GB473351A - Improvements relating to the bottling of liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

473,351. Bottling-machines. LIQUID CARBONIC CO., Ltd. Jan. 2, 1936, No. 193. Void. Convention date, May 10, 1935. [Class 125 (ii)] Air from bottles to be filled with liquids such as beer is displaced by an inert gas, e.g. CO2; the bottle is temporarily sealed, then partially filled with liquid and inert gas then introduced into the bottle space above the liquid level before finally sealing. The machine mounted on a base 1 comprises an initial gasser 2 comprising a central standard 7 on which rotates a spider 8 carrying bottle saddles 9 mounted on the ends of reciprocable posts 10 moving over a stationary cam 12.. The spider 8 is connected by a tube 13 with a second spider 14 carrying tubular sockets 15 for the reception of gassing valves 16 reciprocated by a cam 17. A rotating CO2 reservoir 20 is mounted on a spider 19 secured to the spider 14 and flexible conduits 21 lead from this reservoir to the gassing valves. CO2 is supplied by a pipe 22 through a reducing valve 23 and swivel 24 to the reservoir which is surrounded with refrigerating coils 25. A bottle is introduced to a saddle 9 at its lowest point, the corresponding gassing valve being at its highest point. Rotation of the spiders raises the bottle and lowers the valve until the bell 38 engages the bottle neck and tube 35 enters the bottle. When the tip 45, Figs. 3, 4 of stem 44 within tube 35 touches the bottom of the bottle it is raised to unseat valve 43 and admit CO2 to the bottom of the bottle, at a low pressure. The bottle being filled with CO2, separates from the valve which automatically shuts off the supply of gas except for a very small supply through stem 44 and opening 48 in tip 45 to counteract the effect of the sudden withdrawal of the valve. The bottle then passes to the intermediate sealer 3 comprising a table 52 rotating star members 53, and cam-operated reciprocable bottle sealers 56, comprising cap shaped members fitted with sealing washers, and adapted to swing inwardly or outwardly to clear bottles on the gassing machine. Star 53 delivers the bottle to filling mechanism 4 of normal construction. The lifted bottle engages the bell 94, Fig. 5, of the filler valve and carries it upwardly until it engages neck 88 of the counter pressure valve 87 and admits gas at high pressure from the gas and water tank 67, Fig. 1, via port 96, neck 90, and bell 94 to the bottle and the tubes 77. When sufficient counter pressure has been built up in the bottle and in tubes 77, it acts on diaphragm 93 to open the valve 91 at the bottom of tube 80 and admit liquid against the counter pressure to the bottle. When filled, the bottle moves downwardly shutting off the counter pressure valve 87. Escape of CO2 from tubes 77 through the openings 90 reduces the pressure on diaphragm 93 to shut valve 91. CO2 at a few pounds pressure is supplied from pipe 99 through a Thomas valve 104 to prevent air being sucked into the bottle as the filler tube is withdrawn. The bottles are then transferred to a final gassing apparatus, similar to the initial one, but the bottles are carried on a level table instead of on reciprocable supports. The gassing valve is lowered until the gassing tube just touches the liquid level, the horizontal gas inlets delivering gas just above the surface of the liquid to flow out of vent openings in the bell. The gas is introduced under very low pressure. Transfer stars then deliver the bottle to an eight-head capping machine delivering bottles at 120 À per minute, i.e. each capping head reciprocates approximately only 15 times per minute, which is not fast enough to force air into the bottle. The spider of the filling mechanism is driven from a suitable power source, e.g. an electric motor, and the other members are intergeared therewith to ensure correct timing of the various operations.