GB1042051A - Improvements in and relating to bottle filling - Google Patents

Abstract

1,042,051. Bottling. GEO. J. MEYER MANUFACTURING CO. March 11, 1963 [Sept. 17, 1962], No. 9487/63. Heading B8T. A filler head for a counter-pressure bottle filling machine comprises a filler bowl 10 adapted to contain liquid, a gas valve 24, a liquid valve 20, and choke means including a choke member 78 movable between a first position in which it will not interfere with the flow of liquid from the bowl into a bottle and a second position in which it will restrain flow from the bowl into the bottle. Initially all the above-mentioned valves are closed and a bowl 10 on the machine contains liquid up to a level 12, and pressurized gas in the space 14 thereabove. In operation, a bottle 22 is placed in sealing engagement with a seal member 58 on the head so that a vent tube extension 64, with ports 66, extends into the bottle neck, the extension being carried by a vent tube 48 threaded to an upper tube member 68 which supports the gas valve 24. This valve is next opened by an arm 102 on a pivot 104 raising a shoulder 98 and so opening ports 88 to allow gas to flow into the bottle via tubes 68, 48 and 64, from space 14. When the pressures in the bottle and bowl 10 are equal a valve member 52 is raised from its ribbed valve seat 54, and so opens the liquid valve 20, thus allowing liquid to flow into the bottle under gravity. The gas from the bottle which is expelled by the inflowing liquid returns via tubes 64, 48 and 68, and valve 24 to the bowl 10. The pressure of the liquid whilst flowing holds the choke member 78 in its open, i.e. lowermost, position, but when the liquid in the bottle starts to cover ports 66 this pressure is reduced, and the choke member 78 rises under the action of a spring 84 so that a flange 82 at its lower edge contacts the seal member 52 of the valve 20 and thus restrains the liquid flow. The gas valve 24 and the liquid valve 20 are then lowered and closed by the pressing downwards of arm 102 on a shoulder 100. A filling height valve member 120 carried on a stem 122 is then raised from its seat 124 by rotating a valve actuator stem 106, with a cam portion 130 and notch 132, and the opening so produced allows gas, e.g. CO 2 , from a source 126 to enter the upper region of the bottle. This gas is at a higher pressure than that in the bowl 10, and so forces any excess liquid and any air trapped above the ports 66, from the bottle through stem 48 and check valve 27 into the bowl. The check valve 27 has a disc 144 which is lifted by the excess pressure to uncover apertures 142 and allow liquid and gas to pass therethrough. The liquid runs down the inside of a hood 145 into the liquid of the bowl, and the gas escapes through apertures 148 in the hood into the space 14. The fill height valve is then closed by further rotation of stem 106, and this member is then pushed inwards against the action of a spring 118 to remove valve member 114 from its seat 116 and so shift the bottle. After shifting the stem returns to its original position and the filled bottle is removed from the machine.