US1921442A - Cooking and cooling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug.v 8, 1933 A. R. THOMPSON 1,921,442

COOKING AND COOLING APPARATUS Filed Sept 10, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

' g- 8, 1933- A. R. THOMPSON 1,921,442

COOKING AND COOLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/I/I/ /lfll/ G N a R IN VEN TOR.

to Food Machinery Corporation,

San Jose,

Cali, a Corporation of Delaware Application September 10, 1930 Serial No. 481,039

31 Claims. (Ci. 198-232) This invention relates to cooking andcooling apparatus wherein cans or other sealed containers filled with comestibles or other materials are passed through a cooking chamber wherein they are heated sufficiently high to cook their contents, and are then passed through a cooling chamber where they are allowed to cool.

Most foods require the application of relatively high temperatures in order to cook them, and in consequence as the cans pass through the cooker and are subjected to heat, considerable internal pressure is developed in them which may cause them to explode, or force open the seams thereof. In order to prevent this the heating chamber is usually maintained under a sufiicient pressure to offset the internal pressures developed in the cansand thus relieve the strains 1 thereon. This pressure is also maintained in the cooperating with the cooker and cooler reels to. transfer the cans from the former to the latter.

In spite of the precautionary measures taken to prevent the cans from exploding under the application of heat, it is practically impossible to prevent it entirely since faulty cans are not always detected before being fed to the cooker, and these defective cans usually explode, or their seams open up, thus forcing the cans out of shape. Other cans sometimes get out of align: ment for one reason or another during their advancement through the cooker and are crushed or bent out ofv shape. Ordinarily this condition does not prevent the cans from con-' tinued advancement through the cooker due to the clearances in the reels and guides, but when such a misshapen can reaches the transfer valve it is apt to be wedged in the valve pocketso tightly that it is not'discharged into the cooler but is carried therepast and back into the cooker. The result is that when the pocket is presented to the cooker to receive another can, it already contains a can and the second can is then jammed into the pocket with the first. This operation is repeated until the transfer valve bejammed in the transfer valve until the con on becomes so aggravated as to necessitate apparatus being shut down to repairs. When this occurs the canner sufiers a substantial loss since the valve must be taken apart and repaired thus entailing loss of time and expense, and the cans remaining in the cooker and cooler are ruined due to the loss of pressure therein consequent upon the removal of the valve.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of my invention to provide in combination with a valve of the type referred to, means for detecting the presence of cans which have become jammed therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide in combination with a valve of the type referred to, means for stopping its operation and the operation of auxiliary apparatus when a valve pocket becomes jammed.

A further object is to provide in combination with a valve of the type referred to, means for stopping its operation when a valve pocket becomes jammed, and means for simultaneously sounding an audible signal whereby the condition is brought to the operators attention.

It is also an object to provide a valve of the type referred to, with means for stopping its 1 operation as well as the operation of auxiliary apparatus when a valve pocket becomes jammed, and at a point where the pocket is exposed and easily accessible.-

Another object is to provide in connection with a valve for transferring cans between a cooker and cooler, means for stopping the operation of said cooker, cooler and transfer valve in the event a can becomes jammed in said valve.

A further object is to provide the transfer valve between a cooker and cooler with means for stopping the operation of said cooker, cooler and valve in the event a can becomes jammed in said valve, and at a point where the can is easily accessible for removal.

A still further object is-to provide a transfer valve between a cooker and cooler, with means for stopping the operation of said cooker, cooler and valve in the event a can becomes jammed in said valve, at a point where the can may be readily reached for removal without loss of pressure from the cooker or cooler.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent at the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a combined cooker and cooler showing my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the transfer valve with the cover removed to show the detector mechanism.

The cooker A may be of any suitable construction but is preferably constructed in accordance with the disclosure in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,385,594 dated July 26, 1921, and comprises a pressure tight cylindrical shell 1 within which is disposed a guide 2 of spiral conformation which provides a spiral pathway for the cans from the inlet to the outlet. A series of L shaped rails 3 is attached to the outer peripheries of a plurality of spider wheels 4 disposed at spaced intervals within the cooker and which rotate about the shaft 5. By this construction it will be seen that the cans are held in the spiral canway formed by the guide 2 and propelled therethrough by the rotating reel formed by the rails 3.

A toothed ejector wheel 6 is mounted within the cylinder formed by the rails 3 opposite the discharge opening '7 formed in the cooker shell 1 and is so disposed that its teeth mesh with the interstices between the rails and extend therethrough so as to eject the cans from the spiral canway out thru the opening 7 and into the transfer valve 8. The ejector wheel 6 is mounted upon the shaft 9 which may be fixed within the cooker in any suitable manner, and rotation is'imparted to the ejector wheel by the revolving reel.

Cooperating with the ejector 6 is a guide member 10 which is fixed to the valve casing 11 and projects into the cooker outlet opening 7 and has its inner lip disposed in close proximity to the upper edges of the rails 3 and the outer tips of the teeth on the ejector. As the cans are lifted out of the canway by the ejector and received by the pockets in the transfer valve they are prevented by the guide 10 from falling back into the cooker.

Between the outlet 7 of the cooker A and the inlet 12 of the cooler B is disposed a rotary valve 8 mounted upon a shaft 13 and provided with a series of peripheral pockets 14. adapted to successively receive the cans as they are ejected from the cooker reel by the ejector 6 and propel them through the lower part of the valve casing 11 to the inlet opening 12 of the cooler where they roll by gravity into the cooler canway and are thereupon engaged by the cooler rails and propelled through the cooler in the same manner as on their previous passage through the cooker. Means are provided for operating thevalve 8 in synchronism with the cooker and cooler so that the valve pockets will successively receive each can as it is discharged from the cooker and transfer it to the cooler. The shaft 13 is provided. with a gear 16 which is driven from the end gear 1'7 which drives the cooker. The cooler is driven from the shaft l8 which is driven from the gear 17 by gearing not shown.

It is necessary that the valve casing 11 be open at the top for the reception of apparatus hereinafter described and by reason of this construction it is necessary that the valve be pressure tight to prevent loss of pressure from the cooker and cooler through the opening. To this end the valve is provided with a packing which comprises a pair of packing rings 19 which are yieldably seated against the side of the valve by the pressure of springs 20. The springs 20 may be seated within screw glands 21 which may be adjusted to vary the spring pressure. It will be noted that the rings 19 are split as at 22 and, being resilient, they press against the inner wall of the valve casing throughout their circumferences. The rim of the valve is packed by means of a plurality of packing plates 23, slidably mounted in suitable grooves between the pockets 14. Each of the plates is resiliently pressed against the inner wall of the valve casing 11 by means of a spring 24 disposed in the bottom of the groove underneath the plate.

The valve casing 11 is provided with flanges 25 which cooperate with the flanges 26 on the frames 27 to receive the casing and hold it in place. Both the cooker outlet and the cooler inlet are provided with a frame 27 which surrounds the opening and may be fastened to the shell in any suitable manner. Removable covers 28 may be provided to allow access to the interiors of the shells.

The cooler B is constructed similarly to the cooker A and comprises a pressure tight shell or casing 29 within which is disposed a spiral guide 30 forming a spiral can path through the' cooler. Longitudinal rails 31 attached to the outer peripheries of the spider wheels 32 cooperate with the guide 30 to propel the cans through the cooler in the same manner. as in the cooker.

Since they form no part of my invention. and are unnecessary to an understanding thereof, I

have not shown the means for maintainingpressure in the cooker and cooler, nor the means for heating the cooker. However, it Will be understood that suitable means for these purposes are provided as is well known in the art. For example, steam may be admitted to the interior of the cooker and compressed air 'to the cooler.

