June 24, 1930. G. E.

STRANDT 1,766,962
BOTTLE FILLER AND CAPPER UNIT
Filed June 25, 926 3. Sheets-Sheet

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June 24, 1930. G. E. STRANDT 1,766,962
BOTTLE FILLER AND CAPPER UNIT
Filed June. 25, 1926 3. Sheets-Sheet 2

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June 24, 1930. G. E. STRAND 1,766,962
BOTTLE FILLER AND CAPPER UNIT
Filed June 25, 1926 3. Sheets-Sheet 3

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 Patented June 24, 1930
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
GUSTAV E. STRANDT, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN
MENTs, To CHERRY-BURRELL CORPORATION, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, A CORPO
RATION OF DELAWARE
BOTTLE FILLER AND CAPPER, UNIT
Application filed June 25, 1926. Serial No. 118,446.
This invention relates to improvements in
carrier mechanism for bottle filling and cap
ping units, with particular reference to manu
ally operable mechanisms.
5 The primary object of this invention is to
facilitate the manual presentation of bot
tles to filling and capping devices.
More particularly stated, the objects are
to provide a bottle carrier adapted to receive
0. bottles in sets and to present the sets of bot
tles successively to corresponding sets of filler
nozzles associated with a supply reservoir or
tank and, to simultaneously present a pre
viously filled set of bottles in a position for
capping operations; to provide means for
securely holding the bottles of each set in
fixed relation to each other and in position
for registry with the filler nozzles and in
subsequent position for registry with a cap
per; to provide means whereby all of the
tobottles of themay
be capped set be
to simultaneously
be filled and ofmanipu
the set
lated either vertically to their respective fill
ing and capping positions or rotatively to
carry filled bottles to a capping position and
empty bottles to a filling position; to provide
a manually operable turn table, having plu
ral sets of bottle supports, with lifting means
adapted to be actuated by a manually oper
able crank; to provide said sets of bottle
supports with convenient bottle holding arms
adapted for simultaneous adjustment to
either the bottle holding or the bottle releas
ing position; to provide means whereby vari
ations in heights of bottles of substantially
the same capacities may be compensated by
resiliently yielding automatic adjustments
of the individual bottle supports; to provide
means for insuring proper positioning or in
dexing of the turn table after each rotative
adjustment thereof; to provide means for Se
curely supporting the turn table in either of
its two positions of vertical adjustment; to
provide means whereby a capper may be suc
4. 3. cessively brought into registry with the bot
tles of one set on the turn table while the bot
tles of another set are being filled; and in gen
eral to provide means whereby the manual
operations of placing the bottles on the turn
50 table, of lifting the turn table to present the
1,766,962
bottles for filling and capping operations
and of rotating the turn table to carry the
filled bottles to capping positions and empty
bottles to filling positions may all be rapidly
performed by inexpert persons without dan
ger of breaking bottles, spilling milk or im 55
perfectly filling or capping the bottles.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form
of apparatus embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the turn table or 60
carrier and associated bottle supporting and
holding devices.
Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of
Figure 2. 65
Figure 4 is a detail view of a modified bot
tle holding attachment. - Y
Figure 5 is a sectional view drawn on line
5-5 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a detail view, in side elevation,
of the lifting mechanism associated with
fragments of the capper supporting post, the
turn table and one of the bottle holders, with
the turn table illustrated in section drawn to
a radial line intersecting a bottle holder.
Figure is a plan view of the lifter plate
with associated guides and doweling or posi
tioning devices, the capper supporting post
being illustrated in cross section and the
lifter plate post partially broken away. 80
Like parts are identified by the same ref
erence characters throughout the several
WeWS.
In the general organization of the bottle
filling and capping mechanism shown in the 85
drawings the base 10 is provided with a filler
or reservoir supporting post 11 and a capper
supporting post 12, the reservoir 13 being
mounted directly upon the upper end of the
post 11 and indirectly connected for lateral 90
support with the upper end portion of the
post 12 by a bracket 14. The capper 15 may
be of ordinary construction as to its operative
mechanism but for the purposes of this in
vention it is provided with a swiveled head 95
16 mounted to rotate in a horizontal plane
about the upper end of the post 12, and also
having a cylindrical barrel to receive a spring
actuated plunger 17 pivotally connected at
19 with the capper operating lever 20 the 100
 2 1,766,962
spring 18 seats upon the lower end of the are curved in a clockwise direction and this
plunger 17 to hold the short arm of lever 20 ring 51 is oscillated in that direction to en
normally depressed. This lever is pivoted to gage its arms with the respective bottles.
the capper frame at 21 and is pivoted at 22 to Therefore, by oscillating the lower ring 50
a capper operating plunger rod 23. The lever in a clockwise direction and the upper ring 70
is preferably in the form of a yoke through 51 in a counter-clockwise direction, the as
swhich the capper holding magazine 24 pro sociated arms 56 and 57 for engaging any bot
jects as clearly shown in Figure 1. tle will be separated to allow a bottle to be
A bottle carrier or turn table 27 has a cen removed and another bottle substituted.
