CA1167810A - Variable volume, positive displacement sanitary liquid dispensing machine - Google Patents
Variable volume, positive displacement sanitary liquid dispensing machineInfo
- Publication number
- CA1167810A CA1167810A CA000434843A CA434843A CA1167810A CA 1167810 A CA1167810 A CA 1167810A CA 000434843 A CA000434843 A CA 000434843A CA 434843 A CA434843 A CA 434843A CA 1167810 A CA1167810 A CA 1167810A
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- pump
- valve
- tank
- piston
- dispensing
- Prior art date
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A filling machine for dispensing sometimes viscous liquid in measured amounts to containers wherein a carrier sup-ports a plurality of individual containers with open upper ends for lateral orbiting movement with a central tank, a pump and valve assembly orbits with the carrier and has a plurality of rotary valves, communicating with outward passages from the tank and with piston pumps, and also, communicating the piston pumps with dispensing openin~gs arranged above the containers. The pistons of the pumps are controlled by a pivotal cam track which can be swung to various positions to change the extent of the suction stroke of each piston, when operated by an actuating mem-ber. The machine is particularly designed for disassembly and for cleaning, the pump and valve assembly having indi-vidually detachable housings for each pump and valve sus-pended on radial supports.
A filling machine for dispensing sometimes viscous liquid in measured amounts to containers wherein a carrier sup-ports a plurality of individual containers with open upper ends for lateral orbiting movement with a central tank, a pump and valve assembly orbits with the carrier and has a plurality of rotary valves, communicating with outward passages from the tank and with piston pumps, and also, communicating the piston pumps with dispensing openin~gs arranged above the containers. The pistons of the pumps are controlled by a pivotal cam track which can be swung to various positions to change the extent of the suction stroke of each piston, when operated by an actuating mem-ber. The machine is particularly designed for disassembly and for cleaning, the pump and valve assembly having indi-vidually detachable housings for each pump and valve sus-pended on radial supports.
Description
67E~
The invention particularly relates to container filling ~ machines of the type useful in the environment designated : in U. S. Patent No. 3,800,400 and more particularly relates to improvements in machines o~ the type disclosed in U. S.
v 5 Patent No. 3,601,288. While not limited to the dispensing of charges of material into plastic containers, the machine is particularly useful in dispensing a predetermined quan-tity of fluid, or semi-1uid product from a supply which is contained in a tank or the like, and typical products may include yogurt and milk.
:.
According to the invention, there is provided in a machine for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid material and the like in measured amountsto containers and having a supply tank with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial tank outlet openings; a frame; carrier means rotatable thereon for supporting a multiplicity of containers with open upper ends mounted for lateral orbiting movement with said tank;
a filler pump and Yalve assembly, mounted to orbit with the carrier means, and connected with said tank, the as-sembly having a plurality of passages communicating withthe tank outlet openings, the assembly also having a plurality of separate pump communicating passages, and a ~67~3:10 plurality of separate dispensing openings disposed above the path of movement of the carrier means and the con-tainers thereon; the said passages being arranged in radially aligned sets in valve housings, each housing having a tank outlet passage, a pump communicating passage, and a dispensing openiny; said assembly also including a valve for each housing with passage means in the valve in one position feeding material to the pump communicating opening from the tank outlet passage and in another posi-tion feeding material from the pump communicating passageto the dispensing opening; and a pump cylinder on said assembly for each passage set in communication with the `. pump communication opening of the valve housing; each pump cylinder having a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in a suction and ejection stroke; arcuate cam track means about which the pump pistons orbit, th~ pistons : being connectad with followers moved by the cam track means to provide the stroke of the pistons and determine the amount of material moved by a pump piston out of the dis-- 20 pensing opening of each set; the improvement wherein a recess is provided in each said valve housing surrounding said dispensing opening; a plug member is lockably releasably receivable by sa.id valve housing in said recess outboard of said dispensing opening to block said recess, a passage in each of said valve housings separated from the dispensing opening leads from the recess and inner face of said plug member through the housing to an exit port, and conduit means connects said exit port with the tank to recirculate cleaningliquid thereto.
Other feature~ of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary~ sectional, side elevational view of the filling machine;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional, elevational view more particularly illustrating ~he dispensing valve assembly and associated parts;
Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view illustratins~ posi-tions of the pump piston controlling cams and the abutments for shifting the dispensing valve handles to rotate the valves;
Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of one of the abutments illustrating the mechanism for retracting it when no con-tainer is in position to receive a charge of material from the pump;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the manner in which the valve and pump housings are mounted for ready disassembly;
Figure 6 is a front elevational view of one of the pump housings;
Figure 7 is a front elevational view of one of the valve housings; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view with the curvilinear cams shown as though they were linear, the chain lines illustrating another position of the swingable cam and the cam follower roller.
