AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HERMETICALLY CLOSING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER FOR THE VESSELS MADE OF GLASS, OR ANY VITRIFIED MATERIAL SUITABLY PRESERVATION OF Foor, AND IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS IN COX- AREWI
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF HERMETICALLY CLOSING BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER
FOR THE
VESSELS MADE OF GLASS, OR ANY VITRIFIED MATERIAL SUITABLY
PRESERVATION OF Foor, AND IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS IN COX-
A communication from abroad by Messrs. Berthoud
NECTION THEREWITH.”
and Company, of St. Ouen (Seine), France, Manufacturers.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st June 1878.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HERMETICALLY CLOSING
BOTTLES, JARS, OR OTHER VESSELS MADE OF GLASS, OR ANY VITRIFIED MATERIAL
IMPROVED MACHINERY OR
PRESERVATION OF FOOD, AND
SUITABLY FOR THE
A communication from abroad by
APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
Mess". Berthoud and Company, of St. Ouen (Seine), France, Manufacturers.
Glass or any other vitrified material may be used to make bottles, flasks, jars,
vases, and other forms of vessels for holding and preserving alimentary substances;
it even affords advantages, for apart from that which constitutes the stopping or
closing of the vessel, there is absolute certainty that it is hermetical, as no fissure
can be produced therein by time, weather, or any of the variations of temperature
to which such bottles or vessels may be exposed.
Further, alimentary substances are preserved under more favorable conditions in
glass, or other vitrified material than in metal.
But if this method of putting up alimentary substances offers advantages, it has
also the defect, amounting to a prohibition of its use, that a hermetical stopping or
closing could not be obtained under the requisite conditions for preserving ali-
mentary substances, that is to say, capable of supporting a boiling; this is the great
point, and the merit of this Invention is that it remedies this defect. The methods

page_text: of stopping glass bottles or vessels, however hermetical, could not bear ebullition
and thence the impossibility of using glass for preserving alimentary substances.
The stopping or closing of bottles, flasks, or jars, has generally been obtained by
the aid of cork strengthened by fastenings, or by some kind of capsule, but the
capsuling was done with a very malleable metal in which the neck of the bottle
might be enveloped without difficulty; thus, this capsuling was far from sufficient
for preserving provisions, inasmuch as the heat to which it would have been sub-
mitted, would have soon destroyed it.
The object of this Invention is to permit the use of bottles, jars, or other vases or
vessels made of glass or other vitrified materials for the preservation of alimentary
substances, by means of an improved mode of stopping or closing, this Invention
also comprising a machine or apparatus by which this mode of stopping or closing
inay be operated. This mode of stopping consists in using a capsuling made of
metal of sufficient strength set and secured to the neck of the bottle, jar, or other
vessel.
The delicacy of this operation will be readily understood; the metal required will
offer a resistance sufficient to render the fixing on to the glass somewhat hazardous,
for if the metal is strong the glass is not, and offers little resistance under operations
similar to those to which metals are submitted.
This Invention is therefore based upon the fixing of a strong piece of metal upon
the neck of a bottle, jar, or other vessel of glass or vitrified material, so that its
firm pressure thereon ensures a perfectly hermetical closing.
This mode of stopping or closing is as follows:-A lid or cover is prepared before-
hand, stamped at a right angle to form a flange, as shown, Figure 1, of the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawing, and made of sheet iron, tin, or any suitable metal.
In this state it is placed on the neck of the bottle, a washer of india-rubber or
other suitable material being interposed between them; the whole is then submitted
to a powerful vertical pressure, which, bearing upon the cap, firmly compresses the
india-rubber. (In this position the bottle will bear an enormous pressure without
breaking, and it is this which permits the desired result to be obtained.)
The capsule and the washer being thus compressed, it is only necessary to apply
a milling wheel or any kind of nipper, and to bring down the edge of the metal
without any shock or jar.
The operation of fixing being completed (as shown, Figure 2), the pressure is taken
off the result then is that the india-rabber or other elastic washer endeavours to
expand, and thus forms a perfectly hermetical joint between the bottle or jar, and
the lid or cover.
The tool or apparatus by which this result is obtained is composed (as shown,
Fig. 3), of a frame A intended to receive a vertical shaft B, which may be made
to rotate by means of pinions, cranks, pulleys, or any suitable means.
On the upper end of this shaft is a fly wheel V, and at its lower end a sort of
head or lump C, haring the forin of the lid or cover, so that this latter fits therein
in such a manner that the lateral pressure cannot drive it out.
The bottle, jar, or other vessel is placed upon a moveable platform or table D,
turning freely without effort, it being set upon a pointed pivot. This platform is 4
itself set upon a moveable piece D¹, capable of rising and lowering freely in a
socket E; a balance weight O placed upon a lever at a distance regulated by the
pressure it is desired to obtain acts upon this moveable piece upon which it pro-
duces its pressure.
At the side of the frame, and at the point where the neck of the bottle is to 5
appear, is placed one or two hinged levers G, which possess a milling wheel or
burnisher intended to effect the fixing or fastening of the lid. The working of this
machine will be readily understood.
To close or stop a bottle, the lid or cover is placed as aforesaid, and an elastic
washer upon the neck of the bottle. This bottle is then placed upon the platform 5
D, which has been previously lowered by pressing on the treadle Y; thus placed and
well in the centre the treadle is released, the counterweight acts, and the bottle

page_text: becomes pressed between the platform D and the head of the shaft C; a pressure
upon the washer is then produced as above explained.
At this moment the shaft B is set rotating, carrying with it the bottle and the
platform D.
It is at this moment that the lever with milling wheel is brought towards the
neck of the bottle, where, by a sufficient pressure, but without shock or jerk, the
setting or fixing of the metal around the neck of the bottle is produced.
By ceasing the pressure, the bottle may be withdrawn, and the distension of the
washer which secures the hermetical closing then takes place.
A particular arrangement is adopted for opening or unclesing bottles or other
vessels closed as above described. The importance of this arrangement is as great
as that of the closing, for without it there would be great difficulty and even danger
in opening a glass bottle, jar, or other vessel. This mode of opening is also illus-
trated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
When the lid or cover A cut or punched out, a tongue P is left projecting
beyond its circumference (see Fig. 4.) The lid is then stamped in the usual
manner to a right angle, as shown, Figure 5.
Placed upon the bottle or jar, this tongue does not interfere with the fixing, and
comes down over the edges of the lid, and lies against the neck of the bottle.
To open or unclose the bottle or jar, all that is required is to slightly raise this
tongue, so that it may be grasped with the handle of a knife, a key, the end of a
corkscrew, or any article which will permit the fingers to get a good grip of it.
Then, without any great force, the tin may be torn from part or the whole of the
surface of the lid or cover, so as to produce a section dividing it; or, without the
longue, the tin may be raised by inserting any pointed instrument beneath it, and
by pressing with this point a little way under and along the fastening, it will
escape from the lip, bead, or projection running round the top of the neck of the
bottle, of the jar, or other vessel.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
December 1878.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HERMETICALLY CLOSING
BOTTLES, JARS, AND OTHER VESSELS MADE OF GLASS, OR ANY VITRIFIED MATERIAL
SUITABLY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FOOD, AND IMPROVED MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH." A communication from abroad by
Mess. Berthoud and Company, of St. Ouen (Seine), France, Manufacturers.
Glass or any other vitrified material may be used to make bottles, flasks, jars,
vases, and other forms of vessels for holding and preserving alimentary substances;
it even affords advantages, for apart from that which constitutes the stopping or
closing of the vessel, there is absolute certainty that it is hermetical, as no fissure
can be produced therein by time, weather, or any of the variations of temperature
to which such bottles or vessels may be exposed.
Further, alimentary substances are preserved under more favorable conditions in
glass or other vitrified material than in metal.
But if this method of putting up alimentary substances offers advantages, it has
also the defect, amounting to a prohibition of its use, that a hermetical stopping or
closing could not be obtained under the requisite conditions for preserving ali-
mentary substances, that is to say, capable of supporting a boiling; this is the
great point, and the merit of this Invention is that it remedies this defect. The
methods of stopping glass bottles or vessels, however hermetical, could not bear
ebullition, and thence the impossibility of using glass for preserving alimentary
substances.
The stopping and closing of bottles, flasks, or jars, has generally been obtained by
the aid of cork strengthened by fastenings, or by some kind of capsule, but the
capsuling was done with a very malleable metal in which the neck of the bottle
might be enveloped without difficulty; thus, this capsuling was far from sufficient
for preserving provisions, inasmuch as the heat to which it would have been sub-
mitted would have soon destroyed it.
The object of this Invention is to permit the use of bottles, jars, or other vases or
vessels made of glass or other vitrified materials for the preservation of alimentary
substances by means of an improved mode of stopping or closing, this Invention
also comprising a machine or apparatus by which this mode of stopping or closing
may be operated. This mode of stopping consists in using a capsuling made of
metal of sufficient strength, set and secured to the neck of the bottle, jar, or other
vessel.
The delicacy of this operation will be readily understood; the metal required
will offer a resistance sufficient to render the fixing on to the glass somewhat
hazardous, for if the metal is strong the glass is not, and offers little resistance
under operations similar to those to which metals are submitted.
This Invention is therefore based upon the fixing of a strong piece of metal upon
the neck of a bottle, jar, or other vessel of glass or vitrified material, so that its
firm pressure thereon ensures a perfectly hermetical closing.
This mode of stopping or closing is as follows:-A lid or cover is prepared before-
hand, stamped at a right angle to form a flange, as shown, Figure I., of the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawing, and made of sheet iron, tin, or any suitable metal.
In this state it is placed on the neck of the bottle, a washer of india-rubber or
other suitable material being interposed between them; the whole is then sub-
mitted to a powerful vertical pressure, which, bearing upon the cap, firmnly com-
presses the india-rubber. (In this position the bottle will bear an enormous
pressure without breaking, and it is this which permits the desired result to be
obtained.)

page_text: The capsule and the washer being thus compressed, it is only necessary to
apply a milling wheel or any kind of nipper, and to bring down the edge of the
metal without any shock or jar.
The operation of fixing being completed, as shown, Figure II., the pressure is taken
off; the result then is that the india-rubber or other elastic washer endeavours to
expand, and thus forms a perfectly hermetical joint between the bottle or jar and
the lid or cover.
The tool or apparatus by which this result is obtained is composed (as shown,
Figure III.), of a frame intended to receive a vertical shaft B, which may be made
to rotate by means of pinions, cranks, pulleys, or any suitable means.
On the upper end of this shaft is a fly wheel V, and at its lower end a sort of
head or lump C, having the form of the lid or cover, so that this latter fits therein
in such a manner that the lateral pressure cannot drive it out.
The bottle, jar, or other vessel is placed upon a moveable platform or table D,
turning freely without effort, it being set upon a pointed pivot. This platform is
itself set upon a moveable piece D', capable of rising and lowering freely in a
socket E; a balance weight O placed upon a lever at a distance regulated by the
pressure it is desired to obtain acts upon this moveable piece upon which it pro-
duces its pressure.
At the side of the frame, and at the point where the neck of the bottle is to
appear, is placed one or two hinged levers G, which possess a milling wheel or
burnisher intended to effect the fixing or fastening of the lid. The working of this
machine will be readily understood.
To close or stop a bottle, the lid or cover is placed as aforesaid, and an elastic
washer upon the neck of the bottle. The bottle is then placed upon the platform
D, which has been previously lowered by pressing on the treadle Y; thus placed and
well in the centre the treadle is released, the counterweight acts, and the bottle
becomes pressed between the platform D and the head of the shaft C; a pressure
upon the washer is then produced as above explained.
At this moment the shaft B is set rotating, carrying with it the bottle and the
platform D.
•
It is at this moment that the lever with milling wheel is brought towards the
neck of the bottle, where, by a sufficient pressure, but without shock or jerk, the
setting or fixing of the metal around the neck of the bottle is produced.
By ceasing the pressure, the bottle may be withdrawn, and the distension of the
washer which secures the hermetical closing then takes place.
A particular arrangement is adopted for opening or unclosing bottles or other
vessels closed as above described. The importance of this arrangement is as great
as that of the closing, for without it there would be great difficulty and even
danger in opening a glass bottle or jar, which, not giving the same bearing as a
box or tin of preserved provisions, the instrument used might slide or slip, and
wound the person endeavouring to open the bottle, jar, or other vessel. This mode
of opening is also illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
When the lid or cover A is cut or punched out, a tongue is left projecting
beyond its circumference (see Figure IV.) The lid is then stamped in the usnal
manner to a right angle, (as shown, Figure V.)
Placed upon the bottle or jar, this tongue does not interfere with the fixing, and
comes down over the edges of the lid, and lies against the neck of the bottle.
To open or unclose the bottle or jar, all that is required is to slightly raise this
tongue, so that it may be grasped with the handle of a knife, a key, the end of a
corkscrew, or any article which will permit the fingers to get a good grip of it.
Then, without any great force, the tin may be torn from part or the whole of the
surface of the lid or cover, so as to produce a section dividing it; or, without the
tongue, the tin may be raised by inserting any pointed instrument beneath it, and
by pressing with this point a little way under and along the fastening, it will
escape from the lip, bead, or projection running round the top of the neck of the
bottle, or the jar, or other vessel,

page_text: In the operation of setting or putting on the capsule or cover by tightening the
metal round the neck of the bottle or jar, an instrument may be used set on a lever
G, jointed at a, as shown, Figure VI. To facilitate the use of this instrument or
burnisher, it is mounted so that it can turn freely on the part b, which permits it
to take every position, as may be seen at Figure II.
In the machine shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing the bottle or jar
to be closed or stopped is made to turn, while the burnisher or lid-fixing apparatus
remains fixed, but the bottle or jar might be fixed, and revolving pincers or nippers
be used, or rings with or without milling wheels, to bring down the metal around
the bottle, jar, or other vessel.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the Invention communicated
to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, what
I claim as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
.
1°. The use of the method of hermetically closing bottles, jars, or other vessels
made of glass or other vitrified material, so that they will resist boiling by the aid
of a strong metal cover or capsule set or fixed round the neck of the bottle, jar, or
other vessels, substantially as herein-before described.
12. The use of the method of setting or fixing the stopping-lid or cover without
shock or jar, in combination with a joint which is compressed during the operation
of fixing, substantially as herein-before described.
3º. The use of the method of unclosing or opening bottles, jars, or other vessels
by means of a tongue, forming part of the cover or lid, substantially as herein-before
described.
4°. The use of the machinery and apparatus for operating the fixing or setting of
the cover or capsule, constructed, arranged, and operating, substantially as heroin-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)