US1749161A - Filling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1930. M. scHNAlER '1,749,151

FILLING APPARATUS Filed July 11. 1925 z sheets-sheet 1 hmm.,

...'Nlunlllmxll'v' nvamtoz March 4, 1930. M. scHNAlER 1,749,151

FILLING APPARATUS I Filed Ju'1y'11. '1925 2 sneetss'neet 2 lll Hull.

HIM.

.Patented Mar. 4, 193`r PATENT OFFICE f MILTON SCHNAIER, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

FILLING APPARATUS Application led July 11,

a plurality of measuring cylinders lsupplied from the tank, and ymeans for supporting a ends in alignment with the lower or discharge :ends of the; measuring cylinders.

apparatus voftliis class, which is'of simple l and ruggedwonstruction and capable of speedily chargingthe `molds and without substantial delay between successive charging '25 "operations f Another object is to provide asanitary device of the type mentioned, which `can be ac-y tuated by an unskilleduser, andy more particularly which requires no sequence of steps f so vrbut merely a single non-selective operation.

f Ajfeature of the invention `is the provisionv of-self-draining venting'means in the meas- 'uring cylinders for insuring the rapid emptying and yrefillingthereof.` VThis feature is of yparticular importance where heavy Syrups or (the like are to kbe handled and where horizontal vents might become clogged and :ineffec-v 1 tive, or the operation rendered slow by slugy gish iiow of viscous liquids. Y l 40' wNotwithstanding the` use of the venting means, should the liquid recharge the measury Y ing cylinders, by a 'suddenrusln there would be a likelihood' of thel air inthe cylinder blocking the free flow of the liquid thereinto,

and thereby seal the'vent and also preclude complete filling of the cylinder. Itis, accordn f singly, another object to break up the stream f recharging the cylinder or to reduce its crossor shifting An objectof the invention-is to providel ytive position proJects from one side of the machine, said tray supporting means being 1925. seran Nb. 42,877.

sectionalV area, so` that the liquid flows downward while the air therein readily escapes through the vent. This result is accomplished by the simple expedient of providing a plurality of small inlet ports rather than one large .port at the top of the measuring cylinders. f y

Another object is to provide convenient means lfor filling, groups of a battery of molds ory containers to be successively charged and this withoutthe need for lifting, raising mass. Preferablyv the molds are on tray units mounted on rails and shifted by a simple manual thrust to bring the groups of molds sucseries of containers or molds with theiropen' cessively in registry with the measuring cylinders, a stop on the guide rail facilitating v such registry.

The tray supporting means when in operatype, rigidly connected upon a stem through the cylinder, various stems' simultaneously depressed for discharge by a thrust transmitted through a cross bar directly over the upper ends of the stems, springs about the stems returning the valves to normal position'in which they are re-charged.y

The cross bar is provided preferably with threaded plugs'adjustable to effect minute adjustments in the settings of the valves of the individual measuring cylinders, so that all of the valves will be elfectively seated at the same time.

The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, 'wherein, i 4,5 so that air would temporarily at least, susk tain-the liquid near the top of thecylinder Fig. 1 isa longitudinal vertical sectional anyrelatively bulky or heavy View7 therethrough taken along the line 1 -1 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional ing from 26 into 16 and effectively prevents v the top of the posts, I provide a horizontal supporting platform 12 including downwardly turned marginal flanges 13 secured to the uprights 10. A reservoir 1a is held against lateral displacement by the upper ends `ofthe corner posts and includes a substantially,y closed bottom resting yon the platform 12.

Thelplatforin has a number of threadedopenings 15 therein adapted toreceive the lower sections 16 of the measuring cylinders,l as

will be later described.l Preferably the res#` ervior 14is provided with a removable cover 17 having a convenient socket opening.- 18 therein for supporting the mouth of a bottle or demijohn 19k from which the reservoir is lled, and is provided with a protected vent opening such as 14a. A. drainiplug 14 is controlled by a manually operatedk drain` I provide a battery of measuring cylinders andinasmuch as they are all identical, a description of one cylinder and its associated valving and venting' mechanism will' suliice for all. cated in detail in Fig. 3, wherein4 it will be noted that the lower section 16 is aleiigth of pipe having itsupper end extending through the opening 15in the platform, said cylinder formed at itsA lower end with a reduced portion 20 providing a downwardly facing yvalve seat 21 for a valve 22 carried on the lower end of vertically disposed valve stem 23 extendp ing throughout the length of the cylinder andA having its upper end projecting through 'Y an opening 211 in the reservoir cover. Valve 22 is of rubber or other suitable yielding material backedby a metal washer 22 and urged by pressure transmitted by nut 222 threaded on the end of shaft 23 against a shoulderl 23 on stem 23. The upper end of section 16 has a threaded connection with a coupling member 25 engaging the upper face of platform 12, a double loclr nut 56 on cylinder 16 engaging the lower face of the platform Yand thereby effecting ak secure connection. 25 receives the inner end of upper section 26 of the measuring cylinder which is threaded thereinto.l Stem 23 is guided in a collar 55` in cylinder 16 and in a spider or apertured plate 25a fixed within the coupling member. `This plate sub-divides the liquid stream flowthe air blocking which lmight ensuev from sudden inrush of a large stream.

One of the cylinders has beenvindi-.i`

Coupling y Section 26'V is closed by cap 27 oifering an additional guide for thevalve stem 23 and is provided with a number of inlet ports 28 in its convex wall open to the fluid in the reservoir. Stem y23 carries a second valve 29 lpreferably ofv rubber or equivalent yielding material, workingk in the upper section 26 of tliecylinder and coacting with yan upwardly facing valve seat 30 formed in the.r coupling vmember.

Valve 29. prevents flow" of liquid fromr sec-- A'tion 26 Vto section 16 when the valve stem is 7'5 depressedlw An expansion spring 31 around ixed'on'the stein by set screw 32 normally tends to maintain. 4the Vstem in elevated posi tion 'with the valve 29 open and the valveV 22 seated.l Thus the contents of the reservoiry ythe stem between the cap 27 and a collar 32 Y are freerto flow i' throughthe ports' 28andy* around the valve 29 into theflowersection 16 which serves" asaameasuring chamber. ,n loblique self-draining ventj openingA 33 inthe couplingmember 25v is .connected to,` agstand pipe 34y which terminates above the. liquid,-`

vlevelin the reservoir. litliftl'ie'parts' in theposition of Fig. 3, the liquid-'will flow up the pipe 34Vv to?y an extent predetermined by' the liquid level in the reservoir. lThe vent 33,y 34

im` Y provides for the ready escape of'air from the measuring chamber to fill said chamber.

y When the valve stemisde}l)ressed` to close .i valvey 29 and open valve22', the contents of Q `thepineasuring chamber'and the stand pipe as :the liquid Vis admitted will flow downwardby gravity around the i valve 22. v In order to prevent. the liquid escaping from the` measuringchamber from splashing-off the surface of the Vvalve 22, I eX- fie@- teri'orly tbreadtlfie lower end of sectionll6 as Y l at 35, and couple theretoa discharge nozzleL 36 having a' reduced discharging .end 37,. This construction insures quiet llow of the `*liquid from.tlieineasuring chamber into theV container tobefilled, which.. is supported in' receiving position in a'm-anner to be, more fully hereinafter described;

