Patent GB-976510-A (GB)
Title: Receptacle filling machine
IPC: B65B39/14
Filed: 1961-06-30
Abstract: 976,510. Bottling. CLEMETRON CORPORATION. June 30, 1961 [June 30, 1960], No. 23769/61. Heading B8T. A liquid reservoir 31, rotating about its vertical axis, has a number of filling station cylinders 43 spaced around its circumference, each leading to an outlet nozzle 54 supplying a container 37 which is carried around in synchronism with the reservoir by a starwheel 28; a vertically reciprocable valve 53 is associated with each cylinder and controls liquid flow both from the reservoir to the cylinder and from the outlet nozzle, and magnetic holding means are provided to maintain the valves in their uppermost position for a predetermined period during which the containers are. filled. Unfilled containers are fed by a conveyer 38, Fig. 3, to a star-wheel 36 supplying them to the wheel 28, and the filled containers are delivered to an exit conveyer 40. A piston 44 in end cylinder 43 is reciprocated once each revolution of the reservoir and in timed relationship to the operation of the associated valve 53 so that a measured volume of liquid is drawn into each cylinder from a port 55 for eventual delivery to a container. Reciprocation of the cylinder is effected by rollers 45 thereon which engage stationary cam rails 46, 47. When a container is fed to the star-wheel 28 from the wheel 36 it is engaged by an arm 122, Fig. 3, associated with a control valve enabling a valve-lifting mechanism 75 to operate. This mechanism, Fig. 8, is supported on a bracket 77 adjustably supported on a vertical rod 78 and includes a plate 140 and support 80 which carries an air cylinder 81. The air cylinder piston has its rod 82 connected by a linkage to a V-shaped shoot cam 86, pivoted at 87, and normally held in its uppermost position shown, and against a stop 93. The upper end of each valve stem 57 is vertically reciprocable in a guide bracket 63 and carries a plate 65 and a cam roller 61. As the reservoir rotates, with the V-shaped shoot cam in its operative position, the valve associated with an unfilled container received by the machine, is moved upwardly by the engagement of its cam roller, and the shoot cam, Fig. 10, and the valve plate 65 is brought adjacent holding magnets 145 on a plate 140 located peripherally above the reservoir. As each piston completes its downward, container filling stroke, the associated valve is lowered by a number of closing magnets 145a on a plate 142 pivoted at 106 to the plate 140 and inclined downwardly, Fig. 7. The cam rollers 61 engage rails 184, 185 supported adjustably below the plates 140, 142, and the arrangement is such that air gaps are provided between the valve plates 65 and the magnets. The plate 142 is supported by a rod 108 secured to it and passing through a bracket 104 and provided with nuts 109; the plate is urged downwardly by a spring 107. Should a valve be jammed in its uppermost position on reaching the closing magnets, the plate 142 may be pivoted upwardly thereby and, if required, a switch operated to stop the machine. If a pocket of the star-wheel 28 approaches the wheel 28 without a container therein the arm 122 is urged clockwise by a control device 123 which also causes the piston in the air cylinder 81 and hence the cam 86 to move downwardly so that the filling valve associated with the vacant pocket is not raised. Preferably, permanent magnets are employed although electromagnets could be used.