US2313045A - Mixer - Google Patents

Description

March 9,1943. E. A. BROWN 2,313,045

MIXER V l Filed Nov. 25, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet -l.

March 9, 943. E. A. BROWN MIXER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed NOV. 25, 1 941 March 9, 1943..

E. A. BROWN MIXER 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 25 1941 Marchl 9, 1943.

E. A.A BROWN MIXER Filed Nov. 25, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in mixing apparatus and has particular reference to improvements in mixing apparatus for bottled goods, such as, for example, bottled beverages and other bottled liquids.

The invention is particularly adapted to apparatus for mixing of bottled non-alcoholic beverages composed of carbonated water and syrup. Bottling plants making such beverages employ lling machines whereby the bottles are successively lled with a flavored syrup and carbonated water. In such filling operations, the carbonated Water is disposed above the syrup which is within the bottom portion of the bottle. Obviously, the syrup and carbonated water must be mixed before such bottled beverages are shipped from the bottling plant and this invention is directed to comparatively simple and novel apparatus for mixing such bottled beverages.

An object of my invention is to provide mixing apparatus including means forl successively feeding a plurality of cases of bottled goods into an intermittently rotatable drum and simultaneously during the successive circular movements of the cases with the drum bodily rotating each case of bottled goods to thereby mix the contents of the bottles in the cases.

Another object of my invention is found in the provision of mixing apparatus including an intermittently rotatable device carrying a plurality of circularly spacedl receptacles each supporting a case of bottled goods and including a continuously operating power-driven mechanism,

means for automatically feeding and discharging the cases into and from the device, and mechanism for automatically periodically stopping the rotation of the device during the reception and discharge of the Cases by and` from the device during the uninterrupted operation of the power-driven mechanism.

In the attached drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of mixing appa-A ratus, for bottled goods, embodying a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the mixing portion of the apparatus taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l; the feeder being also shown in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 but taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the entire apparatus on a slightly reduced scale.

In the illustrations showing a preferred embodiment of my invention, the mixing apparatus comprises a metallic framed structure including upper side angle irons I0, bottom angle irons II, vertical angle iron posts I2', and top transverse or end angle irons I3.

A suitable platform I4, preferably of wood, is supported on the above-described framed structure and is adapted to support the electric motor I5 which drives a suitable mechanical speed reducer I6 through the medium of a drive belt I'I trained about the motor pulley I3 and the speed reducer drive pulley I9.

The output shaft 20 of the speed reducer I6 carries, at its outer extension, a cam 2|, another cam 22, and the segmental drive gear 23.

The mixing apparatus includes a rotatable device or drum composed of a pair of circular disk-like end members 26 secured together in relatively spaced positions by the circularly spaced transverse bolts 2'I which pass through the pipe separators 28.

The drum disk-like end members 26 are rotatably supported on a central shaft 29 extending through flanged hubs 3| bolted to the members 2S, and the stationary shaft 29 is supported in bearings 30 on the upper side angle. irons Ill.

The drum 25 is adapted to be intermittently rotated by the driven gear 24 which is suitably vsecured to one of the members 26 and the gear 24 is adapted to mesh with a driving segmental gear 23. The ratio of the number of gear teeth on the segment 23 to the number of gear teeth on the driven gear 24 is such that the drum 25 makes one-fourth of a revolution during the operative engagement of the segmental gear 23 with the gear 24 in each revolution of the drive shaft 20.

The drum 25, as here illustrated, is provided with four receptacles 32 each rotatably supported at opposite end walls 36 on a pair of pins 33 xed to such opposite end walls and rotatably positioned in the drum end members 26.

On one side of the rotatable device 25, the four pins 33 are each extended beyond the outer face of the end member 26 into operative engagement with a gear 34 and the four similar gears 34 are in mesh with a similar gear 35 which is xed to the stationary drum shaft 29 and therefore this central or sun gear 35 is at all times stationary while the planetary gears 34 are adapted to rotate during the intermittent rotation of the drum 25 through the gear 24 fixed thereto and the segmental gear 23 which is rotated, or more Since all four receptacles 32 are alike, a de scription of one will suffice.

Each receptacle 32 consists of the end walls 36,

a top wall 31, a bottom wall 38, and rear side wall 39. The front side of the receptacle is open to receive therein a case 40 of the bottled goods as shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

Each receptacle 32 is provided with a gate 4I which extends, when in closed position, across the open side of the receptacle to prevent displacement of the case 40 therefrom. This gate 4I has short integral side wings 42 which, in closed position, extend over the outer face of the end Walls 36, and the gate 4I is pivoted to the bottom wall 38 as at 43.

Each gate 4I is also provided with a pair of slightly offset side arms 44 which are formed integrally with the gate side wings 42 and each arm 44 carries a roller 45 at the terminus thereof.

Each receptacle 32 is also provided with a pair of bars 45 each secured to an end wall 35 but depending below the bottom wall 38 for securement thereto of one endof springs 41 whose oppositevends are secured to the Side wings 42,` The mounting4 of these springs 41 with reference to the pivot 43 being such that these springs will retain the closure gate 4I in either closed or open position. As more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the gate plate 4I extends slightly beyond the hinge 43 and this extended portion of the gas plate functions as a stop or abutment to retain the gate 4I in open position during loading of the case 40 into the receptacle and also during the discharge of thecase 49 from the receptacle.

YEach gate plate 4I is also provided with a comparative thick plate' 4 IA secured to the inner face of the' gate plate ,4I the exposed face of which is adapted to form a bridge support aligned with the upper face of the horizontal legs of the angle irons 49. This plate 4IA also engages the side of the case 40, when the gate 4I is closed, toretain the case 40 against shifting While the two comparatively heavy springs 41 retain the gate in closed position.

My invention also includes automatically operable means for feeding the cases 40, one by one, into the drum 25 during the intermission between each quarter revolution of the drum.

The feeding means, as herein illustrated, consists of an elongated table 4B composed of a pair of spaced horizontal angle irons 49 adapted to support a plurality of longitudinally aligned cases 40 of the bottled goods.

The case-supporting angle irons 49 are supported at Ithe case-discharge end on the transversely disposed angle iron I3 and at the caseinlet end on a pair of suitable vertical supports 50., l

The feeding means includes a pusher consisting of a' pair of longitudinal flat bars 5I each slidably supported on the upper edge ofl thevertical leg ofthe angle iron 49 by means of a transverselydisposed bent plate member 53 extending acrossthe table 48, under the horizontal legs of `the two angle irons 49 and thence upwardly on the outer sides of the vertical legs of the angle irons 49 and terminating in hooked ends slidably embracing the vertical legs of the angle irons 49.

To provide a support for means for adjusting the pusher, I prefer to provide the pusher with another bent plate member 53 spaced rearwardly from the first-mentioned bar member 53. The platemembers 53 are connected together at their transverse portions by a pair of spaced longitudinal plates 54 so that the pusher parts are slidable as a unit on the angle irons 49.

At the casing-engaging end of the pusher, both of the bars 5I are bent upwardly, as at 5IA, to support the hinged case-engaging members 55. The members 55 are vertical plate members each provided with a hinge supported on the upstanding portion 5 IA so that each case-engaging member 55 is normally'held in position for engagement of the case 49 to push it into one of the aligned receptacles 32. Y

If, during the forward feeding movement of the slidable pusher, another case 40 is manually moved on lthe table into the feeding position previously occupied bythe case then being fed into the drum mixer, the case-engaging members 55 will then, in their rearward return movement and engagement with the case 40 about to be loaded into the mixer, swing outwardly against the pressure of their springs and after the caseengaging members 55 have passed the rear end of the case 4I), the springs will move the members 55 into the proper case-engaging position whereupon the pusher is then ready to push such next case 4I! into the drumY mixer.

The feeding means also includes an operating mechanism for reciprocating the case-pusher which comprises a reciprocable gear rack 56 slidably mounted in a channeled portion 51A of an elongatedinclined bar member 51 pivotally supported, at its lower end, on pin 58 carried on the structural frame. The ,rack-supporting member 51 is freely supported, at its upper end, on a coil spring 59 mounted on a bent plate 60 secured to one ofthe upright supports I2.

The upper end of the rack 55 is pivotally connected to one end of the pusher operating rod 6I having a threaded connection with a head 62 which is pivotally connected, at B3, with the lower end of the adjustable connector 64. The connector 64 is slidably supported on-the horizontal bar 65 which is riveted to the two plate members 53. The pusher is slidably adjustable relatively to the connector 64 for proper movement 'to properly feed the cases 4D into the drum receptacles 32 and, when so adjusted, the connector 64 is securely connected to the pusher bar 65 as by means of a set-screw 66 so that the pusher is movable with the reciprocating operating rod 6I of the reciprocating' rack 56.

