US2603398A - Filling machine control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

y 1952 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,603,398

FILLING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PAUL E. FISCHER I MORTIME B. STURDEVANT BY M Q. w AZLOfl/lfl) July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,603,398

FILLING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS PAUL E. FISCHER ORTIMER B. STURDEVANT July 15, 1952 P. E. FISCHER ET AL 2,603,398

FILLING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 III TO VAOUUII u... I. VIAEE 'IIIIIIII MORT MER B. STURDEVANT BY Q/ fl; M

A T TOR/YE Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,32 FIG. 5

P. E. FISCHER ET AL FILLING MACHINE CONTROL MECHANISM s m m m mm A K m [In E. U m m 6 w m a \m ix n mum m 6. nlu m, F

July 15, 1952 Filed Sept. 15, 1949 MORTIMER B. STURDEVANT BY Wk 6- QM ATTORNEY Patented July 15, 1952 7 2,603,398 FILLING MACHINE'CONTROL MECHANISM Paul E.- Fischer ,m ,Mortimer' 1i serials,

Minneapolis,

7 inn assignors toGeneral -Mills Inc., acorporation of Delaware Application September 15, 1949', SerialNoQ11552 The present invention relates to filling machines, and particularly to control means for such filling machines designed to prevent operationof the filling device when the supply'of. containers to the machine is interrupted.

Various constructions have been proposed in the past for use in filling machines, to prevent-the operation of the filling mechanism when the supply of containers to be filled is interrupted, Such' devices aregenerally characterized as no con tainer-no fill mechanisms. 1

It is one object of the present invention to provide improved control mechanism for filling mach-ineswhich will prevent operation of the fill,- ing mechanism in the absence of a container to be filled.

It is another object of the invention to pro signed for use in 'co'mbinationwith resilient operating means for moving the 'usualcontainer support andfilling head into juxtaposed filling position. I

A further object is a control mechanism which iseffective on an individual filling head without interruption of operation of the remainder of the machine.

cl ims, (01. 226L116)" invention are described with particular reference; to the'accompanying drawings. 1: Z. In these drawings; wherein like referencechare acters'indicatelike parts, 1 Figure 1 is a partial'top: plan of a rotary filling, machine incorporating the control L mechanism: of the present invention. with 'the upper or filling head portion of: thee-machine broken; awayrfor,v clearness; J 1 7.

Fig.2 is; a. schematic perspective view of certain station's of'tth'e niachine' of :Figz. 1,1 showing-ides tails of operation. ofsthe controlgmech'anismw I "Fig.3" is 'a' sectional elevation taken ina'radial Another object of the invention is" acontrol mechanism which includes resilient operating means for relative movement of the filling head and container support of a rotary filling machine, incombination with stop means on the rotatable carrier of such a machine for preventing-coinpletion' of the relative movement of the parts to filling position.

Still another object is the provision of a control mechanism for rotary machines of this type in which the position of movable stop means on the rotatable carrier of the machine iscontrolled by setting mechanism on the stationary base of the machine.

A further object is the provision of such coiltrol means in combination with resetting means on the stationary base of'the machine for cooperation with movable stop means on the rotatable carrier.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification in which certain preferred embodiments of the plane passing 'through. the: axis of rotation .of l the machine =an'd'the axis of one of the container sup'portsand fillingsheadslf a 1 Fig; 4' :is' an enlarged partial sectional view of 1 part of thefrllin'ghead ofFig-B. 1 Fig, 5zis a. partialtsecti'onalEviewof portionsof the container, support and. fillingzhead, with the container, support locked to prevent completion of its-movement to filling position. Fig. .6''is a'ipartialzse'ctional viewon'zthe 'line' 6-15 of'F-ig; 5 withith'e latch portion'o'f :the' stop mechanism in looking positioniz: 1' Fig. 7 is'a .view similar .toi-1 "ig.- 6.'.with the latch member inunlockedposition; V L" Fig. Bis an enlargedpartial.sectional View of; the interengagingportions of the stop :meansand.

container sup-port. .7.

