US909868A - Bottle-centering device for bottle-filling machines. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. CHAMP.

BOTTLE OENTEBING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 19 06.

Patenfoed Jan. 19, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

arzzex JzzzrEnf/Jr. 59041 46 14 J. H. GHAMP. BOTTLE CENTERING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE FILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 1906.

909,868. Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

2 sums-sum 2.

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JOSEPH n. oniiiir. or cilsvmaun, OHIQ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

BOTTLE-CENTEBlING DEVICE FOR BOTTLE-IFIIZLING MACHHIES.

Patented Jan. 11), 1909.

- Application filed. October as, me. serial No; cease-"z.

To all whom it may concern:

,ing machines, particularly to machines intended for the automatic filling 'of bottles with beer-or like liquids under pressure' In approved machines of this sort there is generall provided a bottle filling member including a suitable mouth piece and -discharge tube against which the bottle is designed to be raised and hcldpcnding the filling operation. Inasmuch as the automatic operat on of the machine includes, among other things, the raising of the bottle into pos tion with respect to such mouthpiece and dischar e tube, it is quite essential that such bottle e accurately centered in order that its registry with the mouth piece and discharge tube may be'correct.' v

' Thismvention, then, has regard more particularly still to means adapted to effect such last noted essential result.

Said invention consists of the means hereinait'er described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and theftollowing description set forth in detail certain mech-.

anism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure 1 1s a front perspective view of so much of an approved type ot'bottlefilling machine as is represents the same parts as shown in Fig. l

in the position assumed by. them at a diffcrent stage in their operation; Fig. 3 1s a side elevation of such parts in the position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 2, such parts, however, being arranged to accommodate bottles of a chiierent size; Fig. 4:

shown in Fig. 3, butin a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. l, and viewed in the opposite direction from that in which they appear in said Fig. 3; and llig. 5 1s a transverse cross sectionot a structural detail -entering'into ny invention.

As has been indicated, I have chosen tor the purpose of illustrating they-manner of operation of my bottle centering dev ce one form of bottle filling machine. I do not mean, however, by this to imply that such device is limited in its application to this single form of machine; on the contrary, as will be readily apparent from the following description, such device is adapted in general to be used with machines characterized by having a fillin g member to which the bottle is mechanically approachech As has been further stated, only such parts of the machine in question are here illustrated are directly concerned with the operation of present interest. 'Talnng up, then, the consideration of these parts, it 'Wlll be noted first of all, from an inspection of the several figures, that they comprise two relatively fixed members, an arm A leading from the beer tank or other source of so )pl'y and a. horizontal hearing her A, whereby the other parts of the mechanism are supported as will appear. The central structure or ma chine frame, from which such arm and bar project, is omitted for the reasons already set forth and it is furthermore immaterial Whether or not such structure has a movement of its own, as for example one of rotation about a structure here illustrated is supposed to have such movement but while certain operations of thefilling mechanism are functional with.

respect tot is movement, the latter has no direct operative connection with the bottle centering device.

Arm A, of which the outer portion a: alone appears, is provided with appropriate fluid- 'ays leading from the central supply chamber for conducting the beer therefrom to the bottle filling member C, as also a suitable actuating fluid, as compressed air, from a chamber associated with the central .becr tank to such member and to certain reception of a plug halve B whereby communication may be controlled between the '1s a broken side elevation of the same parts i respective fluid-ways in arm A and bottle pivotal axis. The particular' other parts of the mechanism. The details. of the construction whereby communication filling member or mouth piece C, and such is thus controlled have been omitted as being immaterial so far as the operation of my centering device is-concerned. Actuation of valve plug ii is ell'ected by the rocking of a tripping devicel) fastened toits outer end and so designed that such valve and its said tripping device must necessarily turn to gether in all horizontal rocking movements about the longitudinal axisuof the valve. Actuation of tripping device D is designed to be automatically elfected at proper times in the particular machine here represented by engagement of its respective arms (5 d l with suitable stops disposed in its path of piston E movement as the machine. frame rotates. Since usually in machines of the character here shown, the bottle supporting member plemental mouth piece C is fitted directly upon mouth piece 0, being retained'in place by means ot'outwardly projecting spring clamps c which embrace the side wall of said upper mouth piece 0 and maintain said lower mouth piece fitted in close connection with said upper mouth piece. Such upper mouth piece (3 is provided with depending discharge tube 0" that is designed, when the supplemental mouth piece C isemployed, to project-through a suitable aperture therein, such lower mouth piece being provided 'with a short depending tube 0 that incloses tube 0 and is formed with lateral openings whereby communication may be had with the interior of the respective mouth pieces and thence with certain of the fluid-ways in arm A, in addition to the connection afforded'through tube 0' which is designed to convey from the supply tank the beer wherewith'the bottles are to be tilled.

