Patent GB-695053-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in filling heads for bottles or other containers
IPC: B67C3/06
Filed: 1951-04-02
Abstract: 695,053. Bottling. CROWN CORK & SEAL CO., Inc. April 2, 1951 [May 22, 1950], No. 7627/51. Class 125(ii) In a counterpressure bottle and like filling machine having an annular rotating reservoir 26 provided with filling heads 20 and liquid valves 40 which open by a spring 42 automatically when the pressure in the bottle and reservoir are equalized, each head 20 is connected to an associated gas chamber 28 by a gas passage 54 including a valve 56, valves 46, 52 also being provided to connect the chamber to the reservoir at appropriate times. The valve 56 is lifted from its seat 126 by an eccentric 58 actuated by a shaft 30 which also carries a cam 50 for opening the gravity-seated valve 52. The shaft 30 is rotated by stationary trips acting on an arm 32 during rotation of the reservoir. The valve 46 is connected by a rod 44 to the liquid valve 40 and opens in synchronism therewith. In operation, a bottle is applied to a gasket 93 and the shaft 30 is rotated so that a rise 110 on cam 50 clears the head of sleeve valve 46 and a rise 109 on cam 50 raises and opens valve 52. Eccentric 58 also raises valve 56. Counterpressure now flows from the reservoir through valve 52, chamber 28, valve 56, passage 54, passages 84, 86, 87, tube 38 and orifices 94 to the bottle. When the pressure is equalized, the spring 42 opens valve 40 and, because the cam rise 110 has cleared the head of valve 46, this valve rises to put the chamber 28 into communication with the reservoir through ports 120, 121 in the sleeve valve 46. At the same instant, the shaft 30 is further rotated, so that eccentric 58 further opens the valve 56 and so that a dwell 107 on cam 50 allows the valve 52 to fall and. close. Liquid now flows into the bottle past valve 40, through a fine mesh screen 43 and passage 34. Displaced gas passes through orifices 94, tube 38, passages 87, 86, 84, 56, valve 56. chamber 28 and ports 120, 121 to the reservoir 26. When the liquid level reaches orifices 94, gas displacement ceases and pressure builds up in the bottle head-space and this pressure in conjunction with the screen 43 prevents further liquid flow. The shaft 30 is then rotated back to its original position and a trip brushes a rod 64 to open a valve 91 against a spring 92 to snift the headspace through a tube 60, passage 62 and the valve. The bottle is then removed and the valves 52, 56 may be momentarily opened by an additional trip to blow residual liquid from the counterpressure gas passages. If a defective bottle is applied to the machine, counterpressure will not be established and therefore the valve 40 will not open thus preventing the gas valve 46 from opening. Thus during the filling stage, neither liquid nor gas can flow to a defective bottle. The counterpressure and snift passages 87 and 62 are formed in a bridge 36 across the liquid passage 34. Liquid is directed against the bottle sides by the outwardly-flared lower end of the snift tube 60. In a modification Fig. 16 (not shown) the liquid passage directly surrounds the gas tube which carries a flared collar to direct liquid against the bottle sides and the snift tube surrounds the liquid passage.