IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Duce, of York, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES, AND IN THE
APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 31st December 1867, and dated the 2nd July 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Duce at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd July 1867.
I, WILLIAM DUCE, of York, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING BOTTLES,
AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in stoppering bottles,
whether of glass or metal, or both combined, by means of a glass or porcelain
cup or cover having a female screw therein, which is turned on the male
thread on the neck of the bottle to be stoppered.
These stoppers or covers are to be made by the following means:-The
fluid glass is poured into a mould of the external form of the stopper, a die
being first placed in the centre of the mould; this die is of iron or other
metal having a screw cut thereon of a corresponding thread to that of the
neck of the bottle; by these means the stopper is moulded with a female
thread, and it is only necessary when the glass is cool to turn out the
screw die.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Duce in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd January 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
DUCE, of York, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Duce, Her special licence that I, the said William Duce, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Duce, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPERING
BOTTLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Duce, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Duce, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My Invention relates to certain improvements in stoppering bottles, whether
of glass or metal, or both combined, by means of a glass or porcelain cup or
cover having a female screw therein, which is turned on the male thread on
the neck of the bottle to be stoppered.
These stoppers or covers are to be made by the following means:-The
fluid glass is poured into a mould of the external form of the stopper, a die
being first placed over the centre of the mould; this die is of iron or other
metal, having a screw cut thereon of a corresponding thread to that of the
neck of the bottle; by these means the stopper is moulded with a female
thread by screwing down the die, and it is only necessary when the glass is
cool to turn out the screw die.

page_text: In order that my said Invention may be completely understood, I annex
the accompanying Drawing, which represents a longitudinal section of the
apparatus whereby the stoppers are made.
a is the foundation plate carrying the mould or matrix 6 of the required
size for the stopper, and having fixed thereon the anvil piece c to form the
uppermost part of the stopper when completed. The sides of the mould
extend slightly within and under the closing plate d, actuated by the lever
handle e, and set on the fulcrum f of the standard g; the plate is held down
by the oscillating clamp h, which is joined to the bed plate by the screw nut i.
The screw die is shewn at k; it descends within a space cut in the closing
plate and mould, so that it may be surrounded with the molten glass. The
die is screwed down to the required depth in the mould after the glass has
been supplied, and the arrangement of regulating screws and other parts
shewn above the plate are for the purpose of determining the descent and
the turn both ways of the screw die. The closing plate being lifted up by the
release of the clamp, glass is supplied to the mould, the plate is then shut and
clamped, and the screw of the die operated; when the glass is set the die is
screwed out and the plate removed, when the stopper can be taken from the
mould. Any size of mould and die may be used as required.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion, that I do
not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts I have
expressed and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified without departing
from the principles and objects sought to be attained; but what I claim and
desire to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent are,
the improvements in stoppering bottles, and the apparatus to be employed
therein, substantially as herein specified and shewn by the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Duce, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
HENRY AITKEN,
Bishop Hill,
York.
WILLIAM DUCE. (L.S.)