05/223646

12/31/1974

02/04/1972

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Barr-Stalfort Company, Division Pittway Corporation (Niles, IL)

141/3

141/129, 141/165, 74/37, 141/388, 141/177, 141/186

B65B3/32; B65B39/14; B65B43/52; B65B3/00; B65B39/00; B65B43/42; B65B3/04

74/37 198/162 141/1,129,135,137,165,168,177,181,186,250,387,388,152,3

3108682	Glass jar grippers	October 1963	Zipper
3162219	Dispensing mechanism	December 1964	Johnson et al.

Bell Jr., Houston S.

Gorenstein, Charles

Merriam, Marshall, Shapiro & Klose

What is claimed is

1. An apparatus for fluid filling of containers traveling in a linear path and at a continuous motion, said apparatus comprising:

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means for adjusting said container support means whereby containers of different sizes can be passed through said apparatus.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including means for adjusting the vertical location of said dancer beam assembly means relative to said container conveying means whereby containers of different heights can be passed through said apparatus.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including metering pump means for metering the amount of fluid to be filled in a container passing through said apparatus.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said metering pump means are connected to said filling means on said first and second walking beam assembly means.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further including a second walking beam assembly means attached to said dancer beam assembly means including drive means for walking beam assembly means whereby said second walking beam assembly means is adapted to move in an orbital path, a portion of said path being linear and in vertical alignment with the linear path of said containers; and,

7. An apparatus for fluid filling of container traveling in a linear path and at a constant speed, said apparatus comprising:

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 further including means for adjusting said container support means whereby containers of different sizes can be passed through said apparatus.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 further including means for adjusting the vertical location of said dancer beam assembly means relative to said container conveying means whereby containers of different heights can be passed through said apparatus.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and further including metering pump means associated with said filling means on each of said walking beam assemblies for metering the fluid fill to containers to be filled.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said metering pump means includes a cylindrical piston member;

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said container supporting means comprise a first endless chain means located on one side of said container conveyor means;

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said disc means are located above said container conveyor means whereby said disc means will normally contact a container side wall.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 and further including means for moving said first and second endless chain means relative to each other whereby the space between said first and second endless chain means can be adjusted to permit containers of different sizes to be passed through said apparatus.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said filling means on each of said walking beam assembly means includes at least one filling head adapted to contact and fill a container.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15 wherein each of said walking beam assembly means includes a walking beam having a plurality of filling heads spaced along the length of said walking beam.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said filling heads are evenly spaced along the length of said walking beams.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said dancer beam assembly means is biased in a normally upward position.

19. An apparatus in accordance with claim 18 wherein said dancer beam assembly means further included a dancer beam which extends along substantially the length of said apparatus, said dancer beam being positioned over and in substantial alignment with said container conveyor means;

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 and further including a vacuum means associated with said filling means for drawing a vacuum on containers when containers pass through said apparatus.

21. The method of fluid filling containers according to the steps of:

22. The method of filling containers in accordance with claim 21 and further including the step of moving said filling means following a filling operation to return to its normal position.

23. The method of filling containers in accordance with the method of claim 22 and further including the step of metering the amount of fluid to be put into a container in the course of a filling operation.

24. The method of fluid filling containers according to claim 21 and further including the step of raising said filling means relative to said containers following a filling operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus for filling open and/or closed containers such as cans and bottles. The apparatus is equally adaptable to liquid filling of open containers and the filling of closed pressurized aerosol type containers having a filling opening or valve. The machine can fill compressed gases such as N ₂ O and CO ₂ or emulsified products saturated with such compressed gases.

In aerosol container filling, wherein powder, gaseous and/or liquid products are pressure packaged with a liquified or compressed gas propellant, three different methods are presently employed for filling the assorted containers and packaging the different types of products.

One is termed the "cold fill" method of filling. The product and liquified propellant are individually refrigerated prior to their introduction into an open container. This refrigeration lowers the propellant vapor pressure so that it can be handled in the liquid state. This delays liquid to vapor transition of the propellant for a period sufficient to permit insertion and crimping of a valve assembly in the container to effect closure of the can. The cold fill method is not satisfactory for some products due to the product formulation. For example, water base products freeze in the refrigeration step of the filling operation. Additionally, it has been found that some propellant is wasted in this type of filling operation in that some propellant will vaporize and escape from the container before closure of the container can be completed.

A second method employed for filling aerosol type containers is commonly referred to as the "under cap" method. In this operation, the product (at room temperature) is initially introduced into the container by a conventional liquid product filling machine and a valve is loosely inserted into the can. Generally a vacuum is then drawn on the container after which a liquid propellant is injected therein at high pressure (e.g., approximately 750 psig). Subsequently, the valve cup is crimped to the container by means of an internally expanding collet. However, in the time between the injection of the propellant into the container and the subsequent crimping operation, a portion of the liquid propellant is trapped between dual seals contacting the container and valve cup and around the curl of the can opening and valve cup over-lip. This propellant is lost in the filling operation. The loss of propellant for a single can is in excess of 5 grams. This loss becomes quite significant in production line operations where many hundreds of containers are being filled with fluorocarbon propellant by the "under cap" method.

