US2057538A

US2057538A - Bottle filler

Info

Publication number: US2057538A
Application number: US733618A
Authority: US
Inventors: Petersen Thorvald
Original assignee: R G Wright & Co
Current assignee: R G Wright & Co
Priority date: 1934-07-03
Filing date: 1934-07-03
Publication date: 1936-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1953-10-13

Description

Oct. 13;, 1936 PETERSEN 2,057,538

BOTTLE FILLER Filed July 3, 1934 Patented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE FILLER Thorvald Petersen,

Erie, Pa., assignor to R. G. Wright & 00., Bufialo, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1934, Serial No. 733,618

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle filling mechanisms.

The objects of this invention are to provide a bottle filling mechanism in which a minimum number of parts are exposed to contact with the liquid with which the bottles are to be filled, and in which these parts are so constructed that they can be easily and thoroughly cleansed and sterilized; also to provide a bottle filling mechanism in which the valves for controlling the flow of liquid into the bottles are actuated by the means for carrying the bottles into their filling positions, in conjunction with the bottles, but not directly by the bottles as was heretofore commonly done; also to provide a bottle filling machine in which the valve for controlling the flow of liquid into the bottles is provided with a stem extending above the level of the liquid, and which valve is moved into open and closed positions by mechanism arranged exterior to the liquid container and engaging the upper end of the valve stem; also to provide a bottle filling mechanism of this kind in which the valve stem is arranged to be readily disconnected from its actuating means; also to provide a valve of this kind of novel construction and which is provided with means for deflecting the liquid in such a manner as to minimize foaming of the liquid; also to provide a. valve of this kind with means for defleeting the liquid out of the path of air discharged from the bottle while being filled; also to provide a valve stem of this kind with a central air passage and with means for deflecting the liquid out of the path of movement of air to the passage; also to provide means of improved construction for quickly adapting the mechanism to operate on bottles of different sizes; also to provide a mechanism of this kind which is capable of operating at the same time on bottles of different sizes; also to provide a valve mechanism which is so constructed as to fill the bottles uniformly regardless of the level of the liquid in the tank or container; also to improve the construction of bottle filling mechanisms in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine provided with mechanism embodying this invention for filling bottles.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof on line 22, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional elevation in which the parts are shown in difierent positions.

Fig. 4 is a view on a still larger scale, showing the upper end of the valve stem and the lower end of the actuating member or rod therefor. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary central sectional elevation of the lower end of the actuating member, on line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and '7 are transverse sections on line 66, Fig. 2 and 1-1, Fig. 3, respectively.

Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section of a valve for controlling the discharge of liquid to the bottles. 4

Figs. 9 and 10 are elevations, partly in section, of spacing members for use when the machine is used for filling bottles of smaller sizes.

My improved bottle filling mechanism may be applied to a machine of any suitable or desired type having means for moving the bottles into liquid receiving positions. In the particular constructure shown in Fig. 1, my bottle filling mechanism is shown as applied to a machine having a carrier A in the form of a rotary table mounted to rotate upon a standard or base B and to move vertically relatively to this standard so that the bottles C may be moved toward and from certain liquid discharge nozzles D, which may be formed on a tank or container E for the liquid. F represents a housing for suitable actuating mechanism by means of which the table may be turned and moved up and down, and this mechanism may be under the control of a foot pedal G. It will be understood, however, that the machine shown in Fig. l is merely illustrative of one type of machine to which my bottle filling mechanism may be applied, and it will be understood that various types of bottle filling machines may be equipped with my bottle filling mechanism. For example, in place of the rotary table A, a bottle carrier of any other suitable construction may be employed, and this bottle carrier may, if desired, be stationary while the tank itself moves relatively to the same. The bottles C shown are of the kind commonly used for milk, but it is not intended to limit this application to the filling of milk bottles, since my improved mechanism is equally applicable to the filling of other types of bottles and for use with other liquids. 4

In bottle filling mechanisms as heretofore constructed, the filling of the bottle was generally accomplished by the actuation of a valve mechanism by the mouth of the bottle as the same was moved into engagement therewith. Such valve mechanisms are hard to clean and sterilize and are also objectionable because of the tendency to produce froth which interferes with the proper filling of the bottles.

