US3461923A

US3461923A - Submergible filling head

Info

Publication number: US3461923A
Application number: US590609A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Riesenberg
Original assignee: Consolidated Packaging Machinery Corp
Current assignee: Scott Technologies Inc; Consolidated Packaging Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1966-10-31
Filing date: 1966-10-31
Publication date: 1969-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1986-08-19

Description

J. H. RIESENBERG SUBMERGIBLE FILLING HEAD -Aug. 19.; 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. :51, 1966 INVENTOR. \Lmes 7f. Rzesenzaerg TQRN- Yi g- 1959 J. H. RIESENBERG 3,461,923

SUBMERGIBLE FILLING HEAD Filed Oct. 31, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mamba. L7ames JC Rceserzerg BY QM ATTORNEZS.

| a f q Aug. 19, 1969 J. H. RIESENBERG SUBMERGIBLE FILLING HEAD Filed Oct. 31, 1966 3 2 6 w ,w 5 M W 3 am 5 R G Y t 05 2 My m n N h e R w M k n a IN- 11 4m M. m ii. i: 5 4 :Wvmww m \\\E 1 S Y 7 m M 7 Jm B Aug. 19, 1969 J. H. RIESENBERG SUBMERGIBLE FILLING HEAD 4 Sheets- Sheet A Filed Oct. 51, 1966 zNvz'm'on. ames Ji: fj'z'esenberg ATTGRNE'YS.

United States Patent O 3,461,923 SUBMERGIBLE, FILLING HEAD James H. Riesenberg, Amherst, N .Y., assignor t Con I ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE A container filling machine has. a product dispensing filling head including a first tubular member. A filling stem extends through the first member for telescoping movement therein, and product delivery means communicate 12 Claims with the. filling stem..A second tubular member is mov able with the filling stem within. thefirst memberand a.

first fluid chamber is provided between the firstand second members. A piston is carried by the second member for movement therewith in thefirst chamber, and fluid under pressure is admitted to the first chamber on one side of.

the piston. A third tubular member telescopes within the second member and a sleeve. encircles the filling stem;

a second fluid chamber being defined between the sleeve and the third member. A fourth tubularmember encircling the sleeve and telescoping Within the thirdrnember carries a container engaging centering bell. Fluid under,

pressure is admitted to the second chamber, and the fourth member is movable. into the. second chamber against the fluid pressure therein, with stop means limiting outward movement .of the fourth member relative-to the third.

This invention relates generally to the filling art, and morepar'ticularly to a new and useful submergible filling stem is accomplished by a rising cam, with the stem lowering by gravity as the cam retreats.

However, such arrangements are not entirely satisfac-.

tory because the desired stem lowering action does not" always occur. When the product being dispensed is par ticularly viscous, or when the filling head partsbe'corne worn, the force of gravity cannot be relied upon to pro-" duce the desired action.

Therefore, -a primary object of my invention is to pro vide a submergible filling head incorporating means 'providing a positive stern lowering action under cam control.

Another object of my invention is to provide a submergible filling head wherein the dispensing openings are closed upon retraction of the filling stem, together with means automatically operable in the absence of a con tainer to lower with the stem in a manner precluding the discharge of product from the stem. It is also an object of my invention 'to' provide a submergible filling head which is self-adjusting to 'accom-- v modate variations in container height over a substantial range thereof.

The foregoing and other object s, advantage's and' char acterizing features 'of my invention will become clearly apparent from the' ensuing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, reference being made to the" and filling level accompanying drawings depicting the same wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a View partly in section but primarily in 3,461,923 Patented Aug. 19, 1969 elevation showing a filling machine incorporating the submergible filling head of my invention, some parts being broken away for ease of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a view'thereof partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, being taken about on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a generally diagrammatic view of the drive mechanism thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, showing one of the submergible filling head assemblies of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view thereof on a further enlarged scale, being taken about on line 55' of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view thereof taken about on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, showing the dispensing nozzle in its retracted, closed position;

FIGS. 8-13 are generally schematic views showing successive relative positions of the filling head assembly and a container; and

FIG. 14 is a view like those of FIGS. 8-13 but showing the lowered position of the filling head assembly in the absence of a container.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings, there is shown a filling machine incorporating the submergible filling head assembly of my invention. The machine has a base 1 and a conveyor section 2 which includes a conveying mechanism having a conveying flight 3 and a return flight 4. Empty containers are fed to the machine on flight 3 under control of an infeed worm 5, being held in position thereagainst by a laterally adjustable guide 6. Worm 5 delivers containers in properly spaced sequence to an infeed star wheel 7 which carries them around a guide cam 8 and onto the container supporting trays or platforms 9.

In the illustrated machine there are a total of eighteen trays 9, although either a large or a smaller number could be provided. Trays 9 are mounted on a rotatable cover plate 10 of housing 1 and are vertically reciprocable relative thereto under control of any suitable means such as, for example, pneumatic cylinders 11 urging rollers I12 against a guide cam 12' which regulates the raising and lowering of trays 9 in a manner understood in the art. Trays 9 can be mounted on the upper end of piston rods 13 which are enclosed by flexible boots 14 from trays 9 to cover plate 10.

Trays 9 are annularly arranged about a rotating central column 15 to which plate 10' is secured for'rotating therewith. A machine head assembly 21 is mounted on column 15 for rotation therewith, the head 21' having a sleeve 16 arranged in vertical telescopic relation to column 15. A worm 17 carried by sleeve 16 engages a rack 18 on column 15, wor'rn' 17 having a beveled gear connection 19 to a shaft 20 formed to receive a wrench or other tool, and to be rotated thereby for raising and lowering head 21 relative to cover plate 10.

Individual filling head assemblies 22 are provided, equal in number to the number of container supporting trays 9, being generally vertically aligned therewith. The

containers fed onto trays 9 are filled by the filling head assemblies 22 as'they are carried around the central col- 5 umn 15, and then are discharged by an outfeed star wheel 23 in conjunction with guide cam 8'onto the conveying flight 3.

Central column 15 is rotated by a drive mechanism including a motor 24 having adrive belt connection 25 to a shaft 26 which in turn has a drive belt connection 27 to the input shaft 28 of a speed reducer 29. A gear 30 on the output shaft 31 of speed reducer 29engages a gear 32 connected to column 15, and a drive chain 33 provides a connection between sprockets on shafts 31 and 34 which latter has chain and sprocket connections 35 to the drive shafts 36 of the infeed and outfeed star wheels 7 and 23. A chain and sprocket drive connection 37 is provided from infeed star wheel drive shaft 36 to a power shaft 38 for worm 5. In this way column 15, star wheels 7 and 23 and Worm are driven by motor 24 in properly synchronized relation.

The product with which the containers are to be filled is brought in through base 1 via stationary

product supply line

48 and 41 passing through column and head 21 to a product chamber 42 in a housing 39 on head 21. The product is supplied to the individual filling head assemblies via lateral openings 43 in the side wall of chamber 42 and individual conduits 44, under control of a segmental, stationary, restricting valve 45.

Air under positive pressure is brought in through

stationary conduits

46 and 47 along the centerline of column 15, from above, communicating through lateral passages with

air chambers

48 and 49, respectively, which chambers have constant communication with the individual filling head assemblies through openings in the side walls of the

chambers

48 and 49 and

conduits

50 and 51, respectively. The air supplied to

chambers

48 and 49 can be at different pressures.

The various filling head assemblies 22 are identical in construction and operation, whereby only one thereof will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 46, each filling head assembly comprises a cylindrically tubular housing 52 secured at its lower end to a bracket 53 mounting the filling head assembly 22 on the periphery of an annular, horizontal shelf 54 on machine head 21. A tie rod container member 55 is secured to the upper end of housing 52, and provides a mounting support for paired upper and

lower tie rods

56 and 57. The upper ends of rods 56 are secured in a cross support 58, while the lower ends of rods 57 are secured in bracket 53.

A roller type cam follower 59 is mounted on a tubular plug 60 having bushings 61 guided by rods 56, and having a reduced diameter portion 62 secured in the upper end of an intermediate tubular member 63 concentric with housing 52 and of smaller diameter, thereby providing an annular hold-down chamber 64 closed at its upper end by bracket 55 and at its lower end by a piston 65 carried by tube 63 for movement therewith. Air is supplied under pressure to chamber 64 via conduit 51 to urge piston 65 toward the lower end of that chamber, to the position shown in FIG. 5, thereby causing roller 59 to follow the retreating surface of a cam 66. A vent 92 is provided for chamber 64, below piston 65.

A filling tube 66 extends through a vacuum sleeve 67 to the member 60, to which it is fixed. At its upper end, filling tube 66 communicates with a product chamber 68 which receives the product to be dispensed via conduit 44, elbow 69, a ball-type check valve 70 and a passage 71. The product supply unit includes a housing 72 closed at its upper end by a cap 73 and secured to the end plug unit 60 by means including a nut 74.

Filling tube 66 is journaled intermediate its ends in a guide 75 engaging an internal shoulder 76 on a 'mbular member 77 which latter carries an external bushing 78 for relative telescoping movement within member 63. At its lower end, member 77 is provided with an external shoulder 79 seating against the bottom of bracket 53, thereby defining the upper, raised position of member 77.

Guide member 75 is secured to the upper end of vacuum tube 67, which latter is of stepped form having one or more side wall openings 80 placing the annular chamber between

members

66 and 67 in communication with an annular vacuum chamber 81 surrounding member 67 and communicating with a negative pressure source via conduit 82, chamber 83 and a suction line 84 extending through column 15 to a suction source. The

chamber between

members

66 and 67 is sealed above opening 80.

Vacuum chamber 81 is contained within a tubular housing 85 terminating at its lower end in a centering bell 86 adapted to receive the mouth 87 of a container C in a manner understood in the art. At its upper end, housing 85 carries an internal bushing 88 engaging vacuum tube 67. Housing 85 is reciprocable Within a bushing 89 secured to the lower end of tube 77 by a nut 90, and at its upper end housing 85 carries a nut 91' which engages against the upper end of bushing 89. The upper end '91 of housing 85 forms a piston movable in a cushioning chamber 91 to which air under pressure is supplied via conduit 50.

At its lower end, filling tube 66 terminates in an end plug having downwardly directed discharge passages 93 arranged therearound. When the filling stem or tube 66 is extended, as shown for example in FIGS. 4 and 5, product will be dispensed through passage 93. When filling stem 66 is retracted into vacuum sleeve 67, as will be described, the sleeve seats on an external shoulder 94 around the end plug and effectively closes passages 93. The bottom surface of plug 95 is cleared of product via a vacuum conduit 96 opening through the bottom of plug 95 and through the side wall of filling stem 66, in communication with the vacuum chamber provided between

tubes

66 and 67.

The operation of the submergible filling heads 22 of my invention is as follows, reference being made especially to FIGS. 8l4 and to a single head. The machine is started, with appropriate controls well understood in the art and therefore omitted from this description. Containers C are fed onto successive trays 9 in the manner previously described. Cam 66, carried by the machine, holds the tubular member 63 in its elevated position as shown on the left side of FIG. 1, with filling tube 66 thereby being retracted, to avoid interference with the infeed of containers. As the filling head is rotated by the machine, clockwise in the direction of an arrow in FIG. 2, cam 66' retreats and roller 59 follows the retreating cam, permitting member 63 and filling stem 66 to lower. It is a particular feature of my invention that air under pressure is admitted to chamber 64 at all times during the filling cycle, thereby urging piston 65 to its lowered position, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As a result, member 63 and stem 66 are forced to follow the retreating cam, insuring proper operation of the filling head.

As cam 66 retreats,

members

63 and 66 lower from the position of FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 9. As member 66 lowers, it carries with it vacuum sleeve 67 and guide 75 fixed to the upper end thereof. Lowering of guide 75 permits member 77 and consequently the centering

bell assembly

85, 86 to lower until the centering bell engages the open end of the container mouth 87 The latter enters the centering bell and seats against a sealing gasket 97, thereby arresting further downward movement of ceutering bell 86. The container thus holds centering bell 86 and its tubular extension 85 against further lowering. The fluid pressure in chamber 91 thereupon holds sleeve 67 against further lowering, and product is dispensed as filling stem 66 lowers into the container.

The container supporting tray 9 then is elevated, to the position shown in FIG. 10, moving

bell assembly

85, 86, and guide 75 upwardly until shoulder 79 of member 77 engages bracket 53 and stops upward movement of member 77. This also stops upward motion of vacuum sleeve 67.

Container C continues to move upwardly, taking with it

bell assembly

85, 86 which moves into chamber 91 against the air pressure therein, thereby moving the container seal 97 upwardly relative to the end of vacuum sleeve 67 and determining the ultimate height of fill. This dimension can be varied by adjusting the elevation of tray cam 12', as described in my pending application Ser. No. 507,485, filed Nov. 12, 1965, now Patent 3,386,480,

closely adjacent the bottomof the container, this beingthe position shown in FIG. 10. As this occurs," product is dispensed under control of 'valve 45 and the container begins to fill, while being evacuated of air via suction line Y 82 'and vacuum sleeve 67.

The upward movement of container C after it h'as'engaged centering bell '86 causes it to seat firmly against gasket 97, and it is a particular feature of 'my invention that variations in the height of the container and in the desired full height are accommodated automatically by the air cushion in chamber 91. Looking at FIG. 5, if centering bell 86 'is urged upwardly by a container, such movement is accommodated by the" compressible air cushion in chamber 91, and it will be appreciated-that a substantial range of accommodation is provided between the lower end of chamber 91 as defined by bushing 89 and the upper end thereof as defined by guide 75. Thus, there is no need fora special gasket at 97 -or for a separate spring arrangement. Instead, such self-adjusting action is provided by the compressible aircushion in chamber 91,- which positive pressure normally urges the centering bell to its lowermost position but permits up-- ward movement thereof.

As the container begins to fill with-product, cam 66' begins to raise and follower 59 starts to lift member 63 and filling stem 66. This is shown in FIG. ll'and continues until the container. is completely filled, at which time the filling head will assume thei'position depicted in FIG. 12. At this point, filling stem 66 has-been-re-' tracted into sleeve 67, shutting off product flow as depicted in FIG. 7. Thereafter, tray 9 lowers the filled container which is removed from the filling machine via star wheel Assuming now that for one reason or another a particular supporting tray 9 is empty and there is no container to be filled, it is another particularfeature of my invention that the filling head remains shut off, as follows. The retreating cam 66 will permit members 63 and filling stem 66 to lower from the position of FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 10, as before. However, since there is no container to arrest the downward movement of centering bell 86, sleeve 67 remains seated on shoulder- 94, in the. position shown in FIG. 7, and continues to follow filling stem 66 to its lowered position. This is because such following movement normally is arrested upon engagement of centering bell 86 with the mouth of a container C, the air pressure in chamber 91 thereupon holding sleeve 67 and, through guide 75, member 77 against lowering. In the absence of such engagement, sleeve 67,

guide 75 and member 77 simply follow. the lowering fill- H ing stem, with the air pressure in chamber 91 urging the centering bell housing 85 to its lowermost position in the chamber as depicted in FIG. 5. Thus, all of the relatively movable filling head parts move downwardly, and the product dispensing passages remain closed whereupon no product is dispensed. This occurs automatically. At th&

end of that filling cycle the filling head which previously was inoperative due to the absenceof a container is automatically, operative again if a container is present.

to arrest the downward movement of centering bell 86 and, with it, sleeve 67. p

Accordingly, it is seen that my invention fully accom- I plishes its' intended objectsQThere is provided a submergible filling head of relatively simple construction having a positive cam following action and a yieldable"cent'ering-bellarrangement accommodating a substantial varia tion in container heights. With this, there also is provided an arrangement which automatically renders the filling being" intended to include within the'scope of-the appended claims those variations and modifications which will occur to those'skilled in the art.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, and its mode of operation, what I claim is:

1. In 'a container filling machine, a product dispensing filling head including a first tubular member, a filling stem extending through'said first member for telescoping movement therein, product delivery means communicating with said filling stem, a second tubular member movable with said filling stem within said first member, means defining a first fluid chamber between said first and second members, piston means carried by saidsecond member for movement therewith in said first chamber, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said first chamber on one side of said piston, a third tubular member telescoping within said second member, a sleeve encircling said filling stem, means defining a second fluid chamber between said sleeve and said third member, a fourth tubular member encircling said sleeve and telescoping within said third member, stop means limiting outward movement of said fourth member relative to said third member, means for admitting fluid under pressure to said second chamber, said-fourth member being movable into said second chamber against the fluid pressure therein,

and container engaging means carried by said fourth member.

lowering movement theerwith relative to said second member, said sleeve and said third member lowering with said stem in the absence of a container to be filled and thereby preventing the discharge of product from said discharge spring, said fourth member acting through the fluid pressure in said second chamber to support said sleeve and said third member against lowering with said stem upon engagement by said container engaging means of a container to be filled.

4. A container filling head as set forth in claim 3, wherein said container engaging means comprises a centering bell.

5. A container filling head as set forth in claim 2, together with a cam, a cam follower connected to said second member, and means relatively moving said cam and said follower, the fluid pressure in said first chamber acting on said piston in a direction urging said follower into following engagement with said cam.

6. A container filling head as set forth in claim 3, togetherwith a suction passage communicating with the interior of said sleeve, and means placing the exposed end of said stem 1n suction communication with the interior of said sleeve when said stem is retracted into said sleeve.

,7. In a container filling machine, a product dispensing filling head including a first tubular member, means mounting said first member in an upright position, a fillingstem extending through said first member for telescoping movement therein, a second tubular member within said first member movable with said first member, means defining a fluid chamber between .said first and second members, piston means carried by said second member for movement therewith in said chamber, means for ad mitting fluid under pressure to said chamber on one side of said piston, a sleeve encircling said fillin stem, means including a cam follower connected to said stem for retractingthe same into said sleeve against the fluid pressure in said chamber, said stem having a product discharge opening closed by said sleeve upon retraction of said stem into said sleeve, the fluid pressure in said chamher urging said piston in a direction lowering said stem relative to said sleeve, said sleeve being mounted for lowering movement with said stem thereby to maintain said product discharge opening closed in the absence of a container to be filled, and means including container engaging means mounted for lowering movement with said stem and said sleeve for supporting said sleeve against lowering with said stem upon engaging a container to be filled.

8. In a container filling machine, a product dispensing filling head mounted in an upright position and including a vertically reciprocable filling stem, a sleeve encircling said stem, means for retracting said stem into said sleeve, said stem having a product discharge opening closed by said sleeve upon retraction of said stem into said sleeve, said stem being mounted for lowering movement relative to said sleeve to dispense product into a container present for filling, said sleeve being mounted for lowering movement with said stern in the absence of a container to be filled and thereby maintain said discharge opening closed, and means including container engaging means mounted for lowering movement with said stem for supporting said sleeve against lowering with said stem upon engagement with a container to be filled.

9. In a container filling machine, a container supporting member, a filling head including a cushioning chamber, a product dispensing passage, a positioning bell, and means mounting said bell for engaging a supported container and positioning it relative to said passage, means for relatively moving said supporting member and said positioning bell toward each other, and means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cushioning chamber,

said bell mounting means being movable in said cushioning chamber against the fiuid pressure therein.

10. A container filling machine as set forth in claim 9, said positioning bell including means for sealing a supported container, together with a suction passage having an inlet communicating with a supported container in sealing engagement with said positioning bell, said sealing means being movable with said bell mounting means relative to said suction inlet thereby to vary the height of fill in a supported container.

11. A container filling machine as set forth in claim 7, said sleeve supporting means including a cushioning chamber accommodating movement of said container engaging means relative to said sleeve, together with means for admitting fluid under pressure to said cushioning chamber.

12. A container filling machine as set forth in claim 8, said sleeve supporting means also including a cushioning chamber, together with means for admitting fluid under pressure to said chamber.

References Qited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,056,436 10/1962 Fechheimer et al. l4159 HOUSTON S. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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