GB628530A - Improvements in bottling machines - Google Patents

Abstract

628,530. Filling and capping bottles. COWEY, L. E. May 30, 1945, No. 13597. [Class 125(ii)] Apparatus for syruping, filling and capping bottles comprises three rotary supports associated respectively with means for syruping, filling and capping the bottles, and means for transferring the bottles from one support to another so that they are syruped, filled and capped in sequence, the syruping and capping means being each oscillated to follow partially the arcuate travel of a bottle upon the appropriate support before being returned to the initial position for co-operation with a succeeding bottle. Bottles are fed by a conveyer belt 27, Fig. 3, firstly to rotary platform 21 where they are charged with syrup, then to an intermediate rotary support 23 where they are filled with liquid, and finally to rotary platform 22 where they are capped and passed to delivery conveyer 28. Bottle-locating star wheels 21a, 22a are associated with platforms 21, 22 which are provided with bevelled edges closely overlapping conveyers 27, 28 and bottle platforms 30a on support 23 when the platforms 30a are in their lowered position. Syruping. The syruping nozzle 86, Figs. 9, 10, mounted above platform 21, is caused to oscillate concentrically therewith, synchronising in one direction with the bottles passing beneath. Engagement of a moving bottle on platform 21 with a pivoted abutment 94 causes a spring-loaded lever 90 to relieve pressure on a rubber bag 88 and release syrup to nozzle 86 fitted, to prevent dripping, with two concentric spheres 95, 96, provided with openings 97, 98. In the event of failure or cut-off of electrical power supply to the apparatus, syrup supply is positively prevented by the release of an auxiliary pressing arm 103, Fig. 9, normally held in inoperative position by a solenoid 104. Filling. Support 23 together with liquid reservoir 8, Fig. 1, is rotated through gearing 10, 11. Bottle-carrying platforms 30a are formed by the flat heads of plungers 30 which are raised and lowered to and from the filling position by the engagement of rollers 32, 32e with guide rails 33, 33a. Platforms 30a carry U- shaped members 25 and a set of radiussed bottle-locating plates 26, selectable according to bottle size. Reservoir 8 is supplied with liquid and gas through pipes 6a, 6, and 7a, 7, gas supply being controlled by an evacuated float 40, and can be raised or lowered according to bottle size by feed screw 36, the connecting pipes having liquid-tight telescopic joints. When a bottle is raised to filling position against a filling head 34, the bottle neck rim 24, Fig. 8, engages abutments 61 to raise valve stem 55, admitting gas to the bottle from the upper part of reservoir 8 via ports 59, 63 and down through the open stem top. Further upward movement of the bottle raises sleeve 54 relative to stem 55 against spring pressure, admitting liquid via port 60. Capping. Crown caps are fed to a capping member 76i, Fig. 14, connected by link members 76b to a sleeve 76 oscillating, in unison with the syruping nozzle, concentrically with table 22. The capping member is connected by a universal joint 76h to a dashport device 76e connected to the gas pressure source and mounted in a gimbal ring so as to pivot about axis X. As member 76i moves round in contact with a bottle neck, yielding opposition of the dashpot plunger 76f applies pressure to the cap. The capping member and the syruping nozzle wheel is linked thereto are oscillated by a pin-slot or equivalent mechanism housed in gearbox 20, Fig. 1, which also provides drive from an electric motor to the other moving parts. The capping mechanism is chiefly carried by a counter-balanced collar 99, Fig. 1, clamped to column 18 and adjustable vertically according to bottle size.