rings to Bottles, Bottle-stoppers, and similar Articles.
Year: 1886

page_text: rings to Bottles, Bottle-stoppers, and similar Articles.
I, SARAH ANN BULL, of 27 Cuthill Road, Denmark Hill, in the County of
Surrey do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
The main object of my invention is to provide for placing cork-rings in grooves
or recesses formed in bottle-necks or in bottle-stoppers.
It is well known that cork possesses peculiar advantages as a material from
which to form washers for tightly closing bottles. But, although many attempts
have been made to utilize it for this purpose, the manner of applying the cork has,
in most cases, been more or less unsatisfactory; and in the case of grooved or
recessed bottles or stoppers the application of cork-rings has not heretofore been
found practicable.
I have ascertained that, in order to apply rings of cork in the manufacture of
bottle-stoppers of the class described in the specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me and dated 24th February 1883 No. 1021, it is necessary that each
ring should be suitably held or supported externally and then compressed by
forcing it upon the body or shank of the stopper until it reaches the groove or
recess therein, when it will expand and enter the said groove or recess. Moreover,
in order to apply cork-rings to bottle-necks formed with internal grooves or
recesses, it is necessary to compress each ring and force it, while compressed, into
the mouth of the bottle until it reaches the groove or recess, when it will expand
and enter the same.
My present invention therefore, comprises an improved method of, and apparatus
for, applying cork-rings to bottles or bottle-stoppers formed with grooves or
recesses.
The improved method, when applying rings of cork to stoppers, consists essentially
in confining the ring of cork in a suitable socket to prevent it from expanding, and
thereby bursting, and in forcing the stopper through the said ring, which is thereby
compressed, until it reaches the recess in the stopper, when it again expands. In
applying the ring to a recess or groove in a bottle-neck or the like I substitute for
the socket a mandrel adapted to fit the hole in the cork and having thereon a
collar of the same size as the hole in the bottle-neck. The mandrel with the ring
thereon is pushed into the bottle until the said ring reaches the recess or groove,
when it expands into the same, so that the mandrel can be withdrawn. The said
mandrel prevents the ring from collapsing under the compression caused by the
bottle-neck, and the collar prevents the ring from dragging on the mandrel as it is
being forced through the neck.

page_text: The apparatus which I prefer to employ for applying rings to stoppers is con-
structed as follows, that is to say;-I provide a base-plate of any desirable size
from which projects a goose-neck. The upper end of this goose-neck carries a
which is arranged in a vertical position and has at its upper end a hand-
wheel or the like by which it may be turned.
screw,
To the lower end of this screw is attached a holder having a recess adapted to
receive the head of the stopper to which the ring is to be applied, the shank of the
stopper with the groove therein projecting below the same.
Around this holder are fixed a number of springs, to the free ends of which are
attached pieces which project within the holder. These pieces enable the holder to
receive stoppers slightly varying in size (the said springs yielding more or less as
required) and also prevent the stopper from falling out.
Immediately below this holder in the bed-plate is formed a hole, and around the
upper end of this hole is formed a recess into which the ring of cork is placed.
This recess must be of the same size as the ring, in order to prevent the ring of
cork from bursting when the stopper is forced therethrough. The bottom of the
recess prevents the cork from being pushed downwards, and the hole serves to
receive the shank of the stopper.
It will be readily understood that by placing a ring of cork in the said recess
and a stopper in the holder, and then forcing the latter into the ring by means of
the screw, that when the recess in the stopper comes opposite to the ring the latter
will expand into the same and so become attached to the stopper.
In some cases I adapt the machine to apply rings of different sizes and thick-
nesses. For this purpose I employ loose rings having recesses of the desired sizes
for receiving the cork rings, which loose rings are connected with the bed-plate in
any suitable manner.
i
To insert a cork ring into a recess or groove in a bottle-neck I somewhat modify
the apparatus described, that is to say, I attach upon the end of the screw a rod
or mandrel adapted to fit the interior of the cork ring, and having a collar against
which the said ring bears. Below the mandrel, in the bed-plate, is arranged an
aperture for receiving the neck of a bottle. Around this aperture is placed a
funnel shaped device, the lower end of which is of substantially the same size as
the opening in the neck of the bottle. If a ring of cork is placed on the said
mandrel against the collar thereon, and moved downwards into the said funnel the
cork is gradually compressed until, when the ring reaches the lower end of the.
funnel, it is small enough to enter the neck of the bottle and to be pushed through
the same until it reaches the groove or recess, when it will expand, and the mandrel
may be withdrawn.
Although I prefer to apply the cork-rings by means of machinery yet it is
obvious that they may be applied by band; a socket having a recess to hold the
ring being the chief requirement in applying rings to stoppers; and a mandrel
with a collar thereon, and a funnel shaped device for compressing the cork when
applying rings to grooves or recesses in bottles,
Dated this 26th day of January 1886
o

page_text: rings to Bottles, Bottle-stoppers, and similar Articles.
I, SARAH ANN BULL, of 27 Cuthill Road, Denmark Hill, in the County of
Surrey, 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:-
T
The main object of my invention is to provide for the insertion of cork rings
into grooves or recesses formed in bottle-necks or in bottle-stoppers.
It is well known that cork possesses peculiar advantages as a material from
which to form washers for ensuring the tightness of stoppered bottles. But,
although many attempts have heretofore been made to utilize cork for this
purpose, the manner of applying washers of this material has, in most cases, been
more or less unsatisfactory; and, in the case of grooved or recessed bottle-necks or
stoppers, the application of complete rings of cork has hitherto been found
impracticable.
I have ascertained that cork rings can be very conveniently and advantageously
applied to grooved or recessed bottle-necks, bottle-stoppers or the like, by tem-
porarily compressing the ring so as to either diminish its external diameter or
increase its internal diameter, as the case may be, and then applying it to the
bottle-neck bottle-stopper or the like, and permitting it to expand and enter the
groove or recess therein,
My improved method, therefore, consists, in the case of a bottle-neck formed
with an internal groove or recess, in compressing the cork-ring by any suitable
means so as to diminish its external diameter and then forcing the said ring, while
thus compressed, into the mouth of the bottle until it reaches the said groove or
recess, when it will expand and enter the same. And, in the case of a bottle-
stopper formed with a groove or recess, my improved method consists in supporting
the cork ring externally and then compressing the said ring by forcing it upon the
body of the stopper until it reaches the groove or recess therein, when it will
expand and enter the said groove or recess.
My invention, moreover, comprises the improved apparatus hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of an apparatus for inserting cork rings
into grooves or recesses in bottle-necks or the like.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of a device or apparatus for applying cork
rings to bottle-stoppers, and, '
Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, of another
apparatus or machine for applying cork rings to bottle-stoppers.
In inserting a cork ring into a groove or recess in a bottle-neck, according to my
said invention, I prefer to proceed as follows, that is to say:-I employ a hollow
cylinder a (Figure 1) of wood or other suitable material, having at one end a recess
or cavity 6 of such diameter that it will fit over the mouth of the bottle cas
..

page_text: shewn. A taper hole d is formed in the cylinder a, which hole, at the end next
the said recess b, is of the same, or nearly the same, diameter as the interior of the
bottle-neck, and, at the upper end of the cylinder a, is of sufficient diameter to
permit the cork ring f to be readily inserted therein. This device I place upon
the bottle, as shewn; I then place the cork ring ƒ upon a rod or mandrel g, which
is reduced in diameter at g¹ to form a shoulder that will bear against the top of
the said ring. I then insert this mandrel with the cork ring thereon into the
hole d and force it through the said hole into the mouth of the bottle. The said
ring, as it is driven into the taper hole, is gradually compressed so that it will
readily enter the mouth of the bottle. The larger part of the rod or mandrel g is
made of slightly less diameter than the interior of the bottle-neck, so that the
cork ring can be driven into the bottle-neck by the said mandrel, until the said
ring comes in contact with the shoulder c³ in the bottle-neck; the said ring then
expands within the groove or recess h and the mandrel can be easily withdrawn.
The device or apparatus above described is also applicable for forcing internal
stoppers provided with cork rings as herein described into bottles.
In applying a cork ring, according to my invention, to a bottle of the kind
ordinarily used for containing soda-water, I sometimes provide a box or case for
holding and enclosing the bottle while a cork ring, or a stopper provided with a
cork ring, is being forced therein. This box or case is made in two parts, one of
which is made with a flat base so that it can stand firmly upon a table or the like,
and the other of which is made to fit into the top of the lower part and thus
enclose the bottle. The cylinder a of the device or apparatus above described may,
in this instance, be attached to, or form a part of, the upper portion of the said box
or case:
In applying cork rings to stoppers according to my said invention, I, in some
instances, proceed as follows, that is to say :-I employ a block i of wood or other
suitable material, having a hole j bored centrally through the same. Around one
end of this hole is formed a recess or cavity k which is designed to receive a
cork ring. I also employ a disc or block m of wood or other suitable material
having in it a hole or cavity into which the head of the stopper may be inserted,
so that the said stopper will be supported with its axis vertical. I place the cork
ring in the block as shewn and apply it to the end of the stopper. I then
forcibly press the said block i downward upon the stopper until it enters the
groove or recess n therein. In the drawing, I have shewn a screw-threaded
stopper, but I may apply cork rings to other stoppers in the manner above
described.
The apparatus which I prefer to employ for applying cork rings to bottle-
stoppers is shown in Figure 3. This apparatus comprises a base plate o, and a
goose-neck p formed thereon or firmly attached thereto. A screw q is passed
through the upper end of this goose-neck and is provided with a hand-wheel r
whereby it may be rotated.
To the lower end of this screw is attached a holder or socket & adapted to receive
the head of the stopper to which the cork ring is to be applied. Around this
holder or socket are fixed a number of springs t, to the free ends of which are
attached pieces t¹ which project into the said socket and retain the stopper therein;
by employing these spring pieces, I adapt the holder to receive stoppers having
heads of different sizes, the said springs yielding more or less as required.
A hole u is formed in the bed-plate o, and around the upper end of this hole is
formed a recess for the reception of the cork ring. In this case, the stopper is
forced downward into the cork ring by means of the screw q until the recess n in
the said stopper is brought into position for the ring to expand into the same.
I sometimes adapt the machine shewn in Figure 3 for applying rings of different
sizes and thickness. For this purpose, I employ interchangeable rings w of metal
or other suitable material, which fit into the recess in the bed plate o, and which
differ in thickness, or in internal diameter or in both these particulars. One or
other of these rings is inserted in the recess v and is secured therein by means of a

page_text: clamping plate and screw y, or in any other suitable manner, so that it can be
readily removed and replaced by another of the said rings.
The improved method and apparatus above described may be employed for
applying cork rings to other objects or articles than bottles or bottle-stoppers; for
example, in cases where such rings require to be fitted into grooves or recesses in
rods or tubes.
Moreover other apparatus than that above described may be used in carrying
out my improved method of applying the cork rings.
When a cork ring is applied to a bottle-stopper in the manner above described,
it requires to be cut through before it can be removed from the said stopper.
My present invention is advantageously applicable for the manufacture of
bottle-stoppers of the class described in the specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me and dated 24th February A.D. 1883 No. 1021.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim
First. The above described method of applying a cork ring to a bottle-neck,
bottle-stopper or the like, consisting in compressing the said ring and forcing it,
while compressed, into the bottle-neck or upon the bottle-stopper until it expands
and enters a groove or recess therein.
Second. The improved apparatus substantially as described with reference to
Figure 1 of the drawing for the purposes above specified.
Third. The improved apparatus substantially as described with reference to
Figure 2 or to Figure 3 of the drawing for the purpose above specified.
DL:. OFIL
COL. 1000
Dated this 25th day of October 1886.
SARAH ANN BULL.
Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.