IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CORKING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES »
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Allan Macdonell of Newry Ireland Civil Engineer for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING
AND CORKING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES
»
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Allan Macdonell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1882.
ALLAN MACDONELL of Newry Ireland Civil Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CORKING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES "
My Invention relates to that description of machinery or apparatus for filling.
and corking or stoppering bottles which is now well known as the "Macdonell
Bottling machine," the said machine consisting essentially of a stationary portion
and a rotatory portion arranged in relation to each other in such a manner that by
the revolution of the rotatory portion cams are caused to actuate the various parts
of the apparatus so that the operation of filling and corking or stoppering bottles
is performed automatically in lieu of by hand as had previously been the case.
The Macdonell machine is constructed of various types all of which however
embody the common principle of the use of a stationary portion and a rotatory
portion arranged as hereinbefore mentioned and the machine is adapted for
operating on one bottle only at a time or on a number of bottles simultaneously;
but where it is only required to act upon one bottle at a time or a very limited.
number of bottles at the same time the machine as usually made is unnecessarily
multiplex for the purpose to which it is to be applied.
Now the present invention has for its object simplifying the machine in order to
adapt it to the diminished amount of work to be performed and proportionately
reducing its cost so as without impairing its efficiency to bring it within the reach
of the smaller class of manufacturers.
This object is accomplished in the following manner-the application of the
Invention to the filling or corking of bottles containing aerated liquids being taken
as a typical example of the mode of carrying out the same.
I employ a stationary upright hollow or skeleton frame carrying the movable
stand for the bottles, the mouth piece through which the liquid and cork are.
introduced and which carries the valves for regulating the admission of the liquid.
and the egress of the air and the movable plunger for forcing the cork into the
bottle and also a "kick-off" or automatic device and shoot for discharging the
bottles. In the interior of this hollow or skeleton frame is arranged a vertical
Povice 61

page_text: "
several parts videlicit:-
1. A cam for raising the movable bottle stand.
2. Cams or tappets for actuating the valves for the admission of the liquid and
the egress of the air.
3. A Cam for raising and depressing the cork plunger.
4. A Cam for actuating the "kick-off"
The several parts are constructed arranged and operated in the following
manner vi..
1. The movable bottle stand is raised by its cam in order to force the neck of
the bottle into contact with the mouthpiece ready for the reception of the liquid
and cork, and is lowered, again after the bottle is filled and corked.
2. The valves for regulating the admission of the liquid and the egress of the air
are constructed to open by pressure imparted by the cams or tappets which are
formed of two rings having attached to them a suitable number of tappets
according to the capacity or requirements of the bottles being filled; these can be
adjusted with great exactitudo to the size of the bottle and the nature of the
liquid. In the mouthpiece which carries these valves is also arranged the conical
tube through which the cork is introduced. This tube is made separate from the
body of the mouth piece and in various sizes adapted for the different sizes: of corks
to be used. It is also provided with a perforated flange at the bottom which
prevents injury to the india rubber lining of the mouth piece in using bottles of
different sizes.
3. The cork plunger is depressed by its cam sufficiently to introduce the cork
into the tube, and after the bottle is filled is further depressed so as to drive the
cork into the bottle and afterwards raised again by its cam into its original
position.
4. The kick-off" which is actuated by a cam on the central shaft consists of a
bell crank levor pivotted to the frame and provided at its upper end with a hand
or scoop adapted to push each bottle in succession off from the bottle stand on to a
suitable shoot attached to the frame after which the kick-off is restored to its
original position under the action of a weight or spring.
In working the machine the shaft having been set in motion a bottle is placed
on the movable stand which is next raised in order to force the neck of the bottle
against the mouth piece. The cork being driven down into the tube, the bottle is
filled and the superfluous air allowed to escape in the usual manner after which the
cork is driven into the neck of the bottle the bottle stand is lowered and the
"kick-off" pushes the bottle on to the shoot.
When it is required to operate upon two or more bottles simultaneously the
bottle stand mouth piece and valves, plunger, kick-off and shoot are duplicated or
increased in number accordingly all being however operated by the same cams or
tappets.
If it is desired to make the machine suitable for filling syrup drinks such as
lemonade, a syrup pump similar to that used in the Macdonell. Bottling machine is
added to the frame the syrup being admitted to the bottle through a back pressure
valve on the mouth piece, after the bottle is lifted into its position and before the
aerated liquid is introduced. The syrup pump is operated through the inter-
vention of an adjustable pin and crank disc and worm or other suitable gearing
from the moving part of the machinery.
$
The Invention may also be applied to filling bottles closed by internal stoppers
in which case the bottles are filled mouth downwards and an airtube is introduced
into the bottle by the action of a cam the cork plunger being obviously dispensed
with. The invention may also be applied to the filling and corking of bottles
with non-aerated liquids.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said. Allan Macdonell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd April
1883.
