IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS. FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH AERATED AND NOTHER LIQUIDS.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Whitfield Horner and George Barker, both of
the Globe Works, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS. FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH AERATED AND
NOTHER LIQUIDS.
Sealed the 29th December 1877, and dated the 4th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Whitfield Horner
and George Barker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th July 1877.
3
WILLIAM WHITFIELD HORNER and GEORGE BARKER, both of the Globe Works,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
FILLING BOTTLES WITH AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Our Invention has for it's object to facilitate and expedite the process of bottling
aerated waters and other liquids or liquors.
In apparatus constructed in accordance with our Invention the empty bottles are
The said
placed in a rotatory frame and are removed therefrom in a filled state.
frame is fitted to revolve in a suitable framing, and has an intermittent revolving
motion imparted to it by means of a driving shaft carrying studs which engage
with a star wheel fixed on the axle of the said frame or by other suitable means.
The said frame is constructed to receive two, three, or more sets or rows of bottles.
For convenience of description, we will refer to a machine constructed for three
In such a case the said frame is
rows of bottles having two bottles in a row.
caused to move through a distance of one-third of a revolution at each movement,
and to make a dwell after each movement. The central axle is provided with three
double sets of cocks and valves which are coupled to a main valve, which is
connected with the liquid supply.
In the case of a machine for bottling lemonade or other aerated beverages the said
main valve is connected with pipes supplying aerated water and syrup, which are
supplied to the said cocks and valves in due order as the frame rotates.
In a simple arrangement, passages in a revolving part of the valve are brought
The empty bottles are
opposite to other passages in a fixed part of the valve.

page_text: placed in an inverted position with their mouths resting upon "jamb-cocks," that is
to say, upon elastic seatings which are connected with the supply cocks. Pressers
formed to suit the bottoms of the bottles are fitted to slide towards and from the
central axis of the frame, and are drawn inwards towards the said axis by means of
springs. Studs upon the said pressers enter cam grooves which force the said pressers
outwards when they approach their highest positions. When the frame makes a
rotatory movement the said pressers are permitted to bear upon the ends of the
bottles and to press their mouths tightly against the said jamb-cocks. When the
frame comes to rest the cocks are opened to supply the measured quantity of syrup
to each bottle. The syrup is or inay be measured by means of pumps, which receive
motion from an excentric upon the driving shaft. The cock or valve through which
the syrup is admitted to each bottle is actuated at the required times by means of a
collar or part which is mounted on the central axle and is actuated by means of an
excentric on the driving shaft. The said collar is fitted with projections, inclines, or
cams, which act on the spindles of the said valves. After the frame has made a
second movement the bottles are in position to receive the aerated water, which is
admitted through the said valves às in the case of the syrup. We prefer to discharge
the atmospheric air from the filled bottles, or some of it, and this we accomplish by
opening snifting valves, for a suitable time, or permitting them to open.
The said snifting valves are closed by means of springs, and are or may be opened
by the action of parts on the aforesaid collar. If the bottles are provided with
internal self-closing stoppers the operations are now completed, and when the frame
has made a third movement the bottles may be removed, the aforesaid pressers
'moving outwards to release the bottles.
When corks are-used to close the bottles each cork is passed into position through.
the central axis and into a passage in the lower or inner part of the jamb-cock, and
when the filling is completed the cork is forced into the neck of the bottle by means
of a pusher, which receives motion from an excentric or a cam on the driving shaft
or from a suitable part of the machine.
When the apparatus is employed in the bottling of liquors or non-aerated liquids,
the parts for supplying syrup are or may be dispensed with, and the liquor or liquid be
supplied by means of measuring pumps, or apparatus, or by other suitable means.
The machine may be arranged to be actuated by hand or by power, and when
actuated by power will usually only require the bottles to be supplied and removed
by hand..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Whitfield Horner and George Barker in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th January 1878.
WILLIAM WHITFIELD HORNER and GEORGE BARKER, both of the Globe Works,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR FILLING BOTTLES WITH AERATED AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Our Invention has for it's object to facilitate and expedite the process of bottling
aerated waters and other liquids or liquors.
:
In apparatus constructed in accordance with our Invention the empty bottles are
placed in a rotating frame and are removed therefrom in a filled state. The said
fraine has an intermittent revolving motion imparted to it by means of a driving
shaft carrying studs which engage with a star wheel fixed on the axle of the said
frame or by other suitable means. The said frame is constructed to receive two,,
three, or more bottles or sets or rows of bottles.
