GB2080261A - Apparatus for filling bottles - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for filling bottles consists of a stationary frame with, mounted for movement thereabove, a plurality of filling heads (1), each head comprising a member (11) with a pipe 12 displaceable against the action of springs to be inserted into the neck of a bottle (16) to be filled, the lowermost opening of each pipe determining the filling level of the liquid in the bottle. Each pipe (12) interacts with the filling mouth of a respective bottle through an axially displaceable sealing ring (15) which is connected to pipe (12) via a support member (14) screw-threaded on member (11), means (19, 24) being provided for rotating each support member (14) and thereby lowering or lifting a ring (15) in order to change the relative position of the lowermost opening of the associated pipe (12) when the liquid level in the bottle has to be increased or decreased, respectively. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for filling bottles When bottles have to be filled with liquid, in most cases a predetermined liquid level is desired in order to so provide each bottle with a defined quantity of liquid. When, however, a batch of bottles having a slightly differing form or contents has to be filled, or when differences in temperature in the product proper occur, problems will arise. The expansion of glass being far less than most filling liquids, it is essential in both cases to adapt the filling level in the respective bottle.

Filling apparatus comprising pipes which extend into the bottle, may solve this problem by adapting the right liquid level due to a change in the depth of insertion of the respective filling pipe. It is known to perform an adaptation of this type manually for each separate filling valve; though the latter may also be performed mechanically, this will be rathertimecon suing and therefore expensive, especially when an extensive apparatus is concerned.

The present invention is based upon a filling device comprising a stationary frame with a plurality of valves moving in a closed path of travel during operation. Each valve is provided with a member being displaceable against the action of springs and comprising a pipe being inserted into the neckofthe bottle to filled, the lowermost opening of said pipe determining the filling level of the liquid within the bottle. The respective pipe may interact with the filling mouth of said bottle through an axially dispiaceable (in height) sealing ring, as is known in the art. The position of the sealing ring determines the depth of insertion of the filling pipe and thus the filling level, that is to say the quantity of liquid within the bottle.

The present invention aims to provide a device by means of which the depths of insertion of the filling pipes of all valves, may be centrally controlled in a rather simple manner, so providing a structural simplification with respect to other systems centrally controlling the level of the liquid.

This object is attained in accordance with the present invention in that the sealing ring is connected with the filling pipe by means of a screw-thread and in that means are provided which interact with all successive filling valves for rotating each ring with respect to its corresponding pipe over an adjustable angle. Due to this combination of features the locality of abutment of the sealing ring with respect to the lowermost end of the filling pipe, is changed.

In an embodiment of the present invention each sealing ring is supported by a screw-threaded supporting member, said screw-thread interacting with a complementary screw-thread upon the displaceable member, whereby the control means acting upon the supporting member are constituted by a ratchet driving mechanism. As all moving sealing valves will successively pass said ratchet driving mechanism, a uniform adaptation of all sealing rings can so be obtained.

Said ratchet driving mechanism may consist of a toothed wheel, mounted upon each supporting member, a ratchet which is pivotally mounted upon the stationary frame being able to cooperate with said wheel. Preferably at least one ratchet will thereby be disposed at either side of the path of travel of the filling valves, so that the sealing ring may be displaced in an upward or downward direction.

The present invention will be illustrated with respect to the accompanying drawings which show the most important parts of a so-called caroussel filling apparatus, provided with a plurality of filling valves being configurated in a circle, each filling valve comprising a filling pipe for filling a bottle with liquid, wherein: Figure lisa plan view of the present apparatus; Figure 2 is a front view according to arrow II in figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section and a partial view according to line Ill-Ill in figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view according to line IV-IV in figure 3.

The apparatus for filling bottles is only partly shown in figures 1 and 2, since it concerns an apparatus known per se, see for instance French Patent Specification 2.098.020, U.S. Patent Specification 1.978.002 and British Patent Specification 1.378.108. The present apparatus comprises 24 filling valves 1 which are configurated in a circle. Said filling valves are fixed to the lower side of a liquid container 2 being rotatable about a central shaft 3.

Said shaft bears upon a column 4 being part of a stationary frame 5 which is positioned upon the floor by means of some legs 6. Said frame 5 comprises an inlet 7 and an outlet 8 in a manner known per se. The rotatable portion of the respective apparatus further comprises a ring 9, only illustrated very schematically, said ring 9 being provided with 24 supporting members 10, each supporting member being separately displaceable in an upward and a downward direction during its travel through the circular path of travel A. Figure 2 shows four of said 24 supporting members 10, the two outermost members of which support a bottle and are located in their raised position, the two central members being empty and being located in their lowermost position.

As can be seen best in figure 3, each filling valve 1 consists of a member 11 being displaceable against the action of springs and comprising a pipe 12 prot rudingfromthebottomtherefore. Said pipe 12 together with a valve being located at the lower side thereof, is of a type as described in German Patent Specification 1.953.771. The displaceable member 11 comprises a lowermost pipe 13 with a screwthread, upon which a supporting member 14 with a complementary screw-thread is disposed. Against the lower side of said supporting member 14 a sealing ring 15 is accommodated which, during the filling operation, co-operates with the filling mouth of the bottle 16, as illustrated in dotted lines in figure 3.

The presence of a finding and centering member 18, being suspended from supporting member 14 through some rods 17, is useful but not essential.

The provision according to the present invention can be best seen in figures 3 and 4. Said provision consists of a ratchet drive mechanism which is formed on the one hand by a toothed wheel 19 being disposed upon each supporting member 14 and on the other hand by a ratchet 20' and 20" at either side of the path of travel A of the filling valves 1. Said ratchets 20' and 20" are pivotally mounted upon a supporting structure 21 being part of frame 5. Each ratchet is connected through an arm 22 with a piston rod 23 of a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinder 24. Figure 4 shows ratchet 20' in its active position and ratchet 20" in its inactive position.

The quantity control of the liquid in accordance with the present invention proceeds as follows. If a batch of bottles has to be filled the dimensions of which differ from normal ones, and if it has been proved that the level of the liquid in the respective bottles, has to be slightly raised, ratchet 20' is actuated (see figure 4) whereupon the rotatable part of the apparatus (the container 2 with the valves 1), is rotated during one or more entire revolutions, so causing each supporting member 14 with its sealing ring 15, to rotate with respect to member 11, under an angle such, that ring 15 will obtain the required position with respect to pipe 12, so that the aimed quantity of liquid will arrive in bottle 16 during the filling cycle.It has been presumed in the foregoing that ratchet 20' is located outside the path of travel A and that the screw-thread between members 13 and 14 is of the left-hand turning type. In case that the liquid level in the bottle has to be lowered, not ratchet 20', but ratchet 20" is actuated, whereupon the caroussel (elements 1 and 2) has to perform as many entire revolutions as the precalculated and adjusted number of pitches to be rotated of wheel 19. In figure 1 the supply direction of empty bottles is shown by means of arrow P1, whereas the rotational direction of the caroussel is shown by arrow P2 and the direction of discharge of filled bottles by means ofarrowP3.

The possibility exists to provide not one but a plurality of supporting structures 21 comprising ratchets 20' and 20", along the path of travel A, in order to accelerate the height adjustment of the sealing rings 9. In the latter case each active ratchet should be actuated during a full number of revolutions of the respective caroussel in order to obtain a uniform adjustment of all the sealing rings. The filling valves may differ from the type as described hereinbefore; as already stated the centering members 17 and 18 may be omitted, whereby filling pipe 12 centers the respective bottle. Said filling pipe may also be displaced by a filling valve without a filling pipe, in accordance with French Patent Specification 2.101.737, in which case instead of filling pipe the term gas pipe should be used.

Claims (5)

1. Apparatus for filling bottles consisting of a stationary frame with a plurality of valves, travelling in a closed path during operation, each valve comprising a member being displaceable against the action of springs with a pipe to be inserted into the neck of the bottle to be filled, the lowermost opening of which determines the filling level of the liquid in the bottle, which pipe may interact with the filling mouth of the respective bottle, through an axially displaceable sealing ring, characterised in that the sealing ring (15) is connected with the filling pipe (12) by means of screw-thread and in that means (19, 24) are provided which successively interact with each filling valve (1), in order to rotate each ring over an adjustable angle with respect to its corresponding pipe.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that each sealing ring (15) is supported by a sup porting member (14) being provided with screwthread, co-operating with complementary screwthread upon the displaceable member (11), the control means acting upon said supporting member being formed buy a ratchet mechanism (19,20).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that said ratchet mechanism consists of a toothed wheel (19) being provided upon each supporting member (14), at least one ratchet (20) being mounted pivotally upon the stationary frame (5,21), being able to cooperate with said wheel.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that at least one ratchet (20', 20") is provided at either side of the path of travel (A) of the filling valves (1).

5. Apparatus for filling bottles substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.