Improvements in Machines for Syruping, Filling, and Corking Bottles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
Improvements in Machines for Syruping, Filling, and Corking
Bottles.
I, THOMAS NEIL CRETNEY, of 28, Western Street, Barnsley, in the County of
York, Aerated Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for syruping, filling, and cork-
ing bottles containing aerated waters or other liquids and comprises a series of
operations which are performed automatically from the time the bottle and cork
respectively are placed in the machine until the filled and corked bottle is
delivered into a shoot provided for its reception.
'
According to my said invention, all the movements necessary for accomplishing
my object are obtained by means of cams, cam pieces, or cam paths which are
suitably arranged on the top, side, or bottom of cylinders or discs placed on a
vertical shaft which is supported on a suitable base and driven by a worm wheel
and worm or other well known means. To the said base is fixed a vertical frame
consisting of two sides, connected at the top by a cross plate, through a boss in
the centre of which the aforesaid shaft passes.
The said frame carries a movable bottle stand, a bottle filling head to which
are attached valves for the admission of liquid and the escape of air, a cork com-
pressor or squeezer, a cork plunger, a syrup pump with suction and delivery
valves, a device for shutting off the aerated water and diverting the syrup in the
event of no bottle being placed in the machine, and a device for kicking out
the bottle when filled.
The bottle stand, also the cork plunger are secured to blocks which are capable
of sliding vertically up and down in guides formed in the frame. To the back
of each block is fixed a pin or stud on which is mounted an anti-friction roller,
and the vertical motion is derived from cam paths on the side of the cylinders
aforesaid.
The filling and air valves are operated by levers which are pivoted to
the frame. On the outer end of the levers are anti-friction rollers,
and the levers receive their motion intermittently from a number
of adjustable cam pieces which are placed horizontally on a disc on the
vertical shaft, and which pass under the rollers attached to the said levers, the
opposite end of the levers depressing and opening the valves. The levers are
fitted with screwed studs immediately above the valves, and these can be regu-
lated to suit the filling and snifting of bottles of various capacities.
The cork compressor or squeezer comprises a stationary and a movable piece.
The former is fitted into the top of the filling head, and the latter is attached to
two spindles sliding horizontally and guided in the frame of the machine.
Between the two sides of the frame the spindles are provided with a crosshead,
on the underside of which is an anti-friction roller. To the top of the cam disc
which operates the valve levers is cast a cam which at the proper moment comes
in contact with the roller on the crosshead and squeezes the cork into the required
After the cork has been driven into the bottle, the compressor is
compass.
returned to its original position by a spring or other means.

page_text: The syrup pump is fixed in a vertical position inside the frame and the rod
of the plunger is provided at its lower end with two anti-friction rollers, one in
the centre and the other at the side. The plunger is forced upwards by a cam
piece coming under the central roller. This cam piece is placed horizontally on
the top of the cam cylinder which operates the bottle stand, and is provided on
its under side with a projection which fits into a slot in the top of the cam
cylinder. The lift of the plunger is regulated by cam pieces of varying thick-
ness being placed in the said slot. The plunger is returned to its original position
by a cam which comes in contact with the roller on the side of the rod of the
plunger.
.
The kick-off device comprises a rod the upper end of which is provided with an
attachment adjustable to suit various lengths of bottles, and wrapped with leather
or other material suitable for contact with glass. The bottom end of the rod is
fixed to a spindle which passes through one side of the frame and which is kept
in position by suitable means. To the opposite end of the spindle is fixed a
lever having an anti-friction roller on its outer end. This roller comes under-
neath the cam cylinder which gives motion to the bottle stand, and on the under
side of the said cylinder is a cam whichi at a given point depresess the said lever
and simultaneously gives a forward movement to the part which kicks the bottle
into the shoot,
During one revolution of the vertical shaft all the movements requisite for
the syruping, filling, snifting, sealing, and delivering of the bottle are executed
in proper order, and as these movements must take place during every revolu-
tion it would follow that if no bottle was inserted in the machine a given quantity
of syrup and aerated water would be wasted, but to prevent this I employ a
device comprising intermediate valves which are operated from the bottle stand.
A projecting piece from the latter passes through the frame, and to the outer
end of this piece is pivoted a link which gives motion to a lever placed at right
angles with the projecting piece. The said lever is pivoted near to and operates
the aforesaid intermediate valves, one of the latter being connected with the
aerated water supply and two being connected with the pump for the delivery of
syrup. The lever is held down in a horizontal position by a catch which is pivoted
to the frame. When the lever is in a horizontal position the water valve and
one of the syrup valves are kept open, this particular valve directing the syrup
to the filling head. When a bottle is placed in the machine the bottle stand
and projecting piece can only travel as far as the bottle will permit, after which
point the compression of the cam which operates the bottle stand is taken by a
spring which is placed under the latter, and the lever retains its horizontal
position, but if no bottle is placed in the machine the bottle stand will travel its
full distance, and in doing so the projecting piece throws off the aforesaid catch,
releasing the lever and causing the said water valve and syrup valve respectively
to be closed. Simultaneously the other syrup valve is opened and the syrup is
diverted back to the inlet pipe. When the bottle stand descends, the link
attached to the projecting piece brings down the lever, which is kept in position
by the catch.
