IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Charles Cheswright, of Bordeaux,
in the Republic of France.
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 17th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1879.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Charles
Cheswright, of Bordeaux, in the Republic of France.
This Invention relates to the manufacture of capsules adapted for use with
perfumery and other bottles having stoppers of an irregular or other shape.
In carrying out this Invention a disc of metal (such as is usually employed in
the manufacture of capsules) is taken and operated upon, according to the ordinary
method of making capsules, until the desired length is obtained, after which the
blank thus formed is further subjected to the action of any suitable capsuling
machine until it assumes the shape of the frustum of a cone. The capsules thus
partially formed are next, if necessary, colored by the ordinary means, and are
then subjected to the action of the apparatus hereinafter described in order to have
imparted to them the peculiar shape required to adapt them to the form of the
stopper over which they are to be applied.
This apparatus consists of a punch and matrix of the requisito shape. The
matrix may be formed in one piece, but the punch is made in segments, the number
of which will vary according to the form which is to be imported to the capsule.
The segments are so arranged that one or more of them are brought into action
first, and the other or others then follow in their action, the object being to form
one part of the capsule first instead of the whole surface at once, in order to avoid
splitting or doubling up of the metal, whilst the entire capsule is shaped with one
and the same stroke of the punch. For this purpose the segments are connected
together by a pin or pins adapted to a slot or slots so as to admit of the segment
or segments which come into action first (being impelled by a spring or springs)
yielding when the other segment or segments come into operation, so that the stroke
is completed with the united action of the whole of the segments.

page_text: -SPECIFICATION in pursuance-of-the-conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
January 1880.
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN." A communication from abroad by Charles
Cheswright, of Bordeaux, in the Republic of France.
The said Invention relates to the manufacture of capsules adapted for use with
perfumery and other bottles having stoppers of an irregular or other shape.
In carrying out the said Invention a disc of metal such as is usually employed
in the manufacture of capsules) is taken and operated upon according to the ordinary.
method of making capsules until the desired length is obtained, after which the
blank thus formed is further subjected to the action of any suitable capsuling
machine until it assumes the shape of the frustum of a cone. The.capsules, thus
partially formed are next, if necessary, colored by the ordinary means, and are then
subjected to the action of the apparatus hereinafter described, in order to have
imparted to them the peculiar shape required to adapt them to the form of the
stopper over which they are to be applied.
This apparatus consists of a punch and matrix of the requisite shape. The
matrix may be formed in one piece, but the punch is made in segments, the number
of which will vary according to the form which is to be imparted to the capsule.
The segments are so arranged that one or more of them are brought into action
first, and the other or others then follow in their action, the object being to form
one part of the capsule first, instead of the whole surface at once, in order to avoid
splitting or doubling up of the metal, whilst the entire capsule is shaped with one
and the same stroke of the punch or matrix.
For this purpose the segments are connected together by a pin or pins adapted
to a slot or slots, so as to admit of the segment or segments which come into action
first (and which are forced out by a spring or springs) yielding when the other
segment or segments come into operation, so that the stroke is completed with the
united action of the whole of the segments.
In order that the said Invention may be perfectly understood I will describe its
application to the finishing of capsules adapted for stoppers of a form commonly
employed, from which example competent persons will be enabled to apply the
Invention to the production of capsules for use over stoppers of other forms.
Figure 1 represents an ordinary stopper; Figure 2 represents the finished capsule
_adapted for the said stopper; Figure 3.represents a capsule in course of formation
ready for the operation of the improved apparatus hereinbefore referred to, which
is to impart to it the finished shape shewn in Figure 2; Figures 4 to 10 illustrate
the improved apparatus, Figures 4 and 5 being sectional elevations taken respec-
tively at right angles the one to the other of the matrix; Figures 6 and 7, elevations
taken respectively at right angles the one to the other of the punch, shewing the
parts in one position; Figures 8 and 9, a sectional elevation and elevation respec-
tively of the punch represented in Figures 6 and 7, but with the parts shewn .in
another position; and Figure 10, a horizontal section taken along the line 1, 2,
(Figures 6 to 9).
d
1. In the example illustrated the punch is composed of three parts or segments
a, a, b, the two former made in one piece with or rigidly attached to a frame or
holder C, whilst the central seginent b is attached to the frame or holder c by a pin d,
and is slotted at the part d', through which the pin & passes, so as to admit of a
certain amount of play of the central segment b relatively to the two side segments
The central segment b is moreover acted upon by a helical spring e, which
maintains such segment normally protruded beyond the two side segments, as shewn
in Figures 8 and 9. The matrix shewn in Figures and 5 is provided with a
a, a.

page_text: recess or cavity e¹ of a shape corresponding to that of the capsule to be produced.
The apparatus is operated in the following manner :-
When the segments of the punch are in the position shewn in Figures 8 and 9 a
capsule of the shape approximating to that shewn in Figure 3 is placed over the
punch, and the matrix is then either forced over the punch, or the punch is forced
into the matrix, as found desirable. The capsule is thus first acted upon by the
central segment b, and the latter yielding by the compression of its spring e, and
taking its bearing upon the shoulder at f, it is brought flush with the two side
segments a, a, as shewn in Figures 6 and 7. The capsule is then subjected to the
united action of the whole of the segments, whereby it is pressed into the shape
shewn in Figure 2, the whole operation being however performed with one and
the same stroke of the punch or matrix.
By the sequential action of the parts of the divided punch all liability of the
splitting or doubling up of the metal of the capsule is obviated, whilst as the whole
operation is performed in one stroke no loss of time ensues.
It will be understood that any required form of capsule may be produced by
suitably modifying the punch and matrix; for example, the capsule may be made
flat on the top, and either square in horizontal section or of any other polygonal
or other desired form.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
First. The manufacture of capsules by first partially forming a capsule as herein
set forth, and then subjecting the same to the sequential action of the parts of a
divided punch in conjunction with a matrix, substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
Second. The divided punch constructed and arranged so as to operate substan-
tially in the manner and for the purpose herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my Specifica-
tion set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)