US3550648A

US3550648A - Method and apparatus for filling multiple cavity containers with measured charges of liquid

Info

Publication number: US3550648A
Application number: US679114A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph M Tabor; Alfonso M Donofrio
Original assignee: Craft Master Corp
Current assignee: Craft Master Corp; Kenner Parker Toys Inc
Priority date: 1967-10-30
Filing date: 1967-10-30
Publication date: 1970-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-29

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Joseph M. Tabor;

Alfonso M. Donofrio, Toledo. Ohio [21] Appl. No. 679,114 [22] Filed Oct. 30, 1967 [45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee Craft Master Corporation Toledo, Ohio a corporation of Delaware [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING MULTIPLE CAVITY CONTAINERS WITH MEASURED CHARGES OF LIQUID 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl. 141/1, 103/157, 141/99, 141/167, 141/191, 141/242 [51] Int. Cl B65b 3/32 [50] Field ofSearch 103/157; 14l/1,9,99,100,103,104,167,178,179, l83-186,188,191, 234, 236-238, 242, 243; 222/362, 409

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,435 9/1910 Dourte 103/157 1,739,252 12/1929 Mojonnier et al. 141/183X 1,993,367 3/1935 Geyer 141/183X 2,702,510 2/1955 Dourte 103/157 Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner- Edward I. Earls Attorney-Owen and Owen ABSTRACT: Apparatus for filling measured charges of liquid into the open tops of spaced pockets in multipocketed containers, in which the pockets are arranged in longitudinally extending and transversely spaced rows. The containers are fed along a conveyor beneath one or more pump mechanisms, each mechanism having a transverse bank of nozzles. The individual nozzles are each aligned with one of the longitudinal rows of pockets in the containers. A drive mechanism moves the conveyor intermittently a unit distance that is equal to a whole number multiple of the longitudinal center-to-center distance between pockets in the longitudinal rows. During each pause of the conveyor another mechanism actuates one or more of the pump mechanisms to discharge a measured quantity of liquid therefrom into each of the group or groups of pockets then positioned beneath the banks of nozzles. Each pump mechanism has a liquid supply tank for each nozzle in its bank of nozzles. The tanks of adjacent nozzles may be filled with the same or different liquids and the tanks of longitudinally aligned nozzles in the two banks of nozzles may be filled with the same or different liquids.

PATENTED 05029 n SWEET l UF 4 INVENTORS: TAB an R J0 SEPH M.

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PATENTEUBEMBIQYU 3550.648

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BY A'Lrmvsa Ml] orma.

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The method and apparatus of the instant invention is particularly designed for the rapid filling of open topped containers presented to the apparatus in the form of multiple pocket container blanks from which the individual pockets may be severed after being covered, and wherein each pocket then forms an individual separate container.

A machine for filling containers of this general type is disclosed in Alfonso M. Donofrio US. Pat. No. 2,932,330, and the apparatus embodying the instant invention is designed for the purpose of filling the same type of containers as are shown in that patent.

In the embodiment of the invention described herein, the mechanism is designed for filling multipocket container units which are initially formed by molding a sheet of plastic material to provide, say, 36 individual pockets arranged in a reticulated six by six pattern, with fixed center-to-center distances between the pockets in the longitudinal rows thereof, and with the endpocket in each longitudinal row in a single container unit being spaced one-half of the fixed center-to-center distance from the edge of the container unit. Thus, when two or more of the multipocket container units are aligned in edge-to-edge relationship, a standard unit of distance longitudinally center-to-center of the pockets is provided within each multipocket container unit and between successive multipocket container units.

While the following specification describes an apparatus as used for the filling of individual measured charges of paint into each of the pockets in such a container unit, it will be appreciated, of course, that other liquids or semiliquid or liquidlike material, such as pastes and powders, could readily be filled on apparatus embodying the invention, the materials being, for example, small quantities of food stuffs, cosmetics, drugs, or other liquids such as spot removers, lighter fluid, and the like.

It is the principal object of the instant invention to provide. an apparatus which will rapidly and uniformly move multipocket container units of the type described through the machine in intermittent steps with the unit of distance of movement being a whole number multiple of the longitudinal center-to-center distance between adjacent pockets.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide an apparatus having at least two alternately usable drive mechanisms whereby, when desired, a single pump mechanism can be employed for depositing or filling measured charges of the material into successive transversely extending groups of the container pockets, or the pump mechanism may be employed for filling alternating groups together, with a second pump mechanism which fills the intervening groups of pockets.

It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide an apparatus for filling open topped multipocket container units of the type described wherein the individual pockets in a transversely extending group may be filled with the same or different liquids, for example, paintsof different colors, and the individual pockets of alternate groups may be filled with still different liquids or with the same liquids, depending upon the desires of the operator. The liquids, for example, colors of paint, are placed in the supply'tanks for the various filling nozzles ofthe pump mechanism.

These and other more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the specification which follows and from the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially schematic plan view ofan apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified side view in elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, plan view of a portion of the conveyor drive mechanism with parts broken away and shown on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken frornthe position indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, plan view of one of the pumps by which the material is discharged into the open topped pockets in the multiple pocket container units and shown on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to a portion of FIG. 7, and illustrating parts of the pump mechanism in a position different from that shown inFIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An apparatus embodying the invention has a conveyor 10 which comprises a pair of parallel chains 11 and 12 that are engaged with pairs of driving

sprockets

13 and 14. The pairs of

sprockets

13 and 14 are mounted on and rotatable with conveyor shafts l5 and 16 which are journaled at opposite ends of a horizontal conveyor frame generally indicated by the reference number 17 and comprising heavy parallel side channels l8 erected on end supports 19.

The conveyor 10 also has a plurality of evenly spaced crossbars 20 (see also FIG. 3) extending between the side chains 11 and 12 and spaced longitudinally from each other a distance such that three of the crossbars 20 support each one of individual multipocket container units 21. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the crossbars 20 extend across beneath one of the container units 21 between the first and second, third and fourth, and fifth and sixth transverse rows or groups 22 of pockets 23, in the container units 21.

An operator standing near the on feeding end of the conveyor 10 (at the right in FIG. 1) places each successive container unit 21 on the conveyor 10 with its leading edge closely adjacent the trailing edge of it next preceding container unit 21; and, from FIG. 3, It can be seen that the center-to-center distance between successive'pockets 23 in longitudinal alignment in an individual container unit 21 is the same as the center-to-center distance between the last (sixth) and first pocket 23 of successive container units 21, when placed on the conveyor 10 in edge-to-edge adjacency. In further discussions, a whole number multiple of the center-to-center distance between successive pockets 23 longitudinally of the conveyor 10 will be referred to as the unit distance as indicated in FIG. 3.

The conveyor 10 and thus the successive container units 21 are moved lineally by either of two alternately operable drive mechanisms generally indicated by the reference numbers 24 and 25 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and shown in some detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Both of the drive mechanisms 24 and 25 are powered from a motor driven variable speed mechanism 26 which has an output sprocket 27 engaged by a main drive chain 28. The drive chain 28 is also engaged with a sprocket 29 (FIG. 3) that is pinned on a horizontal jack shaft 30. The jack shaft 30 is journaled on side bars 31 of a drive mechanism frame generally indicated by the reference number 32. A Geneva actuator 33 is pinned on the end of the shaft 30 and is engageable in the slots of an 8-position Geneva gear 34. The Geneva gear 34 in turn is pinned on one end of a shaft 35, also journaled on the side bars 31. The shaft 35 comprises a clutch 36 to transmit rotation from the Geneva gear 34 to a chain sprocket 37 at the inboard end of the shaft 35. The sprocket 37 is engaged with a conveyor drive chain 38, the chain 38 also being engaged with a conveyor drive sprocket 39 (FIGS. I and 2) pinned or otherwise secured to the conveyor shaft 16. When the clutch 36 is engaged (as shown in FIG. 3), power from the variable speed mechanism 26 is transmitted through the jack shaft 30 and Geneva actuator 33 to rotate the Geneva gear 34 one-eighth of its revolution (45) for each complete revolution of the jack shaft 30. The angular 45 movement of the Geneva gear 34, through the conveyor drive belt 38 and the conveyor drive sprocket 39, produces lineal movement of the conveyor and of the container units 21 a unit distance.

A transmission sprocket 40 (FIG. 3) is also pinned on the jack shaft 30 and, through the medium of the transmission chain 41, rotates a second clutch shaft 42 for the drive mechanism 25. Similar to the clutch shaft 35, the clutch shaft 42 has a Geneva actuator 43 pinned on its end and the actuator 43 is in line to engage in the four slots of a Geneva gear 44 of the second drive mechanism 25. The Geneva gear 44 is pinned on the end of a second jack shaft 45 which also carries a sprocket 46 engaged with a second transmission chain 47. The transmission chain 47 is also engaged with a driven sprocket 48 on a third clutch shaft 49. The clutch shaft 49 is an axial extension of the conveyor drive shaft 16, located operatively outboard from the conveyor drive sprocket 39. Through the medium of a clutch 50, power may be applied to the conveyor drive shaft 16 from the second Geneva gear 44 ofthe second drive mechanism 25.

When the second drive mechanism is engaged to drive the conveyor 10 and thus to move the container units 21,

because its actuator 43 rotates at the same speed as the actuator 33 of the first drive mechanism 24, and because its Geneva gear 44 has only four slots (spaced at 90), each rotation of the actuator 43 produces lineal movement twice as great as that produced by an individual rotation of the Geneva actuator 33.

By alternately engaging the clutches 36 or 50, power may be applied to the conveyor 10 to move the container units 21 either a single unit distance" for each actuation of the Geneva gear 34 or twice the unit distance" for each actuation of the Geneva gear 44. A clutch actuator rod 51 is mounted for longitudinal .sliding movement in suitable brackets (not shown) extending along the mechanism frame 32,.and coupled by bell cranks'52 and 53, respectively, to the clutches 36 and 50. In FIG. 1 it will be observed that the driving and driven faces of the two clutches 36 and 50 are set on opposite sides so that movement of the rod 51 in one direction or the other simultaneously opens the clutch 36 and closes the clutch'50, or opens the clutch 50 and closes the clutch 36. It is thus impossible to have both of the drive mechanisms 24 and 25 simultaneously engaged for driving the conveyor 10.

When the drive mechanism 24 is driving the conveyor 10 with the power transmitted from the actuator 33 to the Geneva gear 34 and thence through the clutch 36 to the conveyor drive chain 38 and the conveyor shaft 16, the transmission chain 41 is also rotating the Geneva actuator 43 and it is in turn actuating the Geneva gear 44 to rotate the clutch shaft 49. However, because the clutch 50 of the second drive mechanism 25 is open at this time, the actuator 43 and Geneva gear 44 merely rotate as idlers and single unit distance" movement of the conveyor 10 results. Conversely, when the clutch 36 is open and the clutch 50 is closed, power from the jack shaft is transmitted through the transmission chain 41 to the clutch shaft 42 and the actuator 43 and thence through the Geneva gear 44 and the transmission chain 47 to the clutch shaft 49. Because the clutch 50 is closed at this point, this produces double unit distance" movement of the conveyor 10. Because the clutch 36 is open at this point, even though the actuator 33 rotates with the shaft 30, actuating the Geneva gear 34, now power is applied to the-sprocket 37 and conveyor drive chain 38, and the actuator 33 and Geneva gear 34 rotate as idlers.

By suitable adaptations the drive mechanisms 24 and 25 can be designed to move the conveyor 10 and thus the containers 21 any predetermined unit distance or multiple thereof.

A first pump, generally indicated by the reference number 54 and shown in detail in FIGS. 5-8. inclusive, has an input shaft 55 which is driven from the jack shaft 30 by a pump drive chain 56 that is engaged with a sprocket 57 on the inboard end of the jack shaft 30 and with a sprocket 58 pinned on the end of the pump input drive shaft 55. Because the pump input drive shaft 55 is driven off the jack shaft 30. this shaft 55 of the pump rotates constantly whenever the motor driven speed change mechanism 26 is operating.

The pump 54 and its actuating mechanism is mounted on a bridge plate 59 supported by spacer blocks 60 on the side channels 18 of the main frame 17 and extending across above the conveyor 10. In the embodiment of the invention shown, the pump 54 comprises a main manifold block 61 having six horizontal bores 62 therein, which extend horizontally parallel to each other and longitudinally of the conveyor 10. The rear ends of the bores 62 are closed by an end plate 63 (FIG. 6). Each of the bores 62 serves as a cylinder for a pump plunger 64. Each of the bores 62'has an inlet orifice 65 (FIG. 6) in which is secured a threaded nipple 66 to which is coupled one of a group of six feed lines 67, a, b, c, d, e, orf. The feed lines 67 a, b, c, d, e and f, respectively, are connected to liquid supply tanks 68 a, b, c, d, e, f, (FIG. 1) that are supported above the conveyor 10 and the pump 54 by suitable framework not shown. The inlet orifices 65 of the six bores 62 are aligned transversely of the conveyor 10 but their center lines are all spaced slightly at one side of vertical planes through the center lines of the pump plungers 64, as can best be seen by reference to FIG. 7. Each of the bores 62 also has an outlet orifice 69 vertically coaxial with the respective inlet orifice 65 and to which there is coupled a downwardly extending tubular nozzle 70. In this embodiment, the nozzles 70 are with its

Geneva gear

34 or 44.

Inlet and

outlet valve grooves

71 and 72, respectively, are milled in the periphery or each of the plungers 64, the

grooves

71 and 72 extending axially and'being diametrically opposed from each other relative to the axial center line of the respective plunger 64. By rocking the bank of plungers 64 on their longitudinal axes, the inlet grooves 71 and outlet grooves 72 are alternately placed in communication with the respective inlet orifices 65 and outlet orifices 69 as can best be seen by comparing FIGS. 7 and 8.

The manifold block 61 is supported above the bridge plate 59 on spacer blocks 73 and connected thereto by machine screws 74 extending through the block 61, the spacers 73 and threaded into the bridge plate 59. The manifold block 61 is so positioned by the spacers 73 that the nozzles overhang the end of the bridge plate 59, as can best be seen in FIG. 6.

The pump input shaft 55 extends transversely across the bridge plate 59 and is journaled by a pair-of pillow blocks 75 which are mounted on the plate 59, one on each side. The shaft 55 carries a pair of

actuating cams

76 and 77 which are pinned to the shaft 55 and which rotate with the shaft 55. The cam 76 is captive between a pair of rollers 78 that are carried by a reciprocating yoke 79 which has a horizontal slot 80 embracing the input shaft 55 and being guided thereby during its generally horizontal reciprocations as the result of the rotation of the cam 76. The free end of the yoke 79 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a stroke adjusting rocker 81 which is pivotally attached at its lower end by a clevis 82 which is in turn bolted to the edge of the bridge plate 59.

The rocker 81 has a vertical slot 83 within which is slideably mounted a pivot block 84. The position of the block 84 in the slot 83 is adjusted by two opposed screws 85 which are threaded through the ends of the rocker 81 and engage the block 84.

An arm 86 is pivotally attached to the block 84 at one end and at its other end is pivotally connected by an upright to a clevis 87 to a reciprocating. slide 88. The slide 88 is confined within ways 89 which are screwed onto the bridge plate 59. The end of the slide 88 opposite the rocker 81 carries a transverse channel 90 which engages the bottom circular edges of plunger rockers 91 one of which is secured on the ends of or integral with and extends radially of each of the pump plungers 64. Rotation of the pump input shaft 55 rotates the cam 76, reciprocating the yoke 79, and rocking the rocker 81 to reciprocate the slide 88. The extent of lineal movement or throw of the slide 88 can be adjusted by moving the block 84 in the rocker 81. Because the channel 90 on the slide 88 engages the'plunger rockers 91, the rotation of the shaft 55 produces controlled reciprocating movement of the plungers 64.. I

The actuating cam 77 is captive between a pair of rollers 92 which are mounted on a pedestal .93 carried by a horizontally reciprocating cam plate 94 lying on the upper surface of the bridge plate 59 and guided by way blocks 95 attached to the bridge plate 59. The reciprocating cam plate 94 has anoblique slot 96 that engages a pin 97 carried by a cross slide 98. The cross slide 98 is mounted for reciprocation in a pair of guide blocks 99 mounted on the bridge plate 59. Reciprocation of the plate 94 is translated by the slot 96 and pin 97 to the cross slide 98. Each of the plunger rockers 91 has an axial pin 100 which is engaged in a vertical slot 101 milled in the cross slide 98. Transverse movement of the cross slide 98 moves the pins 100 and oscillates the rockers 91 to rotate the plungers 64 between an intake position (FIG. 7) and a discharge position (FIG. 8);

Rotation of the shaft 55 sequentially rocks the plungers 64 to the intake position (FIG. 7); moves the plungers 64 to the left (FIG. 6) to draw paint into the cylinder bores 62; rotates the plungers 64 to the discharge position (FIG. 8); and moves the plungers to the right (FIG. 6) to cause expulsion of the paint through the nozzles 70.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a second pump, generally indicated by the reference number 102 (FIGS. 1 and 2), is mounted on the side channels 18 at a location spaced from the first pump 54. In detail the pump 102 is identical with the pump 54 and, like the pump 54 has a bank of nozzles 103. The pump 102 has a cam drive shaft 104 which has a drive sprocket 105 on its end that is engaged with a-drive chain 106. The chain 106 also is engaged with a sprocket 107 pinned on an output shaft 108 of a clutch 109. The clutch 109 is driven by the clutch shaft 42 and actuated by a'bell crank 110 coupled to the clutch rod 51 in parallel with the clutch 50.

The nozzles 103 of the second pump 102 are spaced from the nozzles 70 of the first pump 54 a distance equal to a number of double "unit distances plus one unit distance. Thus, when the clutches 50 and 109 are engaged and the conveyor is driven double unit distances" by the four slot Geneva drive mechanism 25, the first pump 54 deposits measured charges of liquid into each alternate transversely extending group or row 22 of pockets 23, and the second pump 102 deposits charges in the intervening group or row 22 of pockets 23 in the container units 21.

The method of this invention involves depositing measured charges of liquid, preferably paint, into the open tops of spaced pockets 23 in multipoc ket container units 21, in which the pockets 23 are arranged in longitudinally extending and transversely spaced rows. The method comprises, in its broadest aspect, positioning a plurality of multipocket container units 21 in an end-to-en'cl relationship, intermittently moving the container units 21 along a predetermined path a distance equal to a whole number multiple of the longitudinal center-to-centerdistance between successive pockets 23 in a longitudinal row of pockets, during each pause of the container units 21 depositing a measured quantity of liquid into one transverse group of the container pockets 23, simultaneously depositing a measured quantity of liquid into another transverse group (or row) of pockets 23 spaced from the first group a predetermined whole number multiple of the unit distance, and intermittently advancing the containers 21 along such predetermined path until all of the container pockets 23 are filled.

In a preferred embodiment the method is carried out with the apparatus of the invention. The preferred embodiment of the'method comprises positioning a plurality of multipocket container units 21 having uniformly spaced pockets 23 arranged in longitudinally extending and transversely spaced rows, in an end-to-end relationship on a conveyor 10. The conveyor 10 and thus the container units 21 are intermittently moved along a distance equal to a whole number multiple of the longitudinal center-to-center distance between successive pockets 23 in a longitudinal row of pockets. This distance, as hereinbefore stated, is a "unit distance." The movement of the conveyor 10 is indexed so that when at rest, one transversely extending group or row of pockets 23 lies underneath a correspondingly spaced and arranged bank of nozzles 70, and another transversely extending group or row of pockets 23 spaced from the first row a distance equal to a whole number multiple of the unit distance lies underneath another bank of nozzles 70. Each pump 54 or 102 is then activated and paint from each bank of nozzles is deposited into the respective transversely extending group ro row of pockets 23 lying beneath the banks. Preferably each nozzle 70 deposits a different color paint. The banks of nozzles 70 are so positioned that they deposit into alternate transverse rows of pockets 23.

After the paint is deposited the containers are advanced intermittently until all of the desired container pockets are filled.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for depositing measured charges of liquid into the open tops of spaced pockets in rnultipocketed containers, in which the pockets are arranged in transversely spaced, longitudinally extending rows, said apparatus comprising a conveyor for carrying said containers, a drive mechanism for moving said conveyor intermittently a unit distance that is equal toa whole number multiple, comprising two or above, of the longitudinal center-to-center distance between successive pockets in a longitudinal row of pockets, a plurality of pump mechanisms mounted above and along said conveyor, each of said pump mechanisms having a transversely extending bank of nozzles, each nozzle in said bank of nozzles being aligned with a respective longitudinal row of pockets in said containers, each transverse bank of nozzles being spaced from the next bank of nozzles a distance equal to a whole number multiple, comprising two or above, of such longitudinal center-to-center distance between successive pockets in a longitudinal row ofpockets, means for actuating each of said pump mechanisms to discharge liquid into its associated bank of nozzles during each pause of the conveyor to deposit a measured quantity of liquid sufficient to completely fill a single pocket into the respective ones of the group of pockets positioned beneath said bank of nozzles, each of said pump mechanisms being effective during each pause of said conveyor to completely fill in a single charge the pockets positioned beneath the respective bank of nozzles, and at least two separate liquid supply tanks in communication with each bank of said nozzles, whereby the tanks in communication with selected nozzles in each bank of nozzles and tanks in communication with longitudinally aligned nozzles in successive banks of nozzles may be filled with the different liquids.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the nozzles in a bank of nozzles lie in a transversely extending row and the pockets in the containers are similarly arranged in transversely extending rows.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the row of nozzles extends perpendicularly across the conveyor and the pockets in the container are in a uniformly spaced center-tocenter reticulated pattern. 7

4. An apparatus according to claim '1 in which each of said pump mechanisms comprises a separate pump cylinder and piston for each of the nozzles, a supply tank for each cylinder,

valve means carried by each of said pistons for placing the associated one of said cylinders alternately in communication with the respective nozzle and the respective tank, a yoke for simultaneously reciprocating said pistons in said cylinders, means for simultaneously actuating all of said valve means, and in which the pump actuating mechanism is coupled to the conveyor mechanism for actuating said pump between movements of the conveyor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the pump actuating mechanism includes a driven shaft, a cam mounted on said driven shaft, linkage means operatively connected to said cam and to the piston yoke cylinder, and means for adjusting said linkage means for varying the length of the piston stroke.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said pistons has generally opposed, axially extending, inlet and outlet grooves in its periphery, a liquid intake port in the wall of each of said cylinders, a liquid nozzle discharge port in the wall of each of said cylinders spaced circumferentially from the respective inlet port, and means for rocking said pistons between a position wherein said intake port communicates with said inlet groove and a position wherein said nozzle discharge port communicates with said outlet groove.

7. A method of depositing uniform measured charges of liquid into the open tops of spaced pockets in multipocket containers, in which the pockets are arranged in longitudinally extending and transversely spaced rows, said method comprising positioning a plurality of the multipocket containers in an end-to-end relationship, intermittently moving the containers along a predetermined path a unit distance that is equal to a whole number multiple, comprising two or above, of the iongitudinal center-to-center distance between successive pockets in a longitudinal row of pockets, during each pause of the containers depositing a measured quantity of liquid, sufficient to fill a single container pocket; into respective single ones of a first generally transversely extending row of container pockets, simultaneously depositing a measured quantity, sufficient to fill a single container pocket, of a different liquid into respective other single ones of the first row of container pockets, simultaneously depositing a measured quantity of liquid, sufficient to fill a single container pocket, into respective single ones of a second generally transversely extending row of pockets that is spaced from such first row a distance that is equal to a whole number multiple, comprising two or above, of the longitudinal center-to-center distance between successive pockets in a longitudinal row of pockets, and simultaneously depositing a measured quantity, sufficient to fill a single container pocket, of a different liquid into respective other single ones of the second row of container pockets.