For convenience of description we will refer to a machine constructed for three
rows of bottles having two bottles in a row. In such a case the said frame is caused to
move through a distance of one-third of a revolution at each movement, and to make
a dwell after each movement. The central axle is provided with three double sets
of cocks and valves, which are coupled to a main valve which is connected with the
liquid supply. The empty bottles are placed in an inverted position with their
mouths resting upon jamb-cocks. Pressers formed to suit the bottoms of the bottles
are fitted to slide towards and from the. central axis of the frame, and are drawn or
pushed inwards towards the said axis by means of springs. When the frame makes
a rotatory movement the said pressers are permitted to bear upon the ends of the
bottles and to press their mouths tightly against the said jamb-cocks. When the
frame comes to rest the cocks are opened to supply the measured quantity of syrup
and aerated water to each bottle. The cock or valve through which the syrup is
admitted to each bottle is actuated at the required times to admit the liquids. We.
prefer to discharge the atmospheric air from the filled bottles or some of it, and this
we accomplish by opening snifting valves for a suitable time or permitting them to
open. If the bottles are provided with internal self-closing stoppers the operations
are completed during one rotation of the frame, and the bottles may then be removed,
the aforesaid pressers moving outwards to release them.
The machine may be arranged to be actuated by hand or by power, and when
actuated by power will usually only require the bottles to be supplied and removed,
by hand.
And in order that our said Invention may be readily described and fully under-
stood we have appended hereunto two Sheets of Drawings marked with letters of
reference, corresponding marks indicating the same parts in the various Figures.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, drawn to a scale of about three inches to, the foot, represents a
front elevation of the complete machine. Fig. 6, Sheet 2, repsesents a side elevation
of the same.
In the said Figures A, A, are two standards connected together by means of cross
bars a, a.
In this framing is fitted to revolve a hollow shaft B and a driving shaft
C, which latter is provided with fast and loose strap pulleys b, and a fly wheel c.
Upon the shaft B is fixed a star wheel D, which is actuated by a stud wheel L,
which is fixed on the shaft C. The action of the said wheels is indicated by Fig. 2.
The wheel D is formed with six radiating slots and with intermediate curved surfaces
to fit the circumference of the wheel L. The last-named wheel is provided with
two studs on which are mounted antifriction bowls d, d, which are so situated as
that they shall act in quick succession upon the wheel D to move it to the extent of
a third of a revolution, and then to permit the said wheel to remain stationary
whilst the bottles are being charged. Other suitable gearing or appliances may be
employed to impart the necessary movements to the shaft B. On one end of the said

page_text: shaft is cast, fixed, or formed, a hollow triangular shell e, and to or on this are fixed or
formed three radial frames E¹, E2, E3. Each of these frames is formed with four cheeks,
as indicated in Sheet 2 by the cross section Fig. 7, which is drawn about half the full
size. In the slots between the said cheeks are fitted to slide blocks f, and each block is
provided with a bowl which is mounted on a stud carried by the said block. The
The
said bowls run in a groove g formed in one of the standards, as seen in Fig. 1.
said groove is for the most part circular and concentric with the axis of motion of
the shaft B, but at its upper part it is formed to slide the blocks outwards from the
said axis of motion. Within the said slots in each frame E are also fitted to slide
two blocks h, h. Two screws i, i, are attached by their lower ends to the block f, the
attachment permitting the revolution of the screws.
Each of the said screwš
engages with two nuts, one of which is seen at j in Fig. 7. Each nut is fitted
within a recess formed in the block h, one nut being fitted at each end of the
said block, the arrangement being such as that the said nuts cannot revolve, but at
the same time the block can slide to some extent upon the nuts. In the example,
each nut is formed with two wings, which enter slots formed in the end of the block.
Between the two nuts and surrounding the screw is a spiral spring, indicated by
dotted lines in the case of one of the blocks in Fig. 1.
It will be understood that all of the six blocks are correspondingly fitted and
arranged. The said spring bears by its upper or outward end against the outer nut,
and by its inner end against the inner end of the block h, the effect being that the
said spring tends to force the said block towards the central axis B. The two blocks
in each frame are connected by the screws with the block f, so that when the
last-named block is caused to slide within the frame a corresponding movement is
imparted to the two blocks h. Each of the blocks h is formed with an arm, to
which is fixed a presser k, the inner end of which is formed to suit the form of the
bottom of the bottles which are to be filled, and is or may be lined with gutta
'percha, wood, or other suitable material which will not tend to break glass
'bottles.
The pressers Ic may be changed to suit different bottles. To the shell e are fixed
'six jamb-cocks l. One of these is represented in section, drawn about half size, in
Fig. 3, Sheet 1. The outer part of the said jamb-cock consists of a cup which
is lined with vulganized caoutchouc or other suitable material, and is formed to
receive the mouth of the bottle. The said cup is connected with an inner
valve piece m, in which is formed a passage which communicates with a small
valve, which is pressed to its seat by means of a spiral spring. A pusher
rod o is fitted to slide in a stuffing box, and is connected with a cross head p
which couples together the two pusher rods which are to act in concert.
detached view of the said cross head is represented by Fig. 5. A wheel Գ is
mounted on a spindle fixed in the said cross head. Upon the shaft B is mounted
a ring F, which is caused to vibrate upon the said shaft by means of an excentric G,
the arrangement being illustrated by the detached Fig. 4 in Sheet 1. Upon the
said ring are fixed or formed two inclines 1 and 2, which when the said ring
revolves in one direction act upon two of the wheels g in such a manner as to cause
the pusher rods which are attached to the two cross heads to be slid inwards
within the valve picces m. When so slid inwards the inner end of each rod
forces open the valve n. Each of the valve picces m is coupled to a pipe which
passes through the hollow shaft B. In the example only one pipe is scen in
Fig. 1, but it must be understood that there are six pipes connecting the six
valve pieces with a rotating valve H at the other end of the shaft B.
The valve H consists of a revolving part represented separately by Fig. 8, Sheet 2,
and of a stationary part, represented detached by Fig. 9, which is pressed towards
the revolving part by means of adjustable bolts, a washer of leather or other suitable
material being interposed between the two surfaces. The said revolving part
fixed or formed in or on the end of the shaft B, and in the said part are formed six
passages, each of which is connected by means of one of the said six pipes with one
of the valve pieces m. In the fixed part-are formed three passages. One of these

page_text: passages is connected by means of a suitable pipe with the apparatus which furnishes
the supply of aerated water; the other two passages are connected by pipes with
two pumps I, I, which supply the syrup, each passage being connected with a
separate pump.
It has not been considered necessary to exhibit the said pipes in the Drawing, but
the parts to which they are coupled are seen at 8, 8. The said pumps may be of any
ordinary or suitable construction. In the example the plungers of the pumps are
connected together by means of a cross head t, which is fitted to slide upon side
rods, and is connected with an excentric J. The said excentric is so formed as that
its stroke can be adjusted so that the quantity of syrup injected at each stroke of
the pumps can be regulated. The arrangement of this part of the apparatus, as
described, is adapted for apparatus for filling bottles with lemonade or other aerated
liquors composed of a mixture of flavoured syrup or liquor and of aerated water, but
when intended to be used solely for sucli aerated waters as soda-water, or for
bottling ale or stout, or for similar uses, the pumps may be thrown out of action or
be dispensed with. The construction of the valve H may be varied, as found to be
desirable.
The action of the apparatus may be described as follows:-Supposing the parts
to be in the positions indicated in Fig. 1, the projecting part of the groove g has
forced the block f, and thereby the blocks h, h, in the frame E' upwards. Two
empty bottles may now be introduced between the pressers and the jamb-cocks L,
the mouths of the bottles resting in the cups of the said jamb-cocks. The machine
illustrated is adapted to be used in the filling of bottles having internal self-closing
stoppers. A bottle is indicated in position by u, but we will suppose that each of
the two frames E2, E3, holds two bottles. The two pipes which are in connection
with the jamb-cocks 22 are connected with the passages 22 in Fig. 8, and these are
in connection with the passages leading to the two pumps I, I. Imminediately that
the frames have been brought into the position represented the inclines on the ring
begin to act upon the wheels on the two cross heads 2 and 3, whereby the connected
pusher rods are pushed inwards, and the valves n in the valve pieces 2 and 3 are
forced open.
The opening of the valves 2 establishes a communication for the flow of syrup
from the pumps into the passages leading to the jamb-cocks 22.
It will be seen, on reference to Fig. 3, that each of the said passages terminates in
a nipple, which projects towards the mouth of the bottle. The pumps now force the
regulated supply of syrup through the passages and pipes, and the syrup flows
from the said nipples into the bottles in the frame E2 At the same time the
opening of the valves in the valve pieces 3 has established a communication
with the passages 3 in Fig. 8, and as these two passages are now in communi-
cation with a connecting passage which leads to the pipe which supplies the
aerated water, such water flows through the pipes and passages, and through the
said nipples into the bottles.
