IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL COVERS FOR BOTTLES AND CERTAIN OTHER VESSELS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET METAL FOR SUCH PURPOSES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS BETTS, of Smithfield Bars, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Sixteenth day of March, in the sixth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Thomas Betts, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Thomas Betts, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Betts, my exors, adñors, or assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METAL COVERS FOR
BOTTLES AND CERTAIN OTHER VESSELS, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET METAL
FOR SUCH PURPOSES," communicated to me by a certain Foreigner residing
abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
John Thomas Betts, shall cause a particular description of the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Thomas Betts, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):
The Invention relates,-
First, to so combining machinery that several dies may successively operate
on the same pieces of metal, and in such manner that the metal operated on
shall be carried from die to die by the working of the machine; and,
Secondly, the Invention relates to making sheet metal for such purposes by
a machine, as hereafter explained.
And in order that the Invention may be fully understood, and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed,
in the various Figures of which the same letters of reference are used to
indicate the same parts wherever they occur.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The descriptions of metal covers which the machinery hereafter described is
intended to make, are such as are capable of being placed over the neck of a
bottle, or on the top of a jar or such like vessel, and, when on, to be readily
pressed in contact with the surfaces so covered, and to take the figure or
contour thercof, as was described in the Specification of my former Patent;
and I prefer such covers for bottles, jars, and other vessels capable of being
similarly covered, to be made of metal tin, though other metal may be used,
which does not require to be annealed between the processes of being more
and more raised by the succession of dies and punches necessary to raise the
metal to the required extent; and I have found that by applying a little
gum water to the interior lower surface, the closing is rendered more com-
pletely air-tight.
Figure 1 is a side view of the machine. Figure 2 is a front view thereof,
partly in section. Figure 3 is a plan of the machine. Figure 4 is a section
taken from front to back of the machine. Figure 5 shows one of the punch
rods in plan, and in side section. Figure 6 shows a plan and edge view of
what I call a "cradle," for receiving the metal from one of the dies. in order
to carry it to the next die. Figure 7 shows a plan and edge view of a
spring scraper to one of the punches, by which the raised metal on that punch
may be removed and deposited in the cradle. The machine is arranged for
working thirteen punches, which I have found sufficient to raise the metal

page_text: to the greatest extent required for covering the necks of bottles; but when
covers of a less depth are to be made, a less number of dies will be necessary.
The machinery and dies shown are suitable for raising metal for the covers of
the necks of champagne bottles, by examining of which, aided by the
description hereafter given, a workınan will readily construct dies, and adjust
the machine for making other sizes, according to the purposes to which the
covers are to be applied. a, a, is the framing of the machine, the nature of
which is clearly shown by the Drawings. b is the main or driving shaft or
axis, which receives motion by a strap from a steam engine acting on the
pulley c. The axis or shaft 6 turns in bearings at e, e. On the shaft or axis b
is aflixed a
fly wheel d for equalizing the motion of the axis. f,f, are two
plates affixed on the axis b, between which are formed inclined guides, by
which motion is communicated to the lever g; on the back end of which there
is a fixed axis, which carries a friction roller h, which works between the
inclined guiding surfaces, thus causing the lever g to move to and fro on its
axis i. The other end of the lever g is attached by means of a pint joint to
the sliding bar j, and the motion caused by the guide surfaces to the front end
of the lever g is such that at each revolution of the axis 6 the sliding bar j is
moved to and fro a distance equal to that from centre to centre of two
