Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~2~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
This invention principally relates to a
machine for applying subatmospheric pressure through a
filter to suck particulate material, fluent n masse,
from a hopper laterally into a non-rotatable measuring
chamber of presettable volume and, after the chamber
is filled, applying super-atmospheric pressure through
the filter to force the particulate material
downwardly out of the chamber through a nozzle into a
receptacle. Optionally, a discharging pressurized
pulse is followed by a brief more highly pressurized
pulse to purge the filter. An ancillary feature of
the invention is concerned with ready
interchangeability of the machine from the dispensing
of liquid to that of particulate material and vice
versa.
2. Description of Related Art:
7:
Equipment for filling receptacles with
,~ ~0 liquid and with flowable dry particulate material is
quite old in the art and has been available for many
years. Nevertheless, in many fields they
--1--
s{~
~are susceptible to improvements Thus, in the pharmaceutical
,field, where such machines are widely used, it is par-ticularly
desirable for the parts of the machines, which contac-t pharmaceu-
tieal materials that are to be packaged, to be as few in number
~and as small in size as possible and to be readily accessible for
~cle~ning and steriliza~ion,and refinements are constantly being
idesigned to this end. Furth~rmore, and especially in pharmaceu- '
~tical filling machines, it is quite advantageous for the machines !
~to maintain a high degree of accuracy. The same aspiration exists~
in non-pharmaceutical fields and, there too, the quest as yet has
~not been satisfied.
¦ ~ypical prior art filling machines are manufactured by
PERRY INDUSTRIES, INC. of Hicksville, New York, being known as
PERRY ACCOFILS, a registered mark, these being the series O, l,
and 2, Models CMR 124; and CMR 2~ These machines are contin-
uous motion rotary powder fillers, purported to be designed for
high-speed, fully automatic, powder filling. They include a
hopper which leads to a rotary filling wheel that turns about a
hori~ontal axis continuously through successive 360 cycles. The
wheel includes plural cylinders, known as ports, each terminating
at an open mouth on the periphery of the wheel. Each port
includes an internal filter-containing head. The heads can be
set in any desired axial positions within the ports to define
between each head and the periphery of the wheel a chamber of
settable volume. As the wheel rotates, the ~avities or the ports
are subjected one after another, ~equentially,to sub-atmospheric
and supra-atmospheric pressure. When a port is erect, with its
j 5L~ ~ ~
mouth uppermost, its mouth is exposed to the hopper. At the same
time, suction is applied beneath the filter-head and -thence to
this port to draw the product, which is powder, from the hopper
into the port. As the wheel rotates, this port leaves the hopper
and passes beneath a doctor blade which brushes excess product off
the top of the port while vacuum is maintained on the filled
pOI-t. Continued rotation of the wheel brings the port to a
downwardly extending position over a transition funnel that leads
t~ a container for the powder. At the transition funnel, a
pu~ o~ pressurized air is applied above the back of the filter-
hea~ and thence to the powder in the measuring chamber -to eject
~he powder from the por-t into the funnel and thereupon into the
~ontainer. Upon further rotation of the wheel, a more highly
pxessurized pulse of purge air is applied to the back of
the filter-head to clean the filter. Finally, the port returns
t~ it~ erect position for a refill from the hopper.
The cooperation of the port as it enters into and leaves
alignment with the hopper discharge opening produces a valve-like
a~tion which, on the one hand, permits and, on the other hand,
ts off flow of powder from the hopper to the port. The same
type o action is experienced between the port and the transition
~nnel upon discharge of powder from the port. In both instances,
a pair of relatively moving parts move past one another in shear
to cut off flow of powder and in doing so subject the last
particles of powder flowing through the valve to a shearing action
between two relatively moving surfaces. This shearing action
fuxther reduces the size of the particles caught which has certain
~65~
., .
Ii l
, i
ill deleterious effects These f~agmented particles find their way
into the interstices of the machine where they interfere with
` relative movement of machine parts; increase the power re~uire-
ments of the machine; increase the wear to which the machine is
, ~ubjected;and, to some extent, become mixed in with the powder
¦I which the machinè is handling which may adversely affect the
reaction created by the powder if used pharmeceutically on a
patient, as by unduly increasing the speed of reaction to an un-
~ predictable extent. A further disadvantageous effect is that the
1 fragmented particles roll between the opposing surfaces which arepassing one another in shear and scrape off tiny detritus from
these suraces which mix in with the powder to contaminate the
sama.
The containers are fed in line to a star wheel that
~ransfers them to a rotar~ dial plate which passes the containers,
each under a transition funnel, to a filling station where they
`.! are lifted into coupling relationship to a discharge outlet with
~! an associated transition funnel and are filled. Finally, the
¦¦ illed containers are closed and transferred to an exit line.
All of the filter-heads can be adjusted simultaneously in their
ports. Other types of line filling equipment also have been em-
ployed in these machines.
i The machine is capable of filling up to 300 containers
.~ per minute with from 50 mg. to 3Ç ozs. of product. There are a
i relatively large number of parts and the machine is, therefore,
costly to maintain and keep in good working condition. Many of
the parts that touch the powder, are exposed, making the machine
i
i ~4- 1
dif~icult to keep clean and~ for pharmaceutical products, diffi-
cult to sterili~e, The machine allows the product to escape at
various points, with resultant loss of product which is uneconomi-
cal and unsanitary and creates a bad working environment. Because
o~ the multiple adjustments of the several ports, such adjustments',
i although interlocked, are not easy to make.