The rack 55 is held inoperative position for engagement by the segmental gear 23 by the coil spring Y59 when the segmental gear 23 is disengaged irom the drum-rotating gear 24 and while the drum 25 is in stationary position to permit loading of the cases 40 therein.

The rack-supporting member 51' is provided with an'upstanding bracket 61 rigidly secured to the outer side of the member 51 and provided with a roller 68 thereon arranged for operative engagement by thecam -22fwhich is rotatable with the drive shaft 25. -v

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the mixei` is shown in the position just preceding the loading of the case 40, shown on the table, and just after one of the cases 40 has been automatically discharged from the drum 25 onto the inclined chute 69 from the receptacle 32 now aligned` with the case-.discharge end of the feeding means. The relative positions of the parts and members at this. stage of operation is more clearly shown in Fig. 2 where-- in the drum-operating segmentalv gear 2,3 isv about to pass from its engagement withthedr-um. gear 24 into engagement with the rack 5 5'.

As shown in Fig. 2, they larger .portion of the cam 22 is shown in engagement with the roller 63 and this larger portion of the cam 22 is Still re* taining the member 51 and rack 56 in depressed position, against the pressureof the coil spring 59, wherebyl the rack 5S is held out of operative engagement with the segmental gear 2,3,` however, when the segmental gear 2,3 becomes only slightly more advanced in its rotation from the position shown in Fig. 2, the smalle-rportion of the cam 22 -will permit thespring 59 to slightly raise the member 51 so that the rack 56 will be engageable by the segmental gear 23 to thus shift the rack 56 downwardly within the channeled portion 5'!A and thereby pull the rod 5| and pusher into feeding position.

Simultaneously with the feeding operatic-n just described, the cam 2| will release the movement of the roller 'l0 which is rotatably supportedv on the lower end of the operating rod of the drum-locking-mechanism to thereby lock the drum against any possible rotation while the case 49 is being fed therein.

The drum-locking-mechanism, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 2, 3 and 5, consists of a shaft 12 koscillatably supported in the side angle irons I@ and oscillatably connected to the operating rod 7! by means of a collar 'i3 xed to the shaft 12 and pivotally connected with the upper end of the rod Fixed to the shaft 12 is a hook-like dog 1 4. When the mixing device is in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the large portion of the cam 2| retains the operating rod 1| in the upwardly shifted position wherein the locking dog 'I4 is held in raised unlocked position. The operating rod is slidably supported in a sleeve 15 pivotally mounted on a depending bar 15' and a `coil spring l? interposed between the supporting head for the roller 'IU and the sleeve 'I5 functions to retain the roller 1|! in continuous operative` engagement with the cam 2 It will be observed from Fig. 2 that thecams 2| and 22 and their operatively associated mechanisms are so synchronized in operation that the greater cam portions are practically simultaneously disengaged from the rollers 58 and 1U so that the locking dog 'F4 is moved into locking engagement between the teeth of one of the planetary gears 34 to thereby prevent rotation of the drum just before the rack 55 is permitted to move into operative feeding engagement with the segmental gear 23, and these cams 2| and 22 also function to disengage the dog '|4 from locking engagement with one of the gears 34 just prior to the engagement of the segment@ gear 23 with the drum-rotating gear 24.

When the segmental gear 23 has moved the rack 5S and the case pusher into the nal loading position with the case 49 within the receptacle 32, and when the last tooth. of the segmental gear 23 has become disengaged from the rack 55 and its associated case pusher will be automatically quickly retracted, to thel positionl shown in Fig. 2, ready for their next loading operation. This automatic retraction of the rack and pusher is attained :througlsthe employment of a. coil shrine 1.8 which is. connected. at. one end to the case pusher rcarmost plate member 5.3 and; at its opposite end to a transverse angle iron 79.

To prevent reverse rotation of the. drum 25 during the loading of the eases 40 therein, I mount on the .peripheral tace of 011e of the Circular drum end members 25, four equal spaced elongated ratchet-like stops 88 each consisting of an elongated ratchet tooth adj-ustably mounted on a threaded rod 8| having ends supported in a pair of clip angles 82 secured to the peripheral face of the drum end member 26. The elongated ratchet stops are adapted to be successively engaged, during the rotation of; the drum 25, by a resilient dog 83 which is loosely supported on the shaft '|2v 'but adiuStably held in proper position by a rod 84 between a pair of adjustable nuts 85. The rod 84 is secured to a plate 85 by a pair of adjustable nuts 81. The free resilient end of the dog 83 is.. adapted to engage against the tooth 88A t0., prevent any possible reverse rotation of the mixing 25.

In the event it is desired to manually feed the cases. 40. into the mixer and not to employ the automatic case-feeding means, the case-pusher mechanism may be manually disengaged from operation by the cam 22 and segmental gear 23 by moving. the handle of thev pivoted feed-disengaging lever 52 upwardly to the position shown by the broken lines .in Fig. 2 thereby pushing the rack-carrying member downwardly against the pressure of the spring 59 to vthus render the rack 56 inoperative by the segmental gear 23..

invention also` includesjmeans for automatically closingjthe gate 4| of each receptacle 32 after such IniXer receptacle 32 is loaded with a case of the bottled goods. Separate means are provided` for automatically opening the 'gate 4| of each receptacle 32 to permit the discharge of thev case 4U therefrom prior to the positioning of the empty receptacle 32 at the point of loading. After the gate 4| of the receptacle 32 is opened to discharge the case 40 therefrom such gate 4| remains open during the movement ofthe drum 25 to stationary loading position, but the gate 4| is gradually automatically closed, after such receptacle 32 is loaded, during the movement of the drum 25 in its next quarter rotation. During the,v rst quarter rotation of the drum 25. with the case 40, which has been loaded into the drum 25 justprior tousuch quarter rotation, the gate 4| of the receptacle positioned at the lower part of the drum will, as it approaches thedischarge chute 59., gradually be opened to discharge the I case of the mixed goods into the discharge chute 69.

The above-described automatic closing and opening operations of the receptacle gates 4| are attained through the provision of a gate-closing cam V88 and a gate-opening cam 89 operatively associatedv with Veach receptacle 32. As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, these cams 88 and 89 are rigidly secured to the two circularl drum ends 28 in relatively stationary positions and each pair of cams 88 and 89 is held in a xed position relatively to the center-line of the pivr otal pins 33 of its cooperating receptacle 32.

As shown. in. Fig. `1, all ofthe gate-closing cams 8,8 are mounted on one of the circular drum endg, 26 and all. of the gate-opening cams 89 ar'- mounted on the other of the circular drum ends 26, and therefore, in the iirst operation of opening a receptaclev gate 4| to discharge a case 40 onto the chute 59 one of 'the rollers 45 will engage the inner face of its operatively associated gate-opening cam 89 as the receptacle 32 nears the end of its cycle of one complete rotation about the pins 33, to thus forcibly open the gate 4i to permit the case to be discharged by gravity over the gate 4l when suchn gate 4I becomes aligned with the chute 69. As viewed in Fig. 3 the lowermost receptacle 32 has ycompleted threefourths of its complete cycle of rotation about its pivotal pins 33 and is shown in a'position prior to the engagement of its roller with the gateopeningrcam 89 shown near the left side of the receptacle 32. The cases 4 0 are discharged from their receptacles 32 as the receptacles move upwardly from their lowermost position and prior to their stop at their loading position.

. As viewed in Fig. 3, the right-hand receptacle 32, shown in cross-section, has reached the load-`v ing position and has just received another case 40 which has beenpushed therein by the operation of the case pusher heretofore described.

When the segmental gear 23 is released from its pulling contact with the rack 56, the spring 'I8 will retract the pusher to the'position shown in Fig. 2 and the segmental gear 23 will thereafter engage the drum-rotatingvgear 24 to rotate the mixing drum another `quarter of one revolution, but in such` quarter revolution,. the gate 4l of the loaded receptacle 32 will be closed by the engagement of the other roller 45 thereof with its cooperating closing cam 88.

. Various modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of the various parts and memloershereinV shown for illustrativepurposes will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, upon perusal of the abovepspeciications and attached drawings, without departing from the spirit of my invention which is dened in the appended claims. I do not therefore wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exac' details of construction and arrangement shown therein for purposes of illustrating one embodiment of .my invention.

I claim:

1. Mixing apparatus comprising a` stationary structure, an intermittently rotatable structure supported on said stationary structure, a plurality of intermittently rotatable receptacles carried by said rotatable structure and each adapted to support a container for the material to be mixed, means for rotating said receptacles during the rotation of said rotatable structure, a gate for each receptacle adapted to retain the container therein during the mixing operation, means for ,automatically successively opening the gates to permit the discharge of the containers from `the receptacles, means for automatically successively closing the gates after eachreceptacle is charged with a container containing the material to be mixed, a motor, and mechanism| driven by said motor for intermittently rotating said rotatable structure during the uninterrupted operation of said motor.

2. Mixing apparatus comprising a stationary structure, an intermittently rotatable structure supported on said stationary structure, said rotatable structurebeing rotatable about a horizontal axis, a pluralityof intermittently rotatable supports carried by said rotatable structure and each adapted to support a container for the material to be mixed,4 means for rotating said supports during therrotation of rotatable structure, movable means pivotallymountedon each of said supports for retainingsaid containers on said supports during the mixing of the' material, automatically oper-able means forA successively actuating said movable pivotally mounted means to permit the discharge ofthe containers from said supports, means for autowherein said motor-driven mechanism includes an intermittently driven gear operatively connected to said rotatable lstructure and a segmental'driving gear, driven by said motor, adapted to intermittently mesh with said driven gear to' thereby intermittently rotate said rotatable structure, and including means operable by said segmental driving gear for automatically loading' the empty support with a container, with the material to be mixed, whilelsaid rotatable structureI is in stationary position.

2l. Mixing apparatus as embodied in claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said receptacles comprises a stationary gear supported on said stationary structure, and a planetary gear for each of said receptacles, said planetarygears being in mesh with said stationary gear and rotatable with said receptacles.

5. Mixing apparatusas embodied in claim 1 wherein said motor-driven mechanism includes an intermittently driven gear operatively connected to said rotatable structure and a -segmental driving gear being adapted to intermittently mesh with said driven gear to thereby intermittently rotate said rotatable structure, andincluding means intermittently operable byO said segmental driving gear for automatically loading the empty receptacle with a container, containing the material to be mixed, while said rotatable structure is in stationary position.

l6. Mixing apparatus as embodied in claim l and including said means for automatically successively opening the gates to discharge the containers from said receptacles being operable during the latter portion of the cycle of rotation of each receptacle.

7. Mixing apparatus as embodied in claim 1 and including means for automatically loading the empty receptacle with a container, containing the material to be mixed While the rotatable structure is in stationary position, and a cam rotatable by said motor, automatically operable retaining` means actuated by said cam for retaining said rotatable structure against rotation in forward or reverse direction during the load ing of the empty receptacle.

8. Mixing apparatus comprising a stationary structure; an intermittently rotatable structure supported on said stationary structure; a plurality of intermittently rotatable receptacles carried on said rotatable structure and adaptedV to support the material to be mixed; means for rotating said receptacles duringthe rotation of said rotatable structure; a motor; mechanism driven by said motor vfor intermittently rotating said rotatable structure during theuninterrupted operation of said motor, said mechanismincluding an intermittently driven gear operatively connected `to lsaid rotatable structure, a segmental driving gear driven by saidmotor and adapted to intermittently mesh'with said driven gear to thereby intermittently rotate said rotatable structure; means for automatically periodically successively discharging the mixed material from said receptacles; and means operable by said segmental driving gear for automatically loading the vempty receptacle with material to be mixed while `said rotatable structure is in stationary position.

9. Mixing apparatus as embodied in claim 8 and including a cam-operable mechanism in synchronized operation With said segmental gear for automatically operating means for retaining said rotatable structure against rotation in forward or reverse direction during the loading of the empty receptacle.

10. Mixing apparatus comprising a stationary structure; an intermittently rotatable instrumentality rotatably supported on said stationary structure; an intermittently rotatable support carried on said rotatable instrumentality and adapted to support a container containing the material to be mixed; means for rotating said support during the rotation of said rotatable instrumentality; a pivoted retaining member on said support for retaining said container thereon during the mixing of the material therein; a motor; mechanism driven by said motor for intermittently rotating said instrumentality during the uninterrupted operation of said motor, said mechanism including an intermittently driven gear operatively connected to said instrumentality, a segmental driving gear driven by said motor and adapted to intermittently mesh with said driven gear to therebyintermittently rotate said instrumentality; means for automatically actuating said pivoted member to permit the discharge of the container with the mixed material from said support; and means operable by said segmental gear for automatically loading the empty support with another container of material While said instrumentality is in stationary position.

11. Beverage mixing apparatus comprising a stationary frame, a rotatable structure mounted on said frame, a plurality of rotatable receptacles carried on said rotatable structure each adapted to carry a case of bottled beverage, means for simultaneously rotating said receptacles during the rotation of said rotatable structure, a gate for each receptacle, releasable means for retaining each of said gates in closed position to retain the case therein, a pair of arms projecting from each gate, gate-opening and gate closing cam means for each receptacle, said cam means being mounted on said rotatable structure and adapted to be alternately engaged by said arms of each gate to thereby open the receptacle gate to permit the discharge of the case of bottled beverage from the receptacle prior to the completion of the cycle of rotation of said rotatable structure tion after the emptied receptacle has been loaded with another case of bottled beverage, means for automatically stopping the rotation of said rotatable structure after each receptacle has discharged the case therein to permit re-loading of l and to move the receptacle gate into closed posisame, means for automatically loading the empty 1 receptacle while the rotatable structure is in stationary position, and a power-driven mechanism for rotating said rotatable structure.

12. Beverage mixing apparatus comprising a frame, an intermittently rotatable structure supported on said frame, a plurality of receptacles carried by said rotatable structure each adapted to carry a case of bottled beverage, a stationary gearsupp'orted on -said frame, a planetary -gear for and rotatable ywith each of 'said receptacles and in mesh With-saidstationary gear, a motor,

a driven gear operatively associated With said `discharging the cases of rthe mixed beverageA from said receptacles, automatically operable means for loading a case of beverage into the empty receptacle while said intermittently rotatable structure is in stationary position comprising a reciprocable pusher for pushing a case of bottled beverage into the empty receptacle, resilient means for retaining said pusher in loading position, a slidably mounted rack connected to said pusher adapted to be operatively engaged by said segmental gear to move said pusher and the case engaged thereby into loading position against the pressure of said resilient retaining means whereby the case of beverage is moved into the empty receptacle, said resilient means retracting said pusher into loading position upon the disengagement of said segmental gear from said rack, and a cam operated by said motor for moving said rack out of operative engagement by said segmental gear prior to the engagement oi said driven gear by said segmental gear.

13. Beverage mixing apparatus comprising a frame, an intermittently rotatable structure supported on said frame, said intermittently rotatable structure comprising a rotatable drumlike body having a pair of laterally spaced end members and means rigidly interconnecting said end members, a plurality of receptacles carried by said rotatable structure each adapted to carry a case of bottled beverage, a stationary gear supported on said frame, a planetary gear for and rotatable with each of said receptacles and in mesh With said stationary gear, a pair of trunnions for each receptacle rotatably supported ron said drum-like body end members, one trunnion of each receptacle being rigidly connected to one of said planetary gears, a motor, a driven gear operatively associated with said rotatable structure, a segmental driving gear operatively associated with said motor and adapted to intermittently engage said driven gear to thereby intermittently rotate said rotatable structure, means for automatically successively discharging the cases of the mixed beverage from said receptacles,

and automatically operable means for loading a case of beverage into the empty receptacle while said intermittently rotatable structure is in stationary position.

14. Beverage mixing apparatus comprising a frame, an intermittently rotatable structure supported on said frame, a plurality of receptacles carried by said rotatable structure each adapted to carry a case of bottled beverage, a stationary gear supported on said frame, a planetary gear for and rotatable with each of said receptacles and in mesh with said stationary gear, a motor, a driven gear operatively associated with said rotatable structure, a segmental driving gear operatively associated with said motor and adapted to intermittently engage said driven gear to thereby intermittently rotate said rotatable structure, means for automatically successively discharging the cases of the mixed beverage from said receptacles comprising a gate for each receptacle, releasable means for retaining each of said gates in closed position to retain the case tation and whereby said gate is movable into c closed position after the emptied receptacle has vbeen loaded with another case of bottled beverage and as the receptacle begins another cycle of rotation, and automatically operable means for loading a case of beverage into the empty receptacle while said intermittently rotatable structure is in stationary position.

EDWARD A. BROWN.

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