Improvements in Bottle-corking Machines.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1890-Accepted, 21st June, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bottle-corking Machines.
I, EDWARD ERMOLD, of 198 Fulton Street, New York City, United States of
America, Machinist, 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 an improved bottle-corking machine which is driven by
power and operated in connection with a treadle whenever the machine is to be started
or work the release of the treadle interrupting the operation of the machine.
The Invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved bottle-corking machine and
readle action.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same on linea a figure 4.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, on line ve figure 2.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, are details of the clutch mechanism by which the cam shaft of
the machine is connected with the power shaft.
Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the cork-arresting pin and
squeezer.
Figure 9 is a plan view of the squeezer, part being broken out and the cork chute
being in section.
Figure 10 is a front end elevation of the squeezer, the cork-guiding and compressing
tube being removed.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan view of the treadle and clutch operating device.
Figure 12 is an end view of the arm carrying the sliding bolt, which bolt is shewn
in section.
Figure 18 is a side view of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is a bottle support which is placed vertically below the cork guiding and
compressing tube and the vertically-reciprocating plunger C that is guided in a
fixed guide sleeve above the cork guiding and compressing tube B. D is a hori-
zonially-reciprocating squeezer in the open rear part of the cork-guiding and
compressing tube B.
The parts enumerated namely the bottle-rest, cork-guiding tube, plunger and
squeezer, have been used in different arrangements in bottle-corking machines hereto-
fore and do not claim the combination of these parts broadly. The new features of
my machine, however, consist in operating the movable parts referred to from a power
shaft and in supplying the corks by an automatic feed and in the improved con-
struction of treadle action employed.
The automatic feed consists of an inclined cork-feeding chute E which extends from
the rear part of the cork-guiding tube B in upward direction to the delivery end of a
throat Fat the bottom of a supply hopper F in which the wet corks are placed. The
rear part of the throat F is provided with an opening in which is arranged a roller F
that is provided with teeth or fingers F³ on the circumference so as to take hold of the
corks fed or passing from the hopper into the throat and feed the same in downward
direction into the supply chute E. The supply chute E is formed of a series of parallel
rods which are supported by circular collars E' at the top and bottom, the upper one
being attached to the lower end of the throat F' while the lower one is attached to the
wider rear part of the cork-guiding and compressing tube. These rods exert less
friction on the corks than glass or metal tubes, as the wet corks cannot adhere to the
same and are readily fed in downward direction to the squeezer. At the lower part of

page_text: the feed-chute is arranged a horizontally-reciprocating and spring-netnuted shank or
rode (see figure 8) carrying on its end the cork-arresting pin which can enter
between the rods of the feed-chute E and engage intermittently one of the corks in
said feed-chute so as to arrest the downward movement of the same until the one
below the arresting pin is dropped in front of the squeezer and fed by the same to the
front part of the cork-guiding and compressing tum B. The cork guiding and com-
pressing tube, the squeezer, and cork arresting device are supported on the table A
that is attached to the top of the frame A' while a stond table or platform A' is
supported by standards A on the table A³. On the platform & are arranged upright
standards A which are provided with bearings for the feed roller of the supply-
throat and said standards in connection with the feed the E support the feed
throat and its feed roller F7, as shewn in figures 2 and 3.
!
"
The cam shaft S is provided with two cams S2 and S3, the cam S operating the
plunger rod (' while the cam 8ª operates the squeezer 1). The plunger rol is
connected by a pivot link with the front end of a fulerumed lever (the rear end of
which is connected by a pivot link with the vertically-guided rod (which is provided
on its lower end with an anti-friction roller resting on the cam S, as shewn in figure 2,
and is kept in contact with the same by a spiral spring (that is connected with an
arm (projecting from the rod (and to the supporting frame A', as shown in
figure 2. The shank D' of squeezer D) is guided in a smitable box on the table Aª
and is provided at its rear end with an anti-friction roller in the same manner as the
plunger-operat ng rod (said roller being held in contact with the eam 8 by a spiral
spring secured to the squeezer and to the guide-box d of the same.
On the top of
the guide-box of the squeezer is arranged a fixed guide sleeve if³ in which is guided
the shank or rod of the cork-arresting pin which shank is provided with an
adjustable collar between which and the sleeve is interposed a spiral spring by
which the cork-arresting pin is moved in the direction towards the cork chute E.
