US2328372A - Mechanism for and method of charging containers with liquid - Google Patents

Description

' All@ 31, 1943. J. E. woLLl-:NWEBER 2,328,372

MECHANISM FORV AND METHOD OF CHARG'ING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed NOV. 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 31, 1943. J. E. woLLENwEBER MECHANISM FOR AND METHOD OF CHARGING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed Nov. 25. ,1938 3 Sheets-Shes?l .2

Aug. 3l, 1943. E, woLLENwEBER 2,328,372

MEGHANISM FOR AND METHOD OF CHARGING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Fifled Nov. 25, 1958 5 sheets-sheet s F5114 Syvum July/us5 Wllenveez:

Patented Aug. 31, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT. oFFIcI-:-

MECHANISM FOR AND METHOD F CHARG- ING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Julius E. Wollenweber, Detroit, Mich., assigner to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 2s, 193s, serial No. 242,429

(ci. 22e-se) 4 Claims.

, small consequence whether a liquid being handled foams or not since the foam quickly subsides and disappears when the agitation ceases. On the other hand, in certain instances, it is highly essential to take into full consideration the foaming characteristics of a liquid, this being particularly true in the design of liquid measuring and handling apparatus for charging' containers. Thus in the charging of a container a measured quantity of liquid must be owed into the container and the container thereafter sealed. If a substantial body of foam is formed upon the upper surface of the liquid in the container after charging, this may interfere, so long as it exists, with the sealing of the container,

particularly when the container is of the tubular type and has a foldable or collapsible upper end portion comprising a plurality of panels which are to be relatively folded into predetermined relationship, and permanently secured in such relationship, after charging. When containers of this type are being lled with milk, the problem of preventing and eliminating foaming is a material one since, as is well-known, milk has a marked tendency to form foam when agitated. After charging of the container with the measured quantity of milk, a substantial body of foam is usuallgrf present upon the upper surface of the liquidrthis foam body projecting upwardly into the foldable end closure of the container. After charging, it is of course desirable to close the container as rapidly as possible not only for reasons of economy in the operation of the container charging machine, but also to minimize the possibility of entry of contaminating substances into the open. mouth of the container. Hence it is desirable that such steps as may be possible be taken not only to charge the container with the milk in such manner that foaming is minimized but also to provide means for rapidly dissipating any foam which may have been created.

I have discovered that a bodyof foam resting upon the upper surface of a liquid in a container, the upper end of which is open, can be readily dissipated by blowing into the upper end of such container, in such manner as to contact with the foam on the surface of the liquid, a gaseous current. Any suitable gas may be employed for this purpose, but naturally it is most economical to use a gas which isreadily available at small cost. Advantageously the gaseous stream is,

heated, it having been found in practice that a body of foam is much more vreadily dissipated when subjected to the action of a relatively hot stream of gas than when the gas is unheated. Steam may be used with great advantage, for

' the stated purpose, being not only hot but also sterile, but where facilities for the generation of steam are not readily available, heated air may be employed with success, it being essential of course to provide means which will supply clean uncontaminated air.

While particularly useful when employed in connection with automatic machines for charging milk into containers of the type described, the invention is nevertheless of utility in the packaging of other liquidsy into other types of containers, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. Likewise, the mechanism employed for generating and supplying the gaseous stream may vary widely in its details of construction. Several types of such mechanism, which have been lused with success, are illustrated in the accompanying drawingsby way of example.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevation of a mechanism by means o1V which steam jets may be introduced Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of a modified type of gaseous jet directing device;

Figure 'l is a section on line l-l of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an axial section through one of the y nozzle devices shown in Figure 6;

Figure 11 is an end view of the device shown` in Figure 9; f Figure 12 is a bottom view of the same, showing several series of` gas discharged-apertures;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure .13 is a side ,elevation of a third form of gaseous fluid discharging means suitable for use in practicing the improved method;

Figure 14 -is a section on line I4-I4 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an axial section through a strainer through which the steampasses on its way to the discharge nozzle;

Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a completed container, after charging and sealing; and

Figure 17 is a vertical section through a condensate oitake valve. n

While, as haspreviously been explained, the improved method and apparatus are of general utility and may be made use of in the4 charging of containers of various types with different kinds of fluid, it is particularly useful when employed in connection with a rapidly operating container charging and sealing machine, for reasons previously pointed out. A small portion of such a machine is illustrated in the drawings, one of its longitudinally extending side frame members being indicated at I0 and a bridging member, extending transversely of the machine, .from one side frame member to another, being indicated at II. A conveyor structure is generally indicated at C, this conveyor extending longitudinally of the machine and including spaced parallel members I3 which together comprise a traekway for the conveyor chain I4 which chain, in the operation of the apparatus, is intermittently actuated in the direction of the arrow A (Figure 2) to intermittently advance containers, such as containers D, D', D2, D3, andD4 (Figure 2)', the base of each of these containers being gripped .between a pair of container gripping elements mounted on and movable with the conveyor chain I4. Each container comprises a tubular body portion I5, rectangular in horizontal section, and a foldable upper end closure I6 comprising a plurality of relatively sti panels which may be readily folded, after charging, so that its upper end is peaked and provided with a transversely extending relatively stiff rib, as shown 1n Figure 16.

In Figure 2 there are diagrammatically 1l1ustrated two cylinders 20 and 2| which comprise elements of a liquid measuring and discharging mechanism. This mechanism may vary in its details of construction, but may advantageously be formed in the manner fully disclosed in the copending application of Julius E. Wollenweber, Serial No. 210,257. Associated with each unit 20 and 2| is a discharge nozzle, one of which is indicated at 22 and thevother at 23, these discharge nozzles being positioned immediately above the conveyor C and in position to discharge liquid such as milk downwardly into containers whose open mouths are successively positioned in close proximity thereto. Charging of each container is effected in two stages where the containers are of `large capacity, one half of the charge being projected into any single container through the nozzle 22 and the remainder through the nozzle 23 at a later time. Thus while the container D4 is receiving the first portion of its liquid charge when positioned as shown in Figure 2, the container D2 is receiving the remainder of its full charge, the container D3 intermediate containers D2 and D4 temporarily occupying a position in which it receives no liquid, thus allowing the foam created by the rst charging operation to subside from natural causes as much as possible before this container passes under the discharge nozzle 23.

' ing mechanism to introduce the liquid into the When fully charged each container is iilled with liquid up to the level indicated at 24 in the drawings and, despite the ability of the chargsuccessive containers with the least possible amount of objectionable foam, a charged container occupying the position D' will frequently have upon its upper surface a substantial body of foam which, unless 'removed before the time that the container reaches the means for closing the upper end of the container, may beat least in part forced from the open end of the container as the closure panels are inwardly and downwardly deflected.

'I'he means for subjecting each successive container to the action of a rgaseous blast, immediately after it is charged, will now be described. The form of the gas discharging mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 is preferably employed when steam is the gaseous medium to be used for dissipating the foam. Portion of a conduit for leading steam, at the desired temperature and under the desired pressure, from a suitable source of supply, is indicated at 30, the direction of ow of steam being indicated by the arrow B (Figure 1). This steam enters a separator 3i which may be of any desired or standard type and by means of which water of condensation can be removed together with impuri ties. After issuing from the separat-or 3I the steam passes upwardly through a conduit 32 into a strainer 33 by means of which it is subjected to a further straining operation. From strainer 33 the steam is led, through pipe or conduit 34, toward the body 35 of the steam discharge device generally indicated at 35, body 35 being rigidly secured to the bridging member I I. Through an aperture 31 formed in the wall of body 35 steam may pass from conduit 34 into the hollow interior of this body. Intermediate the strainer 33 and the steam jet device 36 the conduit 34 is provided with a valve 38, preferably of the needle type, by means of which the flow of steam to the discharge device may be accurately regulated.

The iioor 39 of the steam chamber within the hollow body 35 is provided with an upstanding tubular member 40, the lower end of which registers with a steam discharge port 4I formed in the :door or bottom 39, port 4I comprising a valve controlled port through which steam may ow downwardly into the horizontal duct or conduit 42. Each end of conduit 42 is in communication with the interior of a nozzle member, one such nozzle being indicated at 43 and the other at 44, the nozzles being preferably cup-shaped, as shown, and the upwardly extending peripheral ange of each nozzle having an upwardly facing annular surface which directly underlies a similar but downwardly facing annular surface formed upon a downwardly projecting annular portion 45 of body 35, an annular sealing ring or washer 46 beingl interposed between the mutually facing surfaces.

Each nozzle is attached to the body 35 of the jet device by means of a screw,'one such screw being indicated at 48 and the other at 49, each screw extending upwardly through a central aperture provided in the nozzle for its reception and having its other end in threaded engagement with a correspondingly threaded bore formed in the undersurface of body 35. Each nozzle has formed therein a plurality of downwardly and outwardly inclined gas discharge ducts 50 and the securing screws 48 and 49 are likewise axially apertured, as 'indicated in Figure 4 at 5|, a radial bore 52 bringing such aperture into communication with the interior of the associated nozzle. Through the several discharge ducts 50, and the central discharge duct 5|, steam downwardly ilowing to each nozzle may be discharged into the upper end oi a container positioned just below it and, during the operation of the machine, this steam flow is preferably uninterrupted, so` that each newly charged container is submitted rst to the action of gaseous jets projected downwardly from the nozzle 43 and thereafter to jets projected downwardly from nozzle 44.

Steam now, however, is automatically interrupted when the machine is shut down'either intentionally or by accident, the valveji, located in the upwardly extending tubular duct 40 being adapted to descend when the conveyor driving motor is de-energized, to close the aperture 4|, thus immediately stopping the flow of lsteam which, in the absence oi such valve, would continue and cause heating of the liquid contents of the two containers immediately below the respective nozzles. The upper end of valve 55 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a vertically reciprocable plunger 56 located within the central aperture of a solenoid magnet 51 which is supported upon a bracket 58 mounted upon the top plate 59 of the jet device 36. A cylindrical casing Eli encloses the magnet and its support. The motor which drives the conveyor and operates the charging apparatus. is diagrammatically indicated at 62 in Figure 1, and two electrical supply mains or conductors at 63 and 64, respectively. The magnet coil 51 is connected by electric conductors 65 and 96 to conduitst and 64, respectively, and hence electromagnet 51 is energized only so long as the motor 62 is energized. It is apparent, therefore, that the valve 55 of the jet device will be raised when the motor is energized and will be lowered and closed automatically when the motor is de-energized, the valve being projected downwardly into'closed position by its own weight and the weight of the solenoid plunger 56 to which it is connected.

It will be perceived that the two nozzlesl 8 and 46 are at different elevations, the nozzle |54 being closer to the container D than is the nozzle 43 to container D'. It is found advantageous to arrange these nozzles at ldiierent elevations and to eiect the defoaming or foam dissipating operation in two stages instead of in one stage, particularly when the machine is being rapidly operated, since a substantial body of foam may be more satisfactorily dealt with in this manner, portion of the foam being removed in one operation and the remainder in. a second operation without placing the steam under undue pressure.,

Each nozzle is provided with an oitake for water of condensation, the oiitake for nozzle d3 being clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and the oitake for nozzle M being exactly similar. This oitake comprises a tubular extension 69 terminating in a downturned portion 69 also provided with a duct or conduit, the upper end of this duct being in communication at all times with the outer end of the horizontal duct of tubular member 68. Water of condensation which collects upon the upper surface of the bottom of 'nozzle 43 may escape through the communicating channels formed in members 68 and 69 at any time during the operation of the apparatus: and suitable means may be provided for collecting this escaping waterland leading it to a sump. The outer end of the horizontally extending tubular member 68 is closed by a screw or plug 10 which may be removed when it is desired to clean the apparatus by passing steam under substantial pressure therethrough, all water of condensation and possible impurities being blown from the end oi the tubular member 68.

The details of the strainer 33 and of the valve 38 may be varied as desired.' One form of strainer is shown in section in Figure and is seen to comprise a hollow casing 1| .having .an inlet port 12 and an outer port 13, with a removable disc-like cover 14 secured in'position by a clamping yoke 15 and a manually operable screw 16. Within the casing 1|,is a cylindrical screen 11 the upper end of which is connected to a ring 'i8 and the lower end to an annular member 19. It is essential that all portions of the apparatus be of such character as to be readily disassembled since frequent cleaning is neces? sary.

In Figures and 7 a modiiled form of device for directing gaseous jets into containers is shown.

This is especially suited for use when one nozzle only is employed althoughvtwo or more such devices may be made use of when defoaming in a plurality of stages is desired. The jet device comprises essentially a hollow cylindrical member 80 having a,k plurality of apertures formed in its closed lower end 8|, in each of which apertures a nozzle or .let member 82 is threaded. Spaced `above the lower end 8| of member 80 is a false bottom 83 having an aperture 815 therein through which steam may pass downwardly from the vertically extending conduit or channel 85, the flow casing 81, portion of which is illustrated. A conduit for leading steam to the interior of member is indicated at 88 and a conduit,`at a lower elevation, through which water of condensation may escape, is indicated at 89.

In Figures 9 to 12 there is illustrateda jet d'evice by means of which streams of heated air may be projected into the open upper ends of containers. This device comprises essentially an elongated member 90 having a cylindrical bore 9| for the reception of one or more heating elements of the electrically energized type, one such element being indicated at 92. By means of this element the member 90 may be heated tothe desired temperature. Beneath the longitudinal bore 9|, member 90 is provided with an elongated downwardly opening recess 93 within which is tightly tted an elongated nozzle member 94 provided with a plurality of gas discharged ducts 95, arranged in groups of live, as shown in Figure 12. The interior ofthe longitudinal groove 93, above the nozzle 9B, is in communication with means for supplying air under light pressure, the tube 90' comprising al portion of this connecting means. The elongated nozzle member 99 is supported at its ends by means of flanged caps 95 ,and 91, the cap 96 having an annular peripheral flange 96 through which a thumb screw 96" passes and by means of which the cap may be secured in position and the peripheral flange 91' v,of cap 91 being interrupted. as shown clearly in Figure 11, to

provide a' space 98 registering with the end ofthe bore 9| and through whichswires 99, leading from the heating unit 92, may project, which wires may be connected to a suitable source 0I electric current. 'I'he air owing i'nto the jet device through the tube 90 is heated, while passing through this device, to the desired degree prior to its discharge from the air discharge ducts 85. This appliance has been designed to simultaneously direct heated gaseous streams into the upper ends of four containers, such as indicated at D, D", D8, and D, and it will be clear that it may be modified so as to simultaneously direct jets of heated air to the open ends of any desired number of containers simultaneously, depending upon the nature of the iluid which is charged into such containers and the speed of operation oi the container advancing means.

, In Figures 13- and 14 a second form of air jet device is shown, this being generally similar to that just described but having heating units secured exterlorly thereto instead of being housed within the same. Thus to the longitudinally extending main member |00 there are secured two heating units, preferably of the electrical type,

indicated at |0|, each of these units being seated within a recess or groove formed in the upper surface of member |00. The heating units are held in place by means of bands |02, each band being provided with a thumb screw |03 which insures tight contact between the lower surface of the heating unit and the surface of the recess in which it is located. Upon the tube |04 through which air under light pressure is conducted into the hollow interior of member |00 there is secured aLthird heating unit |05, by means of a band |06 and thumb screw |01, and, if desired, additional heating units may thus be secured to the metallic conduit through which the air is led.

In the form of the invention disclosed Iin Figures 1, 2 and 3 means is provided for draining off water ofrcondensation which mayv collect upon the oor or bottom of body 35. It will be appreciated that there will be a substantial accumulation of condensate when steam enters the body 35 after a long shut-down, during which the body has cooled to room temperature. A condensed steam offtake pipe 342 is provided for this purpose. one end of this pipe being in free comwater*` forms in the body 35 the valve 345 is opened and the water allowed to escape. After this the valve is closed and normal condensation allowed to 'escape through groove 34. If desired, this valve structure could be replaced by a steam trap.

'Still further forms oi the invention may be devised to suit special circumstances and the invention in itsbroader aspects is quite independent of any particular mechanism. However, the several mechanisms which have been illustrated and described have been proven to b e eminently successful for rapidly dissipating layers of foam from the upper surfaces of containers just previously charged with milk. n,

Having thus described the invention, wh'at is claimed as desired to be secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for advancing a series of containers, the .upper ends of which are open, and means positioned above the conveyor for directing downwardly into each successive container a gaseous current, said means including two nozzles spaced longitudinally of the cony veyor and unequally spaced from the conveyor.

2. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for advancing a series of containers, the upper ends of which are open, so as to successively pass a given'point, and means positioned above th'e conveyor for directing downwardly into each successive container a plurality of jets of gas, so that any foam within the container will be reduced or broken down.

3. Mechanism of the class described comprising, in combination, a conveyor for advancing a series of containers, the upper ends of which are open, so as to successively pass a given point, and means positioned above the conveyor for directing downwardly into each -successive container a plurality of downwardly diverging jets ofgas to reach and break down any foam within the container.

4. In the art of charging containers with liquids such as milk which foam when agitated, passing a stream of milk downwardly into a container through the open mouth thereof to partially fill the same, and immediately thereafter projecting downwardly into the container through said open mouth' and into any body of foam resting upon the surface of the liquid in the container, a iet of steam to dissipate such foam, thereby making it possible to promptly close and seal the container mouth.

JULIUS E. WOLLENWEBER.

Images