It will be seen that there is a space around the said nipple. A passage formed
in the casting m connects this space with a chamber v formed in the piece m, or
in a piece attached thereto. The said chamber is bored to receive a piston, which
is pressed inwards by a spiral spring. An escape hole is formed in the side of the
chamber, as seen at w.
When the liquid, by flowing into the bottle, has compressed the contained air
until its pressure is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the said spring, the
piston in v yields and moves outwards, thereby uncovering the hole w and per-
mitting the air to escape.
If preferred, the spindles of the pistons may be acted upon in a similar manner
to the pusher rods o, or by other suitable appliances instead of depending upon the
pressure of the air or valves, or snifting cocks may be substituted for the said
pistons.
By the time that the bottles in the frame Es have become charged, the wheel
1 commences to act upon the wheel D, and the frames E are rotated so as to bring

page_text: BF
the frame E³ into the position of E¹ in the Drawing, and the frame E¹ into the
position of E. During this movement the bowl carried by the block f in the
frame E¹ has moved into the circular path of g, whereby the blocks h have been
drawn inwards, and thereby caused to press upon the bottoms of the bottles with a
yielding pressure due to the spiral springs. The said pressure must be sufficient
'to press the mouths of the bottles forcibly against the elastic lining of the jamb-
cocks, and thereby to prevent the escape of the acrated liquid or gas to any detri-
mental extent, and such pressure may be regulated by turning the screws i in one
direction or the other. The filled bottles in the frame E³ have by the said move-
ment been brought into upright inverted positions, whereby the internal stoppers
fall into position to close the necks, and the said bottles may be removed, having
been released by the upward movements of the blocks h, and empty bottles may be
substituted for the filled bottles. The bottles in the frame E will now receive
charges of syrup, and the bottles in the frame E be charged with aerated water in the
manner herein-before described. The rotation of the shaft C being continued, the
bottles became charged with syrup and aerated water, two filled bottles being ready
for removal for each revolution of the said shaft.
We do not however confine ourselves to simultaneous filling of two or of only
two bottles.
In some cases we may charge only one bottle at once instead of two together, as
in the example, the apparatus being modified accordingly. Such a machine would
be more simple in construction than the example illustrated, as only half the
number of valves, jamb-cocks, sliding blocks h, and pressers would be required for a
three-armed frame.
We do not confine ourselves to the three-armed frame making one-third of a
revolution for each operation, although we consider this to be suitable.
We may apply spiral springs to press the screws i inwards, in which case the
bowls on the blocks f would be pressed against the inner edge of the groove G, and
the outer edge might be dispensed with, that is to say, a fixed edge cam might
take the place of the said groove.
Although we have described the machine as being actuated by means of a strap,
it may be actuated by hand, and for this purpose a suitable handle may be fixed to
the fly wheel.
When intended to be worked by hand the machine may be simplified by dis-
pensing with the driving shaft C, the shaft B or the frame E being turned by hand
into the required positions. In such a case the pumps I, if required, might be
worked by means of a cam on the shaft B.
The machine may be otherwise inodified by causing the jamb-cocks to slide to
and fro instead of the pressers k, but we do not now consider this method to be so
suitable as the one illustrated and described.
When employed in the bottling of ale, spirits, or other liquors, we may fill the
bottles by means of measuring pumps.
In a machine intended to be used in filling bottles closed by means of corks, we
construct the jamb-cocks with passages, through which the corks can be forced into
the necks of the bottles, as is usual in some descriptions of bottling machines, the
corks being forced into the necks during the rotation of the frame E by means of
pushers actuated by means of an eccentric or cam on the driving shaft, or otherwise
suitably actuated.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of the said Invention and
the manner in which we prefer to carry the same into practical effect, we would
have it to be understood in conclusion that we claim,
First. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the apparatus, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated herein-before, and in and
by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The three-armed frame fitted to revolve and to receive and hold the
bottles, so that whilst one charged bottle or set of bottles is being replaced with an
empty bottle or set, another bottle or set is being charged with syrup, and a third

page_text: bottle or set is being charged with aerated water, substantially as set forth and
indicated.
And, lastly. A frame revolving on a horizontal or nearly horizontal axis, and
fitted with jamb-cocks and with sliding spring pressers to press the mouths of
the bottles against the said jamb-cocks, or fitted with sliding jamb-cocks, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Barker, for myself and on behalf of the
said William Whitfield Horner, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Third day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
Signed and sealed by the said
George Barker in the presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
GEO. BARKER.
(L.S.)