11 Another problem with the Perry machine is that the
tl agitator is a rotary member which is driven by a shaft that
~j extends through the side of the hopper in a bearing. As the shaft~
tuxns, the bearing wears and in so doing discharges a ~hin, but
steady flow of particulate material worn from the seal. This
! material is permitted to flow into the powder being handled by
¦¦ thP machine where it may contaminate the same.
il It would be a considerable boon to the industry if a
filling machine were provided that was of far simpler and less
costly construction.
PERRY INDUSTRIES, INC. also manufactures a line of
~quipment designed to fill only liquids into containers. These
are separate machines which cannot be converted to switch from
! powder to liquid and vice versa; while these liquid fillers may bel
. suitable for the particular purposes to which they are addressed, ¦
they are not suitable for the purposes of the present invention as
j~ hereinafter described.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1. Purposes of the Invention:
It is a principal objec~ of the present invention to
provide a simple, high-speed, low-cost machine capable of rapidly
.
.
'.i
filling containers with flowable particulate material, such as
~ powder and the like, which machi~e is rugged in construction and
'i; is capable of running fo~ long periods of time with low mainten-
, ance and yet is quic]cly and readily adjustable to different types
; of particuIate matexial and different volumes of material to be
~ dispensed.
Jl It is another ob~ect of the invention to provide a
' ~achine of the character described which, despite the fact that it
¦¦ operates on particulate material which generally is quite dry,
!~ does not throw off a great deal of dust or dirt and, when necess-
!l ary, is readily taken apart for cleaning and sanitizing.
It is another object of the invention to provide a
machine of the character described which can be operated by rela-
~¦ tively unskilled help and is almost ~rouble-free.
¦ It is another object of the invention to provide a
machine of the charàcter described which purges itself after every
filling operation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a
machine of the character desc~ibed which utilizes an agitator so
constructed and arranged that it does not contaminate the product ¦
handled by the machine.
It is another object of the invention to provide a
.. machine of the character described which can dispense powder and
i which employs a cut-off.valve of the pinch type to control the
discharge of powder so that it is not subject to the sundry draw-
backs of the shear-type discharge.valve of the Perry machine or
the like.
! I
, .
Il -6-
11 .
1265a~85
It is another object of the invention to provide a
machine of the character descri~ed which will dispense powder and
;; which does not employ an inlet valve between the hopper and the
measuring chan~er and thus does away with the difficulty created
by the use of a shear-type valve employed by the Perry machine
; and the like at this pointO
It is an ancillary object of the invention to provide a
1~ machine of the character described which can handle either a pow-
¦¦ der or a liquid.
It is another ancillary object of the invention to
provide a machine of the character described which~ by changing
a ~ew parts, enables the machine to be switched from a powder to
¦l a liquid and back again.
1 Other objects of the in~ention in part will be obvious
and in part will be pointed out hereinafter. The invention
accordingly consists of combinations of elemen~s, arrangements of
parts and features of construction which will be illustrated in
the drawings and some of which will be set forth in the appended
claims. I
2. Brief Description of the Invention: ¦
i As indicated previously, the machine has two aspects or,
ll two embodiments. As the principal embodiment, the machine is
designed solely to handle powder, i.e. particulate material. In
this embodiment the machine constitutes a hopper into which the
particulate material is introduced. The hopper has an exit port, !
usually a gravity exit port. The machine also includes a measur-
¦ ing chamber near the hopper and usually at a lower level than the
~2~
"
. '
hopper so that a ~ravity feed can be used to convey the particu-
1i late material from the hopper to the measuring chamber. The
13 measuring chamber has an input port near its bottom which input
¦¦ po~t is connected to the exit port of the hopper. The particulate
~ material flows from the hopper to the measuring chamber, under
i glavity, wlth assistance to be provided as shortly described.
¦11 Furthermore, the machine includes an infeed valve located between
il the exit port of the hopper and the input~port of the measuring
`jl chamber. This valve can either be opened or closed by any suit- ¦
~ able mechanism. This very component of the machine, i.e. the
s oregoing infeed valve, can be omitted and, indeed, in the pre-
ferred form of the invention to be described, said valve is not
presènt, it having been found that the machine operates satisfac-
torily without the valve for reasons which will be discussed
subsequently, and, indeed, the omission of this valva is preferred .
Within the measuring chamber, and upstream of the infeed !
! valve, that is to say, within the cavity of the measuring chamber
and remote from the base thereof, there is a variably positionable
head. The head has a filter associated with it and the head also
. has associated with it, a means that provides a passageway through
it. The passageway is hlocked by a filter, blocked as used in a
,~ physical sense, in other words, the filter lies across the passage-
1l way, but it does not block it to the extent that it prevents all
il flow of medium through the filter, it just prevents flow of any
li thing through the filter:that the filter does not permit to go
,¦ through it. At the bottom of the measuring chamber, the machine
j~ is provided with a discharge nozzle upstream of which the machine
ll i
~26~
.i ;
~j ;
.
is provided with a discharge.valve. Assoclated with the machine
there is a suitable mechanism to supply a vacuum pressure and to
ii provide gas such as air at above atmospheric pressure~ The
`I machine has a means for controlling the infeed valve and the
, discha~ge valve in a manner such that the infeed.valve opens after
! the ~ischarge valve is fully closed in each cycle. This ~llows
the powder to enter the cavity of the measuring chamber from the
hopper beneath the variably positionable head while, at the same
time,.vacuum pressure is applied under the variably pos}tionable
I head through the pàssageway therein and through the filter to
¦ suck the powder into the measuring chamber.from the hopper through
¦¦ the input port whereby to fill up the measurin~ chamber. There-
~¦ upon when the infeed valve fully closes and the discharge valve
il opens, air ùnder pressure lS admitted to pass thraugh the
~ passageway in the variably positionable head and through the filter
¦¦ into the measuring chamber to push the powder down from the
measuring chamber into the receptacle through the discharge nozzle.
