Improvements in Machines for Filling and Stoppering Bottles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Filling and Stoppering Bottles.
We JOSEPH FLETCHER of 38 Leconfield Road Highbury London, Engineer,
and RYDER & Co. LIMITED of Phoenix Works Kingsland Green, London,
Bottlers' Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to fill and stopper bottles.
The
We take a standard frame "A" to which is fixed a chuck "B" with hollow
chamber "L" by means of which chuck the bottle is sealed-part of this chuck is
formed like an ordinary stuffing box “ B 1,” having screwed cap "B2" and loose
collar "B3" for the purpose of pressing the packing therein-through this stuffing
box we pass a cylinder "C," attached to the said cylinder by a dovetail connection
as on Figure 2 is a conical (internal and external) chuck "D," which is divided
thro' the centre, as shown in Figure 3 to allow the same to expand and contract
according to its position in the above mentioned chamber. Inside the above
cylinder and immediately at the bottom we place a rubber ring "D1" having the
inside parallel and turning outward at the top to receive the stoppers.
circular motion given by the screw hereafter described is transmitted from
the screw to the outer cylinder "C" by means of two studs "D2" secured to the
screw and through two elongated holes in the outer cylinder. The external of
Baid rubber being conical, and having its narrow edge upward. Inside the same
cylinder and acting as a thrust to the above mentioned rubber and outer cylinder,
we fix a screw "D3" having a hole through the centre sufficiently large to admit
of the stoppers passing through which are held at the bottoin of the screw by the
above mentioned cone chuck "D" at the upper and narrowest part thereof.
the head of the frame "A" we fix a bracket containing a suitable thread corre-
sponding with the hollow screw, by which means the stopper is screwed into the
bottle the joint being held secure until the stopper is hermetically sealed in the
bottle, and the return motion given to the screw automatically releases the stopper
in the bottle, and the upward motion of the screw again closes the above mentioned
expanding cone, which in turn receives the next stopper and is sealed in the way
previously described. The screw "D3" containing the stoppers is operated in
any ordinary manner, preferably by means of a pair of bevelled wheels, one fixed
to screw, the other on the end of a spindle or shaft to which is attached a
suitable handle for turning the same, the whole being bracketed and fixed to the
one frame.
At

page_text: Berves the double purpose of a valve chamber and packing gland. Inside the
cylinder we place a conical metal valve "F2" having a spindle "F3" extending
through the bracket into another chamber "F4" which is used as a pump for
ejecting syrups etc. for flavoring the liquors if required. At the upper end of the
valve "F2" we place a spring "F5" sufficiently strong to ensure its always 5
being down on its seating, when not filling, and thereby preventing all waste. By
means of a passage "F6" from the valve chamber, through the screwed end on
bracket "F the aerated or gaseous liquids are passed into the bottle.
SYRUP PUMP.
We attach a cylinder "G" by means of a screwed end to the above mentioned 1
bracket, having an open end securing a glass cylinder or working barrel " "G1"
having a suitable leather piston "G2" attached to a rod "G 3" which passes
through the above mentioned opening, always forcing the whole of the syrup out
of the top and finally the pump spindle "G3" operates on valve spindle "F3
opening it and thus allowing the liquor to flow into bottle.
"
This syrup pump is operated by a rod attached to the treadle lever of the
machine in the usual manner, the same being fitted with an automatic pawl to be
used for regulating when required the quantity of liquor in the bottle.
BOTTLE HOLDER.
1
By means of a treadle attached to the foot of the frame of machine we operate 2
a vertical rod containing a suitable receptacle for holding the bottle in position
having a vertical and lateral movement at one and the same time which admits of
the bottle beingwithdrawn with special freedom.
SNIFT VALVE.
"
This valve consists of a bracket containing a chamber "K" having a hollow a
screwed connection "K1" for attaching it to and connecting it with the machine
by a passage into the chamber "L" and which chamber is sealed at "K 2" by a
disc of india rubber or other suitable material. The cap or covering "K3 to
the said chamber "K" consists of a screwed cylinder containing a suitable
spring "K4" which is operated on by a screwed cap "K5" which in turn
operates on the disc "K 2." Through the chamber "K at the bottom passes a
tube "K6" having an outlet at one end and sealed at the other by means of the
disc "K2" and spring "K 4." On the pressure in the chamber "K" exceeding
a fixed point the disc "K2" is raised and a passage formed through the
tube "K6" to the outer air.
