US3011296A - Method and apparatus for forming carbon dioxide pellets, compacting a bag with the pellets therein and inserting the compacted bag into a liquid container - Google Patents

Description

1961 o. WOSERAU ET AL 3,011,296 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS, COMPACTING A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed Nov. s, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 GR/MD DE? ICE PE 577:5 6x004! D E 7 ICE saw: 84

.. Game-1e 344 $6394 C'OIVTJ/IVER INVENTOR. Orro NOSE/Q60 Arman/5r;

Dec. 5, 1961 o. WOSERAU ET AL FORMING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS, 0

3,01 1,296 OMPACTING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed Nov. 3, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV RS Orr-a Was-5km! y lineup 444006230 Jrronmsr:

Dec. 5 1961 o. WOSERAU ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS, CO

A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed Nov. 5, 1960 a Q Q Q h w U v m m u n w 1 S 2 km HI UHZI H l may. a 1 .3 m5 NQ A 3 m a m w Eu h Q EN m fli/ I .3 8N Rw m 0 f o STQ 8% m mm I N N I H mm 7 an r O UM 0 M/ 7 2 a 3% w NM" O/ WWMN mmN w Am 0 7 ll 9v A mun L l. Rm wNN OJ 4 & Q n- F 3w. 7 .m .HN h

,296 MPACTING O. WOSERAU ETAL FOR Dec. 5, 1961 3,011 MING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS, C0

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed NOV. 3, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIE. 7

Al /79 I53 2% II I f. w 4: 0 0R 2 T... m m r V0 4 WWO? 3% W Y B Dec. 5, 1961 O. WOSERAU ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORl JIING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS, C A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER Filed NOV. 3, 1960 FIE. 1.7.

INVENTORS Orra 11/085194!) BY lflkaw M Jam-Raw lrromwys 1951 o. WOSERAU ET AL 3,01 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING CARBON DIOXIDE PELLETS, COMPACTING A BAG WITH THE PELLETS THEREIN AND INSERTING THE COMPACTED BAG INTO A LIQUID CONTAINER '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed NOV. 3, 1960 U ted es,

souri Filed Nov. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 66,976

20 Claims. (Cl. 53-124) This invention relates to method and apparatus for containing a given quantity of a sublimateable material and utilizing the contained solid for applying pressure within a liquid container to dispense a liquid therefrom. More particularly, this invention relates to the method and apparatus to properly form pressure generating media and contain said pressure generating media within a sealed flexible enclosure that is insertable in a liquid container for applying pressure within the liquid container to force liquid out of the container when the container is tapped.

For many years beer has been sold in kegs and dis pensed from the kegs at various intervals. Heretofore, a cylinder of carbon dioxide gas or a pump has been connected to a tapped keg to apply pressure to force beer out of the tap when said tap is opened. It is desirable that beer be dispensed from a keg without the aid of a separate cylinder of carbon dioxide gas or a separate pump for reasons of portability and ease of handling. To achieve this result, it is desirable to provide for the keg at the time of filling, means for providing a dispensing pressure in the keg and at the same time provide a self contained unit. This invention has been made to achieve to the above ends.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for forming a pressure generating system and inserting said pressure generating system into a liquid container to apply pressure inside said liquid container to force liquid out of said container when the container is tapped. It is a'further object of this invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a fixed volume container that includes inserting a sublimateable material into a flexible wall bag, sealing the bag, gathering the bag into a compact bundle and finally inserting the compacted bag into the liquid container.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new and novel method and apparatus for forming pellatized Dry Ice, sealing a flexible wall bag with the pelletized Dry Ice therein and inserting the sealed bag into a liquid container for applying pressure within the container to dispense a liquid there-from.

It is still another object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for retaining a bag in position to have a sublimateable material inserted therein'and that subsequently gathers said bag and inserts said gathered bag into a liquid container. It is still an additional object of this invention to provide apparatus for retaining a plastic bag in position to have a sublimateable material disposed therein, then seal the bag, next gather the bag, and finally insert the gathered bag into a liquid container.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide atent new and novel apparatus for forming a given quantity of carbon dioxide snow and then compacting the formed snow into pellet of a convenient size and of sufficient hardness to be easily handled without crumbling.

Other and further objects are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated, described and claimed, and it will be apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the aforegoing and related ends, this invention then comprises the featurse herein after fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims,'the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which the corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which: 1

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the steps of this invention for forming Dry Ice into a pellet of proper size and shape and containing said Dry Ice to apply pressure within a liquid container;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the machine for gathering and inserting a bag into a liquid container, the door of said machine being shown in an open position and broken away to better illustrate the bag conveying mechanism while the top of the plunger mechanism is broken away and offset from the rest of the machine. The lower portion of the plunger mechanism at line AA is integrally formed with the portion of the plunger mechanism illustrated at line BB;

' FIGURE 3 is a front view of hte machine illustrated in FIGURE 2., said view showing a fragmentary portion of the plunger apparatus in a bag insert position and the bag opening and heat seal apparatus in a datum position; FIGURE 4'is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4--4 of FIGURE 2 to illustrate the belt assemblies for conveying a bag to the bag gathering position and for holding the bag prior to said bag being inserted into the liquid container;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIGURE 3 showing the heat seal apparatus in a datum position; the bag opening apparatus in a bag open position in solid lines and a bag grip position in dotted lines; v

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to the view illustrated in FIGURE 5 except that the heat seal apparatus is illustrated in a heat seal position and the bag opening apparatus in a datum position in solid lines;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the plunger assembly in pelletized Dry Ice insert position, said view being taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 77 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary front vertical view of the plunger assembly and apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 7 shown in the same position;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary horizontal view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 9 -9 of FIGURE 8 to show the mechanism for alternately locking the plunger assembly in the Dry Ice insert position and the position for inserting the gathered bag into the liquid container;

FIGUREIO is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 10-10 of FIGURE 3 to illustrate the funnel end of the bag gathering tube;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 11-11 of FIGURE 10 tofurther illustrate the lower end of the bag gathering tube;

FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of the keg illustrated in FIGURE 2 lying on its side with the expanded bag in the keg and the keg tapped for dispensing;

FIGURE 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the control mechanism and control circuitry of the bag compacting and inserting machine;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the apparatus for pelletizing the Dry Ice prior to being inserted into the plastic bag;

FIGURE 15 is a front view of the Dry Ice pelletizing machine taken along the line and looking in the direction of the arrows 1515 of FIGURE 14, a part of said view being shown in cross-section.

Basically, the steps of this invention for providing a self-contained pressurized unit for dispensing beverages includes first grinding a given volume of Dry Ice into Dry Ice snow, next compacting the given volume of Dry Ice snow to predetermined dimensions to form a pellet that is easily handled and of a weight within a given weight range, holding an expandable bag having opening with the bag mouth open, next inserting the Dry Ice pellet into the opened bag, thence seal the bag, then gather the bag into a bundle, next insert the compacted bag with the Dry Ice pellet therein into a fixed volume container that is partially filled with the liquid-to be dispensed, and finally after the Dry Ice in the bag has sublimated and caused the bag to expand to drive the air out of the container, tighten the cap on the container. After the aforementioned steps have been carried out, the expanded bag will exert a pressure upon the liquid within the keg sufiicient to dispense under pressure substantially all the liquid in the keg.

Referring now in particular to FIGURES 2 and 3, there is illustrated apparatus of this invention, generally designated 20, for compacting a plastic bag 21 and inserting the compacted bag into a keg 22. The bag compacting and inserting machine 20 includes a frame 23 which has a pair of long front uprights 24, a pair of shorter back uprights 25, a pair of top longitudinal cross pieces 26, a pair of intermediate longitudinal cross pieces 27, a pair of toptransverse cross pieces 28 and a pair of intermediate transverse cross pieces 29, joined together as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. As may be noted in the aforementioned figures, the front uprights 24 extend upwardly above the upper cross pieces 28 a substantial distance while said cross pieces are located at the. same elevations as the top of the back uprights 25.

