US2094698A - Device for packing materials - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5,1937. A, UNT- 2,094,698

DEVIIiCE FOR PACKING MATERIALS Original Filed June 15, 1934 2 Sheets-sheet 1 /NVENTOR-" James/4.F//h7 ATT'Y J. A. FLINT DEVICE FOR PACKING MATERIALS :3 0- 9 /NVEN TOFP: N James A. F//'n7j BY W Patented Oct. 5,

PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR PACKING MATERIALS James A.

Flint, Upper Arlington, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to The Traylor Vibrator Company,

Application a corporation of Colorado June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,787

Renewed March 4, 1937 I 20 Claims. (01. 259-72) This invention relates to a device for packing granular materials in receptacles or containers by imparting a vibratory motion thereto during the loading thereof and, although particularly adapted to the loading of such materials in barrels, it

may have a general application.

An object of the invention is the provision of a method of and means for firmly packing material in a container during loading thereof.

Another object of the invention is the method of and means for loading a container, such as a barrel, by imparting a vibratory motion thereto whereby the amount of material that may be placed in said container may be appreciably increased and the time required to fill the container may be appreciably decreased.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafterg'the novel features and combinations -being'*set forth in the appended claims. 20 In the accompanying drawings:

, Fig. 1 is an elevational view form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is .an end view of the mechanism of Fig. 1; Fig. 2ais a sectio al view on line 2a.-2a. of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

of an improved Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-2 of Fig. 1

looking in the direction of the'arrows; r

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of another form of my invention; and

Figs 5 is an end view of the Fig. 4.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of device shown in the drawings, there is seen at 6, 6 a pair of stationary, permanently-fixed l-beams which comprise mounting means for the barrel packer of my invention. Each of said I-beams is provided with spaced upstanding bosses I at the top thereof adapted to form seats for fourcoil springs 8, 8 which are adapted to yieldinglyv or flexibly support the vibratory structure of my invention.

A frame H is mounted on the coil springs 8, 8 by means of mechanism comprising the brackets 9, ,9, provided withadjustable screws 9, 9' which The lower end of each screw 9' extends into a recess in the top of cap ill the lower side of which has a boss ill to form a' seat for the upper end of the spring 8. This provides an adjustable sup-'- porting of the frame H on said coil springs 8, 8 and allows anydesired distribution-of the weight of the'whole device between said coil springs 8, 8.

- As'indicatedin Figs. '1 and 3; the frame II is open at 12 adjacent one side thereof and is closed 55 at the opposite side l3. Said frame is provided are threaded vertically through the brackets 9, 9

with a longitudinally extending opening ll of a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Extending longitudinally through said opening I4 of the frame I I is a plurality of stacked spring leaves I5 clamped rigid with said frame H at the extreme 'ends of said spring leaves between downwardly projecting bosses l6, It at the top of said opening l4 andupwardly projecting clamp plates l1, l1 adjustable to clamping position by studs l8, l8. Intermediate the ends of said spring leaves 15, the upper and lower walls of frame II are spaced therefrom to allow free vibration thereof about their clamped ends.

Within the opening l2 of the frame ll there extends an upright armature shaftlQ provided with a transverserectangular opening 20 through which said spring leaves l5 are adapted'to extend and be clamped to said armature shaft at their center points by means of a clamping plate 2| forcing the spring leaves downwardly against the bottom of said opening 20 under the influence 1 of clamping studs 22, carried by a transverse web 22.

The clamping plate 2| may be provided with-a machine screw 23 surrounded by a coil spring in which the shank of the machine screw extends loosely through said transverse web 22' and is screw-threaded into clamping plate 2|. By this means, the clamping plate 2| is held in placeby the machine-screw 23 prior to the insertion of the spring leaves l5.

The armature shaft l9 lsprovided with a cross head 24 formed integral therewith, adapted to carry a supporting bed frame 25 as by nuts and bolts 26, 26. The bedframe 25 comprises a sub-' stantially horizontal plate 21 and parallel down-' wardly extending plates 28, 28, the, latter being adapted to be clamped to the cross head by nuts and bolts 26, 26. Reinforcing webs 25 may be provided to reinforce the horizontal plate 21. Said plate 2'lis preferably provided adjacent each 1 of its ends with upwardly extending barrel guides 30 adapted to position the barrels 3| during the filling thereof.

At its lower face, frame It is provided with spaced U-shaped brackets 32, 32 clamped at their upper ends to said frame II as by studs. Between the bottoms of said U-shaped brackets is adjustably mounted an electric motor comprising a field structure 33 having a U-shaped field core of magnetic material, as iron or steel laminations, and a-field winding. The field winding is adapted.- to be energized from anyv source of alternating or pulsating'current as, for example, the ordinary commercial outlet providing 60- cycle alternating current. It is, of course, un-

derstood that current of any frequency may be employed provided the hereinafter discussed relation is maintained.

