U.S. patent application number 17/306115 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-21 for rotary filling machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery, Inc.. Invention is credited to Darren Beahler, Andrew Boles, Ronald B. Brandt, James R. Knudsen, James P. Navin, Joshua A. Schwartz, Anthony D. Stefanelli.
Application Number | 20210323707 17/306115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005681763 |
Filed Date | 2021-10-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210323707 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwartz; Joshua A. ; et
al. |
October 21, 2021 |
Rotary Filling Machine
Abstract
A rotary filling machine for filling containers with bridgeable
dry materials includes a turret supporting a plurality of
circumferentially spaced drop buckets and a plurality of funnel
assemblies located under the drop buckets. A stationary slide plate
is located vertically between the funnel assemblies and the drop
buckets. When viewed in a direction of turret rotation, the slide
plate has an upstream end, a downstream end, and inner and outer
edges. A portion of the slide plate is tapered progressively in
diameter toward its downstream end such that flow paths from the
bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the funnel
assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the
slide plate. Also provided is a funnel assembly and drop buckets
provided with one more partitions that hinder the "snow-plowing of
particles" along the edge of the associated fill opening in
machine's fill plate rather than the sweeping of those particles
into the fill opening.
Inventors: |
Schwartz; Joshua A.; (Mount
Pleasant, WI) ; Knudsen; James R.; (Racine, WI)
; Brandt; Ronald B.; (Mount Pleasant, WI) ; Navin;
James P.; (Burlington, WI) ; Stefanelli; Anthony
D.; (Boyceville, WI) ; Beahler; Darren; (West
Allis, WI) ; Boles; Andrew; (Kenosha, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery, Inc. |
Sturtevant |
WI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005681763 |
Appl. No.: |
17/306115 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16577776 |
Sep 20, 2019 |
10994879 |
|
|
17306115 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 1/06 20130101; B67C
11/02 20130101; B65B 43/50 20130101; B65B 39/007 20130101; B65B
1/30 20130101; B65B 2039/009 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/50 20060101
B65B043/50; B65B 1/06 20060101 B65B001/06; B65B 39/00 20060101
B65B039/00; B67C 11/02 20060101 B67C011/02; B65B 1/30 20060101
B65B001/30 |
Claims
1. A rotary filling machine comprising: a rotatable hub defining an
opening extending therethrough, the opening having upper and lower
ends; a plurality of circumferentially spaced drop buckets
configured to rotate with the hub, each drop bucket having an open
top, an open bottom in alignment with the lower end of the opening
the opening, and a perimeter wall; a plurality of funnel assemblies
configured to rotate with the hub, each funnel assembly having an
upper inlet positioned beneath the bottom opening of a
corresponding drop bucket, and a lower dispensing outlet; and a
stationary slide plate located vertically between the funnel
assemblies and the drop buckets, wherein, when viewed in a
direction of turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end,
a downstream end, upper and lower surfaces, and inner and outer
edges, and wherein the slide plate includes a tapered portion that
tapers progressively in diameter toward the downstream end thereof
such that flow paths from the bottoms of the drop buckets, through
the opening the hub, and to the inlet openings of the funnel
assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper of the
slide plate.
2. The rotary filling machine of claim 1, wherein the inner edge of
the tapered portion of the slide plate is tapered continuously
throughout at least a majority of the tapered portion.
3. The rotary filling machine of claim 1, wherein the slide plate
extends through an arc of 180 degrees to 320 degrees.
4. The rotary filling machine of claim 3, wherein the tapered
portion of the slide plate extends through an arc of at least 150
degrees.
5. The rotary filling machine of claim 4, wherein an upstream
portion of the slide plate is untapered, and the tapered portion of
the wear plate extends from the upstream portion of the slide plate
to the downstream end of the slide plate.
6. The rotary filling machine of claim 4, wherein the slide plate
is integrated into a ring mounted on the hub over the opening in
the hub.
7. The rotary filling machine of claim 1, wherein each drop bucket
has first and second opposed end walls and inner and outer walls,
each of which abuts an associated end of both end walls.
8. The rotary filling machine of claim 7, wherein each drop bucket
has at least one partition that extends between the inner and outer
walls to define discrete chambers within the drop bucket.
9. The rotary filling machine of claim 8, wherein each drop bucket
has at least two partitions that are spaced generally equally of
one another between the first and second end walls.
