Improvements in Corking Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20.h Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1997
Improvements in Corking Machines.
We, JOHN WALTER FLOWER and ROBERT JOHN COUSINS, of the Firm of
Flower, Cousins & Co., of Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, in the County of
Dorset, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to machines for corking bottles, the improvements being
especially applicable to machines of the kind described in the Specification of our
former Letters Patent No. 11898 of 1893.
According to this invention we provide for positively operating the corking
plunger in both directions and for this purpose we make use of a face cam with a
groove in which a roller on the sliding frame carrying the plunger runs. We also
positively operate the main cork compressor in both directions by means of a
grooved cam which is advantageously formed upon the back of the corking cam.
In the chute through which the corks pass from the hopper to the compressor
chamber we arrange what we may term a "cut-off" for allowing only one cork to
be released from the chute at a time. This cut-off is operated from the lever
working the longitudinal or main cork compressing slide. A spring is placed
between the cut-off proper and the lever operating the same for preventing the
cut-off from pressing against the corks with too great pressure.
In conjunction with the compression chamber we fix a scraper in such a manner
that as the cork is being compressed and forced beneath the corking plunger its
underside will be scraped to remove any matter which may exude owing to the
compression.
The bottle clips on the rotating table are operated through the medium of fixed
shafts carrying at their lower ends cranks the pins of which run in a cam groove
excentric to the axis of rotation of the table whereby as the table rotates an
Oscillatory movement is imparted to the said shafts. This movement is utilized for
opening the bottle clips, against the pressure of the usual springs, through the
medium of lugs fixed to the shafts and acting against pins on the block to which
links connected to the members of the clips are jointed. The bolt which locks the
ratchet wheel by which the rotating table is moved is placed at one end of a bell-
crank lever the other end of which is acted upon by the crank which moves the
ratchet lever.
In some cases we combine with our improved corking machine apparatus for
exhausting air from the mouth of a bottle immediately prior to the introduction of
the cork. This exhausting apparatus comprises an air pump the piston of which
is operated by an excentric on the driving shaft of the machine and contains a
valve for allowing the escape of air from the lower end of the cylinder during the
down stroke. This cylinder is connected at about the middle of its length with
the compression chamber immediately adjacent to the cork outlet so that when the
exhaustion of air has been effected the cork will enter the mouth of the bottle.
A cushion is arranged around the cork outlet for forming a tight joint between the
bottle and the compression chamber.
D.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Corking Machines.
We, JOHN WALTER FLOWER and ROBERT JOHN COUSINS, of the Firm of
Flower, Cousins & Co., of Fontmell Magna, Shaftesbury, in the. County of
Dorset, Engineers. 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 :-
Our invention relates to machines for rapidly and efficiently corking bottles and,
if desired, at the same time exhausting the air from the bottle necks just prior to
the introduction of the corks so as to prevent any deterioration of the liquid in the
bottles by reason of the contact of air therewith.
Our improved machine comprises a table or platform upon which the bottles to
be corked are placed and which is adapted to be rotated intermittently to bring
the several bottles successively into position to receive the corks and several pairs
of jaws or clips into which the bottles are placed and which as the table rotates
are closed so as to grip the bottles firmly and centre them relatively with the
corking nozzle which latter is provided with segmental pieces arranged in con-
junction with springs in such a manner that the said segmental pieces will yield to
accommodate bottles having mouths of different diameters.
In connection with the corking nozzle is a cork compressor which is arranged to
compress the cork in two directions and also to scrape the bottom of the cork to
remove any dust or dirt therefrom, the main part of the compressor being operated
positively in both directions by a cam. The corks are fed to the compressor from
a hopper having within it a rotating drum or cylinder provided with spirally
arranged ribs or projections which as the drum rotates cause the corks to pass
lengthwise into a chute which conducts them into the compression chamber.
In the said chute we arrange what we may term a "cut-off" for allowing only
one cork to be released from the chute at a time. This cut-off is operated from
the lever working the main cork compressor. A spring is placed between the
cut-off proper and the lever operating the same for preventing the cut-off pressing
against the corks with too great pressure.
The plunger by means of which the corks are driven from the compression
chamber into the bottles is operated by a cam which moves the said plunger
positively in both directions thereby dispensing with the necessity for employing a
spring.
