Patent GB-192701-A (GB)
Title: Improved apparatus for filling bottles and other receptacles with gaseous liquids orthe like and corking the receptacles
IPC: B67C3/16
Filed: 1923-01-31
Abstract: 192,701. Brumm, E. Feb. 3, 1922, [Convention date]. Bottling; corking.-Relates to apparatus for filling bottles &c. with liquids or other substances that are liable to be impaired through contact with the air and for corking the receptacles, the apparatus being of the kind in which the drawing off occurs at a constant pressure and wherein a vacuum is first formed to remove the air from a bottle and then the bottle is charged with an inert gas before connecting it with the vessel containing the liquid &c. to be bottled. The operations of forming the vacuum in a bottle and of the subsequent filling of the bottle with neutral or inert gas are effected in a series of bottles by one and the same distributing appliance fixed in the interior of the drawing-off appliance and connected to a central conduit. The invention is described in connection with the bottling of a mineral water the salts of which are precipitated when the water is drawn off in the open air. The pipe 7, Fig. 1, leading from the bell 6 of the gasholder 2 is connected by a branch pipe 8 to the bottling-apparatus 9 and by a pipe 10 to the inert-gas distributor 64 of the pressure box 11 of the stopping or corking machine 12. The pipe 7 may also be connected, between the holder 2 and apparatus 9, through a joint 7<a> with a storing tank 13. When a sufficient quantity of gas is evolved from the spring, the tank 13 is dispensed with and the holder 2 connected directly to the apparatus 9 by a pipe 15a fitted with a valve 16. The vacuum pump 18 is connected by a pipe 19 to a vacuum distributor within the collector of the apparatus 9, and by a pipe 20 with the distributor 64 of the corking-apparatus 12. Figs. 2 and 3 are views of the bottling-device. The supply-tube 22 is connected to a hollow pillar 21 having a central chamber 24 and two semi-circular chambers 28, 30. The rod 25 of a float 26 passes through the chamber 24 to a valve 27 to regulate the height of liquid in the collector. The chamber 28- opens at its lower part into the collector and carries at its upper part a nozzle 29 for connection with the gas pipe 8. The chamber 30 isconnected at its upper end by a nozzle 31 with the pipe 19 and its lower end by a nozzle 32 and joint 33 to the stationary distributor 24. A support 35 at the bottom of the pillar 21 carries. spring-pressed pushers 36 which force a slide 37 against the ports 53 of the rotary collector.. Similar pushers 41 carried by uprights 40 on the support 35 act upon the distributor 34. The bottles 46 are supported on foot-levers 47, Figs. 1 and 3, provided with returning springs 48, and their necks are pressed against indiarubber joints 49 connected with casings 50 which aremovable along noses 45 against the action of springs 55. A pipe 52 within each nose 45 connects the interior of the bottle with the pipe 43 bored through the collector and terminating at the level of the distributor 34. With the machine revolving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, over the sector 38 to 39 closed by the slide 37 the bottles are isolated from the gas and liquid supplies and can be removed and replaced by others. In the sector 39 to 39<a> the bottles are in communication with the pump 18 through a recess 34<a> of the slide and pipes 33, 30, 31, 19. The plain or full part 39<a> to 42 of the slide 34 closes the hole of the corresponding channel 43 and cuts the bottle off from the pump, and beyond this part the bottle communicates with the upper part of the body A of the device and is filled with inert gas through the channels 43, 52. At the point 44 of the stationary distributor 37, the bottle communicates through the duct 54 of the nose 45 and the duct 53 of the collector with the liquid in the device. 'The liquid flows into the bottle until its level reaches the upper lip of the port 52a of the duct 52. The plate 56 is driven through two fingers 57, the tapered lower ends of which enter grooves at the top of a cram or ring 58 connected by screws 59 to a driving-wheel. The corking- apparatus 12 has two stations for the introduction of corks, the filled bottles being placed in cups or bowls 60 on rotary supports 59<a>, and the pressing-device is of ordinary pattern. The device 11 having received a cork 63, Fig. 6, from the corresponding hopper 58<a>, the plunger 67 forces it into the passage 63a so as to leave a small space between the stopper and the lower face of the box 11; the bottle is pressed against the joint 62a, and the small closed chamber thus constituted communicates bv the channel 61, 61a and port 61<b> with the pipe 20 leading to the pump when the distributor 64 is in the position shown in Fig. 6. The revolving distributor 64 next places the port 61a in communication with the gas pipe 10 by a port 61<c> so that the vacuum formed in the neck of the bottle is then filled with inert gas, whereupon the rod 67 descends and forces the cork into the bottle. 'The distributor 64 next cuts off the pipes 10, 20 so that the bottle can be removed and replaced by another. In a modification with a single revolving bottle-holder, the two pressure boxes 11 are mounted on a device with a slide-valve which alternately brings them in line with the axis of the bottle-holder.