IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING BOTTLES IN CASES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Cleland Davidson, of Belfast, in the County of
Antrim, Ireland, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING
BOTTLES IN CASES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Cleland Davidson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1881.
SAMUEL CLELAND DAVIDSON, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING BOTTLES IN CASES."
This Invention relates to an inexpensive and easy method of packing bottles in
cases.
The Invention consists in first folding the lower and cylindrical part of the
bottle in a wrapper consisting of strong pasteboard or very thin sawn wood like
veneer sheeting, and then securing the same on the bottle by wrapping the whole
bottle, including this wooden or pasteboard envelope, with thin paper.
The bottles are then laid into a wooden case of suitable size to exactly contain
a given number of bottles when laid on their sides and opposite to one another in
such a manner that their necks fit in between one another, while the cylindrical
portions of the bottles touch closely.
When one layer is laid upon the bottom of the case the necks remain up off the
bottom to the extent of half the difference between their diameter and that of
the cylindrical part of the bottle, and when another layer of bottles is laid upon the
first layer the space between the necks of the first and second layers of bottles is
double that of the first or bottom space.
To make the bottles firm and secure it is necessary that these spaces below and
above the necks should be occupied by something having a certain amount of
firmness in it, and for this purpose I have a groove or slot cut down the two sides
of the case exactly midway between the two opposite ends where the bases of the
bottles are laid, and this groove or slot is of suitable width to let, say, a half inch
slip of soft quality of wood drop into it.
These slips are of two dimensions, viz., half depth and full depth, the half depth
piece is dropped into its place before any bottles are put into the case, then the

page_text: full depth slip is dropped in on top of the necks of the first layer of bottles,
another layer of bottles is then laid on, and then another full depth slip is dropped
in, but if this be the top layer of bottles, a half depth slip is laid on top, and
then the lid of the case secured.
The necks of each layer of bottles should rest firmly on the wooden slips, and
the wood for these slips should be soft, so as to yield a little if pressed by the necks
of the bottles.
Each layer of bottles should exactly fill the case sideways and lengthways in
such a manner that there may be as little moving space in any direction as
possible.
To get them to lie in their places firmly in this way it is only necessary to pack
the first layer of bottles with a slight obliquity in the case, that is to say, running
their line of direction at a slight angle with the sides of the case, then with the
next layer reverse this order, giving the line of obliquity the opposite direction to
the preceding layer.
The wrapping of the cylindrical portion of the bottles in the pasteboard or thin
sawn wood, not only makes a compact and firm packing without the introduction
of straw, shavings, or other loose material, but also forms a protecting shield to the
bottles, and while elastic enough to prevent breakage by external concussion on
the case, it is sufficiently stout to hold its position even though a bottle were to
explode within the, case, and an accident of this sort does not materially reduce the
security of the packing as regards the remainder of the bottles.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Cleland Davidson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th September 1881.
SAMUEL CLELAND DAVIDSON, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PACKING BOTTLES IN CASES.'
The improvements relate to an easy and inexpensive method of packing bottles
in cases, and which method I term "The Despatch Bottle Packing."
The Invention consists in first wrapping the lower and cylindrical part of the
bottle in a wrapper of strong pasteboard or very thinly cut sheets of wood, like
veneer sheeting.
I preferably use the latter, which can be made of suitable size by a planing
machine, like those used for making the wood sheeting for the manufacture of
match boxes. I have it cut of sufficient width to cover or nearly cover the parallel
cylindrical portion of the lower end of the bottle, and as this sheeting is very thin
I have it of sufficient length to wrap twice round the bottle. I fold these wrappers
into cylinders open at both ends, and tie them with any suitable string to a correct
size to easily slide on to the bottle. The natural spring of the wood sheeting holds
it out firmly against the tying, so that without being placed upon the bottle it
forms a firm cylinder which accordingly can be prepared in quantity and used as
required.
The bottle, after application to it of this wood cylinder, may then be wrapped
with thin paper over all, or it may be wrapped first in paper, and the wood cylinder
put on over the paper wrapper.
The bottles when so wrapped are then laid into a wooden case of suitable size
to exactly contain a given number of bottles when laid on their sides and opposite
to one another, in such a manner that their necks fit in between one another, while
the cylindrical portions of the bottles touch closely.
When one layer of bottles is laid on the bottom of the case their necks remain
up off the bottom to the extent of half the difference between their diameter and
that of the body of the bottle, and when another layer of bottles is laid on top of
the first layer, the space between the necks of the first and second layers of bottles
is double that of the first or bottom space.
To make the bottles firm and secure it is necessary that these spaces below and
above the necks should be occupied by something having a certain amount of
firmness in it, and for this purpose I have a groove cut down the two sides of the
case exactly midway between the two opposite ends where the cases of the bottles
are laid, and these grooves are of suitable width to allow the ends of, say, a half
inch slip of wood to drop into them.
These slips are of two dimensions, viz., half depth and full depth. The half
depth piece is dropped into its place before any bottles are put into the case, then
the full depth piece is dropped in on top of the necks of the first layer of bottles,
another layer of bottles is then laid on, and then another full depth slip is dropped
in, but if this be the top layer of bottles a half depth slip is laid on the top, and
the lid of the case secured.
The necks of each layer of bottles should rest firmly on the wooden slips, and
the wood for these slips should be of a softish nature, so as to yield a little if pressed
by the necks of the bottles.
Each layer of bottles should exactly fill the case sideways and lengthways in
such a manner that there be as little moving space as possible.
To get them to lie in their places firmly in this way the first layer of bottles
should be packed with a slight obliquity in the case, that is to say, running their