Improvements in Machines for Making Barrels, Casks, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Barrels, Casks, and the like.
I, CHARLES ELIS BRATT, of Norrlandsgatan 47, Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden, Merchant, 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 improvements in machines for making barrels, casks
and the like from ready-made staves such as that described in the Specification of
my former Patent No. 15806".
The manufacture of the cask or barrel drums according to the present invention
is carried out as follows:-The staves, sufficient in number for one cask, barrel or
the like, are laid upon a frame, by means of which they are introduced into a
magazine, placed outside the building up machine, after which the magazine is
pushed into the said machine. The staves, having reached their place in the
building up machine, sink down so that they can be caught, one after another, by
projections or catchers on endless chains as in the aforesaid Patent, whereby they
are pushed forwards and upwards by the aid of rings, and spread out so as to form
a cylindrical drum.
Before the introduction of the magazine into the building up machine, one or
more so called reserve hoops are erected between the two rings, said hoops having
but which
during the building up a greater diameter than the drum to be built up,
after the building up are caused to tighten closely around the drum for the purpose
of keeping it together while it is conveyed to and situated in another machine in
which the cask or barrel is finished.
This invention embraces the following features:
1. Two end places, common to casks or barrels of dimensions, within certain
limits, and serving to carry the guiding rings.
2. The rings of this machine are constructed in a different manner to the rings,
described in my prior Patent No. 15806" the former being provided with grooves,
in which the stave ends move during the displacement of the staves:
3. The above mentioned reserve hoops for tightening around the drumm:
4. The above mentioned magazine for introducing and holding the staves in the
building up machine.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows the machine in elevation.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 shows a cross section of the machine on the line a-b Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section to an enlarged scale of the rings.
Figure 4 is an end view of the machine.
Fiures 5-8 show details, and
Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged detail views illustrating the method of connecting
the hooks.
Referring to Figures 1 and 4, 1 indicates two parallel arms, connected with each
other, pivoted to the bar 2, Figure 4, and balanced by a counterweight 3. These
arms and their cross bars 4 and 5 form a frame, across which the staves, which are
ready made and similar to each other are placed edgewise and close together in
such a number as is necessary for one barrel or the like. The staves are retained
by the adjustable clamps 6, situated near the outer ends of the arms 1. When
these arms are swung up in a vertical position the staves are delivered into the
magazine shown in Figure 4 in which they rost as shown in Figure 3.

page_text: The magazine consists of the following parts. From a side piece 13, Figure 1,
provided with rollers 16, running on a path or bed 17, rise pivotted end pieces 7,
which are arranged to be placed at various distances from each other for staves of
different lengths and which at their edges, facing the frame 1-4-5, are provided
with guiding plates or wings 9, to receive the staves and to lead them in between
the said end pieces, when the frame is swung from a horizontal to vertical position.
The end pieces 7 are held in their normal positions by means of springs 8 on the
side piece 13. On the lower part of the end pieces 7 are pivotted hooks 10 (see
Figures 1 and 9), on which rest the staves introduced into the magazine. The
said hooks are connected to each other by means of bars 11 and 11' of which the
latter one is provided with a slot in order to form an adjustable connection between
the hooks according to the distance between the end pieces the said hooks being
maintained in proper position by the spring 12 acting on the end of bar 111. On
the hook 10, farthest from the building up machine, is a projection 11", which
when the magazine is inserted into the said machine strikes against a shoulder 43
Figures 1 and 2 on the bed 17, whereby the said hooks 10, 10, are caused to turo,
in consequence of which the staves sink down, so that they may be carried by the
rings 25, in the grooves of which the ends of the undermost stave are already
situated, before the stave has been acted upon by the catchers 41 in order to be
pushed forward. For permitting the staves to sink down the inner walls of the
grooves are cut away. The magazine is moreover provided with an arm 15 and
handle 14.
The magazine, all parts of which are adjustable with regard to various sizes of
staves, is carried by rollers 16 on the upper and lower sides of the bed 17, along
which it can be pushed in through the opening in the end plate 18, so that the
magazine, charged with a set of staves, enters into the next part of the machine,
which is constructed as follows.
These
The iron frame carries a foursided bed the two long sides of which are provided
with dovetail grooves 19 (Figure 2), in which the upper parts of the machine are
fixed. Across this bed is arranged the end plate 18 mounted on the machine and
secured in the grooves 19 by means of bolts as shown in Figure 4, while a
movable and adjustable plate 20, (Figures 1 and 2) is mounted near the other end
of the bed. Between these end plates is placed one or more hoop supports or
jaws 22 as shown in Figure 5. This hoop support, which serves to carry the
reserve hoop 221, while the cask or barrel drum is built up, consists of a grooved
plate 21 (Figure 6), to which the said jaws 22 are adjustably connected.
jaws 22 are provided with recesses having for their purpose to steadily hold the
reserve hoop 221, when it is placed in the jaws. Each jaw consists of two parts, as
shown in Figure 6 through which passes a screw 22× which by means of the
lever 23 and the connecting bar 24, extending between the two jaws, can
simultaneously press the two parts towards each other so as to grip between them
the reserve hoop, while the cask or barrel drum is built up. After the building up
of the staves is completed the hoop is immediately set free by means of the
lever 23 and closed by turning the handle down, keeping the staves firmly together
so that the rask or barrel drum together with the hoop can be withdrawn from the
machine without any hindrance.
To the above mentioned end plates are further fixed rings 25, the diameters of
which correspond to the end diameter of the cask or barrel to be made and which
rings must therefore be changed according to the various dimensions of the casks
or barrels. These rings have for their purpose to support the stave ends, while
the cask or barrel drums are built up, and they are for this reason provided with
grooves a the width of which is somewhat in excess of the thickness of the staves
(see Figure 3). The walls of these grooves support the stave ends inwards as well
as outwards along the whole circumference whereas in my prior Patent No. 155001
the stave ends were supported by the rings only in the direction inwards.
end plates are made dovetail grooves 26, Figures 3 and 4 placed obliquely to each
other and in which said rings can be fixed, by means of holts or screws 26* as
In the

page_text: shown, so that rings 25 of various diameters, answering to various sized casks or
barrels can be mounted in the end plates.
The end plates can be fixed at various distances from each other, so as to fit the
distance between the rings to suit various stave lengths. In contradistinction to
other machines for the same purpose, the size of the cask or barrel drums
manufactured according to this invention can therefore be varied considerably, as
regards the diameter as well as the height. Besides the end plate 20 can be easily
moved forward and backward so as to permit the stave ends to become free from
the grooves a of the rings 25. This displacement, facilitating the removal out of
the machine of the built up drums, is accomplished by means of a bell crank
lever 27, pivotted at 27' to a bracket 28 attached to the frame 17 (see Figure 1)
which carries the end plates, and connected to the end plate 20 by means of a
link 29.
As mentioned above the built up cask or barrel drum is surrounded by one or
more reserve hoops 22', the diameter of which must for this purpose be adjustable.
This can be attained in different ways, for instance by means of the device, shown
in Figure 5, which device consists of a lever b attached to one end of the hoop,
connected by means of a link to a lug 6 near the other end of the hoop. The
connection between the link and the lug is adjustably controlled by a spring. This
lever mechanism has for its purpose to firmly grip the staves after they have been
assembled so as to permit of the same being removed from the machine and conveyed
to another machine for finishing the barrel or cask. The reserve hoop is also
provided with a handle c.
When the cask or barrel drum is to be built up, the end plate is moved towards
the right by the aid of the lever, whereby the rings 25 come in proper position for
supporting the stave ends. When the cask or barrel drum is built up, the end
plate 20 is moved to the left by means of the lever, whereby the rings leave their
hold upon the stave ends, permitting the cask or barrel drum to be withdrawn from
the machine.
The machine further consists of the following parts. Figures 2, 3 and 7 show
the parallel and longitudinal shafts 30, 31, 32 and 33 and the rocking arms 34
extending across the machine. The shafts 31 and 32 are journalled at the outer
ends of said arms, while the ends of the shaft 30 are journalled in the front side of
the machine frame. The shaft 33 is journalled in the frame near the rear side of
the machine and serves to support the rear end of the lever handle 35 and the
rocking arms 36, which by means of the link 37 are pivotally connected to one of
the above mentioned rocking arms 34.
On the shafts 30, 31 and 32 are mounted the chain wheels 38, 39 and 40
respectively Figure 2, over which wheels the chains 42, provided with the
catchers 41 run. Near the end of the bed 17 is fixed a shoulder 43, serving as a
stopping device for the hindmost of the hooks 10 of the magazine, said hooks
supporting the set of staves placed in the magazine.
