US3771576A

US3771576A - Automatic banking for rotary filling machine

Info

Publication number: US3771576A
Application number: US00218111A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Gellatly; S Creed
Original assignee: FMC Corp
Current assignee: FMC Corp
Priority date: 1972-01-17
Filing date: 1972-01-17
Publication date: 1973-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-13
Also published as: NL148559B; AU474380B2; GB1411963A; CA987641A; DE2301993B2; JPS4881683A; ZA73265B; AU5105373A; DE2301993A1; BE794176A; NL7300457A

Abstract

A rotary filling machine in a generally circular track around which the open top containers are advanced during filling. The track includes inner and outer rails, the outer rails being automatically raised and lowered for increasing and decreasing the banking action on the cans in accordance with the speed of rotation of the filler. This accommodates utilization of a greater degree of banking than would be possible without the use of the automatic banking feature and prevents spillage when the machine is not running, which spillage would otherwise occur with the high degree of banking employed. Both tachometer and a pneumatic throttle valve speed control system for changing the banking are disclosed.

Description

United States Patent [191 Gellatly et a1.

[ NOV. 13, 1973 AUTOMATIC BANKING FOR ROTARY FILLING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Robert K. Gellatly, Los Gatos;

Sherman H. Creed, San Jose, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif.

[22] Filed: Jan. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 218,111

[52] US. Cl 141/150, 141/167, 141/171 [51] Int. Cl. B65b 43/60 [58] Field of Search 141/33, 36, 71, 124,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,105,526 10/1963 Hurtig 141/171 6/1968 Riesenberg 141/149 X Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Assistant Examiner-Frederick R. Schmidt Attorney-F. W. Anderson et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A A rotary filling machine in a generally circular track around which the open top'containers are advanced during filling. The track includes inner and outer rails, the outer rails being automatically raised and lowered for increasing and decreasing the banking action on the cans in accordance with the speed of rotation of the filler. This accommodates utilization of a greater degree of banking than would be possible without the use of the automatic banking feature and, prevents spillage when the machine is not running, which spillage would otherwise occur with the high degree of banking employed. Both tachometer and a pneumatic throttle valve speed control system for changing the banking are disclosed. I

15 Claims, 32 Drawing Figures Patented Nov. 13, 1973 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 0m I l ll 8 22% m Patented Nov. 13, 1973 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 uw mHF lill 2205 ouuam Patented Nov. 13, 1973 10 Sheets-Sheet b Patnted Nov. 13, 1973 3,771,576

10 Sheets-Sheet L- Patented Nov. 13, 1973 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Nov. 13, 1973 l Sheets-Sheet I I I I I I UUUUU STOP START LINE AUTOMATIC BANKING FOR ROTARY FILLING MACHINE REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The geometry of a smooth transition curve from the circular filler track to the tangential discharge path that can be employed in conjunction with the banking apparatus of the present invention is disclosed in the copending U.S. application, Ser. No. 208,598 filed Dec. 16, 1971, assigned to the FMC Corporation Creed et al.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to container filling machines and more specifically to the type of filling machines wherein open containers are rotated around a circular filling track along with nozzles above the containers, with filling taking place during rotation. The improvement of the present invention relates to an automatic banking structure incorporated into generally circular container tracks.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART The U.S. Pat. to Galloway No. 2,794,533, June 4, 1957, discloses a banked track for use in a filler of the type described, which has a banking section that can be manually adjusted and locked into a pre-selected banking configuration.

The U.S. Pat. to Hurtig No. 3,105,526, Oct. 1, 1961 shows a banked track similar to that of Galloway with the addition of a locating cam to adjust the position of the container mouth relative to the container filler nozzle.

The U.S. Pat. to Minard No. 3,421,555, .Ian. 4, 1969 shows can lifters for bringing the cams up to the nozzles, these lifters being at a fixed inclination for banking purposes. The filled containers are deposited on a discharge table which is initially banked at an angle like that of the cam lifters, the banking of which decreases gradually to a level take away section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION dard. The head space provides a factor of safety against spillage due to jarring and the effects of centrifugal force on the products during filling, and one of the problems in the art of high speed filling is to optimize the advantages provided by a given head space.