ALLAN MACDONELL of Newry Ireland,, Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS. IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CORKING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES
"
My said Invention relates to that description of machinery or apparatus for filling
and corking or stoppering bottles which is now well known as the "Macdonell'
bottling machine" the said machine consisting essentially of a stationary portion
and a rotatory portion arranged in relation to each other in such a manner that by
the revolution of the rotatory portion cams are caused to actuate the various parts
of the apparatus so that the operation of filling and corking or stoppering bottles
is performed automatically in lieu of by hand asthad previously been the case.
The Macdonell machine is constructed of various types all of which however
embody the common principle of the use of a stationary portion and a rotatory
portion arranged as hereinbefore mentioned and the machine is adapted for
operating on one bottle only at a time or on a number of bottles simultaneously, but
where it is only required to act upon one bottle at a time or a very limited number
of bottles at the same time, the machine as usually made is unnecessarily multiplex
for the purpose to which it is to be applied
Now the present Invention has for its object simplifying the machine in order to
adapt it to the diminished amount of work to be performed and proportionately
reducing its cost so as without impairing its efficiency to bring it within the reach
of the smaller class of manufacturers.
This object is accomplished in the following manner; reference being had to the
several figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed.
•
Figure 1. of the drawings represents a vertical section of a machine constructed
according to the said Invention for filling and corking bottles for containing aerated
liquids. Figure 2, is an elevation and Figure 3 a plan of the machine, and Figure 4
is a horizontal. section of a portion of the same drawn to a larger scale, and
illustrating the valves which are omitted in the general views to avoid complication.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views of the cams hereinafter referred to, in the
former thro [sic] figures, developed; and Figures 9 and 10 are detail sectional views:
of the mouth piece hereinafter referred to. Figure 11 is an elevation illustrating the
application of a syrup pump in combination with the machine represented in
Figures 1 to 10.
Figure 12 illustrates a slight modification in the arrangement for working the
syrup pump..
Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16 illustrate the application of the Invention to the
filling of bottles closed by internal stoppers, Figure 13 being a sectional elevation
of a machine constructed according to the said Invention for that purpose, and
Figures 14, 15, and 16, details of the valves, mouth-piece, and air tube, hereinafter
described.
Referring to Figures 1 to 10, I employ & stationary upright hollow or skeleton
frame A, carrying the following working parts viz:-The movable stand B for the
bottles, the mouth piece C, through which the liquid and cork are introduced and
which carries the valve D (figure 4.) for regulating the admission of the liquid and
the valve E, (figure 4) for regulating the egress of the air, the movable plunger F
for forcing the cork into the bottle, and also a "kick-off" or automatic device G,
and shoot for discharging the bottles. In the interior of this hollow.or skeleton
"

page_text: frame is arranged a vertical shaft H mounted in bearings at a, a, so as to be capable
of rotatory motion and driven in any convenient manner as for example by'n
worin and worm wheel I from the main shaft K, receiving motion from any
suitable prime mover. On the shaft H are formed or secured cams for actuating
the several parts, vis:-
A cam 1 (Fig. 6.) for raising the movable bottle stand B.
A cam 2 (Fig. 8.) for actuating the valve D.for the admission of the liquid'and'
a cam 3, (Fig. 8.) for actuating the valve E for the egress of the air.
A cam 4, (Fig 5) for raising and depressing the cork plunger F.
A cam 5 (Fig. 7.) for actuating, the "kick-off" G.
The several parts are constructed, arranged, and operated in the following
manner, viz
The movable bottle stand B which is fitted so as to be capable of sliding
vertically in a slot a' in the frame A is raised by its cam 1. in order to force the
neck of the bottle into contact with the mouth piece C ready for the reception of
the liquid and cork, and is lowered again after the bottle is filled and corked.
The valves, D, E, for regulating the admission of the liquid and the egress of the.
air, are constructed to open by pressure imparted by the cams 2, 3, which are
formed of two rings b, b' respectively, having attached to them a suitable number.
of tappets c, d according to the capacity or requirements of the bottles being filled;
these tappeta which are threaded on to the rings at c³, (Fig. 4.) can be adjusted
with great exactitudo to the size of the bottle and the nature of the liquid In the
mouth-piece C, which carries those valves is also arranged the conical tubo d,
through which the cork is introduced. This tube is made separate from the body e,
of the mouth-piece C, and in various sizes adapted for the different sizes of corks to
be used. It is also provided with a perforated flange d' at the bottom which being
always in proportion to the size of cork being used prevents injury to the india
rubber lining of the mouth-piece in using bottles of different sizes.