Supported between fluid-way arm A and horizontal bearing bar A, and extending a short distance below the latter, are two vertically disposed, axially alined cylinders E E in which is reciprocably mounted the Rec'i rocation of piston E is automatically efl iicted, at, desired intervals by the introduction on theproper siiles'of the iston head of the actuating fluid-to whic reference has alreadybeen made, in-

' troduction of such fluid being controlled by the same valve B that controls the admission or the beer to the bottles. (in the ceases lower end of piston E is adjustably mounted a'braclret e, and in a sleeve e on the outer end of this bracket is adjustably mounted thestem F of the bottle rest F on which a bottle is designed to beplaced pending the filling operation.

Such bottle rest F is preferably formed on stem F so that its upper surface will heat another than a right angle to such stemin order to assist n placing 1n proper position thereon bottles having uneven bottoms.

To bottle from sliding ofi the rest, the latter is prevent the formed with an up-turned peripheral flange f partially 'inclosing its upperface. In addition to this flange on its upper side the rest has its under side provided with two depending lips f respectively located free from and to opposite sides of stem F, in the line of horizontal travel of bar A such lips having a horizontal space between them e ual to the width of horizontal bar A, and

ac apted to have lateral bearing respectively. against the front and rear edges of said bar.

The operation of the mechanism thusfar described should be readily apparent. The

bottle is placed upon rest F' when in its lower position corresponding with the ex: tended position. of piston E that is shown in l ands. By rotating the bottle it can be caused to assume an'approximately vertical position upon such .rest, even" though its bottom be uneven, by virtue of the dBStZl'lllQCl construction to such rest.

The rest is designed to be thereupon ver-'- tically raised until the mouth of the bottle I is pressed tightly against mouth piece 43 or. 1, depending on the. sizeof the bottle bein filled. This movement of the rest is e tected by introduction of the compressed fiuid used to actuate a piston E into the properchainber 1n cylinders E E, such 1ntroduction being controlled, :as before stated,

by valve plugz'B. The rest F, upon thebottle-being 1-llled, isv again lowered to its original position whereupon. suchfilled bot-.

tle is replaced by an'e'mpty one and the o oration repeated, 3

inasmuch as the operations described,

the bottle as placed on bottle rest F be com tered so as to properly engage depending discharge tube '0 and mouth piece C or. C'f v lt has heretofore. been soughtto accomplish this-result by providing a rest for'theheck: of the bottle in connectionwith such rest This method however, has been found including the action of valve plug B are..-

ientirely automatic, it is quite-essential that 115,

objectionable since the bottles even when of the same size are-a t to be of a'more or'less irregular form an s nce further, by vmtue vertical position on t e rest' their mouths 1-125 of the very means em loyed, to secure their are apt to be displaced out of proper ati'ae-..

ment with dependinqtube c". It is to"cor-" rect these several diihculties that 'thlemech horizontal bearin when thus obliquely di gag'ethe neckofa bottle c eanse which shall now proceed to describe has been devlsed.

