US2423975A - Bell type gassing and vacuumizing apparatus for dehydrated products - Google Patents

Description

H. R. HELM July 15, 1947.

BELL TYPE GASSING AND VACUUMIZING' APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATED PRODUCTS Filed June 15, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. R. HELM July 15, 1947.

BELL TYPE GASSING AKD, VACUUMIZING APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATED PRODUCTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 15,- 1944 YeTZev-ZZRHeZm.

BELL TYPE eAssme mn vAcuumIzme APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRKTED PRODUCTS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ELF-.10-

H. R.- HELM Filed June 15, 1944' July 15; 1947.

Patented July 1 1947 UNITED STATES i 2,423,915 PATE T- orries I 2.423.915, v "1mm. 'rrra GASSING arm vacuumzmo arraaa'ms roa DEHYDBA'LED .rnonuc'rs Herbert noun noun, Chicago, IlL,-'asaignor s OontinentaiCan Company,.l no., New York, N.Y.,acorporation of New Ion-h Application 15, 1 94 '7 '11 uasar ation, during the ciosing operation. Various structures ,have heretofore been. proposed by which this procedure could be accomplished, in-

cluding the use of means for presenting a cover to the container after the expulsion of air had been accomplished or to provide a loosely fitted cover on the container. and then displace this during the steps of vacuumizing and gas-filling.

This invention is concerned with an apparatus i for the purpose, by which the container-with a loose cover thereon is placed inposition and thereafter a bell is lowered over the-container to provide a chamber within which the container is subjected to the desired operation. v

A feature of the invention is the provision of means by which the cover may be displaced from the container and-held-ina spaced positionwith respect thereto, these means being made effective by the operation of lowering the bell around the 1 and are made effective for displacing thefcover into the aforesaid spaced position; and are ef--v fective during the subsequent removal of the bell for returning to their prior position anddispos-v ing the cover in proper'place upon the container.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a cover-lifting structure in which the parts are acted upon by gravity wherewith the weight of the bell is employed. in lifting the cover, and the weight of certain cover-lifting parts is employed during the removal of the bell for restoring the parts to initial position along with the placing of the cover in position on the container. With these and other features as objects 1 view, an illustrative form of practicing the inin, which:

Figure 1 is an upright section through the bell and associated parts. with a container in position on thebeli platform and with the bell shown in prior to the sealing of the bell chamber.

Figure- 2 is a corresponding section, with parts omitted, showing. the cover-lifting parts at an intermediate stage of energization, and ready to begin lifting of the cover.

Figure 3 is a section corresponding "to Fig. 2,"

and showing the bell in sealing position on'its platform, and with the cover lifted.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing ttire-securing bolts 11 which pass through the 50. the position attained during lowering and Just {herein claimed.

tra a In the preparation of packagesof materials the "substantially .on line 4-4- der seal, it has been foundadvantageous to replace the air by an inert gas, and to employ evacu- 5fis anlexplodedview corresponding r a part of, '4, but with the elements prior tol lY-x v Figured is anenlarged upright sectional view 1 -substantially-on lineJ-J of Fig. 4, corresponding to. a part of,1 lg 3, with'ithe cover-lifting elemerits supporting the cover; in raised position.

Figiiresljfl 'andii are perspective views illus- 5 tratingdetails of the cover-lifting structure.

Figure 10-isa perspective'view, in exploded formfishowing the general relationship of parts of;a stop member prior to assembly.

Figure 11 is adetailed view of-a modified con- 1 v v tainer engagingstructui'e,

In these drawings, a bell platform P has an upper surface for engagement bythe bell B for forming'a closedfchamber, a gasket G beingnormally interposed {for assuring the seal. The bell can be raised and lowered by appropriate means such as a'ca-ble 0 connected to its upper end.

Standards 8 serve as guides along which may slide the blocks K, so that the bell is compelled to rise and.fall essentially vertically in the illustrated form. v

' Gauge pins D areprovided on the platform for I determining aproperrposition of a container IX, being positioned in accordance with the shape and sizeofthis container whereby to assure that the upper end of the container is presented in an ',.essentially predetermined position within the 'bell- E t rnal operable valve V-l by which an inert gas such as carbon dioxide, -,nitrogen, etc., may be introduced from a tank T. Similarly; the manually operable valve ii-'4 permits evacuationby a suitable means suchlas a suction conduit M and 'a filter N. In the illustrated form.-thegassing and evacuation conduits are connected to "a common conduit H which, opens through the platform P, and this platform may be provided with radial channels 45 vention is shown in the accompanying drawings,

. vide-a-collar l4 forming the mouth of the con- -tainer. The container cover Y is shown in Fig. 1 as resting looselyf-upon'j the collar II, and as having. the downwardly turned peripheral flange II which later will be sealed to an outwardly ex- "tending -flange 'at theupper end of the collar i.4 The particular shape and arrangement of the container. and cover constitutes no partof the, present invention, save and except as the I The upper closing end or. the bell B receives I gassing and evacuating means are illustrated in Fig. 1' as comprising. a manually- 'structures thereof cooperate with the structures 3 spacer blocks I6 and engage in a cover-lifting device. It will be understood that the size of the blocks I6 can be varied appropriately with respect to the height of the bell B and the height of the container X, in order to assure proper operation of the parts.

The cover lifting structure is formed essentially as a ring 20, with elements for lifting the cover and stop elements for determining the position of the cover when lifted, In the illustrated form, the ring is formed of three segments (Fig. which are welded to the interposed blocks 2!, these blocks having. threaded apertures 22 for the bolts H. The blocks likewise have kerfs 23 at their inner ends, and are provided (Fig. 'l) with aligned apertures 24 for receiving pivot pins 25 (Fig. 6) for supporting the corresponding lifting dogs 26. Each block 2| also has an aperture 21 through which passes a-pivot pin 26 (Fig. 6)

-for supporting the corresponding lifter shoe 26 (Fig. 9). Each lifting dog 26 (Fig. 8) has a rounded actuating surface 26a for engagement during movement of the bell whereby to cause rocking of the dogs inwardly toward the container cover. In the illustrated form, each dog 26 has a lifter shoe 30 with a curved nose 30a for easy sliding over the container wall, and with ears 30b for engaging the pivot 26. The shoes 30 may be dispensed with if the top wall it is smooth and has a low frictional constant, and

structure 20, and ultimately engage the lifting dogs 26. It will be noted that the ends of the shoes 30 are curved, so that they can slide easily along the top wall l3 of the container.

Continued downward movement of the bell causes the shoes 30 to rock the lifting dogs 26 inwardly to the position of Fig. 2, in which these dogs have come into contact with cover Y below its edge 15. 1

The final seating movement of the bell B is accompanied by a further rocking of the lifting shoes 30 and therewith of the dogs 26, and during this rocking of the dogs- 26, these dogs individually act as levers which receive downward force components at their pivots 25, and are thereby raised at their inner edges or noses so that thenoses or free edges of these dogs cause a lifting of the cover Y to the position shown in Fig. 3. The maximum lifting of the cover Y is determined by the pressing of this cover against the stop fingers 3|, as shown in Fig. 3; but it degree of rocking of the dogs, through the difin this case the dogs 26 both engage. the con- 3i which are screwed to the ring 26. Each ring section is illustrated as having a notch 32 beneath the position of the finger 3|, into which fits the upwardly projecting abutment 33 of a guide block 34- (Fig. 10) which likewise is secured to the ring 20 by a screw 35 (Figs. 1 and 4). The blocks 34 may bechamfered for guiding engagement with the container cover. The blocks 34 and ring 20 have a smooth internal periphery which is slightly greater than the diameter of the covers Y, e. g. about inch on the diameter for a #10 end.

The inner wall of the bell B preferably has the inclined guide blocks 50 for engaging the top fiange of the container and assuring the correct relative position of parts when the bell B has been seated on the platform.

When the bell. is suspended from its cable 0, the lifting dogs 26 hang loosely suspended (Fig. '1) and the center of gravity is so positioned with respect to the pivot pin that the dogs are then free of the path of relative movement of the cover Y as the bell B is lowered. In addition, the. lifter shoes likewise have moved loosely by gravity about their pivots 28 until they are also in the position of Fig. 1..

As the bell B is lowered, the lifter shoes 30 engage and are detained by the top wall i3 of the container and are thereby withheld from farther downward movement beyond the top wall, by reason of the pressure oi the bell, these lifter shoes are caused to rock about their respective axes 28 during the further downward movement of the bell B. so that the inner ends move inwardly toward the aids of the support. ring ferent angles determined by the tolerance of actual heights, will assure a lifting of each and the platform P. By operation of the valves VI,

V-2, the container can be evacuated for removal of air, and then an inert gas can be introduced for replacing the vacuum. Evacuation and gassing can be repeated if desired.

When the treatment has been concluded, the last operation of gassing has restored the bell chamber to essentially atmospheric pressure, so that it can now be easily lifted by its cable C, and therewith the lifting shoes 30 and lifting dogs 26 tend to rock backwardly by gravity toward and into the positions shown in Fig. 1. During the course of this movement, the lifting dogs 26 lower the cover Y into its prior position upon the container X,so that when the bell B has been lifted above the top of the container, the latter may be removed with the cover in position thereon for preventing the further access of the air. The container X and its cover Y can then be operated upon by a suitable device for interengaging the flange IS with the flange on the collar M.

A new container is placed upon. the platform P, in the position determined by the gauge pins D, the bell lowered, and the other operations repeated, as before. I I

When the top wall I3 of the container X has circular corrugations. (Fig. 11), it is preferred to provide the lifter shoes 30 with downward projections 300:, which may be solder spots or brazed materials which are rounded to travel over the corrugated surface.

By securing the ring 20 to the bell B at the peripheral portions which support the liftingelements, with inclusion of the spacer blocks I8,

a very strong and rigid assembly is provided, and no fiexing of the ring 20 occurs. During the lifting of the cover Y,'it is guided by the blocks 34, so that the cover Y is held in position for accurate return to closing position upon the container X.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the form of construction shown, but that it tions free of the cover and second positions of may be modified in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be securedby Letters Patent is:

11. An apparatus of the class described having a platform and a bell for engaging the platform to provide a treating chamber for a conv tainer having a cover loose thereon, comprising vpivot supports carried inside the bell, lifting means pivoted to the pivot supports andincluding actuating parts for engaging the container as the Bell is lowered and lifting partsmo'ved by the actuating parts for engaging and lifting a container cover from the container, and guide means for detaining the cover in position for being returned tothe container mouth when the bellislifted'again. a

2. An apparatus of the class described having -a platform and a bell for engaging. the platform to provide a treating chamber for a container having a cover loose thereon, comprising lifting sition has been rockedfor engaging and liftin the cover from the container, the position of the pivot mountings and thedimensions of the dogs being constructed and arranged relativeto the height of the container whereby the dogs engage the container during the downward motion of thebell around the container and are thereupon caused to move from the said first position into said second position. e

8. A cover lifting apparatus including a support for receiving a container having a mouth with a loose cover thereon, and a bell eifective means inside of andsupported by the bell, said 7 lifting means including lifting dogs pivoted for rocking toward and from thecover, and also including lifter shoes pivoted'for rocking upon en-. .gagement with the container and therewith efdogs and shoes are pivoted eccentrically to their respective centers of gravity whereby they fall into initial position by the action of gravity when the bell is lifted and therewith effect return of the cover to the container mouth.

4. An apparatus of the class described hav-' ing a platform and a bell for engaging the plat-v form to provide a treating chamber for a container having a cover loose thereon, comprising a ring rigidly fixed inside the bell, peripherally 1 tainer and providing a treating chamber enclosspaced lifter dogs pivoted to said. ring torock toward and from the cover between first posiengagement beneath the cover, and means energized by engagement during the downward movein one position for sealing the interior of the container from the atmosphere, said bell and support being guidedly movable upwardly and downwardly relative to one another, and in combinationtherewith a pivot connection carried by said bell, and a cover lifter dog on said pivot connection and normally suspended by its weight from said pivot in a position out of engagement with the cover during a-maior portion of the said upward and downward movement, said dog having a nose and a rounded actuating surface for engagement during the relative downward movement thereof wherewith the nose of the dog is caused to rock inwardly and upwardly into engagement beneath the cover and then to raise the cover from the container mouth.

9. An apparatus of the class described for a container having -a mouth with a loose cover thereover, a container support and a bell for engagement with said support, means effective during relative movement of the support and bell for positioning the bell relative to the coning the cover, and lifting means carried by the bell and including a movable part located out of the path of relative movement of the container cover during one portion of the said relative ment of the bell for' causing said lifter dogs to move from their first positions into saidlsecond positions and also causingthe said iifterdogs to mouth isopen.

5. An apparatus of the class described having a platform and a bell for engaging the platform to provide a treating chamber, for a container hav- V ing a cover loose thereon,'cornprising a ring rigidly fixed inside the bell, peripherally spaced lifter dogs pivoted to saidring to rock toward and-from v the cover between first positions free of the cover and second positions of engagement beneath the movement so that it is moved past the cover, said lifting means being positioned for actuation by the effect of and during a later portion of said movement whereby the said movable part "is shifted to a position to engage and lift the cover.

10. An apparatus having a support for receiving a container having a mouth with a loose cover thereover, and cover lifting means including a movable member, means for moving and guiding the said member in a substantially vertical direction relative to the container support,

' said cover lifting means also including a first part cover, and lifter'shoes pivoted to said ring for engagement with the container as the bell is dogs from said first positions into said secondv positions.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4, in which the I ring also has fixed thereto stop fingers extending into the path of upwardmovementof-the' cover whereby to assure maintenance of the cover in condition for accurate replacement uponthe container mouth whenthebell is raised again.

7. An apparatus having a platform and a bell i said support and the container thereon so that for covering a container resting on said platmovably carried by the member and normally positioned so that it does not engage the cover during the downward movement and a second part which moves freely downward with said.

container having a. mouth with a loose cover thereover, a container support, a bell, means for guidedly raising and lowering the bell relative to 7 in the lowered position the bell is eflective for shutting oil the interior or the container from the atmosphere, a cover lifting dog having a nose and pivotally suspended from said bell and normally located out of the path of relative move- 5 ment of the container cover during one portion of the saidlowering movement-of the bell, and

means efiective when the dog attains during its downward movement a; predetermined distance from the container support to move said dog 10 inwardly until its nose is engaged beneath the cover and then to effect further movement of the dog so that its nose is raised andlifts the cover from the container.

HERBERT ROBERT HELM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

Images