Dated the 1st day of August 1895.
THEO.
MCKENNA,
17 and 18, Basinghall Street, London, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Filling and Stoppering Bottles.
We JOSEPH FLETCHER of 38 Leconfield Road Highbury London Engineer
and RYDER & CO. LIMITED of Phoenix Works Kingsland Green London Bottlers'
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 :-
The object of this invention is to fill and stopper bottles automatically while
under any pressure.

page_text: We take a standard frame A to which is fixed a chuck B with hollow chamber L
by means of which chuck the bottle is sealed by means of the india rubber ring b.
Part of this chuck is formed like an ordinary stuffing box B₁ having secured
cap B' and loose collar B³ for the purpose of pressing the packing therein-through
this stuffing box we pass a cylinder C. Attached to the lower end of the said
cylinder by a divided connection as in Figure 2 is a conical (internal and external)
chuck D which is divided through the centre as shewn in Figure 3 to allow the
same to expand and contract according to its position in the above mentioned
chamber.
The divided chuck is so attached to the lower end of the cylinder C-for
example by the loose dovetail shewn in the drawings at d-as to be free to expand
or contract laterally while partaking of the motion of the said cylinder. The
internal form of the upper portion of the chamber L being conical and tapering
towards the top the divided chuck is free to expand when depressed but is
contracted by the converging walls when raised to the top of the conical chamber
thus alternately checking or permitting the downward passage of a stopper.
Inside the above cylinder and immediately at the bottom we place a rubber
ring D' having the inside parallel and turning outward at the top to receive the
stoppers-the circular motion given by the screw hereinafter described is trans-
mitted from the screw to the outer cylinder C by means of two studs D² secured
to the screw and through two elongated holes in the outer cylinder-the external
of said rubber being conical and having its narrow edge upwards. Inside the
same cylinder and acting as a thrust to the above mentioned rubber and outer
cylinder we fix a screw shaft D³ having a hole through the centre sufficiently large
to admit of the stoppers passing through. The stoppers are prevented from
passing out at the bottom of the screw by the engagement of the flange of the
stopper against the above mentioned cone chuck D at the upper and narrowest
part thereof when in its contracted state. At the head of the frame A we fix a
bracket containing a suitable thread corresponding with the hollow screw, by
which means the stopper is screwed into the bottle the joint between the sides of
the stopper and the inner surface of the hollow screw shaft being held secure by
means of the rubber ring D 1 until the stopper is hermetically sealed in the bottle,
the return motion given to the screw releases the pressure on the rubber ring Di
allowing it to expand internally and releasing the stopper in the bottle, the upward
motion of the screw also closes the above mentioned expanding cone which in turn
receives the next stopper and is sealed in the way previously described. The
screw shaft D 3 containing the stoppers is operated in any ordinary manner
preferably by means of a pair of bevelled wheels for turning the same, the whole
being bracketted and fixed to the one frame.
AUTOMATIC STOPPER FEED.
We fix in a suitable position a tray or hopper to hold a quantity of stoppers, at
the bottom of this tray or hopper is an outlet, attached to which is fixed a pair of
rods parallel to each other sufficiently apart to admit the thread of the stopper
hanging between but not the head, which automatically arranges the stopper in
position for the screw and serves as a conveyor from the hopper to the open end
of the hollow screw. We do not claim any novelty in the form of feed above
described and any suitable feed may be employed.
FILLING VALVE.
By means of a screwed end F we attach a bracket of gun metal or other suitable
material which at the top is chambered to receive a cylinder F 1 which serves the
By means of a screwed end F we attach a bracket of gun metal or other suitable
material which at the top is chambered to receive a cylinder F 1 which serves the
double purpose of a valve chamber and packing gland pressing upon the packing
at F 7 and having a collar F8 for the purpose of making the second joint at F8
by means of the gland F 9. Inside the cylinder we place a conical metal valve F 2

page_text: aspire extending through the bracket into another chamber F4
which is used as a pump for injecting syrups &c. for flavouring the liquors if
required. At the upper end of the valve F2 we place a spring F 5 sufficiently
strong to ensure its always being down on its seating when nit filling and thereby
preventing any waste; by means of a passage F 6 from the valve chamber through
the screwed end on bracket F the aerated or gaseous liquids are passed into the
bottle.
SYRUP PUMP.
We attach a cylinder G by means of a screwed end to the above mentioned
bracket having an open end securing a glass cylinder or working barrel G 1 having
a suitable leather piston G 2 attached to a rod G 3 which passes through the above
mentioned opening. The supply of syrup etc. is introduced through M by the
downward movement of the piston G. The operation of the return motion of G
is to force the whole of the syrup out of the top of the cylinder past the conical
valve N. Finally i.e. at the highest point of its stroke the spindle G 3 operates on
the valve spindle F 3 opening it and thus allowing the liquor to enter the duct F 6
and flow into the bottle.
The syrup pump is operated by the rod G Fig. 3 attached to the treadle O by
a pair of connecting links P in the usual way to which is attached a T arm one end
of which bears the rod O2 Fig. 2 and the other the rod G4 passing through a
bracket P attached to the frame of the machine. The rod G' has a looped end P
through which the rod G³ passes. On G³ at P³ is a fixed collar having a jaw to
receive the pawl P. On Ga and inside the loop P is an adjustable collar P5 for
the purpose of regulating the stroke of the piston G2 and the supply of the syrup.
On the treadle being raised the syrup pump is operated and the syrup forced out
of the cylinder and the valve spindle F 3 operated as before described. On the
bottle being filled the flow of liquor is arrested by the pawl P being thrown out
of position by the operator which allows the rod G³ to fall sufficiently to close
the valve by releasing the spindle F 3. On the treadle being released the loop P 2
descends with or without operating the rod G³ according as the position of the
collar P is varied to suit the character of the liquor being bottled and the pawl P
automatically falls back into position and is in readiness to operate the valve
spindle F 3.
BOTTLE HOLDER.
By means of a treadle O Fig. 2 attached to the foot of the frame of the machine
at O we operate a vertical rod O2 having a knuckle joint 0° at its lower end and
at the top is a suitable receptacle O for holding the bottle in position. The
vertical rod is caused to move on the treadle being operated both vertically and
laterally at the same time by means of the guide bracket 0 one end of which
is attached to the frame and through which bracket passes a cam Os formed
on the vertical rod. As shewn in the drawing the treadle is depressed and the
rod bearing the bottle holder is raised to its highest point. On the treadle being
released the bottle holder is lowered and at the same time moved laterally thus
throwing the holder in a backward position and giving perfect freedom for the
withdrawing of the neck of the bottle from the chuck in the filling apparatus. By
this contrivance only a minimum amount of downward movement of the vertical rod
is necessary and the placing and withdrawing of the bottle in the holder is much
facilitated.
SNIFT VALVE.
This valve consists of a bracket containing a chamber K having a hollowed
screwed connection K 1 for attaching it to and connecting it with the machine by
a passage into the chamber L which chamber is sealed at its upper end K 2 by a
disc of india rubber or other suitable material to the upper side of which is fixed
a smaller disc of metal or other hard material K 7. The cap or covering K 3 to

page_text: the said chamber K consists of a screwed cylinder containing a suitable spring K 4
which is operated upon at its upper end by a screwed cap K5 the lower end of the
spring pressing against the metal or other disc K 7 situated on K 2. Through the
chamber K at the bottom passes a tube K 6. having an outlet at the lower end and
being sealed at the other by means of the disc K 2. and spring K 4. On the
pressure in the chamber K exceeding a fixed point the disc K 2. is raised against
the pressure of the spring and a passage formed through the tube K 6. to the outer
air. The pressure at which escape of gas takes place can be regulated with great
exactness by screwing or unscrewing the cap K 5. so as to modify the pressure of
the spring on K 7. The operation of the various parts of the machine will be
readily understood by persons acquainted with the use of bottling machines. The
liquid impregnated with gas with which the bottle is to be filled is introduced
through the tube F 1. the syrup or other flavouring through the valve M.
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-
In a machine for filling and stoppering bottles automatically while under
pressure
1. The combination of parts forming our improved machine operating and
constructed as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of a screw shaft a channel for the supply of stoppers
down the centre of the same a checking device to prevent the premature escape
of stoppers and an internally contractible elastic collar situate at the lower end
of the hollow shaft all operating for the purposes described.
3. The combination of the pump G 2. and the valve and stem F 3. actuated
by the said pump as and for the purposes described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
4. The combination of parts forming our improved snifting valve operating
and constructed as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination of an internally contractible elastic collar and a conical
filling chamber for the purposes described.
6. The valve and stem F3 as described having two glands one above and one
below the valve seating operated by one screwed collar as described.
Dated the 2nd day of May 1896.
THEO. MCKENNA,
Agent.