IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIZING OR ASSORTING AND BRANDING CORKS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Liston, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Machinist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SIZING OR ASSORTING AND BRANDING CORKS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Liston at the Office
of the Commissioners. of Patents on the 3rd May 1881.
JOHN LISTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIZING OR ASSORTING AND BRANDING
CORKS."
This Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
apparatus for sizing or assorting and branding corks, so as to save labor and
increase the speed of the operations.
The essential feature of the improved sizing or assorting apparatus is the
combination of a rotating roller with a fixed surface of a bevilled, or rounded, or
other suitable form, the two parts forming a pair any number of which may be
arranged in one machine. In a preferable modification there are two rollers
having between them a fixed piece with bevelled sides towards the rollers, the
machine thus comprising two pairs of the parts. The rollers and fixed piece are
placed in an inclined position, and so that there is between each roller and the
fixed piéce a space which is narrow at the higher end, and sufficiently wide at
the lower end to let the largest corks pass through. The rollers are made to
rotate with their inner sides moving upwards, and the corks being laid on at
the upper end are by the motion of the rollers caused to gradually move down
the incline, until each reaches a point, where the space is wide enough for it to
pass through, The corks pass through in positions corresponding to their
respective sizes, and are received below by separate ducts which lead them to
different receptacles.
In one modification of the improved branding apparatus it is arranged for
operating on two corks at once, and for branding a side and one end of each
cork, but either side or end brand can be omitted when desired. The heat is

page_text: supplied by three gas jets fitted by preference with Bunsen burners, the middle
one serving to beat the two end branding plates which are placed vertically, and
the other two jets which are placed towards the sides of the middle jet and
nearer the front of the machine serving to heat the side branding plates which are
placed horizontally. Each side branding plate has attached to its under side a
conducting tongue or piece of metal, which is by preference copper, and which
projects downwards into the gas flame, so as to readily absorb the heat and
communicate it to the branding plate. Similar conducting tongues are fitted in
connection with the end branding plates, but in a manner allowing these as by
universal joints to accomodate themselves to chance inclinations of the ends of the
corks. The burner and branding plate details are fitted to a table or horizontal
frame, above which there is a horizontal plate made to reciprocate backwards and
forwards on horizontal guides by a rotating crank and connecting rod. At the
front of the reciprocating plate there is for each cork a front slightly inclined
holding plate held by a spring or springs, and a cork is inserted in an opening of
which the spring plate is the front, whilst the reciprocating plate is moving back-
wards. The cork descends upon a small chair or backed seat so as to be in a position
for receiving its end brand, changeable chair pieces being provided for different sizes
of cork, so that each size may be properly centered. As the backward motion
of the reciprocating plate continues pins on its underside encounter spring arms,
and make them bear on the outer ends of the corks and press the corks against
the end branders. On the reciprocating plate moving forwards again two plates
jointed to its underside bear upon the upper sides of the corks and roll them off
the chairs and over the side branders, and the forward movement finally brings the
finished corks over the upper openings of inclined ducts down which they descend
into baskets or other convenient receptacles. The rolling plates have adjusting
details and springs fitted to them to allow of their accommodating themselves to
inequalities in the corks, and of their being adapted to different sizes and shapes.
Counting and indicating mechanism is provided to show the number of corks
operated on, such mechanism being acted on by pushers moved by the rolling
plates, so as to act only when a cork is actually being operated on, and the pushers
being fitted with springs so as to act equally with different sizes of cork. Over
the machine there is placed a hopper box to receive the corks that are to be
operated on, this box being made with two compartments and with a bottom
inclining down towards the front. At each side of the front there is an opening
through which the corks issue, coming out upon a rimmed ledge which is a
continuation of the box bottom, and from which the corks can be very conveniently
transferred by hand to the branding apparatus.
A simplified modification of the apparatus may be made for operating on one
cork at a time, the rolling plate being carried by a lever or slide worked by means
of a treadle. The lever or slide and treadle may also be used for working the
rolling plates and other parts in a modification of the double machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Liston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd November
1881.
JOHN LISTON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Machinist.
* IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SIZING OR ASSORTING AND BRANDING
CORKS."
My said Invention has for its object to improve the construction and action of
apparatus for sizing or assorting and branding corks, so as to save labor and increase
the speed of the operations.
The essential feature of my improved sizing or assorting apparatus is the com-
bination of a rotating roller with a fixed surface of a bevilled, or rounded, or other
suitable form, the two parts forming a pair, any number of which may be arranged
in one machine. In a preferable modification there are two rollers, having, between
them a fixed piece with bevilled sides towards the rollers, the machine thus com-
prising two pairs of the parts. The rollers and fixed piece are placed in an inclined
position, and so that there is between each roller and the fixed piece a space which
is narrow at the higher end, and sufficiently wide at the lower end to let the
largest corks pass through. The rollers are made to rotate with their inner sides
moving upwards, and the corks being laid on at their upper ends are by the motion
of the rollers caused to gradually move down the incline until each reaches a point
where the space is wide enough for it to pass through. The corks pass through in
positions corresponding to their respective sizes, and are received below by separate
ducts which lead them to different receptacles.
In one modification of my improved branding apparatus it is arranged for
operating on two corks at once, and for branding a side and one end of each cork,
but either side or end brand can be omitted when desired. The beat is supplied by
gas from Bunsen or other suitable burners, and the burners and branding plate
details are fitted to a table or horizontal frame, above which there is a horizontal
plate made to reciprocate backwards and forwards on horizontal guides by a
rotating crank and connecting rod. Each cork is entered at the front of the
machine, and first moved backwards to a chair to be operated on by the end
brander, and is next by rolling plates moved forward again over the side brander,
being finally dropped down an inclined duct which leads it to a basket or other
suitable receptacle. Counting and indicating mechanism is provided to show the
number of corks operated on, such mechanism being acted on by pushers moved by
the rolling plates only when a cork is actually being operated on.
A simplified modification of the apparatus may be made for operating on one
cork at a time, the rolling plate being carried by a lever or slide worked by means
of a treadle. The lever or slide and treadle may also be used for working the
rolling plates and other parts in a modification of the double machine.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append three Sheets of explanatory
Drawings to be hereinafter referred to, and representing examples of my improved
apparatus.
On Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is shown my improved sizing or
assorting apparatus, Figure 1 being a plan, and Figures 2 and 3 end and side
elevations. The branding apparatus is shown on Sheets 2 and 3, Figure 4 being a
plan, and Figure 5 another plan with parts in different positions. Figures 6 and 7
are sectional side and front elevations; Figures 8 and 9 are a plan and end elevation.
of the end brander; and Figures 10 and 11 are similar views of the side brander.
Figure 12 is a vertical section of parts not well seen in Figure 6; and Figures 13

page_text: and 14 are a plan and a vertical section of a simplified modification of the machine."
In these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
"
In the sizing machine shown on Sheet 1 of the Drawings there are two inclined
rollers 15, each acting in combination with the bevilled side of a fixed bar 16
situated centrally. The rollers 15 are set wider apart at their lower ends, and are
geared together by pinions 17, being driven by means of a treadle 18, whilst a
flywheel 19 is fixed on the end of one of them. The corks are fed down upon the
rollers 15 and bar 16 through a shoot in the bottom of a box or tray 20, and they
gradually move downwards until each reaches a point where the space between
either roller and the bar is wide enough for it to pass through. The corks on
dropping through are guided by shoots or ducts 21 into separate receptacles. At
the right-hand side of Figure 3 a small sectional diagram shows the relative
positions of the rollers 15, middle bar 16, and delivery shoots 21.
The brauding machine shown in Figures 4 to 12 is constructed for operating on
two corks at once, and for branding one end and the side of each cork. The
details are fitted to a table or horizontal frame 22 carried by side standards 23,
and the heat is supplied by three gas jets fitted with Bunsen burner tubes 24, the
middle one serving to heat the two end branding plates 25 which are placed
vertically, and the other two jets which are placed towards the sides of the middle
jet and nearer the front of the machine serving to heat the side branding plates 20
which are placed borizontally. Each side branding plate 26 has attached to its
under side a conducting tongue or piece of metal 27 which is by preference
copper, and which projects downwards towards or into the gas flame so as to
readily absorb the heat and communicate it to the branding plate. In the table 22
there is formed for each side branding plate 26 a cavity or inverted box 28 which
confines the hot gases of the flame, and the branding plate 26 is inserted in an
opening in the top of this box, being supported by 'trunnions which rest on the sides
of the opening and which allow it to move so as to accomodate itself to and act
equally on each cork, the cork being made to receive the brand by being rolled
over it. Conducting pieces or tongues 29 are also fitted in connection with the
end branding plates 25, but in a manner allowing these, as by universal joints, to
accomodate themselves to chance inclinations of the ends of the corks.
The con-
ducting pieces 27, 29, are formed so as to be holders, and may be termed the
conducting holders of the branding plates 25, 26, these branding plates being
changeable to admit of different brands being put on the corks, and being by
preference attached to their holders by dovetailed and wedge-shaped projections
on their backs. The conducting holder 29 of each end branding plate 25 is made
with a neck between the holding part and the tongue, and is supported with this
neck in a notch in changeable but stationary seat 30, being free to move so as to
accomodate itself to the inclination if any of the end of the cork. The tongues of
the conducting holders 29 of the two end branding plates 25 are placed in one
central box or cavity 31 formed in the table 22 so as to be over the middle one
of the three burners 24.
Above the table 22 there is a horizontal plate 32 which is movable on horizontal
guide rods 33, and is made to reciprocate backwards and forwards by a connecting
rod 34 moved by a crank pin on a pulley 35. This pulley 35 runs on a stud fixed
to a piece projecting backwards from the table 22, and is driven by a belt from a
pulley on a first-motion shaft 30, which has on it a flywheel 37, and is driven by
means of a crank pin, connecting rod 38, and treadle 39. At the front of the
reciprocating plate 32 there is a preliminary holding plate 40 having a recess with
an inclined front part for each cork, whilst there are jointed to the sides of it
arme 41 formed with notches on their under edges and with inclined back ends.
When the reciprocating plate 32 is moved forward the notches of the arms 41
engage with pins 42 moving with the plate; and on corks being placed in the
recesses of the preliminary holding plate 40, and the plate 32 moving back the
holding plate is drawn backwards, and carries the corks between it and downwardly

page_text: projecting parts of the plate 32. At a certain point in the backward movement
the side arms 41 ride upon fixed inclines 43, and are by them raised so as to
become disengaged from the pins 42, and the backward movement of the preliminary
holding plate 40 then stops, but the plate 32 still moving backwards allows the
corks to drop into the places for receiving their end brands. These places are
bebind the side branding plates 26, the corks having been carried clear of these
plates whilst moving backwards. Each cork 44 descends upon an angular
chair 45, which is changeable for different sizes of cork, and which retains the cork
in its proper position. The backward motion of the reciprocating plate 32
continues a little after the corks drop, and pins 46 adjustably fixed in it act on
spring arms 47 and make them bear on the outer ends of the corks 44, and press
the corks against the end branders 25. The spring arms 47 do not act directly on
the corks, but through pieces 48 sliding on transverse guides, and springs 49 move
the arms 47 back again when the reciprocating plate 32 returns forward.
On the reciprocating plate 32 moving forward again two rolling plates 50 jointed
to its under side bear upon the upper sides of the corks 44 and roll the corks off
the chairs 45 and over the side branders 26, and the forward movement finally
brings the finished corks over the upper openings of inclined delivery ducts 51,
down which they descend into baskets or other convenient receptacles. Between
the side branders 26 and the delivery ducts 51 inclined fenders 52 are formed or
fixed on the table 22 to prevent the corks from being improperly marked when
leaving the brander. Each rolling plate 50 is hinged to a piece which is adjustably
fixed to the reciprocating plate 32, so that it can be set to suit each size of cork,
and a projection on each rolling plate 50 is acted on through an opening in the
reciprocating plate 32 by a spring 53 so as to exert a yielding pressure on the
cork.
Counting and indicating mechanism 54 is placed above the machine pushers 55
for acting on it, being arranged to extend downwards so as to be raised by the
springs 53 each time the reciprocating plate 32 moves forward, provided corks are
being operated on. When however there is no cork at either side the corresponding
spring 53 is not itself raised sufficiently high to act on the pusher 55.
Over the machine there may be placed a hopper box to receive the corks that
are to be operated on, this box being made with two compartments and with a
bottom inclining down towards the front. At each side of the front there is an
opening through which the corks issue, coming out upon a rimmed ledge which
is a continuation of the box bottom, and from which the corks can be very
conveniently transferred by hand to the branding apparatus.
In the simplified modification of the branding apparatus shown in Figures 13
and 14, and made for operating on one cork at a time, the rolling plate 50 is jointed
to the upper end of a lever 56 centered at its lower end and worked by means of
a treadle 57. The pin 46 for acting on the spring arm 47 is attached to the rolling
plate 50. In this modification each cork is placed by hand in the chair 45.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The combination in apparatus for sizing or assorting corks of a rotating
roller with a fixed surface of a bevilled, or rounded, or other suitable form, as
herein before described.
2. The combination of parts forming apparatus for branding corks, and herein-
before described with reference to Figures 4 to 12 of the accompanying Drawings.
3. The combination of parts forming apparatus for branding corks, and herein-
before described with reference to Figures 13 and 14 of the accompanying
Drawings.
4. The combination of the reciprocating plate (32) with the preliminary holding

page_text: plate (40) and an engaging and disengaging appliance for carrying the corks into the
positions for receiving the end brand, as hereinbefore described.
5. The adjustable spring levers (47) in combination with the parts acting with
them for pressing the corks against the end branders, the same being arranged and
operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The rolling plate (50) in combination with the reciprocating plate (32) or
lever (56) or other equivalent, the same being arranged and operating substantially
as herein before described.
7. The combination with the branding apparatus of counting and indicating
-mechanism, the pusher of which is actuated from the rolling plate (50) or equivalent
part only when a cork is being operated on, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
8. The placing of the branding plates in conducting holders made with tongues
or pieces extending towards or into the gas flames, as hereinbefore described.
9. The adapting of the branding plates or their holders to the parts in or on
which they rest in a manner allowing the branders to accomodate themselves to
chance inclinations of the cork surfaces, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Liston, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
•
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN LISTON. (L.S.)