Improvements in Machines for Filling Internally Stoppered Bottles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Filling Internally Stoppered Bottles.
We JAMES MEADOWCROFT and W. MEADOWCROFT AND SON LIMITED of
Regent Street Blackburn in the County of Lancaster, Soda Water Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:→
This invention relates to improvements in machines for filling internally
stoppered bottles with aerated beverages, and consists of improved appliances
for regulating the quantity of syrup to be pumped into each bottle, improved
appliances for conveying the syrup from the pump to a revolving hollow shaft of
the machine, an aerated water valve and cam for opening same.
According to this invention on a pillar or other support are fixed two bearings
for a revolving hollow shaft and bottle holder the latter being of the usual form
except at the end farthest from the bottle holding portion.
On the hollow shaft is keyed a boss on which is mounted the cam or eccentric.
A lug or projection is cast on the boss and a small moveable piece carried in a
slide in the cam or eccentric can be moved and fixed by screw so as to rest against
the projection or the piece can be fixed clear of the projection in which case the
hollow shaft will revolve without operating the pump; the cam or eccentric being
loose on the shaft. If the moveable piece is set so as to be in contact or lineable
with the projection the pump will be operated but it still allows of the bottle
holder and bottle being turned backwards nearly a revolution i.e. until the piece
comes in contact with the opposite side of the projection, and this may be done
for the purpose of allowing more aerated water to pass into the bottle if from any
cause the stopper fails to stop on its seat at the required time.
To the top of the said bearings are fixed pillars or supports for the purpose of
carrying the syrup pump which is of the usual kind.
The pump barrel is fixed to the underside of a bridge piece which is mounted
on the top of the two pillars and the valve boxes are on the top side of the
bridge.
For the purpose of conveying the syrup from the pump to the revolving shaft
I make a hole or passage way through the bridge piece which carries the pump
and also down the back pillar which carries the pump, and at the bottom of this
pillar the shaft revolves. A portion of the shaft is cut away where it comes
opposite to the hole or passage way in the pillar so as to allow the syrup to pass
through the shaft and into the bottle.
After the syrup has been pumped through the thoroughfares referred to and
into the bottle, à part revolution of the shaft cuts off or closes the connection
between the hole in the pillar and the passage through the shaft and thus ensures
uniformity in the quantity of syrup delivered and forced into each bottle, there is
also employed an inverted spring valve at the bottom of the pillar to ensure the
closing of the syrup passage, and prevent a rush of aerated water causing
irregularity of syruping,
The aerated water valve is placed in a valve box in a horizon tal position parallel
with the revolving shaft and is operated by a tappet on the revolving shaft. This
tappet is in the form of a disc or portion of a disc having a raised portion on one
face thus giving a thrust parallel with the shaft.
The appliance for regulating and altering (when desirable) the quantity of

page_text: syrup to be pumped into each bottle comprises a slip motion in the connecting
rod between the syrup pump plunger and the cam or eccentric for operating same,
and thumb screw or nut for determining the amount of slip, or play in the
connecting rod.
The process of filling bottles is as follows:-A bottle is placed neck downwards
and held in the machine in the usual way and the bottle holder and hollow shaft
are then revolved half a revolution, such movement causes the syrup pump to
force the required and predetermined quantity of syrup through the passage ways
and into the bottle and also brings the bottle into an upright position. The bottle
holder is then moved a further portion of a revolution, when the beak of the
tappet above referred to operates and opens the aerated water valve and the bottle
is thus filled with aerated water. The atmospheric air in the bottle is allowed to
escape through a valve at the head of the bottle which valve is operated by an
Llever and rod worked by a stationary tappet on the front bearing of the
revolving shaft. When the bottle is "full" the holder is further turned round
until the bottle is again neck downwards, which allows the stopper to fall into its
seat in the bottle neck.
The bottle is then taken out and replaced by an empty one and the operation is
repeated.
་
Dated this 10th dow of October 1802
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Filling Internally Stoppered Bottles.
We JAMES MEADOWCROFT and W. MEADOWCROFT AND SON LIMITED of
Regent Street, Blackburn in the County of Lancaster, Soda Water Engineers, 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 to improvements in hand machines for filling internally
stoppered bottles with aerated beverages, and consists of improved appliances for
regulating the quantity of syrup to be pumped into each bottle and to improved
appliances for conveying the syrup from the pump to a revolving hollow shaft of
the machine.
Such being the nature and object of our said invention the following is a
complete description of same reference being had to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the head of a machine for purpose
aforesaid and having our improvements applied thereto. The head of the machine
is carried on a pedestal as ordinary.
Fig. 2 is a sectional front elevation of the slip motion for regulating the quantity
of syrup pumped into each bottle.
Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation on line A. B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the aerated water valve.
According to this invention on a pedestal pillar, or other support 1 are fixed
two bearings 2.2 for a revolving hollow shaft 3 and bottle holder 4, the latter
being of the usual form except at the end furthest from the bottle holding position
i.e. the top end of the machine as shewn by Fig. 1.
On the hollow shaft 3 is keyed a boss 5 on which is mounted the cam or
eccentric 6 (see Fig. 2). A lug or projection 7 is cast on the boss 5 and a small
moveable piece 8 carried in a slide 9 in the cam or eccentric can be moved and
fixed by screw 10 so as to rest against the projection 7 or the piece 8 can

