IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CORKING BOTTLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I EUGENE GERVAIS of Bordeaux (Canderan) 28-30 Cours Judaiques, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CORKING BOTTLES to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a simple apparatus for corking bottles
in which the action of a single lever or handle will operate not only a plunger to
force the cork into the bottle but also means for compressing the cork preparatory
to its insertion in the bottle.
To this end the plunger is carried in a movable head to which a vertical recipro-
cating motion is communicated by the movement of the lever or handle either
through a rack and pinion or toothed sector or through a link or other suitable
connection.
The rack will be formed on the head and the pinion or toothed sector gearing
therewith will be mounted on one end of a short axle carried in a sleeve bearing
secured to the frame of the apparatus the lever or handle being secured to the other
end of the axle. On the sleeve bearing is mounted a coiled spring one end of
which is secured to the bearing and the other end to the lever and by means of
this spring the lever will be always returned to its normal position after it has
been depressed to cork a bottle.
When a link connection is employed the position of the lever is changed in order
to obtain the requisite length of stroke the link being secured to the lower end of
the movable head; or the head itself may be prolonged and provided at its lower
end with a bowl carried by a stud axle such bowl entering a box formed on the
lever. The lever will be fitted to the end of an axle carried in a sleeve bearing and
provided with a spring as before explained.
The compressing apparatus consists of a pair of jaws one fixed and the other
novable. The fixed jaw is secured to the outer end of an arm projecting from the
frame and the movable jaw is secured to a slide mounted in suitable guides in the
frame and arranged to move in a horizontal direction.
This movement is effected by means of a pin or bowl conveniently secured to the
slide and working in a suitably shaped slot formed with the pinion or toothed
Bector or in the movable head.

page_text: As the lever is depressed the slot acting on the pin or bowl forces the slide
forward and closes the movable jaw not only compressing the cork but as the
forward motion of the slide is continued giving a rolling action by which means
the cork is made round preparatory to its insertion in the bottle.
The movable jaw may be pivotted to the slide in which case it will be closed or
opened by a cam action as the slide advances or retreats or it may be formed in one
with the slide and arranged to force the cork into the loop of a V shaped piece
secured to the frame and serving as the fixed jaw.
The plunger may be adjustable in the head which may be arranged to slide on a
suitably placed guide and to the underside of the projecting arm carrying the jaws
is attached a suitable stop or socket to receive the neck of the bottle during the
corking operation.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Corking Bottles.
I EUGENE GERVAIS of Bordeaux (Canderan), 28-30 Cours Judaiques, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer 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 :-
The object of this invention is to produce a simple apparatus for corking bottles,
in which the action of a single lever or handle will operate not only a plunger to
force the cork into the bottle, but also means for compressing the cork preparatory
to its insertion in the bottle.
To this end the plunger is carried in a movable head, to which a vertical recipro-
cating motion is communicated by the movement of the lever or handle either
through a rack and pinion or toothed sector, or through a link or other suitable
connection.
The rack will be formed on the head, and the pinion or toothed sector gearing
therewith will be mounted on one end of a short axle carried in a sleeve bearing
secured to the frame of the apparatus, the lever or handle being secured to the other
end of the axle. On the sleeve bearing is mounted a coiled spring, one end of
which is secured to the bearing, and the other end to the lever, and by means of
this spring the lever will be always returned to its normal position, after it has
been depressed to cork a bottle.
When a link connection is employed, the position of the lever is changed in order
to obtain the requisite length of stroke, the link being secured to the lower end of
the movable head; or the head itself may be prolonged and provided at its lower
end with a bowl carried by a stud axle, such bowl entering a box formed on the
lever. The lever will be fitted to the end of an axle carried in a sleeve bearing, and
provided with a spring as before explained.
The compressing apparatus consists of a pair of jaws, one fixed and the other
movable. The fixed jaw is secured to the outer end of an arm projecting from the
frame, and the movable jaw is secured to a slide mounted in suitable guides in the
frame, and arranged to move in a horizontal direction.
This movement is effected by means of a pin or bowl conveniently secured to the
slide, and working in a suitably shaped slot formed with the pinion or toothed
sector, or in the movable head.
As the lever is depressed, the slot acting on the pin or bowl forces the slide
forward and closes the movable jaw, not only compressing the cork, but, as the
forward motion of the slide is continued, giving a rolling action, by which means
the cork is made round, preparatory to its insertion in the bottle.
The movable jaw may be pivotted to the slide, in which case it will be closed or
opened by a cam action as the slide advances or retreats; or it may be formed in
one with the slide, and arranged to force the cork into the loop of a V shaped piece
secured to the frame, and serving as the fixed jaw.

page_text: The plunger may be adjustable in the head, which may be arranged to slide on a
suitably placed guide; and to the underside of the projecting arm carrying the jaws,
is attached a suitable stop or socket to receive the neck of the bottle during the
corking operation.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 1. 2 of Fig. 1 ;-and
Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on the same line, with the compressing jaws
open.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of a slightly modified form of machine.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 3-4 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a further modification; and
Fig. 7 is a front sectional elevation.
Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on the line 5-6 of Fig. 6; and
Fig. 9 is a similar section showing the jaws open.
In all these Figures, the same letters represent corresponding parts.
In these machines the corking is effected by the combination of two movements,
one, vertical, communicated by the lever and the movable head carrying the
plunger; then, by means of cams or slides, this movement is transformed into
a horizontal movement, which determines the opening and the closing of the jawa,
and at the same time the compression and rounding or rolling of the cork takes
place.
The machine represented in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is composed of a frame or casting B,
to which is secured by bolts m a plate B¹. Between the two parts B B¹ are placed
the various mechanisms serving to communicate motion to the movable head and
the jaws.
The jaws n n¹ are similar in construction, but one n is moveable and the other n¹
is fixed.
The moveable jaw n is put in motion by the recessed bar d, which receives its
movement from a cam M formed with a slot T, in which works the bowl e This
bowl is mounted on the pin or stud v, which is secured in the bar d.
One portion of the periphery of the cam M is formed with a toothed sector N,
the teeth of which engage with those of the moveable head C, which carries the
plunger.
1
Formed in one with the cam M is a stem a, which works in a sleeve forming
part of the frame B, and at the extremity of the stem is fixed in any convenient
manner the lever L.
The moveable head C slides against a shoulder t of the frame B, and is provided
at one edge with a rack, which works with the sector N, and at the lower end,
at d³, the head C is recessed to permit of the end f¹ of the piece fentering therein,
so that the opening of the jaws will not be prevented when the piece f, which is
drawn back by the bar d, turns on its axis K.
By pulling down the lever L into the position shown at Fig. 1, the cam M com-
municates to the moveable bar d, by the aid of the bowl e, a horizontal movement.
During this movement, the jaws close on and compress the cork, roll it round, and
bring it above the neck of the bottle; at the same the toothed sector N causes the
moveable head to descend, and by means of the plunger q, forces the cork into the
neck of the bottle.
The spring r, which is mounted on the sleeve, and is connected at one end
to the lever L, and at the other end to the sleeve, will cause the lever L to
regain its normal position (see Fig. 4), when let go by the attendant; the same
spring will also raise the plunger q and open the jaws, and the machine will be
ready, for another operation.
From an examination of the Figa 4 and 5, it will be seen, that the machine
therein represented differs but little from the preceding, and that only in the
arrangement of the jaws.
W
b...
c

page_text: n' is a piece fixed to the frame B by screws 8 8.-This piece has, in plan, a loop
or V form, and beneath this loop is a socket D and guide b, to receive the neck of
the bottled is the sliding bar, terminated by a semicircular recessed end; this
bar receives motion from cam M, as before explained.
t
The cork first compressed by the extremity n of the sliding bar in the loop of
the part n', is forced into the neck of the bottle by the plunger q. as above
described.
The machine represented in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, is composed of a frame or
casting B, which is solidly fixed to a table, or to the ground, by its lower parts.-"
It is formed with several recessed portions, which permit or guide the movements
of the several pieces.
The jaws n n¹, like those in Figs. 3 and 4, are formed with flat portions p p¹,
which serve to compress and roll the cork; and also, with the semicircular
portions 6 b¹, which, when they come together, form a cylindrical space in which
the cork is squeezed before it is introduced into the bottle.
One of the jaws n¹ is fixed to the frame B by a bolt or screw 8, or in any other
convenient manner, and carries below it a socket and guide to receive the neck
of the bottle. The other, n, is attached by a screw s¹, or in any other manner, or
may be made in one with the piece f, which is formed at its rear end with a
bevelled portion x, and at or about the centre of its length with a semicircular
recess d', into which enters the bowl h when the jaw is drawn back. The bowl h
turns on the lower part G¹ of a cylindrical guide G of the moveable head,
see Fig. 6.
The piece is pivotted between two lugs or ears o o, by means of the bolt K.-
The ears or lugs are on the end of the bar d, which slides in a groove formed in
the upper part of the frame, and in which it is held by the plate d³. In the bar d
is secured the pin or stud v, which carries the bowl e.
The moveable head C receives a vertical movement, and causes the bar d to
move horizontally by means of the slot T in the head and the bowl e when the
lever L is raised or lowered.
This head carries two projections g, which work in the recesses E or slots in the
frame B, the said head being maintained in position by the plate t.
The vertical movement of the head is ensured by a rod Ğ secured to the frame,
and on which works a socket o¹ formed with the moveable head.
The lower part G³ of the rod is made of slightly smaller diameter than the rest
of the bar, and it is terminated by a threaded portion which is inserted in a
socket d³ formed in the frame, and receives a nut u by which the rod is firmly
secured in the socket.
1
The moveable head is threaded internally, at i, to receive a screwed rod q,
which carries the plunger, and the rod can be adjusted in the head by means of
the hand wheel v.
The elbow lever L is pivotted at a to the frame, and it is recessed or grooved at
its elbow, at m, to receive a bowl e, which is mounted on a stud pin v³ inserted in,
and projecting laterally from the moveable head.
The axle a may be provided with a coiled spring r, to return the lever L to its
normal position, as before explained.
The working of the machine is as follows:- -On lowering or drawing down the
lever L, the recess, slot or box m acts on the bowl c, and causes the moveable head
to descend. This causes the bowl e to slide in the inclined slot T, and thus the
bar d is driven forward, and with it the piece f, which is first closed on the cork
by the action of the bowl h on the tail of the piece f. As the bar d continues to
advance, the cork is rolled between the surfaces ppl of the jaws, and is finally
squeezed between the semi-circular parts b b¹.
The bowl c continues, as the handle is pulled over, to depress the head, and the
plunger q with which it is fitted, presses on the end of the cork, and forces it into
the bottle. The spring r, when the attendant lets go the lever L, will cause all
the parts to return to their normal position, ready for another corking operation.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st The apparatus for corking bottles constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.
2nd In apparatus for corking bottles, the combination with a moveable head
carrying a plunger, and to which vertical, motion is communicated in any suitable
manner, of means for compressing and rounding or rolling the cork, substantially
as herein shown and described.
3rd The means for compressing and rounding or rolling the cork, consisting of a
fixed jaw f¹ secured to the frame, and a moveable jaw f secured to a horizontal
sliding bar d, the sliding motion being caused by a cam or its equivalent worked
by a hand lever, substantially as herein shown and described.
4th The combination with a sliding bar, as d, of a jaw as f, which is pivotted to
said bar, and is provided. towards its rear end with a semi-circular recess;-
A bowl mounted on an axle G carried by the frame of the apparatus, and.
arranged to operate and regulate the movement of the said jaw; and means for
communicating to the bar da horizontal reciprocating motion, substantially as
herein shown and described.
5th In apparatus for corking bottles, the combination with a moveable head C,
formed with teeth on one edge, and a sliding bar d, provided with a laterally.
projecting bowl or pin, of a cam M T, and a tooth sector N, and a lever handle L,
substantially as described and shown with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the
drawings.
6th In apparatus for corking bottles, the combination with a moveable head C,
carrying a plunger and a cam surface or its equivalent, and to which a vertical
reciprocating motion is communicated direct by a lever handle, of a horizontally
reciprocating sliding bar, as d, carrying a moveable jaw as f, the reciprocations of
the said bar being caused by the vertical reciprocation of the head C, substantially
as described and shown with reference to Figs. 6 to 9 of drawings.
Dated this 9th day of June 1886