Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Filling Bottles, Equalising the Quantity of Liquid placed therein, Preparing Corks by Compression and Inserting them in the Necks of the Bottles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Filling Bottles,
Equalising the Quantity of Liquid placed therein, Preparing
Corks by Compression and Inserting them in the Necks of the
Bottles.
A communication by JOSEPH CHARLES GELLY, of Tanunda, in the Province of
South Australia, Wine Maker.
1. WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil 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 to certain mechanical appliances constructed and arranged
in such a manner that the operation of filling bottles, equalising the quantity of
liquid placed therein, and compressing and fitting the corks into the necks of the
said bottles, may be carried on collectively as a continuous operation with one
machine.
The special object of this invention is to avoid loss of time which usually takes
place in passing bottles from the filling machine to a corking machine, to avoid
loss of time and waste of liquid which invariably occurs in the operation of
equalising the quantity of liquid in the bottles, and also to prevent breakage of
bottles which is often incurred through forcing a cork into the neck of a bottle
in which there is too much liquid, or by pressing the air from the neck into the
hottle.
In order to achieve the said object, I construct a machine in which there is a
standard or main frame in conjunction with a vertically-moving arm, the said arm
being capable of elevation or depression at the will of the operator. The outer
end of this arm is provided with three small adjustable rams or plungers, which
also move vertically with the arm. Of these three rams or plungers the middle
one is for driving the cork into place, while those on either side are for
the purpose of vertically depressing a certain filling device to be hereafter
referred to.
In conjunction with the corking part of the machine, I arrange a cork com-
pressor, which is actuated by means of horizontally-moving bar, the horizontal
movement being obtained through the action of a diagonal slot in the base of the
vertically-moving arm, and an ordinary slide and roller gearing. An adjustable
bottle stand and cup is fitted in a position suitable for the operation of filling the
bottles.
I construct the filling device with an inlet pipe, an outlet or overflow, and
a bell-mouth for receiving the necks of the bottles to be filled; also a double-
seated valve which slides horizontally in such a manner as to open the inlet and
close the outlet or open the outlet and close the inlet by simultaneous movement
as may be required. The filling device is made to slide vertically on a hollow
spindle, the said spindle terminating in a tube which is immediately underneath
the middle ram or plunger herein before mentioned, and is for guiding the corks into
the necks of bottles. The tube, being smaller in diameter than the neck of the
bottle, leaves an annular space between its outer circumference and the inside of

page_text: the bottle-neck through which the liquid may find access to the bottle. To assist
in the operation of bottling gaseous, aerated, or effervescing liquids, certain valves
are provided in the filling device and in the cork-guiding tube. The corks are
inserted in such a manner as to enable them to expel superfluous liquid by a
displacement of air, thus equalising the contents of the bottles. Cisterns may be
added to the machine and connected by flexible tubing to the inlet and outlet
pipes of the filling device, respectively for the accommodation of the supply and
overflow liquid. The machine may be single-acting or compound; that is to say,
it may be designed to treat only one bottle at the time or by multiplication of
certain parts a number of bottles may be filled and corked in rapid succession in
series. When this machine is to be used for corking bottles previously filled by
other means, the inlet valve is closed or suppressed, only the outlet being required
to extract the air.
I will further describe the invention in detail, for which purpose reference will
be made to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side-elevation of a compound machine partly in section.
Fig. 2, back view of sanie, with levers removed.
Fig. 3, plan of machine, partly shown in section.
Fig. 4, detail of filling device and cork-guiding tube, in section.
Fig. 5, sectional plan of same, showing overflow valve.
Fig. 6, filling device and cork-guiding tube in section, showing tube-closing
valve and spring tappet valve for use in gaseous, aerated, or effervescing liquids.
Figs. 7 and 8., front and side elevation of single acting machine, containing same
essential parts as compound machine.
Throughout the drawings similar letters of reference are used to denote similar
parts. A is a main standard or footing piece, preferably made from cast iron and
secured to foundation or flooring in any suitable manner. Radiating from this
main casting a series of minor stands A¹ are cast, either with the main casting as
one piece or separately. Within these stands the shafts or spindles B, of the
bottle-cups B', are set in a manner which will allow of vertical movement, so that
they may be elevated or depressed as required, and may also be adjusted in length
or height to suit the varying sizes of bottles B2 by means of an ordinary screw
adjustment as indicated in the drawings. The bottom part of the standards are
cast hollow so that the springs C, may be inserted therein. These springs press
against the levers D, giving them an upward tendency, which they in turn impart
to the shafts or spindles of the cups on which the bottles are placed, whereby the
said bottles receive an upward pressure, which, however, may be released as
required by pressing the handles of the levers downwards. In a single acting
machine designed for one man to work, the lever D may be actuated by foot
power, but in a compound machine worked by two men it will be more convenient.