succeeding dies. is a plate, hinged at 7, 1, to the bar j. m is a plate, con
nected to the plate k by the plates n, n. On the plates n, n, are affixed the
scrapers o, o. These scrapers are placed in such a position as to lie each
under one of the punches, so that each punch in passing back is scraped, by
which means the raised piece of metal thercon is forced off, and falls into a
cradle p, an opening being formed in the ends of each of the punches to
prevent the pressure of the atmosphere acting to retain the covers upon the
ends of the punches. A cradle p is applied to each punch; such cradles
being affixed to the plate m; and they consist each of two bent plates of iron,
as is shewn. The plate m is caused to rise and fall, as well as to move to and
fro. The Drawings shew the plate in in its highest position, haying carried
up the various pieces of metal under process, in which position it will remain
till cach of the punches holds the piece of metal opposite to its end; and as
the punch carries it forward, the plate m will descend in the following
manner-9, 2. are two sliding bars, the front ends of which rest on the
supports r, r. 9', 9, are two inclined surfaces, formed on each of the
sliding bars 9, which allow of the plate m descending. The plate m rests
on the bar m³, and slides thereon; such bar m having projections m³,
to which the rods m³ are fixed, such rods moving on axis at m. By this
arrangement, as the punches go forward, carrying with them the netal

page_text: to be operated upon, the bars 9 will also be carried forward, and
the projections m³ will descend down the upper inclines 2¹, and the lower
inclines q will descend in front of the supports r, r, thus allowing the plate m,
with the cradles thereon, to move back a distance equal to that between the
two punches; and as the punches recede from their dies the plate m, with the
cradles, will be caused to rise up by the upper inclines q¹ coming under the
projections m², and the lower inclines passing over the supports r,r; and as the
punches go back the raised pieces of metal thereon will be scraped off and
deposited in the cradles, and during the time that the punch is out of the
way the plate m, with the cradles, will be moved a space equal to that between
the centres of two dies, thus carrying each piece of metal that has been
operated upon from one die to the next; the sliding bars q are attached by
straps to the cylindrical bar s, and to this cylindrical bar are affixed the punch
rods t, the punch rods t working through hollow bearings u, which guide them
in their movements backwards and forwards. The cylindrical bar s is slided to
and fro by the connecting rods v, which receive motion from excentrics w,
affixed on the axis b. x, x, are sliding bearings of the cylindrical bar s, such
bearings being guided in their movements to and fro by the guide plates y.
z, z, are what I call followers; they slide in bearings A, one to cach punch and
die, except the first die, into which the disc of metal is fed, and the last or
cutting die; these followers are constantly drawn upon in a direction towards
the back of the machine by weighted cords B, passing over the bar C, and the
pieces of metal are each held between the end of a punch and one of the
followers as it is forced up into a die, and as it is drawn out of the die and car-
ried to acradle. The dies are fixed in uprights or heads D, which are capable
of adjustment by screws E, and of being fixed when adjusted by screws and
nuts F; the punch rods t are all alike, except in the last three, and they have
their punches affixed therein by keys, as is shewn; the three last punch rods
are hollow, and are connected with the bars by straps; within these hollow
rods t, the rods t¹ slide, there being springs pressing against the back ends of
such rods t¹, such springs being capable of being adjusted by the keys 13 being
more or less driven through the hollow rods t, as is shown, and the rods t
are prevented from turning and of being forced out of the rods t by the
keys t. The object of having the three last of the punch rods provided with
springs is to prevent injury to the machinery. Some of the punches and
the dies suitable for making metal covers for the necks of champagne bottles
are shewn full size in a separate Drawing, and these I will now proceed to
describe.
Figure 8 is a front view of the die No. 1.
Figure 9 shows a section of

page_text: the die No. 1, with its punch, having forced a piece of metal into the die, G
being the die and II the punch, I being a plate, between which and the face
of the die the workman successively places discs of metal tin as fast as the
same are acted upon between the punch and the die and removed therefrom.
Figure 10 shews a front view of the die No. 2. Figure 11 shews a section
thereof, J being the die and K the punch. Figure 12 shews a front view of
the die No. 3. Figure 13 shews a section of the die No. 8, with the proper
punch, L being the die and M the punch. I have not thought it necessary to
shew all the punches and dies, they being similar to each other, progressively
decreasing in size, as will be understood by reference to Figures 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19, 20, which represent a piece of metal raised by the seven succeeding
dies and punches. Figure 21 is a front view of the die No. 11, and
Figure 22 is a section of the die No. 11 and its punch. Figure 23 shews a
front view of the die No. 12. Figure 24 shews a section of the die No. 12,
and the proper punch, P being the die and Q the punch. Figure 25 shews a
front view of the die No. 13. Figure 26 shews a section of that die R and
punch S, this die and punch simply cutting off the end of the metal by the
shoulder of the punch at S¹ coming against the front edge of the die; and in
order to remove such piece of metal from the front of the die when the punch
passes away, there is a projecting plate affixed at the right-hand end-of. the
plate m, which slides against such pieces of metal, and the finished metal
cover in the die K; No. 13, will be forced through that die by the next coming
cover. It will be evident, that when raising metal covers of greater or less
diameter than those shewn or raised to a less extent, other dies and punches
will be required, and when the metal is raised to a less extent a less number of
dies and punches will be required. And I would also state, that if it be
desired to mark the end of each cover with a name or device, that the follower
and punch of the die No. 11 are to be suitably engraved for that purpose.
It will be evident to the engineer, that in a machine consisting of so many
parts, that many of the details may be varied without departing from the
principle of the Invention, whereby several dies and punches are combined in
their working, and the metal operated upon by them carried progressively from
die to die as above described.
I will now describe a machine constructed according to the second part of
the Invention.
Figure 27 shews a side view of the machine. Figure 28 shews a plan
thereof. The other Figures of this Drawing shew-views of details parts in
order that their nature may more readily be seen and understood. a, a, is a
furnace having a melting pot 6 wherein the metal is melted. c is a spout, the

page_text: lower part of which rests below the opening d of the melting pot, such spout
being hinged at e, there being a space at the upper part of the spout so as to
allow the lever f moving up and down so as to open or close the opening & by
means of the plate g affixed to the lever f, such lever working behind. the
plate h, which causes the plate 9 to cover the opening a securely. i, i, is a
plate or surface of iron, which I make about forty feet long, and supported at
intervals, as shewn at j. j. The object of this plate is to receive a thin layer
of melted tin as the moving pot of melted metal is progressively slided along
the plate or surface i, i, and thus will a long thin sheet of tin be obtained.
k is a pot, into which melted tin or lead, if lead be used, is drawn, such pot
being surrounded by a fireplace for coke or charcoal, in order to keep the metal
melted till it arrives at the end of the plate or surface i, i, and any metal
which may then remain will flow through the plate i through an opening made
for that purpose into the vessel . The under part of the pot is open, so that
the metal flows down on to the plate or surface i, and the width to which it
can flow is governed by the projections 1, 1, and the metal is prevented flowing
out in front by the projection m, and when the pot is near the furnace the
metal is prevented flowing by the stop n, fixed on the plate or surface i. The
sheet of metal thus obtained is then wound on to the axle m', which turns in
bearings n', such axle having a plate o affixed parallel with the axle, between
which and the axle one end of a sheet of metal is placed, and then the axle
being turned will wind on the sheet of metal, which is then conveyed to proper
rollers for rolling the sheet to the degree of thickness desired for the process of
raising the metal into covers for bottles and other vessels.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the best means I
am acquainted with for performing the same, I would have it understood that
I make no claim to any of the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the
precise details so long as the peculiar character of either part of the Invention
be retained. But what I claim is,—
First, the mode of constructing and combining machinery, whereby several
dies and punches are combined together, and the metal acted on successively
carried from die to die by the working of the machine; and,
.
Secondly, I claim the mode of obtaining sheet metal for the purpose of
making covers for the necks of bottles and other vessels, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Betts, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.
JOHN THOS (L.S.) BETTS.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1843, the aforesaid John Thomas Betts came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifi-
cation aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose..
Enrolled the Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-three.