Numerous expedients might be resorted tof for Asimulta'neously operating 'all of the valve stems` .andl permitting simultaneoiisfVv filling and emptyiiigofall the measuring cylinders.v j l prefer to use a simple construction of opere ating yoke which includes vertical rods 38 working in guide openingsA in braces 11Kpro- Jecting fromthelegs 10.V A cross yhead 40 is"V provided' with screw plugs 11 screwed'.finto lopeningsl2 therein, said, plugs forming stops for the spring pressed stems 23 and. acting to simultaneously depress said stems'to actuate the individual fillers,vv when lthel cross head isv f moved downward. p The cross head" is guided;l for vertical vmovement bystandards 40?* car-jA ried bythe reservoir cover, and preferably encircled by=spriiigs31a; The upper ends of the' plugs are provided with` fillister slots 41@ for facility of independent' adjustment tli'eref. of the Aaid of `va screwdriver, toinsure j proper simultaneousseating. and' unse-ating yoffa'llrthevalves. A crossbar 43 connecting the lower eiids'ior rods 38 is coupled'by a pull i bar 45 to a treadl'e lever`44 pivoted in across bar 46i-in thelower end of the frame:

- It :willbe understood that normally the liquid from reservoir 14 will enter theindi- Y vidual measuring chambers.throughports 28, air `blockingbeing prevented. by theeifective venting of saidi'chambers. through vents y valve. stems downwardtherewith against they resistanceof their associated springsy 31 and of springs 31l gto close the-valves 29 and open ythe valves y22. yThe measured charges fiow Y outward by gravi-tyflow from the individual 33 and stand pipes 34 and also by the pressure oftheapertured plate EL which sub-divides the liquidstream-` The syrup 4will also'seeli the-same level instand pipes 34 as in the'reservoir 14. Depression 'of the treadlel pulls down the*k cross bar 43and through rods 38l draws down the cross head and moves all of the y' cylinders 16, through nozzles 36 to the molds 50 positioned therebelow. Upon release of the treadle, the combined lifting action'of 4the 25 rfjtheir. normal position shown iniFig. 4 with the outlets from vthe measuring chambers closed and with the valves '29 open to permit free. refilling fromthereservoir of the measpipes, as presprings 3l and 31a will restore the partsto uring chambers `and thestand viously set forth.

,Y The'arrangement of theobliquevents in thecouplings v25 is ofparticular importance when the liquid whichk is being handled, isl

heavy or viscous, suchgfor'finstance, as the fluid ySyrups used in the ymanufacture of confections-described `in the copending applicationA abovel identified. Thevent 33, yopening i downward is self-draining and, therefore, 4o

cannot become*liquid-sealed as might occur ifit opened horizontallyfinto the chamber.

Moreover, the diameter ofthe stand` pipe is suiiicientlylarge tod-'rain almost immediately pipe.r Y f i i i For conveniently supporting containers in when valvev 22 is opened, especiallyy inview of thehydrostaticliead of liquid in the stand position .to be filled by the discharge contents of they measuring chambers,-l secure `a pair yof rails47 between the legs lO'at a point just f below tliedischarge nozzles 36. These rails i Y may be providedjwith pivoted extensions 48 l y f held inl li'orizontalposition by hangers 49del i tachably engaged' with the upper ends of the fpostsrlO. By dieengaging the hangers, theV rail extensions4 `may be swung `,downwardly i vand out of tlievway. `I have'shown confection jmold containers, such as those described in `the' copending application abovereferred to.

kThese containers 50 mayv havevr their necksy hung in trays 51 asset forth in said applicay y tion, orfthey may be .formed in a unit with said trays. A number yof the trays may be f supported in abutting relationship-on ythe guide rails 47, 48. Small stop lugs 52 on the rails are used for aligning the trays with they discharging nozzles 36. In operation, a number of the trays are placed on the rails and the outermosttray pushed inward until the innermostone is stopped by the lugs 52. The

treadle is then depressed sharply, to avoid maintaining the valves for an appreciable pef riod between kthe limit of their stroke. The contents of the measuring chambers thus discharge into the molds carried by the innermost tray, the seated valves 29 preventing discharge beyond the measured quantity. The vent 14a maintains atmospheric pressure in the reservoir 14 above the liquid level therein and vent tubes 84 communicating therewith, maintain such pressure in the measuring cylinders.

