US2167894A - Receptacle filling machine - Google Patents

Description

1!. I. KOTQHEH RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed y 1937 7 heets-Sheet 1 L 193%. l, l. KOTCHER 2,167,894-

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Afforne us E N I H M Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inuenior Fin:

Affofneys 8 L 1939. 11. I. KOTCHER RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Afforneys Aug. 1, 1939. i. m. IKOTCHER RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed May 19, 1957 Aiiorneys Aug. 1, 1939. u. u. KOTCIHER RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet Inventor A iim'neys g 1939- l. 1. KOTCHER 2,167,894

RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHIQE Filed May 19, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Ark 2, I

Inventor Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,167,894 nncnPrAoLE FILLING MACHINE Irwin I. Kotcher, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application May 19, 1937, Serial No. 143,583

'7 Claim.

This invention is a machine for filling portable receptacles, and is particularly designed for filling receptacles of the type forming the subject matrand advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying. drawings where- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the machine.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail view through a portion of the filling mechanism and showing a cam arrangement for raising and lowering the measure container forming part of such mechanism.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the filling mechanism or part of the machine and showing a container or receptacle lifting device hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 5 is a view somewhat similar to Figure l but taken through the receptacle closing part of the devw.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view showing in top plan an arrangement of elements forming part of the receptacle filling mechanism of the machine.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but taken through the receptacle closing part of the device.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating certain details of the receptacle filling part of the device.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view partly in section and partly in elevation showing a gripping finger arrangement at one end of the receptacle filling part of the device.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 and showing a finger arrangement at a relatively opposite end of the receptacle filling part of the device.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary planview showing the shield at the lower end of a barrel forming part of the'receptacle filling assembly of the device.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view through the receptacle closing mechanism of the device.

Figure 13 is a bottom plan view showing certain details of the receptacle closing device.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing a finger assembly at one end of the receptacle closing part of the device and-- Figure 15 is a top plan of the assembly shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the receptacle closing part of the device and illustrating certain details hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figures 1'7, 18 and 19, are elevational views of a cams hereinafter more fully referred to.

Referring in detail to the drawings it will be seen that the device comprises a suitable frame 5 in which are mounted grooved roller assemblies, including upper and lower roller assemblies t and 10 l at each end of the frame and upper and lower roller assemblies d and d intermediate the ends of the frame. Trained over the rollers d and t are endless conveyor elements it in the form of endless coil springs.

Mounted at one end of the frame F is a receptacle filling apparatus indicated generally by the reference numeral ii.

In this form of the invention the apparatus it comprises a tank if adapted to receive milk or 20 the like, from a source of supply through a pipe it. Depending from the tank if at the ends of the tank are guide rods it which work through bearing sleeves iii provided in the upper ends of channel members it mounted on and rising from opposite sides of the frame 5.

For raising and lowering the tank if and to secure the same at the desired elevation relative to the conveyor there is provided an adjusting screw ll that has one end swivelly mounted on a cross bar it connecting an end pair of channel members iii and its upper end threaded through the base flange ill of the tank it. A suitable handle it is provided for the lower end of the screw and obviously by turning the screw the tank if is secured at the desired position of vertical adjustment.

Extending downwardly from the bottom of the tank it are a plurality, in the present instance eight discharge tubes fl, and extending through up each discharge tube fl is a valve stem if provided on its lower end with a valve member it normally seating against a seat f l that has a tubular stem it sleeved on the discharge tube if. A suitable coil spring 26" normally urges the seat it downat wardly into engagement with the valve member 23.

Suspended from the bottom of the tank through the medium of suspension rods fl is a measuring tank 28 dividing into a plurality of compartments 29, the number of compartments corresponding to the number of discharge tubes 2| and each compartment of predetermined capacity.

Extending laterally from each compartment 29 is a sight tube 30 suitably supported through the medium of a frame structure 3| and through ment 29 may be viewed.

Each compartment 29 has extending downwardly therefrom a discharge tube 82 that is closed at its lower end and at said lower end is provided with lateral discharge ports 82 arranged in relatively spaced circumferential relation about the periphery of the discharge tube.

