Bottle sorting apparatus

Claim 1

Apparatus for sorting bottles having each an axis, a bottom at one axial end, and a neck at the other axial end according to their compressive strength, resistance to internal gas pressure, and leak proofness comprising, in combination: a. bottle carrier means movable for carrying a plurality of bottles sequentially through a plurality of stations, said bottle carrier means including 1. a plurality of platforms, 2. a sealing head associated with each platform and including i. a casing bounding a chamber therein, ii. a piston slidable in said casing inward and outward of said chamber and having a bottle neck engaging portion formed with a bore, and iii. shut-off valve means communicating with said bore; b. feeding means for feeding respective bottles to said platforms at a feeding station and for placing each bottle on the associated platform in a position in which the axis of said bottle extends away from said platform toward the associated sealing head; c. cam means for causing relative movement of said platform and of said sealing head in the direction of said axis toward and away from a relative position in which said portion engages the neck of a bottle placed on the associated platform; d. at least one source of gas under pressure; e. conduit means connecting said at least one source to said chamber for biasing said piston outward of said chamber under the pressure of said gas and for thereby exerting compressive stress on a bottle engaged by said portion, 1. said cam means including means for causing said relative movement of said platform and said sealing head until a bottle having adequate resistance to said compressive stress moves said piston inward of said chamber, 2. said valve means responding to said inward movement of said piston by connecting said bore to said chamber and thereby admitting gas under pressure to said bottle through the engaged neck, whereby internal gas pressure is exerted on said botTle; f. sealing means for sealing said bottle from said source while under said internal gas pressure; g. sensing means for sensing the maintenance of said internal pressure in the sealed bottle; h. deflecting means for deflecting a tested bottle from said bottle carrier means; i. actuating means for actuating said deflecting means in response to the failing of said tested bottle under said compressive stress, failing of the tested bottle under the internal pressure of the admitted gas, or failing of the tested bottle to maintain said internal pressure; j. discharge means for discharging the bottles not deflected by said deflecting means from said bottle carrier means; and k. a tubular shield fastened to each of said sealing heads for movement therewith relative to the associated platform for enveloping a bottle placed on said platform when said sealing head and said platform are in said relative position thereof, said cam means including means for keeping said sealing head and said shield remote from said platform while said feeding means feed a bottle to the associated platform and said discharge means discharge a bottle from said platform.