IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CORKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Allan Macdonell, of Newry, Ireland, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING
AND CORKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES."
APTT
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Allan Macdonell at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October 1877.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
ALLAN MACDONELL, of Newry, Ireland, Civil Engineer.
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CORKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE
RECEPTACLES."
My Invention, which has reference to former Letters Patent granted to me,
bearing date the 16th July 1875, No. 2551, relates to the filling and corking of bottles
and other like receptacles by automatic means, and it consists of an improved
arrangement and combination of apparatus whereby those operations are performed
in a ready, rapid, and efficient manner.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a cylinder or frame suspended or other-
wise mounted so as to be free to revolve on a stationary column or shaft, and
carrying apparatus for filling bottles, as herein after described, and also a series of
corking apparatus, which are arranged at convenient intervals all round, so that on
the cylinder or frame being caused to revolve, by transmitting motion thereto from
a prime mover through the intervention of a worm and worm wheel, or otherwise,
a number of bottles may be subjected to the action of the apparatus.in various
stages of the operation simultaneously, the bottles being placed in position for filling
and corking, and removed after having been filled and corked without stopping the
machine, which thus operates in a continuous manner.
The filling apparatus consists of a conical valve or cock, the casing of which is
bolted to the top of the cylinder or frame so as to revolve therewith, whilst its
internal plug or key is maintained stationary. This plug or key is provided on its

page_text: face with two ports and passages, one in communication with a reservoir containing
the liquid to be introduced into the bottles, and the other with a pump for drawing
off the surplus overflow from the bottles, as herein-after explained. From the casing
of the valve or cock leads a series of pipes, the total number of which is double
that of the corking apparatus employed, two pipes being provided for each corking
apparatus. These pipes are so arranged that as the cylinder revolves one pipe of
each apparatus is placed in communication with the port of the plug or key leading
from the liquid reservoir, and the other pipe is placed in communication with the
port in the said plug or key leading to the pump before mentioned, so that each
bottle is filled in its turn, and the surplus liquid supplied to the bottles is successively
drawn off by the pump.
Each corking apparatus consists of a device for compressing the corks, a spring
stand for the bottles, and a piston for forcing the corks into the bottles.
The compressor consists of a slotted holder, having an enlarged opening, into
which the corks one by one are inserted, and a contracted portion, into which each
cork is forced so as to reduce its size by a compressing slide having a reciprocating
rotatory motion, the portion of the compressing slide which acts upon the cork
being made of a segmental concave shape, so that when it has completed its stroke
in compressing the cork, it forms, with the extremity of the contracted portion of
the slot, a complete tube, in which the cork under operation is tightly held. The
reciprocating motion of the compressing slide is obtained by means of a bell-crank
lever operated by a cam mounted on the stationary column or shaft.
The spring stand for the bottles, which is also operated by a cam on the stationary
column or shaft, is forced up as required in order to bring the mouth of the bottle;
which it carries, and which has been filled in the manner herein-before explained,
beneath the compressing tube, and the cork, compressed in the manner herein-before
described, is forced by the piston (operated by another cam on the stationary column
or shaft) into the mouth of the bottle.
I utilize as the pistons the pipes employed for filling the bottles. Each piston is
composed of a tube of brass or other suitable rigid material, the lower end of which,
vizt., that which presses upon the corks, is solid, two lateral openings being provided
for the discharge of the liquid into the bottle. The tubular piston is first employed
for filling the bottle, and then for forcing the cork into the mouth thereof.
Assuming that six corking apparatus are employed, arranged round the cylinder or
frame, each bottle subjected to the action of the machine is passed through six
successive stages in the operations of filling and corking, corresponding to six
equidistant points in the circumference of the stationary column or shaft which
each corking apparatus passes in its turn during one revolution of the cylinder or
frame. In position No. 1 the bottle is placed upon its stand, and a cork is inserted,
the tubular piston being elevated. By the time position No. 2 is reached the
stand has been raised, the tubular piston has been inserted in the bottle, and the
filling has commenced, the same being completed by the time the bottle has arrived
at position No. 3. In position No. 4 the tubular piston has been elevated, the cork
in a state of compression is situate over the mouth of the bottle, and the surplus
liquid has been withdrawn. By the time position No. 5 is reached the tubular
piston has been depressed, and the cork forced into the mouth of the bottle, after
which the stand carrying the filled and corked bottle is lowered for the removal of
the latter on its arrival at position No. 6. Another bottle and cork are then
supplied in position No. 1, and the preceding operations are repeated, and so on in
succession.
It will be understood that the other five corking apparatus are simultaneously in
action at the different gradatory stages in the operations herein-before described, the
attendant being constantly employed as the different apparatus successively pass
the point at which he is stationed in removing the bottles which have been filled
and corked, and replacing them by empty bottles to be filled, and corks to be
inserted.

