Improvements in or relating to the Buffing or Cleaning of Stoppers of Bottles and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Buffing or Cleaning of Stoppers of
Bottles and the like.
I, CHRISTIAN HAMILTON GRAY, of The Indiarubber, Guttapercha and Telegraphs
Works Company, Limited, Silvertown, in the County of Essex, Indiarubber
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to buffing or cleaning of stoppers for bottles and the like
and will be understood from the following description.
The details of the apparatus may vary, but I have attained satisfactory results
from the following apparatus.
The feeding may be accomplished by means of a vessel or hopper into which the
rough stoppers are thrown either by hand or delivered direct from one of the
previous machines or processes. In this hopper is a selecting device consisting of
a channel preferably of metal reciprocating vertically but inclined so as to allow
the stoppers to gravitate towards one end. The selector is reciprocated by suitable
means say a cam so arranged that a pause or dwell occurs near the top, at which
period a sweeper or equivalent device travels across or along the selector and sweeps
off any superfluous stoppers or those which are not properly carried in the channel.
After the sweepers have removed the superfluous stoppers the selector is raised
to its full level where again it may dwell for the necessary period.
From the selector the stoppers gravitate into a fixed channel also placed at an
angle so that the stoppers may slide down it, the top channel being open and in
order to prevent the stoppers from jumping out but at the same time to provide
an accommodating bearing I employ a weighted band which may travel with the
stoppers and be operated thereby. A chain such as is used for driving cycles is
suitable for this purpose and may be carried upon two or more wheels or pulleys
preferably provided with teeth to steady the top chain. These wheels or one of
them may be driven by power if desired but usually the movements generally due
to the sliding of the stoppers is sufficient to cause it to travel.
The lower end of the fixed channel is formed into a curve in such a manner that
as the stoppers pass over that part of it the heads may remain in close contact, but
the other ends open out or part to an extent sufficient to leave the heads free in the
next operation.
In this operation the stoppers automatically enter a travelling band having holes
or perforations at a suitable distance apart or pitch to allow a clear space between
the heads of the stoppers so that they will be free to rotate and not touch each other.
Suitably placed in relation to this band are buffs so arranged as to operate upon the
heads and stems or screwed or other portions of the stoppers so that in passing
amongst these buffs the stoppers are polished and finished. The stoppers fall out
of the band when it passes round one of the supporting rollers or equivalent.
Instead of having complete channels and complete bands, skeleton forms may
be used giving sufficient support to the various parts of the stoppers. Instead of

page_text: having continuous movements as above described intermittent may be used-for
instance instead of a travelling perforated band a perforated plate reciprocating so
as to meet and receive the stoppers may be used-but the method above described
is the one that I prefer. Means other than a curved channel or rails may be
employed for separating the stoppers and transferring them to the perforated band;
for example they may fall down a vertical shoot to the band. Any parts may be
duplicated or more than two may be used and a single buff may operate upon more
than one row of stoppers. Any parts may be power driven if desired and power
may be applied for gravitating the stoppers instead of the force of gravity.
Instead of a reciprocating selector a box or hopper containing the stoppers may
reciprocate and the selectors be fixed or both parts be moved.
Other means may be employed for feeding the band instead of the apparatus
previously described, one method of doing this being to cause the travelling band
to traverse the hopper or receptacle in which the stoppers are placed and pick up
the stoppers as it passes. Or again bucket elevators or equivalent may be used
to raise the stoppers and discharge them on top of the band in excessive numbers
so that the band would receive a sufficient number for operative purposes.
Dated this 13th dovr of Anmil 1007
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to the Buffing or Cleaning of Stoppers of
Bottles and the like.
I, CHRISTIAN HAMILTON GRAY, of The Indiarubber, Guttapercha and Telegraph
Works Company, Limited, Silvertown, in the County of Essex, Indiarubber
Manufacturer, 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 the buffing, cleaning, or polishing of stoppers for
bottles and the like.