The front end of the shank of the cork-arresting pin G is guided in a fixed sleeve
supported on the top of a guide-frame (which serves to steady the motion of the
squeezer. The rear end of the slanke of the cork-arresting piu G is connected by a
pivot link with a fulcrumed lever g³ the lower end of which is engaged by a nose g²
at the rear end of the shank 1) of the squeezer, as shewn clearly in figures 2 and 8.
When the squeezer is moved forward the nose g engages the lower end of the lever g
and thereby withdraws the shank of the cork-arresting pin and thus also withdraws
the pin G from the feed-chute E and permits the dropping of a cork below said pin
through the collar El above the squeezer. As soon as the squeezer is released and
returned or moved backward by its spring S', the cork arresting pin G is moved
forward again by its spring C so as to enter the next following cork and retain the
entire column of corks in the feed chute in position until they can be fed in downward
direction by the next forward motion of the squeezer. In this manner one cork after
the other is fed in a regular and reliable manner to be squeezer and cork-guiding and
compressing tube. The squeezer D is provided with a T-shaped bar df at its rear end,
said bar being provided with guide rods which are guided in openings of the
frame G. The frame G is open at its middle part so as to permit the passage of the
squeezer shank. The cork-guiding and compressing tube B is wider at its rear part
and attached to the frame G. It is provided on its under sido at its front, part with
a downwardly-tapering segmental flange which forms a rest for the bottle-neck
while the upper edge of the bottle-mouth rests against an outwardly and downwardly-
inclined lip of the tube B which flange and lip & form a flaring mouth, as shewn
clearly in figure 8.
The driving shaft S is provided at one end with a fly-wheel M (see figure 4) which
acts as a pulley to which the driving belt is applied. The cam shaft. S', which is in
line with the driving shaft S is provided on its outer ond with a disc M'against which
is pressed a spring-actuated brake-shoe M on the upper end of a spring-actuated
rod M which Torni together a brake by which the motion of the shaft $ is steadied so
as to noutralise the concussions and shocks which are exerted on the same by the
squeezer and plunger. The spring-actuated brake shoe rod M³ is guided in socket

page_text: sleeves of the supporting frame A', as shewn clearly in figure 1. On the cam shaft S¹
is also located a pulley p which, by a cross-belt 7 passes over a pulley p² on the shaft
of the feed roller F and serves to impart rotary motion to said fend roller, as shewn
in figure 1.
The connection of the cam shaft S₁ with the driving shaft S, which latter is
continuously rotated by the helt and fly wheel, is made by means of a clutch
device which is shewn in figures 5, 6, and 7. The clutch device is operated from
a rod connected with a treadle that will be described hereinafter. When the
treadle is released the spiral spring connected with said rod raises the rod
and places the upper bevelled end of the rod in such a position as to press
back the spring-actuated locking-jaw m of one member of the clutch and prevent
it from engaging the recesses m on the hub of the fly wheel M which forms the
other member of the clutch. When the treadle is depressed the bevelled upper
end of the rod t is withdrawn so that the spring-actuated jaw m can engage the
recesses m in the hub of the fly wheel and produce thereby the interlocking of
the clutch members and the rotating of the shaft. As long as the treadle is
depressed by the foot, the working parts of the corking machine are operated
whereas the moment the treadle is released the motion of the cam shaft is stopped
while the rotary motion of the fly wheel M. and its shaft continues. In this manner
the operation of the corking machine is quickly and easily interrupted or established
and the machine is brought fully under the control of the operator.
From the frame A' of the machine the bracket U projects, which is provided with
an eye U' in which the sleeve D'is mounted and guided to reciprocate vertically. In
the sleeve U the rod V is mounted adjustably, said rod carrying on its upper end the
bottle support A. The lower end of the reciprocating sleeve U2 is connected by a
link with a foot lever fulcrumed on the lower end of an arm U projecting
downward from the front end of the bracket U. On the sleeve U a tappet V' is fixed
und the rod V can be locked at any desired elevation in the sleeve U by a screw U*.
On said tappet V the friction roller we rests, which is mounted on one end of an arm w
fixed on a shaft W mounted in the lower part of the frame A. Said shaft W is also
provided with an arm W' on one side of which lags Ware provided, between which
a bar is mounted to slide, one end of said bar being provided with a top bevel X'.
Suitable clips X are bolted or screwed on the lugs W for the purpose of holding
the sliding bar between the lugs. A spiral or other spring X3 (see figure 11)
has one end secured to a pin Y projecting from the sliding bar X and the other
secured to a pin Y projecting from the arm WI, as in figure 13, which spring X'
serves to pull the sliding bar in the direction towards its bevelled end. On the
sliding bar Xa lever Z is pivoted which is provided at its upper end with an anti-
friction roller Z and has its lower end rounded, said rounded end resting against
a shoulder formed on a lug projecting laterally from the short arm
projects downward from the arm W. A spring is secured to the pin Y' of the
arm W and to the frame A¹. The vertically reciprocating clutch rod t which actuatos
the clutch is provided near its lower end with a shoulder or offset T2 on which
the bar X can act and a short distance above the same a bevelled toe T projects from
a sleeve T formed on an arm projecting from its frame A'. By depressing the
foot lever a, the rod V bottle support A and the bottle on said support are raised and
the bottle is brought into proper position for corking. At the same time, the free
end of the arm w' is raised and the arm W₁ swung down as is also the sliding bar X
which acting on the shoulder or offset T' of the clutch rod t, pulls said clutch-rod
downwards whereby the clutch mechanism is released and the shaft S driven by
the pulley M is engaged with the working mechanism of the corking machine, and
the cork forced into the bottle upon the support A. As the arm W swings
downward and moves downward the bar X, the roller Z' slides down the bevelled toe Ï³
whereby the upper end of the lever Z is moved in the direction of the arrow A. The
lower end of the lever Z abnts against the shoulder of the lug W* and thereby
the bar X is moved in the direction of the arrow a. As soon as the bar X is
disengaged from the offset T2, the spring pulls the clutch rod t upward and the
that

page_text: mechanism of the corking machine is at oner disengaged from the driving shaft,
The bottle still remains in raised position but the corking mechanism is not operated.
When the foot is removed from the foot lever, the bottle support descends and the
arm W, har X and lever Z are brought back into the position shewn in figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1.
claim is ;-
1. The combination of a cork-feeding chute, a cork-guiding and compressing tube,
having a wider rear part below said chute, a reciprocating plunger, n reciprocating
squeezer adapted to enter the cork-compressing tulm, a ro-iprocating cork-arrester
above the squeezer, said arrester projecting into the cork-feeding chute, and mechanism
for alternately reciprocating said squeezer and arrester, substantially as set forth.
2. In a bottle-working machine, the combination, of a cork-feeding ehnte, a cork-
guiding and compressing tube, a squeezer provided with a nose or projection near its
inner end, a cork-arrester having a slank far, a fulerumed lever pivotally connected
to the slank-bar of the said cork-arrester, a rotary shaft, and a cam on said shalt for
operating the said squeezer, substantially as set forth.
The combination, in a bottle-corking unchine, of an netuting cam shaft having
cams for working the different parts of the machine, a brake wheel at one end of
the shaft, and a spring actuated brake applied to said brake wheel for the purpose
of neutralising the couenssions of the cams and operating parts, substantially as
set forth.
4. The combination, with a guided clutch-operating rod and a movable platform or
support, of a foot lever or treadle for raising the platform or support, and mechanism
operated by the movable platform or support and serving to netuate the clutch-roil,
substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with a guided clutch-operating rod and a movable platform or
support, a lever actuated by said platform or support and a slide bar gnided on said
lever which slide-bar acts on the clutch-operating rod, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with a guided clutch-operating rod and a inovable platform or
support, of a foot lever or treadle for raising the support, a lever netuated by the
support, a slide bar guided on said lever, a lever pivoted to the slide bar, a fixed
bevelled toe on which one end of the lover pivoted to the slide bar rests, and an
abutment on the lever operated by the support, against which abutment that end of
the toe lever rests that is opposite to the one resting on the top, substantially as
set forth.
7. In a bottle-corking machine, the combination, with a guided clutch operating
rad and a movable support, of a foot lever or treadle for raising the support, a lever
netunted by said support which lever is provided with an abutment, a slide bar on said
lever, a toc-lever pivoted to the slide bar, a spring for pulling said har towards the
clutch-operating rod, a fixed bevelled toe that engages the upper end of the toe lover,
and an adjustable tappet connected with said support, substantially as set forth.
E. ERMOLD.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agenis.