US1910241A - Exhaust box - Google Patents

Description

May 23, 1933.

F. D. CHAPMAN 1,910,241

EXHAUST-BOX I Filed April 21, 1532 3 Sheets-Sheet l w 20 Q a L 43 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

y 23, 1933- F. D. CHAPMAN 1,910,241

EXHAUST BOX Filed April 21, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYeS y 3, 1933. F. D. CHAPMAN 1,910,241

EXHAUST BOX Filed April 21, 19:52 3 Sheets-Shet s INVENTOR.

BY W 9 ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES FRANK D. CHAPMAN, F BERLIN, WISCONSIN EXHAUST BOX Application filed April 21, 1932. Serial No. 606,544.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of transporting objects in succession from place to place, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of socalled exhaust boxes used in the cannin 1ndustry for the purpose of removing air r om food laden cans or the like and for heating the can contents, prior to sealing of the re- 'ceptacles.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved device for transporting objects such as food laden cans, along a definlte course, while the objects or their contents 5 are being subjected to treatment such as heating.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for transporting food laden containers through a heating zone, the mechanism being especially adapted for use in exhaust boxes of the type commonly employed in the canning lndustr t further object of the invention is to provide a new and useful disc type of conveyor which will efi'ectively transport open topped receptacles containing fluent material, from one place to another, without spilling the contents of the receptacle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and highly efiicient exhaust box structure wherein the food laden containers may be heated either with steam, or with hot water, or both, and the capacity of which may be conveniently altered to produce the desired output.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved conveyor disc which may be utilized singly or in multiple, and a group 40 of which may be disposed either laterally adjacent to each other, or superimposed, or both adjacent and superimposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic conveying mechanism which may be manufactured and sold at minimum cost, which may be assembled in units of variable capacities, and which may be operated with minimum power consumption.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved transporting assemblage, various parts of which are conveniently adjustable to produce most efiective operation, and all parts of which are readil accessible for inspection, cleaning and a justment.

These-and other objects of the invention will be clearly apparent from the following detailed description.

clear conception of several embodiments of the invention and of the mode of constructing and of operating exhaust boxes built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged top view of one of the improved exhaust boxes especially adapted for steam heating of the commodity passing therethrough, the top closure cover having been removed in order to more clearly show the internal structure;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the exhaust box of Fig. 1, the section having been taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top View of one of the improved exhaust boxes adapted for either steam or hot water heating of the commodity passing therethrough, the closure cover likewise having been eliminated for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the exhaust box of Fig. 3, the section having been taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic top view of the double deck steam exhaust box of Fig. 1,

showing the path traversed by the successive cans conveyed by the upper disc;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic central vertical section through the steam exhaust box of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic top view of a} steam exhaust box comprising a pair of double deck conveyors disposed laterally adjacent to each other;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic central Vertical 1 section through the multiple double deck exhaust box of Fig. 7, the section being taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic top view of a steam exhaust box comprising four laterally ad'acent double deck conveyors;

ig. 10 is a diagrammatic central vertical section through the quadruple double deck steam exhaust box of Fig. 9, the section bein taken alon the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a ia 'rammatic top view of an exhaust box whic may be used either for steam or hot water heating, and comprising a pair of laterally adjacent single deck disc conveyors;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic central vertical section throu h the multiple sinle deck exhaust box of ig. 11, the section eing taken along the line 12-12 of Fi 11; I

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic top view of an exhaust box adapted foreither steam or hot water heating, and comprising four laterally ad'acent single deck conveyors; and

ig. 14 is a vertical section through the quadruple single deck exhaust box of Fig. 13, the section being taken along the line 14-14 of Fig. 13.

Referring specificall to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the dou le deck single steam exhaust box illustrated therein comprises in general a main cylindrical casing 15; a horizontal can supply disc 16 disposed at one side of the main casing 15; a lower annular inclined conveyor disc 17 cooperating at its outer periphery with the supply disc 16 and dis ose'd within the lower portion of the casm 15; a central annular oppositely incline transfer disc 18 cooperating at one side of its periphery with the inner margin of the disc 17; an upper annular conveyor disc 19 disposed parallel to the lower disc 17 and cooperating at its inner margin with the opposite side of the periphery of the transfer disc 18; a horizontal can discharge disc 20 disposed at the opposite side of the casing 15 from the su ply disc 16; mechanism for revolving all 0 the discs in unison; and guiding means for causing the successive cans 21 supported by the several discs to assume a definite path of travel through the exhaust box unit.

The main casing 15 of this steam unit is inclined as shown, being thus supported upon a central upright column 22 through adjusting mechanism 23 which will permit variation in inclination of the casing 15, and the central column 22 is vertically adjustably supported upon legs 24 through similar adjusting mechanism 25. It will be understood that while the adjusting mechanism 23 will permit slight variation in the inclination of the casing 15, such adjustment is desirable primarily for purposes of alinement, and in order to insure substantially horizontal disposition of the disks 16, 20. The vertical adjustment of the entire unit,

which is afiorded by the mechanism 25 is also for the purpose of alining the discs 16, 20 with other can conveying apparatus in the factory. The top of the inclined casing 15 may be provided with radial braces 26 formed to support removable cover segments therebetween, and the opposite sides of the main casing, are provided with can inlet and discharge openings located respectively in proximity to the can supply and discharge discs 16, 20. Steam may be admitted to the interior of the casing 15 for" heatin purposes, through steam inlets 27 an also through the can guides, and the water of condensation may be removed through a drain 28, see Fig. 2.

The lower annular inclined conveyor disc 17 is rotatably supported upon a series of rollers 29 mounted upon the wall of the easing 15., and has a ring gear 30 secured thereto beneath and near its peripheral edge. The upper annular inclined conveyor (115C 19 is also rotatably supported upon a series of rollers 29 mounted upon the casing 15, and likewise has a rin gear 31 secured thereto beneath and near its peripheral edge. The ring gears 30, 31 mesh loosely with lower and upper driving pinions 32, 33 respectively secured to an upright shaft 34 journaled in bearings which may also be mounted upon the casing 15. The shaft 34 may be driven by a pulley 35 mounted upon a counters aft 36 which is connected to the shaft 34 through speed-reduction caring 37 and an intermediate counter-sha and a manually operable clutch 38 serves to drivingly connect the pulley 35 with the shaft 36 and to release the dr1ving connection.

The can supply disc 16 is rotatably supported by an uprlght shaft 39 journaled in a xed bearin and has a pinion 40 at its lower end w ich is driven through gears 41 and an upright counter-shaft from the ring gear 30 of the lower disc 17, and the can supporting surface of the disc 17 is disposed in approximately the horizontal plane ofthe uppermost portion of the disc 16. The can dischar e disc 20 is likewise rotatably supported y an upright shaft 42 journaled 1n a fixed bearing, and has a pinion 43 which meshes with an idler gear 44 which in turn meshes with a pinion 45 secured to the lower end of a counter-shaft 46. The upright counter-shaft 46 is rotatable in a fixed bearing and carries a gear 47 at its upper end, which meshes directly with the ring gear 31 of the upper disc 20. The rotary motion of the ring gears 30, 31 is thus transmitted to the supply and discharge discs 16, 20 respectively, through the gearing just described, and the transmission gears are of such design that the desired s eed of rotation of the discs 16, 20 is obtaine The central annular inclined transfer disc 8 is rotatably supported upon a series of rollers 48 mounted upon a supporting ring 50 which surrounds the central column 22 and is carried from the bottom of the casing 15 through adjusting mechanism 51. The inclination of the disc 18 is opposite but substantially equal to that of the conveyor discs 17, 19, and one side of the periplhery of the transfer disc 18 cooperates wit the inner marginal edge of the lower conveyor disc 17, while the oposite side of the per1phcry of the transfer disc cooperates with the inner mar 'nal edge of the upper conveyor disc 19. he adjusting mechanism 51 serves to bring the transfer disc 18 into roper cooperative relation to the conve or isc 17, 19, and by havin the op site inclinations of the inner an outer consequent spilling of the contents, is avoided. The transfer disc 18 is rotated'by a ring gear 52 secured to the under side thereof, and this ring gear meshes with a.

inion 53 secured to the-upper end of an inclined shaft 54. The lower end of the shaft 54 carries a sheave 55 with which a driving belt 56 coacts, and a guide pulley 57 serves to properly guide and to retain the belt 56 within the groove of the inclined sheave 55. The belt 56 also coacts with a horizontal sheave 58 mounted upon a counter-shaft 59 which is conected by earing directly to the upright drive she 34 of the other discs. It will thus be noted that all of the discs of the unit are simultaneously rotated at proper speed, when power is applied by drivingly connectin the pulley 35 to the shaft 36 with the aid 0 the clutch 38.