Dated this 13th day of April 1899

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for syruping, filling, and cork-
ing bottles containing aerated waters or other liquids and comprises a series of
operations which are performed automatically from the time the bottle and cork
respectively are placed in the machine until the filled and corked bottle is
delivered into a shoot provided for its reception.
According to my said invention, all the movements necessary for accomplishing
my object are obtained by means of cams, cam pieces, or cam paths which are
suitably arranged on the top, side, or bottom of cylinders or discs placed on a
vertical shaft which is supported on a suitable base and driven by a worm wheel
and worm or other well known means. To the said base is fixed a vertical frame
consisting of two sides, connected at the top by a cross plate, through a boss in
the centre of which the aforesaid shaft passes.
The said frame carries a movable bottle stand, a bottle filling head to which
are attached valves for the admission of liquid and the escape of air, a cork com-
pressor or squeezer, a cork plunger, a syrup pump with suction and delivery
valves, a device for shutting off the aerated water and diverting the syrup in the
event of no bottle being placed in the machine, and a device for kicking out
the bottle when filled.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood, I will describe
same with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the syrup pump and valves, and the device for
shutting off the aerated water and diverting the syrup, with part of the pump
and pump rod cut away to show the said device more clearly.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent elevations of the cams 9, 10, 38, 41, and 47
in an extended form.
Fig. 7 is a plan of cam 9, showing the slot 40 in which fits the cam piece 38.
Fig. 8 is a plan of Fig. 2 between lines a b, c d, omitting pipes 60 and 61
and cork plunger 4.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of valves 48, 49, and 50.
Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of valves 48 and 49 on the line e f and
Fig. 11 is a sectional plan of valve 50 on the line y h.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The brackets 1 and 2 supporting the bottle stand 3 and the cork plunger 4
are secured to blocks 5 and 6 which are capable of sliding vertically up and down
in the guides formed in the frame. To the back of each block is fixed a pin or
stud on which are mounted anti-friction rollers 7 and 8 respectively. The vertical
motion is derived from the cam paths on the side of the cylinders 9 and 10.
The filling valve 11 and air or snift valve 12 are attached to the filling head 18,
and are operated by levers 14 and 15 which are pivoted to the frame. On the
outer ends of the levers are anti-friction rollers 16 and 17, and the levers receive
their motion intermittently from the adjustable cam pieces 18 and 19 which are
placed in the slots 20 and 21 on the horizontal disc 22, being secured under-
neath by the nuts 23 and 24, and which pass under the rollers 16 and 17 attached
to the said levers, the opposite end of the levers depressing and opening the valves.
The levers are fitted with screwed studs 25 and 26 immediately over the valves,
and these can be regulated to suit the filling and snifting of bottles of various
capacities.
The cork compressor or squeezer comprises a stationary piece 27 and a movable
piece 28. The former is fitted into the top of the filling head 13, and the latter
to two spindles 29 sliding horizontally and guided in the frame of the machine.
Between the two sides of the frame the spindles are provided with a crosshead 30,
on the under side of which is an anti-friction roller 31. To the top of the disc 22
is cast a cam 32 which at the proper moment comes in contact with the roller 31

page_text: and brings the movable piece 28 into close proximity with the stationary piece 27,
squeezing the cork into the required compass. After the cork has been driven
into the bottle, the compressor is returned to its original position by the spring 33.
The syrup pump 34 is fixed in a vertical position inside the frame, and the
rod of the plunger 35 is provided with suitable guides at its lower end and with
two anti-friction rollers, one in the centre 36 and the other at the side 37. The
plunger is forced upwards by a cam piece 38 coming under the central roller.
This cam piece is placed horizontally on the top of the cam cylinder 9, and is
provided on its under side with a projection 39 which fits into a slot 40 in the
top of the cam cylinder. The lift of the plunger is regulated by cam pieces
of varying thickness being placed in the said slot. The plunger is returned to
its original position by a cam 41 which comes in contact with the roller 37.
The kick-off device comprises a rod 42, the upper end of which is provided with
an attachment 43, adjustable to suit various lengths of bottles, and wrapped
with leather or other material suitable for contact with glass. The bottom end
of the rod is fixed to a spindle 44, which passes through one side of the frame
and which is kept in position by suitable means. To the opposite end of the
spindle is fixed a lever 45, having an anti-friction roller 46 on its outer end.
