IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSULES OR COVERINGS FOR THE NECKS OF BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN !IELRLR MANUFACTURE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Cheswright of Leith Villa Parkhurst Road
Holloway in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer. for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSULES OR COVERINGS FOR THE NECKS OF BOTTLES
AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MEANS TO BE
EMPLOYED IN !IELRLR MANUFACTURE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Cheswright at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1882.
CHARLES CHESWRIGHT of Leith Villa, Parkhurst Road, Holloway in the County
of Middlesex, Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSULES OR COVERINGS FOR THE
NECKS OF BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES AND IN THE APPARATUS OR
MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE
>>
This invention has partly for its object the production of a capsule of oval
form or having two three or more flat sides with rounded corners or edges such
form being better adapted for perforation on the side whilst the capsule is at the
same time capable of assuming the form or contour of the neck of the bottle or
other like receptacle to which it is applied. I thus obtain greater scope for
the embellishment or ornamentation of the sides of such capsules whilst such
ornamentation can be effected in a simpler and more economical manner than
beretofore.
According to this part of my Invention I make my improved capsules of an oval
or flat sided form with rounded corners or edges whether such form be composed
of two three or more flat sides the series of punches and dies employed in their
manufacture being of corresponding shapes commencing with the usual round form
and gradually merging into the desired figure for the finished capsule. Or a round
capsule may be shaped to the desired form by hand by ordinary matrices and
internal dies or mandrils. It is obvious that the flat sides of these capsules can
be more easily and economically embellished externally than the round surface of
the ordinary capsules. Moreover when the capsule is to be more or less perforated
LD G71

page_text: on the side the flattened sides thereof afford facility for producing such perfor-
ations therein in a simple and more economical manner. To produce perforations
on any or all of the flat sides of my improved form of capsule I place the same
upon a special mandril of corresponding form inade hollow and having some or all
of its flat sides perforated to receive the needle punches which can be worked
in an ordinary press or by any other suitable appliance the said hollow and
perforated mandril having combined therewith an internal pusher for releasing the
capsule when perforated.
When a perforated capsule is made by first folding the sides of an ordinary or
other form of capsule together as described in the specification to my Patent
No 4832 A.D. 1879 1 propose with a view to facilitating the opening out of such
capsule after the folded sides have been perforated to place the folded capsule
before it is perforated upon a flat tongue or plate perforated to correspond to the
arrangement and sizes of the punches or piercers to be employed and provided at
cach edge or other convenient part with a rounded or other suitably shaped bead
so that when the perforated folded capsule is withdrawn therefrom convenient
openings will be left between the two sides of the capsule for the introduction of
a tool for separating or opening out the same or the said beading may in some
cases be dispensed with.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Cheswright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th December 1882.
CHARLES CHIESWRIGHT of Leith Villa Parkhurst Road Holloway in the County
of Middlesex Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPSULES OR COVERINGS FOR THE
NECKS OF BOTTLES AND OTHER LIKE RECEPTACLES AND IN THE APPARATUS OR
MEANS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THEIR MANUFACTURE."
Metallic capsules for the necks of bottles and other like receptacles have here-
tofore been made in the form of a hollow truncated cone and when such capsules
have been required to be perforated on the side or to receive lateral ornamentation
or embellishment the curvature of the surface to be perforated or otherwise
embellished combined with the tapered form of the capsule has necessitated a
somewhat complicated and costly arrangement of punches for perforating the
same whilst the operations of side embossing coloring and embellishing have also
been attended with some difficulty owing to the rounded taper form of the capsule.
With a view to obviate this difficulty I originally proposed (in the specification
to my patent No 4832 A.D. 1879) to perforate or puncture such capsules when in
a flat or folded state both sides of the capsule being first flattened and brought
together and the punches then passed direct through the two thicknesses of metal
in their flattened condition at one operation but a difficulty presented itself in
subsequently opening out the flattened and perforated sides of the capsule to the
required rounded forin without tearing or injuring the same.
Now my present invention has partly for its object the manufacture or produc-
tion of capsules or collapsible tubes of such a form in transverse section as that
they shall not only be capable of readily assuming the rounded or other contour
of the neck of the bottle or other like receptacle to which the capsule is intended
to be applied but shall at the same time be better adapted for being perforated
embossed or otherwise ornamented on the side in a more economical and simple
manner and by more simple appliances than when operating upon the ordinary
capsule made with round tapered sides and shall also afford greater scope for the
more elaborate embellishment or ornamentation of the sides of such capsules such
lateral ornamentation being for the same reason also effected in a simpler and more
economical manner than heretofore.
According to one part of my present invention with a view to effecting the
object aforesaid I make ny improved capsules of an oval in lieu of a circular
section the two opposite sides presenting a larger or more flattened curve than
that of an ordinary round capsule of the same size; or I make the capsule of an
oblong section having two flat sides or faces rounded slightly at their edges only
or I make the capsule of a rounded form but having one or more flattened sides; or
I make it of a truncated pyramidal form that is to say composed of three four or
nore flat sides rounded off at the corners or junction angles.
In the manufacture of my said improved capsules I employ a series of punches
or mandrels and dies or draw plates (in the manner now well understood for
producing ordinary capsules) but the said mandrels and dies are to be shaped to
correspond to the improved form of capsule required commencing by preference in
the first of the series with the usual rounded formn whilst the succeeding mandrels
and dies of the series gradually and successively merge into the desired figure
for the finished capsule. Or if preferred an ordinary round capsule may be first
produced in the well known or other manner and subsequently shaped by hand
to the desired improved form on a correspondingly shaped mandrel or by the aid

page_text: of hollow matrices and corresponding internal dies or mandrels of the particular
form required.
In producing perforations on any or all of the flat or slightly rounded sides
of my improved forms of capsules or collapsible tubes I place the capsule upon a
special mandrel of corresponding form made hollow and having some or all of its
flat or slightly rounded sides perforated to receive punches which can be arranged
in any well known and simple manner and worked in an ordinary press or by any
other well known mechanical arrangement.
The flat or slightly rounded sides of the capsule may be perforated either
simultaneously or successively whilst on the said mandrel which may be either
stationary or caused to revolve at suitable intervals. When one of the sides only
of the said stationary hollow mandrel is perforated the capsule can be withdrawn
and replaced again with a fresh unperforated side on the perforated side of the
mandrel the several sides of the capsule being thus perforated in succession. The
said mandrel has combined therewith an internal pusher off acted upon by hand
or by a spring for releasing the capsule when required.
When it is required to stamp or emboss letters or any other devices on the side
or sides of the capsule corresponding embossing dies and suitable counterparts will
be substituted for the before mentioned perforating punches and releasing plate
and the mandrel may in that case be made solid if desired.
In some cases I combine with and attach to some or each of the flattened and
perforated sides of the said rotating mandrel the requisite perforating or embossing
appliances as the case may be each set of perforating or embossing appliances being
brought in succession (by the rotation of the said mandrel) under the action of a
free rotating cam or wheel or equivalent device for exerting the necessary pressure
upon them.
A lace-like ornamental effect may be obtained by combining perforations with
embossing the embossed parts of the design being for example perforated and the
ground left unperforated or vice versa according to taste.