At this point, the discharge valve closes and the infeed valve i
opens; subsequently, a purging pressure passes through the
passageway in the variabiy positionable head and through the
filter to clean out the measuring chamber and the filter and
drive any residual powder back into the hopper. Thereupon the
cycle repeats itself.
Throughout its operatiQnal cycle, the discharge nozzle
alone or the discharge nozzle along with the measuring chamber,
as the discharge nozzle and measuring chamber are connected to one
another so as to be a kinematically integral unit, is ~are) recip-
rocated into and ou~ of the mou~h of a container beneath the
_g_ I
~:6548S
`, ;
il ~
!
~ no~.zle, or the container may be raised and lowered to permit the
nozzle and the container.to be coupled during the actual dosing
as is conventional in the art~ However, except for the possibil-
ity of such a slight vertical movement which, in any event, is
v~ry small, the measuring chamber is stationary or essentially so,
~o that the filling mechanism is quite compact and hence quite
conservative of space in contrast to the comparatively cumbersome i
. machines of PERRY I~DUSTRIES, INC.
! The novel features which are considered as characteristic¦
of the invention are set forth in particular in the app~nded
1 claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construc-
tion and its method operation, together with additional objects
and advantages thereof, best will be understood from the following
description of specific embodiments when read in connection with
the a c~mpanying drawing~.
~ I
. ~.
-10-
j
sa~85
I
BRI~F DESCRIPTIO~ OF TH~: DR~WINGS
jl FIG. 1 is a front view of a machine embodying the
invention which will handle either liquid or powder;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front.view partly in section of
said machine;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken
substantially along .the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken
substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG..5 is a bottom view of the machine as shown in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the system of the machine
set up to handle particulate material;
FIG. 7 is.an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of
a piston u~ed in the machine set up to handle liquid;
FIG. 8 is a 10w chart of the machine set up to handle
liquid;
FIGS. 9a) 9b and gc are diagrammatic plan views o~ the infeed valve
and the discharge val~e in various positions thereof showing how
an offset,to be described in the specification,works;
FIG. lOa is a partial elevational view of the discharge
nozzle in a raised position in relationship to a receptacle;
FIG. lOb is a view similar to FIG. lOa of the discharge
nozzle in its down position;
¦ FIG. 11 is a vlew similar to FIG. 3 of a machine embody-
¦ing a preferred form of the invention which is designed to handle
lonly powder, the portion of the machine there shown being the
-11- ''
~2~
. I
di~sing head, the dispensin~ headbeing illustrated in its stand-by
,condition;
i' FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the parts
o~ the ~i~ensing headin thei.r ~illing positions;
FIG. 13 is a view.similar to FIG. 12 showing the parts
of thedi~ sing head in their.dosing positions;and
FIG. 14 is a view.similar to FIG. 13 showing the parts
of the di~nsing head in their purgins positions.
DETAILED D}~'SCRIPTION OF THE PR33FERRED E~BODIMENTS
Turning now to the dràwings, in which similar reference
characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,
FIG. 1 illustrates an appara~us lU for automatically filling a
product into a receptacle 12. A series of receptacles 12, such
as vials, containers, etc., are transported on a conveyor belt 14
with the aid of a guide rail 15 to an intermit.t~t control device
16 such as a feed screw. A star wheel or fingers can also be
used. The receptacles 12 are stopped either singularly or in
multiples under one or more discharge nozzles 18 which dispense
the product into the receptacles 12 one or more doses at a time.