The means for guiding and for causing the successive cans 21 to assume a definite ath of travel through the unit, comprises a xed uide rail 60 coacting with the can supply disc 16; a stationary spiral guide 61 disposed directly above the lower conveyor disc 1 and surrounding the central column 22, fixed transfer guldes 62 cooperating with the central transfer disc 18; a second stationary spiral guide 63 disposed directly above the upper conveyor disc 19 and likewise surrounding the column 22; and a fixed guide rail 64 coacting with the can discharge disc 20. These several guide rails and guides are all supported from the main casing 15, and the two guides 61, 63 are of opposite spirality and are disposed in planes which are parallel to the discs 17 19. The deliver end of the guide rail 60 cooperates with t e outer end of the lower spiral guide 61, and the inner ends of the spiral guides 61, 63 cooperate with the lower and upper opposite ends of the transfer guides 62, while the.

outer end of the upper spiral guide 63 cooperates with the receiving end of the guide rail 64. The spiral guides 61, 63 may also .be formed of piping to which steam or other iscs substantially. equal, excessive tilting of the cans 21 andheating fluid may be supplied, and may be provided with distributing pipes 65 havin orifices for spraying jets of the heating flui in proximity to the passing cans 21. The cans 21 are thus gxently guided from the supply disc 16 to t e perlphery of the lower conveyor disc 17, from the inner margin of the disc 17 to one side of the transfer disc 18, from the opposite side of the transfer disc 18 to the inner margin of the upper conveyor disc 19, and from the periphery of the u per conveyor disc to the can discharge isc 20, without danger of spilling the can contents.-

Referring specifically to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the single deck exhaust box shown therein, is quite similar to the double deck exhaust box just described, differing therefrom mainly in the omission of the upper annular conveyor disc. The modified exhaust box of Figs. 3 and 4 is especially adapted for hot water heating, but may also be used for steam heating. This single deck exhaust box is only partially illustrated, and comprises a horizontal can supply disc 66 of any approved type located within a main casing 67; an annular horizontal conveyor disc 68 cooperating at its outer periphery with the supply disc 66 and also disposed within the casing 67; a central annular inclined can transfer disc 69 cooperating at one side of its periphery with the inner margin of the conveyor disc 68; a horizontal can discharge disc 70 cooperating with the opposite side of the periphery-of the transfer disc 69; mechanism for revolving all of the discs in. unison; and guiding means for causing the successive cans 21 to traverse a definite path through the exhaust box.

The main casing 67 of the single deck unit has a horizontal bottom which is attached directly to the supporting columns 71, and these columns are vertically adjustably supported upon legs 24 through adjusting mech anism 25, as in the steam unit previously described. With the aid of the adjusting mechanism 25, this exhaust box may be vertically adjusted as a unit, or the mechanism may be utilized to properly position the casing 67 so as to secure uniform distribution of the heating liquid therein. The top of the casing 67 may also be provided with braces 26 formed to support removable cover sections, and heating liquid may be admitted in regulated quantities to the casing 67 through a supply pipe 72 and removed there from through a drain pipe 73, see Fig. 3.

While the annular conveyor disc 68 is shown in Fig. 4 as being disposed truly horizontal, this disc may be slightly inclined in order to reduce the inclination of the transfer disc 69 to a minimum, but if the cans 21 are not completely filled, the arrangement and inclination of the discs may be as shown. The conveyor disc 68 is rotatably supported u on rollers 29 mounted upon the bottom 0? the casing 67, and has a ring gear 30 se-' cured thereto beneath and near its eripheral edge, the same as in the steam ex aust box previously described. The ring gear 30 meshes with a driving pinion 32 secured to an upright shaft 34, and this shaft may be driven by a pulley 35 mounted u on a counter-shaft 36 through speed re uction gearing 37 as in the embodiment heretofore described.

The can supply disc 66 ma be another conveyor disc 68, or it ma 8. disc 16 such as shown in Figs. 1 an 2, and is rotatably supported upon the casing 67 in any suitable manner. This disc 66 may be driven either from the conveyor disc 68, or otherwise, and as shown, the can supporting upper surfaces of the discs 66, 68 lie in the same horizontal plane which is ordinarily disposed some distance beneath the top level of the liquid in the casing 67 so as to partially immerse the cans 21 traveling thruthe exhaust box. The can discharge disc '0 of the single deck unit is rotatably supported upon an upright counter-shaft 74 the lower end of which carries a gear 75 whit may either mesh directly or through speed change gearing, with the ring gear 30 of the main conveyor disc 68. The disc 70 is disposed above and parallel to the conveyor disc 68, and the casing 67 is provided with an exit opening adjacent to the disc 70.

As shown, the central annular transfer disc 69 f Figs. 3 and 4 is set at sufiicient inclination to cooperate with bot-lof the parallel horizontal discs 68, The transfer disc 69 is rotatably supported upon a series of rollers 48 mounted upon a ring 50 surrounding the column 71 and carried from the bottom of the casing 67 through adjusting mechanism 51. One side of the periphery of the transfer disc 69 cooperates with the inner margin of the conveyor disc 68, while the opposite side of the transfer disc periphery cooperates with the periphery of the discharge disc 7 0. The adjusting mechanism 51 serves to bring the disc 69 in proper cooperation withthe discs: 68, 70, and the disc 70 is of such diameter that it will deliver the successive cans 21 clear of the easing 67. The inclined transfer disc 69 is rotated in unison with the main disc 68, by means of a ring gear 52 secured to its under side, and meshing with a pinion 53 secured to the upper end of an inclined shaft 54. The lower end of the shaft 54 carries a sheave 55 with which a belt 56 coacts, and an adjustable guide wheel 57 servesto guide and to retain the belt 56 within the groove of the inclined sheave 55. The belt 56 of this embodiment also coacts with a horizontal sheave 58 mounted upon a countershaft 59 which is connected by gearin directly to the upright drive shaft 34 o the other discs; It will thus be noted that all oi the discs of the single deck unit are again simultaneously rotated at proper speed, when power is applied from the pulley 35 to the shaft 36.

The guiding means for causing the successive cans 21 to traverse a definite path of travel through the modified sin le deck unit is similar to that hereinbefore escribed, and comprises a suitable fixed guide associated with the supply disc 66; a stationary spiral guide 76 disposed directly above the main conveyor disc 68 and surrounding the column 71; a fixed transfer guide 77 with the central transfer disc 69 and wit the discharge disc 70; and suitable guide means (not shown) for removing the successive treated cans 21 from the disc 7 0. These several guides may all be supported from the main casing 6 and the ide 76 may be of opposite spirality'depen ihg upon the path 0 travel desired. The supply disc 66 1s obviously adapted to feed the successive cans 21 upon the peripheral portion of the main conveyor disc 68, while the transfer disc cooperates with the guide 77 to remove the cans 21 from the inner margin of the disc 68 to the discharge disc 70. As shown, the guide 76 may be formed of piping adapted to deliver heating medium in proxim ty to the cans passing throu h the machine, and the ides 76, 77 Emotion to gently transfer t 0 cans 21-from one disc to another without spilling the contents.

During normal operation of the single double-deck steam exhaust box illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 and 2, and shown diagrammatically in Figs. 5 and 6, the sealing covers are applied to the casing 15, steam or other heating agency is being admitted in regulated uantities to the interior of the casin 15 t rough the supply pipes 27 and distri utor pipes 65, and the various conveyor discs are being rotated by the application of power to the pulley 35. The successive open-topped food laden cans 21 are delivered to the sup ly disc 16 and are transferred therefrom y the guide rails 60, upon the lower conveyor disc 17. During the rotation of the lower disc 17,,the successive cans are caused to traverse a spiral path by the guide 61, and are eventually delivered upon the lower end of the inclined transfer disc 18. The guide 62 cooperating with the rotating disc 18, causes the successive cans 21 to be delivered upon the inner marginal portion of the upper conveyor disc 19 whereuhpon the spiral guide 63 cooperating with t e disc 19 causes the cans to traverse a reverse spiral path and to be eventually delivered from the discharge disc 20 by the action of the guide rails 64. The successive heat treated cans may be delivered from the discharge discs 20 in a well-known manner. If a prolonged period of heat treatment is cooperatin desired, without reducing the capacity of the unit, two sets of superimposed conveyor discs 17, 19 may be emplo ed in the manner illustrated diagrammatica ly in Figs. 7 and '5 8. The successive cans 21 are then first admitted to the lower conveyor discs 17 of one unit and after traversing the spiral paths afforded by both the lower and up er conveyor discs 17 19 of that unit, are dzalivered to the upper conveyor disc 19 of the other unit. After traversing the spiral paths afforded by the u r and lower conveyor discs 19, 17 of s other unit, the finally heat treated cans are delivered from the exhaust box by the dischar e disc'20. It will be apparent that in this ouble machine the 'cans 21 are subjected to heat treatment for twice the length of time that is obtained 'with a single unit such as shown in Figs. '5 and 6 with the same speed of rotation of the cs. If it is desired to secure still a longer period of heat treatment, an arran ment such as shown diagrammatically in i s. 9 and 10, ma be utilized, wherein four of the double dec units are arranged in series. The can supply disc 16 delivers the cans to the lower deck of the first unit. The cans are then delivered from the upper deck of 80 the first unit to the upper deck of the second unit, and are subsequently delivered from the lower deck of the second unit to the lower deck of the third unit by means of a transfer disc 80. After completin their 85 traverse over the discs of the thir unit, the cans are transferred from the upper deck of the third unit to the upper deck of the fourth unit, and they are finally delivered vfrom the lower deck of the fourth unit to 40 the final dischar e disc 20. It will be apparent that this exhaust box will provide for the same capacity as the machines shown in Figs. 5 and 7, but also provides for double the length of time of heat treatment as compared to the. machine of Fig. 7, and for four times the length of heat treatment afforded by the machine of Fig. 5.

Duringnormal operation of the single deck water exhaust box illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, a somewhat similar arrangement being shown diagrammatically in Figs. 11 and 12, the covers may or may not be applied to the casing 67, the casing 67 is provided with a bath of hot water or other heating liquid through the pipe 72' and through the distributor pipes if used, and the various conveyor discs are being rotated by the application of power to the pulley 35. The successive open-topped food laden cans 21 may be delivered to the supply disc 66 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in any suitable manner, and are transferred therefrom to the spiral guide 7 6 and to the revolving horizontal conveyor disc 68, in an obvious manner. After traversing the spiral path above the disc 68, the cans are transferred by the guides 77 and the rotating disc 69 to the ischarge disc 70 from whence the may be removed as desired. As specifical y shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the cans 21 may be initially delivered to one of the units of the double exhaust box by a supply disc 81 which initially delivers the cans to an inclined transferv disc 69 which in turn delivers the cans to the horizontal conve or 7 disc 68 of the first unit. The horizontal isc 68 of the first unit delivers the successive cans to the horizontal disc 68 of the second unit, and after traversing the spiral path above the disc 68 of the second unit, the 90 cans are eventually delivered to the final disggarge disc 70 by an inclined transfer disc If a prolonged period of hot water treatment is desired, the exhaust box may be 85 provided with four conveyor discs 68 arranged as shown diagrammatically in Fi s. 13 and 14. The cans are delivered to t e conveyor disc 68 of-the first unit by the supply disc 81 and transfer disc 69, and are conveyed from the periphery of the first disc 68 to the adjoining periphery of the disc 68 of the second unit. After traversing the spiral path above the disc 68 of the sec- 0nd unit, the successive cans are transferred to the disc 68 of the third unit by means of the two inclined transfer discs 69 and a horizontal transfer disc 82 interposed between the inclined discs 69. The cans are subsequently delivered from the peripher of the disc 68 of the third unit to the a j acent periphery of the disc 68 of the fourth unit and are eventually delivered from the exhaust box by an inclined transfer disc 69 and the final dischar e disc 70. It will be apparent that the ex aust box of Fig. 13 provides for double the time of treatment afforded by the exhaust box of Fig. 11, the capacity of .the two machines being the same.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple, extremely flexible, and highly efiicient exhaust box structure which may be manufactured and operated at minimum cost. By proper provision of gearing, a sin gle drive may be utilized to operate any number of units which may be provided in an exhaust box, and while several arrangements of the improved conveyor discs have been illustrated herein, it will be understood that many other combinations may be provided depending upon the desired results to be attained. The relative inclination of the conveyor and the transfer discs 12 may be varied to suit conditions, and the improvement is obviously applicable with the same degree of efficiency to either steam or hot water heated exhaust boxes. It will also be apparent that the improved conveyor is capable of efiective use in conjunction with apparatus other than exhaust boxes, and may in fact be utilized wherever it is desired to treat a succession of objects for a predetermined period of time.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, an annular disc rotatable about an axis, means for causing objects supported by said disc to traverse a spiral path around said axis, and an inclined rotary disc dis osed within said annular disc for trans errin the objects in succession at an end of sai path.

2. In combination, an annular disc rotatable about an axis means for causing objects supported by said disc to travel in a plane and along a spiral path surrounding said axis, and a relatively inclined second rotary disc disposed centrally of said annular disc for transferring the objects at an end of said path.

3. In combination, an annular conveyor disc rotatable about an axis, means'for causing objects supported by said disc to traverse a spiral path surrounding said axis, a disc cooperating with the periphery of said annular disc for transferring objects at one end of said path, and another disc cooperating with the inner margin of said annular disc for transferring objects at the op osite end of said path, said transfer discs ein inclined relative to said conve or disc an one of said transfer discs being disposed within said annular disc.

4. In combination, an annular conveyor disc rotatable about an axis, means for causing objects supported by said disc to traverse a spiral path, a rotary disc cooperating with the periphery of said annular disc for transferring objects at one end of said path, and an inclined rotary disc disposed within and cooperating with the inner margin of said annular disc for transferring objects at the opposite end of said path.

5. In combination, an inclined annular disc rotatable about an axis, means for causing objects supported by said disc to traverse a spiral path, and an oppositely in clined rotary disc disposed centrally of said first-mentioned disc for transferring the objects at an end of said path.

6. In combination, an inclined annular disc rotatable about an axis, means for causing objects supported by said disc to traverse a spiral ath, and an oppositely inclined rotary isc disposed within said annular disc for transferring objects at the in-- ner end of said path.

7. In combination, an inclined annular disc rotatable about an axis, means for causing objects supported by said disc to traverse a spiral path, and an o positely inclined rotary disc disposed wit in said annular disc for transferrmg ob'ects at the inner end of said path, the inclination of both of said discs being substantially equal relative to the horizontal.

8. In combination, an inclined annular disc rotatable about an axis, means for causing objects supported by said disc to traverse a spiral path, an oppositely inclined rotary disc disposed within said annular disc for transferring objects at the inner end of said path, and means for varying the inclination of one of said discs.

9. In combination, superimposed annular discs rotatable about an axis, means for causing objects supported by said discs to traverse spiral paths, and a rotary inclined transfer disc disposed centrally of said superimposed discs for conveying objects from one of said superimposed discs to the other.

10. In combination, superimposed parallel annular discs rotatable about an inclined axis, means for causing objects supported by said discs to travel spiral paths, and a rotary transfer disc for conveying objects from the inner margin of one of said superimposed discs to the inner margin of the other.

11. In combination, superimposed parallel annular discs rotatable about an inclined axis, means for causing objects supported by said discs to travel spiral paths, and a rotary oppositely inclined transfer disc for conveying objects from the inner margin of one of said superimposed discs to the inner margin of the other.

12. In combination, superimposed conveyor discs rotatable about a common axis, means for causing objects supported by said discs to traverse opposite spiral paths surrounding said axis, and a transfer disc for conveying the successive objects from one of said superimposed discs to the other.

13. In combination, superimposed parallel annular discs rotatable about a common inclined axis, means for causing objects supported by said discs to traverse opposite spiral paths surroundin said axis, and a transfer disc rotatable a ut a different inclined axis for conveying the objects in succession from the inner end of one of said said paths to the corresponding;- end of the other. 7

15. In combination, a pair of superimposed parallel annular conveyor discs simultaneously rotatable about a common axis, means for causing objects supported by said discs to traverse oppositely spiral paths about said axis, and a transfer disc disposed centrally of said conveyor discs and rotatable 10 about a different axis for conveying the objects in succession from the inner end of one of said paths to the corresponding end of the other.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. FRANK D. CHAPMAN.

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