US3351473A

US3351473A - Filling apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3351473A
Application number: US409472A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilber C Belk
Original assignee: FMC Corp
Current assignee: FMC Corp
Priority date: 1964-11-06
Filing date: 1964-11-06
Publication date: 1967-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-07
Also published as: IL24485A; ES319257A1

Description

Nov. 7, 1967 w. c. BELK 3,351,473

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILBER G. BELK BYW W ATTORNEY 1967 v w. c. BELK 3,351,473

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 M m b 107 106 104 lNVENTdR WILBER G. BELK ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1967 w. c. BELK 3,351,473

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1964 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 208 2080. 211 2&2 207 INVENTOR WILBER 0. BELK ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1967 W. C. BELK FILLING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 6, 1964 OF A 9 m Y m m 0. mm m 9 89 2 u A mm w 3 w m: mO- VG m: 9mm HHHWHMHH mm 0@ ma Nov. 7, 1967 w. c. BELK FILLING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 6, 1964 INVENTOR WILBER C. BELK ATTORNIEY Nov. 7, 1967 W. c. BELK FILLING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 6, 1964 INVENTOR WILBER C. BELK BY W ATTORNEY W. C. BELK Nov. 7, 1967 FILLI NG APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 6, 1964 INVENTDR WILBER 6.. BELK BY W1 6':

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice 3,351,473 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 3,351,473 FILLING APPARATUS Wilber C. Belk, Lakeland, Fla, assignor to FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,472 20 Claims. (Cl. 99-186) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for filling cylindrical cans with crescentshaped grapefruit segments comprising a feed belt to feed oriented segments to a filling station, three spaced rotating spools which support and spin the cylindrical can located at the filling station, the spools being elliptical in crosssection to vibrate the can while it is spinning, a combination guide and height-sensing switch to direct the segments into the can and control the filling operation by being raised when the segments fill-up the can, a rotating roller which presses the segments downwardly in the can to compress the pack, and a penumatic-electric control circuit.

This invention relates to the packing of products into containers and more particularly to apparatus for filling containers with citrus fruit sections or the like.

Numerous obstacles have theretofore been encountered in automatically packing articles into cylindrical containers. Particularly, when packing citrus fruit sections, which are are crescent shaped, have tapered cross-section, and are relatively fragile by nature, previous machine packs have not achieved an orderly arrangement of the sections or uniform weight of the filled containers. By pack is meant an assemblage of sections within a filled container. If the sections are merely dropped into the container, the fragile sections will break and a non-uniform pack will result causing the containers to vary greatly in weight.

It is an object, therefore, of this invention to provide a pack of citrus fruit sections of substantially uniform weight and density in a cylindrical container.

Another objection of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for filling a container with a plurality of crescent shaped articles having tapered crosssections. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for automatically sequentialy filling a plurality of cylindrical containers with crescent shaped articles having tapered cross-sections.

These and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of part of a food processing line with which the filling apparatus of the present invention is employed.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevation, with parts broken away and parts in section, of a portion of the filling apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective of the filling apparatus and a portion of the machine associated therewith.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan of the container-stopping portion of the filling apparatus, shown disconnected from the machine.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal section of another portion of the filling apparatus taken generally along the lin 66 of FIG. 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged isometric of a portion of the container guard in the filling apparatus shown in FIG. 5.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged isometric of the container positioning portion of the filling apparatus, parts being broken away and shown in section.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged isometric schematic of the drive arrangement for the filling apparatus and a portion of the drive arrangement for the processing line shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 11 is a schematic circuit diagram used for controlling the operation of the filling apparatus.

FIGURES 12A and 12B are schematic sections showing solenoid actuated air valves, FIG. 12A showing a valve in a normally closed position, FIG. 12B showing a valve in a normally open position.

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged schematic perspective of a second embodiment of the filling appartus, with parts broken away.

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged horizontal section taken generally along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

In general the filling appartus of the instant invention comprises an endless article supply belt 68, a filling unit 86 and a container-positioning unit 88. all of which are mounted on a support structure 10. Crescent-shaped articles are deposited on the belt in any suitable manner, as by a diverter belt that is disposed transversely over a feed belt 34 as seen in FIG. 10. The feed belt 34 is trained around an idler roller 36 and around a drive roller 38 that is driven from a main drive shaft 44 by means of a countershaft 39, sprocket 40, chain 46, and sprocket 42. The diverter belt 50 is disposed around an idler pulley 54 and around a drive pulley 56 that is driven from main shaft 44 through a shaft 60; a pulley 61, belt 62, and pulley 63. The diverter belt 50 is arranged to intercept articles advancing on belt 34 and transfer them to belt 68. The feed belt 34 and diverter belt 50' are part of a conveying, spacing and orienting system that is disclosed in the patent application of Thomas G. Cox et al., entitled Container Filling Machine, Ser. No. 409,529, which is assigned to the assigne of the present invention. It will be evident of course that articles may be manually placed directly in suitably spaced relation on the belt 68 in the desired oriented position by an operator. The belt 68 delivers the sections to the filling unit 86 where they are directed into a rapidly spinning container C positioned beneath the filling unit by the container positioning unit 88. When the container C is filled, the supplying conveyor 68 is stopped, the filled container is replaced by an empty container, and the filling cycle repeated.

The articles are fed onto the supplying belt 68 with substantially all of them being positioned with their thin concave edges near the center of the belt 68 and their thick edges toward the outer edge of the belt 68 substantially as shown by section S in FIG. 3. Near the discharge end of belt 68, a slanted guide 84 (FIG. 2) that overlies the inner edge of the belt intercepts the sections and directs them toward a guide 82 (FIG. 3) adjacent the outer edge. As best shown in FIG. 10, the belt 68 is trained about a pair of

idler rollers

69 and 70 and a driven roller 71, respectively. A shaft 72 is journalled in the frame 10 and is fixed to the roller 71 at one end and to a sprocket 73 at its other end. A chain 75 is trained about the sprocket 73 and a second sprocket 74 which is fixed to a main drive shaft 44.