page_text: When it is not required that the bottles should be filled automatically the peculiar
filling apparatus may be dispensed with, the corking apparatus, constructed,
arranged, and operating in the manner herein-before described, being alone
employed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Allan Macdonell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd April
1878.
ALLAN MACDONELL, of Newry, Ireland, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FILLING AND CORKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE
RECEPTACLES."
My said Invention, which has reference to former Letters Patent granted to me,
bearing date the 16 July, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, No. 2551,
relates to the filling and corking of bottles and other like receptacles by automatic
means, and it consists of an improved. arrangement and combination of apparatus
whereby those operations are performed in a ready, rapid, and efficient manner.
In carrying out my said Invention I employ a cylinder or frame, suspended or
otherwise mounted, so as to be free to revolve on a stationary column or shaft, and
carrying apparatus for filling bottles, for example, as herein after described, and also
a series of corking apparatus, which are arranged at convenient intervals all round,
so that on the cylinder or frame being caused to revolve by transmitting motion
thereto from a prime mover, through the intervention of a worm and worm wheel,
or otherwise, a number of bottles may be subjected to the action of the apparatus
in various stages of the operation simultaneously, the bottles being placed in position
for filling and corking, and removed after having been filled and corked without
stopping the machine, which thus operates in a continuous manner.
•
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now.
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings, represent a side elevation of
a combined machine for filling and corking bottles, constructed in accordance with
my said Invention; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same; and Figures 3
and 4 are a plan and sectional plan corresponding respectively to Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 (Sheet 2) is a diagram illustrating the different stages of the operation.
And Figure 6 represents a sectional elevation of a machine for corking bottles
constructed in accordance with my said Invention.
Referring to the arrangement illustrated by Figures 1 to 5, A is à cylinder or
frame, which is suspended so as to be free to revolve upon a stationary column or
shaft B, supported upon a suitable base or foundation C, the latter also carrying
bearings a, a, for a shaft D, to which motion is imparted by pulleys E, and a belt
from any suitable prime mover, and whence the motion is transmitted to the
cylinder or frame A by a worm F fast on the shaft D, and a worm wheel G, with
which it engages, mounted loose on the vertical shaft B, and secured to the cylinder
or frame A. This cylinder or frame carries apparatus for filling bottles, herein-after

page_text: particularly described in detail, and also a series of corking apparatus H, which are
arranged at convenient intervals all round, six apparatus being employed in the
example illustrated in my Drawings.
The filling apparatus consists of a conical valve or cock I, the casing b of which
is bolted to the top of the cylinder or frame A, so as to revolve therewith, whilst its
internal plug or key c is maintained stationary. This plug or key is provided on
its face with two ports and passages d, e, one d in communication with a reservoir
containing the liquid to be introduced into the bottles, and the other e in communi-
cation with a pump for drawing off the surplus overflow from the bottles as herein-
after explained. From the casing of the valve or cock leads two series of pipes f, g,
the total number of each of which is equal to that of the corking apparatus
employed, a pipe f and a pipe g being provided for each corking apparatus H.
These pipes are so arranged that as the cylinder A revolves, the pipe f of cach
apparatus is placed in communication with the port d of the plug or key c leading
from the liquid reservoir, and the pipe g of each apparatus is placed in communi-
cation with the port e in the said plug or key leading to the pump before mentioned,
so that each bottle is filled in its turn, and the surplus liquid supplied to the bottles
is successively drawn off by the.pump.
Each of the corking apparatus H consists of a device for compressing the corks,
herein-after particularly described, a spring stand h for the bottles, and a piston i
for forcing the corks into the bottles.
a con-
The compressor consists of a holder k slotted at 1, and having an enlarged
opening m, into which the corks one by one are inserted, and also having
tracted portion n, into which each cork is forced, so as to reduce its size by a
compressing slide o having a reciprocating rotatory motion, the portion o¹ of the
corresponding slide which acts upon the cork being made of a segmental concave
shape, so that when it has completed its stroke in compressing the cork, it forms
with the extremity of the contracted portion of the holder a complete tube h¹, in
which the cork under operation is tightly held. The reciprocating motion of the
compressing slides o is obtained by means of bell-crank or angular levers K, operated
by a cam L fast on the stationary column or shaft B.
The spring stands h for the bottles which are operated by another cam M on the
stationary column or shaft B, are each forced up as required, in order to bring the
mouth of the bottle which it carries, and which has been filled in the manner
herein-before explained beneath the compressing tube h'; and the cork compressed
in the manner herein-before described, is forced by one of the pistons i operated
by another cam N on the stationary column or shaft B into the mouth of the
bottle.
I utilize as the pistons a continuation of the pipes f employed for filling the
bottles. Each piston is composed of a tube i of brass or other suitable rigid material,
the lower end of which, videlicet, that end which presses upon the corks, is solid,
two lateral openings p being provided for the discharge of the liquid into the bottle.
The tubular piston i is first employed for filling the bottle, and then for forcing the
cork into the mouth thereof. Assuming that six corking apparatus are employed
arranged round the cylinder or frame, as in the example illustrated, each bottle
subjected to the action of the machine is passed through six successive stages in the
operations of filling and corking, corresponding to six equidistant points in the cir-
cumference of the stationary column or shaft, which each corking apparatus passes in
its turn during one revolution of the cylinder or frame. These several stages of the
operation will be understood by reference to the diagram, Figure 5 (Sheet 2), with
the aid of the several Figures on Sheet 1, the six equidistant positions being denoted
respectively by the Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In position No. 1 a bottle O is placed
upon its stand h, and a cork q is inserted, the tubular piston i being elevated, although
not in its highest position, by the time position No. 2 is reached, the stand h has
been raised, the tubular piston i has been inserted in the bottle, and the filling has
commenced, the same continuing (by reason of the cock I being formed with
segmento-annular grooves or channels) until the bottle has arrived at position No. 3,