For controlling the ports 22 there is slidable on the tube 92 a sleeve valve 84 normally urged downwardly to a closing position through the medium of a coil spring 35. At its lower end the sleeve valve 34 is provided with a plate-like head 36 opposite side edges of which are down turned as shown, the head 38 being of a size to accommodate the upper end of a receptacle 81.

For simultaneously raising a plurality of receptacles 31 into contact with the valve heads 88 for causing the sleeve valve 84 to move upwardly on the lower ends of the tubes 92 to extend inwardly of the receptacles 21 through the filling and pouring openings 88 in the top of said receptacles there is provided a raising and lowering structure indicated generally by the reference numeral 99.

The raising and lowering structure 39 in the present instance consists of a block 48 having extending upwardly therefrom a series of ribs 4| that are adapted to pass upwardly between conveyor elements III to engage the bottom of the receptacle 81 and lift the receptacle from the continuously moving conveyor elements I8.

Block 40 operates between a pair of suitably mounted guides 42 and for raising and lowering the block 40 there are provided a pair of standards 48 to the upper ends of-which are pivoted as at 44 arms 45 which at one end are equipped with rollers 46 that have bearing engagement with the underside of the block 49 as shown in Figure 1.

Mounted in the bottom of the frame 5 is a suitable structure 41 in which is mounted a vertical slide 48 carrying a roller 49 and a spring 59 normally urges the slide 48 upwardly.

Extending from opposite sides of the slide 48 and working through suitable slots provided therefor in the guide 41 are ears 5i which are operatively connected with the arms 45 through the medium of links 52.

Suitably journaled in the frame 5 is a shaft 59 on which is mounted a cam 54 which cooperates with the roller 49 for moving the slide 48 downwardly against the action of spring 59 whereupon a downward pull is exerted on the arms 45 for swinging the latter vertically upwardly to raise the jack plate 48 to elevate the receptacles 31 as and for the purpose above mentioned.

For raising and lowering the measuring tank 28 in proper synchronism to the raising and lowering of the receptacle 31 there are provided on the shaft 59 cams 55 on the peripheries of which ride rollers 58 journaled in the lower ends of rods 51.

Rods 51 are arranged in pairs and the rods of each pair at their lower ends are connected by a crossbar 58 which is suitably provided to acthe medium of which the contents of a compart- At their upper ends arms 6i are connected by a cross bar 83 which is secured as at 54 to an adjacent end of the measuring tank 28.

It will thus be seen that if tank 28 is caused to move upwardly, the flanges 85 about the openings provided in the top walls of the compartments 29 engage the valve seats 24 urging v the latter upwardly against the action of springs 26 and out of engagement with the valve members 23 so that milk or the like from the tank l2 will flow into the compartments 29 for filling the compartments 29 subsequent to each operation of filling the receptacles 81.

In this connection it may be mentioned, and as shown in Figure 8, that for controlling the supply of milk or the like from the source of supply to the tank l2 and to insure the maintenance of a proper liquid level within the tank I 2, there is provided in the tank l2 a float 88 that will be suitably, connected with valve means forming part of the means for feeding the milk or the liketo the tank i2.

Mounted above one end of the frame 5 is a battery of capping devices indicated generally by the reference numeral 61. The capping devices 81 are, as will be clear from a study of Figure 16 conventional being of a well known structure and respectively embodying generally a spring pressed vertically shiftable casting 98 which includes a magazine 89 for the caps 18 and which casting is also provided to accommodate a follower 1i for successively positioning the caps 18 in line with a plunger 12.

For raising the filled containers 31 into contact with the flanged part 12 of the cappers for applying the cap 18 to the containers there is provided a receptacle raising and lowering device indicated generally by the reference numeral 14. Referring more specifically to Figures 5 and 14, it will be seen that the carton raising and lowering device 14 embodies a plate 15 working between a pair of guides 18. Arranged on the plate 15 are a plurality of jack members 11, each of which as clearly shown in the figures comprises a substantially U-shaped member having intermediate webs or upstanding ribs 18 that work through the spaces between the conveyor elements I0. There is one jack 11 for each container.

The plate 15 is constrained to move vertically through the medium of pins 19 projecting from opposite edges thereof and working in vertical slots provided in the guides 16.

For causing the jack members 11 to separate or move in a position away from one another for spreading the receptacles 31 apart as they move up into engagement with the flanged parts 19 of the cappers there are provided on opposite sides of the jacks 11 pins 8| that work in suitable bayonet slots 82 arranged at the proper angles and provided in the guides 16 as shown in Figure 5. It will thus be seen that through the medium of pins 8| and slots 82 jack members 11 as they move upwardly also move in a direction substantially longitudinal of the guides 16 until they reach a predetermined point in their upward movement whereupon they then move vertically upwardly perpendicularly into engagement with the cappers. The movementof the jack elements 11 and the cartons thereon is clearly detailed by broken lines in Figure 5.

It will thus be seen that upon a filling of a predetermined number of containers 31 the filled containers are lowered on to the conveyor elements Ill and are carried thereby into a position tll tit

to be engaged by the jacks 11 which then go into operation to move the receptacles 31 into engagement with the cappers whereupon the caps or closures are applied to the containers, after which the containers are lowered on to the conveyor elements It to be carried towards the discharge end of the device to be removed from the device.

For raising and lowering the jacks of the device 14 the same includes a guide 83 in which works a slide 84 having cars 85 operating through slots in opposite sides of the guide 83 and connected by links 86 with arms 81 pivotally mounted on standards 88. Arms 81 have roller equipped ends 89 bearing on the plate 15. Mounted on shaft 53 is a cam 90 that cooperates with a roller 9l suitably journaled in the slide 84 for efiecting a downwardly movement of the slide 84 in opposition to spring 92 for swinging the arms 81 upwardly to raise the jacks of the device as and for the purpose explained in detail.

Mounted at the forward endof the jack structure 39 and arranged to engage a carton for arresting the movement of following cartons upon the placing of the proper number oi" cartons over the jack assembly it, without affecting the movement of the conveyors lt and pivoted at t3 are fingers 9t which through the medium of springs tt are normally urged inwardly toward one another to engage opposite sides of a carton or receptacle t'l as clearly shown in Figure 9. The jaws or lingers tt have the shanks thereof equipped with cams tt that cooperate with cams tl carried by the jack elements tt for normally holding the jaws or fingers tt in the spread apart position shown in Figure 9.

Obviously, as the jack tt moves upwardly to engage the carton tl positioned thereover, cams and ti coact to permit the jaws or fingers. tt to swing inwardly in response to springs lit to engage a carton tl to arrest the movement or that carton and those following said cartons during the filling operation oi those cartons being raised upwardly by the jack element tt.

To arrest the movement of the cartons as they move into position over the jack element lt there are provided at the end of the jack assembly tt remote from the jaws or fingers tt a pair of oppositely disposed jaws or fingers pivoted as at tt and normally urged by springs ltt away from one another and out of the path of the containers or receptacles til. [it the upper ends the jaws or fingers tt operate through suitable openings ltl provided thereior in guide rails ltt to normally extend through said openings in the path of the cartons.

At their lower ends the jaws or fingers tt are equipped with rollers ltt with which cooperate cams ltt provided at the adjacent end of the jack element tt and which serves to normally urge the upper ends of the jaws or fingers tt inwardly into the path of the carton with the jack element tt in lowered position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that normally with the jack element tt in lowered position jaws or fingers 98 are in the position shown in Figure 10 to arrest the movement of the cartons 31 as they move into position above the jack element 40. As the jack element '40 moves upwardly cams I04 move out of engagement with the roller equipped ends I03 of the fingers 98 permitting these fingers under action of springs Hill to spread apart. At the same time, and as the jack member 40 moves upwardly cams 91 move upwardly therewith in a manner to cooperate with the cams 96 of fingers 94 permitting the latter to move inwardly to engage a carton 31 following immediately the last carton positioned above the jack element 40 so that this last carton and those following it are held against movement during the actual filling operation of a selected number of cartons or containers 31.

