US3578778A - Packaging apparatus for filling individual containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A high productivity packaging apparatus and method are based on utilization of a container and a plurality of circular arranged valves which are connected to and rotate with the container. During rotation each valve draws a unit of material to be packaged from the container at one station, holds the unit of material in the valve during continuing rotation and then discharges the unit of material at a discharge station to which empty containers are fed successively in synchronism with successive valves being discharged.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Ernest L. Matthews;

Ralph E. Matthews, Decatur, Ala. 805,149

Mar. 7, 1969 May 18, 1971 Matthew Machine Company, Inc. Decatur, Ala.

[21 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR FILLING INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS 3 Claims, 22 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 141/144, 14l/186,141/238, 141/242 [51 Int. Cl. ..B65b 43/42, I B67c 3/00 [50] Field of Search 141/1, 129,

144,160,186, 220, 234, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 34; 53/(lnquired); 198/(Inquired); 222/(lnquired), 168.5, 138, 170, 276, 361, 362, 365, 367

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,483 3/1952 Chapman 3,312,152 4/1967 Williamson Primary Examinerl-I0ust0n S. Bell, Jr. Attorney-B. B. Olive 'PmmEW-m 3578.778

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' SHEET. .12 0F 12 I II I I v l 9 E\ I 2 I C l I l I X/ g I L l INVENTORS I94 ERNEST LYNDEN MATTHEWS F G I 6 RALPH EMERSON MATTHEWS ATTORNEY PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR FILLING INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to improvements in the packaging art, and more particularly to a condiment-type materialpackaging apparatus and method for packaging individual serving type packages of, for example, sugar, salt pepper, mustard, catsup and the like. The packet to be filled may be of the preformed, printed type or may be formed froma continuous, preprinted roll of plastic and or paper of the heat sealable type by commercially available apparatus or the packet may be a bottle or box and in either case the packet-feeding means may be synchronously driven by the drive means of the packaging apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art US. Pat. Nos. 2,653,430, 2,746,223, and 3,344,576 are cited as being merely representative of what is otherwise a voluminous prior art. The priorart apparatus generally is complex, requires substantial space and does not meet the increasing high productivity requirement. Pertinent to the present invention it has been proposed as seen in US. Pat. No. 3,344,576 to rotate plural containers which temporarily store the material for the purpose of getting the material to the packets to be filled. It has also been proposed to rotate the packets themselves to facilitate filling. One also finds in the prior art various cam-actuated operators which act on the packets and which revolve and assist in the filling, metering or discharge functions which are inherent in any packaging apparatus. Metering is normally accomplished by stationary metering valves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides around the concept of providing a rotatable container which contains the material to be packaged, rotating the container at some uniform speed in a constant direction, simultaneously rotating a set of valves which are arranged in a circular configuration and which are connected to and which rotate with the container and operating the valves successively at a filling station so that as the valves rotate they draw off a unit of the material to be packaged from the container and which operation is followed by successive operation of the valves at a separate discharge station so that the units ofmaterial are discharged in sequence into containers synchronized to mate with the valves as they discharge.

In the preferred embodiment a hollow rotatable drum or rotor is mounted for rotation in a vertical plane upon the machine frame and is driven by a variable-speed electric motor. The rotor has a plurality of packet container filling spouts which are arranged substantially equidistantly about the periphery of the rotor and project radially. The filling spouts have associated cam-controlled metering and dispensing valves which are loaded at a filling station directly from a material-holding reservoir within the rotor and are unloaded at a discharge station in synchronism with the packets or containers to be filled.

With the aforementioned in mind it is a principal object of the instant invention to provide an apparatus and method capable of high productivity packaging of condiment-type materials or the like.

Another object is the provision of an integrated packaging machine enabling ease in handling and packaging of large volumes ofcondiments or like materials.

Yet another object is the provision of a packaging apparatus wherein the volume of material packaged per package may be closely controlled.

Still another object is the provision of a packaging machine wherein the volume of material packaged per package may be easily varied.

Yet another object is the provision of a packaging apparatus in which the valve-loading and material-dispensing operations utilize gravitational and centrifugal forces.

And yet another object is the provision of a packaging apparatus having a rotatable rotor which stores the material and from which the material to be packaged is directly fed to individual packets.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description and claims hereinafter set forth, particularly when taken in reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example and not of limitation, several embodiments of the instant invention for producing packages of condimentlike materials.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of a first embodiment of the packaging apparatus showing the rotor, the filling spouts around the rotor, the feed hopper, and the upper portion of the machine frame.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with selected parts broken or sectioned for illustration.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation view of theapparatus shown in FIGS. I and 2.

