Improvements in Bottling Machines applicable for Mineral Waters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottling Machines applicable for Mineral Waters.
We, HENRY JOHNSTON and. JAMES WILSON both of 138 Conway Street,
Birkenhead in the County of Chester, Brassfounders and Mineral Water Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed as both a hand and a power machine, and, to perform
the work in a cheap and simple manner at small first cost, we form our machine
either to work by power from a countershaft with a clutch to throw it in and out of
gear, or with a handle attached to the filling head. The countershaft is connected
to the main shaft by chain or other gearing or even by the clutch; a treadle
preferably actuates the clutch.
The syrup pump is worked by a loose crank on the main shaft, slotted to regulate
the feed, and having a stop, so that, while it is obliged to revolve with the shaft in
one direction, the shaft can be reversed half a turn or so without moving the syrup
pump.
The aërated water cock is connected as usual with the hollow shaft, and is worked
by a tappet motion from that shaft either direct or by a bell crank. The bell
crank has a cam quadrant which can be replaced by another of different size; to
regulate the amount of feed, a tappet on the main shaft presses this quadrant back
at each stroke; this tappet can be loose with a stop or hinged to a fixed tappet so
that the shaft can be reversed, as in the case of the syrup pump for half a revolu-
tion or so without actuating the cock. The filling head is of the usual form, but the
spring cup fitting against the bottom of the bottle, is released by a lever device
armed with rollers, that, in passing a fixed cam, are pressed back as the filling
head rotates at one point, thus leaving the bottle free to be removed.
The valves of the syrup pump are peculiar. There are two independent valves
in the same chamber, one, the suction one, rises as the pump sucks and fills the
chamber, the other automatically closes as the pump plunger begins to compress the
delivery valve, then opens and closes again, and the pump plunger begins to rise.
There is also a back pressure valve.
We also provide a clutch or other device whereby, while the machine is revolving,
the filling head is caused to pause or stop intermittently to give time for one bottle
to be taken out while another one is put in.
Dated this 29th day of April 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottling Machines applicable for Mineral Waters.
We, HENRY JOHNSTON and JAMES WILSOx both of 138 Conway Street,
Birkenhead in the County of Chester, Brassfounders and Mineral Water 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:—
This invention is designed as both a hand and a power bottling machine, and, to
perform the work in a cheap and simple manner at small first cost, we form our
machine either to work by power from a countershaft with a clutch to throw it in
and out of gear, or with a handle attached to the filling head. The countershaft is

page_text: treadle preferably actuates the clutch.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with certain parts left out for the
sake of clearness;
Figure 2, an end elevation partly in section;
Figure 3, a plan; and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 details of parts of the machine.
Referring to these drawings-
A is the main frame or support; B an arm secured to the pillar A¹ and supporting
a countershaft C which carries a fast and loose pulley and a clutch D. The clutch
is shown out of gear. To put the clutch into gear, the operator presses down
treadled with his foot, moving the lever d' (which is attached to the clutch) on its
pivot d². E is a shaft supported by the main frame and is driven preferably by
means of a link chain e and chain wheels E' and E2. The said shaft is hollow from
the centre to the rubber cushion E3 at bottom of filling head, the other end of the
shaft, which is solid, carries a crank F to work the syrup pump F¹, the said crank
being slotted to regulate the feed. The syrup pump is attached to the main frame
at f, and has its valves enclosed in one chamber f. As the plunger f' rises,
the bottom valve f³ (Figure 2) is raised by suction and the syrup enters the
pump F
When the plunger descends, the pressure closes the valve ƒ³, but opens
the delivery valve f, forcing the syrup through the pipe f³ to the hollow shaft E
and into the bottle G. The aĕrated water pipe H is connected as usual with the
hollow shaft E (Figure 3) having a spring valve H' actuated by a tappet H² on
shaft E. His an arm or lever pivoted at h, which carries a double quadrant H*
of different lengths to suit bottles and splits (Figures 1, and 5). As the shaft E
revolves, the tappet H' pushes the double quadrant aside, depressing the valve
spindle from its seat and allowing the aërated water to enter the hollow shaft and
mix with the syrup. As soon as the tappet H2 leaves the quadrant H, the valve H¹
closes automatically. The amount of water entering the bottle is in proportion to
the length of the quadrant H. If a smaller bottle is used, the quadrant is reversed,
the shorter arc being placed nearest the shaft E. The filling head is of the usual
form, but the spring cup I, fitting against the bottom of the bottle, is released in the
following manner :-
A bent lever J, pivoted at j, carries at one end rollers J³, which, at each revolu-
tion of the filling head, engage a projection J2 on the main frame A. The other
end of said lever is coupled to the spindle J³ carrying spring cup I (Figures 1 and 4).
When, therefore, the rotatable filling head arrives at the position shown in
Figure 1, the rollers J' have engaged the projection J (Figures 1 and 6) and raised
the arm of lever coupled to spindle J³, thus allowing the bottle to be removed.
Another bottle can be put in its place in the rotating filling head before the rollers
leave the projection J. As soon as the latter is passed, the spring cup returns to
its normal position, that is, pressing on the bottle. K is the snift valve, which is
relieved twice in every revolution by means of projections K' fixed to the main
frame, and which, as the filling head is rotated, forces the pivoted arm K' inwards.
A back pressure valve is placed at K³, Figure 3.
The mode of action is as follows:--
The machine being put in gear by pressing down the treadle with the foot, and a
bottle placed in position, the syrup is pumped in as before described, and the
tappet H2, during a part of its revolution, engages the quadrant H and holds the
valve H open until the necessary amount of water has entered the hollow shaft.
By the time the rollers J'engage the projection J2, the bottle is full, and they
release the bottle from the revolving head, the snift valve K having been twice
relieved during the revolution.
The operator has the machine completely under control, and, by means of the
treadle and clutch, can stop it instantly in any position.

page_text: 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 :-
1. The use, in combination with bottling machines, of means whereby the empty
bottles are received and firmly grasped by the revolving head, during the operation
of filling, but are released therefrom when filled at the end of each revolution, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a bottling machine, the use, in combination therewith, of suction and
delivery valves enclosed in one chamber, and arranged substantially as and for the
purpose described.
3. In a bottling machine, the improved means of actuating the water admission
valve whereby the amount of feed can be regulated according to the size of the bottle
to be filled, substantially as described.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved bottling
machine, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of January 1809
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.