The under cap method while relatively high speed has inherent losses due to trapped volume between the dual seals. Attempts to reclaim these losses through scavenging systems have been largely unsuccessful. The reclaim systems are often ponderous in design and fail to recover all propellant losses. The net effect is an expensive system which recovers only a portion of the loss.

A third method employed for filling aerosol containers is known as "pressure filling." In this operation the product is put into a container at room temperature, after which a valve assembly is inserted, a vacuum may be drawn, and the valve crimped. A propellant injector machine is then mated with the valve pedestal and propellant is supplied at high pressure and forced into the container through the valve assembly. The primary advantage of the pressure-fill method is a reduced loss of propellant as compared to either of the previously described methods of filling.

Presently, there are several methods employed for pressure filling containers. One system utilizes apparatus wherein a container to be filled is moved with intermittent motion under stationary filling heads. An alternate system moves containers in a circuitous path through a rotary filling operation. Certain disadvantages are attendant with each system. Initially, production rates of intermittent motion type systems are limited by the dynamics of can handling. Moreover the filling cost associated with this particular method of filling is quite high.

Where the pressure filling method is employed such systems have generally utilized rotary fillers. The use of timing screws feeding a star wheel positioning cans under a plurality of circularly rotating filling head takes the container through a circuitous path. This necessitates very accurate radial and circumferential positioning of the containers.

An added disadvantage inherent with equipment now available for either system is the "down-time" incurred in converting the system to fill different sizes of containers.

What is desired is a high-speed filling system with low propellant losses, which can quickly be converted to accept a full range of commonly used aerosol containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to a filling apparatus and method which serve to obviate the disadvantages which are associated with many of the systems and apparatus presently available. In the filling apparatus and method of the present invention, containers travel with continuous motion and in a linear path synchronous with a portion of the orbital path of filling head stations wherein one or more containers are filled.

In liquid filling, the nozzle of a filling head is positioned over or inserted into the container opening. In the pressure fill method, a head contacts the closed container and seals to the container leaving the valve stem and the immediate area exposed to the pressure system.

Discharge of the dispensed medium can be controlled by either of two methods, a poppet type valve and/or pressure relief type valve acting in conjunction with a metering pump.

The apparatus of the present invention is designed to readily accommodate containers of different heights, diameters and shapes with a minimum conversion time required to change from one container size (diameter and/or height) to another.

The rate of production achieved with the filling apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is increased substantially as compared to production rates procured with filling apparatus presently available. Moreover, the utilization of a pressure operated positive displacement metering system delivers an accurate volume independent of viscosity, constant speed of the containers. In addition to moving the containers to be filled in a straight or linear path as contrasted with intermittent motion or the circuitous route of containers filled by a rotary pressure filler apparatus. The present system permits a substantial reduction of parts in the filling apparatus.

Additionally, whereas in conventional systems a separate unit is employed for putting the product into a container and another different type of unit is employed for injecting propellant into the container, the filling apparatus of the present invention can be readily adapted to fill either the product or propellant into a container. As a consequence, the adjustable filling apparatus of the present invention with its continuous motion, linear path, container movement, is readily available in a production run to fill either product or propellant. This is quite advantageous because unlike conventional units where the product fill station and propellant fill station, each comprise substantially different units; the present system utilizes the same apparatus at the propellant and product fill stations, requiring only a change of the filler head units. Utilizing the filling head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,741 multiple operations are sequentially performed in addition to gassing. The container is evacuated using a vacuum system. The valve is then simultaneously crimped and gassed.

Other features and advantages are inherent in the subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, including the accompanying illustrative drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the aerosol container filling apparatus of the present invention with the aPparatus being shown in a container filling position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the aerosol container filling apparatus showing the drive means, piston pump metering means and vacuum means of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1 and shows the drive means for the walking beam assemblies of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1 and shows the container transporting, roller conveyor means and container support conveyor means;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 4 and shows the can or container transporting roller conveyor means of the present invention adjusted for the passage of containers through the filling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of one of the two duplicate cam means associated with filling containers which pass through said apparatus, with the cam means of FIG. 6 being shown in a non-fill position;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 2 and shows one of the two cam actuated valve means of the present invention for allowing fluid to pass to the fluid metering pumps of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7 and along line 8--8 in FIG. 10 showing an enlarged section of one of the adjustable fluid metering piston pumps of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the fluid flow means from the cam actuated valve means through the fluid metering pump of the present invention to a container passing through the filling machine of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an end view of a pair of fluid metering pumps of the present invention and more particularly the piston rod, minute incremental fluid metering adjustment gauges and clamping means for retaining a pair of adjustable pump piston rods;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a metering bar used in association with the piston rod means for providing major incremental fluid metering adjustments in the metering pump means of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a section view taken along line 12--12 in FIG. 4 showing a container located and supported by the container transporting, roller conveyor means and container bottom support conveyor means;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the container transporting, roller conveyor means positioning a small diameter container in the filling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the container transporting, roller conveyor means positioning a large diameter container in the filling apparatus of the present invention with the container resting on the bottom supporting conveyor means;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary section view taken along line 15--15 of FIG. 3 and shows a walking beam attached to the walking beam chain drive and the support to procure stability of the walking beam when it is in a container filling position;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary section view taken along line 16--16 in FIG. 3 and shows an idler arm and adjustable cam follower which provides desired vertical alignment of the walking beam.

FIG. 17 is a schematic fragmentary view of a walking beam of the present invention positioned prior to a filling operation wherein the walking beam is spaced from containers passing through the filling apparatus;

FIG. 18 is a schematic fragmentary view of the walking beam of FIG. 17 after the beam has moved in an orbital path to a position over containers passing through the filling apparatus for a filling operation;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view taken along line 19--19 in FIG. 4 showing a vertical drive means, a gear box means and a horizontal drive means for driving the container, bottom support conveyor means of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary view taken along line 20--20 in FIG. 19 showing the adjusting means for providing the horizontal and centering adjustment required for the container transporting roller conveyor means whereby containers of different diameters (see FIGS. 12-14 inclusive) can be utilized with the filling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary view showing the dancer beam of the present invention positioned in a downward, fill position with cam follower means attached to the dancer beam;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary view showing the dancer beam of FIG. 21 raised pneumatically to an upward, non-fill position with the cam follower at a high point on the dancer beam cam assembly;

FIGS. 23 and 24 show vertical adjusting means for raising and lowering the dancer beam, walking beams, container transport roller conveyor means and drive means to accommodate the filling of containers having different height dimensions;

FIG. 25 shows a fragmentary, perspective view of the container transport roller conveying means, dancer beam assembly and walking beam assembly; and,

FIG. 26 shows a schematic view of the drive means for the various assemblies of the container filling apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 3 and 25, there is shown a container filling apparatus 10 through which containers 5 (FIG. 25) pass to be filled by a "pressure fill" method to be described.

Apparatus 10 comprises container conveyor means 20, container filling means 100, walking beam assembly 200 associated with the filling means and a vertically movable dancer beam assembly 300 from which the walking beam assembly is supported.

Apparatus 10 is supported by four tubular posts 21. Disposed about posts 21 are conveyor support members 22. Each member 22 is made up of two legs 19 which are adapted to be slidably disposed about posts 21. Legs 19 are connected together by a cross beam 18 (FIGS. 1 and 25). Each member (FIGS. 23, 24) is suitably fastened to post 21 to provide the desired height location of hydraulic lifting means 24 which are disposed on support members 23 which are welded to legs 19 as shown in FIGS. 1, 23 and 25.

CONTAINER TRANSPORT CONVEYOR MEANS

Box beam 34 is disposed midway between legs 19 on cross beam 18. (FIG. 12) Beam 34 is welded to the top surface of cross beams 18 with one end of beam 34 extending beyond the member 22 as shown in FIG. 1.

Conveyor shaft support arms 25 which support conveyor shaft 26 (FIG. 4), extend from the two legs 19 at one end of apparatus 10. Bearing assemblies 26a support the ends of shaft 26 in arms 25. Sprocket 27 is located near each end of shaft 26, each sprocket 27 being connected by chain 28 to drive means to be described. A third srocket 27a, enclosed within box beam 34, is located midway of shaft 26.

At the remaining end of beam 34 is located a second support roller conveyor shaft 9 which is disposed within bearings 8. (FIG. 2) Bearings 8 are fastened to the side walls of cross beam 34 as seen in FIG. 2. Sprocket 31 is fastened to shaft 9 and transport conveyor chain 30 is employed to connect sprocket 27a and sprocket 31. (FIG. 1)

Located between sprockets 27a and 31 are a plurality of sprockets 32. Each sprocket 32 is mounted on a shaft 32a, the ends of which are located in the side walls of beam 34. (FIG. 12) As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 1, conveyor chain 30 extends around sprocket 27a and 31 and over sprockets 32. Chain 30 has a plurality of lugs 4 attached thereto, (FIG. 12) the lugs 4 extending at right angles to chain 30 to provide a support for containers 5 which are carried through the apparatus over chain 30.

Two angle members 36a are bolted to the top surface 36 of beam 34. (FIG. 12) Angle members 36a are fastened together on the top of beam 34 to provide a top surface 36b over which conveyor chain 30 rides.

CONTAINER SUPPORT CONVEYOR MEANS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12, movable plate 41 is supported by piston means 24 which is joined to a guide 43 which is adapted for vertical movement relative to post 21. Plate 41 is welded to guide 43 and reinforcing member 42 is employed to strengthen the connection of plate 41 to guide 43.

Extending radially outward from guide 43 and at right angles to members 42 is a second reinforcing member 44 (FIG. 1) which is welded to guide 43.

Two hollow members 46 extend along the length of apparatus 10 and are attached at their respective ends to plates 41. Each member 46 serves as an air supply means which are suitably fastened by hose or the like to pneumatic air springs 103 to be described. A plurality of flat plates 47 are fastened to the underside of each member 46, plates 47 extending inward toward conveyor chain 30 as shown more clearly in FIGS. 4, 12 and 25.