As above pointed out, if a misshapen can is received by the transfer valve. it is likely to jam therein so that when it is presented to the cooler inlet it does not roll out but continues on around to the cooker outlet, -whereupon the ejector 6 places another can in the pocket, necessarily mashing it as it does so, and increasing the already jammed condition. To prevent this, the top of the valve casing is left open to provide a hand hole and means is provided for detecting the pressure of a jammed pocket and stopping the valve with that pocket adjacent the hand hole so that the damaged. can may be easily and quickly removed. To this end a detector wheel 33 having teeth 34 is disposed in the hand hole 35 in such manner that the teeth mesh with the can pockets l4 and project close to the bottoms thereof. The wheel 33 is mounted to rotate upon a shaft 36 carried by the arms 37. One end of the shaft carries an adjustable screw 38 cooperating with the ledge 39 to determine the depth to which the teeth 34 project into the can pockets. The shaft is flattened for that portion of its length, as

had

shown, which extends over the ledge 39 in order to allow maximum depression of the detector wheel teeth.

The arms 37 are pinned to a rock-shaft 46 which is supported intermediate its ends by the bearing bracket 41, and also pimied to the shaft 40 is a cam 42, which cooperates with a valve lever 43 projecting through a slot 44 in the cover 45. An air valve 46 controls a supply of compressed air which is, conducted from any suitable source by the pipe 47 and delivered to a stop mechanism through the pipe 48.

Mounted in bearings 49 upon the shell 1 of the cooker is the drive shaft 50 which is provided with a pulley 51 for connection with a suitable source of power, and which drives the cooker reel through the medium of the reduction gearings 52 and 53 and the gears 54 and 17 fixed to the shaft 5.

The pulley 51 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 50 and fixed to its hub 55 is the casing 56 of a well known type of frictiondisc clutch. A sleeve 5'7 is slidably keyed to the shaft 50 and carries bevelled collars 58 at each end, one of which cooperates with the clutch levers 59 to engage and disengage the clutch thus causing the pulley 51 to drive the shaft 50 or not according to the position of the sleeve 57.

The casing 60 of a second friction disc clutch is shown fixed to the bearing 61. The other bevelled collar 58 carried upon the sleeve 57 cooperates with the clutch levers 62 to engage and disengage the clutch thus allowing the shaft 50 to rotate freely or acting as a brake to prevent rotation depending upon the position of the sleeve 57. It will be seen that by this construction when the sleeve 57 is in its extreme right hand position the clutch 56 is engaged thus causing the shaft 50 to be driven by the pulley 51. When the sleeve 57 is shifted to the left the clutch. 56 is disengaged thus allowing the pulley 51 to rotate freely with respect to the shaft 50. At the same time the bevelled collar 58 causes the clutch to be engaged thus locking the shaft 50 against rotation.

A lever 63 controls the position of the collar 57 and means are provided whereby the lever may be either automatically operated by the detectorwheel 33 or manually operated as desired. For automatic operation, the compressed air line 48 communicates with one end of a cylinder 64 within which operates a piston to which is connected the piston rod 65 supported in a bearing 66. The rod 65 passes through an opening in the lever 63 and is provided with a pair of collars 67, one of which engages the lever when the rod is moved. When the valve 46 is opened, compressed air is admitted to the cylinder 64 through the pipe 48 and forces the piston to the right thus moving the lever 63 so as to cause the sleeve 57 to be shifted to the left and disengage the pulley 51 from the shaft 50 and lock the shaft 50 against further rotation; The lever 63 must be returned to its original position manually, and for this purpose a rod 68 is mounted in bearings 69 and carries a pair of collars '70 which cooperate with the lever, 63 to shift it backward or forward according to which way the rod 68 is moved. it hand-grip 71 is provided at one end of the rod and a collar '72 is provided at the opposite end, between which and the rear bearing 69 is disposed a coil spring 73 surrounding the rod. By pushing the rod 68 to the right, the lever 63 is shifted to the right,

locking the shaft 50 against rotation; and pulling the rod 68 to the left against the tension of the spring 73, shifts the lever 63 to the left and disengages the clutch 60 and engages the clutch 56. A very small escape orifice '74 is provided in the cylinder 64 to permit the restoration of atmospheric pressure within the cylinder after the valve 46 is closed so that the lever 63 can be shifted to the left manually.