The discharge nozzles 18 are part of a dispensing head 20 that is
affixed to the apparatus 10 by mounting brackets 22. The dispens-
ing head 20 has`a vertical movement for the purpose of inserting
the discharge nozzles 18 into.the receptacles 12 just before
dosing (see FIGS. 10a and 10b). A control panel cabinet 24 and a
push-button station 26 are also provided~
S4~35i
FI~S. 2 through 5 illustrate the dispensing head 20 in
greater detail. The dispensing head 20 consists of a hopper 28,
two vertical measuring chambers 30, two infeed valve orifices 32,
two variably positionable heads 34, two discharge valve orifices
~!36 and one air cylinder 38 or activating means, e.g. a solenoid,
¦In describing the dispensing head 20 only one feed system 21a is
~da~cribed. The other feed system 21b is exactly of the same
~struc~ure. The product is fed into the hopper 28 when a top cover
¦140 is removed. The top cover 40 has an air pressure relief valve
70. The hopper 28 has a horizon~al exit port 42 at its bottom.
The vertical measuring chamber 30 has a cavity 44 transversely
connected to the exit port 42 of the hopper 28. The infeed`valve
3~ is placed within the exit port 42 of the hopper. The variably
positionable head 34 is placed above the infeed valve 32 within
the cavity 44 of the measuxing chamber 30. The discharge valve
36 is placed below the infeed valve 32 within the cavity 44 of the
measuring`chamber 30,
The air cylinder 38 simultaneously controls the in~eed
valve 32 and the discharge valve 36 so that the infeed valve 32
opens after the discharge valve 36 is fully closed allowing the
product to enter the cavity 44 of -the measuring chamDer 30. When
¦the infeed valve 32 fully closes the discharge valve 36 opens
!allowing super-atmospheric air forced through the variably posi-
.~ tionable head 34 to push the product down through the dispensingnozzle into the receptacle 12.
The infeed valve 32 is a vertical slide plate 46 that
has an infeed aperture 48 therethrough. The dischaxge valve 36 is
-13-
1 ~2~5485
. I
1~ 1
a hori~ontal slide plate 50 that, has a discharge aperture.52
Itherethrough offset from the infeed aperture 48 in the.vertical
¦slide plate 46~ The offset is spaced so that both infeed and
jdischarge apertures 48 and S~ are totally closed before either
aperture is opened, see FIG~ ~b . When ~he..discharge valve 36
~ully closes the in~eed valve opens (see FIG.9c') and when the
in~eed valve 3> fully clo~es the discharge valve 36 opens (see
FIG~ 9a)~ Either valve opens only afterthe other valve closes,
that is first one valve closes.,then the other valve opens and
vice versa~ .
The feed system 21a further contains a pair of O-rings
54,56 and a pair of valve washers 58,60~ The first O-ring 54 is
placed within the horizontal exit port 42 of the hopper 28 while
¦the second O-ring 56 is placed within the cavity 44 of the vertical
¦measuring cham~er '30~ The O rings 54,56 prevent leakage of the
product. The first valve washer 58 is placed within the horizontal
exit port 42 of the hopper 28 between the first O-ring 54 and the
vartical slide plate 46 of the infeed valve 32 while the second
valve washer 60 is placed within the cavity 44 of the vertical
measuring chamber 30 between the second O-ring 56 and the horizon-
tal slide plate 50 o.f the discharge valve 36. The valve washers
58,60 prevent friction on the first and second O-rings 54,56.
If the product being us~d is a powder 62 a jet 64 (see
FIG. 3) and a filter 66 will be used for the feed system 21a. The
jet 64 is placed transversely within a bottom clamp Ç8 of the
hopper ~8 to apply a blast of aix'when the.infeed.valve 32 opens
oth to blow and suck powder 62.by entrainment .into the cavity 44
-14-
5~35
,,
j of the measuring cnamber 3p~ The filter ~6 is placed across the
¦jbottom of the variably positionable head ~4 to block the central
and cross openings 67a and ~7b and to permit the air under vacuum
pressure within the cavi~y 44 of the measuring chamber 30 to passl
~hrough but not the powder 62 so as to further suck the powder 62 ¦
into the cavity 44 via said open infeed valve 32. Vacuum for this
p~lrpo`~e is applied from a suitable source of sub-atmospheric
pressurel e~g. a vacuum pump, to a hose connection 67c at the top
of the cavity 44 at the same timP the blast of air is applied by
the jet 64~ It will be noted that annular clearance is formed
around the head 34 above the outer ends of the cross-passageways.
.~ter the side plates 46 and 50 shift,dosing as in the conventiona]
manner, is accomplished when a hlast of air or inert gas at super-
atmospheric pressure is blown back through the filter 66 in the
variably positionable head 34 to push out the powder 62 through
the feed nozzle 18. A subsequent brief blast of air or an inert
ga~ may follow for purging purposes. The control of vacuum or
air or inert gas at super-atmospheric pressure is regulated in a
conventional manner as by valves controlled electrically or pneu-
matically.
The jet 64 serves two purposes, one to ~luidizc the
powder 62 in the hopper 28 with a low pressure flow of air or an
inert gas, and secondly to apply a blast when the infeed valve 32
is opened to induce the powder 62 to enter into the cavity 44 of
the measuring chamber 30~
An automatic timing control system of any number of
manufacturers is used to time the sequence of operation of jet
-15-
~ 1265485
,Iblast, suction pressure,.valve opening and closing, etc.
A unique feature of this design is'the use of the air
l!iet 64 both to blow and induce the flow of the powder 62 into the
empty cavity 44, while.simultaneously sucking out the air from
i the cavity 4g using a.vacuum pressure. Another feature is the use
of the slide plates 46 and 50'operated by a single air cylinder 38.
The construction of the slide plates 46 and.50, valve washers 58
and 60 to prevent friction on .the O-rings 54 and 56, and the
O~rings 54 and 56 to prevent leakage, are additional features in
¦this patent application.
The variably positionable head 34'is presettable by an
adjustable screw knob 35 mounted on an adjustment screw 17 to
increase or decrease the size of the dose into the receptacle 12
as shown on the drawings. The'apparatus 10 will also require an
air or gas pump, a vacuum pump regulator, a pressure control and a
vacuum control.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the feed system 21a or 21b
using powder 62. In the first phase of operation the infeed valve
32 is opened while the dischaxqe valve 36 is closed by the air
cylinder 38. The j'et 64 applies. a blast of air into the hopper 28
.. lnd through the infeed.valve 32 to permit the powder 62 to enter
the measuring chamber 30 while vacuum pressure is applied through
~he variably positionable head 34'and the filter 66 to suck the
jpowder 62 into the measuring c'namber 30. In the second phase
of opexation the infeed.valve 32 is closed while the discharge
~alve 36 is opened by the ~ir cylin'der'38. The blast of air from
: jet 64 is reduced to low pressure to continue fluidizing the
-16-
65~35
¦.powder 62 in the.hopper 28. The.vacuum pressure is cut off and
lair pressure is applied through thc v~riably positionable head 34
¦~and filter 66 to the measuring chamber '30. The powder 62 in the
measuring chamber 30 is then expelled through the discharge
valve 36 into the receptacle 12. In the third phase of operation
a new receptacle 12 is set up in'the conventional manner for repeat
of the first phase and second phase of operation.
If the product heing used is a liquid, the liquid will
enter the cavity 44 of the measuring chamber 30 by the f-ow of
,gravity. The hopper 28-could also be pressurized to permit the
flow of liquid into the cavity 44. ,The gas jet 64 at the bottom
will not be requ.ired. The piston 3~ will be equipped with a ball
check valve,69 lsee FIG. 7) which will be open to permit any air
.. bubble to be evacuated. When the product (liquid) reaches ball
72 it will close check valve orifice 74 to prevent the liquid from
passing through the valve 69 into the upper portion of cavity 44.
When the cavity 44 under the piston'34 is filled with liquid, the
~, valves 32 and 36 will be shifted to the discharge mode and simul-
taneously a flow of air.will pass through the check valve 69 and
blow the liquid into the receptacle 12.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the feed system 21a or 21b
using liquid. In the first phase of operation the infeed valve 32
is opened while the discharge valve'36 is closed by the cylinder
38. The liquid will enter the measuring chamber 30 from the
hopper 28. In the second phase of operation the infeed valve 32
is cIosed while the discharge.valve 36 is opened by ~he air cYlin-
der 38. Air pressure is'then turned on through the variably
I! sitionable head 34 and
~ l i
ll l
,ball check valve 69. The liquid in the measuring char~er 30 i5
then e~pelled through the discharge valve 36 into the receptacle
~12 In the third phase of operation .3 new receptacle 12 is set
up in the conventional manner for repeat of the first phase and
second phase of operation.
` In FIGS. l through 10 thexe have been shown and described
'ttwo variations of what is essentially a single filling machine,
namely a machine that is characterize~ by its ability to be conver-
¦'ted readily from dispensing liauids to ~ne for dispensing flowable
pulverulent ~aterial and vice vexsa.
The market for such machines appears to be quite limited.
There currently are available many ty~es and brands of li~uid
filling machines that operate e~ficiently and economically,at high speeds arld
.low costs, and are quite flexible in their parameters so that for
j~the liquid filling aspect, the foregoing machine does not have a ,
¦sufficiently appealing view point to be commercially desirable nor
does the market seem to have a place for a liquid/powder filling
machine, but there appears not to be commercially available any
compact, high-speed, easily-maintained, reliable powder filling
machine. It is believed that the state-of-the-art in powder
filling machines is represented by those made by PERRY INDUSTRIES,
'!INc. heretofore mentioned and it is to an improvement over such
~ owder filling machines that the preferred embodiment of the
Ipresent invention now to be described is directed. This emhodiment¦
~s largely simLlar to the powder filling convertible variant of the~
~achine earlier described, but is simpler in its operation and more!
compact in its structure. Such a machine is shown in and described',
-18-
~ 65i4~5
.,
¦~ with respect to FIGS. 11 through 14
In these Figures the machine is denoted by the reference
numeral 80. It includes a conveyor belt, a guide rail and an
Il intermittent feed device such as described heretofore with respect
to the apparatus 10, but its description is not here repeated. A
series of receptacles 12, such as vials, or containers, are trans-
¦l ported on said conveyor belt at spaced intervals and are inter-
mittently stopped beneath the discharge nozzles 18 of a dispensingj
¦¦ head (dispensing heads may be provided in multiples for filling ofll
¦¦ plural receptacles at a time. Since all the dispensing heads are ¦
identical, only one will be described in detail).
The dispensing head(s) 20 is supplied with a fluent
pulverulent material such as powder from a hopper 28~ Typical of
powders that can be handled by the machine 80 are salt, pepper,
sugar, flour, talc, pharmaceutical powders and salts, spices, I
ground coffee, freeze dried coffee, dried parsley and onion flakes,
and bread crumbs all of which constitute particles small enough
and light enough to be aspirated by a mild degree of suction in
the order of about 24 inches of mercury. The hopper is supported
on a stationaxy bracket 82 on its inclined bottom wall. Because
~powder has a tendency to bridge when withdrawn from a lower section
!iof a large volume, an agitator 83 is provided which is reciproca-
ted by a means (not shown) in a direction perpendicular to the
plane of the drawings. The agitator is supported by a gooseneck
arm which reachesoUt over the top edge of the open
mouth of the hopper from a reciprocating member~not shown)so that ¦
the agitator support does not touch the hopper and thus cause
contamination of any powder in the hopper.