' Fig.1 9 is an. enlarged side elevatiomrwith .cere. tain parts-shown in section, showing: details. of" the setting. mechanism according to the invene ti0n,-a;nd v f ,7 I Fig: 10 is'a view similar to Fig, 3, butwith: the filling head andncontainer 1 support .in relatively separated loading positionof' another type .or fi l ls in'g head construction suitable for use .in accord-2. aneewith theinvention; i e :i- .1 7 General description In. general; the: objects of the present Linven ti'on'fiare'zaccornplished by: provision of a filling: machinem:in.;.wh-ich a suitable filling-head and container support are mounted ona base fortrelative m men owa d nd omea h Qih rt :1 tween a relatively spar-a ed. loading -po sition an relatively juxtaposed filling position. Ifhe powe means .for causing relative movement o-fth parts includes means resniehuymovmg the co tainer support and filling head htol relative fill; mg position. For this re ilient movementythe; present description discloses the 'us'eof. pneumatic operating means; However in certain cases; other know'n forms or operating mechanismcould be utilized in which the necessary resilience is provided by springs or the like.

The filling mechanism according to the present invention is so designed that it will be disabled or inoperative unless the container support and filling head are moved completely into the filling position. In the present case the filling mechanism includes connections to a suitable source of vacuum. The filling head and container support also include cooperating elements which engage each other to form an airtight filling chamber when the parts are completely moved to filling position. Failure to complete the movement of these parts into filling position prevents interengagement of the operating elements on the support and head and thus prevents the reduction of pressure within the filling chamber. Since operation of such a filling head depends on the creation of a substantial vacuum within the filling chamber,

failure to move the container support and filling head all the way to filling position will accordingly prevent operation of the filling mechanism.

While other arrangements may be used in certain cases to prevent operation of a filling mechanism in the absence of complete movement to filling position, the construction shown in the present specification is preferred by reason of its simplicity and economy of operation.

In accordance with the invention, a stop is provided which is movable to and from a blocking position in'which it prevents completion of the relative movement of the container support and filling head into filling position.

The position of this stop means is controlled and determined by setting mechanism operated in response to a suitable detector which is responsive to the presence or absence of a container on the container support. Thus when no.

container is positioned on the support, the de-.

tector mechanism, through the setting device, will move the stop means into blocking position to prevent complete movement of the parts into filling position and thus prevent operation of the filling mechanism.

As thus far described, the mechanism according to the present invention is suitable either for single head, straight line,'or rotary types of filling machines. The device is particularly useful, however, when used in connection with machines of the rotary type. In such machines, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, containers 34 are fed into the machine by a suitable loading platform or conveyor 18 at an initial loading station designated as A. A rotatable carrier 22 carries a series of circumferenti'ally. spaced container supports 24 in the direction designated by arrow 80 of Fig. 1. Each container support thus passes first from the loading stationat A to a detector station indicated at B. Here suitable detector mechanism 82 determines the presence or absence of a container on the support, and controls theposition of a setting device 84 according to the presence or lack of such a container.

In the continued rotation of the carrier 22, setting device 84 determines the position of stop mechanism indicated generally at 86 (Figs. 1 and 2). As the container supports leave the station B and the detector mechanism and setting device, they move to a further station C (Fig. 2) atwhich the container support is normally moved upwardly to filling position. However, should thesetting device 84 have moved the stop mechanism 86 into blocking position,

complete movement of the support to filling position will be prevented.

During further rotation of the carrier 22 and supporting plate, the filling mechanism will become operative, for example, by connection to a suitable source of vacuum. As already described, this vacuum connection will only be effective to feed material through the filling head in the event that movement of the support to filling position has been complete. The filling operation is continued through a substantial portion of the rotary movement of plate 22 and support 24 and is terminated at a second point in the path of rotation just before the support reaches station D of Fi 1. At station D, a resetting device 88 is provided to restore the stop mechanism to its normal or inoperative position in preparation for a normal succeeding filling cycle. Further rotation of the machine to station E will result in removal of the containers from the various supports onto an unloading platform 90. This removal is accomplished'by cooperating inner and outer guides 92 and 94 in combination with a movable pusher arm 96 fastened to transfer conveyor 98 which is rotated on an axis H!!! in timed relation to the rotation of carrier 22.

Thus, in normal operation of the machine, container-s will be fed to the supports at station A and will be filled during rotation of the supports from station A clockwise to station E. Should the supply of containers be interrupted for any reason, rotation of the carrier 22 and supports- 24 may be continued. The stop means described generally above will prevent operation of any individual filling head which does not have a container in position to receive the material. At the same time the remaining heads will be operative to fill those containers which are available. Hence the safety mechanism of the present invention prevents needless interruption of the operating cycle of such a rotary filling machine. At the same time, the mechanism solves the problem which would otherwise be present, of preventing operation of the vacuum filling mechanism when a container is missing from a given support.

Were it not for the stop means which prevents completion of the relative movement of the container support to filling position, it will be apparent that the cooperating elements on the filling head and support which establish the filling chamber would move into engagement with each other, would form an air tight chamber, and would accordingly permit operation of the filling head. Then as the parts were returned to their separated or loading position, the material would be spilled from the container support into the operating mechanism of the machine. These difficulties are prevented by the present mechanism'in a simple and positive manner as described in detail below.

Container support and filling head operation As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the present filling machine includes a stationary base 20 on which carrier 22 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. On carrier 22 are mounted a series of circumferentially spaced container supports 24.

' Carrier 22 supports a central hub 26, at the top of which is mounted a plate 28 which carries a series of filling heads 30. One such filling head is located above each container support 24. In the form shown in Fig. 3, the filling head 30 includes a depending extension 32, the internal volume of which is substantially equal to or slightly greater thahlthefinternalyelume of the-container sato be euge su oi extension 32 engages' -the botto tainer tweei-i'tn extension and thesupport.

itecerding to the inventlon, powermeans is provided ror r'elative movement of the container support and filling head-"betweenrespective loading and filling positions. While either the support or the filling head or both could be moved for this purpose, a construction has been shown infwhich the filling heads remain vertically ste tionary,;and the container supports are recipro-w cated-fverti'cally'from the loadingpo'sition shown in Fig.1 2 "at station D to the fi llingposition shown at station C of Fig. 2.

vThe means by which-the container support is moved resiliently upward against the filling head extension 32 is shown in this case as a pnei'im'a'tic cylinder 36 to which the container supportu is rigidly connected. Cylinder 36 in turn is' vertically reciproeableron a stationary piston 38." Piston 38 ha an internal passage II commu n'ic'iating with I an air' passage 42 in the-rotatable carrier 22. A pipe fl l is con'nected to pas'sage M -and is also adapted for connection to a suitable source of compressed airt'o lift cylinder :36- and'container support 24 to the position" of Fig; 3. A suitablebellows- 46 --connectsthe lower end'of cylinder 31? to the iston-su orting "plate 48 o'n the rotatable carrier 22. This bellows surrounds-and encloses the portion of the-piston between thecylinder and-the pistonsupport and prevents "the entrance of dust at these points during-operation 'o'f'the machine. 7

"Since any well known means i or controlling the air pressure through connection 44 maybe utilized, the details of the pressure control mechanism have been omitted. It will be understood-that pressure within cylinder 36 is increased to lift the cylinder and supporting plate atone'point in the rotation of carrier 2 2","corresponding inthis case to station C of Fig.2. At a sec'ond point spaced farther along in-the direction of rotation of carrier 2 2-, the pressure in cylinder '36 willbe reduced to lower the container support 24 back to its initial loading position prior to-arr ival of the support at stationfD of Fig. 1.

In order to locate each container 34 accurately wi th-respect' to its filling head,'supporting plates Z Ieach include aguidepo'st-SB fastened at 58 t o the inner 'rear corner of the -supporting plate 24. Guide post 56, in turn, is provided with angular upper and lower guides 60 and'62, respectively, for-engagementwith the inner and rear sides of eachcontainer 34. Thus as the containers are'fecl onto each container support and stationA, they will engage the guides '60 and 62 and will be ac-' curatelypositioned ior filling during subsequent operation of the machine.

shown in the enlarged View 4, the

fillinghead includes a 'central fillin'g opening 64 connected to a suitable' hopper or other source of material to be filled. Filling opening 64 is so designed that downwardmovernent of the powder or :material to be filled will not ordinarilywt'ake place 'u'nle'ss pressure is "subsequently reducedbelow" the filling opening.

"Toobta'in the necessary reduction of pres'sure',

"filling'fhead' se is provided with one or more air control passages 66 and 88 which may include screens or filters wand-J2 respectively. A con- (hit 14 v isadapted 1 for connection or passages -66" and 68 to a suitable controlled source'of vaciium.=

Here again, details ofthe mechanism by which the vacuum is-controlled have been omitteisince any standard vacuum system may be used. :It:

will understoodthat a-vacuum is normally established through connections I tduring a predetermined portion of the-rotary movement-ofeach fill ir'ig -h'ead and container support between:

stations C'a-nd'D-of Figs. 1 and 2. i

As already described, the connection 14- will-not be efiective {to create a vacuum in the filling chamber within extension 32 unlessthe container support' fl is n'iot ed allthe way-to the filling osi tion-of 3. When the stop mechanism is op-' erated in accordance with the present invention in response to absence of a container, the upward movement of support '24 will be arrested in thepo'sition of Fig. 5 just before the lower edge of the extension- 32' engages the resilient seat 54 of the container support. Thus anannular opening lfi is provided throughwh'ich air can enter extension 32 and prevent the reductionof pressure therein.

7 Stop means for container support I I Detail-s oi the construction-by which complete movement of the container support and filling head to filling position is prevented are shown in Figs. 5 to 8. The stop means,generally-indicated at 86, includes a stop tU-Zwhich is 'pivotedatllll to-a supporting post I06. v Post IOBis mountedon the rotatable carrier adjacent the lifting cylinder fie-and is fastened to-the carrier at I03. As-indicated: in -l ig .,2, a separate stopmechanism is provicled for cooperation with each lifting cylinderand container support.

In'the particular stop mechanism shown, the axis of pivot I-M 'f orstop W2 extends generallyradially-and horizontally with respect to rotatable-carrier 22. Stop )2 includes an abutment H0 atone end. Abutment- Nels located in the path ofnormal verticalmovementof a cooperating projection] l2 fastened to thecylinder-SB at I I4. ,;A;spring I I-fi-is located between theother end I I-8cf the. stop I02 and-aportion ofa-support Hi6, and normally urges thestop I 02 inacounter;

clockwise-direction with respect toEFig; -5 so -;that.

end'I I 8, "of the stop is held against cross :mem-ber, I 19 on tthe support I I3 6.

as indicatedin Fig. *8. This upward" movement WillStOI) when support. 2-1 reaches its" uppermost positionv and engages a container bottomagains'ti the-lowerend of filling-head extension 32; At-thi's time, latch l-fl zwill be) in the dotted line positionv of Fig. '8.

,However, when the stop means is a'ctuated' in the manner describedbelow, a latch portion-I20 (Figs; 5 and '7) will be moved beneath theend N8 of stop I02to prevent rotation to thedot'ted line position-of Fig.8. In this case, the parts will be held :in:the position of Fig. '5 to provideithe annular space T6 between the filling head :exten' sion- 3-2 and the container-support-k l. Operation of the filling head willaccordingly be prevented since pressure will n'ot be reduced sufficiently to cause flow of the filling material. I 7

' Latch portion I 20 constitutes an enlarged-sec- 7 tion of a ,slidable latch member I22. This latch member I22 moves parallel to pivot I04, i. e., radially of the rotatable carrier. 22. It is supported for thisradial sliding movement by slots' engagement with the setting and resetting mech-.

anisms described below to determine the position of thelatch. 7

As indicated in Figs. 6 and '1, the position of latch I 22 and its enlarged section I20 with reference to end III! of stop I02 determines whether or not stop I 02 is locked in the position of Fig. 5 or issfreeto move to the dotted line position of Fig. 8. When latch I22 is in the position of Fig. 6, stop I02 is looked as shown also in Fig. 5. Similarly, movement of latch I22 to the position of Fig. '7 moves the enlarged section I20 out from under the end II8 of stop I02 and permits rota tion of the stop as indicated in Fig.8.

Setting means for support stop 1 and 2) which is bolted at IM to a frame member I43 mounted on the stationary base 20 of the machine.

A spring I38 normally urges lever I34 in a clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 9 to the heavy line position of the figure. The inner end of lever I34, i. e., the end toward the center of the machine, carries a cam projection I40 which has a cam surface I42 angularly disposed with respect to the path of circumferential movement of the cam roller I32 on stop mechanism 86. The opposite end of lever I 34 is bifurcated at I44 and the bifurcations are provided with slots I48 for engagement with a pin I50. Pin I 50 is carried by a connecting rod I52 which is vertically slidable through a suitable guiding and sealing portion I54 on plate I31. The lower end of connecting rod I52 is pivoted at I56 to the core I58 of'a solenoid I60. Solenoid I60 is enclosed in a housing I62 for protection of the parts. Leads I64 and I66 connect the solenoid core to a suitable source of current through the detector switch mechanism described below.

When solenoid I60 is deenergized, the parts remain in the position shown in heavy lines in Fig. 9 because of the force exerted by spring I38. When solenoid I60 is energized, its core I58 will be moved downwardly and will thus rock lever I34 and cam I40 to the dotted line position of Fig. 9. Thus the cam I40 will be raised from its lower or heavy line position .(in which it was clear of the path of movement of roller I32 on latch I22) to its upper or dotted line position (in which it lies directly in the path of movement of roller I32). The slope of cam surface I42 is such that roller I32 and latch I22 will be moved from the position of Figs. 7 and 9 to the position of Fig. 6. as the stop mechanism 86 is moved by the rotatable carrier 22 past the cam projection I 0.

Thus, whenever solenoid I60 is energized, the

8: setting mechanism will be moved into the path of the cam roller I32 and will thus set the stop mechanism 86 in locking position so as to block the upward movement of the container support 24 when it reaches the position of Fig. 5 pr ior to.

completion of its movement to filling position. Similarly, when the solenoid is deenergized, spring I38 will return the parts to the heavy line position of Fig. 9 so that the setting mechanism will have no effect on the stop devices 86 which thereafter pass the setting mechanism prior to reenergization of solenoid I60.

Detector mechanism The detector mechanism 82 is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the form shown, the detector includes a feeler arm I68 which is adapted to engage the outer side wall of a container 34 whenever such a container is mounted on sup-- port 24. This engagement .of the feeler arm I 68 and container 34 will hold the feeler arm I68 in the heavy line position of Fig. 1. This same position is also shown in heavy lines in Fig. 2.

Feeler arm I68 is pivoted at I10 to a supporting plate I12. A spring I14 normally urges the feeler arm I68 in a clockwise direction in Fig. 1 and thus holds the arm against the container side wall. In case no container is supplied to the support 24, spring I14 will move. thehfeeler arm I68 from the heavy line position of Fig. 1 to the dotted line position of Fig. 2. A rearward extension I16 of the feeler arm will accordingly move away from the actuating lever I18 of a suitable detector switch I and will permit arm I18 to move under the influence of the internal spring normally associated with such a switch to change the effective operating position of the switch. The switch contacts are connected to leads I66 and I82. Lead I66, as explained above, is connected to one end of solenoid I60. Lead I82 from the microswitch I80 and the remaining lead I64 from the solenoid are connected to a suitable source of current.

Thus, when no container is present on a given container support 24, the feeler arm I68 will be moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 2 and will thus move the vmicroswitch I80 to closed position to energize solenoid I60 and move the setting cam I 40 into the proper position to set the stop mechanism 86 as described.

As soon as the supply of containers is resumed, the arrival of such a container on its support 24 at station B will move the feeler arm I68 back to the heavy line position of Figs. 1 and 2 and will thus move switch arm I18 to open position manner to control the solenoid I60 in response to the presence or absence of a container on support 24 at this station.

Resetting device The resetting device 88, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a horizontal supporting plate I84 located just above the path of movement of the rollers I32 of stop mechanism 86. A downwardly extending flange I86 at the inner edge of plate I84 is positioned at an angle to the cir-.

- sion 32.

cumferential path of rotation of theiparts. The

surface I88 of flange I86'thus serves as acam against which the roller I32 on latch I22 of each stop mechanism 86 will engage in. the event that the roller and latch are in the blocking position of Fig. 6. The inclination of cam surface I88 is such that roller I32 will" be moved radially outward from the dotted line position ==of Fig; 1 to the heavy line position. of Fig. l, i. e., from the locked position of Fig. 6 to the un-" locked position of Fig. 7'. Incase roller I32 and i its corresponding latch had not been set on their previous movement past the setting mechanism 82, roller I32 would already be in its'outer radial'position and would thus be unaffected by the-resetting cam surface I88.

Cam supporting plate I84 is mounted by means of suitable brackets l90and I92 on a vertical 'frame member I94 rigidly connected to the base 20 of the machine. Thus the resetting device, as well as the setting means, is mounted on the stationary base of the machine for cooperation with the stop means carried by themtatable carrier, during movement of the stop rneans past the setting and resetting mechanisms. In Fig. 10, another arrangement of'the .nected to the vacuum source. pressure. in. this. manner will prevent. downward 10 V10 moved all'the way up-into engagementwith' the lower en'clof. shroud 200, an-ann'ularairspace 1 will be provided between the top .of' support: 216 and the. bottom of. shroud portion 208. Air en- =teringr through this annularspace will thus maintain normal" pressures within shroud 206 even'though conduits 200 and 2I2 are con- Maintenance. of

flow of thevfilling .material onto supporting platel2l6 in the absence of acontainer.

Feeler arm I68, shown in Fig. 10, will assume a. position. depending onthe presence or absence of a container to operate the detector-switch and setting mechanism in the manner previously described. I I I :In conclusion, it will be noted that a control mechanism has beenprovided forifilling machines inw-hichtthe deposit'of filling materials is positively prevented in the absence of'acontainer to be filled. The construction set forth accomplishes the objects outlined at the beginning of this specification and offers a new and usefiil means ofavoiding complete stoppage of filling -machine operation when the supply of'containers is only temporarily interrupted.

cooperating elements on the filling head and supporting plate is-shown. In this embodiment of the invention, the filling head I96 is substantially similar to the filling head 30 'previously described, with the exception of the extension associated therewith. Thus the filling head includes air control openings I98 connected. by

-a conduit 200 to a suitably controlled 'sourcerof vacuum. A central filling opening 202 in communication with a hopper 204 permits the filling material to flow downwardly-when'pries-' sure is substantially reduced below the filling head.

' In this case, the extension 206 dependingfrom the filling head is designed tosurround the carton or container 224 rather than to be in.-

serted within it as was the case with exten- Thus extension 206 is inthe nature .of an outer shroud which cooperates with supporting plate 2I6 to enclose completely the container 224. The lower end of shroud 206-is flared outwardly at 208 and isprovided withy-an air control passage 210 connected by a suitable conduit 2| 2 to the controlled vacuum: source.

Container support 2I6 has a corner guide 2I'8 Ior accuratelocation of the container'224' and also has a resilient insert 220 constituting. a seat against which the lower end-208 of shroud 206 may engage to form an airtight filling chamber. Container support '2I6 is mounted on a pneumatic cylinder 222 which is reciprocated vertically in the same manner as cylinder-36 previously'described.

The container support and filling head of Fig. 10 are particularly designed for use with relatively flexible and somewhat pervious containers where the dimensions are such thatfan inner extension such as 32 of Fig. 3 can not be used satisfactorily. The shroud 206 completely encloses container 224 and during the'filling operation, a vacuum is maintained bothoutside 7 'Since minor variations and changes in the exact details of construction will be apparentito persons skilled in this field, it is intended that this invention shall cover all. such changes and I modifications as fallwithin the spirit .andiscope of the attached claims.

Now, therefore, we claim: I l. A fillingmachine-comprising a-bas'e,'a con- 'tainer support and a filling head mounted 'on the base for relative movement between a'loa'ding position and a filling position, powermeans controlling said relative movement, actuating means for the filling head operable only when relative movement of the parts to'filling position is complete, stop means mounted on the machine formovement to and from a blocking position" in which it prevents complete relative movement tofilling position, detector meanslrement and including resilient meansmovingthe of and within the container 224 by means of the conduits 2l2 and 200, respectively.

The stop mechanism,set.ting mechanism detector and resetting device previously described will operate equally satisfactorily in connection with the filling head and container support of- Fig. 10. Thus when upward movement of the support 2 l6 is arrested before the support has support and head to filling-position, actuating means for the filling head operable only when relative movement of the parts to filling position is complete, stop'means mounted on the machine for'movement to and from a blockingposition inwhich it opposes the action of the resilient power means and prevents complete relative movement to filling position, detector means responsive to absence of a container from thesupport, andme'ans operatively interconnecting the stop means and detector means and movingthe .stop means to blocking position whenever the detector'means responds to absence of such a container.

' 3. A filling machine according toc1aim, 2 .in which the power means controlling said relative movement includes pneumatic means urging the parts to'filling position. a

11 r .1541 A. filling machine comprising iaibasejaacontainerlsupport and a filling head mounted on athe base for relative movement between: a loading -posit'ion and a filling position, power means controlling said relative movement, actuating means and thereby move the stop meansito blocking' position whenever the detector means responds -to'absence of. such a container.

' '5. A filling machine comprising a base, a car- 'rier rotatably mounted on the base, a container support and a filling head mounted on the carrier for relative movement between a spaced load- :ing position anda juxtaposed filling position atl'predetermined points in the rotation of-the carrier, power means controlling said relative movement and including resilient means-moving the support and, head tofilling position,-.actuating means for the filling head operable only when relative movement of the parts to filling position is complete, stop means on;the; carrier movable to and from a blocking position in which it prevents complete relative movement-to filling position, setting means'on the base movable from a normally retracted position to a projected position in which it engages and moves the stop -means to blocking position as the carrier and .stop' rotate past the setting means, and detector m'eans responsive to absence of a container from the .support for moving the setting means to projected position. ,6. A fillingmachine accordingto claim 5 ineluding resetmeans mounted on the base at a rpoint 'which,-in the direction of rotation of. the carrier, is beyond the setting means and beyond the point at which the support and head are in filling position, the resetmeans engaging and :moving the stop means back out of blocking posi- "tiongin preparation for the'next filling cycle. .7. ,A filling machine according to claim .5 in which the normally retracted setting means includes a solenoid for movement of the setting 'means to blocking position when the solenoid is energized, and the detector means includes a switch in circuit with the solenoid, and a movable 'feeler arm controlling the operation oi the. switch.

'and closing the latter when the i eeler arm' fails to; encounter a container. 7 v 8. A filling machine comprising a base, a car- .rier rotatably mountedon the base, a container support and a filling head mounted on the car,-

rier, pneumatic means on the carrier moving the support with respect to the head from .a loading .position to a filling position at a first pointin the rotation of the carrier and moving the support back from filling position to loading position at a second point in the rotation of' the l carrier, actuating means for the filling head operable to fill a container on the support during rotation of the support, head and carrier between said first and second points, means effectively disabling the actuating means when the support is out of filling position, stop means on the car- "rier' movable to and from a blocking position in whichit engages the support and prevents completion of its movement to filling position, set- "ting means. onthe base including a normally retracted cam, and detector means responsive to the absence'of a container from the support for "moving the cam to a projected position in which iteng'ages and'moves the stop means to blocking position prior to arrival of thesupport at said first pointin the rotation of the carrier.

'9. A filling machine according to claim -8rin .whichthe stop means on the carrier includes a movable stop, a spring normally holding "the stop in the path of movement of the'suppo'rt and permitting movement of the stop out ofzsaid path as, the support moves to filling position, anda latch mounted for movement between *a disengaged position and a'blocking' position in which it engages and prevents. movement of the stop, the latch having a portion fengag'edbyzsaid setting cam when the latter is inproje'cted position.

.10. A filling machine'ac'cording. to claim 8 in which the stop means on the carrier includes a pivot stop, a spring normally holding-the'stop in ---the path of movement of the supportand permittihg rotation of the stopout of said path as the support moves to filling position, and-alatoh -mounted for movement between a disengaged position and a blocking position in which, it engages and prevents rotation of the stop, the 'latchhavinga portion engaged'by said setting -cam when the latteris in projected-position.

"11'. A filling machine according to claim '8 in which the stop means on the carrier includes a stop ipivoted on an axis extending radially of the carrier, a spring normally holding thefisto'p in. the path'of movement of the support and "permitting rotation of the'stop out of said. path as the support moves to filling position, and a latch slidably mounted for movement in a direction extending radially of the carrier between a disengaged position and a blocking positionin which it engages and prevents rotation of the stop, the latch having a'portion engagedby said setting cam when the:latteriis.irnprojectedwposi- I 12. A filling machine comprising a base, a container support and a filling head mounted on the base for relative movement between a spaced loading position anda juxtaposed filling position, 'cooperating elements on the support and head engaging each other'to form an air tight filling chamber when the support and head are completely moved to filling position, power means controlling the relative movement of the support and head and including'means resiliently urging the parts to filling position, actuating means "for the fillinghead including means for connection of said filling chamber to a source of vacuum, the actuating means being ineffective until the cooperating elements of the support and head are in complete engagement, stop means mounted on the machine forinovement to and from a blocking position in which 'it prevents complete, relative movement to filling position,

and detector means responsive to absence of a container from the support, said detector means and stop means being operatively connected and moving the stop means to blocking position whenever the, detector means responds to labsenceiof such a container.

13. A filling machine according to claim 12 in which said cooperating elements include a tubular extension on the filling vhead for insertion inside afiexible container to bejfilled, and a resilient sealing gasket on one of said tubularextensions and container supportlmembers for .re-

I 2,603,398 7 13 14 silient air tight engagement of a. container botv REFERENCES CITED tom between the extension and support. The f now-n eferen es are f rec rd th 14. A filling machine according to claim 12 in me of fi Q a i c o o 1 e which said cooperating elements include a shroud on the filling head for completely env5 UNITED STATES PATENTS closing a container to be filled, the shroud and Number Name Date support having portions movable into sealing en- 2,302,693 Hoar Nov. 24, 1942 gagement only when relative movement of the 2,833,545. v Meyer Nov. 2, 1943 support and head to filling position is complete.

PAUL E. FISCHER. l0

MORTIMER B. S'IURDEVANT.

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