US3100513A - Multiple line-filler - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1963 Filed July 25, 1960 J. M. COZZOLI ETAL MULTIPLE LINE-FILLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTORS FM M g- 1963 J. M. COZZOLI ETAL 3,100,513

MULTIPLE LINEFILLER Filed July 25, 1960 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

INVENTOR Aug. 13, 1963 J. M. cozzou ETAL 3,100,513

' MULTIPLE LINE-FILLER Filed July 25, 1960 I 5 Sheets-$139511; 3

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Aug. 13, 1963 J. M. cozzou ETAL 3,100,513

MULTIPLE LINE-FILLER Filed July 25, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS FlG.4. NW9)":

BY FM Aug. 13, 1963 J. M. COZZOLI ETAL 3,100,513

MULTIPLE LINE-FILLER Filed July 25, 1960 i '5 Sheets-Sheet s United States Patent 3,100,513 MULTIPLE LHNE=FILLER Joseph M. Cozzoii, North Piainfield, and Harold F. Scribner, Westfieid, N.J., assignors to Cozzoii Machine Company, Plainfield, N .J a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 25, 1960, Ser. No. 45,089

8 (Jlaims. (Q1. MIL-102) This invention relates to multiple filling machines more particularly of the type by which unit quantities of a liquid product is measured and dispensed into containers that automatically are brought into registry with the filling needles.

A primary aim of the invention is the construction of a straight-line filler that will dispense precisely measured amounts of the product into containers that are moved single-file into and away from the filling zone. The invention comprehends, preferably, a machine having a continuously moving conveyor upon which the containers are placed at spaced intervals timed to arrive in groups at the filling zone and to become registered with the filling needles at the start of each filling cycle. A further aim of the invention is to provide a bank of vertically and laterally movable filling needles whose rate of forward travel coincides with the rate of movement of the containers and whose vertical movements coincide in general with the starting and ending of the filling cycle. The construction and purpose is to have the filling needles enter the moving containers prior to the .start of the fill, move laterally with the containers during the fill, leave the containers after completing the fill, and then back travel at an accelerated rate to their starting point at which time another bank or group of containers will have arrived at the filling zone.

Still another aim of the invention is the construction of a practical machine by which two or more measured units-of-fill may be dispensed into each bank of moving containers. The aim and purpose being to produce a machine capable of dispensing two different products into the containers successively, or of dispensing two measured quantities or dosages of the same product into the containers successively. By way of example, a machine arranged to fill eight containers at a time on each filling cycle may in accordance with this invention be re-arranged to fill four containers at a time but with two shots of measured quantities of the product or products in each bank. In the latter case the products may be different and/or the quantities may be different. The flexibility of a filler of this character renders it most suitable for high or medium production rates of the same product or for the packaging of at least two different products in each container.

Still a further aim of the invention is the construction of a multiple straight-line filler in which provision is made for varying the extent of needle penetration into the vial or container and/or its rate of withdrawal from the container. The aim being to provide for the delivery of the product into the container from a constant height as in such cases where the product has little tendency to foam or from a variable height, for example a bottomup-fill as for a foamy product, where the needle should move upwardly during the filling cycle.

By way of further refinement the invention aims to provide a line-filler that not only will dispense accurately measured quantities of the liquid product but one in which the flow of the product from the needles is sharply cut olf at the end of the filling stroke so that there is no drip or dripping from the needles on their return travel over empty containers as the latter move into the filling area.

Another aim of the invention is the provision of means 3,100,513 Patented Aug. i3, 1963 for stopping the fill should a blank occur in the line of containers. Preferably the blank-detecting means is located ahead of the bank of containers in the filling zone so that a stopping of the filling operation during a fill can occur only when a full bank of containers is in position and so that .on the restarting of operations the remaining portion of the fill occurs in the same bank of containers.