As evidenced by the aforementioned patents, it has been recognized in the past that banking of the cans during filling is essential for high speed operation in order to prevent the product from being flung over the outside lip of the can under centrifugal force. However, heretofore, the amount of permissable banking by the filling track has been limited by the fact that when the machines are being started and stopped, the inclination applied to the cans by the banked track becomes a detriment instead of an advantage in that such banking of the cans tends to urge the liquid level to approach the inside lip of the can. This has limited the degree of banking that could be imparted to the track of the filler and has correspondingly limited the speed at which the filler could operate. Under the present invention, cans with regulation head space-volume can be filled at a rate of 6QQ-800 or even rnore cans per minute without spillage when the machine is started, stopped or when it is running more slowly than normal. Sufficient banking can be applied to the cans to counteract the action of centrifugal force on the product and prevent spillage over the outside lips of the filled cans at these high speeds. Spillage problems that arise with such increased banking when the machine is running slower than normal, or when it is being started or stopped, are overcome by automatically adjusting the banking in accordance with the rotational speed of the filler, or in a manner which decreases the banking as the machine slows down and increases it again when the machine is restarted.

In the first form of the invention, the automatic increase and decrease in the banking is accomplished by a speed sensing machanism synchronized with the filler drive and a follow up system that automatically increases the banking action of the outside rail of the can track in proportion to the rotationalspeed of the filler, that is, the rotational speed of the containers while being conveyed around the track. Thus the banking is reduced so that there is no spillage over the inside rim of the cans when the machine is stopped or running very slowly or in fact, it can be set so taht the track is level under these conditions. However, when the machine is started up, and as it comes up to speed, the baning control mechanism increases the banking of the track proportional to such speed, and the same applies when the machine is slowed down from its normal operating condition. As a result, optimum banking to counteract the relatively high centrifugal forces encountered in high speed operation is obtainable without spillage when the machine is stopped.

Since the fillers of the type of the present invention may have 20, 30, 44 or more pockets, a'substantial number of cans will be on the banked portion of the track during operation and a number of thesewill be filled or substantially filled. Thus, by eliminating the problem of spillage due to the use of optimum banking, cleanliness and economy of operation are obtained even though considerable number of cans are in a position which would other wise cause them to spill product onto the machine machanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan section of a filler embodying the invention with associated conveyor equipment.

FIG. 2 is a section of the filler taken on 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation with the conveyor discharged mechanism with most of the filler removed for clarity.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective of a filler can track embodying the invention.

FIGS. 5 5C are diagrams showing various operating conditions on the can track.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the automatic banking track of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is an electrical diagram of a tachometer speed control system for the automatic banking action.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspectice diagram showing the connections of the actuator to the banking rail.

FIG. 8 is aplan view of the structure of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view looking along line 9 9 of FIG. 8 showing details of the banking wedge construction.

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10 10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a break away view like FIG. 9 showing the banking wedge construction.

FIG. 12 is a section taken on line 12 12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view like FIG. 11 with the banked track section in its raised position.

FIG. 14 is a section taken on line 14 14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a developed view of the banking section showing wedge locations.

FIG. 16 is a plan of the entry end of the bankedcan section.

FIG. 16A is a side view of that section.

FIGS. 16B and 16C are sections taken as indicated on FIG. 16 with the banked track in the down and up positions, respectively.

FIG. 16D is a section taken as indicated on FIG. 16 with the banked track section in its down position.

FIGS. 16F and 166 are sections taken as illustrated on FIG. 16 with the banked track in its down and up positions, respectively.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view of the delivery end of the banked track.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are sections taken as indicated on FIG. 17 with the banked track in its down and up positions, respectively.

FIGS. 17C and 17D are sections taken as indicated in FIG. 17 with the banked track in its down and up positions, respectively.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a pneumatic time delay system for operating the banked track section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A rotary filler embodying the automatic banking features of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 3. It is to be understood that the filler is of a type well known in the art and manufactured by the assignee of the present invention. The details of the pistons, valves,

cams and other mechanisms of the filler are thus of conventional design and are not critical to the present invention. Furthermore, the filler illustrated is of the same general type as that shown in the US. Pat. to Kerr No. 2,958,346, Nov. 1, 1960 and the operation of the pistons, valves, etc. involved are described in detail in that patent.

The filler embodying the present invention has a frame structure indicated generally at 12 (FIG. 1) and supported by legs 14. Posts 16, which may be extensions of the legs 14 support upper framework 18 (FIG. 2). A rotatable filling turret 20 embodies a circular array of filling cylinders 21 and pistons 22 such as those shown in the aforesaid United States patent to Kerr. The filling turret is mounted by a bearing structure indicated generally at 23 on an annular frame ring 24 (FIG. 2), it being understood that these details are not critical to the present invention.

The turret 20 is driven by a large gear 26 connected to the bottom of the turret which in turn is rotated by a smaller gear 28 driven by a drive motor and gear box unit 30. The filler turret incorporates a bowl indicated generally at 32 which communicates with the measuring cylinders 21 by means of valved ports indicated generally at 36, at the right side of FIG. 2. Vertically receiprocating valve members 40 which control the ports 36 are operated by stationary cam mechanism 42 in accordance with conventional design. Ports 37, at

the left of FIG. 2, are valved to connect the cylinders 21 of the pistons 22 to filler nozzles 50.

The pistons 22 are connected by links 44 to slides 46 which have carn rollers 48 that ride over a fixed cam 49 for raising and lowering the pistons 22 in accordance with conventional principles of machines of this type. When the pistons 21 are lowered, as seen at the right of FIG. 2, the product is drawn from the bowl 32 through the valve ports 36 and into the cylinders 21. When the pistons are raised as seen at the left of FIG. 2, the product is discharged through the opened ports 37 and out through filler nozzles 50 which at this time will be disposed over cans supported on the track mechanism of the present invention, as will be explained presently.

The cans K (not shown in FIG. 2) are advanced around the filler beneath the nozzles 50 by means of a large pocket wheel 52 (FIG. 1) which provides a pocket 53 for each can. The filler being described is a 44-pocket filler. An outer guide rail 54 surrounds about 270 of the filler and extends along a discharge path. A can track supports the cans or other containers from their bottoms beneath the nozzles 50 andvwithin the guard rail 54. Such tracks are known in the art and the lead in portion 58 of the track is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In accordance with the present invention, the track has an automatic banking section designated generally at 60, details of which will be described presently.

Other features of the filler embodying the present invention associated therewith relate to the feeding and discharging of cans. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a delivery conveyor 62 operating in conjunction with a feed worm 64, feeds cans to a star wheel 66 which is rotated in synchronism with the filler pocket wheel 52, which carries cans around a curved track 67 and guide rail 68, (FIG. 4) and deposits them in the pockets 53 of the turret 20 (FIG. 1). The star wheel 66 is driven from a vertical shaft 69 (FIG. 2) on the drive motor and gear box 30 previously described in connection with the gear 28 that rotates the filler turret 20. The drive unit 30 operates a belt and pulley assembly 70 which drives a shaft 71 for an accessory gear box 72. The gear box 72 drives the shaft 64a for the feed screw 64 previously described. The gear box drive shaft 71 also drives the feed conveyor 62 by means of the belt and pulley arrangement 74, that turns a conveyor drive roll on the pulley shaft 75. The details of this feed conveyor drive are not critical to the present invention.

As will be explained in detail presently, a tachometer is mounted on the gear box 72 and is driven from the gear box drive shaft 71 by a belt and pulley construction 82 (FIG. 3). The tachometer 80 provides electrical signals where voltage is proportional to the speed of rotation of the tiller turret 20, which signals are utilized in order to operate the automatic banking elements of the track section 60 in a manner to be described in detail presently.

After the cans have been filled from the nozzles 60 they are conveyed around a transition portion of the cam track illustrated generally at 61 (FIGS. 1 and 4) which leads to an offset straight line discharge conveyor (FIGS. 1 and 3). The discharge conveyor 90 runs in a straight line in a path that may be offset from the circular path of the cans around the filler, as in the aforesaid copending US. application, Ser. No. 208,598 The transition path 61 is tangent to the circular filler path and to the discharge conveyor 90, and if the discharge path is offset from the circular filler path, the discharge path provides a smooth reduction of centrifugal force during this part of the operation, as described in the copending application. However, the present invention also has utility infillers wherein the straight discharge path is tangent to the circular filling path.

Transfer of the cans from the transition path 61 to the discharge conveyor 90 is assisted by a transfer conveyor 94 that runs parallel to the discharge conveyor 90, (FIGS. 1 and-3). The discharge conveyor 94 comprises a chain 96 having fingers 98 that form can pockets, which, as best seen in FIG. 1 cooperate with the pockets 53 in the pocket wheel 52 so that the cans are smoothly removed from the filler and directed to the discharge conveyor 90. A discharge guide rail 99 on the inside of the transition path 61 urges the cans away from the pocket wheel 52 and into the pockets fromed by the fingers 98 of the transfer conveyor 94. The discharge conveyor 90 leads the filled containers to a capping machine (not shown) in accordance with conventional practice. It is apparent that the discharge conveyor 90 and the transfer conveyor 94 should be synchronized with the pocket wheel 52 in the system illustrated. Hence,

conveyors

90 and 94 are operated (by means not shown) from the capping machine and the capping machine is driven in synchronism with or is driven by the tiller drive unit 30 in accordance with conventional practice and by drive means not illustrated.

THE AUTOMATIC BANKING TRACK The automatic banking track assembly 60 of the present invention comprises radially spaced inner and outer support rails that connect between the lead in circular track section 58 and the transition track section 61 that becomes tangent to the discharge conveyor 90 as previously described. As previously mentioned, under the present invention the banking action imparted by the track section 60 of the present invention is automatically increased as the speed of rotation of pocket wheel 52 increases (when starting up) and is automatically decreased as the wheel 52 slows down (when stopping the machine). Thus banking can be optimized for high speed operation by introducing a banking angle to the cans at full speed operation that would otherwise cause spillage if the maximum banking angle during a filling operation were permitted to remain when the machine is started or stopped, or slowed down below normal operating speed.

FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective diagram showing the relation of the automatic banking track section 60 to the overall path of the cans through the tiller and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the filler track alone. The banked section of the track includes an outer, vertically displaceable rail section 100 and an inner, fixed rail section 102. Both rail sections merge with the lead in the

transition sections

58, 61 previously described. The outer rail section 100 is raised and lowered by an actuator 103 (FIG. 8) connected to an arcuate cam sector 104, which actuator shifts the sector 104 circumferentially in order to raise and lower the vertically displaceable banking section 100.

As seen in FIG. 6, the entire track assembly is mounted on three of the posts 16 by means of brackets 110 having arms 112 that extend in opposite directions. The other post 116 mounts a bracket 113 that spans an open section of the track assembly. As seen in FIGS. 8,

9 and 10, each arm 112 terminates in three

vertical posts

114, 116 and 118. The radially innermost posts 114 support the fixed inner track sections, the lead in 58 and the narrower section 102 at the banking zone. The iner track sections are secured to the posts 114 by bolts 115, as best seen in FIG. 10.

As seen in FIGS. 16, 16A, 16B and 16C the upstream end of the inner, fixed rail section 102 is formed with a bottom lip 102a which is beneath a tongue 58a of the lead in section 58, both being secured to a post 114 by a bolt 115. The lead in track section 58 has an elongated tongue 58b (FIG. 16) which parallels the hatrower inside fixed track section 102 for a short distance. The narrow fixed track section 102 is made of a tough plastic composition, such as nylon, for long wear, antifriction operation. The downstream end of track section 102 is mounted on a post 114 and is beveled to lead smoothly into the fixed transition track section 61 in a similar manner (not illustrated in detail).

The vertically displaceable, banking track section (which is also made of a tough plastic material) extends from the wise lead in fixed track section 58 (FIGS. 4 and 6) around a circular section of the filler, over the transition path 61, and becomes tangent to a straight line discharge section 6 1a at its terminal portion, as is also seen in FIGS. 6 and in 17. As seen in a number of these figures including FIGS. 9, 10 and 16D the banking track section 100 has depending pins 120 secured thereto which slide in sockets 122 in the mounting posts 116. This construction accommodates vertical motion of the banking track section 100 relative to the fixed track section 102 as well as to the fixed transition track section 61 at the end of the banking track 100. v

In order to avoid jarring at the lead in and discharge ends of the banking track 100, the track is beveled at both ends as illustrated in the developed view of FIG. 15. The entire track 100 in FIG. 15 length is shown as having a total length a with a lead in bevel b, a flat intermediate section c and a beveled discharge section d. The lead in bevel b appears also in FIGS. 4, 16 and 16A and the discharge bevel d is indicated in FIG. 17 and its effect is shown in FIGS. 17C and 17D. In the example being given the developed length a of the track on a 44 pocket filler having a path radius of about 22.0625 inches will be about 72.19 inches. The beveled section b will be about 11.94 inches long and the discharge section d will be about 24.41 inches long.

FIG 16B is a section showing how the end of the lead in beveled section b is lower than the fixed

track sections

58, 58b when the banking track 100 is down. The gradualtaper of lead in section b insures a smooth lead in under these conditions. When the banked section 100 is in its fully raised position (up), as shown in FIG. 16C, the entry end of the beveled b is flush with the fixed

track sections

58, 58b. Thus banking action will begin as the containers ride up the ramp formed by the beveled lead in b providing a smooth transition at the beginning of the banking action. FIG. 16D is taken somewhat farther along the track than FIG. 16B, and also shows the beveled lead in b of the banking section 100 in its down position and its relation to

the'fixed track sections

102 and 58b.

FIG. 16E is taken near the end of the beveled lead in portion b just before it merges with the major or intermediate portion c. Here, with the banked portion 100 in its down position, the beveled section b is still slightly below the level of the fixed

sections

102, 58b, but when the track 100 is raised, the beveled section b at this point will be higher than the fixed

track sections

102, 58b. FIGS. 16F and 166 are taken near the end of the beveled section b showing how when the track 100 is down this section is flush with the narrow fixed rail 102 but is above the rail when the track section 100 is up, so that full banking action is now taking place when the banked track 100 is raised. The intermediate section c of the rail 100 is rounded off and merges smoothly with the bank section b as shown at 100a in FIG. 16.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are sections showing relation of the intermediate section c of the banking track 100 in its down and up positions. FIG. 17C is a section taken near the end of the track showing how the beveled discharge section d is below the fixed track section 61 when the track is in-its down position and is almost flush therewith when it is in its up position (FIG. 17D) thereby giving a smooth transition from the banked condition to a level condition at the straight line or offset track portion 61a (FIG. 17).

TRACK BANKING MECHANISM As previously described, the banking track section 100 is vertically displaceable by means of mounting pins 120 in sockets 122 in the support posts 114 and is raised and lowered by circumferential shifting of the arcuate sector 104. In the embodiment under descrip tion, the sector 104 is operated by an electric actuator 103. The cam sector 104 extends over a major portion of the length of the banking track 100 (FIG. 6). The upstream end of the sector 104 is connected to the shaft 130 of the actuator 103 (FIG. 7) by means of a crank arm 132 keyed to the shaft and pivoted to one end of a link 134. The other end of link 134 is pivoted to the end of the arcuate sector 104. The actuator 103 is mounted on one of the posts 16 by a bracket 136. Thus, the actuator shaft 130, which has a limited oscillatory motion, causes a circumferential motion of the cam sector 104, for raising and lowering the banking track section 100.

The actual conversion of the oscillation of the arcuate sector 104 to vertical displacement of the banking track section 100 is performed by a series of cooperating wedges or cam members distributed around the

parts

104 and 100. For example, tapered wedgesor cams 104 are secured to the outerside of the banking track section 100 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 to 14. Cooperating wedges or cams 142 are secured to the inside of the arcuate sector 104, as seen in most of the aforesaid figures. The engaging surfaces of the cams or

wedges

140, 142 are so disposed that reciprocation of the sector 104 raises and lowers the banking track section 100.

As seen in FIGS. 7, 9 and 10, the sector 104 rests on plates 146 on the upper ends of posts 118. Detachable posts 148 are notched at 150 (FIG. to receive the arcuate sector 104 and the posts 148, the plates 146, and the outer guard rail 54 are secured to the posts 1 18 by bolts 152. Thus oscillation of the actuator crank 132 shifts the arcuate sector 104 circumferentially and raises and lowers the banking track section 100, by the cooperating cams or

wedges

140, 142, as previously described.

SPEED CONTROL TACI-IOMETER The feature of the embodiment of the invention under description is that the track banking section is raised and lowered in accordance with the speed of rotation of the turret 20 of the filler. In the form to be described, the speed of turret rotation is sensed by a tachometer and electric signals are generated to bank the track. The apparatus is so adjusted that when the turret is stationary, the track 100 is in its down position for minimum banking, whereas when the turret is at maximum speed of rotation, the track 100 is in its up or maximum banking position. In the first system illustrated to accomplish this result, the actuator 103 is a limited rotation, high torque, reversible capacitor motor having a full travel of 90. A suitable device is the model MAR-8 Elector-pak Actuator, manufactured by Raymond Control Systems Inc. of St. Charles, III. In order to operate the actuator in response to turret speed of the filler, a tachometer and proportional amplifier system is provided as illustrated diagrammatically' in FIG. 6A. The tachometer 80, previously described, is driven at a speed proportional to that of the filler turret 20, as seen in FIG. 1. The tachometer provides'a filler speed voltage signal which is connected to a proportioning amplifier 160, the latter also receiving a source of power.

The tachometer is a type A Model 750D-C tachometer generator, embodying a permanent magnet field surrounding armature, a suitable instrument being manufactured by Weston Instruments of Newark, N.J., USA.

The amplifier 160, in the system being illustrated is a Raymond Model RCS 11 Electronic Servo Control System, manufactured by the maker of the actuator 103 and designed for automatic proportioning of the v actuator in response to a varying electric signal from the tachometer. This system, which embodies a feedback potentiometer or the like, is the amplifier in FIG. 6A, and receives a speed signal from the tachometer which is amplified to provide a proportioning control signal to the actuator 103. An actuator position feedback signal is received by the amplifier 160 from the actuator, for follow-up control. Although the system just described is precisely accurate and relatively economical, in the broader aspects of the invention other speed responsive controls could be used to operate the arcuate cam member 104.

OPERATION The basic conditions of operation and the problems engendered in high speed filling of containers such as open topped cans, has been previously described in connection with FIGS. 5, 5A, 5B and 5C. FIG. 5 shows a can K having the usual head space after it has been filled, the can being level as it would be at the final discharge path 61a. However, as seen in FIG. 5A, due to the head space, a filled can can be banked by the track portion 100, even when the tiller is stationary without spillage. However, this fixed banking would be inadequate for really high speed operation, as shown in FIG. 513. FIG. 5C shows how additional banking, over and above the minimum banking of FIG. 5A, prevents spillage as the banking speed is increased to the maximum. These conditions are also illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 14, wherein FIG. 12 shows, on a larger scale, the preferred adjustment of the banking system when the machine is stopped and FIG. 14 shows typical banking conditions when the machine is running, generating a centrifugal force F, toward the outer lip of the can. As

a result of the present invention, cans filled by the nozzles 50, (FIGS. A and 12) will not spill when the machine is stopped. As the machine is started up again, and as the cans are advanced around the curved track of the machine filler by the pocket wheel 52, the tachometer 80 senses the increased speed of rotation and operates the actuator 103 and arcuate cam member 104 accordingly, so that the banking track 100 slowly approaches its uppermost position reaching the height relative to the fixed rail 102 in the full speed running condition shown in FIGS. 5C and 14. This banking is selected so that the action of centrifugal force F, illustrated by the arrow of FIG. 14, although it causes the liquid level to rise up towards the outer lip of the can, is not enough to cause spillage over that lip. As the can continues around the circular part of the track, the transition portion 61 is reached which preferably is a curve tangent to the circular path around the filler and to the straight line discharge path 61a as described in the aforesaid pending application. The centrigual force on the can is gradually reduced over the transition path, but the banking is correspondingly reduced by the beveled end portion of the track 100 as seen and illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 15 and as also shown in FIG. 4. By the time the filled cans reach the straight line path 61a, the centrifugal force is removed and the cans can either be leveled completely, as shown in FIGS. 5, or can remain banked to some extent without spilling as shown in FIG. 5A. Regardless of the exact conditions at the transition point from the track 100 to the straight line path 61a, eventually the cans will be leveled before they can reach the capper (not shown) at the end of the conveyor 90.

As previously described, the cans are assisted in their transfer from the pocket wheel 52 of the filler (FIG. 1) to the transition path 61 and on to the straight line path 61a and conveyor 90 by the fingers 98 of the transfer conveyor 94, these being synchronized with the pockets 53 of the wheel 52 so that there is a smooth, nonjolting transition. This careful attention to details has made it possible to attain filling speeds substantially greater than those hertofore in commercial installations particularly when an improved curvature of the transition path is bult into the machine in accordance with the aforesaid copending application, Ser. No. 208,598, filed Dec. 16, 1971.

SPEED CONTROL TIME DELAY FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of the invention wherein the speed control system, instead of directly sensing the speed of rotation of the filler, adjusts the banking action whenever the machine is started or stopped, using a pre-selected time delay apparatus. In the system of FIG. 18, the actuator 103 of the first form is replaced by a pneumatic cylinder 170, and the piston rod 172 is pinned to the arcuate member 104 that carries the banking cams 142. The opposite ends of the cylinder 170 are connected to

air lines

174, 176 for decreasing and increasing the banking respectively. Each of these lines embodies a flow control valve 174a, 176a, respectively, and a check valve 174b, 176b and the lines connect to a reversing valve 178 which is moved in one direction by a solenoid 180 and is spring returned by a spring 182, two-way electric actuation of this valve is also possible. It is to be understood that the details for actuating the valve are not critical to the present invention.

The valve solenoid 180 is connected across the power line in series with a motor starter relay contact M1, for the electric motor (not shown) that drives the filler. A motor starter relay M and stop-start button are also across the line. When the motor starter relay M is energized by pushing the start button, it energizes relay M and starts the filler drive unit 30, previously described, which begins to bring the filler turret 20 up to speed. The motor starter relay M also closes the contacts Ml, which energizes the solenoid I and shifts the solenoid valve 178 so that air from the air supply AS enters the line 176 and opens the check valve l76b in that line, thereby urging the arcuate cam member 104 to the left (as viewed in FIG. 18) for raising the banking track section 100. However this motion is opposed by the exhausting of air from the left side of the cylinder through the line 174 and through the flow control valve 174a in that line. This flow control valve will be preadjusted manually so that the time required for full banking to be attained with this system is substantially equal to the time required for the filler to come up to speed.

When the stop button is pressed, the motor starter relay M is de-energized, the contacts M1 open and the spring 182 returns its solenoid to the position shown in FIG. 18. Now the air supply AS is connected to the left side of the cylinder 170 for moving the arcuate member 104 to the right, decreasing the banking of the track 100. However, this motion to the right of the piston 172 is resisted by the exhaust flow in line 176 and the flow control valve 176a, so again the system can be timed by adjustment of the flow control valve 176a in the line 176 so that the time required to decrease the banking action substantially equals the time required for the filler to normally come to a stop. Thus, although the system of FIG. 18 may not be as universally precise as that previously described, the flow control valves can be adjusted to provide suitably accurate compensation for changes in speed at start up and when the filler is shut down. Thus, the basic improvements and advantages of the previously described tachometer system are present in the system of FIG. 18.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be thee subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary container filling machine of the type having a generally circular container filling path, said path comprising relatively displaceable track means for banking the containers, means for feeding containers to said path, means for advancing the containers around the path, means for removing the containers from the path, means for filling each container as it is moved around the path, and drive means for synchronously rotating said container advancing and filling means; the improvement comprising automatic actuator means connected to said relatively displaceable track means for automatically increasing and decreasing the track means banking action as the container advancing means respectively speeds up and slows down from its normal operating speed.

2. In a rotary filling machine of the type having a generally circular container filling path, said path comprising relatively displaceable track elements for banking the containers, means for feeding containers to said track elements, means for advancing the containers around said path, means for removing the containers from said path, means for filling each container as it is moved around said track elements of said path, and drive means for synchronously rotating said container advancing and filling means; the improvement comprising actuator means for relatively displacing said track elements for changing the banking action, means for sensing the rotational speed of said container advancing means, and control means connecting said actuator means to said speed sensing means for increasing and decreasing the banking action of said track elements as the rotational speed respectively increases and decreases.

3. The filling machine of claim 2, wherein said relatively displaceable track elements are positioned to render the containers level enough to obviate spillage when said container advancing means has stopped.

4. In a rotary filling machine for open top containers, said machine being of the type having a generally circular filling path and means for sliding the containers around said path, said path comprising arcuate, relatively displaceable track elements for slidably guiding and banking the containers as they slide around said path, means for feeding open top containers to said path, means for advancing the containers around the path, means for removing the containers from the path, means for filling each container as it is moved around said track elements while leaving a headspace in each filled container, and drive means for synchronously rotating said container advancing and filling means; the improvement comprising actuator means for relatively displacing said track elements for changing the banking action, means for sensing the speed of the containers around the path, and control means connecting said actuator means to said speed sensing means for increasing and decreasing the banking action of said track elements as the rotational speed respectively increases and decreases.

5. The filling machine of claim 4, wherein said relatively displaceable track elements are positioned to render the containers level enough to obviate spillage when said container advancing means has stopped.

