US3742989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bottle alignment device for bottle filling machines
Assignee: Hamrick Manufacturing and Service Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-14
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A bottle alignment device for bottling machines which reciprocates along vertical guides which are mounted on the filling valve head so that no contact is made between the device and the filling tube, thereby allowing the filling or vent tube to be small in diameter to increase clearance with the bottle opening, and allowing the bottle to be sealed using a single stationary sealing gasket.
Inventors
- 👤 D Roatcap
- 👤 R Campbell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:46
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/02; B67C3/22; B67C3/26; B67C2003/266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position, comprising: a valve head mounted to said apparatus at a location above said bottle; a tube, designed for insertion into the neck of said bottle, said tube being mounted on said apparatus and passing through said valve head; and an alignment device including camming surfaces for aligning said bottles with said tube during elevation of said bottles by said apparatus, said alignment device being reciprocally mounted on said valve head independent of said tube so that it will not interfere with normal operation of said tube, said alignment device having an opening for passage of said bottles, said opening being small enough to insure reciprocation of said alignment device during normal elevation of said bottles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position, comprising: a valve head mounted to said apparatus at a location above said bottle; a tube, designed for insertion into the neck of said bottle, said tube being mounted on said apparatus and passing through said valve head; and an alignment device including camming surfaces for aligning said bottles with said tube during elevation of said bottles by said apparatus, said alignment device being reciprocally mounted on said valve head independent of said tube so that it will not interfere with normal operation of said tube, said alignment device having an opening for passage of said bottles, said opening being small enough to insure reciprocation of said alignment device during normal elevation of said bottles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 1 additionally comprising: a sealing gasket mounted on said valve head in a stationary position relative said valve head and designed to seal the moUth of said bottle when said bottle is in the elevated position during filling of said bottle, said sealing gasket being separate from said alignment device so that reciprocal movement of said alignment device does not interfere with the operation of said sealing gasket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 1 wherein said camming surfaces comprise: a first extended conical camming surface which initially engages said bottle during elevation to introduce coarse corrections in the alignment of said bottle; and a second, distinct extended conical camming surface which contacts said bottle subsequent to contact of said bottle with said first camming surface for introducing fine corrections in the alignment of said bottle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 3 wherein the axis of said first conical camming surface is at an angle of 45* with the axis of said alignment device and the axis of said second conical camming surface is at an angle of 8* with the axis of said alignment device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 1, additionally comprising: a plurality of guides dependent from said valve head and remote from said tube; and means on said alignment device for engaging said guides, thereby guiding said alignment device during reciprocal movement relative said valve head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 1 wherein said alignment device is reciprocally mounted on said valve head so that contact between said alignment device and said valve head does not occur during normal reciprocation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
101 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position, comprising: a valve head having a sealing gasket for sealing said valve head to the neck of said bottle said sealing gasket mounted in a stationary position relative said valve head and said filling apparatus; a tube which is inserted into said bottle during said elevation; and a vertically reciprocal centering bell for guiding the neck of said bottles around said tube, said bell designed to reciprocate during each normal elevation of a bottle to said filling position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position, comprising: a valve head having a sealing gasket for sealing said valve head to the neck of said bottle said sealing gasket mounted in a stationary position relative said valve head and said filling apparatus; a tube which is inserted into said bottle during said elevation; and a vertically reciprocal centering bell for guiding the neck of said bottles around said tube, said bell designed to reciprocate during each normal elevation of a bottle to said filling position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 7 wherein said centering bell engages each of said bottles below the neck thereof so that said centering bell does not interfere with the engagement of said stationary sealing gasket with the neck of said bottle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 7 wherein said centering bell is reciprocally mounted on said valve head, said centering bell being dimensioned to allow passage of the neck of said bottle totally therethrough, but dimensioned to engage each bottle below the neck thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
An alignment device for aligning bottles to be filled on a bottle filling apparatus as said bottles are elevated to a filling position as defined in claim 7 wherein said tube is a vent tube and wherein the liquid to be placed in said bottle flows into said bottle from an orifice situated between said sealing gasket and said tube.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |