Improvements-in-and-relating to Filling Machines for Screw- stoppered Bottles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
DDANISTAN AT
-Improvements-in-and-relating to Filling Machines for Screw-
stoppered Bottles.
We, SAMUEL FRANCIS LYLE, Mineral Water Manufacturer, of New Street,
Worthing, and HASELWOOD CLAUDE ADCOCK, Engineer, of 62, Station Road,
Worthing, both in the County of Sussex, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in certain of the mechanisms of machines
for removing the screw-stoppers of bottles, filling and re-stoppering same, and
our improvements relate, firstly, to the chuck used for receiving and grasping
the bottle stopper, secondly, to means for automatically varying the pressure of
the chuck upon the stopper during the stoppering and unstoppering processes,
and thirdly, to the mechanisms for operating and controlling the chuck and
the coned plug or pad which enters the bottle bottom and secures the bottle when
placed with its stopper in the chuck.
Our invention applies particularly to power-driven filling machines of the
turnover type such as are referred to in our prior application for Letters
Patent No. 13483 of A.D. 1898 in which we have specified certain improvements
in the class of machine to which our present improvements refer.
The stopper-holding chuck according to our present improvements, consists
of a body part of appropriate shape and made in one with or fixed to its operating
spindle to the body at opposite points is pivotted a pair of jaws for receiving
and gripping the screw-stoppers; these are normally pressed together at the
operating end by a spring, which may conveniently be arranged to pass through
a hole in the said body; the body is vertically bored out to receive the guide-stem
of a rotary circular cam-headed pad-piece. This is furnished at opposite sides
with a pair of corresponding cams, the outer configuration or working surface of
cach of which present a curvilinear incline terminating in a flat part. These
cams engage at certain times with internal projections formed on the above
mentioned pivotted jaws, and on the body part are provided stops for limiting
the rotation of the cam and pad-piece.
The working face of the cam-piece is provided with a rubber cushion to receive
the head of the stopper and act on same when required. By the above described
improved construction the jaws when out of use are always locked open by the
interaction of the cams on the rotary pad and the co-acting jaw projections; when,
however, the parts are put into operation the cams are withdrawn and the jaws
are then instantly closed and grip the sides of the stopper, but directly any
resistance is offered by the stopper when sufficiently screwed in, the jaws are
automatically freed and opened, and the stopper released, thereby preventing
injury thereto. The means for automatically varying the pressure applied by
the chuck to the stopper during the processes of screwing same in or out, con-
sist of a disc adjustably secured by bolts to the fixed bed-plate of the machine
and preferably eccentrically arranged in regard to the turning centre of the

page_text: revolving frame. On revolution of the latter the said disc operates through a
friction roller and lever connected by the main spring of the machine to the
chuck-operating lever; thus, by the eccentric mounting of the disc referred to,
the tension on such spring is automatically varied and thereby the pressure
imparted to the-chuck-lever and transmitted by the chuck to the stopper during
screwing same in and out of the bottle is correspondingly varied.
The object of our improvement relating to the holding plug for the bottle-
bottom is to provide for securing bottles of various lengths and efficiently stopper-
ing same. Our improved mechanism for operating and controlling the actions of
such plug consists in an arrangement of ratchet-rack and spring-pressed pawl,
the former being upon the spindle of the plug and the latter pivotted to the
frame. The plug-spindle is raised at the proper times by a rod automatically
actuated at the proper times by a foot-roller engaging a fixed cam upon the frame
and upon such rod is formed an inclined plane for operating the pawl as required.
The plug-spindle falls by gravity, aided, if necessary, by spring-action. When
the plug-spindle has been allowed to fall and the plug to engage the cavity in
the bottle-bottom the pawl is freed from the incline and engages the spindle-rack
preventing its rising and releasing the bottle, but at the proper time on the
rising of the said rod the said incline thereupon passes under the pawl or a
projection therefrom and serves to disengage same from the rack, and then,
after a suitable interval, the spindle and plug are free to be raised by the
lifting-rod referred to. In connection with this arrangement and for the purpose
of enabling the chuck to rescrew the stopper tightly in the bottle, the chuck is
caused to be lowered for a short distance inside the compression chamber so as to
admit of the bottle being placed deeper in same. To effect this we arrange a cam
on the frame by which the chuck-lever is operated and depressed sufficiently
and at the required time.
The operations of all the levers are effected by friction rollers at the outer ends
under which pass cams formed upon the frame and timed to operate same during
the turning over of the machine at the proper times.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of January 1899
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Agent.