FIG. 4 is a section, partially schematic, view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 through a portion of the stationary cam and further illustrating the function of each of the cam profiles.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 through the cam-actuated metering and dispensing valve showing the valve in the valve filling positron.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1 showing the cam-actuated metering and dispensing valve in the valve holding position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1 showing the valve in the valve discharge" position.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1 wherein a plurality of rotary cam-actuated metering and dispensing valves are employed.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 with selected parts broken or sectioned for illustrating in greater detail the construction and mounting of the rotary valves.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevation view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9 showing the relationship of the stationary cam to the valve-actuating cam follower at various positions A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

FIGS. 11A through 116 are a plurality of sectioned views taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9 showing the rotational positions of the rotary metering and dispensing valves corresponding to positions A, B, C, D, E, F and G of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partially sectioned and broken rear elevation view of a third embodiment showing the relationship of the rotor, the filling spouts, and the actuating means for the metering and dispensing valves.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary and enlarged side view of the third embodiment rotor shown in FIG. 12 with selected parts sectioned or broken away to show the mounting of the rotor, the stationary cam and the metering and dispensing valves actuating means.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary, partially sectioned and broken rear view of the rotor of FIG. 13 showing in greater detail the elements comprising the metering and dispensing valves and their actuating means.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary and enlarged side view of a fourth embodiment with selected parts broken or sectioned and showing the rotary packager of FIG. 12 arranged so that two packets may be simultaneously packaged in a side-by-side relationship.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation view with selected parts broken or sectioned and illustrating a fifth embodiment employing another type metering and dispensing valve adapted to the apparatus of FIGS. 13 and 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numbers pertain to like parts reference is first made to FIGS. 1 through 7 wherein the general details of the preferred and first embodiment of this invention are shown.

The packager machine frame 10 consists of welded tubular construction which is provided with the floor-mounting feet 11, the drive motor mounting plate 12, the rotor-mounting channels 13 and 14, and the rotor-filling hopper support channels l5 and 16. Affixed to the rotor-mounting channels 13 and 14, by means of the screws 17, is the rotor-mounting base frame 18 which is also of welded construction. The rotormounting base frame 18 has affixed thereto the bearing support 19 which isformed ofa tube and has a machined exterior surface for the mounting of the ball bearings 22. The bearing support 19 is stationarily mounted to the rotor-mounting base frame 18 by means of the screws 21. The bearings 22 mount for rotation the annular bearing housing 23 which is provided with the integral timing belt drive pulley 24 on one end thereof.

The rotor 25 is of one-piece construction and is provided with the through bore 26 in its rear wall thereof and has its front face covered by a transparent cover plate 27 which is secured by the screws 28. The rotor 25 is affixed to the bearing housing 23 by means of screws 29 and is concentrically mounted with respect to its axis of rotation by means of bearings 22. The external annular wall of the rotor 25 is provided with externally machined surfaces 31 on which are mounted the metering and dispensing valves by means of screws 32.

The metering and dispensing valves 20 which are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are adapted to package four packets simultaneously however, more or less packets may be packaged with the appropriate modifications to the apparatus and the packets" may be either in continuous strip form or in the form of discrete containers such as bottles or boxes. Each metering and dispensing valve 20 comprises the slidable valve stem 33 with a plurality of valve ports 34 extending therethrough. The respective valve stems 33 are mounted to the exterior surfaces 31 of the rotor by means of the U- shaped valve blocks 35 and screws 32.

Integrally machined with the slidable valve stem 33 is the valve stem extension shaft 36 which projects through the valve stem retaining ring 37 and is affixed to the rotor 25 by means of screws 38. The threaded end 39 of the valve stem extension shaft 36 mounts the cam follower mounting bracket 41 and bracket 41 rotatably mounts the cam follower roller 42 by means of the pin 43. The cam follower mounting bracket 41 is retained in position with respect to the valve stem extension shaft 36 by means of the setscrew 44. The compression spring 46 provides the necessary force upon the cam follower mounting bracket 41 to maintain contact between the cam follower roller 42 and the surface profiles 47, 48 and 49 of the stationary cam 30.

The valve-mounting blocks 35 are provided with the packet-filling spouts 51 which may be brazed, welded or otherwise affixed thereto. The filling spouts 51 are thin walled, tubular members which are flush mounted with the surface 52 of the valve-mounting block 35 and project from the block a sufficient distance to insure entry into the packet, bottle, box or other container without the loss of any of the material being transported thereby. The filling spouts may of course be shaped to conform to the particular type of container being packaged. Additionally, the ends of the filling spouts 51 which are to project into the packets may be angularly relieved as shown in FIG. 1 to facilitate dispensing the material into the packet.

The plurality of valve stem ports 34 are aligned with the valve port loading scoops 53 during filling. Scoops 53 are of thin-wall, tubular construction and are mounted in the annular wall of the rotor 25 as by welding, brazing or the like. The valve-loading scoops 53 are flush mounted with respect to the surface 31 of the rotor 25. The portion of each valve-loading scoop 53 which projects into the chamber of the rotor 25 is relieved over one-half its circumference in the direction facing the direction of rotation of the rotor as indicated by the arrow of FIG. 1. Thus, the material residing inside rotor 25 is forcibly injected into the annular passageway provided by the valveloading scoops 53 and the aligned valve ports 34 by means of gravitational and centrifugal forces.

Rotor 25 is of course always rotated in the same direction and the speed of rotation while constant for a given material is preferably adjusted to the nature of the material. That is, to gain maximum advantage of both gravitational and centrifugal forces the speed should be adjusted to be sufficiently fast so that the metering valve tends to meter slightly in excess of a unit of material with the excess being eliminated by the fact that each respective metering void will only accept one unit of material. Paste materials therefore, such as mustard and catsup will normally require a somewhat higher speed than liquid and granular materials. Nevertheless, all materials will be subject to centrifugal force by reason of being rotated around the rotor axis.

The stationary cam 30 is mounted on the machine frame 10 substantially concentrically with the axis of rotation of rotor 25 by means of brackets 54 and 55, screws 56 and bolts 57. The cam followers are enclosed for safety to the operator by means of the annular guard 58 which is mounted on the stationary cam 30 by means of screws 59.

The system for storing and transferring the material prior to introduction to the rotor is arranged to handle large volumes with minimum handling. In particular, the system comprises the storage bin 60 which is of welded construction and which has the limited volume base 61 to facilitate pickup and which rests on the floor. Storage bin 60 is affixed to the machine frame 10 by means of the curved extending lip 62 engaging a crossmember thereof.

The elevating of the material from the storage bin 60 is accommodated by the vacuum-lift tube 63 which extends vertically from the limited volume base 61 of the storage bin 60 through the drive motor mounting plate 12, to which it is welded for support, and thence upward to the elevated hopper 64. The vacuum-lift tube 63 is provided with the flange 65 for mounting the pneumatically actuated aspirator 66. The flange-mounted elbow 67 affixed to the aspirator 66 directs the flow of the material into the hopper 64. A semiperforate cover plate, not shown, may be provided for those materials of low density which might be blown out of the hopper 64 by the high-velocity jetstream emanating from the aspirator 66. The aspirating medium which may be compressed air is supplied to the aspirator 66 from a source, not shown, by means of the line 68.

The elevated hopper 64 is mounted on the support channels 15 and 16 by means of the U-shaped supports 69 and 71. Hopper 64 is provided with support pins 72 and pin-mounting pads 73 which may be welded thereto and which mount hopper 64 for vibratory motion provided by the electrically powered vibrator 74 that is affixed to the underside of hopper 64. Hopper 64 is mounted sloping toward the rotor 25 and has attached thereto the rotor feed tube 75 which extends into the interior chamber of rotor 25.

A rotor level control 40 is provided to regulate and control the level of material residing interiorly of the rotor 25. The rotor level control comprises the level control vane 76 affixed to the vane support arm 77 which in turn is welded to the pivot shaft 78. The pivot shaft 78 is mounted for oscillatory motion by means of the tubular support 79 which is welded to the interior of the bearing support I The weight support arm 81 is pinned to the pivot shaft 78 by means of the pin 82 and has the flange 83 affixed to the end thereof whereby weights 84 may support arm 81 and which is electrically wired to control the power input to the hopper vibrator 74. Rotation of vane 76 of course rotates shaft 78 and causes corresponding rotation of I arm 81. The minimum level for material residing in the interior chamber of the rotor 25 is indicated by the line 86 of FIGS. 1 and 8. The maximum permitted level, while not indicated,

would be at that angle of rotation of the level control vane 76 at which the weight support arm 81 engages and actuates the limit switch 85.

The packaging apparatus drive means consists of the variable-speed, gear reduction drive motor 87 which is mounted upon the drive motor mounting plate 12 by means of the screws 88. Affixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 87 is the dual width timing belt pulley 89 with the timing belt 91 extending around the pulleys 89 and 24. The dual width timing belt pulley 89 is provided as a means whereby auxiliary equipment such as a packet former and packet sealer may be synchronously driven with respect to the rotor 25.

To summarize the operation of the first embodiment bin 60 is filled with a selected material and the apparatus is started so that rotor 25 is filled and is made to rotate at some ideal speed corresponding to the nature of the material. As rotor 25 rotates, the respective valve stems 33 will be actuated by the cam operators best shown in FIGS. 4 through 7 and each valve port 34 will, on each rotation, go through the filling, hold and discharge stages shown so as to fill with one unit of material, hold the unit of material and then discharge the unit of material at the discharge station in synchronism with respective containers arriving at the same discharge station. This basic operation will next be discussed in connection with other embodiments.

A second embodiment employs an alternative metering and dispensing valve construction in conjunction with a modified rotor and valve actuation means and is depicted in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11. This arrangement is adapted for use with the same basic packaging apparatus previously discussed. That is to say, the packaging apparatus components depicted in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 and henceforth to be described are completely intercharigeable as a unit with the corresponding components of the apparatus set forth supra.

In FIG. 9 the rotatable valve assembly 100 is shown adapted to package two packets simultaneously in a side-by-side relationship with the alternative of packaging a greater or lesser number of packets simultaneously by proper modification of the rotor and valve construction. Again it should be understood that by packets' is meant any suitable container whether in the form of a strip of packets, bottles, boxes or otherwise.

The rotor 92, being of the same general construction as that 'of the rotor 25, is provided with the through bore 26 in the rear wall thereof and has mounted thereon the transparent cover plate 27 by means of screws 28. The rotor 92 is affixed to the bearing housing 23 by means of screws 29 and is concentrically mounted for rotation about its axis by means of ball bearings 22. The annular wall of rotor 92 is provided with a plurality of external mounting pads 93 to facilitate mounting of rotatable valve assemblies thereon by means of screws 94.

The rotatable valves 100 each comprise valve block 95 and cylindrical valve stem 96 which has diametrically opposed ports 98 and 99. Stem 96 is adapted for rotation in the through bore 97 of the valve block 95 and the packet-loading spouts 101 are mounted in aligned bores which extend through valve block 95 in a transverse direction to that of bore 97. The packet-loading spouts 101 may be welded or brazed to the valve block 95. Additionally, there is provided a plurality of valve-loading'scoops 102 which are mounted to extend through theannular wall of the rotor 92 and into the valve block 95 so as to be flush with rotatable valve stem 96. The valve-loading scoops extend into the interior chamber of the rotor 92 with the extended end portion thereof being provided with the angular relief 103, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, whereby the material residing in the interior of the rotor is diverted and forced into the valve-loading scoops 102 by means of gravitational and centrifugal forces. The valve-loading scoops 102 may be press fitted into their respective mounting bores whereby they additionally function as locating and aligning means between the rotor 92 and the valve block 95.

Rotatable valve stem 96 is prevented from endwise motion with respect to valve block 95 by means of snap ring 104 and collar 105 which is affixed to rotate with the valve stem 96 by means of the setscrew 106. The collar 105 is provided with a spring-loaded ball detent, not shown, which is in engaging relationship with an annular relief, not shown, that is provided in the mating surface of the valve block when the valve is in the valve holding position, to be described.

The plurality of rotatable valve stems 96 have the shaft extensions 107 for mounting the cam followers 108. The cam followers 108 consist of the profiled cam-engaging fingers 109 and 111 which are welded together at right angles to each other as best shown in FIG. 10 and are affixed to the reduceddiameter end portion 112 of valve stem shaft extension 107 by means of setscrews 113.

The plurality of cam followers 108 are enclosed in the housing guard 114 which is of welded construction and which is mounted substantially concentrically with the axis of rotation of rotor 92 by means of brackets 54 and 55, screws 56 and bolts 57. The housing guard 114 functions as protection to the operator and mounts in a stationary position cam 115 by means of screws 116.

Stationary cam 115 is constructed having the dual stepped profiles 117 and 118 and the relieved area 119 which is best shown in FIG. 10. Cam follower engaging finger 111 is adapted to engage andfollow the cam profile 118 while camfollower engaging finger 109 is adapted to engage and follow cam profile 117 as rotor 92 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction about its axis as indicated by the arrow of FIG.'8. The cam profiles in combination with the cam follower fingers effect the rotation of the valve stems 96, also in a clockwise direction, through of rotation with each revolution of rotor 92.

FIG. 10 and FIGS. 11A through 11G depict the stepwise, sequential, rotational relationship between cam follower 108, cam 115 and the related rotation of a respective valve stem' 96 during that portion of a single revolution of rotor 92 just prior to a cam follower 108 engaging cam 115 at a position A and the point of imminent disengagement therefrom at the position G. From FIG. 10 is should be apparent that cam followers 108 engage cam 115 over only a limited portion of a complete revolution of rotor 92. During the period of time that cam followers 108 are out of engagement with cam 115 the associated valve stems 96 are maintained stationary within the valve body 95 by means of the valve holding spring-loaded, ball detent described supra.

As the respective cam follower 108 approaches cam profile 118 with the rotation of rotor 92, as at position A, valve stem 96 has its respective ports 98 and 99 aligned as shown at position A wherein filling scoop 102 and packet-filling spout '101 are blocked with respect thereto. Valve port 99 is filled with material while port 98 is empty. This is the valve holding position and represents the normal position of valve stem 96 during the major portion of a single revolution of rotor 92.

At position B cam follower 108 has been caused to rotate through a small angle due to the engagement of cam-engaging finger 111 with cam profile 118 and valve stem 96 is rotated whereby valve port 98 is beginning to open with respect to valve-loading scoop 102 and valve port 99 is beginning to open with respect to packet-filling spout 101..

At position C valve stem 96 has been caused to' further rotate in the clockwise direction and the opening of valve port 98 with respect to valve-loading scoop 102 along with that of valve port 99 with respect to packet-filling spout 101 has increased due to the relationship of cam follower 108 with respect to cam profile 118.

At the position D cam-engaging finger 111 of cam follower 108 is about to disengage from cam profile 118 and coincident therewith valve stem 96 has been rotated through an angle of substantially 90 whereby valve ports 98 and 99 are fully open to their respective valve-loading scoop 102 and packet-filling spout 101. At this position cam-engaging finger 109 has not yet engaged cam profile 117 of cam 115.

At position E the cam follower 108 has its cam-engaging finger 109 in engagement with cam profile 117 whereby valve stem 96 is being caused to close its respective ports 98 and 99.

Valve port 98 is filled with material from the interior of rotor 92 and port 99 is devoid of material.

At the position F the rotational sequence of cam follower 108 and valve stem 96 has been continued to the point that valve ports 98 and 99 are nearing the totally closed position with respect to valve-loading scoop 102 and packet-filling spout 101 respectively.

At position G cam follower 108 has cam-engaging finger 109 in the position where continued rotation of rotor 92 will not further effect the rotation of the cam follower or its respective valve stem 96. Valve stem 96 has been caused to rotate through an angle of 180. Valve port 98 is loaded with material while port 99 is devoid thereof and valve stem 96 is detented to maintain this holding position until the rotor has transported the cam follower around and back into engagement with cam profile 118. Thus with the passage of a cam follower 108 into and out of engagement with stationary cam 115 the respective pairs of ports of valve stem 96 are simultaneously unloaded and loaded in a continuous repeating cycle with the rotation of rotor 92 and each individual port repeats a cycle every two rotations of rotor 92.

FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 depict a third embodiment of the packaging apparatus of the instant invention in which rotor 120 is mounted for concentric rotation with respect to fixed position cam 121. The rotor is provided with the plurality of filling spouts 122 which are radially arranged substantially equidistantly around the periphery of rotor 120'and which have associated therewith reciprocable valves 130 which are additionally radially arranged with respect to rotor 120 and cam 121.

In FIG. 13 the'general relationship of the packager elements is best depicted wherein rotor 120 is of welded construction having the interior chamber 123 defined by rotor inner annular wall 124, rotor outer annular wall 125, rotor end plate 126, rotor-mounting hub 127 and rotor cover 128 which is affixed to rotor 120 by means of screws 129. Rotor cover 128 is provided with the through opening 131 defined by ring 132 which is welded thereto and which is substantially concentrically located with respect to the axis of rotation of rotor 120. Rotor feed tube 133 is provided disposed in a projecting manner into rotor chamber 123 by means of opening 131 of rotor cover 128 whereby the material to be packaged may be transferred from an elevated hopper arrangement into the interior chamber 123 of rotor 120 in the same general manner as that depicted in FIGv 2.

