US2268289A - Apparatus for packaging fruit juices - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1941. KRQNQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 A Dec. 30, 1941. A. KRONQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FVRUIT JUICES I Filed July 18, 1939 ,11 Sheet s-Sheet 2 lye/0 L I 1 A. L. KRONQUEST 2,268,239

I APPARATUS FOR PAQKAGING FRUIT JUICES l1 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 18, 1959 MWNI Q w Dec. 30, 1941." AL. KRONQUEST APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 18, 1939 Dec. 30, 1941. KRQNQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 10 pf E HTr OAPA/EWS Dec. 30, 1941. A. L. KRONQUEST APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 30, 1941. KRONQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dec. 30, 1941. A. KRONQUEST 2,268,239

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18; 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Ill/ll Rll.

\ a R Q J y /& I I & Q 5

Dec. 30, 1 941.

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES A. L. KRONQUEST Filed July 18, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 1O imam r05 Dec. 30, 1941. KRONQUEST 2,268,289

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT JUICES Filed July 18, 1939 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Dec. 30, 1941 APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT J UICES Alfred L. Kronquest, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 18, 1939, Serial No. 285,137

20 Claims.

The invention relates generally to the packaging of fruit juices, and more particularly to the packaging of such juices under sterile conditions so that the flavor or vitamin content of the juices will not be modified.

The juices of various fruits are recognized as food stuffs containing substances beneficial to health. Oranges, lemons, tomatoes, etc. contain among other substances the anti-scorbutic vitamin known as vitamin C. It is, however, necessary that neither the flavor nor the vitamin content be injured in the processes of preparation and delivery. Very short exposure of such juices to the action of bacteria and/or oxidizing gases causes marked deterioration which is not abated by later steriization or exclusion of such gases.

Further, it is found that chemical preservatives.

and heat operate deleteriously upon the juices while the use of refrigeration restricts distribution of the juices to points near storage refrigerators.

The whole fruit with unbroken capsule or skin preserves the vitamin content substantially unchanged. Various agencies are markedly destructive of the quality of such juices, comprising (1) oxidation by atmospheric oxygen; (2) the action of enzymes normally present in the fruit but remaining inactive so long as the skin is unbroken; and (3) the life process of yeasts, molds and bacteria. Since the pulp and juices of citrus and other fruits are bacteriologically sterile as long as the fruit skin is unbroken, it is essential on the one hand to maintain this sterility by preventing contamination, and on the other hand to sterilize the fruit skin itself and to maintain a sterile and oxygen-free atmosphere during the disintegration of the fruit for the purpose of juicing. The juice obtained during disintegration is then transferred aseptically into a sterile container and this container is hermeticaly sealed to prevent contamination. The method of obtaining the juices in their natural, non-modified condition is covered in U. S. Letters Patent 2.047935, issued to George D. Beal and Ronald B. McKinnis on July 21, 1936, and the present invention seeks to provide a novel method of and apparatus for packaging said juices under sterile conditions for the purposes above stated.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel fruit juice packaging apparatus including means for sterilizing the containers and covers therefor and passing them directly and without outside air contact into a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere, means for filling the juice into the containers in the sterile atmosphere, and means for applying and sealing the covers in said atmosphere.

Another object of the invention is 'to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the sterilizing of the containers preferably is carried out in a hot acid bath, and in which the sealed containers are passed through a washing bath so as to remove acid from the exteriors of the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the character stated, including a housing providing a first or sterilizing chamber having a sterilizing bath therein and a second or filling, and sealing chamber having a sterile, non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, means for supporting containers in said second chamber, means for guiding containers through the sterilizing bath and depositing them on said supporting means, means for filling said containers on said supporting means, means for feeding covers through the sterilizing bath and assembling them on the filled containers, means for sealing the containers in said second chamber, and liquid seal means for protecting the chambers from atmospheric communication.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the sealed containers are discharged from the apparatus through a washing bath and in which the washing bath forms a liquid seal for excluding air at the discharge end of the apparatus and the sterilizing bath forms a liquid seal at the entrance end of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the container and cover positioning and assembing means, the filling means, and the closing or sealing means all are operable from without so that atmospheric communication with the chambers of the apparatus is avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the container and cover directing equipments include receiving portions shaped to receive the containers and covers in one position only, namely the position in which they will be properly related for proper assembly within the filling and closing chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the container and cover directing guides have a long, and preferably tortuous passage through the sterilizing bath so as to assure proper sterilization of the containers and covers.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for assuring the filling of properly measured, uncontaminated Juice charges into each container before the cover is applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the container supporting means comprises a turntable which is manually indexed from stationto-station from a container receiving station to a container filling and cover receiving station, to a. closing station, and to a discharging station, and to provide novel means for initiating operation of the closing devices and for accurately registering the turret pocket presented container with said devices.

Another object or the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated including power actuated cover seaming means, manually actuated means for chucking the container to be closed, and means actuated by the chucking operation for initiating operation of the seaming means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated including manually controlled means, power operated through single cycles for chucking filled and loosely assembled containers and for feeding covers and containers into the filling and closing chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the seaming mechanism control devices actuated by the chucking of the containers will not be operated in any instance in which the chucked container is devoid of a cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing entrapment of air in the containers as they are lceing fed. through the sterilizing bath, and means for assuring drainage of all sterilizing liquid from the containers prior to introduction of the juices thereinto.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by following the detailed description, the appended claims. and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the invention.

Figures 2 and 2a. together comprise an enlarged side elevation of the apparatus, parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a detail fragmentary plan view illustrating thereceiving ways for the covers and the containers.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the filling and closing housing looking in the direction in which the containers are fed thcreinto.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary face View illustrating the knock-out pad carrying rod in its elevated position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section illustrating the seaming mechanism clutch control actuating crankarm.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary right and elevation illustrating the chucking pad actuating mechanism.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the filling and closing housing.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the container closing or seaming mechanism, the inactive condition of the mechanism being shown.

aeeaceo Figure 10 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill-4 on Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line I i--H on Figure 2. Figure 12 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line Ii -=12 on Figure 2.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line l3i 3 on Figure 2. I Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line i4ll on Figure 2a.

Figure 15 is a detail right end elevation and partial vertical section illustrating the container righting means.

Figure 16 is a detail vertical section of the cover a 15 supporting trackway structure taken on the line 16-16 on Figure 2.

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating a manner of delivering the product by gravity action.

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating the manner of delivering the product by pressure action.

The apparatus herein disclosed as an example of embodiment of the invention includes a support framing generally designated 5, a sterilizing hath housing or tank 6 having a sterilizing bath "i therein which is retained at an elevated or sterilizing. temperature of approximately 180 by a suitable heater element such as a steam pipe go 8 or the like. The tank 5 preferably is provided with a suitable drain off equipment 9. The fram ing also serves to support a filling and closing housing generally designated iii and which is connected with the housing or tank 5 by a com as duit generally designated ii, and in the conduit and the chamber 12 formed within the housing it there is retained a sterile, non=oxidizing atmosphere. An inert gas such as carbon dioxide. hydrogen, or nitrogen, will serve to provide the iii sterile atmosphere, and this atmosphere is retained in the conduit and. chamber by novel liquid seal equipments later to be described.

While the present invention is particularly di rected to the packaging or orange or citrous fruit @ggjuices, it is to be understood that the principles oi the invention may he applied as well in the packaging of juices from tomatoes, apples, pineapples, anrl the like. It is preferred that an acid I'oath be utilized in sterilizing the container parts within the housing or tank 8, and citric acid has been found suitable because it will have no in jurious effect upon the juices being packaged.

The conduit ll preferably is composed of two casing units 13 flange-assembled as at it to form the conduit structure and present rest flange or cover portions l-El which engage and close an end portion of the tank in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and of the drawings. The conduit is flange-secured as at IE to the filling and clos- 5 ing housing 10.

It will be observed by reference to Figure 2 of the drawings that the flange I! defining the opening into the conduit casting portions depending in the tank 6 is immersed below the level of the sterilizing bath so as to form a liquid seal, thereby to entrap and retain the sterile atmosphere within the conduit H. At the discharge end of the machine, there is provided a filled and closed retainer receiving trough 18 having a washing bath IQ of Water therein into which the containers are discharged through a delivery tube 20, the lower end of which is immersed in the bath so as to form a liquid seal 7;; likewise serving to entra'p and retain the sterile atmosphere within the housing In and the conduit II.

It will be observed by reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings that the conduit forming casting equipment is provided with a cover receiving opening 2| defined by vertical edge guides 22 for receiving the opposite edge portions of covers introduced into the apparatus. A cover plate 23 closes the space intervening the cover edge receiving grooves and is opposed by a recess 24, and the cover plate 23 and recess 24 permit introduction of container covers in one position only, thereby to avoid improper assembly of covers and containers in the apparatus. The covers are indicated .at 25 and include the usual centrally depressed portions 26. These covers can be introduced only with the depressed portions 26 presented toward the clearance or recess 24. It will be obvious that attempts to otherwise introduce the covers would be prevented by contact of the cover portions 26 with the closure plate 23.

The conduit forming casting equipment also includes a container receiving opening 21 having container bottom guideways 28 and flanged top guides 29. The containers to be filled and closed in the apparatus herein disclosed are of the conventional fiat top can type and in their empty state include the usual cylindriform body portions 30 and the open tops terminating in outwardly directed flanges. It will be observed by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the flanged tops 3| are too large to be received between the bottom guideways 28 and consequently it is impossible to improperly introduce the containers into the apparatus.

The cover guides 22 deliver vertically into an upper raceway 32 formed in a rail 33 secured as at 34 to the casting equipment. The upper raceway 32 is opposed by a raceway formed in a rail 35 secured as at 36 to the casting, and the lower raceway 31 in the rail 33 is opposed by a raceway 38 in a rail 39 secured as at 40 to said casting. The raceways 32 and 31 of the rail 33 merge as at 4| at the end of the rail in a continuation raceway disposed concentrically about the axis 42, and this continuation raceway is opposed by akeeper raceway 43 formed in an end portion 44 of a casting member 45,

flange-supported as at 46 upon the tank in the manner best illustrated in Figures 1 and 12 of the drawings. The casting member 45 also serves :3 a support for the end of the rails 33, 35 and Upper and lower chain rails 41 are provided and are secured as at 48 to the casting equipments. These rails support and guide the upper and lower flights of a conveyor chain 49 having cover pushing pins projecting therefrom in the manner illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings and which serve to push the containers along the supporting and guiding raceways. The chain 49 passes over an end idler sprocket 5|, has its upper flight passed under an intermediate idler sprocket 52, its lower flights under an intermediate idler sprocket 53, and the loop thereof extending beyond said intermediate idler sprockets passed over a driver sprocket 54. The idler sprockets 52 and 53 are mounted on studs 55 secured to the conduit casting equipment and are spaced laterally from similarly mounted equipment, and this shaft also supports 2. laterally spaced idler sprocket 60 aligned with the idler sprockets 56 and 51 previously referred to. The driver sprocket 54 is mounted upon a cross' shaft 6| which is supported in bearings 62 formed in the casting equipments and which is idler sprockets 56 and'51, the purpose of which driven through a sprocket 63 disposed outside the housing H). The shaft 6| carries another,

laterally spaced, drive sprocket 64 and a con-- tainer conveying chain 65 passes about this driver sprocket, under the intermediate idler sprockets 56 and 51 and about the idler sprocket 60.- See Figures 11 to 14. The chain 65 is equipped with suitable container engaging and conveying lugs 66 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 12 of the drawings. The upper flight of the chain 65 is supported on a rail 61 suitably supported on the casting equipment.

The container conveying chain 65 serves to push the containers in one direction along upper supporting rails 68 and lower supporting rails 69 suitably supported upon the casting equipments and which merge with end guides 10 formed in the casting extensions 1|, and in the opposite direction over lower supporting rails 12 onto which the end guides 10 deliver.

The lower set of opposed cover raceways 31 and 38 deliver into upwardly inclined raceways 13 and 14 and the container supporting rails 69 deliver the containers onto similarly inclined supporting rail structures. At the upper ends of the inclined guideways the containers are diverted by a guide wall 15 onto downwardly in clined supporting ways 16, and the upwardly traveling covers are diverted by a guide portion 11 into downwardly inclined ways 18 to a casting 19 including a lateral enlargement within which the covers are altered in position from vertical to horizontal by curved track guides 8|. As the covers leave the trackguides 8| they are deposited onto a longitudinal supporting and centering shelf 82.

When a container cover is deposited on the shelf 82 it is disposed horizontally but, as will later appear, is not registered over the container onto which it is to be affixed. At the proper time each cover is shifted into position for registering with and falling upon its associated container by a shifter pin 83 projecting upwardly from acrank arm 84 oscillatably mounted in a vertical bearing 85 supported in the housing I8 and operated manually by a crank handle 86 disposed Without said housing.

The filling and closing housing includes sides 81, a top 88, and a bottom 89. The front side, as viewed in Figure l, is closed by a removable glass panel 98, and the side toward the tank or housing. 6 has an opening or window 9| therein through which the container and cover guideways extend into the chamber I2 of the housing It). The rear wall is provided with a removable door 92 through which access may be had into the housing chamber. The housing |0 also includes an internal frame structure 93 which serves as a support for various portions of mechanisms' later to be described.

A stationary platform 94 is provided within the housing chamber l2, and this platform is apertu ed as at 95 at the container closing station. and at 98 at the container discharging station. A rotary turret 91 having a plurality (four being shown)- of peripheral pockets 98 formed therein is rotatable over the platform 94 and is surrounded by a guard rail 99 which serves to retain containers in the turret pockets as the turret is indexed station by station from the container receiving station to the container filling station, to the container closing station, and to the container discharging station. The indexing'of the turret is effected manually through the medium of a shaft I00, which extends vertically from the turret through a bearing IOI provided therefor on the housing top, and a hand wheel I02 secured upon the upper end of the shaft. A registering disk I03 is secured upon the upper end of the shaft I and has a peripheral notch or recess formed therein to correspond with each of the pockets 98 so that when each recess is yieldably engaged by the spring detent equipment I 04 stationarily supported upon the top of the housing, the operator will know that the pockets are positioned at the respective stations.

The downwardly inclined portions of the container supporting rails within the housing chamber I2 deliver containers against an abutment wall I05 in the manner illustrated in Figures 2a and of the drawings, and the rail which supports the bottom portion of the containers is,

discontinued at this point so that the containers can fall by gravity, bottom first, over the upending guide portion I06 in the manner illustrated in Figure 15. As each container is righted or turned bottom down, it falls between receiving guides I07 into'the turret pocket presented at that particular time at the receiving station. See Figures 2a and 8.

It will be observed by reference to Figure 12 of the drawings that the container supporting rail which supports the open nd of the container during its initial movement through the sterilizing bath is disposed at a higher level than its companion rail in the manner illustrated at H.

It will also be observed by reference to Figure 4 of the drawings that the container guiding rail portion which supports the bottoms of the containers is disposed. at a slightly higher elevation than the companion rail as indicated at H. By thus disposing the open ends of the containers at an upward tilt while starting through the sterilizing bath and a downward tilt after leaving the bath, provision is made for assuring against entrapment of contaminating air in the containers while passing through the bath and also for assuring that all sterilizing liquid will be drained out of the containers before they are presented for filling.

In order to assure proper registry of the turntable at the respective stations, the turntable is provided with a plurality of registering recesses I08, one thereof being associated with each turret pocket. These recesses are successively presented for receiving a vertically reciprocable registering pin I09 slidable in a bearing I00 supported on the housing bottom and connected at its lower end to one end of a rocker beam IiI which is pivotally supported intermediate its ends as at H2 and has its other end connected to a depending actuator rod I I3 which is reciprocated for the purpose of projecting the pin 109 into or withdrawing it from the registering recesses in a manner later to be described. The registering engagement of the pin I09 with one of the recesses I08 is effected prior to each container closing function and serves to assure proper centering or registering of the containers with the closing mechanisms later to be de scribed.

A filler tube or nozzle II4 extends downwardly into the gas filled, sterile chamber I 2 in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 of the drawings, and it will be observed that this nozzle terminates just above the containers at the filling station. It will be noted also that the casing and the" cover supporting and centering shelf are disposed at this station and include an opening through which the product can flow from the nozzle into the container positioned at said station. See Figure 8. The filler tube IIl passes upwardly out of the housing I0 through a suitable gland to a measuring cup II5 preferably equipped with a transparent casing portion having a level marker IIS thereon. Control valves II1 are provided above and below the measuring cup and serve to control the introduction of measured quantities of juice into the measuring cup and the delivery of said measured quantities to the individual containers.

The sterile juice to be filled into the containers can be supplied in any suitable manner and I have illustrated two examples of acceptable equipment adaptable for the purpose in Figures 17 and 18 of the drawings. In the apparatus of Figure 17, the sterile product flows by. gravity from a container H8 through a flow tube II9 to the measuring cup, a suitable venting tube equipment I20 being provided for communicating with the interior of the sterile chamber I2 and above the product in the container H8 and the measuring cup.

