Patent GB-286756-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the filling and/or sealing of containers under vacuum and apparatus therefor
IPC: B67C7/00
Filed: 1926-11-10
Abstract: 286,756. Thubron, E. B. Nov. 10, 1926. Bottling.-Relates to apparatus for filling and seating bottles and like containars under vacuum. According to the invention the bottling head 4 so provided with an upwardly tapered throat piece 62, or metal ring 63 through which air is exhausted and through which the bottle &c. is filled, and a ring 66 for sealing the entrance to the bottle about the bottle-neck. The ring 63 has an annular recess 63<a> and inclined passages 67 communicating with the irterior or the head, and the ring 66 is compressible between the ring 63 and a ring 60. A chute 70 is provided for the delivery of " crosscorks " &c. to the entrance of the head. The corking piston 75 is carried on a rod 76 working in a sleeve 77 and has guide pins 82 which operate in slots 80 in the sleeve. The piston is operated by a hand lever 85 through the rod 83. The hollow ring 66 is pressed against the bottle necks by filling it with water or other fluid under pressure from a suitable source of supply. The machine further comprises a base 1 and hollow supporting column 2 carrying a liquid reservoir 3, a bottle guide 5 and supporting table 6 and an ejector or air exhauster 7. The table 6 can be raised and lowered to bring a bottle 35 to positions required for evacuating, filling and crowning by operating either the foot lever 8 or the hand lever 23. Crowning is effected either by the contraction of a spring 10 being utilised to force the table 6 upwards, or by operating the lever 23 to give the necessary upward movement to the table. A valve 37 controls the passage of water to the ejector 7 and a valve 38 controls the vacuum in the bottling head 4, both valves being controlled by a hand-lever 39. The lever 39 is keyed on a shaft 40 having a boss with oppositely disposed forked extensions 41<a> which operate the spring loaded valve stems. When the lever 39 is operated to open the valves 37, 38, the water control valve 37 opens in advance of the vacuum control valve 38 and vice versa. Another arm loosely mounted on the shaft 40 and operated by the lever 39 operates the valve controlling the passage of liquid from the reservoir 3 to the head 4. This arm can be operated independently of the other two. The vacuum pipe 49 is fitted with a non-return valve 50 and and with a trap 51 for preventing the passage of moisture to the head 4. A connection 52 having a stop-cock can be fitted carrying a pipe 53 which rises in the reservoir 3 to enable the vacuum created by water passing through the ejector 7 to act on the reservoir 3 and exhaust its air contents if necessary. Stirrers 54 operated by a hand-wheel 56 are provided to thoroughly mix the contents of the reservoir, and a gauge 57 is attached thereto. L-shaped members having projections 72<b> are provided for retaining the corks in the raised position prior to the sealing operation. Air is exhausted from the interior of the head through slots 80 and the central passage 76<a>. In operation the table 6 is adjusted, so that the mouth of a bottle thereon is just below the opening 71. On releasing the table its upward movement causes the bottle thereon to enter the opening 71 in the chute 70 and a " crown-cork " is forced up against the piston 75. The bottle is forced upwards to cause the cork to enter the throat piece 62 and to engage over the projections 72<b>. The table is then lowered to bring the bottle mouth below the passages 67 as shown in Fig. 3. Pressure fluid is allowed to enter the ring 66 and seal the' joint. The valves 37, 38 are then opened and the air exhausted from the bottle. The valve controlling the supply of liquid is now opened by operating the lever 39 and the bottle is filled to the desired level. If the reservoir is hot under vacuum the air can be exhausted from the bottle after filling. By removing the lever 23 or 8 the bottle is allowed to ascend under the action of the spring 10 and the cork is secured thereon. More than one reservoir 3 may be employed one of which may be used for gas.