Improvements in and relating to Filling Machines for Screw-
stoppered Bottles.
We, SAMUEL FRANCIS LYLE, Mineral Water Manufacturer, of New Street,
Worthing, and HASELWOOD CLAUDE ADCOCK, Engineer, of 62, Station Road,
Worthing, both in the County of Sussex, 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:—
Our invention relates to improvements in certain of the mechanisms of machines
for removing the screw-stoppers of bottles, filling and re-stoppering same, and
our improvements relate, firstly to the chuck used for receiving and grasping
the bottle stopper, secondly, to means for automatically varying the pressure of
the chuck upon the stopper during the stoppering and unstoppering processes,
and thirdly to the mechanisms for operating and controlling the chuck and
the coned plug or pad which enters the bottle bottom and secures the bottle when
placed with its stopper in the chuck.
Our invention applies particularly to power-driven filling machines of the
"turnover type such as are referred to in our prior application for Letters

page_text: Patent No. 13483 of A.D. 1898 in which we have specified certain improvements
in the class of machines to which our present improvements refer.
We will fully describe our invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a Turn-over" machine shown
partly in section and with our improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side
elevation of same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the chuck for
receiving and grasping the bottle stopper. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on
line 12 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 23 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is
an enlarged sectional elevation of the head of the machine showing the parts in
raised position. Fig. 7 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 6. Fig. 8
is a section showing the same parts in depressed positions and Fig. 9 is a similar
section taken at right angles to Fig. 8.
The stopper-holding chuck A according to our present improvements and as
shown clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 consists of a body part A' of appropriate shape
and made in one with or fixed to its operating spindle B; to the body Aat
opposite points is pivotted a pair of jaws A A for receiving and gripping the
screw-stoppers; these are normally pressed together at the operating end by a
compression spring C at their lower extremities, which spring may be conveniently
arranged to pass through a hole a in the said body A'; the body is vertically
bored out to receive the guide-stem d of a rotary circular cam-headed pad-piece D.
This is furnished at opposite sides with a pair of corresponding cams d, the
outer configuration or working surfaces of each of which presents a curvilinear
incline terminating in a flat part. These cams engage at certain times with
internal projections a' a formed on the above-mentioned pivotted jaws A² A²,
and on the body part A are provided stops a² a² for limiting the rotation of the
cams and pad-piece D.
The working face of the pad-piece is provided with a rubber cushion to
receive the head of the stopper and act on same when required. By the above
described improved construction the jaws A2 A2 when out of use are always
locked open by the interaction of the cams on the rotary pad D and the
coacting jaw-projections a¹ a¹; when however the parts are put into operation
the cams are withdrawn and the jaws are then instantly closed by the action of
the spring and grip the sides of the stopper, but directly any resistance is
offered by the stopper when sufficiently screwed in, the jaws are automatically
freed and opened, and the stopper released, thereby preventing injury thereto.
The means for automatically varying the pressure applied by the chuck A to
the stopper during the processes of screwing same in or out are shown in Figs. 1
and 2 and consist of a dise E adjustably secured by bolts to the fixed bed-plate F
of the machine and preferably eccentrically arranged in regard to the turning
centre of the revolving frame F. On revolution of the latter the said disc E
operates through a friction roller y carried on the end of the cranked lever G
which is connected by the main spring H of the machine to the chuck-operating
lever I, the function of said lever I being to raise and depress the chuck spindle B
as explained in our former Patent already referred to; thus by the eccentric
mounting of the disc E above mentioned, the tension on the said spring His
automatically varied and thereby the pressure imparted to the chuck-lever I and
transmitted by the chuck A to the stopper during screwing same in and out
of the bottle is correspondingly varied.
The object of the improvement relating to the holding plug J for the bottle-
bottom is to provide for securing bottles of various lengths and efficiently stopper-
ing same. Our improved mechanism for operating and controlling the actions
of such plug consists in an arrangement shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, of ratchet-
rack K and spring-pressed pawl k, the former being upon the spindle of the plug J
and the latter pivotted to the frame. The plug-spindle is raised at the proper
times by a rod L. automatically actuated at the proper times by a foot-roller
engaging a fixed cam upon the frame F of the machine and upon such rod is
formed an inclined plane 72 for operating the pawl as required.