10 tral sleeve or hub 28 through which the post Then by oscillating the rings in the directions 5
12 passes. This hub 28 is supported from a first above indicated, every bottle will be po
vertically adjustable sleeve 29 mounted to sitioned by the associated pairs of arms 56
slide upon the post 12 and provided with a and 57. -
bracket 30 having a steady rest 31 which par In order that the bottles may be accurate
5 tially encircles the post 11. The table sup ly positioned when they are being held be 80
porting sleeve 29 is vertically adjusted by tWeen the arms 56 and 57, the lower ring is
means of a screw 32 swiveled to the bracket provided with a pair of inwardly projecting
30 and threaded into the base 10 or into a fork arms 60 and the outer ring with a corre
suitable nut carried by the base. This screw sponding pair of outwardly projecting fork
20 may be turned by means of the manually op arms 61. A cross head 62, located under
erable crank 33. neath the rings, is provided at one end with
The turn table 27 is provided with two sets an upwardly projecting pin 63, loosely en
of arcuate rows of bottle supports, each gaged between the fork arms 60 and the other
mounted in an apertured radially extending end of the cross head is provided with an up
25 turn table'arm 38. Each bottle support com Wardly projecting pin 64 loosely engaged be-, 90
prises a circular plate 40 having a depend tWeen the fork arms 61. The cross head 62 is
ing annular flange 41 which fits over a tubu provided with a hub 65 having a conically
lar supporting member 42 within which a expanded lower portion 66 normally seated
spring 43 is seated in a manner to resiliently upon the conically tapered upper end of a
30 support the plate 40. sleeve 67 to which the portion 66 may be 95
The bottles are placed upon the plates 40 clamped by a set screw 68 provided with a
and are held in position thereon as heretofore handle or handwheel 69 at its lower end, said
explained. The reservoir or tank 13 is pro screw having threaded engagement with the
vided with an arcuate set of depending valve interior surface of the hub 65 and also having 00
35 outlet nozzles 45 corresponding in number to a collar 70 adapted to bear against the lower
the number of bottle supports in each set car end of the sleeve 67. Sleeve 67 is mounted
ried by the turn table and also disposed and upon the turn table and preferably formed
spaced for simultaneous registry with bot integrally there with. The arrangement is
tles carried by such Supports. These outlet such that any rotative movement of either of
40 nozzles may be of ordinary construction. the rings 50 or 51 will be transmitted in an 05
Each is provided with a valve which is adapt opposite direction to the other ring by means
ed to be opened when a registering bottle is of the cross head 62 and the associated fin
pushed upwardly against a valve actuating gers 63 and 64. When the set screw 68 is ac
member 46 and to close automatically when tuated in one direction, it will clamp the por
45 the bottles are lowered out of contact to said tion 66 of the hub 65 to the upper end of the O
member. Such nozzles are common in the art sleeve 67 and hold the rings against rotative
relating to milk bottle fillers, and detailed de movement.
scription thereof is therefore deemed to be It will be observed from the above descrip
unnecessary. tion that when the rings are in the bottle
50 After the bottles have been placed upon the holding position in which they are illustrated I5
holders 40, they are properly positioned and in Figure 2, they may be secured in that posi
securely held thereon by a pair of oscillatory tion by the set screw 68 and when it is desired
clamping rings 50 and 51, each one of which to readjust them, the hand wheel 69 will first
has inwardly extending flanges 52 and 53 be actuated to retract set screw 68, after which
55 (Fig. 3) loosely engaged in open slots or either ring may be manually oscillated to re 120
kerfs formed in the outer surfaces of the posts tract its clamping arms from the bottles and
54. These posts are supported by the turn such motion will be transmitted through the
table and their outer surfaces are cross chan cross head in an opposite direction to retract
60 neled or kerfed to receive the inner marginal the held arms of the other ring from the 125
portions of the flanges 52 and 53. The ring bottles.
50 has bottle engaging arms 56, curved in a When the bottles are being removed or re
counter-clockwise direction, and the ring os placed and also when the turn table is being
cillates in that direction to move said arms rotatively adjusted, it will always be neces
65
into engagement with the respective bottles. sary that the bottles be out of contact with 30
The other ring 51 has similar arms 57 which the filler nozzles 45. Therefore, means are
 1766,962 3
provided for adjusting the turn table verti that the capper is supported for capping op
cally. This is accomplished by means of a erations in the same circle, although the cap
manually operable crank 75 and a rock shaft per is normally at a somewhat higher plane
76 provided with cams 77 (Figures 6 and 7) than that of the nozzle outlets. The bottles
5 which operate against the under side of a are supported by the table at the same radial O
lifter plate 78 adapted to slide vertically on distance from the axis of the capper support
the post 12. The plate 78 is provided with ing post and when the table is raised the
depending guide arms 80 having flanges 81 mouths of the bottles will be in said circle.
which are adapted to bear against the sides of In operation, the bracket sleeve 29 will
oppositely disposed horizontally disposed first be adjusted by means of the screw 32 5
sleeve bearings 82, through which the cam in accordance with the size or height of the
operating rock shaft. 76 extends. The sleeve bottles to be capped. The crank arm or
bearings 82 are preferably formed integrally handle 75 will be swung in a direction to
with the sleeve 29, from which the turntable lower the turn table until the lifter plate
5 is supported by means of the cams and plate rests upon the bearing surfaces 87 of the 80
78 as above explained. lifter cams, and the bottles will then be
It will be observed that each of the cams placed upon one set of bottle supporting
77 has a hub portion secured to the shaft 76 plates 40,-there being four of such plates
and a wing portion extending tangentially for each set in the construction illustrated
from the hub portion and having an outer in the drawings. The bottles will be secured 85
bearing surface provided with a rounded el and maintained in position by rotating
bow 85. The bearing surface engages the clamping rings 50 and 51 to carry the arms
lifter plate 78. When the shaft 76 is oscil 56 and 57 into bottle holding position. The
lated in a direction to lower the turn table, turn table will then be rotated until said
the lifter plate bears upon the portion 87 of bottles are brought into positions under 90
said bearing surface and when the shaft is neath the filler nozzles 45. The clamping
OScillated in the opposite direction to lift the arm 75 will then be actuated to lift the turn
turn table, the bearing surface slides under table and thereby bring the bottles into en
neath the lifter plate until the portion 87 gagement with the valve actuating members
thereof engages a down-turned flange 89 of of the filler nozzles, the tips of said nozzles 95
the lifter plate, said flange serving as a stop. entering the bottles for delivery of milk
The horizontal portion of the lifter plate will thereto. As soon as the bottles have been
then rest upon the portion 90 of said bearing filled, arm 75 will again be actuated to lower
surface, this portion being slightly inclined the turn table. An additional set of empty
downwardly from the elbow 85. The turn bottles will be placed upon the outer set or 0.
table will then be automatically locked in the series of bottle holders 40 and held in posi
raised position inasmuch as its downward tion. The turn table will then be rotated a
pressure tends to press the portion 87 against one-half turn to guide the empty bottles un
the stop flange 81 of the lifter plate. To fa derneath the filler nozzles and the filled
40 cilitate rotative adjustment of the turn table bottles to the outer side. A reverse oscilla Os
on the lifter plate 78, a bearing plate 91 is tion of the crank arm 75 will again raise the
preferably interposed. This plate has a cen turn table and while the empty bottles are
tral aperture through which the post 12 being filled, the capper lever 20 will be actu
passes. The hub of the turn table rests upon ated rotatively to bring the capper suc
plate 91 at the margins of this aperture. The cessively into registry with the filled bottles 10
plate extends outwardly and is provided with and the lever actuated vertically in each po
lugs 92 to engage depending projections 93 sition for the purpose of capping the bottles.
on the turn table, whereby the turn table and By the time the capping operations have been
bearing plate may be caused to rotate in uni completed upon the four bottles in the outer
son, the under surface of the bearing plate set, the inner set of bottles will have been 5
turning upon the flat upper surface of the filled and the turn table may then be lowered,
lifting plate 78. the capped bottles removed and empty bottles .
In Figures 4 and 5 I have illustrated an at substituted. Thereupon, the turntable will
tachment 95 for engaging specially formed rotate another half turn and the filling and 20
bottles such, for example, as conically tapered capping operations repeated. The posi
paper bottles. These attachments 95 are pro tioning arms 56 and 57 may loosely embrace
vided with upwardly extending arms 96 the bottles, and the latter may, therefore, be
which may be secured by screws 97 to the removed and replaced without changing the
clamping arms 56 and 57. The bottle engag position of the rings and arms, except when 25
60
ing surface of these attachments 95 is formed adjusting the capper for bottles of differing
in conformity to the contour of the bottles size.
which they are designed to engage. claim:
It will of course be understood that the 1. In a bottle filling and capping unit, the
65
filler nozzles 45 are in a circle concentric to combination with a support, of a bottle car
the axis of the capper supporting post 12 and rier adapted for intermittent rotative ad 30
 4 1,766,962
justment on the support, a superposed capper post and rotatively movable in an are having
carrier having an arm connected with the
support for pivotal swinging movement the same radius as that of the filler nozzles,
a bottle supporting table rotative about the
about an axial line coincident with the ex capper supported post and provided with
tended axis of the bottle carrier, a capper sets of bottle supports spaced from each other
actuator associated with said arm and ad and from the post in correspndence with the
justable therewith along an arcuate path spacing of said filler nozzles, and means for
over bottles on the bottle carrier and means temporarily raising said table to bring the
for filling bottles on the bottle carrier at the bottles of one set into registry with said filler
0. opposite side of its axis from that occupied by nozzles and simultaneously allowing capping
the capper arm and actuator. operations to take place on another set of
2. In a bottle filling and capping unit, the bottles supported by said table.
combination with a reservoir provided with 6. In a bottle filling and capping unit, the
filler nozzles, a capper, a supporting post, combination with a pair of posts, a filler
5 a capper mechanism swiveled to said post and reservoir supported by one of the posts and 80
supported for capping operations at a dis provided with an arcuately disposed set of
tance from the axis thereof equal to the dis filler nozzles concentric to the axis of the
tance of the filler nozzles therefrom, said other post, a capper swiveled to said other
nozzles being concentric to said axis, a bottle post and rotatively movable in an arc having
20 supporting carrier adapted to convey bottles the same radius as that of the filler nozzles,
along a curved path concentric to the axis and a bottle supporting table rotative about the
into position for successive registry with the capper supporting post and provided with
filler nozzles and capper, and means for rais sets of bottle supports spaced from each
ing and lowering said carrier to bring bottles other and from the post in correspondence
25 into engagement with the filler nozzles and with the spacing of said filler nozzles, and 90
Support them there while capping opera means for temporarily raising said table to
tions are being performed on other carrier bring the bottles of one set into registry
supported bottles.
3. In a bottle filling and capping unit, the with said filler nozzles and simultaneously
allowing capping operations to take place on
30 combination of a capper supporting post, a another set of bottles supported by said
capping mechanism swiveled to said post
and adapted to be swung horizontally about table, said table lifting means comprising a
said post axis for capping operations in a lifting aplate
crank, set of crank operated cams, and a
interposed between the cams
circle concentric to said axis, a reservoir pro and the turn
35 vided with filler nozzles disposed arcuately non-rotative movements.
table and guided for vertical
in the circle of capping operations, a bottle 7. In a bottle filling and capping unit, the 100
carrier adapted to convey bottles in a circu combination with a pair of posts, a filler
lar path underneath the circle in which the reservoir supported by one of the posts and
filler and capper mechanisms operate, and provided with an arcuately disposed set of
40 means for vertically actuating the bottle car filler nozzles concentric to the axis of the
rier to move bottles into and out of filling. other post, a capper swiveled to said other 05
and cappin position. . post and rotatively movable in an arc hav
.4. In a E. filling and capping unit, ing
the combination with a supporting base pro zles,the a
same radius as that of the filler noz
bottle supporting table rotatively mov
vided with a pair of upwardly projecting able about the capper supporting post and
posts, a reservoir mounted upon one of said provided with sets of bottle supports spaced O
posts and provided with an arcuate row of from each other and from the post in cor
nozzles in an arc concentric to the other post, respondence with the spacing of said filler
a capper swiveled to said other post and dis
50 posed for capping bottles successively in the said ta.
nozzles, and means for temporarily raising
circle-occupied by said filler nozzles and on registry with said the
ble to bring bottles of one set into 15
filler nozzles and simul
the opposite side of the post, therefrom, a taneously, allowing capping operations to
bottle support rotative about the axis of the take place on another set of bottles sup
capper supporting post and adapted to con
55 vey bottles into and out of line with the noz ported by said table, said table lifting means
zles and capper, and means for temporarily cams and a alifting
comprising lever, a set of lever operated 20
plate interposed between
lifting said bottle support for filling and cap the cams and the turn table and guided for
ping operations upon the bottles carried vertical non-rotative movements, said lift
thereby. ...- ing plate being provided with a stop against
60 5. In a bottle filling and capping unit, the which said cams impinge after passing the 25
combination with a pair of posts, a filler point of maximum lifting movement.
reservoir supported by one of the posts and 8. In a bottle filling and capping unit, the
provided with an arcuately disposed set of combination with a pair of posts, a filler res
filler nozzles concentric to the axis of the ervoir supported by one of the posts and pro
65 other post, a capper swiveled to said other vided with an arcuately disposed set of filler 30
 1,766,962 5
nozzles concentric to the axis of the other the bottle supports, a capper supporting arm
post, a capper swiveled to said other post and pivotally mounted above the center' of the
rotatively movable in an arc having the same turn table at one side of said tank and pro
radius as that of the filler nozzles, a bottle vided with capping mechanism at the same
supporting table rotatively movable about radial distance from the pivot axis as that 70
the capper supporting post and provided of said tank outlet valves, and means for
with sets of bottle supports spaced from each raising and lowering the turn table to carry
other and from the post in correspondence the bottles into and out of the field of bottle
with the spacing of said filler nozzles, and filling and capping operations.
O means for temporarily raising said table to 12. The combination with a turn table,
bring the bottles of one set into registry with having plural arcuate sets of bottle supports 75
said filler nozzles and simultaneously allow and means for securing bottles thereto, of
ing capping operations to take place on an associated bottle filling and capping mech
other set of bottles supported by said table, anisms operative in different arcs of a circle
5. said table lifting means comprising a vertil concentric to a vertical line through the 80
cally adjustable bracket a rock shaft jour center of the turn table and at substantially
naled in said bracket and provided with an
operating piece, a cam connected with the the same distance as the bottles therefrom,
and means for raising and lowering the turn
rock shaft, and a lifting plate interposed be table to carry the bottles into and out of the
20 tween the cam and table and guided for verti field of bottle filling and capping operations, 85
cal said table raising and lowering means being
post.non-rotative movement along the capper adapted to securely hold the table in either
9. In a bottlefilling and capping unit, the the raised or lowered position, said capping
combination with a pair of posts, a filler res
25 ervoir supported by one of the posts and pro mechanism having a supporting arm and an
operating arm each movable in a horizontal 90
vided with an arcuately disposed set of filler plane about the vertical axial line of the turn
nozzles concentric to the axis of the other table, said operating arm being fulcrumed
post, a capper swiveled to said other post to the supporting arm and provided with a
and rotatively movable in an arc having the pivoted resiliently yielding rotatable slide
30 same radius as that of the filler nozzles, a having its axis coinciding with said axial 95
bottle supporting table rotatively movable line of the turn table whereby the capper
about the capper supporting post and pro may be swung along an arcuate path and Op
vided with sets of bottle supports spaced erated for capping a series of bottles car
from each other and from the post in accord ried by the turn table. a
ance with the spacing of said filler nozzles, 13. In a bottle filling and capping unit 00
and means for temporarily raising said ta the combination with a rotative bottle car
ble to bring the bottles of one set into reg rier, of a laterally, disposed filler tank sup
istry with said filler nozzles and simultane port having a filler tank provided with noz
ously allowing capping operations to take zles overhanging the bottle supporting por
40 place on another set of bottles supported by tion of the carrier on one side, a capper Sup 05
said table, said table lifting means compris port located substantially in line with the
ing a crank, a crank operated cam, adapted, axis of carrier rotation and a capper member
when in table lifting position, to support the connected with said support for swinging
table securely in such position pending a re movement in an arc over another bottle sup
45 verse operation of the crank. .
10. In a bottle filling and capping unit, porting 14. In
portion of the bottle carrier.
a bottlefilling and E";
O O
unit,
the combination with a base provided with the combination with a filler tank, of a set
aporting
reservoirpost,
supporting
a sleevepost al.da capper
vertically sup of supporting posts therefor, a capper sup
adjustable porting head swiveled to one of the posts,
50 along one of said posts and provided with a and a capper operating lever in yielding piv 5
radially extending bracket having a guide otal connection with the head, and also hav
bearing against the other post, an adjustable ing a laterally offset fulcrum carried by the
screw swiveled to said bracket and having head, and a bottle carrier for carrying bot
threaded engagement with the base member, tles from underneath the filler tank to cap
55 and a bottle supporting turn table guided ping positions on the opposite side of the 120
by said sleeve and bracket and interposed
means for vertically moving the turntable post to which said head is swiveled.
GUSTAW E. STRANDT.
to
ouscarry
fillingbottles into position
and capping for simultane
operations.
60 11. The combination with a filler tank 25
having an arcuate set of outlet valves of a
turn table having plural arcuate sets of bot
tle supports positioned for successive regis
try of the supports of each set with said out
5 let valves and means for securing bottles on 30