US693921A - Can-filling machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 993,921. 9 Patented. r9925, I902.

H. n. sncxusv. {IAN FILLING MACHINE.

A ucjacion fluid Imus, 1901. (No Model.) 2 Sheeiv-Shoei; 1.

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CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1901.)

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Patented Fab.'25, I902. v

' lowed to separate by its own weight.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HENRY R. STIOKNEY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

-CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,921, dated February 25, 1902.

I Application filed January 28,1901. Serial No. 44,957. N model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. STIOKNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Portland, Cumberland county, State of Maine, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements in Gan-Filling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for fill ing cans; and it is particularly designed for filling cans with viscous material like condensed milk.

The most important object of the invention is to construct such a machine which will positively and quickly out off the vertical stream of condensed milk when the can is full, or nearly so, the material being of such character that it acts very slowly when al- Hitherto this has generally been attempted by means of various kinds of mechanical cutoffs; but it has been found by experience that anything of this kind which comes in contact with the stream of condensed milk as it falls into the can soon becomes clogged.

with an accumulation of the viscous material, which sticks to it each time the stream is cut off and gradually accumulates until it stops the successful operations of the machine.

I remedy the above difficulties by suddenly retracting the upper portion of the vertical column of condensed milk as it comes from the filling-nozzle at the moment when the can is about full; and my invention resides generally in the mechanical means by which I accomplish this-namely, a check-valve interposed between the filling-nozzle and the outlet-port of the cylinder which,' before closing on the return of the plunger, allows the stream of milk to be suddenly drawn back for a limited distance,thus parting the stream, drawing the upper portion back into the filling-nozzle and allowing the lower portionto fall into the can.

The invention further consists of a special construction of the plunger by which its stroke may be accurately regulated while the machine is in operation and also means for easily changing the machine to adapt it to different sizes of cans.

Another feature of my invention consists of special means by which a single lever is made to feed the cans and operate the plunger at the same time.

I illustrate my invention by means of the accompanying drawings, which represent a double-cylinder machine constructed according to my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side View with the filling mechanism proper showing in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rear ends of the plungers, showing the connecting parts. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the machine with the vertical can-spouts omitted, and Fig. at is a detail showing the adjustable connection of the cylinder with the frame of the machine.

A is the supply-hopper for containing the condensed milk, the lower end being secured the casting A.

' P is the framework of the machine, which is designed to properly support the various parts described. As here shown, the casting A is formed integral with and on the top of the cylinder B, which is fastened to the frame of the machine by a bolts, passing through a slot 5 in the flange b. An inlet-duct a leads forward from the outlet of the hopper to the inlet-port a, which is situated at the forward end of the cylinder. Within the cylinder is a hollow plunger E, open at its rear end, and immediately below the inlet-port is an outletport a situated, as here'shown, inthe axial,

center of the cylinder, and the valve-chamber a which is formed outside of the port, communicates with the Vertical filling-nozzle d. The inlet and the outlet ports are provided with check-valves b and 0, respectively, with the valve-stems b and 0 extending forward and inclosed in bonnets b and 0 the inner ends of these bonnets screwing into the walls of the valve-chambers and formingthe front.

Spiral springs b and c are sides thereof. provided to keep the check-valves normally closed. Means are provided for holding the outlet check-valved open for a limited time after the plunger has started to'return, so that the condensed milk in the nozzle (1 may he suddenly retracted for a short distance. For this purpose I provide an extension or ofiset between the valve and the 'end of the plunger, here shown as a projectionc on the inner end of the valve, against which theend of the plunger impinges to hold the valve to f, which runs in guides h.

open. When the plunger starts to return, the projection c prevents the valve from immediately closing, and so causes the retraction of the liquid already spoken of. The plunger is so constructed that its stroke may be accurately adjusted while the machine is running. As here shown, a spring case or cylinderfextends into the rear end of the plunger, and this spring-case is connected with a cross-head The forward end of the spring-case or that end within the plunger is closed, except for a central opening for the purpose hereinafter spoken of, and its rear end is open through the crosshead. The spring-case and the cross-head are connected by a spring connection which allows them to separate when the cross-head is drawn back and to come together as a solid plunger when the cross-head moves forward. This is accomplished by means of a rod e, secured axially to the inner end of the plunger and extending backward through the central opening in the end of the spring-case and terminating at or near the open rear end of the spring-case in a nut 6 and a spiral spring 6 impinges against this nut and against the inner end of the spring-case.

An adjustable screw-stop g is provided in the crossbar g which unites the rear ends of the guides h, and the screw-stop g is provided with a check-nut 9'. On the rear end of the cylinder is a stuffing-box e, which makes a tight joint with the plunger. It will be seen that while the cross-head and the spring may have the same length of stroke each time, the backward throw of the plunger may be varied by the position of the stop g, against which the end of the rod e strikes. If the stop g is screwed in so as to stop the plunger before the cross-head has reached the rear of its stroke, the spring-case simply compresses the spring on the rod and then when the crosshead moves forward it impinges against the rear end of the plunger and pushes it in with a positive motion.

It will be understood that most of the parts described are duplicated in adouble-cylinder machine, such as is here shown, and the machine may be made with one or more cylinders placed side by side.

A reciprocating motion is imparted to the cross-head by the connectingrods j, which are pivoted to the tops of the upright levers J, oneon each side of the machine. These levers J act at the same time to feed the cans and to operate the plungers. They are pivoted by their lower ends below the bed of the machine, and at a pointbelow the upper end there is an oifset 7", which swings in under the can-spout and forces the cans 1 along between the guides i to a point beneath the filling-nozzle d.

The lower ends of the can-spouts are secured to a base 2 connecting with the frame of machine immediately over the guideways formed by the guides 2' The levers .I are operated by connecting-rods 7c, pivoted to crank-disks k on gears Z. Power is applied to a pulley o and transmitted through a pinion m to the gear Z.

Suflicient has been said to show the opera tion of the machine, which is generally the same as most can-filling machines. The condensed milk is drawn in through the inletport when the plunger moves back, and when the end of the rod 6 strikes the stop 9 the plunger stops. When the plunger moves for ward, the material is forced out through the filling-nozzle into the can. The stream of condensed milk which extends from thelower end of the filling-nozzle to the can at the end of the stroke is suddenly cut in two by the sudden retraction of the upper end of the stream by the backward movement of the plunger.

When smaller cans than the normal size are to be used, the bolts 8, Fig. 4c, are loosened and the cylinder is moved forward, the slot 3 permitting such movement.

Itis evident that when the cylinder is moved forward, the stroke of the cross-head remaining constant, the plunger will not reach the inner end of the cylinder. To adjust this difference in stroke, washers to, Fig. 2, are inserted between the outer end of the plunger and the cross-head, thereby lengthening the plunger just enough to make its stroke com plete.

I claim- 1. In a machine for filling cans with condensed milk the combination of a plunger and a cylinder therefor, an inlet-port and an outlet-port at the end of the cylinder, a filling nozzle connecting with the outlet-port and ad jacent thereto a check-valve for closing the outlet-port having a valve-stem in line with the plunger, a bonnet for containing the valvestem and providing a bearing therefor,- a spring for closing the valve and an inward extending projection adapted to be struck by the end of the plunger to hold the valve open.

2. In a machine for filling cans, the'combination of a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet port, a hollow plunger for said cylinder open at its rear end, a spring-case extending into said plunger from the rear end, a crosshead to which said spring-case is connected,- a rodsecured axially to the inner end of said plunger and extending through an opening in the spring-case, a spiral spring on said rod impinging against the inner end of the springcase and the outer end of the rod an adjustable stop for limiting the backward motion of said rod and means for reciprocating said cross-head to impart motion to the plunger.

3. In a machine for filling cans the combination of a cylinder adjustably mounted on the frame of the machine and having an illlet and an outlet port, a hollow plunger for.

said cylinder open at its rear end, a springcase extending into said plunger from the rear end, a cross-head to which said springcase is connected, a rod secured axially to the inner end of said plunger and extending vertical can-spout above said guideway and adapted to drop cans therein, an upright 10- ver fulcrumed below said guideway, an offset on said lever for feeding the cans through said guideway, a connecting-rod at the top of said lever for reciprocating said plunger and means for oscillating said lever. I

Signed at Portland this 4th" day of J anuary; 1901.

HENRY R. STICKNEY- Witnesses: r

u S. W. BATES,

HARRY B. Russ.

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