The feeding of the stoppers to the cleaning or polishing brushes or appliances may
be effected from a vessel or hopper into which the rough stoppers are delivered by
hand or otherwise. In this hopper is a selector consisting of a channelled device
preferably of metal reciprocating vertically but inclined so as to cause the stoppers
to tend to gravitate towards one end. The selector is reciprocated to load itself
with stoppers by suitable means, say by a cam so arranged that a pause or dwell
occurs near the top limit of travel of the selector, during which pause a sweeper
or equivalent device travels across or along the selector and sweeps off any stoppers
which are not properly received in the channel. After the sweepers have removed
the superfluous stoppers the selector is raised to its full height where again it may
dwell whilst the stoppers gravitate from the selector into a fixed guide also placed
at an angle so that the stoppers may slide down it, the top of the channel being
open; in order to prevent the stoppers from jumping out of the guide but at the
same time to provide an accommodating bearing I preferably employ a weighted
band which may travel with the stoppers and be operated thereby. A chain such
as is used for driving cycles is suitable for this purpose and may be carried upon
two or more wheels or pulleys preferably provided with teeth. These wheels or
one of them may be driven by power if desired but usually the sliding of the
stoppers in contact with the chain is sufficient to cause it to travel.
The lower end of the fixed channel is formed into a curve in such a manner that

page_text: as the stoppers pass in procession around the curve with their heads in contact their
other ends open out from each other radially to a distance apart equal to the pitch
of the perforations or recesses in a carrier which removes them from the channel
and in so doing moves their heads apart to a distance corresponding to that to which
their points were separated in coming round the curve; thus when the stoppers
are received in the carrier their heads are no longer in contact and offer no obstacle
to the rotation of adjacent stoppers independently of each other.
In this operation the stoppers automatically enter a travelling band having holes
or perforations at a suitable distance apart, or pitch, to allow a clear space between
the heads of the stoppers so that they will be free to rotate and will not touch each
other. Suitably placed in relation to this band are brushes or buffs, so arranged
as to operate upon the heads and stems or screwed or other portions of the stoppers,
so that in passing amongst these buffs the stoppers are cleaned, polished, and
finished. The stoppers fall out of the band at the conclusion of the operation.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a view partly in side elevation and partly in
longitudinal section, a transverse vertical section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and
a plan of the selector apparatus.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, but drawn to a
scale larger than that to which Figure 1 is drawn.
Figure 5 is a side elevation,
Figures 6 and 7 are elevations of the respectively opposite ends, and
Figure 8 is a plan, of the buffing or polishing apparatus.
Figure 9 is a transverse vertical section on the line 9-9 of Figure 5, but drawn
to a scale larger than that to which Figure 5 is drawn, and
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a portion of the apparatus represented in
Figure 9.
For convenience of illustration some of the before-described figures, are of a more
or less diagrammatic nature.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The selector apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, comprises a vertical frame A
whose upper part constitutes a hopper A¹, the inclined bottom A2 of which is
provided with one, two as shown, or more slots a through which is free to vertically
reciprocate the selecting device B which in the example illustrated consists of two
frames, the sides b₁ of which are preferably of sheet metal extended up beyond
bars 63 of wood or equivalent, carried between them so as to form channels 63.
The top edges of the channel sides 6' and the bottoms 62 of the channels 6³ are
inclined at the same angle as the bottom A2 of the hopper so as to allow the
stoppers to slide by gravitation towards one end. The selecting device B is recipro-
cated by a cam C to which it is connected by a link C and twin levers C², bars b
affixed to the sides of the hopper A¹ serving to guide the device B, this cam while
continuously rotating being adapted during each revolution to first raise the
selecting device to the level of the sweeper D, then allow it a pause or dwell, during
which the sweeper is moved forward and backward across the selector channels 53,
then raise the selecting device so as to bring the channels 63 thereof into line
with the fixed channels E, then allow another pause for the stoppers to descend
by gravitation down the stationary selector into the channels E and finally lower
the selecting device to its starting position.
The sweeper D may comprise a strip D' or strips of indiarubber or equivalent
material, inclined at the same angle as the channels 63 at the top edges 6 of the
selector B and secured in a stock or plate D². The plate D2 is mounted in a
bracket D³ arranged to reciprocate transversely of the machine in guides D', this
motion being transmitted to it from a cam D³ (Figure 2) and spring D6 through
he medium of a bent lever D and link Ds. The cams C and D are so timed
as regards their rotation that the sweeper D) is moved backward and forward across
the selecting device during the first "dwell" of the latter, this operation effecting

page_text: the removal from the selector channels b³ of all the stoppers not properly resting
therein.
The fixed channels E are inclined (at preferably the same angle as. the selector
channels 63) so that the stoppers may slide down them, the top of the channel
being open, and in order to prevent the stoppers from jumping out, or escaping
from the fixed channels E and at the same time provide an accommodating bearing
for the stoppers,
employ over each channel E a weighted band F which may travel
with and be operated by the stoppers. Chains such as are used for driving cycles
are suitable for this purpose and as shown in Figure 1 each such chain may be
carried upon two or more wheels or pulleys I preferably provided with teeth to
steady the chain. The wheels F¹ or one of them inay be driven by power if desired
but usually the sliding of the stoppers down the fixed channels E is sufficient to
cause the chain to travel.
To prevent the weighted bands F from shifting laterally I provide over each of
the fixed channels E two guide rails E¹ between which one of the bands F travels
and which being of less width apart than the diameter of the heads of the
stoppers X retain the latter in position as will be clearly understood by reference
to Figure 4.
As shown in Figure 1 the lower end E2 of each of the fixed channels E is formed
into a curve in such a way that as the stoppers X pass in procession around the
curve their heads keep in contact with each other and their other ends Figure 4,
open out from each other radially to a distance apart equal to the pitch of the
perforations or recesses g (Figures 6 and 8,) of an endless band G over a part of
which, as shown in Figure 1 the lower ends of the fixed channels E projects.
The stopper stems al automatically enter the perforations g which are at such
distances apart that the heads of adjacent stoppers do not come into contact with
each other and thus do not prevent the free rotation of each stopper in its perforation.
The endless band G passes around two drums or rollers G¹, G2 mounted on shafts g¹
(Figure 5) supported in the standards H the drum G¹ being capable of lateral
adjustment by means of set-screws h so as to enable the tension on the band G to
be increased or decreased. The endless band G is operated by a worm G³ and
worm wheel G of which the former is rotated by any convenient means and the
latter is secured on the shaft g¹ of the drum G².
On the upper ends of the standards H, are secured two longitudinal beams or
rails H across the upper part of which extend a number of bridge bars H2 in each
of which is mounted a forked bracket J. The vertical stem j of each of the
brackets J is screw-threaded and engages with a similarly-threaded nut J¹ retained
in position on its bridge bar H2 by a collar J2 which is secured as by bolts j¹ to
the bridge bar and engages with a flange 2 formed on the nut J₁ all as shown
clearly in Figure 9.
The nut may be rotated for raising or lowering the bracket J which is pre-
vented from turning along with the nut, by means of a feather j³ (Figure 9) fixed
to the bridge bar H2 engaging with a key-way j formed in the stem j of the bracket.
Each of the brackets J supports a horizontal rotatable shaft or spindle K on which
are secured circular buffs or brushes K¹ and a pulley K2 through the latter of
which the spindle K is rotated as hereinafter described.
To the underside of the longitudinal rails H¹ at points midway between the
bridge-bars H2 and at the upper side of the said rails I secure downwardly
extending arms or brackets L in each of which is mounted an adjustable bracket L¹
supporting a short inclined rotatable shaft or spindle L². On each of the spindles L2
are secured a circular buff or brush L³ and a pulley L. The brackets L¹ may be
adjusted in the arms L in a manner the same as that in which the before-described
forked brackets J are adjusted in the bridge-bars H2, and to avoid superfluous
description I have lettered the various devices for effecting the adjustment of the
brackets L', similarly to the corresponding parts appertaining to the brackets J.
The buffs or brushes L³ are arranged in pairs that is to say each of the buffs
or brushes mounted on or supported by one of the rails H¹ is directly opposite a

page_text: provided with double inclines adapted to be operated by a presser frame, the top
and bottom of such press box being formed by the indent plunger and foot plate,
respectively, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 13 of the
drawings.
5. In machines, as hereinbefore claimed, for making bricks, tiles, and the like,
the combination with the press box, of the guides and the mechanism for
operating such guides, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6
of the drawings.
6. In machines for making bricks, tiles, and the like, the combination with the
mould or die plate working transversely in a guide box at the pugmill mouth, and
a pair of ejecting plungers moving in unison, of a pair of press boxes operated by
movable presser frames, one of which moves downwards and causes the clay in its
press box to be compressed into a brick or tile, while the other moves upwards and
causes a brick, or, tile, to be ejected, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of December 1897.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5A, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.