The lower end of the armature shaft I9 is adapted to carry an armature 33' preferably comprising iron or 'steel laminations 34 and adapted to be spaced from the core of said field structure 33 to form an air gap therewith and to .vibrate with respect thereto when said field winding is energized by alternating or pulsating current.

It is thus seen that the barrels 3| to be filled with material are supported on a vertically vibrated vibratory structure designated generally by 31 and comprising said armature 33', armature shaft l9, cross head 24,bed frame 25, plate 21 and all parts rigid with any of the specifically mentioned elements thereof. This vibratory structure 31 is in turn supported by means of spring leaves l5 at their center points, which spring leaves are supported by the frame H at their extremities. The field structure 33 .of the electric motor is rigid with the frame being rigidly attached thereto by said U-shaped brackets 32, 32. The frame II is also flexibly supported by the springs 8, 8 to prevent the transfer of any vibratory movement of said frame II to the I- beams 6, 5.

The amplitude of vibration of said armature 33' and the'resulting'amplitude of vibration of the vibratory structure 31 may be adjusted within limits by controlling the width of the air gap between the armature 33' and the core of the field structure 33 by the adjustable screws 35, 35 which are screw-threaded through the bottom of the U-shaped brackets 32, 32 and carry between the adjusting nuts 36, 36 a top plate of the field structure 33.

' In-additlon, the amplitude of vibration of armature 33' may be controlled by inserting a variable resistor in the circuit of the field coil of A said field structure 33 to control the current flow therein and consequently control the magnetic strength thereof.

In the operation of my device, the armature 33' is attracted toward the field structure twice during each complete cycle of energization of said field structure 33 when the latter is energized by alternating current; that is, if the field structure 33 is energized by a current of a frequency of sixty cycles a second, the armature 33' will 'be attracted one hundred twenty times a second. During each attraction of the armature 33', the

vibratory structure designated generally by 311s 'adapted'to vibrate. Thisvibratory. action is effected by the spring leaves I5 and the vibratory motor comprising the field structure 33 and the armatu're 33'. That is, during each attraction of the armature 33' by t e field structure 33, the armature shaft I3 is m ved downward and deflects the spring leaves l5, storing energy there- ,in. Upon the reduction of current fiow in the field windinif 'of the field structure 33, the armature 33' is eifectively released whereupon the vibratory structure 31 is moved upward under the influence of the spring leaves l5, which tend to assume their initial positions and therefore transfer the energy stored therein by their deflection to said vibratory structure 31.

In order to enhance greatly the effectiveness of .my device and to reduce greatly the amount of energy required to perform a packing operation, it is particularly desirable that the vibratory system have a natural period of vibration current, which results in the barrels 31 acting as structure 33, is energized by alternating current v of GO-cycIe-per-second frequency and attracting the armature 33' at a frequency of one hundred twenty times a second, then the natural period of vibration of said vibratory structure should be approximately one hundred twenty cy: cles per second. The period of vibration oi? said vibratory structure may be determined by wellknown mechanical formulae.

While it is preferred that the natural period of vibration of said vibratory structure 31 be substantially the same as the period of energization of the field structure 33, it is desirable that exact resonance between the two be not maintained. It is therefore preferable to have the period of the vibratory structure either slightly below or slightly above the period of energization of the field structure 33 whereby there is always some load upon the motor vibrator comprising the field structure 33 and the armature 33'. In the absence of some load upon said motor vibrator, it is .difiicult to control and will tend to destroy itself when no usefulwork is being done.

In addition,by operating the device at a frequency slightly different from its natural frequency, the amplitude of vibration of the vibratory structure 31 will be substantiallyconstant, irrespective of the load carried on the plate 21. This is of considerable advantage because the vibratory action received by the granular material fed to the barrels 3| will be substantially the same when the filling operation begins as when. it ends. Uniform packing throughout the barrels is thus insured. 7

It is also an important characteristic of my device that the load provided by the barrels 3| does not alter the natural period of vibration of the vibratory structure 31. This is apparently due to the high frequency of vibration thereof, 7200 cycles per minute when energized from a commercial source of BO-cycle per second a live" load, rather than a dead.lo'ad, relative to said vibratory structure 31. That is, the barrels 3| do ,not become an efiective part of the vibratory structure 31. As a consequence the vibratory period of said structure 31 maybe pre- 50 period at which it is to be vibrated and this difference will be substantially constant regardless of the amount 'of material in barrels 3|. It has been demonstrated by experiment on an average 5 said frequencies beingas low as 1500 cycles per minute. However, even this frequency is a high frequency" as understood in this artand. as herein claimed.

