US2547606A

US2547606A - Apparatus for filling inverted bottles

Info

Publication number: US2547606A
Application number: US30707A
Authority: US
Inventors: Staller Jan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-06-04
Filing date: 1948-06-02
Publication date: 1951-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1968-04-03

Description

A ril 3, 1951 J. STALLER APPARATUS FOR FILLING INVERTED BOTTLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 2, 1948 April 3, 1951 J. STALLER 2,547,606

APPARATUS FOR FILLING I NVERTED BOTTLES Filed June 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fix 24 n Fig.2. 1%

o o 6 f 23 I 22 J fig. 3; 32

INVENTOR.

AN STALLER Patented Apr. 3, 1951 APPARATUS FOR FILLING IN VERTED BOTTLES Jan Staller, Brno, Czechoslovakia Application June 2 1948, Serial No. 30,707

In Czechoslovakia June 4, 1947 It has already been proposed to fill bottles in the position with the mouth downwards by the.

steady rising of the liquid level without any detrimental splashing, the air content of the bottle escaping through a pipe pushed in up to the vicinity of the. bottom of the bottle. The invention relates to an improvement of this method and of the device used for the purpose with the employment of a protective gas of higher specific gravity than air, which protects the liquid against undesired oxidation. The use of such a protective gas, for instance carbon dioxide, is already known per se. It has hitherto been carried out in such a manner that the empty bottle was first of all brought under the gas supply pipeand that then, after it had filled with the protective gas, it was moved under the liquid supply. pipe. The liquid flowing into the bottle displaced the protective gas filling which escaped into the atmosphere.

The method referred to above has considerable disadvantages. The bottle had to .be twice placed on the filling machine, first to be filled with protective gas and then to be filled with liquid, which naturally takes more time than filling without the use of protective gas and renders the manipulation more complicated and costly. There are also considerable losses of protective gas, as some of it will already escape, while it is flowing into the bottle, out of the open mouth of the bottle and some will be displaced into the surrounding air as the liquid enters.

The invention relates to a method and a device, which overcomes these disadvantages.

The invention consists substantially in this, that the bottle is filled first with protective gas and immediately thereupon with liquid, the bottle being placed only once on. a filling head containing the gas and liquid supply pipe and the protective gas displaced by the inflowing liquid being conveyed back under the action of its higher specific gravity to the filling device for renewed use, whilst the specifically lighter air escapes into the atmosphere.

The invention shall now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a constructional example of the filling device in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the "same machine in assembled operative form.

Fig. 3 is a detailed elevation of the machine of Fig. 2 as seen from the left in the latter.

9 Claims. (Cl. 226-27) which is divided off from the chamber 16 by a' Fig. 4 is a section as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 as seen from the left therein.

Fig. 5 is a section as taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 2 as seen from the left.

The bottle known internal ball closure 2 is placed in the inverted position with its mouth on the sealing ring 4 of the filling head it by the holders. The filling chamber 9 of the head 5 is connected by means of the pipe line 7 and the valve 8 to the reservoir 6 of the filling liquid. In the head5 a pipe ID with lateral apertures in the vicinity of its upper end is guided in a gas-tight manner and in the vertical direction. U-shaped manner and its second, longer limb l2 lying outside the bottle and opening at 29 is provided with a piston [3 which is guided in a fluid-tight manner in the cylinder M. This cylinder has its upper end communicating with the chamber It and isprovided at thebottom with a regulable supply pipe ['5 for compressed air. Above the chamber air can be introduced, isa further chamber ll partition It and hasatthe top anoutlet valve 2i which is controlled by. the float 25 in dependence on the liquid level in the reservoir 6, into which latter the liquid is introduced at 26. The as space 25 of the reservoir 6 isin permanent communication with the gas chamber it by means of a branch 23 and the chambers l6, ll are in permanent communication with one another through openings I9, 26 in the partition I 8. In the whole system. a suitable pressure is maintained, this pressure being as a rule about two atmospheres, when filling beer into bottles. At the lowest point of the pipe l0, l2 an outfiow valve 2'! is provided, which canbe opened by rocking the lever 28, as soon as the pipe Ii), [2 has reached its lowest position.

