Patent Publication Number: US-11034468-B2

Title: Filling machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a filling machine. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional filling machine was disclosed in the Taiwanese Patent Publication No. M364082, and comprises an electric control unit  10 , a workbench  20 , a cylinder unit  30 , and a supply unit  40 . The electric control unit  10  includes a proximity switch  13 . The workbench  20  includes a platform  21  and a positioning seat  22  mounted on the platform  21 . The proximity switch  13  of the electric control unit  10  is mounted on the positioning seat  22  of the workbench  20 . The cylinder unit  30  is mounted on the workbench  20  and includes a main cylinder  31 , a piston  32 , a pressure valve  33 , an inlet  34 , a first air vent  35 , a second air vent  36 , and a scale adjustment module  37 . The piston  32  has a thrust rod  322 , a first air chamber  321 , and a second air chamber  323 . The inlet  34  of the cylinder unit  30  is located at one side of the main cylinder  31 . The pressure valve  33  is connected with an external pneumatic source, and is connected to the main cylinder  31 , the first air vent  35 , and the second air vent  36 . The scale adjustment module  37  is connected with the piston  32 , and includes an adjusting lever  371 , a scale board  372 , a follower  374 , a buffer cushion  375 , and a nut  376 . The scale adjustment module  37  is used to regulate the dimension of the first air chamber  321  of the piston  32 . The supply unit  40  includes a material inlet  41 , a material drawing valve  42 , a check valve  43 , and a material outlet  44 . The material inlet  41  is connected to an external material source. The material drawing valve  42  is connected between the material inlet  41  and the inlet  34  of the cylinder unit  30 . The check valve  43  is connected between the material drawing valve  42 , the inlet  34  of the cylinder unit  30 , and the material outlet  44 . The material outlet  44  is located above the positioning seat  22  of the workbench  20 . 
     In practice, the air is pushed through the second air vent  36  into the second air chamber  323  of the piston  32 . The material is drawn into the material drawing valve  42  and a pipeline  45 . The thrust rod  322  extends outward from the piston  32 . The follower  374  is moved with the adjusting lever  371  simultaneously. The nut  376  rests on the buffer cushion  375 , to restrict displacement of the adjusting lever  371  and the follower  374 . The air is then pushed through the first air vent  35  into the first air chamber  321  of the piston  32  to push and move the piston  32 , such that the material in the pipeline  45  is delivered through the check valve  43  and the material outlet  44  into a container  50 , to finish the material filling process. However, the material is accumulated on the material inlet  41 , the material drawing valve  42 , the pipeline  45 , and the check valve  43 . In addition, the material is easily drawn into the piston  32  when the cylinder unit  30  is operated. The main cylinder  31 , the piston  32 , and the supply unit  40  are fixed and cannot be dismantled for cleaning or replacement. Thus, when the filling machine is used to fill different materials, the main cylinder  31 , the piston  32 , and the supply unit  40  easily render mixture of the different materials. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a filling machine comprising a main body, a feeding unit, a movement unit, a power unit, a pipe unit, and two control units. The main body is provided with a first seat and a first mounting portion. The feeding unit is mounted on the main body and includes a second seat, a filling cylinder, a first plate, and a connecting member. The movement unit is movable forward and backward relative to the main body and the feeding unit. The movement unit includes a third seat, a first moving member, and a second plate. The power unit is arranged on the movement unit and includes a driving mechanism, and a second moving member. The pipe unit is assembled with the feeding unit, and includes a first line and a second line. The two control units are mounted on the main body to control the first line and the second line. When the first line is closed by one of the two control units, the second line is opened by the other one of the two control units, and when the second line is closed by one of the two control units, the first line is opened by the other one of the two control units. 
     According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the second moving member of the power unit is moved in the driving mechanism, and drives the movement unit to move in the receiving space of the filling cylinder, such that the staple to be filled is forced to flow through the first line into the second line into the second container by control of the two control units to finish one filling procedure. The filling cylinder, the first moving member, and the pipe unit can be removed, such that the filling cylinder, the first moving member, and the pipe unit are replaced or cleaned directly, to prevent different staples from being mixed during the filling process. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a feeding unit of the filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective assembly view of the feeding unit of the filling machine as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a movement unit of the filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective assembly view of the movement unit of the filling machine as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial exploded perspective view of a power unit of the filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a pipe unit of the filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a control unit of the filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective assembly view of the filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the filling machine as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic operational view of the filling machine as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is another schematic operational view of the filling machine as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a partial exploded perspective view of the filling machine as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is a top view showing the first moving member being removed. 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of a filling machine in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1-10 , a filling machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body  10 , a feeding unit  20 , a movement unit  30 , a power (or drive) unit  40 , a pipe unit  50 , and two control units  60 . 