page_text: The plug-spindle falls by gravity, aided, if necessary, by spring-action. When
the plug-spindle has been allowed to fall and the plug J to engage the cavity
in the bottle-bottom the pawl is freed from the incline 2 and engages the
spindle-rack K preventing its rising and releasing the bottle, but at the proper
time on the rising of the said rod L the said incline thereupon passes under the
pawl or a projection therefrom and serves to disengage same from the rack K,
and then, after a suitable interval, the spindle and plug are free to be raised by
the lifting-rod I referred to. In connection with this arrangement and for the
purpose of enabling the chuck A to rescrew the stopper tightly in the bottle,
the chuck is caused to be lowered for a short distance inside the compression
chamber of the machine of the kind referred to so as to admit of the bottle being
placed deeper in same. To effect this we arrange a cam M on the stationary
frame F by which the chuck-lever I is operated and depressed sufficiently and at
the required time.
The co-operation of the several above described improvements when combined
in a single machine is as follows. The machine being in the position shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 and the base plug J having been raised by the cam and rod L
during the latter part of the previous revolution of the frame F¹, the neck of
the bottle with a screw stopper inserted is then placed by hand into the head of
the machine so that, when the plug spindle is released during the first part of
the next revolution of frame F, the plug J enters the bottom recess and holds
the bottle in an upright position so as to be gripped at the proper time by the
spring jaws A2 A2 of the chuck A. On further revolution of the frame Ft the
operations of unstoppering and syruping, and rescrewing in of the stopper are
caused to take place seriatim as fully set forth in our previous Patent No. 13483/98,
above cited; the pressure on the chuck during the interval is automatically
varied by means of the lever G actuated by the eccentrically mounted disc E as
above described. On arriving at the cam M the position of the chuck-operating
lever I is changed through its roller and then performs its stated function, and
after that the stopper, by then tightly screwed into the neck of the bottle, is
released from the jaws A2 A2 by the operation of the cam piece D as described.
The roller engaging the cam causes the rod L to disengage the pawl k from
the plug-spindle and to raise the plug J thereby allowing the full and stoppered
bottle to be removed, and another empty one inserted in its place.
The operations of all the levers are preferably effected through friction rollers
mounted at their outer ends, under which pass the cams formed upon the stationary
frame and timed to operate during the turning over of the machine at the
proper times.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A stopper-holding chuck for filling machines for screw stoppered bottles,
consisting of a body part A¹ a pair of oppositely pivotted spring-pressed jaws A2 A³,
a rotary circular cam-headed pad-piece 1) operating the cams d d for same,
internal projections at a¹ upon said jaws A2 A2, limiting stops a² a² for said cams,
and a rubber cushion d for receiving the head of the stopper, whereby when the
cams are withdrawn the jaws instantly grip the stopper but release same when
sufficient resistance is offered, the various parts being combined and adapted to
operate in the manner hereinabove set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
2. In filling machines of the Turnover" type, the means for automatically
varying the pressure of the chuck upon the stopper during the stoppering and
unstoppering processes which consist of an adjustable disc E fixed to the stationary
frame arranged eccentrically to the turning centre of the revolving frame Fi,
a cranked lever G pivotted to the revolving frame and carrying a foot roller g
at one end engaging. said disc E and connected at its other end by the main

page_text: spring H of the machine to the chuck-operating lever I all arranged and adapted
to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinabove set forth
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In filling machines of the "Turnover" type the mechanism for operating
and controlling the chuck which consists of a cam M fixed to the stationary frame
of the mechanism by which the chuck lever I is operated and the spindle and
chuck are automatically lowered at the proper time, substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinabove set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. In filling machines such as above referred to, the mechanism for operating
and controlling the holding plug for the bottle bottom consisting in the arrange-
ment of a ratchet rack K upon the spindle j of the holding plug J and a spring-
pressed pawl k pivotted to the frame, a plug spindle j raised by a rod L' auto-
matically actuated at the proper times by a foot roller engaging a fixed cam 11
upon the frame of the machine, the pawl-k-being at this time disengaged from
the rack K by means of an incline 12 upon said rod L, all arranged and adapted
to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein above set
forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
"
5. In filling machines of the Turnover" type the combination with the
rotary and stationary frames of such machines of a stopper holding chuck, means
for automatically varying the pressure of the chuck upon the stopper and
mechanisms for operating and controlling the chuck and the coned plug or pad
for holding the bottle bottom, all constructed, arranged and adapted to co-operate
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinabove set forth and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of October 1899.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Chartered Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.