In carrying forward the objectives of the invention it is proposed to provide a main frame unit that houses the transmission elements and which supports on one side a conveyor structure and on another side one or more banks of measuring units of the piston-and-cylinder type. Cyclically operated valve means associated with the filling units are provided to conduct the liquid product to and from the cylinders. The valves are connected by flexible tubing to filling needles or nozzles that are mounted over the conveyor to a vertically and laterally movable carriage. Both conveyor and filling units are driven from a common source and are timed so that the conveyor moves the distance of one full bank of containers while the filling units make one complete intake and discharge cycle. Inasmuch as the filling units are crank operated they dispense liquid during one-half a cycle (180) and take in liquid on the other half cycle (180). Allowing approximately 30 part of a cycle for the needles to descend, 180 for dispensing, and 30 for elevating, the total forward movement of the needles while in registry with the containers is 240 cycle). The remaining is for the return travel and which if moved at twice the speed of the forward travel, brings the needles back to their starting point ready for forward movement by the time the previously filled bank of containers move out of the filling area and a next succeeding new bank of containers move in.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various way contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as apart of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

FIGURE 1 of the drawings is a front view of a filling machine embodying the invention with a portion of the conveyor broken away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown. in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view on an enlarged scale showing portions of the drive mechanisms.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a number of the variabledisplacement, positive-delivery, measuring units with their associated valves and actuating means.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the final portions of the conveyor drive means.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a container-registering coupling in the conveyor drive.

FIG. 7 is a detail View of the needle elevating cams.

FIG. 8 is a detail view of the blank detecting cam with alternate notches blanked off for a double-fill set up.

FIGS. 9 and were schematic views of an eight-fill and a four-fill set up respectively, to illustrate the relation and distances of needle travel to conveyor travel in each case.

Referring moreparticularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 the filling machine illustrated comprises, essentially, a main frame structure A that supports along'its front edge a conveyor structure C. The rear side of the main frame structure supports a series of filling units F in this instance eight, that deliver predetermined quantities of the 6 product to needles N that are carried by a vertically movable and laterally shiftable needle carriage B. The dash lines in FIGS. 1 and 3 represent flexible hose connections between the filling-unit valves V and the filling needles N.

Power for actuating the filling units and for driving the conveyor in synchronism starts with a suitable motor M that drives a speed reducer through V-belts 31 and a variable speed mechanism VS. The output shaft of the reducer connects by means of'a chain and sprocket 32 with a sprocket 33 on a horizontal crank shaft 34. Bevel gears 35 transmit the power to a vertical shaft shaft 36 which in turn transmits the power through another set of bevel gears 37 to a horizontal shaft 38 that carries a number of cams and also provides power to drive the conveyor. The various shafts mentioned are all journaled in suitable bearings as will be understood.

The rear end of the crank-shaft 34 has a combined crank-and-valve cam 40 fixed thereto. A crank rod 41 pivoted to the crank-cam 40 at one end and to a curved pivoted arm 42 at its other end causes the pivoted arm to oscillate as the crank revolves. As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 4 the curved arm 42 is pivoted at one end to. a support 43 and carries a radially adjustable yoke 44. The yoke 44 in' turn pivotally connects with a slide connecting rod 45 whose upper end pivotally connects with a vertically movable slide 46. The inside of the slide 46 is provided with hearing blocks 47 that slide on guide posts48. Normally the yoke piece 44 is clamped as at 49 to the curved arm 42 in a selected position toward or away from the pivot 43. As will be seen in FIG. 4 the curved arm has a constant stroke responsive to the throw of the crank-cam 40. However, by shifting the yoke piece along the curved arm 42 from one position to another the resulting reciprocatory movement imparted through rod 45 to the slide 46 may be varied from Zero stroke to maximum stroke.

As illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 each filling unit includes a piston 50 and a cylinder 51. The lower end of the cylinder has a pivotal connection 52 with the slide 46 whereas the piston element is screw threaded into the stationary body of the valve V. The valve body contains a shiftable valve element 53 having through ports 54 and diagonal ports 55. When the valve element is in one position of its shift the through port places the interior of the piston 50 in communication with the discharge port 56 and when in the other position of its shift places the interior of the piston in communication with a supply port 57. Each valve piston is keyed as at 58 to a shiftable bar 59 and the latter is connected by means of .alink 60 to the upper end of a pivoted lever 61. The lower end of lever 61 pivotally connects with the yoke 62 that has a fixed camfollower 63 and a circumferentially movable follower 64 oppositely related and lying in the plane of the valve portion of the crank cam 40. The valve portion of the crank cam is provided with diametrically opposed high and low portions with connecting ascending and descending portions. Accordingly, as the cam revolves the followers 63 and 64 are actuated laterally, first in one direction and then in the other and this motion is transmitted through the yoke 62, lever 61, link 60, bar 57 to the valve pistons 53. The relationship of the valve and crank is such that as the slide 46 is actuated downwardly for a filling unit intake stroke the valve is shifted to connect the cylinder with the intake port 57 and supply line 57a. At the end of the intake stroke the valve is shifted to its other position to connect the cylinder with the discharge port 56 that connects with the filling needles N.

One of the needles is shown in FIG. 3 and comprises a tubular stem whose interior communicates with hose line 20 and the valve V and a centering cone unit 71 that is vertically slidable on the exterior of the needle. The centering cone of each needle is suspended from a needle carrying bar 72 by means of a pair of guide rods stroke from discharge to intake, to a position slightly 4 73. The purpose of the centering cone units is to bring the tops of the containers-into registry with the ends of the filling needles as they enter the containers.

To avoid drip on the return travel of the needles, the adjustable cam follower 64 (FIG. 4) may be moved angularly with relation to cam 40 from a position whereat valve shift occurs coincidently with the change in later in time so that the filling needles remain connected with the interior of the filling units during the initial portion of their intake strokes. Such an adjustment has the effect of pulling back from the needle ends the final drop of product that would otherwise adhere thereto. For this reason the follower 64 is carried on an angularly adjustable arm 65 whose outer end carries a pivotal nut 66 threaded on rod 67 that is journaled in the yoke 62. A flexible shaft 63 connected with the rod 67 and with a hand knob 69 at the front of the machine is provided to make the adjustment.

Needle Carriage (FIGS. 1 and 3) As indicated above the filling needles N are mounted to a vertically movable and laterally shift-able carriage B. The needle bar 72 projects from a plate 75 that is vertically adjustable on the roller-carriage frame 76. Roll-er bearings 77 at the top and :bottom and front and rear and at each end of the carriage support and guide the carriage on a traverse rail 78. The rail 78 is mount ed at each end to vertically movable posts 79 that are journaled for vertical movement in bearings 80 provided by the main frame. Within the frame, each post carries a block 61 against which a follower roller 82 on lever 83 operates. The levers 83 are pivoted at 84 and carry intermediate followers 85 that track the surface of elevating cams =86. The cams 86 are provided at each endof the horizontal shaft 38 and include master cams =86 contoured to give the maximum stroke, and removable plate cams 86a, 86b, 86c (indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 7) that when attached to the master cams provide selected shorter strokes. The master cams are pinned to the horizontal shaft in angular phase relation with the strokes of the filling units so that the up and down movements of the needles are coordinated with the filling cycle.

Needle Traverse Mounted on the main crank shaft 34 is a box cam 90 having a groove 91 that is tracked by a roller 92 mounted on a connecting rod structure 93. The connecting rod 93 straddles the crank shaft 34 and is provided at its outer end with a pair of flanges 94 that in turn straddle a needle-carriage traverse lever 95. The lower end of the traverse lever is pivotally supported in a bearing 96 in the lower portion of the main frame and its upper end carries a follower roll '97 that tracks a vertical groove 98 in an extension 99 of the needle carriage B. The flanged end of the connecting rod structure 93 contains two pivot- pin holes 100a and 100b, one above the other and spaced equal unit distances from the lever pivot 96. correspondingly located holes are provided in the traverse lever 95, and by inserting a single pivot pin 101 in one of the sets of holes the stroke of the traverse lever in response to the fixed throw of the box cam 90 may be selectively varied from a fullstroke (NF, FIG. 9) to one-half stroke (NF, FIG. 10). The box cam 90 is pinned to the main crank shaft in phase relation with the cycle of the filling units so that the needle carriage moves forward during the container-filling portion of the cycle and retracts during the intake portion of the filling cycle.

Container Conveyor (FIGS. 1, 2, and 5) The container conveyor C includes a framing which supports a flat-top chain 105 that tracks chain sprockets at each end. (The loading end of the conveyor is not shown for the reason it may extend ahead of the main machine any convenient distance as may he desired.) The plate-top chain is, however, provided with container drive lugs 106 at uniformly spaced intervals throughout its length, against which the containers to be filled are placed either manually or automatically. Power to move the conveyor is taken from the outer end of the horizontal shaft 38 through electively operable drive chains 11W and 103.

A pair of drive sprockets 1G? and 1-10 are loosely mounted on shaft 38 but either may be connected with the shaft by means of a shiftable pin 111 that is contained in a clutch spool 112. The spool is tight on shaft 3?: between the two sprockets. The clutch spool is slotted and recessed as at 113 to receive the head and shank of a clamp screw that is carried by the clutch pin 111. When the head of the screw is backed out of the recess in the spool, the clutch .pin may be shifted to the left or right into clutch-pin holes provided in the sprockets whereby one or the other is locked with the drive shaft 38.

The drive chains 107 and 1 % drive sprockets 113 and 114 on a shaft 116 that connects with one-half of a coupling 11?. The other half of the coupling connects with a bevel-gear shaft 118 and bevel gears 119 transmit the power to the conveyor-sprocket drive shaft 120. Drive sprocket-s 109 and 1111 have, in this instance, a change-speed ratio of l to 2 so that if sprocket 109 is clutched to the driving shaft the conveyor moves a distance equal to a full bank (8) of containers per cycle, whereas if sprocket 11111 is clutched to the driving shaft the conveyor moves a distance equal to one-half bank (4) of containers per cycle.

It has been mentioned above that the drive lugs 106 on the conveyor chain serve to maintain the containers uniformly spaced, which spacing is equivalent to the fixed spacing of the needles on the needle carriage. However, as containers to be filled may vary in size from one run to another, the position of the drive lugs relative to the needles must change whenever the container diameter is changed so that the axis of the open mouths of the containers coincide with the filling needle axis. The two-part coupling unit 117 between shatts 116 and 118 provide convenient means for advancing or retracting the position of the conveyor drive lugs, and which includes clamping screws 117;: that pass through arcuate slots in one member of the coupling and are threaded into the other. If desired one of the coupling members may he graduated as at 1172) to facilitate obtaining theneoessary adjustment.

Blank Detector (FIGS. 3 and 8) Should one omit to place a container against the drive lug on the conveyor, blank detecting means is provided ahead of the filling zone to stop the filling. In th s instance the detector comprises -a roller i125 carried at the end of a reciprocable guide rod 126. The rod 126 carries an adjustable spool 127 that is engaged by a pin on the free end of the lever 128. The lever 1 28 is fixed to a rock shaft 123 that mounts at its inner end another lever 13%. The free end of lever 13% carries a follower 13 1 that tracks a notched earn 132 mounted on the horizontal shaft 38. The lever 130 is spring loaded by a pullspring 133 against the cam. The master detector cam 132 is provided, in this instance, with eight recesses or depressions 132:: '(FIG. 8) related to the follower 131 and with detector roller 125 so as to cause the detector roller 125 to move in (toward the containers on the conveyor) as each container passes and to move out as the space between containers is passing. When containers to be filled are present on the conveyor the inward movement of the detector roll 12-5 is obstructed by the containers whereas if a container is absent the detector roller moves all the Way in at which time a pin 130a on the follower lever 13% engages and actuates a cutout switch 134 connected in the control circuit of the main drive motor M to stop the machine. Restarting of the machine is accomplished by placing a container in position in front of the detector roller 125 and pressing the Start button.

To adapt the detecting mechanism to containers of a diiferent size the detector rod spool 127 is uncl-amped from the rod 126 and the rod and roller 125 adjusted inwardly or outwardly according to container diameter. Adjustable guide rails 135 are provided along each side of the conveyor to maintain the straight-line formation as the containers are moved through the filling zone.

