Patent GB-465436-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for handling liquid filled containers
IPC: B65B1/48
Filed: 1936-05-26
Abstract: 465,436. Filling and closing cans &c. AMERICAN CAN CO. May 26, 1936, No. 14844. Convention date, June 12, 1935. [Class 125 (ii)] Apparatus for handling liquid-filled containers, e.g. cans, comprises means for conveying the filled containers to cover-supplying mechanism, a device for testing the liquid level in the containers and control means co-operating with the testing device for interrupting the normal operation of the apparatus in the event of a container being insufficiently filled. The cans are fed from the filling machine A, Fig. 1, to a testing device C and thence to a third turntable where if properly filled, the can is supplied with a cover together with which it passes to a sealing machine, while if not properly filled no cover is supplied and the can is diverted and thrown out of the machine by a device E. The testing device comprises two electrodes which dip into a can to a predetermined depth completing a circuit only if sufficient liquid is present. Foam does not complete the circuit. If the current fails, cans are not tested but covers are also not fed. The testing device comprises two electrodes depending from a hollow head piece secured on an arm 31 which can pivot about a hollow bearing mounted in a boss 37 on a bracket 38. The leads from the electrodes extend within the arm and the bearing. The electrodes are moved into each can by rocking of the arm 31 about the bearing by means of a bell-crank lever operated from a cam driven at suitable speed. After testing the can continues across the stationary table 21 being pushed by the fingers 25 moved round a stationary timing cam 26. The cam then passes into a can pocket 81 of a continuously rotating turret 82. A supply of covers b is arranged in a magazine between rods 91, Figs. 1, 8, above the rotating pockets 81. The lowermost cover b of the stack is supported at its rear edge on a ledge 111 of a vertically movable slide 112, the movement being effected by a roller 118 working in the groove 117 of a cam 118 keyed on a cam shaft 122 driven by engagement of a pinion 127 with a gear 128 rotated with the turret 82. In front the lowermost cover b is supported on a partial upper rim 132 on a disc 133 carried on a separator body 134 keyed to a vertical shaft 135 continuously rotated in time with other moving parts of the machine. Rotation of the disc 133 moves the rim 132 away and permits the front of the stack of covers to drop down when the lowermost disc passes into a recess cut in the outer edge of the separator disc and is isolated from the remaining covers which are again supported by the rim 132 as the disc 133 continues to rotate. The front of the separated cover falls into a recess in the separator member 154 so that the cover is tilted with its front edge resting on ledge 158. Two fingers 162 carried on a pair of pivoted wings one on each side of the stack of covers now swing inwardly under the action of a cam 172 mounted on the shaft 122 to support the stack and simultaneously the cam 116 moves the slide 112 downwardly so that the cover b is brought directly into the path of a lug 181 carried by the turret 82 and is swept from its supports and carried round the turret directly over a can pocket 81, its forward edge being supported in a groove 186, Fig. 15 in the cover guide rail 187. If an improperly filled can is fed, there is no contact made when the testing electrodes dip therein and a solenoid is deenergized, a catch member unlatched and a spring actuated member is permitted to move to actuate a shaft 229, Fig. 8, carrying a lever 234 which moves a slide finger 191 into stack supporting position so that no cover is released. A timed cam removes the slide finger 191 when the rim 132 again comes to stack supporting position, and the catch members holding the finger are again brought into latching engagement, so that if a properly filled can arrives the solenoid is energized, the latch caught and a cover fed. Beyond the cover feeding mechanism the turret 82 has can guide rails 251, 252, Fig. 15, between which is a swingable guide arm 253, and a swingable cover guide 264 with groove 263. The two guides are connected by rack and pinion so that if no cover is present the guides 264 and 253 both swing inwardly. The rail 264 is continually urged inwards by a spring device 277 secured to the hub 94 on the turret 82. The forward end of the rail 264 has a yieldable toe 281 with a cover guiding groove 282. This toe slidably engages against the stationary guide rail 187 and forms a flexible connection with a continuous cover groove. It is spring pressed against the fixed portion 187 of the guide. If no cover is fed, the guides 253 and 264 swing inwardly and the can is deflected on to a rotating discharge disc 254. When a properly filled can arrives, a cover is also fed and the two pass along together to a device for securing the cover, the cover keeping the guide rail 264 and hence the rail 253 in its proper position. The electrical circuits are energized from the secondary of a transformer 350, Fig. 19. The first circuit includes the electrodes 46, leads 71, to secondary of transformer, and lead 72 connected to solenoid 355, lead 356 and return disc 357 with fuse 358. This circuit is completed when the electrodes dip into liquid in a can, and contact is made between core 361 connected with lead 356 and 362 connected by wire 363 with solenoid 365 the other end of which is connected with wire 71. Energization of solenoid 365 closes two gaps 371-373 and 372-374. The first of these gaps is in the circuit containing the solenoid 197 which holds the catch preventing the actuation of slide finger 191, Fig. 8. The other gap is in a holding circuit which includes a switch 377, 378 which is opened just after the electrodes have been inserted into a can and closed just before they are removed from the can. The closed circuit energizes solenoid 355 and hence solenoid 365 and the cover feeding solenoid 197 The switch is operated mechanically from a cam rotated in time with the rest of the machine. All circuits are thus energized for proper running of the machine. Thus current failure stops delivery of covers and causes discharge of the cans from the machine.