IMPROVEMENTS IN CAps and Stoppers anD CERTAIN OTHER ARTICLES TO BE EMPLOYED WITH BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALFLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Richmond Stocker, of Liverpool Road,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAps and Stoppers anD
CERTAIN OTHER ARTICLES TO BE EMPLOYED WITH BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS,
AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALFLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES,"
">
Scaled the 19th August 1873, and dated the 25th February 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Richmond
Stocker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 25th February 1878.
I, ALEXANDER RICHMOND STOCKER, of Liverpool Road, London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CAPS AND STOPPERS AND CERTAIN OTHER ARTICLES TO BE EMPLOYED WITH BOTTLES
AND OTHER VESSELS AND IN THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF, & IN THE APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the production of stoppors apper.

page_text: appendages to be connected with some of such bottles, such as the
unions and shields.
The material first in order which I prefer to use for producing the
majority of the articles according with my Invention is potters' clay
(various) either employed in its plastic state or dried and pulverized
and then worked in what is technically called in the trade its dust stato.
In most instances I realize the figure of the articles wished for by the
aid of dies and tools and pressure exerted upon the material when
placed conveniently for the purpose of receiving thereto or thereon such
force as may be necessary to form the article to be made, or somo may
be made and formed while in their rigid state and compounded with
pottery ware, glass, metal, cork, wood, or other material.
נ
My Invention is also applicable to the manufr, of pots, jars,
castor balls, bedstead furniture, and such like articles when made out of
the materials mentioned, and the dies and tools are constructed and so 1
formed by shaping, cutting, engraving, turning, or otherwise fashioning
them, rendering them suitable to the given article intended to be
produced in accordance with my Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Richmond Stocker in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 25th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
RICHMOND STOCKER, of Liverpool Road, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Richmond Stocker, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Richmond Stocker, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Richmond Stocker, 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

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPS AND STOPPERS AND CERTAIN OTHER
ARTICLES TO BE EMPLOYED WITH BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN THE MANU-
FACTURE THEREOF, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH
5 IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Richmond Stocker, my
exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly describo 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
Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Lotters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Richmond Stocker, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, referenco being had to the accom-
panying five Sheets of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates to the manufacture of stoppers for infant's
feeding bottles and other receptacles, and also to certain appendages
employed with such foeding bottles, such as the unions and shields.
My Invention is also applicable to the manufacture of pots, jars,
castor balls, bedstead furniture, and such like articles.
The material I employ for the manufacture of the said articles is
ordinary potters' clay of any suitable kind, which may either be used in
its plastic state or preferably it may be dried and pulverized, and then
worked in what is known in the trade as its dust state, and I produce
the articles required by the aid of pressure in dies or tools constructed,
arranged, and operated as hereafter fully described, the dies or tools
being so cut, sunk, turned, engraved, or otherwise formed or fashioned
as to produce the article desired.
The articles having being made, as hereafter described, I fire, glaze,.
or otherwise finish them in the ordinary manner.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figuro 1 is a plan, and Figure 2, a vertical central section of improved
apparatus for making cans or stoppers for feeding bottles, and for-

page_text: A is a bed plate to be fixed on the base of an ordinary fly or other
suitable press; B, B, are the two halves of a divided matrix hinged
together or pivoted on a fixed pin C rising from plate A; B³, B³, are
handles, by the aid of which the matrix may be readily opened to
remove the finished article. This is necessary whenever the form of the 5
article to be produced is such that the sides of the matrix have to be
undercut, as in the one shown, which is shaped for producing stoppers
for feeding bottles having an external bead round the lower edge, or
when a screw thread is required, as on a pot to which a screw cap
is to be applied. The halves B, B, are pressed tightly together by 10
screws D, D, passingthrough dogs on plate A, and bearing against studs
or projections B³, B', on the parts B, B, of the matrix, as shown. Both
screws and studs are made with conical or rounded ends, and the screws
(which are respectively right and left handed) are of quick pitch, so
that by a half turn of the screws D, D, the studs B³ will clear the ends 1
of the scrows and allow the parts B, B, to be separated, as shown in red
lines. Instead of working the screws each time the jaws are closed and
opened, hand levers may be used jointed to B, B, and bent so as to abut
against the ends of the screws (in lieu of the studs B¹), as shown
in dotted lines at one side of the Figure. By means of these levers the 2
halves of the matrix may be readily locked together and unlocked, tho
screw D being only retained to compensate for wear of the parts.
E is a movable central coro pin; and E³, movable annular core, both
being attached at the lower end to upright rod F worked by a lever F¹
to which it is jointed by a pin; this lever is fulcrumed beneath the 2
bench on which the apparatus is placed, and is worked by hand for
the purpose of sliding the pin E and annular core E' up and down.
The central core pin E moves through a fixed guide G in an annular
space around which the coro E' also slides. The guide G forms part
of the bed A, or is fixed thereto at its base, it being necessary to support 8
the shank of the cap moulded while the core is being drawn down as
otherwise the shank being straight would not deliver with the cap
but would break off, the core E¹ being connected to F by two small
rods passing up one at either side of G. In making caps without
shanks the guide G would be dispensed with, and the core E¹ would 3
be in the form of a solid cylinder sliding up and down in A, and
with or without a coro pin E rising from the centre, according as
it is or is not required to make a holo in the crown of the cap. In

page_text: '
caps without shanks it is sometimes necessary to mako a screw thread
on the interior of the cap. For this purpose the core would have
thread cut upon it, and instead of lowering it by a lover a scrow rod
would have to be employed somewhat like that in Figure 3. H is the
upper dio which is attached to the plunger of a suitable press (not
shown); I is a key or bolt which is inserted in a socket bencatli,
coro E¹ to support the same while the article is being moulded; it is
worked by means of a hand lever I slotted to receive a stud on I,
as shown. The parts being in the position shown in Figuro 2, tho
material of which the article is to be composed is placed in mould B, B,
and the dic H being then brought down and the necessary pressure
exerted on the materials in the mould the article is at once produced.
The die H having been raised the matrix B is opened as before described,
the key is then withdrawn, and pin E and core E' are drawn down
by lover F to allow of the finished stopper being readily removed.
1
Figure 8 shows in central vertical section, and Figuro 4 in front
elovation, another arrangement of apparatus for making caps or stoppers:
for feeding and other bottles, and for making other articles, as above
mentioned. K is .a guide or socket placed in an aperture in the bed
of the press, in which it fits loosely to admit of the die being readily
centred beneath the upper die or plunger, the socket being provided
with an external slioulder by which it rests on the bed of the press,
as shown. The socket K is made hollow to receive the dio L, which
is caused to slide up and down therein by a scrow M connectod
thereto, as shown, and working through a nut M' bolted to socket K
and operated by a hand wheel. The die L contains a lifting picco N
which forms the bottom of the dic, and moves up and down therein
to release the finished. article from the dio, as herein-after described,
and this piece N is attached to a central triangular stem N passing"
down through a corresponding holo in L, and through a circular hole
bored in the screw M, so as not to turn with the latter. Figure 8
shows the parts in position for moulding a cap, the plunger being
brought down. The cap having been moulded, as shown in Figure 3,
the dio Lis drawn down by turning the hand wheel. The part N'
descends with it until the end of rod 'N', which projects beneath the
hand wheel, strikes against a stop, and the part L continuing to
descend the finished article is loft upon the lifting picco N whence.
it is readily removed through an aperture in the socket K, as shown:

page_text: in Figure 4. The die having been again raised to the position, Figure 8,
it is ready for refilling. Instead of employing a screw the die L may
be operated by means of a lever.
Figuro 5 shows another arrangement of apparatus. K. is a socket
or matrix fixed on the bed plate of a press; it is bored out to receive 5
an annular die O sliding up and down on a fixed core P therein. The
dio O is connected by rods passing through the base of the core with
a hand lever by which it is operated. The annular dio O fits accurately
in the upper part of the socket or matrix proper, as shown. The articlo
having been moulded by bringing down the upper die or plunger, the 1
latter is raised and the finished article lifted off the coro and out of
the matrix by moving up tho sliding dio O by means of the hand levor,
of this lover may be replaced by a screw, like that in Figuro 3.
Figure 6 shows in a central vertical section a modified arrangement
of apparatus for making button-headed plug stoppers. The under die 1
consists of the socket K containing a central core pin d fixed at its
base, and surmounted by two concentric annular lifting pieces e and g
forming part of the dio. The first of these e slides upon the pin d, and
serves to lift the shank of the stopper off the core. It acts in con-
junction with g to which it is connected by a cross pin passing 2
through and working up and down in a slot in f, which is also
tubular, but but is fixed at the base like the core pin d. The tubular
lifting piece is accurately fitted in socket K, and moves up and
down therein. The upper edges of the annular pieces are so shaped
and relatively arranged as to impart the desired form to the article a
which is lifted out of the mould after the plunger has been raised
by raising the lifting pieces e and 7 by means of a lever connected
thereto by rods g', the object of using two lifting picces being to ensure
articles of the shape shown, delivering properly, and without breaking.
Figure 7 shows a front elevation, Figure 8 a plan, and Figure 9 an
end view of the dies or moulds for making unions. Figure 10 shows a
plan of the same, with the gate swung back or removed, whilst Figures
11 and 12 show plan an face views of the moulds (open), and Figuro 13,
plan and section of the protecting plate.
R, R, are the two halves of the mould hinged to one another, and so
engraved or sunk on their inner faces as to form when closed together
moulds for one or sovoral unions. S is a clamp or vice fixed on the bed'

page_text: of the press, between the jaws S¹, S', of which tho mould is placed, and
held firmly together by the pressure of a screw T. U is a protecting
plate of hardened steel placed on the mould R, and having an number of
holes exactly corresponding to the union moulds, the exact coincidence
of the two halves R, R, of the mould, as well as of the platue U with tho
same, being ensured by dowels R'. The purpose of this plate is to
prevent the entrance to the moulds being cut or worn away by the clay
as it is forced therein on the descent of the plunger. V is a plato pivoted
at V' to the clamp 8, and having a slot or gate through it to convey tho
clay to the moulds when it is placed in position, as shown in Figure 8.
W is the plunger, carrying a number of coro pins W³, one coinciding
with each mould, to produce the bore of the union. The mould having
been fixed in the clamp, and covered by plate U, and the gato V having
been brought ovor it, as shown in Figure 8, the gato is filled with clay
(which wo prefer to uso in its plastic stato) for making unions., On the
plunger being then brought down the coro pins W¹first pass through tho
moulds, and the plungor W, which exactly fits the gate V, then forces
the clay down into the moulds and compressos it therein, the surplus
passing out at an opening at the end of the gate, the bottom of the
moulds being closed by the surface 8, on which it rests.
.
Instead of the matrixes being cut vertically, as shown in Figure 12,
they may be disposed longitudinally, as shown in Figure 12. In this
case the bore would be produced by a coro pin x, cither laid in a suitabļo
rocess between the halves of the mould before the clay is forced in, or
the pin can be pushed through after the unions are moulded. In
either caso the pins W₁ on the plunger would be dispensed with.
1
Figuro 14 shows a vertical section, Figure 15 a plan, and Figure 16
a front clevation of a modified arrangement of the apparatus shown in
Figures 1 and 2, adapted for the manufacture of unions. A is the bod
) plate, carrying a number of core pins a, which stand up in a row between
the halves B, B, of the die, which are hinged together on a pin O on tho
bed plate, as before, and are engraved so as to form a number of moulds,
in cach of which stands a core pin, and the dio is closed together by
screws or levers, as in Figure 1. 6 is a lifting plato recessod into the
5 bed plate beneath the die, operated by a hand lover below through
rods c, c, its object being to lift the unions when moulded off the coro
'pins, as shown in Figure 16, the die being open. V is a plato pivoted on
the pin O above the dio B, and having an opening in which tho matorial

page_text: is filled, and whence it is expressed into the moulds by a plunger corres-
ponding in shape to the said opening or gate.
The improvements in apparatus for making shields relates to the
apparatus for the same purpose described and illustrated in Figure 6 of
the Specification of a Patent granted to Alexander Southwood Stocker,
dated January 18th 1872, No. 154. Instead of making shields of clay in
its dust state, as hitherto, I find it preferable to make them in plastic
clay. For this purpose it is necessary to provide means for their removal
from the mould, as being soft they are liable to bo easily damaged.
Figure 17 shows in central vertical section the die with the improvement
applied. This improvement merely consists in making the lifting picce L
in two parts, so that the upper part L'or die proper may bo raised up out
of the socket K by the lifting piece l, and removed with the article
moulded. A number of similar removable dies are used, each one being
placed with the article moulded therein on a heated plate until the
article is sufficiently hardened to admit of its removal.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my
Invention to be protected by the heroin-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
1st. The two parts B, B, composing the matrix, pivoted to a fixed pin
on the bed plate, and combined with the devices for locking them
together, constructed and operating substantially as herein set forth.
2ndly. The combination, with the matrix, consisting of two parts B, B,
jointed together, of the movable core E¹, standing up within the matrix, :
and operating in connection thorewith, substantially as and for the purpose
shown and described.
Brdly. The combination, with the socket K constructed as described,
of the die L, having an up-and-down motion therein, and provided with
a lifting picco N, operated as described, so that as the dio drops down the
moulded article will be raised thercout, all substantially as described and
shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the Drawings.
4thly. The combination with the socket K of the sliding annular die O,
moving up and down on the fixed core P, and operated substantially as
described and shown in Figure 5.
5thly. The two concentric annular parts a. a. connected toretler, and

page_text: mado to slide up and down within the socket K in combination with the
fixed cores d and f, substantially as described and shown in Figure 5 for
the purposo specified.
6thly. The mould, consisting of the two parts R, R, hinged together
and fixed in a clamp or vice S, and provided with a protecting plate U
and gato V, the whole arranged and combined with a plunger N, and
corc pins or pin, all substantially as and for the purpose-described and
shown in Figures 7 to 12 of the Drawings..
7thly. The combination, with the hinged die B, B, constructed and
secured as shown and described of the fixed core pins a and the lifting
plato b, for removing the moulded articles from the coro pins, substantially
as described and shown in Figures 14, 15, and 16.
8thly. The employment in the apparatus shown in Figure 17 for making
shields of plastic clay of a series of removable dies L', substantially as
and for the purposo set forth.
1.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Richmond Stocker, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-fifth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand, cight hundred and soventy-
three.
A P SMOCZTR