Patent GB-229045-A (GB)
Title: Machine for filling and sealing ampullae
IPC: B65B3/00
Filed: 1923-12-18
Abstract: 229,045. Sickel, H. Dec. 18, 1923. Capsules.-In a machine for filling and sealing ampullµ, the ampullµ are conveyed by a number of connected carriers 9, Figs. 1 and 2, to beneath a supply tube 10 through which a measured quantity of liquid &c. is supplied to each ampulla, whereupon the filled ampulla is conveyed to a. sealing-device and thence to the point of delivery. The empty ampullµ pass one at a time through a slot 2 in the sloping bottom of the feed-hopper 1 into a cavity 4 in a slide 3 which feeds them down a funnel 5. The carriers or sleeves 9 are mounted on a support consisting of two discs 8 which receive a step-by-step rotation and are displaced axially. A spindle 12 extending through the sleeve carries a friction wheel 14 at its lower end and has a catch 15 which, in the lowermost position of the spindle, abuts against a pin near the bottom of the sleeve. On its way to the filling-device, the closed neck portion of the empty ampulla passes between two cutting-edges formed by prisms 66, 67 fixed to resilient holders 68, 69 and the neck portion is broken off by contact with an arm 70. The pump 22 for supplying the liquid &c. to the ampullµ communicates by a three-wav cock 23 with the supply vessel 21 and a tube 20 to which the filling-tube 10 is secured. In filling, the sleeve 9 with its spindle 12 beneath the tube 10 is lifted by an arm 26 on the arm 25 of the slide 17 to bring the neck of the ampulla into engagement with a centering- funnel 24 suspended by chains from the tube 10. The cock 23 is operated by a rod 29 connected to the slide 17, and the pump 22 is operated by a lever 31 adjustably connected to a rod 30 actuated by the slide 3. When the filled ampulla is in front of the burner 11, the wheel 14 on the spindle 12 engages a revolving friction-wheel 71 so that the sleeve 9 is revolved and the neck of the ampulla sealed. The container 21 is connected by a valved pipe 32 with a vessel 34 enclosed in a chamber 35 which is supplied with the hot 'gases from the burner 11 by a flue 36 to sterilize the liquid in the vessel 34. A branch flue 37 allows the hot gases to be led direct into the open air if desired. The vessel 34 is fitted with a feed-funnel 38, air-filter tube 39, and thermometer 40. At the delivery point, the spindle 12 is lifted by an arm 16 of the slide 17 so that the filled and sealed ampulla on the plate 13 at the top of the spindle 12 is free of the sleeve 9 below it, and the funnel 5 is displaced so as to push tha ampulla into a box 18 with an outlet channel 19. The slide 4, funnel 5, discs 8, slide 17, and pump 22 are operated from a shaft 49 driven through gearing 47, 48 from a shaft 46 which is driven through gearing 44, 45 from the shaft 43 of an electric motor 42. A disc 50 on the shaft 49 has three teeth 51 to gear with a wheel 52 on the shaft 53 of the discs 8, and a ratchet disc 54 on the shaft 53 is engaged by a ratchet lever 55 having a pin 56 bearing against a cam 57 on the shaft 49. The slide 3 is operated by a cross-head 60 sliding on a rail 61 and engaging the supports 62, 63 of the slide. The cross-head 60 is operated by a rod 59 and crank-arm 58. from the shaft 49. A rod 76 connects the arm 58 with a rod 72 which moves in guides 73 on the slide 17 and carries a catch 75 to operate the slide. The shaft 78 of the wheel 71 is driven by worm gearing 44, 77 from the shaft 43. A fan 79 driven by the motor 42 supplies air to the burner 11. Any filling-device that supplies a measured quantity of liquid may be used for filling the ampullµ.