Method of and machine for forming, filling and closing containers
United States Patent 3918236
A method for forming, filling and closing containers, and a three-turret intermittant motion packaging machine for carrying out the method. The packaging machine comprises a bottom former turret which is rotated in a single indexing or intermittent movement and which is supplied with container blanks from a container blank magazine. The container blanks are erected and loaded onto mandrels on the bottom former turret, and as the bottom former turret is intermittently rotated through 360°, with a single indexing motion, the containers carried thereon have the bottom ends thereof closed and sealed, and at a predetermined point in said rotation, four of the bottom formed containers are simultaneously transferred to two filler turrets for filling and closing operations. Two of the bottom formed containers are transferred to a first filler turret, and two of the bottom formed containers are transferred to a second filler turret. The two filler turrets are moved in a double indexing, intermittent movement and they perform similar functions. The two filler turrets rotate in opposite directions and discharge two filled and formed containers simultaneously to a discharge conveyor for transfer to a casing station. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to the container packaging art, and more particularly, to an intermittent motion packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers. Automatic packaging machines for forming, filling and closing containers are presently available on the market, but they are large and expensive, and accordingly, there is a present need on the market for a small and less expensive packaging machine. The large size and expense required to produce said prior art machines is due to their high rate of production and the continuous motion structure required for such high rate production. In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers which is small in size and inexpensive in cost, and which may be controlled by a single operator. It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers which is contstructed and arranged to simplify the packaging operations so as to maintain the cost of the machine as low as possible. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers which provides maximum production in a minimum amount of space, and which operates with an intermittent or indexing motion as compared to the aforementioned prior art large and expensive continuous motion machines. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers which employs few mechanical parts, as compared to the prior art continuous motion machines, and which eliminates the use of conveyor chains and their inherent problems of chain stretching, chain wear, and dirty chains. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved packaging maching for forming, filling and closing containers which includes filler turrets that operate with an indexing or intermittent motion and at a low speed, whereby improved operator control over the filling operation is provided. The filler turrets are provided with variable speed drive means for controlling the intermittent motion of the filler turrets. The low speed filler turret intermittent motion provides a packaging machine which is preferably adapted for use with a bottom-up filler apparatus for filling containers but which may also be used with filler apparatuses that fill containers from the top ends thereof. It is a still further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers which includes a bottom former turret that is moved with an intermittent rotary motion and which transfers simultaneously a first plurality of formed containers to an adjacent intermittently rotated filler turret and a second plurality of formed containers to a second intermittently rotated filler turret. The bottom former turret rotates intermittently at a speed of four times the intermittent speed of the filler turrets so that the filling operations can be slowed down to permit inspection and control thereover at all times during operation of the machine. The bottom former turret is intermittently rotated in a single indexing motion to move container blanks through a succession of bottom forming operations. The filler turrets are disposed adjacent each other and rotate in opposite directions with a double indexing motion so as to move bottom formed containers through a succession of filling and top end closing operations, and to simultaneously carry out the filling and top end operations on at least two containers at a time. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved method of forming, filling and closing containers which includes the steps of intermittently advancing containers along a bottom end forming rotary path into a plurality of bottom end processing stations for forming the bottom ends of the containers, transferring simultaneously a first plurality of the bottom end formed containers into a first filler rotary path and a second plurality of the bottom end formed containers into a second filler rotary path, and intermittently advancing the bottom end formed containers along the filler rotary paths into a plurality of filling and closing stations for filling and closing the containers. The containers are intermittently moved or indexed through the filler rotary paths at a lower speed than the speed of the containers being indexed through the bottom end forming rotary path so as to permit a plurality of containers to be simultaneously filled and closed as they are intermittently advanced through the filler rotary paths. Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, eppended claims, and the accompanying drawings.
