CUP FILLING APPARATUS
United States Patent 3566929
Cup-filling apparatus embodying a tray having a flat bottom wall and upstanding sidewalls. A plurality of spaced apart openings in the bottom wall are surrounded by downwardly and inwardly extending continuous flanges which engage upper inner surfaces of subjacent cuplike members to define a continuous seal therewith. A second tray having openings therein and downwardly and inwardly extending flanges in vertical alignment with the openings and flanges in the first-mentioned tray is mounted beneath the first mentioned tray with upper edges of the cuplike members clamped therebetween.
US Patent References:
Cup-filling device
Menninger et al. - January 1931 - 1790626
Apparatus for the manufacture of frozen confections
Schranck - May 1933 - 1912352
Slab filler
Krein - January 1936 - 2027830
Multiple filling grid
Levine - August 1954 - 2685395
Handy freezer box or bag filler
Davison - September 1954 - 2688429
Cup-filling device
Menninger et al. - January 1931 - 1790626
Apparatus for the manufacture of frozen confections
Schranck - May 1933 - 1912352
Slab filler
Krein - January 1936 - 2027830
Multiple filling grid
Levine - August 1954 - 2685395
Handy freezer box or bag filler
Davison - September 1954 - 2688429
Application Number:
04/749520
Publication Date:
03/02/1971
Filing Date:
08/01/1968
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
141/247
International Classes:
B65B39/06; B65B39/00; B65B3/04
Field of Search:
53/390,392 141/234,237--241,247,363--366,390,391,316 248/(Inquired)
Primary Examiner:
Geiger, Laverne D.
Assistant Examiner:
Earls, Edward J.
Claims:
1. Apparatus for filling cuplike members having outwardly and upwardly extending upper edges comprising
2. Apparatus for filling cuplike members as defined in claim 1 in which said second tray is provided with upstanding sidewalls disposed to extend parallel to said upstanding sidewalls of said first-mentioned tray.
2. Apparatus for filling cuplike members as defined in claim 1 in which said second tray is provided with upstanding sidewalls disposed to extend parallel to said upstanding sidewalls of said first-mentioned tray.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cup-filling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for filling cuplike members with food products such as mustard, butter, ketchup, salad dressings, preserves and the like, as well as ice and ice cream products.
Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in filling cuplike members with food products due to the fact that it has been the usual practice to fill the individual cups separately by hand. This not only requires considerable time and labor but the cups are not filled uniformly and much of the materials get onto the sides of the cup during the filling operation.
Cup-filling apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmental, plan viewshowing a plurality of cups mounted in place for filling;
FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing the lowermost tray in its lower position in dotted lines.
Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show an upper tray 10 having a flat bottom wall 11 and upstanding sidewalls 12 which extend all around the tray 10 to prevent spillage of materials from the tray. A plurality of spaced apart openings 13 are provided in the bottom wall 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Surrounding each opening 13 is a downwardly and inwardly extending, continuous flange 14 which is adapted to engage the inner surface of a subjacent cuplike member 16 adjacent the upper end thereof, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. That is, the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 extend inwardly of the upper end of the cups 16 and engage the inner surface of the cups, as shown, to define a continuous seal between the flange 14 and the upper, inner surface of the cuplike member 16.
A second tray 10a is mounted beneath the tray 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lower tray 10a is provided with a flat bottom wall 11a which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings 13a which are in vertical alignment with the openings 13 in the uppermost tray 10. The bottom wall 11a is provided with downwardly and inwardly extending, continuous flanges 14a which surround the openings 13a and the cuplike member 16, as shown in FIG. 1. That is, each downwardly and inwardly extending flange 14a is opposite and subjacent a downwardly and inwardly extending flange 14 so that the upper edge of the cuplike member 16 is clamped between the flanges 14 and 14a upon raising the lowermost tray 10a from the dotted line position to the solid line position shown in FIG. 1. The lowermost tray 10a is also provided with upstanding sidewalls 12a which extend generally parallel to the upstanding sidewalls 12 of the uppermost tray 10, as shown in FIG. 3. The upper edges of the upstanding sidewalls 12 and 12a are preferably rolled as at 17 and 17a, respectively, to add rigidity to the tray and at the same time provide means for handling the tray.
From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus for filling cuplike members will be readily understood. The cups 16 are inserted in the openings 13a with the tray 10a in the dotted line position. With the cups thus positioned in the openings 13a, the lower tray 10a is moved from the dotted line position to the solid line position whereby the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14a engage the outer surfaces of the cups 16 adjacent the upper ends thereof. The uppermost tray 10 is then positioned on top of the lowermost tray whereby the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 move inwardly of the cups 16, as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, by positioning the tray 10 on top of the tray 10a whereby the uppermost tray is supported by the lower tray 10a, the upper edges of the cups 16 are clamped between the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 and 14a. The engagement of the flange 14 with the inner surface of the cups 16 forms a continuous seal to prevent spillage of any of the materials over the sides of the cups. With the trays 10 and 10a thus assembled, the filling material is introduced into the uppermost tray 10 and then racked by a paddle or suitable device into the openings 13 whereupon the filling material fills all of the cups 16. After the cups 16 have been filled, the uppermost tray 10 is lifted whereupon the filled cups 16 are supported within the annular flanges 13a carried by the lower tray 10a. To remove the cups 16 from the lower tray 10a, the tray is moved to the lower, dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 whereby the cups 16 may be easily removed. If it is desired to transfer the entire group of filled cups to another location, the lowermost tray 10a is merely lifted from the dotted line position to the solid line position whereby the lowermost tray serves as a holder or carrier for the cups.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised improved means for filling cuplike members. By providing a continuous seal between the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 and the inner surfaces of the cups, there is no spillage of materials outwardly of the cups and at the same time upon lifting the uppermost tray, the flange 14 moves upwardly to round off the upper surface of the material introduced into the cup whereby there is no subsequent spillage. Furthermore, by clamping the upper edge of the cups 16 between the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 and 14a, there is no relative movement between the cups and the flanges 14 during the filling operation, thus further assuring proper filling of the cups without spillage.
While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
This invention relates to cup-filling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for filling cuplike members with food products such as mustard, butter, ketchup, salad dressings, preserves and the like, as well as ice and ice cream products.
Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in filling cuplike members with food products due to the fact that it has been the usual practice to fill the individual cups separately by hand. This not only requires considerable time and labor but the cups are not filled uniformly and much of the materials get onto the sides of the cup during the filling operation.
Cup-filling apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmental, plan viewshowing a plurality of cups mounted in place for filling;
FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing the lowermost tray in its lower position in dotted lines.
Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show an upper tray 10 having a flat bottom wall 11 and upstanding sidewalls 12 which extend all around the tray 10 to prevent spillage of materials from the tray. A plurality of spaced apart openings 13 are provided in the bottom wall 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Surrounding each opening 13 is a downwardly and inwardly extending, continuous flange 14 which is adapted to engage the inner surface of a subjacent cuplike member 16 adjacent the upper end thereof, as clearly shown in FIG. 3. That is, the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 extend inwardly of the upper end of the cups 16 and engage the inner surface of the cups, as shown, to define a continuous seal between the flange 14 and the upper, inner surface of the cuplike member 16.
A second tray 10a is mounted beneath the tray 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lower tray 10a is provided with a flat bottom wall 11a which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings 13a which are in vertical alignment with the openings 13 in the uppermost tray 10. The bottom wall 11a is provided with downwardly and inwardly extending, continuous flanges 14a which surround the openings 13a and the cuplike member 16, as shown in FIG. 1. That is, each downwardly and inwardly extending flange 14a is opposite and subjacent a downwardly and inwardly extending flange 14 so that the upper edge of the cuplike member 16 is clamped between the flanges 14 and 14a upon raising the lowermost tray 10a from the dotted line position to the solid line position shown in FIG. 1. The lowermost tray 10a is also provided with upstanding sidewalls 12a which extend generally parallel to the upstanding sidewalls 12 of the uppermost tray 10, as shown in FIG. 3. The upper edges of the upstanding sidewalls 12 and 12a are preferably rolled as at 17 and 17a, respectively, to add rigidity to the tray and at the same time provide means for handling the tray.
From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved apparatus for filling cuplike members will be readily understood. The cups 16 are inserted in the openings 13a with the tray 10a in the dotted line position. With the cups thus positioned in the openings 13a, the lower tray 10a is moved from the dotted line position to the solid line position whereby the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14a engage the outer surfaces of the cups 16 adjacent the upper ends thereof. The uppermost tray 10 is then positioned on top of the lowermost tray whereby the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 move inwardly of the cups 16, as shown in FIG. 3. Accordingly, by positioning the tray 10 on top of the tray 10a whereby the uppermost tray is supported by the lower tray 10a, the upper edges of the cups 16 are clamped between the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 and 14a. The engagement of the flange 14 with the inner surface of the cups 16 forms a continuous seal to prevent spillage of any of the materials over the sides of the cups. With the trays 10 and 10a thus assembled, the filling material is introduced into the uppermost tray 10 and then racked by a paddle or suitable device into the openings 13 whereupon the filling material fills all of the cups 16. After the cups 16 have been filled, the uppermost tray 10 is lifted whereupon the filled cups 16 are supported within the annular flanges 13a carried by the lower tray 10a. To remove the cups 16 from the lower tray 10a, the tray is moved to the lower, dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 whereby the cups 16 may be easily removed. If it is desired to transfer the entire group of filled cups to another location, the lowermost tray 10a is merely lifted from the dotted line position to the solid line position whereby the lowermost tray serves as a holder or carrier for the cups.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised improved means for filling cuplike members. By providing a continuous seal between the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 and the inner surfaces of the cups, there is no spillage of materials outwardly of the cups and at the same time upon lifting the uppermost tray, the flange 14 moves upwardly to round off the upper surface of the material introduced into the cup whereby there is no subsequent spillage. Furthermore, by clamping the upper edge of the cups 16 between the downwardly and inwardly extending flanges 14 and 14a, there is no relative movement between the cups and the flanges 14 during the filling operation, thus further assuring proper filling of the cups without spillage.
While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.