Improvements in Machines for Putting Together Casks, Barrels, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Putting Together Casks, Barrels, and
the like.
I, GOTTHARD RETTIG, of 12 Kungsträdgårdsgatan, Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden, Consul-General, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to machines for putting together casks barrels and the like
and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, with a portion of the bed removed;
Figure 2 is a cross-section of Figure 1 and.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.
The machine consists of a bed or frame a carrying two supports or head-
stocks b, c, each provided with a disk or head b', c' one of which is adjustable along
the bed so as to cuable the distance between the supports to be made to conforin to
the length of the staves used. Each of the heads b', c' has at the inuer sido a
circular groove of the same diameter as the top and bottom of the cask or barrel
to be formed, which groove, however, terminates in the edge at the lower end of
the head as at e.
.
Between the two heads there is a horizontal sliding-frame or carriage d, which is
movable at right angles to the length of the bed and at such a level that the staves,
after being placed upon it, can be pushed into the apertures e at the bottom of the
two circular grooves.
The carriage d is connected to a rope frunning underneath it and fixed at one
end to a drum h on the driving shaft g, while the other end has a weight attached
to it which tends to draw the carriage outward. At its outer end the carriage is
provided with a cross-bar i projecting above the upper surface of said carriage and
at its underside provided with an inwardly projecting arm k. The rope drum h
which is loosely mounted on the driving shaft is fitted with a clutch I which may
bo engaged with a corresponding clutch movable along the driving shaft but
revolving with it. The latter clutch is connected to one branch of a pivoted
lever m, the other curved branch of which lies in the path described by the
projecting arm & mentioned above, which thus in its motion forward with the
sliding carriage strikes against the curved branch thereby turning the lever
and automatically disengaging the clutches and arresting the motion of the
rope-drum.
Between the two heads b, c, just below the path of the underside of the staves
placed on the sliding carriage there is a vertically curved plate n, and corresponding,
to this plate, at the inner side of the cross-bar i previously referred to there is an
upwardly bent spring o which when the carriage has nearly reached its extreme
inner position, strikes against the curved plate and is pressed upward by the latter.
It is evident that two or more such curved plates n and corresponding springs o
may be used between or under the heads 6', c.
The machine operates as follows: When the carriage d has been pulled out.
sufficiently to admit of the exact number of staves p, required to fill the circular
grooves and form the barrel, being introduced between the cross-bar i and the
apertures e of the grooves, the rope-drum and driving-shaft g are caused to be
coupled together by turning the lover m, the drum being consequently brought to
revolve and to wind up the rope f. The latter will now pull in the carriage

page_text: together with the staves, of which each preceding one is compelled by the pressure
of the succeeding staves to enter with its onds into the circular grooves in the
heads b, c. When these grooves are finally filled and there is but one stave
remaining, the latter will be pressed into the opening between the preceding stavo
and that first introduced (which is held in position by means of a partition at the
inner end of the groove) by the action of the spring o which at this moment will
be lifted by the curved plate and, bearing against the stave, will raise it in its
place. Immediately afterward the arm strikes against the lever m, and, turning
it, causes the rope-drum to be disengaged, and the empty carriage to be returned
into its original position by the weight suspended on the rope.
Over the barrel thus put together with the end of its staves resting in the
circular grooves there is subsequently slid a metal band, which has been resting
loosely on the head c, after drawing this band together with a suitable clamping
arrangement, one of the head-stocks with the grooved head attached to it is
shifted back so as to allow of the barrel being taken out for hooping. On
returning the head-stock to its first position and placing a new set of staves ou the
carriage d, the operation just described may be repeated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined, L declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved machine for putting together casks, barrels and similar vessels
con posed of a bed or frame (a) supporting two disks or heads (b, c) placed
opposite each other and each provided with a circular groove (x) which terminates
in the lower edge of the head, and a sliding carriage (d) arranged between said
disks or heads and movable at right angles to the length of the bed in a plane just
below the aperture (e) of the grooves and provided near its outer end with an
upward projecting edge or cross-bar (i).for the purpose by pushing in the carriage
to enable a set of staves placed on the carriage between the aforesaid, apertures of
the grooves and the edge or cross-bar to be introduced into the grooves and. there
made to assume the shape of a barrel, cask or similar vessel.
2. In combination with the machine.referred, to in the preceding claim one or
more vertically curved plates (n) located between, the two heads (b, c) with their
top parts on a level with the underside of the staves placed on the sliding carriage
and springs (o) attached to the carriage just, below, the last.ono in the row of staves
and corresponding to the curved plates (n), for the purpose of bringing the curved
plates into contact with the springs when, the carriage is pushed in, thereby
causing the springs together with the overlying last.stave to be lifted and the latter
to be pressed into the vacant place behind the, preceding stave of the barrel or cask
under construction.
3. In combination with the machine referred to in the first claim a rope (f)
running along the sliding carriage (d) and connected to it, said rope. being loaded
with a weight at its outer end and attached at its inner end to a rope-drúm (h),
which is loosely mounted on the driving-shaft and is provided with a clutch (1)
which may engage with a corresponding clutch (2) that may be shifted along the
driving-shaft and revolves with it, the latter clutch being connected to one branch
of a two-armed lever (m), the other arm, of which is, bent or curved and lies in the
path of a lug or arm (4) arranged at the outer, end, of the movable carriage for the
purpose of turning the lever and disengaging the rope-drum together with
the carriage, when the latter has been-pushed, into, its extreme inner position and
thus allowing of the carriage being subsequently returned to its outer position by
means of the weight attached to the rope.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.