US733682A - Measuring and filling machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTBD JULY 14, 1903.

v T. SMITH. MEASURING AND FILLING MACHINE.

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NiTE STATES Patented July l4,

ATENT OFF-Ion,

MEASURING AND FILLING MACHINE.

srncrFrcA'rIorr forming part of Letters FatentNo. 733,682, dated. July 14, 1903. Application filed October 2 5, 1901. Serial No. 79,991, (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SMITH,0I'Ohardist, residing at Geebung, Queensland, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measuring and Filling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to machines for filling alimentary and certain other goods in predetermined quantities into tins, jars, bottles, or the like, and is especially applicable for filling tins with jam, preserved fruit, ground spice, and other articles that flow or run freely, the object of my invention being the production of a simple and efficient machine that will quickly fill a number of tins or other receptacles at once with a like quantity in each. In a modified form thisinvention can also be used for sowing seeds or distributing fertilizer.

My invention as designed for jam and such like consists of a hopper (to hold in bulk the material to be filled into smaller vessels) the bottom of which has semicircular grooves or flutes. Concentric with these grooves and fitting neatly against them are rollers carried on gudgeons and rotatable in bushings in the ends of the hopper. At one end the gudgeons extend through the end of the hopper and are connected so that all the rollers rotate together. A modification may be made by making the bottom with horizontal recesses or in the form of horizontal tubes jointed together and having transverse holes therein above and below and inserting the rollers in- In each form the rollers have a number of pockets made, preferably, cylindrical and at right angles to the axis of the roller designed to contain a predetermined quantity. Under these rollers and coinciding with each pocket supported by and extending through a shelf below the bottom of the hopper are a number of funnels or chutes, each terminating with an inverted bonnet hung slightly out of center. Room is provided under the chutes and bonnets for trays containing the time or vessels to be passed for filling. The number of rollers or the number of pockets in the rollers can be varied to suit the requirementsof the trade and the goods being packed. Packing is provided between the rollers and also between the rollers and the hopper. The pockets in the rollers can be made with adjustable bottoms, so that the quantity measured by each can be varied or adjusted accurately.

In order, however, that my invention may be clearly understood, I will now describe both it and the modifications in detail, illustrating the description by means of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of one form of filling-machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of same, one tray being removed and part of the rollers being broken off. Fig. 3 is a part longitudinal sectional elevation of same. Fig. 4 is a part view showing a modification of the bottom of the hopper with rollers. Fig. 5 is a part view showing another modification of the bottom of hopper with rollers. Fig. 6 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of a pocket or measure in the roller, showing one way of varying the capacity of the measure.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 6, A is the hopper, having semicircular grooves or fiutes B in the bottom. Fitting neatly in and concentric with these flutes or grooves B are rollers 0, carried by gudgeons D at each end, running in bushings E in the ends of the hopper A. Atone end the gudgeons D extend through the end of the hopper and are connected by connecting-rods F or otherwise, so that all the rollers can be rotated together. G is the operating-handle. Packing H is provided' between the rollers O and also between the rollers O and the hopper A.

In Fig. e the rollers G revolve in recesses formed by inverted grooves or flutes formed in the bottom B of the hopper A, and covers B are attached thereto, by set-screws or otherwlse'.

In Fig. 5 the rollers O revolve in the tubes B jointed together and forming the bottom of the hopper A. Packing is provided where necessary.

In each of the rollers O are a number of pockets or measures J, made, preferably, cylindrical and to a certain predetermined size. Various means may be used for varying the capacity of the measure as desired, one

method being shown in Fig. 6, where the measure is provided with an adjustable bottom J, raised or lowered bya screw J tapped therein.

In each of the grooves or flutes B or recesses B B or tubes B of the bottom of the hopper A and coinciding with the pockets J in the rollers are holes K, and immediately under these holes K are funnels or chutes L, carried on a shelf M, each funnel or chute L terminating with an inverted bonnet N, hung slightly out of center, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A removable tray may be inserted beneath the bottom of the funnels or chutes L instead of a bonnet N on each chute, if preferred.

Underneath the shelf M is a table or shelf P to receive the trays Q, containing the tins R. to be filled. S is a stop at the end of the table or shelf P to insure the trays Q being properly placed for filling the vessels.

I will now describe the working of this form of machine in reference to dealing with jam. The emptyjam-tins R are assembled in trays Q, and either one tray at a time is placed in position or more trays may be placed on the table, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The batch of jam is poured into the hopper, the jam running freely into and filling all the pockets or measures J. The handle Gis then given a half-turn, thus turning the rollers a halfrevolution and so discharging the contents of each pocket J through the holes K into and through the funnels'and chutes L onto the bonnets N, which at once swing out of the way and let the jam fall. When the bulk of the material has passed down the chutes, the bonnets N swing into their normal position and any few drops left in the chutes are caught thereby. If preferred, the trays may be inserted to catch the drops instead of the bonnets N. Should the tables used be as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when one lot of tins R has been filled the tray Q next the stop S is removed, and the other trays are pushed along until the full tray is up against the stop S and another tray of empty tins put on the table at the other side. This operation is repeated as each tray is filled.

It will of course be understood thatin both machines the details may be modified in various ways. For instance, the recesses and tubes in the bottom of the hopper and rollers may be made slightly taper to facilitate keeping them tight. The size and numbers of pockets or measures can be varied to suit the requirements of the factory or the goods being packed. Smaller measures may beinserted in the larger pockets, being held therein by means of a spring. Various sized pockets or measures may be arranged lengthwise in the rollers, the rollers being slid along as desired to measure off different quantities. In the first form described the rollers may be connected and rotated by any suitable means other than those described.

Wood or metal, as desired, may be used in the construction of the machines.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is A machine for measuring and filling vessels with a predetermined quantity of any suitable substance, consisting of a hopper having recesses formed in the bottom of it, a corresponding number of cylinders revoluble in bearings or journals placed concentric with said recesses, said cylinders being connected so as to rotate together, and havinga number of pockets at right angles to the axis of the cylinder, holes or outlets in the bottom of the recesses coinciding with the pockets or measures in the cylinders, funnels or chutes, carried in a shelf below the bottom of the hopper, and coinciding with the holes therein, means for catching and retaining any drips, a shelf beneath the funnels to carry the tray of tins or any other vessels to be filled, as herein described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS SMITH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. BERNAY, ALEXANDER ANDERSON.

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