Figure 7 shows a bent lever 44, which is rotatably mounted on the pivot 45.
Near the lower end of the bent lever 44 is arranged a notch 46, which on the
drawing is shown to be in engagement with a shoulder 47 arranged near the end of
the arm 34.
Thus it is evident, that when the lever 35 is acted upon upwards the motion is
communicated to the rocking arms 34 by the rocking arms 36 and the link 37 and
thus also to the chain wheels, chains and catchers, which are all supported by the
arnis 34, so that these parts of the machine are raised, until the shoulder 47 engages
with the notch 46 when a spring rod 48 acting upon the bent lever 44 maintains
the said engagement.
On the upper part of the bent lever 44 is situated a
horizontal angular piece 49, and it is evident, that a pressure upon the upwardly
directed arm of this angular piece causes a rocking of the bent lever 44 around its
pivot 45, whereby the notch 46 is brought out of engagement with the shoulder 47,
so that the rocking arms 34 and the chains will be lowered until the outer ends of
the arms 34 strike against the stopper 50. This coupling mechanism may

page_text: advantageously be arranged so as to be movable at or near the middle of the
shaft 33.
The different parts of the machine are adjusted ready for operation in the
following manner: (a) the chain mechanism is lowered by means of the rod 35;
(b) the left end plate is moved towards the bracket or stopper 28 by the aid of the
lever 27 (Figure 1); (c) a reserve hoop is placed in the hoop support 22.
The machine is set in motion in such a way that a pulley on the one end of the
shaft 51 is caused to rotate either by machine or hand power. In this rotation also
the shafts 31 and 32 are put in motion by means of the chain wheels 38, 39 and 40,
operating the chain 42, and the catchers 41. Morcover on the shaft 51 are arranged
two coupling parts 52 and 53, of which 53 is loose and 52 fixed. From the frame 17
extends an arm 54, Figure 1, which is connected to the shaft 33 by means of a
rod 53 and a gear consisting of conical toothed sectors 55 Figure 2. When the
lever 35 is raised, the coupling part 53 is moved axially on the shaft 51 and
engages then with the part 52, whereby the chains and the catchers 41 are put in
motion. When the chain mechanism is lowered by the rod 35, the coupling parts 52
and 53 will be disengaged from each other and the chains will stop. The same
effect is also obtained by a pressure upon the button 48' on the front side of the
frame, whereby the vertical bent lever 44 is pressed backwards and out of e. age-
ment with the shoulder 47 (Figure 7), so that the chain mechanism is lowered, at
the same time as the coupling parts are disengaged from each other, by which also
the chains will stop.
The above described machine works in the following manner. A set of similar
ready made staves, are laid upon the arms 1 from the side (Figure 2). These arms
are swung upwards and deliver instantly their load into the magazine 56;
a weight 57, guided by a bar 58 Figure 2, is lowered upon the stave on the top.
Now the magazine is rolled forwards upon the bed 17, until the projection 11* of
the rear hook 10 on the underside of the magazine strikes against the shoulder 43,
near the end of the bed 17. At this moment the hooks 10 of the magazine, which
carry the stave set, are turned outwards and the stave set sinks, until the ends of
the lowest stave rest in the lower parts of the grooves a made in the rings 25.
The lever handle 35 being raised, the coupling parts 52 and 53 engage with each
other, the chain mechanism is raised and the catchers 41 seize the rear edge of the
bottom stave, pushing this stave forwards under the magazine, the stave being
supported at its middle by the reserve hoop and at the ends by the rings 25, fixed
to the end plates and provided with grooves at their middles. When this stave has
thus been pushed away, the next one occupies its place, is seized by the next pair
of catchers and so on stave after stave, until within a few seconds the whole stave
set is spread along the periphery of the rings. The first displaced stave, which
completes the periphery, strikes the above mentioned angular piece 49, which theu
immediately, in the described manner, lowers the whole chain mechanism, brings
the coupling parts out of engagement with each other, thereby stopping the chain
motion. By a rapid movement the lever b of the reserve hoop is folded, so that the
hoop is tightened around the staves. By another movement of the lever 27
(Figure 1) the left end plate is moved outwards, and by seizing the handle of the
reserve hoop the cask or barrel drum is removed from this machine to another for
the purpose of being completed. These operations are repeated three or four
times a minute, during which time as many drums for bulged casks or barrels
are made.
For larger sizes of casks or barrels it is more suitable to use two reserve hoops
and two hoop supports, as above described. The same machine may also be used
for making cylindrical casks or barrels. The staves of such casks or barrels have
parallel edges, excepting the last stave, which is divided, in the direction of the one
diagonal, into two wedges. When these casks or barrels are to be made, no
reserve hoops are employed, but instead two ordinary hoops are mounted in the
hoop supports near the middle of the cask or barrel and two similar hoops are laid
into the guiding grooves in the rings of the end plates. All the staves, excepting one,

page_text: are placed in the magazine. When the cask or barrel is completed in the manner
described and so far that all the staves but one are in their places, the space for
this stave's filled by pushing into the same from the ends the above mentioned
wedges, a er which the end plate to the left is moved outwards. The cask
or barrel im is then taken out of the machine and is completed by the insertion
of the ends
Certain rts of the above described machine, which is adapted to be driven by
steam or other motive power, may very advantageously also be employed for being
worked by haud only. These parts consist of a machine frame or other suitable
bed for the end plates 18 and 20 or other similar parts, to which are fixed the
guiding rings 25 with diameters, which are variable according to the various
dimensions of the casks or barrels, the hoop supports, placed between the end plates
and also the reserve hoops, mounted upon the hoop supports and the diameters of
which may be quickly reduced to a desired size, the lever mechanism, by means of
which the one end plate may be quickly moved inwards and outwards, as described.
All other parts and mechanism of the machine, relating to the performance of the
work by mechanical power, are superfluous when working by hand, the work being
then performed in such a way, that a suitable number of ready made staves is
placed in the machine with the ends of the undermost staves resting on the lowest
parts of the guiding rings. One stave after another is then pushed forward by the
thumbs of the operator, which in this case act in the same manner as the catchers 41,
until the guiding rings are nearly filled. The last staves, completing the circum-
ference, are pushed in between the other staves through an opening, which for this
purpose is arranged in the top parts of the guiding rings 25. When all the staves,
belonging to the cask or barrel drum, have been built up loosely in this mauner, tbe
lever of the reserve hoop is folded down, whereby the circumference of the hoop is
suddenly reduced, so that the hoop tightly closes and holds the staves, while they
are moved to another machine for the completion of the cask or barrel. To allow
of this removal one end plate is moved side-ways in the described manner.
Having new 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. A machine for building up ready made staves to form casks or barrels which
are afterwards completed in another machine as described in British Patent
No. 15806, the building up machine being characterized by the combination of
the following parts: rings (25), which are provided with grooves for the stave ends
and parallel with each other, the walls of the grooves hugging the stave ends so.
that they are supported inwardly and outwardly, these rings being mounted on end
plates (18 and 20), provided with inclined grooves (26) for mounting rings (25) of
various diameters, one of which end plates may be shifted to facilitate the removal
of the built up drum or cask, reserve hoops (22), the diameters of which are
adapted to be reduced so as to tighten closely around the built up cask or barrel
drum said drum being then conveyed to another machine in which the cask or
barrel is finished.
2. The improvement in the magazine box described in the aforesaid former
Patent consisting of a magazine for introducing the staves into the building up
machine and for holding the said staves during the building up of the cask
or barrel, characterized by a balanced frame, arranged for being swung from
a horizontal to a vertical position and consisting of arms (1) and of connecting
bars (4, 5) and on which frame the staves are laid close together endwise, a side
piece (13), which can slide upon a path or bed (17), so that it can be placed in
front of the frame (1-4-5) and be pushed into the building up machine, hinged
end pieces (7), which extend upwards from the side piece (13) and near the edges
of which, facing the frame, are guiding plates or wings (9), serving to guide the
staves resting on the frame, when the said frame is swung upwards to the vertical
position, hooks (10), pivotally mounted on the lower ends of the end pieces (7) in.

page_text: such a manner that the undermost staves, introduced into the magazine, will rest
upon them, the hooks being connected to each other so that when a projection on
one of the hooks strikes a shoulder (43) on the bed 17 during the movement of the
magazine into the machine, the hooks (10) are caused to turn so as to permit the
staves to fall down until the ends of the undermost stave rest in the grooves
of the rings (25), the said grooves being for this purpose open below.
Dated this 8th day of July 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.