The apparatus which we employ for exhausting the air from the bottles prior to
the introduction of the cork comprises an air pump the piston of which is operated
by an eccentric on the driving shaft of the machine. This cylinder is connected
at about the middle of its length with the compression chamber immediately
adjacent to the cork outlet or nozzle so that when the exhaustion of air has been
effected the cork will enter the mouth of the bottle. A cushion is arranged around
the cork outlet for forming a tight joint between the bottle and the compression
chamber.
To enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine having our improvements applied
thereto; and,
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same the bottle gripping mechanism
being removed:
Figure 3 is a front sectional elevation of some of the mechanism shewn in
Figure 1 drawn to a larger scale; and,

page_text: Figure 4 18 a sectional side elevation or some of the mec
drawn to a larger scale :
Figure 2
Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of the mechanism for intermittently rotating
the bottle-carrying table: and,
Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5:
Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7-7 of Figure 3:
Figure 8 is a horizontal section of the cork compressor drawn to a larger scale
than Figure 7; and,
Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 Figure 8:
Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 Figure 2 illustrating details in con-
nection with the operation of the compressor and the bottle-carrying table:
Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 Figure 3:
Figure 12 is a plan shewing the cork feeding mechanism: and,
Figure 13 is a view of a detail of the cork feeding mechanism:
Figures 14 and 15 are an elevation and vertical section respectively of two cams
hereinafter referred to:
Figure 16 is a sectional plan shewing means for operating the bottle clips on the
table, the said figure being drawn to a larger scale than Figure 7; and,
Figure 17 is a vertical section on the line 17-17 of Figure 16:
Figure 18 is a detached sectional view shewing the arrangement of pamp for
exhausting air from the bottles prior to the introduction of the corks.
a is the frame or standard carrying the working parts of the machine, & is the
first motion shaft which receives its motion from any suitable motor and com-
municates it through the gear wheels 6, 6 to a shaft c carrying a crank, cams and
eccentrics by which motion is given to the various parts of the machine in their
required order.
d is the table or platform on which the bottles to be corked are placed the said
table being mounted upon the shaft d' the upper end of which is supported in a
bearing on the frame a whilst the lower end is carried by a font step bearing
at d in the upper end of a tube d. This tube d has within it a rod d which is
suspended from a lever e passing through a slot d in one side of the tube d the
said red d being screw-threaded at its lower end and carrying a hand-wheel and
lock-nut d the rotation of which in one or the other direction serves to raise or
lower the tube d and consequently the height of the shaft d' and of the bottle
carrying table d. By this arrangement the table can be adjusted for different sizes
of bottles. Motion is communicated to the shaft d' and to the table d to inter-
mittently rotate the same from a crank et on the shaft c shewn clearly in Figures 3
and 4. The pin of this crank works in the slot f of a plate f' fixed to a bar/*
sliding in suitable guides on the frame a and serves to reciprocate the said bar.
On the upper end of the shaft d' is a ratchet wheel g, shewn most clearly in
Figure 5, having internal ratchet teeth the said wheel being connected to the
shaft d' by a feather so that the said shaft can slide through it when the table dis
raised or lowered. Loosely mounted upon the said shaft d' above the ratchet
wheel g is the oscillating arm gl having at its outer end a spring pawl or tooth g³
which engages with the teeth of the wheel g in one direction and slips over them
in the reverse direction. This arm is connected by a link g with the recipro-
cating plate so that as the said bar is reciprocated, an oscillating movement
will be imparted to the arm g¹ to produce the intermittent rotation desired. To
lock the ratchet wheel in position as each bottle is brought beneath the corking
nozzle, we arrange the detent h having a pin h' Figure 6, designed to enter corre-
sponding holes 2, h2 Figure 5, in the ratchet wheel g, the said detent lever having
an arm designed to be acted upon by the head of the crank c during the
rotation of the latter, to disengage the pin A' from the hole 4 which it occupies.
This detent lever also carries a spring indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 6,
which spring, by being impinged against by a roller or abutment 4 on the plate,
serves to press the pin into the hole beneath it in case the said pin tends to stick
in entering the said bole. A cushion A of elastic material is placed beneath the

page_text: end of the detent lever to prevent undue noise when the said pin ' enters a
hole under the action of the spring h.
To prevent the friction of the pawl g against the inner face of the wheel g
from rotating the said wheel in a backward direction we arrange underneath the
said wheel ga spring pawl & which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel
through openings 48, Figure 5, formed in the said wheel.
When
i, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7, is the chamber in which the corks are compressed the
said chamber being provided with a side compressor 2 carried by a bell-cranked
lever i pivoted at i, and with a main compressor which is reciprocated to-and-fro
in the said chamber, as will be understood by reference to Figures 8 and 9.
the cork enters the chamber i it is first of all acted upon by the side compressor
and compressed into a flattened elliptical form and then by the main compressor
which pushes the partially compressed cork over the hole through which the cork
is forced and finally presses it to the desired extent in a direction at right angles to
that in which it was compressed by the side compressor. Attached to the side
compressor is a scraper which as the said side compressor is moved inwards
to compress the cork enters a recess, Figure 9, in the bottom of. the compressor
chamber so that as the cork is pushed forwards by the main compressor its lower
end rubs against the said scraper whereby any foreign matter is removed which
foreign matter is drawn out by the said scraper which is hollow when the side
compressor moves outwards.
Movement is imparted to the side compressor from the second motion shaft e
through the medium of a cam j, Figures 2 and 10, which acts against one end of a
lever pivoted at on the frame a and with its other end bearing against the
bell-crank lever i, Figures 7 and 10.
Whilst the cork is being introduced into the compression chamber the side
compressor occupies the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8; when,
however, the cam; acts against the lever the said side compressor is moved t
the position shewn in the full lines in the said Figure 8. The end of the lever j
which bears against the bell-crank lever is provided with a screw for accurately
adjusting the relative positions of the said levers i, . After the fever, has been
moved in one direction by the cam j it is moved in the reverse direction by a
spring j*.
The reciprocating motion of the main compressor is produced by a cam k,
Figures 4, 14 and 15, on the second motion shaft the said cam being grooved and
operating upon a roller carried at one end of a lever k¹, the other end of which is
bifurcated and engages between two collars k³, k2 on a rol k³ connected with the
main compressor as shewn in Figures 1 and 3.
It will be understood that the relative positions of the cams operating the side
and the main compressors is such that the side compressor is first operated and then
the main compressor.
1, Figures 1, 2 and 12, is the cork hopper and m is the chute for conducting the
corks from the bopper to the compression chamber the said chute being preferably
formed of a number of wires in order that access may be readily obtained to the
interior of the same in case the corks jam therein.
The lower part of the chute is made removable as shewn in Figure 3 to allow
of access to the chamber i if required.
n is the cut-off which we employ for preventing more than one cork from entering
the compression chamber at a time. This cut-off is in the form of a pivoted
lever which is connected with a spring n' fixed to the boss of the main compressor
operating lever by a rod n², Figures 3 and 11. With this arrangement when
the main compressor is pushed in to compress a cork the cut-off lever n is moved
out of the chate to let another cork drop whilst directly the main compressor is
drawn back the cut-off finger enters the chute and retains, the corks therein,
the spring allowing of the cut-off lever coming to rest slightly sooner than the
lever k¹.
To facilitate the sliding of the corks down the chute we have in Figure 3

page_text: represented the cut-off lever a as having attached to it at n³ one of the wires which
forms the cork chute whereby each time that the cut-off lever is moved the said
wire will also be caused to slide longitudinally.
To cause the corks in the hopper to gravitate towards the chute we arrange at
the lower part of the hopper immediately adjacent to the entrance of the chute,
the roller or drum o, Figures 1, 12 and 13, having on it the spiral ribs o' which,
as the roller is rotated from any suitable part of the machine, for instance by the
belt p and pulley p' from the pulley p' on the first motion shaft, direct the corks
lengthwise and one at a time into the chute m.
9, Figures 1, 3, 4 and 9, is the plunger by means of which the corks are driven
from the compression chamber through the opening therein into the bottle, this
plunger slides through a suitable opening in the top of the compression chamber i
and is positively operated in both directions by a grooved cam g' on the second
motion shafte which cam is preferably formed in one piece with the cam k, as shewn
in Figures 14 and 15.
The opening or nozzle i, Figures 8 and 9, through which the corks are driven
from the compression chamber i has arranged in conjunction with it an elastic
seating or padr against which the bottle mouths are pressed by the upward move-
ment of the table d and adjacent to this seating is a divided guide s in the form of
an inverted cup the two parts of which are attached to arms a', a depending from
the compression chamber, as shewn most clearly in Figure 4, the said arms being
geared together by means of the toothed levers s, so that they will move in
unison. A spring arranged around a rod s' connected to one of the halves and
projecting through a hole in the frame a serves for normally holding the two parts
of the inverted cup in contact.
It will be understood that as the table is lifted to bring a bottle into contact
with the ring r the inclined sides of the inverted cone or cup will serve to centre
the mouth of the bottle relatively with the said packing ring and if necessary
slightly separate in order to permit of the mouth going close up to the ring.
The periodical raising and lowering of the table to bring the bottles close to the
opening of the compression chamber is effected by connecting the lever e,
hereinbefore described, to a rod t the upper end of which carries a slotted head
Figures 2 and 10, which embraces a cam t on the second motion shaft c and has.
mounted in it a roller against which the said cam works, a spring on the rod t
and a weight on the lever e serving to counterbalance the weight of the table
and the bottles upon it.
u, u Figures 1, 3 and 7, are the pairs of spring jaws or clips designed to hold the
bottles in position on the table whilst being corked and to centre them relatively
with the cork nozzle. In the drawings six pairs of jaws are used, although any
other desirable number of pairs may be employed. As the construction of each
pair of jaws is identical we shall only describe one pair. Each jaw u, is pivoted
at its rear end between the boss u' at the centre of the table d and a boss ² on a
disc u fixed to the shaft d', as clearly shewn in Figure 3. Between the jaws of
each pair is a divided shaft the two parts of which are indicated by the
letters u, u, Figure 17, the former of which is rigidly fixed to the disc u whilst
the latter is at its upper end made tubular to receive the lower end of the part u
aud at its lower end, which projects through the table d, provided with an arm or
lever u carrying a roller which runs in the groove u of an eccentric cam uº,
Figures 3, 7 and 16.
On the spindle u is loosely mounted a plate having two pins v', fixed to it,
which are in turn connected by links, with the jaws u, u in such a manner that
when the plate is turned in the direction of the arrow 1, Figure 16, the said jaws
will be moved towards each other while when it is turned in the reverse direction
they will be separated. Around the spindle u' is placed a helical spring one end
being fixed to the spindle whilst the other is fixed to the plate e, as will be clearly
seen in Figure 17, the said spring being so coiled that its normal tendency will
be to move the plate in the direction of the arrow 1, Figure 16, to close the jaws.

page_text: is fixed a plate w having upon it a
on the plate e is pressed by the
On the upper end of the spindle part
tooth w, Figure 16, against which the pin
spring. It will be obvious that when the lever u is moved in the direction of
the arrow 2, Figure 16, the plate will be moved against the pressure of the
spring to separate the jaws u, 11.
The eccentric cam u is arranged relatively with the table, as indicated by the
-dotted lines in Figure 7, whereby when the jaws u, u are beneath the chamber i
they will have free liberty under the action of the spring of to grip the bottle in
the desired manner and that as the table rotates the lever u will be gradually
moved by the enm groove u to open the jaws against the pressure of the spring o
to permit of introducing and removing the bottles. This arrangement of closing
the jaws with a spring action has the advantage that the jawa are at all times free
to accommodate themselves to the inequalities of the bottles which they grip, the
positive movement of the jaws under the action of the cam only being used to open
the jaws.
, Figures 1, 3 and 7 is an arm projecting from the standard a the outer end w
of which arm is turned inwardly so as to extend over the mouths of the bottles as
they pass to the guides and is arranged at such a height that if any bottle is
placed upon the table which is higher than the bottles for which the table has been
adjusted, it will, by striking against the said end to be forced out of the clips u
embracing it.
is the pump cylinder and a the piston therein by means of which the vacuum
is produced in the bottles the said piston being operated from an eccentric y on the
second motion shaft c, as shewn in Figures 2, 4 and 18. The cylinder is connected
by a pipe, Figures 3, 4, 8 and 9, with an annular space e' around the outside of
the nozzle through which the corks are driven and between the said nozzle and
the packing ring r, which latter, in order that the pressure of the bottles against
it shall not expand it to close the said space, is preferably confined in a metallic
casing as shewn in Figure 9.