On either side of the machine there is provided a door panel 32 that is hingably secured by hinges (not shown) to the adjacent back upright 25. Each door panel is of a size to close the rectangular space enclosed by the cross pieces 27, 28 and the uprights 24, 25. On each door panel there is mounted a germicidal unit 33 which includes a reflector panel 34 bolted to the respective doors. Each germicidal unit also includes germicidal lamps 35 which are mounted on the panel 34, a transformer 36 and appropriate electric circuitry 37 for connecting said transformer and germicidal lamps to the power supply.

The back panels 38 are secured to the uprights 25 and cross pieces 28, 29 in spaced relation to one another and on either side of the longitudinal axis LL (see FIG- URE 4). Each of the back panels has an inturned flange 39 which in conjunction with the inturned flange of the adjacent panel forms a vertically extending throat 40. A pair of front panels 41 are likewise secured to the adjacent upright 24 and cross pieces 28 and 29 in spaced relation to one another to form a throat 42.

Bag conveyor assembly 54.A right carrier plate 43 and a left carrier plate 44 are mounted equal distances from the center longitudinal axis LL at an elevation slightly above the inturned flanges 39. The carrier plates 43, 44 are of a length to extend rearwardly of the rear panels 38 and a substantial distance forwardly of the front panels 41. The aforementioned carrier plates are bolted adjacent either end to a generally U-shaped bracket 45, each bracket in turn being bolted to the respective cross piece 28 (see FIGURE 8).

A bracket 46 is bolted to the back end of the left hand carrier plate 44. A bag top guide 47 is at one end hingably secured to the bracket 46 by a hinge 49. The bag top guide has a horizontal flange 47a and a vertical flange 47b. The aforementioned guide may be pivoted from a position parallel to the longitudinal axis (see FIGURE 4) to a position substantially at right angles thereto and preferably is of a longer length than the width of bags being used. The purpose of the guide will be set forth hereinafter.

Rotatably secured to each of the carrier plates rearwardly of the panels 38 by a stud shaft 50 for transverse adjustment is a roller 48 (see FIGURES 3 and 4), each shaft being extended through an elongated slot. A roller 52 is rotatably mounted on an intermediate shaft 53 which in turn is mounted for transverse adjustment on the center portion of each of the respective carrier plates. A plurality of rollers 55 are rotatably secured to the carrier plate 44 by eccentic adjustment members 56, the rollers 55, front roller 52 and end roller 48 being secured to the plate 44 to overhang the space intermediate the two carrier plates. A pair of rollers 57 are likewise secured to the carrier plate 43 by eccentric adjustment members 56, said rollers 57 being located longitudinally intermediate the rollers 55. It may be noted in FIGURE 4 the adjacent peripheral edges of the rollers 55 extend more closely adjacent the carrier plate 43 than the corresponding peripheral portions of the rollers 48, 52. Likewise, the rollers 57 are located more closely adjacent the carrier plate 44 than the corresponding peripheral portion of the front and end rollers that are mounted on the plate 43.

A V-belt 58 is extended around the rollers mounted on the plate 43 while a V-belt 59 is extended around the aforementioned rollers mounted on the plate 44. As a result of the aforementioned positioning of the rollers on said plates, the adjacent outer surfaces of the V-belts are held in abutting relation to one another and are caused to Weave back and forth in a transverse direction on either side of the longitudinal axis. By mounting the rollers 55, 57 on members 56, said rollers may be adjusted whereby belts 58, 59 will supportingly convey a plastic bag.

A transverse support bar 62 is bolted at either end to an intermediate cross piece 27 directly beneath the stud shaft 53 (see FIGURE 2). A bottom support plate 63 at one end is secured to the transverse support bar 62 and at an intermediate portion is bolted to the front cross piece 29, said support plate being located directly beneath the carrier plates 43, 44. The forward ends of the carrier plates and the bottom support plate are located substantially the same distance forwardly of the frame.

A pair of front shafts 65 are journaled at their lower ends in the front portion of the plate 63, 'and at their upper ends in the respective carrier plate 43, 44 (see FIGURES 4 and 11). The shafts are located substantially the same distance from the longitudinal axis but on the opposite sides thereon. Journaled for rotation in the back end of the plate 63 are a drive pulley 66 and a second drive pulley 67, said pulleys being located equal distance from the longitudinal axis. The reduced upper end of the pulley 67 is journaled for rotation in the carrier plate 43 While the reduced upper end of the drive pulley 66 is journaled for rotation in the carrier plate 44. A tension roller 69 is rotatably mounted at opposite ends in one end of each plate 70, while the opposite end of each plate 70 is pivotally secured to the respective carrier plate and the support plate 63 by a pivot 71, there being a roller 69 on either'side of the longitudial' axis.

A plurality of vertically spaced flat belts 72 are extended around each pulley shaft 65 and each drive pulley whereby a belt on a shaft and drive pulley is located at the same elevation as a corresponding'belt on the other shaft and drive pulley to abut against said corresponding belt. Into each of the mounting brackets 74 which are welded to the carrier plates and bottom plate is threaded an adjustment screw 73 to bear against the respective plate 70 to properly tension the flat belts 72, each tension roller 69 being located adjacent a drive pulley and in position to bear against opposite surfaces of the belt from the respective drive pulley. The tension rollers are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced enlarged diametric portions 75 to retain the flat belts in proper vertical spaced relation.

As may be noted in FIGURES 2 and 4, the belts 58, 59 are mounted above the carrier plates while the fiat belts 72 are mounted below the carrier plate, the portions of the belts 72 going around the pulleys 66, 67 being located almost directly beneath the portion of the belts 58, 59 extending around the rollers 52. As a result a bag that is clampingly engaged at upper edge between the belts 58, 59 has the leading edge thereof passed directly between the fiat belts at pulleys 66, 67.

The structure for driving the aforementioned belt mechanism includes a motor 79 which is bolted on a plate 78, said plate in turn being Welded to the pair of lower cross pieces '77 which are secured to the uprights. Also mounted on the plate '78 is a reducer 81 that has a reducer sheave 8 2. The reducer sheave is drivingly connected to the motor sheave Sil by a belt 83. The reducer sheave in turn is driv-ingly connected to the lower end of the reduced diameter pulley extension 84 of the pulley 67 through appropriate drive connections( not shown) of the reducer. The upper end of the pulley extension 84 is formed integral with the pulley 67 adjacent thesupport plate 63. A spur gear 85 is keyed on the upper end of the pulley extension beneath theplate 63 to drivea second spur gear mounted on the reduced lower end of the pulley 66.

The reduced upper end of each of the pulleys 66, 67 which extends upwardly above a carrier plate has a drive sprocket 87 keyed thereto. A second sprocket S8 is keyed on the upper end of each of the stud shafts and is drivingly connected to the sprocket 87 on the respective carrier plate by a chain 89.

A lower bag guide 93 is mounted on either side of the longitudinal axis beneath a V-belt to aid in directing the bottom portion of a bag between the flat belts (see FIG- URE 2). Each bag guide includes a vertical support rod 94, that at its lower end is secured to a bar 95, said bar having a bolt 63 extended therethrough and through the bottom plate to secure the bar and plate to transverse bar 62. A pair of vertically spaced horizontally and longitudinally extending rods 96 are secured to each support rod 94 by adjustment screws 97 to permit longitudinal adjustment of the rods. The back portions of the horizontal rods converged outwardly'from the longitudinal axis to facilitate moving the leading edge of the plastic bag between the bag guides, it being noted that the forward ends of the aforementioned rods are closely adjacent the fiat belts while the rearward end of the rods are closely adjacent the throat 40.