The machine as further shown in Figs. 2 to 5 includes a group of curved segmental.

cams

31, 38 and 39 and a pedal or trip lever 43 mounted on shaft 42 which is rotatably mounted on machine supports 30, with a spring 44 biasing the cams toward initial idle position. 'The first cam 31 engages with a springoperated valve 33, and cam 38 with another valve 34 of valve casing 35 by which compressed air at a higher pressure than that of the protective gas is brought to chamber 16 through passage 36.. From valve 33 an air pressure passage 33 leads to cylinder 31-, of which the piston carries holder orstop- 3-,

provided, for instance, with the 5 and is pressed against.

This pipe it is bent in a It, into which at 22 the protective gas of higher specific gravity than 3 while valve 34 is connected to the lower end of cylinder I4 by way of passage I5.

Valve casing 35 is so arranged that in the lowest position of

valves

33 and 34, passage of compressed air to cylinders I4 and 3| is closed off and their erstwhile air-filled chambers open communication with the outside air. In the operative position of

valves

33, 34 on the other hand, the passage of compressed air through passage 36 to the chambers is open. Cam 39 initially engages with a valve stem 45 which closes valve 8 in the lowest position of the cam but in the operative position opens this valve 8. At the side thereof the cam 39 has a projection 48 which cooperates with valve stem 4| which engages operating lever 28.

Cams

31, 38 and 39 have similar operative portions which-upon lowering of pedal 43 cause successive operation of

valves

33, 34 and 8 as well as of lever 28 as will also be explained in the'following.

In idle condition, pedal 43 occupies its highest position while

valves

33 and 34 as well as valve stem 45 are in their lowest positions, valve stem 4I, meanwhile,, engaging upon the side of cam 39 upon the highest portion of projection 40. Cylinder -3I is free from internal pressure with the U-shaped pipe. I8; I2 in its lowest position, while the space below the piston I3 in cylinder I4 (Fig. 1) is free from pressure when the gas pressure in chamber I5 has driven piston I3 and U-shaped pipe III, I2 down to its lowest position. The outletvalve 21, which is located immediately above lever 28is still closed and the same is true of'valve 8; the parts being then in position to receive an empty container or bottle for filling the same. I

Thus, if such a container or bottle I is mounted in inverted position on filling head 5 and trip lever or'pedal ,43'slowly depressed, projection 40 of cam 39 shifts link4l briefly to the left (Fig. 2), with the result that lever 28 momentarily opens outlet valve "21 which thereafter quickly closes again. Upon again depressing pedal 43, cam 31 will open valve ;33' so that compressed air promptly flows from passage 36 through valve casing 35 and'through pipe 32 into cylinder 3I, whereby the holder or stop 3 is shifted downwardly andbottle- I is pressed heavily down on filling head 5;

Upon further depressing pedal 43, cam 38 opens valve 34-and compressed air flows from passage 36 through valve casing 35 and pipe I5 connected to the lower end of cylinder I4 and enters the latter, overcoming the gas pressure therein acting on piston I3 from above. The result is that "piston I3 is raised with 'U-shaped pipe I8, I 2 to'their highest position as shown in Fig. 2. Already at "the beginning of this raising operation, gas from chamber I 6 enters the upper open end 29"ofthe' U-shjaped pipe and enters the bottle through opening II in said pipe by passing upwardly through limb I therein to substantial equilibrium withthat in chamber I6.

Upon then again depressing pedal 43, cam 39 opens liquid supply valve 8, and liquid flows from reservoir '5 past valve 8 through filling head upwardly into bottle I, displacing the air and gas through the U- haped pipe from the bottle, and when the latter is filled, the operation is terminated. When the pedal 43 is thereafter released, the cams successively return to their initial positions.

The first cam 39 closes liquid supply valve 8, then cam 38 frees cylinder from pressure, so that the U -shaped pipe slidesdown to its lowest position and its limb II] with consequent closure of port or opening II (Fig. 1) terminates the flow of gas from the bottle. Then cam 31 raises holder 33 so that the filled bottle can be removed. Finally, cam 39 once again momentarily opens outlet valve 21 by means of side projection 40, whereby the apparatus is again in initial operative condition to receive and fill another container or bottle.

