Patent GB-1006092-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to syruping apparatus for use in connection with the canning of fruits, vegetables and other food products
IPC: B65B39/14
Filed: 1961-11-29
Abstract: 1,006,092. Filling cans. D. W. BINGHAM. Nov. 29, 1961 [Nov. 30, 1960], No. 42688/61. Heading B8T. A vacuum syruping apparatus of the kind in which a partial vacuum is created in each can and then syrup or other liquid is admitted under atmospheric pressure after the vacuum passages are closed, includes a main supply bowl 9 for the liquid carrying a series of circumferentially spaced filling heads 8 therewithin and having associated vacuum and liquid control valve assemblies immersed in the syrup. The cans 6 are received on a series of circumferentially spaced platforms 4 which, together with the can filling mechanism, are rotated relative to the supporting structure 2, and during such movement each can is raised into contact with its filling head and filled with syrup before it is lowered and removed from the apparatus. Each filling head includes a tube 11 supporting an annular liquid separator 12 for trapping any liquid that may be entrained in the outflowing air stream passing to the vacuum means. The separator consists of a series of superposed annular compartments with transverse baffles and openings such that incoming air is baffled and has its direction changed. The lowermost compartment connects with an air inlet pipe 21 leading to a control valve assembly 22; an outlet pipe 23 leads from the uppermost compartment to an outlet port 24 in a valve plate slidably engaged by a vacuum valve 27 and a drain valve 28, Fig. 5, carried by a vacuum manifold 29 extending circumferentially around the inside of the bowl. The vacuum valve communicates with the manifold and the drain valve returns liquid to the bowl. Each control valve assembly includes fixed and movable valve members 32 and 33 respectively, the former being attached to a member 36 having a resilient sealing ring 42 and a spacer 43 which receives the can, Fig. 3. The member 33 has a slot-like syrup or other liquid inlet port 48 which, in one position, aligns with a similar port in the member 32, a vacuum port 49 and a vent port 52. The vacuum port 49 is connected via a nipple 51 and the pipe 21 with the liquid separator. Movement is imparted to the member 33 by a lever 53 carried by an arm 54 depending from the separator; the lever embraces the nipple 51 and two pins 61, Fig. 7, upstanding from the member, and springs 63 engage the pins and urge the members 32 and 33 together. The lever carries a vent pipe 64 connected at its lower end to the vent port 52. The liquid separator, and hence the movable valve member of each filling head, is oscillated about the axis of the pipe 11 by a post 67 which is drivingly associated with the separator and has strike arms 68 which, when the can platform is raised and a can is in position, engage fixed abutments on the stationary frame during rotation of the assembly whereby the post is turned about its axis. Each post is associated with a no-can, no-fill device which includes a spring-urged pivoted plate 72 on each platform having a lobe 76 brought into alignment with the lower end of the post when a can is in position so that when the platform is raised the post is raised also and its arms 68 are enabled to contact the abutments. Without a can being in position the lobe is moved from beneath a post, the lower end of which passes through a hole in the platform when the latter is raised.