-19- '
;54~
The exit port 42 of the hopper is connected to the
;dispensing head(s) by a flexible, e.g. elastomeric, tube 84 to
'permit the dispensing head to shift vertically in order for the discharge
,'no~.zle 1~ to move .into coupling relationship.with a vial 12 during '
.a dosing operation and to move out of such relationship after dos-
ing has been completed~
The dispensing head 20 includes a measuring cnamber 30
¦rhich preferably i5 vertical~ A deviation from the.vertical is
¦permissible, but not desirable.
Il A variabl~ positionable head'34 is slidably, sealingly
¦Ishiftable longitudinally of the axis of the elongated measuring
'Ichambex 30. Preferably, some simple arrangement, such as an
'¦O-ring 86 received in an annular groove in the periphery of the
head 34, effects a desired sliding seal with.the cavity 44 of the
measuring chamber 30. A male threaded adjustment screw 17 having
an adjustment screw cap 35 at its head engages a tapped bore 88
in a.cap 90 mounted on top of the measuring chamber 30 to permit
! an adjustment of the head 34 lengthwise of the measuring chamber
. lland thereby increases or decreases the volume of pulverulent
material to be aspirated into the measuring cha~er 30 so as to
llfill the same and subsequently be propelled into a vial beneath
the di~charge nozzle. The lower end of the adjusting screw is
¦jsecured to the head 34. It may be rigidly secured thereto or it
may be secured thereto so as to permit relative rotation of the
~head and screw, but not relative axial movement thereof in the
!Idirection of the longitudinal axis of the measuring chamber,
lliwhereby a turning of the adjustment screw varies the position of
¦¦the head axially within the measuring chamber.
l~ The interior dimensions and configuration of the
Isection of the measuring chamber within'the range of movement of
themea ~ i~gichamber that can be brought about by the turning of the
adjustment screw uniormly nicely, negatively matches the external
. ¦cross-sectional configuration and dimensions of the head to bring
-20-
il I
. l
i )
about the aforesaid desired siiding scaling fit aided by the O-ring
86.
Communication is provided between portions of the cavity
~;44 above and below ihe head by provision of a cenkral passageway
~67a leading rrom the bottom surface of the head 3~ upwardly to
l~a level above the O-ring 86 and terminating in lateral outwardly
jlextending cross-passageway 67b which lead to the sides, i.e. to
'~`,the side walls of the head, thus providing access to an annular
;space within the cavity 44 around the adjustment screw and below
,the cap 30. The bottom of the head 34 is formed with a well 92
¦Iwhich is bridged by a filter 9~, the purpose of which is to permit
jlthe passage therethrough of a gas such, for example, as air or an
¦¦inert gas, e.g. nitrogen, but to prevent the throughflow of the
¦!particulate maierial being handled by the dispensing head 20. It
will be quite apparent tha~ a wide variet~ of riliers can be
employed dependent upon the p~articular material to be dispensed,
which, as indicated earlier, can be quite broad in range, examples
of which have been set forth previously, the sizes of which
traverse an enormous spectrum. Thus, the -Eilter ca~ be a mesh
filter, or a molded filter made for instance of metal or plastic;
it can be wooden or felted or made of glass fibers or paper; it can
be sintered and made of metal, powder or compressed carbon. The
ore sizes or sizes of available openings, must be small enough to
block the passage of the particulate material being handled, but
large enough to permit passage of gas through it under a mild
degree of pressure such as mentioned hereinafter and not itself to
e blocked by the particles. By way of exampl~ and considering a
Il .
. particle size of from about 0.5~m to about 1 micron, the size for
~ the filter openings for the filter is selected to be slightly
¦¦smaller than the largest dimension of the particle size for
!, particles being handled~ e.g. a 3~m filter for 5~m particles.
¦The.filter is quite thin, usually just from about three to about
llseven thousandths of an inch thick and is held in place by any
,Isuitable means as, for example, a peripheral adhesive layer. Its
thicknes5 is exaggerated in the drawings for the sake of illustra-
lltion It is readily strippable and.replaceable. When plastic,
`imetal or glass filters are employed, they can be flushed with
¦liquid and reused after drying.
The apparatus 80 includes a source 96 of sub-atmospheric
pressure and a source 98 of super-atmospheric pressure. Although
¦ the precise degree of pressure will depend upon the material being
¦handled, typically, for a pharmaceutical material, such as
mentioned earlier, the.source of sub-atmospheric pressure will
provide a sub-atmospheric pressure in the order of about 24 inches
of mercury and a source of super-atmospheric pressure will provide
an air atmospheric pressure or an inert gas atmospheric pressure,
e.g. a nitrogen atmospheric pressure in the order of 2 to about 10
psig. These two pressure sources 96,98 are connected by conduits
100,102, respectively, to a conduit 104 by a three-way valvé 106.
