IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING CAPSULES FOR CLOSING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING CAPSULES FOR CLOSING BOTTLES, JARS,
AND OTHER VESSELS."-A communication from abroad by Bertrand
Hinnolyte Tardif. of Paris, in the Empire of France.
Scaled the 29th October 1869, and dated the 18th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th May 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lanc, London, Consulting
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING CAPSULES FOR CLOSING BOTTLES,
JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS," a communication to be as follows :-
My Invention relates to improved machines for manufacturing'
capsules for stopping bottles, jars, and other vessels.

page_text: In order that the said Invention may be more fully understood I have
represented in the accompanying Drawing, as an example only, a machine
constructed according to my improvements.
Figure 1 shows a transverse sectional elevation of the said machine
on the line 1, 2, Figure 2. Figure 2 shews a longitudinal sectional
elevation of the same on the line 3, 4, Figure 1. In these two Figures
the same letters refer to the same parts.
It is known that capsules for stoppering bottles and other vessels are
produced by successive pressures of the material passing through different
dies or moulds. The principle upon which my system is based consists
arranging the dies in degrees or steps, so that the material having
been subjected to the first pressure in the die at the upper step
falls into the die at the next step, where it is subjected to a second
pressure, and so on. The number of the steps will be varied according
to the number of punches which are to operate in the machine. Between
the steps a, a, a, where the dies are fixed, is a circular plate or
table b', 6, 6, or a plate of another form, but having a circular motion.
Each plate is provided with six or more orifices or apertures, according
to the distance between the centres of the dies, the said dies being
arranged at the centre of the steps. These steps are fixed, and form part
of the frame of the machine. In each orifice of the plates &', b³, ', is
introduced a movable tube whose bore is the same in diameter as that
of the dies. At the upper part of the steps are the punches c', c², c',
which are actuated to beat out the capsules. The punch e' of the first
step a', causes the metal disc cut in the die to pass through and cuter
one of the orifices of the first plate or table &', as represented in Figure 2.
At the moment when the said punch re-ascends a cam (not shown)
moves a pusher rod d, which works inside the said punch by means of
a spring and disengages the capsule from the punch, so as to leave it
in the orifice of the said plate. During the remainder of the course of
the punch, and when it is entirely out of the orifice of the table, the said
table describes the sixth part of a revolution, more or less, according to the
number of orifices therein, and presents the orifice which contains the
capsule projecting evenly above the die in the second step a. Then the
second punch acts upon the capsule with the second operation, causing it
to pass through the second dic, and places it in an orifice of the second
table 6, in the same manner as the preceding, the punch ascends, the
table performs its circular evolution and presents the capsule to the

page_text: die of the third stop a³, to subject it to the third operation, after which
it falls into an orifice of the table 63, which conducts it to the fourth
step, and so on for the following operations. The movement of the said
tables is produced by means of a cam e, see Figure 1, keyed upon a
shaft, which at each revolution of the said shafts abuts against onc of
the branches of the star or butterfly tappet.g fixed on the shaft h of the
table, and imparts to the latter a circular motion whose course is equal
to the distance from the centre of one orifice to that of the other in
the same table. The shaft receives its continuous rotary motion
through a toothed wheel i and an endless screw or worm j.
In order to obtain precision in stopping the centre of an orifice of the
table exactly at the centre of the orifice of the die, I employ a cleat /,
provided with a shank, which can slide horizontally in a box 1, wherein
is arranged a spring m, which compels the said cleat to remain engaged
in one of the notches formed upon the end of the table and in liuc
with the centre of each orifice, there being as many notches > as there
are orifices. The shank or rod of the cleat or catch is provided with
a nose or point o, against which acts at the proper time a cam p for
disengaging the said cleat from the notch when the table is to re-
commence its movement. The cleat is caused to fall into the succeeding
notch by the spring m. Above the steps a', a², and upon the shaft
of the table, is keyed a ratchet wheel q, having a pawl r, which operates
to hold in the opposite direction to the motion of the table, so as to
prevent the return of the same.
The said machine may be arranged vertically or horizontally, and may
have any desired number of steps or degrees, and tables, which will
vary the number of punches and dies according to the operations to.
which it is desired to subject the capsules.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,..
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, South-
ampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, Consulting Engineer, send.
5 greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR MANUFACTURING CAPSULES POR CLOSING
BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification.
My Invention relates to improved machines for manufacturing
capsules for stopping bottles, jars, and other vessels.
In order that the said Invention may be more fully understood I have
represented in the accompanying Drawings, as an example only, a
machine constructed according to my improvements.
Figure 1 shows a transverse sectional clevation of the said machine on
the line 1, 2, Figure 2; Figure 2 shews a longitudinal sectional elevation
of the same on the line 3, 4, Figure 1. In these two Figures the same
letters refer to the same parts.
It is known that capsules for stoppering bottles and other vessels are
produced by successive pressures of the material passing through
different dies or moulds. The principle upon which my system is based

page_text: is the arrangement of the dies in degrees or steps, so that the material
having been subjected to the first pressure in the die at the upper step
falls into the dic at the next step, where it is subjected to a second
pressure, and so on. The number of the steps will be varied according
to the number of punches which are to operate in the machine. Between
the steps a, a, a, where the dies are fixed, is a circular plate or table
,,, or a plate of another form, but having a circular motion. Each
plate is provided with six or more orifices or apertures, according to the
distance between the centres of the dies, the said dies being arranged at
the centre of the steps. These steps are fixed, and form part of the
frame of the machine. In each orifice of the plates b', b, ³, is intro-
duced a movable tube, whose bore is the same in diameter as that of the
dies. At the upper part of the steps are the punches c¹, c, c³, which
are actuated to beat out the capsules. The punch c' of the first step a¹
causes the metal disc cut in the die to pass through and enter one of the
orifices of the first plate or table 6', as represented in Figure 2. At the
moment when the said punch re-ascends a cam (not shewn) moves a
pusher rod d, which works inside the said punch by means of a spring
and disengages the capsule from the punch, so as to leave it in the orifice
of the said plate. During the remainder of the course of the punch, and
when it is entirely out of the orifice of the tube, the said table describes
the sixth part of a revolution, more or less, according to the number of
orifices therein, and presents the orifice which contains the capsule
projecting evenly above the dio in the second step. Then the second
punch acts upon the capsule with the second operation, causing it to
pass through the second die, and placing it in an orifice of the second
table 6, in the same manner as the preceding, the punch ascends, the
table performs its circular evolution and presents the capsule to the die
of the third step a³, to subject it to the third operation, after which it
falls into an orifice of the table b³, which conducts it to the fourth step,
and so on for the following operations. The movement of the said
tables is produced by means of a cam e, see Figure 1, keyed upon a
shaft, which at each revolution of the said shaft abuts against one of
the branches of the star or butterfly tappet g fixed on the shaft h of the
table, and imparts to the latter a circular motion whose course is equal
to the distance from the centre of one orifice to that of the other in the
same table. The shaft receives its continuous rotary motion through a
toothed wheel i and an endless screw or worm j. In order to obtain
precision in stopping the centre of an orifice of the table exactly at the

page_text: centre of the orifice of the dic, I employ a clent k, provided with a shank,
which can slide horizontally in a box 1, wherein is arranged a spring m,
which compels the said cleat to remain engaged in one of the notches
formed upon the edge of the table and in line with the centre of each
orifice, there being as many notches » as there are orifices. The shank
or rod of the cleat or catch is provided with a nose or point o, against
which acts at the proper time a camp for disengaging the said cleat
from the notch when the table is to recommence its movement. The
cleat is caused to fall into the succeeding notch by the spring m. Below
the steps a, a, and upon the shaft of the table, is keyed a ratchet
wheel q, having a pawl, which operates to hold in the opposite direction
to the motion of the table, so as to prevent the return of the same.
The same machine may be arranged vertically or horizontally, and
may have any desired number of steps or degrees and tables, which will
vary the number of punches and dies according to the operations to
which it is desired to subject the capsules.
I have shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings a modification
of my improved machine, in which the plates have two holes instead of
six, as herein-before described, and make by a peculiar transmission half
a revolution in one direction, and half a revolution in the other direction.
This latter arrangement has the advantage over that before described, as
it makes it unnecessary to take the machine to pieces to exchange the
plates. I have also, as it will be seen in the Drawings, modified the
form of the punch. Figure 3 shews in longitudinal section a part of the
machine; Figure 4 shows an end view of the same at the side of
the upper step; Figure 5 shews an end view of the same at the side of
the lower step; Figure 6 is a plan of part of the machine, shewing the
form of the plates and their operative mechanism. In these Figures the
same letters indicate the same parts.
Motion is given to the plates N by means of a shaft I, over which is
fixed a connecting rod K communicating the motion to a toothed
wheel gearing with a pinion M fixed to the shaft J of the plate-N.
The shaft I has a reciprocating motion, that is to say, makes a half
revolution in one direction, and a half revolution in another direction, in
such a manner as to communicate to the plates N a semi-rotating
alternate motion, turning and returning the same. As shewn in
Figure 6 the plates N are pierced with two holes only.

page_text: The shaft I is operated as follows:-0 is a cam, which receives a
rotary motion through the intermediate wheelwork by means of the
driving shaft X of the machine; this cam lifts a lever Q attached to a
connecting rod P, whose lower part is fixed to a lever S, which turns the
shaft I in one direction. The movement in the opposite direction is
effected by the lever Q', which is lowered by the cam O and the con-
necting rod P. Upon the step a are fixed projections R, which arc
adjustable by means of a screw in such a manner as to increase the
security at the necessary times for stopping the plates.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim, the arrange-
ment in stages of the plates and dies in the manner above described, so
as to obtain in these machines a continuous action and great mechanical
precision in the conveyance of the capsules, at the same time producing
a larger number of capsules than can be made in a given time by
machines hitherto used, the parts of the machine being constructed and
arranged as shewn, or with such modifications as may be found desirable
for the transmission of motion to the plates and punches, and other
devices.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
H. J. GEDGE,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.