :76 which drives a gear box 77. Said gear box 77 :acts through a sprocket 78 to drive a chain 79 by which is driven the conveyor 17.

A further shaft 81 extends rotatably through, and is supported by, the box 60 and this shaft supports a cam 82 (Figure 7) which has therein a groove 82a for receiving one of the rollers 23. Thus, rotation of the shaft 81 in response to driving of the sprocket will effect stepwise rotation of the star wheel 18. Said sprocket is driven from and by a sprocket 85a (Figure 6) on the end of shaft 61 which driving connection is indicated schematically by the broken line D inFigure 9.

Arranged behind each of the vertically slidable rods above referred to are fixed guide rods 53a,-54a, 24a, 25a, 26a and 27a (Figures 5 and 9). All of said fixed guide rods are mounted substantially similarly and may be illustrated by reference to the illustration of fixed guide rod 25aappearing in Figure 7, which guide rod is firmly fixed in the upper part 83 and in the lower part 84 of the cam shaft supporting box 60. The purpose of these fixed slide rods will appear further hereinafter.

Fixed to the vertically slidable rod 25 is a cam follower supporting fixture 86 (Figure 7) which slidably engages the fixed rod 25a by a slidable bearing 87. A cam follower 88 is carried by the fixture 86 for cooporation with the cam 67. Thus, rotation of the shaft 61 results in rotation of thecam 67 which acts on the cam follower 88 to effect vertical positive lifting of the slidable rod 25.

Similar cam followers 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93 (Fig ure 6) are similarly arranged with respect to the cams 63, 64, 66, 68 and 69 and are supported on and by fixtures similar to the fixture 86, namely, fixtures .94, 95, 96, 97 and 98, excepting that in a case of the fixture the cam follower 90 acts through the fixture 100 upon which it is mounted and thence through the spring 100a to said fixture 95 which'in turn is fixed rigidly to the lift rod 54. The reason for this is so that in the event the rod 54 has its upward movement blocked as set forth hereinafter, the positive urging upwardly of cam follower 90 by the cam 64 will not result in breakage of such cam follower, cam, or any of the associated parts.

Springs 151, 152, 153, 154, and 156 are fastened, respectively, to the lower ends of the rods 53, 54, 24, 25, 26 and 27 and exert a constant downward pull on each thereof. The lower ends of said springs are threadedly connected to the lower plate 6 of the frame structure in order that the tension of said springs may be adjusted as desired.

Turning now to the devices by which operation of the mechanism is stopped in the event that no container occupies any one of the stations I, II or III, attention is directed to the three arms 101, 102 and 103 (Figure 6 Considering first the arm 103 as an example, said arm 103 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 104 and said shaft 104 is rigidly connected to an arm 106 (Figures 5 and 6). The end of said arm 106 is connected by a spring 107 to a suitable anchor 108. A stop 109 is rigidly fastened, as by a set screw, to the vertically slidable rod 26, said stop 109 being tapered so that it can move upwardly past the arm 106 but can not move downwardly past the same. Therefore, the rod 26 can move upwardly as desired to lift the ram 48 upwardly into position to permit a stopper from the chute 42 to assume a position thereunder, but can not move downwardly unless a container is in position on the station III to receive such stopper. The rest 111 is supported by depending bolts 112 and 113 from the table 13 if desired to assist in supporting the arm 106.

' The arm 102 is pivotally journaled within the plate 13 similarly tothat of arm 103 and extends through the top element'83 of the cam shaft box 60 in the same manner as above shown in more detail in connection with the arm 103. Near the lower end of the shaft upon which the arm 102 is supported, there is a crank 116 which acts through a link 117 to operate the Y member 119. A spring 121 normally holds the arm 102 in a position generally across station II and simultaneously holds the two prongs 121 and 122 of said Y member in positions adjacent the vertically slidable rods 53 and 54. A collar 126 (Figure is affixed to the rod 54 to prevent downward movement of said rod when the arm 121 is in blocking position and a collar 127 is affixed to the rod 54 to prevent upward movement thereof when the arm 122 is in blocking position. Thus, when there is no container in station II, the arm 102 will respond to the action of the spring 121 to extend across said station and the Y member 119 will move into blocking position and actuation of the pump 36 will be prevented.

Similarly, the arm 101 is pivoted through the table 13 in a manner similar to the arm 103 and is connected to an arm 128 at the lower end thereof which arm 12% acts through a link 129 to connect to a bell crank 131 which responds to a spring 132 to move an arm 133 into i blocking position under a stop 134 associated with the vertically slidable rod 24. Thus, if no bottle occupies station I, so that the arm 101 is permitted to move above station I in response to the spring 131, then the arm 133 will move under the blocking portion 134 of the fixture 96 and the rod 24 will be prevented from moving downwardly. Thus, if no container occupies station I, the ram 29 will not operate to drive a plug out of the feeding chute 32.

Operation The operation of the foregoing apparatus has been somewhat indicated above in connection with the physical description thereof above, but the operation will be reviewed hereinafter in order to assure complette disclosure.

Upon being energized, the motor 75 will act through the power train connected thereto for driving both of the shafts 61 and 81 and also for driving the conveyor 17. Rotation of the shaft 81 will act through the spiral cam 82 to rotate stepwise the shaft 22 and thereby rotate stepwise the star wheel 18, This cooperates in a known manner with movement of the conveyor 17 to effect placement of successive containers in each of the stations I, II and III. As containers occupy said respective stations, the arms 101, 102 and 1433 (Figures 4 and 6) are moved away from said stations and the obstruction to movement of the operating mechanism is eliminated.

Rotation of the shaft 61 will effect rotation of the cams 63 and 64 and this acts through the cam followers 89 and 99 to effect the desired movement of the rods 53 and 54. The cam 63 lifts the rod 53 upwardly and when it does so the spring 151 pulls said rod 53 again downwardly as soon as further rotation of the cam 63 so permits.

Each of the other cam, cam follower and slidable rod structures operate in the same manner with rotation of said cams positively pushing said rods upwardly and the respectively connected springs pulling them downwardly as soon as so permitted by the respective cams.

Thus, the container will enter into station I and the rod 24 will be permitted by the cam 66 to respond to the spring 153 and move downwardly. This causes the ram 29 to drive a stopper into the mid-section of the container C. The star wheel 19 then operates to move the container into station II. At this point the rod 25 and spring 154 act to move the nozzle 37 downwardly into the container (as shown in Figure 7) after which the pump rods 53 and 54 are caused to operate and thereby inject a predetermined quantity of liquid solute into the upper compartment of the container. The rod 25 then moves upwardly against spring 154 to lift the nozzle 37 out of the containen, The container is then moved by the star wheel into station III where the downward action ofthe rod 26 first acts through the ram 48 to push a stopper from the chute 42 into the transfer fixture 44, the transfer fixture then moves downwardly into position adjacent the upper end of the container following which the rod again moves downwardly and causes the ram 48 to drive the stopper into the container and to hold it there while the fixture 44 is returned back upwardly into position closely under the chute 42 The ram 48 then returns to its upper position and the filled and stoppered bottle moves from station III on out along the guide block 21 (Figure 4) and back onto the conveyor 17 If for any reason a container fails to occupy' any of the positions indicated at stations I, II, and III, then arms 101, 102 and 103 associated respectively with each of said stations will be moved by the respectively connected ones of the springs 121, 122 or 132 or 107 into a position across said stations and the blocking members above described move into position to stop action of the vertically sliding rod respectively connected therewith.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has herein been utilized for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that a variety of other structures can be provided utilizing the substance of the invention and accordingly the hereinafter appended claims will be interpreted as including such other structures excepting as said claims may by their own terms expressly require otherwise.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for performing multiple filling and stoppering actions with respect to a plurality of successively presented containers, the combination comprising: a frame; means conveying a plurality of said containers successively into and through a plurality of stations; a plurality of vertically slidable rods supported on and by said frame and adjacent each of said respective stations, and filling means and stoppering means mounted, respectively, on said rods for filling and stoppering said containers occupying respectively said stations; means resiliently and constantly urging said rods in a direction to move said filling means and stoppering means in one direction with respect to said containers; mechanically positive means for urging said rods in the other direction with respect to said containers at timed intervals; stop means for each of said rods for normally preventing movement of said rods in said one direction, said stop means each including an arm movably mounted on said frame adjacent each station and movable by a container thereat out of its normal position so that it permits movement of the rod with which it is associated.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said Inechanically positive means includes, a rotatably mounted shaft driven in timed relationship to the operation of the remainder of the machine and a plurality of cams carried on and by said shaft and each cam respectively being associated with one of said vertically slidable rods; and a cam follower operationally connecting each of said respective rods to one of said cams.

3. The device defined in claim 2 having a star wheel for effecting movement of said containers to and from said stations and means mechanically and positively rotating said star wheel in timed relation with the rotation of said shaft.

4. The device defined in claim 1 including also an abutment on each of said rods, said arms being pivotally mounted on said frame, resilient means holding said arms in position extending across said stations and stop means movable with said arms for engaging said abutments, respectively, and holding said rods against movement in response to the resilient means associated therewith until and unless a container occupies said stations and displaces said arms therefrom.

5. Apparatus for conveying stoppers to a plurality of successively presented containers, comprising in combination: a chute having a slot in the bottom thereof and a flange on either side of said slot; means supplying resilient stoppers successively to said chute, said stoppers having portions of enlarged diameter and shank portions depending from said portions of enlarged diameter whereby said portions of enlarged diameter may rest upon said flanges and said shank portions may extend downwardly through said slot; at base supporting the discharge end of said chute in a pre-selected position above a bottle stoppering station; a stopper transfer device positioned directly below the discharge end of said chute and including a downwardly extending vent passageway and a vent tube extending therefrom; means moving said transfer device vertically from a position closely adjacent the lower side of said chute to a position wherein said vent tube extends partially into a container positioned on said station, and an opening within said transfer device positioned immediately above said vent passageway for receiving and guiding a stopper; and a ram positioned above the discharge end of said chute and coaxial with said opening in said transfer device and with the mouth of a container positioned on said station; and means moving both said transfer device and said, ram vertically with respect to said station in such a manner that said ram will first push a stopper from the end of said passageway into said transfer device, said transfer device will then move downwardly to place the lower end of said stopper adjacent the upper end of said container mouth and simultaneously place the protruding end of said vent tube within said container at a point below said stopper and further actuating means for subsequently moving said ram further downwardly to drive said stopper from within the opening within said transfer device into said container and holding it in said position while the transfer device is moving upwardly and the vent tube withdrawn.

6. A machine for applying stoppers to containers comprising: conveying means for conveying containers to a stoppering station; means for feeding stoppers to said stoppering station; a vertically reciprocable ram at said stoppering station and drive means for moving said ram between a lower position wherein it applies a stopper to a container at said station and an upper position wherein it is spaced from the container at said station, said drive means including resilient means connected to said ram and continuously urging same toward said lower position; positive drive means connected to said ram for moving same against the urging of said resilient means to said upper position at timed intervals; a stop on said ram; a pivotally mounted arm having a first section below said stop when said ram is in its upper position and engageable therewith to hold said ram in said upper position so that said ram is prevented thereby from moving to said lower position; said arm having another section extendable into the zone occupied by a container at said stoppering station so that the container pivots said arm to move said first section from beneath said stop and thereby permits said resilient means to move said ram to said lower position whereby said ram applies a stopper to the container at said stoppering station.

7. A'machine according to claim 6 wherein said ram is located above said conveying means and said drive means includes an elongated reciprocable vertical rod extending from above said conveyor to a point below said conveyor, said resilient means being a coil spring anchored at the lower end thereof and the upper end thereof being connected to said rod; and said positive drive means includes a continuously rotated shaft located below said conveyor and having a cam mounted thereon, a cam follower mounted on said rod below said conveyor and engaging said cam so that said rod is moved against the urging of said spring at timed intervals to move said ram to its upper position.

8. A machine for successively applying a stopper, a filling material and a second stopper to a container, comprising: conveying means for moving containers successively through a first stoppering station, a filling station and a second stoppering station; a first reciprocable ram tainers; a second reciprocable ram at said second stoppering station for applying a second stopper to said containers, a plurality of rods connected to said first and second rams and said filling nozzle for reciprocating same; resilient means connected to each of said rods for resiliently urging same into the lower position thereof wherein said rams are in their stopper applying positions and said filling nozzle is in its filling position; a shaft and means for rotating said shaft; a plurality of cams on said shaft, each cam being associated with one of said rods; a cam follower on each of said rods and engaging its associated cam so that said rods may be positively movedagainst the urging of said resilient means in the opposite direction so that said rams and said filling nozzle may be moved to their upper positions spaced from said stations; stop means for each of said rods and holding means engageable therewith for holding same in their upper positions so that said rams and said filling nozzle are thereby prevented from moving to said lower positions; release means at each of said stations and resiliently held in position for actuation by containers thereat and operable for releasing said holding means for the rod at said station to thereby permit said resilient means to move the rod at said station to said lower position thereof.

9. A machine according to claim 8 including a pump for supplying filling material to said nozzle; further reciprocable rod means connected for operating said pump to supply material to said nozzle when said further rod means is moved to one end position thereof; resilient means connected to said further rod means for urging same to said one end position; further cam means on said shaft and cam follower means on said further rod means and engaging said further cam means whereby said'further rod means may be moved against the urging of said resilient means to its opposite end position; a stop engageable with said further rod means for holding same in its opposite end position; said release means at said filling station being connected for releasing said stop for said further rod means when a container is at said filling station.

10. A machine according to claim 9 including a reciprocable stopper transfer device at said second stoppering station for receiving stoppers, said device also having a vent tube connected thereto; a further rod connected to said transfer device and resilient means urging said further rod into the upper end position thereof corresponding to the upper position of said rams and said nozzle, a further cam mounted on said shaft and a cam follower on said further rod and engaging said further cam whereby said further rod and thereby said transfer device is moved in timed relation to the movement of said second ram so that said second ram will move a stopper into said transfer device and said transfer device will then move downwardly to place an end of the stopper into the container and simultaneously place an end of the vent tube within the container at a point inwardly of the stopper, following which said second ram will move further to drive the stopper from said transfer device into said container and will hold it in said position while said transfer device is moved upwardly and said vent tube is withdrawn.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Dimond July 15, 1958

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