The stop lugs offer enough resistance to the sliding movement of the mold tray to apprise an operator feeding the trays that one has reached proper position but do not offer suilicient resistance to prevent the same movement from causing a filled tray to ride thereover and out on the rail extensions 53 to be subsequently placedon the freezing chamber. Accordingly, the need .for separate handling is avoided, ywhich would be incurred were it necessary to separately lift each filled mold rack from the machine, and to manually deposit an empty one in position for charging.

scribed apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied, and

'ing sense.

rHavingy thus described myvinvention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent ofthe United' States is 1. An apparatus of the class described in- -cluding a. reservoir, a plurality of measuring cylinders having their upper ends in connnuication with the reservoir, inlet valves Vof diameters substantially the same as the diameters kof the cylinders and above the latter, outlet valves at the lower ends of the cylinders and self-draining ports opening into the upper ends of the measuring' cylinders substantially directly below said inlet valves, whereby liquid may flow freely into the measuring cylinders when the outlet valves yare closed andtheinlet valves opened and may flow freely out of the measuring cylinders It will thusbeseen that there is herein dev ',f? whereby liquid may lOW freely inl/,O

when the inlet valves are closed and the out-vV let valves opened, y 2.k Anapparatus of the class described including a reservoir, a plurality of measur-V the upper ends of the measuring cylinders.

substantially directly below said inlet valves,

whereby liquid may ow freely into the measuring cylinders when the outlet valves are p? closed and thev inlet valves opened and mayliow freely o ut oi' the measuring cylinders` when the inlet valves are closed and the out-` let valves opened, said ports entering the measuring cylinders obliquely and vertical stand pipes connected to the outer ends of the ports and extending to a level higher than that of the liquid in the reservoir. Y n e 3. ln apparatus of the class described including a reservoir and filling chamber there- T' in, a. plurality of nieasuring cylinders 'therein extending belowsaid reservoir and having their upper ends in Communication with the lilling chambers inthe reservoir, caps closing the upper ends 'of the.V chambers, valve 3o? stems vertically guided through said caps, in

letand outlet valvescarried byv said stems, the `former of substantially the diameter of said cylinders and normally open, the latter `'normally Aclosed to normally maintain the cylinders charged and to eiiect discharge upon raising said stems and self-draining ports substantiallydirectly below said inlet valves draining into the upper ends of the measuring cylinders and venting the same, and out of the measuring cylinders. l Y

l. In apparatus otl the class described, a reservoir, a platform, cylindrical measuring Containers, cylindrical inlet members comf gmunicating with said reservoir, said`containers and said inlet members, at opposite sides of said platform, coupling members interposed between and rigidly connecting said containers and said members, valve stems exotending through the measuring containers and cylindricalmembers, inlet valves carried bythe stems seating to prevent flow from the upper cylindrical member into the lowermeasuring container, outlet valves'carried by 'saidstems and seating at the lower ends of jthe measuring chambers to prevent emptying of the contents thereof and means for simultaneously operating all of the valves, whereby lto openV all ot' the outlet valves and close all of the inlet valves or vice versa.

5. A device of theclass described in claim 4 and wherein a cross head operated by a treadle contacts the upper ends of alll of the yvalve stems, and coiled springs around the valve stems normally tend to maintain the outlet-valves closed and theinlet valvesropenn 6. A device of vthe class describedin claim 4l wherein obliquejlyldisposed venting ports Y communicatewith the upper ends of the measuring cylinders and kvertical `stand-pipes connected to thel ports, terminate-above the liquidv level in the reservoir.

i. A device tor measuringand dispensing liquids, including a two-part container, the f upper part of said container constituting an entrance chamber and.k having inlet ports therein, the lowerv part of said container con* stit-uting a measuring chamber andl having a venttherein, said lower Vpart including a coupling'fmember connectingthe two parts or the container, a valve stem extendingY through. both parts of the containerand the coupling thereof, an inlet valve carried by the stem seating on the coupling: member to` therein, the lower part of said container constituting a measuring chamber and having a vent therein, said lower part including acou- Y pling member Vconnecting kthe twol yparts* ofy thecontainer, a valve stem extending through for measuring and 'dispensing siii both parts ofthecontainer and the coupling thereof, :an inlet -valve Vcarried by` the stem seating onthe coupling memberto prevent iowfrom the inlet chamber to the measuring 'l chamber, and an outlet valve carried by the .stem and closing the lower end of thev measuring chamber when the inlet' valve` 1s open',

and a spring around the valve stem normally tending to' maintain'the youtlet valvek closed and the inlet valve open, wherebyiquid from the inlet' chamber may flow reel'y'jaroundy the inlet valve to the measuringfchamber.

Y 9. A 'device tor measuring and dispensing liquids, including a two-part container, the

upper part of said container constitutingv an Y entrance' chamber and having inlet ports therein, thelower' part of said container con-v stituting a measuring chamber and Yhaving a vent therein-"said lower partincluding a cou'- 'pling` memberconnecting the two-partslofr the, container, avalvestem extending through both parts of the container and the coupling thereof, an inl'etvvalve carriedvbyv the stem,

seating' on the couplingmember to prevent liow from the inlet chamberto the measuring chamber, and an outlet 'valve carried bytheKA f stemandrv closing the lower end of the meas'- uring chamber when the;V inlet valveis open. said ventbeing oblique and vdraini'nginto said measuring chamber, and anupstanding pipe connected to the vent in the measuringcham-V ber and `exten-ding at onesidethereo.

`10. A device for measuring and dispensing liquids, including a two-part container, the upper part of saidcontainer constituting an yentrance chamber and having inlet ports therein, the lower part of said container constituting a measuring chamber and having a vent therein, said lower part including-a coupling member connecting the two parts ofA the container, ay valve stem extending-'through A both parts ofthe container and the coupling thereof, an inlet valve, carried by thel stem seating o n the coupling member to prevent iow from the inlet chamber tov the'measuring chamber, and an outlet valve carried by the steml` and closing the lower end of the f measuring chamber when the inlet valve; is

open, and a'discharge nozzle connected to the Y 'lower end of the measuring chamber and enclosing .the valvey uwhereby to insure quiet iiowy of liquid from the lmeasuring chamber.

11.V A device for measuring and dispensing liquids, including a two-part container, theV upper part of said container constituting an Y i entrance chamber "and having inlet ports therein, the lower part of said container constituting a measuring chamber and having a vent therein, said lower part including a coupling member connectingthe two parts ofthe container, a valve stem extending through both partsof the containerfand the coupling thereof, kan inlet valve carried by the stem seating on the coupling member to prevent flow from the inlet chamber tothe ymeasuringchamber, and an outlet valve carried by the stem and closing, the lower end of the measuring chamber when the inlet valve is open, and means in the coupling member for -rsubdividing y and breaking up the liquid measuring chamber;

stream which flows therethrough `into the 12. A device for measuring and dispensing fliquidaineluding avr two-part container, the

upper part of. said container constituting an entrance chamber and having inlet ports therein, thev lower part of said container c constituting a measuring chamber, means to f venty the latter, a coupling member connecting the two parts of the container, a valve stem extending through the coupling and 50., carried by the stem seating onfthe coupling both parts of the container, an inlet valve i member to prevent kflow from .the inlet chambery to the measuring-chamber, and an outlet valve carried by^the stem and closing thel lower end of the measuring chamber when si the inletvalve is open, and means inthe coupling member for sub-dividing and breaking up vthe liquid stream which flows therethroughv into the measuring chamber, said meanscomprising 1an apertured guide plate.

13. In combination with a platform having a threaded opening therein, a. two-part measuring and dispensing device including a lower'measuring chamber having its upper end threaded into the opening in the platform, a coupling member ,connected to th'eupper threaded end of the measuring container, an entrance cylinder screwed into the coupling member and having inlet ports therein adapted to freely communicate with a reservoir above the platform, a valve seat at the lower end of the measuring container, avalve seat in the coupling member, a valve stem projecting through both chambers, and

through the coupling members, outlet and "A inlet'valvescarried thereby for coaction with the respective seats, a spring yaround the valve stem normally tending to seat the outlet valve at the lower end of" the measuring container and to open the Vinlet valve, said coupling member having a vent therein communicating with the measuring container, whereby to permit rapid flow of liquidI from the inlet chamber into the measuring Chamber when the inlet valve is open. f

- 14. In combination with a platform having a threaded opening therein, a two-part measuring and dispensing device including a lower measuring chamber having its upper endhthreaded into'the opening in the platform, a coupling member connected to the vupper threaded vend of the measuring "container, an entrancecylinder screwed into the coupling member and y having inlet ports therein adapted to freely communicate with areservoir above the platform, a valve seat at' the lower end of the measuring'container, a valve rseat in the coupling member, a valve stem projecting through both chambers, and

through thel coupling'members, outlet and inlet valves carried thereby for coaction with the respective seats, a spring aroundl the valve stem normally tending to seat the outlet valve at the lower end of the measuring container and to open the inlet valve, said coupling'member havinga vent therein communicating with vthe measuring container, whereby to permit rapid flow of liquid from the -inlet chamberint-o the ymeasuring chamber when the inlet valve is open, and a spider guiding the movement of the valve stem through the coupling member and dividing the liquid stream to'permit air blocking in the measuring'container.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a reservoir, a platform,`cylindrical measuring containers, cylindrical inlet members comiso Y taneously operating all of the valves', Whereby to open all of the outlet valves and close all of the inlet/valves or vice versa, anda cross head having a plurality of contactmembers adjustable therein and engageable with the upper ends of the valve stems to eect simultaneous depression thereof.

'Vio

16. A device of the character described in-v cluding, in combination, a reservoir, a cylinder extending therebelow, a .coupling member kthreaded upon said cylinder and substantially engaging the bottom of said reservoir, an inlet cylinder member threaded into theupper end of said 'coupling member, a stem extending through said cylinders and said coupling7 a valve at the lower end of said stem normally closing the outlet of saidcylinder, a valve on said stem adapted to close thel inlet to said cylinder when the stem is depressed, said coupling being perforated toV sub-'divide the stream of liquidin itsdescent from said inlet cylinder to said measuring cylinder, and an oblique self-draining vent in saidy coupling member having a vent pipe v connected to the lower end thereof extending upward above the level of liquid in said reser-` forthl are disposed in side by side relation in thereservoir and in which operating means actuated by a pedal simultaneously depresses said various stems and in which a spring about each of said stems eects re-\ turn ofsaid stems afterdischarge to re-seat the outlet valve and to unseat the inlet valve' fory permitting refilling of the measuring cylinders.

18. In a device ofthe character described',l

in combination,` ak reservoir, a battery of measuringv cylinders protruding downward below the bottom of saidireservoir and having portions extending thereabove, recipro catingcontrol valves in said cylinders, a stem operating the valves 'of each .cylinder, springs urging said stems upward to vpermit charging of said cylinders and to maintainsaid -,cylinders against discharge, a common operating pmember` extending transversely across the upper ends of said various stems and screw plugs insaid operating member, one against'each of said stems, said plugs adjustable to effect accuracy in setting ofthe various valves.

Signed at .city of New York,- in the county of New York and State of New York, this 8th day of July, A. D. 1925.

- MILTON scnuiunn. v

17. The combination set `forth in claim 16y in which a plurality of the valve units set

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