IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CASES FOR PACKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN GROOVING THE SIDES OF SAID CASES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Cockcroft, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO CASES FOR
PACKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED
IN GROOVING THE SIDES OF SAID CASES."
Sealed the 14th May 1880, and dated the 20th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Cockcroft at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th November 1879.
"IMPROVEMENTS
THOMAS COCKCROFT, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester.
IN AND APPERTAINING TO CASES FOR PACKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES,
AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN GROOVING THE SIDES OF SAID CASES."
This Invention consists, first, in a case with a series of partitions running across
it obliquely, every partition meeting its next neighbour at one end in a groove so
as to present a zigzag series of partitions, each groove except the end ones taking
two partition ends. If there be a central cross partition the grooves are arranged
alternately, so that grooves on the opposite sides of the partition shall not come
opposite each other. The partitions are thin laths, and when placed in position
the bottles are inserted with their necks pointing to the apex of the compartment,
and the partitions are sprung out by the bottles, each bottle occupying one partition.
Consequently each bottle aids in giving an elastic strain on the partition to keep
the contiguous bottles tight.
It could be arranged rather differently from this with several bottles in line end
to end, and there can be numerous layers, a thin layer of wood separating the
different layers of the bottles. The grooves are preferably made by wabbling
circular saws placed on a screwed centre and distanced apart by lock nuts. By
means of the lock nuts the distance apart of the grooves can be varied at pleasure.
In some cases it is not desirable to bring the two partitions so as to exactly meet
in the groove.
In such case each partition has a groove for itself, and the obliquity of the
partition is designed so as to follow a straight line nearest approaching the average
contour of the bottle, but preferably cutting across some salient angle, so as to put
a strain on the partition. In parallel articles without necks, such as preserve jars,
they will sometimes of course have to be made parallel, though even, then I prefer
a little obliquity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Cockcroft in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th May
1880.
"
THOMAS COCKCROFT, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester. IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND APPERTAINING TO CASES FOR PACKING BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES,
AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN GROOVING THE SIDES OF SAID CASES."
This Invention consists, first, in a case to be used chiefly for packing bottles
with one or more series of partitions running across it obliquely, every partition
meeting its next neighbour at one end in a groove so as to present a zigzag series
of partitions, each groove except the end ones taking two partition ends.
If there be a central cross partition the grooves are arranged alternately, so that
grooves on the opposite sides of the partition shall not come opposite each other.
The partitions are thin laths, and when placed in position the bottles are inserted
with their necks pointing to the apex of the compartment, and the partitions are
sprung out by the bottles, each bottle occupying one partition. Consequently each
bottle aids in giving an elastic strain on the partition to keep the contiguous
bottles tight.
It could be arranged rather differently from this with several bottles in line end
to end, and there can be numerous layers, a thin layer of wood separating the
different layers of bottles.
The first described arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which Fig. 1 is a
plan showing the partitions; Fig. 2, vertical section parallel to the general direction
of the partitions. In these, A, A, are the sides of the box; B, C, lid and bottom;
D, D, floorings of thin boards or laths intermediate between each layer of partitions
and bottles; E, E, partitions; F, grooves; G, central cross partitions; H, bottles
placed in position, showing partitions slightly bent out of place.
In some cases it is not desirable to bring the two partitions so as to actually
meet in the groove. In such case each partition has a groove for itself, and the
obliquity of the partition is designed so as to follow a straight line nearest
approaching the average contour of the bottle, but preferably cutting across some
salient angle, so as to put a strain on the partition.
Fig. 3 shows a plan view of this variation; the same letters refer to same parts
as in the last, and Fig. 2 will act as a sectional view to explain this also.
In parallel articles without necks, such as preserve jars, the partitions will some-
times of course have to be made parallel, though even, then I prefer a little
obliquity.
P
The second part of this Invention consists in making the grooves, preferably, by
wabbling circular saws placed on a screwed centre and distanced apart by lock nuts.
By means of the lock nuts the distance apart of the grooves can be varied at
pleasure.
In the Drawings Fig. 4 is a view of the grooving machine in which I is the
screwed shaft; J, J, saws; K, bosses of same holding the saw at a slight angle
with the shaft; L, lock nuts to regulate distance apart.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new and desire
to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination in cases for packing bottles and other like articles of
the exterior box or case and the thin flexible elastic partitions, so arranged in the
case as to be sprung out of form by the bottles or other like articles when placed
in the box, so as to hold said bottles or other articles through their tendency to
revert to their normal form.
Second. The general construction and arrangement of case, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described.

page_text: Third. The apparatus herein described for sawing the grooves in deal, pine, or
other wood, consisting of wabbling saws (saws set at an angle with the shaft) on a
screwed or other shaft, the distance of which saws from each other being
susceptible of regulation by nuts and check nuts or equivalent mechanism, sub-
stantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Cockcroft, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
THOMAS COCKCROFT. (LS.)