US2492555A - Filling machine - Google Patents

Description

. 27, 1949 FQ J. cozzoLl FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 19, 1.946

INVENTOR ATTORNEY F. J. 'cozzoLl FILLING msnm 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1946 AINVENTOR ATTOR N EY F. J. l'cozzom FILLING MACHINE s Sheets-sheet 3 Filed Feb. 19, 1945 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR M Z/Wm/ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING MACHINE Frank J. Cozzoli, Plainield, N. J. Application February 19, 194e, serial No. 648,723

(o1. 10a-3s) 12 Claims. l

, The present invention relates to dispensing machines adapted for the filling of ampoules, vials, tubes and like containers with measured amounts of pharmaceutical preparations. The invention aims primarily, to render available a dispensing machine capable of dispensing variable but an accurately measured quantity of a preparation into a container in a manner such that splashing and consequent wettin-g of the throat or neck of the container is avoided.

Another aim of the invention is to render available a variable but positive displacement dispensing machine incorporating a stroke adjusting arrangement whereby and wherewith a precisely measured charge entrained in the measuring cylinder on an intake stroke is substantially completely discharged therefrom on completion of the delivery stroke under any quantity setting within the range of the machine.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a filling machine illustrating a typical use and embodiment of the invention. y

Fig. 2 is a side View of the machine, partly in section taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of a portion of a stroke varying and locking device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a preferred form of slide actuating means constructedA in accordance with this invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively front and side views of portions of variant form of variable stroke follower actuating means.

Fig. 7 is a front view of another form of actuator.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the invention is disclosed in combination with a filling machine wherein it performs an especially advantageous function. As will later become apparent other uses of the invention are contemplated and the reference to a filling machine is for explanatory purposes. The filling machine disclosed has a main supporting base I 0, to which ahollow front panel member II is firmly Asecured by screws or other conventional means. Atop the panel II, a unit base plate I2 is bolted and which projects forward to form a support for one or more filling units, indicated generally at I3. The plate I2 in turn supports a slides panel I4 which is closed at its top by a cap member I5, and at its rear in part by a plate I6 and in part by a housing I1 that also encloses the main drive means.

Each filling unit I3 comprises essentially a body member IB having aligned bores to receive respectively a measuring cylinder and piston I9 and 25, and a drop eliminator cylinder and piston 2i and 22. A liquid intake port 23 communicates with the lower end of the measuring cylinder I9, and in which a one-way valve, preferably a ball valve 24, is located. On the piston side ofthe valve 24, a uid connection 25 is made with the drop eliminator cylinder 2I which is also provided with a ball check valve 26 at its lower end. On the piston side of the valve 26 a uid connection 21 is made with an ampule lling needle 28. The needle 28 is hollow, as is the connection 21, and is adapted to conduct the liquid preparationl into the ampule which is held on telescoped relation therewith during the filling operation. On an upstroke of the measuring piston 25, liquid enters the cylinder I9 past the valve 24, and on a down stroke of the piston the liquid is discharged through the port 25, past valve 25 into cylinder 2l, and out through the nipple 21 and filling needle 28. The ball valves 24 and 26 alternately open and close during a filling cycle, as will be understood. The unit body I8 is provided with lateral flanges 29 which are fitted to corresponding recesses in the plate I2 and is held in place by holding screws 30.

In the Fig. 2 position of the pistons of the filling unit, the piston 20 of the measuring cylinder is at its lowest extreme position, and piston 22 of the drop eliminator cylinder at its lowest position wherein its upper end is a short distance away from the underside of the cylinder cap 3l. In this position the discharge stroke is completed. When the pressure exerted upon the upperend of the piston 22 is removed, a compression spring 32, acting between the cylinder cap 3| and a washer 33 secured to the upper end of the plunger 22, operates to retract the piston 22 a limited distance. Pressure on the upper end of the drop eliminator plunger is relieved at the beginning of the intake stroke of the measuring piston, and the resulting lifting of the piston 22, causes a portion of the iiuid en- .Y

trained in the lling needle 28 and conduit 21 to return to the cylinder 2 I. Any droplet of liquid that tends to adhere to the end of the needle 3 is caused, by the action above explained, to be drawn into the needle where it is more or less enclosed and prevented from falling off or from becoming fouled or contaminated.

Reciprocating motion is imparted to the measuring piston 25, in accordance with this invention, by a two- part slide member 35, 36, and a slide actuator. The upper section 35 of the slide is yieldingly connected to the lower section 36, by a stud 3'! and a jam nut 38. The sections are spring urged apart a predetermined distance by a preloaded compression spring 39 that encircles the stud 37| and is seated in recesses 40 in the adjacent ends of the slide blocks 35 and 35. The

two blocks are by this arrangement caused to move normally in unison within guidesA 4| and 4|b provided in the upper panel |4 and in the lower panel respectively.

The slide block 35 connects directly with the piston by means of a short stud 42 driven Yinto f the block and vwhich has its outer end reduced to venter a hole [i3 formed in the upper end 'of the pistonextension The block 35 also carries a second and similar bar i5 that extends over the e'n'dof piston 29 and carries at its end an adjustable screw 45. The screw i5 is adjusted to engage with 'and Yactuate ther drop eliminator piston 22 a limited -distance during the nal portion of the discharge stroke of the measuring piston. Aligned with the piston rod of the measuring piston is a button *'46 mounted in the presser bar 44, which is fitted closely to the top of the piston rod so that there is no appreciable looseness between that piston and its actuating pin 42, but which allows 'the lling unit as a whole to be readily removed from the machine Vupon removal of the helding screws 35. The guide ways 4| in the panels and 'i4 are rectangular in cross section, corresponding to the shape of the slide block 35, 3B, and are closed at the rear side by a plate 4 a.

The -lower end of the slide block projects through an opening provided in the unit base 2 and into the interior of the lower panel 'and has-secured thereto an antifriction roller 50. Unde'rlyin'g the roller 58 and normally engaged thereby Vis an actuating cam lever 5| which has, preferably a curved roller engaging contour. The ca'rnf-S'i is according to this invention oscillatable and bodily rotatable, its oscillatory movement being fixed as to vamount in all of its rotationally adjusted positions. As illustrated more clearly in Figs. "l Aand 4, the cam lever 5| is pivoted, as at 52, to Aa revolvable support 53. The support 53 is journaled about a drive shaft 54 that carries a crank member 55 at its outer end. The crank pin end 56 of the crank connects with the cam lever 51 by means of a connecting rod-51. Anti-friction bearings '58 tted to the connecting rod Veyes '59 and centered on screws 50, are provided toest'a-blis'h asecure but frictionless drive connection between `the crank and cam lever.

Rotary motion Yis imparted to the crank by a motor `6| Aoperating through a belt B2 and a variable speed pulley 53 mounted upon'the worm shaft 64 4of -a speed reducing unit 55. The worm wheel 66 fof lthe reducer is secured to the crank shaft 54. The variable speed drive 63 is of conventional design consisting of a pair of axially movable sheaves 53a that are normally spring pressed toward each other but which spread, when the pulley-center distances are moved apart, to allow the belt to run on a smaller pitch diameter. In thi's'in'stance the-motor 6| is moved to change the center distance, as by tilting the motor base 61 about its pivot 68 by operating an adjusting screw knob 69. The knob 69 operates on a screw stud 10 carried by the reducing unit and engages a depending portion 'il of the motor base 61.

When the motor is energized the crank shaft 54 and crank 55 are caused to revolve and effect oscillation of the cam lever 5I about its pivot 52. A preferred proportioning of the elements is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the crank is on dead center and the connecting rod 51 extends substantially vertically and engages the cam lever approximately 60 away from its fulcrum point 52, using the center of the crank shaft 54 as the point of measurement. As the crank 55 revolves, the connecting rod 57 swings the cam lever 5| about its pivot 52 until the position represented by the dotted lines b is reached. During the movement, the slide roller 50 rolls outwardly on the periphery ofthe cam and 'simultaneously is lifted thereby to the .position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. Further turning of the crank, lowers the cam lever tothe full line position shown, and the slide and roller 53 follow down with it. In thisV particular instance the roller slide is made to have substantial mass, and means other than the force of gravity, is not required to effect a lowering o'f the 'slide and its connected piston. Where, however, mass alone is not to be relied upon, the cam lever 5| may be grooved to receive the follower roller, or otherwise constructed, to effect positive -movement of the slide in each direction, `as illustrated, for example, in Fig. 7.

Normally the cam lever supporting 'bracket 53 is locked in a set angular position, and when stationed in the full line position shown by Fig. "4, the slide reciprocations resulting are at Athe maximum. However, if the bracket 53, is rotated clockwise to a station that places the pivot 52 coincident with the axis of the follower roller Eil, the lever 5| is caused to oscillate from position c to d which is the same range as before, lbut the extent of slide reciprocations resulting is Yzero because the fulcrum 52 Vof the lever coincides with the vaxis of the slide roller and the face of the cam 5'| follows the periphery of the follower 50.

In the present embodiment of the invention, in a sensitive filling machine, it is important that the measuring piston travels down to a definite position at every volume setting, from Zero delivery up, and to insure the stopping of the piston travel Aat a definite point, a stopping abut- 4ment v8|) is provided. The abutment located :in

the lower end of a slot 8| formed in the panel |-`4 through which the piston actuator bars -42 and 44 extend and is of such effective lheight 'as positively to stop the downward travel of the piston and piston actuating `slide at a definite point. Ordinarily the point of stopping will 'be set to bring the lower end Iof 'the piston approximately even with 'the top of the duct -25 fin the fil-ling body to insure against air or gas entrapment, and the roller slide correspondingly adjusted, via the nut and stud 38,31, to bring the roller 55 iinto contact with the -cam 5|, when the latter 'is in its lowest position. Preferably the follower engaging surface of the cam 5| is a portion of a circle vwhich has its center coincident with the center of rotation of the supporting arm of the movable bracket I53, when the vcam lever is at its lowest (or innermost) position at whichpoint, the axis of the follower 'roller is coincident with the pitch circle p of the pivoted lever.

4It will -be evident from lthe foregoing that in ,adjusting the cam lever 5| angularl'y relative 'to the line of movement of l'tire-slide 35 Vand lits-roller 50, the effective strokeof the slide -is varied'from zero to maximum with the variations occurring at the upward end of the stroke only. The lower end of the stroke being determined in each instance by the cam lever 5| reaching its concentric position.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the oscillations of the cam lever occur, with the parts arranged as shown, outside of the circle inscribed by the lever 5| when it isin its extreme retracted position and the change in stroke length of the follower occurs at the outer (or upper) end only. The relation of parts may, however, be reversed merely by substituting a shorter connecting rod for the 'rod 51 vand whereby the oscillations can be caused to occur wholly within the said circle. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate an arrangement of parts designed to effectuate that action. In these figures the elements that correspond to those previously described are numbered |50, |5|, etc., and the oscillatable lever |5| is shown in full lines in its maximum throw position wherein its periphery, if projected, inscribes a circle. As the crank |55 revolves, from the position illustrated, the lever |5| is rocked inwardly to the dotted line position bb, and the follower roller |50 follows down with it. If the pivot point |52 of the lever is rotated clockwise 60, the lever oscillations are the same magnitude as before, but the follower roller |50 engages the circular hub end |5|a of the lever and its reciprocations are zero. Between the extremes mentioned, any angular adjustment of the pivot |52 effects a proportionate change occurring at the lower end of the stroke, the upper limit of the stroke remaining constant. A mechanical movement of this character, i. e., with its stroke change at the lower end of the follower movement, is adaptable to inverted piston and cylinder pump devices of the type disclosed in my prior application Ser. #594,462, filed May 18, 1945.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, a form of stroke adjusting means is illustrated which comprises a lever 85 that is secured to the adjustable support 53. The free end of the lever extends through a slot 81 in the cover l1 and is provided with a pull pin type of handle 88. Ihe handle 88 is threaded to one end of a slotted draw bolt 89, the slot in which receives the peripheral portion 90 of an arcuate flange 9| secured to the panels and |4. When the handle 88 is tightened the bifurcated end of the draw bolt draws the lever 85 and flange 9| tightly together and angular movement of the lever and the bracket 53 secured thereto is prevented.

The projecting end of the lever 85 is adapted to sweep across the flange 9| in moving the bracket 53 from zero displacement to maximum displacement position. The flange may be appropriately calibrated as at 92, to indicate the major divisions of stroke changes. Preferably end stop pins 93 are positioned in the flange 9| to limit the extremes of movement of the stroke adjusting lever 85. A shifting ofthe adjusting lever 85 effects an angular readjustment of the bracket 53 and the pivot of the slide actuating lever 5|, and a corresponding change in the stroke of the slide 36.

Precision regulation of the stroke of the piston 20 of the measuring cylinder is had by controlling its upper extreme stopping position independently of the stroke of the actuating slide. To effect that result an adjustable but normally stationary and positive abutment is provided in the form of a micrometer stop device 95. The micrometer stop'comprises an interiorly threaded barrel 96 that is firmly clamped to the cap member I5 in axial alignment with the measuring cylinder, a cooperating threaded spindle 91, and an adjusting sleeve 98 that is suitably fastened to the spindle. The micrometer sleeve and barrel are graduated as at 98 to indicate unit and fractional units of displacement with a high degree of accuracy.

The lower end of the micrometer spindle 91 projects from the micrometer barrel and forms an anvil against which the cross-bar 44 stops when elevated. The stopping of the cross-bar 44 also, by reason of the button 46, positively stops upward movement of the measuring piston at the precise point desired. Assuming, that the follower 50 and slide 36 has not completed its upward stroke by the time the micrometer abutment limits further piston travel. the spring 39 between the blocks 35 and 36, will be compressed the necessary amount. Preferably, the follower slide stroke and piston stroke will be such that the follower slide 36 has a slight excess or overtravel to insure the bringing of the piston against its positive stop 91 before the actuating slide 3.6 reaches the upper end of its travel.

To avoid conflict between the setting of the micrometer stop and the stroke of the piston actuating slide, an interlock mechanism between the micrometer and the stroke adjusting lever is provided. As illustrated more clearly in Figs. l and 2, the interlock includes a stop shoe |00 that partially encircles the micrometer barrel 98 and underlies an annular rim or flange |0| formed thereon. The stop shoe is mounted upon the upper end of a vertically shiftable rod |02. The rod |02 is sldable in bearings provided in and by the cap and panel members l5 and |4 and extends downwardly into the lower panel member Il. At its lower end, the rod carries a roller |03 which engages a cam surface |04 formed upon an extending arm |05 of the bracket 53. Angular movement of the cam carrying bracket 53 via lever 85, likewise effects angular movement of the arm |05 and vertical movement of the roller |03, rod |02, and stop shoe |00. In the arrangement disclosed the contour of the interlock cam |04 is plotted not only to utilize the bodily movement of the arm |05 in moving from its horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 to its full line position but to effect a uniform lift of the roller |03 for each angularly adjusted position of the lever 5| whose increments of angular movement are not uniform. With an interlock so arranged it becomes impossible to adjust the micrometer stop downwardly (to shorten the stroke and delivery capacity of the filling unit) without first adjusting the position of the stroke control lever to a position effecting a shorter slide stroke. Likewise, the interlock positively prevents making of an adjustment to the slide actuator that will increase the effective stroke of the slide, without first resetting the micrometer stop to a retracted position adequate for a lengthened slide stroke. In making the respective adjustments due allowance is preferably made to insure a yielding of the slide blocks 35 and 36, for the reason previously explained, and the total yield there provided is, for reasons of safety, at leastl as great as the increment of change produced on shifting of the micrometer abutment from one whole unit division to the next.

In the device disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6 wherein the adjustment in thelength of stroke of the follower is made to occur inside of a circle the adjusting lever, and interlock, and their connections, when such are employed in a given embodiment of this movement, are arranged to suit the particular conditions, as will be understood, and in the interests of clarity, they have not been illustrated in their entirety in Figs. Vand 6.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or .more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics Iof either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A filling machine of the volumetric displacement type combining a measuringcylinder and a cooperating piston reciprocable therein, piston reciprocatingfmeans comprising a rotatable and oscillatable cam member, means operatively lconnected to said cam to oscillate same, a follower member normally engaging said cam and adapted to be actuated thereby along a relatively fixed path during the oscillatory movement of the cam imparted by said means, yieldable connections between said follower member and said piston operative normallyto transmit the motions of the former to the latter, means for moving said cam angularly relative to the path of movement of said follower member to effect a variation in the stroke thereof, and micrometer means for limiting the movement of said piston to a distance less than the normal stroke of said follower imparted by said cam in any of its angularly moved positions.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means interlocking said micrometer means for limiting the movement of said piston with said means for moving said cam angularly to insure against incompatible adjustments of the said two means.

3. Dispensing apparatus of the character described combining a reciprocable measuring piston, means for actuating said piston comprising a rotatable and oscillatable cam member, a follower lmember normally engaged by said cam and movable thereby substantially radially of the axis of rotation of the cam member, means connected with the cam member for oscillating same, additional means operatively connected with the cam member for adjusting the cam angularly in a direction normal and relative to the path of movement of the follower member thereby to vary the resulting stroke of said follower, and an operative connection between said follower member land the said piston for transmitting the motionimparted to the follower to said piston.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 including means independent of said piston actuating means operative positively to stop the travel of the said piston at a point short of the normal stroke of said follower member.

5. A llling'machine of the character described having in combination a reciprocable ymeasurin-g piston, means for reciprocating said pistonin one direction comprising Aa shiftable and oscillatable lever, means vconnected with said lever for oscillating same, a follower member normally vengaged by said lever and movable thereby, means connected with the said lever for shifting the lever bodily laterally ina direction Ynormal -andrelative to the path of movement ofthe follower member thereby to vary the resulting stroke `of said follower, an operative connection between said follower member and the said piston for yieldingly transmitting the motion imparted to the follower to said piston, adjustable means effect-ive upon said piston for stopping the travel thereof at a selected point independently of the normal stroke of said follower member, and means interlocking said lever shifting means and said piston stopping means to insure compatibility in their adjustment.

6. The combination set forth in yclaim 5 in whichzsaid .follower member has an abutting engagement with said'lever, and means 'operative independently of said lever for moving said piston in the opposite direction.

7. Actuating means vfor a followerroll comprising a pivoted lever provided with a circular track portion engageable by the follower roll, means connected to the lever for oscillating .same about its pivot from an inner position 'wherein vthe track portion forms a portion of a cylinder to aposition outwardly therefrom, and adjustment means to vary the location of the pivot of :said .lever along a line describing a circle, which circle is coaxial with said cylinder thereby tc vary .the outer limit of the follower movement.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which the center of said vfollower roll is on the pitch circle of said cam track when the lever and its cam track are in said inner position.

9. A variable throw actuator for a cam follower comprising a rotatable support, a lever pivoted to said support, said lever having Yan arcuately formed follower-engaging surface thereon, means to oscillate said lever from :an extreme position wherein the follower Aengaging surface constitutes a segment of a cylinder to another extreme position entirely to one side thereof, and means to adjust said support about the axis -of said cylinder when so constituted and positioned and relative to the path of follower movement thereby to effect a change in the .length-of stroke of the follower.

li). The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein the angular movement of said 'support from Zero stroke position to maximum stroke position is approximately 60.

11.A variable throw actuator for a cam follower comprising a rotatable support, a lever pivoted to said support, said lever having an arcuately formed cam follower eng-aging surface thereon, means to oscillate said lever from an extreme position wherein the Vfollower'engaging surface constitutes a segment of a cy-linder lto another extreme position radially inwardly therefrom, means to rotate said support about an axis coincident with the axis of said cylinder whereby to shift the pivot of said lever relative to the line of Contact made by the follower vvtherewith.

l2. Means to actuate a follower rollfcomprising a'pivotally mounted leverprovided with an arcuately shaped track portion engageable by 4the Vfollower roll, means including a rotatable member operative on the lever for actuating the lever from one extreme position wherein the arcuately shaped track portion constitutes'a part of a circle concentric with the axis of said rotary member to an=oppcsite eXtreme position, a support for the pivot of said lever, said supportbeingconstructed for angular `movement about .an axis coincident with the axis of saidrotaryrmember and with the axis of the arc of said track-when the latter is in 'concentric' relation` withv the of said rotary mem-ber, and means operative to shift the said support and said pivoted lever relative to t'he path of follower movement thereby to eiect a change in but one of the extremes of follower movement.

a' FRANK J. COZZOLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

Number Cozzoli Mar. 14, 1939

Images