A vertically extending gathering tube 100 is disposed to have the elongated slot 19/2 formed therein located within close proximity of the forward diverging port-ions of the flat belts as said belts go around the pulley shafts 65 whereby a bag being carried in a forward direction by said belts is passed through the slot (see FIGURES 2, 3 and 7). The gathering tube extends upwardly through appropriate cut out portions formed in the carrier plates and hasla horizontal flange 101 formed on the upper end thereof which in turn is secured to said carrier plates (see FIGURE The lower end of the aforementioned tube extends downwardly through a somewhat semicircular aperture 103 formed in the forward end of the support plate 63 (see FIGURES 1 0 and 11). A support plate extension 104 is secured to the support plate by cap screws 106, said extension having a semicircular aperture 105 through which the remaining portion of the lower end of the tube extends.

6 The gathering tube has a lip 107 that abuts against the portion of the support plate forming the wall of aperture 103 and which extends inwardly beneath the divergmg portions of the flat belts as said belts round the shafts 65. The upper edge of the lip is formed'below the enlarged diametric portions of the shafts 65 and is at the same level as the lower edge of the slot 102.

. Keg support assembly 108.-Bolted to the lower end of each of the uprights 24 to extend forwardly thereof is a channel iron 1.10 (see FIGURES 2 and 3). A pair of transverse vertically spaced plates 111 are bolted at their ends to the respective channel irons. Each of the plates 111 has a central aperture located directly beneath the gathering tube to have the vertical extending platform shaft 112 mounted for movement therein. A platform 113 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 112 to be located above the top transverse plate, said platform having a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs 114 bolted thereto for abutting against the lower peripheral edge of the keg 22.

The aforementioned structure mounts the keg for movement from a position to locate the bung hole 125 a substantial distance below the lower end of the gathering tube to a bag insert position to have the lower end of the gathering tube extend into said bung hole, the gathering tube being of a smaller outside diameter than the bung hole (see FIGURE 10).

The structure for moving a platform between the aforementioned positions and locking said platform in the bag insert position includes a pivot shaft 116 that at its either end is journaled for rotation in the outer ends of the channel irons; said shaft being located forwardly of the platform shaft 112. A radial arm 117 has one end pivotally secured to the pivot shaft and an outer clevised end 118. The clevised end 118 is pivotally secured to the platform shaft by a pivot 124, said pivot being moveably secured in elongated slots formed in the clevised end A second radial arm 120 at one endis fixedly secured to the outer end of the pivot shaft and at its other end has a foot pedal 122 welded thereto, said radial arm 120 extending from. the shaft in a direction opposite the radial arm 117. An arcuate lock member 121 is fixedly secured to the pivot shaft intermediate the radial arm 120 and the adjacent channel end. .An elongated look I arm 128 is pivotally connected to the channel iron by the position.

pivot member 129 to pivot about an axis intermediate the pivot shaft and upright 24. Thelock arm is notched at 130 to have a vertical edge that is abutted against by a straight edge of the lock member 121 when the platform is in a bag insert position to prevent the platform moving out of said position. A spring 131'at one end is secured to the lock arm intermediate the notch and pivot 129 and at the other end is connected to the channel iron at a higher elevation than the pivot shaft 116, said spring resiliently retaining the lock arm in a locked position as illustrated in FIGURE 2. By depressing the foot pedal 122 a small amount in a direction of the arrow 133, the lock arm may be easily moved out of the locked position whereupon the pivot shaft and the structure connected thereto may be rotated in the direction of arrow 132 to permit the platform being moved to a lowered However, when the platform is again moved to a bag insert position, the lock arm will be resiliently urged to a locked position to hold said platform in said bag insert position.

Plunger assembly 140.An upper angle iron 141 at either end is bolted to the upper end 'of the uprights 24 for pivotally supporting the plunger assembly at a said plates and appropriate apertures formed in the intermediate portions of the angle iron and cross piece respectively. The lock plate 149 is bolted to cross piece -28 and extends forwardly of said angle iron. A retainer 142 is secured to the pivot shaft to bear against the pie shaped plate 145 which in turn rests on the lock plate. A retainer 147 is mounted on the lower end of the shaft. The plate 144 likewise is mounted for pivotal movement between angle iron 141 and retainer 147. Extended between and secured to each of the outer apex portions of the plates 144, 145 is a vertical spacer rod 151.

A piston cylinder combination 152, having a piston rod 153 extended through an aperture formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the plate 145 adjacent the right hand spacer 151 and a cylinder 156, is secured to said plate 145 to extend vertically upward therefrom. A notch 154 is provided in the outer peripheral edge of plate 144- to have the cylinder extend upwardly therethrough, there being a bracket 155 for securing the adjacent portion of the cylinder to the plate 144 (see FIG- URE 3).

Mounted onthe upper end of the cylinder is a solenoid valve 158 (see FIGURE 2). The solenoid valve has a normally open port 161 a normally closed port 161, a connecting member including a control port 159, and a solenoid coil 162 for moving said connecting member (see FIGURE 13). When the solenoid coil is de-energized the connecting member connects the control port to the normally open port, however, upon being energized the connecting member is moved to connect the control port to the normally closed port. The control port 159 is connected via line 163 to the air supply 164 while the normally open port is connected via line 165 to the port 166 at the lower end of the cylinder. As a result, when the solenoid is de-energized, the air supply is connected directly to the port 166 to retain the piston, piston rod 153, and the plunger 167 that is connected to the lower end of the piston rod in an up position.

The normally closed port 161 is connected via line 168 to the port 169 at the upper end of the plunger cylinder. Upon energizing the solenoid valve, the control port is connected to the normally closed port 161 to apply air under pressure from the air supply to the upper end of the cylinder. At the same time, the lower end of the cylinder exhausts through a quick exhaust (not shown). The piston in moving to a down position adjacent the port 172 permits air under pressure to flow through line 171 to a pilot valve which automatically moves the connecting member from port 161 to port 160. As a result of the aforementioned structure, the solenoid only has to be momentarily energized and the connecting port will be connected to the normally closed port for sufficient time to move the plunger to a fully down position. Then the pilot valve will be actuated to operate the connecting member to connect the control port to the normally open port. It is to be mentioned that when air under pressure is not being applied through port 161 to port 169, it exhausts through a quick exhaust (not shown).

As previously mentioned, the plunger assembly is mounted for pivotal movement between the plunger operating position (bag insert position) wherein the plunger is directly over the gathering tube to have theplunger moved through said tube and a pellet insert position wherein the plunger is angularly spaced from the gathering tube. In the latter position, the notch 154 in plate 145 is located above tube 100, said notch being provided to facilitate inserting Dry Ice pellets into bags held by the convey assembly. The plunger assembly includes latch mechanism, generally designated 175, for retaining the plunger assembly in either one of the two aforementioned positions (FIGURES 7-9). The latch mechanism includes a latch arm 176 slidably mounted on the under surface of the plate 145 to extend radially relative to the pivot shaft 146. The latch is of a length to extend outwardly'beyond the plate and to have the inner end extend into one of the two circumferentially spaced notches 179, formed in the outer peripheral edge of the lock plate 149. The notch 179 is located to 'act in conjunction with the latch arm for holding the plunger assembly in the plunger operating position (see FIGURE 3) while the notch 180 is located to act in conjunction with the latch arm for holdin the plunger assembly in the pellet insert position (see FIGURE 7).

A pair of latch brackets 177, 178 are mounted on the under side of the plate 145 in radial spaced relation to mount the latch arm for only radial movement, the bracket 177 being located more closely adjacent the pivot shaft 146 than bracket 178. A handle member 184 is provided at the outer end of the latch arm to facilitate moving said latch arm while the inner end of the latch arm is tapered in a manner corresponding to the tapered notches to facilitate the latch arm moving to a locked position. A coiled spring 183 at one end is secured to a peg 181 mounted on the bracket 177 and at the other end to a peg 182 which is secured to the lock arm closely adjacent the outer end thereof. The spring 183 resiliently retains the inner end of the latch arm in abutting relation with the outer edge of the plate 145'.

Bag opening assembly 190.Mounted on the forward end of the carrier plates to facilitate opening a bag that is at least partially located in the gathering tube, is a bag opening assembly, generally designated 19% (see PIG- URES 8, 6 and 5). The bag opening assembly includes a mounting plate 191 that is bolted by bolts 192 to the carrier plates to extend forwardly thereof. .lournaled for rotation in the mounting plate and extending therethrough are vertical shafts 193, 194, said shafts being located on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis and equally spaced therefrom. An elongated lever arm 195 at one end is keyed to the upper end of the shaft 193. A bag clamp arm 196 at one end is connected to the lever arm in radial spaced relation to the shaft 193 to extend perpendicular to said lever arm. A vacuum device 197 is mounted on the opposite end of the bag clamp arm 196 at a location in close proximity to the gathering tube to extend inwardly toward the longitudinal axis.

A second clamp arm 198 having an offset at one end has the offset portion thereof keyed to the upper end of the shaft 194. A second vacuum device 199 is mounted on the opposite end of the bag clamp arm 198 to extend inwardly toward the vacuum device 197. V

Mounted on the lower end of each of vertical shafts 193, 194 is a spur gear 2% to form a matching set with the spur gear on the other shaft. Thus, when the lever 195 is manually pivoted about its axis to pivot the bag clamp arm 196, the bag clamp arm 198 is moved the same angular amount but in the opposite direction. Pegs 261, 202 are mounted on plate 191 in spaced relation in position to limit the rotational movement of the bag clamp arm 196 (see FIGURE 5), peg 202 being located to permit the vacuum devices being brought to the longitudinal axis but not to cross thereover. Peg 201 is located to limit the spacing of the vacuum devices.

As may be noted in FIGURES 5 and 6, the bag opening assembly has three positions, namely a datum position such as illustrated in solid lines in FIGURE 6, a bag open position such as illustrated in dotted line in FIGURE 6 and solid line in FIGURE 5, and a bag grip position as illustrated in dotted line in FIGURE 5. A first spring detent (not shown) is provided for holding the bag lever arm in the datum position and a second spring detent is provided to hold the lever arm in the bag open position.

In order to apply a vacuum to the vacuum devices there is provided a continuously running motor 262 that is operatively connected to the vacuum pump 293 (see FIG- URE 13). The vacuum pump is connected by a line 267 to the control port 206 of the solenoid valve 204. The solenoid valve has a connecting member operated by Solenoid coil 209 to alternately connect the control port to the normally closed port 210 and the normally open port 2%, the control port being connected to the port 210 when the solenoid is de-energized. The port 2135 is connected via line 203 to the junction 209 which in turn is connected by a line 211 to one of the vacuum devices and by a second line 211 to the other vacuum device. The bag open switch 221 includes a housing 220' mounted at one end of the carrier plate 44 to extend transversely outwardly therefrom. A pivot shaft 217 is journaled in the housing and has one end of the switch arm 218 keyed thereto. The opposite end of the switch arm has a roller 219 mounted in the clevised end thereof to roll on the intermediate portion of the lever arm 195 when said lever arm is moved between a bag open position and a bag grip position. The lever arm in a datum position is spaced from the roller but contacts the roller intermediate the datum position and the bag open position. Linkage 216 is connected to the shaft 217 for moving the switch blade'215 from a normally open position to a closed position as the lever arm is moved from a datum position to a bag open position, there being spring means (not shown) for returning the switch arm and associated members to the datum position when the lever arm is moved from the bag open position to the datum position.

Heat seal assembly 225.-l;'n order to seal the mouth portion of a bag after it has been opened and a Dry Ice pellet has been inserted therein, there is provided heat seal assembly 225 mounted on the carrier plates intermediate the gathering tube and the cross piece 23 (see FIGURES 5, 6 and 8). The heat seal assembly 225 includes a transverse spacer 226 mounted on each of the carrier plates forward of bracket 45. Mounted on the inner end of each spacer 226 is a vertical plate 227. The

transverse support bar 228 at its either end is secured to one of the vertical plates, said vertical plate extending a substantial distance upwardly from the respective carrier plate. On each side of the longitudinal axis there is provided a shaft 239 which at its lower end is journaled for rotation in the respective carrier plate and at its upper end is journaled in the support bar 228.

Mounted on each of the shafts 239 intermediate the support bar 223 and the spacer 226 is an annular spacer 229 and one end of a heat seal arm 233, 234 respectively, said heat seal arms being located intermediate the plates 228 and the spacer 229. The heat seal arms are of the same construction except that one is a left handed arm and the other is a right handed arm.

The heat seal arm 233 includes an elongated lower member 2330, an upper member 233b, and an annular spacer 233a located intermediate the members 2331; and 233c and through which the shaft is extended. Each of the heat seal arms extends forwardly from the pivot shaft so that the bag opening assembly in part is located beneath said arms. The heat seal arm 234 likewise has an upper member 234b, lower member 2340 and an annular spacer 234a.

An electrically heated heat seal pad 236 is clampingly engaged between the enlarged outer ends 233e,. 234e respectively of each, heat seal arm, there being provided clamping bolts 233 and spacers 239 mounted on said bolts intermediate the upper and lower members for retaining the respective members in clamping engagement with the heat seal pad.

In order to simultaneously operate each of the heat seal pads through the same angular distance in opposite directions, a segmented gear member 242 is fixedly secured to each of the pivot shafts 234 To move the heat seal pads between a datum position as illustrated in FIG- URE S and a heat seal position as illustrated in FIGURE 6, there is provided a transversely extending piston cylinder combination 245 which is secured to the carrier plate 44 by a mounting bracket 246. The piston cylinder com bination includes a cylinder 247 and a piston rod 243 having a clevised end 249 threaded on the outer end thereof. One end of a linkage 250 is pivotally connected at 251 in the clevised end and at the other end is pivotally connected at 252 to the portion of the heat seal arm 234 intermediate the heat seal pad and spacer 234a. The piston cylinder combination has a spring (not shown) that constantly urges the piston and piston rod to a retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The structure for controlling the application of air under pressure to piston cylinder combination 245 includes a Solenoid valve generally designated 255 (see FIGURE 13). The solenoid valve has a solenoid coil 259, an inlet port 258, an exhaust port 257, a control port 256 and a movable member operated by the solenoid coil for alternately placing in fluid communication a control port with the exhaust port and the control. port with the outlet port. When the solenoid coil is in the deenergized position the control port is in tluid communication with the exhaust port.

The exhaust port is connected by a line 261 to the exhaust 266 while the outlet .port is connected by a line 264 to the air supply. The control port is connected by a line 263 to the port 265 at the back end of the cylinder 24-7. Thus, upon energizing the coil 259 air under pressure is applied from the air supply 154 to the port 265 to move the piston and piston rod 248 to an extended position whereby the heat seal pads are moved to a heat seal position as illustrated in FIGURE 6.

Electrical system 266.The electric circuitry and electrical components of this invention, generally designated 266, are as schematically illustrated in FIGURE 13. Electricity for operating the electrical components of the bag compacting and inserting machine is supplied through main lines L1, L2. A plurality of junctions are provided on the main line L1, said junctions including junctions 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280 and 291. An on-ofi switch 272 having a terminal 271, a second terminal 273 and a switch member 274 for making and breaking the connection between the two terminals is provided in the main line L1 intermediate the source of power and junction 291. The main line L2 has a plurality of junctions thereon, said junctions being designated 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 239, and 290 respectively.

The heat seal circuitry includes a thermostat 272 connected across the junction 291 and 292. A heater component of the heat seal pad 236 is connected across junctions 290 and 292 while the heater components of the second heat seal pad is connected across junctions 292 and 281.

The circuitry for controlling the actuation of the heat seal pads between a datum position and the heat seal position includes a manually operated push-button switch 298 connected across junctions 276 and 297. The solenoid coil 259 of the valve 255 is cohnected across junctions 297 and 283. In order to hold the heat seal pads in a sealed position for apreselected interval there is provided a timer 304 having a timer motor connected across the junctions 284 and 299, junction 299 being connected via line 300 to junction 297. The solenoid portion of the hold relay 395 is connected across junctions 285 and 301, junction 301 being connected by a line 3416 to junction 299. The hold relay 395 upon being energized closes the normally open hold relay switch member 308, said switch member being connected across junctions 309 and 301.

A timer switch 310 is connected across junctions 309 and 277. The timer 3% is the type that normally has the timer switch 316 in a closed position and upon being energized, retains the timer switch in a closed position. At the end of the time cycle, the timer moves the timer switch to. an open position for suflicient time to permit the hold relay to be -de-energized and the hold relay switch be moved to an open position. There-upon the timer switch is again returned to a closed position. Thus, upon manually operating the switch 298 to a closed position, the hold in relay is energized to close the hold relay switch 308 and thereby establish the circuit for supplying current to energize the solenoid valve 255 for a predetermined time even though the switch 298 is permitted to open. This results in the heat seal pads being moved to the heat seal position. The switch 255 remains energized until the timer 394 operates the timer switch 310 to an open position. Upon de-energization of the solenoid coil 259, the control port 256 is connected to exhaust 269 to exhaust cylinder 247 whereupon the heat seal pads are moved to the datum position.

The motor switch 314 is connected across junctions 2'78 and 312 while the motor 79 is connectd across junctions 312 and 286. The motor switch 314 is of the type that is resiliently urged to an open position, however upon being manually closed, it supplies current to the motor 79 for operating said motor.

A bag push switch 315 is connected across junctions 275 and 317, it being noted that switches 315 and 298 also are of the type that are resiliently urged to an open position. The solenoid coil 162 of the bag pusher solenoid valve 158 is connected across junctions 317 and 282. Thus, by manually operating the switch 315, the bag pusher solenoid valve is energized and remains energized as long as the switch 315 is held in a closed position.

An on-ofi switch 318 is connected across junctions 2'79 and 316. The germicidal lamp circuitry 319 of one side of the machine which includes a transformer 36 and a lamp 35 is connected across junctions 316 and junction 287 while the corresponding germicidal lamp circuitry 320 on the opposite side of the machine is connected across junctions 316 and 288.

The vacuum pump motor 202 is connected across junctions 280 and 289, it being noted the only switch for turning the vacuum motor oif is the on-off switch 272 in the main line L1. The vacuum pump motor is operatively connected to the vacuum pump 203.

The circuitry for energizing the vacuum solenoid valve includes the bag open switch 221 which has a switch contact member 215. The bag open switch is connected across junctions 280 and 325 while the solenoid coil of the vacuum solenoid valve is connected across junctions 325 and 289. As previously mentioned, switch contact member 215 is moved between an open and a closed position through the operation of the lever 195.

The manually operated switch members 272, 314, 298 and 315 are mounted in a control panel 330 that is secured to the front of the machine.

The structure of the bag compacting and inserting machine of this invention having been described, the operation thereof will now be briefly set forth. As has been inferred heretofore, the machine 20 of this invention has been provided to aid in placing pelletized Dry Ice in a plastic bag and then inserting the bag with solid Dry Ice therein into the liquid container. In order to facilitate the description of the operation of this machine, the bag 21 has been given designations 21a- Zle and 21h for various positions of the bag.

The type of bag used is a relatively large flexible air tight container which is capable of expanding such as a plastic bag. The bag as initially provided for insertion into the bag compacting and inserting machine is enclosed at the bottom and has a relatively small opening at the top such as shown in 21s in FIGURE 5. It is desirable to use a plastic bag that has a length L of approximately three times the height H of the keg 22.

Initially the bag top guide 47 is pivoted from a position at right angles to the longitudinal axis to a position parallel thereto. The on-off switch 272 is closed and the switch 317 is moved to a closed position to energize the germicidal lamp circuits so that the bag passed through the machine is sterilized. Then switch 314 is manually held in a closed position to actuate the motor 12 79 while the top edge of the bag is positioned to abut against flange 47b of the bag guide and then the bag is moved forwardly so that the leading edge 21 thereof enters between the rearward portions of belts 58, 59, it being noted that by aligning the top edge of the bag with flange 47b, the bag mouth is located at the proper elevation for sealing by the heat seal assembly at a later point in the cycle.

As the belts 58, 59 carry the bag in a forwardly direction the leading edge thereof passes between the bag guides. Since the rollers 55, 57 are offset, the upper edge of the bag is firmly held in position due to the belts 58, 59 carrying the bag (as at 21bFIGURE 2) to cause it to weave back and forth across the longitudinal axis LL.

Belts 58, 59 carry the bag forwardly to move the leading edge thereof between the sets of flat belts 72. As may be noted in FIGURE 2 the upper edge of the bag is at a higher elevation than the carrier plates and likewise at a higher elevation than the uppermost of the flat belts. Once the bag has been moved forwardly by the flat belts to position the leading edge adjacent the forward portion of the gathering tube, 100, switch 314 is permitted to open to stop the motor 79.

The hand lever is now manually moved from the datum position (solid lines-FIGURE 6) to a bag grip position (dotted line-FIGURE 5). As the hand lever is being moved in the direction of arrow 213 from the datum position to the bag open position (solid line- FIGURE 5) the lever abuts against the roller 219 and forces the roller from the solid line position of FIGURE 5 to the dotted line position in the same figure. This results in switch member 215 being moved to a closed position whereupon as has been described heretofore, the solenoid coil 209 is energized, and the vacuum pump is connected to apply a vacuum to vacuum devices 197, 199. By further moving the hand lever in the direction of the arrow 213, the vacuum devices are brought to a position adjacent the opposite walls of the bag adjacent the bag opening to clampingly engage said walls (dotted line position, FIGURE 5). Now the lever arm is manually rotated in the directionopposite the arrow 213 to the bag open position whereby the bag opening is held open as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5 at 210.

After the bag mouth has been opened, a pellet of Dry Ice 330 which is formed as is set forth hereinafter, is inserted through the opening of the bag. Next the lever arm is moved to the datum position which permits the roller 219 to be resiliently moved to the solid line position of FIGURE 6 to open the switch member 215 and thereby discontinue the application of vacuum through the vacuum devices.

After the Dry Ice pellet has been inserted into the opened bag and the hand lever moved to a datum position, the heat seal button 298 is momentarily dispersed to energize the heat seal hold in circuit and the solenoid valve 255. As a result air under pressure is applied from air supplied through solenoid valve 255 to the outer end of the piston cylinder combination 245 to move the piston and piston rod 248 in the direction of the arrow 327 and thereby cause the heat seal pads to be moved from the datum position illustrated in FIG- URE 5 to a heat seal position illustrated in FIGURE 6 to seal the bag opening as at 21d. A heater temperature control (not shown) and the timer are both adjustable so that the bag may be properly sealed.

After the timer cycle has been completed, the hold in circuit is de-energized as set forth heretofore and thereupon the cylinder port 265 is connected through the solenoid valve to the quick exhaust 260. The spring (not shown) moves the piston and piston rods 248 in a direction opposite the arrows 327 to return the heat seal pads to a datum position.

After the bag has been sealed, the bag drive motor is again energized whereupon the bag is again moved in trated in part at 21th in FIGURE 4. After all of the bag has been moved into the gathering tube, the drive motor is stopped. Now the plunger assembly 140' is pivoted from the position illustrated in FIGURE 7 to the bag insert position illustrated in FIGURE 3 by first moving the lock arm 176 in the direction of the arrows 349 to move the end thereof out of the notch 180 and thence rotated in the direction of arrow 341 to pivot the whole plunger assembly to the bag insert position. Now the lock arm is permitted to move into the notch 179 to lock the plunger assembly in the bag insert position and thence the bag plunger switch 315 is momentarily closed to energize the solenoid valve 158. This results in the air supply being connected to the upper end of the plunger cylinder at 169 to cause the plunger 167 to move in a downward direction (direction of the arrows 345) into the gathering tube. The plunger pushes the gathered bag downwardly through the tube into the open bung hole 125 of the keg 22. Due to the provisions of the lip 107 all of the bag including the trailing edge is pushed through the tube into the keg.

The piston of the plunger cylinder in moving adjacent the port 172 permits a small amount of air under pressure to pass through line 171 to actuate the pilot valve of the valve 158 to cause the connecting member of said valve to connect the control port to port 166 of the cylinder and the upper end of the cylinder being exhausted through the quick exhaust (not shown). This results in the plunger 167 being retracted in the direction opposite arrow 345. The lock member 176 isthen moved to an out position and the plunger assembly is pivoted to the datum position of FIGURE 7.

After the bag with Dry Ice therein has been inserted in keg 22, lock arm 128 is moved in the direction of the arrow 133 to permit the platform 133 being moved to a lowered position, it being understood that the foot pedal 122 is used to control the lowering movement of said platform. The cap 34-6 of the keg 22 is loosely turned in the bung hole 125 and is left in a slightly loosened condition so that any air that has entered with the insertion of the bag may be forced out of the keg as the plastic bag expands. When all the air has been expanded from the keg, the cap is drawn tight.

Shortly after a plastic bag with the Dry Ice pellet therein has been inserted into the keg, the pellet sublimates to expand the bag as illustrated 21s in FIGURE 12, it being understood that at the time the keg is positioned as illustrated in this figure, the pellet would have been fully sublimated. The keg as illustrated in FIGURE 12 has had a quantity of beer drawn therefrom and illustrates the keg in the position-whereby the beer is forced under pressure through port 347 of the tap, generally designated 348 and out the faucet 3 49 upon moving the lever 350 to an open position.

Once the keg 22 has been removed from the platform 113, another keg having a cap 346 removed therefrom is positioned on the platform and then the foot pedal 122 is depressed (rotated in the direction of the arrow 133) to move the bung hole of the keg adjacent the lower end of the gathering tube. The aforementioned steps are again repeated for inserting a plastic bag with a Dry Ice pellet therein into the keg.

In order to maintain beer in the keg under sufficient pressure for tapping purposes, it has been found desirable that the Dry Ice pellets 360 be of a weight within a specific weight range. We have found that upon filling the keg of appropriate size approximately /3 full of beer wherein the amount of beer in the keg was approximately 288 ounces it is desirable to provide a carbon dioxide pellet -38 grams. In such a case the initial pressure in the keg was 70-80 lbs. while when the last of the beer had been dispensed from the keg, the pressure was ap proximately 10 lbs. Of course it is to be understood that the aforementioned figures have been set forth as illustrative of the principles of the invention rather than limitations thereon. v

Even though the description of this invention has stated only a single pellet of Dry Ice is used, it is to be -understood that a greater number of smaller pellets or even carbon dioxide snow could he used. However, greater handling problems are incurred, and smaller size particles of solid carbon dioxide tend to sublimate too fast, if more than one pellet is used.

Carbon dioxide press 400.In order to properly form the pellet for convenient handling, and of a size to properly pressurize a keg of beer, the carbon dioxide press, generally designated 400, has been made (see FIGURES 14 and 15). The carbon dioxide press 400 includes a heavy rectangular base plate 401 mounted on a pair of heavy metal base support members 402. A generally rectangular mounting plate 403 is mounted in vertically spaced overhanging relationship to the base plate 461 by tubular spacers 404 located between one end of the mounting plate and the base plate, there being a bolt 405 extended through an appropriate aperture formed in the mounting plate, through the respective tubular spacer and an aperture formed in the base plate and through ,a corresponding aperture formed in support member. A nut 406 is provided on the lower end of the bolt 405 for securing the above members in the aforementioned relationship.

Secured to the mounting plate intermediate the bolts 405 to extend vertically thereabove is a container 410 of generally tubular construction which in turn has secured thereto a lower bottom plate 411. An aperture 413 formed in the bottom plate opens into the hollow interior of the container and is located directly above the aperture 414 formed in the mounting plate.

A grinder wheel 416 is mounted in the container 410, there being a horizontal shaft 417 journaled for rotation into the container walls and having the grinder wheel keyed thereon. Although the top of the container is not illustrated in FIGURES 14, 15, it is to be understood that it extends a substantial distance upwardly above the grinder wheel, for retaining unground solid carbon dioxide. The weight of the carbon dioxide pressing down against the wheel or additional means (not shown) may be provided to force the solid carbon dioxide in a down ward direction whereby upon turning shaft 417 particles of carbon dioxide snow are formed.

Secured to the central portion of the base plate on the opposite end from the spacers 464 is a form 429 that has a cavity 421 which is elongated in a horizontal direction. The cavity 421 opens upwardly through the top of the form and is rectangular in both horizontal and vertical cross-section.

h lounted on the mounting plate directly over form 429 is a two-way piston cylinder combination 422. The piston cylinder combination includes cylinder 418 and a piston 419 with a downwardly extending piston rod 421 connected thereto to extend adjacent to the form 420. An elongated horizontally extending bar 428 is secured at its mid-portion to the lower end of the piston rod by a cap screw 429. Bolted to the bar 428 is a ram 430, the lower end of the ram 43% in horizontal cross-section being of size and shape to form a close fit with the side walls of the form that surrounds the aforementioned cavity-the upper end 430a of the ram is enlarged to form a stop to limit the downward movement of the ram into the cavity. It may be noted in FIGURE 14 when the enlarged portion of the ram abuts against the form, a Dry Ice pellet 33% of a given volume is formed.

A chute 437 is connected at one end to'the bottom plate of the container 416 and at the other end rests on the form 420 to direct the carbon dioxide snow ground by the grinder wheel 416 into the cavity 421. That is,

the aforementioned end of the chute extends upwardly through the aperture 414 formed in the bottom plate to have the upper end thereof located directly beneath the grinder wheel. By using the aforementioned structure and inclining it at a substantial angle, the Dry Ice snow is directly conveyed from the container into the form without the use of additional apparatus. As a result the potential conveying problem of the Dry Ice snow bridging due to sublimation is minimized.

A transversely extending pivot shaft 43% at its either end is secured to a base support member 4% and in a longitudinal direction is located on the opposite side of the form from the spacers 404. An elongated lever arm 440 is mounted on the pivot shaft to have the pivot shaft extend through the mid-portion thereof and to have one end extend outwardly beyond the base plate. The opposite end of the lever arm is clevised at 441 and is located directly beneath the form 420. A pair of vertically extending lifter rods 444 having upper ends are extended through apertures in the base plate beneath the form 420, each rod having a small block 445 secured to the lower end thereof. A short horizontal shaft 446 at its either end is secured in one of the aforementioned blocks 445 for holding said blocks in spaced relation. The lifter rods are located to position the horizontal shaft 446 in the clevised end of the lever arm 449.

Mounted on the upper ends of the lifter rods is a rectangular pusher block 448 that is located in a recess formed in the form 420 beneath the cavity.

The pneumatic and electrical components which are diagrammatically illustrated in FIGURE 14 include a motor 450 drivingly connected to the shaft 417. The motor power supply lines 451 are connected to the timer 452. The timer in turn is connected to the main line L3 and via line 454 to one terminal of an On-oif switch 47 0. The main line L4 is connected to a second terminal of the On-otf switch 470. As will be more fully set forth hereinafter the timer is set to operate the motor a predetermined length of time in order to control the quantity of Dry Ice snow formed during a given cycle of operation of the motor.

In order to properly supply air under pressure for operating the piston cylinder combination 422, there is provided the pneumatic components 455. The pneumatic components include an air pressure source 466 that is connected via line 467 to the first port 460 of the hand operated four-way valve 459. The second port 461 of the valve 459 is connected via line 465 to the exhaust 464 while the third port 462 is connected via line 457 to a ball type check valve 458 that has a free-flow orifice therein to control the rate of flow of air therethrough it to the cylinder. The check valve is connected via line 426 to the lower port 424 of cylinder 422. A fourth port 463 of valve 459 is connected via line 456 to a second ball type check valve 458 of the same nature described heretofore, the ball type check valve in turn being connected by a line 425 to the upper port 423 of cylinder 418. Thus when the four-way valve is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 14 air under pressure is applied to the upper end of the cylinder to move the piston therein from the dotted line position to the solid line position for compressing carbon dioxide snow into a pellet 330. When the valve is turned to a second position appropriate internal connections are made to conduct air under pressure from the air source 455 to port 460, then to port 462 and through members 457, 453, and 426 to the lower end of the cylinder to move the cylinder back to the dotted line position, port 463 at this time being connected to port 461 to exhaust the upper end of the cylinder.

The structure of the carbon dioxide press having been set forth, the operation thereof will now be described. Assuming now for purposes of facilitating description of the operation of the press that switch 470 has been closed and that the four-way valve has been operated to apply air under pressure to the lower end of the cylinder to retract ram 436 (see dotted line position of FIGURE 15) and the timer 452 is properly adjusted, so upon closing the timer switch (which is resiliently urged to an open position-mot shown) the motor 450 is operated for a period of time to supply a quantity of carbon dioxide snow having a weight which is in predetermined weight range. The timer operates to disconnect the supply of power to the motor until the timer switch (not shown) of timer 452 is again depressed. The snow ground by a grinder 416 drops through the aperture 41?; onto chute 437 to slide directly into cavity 420. It is to be noted that it is important that the chute 437 be inclined sufiiciently so that all snow slides down the chute. If the chute is not sufliciently inclined, the ground snow would bridge across the chute and prevent proper operation of carbon dioxide press.

After the snow has moved into cavity 420 the fourway valve is operated to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 14 to connect port 423 to the air supply and port 424 to the exhaust. Due to the provision of the ball check valve 458 the cylinder is exhausted at a controlled rate to thereby control the rate of descent of the ram 439. By controlling the rate of descent of the ram the snow in the press is more evenly distributed and there is less chance of the snow splattering upon initial contact of the ram therewith. It is to be noted that due to the provision of the narrow slot 431 in the upper side wall portions of the form, carbon dioxide gas can escape through said slots. If the slots were not provided the carbon dioxide snow would not be properly compacted.

The pellets must be compacted at least a minimum amount, otherwise said pellets fall apart when they are removed from the press to the opened bag. Also it is important that the elongated length of the cavity be parallel to the ram. Otherwise, if for example, the press were to elongate the direction of movement of the ram, the snow at the top of the press would be pressed hard while the snow at the bottom of the press would not be compacted to anywhere near the same degree. As a result if the pellets are formed in the last mentioned manner, the lower ends thereof tend to fall apart.

With the press of this invention the quantity of snow ground by properly setting the timer fills the form to a height H and is compacted to a height C. The quantity ground is within a given weight range as set forth heretofore. Since a ram has been provided with the enlarged portion 430a to limit the downward movement of the ram and a given volume of snow is started with, said snow is compacted the desired amount.

After the ram has moved to the lower position illustrated in FIGURE 14, the four-way valve is manually operated to connect port 423 to the exhaust and port 424 to the air supply to cause the ram to be retracted. Next the lever 445) is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 449 for moving the pusher 448 in an upward direction (arrow 450) to lift the compacted pellet 330 out of the cavity. The pellet is then conveyed into the open month 210 of a bag held by the bag gathering mechanism either manually or by an appropriate machine. It is to be mentioned that as a practical matter the Dry Ice pellets used for pressuring purposes cannot be stored for any substantial length of time since said pellets will lose a greater amount of weight than that which is tolerable for purposes of pressurizing the liquid in the liquid container.

Once the pellet has been removed from the press the handle lever 44 0 is moved in the direction opposite arrow 449 to retract the pusher into the recess and then the timer switch is operated to actuate the motor for grinding a second predetermined quantity of carbon dioxide snow.

The steps of this invention for pressurizing a liquid container are: forming carbon dioxide snow from a solid carbon dioxide and then pelletizing an amount of carbon dioxide snow having a weight in a predetermined weight range. -An expandable plastic bag of a capacity larger 17 than the capacity'of the liquid container is grasped and positioned to have the mouth extend upwardly. Next the mouth of the bag isop'ened and thenthe p'elletized carbon dioxide is inserted into the mouth of the bag. Then the mouth of the bag is sealed and the bag with the carbon dioxide pellet therein is gathered. After the bag has been gathered in a bundle, it is inserted through a hole of the liquid container and then the cap is loosely screwed therein. After the carbon dioxide has sublimated a sufiicient amount to expand all the air out of the liquid container, the cap is tightened and the liquid container is ready to have a beverage dispensed therefrom.

It is to be understood that the sequence of steps set forth heretofore of forming a carbon dioxide pellet and conveying a bag so as to have the mouth in an open condition in the gathering tube may be reversed or the steps carried'on atthe. same time, provided the carbon dioxide pellet, prior to being sealed in the bag, is not permitted to stand a sufiicient time to lose aquantity of Weight which will result in the keg not being properly pressurized.

As many widely apparent different embodiments of. this invention may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the specific embodiments herein.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for forming a carbon dioxide pellet comprising a frame, a pellet form having a cavity mounted on the frame, means on the frame horizontally offset and 'at a higher elevation than the form for grinding solid carbon dioxide into snow, an inclined chute located in the framefor conveying the carbon dioxide snow from the grinding means to the form and ram means located on the frame directly over the-form for compacting the carbon dioxide snow in the form into a pellet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterizedin that there is provided on the frame, means for pushing.

a pellet in the form out of said form cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the grinding means includes a container, a grinder wheel, a shaft journaled in said'container to mount said wheel for rotation, means for driving said shaft, and means for operating the drive means apredeterminedtime interval whereby a given volume of carbon dioxidesnow is formed.

4. The apparatus of claim. 1 furthercharacterized in that the chute is angled at an angle sufficient to directly convey the ground snow into the form and that the ram includes a piston cylinder combination.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that there is provided control means for limiting therate of movement of the piston toward the form.

6. Apparatus for gathering a flexible bag of rectangular plan having a bag mouth in the top portion thereof and inserting the gathered bag into a liquid container having a closeable opening comprising a frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a'vertic al gathering tube mounted at the forward end of the frame to extend adjacent the container opening, said tube having a rea'rwardly facing slot of a length greater than the corresponding dimension of said bag, means for conveying the bag from the rearward end of the frame through said slot into the tube, said conveying means carrying the bag to position the portion of the bag having the bag mouth in the tube prior to the remaining portion of the bagbeing positioned in the tube, means for driving the conveyor means to first position the bag mouth portion in the tube and then 'atlater' time move the remaining portion of the bag into the tube, means mounted on the frame for opening the bag mouth of the bag when said bag mouth portion is located in the gathering tube, said bag opening means including a pair of vacuum devices engageable with opposite walls of said bag and being movable between a datum position and a bag grip position in overhanging relation to said tube, means on the frame adjacent the bag opening means for sealing the mouth portion of the bag, and a plunger ass'embly mounted on the frame for forcing the bag gathered in said tube through said tube into the liquid container.