Intermedlately of fluid-way arm A and bar A, is pivotall mounted with respect to the frame, of whic 1 such arm and bar are component parts, a lever arm H. Specifically I thus attach such armto another arm H that is securely but adjustably. clamped to upper piston 15 by means of atlamp collar it. The longer,

forwardly promoting, portion of lever B is formed Wit a guide-plate having a concave face disposed 1n one position'of sa d arm to lie obliquely across the path of travel of bot- .tle rest F. The upper end of such guideplate 'H when thus forwardly inclined extends into close proximity with the lower end of depending discharge tube 0" and is in fact formed with a deep notch it within which such tubeend is designed to lie soosed, Figs. 1 and 4.111 this position guide-plate E will enborne on bottlercst G irrespective of any possible variation in its location in such restor of any unusual inclination from thenormal vertical position that it mayassume; and by virtue of the conformation of its concave surface it will direct the mouth of such bottle without fail into engagement with the lower end of discharge tube 0. The pivotal axis of arm H, whereby such guide-plate H is home, is

' located laterally of the path of travel of the bottle andso disposed that the engagement of the body of the bottle, and later on or the rest F upon which said bottle stands, with the guic c-plate in question will deflect said late entirely out of the path of such rest. his is the position that it is shown as occupying in Figs. 2 and 3. The mounting of arm H is designed, in addition to permitting the movement just described, to frictionally retain such arm in whatever position it may be placed. The detail in Fig. 5, illustrates one approved means for securing this result. As there apears the arm is mounted upon a 'boss it, eing secured thereon by means of a set screw it and washer h; a. helical spring 71 interposed between the arm and the head of such set screw by appropriate adjustment of set screw it is adapted to produce the proper degree of pressure between the bearing face nular formation as shown, surfaceof arm H.

sumedby it upon being thrust aside by bottle rest F as the'lattcr moves upwardly, not

only duringits positive retention thereby the latter while in its upper position but also ending the return of the rest to its normal ower posi ion. i lowever, I provide means for'returnlng guide-plate H into its forwerdly projecting activeposition, upon the type'here chosen for lit;

tle rest F in order that the plate may engage and properly guide the next bottle when the rest is again raised. The means, whereby such positioning of the guide-plate is effected comprise a rocker H loosely restin I on the upper t'acoof bearing bar Aand he (1 against dis laccmcnt therefrom by means of downwar ly extending lips it which engage the lateral edges of the bar much as do those f of bottle rest F. Such rocker is formed on its under side with two flat longitudinally disposed iaces inclined to each other at a suitable angle, and is operatively connected with guide-platebearing lever H by means of a member of adjustable length comprising a sleeve 11 that loosely rests in a depression in thcrcar end of such rocker, and a rod 7: udjustably held in such sleeve at its lower end by means of a set screw, and

having itsupperend slidably held in a sleeve 72.? in the extreme end of fixed arm H and thereabove pivotally attached to the rear and shorter arm of lever H. The forward end of rocker l ll'cxtends into the pathof bottle rest F and isadapted tobe engaged and depresscd(thereby as the latter resumes itsnormal lower position, thus raising the rear end of the rocker and actuating lever H to actively position guide-plate H as above described. The raising of the rest with a bottle thereon, by deflecting the plate ll, depresses in turn the rear end of rocker lil as will be evident, in which position the parts in question remain owing to the friction produced at the bearing of lever- H by spring 1 2 By appropriately, forming the concave completion of such return movement of botlure of guide-plateI-l it will be evident that my bottle centering device may be adapted to handle bottles of any conformation, or size, that the bottle filling machine is otherwise capable of handling. The means entering into the construction of such bottle centering or guiding device, are not limited in their connection with bottle filling mechanism to mechanism of the particular the purpose of illustration, but may be employed with equal facil ity and like satisfactory results in any bottle filling machine in which the bottles are brought into register with the filling member, irrespective of the manner in which the filling is actually accomplished or of the manner in which-the registering of the bottlc 1S efi'cclcd. They. can also, as will be readily apparent, be adapted 'to handle vcs-' other than bottles, where such vessels are of a similar character and require to be approached to an operating, mechanism more or le s strictly inalincmcnttherewith. Ac.- cordingly, wherever the term bottle :1 pears in the foregoing description 'orthe-tollowing claims, including any suitable vessel. And as has the same should be understood as following-whims or the equivalent of such stated'means, be employed;

I would therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1.. The combination with a bottle-filling 1'5 membery'of a movable guide-member 'adaptedin one position to engage a bottle and center the same with respect to said ,fillin -member and in another position to lie-without thepath of movement of such '20'bottle; and means adapted to retain said uide-member in whatever position it may e placed. f y,

' 2. The combination with a bottle-filling 'm ember and" a movable. bottle support adapted to approach a bottle thereto of a (movable guide member adapted in one position to engage a bottle upon. said support incidentally to the movement of the latter,

. so'as to direct the mouth of such bottleinto register with said filling-member, and in another position to lie without the path of movement of such bottle, and meansadapted I frictiqnallyto hold'said guide member whatever position it may be placed.

