Improvements in Machines for Wiring the Corks of Bottles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 23rd Dec.. 1839 Accepted. 3rd Mar. 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Wiring the Corks of Bottles.
We, ROBERT MARTIN CHAMBERS and CHARLES EDWARD CHAMBERS, both of Cuba
Street, Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to machines for wiring the corks of bottles.
The object of the invention is to render such machines more automatic and
efficient in operation and capable of consecutively receiving bottles of varying
shape and size without the necessity of adjustment or regulation of any part of
the machine.
The invention consists of a machine such as hereinafter described and com-
prises cork retaining mechanism, starting mechanism, capsuling mechanism, wire
tension and operating mechanism, and other mechanism and novel features of
construction which are hereinafter described as applied.
In the operation of a machine according to the invention the bottle is pushed
in between two pairs of gripping jaws, one of which grips the body of the bottle,
and the other catches it round the neck just below the collar on the same. The
former of these gripping jaws is connected to a latch which releases the starting
gear hereinafter described, and starts the machine. The capsule lifter, herein-
after described, acted on by its cam immediately descends on top of the cork and
secures it firmly in the bottle neck and prevents it from being forced out. The
lifting bracket and table, hereinafter described, then rise and the table touches
the bottom of the bottle when it slips. This action prevents the bottle rising
further until the lifting bracket has come to a certain definite point where the
bracket and table are fixed together in the manner hereinafter described, when
they rise together as one, until the neck of the bottle is at the exact position for
tying. The capsule lifter also rises at the same time, but still maintains the
pressure on the cork. The bottle is then tied but the looping spindle gives only
one twist to the loop before the wire is cut at the twisting spindle hereinafter
described, when gives a second twist, making a good tight tie. The wire is
next bent down against the bottle neck, and the bottle lifting bracket descends,
leaving the bottle in the delivery jaws, the lower gripping jaws opening to allow
the delivery arm to carry it out and deliver it into a shoot as hereinafter described.
The bottle lifting bracket then descends with the table to its lowest point, when
the delivery arm again moves in and the capsule lifter secures a capsule as after-
wards described when the machine stops until another bottle is placed in the
grinning jaws. when the operation is repeated.
A machine constructed in accordance with this invention is driven by a pulley
free to revolve on a shaft but capable of being attached thereto by a moveable kev
or clutch engaging with slots in the boss of the driving pulley. The key or clutch
is held in gear with the driving pulley by means of a spring, but is drawn out of
gear with it when acted on by a wedge shaped piece on the end of a lever. To
allow the wedge to engage with the key at the proper time, the lever to which the
wedge shaped piece is attached is connected by means of a connecting rod to a
FD977

page_text: lever acted on by a cam on the cam shaft, the cam shaft making one revolution
to about four of the driving shaft. A spring acts against the lever in such a
way that the cam compresses the spring, and a latch provided to engage with a
catch holds the spring compressed, said latch being so acted on by one of the bottle
gripping jaws, hereinafter described, that when the bottle is placed between the
gripping jaws, the latch is withdrawn and the spring released. The lever and can
are so arranged that the wedge on the wedge-shaped lever is brought against the
driving shaft, and held there by the latch once in each revolution of the cam shaft,
just as the key or clutch has passed it, thus leaving the driving shaft fully three
fourths of a revolution to travel before the wedge shaped lever engages with the key
or clutch. The cam and cam lever are so formed that when the driving shaft
has revolved a sufficient distance for the wedge shaped end of the lever to engage
with the key, the cam has also revolved sufficiently to allow the lever free move-
ment under the action of the compressed spring, which when the latch is released
by a bottle being placed in the gripping jaws, draws the wedge-shaped lever out
of engagement with the key, and allows the key to catch in the slots in boss of
the driving pulley. The cam lever returns to the position it occupied before being
engaged by the cam, until the cam again acts on it, compresses the spring and stops
the machine as before described.
In order to twist the wires we use a twisting spindle but we provide it with
a movable end piece, capable of movement in the direction of the axis of the
spindle but revolving with it, having preferably four holes in it, one for each
wire used in tying, the moveable end of the spindle is moved towards the centre of
the machine by means of a spring, the twisting of the wire compressing the spring
during the operation of tying, the object being to bring the spindle end as near
the bottle neck as possible before it begins to twist the wire in the tying operation.
The cutting off gear we provide with lateral movement of the cutting jaws
under the action of a spring, which brings the lever to which the cutting jaws
are attached, into contact with the bending-down jaws hereinafter described thus
not only holding the bending down jaws in close contact with the bottle neck,
but enabling the wire to be cut at a fixed distance from the neck no matter what
its diameter may be. On the lever is also fixed a wedge which as the lever comes
down to cut the wire engages the moveable piece of the twisting spindle above
described, ensuring that it shall move back sufficiently as the wire is t..isted to
allow of the necessary length of twisted end being left on the wire in the twisting
spindle, after the cutting jaws have cut it, to form part of the loop of the next
bottle.
In the improved tension gear for gripping the wires and drawing up any slack-
ness, when the wires which surround the bottle neck are released by the side hooks
and come up against the bottle neck, we provide a box for each wire used, after-
wards called the tension box, capiable of end motion in the direction in which the
wire runs, and inclining under the action of springs to move away from the
twisting spindle but being acted on by a cam at intervals through suitable levers
and connections which bring the boxes towards the twisting spindle. Within
these boxes are levers, afterwards called the tension levers, having on them a
suitable facing which acts against a facing on the tension box under the action of
a spring, the facing on the lever being capable of gripping the wire against that
on the tension box. On each tension lever is a pin for releasing the wire, and
two rods are provided running parallel with the guides of the tension boxes having
an equal motion under the action of suitable levers and cam on the cam shaft
towards and from the tying wires. Each rod engages the pin of two of the tension
levers in such a manner that they compress their springs and release the wires.
The tension boxes are then free to travel the full length of their guides and the
pin on the lever travelling along the rods still holds the facings on the lever out
of contact with that of the tension boxes and leaves the wire free, thus enabling
the tension to be released before travelling the tension boxes forward, which is a
great advantage in working the machine as it prevents irregular lengths of wire

page_text: being gathered loosely between the tension boxes and the twisting spindle, said
loose wires being inclined to twist up as the twisting spindle returns after twisting
the wire, instead of this return motion removing the twist from the wires behind
the spindle.
In the case of the looping hooks, for drawing the wires across and forming
a loop on one side of the bottle neck instead of controlling each motion of the hooks
by means of a cam, we give it a motion independently of the cam as soon as it
begins to twist the wire. At this point the cam leaving it free, a pin on one of
the links of the looping spindle comes against a stop which is acted on through a
cam plate on one of the bending down jaws afterwards described, through suitable
levers and connecting rod so that the looping hooks come within a certain fixed
distance from the bottle neck whether said neck is large or small, the cam plate
on the bending-down jaw being so formed that when the jaw is raised to its full
height after bending down the wire, the stop is free to travel forward a short
distance with the looping spindle as the hooks move forward to catch the wire
for the next bottle. This movement brings a cam plate on the stop into contact
with a pin turning the stop out of contact with the pin on the link of the looping
spindle and leaving the spindle free to pass it when moved by its cam, the stop
again coming back to its former position, where it springs over the pin in the
link as it draws back in the next movements of the machine. To open the hooks
and jaws by sliding the sleeve back without pulling back the hooks, and without
bringing them to a fixed position, before the loop is released, which would injure
the loop, we provide on the cam which works the hooks, a wedge-shaped portion of
cam having a free movement end-wise on a guide in the cam casting, which
wedge-shaped portion engages the levers that actuate the looping spindle and
sleeve. After the twisting of the loop has been completed, the loose wedge-shaped
piece of the cam comes in contact with the rollers of the levers, and adjusts itself
between them, and as the cam revolves, forces the ends apart, bringing the opposite
ends of the lever which works the sleeve, towards the one which works the
twisting spindle, drawing the sleeve backwards on the spindle, opening the hooks
and releasing the loop. After this operation, a roller attached to the free portion
of the cam engages a cam plate on the bed of the machine, which brings this
portion of the cam into line with the fixed portion, moving the looping spindle
and sleeve with the hooks open, backwards free of the loop as it does so.
For lifting the capsule and afterwards holding the cork securely in the bottle
we provide a capsule lifter consisting preferably of a vertical cylindrical bar
capable of sliding vertically in a guide bracket attached to the frame of the
machine, said bar, afterwards called the capsule lifter, having two slots, cut in
it parallel with its axis and of sufficient depth to allow of its passing through the
two top wires, for tying the bottle, and securing a capsule from the capsule
carrier hereafter described. The capsule lifter is connected by means of a lever
to a cam on the cam shaft which gives it the necessary motion, a buffer spring
being provided between the connection to the lever and the capsule lifter to allow
of different lengths of corks and bottle necks being dealt with. The cam transmits
motion to the capsule lifter when the bottle is placed in the gripping jaws, and
first brings down the capsule lifter with the capsule, which has been secured in
the previous motion of the machine, on top of the cork of the bottle, compresses
the buffer spring and holds the cork firmly in the bottle. When the bottle lifting
bracket begins to lift the bottle, the capsule-lifter cam is so designed that it allows
the capsule lifter to rise with the bottle still maintaining the pressure on the buffer
spring and on the bottle cork. The pressure on the bottle cork is maintained until
the bottle has reached its highest position and the tying is completed. When the
bottle descends, the capsule lifter rises a little higher to allow of the looping
hooks and other working parts passing under it without fouling. While the
looping hooks are drawing the wire across and the side hooks hereafter described
draw the wires aside; a small tray carrying the capsule is carried out till it comes
centrally under the capsule lifter. The capsule lifter then moves down through

