IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING WIRE FOR SECURING CORKS OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co.
16
Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING WIRE FOR SECURING CORKS
OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS." A communication to him
from abroad by Orril R Chaplin of Boston Massachusetts, United States of
Ainorica
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1882.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING
WIRE FOR SECURING CORKS OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS."
[A communication to him from abroad by Orril R Chaplin of Boston Massa-
chusetts, United States of America.]
The object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for manu-
facturing from a coil of wire, a complete bottling-wire by successive operations,
and without the intervention of hand labour. The operations performed by the
said machine are the cutting, looping, twisting and depositing of the wire.
By means of the said invention I am enabled, by a slight adjustment, and
without using more than one machine, to produce bottling wires of any
desired length; of a greater or less twist; of any desired size of loop; and
deposit them in quantities of one hundred, five hundred, one hundred and
forty-four, or any other given number to suit the demands or the convenience of
the user.
According to this invention the reel which holds the wire is set on a spindle, in
a convenient position in relation to the feeding rollers. Mechanism is provided to
ensure the proper rotation of the reel and the consequent giving off of the wire;
this leaves the wire free to be fed forward and prevents any tendency to slip
between the rolls. The said mechanism consists of a ratchet wheel set on the

page_text: spindle with the reel and on which the reel rests, a washer of leather or other
suitable material being interposed between the reel and ratchet to increase the
friction. A short lever pivotted at one end to the spindle-support, and at the
other to a connecting rod, carries a feed pawl so pivoted to it that the free end of
the pawl is in contact with the ratchet teeth, and is held against them by the
pressure of a spring. The connecting rod is pivotted to an upright lever, the said
lever being pivotted at its lower end on the slide of the bed-plate of the machine,
and provided, near its middle, with a cam truck which moves in the cam path on
the face of a cam wheel set on the shaft. At every revolution of the cam wheel, the
cam lever is moved toward the ratchet-wheel carrying with it the connecting rod
and pushing the feed pawl against the ratchet teeth, thus turning the said ratchet-
wheel together with the reel which rests on it, and causing the said reel to give off
the wire as the feed rolls feed it into the machine. As the cam wheel completes
its revolution, the rods are moved in the opposite direction, and the feed pawl slips
back over the ratchet-teeth ready for the next forward movement; the reel may be
made fast to the ratchet wheel if required. A second lever is pivotted near the
middle to the reel support and is arranged so that its free end may press against
the under-side-of the reel and stop its momentum when the feed rolls cease to act,
and thus prevent any undue turning of the reel. The said lever is pressed against
a smoth ring on the under side of the reel, and freed from control therewith
alternately by the revolution of said cam wheel; the inner end of the lever is
provided with a cam-truck which moves in another cam path on the face of the cam
wheel and as the inner end is depressed by the cam the outer end will be raised
and made to press against the smooth ring or path on the under side of the reel
-and-stop its movement, while, when the inner end is raised by the cam the outer
end will be freed from contact with the reel, and the reel will be free to be moved
by the forward movement of the feed pawl, moving at the same time the ratchet
wheel on which the reel-rests.-The-outer-end-of-the-second lever-which touches..
the-reel-is-provided-with-an-adjusting screw_having_a_rubber_cap_for the purpose
of producing greater friction when it touches the reel.
Between the reel and the feed rolls, I arrange a series of small rolls grooved on
their peripheries to receive the wire. These rolls are so set that the wire passing
between them on its way to the feed rolls presents a more even resistance to the
action of the feed rolls, feeds more smoothly, and is also straightened and freed
from twists and the like. The middle roll of the series is set by means of a
thumb-screw in a slot which admits of its adjustment as may be required for
different sizes of wire. Motion is communicated to the feed rolls by a gear-wheel
which engages with the toothed hub of the lower feed roll. The said gear wheel is
driven by a slotted crank set on the end of a shaft. At the outer end of the crank a
connecting rod is pivotted to a slide which moves in a slot the slide being arranged
so that it may be set at any point in the slot and thus have a longer or shorter
movement. The other end of the said connecting rod is pivotted to a third lever
one end of which is set on the end of the stud on which the gear-wheel is placed,
while the other end carries the propelling pawl and the mechanism for setting the
pawl against, and freeing it, from the gear-teeth on the gear wheel. The end of
the slide connecting rod is pivotted to the clutch-operating lever near its middle
and to the said third lever, the pivot hole in the latter being slightly elongated to
allow a slight play of the pivot in the hole in order to actuate the clutch-operating
lever sufficiently to force the propelling pawl into contact with, or free it from, the
said gear-wheel. The clutch-operating lever is pivotted to the upper part of the
said lever and near the middle of the slide connecting rod, while at its bearing end
it carries a projection which operates in a V-shaped notch in the pawl to tilt tho
said pawl and cause it to engage with, or be disengaged from, the teeth on the gear-
wheel. The pawl is pivotted to the lower end of the third lever.
By means of this arrangement I obtain a movement of the gear wheel which
begins slowly, increases in rapidity to the middle of the movement, and ends
slowly, which is desirable in this class of machines. I also am enabled to move

page_text: the pawl back, after each forward movement, free from contact with the teeth of
the gear-wheel instead of dragging it back on them, thus preventing wear of the
pawl and teeth and rendering the mechanism noiseless.
The wire passes from the feed rolls through the cutters one of which is
stationary and the other movable. I prefer to set the cutting holes in the cutters,
through which the wire passes and by which it is cut, in pieces of steel so that
when the cutting edges of the holes require sharpening the pieces may be removed
and sharp ones inserted in their places.
The conductor which conducts the wire from the feed rolls and cutters to
the twisting clamps is hinged and provided with an extension which may be
attached to it by screws, when a long bottling wire is being made. The lid of the
conductor is opened by the downward action of a cutter lever on an arm projecting
from the lid. The cutter lever operates the movable cutter by means of a connecting
rod, cam lever, and cam.
In order to make bottling wires of any length on the same machine without
loss of wire or subsequent manual operation, it is necessary, to be able to vary the
distance between the cutters and the clamps which seize and twist the wire, this
distance determining the length of the wires. To do this I place the parts of the
machine which have been referred to which include the reel, and reel-operating
mechanism, the feeding and cutting mechanism, and the conductor on a slide in
the bed plate. This slide is of a dove-tail form in cross section and fits in a
corresponding groove or recess in the bed plate. One side of the said recess is
fitted with an adjustable side or strip against which adjusting screws bear, which
enable it to be set with relation to the slide. Another set-screw is fast in a stud-
piece secured by screw bolts to the end of the bed plate and works in a hole in
the slido fitted to receive it. By putting a handle on the square head of the set-
screw, the said screw may be turned and the slide moved outwards or inwards,
thus increasing or diminishing the distance between the cutters and the seizing
and twisting clamp and enabling the machine to make a longer or shorter bottling-
wire as may be required. The secondary shaft which actuates the parts on the
slide in the bed-plate is journalled into two uprights which rise froin the said slide.
The first upright supports one end of the main shaft, which is set at right angles to
the secondary shaft, and is connected with it by mitre gear-wheels.
The said upright is free to slide to and fro under the shaft as the slide in the
bed plate on which it rests is moved, and the gear-wheels retain their same relative
position; one of the said mitre wheels is conducted with the main shaft by a splino
joint which allows the said wheel to be slipped longitudinally upon the shaft.
When the slide of the bed plate is set back and the machine arranged to make
short lengths of bottling-wires, the end of the main shaft will project to the right
of the first upright
The mechanism which seizes and twists tho wire is operated directly by the
main shaft and rests not on the slide but on the stationary part of the bed plate.
The said mechanism is supported on a stationary frame in the form of an inverted Y
or yoke shaped. The said frame is secured to the bed plate and supports the main
shaft which is journalled to it and which carries inside the yoke shaped frame two
cam wheels which operate the seizing, twisting, and bending mechanism. The
twisting clamps are mounted in a box on the end of a hollow spindle journalled in
the frame and through which a rod projects to operate the toggles, which open and
close the said clamps. The outer end of the said rod is held in contact with a cam
lever by check nuts. The inner check-nut is provided with a hub projecting
toward and against the outer nut. The end of the cam-lever is Y-shaped, the Y
embracing the hub on the inner check nut. The said cam-lever is pivotted near
its middle to a projection of the frame and carries at its lower end a truck or
roller which acts in the path of the cam. The inward or outward movement of
the toggle rod opens or closes the toggle clamps.
In order to twist the wire, the spindle carrying the clamps is revolved to effect
this the said spindle is provided with bevel pinions keyed to it in a well known

page_text: manner so that one of the pinions may be slipped along the spindle and thus
brought in contact with, or freed from, its gear wheel as desired. Two other gear
wheels are made in one integral piece and are set on the upper end of an upright
shaft which is journalled in the stationary frame. The lower end of the said shaft
is filled with a pinion which engages with a toothed segment attached to the
periphery of one of the cam wheels. The pawl pivotted to the frame is actuated
by a spring which throws it against the pinion on the lower end of the shaft
and by a rider secured to the cam wheel which acts to free it from the pinion, while
the pinion is in contact with the toothed segment.
This rider is so arranged that as the segment passes the pinion it will have
passed the pawl thus allowing the pawl to be thrown against the pinion and hold
it firmly in position. By this means any uncertain movement of the pinion and
consequently of the twisting clamps is avoided. The double gear wheel at the
upper end of the upright shaft and the two bevel pinions aro provided to enable
the same machino to produce wires of greater or less twist as desired. When less
twist is desired the first bevel pinion is slipped into position to engage with one
of the double gear wheels and the second pinion is slipped back and out of contact
with the second of the double gear-wheels. Twice the number of twists can be
obtained by reversing the position and allowing the spindle to be revolved by the
second pinion in contact with the second of the doublo gear-wheels.
A support rises from the bed plate, and stretching between this support and the
stationary frame are placed a guide rod and a rock shaft. The guide-rod supports
a head which reciprocates upon the rod and which forms a support for the grippers.
The grippers-are-pivotted to the front of the said head and are open and closed
by a toggle connection with a piece which slides on the lower guide rod. This
guide rod is connected with the rock shaft by the pieces and is raised or lowered
to open or shut the grippers, by means of a connecting rod and a cam lever, the
_connecting rod being pivotted at its upper end to the lower guide rod and at its
lower end to the cam lover. The cam lover is pivotted inside the stationary frame
and is provided with a cam truck or roller which acts-in-the-cam-path-of a cam
wheel. This cam path is of such form that at each revolution of the cam wheel
the grippers will be opened and closed by means of the lower guide rod set on its
rock shaft; the cam lever may act to open or close the grippers irrespective of their
position on the upper guide rod; that is whether the head supporting the grippers
be slid forward on the said guide rod toward the support or back toward the
stationary frame. The grippers perform three functions they guide the wire from
the end of the conductor between the open twisting jaws or clamps, they also inove
forward toward the support when the clamps have closed, thus sweeping the ends
of the wire together and bending it around the jaws of the clamps forming the
loop; and as the ends are thus brought together they close on the wire and hold
one part of it stationary while the twisting clamps are acting to twist the portion
between them and the grippers.
In order that the grippers may form guides for the wire as it leaves the
conductor pieces are provided pivotted centrally to the side of the head so that
when the grippers are open and drawn back toward the stationary frame so that
the clamps lie between them, the forward ends of the said pieces are in contact
with the under side of the gripper jaws and form with them eyes which receive
and guide the wire between the clamps. The forward ends of the said pieces are
pressed up against the under side of the gripper jaws by reason of the rear end of
the pieces coming in contact with pins set in the stationary frame whenever the
head slides back. When the head moves forward the rear ends of said pieces move
from under the said pins, and spiral springs held at their lower ends to the head
act to pull down the forward ends of the picces away from the grippers, thus
allowing the ends of the wire as they sweep round by the forward movement of
the head and grippers to come together. When the ends of the wire are brought
together the toggle mechanism acts and the grippers close and hold tho wire
stationary while the twisting clamps are acting. One jaw of the grippers is faced

page_text: with a strip of steel adjusted by a screw. This allows the jaw to accommodate itself
to wire of different sizes without special adjustment. The opposite jaw is fitted
when it comes in contact with the wire with a piece of hardened steel which, when
worn away, may be easily and speedily replaced. The reciprocating motion of the
head is obtained by means of a connecting rod and adjustable slotted cam levers,
and a cam groove in the face of a cam wheel. The cam lever which carries the
cam truck or roller is pivotted to the inside of the stationary frame and is slotted
at its upper end so that it may be secured at any point in the slot by a sliding
pivot to the slotted lever which is pivotted at its lower end to the stationary framo
and at its upper end to the connecting rod. It is obvious that to obtain a greater
or less throw of the lever, and consequently a greater or less length of slide to tho
head and so allow a greater or less portion of the wire to be twisted, it is only
necessary to secure the sliding pivot at a higher or lower point in the slotted lovers,
and to obtain a throw of extra length the pivot may be changed and set in another
hole thus increasing the length of the lever above the pivot and consequently
largely increasing the length of its throw.
The counting mechanism consists of a ratchet wheel set on a spindle projecting
from the stationary frame A feed pawl, a retaining pawl, actuating lever, and cam,
a pinion set on a spindle, and a gear wheel set on a second spindle on which is
also set the rider wheel on the periphery of which the lower pawl rides.
The ratchet is provided with a hub projecting outward along the first spindle
and fitted with grooves into which corresponding flanges on the hub of the
pinion, fit to ensure the revolutions of the said pinion with the ratchet. On the hub
of the ratchet is journalled the actuating lever bearing at one extremity the feed
pawl and at the other a cam truck or roller which runs in the cam path. The
retaining pawl is pivotted on the side of the frame and prevents any backward
movement of the ratchet. It is obvious that at each revolution of the cam wheel
the feed pawl will feed the ratchet forward one tooth, and that, as the ratchet and
pinion are keyed together, the pinion performs a complete revolution whenever the
ratchet does. The gear wheel is keyed or locked to the projecting hub of the plain
or rider wheel in the same manner as the pinion and ratchet just described are
locked together and the two therefore revolve together on the second spindle.
The plain or rider wheel is provided with a notch on its periphery into which
the end of the pawl drops as the notch comes under it, the pawl being secured on
the main shaft und actuated in a well known manner by a spiral spring attached at
one end to the rock shaft and at the other to the foot of the stationary frame. If
the pawl drops into the notch the rock shaft is turned by the spiral spring
sufficiently to throw the end of a shipper lever in contact with the clutch
mechanism, and the driving pulley is unlocked from the shaft and made a loose
pulley and the machine is stopped.
Any suitable form of clutch mechanism may be used.
It is obvious that as a complete bottling wire is made at each revolution of the
main shaft, if the pinion be provided with five times as many teeth as the gear
whcel and, the ratchet wheel be provided with one hundred teeth, the pinion will
complete a revolution to each five hundred revolutions of the main shaft, and that
at each revolution of the said pinion the plain or rider wheel will complete a
revolution and its notch will come under the pawl and stop the machine, thus
stopping the machine whenever five hundred wires have been made; It is obvious
also that several sets of wheels and pinions may be made with each machine and
by changing which the machine may be stopped when any given number of wires
have been made.
When the reel is revolved by the feed rolls, in drawing the wire from it the wire
is apt to bind on it and will not give off freely unless the reel be specially filled
from the coils of wire which necessitates labour and expense. By this mechanism
however I am enabled to use the wire from the coils and without reeling it.
The wire passes through a guide under an excentric pressure pin between the
feed rolls and through the cutting holes into the conductor. The said pressure

page_text: pin is attached tightly to the frame in such a manner that it may be turned and
set in any position, the friction of the pin in its hole holding it securely.
The said pin is sufficiently long to project over the wire and is provided at its
outer end with an excentric head so that by turning the pin a greater or less
degree of pressure of the head against the wire may be obtained.
It is found in working some kinds of wire, that it has a tendency to curl slightly
after leaving the conductor and thus is liable to miss the eye of the grippers. A
slight pressure obtained by the excentric head of the pressure pin prevents this
tendency to curl and causes the wire to pass straight through the eyes of the
grippers. From the conductor it passes through the eyes formed by the grippers
and pieces passing between the open jaws of the twisting clamps and is run
through so that it projects as far on the other side of the twisting clamps as the
distance from the clamps to the cutters. This is to make a bottling wire having
legs of equal length. If one leg is to be shorter than the other then it will be
plain that the feed rolls must be set to feed a less length of wire forward. The
size of (the loop depends upon the size of the jaw pieces, several pairs of which are
furnished which may be used for different sizes as desired).
For driving the machine at a high rate of speed I-use an attachment-for-tilting
the slide on which the completed wires drop in order to free. then. instantly from.
the twisting jaws and thus keep the machine clear If the said slide be kept
stationary the completed wire may not leave the twisting clamps rapidly enough
to be clear before the succeeding wire is seized.. The enid attachment consists of
-an-elbow-lever pivotted-at-the-elbow to an upright-and having-the-slide-secured.to.
its upper end. An arm soldered on the under-side of the slide fits in a hole, in
the top of the lever, and, is secured there by a set screw. The other end of the arın
is pivotted to a connecting rod the upper end of which is set on the lower guide
rod. As the said-guide-rod-is-raised-and-lowered-in-closing-and-opening-the-
toggled grippers, the elbow is tilted thus tilting the slide and discharging the wire
which has fallen upon it by the same movement that closes the grippers on the
succeeding wire and thus keeping the machine clear:
I find it convenient in using some kinds of wire to give the reel a continuous
movement so that it will give off the wire ready for the feed rolls by a continuous,
rather than an intermittent motion. This is effected by removing the reel-actuating
and stopping mechanism and substituting these for an extension shaft secured
directly to the end of the main shaft.
This extension shaft is provided with a universal joint of ordinary construction
(which enables it to be carried at an angle over to the reel spindle) and at its end
carries a bevel wheel which engages with another bevel wheel set on the reel
spindle in place of the ratchet-wheel This extension shaft may be supported by
a stud rising from the bed plate or projecting from the arm which supports the
reel. The reel in this case will rest upon the bevel gear instead of upon the ratchet
and will revolve as the gear wheel revolves with the revolution of the main
shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th May
1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING
WIRE FOR SECURING CORKS
IN
OR STOPPERS
BOTTLES
OR OTHER VESSELS.'
"
A cominunication to me from abroad by Orril R. Chaplin, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America
This Invention relates to improvements in the machinery for manufacturing
wires for securing corks or stoppers in bottles described in the Specification of
United States Letters Patent No 261,907 dated August 1 A.D. 1882.
The object of this Invention is to provide an improved machine for manufacturing
from a coil of wire a complete bottling-wire by successive operations, and without
the intervention of hand labor. The operations performed by the said machine are
the cutting, looping, twisting, and depositing of the wire.
By means of the said Invention I am enabled by a slight adjustment, and
without using more than one machine to produce bottling-wires of any desired
length;
of a greater or less twist; of any desired size of loop; and deposit them in
quantities of one hundred, five hundred, one hundred and forty-four, or any other
given number to suit the demands or the convenience of the user.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine constructed according to this
Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan with the reel broken away, to show the levers and pawl for
actuating the ratchet on which the reel rests.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the reel-starting and stopping mechanism, showing
the rear view of the feed mechanism, as also the cutter lever and conductor.
Figure 4 is an end view from the left of Figure 2, the driving pulley and shipper
lever being broken away, and showing the twisting, and looping or bending
mechanism.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the mechanism mounted on the slide in the bed
plate as seen from the left of Figure 2, the reel being off its spindle and not shewn.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the counting mechanism supported on the base of the
yoke-shaped frame as viewed from the right of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a front view, and
Figure 8 is a plan of the crank and clutch mechanism for operating the
feed rolls.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail views of the same.
Figure 12 is a cross-section of the bed plate through the slide.
Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figures 14 and 15 are a plan and section of the cam which actuates the counting
mechanism.
Figures 16 and 17 shew the cam which operates the cutters.
Figures 18, 19 and 20 shew the cams which operate the reel-starting and
stopping mechanism.
Figures 21, 22, and 23 show the cams which operate the clamps and grippers.
Figures 24 and 25 are a plan and section of a cam showing a gear segment
attached, which drives the twisting mechanism.
Figure 26 is a front view, and
Figure 27 a side view of the sliding head and grippers.
Figures 28 20 30 31 and 32 are detail views of the same.

page_text: Figure 33 is a top view of the stop pawl and mechanism which prevents any
uncertain movement of a gear wheel.
Figure 34 is a side view of the same showing the gear. wheel in section.
The reel A which holds the wire is set on a spindle, in a convenient position in
relation to the feeding rollers. The mechanism shown in Figure 3 is provided to
ensure the proper rotation of the reel and the consequent giving off, of the wire as
it is fed forward by the feed rolls. This leaves the wire free to be fed forward and
prevents any tendency of the same to slip between the rolls. The said
mechanism consists of a ratchet-wheel B set on the spindle with the reel A, and on
which the reel rests, a washer 05 of leather or other suitable material being inter-
posed between the reel and ratchet to increase the friction. A short lever a,
pivotted at one end to the spindle-support, and at the other to the connecting rod b,
carries a feed pawl c so pivotted to it, that the free end of the pawl is in contact
with the ratchet teeth, and is held against them by the pressure of a spring d. The
connecting rod b is pivotted to an upright lever 1, the said lever being pivotted at
its lower end 2 on the slide of the bed plate of the machine, and provided near its
middle. with a cam-roller which moves in the cam pathf, on the face of the cam
wheel g, set on shaft E, the cam path being of the form shown in Figure 18. It is
obvious that at every revolution of the cain wheel, the cam lever is moved towards
the ratchet wheel, carrying with it the rod b, and pushing the feed pawl c, against
the ratchet teeth, thus turning tho said ratchet-wheel together with the reel which
rests on it, and causing the said reel to give off the wire, as the feed rolls feed it
into, the machine. As the cam wheel y completes its revolution, the rods a and b
are moved in the opposite direction, and the feed pawl slips back over the ratchet-
teeth ready for the next forward movement the reel A may be made fast to the
_ ratchet wheel if required. Lisa-lever -pivotted near-the-middle to the reel-
support, and arranged so that its free end may press against the under side of the
-reel-A, and-stop-its-momentum when the feed rolls cease to act, and thus prevent
any undue turning of the reel. The said lever is pressed against a smooth ring on
the underside of the reel, and freed from contact therewith alternately by the
revolution of the cam wheel g, the inner end of the lever being provided with a
cam roller which moves in the cam path k, cut as shown on the face of cam
wheel g Figure 20, and, as the inner end is depressed by the cam, the outer end
will be raised and made to press against the sinooth ring or path on the under side
of the reel and stop its movement, when, the inner end is raised by the cam,
the outer end will be freed from contact with the recl, and the reel will be free to
be moved by the forward movement of the feed pawl c, moving at the same time
the ratchet wheel on which the reel rests. The outer end of lever L, which touches
the reel, is provided with an adjusting screw L', having an india-rubber cap for the
purpose of producing greater friction when it touches the reel.
Between the reel and the feed rolls, I arrange a series of small rolls grooved on
their peripheries to receive the wire. These rolls are set as shown, see Figures 1
and 3, and the wire passing between them on its way to the feed rolls, presents a
more even resistance to the action of the feed rolls, feeds more smoothly, and is
also straightened and freed from twists and the like. The middle roll r, is set by
means of a thumb-screw in a slot which admits of its adjustment as may be
required, for different sizes of wire. The feed rolls do not differ essentially from
those described in the said fornier specification. Motion is cominunicated to the
feed rolls by a gear wheel M which engages with the toothed hub B¹ of the lower
feed roll B. The said gear wheel M is driven by a slotted crank N set on the end of
a shaft E. At the outer end of the crank a connecting rod O, is pivotted to a
slide which moves in the slot m, the slide being arranged so that it may be set at
any point in the slot, and thus have a longer or shorter movement, The other end
of the said connecting rod O, is pivotted to a lever P, one end of which is set on
the end of the stud 2, on which the gear wheel M, is placed, while the other end
of the lever P, carries the propelling pawl q, and the mechanism for setting the

page_text: pawl against and freeing it from the gear teeth, on the gear wheel M. The end of
the rod O, is pivotted to the clutch-operating levér R near its middle, and to the
lever P, the pivot hole in the latter being slightly elongated as shown in Figure 9
so as to allow a slight play of the pivot in the hole, in order to actuate the clutch-
operating lever R sufficiently to force the propelling pawl 9, into contact with, or
free it from the gear-wheel M. The lever R, which operates the clutch is of the
shape shown, and is pivotted at R' to the upper part of the lever P, and near the
middle to the connecting rod O, while at its bearing end it carries a projection
which operates in a V-shaped notch in the pawl to tilt the said pawl and cause
it to engage with, or be disengaged from the teeth on the gear wheel M. The
pawl q, as will be seen, is pivotted to the lower end of the lever P. The operation
of this mechanism for driving the wheel M, and the feed rolls is as follows :—that is
to say the lever P, and pawl q, before beginning to act on the wheel M, appear at
the right of the wheel as viewed from the front of the machine Figure 7, and the
crank N, is on the right of its shaft, the pawl g, it will be obvious will be free from
contact with the wheel M, since the lever R, will be pressed back by reason of the
pivot pin in the end of rod O moving to that side of its slot in lever P, thus causing
the beak of lever R to bear against the side of the V-shaped notch in the pawl q,
and raising the projection of the pawl from contact with the gear teeth. If now
the crank continues its revolution, it will move downward and toward the left, of
its shaft, carrying with it the connecting rod O, the pivot pin of which will slip to
the opposite sido of the slot in the lever P, carrying with it the lever R the
projection of which will now press against the other side of the V-shaped notch in
the pawl, thus forcing the projection of the pawl into contact with the gear teeth
on wheel M. As the revolution of the crank continues the wheel M, is turned
until the crank, begins to move toward the right again, when the rod O is presso
back pressing the pawl q and carrying the pawl mechanism back to repeat the
forward movement again, as the crank again passes the horizontal position and
begins its movement to the left. By actuating the feed pawl q, in this manner I
obtain a movement of the gear wheel M, which begins slowly, increases in rapidity
to the middle of the movement, and ends slowly which is desirable in this class of
machines. I also am enabled to move the pawl back after each forward movement,
free from contact with the teeth of the gear wheel instead of dragging it back on
them, thus preventing wear of the pawl and teeth, and rendering the mechanism
noiseless.
The wire passes from the feed rolls through the cutters k¹³, k¹, one of which is
stationary and the other movable the said cutters being made and actuated in the
manner described in the said foriner Specification. I prefer however to set the
cutting holes in the cutters through which the wire passes and by which it is cut,
in pieces of steel shown at t, Figure 2, so that when the cutting edges of the
holes require sharpening the pieces may be removed and sharp ones inserted in
their places.
The conductor G which conducts the wire from the feed rolls and cutters to the
twisting clamps is also the same, in position and mode of operation, as in the
former machine. It is hinged however on the opposite side, and is provided with
an extension G', which may be attached to it by screws v, vl, when a long bottling-
wire is being made. The lid of the conductor G, is opened by the downward action
of the cutter lever ³ on an arm 8, projecting from the lid. The cutter lever &³,
operates the movable cutter, by means of a connecting rod 88, a cam lever 8º and
the cam 87 in the cam wheels on the shaft E, as will be readily understood.
In order to make bottling wires of any length on the same machine without loss
of wire or subsequent manual operation it is necessary to be able to vary the
distance between the cutters and the clamps which seize and twist the wire, this
distance determining the length of the wires. To do this I place the parts of
the machine, which have been referred to, which include the reel, and reel operating
mechanism, the feeding and cutting mechanism, and the conductor on a slide Š

page_text: •
in the bed plate see Figures 12 and 13. This slide is of a dovetail form in cross
section shown in Figure 12, and fits in a corresponding groove or recess in the
bed plate. One side of the said recess is fitted with an adjustable side or strip 819,
against which the adjusting screws w bear, which enable it to be set with relation
to the slide, as will be readily understood. The set screw y is fast in a stud piece z
secured by screw bolts to the end of the bed-plate, and works in a hole in the
slide fitted to receive it. By putting a handle on the square head of the set screw,
the said screw may be turned, and the slide moved outwards or inwards thus
increasing or diminishing the distance between the cutters and the seizing and
twisting clamps, and enabling the machine to make a longer or shorter bottling
wire as may be required.
The secondary shaft E, which actuates the parts on the slide in the bed plate is
journalled into two uprights F F, which rise from the said slide. The upright F
also supports one end of the main shaft E, which is set at right angles to the
secondary shaft and is connected with it by the mitre gear wheels H H' The
upright F is free to slide to and fro under the shaft as the slide in the bed plate
on which it rests is moved, and the gear wheels retain their same relative position,
the gear H. being keyed to the main shaft by grooving the shaft longitudinally,
and using a feather or key in the well known manner which allows the said
wheel to be slipped longitudinally upon the shaft. When the slide of the bed
plate is set back and the machine arranged to make short lengths of bottling
wires, the end of the main shaft E', will project to the right of the upright F,
when the machine is viewed as shown in Figure 2.
The mechanism which seizes and twists the wire is operated directly by the
main shaft E' and rests not on the slide but on the stationary part of the bed
plate. The said mechanism is supported on a stationary frame J of the same
general shape as the reciprocating. frame described_in_the_ said former Specification
that is to say it is of an inverted Y-or-yoke shape-as-shown, Figures 1-and-2.
This said-frame-J-is-secured-to-the-bed-plate-and-supports-the-main-shaft-E, which
is journalled to it and which carries inside the yoke shaped frame, the two cam
wheels T and U, which operate the seizing, twisting and bending mechanism. The
twisting clamps a' are mounted in a box a³ on the end of the hollow spindle a³
journalled in the frame as shown, and through which the rod b² projects to operate
the toggles which open and close the said clamps The outer end of the rod b², is
held in contact with the cam lever c¹ by check nuts c², ca. The inner check nut c³
is provided with a hub projecting toward and against the outer nut c'. The end
of the cam lever c¹ is Y-shaped, the bifurcated part embracing the hub on the
check nut c³. The cam lever c is pivotted near its middle to a projection of the
frame, and carries at its lower end a truck or roller which acts in the cam M'.
The inward or outward movement of the rod 6' opens or closes the toggled clamps al
as will be readily understood. In order to twist the wire the spindle a³ is
revolved carrying with it the clamps a. To effect this, the said spindle is
provided with tho bevelled pinions d', d³, keyed to it in the well known manner so
that the pinion may be slipped along the spindle and thus brought in contact with,
or free from, its gear wheel, as desired. The gear wheels d, d', are made in one
integral piece and are set on the upper end of the upright shaft f¹ which is
journalled in the frame J. The lower end of the said shaft is fitted with a
pinion 3, which engages with a toothed segment f* attached to the periphery
of the cam wheel U. The pawl k pivotted to the frame, is actuated by a
spring which throws it against the pinion f³ and by the rider f* secured to the
cam wheel which acts to free it from the piniou, while the pinion is in contact
with the toothed segment. This rider is so arranged that as the segment passes
the pinion the rider will have passed the pawl, thus allowing the pawl to be thrown
against the pinion and hold it firmly in position. By this means any uncertain
movement of the pinion, and consequently of the twisting clamps, is avoided.
The double gear wheel d³, d' at the upper end of the upright shaft f' and the two

page_text: bevel pinions d', d, are provided to enable the same machine to produce wires of
greater or less twist as desired. When less twist is desired the pinion d, is slipped
into position to engage with the gear wheel d³ and the pinion d' is slipped back
and out of contact with gear wheel d. Twice the number of twists can be
obtained by reversing the position and allowing the spindle a³ to be revolved by
the pinion in contact with the gear wheel d*.
A support F rises from the bed plate, and stretching between this support and
the frame J, are placed a guide rod g', and a rock shaft h'. The guide rod supports
the head which reciprocates upon the rod and which forms a support for the
grippers. The grippers are pivotted to the front of the head, and are opened
and closed by a toggle connection with the piece p', which slides on the lower guide
rod g. This guide rod g³, is connected with the rock shaft h', by the pieces /², and
is raised or lowered to open or shut the grippers 2 by means of the connecting rod
q and the cam lever q². the connecting rod being pivotted at its upper end to the
fower guide rod g, and at its lower end to the cam lever q' as shown at q³ Figure 1.
The cam lever is pivotted at g', inside the frame J, and is provided with a cam truck
or roller which acts in the cam path in the can wheel T. This cam path is
shown in Figure 23. It is obvious that at each revolution of the cam wheel, the
grippers ² will be opened and closed and by means of the lower guide rod g², set on
its rock shaft h', the cam lever may act to open or close the grippers &³, irrespectivo
of their position on the guide rod g'; that is whether the head k', supporting the
grippers be slid forward on the guide rod g, toward the support F, or, back
toward the frame J. The grippers perform three functions; they guide the wire
from the end of the conductor between the open twisting jaws or clamps a¹; they
also move forward toward the support when the clamps a¹ have closed, thus
sweeping the ends of the wire together, and bending the wire around the jaws of
the clamps forming the loop; and as the ends are thus brought together they close
on the wire and hold one part of it stationary, while the twisting clamps a' are
acting to twist the portion between them and the grippers k².
In order that the grippers ², may form guides for the wire as it leaves the
conductor, the pieces p², are provided pivotted centrally to the side of the head /',
and formed as shown Figures 27, 30, and 31, so that when the grippers k³ are open
and drawn back toward the frame J, so that the clamps a' lie between them, the
forward ends of the said pieces p² are in contact with the underside of the gripper
jaws, and form with them, eyes which receive and guide the wire between the
clamps a. The forward ends of the said pieces p³ are pressed up against the under
side of the gripper-jaws by reason of the rear end of the pieces coming in contact
with the pins set in frame J whenever the head slides back to the frame. When
the head moves forward the rear ends of the pieces p² move from under the pins 23
and the spiral springs s held at their lower ends to the head act to pull down the
forward ends of the pieces p³ away from the grippers, thus allowing the ends of the
wire as they sweep round by the forward movement of the head and grippers, to
come together. When the ends of the wire are brought together the toggle
mechanism acts, and the grippers close and hold the wire stationary, while the
twisting clamps a' are acting. One jaw of the grippers is faced with a strip of
steel & adjusted by a screw 8" This allows the jaw to accommodate itself to wire
of different sizes without special adjustment. The opposite jaw is fitted where it
comes in contact with the wire, with a piece of hardened steel, which, when worn
away may be easily and speedily replaced. The reciprocating motion of the head k
is obtained by means of the connecting rod s¹ and adjustable slotted cam levers t¹ t²
and a cam groove t³ in the face of the cam wheel U, see Figure 4. The cam lever t¹
which carries the cam truck is pivotted to the inside of the frame J and is slotted at
its upper end, so that, it may be secured at any point in the slot by the sliding
pivot to the slotted lever 3 which is pivoted at its lower end to frame J and at
its upper end to the connecting rod s It is obvious, that, to obtain a greater or
less throw of the lever and consequently a greater or less length of slide to the

page_text: head and so allow a greater or less portion of the wire to be twisted, it is only
necessary to secure the sliding pivot t at a higher or lower point in the slotted
levers and to obtain a throw of extra length, the pivot may be changed and
set in the hole te thus increasing the length of the lever above the pivot, and
consequently, largely increasing the length of its throw.
The counting mechanisin sec Figure 6 consists of a ratchet wheel w¹ set on a
spindle wprojecting from frame J; the feed pawl the retaining pawl the
actuating lever and the cam v provided with the cain path 815; the pinion y'
also set on the spindle w² and a gear wheel y² set on the spindle y³ on which is also
set the rider wheel y' on the periphery of which the lower pawl w³ rides:
The ratchet is provided with a hub projecting outward along the spindle w³ and
fitted with grooves, into which, corresponding flanges on the hub of the pinion y¹
fit to ensure the revolution of the pinion with the ratchet. On the hub of the
ratchet is journalled the cam lever bearing at one extremity the feed pawl v² and
at the other, a cam truck or roller which runs in the cam path 815 The retaining
pawl is pivoted as shown in Figure G on the side of the frame, and prevents any
backward movement of the ratchet w' It is obvious, that, at each revolution of
the cam wheel, the feed pawl. will feed the ratchet forward. one tooth, and that, as
the ratchet and pinion are keyed together, the pinion performs a complete revolution
whenever the ratchet does. The gear wheel y is keyed or locked to the projecting
hub of the plain or rider wheel y in the same manner as the pinion and ratchet
just described are locked together, and the two therefore revolve together on the
spindle y³.
The plain or rider wheel is provided with a notch 2 on its periphery, into
which, the end of the pawl w³ drops, as the notch comes under it, the pawl being
secured on the rock shaft p and actuated in a well known manner by a spiral
-spring-see-Figure 1,-fast-at-one-end to-tho-shaft, and at the-other, to-the-foot-of-
frane J. If the pawl drops into the notch, the rock shaft is turned by the spiral
-spring-sufficiently-to-throw-the-end-of-the-shipper-tever-PL-in-contact-with-the-
clutch mechanism, and the driving pulley P3 is unlocked from the shaft and made a 3
loose pulley, and the machine is stopped.
Any suitable form of clutch mechanism may be used.
It is obvious that as a complete bottling-wire is made at each revolution of the
main shaft if the pinion y' be provided with five times as many teeth as the gear
wheel and the ratchet wheel be provided with one hundred teeth, the pinion 3
will complete a revolution to each five hundred revolutions of the main shaft, and
that at each revolution of the said pinion the plain or rider wheel will complete a
revolution, and its notch p*, will come under the pawl w³ and stop the machine, thus
stopping the machine whenever five hundred wires have been made. It is obvious
also, that several sets of wheels and pinions, may be made with each machine, the 4
teeth of which may be proportioned to each other so as to produce a complete
revolution of the gear wheel and consequently of the rider wheel when a greater
or less number of revolutions of the shaft have been made, and by substituting
these on the machine for the gear y', and pinion y², the machine may be stopped
when any given number of wires have been inade.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-that is to say the reel is started by
the movement of the ratchet on which it rests, simultaneously with the movement
of the feeding mechanism to feed forward the wire, so that the work of moving the
reel is not done by the feed rolls. When the reel is revolved by the feed rolls, in
draw:-
freely,
Jabor a
41.
mit the wire is apt to bind on it and will not give off 5
.eel be specially filled from the coils of wire, which necessitates
se. By this mechanism however, I am enabled to use the wire
from the con.. and without reeling it.
The wiro passes through a guide 10 under the eccentric pressure pin x¹³, between
the feed rolls, and through the cutting holes into the conductor. The pressure 5

page_text: pin is attached tightly to the frame in such a manner that it may be turned
and set in any position, the friction of the pin in its hole holding it securely.
The said pin is sufficiently long to project over the wiro, and is provided at its
outer end with an eccentric head, so that by turning the pin, a greater or less
degree of pressure of the head against the wire may be obtained. It is found in
working some kinds of wire, that the wire has a tendency to curl slightly after
leaving the conductor, and thus is liable to miss the oye ", of the grippers.
A slight pressure obtained by the eccentric head of the pin prevents this
tendency to curl, and causes the wire to pass straight through the eyes of the
grippers. From the conductor it passes through the eyes ", formed by the
grippers and pieces p, passing between the open jaws of the twisting clamps a'
and is run through, so that it projects as far on the other side of the twisting
clamps a', as the distance from the clamps to the cutters. This is to make a
bottling wire, having legs of equal length. If one leg is to be shorter than tho
other, then it will be plain that the feed rolls must be set to feed a less length of
wire forward. When the wire has been fed forward sufficiently the reel and feed
mechanism stop, the clamps a¹ close, and the cutter tilts, to cut the wire and open
the lid of conductor G; the head and grippers now slide forward bending the
wire around the jaw pieces a¹ of clamps a (the size of the loop depends upon
the size of the jaw pieces, several pairs of which are furnished which may be
used for different sizes as desired). When the head has slid forward a sufficient
distance in front of the jaws, the grippers close and hold the wire stationary; the
clamps now revolve with spindle a³, and twist the wire, then open, and the wire
drops out. A slide or receiver may be placed as indicated, Figure 4, underneath
the clamps to receive the wire as it leaves them, and carry it clear of the machine.
In driving the inachine at a high rate of speed I find it convenient to use the
attachment shown at the right of Figure 4, for tilting the slide I, on which the
completed wires drop, in order to free them instantly from the twisting jaws and
thus keep the machine clear. If the slide I be kept stationary, the completed wire
may not leave the twisting clamps a rapidly enough to be clear before the
succeeding wire is seized. In order to ensure this I provide the attachment shown
in Figure 4 to tilt the slide. It consists of an elbow lever I' pivotted at the elbow
to the upright F and having the slide I secured to its upper end. The arm 12
soldered on the under side of the slide fits in a hole in the top of the lever and is
secured there by a set screw. The other end of the lever is pivotted to a
connecting rod 13 the upper end of the rod being set on the lower guide rod g². As
the guide rod is raised and lowered in closing and opening the toggled grippers ²
the elbow I¹ is tilted, thus tilting the slido and discharging the wire which has
fallen upon it by the same movement that closes the grippers 2 on the succeeding
wire and keeping the machine clear.
I find it convenient in using some kinds of wire to give the reel a continuous
movement so that it will give off the wire ready for the feed rolls by a continuous
rather than an intermittent motion. This may be easily effected by removing the
reel-actuating and stopping mechanism shown in the drawings and previously
described and substituting these for an extension shaft secured directly to the end
of the main shaft E.
This extension shaft is provided with an universal joint of ordinary construction
(which enables it to be carried at an angle over to the reel spindle) and at its end
carries a bevel wheel which engages with another bevel wheel set on the reel
spindle in place of the ratchet wheel shown in the drawings. This extension shaft
may be supported by a stud, rising from the bed plate or projecting from the arm j
which supports the reel. The reel in this case will then rest upon the bevel gear
wheel instead of upon the ratchet and will revolve as the gear wheel revolves with
the revolution of the main shaft.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my

page_text: foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
In a machine for preparing wires for securing corks or stoppers in bottles or
other vessels :-
First. The reel A for holding the wire, and actuating mechanism for giving it
a positive, intermittent, rotary movement, in combination with the feed rolls and
means for actuating then, as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. The reel A in combination with the ratchet B, pawl c, spring d, lever a,
connecting rod b, lever x¹ and its actuating cam and shaft E, substantially as shown
and described.
Third. The reel A in combination with the stop-lever L provided with the
adjusting screw L', the cam k and the shaft E, substantially as shown.
Fourth. The combination of the reel A, the ratchet, the lever a the pawl, the
connecting rod, the cam-lever ¹ and its cam f, with the stop-lever L and its cam,
as set forth.
Fifth. The presser-pin x¹³ set as shown, to exert a greater or less pressure on
the wire, in combination with the guide-pin 10 and the feed rolls, substantially
as shown.
Sixth. The combination of the reel and the feed mechanism, with the conductor G,
arranged to be extended by the addition of the extension G³, when a long bottling
wire is being made.
Seventh. The combination of the slotted crank N set on the shaft E, the
connecting rod O, the lever P, the pawl q, the pawl-actuating lever R, and the driving
gear-wheel M.
Eighth. The combination of the lever P, provided with an elliptical pivot-hole,
the pawl actuating lover R, the pawl g and the rod O for bringing the pawl into
contact with the gear-wheel and releasing it therefrom, as set forth.
Ninth. A bed-plate containing a slide supporting the reel and the mechanism
-for straightening, feeding, cutting, and conducting the wire, and arranged to admit
of increasing or diminishing the distance between the cutters and the twisting
mechanism, for the purposes described.
Tenth. The combination of the toggled twisting clamps a', the spindle a³, pinions
d', d², compound gear-wheel d³, d, the shaft f¹ and its actuating gear-wheel and
segment, substantially as described.
Eleventh. The combination of the twisting clamps a' supported by the stationary
frame J, and the sliding head k³ carrying the holding grippers, all as shown and
described.
Twelfth. The grippers k² and head set on the guide rod g³, in combination
with the connection &, the slotted adjustable cam-levers, t, and cam t³, substantially
as shown.
Thirteenth. The grippers ², mounted and operated as shown, in combination with
the pieces p, pin p³, and spring 8, substantially as shown and described.
Fourteenth. The head, and toggle grippers, in combination with the
connecting piece 2', lower guide-rod g², rock shaft h', connection q' cam lever q² and
cam 9 substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The grippers, provided on one jaw with the adjustable spring
faces to adapt the gripper to wire of varying sizes, as set forth.
Sixteenth. The ratchet w' in combination with the feed pawl 2, retaining pawlv,
elbow lever and cam 815, substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Seventeenth. The combination of the ratchet, pawl, elbow lever and cam, with
the pinion y and gear-wheel y², substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Eighteenth. The gear-wheel y actuated as shown, in combination with the
rider wheel y, and drop pawl 20³.
Nineteenth. The gear-wheel, rider wheel and drop pawl, in combination with the
rock shaft p³, spring 82 and shipper P', substantially as shown and for the purposes
set forth.

page_text: Twentieth. The combination of the cam 815, elbow lever, ratchet, feed and
retaining pawls, pinion y', genr-wheel y², rider wheel y', drop pawl, rock shaft,
spring and shipper, substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
Twenty first. The slide I, in combination with the elbow lever I', connecting
rod I³, and lever guide-rod 92, substantially as, and for the purposes, described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighth day of May in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
HENRY H LAKE (LS.)