US2156951A - Can filling machine - Google Patents

Description

Mayy 2, y1939.

H. MONDLOCH CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. .28,` 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 2, 1939.

CAN FILLING MACHINE H. MoNDLocH l 2,156,951

Filed Sept. 28, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 Flg 77 l Mw ATTORNEY) May 2, 1939. H. MoNDLocH CAN FILLING MACHINE' 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY@ Filed Sept. 28, 1937 JM/f May 2, 1939. ||4 MoNDLocH CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1957 4 SheetsfSheet 4 IN VENTOR.

im ATToRNEY Patented May Z, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN FILLING MACHINE Application September 28, 1937, Serial No. 166,136

9 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of packing successive batches of commodity in receptacles, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of so-called can filling machines of the automatic type.

Generally defined, an object of my present invention is to provide various improvements in automatic can filling machines, whereby the construction and operation is simplified, Whereas the eiciency is enhanced to a maximum.

Many diferent types of can filling machines have heretofore been proposed and are now in use, and in most of the automatic fillers for commodities such as vegetables, fruits and soups, the successive batches of material are accurately measured before being delivered into the successive cans while the latter are being transported at a relatively high rate of speed through the Zone of filling. During ordinary and normal operation of a filling machine of the automatic type, the supply of empty cans is continuous, and an uninterrupted procession of cans is advancing through the Zone of delivery of the measured batches of commodity from the measuring mechanisms. However, the supply of cans is occasionally broken by failure on the part of an attendant or of the supply mechanism to provide an uninterrupted train of the containers; and it also becomes desirable when starting such a filling machine or when changing grades, to pass a single test can through the filling zone. If the measuring pockets are permitted to receive commodity from the source of supply and to deliver the charges when no receptacle is in place, considerable material is wasted and unsanitary conditions prevail, and in order to avoid such undesirable consequences, a number of attempts have heretofore been made to provide so-called no-can-no-f`ill devices which were intended to prevent discharge of measured batches when no cans were in position to receive the same. These prior safety -devices for eliminating Waste of product, have either been too complicated 0r too unreliable in action, and were therefore relatively unsatisfactory. It -is also often desirable in can iilling machines, to have the can supply and discharge mechanisms located closely adjacent to each other and as far from the commodity supply hopper or source, as possible in order to facilitate handling of the empty and food laden receptacles, while preventing spilling and splashing of the commodity upon the cans. The prior machines ordinarily have the supply hopper located so that it interferes either with the empty can supply, or with the loaded can delivery mechanism, and this disposition of the elements becomes even more objectionable when a no-cannoiill mechanism is also used.

It is therefore a more specic object of my present invention to provide improved noi-canno-fill mechanism for an automatic receptacle filling machine, which mechanism is simple, compact and durable in construction, and is moreover highly eicient and dependable in operation.

Another speciiic object of the invention is the provision of an improved can filling assem.- blage which is capable of automatically and rapidly withdrawing accurately measured quantities of fluent commodity from a stationary supply source, and of delivering the measured batches to successive receptacles, but which will not effect measuring or delivery of charges when no cans are being supplied to the filling zone.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide a simplified and compact driving assemblage for the various elements of a can filling machine, which will permit operation at high speeds without wasting commodity or damaging relatively frail containers such as tin cans.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide improved commodity measuring and discharge mechanism which is adapted to handle various kinds of materials, and to deliver all portions of the measured batches to the successive containers in a most effective manner.

Still another specific object of my invention is to provide an improved filler which is operable at high speed with minimum noise and vibration, and wherein the can feed mechanisms and the supply hopper are most desirably disposed.

Another speciiic object of this invention is the provision of a sturdy can filling assemblage which is reliable and automatic in operation, which may be manufactured and operated at moderate cost, and which has enormous capacity.

