IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BENDING CERTAIN PARTS Or WIRE FASTENINGS FOR BOTTLE STOPPERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR BENDING CERTAIN PARTS Or
WIRE FASTENINGS FOR BOTTLE STOPPERS." A communication from abroad by
Henry William Putnam, of Bennington, State of Vermont, in the United States
of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Gardner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th August 1876.
"
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 160,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR BENDING CERTAIN PARTS OF WIRE FASTENINGS FOR BOTTLE STOPPERS."
A communication from abroad by Henry William Putnam, of Bennington, State of
Vermont, in the United States of America.
This Invention has for object the cutting off to a certain prescribed length, and
the subsequent bending into certain prescribed forms, of ordinary wire, which wire
so bent and shaped forms a constituent element of a combination of devices for
closing or sealing bottles, or other analogous receptacles of liquids.
In the annexed Drawings like letters refer to corresponding parts in the several
Figures. Premising the description of the machine which forms the subject of this
Invention, and to facilitate a more lucid comprehension of the same, reference is
inade to Figures 4 and 5 of the Drawings, wherein is fully shown in front and side
elevations the wire bail lever produced by the said machine when operated.
In Figure 4 is shown a side and in Figure 5 a front view of the bottle stopping
device of which the product of this Invention forms an element.
The part
marked 1 is the neck of an ordinary bottle. Beneath the swell or enlargement
constituting the nozzle a neck wire (4) passes around and is firmly secured thereto
by twisting together. the ends thereof. This neck wire is formed with a down-
wardly depending loop or eye upon each side of the neck, which are shown at b, b,
of said Figures. In these loops b, b, are pivotted the hooks or pintles of the bail
lever 5, which pintles are marked c¹, 'c. The bail lever 5, for the formation of which
the machine in question is designed, possesses the following characteristic features,
viz. it is U shaped, is constructed with a loop or eye near each end thereof b', b¹,
and is provided with the hooks or pintles "c¹, cl, which constitute its means of
Price Gd.1

page_text: attachment to the neck wire. The bail 2, to the middle of which the stopper 3 is
attached, is bent in form as shown, and has its extremities bent inwardly so as to
form pintles about or upon which it can swing which pintles in the combination
enter and work in the loops or eyes b¹, b', of the bail lever 5. When the bail
lever is turned or elevated, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 4, the displace- 5
ment of the stopper from its seat over the nozzle is effectuated and the several
devices are free to be swung or pushed to one side for the purpose of filling or
discharging the bottle.
The following functions are performed by the several devices designed therefor
and in the order named in this machine:-1. The wire is supplied to the machine in 1
definite lengths by any appropriate intermittent feeding mechanism, for operating
which the cam grooved pulley B¹ is provided. 2. The wire is cut off prepara-
tory to being bent. 3. The wire is bent into the U shape shown at a' in Figure 5.
4. The loops or eyes b¹, 61, Figures 4 and 5, are formed by winding; and 5th the
ends of the wire are introverted to form the means of attachment to the bail 1
lever 5.
Figure 1 of the Drawings exhibits a horizontal plan of this machine. Figure 2
shews a vertical longitudinal section thereof, exposing inside elevation, the shearing
apparatus for cutting off the wire, and the mechanism for actuating the same.
Figure 3 exhibits a partial transverse section showing in clevation the end of the 2
carriage which supports the bending stud which shapes the curve a¹, the loop
winders, the laterally distensive springs to which the loop cores are attached, as
well as the mechanism by which their movements are determined.
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section showing in elevation the side of the
carriage which carries the several devices for bending the wire, manipulating 2
the loop cores, bending the pintles, and the mechanism for driving or operating
the same.
Motion is communicated to the machine through the driving wheel B attached
to the shaft C¹. Upon the opposite end of this shaft is attached the cam grooved
pulley B which actuates the feeding mechanisın not shown in the Drawing.. To 3
the said shaft C¹ is also attached the segmental gear D upon the back side or side
opposite the teeth of which is affixed the circumferentially adjustable lug R. > This
lug is pivoted at its interior end to the gear near its hub, as shown at e, and its
circumferential adjustment is regulated and determined by the set screw c working
through the projection X on the disc of the gear D. To the bedplate H is secured
a transversely adjustable pedistal or base plate Y, Figures 1 and 2, which supports
the standard G. Through this standard at a suitable elevation passes the bushing,
which is secured in position therein by the set screws above it. To the standard Ġ
and at a point just beneath the bushing a is pivotted the shear blade P. This
shear blade P has its cutting edge arranged to work across the inside end of the
hole of bushing a, and is provided with a backwardly extending arm, the posterior
extremity of which obtrudes into the pathway of the revolving lug R. The shear
blade P is preserved in a dormant position by the upwardly exerted force of the
spring b, the animate end of which impinges against the under edge of the lever
thereof. At each revolution of the gear D the lug R is carried around and brought
in contact with the extremity of the shear blade P at the moment after the wire
A¹ has been projected by the feeding mechanism through the bushing a into the
machine, the arin of the shear blade being thereby depressed the cutting edge
thereof is brought across the bushing a, thereby severing the wire. After the lug
R has passed the end of the arm of shear blade P the spring b comes into action
and forces back the shear blade into its previous position ready for a repetition
of the operation. The length of the piece of wire cut off is regulated by the
adjustment of the stop 2, which is transversely adjustable with reference to the
bed plate A. and is secured thereto or to some appurtenance thereof. The likelihood
of the wire being drawn back partially by the receding movement of the feeding
device is provided against by passing the wire under a stiff spring or brake F,
which also serves as a guide for the wire to the bushing.

page_text: The wire having been supplied to the machine and cut off the requisite length, as
above described, is in position for the next manipulation in order, which is that of
bending it into the form seen at a¹, in Figure 5. To accomplish this the laterally
grooved cam C, a side view of which is seen in Figuro 6, is brought into action.
The said cam, race, or groove is designated q, q, and in the same travel the revolving
friction truck or bowl u. This truck u by means of a stud upon which it revolves
is attached to the rear end of a projection of the carriage y. This carriage has a
longitudinal reciprocal movement in guides upon the bed plate A, and may be
adjusted by means of a jib and set screws as shown, or in any other suitable way.
Upon the front or forward end of this carriage is erected a projection, which is
designated a "bending stud," marked V, in Figures 1 and 6. Near the top thereof
is a semi-circumferentially-fluted transverse groove which lies just behind but in
the path of the wire as it is fed in. This groove p conforms in shape to the interior
of the curved portion a¹ of the bail lever 5. Two fixed abutments or points of
resistance U, U, are provided to resist the advancing tendency of the termini of the
wire in process of manipulation, and to assist in giving to the wire during the
advancing movement of the carriage and bending stud V its proper bent, or curved
shape. Nicks or slots of suitable form are provided in the edges of these abutments,
as shown at O, in Figure 6, for the more perfect guidance and confinement of the
wire during the initial bending process. Thus supported and confined the central
portion of the wire is carried along by the bending stud V and forced up firmly
against the interior transverse curve of the die Z, and by the pressure exerted by the
bending stud is there firmly grasped and held until the completion of all the subsequent
manipulations. The carriage at this stage of the process becomes or remains
stationary by reason of the truck or bowl u having passed into that position of the
groove of the driving cam C which is radially equi-distant from its centre of motion.
The ends of the checks of the pintle former L are also nicked or slotted, as seen at e¹,
Figure 6. This slotting or nicking provides a seat for the reception and formation of
the pintle c¹, as herein-after more fully described. The pintle former L and die Z
are secured, adjusted, and held in position by the set screws w and w³, as shown.
Next in order, after the bending of the wire last above described, follows the
winding or turning of the loops or eyes b¹, b¹, Figures 4 and 5. The carriage y
having reached the terminus of its advancing stroke carries with it into position a
little in rear of the centre of the winders Q, Q, the loop cores ", ", which project
laterally from the upper part of the forward or advancing end of the distensible
springs W, W. Simultaneous with the advancing movement of the springs W, W,
into position, their free ends are spread apart or distended by the downward move-
ment of the distending wedge or key O. This movement is produced by the
co-operation of the guide pin or stud i, Figure 6, working in the inclined slot f of
the projecting arm K. The relative position of these parts is more clearly seen in
Figures 3, where they are shown in the position occupied just before the commence-
ment of the movement. The springs W, W, having been thus distended the cores or
centres 1, 7, are forced into their proper position with reference to the centre of the
winders Q, Q, and immediately underneath that portion of the wire lying below
the extremities e¹, e', of the checks of the pintle foriner L and the free ends of the
wire. In the meantime the shaft c¹ has rotated sufficiently to carry forward the
cam g to a point where it impinges against the bevilled projection of the latch h,
nd by such movement releases or detaches the latch from its engagement with the
bevi gear E. The opposite or return movement of the latch is secured by the
retractile spring j attached to some portion of the frame of the machine. A notch
or ledge in or upon the periphery of gear E is provided with which the latch
co-operates for the purpose of steadily holding the said gear E in position to facilitate
the engagement of the segmental gear D by which it is driven.
The latch having thus been released the teeth of the segmental gear D engaged
the bevel gear E and through the shaft g' and train of gears k, l, m, o', n¹, m², o",
, motion is communicated to the shafts, upon the inner extremities of which the
winders Q, Q, and attached to the outer end of the shaft upon which the gear m¹ is

page_text: placed in a disc N having a ratchet slot or ledge upon the periphery thereof with
which the spring pawl M co-operates, the pawl M prevents movement of the
genrs in one direction and the latch in the other, so that all recoil is prevented
and all momentum checked. The winders are simply cylindrical pieces of suitable
metal with a section of the periphery thereof of about the shape shown at a¹¹,
Figure 3, projecting in the line of the axis of the cylinder a short distance beyond
the end thereof and having the advancing edge of such projection slotted or
recessed away, a seen at s', Figure 1, so as to adapt it to grasp the wire which lies
across its path. The loop cores 1, r, being. in position, and the wire lying dia-
gonally across and above the axis of such cores, the, winders commence their forward
rotary movement. The projection, & grasps the wire, bends it down against the core
r, backward up around the same, and brings the free end of the wire over forward
into a nearly horizontal position outside of, parallel with, and adjacent to the out-
side edge of the cheek of the pintle former, limiting the extremity of the wire, pro-
jecting nearly horizontally, sufficiently to admit of the formation of the pintle c¹
upon the end.thercof. At this point the rotation of the winders ceases, the gears
by which the same are operated aro locked by the latch and pawl, M, and the
projection 8 firmly holds the free end of the wire in the precise position opposite
the grooved or slotted .cnd c¹ of the cheek of the pintle former I desired to effect
the subsequent manipulation of the pintle.
And finally, the wire being held in the last-described position, the cam C having
rotated sufficiently, brings the auxiliary cam T, which is attached to the side
thereof, over into position to act against the friction truck t, which is attached to
the slide H. The slide H has an intermittent reciprocal movement in bearings
or ways upon the top of the carriage y, the forward or advancing movement being
produced by the said cam T and the receding movement by the retractile force of
the spring 8. Upon the upper side of the anterior portion of the carriage y, and
between the springs W, W, is attached the fulcrum stand v, Figures 1 and 6,
which is arranged to be longitudinally adjustable. This stand furnishes the
fulcrum for and supports the bending levers I, I. The posterior extremities of
these bending levers are each connected with the front end of slide H by connect-
ing links, and the whole, so connected, forms a double toggle joint, the bending
levers having a common pivot at u¹. The front end of each of these bending levers
is shaped like a claw, and when in the process of winding the loop or eye has been
completed, and before the carriago recedes so as to release the wire by the action of
cam T upon the truck t, the slide H is moved up, the toggles J, J, distend the rear
ends of the bending levers, thereby contracting or bringing together the jaws
which grasp the free end of the wire, which projected beyond the end of the check
of the pintle former I, and bend the said ends in a horizontal plane inwardly across
the grooved or slotted end of the cheek e¹ and into the shape shown at c¹, Figure 5.
The several manipulations necessary to complete the article having now all been per-
formed the jaws of the bending levers distend, the springs W, W, contract, thereby
releasing the loops or eyes, by withdrawing the cores r, r, therefrom, the carriage
recedes, and the bail lever is left free to drop into the receptacle provided therefor.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as new and desire to protect by
the before in part recited Letters Patent-
Firstly. The improved machine shown in the annexed Drawings and its method
of action, as and for the purposes above described.
Secondly. The described means for forming the curve a³ in wire fastenings, con-
sisting of the bending stud V, abutments U, U, die Z, constructed and combined as
shown, and operated by appropriate mechanism, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. The described means of forming loops in wire, consisting of the distend-
ing and contracting cures ?, ?, springs W, W, and the winders QQ, operated by
mechanism, substantially as described; or by any appropriate mechanism in combi-
nation with the devices shown for confining and holding the wire while the same
is being manipulated, all substantially as described and set forth..

page_text: Fourthly. The mechanism for forming the pintles of wire fasteners or other
analagous articles made from wire, consisting of the plate L having the cheeks
el, el, constructed and located with reference to the winders, as shown in combi-
nation with the bending jaws or levers J, J, operated by suitable mechanism,
substantially as shown and described.
Fifthly. The provisions, substantially as shown, for severing the wire at precisely
the proper moment, consisting of the disc, of gear D, circumferentially adjustable
lug R pivoted as shown, projection x, and set screw c combined and arranged, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Sixthly. The devices V, U, and p for forming the bend a¹ of the bail lever 5, the
devices W, W, 7, 7, and O for co-operation in the winding of the loops or eyes of
the wire and bending levers I, I, links J, J,. slide H, and truck & mounted and
operated on a carriage common to them, all substantially as specified.
Seventhly. The combination of the herein-before described devices V, o, o, and Z
for bending the wire, the devices W, W, 1, 1, 0, K, f, and Q, Q, for winding the
loops, and the devices L, e¹, e¹, I, I, J, J, 8, and H for turning the pintles of
wire fasteners severally actuated by any suitable mechanism and all co-operating
in the same machine, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of August, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.