The conduit 104 runs to the cap 90 where it leads to the cavity 44~l
Hence, by suitable manipulation of the valve 106, that part of the¦
¦cavity 44 above the head 34 may be placed under either sub-atmos-
pheric pressure or super-atmospheric pressure at suitable phases
! during the operational cycle of the apparatus 10. This pressure is
. transmitted.through the filter 94 to the portion of the cavity 44
below the head 34 where the cavity communicates with the outlet end
of the tube 84 leading from the hopper.
l .
l -22-
, I
' l ~L2~
'11 ,
Between the discharge nozzle 18 at the bottom of the
measuringchamber and the discharge end of t~e powder in~ L tube
84, a discharge v~lve 36 is provided. This may take any conJenient
;form and in the particular dispenslng head constituting a second
and preferred embodiment of the invention the discharge valve is a
jpinch valve in the form of an elastomeric tube 108 constituting a
¦~fontinuation of the lower end of the measuring chamber 30 and
;contained within a vertical block 109 forming part of the dispens-
jing head 20. The block is supplied with a lateral opening llOthrough
~hich passes a pin 112, the tip of ~hich bears against the outer
side wall of the tube 108 and is adapted to be moved into and out
bf bearing engagement with said wall by any suitable means as, for
iiexample, a mechanical part such as a cam or lever or an electricall f
! actuated part such as a solenoid or a pneumatically actuated p~rt
such as an air cylinder 114, the latter being illustrated. When
high pressure air is admitted to the lefthand end of the cylinder,
a piston is thrust tubeward to press the tip of the pin 112
~gainst the opposed side of the block and thereby collapse the
jtube and close the discharge valve 36. Admission of air under
pressure to the righthand side of the cylinder will force the tip
of the pin away from the opposed wall of the block and permit the
¦Itube to spring back to open the discharge valve. The timing of
e operation of all of this will be discussed later when discussing
Ithe operational cycle of the apparatus 10.
¦ Turning now to the performance of the apparatus, FIG. 11
illustrates the positions of the parts and the flow of gases during
~he standby portion of the cycle. At this time, the discharge
-23-
Il l
li l
~valve 36 is closed. The conduit 10~ is connected neither to a
ilsource of air at sub-atmospheric pressure, nor to a source of gases
¦at super-atmospheric pressure. The agitator 82 is reciprocating
,in the direction of the indicated arrow perpendicular to the plane
of the drawing to prevent bridging of powd~r in the hopper or to
eliminate any bridging that has occurred. At this time, there will
~e some flow of powdered material out of the discharge outlet 42
.lnd out of ~he tube 84. Some of the powder may reach the cavity
44, but the amount is inconsequential. At this moment, a containeri
may be located below the discharge nozzle and the discharge nozzle ,
~may be in coupling relationship therewith. The exact moment at
jwhich this placement of the container occurs and the`coupling is
~ot important 50 long as it occurs prior to the commencement of
~osing.
The next thing that occurs is the filling step of the
¦Icycle whereatthe ~;~ree-way valve 106 is turned to the position
¦illustrated in FIG. 12 in which the conduit 100 connects the source
!~f air at sub-atmospheric p~essure to the conduit 104 and through
that conduit to the upper portion of the cavi~y 44 above the head
,34, the vacuum pressure being transmitted through the central
i cross passageways
~assageway ~7a and/67b and through the well 92 and the filter 94
¦~o the lower portion of the cavity 44 below the head 34, such
Iracuum reaching all the way to the lateral inlet from the discharge
¦!tube 84 from the hopper. The moment this event takes place, there
iis a sudden spurt-like activity of powder from the tube 84 into
'the cavity 44 up into the caVity and up to the head 34. The powder
jin effect, is projected in an almost solid stream to violently fill
I -24-
I
~:65~35; 1
~the caVlty 44 beneath the fi]ter 92 which the powder camot pass,
the powder filling the cavity 44 all the way ~own to the closed
discharge valve 36 and blocking the entrance to the tube 84 into
~the measuring chamber 30. This event transpires with extreme
,rapidity. The description thereof takes far longer to rea~ than
¦~o perform. Moreover, the filling takes place rapidly and with such
l~orce that the powder packs uniformly and with great regularity,
¦~hat is to say, the packing does not vary from cycle to cycle so
¦Ithat ~he "fill" of the measuring chamber can be reli~d upon to be
iaccurate. The rapidity of the fill portion of the cycle is almost i
nbelievable. Typic~lly, a l to 10 cc ch~r is filled in under a tenth
,lf a second and, moreover, the fill takes place in a completely
losed environment. There is little or no escape of powder into
.Ithe environment from the hopper. There is no noticeable escape
``of powder into the environment from the filling chamber or from
the cavity above the head.
The next step in the cycle of operations is the dosing
pnase, which is every bit as rapid as the filling phase. The ,
dosing phase is illustrated in E'IG. 13. For this phase to be
1~ erformed,the three-way valve 106 is turned to its FIG.13 position
¦~in which the conduit 104 is connected to the conduit 102 that leads
~to the super-atmospheric source of pressure so that now, suddenly~
the cavity above the variable positionable head 34 is
filled with air under super-atmospheric pressure which makes its
presence felt through the cross-passagewa~s, central passageway,
well and filter in the space below the head 34. This introduction
¦!of high pressure gas creates a sudden shock and, in effect, is like
¦!the firing of a projectile, the bullet, in this case, being the
_z5_
;
powder between the lower surface of the head 34 and the discharge
i,~alve 36. The discharge valve 36is opened concurrently with the
turning of high pressure air lnto the spaceabove the head 34 so that
.Ithe "gun", i.e. the cavity wi-th the powder bullet in it, is "fired"
at the Instant that the ~head~' of the bullet (powder) (the tip of
',the powder mass at the surface of the discharge valve) is freed ii
'by opening of the discharge valve so that now the powder bullet
ilrapidly descends en masse past the discharge valve through the
ildischarge nozzle into the container where it impacts the bottom
i!f the container to.fill the container, its volume having been
predetermined to give the desired degree of fill ~o the container.
