US1884782A - Stop mechanism for can sealing machines or the like - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 25, 1932. A. K. MALMQUIST 1,884,782

STOP MECHANISM FOR CAN SEALING MACHINES OR THE LIKE I Filed April 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 25, 1932. MALMQU|$T 1,884,782

STOP MECHANISM FOR CAN SEALING MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed April 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I gwuantoz I flKMaZmgaisZ;

L I T U. 4 I v 61m Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES ADOLIPH K. MALMQUIST, 01 SOUTH BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON STOP MECHANISM FOR CAN SEALING MACHINES OR THE Application filed April 28, 1930. Serial No. 448,144.

This invention relates to improvements in stopping mechanism for vacuum canning machines or the like. i

More specifically, the invention pertains to g improvements in canning machines where vacuum is employed in the sealing operation.

There has been considerable loss in the operation of vacuum machines, as they frequently start to run on cans, and the operator forgets to start the vacuum pump. At other times, the machine may have been stopped in the middle of a run for one reason or another, and at such time, the vacuum valve is closed.

Then, in starting up again, the operator may forget to open the vacuum valve, and several cans will be passed through the machine and closed, but not vacuumized, or in case of syruping, the cans would run through withoutany syrup. Such cans must be opened 2 0 again, or the contents will be spoiled, and this, of course, means a loss of time and cans.

The primary object of my invention is to prevent this loss, and further, to make a device for eliminating this disadvantage, which will be simple and absolutely reliable, and which will require no attention on the part of the operator.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character with a stop which will project into the path of movement of the cans to or through the machine, this stop being normally held in retracted position by means of the vacuum system of the machine. As soon as the vacuum is cut off for any reason, a spring immediately projects the stop into the path of movement of the cans, and thereby prevents the cans from passing through the machine, even though the latter is in motion.

l/Vith the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved mechanism, and so much of a vacuum canning machine as is essential for the purpose EL of disclosing the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improvements.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partly in horizontal section, of a portion of my stop mechanism.

While my improvements may be employed with various types of vacuum canning machines, I have shown the same in Fig. 1 incorporated in a can sealing machine of the kind illustrated in my application Serial No. 309,979, filed October 3rd, 1928. i

Portions of such a can sealing machine are shown at 4, and this machine is provided with a conventional vacuum tank 5, having a pipe 6 which leads to the machine, and a pipe 7 which leads to a vacuum pump, not shown. The hand controlled valve of this vacuum tank is designated 8. I

The cans fed to the machine, pass from a runway 9 having side guide bars 10, on to a conveyor or feed belt 11, which moves the cans into the machine, and in accordance wfth my invention, I-provi de a stop pin or element 12 to intercept the cans moving along the feed path, in case atmospheric conditions occur in the tank 5. For instance, when the valve 8 is closed to prevent the vacuum pump from creating a vacuum in the tank 5, or when said pump is idle.

For the purposes of the present invention, one of the side guides 10 is provided with a vertical plate 13, into which is screwed the forward end of a cylinder 14. The pin 12 is rigidly united with one end of a piston 15, which can reciprocate in the cylinder, and one of the gu des 10 forms the forward end of the cylinder, and has an aperture 16 through which the pin may project.

A coil spring 17 in the cylinder, moves the stop pin into projecting position, and one end of this spring surrounds a projecting shank 18 which is rigidly united'with the in ner end of the piston.

A pipe fitting 19 has a threaded connection with the rear end of the cylinder, and proj ects into the rear end of the spring, for holding the latter in place, and also to form a stationary stop to be engaged by the shank 18 for limiting the inward movement of the stop pin 12.

A tube 20 connects the fitting 19 to the vacting off of the vacuum to project said eleuum tank 5 and of course, the joints are sealed, so that each time a vacuum is created In the tank 5, atmospheric pressure will cause the piston 15 to move into its cylinder, so as to hold the stop pin 12 out of the path of movement of the .cans 21.

