US2374268A - Apparatus for filling cans and other containers - Google Patents

Description

April 24, 1945. w, BlNGHAM 2374,268

APPARKTUS FOR FILLING CANS AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed July 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 -nnnnnnnnnnnnr] mwGwR D.\N. BINGHAM ATTYS."

' April 24, 1945,, D. w. BING'HAM Filed July 18, 1941 .NvEN'ToR D.W BINGHAM AT Ys.

Ami] 24-, 1-945. p w BlNGHAM 2,374,268

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CANS AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed July 18,1941 5 Sheets-sheaf. =3

INVENTOR' "D.W. BINGHAM .lllllli,

7W ATTYS;

April 1945. D. w. BINGHAM 2,374,258

APPARATUS FOR FILL ING CAN S AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed July 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4,

.6, INVENTOR D.W. BINGHA M ATT Y5.

April 24, 19 45. D. w. BINGHAM 2,374,268

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CANS AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed July 18, 1941 5 Shets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR D.\I\/. B m GHAM ATTYS;

Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED APPARATUS FOR FILLING CANS AND OTHER CONTAINERS 3 a David William Bingham, Middle Brighton,

Victoria, Australia I Application July 18, 1941,'S'erial No. 403,053- In Australia July 18,- 1940 15 Claims. CL 226. 99)

This invention relates to apparatus for filling determined quantities of liquids, pastes or like material. I

The apparatus is particularly adapted for canning food stuffs such, for example, as jams, soups, sauces, fish and meat pastes and various other substances especially those of a viscous nature. Itis to be understood however, that the invention isnot limited in use to the canning of such substances, but that itis also quite capable of handling less viscous materials, such as milk, cream, oils and the like.

One of the objects of thepresentinvention is to provide an improved apparatus for the purpose indicated whichis of moresimple'and compactdesign than hitherto with the result that the cost of production is reduced whilst the apparatus is capable of operating ata relatively high speed.

Another object is to provide an improved apparatus for the purpose indicated which is capable of being readily adjustedso as to vary the effective areas of a plurality of discharge ports in accordance with the viscosity of'the substance which is being canned.

A further object is to provide animproved apparatus for the purpose indicated which is capable of being adjusted so as to accommodate cans or other containers of difierent heightsor depths.

Various other objects and constructional featurcs of the invention will be more readily apparent from the followingdescription which refers by way of example to one practical embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation ofapparatus for filling cans in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2' is'a plan view of Figure 1, parts being omitted for convenience ofillustration.

Figure -3 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale, of one of the filling heads and the adjacent partsofthe apparatus.

Figure 4 is apart sectional side elevation showing means for elevating the feeding head unit.

Figure 5is asectional detail of portion of the mechanism for eflecting reciprocation 0f the-pistons which formpart of the filling heads.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the parts seen in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is aplan view of a circular-cam and parts associated therewith for actuating-the control valves of 'thefilling head.

lligure '8 is a sideelevation showing mechanism for automaticallyiclosing the discharge valves of the fllling 'heads in the event-of stoppage of the machine. r

The improved apparatus includes a main supporting frame Z'carrymg an upstanding central shaft 3 upon which is mounted-an invertedtruncated conical -feed hopper 4 .and a plurality 'of feeding heads 6. The latter are circumferentially spaced around theexterior of the hopper and are connected thereto in such a manner as to form a filling unit-whichis adapted to be rotated bodily in .relation ;to the main supporting frame.

Any suitable means may be employed for effecting 'rotation of the hopperand its feeding'heads. For. example, .inter-engaging-bevel gearing 1 may be connected to a sleeve 8 supporting thehopper and to' a-laterally extending driving shaft '9 operatively connected-teen electric motor 10 or any other'suitable source of power.

Portion of the gearing 1 may bekeyed as at 5 to the s1eeve8, the latter having a longitudinal keyway Saiormed therein so that the sleeve and the parts carried thereby may be raised or lowered without interrupting the drive as hereinafter described.

Mounted beneaththe'hopper and the feeding heads-seas to rotatetherewith, is a conveyor or table ll, uponswhich the cans 12 to be filled are I automatically-delivered from an associated magazine l3; The lattermay 'comprise'a sidewardly and upwardlycurvedchute into which the empty cans "are stackedso that they gravitiate towards the table. i

If desired,

as a power operated warm or the like 14 may be employed "forxengaging each can as it arrives at the'bottom of the magazine and mechanically positioninglthe ca'n'beneath one of the feeding heads.

I Eachof the aforesaidfeeding heads 6 comprises a cylinder IE5 and a piston ll adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally therein. The cylinder is provided at its lower 'end'beneath the piston with an oscillatory or any other suitable type of control valve I8 adapted to cooperate with an inletport or'passage ld-extending between the hopper-4 and the interior of the cylinder and alsowlth'a discharge-port 2| at the lower end or the cylinder'immediatelyabove the table II.

Each control valve [8 is preferably of circular formation andmounted upon stub shafts or a spindle 221extending transversely of the cylinder. The valve member is preferably a freefit in its any suitable mechanical means such casing so as to minimise friction and facilitate of the valve is adapted to close the discharge port and open the inlet port whilst the cylinder is being filled and subsequently to close the inlet port and open the discharge port for filling one of the containers.

Means are provided for automatically actuating each control valve for filling and discharging its associated cylinder during rotation of the feeding heads. of circular form in plan may be positioned around the hopper 4 and be adapted for engagement by a camfollower such as a roller 21 associated with each control valve. Said roller may be carried by a system of linkage or the like which is'opera tively connected to each valve spindle 22 for oscillating the valve during the travel of the roller or rollers around the stationary camtrack as hereinafter described.

In combination with the foregoing, means are provided for automatically reciprocating each piston i1 during rotation of the feeding heads. Such means may comprise swash plate or 'like mechanism which includes an annular trackway 3| preferably of channel shape in cross section and extending around the feed'hopper .4 above the cylinders, said trackway being adjustably mounted upon a supporting frame as'hereinafter described. 1. i

The axis of the trackway 3| is inclined in relation to the axis of the upstanding shaft 3 car--.

rying the hopper and each pistonispmvided with an upstanding connecting rod 32 fitted with a lateral extension 33 carrying a roller or slide 34 accommodated in the inclined trackway where-. by during rotation of the'hopper reciprocation .is imparted to each piston, i

A common support such as a ring 536 ,rnay. be provided so as to maintain all of the piston rods 32 in the desiredoperative position relative to the trackway during reciprocation of the pistons. For example, each piston rod-may-bepivotally connected as at 31 to its extension 33 and said extensions may pass through circumferentially spaced bosses 38 in the supportingring. The lat.- ter is fioatingly mounted upon the hopper 4 in such a manner that it is free to'rise and, fall.- as it rotates therewith, For. instance, the, hopper may be provided with a. plurality .of circumferentially spaced and upstanding cheeks each of which is accommodated between a pair of antifriction rollers 30a on the supporting ring as seen more clearly in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. Said rollers are preferably spring influenced as at 301) so as to yieldingly maintain the rollers ,or each pair in engagement with the oppositeside of the associated cheek- I In order to vary the quantity of material being discharged by the pistons H-in accordance with the size of the cans being-filled, means are pro vided for varying the eifective: strokes [of the pistons. For this purpose, the annular trackway 3| may be pivotally mounted at one side asjat upon the machine frame and be adjustably supported at the opposite sideso. that the angular attitude of the trackway may be varied inaccordeance withrequirements. Said'adjustablesupport For this purpose, a stationary cam 26" may comprise one or more upstanding screwed posts 35a fitted with nuts carrying lugs 3512 which are pivotally connected to the annular trackway. The nuts may be actuated by a common spindle 35c fitted with a handwheel.

Should any interruption occur in the feeding of the cans from the magazine [3, it is necessary to automatically prevent the opening of the discharge port of that feeding head 6 to which a.

"can has not been delivered. Any suitable no can, no feed mechanism is provided for this purpose. Such mechanism may comprise a bellcrank lever 4|, the arms of which are not in- Qtegral, but are formed separately and carried by a common pivot pin 42 mounted upon a bracket 43 on the hopper adjacent to each cylinder. For

convenience of identification, the arms of this bell-crank lever will be hereinafter referred to as primary and secondary arms 46 and 41 respectively. The primary arm 46 may carry the roller 21 associated with the aforesaid circular cam 26, and in order to maintain the roller in engagement with the cam, the primary lever arm is spring-influenced, for example, by means of a spring 48 extending between its supporting bracket 43and an outstanding lug 'on the primary lever arm. I l.

The secondary lever arm 41 is operatively con? nected to the valve spindle 22 for reciprocating the valve. Rack and pinion or like mechanism may be employed for this purpose and if so a pinion or toothed segment 5| may be fitted to the valve spindle and mesh with a rack bar 52 pivotally connected as at 53 to the secondary lever arm 41. A jockey or guide roller 54 may be provided for maintaining the rack and-pinion in operative engagement. 3

A means is provided for detachably connecting said primary and secondary arms 46, 41 together, and such connecting means 'is adapted to be automatically disengaged so as to prevent the opening movement of'the control valve [8 when a can is not fed thereunder. Said means for interconnecting the primary and secondary lever arms may comprise a latch 56, in the form of a lever which is pivotally connected to the primary arm 46 and provided atits inner end with a curved or inclined nose 51 and a shoulder associ: ated therewith for engaging and pulling a stop member 58 carried by the secondary leverarm. The latch 56 is influenced by a spring 56a urging the nose 51 into engagement with the stop member 58. i I f I Spring means are preferably provided for preventing movement of the secondary lever arm 41 except when the latch 56 is in engagement with its associated stop 58 and for this. purpose the primary and secondary lever arms may be interconnected, as seen more clearly in Figure 3 by a sliding rod-60 having a compression spring 6! associated therewith so as todraw the two lever arms 46, 41 together when the latch and its stop are disconnected. The spring lil is positioned between a stop 60a on the outer" end of the rod 60 and another stop 60b carried by a ring 600 which is pivotally connected to the lever arm 41. The stop 60b is slidable upon the rod 60 and the spring passesfreely through the'ring 60c so that the spring 6! may function to draw the two lever arms together as aforesaid. Furthermore, when the lever arms 46, 41 are interconnected by the latch 56 and stop member 58 the-lever arm 41 is pulled in one direction by the latch 56 and subsequentlywreturned by-the lever fits associated clined lower edge which is normally located in the pathof the outer end portion or tail of the latch lever. Said trip lever may be operatively connected to an upstanding rotable post 66 fitted with an outstanding arm 61. As each can leaves the magazine, it is adapted to engage the arm 6.! and swing it sidewardly,'thus partially rotating the post 66 and swinging the trip member 64 out of engagement with the latch lever '56.

The improved apparatus may also include means for regulating the distance between the feeding heads 6 and the rotary table II on to which the cans are fed, in order to accommodate cans of various heights in accordance with requirements. For this purpose elevating mechanism may be employed and such mechanism may comprise a guideway H upstanding at one side of the main supporting frame 12 and carrying a vertically slidable frame member 12 on which the circular cam 26 and theinclined trackway 31 .are mounted. Suitable screw and nut mechanism 13 fitted with an operating handwheel or the like maybe provided for efiecting adjustment of the vertically slidable frame member.

The hopper 4 and feeding heads ,5 associated therewith are also carried by the vertically adjustable frame member 12,.for example, by means of a laterally extending arm 16 located adjacent to the lower end thereof and rotatably supporting the aforesaid sleeve 8.

In use, the substance to be canned is introduced into the hopper 4 and a stack of cans 12 is inserted into the magazine I .3. afterthe appropriate vertical adjustment of the feeding heads 6 has been effected in accordance with theheight of the cans being filled. Rotation of the maindriving shaft .9 is adapted to commence feeding'of the cans on to the table H and also to cause the hopper and its feeding heads to rotate bodily within the stationary cam 26 and the inclined trackway 31. Assuming that a can has been positioned beneath a feeding head, the cylinder of which has been filled from the hopper, continued rotation of the feedinghead and its can results in the can engaging the trip mechanism and swinging the trip member 64 out of alignment with the latch lever 56 which normally functions to connect the primary and secondary arms 46, -41 of the bell-crank lever 41 together with'the result that as the associated roller .21 moves around the stationary cam 26 and rises and falls in accordance with the inclination thereof, rocking movement is imparted tothe bell-crank lever against the influence of its spring 48 with conseguential oscillation of the control valve '13 and automatic opening of the discharge port 2| 'during the down stroke of the piston for filling-the container.

The latter operation is completed after the feeding head has traversed portion of its circular path whereupon the circular cam '26 and the associated bell-crank lever 4| function to automatically close the discharge :port and open the inlet port l9 of the cylinder as the piston .zcommences its upward or suction-stroke.

Removal of the filled'containersfrom the-table H-is preferably effectedmechan'ically for exam-. ple' by mama-15 to or inany suitable manner and the arrangement is such that" the filling of each feeding head 6 is completed immediately before it returnstouts-original position opposite the magazine.

Shouldanyinterruption in the'feeding of the cans occur with the result that a feeding head -passes the magazine without being supplied with an empty container, the trip memberi l'is not displaced, but functions to trip the latch lever 5B and automatically disengage the primary and secondary arms of the bell crank lever 4|. The

secondary arm 4'! is spring-influenced so as normally to maintain it in an inoperative position with the inlet port l9 in communication with the hopper. Whilst in this position the primary lever 46 isactuated by the associated cam and roller been stationary, prior 'to there'turn of the feeding head to its original position opposite the magazine.

"It will be appreciated that the construction and arrangement of the elevating and driving mechanism is such that vertical adjustment of the hopper '4 and associated feeding heads -6 may be effected-without interfering with the machine drive. i i

The effective area of .thedischarge port 2] of each filling head should .be varied in accordance with the viscosity of the material being .fed to the cans. For this purpose. the stationary cam 26 maybe provided with a vertically adjustable sectional which may be positioned at the inside of the main cam andbe provided with any suitable means for adjustably securing it thereon. For instance, the adjustable cam section-8i may be secured to the main cam 25 by a plurality of spaced bolts, pins .or thelike 82 passing through inclined slots 83 in the cam section whereby longitudinal movement of the camsection 81 causes it to be raised or lowered in relation to the main cam. A screw and nut device 86 carried by the main cam and pivoted .with a handwheel -81 may be operatively connected as at 8.8 to the adjustable cam section 8| for effecting longitudinal movement .thereof as aforesaid. .By this arrangement, the movement of the beIL-crank levers-4t and their associated control valves l8 may be varied so as to increase or reduce the effective area of the discharge ports 21 as desired.

Under'normal conditions the aforesaid spring t8 functions to maintain theroller 2''! in engage.-

ment with the lower. edge of the main cam 26.

or the adjustable cam .section 8! but if grit or any .other'foreign substance should'gain access to one of the control valves 18 the strength of the spring 48 may not besufiioient to overcome the increased resistance. To take care of such an emergency, means may be 'providedfor positively effecting movement'of'the 'bell-crank'lever II in both directions. 'For exampleythe primary lever arm .416 may :be provided with a second roller 91 adapted to'engage a return cam 92011 the inside main cam 26 by a series of spaced belts or pins 1 91 passing through inclined slots 98 in the ramp as seen in Fig. 8. The main driving shaft 9 may be provided with a clutch 99 having a handle IDI whichmay be operatively connected by linkage l 02 with the ramp 96. The arrangement is such that upon actuation of the handle to disengage the clutch, the ramp 96 is moved lengthwise and thus lowered by the pin and slot supports into the engagement with the tails of the pivoted latch members 56 of the adjacent filling heads whereby such latch members are disconnected from their stops 58 and thus permit the particular secondary lever arms 4! to return, under the influence of the springs 6|, into the positions in which they are adapted to close the discharge ports 2|,

In addition to the features previously mentioned, an important advantage of employing an inverted conical shaped hopper with the series of a filling heads mounted in circumferentially spaced relationship thereon, is that the discharge ports are relatively closely spaced with the result that the diameter of the track traversed by the cans during the filling operations is reduced to a minimum Witha consequential reduction of the centrifugal force which may otherwise tend to spill the contents of the cans. Furthermore, each discharge port or passage is of minimum length so that little, if any, of the material from the hopper remains in the discharge ports after closing of the control valves. Adjustment of the machine to accommodate different sized cans may be quickly and easily effected, whilst during operation material from the hopper is not delivered through any one of the feeding heads unless an empty can is positioned thereunder. Finally upon stoppage of the machine those discharge ports which are normally open are automatically closed until the machine is again put into operation.

It is also to be understood that'various other alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the foregoing construction and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for the purpose indicated, comprising in combination, a frame, a feed hopper, a plurality of circumferentially spaced feeding heads mounted upon said hopper to form a; rotary filling unit, each feeding head including a cylinder and a reciprocatory piston therein and a valve and inlet and discharge ports controlled by the valve, and means for automatically actuating each piston during rotation of the filling unit, said piston actuating means comprising an annular trackway carrying a rotatable ring member both of which surround said rotary filling unit, .said annular trackway being stationarily mounted upon the said frame with .its axis inclined in relation to that of the rotary filling unit, said ring member being operatively connected to said pistons and being floatingly connected to said filling unit so as to rotate therewith and rise and fall during the rotary movement.

- 2. Apparatus for filling containers, comprising in combination a feed hopper, a plurality of circumferentially spaced feeding heads mounted upon said hopper so as to form therewith a rotaryfilling unit, each said feeding head having a cylinder and a piston therein and a valve and inlet and discharge ports controlled thereby, means for automatically reciprocating said pistons during rotation of said filling unit, means for varying the effective strokes of said pistons, means for automatically actuating said control valves,

and means common to all said valves for regue V lating the movement of each of them for varying the effective area of its discharge port, said piston reciprocating means. including a fixed annular trackway whereof the axis is inclined to the axis of the rotary filling unit, and a ring member floatingly connected to the filling unit and rotatable in said trackway to which ring the pistons are jointedly connected in spaced relation.

3. Apparatus for filling containers, comprising in combination a feed hopper, a plurality of circumferentially spaced feeding heads mounted upon said hopper So as to form a rotary filling unit, each said feeding head including a cylinder and a piston therein and havingfa valve and inlet and discharge ports controlled thereby, means for automatically actuating said control valves for filling empty containers during rotation of the filling unit, said valve actuating means comprising a stationary cam of circular form, means for mounting said cam around the hopper and a plurality of cam followers each of which is operatively connected with one of said control valves and is adapted to engage said circular cam, and means for reciprocating said pistons including a fixed annular trackway whereof the axis is inclined to the axis of the rotary filling unit, and a ring member floatingly connected to the filling unit and rotatable in said trackway to which ring the pistons are jointedly connected in spaced relation,

4. Apparatus for filling containers, comprising in combination a feed hopper, a, plurality of circumferentially spaced feeding heads mounted upon said hopper to form a rotary filling unit, each feeding head including a cylinder and a, reciprocatory piston therein, and means for auto matically actuating each piston during rotation of the filling unit, said piston actuating means comprising swash plate mechanism including a fixed annular trackway whereof the axis is inclined to the axis of the rotary filling unit, and a ring member floatingly connected to the filling unit and rotatable in said trackway to which ring the pistons'are jointedly connected in spaced relation.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein means are provided for varying the inclination of said trackway.

'6. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said annular trackway is pivotally mounted at one side upon a supporting frame and connected at or adjacent to its opposite side to screw and nut mechanism carried by one or more upstanding screwed posts, and constituting means for varying the inclination of'the trackway.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein means are provided for varying the inclination of said trackway, each said piston being provided with an upstanding connecting rod fitted witl a lateral extension accommodated in said. inclined trackway, said: pistons having rods pivotally connected to their lateral extensions which pass through circumferentially spaced bosses in the rotatably mounted ring. T I

8.-Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein means are provided for varyingthe inclination of said trackway, each said piston being provided with an upstanding connecting rod. fitted, with a lateralextension accommodated in said inclined trackway, said piston rods being pivotally con,- nected to their lateral extensions which pass through circumferentially. spaced bosses insaid rotatably, mounted ring, and wherein the floating ring member is mounted on the hopper with capacity to rise and fall asit rotates therewith.

9. Apparatus according, to claim 1 comprising valve control mechanism for automatically pre- .l

venting opening of any discharge ports without interrupting rotation of said filling unit should any interruption occur in the feeding of empty containers to the feeding heads, said valve control mechanism including a circular cam extending around the rotary filling unit and a plurality of bell crank levers one for each feeding head each bell crank lever having a pair of arms carried by a common pivot at its feeding head, one of said arms being provided with a cam follower adapted to engage operatively said cam while the other arm is operatively connected to said control valve, means normally rigidly connecting the arms of each of said pairs, and means responsive to the absence of a can in filling position for automatically tripping said connecting means so as to permit the lever arms to swing towards each other about said common pivot whereby relative movement may occur between the lever arms of each pair without opening the associated control valve.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising valve control mechanism for automatically preventing opening of any discharge ports without interrupting rotation of said filling unit should any interruption occur in the feeding of empty containers to the feeding heads, said valve control mechanism including a circular cam extending around the rotary filling unit and a plurality of bell crank levers one for each feeding headeach bell crank lever having a pair of arms carried by a common pivot at its feeding head, one of said arms being provided with a cam follower adapted to engage operatively said cam while the other arm is operatively connected to said control valve, means normally rigidly connecting the arms of each of said pairs, and means responsive to the absence of a can in filling position for automatically tripping said connecting means so as y to permit the lever arms to Swing towards each other about said common pivot whereby relative movement may occur between thelever arms of each pair without opening the associated control valve, and wherein said second-mentioned lever arm is operatively connected to its associated control valve by rack and pinion mechanism,

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising valve control mechanism for automatically preventing opening of any discharge ports without interrupting rotation of said filling unit should any interruption occur in the feedin of empty containers to the feeding heads, said valve control mechanism including a circular cam extending around the rotary filling unit and a plurality of bell crank levers one for each feeding head each bell crank lever having a pair or arms carried by, av common pivotlatrits feedinghead, one; of, saidnarms being providedwith a cam follower adapted toengage operatively said cam while the other arm is operatively connected'to said control valve,- means (normally rigidly 'connectingthe arms of each of said pairs, and means responsive to the absence ofi'acanin filling position for automatically, tripping said connecting means so to permitthe lever arms to swin towar'dscach other about said" common pivot whereby relative; movement mayv occur between theleverlarmsof each pair .wi'thout opening the associatedtcontrol valve, and wherein one of the armsof each is provlded with a. spring, influenced. latch member adapted toengage a stop onthe other arm, and wherein said. tripping means comprisesa spring influenced; trip member normal-1y located in the path ofithe latch member and operatively connectedto an outstandinglarm'adaptedtolbe engaged by each empty can after it is deliveredtoit's filling position, whereby the outstanding arm is swung sidewardly and displaces the trip member out of the path of the latch member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising valve control mechanism for automatically preventing opening of any discharge ports without interrupting rotation of said filling unit should any interruption occur in the feeding of empty containers to the feeding heads, said valve control mechanism including a circular cam extending around the rotary filling unit and a plurality of bell crank levers one for each feeding head each bell crank lever having a pair of arms carried by a common pivot at its feeding head, one of said arms being provided with a cam follower adapted to engage operatively said cam while the other arm is operatively connected to said control valve, means normally rigidly connecting the arms of each of said pairs, and means responsive to the absence of a can in filling position for automatically tripping said connecting means so as to permit the lever arms to swing towards each other about said common pivot whereby relative movement may occur between the lever arms of each pair without opening the associated control valve, and wherein means are provided for positively urging said bell crank lever into operative engagement with said circular cam, said last-mentioned means comprising a return cam carried by said circular cam, and a roller or the like carried by said bell crank lever and adapted to engage said return cam.

13. Apparatus according torclaim 1 comprising valve control mechanism for automatically preventing openin of any discharge ports without interrupting rotation of said filling unit'should any interruption occur in the feeding of empty containers to the feeding heads, said valve control mechanism including a circular cam extending around the rotary filling unit and a plurality of bell crank levers one for each feeding head each bell crank lever having a pair of arms carried by a common pivot at its feeding head, one of said arms being provided with a cam follower adapted to engage operatively said cam while the other arm is operatively connected to said control valve, means normally rigidly connecting the arms of each of said pairs, and means responsive to the absence of a can in filling position for automatically tripping said connecting means so as to permit the lever arms to swing towards each other about said common pivot ing shaft, means for automaticallyclosing the individual discharge ports of those heads which are occupying positions for filling containers when said driving shaft is declutched for stopping the machine, said means for automatically closing the discharge ports comprising an adjustable ramp and pin and inclined slot connections between said ramp and said circular cam, and means for efiecting longitudinal movement of said ramp so as to raise or lower said ramp into or out of the path traversed by said valve control mechanism.

14. Apparatus accordin to claim 3, in combination with means common to all of the valves for regulating the movement of each of them and thus varying the efiective area of the discharge port of each filling head in accordance with the viscosity'of the material being fed to the containers.

15. Apparatus according to claim 3; in combination with means common to all of the valves for regulating the movement of each of them and thus varying the effective area of the discharge port of each filling head in accordance with the viscosity of the material being fed to the containers, said valve control means comprising an adjustable cam section mounted upon said circular cam, and means for effecting transverse adjustment of said cam section relative to the circular cam so that said cam followers also engage said cam section.

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