Patent GB-654954-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in method of and apparatus for filling containers
IPC: B65B31/04
Filed: 1948-12-14
Abstract: 654,954. Filling containers. PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION, Ltd. Dec. 14, 1948, No. 32339. [Class 94(i)] [Also in Groups XVIII and XXX] A method of filling containers by vacuum comprises the steps of filling one container and diverting the overflow therefrom into a second container so as to obtain compact uniform filling of the first container, and then completing the filling of said second container and diverting the overflow therefrom into a succeeding container. Empty cartons are fed by a continuously driven conveyer 20 against a fixed stop 22 where successive foremost cartons are transferred into the path of carrier arms 18 of an intermittently actuated conveyer 16 by a pusher plate 24 operated in timed relation to the conveyer 16 through a linkage system 37, 46 by a crank 42 on a shaft 44 driven from an intermittently rotated one-revolutvon shaft 48. The conveyer 16 carries each carton successively to a first filling head 26, of a duplex vacuum filling apparatus 10, to a second filling head 28, to a tapping station 12 adapted to settle the material in the container to a feeding and weighing device 14 (see Group XVIII), where additional material is added to bring the container up to a predetermined weight, and to a discharge conveyer 34. The vacuum filling apparatus 10 includes, Fig. 4, a first filling head 26 having a connection 56, 58 to a suction, source, a second filling head 28 having a connection 62 to a material supply hopper, and a pipe 72 connecting the filling heads. An empty carton is lifted from the conveyer 16 by means 29, 50, into engagement with the filling head 26 and a partly filled carton lifted into engagement with the filling head 28; the cartons are then sealed against their respective filling heads by resilient tubular seals 74 being connected through a valve 75 to a source of air under pressure, and a valve 60 in the suction line 56, 58 and a shutter 66 in the material inlet 62 are opened, the cartons being thus connected both interiorly and, through pipes 81, 83, exteriorly to suction source. Material is sucked into the partly filled carton and when this is filled overflows through the pipe 72 to the empty carton. The suction opening is then connected to the atmosphere, the seals 74 are released and the shutter 66 is closed, the cartons being then lowered to the conveyer 16 which is actuated to move them to their respective next stations. The operation of the carton lifting means 29, the shutter 66 and valves 60 and 75 is suitably controlled by various cam and linkage means driven from the intermittently rotated one-revolution shaft 48. A one-revolution pawl and ratchet clutch mechanism 202 controls the drive of the conveyer 16 and this clutch mechanism is so actuated by pawl stop mechanism 208, 209 linked to the weighing mechanism 14 and to the carton lifting means 29 that engagement of the clutch 202, for one revolution, happens only when the container at the weighing station has been filled and the hopper outlet shutters closed and the carton lifting means 29 have been lowered. A resetting bar 186, Fig. 2 (not shown), moved by cam means driven through the one-revolution clutch 202, besides actuating and resetting the weighing mechanism, operates a one-revolution pawl and ratchet clutch 65, Fig. 2, controlling the rotation of the shaft 48. A modified vacuum filling apparatus, Figs. 9, 10, adapted particularly for rigid containers includes a head 300 having a material inlet 302 in communication with one container 304, a suction opening 344 in communication with another container 308, and a connecting passageway 314. The containers are lifted into position by pedal operated means 320, 322 and the connection to a suction source then made by means 336 also controlled by the pedal lever 322. To clear the screen over the suction inlet the vacuum may be broken and re-established by slight movement of the pedal lever. The shutter 66 may be used to shut off flow of material until a relatively high vacuum has been established in the containers.