US723455A - Apparatus for packing oil-cakes. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAR. 24,v 1903..

A. W; FRENCH. APPARATUS FOR PACKING OIL CAKES.

APPLIUATION FILED OUT. 7, 1901,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

N0 MODEL.

mm. wumnuwon. 9.1:. I

m: mums mucus co PHOTQ-L PATENTBD MAR. 24, 1903.

. A. W. FRENCH. APPARATUS'POR PAGKING OIL CAKES.

' APPLIOIATYION FILED 00127, 1901.

K0 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

an vusum No. 723,455. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

A. W. FRENCH.

APPARATUS FOR PACKING OIL CAKES.

APPLIOATION FILED 00w. 7, 1901. 1

3 sums-su ar a.

no MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED w. FRENCH, or PIQUA, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR PACKING OIL-CAKES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,455, dated March 24, 1903.

Application filed October 7, 1901. Serial No. 77,755. [No model.

To all whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. FRENCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Piqua, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Packing Oil-Cakes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to a machine for packing oil-cakes into bags; but it is also applicable to other uses where it is desired to pack a quantity of thin fiat cakes or other articles of an analogous shape into bags. f

Oil-cakes are usually packed in the, bag in the form of a pile-that is, one on top of the other-with one or more cakes inserted edgewise at each side of the pile between the side'edges of the piled cakes and the adjacent side of the bag, which edgewise cakes assist in tightly filling the bag and add to the neat appearance and compactness of the completed package.

' The object of the present invention is to provide a machine of simple and inexpensive construction which will quickly and with little labor on the part of the operator pack the bags in this manner by introducing the pile of cakes so arranged directly and as a whole into the bag.

Other objects will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a machine illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan viewthereof, partly broken away. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the cake-support, showing a pile of cakes thereon. Fig. etis an end view ofa filled bag'of cakes. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the pusher-operating cylinder and associated parts on the line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. dis a transverse section through the bagholder on the line 6 6, Fig 2. Fig. 7 is a detail section of the three-way valve controlling the pusher-cylinder.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a support or table for a pile of cakes, at one side of which is arranged a bag-holder, and at the opposite side of which is arranged a horizontal hydraulic cylinder 0, supported in in the cylinder 0 and carries at its forward end a pusher or head D, which travels back and forth over the support or table A.

In the drawings I have shown the packingmachine associated with an oil-cake-trimmiug machine and adapted to receive and pile the cakes directly from the latter, so as to avoid the handling of the cakes. For this purpose the support or table for the piled cakes is of the type of receiving and piling table shown and described in my application for United States Letters Patent filed November 30, 1900, and serially numbered 38,127.

E indicates a portion of the trimming-machine, in which the cakes are carried byan endless carrier (2 past the trimming-knives,

'(not shown,) whichremove the soft edge portions of the cake, and then discharged successively onto the support or table A. The latter is automatically lowered intermittently as the cakes are fed thereto to retain the top of the pile of cakes at the proper relative height by suitable mechanismsuch, for instance, as described in said application and which is as followsi The support is carried by an upright plunger or piston F, working in a hydraulic cylinder f, which is provided with a pipef for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, and an escape-pipe f connecting with the supp -p p is a valve controlling the supply-pipe, and f is a valve controlling the escape-pipe.

An arm f arranged above the support or leave the trimming-machine,'is connected to a rock-shaftf which is connected by a second arm f and a rod-or link f with an arm on the escape-valvef. Each cake as it passes the arm f raises the same and through the said connections opens the escape valve, which permits the plunger and support or table carried thereby to descend until the arm f which rests on the uppermost cake of the pile, lowers sufficiently to close the escape-valve. The connections are adjusted so that the support or table lowers a distance equal to the thickness of a cake at each opentable A and in the path of the cakes as they ing of the valve, and the operation is repeated for each successive cake. When sufiicient cakes have been thus piled on the support to approximately fill a bag, which is indicated in any suitable mannerfor instance, by a gage-rod G, secured to one side of the support or table-the escape-valve f is opened by hand and the plunger and sn pport are allowed to descend until a collar g on the plunger contactswith a suitable stop, such as the top of the cylinderf, in which position of the parts the top face of the support or table is on the horizontal plane of the bottom of the bagholder and somewhat below the lower edge of the pusher D.

f indicates wide springplates arranged vertically at the sides of the support or table A. They are bowed in wardlyand center the cakes on the support or table and guide the pile when it is pushed from the support or table into the bag.

f indicates longitudinal raised ledges or ribs at the sides of the support or table on which the side rakes rest for the purpose of raising the lower edges of the side cakes above the top face of the support to prevent their catching on the lower side of the bag when the pile is moved into the same. The support or table may, if preferred, be any suitable stationary support, and the cakes may be piled thereon by hand.

The means shown in the drawings for operating the pusher-plungerD is as follows:

H indicates a pipe connecting with a branch pipe H for supplying liquid under pressure to the cylinder 0, and H an escape-pipe connected therewith at the juncture of the pipes H and 11. Both the supply and escape pipes are preferably controlled ,by a three way valve or turn plug it, located at the juncture of the pipes. This valve is provided with an operating-arm 71/, connected, as by a chain W,

to one arm of a substantially horizontal leverv 7L pivoted to a suitable support, preferably below the cylinder 0 and below the floor or supportingsurface of the machine. The

outer or forward ,end of the plunger or thepusher is connected to the forward end of a.

chain or the like I, which passes over a pulley or sheave t', jou rnaled on any suitable support, such as one of the cylinder-standards, and carrying at its other or lower enda weight or weights 1;. The chain I passes through a. loop or eye '5 on the other arm of the lever 71 and has secured thereto below the lever an adjustable stop or trip device \Vhen it is desired to push the pile of cakes from the support or table into the bag which has been placed on the bag-holder, the valve-arm h is turned upwardly to connectpipe H with the branch pipe H or open the supply-pipe, and this movement tilts the lever 72, to throw the loop end thereof down. The fluid entering the cylinder forces the plunger forward or outward to the desired limit of its movement, when the stop or trip device 2' engages the loop 2' and returns the lever to its normal position and through its connection with the valve h closes the same, cuts off the liquidsupply, and stops the outward movement of the plunger. When it is desired to return the plunger and pusher, the plug his turned to connect the escape-pipe with the branch supply-pipe H and permit the escape of the liquid from the cylinder. The weights i then move the plunger inward.

J indicates a horizontal guide arranged between the forward end of the cylinder 0 and the rear end of the cake support or table at the height of the upper face of the latter. The pusher is preferably provided at oppasite sides of its lower edge with casters or rollers j, adapted to roll on said guide and the cake support or table for preventing the sag.- ging of the plunger and guiding the pusher. The pusher is preferably provided with a front metallic face-plate j, which projects at its top slightly above the top of the pusher.

K indicates a removable or detachable upper section for the pusher, to which latter it is attached by means of hooks or the like 7:, on the back of the detachable section engaging over the upper projecting edge of the faceplatej of the pusher. The detachable section K is preferably formed of sheetmetal and has its opposite ends turned forward to provide vertical end flanges K for engaging the side cakes, as will be hereinafter explained.

The bag-hold er is preferably constructed as follows:

L indicates parallel horizontal supporting timbers or pieces placed in the rear of the cake support or table. The bottom, top, and side holding plates or pieces for the bag'are indicated, respectively, at M, M, M and M and are preferably arranged as shown in the drawings. The bottom plate is supported at its opposite sides on the supporting-timbers Land is inclined or beveled downwardly at its front end, which ispivoted to the upper front corners of the timbers L in any suitable manner, as by means of atransvetse rod m, secured to the under side of the inclined front portion of the plate, and the ends of which enter sockets in the timbers. The bottom plate is thus supported substantiallyon the level of the upper face of the cake support or table, and the front end is slightly below this level, so that the lowermost cake of the pile will be guided thereby and slide easily on the bottom plate. The side plates M and M are arrangedvertically at the opposite sides of the bottom plate and above the same. The front ends of the side plates are preferably inclined or flared outwardly, so as to guide the cakes into the holder. The side plates are secured in any suitable manner to upright posts N, arranged opposite each other, one out-side of each piece L. The lower portion of each post N extends down through horizon tally-elon gated slots n in upper and lower brackets n 72 secured to the adjacent timber L. The slots in the brackets permit the posts to move bodily toward and ass through re istering holes in the tim-I hers L and the backs of the brackets n n and act to hold the posts yieldingly in their innermost positions or against the inner ends of the slots 01. (See Fig. 6.) The collars being loose on the posts permit the same to be turned or moved up and down in their brackets without moving the collars. The side plates are held in their normal position, (shown in Fig. 2,)that is, substantially parallelby a transverse spring 19, the ends of which are connected to the front ends of arms P, one secured to each post N and projecting forwardly beside the adjacent. timbers L.

. The spring holds the arms P against the outer faces of the timbers L, which thus constitute stops for the arms. The rear ends of the side plates are adapted to be swung in or toward each other for the purpose of placing the bag over the holder. Each post N is provided at or near its upper end with a rearwardly-projecting arm 1), which arms are pressed toward each other to throw the rear ends of the side plates inward.

13 indicates a chain or the like connected to one arm and provided with a ring or loop p at its free end, which is adapted to be slipped over the end of the other arm to hold the arms and plates in their inner position.

The top plate M is preferably detachably hung, as by means of hooks g, on a trans verse rod Q, which is looselysupported above the top edges of the side plates by links q, pivoted at their upper ends, one to each post N. The top plate preferably tapers slightly toward its rear end to enable it to be more readily slipped into the bag and has its upper forward end bent or inclined upwardly, so as to guide the cakesinto the holder. The top plate normally occupies the inclined position indicated in Fig. 1, and as the cakes are pushed into the bag the top of the pile engages the top plate and movesrit up until it is substantially parallel with the bottom plate. The plates of the holder are preferably made of sheet metal and, as will be observed, constitute, in efiect, an expansible rectangular box or lining for the bag. The cakes in being introduced into the bag therefore cannot engage with the sides thereof and disengage the same from the holder.

In orderto enable the bag to be more easily placed on and removed from the holder, provision is made for raising the rear end of the bottom plate and the side plates up sufficiently to enable the lower side of the bag to be readily slipped under the same. The means shown in the drawings for accomplishing this is as follows:

R indicates a treadle-lever secured intermediate of its ends to one end of a transverse rock-shaft r, journaled in suitable hearings or openings in the timbers L, beneath the bottom plate of the bag-holder. The rear end of the lever engages beneath a fixed collar r on theadjacent upright post N. At the opposite end of the rock-shaft r is secured an arm T the rear end of which engages beneath a similar fixed collar r on the other post N. It will thus be seen that by depressing the forward end of the treadle-lever the rear end thereof and the arm r move up and lift the posts and side plates.

S indicates an arm secured to the rock-shaft 1" between the timbers L and having an upwardly-extending rear end, which engages the bottom plate M in rear of its pivot and tilts the. rear end thereof up when the treadle is depressed.

In the use ot'the machine the cakes are piled automatically on the support or table A, as above described, directly from the trim mingmachine and the table lowered to the position indicated, or they may be placed by hand on a stationary support or table. A cake is preferably placed vertically or on edge at each side of the pile,between the same and the side retaining-springs) and resting on the raised side ledges f of the support or table. The top plate M of the bagholder is then detached from its supporting-rod and removed from between the side plates M M the rear ends of which are then swung toward each other by means of the arms 10 and are held in this inner position byvengaging the ring at the end'of the chain 19 which is attached to one arm over the opposite arm. The treadle R is then depressed, which, as .before explained, raises the bottom and side-plates, and a bag is slipped over the holding-plates, preferably with its mouth or open end turned or folded back. as indicated in Fig. 1. The treadle R is then released and the chainring 19 disengaged from the arm 19, and the spring 10 draws the arms P toward each other until they are stopped by the timbers L, in which position the side plates stand substantially parallel and distend the bag. The top plate M is then replaced on its supporting-rod in the inclined position indicated in Fig. 1 and the bag is ready to be filled. The turnplug it is then, turned by means of its arm 72' to admit the fluid to the cylinder 0 and cause the plunger to move out and carry the pusher across the support or table A, which pushes the cakes into the bag-holder. The length of movement of the plunger is sufficient to cause the forward end of the pile of cakes to engage the bottom of the bag and push the same ofi of the bag-holder. The outward movement of the plunger is stopped by the trip device and connections,as already explained. When it is desired to return the plunger, the plug is turned so as to connect the escape-pipe with the branch su pply-pipe and permit the escape of fluid from the cylinder 0. The cakes vary somewhat in size, so that the pile may be somewhat larger in height or breadth than the cross dimensions of the bag. The side plates having flaring or outturned ends can receive the pile, and as the latter is forced into the bag-holder it forces the side plates bodily apart, which stretch or expand the bag. This bodily lateral movement of the side plates is permitted by reason of the described manner of mounting the upright posts, to which the plates are secured. oted is free to rise as the pile is shoved into the holder, and if the pile is somewhat higher than the upper side of the bag the links permit the top plate to rise bodily without bending and raise or stretch the upper side of the bag for its full length. The removable upper section of the pusher insures the positive engagement of the pusher with the uppermost cakes and insures their movement with the pile. Before the plunger has reached the end of the stroke the detachable section is removed, so that the same will not contact with the bag-holder. The upright side flanges 7c of the detachable section engage the rear ends of the vertical side cakes and prevent their disengagement from the pusher.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of a bagholder, a pusher movable toward and from said basholder, a vertically-movable support for the cakes arranged between said bag-holder and said pusher, and means for holding the said cake-support in a position such that the cakes thereon are directly opposite to said bagholder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a bag holder, a pusher movable toward and from said bagholder, a vertically-movable support for the cakes arranged between said bag-holder and said pusher, means for intermittently lowering said support, and means for holding said cake-support in a position such that the cakes thereon are directly opposite to the bag-holder,

substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a support for the cakes, of means for holding a bag, a pusher for moving said cakes from said support into the bag, a supplemental pusher-section, and means for supporting said supplemental see- I tion on the pusher in position to increase the size of the latter, substantially as set forth.

The top plate being piv- 4. The combination with a support for the cakes, of means for holding a bag, a pusher for moving said cakesfrom said support into the bag, a pusher-section detachably secured to said pusher, and means for operating said pusher, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a support for the cakes, of a bag-holder, a pusher for moving the cakes from said support into a bag on the bag-holder, fluid-operated mechanism for actuating said pusher, a Valve controlling the fluid for said fluid-operated mechanism, and means operated by a movable part of said mechanism for actuating said valve, su bstantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a support for the cakes, of means for holding a bag, a pusher for moving the cakes from said support into a bag on the bag-holder, a fluid-operated means for operating said pusher, a valve controlling, the fluid to said means, and a device operated by said pusher for actuating said valve, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a support for the cakes, of means for holding a bag, a pusher, a plunger which, carries said pusher, a cylininder in which said plunger reciprocates, a valve controlling the supply of fluid to said cylinder, a trip device connected with said plunger, and means actuated by said trip device for actuating said valve, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of a support for the cakes, of means for holding a bag, springs arranged at the sides of said support for guiding the cakes, and means for moving the cakes from said support into the bag, substantially as set forth. I

9. The combination with a support for the cakes, of means for holding a bag, means for moving the cakes from said support into the bag, raised ledges at the sides of said support, and guides at the sides of said support, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 23d day of September, 1901.

. ALFRED W. FRENCH. Witnesses:

.TNo. J. BONNER, CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY.

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