The container filling unit 86 is mounted on the frame 10 adjacent the discharge end of the supplying conveyor 68 and comprises a sensing member or chute 90, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the shape of a wedge having a top wall 92, a bottom wall 93 and an upstanding side plate 94. The top wall 92 is bent as at 92a and provides a wall portion which prevents sections from falling between the chute and the belt 68. A lever 97 is secured to plate 94 by capscrews 95 and is spaced therefrom by spacers 96. The lever 97 has a rearwardly extending arm 97a that is setscrewed to a switch rod 99 pivotally journalled on the frame as seen in FIG. 6.

T The chute 90 is disposed almost entirely inside a container guard 102 which, as seen in FIG. 7 is a generally cylindrical member having a large part of one side wall cut away and having an arm 102a projecting generally tangentially to the main cylindrical portion of the guard. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the lowermost one of the spacers 96 abuts the upper edge of the tangential arm 102a. Accordingly, when the guard 102 is 'moved upwardly, the arm 102a engages the spacer and pivots the chute 90 upwardly.

The cylindrical container guard 102 has laterally projecting tabs that are welded to a pair of vertical bars 103 that are secured to hubs 103a mounted for vertical reciprocal movement on a pair of guide rods 104 (FIGS. 2 and S). The guide rods 104 are fixed at their upper ends 'to a horizontal plate 105 which is mounted on two spaced, longitudinally extending channels 111 and 111a (FIG. 3) 'of the frame 10 by bolts 107 (FIG. 2) which clamp two vertical transverse plates 111k between the plate 105 and the longitudinal channels 111 and 111a. Vertical movement of the cylindrical container guard 102 is provided by any conventional double acting pneumatic power cylinder or actuator 106 which is energized by solenoid controlled air valves and is identical to all of the double acting pneumatic actuators hereinafter referred to. In general, each actuator includes a piston slidably mounted in 'a cylinder and having a piston rod projecting outwardly of the cylinder. A solenoid actuated air valve admits high pressure air to one end of the cylinder while the other end of the cylinder is vented. The pneumatic actuator 106 associated with the cylindrical guard 102 is secured by capscrews to the underside of the support plate 105, with its piston rod 108 fastened at its lower end to a hub 109 that carries two rigid horizontal support straps 110. As seen in FIG. 5, the straps 110 are also secured to the hubs 103a so that when air under pressure is directed to the cylinder 106, the can guard will be raised or lowered depending upon which end of the cylinder receives the air.

The switch rod 99 which, as aforementioned, is rotatably journalled in the frame 10, has a rotary contact 99a (FIGS. 2 and 6) setscrewed thereto at the opposite side of the belt 68 from the point of attachment of lever arm 97a. A cam 9% which is made of insulating material issecured in coaxial relation to the rotary contact 99a. The cam 99b has a lobe 990 which is arranged to engage a leaf spring contact member 100 to raise it away from the rotary contact member 99a or to permit the member 100 to move down into contact with the periphery of themember 99a. The leaf spring contact member 100 is mounted on an insulated block 112 that is secured to a support lever 112a which has an end portion rotatably supported on the rod 99. A spring 11% urges the lever 112a in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2) to hold the block 112 against an adjustable stop screw 112a.

A cylindrical support shaft 113 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is rotatably journalled in a horizontal tube 114 fixed to the outside of the container guard 102. A support strap 116 is fixed at one end to the shaft and at its other end to a rotary presser mechanism 118. The presser mechanism 118 comprises a shaft 120 journalled in a tube 122 mounted in fixed position on the strap 116 and fastened at its upper end to a small electric motor 124 and at its lower end to a frusto-conical-presser roller 126. The lowermost surface of the roller is maintained in a horizontal plane when in its operative position. As is best seen in FIG. 3, a small spring 128 is fastened to the presser mechanism 118 and to the channel 111 to help support the roller 126 in its horizontal position since the weight of the pressing mechanism 118 tends to pivot it downwardly about the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support shaft 113. The size and strength of the spring 128 is dependent upon the amount of pressure to be applied by the roller. A stopscrew 130 is adjustably threaded into a boss 131 (FIG. 2) integral with the container guard 102 and provides a stop to arrest the downward pivotable ".ovement of the roller 126. By adjusting the stopscrew 130, the roller 126 can be extended into the open top of the container guard 102 a desired amount. When a container C is positioned beneath the container guard 102, a switch, later to be described, energizes a circuit to operate a solenoid valve and energize the pneumatic actuator 106, causing the container guide 102 to be lowered and allowing the chute 90 to pivot downwardly into the open upper end of the container C as shown in FIG. 2. The roller 126 also moves downwardly until the lowermost surface of the roller 126 lies slightly below the top of the container C at the side of the container guide 102 opposite to the chute 90 as seen in FIG. 3. Grapefruit sections S, which are discharged from the filler conveyor 68 at a rate of approximately feet per minute, strike the upper surface 92 of the wedge shaped chute 90 and are guided into engagement with the inner cylindrical wall of the rotating container C. Substantially all of the sections are orientated such that their thick edges abut the wall of the container.

The container positioning unit 88 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 8) is disposed just below the filling unit 86 and comprises a horizontal container carrying chain 136. continuously driven in a direction normal to the direction of travel of the delivery belt 68. In the embodiment shown, the chain 136 is trained about a plurality of idler sprockets 138, only one shown, (FIG. 10) and a drive sprocket 140 mounted on a rotary shaft 142. A sprocket 144 is also keyed to shaft 142, said sprocket being connected to a sprocket 145 mounted on the shaft of a motor 146 by a chain 147. The container conveying chain 136 is mounted at one end in an intake guide track 150 (FIG. 3) which includes a pair of side walls 152 that assure proper alignment of the containers C on the container carrying chain 136 as they approach the filling station directly below the guard 102. Fastened to the side walls 152 of the intake guide track 150 in the iimmediate vicinity of the filling unit 86 are two parallel horizontal guide rods 154 which are spaced apart the same distance as walls 152 and assure proper alignment of the containers C on the carrying chain 136 through the area beneath the filling unit 86. The horizontal guide rods are fastened at their other ends in a like manner to two side walls 156 of a discharge guide track 158 similar to the intake guide track 150 to assure proper alignment of the containers C on the carrying chain 136 after being filled at the filling station.

A chain support bar 160 (FIGS. 5 and 8) is pivotably connected at one end to the frame 10 by a horizontal pin 160a. A post 162 projects downwardly from the chain support bar 160 near its free end, and a freely rotatable roller 164 is mounted on the lower end of the post 162. The roller 164 rests on a leg 16611 of an L-shaped cam support lever 166 which has a hub 1661) pivotably mounted on a pivot post 168 which is fastened to the frame 10 beneath the discharge guide track 158. The leg 166a rests on a horizontal bearing strip 170 also fastened to the frame 10. A link 172 is pivotally fastened to the cam support lever 166 approximately midway between its ends and is fastened to a double acting pneumatic actuator 174 (FIG. 3) fastened to the frame 10. The actuator 174 is operated by solenoid controlled air valve which will be described presently. A cam plate 176 is mounted on the upper surface of the leg 166a of the support lever 166 in alignment with the roller 164 supporting the chain support bar 160. Energization of the pneumatic actuator 174 to swing the lever 166 clockwise (FIG. 15) brings the cam plate 176 into engagement with the support roller 164 and swings the chain support bar 160 upward to raise the chain to its container carrying position. Conversely, when the pneumatic actuator 174 moves the L-shaped cam support lever 166 counterclockwise, the cam plate 176 moves out of engagement with the support roller 164, lowering the chain support bar 160 into a position in which the carrying chain 136 is below its normal container-supporting position. As will appear presently, this chain lowering action takes place when the container arrives at the filling station so that it is no longer moved forwardly by the continuously moving chain.

A spool-carrying arm 178, which is disposed above lever 166 and also has a hub 178a mounted on the pivot post 168 for pivotable movement in a horizontal plane, is supported at its free end by a roller 180 journalled in a block 181 fastened to the free end of the arm 178. The roller 180 rolls along the upper surface of the L-shaped cam support lever 166 and the arm 178 is biased to pivot in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 182 that is fastened to a peg 183 on the cam support lever 166. Intermediate its length, the lever 166 is provided with a stopscrew 184 that is mounted on an angle tab block 186 which is fastened to the inner edge of the lever 166. The stopscrew 184 lies in the same plane as the spool-carrying arm 178 so that clockwise pivoting of the cam support lever 166 will bring the stopscrew 184 into engagement with the spool-carrying a-rm 178 causing both to move simultaneously in a clockwise direction. A pair of rotary can-spinner spools 188 are journalled on posts 190a (FIG. 9) projecting upwardly from plates 190 fixed on the upper surface of the spool-carrying arm 178 and a toothed pulley 189 is secured concentrically on each spool. A third rotary spool 192, which carries a toothed pulley 193, is rotatably journalled on a similar, fixed upstanding post. The two spools 188 (FIG. 5) are circular in cross-section and form the corners of the base of a triangle (when viewed from above) while the spool 192 is elliptical in horizontal cross-section and is positioned at the apex of the triangle. The spools are circumscribed by traction sleeves 194 which provide a highly frictional surface for engaging the outer cylindrical surface of the cylindrical container C. The cam plate 176 and the stopscrew 184 mounted on the L-shaped cam support lever 166 are adjusted so that, when a container is carried by the chain to a position directly under the container guard 102, and the support lever 166 is pivoted counterclockwise (FIG. 8), the cam plate 176 will become disengaged from the support roller 164, lowering the chain support bar 160, while the two outer spools 188 move inwardly toward the empty container C due to the biasing action of the spring 182. The L-shaped cam support lever 166 continues to swing inwardly, disengaging the stopscrew 184 from the spool-carrying arm 178 and leaving the spools 188 firmly biased by the spring 182 against the container C. The arrangement is such that the chain 136 is lowered, immediately after the spinner spools move into engagement with the container.

The spools 188 have annular grooves 188a adjacent a beveled edge 18812, and spool 189 has a groove 192a adjacent a beveled edge 192E). The edges 188b and 19212 provide container contacting surfaces which are slightly above the level of the conveyor chain to aid in lifting the container from the container carrying chain 136, since the biasing of the two outer spools 188 against the container forces the chime of the container against the inner spool 192 to cause the can to move upward on the beveled edges. When the chime has risen to the top of the beveled edge, it fits snugly within the

grooves

188a and 192a in the spools with the wall of the container firmly held by the sleeves 194 on the spools. The engagement of the chime of the can in the

grooves

188a and 192a prevents the can from moving upward during spinning. It should be noted that, whereas the embodiment described shows the two spools 188 moveable to engage the container C and force it against the single stationary spool 194, a single spool could be moveably positioned to engage the container and force it against two stationary spools. Since the stop bar 205 stops the container C at a point such that the center of the container lies on a line which is perpendicular to the base line of the triangle formed by the three spools, it is immaterial whether a single spool is moved inwardly by the spool support bar 178 or a pair of spools are moved inwardly as in the embodiment shown.

Empty containers C enter the filling station one at a time and in timed relation. This movement of the cans from the intake guide track is controlled by a gate member 196 (FIG. 3) that is pivotably mounted on a post 197 for horizontal movement above the can carrymg chain 136. The gate member 196 is a generally flat member and is provided with a container stopping arm 198 that is arranged to halt a row of containers carried by the continuously moving container carrying chain 136. Adjacent the container stopping arm 198 is a first curved extension 200 which has a concave surface of a radius slightly larger than the radius of the container. Adjacent the first curved extension 200 is a second curved extension 202 having a convex surface of a radius much greater than the first. A connecting link 204 is connected at one end to the gate member 196 near the container stopping arm 198 and is connected at its other end to a double acting pneumatic actuator 203 (of the type previously described) connected to the frame 10'. The pneumatic actuator 203 is energized by solenoid controlled air valves. Thus, when the first empty container engages the container stopping anm 198, the row of empty containers following the first container in abutting relation are halted with the container carrying chain 136 sliding under the containers. When the pneumatic actuator 203 retracts the link 204 and swings the container stopping arm 198 counterclockwise (FIG. 3), the first curved extension 200 is also swung counterclockwise, engaging the first empty container and causing the corner surface of the second curved extension 202 to abut the empty container next in line and prevents it from being advanced. Further pivotal movement of the gate member 196 completely retracts the container stopping arm 198, freeing the trapped container and permitting it to move with the container carrying chain 136 toward the container filling unit 86 while the second curved extension 202 halts the remaining row of containers. Reversing the direction of movement of the link 2204 withdraws the second curved extension 202 from its engagement with the row of containers and permits the first container in the row to move into abutment with the container stopping ar-m 198.