In operation, it will be understood that so long as a vacuum exists in the tank 5, the" 3 stop pin 12 will not interfere with the travel of thecans, but as soon as atmospheric conditions prevailinthe vacuum tank,,the'spring 17 will immediately project the pin 12 into the path of movement ofthe cans, so that the latter cannot pass through the machine, even though the'latter 'co'nt-inuesto operate. This stop mechanism will not alone act as can stopping means, but will act as an'indicator to notify the operator that he must start the i vacuum pump or open the valve 8.

It is clear from the above that my improved mechanism will prevent the sealing of cans which have not been vacuumized, and will thus save the cans and the time required to open improperly sealed cans, and to transfer their contents to unsealed cans.

' VVhileI have described the invention for use with can sealing machines, it is manifest k that my improvements may be used with any machine in which a Vacuum tank or the like is used, and may be employed for stopping the feed of any article through the machine in case the vacuum is cut off. I

' From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention may be readily'understood by those skilled in the art, and I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I V 1. In a machine of the character described, a runway along which articles are fed, a stop elementi'or obstructing said runway, vacuum operated means for normally holding the stop element in. retracted position, and means functioning when the vacuum is cut off for projecting the stop element into obstructing position. p

2. In a machine of the character described, a runway along which cans are fed, a stop element adapted to obstruct said runway, a vacuum operated means for normally holding the stop element in. retracted position, and means functioning when the vacuum is out off to project the stop element into can obstructing position.

a runway along which cans are fed, a stop element adapted to obstruct said runway, means including a vacuum tank for normally holding thestop element in retracted position, and a spring functioning upon the cut- 3. In a machine of the characterdescribed,

ment into can obstructing position.

4. A can sealing machine or the llke, comprising a can runway, a cylinder mounted adjacent to the runway, a piston in the cylinder provided with a stop element adapted to obstruct said runway, vacuum controlled means for normally holding the piston and stop element in retracted position, and means functioning when the vacuum is out ofi for causing the piston to move the stop element into can obstructing'position.

5. A can sealing machine having a can run- .way and a Vacuum tank, a cylinder mounted cut off, to cause the piston to project the stop element into obstructing position.

6. A can sealing machine having a can T runway and a vacuum tank, a cylinder mounted adjacent to the runway, a piston in the cylinder provided with a stop element adapted to obstruct the runway, means placing the vacuum tank in communication with the cylinder, whereby when reduced pressure exists in the vacuum tank, the piston will hold the stop element in retracted position, and means for moving the piston when the vacuum is cut off, to cause the piston to project the stop element into obstructing position, the last mentioned means comprising a spring arranged in said cylinder.

7. A can sealing machine having vacuum means and a can runway, a cylinder mounted adjacent to the runway and having its interior communicating with said vacuum means, a piston in the cylinder adapted to .be held at one end of the cylinder by said vacuum means, a stop element rigidly united with the piston and'adapted to obstructthe runway, and a spring in the cylinder for moving the piston into position to, project the stop element when reduced pressure in the vacuum means is cut off.

8. In a machine of the character described, a vacuum tank having a valved connection adapted to lead to a vacuum pump, a can runway, a cylinder mounted adjacent to the runway, a conduit placing the interior of the cylinder in oommunication'with said tank, a piston in the cylinder adapted to be held in retracted position by sub-atmospheric pressure in the vacuum tank, a stop pin carried 7 a can runway provided with a guide, a cylinder having one of its ends rigidly connected to said guide, Vacuum means, a conduit connecting the other end of the cylinder to said vacuum means, a piston in the cylinder provided with a stop pin adapted to obstruct said runway, and a spring for yieldingly holding the stop pin in projected position.-

10. In a machine of the character described, a can runway, a conveyor for feeding cans along the runway, a stop element for obstructing said runway while the conveyor is in motion, vacuum operated means for normally holding the stop element in retracted position, and means functioning when the vacuum is cut off for projecting the stop element into obstructing position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

ADOLPH K. MALMQUIST.

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