page_text: be fixed clear of the projection 7 in which case the hollow shaft 3 will revolve
without operating the pump 11 the cam or eccentric 6 being loose on the shaft 3.
If the moveable piece 8 is set so as to be in contact or lineable with the
projection 7 the pump 11 will be operated but it still allows of the bottle holder 4
and bottle being turned backwards nearly a revolution i.e. until the piece 8 comes
in contact with the opposite side 7 of the projection 7 and this may be done for
the purpose of allowing more aerated water to pass into the bottle if from any
cause the stopper fails to stop on its seat at the required time.
The top of the said bearings 2. 2 form pillars or supports for the purpose of
carrying the syrup pump 11 which is of the usual kind.
The pump barrel is fixed to the underside of a bridge piece 12 which is
mounted on the top of the two pillars 2. 2 and the valve boxes 13 are on the top
side of the bridge.
For the purpose of conveying the syrup from the pump 11 to the revolving
shaft 3 we make a hole or passage way 14 through the bridge piece 12 which
carries the pump 11 and also down the back pillar 2 which carries the
pump 11 and at the bottom of this pillar 2 the shaft 3 revolves. A portion 15 of
the shaft 3 is cut away where it comes opposite to the hole or passage way 14
in the pillar 2 so as to allow the syrup to pass through the shaft 3 and into the
bottle.
After the syrup has been pumped through the thoroughfares 14 referred to and
into the bottle a part revolution of the shaft 3 cuts off or closes the connection
between the hole in the pillar 2 and the passage through and into the shaft 3 and
thus ensures uniformity in the quantity of syrup delivered and forced into each
bottle.
The aerated water valve is placed in a valve box in a horizontal position
parallel with the revolving shaft 3 and is operated by a tappet 16 on the said
revolving shaft 3.
This tappet 16 is in the form of a disc or portion of a disc 16 having a raised
portion 17 on one face thus giving a thrust parallel with the shaft 3.
The appliance for regulating and altering (when desirable) the quantity of
syrup to be pumped into each bottle comprises a slip motion 17* (see Fig. 2) in the
connecting rod 18 between the syrup pump plunger 19 and the cam or eccentric 6
for operating same and a thumb screw or nut 20 for determining the amount of
slip, or play in the connecting rod 18.
By turning the thumb screw or nut 20 chased rod or regulating piece 204 is
moved up or down inside 17 and when the eccentric 6 is giving an upward motion
the piece 20 comes into contact with the slip box 17 and lifts up the plunger 19
on the return stroke of the eccentric 6, the flange 21 comes into contact with the
flange 22 and pulls down the pump plunger 19.
The amount of slip is determined by the distance the piece 20ª is screwed up or
down and its projection above the top of flange 21.
The distance between the flanges 21 and 22 is the "plug" which can as above
described be adjusted so that though the machine is in operation the pump 11 for a
certain time remains inoperative.
The process of filling bottles is as follows:-A bottle is placed neck downwards
and held in the machine in the usual way and the bottle holder 4 and hollow
shaft 3 are then revolved half a revolution, such movement causes the syrup
pump 11 to force the required and predetermined quantity of syrup through the
passage ways 14 and into the bottle and this movement also brings the bottle into
an upright position the machine being in the position shewn by Fig. 1. The
bottle holder 4 is then moved a further portion of a revolution when the beak of
the tappet above referred to operates and opens the aerated water valve and the
bottle is thus filled with aerated water.
The atmospheric air in the bottle is allowed to escape through a valve 24 at
the head of the bottle which valve is operated by an L lever 25 and rod 26
worked by a stationary tappet 27 on the front bearing of the revolving shaft 3.

page_text: When the bottle is "full" the holder 4 is further turned round until the bottle
is again neck downwards which allows the stopper to fall into its seat in the
bottle neck.
The bottle is then taken out and replaced by an empty one and the operation is
repeated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the improvements in machines for filling internally stoppered bottles as herein
described and substantially as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings.
2. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts comprising
the pump 11 in the connecting rod 18 of which is a slip motion as herein described
so that the amount of movement of the piston of the pump can be regulated and
adjusted as and for the purpose herein described and as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2
of the annexed drawings.
Deted thin oth
C
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