Patent GB-258379-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in machines for filling bottles by creating a vacuum therein
IPC: B67C3/26
Filed: 1925-07-07
Abstract: 258,379. Pennock, T. E. July 7,1925. Bottling. - In a machine for filling bottles by creating a vacuum therein and comprising filling. devices and an over. flow receptacle adapted to be con. nected to the vacuum creating means, there is provided between the overflow recept acle and the vacuum creating means a valve which is auto matically operated during the operation of the machine alter nately to connect and disconnect the recept acle and the means to permit discharge of liquid from the receptacle. When two overflow receptacles are provided, the valve controls the alternate connection and disconnection of the receptacles to and from the filling devices. A base 1, Fig. 1, supports a frame 2 formed with an extension 105<A> carrying a tray 105 in which bottles are assembled prior to filling, and from which they are transferred to a vertically-movable platen 7 for filling, a guide 104, Fig. 1, at the rear of the platen carrying a bar on which is adjustably mounted an arm adapted to arrest the bottles and locate them beneath the filling-nozzles. After the positioning of the bottles, the arm is moved out of their path by rotating the bar against spring action by contact with a lug on the rear guide 102 of the tray 105 as the platen 7 is raised to bring the bottles against the filling-nozzles. The bar is locked in the displaced position until released by the movement of the next batch of bottles. The platen 7 rests upon a slide 6 displaceable in a guide 5 on the frame 2 by a bent lever 8 pivoted thereto at 9 and connected to the slide 6 by a link 13 which forms a toggle arrangement with part of the lever 8 when the lever is raised to present the bottles to the filling-nozzles. Liquid is sucked into the bottles by a vacuum pump 4 connected by a pipe 63 to a valve member 65, the valve 64 of which is adapted to connect the pipe 63 alternately to each of two overflow vessels 29A, 29<B>. The valve comprises a block 80, Fig. 9, formed with a central orifice 84 to which the pipe 63 heads, and side orifices 83, 85 connected respectively through pipes 66, 68, 70, 72, and 67, 69, 71, 73 to the vessels 29A, 29<B>. The valve 64 is formed with three compartments which adapt it to connect the orifice 84 to either of the orifices 83, 85, the other orifice 85, 83 being opened to the atmosphere. The valve 64 is moved from one position to the other by the downward movement of the slide 6, being connected by a pin 97, Fig. 8, to a pendant arm 78 pivoted to the upper part of the valve member 65. A pawl 76 on the arm 78 has pivotal movement limited by a slot 95 in the arm and a pin 94 on the pawl which engages in it. As the slide 6 rises, a roller 75 thereon runs up one side of the pawl, one of the lower corners of which is subsequently struck by one of two pins 91, 92 on a member 90 secured to the slide, the impact displacing the pawl to its opposite position on the arm 78. Downward movement of the slide then brings the roller 75 against the other side of the pawl so that it moves it and the arm 78, and therefore the valve 64, across. to their second position. A manifold 28 connects the filling-nozzles 27 to the chambers 29<A> 29<B>, and its ends 44, Fig. 13, are covered by caps 47 slidable thereon but spaced therefrom by ribs 48, 49. Segmental apertures 51 in the skirt of each cap allow liquid and air to pass and complete removal of the cap is prevented by a pin 53 engaging an inwardly-projecting rim 52 at the bottom of the cap. When the bottles are raised to the filling-nozzles, the reduced pressure in the chambers 29<A> or 29B causes liquid to be drawn from an open supply tank 24, mounted On a rear extension 23 of the frame 2, to the. filling-nozzles which comprise outer suction tubes 26 and inner liquid-delivery tubes 39. When the liquid in the bottles reaches the bottom of the suction pipes, any further liquid is sucked into the overflow receptacle 29<A> or 29<B>, whence it flows down a pipe into the supply tank when movement of the valve 64 opens the receptacle to the atmosphere, a flap valve on the end of the pipe opening for its passage, but closing when suction is again applied to the overflow receptacle. The filling-nozzles and overflow receptacles are adjustably supported on a slide 21 movable in a guide 22 in the frame 2 and secured to a screw 19 adapted to be raised or lowered by rotation of a hand-wheel 20 to suit bottles of different heights. For filling bottles with small orifices, the liquid-supply tube 174, Fig. 15, is extended in length and passes through a spring mounted centring block 182 slidably supported by a member 179, the block 167 of the nozzle being secured to a rod 156 slidable in a lug 152 secured to the machine framing against spring action which is disconnected if the block 167 is raised excessively. Specification 176,928 is referred to.