US2299435A - Dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 20, 1942. W TAMMINGA f 2,299,435

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l y, INVENTOR. M//LL/AM TAMM/NGA ATTORNEY.

oct, 2o, 1942. l W TAMMINGA 29,435 v DISPENS ING APPARATUS Fil'ednec. 21, 1939 s sheets-sheet.;

@Figo @3 auf 4L l INVENTOR. wuz/AM MMM/NGA Oct. 20, 1942. w. TAMMINGA DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 21, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :IVT Illlllllllil .31k

@my if@ INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATS .er e .1

OFFICE DISPENSING APPARATUS Application December 2l, i339, Serial No. 310,381

18 Claims.

This invention relates to the retail dispensing of milk and is directed more particularly to delivery can construction from which such milk may be dispensed and to the operating mechanism by which valvular means, associated with the can, may be manipulated to bring about the delivery of relatively small volumes of milk from the can in uniform, measured quantities.

Speaking generally, the invention comprises a milk delivery can provided at its bottom with a measuring chamber having inlet and outlet ports respectively controlled by tandem valves, made, according to this invention, from an integral elastic part adapted to be operated to close the inlet port and open the outlet port, and vice versa. These valves have a common tubular valve stem adapted to project upwardly through the body of the can and into a cylindrical passage formed in the neck thereof and the upper end of said valve stem is guided in said cylindrical passage. The passage is so formed as to be externally of the neck of the can and is adapted to be normally sealed by a disruptable seal through which an operating device, hereinafter more fully described, may be forced to disrupt the seal and be thereupon detachably secured to the valve stem for the purpose of actuating the tandem valves for the dispensing of the milk from the can.

The invention is directed to improvement of the operating devices for the valve stem and the means whereby these parts may be electrically operated.

The side wall of the can of this invention is preferably out away below its bottom wall and novel means is provided for normally closing the resulting cut away portion and for covering and concealing the measuring receptacle of the can during shipment so as to maintain the same in a thoroughly sanitary condition and to preclude damage thereto during shipment.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure l is a central vertical section through a can embodying the present invention with a portion of the can broken away.

Figure la is a section on the line ict-1a of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a fragmental plan View of the can shown in Figure 1 with various parts of the can cut away.

Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the can of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of diierent forms of closing and protecting members which may be employed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a modied form of the invention. Y

Figure 9 is a view of a dispensing cabinet shown in section with the can therein and having mounted thereon operating devices for actuating the valve stem of the tandem valve, certain parts being shown in section and other parts in elevation.

Figure 10 is a section on the line l-i of Figure 9.

Figure ll is a section of a modied form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the body of a milk delivery can, 2 the neck thereof, and 3 the can bottom. A suitable cover 4 of conventional form has a substantially cylindrical skirt i adapted to t into the neck toclose the top of the can as is usual.

Embracing the lower portion of the can body I and extending appreciably below the bottom 3 thereof, is a skirt l, reinforced at its bottom by an internal ring l. The bottom 3 is provided adjacent the side wall of the body with an opening 8 and mounted on the exterior of the bot-r tom, in registration with this Opening, is a measuring receptacle 9, so associated with the opening as to form therein an internal bead Il) constituting a valve seat about the opening which serves as the inlet port of the measuring receptacie. This valve seat faces in a downward direction, as clearly appears from Figure l. The measuring receptacle is secured to the bottom 3 by soldering, welding or in any other appropriate manner to provide a, tight leak-proof joint between these parts and in such a way as to eliminate sharp corners in which extraneous and unsanitary matter might lodge. The bottom of the receptacle is provided with a central outlet port passage il formed within a depending neck which is surrounded by a downwardly extending protecting iiange i2. The upper end of the port passage il is formed with a valve seat i3 and with the valve seats i 3 and i!) are adapted to cooperate tandem valves i4 and I5, respectively. These two valves are formed integral with one another on a valve member I@ which may be conveniently molded from rubber or other material of sufcient resiliency to insure liquid tight seals between the valves and their seats, as and when they are engaged with one another. I have found that a relatively soft molded rubber body is well adapted for this use.

The rubber valve body is provided in its top with an undercut socket Il adapted to receive and frictionally grip the lower end of a hollow valve stem I8 which extends upwardly through the body of the can and projects through the wall of the breast of the can into a cylindrical guide I9 formed exteriorly of the neck and terminating at its upper end in an external bead 2B, the upper edge of which is substantially in the same plane the cover and cooperating with a pin 3li`mounted as the top bead of the can. The tubular guide I9 is positioned exteriorly of the neck with the side wall of the neck vertically channeled at Za, to receive therein a portion of the diameter of the guide, the cover having a substantially cylindrical skirt 5 adapted to project into the neck of the can and complementarily channeled at 5a to register with the channel 2a in the neck. The guide I9 is of somewhat larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the valve stem and the latter is provided at its upper end with an internal bead 2l through which projects a rubber valve nipple 22. This rubber valve nipple has a relatively thick flange adapted to seat on the upper end of the valve stem and a depending tubular elastic sleeve 23 closes at its bottom by a relatively thickened portion which has therein a slit 2d. Juxtaposed with the sides oi the valve nipple are air vent openings 25, which, as shown in Figure l, are normally spaced from the wall of the nipple, so that air can pass through an opening 26 in the lower valve member I6, thence upwardly through the hollow valve stem and exit through the vent openings into the neck of the can and above the normal liquid level of the milk contained in the can.

The valve stem will of course be filled with milk up to the level of the milk in the can and to preclude uneven measurements of appreciable variation due to this fact, a filler rod 2'I is preferably positioned within the tubular valve stem to substantially fill the same, but leave sufcient clearance within the valve stem to permit of the passage of air around the filler rod 2 The lower end of the rod 2l is swedged into a square shape, as indicated at 23, to form a head which centralizes the filler rod and precludes it from lifting inthe valve stem when the valve member IB is in place on the lower end thereof.

The upper end of the cylindrical guide I9 is closed during shipment of the full can of milk by a two ply seal, the inner ply 29 of which is of cardboard or relatively soft metal and is impervious, while the outer ply 3b is of a harder metal which, when wiped about the bead ZIB, will hold the inner ply in place. The outer ply, however, has a central opening 3| of a size substantially equal to the internal diameter of the guide, so as to permit access to the inner ply 29 and permit the same to be disrupted, as hereinafter explained.

The cover 4 of the can is provided, in alinement with the cylindrical guide I9, with an opening adapted to be normally closed by a seal 32 which is preferably of metal and may be disrupted and removed. Registration between the openings in the cover and guide may be insured by a positioning slot 33 formed in theskirt 5 of on the interior of the neck.

It will be understood that milk is dispensed from the can of this invention by inserting an appropriate implement or valve operating device through the opening in the top of the can and into the upper end of the guide I9, after the seals associated therewith have been removed or broken, as will be presently explained, and by manipulating such implement to longitudinally move the valve member I6 to seal or unseal the outlet port I3. The milk ows through the outlet port passage Il into any appropriate receptacle positioned below the same.

To facilitate access to the discharge port passage, the skirt of the can is preferably cut away in juxtaposition with the measuring receptacle, as shown at 35. In the construction of Figures l, 2, 3, 4 and 9, the skirt s cut away from a point just below the bottom 3 to the bottom of the skirt, whereas in the structure of Figure 8, the skirt is cut away as shown at 35a in a manner to terminate at the upper edge of the reinforcing ring 1, so that the cut away portion 35a is a foursided opening. In either event, it is desirable to properly reinforce the bottom of the skirt and this is accomplished by welding into place parallel reinforcing bars 35 with a transverse reinforcing bar 3l. These bars 3S and 3l are of sufficient thickness and depth to furnish the reinforce desired and to thus strengthen the skirt.

With a can, constructed as described, the measuring receptacle projects below the bottom 3 of the can and it is desirable during shipment to cover and conceal the same, so as to protect it from damage and at the same time keep it clean and sanitary. The outlet port passage II is covered during shipment of the can by a removable seal 38- which is pressed into the annular flange I2 in a manner to be stressed into facial contact with the outer end of the passage l I, and the measuring chamber is, additionally, adapted to be covered by a removable protective housing 39 adapted to closely iit thereover and be secured in place against inadvertent displacement. This housing may be formed in various ways and it may be held in position by any suitable holding device. As shown in Figures 1 4, the housing is in the form of an inverted cup adapted to be slipped over the measuring receptacle from the bottom and this cup has a lateral extension til shaped to conform to the contour of the skirt and to form a continuation thereof at the cut away portion 35 of the latter. Offset keepers 4I are attached to the extension and are adapted to cooperate with the extension to form guide slots 2 which, when the protecting cup is slipped intoV piace, will engage with the opposite upright margins of the cut away portion 35 and thus aline the extension with the skirt wall, while the cup completely covers the measuring receptacle.

One of the reinforcing b-ars 3@ (see Figures 3 and 4) is provided with a lateral extending ear i3 to which is pivoted, at d, a spring arm i5 adapted to swing about this pivot and bowed, as shown at 43, so that, when this arm is brought into position to underlie the protecting cup S3 with the end of the arm forced beneath the other reinforcing bar 33, as shown in full lines in Figures 3 and e, the arm will be under sufficient tension to hold the protecting cup in place. If the arm, however, is moved from the full line of position of Figure 3 in a counterclockwise direction and its end tucked beneath the diagonal brace 31, the cup will be released, while the arm will be frictionally and resiliently held in this retracted position. The cup may then be removed carrying with it the extension 4B, so that access may be had to the seal 38 which can then be removed to allow the milk to be dispensed.

The protective cup and extension ll may, if desired, be formed in other ways than shown. Figure 6, for example, shows a modified form of the same construction and Figure 7 shows another modied form, but, in the latter iigure, the cut away portion 35 of the skirt is not closed or filled in by an arcuate wall as in the previous gures. 'The projecting angular flanges 4l in Figure 7 merely rest against the margins of the out away portion 35 and act as reinforcing struts for said margins to preclude their bending if the can is set down forcibly in such manner that a skirt will strike the oor in the vicinity of the cut out.

Figure 8 shows very clearly the manner in which the bowed spring arm 38 serves to lock theprotecting cup in position and in this figure the cup of Figure 7 is shown in place.

Figure l shows the positions of the parts when the can is filled with milk and shipped to the retail dealer. The cover of the can has an associated seal 32 above the cylindrical guide of the valve stem and said guide is likewise sealed by the two ply seal 35, while the seal 33 covers the outlet port passage il. The protecting cup is in place and locked in this position by the spring arm 45.

When such a can is delivered to the retailer and he prepares to set the structure into position to dispense milk, the first operation in this connection consists in moving the spring arrn 45 from the dotted line position of Figure 2 to the dot and dash line position, i. e from the full line position of Figure 3 to the dot and dash line position thereof. By so doing the protecting cup 39 is released and may be withdrawn through the lower end of the skirt leaving the measuring receptacle exposed and the cut out "i of the skirt unencumbered. The seal 38 at the .bottom of the measuring receptacle is then removed. The seal 32 of the cover is next removed and the dealer thereupon breaks the seal 29 above the valve stern, and connects to the latter a valve operating device, embodying the structure and operating in the manner next to be described.

The valve operating device is shown in Figures 9 and l0. It comprises a tubular sleeve 1&8 having a reduced lower end extension Il@ of cylindrical form preferably terminating in a sharp edge. In this reduced part a plurality of balls 5i), similar to ball bearings, are positioned in holes in the walls of said extension, and these holes are countersunk on the inside, so as to let the balls seat in the holes without falling outwardly therethrough.

Extending downwardly through the sleeve i3 is a tubular shank 5l, the lower end of which is tapered, and this shank is provided above the top of the sleeve 48 with a head 52 which, when forced downwardly, will spread the balls 55. Between the head 52 and the sleeve 48 is a rubber gasket 53 and the faces of these parts adjacent the gasket are complementarily ridged and channeled, so that, when the head is forced down tightly on the sleeve, a tight joint will be assured between these parts.

Relative movement between the sleeve and head is imparted by a finger piece 5d of substantially U-shaped cross section and it straddles the sleeve 48 and is pivoted to the opposite sides thereof by alined pivots 55. The two legs of the U-shaped finger piece 5d are of substantially bell crank form and they are provided at their elbows with pivots 55, secured to links 5l, which are in turn secured to the head 52, so that, when the nger piece is swung downwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 9, the head will be forced downwardly to a firm `seat on the sleeve and simultaneously the lower tapered end of the shank 5l will engage with the balls and force them outwardly.

In associating a device of this kind with the can, the seal 32 of the cover opening 52a. is rst removed and the sleeve thereupon forcibly projected downwardly through the opening 32a upon the top of the seal Sil. As a result, the lower end of the sleeve lil will pass through the opening 3! in the outer ply of this seal and said lower end will disrupt and break away the central portion of the inner ply 2Q, to the extent necessary to permit the sleeve to pass downwardly therethrough, as shown in Figure 9. The reduced lower' end of the sleeve will thereupon enter into the rubber nipple in the upper end of the valve stern, until the shoulderat .the base of the reduced portion it seats upon the thickened iiange of the nipple 2li. rThis brings the parts to rest with the sleeve resting on the top of the nipple, as shown in Figure 9. If the linger piece 54 is thereupon swung downwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 9, the shank 5i will act upon the balls 55 to force them in an outward radial direction and distend the wall of the nipple directly beneath the internal bead 2l of the tubular valve stem, with the result that the sleeve i8 will be locked to the valve stem and will remain locked thereby so long as the nger piece is in its lowermost position for in this position the links 5l will have passed beyond dead center. With the sleeve llS and head 52 thus lock-ed to the valve stem, it will be apparent that` movement of these parts will effect movement of the tandem valves and thus bring about dispensing of milk from the can in measured quantities, appropriate to the volume of the measuring receptacle.

I consider it quite important to have the sleeve 4S break away the seal 30 in the manner shown, rather than to actually remove the seal, for so long as this seal is in place, a dealer is not free to reach in through the top of the guide I9 and remove the rubber nipple 25. If we were able to do so, it would be possible to introduce foreign material, such as water, into the can, and in the absence of the ability to remove the nipple, such a practice would not be feasible.

After the sleeve and head of the valve `operating device have been associated with the can, the can may be set into a suitable dispensing cabinet 59, which is preferably refrigerated to keep the milk cool. With this cabinet is associated means to engage with and operate the head for the purpose of vertically receiving the valve stem. This means is shown as embodying a fitting comprising a. cylindrical body @il provided at its lower end with an undercut seat in which is positioned an elastic gasket Si adapted to rest on the top of the head 52 which is recessed to receive therein a strainer 52. Embracing the cylindrical body 6D is a sleeve 63 provided at its bottom with an inturned flange @it and substantially one-half of the lower portion of this sleeve is cut away, so

that the sleeve may be lowered oir-center of the head 52 until the flange 5ft is opposite the peripheral channel 65 in the head 52 and if the sleeve is thereupon moved into axial alinement with the head the iiange 64 will thereupon enter into the channel 55. The sleeve is also provided at its opposite sides with openings G5 shown best in Figure l() and in these openings are positioned eccentrics 5'! mounted on pins 58 which extend into alined perforations in the opposite sides of the body 55. A bfurcated nger piece 69 is made rigid with the eccentrics 5l' and when this finger piece is moved into the position shown in Figure l0, it will shift the eccentrics to clamp the gasket 6l rmly between the lower end of the body 55 and the upper end of the head 52 and rmly hold the flange 54 in engagement with the annular channel $5 in said head to thereby lock these parts together, whereby reciprocation of the cylindrical body 6l) will impart a like movement to the head and connected valve stem.

The upper end of the head is shown as secured to the lower end of a coil spring 'lll which extends upwardly through ian opening in the top of the cabinet and is secured at its upper end to a lever 'l l. This lever is of the second class, is fulcrumed at l2 to a bracket on the top of the cabinet, and is secured, at its free end, to a link 'i3 connected to the core of a solenoid '64. The spring 'l0 tends to normally assume a neutral position, but when the solenoid is energized to lift the outboard end of the lever lll, a resilient pull will be exerted through the spring upon the valve operating device to lift the valve stern. When the solenoid is de-energized, its core will descend and put a pressure upon the spring to assist gravity in vlowering the valve stem. Thus, by controlling the energizing of the solenoid in any suitable way as by coin controlled means or otherwise, thev operations of the valves in the dispensing of measured quantities of'milk can be accurately controlled. For example: under normal conditions, the parts will appear as in Figure 9. The outlet valve irl will be closed while the inlet valve I5 will be opened, so that milk may iiow from the interior of the can into the measuring receptacle to ll the same. During the flow of milk into the measuring receptacle, air which may be displaced is free to escape through the vent opening in the valve member I6 and flow upwardly through the valve stem and out through the vent openings 25 into the upper portion of the can above the milk level therein. If the solenoid is thereafter energized the valve stern will be lifted to unseat the outlet valve lli and seal the inlet valve I5. This will preclude the flow of milk from the body of the can into the measuring receptacle, but will allow the how of milk from the measuring receptacle through the outlet port passage ll into a receptacle, such as a tumbler, positioned beneath the same.` During this operation, the building up of a vacuum which would interfere with the proper flow of milk is precluded by the passage of air in a retrograde direction through the valve stern to take the place of the liquid drawn from the measuring receptacle. By thus permitting the flow of air in both directions, a more smooth and steady flow of milk is obtained than could otherwise be accomplished.

- It is desirable in the retail dispensing of milk to provide some appropriate means for agitating Y the milk in the can for, in the absence of such provision, the milk will tend to stratiiy, with the cream in the upper layer and consequently .an

equitable distribution of the cream in each dispensed quantity will not be had. I prefer to eiect agitation of the milk in accordance with this invention by introducing air under pressure into the milk through the measuring chamber and this following manner.

air is introduced into the measuring chamber by passing itdownwardly through the valve operating devices and through the valve stem. To this end, air under pressure is supplied from any suitable source through a tube i6 leading to a passage l'l extending axially through the cylindrical body BD to the gasket 5I which is centrally perforated. The air thus fed passes through the screen t2 and is fed through a central passage i8 extending downwardly through the head 52 and the shank 5l to about half way down the length of the latter where it exits into the interior oi the sleeve lit. It passes downwardly through the interior of the sleeve and around the lower end of the shank 5l into the interior of the rubber nipple 25 and its pressure is sufficient to eX-, pand the thin tubular side walls of the rubber nipple sufficiently to close the vent openings 25 and to force the slit 2li (Figure l) at the bottom of the nipple open. In this way the compressed air enters into the tubular valve stem i8, passes downwardly therethrough and exits through the vent opening 26 into the measuring chamber, from whenceit bubbles upwardly through the opening 8 into the body of the can, and, rising through the milk in the form of bubbles, serves to thoroughly agitate the milk in the can body and assure an equitable distribution of cream therein at all times. The air may be supplied periodically and at stated intervals of suiiicient duration to produce the agitation desired.

When the contents or" the can have been fully dispensed, the can is disconnected from its valve operating devices and from the cabinet in the The linger piece 55 is rst presse-d down. lThis unlocks the fitting from the head 52 and said Fitting may be moved rearwardly to disengage said head. The can may then be removed from the cabinet and the linger piece 5d lifted. rIhis operation will retract the tapered lower end of the shank 5I from the balls lit and the resiliency of the rubber nipple 25 will force these balls inwardly to disengage the sleeve from the bead 2l. The sleeve 48, together with the shank 5l, may then be lifted out of the upper end of the valve stern and free from the guide ES, leaving the can wholly unobstructed. The protective cup 39 may then be applied and locked in place by the spring arm 45 and the can is thereupon ready to be returned to the Creamery. Upon arrival the parts may be readily dismantled in a manner which will be clear to those skilled in the art and may be thoroughly cleaned, assembled, sterilized and the can refilled with milk and the cover attached for reshipment.

All oi the parts of the can and the dispensing mechanism which is directly associated there.- with may be easily and thoroughly dismantled and the rubber parts in particular may be removed and replaced at will by Creamery employees. There are no sharp corners to collect dirt or foreign matter and every part of the structure is susceptible to the most thorough cleansing without undue labor. f

Figure ll shows a modified form of the construction shown in Figure 9 and more particularly that portion of the valve operating device which couples directly to the valve stem i8. In the construction of Figure ll the upper end of the valve stern has mounted thereon by welding or otherwise a cage-like fitting 88 provided` with an inturned flange 8l and the lower end of the sleeve itil is provided with a ridge 82 which seats directly on the top iiange of the valve nipple 20,

so that said sleeve is not provided with a reduced gage with the under side of the flange 8l of the cage 80 and lock the valve stem to the sleeve 43. With this arrangement no internal bead, corresponding to the bead 2l of Figure 9, is necessary at the upper end of the valve stem and consequently the interior of the valve stem is not constricted and thus may be more easily cleaned than in the construction of Figure 9. Likewise the upper end of the tubular guide I9 is shown as free from an external bead and the seal 38, indicated in dotted lines, mayv be of the ordinary friction type.