When the machine is changed over from an eight-fillper-cycle operation to a four-fill-per-cycle operation (double fill) .a two part blanking cam 1321: is applied to the master detector cam 132. The blanking cam is formed with four recesses and four high portions that register with the eight recesses of the master cam and it is the four high portions that cyclically hold the detector follower roll 131 out of alternate pockets of the master cam (to prevent switch operation) when the change is made from an eight-fill operation to la four-fill operation. Due to the geared relation of a l to 1 ratio of the horizontal shaft 38 with the main crank shaft 34 each shaft turns one complete revolution per filling cycle. Hence, on an eight-fill setup the detector mechanism must detect eight incoming containers per cycle, and on a four-fill setupthe detector must detect on four incoming containers per cycle. In the latter case the blanking cams 13% are applied to the master cam to blank-off the intermediate notches.

Operation Having explained the structure and operation of the individual components of the invention i.e. the main drive, the filling units and valves, drop drawback, vertical and lateral traverse of the filling needles, conveyor drive and container registering means, blank detecting, and adjustments for fill quality and container size, eight-fill and fourfill setups it is appropriate to refer to FIGS. 9 and 10 and summarize the cooperation of the more important features. These figures are diagrammatic, however, FIG. 9 represents an eight-fill setup in which the traverse cam connecting rod 93 is pivotally connected to traverse lever in the lower pin hole 101a. 'I'he climbing side of the box cam 90 is approximately /3 revolution and the descending side /a revolution on every filling cycle. During the climb (approx. 240) portion of the traverse earn the needle carriage will be moved forward a linear distance CF during which time the filling crank 40 is moving through 240 of which only 180 is discharge. Hence, the forward movement of the needle carriage is greater in angular degrees than the discharge stroke of the filling units which provides time at each end of the filling stroke to lower and raise the filling needles. By the time forward movement of the needle carriage ceases it will have been raised until the needles are out of the containers and the filling units will have started on their intake strokes. During the remaining /3 turn of the traverse cam 90 the needle carriage is retracted to its starting position. Meanwhile, the container conveyor will have moved the containers forward .a distance CF and a new bank of containers will have been brought into registry with the filling needles by the time the needle carriage starts its next forward movement.

FIG. 10 represents a four-fill setup, for which the pivot pin of the connecting rod 93 is removed from the lower hole and inserted in the upper hole 10112 of the traverse lever 95. When so positioned the needle carriage and its bank of eight needles N will move forward a linear distance NF, during the 240 climb portion of the cam 90 and the remaining of the cam will retract the carriage to the point of starting. The filling units will have been operated exactly as before explained and the containers will have been moved a distance CF. To shorten the conveyor travel for the four-fill setup the clutch p-in 111 is shifted from the large sprocket 109 to the small sprocket 110, as previously explained. An important advantage to this convertibility feature lies in the fact that four containers receive product from the first group of four needles of the eight-needle-bank in one cycle and the same four containers receive product from the second group of four needles on the next succeeding cycle. Hence, after the machine is operating, and excepting the first four containers, each container will receive two fills. The two 'fills may, of course, be fractional quantities of the same product or each may be a different product depending upon the solutions supplied to the respective banks of four filling units.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, fromthe standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, we claim as new and desire to secure the following procedural combinations, elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

l. A filling machine comprising a main frame, a conveyor structure means mounted to one side of the frame for supporting containers arranged in a file for filling and for moving them in the direction of the file during the filling operation, a plurality of filling units mounted to the frame opposite the conveyor, each of said filling units comprising a piston and a relatively reciprocable cooperating cylinder and valve means operative to direct fluid to be dispensed alternately to and from the cylinder, a series of filling needles mounted in single file spaced relation 'over the conveyor for movement vertically and laterally in relation to the conveyor,- flexible tubing connections between the valve means of the filling units and the needles of a length suflicient to permit the needles to move laterally and vertically on each operating cycle, means for actuating each of said filling units to cause a measured quantity of liquid medium to be dispensed on each operating cycle, means for driving the conveyor continuously at a rate such that it travels a constant unit distance during each operating cycle of the filling units, and means for moving the filling needles vertically and laterally in a rectangular path in time with the movement of the conveyor and in time with the operation of the filling units so as to cause the filling needles to descend and move laterally with the conveyor for a fraction of the unit distance the conveyor travels per filling cycle so that containers are filled as they move in the direction of the file and to elevate and retract to their starting point during the remaining fraction of said unit distance that the conveyor travels per filling cycle, the relative distances that the filling needles move forward and the conveyor travels per filling cycle being on the order of 2 to 3, re spectively, so that the filling needles will have returned to their starting points in time for a repeat filling cycle on a next succeeding group of containers carried on the conveyor.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which a master-cam means and cooperating follower effect the vertical movement of the filling needles through a normally fixed stroke, and including replaceable auxiliary-cam means adapted for attachment to the master-cam means for reducing the stroke normally effected by the master-cam means, and in which a second cam means and a cooperatting follower effect the lateral movement, said last mentioned follower being mounted upon a pivoted lever Whose free end has a pin-and-slot' connection with the filling needles, the said slot being vertically arranged so that a change in the vertical stroke imparted to the needles has no effect upon the rate of their lateral travel.

3. The combination of claim 1 including means for changing the distance the filling needles move laterally units to dispense fluid medium into the same bank of containers on the next succeeding operation cycle of the filling units.

4. In a multiple filling machine of the character described the combination comprising a vertically movable rail member, a needle carriage movable laterally along the said rail member, a lever member pivoted at one end to a relatively stationary part of the machine and having a pin-and-slot connection at its free end with said needle carriage, constant-throw cam means including a connecting rod operatively connected between the cam and said pivoted lever for actuating said lever about its pivot point to cause said carriage to move laterally on the rail, said connecting rod having ratio-changing points of connection with said pivoted lever so that the stroke of lateral movement imparted to the pivoted lever and to the needle carriage in response to the fixed throw of the cam may be varied in proportion to the change in lever-ratio incident to change in the point of connection of the connecting rod with said lever.

5. A multiple filling machine of the character described having, a continuously moving conveyor on which containers to be filled are placed single-file in uniformly spaced relation for movement into a filling zone for filling in groups of a preselected number simultaneously on each filling cycle, blank detecting means upstream from the filling zone operative in timed relation with the filling cycle and with the rate of movement of the conveyor to. sense the passing of each of the containers in said group and to suspend the operation of the filling cycle should be blank occur in the file of containers, means for changing the rate of travel of the conveyor per filling cycle and therefore the linear distance the conveyor and the containers move on each filling cycle, so that a lesser number of containers move into the filling zone on each filling cycle, and means for synchronizing the effective action of the detecting means in accordance with the reduced number of containers that are caused to pass per filling cycle.

6. Container filling apparatus comprising, a main frame member, a conveyor structure means mounted to the front of said frame member for supporting containers arranged in a file for filling and for moving them in a horizontal path in the direction of the file during the filling operation, a relatively stationary bank comprising at least two filling units of the positive-displacement type mounted to the rear of said frame member, container filling needles mounted above and aligned with containers on the conveyor for movement in said horizontal path in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor, flexible tubing connections between said filling units and said filling needles, said tubing connections being of a length such as to permit the needles to move with the containers during the filling operation, power means in cluding a crank member for cyclically actuating said filling units through an intake and a discharge stroke to cause fluid received from a source of supply to be delivered in measured quantities through said tubing connections to said needles, said power means including a gear train for continuously moving said conveyor, and said power means also having operative connections with said filling needles to cause the needles to move at a synchronized rate with the conveyor during a discharge stroke of the filling units whereby to cause containers to be filled as they are moved in the direction of the file and to cause the needles to move at an accelerated rate against the movement of the. conveyor during an intake stroke of the filling units so as to be in filling position with a next succeeding group of continuously advancing con- 9 tainers and ready to move therewith on the next filling cycle.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which the filling needles are mounted for vertical movement toward and away from the conveyor structure means and in which the said power means includes additional operative connections with the needles for causing the needles to move vertically toward the conveyor stnucture means prior to the start of the filling cycle and and vertically away from the ,ocnveyor structure means on completion of the filling cycle.

8. A container filling machine comprising, a main frame member, a conveyor structure means mounted to said frame member for supporting and moving containers in single-file relation into and out of a filling zone, a relatively stationary bank of at least two filling units of the positive-displacement type mounted to said frame member, container filling needles mounted above the conveyor for movement in timed relation therewith, flexible tubing connections between said filling units and said needles of a length sufiicient to permit the needles to move with the containers during a filling cycle, power means for cyclically actuating said filling units at a constant rate, said power means having connections with said conveyor structure means for continuously moving the conveyor a given lineal distance during each cycle of the filling units, and said power means also having operative connections with said filling needles to cause the needles to move with the conveyor in the discharge cycle of the filling units and contra to the movement of the conveyor on the intake cycle of the filling units, and means for shortening the linear distance the conveyor moves and the linear distance the said filling needles are caused to move per cycle of operation of the filling units so that a portion of the filling units and filling needles dispense fluid medium into a group of containers on an operating cycle and another portion of the filling units and filling needles dispense fluid medium into the same group of containers on the next succeeding operating cycle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,451,431 Myers Apr. 10, 1923 1,700,494 Harrington Jan. 29, 1929 1,992,464 Blackman Feb. 26, 1935 2,368,738 Bergm-ann Feb. 6, 1945 2,388,036 Bingham Oct. 30, 1945 2,757,844 Greissrnan Aug. 7, 1956 2,999,517 'Cervinka Sept. 12, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A FILLING MACHINE COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME, A CONVEYOR STRUCTURE MEANS MOUNTED TO ONE SIDE OF THE FRAME FOR SUPPORTING CONTAINERS ARRANGED IN A FILE FOR FILLING AND FOR MOVING THEM IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FILE DURING THE FILLING OPERATION, A PLURALITY OF FILLING UNITS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME OPPOSITE THE CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID FILLING UNITS COMPRISING A PISTON AND A RELATIVELY RECIPROCABLE COOPERATING CYLINDER AND VALVE MEANS OPERATIVE TO DIRECT FLUID TO BE DISPENSED ALTERNATELY TO AND FROM THE CYLINDER, A SERIES OF FILLING NEEDLES MOUNTED IN SINGLE FILE SPACED RELATION OVER THE CONVEYOR FOR MOVEMENT VERTICALLY AND LATERALLY IN RELATION TO THE CONVEYOR, FLEXIBLE TUBING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE VALVE MEANS OF THE FILLING UNITS AND THE NEEDLES OF A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT THE NEEDLES TO MOVE LATERALLY AND VERTICALLY ON EACH OPERATING CYCLE, MEANS FOR ACTUATING EACH OF SAID FILLING UNITS TO CAUSE A MEASURED QUANTITY OF LIQUID MEDIUM TO BE DISPENSED ON EACH OPERATING CYCLE, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE CONVEYOR CONTINUOUSLY AT A RATE SUCH THAT IT TRAVELS A CONSTANT UNIT DISTANCE DURING EACH OPERATING CYCLE OF THE FILLING UNITS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE FILLING NEEDLES VERTICALLY AND LATERALLY IN A RECTANGULAR PATH IN TIME WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CONVEYOR AND IN TIME WITH THE OPERATION OF THE FILLING UNITS SO AS TO CAUSE THE FILLING NEEDLES TO DESCEND AND MOVE LATERALLY WITH THE CONVEYOR FOR A FRACTION OF THE UNIT DISTANCE THE CONVEYOR TRAVELS PER FILLING CYCLE SO THAT CONTAINERS ARE FILLED AS THEY MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FILE AND TO ELEVATE AND RETRACT TO THEIR STARTING POINT DURING THE REMAINING FRACTION OF SAID UNIT DISTANCE THAT THE CONVEYOR TRAVELS PER FILLING CYCLE, THE RELATIVE DISTANCES THAT THE FILLING NEEDLES MOVE FORWARD AND THE CONVEYOR TRAVELS PER FILLING CYCLE BEING ON THE ORDER OF 2 TO 3, RESPECTIVELY, SO THAT THE FILLING NEEDLES WILL HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR STARTING POINTS IN TIME FOR A REPEAT FILLING CYCLE ON A NEXT SUCCEEDING GROUP OF CONTAINERS CARRIED ON THE CONVEYOR.

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