It.will be observed by the careful reader that a compari-
son of the second embodiment of the invention, namely that of
FIGS. 11 through 14, with the first embodiment of the invention,
Inamely that of FIGS. 1 throùgh 6, will show that there is an elemen t
¦¦Present in the first embodiment not present in the second embodi-
¦¦ment, this being the valve 32 which is an infeed valve between the
¦¦exit port of the hoppex and the input port of the measuring cilam-
ber ~ No such infeed valve is present in the FIGs~ through 14
,embodiment of the invention. Such an infeed valve was considered
.Inecessary in the FIGS. l through 6 e~bodiment of the invention
ibecause the mass of powder in the measuring chamber did not proper-
`I¦ly block off the input port of the measuring chamber during ~!
!¦transfer of the aspirated ~suction induced) infeed o~ the powder
¦linto the measuring chamber , that is to say, the transfer of this
~mass of powder from such measuring cham~er through the discharge
¦~nozzle into the container. In the second embodiment of the
!~ .
Il -26-
;
i548~
invention just described, however, the mass of powder
being transfexred effectlvely blocks off the input
port of the measuring chamber during the transfer of
the aspirated mass of powder throu(lh the discharge
nozzle. This appears to be due to a few causes. One
is the extreme rapidity with which the powder moves
down from the measuring chamber through the discharge
nozzle past the input port. Two is the length of the
compacted powder bullet as it moves past the input
port. Three is a short duration of the application of
super-atmospheric pressure from the source of
super-atmospheric pressure 98 through the conduits
102 and 104 to the cavity 44. This pressure is
applied just long enough to accelerate the compacted
chamber with extreme rapidity and then having reached
the required speed, the source of super-atmospheric
pressure is appropriately cut off, allowing the
momentum acquired by the compacted powder chamber to
continue its speedy movement on its way to the
~ container past the input port of the measuring chamber
so that by the time the super-atmospheric pressure in
the cavity above the upper end of the compacted mass
of powder has reached the input port of the measuring
chamber, the pressure has dissipated to an extent
sufficient not to noticeably blow powder back into the
hopper and disturb the powder contents of the hopper.
All these three circumstances are believed to combine
~to elimlnate the need for providing an infeed valve at
the indicated location and, indeed, the apparatus 80
functions excellently for its described purpose
without such an infeed valve.
Proceeding now to the las-t phase in the
operation of apparatus 80, the same constitutes a
::
~ purge operation for which the
:~ ;
-27-
:
` ~
~6~
position of the parts is illustrated in FI~. 14. At this time,
`the conduit 104 is connected by the valve 106 to the conduit 102
which, instead of being connected to the high-pressure source ~8,
which is a-t approxima~ely 2 psig, now is at 1~-2u psig,preferably,
ilof course, a separate high-pressure source is used of either inert
,gas or air. This high-pressure gas is introduced into the cavity
44 as a sudden very brief pulse in the order of time of one tenth
of a second. At the time of its introduction the valve 36 is
,closed so that the high-pressure gas purges the filter 94, purges
ithe cavity 44 between the head 34 and the opened valve 42, purges
i the cavity
lithe opened valve 42, or at least so much of it as faces~,purges
iIthe cavity 44 and purges the inlet port of the measuring chamber ,
and the inlet tube 84, and stirs up the powder in the lower
Portion ot the hopper.
To minimize discharge of pulverulent material into the
room where the dosing is taking place inasmùch as the transfer
from the discharge nozzle to the container occurs at atmospheric
ressure, suitable shielding means is provided which operates under
sub-atmospheric pressure and for this purpose the tip of the
¦~discharge nozzle is located in a well 11~ in the block 109 where
¦Ithe nozzle emer~es from the block so that the major portion of the
¦lltip of the nozzle immediately above its front end is surrounded by
this well 116 and, moreover, a conduit 118 connected to a suitable
~ource of sub-atmospheric pressure, e.g. the source of vacuum 96,
aintains low pressure in the well so that a negative pressure is
Laintained around the end of the discharge nozzle in the general
vicinity of the tip which will tend to draw up any wisps of pulver-
~z~
. ` !
ulent material into th~ well and out o~ the room in which dosing
i,is taking place.
" Suitable timiny arrangementS are utilized to control theoccurrences of the various events described above. For exarnple,
the control may be electronic by means of pulse counting, or
mechanical by means of cams or switches, or hydraulic, or pneumatic
by means of cams and/or levers.
' It will be understood that each of the elements described'
`above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application
~in other types o~ constructions diff~ring from the types described
j~above.
!, While the invention has been illustrated and described
j`as embodied in an apparatus for filling a receptacle ~ith a mater
¦!ial, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since
various modifications and structural changes may be made without
~departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
,I Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully
jreveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by
!applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applica-
¦tions without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior
~art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or
specific aspeFts of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations
should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and
range of equivalence of the following claims.
Thus, it will be seen that there is provided an apparatus
and method which carry out the purposes o~ the present invention
liand which are well adapted to achieve the objects thereo~. Having
¦thus described the invention there is claimed as new and desired
to be secured by Letters Patent:
-29-
