An Improved Machine for Filling Screw-stoppered Bottles
Year: 1898

page_text: An Improved Machine for Filling Screw-stoppered Bottles,
HASELWOOD CLAUDE ADCOCK, Station Road, Worthing, Sussex, Engineer, and
SAMUEL FRANCIS LYLE, New Street, Worthing, Sussex, Aerated Water Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to the mechanism for automatically holding the bottle,
removing and replacing the stopper, and is applicable to any bottle having a
plain neck on the outside or any screw stopper.
For this purpose we use a machine similar to that known as a turnover, as
regards syruping and supply of aerated water the whole being operated by one
revolution of the machine by hand or power when operated by hand the machine
is revolved by the handle usual in turnovers, & by a second similar handle on
the opposite side of and at an equal distance from the centre of machine.
For holding the neck of the bottle we use an indiarubber circular collar of D
shaped sections with the round part inward. This being compressed between
a cup & the head of machine by means of a lever attached to the revolving
frame of machine which is operated by striking an inclined plane on the fixed
frame of machine.
This compression bulges the collar against the neck of the bottle forming a
watertight joint.
For removing & replacing the stopper a spindle passes through the head of
machine, having at its inward end a chuck for holding the stoppers and at its
outer end a roller, faced with indiarubber or other suitable material which roller
is revolved by frictional contact by passing over two runners alternately, these
runners being fixed to stationery frame of machine, this causing the roller &
chuck to revolve to the left for unscrewing, & the second runner which touches
the opposite side of roller & so reverses the motion for screwing up. The great
advantage of this frictional contact is, that upon the screw being driven home
into the bottle, the roller slips preventing damage by overdriving. The spindle
is also provided with a lengthways motion, being compelled inward by a spring,
& drawn outward by a lever and friction rollers which are operated by means of a
guide on stationary frame. The spindle is retained at its outward position by a
spring catch which is released by a block on the stationary frame.
The chuck which moves in a cylindrical chamber/in the head is formed with
any convenient number of spring jaws, which lightly retain the stopper and an
indiarubber pad which is pressed against the top of the stopper by means of
the spring, & so causes the stopper to revolve with the chuck. The pad for sup-
porting the bottom of the bottle is conical in shape, the small end coming in con-
tact with the bottom of the bottle, the sloping sides assisting the placing &
removal of the bottle from the mouth of the machine. The face of pad is con-
siderably smaller than the bottom of bottle, going within the usual recess there
& so preventing the bottle from fitting out of line with the chuck.
In operating the machine for filling the pad being lifted and a bottle with
screw stopper inserted, is placed in the machine and the pad released, this forces

page_text: the stopper into the chuck. The machine being now revolved compresses the
collar around the neck of bottle, then the roller passes on to the first runner
causing it to revolve the stopper which in unscrewing raises the spindle against
the pressure of the spring, the spindle is now raised by means of lever taking
the stopper away from the bottle clear of the incoming fluid, & is retained there
by the spring catch; the syrup now enters followed by the aerated water, the
catch now trips on the block allowing the spindle to descend by the pull of
spring, while the roller passing onto the second runner is revolving the stopper
so screwing it into the bottle tightly. While the bottle is filling an automatic
snift allows the air in the bottle to escape.
For machines filling bottles in a stationary position the rubber rollor may be
operated by the runners revolving instead of the bottle frame, or the runners
may be reduced in diameter and geared up to a necessary speed, in this last case
the bottle frame or runners are provided with a transverse motion to bring the
roller & runners into alternate contact.
In the table form of multiple machine filler, the roller operating by friction
with its runners can be used instead of tooth gearing as generally used. In the
turnover machine hereinbefore described it is obvious that one or more bottles
may be filled by duplicating the mechanish & for the purpose of revolving the
chuck, instead of using a rubber faced wheel operating by friction it may be
replaced by a pinion gearing into teeth on the runners, a large amount of
backlash being provided to compensate for the difference in pitch on the runners
at the different working positions of the pinion.
Dated this 15th day of June 1800
An Improved Machine for Filling Screw-stoppered Bottles.
We, HASELWOOD CLAUDE ADCOCK, Engineer, of 62, Station Road, Worthing, and
SAMUEL FRANCIS LYLE, Mineral Water Manufacturer, of New Street, Worthing,
both in the County of Sussex, 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 machines of the "turnover" type for filling screw-
stoppered bottles, and in particular to those parts of the mechanism for auto-
matically holding the bottle, and for removing the screw-stopper and replacing
same after filling of the bottle. The improved mechanisms herein specified are
applicable to any shape of bottle commonly in use, and to any screw-stopper.
For the purpose of our invention we use a machine similar to that known as
the turnover" in so far as regards the injection of syrup and the supply of
aërated water, the whole being operated by one revolution of the machine by
hand or power. The filling operation however forms no part of our present
invention.
"
In order that our improvements may be clearly understood we will describe
same in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side
elevation of a 66
turnover" machine shown partly in section and with our
improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same. Fig. 3 is
a perspective view of the compression-lever and connections, Fig. 4 a small scale
plan of the runners, and Fig. 5 a plan of a catch hereinafter referred to. The
machine is usually revolved by power applied to the main spindle S, but when
operated by hand, the pair of handles s s diametrically disposed and equi-distant

page_text: from the turning centre are used. Our improved apparatus for automatically
holding the neck of the bottle comprises an elastic annular collar A of semi-
circular or D-shape section with the curved part disposed inwardly and adapted
when compresed to grip and hold the neck of the bottle. This elastic collar A is
compressed between the flanges 6 of the cap B, within which it lies, and the fixed
head of the machine by means of a compression-lever ) which is preferably
of the form shown best in Fig. 3; it is cranked and slotted and extended down-
wardly and provided at its lower end with a friction roller d. Figs. 1 and 3;
adapted when the frame is rotated to strike upon an inclined plane E fixed to the
stationary frame F1 of the machine, and so to raise or lower as required the
cap B above mentioned, and as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The lever D
is carried by its transverse head d in bearings did in the revolving frame 1
and to its inwardly projecting shorter arm is pivotted a pair of links d³ d
connected to the compression-cap B so that according as the lever is operated
the cap B will be drawn down or forced up, the link connections causing the
motions to take place in true rectilinear directions. When the cap B has been
fully compressed the lever ) is caught and held in the position shown dotted
in Fig. 1 by a spring catch Y, shown separately in plan, Fig. 5, and so remains
until the completion of the revolution of frame I when it is tripped by a block Y¹.
The compression of the collar A causes same to be bulged inwardly so as to
firmly grip the neck of the bottle G when placed therein, and thus a water-tight
joint is ensured during the operations of injecting the syrup and the aërated
water.
The improved mechanism for removing and replacing the screw-stopper_com-
prises a spindle H which in the arrangement illustrated, passes through a slot d
in the said cranked compression-lever D, and through the lower part of the fixed
head of the machine. The spindle H carries at its inner or central end a
chuck for gripping and holding the crown of the stopper, said chuck recipro-
cating within the chamber of the head C as hereinafter described; upon its
outer end the spindle H is provided with a foot-roller J faced with india-rubber
or suitable frictional material j. On revolution of the frame the friction-
roller J is caused to be revolved alternately in opposite directions by its frictional
contact with one or other of the sides L and M which are suitably joggled and
disposed for this purpose as shown in Fig. 4, of the channel-shaped bar W which
is fixed to or forms part of the stationary frame F1 of the machine. For this
purpose when the friction-roller J comes into contact with the first side-runner L
which is inwardly joggled for the purpose for a sufficient distance, the chuck h
is revolved to the left and the stopper unscrewed from the bottle. On continued
rotation of the machine the other side of the roller J comes into contact with the
second side-runner M which is also joggled inwardly for a sufficient distance, and
thereby the direction of rotation of the chuck his reversed and the stopper again
screwed into the bottle. The great advantage of this frictional contact is that
as soon as the screw-stopper has been sufficiently screwed home in the bottle the
roller slips upon the side runner M, and so prevents damage to the stopper by
over-driving. In addition to the rotary movements above described the spindle H
is also arranged to have a lengthwise or longitudinal movement for the important
purpose of withdrawing the stopper, when unscrewed as described, for a con-
venient distance from the bottle mouth to enable the filling operations to be
performed; for this purpose the spindle H is normally forced inwards or towards
the centre by an adjustable spring attached to a fixed lug h² at one end, and
at the other end by an adjusting device such as to the lever N hereinafter
described, and it is forced outward or away from the working centre of the
machine at the proper time by a friction-roller n² mounted at one extremity n¹
of a lever N pivotted at nupon the revolving frame F. This roller n³ (the
normal position of which is shown in hard lines) engages with and is raised by
a cam O formed on the stationary frame F¹ and disposed in the required position
in the path of revolution of the frame F, so depressing the extremity; n of the

page_text: lever N which by means of an antifriction-roller bearing surface p acting
between collars 1 fixed upon the spindle H, forces the spindle outwards
(against the tension of spring ¹) until the extremity 3 of the lever N is caught
and retained by a spring catch Q; at the proper moment during this revolution
the said spring catch Q is released by engaging a stop a fixed on the stationary
frame W.
The spring chuck on the inner end of the spindle H is provided with any
convenient number of spring jaws such as which lightly retain the stopper,
and also an india-rubber pad r¹ is provided: this is pressed by the spring h¹
against the top of the stopper when the spindle H is raised, thereby causing the
stopper to revolve together with the chuck h. The construction of the chuck h
however forms no part of our present invention and any suitable kind of chuck
may be substituted. For securing the bottom of the bottles we use a pad made
as shown at t of conical shape in order that when pressed down by a spring or
otherwise in any convenient way the smaller end will come into contact with the
bottom of the bottle G, the sloping sides assisting the entering and removal of
same from the chamber c. The face of the pad is considerably smaller than the
bottom of the bottle so as to pass freely within the usual recess provided; this
arrangement and construction centralises the bottom of the bottle from any
position, aided by the pressure of the gas, and effectually prevents it from getting
out of line with the chuck.
The cycle of operation is as follows:-The machine being in the position shown,
the pad t is lifted by the usual means such as the lever-handle S in a hand-
machine or by the cam Z and rod Z¹ in a power-machine, and the neck of the
bottle G with a screw-stopper inserted is then placed in the head of the machine
and the pad t released, the stopper is thus forced into the spring jaws of the
chuck and the whole bottle is securely held in an upright position. The revolu-
tion of the frame F upon the spindle S in the direction of the arrow either by
power or the handles ss, causes the roller d to travel up the inclined plane E,
which motion causes the lever D to pull down the cap B and compress the collar A
firmly around the neck of the bottle and then the lever D is held by the catch Y.
At this time the foot-roller J of spindle H is timed to come into gear with the
first side-runner L whereby the chuck his revolved to the left, and the screw-
stopper partially unscrewed from the neck of the bottle: the spindle H is then
forced outwards against the force of its spring by the friction-roller 2 passing
over the fixed cam O withdrawing with it the screw-stopper clear of the inflowing
fluid, and it is retained in that position by the spring catch Q. At this point the
syrup is caused to enter and is followed by the aërated water, both being supplied
by the usual leather "cut-off" or otherwise. Continuing the revolution of the
frame F the catch Q is tripped by the fixed stop q allowing the spindle H to be
returned to the centre by the action of the extended spring h¹, whilst the roller J
passing on to the second runner M is revolved in the opposite direction and so
screws the stopper tightly into the neck of the bottle. The operation is then
complete, and the lever D is released from this holding catch Y by the action
of block Y. Then the pad t may be released by the operator on the arm Z,
so as to remove the bottle. During the time that the bottle is filling an automatic
snift-valve allows the air in the bottle to escape, but such is not illustrated in the
drawings, nor do the filling processes or their means form part of our present
improvements. For filling bottles in a stationary position the above described
motion may be equivalently attained and the roller J may be operated by said
runners L and M being caused to revolve instead of the bottle-frame F as above
described, or the said side-runners may be reduced in diameter and geared up
to a necessary speed. In this case the bottle-frame or the revolving side-runners
are provided with an endwise or transverse motion to bring the roller and side-
runners into alternate contact, but we prefer the arrangement above set forth.
For the purpose of revolving the chuck instead of using a friction-roller such
as J operated by frictional contact we may obviously use a pinion gearing with

page_text: internal teeth on the runners, a large amount of back-lash being provided to
compensate for the difference in pitch on the side-runners at the two working
positions of the pinion; for the table form of multiple machine the first described
arrangement is however much preferred. In the "turnover" machine herein-
before described it is obvious that two or more bottles may be filled by duplicating
or multiplicating the mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In machines of the "turnover" type for filling screw-stoppered bottles, the
use and arrangement for automatically holding the neck of the bottle, of an
annular elastic collar (A) of D-shaped section adapted to be compressed between
a reciprocating cap (B) and the stationary head (C) of the machine, through the
medium of a compression-lever such as described intermittently operated by a
foot-roller which engages at the proper time with an inclined plane (E) fixed
upon the stationary frame (F) of the machine, for the purpose of forming a
water-tight joint during the operations of syruping and supplying of aërated
water, substantially in the manner herein described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a "turnover" machine such as above referred to the use in combination
with joggled side-runners such as (L M) of a reciprocating rotary spindle such
as H provided with a friction-roller (J) for the several purposes hereinabove
fully set forth.
3. In machines of the "turnover" type for filling screw-stoppered bottles,
the use and arrangement for removing the screw-stopper and replacing same
after filling, of the spindle (H) provided at its inner or central end with a spring
chuck and receiving alternately rotary motion in reversed directions through
the, medium of a friction-roller (or pinion) (J) gearing with alternately disposed
side-runners (L and M) of the kind specified, and endwise motions at the required
times through the medium of a spring (h¹) and lever with roller (N) and cam (0),
the positions of the said spindle being respectively controlled by the spring
catch (Q) and the fixed stop (9) the whole arrangement being adapted to operate at
the times and substantially in the manner herein described and illustrated in
the drawings.
4. In a turnover machine such as above referred to, the use and arrange-
ment of the compression-lever (D) of the kind referred to and adapted to act
evenly upon the compression-cap B through connecting links and operated as
described on revolution of the rotary frame, and the spring catch (Y) and block (Y¹)
for controlling the position of same, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein described and illustrated in the drawings.
5. The arrangement and combination of parts in the improved "turnover"
machine for filling screw-stoppered bottles as herein described and illustrated in
the drawings, whereby a tight joint is effected at the bottle orifice during the
filling processes and the screw-stopper is automatically removed and replaced
after filling.
J. C. CHAPMAN & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.