page_text: by which time the filling is completed in position No. 4 the tubular piston i has
been raised to its highest point, the cork q in a state of compression is situate over
the mouth of the bottle, and the surplus liquid has been withdrawn; by the time
position No. 5 is reached, the tubular piston has been depressed, and the cork q
forced into the mouth of the bottle, after which the stand h, carrying the filled and
corked bottle, is lowered for the removal of the latter-; on its arrival at position No. 6,
another bottle and cork are then supplied in position No. 1, and the preceding
operations are repeated, and so on in succession.
The dotted line 7 in the diagram, Figure 5, illustrates the approximate shape of the
groove in the cam N for operating the pistons as it would appear developed on a
plane surface.
It will be understood that the other 5 corking apparatus are simultaneously in
action at the different gradatory stages in the operations herein-before described,
the attendant being constantly employed as the different apparatus successively pass
the point at which he is stationed in removing the bottles which have been filled
and corked, and replacing them by empty bottles to be filled and corks to be
inserted.
When it is not required that the bottles should be filled automatically, the peculiar
filling apparatus may be dispensed with, the corking apparatus constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially in the manner herein-before described being
alone employed.
An example of this modification is illustrated in Figure 6, Sheet 2, of my
Drawings, the corking apparatus being constructed generally in a similar manner to
that of the apparatus, shewn in Figures 1 to 4, Sheet 1, with the exception that the
pistons i are now made solid in lieu of tubular, as in the arrangement illustrated in
Sheet 1.
The operation of the corking apparatus is analagous in both cases, the action of
the modification shewn in Figure 6, Sheet 2, will therefore be understood from the
description herein-before given without further explanation.
If desired the apparatus may be so arranged that two sets of bottles may be
subjected to the action of the machine, and be passing through the several gradatory
stages of the operation simultaneously; two attendants being employed, if necessary,
stationed at opposite sides of the machine.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my 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 herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. In a machine or apparatus for corking, or filling and corking bottles and
other like receptacles, the employment for compressing the stoppering corks of
appliances or devices, constructed and arranged so as to operate, substantially in the
manner herein-before described.
Second. In a machine or apparatus for filling and corking bottles and other like
receptacles, utilizing the tubes for filling the bottles as the pistons for forcing the
stoppering corks into the mouths of the bottles, substantially as herein-before
described.
Third. The peculiar arrangement and combination of apparatus, whereby a number
of bottles are acted upon simultaneously at the several gradatory stages of the
operations of filling and corking them whilst the machine operates continuously, so
that each bottle passes through the successive gradatory stages, the bottles being
filled and the corks compressed, and the corks so compressed finally forced into the
bottles thus filled automatically, all substantially as herein-before described, and
illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of my Drawings.
Fourth. The peculiar arrangement and combination of parts constituting a machine.
or apparatus for corking bottles, whereby a number of bottles are acted upon simul-
taneously at the several gradatory stages of the operation of corking them whilst
the machine operates continuously, so that each bottle passes through the successive

page_text: gradatory stages, the corks being compressed and forced into the bottles automatically,
all substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by Figure 6 of my
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Allan Macdonell, have to this my Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ALLAN MACDONELL. (L.S.)