7. In a bag gathering and bag insertingmachine for inserting a sealed fiexible wall bag with a sublimateable material therein into a container having a hung hole, a frame, meansmounted' onthe frame for gathering a bag, said gathering means including a gathering tube having an elongated slot for the bag to pass through and an open end of a cross sectional area less than the corresponding area of the bung hole, and means for moving the bag through said slot into the tube to gather said bag,- and a plunger assembly mounted on the frame for forcing the gathered bag through the tube into a liquid container having a bung hole located beneath said tube.

8. In a bag gathering and inserting machine for inserting a sealed flexible wall bag having a sublimatable ma.- terial therein through a container opening, a frame, means mounted on the frame for compacting a bag with a sublimatable material therein into a bundle having a cross sectional area of a size and shape-smaller than the size and shape of the container opening, means mounted on. the frame to cooperate with the bag compacting means for moving the compacted bag through the container opening into thecontainer and means on the frame for operating the compacting means and bag. moving means in the aforementioned manner. n p

9. Apparatus for gathering a flexible heat sealable bag having a mouth at the top' adjacent one edge of the bag and inserting said baginto a container having an opening therein comprising a frame having a longitudinal axis, a front end portion and a rear end portion, two horizontally spaced longitudinally extending carrier plates mounted on said frame, first conveyor belt means mounted on the rear .portion'of said plates forconveying a bag between said plates from the rear end of the frame in a forwardly direction with the bag mouth at the top forward edge, second conveyor belt means mountedon the carrier plate for receiving the bag from the first conveyor belts meansand carrying said bag to the forward end of the machine, a vertical gathering tube having a vertical slot on the frame adjacent the forward portion of said second conveyor to have the bag move by said second conveyor means through said slot, means for driving said. conveyor means, means for selectively starting and stopping said drive means, means on the frame adjacent the gathering tube for opening the bag mouth when said bag month has been moved into the gathering tube, means on the frame adjacent the gathering tube for sealing the bag mouth after said bag mouth has been moved into the gathering tube, and a plunger assembly mounted on the frame at a higher elevation than the gathering tube for pushing a bag that has been moved into the gathering tube through the gathering tube into a liquid container that has been positioned beneath the said tube with the bung hole adjacent the lower end of said tube.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the plunger assembly includes a vertically extending piston cylinder combination, a plunger connected to the piston and means mounting said combination for pivotal movement between a position'with the plunger directly over the tube and a position with the plunger horizontally offset from the tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in-that there is provided a platform for supporting the container, means for moving said platform between a lowered position and an elevated position to place the bung hole adjacent the gathering tube and means for releasably locking said platform moving means in the elevated position.

12. Apparatus for forming a self contained pressure generating system for liquid container having abung hole and locating the system in the container comprising a base mounting plate, a pellet form having a cavity therein, said form being mounted on said plate, means for forming carbon dioxide snow, means for mounting the forming means on the plate in vertical and horizontal spaced relation to said'form, an inclined chute mounted for directly conveying carbon dioxide snow from the forming means to the pellet form cavity, ram means for compacting, the carbon dioxide snow in the form cavity into a pellet, means for pushing the compacted pellet out of the form cavity, an elongated frame having a longitudinal axis, a front portion and a rear portion, means located at the front portion of the frame for gathering a'flexible gas impervious bag into a cross sectional area smaller than the corresponding area of the bung hole, conveyor means mounted on the frame for conveying a bag from the back portion to the gathering means, said conveyor means including means for conditioning a bag to have a pellet inserted through the bag mouth and carrying said bag to position the mouth portion of the bag at the top to the gathering means prior to the remaining portion of the bag, means for driving the conveyor means to first move the mouth portion to the gathering means and after a time interval move the remaining portion of the bag to the gathering means, control means for operating the drive means in the aforementioned manner, bag opening means on the frame adjacent the gathering means for opening the bag mouth to have the pellet insert therein when only the mouth portion has been moved to the gathering means, means adjacent the gathering tube for sealing the bag mouth after a pellet has been inserted into the bag, said control means being operated after the bag month has. been sealed to move the remaining portion of the bag to the gathering means, and plunger means acting in cooperation with the gathering means for inserting the gathered bag with a carbon dioxide pellet therein into a liquid container having the bunghole positioned adjacent to and on the opposite side of the gathering means from the plunger means, and control means for operating the bag opening means, heat seal means and plunger means in the aforementioned sequence.

13. Apparatus for inserting a plastic bag of rectangular plan and having a bag mouth into a liquid container having a hung hole comprising a frame, means for first positioning said plastic bag to have solid carbon dioxide placed therein and then gathering said bag, the aforementioned means including means on the frame for opening the bag mouth prior. to the bag being gathered, means on the frame adjacent the bag opening means for sealing said bag mouth prior to the bag being gathered, means acting in conjunction with the bag gathering means for inserting the sealed bag through the bung hole and control means for operating the aforementioned means. 14. A machine for inserting a flexible bag of rectangular plan with a solid body therein into a container having a filling opening of a size smaller than the corresponding dimensions of the bag, said solid body of a substantially smaller size than the bag, comprising a longitudinally extending frame having a forward end and a rear end, means mounted on said frame for conveying a bag in a fiat condition from the rear end to the forward end, said conveying means including a first pair of conveyor belts on the frame for conveying the flat bag from the rear portion to the intermediate portion of the frame and a second set of conveyor belts on the frame for receiving the bag from the first set of belts and conveying it to the forward end, means on the forward end of the frame for conditioning the bag to have the body inserted thereinto, means for sealing the bag, and means for moving the bag with the solid body therein through the container opening into the container.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that it includes means mounted on the rear end of the frame for guiding the bag into the conveyor means at the proper elevation for being sealed by the sealing means.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that the first pair of endless belts are mounted on said frame to grippingly engage the bag only at the top portion thereof and that means are mounted on the frame beneath said belts for sterilizing the bag.

17. In apparatus for inserting a flexible wall bag into a container having a filling opening of a smaller area than the bag in a flat condition comprising a frame, avertical tube having a lower end of generally the same cross sectional area as said filling opening, said tube being mounted on the frame, means for forcing the bag into the tube to reduce the effective cross sectional area of the bag, means on the frame for forcing a bag located within the tube through said tube opening and through said container opening into the-container when a container is located beneath said tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further characterized in that there is provided a platform for supporting the container beneath the tube, means on the frame for moving said platform between an elevated position and a lowered position and means for releasably locking said platform elevating means in an elevated position.

19. A carbon dioxide press for forming apellet comprising a frame, a pellet form having a cavity mounted on the frame, means on the frame for forming carbon dioxide snow, means on the frame for conveying the carbon dioxide snow from the forming means into the pellet form cavity and ram means offset from the carbon dioxide snow forming means and located on the frame for compacting the carbon dioxide snow in the pellet form cavity to form a pellet, said form cavity being longer in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the ram means than in the direction of movement of said ram means, said ram means including a ram mounted to be moved at least partially into the pellet form cavity and formed to abut against the form to limit the movement of the ram into the form cavity and thereby form v a pellet of a given size and shape.

20. A carbon dioxide press for forming a pallet comprising a frame, a pellet form having a cavity mounted on the frame, means on the frame for forming carbon dioxide snow, means on the frame .for conveying the carbon dioxide snow from the forming means into the pellet form cavity and ram means offset from the carbon dioxide snow forming means and located on the frame for compacting carbon dioxide snow in thepellet forming cavity to form a pellet, said ram means including a ram mounted to be moved at least partially into the pellet form cavity, said form having a side wall with an elongated narrow slot formed therein to permit escape of gas as the ram moves into the form, said slot being elongated in the direction of movement of the ram, and means mounted on the frame for pushing the compacted pellet out of the form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,253,880 Zieber Aug. 26, 1941 2,499,386 Joerren Mar. 7, 1950 2,725,168 Lindstaedt ct al Nov. 29, 1955 2,815,152 Mills Dec. 3, 1957 2,964,165 Riley Dec. 13, 1960

Images