US3658212A - Multiple orifice filling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiple outlet feeder for filling containers with flowable materials has a surrounding frame which houses motor and drive means disposed about a continuously feed hopper. The hopper has a plurality of outlets each supplied with an auger type flow control, and the augers are uniformly driven by common drive means.

Description

United States Patent illlberg [45] Apr. 25, 1972 MULTIPLE ORIF ICE FILLING [56] References Cited MACHINE UNITED STATES PATENTS I721 lnvenm Raymmld Ullberg, Washington, 2,189,018 2/1940 Robinson ..222/330 x 3,369,578 2/1968 Lampert ..222/271 3 Assigneez AILFi, Inc. Newton Square, Pa. 2,190,851 2/1940 Staege ..74/665 X [22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1969 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Francis J. Bartuska [21] APPLNOJ 868386 Alt0rney-RobertG.McMorrow 52 us. Cl. ..222 240, 74 410, 74/665 GD, [571 ABSTRACT 222/241, 222/271, 222/413 A multiple outlet feeder for filling containers with flowable [5]] Int. Cl. ..G0lf 11/00 materials has a surrounding frame which houses motor and [58] Field of Search ..222/27l, 412, 238, 241, 242, drive means disposed about a continuously feed hopper. The

222/413, 330, 240, 410; 74/665 GB, 665 GD, 410

hopper has a plurality of outlets each supplied with an auger type flow control, and the augers are uniformly driven by common drive means.

1 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2 5 I972SHEET 1UF 4PATENTEL PR 2 5 I972SHEET 2BF 4 U I i MULTIPLE ORIFICEFILLING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a filling or dispensing. mechanism for materials such as powders, dense liquids or semi-liquid substances, granular matter, and the like, such materials being for deposit in a series of containers. Machines of this nature are employed in the placement of pharmaceutical preparations in their containers, in filling cosmetic receptacles, and in similar uses, and due to the nature of these materials it is of particular importance that quantitative accuracy of fill rate be maintained. A principalobjective of this invention resides, therefore, in supplying multiple filling means usable in a production facility wherein a number of containers may be simultaneously filled, with retention of the critical accuracy factor dictated by the intended environment of use.

A further objective of importance concerns the provision of hopper means, in a device of this character, adapted for continuous material supply. It is an additional important feature of the hopper that it be readily demountable whereby the actuating mechanism may be serviced or variable accessories installed for handling particular classes of material to be dispensed.

This invention provides a unique combination of a dispensing auger assembly for each of its multiple orifices in combination with a deflector and funnel assembly which serves to standardize the fluent characteristics of the dispensed materials.

Among the additional objects and advantages of the invention are the provision of a single drive means which accurately controls a plurality of dispensers; avoidance of costly duplication of equipment components; increased uniformity of fill characteristics by avoidance of the necessity for resetting of the mechanism for separate production runs; and enhancement of fill accuracy during extended periods of operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION-OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing dispensing apparatus constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, foreshortened sectional view along line 33 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a foreshortened top sectional view substantially online 44 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the invention assembly is therein designated bygeneral reference numeral 10. Theapparatus 10 may assume numerous configurations within the scope of the invention, particularly insofar as environments of employment and adaptations for use are concerned. In this illustrated form, theapparatus 10 is mounted on asuitable standard 12 adjacent a mobile production facility which is not specifically shown in the drawings.

Theapparatus 10 comprises aframe 14 which includes a flat connectingmember 16 joined to the standard 12 byconnectors 18. F ixedly secured to themember 16 is amotor housing 20 havingside walls 22, 24, front andrear walls 26, 28, and abottom 30 resting on and secured to themember 16. Thewall 22 has an exteriorlateral support element 32 fixed thereto, and an elongated, substantiallyrectangular base plate 34 projects outwardly therefrom. Theplate 34 has anupper surface 36, and has a series of laterally alignedvertical openings 38 formed therein, serving a purpose described in more detail below. The plate is further provided with arigidifyingbrace 40 which is fixed thereto and which has a corresponding series ofvertical openings 42 therein aligned with theopenings 38.

Projecting upwardly from thedistal end 44 of theplate 34 is a substantiallyvertical side plate 46. Theplate 46 is secured, as by conventionalchangeable fasteners 48, to the base plate.

Adrive housing 50 interconnects themotor housing 20 and theside plate 46. The drive housing comprises adivision wall 52, anend wall 54, and atop wall 56. Suitable closure means, in the form of forward andrear panels 58, 60 are also supplied. As is best shown in FIG. 2, thedivision wall 52 spans the distance between theside plate 46 and theside wall 24, and bears against the upper limit of theside wall 22.

Mounted operatively within thehousing 20, preferably on therear wall 28, thereof is anelectric motor 62 having a series ofpulley wheels 64 on its rotating end shaft. The motor is controlled and its operating rate determined by suitable switch means 63 mounted on thefront wall 26 of the housing. The switch means 63 controls an electrical timing mechanism, of conventional design, which is not specifically shown in the drawing. The function of the timing mechanism is to control the metering of the material. Aclutch brake 66 is secured on thedivision wall 52 above the motor within the drive housing, and has apulley wheel 68 on one end thereof. Adrive belt 70 is trained about thepulleys 64 and 68 and extends through aport 72 in the division wall to operate the clutch brake at a selected rate of rotation.

The clutch brake has anoutput shaft 74 carrying adriving gear 76 meshed with the apparatus drive, described below.

The drive housing has an intermediatevertical wall 78. Mounted on saidwall 78 and on theend wall 54 are coaligned pairs ofbearings 80, 82 and 84, 86. Drive shaft means, in the form of dual drive shafts 88 and 90, respectively, are disposed in the bearings rotatably, and each carries aninward driving gear 92, 94. The latter gears are meshed with thedriving gear 76 for rotation therewith. In FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be observed that each of the shafts also carries a plurality ofhelical gears 96 thereon.

A major component of this invention is the new and novel hopper thereof. Thehopper 98 is of irregular form having a first, substantiallyvertical side wall 100,end walls 102, 104, and an opposite, outwardlyinclined side wall 106. The lower portion of thewall 106 has an inwardlyinclined portion 108 extending from thewall 100, forming, with similarly inclined bottom portions of theend walls 102 and 104 aconstricted section 110 at the base end of the hopper. As shown in FIG. 2, a series of inverted, V-form walls 111 extend between theportion 108 of the side wall and thewall 106 in the constricted section to define a series of lower open throats. The hopper has aflat cover 112 with an opening 114 therein. In this preferred form of the invention, amaterial supply tube 116 extends through theopening 114 and into the hopper. Preferably, the tube is angularly disposed, and has anangle portion 117 arranged adjacent thewall 106. Thetube 116 may lead to a production source of a substance to be dispensed by the filling machine, or to other supply sources.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision of plural supply control means. A significant component of such means comprises a plurality of substantially vertical shafts, collectively identified in the drawings byreference numeral 118. Eachshaft 118 comprises an assembly which includes a main orcentral section 120, to which is releasably joined anupper shaft 122, and alower shaft 124. Theupper shafts 122 include reducedend portions 126 which extend throughbearing apertures 128 in thedivision wall 52 intoend bearings 130 in thetop wall 56. At an appropriate height (depending upon the driving shaft 88 or 90 to be employed) theupper shafts 122 carryhelical gears 134 meshed with thecorresponding gears 96 carried by the shafts. Thus, the horizontal rotation of the shafts 88 and 90 is translated into vertical rotary motion of the shaft means 118.

Thelower shafts 124 are secured to thecentral sections 120 by releasable collet means 136. Extending from the lower end of each of said shafts is anelongated auger 138 consisting of avertical shaft 140 and aspiral screw 142. Mounted on thesection 124 is anagitator arm 144 which rotates with the shaft, and which has a depending side portion contacting the screw and arranged at an angle generally coincident with theportion 108 of thewall 100.

The outer or distal end of theshaft 140 has adeflector disc 148 secured thereon by abolt 150. Thus, material fed into the hopper through thesupply tube 116 is maintained in substantially constant motion by virtue of theagitators 144 and is forced downwardly by action of the screw means. In FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be observed that atubular sleeve 152 is provided for each of theaugers 138, the sleeves being secured in theopenings 42 of thebrace 40 in vertical alignment with the throats of theconstricted portion 110, the latter extending into theopenings 38. Surrounding theoutlet end 154 of each of the sleeves is the upper, enlarged receivingsection 156ofa funnel 158. Thefunnels 158 are supported, by means not shown in the drawings, immediately over the containers to be filled by the apparatus. Thus, material ejected from thesleeves 150 is received in the funnels following impingement upon thediscs 148 and is then uniformly gravitated through thefunnel 150 and into the ultimate container.

As will be observed from the foregoing, where the nature of the material to be dispensed so dictates, the auger means may be supplemented or changed to other and different types of impelling equipment in order to affect the desired accuracy of fill rate. It will further be noted that the common drive means for each of the shafts insures the fact that eachsleeve 152 will dispense the same measured quantity of material within any given time period.

The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

1. Dispensing apparatus for employment in dispensing of flowable materials at a controlled flow rate, the apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame including a base plate with a series of openings therein, a side plate secured to the base plate, a motor housing secured to the base plate and a drive housing interconnecting the side plate and the motor housing;

motor means mounted in said motor housing;

plural drive shaft means disposed in the drive housing and operatively associated with said motor means;

a hopper, having a constricted lower portion with a series of throats, mounted on the base plate below the drive housing, the throats being disposed in the openings of the base plate;

a series of sleeves mounted below the throats;

the hopper having a cover with an opening therein;

an inlet supply tube extending into the hopper through the opening in said cover;

a plurality of substantially vertical connecting shafts extending from the drive housing, the connecting shafts being rotated at substantially identical rates of rotation by the drive shaft means;

auger means secured to each of said connecting shafts and extending through the throats into the respective sleeves;

deflector means for each of the auger means;

a series of funnel members arranged to receive material dispensed by the auger means through said sleeves, the funnel members being disposed about the respective deflector means;

said plural drive shaft means comprising vertically spaced horizontally extending drive shafts overlying said hopper and extending across and adjacent to the upper ends of said connecting shafts;

helical gear means coupling said connecting shafts to said drive shafts in alternate fashion to effect equal distribution of the load between the drive shafts;

a clutch and brake unit positioned within said drive housing and overlying said drive motor; and

a variable speed endless belt drive connecting said drive motor to said clutch and brake unit and gear means positively connecting said vertically spaced drive shafts to the output of said clutch and brake unit whereby said multiple auger means are driven at the same speed in a positive manner.

Claims (1)

1. Dispensing apparatus for employment in dispensing of flowable materials at a controlled flow rate, the apparatus comprising: a supporting frame including a base plate with a series of openings therein, a side plate secured to the base plate, a motor housing secured to the base plate and a drive housing interconnecting the side plate and the motor housing; motor means mounted in said motor housing; plural drive shaft means disposed in the drive housing and operatively associated with said motor means; a hopper, having a constricted lower portion with a series of throats, mounted on the base plate below the drive housing, the throats being disposed in the openings of the base plate; a series of sleeves mounted below the throats; the hopper having a cover with an opening therein; an inlet supply tube extending into the hopper through the opening in said cover; a plurality of substantially vertical connecting shafts extending from the drive housing, the connecting shafts being rotated at substantially identical rates of rotation by the drive shaft means; auger means secured to each of said connecting shafts and extending through the throats into the respective sleeves; deflector means for each of the auger means; a series of funnel members arranged to receive material dispensed by the auger means through said sleeves, the funnel members being disposed about the respective deflector means; said plural drive shaft means comprising vertically spaced horizontally extending drive shafts overlying said hopper and extending across and adjacent to the upper ends of said connecting shafts; helical gear means coupling said connecting shafts to said drive shafts in alternate fashion to effect equal distribution of the load between the drive shafts; a clutch and brake unit positioned within said drive housing and overlying said drive motor; and a variable speed endless belt drive connecting said drive motor to said clutch and brake unit and gear means positively connecting said vertically spaced drive shafts to the output of said clutch and brake unit whereby said multiple auger means are driven at the same speed in a positive manner.

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