US2152339A - Method of and apparatus for packaging materials - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1939. l5;- Fi ANDERSON 2,152,339

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed. Marsh 2, 1936' 4 SheebSSheet l March 28, 1939. s, F, ANDERSON y .u 2,1;52339 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed March 2, 1956 4 sheets-sheet 2 NVEINTOQ.)

Swan CW Mnderon $7 he M", fr 1W- March 28, 1939. s. F. ANDERSON METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS Filed March 2, 1956 `4 sheets-Sheet s NVENTOQ/ M s www, u w 6 March 2s, 1939. s. ANDERSON 2,152,339

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PAC'KAGNG MATERIALS Filed March 2, 1956 4' Sheets-Sheef. 4

P? gil/I4,

l Wl "IIVENTOQ, 05M Swan CTOqr/o/ersorl.

d @www Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Swan F. Anderson, Rockford, Ill.

Application March 2,

20 Claims.

My invention relates to the packaging of liquid or semi-liquid materials discharged from a power driven forming or pressure producing mechanism and is especially adapted to the handling of such 5 materials as partially frozen ice cream delivered at a continuous rate of flow from what is commonly known as acontinuous type freezing machine.

Ice cream as discharged from a freezer is a partially frozen liquid containing a substantial portion of air by volume. It has been found that the foamy texture of the ice cream can best be preserved and a high quality maintained in the packaged product by maintaining the ice cream under pressure and avoiding mechanical agitation thereof until it is discharged into the container in which it is to be handled.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for conveying partially frozen ice cream directly from the freezer in which it is formed and for distributing measured quantities of the same automatically and periodically into containers which maintain the cream under pressure up to the point of discharge into the containers. In carrying out this object, the ice cream discharged from a scfcalled continuous freezer is conveyed through a normally closed passage which is alternately opened and closed in timed relation to the rate of delivery by the freezer and arranged to discharge measured quantities of the cream into successive containers.y

Another object is to provide, in a combined pressure-producing and packaging apparatus of the above character, a novel arrangement for preventing the valve from being opened except when a container is available to receive the discharged material and for preventing the material from being compressed to an objectionable dem gree while the discharge valve is held closed.

A more detailed object is to provide a packaging machine of vthe above character having a normal discharge outlet and a by-pass outlet with valve means whichA is operated periodically 4.-, either to open the rst outlet when a container is disposed in filling position or to open the bypass outlet in the absence of a container.-

The invention also resides in the novel character of the mechanism for actuating the multi-` ple Way valve.

Another object is to provide a novel mechanism for interlocking the valve mechanism above referred to with the means by which the packaging machine is started so that the valve will be positioned to by-pass the material continuously when 1936, Serial No. 66,624

the freezer or pressure-producing mechanism is operated with the packaging machine idle.

Another object is to provide a novel valve construction which permits the containers to be lled with a plurality of different kinds or iiavors of material such as partially frozen ice cream arranged in the container in vertically extending layers.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed. out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a packaging machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a continuous type, multiple unit, ice cream freezer for supplying partially frozen ice cream to the packaging machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation partly in section along the line 3-3 in Fig. 4, and drawn on an enlarged scale, of the packaging machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section and drawn on an enlarged scale, of the packaging machineshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 of a portion of the automatic valve actuating mechanism of the packaging machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of one of the cams included in the valve actuating mechanism best shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view along the line 1-1 in Fig. 4 of the dispensing valve and its associated parts. 40

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8--8 of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along the line 9-9 of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

Fig, 10 is an enlarged front elevation in sec- I tion along the line lll-I0 in Fig. 7 of a portion of the actuating mechanism for the dispensing valve shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown in Fig. 1 a packaging machine embodying my invention 50 for periodically dispensing quantities of a material such as partially frozen ice cream supplied under pressure and in a continuous ow or stream by a freezer, such as that shown in Fig. 2, into a series of containers advanced successively `into filling position beneath an outlet of a valve controlling the flow from a closed conduit by which the ice cream is conveyed directly from the freezer to the ller. The valve is alternately opened and closed in-timed-relation to the movement of a conveyer by which the containers are advanced successively to filling position, the speed of thedrive mechanism being adjustable so that valve-open and valve-closed intervals and therefore the quantity of cream discharged in each cycle may be varied as desired and the average rate of discharge synchronized with that of the freezer. Such inter- -mittent closure of the valve and the consequent building up of the pressure to a valve such as to cause proper discharge of the cream when the valve is opened is made possible by virtue of the compressible character of the foamy ice cream. The conveyer conduit is also equipped with a second or by-pass outlet which is arranged to be opened automatically in each filler cycle in the event that there is no container in fillingy position at the time when the filler valve, would normally be opened.

The freezer which is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2 is of the so-called continuous type and of wellknown construction comprising a plurality of units I0, II and i2 for supplying ice cream of different avors to the packaging machine. Each unit comprises a casing I3 supplied with a suitable refrigerating medium and houses a freezing chamber I4 into which the mixture o'f liquid ingredients and air are delivered by motor driven pumps I5 and I6. Motor driven stirring devices (not shown) within the chambers I3 operate in a Well known way to advance the frozen mix to the freezer outlets from` which the ice cream mixtures in semi-liquid form are dischargedcontinuously and under pressure into conduits I1, I8 and I9 leading to the iilling apparatus.

The packaging machine illustrated is of the same general type as that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,029,299 and comprises generally a mechanism 4I for dispensing cups 42 onto a traveling conveyer 43 by which the cups are presented to a filling mechanism 44, embodying certain aspects of my present invention, and are then carried to a mechanism 45 in which-caps are applied to the lled cups. All of these mechanisms are mounted on a common frame having a suitable base 46 and are actuated by a main drive shaft 41 (Fig. 4) driven by an electric motor 48 through the mediumof a. speed control mechanism described in greater detail below and a pulley 49 mounted on theshaft 41.

Theconveyer 43 comprisesa series of spaced endless belts 50 extending about pulleys 5I and 52 which are driven from the main shaft 41 through the medium of shafts 53 and 54 and beveled gearing suitably connecting the shafts. At each operating station the successive cups 42 are elevated above the conveyer belts 50 and presented to the mechanism to operate thereon by platforms 55 mounted to slide vertically on the machine frame and having parallel upwardly opening grooves adapted'to receive the conveyer belts 58 as the platforms are elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3. The platforms 55 for the different operating mechanisms are raised and lowered by cams 66 mounted on the shaft 54 and acting on the follower projections formed on the.

lower sides of the platforms 55. Other cams also carried by the shaft 54 behind cover plates 51 operate in proper timed relation to the filling mechanism to project stop vfingers 58 above the con- :incasso veyer belts 86 and thereby interrupt the movement of the cups 42 along the conveyer in proper pgsitive timed relation to the lling mechanism Detailed description of the conveyer mechanism i 43 as well as the cup dispensing mechanism 4I and capping mechanism 45 referred to above is unnecessary for a proper understanding of my present irivention. It is suiilcient here to say that during each revolution of the main operating shaft 41 a cup 42 is deposited'on the conveyer belts 59 and also one of the cups 42 to be filled is raised and held in the filling position and is then filled with ice cream or the like `i'rom the dispensing mechanism 44, as is hereinafter described in greater detail. Then when the platform 55 is lowered, the lled cup is moved by the conveyer to the capping mechanism 45 and then onto a suitable receiving apron 59 from which it may be removed by an operator and placed in a carton or ,other shipping container.

The dispensing o riiling apparatus 44 includes a three-way valve`\68 of novel construction operated in synchronism with the cup presenting mechanism to close the conduits I1, I8 and I9 against the flow `of ice cream therefrom or to establish communication between the conduits and nozzles directed toward a cup in filling position or to by-pass the ice cream. As best shown in Fig. 7, the valvey comprises an outer cylindrical casing 6I having a cylindrical valve element 62 rotatably mounted in a bore 63 of the casing. Three segmental slots 64, 65 and 66 are formed in the side of the cylindrical valve element 62, and as best shown in Fig. 8, these slots cover substantially 180 degrees of the periphery of the valve element. The conduits I1, I8 and I9 supply partially frozen ice cream to the inlet connections or openings 61, 68 and 69 of the valve 68, which register with the slots 64, 65 and 66 respectively. 'I'he valve 68 is also provided with two discharge openings cooperating with each of the slots 64, 65 and 66 so that material supplied to the valve from the conduits I1, I8 and I9 may be alternatively directed to either of these sets of outlet openings or the valve may be entirely closed.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the lower discharge openings 10, 1I and 12, registering with the slots 64, 65 and 66 respectively, communicate with out-1 let openings 13, 14 and 15 formed in a filler outlet or ller nozzle 16 positioned below the valve 68 and adapted to direct ice cream into the cups 42 presented thereto. openings 13, 14 and 15 in the nozzle 16 are so arranged that the ice cream discharged into the cups 42 will be divided into 'three adjacent vertical layers in the cup as shown in Fig. 4.

The second set of outlet openings 11, 18 and 19 in the valve 60 communicate through conduits 80, 8| and 82`respectively with' overflow receptacles 83, 84 and 85 respectively. The valve element 62 of the valve 60 may thus be rotated to the position shown in Fig. 8 in which the slots64, 65 and 66. connect the inlet openings 61, 68 and 69 with the discharge openings 11,18vandw'l9 inl order to by-pass ice cream delivered f roi'n" the freezers to the overflow receptacles 83, 84Ik and y85.

Separate overflow receptacles are provided in order that the different flavors of ice cream will not be mixed.

An arrangement is provided for periodically actuating the valve 68 to move the member 62 to the filling position shown in-Fig. 3 when a cup 42 is disposed beneath the outlet nozzle 'I6 and for then moving the member to closed posi- The .discharge tion, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, when the cup has been filled. The valve 60 is then nor--l mally maintained in its closed` position until the next cup is presenten to thenozzle 18 when the valve is again opened. While the valve is closed, the pressurewithin the conduits I1, I8 and I9 builds up as pernuttedjyvgompressiqn ofutheairw if 91; all; I eaerl,v such. .the exhaustion of the ture. Thus, `the partially frozen cream is maintained continuously under pressure which risesl while the valve is closed and decreases while the valve is open. If for any reason a cup is not presented to the filler nozzle at the proper time in the operating cycle, the valve will be actuated to its by-pass position by an arrangement described To oscillate the valve member 62 in this way, the actuating mechanism therefor includes a pinion 86 which is rotatably supported in a bore-`V 861v of a rear extension of the valve casing 6I and held against axial movement by engagement of shoulders 86h with a flange on the forward end of the pinion and a flange 90 on' a plug 90 threading into a bore 89 in the pinion. The pinion is normally coupled to the valve member 62 by a key 81 guided in keyways 81 in the pinion and urged by a compression spring 88 into a slot 93 in the rear end of the valve member. When the key is retracted axially to the position shown in Fig. '7, the pinion is disconnected from the valve member.

Upon an inspection of Fig. '1 it will also be noted that a pin 94 extends laterally from the end of the pinion 86 adjacent the valve element 62. This pin 94 is movable in a slot 95 formed in the adjacent end of the valve element 62 as best shown in Fig. 9. The pin 94 does not connect the pinion 86 and valve element 62 in driving relation but is simply provided in order to insure a proper re-assembly of the parts of the valve after it has been dis-assembled for purposes of cleaning and the like.

The pinion 86 is oscillated by an automatic I actuating mechanism including vertically reciproeating racks 96 and 91 which mesh therewith and are mounted on opposite sides thereof on vertically extending rods 98 and 99 respectively. Thus, upon upward movement of the rack 91, the pinion 86 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 10, and the valve element 62 is moved from its closed position shown in dotted lines'in Fig. 3 to its open position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. Then, upon downward movement of the rack 91, the pinion 86 is rotated in a clockwise direction so that the valve element 62 is moved back to its closed position. Alternatively, the valve element 62 may be moved in a clockwise direction from its closed position to its by-pass position shown in Fig. 8 upon upward movement of the rack 96,' which causes a clockwise movement of the pinion 86 and valveele ment 62. y

The rack 91 is normally reciprocated by a driving element including thel main drive shaft 41 so that the valve 60 is periodically actuated from its open to its closed position in synchronism with the movement of the conveyer mechanism. The rack 96, which moves the valve 60 to its by-pass position, is also driven by an assooperative' or inoperative in response to the presence or absence of a cup below the discharge nozzle 16 of the dispensin mechanism 44. Thus,

charge nozzle 18 at the proper time in the cycle of operation vof the machine, the rack 91 is rendered inoperat ive\and the rack 96 is rendered operative to thew-alve to\its by-pass position so that the ice cica supplied to the dispensingmechanism will be byassed to the overflow receptacles 83, 84 and 85.

This selectively operable mechanism for the racks 96 and 91 includes a. Ifeeler arm 00, which is l pivotally mounted on a pivot -pin I 0|, and extends over the platform 55 below the dispensing nozzle 16. The feeler 'arm |00 cooperates with a vertical link |02 to form the" arms of a linkage that is in effect a bell-crank havinga lost motion connection between the arms thereof. This lost motion connection includes a. tension spring |03, which is-secured to the rearwardly extending end of the feeler arm-|00 and tothe link |02 above the pivot pin I0 I. In addition the feeler arm |00 is provided with an upstanding arm |04 having a lip I 05 which engages the rear edge of the link |02. Thus, when the feeler arm |00 is moved upwardly, on contact with one of the cups 42, it is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 about the pivot. pin I 0|. The spring |03 is thus placed under tension and swings the link |02 in a counterclockwlsedirection about the pivot I0|. 'I'he spring |03 not only permits some relative motion between the feeler arm |00 and link |02 but also serves to bias the feeler arm |00 to its downward or depressed position.

When the cup 42 is moved downwardly on the platform 55 away from the feeler arm |00, the latter is permitted to move downwardly and the engagement of arm |04 with link |02 insures a positive return of the link |02 to its original position. The link |02 is provided with a slot |06 in the upper portion thereof through which a lateral extension |01 formed on the end of a horizontal link |08 extends, as best shown in Fig. 5. .The link |08 is pivoted for movement about a vertical axis on a pin |09, which is in turn mounted lon a bracket ||0 extending forwardly from the front face of a vertically slidable bar or link II I.

'I'he link |08 is alternatively movable into and out of engagement with the vertically extending rods 98 and 99 on which the racks 96 and 91 respectively are mounted. That is lock nuts I2 are threaded on the rod 98 above the link |08 and lock nuts I I3 are threaded on the rod 99 above the link |08. Consequently when the link |08 is rotated about its pivot pin |09 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5, the right-hand end thereof moves under the lock nuts ||3 sothat upon quently be oscillated ina clockwise direction.

'lhe necessary vertical eciprocatory'movement is imparted to the link |08 by the vertically slidable link I I I to which it is secured by the bracket I I0. -The link III is in turn reciprocated by a positive driving mechanism which is hereinafter described.

below the dispensing nozzle 16, the feeler arm is moved upwardly and the link |02 is consequently moved rearwardly about the pivot I. As a result, the link |08 is rotated in a clockwise'direction as viewed from the top to the position shown in Fig. in which the right-hand end thereof is positioned below the lock nuts |I3. Then upon reciprocation of the link |08 by the link the rod 99 is reciprocated thus moving the pinion 86 in a clockwise direction and turning the valve element 62 of the valve 60 from the dotted portion shown in Fig. 3 to the open portion shown in full lines in Fig. 3. If no cup is presented to the dispensing nozzle 16 the feeler arm |00 remains in its depressed position and the link |02 remains in its forward position holding the lefthand portion of the link |08 in engagement with the lock nuts |2 on rod 98. The vertical reciprocation of the link |08 by the link causes the rod 98 and rack 96 to be vertically reciprocated. As a result, the pinion 86 is oscillated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. and the valve element 62 of the valve 60 ls moved from the closed position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 to the by-pass position shown in Fig. 8. Thus, ice cream or other material supplied to the dispensing mechanism 44 is automatically by-passed to the over-flow receptacles 83, 84 and 85 whenever a cup is not positioned below the dispensing nozzle 16 for receiving the ice cream.

The link or plate is slidably mounted for vertical reciprocation in guideways formed on the front of the vertical frame ||4 and is reciprocated in a vertical direction by a cam ||5 mounted on the shaft 53, which is in turn driven by the main drive shaft 41 through a suitable worm and gear connection, as best shown in Fig. 4. 'I'he cam ||5, as shown in Fig. 6, is provided with a cam groove ||6 in the front face thereof in which a follower I I1 secured to the lower portion of the link I rides.

In view of this linkage mechanism used to operate the valve 60 from its open to its closed position, it will be seen that the valve 60 remains open during a predetermined and xed portion of each revolution of the cam I5, which is indicated approximately by the arrow I|8 in Fig. 6. Consequently, if it becomes necessary to increase or decrease the duration of the open period of the valve 60 in order that more or less ice cream or other material be discharged therefrom during l each actuation thereof so as to fill the cups 42, it is necessary to change the speed of rotation of the cam ||5. This change in speed of rotation of the cam ||5 is accomplished by changing the speed of rotation of the main drive shaft 41 in the manner described below which also effects a corresponding change in the rate at which the cups 42 are advanced into filling position. Changes in speed of rotation of the drive shaft 41 not only vary the duration of the open periods of the valve 60 but also change the periodicity of operation thereof so that the total quantity of ice cream discharged thereby is consequently varied and may thus be coordinated or synchronized with the rate of flow oi' ice cream from the freezers..

It will thus be seen that in the machine illustratedthe ice cream is supplied, under pressure exerted thereon by the `freezing machines, directly through conduits Ulti/i8 and I9 to the cups 42, the flow of ice cream being periodically interrupted by the dispensing valve 60. Thus the pressure exerted on the ice cream by the freezing machines is utilized to move the same through the ller or dispensing mechanism. In addition, the ice cream is maintained continuously under pressure in a closed conduit or conveying system so that the consistency and quality of the ice cream is preserved until discharged so that it closely approximates that of hand-packed ice cream.

In the machine illustrated, the speed regulation of the main drive shaft 41 is secured through the medium of a mechanical speed change device comprising a conical disk ||9 rigidly secured to the drive shaft 48B of the motor 48 and cooperating with a similarly shaped disk to form a /V-shaped drive pulley for a belt |2I extending around the pulley 49. 'I'he disk |20 is slidably mounted on the shaft 48s and is urged toward the 'disk I |9 by a helical compression spring |22 so n that by moving the motor shaft 48B toward and away from the axis of the pulley 49, the effective diameter of the drive pulley formed by the disks ||9 and |20 may be increased and decreased progressively. To permit of such movement, the motor 48 is secured to a depending bracket I 22a pivoted on a pin |23 adjacent the upper end thereof, the pin |23 being secured to the upper portion of the machine frame 46.

'I'he position of the bracket |22*l may be selec- I tively adjusted in order to change the effective diameter of the pulley mounted on the motor shaft 48l by turning a screw shaft |24, which is threaded in a collar |25 secured to the bracket |22. The screw shaft |24 is mounted in a collar |26 secured to the side of the machine frame I I4, having a rotatable spline connection therewith which prevents axial movement of the screw shaft |24 in the collar |26. Amanual operating handle |21 is secured to the forward 4end of the screw shaft |24 to facilitate adjustment thereof and effect the desired changes in driving speed of the main drive shaft 41. It will thus be seen that the operator of the machine may turn the hand-wheel to increase or decrease the sp'eed of rotation of the drive shaft 41 which in turn varies the duration of the open period of the valve 60 as well as its periodicity of operation while at the same time maintaining the operation of the conveyer mechanism 43 in synchronism therewith. By means of this adjustable control the total amount of ice cream dispensed is made to equal that delivered by the freezers and each of the cups 42 is substantially iled.

Provision is made for insuring that the valve will be in by-passing position when the filler is idle so that the freezers may be in operation without danger of damaging the apparatus due to the development of excessive pressure. For this purpose, the filler is arranged to be started and stopped by operation of a manually operable lever |28 which also operates the valve 60. 'I'he lever is pivotally mounted on a rotatable end plate |29 held in position in the outer end of the cylindrical valve casing 6| by a llocking collar |30. 'I'he locking collar |30 is, in turn, threaded on the outer end of the valve casing 6 I. The pivotal support for the operating lever |28 is formed by :incassa a pivot pin |3| which extends between the arms of a yoke |32 formed' on the iront of the end plate |28. The pivot pin |3| is located eccentrically with respect to a rod III* extending through the member 82 and abutting the key 81. The other end of the rod |3| is thrust into engagement with the lever |28. The lower end oi.' the manual operating lever |28 rides on a flange |33 formed on the outer edge of 'an arcuate supporting or guiding plate |88 which extends about the lower front portion of a valve casing 8|.

The manual operating lever |28 is movable to two extreme positions. In one of such positions. the lower end |28l of the manual operating lever |28 rests in a notch |38 formed adjacent one end of the ilange |33.` In this position, the rod |3l is moved forwardly by the spring 88 so that the key 82 engages the keyway 83 in the valve element 82 and the valve is operated by the automatic actuating mechanism described above. In the other position of the manual operating lever |28, the lower end thereof rides outwardly on a projection |38 formed at the opposite end of the ilange |33. When the lower end o! the operating lever |28 is thus moved outwardlyby the projection |38, the rod |3|n is forced inwardly against the bias of the compression spring 88 so that the key 92 disengages the keyway 83 and the pinion 88 of the automatic valve actuating mechanism is no longer connected to the valve element 82. 4

Rearward movement of the key 88 also moves a switch arm or bridging member |31 away from xed contacts |38. The bridging member |31 and iixed contacts |38 constitute a deenergizing switch connected in the energizing circuit vof the motor 48 so that the motor is consequently deenergized upon the movement of the bridging member |31 to switch-open position and simultaneously moves the valve member to by-pass position by swinging the handle |28 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, causing a clockwise movement of the end plate |28. The end plate |28 'is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder |38 (Figs. '7 and 9) which engages a complementary shoulder |48 formed on the iront end of the valve element 82. the shoulder |38 with the shoulder |48 causes the valve element 82 to be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the front end thereof, to the by-pass position shown in Fig. 8. It should be noted that the projection on the inner face of the end plate |28 forming the shoulder |38 is suiliciently short in arcuate length that the valve element |32 is free to cscillate during the normal automatic actuation thereof Without interference from the shoulder |38. This relation of the shoulders |38 and |48 can best be seen from an inspection of Fig. 9. It will thus be seen that the manual control handle |28 may be utilized to simultaneously disconnect the automatic actuating mechanism from the valve 88, deenergize the main driving motor 48, and move the valve 88 to its by-passposition. Such a manually operable supervisory control arrangement greatly increases the safety ci operation of the machine since it may be quickly stopped and any ice cream subsequently supplied thereto by continued operation of the freezers is bypassed to the overflow receptacles. Likewise, in filling a batch of containers, the freezers may be started and adjusted to give the desired rate of ow before the iiller is started.

It may be desirable under some conditions to operate the llei'- with the valve member 82 The engagement of valve member thus becomes uncoupled from the pinion 88 and remains in open position so long as the handle |28 is held inwardly by engagement with the ilange |33 at a point adjacent the notch |88 as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 7.

I'he construction ofthe valve 88 and operating mechanism therefor described above is particularly advantageous in that it may be readily disassembled and reassembled in order to facilitate frequent cleaning of the same. Thus, in disassembling the valve, the end plate |28 and the lever |28 are removed by unscrewing the co1- lar |38. The valve element 82 and the rod |3| may then be readiLv removed from the valve casing 8|. After the valve 88 has been so disassembled, it may be thoroughly cleaned with steam or hot water and the entire system of conduits through which the ice cream passes may be similarly ushed out and cleaned.

Although I have shown and described in detail a particular embodiment of my invention in order to facilitate a proper understanding thereof I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a machine for delivering a liquid under pressure in a continuous flow, iilling means including a valve movable to open and closed positions for periodically interrupting the ilow of liquid delivered thereto under pressure exerted on the-liquid by said machine, conveying means for presenting successive containers to said filling means, power driving means for periodically actuating said valve to its open and closed positions, and means for selectively varying the speed of said driving means to vary the duration of the open periods of said valve and thereby vary the quantity of material discharged under the pressure exerted thereon by said machine.

2. In combination with a machine for delivering a liquid under pressure in a continuous flow, filling means including a valve movable to open and closed positions for periodically interrupting the flow of liquid delivered thereto under pressure exerted on the liquid by said machine, conveying means for presenting containers successively to said filling means, common driving means for periodically opening and closing said valve and for actuating said conveying means, and means for selectively varying the speed of said common driving means to vary the duration of the open periods of said valve and thereby coordinate the quantity of material discharged under the pressure exerted thereon by said machine into said containers with the quantity of material delivered from said machine.

v3. In combination with a machine for delivering a continuous stream of liquid, lling means for periodically discharging quantities of the liquid delivered from the machine to successive con- Lainers upon successive actuations of said filling mea'ns, conveying means for presenting successive containers to said filling means, and means for varying the quantity of material discharged by said lling means during each of the successive actuations thereof and for selectively varying the periodicity of the actuations ofsaid filling means.

4. In combination with a machine for delivering liquid in a continuous ilow, means including a valve having two discharge openings for dispensing liquid delivered from said machine, said valve having a normal position in which said openings are both closed and two positions in which the respective openings are opened. one of said discharge openings communicating through a ller outlet with successive containers for the liquid, conveying means for presenting successive containers to' said one opening, driving means for periodically -moving said valve member out o! said normal position and into a position to open said one opening, means for varying the speed of said driving means to vary the duration of the open periods of said valve, and means controlled by successive containers presented by said conveying means to said filler outlet for actuating said valve member to close said one opening and open said other opening when no container is' presented for filling.

5. In combination with a machine for delivering liquid in a continuous flow, means including a valve having two discharge openings for dispensing liquid delivered from said machine, one

of said discharge openings communicating through a iiller outlet with successive containers for the liquid, conveying means for presenting successive containers to said one opening, said valve including a rotatable valve element for controlling said openings, a pinion operatively connected to said rotatable valve element, a reciprocable rack meshing with said pinion, driving means for reciprocating said rack to periodically oscillate said valve element to open and close said one opening, and means .controlled by sucmunicating with an overow receptacle, said valve including a rotatable valvev element forY controlling said openings, a pinion operatively connected tosaid rotatable valve element, means including a reciprocable rack meshing with said pinion for periodically oscillating said valve element to open and close said one opening while maintaining said vother opening closed, means including a second rack meshing with said pinion Vfor periodically oscillating said valve element to open and close said other opening while maintaining said one opening closed, driving means for reciprocating said racks, and means controlled by the presence or absence of containers lopposite said i'lller outlet for alternatively connecting said racks to said driving means.

7. In combination with a machine for delivering liquid in a continuous flow, means including avalve receiving liquid under pressure from saidmachine and having two discharge openings for dispensing liquid delivered from said machine, one of said discharge openings communicating through a filler outlet with containers successively presented thereto, said valve including a rotatable valve element for controlling said filler opening, a pinion operatively connected to said rotatable valve element, means including a reciprocable rack meshing with saidpinion for periodically oscillating said valve element to open and close said illler opening while maintaining said other opening closed, means including a second rack meshing with said pinion for periodically oscillating said valve element to open and close said other opening while maintaining said illler opening closed, driving means for reciprocating said racks, and means including a feeler `arm arranged to contact with containers presented to said iiller outlet for connecting said racks selectively to said driving means.

8. In combination with a machine for delivering liquid in a continuous ilow, means including a valve receiving liquid from said machine and having a movable member and two discharge openings i'or dispensing liquid delivered from saidmachine, one of said discharge openings communicating through a illler outlet with successive containers for the liquid, driving means for periodically moving said member from a position closing both of said openings to a position in which said illler opening is opened, means for varying the speed of said driving means to vary the dura,- tion oi' the open periods of said valve, and means including a feeler arm arranged to contact containers presented to said ller outlets for moving said valve member from said rst position to a position opening said other opening when no container is presented for lling.

9. In combination with a machine forI delivering a liquid in a continuous ow, illling means including a valve for receiving said liquid and periodically discharging quantities thereof into successive containers, means for presenting successive containers to said lling means, driving means for periodically actuating said valve to its open and closed positions, means for varying the speed of said driving means to vary the periodicity of operation of said valve and simultaneously to vary the speed of said container presenting means, and means controlled by successive containers presented by said conveying means 'to said filling means to by-pass liquid to an overflow receptacle during the normal valve open period when no receptacle is presented to said illiing means.

- 10. In combination with a machine for delivering a liquid in a continuous flow, filling means including a valve for periodically discharging quantities of the liquiddelivered from said machine directly into successive containers presented to the filling means, driving means for periodically actuating said valve to its open and closed positions, control means for varying the speed of said driving means to vary the periodicity of operation of said valve, means controlled by successive containers presented to said lling means for by-passing liquid around said valve when no receptacle is presented to said illling means, and manually operable supervisoryy control means for by-passing the liquid to an overow receptacle irrespective of the operation of said iirst named control means.

11. In combination with a machine'for delivering a liquid in a continuous flow, filling means including a valve for periodically discharging quantities of the liquid delivered from said machine directly into successive containers presented to said illling means, driving means including an electric driving motor for periodically actuating said valve to its open and closed positions, means controlled by successive containers presented to said lling means for by-passing liquid to an overflow receptacle when no receptacle is presented to said lling means, and manually operable supervisory control means for by-passing the liquid to an overflow receptacle irrespective of the operation of said first named control spective outlets, a machine for delivering liquid material under pressure in a continuous iiow to said chamber, a common operating member for said valve means having a first position in which said filler outlet is open, a second position in which both of said outlets are closed, and a third position in which said by-pass outlet is open, a continuously reciprocated actuating element operable upon movement in one direction to move said member to valve-closed position, two separate drive connections between said element and said member one adapted'to move the member to said first position and the other to move the member to said third position, and means responsive to the presence or absence of a container to be filled opposite said filler outlet to selectively establish one or the other of said connections.

13. The combination of a closed chamber having a filler outlet, a by-pass outlet, valve means controlling the flow of material through the-respective outlets, a machine for delivering liquid material under pressure and in a continuous flow to said chamber, mechanically actuated means operating periodically to actuate said valve means to open one or the other of said outlets and then close the outlet, power driving means for actuating said last mentioned means, and a common control member governing the starting and stopping of said power driven means and opening and closing of the second outlet.

14. The combination of a closed chamber having a filler outlet, a by-passoutlet valve means controlling said outlets, a power driven machine for delivering liquid material under pressure and in a continuous iiow to said chamber, a mechanically reciprocated member having separate drive connections for actuating said valve means to open one or the other of said outlets on one of its strokes, and means selectively responsive to the presence or absence of a container opposite said filler outlet to render one or the other of said connections operative.

15. The combination of a closed chamber having a filler outlet, a by-pass outlet, valve means controlling said outlets, la power driven machine for delivering liquid material under pressure and in a continuous fiow to said chamber, an oscillatable member selectively operable to actuate said valve means to open one or the other of said outlets in one of its strokes, and means by whichthe rate of oscillation of said member may be varied. y

16. 'Ihe combination of a plurality of closed chambers having separatedischarge outlets, a common flller outlet, separate by-pass outlets from the respective chambers, a common valve member movable to a first position establishing communication between said chambers and said filler outlet, a second position in which the outlets from said chambers are closed, and a third position in which the chambers are connected to said discharge outlets, and a common power actuated means for periodically moving said member to said second position and alternately moving the member selectively to said first or third positions.

17. The method of forming and packaging ice cream which consists in forming semi-fluid ice cream in a continuous ow and under pressure as an incident to the formation thereof, maintaining the ice cream continuously under pressure between the point of formation and the point of discharge by delivering the same directly to a discharge orifice through a closed conduit, Y periodically and alternately opening and closing said orifice to alternately increase and decrease the pressure under which the material is placed, and equalizing the average rate of discharge and the rate of delivery of the ice cream.

18. The method of packaging liquid material which consists in delivering the material under pressure-and in a continuous flow to a discharge orifice through a closed conduit, periodically and alternately opening and closing said orifice, and

adjusting the periodicity of the open and closed lperiods to equalize the average rate of material discharged from said orifice and the rate of delivery.

19. The method of forming and packaging ice cream which consists in forming semi-fluid ice cream in a continuous flow and under pressure as an incident to the formation thereof, maintaining the ice cream continuously under pres sure between the point of formation and the point of discharge by delivering the same directly to a discharge orifice through a closed conduit, and alternately opening and closing said orifice -in timed relation to the rate of formation whereby the average rate of intermittent discharge I equals said rate of formation.

20. The combination with a device forforming and delivering semi-liquid ice cream in a continuous stream and under superatmospheric pressure exerted thereon as an incident to the formation thereof, of dispensing means including a valve controlled dispensing orifice for utilizing the pressure exerted on the stream by said device incident to the formation thereof for expelling the material through said orliice in segregated rapidly owing batches without the interposition of an intermediate discharge presi sure producing device, said last named means including a power actuated mechanism for periodically opening said valve and alternately closing the same for suiliciently long closed periods to enable the ice cream in the stream to be placed under sufficient pressure to effect ready expulsion thereof when the valve is opened, and

' means by which the valve-open and valve-closed periods may be selectively varied to establish an average rate of discharge corresponding to the '-05 rate of delivery.

SWAN F. ANDERSON.

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