     The main body  10  is provided with a first seat  11 . The first seat  11  is provided with a first mounting portion  12 . 
     The feeding unit  20  is mounted on the main body  10  and includes a second seat  21 , a filling cylinder (or tube)  22 , a first plate  23 , and a connecting member  24 . 
     The second seat  21  is secured to the main body  10 , and is provided with a second mounting portion  211  which is a channel aligning with the first mounting portion  12 . The second seat  21  has an end portion provided with a first abutting face  212  and a first receiving recess  213 . The first abutting face  212  is located between the second mounting portion  211  and the first receiving recess  213 . 
     The filling cylinder  22  extends through the second mounting portion  211  and has an interior provided with a receiving space  221 . The filling cylinder  22  has a first end provided with a first outlet  222 , and a second end provided with a first resting portion  223 . The first outlet  222  aligns with the first mounting portion  12  and is connected to the receiving space  221 . The first resting portion  223  rests on the first abutting face  212 . Thus, the filling cylinder  22  is restricted by the first resting portion  223  and the first abutting face  212 , and cannot be detached from the second mounting portion  211 . 
     The first plate  23  is received in the first receiving recess  213 , and is directed toward a direction different from that of the filling cylinder  22 . The first plate  23  rests on the first resting portion  223  of the filling cylinder  22 , such that the first resting portion  223  of the filling cylinder  22  is limited by the first abutting face  212  and the first plate  23 , and cannot be detached from the second mounting portion  211 . The first plate  23  is an inverted U-shaped sheet plate and is provided with a third mounting portion  231  aligning with the receiving space  221 . When the first plate  23  is removed from the first receiving recess  213 , the filling cylinder  22  is released from the first plate  23 , such that the filling cylinder  22  can be removed from the second seat  21 . 
     The connecting member  24  is mounted on the filling cylinder  22 , and is received in the first mounting portion  12  of the first seat  11 . The connecting member  24  has an interior provided with a passage  241  mounted on the first outlet  222  of the filling cylinder  22 . The connecting member  24  is provided with a second outlet  242 . The second outlet  242  is connected to the first outlet  222 , and protrudes outward from the first mounting portion  12 . 
     The movement unit  30  is assembled with and movable forward and backward relative to the main body  10  and the feeding unit  20 . The movement unit  30  includes a third seat  31 , a first moving member  32 , and a second plate  33 . 
     The third seat  31  is mounted on the main body  10 , and has an end portion provided with a second abutting face  311  and a second receiving recess  312 . The second abutting face  311  aligns with the first abutting face  212  of the second seat  21 , and is located between the third seat  31  and the second receiving recess  312 . The second receiving recess  312  aligns with the first receiving recess  213 . 
     The first moving member  32  is provided with a moving portion  321  and a second resting portion  322 . The moving portion  321  is movably mounted in the receiving space  221  of the filling cylinder  22 . The second resting portion  322  rests on the second abutting face  311 . The first moving member  32  is moved in concert with the third seat  31 . 
     The second plate  33  is received in the second receiving recess  312  of the third seat  31 , and is directed toward a direction different from that of the first moving member  32 . The second plate  33  rests on the second resting portion  322  of the first moving member  32 , such that the second resting portion  322  of the first moving member  32  is limited by the second abutting face  311  and the second plate  33 , and cannot be detached from the third seat  31 . The second plate  33  is an inverted U-shaped sheet plate and is provided with a fourth mounting portion  331 . When the second plate  33  is removed from the second receiving recess  312  of the third seat  31 , the first moving member  32  is released from the second plate  33 , such that the first moving member  32  can be removed from the third seat  31 . 
     The power unit  40  is assembled with the main body  10  and the movement unit  30 . The power unit  40  is arranged on one end of the movement unit  30 , with the movement unit  30  being arranged between the feeding unit  20  and the power unit  40 . The power unit  40  includes a driving mechanism  41 , a second moving member  42 , a first screw member  43 , and a second screw member  44 . 
     The driving mechanism  41  is mounted on the main body  10 , and is provided with a threaded portion  411  which is an internal thread. 
     The second moving member  42  is secured with the third seat  31  of the movement unit  30 . The second moving member  42  is driven by the driving mechanism  41 , and drives and moves the movement unit  30  on the main body  10 , such that the first moving member  32  is moved in the receiving space  221 . 
     The first screw member  43  is screwed into and movable in the threaded portion  411  of the driving mechanism  41 , to adjust a movement distance of the second moving member  42 . 