The device operates as follows:

Before the inverted empty bottle I is placed on the sealing ring 4 .of the filling head 5 the pipe I8 is drawn down into its lowest position, in which its lateral apertures II are closed in a fluid-tight manner by the guiding part of the head 5, so that the compressed protective gas from the chamber I6, in which in this position the outlet 29 of the limb I2 is situated, cannot escape out of the pipe IS. The liquid valve 8 is closed. The empty bottle I is then placed in position and pressed down by the holder 3. The pipe I0 is pushed up through the bottle neck till it nearly reaches the bottom of the bottle. Immediately after the commencement of this motion the compressed gas starts to flow through the uncovered apertures II out of the chamber I6 into the bottle I and, as it is heavier than air, to collect in its lower part, that is in the vicinity of the neck. The relatively lighter air contained in the bottle rises to the bottom of the bottle. Immediately an equalisation of pressure will take place, that is to say, the pressure in the bottle I will become just as great as that in the spaces 9, IT, IS, 24. The valve 3 is then opened.

The liquid from the reservoir 6 flows according to the law of communicating vessels through the pipe I and the filling chamber 9 from below into the inverted bottle and forces its gaseous content through the pipe IO, I2 into the chamber I'I, into which the limb I2, when in the raised position, opens with its end 29. At first air will escape out of the bottle I, which as the lighter medium collects in the upper part of the chamber I1, and only then the heavier protective gas which collects under the layer of air and penetrates through the openings I9, 20 of the parti tion I8 into the spaces I6, 23 and 24. The level of the liquid in the bottle I rises, as indicated in the figure, quietly and without splashing. As soon as it reaches the apertures I I, the liquid will enter the pipe I0 and fiow from there into the limb I2, in which the level assumes the same height as in the reservoir 6, when the transfer of the liquid will automatically cease and the filling of the bottle will be complete. The valve 8 is closed and the pipe I0 pushed down into the lowest position, so that its apertures Ii become covered, whereupon the holder 3 is loosened and the bottle I removed. Through the drop in the external pressure of the internal ball 2 will set itself firmly on its seating, the bottle being thus closed.

The gaseous content of the chambers I1, I6 and 24 is layered in such a manner that the air displaced out of the bottle I during the inflow of the liquid fills only the uppermost part of the chamber I'I, whereas the spaces I6, 24 are permanently filled only wi.h the heavy protective gas. The spaces I6, I1 and 24 might, of course, be united. Their separation from one another by partitions with relatively small communicating openings I9, 20, 23 has the advantage, however, that the eddying and mixing of the gas with air during the operalion is reduced and the quiet layering is assisted.

When during the filling operation the level in the reservoir 6 sinks, the float 25 will open the valve 2 I, causing the air contained in the uppermost part of the chamber I! to escape into the atmosphere. This, of course, also results in the pressure in the space 24 of the reservoir 6 dropping, so that through the supply pipe 26 fresh liquid can flow in from a reservoir (not shown), in which a constant pressure is maintained by means of a known kind. The maintenance of a constant liquid level in the reservoir 6 is thus ensured.

In order to ensure thatthe quality of the liquid filled into the bottles shall be entirel satisfactory, care must be taken to prevent any residual liquid entering the bottle, which in the intervals between filling the individual bottles has come in contact with the airy For this reason such residues must be carefully removed. In the constructional form illus.-rated this object is served by two devices. The first of these consists in a special dimensioning of the pipes I0, I 2. These pipes are so dimensioned that the volume of their walls in that part which, when the bottle is full and the pipe Ill is in its highest position, is immersed in the liquid is greater than the liquid content of the pipes Ii), E2 in the same position. If this condition is fulfilled, then, with the valve 8 closed, by drawing down the pipe l9 into the lowest posi.ion a space will become free in the bottle I, which is greater than the volume of the liquid contained in the limbs l0, I2 and this liquid will therefore be with certainty sucked into the interior of the bottle, so that the pipe l0, l2 will be free of liquid before the fresh bottle is placed in position. The second device, by which the very last residues of liquid adhering to the walls of the pipes I (l, I 2 are to be removed, consists in the use of a blow-out valve 2?. In the intervals between the removal of the full bottle and the placing in position of a fresh, empty bottle, the pipe l0, l2 being in-the lowest position, the valve 2? is opened by the lever 28 for a brief period and the compressed gas from the chamber l6 blows the last traces of adhering liquid out of the pipes I2, I 9.

