US904643A

US904643A - Packaging-machine.

Info

Publication number: US904643A
Application number: US33752406A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph B Polk
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1906-10-05
Filing date: 1906-10-05
Publication date: 1908-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1925-11-24

Description

R. B. POLK. PACKAGING MACHINE.

` APPLIOATION FILED 0012.5, 190e. y 904,643.

Patented N0v.24, 1908. 4 BHEETS-SHEET l.

lltllwh Witwe/.wao y a R. B. POLK.

PACKAGING MACHINE.

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R. B. POLK.

PAGKAGING MACHINE.

i APPLICATION FILED O(]'1.5I 1906. Nov- 24,

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R. B. POLK. PACKAGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00T.5, 1906.

\ Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

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Ra z/aaPo zic RALPH POLK, OF GREENWOOD, INDIANA.

PACKAGING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. l

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Application filed October 5, 1906. Serial No. 337,524.

'to produce a machine capable of inserting compressible goods into packages through openings smaller than the normal dimensions of the material to be packaged, the apparatus being more especially designed for packaging-tomatoes under such conditions that the tomatoes may be inserted whole into standard cans. j

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention, embodying a machine partielllarly designed for packaging tomatoes.

Figure 1 is a sideelevation; Fig. 2, al

vertical section; Fig. 3, an elevation, on air enlarged scale, of the compression cylinder; Fig. Ll, a section on line Llf-Lt in Fig. 3, with the compressors in expanded position; Fig. 5, a similar view showing the compressors in closed position; Fig. 6, a` vertical sectional detail .showing the cams for operating the feeder and the charger; Fig. 7, a vertical sectional detail showing the cams for operating the can-holder'and the compressor; Fig. 8, a plan of the feeder and can-holder; Fig. 9, a detail elevation of the automatic weigher; Fig.- 10, a detail section on line 10-10 of Fig. 6.

The fundamental feature of my invention resides in the provision of means for reducing the crosssectional area of the material to be packaged under such conditions that said material is free to expand in a line normal to the compression, and thereafter in-` serting the distorted material into the package under a pressure normal to the plane of compression, whereby the distorted material is returned substantially to its initialcondition after it has entered thev package. Consequently, the heart of my present machine consists of a compressing mechanism capable, when in an expanded condition, ot receiving a charge of material and thereaf ter contractible substantially radially of an axis of sullicient length to permit expansion correspondingto the reduced cross-sectional area.

In the drawings, 10`10 indicates av pair of stationary heads between which are pivotally mounted a plurality of coacting plates 11. Each plate is pivotally supported at one ed e on bolts 12, which form an axis paralle with the inner face of the plate. The plates are provided at their pivotal ends with slotted openings 13, adapted to receive the bolts l2, in order to permit a slight yield of the plates relative to the bolts, and each plate is yieldinly urged outwardly from its pivotal axis y a spring 14. The outer edge of each plate 11 is thickened at 15 and the inner corner or face of this thickened portion is concaved at 16 so that, when the several plates are brought to contracted position, the several surfaces 16 will form a substantial cylindrical chamber having a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening into the package in which the goods are to be placed.

The outer edge of each plate is squared to form a surface 17 which lits and slides upon a surface 18 formed on the inner face of the adjacent plate 11 adjacent the pivoted end thereof, the spring 14 serving to keep surface 17 in contact with surface 18 as the plates 11 are simultaneously swung upon their pivots 12. In order to simultaneously move the plates 11, I provide a ring 20 roi tatably mounted in a suitable supporting frame 21 supported by bolts 22 between the two heads 10. Connecting the outer edge of each plate 11 with ring 20 is a link 23, which is pivoted at one end to the ring and at its other end to a point near the outer edge of the adjacent plate 11. Ring 20 is provided with a suitable arm'24 connected b v a is provided with a central opening 10 of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the chamber formed by the expanded compressor plates 11, as shown in Fig. 4. Mounted 4so as to traverse the chamber formed by the compressor plates 11 is a plunger 30 mounted in suitable bearings 3l and reciprocated by means of a lever-32 connected thereto by suitable links 33. Lever 32 is operated by means of a itman'33- and cam 34 carried by the sha 27. In order to charge the compressor I provide a hopper 35 which hopper discharges into a reciprocating charger 36 reciprocably mounted betweena plate 37 and the discharge end of the hopper 35. Charger 36 is substantially U-shaped in cross section, having high sides and a connecting bottom but no connection between the sides adjacent the plate 37. At

the opposite side, the charger 36 is provided l with a plate 38 the upper edge of which ex tends somewhat above the bottom 36 while the lower end extends considerably below said bottom'36 so thatj Tvhen the charger is projected upward from the position shown in Fig. 2, plate 38 serves to close the discharge end of hopper 35 and temporarily prevent the flow of material from said hopper. Charger 36 is connected by a link 39 with a lever 40, which lever is operated by means of a pitman 41 and cam 42 carried by shaft 27. Arranged immediately adjacent opening 10 is a cut-of plate 45'connected b a pitman 46 with a cam 47 carried by sha t 48 geared by

gears

49 and 50 to shaft 27.

