US2663478A - Fluid substance depositor for filling continuously moving receptacles - Google Patents

Description

Dec 22 1953 s M. C. JAHN ET AL 'FLUID SUBSTANCE DEPOSITOR FOR FILLING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING RECEPTACLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1, 1950 mvsmons; MARION C. JAHN WALTER E. SHAPCOTT DENNIS w. SMITH Dec. 22, 1953 M. c. JAHN ET AL FLUID SUBSTANCE DEPOSITOR FOR FILLING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING RECEPTACLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1950 mvsmoasz' JAHN SHAPCOTT SM Dec. 22, 1953 M. c. JAHN ET AL 2,663,473

FLUID SUBSTANCE DEPOSITOR FOR FILLING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING RECEPTACLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1950 FIG. IO

T m m C w m A ATT'YS Dec. 22, 1953 M. c. JAHN ET AL FLUID SUBSTANCE DEPOSITOR FOR FILLING CONTINUQUSLY MOVING RECEPTACLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 1, 1950 FIG. I7

FIG. I6

FIG. I9

FIG. I8

INVENTORS: MARION C. JAHN WALTER E. SHAPCOTT DENNIS W. SMITH BY 22 u I ATT'YS Dec. 22 1953 M c JAHN ET AL FLUID SUBST ANCE DEPOSI'POR FOR FILLING 2,663,478

CONTINUOUSLY MOVING RECEPTACLES 6 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed June 1, 1950 FIG. 2 2

Hill,

FIG. 23

INVENTORS'. MARION C. JAH N WALTER E. SHAPCOTT DENNIS W. SMITH BY I 2 1 i ATT'YS Dec. 22, 1953 M. c. JAHN ETAL 2,563,478

FLUID SUBSTANCE DEPOSITOR FOR FILLING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING RECEPTACLES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 1, 1950 T N W s m %H MNAT f wmwm m ES R N mw IMT R AA MWD uzoEh ATT'YS Patented Dec. 22, 1953 FLUID SUBSTANCE DEPOSITOR FOR FILL- ING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING RECEP- TACLES Marion 0. Jahn, Lake County, and Walter E. Shapcott and Dennis W. Smith, Cook County, Ill., assignors to Colborne Manufacturing 00., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 1, 1950, Serial No. 165,402

11 Claims.

1. This invention relates to devices for depositing predetermined quantities of fluid substances into moving receptacles and particularly to such devices for handling fluid mixtures containing whole fruit or pieces of fruit that must be deposited into a receptacle or container in unbroken form.

The present invention is directed to a filling depositor for use in connection with automatic piemaking machines wherein a fluid filling material is to be delivered, in predetermined quantities, to continuously moving pie plates onto which the lower or bottom crust dough has already been applied. However, it is to be understood that the invention may also be used in any operation wherein a receptacle is to be filled, and it is a primary object of the invention to provide a depositing device that will operate continuously to deposit a filling material into each of a continuous procession of receptacles while they are moving along a predetermined path.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved fluid material depositor adapted. for automatic continuous operation; to provide such a device capable of handling a fluid mixture containing whole fruit, or relatively large fruit pieces, without breaking or crushing the fruit; to provide such a device which will automatically deliver a predetermined quantity of material to each of a continuous series of moving receptacles; and to provide such a device that can be readily regulated to vary the quantity of material delivered to each receptacle.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved fluid material depositor in which the fluid material is maintained under uniform pressure, to the point of delivery, in the depositing apparatus; to provide an improved automatic fluid material depositor that is of simple construction and which may be easily cleaned; and to provide an improved, automatic, continuously operating filling depositor for association with automatic pie-making machines.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved filling depositor in association with the plate conveyor of an automatic pie-making machine.

Fig. 2 is a side View, partly in section, of a depositor nozzle and the valving mechanism thereof, the view being taken as on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, as taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the depositor nozzle mechanism and valving means for the right side of the apparatus when viewed in the direction of conveyor travel.

Fig. 4 is a view, as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the valve plate for the first, or left hand, nozzle of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, as taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the second, or right hand, nozzle valve plate.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view, in elevation, of the depositor nozzle and valve mechanism at the lefthand side of Fig. 1, showing the relation of the valve plates and their operating means at the start of a depositing cycle.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the relation of all of the depositor nozzles and the receptacles to be filled at the start of a depositing cycle.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the depositing mechanism at the position where the first nozzle is closed and the second nozzle is opened.

Fig. 9 is a view like Fig. '7 showing the relation of the parts at the stage shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view like Fig. 6, but showing the left side depositing mechanism at the end of its stroke and depositing operation.

Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 7, showing the relation of the parts at the stage shown by Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view like Fig. 6, but showing the left side depositing mechanism as it approaches the end of its return stroke for the start of the next depositing cycle.

Fig. 13 is a view like Fig. 7 showing the relation of the parts at the stage shown by Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the first valve plate. as taken on line 14-44 of Fig. 4, showing the arrangement of its operating pins.

Fig. 15 is a similar view of the second valve plate, as taken on line l5-'-l5 of Fig. 5, showing the disposition of its operating pins.

Fig. 16 is a schematic view, on the order of Fig. 6, showing a valve and valve operating arrangement for a single nozzle depositor, the parts being shown in position for the start of a depositing cycle.

Fig. 17 is a view, on the order of Fig. 7, showing the relation of the single nozzle depositors and the respective receptacles at the start of a depositing cycle.

Fig. 18 is a view like Fig. 16 but showing the depositor nozzle and valve mechanism at the end of its depositing stroke.

Fig. 19 is a view like Fig. 17 showing the relation of the nozzles at the cycle stage shown in Fig. 18.

' Fig. 20 is a schematic view in elevation, showing the principal elements of a depositor system embodying twin nozzle depositors.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view of the same as taken on line 23-23 of Fig. 22. V

Fig. 24 is a bottom plan View of the nezzle car rier, as taken on line 2 i-2 ofFig. 23,'showmg the relation of the drive chain pick-up pins and the drive chains.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the drive chainandthe'f 'hdzzl le'can rier become engaged, the pick-up pin'mounting plate being shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the relation of the nozzle carrier andi'ts drive chains at the end of a stroke in one direcelm al dat the instant of piclf-upfor a strok'e'in theopposite direction. Fig. 2'7 is a similar view showing the parts midway'ofa stroke, and ""Fig. 28" is a similar view showing the parts in the position opposite that shown in Fig. 25; "Assho'wn, th'e irivention embodied in amechparticularly designed'for aseocia'tion with autorhatic pie'machi'rie' in which pie plates are carried proc ession ally, "along a' predetermined path, by a suitable endless conveyor having a; series oi plate holders which travel continuously, without interruption, along" the conveyor path;

The conveyor details are not shown, sin'c'e suitable constructions are well lmown in the art; "and in'thedrawines trie'b nv v. 2 i epreti'e ed i the individual carrier elements or section's i, which are mounted on a suitable endless conveyor chain, each of which carries a plate holder '2 adapted'to hold one or m re 'pig' laiesprp ns 3 In the form illustrated in lflig. 1, the'plate holders 2 arearran ed to carry 'four'pie plates which are of the fourinch or individual size, ar: ranged in a quadrangular group, and the'depQsitor mechanism is constlfufl ed d ol it a 123?:

determined quantity of filling material into each of the pie plates 3 as th'eymovealong the con: veyorpath. As shown; the depositor mechanism comprises four nozzles 5, 6, and .l, arran fid in p irs on opp sit i es f the cohvey 'r, and both pairs of nozzles are connected thrgiugh suitahle Y-fittings, 3 and?! respectively, to flexible con duits, H) and M respectively, which in turn lead to a pump 2 connected with a'supply source'or reservoir H; (see Fig. 20L Eachof theY-fit tings is rigidly mounted on a respective carriage, It, by means of a suitable bracket clamp l5,- and each carriage I4 is in'turn mounted on a drive mechanism, to be hereafter described, which moves the carriage reciprocatively along the. path of the conveyor travel, parallel therewitlii As shown, in Fig. 1, the individual nozzles of; each pair are spaced laterally from eachot'hr a distance equal to the spacing 'of the centers ofthe individual pie plates in each plate holder and each pair of nozzles supports and carries a rig' idly mounted valve plate Hi on which valve'discs iTand l8 are mounted for individually control: ling the respective nozzle openings or orifices. The several valve discs are individually operated by stationary valve operating means disposed alongthe path of nozzle movement and, in the arrangement' shown, a separate valve operating means for each pair of nozzles is employed, one on each side of the conveyor.

. tion 0 Each valve operating means comprises a plurality of trip members supported on a stationary frame consisting of a pair of spaced upright members IS and 29, suitably mounted on the conveyor structure, having arm portions which overhang the conveyor and a horizontal crossbar 21 which extends between the arm portions and is rigidly connected thereto. The trip members are disposed, along the path of the valve discs in posij fate'th 'at predetermined periods in each cy I procating nozzle movement, as will be hereinartr described.

Rl'eierri'ng to Figs. 2 and 3, which show the depolsltor mechanism at the right-hand side of jects from the carriage It toward and above the conveyor so that the depositor nozzles will be posr cr ed to discharge into the pie plates or receptacles as they are carried along by the conveyor. The valve plate It is mounted on the nozzles behind the nozzle openings and"carrie"s"a pair'oi 'tlibul'arbearing's 'ZZand 23 whichare rigidl mounted orrthe plate," one abo'v"each nozzle and axially 'parallel therewith. Eachbf' thevalve discs '1'? andl8 is mounted on the'en'd ofa respective shaft" Zifl'an'd 25andeacli ofthe'se shafts is rotatably journaled in a respctive'b'rie Of'the be'aringr mbers 22" and" 23"6ff suitable bushings 2E and" zrwmch have radially "flaii'g'ed ends" abutting the ends "orth'e respect ve bearing members. Thaw/awe; disc's extend-across the ends of the respective nozzles-79s indicatedin l' ZQa'nd' then-assure forward bushing 26' is designed tosp'ac the respetve valve disc from the end of'thd'be'aringa siiflicient distance'to provide 'a'tightfrict i he ear su e ddf he 0 a e som wh h ssive e' iih'i ima .o I .-.'..1 .X: a. I-"' l:.'.

shown, the eiis and, 25 exte d bey e rea ends 9 t eir s'siie' tii bearingmih e e a h can a1 enea emegtfof' fie "va ue.

d t? ari t e en 'c i he fqzz es i a a neldbr a] dcmpr ss on r s m u s. shaft a d bearin between he a ge e, bushing 2 ends Washer 29 held by a f it ,3? reade ont the'end offthe shaft, the nut 30 beingadjustable g ne hs shaf t ar he; en on n e T P u e gn a ic arly to e and 5. a W l be's'efenthat the valvediscs, ll and lg, are fiat; substantially semi-circular; nil tes' each havin a central portion, adapted to receive the. end "of the respective shaft, and a marginal portion adapted to overlie the end of a respective nozzle) the marginal portion being cut away for apart. of its angular length so as" to clear the nozzle and fully expose the nozzle opening. 'The'cut oii edge of the'niarginal portion or" each disc is also hell'- eled as at" 17.1 and 13.1 to provide a moreuniforni cutoff action during valving common? As shown, the valve discs are'oi opposite hand from each other, 'since'thgy rotate'in Opposite directions to open and closethe nozzle openings, and, as shown in Figs. l iand 15, each disc Pliovided with two operating pins, projecting normally from its face surfaces, for engagement with suitably located trip devices which, upon wed ement with the pins, cause the valve disc to turn. The left-hand disc 1?, which is the first of the two to operate, has its pins 3! and 32 axially aligned with each other, as shown in lfl,'and:

mounted above the axis of disc rotation. The right hand disc s, has its pins s; and 3; located at diametrically opposite positions on the disc with the upper pin 33 projecting rearwardly and the lower pin 34 projecting forwardly from the disc, the pins being on a substantially vertical diameter of the disc when the disc is in the closed position shown.

As indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the valve operating means comprises a plurality of trip devices located in the path of the nozzles and positioned to engage the operating pins projecting from the front and rear faces of the valve discs as the nozzles are moved by the carriage l4. Four trip devices or valve operating members are employed for each pair of nozzles, two of them being stationary elements 35 and 35 mounted on rods 31 and 38 which in turn are mounted on the overhanging arm portions of the upright members 9 and respectively. These trip members and 36 are in the nature of fixed stops and are located adjacent respective ends of the nozzle path in a position to engage the pins 3| and 34 projecting from the forward faces of the valve discs I! and The other pair of trip members are mounted on a support bar 39, which in turn is secured to the horizontal crossbar 2|, and are located at the middle portion of the path of nozzle travel in position to engage the rearwardly projecting pins 32 and 33 of the valve discs. The first of these last-mentioned trip members comprise a fixed vertically disposed element 43, rigidly mounted on the forward face of the support bar 39, and the second of these trip members comprises a pivoted element 4|, mounted on the support bar 39 so as to be swingable in a vertical plane or upright plane. These trip members 46 and 4| are spaced apart the proper distance to simultaneously engage the rearwardly projecting pins 32 and 33 on the respective valve discs as they are moved along the path of nozzle travel.

The trip members 43 and 4|, however, are arranged to function only while the nozzles are moving in one direction, as will hereafter be explained, and for that reason the second trip member 4| is mounted and arranged so that it will yield upon engagement with the valve disc pin 33 when the nozzles are moving in the opposite direction. For this purpose a stop pin 42 is fixed on the support bar 38 at the left-hand side of the trip member 4|, and above its pivot, so as to hold the trip member against movement in the first direction; and a spring 43, extending between vertical extensions of the two trip mem-- hers, is provided to normally hold the pivoted member 4| in vertical position.

It should nowbe understood. that, while the depositor nozzles reciprocate back and forth along the path of conveyor travel, the nozzles function to deposit material into receptacles carried by the conveyor only while moving in the same direction as the conveyor. And, since depositor nozzles are provided on each side of the conveyor, it should be understood that the several valve elements are operated successively to open and close the nozzles one after the other, in sequence. Thus, the two nozzles on one side of the conveyor operate one after the other, and then the nozzles on the opposite side of the conveyor operate one after the other.

The conveyor, which carries the receptacles, moves continuously at a constant speed past the depositor mechanism, and the nozzles must travel with and at the same speed as the conveyor, during a depositing operation, in order to maintain nozzle-receptacle registry. For this reason the two sets of depositor nozzles, on either side of veyor travel.

the machine, travel in opposite directions from each other during their reciprocating motion, so that when one set of nozzles is performing its depositing operation, while moving with the conveyor, the other set of nozzles is returning in the opposite direction to its starting position where it begins its depositing operation when the first set of nozzles reaches the end of its stroke.

Thus, in the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, wherein each pie plate holder 2 contains four pie plates, the depositing mechanism is constructed to provide one nozzle for each pie plate or receptacle, and the depositor nozzles function alternately to fill each receptacle in the order A, B, C and D, as indicated by the letters applied to the receptacles in Fig. 1. To accomplish this, the depositor mechanism on the left-hand side of the machine, which may be considered to be the first to operate, is located in advance of the depositor mechanism on the right-hand side of the machine so that the right-hand depositor nozzles will operate to fill the receptacles C and D successively, beginning at the time when the receptacle 13 becomes filled. In other words, the depositor mechanism on the right-hand side of the machine is so located, along the path of conveyor travel and relative to the mechanism on the left-hand side, that the nozzle 6 will be aligned with the receptacle C at the time the nozzle 5 finishes filling the receptacle B, and the nozzles 5 and i will then complete the filling of the receptacles C and D as they progress with the conveyor and while the depositor mechanism at the left-hand side of the machine, comprising the nozzles 4 and 5, is moving backwardly to pick up the next successive group of receptacles to be filled.

This operation of the depositor mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive, wherein Figs. 6, 8, 10 and 12 show the successive operation of the valves for the nozzles on the left hand side of the machine during one cycle of this movement, and wherein Figs. 7, 9, 11 and 13 illustrate the manner in which the quadrangularly grouped receptacles are filled successively by the two de positing components of the apparatus during the cycle of operation of the left hand nozzles. As shown in Fig. 6, the depositor mechanism has reached the end of its return stroke and is about to begin its movement in the direction of con- At this point the fixed stop 35 has engaged the valve disc pin 3| and hasrotated the valve disc I to a position wherein the nozzle 4 is fully opened, the nozzle 5 being completely closed by the valve disc IB. The relationship of the nozzles 4, 5, 6 and l at this point is shown in Fig. '7, wherein the nozzles 6 and l are at the end of their stroke in the direction of conveyor travel.

As the nozzles 4 and 5 begin moving with the conveyor, in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 7, the first receptacle A is being filled and the filling operation continues until the nozzles reach the position of the trip elements 43 and 4|, at which point the nozzle 5 is caused to close while simultaneously the nozzle 5 is caused to open through engagement of the respective trip elements with the valve disc pins Si and 32 which turn the discs counterclockwise until the pins pass beneath the lower ends of the trip elements. This point in the depositor cycle is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the nozzle 4 is completely closed and the nozzle 5 is completely o en, and in Fig. 9 wherein the receptacle A is filled and the receptacle B is being filled. Also, as shown in Fig. 9, the. depositor nozzles 5 and l have, at this point, traveledpart were Wa asis t h ir. sta t etitio the. r st ti Y anaemia m tt tr '1 h treasure s- Fig "10'; the deposito me at the end of its stroke 'in the on tl iave ya Wh QHpoint he valve? ffi fi t m eh n a nt 34pr6jecting irom"theiorwardiace or the disc [8 hascaused the disc 'lBtorotate 'clo' to closed position. l.t this period in the depos tior c l s shown in Fig. 11, the filling or, there'- ceptacleB has been completed and'the 6"a d l having reached their startin pcs is open and 'filling'ci' t e wherein thenozzle a; g pt ql C be un:

"The next operative position of the depositing mecha m i w i '2 W3 "117A sozn e are passing the trip members 53' and 4 on their return'stroke." The pin i, on the valveclisc 'll is in the same posit onwhen it left upon firstpassing the trip 53 ti 5 rl w s b neath t e s e e in of 'th e valve disc it, has hOViel/er, been elevated through clockwise rotation of the disc by the trip member 35 and has therefore engaged the p'ivq d trip m m er 4 nd swun t in a I1 wise direction against the action of the sp i 43, so that the pin 33 canfpass the trip 4 Withgu iurtherrotation of'the disc is in the closdirection. At this point in the cyclecf de-- positor operation, the'nojz zle l is in the prcc of. filling the receptacle D, the filling of rec ttw e. Qhavin b ento nn an t c 6. and 'l are proac n h n 'o t ir, t o in the direction of conveyor travel, while 1 19 21 4' and 5 areaoprfighinsthe end of eir.

rem'mstroke where the nozzle a will become a ned wi he fi st ne the ne t s qup' rece tac to be fi ed h jna no nt in't e mal 915 pos o or stat occ s h n t e ,ti t nsm che rea hes h o t S QWn nFJie. 5, whenthe valve pin 31, of the first "or leit hand de pos br; en a e by' h memb r 35. w;

r9tate the valve disc Hf clockwise t o'opened p0 sit ni or' e start of th next d pos cycle; t will now e t t. eac ieres to co npo ns 'oi th de s t n me han s s te ded' q mor lieci r g'a't v v lon t e path of he conate i t me! elation w th h qqn muqu lr o flQW at a q tant erasu e wi l r v nt the.

type; As shown in Fig. 20, where the" system is illustrated, a positive displacement um "o the'rotary. type s n cat by estumeral 12. The use of such a pump"ismade feasible by the arrangement o f-the depositor mechanism and the valve controlling means so that a constant area of discharge opening from the supply system through the'sever al nozzles is maintained at all times.

It will be understood, or course, that the rate or flow, or quantity or material to be discharged through the several nozzles, will vary according to the size of the receptacle to be filled and he speed at which the receptacles are carriedpast Such variation of the quantity of 'material discharged is'preierably contri jlld through adjustment of the speed of the' purnp I2, and such adjustment of the pump speed'wi'll also depend upon the nature of the material being handled as well as the time period "that each nozzle is open to deposit material into receptacles.

' each nozzle is open'for substantially the entire length of its stroke in thedirection "of conveyor travel. Thusfas shown in Fig. 21, the-left hand nozzle 44 is opened and 'moves in the direction of conveyor travel during its "filling operaticn,

I while the right hand nozzle 65 is closed and m'oves travelin re epta le that are c rr the .QQIt-i veygr a d at he sep ra deposit-9 tempo c nts nozzl rou s re wa m v ng in 912- pgs te dire t ns om ea h o rt will, also; be s n that t arran emen the al tra ibzzl sj 4; ft and o ate in me sequ n wit respec to ac ot er and with ies t he c nvevor rave Preferably this successive operation of the several nozzles is so timed that the total sum'oi the areas of actual nozzle opening at any instant, for all of the nozzles in the depositor system, will be constant, one nozzle always being closed at the same instant and at the same rate as the next successive nozzle is being opened. In this manner the rate of flow of fluid material through the supply system, leading to the nozzles, is always constant so that the pressure on the fluid material, on the pressure side of the supply systemfremains the'same throughout the entire time that the depositor mechanism is in operation.

in handling fluid material containing solid substances, such as whole fruit or largepieces l 51. 1 t h s bee f u t a a cpn' n at? through its return stroke. The valve mechanism in this case is arranged so that when the nozzle d4 reaches the end of its filling stroke and is being closed, the nozzle 45 is simultaneously reaching the end of its return stroke and 'is'being opened.

In the particular two-nozzle depositing mechanism shown in Fig. 21, each nozzle supplies only one-half of the'total quantity of filling 'that is to be deposited in each receptaclef'andthe nozzles must operate successively" to complete the" filling of the receptacle; This requires that the second nozzle to operate Ice-advanced along the conveyor, and with respect to the first nozzle;

. by adistance equivalent to one-half of the distan'ce between centers of the successive receptacles to be filled as they are spaced along th conveyor. This is illustrated in' Figs; 1'? and 19; where in Fig. 1'7 the first nozzle 44 is shown at the'beginning of its stroke in the direction of conveyor travel, while'the nozzle Q5 is shown at the end of its stroke in the directionbf'com veyor travel and at the instant of the beginning of its return stroke. Each nozzle moves through a distance equivalent to one-half of the spacing edie t' .that when the receptacle 46 is filled, the nozzle 44 will be aligned with the next successive receptacle 41, in the position shown in Fig. 17,.to begin the first half of the next filling operation.

The arrangement of the trip mechanism for operating the valve disc 48, for the nozzle 44, is illustrated in Figs. 16 and i8, and as shown .only two trip members 19 and are employed for each valve. In Fig. 16, the nozzle 44 is at its starting position, as in Fig. 17, at which point the trip element 49, through coaction with a pin 5| on the valve disc 48 has caused the valve disc to swing clockwise to the fully opened position where it remains until the nozzle "id reaches the end of its depositing stroke, or movement in the direction of conveyor travel, where the trip member 50, through engagement with a pin 52 on the valve disc, causes the valve'disc to swing counterclockwise to the closed positionindicated in Fig. 19. Since the nozzle on one side of the table reaches the end of its stroke in the forward direction at the same instant that the nozzle on the opposite side of the conveyor reaches the end of its stroke in the rearward or return direction, the valve means for the respective nozzles will be operated simultaneously and at the same rate, thereby maintaining a constant total area of nozzle opening during the entire cycle of operation.

The mechanism for maintaining continuous reciprocation of the nozzles on each side of the conveyor is illustrated'in Figs. 22 to 28 inclusive. Two of these devices are required, one for each side of the conveyor. However, the construction and operation of each is the same and, therefore, only one of the reciprocating mechanisms is illustrated in detail.

In the form shown, the carriage M on which the depositor nozzles are mounted, is arranged to be moved back and forth'along' apai'r of guide rails 53 and 54 rigidly mounted in a box-like frame 55, which may be directly attached to the conveyor structure, and the carriage is driven back and forth by means of a pair of chains 55 and 57, which travel in opposite directions, and which are arranged to engage the carriage l4 alternately at the end of its movement in each direction. V

The chains 56 and 51 are mounted'on longitudinally spaced sprockets 58, 59 and 60, 6| respectively, and are disposed parallel with each other with the respective sprockets in axial alignment. The sprockets 59 and GI are idler sprockets mounted for free rotation on a shaft 62, suitably supported in the box-like housing 55, and the sprockets 58 and 60 are driving sprockets, also mounted for free rotation on a common shaft 63, suitably supported in the housing 55. The driving sprockets 58 and 66 are driven-in opposite directions from each other by means of a countershaft 64, which extends through the housing 55 into the conveyor mechanism where power may be taken from the main conveyor drive shaft $5 by means of a suitably geared connection, such as th bevel gears 66 and 61.

' In order that the sprockets 58 and 60 may be turned in opposite directions, the sprocket .60 is directly geared to the shaft 64, through the gears 68 and 69 and the sprocket 53 is driven by a gear 10, secured directly to the sprocket hub, which in turn is driven through an idler gear H by means of a gear 12 secured to the shaft 64. In this manner, though the sprockets 58 and 60 are driven from a common power shaft, they will be turned in opposite directions.

All.

As indicated in Figs. 22 and 23, power from th shaft 6'4, which is driven directly from the conveyor mechanism, istransmitted across the conveyorto the reciprocating mechanism on the opposite side of the'conveyor by means of a cross shaft 13, which is driven by a gear l5 meshed with thegear 12 mounted on the shaft 5d. The reciprocating mechanism on th 'opposite' side of the conveyor is indicated in Fig. 22 by the numeral 75, and it will be understood that this reciprocating mechanism is constructed in a similar manner to that which is indicated in detail in Figs. 2

and 23. I

As b'efore-mentiOned the carriage drive chains 56 and 51 travel in opposite directions'and alternately engage the carriage l4 to cause it to reciprocate back and forth on the guide rails 53 and 54. The means for effecting engagement of the chains with the carriage comprises two pairs of spaced pins which project downwardly from the bottom side of the carriage so as to straddle a respective one of the drive chains, and each of the drive chains is provided with laterally projecting lugs or studs adapted to engage the carriage fingers and push the carriage in the direction of chain travel.

As shown in Figs. 23 and 25, each pair of carriage pins is and ii, is mounted on a base block it and 19 respectively, the base blocks being attached directly to the bottom of the carriage Id at appropriate locations that will be hereafter described, and the lugs 86 and 8|, which project laterally from the sides of respective chains 56 and 51, engage the carriage pins adjacent their lower ends.

sive, the lugs projecting from the sides of each chain function as pusher members, which, upon engagement with the respective pins projecting downwardly from the carriage l4, serve to push the carriage along the rails 53 and 54 in the direction of the respective chain travel, pushing action continuin until the chain links carrying the lugs turn over the sprocket toward which the carriage is being moved and thereby drop downwardly below the ends of the carrying. pins so as to become disengaged therefrom. At that point th lugs on the oppositely moving chain engage the respective carriage pins which straddle that chain, and push the carriage along the rails 53 and 54 in the reverse direction. The carriage is then driven inthat direction until the lugs on the engaged driving chain drop away from the carriage pins, upon turning over the sprocket toward which they are moving, at which point another pair of lugs on thefirst chain engages .the respective carriage. pins and again reverses the direction of movement of the carriage.

In order to accomplish this reciprocating drive 'of the carriage, each drive chain is provided with two sets of pusher lugs equally spaced from each other along the pitch-line length of the chain, and the total length of the chain is such that in one complete revolution of the chain, the carriage will be moved through two strokes in the same direction.

Thus, in the particular-arrangement shown, the total length of the chain is four times the length of the carriage stroke in either direction. The reason for this arrangement is that since the pusher lugs 'onthe chain disengage from the respective carriage pins by dropping downwardly as the chain passes around a sprocket, it is preferable to have the pusher lugs on the chain mov- 2 35? ewm iied rec e into a nearest the direction in which D e t ehe gi h "1"! ment with the respective carriage pins while moving along a straight line path in order to provide certainty of engagement and uniformity of lineal speed. 'The respective carriage pins are, therefore, located adjacent the end of the carriage i the carriage is driven by the respective chains. Thus, as shown thing. 22, the carriage pins 16, which straddle the drive chain 56 which moves the carriage to the left, are located adjacent the left hand end of the carriage l4} and'the carriage pinsll, which straddle the'drive chain'fl which moves the carriage to the right, are located adjacent the right hand end ofthe carriage.

T e relationship of the drive chains 55 and 51 to hath othe and the re i h hi h pusher lugs 8i? and must, therefore, be carefully predetermined and maintained at all times so that the pusher lugs of chain will'drop out of engagement with the respective carriage pinsIasthe chain turns over a sprocket, just WW U W "t of the pusher lugs of the oppositely movingchain" with their respective carriag pins. Also, in order to effect precise-timing for carriage pins, the blocks Ia and 19, which carry the carriage pins TE and H, are mounted on the bottof of 'the carriage'in such a manner that they maybe adjusted lengthwise of the carriage,

at the right hand end of the carriage, as the chain'fi'i is passing aroundth'e sprocket 6|. At that point the pusher lugs 80 on the chain 56 comeinto engagement with the pins 15, ad? jacent the left hand end of the carriage, and the carriage is immediately startedin its'movement in the'left hand direction. At this moment, as shown'inFig. 26, a pair'of pusher lugs 81.! on the chain '51 are justpassing over'the left hand sprocket 6B, and the lugs '80.! on the chain 55 are substantially opposite the pusher lugs 80,

Fig. .27 shows the position of the carriage l5 midway of its stroke in the left hand direction toward the sprockets 5B and'fill. At this point it will be seen that the push lugs 31 have passed over the sprocket BI and are passing along the bottom run of the chain f5? while the second pair of pusherlugs 811 are moving over theupper run of the chain 21 toward the pusher pins 11.

Fig.28 shows the carriage [4 at the end ofits stroke in the lefthand direction underthe influence of the chain 56 at which point the pusher lugs 80 have dropped away from the carriagepins 16, as the chain passes over the sprocket-58, and the second set of pusher lugs '8I.l onthejchain 5'! have just'come into engagement with'the carriage pins ll to begin movement of the carriage i h ht hand. ir c on: I

From these views it will 'be seen that, with the chains 56 and51 moving continuously opposite directions, and by means ofthe pusher lugs ear ried by the chains, the carriage is causedto ree ciprocate continuously back and iorth along the straight line path which, as shown in l ig, l,is parallel with the path of conveyor travel.

As-before-mentioned and as indicated in Figs.

the engagement of the pnsher'lugs with the the 'mountinof the blocks being by means of 1y adaii ab eiror dero 22 nd 2. the c i e I 9P 7%ip p q r ah i o e t ti th," he th a n hhveyor drive shaft and it will beunderstood' that, since the carriage must travel at substantially the same speed as the conveyor in order to keep the depositor nozzles aligned'with the receptacles during th depositing operation, both of the carriage drive chains 56, 51 must also travel at substantially the same lineal speed as the conveyor. T 5 1 9 3 1 in Q fi h t $1 ?e make a return stroke, in its reciprocatory move ment, during the same time period required for a t ok h d ec on of n e o tra e In h pe a on o t e here n d be epositor mechanism, the conveyor and-the nozzle i p m m chan ms 3!? first? P nt? 1 39' tion and brought up to operating speed loefore the pump 12 of he fl d ma eri l Su l s stem is started. Then, the conveyor having been provided with suitable receptacles, the supply 'system for the material to be deposited in the Theceptacles is started; Since the movement or; the nozzles along the path of conveyor travel is timed to coincide with the locations of the receptacles on the conveyor, it is immaterial as to which nozzle begins a depositing operation; and because the nozzles operate successively, and in precisely timed sequence, the operation or fillm e e tac s wi he' hnti u hs 1 9 lon as the mechanism continues to It will'be understood, of course,that thereciprocating mechanisms, on both sides of the conveyor, operate in precisely timed relation with each other'so that as the depositor'nozzles on one e the hhnveyhr' are i hv h n esirection of conveyor travel and operating to de- PQ T ma e i p the P tsa s on th 9 V YQL h de e h z e ehism 9 t other 5 th onve o is m k n a. r urn strhke in the direction opposite the Conveyor travel in order to' loecome aligned with the receptacle or r c t l s wh it i to l the mo en tha the fi t dehhsit me hanism omp e e i Q1 h a hh Thu the q tqrs un erh te ri firs n she hfithe hv a d n an the ther sh ht' h d p s n e ation i continuous and is accomplished without any int fl l ti w atsoe er n h? QY m i 1 P13 9 19 ad ta es O h nven io i e hi t e r eh em ht and rh hh hf sie- Q itQ ma Whfitfip 9 1 13 Omati'Q fill ng .Q serial y p o ress n conta e s o reh ht hl i hh mhhhhsh W thhh i rmittent op ratio o th rec ptac e conve n i t swarm; hi ehhh hth w er ha e it o hu nie s hh he andled w th thhi bee ns hmk or h hhh 'O e hd ahtases are to be found in that th apparatus is particular-e red erm hedeuahtiti s b i h meter .1 ma h f h a y m and. he ee; h need eh ti hhl and receptacles which are '13 handled may be quickly and easily dismantled for cleaning and thereby maintained in sanitary condition at all times.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A depositor for fluid substances comprising a pair of nozzles mounted for movement along a predetermined path, a continuously moving conveyor extending along said path and adapt- 7 ed to carry a series of uniformly spaced receptacles, said nozzles being disposed one on each side of said conveyor and positioned to discharge into receptacles carried thereby, means adapted ,to reciprocate said nozzles along said path in respectively opposite directions and in timed relapredetermined path, a continuously moving conveyor extending along said path and adapted to carry a series of uniformly spaced receptacles, said nozzles being disposed one on each side of said conveyor and positioned to discharge into receptacles carried thereby, means adapted to reciprocate said nozzles along said ath in respectively opposite directions and in timed relation with the movement of said conveyor, valve means adapted to open and close said nozzles individually, valve operating means adapted to operate said valve means sequentially in timed relation with the movement of said nozzles to maintain the sum of the opening areas of said nozzles substantially constant, and conduit means connecting said nozzles with a common nozzles in respectively opposite directions, a valve means adapted to control the discharge from each nozzle, valve operating means adapted to actuate said valve means alternately and in timed relation with each other, and conduit means connecting each nozzle with a source of fluid substance supply.

4. A depositor for fluid substances comprising a conveyor adapted to carry a continuous series of uniformly spaced receptacles along a predetermined path, a depositor nozzle mounted on each side of said conveyor and adapted to discharge into receptacles carried thereby, carriage means on each side of said conveyor adapted to move said nozzle reciprocatively along said conveyor path in timed relation with said conveyor,

said carriage means being correlated to move said nozzles in respectively opposite directions, a valve means adapted to control the discharge 14 from each nozzle, valve operating means mounted along the path of each of said nozzles adapted to actuate said valve means alternately and in timed relation with each other, and conduit means connecting each nozzle with a source of fluid substance supply.

5. A depositor for fluid substances comprising a conveyor moving continuously and adapted to carry a continuous series of uniformly spaced receptacles along a predetermined'path, a depositor nozzle mounted on each side of said conveyor and adapted to discharge into receptacles carried thereby, carriage means on each side of said conveyor adapted to move each nozzle reciprocatively along said conveyor path in timed relation with said conveyor and the receptacles carried thereby, said carriage means being correlated to move said nozzles in respectively opposite directions in continuous cycles of reciprocation travel, a valve means adapted to control the discharge from each nozzle, valve operating means adapted to actuate said valve means alternately and in timed relation with each other, and conduit means connecting each nozzle with a source of fluid substance supply:

6. An automatic depositor for fluid materials comprising a continuously moving conveyor having means to hold receptacles in uniformly'spaced relation, a carrier mounted on each side of'said conveyor and adapted to move reciprocatively along said conveyor path, drive-means adapted to reciprocate the carriers continuously in respectively opposite directions and in timed relation with the continuous movement of said conveyor, a plurality of nozzles mounted on each of said carriers and disposed to discharge into respective receptacles carried on said conveyor, valve means adapted to control the discharge from said nozzles selectively, valve operating means adapted to open and close said nozzles sequentially and in timed relation with each other, and conduit means' connecting said nozzles to a source of fluid material supply.

7. An automatic depositor for fluid materials comprising a continuously moving conveyor hav-- ing means to hold receptacles in uniformly spaced relation, a carrier mounted on each side of said conveyor and adapted to move reciprocatively along said conveyor path, drive means adapted to reciprocate the carriers continuously in respectively opposite directions and in timed relation with the continuous movement of said conveyor, a plurality of nozzles mounted on each of said carriers and disposed to discharge into respective receptacles carried on said conveyor, valve means adapted to control the discharge from said nozzles selectively, valve operating means adapted to open and close said nozzles sequentially and in timed relation with each other, and conduit means connecting said nozzles to a common source of fluid material supply, said valve operating means being related to the movement of said carriers to correlate the sequential opening and closing of said nozzles and maintain the total opened area of all said nozzles constant at all times.

8. An automatic depositor for fluid materials comprising a continuously moving conveyor having means to hold receptacles in uniformly spaced relation, a nozzle movably mounted at each side of said conveyor and adapted to discharge into receptacles carried on said conveyor, each nozzle having a connection with a source of fluid material supply, drive means adapted to move said nozzles reciprocatively along the path o; said conveyor in respectively opposite directions and in timed relation with the movement at said conveyor, a valve for controlling each of said nozzles and adapted to open and close the same, and valve operating means mounted along the path of said nozzles and adapted to actuate said valves to open and close the respective nozzles at predetermined periods in each cycle at eeiprocating movement thereof.

An automatic depositor for fluid materials comprising a continuously moving conveyor having means to hold receptacles in uniformly spaced relation, a nozzle movably mounted at each side oi said conveyor and adapted to discharge into receptacles carried on said conveyor, each nozzle having a connection with a common saurce of fluid material supply, drive means adapted to move said nozzles reciprocatively along the 'path of said conveyor in respectively opposite directions, and in timed relation with the movement of said conveyor, a valve mounted .oneach oi said nozzles and adapted to open and close the same, and valve operating means mounted along the path of said nozzles and adapted to actuate said valves to open and close the. respective nozzles at, predetermined periods i a h cycle of reciprocating movement thereof, said valve, operating means. being disposed to open one. nozzle while closin the other to maintain the, total sum of the, opened areas of said nozzles constamatall t m s 10., automatic depositor for fluid materials comprising; a conti uously movingconveyor having means to hold receptacles in uniformly spaced relatipn a plurality of nozzles movably mounted at, each side. of said conveyor and to discharge into respective receptacles carried on Said conveyor, eachoi said nozzles, having; a connection with a source of fluid material supply andthenozzles at each side of said conveyor being mounted. for movement in unison, drive means, adapted to move the nozzle at each side of said conveyor in. unison reciprocatively along; the path of said.- conveyorand intimed relation with; speed thereof, the nozzles; at each of; said, conveyor being connected: to, said: drive means. for movement in: respectively: opposite direction. in; continuous cycles of, reciprocative travel, avalve for controlling each nozzle and adapted; to, open and close the same, and valve operating means mounted, along the path, of ncr m nt 1. aid, nozzles,- and: adaptedato; actuate '16 said valves to open and close said nozzles sequentially as they move along the path of said conveyor.

11. An automatic depositor .for fluid materials comprising a continuously moving conveyor having means to hold receptacles in uniformly spaced relation, a plurality of nozzles movably mounted at each side of said conveyor and adapted to discharge into respective receptacles carried on said conveyor, each of said nozzles having a connection with a common source offluid material supply and the nozzles at each side of said conveyor being mounted for movement in unison, drive means adapted to move the nozzles at each side of said conveyor in unison reciprocatively along the path of said conveyor and in timed relation with speed thereof, the nozzles at each side of said conveyor being connected to said drive means for movement in respectively opposite directions in continuous cycles of reciprocative travel, a valve for controlling eachnozzle and adapted to open and close the same, and valve operating means mountedalong the path of movement of said nozzles and adapted to actuate said: valves to open and close said nozzles sequentially as they move along the path of said conveyor, said valveoperating means being disposed to open one nozzle while closing another and to maintain a constant total area of discharge opening at all times.

MARI-0N0. JAE-N.

WALTER E. SHAPCO'TT.

DENNIS W. SMITH.

References Cited inthe file of this patent,

UNITED STATES: PATENTS- riuzia'cer Name Date 1,223,293 Rose Apr. 17, 1-91? 1345-1512- Kellogg Apr. 10}, 1923 1,992,464 Blackman Feb. 26, 1-935 1,995,918 De Markus Mar. 26, 1935 2,082,567 Bleam June 1, 1987 2,239,385 Harder Apr. 22-, 1941 2,315,932 Burt et a1. Apr. 6, 1943 2,530,755 Bingham' Nov. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date:

155,395. Great Britain Sept; 2U,.1-91I9 711,405 Germany Oct. 1 194 1

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