Patent GB-632517-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for filling containers
IPC: B65B1/16
Filed: 1947-04-16
Abstract: 632,517. Filling cans with comminuted material. CARTER, C. F. April 16, 1947, No. 10096. Convention date, Oct. 31, 1940. [Class 94(i)] ' A multiple-head automatic machine for filling containers with comminuted material, comprises a support on which is mounted a hopper, a plurality of spaced filling heads movably mounted on the machine, communicating means between the filling heads and hopper, means for moving the filling heads through a predetermined path at a predetermined speed, means for placing containers in filling relationship with the heads, means for producing a vacuum, ducts connecting the vacuum means and a source of gas with each of the heads, valve means controlling the ducts, means operable with the movement of the heads to control the valve means and to successively exhaust gas from, and to admit gas to, the container during a predetermined travel of the hopper. In the construction shown, a rotary container-carrier comprises upper and lower tables 17, 9 spaced apart by a casting 16 and mounted for rotation on a central hollow shaft 7, through the engagement of peripheral teeth 10 on the table 9 with the pinion of an electric motor (not shown). A hopper 21 is mounted above the table 17 by means of a casting 19 and includes a circular series of powderdirecting tubular members 22. Inclined plates are arranged in the hopper to guide powder into the members 22. Beneath each member 22 is mounted a container lifting-plate 37 from which depends a cylinder 39 which is slidable on a hollow piston 42, rigid with the table 9: Each tubular member 22 carries a filling head 24 at its lower end, which includes a conical shroud 25 adapted to fit over a container. Each filling head (Fig. 4), which is similar in construction to the filling head, described in U.S.A. Specification 2,170,469, is divided by a transverse partition to form independent compartments 28 and 29 covered by screening material 30, and respectively communicating with ports 31, 32. The material enters the container from the member 22 through a perforated closure cap 33, and an annular gasket 34 surrounding the screened compartments 28, 29, is provided to contact the upper edge of the container. An annular gasket 35 secured to the lower end of the shroud 25 is adapted to engage the surface of the respective lifting plate 37 during the filling operation. A series of valve blocks 43, one in respect of each filling head 24, are mounted in the casting 16 and comprise valve ports 44-47 each controlled by a spring-loaded. valve 49 operable respectively by cam surfaces 53-56 carried by the shaft 7. The ports 44, 45, 46, are respectively connected on one side of the corresponding valve 9 to pipes 59a, 60, 62 leading to the ports 31, 32 of the compartments 28, 29 and to the shroud 25. On the other side of the corresponding valve 49 the ports 44-47 are connected via a common manifold and a pipe 64 to the interior of the shaft 7 and thence to a source of reduced pressure. The port 47 leads to atmosphere and is connected via its respective valve, with the common manifold. The hollow pistons 42 communicate by means of pipes 73 with the outlet of a valve 72 supplied with compressed air from a pipe 78 via a collector ring 75 secured by rods 79 to the table 9 and thus rotatable about the shaft 7. The valve 72 is operated by a cam surface 81 carried by the shaft 7 and engageable with a roller 83 carried by a spring-loaded arm 82 of the valve 72. A finger 70 rigid with the casting 16 engages a groove 71 in the wall of each cylinder 39 to prevent rotation thereof. The upward movement of each cylinder is limited by the engagement of a flange 40 with a stop (not shown) carried by the upper end of a vertically-extending arm rigid with the table 9. Operation. Cans are fed one at a time from a conveyer (Fig. 1, not shown), on to the lifting plates 37 as the carrier 9, 17 revolves. Each can is raised by the action of compressed air in the respective cylinder 39 admitted by the valve 72, until the upper edge of the container bears against the gasket 35. The valves 49 in the respective valve blocks 43 are alternately opened and closed to effect filling of the container after which pressure in the cylinder 39 is released and the container is discharged on to a delivery conveyer.