US Patent References:
Carton filling apparatus
Hartmann - January 1933 - 1893169
Tool actuating mechanism
Hagerborg - November 1967 - 3350837
ALTERNATE STATION CONTAINER FILLING AND SEALING SYSTEM
Shiverdecker et al. - January 1970 - 3491506
Carton filling apparatus
Hartmann - January 1933 - 1893169
Tool actuating mechanism
Hagerborg - November 1967 - 3350837
ALTERNATE STATION CONTAINER FILLING AND SEALING SYSTEM
Shiverdecker et al. - January 1970 - 3491506
Application Number:
05/520707
Publication Date:
11/11/1975
Filing Date:
11/04/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Ex-Cell-O Corporation (Troy, MI)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
53/284.500, 53/564, 53/202, 53/459, 53/469
International Classes:
B65B3/02; B65B3/00; B65B3/02
Field of Search:
53/29,35,183,186,202,253,266,272,281,275,279 93/44.1R,44.1GT 141/169
Primary Examiner:
Spruill, Robert L.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. A method of forming, filling and closing containers comprising the steps of:
2. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 1, including the step of:
3. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 2, wherein:
4. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 3, wherein:
5. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 4, wherein:
6. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 5, wherein:
7. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 6, wherein:
8. In a packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers, the combination comprising:
9. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 8, including:
10. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 9, wherein:
11. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 10, wherein:
12. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 10, wherein:
13. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 12, wherein:
14. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 13, wherein:
15. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 14, wherein:
16. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 15, wherein:
17. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 16, wherein:
18. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 16, wherein:
19. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 18, wherein:
20. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 19, wherein:
1. A method of forming, filling and closing containers comprising the steps of:
2. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 1, including the step of:
3. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 2, wherein:
4. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 3, wherein:
5. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 4, wherein:
6. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 5, wherein:
7. The method of forming, filling and closing containers as defined in claim 6, wherein:
8. In a packaging machine for forming, filling and closing containers, the combination comprising:
9. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 8, including:
10. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 9, wherein:
11. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 10, wherein:
12. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 10, wherein:
13. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 12, wherein:
14. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 13, wherein:
15. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 14, wherein:
16. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 15, wherein:
17. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 16, wherein:
18. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 16, wherein:
19. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 18, wherein:
20. A container packaging machine as defined in claim 19, wherein:
Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustrative machine for forming, filling and closing containers in accordance with the method and principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front side elevation view of the container forming, filling and closing machine illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2--2 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, right end elevation view of the machine structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 3--3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The container forming, filling and closing machine of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with cartons or containers of the type shown in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,120,333, 3,185,375, 3,185,376, 3,294,310 and 3,406,892. For a complete description of the container which may be formed, filled and closed by the machine of the present invention, reference may be had to the aforementioned patents.
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 generally designates a common machine base which is provided with a plurality of suitable support legs 11 for supporting the base on a floor surface 12. The illustrative machine includes a conventional container blank loader magazine, generally indicated by the numeral 13, which is adapted to supply conventional flat folded, side seamed tubular container blanks 20 to a 16 station rotary bottom forming apparatus generally indicated by the numeral 14. The bottom forming apparatus 14 heats, folds and seals the container bottom closure so as to provide erected, open-ended tubular containers indicated by the numeral 22. The rotary bottom forming apparatus 14 moves with an intermittent or indexing motion, and it sumultaneously transfers a first set of two erected containers 22 onto a 20-station left hand turret, generally indicated by the numeral 15, and a second set of two erected containers 22 onto a 20-station right hand turret, generally indicated by the numeral 16. Each of the turrets 15 and 16 is provided with suitable filler, heating and top sealing apparatuses for filling and sealing the containers 22 and discharging them onto a suitable discharge conveyor apparatus generally indicated by the numeral 17. The rotary turrets 15 and 16 are moved in an intermittent or indexing motion, in a reduced ratio relative to the intermittent motion of the rotary bottom forming apparatus 14.