~ 6~
Reerring now more particularly to the.accompanying draw-ings, the machine is shown as having a frame F supporting an upstanding sleeve 10 which has a flange lOa bolted to the frame at 11. Bearings 12 and 13 mounted by sleeve 10 ~ournal a central shaft 14 which is adapted to be driven by a spur gear 15 connected with any suitable source of rotary power.
A rotatable tank mounting cage, to be later described r supports a liquid filled tanX 16 for rotation Wi~l the lQ shaft 14. Also mounted for rotation with the assembly are a plurality of pump housings A, pins 17 being provided to locate the housings A in place surrounding the outlet por~
tion 16a of tank 16 as shown. It is to be understood that the outlet portion 16a has an outlet passage 18 and that the number of housings ~ depend on how many containers are to be supported on the machine and illed during the revo-lution of shaft 14. The passages 18 are in radial align-ment with passages 18a provided in the pump housings A, which, as Figure 2 indicates, are sandwiched between the tank outlet portion 16a and a plurality of valve housings 19 which are mounted outboard radially of each pump housing A. ~s Figure 2 indicates, seal rings 20 are provided around outlet portion 18 in slots 21 provided in each hous-ing A to seal passages 18 and 18a at the junc~ure of hous-ings A and outlet portion 16a, and circular seal rings 22are provided in slots 23 in the housings 19 to seal the - passages 18a and passages l9a provided in the housings 19 at the juncture of the housings 19 and A.
Each pump housing A includes a dependent cylinder 24 within which a pump piston 25 is mounted, the upper part 25a of each pump pi~on 25 being slotted to receive a sealing O-ring 26 as shown. Each valve housing 19 is provided with a frustoconically shaped recess R communicating with an associated passage 19a to receive a rotary frustoconical valve 27 whick later will be more particulary described, : .
O
: and it will be seen that a pump cylinder 24 is positioned opposite each recess R and valve 27. Springs 27b retained by removable retainers 27a secured in the outer ends of the recesses R urge valves 27 inwardly and a sealing ring 27d is provided as shown. Openi.ngs 29 are prov.ided in the radial outer wall of each pump cylincler 24, so that when a valve 27, with its port system 30, is in the position shown in Figure 2, it communicates the passage l9a with the filling passage 31 above piston 25 via a port 29. Each port system 30 includes ports 30a and 30b, and a port 30e perpendicular to port 30b, and in the Figure 2 position, ports 30a and 30b communicate passage l9a with pump cylin-der 24. Each pump housing A carries a container supporting pedestal 32 having a partl~ enclosing side wall 32a for supporting an open topped yogurt container ~ which is in position to be filled through a dispensing opening 33 provided above each pedestal 32 in communication with each valve recess R. It is to be understood that, when the ~ valve 27 is rotated approximately 90 from the suction position in which it is shown in Figure 2, port 30e of angle shaped passage system 30 will communicate with the dispensing opening 33 and deIiver material ejected by the pump piston ~5a through port 29 and the port 30b of pas-sage system 30 to dispensing opening 33 via port 30e.
.Mounted below valve housings 19 are a pair of semi-circular, detachable, orbiting, condensate collecting and spill trays 34, each having passages 34a beneath each opening 33 formed by riser walls 35 which are of greater height than the tray outer lips 36.
It will be seen that each pump piston 25 includes an upper stem part 25b and a lower stem part 25c, joined by a coup-ling 37.
The rotatable tank supporting annulus frame or cage C, which is journalled by a be~ring 39, includes a top plate 41 to which an under plate 42 is bolted as at 43. Under 8:~
plate 42 is bolted to the annulus as at 44. Depending from plate 4~ is the flange ~0 which is welded to shaft 14 and may be bolted to plate 42 as at 45. A pin 46 centrally disposed in openings 47, 48 and 49 in men~ers 42, 41, and a bottom plate 16b ~or tank 16, respectively, is provided as shown to aid in loca~ing the parts for assembly.
As Figure l indicates, a guide ring 50, bolted to the cage C intermediate it length as at 51, mounts slide bearings 52 for the pump piston lower stem parts 25c, and a further guide ring 53 with slide bushings 54 for the piston stem parts 25c is also provided.
Figure l shows a pump piston 25 in both an upper and lower position. To guide each piston in its vertical travel relative to cage C and to prevent piston rotation, a guide means in the form of a laterally projecting follower roller 55 is received within a recessed guideway 56 formed in cage C. Each roller 55 is mounted on a threaded stem 55a received in a threaded opening 57 provided in a block 58 fixed to the lower stem part 25c of each piston 25.
The vertical position of each piston 25 at any time is determined by the vertical position of a cam follower rol-ler 59 which is mounted in a block 60 dependent from each block 58. The vertical position of each roller 59 is in-fluenced by either an upper arcuate cam part 61 or a lower annular cam part 62~ dependent on its orbital position.
The lower cam part 62 is fixedly secured to an angle plate 64 which is fixedly secured to frame F. The upper cam part Sl is pivotally secured as at 65 to a brace 66 projecting in-wardly from frame F and mounted for vertical swinging movement upwardly and downwardly relative to fixed cam part 62 to vary the lower limit position of each plunger 25 and deter-mine the volume of liquid dispensed according to the size of the container being filled. To accomplish the desired adjustment of upper cam part 61, a nut 67 pinned to the o end of the cam part 61 as at 68, receives a screw 69 which is journalled by frame F as at 70O A gear 71 on the lower end of screw 69 is in mesh with a worm gear 72 fixed on an adjusting shaft 73 which is fixed against axial movement journalled b~ frame F. Preferably, a hand wheel 74 may be provided on shaft 73 to permit its manual rotation or, if desired, the shaft 73 could be motor driven. The lowermost positions of cam 61 and roller 59 are indicated at 61' and 59' respectively in Figure 8.
Figure 3 schematically depicts the positions of the cam parts 61-62 and control or actuation abutments 75 and 76 for the valve 27. These abutments are provided in the rotary path of the levers or handles 77 which are pinned as at 77a to the stem portion ~7a of each valve 27, handles 77 having stems 77b received in bores 27e provided in the outer end of each valve 27. The abutment 75 is fixed in position and arranged to rotate the valves ~7 approximately 90 degre~ when the ends o~ the handles 77 strike them, to a suction position in which the port systems 30 is in com-munication with passages l9a and out of communication with openings 33. This occurs after the charge of material has been delivered to the container at a time when the pump pistons 25 are in "up" position. Abutment 76 normally reverses each valve 27 because it is a~ a different level in position to engage the opposite upper end of each handle 77 and cause it to swing in the opposite direction. It is to be observed, however, that the abutment 76 is retract-able from normal position, for example when no container is in position to receive a charge of material from the pump, to a position in which it is radially out of the path of the handles 77 and will not activate them to move the valve bodies 27 to a dispensing position. For this reason, abutment 76 is mounted on a bar 78 tFigure 4) hav-ing stems 78a received in bushings 79 provided in a sole-noid casing 80. The stems 78a are in surrounding relationwith a soleno~d core 81 and spring 82 is provided to normally orce bar 78 to out~r normal position.
Certain critical parts are fabricated and assembled in a particular manner to permit their ready disassembly for periodic cleaning purposes. In addition, a "clean-in-place" system is provided which is used to clean the partson a daily basis. Figures 5 through 7 particularly indi-cate the manner in which the housings 19 and A are supported by the tank bottom plate 16b in the manner which permits them to be easily disassembled from the cage C. It will be observed that the outer perimeter of plate 16b is a fourteen-sided polygon and it will further be observed that threaded openings 83 are provided in the tank part 16b at the junctures of the mounting walls o~ the portions 16b to accommodate radially extending support members in the form o studs 84.
As Figure 6 particularly indicates, the housings A in front elevation are substantially T-shaped and include converging recesses 85 from which the housings A are sus-pended on studs 84. Likewise, (see Figure 7) the housings 19, which also are generally T-shaped in front elevation, have converging recesses 86 to similarly suspend the housings 19 on the studs 84. Clamp washers 87 provided on the studs 84 may b~ secured by nuts 88 within recesses formed by shouldering the housings 19 as at l9c, and as will be seen have wedge walls 87a which engage with simi-larly inclined walls 8g on the housings 19 to clamp the housings 19, and thereby the housings A, securely in posi-tion. To disassemble the housings 19 and A for cleaning and obtain access to passages 18, it i8 merely necessary to back off the nuts 88 and lift the housings 19 and A
vertically from the studs 84. It is extremely easy like-wise then to simply replace them in position again and tighten nuts 88 when re-~assembly is to be effected.
When it is desired to clean the critical parts of the assembly "in place", the semi-circular trays 34 are removed and plug members 90 (Figure 7) are pushed up into position in the reces~ed openings 91 provided in housings 19 sur rounding dispensing openings 33. Each plug 90 includes a shoulder portivn 90a snugly fitting into opening 91 and has a O-ring or other suitable seal 92, as shown. To se-cure the plugs 90 in position, outboard walls 93 thereon have bayonet slots 94 for receiving pins 95 provided on the housings 19 and the plugs90 are twisted to engage the pins 95 in the slots as the plugs 90 are moved into posi-tion. Leading upwardly from each housing 19 from plug rece~ving chamber 91, i5 an exit port 96 leading to a tube 97. Tube 97, as indicated in Figure 1 leads back into tank 16.
In order to clean the assembly in place, each of the reces-ses 91 in each housing 19 is fitted with a plug 90 and water introduced through the tube 98 into the interior of tank 16 is then recirculated through ~he housings A and 19 back to the tank 16 via ports 96 and tubes 97. Only one 2n tube 97 has been shown in Figure 1 but it is to be under-stood that-each of the housings 19 may have a~hose 97 or khat a manifold ~not shown) can be provided to which ports 96 lead and that a single tube may then lead from it back into tank 16. When a water flush has been accomplished, one of the valves 27 can be removed to drain ~he water from the system. Thereafter the process can be repeated with a sanitary cleaning solution, and suitable water and cleaning solution flushes can be alternated until the de-sired sanitary cleaning has been accomplished.
It is believed that the operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In practice, as indicated in Figure 3, a star wheel 99 is provided to deliver containers to each pedestal 32 as the pedestals move past the pockets 99a in the star wheel.
Just prior to,the time that a particular pedestal 32 i7~
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reaches the container loading position, abutment 75 has been engaged by the handle 77 of the particular housing 19 to rotate the particular valve 27 through substantially 90 to the "fill" position. At this time, the piston 25 is in S its lowermost position, riding on the lower fixed cam 62.
As the particular assembly rotates around, fixed cam 62 (see Figure 8) moves the piston 25 upwardly to dispense fluid to the container and by the time fixed abutment 75 is reached, the dispensing operation has been completed.
When the opposite end of handle 77 contacts abutment 75, ~he valve 27 is reversed to bring the valve 27 to the Fig-ure 2 position, and the suction stroke of the pump piston 25 can begin. By ~he time a container reaches the star wheel 100 and is removed by it, valve 27 has completely closed and the position of star wheel 100 is such that its pockets lOOa engage and remove the container from each pedestal 32 at a point slightly downstream from the fixed abutment 75.
It is the upper cam 61 which moves the piston 25 downwardly in the suction stroke indicated in Figure 3. As Figure 8 demonstrates, the pivotal position of cam 61 determines the length of the suction stroke within certain predeter-mined limit~ to handle the volume requirements of various containers. In Figure 8 the two extreme bottom positions of the follower rollers 59 are shown at 59 a~d 59' respec-tively. When the roller 59 is in the position indicated in solid lines in Figure 8, it can move acros6 to!the cam surface of cam 62 in the path x and bypasses part of the ~ cam surface 62.
The invention particularly relates to container filling ~ machines of the type useful in the environment designated : in U. S. Patent No. 3,800,400 and more particularly relates to improvements in machines o~ the type disclosed in U. S.
v 5 Patent No. 3,601,288. While not limited to the dispensing of charges of material into plastic containers, the machine is particularly useful in dispensing a predetermined quan-tity of fluid, or semi-1uid product from a supply which is contained in a tank or the like, and typical products may include yogurt and milk.
:.
According to the invention, there is provided in a machine for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid material and the like in measured amountsto containers and having a supply tank with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial tank outlet openings; a frame; carrier means rotatable thereon for supporting a multiplicity of containers with open upper ends mounted for lateral orbiting movement with said tank;
a filler pump and Yalve assembly, mounted to orbit with the carrier means, and connected with said tank, the as-sembly having a plurality of passages communicating withthe tank outlet openings, the assembly also having a plurality of separate pump communicating passages, and a ~67~3:10 plurality of separate dispensing openings disposed above the path of movement of the carrier means and the con-tainers thereon; the said passages being arranged in radially aligned sets in valve housings, each housing having a tank outlet passage, a pump communicating passage, and a dispensing openiny; said assembly also including a valve for each housing with passage means in the valve in one position feeding material to the pump communicating opening from the tank outlet passage and in another posi-tion feeding material from the pump communicating passageto the dispensing opening; and a pump cylinder on said assembly for each passage set in communication with the `. pump communication opening of the valve housing; each pump cylinder having a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in a suction and ejection stroke; arcuate cam track means about which the pump pistons orbit, th~ pistons : being connectad with followers moved by the cam track means to provide the stroke of the pistons and determine the amount of material moved by a pump piston out of the dis-- 20 pensing opening of each set; the improvement wherein a recess is provided in each said valve housing surrounding said dispensing opening; a plug member is lockably releasably receivable by sa.id valve housing in said recess outboard of said dispensing opening to block said recess, a passage in each of said valve housings separated from the dispensing opening leads from the recess and inner face of said plug member through the housing to an exit port, and conduit means connects said exit port with the tank to recirculate cleaningliquid thereto.
