Improvements in Bottle Filling and Stoppering Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1900
Improvements in Bottle Filling and Stoppering Machines.
I, JOHN WHITE, of Bates Factory, Grant Street, Radford, in the City of
Nottingham, Aerated Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to improvements in machines for
filling with liquids under pressure, and also stoppering, what are known as
screw-stoppered bottles, but it is in part applicable to filling and stoppering
machines generally.
According to my invention the foundation of the apparatus is comprised
essentially of a vertical column or standard, provided with a suitable base. At
the back of this column is a transverse horizontal cam shaft which is carried in
suitable bearings secured to or formed on the column, and the whole of the
requisite movements are obtained form this shaft.
The main driving shaft is preferably carried in corresponding bearings placed
below the cam shaft, and is connected to the latter by suitable gearing..
The filling head is placed at a convenient height on the front of the column
and below it is the bottle rest. This rest is pivotted on a transverse and hori-
zontal axis, to the upper end of a vertical rod which is adjustable in a stud or
socket secured to the column.
The height of the rest may thus be adjusted to suit different bottles, whilst the
rest may be tilted forward in order to facilitate the placing of the bottles in
position, and their subsequent removal after filling. The tilting of the bottle
rest may be effected automatically by a suitable spring placed under its inner
side.
When the neck of the bottle is placed within the filling head, a gas tight joint
is obtained by compressing an annular ring of india-rubber by means of a gland
sliding on the bottom of the filling head. This gland is moved by a lever
actuated by a cam on the cam shaft.
The india-rubber ring may be formed with an internal annular air space, in
order to give it greater elasticity.
Connected to the filling head is a snift valve of ordinary construction, which
is actuated by a lever operated by a cam on the cam shaft herein before referred to.
The supply pipe is provided with a supply valve, and a syrup inlet valve,
which latter is placed between the filling head and the supply valve. The syrup
inlet valve is connected to a chamber formed wholly or partially of glass, into
which the charge of syrup is first admitted by an admission valve.
The amount of each charge is thus always visible to the operator, and in order

page_text: to indicate the exact quantity it contains, it may be fitted with an indicator
graduated to indicated say ounces, and fractions of an ounce.
The amount of the charge may be varied by lifting the admission valve from
its seat a greater or less distance. The syrup pan is preferably placed above the
sight feed arrangement described, so that the syrup will flow steadily into the
chamber, thus obviating the use of a pump, which agitates the syrup.
The valves described are of the usual type, and are operated by levers actuated
by cams on the cam shaft.
The whole of these levers may be thrown out of action by moving their
several anti-friction rollers on to a plain circular part provided on the side of
each cam.
This may be effected by a lever operated by hand, or a lever connected to the
bottle rest, so that they are all put automatically out of action until a bottle is
placed on the rest.
When an empty bottle provided with a stopper is placed in position, the neck
of the bottle is grasped by the arrangement at the bottom of the filling head
previously described, whilst the head of the stopper which may be of the usual
form, is seized between a set of spring operated jaws within the filling head.
These jaws are carried on the lower end of a vertical spindle, which is now
rotated in the requisite direction to withdraw the stopper, whilst it is at the
same time raised taking the stopper with it.
The charge of syrup which has been previously admitted into the sight feed
chamber, is now admitted into the supply pipe by opening the syrup inlet valve,
the snift valve is also simultaneously opened so that the syrup can drain into the
supply pipe, and from thence into the bottle. The syrup inlet valve is then
closed and the supply valve opened, and the bottle filled in the usual manner.
The screw stopper is then reinserted in the bottle by the reverse action of the
vertical spindle.
The syrup inlet valve is regulated so as to admit the same charge into the
bottle as is admitted into the sight feed arrangement, and the two working
levels of the latter are thus maintained constant.
The vertical spindle is rotated by means of a vertical shaft carried in bearings
at the back of the column. This shaft is provided with a disc having arms
preferably at opposite points in its circumference, provided with anti-friction
rollers placed parallel to its axis, which engage with cam surfaces on the two
sides of a cam disc on the cam shaft, the position of the cam disc on the cam
shaft being between the arms connected to the disc on the vertical shaft.
With this arrangement the vertical shaft is reciprocated through say about
half a revolution, and its movement is communicated to the vertical spindle by
a preferably round flexible belt running on grooved pullies on the shaft and
spindle respectively. The pulley on the spindle is less than that on the shaft
in order to increase or multiply the motion to the requisite degree.
With this arrangement the risk of breakage is minimised, as the belt can slip
if the movement is continued after the stopper is screwed home.
The vertical spindle is raised by a cam on the cam shaft to lift the stopper,
and is depressed by a spring to insert the stopper.
The spring jaws for grasping the stopper are preferably lined with india-rubber,
an india-rubber seat is also used to receive the head of the stopper, and a good
frictional grip is thus obtained.
The bottle guard is preferably formed in two parts which are opened out by
cams on the cam shaft, and closed together by the action of a spring or springs.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1800
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottle Filling and Stoppering Machines.
I, JOHN WHITE, of Bates Factory, Grant Street, Radford, in the City of
Nottingham, Aerated Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates more particularly to improvements in machines for
filling with liquids under pressure, and also stoppering, what are known as
screw stoppered bottles, but it is in part applicable to filling and stoppering
machines generally.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the filling head, and the valves and fittings
connected therewith.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 5 a plan of the arrangement for reciprocating the stoppering spindle,
shown detached.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the arrangement for operating the supply and
syrup valves, shown detached.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 and also the arrangement
for opening and closing the bottle guard.
Fig. 8 is an elevation partly in section of a stopper gripping device.
Figs. 3 to inclusive are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 8
is drawn to a still larger scale than Figs. 3 to 7.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
According to my invention the foundation of the apparatus is comprised
essentially of a vertical column or standard A (see Figs. 1 and 2) provided with
a suitable base. At the back of this standard is a transverse horizontal cam
shaft B, which is carried in bearings B' secured on brackets 132; the latter are
secured to or formed integrally with the standard A.
The whole of the requisite movements are cbtained from this cam shaft B,
which is connected by gear wheels CC to the main driving shaft C. This
shaft C is carried in bearings C3 C4 corresponding to and carried on brackets 05
in a similar manner to the cam shaft B.
The filling head D is placed at a convenient height on the front of the
standard A, and below it is the bottle rest E. This rest E is pivotted at E¹
to the upper end of a vertical rod E, which latter is adjustable in a stud or
socket secured to the standard A.
The height of the rest may be thus adjusted to suit different bottles, whilst the
rest may be tilted forward in order to facilitate the placing of the bottles in
position, and their subsequent removal after filling. The tilting of the bottle
rest E may be effected automatically by a spring E placed in the position shown.
When the neck of the bottle is placed within the lower end of the filling head I)
a gas tight joint is obtained by compressing an annular packing ring of india-
rubber D (see Fig. 3). This ring of india-rubber is placed in a recess in
the bottom of the filling head, and is compressed by a gland D2 sliding thereon.
This gland is actuated by a forked lever F (see Figs. 1 and 2) which is pivotted
at F, the forked end of the lever engages with the gland D², whilst its
reverse end F3 is provided with an anti-friction roller which is in contact with
the periphery of a cam G, on the cam shaft B.

page_text: The india-rubber packing ring D', may be formed with an internal annular
air space as shown, in order to give it greater elasticity.
Connected to the filling head D is a snift valve H which is of ordinary con-
struction, this valve is actuated by a lever H', which is pivotted at H2, and is
operated by a cam H³ on the cam shaft B, as shown in Fig. 2.
The snift valve is connected to the filling head D, through passages D³ D
(see Fig. 3) formed in the latter, one of which D³, is carried to the upper end of
the head, and the other D, to the lower end.
The supply pipe I is provided with a supply valve J (see Fig. 1 and 3) and a
syrup inlet valve K, the latter being placed between the filling head D and
the supply valve J as shown. The syrup inlet valve K, is connected by a
pipe K', to a sight feed chamber L, formed wholly or partly of glass, into which
a charge of syrup is first admitted by an admission valve M, in the syrup
supply pipe M¹.
The amount of each charge of syrup is thus always visable to the operator,
and in order to indicate the exact quantity admitted into the filling head, the
sight feed chamber L, is fitted with an indicator L', graduated to indicate say
ounces and fractions of an ounce.
The supply valve J, (see Figs. 1-6 and 7) is actuated by a lever J', pivotted
on the shaft N, which latter is carried in bearings N¹, secured to the standard A.
The inner end of the lever J¹, is provided with a stud or pin J2, which engages
with a cam J, on the cam shaft B.
The syrup inlet valve K, is actuated by a second corresponding lever K², also
pivotted on the shaft N, but its stud K³, engages with another cam K4, placed
on the cam shaft B, at the side of the cam J.
The valve M for admitting the syrup to the sight feed chamber L, is actuated
by a third lever M2, pivotted on the shaft N, the inner end of this lever is bent
down, and the stud M³ at its inner end, engages with the under side of the same
cam J, which operated the lever K2 of the syrup inlet valve.
The whole of these levers may be thrown out of action, by moving them
laterally by means of the shaft N on which they are pivotted, until their respec-
tive studs are clear of the rises on the cams, and rest on plain circular parts
which are provided.
The shaft N and levers thereon, may be moved as described by a lever O
operated by hand, or it may be connected to the bottle rest E, so that said levers
are put automatically out of action, until a bottle is placed on the rest.
When an empty bottle provided with a stopper is placed in position, the
neck of the bottle is grasped by the india-rubber joint ring at the bottom of the
filling head D, whilst the head of the stopper, which may be of the usual form,
is seized between a set of spring jaws or a gripping device P (which is herein-
after described) placed within the filling head. This gripping device P (see
Figs. 3 and 8) is connected to the lower end of a vertical spindle P¹ and is now
rotated in the requisite direction to withdraw the stopper, and is at the same
time raised taking the stopper with it.
A charge of syrup which has been previously admitted into the sight feed
chamber L, by raising the valve M, is now admitted into the filling head
through the passage in the casing of the syrup inlet valve K, by depressing
the latter, the snift valve H is also simultaneously opened so that the syrup can
flow freely into the filling head D, and from thence into the bottle.
The syrup inlet valve K is then closed together with the snift valve, the supply
valve J is opened, and the bottle filled in the usual manner by alternately closing
this valve and opening the snift valve H and vice-versa.
When the bottle is filled, the screw stopper is again inserted by the reverse
action of the vertical spindle P¹ and gripping device P.
The valve M for admitting syrup to the sight feed chamber L, and the
valve K, for regulating the flow of the syrup from the said sight feed chamber L,
to the filling head D, are so actuated that the charge admitted to one is equal

page_text: to that of the other, and the two working levels in the sight feed remains
constant.
The amount of the charge may be varied as desired, by raising the respective
valves a greater distance from their seats, or holding them open for a longer
period as desired.
The vertical spindle P¹ is reciprocated through the intermediary of a grooved
pulley Q, (see Figs. 2-4 and 5) pivotted on a vertical axis Q secured to a
bracket at the back of the standard A. This pulley is provided with two
studs or anti-friction rollers Q3, each of which alternately engages with one
of two corresponding arms G1 G2 on the cam G. The pulley Q is thus recipro-
cated through a quarter of a revolution, and its movement is imparted to the
spindle P and multiplied, by a round flexible belt 13, running on the pulley Q
and a pulley of less diameter on the spindle. Or if preferred I may employ a
chain wheel P2 on the spindle PI as shown, and make the connection 13 partly
of round flexible belting, and partly of driving chain, the latter part of which
runs on the chain wheel P and the former on the pulley Q.
The spindle is raised by a cam C (see Fig. 2) secured to the gear wheel C¹
on the cam shaft B. This cam C actuates a lever R', which is pivotted at R2
to a bracket R3 secured to the standard A. The free end of the lever R', is con-
nected by a link R to the end of a second lever S, which letter is pivotted at S¹,
and is provided with a forked end S2, which engages with a boss S on the upper
end of the spindle 1".
The spindle P is moved downwards to insert the stopper against the action
of the cam R, by springs S4, and thus if the stopper is not properly inserted
the springs yield and prevent breakage.
The spring jaws or devices P' for gripping the stopper, are shown in detail
in Fig. 8, and comprise preferably four jaws T pivotted at T to radial exten-
sions T of the spindle T3, the upper end of the latter is secured in an axial
opening in the lower end of the main spindle P¹.
Each jaw T is provided with a tail piece T4, which engages with the conical
lower surface of a sleeve T5, sliding on the spindle T. The sleeve is depressed
by a spring To placed between the sleeve T and a collar T, and thus forces
outwards the tail pieces T and closes the jaws T. The latter are lined by an
india-rubber cup Vor like lining which forms a seat for the head of the stopper.
Above the collar T is an india-rubber washer V, which is compressed between
the said collar and the top of the filling head D when the spindle is raised, and
thus makes a gas tight joint. The top of the sleeve T may also engage with
the top of the filling head and the jaws T be more firmly closed on the stopper.
The gripping device shown is adapted for stoppers having circular heads,
but it may be modified to suit stoppers with heads of different shapes.
The bottle guard W is formed in two halves, which are secured to the ends
of independent levers W1 W2 (see Figs. 1-2 and 7) pivotted respectively at W³
and W. The inner ends of these levers are provided with anti-friction rollers
which engages with cam projections W on the cans H³ and K+, and by their
action the guard is opened and held in this position whilst one bottle is removed
and another inserted.
The two halves of the guard are brought together again by springs We con-
nected to the levers WW2, and thus there is no risk of the operators hand
being trapped between the two parts of the guard as they are closing, as the
springs will yield when any obstruction comes between the guard.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a bottle filling machine a sight feed chamber such as L through which
each charge of syrup passed substantially as described.
2. In a bottle filling machine the combination with the syrup inlet valve K of

page_text: a sight feed chamber such as L connected to the said valve K and a valve M for
admitting a charge of syrup to the chamber L substantially as described.
3. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine the combination with the filling
head D of an india-rubber packing ring such as provided with or without
an interior annular air space and a gland such as D2 sliding on the bottom of the
filling head for compressing the ring substantially as described.
4. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine a stopper grip comprised essen-
tially of jaws T pivotted to radial extensions T of the spindle T¹ said jaws
being provided with tail pieces T a sleeve such as T sliding on the spindle T
provided with a conical lower surface which engages with the tail pieces Ta
spring T to depress the sleeve T and an india-rubber or like lining such as V
for the jaws substantially as described.
5. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine a tilting bottle rest such as E
substantially as described.
6. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine the combination with a tilting
bottle rest such as E of a rod E2 which is adjustable vertically and a spring
such as E for tilting the rest substantially as described.
7. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine raising the stoppering spindle P¹
at the same time that it is rotated to unscrew the stopper by means of a cam and
lever arrangement and depressing it again by a spring as it is again rotated in
the reverse direction to screw in the stopper substantially as described.
8. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine the combination with the stop-
pering spindle P of a disc or pulley Q which is connected to the said spindle
and is provided with studs or anti-friction rollers Q and a disc or cam G which
rotates in a plane at right angles to that of the pulley Q and provided with
arms GG which alternately engages with the rollers Q on the pulley Q
and reciprocates the latter substantially as described.
9. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine a bottle guard W formed in
two independent parts which are respectively connected to levers such as WI W
said levers being actuated by cams such as W to open the guard and by springs
to close it again substantially as described.
10. In a bottle filling and stoppering machine the combination with the valve
levers JK and M2 of a shaft N which is common to the whole of them and is
moveable laterally in its bearings in order to throw said levers out of action
and means for moving the said shaft laterally substantially as described.
11. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
filling and stoppering machine substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dotad his Onl f 1000
JOHN WHITE,
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.