3. The combination With a bottle-filling member and a movable bottle support adapted to approach a bottle thereto; of a movable guide member normally frictionally held in position to engage a bottle upon said 40 support incidentally to its movement by the latter, said guide member being adapted to direct the mouth of such bottle into register .with said filling member and to be itself defiected-by said support.

4. The combination with a bottle-filling member and a movable bottle support,

adapted t'o approach a "bottle thereto; a -movabl e late pivotally mounted -laterally of the pat of movement of said support and having a concave'defiecting face, said plate being adapted in one position .to present such-face obliquely to abottle on said bottle support pending the movement of the latter,

so' as to direct-the mouth'of such bottle into register with. said filling another position to lie without the path. of

" movement of such bottle and said support. 5 ..The combination with a bottle-filling member and a movable bottle support adapted-to approach. a bottle thereto; of .a movable f,plate pivotally mounted laterally I Qofthe path of movement of said support face, said.

and having a concave deflectin plate bein normally frictions, ly held to 689' present sue .faceobliquely to a bottle on member and in by. movement of said support.

said bottle support pending the movement of the latter, so as to direct. the mouthof such bottle into register with said filling member, and being movable from such posi- Igiotrtil by. engagement with the body or" such 6. The combination with a mouth piece provided with a depending discharge tube, 5 and a vertically reeiproc'able bottle support adapted to approach a bottle to said mouth piece; of a plate pivotally mounted laterally of the path of movement of said support and having a concave deflectin face, said? plate being normally trictiona ly held to present such face obliquely to a bottle on said bottle support pending the upward movement of the1atter,. so as to direct the mouth of such bottle into register with said discharge tube and being movable'fromf such position by engagement with the body of such bottle.

' 7. The combination with .a mouth piece provided Wltll tt depending discharge tube,. a v

and a vertically reciprocablebottie support adapted to approach a bottle to said mouth iece; of an oscillatorily mounted plate havmg a concave deflecting face notched at'its upper end, said plate being adapted in one position to present such face obliquely to a bottle onsaid bottle support pending the upward movement of the latter and to re ceive said depending discharge tube in its upper notched end, Wherebythe mouth of such bottle is directed into register with said discharge tube, and being'adapt'ed in another position to lie withoutthe path of,

movement of such bottle and said support.

8. The combination with relatively movable bottle-filling" and sup orting means; of

movable, frictionallyg liel bottle-guiding means connected to e positively positioned by such relative movement of the bottlefilling and supporting means.

9. Thecombmation with'a movable bottle support, of movable, frictionally held bottleguiding means adapted to be positively positioned by said support.

10. The combination with a movable bottle support, of movable bottleguiding means, means for positioning said bottle-guiding means, said positioning means being opjeratively engaged by said support during a part only of the latters .movement, and

means forfrictionally retaining said bottle:

guiding means in whatever positioIi-.-jtliey,

may be placed. 1

e combination with a'bottle-filling member and zit-movable bottle supp t adapt: r

her, of means adapted in one position to engage the bottle incident lly to the movement of said support and to enter the samewith 'respecttosaid filling member, the position-- ing of said means being positively efi'ected ed to approach a bottle to said filling mem- 7 ceases 12. The combination with a mouth piece provided with a de ending discharge tube, and vertically reciprocable bottle support adapted to approach a bottle to said mouth piece; of a movable guide member normally frictionally held-in position to engage a bottle upon said support pending the upward movement of the latter, said guide member beinq adapted to direct the mouth of such bottle to be positively actuated by said support upon the downward movement thereof, to

return saidguide member to its normal position. I

'13. The combination with a mouth-piece provided with a depending discharge tube, and a vertically reciprocable bottle support adapted "to approach a bottle to said mouthpiece; of a movable guide member normally frictionally held. in position to engage a bottle upon said support pending the upward movement' of the latter, said guide member being adapted to direct the mouthof said bottle into register with said distube and to be thereupon deflected by id bottle support; and means adapted to positively actuated-by said suoport; as the latter approaches its lower unit of movement, to return said guide member to its normal position.

1d. The combination with a bottle filling member and a movable bottle support adapted to approach a bottle to said filling memher; of an oscillatorily mounted guide plate adapted in one position to lie obliquely across the path of travel of said support and to be deflected from such path thereby; and means adapted to be actuated by said support to return said plate to its first position.-

15. The combination with a bottle filling member and a movable bottle support adapted to approach a bottle to said filling member; of an oscillatorily mounted guide plate having a concave face disposed in one position of said plate to lie obliquely across the path of travel of said support and to be deflected from such path thereb and means ada. be aetuated'by said support upon r d morev enttheieor' to return sit- Kl plate toi. l

The comlnn non member and a movable h a bottle filling Jottlc support adapted. to approach a. bottle to said filling mem her; or" movable guide member adapted position to direct the mouth of a by said support with respect to '1 ling member and thereupon to be m such. position by the body 01 "aide member being adaptwhatever position it may zed combination with a bottle filling; and a movable bottle support into register with said charge tube and to be thereupon deflected by said bottle support; and means adapted adapted to approach a bottle to said filling member; of amo'vable guide member ada ted in one position to direct the mouth ot a bottle borne by said supportwith respect to said filling member to be deflected from such position by the body of such bottle, said guide member being frictionally held in whatever position it may be placed.

18. The'combination with a bottle filling member and a inovable bottle su )port adapted to approach a bottle to said filling member; of a movable guide member adapted to direct a bottle borne by said support -member into its inoperative position.

19. The combination witha bottle-filling member and a movable bottle support adapted to approach a bottle to said filling member; of a movable guide member adapted to direct a bottle borne by said support wvith respect to said filling member, said guide member being adapted to remain in Whatever position it may be placed; and means adapted to be positively actuated by said support, as the latter approaches its lower limit of movement, to position' said guide member, said support being adapted upon its reverse movement to deflect said nlmber into its inoperative position.

20. The combination with a bottle filling member and a movable bottle support adapted to approach a. bottle thereto; of a movable guide member adapted to direct a bottle.

borne by said support with respect to said tiona ly holding said guide member in whatever position'it may be placed.

21. The combination with a suitable frame; of a relatively fixed bottle filling "fillin member; and adjustable means fricmember; a movable bottle su port ada ted to approach a bottle to said ii ling mem er; an arm pivotally attached to sa d frame and having an annular bearing surface at the point of such pivotal attachment; means resiliently pressing said surface against the opposed surface in said frame; and a guide plate borne by said arm and adaptedin one position of the latter to lie obliquely across the path of travel of said support and to be deflected from. such path thereby.

22. The combination with a suitable frame; of a relatively fixed bottle fillim member; a movable bottlesupport adapts to approach a bottle to said fill ng member; an arm pivotally attached to said frame and adapted to be retained in whatever position it may be placed; a uide plate borne by said-arm and adapted in the normal position of the latter to lie obliquely across the path of travel of said support and to be deflected from such ath thereby; and a rocker mounted in said rame and operatively connected with said arm, said rocker being positioned to be engaged and actuated by said support upon its return movement.

23. The combination With a suitable frame; of a relatively fixed mouth piece, provided with a depending discharge tube; a vertically r'eciprocable bottle support adapted to approach a bottle to said mouth piece; an arm pivotally attached to said frame and adapted to be frictionally held in Whatever position it may be placed; a

guide plate borne by said arm and adapted eoaaee in the normal position of the latter to lie obliquely across the path of travel of said support and to be deflected from such path thereby; a rocker mounted in said frame; and adjustable means connecting said rocker with said arm to restore the latter to its normal positif i, said rocker being positioned to be engaged and actuated by said support upon its returnmovement.

Signed by me, this 23rd day of Uctober, 1906.

JOSEPH H. CHAMP.

Attested by- D T. DAVIES, 5N0. F. Garment.

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