Other feature~ of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary~ sectional, side elevational view of the filling machine;
Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional, elevational view more particularly illustrating ~he dispensing valve assembly and associated parts;
Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view illustratins~ posi-tions of the pump piston controlling cams and the abutments for shifting the dispensing valve handles to rotate the valves;
Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of one of the abutments illustrating the mechanism for retracting it when no con-tainer is in position to receive a charge of material from the pump;
Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the manner in which the valve and pump housings are mounted for ready disassembly;
Figure 6 is a front elevational view of one of the pump housings;
Figure 7 is a front elevational view of one of the valve housings; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side elevational view with the curvilinear cams shown as though they were linear, the chain lines illustrating another position of the swingable cam and the cam follower roller.
~ 6~
Reerring now more particularly to the.accompanying draw-ings, the machine is shown as having a frame F supporting an upstanding sleeve 10 which has a flange lOa bolted to the frame at 11. Bearings 12 and 13 mounted by sleeve 10 ~ournal a central shaft 14 which is adapted to be driven by a spur gear 15 connected with any suitable source of rotary power.
A rotatable tank mounting cage, to be later described r supports a liquid filled tanX 16 for rotation Wi~l the lQ shaft 14. Also mounted for rotation with the assembly are a plurality of pump housings A, pins 17 being provided to locate the housings A in place surrounding the outlet por~
tion 16a of tank 16 as shown. It is to be understood that the outlet portion 16a has an outlet passage 18 and that the number of housings ~ depend on how many containers are to be supported on the machine and illed during the revo-lution of shaft 14. The passages 18 are in radial align-ment with passages 18a provided in the pump housings A, which, as Figure 2 indicates, are sandwiched between the tank outlet portion 16a and a plurality of valve housings 19 which are mounted outboard radially of each pump housing A. ~s Figure 2 indicates, seal rings 20 are provided around outlet portion 18 in slots 21 provided in each hous-ing A to seal passages 18 and 18a at the junc~ure of hous-ings A and outlet portion 16a, and circular seal rings 22are provided in slots 23 in the housings 19 to seal the - passages 18a and passages l9a provided in the housings 19 at the juncture of the housings 19 and A.
Each pump housing A includes a dependent cylinder 24 within which a pump piston 25 is mounted, the upper part 25a of each pump pi~on 25 being slotted to receive a sealing O-ring 26 as shown. Each valve housing 19 is provided with a frustoconically shaped recess R communicating with an associated passage 19a to receive a rotary frustoconical valve 27 whick later will be more particulary described, : .
O
: and it will be seen that a pump cylinder 24 is positioned opposite each recess R and valve 27. Springs 27b retained by removable retainers 27a secured in the outer ends of the recesses R urge valves 27 inwardly and a sealing ring 27d is provided as shown. Openi.ngs 29 are prov.ided in the radial outer wall of each pump cylincler 24, so that when a valve 27, with its port system 30, is in the position shown in Figure 2, it communicates the passage l9a with the filling passage 31 above piston 25 via a port 29. Each port system 30 includes ports 30a and 30b, and a port 30e perpendicular to port 30b, and in the Figure 2 position, ports 30a and 30b communicate passage l9a with pump cylin-der 24. Each pump housing A carries a container supporting pedestal 32 having a partl~ enclosing side wall 32a for supporting an open topped yogurt container ~ which is in position to be filled through a dispensing opening 33 provided above each pedestal 32 in communication with each valve recess R. It is to be understood that, when the ~ valve 27 is rotated approximately 90 from the suction position in which it is shown in Figure 2, port 30e of angle shaped passage system 30 will communicate with the dispensing opening 33 and deIiver material ejected by the pump piston ~5a through port 29 and the port 30b of pas-sage system 30 to dispensing opening 33 via port 30e.