In accordance with my invention, the bottle carrier A is provided with one or more supports for the bottles, and these supports are yieldingly mounted on the carrier to permit the bottles to move relatively to the carrier after they have been placed into their filling position. In the particular construction shown, |4 represents a bottle support, the upper portion of which is preferably provided with an annular flange l5 for correctly positioning a bottle on the support. Each support also has a stem |6 slidably arranged in an aperture or guide ll of the carrier A, the guide in the construction illustrated being tubular in shape and formed integrally with the carrier. The bottle supports l4 are yieldingly held in their uppermost positions in any suitable manner, coil springs |8 being provided for that purpose in the construction shown, and being arranged in the lower portion of the sleeve Each spring it engages at one end with the adjacent end of the stem l6, and at its other end with a stop, such, for example as an inwardly extending flange IQ of the sleeve During the upward movement of the bottle carrier A, the upper edge or mouth of the bottle engages a fixed portion surrounding the discharge aperture D for the liquid, such for example as a resilient gasket or cushionZO, which may be made of rubher, and which is arranged on the under surface of the tank E surrounding the discharge aperture D. It will, of course, be understood that my bottle filling mechanism is not limited to use in connection with the tank E, since the liquid may be conducted to .the discharge aperture D by means of a tube or duct.

When the carrier A moves into its upper position, the bottle C will engage the pad or cushion 20 sometime before the carrier A reaches the upper limit of its movement, and after engaging the pad, the bottle will cause the spring M to be. compressed as the stem l6 enters into the cavity in the sleeve l1, during farther upward movement of the carrier A, as shown in Fig. 3.

24 represents a valve arranged to seat inthe opening or discharge orifice of the nozzle D to close this orifice. This valve, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 8 is provided near the upper portion thereof with a face 25, which may be beveled or otherwise formed to seat in the lower part of the tank about the aperture D and the valve also includes a portion extending downwardly below the seating face 25, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained. The valve also includes a hollow or tubular stem 21 extending through the valve to the lower end thereof. This stem extends upwardly to a sufiicient extent, so that the upper end thereof is always out of the liquid and this stem, consequently, discharges air from the bottle which is displaced by the liquid entering the same, without causing this air to bubble through the liquid.

The valve is arranged to be moved up and down for unseating and seating the same by means engaging the upper end of the stem. In the construction shown for this purpose, this end of the stem is provided with a part 3|), which in the particular construction illustrated is in the form of a ring or band, but which may be of any other form, and which has a releasable looking engagement with a valve actuating rod or member 3|. In the particular construction shown, the valve actuating member is provided with a lip 32 of arc-shaped form on which the projection or ring 3!] of the valve stem may be supported. On the opposite side, the valve actuating rod is provided with a downwardly extend ing stop projection 33, adapted to engage a side of the valve stem 21 or of the ring 30 thereon. This extension serves to hold the valve stem in engagement with the valve actuating member 3|, when the valve stem is in upright or operative position, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. If, however, the valve actuating member 3| is raised above its normal operating position as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, the valve stem may then be tilted at an angle to the vertical as similarly indicated in Fig. 3, in which case the edge of the ring or flange 30 of the stem disengages the projection 33, thus permitting the valve stem to be disengaged from the lip 32. Similarly, of course, the valve can be connected with its actuating member by first tilting the valve stem into an inclined position. In this manner, each valve can be easily disconnected and removed from the mechanism for cleaning and sterilization. Any other quickly detachable connection between the valve stem and its actuating member may, however, be employed.

1 .The valve actuating member 3| includes a portion 35 which extends downwardly intov proximity to the bottle carrier A and is suitably guided, for example, by means of

guide brackets

36 and 31, which may be secured to the tank E. In the construction shown, the upper bent over portion of the valvev actuating member 3| is, of course, also guided in its upper portion by passing through an aperture 38 in the top wall of the tank.

Means are provided for moving the valve actuating member 3| to open and close the valve while the bottle is positioned in contact with the gasket 20 surrounding the liquid discharge nozzle D. In the construction shown for this purpose, a plunger 40 is arranged in a guide aperture formed in a projection 4| extending laterally of the bottle carrier A. The plunger has a reduced portion about which a coil spring 42 is arranged and a sleeve 43 is threaded into the outer end of the aperture in which the plunger is guided and acts as a guide for the stem or reduced portion of the plunger 40 and as a stop for the spring 42. The movement of the plunger is preferably effected by movement of the support |4 relatively to-the bottle carrier A. For this purpose, the stem l6 of the support I4 is provided with a reduced neck 44 at a distance from the lower end thereof and the upper part of the neck terminates in a tapering portion 45. This neck also forms an abrupt or stop shoulder 46 on the stem l6 below the neck, with which the plunger 4!] cooperates to limit the extent towhich the spring l8 may press the support l4 outwardly. When the table A moves upwardly with reference to support M for the bottle, as will result when the bottle engages the cushion or gasket 23 during the upward movement of the carrier A, the stem It will move into the guide sleeve ll, so that the inclined or wedge-shapedpart 45 will engage the inner end of the plunger 40 and press the same outwardly against the action of the spring 42. When in this position, the end of the plunger 40 will, upon further upward movement of the table, engage with the lower end of the valve actuating member 3| and raise this member, during the last part of the upward movement of the bottle carrier A, into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, in which the valve 24 is lifted into a position to open the aperture of the nozzle D. Similarly, after the bottle has been filled, when the table begins its downward movement, the first part of this movement will result in a corresponding downward movement ofithe valve 24 into its closing position; this movement taking place prior to the downward movement of :the bottle C, or in other words, while the bottle is held in its upperv position .by the expansionof the spring [8. In thismannenall of. the actuating mechanism for the valve may be located exterior to the liquid so that only they valve 2t and its stem need be sterilized.

In theoperation of this portion of the mechanism, it will beobvious that the opening of. a valve. is controlled indirectly through a bottle, sinceif no bottle is on the support Hi, the stem IE will not be pressed into its socket and consequently the stem 40 of the plunger will not move outwardly, so that the valve actuating .member 3.! wouldnot'be moved upwardly to discharge liquid. .The valve actuating member 3| aszshown is moved to its lower-position by gravity, but other means for normally moving this member into valve closing position may be employed. The downward movement of the valve actuating member is limited by the seating of the valve, but when the valve is removed for cleaning, a stop or pin l? may act as a stop by engaging a guide bracket 36.

a The valve 24 maybe of any suitable or desired shape, that shown having its seating face 25 extending inwardly toward the axis of the valve to form a'reduced' waist portion 48 providing ample clearance around the edge of the orifice in the nozzle, to provide for a rapid flow of liquid into the bottles when the valve is in 'open'position. Below the waist portion 48, the valve is preferably provided with an outwardly flaring portion 50,- which has the function of directing liquid discharged through the aperture outwardly toward the wall of the neck of the bottle. The liquid thus discharged into the bottle, therefore, flows substantially in the form of a cone which contacts with the inner wall of the neck of the bottle and the liquid then flows downwardly along the inner surface of the bottle, thus avoiding splashing. Furthermore, the outwardly flaring portion 50 directs the liquid outwardly so as not to interfere in any way with or intercept the path of the upwardly travelling air passing into the hollow valve stem 21. In this manner, splashing and frothing are prevented and the filling of bottles is expedited due to the fact that the middle portion of the bottle is left free for the upward passage of air while the liquid flows into the bottle about this central air core, there being no crossing of this central air column by the liquid entering the bottle. To accomplish these results, the taper of the portion 50 of the valve is such that the hollow conical body of liquid leaving the valve will impinge on the inner surface of the neck of the bottle at such an angle that the liquid will continue to flow downwardly along the side of the bottle.

After a bottle has been filled and the table or carrier for the bottles is lowered, during the first part of the downward movement of the carrier the bottles are held in their upper positions by means of the springs l8 and the valves are dropped into their seating positions for closing the nozzles D which they control. This downward movement of the valves into the bottles while the same are completely filled with milk results in the displacing of a quantity of milk from the upper portion of each bottle upwardly into the hollow valve stem 21. Upon further downward movement of the carrier, the bottles willmove out of engagement with the .fiexible pads or cushions D, which also seal the tops of the bottles while the same are in filling position, and such movement permits the liquid within the hollow valve stems 2'! to drain into the bottles to completely fill the same.

52, Fig. 9 and 53, Fig. 10 represent spacing members which may be used in connection with the supports 14 when the machine is used for filling bottles smaller than the maximum size for which the machine is constructed. In the particular construction illustrated, the machine is built to operate on quart milk bottles of the kind commonly employed. When the spacing member .53 shown in Fig. 10 is placed on the support L4 as shown at the extreme left of Fig. l, a pint bottle C may be placed on the spacing member so that the top of this bottle is at the same elevation as the tops of quart bottles. When the spacing member 52 is employed, a halfpint bottle C may be placed on this support. In this manner, the machine may at the same time fill bottles of the various sizes. The lower ends of the

spacing members

52 and 53 are provided respectively with base portions 54 and 55 of a-contour to fit snugly within the flange l5 of the bottle support l4, and the upper ends of these spacing members are provided with seats for the bottoms of the bottles formed, for example, by providing the tubular shells or body portions of the spacing members with inwardly extending shoulders or ridges 56 and 57 of the shapes to fit respectively the half-pint and pint bottles. In a similar manner, the machine may readily be adapted for operation on bottles of other shapes or sizes.

In addition to the advantages of the bottle filler already stated, it will be noted that the valve member 24 is moved upwardly and out of the neck'of the bottle when moving into its open position. This is of advantage for the reason that the opening in the neck of the bottle generally, tapers, being widest at the top. Consequently, .by moving the valve member 24 upwardly, the milk can flow more rapidly into the bottle. any given capacity differ somewhat in height, the valve opening mechanism described has the further advantage that milk bottles of the same capacity but of difierent heights will all be filled equally rapidly, whereas with bottle filling valves of the type heretofore used, a short bottle would not open the filling valve as widely as a longer bottle, and consequently, longer time was taken to fill shorter bottles. These two facts make it possible to speed up the machine to materially increase the capacity thereof.

I claim:

1. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a stationary container for liquid, a valve controlling the discharge of liquid from said container to a bottle, a bottle carrier movable vertically toward and from said tank to place the bottle in position to receive liquid, a bottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to hold a bottle. in receiving position relatively to said container during a portion of the movement of said carrier, and means actuated by the relative movement of said support and carrier to open and close said valve.

2. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, a bottle carrier arranged to move up and down toward and from said nozzle to place a bottle into liquid receiving position, a bottle support Furthermore, since milk bottles of s'lidable vertically relatively to saidcarrier and yieldingly held in its upper position, a part mounted on said carrier to move therewith and also slidable in a direction laterally of the direction of movement of said carrier, another part connected with said valve and extending into proximity to said first part, and means actuated by the movement of said support relatively to said carrier for sliding said first part into a position to move into engagement with said second part to open said valve.

3. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, a bottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place a bottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle, a bottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to move relatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is inliquid receiving position, a valve actuating member extending into proximity to a part of said carrier, and a part mounted on said carrier to slide in a direction transverse of the direction of movement of said carrier and which is slid by the motion of said support relatively to said carrier into a position toengage said valve actuating member.

4. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, a bottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place. a bottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle, abottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to move relatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is in liquid receiving position, a part which is slid laterally of the direction of movement of said carrier by'said support after said support has placed the bottle into liquid receiving position, and means actuated by said part for opening and closing said valve.

5. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a stationary liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the discharge of liquid from said nozzle, a table for supporting a plurality of bottles and movable in a horizontal direction into a position to bring a bottle into vertical alinement with said nozzle and then vertically to place the bottle into liquid receiving position relatively to said nozzle, a bottle support mounted on said table to move horizontally therewith and slidable vertically relatively to said table, means for yieldingly urging said bottle support upwardly relatively to said table and for permitting movement of said table relatively to said bottle support when the bottle reaches its liquid receiving position, and means actuated by said relative movement of said support and table to open said valve.

6. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, a bottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place a bottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle, a bottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to move relatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is in liquid receiving position, a valve actuating member extending into proximity to a part of said carrier, a plunger slidably mounted on said carrier and normallyheld in a withdrawn position, and means actuated by relative movement of said carrier and said support for moving said plunger outwardly into a position to engage said valve actuating member to open said valve.

7. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, a bottle carrier arranged to move toward and from said nozzle to place a bottle with its mouth in liquid receiving position to said nozzle, a bottle support yieldingly mounted on said carrier and arranged to move relatively to said carrier after the mouth of said bottle is in liquid receiving position, a valve actuating member extending into proximity to a part of said carrier, a plunger slidably mounted on said carrier, resilient means for holding said plunger in a position out of contact with said valve actuating means, and a tapering part on said support which engages said plunger and moves the same outwardly into a position to engage said valve actuating means when said support m'ovesrelatively to said carrier.

8. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a container for liquid, a valve controlling the discharge of liquid from said container to a bottle, a bottle carrier arranged to yieldingly support a bottle and to place the bottle in position to receive liquid, means mounted on said carrier to move into position to open said valve, and means actuated by relative movement of said bottle and said carrier for moving said valve opening means into valve opening position.

9. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, a bottle carrier arranged to yieldingly support a bottle and to place the same in position to receive liquid from said nozzle, a member movable into and out of a position to open said valve, means actuated by initial relative movement of' said bottle and said carrierfor moving said member into operative position for opening the valve upon further movement of said bottle carrier.

10; In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle, a bottle carrier arranged to move up and down toward and from said nozzle to place a bottle into liquid receiving position, a bottle support slidable vertically relatively to said carrier and yieldingly held in its upper position, a member movably arranged on said bottle carrier and movable into an outer position by initial relative movement of said bottle support relatively to said carrier,

said member after said initial movement being moved by said carrier into a position to open said valve.

11. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a liquid discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the flow of liquid through said nozzle, a valve actuating member connected with said valve for opening and closing the'same, a bottle carrier arranged to yieldingly support a bottle and to place the same into a position to receive liquid from said nozzle, a part carried by said carrier and movable into a position to engage said actuating member during the movement of said carrier and into another position in which said part will not engage said actuating member during the movement of said carrier, and means operated during the initial yielding movement of said bottle relatively to said carrier to move said part into said position to engage said actuating member.

12. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a carrier for a bottle, a container for liquid having a discharge nozzle, a valve controlling the fiow of liquid through said nozzle and having a stem extending upwardly into a position above the liquid level in said container, said valve being confined within said nozzle while in its open and closed positions, a valve actuating member having a hooked connection with said valve stem which holds said valve and said member connected when said valve is in open and closed positions in said nozzle, said valve and said member being movable into a position in which said valve is out of said nozzle to permit release of said hooked connection, and means actuated by said carrier for moving said valve actuating member into valve opening and valve closing positions.

13. In a bottle filling mechanism, the combination of a carrier for a bottle, a container for liquid having a discharge nozzle in the bottom thereof, a valve which extends into said nozzle for opening and closing the same, a substantially upright valve stem extending above the liquid level in said container and connected to said valve, a valve actuating member having a hooked connection with the upper end of said stem which is releasable only when said valve stem is out of its upright position, said actuating member being movable vertically to cause said valve to move out of said nozzle to permit said stem to swing to an inclined position to release said hooked connection, and means actuated by said carrier for moving said valve actuating member into valve opening and closing positions.

THORVALD PETERSEN.