US2893605A - Dispensing valve - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1959 R. F. ANDERSON 2,893,605

DISPENSING VALVE v 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 26, 1958 jrn emar W i W Byzwm M gem df/y's.

July 7, 1959 R. F. ANDERSON 2,893,605

DISPENSING VALVE Filed May 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Unite States atent DISPENSING VALVE 'IRalph F. Anderson, Rockford, Ill. rApplication May 26, 1958,-Serial No. 737766 T 8 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-+145) wThisinvention relates to apparatus for-dispensingnmaterials and particularly to a multiple materiaL rotary 'edispensing nozzle.

.-An importantobject' of this invention is to :provide 1 an vimprove'drotary dispensing valve arranged for 'highspeed --.-operation to dispense a plurality ofdifferent materialsin side-by-side relation into a container-andinsucha man- --ner as to maintain' a well defined line of-separation there- -:=bet-ween.

-A more particular object of this invention is to provide aaurotary dispensing valve for dispensing-a plurality of .=.-materials into a container as it v is advanced past the valvepwhich valve-includesa stationary valve member v.zhaving a lateral discharge orifice anda rotary valve -.\member disposed around the stationary member and -carrying a nozzle movable in a circular path into and out -:-of registry with the orifice to valve the flowtherethrough and tocontinuously change the direction of flow of the wmaterial stream as the cups are advanced, and vwhich valvevmemberisarranged-to feed streams of different materialsinto the container in such-a manner as to pro- 1 yidedifierentlayers of -materialin the container separated .in .a direction paralleling the path ofmovement of--the Mnozzle.

I Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a rotary jfilli-rrg nozzle .in accordance with the foregoing object wwherein the separate streams of material are supplied to the valve member at one end thereof and are conveyed Y through. the valve member in separate streams to 'the lat- .eral discharge orifice for 'feedingthrough the nozzle into -Qthe cup.

'Still another object of this invention is to provide a rotary valve member for dispensing a plurality of differ- ,enticonfections and which valve member may be readily and easily cleaned.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantagesof this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference "to the following detailed description when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

" Figure 1 isa longitudinal sectional view through one form of valve-member for dispensing twovdilferent flavored confections into a cup in side-by-side'relation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane 2-2 of Figure l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional'view through a modified "form of rotary dispensing valve for dispensing three fdifierent confections into a container with'two of the :confectionlayers disposed in side-by-side relation and a third layer overlying the top;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stationary valve member employed in the filler valve of "Fig. 3 with parts broken away along the plane 4--4 of "Fign'fi'and sho'Wnin section to'illustratedetails of construction;

V Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a cup filled by the filler-valve of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a further modified form of fillervalve for dispensing ithree difierent confections in side-by-side relation;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on' the plane 7- 7 of Fig. 6;ai1d

"' Fig. 8 is. at fragmentary 'perspective' view of the stationary valve member employed in thevalve of Fig. .6, and with parts ibroken away and "shown in sectionlto i'llustrate details of construction.

Reference' is now madettmore specifically to the .zac- :companying=idrawirrgswhereinthere is illustrated a' rotary filling head 10ffor'idispensing a plurality of'difierentifla- *vored iconfections .such :as ice cream, sherbet and i the like.

The filling head 10 is generally adapted for use on: a

:filling machine o f the typehaving a horizontally disposed A'nderson and Marvin"Heifetz,"SerialNo; 622,677, filed November-. 16, 1956,=for .Cup Filler and Capper. .In

rgeneral,'--thenfilling mechanism disclosed in the 'aforementioned iapplicationsincludes ahousing'13 having a ibearing 14""therein for rotatably supporting the horizon- 1tally'iextenrling:shaft :11. The conveyer12 includes a toothed :star' wheel '16 which is rotatably supported on I the housing and driven: in synchronism with the:shaft 11 i byra suitable gear-1mechanism-9 in the housing. As the star wheel: 16 rotates, "the :containersC disposed'in-lthe pockets in the star wheel areadvanced thereby along the. platform 17-in a path below the filler head 10. The 1fillerrhead10 is driven by the "shaft 11 :and, in thezem- *ibodiment illustrated, .has four annularly spaced 'nozzles.

' Accordingly, the mechanism which drivingly interconnects the-starwheel'and the'shaftll is arranged so that the shaft 11 is angularly' advanced one-quarter turnxin the time required for the star wheel to advance a distance corresponding to" the angular'spacingbetween the adjacent pockets in the star wheel.

. The filling'head -'10 includes .a'stationary valve mem- "her 21:.preferably-inthe form of a cylinder which is open mat both ends, and which stationary valve member is removably supported by'means of a bracket 22 on: a stationary support such as the housing 13, in a manner amore fully described in the aforementioned application 'of Anderson-and Heifetz. .The stationary valve member mhas "an outwardly extending flange 23 formed on: the touterend thereof and a cap '24 overlies the outer end "of the stationary'member and is detachably clamped thereto "as by the clamping band 25.

The rotary valve member includes a cylindrical outer wall which is rotatably: supported on the stationary valve 1 member and an end'wall '28 which overlies the inner end of the stationary valve'member. The rotary'valve member isremovably connected to the shaft 11, for rotation thereby, by means. of aflanged plate 29 carried .by the :shaft 11 and drivingly connected thereto by a pin :31.

Studs 32 are mounted in the rotary valve *member and 1 extend through openings 33 in the' mounting plate-29.

-Nuts 34 are provided on the studs for detachably clamp- 'ing the. rotary valve member to the mounting plate.

The rotary valve member has a plurality of annularly :i-spaced :nozzles 36 formed thereon and extending 'substantially radially outwardly, which nozzles are relatively shorta'nd include a generally cylindrical portion 37 and .an inwardly tapered constricted portion 38 to aid in' retaining the ice cream in the nozzle and minimize dripping irandfslinging of theisam'efromthe nozzles as the rotary member is-turned by the shaft.

rIFhe structure thus far described is the same ineach of the several embodiments Land like anumeralsiarer utilized to designate corresponding parts in the several views. In

V valve member.

the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the stationary valve member 21 is provided with a single lateral orifice 41 adapted to register with the nozzles 36 as the latter are rotated around the stationary member. A pair' of conduits .42 and 43 are mounted on the, end cap or cover plate 24, to supply different confections to one end of the valve member and partition means are provided in the stationary valve member to segregate the flows of confection to the orifice. tition means includes a generally horizontally extending plate 45 which is preferably removably disposed within the cylindrical stationary valve member and extends from the end cap 24 to the end wall 28 of the rotary the divider plate 45 and extends transverse to the axis of the filling head and into close fitting engagement with the Walls of the stationary valve member, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The transverse partition 46 extends crosswise of the orifice 41 and, in conjunction with the In particular, the par-' A transverse partition 46 is secured to duits 42 and 43 in separate streams to the orifice 41.

The confection streams at the orifice are separated in a plane which extends substantially radially through the. nozzles. As the nozzle is rotated relative to the stationary valve member, the flow of confection through the nozzle increases from a minimum, when the nozzle first begins to register with the orifice 41, to a maximum when the nozzle is in full registry with the orifice and then decreases as the nozzle moves out of registry with the orifice. The cup is simultaneously advanced below the filler head and moves with the nozzle 36. Since the line of separation between the confection sreams parallels the path of movement of the cup, the

relative movement between the cup and nozzle does not adversely affect the line of'separation between the separate confection streams. in Figure 1, contains two different confections designated M and N which are separated along arelatively well defined line extending medially of the cup.

The filler head 16 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is arranged to dispense three different confections, two of the confections being disposed in side-by-side relation and the third confection being disposed in a layer overlaying the other confections. In this arrangement, three different flavored ice cream or sherbets can be used, or if desired, two frozen confections with a flavoring syrup can be dispensed.

The stationary valve member 21, in the embodiment of Figs. 3-5, includes a first lateral orifice 51 and a second lateral orifice 52 circumferentially spaced from the first-mentioned orifice. tition is disposed in the stationary valve member and includes generally radially extending plates 53, 54 and 55. One of the partitions 53 engagesthe inner wall of the stationary valve member at a point intermediate the orifices 51 and 52 and, in conjunction with theplate 55 defines a first flow chamber. A transverse partition 56 is secured to the Walls 53 and 55 and engages the inner surface of the stationary valve member. The

transverse partition 56 extends crosswise of the orifice 51, as is best shown in Fig. 4, whereby confection flowing through the chamber between the walls 53 and 55 passes through the orifice 51 adjacent one side thereof. A different confection flows between the walls 54 and 55 and an opening 57 is provided in the last-mentioned wall to permit confection to flow into the cham her at the other side of the partition 56 and through the orifice 51. As is apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, the orifice 52 communicates with the chamber between the walls 53 and 54. With this arrangement, two different confections are fed in side-by-side relation on opposite sides of the transverse partition 56 through the orifice 51 and into the nozzles 36, as the latter move into registry with the orifice 51, to thereby dispense the confections O and P into the cup C in side-by-side relation as shown in Fig. 5. The orifice 52 is angularly spaced from the orifice 51 a distance at least equal to the inner diameter of the nozzles 36 so that flow from the orifice 51 is cut off before the nozzle moves into registry with the orifice 52. The confection supplied to the flow chamber between the partitions 53 and 54 is then dispensed through the orifice 52 and through the nozzle 36 on top of the layers 0 and P to provide a superimposed layer R of diflferent flavored confection. As previously indicated, the confection R may be a frozen confection such as ice cream and/or sherbet or may, alternatively, be a syrup. i

The filler head illustrated in Figs. 6-8 is arranged to dispense three different flavored frozen confections in sideby-side relation to the cup C therebelow. As in the preceding embodiments, the different flavored confections are supplied through separate conduits 61 into the outer end of the stationary valve member 21. The stationary valve member has a single lateral orifice 62 and a generally Y-shaped partition is provided in the stationary valve member to segregate the flows of confection to the orifice. In particular, the partition includes generally radially extending plates 63, 64 and 65 which are removably disposed in the stationary member 21. A pair of axially spaced partitions 66 and 67 are provided and extend cross- The filled cup C, as shown 7 A generally Y-shaped parwise of the orifice 62 and provision is made for maintaining segregated rows of confection to the chambers at each side of the partitions 66 and 67 and to the chamber therebetween. The confection flowing through the chamber between the plates 63 and 65 is directed by the partition 66 through one side of the orifice 62. An opening 69 is formed in the plate 63, intermediate the partitions 66 and 67 :to feed confection from the chamber between the plates 63 and 64 into the space between the partitions and outthrough the central portion of the orifice 62. A further opening 71 is provided in the plate 65, to feed confection from the chamber between the plates 64 and 65 into the chamber at the inner side of the partition 67. With this arrangement the streams of frozen confection are segregated until they reach the orifice 62 and the different confection streams flow through the orifice and through the nozzle 36, when the latter registers therewith, in side-by-side relation. Since the dividing line between the difierent streams of confection parallels the direction of movement of the nozzles 36 and cups C, there is a generally well defined line of separation between the different confections T, U and V as they are delivered to the cup.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the nozzles 36 move in a circular path and that frozen confection is dispensed therethrough during a portion of this movement. In the disclosed filler nozzles, provision is made for maintaining separated streams of different confection and for feeding the same to the nozzle in such a manner that the line of separation between the streams ofconfection parallels the direction of movement of the nozzle, and

, the cup C therebelow, so that intermixing of the different comprising an annular stationary valve member having the axis thereof disposed substantially horizontal, said stationary valve member having discharge orifice means at the underside thereof intermediate its ends, a partition in said valve member extending transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof and crosswise of said orifice means, means defining separate passages in said stationary valve member opening adjacent one end thereof and respectively communicating with said orifice means at opposite sides of said partition, means communicating with said passages at said one end of said valve member for feeding different materials to said passages, a rotary valve member disposed around said stationary member and supported thereon for rotation about the axis of said stationary member, said rotary member having a plurality of delivery ports in the side thereof and each arranged to communicate with said orifice means whereby to dispense a plurality of different materials through each port in sideby-side relation into a container. 7

2. A multiple material rotary container filling device comprising a hollow stationary valve member having the axis thereof disposed substantially horizontal, said stationary valve member having a passage extending longitudinally thereof and orifice means at the underside thereof communicating with said passage, a first partition removably disposed in said passage to extend crosswise of said orifice means, a second partition attached to said first partition and extending therefromlongitudinally of said passage to one end of said stationary valve member to separate said passage into different flow chambers communicating with said orifice means at opposite sides of said first partition, means communicating with said flow chambers at said one end of said stationary member for feeding different materials thereto, a rotary 'valve member surrounding said stationary member and supported thereon for rotation about the axis of said stationary member, said rotary member having a plurality of relatively short nozzles extending outwardly therefrom and each arranged to communicate with said orifice means whereby to dispense a plurality of different materials through each nozzle in side-by-side relation into a container.

3. A multiple material rotary container filling device comprising an annular stationary valve member having the axis thereof disposed substantially horizontal, said stationary valve member having a passage extending longitudinally thereof and opening at opposite ends of said valve member, said valve member having an orifice at the underside thereof communicating with said passage, a first partition removably disposed in said passage to extend crosswise thereof and intersect said orifice, a second partition attached to said first partition and extending longitudinally of said passage from a point adjacent one of said stationary members to a point adjacent the other end thereof to separate said passage into different flow chambers, one of said flow chambers communicating with said orifice at one side of said partition, said second partition having an opening therein at the other side of said first partition to communicate another of said flow passages with said orifice at the other side of said partition, a rotary valve member surrounding said stationary member and having an end wall thereon overlying said other end of said stationary valve member in close running fit with the end of said second partition, and an end wall attached to said one end of said stationary member in abutting engagement with the end of said second partition and having separate openings therein each communicating with one of said compartments for feeding different materials thereto, said rotary member having a 6 plurality of relatively short nozzles extending outwardly therefrom and each arranged to communicate with said orifice whereby to dispense a plurality of different materials through each nozzle in side-by-side relation into a container.

4. A multiple material rotary container filling device comprising an annular stationary valve member having the axis thereof disposed substantially horizontal, said stationary valve member having a passage extending 1ongitudinally thereof and an orifice at the underside thereof communicating with said passage, a longitudinal partition having a generally Y-shaped cross-section extending longitudinally of said passage and separating the latter into three different flow chambers, a pair of transverse partitions secured to said longitudinal partition at axially spaced points therealong to extend crosswise of said passage and each intersect said orifice, one of said flow chambers communicating with said orifice at one side of one of said transverse partitions, said longitudinal partition having a first opening therein between said partition for communicating a second of said flow chambers with said orifice between said partitions and a second opening therein communicating a third of said flow passages with said orifice at one side of the other of said partitions, means at one end of said stationary valve member for feeding different materials to said different flow passages, a rotary valve member surrounding said stationary member and having a plurality of nozzles each arranged to communicate with said orifice whereby to dispense different materials through said nozzle in side-by-side relation into a container.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said longitudinal and transverse partitions are removable as a unit from said stationary member to facilitate cleaning of said continer filling device.

6. A rotary container filling device comprising an annular stationary valve member having the axis thereof disposed substantially horizontal, said stationary member having a passage extending longitudinally thereof, partition means including a longitudinal partition of generally Y-shaped cross-section disposed in said passage and separating the latter into separate flow chambers, means at one end of said stationary member for feeding different materials to said separate flow chambers, said stationary member having orifice means at the underside thereof communicating with said flow chambers, and a rotary valve member surrounding said stationary member and having a plurality of delivery parts therein each adapted to communicate with said orifice means whereby to dispense a plurality of different materials through each part into a container.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said orifice means includes first and second circumferentially spaced orifices in said stationary member, said partition means including a transverse partition attached to said longitudinal partition and intersecting one of said orifices, one of said flow chambers communicating with said first orifice at one side of said transverse partition and another of said fiow passages communicating with said first orifice at the other side of said transverse partition, the other of said flow passages communicating with said second orifice.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said orifice means includes a single orifice at the underside of said stationary member, said partition means including a pair of axially spaced transverse partitions attached to said longitudinal partition.

No references cited.

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