The cork plunger F which is fitted so as to be capable of sliding vertically in a
slot as in the frame A is depressed by its cam 4 sufficiently to introduce a cork
placed at the top of the tube d into the said tube and after the bottle is filled
is further depressed so as to drive the cork into the bottle, and if necessary also to
disengage the bottle from the india rubber lining of the mouth-piece, and the
plunger is afterwards raised again by its cam into its original position.
The "kick-off" G, which is actuated by a cam 5, on the central shaft H, consists
of a bell crank lever pivoted at g, to the frame A, and provided at its upper end
with a hand or scoop h, adapted to push each bottle in succession off from the Bottle
stand B, on to a suitable shoot attached to the frame but not shown in the drawings,
after which the "kick-off" is restored to its original position under the action of a
weight i, or a spring, or the cam may be arranged to act. positively in both
directions, and the weight or spring thus dispensed with.
In working the machine the shaft I having been set in motion a,bottle is placed
on the movable stand B, as shown on the left hand side of Fig. 1. and the stand
is next raised in order to force the bottle against the mouth-piece C. The cork
which has previously been introduced at the top of the tube d is next driven,down
into the tube by the descent of the plunger F the liquid valve D and the air escape
valve E are then alternatoly operated so that the bottle is filled and the superfluous
air is allowed to escape in the usual manner, after which the cork is driven into
the neck of the bottle by a further descent of the plunger F, the bottle stand B is
lowered and the "kick-off" G pushes the bottle on to the shoot..
When it is required to operate upon two or more bottles simultaneously the
bottle stand, mouth-piece, and valves, plunger, "kick-off," and shoot are duplicated
or increased in number accordingly all being however operated by the same cams.
In my drawings I have represented the machine as adapted for operating upon
two bottles simultaneously, the parts referred to being duplicated;, the additional
bottle stand, mouth-piece, cork-plunger and "kick-off" are marked respectively

page_text: B, C, F, G the bottle stand being represented in its elevated position, and the
cork plunger depressed.
In the arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the "kick-off" in each case
delivers to the right hand of the attendant, but without altering the, construction of
the machine the "kick-offs" can be arranged to deliver on either side of the
attendant, or the "kick-offs" may even be entirely dispensed with it being some-
times preferable to take the bottles off by hand.
It is obvious that the cams may be all cast in one piece thus forming a hollow
shaft whereby I obtain the same effect as by the use of the solid shaft H, indicated
in the drawings the essential feature of the combination which forms the subject
of my present invention being the use of a central upright revolving portion
carrying cams for operating the whole of the working-parts, which working parts
are supported by an outer stationary portion in or on which they perform their
required movements.
If it is desired to make the machine suitable for filling. syrup drinks, such as
lemonade, a syrup pump similar to that used in the "Macdonell Bottling Machine"
is added, to the frame the syrup being admitted to the bottle through a back
pressure valve on the mouth-piece after the bottle is lifted into its position and
before the aerated liquid is introduced. The syrup pump is operated through the
intervention of an adjustable pin and crank disc and worm or other suitable gearing
from the moving parts of the machinery.
Figure 11 represents the application of a syrup pump in combination with the
machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10.
L is the pump attached to the frame A of the machine and communicating by a
pipe k with the mouth piece C. The pump is operated through the intervention
of an adjustable pin l, and crank disc m receiving motion by a worm and worm
wheel m from the main shaft K; the pin lifts a lever and weight n attached
to the connecting rod o of the pump plunger, to force the syrup into the bottle, the
plunger returning by the gravitation of the lever and weight m. The same result
is accomplished in a slightly modified form in the arrangement Fig. 12 by the
use of the cam p, as an equivalent for the pin and crank disc m (Fig. 11.). Or
I may operate the syrup pump in any other suitable manner from any moving
part of the machinery, the application of the syrup pump in itself forming no part
of my present Invention.
The Invention may also be applied to filling bottles closed by internal stoppers
in which case the bottles are filled mouth downwards and an air tube is introduced
into the bottle by the action of 'a cam, the cork plunger being obviously dispensed
with.
Figures, 13, 14, 15 and 16 represent a machine constructed according to the
said Invention for this purpose, and for operating on two bottles simultaneously, the
air tubes being marked M, M¹, and the other parts being indicated by the same
letters as the corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 10.
It should however be observed that the air escape valves E are necessarily
connected to their respective air tubes and move therewith, the valves D being
attached to the mouth-pieces C, C', as in the machine illustrated in Figures 1
to 10.
In this case also a syrup pump may be employed in combination with the machine
if desired.
The Invention may also be applied to the filling and corking of bottles with non-
aerated liquids.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
The general constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts constituting
-

page_text: machinery, or apparatus for filling and corking or stoppering bottles substantially
as herein before described with reference to the accompanying, drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Allan Macdonell have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Second day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
ALLAN MACDONELL (1,8.)