Rotor 120 is mounted for rotation by means of the fixed position bearing housing 134 having ball bearings 135 mounted therein in a spaced-apart relationship by means of spacer 136. Ball bearings 135 are retained in position within bearing housing 134 by means of bearing cap 137, screws 138 and fixed position cam 121 which is mounted concentrically with bearing housing 134 by means of cam shoulder 139 and cam-mounting screws 141. Mounted in ball bearings 135 is rotor drive shaft 142 which is adapted to extend through clearance bore 143 of cam 121 and to receive rotor-mounting hub 127. Rotor-mounting hub 127 is affixed to rotor drive shaft 142 by means of key 144, hub-mounting cap 145, and

retaining locking screw 146. Rotor drive shaft 142 is adapted to receive flexible coupling 147 which additionally is affixed to the drive shaft of variable electric motor 148. Drive motor 148 and bearing housing 134 are mounted in a fixed position to machine frame 149 by means of screws 153, 153.

The plurality of packet-filling spouts 122 are radially arranged in a substantially equidistantly spaced manner about the periphery of outer annular wall 125 of rotor 120 and are afiixed thereto by means of thin-walled, tubular spout adapters 152 and screws 160. Spout adapters 152 may be welded or brazed to rotor wall 125 and may be flush mounted with the interior surface thereof or they may be provided with a scoop extension similar to that of valve-loading scoops 102 of FIGS. 8, 9 and 11 whereby the material is forced into the valves by means of gravitational and centrifugal forces.

Spout adapters 152 are adapted additionally to function as the valve housing for the reciprocatively mounted variablevolume valves 130, the construction of which is best shown in FIG. 14, and which consists of the spaced-apart, contoured valve end caps 154 and 155. Each respective valve end cap 154 is affixed to the threaded stem 156 by means of the nut 157 while valve end cap 155 is affixed to the thin-walled, tubular stem 158 as by welding or brazing. Stems 156 and 158 are adapted to extend or retract with respect to each other by means of threads 159 whereby means is provided for varying the spacing between valve end caps 154 and 155 and simultaneously therewith the volume or standard unit of material that may be dispensed per valve. To facilitate easy adjustment of the spacing between valve end caps 154 and 155 there is provided rotatable adjuster 161 which has flat surfaces 162 for adaptation of a wrench or the like and which is provided with bore 163 for receipt of the notched end portion of stem 158 having diametrically Opposed, elongated notches 164 therein. Diametrically opposed pins 165 are fixedly mounted with respect to adjuster 161 and slidably engage notches 164 such that rotation of the adjuster 161 results in the extension or retraction of stem 158 with respect to stem 156. Stem 156 is provided with extension 166 which is adapted to be welded or brazed to cam follower 167. Inner annular wall 124 of rotor 120 is provided with antifriction bushing 168 which functions as a bearing guide for the reciprocatively disposed stern 158.

Compression spring 169 is provided to insure maintenance of contact between cam follower 167 and the profile of the stationary cam 121. Cam 121 is mounted having the lobe thereof projecting substantially vertically downward whereby valves will be caused to open when packet-filling spouts 122 are projecting downward. Due to the profile of cam 121 valves 130 are open to chamber 123 during the major portion of a rotor'revolution. Optionally the cam may be profiled to accommodate the filling of the valves immediately after emptying and holding in this position during the major portion of a single revolution of the rotor.

The apparatus of FIGS. 13 and 14 is depicted having a single, aligned row of filling spouts 122 whereby a single packet may be packaged. Alternatively the apparatus may be adapted with a double row of aligned packet-filling spouts and valves whereby two packets may be filled simultaneously as shown in FIG. 15 wherein the modified cam 197, the drive shaft 142 and the rotor 170 are adapted for the side-by-side arrangement of packet filling valves 130.

Cam 197 is affixed to bearing housing 134 by means of screws 141 and is concentrically aligned with the bearing housing by means of cam shoulder 171. Fixed position cam 197 is provided with dual cam profile surfaces 172 and 173 having the relief 174 therebetween to facilitate machining the surfaces to substantially identical profiles. The interior portion of cam 197 is provided with relief 175 to reduce the overhung weight thereof. Rotor 170 is mounted forrotation by means of elongated drive shaft 142 and is affixed thereto by means of key 144, hub-mounting cap 145, and retaining locking screw 146.

V Rotor 170 is of welded construction having the internal chamber 176 defined by rotor inner annular wall 177, outer annular wall 178, end plate 179, rotor hub 18], and rotor cover 128 which is affixed thereto by means of screws 129-. The material to be packaged is transferred to rotor chamber 176 by means of rotor feed tube 133 as previously described.

Reciprocatable valves 130 are of the same general construction as those described supra and are mounted to function in the same manner.

A fourth embodiment employs an alternative valve construction which is adaptable for use with the packaging apparatus of FIGS. 12, 13 and is shown in FIG. 16. This last embodiment is of the fixed volume type and consists of slidable valve body 182 having provided therein an angularly disposed valve port 183 which functionally serves as a valveloading scoop during the time valve port .183 is disposed within the rotor chamber in the valve filling position. Valve body 182 is threadably connected to valve stem 184 by means of a threaded end portion 185. Valve body 182 may be fixedly positioned with respect to valve stem I84 whereby port 183 is aligned with the direction of rotation of the rotor by means of a locking washer or by staking thereto. Valve stem 184 is affixed to cam follower 186 as by welding or brazing and is provided with compression spring 187 and spring adapter washer 188 whereby contact is maintained between the cam surface and cam follower 186. Filling spout mounting adapters 189 are radially arranged about the periphery of the rotor and are mounted thereon by welding, brazing orthe like and are provided with the angularly relieved end 190 to facilitate unloading of the valve port 183. The packet-filling spouts 122 are affixed to the spout-mounting adapters 189 by. means of the screws I80.

In FIG. 12 there is additionally shown the general arrangement of auxiliary apparatus that may be used in conjunction with the packaging apparatus of this invention when applied to strip-type packets. While not shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the rotor driven shaft 142 may be adapted to mount a timing belt drive pulley whereby the packet-forming rolls I92 and the filled packet sealing rolls 193 may be synchronously driven with respect to the rotor.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a rotor which revolves around a horizontal axis, it should be understood that the basic concept'could be applied to a rotor which revolves around a vertical axis. The figures should therefore generally be interpreted as being descriptive of rotation around either a vertical, horizontal or angular axes.- Of course, the particular shape of the valve intake and discharge openings is to be adapted to the particular mode of operation whether around a horizontal or a vertical axis.

The packet-forming paper 191 may be advanced from a supply source, not shown, and passed over a folding blade, not

- shown, for passage into the nip of the heated packet forming rolls I92 in the folded state. The packet-forming rolls provide a continuous strip of packets 194 which are continuously fed to the packet-filling spouts along an arcuate path due to the angular relationship between the packet-forming rolls 192 and the heated packet-sealing rolls 193. The arcuate'path imparted to the packets 194 results in the opening of the unsealed edge 195 sufficiently to enable the entry of the packetfilling spout. A conventional cutter 196, represented in fig. 12, severs the continuous strip of packets into single packages. The representation of packets 144 should of course be understood to represent not only strip packets but any suitable container such as bottles, boxes and the like, and in the case of bottles, boxes and the like container feed mechanism would be modified accordingly.

In the claims where the word fluid" appears such terminology should be understood as referring to a fluid material either in granular, e.g. sugar, salt, or paste, e.g. mustard, catsup, or liquid, e.g. olive oil or other salad dressing.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for metering and packaging amounts of fluid material comprising:

a. rotor means having a central horizontal axis of rotation and providing a circular container surrounding said axis measured and ada ted to hold a fluid material and rotate therewith;

b. a plura ity of substantially uniformly spaced and circularly arranged metering trap chambers mounted on a selected external surface of said container and rotatable therewith, each chamber having a movable metering member axially parallel with said central axis and defining a void for holding a measured unit of said material to be packaged, said metering member being positionable in a first fill position to communicate internally with said container and to receive a measured unit of said material in said void, in a second holding position to isolate and hold said measured unit of material in said void and in a third discharge position to externally discharge said measured unit of material from said void;

c. drive means for rotating said rotor means about said central axis at a uniform speed in a constant direction;

. actuation means mounted externally of and adjacent the periphery of said container for positioning said chamber metering members consecutively according to their peripheral position on said container and in said first, second and third position sequence such that the sequence periodically repeats and such that said third discharge position is assumed by each said metering member while passing a discharge station, said actuation means comprising a stationary cam and individual operators for each said metering trap chamber, said operators being mounted externally of said rotor means and rotatable with said rotor means and positioned by successive portions of said cam, said operators and said chamber metering members being arranged for sliding movement along an axis parallel to said rotor means central axis and whereby said cam and operators effect sliding movement of said chamber metering members along said parallel axis;

e. means for guiding and longitudinally moving a continuous series of separate containers to be filled past said discharge station, each containerhaving an open end adapted to mate with and receive the discharge of a measured unitof material from a selected saidchamber in synchronism with the metering member of said chamber assuming said third discharge position at said discharge station such that said containers are filled in a continuous sequence as they are moved past said discharge station; and

f. filling means comprising a storage receptacle containing a volume of said material, conveyor means to convey said material from said receptacle to said container, and levelling means controlling said conveyor means and effective to maintain a predetermined level of material in said container.

2. In a metering and packaging apparatus as claimedin claim I wherein each said (valve) metering trap chamber is provided with a selected number of pairs of intake and discharge openings and a void for each such pair, the axis of each said intake opening is parallel to and laterally offset from the axis of a corresponding discharge opening, said cam and operator means act to slide said (valve) chamber metering (means) member and to bring each respective void therein into alignment with the respective said intake opening in said first fill position, to bring each said respective void out of alignment with both said intake and discharge openings during said second hold position and to bring said void into alignment with said discharge opening during said third discharge position to thereby effect said sequential filling of said containers at said discharge station.

' 3. In a metering and packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said selected number of pairs of intake and discharge openings comprises a plurality of side by side pairs of said offset intake and discharge openings, each said (valve) chamber metering (means) member contains a plurality of said voids for each said pair of openings to thereby effect sequential filling of a plurality of said containers simultaneously at said discharge station.

Claims (3)

1. Apparatus for metering and packaging measured amounts of fluid material comprising: a. rotor means having a central horizontal axis of rotation and providing a circular container surrounding said axis and adapted to hold a fluid material and rotate therewith; b. a plurality of substantially uniformly spaced and circularly arranged metering trap chambers mounted on a selected external surface of said container and rotatable therewith, each chamber having a movable metering member axially parallel with said central axis and defining a void for holding a measured unit of said material to be packaged, said metering member being positionable in a first fill position to communicate internally with said container and to receive a measured unit of said material in said void, in a second holding position to isolate and hold said measured unit of material in said void and in a third discharge position to externally discharge said measured unit of material from said void; c. drive means for rotating said rotor means about said central axis at a uniform speed in a constant direction; d. actuation means mounted externally of and adjacent the periphery of said container for positioning said chamber metering members consecutively according to their peripheral position on said container and in said first, second and third position sequence such that the sequence periodically repeats and such that said third discharge position is assumed by each said metering member while passing a discharge station, said actuation means comprising a stationary cam and individual operators for each said metering trap chamber, said operators being mounted externally of said rotor means and rotatable with said rotor means and positioned by successive portions of said cam, said operators and said chamber metering members being arranged for sliding movement along an axis parallel to said rotor means central axis and whereby said cam and operators effect sliding movement of said chamber metering members along said parallel axis; e. means for guiding and longitudinally moving a continuous series of separate containers to Be filled past said discharge station, each container having an open end adapted to mate with and receive the discharge of a measured unit of material from a selected said chamber in synchronism with the metering member of said chamber assuming said third discharge position at said discharge station such that said containers are filled in a continuous sequence as they are moved past said discharge station; and f. filling means comprising a storage receptacle containing a volume of said material, conveyor means to convey said material from said receptacle to said container, and levelling means controlling said conveyor means and effective to maintain a predetermined level of material in said container.

2. In a metering and packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said (valve) metering trap chamber is provided with a selected number of pairs of intake and discharge openings and a void for each such pair, the axis of each said intake opening is parallel to and laterally offset from the axis of a corresponding discharge opening, said cam and operator means act to slide said (valve) chamber metering (means) member and to bring each respective void therein into alignment with the respective said intake opening in said first fill position, to bring each said respective void out of alignment with both said intake and discharge openings during said second hold position and to bring said void into alignment with said discharge opening during said third discharge position to thereby effect said sequential filling of said containers at said discharge station.

3. In a metering and packaging apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said selected number of pairs of intake and discharge openings comprises a plurality of side by side pairs of said offset intake and discharge openings, each said (valve) chamber metering (means) member contains a plurality of said voids for each said pair of openings to thereby effect sequential filling of a plurality of said containers simultaneously at said discharge station.

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