By employing the packing device embodying my. invention, a wide range of materials, particularly of granular nature, may each be uniformly packed. For instance, chemical salts may be uniformly packed in given sized containers so that 7 selected at a value slightly above or below thepredetermined amount of material may be very materially reduced. In addition, it has been found in practice "that the amount of material which may be packed into a container is very ma-. terially increased. Packing of granular material 0 may therefore be efliciently effected in measured quantities in cartons of reduced size.

In Figs. 4 and .5 I have illustrated another form of my invention which does not differ greatlyfrom that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The differences in structure from said form illustratedin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 will be particularly discussed. In the form of my invention as il-' lustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the liorizontal plate 21' is designedto carry a single retainer 3|. The frame. II' in which the spring leaves l5 are mounted is not open at one side as was the frame II but, as seen in plan view, comprises a-continuous ring with a central opening for receiving the armature shaft IS. The mounting of the frame ii differs from that illustratedv in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Said mounting comprises upright standards 38, 38 with feet 39, 39 adapted to rest upon the floor or foundation. The upper ends of said standards 38, 3B are provided with cups 40, 40 adapted to receive spring means which may comprise rubber cylinders 4|, 4| having central openings 42-, 42 adapted to receive 'guide pins 43, 43 carried on brackets 44, 44 rigidly attached to frame .I i. Said rubber cylinders 4|, 4! thereby restrict the transfer of vibrations from the frame II to the standards 38. In 'each of the forms of my invention, it is desirable that the vibrations of the motor vibrator 33' be imparted'as much as possible to the vibratory structure 31 and that a minimum of vibration be imparted to the frame II or II. To this end the weight of said frame II or ii ismade substantially greater than that of the vibratory structure '31 and is preferably at least twice the weight thereof. By this expedient, the vibrations are manifest principally by the vibratory structure.3'| and to'only a small degree in the frame II or II. Such vibrationsas are present in-the frame II or Ii are not transmitted to the supporting structure 6 or 38 by virtue of the spring mountings 8 and ll.

The amplitude of vibration of the vibratory structure 31 is so'small and its rate of vibration so large that the vibratory'movement thereof is not visible to the naked eye but is sensitive by touch andis very effective to produce the desired packing operation.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make .various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the clai'nns -hereto appended, and I wish therefore not to be restricted-to the precise construction herein disclosed. 7 I

Having thus described and shown an embodiment ofmy invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a vibratory barrel packing device, the combination with a vibratory structure including a container support of sufllcient size to support a large containeniike a barrel, and carried upon. energystoring springs, said structure having a natural period of vibration independent of any container supported thereby, of vibratory motor means for periodically storing energy in saidsprings by causing deflection thereof and for periodically releasing said springs whereby to but slightly different from the natural period of said vibratory structure. 2. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratory structure including a container support, of means comprising a spring leaf forsupporting said vibratory structure, said vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration, and means for vibrating said vibratory structure at a frequency slightly diiferent from said natural period.

3. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratory structure including a container support adapted to support a heavy container, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to a supporting frame at each end for periodically imparting vibratory motion to said vibratory structure by energy stored therein, and vibratory motor means for periodically storing energy in said spring leaf by deflection thereof at a rate of 7200- cycles per minute when energized by current of a frequency of 60 cycles per second.

4. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratory structure including a container support, of carrying means'for said vibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to a supporting frame at each end, said spring predetermining the natural period of vibration of said vibratory structure, and motor means for periodically vibrating said vibratory structure at a high frequency and slightly different from said natural period.

5. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratory structure comprising means adapted to carry a container to be filled with material, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to a tion with a vibratory structure comprising means adapted to carry a large container to be filled with granular material, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to a supporting frame at each end, said spring predetermining the natural period of vibration of said electric vibratory system, electric motor means comprising an armature as a part of said vibratory structure for periodically vibrat'- ing said vibratory structure at a frequency slightly different from said natural period and at .a frequency of 7200 cycles per minute when energized from a source of current of 60 cycles per second. 7. In a"vibratory packing device, the cor'nbination with a vibratory structure comprising means adapted to carry a container to be filled with.

granular material, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached predetermining the natural period of vibration of said vibratory system, electric motor means comprising an armature as a part of said vibratory 'structure for periodically vibrating said vibratory structure at a frequency slightly different from said natural period, said supporting frame having a weight at least twice as great as that of said vibratory structure.

8. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratory structure comprising means adapted to carry a container to be filled with granular material, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising a spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to a supporting frame at each end, said spring predetermining the natural period of vibration of said vibratory system, and electric motor means comprising an armature as a part of said vibratory structure for periodically vibrating said vibratory structure at a frequency slightly difierent from said natural period, saidmotor being adapted to impart vibratory movement to said vibratory structure substantially entirely along i a vertical axis and at a frequency at which the container acts as a live load on said vibratory structure and does not affect the predetermined frequency thereof 9. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a vibratory structure including a container support, of carrying means for said vibratory structure comprising an energy storing spring leaf attached thereto at its center and rigidly attached to a supporting frame at each end thereof, said spring predetermining the natural period of vibration of said vibratory system, and motor means for periodically storing energy in said spring by causing deflection thereof and forperiodically releasing said springs whereby they may vibrate said body by said stored energy, said motor means operating to deflect and release said spring at afrequency substantially the same as the natural period of said vibratory structure.

10. In a vibratory packing device, the combination with a plate adapted to carry a plurality of containers to be filled with material, of means for suspending said plate for vibration comprising a central support, a leaf spring attached to said central support at its center and attached to a frame at each end thereof, said spring being capable of supporting heavy weights without appreciable deflection, and electro-magnetic means for imparting high frequency vibratory motion to said plate along an axis parallel with the axis of said support thereby to deflect said spring periodically under the cumulative influence of electric impulses.

11. The method of packing material comprising supporting thematerial on a vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration and carried on energy storing springs, periodically deflecting and releasing said springs at a period substantially in resonance with the natural period vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration and carried on energy storing springs I which springs are in turn supported by a frame of weight at least twice as" great as the weight of the vibratory structure, imparting vibrating forces to said vibratory structure by periodically deflecting and releasing said springs at such frequency as has a period substantially in resonance with the natural period of said vibratory structure whereby energy is periodically stored in said springs and delivered up by said springs to vibrate said vibratory supporting structure at approximately its natural frequency.

13. The method of packing material comprising supporting the material on a vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration and carried on energy storing springs, periodically deflecting and releasing said springs at a period slightly dif ferent from the natural period of said vibratory structure whereby energy is periodically stored in said springs and delivered up by said springs to vibrate said vibratory structure at a frequency slightly diflerent from its natural frequency.

14. The method of packing material comprising supporting the material on a vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration which comprises imparting vibratory movement to said structure at a frequency slightly different from its natural period, whereby vibrations of substantially uniform amplitude will be imparted thereto regardless of the amount of material being packed, with a minimum expenditure of energy.

15. The method of packing granular material in a container, comprising supporting the container on a vibratory structure having a natural period of vibration and while gradually delivering the granular material to said container imparting vibratory movement to said structure at a frequency differing from its natural period to enable maintenance of such vibrations at uniform aniplitude until said container is completely filled.

16. The method of packing granular' material in a container which consists in imparting to the support for the container electro-magnetic impulses by means of uninterrupted undulating electric current having a frequency differing from 40 the natural period of vibration of said support and thereby maintain a uniform amplitude of vi-' bration with a minimum expenditure of electric current until the container is compactly and quickly filled with such granular material.

1'7. The method of quickly and compactly packinggranular material in a container, which consists in imparting to a resilient support for the container electro-magnetic impulses by means of uninterrupted undulating electric current having filling of said container.

18. The methodof quickly and compactly filling a container with granular material which consists in imparting vibrations of minute amplitude to a resilient support having only extremely small ilexure and a natural period of vibration by means of uninterrupted undulatory electric current to exert electro-magnetic impulses on such support at a frequency difl'erent from said natural period to effect maintenance of the aforesaid amplitude while granular material is gradually delivered to said container.

19. The method of quickly and compactly filling a barrel with granular material which consists in imparting to a slightly \yielding barrel support I during the gradual filling of the barrel thereon vertical vibrations of minute amplitude by means of uninterrupted undulating electric current to exert on said sup rt electro-mag'netic impulses having a frequency diflerlng from the natural period of said support thereby main aining sub- 7 stantially uniform such amplitude of vibration with aluminium consumption of electric current during the entire time consumed for the complete filling of said barrel with said granular material.

20. A vibratory packing device, comprising the combination with a plate adapted to carry a container tobe filled with material, of means for supporting said plate for vibrationcomprising a central support, a leaf springattached to said central support at its center and attached to a frame at each end thereof, said spring being capable of supporting heavy weights without appreciable deflection, and eiectro-m'agnetic means constructed and arranged to impart high frequency vibratory motion to said plate by deflecting said spring periodically under the cumulative influence of electric impulses.

JAMES A. FLINT.

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