This roller comes underneath the cam cylinder 9, and on the under side of the
said cylinder is a cam 47 which at a given point depresses the said lever and
simultaneously gives a forward movement to the part which kicks the bottle
into the shoot.
During one revolution of the vertical shaft all the movements requisite for
the syruping, filling, snifting, sealing, and delivering of the bottle are executed
in proper order, and as these movements must take place during every revolution,
it would follow that if no bottle was inserted in the machine a given quantity of
syrup and aerated water would be wasted, but to prevent this I employ a device
comprising intermediate valves 48, 49, and 50, which are operated from the
bottle stand 3. A projecting piece 51 from the latter passes through the frame,
and from the outer end of this piece is pivoted a link 52 which gives motion to a
lever 53 placed at right angles with the projecting piece. The said lever is
pivoted near to and operates the aforesaid intermediate valves, the valve 50
being connected with the aerated water supply, and valves 48 and 49 being con-
nected with the pump 34 for the delivery of syrup. The lever 53 is held down
in a horizontal position by a catch 54 which is pivoted to the frame. When the
lever is in a horizontal position, the water valve 50 and the syrup valve 48 are
kept open, the latter valve directing the syrup to the filling head. When a
bottle is placed in the machine, the bottle stand 3 and the projecting piece 51
can only travel as far as the bottle will permit, after which point the compression
of the cam 9 is taken by a spring 55 which is placed under the bottle stand 3,
and the lever 53 retains its horizontal position, but if no bottle is placed in the
machine, the bottle stand will travel its full distance, and in doing so the
projecting piece 51 throws off the catch 54, releasing the lever 53 and causing
the water valve 50 and syrup valve 48 to be closed. Simultaneously the syrup
valve 49 is opened and the syrup is diverted back by the pipe 56 to the inlet
pipe or into a vessel provided for its reception. When the bottle stand 3
descends, the link 52 attached to the projecting piece 51 brings down the
lever 53, which is kept in position by the catch 54.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The syrup supply pipe having been
connected to the union 57 and the water supply pipe to union 58, and the machine
set in motion, an empty bottle is placed on the bottle stand 3, and a cork is
inserted between the parts 27 and 28 (Fig. 8). As the centre shaft revolves, the
cam 9 operates the bottle stand 3, brings the mouth of the bottle on to a rubber
joint ring in the filling head 13, after which point the compression of the
cam 9 is taken by the spring 55, the cam 32 causes the cork to be compressed
in the manner previously described, the cam 10 gives half the full downward
travel to the cork plunger 4, forcing the cork into the filling head to make a

page_text: pressure-tight joint, the cam 38 comes under the roller 36 and gives motion to
the syrup pump plunger 35, forcing the syrup through the delivery valves 59
and 48, pipe 60, and filling head 13 into the bottle. The cam pieces 18 and 19
then come under the rollers 16 and 17, attached to the levers 14 and 15, operating
the filling and snift valves 11 and 12, the aerated water passing through the
valve 50, pipe 61, valve 11, and filling head 13 into the bottle, and the air
passing away through the valve 12. The cork plunger 4 is then caused to.make
the remainder of its downward travel by the cam 10, forcing the cork into the
bottle mouth, the cam 9. allows the bottle stand 3 to descend, and simultaneousl
the cam 47 gives motion to the kick-off device as previously described, the bottle
falling into a wooden shoot not shown in the drawings. The cork compressor
is returned to its original position by the spring 33, the cork plunger is caused
to travel to its topmost position by the cam 10, and the kick-off attachment is
taken back by the weight 62. If no bottle is placed in the machine, the pro-
jecting piece 51, attached to the bottle stand 3, will make its full travel, throwing
off the catch 54, releasing the lever 53 and causing the water valve 50 and syrup
valve 48 to be closed. Simultaneously the syrup valve 49 is opened and the
syrup diverted back to the inlet pipe or to any desired vessel provided for its
reception.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
}
1. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constitut-
ing an improved machine for syruping, filling, and corking bottles, substantially.
as described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
2. In machines of the class herein described the combination of the parts 11
to 26 inclusive, operated and operating as and for the purpose herein described
and substantially as illustrated by the annexed drawings.
3. In machines of the class herein described the combination of the parts 27
to 33 inclusive, operated and operating as and for the purpose fully set forth
and substantially as illustrated by the annexed drawings.
4. In machines of the class herein described the means employed in syruping
bottles, consisting of the plunger 35 carrying the rollers 36 and 37, the cam
piece 38 with projection 39 disposed in the slot 40, and the cam 41, operated
and operating in combination as described and substantially as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
5. In machines of the class herein described, the means for preventing loss
of syrup and aerated water, consisting of intermediate valves 48, 49, and 50,
projecting piece 51, link 52, lever 53, and catch 54, controlled by the bottle
stand 3, operated and operating as herein before fully described and substantially
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
OU
1000