It will also be noted that in Figure 11, the vent holes 82 which correspond to the face 25 in Figure 9 are provided with internal lips, so as to normally contact directly with the thin wall of the nipple valve 26. This wall is suliciently flexible to yield when sub-atmospheric pressures are present within the tubular valve stem, so as to permit air to pass into the valve stem through said vents. When pressure is built up within the valve stem and externally of the rubber nipple, the nipple will be collapsed suiiiciently to unseal the vents, so that such pressure may be relieved therethrough. However, when compressed air is admitted into the nipple for agitation as hereinbefore described the air vents 82 be effectually sealed, so that such compressed air cannot be discharged through these vents but must pass downwardly to the measuring receptacle from whence it enters into the can to bubble up through the milk and carry out the agitation described.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the inventicn in its preferred practical form and the invention is t be understood as fully cornmensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an assembly of the character describe-d,

a milk can comprising a body, the upper portion of which is contracted to form the breast of the can and on which breast is.superimposed a can neck, a tubular guide positioned exteriorly of the neck and extending from the breast to substantially the top of the neck and open to the interior of the can. there being an opening provided in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem extending upwardly through the body of the can and projecting into the guide, a distruptable seal for normally closing the upper end of the tubular guide, and a can cover adapted to close the top of the can and projecting exteriorly of the neck in a lateral direction suiciently to overlie the upper end of the gui-de, said cover having therein an opening juxtaposed with the guide and through which access may be had to said disruptible seal.

2. In an assembly of the character described,

a milk can comprising a body, the upper portion of which is contracted to form the breast of the can and on which breast is superimposed a can neck, a tubular guide positioned exteriorly of the neck and extending from the breast to substantially the top of the neck and open to the interior of the can, there being an opening provided in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem extending upwardly through the body of the can and projecting into the guide, a disruptable seal for normally closing the upper end of the tubular guide, a can cover adapted to close the top of the can and projecting exteriorly of the neck in a lateral direction suiciently to overlie the upper end of the guide, said cover having therein an opening juxtaposed with the guide and through which access may be had to said disruptable seal, and an additional disruptable seal normally closing said opening in the cover.

3. In an assembly of the character described, a milk can comprising a body, the upper portion of which is contracted to form the breast of the can and on which breast is superimposed a can neck, a tubular guide positioned exteriorly of the neck with the side wall of the neck vertically channeled to receive therein a portion of the diameter of the guide, a cover having a substantially cylindrical skirt adapted to project into the neck of the can and complementarily channeled to register with theY channel in the neck, said cover having a laterally extending flange projecting to overlie the upper end of the tubular guide and having in said flange an opening registering with said guide, there being provided in the bottom of the can an outlet opening, and a valve coacting with said opening in the bottom of the can and having a valve stem extending upwardly through the body of the can and through the breast thereof and guided for vertical reciprocation in the tubular guide.

4. In an assembly of the character described, a milk can comprising a body, the upper portion of which is contracted to form the breast of the can and on which breast is superimposed a can neck, a tubular guide positioned exteriorly of the neck and extending from the breast to substantially the top of the neck and open to the interior of the can, there being an opening provided in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem projecting upwardly through the can body and guided for vertical reciprocation in the tubular guide and provided at its upper end with a clutch member and a valve operating member projecting into the guide from the upper end thereof and also having a clutch member to engage with the clutch member oi the valve stem for the purpose of securing the latter tothe valve operating member.,

5. In an assembly of the character described, a milk can comprising a body, the upper portion of which is contracted to form the breast of the can and on which breast is superimposed a can neck, a tubular guide positioned. exteriorly of the neck and extending from the breast to substantially the top of the neck and open to the interior of the can, there being an opening provided in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem projecting upwardly through the can body and guided for vertical reciprocation in the tubular guide and provided at its upper end with an internal bead, a tubular valve operating member projecting downwardly into the tubular guide and into the upper end of the valve stem and carrying a series of relatively extensible gripping members, and a gripping member operating element extending downwardly through the tubular valve operating member to force the gripping members into engagement with the bead of the valve stern to lock said tubular operating member to the valve stem.

