US2331587A - Machine for filling containers - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 12, 1943. v. G. WILLIAMS 'MACHIJE FOR FILLING coNTAI NERS Filed May 29, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Oct. 12, 1943. l V, G; WILLIAMS 2,331,58'15,h

v MAHINE Fon FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Nay 29, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 2 V. G. WILLIAMS MACHINE Fon FILLING CONTAINERS Oct. 12, 19437.

Filed May 29, 1941 a 64 sa 42@ 65153 59 40M 56 fifa J i Oct, v12, 1943. V. WILLIAMS MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed May 29, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UTI @enfer V. G. WwLHams v Patented Oct. 12, 1943 MACHINE FR FILLING CONTAINERS Victor G. Williams, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Delamere and Williams Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application May 29, 1941, Serial No. 395,771

17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for lling contalnersand more particularly to powder filling machines in which the powder is compressed in the container and my object is to devise an improved machine of this character which is more eflicient andsmoother in operation than those heretofore in use.

The construction is hereinafter fully described and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my machine;

Fig. 2 a. front elevation thereof;

F1Fig. 3 an end view of the right hand end of Fig. 4v an end view of the left hand end of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 a-detail in plan of a carrier showing the pivoted arm thereon swung from one position to its other position while the carrier is being moved along a guide;

Fig. 6 a detail in front elevation of some of the parts of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 a cross section of the pivoted arm, carrier and guide;

Fig. 8 a cross-sectional detail in full size of part of the machine showing a container being filled;

Fig. 9 a sectional detail in full size of the dies for compressing the powder in the container;

Fig. 10 a plan view of part of a hopper on an enlarged scale with its upper stationary ring partly broken away to show the scraper and flasks in the bottom of the hopper;

Fig. 11 a plan view of the drives; and

Fig. 12 a front elevation of the hopper drives.

In the drawings like numerals of reference in.- dcate corresponding parts in the different figures.

I is the frame of the machine which is suitably shaped to carry the various parts. The containers 2 to be filled are inserted in openings 3 in carriers 4. Each carrier is provided with an opening 3 and the container 2 may be inserted either manually or by any suitable automatic device, indicated at 5, for feeding containers one by one into the openings as the intermittently operated carriers 4 come to rest at the rear right hand corner of the frame. At a succeeding stop of the carrier, the container 2 is pressed downwardly in the opening by a suitable press 6 until the upper open end of the container is positioned correctly relative to the upper surface of the carrier 4. The carrier is a'dvanced in a guide I along the rear side of the frame, then in a guide Il along one end of the frame, then in a guide 'Ila along the front side of the frame, where its container receives two or more charges of different kinds of powder from hoppers 8. The hoppers are spaced apart to discharge apredetermined amount of each kind of powder successively into the container when it comes to rest adjacent each hopper. The carrier next comes to Iest between oppositely directed presses 9 and I0 which are adapted to engage the powder in the container and the lower end of the latter, respectively, to compress the powder without applying any pressure to the frame of the machine. The container illustrated is a bullet casing having a thin cylindrical metallic capsule 2a therein, the bottom of which rests on a metal insert 2b placed in the nose of the bullet casing. The container 2 is subsequently ejected from the carrier by a press II which may be located on the right hand end of the guide 1b. .The carrier is then advanced along the guide 'Ic vat the other end of the frame to receive another container and to complete the cycle along the guides 1, 1a, 'Ib and 1C.

The carriers 4 are rectangular in plan and are advanced along pairs 0f metal strips 'Id which extend parallel to one another at the opposite sides and ends of the frame. The opposite edges of the carriers 4 are engagedby pairs of strips 'Ie to prevent lateral displacement of the carriers. The upper sides of the carriers are engaged by pairs of strips If forming caps for the strips 1e except at convenient places such as the corners whereby any carrier may be removed and re` placed at such places. The guide strips of metal 1d, 'Ie and 1f, forming the guides 'I, "Ia, 'Ib and 'I, are secured to pairs of brackets 'Ig which are carriedin spaced relationship to one another on plates 'Ih which are spaced apart around the frame and secured thereto, see Figs. 1, 5, 7 and 8.

