Improvements in Apparatus for Packing Eggs and the like,
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Packing Eggs and the like,
I, HAMILTON DAWES CRIPPS, of Olive Bank, Bramhall Road, Waterloo, near
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to apparatus, the object of which is, mainly, to provide
improved means of securely packing, free from liability of damage by breakage or
other harmful conditions, such articles as eggs, which may vary considerably in
size, and which, amongst other things, at the same time may, on account of their
being living organisms, require ventilation, an even temperature, cleanliness,
protection from wet, and as little vibration as possible. And it has the further
object, in the case of eggs, to provide a means of readily turning large numbers
at one operation upside down, at intervals, and placing them in a vertical position
in order to prevent the yolks from settling to one side, which is a known plan of
keeping the eggs in a good state of preservation for a considerable period.
Other articles which the invention may be employed in connection with are
electric lamps, and other fragile things.
The packing devices or contrivances according to this invention consist of
strings of purses of soft or woolley flexible fabric or material. Each pocket is
large enough to freely receive the largest article of the kind it is intended to pack,
placed in it lengthwise with the string of purses. The divisions between the
pockets are made by connecting or gathering in the material at certain distances
along it, so that the articles are kept away from each other, and somewhat evenly
distant from the divisions. Suitable handles, or fastenings are attached to the
ends of the strings of purses, so that when the articles are placed in the purses,
the strings can be twisted round their longitudinal axis and the ends fixed, either
to one another, or in a frame or box.
When the strings of purses are placed in frames or boxes, provisions are made
for supporting and holding them at intervals, preferably at the division between
the pockets. And in cases where the strings of purses are to be packed or stowed
in multiple, or in layers in one frame or box, they may be suitably arranged in
tiers, and in such a manner that the articles in one tier, may lie in the spaces formed
by the contracted divisions of the tier next to it; and so be supported by the
fabric round four of the articles on either side of it where there is no other
holding or support. In this way all the strings of purses may be made to inter-
lock, and to hold every article firmly, whether it is over or under the average
size of its kind.
The material which I prefer to use is a light soft flexible kind which can be
washed or easily cleaned for forming the purses or pockets. And if they are to
be used for preserving eggs, it may be sterilized, impregnated with or surrounded
by preservatives such as lime, salt, borax, and the like, or made of material of
an antiseptic nature, such as peat wood. The purses or nets may be made so that
the air may reach the eggs, and so that the bulk of the material is where the
eggs approach each other.

page_text: The operation of twisting causes the divisions to contract still further, the fabric
or material of which the net is made to tighten round the articles and hold them
firmly at an equal pitch, and each purse to shorten proportionately to its length.
In one form of box or frame under this invention-say a box-it has at its
ends slots or openings through which a T-headed clip or angular fastener is
passed; and when these are passed through, they are turned round and dropped
into suitable recesses or seats, provided for them; and these fastenings or holders
may be located in position by metal strips or wires passing through eyes or
staples in the box or frame ends, the heads of which fit over the upper edge of the
box, and are held in position, when the box cover is fastened down.
The strings of the purses or nets holding the eggs are, by this means, prevented
from turning round after they have been twisted up, and given the required
tension or tightness.
The supports for supporting the strings of the purses and eggs at intermediate
points, so as to hold them off the sides or walls of the box, may consist of bent
wires carried parallel to, and some distance from, the sides and bottom, and fastened
suitably thereto; and suitable wire or other hooks or fasteners may be fastened to
the sides of the box, through which holding down or binding laces or strips may
be passed for holding the whole batch down in position on their supports when
the box has been fitted.
D
00
1 1
1
1000
E. R. ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agent, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Packing Eggs and the like.
I, HAMILTON DAWES CRIPPS, of Olive Bank, Bramhall Road, Waterloo, near
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to apparatus, the object of which is, mainly, to provide
improved means of readily and securely packing, free from liability to damage
by breakage or other harmful conditions, articles as eggs which may vary con-
siderably in size, and which, amongst other things, at the same time may, on
account of their being living organisms, require ventilation, an even temperature,
cleanliness, protection from wet, and as little vibration as possible. And it has
the further object, in the case of eggs, to provide a means of readily turning large
numbers at one operation upside down, at intervals, and placing them in a
vertical position in order to prevent the yolks from settling to one side, which is
a known plan of keeping the eggs in a good state of preservation for a considerable
period.
Other articles which the invention may be employed in connection with are
fruit, and other perishable articles, and fragile articles.
The packing devices or contrivances according to this invention consist of
strings of purses of flexible fabric or material. Each purse or pocket is large
enough to freely receive the largest article of the kind it is intended to pack. The
divisions between the purses are made by contracting or gathering in the material
at certain distances along it. Suitable handles, or fastenings are attached to the ends
of the strings of purses, so that when the articles are placed in the purses, the
strings can be twisted round their longitudinal axes and the ends fixed, either to
one another, or in a frame or box.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation shewing a plurality of packings
according to this invention, containing the articles-say eggs-and used in
connection with a packing case.
Figure 2 shews a transverse section at the line x x Figure 1, the purses and
other parts being left out of one half of this view, in order to shew the fastenings
at the end of the packing case.
Figure 3 is a plan of half the case and contents.
Figures 4 and 5 shew two packings according to this invention respectively
comprising three and six purses, the one (Figure 4) being loose and unfastened,
and the other (Figure 5) twisted up and fixed.
Figure 6 (drawn to a larger scale) illustrates in detail in section one structure
of one of such purses.
Referring to the purses, these are generally designated a in the drawings, and
consist essentially of flexible material, such as loose textile, woven, knitted, felted,
or any other equivalent structure or material. An example of a suitable structure
of fabric (to which however my invention is in no way restricted) is illustrated in,
and is hereafter described with reference to, Figure 6.
In the case of the packing being made up from strips or pieces of woven or
otherwise manufactured fabric, it is converted or made into a string of purses
by folding the strip over into tubular form, and bringing the edges onto one
another, and then gathering in and binding the tube so formed at certain distances
along, as at b, by external binding strings or cords b¹, or in other suitable ways,
so as to constrict the fabric at those parts, and thereby make or form the purses.
In the drawing the binding is shewn effected by an external string or cord b¹, which
may be so combined with the fabric as to prevent the binding moving along the
fabric. The entrance to the purses will then be at the meeting edges of the fabric,
and extend longitudinally from the constricted parts or divisions b. These
openings or entrances are represented in the drawing by the lines c.
In the packings according to this invention the divisions between the purses
are made by gathering in the material of which they are made into a neck or
waist. In this way the strings of purses are enabled to be twisted round their
longitudinal axes, in order to shorten and tighten them, and place the articles at
an equal pitch; and then can have their handles fixed either to one another, or
in a frame or box. By this construction also the articles are caused to lie some-
what centrally in the purses and away from one another when they are placed in
them.
When being screwed up or twisted, as just described, the strings of purses
turn most freely where the divisions are constricted, and hence they shorten and
tighten on the articles first at those points. Accordingly, to cause the twisting
to pitch the articles equally, the divisions also should be constricted equally.
In Figure 6 the fabric of which the packings, i.e. strings of purses, are made is
suitable for goods of a brittle class, and consists of lateral strands of com-
paratively large size as represented, of soft open or loosely comprised fibres of
cotton flax wool or any other suitable material, and longitudinal strands or
threads e of stronger material. The strands d are continued only say around the
body of the purses, that is they are omitted at the constricted portions as shewn
so that the purses at these parts consist solely of the longitudinal strands e, where
each pair of warps may be twisted about each other spirally as shewn, and the
ongitudinal strands, furthermore, are some distance apart at the body of the
ourse, and hence the strands d constitute the chief portions of the packing round
he body of the artible packed, inasmuch as they afford the padding or
ushioning function outside the fragile egg or article of that class within. How-
ver, although this fabric is suitable, and can be used with advantage in the
ase of eggs, the invention is not restricted to it.
The ends of the fabric of the strings of purses, as shewn, form loops through
which solid or split links g. are passed or introduced.

page_text: The strings of purses can be adapted for being secured in packing cases, as
for instance as shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or otherwise, as may be required.
Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the drawings a plurality of sets of
strings of purses a are shewn arranged and held within a packing box or case of
which represents the body. On the inner side of the end pieces of the box there
are double or loop hooks k, disposed in the vertical plane, and adapted to receive
and hold one of the links g of each of the strings of purses; and also eyes or
hooks adapted to receive the fastening pin m which passes through and holds
one of the rings g of said strings of purses. These rings rest also on the upper
side of the hooks or eyes 7. These hooks k and are respectively arranged
alternatingly on the opposite ends; in the case shewn, there being four of one and
six of the other on each end. But although two forms of fastening are illustrated,
it is not essential to have them different at the two ends of a string of purses.
In packing a box such as that illustrated, the strings of purses are each fastened
at one end by the fastenings 1, as described, and then after the eggs or other
contents are placed in the purses they are twisted by turning the free end until
they are shortened by doing so, and made of slightly less length than the box, so
that moderate tension has to be put on the free end to extend the string of purses,
so that the ring at this end can be slipped over the hook k.
were,
In connection with the hooked fastening k, there is a slide o guided by staples o¹,
and passing through the prongs of the loop hooks k, so as to close the hook as it
and prevent the rings or links g from coming off the said hooks. The
hooking and unhooking is done when the slide is pulled up, so that the projecting
parts of of such slides are out of the way of the hook, and after the links are hooked
on, the slide o is pushed down, and so closes the hook.
Intermediate supports may be employed in the case for keeping the intermediate
purses, between the ends, from moving out of place, and bearing on the hard
surface of the box; and these supports, in the case shewn, consist of wires p, the
ends p of which are fastened in the side of the box, and the other parts are
supported from the bottom of the box, by the bent loops p² which rest in recesses
formed in the bottom of the case. These wires run parallel with the sides and
bottom of the box, and keep the purses a right distance off.
In cases where the strings of purses are arranged in tiers, as shewn in the
drawings, it will be seen that it is only the outer sets that come against the
supports p, and that it is the constricted parts of the purses which come against
the wires. In such cases also, the purses are so arranged that the larger part
of them, namely, the body of one set of tiers, lie in spaces existing within or
about the constricted parts of the other tiers; and hence the inner strings receive
their support, as regards the parts between their extremities, from the other tiers;
that is, each article when not otherwise supported, is held at eight places by the
fabric around the articles on either side or about it. In this way all the purses
may be made to interlock, and to hold every article firmly without undue pressure
on only one point, whether it is over or under the average size of its kind.
It is apparent that the packages will pile up high in the box where the articles
packed are large of their class, and low where they are small. Suitable means
therefore, which will allow of this variation should be employed to hold the
packages down when used in connection with a box: such, for example, as the
lacer passed over the strings of packages, as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and
passed under hooks s, of which there are several in each side of the box. And
thus by threading the lace or cord r over the strings of purses, and under the
hooks s to and fro, the whole body of packages will be bound down in position and
cannot move. When this is done, the packing is complete, and a lid may be put
on the packing case and fastened in any suitable way.
By the use of this invention, as applied to the carrying of eggs, the breakages,
I find, by many experiments, on long and rough journeys, to be a very small
percentage and the breakages, moreover, do not get the packages into a foul
mess; and the broken eggs do not spread over the other eggs and render their

page_text: appearance unsightly, or cement them together in the way which happens with
most packages for eggs; nor are packages destroyed or damaged, as they can be
easily washed and cleaned.
It is to be understood that although the supports and fastenings of the case
described above can be used with advantage in connection with the packing
according to my invention, such packings can be used in connection with cases
or boxes other than those described, or separately, or in any way which may be
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The herein described improvement in packages for eggs, fruit, and other
fragile and perishable articles, namely, a string of purses adapted to be tightened
by twisting same; for the purposes specified.
2. A packing for eggs, fruit, and other fragile or perishable articles, consisting
of a continuous string of purses a of pliable material or fabric, the divisions
between the purses consisting of annularly constricted parts, and each purse
having an opening substantially parallel with the direction of length of the
packing.
3. A packing for eggs, fruit, and other fragile and perishable articles, consisting
of a continuous string of purses a of textile fabric of substantial thickness at the
wider part of the purses constituting pads, and having restricted parts effected by
gathering and binding the fabric together annularly at the said restricted parts
which constitute the divisions or ends of the said purses, and having at each end a
fastening device, by which the said string can be fastened at either end; sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. A packing for eggs, fruit, and other fragile or perishable articles, consisting
of a continuous string of purses a of a textile fabric, and made out of a piece of
fabric with the longitudinal edges brought together and having bindings at
intervals along its length at points which are to constitute the ends of the purses,
and by which the said ends are formed, the opening at the meeting edges of the
fabric constituting the means of inserting and withdrawing the articles; sub-
stantially as set forth.
5. In packings for eggs, fruit, or other fragile or perishable articles, a box
or case having inwardly projecting supports secured in the box, adapted to keep
strings of purses or similar devices, containing the articles, away from the inner
surfaces of the box or case: substantially as set forth.
6. The packing for eggs, fruit, and other fragile or perishable articles, provided
with supports and fastenings, and adapted to hold and support strings of purses
containing said articles; as set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1899.
id day of September 1899.
E. R. ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agent, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.