10. The rotary filling machine of claim 1, wherein the drop buckets
are supported on the hub.
11. The rotary filling machine of claim 1, wherein the funnel
assembly are mounted on the hub.
12. A drop bucket that is configured to be positioned beneath a
discharge opening in a hub of a rotary filling machine and to
direct materials from a discharge opening to a funnel located
beneath the drop bucket, wherein the drop bucket comprises: a body
having an open top that is configured to be in alignment with the
opening during a portion of a rotational phase of the rotary
filling machine, an open bottom that is configured to discharge
materials into the funnel, and a perimeter wall including inner and
outer walls and first and second end walls; and at least one
partition that extends between the inner and outer walls and that
is positioned between the first and second end walls to define
discrete chambers within the drop bucket.
13. The drop bucket of claim 12, wherein the drop bucket has at
least two partitions that are spaced generally equally of one
another between the first and second end walls to define three
discrete chambers within the drop bucket.
14. The drop bucket of claim 12, wherein each partition extends at
least generally vertically.
15. The drop bucket of claim 12, wherein the drop bucket is
generally trapezoidal in shape, and wherein the outer wall is
longer than the inner wall.
16. The drop bucket of claim 15, wherein upper end portions of each
of the walls are flared outwardly to collectively serve as a chute,
and wherein the partition has an upper end positioned beneath the
upper ends of the walls.
17. A funnel assembly for dispensing materials into a container,
the funnel assembly comprising: an upper funnel having an upper
inlet configured to receive dispensed dry bridgeable materials and
having a lower outlet; and a lower funnel having an upper inlet
coupled to the outlet of the upper funnel and a lower dispensing
outlet configured to dispense the dry bridgeable materials into a
container, wherein the upper funnel has an inner dilation chamber
that is dimensioned and configured to progressively dilate the dry
bridgeable materials falling therethrough.
18. The funnel assembly as recited in claim 17, further comprising
a plurality of fingers that project into each funnel assembly
between the inlet and the outlet proximal to an axial centerline of
the funnel assembly.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/577,776, Filed Sep. 20, 2019 and assigned
to Applicant, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention generally relates to the field of rotary
machines for dispensing controlled volumes of dry materials into
containers and, more particularly, relates to a rotary filling
machine for dispensing bridgeable dry materials that are prone to
clumping and/or sticking and to a method of operating such a
machine.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0003] Rotary filling machines are routinely used for dispensing
dry materials into containers from above. Such machines typically
include a rotating turret located underneath a rotary combination
scale or other device delivering materials to be dispensed. The
turret supports a plurality of circumferentially-spaced drop
buckets or bins having lower openings. The opening of each drop
bucket or bin cooperates with an underlying funnel. In operation,
each drop bucket receives a designated quantity of materials as it
rotates under the delivering device and discharges the materials
into the associated funnel. The materials then flow through the
funnel and are dispensed into an underlying container that is
spaced circumferentially from the delivery device.
[0004] Dispensing of some materials can be problematic due to their
propensity to "bridge" or span gaps and material pathways in the
fill equipment and clog the equipment. Some such materials are
relatively tacky or have high adhesive properties, which cause the
materials to clump or stick to one another and/or to stick to the
drop bucket or funnel. Typical of such materials are "gummies,"
which are relative soft, chewable sweet foods. Gummies are
typically, but not always, gelatin based. They are most often used
in candy, but also are used in other materials such as chewable
vitamins and medicines. They vary in size and shape, though most
are "bite size", i.e., having a maximum diameter of less than 5 cm.
Some take the appearance of fanciful or stylized animals such as
bears or fish. Others are in the form of a generally elliptical
tablet. They may or may not be sugar coated. The propensity of
these materials to clump together and to stick to surfaces of the
filling machine creates a tendency to bridge or clog flow path
portions such as the bottom opening of a drop bucket or the throat
of a funnel. Bridging is of particular concern when filling a
container having a relatively small-diameter fill-opening with a
material formed relatively large-diameter particles because the
particles must be directed through relatively small fill openings,
sometimes having a diameter of only 2-3 times that of the maximum
particle diameter. Even if they do not bridge sufficiently to clog
a flow path, the materials may nevertheless stick to the a surface
such as the bottom of the drop bucket adjacent the bottom opening
or to the side surface of the funnel sufficiently long to delay or
prevent dispensing into an underlying container, or to at least
fall into the container in clumps rather than one at a time. The
resultant delay/blockage can cause reduced fill accuracy including
partial fill and no-fill conditions.