6. In an assembly of the character described, a can comprising a body having at its bottom a measuring receptacle provided with an inlet orice through which milk may ow from the can into the measuring receptacle and an outlet orice through which milk may be discharged from l the measuring receptacle, valvular means cooperating with the orices to close one and open the other as desired, a protective cup positioned exteriorly of the can and adapted to house and conceal the measuring receptacle when the can is conditioned for shipment, and means for securing the protective cup in receptacle housing positio-n, the body of the can being provided with bottom of the can to a plane below the bottom of the protective cup, and which skirt has an opening juxtaposed with the cup, said cup being formed to close the opening in the skirt when the cup is in a position to house the measuring receptacle.

'7. A valve operating device comprising a tubular sleeve having a depending reduced extension with periorations therein and balls seated in said perforations, a head above the sleeve having a shank extending downwardly through the sleeve and into the reduced extension thereof and there f provided with a tapering end portion to coact with said balls, a bell crank mounted on the sleeve with its elbow linked to the head and adapted through pivotal movement to impart axial movement between the shank and the sleeve, said head i being provided with a circumferential channel, a tubular member adapted to rest on the head, eccentrics pivoted to said tubular member, a finger piece rigid with said eccentrics, a sleeve embracing the tubular member with cut outs therein for cooperation with the eccentrics and having an internal cut away flange to engage with the channel of the head and adapted to clamp the head to the tubular member when the iinger piece is operated to force the eccentrics to draw the head into'engagement with the cylindrical member, and means connected with the cylindrical member to axially reciprocate the same.

8. A valve operating device comprising a tubular sleeve having a depending reduced extenf i sion with perforations therein and balls see ted in said perforatio-ns, a head above the sleeve having a shank extending downwardly through the sleeve and into the reduced extension thereof and I there provided with a tapering end portion to f coact with said balls, a bell crank mounted on the sleeve with its elbow linked to the head and adapted through pivotal movement to impart axial movement between the shank the sleeve. said head being pro-vided with a circumferential channel, a tubular member adapted to rest on the headeccentri-cs pivoted to said tubular noember, a finger piece rigid with said eccentrics, a

sleevefembracing the tubular member with cut i a depending skirt extending downwardly from the Ywhich surrounds the latter to permit the passage of air under pressure therethrough.

9. In an assembly of thev character described, a tubular valve stem provided at its free end with an undercut cage having therein a gasket, a sleeve adapted to project into the cage and bear upon the gasket and carrying a plurality of balls normally retracted to permit the sleeve to be introduced into the undercut portion and removed from said portion of the cage, and a shank within the sleeve and having a tapered end for forcing the balls in an outward radial direction into the undercut portion of the cage for the purpose of locking the sleeve firmly to the valve stem and forcing said sleeve to a firm seat on said gasket.

10. In an assembly of the character described, a can comprising a body having a side wall and a bottom wall, a measuring receptacle positioned below said bottom wall and provided with an inlet orice through which milk may flow from the can into the measuring receptacle, an outlet orifice through which milk may be discharged from the measuring receptacle, valvular means cooperating with the orifices to close one and open the-other as desired, a protective cup positioned below said bottom wall exteriorly of the can and adapted to house and conceal the measuring receptacle when the can is conditioned for shipment, means for securing the protective cup in receptacle housing position, said side wall -having a depending skirt extending downwardly from the bottom wall of the can to a plane below the bottom of the protective cup and enclosing said cup on all lateral sides.