According to another part of my invention having for its object the prevention
of the adhesion together of the two sides of a capsule when perforated or punctured
in a flattened or folded condition as described in the specification to my said
former patent and to facilitate the opening out of the sides of the said capsule
after they have been perforated without tearing or injuring the same I place the
folded or partially flattened capsule preparatory to its being perforated upon a flat
stationary tongue or plate which by being interposed between the flattened sides
of the capsule prevents them from coming into contact with and adhering to each
other. This tongue or plate has perforations made therein to correspond to the
arrangement or grouping and sizes of the perforating punches or piercers to be
employed and may in some cases be provided at each edge or other convenient part
thereof with a rounded or other suitably shaped enlargement or bead so that
when the perforated folded capsule is withdrawn therefrom a convenient space or
spaces will be left between the two sides of the capsule for the ready introduction
of a tool therein for separating or opening out the same.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the explanatory sheet of drawings hereunto annexed the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
figures,
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of my drawings illustrate in transverse section some of the
forns of my said improved capsules. figure 1 illustrates a capsule of the ordinary
round tapered form but having one side a thereof flattened and rounded off at the
angles for the purpose herein before described. Figure 2 is a capsule of oval
or oblong form with two flat sides or faces a a and rounded edges bb. Figure 3 is
a capsule made with three flat sides or faces a a rounded at the corners or angles bb
and figure 4 is a capsule of rectangular section having four flat sides or faces « «
also rounded at the corners or angles bb. Figure 5 is a side elevation of a

page_text: perforated capsule corresponding to figure 4 and shows the position of the
perforations cc in one of the flat sides thereof. Any one or more of the flat or
slightly rounded sides of my improved capsules may be perforated or left plain as
desired. It will be obvious that by having the side or sides of the capsule made
flat or only slightly rounded it can be more easily and economically perforated
embossed or otherwise ornamented or embellished on the side since it will no
longer be necessary to specially adapt as heretofore the perforators or the
embossing dies and counterparts to a round surface the flattened side or sides of
the capsule admitting in fact of the use of any ordinary arrangement of perforators
and embossing dies for acting on a flat surface the same remark being equally
applicable to lateral embellishment by the application of colours for which more-
over the flattened side or sides of the capsule afford a greater scope. Figure 6 is
a longitudinal section and figure 7 a transverse section of the peculiar mandrel
here shown as adapted for holding the capsule figures 4 and 5 (for example)
during the operation of perforating. This mandrel may be of any other shape
externally provided it corresponds to the form and diameter of the capsule which
it is to receive and is made hollow as at d one or more of its flat sides being
provided with perforations as shown to suit the form and arrangement of punches
to be employed therewith. By operating upon a flat side it obvious that the
punctures may be arranged in parallel longitudinal rows or lines in lieu of in lines
radiating or converging more or less to conform to the taper of the capsule the
group of perforations being contained well within the flattened portion of the side
as shown more clearly in figure 5.
e is the internal releaser for pushing off the perforated capsule it can be arranged
to be worked either by hand as shown in figure 6 or by a spring as hereinafter
described and shown at figure 8. This mandrel d may be fixed by the stem fin
any convenient fixed support or holder or may be caused to rotate as hereinafter
specified the capsule to be perforated being pushed thereon and the perforating
punches brought into action by a fly press or by rotating cams or otherwise so as
to perforate one side of the capsule the punches entering the corresponding holes
in the side of the mandrel. After one of the flat sides of the capsule has been
perforated upon the said stationary hollow mandrel the capsule may be removed
and replaced upon the mandrel with a different flat side opposite the punches or
two or more flat sides may be perforated simultaneously by using separate sets of
punches.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a machine for perforating the
sides of capsules in a more expeditious and simple manner than heretofore by
the use of a rotating flat sided and perforated hollow mandrel. Figure 9 is a
corresponding front elevation of the sane and figure 10 a side elevation of a
portion of the said machine looking on the side opposite to that shown in figure 8
and drawn to a smaller scale. The stem f of the hollow mandrel secured into
the end of a spindle rotating in an ordinary bearing in any fixed support g.
This spindle f is driven by gearing or by a band and grooved driving pulley or
fly wheel (shown partly broken away in figure 10) any well known or suitable
clutch arrangement being employed for engaging the said pulley or gear wheel with
or disengaging it from the said spindle at the will of the attendant. In the
arrangement shown in my drawings the pulley / turns freely round the spindle f¹
and is capable of being moved longitudinally thereon in one direction by the action
of the helical spring i and in the opposite direction by the cam shaped end of the
hand lever acting against the face of the boss of the said driving pulley. The
pressure of the spring tends to keep a tooth or projection on the boss of the
pulley engaged with a corresponding notch in the collar fast on the spindle f' and
forming the fixed portion of the clutch so that whilst these parts are engaged
together the spindle and the mandrel & carried thereby will be caused to rotate.