Box members 48 are located and supported by plates 47, along the length of the box member. Each box member 48 (FIG. 12) comprises bottom and top walls 49, 50 respectively, and inner and outer side walls 51, 52, the sidewalls being slotted or provided with an opening along their respective length of a size greater than the thickness of discs or rollers 73 which extend through the box member sidewall openings as seen in FIG. 12.

A plurality of sprockets 53 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 12) are spaced along the length of each box member 48. A container guide conveyor chain assembly 54 is located in each box member 48, chain 54 being connected to sprockets 53. Each sprocket 53 is positioned on a vertical shaft 55. (FIGS. 1 and 12) Shafts 55 extend downward from sprocket 53 where they are slidably mounted by bearing members 57 to box beam 56. (FIGS. 1 and 12)

Each beam 56 extends along a major portion of the length of conveyor chain 30. The beams 56 are adjustably connected to beam 34, the beams 56 being supported by shafts 26 and 2 (FIGS. 1 and 12). Suitable bearing members are attached to each box beam 56 with shafts 26 and 2 being inserted in the bearings. Beams 56 are suitably fastened to shafts 26 and 2 so that each box beam 56 can be moved inward and outward on the shafts relative to fixed beam 34.

CONTAINER SIZE HORIZONTAL ADJUSTING MEANS

Referring to FIG. 20, at each end of each box beam 56, a plate 60 is welded to and extends downward from the bottom wall 56a. Threaded in each plate 60 is a bolt 62, to the end of which is fastened a second plate 63. As shown in FIG. 20, threading bolts 62 inward or outward can result in movement of plates 63 toward or away from each other.

By placing a container 5 of the size to be filled in apparatus 10 between plates 63, box beams 56 can be moved along the lengths of horizontal shafts 26 and 2 which in turn move shafts 55, sprockets 53, box members 48 and chain assemblies 54 relative to each other. Movement of bolts 62 relative to each other causes the distance between the centerlines of the container guide conveyor chains 54 to be enlarged or decreased thereby providing the adjustment necessary to allow different size containers to pass through apparatus 10.

The effects of adjusting the container guide conveyor chain assemblies 54 are demonstrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 where containers of different sizes are shown being transported along the length of apparatus 10 by container transport conveyor 30. The containers are supported, guided and held in the desired spaced position along the length of apparatus 10 by container guide conveyors 54.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 12 each, container guide conveyor chain assembly 54 comprises top 70 and bottom 71 roller chains which are pinned together in a spaced relationship by means of pins 65. Elastomeric discs 73 which are substantially larger in diameter than the width of the chains 70, 71 are securely fastened to pins 65. In operation, discs 73 serve to contact the side wall of a container to retain the container in a stable position during a filling operation. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate the movement of discs 73 in relation to different size containers. Discs 73 are preferably mounted on 3 inch centers. Four discs 73, i.e., two discs on each of the conveyor chains 54 serve to form a pocket to position and guide a container 5 as it is transported along the length of apparatus 10 by conveyor 30. In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 13, discs 73(a) and 73(b) pinned to a conveyor chain assembly 54 will mate with corresponding discs 73(c) and 73(d) located on the other conveyor chain assembly 54 to position and guide container 5.

By adjusting beams 56 inwardly and outwardly as discussed with respect to FIG. 20, conveyor chain assemblies 54 and discs 73 are also moved inwardly and outwardly. As the conveyor chain assemblies 54 are moved toward each other, FIG. 13, discs 73 also move inward toward each other in the y direction thereby reducing the space between a set of four discs 73 although the center line between containers will not change. Accordingly, if containers 5 are being conveyed in a filling operation with a center line spacing between containers of 3 inches, the center line spacing x will remain constant irrespective of the size of containers which are passed through filling apparatus 10. Maintaining constant centerline spacing x is important with respect to the filling means of the invention as will be discussed more fully. Yet while the spacing x is maintained substantially constant along the length of the apparatus, the spacing y can be varied to permit different size containers to be employed. FIG. 14 shows containers 5, which are larger in diameter than the containers shown in FIG. 13. To accommodate the larger size containers, the distance y between the centers of discs 73 is increased. Note however that the centerline spacing x remains the same.

CONTAINER HEIGHT VERTICAL ADJUSTING MEANS

Positioned about supports 21 and above guide 43 (FIGS. 1, 23, 24 and 25) is a second tubular member 201 which is welded or attached by suitable fastening means to guide 43 so that as guide 43 is lifted vertically upward or downward on posts 21 by hydraulic lift means 24, member 201 also moves vertically. Movement of hydraulic lift means 24 vertically (FIGS. 23, 24) serves to move dancer beam 301, walking beams 101, 110 and filling heads 910 vertically. This vertical movement serves to permit the filling of containers having different heights. For example if apparatus 10 has been employed to fill containers 5 of one size and it is desired to fill taller containers lift means 24 can be actuated to lift dancer beam 301, walking beams 101, 110 and filling heads 910 upward until the desired height is reached which will allow the taller containers to pass through apparatus 10 and be filled.

DANCER BEAM ASSEMBLY

Moving up on members 201, there is a transverse beam 102 which extends across the width of the apparatus with the ends of beam 102 being attached by welding or other suitable means to members 201.

Disposed on top of and midway of each of the cross beams 102 is an air spring 103. Each end of dancer beam 301 rests upon a spring 103. As seen in FIG. 1, beam 301 extends substantially along the length of apparatus 10 and is positioned to be disposed over container conveyor means 30. Dancer beam 301 comprises top and bottom surfaces 302, 304 and side walls 303.

Spaced along the length of dancer beam 301 are a plurality of roller bearing walking beam stabilizer assemblies 305. As shown in FIGS. 1, 16, each assembly comprises a roller 306 which is pinned to shaft 307 which extends through and is connected to beam 301 by any suitable means.

Plate 309 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 25), is located at the center of beam 301 and extends out beyond the side walls 303 of beam 301. Plate 309 can be welded or attached by other suitable means to the top and bottom walls 302, 304 of beam 301. Gussets 310 are employed to retain plate 309 in position.

Two additional plates 311 and 312 are also located on beam 301 and are spaced from plate 309. These plates are located near the ends of the beam and like plate 309, extend out beyond the side walls of dancer beam 301. Gussets 313 are used to securely retain plates 311 and 312 to beam 301.

Located on plates 309, 311 and 312 are bearings 315 which hold chain drive shafts. Viewing FIGS. 1 and 3 and plate 311, vertical shafts 316 extend through the plate and are held in bearings 315. Sprockets 317 are attached to the bottom end of each of the two shafts 316 while a sprocket 318 is fastened contiguous to the upper remaining end of one shaft 316 and pinion gear 523 is attached contiguous to the remaining end on the other shaft 316.

Moving to plate 309, four vertical shafts 319 are disposed at one of their ends within bearing assemblies 315 which are attached to plate 309. Assemblies 315 are fastened to top plate 309 which is welded to the top wall of dancer beam 301. Sprocket 320 is located at the bottom end of each of the four shafts 319 while a sprocket 321 is attached midway of each shaft 319.

Shafts 322 are located in bearings 315 in plates 312. Sprocket 323 is attached to the bottom end of each of the two shafts 322 while a pinion gear 532 is fastened contiguous to the upper remaining end of one shaft 532 and sprocket 324 is fastened contiguous to the remaining end of the other shaft 324.

One set of chains 330 and 331 are fastened to sprockets 317 and 320 on dancer beam 301 while another set of chains 332, 333 are fastened to sprockets 320 and 323 on the dancer beam.

Idler sprockets 340 (FIG. 3) which are pinned to dancer beam 301 by idler arms 341 are positioned between the sprocket locations at plates 309, 311 and 312. These sprockets serve to assist in maintaining the chains in a taut condition in the course of operation.

Sprockets 321, located midway on shafts 319, (FIG. 1) are employed to connect chains 350. As will be discussed more fully hereafter, the chains 331, 333 and 330, 332 are employed to provide an orbital path for the container filling means of apparatus 10.

WALKING BEAM ASSEMBLY

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, 17, 18 and 25, walking beam 101 is attached to chains 330 and 332. Beam 101 comprises a square member which is shorter in length than dancer beam 301. In FIGS. 15 and 16, cam rail 202 is shown disposed on top of beam 101. Contiguous to the ends of walking beam 101, FIG. 3, there are located pin connections 203, 204 at which points walking beam 101 is pinned or connected to both chains 330 and 332. Pin connection 203 is pinned to chain 330 whereas connection 204 is pinned to chain 332. Similarly, walking beam 110 which is similar in construction to beam 101 is pinned or pivotally connected to chains 331 and 333. Pin connection 105 is pinned to chain 331 whereas connection 106 is pinned to chain 333.

As chains 330, 332 are driven, beam 101 will move in an orbital path whereby the beam will move in a path a portion of which will find beam 101 moving substantially parallel to the linear path of containers 5, FIG. 1, and 17; another portion of the path will find beam 101 traveling in substantially the same linear path as and aligned with containers 5, FIG. 18; and finally, two portions of the beam path will be curvilinear portions, one at each end of the linear travel of beam 101, FIG. 17, such that the beam travels in an orbital manner relative to the linear path of container 5.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show more fully the movement of beam 101 and pin connection 204 relative to chain 332. As the beam travels that portion of its orbital path wherein it is over and in axial alignment with containers 5, it is extended or pivoted over containers 5 (FIG. 18) and cam rail 202 is located over containers 5 and spaced from chain 332. However, in that portion of the orbital path where walking beam 101 travels in a linear path substantially parallel to the linear path of containers 5, the beam is positioned relative to chain 332 such that cam rail 202 is located adjacent chain 332 (FIG. 17).

As shown in FIG. 15, cam rail 202 is adapted to be contacted by rollers 306 for the purpose of stabilizing and restraining the movement of beam 101 while it travels in the same path as containers 5 during a filling operation.

Walking beam 110 has a similar path as described for walking beam 101 with beam 110 having a cam rail (not shown) which corresponds to rail 202 for the purpose of contacting the stabilizing rollers 306 during a filling operation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, there is shown, positioned on top of and contiguous to each end of dancer beam 301, cam followers 401 which, in association with cams 402, provide vertical movement of beam 301 and walking beams 101 and 110.

Beam 301 is normally urged upward by air springs 103; however cams 402 and cam followers 401 serve to provide the desired downward movement of dancer beam 301. Viewing FIG. 21, cam 402 is shown in a position which urges cam followers 401, beam 301 and walking beams 101 and 110 in a downward, container filling position. FIG. 22 shows dancer beam 301 and walking beam 101 in an upward, non-fill position due to the location of cam follower 401 relative to cam 402.

APPARATUS DRIVE MEANS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 26, the drive means for the filling apparatus 10 includes a motor 500 which via drive pulley 501 drives drive shaft 502. Drive shaft 502 is connected by suitable means to gear boxes 503 and 504. Drive shaft 505 extends from box 503 and attached thereto is drive sprocket 506.

Idler sprockets 507 and 508 are employed to provide the desired rotation of various drive shafts in the apparatus. Sprockets 509 and 510 are attached to one end of drive shafts 511 and 512 respectively. Contiguous to the remaining end of shafts 511 and 512 are sprockets 53 which serve to drive container guide conveyor chains 54.

Disposed below sprockets 53, drive shafts 511 and 512 are connected to gear boxes 513 and 514 respectively. Horizontal drive shaft 515 extends from gear box 513 and drive shaft 516 extends from gear box 514. At the ends of shaft 515 and 516 are attached sprockets 517. Sprockets 517 are connected to sprockets 27 by means of chain 28 to provide the drive means for container chain conveyor 30.

Sprocket 518 is attached to shaft 519. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, shaft 519 extends downward and is connected to bearing assembly 520 which is suitably connected to member 102.

Cam 402 is fastened for rotation with shaft 519 and below cam 402, drive gear 521 and drive sprocket 522 are fastened to shaft 519 and are adapted to slide vertically on shaft 519.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, drive gear 521 meshes with pinion gear 523 which is fastened to the upper end of shaft 316. Attached to the other end of shaft 316 is sprocket 317 employed to drive chain 331 and walking beam 110. Sprocket 522 is fastened by chain 524 to sprocket 318 which is fastened to shaft 316. The other end of shaft 316 has sprocket 317 for driving chain 330 and walking beam 101.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 26, chain 530 is connected to sprockets 506, 507, 508, 509, 510 and 518 which in turn provide rotation for drive shafts 511, 512 and 519.

Viewing gear box 504 (FIGS. 2, 26), vertical drive shaft 565 extends vertically with sprocket 525 fastened at its free end. Chain 526 connects sprocket 525 to sprocket 527 which is fastened to one end of drive shaft 528.

As shown in FIG. 1, shaft 528 extends downward and is connected to bearing assembly 529.

Cam 402 is fastened for rotation with shaft 528 and below cam 402, drive gear 530 and drive sprocket 531 are fastened to shaft 528 and adapted to slide vertically upon shaft 528.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, drive gear 530 meshes with pinion gear 532 which is fastened to the upper end of shaft 322. Attached to the other end of shaft 322 is sprocket 323 employed to drive chain 332 and walking beam 101. Sprocket 531 is fastened by chain 533 to sprocket 324 which is fastened to shaft 322. The other end of shaft 322 has sprocket 323 for driving chain 333 and walking beam 110.

It will be observed viewing FIG. 3 that a chain drive and gear drive are employed as the drive means for each of the walking beams 101, 110. The drives are arranged to provide the desired rotational movement of the chains 330, 331, 332 and 333.

As mentioned previously, drive gears 521 and 530 and drive sprockets 522 and 531 are positioned for vertical movement on shafts 519 and 528. Viewing FIG. 6, drive sprocket 522 is positioned on a slidable bushing 540 which seats upon the top wall 302 of dancer beam 301. Drive gear 521 is seated against sprocket 522. With the filling apparatus in the non-fill position of FIG. 6, air spring 103 urges dancer beam 301 upward which in turn causes gear 521 and sprocket 522 to move upward. When cam 402 is rotated to a fill position (FIG. 21) which causes follower 401 and dancer beam assembly 300 to move downward, gear 521 and sprocket 522 also move downward. Movement of gear 521 and sprocket 522 is accomplished by means of gear follower 541 which is attached to wall 302 of dancer beam 301. As cam 402 and follower 401 causes beam 301 to move downward, gear follower 541 also moves downward in the course of which the follower forces gear 521 and sprocket 522 to move downward. When cam 401 is in a non-fill position and air spring 103 forces beam 301 upward, this in turn causes bushing 540, sprocket 522 and gear 521 to move upward.

While the operation of the gear follower has been discussed with respect to gear 521 and sprocket 522, a similar gear follower means 550 is employed to slide gear 530 and sprocket 531 vertically on shaft 528 during a filling operation.

CONTAINER FLUID FILLING ASSEMBLY

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 26, shaft 528 has located thereon drive sprocket 570 which is located on shaft 528 between sprockets 528 and cam 402. Drive sprocket 570 is connected to idler sprocket 571 and drive sprockets 572 and 573 by chain 574. Sprocket 573 is fastened to one end of shaft 580 while sprocket 572 is fastened to one end of shaft 581. The remaining ends of shafts 580, 581 are positioned for rotation in bearing assemblies 582 and bearing assemblies 583 which are attached by suitable means to a plate 584 projecting outward from cross beam 99 which connects the upper ends of beams 201 along the width of apparatus 10. Members 98 are employed to connect members 201 together along the length of apparatus 10.

Brackets 700 (FIG. 1) depend from members 98 and serve to support fluid supply means 800.

Fluid supply means 800 comprises a frame (FIG. 2) having members 801, 802, 803 and 804. Fluid supply entry port 805 (FIG. 7) is located on member 801 and is connected to the desired fluid supply source. Port 805 connects with fluid passage 807. Passage 807 is separated from fluid passage 808 by valve means 810. Valve means 810 comprises a spring biased piston member 811 which, in a closed position, seats against exit port 812.

Valve means 810 is opened and closed by means of a finger 813 attached to cam follower rod 814 which is attached to a slotted cam follower plate 815 to which cam follower 816 is pinned for rotation.

Cam 817 (FIG. 7) is fastened for rotation with drive shaft 580 whereby upon rotation of shaft 580, cam 817 is rotated. Cam follower 816 which is normally biased outwardly toward cam 817 will move horizontally back and forth following the path generated by the cam. Plate 815, rod 814 and finger 813 will also move horizontally along with follower 816. Movement of finger 813 against piston 811 causes valve means 810 to open thereby allowing fluid to pass through exit port 812 and passage 808.

A valve means and valve opening cam means corresponding to that described with respect to FIG. 7 is located on the opposite side of apparatus 10 with the cam being fastened to shaft 581.

Additional fluid passage ports 820 are tapped from passage 808. Passages 820 lead to fluid metering pumps 900. Check valves 830 are located in passages 820 and serve to permit the passage of fluid to either the metering pumps 900 or hoses 905 (FIGS. 1, 8) leading to the container fluid filling heads 910.

In those instances where a vacuum is to be drawn in a container in the course of a filling operation, vacuum valves 950 (FIG. 2) can be suitably attached to filling heads 910 by hose or the like (not shown). Valves 950 are located on plate 951 and spaced from each other.

Sprocket 952, located on shaft 953 which is retained in position by a bearing assembly located on plate 951 is connected to sprocket 954 on shaft 517. Chain 955 connects the two sprockets. Lugs 956 are positioned on chain 955 and serve to selectively contact switch 957 on valves 950 thereby causing a valve to open or close. Thus, as shaft 517 rotates, chain 955 with lugs 956 moves relative to valves 950 and will cause filling head 910 to pull a vacuum on the containers passing through the apparatus. While a chain means has been illustrated for selectively operating the vacuum valves, other actuating means could be employed. For example, a cam means such as cam 400 could be utilized. Vacuum valves 950 are suitably connected to a vacuum source and to the filling heads of the unit such that, if desired a vacuum can be pulled with the filling heads on walking beam 100 during a filling operation while the vacuum valve which is connected to the filling heads on walking beam 110 is closed. When the filling heads on walking beam 110 are in a fill position, the vacuum valve 950 can be actuated to draw the desired vacuum whereas the remaining valve 950, connected to the filling heads on walking beam 101 is closed.

FLUID METERING PUMP

Metering pumps 900 which are employed for dispensing the desired amount of fluid in containers 5 in the course of a filling operation each comprise a tubular cylindrical member 911 in which piston 912 is adapted to freely slide. Each end of member 911 is closed by a cap 913 which is threaded at 913a into piston member 911. Caps 913 having an opening 915 therein for receipt of a piston stop arm 914, 914a which are adapted to slide in cap opening 915. Piston stops 916 are located at the end of the arms located within piston member 911. Nut 917 is located at the remaining end of each of the piston stop arms.

It will be observed in FIG. 8, that piston stop arm 914a is threaded along more of its length than corresponding piston stop arm 914.

Caps 913 are positioned and releasably maintained on the tops of members 801 and 803 by means of clamps 920 which are fastened to the members by means of pins 921 thereby holding caps 913 in position. FIG. 7 shows caps 913 having a fluid passage 922 which are aligned with passages 820 when caps 913 are fastened to members 801 and 803.

Disposed between pumps 900 is a metering bar 925 which is longer in length than piston members 911. (FIGS. 2, 11) Bar 925, which is held on members 801, 803 by pins 921, has a plurality of holes 926 for fluid metering purposes.

Viewing FIGS. 8 and 10, it will be observed that clamps portions 927, 928 which serve to form clamp 930 are fastened together by nuts 929 which are threaded into clamp 930. Clamps 930 serve to hold nuts 917 of piston arm stop 914, 914a rigidly, however, at the same time clamps 930 are adapted to adjustably slide along the length of metering bar 925. In other words as clamps 930 are moved along metering bar 925 piston stop arms 914, 914a will also move relative to bar 925. Accordingly, the travel of piston 912 can be regulated by adjustment of clamps 930 along the length of the metering bar 925. When clamp 930 is adjusted to the desired position, whereby piston stop 916 is located in the proper position, pin 931 is dropped into an opening 926 in meter bar 925.

In order to achieve a fine adjustment in piston travel as opposed to the incremental adjustments afforded by openings 926 in bar 925, stop 914a can be turned a desired amount in nut 917 (FIGS. 8, 10). Gauge 932 serves to indicate the linear travel of rod 914a as it is rotated in nut 917. Accordingly, in adjusting the travel of piston 912 in a filling operation, the large incremental adjustments will initially be made utilizing metering bar 925 and fine adjustments will be made by rotation of rod 914 in the nut 917 which is held in place by clamps 930. While only two metering pumps 900 have been illustrated, in FIGS. 2 and 7, additional metering pumps are employed in the apparatus as exemplified in FIG. 1.

In a container filling operation, the entire system will initially be under fluid pressure. A pressure differential occurs (FIG. 9) when valve stem 4 on a container 5 actuates a valve in filling head 910 which is attached to a walking beam. Upon opening of valve 910, fluid will flow into the container and at the same time cause actuation of metering pump 900.

For example, when walking beam 101 is in a fill position (FIG. 18) whereby filling heads 910 are positioned on containers 5, actuation of valves in filling head 910 by valve stems 4 causes fluid to flow into and fill containers 5. In this filling position, finger 813 is actuated by the cam on shaft 581 which actuates valve 810 to an open position. Opening of valve 810 will cause fluid to pass through passages 808 and 820. The fluid pressure in these passages causes valve 830 to move vertically upward where fluid passes through grooves 960 into passage 922 of cap 913 and into piston member 911. In piston member 911, a pressure differential exists in that as fluid enters passage 922 in one end of piston member 911, fluid is exiting from passage 922 on the remaining end of member 911 through grooves 960 and into base 905 so that a pressure differential exists on either side of piston 912 in a filling operation. Accordingly, piston 912 moves in the direction of the reduced pressure until it meets piston stop 916. At the moment piston 912 contacts stop 916, the filling operation will be completed with the desired amount of fluid entering container 5. Subsequently, when filling heads 910 on walking beam 110 are actuated by valve stems 4 on containers 5, cam 817 on shaft 580 will actuate finger 813 causing fluid to flow into passage 922 causing piston 912 to travel the length of the piston permitted by stops 916. It will be observed that as the valve in filling heads 910 are opened, fluid pressure in the system will drop on one side of piston 912 allowing movement of piston 912. The pressure on the opposite side of piston 912 is maintained, however, due to the opening of valve 810 by finger 813 which is actuated by a cam 817 to allow fluid to enter into member 911.

OPERATION

In operation, apparatus 10 is initially adjusted to the height and diameter of the container to be filled. These adjustments involve movement of bolts 62 which serve to provide horizontal adjustment and actuation of lift means 24 located on each post 21 to provide vertical adjustment.

Containers 5 pass through apparatus 10 in a linear path and at constant speed. The bottoms of the containers 5 sit on lugs 4 attached to conveyor chain 30 FIGS. 1, 12). The containers are supported in a desired spaced position by discs 73 attached to chains 54 (FIGS. 5, 13, 14).

As the containers pass through apparatus 10, walking beams 101, 110, each of which have a plurality of filling heads 910 attached thereto, travel in orbital paths relative to the path of containers 5. A portion of each path will find beams 101 and 110 located over containers 5 (FIGS. 3, 17, 18) at which time cam 402 will cause followers 401 to move downward which in turn causes downward movement of dancer beam 301 and walking beams 101, 110 and filling heads 910 (FIGS. 21, 22). When a beam such as beam 110 is located in a fill position (FIG. 3) the path of cam 402 is such that it will cause valve stems 4 in containers 5 to open valves in filling heads 910 thereby allowing fluid to flow into containers 5. As fluid flows into container 5, piston 912 travels along the length of piston member 911 until it contacts stop 916 which regulates the amount of fluid that will flow into container 5.

As piston 912 moves along member 911, cam 817 on shaft 581 (FIG. 26) causes actuation of finger 813 which opens valve 810 to allow fluid to flow into passages 808, 820 and 922 so that the pressure on the remaining side of piston 912 is maintained as piston 912 travels along member 911. Seals 940 on piston 912 serve to prevent fluid on one side of the piston passing to the opposite side of the piston.

After the filling heads 910 have completed their filling operation, cam follower 401 will reach a high point on cam 402 and air springs 103 will lift dancer beam 301, beams 110, 101 and filling head 910 upward. When walking beam 101 reaches that portion in its orbital path where it is in a filling position over containers 5, cam follower 401 will again be forced downward by cam 402 and another filling operation will occur.

As a result, a plurality of containers are filled at one time as they travel at constant speed in a linear path through apparatus 10. Containers of different heights and shapes can be accommodated in the apparatus of the present invention. Moreover, apparatus 10, with minor adjustments of heads 910, can be employed to inject both the product and the propellant into containers by utilizing an apparatus 10 to inject the product and further downstream a second apparatus 10 can inject the propellant.

While the filling head 910 of the present invention are shown connected to metering pumps 900, they could, depending upon a particular application, be connected to a regulated gas pressure source such as carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide. The containers would then be filled until the pressure in the containers equals the pressure in the gas source. The filling operation can be readily regulated to occur in the time period that is required for container 5 to pass through apparatus 10.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.