The cylinder is completely closed at one end in such a manner that as the
piston is raised in the cylinder the air beneath the piston is rarefied so that when
the piston passes the opening of the pipe a air will be drawn through the said pipe
and through the space z. is the valve for allowing the passage of air through
the piston on the descent of the same and 3, 3 are openings for allowing the
escape of air from above the piston as the latter rises or the valve can be placed in
the stopper or plug at the bottom of the cylinder.
It will be understood that the eccentric y is so fixed upon the shaft e relatively
with the cams which operate the cork compressors and the plunger q that when a
bottle is in position the air is only withdrawn from the same just at the moment
that the said plunger is forcing the cork through the nozzle i'.
The general operation of the machine is as follows:-
The bottles which have been previously filled are placed upon the table between
the wide open jaws u, u which table at each revolution of the second motion shaft
is moved around one-sixth of a revolution corresponding to the distance between
two bottles so that the bottles are successively brought with their mouths
immediately beneath the corking nozzle. As each bottle is brought to this position
the table is raised by the cam to press the bottle mouth against the packing
ring whereupon the cork which has been previously compressed and forced
beneath the plunger is forced through the nozzle into the bottle neck, the air to
be exhausted from the bottle being drawn through the space just prior to the
forcing of the cork through the said nozzle, as hereinbefore described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a machine for corking bottles a table or platform on which the bottles to
be corked are placed, means for imparting an intermittent rotation to the said table

page_text: to bring the bottles successively into position to be corked, and means for raising
the table to bring the mouth of the bottle in position to be corked against a yielding
pad or ring, substantially as described.
2. In a machine for corking bottles, a chamber in which each cork is compressed
the said chamber having a side compressor and a maiu compressor which act in
directions at right angles to each other, substantially as described.
3. In a machine for corking bottles the combination of a chamber in which the
corks are compressed, means for giving a double compression to the corks and a
scraper attached to one of the compressors and designed to remove any dirt from
the bottom of the cork and to discharge it outside the compression chamber,.
substantially as described.
4. In a machine for corking bottles the combination with a cork compressing
chamber and means for compressing the cork in two directions of a corking.
plunger operated positively in both directions by a grooved cam, substantially as
described.
5. In a machine for corking bottles, a chute for conducting the corks from the
hopper to the compression chamber in combination with a cut-off device operated
from the lever of the main cork compressor, substantially as described.
6. In a machine for corking bottles the combination with a cork conducting
chute made of wires, of a cut-off device projecting between the wires and connected
to one of them in such a mauner that as the cut-off device is operated the wire.
connected thereto is also moved substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
7. In a machine for corking bottles a cork feeding device consisting of a hopper
or chamber to contain the corks and a rotating drum or cylinder having spiral ribs
or projections upon it, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
8. In a machine for corking bottles, an intermittently rotating table on which
the bottles to be corked are placed, means for raising the table so as to cause the
mouths of the bottles to come into contact with a yielding surface and means for
adjusting the height of the table to suit bottles of different height, substantially as
described.
9. In a machine for corking bottles, the combination with an intermittently
rotating table on which the bottles to be corked are placed, of a flexible pad or
ring against which the bottles are pressed and a spring divided guide for ensuring
the mouths of the bottles being properly positioned relatively with the corking
nozzle and the said pad or packing ring, substantially as described.
10. In a machine for corking bottles an intermittently rotating table on which
the bottles to be corked are placed in combination with opening and closing jaws
for holding the bottles firmly whilst being corked, the said jaws being moved
together to grip the bottles under the action of springs and positively operated to.
open them against the pressure of the springs by means of levers and a cam,.
substantially as described.
11. In a bottle corking machine the combination with the compression chamber
of a vacuum pump communicating with a space around the nozzle through which.
the corks are forced from the compression chamber substantially as described.
D: 19th dor of December 1806
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants..