US2740560A - Measuring and dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1956 w, BRHDGE 2,740,560

MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed 001;- 15, 1952 Q 26 g 30 L INVENiBR. 33w. BRID a BY $1314. f -w fiT R f MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Edward W. Bridge, Philadelphia, Pa. Application October 15, 1952, Serial No. 314,910

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-308) This invention relates to an improvement in a dispensing device, and more particularly adapted to filling cans with a measured quantity of material from a stationary hopper.

The invention consists in providing a hopper with a reciprocating measuring cup, which collects a quantity of material from the hopper and discharges the material to a spout on the hopper for delivery of the material to cans disposed beneath the spout.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and vertical section illustrating the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail top plan view; and

Figure 3 is a detail view in vertical section of the measuring cup.

The invention is adaptable for use with can filling and closing machines, wherein the hopper would be filled to a suitable height with vegetables, fruits or other articles. The hopper 10 is shown cylindrical in shape, but other configurations may be employed, and is provided with a sloping bottom 11. The bottom 11 at lowest portion and adjacent the wall of the hopper is provided with a circular opening 12. Connected to the bottom 11 and encircling the opening 12 is a cylinder 13 which is attached to the bottom by screw bolts 14. The hopper is supported at a desired elevation on standards 15.

Arranged on the inner wall of the hopper 10 are two arcuate shaped flanges 16, 16 which extend from the bottom 11 to the upper peripheral edge of the hopper providing a semi-circular guide way therebetween. The flanges are so spaced from each other as to encompass or encircle a portion of the opening 12 in the bottom 11, so that the inner walls of the flanges 16 are in alinement with the opening 12 and inner wall of the cylinder 13. A discharge opening 18 is formed at the upper portion of the wall of the hopper between the flanges 16, and a spout 19 is connected to the outer wall of the hopper 10 to receive the material discharged through the discharge opening 18. A platform 20 is provided beneath the spout 19 for cans 22 to be filled. Brackets 23 are connected to the wall of the hopper for supporting the platform.

Mounted in the cylinder 13 is a hollow cylindrical piston 26 which is adapted to be reciprocated therein and between the guide flanges 16 of the hopper 11. The piston 26 is provided intermediate its length with a partition 27, which divides the piston and forms a bottom for a cup like receptacle 28 at the upper or outer portion of the piston.

The front wall of the piston 26 and of the cup receptacle 28 is provided with an arcuate-shaped outlet opening 30 adapted to be brought into registry with the discharge opening 18 in the front wall of the hopper 10 to discharge the contents of the cup 28. The outlet opening 2,740,560 Fatented Apr. 3, 1956 30 is normally closed by the walls of the cylinder 13 and hopper 10.

Mounted on the partition bottom 27 is a false bottom consisting of two semi-circular members or segments 32 and 33. The upper surface of the members or segments is downwardly inclined or sloping as at 34 to conform to the contour or slope of the bottom 11 of the hopper 10. The segment 32 of the false bottom is capable of vertical adjustment with respect to segment 33, to change the capacity of the cup 28, to conform to the size and capacity of the can 22 to be filled. The upper end of the cup 28 and piston 26 is cut ofi on a bias or at an inclination in a downward direction from the front wall of the piston 26, as at 36, so that as the cup 28 is filled through the opening 12 in the hopper bottom 11, the cup 28 and piston 26 are moved through the hopper 10 to the discharge opening 18 the contents of the cup will spill off into the hopper and level off the contents of the cup 28. The segment 32 is provided with a vertical screw threaded opening 37 extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, and in which an adjusting screw 38 has screw threaded engagement. The segment 32 is adapted to be adjustably positioned within the cup 28 for regulating the capacity of the cup, by the adjusting screw 38, which when screwed into the opening 37 so that the outer end thereof is flush with the bottom of the segment 32, the segment will rest on the bottom or partition 27, and the cup 28 can be filled to its capacity. However, when the cup 28 is to be filled to less than its capacity the screw 38 is moved outwardly with respect to the bottom of the segment 32 and the outer end of the screw will rest on the partition 27 and support the segment above the partition 27. The segment 33 is removably supported against lateral movement on the partition or bottom 27 by a pin or dowel 35 on the partition 27 which is received in a hole 41 formed in the bottom of the segment 33. The hole 41 is disposed off center with respect to center line of segment 33, so that segment 33 is held against turning in the cup 28, and segment 33 will therefore prevent segment 32 from turning. This method of mounting the segments 32 and 33 on the bottom or partition 27 permits of their easy removal for the purpose of cleaning.

A lever 42 is fulcrumed on a base 43, and the longer portion 44 of the lever is provided with a cam surface or bearing 45 at its outer end which is engaged by a roller 46 journaled on the bottom of the piston 26. The short end 48 of the lever 42 is provided with a roller 49 journalled therein which is in engagement with a cam 50 journalled on a standard 51. A handle 53 is connected to a shaft 54 of the cam 50 for rotating it, although other power means may be employed. On rotating the cam 50 by the handle 53 the lever 42 is oscillated for raising and lowering the piston 26 and cup 28 in the cylinder 13 and hopper l0, and in its uppermost position bringing the outlet opening 30 of the cup 28 into registry with the discharge opening 18 of the hopper 10 to discharge the contents of the cup 28 into the spout 19 and can 22. The opening 30 is located in the front wall of the cup and extends upwardly from the stationary segment 33 so that the contents of the cup will be readily discharged into the spout, and the sloping upper surfaces 34 of the segments being in the direction of the opening 30 insures that the contents are discharged through the opening 30.

The roller 46 is mounted on the bottom of the piston 26 so that its axis is offset with respect to the center line of the piston and disposed rearwardly of the outlet opening 30. The roller 46 travels or tracks one way at all times up and down on the straight lever cam 45 and maintains the outlet opening 30 of the piston 26 positioned to always make registry with the discharge opening 18.

The level of the contents of the hopper 10 is below the bottom of the discharge outlet 18 thereof, and the cam 50 is provided with a fiat dwell between the points A and B to allow the contents of the cup 28 to level ofi after the top or upper portion of the cup passes above the upper surface or level of the contents of the hopper 10, by the inclined surface or end 36 of the cup 28, and momentarily interrupting the travel of the piston in its upper movement in bringing the outlet opening 30 into registry with discharge opening 18.

What I claim is:

1. In a dispensing device, comprising a hopper having a discharge opening in the wall thereof, a bottom in said hopper having an opening therein disposed below said hopper discharge opening, a cylinder connected to said bottom and surrounding said bottom opening, a hollow piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, two semi-circular segments received in said piston and arranged in juxtaposition to form the bottom of said piston, means for retaining one of said segments against movement, means for adjusting said other segment with respect to said fixed segment for varying the capacity of said piston, said piston having an outlet opening in the wall thereof above said segmental bottom adapted to register with said hopper discharge opening, and means for reciproeating said piston in said cylinder and said hopper.

2. In a dispensing device, comprising a hopper having a discharge opening in the wall thereof, a bottom in said hopper having an opening therein disposed below said hopper discharge opening, a cylinder connected to said bottom and surrounding said bottom opening, a hollow piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder and having communication with said hopper, a partition located in said piston, two semi-spherical segments mounted on said partition and arranged in juxtaposition to form the bottom of said piston, means removably connecting one of said segments at said partition for retaining said segment against rotation with respect to said other segment, means on said partition for vertically adjusting said other segment within said piston and with respect to said first mentioned segment for varying the capacity of said piston, said piston having an outlet opening in the wall thereof above said segmental bottom adapted to be brought into registry with said hopper discharge opening upon the reciprocation of said piston, and means for reciprocating said piston in said cylinder and said hopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,520,017 Denton Dec. 23, 1924 2,311,347 Orstrom Feb. 16, 1943 2,382,369 Smith Aug. 14, 1945

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