The resent machine is designed for filling cans o ordinary dimensions, and for the purpose of presenting such cans to the compressing mechanism, I provide a can-chute of an ordinarytype capable ofvholding a vertical -series of cans and delivering the same to a feeder table 61. Arranged above table 61, between said table and the lower end of chute 60 is a rotary head 62 provided in its circumference with a plurality of canreceiving pockets 63. Head 62 is carried by vertical shaft 64 so that the notches 63 may be presented in succession beneaththe lower end of chute 60. In order to move the head 62 step-by-step I provide a pawl and ratchet mechanism 65 connected by a pitman 66 with a cam 67 carried by shaft 48.

At one point the table 61 is providedwith a notch 7 0 which extends toward the center of the table 61 but not so deep as the aiotch 63. yMounted in this notch is a can-receiver 71 carried by a rock shaft '72, which rock shaft is connected by a lever 7 3 and pitman 74 with a cam 75 carried by shaft 48. -In

order that the package may be held tightly against the cut-oii guide 45 pitmanl 74 is connected to lever 73 through the medium of a spring 76 and the throw of the cam 75 is more than suflicient to swing the arm 7l from receiving to holding position so that,l

when in holding position, as shown in full lines of Fig. 2, the spring 76 will be compressed.

VThe operation is as follows; The material to be packed, say tomatoes, is placed in hopper 35 and a quantity approximating suiiicient to ill the paeka e ows therefrom into the charger 36. lW ere tomatoes are being packed they are first scalded as usual to loosen the skins and the skins removed by any desirable process. Assumingvthe various parts to be in the position shown in full lines inF ig. 2, the several movements are as follows: Plunger 30 will rst be rapidly withdrawn to the right and the plates 11 will be swung upon their pivots 12 to their position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. .Arm 71 will be thrown down to the position shown in fulllines in Fig. .2 and the can 80, as it moves downward with lever 71, will have its inner lower corner brought into engagement with an inclined finger 82, which will serve to shove said can into adjacent notch 63 of head 62 as indicated in.

dotted lines in Fig. 8. Immediately prior to this movement the cut-o plate 45 will have been moved up so as to close'opening 10. Thereupon cam 67 operates pitman 66 and the pawl and ratchet mechanism 65 to move head 62 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, thus moving a can from the lower end of chute 60 into registry with the notch of the receiving platform and onto platform of lever 71', the center of said can lying inside of the outer end of said receiving platform. Thereupon cam 7 5 swings lever 71 upward, the can by gravity, set

ltling into. the can-receiving pocket 71 of the lever 71 and being brought to the position shown in full lines of Fig. 2 tightly against the cut-olf plate guide 45. While this movement is taking placel charger 36.

is moved lupward so as to bring plate 38 over the mouth of the hopper 35 and bring the goods within the charger into alinement with the opening 10, whereupon the goods -i'low down into the compressing chamber between the expanded plates 11, lying loosely therein in a row. Thereupon cam 26, through pitman 25, shifts ring20 to swing the plates 1l upon their pivots 12 to the positions' shown in Fig. 5. These plates move like an iris diaphragm simultaneously toward the center of thecompression chamber so as to reduce its cross section. Dur- "in'g this movement the goods, within the 'sure normalvto the plane of previous reduction suiiicient. to expand the goods into the package after they have passedthrough the small entrance opening thereof. As soon asthis has occurred, the various motions already 'described are repeated. As the head 62 is rotated the filled can is moved ico from 'the platform of the lever `7lA into engagement with the guard 90, whichnretain's it 1n its notch of head 62 andl when .the can reaches the point .X (Fig. 8) it is in lposition to top z'. e. (any surplus removed will come into engagement with the edge l94 of the notch 94 and the-movement' of the head 62 will serve to project the can from platform 92 on to the chute 95. If, on the other hand, the can has not received its proper charge by weight it will`not be heavy enough to depress platform 92, and the next movement of the head 62 will shift the can on to platform 6l adjacent a vertical arige 96 which, as the head moves forward, serves to discharge the deiicient'can upon the chute 97. In order to regulate the amount f material to be delivered to the package 80, plunger' 30 is provided with a collar 100 longitudinally adjustable on the plunger by means of a set screw 101, the collar serving to limit the ejecting throw of the plunger. Inrorder to permit this adjustment without changing the cam 34 the connection between lever A32 and a link 33 consists in part of a spring 102.

I claim as my invention;

1. In a packaging machine, the combination with a package holder, of a material receiver having a'cross-,section greater than that of the package mouth and a length greater than that required to receive a` charge, in its original condition, for the package, means for reducing the cross-section of the receiver to approximate that of the package mouth, and means for ejecting the material from the collapsed receiver into the package.

2. In a packaging machine, the combination with a package holder, of a material receiver having a cross-section greater than that of the package mouth and a length greater than thatrequired to receive a charge, in its original condition, for the package, means for reducing the cross-section of the receiver to approximate that of the package mouth, and means for ejecting the material from the collapsed receiver into the package and subjecting the ejected material to a pressure at an angle to its plane of reduction, whereby the material is caused to approach' its original condition.

3. In a packaging machine, a receiver formed of a plurality of mating members movable toward and from the axis of the receivenand means .for moving said members to reduce the cross-sectional area of the receiver and thereby distort the material withto reduce or increase the cross-sectional area of the receiver', such mating members having an axial length sutlicient to form a receiver having a length in excess of that necessary `te receive, in its original condition, a charge for the package, .a package holder, and means for ejecting distorted material from the reduced receiver into a package.

5. In a packaging machine, a receiver formed of a pluralityT of mating members movable tou-'ard and from, the axis of the receiver, and means for moving said members to vary the cross-sectional area of the receiver, such mating members having an axial length suflicient to form a receiver having a length in excess of that necessary to receive, in its original condition, a charge for the package, a package holder, and means for ejecting distorted material from the reduced receiver into a package under a pressure at an angle to the plane of distortion whereby the material is caused to approach its origin al condition after entering the package.

6. In a packaging machine, a receiver formed of a plurality of mating members pivoted upon axes parallel with the axis of the receiver, and means for swinging said members toward and from the receiver axis to reduce or increase the cross-sectional area of the receiver, such mating members having an axial length sufficient to form a receiver having. a length in excess of that necessary to receive, in its original condition, a charge for the package, a package holder; and means for ejecting distorted material from the reduced receiver 'into a package under a pressure at an angle to the plane of distortion whereby the material is caused to approach its original condition after entering the package.

7. In a packaging machine, a materialdistorting receiver formed of a plurality of overlapping plates, the end of one co-acting with the inner face' .of the next adjacent plate and the inner .faces thereof forming the` WallsA of the receiver` a pivotal support for each of. said plates substantially parallel with the axis of the receiver, and means for swinging said plates simultaneously toward the axis ofthe receiver.

8. In a packaging machine, a materialdistorting receiver formed of a plurality of overlapping platesi each having a transversely yielding pivotal support parallel with the axis'of the receiver and the free end of each cooperating with the inner face of the next adjacent plate, and means for simultaneously swinging said plates on their pivots.A

9. In a. packaging machine, the combination, with a hopper adapted 'to contain a considerable quantity of material to be packaged, 'a measuring receptacle communicating with the dischaige outlet of said hopper and having a capacity approxiinating the capacity of the package, means for shifting said measuring receptacle relative to the hopper, a collapsible receiver having an initial capacity in excess of the capacity of the package, and arranged to receive a charge from the measuring receptacle, means for collapsing said collapsible receiver whereby the charge tliereinis distorted and 'reduced in one dimension while free to expand Within the said receiver in another direction, a .package holder adapted to hold a package in position to receive material ejected from the collapsible receiver, and means for ejecting material from the collapsed receiver into the package. g 10. In a packaging machine, the combination, With a hopper adapted to contain a :considerable quantity of material to be packaged, a measuring receptacle communicating With the discharge outlet of saidliopper and having a capacity approximating the capacity of the package, said measuring receptacle bearing such relation to the hopper that its movement relative thereto Will eject the surplus material therefrom Without cutting, means for shifting said measuring receptacle relative to the hopper, a collapsible receiver having an initial capacity in excess of the capacity of the package and arranged to receive a 'charge from the measuring receptacle, means for collapsing said collapsible receiver whereby the charge therein is distorted and reduced ifi one dimension While free to expand Within the said receiverv in another direction, a package holder adapted to hold a package in position to receive material ejected from the collapsible receiver, and means for ejecting material from the collapsed receiver into the package.'

11. In a packaging machine, the combination, with a hopper adapted to contain a cosiderable quantity of material to be packaged, a measuring receptacle communicating with the discharge outlet of said hopper and having a capacity approximating the ca- ,pacity ofthe package,.said measuring receptacle bearing. such relation to the hopper that its movement relativethereto Will eject the surplus material therefrom without cutting, means f or shifting said measuringreceptacle relative to the hopper, a collapsible receiver having an initial capacity 1n excess of the capacity of the package and 'arranged to receive a charge from the measuring receptacle, means for collapsing said collapsible receiver whereby the charge therein is distorted vand reduced in one dimension While free to expand Within the said receiver in another direction, a package holder adapted to hold a package in position to receive material ejected from the collapsible receiver, a plunger adapted to fit the collapsed receiver, and means for causing said plunger to traverse 4said collapsed receiver-to eject material therefrom into the package. i I

12. In a packaging machine, the combination, with a hopper adapted to contain a considerable quantity of material to be packaged, a measuring receptacle communicating with the discharge outlet of said hopper and having a capacity approximating the capacity of the package, means for shiftingl said measuring receptacle relative to the hopper, a collapsible receiver having an initial capacity in excess of the capacity of -the package, and arranged to receive a charge from the measuring receptacle, means for collapsing said collapsible receiver whereby the charge therein is distorted and reduced in one dimension While free to expand Withyin the said receiver Vin another direction,l a

collapsible receiver having an initial capacity in excess ofthe-capacity of the package, i

and arranged to receive a charge vfrom the measuring receptacle, means for collapsmg said collapsible receiver whereby the charge therein is distorted and reduced in one d imension while free to expand Within tli'e said receiver in anotherdirection, la package depackages from said -delivering means, and means for moving said package holder from `livering means, a. package holder to receive 3 receiving position into-position 'to hold'the v package for reception of material from' the collapsible receiver.v

14. I n a packaging machine, the combination, with a hopper adapted to containa considerable quantity of material to be packaged, a measuring receptacle communicating With the discharge outlet of said hopper and having a capacity 'approximating the capacity of the package, said i'neasuring receptacle bearing such relation to the hopper that its movement relative thereto will eject the surplus material therefrom Without cutting, means for shifting said measuring .receptacle relative to the hopper, a collapsible receiver ha"ing an initial capacity in excess of the capacity of the package and arranged to receive a charge from the measuring receptacle, means for collapsing said collapsible receiver whereby the charge therein is distorted and reduced in lone dimension While free to expand within the said receiver in another direction, a package delivering means, a package holder adapted to receive packages from said delivering means, and means for moving said package holder from receiving position into position to hold the package for reception of material from the collapsible receiver.

l5. In a packaging machine, the combination, with a hopper adapted to contain a considerable quantity of'material to be packaged, a measuring receptacle communicating with the discharge outlet of said hopper and having a capacity approximating the capacity of the package, said measuring receptacle bearing such relation to the hopper that its movement relative thereto Will e]ect the surplus material therefrom Without euttin means for shifting said measurin receptac e relative to the hopper, a collapsible receiver having an initial capacity in excess of the capacity of the package and arranged to receive a charge from the measuring receptacle, means for collapsing said collapsible receiver whereby the charge therein is distorted and reduced in one dimension while free to expand within the said receiver in another direction, a package delivering means, a package holder adapted to receive packages from said delivering means, means for moving said package holder from receivin position into position to hold the package or reeeption of material from the collapsible receiver, a plunger adapted to fit the collapsed receiver, and means for causing said plunger to traverse said collapsed receiver to eject material therefrom into the package.

16. In a packaging machine, the combination, with a hopper adapted to contain a con- Isiderable quantity of material to be packaged, a measuring receptacle communicating with the discharge outlet of said hopper and having a capacity approximating the eapaeitv of the package. `means for shifting said measuring receptacle relative to the hopper, a collapsible receiver having an initial capacity in excess of the capacity of the package, and arranged to receive a charge from the measuring receptacle, means for collapsing said collapsible receiver whereby the charge therein is distorted and reduced in one dimension While free to expand Within the said receiver in another direction, a packagedelivering means, a package holder adapted to receive packages from said delivering means, means for moving said package holder from receiving position into position to hold the package for reception of material from the collapsible receiver, a plunger adapted to t the collapsed receiver, and means for causing said plunger to traverse said collapsed receiver to eject material therefrom into the package.

17. ln a packaging machine, the combination, ot a rotary head adapted to receive a .succession of packages, a feed chute leading said packages to said head, a package holder, means for engaging successive packages with said holder and extractingy such packages from and returning ,them to said head, a Weighing-platform arranged in the path of movement of the packages carried by said head, and a pair of discharge chutes one leading from said wei hing platform and the other from a point eyond the Weighing platform, and means for ejecting packages from the head to said chute.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 28th day of September, A. D. one thousand nine-hundred and six.

RALPH B. POLK. [L 5.]

Witnesses:

ARTHUR M. Hoon, THOMAS W. MoMmNs. y