The container C released from the row is carried by the container carrying chain 136 toward a position under the cylindrical can guard 102 until it engages against a stop bar 205 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which, at this time projects outwardly over the endless chain 136 in the path of movement of the can. The stop bar 205 (FIG. 4) is mounted on a block 205a that is pivotally supported between set-collars on a cylindrical post 206 projecting upwardly from a fixed plate 207. The piston rod 208a of a double acting pneumatic power cylinder 208 is con-' nected by a universal joint 209 to a link 211 that is pivoted to a lever 212 projecting from the block 205a. When the piston rod 208a is moved inwardly of the cylinder 208, the stop bar 205 is swung: counterclockwise (FIG. 5) to its can-intercepting position of FIG. 5; when the piston rod 208a is moved out of the cylinder, the stop bar is swung clockwise permitting the arrested can to advance on the chain.

A switch control rod 210' (FIG. 5) is mounted on a block 213 that is keyed to a shaft 214 journalled in a support block 215 (FIG. 5) secured to the stop bar 205. The control rod 210 has an end portion 2102: (FIG. 5) that projects over the path of the oncoming can and is so positioned that it is engaged by the can before the can engages the stop bar. The shaft 214 has a rotary cam 216 keyed thereto, said cam having a lobe 216a adapted to hold a contact strip 217 in spaced relation above the periphery of a rotary contact 218 that is mounted on the shaft 214. The shaft 214 is connected to ground through a conductor 219 and the contact strip 217, which is mounted on the stop bar 205 has a conductor, not shown, connected thereto. The stop bar 205 is made of any conventional non'conducting material so that the strip 217 is insulated from the machine. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that, when a can engages the end 210a of the control rod 210, it swings the shaft 214 counterclockwise, permitting the can to move into engagement with the stop bar and causing the rotary cam 216 to allow the contact strip 217 to lower into engagement with the periphery of the rotary contact 218. The closing of these contacts starts a control operation which will be described presently.

All three spinner spools (FIG. 10) are driven by a timing belt 221 which is trained about a toothed drive pulley 222 mounted on a rotatable, vertical shaft 223a and around the spool pulleys 189 and 193. The shaft 223a is mounted in a gear box 223 fastened to the frame of the machine, the gears of which are driven by a drive chain 224 that is trained around a sprocket 225 and around a second drive sprocket 226 mounted on the shaft 142 driven by the motor 146. Since the amount of friction between the articles being fed into a container and the container wall varies depending on the article being handled and the material of the container, the rotational speed required will also vary depending upon the article being handled. The rotational speed must be such that the centrifugal force acting on the article which is imparted by the rotating container will result in a frictional resistance force between the article and the wall of the container which will be slightly less than the gravitational force acting on the article thus causing the article to slide down the container wall. The embodiment shown is for filling grapefruit sections into a No. 301 tin container, which has an outside diameter of approximately 3 inches. This embodiment is shown for illustrative purposes only, if being understood that the principle of the invention is also applicable for other articles and different size containers made of different materials. Accordingly, the chain drive to the gear box 223 can be modified as desired to obtain the desired speed of rotation of the spools. The spools in the embodiment shown are rotated at a rate of approximately 420 r.p.m. The resultant container rotation is approximately 140 r.p.m., which was found to be the speed required to have a grapefruit section slowly slide down the wall of the tin container, and the lateral shake due to the elliptical shape of the inner spool 192 results in the container being shaken or vibrated at a frequency of approximately 840 vibrations per minute.

Further drive arrangements, as best shown schemat ically in FIG. 10 show the supplying belt 68, the transfer belt 50, and feed belt 34 being driven from the main shaft 44 through an electromagnetic slip clutch 228 which has a driven element attached to the shaft 44 and a drive element attached to a large tubular shaft 220. The shaft 229 is driven through a belt and pulley mechanism 230 by a shaft 231 which, in turn, is driven through a belt and pulley device 232 by an electric motor 233. Accordingly, while the spool drive and the drive for the container-carrying chain 136 are operated continuously, the drive to the article supply belt 68, the feed belt 34, and the transfer belt 50 may be halted by virtue of the electromagnetic clutch 228. As mentioned above, the container-carrying chain 136, the spools, and the drive to the electromagnetic clutch are started and remain continously driven during normal operations.

Referring to the control diagram of FIG. 11, it will be noted that seven solenoid-operated, air flow control valves SVO-SV6 are shown. Valve SV1 in line A of the diagram is associated with the air conduit to one end of the pneumatic actuator of power cylinder 203 that actuates the gate 196, valve SVS in line being connected in the conduit leading to the other end of the cylinder 203. Valve SVO in line B controls the flow of air from a conduit 235 connected to a source of air under pressure to a supply conduit 236 that is connected to each of the valves SV1-SV6. Valve SV2 in line G is connected in a conduit leading to one end of the power cylinder 208 associated with the can stop bar 205, valve SVS in line 0 being connected in the conduit leading to the other end of the cylinder 208. Valve SV3 in line M is connected in the air conduit leading to one end of power cylinder 174 which controls the cam support lever 166, valve SV6 in line P being connected in the conduit leading to the other end of the cylinder 174. Valve SV4 in line N is connected in the conduit leading to one end of cylinder 106 that raises and lowers the container guard 102, valve SV6 in line P being connected in the conduit leading to the other end of cylinder 106.

Each of the valves SVl-SV6 is of the type, shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, in which a solenoid is effective when energized to shift the spool of the valve toward the left to a position communicating the conduit that directs air to the associated power cylinder with either a vent connection or with a conduit 236a that is connected to the supply conduit 236 connected to the master valve SVO.

In referring to the valves in the control diagram, the term normally closed will be used to refer to a valve which has its inlet and vent connections located as shown in FIG. 12A which illustrates a normally closed valve. When the solenoid is in a normal or de-energized condition, the conduit leading to the power cylinder communicates through a slanted passage in a valve element V with a vent connection. When the solenoid is energized, the valve element V is shifted to the left to communicate the power cylinder conduit with one of the supply conduits 236a.

A normally open valve is shown in FIG. 12B and it will be noted that it differs from a normally closed valve only in that the vent connection and the air supply conduit 236a are reversed. Thus, when the solenoid is in a normal, de-energized condition, the power cylinder communicates through the valve element V with the air supply conduit 236a and, when the solenoid is energized, the power cylinder is vented.

In the control diagram of FIG. 11 conductors L1L4 are connected to a source of electric power in such a manner that a circuit between L1 and L3 will be subjected to 23 volt AC current and a circuit between L2 and L4 carries volt AC current. To begin a cycle of operation a selector switch 244 is turned to ON position to close contacts in the lines L3 and L4, and a valve (not shown) is opened to direct air under pressure to the master air valve SVO. The normally closed, solenoidoperated air valve SV1 in line A is energized through

conductors

248 and 252, whereupon the valve is opened and air is directed through conduit 250 to one end of power cylinder 203. Since the other end is vented through SVS in line 0, the piston is moved in a direction to rotate the gate member 196 and retract the container stopping arm 198, releasing one container while the remainder are halted by the second curved extension 202. Simultaneously therewith, the rotary presser motor 124 in line C is started through circuit 251, 253 for continuous operation. Also, through circuit 254 and 256, the normally closed main air valve SVO in line E is opened to supply air to the other valves SVl-SV6 including: the normally open valve SV2 in line G which energizes the pneumatic actuator 208 to swing the stop bar 205 and switch rod 210 over the container-carrying chain 136 to a container stopping position; the normally open valve SV3 in line M which energized the pneumatic actuator 174 which retracts the cam support lever 166 to raise the chain carrying bar and moves the spool-carrying bar 178 away from the filling unit 86; and the normally open valve 5V4 in line N which energizes the pneumatic actuator 106 to raise the cylindrical guard 102, the rotary presser 118, and the sensing member or chute 90. Hence an empty container C is free to travel on the carrying chain 136 to a position beneath the cylindrical guard 102. At this time, the contact points 99a and 100- in

line

274, 286, 288 and 274, 286,

V that are associated with the sensing member or chute 98 are also opened.

When an empty container C reaches the filling station beneath cylindrical guard 102, it moves into engagement with the stop bar 205, while actuating the switch rod 210 to cause the contact points 217 and 218 in line T to close and simultaneously start the following operations: the time delay relay 1R in line S is energized through the 24

volt circuit

268, 270, 271 closing relay contacts 1R-1 in line T and 1R-3 in line Q; the clutch 228 in line U is energized through the

circuit

255, 259, 261 to start the operation of the article supply belt 68, the feed belt 34, and the orientator belt 50; and the fourpole relay 2R in line Q is energized through

circuit

260 and 263. The four-pole relay 2R in line Q being energized, the contacts 2R-1 in line G. 2R-2 in line L, 2R-3 in line K, and 2R4 in line S are closed and the following simultaneous operations occur: the solenoids of the normally open valves SV2 (line G), 5V3 (line M), and SV4 (line N) are energized through

circuits

274, 282, 284; 290, respectively, and the valves are closed; also, the solenoids of the normally closed valves SVS (line and 8V6 (line P) are energized to open through

circuits

274, 276, 280 and 274, 276, 278, respectively, and these valves are opened. Opening of valve SV6 causes the pneumatic actuator 174 to move the cam support arm 166 inwardly, permitting the spring-biased spool-carrying bar 178 to move the beveled spools 188 under the container and lift it off the chain 136 and lower the chain. With the valve SV4 now closed and valve SV6 open, air also energizes the pneumatic actuator 106, lowering the cylindrical guard 102, the rotary presser roller 126,and the chute 90 into an operative position. When the chute 90 is lowered, the

contacts

99a and 100 are closed and set up a holding circuit through the

circuit

268, 270, 292, 271 to keep relay 1R energized. Since valve SV2 is now closed or vented and valve SV is opened, air is directed through conduit 295 to the pneumatic actuator 208 to retract the stop bar 205 and the switch rod 210 carried by bar 205 to a position parallel to the container carrying chain 136,

and air is directed through conduit 297 to the pneumatic actuator 203 for rotating the gate member 196 and returning the container stopping arm 198 to its operative position permitting the row of empty containers to move into engagement therewith. Retraction of the switch rod 210 opens the

contacts

217 and 218; however, since the holding circuit through

contacts

99a and 100 is still closed, the relay 1R remains energized.

Simultaneously with the preceding operation, the twopole relay 3R in line I is energized through circuit 2'74, 282, 299 and the following operations occur: contact SR-1 in line A is opened, breaking the

circuit

248, 252 to the solenoid of valve 8V1, and valve 8V1 returns to its normally closed position, permitting the pneumatic actuator 203 to be moved by air admitted through conduit 297 and valve SV5, as mentioned above; contact 3R-2 in line H is closed and the

circuit

274, 300, 302,

.282, 299 forms a holding circuit for the two-pole relay 3R through normally closed contacts of a reset switch 298 which, as seen in FIGURE 3, has an actuator rod 298a disposed in the path of movement of a can toward .the can discharge section 158.

The container C is now being filled with grapefruit sections S leaving the supply 68 at a velocity of approximately 140 feet per minute and are guided by the chute 90 against the inside cylindrical wall of the shaking and rotating container C where the orientated sections slowly slide downward in a pack with their thick edges adjacent .the container Wall. Smaller pieces and unorientated sections do not remain against the wall since they tend to topple to the center of the container due to their thin edges losing contact with the spinning wall. In other words, since thin sections or broken pieces are unorientated, they strike the container wall in random positions,

such as, at'the points of their crescent shaped thin edges, and fall to the center, of the container.

As the container is filled, the sections build up and raise the sensing member or chute 90. When the chute is raised it pivots the rod 99 (FIG. 2) and at a predetermined level opens the contact points 99a and 100 (line T). This breaks the holding

circuit

268, 270, 292, 271 and thereby deenergizes the time delay relay 1R. The time delay relay 1R may be of any commercial type, for example, the type manufactured by the Allen-Bradley Company, Milwaukee, Wis., Mod. BX, having an Off-Delay with one set of auxiliary points. The set of contacts 1R-3 in line Q are delayed-action contacts that are closed after the /2 second delay, the other set of contacts 1R-1 in line T is not -delayed-action contact and it acts immediately upon energization or de-energization of relay 1R.

Once the time delay relay IR is de-energized the following simultaneous operations occur on the non-time relay side; contacts 1R-1 in line T are opened and the

circuit

255, 259, 261 is broken and the rectifier 304 and electromagnetic clutch 228 are de-energized, disengaging the clutch 228 to stop the orientator belt 50, the feed belt 34 and the supply belt 68. For the duration of a pre-set time delay, approximately equal to the time for one rotation of the container or /2 second, the contacts 1R-3- remain closed, relay 2R remains energized, and the filled container C is held at the filling station for further pressing with the presser roller 126. At the end of the delay period, contacts 1R-3 open and relay 2R is de-energized, permitting the filled container to be carried away from the filling station.

The time delay contacts 1R-3 of relay 1R are effective to prevent the container from being carried out of the machine before it is filled, as when one section S extends higher than any of the others, in a partially filled container, and lifts the chute 90 to open the

contacts

99a and 100. Since this one section will pass out from under the chute and allow the

contacts

99a and 100 to close before the /2 second time delay, the container will not he discharged and the filling process will continue until the sections S in a properly filled container again raise the sensing chute and re-open the limit switch points: 990 and 100. When the chute 90 is raised to a desired elevation, as for example, the elevation shown in phantom lines in FIG- URE 2 and held there for the one full rotation of the container (in other words, after the preset delay period has expired), the contacts 1R-3 are also opened and the

circuit

260, 263 is broken, de-energizing the four-pole relay 2R and the following simultaneous operations occur: the contacts 2R-2 in line L are opened and the

circuit

274, 276, 280 is broken, the solenoid of valve SVS is de-energized and the valve returns to its normally closed position;

circuit

274, 276, 278 is also broken and the solenoid of valve SV6 is de-energized and the valve returns to its normally closed position; the contacts 2R-3 in line K are opened and the

circuit

274, 286, 288 is broken to de-energize the solenoid of valve S V3 and return the valve to its normally open position. Air is fed to the pneumatic actuator 174 to retract the spool carrying arm 178 and the cam support lever 166, and lift the container carrying chain 136 causing the filled container C to be moved toward the discharge guide track 158 and the reset switch rod 298a; the

circuit

274, 286, 290 also is broken and the solenoid of valve SV4 is de-energized to return it to its normally open poistion. Air is fed thus to the pneumatic actuator 106 to raise the cylindrical container guard 102, the presser roller 126, and the chute 90. The contacts 2R-1 are opened and the

circuit

274, 282, 299 is broken, but the solenoid of valve SV2 remains energized through the

circuit

274, 300, 302, 282, 284 and the stop bar 210 and

contacts

217 and 218 remain in retracted position. The

circuit

248, 252 remains broken due to the holding

circuit

274, 300, 302, 299 holding the relay 3R energized to keep contacts 3R-1 open, thus, valve SVI remains in the normally closed position, and the pneumatic actuator 203 l 1 keeps the gate 196 in its extended position with the arm 198 stopping the row of containers.

When the filled container, now travelling toward the discharge guide track, 158 deflects rod 298a and actuates the reset switch 298 the following simultaneous operations occur: the holding

circuit

274, 300, 302, 282, 299 is broken and the two-pole relay SR is de-energized; with relay 3R de-energized contacts 3R-1 in line A are closed to close the

circuit

248, 252, and energize the solenoid of valve SV1, whereby air is admitted to pneumatic actuator 203 to retract the gate 196 and release another container; the

circuit

274, 300, 302, 282, 284 is broken, the solenoid of valve SV-2 is de-energized, and the valve SVZ returns to its normally open position. The pneumatic actuator 208 is energized to extend the stop arm 205 and the switch rod 210 again into the path of the oncoming empty container. Thus the processing line is again started on another filling cycle.

A modified form of the filling apparatus is shown in FIGURES l3 and 14. Generally the apparatus is identical to the embodiment previously described except that the container C is positioned in an off-set position to receive sections tangentially admitted into the container from the supplying belt 68 and certain other elements have been slightly changed. The tangential admission of the sections into the container is accomplished by guiding the sections along a line tangent to the container wall. A deflector plate 300 is mounted on the frame closely confronting the upper surface of the supplying belt 68 and is angled so as to contact the thick edge of the citrus fruit sections and divert the sections toward the center of the belt 68. The contanier guard 102 is mounted for reciprocating movement in a vertical plane in a position off-set from the center line of the supplying belt 68 and is otherwise identical to the previously described embodiment. A modified sensing member or chute 302 having a bottom wall 304 and an upstanding side wall 306 is disposed almost entirely in the guard 102 and is pivotably mounted for movement into the container C a distance such that the lower tip of the bottom wall 304 is approximately inch below the upper edge of the container. The bottom wall is bent as at 304a to provide a surface which prevents articles from falling between the chute 302 and the belt 68, and a lower end 30401 that is bent to conform to the inner surface of the wall of the container and is twisted so that its surface is inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the container. The sidewall 306 has secured thereto by capscrews 308, a lever 310 spaced from the Wall 306 by spacers 312. The lever 310 has a rearwardly extending arm 31011 that is setscrewed to a switch rod 314 pivotably journalled on the frame 10.

The switch rod 314 which, as aforementioned, is rotatably journalled in the frame 10, extends away from the belt 68 and is also journalled in an upstanding plate 316 mounted on the frame 10. A block 318 is setscrewed to the end of the rod 314 farthest from the belt 68 and has a shaft 320 fixed thereto which extends rearwardly therefrom. A small weight 322 is slidably mounted on the shaft 320 which tends to pivot the rod 314 and block 318 in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, the weight 322 serves to partially offset the weight of the chute 302 and makes the chute sensitive to upward pressure causing it to readily pivot the'rod 314 in the frame 10. Also, fastened to the top of the block 318 is a cam arm 324 which extends forwardly of the block 318 and supports a cam follower roller 326 journalled to one end of an actuator 328. The actuator 328 is pivotably mounted at its opposite end in a switch 330 which houses a pair of contacts. The actuator 328 is fastened to one of said contacts in a manner such that pivotable movement of the block 318 in a counterclockwise direction will cause the cam follower to roll on the cam arm 324 and cause the actuator 328 to pivot upwardly and close the contacts in the switch 330. Thus, when the chute 302 pivots downwardly into the container, the contacts in the switch 330 are allowed to close whereas upward movement of the chute 302 will open the contacts. Adjustment of the contacts to open and close at a predetermined position of the chute 302 in the container is provided by the setscrew mounting of the block 310 to the rod 314. Thus, by releasing the block 318, the chute 302 can be raised to a predetermined position without rotating the block 318. When the position is reached the block is again securely fastened to the rod 314 whereby further upward movement of the chute 302 will open the contacts. Closing of the contacts in the switch 330 starts a control operation identical to the operation in the embodiment previously described.

Since the container guard 102 and its associated structure is off-set with respect to the center of the supplying belt 68, the container positioning unit 88 is likewise offset an equal amount. The container positioning unit 88 is identical to the previously described embodiment with the exception of a modified switch 340 and a modified bar 341. The switch 340 has a switch control rod 342 pinned thereto at one end and has an end portion 342a that projects over the path of the oncoming container and is so positioned that it is engaged by the container before the container engages the stop bar 341. When the container engages the end 342a of the rod 342, it closes a pair of contacts in the switch 340 and starts a control operation identical to the operation in the embodiment previously described.

The main advantage in the modified apparatus is in the manner of admitting sections S into the container C. As best shown in FIG. 14, a section S travels on the belt 68 and is deflected by the plate 300 toward the center of the belt. Since most of the sections on the belt 68 are in an orientated position, only the thick edges of these sections will engage the deflector plate 300.

As the deflector plate 300 is disposed along a line which is tangent to the container, the sections deflected by the plate 300 are discharged from the belt 68 and admitted tangentially into the container. The tangential admission assists in guiding the sections against the inside cylindrical wall of the spinning container wherein the section slowly slides downwardly in the container in the same manner as was described in the previous embodiment.

From the foregoing description it should be apparent that the invention provides an advantageous apparatus for effectively filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of articles and is particularly adapted for placing crescent shaped fruit sections in a container in an orderly manner whereby a pack is formed of substantially uniform density with very little breakage or damage to the sections. Although the machine has been described for use with citrus fruit sections, it should be noted that the principles embodied in the invention are equally applicable for filling containers with a variety of other objects, particularly those having crescent shapes defined by convex and concave surfaces.

It will be evident, of course, that the present filling machine can be effectively used with the article orientating mechanism which is disclosed in the above-mentioned Cox et al. application and includes the feed belt 34 and the diverter belt 50. Although said orientating mechanism is not disclosed completely herein, it should be understood that reference may be had to said application for a complete disclosure of the orientating mechanism and that said disclosure is incorporated by reference herein.

While a preferred apparatus for carrying out the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that it is capable of modification and variation while still operating according to the principles of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope and proper interpretation of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, that which is believed to be new and for which protection by Letters Patent is desired is:

1. A method for filling containers with food products comprising the steps of supplying a row of spaced food products, feeding said products into a container and against the inside cylindrical wall of the container, and while so feeding rotating said container at a speed such that the centrifugal force acting on said products results in a frictional resistance force between the products and the container wall which is just less than the gravitational force acting on the products so that the products slowly slide down the wall of the container.

2. A method for filling containers with a plurality of citrus sections having crescent shapes defined by convex and concave edges comprising the steps of supplying said sections in a spaced row with substantially all of said convex edges orientated in the same positions and at a predetermined linear velocity, guiding said sections into a cylindrical container with the convex edges of said sections abutting the concave inside wall of said container, and rotating said container at a speed such that the linear velocity of the container wall is approximately equal to said linear velocity of said sections.

3. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of crescent-shaped articles having convex and concave edges comprising means for supplying said articles at a predetermined velocity, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receiving the articles, means for guiding the articles into the container with said convex edges abutting against the inside wall of the container, and means for rotating the container at a speed such that the centrifugal force applied to the articles by the rotation of the container results in a frictional resistance between the articles and the container wall which is slightly less than the gravitational force applied to the articles so that the articles slowly slide down the container wall. 4. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of citrus fruit sections having convex edges comprising means for supplying said sections in a single row and in spaced relation at a predetermined velocity with substantially all of said sections having their convex edgesorientated in the same positions, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receiving said sections, means for guiding the sections'into the container with their convex edges abuttng the inside wall of the container, and means for rotating the container at a speed which results in the wall of the container having a tangential velocity equal to the predetermined velocity of the sections leaving said supplying means.

5. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of'fruit sections having crescent shapes defined by convex and concave edges comprising means for supplying said articles in a single spaced row, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receiving said articles, means for guiding said articles into said container with said convex edges abutting the inside wall of said container, and means for rotating said container at a speed which results in a linear velocity at the periphery of the container of approximately 140 feet per minute.

6. Apparatus for filling a container with a plurality of food products comprising means for supplying said products at a predetermined speed, means for guiding said products into said container and against the inside wall thereof, means for rotating said container at a speed such that the centrifugal force imparted to the products by the rotating container results in a frictional resistance force between .the container wall and the product which is just less than the gravitational force acting on said products, and wherein the peripheral speed of the container is approximately equal to the predetermined speed of said products leaving said supplying means.

7. Apparatus for filling containers with a plurality of food products, means for supplying said food products, means for guiding said food products into a cylindrical container, means for rotating said container, a sensing device arranged to be actuated when said products reach a predetermined height in said container, and means for removing said container responsive to said sensing device after a delay equal to the time required to rotate said container substantially one revolution.

3. Containerfilling apparatus comprising means for positioning a container at a filling station, drive means movable into and out of rotating engagement with the container at the filling station, actuating means for moving said drive means, a sensing device projecting into the container at the filling station and arranged to be raised in the container to a cut-off position by articles in the container, and a control circuit for said actuating means and having contacts responsive to movement of said sens ing device to said cut-01f position and including a time delay means for moving said drive means out of rotating engagement with the container when a predetermined interval has elapsed after said sensing device reaches cutofl? position.

9. In container filling apparatus, a conveyor for'positioning a container at a filling station, rotatable spinner members at said station, some of said spinner members being disposed on one side of said conveyor and the remainder of said members being mounted on the other side of the conveyor, each spinner having a container support surface adapted to be moved to a. position underlying a container at said filling station, means for effecting relative movement between the spinner members on opposite sides of said conveyor to move said members into container supporting relation with the container on said conveyor, and means for rotating said spinner members.

10. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of articles comprising means for supplying articles at a predetermined velocity, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receiving said articles, means for guiding said articles against the inner wall of said container, means for rotating said container at a speed whereby the articles slowly slide down the con tainer wall, sensing means arranged to be actuated when said articles reach a predetermined height, and means responsive to said sensing means for stopping said supply means when said articles reach said height.

11. Apparatus for filling a container with a plurality of food products comprising means for supplying said products in a single row and in spaced relation, a filling unit positioned for receiving said products and for guiding said products into a cylindrical container, said filling unit including a chute positioned for guiding said products against the inside wall of said container, a roller positioned within said container for compacting said products within said container, and a container positioning unit for supporting and for rotating said container while said products are guided into said container.

12. Apparatus for filling a series of containers with a plurality of articles comprising means for supplying a plurality of articles in a row and in spaced relation; means for sequentially positioning a series of cylindrical containers to be filled into positions for receiving the articles; means for guiding the articles against the inside cylindrical walls of the containers to be filled; means for rotating the containers at a speed such that the articles slide slowly down the cylindrical wall; switch means arranged to be actuated by a container positioned at said article receiving position; said supplying means, said guiding means, and said positioning means being actuated for operation in response to said switching means.

13. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of articles having crescent shapes defined by convex and concave surfaces comprising means for supplying the articles in a spaced row and at a predetermined velocity, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receiving said articles, means for guiding articles into the container with the convex surfaces abutting the inside wall of the container, means for rapidly rotating said container at a speed such that the articles are held against said container wall and permitted to slowly 15 slide down the container wall, and means for shaking said container.

14. In container filling apparatus, a conveyor chain having a container support surface, means mounting said chain for movement from a container supporting elevation to a lower elevation, a plurality of rotatable spinner members having container support surface adapted to underlie and support a container and having container rotating surfaces adapted to engage the side surface of a container to rotate the container incident to rotation of said spinner members, means mounting at least one of said spinner members for movement between a projected position in supporting and rotating engagement with a container on said chain and a retracted position, power means for sequentially moving said spinner member to said projected position and moving said chain to said lower elevation, and means for rotating said spinner members.

15. Container filling apparatus comprising a conveyor chain having a container support surface, means mounting said chain for movement from a container supporting elevation to a lower elevation, container support means having support surfaces movable from a retracted position spaced from said chain to a projected position adjacent said chain and in supporting relation to a container on said chain, and power means for sequentially moving said support means to said projected position and moving said chain to said lower elevation whereby the container is supported solely by said container support means.

16. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of food products comprising means for supplying said products in a single spaced row, a filling unit positioned for receiving said products and for guiding said products into a plurality of cylindrical containers, a container-positioning unit for sequentially feeding each of a plurality of containers from an abutting row of containers, said container-positioning unit including a container-carrying chain supporting said containers and mounted for movement beneath said filling unit, a gate member positioned for pivotal movement over said chain into and out of a position abutting said row for sequentially releasing said containers, a first air powered mechanism for moving said gate member, a stop bar moveable into and out of a position over said chain for intercepting a container released by said gate member in a position for filling, a second air powered mechanism for moving said stop bar into and out of said intercepting position, a plurality of spools positioned for pivotal movement into and out of engagement with said container for supporting said container when in said filling position, means for rotating said spools when in said container supporting position, a third air powered mechanism for pivoting said spools into and out of said container supporting position, and a control circuit for operating said air powered mechanisms in a manner such that said containers are moved into said filling position and removed therefrom when filled.

17. In container filling apparatus, a support structure, a conveyor chain mounted for movement in a horizontal path, a track in supporting relation to said chain at a filling station, means mounting said track for movement from a raised position holding said chain at a predetermined elevation and a lowered position, a first spinner member mounted on one side of said chain, a plurality of moveable spinner members mounted on the opposite side of said chain, each of said spinners having a container support surface adapted to underlie and support a container on said chain and a frictional drive surface arranged to drivingly engage the side surface of the container, a first lever supporting said plurality of moveable spinner members, a second lever pivotally mounted on said structure, power means for moving said second lever from a retracted to a projected position, spring means connected between said first and second levers and operable during movement of said second lever to projected position for pivoting said first lever in a direction to move said moveable spinner members into supporting and driving engagement with a container, cam means operatively connected between said second lever and said chain track to lower said track to said lowered position as said second lever moves to projected position and subsequent to the engagement of the container by said moveable spinner members, and means for rotating said spinner members.

18. Apparatus for filling a cylindrical container with a plurality of articles comprising means for supplying a plurality of spaced articles in a single row and at a predetermined velocity, means for positioning a cylindrical container for receiving the articles, means for guiding each article against the inside cylindrical wall of the container as it is fed into the container, and means for rotating the container at a speed such that the centrifugal force applied to each article by the rotation of the container results in a frictional resistance between the article and the container wall which is slightly less than the gravitational force applied to the article so that the article slowly slides down the container wall.

19. In a container filling device having a conveyor for supplying a plurality of citrus fruit sections and a filling unit for guiding the sections into engagement with the inside surface of a Spinning cylindrical container, the improvement comprising means for continuously rotating and shaking the cylindrical container including first rotatable spool means having a toothed pulley mounted thereto, second rotatable spool means having toothed pulleys mounted thereto, a timing belt operatively connected to said pulleys for continuously driving said spools, and means for alternately moving said spools into a container engaging position or into a container releasing position while said spools are being continuously driven by said timing belt.

20. In a container filling device having a conveyor for supplying a plurality of citrus fruit sections and a filling unit for guiding the sections into engagement with the inside surface of a cylindrical container, the improvement comprising means for rotating and shaking the cylindrical container including a first rotatable spool having an elliptical horizontal cross-section, a pair of rotatable spools having circular horizontal cross-sections, toothed pulleys mounted on said spools, a belt connected to said pulleys and to a drive means for continuously driving said spools, and means for biasing said spools into a container-engaging position wherein said container is simultaneously rotated and vibrated by said driven spools.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,268 12/1956 Eckart 141-168 X 3,119,215 11/1964 Polk 53-239 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD FOR FILING CONTAINERS WITH FOOD PRODUCTS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SUPPLYING A ROW OF SPACED FOOD PRODUCTS, FEEDING SAID PRODUCTS INTO A CONTAINER AND AGAINST THE INSIDE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF THE CONTAINER, AND WHILE SO FEEDING ROTATING SAID CONTAINER AT A SPEED SUCH THAT THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE ACTING ON SAID PRODUCTS RESULTS IN A FRICTIONAL RESISTANCE FORCE BETWEEN THE PRODUCTS AND