The machine for filling the ordinary bottles, or cork bottling rack, is shown in Fig. 288. The bottom of the bottle is placed in the cup, which is moved by the foot lever, the mouth being pressed against an indiarubber washer. A wet cork is placed in the nozzle piece, and the handle of the rack brought half over ; this drives in the cork a certain distance, leaving sufficient space between its compressed end and the bottle mouth for filling. The syrup, if being used, is then injected by the pump, the aerated water being let in afterwards. When sufficiently full, the cork is driven in by pulling the handle right over. The filled bottle is next passed on to the wiring stand, shown in Fig. 289, the nose piece of which holds in the cork, and separates the two folds of the double wire while it is being fastened over the cork and around the neck.
The distance from the mixing machine to the bottling machine is not of any importance, pro• vided that the connecting pipes be of pure tin, or of some material not affected by aerated water.
A slightly different apparatus, shown in Fig. 290, is used for filling siphons. In this, a valve is held up by a spring, which when compressed by the handle is forced away from its seating and allows the liquid to escape. The siphons are filled upside down, the pressure on the button head, when the spout is forced into the filling nozzle. in the process of filling, opening them for the purpose. The construction of the siphon itself is shown in Figs. 291 and 292.
In Fig. 203 is shown, besides all the machines already described, a vertical boiler with engine on the same base. It should be large enough to allow for extra steam for heating water for syrup making, washing, and other purposes. Next to the boiler is the bottle-soaking wheel, which revolves slowly in hot water for the purpose of thoroughly eleaning the bottles. At the side of the wooden tank are revolving brushes which cleanse both the interior and exterior. They are then placed on the rinsing tube jets, which are supplied with eold water. At the other end of tho figure is shown the acid tap, made either self closing or adjustable ; this is supplied from the acid tank placed on the floor above, and delivers the acid into the box placed below it. Iu this figure, the most convenient arrangement of the several machines relatively to one another is shown, This arrangement is that recommended by the well-known firm of Messrs. Barnett, Son, and Foster, of London, who aro the makers of the machines hero illustrated.
An apparatus is shown in Fig. 294, in which the gas-holder is dispensed with, and the processes of generating, purifying, and bottling are com bined. An arrangement identical in principle wits patented iu 1851.
The system described above is known as the " continuous " system ; it is almost exelii•iNely used in this country, and also, with various modi fications, on the Continent. There is another
' system, which is sometimes called the "compres sion" system, and is in general use in Alma ica. The main difference between tho o is, that in the latter the gas, as generated, is passed directly into the water without expansion ; the water being aerated either in bulk or iu the bottles. The first mentioned, viz. the continuous system, aerates srnall quantities of water at a time, hut rapidly ; tual if a small quantity only is required, makes it with nearly the same economy as if working up to its full producing power, only the requisite quantity of gas and water being used, and the pressure being kept up as the bottling proceeds. With the compression system, in order to keep an even pressure in the bottles, the surplus gas at starting must be blown off in filling, the elastic gas filling the place occupied by the water as the latter is withdrawn; thus the cylinder, when emptied of liquid, is full of compressed gas, and to refill it, the water must be pumped in against the pressure of the gas, or the latter be blown off, generally to waste.
Although the two systems require different methods of generating and mixing, the bottling off and filling machines apply to both with very little variation. Each system has its particular antages for special purposes, according to the requirements of the retailer.
Fig. 295 represents an apparatus much used in the United States for the manufacture of aerated waters by the compression system. The cylinder to the left of the figure is the generator ; the car bonate and the water are placed in this and mixed by turning the handle which works an agitator in the interior. The acid is then run in from the vessel above, the connecting pipe being closed and locked by the cam action on the lever at top. The three other cylinders are the . vessels in which the gas and water are mixed together ; the smaller vessels above are merely purifiers : both cylinders and purifiers are filled about two-thirds full of water. The gas enters into the first purifier, from which it passes into the second, and thence into the third, and is thus rendered sufficiently pure for mixing. By shutting the cocks on the last two cylinders, the gas then goes into the first, and the agitator is set in motion until the pressure, as shown by the gauge above, has reached the proper height. The pressure required for bottles is about 601b., and that for siphons, or portable cylin ders, about 150 lb.; at these points, the aerated water is withdrawn into the necessary receptacles, the cylinder re maining full of gas at that pressure. During the withdrawal of the contents of this cylinder, the gas is turned into the second one, and the process conducted as in the case of the first.