In the form of apparatus illustrated in Figure 18, the sterile product container is connected by a pressure tube 32E with a pressure source 122 of CO2 gas through suitable control equipment I23 and by a flow tube I24 leading'rrom the container to the measuring cup, a suitable vent tube i2?) being provided for connecting the interior of the chamber I2 with theupper portion of the proved form of container closing mechanism may be employed within the sterile chamber I 2. It is preferred that a suitable form of double roll seaming equipment be employed for closing the containers, and the equipment herein disclosed and generally designated I 26 is disclosed in detail in the Kronquest Patent 2,023,598, of December 10, 1935, and in the Fowler Patent 2,141,976, of December 2'7, 1938. Since these patents fully disclose the details of construction and operationof these seaming mechanisms and the control equipments therefor, these equipments will be referred to but briefly herein.

In the apparatus herein disclosed, the container advancing turret is manually indexed, but the feeding of the containers into the turret pockets and the closing of the filled containers is effected by manually controlled, power operated mechanisms. The operation of these mechanisms is initiated by manually actuated devices, and the power operated mechanisms cause them to function through single cycles in amanner later to be described.

The seaming equipment includes first and second operation rolls J2! and I28, and I29 desighates the carrying and actuating arm equipments upon which said rolls are mounted. These arm equipments are pivotally supported as at I30 and are moved under the control of rotary cam equipments in the manner described in detail in the Kronquest patent hereinbefore referred to. The actuating rollers I3I carried by said arm equipments are held against the actuating cam equip- The sleeve I36 carries a clutch releasing pin I38 and a trigger arm I39. A mounting pin I40 depends from the arm I39 and pivotally supports a notched trigger I4I which is constantly urged by an anchored spring I 42 toward a holding abutment I43. It will also be observed, by reference to Figure 8 of the drawings, that the arm I39 is constantly urged, by an anchored spring I44,

toward the position illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings.

The clutch releasing pin I38 overlies a clutch sector I 45 pivotally supp rted on the rotor I46 which is secured to the seaming mechanism drive shaft I41. As in the clutch equipment disclosed in detail in the Fowler patent hereinbefore referred to, the sector I45 is spring urged outwardly and carries an abutment head I48 which is presented for driving engagement by a driving pin I49 projecting from a crank I50 carried by a sleeve Ii rotatably supported as at I52 on the housing I0 and constantly driven by sprocket and chain connections I53 from the motor I54. The motor is supported on a shelf I55 projecting 'rearwardly from a bracket I56 secured to and depending from the bottom of the housing it.

The shaft I33 extends upwardly through the top of the housing and carries a crank. member I51 which is secured thereon in position for engaging a movement limiting stop I583. The seaming head includes a knock-out pad I59 which is supported on a stem or rod I60 projecting upwardly through the housing top where it is equipped with a vertically adjustable clutch control sleeve actuating head I6I.' The head I6I includes an abutment shoulder I62 and a conical face I63 which is engageable with a dog I64 pivotally supported as at I65 on a crank lever I66 having a crank arm I61 which engages the crank member I51, said lever I06 being pivotally supported as at I68. The lever I66 is held in its normal position, illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, by an anchored spring I69,-and the dog I64 is held against a stop shoulder I10 on the lever I66 by a compression spring I1I.

The rod I60 is yieldably depressed by a compression spring I12 interposed between the head I6I and a bracket I13 supported on the housing top and through which the upper end of the rod passes so that it can be engaged by a lever I14 pivoted at I on the bracket and including an actuating handle portion I16.

The motor also drives a sleeve I11 which is freely rotatable about a shaft I18 having bearing as at I19 in the bracket I56. The sleeve I11 carries a driver pin I80 for cooperating with the spring projected clutch sector I8I pivotally mounted on the rotor I82 which is keyed at I83 to the shaft I18, and said sleeve is constantly rotated through the medium of sprocket and chain connections I84. The shaft I18 also carries a worm gear I85 which meshes with a worm wheell86 secured upon a shaft I81 which is rotatable in bearings I88 provided in the depending bracket structure.

A clutch control pin I89 is reciprocable in a bearing I90 supported on the bracket structure,

and this control pin is slot and pin connected as at I9I to one arm of a bell crank lever I92 which is pivotally supported as at I93 on the bracket structure. An anchored spring I94 is connected to the pin carrying arm of the bell crank lever I92 and tends to hold the lever in the pin projected, declutching position with the roller I95 which is carried by the other arm of the bell crank lever against the periphery of the stop disk I96 mounted on the shaft I81. The said other arm of the bell crank lever is connected at its free end to the actuator rod II3 hereinbefore referred to and is also connected by a depending rod with a treadle structure I91 by depression of which the bell crank lever can be shifted about its pivot against the tension of.

the spring I94.

A cam disk I98 is secured upon the shaft I81 and is provided at its peripheral edge with a gradual lift portion 199, a long dwell portion 200, and an abrupt drop portion 20I engageable with a roller 202 secured to the lower end of a plunger member 203 vertically reciprocable in guides 204 provided therefor in the depending bracket structure. The plunger 203 carries a container chucking pad 205 which normally rests flush with the upper surface of the stationary table 94 within the accommodating recess 95 formed therein at'the container closing station. so that when the turntable is brought to rest at the closing station, it will position a container to be closed on. said pad. The plunger equipment 203, 202 is held against the periphery of the cam disk I98 by an anchored spring 208.

The shaft I8? also carries a beveled gear 201 which meshes with a larger beveled gear 208 secured upon a shaft 209 which is rotatable in Operation When the apparatus is being employed for sterilizing containers and covers, for filling the sterile juices into the containers, and for closing the containers in a sterile atmosphere, the containers and covers are individually introduced into the apparatus through the feed-in equipments illustrated in detail in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings and which serve to assure against improper assembly of the cover and container units at the point in the apparatus at which assembly occurs. The containers fed through the openings first referred to enter the receiving guideways and are conveyed by the chain equipments hereinbefore described in detail first in one direction and then in the opposite direction in the hot acid sterilizing bath 1. As viewed in Figure 2 of the drawings, the con-. tainers and covers are first fed to the left over the upper trackways and then toward the right over the lower trackways. By causing the containers to travel in opposite directions through the sterilizing bath a long sterilizing interval is tered relation over the filled container.

provided for which is ample to assure the desired sterilization without consumption of unnecessarily large apparatus space. As has been previously stated while passing through the initial stages of the sterilizing travel the containers are held tilted as indicated in Figure 13 so as to prevent entrapment of contaminating air in the lower portions of said containers.

As the containers and covers reach the right hand end of their respective guideways, as viewed in Figure 2, the chains carry them upwardly over the upwardly inclined guideways. as illustrated in Figure 2a of the drawings, and deliver them onto the downwardly inclined guideways leading into the sterile atmosphere container filling and closing housing where the covers pass into the casting enlargement 80 wherein they are changed from the vertical to the horizontal position and deposited on the receiving shelf 82, and wherein the containers are turned to the bottom up position by the equipments Hi5, M6 and are individually deposited in the receiving pocket of the turntable between the guides m1 at the receiving station. As has been previously described, the containers are tilted open end downwardly before they reach the turntable so that any sterilizing liquid contained therein will be drained out before the containers are Lip-ended. See Figure 4.

Assuming that an empty container has been positioned at the filling station, centrally beneath the filling nozzle H t and the cover supporting shelf 32 at the filling station by proper manual indexing of the turntable, the operator manipulates the control valve equipments II1 to allow a measured charge of juice to flow down out of the measuring cup H5 and into the container at the filling station. After this measured filling of the container has been completed, the operator manipulates the handle 86 to cause the pin 83 to engage the cover resting upon the shelf 82 and slide it over into, cen- As soon as the cover reaches the end of the centering guide it will drop from the shelf onto the filled container. The operator now manipulates the hand wheel'I62 to index the turntable and position the filled and loosely assembled container and cover at the closing station and on the chucking pad 295.

By now stepping upon and depressing the treadle I91 the operator imparts a rocking motion to the bell crank lever I92 to simultaneously elevate the registering pin I09 and project it into the aligned receiving recess I08 in the turntable, for assuring proper registry of the turntable pocket and the container therein with the seaming mechanisms, and withdraw the clutch controlling pin I89. Withdrawal of the pin i89 allows the clutch sector iSI to move out into the orbital path of the driving pin I80 so that the moving pin I89 will impart rotation to the rotor I82 and the shaft I18 to which it is fixed. The shaft "8 imparts rotation, through the gearing connections I85, I86, to the shaft 881, and rotation of the previously stationary cam I98 serves to lift the plunger 203 and chucking pad 205 to press' the filled and covered container against the chuck of the seaming mechanism generally designated I26.

Rotation of the shaft I81 also imparts rotation, through the power transmitting connection 201,

208, 209, 2 and 2I2, to the cover and container conveying equipments so that during the single cycle of power application initiated by depresswn of the treadle, one cover and one container will be fed onto the receiving guideways in the sterile atmosphere containing chamber I2 of the housing II! in the manner previously described. It should be understood that the operators foot is removed after eachdepression of the treadle and the pin I89 is returned to its normal position for retracting the sector I8I out of the path of movement of the driving pin I80 and discontinuing rotation, of the sleeve I82 after a single cycle of rotation has been completed. The driving connections are so proportioned that only one container and one cover is fed into the housing IIl during each cycle of operation of the container chucking mechanism. 1

As each filled and loosely assembled container is chucked in the manner above described, the cover thereof engages the knock-out pad I59 and moves the rod 669 upwardly through the bracket I13. This upward movement of the rod I60 causes the abutment face I62 of the head I6I to engage the dog Hi4 and rock the crank lever I66 about its pivot E68 to thereby cause the arm I61 to move the crank member I61 and impart a rocking movement to the shaft I33. The rocking of the shaft I33 removes the clutch pin I38 and permits the clutch sector I45 to move out into the path of travel of the driving pin I49 thereby causing the sleeve I5I to impart rotation to the driving shaft I41 of the seaming mechanism. As the trigger arm I39 is moved to the left as viewed in Figure 10 of the drawings the trigger i4! will engage the abutment I43 and hold the clutch pin 138 out of the path of movement of the sector I45. The seaming mechanism will function as described in detail in the Kronquest and Fowler patents hereinbefore referred to until the double seaming function has been completed, at which time the adjacent actuator roller I3I will engage and release the trigger MI so as to permit the clutch pin i353 to move to the position illustrated in Figure 9 and effect a declutching of the continuously rotating driving sleeve I5I and thereby discontinue rotation of the seam mechanism drive shaft I41.

The knock-out pad I59 which is engaged by the cover of each container as it, is being chucked is smaller than the internal diameter of the containers, and it will be obvious that should a container be moved toward the chuck of the seaming mechanism without a cover thereon, the rod I69 would not be moved upwardly, and initiation of seaming mechanism operation would not be effected.

By now depressing the handle I16 the operator can depress the knock-out pad I59 and return the head I6I to its normal, lowered position. The lowering of the head permits the crank members I61and I51 to return to their normal positions and during the lowering of the head the coniform surface I63 thereof will freely deflect the spring pressed dog I64 and permit it to return to the normal position illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The now filled and closed contained can now be manually indexed to the discharging station where it will fall through the table aperture 96 and the discharge tube 29 into the bath I9 in which acid remaining on the exterior of the container will be removed.

By repeating theoperations hereinbefore described, containers and covers will be successively fed into the sterile atmosphere containing chamber II), the containers filled, the covers applied to the containers, and the loosely assembled containers double seam closed and then discharged in the manner described.

In this disclosure a particular patented method of obtaining juices in a natural, non-modified condition has been referred to, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of juices obtained by this method alone. While it is preferred that the juices to be packaged in accordance with the invention herein disclosed be obtained by the patented method herein referred to, other methods may be utilized for producing sterile juices for packaging, such for example as flash pasteurizing where the fruit juice is subjected to heat only for a very short interval, so that neither the color nor the flavor thereof is injured, and then immediately cooled and aseptically sealed in sterile containers, until it is transferred to commercial containers for marketing.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a sterilizing tank having a sterilizing bath therein, a filling and closing housing, spaced tracks for guiding open-topped containers in a generally horizontal position through the tank and into the housing for deposition therein, said tracks including portions relatively positioned to hold the containers with their open tops tilted higher than their closed bottoms in a portion of the bath and reversely positioned with relation one to the other in approach to the housing to hold the containers with their open tops tilted downwardly whereby to avoid entrapment of air in the container bottoms in the bath and to assure draining out of sterilizing liquid before the containers are deposited in said housing.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a sterilizing tank having a sterilizing bath therein, container and cover supporting trackage in said tank'disposed in upper and lower flights immersed in the bath, and means for conveying the covers and containers over the trackage flights in one direction over the upper flight and in the opposite direction over the lower flight.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a filling and closing housing having a sterile nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, means for introducing and positioning containers and covers therefor in sterile condition in said housing with each cover disposed above and to one side of its associated container. means for directing a juice in sterile condition into each container, and means operable from without the housing for shifting each cover into centered relation over and dropping it upon its associated filled container.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a filling and closing housing having a sterile nonoxidizing atmosphere therein, means for introducing and positioning containers and covers therefor in sterile condition in said housing with each cover disposed above and to one side of its associated container, means for directing a juice in sterile condition into each container, means operable from without the housing for shifting each cover into centered relation over and dropping it upon its associated filled container, and power operated means manually controlled from without the housing for sealing the covers on the filled containers.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, manually controlled means actuated through single complete cycles for actuating the sealing means for sealing individual containers, and means operable upon each actuation of said manually controlled means for positioning the turret with a container perfectly registered at the closing station.

'6. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applyingthe covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station' from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, and manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucking individual containers.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucking individual'containers, and means automatically actuated during each container chucking operation for positioning the turret with a container perfectly registered with said chuck.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucking individual containers, and power operated means automatically actuated by each chucking movement of a container for effecting operation of the seaming head through a single cycle.

9. in apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamher and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in, said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in'said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucking individual containers, power operated means automatically actuated by each chucking movement of a container for efiecting operation of the seaming head through a single cycle, and means automatically actuated during each container chucking operation for positione ing the turret with a container perfectly registered with said chuck.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a. sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting 'means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, and a vertically reciprocable knockout pad engaged by containers being chucked, manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucking individual containers, and power operated means til automatically controlled by knockout pad movement during each chucking movement of a container for effecting operation of the seaming head through a single cycle.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a housing'structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, and manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucking individual containers and for feeding one container and cover complement into the filling and closing chamber,

12. In apparatus'of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucking individual containers, and means automatically actuated during each container chucking operation for positioning the turret with acontainer perfectly registered with said chuck.

13. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said supporting means including a turret movable station-bystation from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, said sealing means comprising a cover seaming head mounted in the filling and closing chamber and including a chuck, and a vertically reciprocable knockout pad engaged by containers being chucked, manually controlled power actuated means operable through single complete cycles for chucldng individual containers, and power operated means automatically controlled by knockout pad movement during each chucking movement of a covered container for efiecting operation of the seaming head through a single cycle, said knockout pad being of a diameter for entering an uncovered container whereby seaming head actuation will not be effected by chucking movement of an uncovered container.

14. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, an acid liquid sterilizing bath in said sterilizing chamber, means for directing containers and covers therefor through said acid liquid sterilizing bath and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, a liquid washing bath through which the sealed containers are discharged, and means cooperating with said baths to form liquid seals preventing ingress of outside air.

15. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, and means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said sterilizing means comprising an acid liquid bath, and said container and cover directing means including individual guideways immersed in the liquid bath and merging into individual guideways extending out of the bath and disposed to deliver onto the supporting means.

16. In apparatus of the character escribed, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually diabove containers presented at the filling station and having cover centering and discharging parts centered over a container at said filling station, and manually operable means operable from without the housing structure for shifting covers serially to fall from the centering and discharging parts onto a filled container centered therebeneath, for indexing said turret, and for initiating operation of said sealing means.

17. In apparatus of the character described,

ways immersed in the bath and merging into in- I dividual guideways extending out of the bath and disposed to deliver onto supporting means, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, and a guideway portion for the covers disposed horizontally above containers presented at the filling station and having cover centering and discharging parts centered over a container at said filling station; and manually operable means operable from without the'housing structure for shifting covers serially to fall from the centering and discharging parts onto a filled container centered therebeneathdor indexing said turret, and for initiating operation of said sealing means.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in said sterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through .the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said sterilizing means comprising a single acid bath, said container and cover directing means including individual guideways immersed in the bath and merging into individual guideways extending out of the bath and disposed to deliver onto supporting means, said supporting means including a turret movable station-by-station from a container receiving station to a container filling station, to a container sealing station and to a container discharging station, and .a guideway portion for the covers disposed horizontally above containers presented at the filling station and having cover centering and discharging parts centered over a container at said filling station; a washing bath through which the sealed containers are discharged, and means cooperating with said baths to form liquid seals preventing ingress of outside air.

19. In apparatus of the character described, a housing structure providing a sterilizing chamber and a filling and closing chamber having a sterile non-oxidizing atmosphere therein, container and cover supporting means in the filling and closing chamber, sterilizing means in saidsterilizing chamber, means for individually directing containers and covers therefor through the sterilizing means and to said supporting means, means for filling the supported containers, means for applying the covers to the filled containers, means for sealing said containers in said sterile atmosphere, said sterilizing means comprising a

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