6. The filling machine of claim 4, wherein said track elements remain in a banking condition when the container advancing means has stopped, said banking condition not being sufficient to cause the product to rise above the upper limit of the head space in the filled containers.

7. In a rotary filling machine of the type having a generally circular container track, said track comprising feed and discharge sections with an intermediate banking section, said banking section having side by side radially spaced inner and outer arcuate rails that are relatively vertically displaceable for banking the containers, means for feeding containers to said track, means for advancing the containers around the track, means for removing the containers from the track, means for filling each container as it is moved around the banking section of the track, and drive means for synchronously rotating said container advancing and filling means; the improvement comprising actuator means for vertically displacing one of said arcuate rails relative to the other for increasing and decreasing their banking action,

means for sensing the rotational speed of said container advancing means, and control means connecting said actuator means to said speed sensing means for increasing the banking action of said rails as the rotational speed increases, and decreasing the banking action as the rotational speed decreases.

8. The filling machine of claim 7, wherein actuator means leaves the rails in a partially banked condition when said container advancing means has stopped.

9. The filling machine of claim 7, wherein one rail is fixed and the other rail is vertically displaceable.

10. The filling machine of claim 9, wherein the outer rail is vertically displaceable.

11. The filling machine of claim 10, wherein said actuator means displaces said outer rail by a substantially uniform vertical distance along its length, said outer rail having beveled ends the extremities of which are below the adjacent ends of said feed and discharge track sections when the outer rail is fully lowered, said rail extremities being substantially flush with said track sections when the outer rail is fully raised during the filling operation.

12. The filling machine of claim 7 wherein said speed sensing means comprises electric tachometer means driven synchronously with the container advancing means, said control means comprising actuator means responsive to said tachometer means and connected to said displaceable rail for altering the relative elevation of the two rails.

13. The filling machine of claim 7, wherein said rail actuating means comprises a plurality of relatively shiftable cam assemblies, and means for connecting said cam assemblies to one of said rails and to said rail actuating means for moving one of said rails relative to the other.

14. In a rotary filling machine of the type having a generally circular container track, said track having arcuate, radially spaced rails for supporting and banking the containers, the outer rail being disposed higher than the inner rail for banking the containers during filling, means for feeding containers to said track, turret means for advancing the containers around the track, means for removing the containers from the track, means for filling each container as it is moved around the track, and drive means for synchronously rotating said container advancing and filling means; the improvement comprising means mounting said outer rail for vertical motion, a plurality of circumferentially shiftable cam assemblies for raising and lowering said outer rail to increase and decrease its banking action, and actuator means for actuating said cam assemblies to change the banking substantially in accordance with the rotational speed of said turret means.

15. In a rotary container filling machine of the type including an arcuate track having a surface supporting the containers in adjustably variable non-vertical positions to offset the effect of centrifugal force on the product; the improvement comprising means for sensing the rotational velocity of the containers, and means responsive to said sensing means and connected to said track for tiltably adjusting said container support surface as a function of the container velocity.

. I UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE CERTIFICATE O CORRECTION I Q PATEht T 3,771,576 a i I DATED November 13,. 1973 INVENTOR(S) ROBERT K. GELLATLY et 1 It is cettified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below; v I v Col. 2, line 28, change 'ta ht't to that line 3l, 'c h ange "baning" .to bankihg Col. 5, line 17, change ",fromed" to formed C01 6, line 22', change "wise" tci wide C 1. -7, line 48, c hange "104" to 1 40 Signed and sealed thz'tslst day of July 1'375.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. I-iARSHALL DANE RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks

Claims

7. In a rotary filling machine of the type having a generally circular container track, said track comprising feed and discharge sections with an intermediate banking section, said banking section having side by side radially spaced inner and outer arcuate rails that are relatively vertically displaceable for banking the containers, means for feeding containers to said track, means for advancing the containers around the track, means for removing the containers from the track, means for filling each container as it is moved around the banking section of the track, and drive means for synchronously rotating said container advancing and filling means; the improvement comprising actuator means for vertically displacing one of said arcuate rails relative to the other for increasing and decreasing their banking action, means for sensing the rotational speed of said container advancing means, and control means connecting said actuator means to said speed sensing means for increasing the banking action of said rails as the rotational speed increases, and decreasing the banking action as the rotational speed decreases.