.Mounted below valve housings 19 are a pair of semi-circular, detachable, orbiting, condensate collecting and spill trays 34, each having passages 34a beneath each opening 33 formed by riser walls 35 which are of greater height than the tray outer lips 36.
It will be seen that each pump piston 25 includes an upper stem part 25b and a lower stem part 25c, joined by a coup-ling 37.
The rotatable tank supporting annulus frame or cage C, which is journalled by a be~ring 39, includes a top plate 41 to which an under plate 42 is bolted as at 43. Under 8:~
plate 42 is bolted to the annulus as at 44. Depending from plate 4~ is the flange ~0 which is welded to shaft 14 and may be bolted to plate 42 as at 45. A pin 46 centrally disposed in openings 47, 48 and 49 in men~ers 42, 41, and a bottom plate 16b ~or tank 16, respectively, is provided as shown to aid in loca~ing the parts for assembly.
As Figure l indicates, a guide ring 50, bolted to the cage C intermediate it length as at 51, mounts slide bearings 52 for the pump piston lower stem parts 25c, and a further guide ring 53 with slide bushings 54 for the piston stem parts 25c is also provided.
Figure l shows a pump piston 25 in both an upper and lower position. To guide each piston in its vertical travel relative to cage C and to prevent piston rotation, a guide means in the form of a laterally projecting follower roller 55 is received within a recessed guideway 56 formed in cage C. Each roller 55 is mounted on a threaded stem 55a received in a threaded opening 57 provided in a block 58 fixed to the lower stem part 25c of each piston 25.
The vertical position of each piston 25 at any time is determined by the vertical position of a cam follower rol-ler 59 which is mounted in a block 60 dependent from each block 58. The vertical position of each roller 59 is in-fluenced by either an upper arcuate cam part 61 or a lower annular cam part 62~ dependent on its orbital position.
The lower cam part 62 is fixedly secured to an angle plate 64 which is fixedly secured to frame F. The upper cam part Sl is pivotally secured as at 65 to a brace 66 projecting in-wardly from frame F and mounted for vertical swinging movement upwardly and downwardly relative to fixed cam part 62 to vary the lower limit position of each plunger 25 and deter-mine the volume of liquid dispensed according to the size of the container being filled. To accomplish the desired adjustment of upper cam part 61, a nut 67 pinned to the o end of the cam part 61 as at 68, receives a screw 69 which is journalled by frame F as at 70O A gear 71 on the lower end of screw 69 is in mesh with a worm gear 72 fixed on an adjusting shaft 73 which is fixed against axial movement journalled b~ frame F. Preferably, a hand wheel 74 may be provided on shaft 73 to permit its manual rotation or, if desired, the shaft 73 could be motor driven. The lowermost positions of cam 61 and roller 59 are indicated at 61' and 59' respectively in Figure 8.
Figure 3 schematically depicts the positions of the cam parts 61-62 and control or actuation abutments 75 and 76 for the valve 27. These abutments are provided in the rotary path of the levers or handles 77 which are pinned as at 77a to the stem portion ~7a of each valve 27, handles 77 having stems 77b received in bores 27e provided in the outer end of each valve 27. The abutment 75 is fixed in position and arranged to rotate the valves ~7 approximately 90 degre~ when the ends o~ the handles 77 strike them, to a suction position in which the port systems 30 is in com-munication with passages l9a and out of communication with openings 33. This occurs after the charge of material has been delivered to the container at a time when the pump pistons 25 are in "up" position. Abutment 76 normally reverses each valve 27 because it is a~ a different level in position to engage the opposite upper end of each handle 77 and cause it to swing in the opposite direction. It is to be observed, however, that the abutment 76 is retract-able from normal position, for example when no container is in position to receive a charge of material from the pump, to a position in which it is radially out of the path of the handles 77 and will not activate them to move the valve bodies 27 to a dispensing position. For this reason, abutment 76 is mounted on a bar 78 tFigure 4) hav-ing stems 78a received in bushings 79 provided in a sole-noid casing 80. The stems 78a are in surrounding relationwith a soleno~d core 81 and spring 82 is provided to normally orce bar 78 to out~r normal position.
Certain critical parts are fabricated and assembled in a particular manner to permit their ready disassembly for periodic cleaning purposes. In addition, a "clean-in-place" system is provided which is used to clean the partson a daily basis. Figures 5 through 7 particularly indi-cate the manner in which the housings 19 and A are supported by the tank bottom plate 16b in the manner which permits them to be easily disassembled from the cage C. It will be observed that the outer perimeter of plate 16b is a fourteen-sided polygon and it will further be observed that threaded openings 83 are provided in the tank part 16b at the junctures of the mounting walls o~ the portions 16b to accommodate radially extending support members in the form o studs 84.