A can chute -75 leads to the inlet of the cooker which is controlled by a valve similar to the valve 3. The outlet of the cooler (not shown) is also controlled by a similar valve.

76 indicates a whistle communicating with the pipe 48. which serves to sound a warning The cans are fed into the cooker by way of the can chute 75 and are propelled through the spiral canway in the cooker formed by the guide 2 by means of the revolving rails. 3. As each can reaches the discharge point. it is lifted out of the canway by a tooth of the ejector wheel 6 and over the lip of the guide 10 which prevents its reentry into the cooker as the tooth of the ejector wheel recedes. Since the valve 8 is rotated in synchronism with the cooker and cooler, the cans are successively received by the pockets 14 and are now propelled over the bottom of the valve casing to the inlet opening 12 of the cooler. Here the casing 11 is broken away so that the cans roll out of the pockets by gravity and into the canway of thev cooler. They are then propelled toward the cooler outlet by the revolving rails 31 cooperating with the spiral guide 30. During their progress through the cooler the cans are gradually cooled under pressure so that by the time they reach the discharge point of the cooler they are cool enough so that they may be safely discharged therefrom.

If, as sometimes happens, a can is forced out of shape during its passage through the cooker either by exploding, or by misalignment, or for any other reason, it will be ejected from the reel by the ejector 6 in the usual manner but will probably become jammed in the can pocket of the transfer valve which receives it. As the pocket moves opposite the cooler inlet the can is not released but remains in the pocket. It will be seen that when the pocket reaches the detector wheel 33 the tooth 34 cannot project-to the bottom of the pocket in consequence of the presence of the can and thereforethe wheel is lifted, thus turning the cam 42 which shifts the valve lever 43 and opens the air valve 46. Co1n pressed air is immediately admitted to the cylinder 64 which forces the piston to the right carrying with it the rod 65 and the lever 63. The shifting of lever 63 causes the sleeve 57 to be moved to the left thus disengaging the drive shaft 50 from the power supply and immediately applying a brake was to lock it against further to remove the cover 45, lift the detector wheel 33 out of the way and remove the can. It will be noted that the construction of the valve, and the location of the opening is such that there is no resulting loss of pressure from the cooker or cooler. The operation is extremely simple and requires only a moment of time. When the detector wheel is returned to its proper position, the valve 46 is closed, thus cutting off the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 64 and the pressure existing therein is relieved through the escape orifice 74. The operator may now place the apparatus in operation by pulling the rod 68 to the left which releases the clutch and engages the clutch 56 whereupon the pulley 5 drives the shaft 50.

It will now be apparent that my invention provides a comparatively simple mechanism for preventing the jamming of rotary valves used in connection with pressure chambers, and in case of a jammed valve pocket, causing the valve and auxiliary apparatus to be stopped at a point where the jammed pocket is readily accessible and can be cleaned without the loss of pressure from the pressure chamber.

Although I have disclosed my invention as applied to the transfer valve between a cooker and cooler, it is obvious that its use is not limited thereto but it may be used in connection with a rotary valve regardless of its position or the apparatus with which the valve may be used. For example, it may be used in conjunction with the cooker inlet valve or the cooler outlet valve in the apparatus illustrated herein. Many other changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention herein disclosed and I wish it to be understood that I regard myself as entitled to all such changes, variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:-

1. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, and means intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed said discharge port.

2. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for operating said valve, and means intermeshing with said pockets adapted to disconnect said operating means when an article is carried past said discharge port.

3. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, stop means for said valve, and means intermeshing with said pockets adapted to actuate said stop means when an article is carried past said discharge port.

- 4. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles fromsaid inlet port to said discharge port, means for operating said valve, a clutch intermediate said operating means and said valve, and means intermeshing with said pockets adapted to cause the disengagement of said clutch when an article is carried past said discharge port.

5. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, and yieldable means intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed said discharge port.

6. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed said discharge port, and brake means actuated by said detecting means for stopping rotation of said valve when said detecting means is actuated.

7. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means disposed between the discharge and inlet ports and intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping rotation of the valve and sounding an audible signal when said detecting means is actuated.

8. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means disposed between the discharge and inlet ports and intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, means for stopping rotation of said valve, and means for sounding an audible signal, said stop means and said signal means being adapted to be operated by said detecting means.

9. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed said discharge port, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping rotation of said valve when said detecting means is actuated.

10. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port and a handhole, a rotary valve 'in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, and means adapted to be actuated by said detecting means for stopping rotation of said valve when an obstructed pocket comes opposite said handhole.

11. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge'port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means disposed between the discharge and inlet ports and intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, pneumatic means for stopping rotation of said valve, a pipe for supplying compressed air to said last named means, a valve in said pipe adapted to be actuated by said detecting means, and a whistle communicating with said pipe between said valve and said pneumatic stop means.

12. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, yieldable means intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed said discharge port, and means adapted to be actuated by said detecting means for stopping rotation of said valve when an obstructed pocket comes opposite said handhole.

13. In combination, a valvecasing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for operating said valve, a-clutch intermediate said operating means and said valve, yieldable means intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets, and means associated With said detecting means for causing the disengagement of said 'clutchwhen detecting means is actuated.

In combination, a valve casing'having an inlet port, a discharge port, and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for operating said valve, a clu"ch intermediate said operating means and said valve, means for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, and means associated with said detecting means for disengaging saidclutch when an obstructed pocket comes opposite said handhole.

15. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port, and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, means for operating said valve including a driven shaft, means for driving said shaft, a clutch between said driving means and said shaft, a brake on said shaft, and means adapted to be actuated by said detecting means for disengaging said clutch and applying said brake whereby said valve is stopped with said obstructed pocket opposite said handhole.

16. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port, and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casirTg having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for detecting ob-= structed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to th inlet port, means for operating said valve including a driven shaft, means for driv= ing said shaft, a clutch intermediate said driving means and said shaft, a brake on said shaft, a cylinder, a piston therein having a pistonrod, means connected with said piston rod for actuating said clutch and said brake, and means associated with said detecting means for admitting compressed air to said cylinder whereby said clutch is disengaged, said brake is applied, and said valve is stopped with the obstructed pocket opposite said handhole.

17. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port a discharge port and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for depositing articles in said pockets through said inlet port, means for operating said valve and said depositing means in synchronism, means for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, and means for stopping the operation of said valve and depositing means, said stop means being adapted to be actuated by said detecting means to stop the valve with said obstructed pocket opposite said handhole.

18. In combination, a chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a second chamber, a rotary valve having pockets adapted to transfer articles from the outlet of said first named chamber to the inlet or" the other, means for operating said valve and said advancing means, means intermeshing with said pockets for detecting obstructed pockets, and stop means for said operating means adapted to be actuated by said detecting means when said detecting means is actuated.

19. In combination, a chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a second chamber, a rotary valve having pockets adapted to transfer articles from the outlet of said first named chamber to the inlet of the other, means for operating said valve and said advancing means, a yieldable star wheel having teeth adapted to mesh'with said pockets whereby an obstructed pocket causes displacement of said star wheel, and means for disengaging said operating means when said star wheel is displaced.

20. In combination, a pressure chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a second pressure chamber, a valve casing connecting with the outlet of said first named chamber and the inlet of the other, said valve casing having a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said outlet to said inlet, means for operating said valve and said advancing means, means for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping said operating means when an obstructed pocket comes opposite said handhole.

21. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port and a discharge port, a rotary valve in 7 said casing having pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, means for operating said valve, detector means adapted to be successively projected into and Withdrawn from said pockets, and an operative connection between said detector and valve operating means whereby the latter is disconnected when the detector means is projected into an obstructed pocket.

.22. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, detecting means disposed in said handhole and cooperating with said pockets as they pass thereby for detecting obstructed pockets as they pass from the discharge port to the inlet port, and means adapt- 140 ed to be actuated by said detecting means for stopping rotation of the valve when an obstructed pocket comes into registry with the handhole.

23. In combination, a valve casing having an teeth adapted to mesh with said pockets whereby an obstructed pocket causes displacement of the star' wheel, and means adapted to be actuated by said star wheel for stopping rotation of the valve when an obstructed pocket comes into registry with the handhole.

24. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having pockets adapt-- ed to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, detector means disposed in said handhole adapted to be successively projected into and withdrawn from said pockets, and means actuated by said detector means for stopping rotation of the valve when the detector means is projected into an obstructed pocket.

25. In combination, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port and a handhole, a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from said inlet port to said discharge port, a star wheel disposed in said handhole having teeth adapted to mesh with said valve pockets, a pivoted arm upon which said star wheel is carried whereby said star wheel may be displaced by an ObStlllCw tion in a valve pocket, and means for stopping rotation of the valve when the star wheel is displaced. V

26. In combination, a pressure chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port, and a handhole open to the atmosphere, said inlet port connecting with the outlet of the pressure chamber, 'a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from the inlet port to the discharge port, means for operating said valve and advancing means, detecting means cooperating with the valve pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed the discharge port, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping said operating means when an obstructed pocket comes into registry with said handhole.

27. In combination, a pressure chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port, and a handhole open to the atmosphere, said inlet port connecting with the outlet of the pressure chamber, a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from the inlet port to the discharge port, means for operating said valve and advancing means, detecting means intermeshing with the valve pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed the discharge port, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping said operating means when an obstructed pocket comes into registry with said handhole.

28. In combination, a pressure chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a valve casing having an inlet port, a discharge port, and a handhole open to the atmosphere, said inlet port connecting withthe outlet of the pressure chamber, a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from the inlet port to the discharge port, means for operating said valve and advancing means, detecting means disposed in said handhole adapted to be ,successively projected into and withdrawn from said pockets, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping said operating means when the detecting means is projected into an obstructed pocket.

29. In combination, a pressure chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a second pressure chamber, a valve casing connecting the outlet of the first named chamber with the inlet of the other, said valve casing having an opening to the atmosphere, a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from said, outlet to said inlet, means for operating said valve and advancing means, means cooperating with the valve pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed the aforesaid chamber inlet, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping said operating means when an obstructed pocket comes into registry with said atmospheric opening.

30. In combination, a pressure chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a second pressure chamber, a valve casing connecting the outlet of the first named chamber with the inlet of the other, said valve casing having an opening to the atmosphere, a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from said outlet to said inlet, yieldable detecting means disposed in said atmospheric opening adapted to intermesh with the valve pockets for detecting obstructed pockets which have passed the aforesaid chamber inlet, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping said operating means when an obstructed pocket comes into registry with said atmospheric opening.

31. In combination, a pressure chamber, means for advancing articles therethrough, a second pressure chamber, a valve casing connecting the outlet of the first named chamber with the inlet of the other, said valve casing having an opening to the atmosphere, a rotary valve in said casing having peripheral pockets adapted to transfer articles from said outlet to said inlet, detecting -means disposed in said atmospheric opening adapted to be successively projected into and withdrawn from said valve pockets, and means actuated by said detecting means for stopping said operating means when the detecting means is projected into an obstructed pocket.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON.

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