After the cartons have been filled jack element moves downwardly to reposition the filled cartons onto the conveyor In to be carried thereby into position over the jack element 11. .As the jack element 40 moves downwardly to reposition the filled cartons onto the conveyor l cams 91 move downwardly into engagement with cams St for spreading the jaws or fingers 94 apart so that the next group of cartons to be filled may move into position over the jack element 40 as the filled cartons move into position over the jack element 11. I

When the second group of cartons are properly positioned over the jack element it the latter will have moved downwardly below the conveyor It sufilciently to cause the cams ltt to engage the ends I03 of arms 98 causing the upper ends of these arms to move inwardly toward one another and thus arrest further movement of this second group of cartons thereby holding the same in a position to be raised upwardly into filling position upon the return or upward movement of the jack tt.

To stay movement of the leading filled cartons or containers tl and thereby permit the filled cartons or containers to properly group over the jack assembly it there is provided at one end of the jack assembly a pair of opposed stop fingers or arms ltt pivoted as at ltt and normally urged by suitably provided springs Hill to swing in reverse direction relative to one another and out of the path of the cartons 'or containers tl. Adjacent their pivoted ends the fingers ltt normally engage against the underside of the vertically movable plate Tlt as shown in Figure i l. It will thus be seen that after the filled cartons have been properly grouped over the jack elements 'l'l and these elements move upwardly springs ltl act on the fingers ltt to spread the latter apart. After the capping operation has been completed jacks ill with the cartons thereon move downwardly and when these jacks have moved downwardly a distance sutlicient to permit the bottoms of the capped cartons to rest on the conveyor element lt downward movement of the jack element is arrested, as will be hereinafter made manifest, for an interval of time suihcient lit kit

to maintain the fingers ltt sufiiciently spread apart to permit the entire group of caps or sealed containers tl to pass between said fingers. When this has been accomplished downward movement of the jack elements ll is resumed and as these jack elements reach the limit of their downward movement fingers ltd move into final position overlying the conveyor elements lt to serve as a stop means for the next group of filled containers.

As shown in Figures 17 to 19, inclusive cams Qt, and 5t are so shaped to insure a proper timing of the several operations.

Cams 55 which control the raising or lowering 'of the measuring tank 28 is shown in Figure 18 and embodies. a cam hump 55a with which the roller 56 is engaged for effecting a raising of the measuring tank 28, it being apparent that as cam hump 55a moves into peripheral contact with the roller 56 measuring container 28 moves upwardly to effect an upward movement of the valve seats 24 to supply the compartments 29 with milk from til of contact with the roller 50 the measuring tank 29 slowly moves downwardly for effecting a seating of the valve seats 24 against the valve stems 23 to cut off the supply of liquid from the tank I2 to the compartments 29.

Cam 54 is provided with a cam hump 540 which is in contact with the roller 49 during an actual filling of the carton 31; and said cam 54 has a cam part 54b with which the roller 49 is on contact during the crowding of the empty containers 31 on the conveyor element I to align with the discharge valves of the measuring chambers 29. Roller 49 is in contact with the section 540 of cam 54 during the passing of the charged containers 31 from the filling end of the device to the capping or closing end of the device.

When the loading part 54b is in contact with roller 49, member 40 is in lowered position so that the earns 91 are in engagement with the cams 90 and the arms 94 are spread apart so that these arms will not contact the cartons. Also the cams I04 will be in engagement with the rollers I03 of arms 99 so that these arms 99 will be in holding position as shown in Figure 10. Then as the high part 54a of cam 54 engages the roller 49 the member 40 will be raised, thus causing the cams 91 to release the cams 90 to permit the arms 94 to engage a carton and the cams I04 will move out of engagement with the rollers I03 so that the springs I00 will spread the arms 90 apart. Then the part 54c of cam 54 will engage the roller 49 to cause the member 40 to move downwardly but not to its full extent. This downward movement is sufiicient to cause the earns 91 to move the arms 94 apart but is not sufllcient to cause the cams I04 to engage the rollers I03 so that the arms 90 remain spread apart and thus will not prevent the. movement of the filled cartons from the filling station to the capping station. Then the part 54b of cam 54 comes into engagement with the roll 49 to permit a slight downward movement of the member 40 which causes the cams I04 to engage the rollers I03 so as to move the arms 90 toward each other into holding position. It will be understood that when part 540 of cam54 is engaging the roller 49 the member 40 will have moved downwardly to a suflicient extent to place the cartons on the conveyor so that the cartons will move with the conveyor but said member 40 will still'be in a position where the cams I04 will not engage the rollers I03 so that the arms 90 will remain spread apart until part 54b will have engaged the roller 49.

That part of cam 54 between the low portion 54b and the high portion 54a is so formed that its engagement with the roller 49 will cause the lifting means to raise the jack or member 40 so quickly that the jack will lift the cartons from the conveyor practically simultaneously with the upper bent ends of the arms 98 moving outwardly to. releasing position. Thus there is no appreciable movement of the cartons by the conveyor, after the arms move outwardly before the cartons are lifted from the conveyor by the jack 40.

While the filled containers are passing from the filling end of the device to the capping or closing end of the device section 900. of cam 90 is in contact with roller 9|. During the actual capping operation cam hump 90b of cam 90 is in contact with roller 9|; while during the passing of the capped and closed containers between the spread apart fingers or jaws, I05, cam hump 90c of cam 90 is in contact with roller 9|.

In this connection it will be further observed that engagement of cam 90c with roller 9i retards the downward movement of the jack plate I! sufficiently and for a time interval necessary to maintain fingers I05 spread apart a distance sufficiently to permit the capped and closed cartons or containers 31 to pass therebetween; fingers I05 moving into the full line position shown in Figure 14 as cam hump 90c moves oi! the roller 9| and the section 904 of the cam 90 moves into peripheral contact with the roller 9I. While hump 900 is engaging roller 9| Jack plate I5 will have moved downwardly a sufllcient distance to place the cartons on the conveyor but not far enough to move the arms I05 into carton engaging position, this not occurring until the roller 9| engages the part 900 of cam 90.

As will be clear from a study of Figures 1, 12 and 16 the individual capping units I00 are mounted on a bar I09 that is constrained to move vertically between a pair of uprights IIO. To secure the capping elements at the desired position of vertical adjustment there is provided an adjusting screw rotatably mounted at one end as at II! and at said end provided with a crank handle II3. Screw III has a threaded portion threaded through a lug II4 carried by bar I00 and obviously by turning the screw III the bar I09 is caused to move vertically up or down as the case may be for eifecting a proper adjustment of the capping element.

Since the individual capping elements are of more or less conventional structure a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. It is, however, pointed out that the iollower II of each capping element has a suitable link connection II5 with an arm Ili secured to plunger rod 12 as at I" in a manner to insure a projecting and retracting of the plunger or follower element lI incidental to a raising and lowering of the vertically shiftable parts of the capping element for feeding the caps I0 successively in position for application to the container.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, and in combination, an endless conveyor, an elevator block movable vertically relative to the conveyor, a pair of standards, arms pivoted to said stand ards and having ends in bearing engagement with the block for raising the latter, a vertically shiftable slide, supporting means for the slide, means operatively connecting said slide with said arms for swinging the latter on their pivots to raise and lower said block, a cam rotatably supported above said slide and having peripheral contact with the slide for controlling the vertical movement of the latter, and spring means acting on said slide in opposition to said cam.

2. In a device of the class described, a constantly moving conveyor for articles placed thereon, holding means for holding an article against movement on the conveyor, means for normally holding the holding means out of holding position, an elevator located under a part of the conveyor and when in lowered position holding the holding means in holding position and means for first raising the elevator to move an article 01! the conveyor and hold the article for a period of time in raised position and then lowering the elevator to place the article back upon the conveyor and then, after a period of time, to fully lower the elevator to move the holding means in bolding position.

3.- In a device of the class described, a constantly moving conveyor for articles, a vertically movable elevator, a pair of holding arms pivot- Ill ally supported and having upper portions for engaging an article on the conveyor for holding the article against movement by the conveyor, spring means for normally holding the arms separated and out of engagement with an article, said elevator when in lowered position engaging parts of the arms for moving the arms into holding position and cam actuated means for first moving the elevator to lift an article off the conveyor and hold it above the conveyor for a period of time and to then lower the elevator to place the article back upon the conveyor and then finally after a period oftime lowering the elevator into its lowest position to engage the arms to move the arms into holding position.

4. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame, a reservoir at the top of the frame, a member supported for vertical movement under the reservoir and containing a horizontal row of chambers, a horizontal row of valve means depending from the reservoir, one for each chamber, said valves moving to open position when the chamber member is moved upwardly to permit liquid to pass from the reservoir into said chambers, valve means depending from the chamber member, there being one valve means for each chamber, a constantly moving conveyor for containers, an elevator for moving a number of containers upwardly off the conveyor against the valve means of the chamber, means for open ng said means to permit liquid to flow from the chambers into the containers, holding means for holding the containers against movement on the conveyor and with the containers located under the valve means of the chamber member, second holding means for holding containers on the conveyor in front of the containers being filled. a drive shaft rotatably supported in the frame, a cam carried by the shaft, means actuated by the cam for moving the chamber forming member vertically, a second cam carried by the shaft and means actuated by the second cam for first raising the elevator to raise containers off the conveyor against the valve means of the chamber member, then lowering the containers back upon the conveyor and finally, after a period of time, moving the elevator to fully lowered position to place the first-mentioned holding means in bolding position and to move the second-mentioned holding means out of holding position.

5. In a receptacle filling machine, a supporting frame, a reservoir at the top of the frame, means for adjusting the reservoir vertically, normally closed valve means depending from the reservoir, a vertically movable member having a plurality of chambers therein located under the reservoir and when moved upwardly against the valve means will open the valve means to permit liquid to flow from the reservoir into the chambers of said member, a drive shaft, cams carried thereby, roller carrying members connected with the chamber member and having the rollers engaging the cams, means for adjusting the length of the roller carrying members, a conveyor for supporting receptacles, an elevator, a cam on the shaft, means operated thereby for raising and lower the elevator, valve means carried by the chamber member and opened by the receptacles when the same are raised by the elevator to permit liquid from the chambers to flow into the receptacles.

6. In. a receptacle filling machine, a supporting frame, a reservoir at the top of the frame, means for adjusting the reservoir vertically, normally closed valve means depending from the reservoir, a vertically movable member having a plurality of chambers therein located under the reservoir and when moved upwardly against the valve means will open the valve means to permit liquid to flow from the reservoir into the chambers of said.

member, a drive shaft, cams carried thereby, roller carrying members connected with the chamber member and having the rollers engaging the cams, means for adjusting the length of the roller carrying members, a conveyor for supporting receptacles, an elevator, a cam on the shaft, means operated thereby for' raising and lowering the elevator, valve means carried by the chamber member and opened by the receptacles when the same are raised by the elevator to permit liquid from the chambers to flow into the receptacles, each chamber having an opening in a side thereof and a tubular member of transparent material in communication with each opening and removably connected with the chamber carrying member.

7. 'A receptacle filling device comprising a frame, a reservoir at the top of the frame, ,depending valve means carried by the reservoir, a vertically movable member having chambers therein which when moved upwardly opens the valve means to permit liquid from the reservoir to pass into the chambers, valve means at the lower ends of the chambers, a conveyor for bolding receptacles, an elevator for moving receptacles oil the conveyor against the valve means of the chambers to open the valve means to permit liquid to pass from the chambers into the receptacles and then to lower the receptacles back upon the conveyor, a pair of stop arms pivoted to the frame for holding receptacles on the conveyor under the valve means of the chamber member, means for normally holding said arms out of engagement with the receptacles, means on the elevator for moving the arms into the path of the receptacles when the elevator is in lowered position, a second pair of arms pivoted to the frame and adapted to grip and hold a receptacle against movement by the conveyor when a proceeding group of receptacles are in filling position, spring means for normally holding the last-mentioned arms in gripping position, means on the elevator for moving the last-mentioned arms into inoperative position, a drive shaft, cam means thereon for raising and lowering the chamber member, a cam on the shaft and means operated thereby for raising and lowering the elevator, the last-mentioned cam acting to first raise the elevator and hold it in raised position until the receptacles are filled and this movement of the elevator releasing the clamping arms and also the first-mentioned arms and then said cam acts to lower the elevator a sufficient distance to place the receptacles on the conveyor and to engage the clamping arms to move them into inoperative position and finally move the elevator to its fully lowered position to move the firstmentloned arms to holding position.

- IRWIN I. KO'ICHER.

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