to arrange the levers substantially as shown in Figs. 1, and 3, the ends being bent
so as to enable the operator to stand close to the filling device. Instead of using
a spring for elevating the bottle, an equivalent result may be obtained by altering
the position of the lever fulcrum, and substituting a weight in the ordinary way,
as shown in sketch, Fig. 1^. Upon the main standard of the machine the hollow
column E is placed, and when applied to a compound machine, is fitted so as to
revolve upon a spindle E¹. Within this column the vertically sliding arm Fis
arranged, and moves upwards or downwards on suitable grooves, slides, or
bearings, as required. Near the base of this arm a diagonal slot F' is formed, in
which a friction roller and bearing, or equivalent device G is placed, and is a
connected with the horizontally sliding cork-compressor-block H by means of a
suitable bar or rods H¹, so that a cork placed in the receiver I which contains a
counter-block to the block H, will be acted upon and compressed with each
downward movement of the arm F. The counterblock in the receiver is so
constructed that large corks may be additionally compressed sideways, i.e., in a
direction opposite to the pressure given by the slot gearing in combination with
the vertically-moving arm, and in order to obtain this additional motion diagonal

page_text: slide lugs are formed on the counterblock and arranged so that the outer rams
as they descend impinge upon the diagonal lugs and cause them to close inwards.
At the outer end of the arm F, the socket holes J are formed, to which the
plungers or rams K, K', K' are secured by means of nuts and threads, provision
being made for adjustment. The middle ram or plunger K which is set lower
than the outer rams K₁ and K', is for pushing the cork through the cork-guiding
tubes, the outer rams being arranged to depress the filling device at a later stage
of the corking operation. The whole of this vertically moving gear as well as the
horizontally moving compressor, is worked by the single operation of the lever and
handle M, to which the counterbalance weights M', M2 or equivalent mechanical
device may be connected for the purpose of returning the lever-handle to its
highest position after each downward stroke. The filling device comprises a
sliding barrel L, an inlet L', and an outlet L2, also an intermediate passage L³
between the inlet and the outlet, the hottom of the said passage terminating in a
bell-mouth L, provided with an indiarubber seating ring, against which the neck
of the bottle to be filled is placed and firmly secured by the action of the spring
situated under the bottle stand. Small lugs L' may be cast on the filling device,
in a convenient position for receiving the pressure from the vertically-moving
depressing plungers.
Between the inlet and outlet pipes, the small double seated horizontally-moving
valve S is fitted, and in construction and arrangement is made so that the outlet
opens as soon as the inlet is closed, and vice versa. This valve can be actuated by
hand, or in preference automatically with the other parts of the machine.
In a compound machine a segment plate such as Q is provided, having small
notches Qcut on its inner edge, into which a simple spring locking device may
catch to assist in securing the proper relative position of the corking ram to the
cork-guiding tube. Holes Q³ are drilled in the segment plate, through which the
rams or plungers may pass. In a compound machine the cork-guiding tube R is
screwed to the segment plate, a portion of its outer diameter being turned true so
that it may serve as a spindle on which the filling device is designed to slide.
The inlet and outlet pipes of the filling device may be connected respectively
with any convenient form of supply and overflow cisterns, as for instance the
cisterns N and O shown on drawings, the connection being made by means of the
flexible tubes V and W. The supply cistern may be provided with a floating
ball-valve N for the purpose of regulating the flow of liquid, connection with the
bulk supply being effected by any suitable pipe, as for instance that shown at N2.
In order to facilitate the bottling, equalising, and corking of aerated, gaseous,
or effervescing liquids, and to avoid waste of gas, etc., a small slide valve T is
fitted as shown, for the purpose of closing the corking tube, until the cork has
been pressed into the top of the said tube, when the valve may be opened so as to
allow the cork to pass through the tube, as will be well understood. In addition
to the valve in the cork-guiding tube, a small spring tappet valve U is arranged
in the filling device for the purpose of relieving any over-pressure of surplus gas,
or expelled air, the filling inlet being connected with the gasometer, or other
convenient supply. Where necessary, packing glands and packing material is
provided in order to render the various joints gastight or watertight, as may be
necessary or expedient. The valve T may be closed automatically by the sliding
movement of the filling device, and re-opened by the compressor.
The working of the machine may be described as follows:-The bottle is placed
upon the cup and is pressed upwards by means of the spring or weighted lever
until the neck engages the bell-mouth of the filling device. The inlet valve is
then opened, the outlet being simultaneously closed by the same operation. The
liquid passes into the inlet pipe and flows through the annular space which is
for:ned between the bottle-neck and the cork-guiding tube until the bottle is quite
full;
the inlet valve is then closed and at the same time the outlet valve opens.
A cork having been placed in the receiver, it is compressed by the action of the
compressor block, after which it is driven down the guiding-tube by the middle

page_text: ram or plunger. As the cork passes down the tube, it presses the air which is
beneath it into the bottle. This displacement of air causes a corresponding
displacement of all superfluous liquid, and forces the same through the outlet
whence it is discharged into the overflow cistern. Meanwhile the outer rams or
plungers are descending and are adjusted so as to engage the lugs on the filling
device just as the cork is being pressed out of the bottom of the tube. The
three rams or plungers continue to descend, all three moving at equal speed.
The filling device is caused to descend by the pressure of the outer rams, and slides
on the spindle, carrying the bottle with it; at the same time the cork, which is
also descending, is pushed out of the bottom of the tube and at once begins to
expand in the neck of the bottle, thereby forcing the air out through the outlet.
When this has been done the bottle is taken out of the cup and replaced by an
empty one, which is similarly filled and corked. When it is desired to cork bottles
which on account of unusual size, shape, or other cause it is inconvenient to place
on the cup or stand, the stand may temporarily be dispensed with and the bottle
held in place by the hand of the operator.
It will readily be seen that by use of this machine, bottles of equal size and
capacity are necessarily filled with an equal quantity of liquid. If it is desired to
use the machine for filling and corking aerated or effervescing liquids, the inlet is
connected with the gasometer or other source of supply and the slide-valve is
closed during the operation of filling the bottles so as to prevent the escape of gas
through the tube, but is opened when necessary to allow the plunger to drive the
cork through the tube. The spring tappet valve for releasing expelled air or
superfluous gas is opened by the operator, or automatically, as occasion requires.
In corking certain liquids, as, for instance, that which is known as champagne, the
relative positions of the plungers may be so adjusted that only the lower part of
the cork will be inserted in the bottle, the upper part being left free for securement
by strings or wires. It will readily be seen that according to the length of the
corking tube and the quantity of air therein contained, the equalising of liquid
by ejection can be regulated so as to suit the various requirements of the liquid
to be bottled, and an air space may be left for the accommodation of any carbonic
acid gas which may be generated or for expansion of liquid by increase of
temperature. By revolving the vertically-moving arm together with its rains in
a compound machiue a large number of bottles may be corked in rapid succession,
the relative position of the rams to the filling device and corking tube being
readily obtained by the action of the spring catchment gearing which locks into
the segment plate. Thus loss of time is to a great extent avoided by dispensing
with the necessity of frequent handling of the bottle for the purpose of filling and
corking, while the ready method of expelling the superfluous liquid and thus
equalising the contents of the bottles, and corking the same in the manner
described, renders breakage impossible, and prevents any damage being done to
the cork through indentation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :
In a machine for filling bottles, equalising the quantity of liquid placed therein,
preparing the corks by compression, and inserting them in the necks of the
bottles:-
1st. A filling device, consisting of an inlet and an outlet tube, a bell mouth for
the accommodation of necks of bottles, and a double acting valve for opening or
closing the passage between inlet and outlet, the said filling device being mounted
upon a spindle, in such a manner as to move or slide vertically substantially as
described, and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. A filling device substantially as above described, and having a spring
tappet valve in addition to the double acting valve, as, and for the purposes set 5
forth.

page_text: 3rd. A metal tube for conducting corks into the necks of bottles, the said tube
being sufficiently long and suitably arranged for use as a spindle, on which a
filling device as above described may slide by vertical movement.
4th. A metal tube as above described with the addition of a slide valve for the
purposes set forth, constructed and arranged substantially as illustrated.
5th. A vertically-moving arm, having a diagonal slot at or near its base, and
three socket holes at or near its outer extremity, the whole mounted within a
hollow vertical standard as described, and for the purposes set forth.
6th. Three adjustable plungers or rams secured to a vertically-moving arm
substantially as illustrated, and for the purposes set forth.
7th. A cork compressing device in which a distinct and separate movement is
herein before described in
given to each compressor block substantially as
combination with a diagonally slotted vertically-moving arm and vertically-moving
plungers.
8th. An adjustable cup in combination with a hollow stand, together with handle
gear and elevating spring or weight, substantially as described and illustrated, and
for the purposes set forth.
9th. The herein before described machine, comprising a filling device, a metal
tube for conducting or guiding corks into the necks of bottles, together with a
vertically-moving arm and vertically-moving rams or plungers, and a cork
compressing block, together with an adjustable cup and stand for bottles, the
whole substantially as herein before described and illustrated in drawings, for the
purposes set forth as a combination of parts.
Dated this 9th day of November 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.