     The second screw member  44  is screwed onto the first screw member  43 , and rests on an opening of the threaded portion  411 , such that the first screw member  43  is positioned on the threaded portion  411  of the driving mechanism  41 . When the user wishes to adjust a movement distance between the second moving member  42  and the driving mechanism  41 , the second screw member  44  is rotated and unscrewed, such that the first screw member  43  is moved relative to the threaded portion  411 , to adjust the movement distance between the second moving member  42  and the driving mechanism  41 . The movement distance of the second moving member  42  relative to the driving mechanism  41  is equal to that of the movement unit  30  relative to the main body  10 . 
     The pipe unit  50  is assembled with the feeding unit  20 , and includes a first connecting pipe  51 , a second connecting pipe  52 , a first line  53 , and a second line  54 . 
     The first connecting pipe  51  is mounted on the second outlet  242  of the connecting member  24 . 
     The second connecting pipe  52  is connected with the first connecting pipe  51 , with the first connecting pipe  51  being arranged between the connecting member  24  and the second connecting pipe  52 . The second connecting pipe  52  has a T-shaped configuration. 
     The first line  53  and the second line  54  are connected with the second connecting pipe  52 , with the second connecting pipe  52  being located between the first line  53  and the second line  54 . The first line  53  and the second line  54  are arranged at two sides of the first seat  11  and align with each other. Each of the first line  53  and the second line  54  is a hose. 
     The two control units  60  are mounted on the main body  10  and assembled with the pipe unit  50 , with the feeding unit  20  being arranged between the two control units  60 . Each of the two control units  60  includes a fourth seat  61 , a control member  62 , and an input module  63 . The first line  53  and the second line  54  extend through and partially protrude outward from the fourth seats  61  of the two control units  60 . The control member  62  is movably mounted in the fourth seat  61  and is movable to press and close the first line  53  and the second line  54  or to release and open the first line  53  and the second line  54 . The input module  63  drives and moves the control member  62 . When the first line  53  is pressed and closed by the control member  62  of one of the two control units  60 , the second line  54  is released and opened by the control member  62  of the other one of the two control units  60 , and when the second line  54  is pressed and closed by the control member  62  of one of the two control units  60 , the first line  53  is released and opened by the control member  62  of the other one of the two control units  60 . 
     In practice, when the second line  54  is closed, the first line  53  is opened, and the driving mechanism  41  drives the second moving member  42  which drives the movement unit  30  which drives the first moving member  32  which is moved in the receiving space  221  of the filling cylinder  22  and moved toward the driving mechanism  41  as shown in  FIG. 10 , such that a staple (or material) is driven to flow through the first line  53 , the second connecting pipe  52 , the first connecting pipe  51 , the second outlet  242 , the passage  241 , and the first outlet  222  into the receiving space  221 . 
     Alternatively, when the first line  53  is closed, the second line  54  is opened, and the driving mechanism  41  drives the second moving member  42  which drives the movement unit  30  which drives the first moving member  32  which is moved in the receiving space  221  of the filling cylinder  22  and moved toward the pipe unit  50  as shown in  FIG. 11 , such that the staple in the receiving space  221  is driven to flow through the first outlet  222 , the passage  241 , the second outlet  242 , the first connecting pipe  51 , the second connecting pipe  52 , and the second line  54 , and flow outward from the second line  54 . Thus, a filling work is finished. 
     The filling machine further comprises a fifth seat  70  secured to an end of the main body  10  and provided with a receiving slot  71 . The receiving slot  71  receives the second outlet  242  of the feeding unit  20  and the pipe unit  50 . The second outlet  242  of the connecting member  24  and the first connecting pipe  51  are connected in the receiving slot  71 . The first connecting pipe  51  and the second connecting pipe  52  of the pipe unit  50  are received in the receiving slot  71 . The first line  53  and the second line  54  of the pipe unit  50  extends through the receiving slot  71 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the main body  10  is a rectangular board with a determined length. The first seat  11  has a rectangular shape and is perpendicular to the main body  10 . The first mounting portion  12  has a circular shape. The main body  10  is provided with an indication portion  13  which includes a scale. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second seat  21  is parallel with the first seat  11 , and is perpendicular to the main body  10 . The second seat  21  has a rectangular shape. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filling cylinder  22  is a syringe, and the receiving space  221  has a circular shape. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting member  24  has a cylindrical shape. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the third seat  31  is parallel with the second seat  21 , and is perpendicular to the main body  10 . The third seat  31  aligns with the second seat  21  and the indication portion  13 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second moving member  42  extends into the driving mechanism  41 . The driving mechanism  41  and the second moving member  42  construct a pneumatic cylinder structure. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the input module  63  is connected with a pneumatic driving unit. 
