US2208028A - Container filling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1940.

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS B. S. HARRINGTON Filed nec. 1o, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 16,1194@ A B. s. HARRINGTON 2,208,028

CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES eATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for lling containers with melted lard, shortening, compound, or other congealable material under pressure. More particularly the invention relates to that type of container lling apparatus which is primarily .designed for use in connection with a platform scale or like weigh ing device and as the main or essential parts thereof comprises: (l) a supporting structure; 2.) a discharge nozzle which is mounted on the supporting structure for vertical movement over the platform of the scales and is adapted upon placement of a container on the platform to be lowered into the container and in response to the )flow of the material therethrough to direct the material into the container for container filling purposes; (3) mechanism for automatically raising the nozzle as the material is introduced into the container; and (4) valve means whereby the flow of the material `through the nozzle into the container may be cut off when the container is lled to the desired extent.

One object of the invention is to provide a container filling apparatus of this type which is generally an improvement upon, and is more eicient and sanitary and produces less voids than, previously .designed apparatus for the same purpose by reason of the fact that the nozzle raising mechanism is actuated by the now of material to `30 the nozzle and operates soto control the nozzle in connection Withraising thereof that the nozzle is maintained at a substantially fixed or uniform distance above the level of the material in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container flllingvapparatus of the last mentioned character in which the automatic nozzle raising mechanism comprises a gear pump through which passes the material under pressure in 40 transit to the nozzle and in addition clutch equipped gearing between the rotor of the pump and the nozzle, and the valve means for controlling the flow of material through the nozzle into the container is so connected to the clutch part of the gearing that when it is closed to cut orf the flow of material through the nozzle when the container is lled to the desired extent the clutch is automatically disengaged and the nozzle raising mechanism thus stops.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container filling apparatus of the type and character under consideration which includes a valve controlled by-pass around the pump of the nozzle raising mechanism whereby the speed of upward travel of the nozzle may be adjusted or or controlled in connection with the lling of containers of different sizes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a container vfilling apparatus which may be manufactured at a comparatively low and reasonable cost and effectively and efficiently accom plishes its intended purpose.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present container filling apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a Figure l is a front View of a duplex apparatus embodying the invention, showing one of the nozzles in its lowered position within a container to be `filled preliminary to lling such container, and the other nozzle in its raised position at the con clusion of a container filling operation;`

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus, parts being broken away and shown in section for illustrative purposes;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View of the two-way valve which constitutes the means for controlling the flow of the material and operates when the plug thereof is in one position to permit the material to ilow to one of the nozzles and when the plug is in its other position to cut olf the flow of material to the o-ne nozzle and permit it to flow to the other nozzle;

Figure 54 is a sectional View of one of the nozzles; and

Figure 6 is asectional view of the gear pump which forms a part of the automatic material actuated nozzle raising mechanism.

The apparatus which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is adapted to ll containers C with lard, shortening, compound, or other congeal able material underV pressure and vis what may be termed a duplex apparatus. As part-s thereof the apparatus comprises a supporting structure l and a pair of container filling nozzles 8 and 9. Two containers C are shown in the drawings and these are adapted 'to be filled successively and then replaced with other containers for filling purposes. During filling, the two containers CI are adapted to be supported b-y a pair of laterally spaced platform scales S. The latter embody container` supporting platforms p and enable the operator of the apparatus to ll the containers to a predetermined or desired weight.

The supporting structure I is adapted to rest upon the ioor of the room or space in which the apparatus is used and embodies a base I Il, a standard II,-a lower cross-head I2, and an upper cross-head i3. The base Ii) is in the form of a flanged casting. It is disposed midway between the scales S and embodies a vertically extending cylindrical socket I4 for the lower end of the standard Il. The standard is hollow, as shown in Figure 3, and has an open upper end. The lowermost head l2 is in the form of a casting and embodies at the central portion thereof a cylinrical sleeve-like member -I5 which extends around and is bolted or otherwise xedly secured to the central portion of the hollow standard il. As shown in Figure 1, the lower cross-head is horizontally elongated and is positioned so that the ends thereof overlie the container supporting platforms p of the scales S. The upper crosshead i3 is the same in size and design as the lower cross-head I2. It is positioned in overhanging and parallel relation with the lower cross-head and embodies a centrally disposed sleeve-like part I6. This part surrounds and is xedly secured to the upper end of the standard l I with the result that the upper cross-head constitutes a fixed part of the supporting structure 'I. The nozzles 8 and 9 are positioned over the platformsp respectively, as shown in Figure 1. They are adapted alternately to be lowered and raised and embody horizontally extending perforated plates Il whereby the material is caused to be introduced into the containers in spray form.

The nozzle 8 is located at one side of the supporting structure and is connected to the lower end of a vertically extending rod I8. This rod is carried by a pair of vertically aligned bearings I9 and 2l) at the adjacent ends of the lower and upper cross-heads I2 and i3 so that it together with the nozzle 8 is vertically movable. The lower end of the rod is hollow and serves as a conduit for conveying the material to the nozzle 8. The upper end of the rod I8 is solid and embodies-a longitudinally extending rack 2l. The rod I8 is counterweighted by a counterweight 22 so that it remains stationary except when moved vertically either manually or by power. This counterweight 22 is disposed and vertically mov-v able in the standard II, as shown in Figure 3, and is connected to the nozzle carrying rod I8 by a cable 23. One end of the cable is connected to 'and eye at the upper end of the counterweight and the other end of the cable is attached to a laterally extending pin on a fixed collar 24 on the central portion of the rod I8. The central portion of the cable extends over and around a pair of sheaves 25 and 26 on the upper cross-head I3. The sheave 25 is disposed adjacent to the bearing 28 and the sheave 26 is carried by a pair of brackets 21. The sleeve-like part I 6 on the central portion of the cross-head is disposed over the upper end of the standard I I.. The counterweight is substantially equal in weight tov the nozzle carrying rod I8. When the rod is moved downwards the counterweight moves upwards in the standard and when the rod is shifted upwardly the counterweight moves downwards. The collar 24 forms a stop for limiting downward movement ofthe rod and embodies a forwardly extending handle 28. The latter is adapted to be grasped in connection with manual lowering of the rod. The collar is positioned at such a distance with respect to the nozzle 8 that when it is in abutment with the bearing I9 of the crosshead I2 and the rod is thus restricted against further downward movement the nozzle 8 is disposed a small distance above the platform of the subjacent scale S. The rod I8 is adapted to be lowered manually by the operator of the apparatus to its lowermost position in order to bring the nozzle 8 directly over the bottom of the container on the platform of the subjacent scale, and is then adapted to be raised by power as the container filling material iiows through the hollow lower end of the rod and then into the container via the nozzle 8.

The nozzle 9 is connected to the lower end of a vertically extending rod 29. The latter is the same in length and design as the rod I3 and is mounted for vertical sliding movement over the platform of the other scale S by way of a pair of vertically spaced aligned bearings 3i! and 3|. The bearing 30 is formed as an integral part of the lower cross-head I2 and the bearing 3l is formed as an integral part of the upper crosshead I3. The lower end of the rod 29 is hollow and forms a conduit or duct for conveying the container filling material to the nozzle 9. The upper end of the rod is solid and embodies a rack 32. A collar 33 is fixed to the central portion of the rod 29 and forms a stop for limiting downward movement of the nozzle 9. This collar is spaced from the nozzle 9 a distance equal to the distance between the collar 24 and the nozzle 8 and embodies a handle Sil whereby manual lowering of the rod 29 by the operator of the apparatus is facilitated. The rod 29 is counterweighted like the rod I8 in order that it remains stationary except when moved manually or by power. For purposes of counterweighting the rod 2S, a counterweight `35 and a cable 36 are provided. The counterweight 35 is disposed next to the counterweight 22 for the rod I8 and is vertically movable in the standard EI. One end of the cable 36 is anchored to one end of the counterweight 35 and the other end of the cable is attached to a laterally extending pin (not shown) on the collar 33. The central portion of the cable extends over and around a pair of sheaves 3l and 38 on the upper cross-head I 3. The sheave 31 is located adJacent to the bearing 3| and the sheave 33 is mounted on the brackets 2l and is disposed over the open upper end of the standard II.

The material with which the containers C are to be lled is supplied to the nozzles 8 and 9 under pressure by way of a pipe system including a pipe 39 and a two-way valve 40. The pipe 39 1s adapted to have the material pumped into it under pressure from a tank or other source of supply (not shown), and is arranged so that the discharge end thereof terminates in front of the supporting structure and between the two crossheads. The valve 40 is mounted on a laterally extending ear 4I on the sleeve part l5 of the lower cross-head l2. It comprises a casing 42 and a rotatable plug 43 (see Figure 4) and constitutes the control means whereby the now of the material under pressure through the nozzles may be cut off at the conclusion of the container filling operations. The casing i2 of the valve is in the form of an inverted T and embodies a vertically extending inlet branch lil and a pair of horizontally extending, oppositely facing outlet branches 45 and 4S. The branch 45 extends in 75- shaft 89.

turn to drive a speed reducing unit 16 and consists of a pair of sprockets 11 and 18 and a chain 19. The sprocket 11 is xedly connected to the outer or projecting end of the shaft 15 and the sprocket 11 is xed to the drive shaft of the speed reducing unit 11. The chain 19 extends around vthe two sprockets 11 and 18 and forms a driving connection between the two. The speed reducing unit 16 is mounted on the upper cross-head I3 and embodies a horizontally extending driven The latter overlies and lextends parallel to the upper cross-head i3 and is journaled at its end in bearing brackets 8l. The pinions 615 and 65 are rotatably mounted on the outer ends of the shaft 88 and mesh with the racks 2l and 32 respectively. They are disposed outwardly of the bearing brackets 8l and are connected for drive by the shaft 89 through the medium of the clutches 62 and 63. The clutch 62 is associated with the pinion 64 and comprises a horizontally shiftable tooth equipped clutch mem-- ber 82. The latter is slidably mounted on and connected by splines for drive by the shaft Si! and is adapted when shifted inwards to engage outwardly facing teeth on the pinion 54 and clutch said pinion for drive by the shaft. When the clutch member 82 is in its operative position, that is, in clutched relation with the pinion, a driving connection is established between the shaft and the pinion. When this connection is established and the shaft 8U is rotated as a result of drive of the gear 63 of the gear pump by the passage or iiow of material under pressure through the pump casing 61, the pinion lili which is in meshI with the rack 2| operates through the medium of the rack to raise the rod i8 and the nozzle 8. When the container C beneath the nozzle 8 is being filled with the mate rial and the clutch member 82 of the clutch 62 is in its operative position the shaft I8 and the nozzle 8 are raised with the result that the nozzle moves upwardly in spaced relation with the level of the material in the container. By having the nozzle 8 move upwardly a small distance above the level of the material in the container under the nozzle voids in the material are eliminated and an effective and efficient filling of the con tainer results. The gearing comprising the pinion 54, the rack 2l, the speed reducing unit 16 and the chain and sprocket driving connection 6I is such that for a container of a given size the nozzle 8 raises at such a rate that it is spaced a uniform distance above the level of the material in the container beneath the nozzle 8 at all times during a lling operation. The clutch 53 is asso- Ciated with the pinion 65 and comprises a horizontally' shiftable clutch member 83. This member embodies inwardly facing clutch teeth and is slidably mounted on and connected by splines for drive by the shaft 80, and is adapted when shifted inwards to engage outwardly facing teeth on the pinion 65 and form a driving connection between this pinion and the shaft 80. When this connec-r tion is established and the shaft 80 is rotated as the result'of the flow of the material under pressure through the gear pump 60, the pinion 65 which is in mesh with the rack 32 on the upper end of the rod 29 operates to raise the rod together with its nozzle 9. When the container C beneath the nozzle 9 is being filled the clutch member 83 of the clutch 63 is shifted into its clutched position with the pinion 65 with the re-v sult that the nozzle 9 is automatically raised dur` ing the container filling operation. When the clutches 62 and 63 are in their unclutched po-E sition the rods I'8 and 29 are free so that they may be shifted downwardly by manual manipulation.

In order automatically to shift the clutch 62 into its clutched position when the control valve 48 is manipulated to effect flow of material un-. der pressure to the nozzle 8 and to shift the clutch 63 into its operative position when the valve is manipulated to effect flow of the material to the nozzle 9 in connection with filling of a container beneath the last mentioned nozzle, a linkage 84 is provided. This linkage comprises an arm 85, a vertically extending link 86, a bell crank 81, a horizontally extending link 8B, and a pair of clutch shifting levers 89 and 90. The arm 85 is connected to, and projects radially from, a stem 9i on the plug 43 of the control valve 40. The link 8B is pivotally connected at its lower end to the distal end of the arm 85, and

is pivotally connected at its upper end to one' arm of the bell crank 81. The bell crank, as shown in Figure 1, is pivotally connected to the sleeve-like part i6 of the upper cross-head I3. The other arm of the bell crank is pivotally connected to the central portion of the link 88. The clutch shifting lever 89 is pivotally connected to a bracket 92 on the bearing 29 and has a fork at one end thereof whereby it is pivotally connected to the clutch member 82 of the clutch 62. The other end of the lever 89 is pivotally connected to the contiguous end of the link 88. When the plug 43 on the control valve 40 is turned so as Ato establish communication between the inlet branch 44 and the outlet branch 45 of the valve the arm 85, the link 86, the crank 81 andL the link 83 so shift the clutch shifting lever 89 that the clutch 82 is brought into its operative position` The clutch shifting lever is associated with the clutch 63 and is pivotally connected to a bracket 93 on the bearing 3|. lever extends vertically and is provided at its upper end with a fork whereby it is pivotally connected to the clutch member 83 of the clutch 63. The lower end of the lever 90 is connected to the contiguous or adjacent end of the link 88. When the plug 43 of the control Valve 49 is shifted to establish communication between the inlet branch 44 of the valve casing and the outlet branch 4S in connection with filling of a container beneath the nozzle 9, the arm 85, the link 86, the bell crank 81 and the link 88 so shift the lever 99 as to bring the clutch 63 into its operative or clutched position. By having the clutch shifting levers 89 and 90 cross-connected by the link 88 of the linkage 84 one of the clutches is rendered operative and the other inoperative. When the plug 43 of the control valve is shifted in one direction one clutch is rendered inoperative and the other operative. When the plug is rotated in the opposite direction the one clutch is rendered operative and the other clutch inoperative. The linkage 84 exemplifies or constitutes simple means for clutching the pinion 64 for drive by the shaft 88 when the valve 4i] is manipulated to effect discharge of the material under pressure through the nozzle 8 and for clutching the pinion 65 for drive by the shaft 88 when the v valve 40 is manipulated to effect flow of the material under pressure to the nozzle 9.

In order to adjust or control the upward travel of the nozles 8 and 9 in connection with the filling of containers of different sizes, a Valve controlled by-pass 94 around the gear pump G0 is provided. This by-pass extends between the pipes 39 and 13 and includes a control valve This 95. When the valve is open a portion of the material under pressure is by-passed around the pump. When it is desired to lill large containers, that is, containers having a large diameter, the Valve .'-i is opened. 'Ihis results in a reduced drive of the pump 5B and a corresponding diminution of the rate of upward travel of the nozzles. When it is desired to ll containers having a small diameter the valve 95 is closed or partially closed. This results in greater flow of the material under pressure through the pump 5D and a corresponding increase in the .rate of v upward travel of the nozzles. By adjusting the valve 95 the speed of upward travel of the nozzles may be controlled so that it harmonizes with the iniiow of material into the containers. When the valve is properly adjusted the nozzles will raise, in connection with container filling operations, at such a rate of speed that the nozzles will be uniformly spaced at all times above the level of the material in the containers.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that there are two containers on the platforms p of the scales S and it is desired to ll the containers, the operator of the apparatus first moves downwardly the nozzle equipped rod i8 in order to bring the nozzle a slight'distance above the bottom of the container beneath such nozzle. After this step, the operator manipulates the control valve 4Q so as to eiect communication between the inlet branch lll of the valve casing and the outlet branch d5. During shift of the valve as aforesaid, the clutch 62 is shifted into its clutched position with respect to the pinion 6d and a driving connection is established between the pinion and the shaft 80. As material under pressure flows through the pump 6@ the valve lll and the nozzle 8, the rod I8 and the nozzle are caused automatically to raise, as hereinbefore described. While the container beneath the nozzle' is being filled the operator moves downwardly the 'rod 29 in order to bring the nozzle 9 into a position over the bottom of the subjacent container. When the container beneath the nozzle 8 is `filled to the desired extent, the operator by swinging the crank 59 rotates the plug #i3 of the control valve @il so as to cut off communication between the inlet branch 44 and the outlet branch d5 of the valve casing and establish communication between the inlet branch and the outlet branch 46. In connection with this control movement of the valve Ml the clutch S2 is shifted into its inoperative position and the clutch 65S is shifted into its operative position wherein a driving connection is established between the pinion 65 and the rack 32. During flow of the material under pressure through'` the nozzle 9 into the subjacent container the rod 29 together with the nozzle is raised, as hereinbefore described.

In the event that the nozzles do not travel upwardly in proper timed relation with the flow of the material into the containers it is only necessary for the operator to manipulate the valve of the valve-controlled by-pass 9d.

The herein described apparatus may be built at a comparatively low cost and effectively and eiiiciently fulfills its intended purpose. It is simple in design and is characterized by the fact that with the present nozzle raising mechanism any increase or decrease in the rate of flow of the material under pressure results in a corresponding increase or decrease in the upward rate of travel of the nozzles.

Whereas the invention has been described in connection with a duplex container lling apparatus, it is to be understood that it may be embodied in a single apparatus, that is an apparatus embodying a single nozzle. It is also to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth since these may `be modied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a container lling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structure to move into and out of the container, means for iiowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container lling purposes when the nozzle is in the container, and means actuated by the material during flow thereof to the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from the container during a container filling operation.

2. In a container lling apparatus of the `character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a counterweighted nozzle mounted on the structure to slide vertically into and out of the container and adapted manually to be lowered into the container, means for iiowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes upon lowering ofthe nozzle into the container, and means actuated by the material during flow thereof to the nozzle for raising the nozzle during a container iilling operation.

3. In a container filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structure to move into and out of the container, pipe means for iiowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes when the nozzle is in the container, and means including a rotary device driven by the material in transit through the pipe means to the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from the container during a container filling operation.

4. In a container filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structure to move vertically into and out of the container and adapted manually to be lowered into the container, pipe means for flowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container iilling purposes upon manual lowering of the nozzle into the container, and means including a rotary device connected to the pipe means and driven by the material in transit through said means to the nozzle for raising the nozzle during a container filling operation.

5. In a container filling aparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on` the structure to move into and out of the container, valve controlled means for flowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes when the nozzle is in the container, and means operative automatically upon opening of the valve and actuated by the material during flow thereof. to the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from the container during a container filling operation.

6. In a container lling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structure to move into and out of the container, valve controlled means for flowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes when the nozzle is in the container, means operative in response to ow of the material to the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from the container during a container filling operation, including a clutch adapted when engaged to render said means eective, and means for automatically engaging the clutch and rendering the withdrawing means operative upon opening of the valve.

'7. In a container filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structure to move into and out of the container, valve controlled pipe means for flowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes when the nozzle is in the container, means for raising the nozzle during a container lling operation comprising a rotary device adapted to be driven by the material in transit through the pipe means to the nozzle, a control clutch between the device and the nozzle adapted when engaged to render the withdrawing means operative and when disengaged to permit manual lowering of the nozzle, and means for automatically engaging the clutch upon opening of the valve.

8. Ina container filling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structure to move into and out of the container, means for owing material under pressure to the nozzle for container lling purposes when the nozzle is in the container, means operative in response to flow of the material to the nozzle for withdrawing the nozzle from the container during a container filling operation, and means for varying the speed of withdrawal of the nozzle.

9. In a container lling apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting structure, a nozzle mounted on the structure to move into and out of the container, pipe means for flowing material under pressure to the nozzle for container filling purposes when the nozzle is in the container, means including a rotary device connected to the pipe means and driven by the material in transit through said pipe means to the nozzle for raising the nozzle during a container lling operation, and means for varying the speed of Withdrawal of the nozzle comprising a valve controlled by-pass in the pipe means and around the rotary device.

BERTIE S. HARRINGTON.

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