IMPROVEMENTS IN FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND IN THE APPARATUS THEREFOR 33
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John James Varloy of Charterhouse Buildings, in the
county of Middlesex, Engineer for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND IN THE APPARATUS THEREFOR
33
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John James Varley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1882.
JOHN JAMES VARLEY, of Charterhouse Buildings in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND IN THE
APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
This invention relates to filling and closing bottles stoppered by means of what
aro known as screw stoppers.
Hitherto great difficulty has been experienced in filling screw stoppered bottles
with aërated or gascous liquids becauso when the bottle had been filled the gas
escaped before the screw stopper could be turned into its seat. Now the object of
my invention is to provide means to enable such bottles to be filled with aërated
or gaseous liquids in a simple and efficient manner. In carrying out my improve-
ments the cup of the filling machine is made to form a tight joint over the mouth
of the bottle (formed to fit therein) and so that the head of the screw stopper can
work up and down within the said cup; the said cup of the filling machine is
provided with a suitable key or its equivalent, so arranged that it can be turned
by suitable means from the outside of the cup; the head of the stopper is
constructed so that it can be turned by the said key.
To fill and close a bottle with a screw stopper, the stopper is placed in the mouth
of the bottle, and the bottle with the stopper placed in the cup of the filling machine
and held therein in the usual manner. The liquid being admitted will pass into
the bottle and, when the bottle is filled, the herein before described key is turned so
as to screw the stopper into its place in the bottle. The bottle thus stoppered is
then removed and another placed in position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John James Varley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
October 1882.
JOHN JAMES VARLEY of Charterhouse Buildings in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN FILLING AND CLOSING BOTTLES AND IN THE
APPARATUS THEREFOR
"1
This invention relates to filling and closing bottles stoppered by means of what
are known as screw stoppers.
Hitherto great difficulty lins been experienced in filling screw stoppered bottles
with nerated or gaseous liquids because when the bottle had been filled the gas
escaped before the screw stopper could be turned into its seat. Now the object of
my invention is to provide means to enable such bottles to be filled with nerated
or gaseous liquids in a simple and efficient manner, In carrying out my improve-
ments the cup of the filling machine is made to form a tight joint over the mouth
of the bottle (formed to fit therein) and so that the head of the screw stopper can
work up and down within the said cup; the said cup of the filling machine is
provided with a suitablo key or its equivalent, so arranged that it can be turned
by suitable means from the outside of the cup; the head of the stopper is constructed
so that it can be turned by the said key.
In order to enable my invention to be better understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, shews a side
elevation partly in section of an upright machine constructed according to my im-
provements for filling with aörated or gaseous liquids and closing, bottles stoppered
by what are known as " Barrett's screw stoppers
"
a, a, is the stand of the innchine which may be of any ordinary construction and
provided with the usual means for filling the bottle; b, is the head pieco provided
with a cup c, the mouth of which is lined with india rubber at d (or in any other
suitable manner) so as to form a tight joint around the mouth of the bottle o, when
the bottle is pressed against the same by raising the block f, by pressing on the
treadle g.
h, is a key working in the chamber i, in the head piece b, the chamber being of
greater diameter than the head of the stopper; the key h, is preferably formed
with a spring or lined with india rubber so as to hold the head of the stopper as
hereinafter described; the said key is fixed on the end of a spindle j, which passes
through the head piece b, and is provided with a handle k, at its upper end by
which to turn the same. 2, is a counter-weighted hand lever for raising and
loworing the spindle j.
The parts of the apparatus for supplying the liquid to the bottle are not shewn
in the drawing as they form no part of my invention and therefore need no
description.
The stoppers to be used with this machine are those known as "Barrett's screw
stoppers" but to enable the same to be operatod by the key of the machine the
head of the stopper is formed with a central recess m, as shewn in section and plan
at figures 2, and 3, or with a projection n, as shown in elevation and plan at
figures 4 and 5, the hereinbefore described key being formed with a suitable spring
so as to take into the recess m, or to take hold of the projection n, as the case may
be, so as to hold and operate the stopper as heroinafter described; or the key may
consist of a socket lined with india rubber as shown at figures G, and 7, for taking
over the sides of the head of the stopper, or the head of the stopper may be made
hoxagonal as shown in elevation and plun at figures 8, and 9, or of other suitable
shape.
The operation of filling and closing a scrow stoppered bottle by this machine is
as follows:
The lever handle l, is first lowered so that the key h, will project below the
cup c, (in the case where a stopper is constructed with a recess in the top for

page_text: receiving the key as shewn in figures 2 and 3); the stopper is then placed upon
the key and the lever handle 1, being raised into the position shewn in dotted lines
the stopper will be raised into the top of the chamber i, so as to leave the filling
inlet free; the bottle e, is then placed on the block f, and the treadle g, is depressed
by which means the bottle will be raised and its mouth pressed against the
scating d, in the cup c, as shewn in the drawing and a tight joint will thus be
made between the mouth of the bottle and the cup c. Aörated or gaseous liquid is
then admitted by any ordinary means through the inlet pipe and will pass into the
bottle. When the bottle is filled the supply of liquid is shut off, the lever handle,
is then depressed thereby lowering the spindle, until the stopper on the key h,
enters the mouth of the bottle; the handle k, is then turned, (the lever l, being
also kept down) and the turning of the handle k, will also turn the key h, and the
stopper will be screwed into its seat in the mouth of. the bottle. The treadle g, is
then relieved from pressure thereby lowering the block f, and with it the bottle e,
which can then be removed from the machine.
When the key consists of a socket such as are shown in figures 6, and 7, the said
key is not pushed down through the opening in the cup c, as hereinbefore described
but the stopper is pushed up through the opening into the socket of the key and
when keys of this construction are employed the diameter of the hoad of the
stopper must be less than the exterior diaineter of the mouth of the bottle.
In all cases it will be understood that the particular kind of key employed will
depend upon the shape or formn of the head of the stopper and any construction of
key may be employed which will hold the stopper and allow it to be screwed into
the bottle.
Instead of the stopper being screwed into the mouth of the bottle as hereinbefore
described it may sometimes be convenient to fix the stopper in a cup or socket of
the machine and as soon as the bottle has been filled the bottle may bo turned by
any suitable arrangement of mechanism so as to screw the mouth thereof on the
screw of the stopper; in this arrangement the rubber seating over the mouth of the
bottle would be adapted to turn with the bottle to prevent the escape of liquid.
Having thus described my invention and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that what I
claim is:-
Firstly. The method herein described of filling and closing bottles having screw
stoppers by the employment of a filling apparatus provided with a key for holding
the stopper while the bottle is filled the said key being adapted so that it can
be lowered and turned to screw the stopper into its seat in the mouth of tho
bottlo as herein before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. The modification of the arrangement in which the bottle is turned
instead of the stopper as hereinbefore described.
Thirdly. The application to machines for filling bottles having screw stoppers,
with aërated liquids, of a key constructed to hold and turn the stopper in the
manner and for the purposes herein before described.
In Witness whereof I the said John James Varley have hereto set my
hand and seal this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN
Patent Agent.
4, South St
Finsbury
J J VARLEY (L.S.)