     In operation, referring to  FIG. 11  with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , the second moving member  42  of the power unit  40  is moved in the driving mechanism  41 , and drives the movement unit  30  to move on the main body  10  and move in the receiving space  221  of the filling cylinder  22 . The first line  53  is connected with a first container, and the second line  54  is connected with a second container, such that the staple in the first container is allowed to flow through the first line  53  and the second line  54  into the second container by control of the two control units  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12-14  with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , when the second screw member  44  is rotated and unscrewed, the first screw member  43  is rotated and moved relative to the threaded portion  411 , such that the distance between the second moving member  42  and the driving mechanism  41  is reduced to the minimum. When the second moving member  42  of the power unit  40  is moved backward, the movement unit  30  is moved backward, such that the moving portion  321  of the first moving member  32  is moved and detached from the receiving space  221  of the filling cylinder  22  as shown in  FIG. 12 . When the first plate  23  is removed from the first receiving recess  213  of the feeding unit  20  as shown in  FIG. 13 , the filling cylinder  22  is released from the first plate  23 , and is detached from the second mounting portion  211  of the second seat  21 . When the second plate  33  is removed from the second receiving recess  312  of the movement unit  30  as shown in  FIG. 13 , the first moving member  32  is released from the second plate  33 , and is detached from the third seat  31 . The connecting member  24  is removed from the first outlet  222  of the filling cylinder  22 , and the second outlet  242  of the connecting member  24  is removed from the first connecting pipe  51 , such that the pipe unit  50  is detached from the two control units  60  and the fifth seat  70 . Thus, the filling cylinder  22 , the first moving member  32 , and the pipe unit  50  are removed for replacement. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the filling machine comprises two feeding units  20 , two movement units  30 , two pipe units  50 , four control units  60 , and two fifth seats  70 . The power unit  40  is assembled with and drives the two movement units  30  simultaneously. Each of the two movement units  30  cooperates with one of the two feeding units  20 , one of the two pipe units  50 , two of the four control units  60 , and one of the two fifth seats  70 . 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filling cylinder  22  and the connecting member  24  are formed integrally, and the first outlet  222  of the filling cylinder  22  is mounted on the first mounting portion  12 . 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first plate  23  is elastic to provide an elastic resistance when the first plate  23  is mounted in or removed from the first receiving recess  213 , and the second plate  33  is elastic to provide an elastic resistance when the second plate  33  is mounted in or removed from the second receiving recess  312 . 
     In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the two control units  60  is an electromagnetic valve which is connected with the first line  53  and the second line  54 . When the pipe unit  50  is detached, the two control units  60  are also removed. 
     Accordingly, the filling machine has the following advantages. 
     1. The second moving member  42  of the power unit  40  is moved in the driving mechanism  41 , and drives the movement unit  30  to move in the receiving space  221  of the filling cylinder  22 , such that the staple to be filled is forced to flow through the first line  53  into the second line  54  into the second container by control of the two control units  60  to finish one filling procedure. 
     2. The filling cylinder  22 , the first moving member  32 , and the pipe unit  50  can be removed, such that the filling cylinder  22 , the first moving member  32 , and the pipe unit  50  are replaced or cleaned directly, to prevent different staples from being mixed during the filling process. 
     3. The first line  53  of the pipe unit  50  is placed in a large barrel, and the second line  54  is placed in a small container, such that the staple in the large barrel is filled into the small container through the first line  53  and the second line  54 . The staple will touch the pipe unit  50 , the filling cylinder  22 , and the first moving member  32  during the filling process. Thus, the filling cylinder  22 , the first moving member  32 , and the pipe unit  50  may be replaced, to prevent different staples from being mixed during the filling process. 
     4. The first plate  23  is directed toward a direction different from that of the filling cylinder  22 , and the second plate  33  is directed toward a direction different from that of the first moving member  32 . The vibration produced by the power unit  40  is directed toward a direction the same as that of the filling cylinder  22  and that of the first moving member  32 , such that the first plate  23  and the second plate  33  are not displaced easily by the vibration, thereby assuring the structural safety. 
     5. The first plate  23 , the second plate  33 , the filling cylinder  22 , the first moving member  32 , and the pipe unit  50  are removed without needing any hand tool, thereby facilitating the user assembling and disassembling the first plate  23 , the second plate  33 , the filling cylinder  22 , the first moving member  32 , and the pipe unit  50 . 
     6. The first plate  23  is received in the first receiving recess  213  of the second seat  21 , and rests on the first resting portion  223  of the filling cylinder  22 , such that the filling cylinder  22  and the first plate  23  are mounted on the second seat  21  quickly. 
     7. The second plate  33  is received in the second receiving recess  312  of the third seat  31 , and rests on the second resting portion  322  of the first moving member  32 , such that the first moving member  32  and the second plate  33  are mounted on the third seat  31  quickly. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.