When the attendant presses upon the hand lever it will force back the boss of the
driving pulley away from the collar and the rotation of the spindle f¹ will then
cease until by the release or lifting of the lever & the spring i is again allowed to

page_text: bring the boss of the pulley into gear with the collar as shown This throwing out
of action or stoppage of the machine is effected either by the attendant or
automatically each time a fresh capsule is to be placed upon the mandrel. To some
or each of the flat and perforated sides of this hollow rotating mandrel there is
secured at the larger end thereof by screws or otherwise a stripping plate m
perforated to correspond to the perforations in the same side of the mandrel a
sufficient clearance being left between the inner face of the said plate or plates and
the outer side of the mandrel at its smaller end to admit of the capsule being readily
pushed thereon. To each side of the mandrel carrying the stripping plate m there is
also secured a blade or other spring n which is connected by a slot at its free
end with a plate o carrying a rubbing piece o' on its outer face and a group
of punches on its inner face which punches work inside the plate m and
correspond to the perforations in the side of the mandrel. The said spring tends
to withdraw the punches from the side of the capsule after they have operated
whilst the perforated plate m assists in stripping the metal of the capsule from
off the punches during their withdrawal. If preferred the stripping plate m
in lieu of being secured to the mandrel itself as shown in figure 8 may be
connected by helical or other springs with the plate o which carries the punches
so as to press firmly upon and hold down the side of the capsule when the punches
are being forced through and to remain in that position until the punches are
withdrawn clear of the capsule, after which it will rise along with the punches and
leave the mandrel free for the release of the perforated capsule and the reception
of a fresh one. Immediately above the plate o carrying the punches there is a
pressing wheel or cam 9 mounted loose upon a horizontal stud carried by a
slides which is adjustable vertically in the stationary slotted guide t so that
the distance between the periphery of the wheel or cam g and the rubbing pieces of
can be accurately adjusted to produce the required depression of the punches as
they pass in succession under the said wheel by the rotation of the mandrel. The
action of the machine having been arrested as above described the capsule to be
perforated is pushed well home onto the mandrel and (the machine having been
started again) is maintained in that position during the operation of perforating by
the pressure of the thumb or finger of the operator against the end of the capsule.
So soon as the requisite number of sides have been perforated the capsule is released
or pushed from off the mandrel by the self acting releaser e worked by the internal
spring e' on the removal of the said pressure. Care should be taken that none of
the punches are under the action of the pressing wheel or cam 9 at the moment of
stopping the machine in order that the mandrel shall be free to receive the capsule.
The fragments of metal punched out may be allowed to escape from the interior of
the mandrel through convenient openings at uu or otherwise. The perforated
flattened sided capsule having been pushed off the mandrel can if desired be readily
made to assume the usual rounded form so as to fit an ordinary bottle neck either
by pressing it by hand onto a separate rounded mandrel or by placing it upon a
rounded mandrel and within a matrice of the form required. I prefer to make my
hollow mandrel in several parts each of the flat sides consisting of a separate
perforated steel plate screwed or otherwise secured to suitable supports w w
formed in one with the main body and stem of the mandrel itself as shown at
figure 6, 7, and 8 and on an enlarged scale at figures 11 and 12. Figures 13, 14
and 15 illustrate in transverse section longitudinal section and plan respectively
the means I adopt for obviating the difficulty experienced in opening out the
sides of a capsule without injury thereto when both sides of the same have been
perforated simultaneously or together whilst in a folded or flattened form. a is a
flat overhanging metal tongue or plate fixed at one end in any convenient support
or holder (not shown in the drawings). It is provided with perforations to suit
the form and arrangement or grouping of the punches employed and is made with
a rounded or other bead bb at each edge shown more clearly in figures 13 and 15.
The round or other shaped capsule to be perforated having been first more or less
flattened at the sides is pushed over or onto the free end of the tongue a (see

page_text: figure 14) and the perforating punches are then caused to operate in any well
known manner passing first through one side of the capsule then through the
perforations in the internal tongue a and finally through the opposite flattened
side of the capsule into the perforated fixed counterforce c (figure 13) which serves
to support the free end of the metal tongue and the lower side of the capsule under
the pressure of the punches. The two sides of the capsule are kept separate or
out of contact with each other during the perforating operation by the presence of
the interposed metal tongue a and hence although I effect the double perforation
of the two flattened sides at one operation I prevent the adhesion of the two sides
together and thereby facilitate the opening out of the same without risk of injury
to the capsule after it has been perforated and withdrawn from the tongue. More-
over as the capsule when withdrawn (as shown in transverse section at figure 16)
will be more or less open according to the degree of thickness of the tongue and
will present in addition an enlarged opening d d at each edge greater facility is
afforded for the insertion of a tool for opening out the capsule.
The form of tool which I have found to answer well in practice for this purpose
is shown in side and edge view at figures 17 and 18. It consists of a mandrel or
rod e chisel shaped at one end fand provided with two horns or projections gg
the opposite end of the said mandrel or opener being rounded and tapered to the
form of the finished capsule but made wedge shaped at its extremity to facilitate
its introduction into the partially opened capsule.
This tool may be fixed at the part e in any convenient support to admit of tho
capsule being readily pushed first onto the one end fin order to partially open it
and then transferred to the opposite end h which completes the operation leaving
the capsule fully opened out and rounded to the taper form required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention 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 herein before in
part recited Letters Patent is :-
First. The manufacture of metallic capsules or collapsible metal tubes or coverings
for the necks of bottles and other like receptacles, having one or more of their
sides flattened or only slightly rounded substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by figures 1 to 5 of my drawings with a view to facilitate the
operations of perforating embossing coloring or otherwise embellishing the sides
of such capsules in a more simple and economical manner than heretofore.
Secondly. The application and use to and in the perforating of the sides of
capsules or collapsible tubes for the necks of bottles and other like receptacles of a
stationary or rotating hollow mandrel having one or more of its sides flattened or
only slightly rounded and perforated in combination with any suitable arrange-
ment of punches or perforators acting upon or through the flattened or slightly
rounded and perforated side or sides of the said mandrel and a releaser for pushing
off the perforated capsule substantially as hereinbefore described.
Thirdly. The application and use to and in the embossing coloring or otherwise
ornamenting the flattened side or sides of capsules or collapsible metal tubes or
coverings for the necks of bottles and other like receptacles of a stationary or
rotating solid or hollow mandrel provided with a releaser for pushing off the
finished capsule and having one or more of its sides flattened or only slightly
rounded in combination with any suitable arrangement of embossing dies or
coloring pads or rollers acting upon or against the said flattened or slightly rounded
side or sides of the capsule on the said mandrel substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Fourthly. The application and use of a rotating mandrel having one or more of
its sides flattened or only slightly rounded and provided with a "pusher off" or
capsule releaser in combination with springs and punches or embossing dies as the
case may be attached to the sides of the said mandrel and acted upon successively
by a wheel or cam as they are brought round by the rotation of the mandrel

page_text: substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated by
figures 8 9 and 10 of my drawings.
Fifthly. The application and use to and in the perforating at one operation of
both sides of a capsule when in a flattened or folded condition of perforating
punches or piercers in combination with a perforated metal tongue inside the
folded capsule for preventing the adhesion together of the perforated sides and
thereby facilitating the opening out of the same substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by figures 13, 14 and 15 of my drawings.
Sixthly. The application and use in combination with the aforesaid perforated
internal metal tongue of the thickened portions or beaded edges for the purpose of pro-
ducing enlarged openings between the sides of the capsule and thereby facilitating
the introduction of the tool for opening out the same when it is withdrawn from the
said tongue as hereinbefore described and illustrated by my drawings.
Seventhly. The peculiar form of tool for opening out the folded or flattened
capsule after it has been perforated and withdrawn from the beaded tongue as
herein before described and illustrated by figures 17 and 18 of my drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Cheswright have hereunto set my
hand and seal this eighth day of December in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.