page_text: the two top wires and secures the capsule on its face by means of small pins in
its face or by means of three or more flat springs which grip the capsule round its
edge. It then rises with the capsule under the top wires, and the machine stops
until another bottle is placed in the gripping jaws when the operation is repeated.
The delivery arm which also forms part of the means by which the bottle is held
centrally under the capsule lifter works on a pivot by means of a suitable cam on
the cam shaft, levers and connecting rod, so arranged that it is capable of carrying
the bottle from the part of the machine where it is wired to the shoot where it is
delivered. The jaws, (afterwards called the "delivery jaws"), on the delivery
cams are designed to catch the bottle by the neck just under the collar, and con-
sist of two levers, preferably geared together by equal-toothed segments working
horizontally on pivots, thus giving the jaws an equal simultaneous motion to and
from a noint centrally between the jaws, and centrally under the capsule-lifter
before described, a spring acting on the jaws to close them. The jaws are
V shaped and cut to such angles that they grip bottles of considerable variation
of diameter of neck, approximately truly centrally under the capsule lifter, the
portion of the levers extending past the jaws being angled so that a bottle pressed
into the V formed by the angle on the end of the jaws forces them apart, letting
the bottle come into the jaws. To one of these arms a small roller is attached
which is engaged by a cam plate on the gripping bracket hereafter described, for
the purpose of opening the delivery jaws as the bottle rises and allowing the body
of the Fottle to pass between them; again allowing them to close and grip the
bottle neck as it descends. When the arm moves out with the bottle, one of the
jaws is engaged by a catch which opens the jaws and lets the bottle fall into the
shoot. In addition to the jaws on the delivery arm a second pair of jaws, after-
wards called the bottle gripping jaws, are provided of similar description, but of
larger size, to grip the body of the bottle. When the bottle is pressed into these
two pairs of jaws, namely the bottle-gripping and the delivery jaws, it is held
firmly round the body by the bottle-gripping jaws, and round the neck by the
delivery jaws. The bottle gripping jaws are pivoted to a bracket, afterwards
called the gripping bracket, which engages the bottle-lifting bracket afterwards
described, and moves with it vertically through a certain fixed portion of its ascent
and descent. To the gripping bracket is attached a lever having in it a roller
working in a slot in such a way that when a cam plate on the bottle-lifting bracket
afterwards described engages the roller on its down stroke, the lever is acted upon,
and opens the gripping jaws, but on the up stroke the cam plate only moves the
roller in the slot of the lever, and does not open the gripping jaws, so that on the
down stroke of the bottle lifting bracket the gripping jaws are opened and the
delivery arm is free to carry out the bottle. The arm of one of the gripping jaws
is preferably carried past the pivot on the gripping bracket to engage the latch
of the starting gear so that said latch will be withdrawn when a bottle is placed
in the gripping jaws. The bottle is preferably lifted and lowered by a toggle
joint and cam, the top link being connected to a sliding bracket herein called the
rottle-lifting bracket. This bracket has preferably sufficient vertical movement
to lift the table hereinafter described from the position at which it would admit
the longest bottle with which the machine is capable of dealing, to the position
at which it would touch the bottom of the shortest when caught in the delivery
jaws, and in addition sufficient to raise the bottle from the delivery jaws to the
wiring position. A sliding piece works in the bottle-Ifting bracket and is attached
to the table, which moves vertically in the bottle-lifting bracket and has a motion
along with the bottle-lifting bracket by means of a friction arrangement, said
friction arrangement having a sufficient holding power to lift the weight of the
table, but vielding when any appreciable further weight is applied. Thus it will
lift with the lifting bracket until the table touches the bottom of the bottle, when
the friction arrangement will allow the lifting bracket to rise without carrying
the table with it until the lifting bracket has reached the point at which it engages
with the gripping bracket. At this point a pawl falls in and locks together the

page_text: table and lifting bracket; and the capsuling cam at the same time allows the
capsule-lifter to rise and the two acting together maintain the pressure on the cork
until the bottle rises to wiring position.
The friction arrangement may consist of a metal cap attached to the lifting
bracket, having a leather or other suitable facing to increase the friction, pressed
by an adjustable spring against a portion of the slide of the table, a rack being
provided in said slide into which a pawl or several pawls of varying lengths,
attached to the bottle-lifting bracket are capable of engaging. The pawl or
pawls, are acted on by a cam plate and lever and engage the rack when the lifting
bracket has risen to the proper height, locking the table to the bottle-lifting
bracket and forcing them to rise together. The table may if desired, be raised
till it touches the bottom of the bottle, by a light spring or its equivalent, a pawl
falling in and locking it to the lifting bracket when it has risen to the position
at which it engages the gripping bracket, when the table and lifting bracket will
rise together as above described. We however preferably fix in the lifting bracket
a pinion fixed to a spindle on which is keyed a ratchet wheel of very much larger
diameter than the pinion. A collar is also attached to said spindle capable of
sliding lengthwise thereon, but revolving with it on a feather. It may be faced
with leather or other suitable substance to increase the friction if necessary and
is pressed against a face of the lifting bracket by a suitable spring, the pressure on
which is preferably capable of regulation. The pinion above referred to engages
with a rack on the slide of the table, the table being capable of vertical motion
in the lifting bracket. The ratchet wheel above mentioned is capable of being
engaged with any necessary number of pawls of varying length according to the
degree of accuracy required. The pawls are capable of being disengaged from
the wheel by means of a lever guided by a cam plate. When this lever releases
the pawls they immediately engage with the ratchet wheel by means of springs
acting on each of the pawls: thus, which ever length of pawl first catches the
tooth of the ratchet wheel secures it from turning and locks the rack and attached
sliding table to the bottle lifting bracket; by means of the pinion, attached to the
spindle on which is the ratchet wheel, engaging with the rack. The operation of
the lifting gear is as follows:-The bottle is placed in the gripping and delivery
jaws and disengages the latch of the self-starting gear above described, and starts
the machine. The capsule lifter, with its capsule, hereinbefore described, then
presses on the cork, and the bottle-lifting bracket rises, and carries with it the
sliding table owing to the friction between the collar on the pinion spindle and
the face of the bottle-lifting bracket, which (the pawls being disengaged by their
lever acting on its cam plate) prevents the pinion from revolving until the table
touches the bottom of the bottle. The increased pressure due to the weight of
the bottle and the pressure of the capsule lifter cause the collar to slip on the face
of the bottle-lifting bracket, and the ratchet wheel and pinion revolving, the table
will not rise further until the height is reached at which the lever, that held the
pawls disengaged, is released by its cam plate and allows the pawls to engage with
the ratchet wheel, to prevent it revolving further. The pinion being locked by
the pawl and ratchet wheel prevents the table from sliding further in the lifting
bracket; and the lifting bracket and sliding table then act through a certain
definite distance as one piece and lift the bottle to wiring position. The accuracy
in catching the ratchet wheel with its pawls ensures that the underside of the
collar on the neck of the bottle shall come in the exact position to allow the wires
to pass round the neck and underneath the collar, at the exact position required,
this being most important to secure a good tic.
The gripping bracket is so formed that a portion of it comes in contact with the
top of a portion of the lifting bracket, when the lifting bracket rises to the position
at which the pawls fall in as above described. To ensure that the gripping bracket
shall descend again together with the lifting bracket, hooks are formed on the
ends of the links of the toggle joint which is attached to the lifting bracket. The
hooks engage with a pin in the gripping bracket just as the two brackets touch

page_text: one another; and owing to the altering angles of the links they do not again
release the pin until the brackets return to the position on the down stroke at which
they originally engaged with it on the up stroke.
To draw the two bottom wires aside and allow the bottle neck to pass between
them, we provide the following side hooks, which are simple to manufacture, as
well as definite in their action. The hooks are attached to two rods, afterwards
called sliding rods, each rod being continued past the point at which the hook
is fixed, and its end formed into an open horizontal slot parallel with the centre
line of the rod. The slot opens into a V shaped at its outer end so that it will
catch the wire if it is slightly out of the exact line of centre, the part of the rod
above the slot forming at its end a sharp point which will separate the upper from
the lower wire when the rod is pushed forward, A hook, capable of rising from
underneath and closing the end of the slot to secure the wire is centred slightly
above the centre line of the sliding rod. The hook is raised up to this position by
a rod, afterwards called the "hooking rod." It is attached to the hook at one end
by a pivot and has on it two stops. It passes preferably through the bracket
in which the sliding rods work, one of the stops being outside the bracket, the
other inside. Thus when the sliding rod is pushed forward by a suitable cam
and connections the hook being down it first runs the V jaws formed by the slot
on its end one on each side of the wire and the outside stop then engages the
bracket and pulls back the hooking rod, turns the hook up and closes the wire in
the slot. The hook being centred above the wire, its pulf inclines rather to close
than to open the hook. The sliding rod then draws back with the wire until the
second stop almost engages the bracket, where it remains till it is desired to
release the wire from the hook; then the sliding rod is given a further slight
backward motion when the inside stop engaging the bracket, moves the sliding
rod, forces the hook downwards and releases the wire. To prevent the hooks
being too easily turned up, or released, we preferably supply a small pawl which
acts on the rod by means of a spring, in such a way that when the hooking rod is
at either position, the pawl falls into a groove, and when moved by the stops,
the pawl is forced out of the grooves, compresses the spring and falls into the
other groove as the hooking 10d moves to that position. It is only necessary to
regulate the spring on the pawl to suit the amount of resistance required. The
sliding rods may be worked by a cam and T shaped lever, but only one cam and
set of levers will be required."
For bending down the wire and also for guiding the cutting off and looping
hooks as before described, we provide two jaws hinged to a collar, moving
vertically, preferably on the bush inside which the capsule-lifter slides, with the
jaws hanging downwards, one on each side of the bottle neck. The jaws are
connected by levers or gear in such a way that they have an equal simultaneous
movement from and towards the capsule lifter. Thus if one jaw is forced either
from or towards the capsule lifter, the other must also move simultaneously from
or towards it as the case may be, and one of the jaws being in contact with the
cutting-off arm, which is pressed by a spring towards the capsule lifter, inclines
both the bending-down jaws to press inwards towards the centre of the capsule
lifter. The collar to which these jaws are attached has a vertical motion on tlie
bush by means of a cam on the cam shaft and suitable levers, which bring it down
on the wires before the bottle rises, holding them down to the proper position
on the bottle neck and close against it, helping to secure a good tie, at the same
time guiding the cutting off arm, the looping and the twisting spindles as before
described, so that they are adjusted automatically to suit the different bottle necks.
When the bottle is tied, the bending down jaws are brought down by their cam
till they bend the twisted end of the wire on one side of the bottle neck, and
the loop on the other, closely against the bottle neck, after which they rise to their
full height to allow the other working parts to pass them. We prefer to supply
the capsules by hand.
To prepare the machine for work the wire is carried from reels through the
tension boxes and through the twisting spindle, and is there twisted and cut off

page_text: by pliers. The machine is then started by moving one of the gripping jaws, and
after it has gone through the several previous motions the looping hooks insert
themselves behind the twisted end of the wire in the looping spindle and draw it
across under the capsule lifter, the side jaws closing gradually as it draws across.
The side hooks then move forward under the action of their cam, and the forks
formed by the slot in the end of the sliding bars come one on each side of the two
bottom wires. The outside stop on the hooking rod engages with the bracket and
causes the hook to close the wire in the slot as before described. The sliding rod
is then drawn back with the side wires. During the time the wires are being
drawn across and the bottom wires moved aside, the capsule carrier comes in
with a capsule in its tray, and just as the bottom wires are drawn aside, the cap-
sule lifter is brought into contact with the capsule which it lifts as before
described, the carrier moving quickly from under it. The stopping cam then
having compressed its spring and brought the wedge on the stopping lever into
contact with the key or clutch; and having withdrawn it from the slot on the
boss of the pulley, the machine stops till a bottle is pushed into the gripping
jaws. When this is done, the jaw acting on the latch which holds the starting
spring compressed, releases the spring which draws the wedge out of contact
with the key or clutch, allowing said key or clutch to again engage a slot in the
boss of the driving pulley, which starts the machine. The capsule lifter with its
capsule immediately comes down on the cork of the bottle and presses the bottom
of the collar on the bottle neck firmly down on the delivery jaws, and secures the
cork so that it cannot be blown out by the gas within the bottle. The bottle-lifting
bracket then begins to rise, and carries the table with it, owing to the friction
between the collar on the pinion spindle and the lifting bracket, the pawls being
held out of action by the lever and cam-plate, until said table comes in contact
with the bottom of the bottle, when the extra weight of the bottle causes the collar
on the pinion spindle to slip on the face of the lifting bracket, and the table to
remain stationary at this position until the point is reached at which the pawl
on the lifting bracket is released by its lever and allowed to engage with the
ratchet wheel, thus locking the table and lifting bracket together. At this point
also, the lifting bracket engages the gripping bracket, and it is lifted along with
the table which lifts the bracket and bottle, to the position where the lower side
of the collar on the neck reaches the centre of the twisting spindle, the jaws of
the delivery bracket being opened by the cam-plate on the gripping bracket.
The cam which acts on the capsule lifter allows it to rise along with the bottle,
said bottle carrying with it the two top wires, but still maintaining the pressure
on the cork. The object in view in this arrangement is to ensure that the bottom
wires shall come exactly under the collar on the bottle neck, no matter what may
be the length of said collar, and at the same time leave the bottle neck free of
obstruction, so that the wires will be carried closely round it, and that the twisting
spindle, looping hooks, cutting-off gear and bending-down levers have free room
to work. When the bottle has come up to wiring position as above described,
the tension is allowed to come on the wires by means of the tension can; the side
hooks are drawn slightly further back, turn down the hook and release the wires
against the bottle neck, the wires being drawn tight to the neck by the tension
gear. The twisting spindle and looping hooks then begin to revolve and twist the
wires: the looping hooks being freed from their cam and engaged by the lever
and rod above described. only give one revolution. The cutting off gear is brought
down to cutting-off position by its cam, the bending down jaws ensuring that the
wire is cut at the proper place. The second cam of the cutting-off gear then
moves its lever cutting off the twisted wire between the jaws when the looping
hooks and spindle give a second revolution and take up any slackness that may
be in the wire after cutting. The looping-hook levers are then engaged by their
cam and the loose wedge-shaped piece on same opens the hooks before any end
movement is given to them. The cam plate on the bed plate of the machine then
engages the loose piece of the cam and draws back the looping spindle and hooks.

page_text: The bending-down jaws then come down under the action of their cam and bend
the wires down against the bottle neck. The bottle next begins to descend and
as it does so the delivery jaws close on its neck and grip it under the collar. The
lifting bracket continuing to descend leaves the gripping bracket and jaws
behind, and the cam plate attached to the lifting bracket opens the gripping
jaws, and the delivery arm carries out the bottle, the jaws coming in contact with
their stop till they are forced open and the bottle is dropped. During this
operation the capsule lifter has risen up sufliciently to allow the looping spindle
to pass under it and seize the twisted end of the wire which it draws across, the
side hooks seizing the bottom wires and drawing them aside, and the capsule
holder securing a capsule, when the machine stops, till another bottle is put into
the gripping jaws.
We, ROBERT MARTIN CHAMBERS, and CHARLES EDWARD CHAMBERS, both of Cuba
Street, Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement;-
This invention relates to machines for wiring the corks of bottles and is more
especially applicable to machines such as that which is the subject matter of
Letters Patent No. 18803 of 1898.
The object of the invention is to render such machines more automatic and
efficient in operation and capable of consecutively receiving bottles of varying
shape and size without the necessity of adjustment or regulation of any part of
the machine.
The invention consists of a machine such as hereinafter described comprising
starting mechanism, mechanism for raising the bottle to a suitable position for
wiring and for delivering the same after wiring, mechanism for compressing the
cork immediately the machine is started, capsuling mechanism, wire operating
mechanism comprising means for feeding, tightening, twisting, looping and
cutting the wires, and other mechanism and novel features of construction herein-
after described as applied thereto.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a front elevation,
Figure 2 is a side elevation and
Figure 3 a plan of a complete machine constructed according to the invention.
Figures 4 to 23 illustrate in detail the different devices or mechanism which
together constitute the complete machine.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively sectional elevation and sectional plan of the
starting mechanism.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively front and end sectional elevations of the wire
tension gear.
Figures 8 and 8 are plans of the bottle delivery gear.
Figure 9 is a rear sectional elevation of part of the machine illustrating the wire
Jooping and twisting gear and also the means employed for compressing the cork,

page_text: the means for bending the wire against the bottle after it has been twisted and
cut off, and the means of adjusting the twisting spindle, wire cutter and looping
spindle to varying sizes of bottle neck.
Figures 10 and 11 are sectional elevations on the liness Figure 9.
Figure 12 is a detail elevation of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 9.
Figures 13, 14, and 15 illustrate in section the mechanism employed for guiding
some of the wires on to the bottle neck.
Figures 16 and 17 are respectively elevation and plan of the wire cutting gear.
Figure 18 shows the developed plans of the several cams hereinafter referred to.
In the drawings similar parts are indicated by similar reference letters or
numerals.
The main driving shaft y of the machine is mounted in bearings 1, 2, 3, and
transmits motion to the cam shaft 2 mounted in bearings 4, 5, 6, through spur
gearing 7, 8, the cam shaft preferably being arranged to make one revolution
to five of the driving shaft.
Upon the cam shaft z are mounted a cam a operating means for stopping the
machine, a double cam 6 for actuating the tension gear, a cam c controlling the
twisting gear, a cam d for actuating the bottle delivery mechanism, a cam e for
operating means for drawing aside the two lower wires for the purpose hereinafter
described, a cam f for raising and lowering the presser or capsule lifter, a cam g
for moving the bending down levers, a cam h for actuating the capsule carrier,
a double cam for operating the looping mechanism and a cam k for operating
the bottle lifting gear.
The mechanism for starting the machine is illustrated in detail in Figures 4
and 5. The driving pulley 10 revolves freely on a sleeve 27 when the machine is
at rest, but when it is desired to start the machine a key 11, mounted in an exten-
sion of the sleeve 27 and sliding under the action of a spring 26, is allowed to
engage with one of a series of radial slots 9 in the face of the pulley 10 which is
thereby keyed to the driving shaft and the machine is started. The key 11 is
slotted and it is withdrawn from engagement with the pulley 10 by means of a
wedge 12 engaging within the slot. The wedge 12 is carried upon one end of a
lever 13 mounted upon a pivot 17 and connected by a pin 16 and rod 14 to one
end 19 of a lever 18 mounted upon. a pivot 20. The wedge 12 is withheld from
engagement with the key 11 by a spring 15 but it is caused to engage and with-
draw the said key at the end of each wiring operation when the cam a mounted
upon the shaft z makes contact with the end 21 of the lever 18. In order that
the wedge 12 shall be held in engagement with the key until it is again required
to start the machine a latch or catch bar 22 is adapted to engage with the opposite
end of the lever 13. This latch may if desired be operated by a bottle when placed
in the delivery jaws (hereinafter referred to) but it is preferably connected by a
bell crank lever 24 to a push rod 25. The push rod is provided with a spring 23
which tends to hold the latch 22 in contact with the end of the lever 13.
When it is desired to start the machine the push rod 25 is thrust inwardly
whereupon the latch 22 is withdrawn from the end of the lever 13 which latter
under the action of the spring 15 oscillates about its pivot 17 and moves the
wedge 12 away from the key 11 which is immediately shot by a spring 20 into
engagement with the driving pulley 10 and motion is thereby transmitted to the
driving shaft y.
When the machine is started the bottle to be wired which has previously been
placed in the machine is raised up to a suitable position for wiring according to
one modification as follows:-
The bottle is placed within a pair of gripping levers hereinafter described
and is thereby held suspended above a support or pan 100 mounted upon a rack
bar 101 gearing with a pinion 102 keyed upon the same shaft 103 as a ratchet
wheel 104. The shaft 103 is carried in bearings in a bracket 105 in which the
rack bar 101 is free to slide in guides 106. A pawl 107 mounted upon the
bracket 105 is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring button 110,

page_text: The pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel at the desired moment by a
levor 108 forming an extension of the pawl 107 coming in contact with a cam
plate 109 secured to the machine framework. When the ratchet wheel is released
by the pawl 107 the bottle support 100 is free to move relatively to the bracket 105
but when the ratchet wheel is held by the pawl the support 100 is also held fixed
relatively to the bracket. In order that the bottle support 100 shall rise with
the bracket 105 a friction washer 111 (Figure 2) is placed between the boss on the
wheel 104 and that on the bracket 105, the pressure on said washer being regulated
by a nut 114 so that there is sufficient friction to support the rack 111 with its
support 100 but to allow of a certain amount of slip should a considerable pressure
be applied to the said support. The bracket 105 is moved vertically on guides 112
by a cam k operating through levers 115 and toggle links 117 one pair of which
is connected at 118 to the bracket.
The operation of the bottle lifting gear above described is as follows:-
A bottle is placed within a pair of gripping levers 130 131, hereinafter described
in reference to Figure 8 and is thereby held suspended above the holder 100. The
capsule lifter or plunger 150 is then brought down by its cam f (as afterwards
described in detail) on to the cork so as to compress it and prevent it being ejected
by the gas pressure in the bottle.
The lifting bracket 105 next starts to rise and carries with it the holder 100
until the latter reaches the bottle when the resulting pressure temporarily arests
the further upward movement of the holder, the rack 101 revolving the pinion 102
and wheel 104 until the lever 108 leaves the cam plate 109 and the pawl 107
engages the wheel 104 and locks the holder 100 to the lifting bracket. At this
instant the cam f which operates the plunger or capsule lifter 150 allows the
latter to ascend equally with the lifting bracket and the holder 100 being locked
to the bracket the bottle is raised through a certain definite distance above the
top of the gripping levers 130, 131 to a position at which the bottom wires will
just fall under the collar on the bottle neck, the gripping levers opening to allow
the bottle to pass between them. When in the last mentioned position the bottle
is wired.
The bracket 105 then descends and carries with it the holder 100 until the
lever 108 comes in contact with the cam plate 109 and the bottom end of the
rack bar 101 comes in contact with a stop 113 whereupon the said bar revolves the
pinion 102 and wheel 104 until the bracket reaches its lowest position. The
relative movements of the lifting bracket are indicated by the developed plan of
the operating cam k in Figure 18. As the cam rotates the part 630 first operates
the lever 115 and the bracket 105 starts to rise, at 631 the bottle starts to rise,
at 632 the bottle arrives at its highest position, at 633 the bottle begins to descend,
at (34 the bottle is caught by the delivery arms and at 635 the lifting bracket has
descended to its lowest position.
After the bottle has been wired it is removed from the holder 100 and delivered
into a shoot or receptacle by mechanism such as clearly shown in detail in
Figures 8 and 8".
A bracket 132 pivoted at 135. to the machine frame carries on one extremity two
levers 130, 131, which pivot on pins 133, 134 and are geared together as shown
at 138 in order that they shall have equal angular movement. The levers are
formed with four inclined faces 139 two on each lever in order that they may hold
the bottles centrally below the compressor 150 (hereinafter described) even should
the size of the necks vary. They are forced together by a spring 143 acting
through a pivoted lever 144 and their outer ends 142 are bevelled as shown to
allow a bottle to be readily slipped into position to be gripped by the faces 139.
The lever 131 is provided with a pin or roller 140 with which a cam plate 141 on
the bottle lifting bracket comes in contact and opens the levers 130, 131, as shown
in Figure 8, to allow the bottle to pass up between them as it is being raised
to the wiring position. After the bottle is wired and starts to descend the cam
plate releases the roller 140 in time to allow the levers 130, 131, to grip the bottle

page_text: neck just below the collar and hold the bottle suspended. The bracket 132 is
then oscillated on its pivot 135 by the cam & through the levers 136 and link 137
until the bevelled end 142 of the lever 130 comes in contact with a roller 145
mounted on a bracket 146 (Figures 1 and 3) when the levers 130 131 are thereby
forced apart and drop the bottle into a shoot 147. The bracket 132 is then
returned to its normal position ready to receive another bottle. The developed
plan of the cam d is shown in Figure 18, the part 609 indicating the part by which
the bracket 132 is moved fully out to deliver a bottle and the part 610 at which the
bracket has been moved fully in again to receive another bottle.
The mechanism for applying a capsule to a bottle cork and for compressing
the latter within the bottle is illustrated in detail in Figure 9 and in position
in Figures 2 and 3.
The capsules are supplied to a tray 160 (Figures 2 and 3) either by hand or
automatically as described in the Specification to the Letters Patent before referred
to. The tray is carried by an arm 160, pivoted at 161 to the machine frame and
1s brought centrally under a plunger 150 at the correct time by a cam / acting
through a lever 162 and connecting rod 163 (Figure 2). The respective parts of
the cam which operate the tray and bring it fully out and fully in below the
capsule lifter are indicated by 622 and 623 in the developed plan Figure 18. The
plunger 150 is caused to descend and secure the capsule from the tray upon
pins 159. It is actuated from a cam f by levers 151 which carry on their
extremities a roller 152 held in contact with the cam f by a spring 153 through a
bell crank lever 154 (see Figure 2). The levers 151 are not connected directly
to the plunger 150, but act through links 155 on a crosshead 156 which slides
freely on the rod 157 to which the plunger is attached. A buffer spring 158
is inserted between the plunger and crosshead and held in compression by a
collar 258 firmly attached to the rod 157. This elastic connection allows of
variation in the size of corks or the collars or necks of the bottles. The plunger
is slotted at its extremity to enable it to pass over the two top wires when it is
depressed by the cam f to secure a capsule as above described. After it secures
a capsule upon the pins 159 on its extremity it rises and the capsule tray 160 is
removed to its outward position (see Figure 3) whereupon the machine stops ready
for a bottle to be placed in the gripping levers 130, 131.
When a bottle is placed therein and the machine started the plunger 150
carrying a capsule on its face descends on to the cork and compresses the latter.
The bottle is then raised into the wiring position by the lifting bracket as before
described the plunger 150 being allowed by the cam f to ascend equally with the
bracket. After the bottle is wired and the lifting bracket starts to descend the
capsule lifter follows the bracket for a short distance but is soon raised up again
until it reaches its highest position and does not descend again until it is required
to secure a capsule.
The relative movements of the capsule lifter correspond with the several parts
of the cam findicated in Figure 18. At 614 the capsule lifter descends on to the
bottle cork at 615 it ascends but maintains a pressure on the cork, at 616 it rises
further to allow the looping and side hooks to pass below it, at 617 it descends
to secure a capsule and at 618 it ascends a little to allow the carrier to move out.
The wires employed for tying the cork are led from reels through guides s
as in the machine described in the Specification to Letters Patent 13803 of 1898.
In the present invention a tension is applied to the wires as required by the
mechanism illustrated in detail in Figures 6 and 7 and shown in position in
Figures 1 and 3. The wires are passed through a casing 441 attached to the
machine frame. Inside the casing are arranged four boxes 40 (hereinafter referred
to as tension boxes) capable of sliding upon guide rods 41. Each tension box is
provided with a gripping lever 42 which pivots upon a pin 442 and is formed with
a projecting face 43 adapted to engage with an opposing face 44 on the tension
box. The wires pass between the several faces 43, 44, and are gripped between
them whenever the levers 42 are moved about the pins 442 towards the wires by

page_text: the springs 45. The levers 42 are moved outwardly so as to release the wires by
bars 47 engaging with pins 46 on said levers. The bars are connected by equal
and parallel rocking levers 48, 481, so that they always remain parallel to each
other when moved by the rocking lever 481 which receives its motion from the
cam 6 through a lever 54 one end of which is connected by a link 541 to a small
lever or crank 55 on the end of the spindle 482 upon which the lever 481 is
mounted. The bars are shown in their extreme outward position in Figure G the
gripping levers 42 having released the wires which can pass freely between the
grimming faces 43 and 44. The bars are indicated in their extreme inward position
by dotted lines in Figure 6 and in full lines in Figure 1 in which position the
springs 45 act upon the levers 42 and cause them to grip the wires between the
faces 43, 44.
When it is desired to apply a tension to the wires the tension boxes 40 with
their gripping levers 42 open are advanced against springs 49 by a sliding piece 50
which is moved along the guide rods 41 by the cam 6 through a lever 51 and
link 52. The wires are then gripped by the gripping levers 42 and the sliding
piece 50 moved back to its normal position whereupon the springs 49 exert a pres-
sure against the tension boxes 40 and thereby apply sufficient tension to the wires
to take up any slackness therein. When the tension upon the wires is no longer
required the gripping levers 42 release them and the springs 49 thereupon force
the tension boxes back against the sliding piece 50. The levers 54, and 51 are
kept in contact with the cam 6 by springs 53 and 56. The cam 6 is so designed
as shown in Figure 18 as to actuate the levers 51, 54, in their proper order as
required. The respective parts of the cam 6 corresponding to the periods at which
tension is applied to or removed from the wires are indicated in Figure 18 as
follows: At 602 the tension is off the wires to allow the bottle to rise and carry
the top wires with it: at 603 the tension is applied to draw the wires tightly about
the bottle neck whilst twisting; at 604 tension is again removed from the wires
to allow them to be drawn across the wiring space of the machine and at 605
tension is again applied to strain the top wires to allow the capsule lifter to pass
freely through them.
The wires after passing through the tension gear above described are led through
the twisting gear shown in sectional elevation in Figure 9 and in position in
Figures 1 and 3.
The wires are passed through holes 33 in a spindle 31 and thence through an
end piece or face plate 30 which is supported by pins 301 capable of sliding against
springs 32 in recesses in the spindle 31. The object of the movable end piece or
face plate 30 is to allow the twisting to be commenced closer to the bottle neck
than is possible when the end of the twisting spindle is solid as in the machine
described in the Specification to the Letters Patent No. 13803 of 1898 before
referred to. The twisting spindle is rotated at the correct time by spur
gearing 311, 312, from the driving shaft y controlled by a clutch 313 operated
from a cam c, and the spindle is also returned or rotated in the reverse direction
by a spiral spring 314 similarly to the twisting spindle described in the specifica-
tion above mentioned. The springs 32 remove undue strain from the back twist 29
so that when the spindle 31 is rotated by the spring 314 there are no sharp bends
in the wires thus allowing them to pass more easily through the holes 33 when
drawn out by the looping hooks as afterwards described.
The looping hooks 89 whose function is to advance across to the twisting spindle,
secure the wire, draw the same back, and then to form a loop in the wire when it
is twisted by the twisting spindle, are of the same construction as those described
in the specification before referred to, but in the present invention instead of the
looping hooks being revolved twice before stopping, the segment which revolves
the hooks is divided into two parts 60 and 61. The part 60 revolves the hooks
at the same time that the twisting spindle revolves but the part 61 does not
engage the pinion 62 upon the looping spindle 621 until the wire is twisted and
cut off at the twisting spindle when the second revolution of the looping hooks

page_text: takes up all the slackness in the wire and draws it tightly around the bottle neck.
The looping hooks are advanced to the twisting spindle to secure the wire by the
part 628 of the cam ; Figure 18 and are drawn back by the part 629.
Just after the looping hooks have drawn the wire across the wiring space of
the machine the lower wires are drawn aside to allow the neck of a rising bottle
to pass between them after which the said wires are released and spring tightly
against the bottle neck. The mechanism for performing this function is illus-
trated in Figures 2, 13, 14, and 15, and it is simpler and more definite in action
than the mechanism employed for the same purpose described in the specification
before referred to.
Two hooks 170 and 190 are pivotted on pins 171 and 191 to two bars 172
and 192 respectively. The bar 172 slides in a guide 181 and the bar 192 is fixed
to the end of a lever 202, and each har is provided with a forked extremity 219.
The hook 170 is also attached by a pin 174 to a rod 173 which is provided with
catches 175, 176 and two V grooves 177, 178 and the hook 190 is similarly
attached to a rod 193 by a pin 194 the rod 193 being provided with catches 195
and 196 and with V grooves 197 and 198. Two pointed pins 179 and 199 sliding
under the action of springs 180 and 200 in recesses within the bar 172 and
lever 202 respectively are adapted to engage either of the respective grooves 177,
197, and 178 198. The lever 202 is formed integral with another lever 204
and both are secured to a rock shaft 206. The lever 204 is connected by a
rod 208 to a rocking lever 212 at the point 209. This lever is pivotted at 210
to a bracket 214 attached to the machine frame and carries at the extremity of one
arm a roller 211 which is kept in contact with a came by a spring 213 acting
upon the other arm of said lever. The extremity 189 of this arm is connected
by a link 188 to a lever 182. One end 183 of the lever 182 is loosely jointed
to the bar 172 whilst its other end 186 is connected by a link 185 to a bracket 187
secured to the machine frame.
The operation of the above described mechanism is as follows:-
The mechanism being in the position shown in Figure 13 when the bottle is
wired the cam e revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow until the part 2.15
(see Figure 18 also) reaches the roller 211 when the lever 212 moves on its
pivot 210 and the bars 172 and 192 are both thrust towards the wires each
engaging a wire held within its fork end 219. The rods 173 and 193 are also
carried inward by their respective bars 172, 192, until the projections or
catches 195, 175, engage with the stops 201 and 275 whereupon the bars 172 192
still continuing to move the hooks 170, 190, are pivotted about their pins 171, 191,
and each engage or enclose a bottom wire within their respective forks 219 as
shown in Figure 14. When the rods 173, 193 are in this position the pins 179, 199
engage with their respective grooves 177, 197, and the bottom wires are thereby
locked within the hooks 170 190 which are next caused to recede and draw the
wires aside by the cam e continuing to revolve and bringing its inclined part 216
Figures 13 and 18 in contact with the roller 211. The part 216 of the cam is not
so long as the part 215 and therefore the bars 172 and 192 are not drawn com-
pletely back but only so far as to cause the catches 176, 196 to come up to the
stons 276, 201 (see Figure 15) the hooks still retaining their hold upon the wires
until the part 218 of the came comes in contact with the roller 211 when the
bars 172, 192, are drawn still further back and the catches 176 and 196 come in
contact with the stops 276, 201 and the hooks are moved about their pivots 171, 191
and release the wires and allow them to spring about the neck of the bottle
which has passed up between them while they are drawn aside. This last move-
ment of the bars 172, 192 causes the pins 179, 199 to leave the slots 177, 197 and
engage with the slots 178 and 198 respectively thus securing the hooks 170, 190
open ready to advance again as required.
The mechanism for cutting the wire after it has been twisted is illustrated in
detail in Figures 16 and 17.

page_text: A cam slot 360 is formed in the face of the spur wheel 311 which operates the
twisting gear herein before referred to. A roller 363 carried by one end of a bell
crank lever 350 works in the cam slot. The lever 350 pivots on a spindle 353
and is connected by a har 351 to another bell crank lever 35 which also pivots
freely on the spindle 35 but is also free to slide thereon against a spring 36. One
arm of the lever 35 is forked as shown in Figure 17 and carries between the fork
a lever 352 which when engaged by a cam roller 361 actuates a cutting bar 355
sliding in bearings on the underside of the lever 35 hereinafter referred to as the
cutting arm.
The object of the cam slot 360 is to operate the cutting arm 35 in such a manner
that it is brought down at the proper moment on top of the wires which are after-
wards cut by the cutter 355 when operated by the cam roller 361 engaging the
lever 352. The cutting arm 35 is held up against the bending down lever 18
(hereinafter referred to) by the spring 36 so that whatever the size of the bottle
neck the wire is always cut at a regulated distance from the same. The cutting
arm is also provided with a wedge shaped extremity 38 which engages with the
plate 30 of the twisting spindle so as to ensure that a certain length of wire
required to form part of the next loop will be left projecting from the twisting
spindle after the wires are cut.
A stop 362 is provided upon the back of the wheel 311 which engages with a
fixed stop 361. Figure 17 on the machine framework when the wheel is returned
to its normal position by the spring as before described with reference to Figure 9.
After the wire has been twisted and cut off the projecting ends are bent down
close to the bottle neck. The n.echanism for performing this function is illus-
trated in detail in Figures 9 to 12.
The levers 77, 78, hereinafter referred to as the bending down levers are pivoted
on pins 79 to a bush 80 sliding on the cylindrical guide or tube 81 in which works
the capsule lifter 150 herein before referred to. The levers are connected by a
joint 86 to ensure an equal movement from or towards the centre line of "the
tube 81. The bush 80 is caused to slide up and down as required by a cam g
which acts upon a lever 82 on one end of a rock shaft 83, upon the other end
of which is a lever 84 connected by a link 85 to the bush. The friction roller on
the end of the lever 82 is kept in close contact with the cam g by a spring 831.
The arm 77 is formed with a projection or cam surface 76 in contact with which
is a roller 74 carried on the end of one arm of a lever 73 pivoting on a pin 701.
The end 75 of the other and longer arm of the lever 73 is jointed to a rod 72 in
such a manner that the rod is free to rotate. The rod 72 carries at one end a
cam plate 681 formed with two projections 67, 68 which are respectively caused
to come in contact as afterwards described with two stops 66 and 69 the former
of which is formed on the link 65 connecting the lever 87 and looping spindle 621
and the latter on a bracket 70 fixed to the machine frame. Just previous to the
twisting operation it is desirable that the looping spindle shall be free to move
independent of its actuating cam ; so that its distance from the bottle neck may
he regulated automatically whatever the size of the bottle. It is therefore set
free at the required time and advances under the pull of the wires as the twisting
commences. This movement of the spindle is regulated by the stop 66 and pro-
tection 67 on the cam plate 681 the movement of which is in turn regulated by
the movement of the lever 77 through the mechanism above described. The
levers 77 and 73 of this mechanism are so proportioned that any movement of
the point of the lever 77 from or towards the centre line of the bottle is accom-
panied by an equal movement of the rod 72.
In order that the looping spindle may be left free to slide as before described
the cam is cut away at one portion of its circumference as indicated at 625
Figure 18, whereby the ends of the levers 87 and 88 (Figure 3) are quite free.
To again engage the levers and open the looping hooks at whatever position they
may then occupy a wedge shaped piece 90 Figures 3 and 18 is provided sliding

page_text: in a guide 91 on the cam in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft g. A
roller 92 is attached to the wedge shaped piece which engages for a portion of
each revolution with a cam plate 93 attached to the frame of the machine. At
the end of the twisting operation the wedge piece 90 comes in between the rollers
on the ends of the levers 87, 88 and as it is free on the cam ; it adjusts itself and
forces them apart and thus opens the looping hooks 89 (l'igure 9) without altering
their position. The roller 92 then engages the cam plate 93 the wedge shaped
piece 90 being thereby moved and the looping hooks are drawn back open while
the rollers of the levers 87, 88, are travelling on the straight portion of the wedge
shaped piece 90 which is brought into line with the fixed portion 627 (Figure 18)
of the cam j.
The object of the bending down levers and mechanism connected therewith
just described is first to provide means for gauging the size of the bottle head
and accordingly regulating the distance of the looping hooks therefrom, previous
to the twisting operation and second to provide means for bending down the pro-
jecting ends of wire after the cutting operation.
The operation of this mechanism is as follows:-
The wires having been drawn across the wiring space by the looping hooks
and the lower wires drawn aside by the side hooks as previously described the
bending down levers 77, 78 descend on to the top wires, this movement corre-
sponding to the part 621 of the cam 9 Figure 18. A bottle is then raised by the
lifting gear and its head passes between the lower wires reaches the top wires
and is then forced up between the bending down levers which open out to the
required amount as the head of the bottle is forced up between them. The bottle
having reached the wiring position the side hooks release the lower wires which
spring about the bottle neck. The bending down levers are held close up against
the bottle head by the cutting arm 35 before referred to and they therefore caliper
or gauge the size of the head.
The distance the point of the lever is moved in a direction away from the centre
line of the bottle depending upon the size of the bottle head, determines the move-
ment of the rod 72 and therefore the position of the projection 67 and the stop 66
engaging therewith which determines the movement and position of the looping
spindle previous. to the twisting operation. It will therefore be understood that
the distance of the looping hooks from the bottle neck previous to the twisting
operation will always be the same whatever the size of the bottle head. The
cutting off lever and end 30 of the twisting spindle are similarly gauged by the
bending down levers 78. After the wire has been twisted and cut off the bending
down levers 77, 78 are forced down by the cam g on to the projecting ends of the
wire so as to press them close against the bottle neck, this movement corresponding
to the part 619 Figure 18. They are then raised up to the positions shown in
Figure 12, this movement corresponding to the part 620 Figure 18 the cam surface
76 on the lever 77 leaving the roller 74 so that the lever 73 is free to move forward
a short distance. When the looping hooks next move across to catch a fresh
supply of wire from the end of the twisting spindle the rod 72 moves with them
until the projection 68 on the cam plate attached to it engages with the stop
pin 69 when the inclined form of the projection causes the cam plate to tilt as
shown in Figure 11 and allow the pin 66 to pass the projection 67. When the
looping hooks are returned with the wire and the stop pin 66 passes the projec-
tion 67 the cam plate is returned to its normal position by a spring 71 shown
more clearly in Figures 10 and 11 which are sections on the lines s Figure 9.
The different parts of the machine having been described in detail the general
operation of the complete machine may be described as follows:-
It is assumed that the machine is at rest and that a bottle has just been wired
and delivered. The machine will then be ready to receive another bottle and
several of the mechanisms will already have performed a part of their functions
namely, the looping hooks will have secured the wire projecting from the end
of the twisting spindle and drawn it across the gap of the machine, the sidehooks

page_text: (hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 13) will have drawn aside the
two lower wires, and the capsule lifter 150 will have secured a capsule from the
container 160 as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 9.
Another bottle is then placed with its neck within the jaws 130, 131 and the
push rod 35 is thrust inwards so as to withdraw the latch 22 from the end of the
lever 13 which lever is immediately acted upon by the spring 15 and releases
the key 11 and pulley 10 is thereby keyed to the driving shaft y and the machine
started as herein before described in detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5.
y
As soon as the machine is started motion is transmitted from the driving shaft
to the cam shaft 7 by the spur gearing, 7, 8, and the different mechanisms are set
in motion and perform their different functions in their proper order as hereinafter
described.
The first to be effected is the capsuling gear, the cam f through the levers 151.
forces the capsule lifter 150 with a capsule on its extremity down on to the cork
of the bottle which latter is suspended by its collar within the gripping
levers 130, 131. The cork is thereby thoroughly pressed down and prevented
from "shooting or being forced out before it is wired. The cam k next raises
the lifting bracket 105 through the levers 115 and toggle links 117.
"
The bracket continues to rise until the table or support 100 touches the bottom
of the bottle when the further movement of the support is prevented owing to
the weight of the bottle combined with the pressure of the buffer springs 158
of the capsule lifter 150. The lifting bracket 105 however continues to rise the
adjustment between the support 100 and the bracket 105 allowing it to do so as
herein before fully described with reference to Figure 1 wherein the rack and
pinion adjustment is shown.
When the rack 101 is locked by the pawl and ratchet wheel 107, 104, the
table 100 and the bracket rise together the cam f allowing the capsule lifter 150
to rise at the same rate as the lifting bracket but still maintaining a compression
of the springs 158. The gripping levers 130, 131 are opened just at this period,
to allow the bottle to pass upward by the cam plate 141 carried by the lifting
bracket 105 engaging with the pin 140 on the lever 131 as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figure 8.
The two top wires are carried over the cork as it rises and are held closely
against the cork and collar by the bending down levers 77, 78 as shown in Figure 9
which shows the bottle in its highest position. When the bottle reaches this
position tension is applied to the wires as herein before described with reference
to Figures 6 and 7 to draw up any slackness in the wires. At this instant the side-
hooks 170, 190, are caused to release the lower wires as herein before described
with reference to Figures 13, 14 and 15, the said wires being drawn by the tension
gear close against the bottle neck just below the collar. At this instant also the
levers working the looping spindle and hooks are temporarily disengaged from
their operating cam j so that the looping hooks are free to move forward under
the pull of the tension gear until the pin 66 (Figure 9) engages with the stop 07
on the cam plate 681 whose position is regulated by the bending down lever 77
through the roller 74 and lever 73, the arms 77 78, being pressed against the
bottle neck one on each side so that the position of the looping hooks is regulated
according to the size of the bottle neck as hereinbefore fully described. The part
indicated in Figure 18 by 607 of the cam c next throws the clutch 313 into gear
with the wheel 311 which through the pinion 312 revolves the twisting spindle 31.
At the same time the segment (0) engages the pinion 62 and revolves the looping
spindle through one revolution. The wheel 311 continues to rotate and the cam
slot 360 therein brings down the cutting arm 35 which is held tightly against
the bending down arm 78 by the spring 36 the wedge piece 38 at the same time
forcing back the face plate 30 of the twisting spindle (if it has not been drawn
back sufficiently under the action of the twisted wire) to ensure that a sufficient
portion of the twisted wire shall be left on the spindle when the wire is cut off
by the cutter 355 as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 16 and 17.

page_text: After the wire is cut the cam c disengages the clutch 313 where upon the spiral
spring 314 rotates the twisting spindle 621 backwardly as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figure 9 and as also described in the specification before referred
to.
Immediately the wire is cut the segment 61 engages the pinion 62 which
occupies the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and imparts another twist to
the wire inside the loop and takes up any slackness that may still remain in the
wire tying.
The levers 87 and 88 are next engaged by the wedge shaped piece 90 on the
cam j which opens the hooks 89 and releases the wire. The roller 92 then engages
the cam plate 93 on the machine frame and the hooks 89 are drawn back, the
levers 87 and 88 being at the same time brought into action again with the cam j
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3.
The bending down levers 77, 78, are then brought down by the cam 9 so as to
bend the loop and projecting ends of wire close down against the bottle neck.
They are next drawn up again to their full height which brings the cam sur-
face 76 on the lever 77 out of contact with the roller 74 of the lever 73 and
leaves the roller to move forward when required as afterwards described.
The lifting bracket now starts to descend and is followed for a short distance
by the presser 150 which however soon moves upward to its highest position.
As the lifting bracket continues to descend the gripping levers 130 131 are released
from the cam plate 141 and close on the neck of the bottle and grip it just beneath
the collar when the bracket 132 is revolved upon its pivot 135 and carries the
bottle over the shoot 147, when the face 142 of the lever 130 engages the roller 145
on the bracket 146 which opens the levers and allows the bottle to drop. The
bracket 132 is then moved back again into its normal position and its jaws close
ready to receive another bottle, all as hereinbefore described with especial refer-
ence to Figures 8 and 8". The lifting bracket 105 continues to descend and the
end of the rack 101 engages with the stop 113 which prevents it descending further,
but the wheel 104 being free to revolve the bracket is also free to descend into its
extreme lower position.
Whilst the lifting bracket is descending the looping hooks 89 are moved by the
cam towards the face plate 30 on the twisting spindle. The cam plate 68 is
also moved forwards it now being free to do so as before explained.
The hooks 89 travel forward and secure the wire and draw back with it across
the part of the machine where the bottle is wired.
The side hooks 170, 190, are next moved in under the action of the cam 6 to
secure and draw aside the lower wires as herein before described with reference
to Figures 13 14, and 15. Simultaneously with this the capsule carrying tray 160
in which a capsule is placed is moved in and the capsule lifter 150 is forced down
by the part 164 on the came so as to secure a capsule upon its pins 159 whereupon
it is immediately drawn up again a short distance to allow the tray to move out.
The cam then engages the lever 18 and forces the wedge shaped end 12 of the
lever 13 against the bush 27 where it is held by the latch 22 and as the pulley 10
revolves the wedge engages the key and withdraws it from the slot 9 and thereby
stops the machine as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4 and 5
The machine will then remain at rest until another bottle is placed within the
gripping levers 130, 131 and the push rod 25 thrust inwards when the whole
operation above described will be repeated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: —
-
1. In a bottle wiring machine, wherein the driving pulley is connected to the
driving shaft, by a spring actuated sliding key engaging with a recess in the boss
of the pulley means for automatically withdrawing the said key when a bottle

page_text: has been tied consisting of a wedge on a lever actuated by a cam through suitable
connections said cam forcing the wedge against a spring into engagement with
the key, in combination with a latch temporarily retaining the said wedge-shaped
lever in engagement with the key said latch being adapted to be withdrawn by a
push rod so as to release the lever and start the machine substantially as described.
2. In a bottle wiring machine means for lifting the bottle consisting of a sup-
port automatically adjustable to bottles of considerably varying length comprising
a pan or table, carried upon the end of a rack bar sliding vertically in guides in
the lifting bracket, the said pan being brought against the bottom of a bottle
suspended above it during the first part of the stroke of the lifting bracket by
friction allowing it to adjust itself to the length of the bottle and afterwards being
definitely raised with the lifting bracket by means of a pawl engaging the rack
either directly or through suitable gearing, when actuated by a cam plate sub-
stantially as described.
3. In a bottle wiring machine means for allowing a self adjustment between
the bottle support and bottle lifting bracket consisting of a rack bar gearing with
a pinion which is prevented from rotating by friction during the greater part of
the upward stroke of the lifting bracket but is locked by a pawl engaging with a
ratchet wheel towards the end of the stroke substantially as herein before described.
4 In a bottle wiring machine means for delivering the bottle after wiring,
comprising a bracket pivotted to the machine frame and carrying gripping levers
which are adapted to open and allow the neck of the bottle to pass up between them
when it is lifted to the wiring position but which grip the bottle below the collar
after it is wired and means for opening the levers and thereby releasing the bottle
when the bracket is oscillated to the delivering position substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
5. In a bottle wiring machine means for temporarily holding the bottle con-
sisting of a pair of levers geared together to ensure simultaneous movement and
forced together by a spring the outer ends of said levers being rounded or curved
to facilitate the insertion of a bottle and the inner or gripping faces being formed
at such angles that they grip the bottles centrally and so as to allow for variation
in the size and shape of the bottle neck substantially as herein before described
and illustrated.
6. In a bottle wiring machine having gripping levers for temporarily holding
the bottle means for opening said levers to allow the bottle to pass between them
when being raised to the wiring position consisting of a cam plate carried by the
bottle lifting bracket and adapted to engage with a roller or projection on one of
the levers substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
7. In a bottle wiring machine the combination of a plunger provided with a
spike or spikes in its face and slots in its extremity and a capsule holder consisting
of a pan carried by a bracket oscillated as required so as to bring a capsule directly
under the plunger, which is caused to descend and secure a capsule upon its spike
or spikes by a cam acting through a pair of levers the ends of which are connected
to a crosshead transmitting motion to the plunger by a spring substantially as
described.
8 In a bottle wiring machine having a capsule lifter and cork compressor in
the form of a plunger, the provision of an elastic connection and buffer check
between the said plunger and its operating means substantially as described and
illustrated.
9. In bottle wiring machines in combination a plunger mechanically actuated,
self centering gripping levers for temporarily supporting the bottle by the collar
while such plunger compresses the cork and means for allowing the plunger to
adapt itself to varying lengths of bottle necks and corks consisting of a spring
interposed between the plunger and its actuating means, substantially as described.
10. In bottle wiring machines the combination of a plunger mechanically
actuated and self centering gripping levers for temporarily supporting the bottle
by the collar while said plunger compresses the cork, a buffer spring interposed

page_text: between the plunger and its actuating means, for allowing of a variation in the
lengths of the bottle necks and corks and for maintaining a pressure on the cork
as the bottle is raised to the wiring position, and means for opening the gripping
levers to allow the bottle to rise to the wiring position consisting of a cam plate
carried by the lifting bracket and adapted to engage with a roller or projection on
one lever, the said levers being geared together and forced together by a spring,
so that they close and grip the bottle as it descends substantially as herein before
described.
11. In a bottle wiring machine in combination:-means for lifting the bottle
capable of automatic adjustment to varying lengths of bottles comprising a pan or
table carried upon the end of a rack bar sliding vertically in guides in the lifting
bracket and adapted to be supported thereby either through friction or through
a pawl engaging the rack either directly or through suitable gearing when actuated
by a cam plate, self centering gripping levers for temporarily supporting the
bottle during the adjustment of the lifting gear and means for compressing the
cork when the bottle is held by the gripping levers and for maintaining a pressure
thereon as the bottle is raised to the wiring position comprising a plunger actuated
by a cam through levers linked to a sliding crosshead between which and said
plunger a buffer spring is interposed substantially as hereinbefore described
12. In a bottle wiring machine means for applying a tension to the wires con-
sisting of a number of boxes corresponding to the number of wires employed and
adapted to be moved on guide rods against the action of springs said boxes being
provided with gripping levers which are forced by springs against the wires so as
to grip them against faces formed on the boxes when a tension is to be applied,
but which are released from the wires when no tension is required by parallel
rods worked by rocking levers substantially as hereinbefore described and illus-
trated.
13. In a bottle wiring machine means for applying a tension to the wires con-
sisting of a number of boxes corresponding to the number of wires employed and
provided with gripping levers, which are adapted to grip the wires under the
action of springs but which are adapted to release the wires when said springs are
compressed by the movement of two parallel slides in combination with a sliding
piece which forces the boxes forwards against the action of a spring said sliding
piece moving rearwardly when the boxes and levers have gripped the wires, to
allow the springs returning to tighten the wires and moving forwards when the
parallel slides force the levers to release the wires to obtain a new grip of the wires
substantially as described.
14. In a bottle wiring machine the combination with a twisting spindle
periodically rotated of a movable end piece or face plate substantially as described.
15. In a bottle wiring machine the combination of a twisting spindle provided
with a movable end piece or face plate with a cutting bar formed with a wedge-
shaped extremity substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
16. In a bottle wiring machine wherein the looping spindle is temporarily
freed from its operating cam so as to allow of self adjustment means for opening
the looping hooks whilst the spindle is free and then moving the spindle rear-
wardly with the hooks still open and guiding the operating levers on to the cam,
consisting of a wedge shaped piece arranged so as to slide in guides on the cam at
a part of the periphery where it is cut away in order to free the looping spindle
as aforesaid, said wedge-shaped piece being adapted to engage the operating levers
whatever their position thereby opening the looping hooks, and being provided
with a contact roller adapted to engage with a cam plate on the machine frame
which causes the levers to move the spindle rearwardly with the hooks, open and
also guide the levers on to the cam substantially as described.
17. In a bottle wiring machine a cam for operating the looping spindle cut away
at a portion of its periphery and provided at that part with a wedge shaped piece
free to slide laterally independent of the cam and adapted to be engaged by a fixed
cam plate substantially as and for the purposes described.

page_text: 18. In a bottle wiring machine wherein three or more wires are employed and
the bottle neck passes between two of them, means for drawing these latter wires
apart consisting of side hooks pivoted on the forked extremities of bars in such
a manner that they are capable of engaging the wires within the forked extremi-
ties and afterwards releasing them substantially as described and illustrated.
19. In a bottle wiring machine wherein three or more wires are employed and
the bottle neck passes between two of them means for drawing these latter wires
apart consisting of hooks pivoted on the forked extremities of recipro-
cating bars said hooks being also attached to rods sliding on the bars
and engaged by spring operated catches whereby the hooks are temporarily
locked in their open and closed positions substantially as described and illustrated.
20. In a bottle wiring machine wherein three or more wires are employed and
the bottle neck passes between two of them means for drawing these latter wires
apart and afterwards releasing them comprising in combination bars provided with
forked extremities for engaging the wires and reciprocated by rocking levers
worked from a cam and books pivoted upon the extremities of said bars and also
attached to rods sliding on the bars and adapted to be engaged by spring operated
catches from which they are released by contact with fixed stops so as to open or
close the hooks substantially as described and illustrated.
21. In a bottle wiring machine, wherein the twisted wire is cut by a knife
reciprocated by a cam operated lever and carried by a swinging arm brought into
proximity to the wire by a cam, mounting said swinging arm loosely upon its
spindle so that it may move thereon against the action of a spring and adjust
itself to different sizes of bottles substantially as described and illustrated.
22. In a bottle wiring machine means for cutting the twisted wires comprising
in combination, a knife reciprocated by a cam operated lever and carried by a
swinging arm which is provided with a wedge shaped extremity adapted to engage
with the face plate of the twisting spindle, means for pressing said swinging arm
close to the bending down lever so that the wire is always cut the same distance
from the bottle neck whether such neck be large or small consisting of a spring
coiled about the spindle upon which the arm is loosely pivoted and means for
bringing the swinging arm down to the wires as required consisting of a bell
crank lever one arm of which is attached to the swinging arm and the other carried
a roller in gear with a cam substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
23. In a bottle wiring machine means for bending down the twisted ends of wire
consisting of a pair of levers pivoted on a bush sliding on a vertical guide said
levers being geared together to ensure simultaneous movement and being caused
to descend and press the twisted ends of wire against the bottle neck substantially
as described.
24. In a bottle wiring machine means for bending down the twisted ends of wire
comprising in combination a pair of bending down levers geared together to ensure
equal and simultaneous movement, a bush to which said levers are pivoted and
which slides on a vertical guide and a rocking lever connected to the bush by a
link and oscillated by a cam so as to lower and raise the bending down levers
substantially as described and illustrated.
25. In a bottle wiring machine means for adjusting the distance of the looping
hooks from the bottle neck previous to the twisting operation comprising a cam
plate adapted to engage with a pin or projection either on or in connection with
the looping spindle and a rod carrying said cam plate and adjusted longitudinally
ly one arm of a bell crank lever the other arm of which is in contact with one of
the bending down levers substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
26. In a bottle wiring machine means for gauging the size of the bottle neck
comprising a pair of gauging levers geared together and pivoted on a bush sliding
on a vertical guide, in combination with means for correspondingly adjusting
the position of the looping hooks comprising a bell crank lever one arm of which is
in contact with one of the before mentioned levers and the other arm of which is
jointed to a rod carrying a cam plate which limits the longitudinal movement

page_text: of the looping spindle, the relative lengths of the arms of the bell crank lever
being so arranged that the movement of the cam plate is always equal to the
movement of the points of the gauging levers substantially as described.
27. In a bottle wiring machine in combination the cutting off gear, twisting
spindle and looping spindle with the bending down levers arranged in such a
manner that they are automatically adjusted according to the size of bottle neck
by such bending down levers substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1899.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.