In accordance with the aforedescribed general procedure, the container blanks 20 are withdrawn one at a time from the magazine 13 by an appropriate vacuum nozzle or cup mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 21. The vacuum nozzle mechanism 21 is primarily of the character described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,357,535, and comprises a plurality of nozzles which project from a suitable housing to engage one panel of a container blank 20. The nozzles retract to withdraw a container blank 20 from the magazine 13, and the nozzles then rotate and carry the container blank 20 to a station on the bottom former turret 14. The nozzle or cup mechanism 21 squares the blank 20 into a general rectangular position in the usual manner and then places it on a suitable rectangular mandrel 19, which is preferably of the conventional four-post water-cooled type. It will be understood that each one of the sixteen stations on the bottom former turret 14 is provided with a suitable mandrel 19. The mandrel 19 may be of any conventional structure, as for example, the structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,761.
As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom former turret 14 indexes in an intermittent motion so as to move the various stations thereon in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The erected containers 22 on the mandrels 19 are indexed through three bottom heating stations 23 of a conventional three-station bottom heater, generally indicated by the numeral 24, after which they are moved to a tucking station 25. Any suitable bottom heating apparatus may be used, as for example, the heating apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,249,025 and 3,392,458. It will also be understood that any suitable rotating container tucker apparatus may be employed for tucking the bottom end of the container 22, as for example, the rotating container tucker apparatuses shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,166,994, 3,187,647 and 3,398,659.
After the bottoms of the containers 22 have been tucked, the containers are then moved in an intermittent or indexing motion through the three bottom sealing stations 26 of a suitable bottom sealing apparatus generally indicated by the numeral 29. The sealing or bonding apparatus 29 includes three separate pressure pads and they may comprise any suitable conventional means as, for example, they may comprise the type bonding and sealing structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,017.
As shown in FIG. 1, the clockwise intermittent rotation of the bottom forming turret 14 moves the formed cartons 22 around to a position adjacent the left hand filling turret 15 and the right hand filling turret 16. The left hand filling turret 15 revolves in a clockwise direction, and the right hand filling turret 16 revolves in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The terms "left hand turret" and "right hand turret" are applied to the turrets 15 and 16 because of their positions when the machine is viewed from the front end thereof, which is the left end of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, four formed containers 22 are simultaneously transferred onto the filling turrets 15 and 16. Four suitable vacuum cup means, indicated generally by the numerals 28, are moved upwardly to engage the lower ends of the formed containers 22, and strip them off the mandrels 19. The formed containers 22 are then transferred by a pair of suitable transfer arms 30 so as to load two of the formed containers 22 onto two of the stations on the filling turret 15, and two of the formed containers 22 onto two of the stations on the filling turret 16. The containers 22 which are loaded onto the filling turret 15 have been marked with the numeral 22a, and the containers 22 which are loaded onto the turret 16 have been marked with the numeral 22b.
The two rotary filling turrets 15 and 16 are double indexed, as compared to the single indexing intermittent motion of the bottom former turret 14. Each of the filler turrets 15 and 16 works on two containers at a time.
The filling action carried out by the turret 15 on two containers 22a will be described, and it will be understood that the same filling action is being carried out simultaneously on two other containers 22b by the turret 16.
After two of the containers 22a have been loaded onto two of the stations on the filling turret 15, they are indexed in an intermittent, double-indexing movement to a two-station top breaker apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 31a. The top end breaker apparatus 31a may be of any suitable conventional type. A suitable top end breaker apparatus is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,049. The containers 22a are then indexed to a two-station filler unit, generally indicated by the numeral 32a. The details of the two-station filler unit 32a are best seen in FIG. 2, wherein the corresponding structure 32b is shown for the filler turret 16.
The filler means 32b is illustrated as comprising a bottom-up filler apparatus which can be advantageously employed in the machine of the present invention since it is possible to run the filler turrets 15 and 16 at a speed approximately four times slower than the speed of the bottom former turret 14, due to the fact that the filler turrets 15 and 16 are double indexed and the bottom former turret 14 is single indexed. The employment of a bottom-up filling apparatus permits the filling of a container in one shot or one motion, as compared to the piston or spray type filler apparatus. However, it will be understood that both a bottom up filler type apparatus may be employed to carry out the filling function of the filler apparatus 32b as well as a piston or spray type filler apparatus of the type illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,195,781 and 3,334,668.
As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom-up filler apparatus 32b includes a fluid cylinder operated container lifting means 33b for lifting a pair of containers 22b upwardly for co-action with a pair of downwardly moving and then retracting filler nozzles 36b. The filler nozzles 36b are operatively associated with a pair of filler cylinders 37b which are operatively attached to a suitable milk supply tank 38b. As shown in FIG. 1, the milk tanks 38a and 38b are supplied from a common source of milk through a conduit 41. The conduit 41 is operatively connected through a suitable flow control valve 40, and a pair of supply conduits 39a and 39b to the milk tanks 38a and 38b. The use of a suitable bottom-up filler apparatus 32b is preferable, as compared to a piston type spray filler apparatus which sprays the milk into the container and mixes the milk with the air as it is put into the container. A bottom-up filler apparatus as 32b minimizes the trouble of mixing the milk with the air, and accordingly, it ensures a maximum hygiene and little frothing, and a low filling temperature. If a piston type filler is used, which fills the container from the top end thereof, a conventional de-foamer would be required and the number of filler stations would have to be increased to four or more.
In operation, a pair of containers 22b are lifted upwardly a predetermined distance and two filler nozzles 36b are lowered into the containers until they reach a point adjacent the bottoms of the containers. The nozzles 36b then commence the filling action and retract upwardly and complete the filling of the containers. When the filler nozzles 36b reach the top of their retractive stroke, the two filled containers 22b are lowered and they are indexed to the next station 44a, 44b, which is any suitable conventional top end tucking station. The tucking operation results in further breaking or flexing of the top closure elements about their score lines.
As shown in FIG. 1, the filler turret 15 indexes two of the containers 22a to a two-station top end heating apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 45a. The top-end heating apparatus 45a may be any suitable conventional type, as for example, it may be of the type shown in either of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,309,841 or 3,370,399.
The filler turret 15 double indexes the two containers 22a whiich have been heated at the top end heating station 45a to a two-station top end closing and sealing apparatus, as generally indicated by numeral 46a. The top end closing and sealing apparatus employed at the station 46a may be of any suitable conventional type as, for example, the top end closing and sealing apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,399.
After the containers 22a have been sealed, they are moved in a double indexing or intermittent movement of a two-station position indicated by the numeral 47a where the containers 22a may be stamped by a suitable dating apparatus, if desired. The filler turret 15 next double indexes the completely filled and sealed containers 22a to an unload station, generally indicated by the numeral 49a, from where they are unloaded by a suitable unloading apparatus 48a onto a suitable discharge conveyor 17. Simultaneously, a pair of filled and sealed containers 22b are unloaded onto the discharge conveyer 17. The conveyer 17 then conveys the filled and sealed containers 22a and 22b to a further processing station for delivery purposes.
The machine of the present invention is provided with a suitable operator's console 51, and control cabinet means 52. The bottom former turret 14 is rotated in a single indexing or intermittent movement by a suitable variable drive motor means, generally indicated by the numeral 53, which has an output shaft 56 connected to suitable drive means for rotating the turret 14. The filler turrets 15 and 16 are also suitably interconnected and driven by the same basic drive means 53 and the interconnected gear reducer means 55 and drive shaft 56. A suitable relay cabinet 57 and junction box 58 are also provided for use in housing a suitable control circuit means which does not form any part of the present invention since the machine of the present invention can be controlled by any suitable control means. Any suitable shaft and gear drive means may be employed between the drive shaft 56 and turrets 14, 15 and 16 for indexing said turrets in the aforedescribed intermittent motion. It will be seen that since the bottom former turret 14 is moved in a single indexing motion, and the filler turrets 15 and 16 are moved in a double indexing motion, that the ratio of movement is four-to-one between the bottom former turret 14 and the two filler turrets 15 and 16.
The machine of the present invention provides a small, inexpensive and simplified machine for providing maximum production in a minimum amount of space. The intermittent packaging machine of the present invention is a machine of exceptionally clean construction and it will produce approximately 110 filled containers a minute, as compared to the prior art continuous motion, more expensive packaging machines which produce about 120 filled containers a minute. The intermittent packaging machine of the present invention is simpler and less expensive to make since it has less operating parts, as for example, mandrels, pressure pads, sets of heaters, and other operating mechanisms, as compared to a continuous motion packaging machine. An advantage of the intermittent packaging machine of the present invention is that it employs rigid container carriers, and it does not require any conveyer chains so that it eliminates problems connected with such chains, which problems include chain stretching, chain wearing and dirty chains. The intermittent movement of the various turrets and their relative speeds, provide a slow moving rear end or filling end portion of the machine, whereby an operator can keep a closer check over the filling operation. The provision of a variable drive permits the regulation of the speed of the filling turrets in accordance with the viscosity of the fluids being inserted into the containers. It will be understood, that the machine of the present invention can be used to fill containers of various sizes, as for example, quarts, pints, half-pints, liters, half-liters, quarter-liters, and so forth.
While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change.
FIG. 1 is an illustrative machine for forming, filling and closing containers in accordance with the method and principles of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front side elevation view of the container forming, filling and closing machine illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2--2 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, right end elevation view of the machine structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 3--3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The container forming, filling and closing machine of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with cartons or containers of the type shown in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,120,333, 3,185,375, 3,185,376, 3,294,310 and 3,406,892. For a complete description of the container which may be formed, filled and closed by the machine of the present invention, reference may be had to the aforementioned patents.
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 generally designates a common machine base which is provided with a plurality of suitable support legs 11 for supporting the base on a floor surface 12. The illustrative machine includes a conventional container blank loader magazine, generally indicated by the numeral 13, which is adapted to supply conventional flat folded, side seamed tubular container blanks 20 to a 16 station rotary bottom forming apparatus generally indicated by the numeral 14. The bottom forming apparatus 14 heats, folds and seals the container bottom closure so as to provide erected, open-ended tubular containers indicated by the numeral 22. The rotary bottom forming apparatus 14 moves with an intermittent or indexing motion, and it sumultaneously transfers a first set of two erected containers 22 onto a 20-station left hand turret, generally indicated by the numeral 15, and a second set of two erected containers 22 onto a 20-station right hand turret, generally indicated by the numeral 16. Each of the turrets 15 and 16 is provided with suitable filler, heating and top sealing apparatuses for filling and sealing the containers 22 and discharging them onto a suitable discharge conveyor apparatus generally indicated by the numeral 17. The rotary turrets 15 and 16 are moved in an intermittent or indexing motion, in a reduced ratio relative to the intermittent motion of the rotary bottom forming apparatus 14.
In accordance with the aforedescribed general procedure, the container blanks 20 are withdrawn one at a time from the magazine 13 by an appropriate vacuum nozzle or cup mechanism, generally indicated by the numeral 21. The vacuum nozzle mechanism 21 is primarily of the character described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,357,535, and comprises a plurality of nozzles which project from a suitable housing to engage one panel of a container blank 20. The nozzles retract to withdraw a container blank 20 from the magazine 13, and the nozzles then rotate and carry the container blank 20 to a station on the bottom former turret 14. The nozzle or cup mechanism 21 squares the blank 20 into a general rectangular position in the usual manner and then places it on a suitable rectangular mandrel 19, which is preferably of the conventional four-post water-cooled type. It will be understood that each one of the sixteen stations on the bottom former turret 14 is provided with a suitable mandrel 19. The mandrel 19 may be of any conventional structure, as for example, the structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,761.
As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom former turret 14 indexes in an intermittent motion so as to move the various stations thereon in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The erected containers 22 on the mandrels 19 are indexed through three bottom heating stations 23 of a conventional three-station bottom heater, generally indicated by the numeral 24, after which they are moved to a tucking station 25. Any suitable bottom heating apparatus may be used, as for example, the heating apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,249,025 and 3,392,458. It will also be understood that any suitable rotating container tucker apparatus may be employed for tucking the bottom end of the container 22, as for example, the rotating container tucker apparatuses shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,166,994, 3,187,647 and 3,398,659.
After the bottoms of the containers 22 have been tucked, the containers are then moved in an intermittent or indexing motion through the three bottom sealing stations 26 of a suitable bottom sealing apparatus generally indicated by the numeral 29. The sealing or bonding apparatus 29 includes three separate pressure pads and they may comprise any suitable conventional means as, for example, they may comprise the type bonding and sealing structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,347,017.
As shown in FIG. 1, the clockwise intermittent rotation of the bottom forming turret 14 moves the formed cartons 22 around to a position adjacent the left hand filling turret 15 and the right hand filling turret 16. The left hand filling turret 15 revolves in a clockwise direction, and the right hand filling turret 16 revolves in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The terms "left hand turret" and "right hand turret" are applied to the turrets 15 and 16 because of their positions when the machine is viewed from the front end thereof, which is the left end of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, four formed containers 22 are simultaneously transferred onto the filling turrets 15 and 16. Four suitable vacuum cup means, indicated generally by the numerals 28, are moved upwardly to engage the lower ends of the formed containers 22, and strip them off the mandrels 19. The formed containers 22 are then transferred by a pair of suitable transfer arms 30 so as to load two of the formed containers 22 onto two of the stations on the filling turret 15, and two of the formed containers 22 onto two of the stations on the filling turret 16. The containers 22 which are loaded onto the filling turret 15 have been marked with the numeral 22a, and the containers 22 which are loaded onto the turret 16 have been marked with the numeral 22b.
The two rotary filling turrets 15 and 16 are double indexed, as compared to the single indexing intermittent motion of the bottom former turret 14. Each of the filler turrets 15 and 16 works on two containers at a time.
The filling action carried out by the turret 15 on two containers 22a will be described, and it will be understood that the same filling action is being carried out simultaneously on two other containers 22b by the turret 16.
After two of the containers 22a have been loaded onto two of the stations on the filling turret 15, they are indexed in an intermittent, double-indexing movement to a two-station top breaker apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 31a. The top end breaker apparatus 31a may be of any suitable conventional type. A suitable top end breaker apparatus is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,049. The containers 22a are then indexed to a two-station filler unit, generally indicated by the numeral 32a. The details of the two-station filler unit 32a are best seen in FIG. 2, wherein the corresponding structure 32b is shown for the filler turret 16.
The filler means 32b is illustrated as comprising a bottom-up filler apparatus which can be advantageously employed in the machine of the present invention since it is possible to run the filler turrets 15 and 16 at a speed approximately four times slower than the speed of the bottom former turret 14, due to the fact that the filler turrets 15 and 16 are double indexed and the bottom former turret 14 is single indexed. The employment of a bottom-up filling apparatus permits the filling of a container in one shot or one motion, as compared to the piston or spray type filler apparatus. However, it will be understood that both a bottom up filler type apparatus may be employed to carry out the filling function of the filler apparatus 32b as well as a piston or spray type filler apparatus of the type illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,195,781 and 3,334,668.
As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom-up filler apparatus 32b includes a fluid cylinder operated container lifting means 33b for lifting a pair of containers 22b upwardly for co-action with a pair of downwardly moving and then retracting filler nozzles 36b. The filler nozzles 36b are operatively associated with a pair of filler cylinders 37b which are operatively attached to a suitable milk supply tank 38b. As shown in FIG. 1, the milk tanks 38a and 38b are supplied from a common source of milk through a conduit 41. The conduit 41 is operatively connected through a suitable flow control valve 40, and a pair of supply conduits 39a and 39b to the milk tanks 38a and 38b. The use of a suitable bottom-up filler apparatus 32b is preferable, as compared to a piston type spray filler apparatus which sprays the milk into the container and mixes the milk with the air as it is put into the container. A bottom-up filler apparatus as 32b minimizes the trouble of mixing the milk with the air, and accordingly, it ensures a maximum hygiene and little frothing, and a low filling temperature. If a piston type filler is used, which fills the container from the top end thereof, a conventional de-foamer would be required and the number of filler stations would have to be increased to four or more.
In operation, a pair of containers 22b are lifted upwardly a predetermined distance and two filler nozzles 36b are lowered into the containers until they reach a point adjacent the bottoms of the containers. The nozzles 36b then commence the filling action and retract upwardly and complete the filling of the containers. When the filler nozzles 36b reach the top of their retractive stroke, the two filled containers 22b are lowered and they are indexed to the next station 44a, 44b, which is any suitable conventional top end tucking station. The tucking operation results in further breaking or flexing of the top closure elements about their score lines.
As shown in FIG. 1, the filler turret 15 indexes two of the containers 22a to a two-station top end heating apparatus, generally indicated by the numeral 45a. The top-end heating apparatus 45a may be any suitable conventional type, as for example, it may be of the type shown in either of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,309,841 or 3,370,399.
The filler turret 15 double indexes the two containers 22a whiich have been heated at the top end heating station 45a to a two-station top end closing and sealing apparatus, as generally indicated by numeral 46a. The top end closing and sealing apparatus employed at the station 46a may be of any suitable conventional type as, for example, the top end closing and sealing apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,399.
After the containers 22a have been sealed, they are moved in a double indexing or intermittent movement of a two-station position indicated by the numeral 47a where the containers 22a may be stamped by a suitable dating apparatus, if desired. The filler turret 15 next double indexes the completely filled and sealed containers 22a to an unload station, generally indicated by the numeral 49a, from where they are unloaded by a suitable unloading apparatus 48a onto a suitable discharge conveyor 17. Simultaneously, a pair of filled and sealed containers 22b are unloaded onto the discharge conveyer 17. The conveyer 17 then conveys the filled and sealed containers 22a and 22b to a further processing station for delivery purposes.
The machine of the present invention is provided with a suitable operator's console 51, and control cabinet means 52. The bottom former turret 14 is rotated in a single indexing or intermittent movement by a suitable variable drive motor means, generally indicated by the numeral 53, which has an output shaft 56 connected to suitable drive means for rotating the turret 14. The filler turrets 15 and 16 are also suitably interconnected and driven by the same basic drive means 53 and the interconnected gear reducer means 55 and drive shaft 56. A suitable relay cabinet 57 and junction box 58 are also provided for use in housing a suitable control circuit means which does not form any part of the present invention since the machine of the present invention can be controlled by any suitable control means. Any suitable shaft and gear drive means may be employed between the drive shaft 56 and turrets 14, 15 and 16 for indexing said turrets in the aforedescribed intermittent motion. It will be seen that since the bottom former turret 14 is moved in a single indexing motion, and the filler turrets 15 and 16 are moved in a double indexing motion, that the ratio of movement is four-to-one between the bottom former turret 14 and the two filler turrets 15 and 16.
The machine of the present invention provides a small, inexpensive and simplified machine for providing maximum production in a minimum amount of space. The intermittent packaging machine of the present invention is a machine of exceptionally clean construction and it will produce approximately 110 filled containers a minute, as compared to the prior art continuous motion, more expensive packaging machines which produce about 120 filled containers a minute. The intermittent packaging machine of the present invention is simpler and less expensive to make since it has less operating parts, as for example, mandrels, pressure pads, sets of heaters, and other operating mechanisms, as compared to a continuous motion packaging machine. An advantage of the intermittent packaging machine of the present invention is that it employs rigid container carriers, and it does not require any conveyer chains so that it eliminates problems connected with such chains, which problems include chain stretching, chain wearing and dirty chains. The intermittent movement of the various turrets and their relative speeds, provide a slow moving rear end or filling end portion of the machine, whereby an operator can keep a closer check over the filling operation. The provision of a variable drive permits the regulation of the speed of the filling turrets in accordance with the viscosity of the fluids being inserted into the containers. It will be understood, that the machine of the present invention can be used to fill containers of various sizes, as for example, quarts, pints, half-pints, liters, half-liters, quarter-liters, and so forth.
While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change.