IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FILLING AND CORKING BOTTLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Allan Macdonell, of Newry, Ireland, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
FILLING AND CORKING BOTTLES.”
Sealed the 11th January 1876, and dated the 16th July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Allan Macdonell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 16th July 1875.
I, ALLAN MACDONELL, of Newry, Ireland, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR FILLING AND CORKING BOTTLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in bottle filling and corking machines
consists in an arrangement of vertical cylinders, apparatus in connection
therewith, for the purpose of expeditiously filling the bottles with
liquid and then putting in the corks, the whole operation being per-
formed automatically, the attendant only requiring to put on the empty
bottles and take them off when filled and corked.

page_text: On a hollow base plate, which may be bolted to the floor, I fix a
hollow vertical cylinder, having curved grooves cast on the outer side
to act as cams for guiding the bottles and plungers; this cylinder
carrics at the top a shaft bearing; an outer vertical cylinder revolves
round the inner fixed cylinder and carrics at its lower end sliding
brackets for supporting the bottles, and at its upper end plungers to
force in the corks; this cylinder is keyed to a vertical shaft, from which
it receives motion through worm or bevil gearing driven from the
engine, or from any other available source of
•
power.
Above the cylinders is a small tank to contain the liquid supplied 1
from the vats, connected with and supplied by the tank are small
measures, each holding sufficient to fill one bottle; proceeding from the
measures are pipes delivering into tubes fixed to the outer cylinder
between the plungers and brackets; cocks arc inserted into these pipes,
and are opened and closed by connecting so as to regulate the time of :
feeding the liquid into the bottles; a cock is inserted into each tube
above the opening where the pipe enters.
. When the machine is set in motion the brackets are carried forward
and each bottle in turn raised until the neck is pressed against a leather
or india-rubber washer in the tube; the connecting rod is then moved by
a tappet and the cock opened to allow sufficient liquid to go into the
bottle; the plunger is then brought down by the top groove and the
cork forced into the bottle; the bracket is then drawn down and the
bottle released, the operation then being completed.
The action of this machine is continuous, the bottles being put on
and taken off without stopping the machine.
The machine may be used for corking only, and then may be driven
at a higher speed.
I also sometimes construct my improved machine with discs instead
of cylinders with similar motions, but filling the bottles on their sides,

page_text: The construction and action of my improved machine will be clearly
understood on reference to the following description and to the Sheet
of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 and 2 show respectively plan and elevation of a machine
constructed with a conical table.
Figures 3 and 4 shew respectively plan and elevation of a cylindrical
machine with drying machine attached
The bottle filling and corking machine consists of two cylinders or
conical tables, the inner cylinder or cone being stationary, the outer
cylinder or cone revolving; on the revolving cylinder or cone are a
number of apparatuses similar to those of ordinary corking machines,
which carried round with the cylinder are at the same time moved
vertically and horizontally, guided in perpendicular slots by projections
which extend and fit into grooves in the inner or stationary cylinder or
conc. The revolving cylinder or cone is keyed on an upright shaft
which passes through the centre of the machine, supported by a bush
in top of stationary cylinder or cone. This cylinder or cone is bolted
to a base plate, and on the same base plate is a footstep for upright and
also pedestals for lying shaft. The lying shaft has pulleys keyed on to
one end for receiving motion from the engine or other power; and on
this shaft is keyed a screw geaning into a worm wheel on the vertical
shaft. The grooves above referred to on the inner cylinder or cone are
made at such angles to its axis so that by the revolution of the outer
cylinder or cone the pistons, tappets, and brackets are raised and lowered
at the different points, or similar effects may be produced by an
eccentric keyed on to the centre shaft and attached by connecting rods
to pistons.
On the top of the cylinders or conical table is a small reservoir for
the liquid regulated by a ball cock. Measures are attached, each|
holding the required quantity of liquid for a single bottle, the cocks to
these measures being worked by tappets, and arc of the kind usually
employed for measuring liquids, and connects the reservoir with measures
and measures with the pipes through which the liquid flows to the tubes
and bottles. These apparatuses may be replaced by a conical valve
consisting of two parts, inner and outer, accurately fitted together, the
inner part being stationary and connected by pipes with the vats with
air pump or other exhauster, and with a vessel containing carbonic acid

page_text: or other gas, having also necessary ports opening to outer portion of
cone, which revolves with machine and has a double communication
with the mouth of cach bottle. Bolted on to the same base plate as
the stationary cylinder or cone is a drying machine consisting of a
revolving circular table with two leaves, upper and lower, pierced with
a number of holes, through which small pipes project, and through
these pipes a strong current of air is forced to dry the bottles.
The method of working my improved machine is as follows.-The
bottles immediately from washing machine arc inverted on the air pipes,
and after making a revolution are placed on the spring cushions of
brackets when at the lowest point, a cork is then placed on top of tube.
The grooves on inner cylinder or conical discs are so made that by the
first portion of the revolution of cylinder or cone the bracket is raised and
presses mouth of bottle against a leather or india-rubber washer in tube;
the tappet, is next worked, and allows the fluid to flow from the measure
into the bottle through the pipe, then shuts it off, the piston or plunger
then comes into opcration, driving down the cork, the piston or plunger
is then raised and bracket lowered (a revolution of the cylinder being
now completed).
The bottle may be removed and replaced by an empty one; the same
action takes place with cach bottle as it passes the points.
In the cylindrical form of machine adapted for filling bottles with
internal stoppers the bottle is filled mouth downwards, and the air is
exhausted through a pipe which rises into the bottle, this pipe forms
the leg of an inverted syphon, the other leg being connected to centre
valve of machine. In the conical form the eccentric grooves give
motion to levers by which the bottle is tilted when full, allowing the
stopper to fall into its proper place, the lever then lowers the bottle to
its original position, the action is completed, and the full bottle may be
replaced by an empty one. In either form of machines for this purpose
the pistons or plungers are dispensed with and the tubes for corks are
replaced by suitable mouth pieces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
Invention, and how the same may be carried into practical operation,
I would have it understood that what I claim and desire to secure by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of a conical machine,
'

page_text: herein-before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing,
Figures 1 and 2, or cylindrical machine, as illustrated by Figures 3 and 4,
for exhausting atmospheric air from the bottles for filling and corking or
closing them under any required pressure of carbonic acid or other
gas.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of a bottle drying
machine as herein-before described and illustrated by the accom-
panying Drawings, Figures 3 and 4.
In witness whercof, I, the said Allan Macdonell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
SIX.