[0005] Other materials are not as sticky as traditional gummies,
but are still subject to entanglement with one another such that
they bridge openings or spaces. Some nuts, such as cashews, exhibit
this characteristic.
[0006] "Bridgeable materials," as used herein, thus means any
discrete dry particles that have a relatively high propensity to
clump by adhesion and/or entanglement with one another and/or to
stick to other surfaces. Bridgeable materials include, for example,
gummies, which are tacky or have high adhesive characteristics, and
some nuts such as cashews, which are prone to entanglement.
[0007] The need therefore has arisen to provide a rotary filling
machine that is capable of reliably dispensing bridgeable dry
materials in a controlled, predictable manner.
[0008] The need additionally has arisen to provide a rotary filling
machine that meters the dispensing of bridgeable materials in a
manner that reduces or prevents clumping and/or bridging.
[0009] The need additionally has arisen to provide a rotary filling
machine that "singulates" dispensed bridgeable materials so that
they are dispensed into the container, more often than not, one at
a time as opposed to in clumps or batches.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0010] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a rotary
filling machine includes a central rotatable hub an opening
extending vertically therethrough, a plurality of circumferentially
spaced drop buckets located over the opening, and a plurality of
funnel assemblies mounted on the hub beneath the opening. Each drop
bucket has an open top, an open bottom in alignment with the
opening in the wear plate, and a perimeter wall. Each funnel
assembly has an upper inlet positioned beneath the bottom opening
of a corresponding drop bucket, and a lower dispensing outlet. A
stationary slide plate is located vertically between the funnel
assemblies and the drop buckets. When viewed in a direction of
turret rotation, the slide plate has an upstream end, a downstream
end, upper and lower surfaces, and inner and outer edges. The slide
plate includes a tapered portion that tapers progressively in
diameter toward the downstream end thereof such that flow paths
from the bottoms of the drop buckets to the inlet openings of the
funnel assemblies increase progressively in diameter with the taper
of the slide plate.
[0011] The inner edge of the tapered portion of the slide plate may
be tapered continuously and uniformly throughout at least a
majority of the tapered portion.
[0012] Each drop bucket may have first and second opposed (upstream
and downstream) end walls and inner and outer walls, each of which
abuts an associated end of both end walls. In this case, each drop
bucket may have at least one partition that extends at least
generally vertically between the inner and outer walls to define
discrete compartments within the drop bucket.
[0013] Each funnel assembly may have an inner dilation chamber that
is dimensioned and configured to progressively dilate materials
falling therethrough. The dilation chamber of each funnel assembly
is bordered by first and second opposed upper walls and first and
second lower walls. The walls are located and configured such that
materials impinging on the first upper wall are directed to the
second lower wall and thence out of the dilation chamber.
[0014] In one configuration, the dilation chamber is positioned in
the upper funnel, and the lower funnel presents a flow path that
has a lower portion that is inclined at an acute angle relative to
an upper portion thereof.
[0015] The rotary filling machine may further include funnel
knockers that are positioned so as to resiliently impact against
the funnel assemblies during rotation of the rotary filling
machine.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a funnel
assembly for dispensing materials into a container is provided. The
funnel assembly includes upper and lower funnels. The upper funnel
has an inner dilation chamber that is dimensioned and configured to
progressively dilate the dry bridgeable materials falling
therethrough. The dilation chamber of the upper funnel may be
bordered by first and second opposed upper walls and first and
second lower walls. In this case, the walls are located and
configured such that materials impinging on the first upper wall
are directed to the second lower wall and thence out of the
dilation chamber.
[0017] A plurality of fingers may project into each funnel assembly
between the inlet and the outlet proximal to an axial centerline of
the funnel assembly.
[0018] These and other features and aspects of the present
invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered
in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying
drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following
description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present
invention, is given by way of illustration and not of
limitation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotary dispensing machine
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the rotary dispensing
machine of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the rotary filling machine of
FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0023] FIG. 4 is fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the
rotary filling machine of FIGS. 1-3;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a sectional fragmentary radial elevation view of
an upper portion of the rotary filling machine of FIGS. 1-3;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the rotary filling machine of
FIGS. 1-3, showing the drop buckets removed;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a slide plate of the rotary
dispensing machine of FIGS. 1-3;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a funnel assembly of the
rotary dispensing machine of FIGS. 1-3;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a sectional front elevation view of the funnel
assembly of FIG. 8;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a sectional side elevation view of the funnel
assembly of FIGS. 8 and 9;
[0030] FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a funnel knocker assembly of
the rotary filling machine of FIGS. 1-3; and
[0031] FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a funnel assembly
constricted in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Turning initially to FIGS. 1-3, a rotary filling machine 20
that is constructed in accordance with the invention is
illustrated. The machine 20 is configured to receive bridgeable dry
materials (as that term is defined above) from a delivery system
and to dispense the materials in a controlled manner into
underlying containers. The "controlled" manner may be a designated
number of particles per receptacle, a designated weight of
particles per receptacle, or a designated volume of particles per
receptacle. In the illustrated embodiment, the delivery system
comprises a rotary combination scale 22 that receives materials
from a conveyor (not shown) and that dispenses a given weight of
materials per batch. If, as is typically the case, the average
number of particles per a given weight is known, the rotary
combination scale 22 thus dispenses a given number of particles per
batch. Once such rotary combination scale is available through
Yamoto, but can be supplied by any number of vendors. The
illustrated rotary filling machine is optimized to fill bottles
with gummies having a maximum dimension of about 2.25 cm and to
dispense those gummies into a bottle having a fill opening diameter
of 4.25 to 4.50 cm. The machine configuration, and most notably the
configuration of the funnel assemblies described below, could vary
considerably depending upon the size and characteristics of the
particles being handled and the fill opening diameter of the
container being filled.
[0033] Still referring to FIGS. 1-3, the rotary filling machine 20
includes a rotating turret 30 supporting a plurality (18) of
circumferentially spaced drop buckets 32 and an equal number of
funnel assemblies 34, one of which is associated with each drop
bucket 32. A like plurality of containers holders 36 (it being
understood that "container" as used herein means any receptacle
configured to receive materials from the funnel assemblies) are
mounted on the bottom of the hub 30 beneath the funnel assemblies
34 for receiving containers to be filled. In addition, and
significantly, a stationary slide plate 100 (first seen in FIG. 4)
is mounted on the turret 30 vertically between the drop buckets 32
and the funnel assemblies 34 for dilating or singulating the flow
of materials from the drop buckets 32 to the funnel assemblies
34.
[0034] The containers 37 (FIGS. 9 and 10) of this particular
embodiment are bottles, and the container holders 36 can be thought
of as bottle holders. Each bottle holder 36 has a notch 38
configured for a specific bottle shape and size to receive a bottle
37, thus holding a bottle in place beneath the associated funnel
assembly 34 during the filling operation. Bottles are delivered to
and received from the container holders 36 by way of a conveyor
(not shown) that delivers empty bottles to an upstream transferring
device 40 and receives empty bottles from a down-stream-most bottle
holder 36 via a downstream transferring device 42. Each
transferring device 40, 42 has a plurality of circumferentially
spaced peripheral notches 44, each of which rotates into and out of
cooperative engagement with the notch 38 of the associated bottle
holder 36 to transfer bottles between the bottle holders 36 and the
conveyor. The conveyor and transfer devices 40 and 42 are
configured to operate in synchronism with the turret 30. Different
supply and handling systems could be utilized for containers other
than bottles.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the turret 30 includes a central
shaft 50 and upper and lower disk arrangements 52 and 54. The shaft
50 is driven by an electric motor (not shown). The upper disk
arrangement or "fill plate" 52 is fixed to the shaft 50 and has a
segmented circular opening near its outer perimeter, each segment
of which forms a fill opening 56 that is in alignment with a drop
bucket 32 from above and with a funnel assembly 34 from below. Each
fill opening 56 of this exemplary embodiment is about 15 cm long by
about 10 cm wide. The drop buckets 32 are mounted on the fill plate
52 inboard of the fill openings 56. Mounts also are formed on or in
the fill plate 52 for receiving funnel assemblies 34. These mounts
may take the form of openings configured to cooperate with a
magnetic quick-mount arrangement of the type described in commonly
assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,991,442, the subject matter of which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirely. Alternatively,
each mount may comprise spaced holes for receiving spaced bolts
that mount the funnel assemblies 34 on the bottom of the fill plate
52.
[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the fill plate 52 is formed
from stainless steel or a comparable durable, easily cleanable
material. An annular rotating wear plate, formed by inner and outer
annular rings 60 and 62, is mounted on top of the stainless-steel
fill plate 52, with the annular rings 60 and 62 being located
radially inboard and outboard of the fill openings 56,
respectively. The rings 60 and 62 are formed of a material that is
relatively hard and wear resistance but that has a relatively low
coefficient of sliding friction. HDPE, Delrin.RTM. (an acetal
homopolymer), and UHMW are examples of suitable materials but other
materials may be utilized with similar characteristics based on
availability and product interaction. An annular opening is formed
between the inner and outer rings 60 and 62 over the fill openings
56. The drop buckets 32 are supported on the upper surface of the
wear plate rings 60 and 62 and are attached to the hub 30 as
discussed below.
[0037] Still referring to FIGS. 1-4, each drop bucket 32 is formed
of a material that is durable and is easy to clean and that has a
relatively low coefficient of sliding friction. Any of a variety of
grades of stainless steel and materials with similar
characteristics based on product interaction and environment would
suffice. This material may be dimpled or otherwise modified in
order to inhibit adhesion of tacky particles thereto. In this
embodiment, each drop bucket 32 is generally trapezoidal in shape,
having first and second or upstream and down opposed end walls 64
and 66 of the counterclockwise-rotating and inner and outer radial
walls 68 and 70, each of which abuts an associated end of both end
walls 64 and 66. The outer wall 70 of each drop bucket 32 is longer
than the inner wall 68, and the end walls 64 and 66 are inclined
relative to a radial bisector of the turret assembly, providing a
trapezoidal shape that permits the drop buckets 32 to cover the
entire circular area containing the drop buckets 32 without
intervening gaps. The upper ends of the inner and outer end walls
64 and 66 are flared outwardly to serve as chutes that direct
materials that may otherwise miss the drop bucket 32 into the
interior of the drop bucket 32. A number, such as six, drop buckets
could be provided in a semi-circular subassembly. A semi-circular
flange 72 extends rearwardly from the drop buckets 32. As best seen
in FIG. 5, each subassembly is held in place by a plurality of
spring-loaded plungers 74 that extend through openings 76 in the
flange 72 and that selectively engage corresponding recesses 78 in
the inner wear plate ring 60 to lock the subassembly in place.
[0038] Still referring to FIGS. 1-4 and most particularly to FIG.
4, in order to prevent materials received from the rotary
combination scale 22 from simply being pushed in front of the
upstream end wall 64 of each drop bucket 32, which is of particular
concern for relatively small fills, each drop bucket 32 may have at
least one partition that extends at least generally vertically
between the inner and outer walls 68 and 70 from the bottom of the
drop bucket 32. Two equally-spaced partitions 80 are provided in
the illustrated embodiment, each of which extends at least
generally parallel with one another and with the front end wall 64
of the drop bucket 32. Three discrete chambers thus are formed
within the drop bucket 32. During relatively small fills, most or
all particles is a batch are dispensed into the downstream-most
chamber. The benefits of this effect are discussed in more detail
below.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 3-7, the slide plate or "drop plate" 100
is mounted in an upper recess between the inner and outer wear
plate rings 60 and 62 so as to remain in place while the rings 60
and 62 rotate beneath it. The slide plate 100 may be formed of
Delrin.RTM. or a similar material to facilitate this sliding
contact while still providing the desired hardness and
wear-resistance. It may, however, be formed of a separate material
than that of the wear plate rings 60 and 62 to facilitate sliding
movement of the two components relative to one another. For
example, Delrin is particularly well-suited for the slide plate 100
if HDPE is used as the rings 60 and 62 of the wear plate. The slide
plate 100 shown in FIG. 7 is formed integrally with an annular ring
102 that is segmented by a number of circumferentially spaced
radial connecting arms 104. Inner and outer edges 106 and 108 of
the ring 102 are supported on upwardly facing lips 110 and 112
formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner wear plate ring
60 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer wear plate ring
62, respectively, as best seen in FIG. 5. The ring 102 prevents
materials from accumulating on the lips 110 and 112 during a
filling operation. The slide plate 100 is held stationary by a pin
or similar device 114 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 6) that extends downwardly
from a stationary mount into an opening formed in or through the
slide plate 100. Accurate relative positioning of the slide plate
100 relative to the wear plate rings 60 and 62 can be provided by
forming this opening in the form of a slot or by providing two or
more spaced circular openings 116 as shown in FIG. 7.
[0040] Referring especially to FIG. 7, the radial diameter of the
slide plate 100 is tapered over at least a portion of its length to
cause the effective sizes of the fill openings 56 encountered by
materials in the rotating drop buckets 32 to increase progressively
downstream of the rotary combination scale dispenser 22. The
tapered portion 122 thus effectively acts as a sliding trap door
that causes the rotating drop buckets 32 to push particles into the
fill openings 56 one at a time or in small groups rather than in a
single clump. Hence, the upstream-most fill opening encountered by
a filled drop bucket 32 is nearly fully covered, and the downstream
fill openings 6 that thereafter are encountered are progressively
exposed until the fill openings 56 downstream of the slide plate
100 are entirely exposed.
[0041] More specifically, as best seen in FIGS. 5-7, when viewed in
a direction of turret rotation, the slide plate 100 includes an
upstream portion 120 of uninform diameter and a downstream portion
122 that tapers progressively in diameter toward the downstream end
thereof. In the illustrated embodiment in which the slide plate
extends through an arc of about 290 degrees, the tapered portion
122 extends through the downstream-most 170-250 degrees of the
slide plate 100. This taper may be continuous and uniform along
part or all the tapered portion 122. In the illustrated embodiment,
the tapered portion has an arc length of about 235 degrees. The
tapered inner edge 124 has a radius of about 17 degrees over about
the upstream-most 60 degrees of the tapered portion and of about
18.5 degrees over the remaining 175 degrees.
[0042] A notch 128 is formed in the inner edge 124 of the upstream
end of the tapered portion 122 so that the leading end of the taper
is located over the associated fill opening 56 rather than being
disposed inboard of the fill opening. In the illustrated embodiment
in which the fill openings 56 are about 100 mm wide, the "effective
width" of the fill openings 56, as defined by the portions of the
fill openings 56 that are not covered by the slide plate 100,
increase in diameter from about 12 mm at the upstream-most end of
the tapered portion 122 to the full 100 mm at the downstream-most
end of the slide plate 100, where the slide plate is no-wider than
the lip 112 on the outer wear plate ring 62.
[0043] Still Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the upstream end portion 120
of the slide plate 100 completely covers the underlying fill
opening(s) 56 to provide a gapless "receiving surface" for
receiving dispensed batches of particle received from the rotary
combination scale 22 and for staging them for subsequent dispensing
into the fill openings as they become exposed. In the illustrated
embodiment, the upstream portion has an arc-length of about 55-60
degrees. This arc length could be considerably longer, if
desired.
[0044] It should be noted that the ring 102 of FIG. 7 is not
essential for support or operation of the slide plate 100. The
slide plate 100 or a similarly-constructed slide plate could be
provided in the form of a crescent or half-moon shaped element
lacking a ring. The slide plate 100 is illustrated without a ring
in FIG. 6.
[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, each funnel assembly 34 is
configured to dispense materials falling through the associated
fill opening 56 while further dilating those materials so that the
materials are dispensed from a bottom dispensing outlet 160 of the
funnel assembly 34 in or near a single file rather than in clumps.
Outlet 160 typically has a diameter that is no greater than that of
the inlet opening of the underlying container or, in the present
non-limiting example, on the order of 20-40 mm and more typically
of about 30 mm. The interior geometry of each funnel assembly 34
may be customized to accommodate the flow characteristics of the
materials being dispensed. As a rule of thumb, the product flow
path should be relatively simple for materials, like soft gummies,
that are relatively sticky or tacky but that are not particularly
prone to entanglement, and relatively complex for materials, such
as cashews or hard gummies, that are not tacky or sticky but that
are highly prone to entanglement or at least self-adhesion.
[0046] The funnel assemblies 34 shown in FIG. 8-10 are well-suited
to dispense materials of the latter type. The illustrated funnel
assembly 34 comprises upper and lower funnels 130 and 132 coupled
to one another by a flexible bellows 134. The bellows 134 is
retained in place by snap-fitting over a lower annular flange 136
on the upper funnel 130 and an upper annular flange 138 on the
lower funnel 132. The upper funnel 130 may be universal to all
dispensed materials or to broad classes of materials. The lower
funnel 132 may be customized for a particular product, most notably
including particle diameters, and thus may be thought of as a
container adapter. The interior of each funnel assembly 34 may be
of a non-linear and non-uniform volumetric taper so as to cause
materials falling therethrough to zig-zag or bounce from side to
side, breaking up clumps of entangled particles and further
dilating or singulating the stream of flowing particles. A variety
of geometries could achieve this effect, some more effectively for
certain particles than others.
[0047] Referring specifically to FIG. 9, the interior of the upper
funnel 130 defines an inner dilation camber bordered by an upper
set of opposed first and second walls 140 and 142 and a lower set
of first and second lower walls 144 and 146. Each set of walls may
be provided on the interior surface of a removable insert 148 (or
two or more stacked inserts) that is droppable into an outer shell
150 of the upper funnel 130 from above to permit customization for
a particular application. The inserts 148, and the lower funnel
132, may be made from a durable wear resistant, low friction
material such as urethane. The first wall 140 of the upper set is
inclined downwardly and inwardly to a bottom edge located proximate
the axial center of the upper funnel 130. At least most of the
particles being swept into the funnel assembly 34 impinge on wall
140 and are defected to the opposed second wall 146 of the lower
set. The second wall 146 of the lower set is inclined downwardly
and inwardly to a bottom edge that directs particles to the inlet
of the lower funnel 132. The second wall 142 of the upper set and
the first wall 144 of the lower set act mainly as stops and see
little or no product flow.
[0048] Still referring to FIG. 9, the bottom funnel 132 is kinked
or "doglegged" at a central portion 151 thereof to define upper and
lower portions that extend at an acute angle relative to one
another. As with the upper funnel 130, the interior of the lower
funnel 132 has first and second upper walls 152 and 154 and first
and second lower walls 156 and 158. The first wall 152 of the upper
set is inclined downwardly and inwardly to a bottom edge. The
second wall 158 of the second set is inclined downwardly and
inwardly to the bottom outlet 160 of the funnel assembly 34.
Particles bouncing off the first wall 152 of the upper set impinge
on the second wall 158 of the lower set, where they are further
singulated as they flow toward the lower outlet 160. The second
wall 142 of the upper set and the first wall 152 of the second set
act mainly as stops and see little or no product flow.
[0049] Comparing FIG. 9 to FIG. 10, it can be seen that at a
minimum the lower portion of the opening in the lower funnel 132
progressively narrows in one or "X" direction as shown in FIG. 9
and widens in the other or "Y" direction as shown in FIG. 10. This
geometry helps prevent bridging of particles at the bottom outlet
160 by maintaining a relatively large flow area at the outlet
despite presenting a taper in one direction for direction
purposes.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 12, a funnel assembly 234 may be
fitted with inwardly-projecting fingers 380 that serve to be
impacted by and break up any clumps that may survive the fall
through the upper funnel 330. The funnel assembly 234 of this
embodiment otherwise is similar to that of the first embodiment in
that it has upper and lower funnels 330 and 332 coupled by a
flexible bellows 334. The fingers 380 project inwardly into the
baffle 334 from the outer perimeter thereof. Three such fingers
(two of which are shown in FIG. 12) are provided in the illustrated
embodiment, spaced equidistantly around the funnel assembly 234.
Each finger has an inner, product engaging end that may have a tab
thereon, and an outer end clamped between the upper surface of the
bellows 334 and the lower surface of the mounting flange 336 of the
upper funnel 330. The fingers 380 may be inclined relative to the
horizontal at any desired angle to achieve the desired disrupting
effect, and their angles of inclination may vary relative to one
another. The fingers 380 may be formed, for example, of stainless
steel or spring steel.
[0051] The material flow path in the funnel assembly 234 of FIG. 12
also is more direct or linear than in the funnel assembly 34 of
FIGS. 8-10 in order to accommodate tackier or sticker materials
that tend to adhere to any surface they contact. In this
embodiment, both the upper and lower funnels 330 and 332 are at
least primarily frustoconical in shape. Thus, the dogleg in the
lower funnel 132 is eliminated. In addition, in the upper funnel
330, the first and second sets of walls of different relative
inclinations are replaced by a single peripheral wall 340 of
relatively uniform inclination.
[0052] Of course, the fingers 380 of FIG. 12, as well as other
fingers or other elements protruding into the funnel assembly to
help break up clumps, also could be provided in the funnel assembly
of FIGS. 8-10.
[0053] Referring to FIGS. 3, 5, and 11, additional measures may be
provided to impart shocks or vibrations to the funnel assemblies 34
to dislodge particles tending to bridge the funnels or stick to
their inner wall. In the illustrated embodiment, these measures
take the form of "funnel knockers" 400 that are impacted by the
rotating funnel assemblies 34. Several such funnel knockers 400
could be spaced around the filling machine 20 in cooperation with
some or all of the funnel assemblies that are actually dispensing
product at any given time. Six such funnel knockers 400 are
provided in this embodiment, spaced circumferentially around the
filling machine 20 between the upstream end of the tapered portion
122 of the slide plate 100 where particles first fall into the
underlying funnel assemblies 34 to a location disposed downstream
of the downstream end of the slide plate 100.
[0054] Each funnel knocker 400 comprises a rigid mounting arm 402,
a spring arm 404, and an impact block 406. Each mounting arm 402
has a base 408 bolted to a stationary support surface of the
filling machine 20. Each spring arm 404 is relatively flexible and
may, for instance, be formed of spring steel. Each spring arm 404
has a first end affixed to the mounting arm 402 and a second, free
end, positioned in the path of funnel assembly rotation. The radial
position of the spring arm 404 relative to the mounting arm 402 may
be adjustable, for example, by providing a slot 410 in the spring
arm 402 for mating with spaced holes 412 in the mounting arm 02.
The impact block 406 is mounted on the free end of the spring arm
404 by bolts 414 that extend through the impact block 406, through
the spring arm 404 and into a mounting block 416 located behind the
spring arm 404. This mounting block 416 provides additional mass to
the structure being deflected by the rotating funnel assemblies 34.
The impact block 406 is formed from a durable, wear resistant
material such as Delrin. In operation, engagement of the impact
block 406 with the revolving funnel assemblies resiliently deflects
the free end of the spring arm 404 out of the path of funnel
assembly rotation while imparting a shock to the funnel assemblies
34.
[0055] In operation, the turret 30 of the rotary filling machine 20
is driven to rotate while particles of bridgeable materials are
deposited into the drop buckets 32 from the rotary combination
scale dispenser 22. The particles in each drop bucket 32 initially
fall onto the slide plate 100, and are swept into the fill openings
56 one at a time or in small groups as the drop bucket 32 rotates
over the progressively-narrowing tapered portion 122 of the slide
plate 100, thus tending to singulate the particles or, viewed
another way, dilate the particle stream into individual particles
or small clumps of particles. If the dispensed batch is relatively
small so as not to fill the bottom of the drop bucket 32, the
partitions hinder the "snow-plowing of particles" along the edge of
the opening adjacent the slide plate 100 rather than the sweeping
of those particles into the fill opening 56.
[0056] If the funnel assembly 34 is of the serpentine type shown in
FIGS. 1-10, materials fulling into the funnel assembly 34 will
further singulate or dilate as they bounce back and forth from the
upper funnel 130 and the lower funnel 132 before falling out of the
discharge outlet 160 and into the container 37. The falling
particles are further singulated or dilated during this process,
resulting of the dispensing of materials into the underlying
container 37 in a stream of mostly-single particles. Impacts of the
funnel knockers 400 against the funnel assembles 34 during this
process will inhibit or prevent the adhesion of particles to any
particular surface of the funnel assembly with attendant decreased
risk of bridging.
[0057] If, on the other hand, the funnel assembly 234 is of the
more traditional orientation as shown in FIG. 12, the materials
simply drop through the funnels 330 and 332 and out of the
discharge opening. Any clumps of materials will impact one or more
the fingers 380, tending to singulate the particles falling past
the fingers. Such fingers also could be provided in the funnel
assemblies 34.
[0058] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the
scope of the present invention. Some such variations and
modifications are discussed above. Others will become apparent from
the appended claims. Many changes and modifications could be made
to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. The
scope of these changes and modifications will become apparent from
the appended claims.
* * * * *