These and other specific objects and advantages of my present invention Will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of embodiments of the various features constituting my present invention, and of the mode of construction and of operating can filling machines embodying the improvements, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several. views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the upper portion of a twelve pocket automatic can filling machine embodying some of the improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top View of the measuring mechanism and material supply hopper of the filling machine of Fig. 1, the can supply and discharge mechanisms having been omitted for the sake oi clearness;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat reduced top view of the can handling mechanism, showing also the automatic no-can-no-feed attachment and the elements for transmitting motion to the various movable parts of the machine from a common drive shaft;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary irregular radial section through the filler, the upper portion of the section being taken radially through the stationary material supply hopper, while the lower portion is taken radially and centrally through the empty can supply mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a development of the tracks for normally actuating the measuring plungers and for preventing measuring movement thereof when no receptacles for the charges are present;

Fig. 6 is a fragment of the track development of Fig. 5, showing the operation thereof when no can is presented for filling;

Fig. '7 is a top view of the no-can-no-feed mechanism alone, showing the position of the elements during normal operation of the ller;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top view of the cupshaped measuring casing and of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7,7with the elements moved to a position corresponding to that when no cans are being supplied to the machine;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the can engaging arm and the actuating spring and mounting thereof;

Fig. 10 is a top view of a modified seven pocket can filling machine of the same general type as that of Figs. l and 2, showing the improved location of the supply hopper with respect to the can supply and discharge mechanisms; and

Fig. ll. is an irregular vertical section through the machine of Fig. 10, the right half of the section being taken radially through the commodity supply hopper, and the other half being taken radially through the empty can supply mechanism.

While the invention has `been shown and described herein as being specifically embodied in rotary automatic plunger type can fillers having a specific number of measuring pockets, it is not the intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope and utility of the improved features.

Referring generally to Figs. l to 4 inclusive, the improved can filling machine shown therein comprises in general a main frame I4 having a hori- Zontal medial can support l5 and upper and lower transverse bearing elements I6, il respectively; an upright central shaft I3 journaled in the support l5 and in the elements It, il; a cup shaped casing i9 xedly mounted upon the main frame 5G between the support iii and the element le and having a large bore 26 formed concentric with the shaft i8, and supporting a stationary commodity supply hopper 2l which communicates with the lower portion of the bore 2i); a measuring pocket member 22 snugly fitting the casing bore 2G and being drivingly connected to the shaft it by means of a driving head 23; a series of parallel vertically reciprocable plungers 2li slidable within cylindrical pockets 25 formed in the member 22, and each having a shoe 26 slidably cooperable with theI casing bore 2B; rollers 2 carried by the plungers 24 and coacting with a cam track 23 secured to the fixed casing I9 to normally reciprocate the measuring plungers 2d; an annular series of can hooks 29 carried by the shaft li beneath the casing i@ and coacting with a can guide 3B to transport the successive cans Si around the shaft i3 over the can support i5 and beneath the material delivery slot 32 of the casing i9; empty can supply mechanism including a can guide 33 and a can feed screw 34; loaded can delivery mechanism including a support 35 and a rotor te; a main horizontal drive shaft joi'u'naled in the main frame ifi; inotion transmitting mechanism connecting the shaft 3? with the upright shaft I8 and with the can supply, transporting and discharge devices; and improved no-can-no-flll mechanism interposed between the empty can supply mechanism and the cam track 28.

The upper and lower bearing elements I6, ll are firmly but detachably secured to the frame M and provide upper and lower bearings for maintaining the shaft i3 in upright position, and the member 29 is also nrmly attached to the side portions of the frame Mi so as to maintain the bore 2! concentric with the axis of the shaft i8. it should be noted, that the entire machine may be readily dismantled for inspection and cleaning, upon removal of the upper bearing element and this element can be quickly removed by releasing the hand clamping nuts 33, see Fig. 1. The measuring pocket member 22 and the plungers 2d which are slidably coni-ined within the parallel vertical bores 25 thereof, are revolvable as a unit within the enlarged bore 2U of the casing l@ by the shaft it through the driving head Z3, but all of these parts may be readily lifted out of the cup-shaped casing IS when the bearing element l5 has been removed. The upper end of the casing Vi9 has a plane annular surface 39 portions of which cooperate with the cam track 28 to provide a continuous annular` track for raising and lowering the plungers 24 through the rollers 2'? during normal operation of the machine.

A portion of the cam track 2S is vertically adjustably suspended from the fixed casing I9 by means of parallel upright posts fill, and the entire track is normally held in place by bolts il as shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and '7. The track 28 comprises successive sections 42, e3, 44, 45, de, 4l of which the sections i2 and 4E are swingably mounted while all other sections e3, M, 45 and il are normally fixed. The track sections 43, 44, are formed .integral with each other and are simultaneously vertically adjustable with the posts le to vary the extent of elevation of the successive plungers 24 and hence the volume of each measured batch, by means of mechanism comprising a set of pinions 48 secured to an adjusting shaft S and coacting with. racks formed on the posts ell. These simultaneously adjustable sections d3, ed, [l5 are, however, normally locked in adjusted position by nuts il coacting with the adjacent bolts di as shown in Fig. The swingable gate section i2 of the cam track7 constitutes a part of the improved no-can-no-i'lll mechanism, and is swingably suspended from the casing le by means of a vertical pivot 5l which is preferably located as near to the roller track as possible, clearly shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. The track section 1.12 is inclined from the casing surface 39 to the lower end of the track section 43, and when the section 42 has been swung inwardly against the casing i9 as in Fig. '7, the

rollers 21 will ride upwardly along the section 42 onto the section 43, whereas outward displacement of the section 42 to the position shown in Fig. 8 will cause the advancing rollers 21 to merely travel in a horizontal plane along the casing surface 39. The upwardly inclined track section 43 causes the successive rollers 21 advancing therealong, to elevate the successive measuring plungers 24 so as to draw successive charges of material from the supply hopper 2i through the inlet opening 52 into the measuring chambers 25, and the subsequent recessed track section 44 cooperates with its top guide 53 to cause each of the successive plungers 24 to slightly compress each measured batch of material before cornmunication with the supply hopper 2l through the opening 52 has been interrupted, and before communication with the discharge opening 32 has been established. The downwardly inclined track section 45 is normally alined with the subsequent sections 45, 41, and this section 45 cooperates with a top guide 54 to force the successive plungers 24 downwardly after communication between the measuring chambers 25. and the opening 32 has been established. The movable track section 45 is pivotally suspended to swing vertically about a horizontal pivot 55, and this section is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 5, by gravity, but may be lifted as in 5, by a roller 21 advancing upwardly from the casing surface 39 along the upwardly inclined fixed track section 56. The fixed section 55 is formed integral with the nal downwardly inclined fixed section 41 and the latter has a top guide 51 which cooperates with the successive plunger rollers 21 to finally expel all of the measured material from the chambers 25 through the discharge opening 32. It is to be noted, that the top guide 54 of the vertically adjustable track section 45 has a slightly tapered end portion 58 which cooperates with the adjacent end of the top guide 51 so as to insure continuity of the guide track for various positions of vertical adjustment of the track sections 43, 44, 45.

The can hooks 29 are detachably secured to the upright shaft I8 beneath the cup-shaped casing i9, and the can support l may be provided with an annular can rest 59 along which the successive cans 3l are normally transported by the hooks 29. The rest 59 may be of any desired thickness so as to bring the successive can tops close to the bottom of the casing I9, and the lower end 69 of each plunger 24 may be tapered as shown in Figs. l and 4 so as to snugly coact with a tapered portion 6| at the lower end of each chamber or pocket 25 and to thereby insure complete delivery of each measured batch. The can guide 33 of the empty can supply mechanism is secured to the can support l5, and is formed to right the successive empty cans 3| and to deposit the same into the zone of action of the can feed screw 34, which functions to deliver the successive cans into the path of revolution of the books 29. The loaded can delivery support 35 is likewise secured to the fixed can support i5, and the can discharge rotor 35 is secured to a vertical drive shaft E2 and cooperates with the hooks 29 to gently remove the successive loaded cans 3! from the filling zone.

The motion transmitting mechanism .for transmitting power from the main drive shaft 31 to the various movable portions of the machine. includes the shaft 31 which is ,iournalled in the main frame I4 beneath the can supply and discharge mechanisms, and which may be driven from any suitable power source and at any desirable speed. The main shaft 31 is drivingly connected by a chain drive 63 to a horizontal counter shaft64 as indicated in Figs. l and 3, and the shaft 64 carries a bevel gear 95 which meshes with another bevel gear 66 secured to a vertical counter shaft 61. The vertical shaft 61 also carries a pinion 68 which meshes with a spur gear 59 secured to the central vertical shaft I8, thus imparting continuous rotation to this shaft and to the pocket member 22 and can hooks 29 which are secured thereto. A second bevel gear 'Hl which also meshes with the bevel gear 55, is secured to and drives a third counter shaft 1i which carries another bevel gear 12 and a worm 1l', see Fig. 3. The bevel gear 12 meshes with an additional bevel gear 14 which constantly revolves the can feed screw 34; and the worm 13 meshes with a worm wheel E5 secured to the shaft 62 so as to constantly revolve the can discharge rotor 36 in step with the can hooks 29. The bevel gear 14 is secured to one end of a horizontal shaft 16 journaled beneath the can feed screw 34, and the opposite end of this shaft 16 carries a spur gear 11 which meshes with a spur gear 18 secured to the feed screw drive shaft 19 which is also provided with a hand Wheel 89. Motion will thus be simultaneously imparted from the shaft 31 to the can feed screw also comprises a lever 8l carried by a pivot 82 supported by an adjustable bracket 83; levers 84, 85 secured to the pivots 5I, 82 respectively; a connecting rod 86 of variable length connecting the swinging ends of the levers 84, 85; and a spring 81 embracing the pivot 82 and coacting with the bracket 83 and with the lever 8| to constantly urge the latter into the path of the entering empty cans 3l. see Figs. 3, '7, 8 and 9. The bracket 83 is adjustably attached to the can feed guide 33-so as to permit adjustment in or out in order to accommodate cans 3l of different diameters, and the rod 86 is variable in length by means of a turn buckle 88 so as to insure proper coaction of the gate cam 42 with the roller track 28. The can engaging lever 8l is positioned to coact with the lower portions of the successive cans, and when no can is present, the lever 8i will remain in the position shown in Fig. 8 by virtue of the action of the spring 81, and the gate cam 42 will then remain out of contact with the casing I9 and will permit the. roller 21 of the corresponding plunger 24 to merely ride along the casing surface 39 without elevating the plunger and sucking in a charge of material from the feed hopper 2L While the normal operation of the improved automatic can filling machine shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive should be apparent from the detailed description of the various parts thereof, this operation will again be briey described. When the machine is operating normally. motion is being transmitted from the main drive shaft 31' to the various movable parts, and the successive empty caris 3l are being delivered in regular and uninterrupted succession by the feed screw 34 to the can hooks` 29. As each can 3i passes the lever 8i, it forces this lever from the position shown in Fig. 8, outwardly intoV the position shown in Fig. '7, thereby causing the gate track or cam 42 to connect the surface 39 with the upwardly inclined initial fixed cam track section SUL 43. The roller 21 of the measuring plunger 24 which corresponds to the passing can 3l will then ride along the gate track 42 and the upwardly inclined track section 43 as the can proceeds along the guides 33, 39; and as soon as this can leaves the lever 8l, the letter will be swung inwardly by the spring 8'! and the gate track 42 will be positioned as in Fig. 8, The roller 27 advancing upwardly along the track sections 42, 43 raises the corresponding plunger 24 and draws a quantity of material from the hopper 2| into the corresponding advancing measuring chamber 25. When the highest point of the track section 43 has been reached, communication between the `measuring pocket 25 and the hopper 2l through the inlet opening 5E will be cut-off, and just prior to such cut-off the plunger 24 will be slightly depressed to compress the measured and confined batch of material, by coaction of the roller 2l with the track section 44 and top guide 53. The roller will then advance to the downwardly inclined cam track section 45, and as soon as the highest portion of the section 45 has been reached, the measuring pocket will be brought invto communication with the arcuate discharge opening 3E beneath which the can 3i is then being conveyed by the hooks 29. During the subsequent advancement of the roller 21 downwardly along the alined track sections 45, 49, 41, the plunger 24 will be lowered by the top-guides 54, 5'! coacting with the roller 2l, and the measured batch of material will be forcedV through the opening 32 into the can 3l. As the roller 2'! finally approaches the casing end surface 39, the tapered plunger end F59 coacts with the tapered pocket bottom 9i to insure expulsion of every particle of material, and the V-shaped end of the discharge opening will ultimately prevent dripping of material after the food laden can 3l has been carried beyond this opening. The can hooks 29 subsequently deliver the loaded can 3l to the rotor 39 which effects iinal discharge in the usual manner. 'I'he successive cans 3i are thus automatically supplied, filled with accurately measured batches of material, and delivered from the machine, without the slightest waste of material or injury to the frail cans, even when operating at very high speed.

Now let us assume that the can supply is interrupted, or that the operator wishes to fill only a single can. When no can 9i is brought into engagement with the lever 8! by the feed screw the spring 8'! will obviously hold the lever 9! and the gate cam or section 42 in the position shown in Fig. 8. The successive plunger actuating rollers 2'! will then roll past the section 42 and along the horizontal casing surface 39 beneath the track sections 43, 44, 45, While the rollers 2l are advancing along the surface 39, the plungers 24 will not be lifted and no material will 'oe drawn into the chambers 25 as the pockets are carried past the supply opening 52. Upon reaching the upwardly inclined fixed track section 59, the rollers 2 will elevate the pivotally mounted track section 46 and will ride therebeneath onto the final downwardly inclined track section 4l. Due to the fact that the measuring chambers 25 are open to the atmosphere through the opening 32 at this time, no material will be admitted, and the plungers 24 will subsequently be lowered by the advancement of the rollers 2l along the section 4l' and top-guide 5l so as to place them in position for future measuring. It will thus be noted that when no can 9i passes the lever 8|, no measuring of a batch is effected,

and no delivery of a measured charge can take place.

In the can filling machine of Figs. 1 to 9 inelusive, twelve measuring pockets 25 are used and the supply hopper 2i is disposed directly above the can feed and discharge mechanisms. When operating with some commodities such as soups, such location of the hopper is not desirable due to interference and possible splashing, and the machine may then be constructed as shown in the seven pocket filler of Figs. l0 and 11. This machine is generally similar to that illustrated in Figs. l to 9, and comprises a main frame 84 having a can support 95 and a lower bearing element tl; an upright central shaft B9 journalled in the support 85 and element 8l; a cup-shaped casing 89 iiXedly mounted upon the upper portion of the frame 84 above the support 85 and having a large bore 99 formed concentric with the shaft 89, the casing 89 providing a support for a stationary commodity supply hopper 9| which communicates with the lower portion of the bore 90 through a horizontal duct 99; a measuring pocket member 92 snugly iitting the casing bore 9|] and being drivingly connected to the shaft 88 by a driving head 93; a series of parallel vertically reciprocable plungers 94 slidable within cylindrical pockets 95 formed in the member 92, and each having a shoe 96 slidably cooperable with the casing bore 99; a roller 9'! carried by the upper end of each plunger 94 and coacting with a cam track 9S secured to the fixed casing 89, to normally reciprocate the plungers 94 Within the pockets 95; an annular series of can hooks 99 secured to the shaft 88 and cooperating with a f fixed can guide H99 to transport the successive cans 9| beneath the material discharge opening E92 of the casing 99; empty can supply mechanisms including a can guide H23 and a can feed screw E94; loaded can delivery mechanism including a guide 95 and a conveyor E96 located closely adjacent to the supply mechanism; and motion transmitting mechanism for driving the various parts. Y

While the improved no-can-no-ll mechanism has been omitted from this modified can filling machine, it may also be utilized, but the main difference between the two machines is the relative disposition of the can supply and discharge mechanisms with respect to the commodity supply hopper. In the machine of Figs, l0 and 1l, the can supply and discharge mechanisms are located closely adjacent to each other on one side of the filler, whereas the material supply hopper 9i is located at the extreme opposite side of the apparatus remote from the can admission and delivery mechanisms. The supply hopper 9| thus avoids obstruction to or interference with the can handling mechanisms, and the commodity may be dumped into the hopper without danger of splashing material onto the can feed and discharge. The horizontal duct 89 which extends from within the side members of the frame 84 to the lower end of the hopper 9i is of considerable length and may be so formed that the hopper can be disposed a considerable distance from the casing 99 in order to further facilitate admission of fresh commodity. Otherwise, the modified machine is substantially the same in construction and operation, as the filler of Figs. l to 9 inclusive, the plungers 94 being operable by the rollers 9i coacting with the cam track 98 to accurately measure and deliver successive measured batches to the successive cans Si being transported through the filling zone by the can hooks 99.

n ci).

From the foregoing detailed descriptionof the construction and operation of my improved can lling machines, it will be apparent that the invention provides an automatic can lling assemblage which may be operated at relatively high speed in a sanitary manner without wasting material or danger of damaging the successive relatively frail cans. The improved no-can-no-fill mechanism is relatively simple and compact in construction and is also dependable in operation. This mechanism will permit filling of individual cans for trial purposes, by merely manipulating the hand wheel Si?, and will also function with the greatest precision to avoid measuring batches of material when no cans are delivered to the lling Zone during normal operation of the machine. The no-can-no-iill mechanism can also be adjusted to cooperate with cans of different sizes, and does not in any manner interfere with the normal operation of other parts of the machine. The improved construction of the plungers and measuring pockets with correspondingly tapered lower ends, insures delivery of all portions of the measured batches, and the formation of the discharge opening in the cup-shaped casing eliminates undesirable dripping. The frame assemblage with bearings above and below the measuring pocket member provides a stable machine wherein chattering and vibration is eliminated, and the adjusting mechanism for the cam track permits convenient variation in the volumes of the measured charges. The location of the material supply hopper on the side of the machine opposite to the can feed discharge mechanisms has also been found extremely advantageous in facilitating the handling of the cans and in eliminating splashing of commodity upon the eXteriors of the cans. The location of the pivot for the swingable gate section of the cam track has been found to be extremely important, since the rollers 21 in advancing up the incline of this gate section, normally tends to push the track section away from the cup-shaped casing. By locating the pivot of this section closely adjacent to the annular wall of the cup-shaped casing, the rollers 2l in fact tend to hold the gate section in position, until after the rollers have proceeded to the fixed track section 43. This action is advantageous since it tends to remove all pressure from the cans entering the machine, thus positively avoiding damaging the relatively frail cans. 'Ihe improved machine has proven highly successful in actual commercial use and has also proven extremely dependable as compared to prior machines of the same general type.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of operation, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a can filling machine, a fixed casing having a bore and a plane upper end surface, a member rotatable Within said bore and having a series of measuring pockets therein, a plunger reciprocable in each of said pockets to introduce and discharge measured batches of material, a cam track cooperable with said surface to reciprocate said plungers, said cam track' having a gate section movable laterally toward and away from said surface, means for conveying cans in succession, beneath said pockets, means for feeding cans to said conveying means, and a lever operable by the cans passing through said feeding means, said lever being cooperable with said movable cam section to move the latter away from said surface when no can engages the lever.

2. In a can filling machine, a casing having a bore and a plane annular end surface, a member rotatable within said bore and having a series of measuring pockets therein, a plunger in each of said pockets, a cam track cooperable with said surface and with the successive plungers to cause the latter to introduce material into said pockets and to deliver said material therefrom, said cam having a gate section pivotally supported closely adjacent to said surface, means for con- 'veying cans in succession beneath said pockets,`

means for feeding cans to said conveying means, and a lever movable by the successive cans passing said feeding means and being cooperable with said gate section to move the latter out of cooperative relation With said plungers.

3. In a can filling machine, an annular stationary casing having a plane upper surface, a measuring pocket member revolvable within said casing, a plunger movable in each pocket to introduce and deliver batches of material, each of said plungers having an actuating element cooperable with said plane surface while said plunger is in inactive position, a cam track with which said plunger actuating elements are cooperable to move said plungers, said track having a movable section for guiding said elements from said plane surface upon said track, and means operable when no cans are being delivered to the zone of discharge of material by said plungers for maintaining said elements in contact with said plane surface.

li. In a can filling machine, a casing having a bore and an annular plane surface adjoining said bore, a measuring pocket member revolvable in said bore, a plunger in each of said pockets, an actuating roller for each plunger cooperable with said plane surface to hold the corresponding advancing plunger in inactive position, a cam track cooperable with said rollers to normally move said plungers, said track having a movable section formed to either guide said rollers along said track or to permit the same to continue advancing along said plane surface, and means operable by the entering cans for placing said movable track section in said guiding position.

5. In a can filling machine, a casing having a bore and an annular plane surface adjoining said bore, a measuring pocket member revolvable in said bore, a plunger in each of said pockets, an

actuating roller for each plunger cooperable with said plane surface to hold the corresponding advancing plunger in inactive position, a cam track cooperable with said rollers to normally move said plungers, said track having a laterally swingable gate section formed to guide said rollers along said track when in innermost position and to permit the same to ride along said plane surface when swung outwardly away from said casing, and means operable when no cans are entering to swing said gate section outwardly.

6. In a can lling machine, a revolvable measuring pocket member, a supporting frame for said member coacting with diametrically opposite sides thereof, a series of plungers movable within the pockets of said member to measure and deliver successive batches of material, a material supply hopper for admitting material to said pockets from a Zone laterally of said frame and at one side of the axis of revolution of said member, and can feed and discharge mechanisms located laterally of said frame at the opposite side of said axis for admitting and discharging cans to the zone of delivery of the measured batches.

7. In a can filling machine, a revolvable measuring pocket member, a supporting frame for said member extending toward the same at diametrically opposite sides thereof, plungers movable within the pockets of said member to measure and deliver successive batches of material, a material supply hopper having an admission opening disposed laterally of said frame and at one side of the axis of revolution of said member, and can feed and discharge mechanisms located laterally of said frame closely adjacent to each other on the opposite side of said axis.

8. In a can lling machine, an annular casing having a bore and a plane end surface, a member rotatable within said bore and having a series of measuring pockets therein, a plunger movable in each of said pockets to introduce and discharge batches of material, a cam track cooperable with said surface to move said plungers, said track having a gate section movable toward and away from said surface, means for transporting cans in succession in close proximity to said pockets, means for feeding cans to said transporting means, and a lever operable by the cans passing through said feeding means, said lever being cooperable with said movable cam track section to move the latter away from said surface when no can engages the lever.

9. In a can filling machine, a xed casing having a bore and a continuous annular end surface, a member having a series of measuring pockets revolvable Within said casing, a plunger reciprocable within each of said pockets to introduce and discharge batches of material, a cam track cooperable with said surface to reciprocate said plungers, said track having a gate section swingable laterally toward and away from said surface, means for transporting cams in succession in close proximity to said pockets, means for feeding cans to said transporting means, and a lever operable by the cans passing through said feeding means, said lever being cooperable with said movable cam track section to move the latter away from said surface when no can engages the lever.

HENRY MONDLOCH.

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