The opening 3 of'each carrier 4 is preferably formed in a die 3a having a collar 3b at its upper end which projects above the upper surface of the carrier, see Figs. 7, 8 and 9. On each carrier is pivoted, at I2, an arm I3 which carries a hollow guide I 4 and a funnel I5 adapted to be alternately registered with the opening 3. The bore of the guide I4 is adapted for the passage of the container 2 therethrough to direct the container into the opening 3. The bore of the funnel I5 is slightly smaller than that of the guide I4 whereby material from the hoppers 8 may be directed into the container without contacting the upper edge thereof around the mouth of the container.V

To align the guide I4 or the funnel I5 with the opening 3, the collar 3b is formed as a frustoconical seat and the guide and the funnel are each countersunk at their lower end to t said seat as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The funnel is provided with a depending lip I6 concentric to its bore and this lip fits into the opening 3 to ensure the material from the hopper will be directed into the container.

The pivot I2 comprises a headed stud threaded in the carrier 4. The carrier is bored to receive p the head of the stud and is bushed at the lower end of the bore to form a bearing on the stud. A spring I1 disposed on the stud bears against the upper side ofthe bushing and the underside of the head of the stud and tends to move the arm axially on the stud towards the carrier. Thus the spring tends to retain the countersunk end of the funnel I or of the guide I4 on the frusto-conical seat 3b and this engagement between the seat 3'n and either of the funnel or of the guide prevents the arm from swinging on the stud until the arm is moved axially thereon to clear the seat or collar 3b. This is accomplished by an inclined surface I8a on a stationary part I8 over which the end I3 of the arm I3 remote from the funnel and guide passes, see Figs. 5, 6, 7 and l. The underside of said end I3a is provided with a round headed projection I9 which engages the inclined surface I8, as the arm I3 is moved with its carrier 4 relative to said surface, and causes the arm to be moved axially on its stud I2. Immediately the countersunk lower end, of whichever one of the funnel or guide parts, that was engaged with the collar 3k' is raised clear of said collar, the friction between the projection I9 and the inclined surface I 8a causes the arm I3 to be swung on the stud until the other of the said funnel or guide part is in register with the collar 3b. This position is determined by an abutment projecting upwardly from the carrier 4 to limit the swinging movement of the arm I3 in one direction of rotation. The projection I9 then continues to ride over the part I8 and, when it reaches the end thereof, the arm Wil1 descend to bring the countersunk lower end of the said other funnel or guide part into engagement with the frusta-conical collar 3b which centers the countersunk end thereon and locks the arm from rotary movement on the stud. The abutment 20 approximately positions the guide I4 for registra- "i tion with the opening 3 when the projection I9 moves past the part IB. Since the carriers 4 are not turned during their movement around the perimeter of the frame, the arm I3 will be properly positioned for engagement with another inclined surface I8, on a stationary part |81 1ocated at the side of the machine opposite that on which the part I8 is carried, for raising the arm and swinging it to shift the guide I4 out of register with the opening 3 and the funnel I5 into register therewith, An abutment 2|, similar to the abutment 2U, approximately positions the funnel I5 for registration with the opening 3 and limits the swinging movement of the arm I3 in the direction of rotation opposite that limited by the abutment 20.

Each of the hoppers 8 is secured to an intermittently driven shaft 22. The shafts are connected by a train of gears 23 one of which is connected with a Geneva Wheel 24 which is actuated by a Geneva drive wheel 25 secured to a. shaft 26. Preferably the gears 23A rotate the hoppers in the same direction of rotation. In the bottom of each hopper are a plurality of measuring charnbers or iiasks 21 which may be removably secured therein by any suitable means, see Fig. 8. The powder in each hopper drops into the chambers therein, and a stationary disk 28 (over which the chambers rotate) prevents the powder from spilling out of the chambers until they reach a discharge opening 29 in the disk 28. To prevent the powder within each hopper above the measuring chambers from passing through` the chambers as they are brought into registerwith the discharge opening 29 and to ensure all sthe contents of the measuring chamber in register with the discharge opening being discharged therethrough, I provide a scraper 39 which is held from rotation in the hopper just above the upper surface of the bottom thereof andv I provide a reciprocable plunger 3| guided in the scraper for ejecting the material from the measuring chamber in register with the discharge opening.