As Figure 6 particularly indicates, the housings A in front elevation are substantially T-shaped and include converging recesses 85 from which the housings A are sus-pended on studs 84. Likewise, (see Figure 7) the housings 19, which also are generally T-shaped in front elevation, have converging recesses 86 to similarly suspend the housings 19 on the studs 84. Clamp washers 87 provided on the studs 84 may b~ secured by nuts 88 within recesses formed by shouldering the housings 19 as at l9c, and as will be seen have wedge walls 87a which engage with simi-larly inclined walls 8g on the housings 19 to clamp the housings 19, and thereby the housings A, securely in posi-tion. To disassemble the housings 19 and A for cleaning and obtain access to passages 18, it i8 merely necessary to back off the nuts 88 and lift the housings 19 and A
vertically from the studs 84. It is extremely easy like-wise then to simply replace them in position again and tighten nuts 88 when re-~assembly is to be effected.
When it is desired to clean the critical parts of the assembly "in place", the semi-circular trays 34 are removed and plug members 90 (Figure 7) are pushed up into position in the reces~ed openings 91 provided in housings 19 sur rounding dispensing openings 33. Each plug 90 includes a shoulder portivn 90a snugly fitting into opening 91 and has a O-ring or other suitable seal 92, as shown. To se-cure the plugs 90 in position, outboard walls 93 thereon have bayonet slots 94 for receiving pins 95 provided on the housings 19 and the plugs90 are twisted to engage the pins 95 in the slots as the plugs 90 are moved into posi-tion. Leading upwardly from each housing 19 from plug rece~ving chamber 91, i5 an exit port 96 leading to a tube 97. Tube 97, as indicated in Figure 1 leads back into tank 16.
In order to clean the assembly in place, each of the reces-ses 91 in each housing 19 is fitted with a plug 90 and water introduced through the tube 98 into the interior of tank 16 is then recirculated through ~he housings A and 19 back to the tank 16 via ports 96 and tubes 97. Only one 2n tube 97 has been shown in Figure 1 but it is to be under-stood that-each of the housings 19 may have a~hose 97 or khat a manifold ~not shown) can be provided to which ports 96 lead and that a single tube may then lead from it back into tank 16. When a water flush has been accomplished, one of the valves 27 can be removed to drain ~he water from the system. Thereafter the process can be repeated with a sanitary cleaning solution, and suitable water and cleaning solution flushes can be alternated until the de-sired sanitary cleaning has been accomplished.
It is believed that the operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In practice, as indicated in Figure 3, a star wheel 99 is provided to deliver containers to each pedestal 32 as the pedestals move past the pockets 99a in the star wheel.
Just prior to,the time that a particular pedestal 32 i7~
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reaches the container loading position, abutment 75 has been engaged by the handle 77 of the particular housing 19 to rotate the particular valve 27 through substantially 90 to the "fill" position. At this time, the piston 25 is in S its lowermost position, riding on the lower fixed cam 62.
As the particular assembly rotates around, fixed cam 62 (see Figure 8) moves the piston 25 upwardly to dispense fluid to the container and by the time fixed abutment 75 is reached, the dispensing operation has been completed.
When the opposite end of handle 77 contacts abutment 75, ~he valve 27 is reversed to bring the valve 27 to the Fig-ure 2 position, and the suction stroke of the pump piston 25 can begin. By ~he time a container reaches the star wheel 100 and is removed by it, valve 27 has completely closed and the position of star wheel 100 is such that its pockets lOOa engage and remove the container from each pedestal 32 at a point slightly downstream from the fixed abutment 75.
It is the upper cam 61 which moves the piston 25 downwardly in the suction stroke indicated in Figure 3. As Figure 8 demonstrates, the pivotal position of cam 61 determines the length of the suction stroke within certain predeter-mined limit~ to handle the volume requirements of various containers. In Figure 8 the two extreme bottom positions of the follower rollers 59 are shown at 59 a~d 59' respec-tively. When the roller 59 is in the position indicated in solid lines in Figure 8, it can move acros6 to!the cam surface of cam 62 in the path x and bypasses part of the ~ cam surface 62.
Claims (4)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In a machine for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid material and the like in measured amounts to containers and having a supply tank with a plurality of circumferen-tailly spaced radial tank outlet openings; a frame;
carrier means rotatable thereon for supporting a multipli-city of containers with open upper ends mounted for lateral orbiting movement with said tank; a filler pump and valve assembly, mounted to orbit with the carrier means, and connected with said tank, the assembly having a plurality of passages communicating with the tank outlet openings, the assembly also having a plurality of separate pump communicating passages, and a plurality of separate dispensing openings disposed above the path of movement of the carrier means and the containers thereon; the said passages being arranged in radially aligned sets in valve housings, each housing having a tank outlet passage, a pump communicating passage, and a dispensing opening;.
said assembly also including a valve for each housing with passage means in the valve in one position feeding material to the pump communicating opening from the tank outlet passage and in another position feeding material from the pump communicating passage to the dispensing opening; and a pump cylinder on said assembly for each passage set in communication with the pump communication opening of the valve housing; each pump cylinder having a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in a suction and ejection stroke;
arcuate cam track means about which the pump pistons orbit, the pistons being connected with followers moved by the cam track means to provide the stroke of the pistons and deter-mine the amount of material moved by a pump piston out of the dispensing opening of each set; the improvement where-in a recess is provided in each said valve housing surround-ing said dispensing opening; a plug member is lockably releasably receivable by said valve housing in said recess outboard of said dispensing opening to block said recess, a passage in each of said valve housings separated from the dispensing opening leads from the recess and inner face of said plug member through the housing to an exit port, and conduit means connects said exit port with the tank to re-circulate cleaning liquid thereto.
carrier means rotatable thereon for supporting a multipli-city of containers with open upper ends mounted for lateral orbiting movement with said tank; a filler pump and valve assembly, mounted to orbit with the carrier means, and connected with said tank, the assembly having a plurality of passages communicating with the tank outlet openings, the assembly also having a plurality of separate pump communicating passages, and a plurality of separate dispensing openings disposed above the path of movement of the carrier means and the containers thereon; the said passages being arranged in radially aligned sets in valve housings, each housing having a tank outlet passage, a pump communicating passage, and a dispensing opening;.
said assembly also including a valve for each housing with passage means in the valve in one position feeding material to the pump communicating opening from the tank outlet passage and in another position feeding material from the pump communicating passage to the dispensing opening; and a pump cylinder on said assembly for each passage set in communication with the pump communication opening of the valve housing; each pump cylinder having a piston mounted for reciprocating movement in a suction and ejection stroke;
arcuate cam track means about which the pump pistons orbit, the pistons being connected with followers moved by the cam track means to provide the stroke of the pistons and deter-mine the amount of material moved by a pump piston out of the dispensing opening of each set; the improvement where-in a recess is provided in each said valve housing surround-ing said dispensing opening; a plug member is lockably releasably receivable by said valve housing in said recess outboard of said dispensing opening to block said recess, a passage in each of said valve housings separated from the dispensing opening leads from the recess and inner face of said plug member through the housing to an exit port, and conduit means connects said exit port with the tank to re-circulate cleaning liquid thereto.
2. The apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said cam track means includes a pivotal portion which can be swung about one end to positions to change the extent of the stroke of each piston; and actuating means is connected with said pivotal portion for swinging it to change its position.
3. The apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said frame has a sleeve internally journalling a driven central shaft and externally journalling a cage hung from the up-per part of said central shaft, the cage externally guid-ing the pistons for reciprocatory movement vertically,
4. The machine of Claim 1, wherein said cam track means comprises an upper track part and a lower track part, with a follower receiving surface on each; the follower receiv-ing surface on the lower surface of the upper track being downwardly inclined and the lower track receiving surface on the upper surface of the lower track being upwardly inclined; means for pivotally mounting the upper track about one end for vertical swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis; and means connecting said actu-ating means to the opposite end of the upper track to move it upwardly and downwardly about the pivot to positions which determine the extent of the downward suction stroke of each orbiting piston to vary its amplitude.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000434843A CA1167810A (en) | 1981-09-14 | 1983-08-17 | Variable volume, positive displacement sanitary liquid dispensing machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000385806A CA1158616A (en) | 1981-09-14 | 1981-09-14 | Variable volume, positive displacement sanitary liquid dispensing machine |
| CA000434843A CA1167810A (en) | 1981-09-14 | 1983-08-17 | Variable volume, positive displacement sanitary liquid dispensing machine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1167810A true CA1167810A (en) | 1984-05-22 |
Family
ID=25669432
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000434843A Expired CA1167810A (en) | 1981-09-14 | 1983-08-17 | Variable volume, positive displacement sanitary liquid dispensing machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1167810A (en) |
-
1983
- 1983-08-17 CA CA000434843A patent/CA1167810A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |