Improvements in Marking Cotton and other Bales.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Marking Cotton and other Bales.
I GEORGE BLUNDELL TAYLOR of 22 to 25 Alexandra Buildings, Ormond
Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
It frequently happens with the ordinary way of marking cotton bales that the
marks of some of the bales in the cargo get obliterated. There are several
different consignments by different parties and of widely different qualities in the
same ship but it is no uncommon thing for a master porter to save trouble when
marks are obliterated to re-mark the bales haphazard and in this way very
frequently the consignee of a costly consignment of cotton gets some very cheap
rubbish in its place and vice versa. Now my invention is designed to prevent any
chance of these tricks occurring and consists of an arrangement for marking the
metal bands of the cotton bales themselves. The only way in which this has been
done before as far as I am aware has been by painting the band but these painted
marks are quite as likely to get obliterated as the marks painted on the bale itself.
My invention therefore consists in stamping, nicking, eating out, or otherwise
impressing on the cotton bale band the actual mark desired. There are various
methods of carrying this out such as marking with acid.
This however is
dangerous as the strong acids are liable if spilt in the cotton &c. thus to cause
spontaneous combustion. It also requires a long time for the acid to eat into the
bale band. (2) Marking by a bammer and punch or dye. This again can only
be done to show well when a solid abutment is placed below the band and con-
sequently it can only be done when the band is not in position and marking as a
rule is required after the band is in position. The plan therefore which I prefer
to any other is to form an implement with 2 jaws, one of these jaws having a flat
upper surface and sharp edged in front is passed under the bale, the other jaw
carries a die of the mark required, and by pressing on the long levers forming the
shanks of these two jaws just as in the case of a blacksmiths tongs or a pair of
plyers the die is caused to enter into the metal band thus forming an impressed
mark. In some cases I may have holes in the under jaw, and sharp pointed or
edged dies in the upper jaw and thus perforate the band. This however I do not
recommend. Further a multiple drilling machine on a very small scale forming
the mark in question can be caused to drill or perforate the band. This however
is not as good as the plan already described as it tends to weaken the band.
Dated this Eighth day of January 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Marking Cotton and other Bales.
I, GEORGE BLUNDELL TAYLOR of 22 to 25 Alexandra Buildings, Ormond
Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, 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:—
It frequently happens with the ordinary way of marking cotton bales that the
marks of some of the bales in the cargo get obliterated. There are several different
consignments by different parties and of widely different qualities in the same ship,

page_text: but it is no uncommon thing for a master porter to save trouble when marks are
obliterated to re-mark the bales haphazard and in this way very frequently the
consignee of a costly consignment of cotton gets some very cheap rubbish in its
place and rice versa.
am
Now my invention is designed to prevent any chance of these tricks occurring,
and consists of an arrangement for marking the metal bands of the cotton bales
themselves. The only way in which this has been done before as far as
aware has been by painting the band but these painted marks are quite as likely to
get obliterated as the marks painted on the bale itself. My invention therefore
consists in stamping, nicking, eating out, or otherwise impressing on the cotton bale
band the actual mark desired. There are various methods of carrying this out,
such as,
1. Marking with acid. This plau is dangerous, as the strong acids are liable,
if spilt in the cotton, to cause spontaneous combustion. It also requires a long time
for the acid to eat into the bale band.
2. Marking by a hammer, and punch or die. This again can only be done to
show well when a solid abutment is placed below the band and consequently it can
only be done when the band is not in position and marking as a rule is required
after the band is in position.
The plan therefore which I prefer to any other is to form an implement with two
jaws, one of these jaws-having a flat upper surface and sharp edged in front-is
passed under the bale, the other jaw carries a die of the mark required.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of tool;
Figure 2 a view of part of the same tool on an enlarged scale;
Figure 3 a cross section through the die also on an enlarged scale;
Figure 4 a front elevation of another form of tool embodying the invention;
Fi
Figure 5 a side elevation ;
Figure 6 a front elevation partly in section showing the tool open to receive the
bale band or remove the die.
In these, A B are the two jaws working on a pivot C, the jaw A being formed
with a moderately sharp edge at the end just sufficiently blunt not to cut the canvas
of the bale, and with a flat surface opposite the other jaw. The other jaw B has
a permanent or movable die D of the mark required. On the jaws are mounted
two levers E F in the manner of a blacksmith's tongs, and the jaw A may if
desired have a negative die G corresponding to the die in jaw B. Where a large
variety of bale marks are required, special dies are fixed into the jaws in any
convenient manner.
The dies D and G have projecting flanges H all round them, and the jaws, and
to a slight extent the dies, are provided with a horizontal slot in which in each
case a cotter g
is driven holding the die tight, the flanges H forming solid abutments
on the jaws.
In this way a very great strain can come upon the dies without loosening them
in their sockets.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The proper dies being wedged into their respective jaws, jaw A is passed under
the bale band; the upper lever F is now forcibly pressed down, pressing the die
into the band and marking it.
It will be obvious that modifications of this apparatus can be made without
departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the two levers could be
pivoted together without crossing and the handles forced apart to give the
impression, or, in place of a tool such as described, a heavy iron wedge can be
driven under the band and then the mark effected by a hand hammer, and punch
die, but this plan is very heavy on the band and has a tendency, to rupture it.
Further, the tool already described could be modified by having sharp pointed dies
and holes in jaw A into which the dies could be pressed. Further, the band could
be marked if desirable by acid or by tools which would plane or cut out the mark

page_text: from the material of the band, or the modifications set forth in dotted lines in
Figure 1 could be used, in which I is a loop band holding the levers together when
pressed tight as in a blacksmith's tongs; Ja gallows forming part of jaw B and
having a screw K used to force the die down; La hinged catch which can be used
to take the strain off the handle by hooking on to jaw A. Lastly, the modification
set forth in Figures 4, 5 and 6 could be adopted. In these, A B are the two jaws
working on a pivot C, the upper jaw B has a movable die of the mark required.
On the pivot C is mounted a cam M having a handle F, and the jaw A may have
a handle, or, in place of the handle being attached to the jaw A, the pivot Ċ may
be extended to form a handle E. The movable die D is permitted a vertical
movement by means of the pin d working in the vertical slot b.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The jaw A is (as in the example shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3) passed under the
bale band; the lever F is then forcibly pulled, pressing the die D by means of
the cam into the band N and marking it, the handle E being used to steady the
apparatus if necessary. When the marking is completed, the handle is pulled into
the position shown in Figure 6; the pin O coming against the abutment P
automatically raises the jaw B whereby the apparatus can be removed from
engagement with the band, the said jaw falling back by gravity into position as
soon as the handle is turned back again. The die D can be removed from the
jaw B by taking out the pin d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of marking cotton and other bales, which consists in forming
the mark in the actual material of the bale tie while the same is in position on
the bale.
2. In apparatus for marking bale ties, the combination of two jaws pivoted
together, one of these jaws having a flat upper surface or abutment sharp edged
in front, and the other jaw carrying the die of the mark required, substantially as
described.
3. The several combined arrangements or constructions of parts forming the
improved apparatus for marking bale ties substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.