US3124173A

US3124173A - tiffany

Info

Publication number: US3124173A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1960-10-14
Publication date: 1964-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-10
Also published as: GB945763A; CH402820A

Description

March 10, 1964 B. D. TIFFANY 3,124,173

AUTOMATIC FRACTION COLLECTOR Filed Oct 14, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 1 24 21, b-i 27 I 42 l8 I"! llo a H .O a I d 3 I m INVENTOR.

3 BUPP/S a r/Fm/W 3 RM 5. MWM

llLLLllll nunuwnrl ATTOP/VEV March 10, 1964 B. D. TIFFANY 3,124,173

AUTOMATIC FRACTION COLLECTOR Filed om 14, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. BUPP/S D T/FFANV jmz 6. (MM

A TTOPNEI March 10, 1964 B. D. TIFFANY 3,124,173

AUTOMATIC FRACTION COLLECTOR Filed Oct. 14, 1960 3 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTOR.

SUPP/S D. T/FFANV BY ATTOP/VEV United States Patent 3,124,173 AUTQMA'HQ FMCTKUN CULLEETGR Burris I). 'lifiany, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed 0st. 14, rec-a, Ser. No. 62,747 2% Qlaims. (Cl. BEL-251) This invention relates to a distributing device for connecting a source of fluent material successively to a plurality of receptacles for filling same and it relates particularly to a device wherein the weight of the fluent material in a collecting chamber is utilized to effect relative movement between a discharge nozzle and the receptacles being filled.

The herein described invention arose in connection with a need which developed in laboratory work involving fractionations such as chromatographic and fractional distillation processes. Accordingly, the invention will be described in connection with its use in such applications. However, it will be recognized that the apparatus described is capable of other uses also and accordingly the hereinafter presented description will be understood as illustrative only and not limiting.

In various kinds of laboratory work, such as in the pharmaceutical industry, many fractionation processes are carried out in which the effluent material is collected in a series of receptacles successively presented to the discharge end of the fractionation apparatus. Since the fractionation operation itself can often be carried out for a long period of time without the presence of attending personnel, it will be and has long been recognized that the only need for attending personnel in many fractionation operations is to remove filled receptacles and place empty ones at the discharge end of fractionation apparatus. This requires the attention, and often the exclusive time, of laboratory personnel who could be used more efliciently elsewhere if an automatic device could be provided for effecting the removal and replacement of such receptacles at the appropriate time. Such machines as are known for this purpose are too expensive, complex, and inflexible for general laboratory use.

Accordingly, the principal objects of the invention are:

(1) To provide a machine for successively connecting a source of fluent material to a plurality ofreceptacles, which machine is simple to operate, flexible in adjustment and which can be placed in and taken out of operating condition quickly and easily, the same, accordingly, being well adapted to laboratory usage.

(2) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will measure accurately the amount of the fluent material placed in each container.

(3) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will utilize the weight of material accumulated in a collecting or measuring chamber to eifect a change of connection of the discharge outlet thereof from one container to the next.

(4) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, wherein the weight of the collecting chamber and material therein provides the motive force for effecting the change of connection above mentioned.

(5) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which is of extremely simple construction and which will, accordingly, be inexpensive to build and inexpensive to maintain in good operating condition.

(6) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will not permit fluent material to flow to said containers during a change in said connection in order that the spillage between said containers will be held to a minimum.

(7) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, having a collecting chamber arranged on a turntable and including means for rotating said turntable when it moves down- 3,.l2l,l73 Patented Mar. 1%, I964 wardly in response to the weight of a fluent material supplied thereto and wherein such downward movement is utilized for effecting relative movement between the discharge outlet of said chamber and the filling stations.

(8) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, wherein the several receptacles being filled have no necessary direct connection with the turntable and may accordingly be placed on and removed from the filling stations freely and without affecting, or being affected by, the operation of the turntable or apparatus connected thereto.

(9) To provide a machine, as aforesaid, which will be particularly adaptable for use with liquids including, but not limited to, aqueous liquids.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading the following disclosure and inspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a left side elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a right side elevational View of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragment of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 in the region of the turntable and showing in solid lines one position of the pawl and turntable and showing in broken lines another position thereof.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragment of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3 in the region of the turntable and showing details of the pawl mechanism shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragment of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 in the region of the turntable and showing details of the pawl mechanism shown in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a view corresponding to a fragment of FIGURE 1 and showing a modification.

FIGURE 9 is a side view of a further modification.

FIGURE 10 is a partially broken away, end view of the modification shown in FIGURE 9.

General Description In general, the distributing apparatus of the invention comprises a table having a collecting chamber mounted thereon, said table being supported for reciprocation in a vertical direction. Means are provided for holding the table in its upper position for so long as the collecting chamber is being filled with a fluent material. When the fluent material in the collecting chamber reaches a predetermined level the table is permitted to descend under the weight of such material.

Means are provided for utilizing the motion of the table as it descends and eflecting a relative indexing movement between the discharge of the collecting chamber and a plurality of successively arranged receptacles.

Detailed Description In the following description, the following terminology will be used for convenience but it will be recognized as being used for convenience only and not as limiting. For example, the terms upwar and downward will denote directions with respect to the normal operating position of the apparatus and will also denote directions in the figures of the drawings in connection with which such terminology is used. The terms rightward and leftward will similarly refer to the drawings. The terms inward and outward will denote directions toward and away from the geometric center of the apparatus. Further, all terminology herein mentioned includes also v3 derivatives of the terms specifically mentioned as well as words of similar import.

Turning now to the apparatus in more detail and with specific reference to the drawings, there is provided a frame structure 1 having an upright 2 mounted as desired upon a base 3. A turntable 4- is supported on a shaft 6 which is carried in

suitable bearings

7 and 8, which bearings are in turn carried by a substantially F-shaped member it) having airns 9 and 11 extending sidewardly from an upright 12. A pair of substantially

horizontal links

13 and 14 pivotally connect and support the F-shaped member it to the upright 2. The link 13 is pivotally connected at 16 to the F-shaped member and is pivotally connected at 17 to the upright 2. The link 14 is pivotally connected at 2/1 to the F-shaped member 10 and is ivotally connected at 22 to the upright 2.

On the side of the device shown in FIGURE 2, there is provided a further link 34 corresponding in general to the link 13 shown in FTGURE 1 and pivotally connected to the F-shaped member 119 and to the support 2 by and at the

pivot points

36 and 37. Said link 34 is connected to the link 1-3 by a cross member 38 (FIGURES 3 and 4-). An adjustable weight 13, for balancing purposes, is preferably arranged substantially halfway between the

links

13 and 34 and is mounted as shown upon the cross member 38.

Thus, the F-shaped member 1%), the upright 2 and the

links

13, 34 and 1d connecting same form a pantographic linkage whereby movement of the F-shaped member in a generally vertical direction will move the turntable 4 vertically but its axis 6 will be maintained in a substantially vertical orientation.

The lower side of the turntable 4 is provided with a plurality of recesses 23, said recesses being of substantially equal circumferential width and being substantially equally spaced around the periphery of said turntable.

A pawl 24 (FIGURE 1) is pivoted at 26 to the upright 2 and has a counterweight 2! ariixed thereto, said counterweight here being made integral with said pawl. The pawl 2 is arranged so that its tip engages said recesses 23 in succession during operation of the apparatus.

A further pawl Ill is provided on the other side of the machine (FIGURE 2) and this is pivoted at 32 to the upper end of the F-shaped member 1% and it is provided with a counterweight 33, said counterweight here being made integral with said pawl.

An abutment 4i extends horizontally from the upright 2 toward the F-shapcd member l-tl and is located above the arm 11. An adjustabl stop, such as the thumb screw 42, extends upwardly through the end of the arm ll and is positioned to bear against the under side of the abutment 4].. Thus, upward movement of the turntable d is limited by engagement of the upper end of the screw 42 with the under side of the abutment 4i. Downward movement of the turntable is limited by engagement of the under side thereof with the upper end of the upright 2 or by the limit device 4d hereinafter mentioned it and where same is used.

The limit device 44, if used, may be adjustably clamped at 46 to the back of the upright 22. It has a point 47 extending upwardly and arranged to enter the openings 23 successively as said turntable rotates stepwise and reciprocates vertically with respect to the upright 2.

A receptacle 4i; constituting a collecting chamber is supported in any convenient manner upon the upper side of the turntable 4 and is arranged to rotate therewith. Said container 48 is provided with means for automatically draining liquid from said receptacle 48 when the amount gathered therein reaches a predetermined level. Convenient means for this pur ose comprise the automatic siphon 49.

The automatic siphon 49, preferably vertically adjustable, is here shown as being of the type used in Soxhlet extractors and since the structure and operation of such a siphon is well known, detailed description thereof is believed unnecessary and will be omitted. However, it should be noted that the siphoning action will begin when the level of the liquid in receptacle caches the height of the central portion of the U-shaped tube 59, in whatever adjusted position it occupies in a given instance, and the contents of the receptacle will then be siphoned through discharge pipe 54.

A plurality of receptacles, of which one is shown at 5i, are provided for receiving the fiuent material from the discharge pipe 54. Other receptacles will be placed at the filling stations, two or" which are indicated at 52 and 53, which are arranged around the base 3 in a circle concentric with the axis of the shaft 6.

Operation It is necessary to determine the level at which the collecting receptacle 48 will commence emptying. The automatic siphon 49 is selected or adjusted so that the central portion of the U-shaped tube 56) will be at such a vertical height that flow of said liquid will automatically start when the liquid has reached said level. The weight 1-5 should be so adjusted that the turntable 4 will commence to move downwardly at some point before the liquid in the receptacle 4-3 reaches the level of the upper end of said automatic siphon 4-9. The screw 42 is adjusted so that the pawl 24 will fit comfortably within successive ones of the recesses 23 when the turntable is in its uppermost position.

With the above-mentioned adjustments made, the apparatus is placed below a suitable supply S of fluent material, here a liquid from any convenient source, such as a chromatographic or distilling column, and such material is permitted to fall into said collecting receptacle The discharge pipe 54 of the automatic Siphon is at this time disposed so that it will discharge into the receptacle 51. When the liquid reaches the predetermined level in the collecting receptacle 43, said level being relatively high to provide enough weight to carry out he action but yet below the upper end of the U-shaped tube 5i) of the siphon 49, the weight of liquid within said receptacle will move said turntable 4 downwardly against the action of the weight 18. In so doing the pawl 24, which is at this moment within one of the recesses of said turntable, will cause said turntable to index through a predetermined arc of rotation. This is illustrated in FTGURE 5 where the broken line representation shows the turntable 4 in its upward position with the pawl 24 engaged in the recess 23a. The solid line representation shows the turntable after it has moved into its downward position and has been indexed by the action of said pawl. This will rotate the receptacle i8 and thereby rotate the discharge conduit 54 to a position over the next filling station, here indicated by the broken circle 52 (FIGURE 4). In this position the receptacle 48 will continue to fill until the level of liquid therein rises high enough to start the automatic siphoning action whereupon the contents of said receptacle will be emptied into the container placed on the station 52. When the weight of liquid within the receptacle 48 diminishes to such a point that it can no longer overpower the force of the counterweight 13, said turntable will again return to its upward position, but this will not effect any rotation of the turntable and the liquid will continue to discharge into the container located on the station 52 until the liquid within the receptacle falls below the entrance of the siphon, whereupon the flow of liquid will stop. With the siphon thus becoming inoperative, continued discharge of liquid into the collecting chamber 48 will again start to fill same and the cycle will repeat.

During the operation just described, the limit device 44 will engage appropriate ones of the recesses 23 for stopping the rotation of the turntable at a precisely determinable point and prevent overrunning by said turntable of the filling station to which it is intended to turn in a given cycle. The turntable in its upper position is, of course,

high enough to clear the tip 47 of the limit device 44 and it will remain clear thereof for a sufficient period of time to enable it to rotate through the desired arc of rotation before it descends suficiently that said tip 4-7 becomes engaged. It will obviously, in view of the foregoing, require a certain amount of careful adjustment to make sure that said tip 47 enters the desired one of the recesses 23 at the proper point in the combined rotating and descending movement of said turntable.

The pawl 31 acts to prevent the turntable from rotating in a reverse direction as a result of the drag applied by the tip 23 of pawl 24 when the turntable rises and said tip moves back from one recess to another, such as from the recess 23a to the recess 23!).

While the source S has been shown herein as a single conduit, it will be recognized that it may comprise multiple conduits all discharging either directly or indirectly into a collecting chamber 48.

Modifications In FIGURE 8 there is shown a resilient device 61 which may be utilized in place of the weight 18 to constantly urge the F-shaped member 14), and thereby the turntable 4, upwardly.

In FIGURE 9 there is shown a further modification wherein the collecting chamber is non-rotatable but moves only vertically and the motion thereof is applied to effect rotation of a table carrying the receptacles. In this embodiment a base 71 supports a frame structure 72 which in turn rotatably supports, by suitable bearings, a vertical shaft 73 upon which is mounted a table 74. Said table is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches as for reasons appearing hereinafter. An upright 77 is also mounted on the base 71 and a pair of parallel upper links 78, "73a are pivotally mounted by a rod 75 intermediate their ends on the upper end of upright 77. A lower link 79 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said upright and extends parallel with said links 78 and 78a. A second upright Ell is pivotally supported on a rod 8% which extends between links 78 and 73a. A platform 82 is mounted on said second upright. The link 79 is also pivotally connected to upright S2 at the lower end thereof. The first and

second uprights

77 and 81 together with the links 78, 78a and 79 form a pantograph similar to that formed in the structure of FIGURE 1 by the parts 2, 1.2, 13 and 14. Means, such as a counterweight 53 which is connected to links 78 and 73a are applied to said pantograph to constantly urge the second upright 81 in an upward direction. An adjustable stop 85 (FIGURE 9) is provided to engage the counterweight 83 and thereby limit upward movement of the platform 32.

A collecting chamber 84, corresponding to the chamber 43 in FIGURE 1, is supported on the platform 82 and said chamber is similarly provided with a siphon 86, said siphon being adjustable if desired. The collecting chamber 34 has a discharge pipe 87 which is positioned over a location occupied by the receptacles R which are arranged around the circumference of the platform 74, as said platform 74 rotates.

A driving pawl 88 is pivotally affixed to the second upright 81 and its lower end is adapted to enter the notches 76 successively. A holding pawl 89 is pivotally afiixed to the first upright 77 and its lower end also is adapted to enter said notches 76. The pointed lower end 99 of the upright $1 is adapted to enter the notches 7s to stop rotation of the table 74-.

The operation of this embodiment is generally similar to that described in connection with FIGURE 1. Commencing with the platform 82 in an upward position, fluent material is added to the chamber 84 until its weight overcomes the force urging said platform upwardly, whereupon said platform descends and acts through the pawl 83 to rotate the table through one increment of rotation. When the end S ll of upright 81 enters a notch 76 rotation of the table is stopped. As soon thereafter as the fluent material reaches the top of the siphon 86 it flows out through said siphon into an appropriate one of the receptacles R placed below the discharge pipe 87. When said chamber is sufiiciently emptied so that the weight 83 again overcomes the weight of the material in said chamber, said chamber returns to its upward position but the pawl 89 prevents backward movement of the table 74. The chamber now completes its discharge through the siphon. Material from the supply S starts refilling the chamber 34 and the cycle repeats.

It will be recognized that correlation of the force urging the platform upwardly with the weight of material in the chamber 84 as same fills will cause the platform 82 to move downwardly and return upwardly at selectable times during the filling and discharging steps as desired according to the requirements of the operation being carried out. For example, using a relatively light counterweight 33 will cause the platform 82 to move downwardly relatively early in the filling of the chamber and same will remain in such position for most of the discharging of said chamber and will be moved upwardly only at the end of the discharging step. On the other hand, using a relatively heavy counterweight 83 will cause downward movement of the platform 82 and consequent rotation of the table 74 only after the chamber is substantially filled and the emptying thereof will start almost immediately thereafter. This will be followed by a return of the platform 82 to its upward position shortly after the emptying process has started.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that variations or modifications of such disclosure, which lie within the scope of the appended claims, are fully contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a collecting and distributing device, the combination comprising:

a base; a table rotatably supported on said base for rotation about a vertical axis;

a platform and means supporting said platform for unitary, linear, vertical movement with respect to said base supporting means being disposed adjacent to one side of said table;

a ratchet and means mechanically connecting said ratchet to said table;

a pawl operable in response to downward vertical movement of said platform for effecting stepwise rotative movement of said ratchet and thereby stepwise rotative movement of said table;

a container mounted on said platform for movement therewith and a discharge for said container operable upon accumulation within said container of a predetermined amount of fluent material for discharging the contents thereof, said discharge discharging successively into a plurality of receptacles held on said table and presented one at a time to a filling station located under said discharge upon stepwise rotation of said table.

2. A collecting and distributing means for fluent materials, comprising in combination:

a turntable adapted for supporting a collecting receptacle;

a base;

means including shaft and bearing means for supporting said turntable for rotation around a vertical axis and means including linkage means connected to said base and said bearing means and supporting said earing means for vertical movement with respect to said base;

means constantly urging said bearing means upwardly in a direction parallel to said axis;

means defining a plurality of recesses arranged peripherally around said turntable and an indexing device supported on said base for engaging at least one of said recesses and effecting rotation of said turntable simultaneously with each downward movement thereof;

whereby a discharge device fixed with respect to said turntable will move through a predetermined arc of rotation about a vertical axis.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein said indexing device is a pawl pivotaily supported intermediate its ends on said base, said pawl having a recess engaging tip at one end and a counterweight at the other end, said tip being receivable into said recesses.

4. The combination defined in claim 2 including a second pawl arranged for vertical movement with said turntable and engaging same to hold same against reverse movement thereof.

5. The combination defined in claim 2 including a locating pawl mounted fixedly with respect to said base for entering into one of said recesses to thereby stop rotation of said turntable at a selectable point.

6. In a collecting and distributing device, the combination comprising:

a turntable and a shaft extending vertically downwardly from said turntable, said shaft and turntable being arranged for rotation about a vertical axis;

an F-shaped member receiving said shaft rotatably through the horizontal arms of said F-shaped memher;

a base and a supporting member extending vertically upwardly from said base;

parallel links pivoted to the vertical stem of said F- shaped member and to said supporting member for forming a parallelogram and holding and guiding said shaft for vertical movement in a direction substantially parallel to the normal vertical position of the axis of said shaft;

a row of recesses on the underside of said turntable and arranged adjacent the periphery thereof;

an indexing pawl pivotally mounted on said supporting member and first constantly acting means urging the tip of said pawl upwardly toward said turntable;

second constantly acting means constantly applying force for urging said F-shaped member upwardly;

whereby said turntable will normally be in its upward position with said indexing pawl being receivable into one of said recesses and whereby a sufficient weight placed on said turntable will force same downwardly against said force and the reaction of said pawl within said recess as said turntable moves downwardly will efifect a rotation of said turntable about said axis through a predetermined arc of rotation.

7. The device defined in claim 6 wherein said second constantly acting means is a weight supported on an extended portion of one of said links.

8. The device defined in claim 6 wherein said indexing pawl is supported intermediate its ends and an end opposite that which is received into said recesses constitutes a weight for providing said first constantly acting means.

9. The device defined in claim 6 wherein a further pawl is mounted on said F-shaped member and acts with respect to said recesses to prevent movement of said turntable in a reverse direction.

10. The device defined in claim 6 including a means rigidly mounted with respect to said supporting member and extending upwardly to entre into one of said recesses for simultaneously terminating both rotative and downward movement of said turntable.

11. Apparatus for effecting relative horizontal movement between a collector and a plurality of receptacles, comprising:

a collector support adapted for holding a collector and mounting means located substantially under said collector support for supporting and guiding said collector support for movement as a single unit in (J an upward and downward direction straight, vertically oriented path; means for constantly urging said collector support upwardly;

means including a ratchet for effecting relative horizontal movement between said collector support and said receptacles;

a pivotally mounted pawl extendable into a recess in said ratchet and actuatable in response to downward movement of said collector support to thereby effect indexing of said ratchet whereby fluent material can be collected in the collector until the weight thereof is sufficient to overcome the force urging said collector support upwardly whereupon said collector support will move downwardly and will effect indexing of said ratchet.

12. Apparatus for effecting rotation of a collecting receptacle, comprising:

a table on which the collecting receptacle can be supported;

support means supporting said table for rotation about a substantially vertical axis;

a frame connected to said support means and supporting same for substantially vertical movement whereby said table can move vertically with said support means;

means for urging said support means upwardly with a predetermined force whereby said table is normally held in its uppermost position but is movable downwardly when a sullicient amount of material is collected in said collecting receptacle;

co-operating mechanical drive means mounted on said table and on said frame and responsive to downward movement of said table for effecting rotation of said table.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said mechanical drive means includes means defining a plurality of recesses on the table and arranged around the rotational axis thereof;

a pawl mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said pawl being engageable with said recesses and being pivotable in response to downward movement of said table to thereby effect rotation thereof.

14-. In a collecting and distributing device, the combination comprising:

an element rotatably supporting said shaft, said element having a vertical portion;

a base and a supporting member extending vertically upwardly from said base;

parallel links pivotally connected to said vertical portion and to said supporting member and defining therewith a parallelogram for holding and guiding said shaft for vertical movement in a direction substantially parallel with the normal vertical position of the axis of said shaft;

a row of recesses on said turntable and arranged in a circle around said vertical axis;

an indexing pawl pivotally mounted on said supporting member and first constantly acting means urging the tip of said pawl upwardly toward said recesses;

second constantly acting means constantly applying force for urging said element upwardly;

whereby said turntable will normally be in its upward position with said indexing pawl entering into one of said recesses and whereby a sumcient weight placed on said turntable will force same downwardly and the reaction of said pawl within said recess as said turntable moves downwardly will effect a rotation of said turntable about said axis through a predetermined arc of rotation.

15. Apparatus for effecting relative horizontal movethrough a ment between a collector and a plurality of receptacles, comprising:

a collector support adapted for holding a collector;

mounting means supporting said collector support for unitary, linear movement upwardly and downwardly, said mounting means including a base having an upright extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of vertically spaced, parallel links pivotally connected to said upright, a downwardly extending member connected to said collector support and extending substantially parallel with said upright, said memher being pivotally connected to said links whereby said upright, said member and said links form a pantographic linkage for supporting said collector support for upward and downward movement;

means for constantly urging said collector support upwardly;

a pivotally mounted pawl extendable into a recess in said ratchet and pivotable in response to downward movement of said collector support to thereby effect indexing of said ratchet whereby fluent material can be collected in the collector until the weight thereof is sufficient to overcome the force urging said col lector support upwardly whereupon said collector support will move downwardly and will effect indexing of said ratchet.

16. Apparatus for effecting rotation of a collecting receptacle, comprising:

a table on which the collecting receptacle can be supported;

means for urging said support means upwardly with a predetermined force whereby said table is normally held in its uppermost position but is movable downwardly when a suflicient amount of material is collected in said collecting receptacle;

cooperating mechanical drive means including first means mechanically connected to said table and second means mounted on said frame and responsive to downward movement of said table for effecting rotation of said table.

17. Apparatus for effecting rotation of .a collecting rec-eotacle, comprising:

a table on which the collecting receptacle can be supported;

a member having a pair of substantially parallel and horizontal arms and also having a vertical leg;

a shaft extending vertically downwardly from said table and being rotatably supported within and by said horizontal arms;

a base including an upwardly extending supporting member;

parallel links pivotally connected to and extending between said vertical leg and said supporting member and forming a parallelogram for holding and guiding said shaft for vertical movement in a direction substantially parallel to the normal vertical position of said shaft;

a ratchet mechanically connected to said table;

an indexing pawl pivotally mounted on said base and first constantly acting means urging the tip of said indexing pawl toward said ratchet;

second constantly acting means constantly applying a force urging said member upwardly whereby said table will normally be in its upward position and will be moved downwardly when a predetermined weight is placed on said table and such downward movement will cause said pawl and ratchet to effect rotation of said table through a predetermined are.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, including a further pawl pivotally mounted on said member and cooperable with said ratchet for preventing rotation of said table in a reverse direction, and a stop paiwl cooperable with said ratchet for preventing rotation of said table when said table is in its downwardmost position.

19. Apparatus for effecting rotation of a collecting receptacle, comprising:

a collector support adapted for holding a collecting receptacle and mounting means supporting said collector support for rotation and for substantially linear movement upwardly and downwardly;

means for constantly urging said collector support upwardly;

a ratchet connected to said collector support;

a pivotally mounted pawl extendable into a recess in said ratchet and pivotable in response to downward movement of said collector support to thereby effect indexing of said ratchet and stepwise rotation of said collector support; and

stop means engageable with said ratchet for preventing further movement thereof after a predetermined rotational movement thereof has taken place in response to each downward movement of said collector support.

20. Apparatus for effecting relative horizontal movement bet-ween a collector and a plurality of receptacles, comprising:

a collector support adapted for holding a collector and mounting means supporting and guiding said collector support for movement as a single unit in an upward and downward direction through a straight, vertically oriented path;

means for constantly urging said collector support upwardly;

means including a ratchet on said collector support for effecting relative horizontal movement between said collector support and said receptacles;

a pivotally mounted pawl on said mounting means extendable into a recess in said ratchet and actuatable in response to downward movement of said collector support to efiect indexing of said ratchet;

whereby fluent material can be collected in the collector until the weight thereof is suflicient to overcome the force urging said collector support upwardly whereupon said collector support will move downwardly and will effect indexing of said ratchet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,146,402 Chambers July 13, 1915 2,251,841 Herold Aug. 5, 1941 2,894,542 Alm July 14, 19 9

Claims

1. IN A COLLECTING AND DISTRIBUTING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: A BASE; A TABLE ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE FOR ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS; A PLATFORM AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID PLATFORM FOR UNITARY, LINEAR, VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE SUPPORTING MEANS BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO ONE SIDE OF SAID TABLE; A RATCHET AND MEANS MECHANICALLY CONNECTING SAID RATCHET TO SAID TABLE; A PAWL OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO DOWNWARD VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATFORM FOR EFFECTING STEPWISE ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID RATCHET AND THEREBY STEPWISE ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID TABLE; A CONTAINER MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND A DISCHARGE FOR SAID CONTAINER OPERABLE UPON ACCUMULATION WITHIN SAID CONTAINER OF A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF FLUENT MATERIAL FOR DISCHARGING THE CONTENTS THEREOF, SAID DISCHARGE DISCHARGING SUCCESSIVELY INTO A PLURALITY OF RECEPTACLES HELD ON SAID TABLE AND PRESENTED ONE AT A TIME TO A FILLING STATION LOCATED UNDER SAID DISCHARGE UPON STEPWISE ROTATION OF SAID TABLE.