The scrapers 3U for the hoppers 8 are each formed of a flat piece of metal which is arcuate in plan to lie in the annular space at the bottom of the hopper. Each scraper is heldin the hopper above the discharge opening 29 by a tubular support 32 secured to a stationary ring 33. The latter is provided with lugs which are secured by distance collars land bolts 34 to lugs on the stationary disk 28, Each plunger 3l is guided in a support 32 and the upper 'ends of1 ,the plungers are connected with a cross head 35 having depending rods 36 slidably mounted in bearings 31. The lower ends of said rods are connected by a bar 38 which is operatedas `hereinafter described to actuate the plungers 3l and to normally position them above the underside of the Scrapers 39 and thus clear of the measuring chambers 21. Should the powder in one or more oi the hoppers be a mixture, a plurality of lstationary blades 16 will be provided to depend from each ring 33 into the hopper beneath it to ensure an even mixing of the mixture therein.

The carriers 4 are provided with countersunk holes 39 adapted to receive spring actuated pins 4U for correctly positioning the carriers relative to the feed device 5, the presses 6, 9 and Il), and

I I and the hoppers 8. The ipins are provided with shoulders intermediate their ends for engagement by bifurcated fingers 4I securedA to shafts 42, 42a which extend lengthwise of the machine and are journalled to oscillate in suitable brackets 43. When the said shafts are oscillated in one direction of rotation, the fingers move the pins out of the path of the carriers and when the shafts are oscillated in the opposite direction o1 rotation, the fingers permitthe springs to move the pins into engagement with the undersides of the carriers whereby they will move into the holes 39 to prevent the carriers from overrunning their advancing means.

A drive shaft 44, having .one or more motor driven pulleys 45 freely mounted thereon, is adapted to be actuated by a clutch having one member 46 secured to the pulley and another member 41 feather keyed on the shaft 44. The clutch shift fork 48 is carried on an axially movable shaft 49 which isma'nually operable to engage or disengage the clutch members. The shaft 49 has a handwheel 50 and a pinion 5I, the latter is adapted to mesh with a gear 52 secured to the drive shaft 44 when the shaft 49 is shifted to disengage the clutch whereby the drive shaft,

may be rotated by hand. A helical gear 53 on the drive shaft meshes with a helical gear 54 on the here-inbefore described Geneva drive wheel shaft 2B and alsovwith a helical gear 55 on' a shaft X55 which extends longitudinally of the machineaf;v right angles to the drive shaft. 'Ihe gear 52 is at one end of the drive shaft and is provided with a crank .pin on which one end of a connecting rod 51 is pivotally connected.

The other end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected with a segmental gear 58 which meshes with a pinion 58 on a stub shaft 50. The latter has a gear 6I secured thereto which meshes with teeth on the underside of a rack bar 52 which extends along one side of the frame I vand is provided with pawls 63 for engaging the rear edges of those carriers 4 in the guide 1".

The other end of the drive shaft 44 and each end of the longitudinal shaft 56 have a` crank disk 52* secured thereto for actuating a segmental gear 58* by means of a connecting rod 51. 'I'hese three disks 52, segmental gears 58, connecting rods 51* are similar to the corresponding parts 52, 58 and 51 respectively. vThe gears ,58n mesh with pinions 55|a on stub shafts 50"- having gears 6I which mesh with rack bars 52. One of the bars 52'L extends along the other side of the frame I and additional bars 62n extend along the ends of the frame and each of these bars is provided with pawls Iii!a for engaging the rear edges of the carriers in the guides 1, 1*l and 1. The rack bars at the ends of the frame are so positioned that their ends will pass beneath the ends of the rack bars ai; the sides of the frame. Thus the pawls on the two end rack bars are longer than those on the two side rack bars. A Y

' 'I'he four rack bars 52, 62' are similarly mounted for reciprocation and, referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the bar 52 has blocks 54 secured to the sides thereof. The blocks are spaced apart along the bar and slide on the plates 1h between the inner ends of the brackets 1K. Guide strips 1i secured to said-brackets bear against rthe sides of the rack bar and overlie the blocks $4 to prevent vertical displacement of the rack bar. The other rack bars 62a are similarly guided.

'I'he pawls 53, G3'L are arranged in pairs along .the rack bars and the pawls of each pair are secured to the ends of a pin journalled in a rack bar. rearward extension and with a spring 64 which normally positions said extension against a stop -Dln 55. During the return strokes of the rack bars, the pawls are thus permitted to pass under the carriers 4 behind them and the stop pins 55 position the pawls for engaging the rear edges of the said carriers on the next forward strokes of the rack bars. The latter move in unison to advance the carriers simultaneously so that the carrier which was positioned at the rear right hand corner of Fig. l by the pawls on the right end rack bar, will be engaged by a pair of pawls on the rear side rack bar and moved thereby into position for the press 6 to force the container 2 downwardly into the opening 3. The guide I4 has been in register with the opening 3 during the feeding of the container thereto and the pressing down of the container therein. Before the carriers leave the guide 1 at the rear side of the machine, the arms I3 are shifted by the stationary part lab to move the funnels I into register with the openings 3. After the carriers are moved past the feeding and the compressing means at the front side of the frame, the arms I3 are shifted by the stationary part I8 .to move the guides I4 into register with the openings 3 and thus the carriers are conditioned for the press II to eject the containers from and the One pawl of each pair is provided with a feeding device 5 to insert fresh containers into the openings 3. 'Ihe oscillating shafts. 42, 42l are simultaneously actuated by a cam -65 on the longitudinal shaft 55, a lever 61, crankarms 68, SII` secured to said shafts, a'link 58 connecting the lever 61 and armlis, and a link 'l0 connecting the crank arms.

One or more valves or other devices 1I are used to control the operation of the presses 5, 8 and III, and I I and such devices are actuated by a cam 12 also secured to the longitudinal shaft 55, and a lever 13 which is pivotally connected with the plunger of the valve 1I l The die I Ill of the press I Il is recessed to receive all of the lower end of the bullet casing 2 projecting beneath the carrier 4. To ensure the die being moved to its operative position, in which its upper surface contacts the undersuriace4 of the carrier, or of the die 3*l carried thereby, before the punch 8 of the press 9 is moved sufficiently to cause the .casing 2 to be moved axially in its opening 3, I provide suitable means for delaying the operation ofthe press 8. The descent of the ram of the press 8 compresses a spring 8b Vwithin a yoke .8 which is supported by tension springs 8d from the frame of the press whereby suicieni; fluid pressure must be built up to .overcome the springs 8b, 8d before the punch will compress the powder in the casing 2. In the meantime the die IIIL has moved to embrace all the lower end of the casing 2 depending from the carrierV so that -when the punch descends to compress the powder there will be no danger of the walls ofthe casing beingbulged outwardly which would occur if the die did not reach its final position before the punch can apply any appreciable compression force to the powder. In other words, the powder should be compressed by the punchafter the die has .come to rest and not by the die lmoving towards the punch. The use of the double 4presses 9 and I0 removes all pressure from the frame of the machine which is important since ii; is desired to compress the powder preferably at about forty tons per square The bar 38, which operates the plungers 3I for ejecting .material from the measuring chambers 21 into the containers 2, is actuated by a cam 14 secured to the drive shaft 44. To avoid using a large sized cam or lowering the bar 38, I employ a linkage indicated at 15 for transmittingmotion -from the cam 14 to the bar 38. This linkage comprises two levers connected together by a link, one of the levers being connected with the rial to the containers while being carried by the carriers; means for advancing the carriers intermittently and independently of one another on the guiding means to the feeding means: means for releasably locking the carriers lrelative to the feeding means to position the containers one by one to receive material therefrom,-the releasably locking means comprising a plurality o f spaced apart spring actuated pins each adapted to be received in a, hole in each of the carriers: and an oscillating shaft provided with a plurality of the containers; means for simultaneously applying pressure to the material in the container and to the latter to compress the material without applying pressure to the machine; pressure means for ejecting the container from its opening; means for releasably locking the carriers relative to thefeeding means and to the diiierent pressure means, the Said locking means comprising a plurality of spaced apart spring actuated pins each adapted to be received in a hole in each of the carriers; and an oscillating shaft provided with a plurality of fingers for engaging and controlling the operation of the pins.

11. A lling machine comprising means for intermittently advancing containers, each container having an open mouth; means for feeding material to the containers including a rotatable hopper having measuring chambers in the bottom thereof; a non-rotating disk for closing the underside of the chambers, the said disk having a discharge opening therethrough, the containers being adapted tn be brought seriatim' into register therewith; means for intermittently rotating the hopper to bring the chambers seriatim into register with the discharge opening when a container is in register therewith; a stationary scraper in thev hopper adjacent its bottom for cutting off communication between the interior of the hopper and the measuring chamber in register with the discharge opening; a plunger guided in the scraper and movable therethrough for ejecting material from the, last mentioned measuring chamber through the discharge opening into a container; and means for actuating the plunger and for normally positioning it clear of the bottom of the hopper.

12. A filling machine comprising means for intermittently advancing containers, each container having an open mouth; means for feeding a powder mixture to the containers including a rotatable hopper having measuring chambers in the bottom thereof; a non-rotating disk for closing the underside of the chambers, the said disk having a discharge opening therethrough, the containers being adapted to be brought seriatim into register therewith; means for intermittently rotating the hopper to bring the chambers seriatim into registerowith the discharge opening when a container is in register therewith; a stationary scraper in the hopper adjacent its bottom for cutting off communication betwen the interior of the hopper and the measuring chamber in register with the discharge opening; and a stationary blade depending into the hopper for ensuring an even mixing of the mixture therein.

13. A filling machine comprising means for intermittently advancing carriers for carrying containers having open mouths, each carrier having an opening therethrough in which one of the containers is frictionally supported; means for feeding compressible material to the containers, the lower end of each container projecting beneath the underside of its carrier; a press having sure to the material in the container after the die has been moved to embrace the projecting lower end; means for controlling the operation of the presses simultaneously; and means for delaying the operation of the punch to permit full operation of the die prior to compression of the material by the punch.

14. A filling machine comprising means for advancing carriers, each carrier having an opening for receiving an open mouthed container; an arm movable on said carrier and having a funnel adapted to be registered with the opening to direct material into the mouth of the container; and means for shifting the arm relative to the carrier to move the funnel alternately out of and into register with the opening.

15. A lling machine comprising means for advancing carriers, each carrier having an opening for receiving an open mouthed container; an arm pivoted on each carrier and axially movable relative thereto, the arm having a funnel adapted to be brought into register with the opening to direct material into the mouth of the container; means for ensuring registration of the funnel with the opening and for locking the arm positively to the carrier during such registration; and means for axially moving the arm relative t'o the carrier to release the locking means and for turning the arm when the locking means is released.

16. A filling machine comprising means for advancing carriers, each carrier having an opening for receiving an open mouthed container; an

arm pivoted on said carrier andaxially'movable relative thereto, the arm having a funnel adapted to be brought into register with the opening to direct material into the mouth of the container; means for feeding material through the funnel into the container; means for ensuring registration of the funnel with the opening and for locking the arm positively to the carrier during such registration; a stationary part having an inclined surface; a round headed projection on the underside of the arm adapted to engage the inclined surface to cause the arm to be moved axially to release the locking means and thereafter cause the arm to be turned; and means for limiting the said turning movement of the arm to approximately position it for engagement with the locking means when the projection disengages the said stationary means.

17. A filling machine comprising means for advancing carriers, each carrier having an opening for receiving an open mouthed container and having an upwardly extending projection concentric With the opening; an arm pivoted on said carrier and axially movable relative thereto, the arm having a funnel adapted to be registered with the opening, the funnel being countersunk to t said projection to ensure proper registration to said funnel with said opening; and means for axially moving the arm relative to the carrier to cause the funnel to clear the seat and for turning the arm to move said countersunk part out of and into register with the seat. i

VICTOR G. WILLIAMS.

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