11. In an assembly of the character described, a can comprising a body having a side wall and a bottom wall, a measuring receptacle positioned below said bottom wall and provided with an inlet orifice through which milk may flow from the can into the measuring receptacle, an outlet orice through which milk may be discharged from the measuring receptacle, valvular means cooperating with the orifices to close one and open the other as desired, a protective cup positioned below said bottom wall exteriorly of the can and adapted to house and co-nceal the measuring receptacle when the can is conditioned for shipment, means for securing the protective cup in receptacle housing position, said side wall having a depending skirt exten-ding downwardly from the bottom wall of the can to a plane below the bottom of the protective cup and enclosing said cup on all lateral sides, said skirt having an opening at one side juxtaposed with the cup.

l2. A liquid dispensing device comprising a tube provided with an open end adjacent which the wall of the tube has a vent opening surrounded by an inwardly projecting nozzle extending from the wall of the tube and the inner end of which forms a valve seat, an elastic valve nipple extending into the open end of the tube and having a tubular cylindrical body, the wall of which is of such exterior diameter as to normally at least substantially contact with the valve seat of said nozzle, said tubular body being open at its outer end and closed at its inner end, the inner end having a thickened wall provided therein with a slit normally closed and the cylindrical wall of the body being sufficiently thin and elastic to form an air-tight seal with said valve seat and close the vent opening therein when suflicient air pressure is introduced into the tubular body to open the slit in the end of the tube and to collapse and unseal said vent opening when pressure in the tube exceeds the pressure in the valve nipple.

13. A liquid dispensing device comprising a tube provided with an open end adjacent which the wall of the tube has vent openings therein, each of which is surrounded by an inwardly projecting nozzle extending from the wall of the tube and the inner end of which forms a valve seat, an elastic nipple valve extending into the open end of the tube and having an elastic collapsible tubular cylindrical body open at its outer end and closed at its inner end with the inner end having a normally closed pressure outlet, the normal diameter of the cylindrical body of the nipple valve being such as to engage with the valve seats of the vent openings.

14. A liquid dispensing device comprising a tube provided with an open end adjacent which the wall of the tube has a vent opening therein surrounded by an inwardly projecting nozzle extending from the wall of the tube and the inner end of which forms a valve seat, an elastic nipple valve extending into the open end of the tube and having an elastic collapsible tubular cylindrical body open at its outer end and closed at its inner end with the inner end having a normally closed pressure outlet, the diameter of the cylindrical body of the nipple valve being such as to engage with the valve seat of the vent opening when pressure is admitted into the valve nipple.

15. In an assembly of the character described, a milk can comprising a body, the upper portion of which is contracted to form the breast of the can and on which breast is superimposed a can neck, a tubular guide positioned exteriorly of the neck and extending from the breast to substantially the top of the neck and open to the interior of the can, there being an opening provided in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem extending upwardly through the body of the can and projecting into the guide, and a can cover adapted to cl-ose the top of the can and projecting exteriorly of the neck in a lateral direction suiiciently to overlie the upper end of the guide.

16. In an assembly of the character described, a milk can having an upright tubular guide at its top and an opening in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem projecting upwardly through the can and guided for vertical sliding reciprocation in the tubular guide to open and close the valve and provided at its upper end With a clutch member, and a valve operating member projecting into the guide from the upper end thereof and also having a clutch member to engage with the clutch member of the valve stem for the purpose of securing the latter to the va'lve operating member against relative axial movement.

17. In an assembly of the character described, a milk can having an upright tubular guide at its top*` and an opening in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem projecting upwardly through the can and guided for Vertical reciprocation in the tubular guide and provided at its upper end with an internal bead, a tubular valve operating member projecting downwardly into the tubular guide and into the upper end of the valve stem and carrying a series of relatively extensible gripping members, and a gripping member operating element extending downwardly through the tubular valve operating member to force the gripping members into engagement with the bead ofthe valve stem to lock said tubular operating member to the valve stem.

18. In an assembly of the character described, a milk can having an upright tubular guide at itstop and an opening in the bottom of the can below said guide, a valve cooperating with said opening and having a valve stem projecting upwardly through the can and guided for vertical sliding reciprocation in the tubular guide to open and*- close the valve and provided at its upper end with a clutch member, a valve operating member projecting into the guide from the upper end thereof and also having a clutch member to engage with the clutch member of the valve stem for the purpose of securing the latter to the valve operating member against relative axial movement, and electrically operable means connected to said valve operating member to axially reciprocate the same.

WILLIAM TAMMINGA.

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