Through using the pressure of the protective gas for the motion of the piston 93 in one direction as described, a simplification of the servomotor and its control results.

Manifestly, variaions may be resorted to and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling bottles and containers with liquid in inverted position, comprising: a reservoir for the liquid, a filling head adapted to be put into communication with the liquid reservoir, a U-shaped pipe one limb of which is slidable in the filling head up to a position in which the free end of that limb passes through the neck of an inverted bottle or container placed on the filling head and extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the bottle, the volume of the walls of that part of the U-shaped slidable pipe which is immersed in liquid when the pipe is in its highest position and the bottle is full being greater than the volume of liquid filling the entire pipe in the same operative state, an air chamber into which the open end of' the-outer limb of the U-shaped pipe reacheswhen this pipe is in its uppermost position, an outlet valve on the air chamber, means for controlling the said outlet valve in dependence upon the surface level of liquid in the liquid reservoir, and a gas chamber located below the air chamber but at a higher level than the liquid surface level in the liquid reservoir, the free end of the outer limb of the U-shaped pipe opening into the gas chamber when the U-shaped pipe is in its lowest position, and the gas chamber being in open communication both with the. air chamber and with the gas space above the surface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

2. Apparatus for filling bottles and containers with liquid in inverted position, comprising: a

I reservoir for the liquid, a filling head adapted pipe is in its lowest position, and

to be put into communication with the said liquid reservoir, a U-shaped pipe one limb of which is slidable in the filling head up to a position in which the free end of that limb passes through the neck of an inverted bottle or container placed on the filling head and extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the bottle, a blow-off valve at the lowest part of the U-shaped slidable pipe, a member adapted to open the blow-01f valve for brief periods when the pipe is in its lowest position, an air chamber into which the open end of the outer limb of the U-shaped pipe reaches when this pipe is in its uppermost position, an outlet valve on the air chamber, means for controlling the outlet valve in dependence upon the surface level of liquid in the liquid reservoir, and a gas chamber located below the air chamber but at a higher level than the liquid surface level in the liquid reservoir, the free end of the outer limb of the U-shaped pipe opening into the said gas chamber when the U-shaped the gas chamber being in open communication both with the air chamber and with the gas space above the surface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

3. Apparatus for filling bottles and containers with liquid in inverted position, comprisingi a reservoir for the liquid, a fillin head adapted to be put into communication with the said liquid reservoir, a U-shaped pipe one limb of which is slidable in the filling head up to a position in which the free end of that limb passes through the neck of an inverted bottle or container placed on the filling head and extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the bottle, an air chamber into which the open end of the outer limb of the U-shaped pipe reaches when this pipe is in its uppermost position, an outlet valve on the air chamber, means for controlling the outlet valve in dependence upon the surface level of liquid in the liquid reservoir, a gas chamber located below the air chamber but at a higher level than the liquid surface level in the liquid reservoir, a cylinder connected to the under side of the gas chamber, the outer limb of the U-shaped slidable pipe extending through the cylinder and its free end opening into the said gas chamber when the U lowest position, a piston fixed on the outside limb of the U-shaped slidable pipe and slidably reciprocable in said cylinder for sliding the latter -shaped pipe is in its pipe, and adjustable means for admitting to the cylinder, below the piston a supply of fiuid at a pressure higher than that of the protective gas in the gas chamber, the gas chamber being in open communication both with the air chamber and with the gas space above the surface of the liquid in the liquid reservoir.

4. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles .,with liquid in inverted position, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directed you for the filling'head; valve controlled means for bringing the latter into communication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to the filling head and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of the container or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in said reservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and having an outlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same upon lowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normally maintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predetermined height, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admitting the other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereof extends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe but in lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber; means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamber and air chamber and said liquid reservoir; and means for raising and lowering said U-shaped pipe.

5. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in inverted position, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directed filling head; valve controlled means for bringing the latter into communication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to the filling head and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of the container or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in said reservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and havin an outlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same upon lowering oi the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normally maintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predetermined height, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admitting the other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereof extends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe but in lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber; means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamber and air chamber and said liquid reservoir; and means for raising and lowering said U-shaped pipe, the volume of the walls of the movable U-shaped pipe immersed in the liquid in the uppermost position of 'said pipe and the filled condition of the bottle being greater than the volume of the liquid in the entire pipe in said uppermost position of the latter and the filled condition of said bottle.

6. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in inverted position, including a reserliquid; an upwardly directed filling head; valve controlled means for bringing the latter into communication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to the filling head and slidable 'therethrough up- --wardly through the neck of the container or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in said reservoir;

chamber and having an outlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same upon lowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir taining the valve closed air chamber each having an opening admitting the other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereof extends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe but in lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber; means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamber and air chamber and said liquid reservoir; means for raising and lowering said U- shaped pipe; an outlet valve disposed in the lower intermediate portion of said U-shaped pipe; and operative means for at least momentarily opening the latter outlet valve when said U-shaped pipe is brought down to is lowest position.

7. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in inverted position, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directed filling head; valve controlled means for bringing the later into communication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to the filling head and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of the container or bott e to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in said reservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and having an outlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same upon lowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normally maintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predetermined height, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admitting the other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereof extends into saidv air chamber in the uppermost position of said pi ,e but in lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber; means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamber and air chamber and said liquid reservoir; means for raising and lowering said U-shaped pipe; an outlet valve disposed in the lower intermediate portion of said U-shaped pipe; and operative means for at least momentarily opening the latter outlet valve when said U- shaped pipe is brought down to its lowest position, the volume of the walls of the movable U-shaped pi e immersed in the liquid in the uppermost position of said pipe and the filled condition of the bottle being greater than the volume of the liquid in the entire pipe in said uppermost position of the latter and the filled condition of said bottle.

8. Apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in inverted position, including ,a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directed filing head; valve controlled means for bringing the latter into communication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to an air chamber mounted above the gas but normally mainwhen the liquid level is v at a predetermined height, the gas chamber and 9 the filling head and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of the container or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermost position of the pipe; a gas chamber for protective gas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in said reservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and having an outlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same upon lowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normally main taining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predetermined height, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admitting the other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereof extends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe but in lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber; means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamber and air chamber and said liquid reservoir; a substantially vertical cylinder connected to the gas chamber in permanent communication at the upper end thereof with the interior of said gas chamber in such position that the other limb of the U-shaped pipe extends movably upward through said cylinder; and a piston fixed on said other limb of said U-shaped pipe and slidably reciprocable in said vertical cylinder to raise and lower said U-shaped pipe; and the other or lower end of said cylinder having a connection to a pressure fluid supply at a higher pressure than that of the gas in said gas chamber.

9. An apparatus for filling containers and bottles with liquid in inverted position, including a reservoir for the liquid; an upwardly directed filling head; valve controlled means for bringing the latter into communication with the liquid in the reservoir; a vertically movable U-shaped pipe having one limb thereof movably connected to the filling head and slidable therethrough upwardly through the neck of the container or bottle to the vicinity of the bottom of the latter in the uppermost position of the pipe; a gas apricot 10 chamber for protective gas disposed at least mainly above the level of the liquid in said reservoir; an air chamber mounted above the gas chamber and having an outlet valve in one portion thereof leading to atmosphere; means in said liquid reservoir connected to the outlet valve for opening the same upon lowering of the level of the liquid in said reservoir but normally maintaining the valve closed when the liquid level is at a predetermined height, the gas chamber and air chamber each having an opening admitting the other limb of said U-shaped pipe so that the upper open end thereof extends into said air chamber in the uppermost position of said pipe but in lowered position of this pipe only extends into said gas chamber; means providing permanent open communication between said gas chamber and air chamber and said liquid reservoir a depending vertical cylinder rigidly secured at the upper end thereof to the lower portion of said gas chamber in permanent open communication therewith, the other limb of the U-shaped pipe extending upwardly through the cylinder at all times; and a piston fixed on an intermediate portion of said other limb of said U-shaped pipe and slidably reciprocable in said depending cylinder to raise and lower said U-shaped pipe; andthe other or lower end of said cylinder having a connection to a pressure fluid supply at a higher pressure than that of the gas in said gas chamber.

JAN STALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS