Improvements in Bottle Stoppers and in Machinery for Inserting Wire Loops in the same."
Year: 1890

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM PAINTER, Manufacturer, of Baltimore, in
the State of Maryland, United States of America.]
Improvements in Bottle Stoppers and in Machinery for Inserting
Wire Loops in the same."
We THE BOTTLE SEAL COMPANY LIMITED of No. 8 Great Winchester Street in
the City of London 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 certain improvements in the bottle stopper or seal described
in the Specification of British Letters Patent No. 11604 dated the 29th day of
September 1885 and to certain improvements in a machine whereby a loop is attached
to bottle seal to admit of its removal from the bottle neck.
In the said Specification is shewn and described a bottle stopper or seal which
consists of a dise of flexible material, which is inserted into the bottle neck, in the
form of a cup with its convex side towards the contents of the bottle which are
usually under pressure.
The first part of the present invention consists primarily in the application to the
said seal of a projecting wire loop situated about centrally of the seal through which
a suitable instrument may be inserted for the purpose of withdrawing the seal from
the bottle when the same is to be emptied of its contents. It further consists in
inverting the ends of the wire loop within the seal in curving them backwards to
prevent movement of the loop independently of the seal in any direction; in sharpening
the ends of the wire so that in their insertion into the seal they will merely displace
the material instead of removing any of the substance; and finally in turning the
inverted ends of the loop in opposite directions; as and for the purposes hereinafter
described.
In the further description of this part of the present invention, which follows,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in
which:-
Figure 24 is a vertical section of the upper part of a bottle made in accordance
with the invention set forth in the Specification of Letters Patent hereinbefore
eferred to, to which the present improved seal is applied.
Figure 25 is a top view of the seal as it would appear before its insertion into the
bottle neck.
Figure 26 is a section of Figure 2 taken on the dotted line X X.
Figure 27 is an underside view of the seal.
Figure 28 illustrates the wire blank from which the loop is formed.
Figure 29 shows the wire after it is bent into the form of a staple and before it is
passed through the seal.
Figure 30 is a view of the completed loop as it would appear if cut from the seal.
Figure 31 illustrates a modified construction of the loop as hereinafter described.
Referring to Figures 24 to 30 inclusive, of the drawings, A is the bottle neck and
B the seal which consists of a disc cut from a sheet of some flexible material such as
rubber faced on the under side or surface with a layer of strong, fibrous material to
afford a good hold for the loop, and preferably waxed to protect the contents of
the bottle against the action of the sulphur and rubber. The disc B is made some-
what larger in diameter than the inside of the hottle neck, and after it is forced into
position it becomes dished or cupped as shown in Figure 24.
The wire blank from which the loop is formed is she wn in Fig. 28 and it consists
in a straight piece of tinned wire having its ends sharpened to a chisel edge by means

page_text: of a machine hereinafter described. This blank is bent over a former, also a part of
the machine into the form of a staple as shown in Fig. 29 and then the staple is
forced through the seal and its ends turned up and around in opposite directions as
shown in Fig. 30.
By sharpening the ends of the staple in the manner described the seal is
penetrated without any of its substance being removed and consequently the rubber
lies closely in contact with the wire and leakage around the wire is prevented.
The sharp or chisel points also enable the staple to pass twice through the textile
facing of the seal without ragging it; but this, in a measure is due to the wax
with which the fabric is treated, as the wax holds the fibres of the material together
and makes the same a practically solid body.
In turning the ends of the wire in opposite directions, the strain on the seal in its
removal from the bottle neck by means of an instrument inserted through the loop
is distributed over a greater surface, thereby increasing the hold of the wire on the
seal and its fibrous facing.
By referring to Figs. 25 and 27 it will be seen that the inverted ends of the wire
which have been alluded to as turned in opposite directions, are at less than a right
angle with the diametrical line Z Z which passes through the straight parts of the
loop. The object of this arrangement is to remove the inverted portions of the loop
to a greater distance from the side or circumference of the seal, as will be readily
understood.
By reference to Figs. 24. 26. and 30 it will be seen that the pointed ends of the
staple which form the loop, are not merely bent and turned upward into the substance
of the seal but bent and carried back towards the straight parts of the staple. By
this means the loop is secured against what might be termed backing out, and will
resist a very considerable pressure exerted in a downward direction on the crown of
the loop without being displaced.
In Fig. 31. the ends of the wire are shewn as inverted but not carried backwards
or towards the straight parts of the wire staple. This construction comes under the
present invention but it is open to the objection that the wire loop might be backed
out to some extent and possibly cause leakage.
While it is preferable to provide the wire blank with chisel shaped instead of
round points, for the reason that they are more easily produced in cutting off the
wire from the coil; points of any other form would answer the purpose of displacing
the substance of the rubber seal and its fibrous facing instead of removing it, as
would be the case if a non-pointed wire staple was forced through the seal.
The second part of this invention relates to the machine hereinafter described.
The leading distinctive operations consist in feeding the seal dises to a certain place
or point where the loop is to be applied; in drawing the wire from a coil and cutting
it into lengths or wire blanks with sharpened ends; in bending the wire blank into
the form of a staple in forcing the staple through the seal; in inverting the sharpened
ends of the staple within the substance of the seal in opposite directions and turning
them around and backward towards the straight portions of the staple or loop; and
finally in conducting the completed seal from the place where the loop is attached
so as to make room for the next incompleted seal.
In the description of the said machine which follows reference is made to the
accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which,―
Figure 1 is an exterior front elevation of the machine and Figure 2 a reverse
view of the upper portion of the same.
Figure 3 is a top view or plan of the machine with certain parts thereof removed.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on an enlarged scale of certain parts of the machine
immediately adjacent to the wire feeding mechanism, illustrating the means whereby
the loop blank is cut from the wire, bent over a former into the shape of a staple,
and forced through the seal.
Figure 5 is a section of Figure 4 taken on the dotted line - except that the
blank is shown in the form of a staple and about to be driven through the seal.
Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the table and some of the adjacent

page_text: parts thereof, illustrating the devices for feeding the seals to and from the point
where the loops are affixed.
Figures 7 and 8 are sections of Figure 6 taken respectively on the dotted lines v-v
and w. w.
Figure 9 is an enlarged section of Figure 1 taken on the dotted line X. X.
Figure 10 is an enlarged section of Figure 1 taken on the dotted line y. y.
Figure 11 is an enlarged view of the wire loop blank and Figure 12 a similar
view of the same after it is bent into the form of a staple.
Figure 13 is a view of the loop after its completion and as it would appear if cut
from the seal.
Figure 14 is a large side view of the completed seal,
Figures 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22 and 23 are details of the machine which will
be described hereinafter.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts of all the figures.
Referring to the said drawings A represents the frame of the machine supported
by suitable legs B. C. is a table secured to and projecting from the front of the
frame, upon which the seals to be provided with loops are placed, see Fig. 3 which
shows some of the seals scattered over the table.
D) is a ring, or more properly speaking, a mutilated ring, as it is not complete,
which forms a part of the table and its upper surface is flush or fair with that of the table.
A top view of this ring is shown in Fig. 3. E is a vertical shaft shown particularly in
Figs. 1. 2 and 3 adapted to revolve in suitable bearings in the frame A. To the lower
end of this shaft is secured a sprocket wheel F, which derives its movement from a
smaller sprocket wheel G, through the medium of a chain belt H. The means for
driving the shaft of the smaller sprocket wheel will be hereinafter described. These
sprocket wheels and the chain belt are fully illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the said belt-
is denoted by a dotted line in Fig. 3.
To the upper end of the shaft E, is attached a feeding disc, L, for the seals a which
consists essentially of the plate, the overhanging rim b, situated some distance from
the circumference of the disc, and the bumpers e hereinafter fully described.
The upper surface of the annular portion of the disc or that part thereof which is
the exterior of the rim is sunk below the surface of the table C and the ring D
which forms a part thereof as shewn on an enlarged scale in Figs. 7. 8 and 9. Upon
this sunken annular rotative surface are placed the seals a to be conducted to the
devices for attaching the loops. Some seals are shown in Fig. 3 as in the sunken
channel, or in other words, on the annular feeding surface of the disc 1. J is a
segmental plate bolted to the upper surface of the ring D, to partly cover the annular
part of the feeding disc, and thereby prevent the seals from jumping out as fed
to the loop attaching devices. A cross section of this segmental plate is shown in
Figs. 7 and 8. The segmental plate of one of its ends, is notched as shewn by a
dotted line d, Fig. 3 to admit of its covering the fixed segmental bumper K shewn by
itself in Fig. 18. The inner edge of this bumper K is slightly within the inner edge
of the ring Das shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, so as to contract the width of
the annular channel for a purpose hereinafter described.
The end of the segmental plate Jabuts against a plate L, shown in Figs. 3 and 6,
and separately in Figs. 19. 20 and 21, which are respectively, a top, and underside
and an edge view of the same.
A projecting triangular part of the plate L is of such thickness as to admit of its
being inserted under the overhanging portion of the rim of the disc I and thereby
form a switch, e, to deflect the seals fed thereto to a hook, M, also forming a part of
the said plate. The inside curvature of this book corresponds with the circumference
of the seals, a, consequently when a seal is seated in the hook and backed up by others,
it is held firmly while the loop is being applied.
The extreme end of the mutilated ring, D, is designated by the dotted line, in
Fig. 6, and it will be understood that the surface of this ring at the point, g, is Aush
or on the same plane with the upper surface of the annular portion of the feed disc, I,
in order that the seals may pass to the hook, M, without meeting with any surface

page_text: obstruction. Referring to Fig. 6 in which a switche is shown in dotted lines, it will
be seen that the point of that device passes under the overhanging rin, b, of the disc I
as before stated: The object of this arrangement is to prevent the seals from striking
the point of the switch.
The dise; is provided with three of the bumpers, c, before alluded to, and these
consist of segmental strips, with inclined or tapered forward ends, secured to the
circumference of the rim, 6, and they are of such thickness that when they pass or
come opposite to the stationary bumper, K, the space between the two bumpers is
contracted to a width slightly less than the diameter of the seals, and the seals are
therefore driven forward towards the switch and thence to the hook with a decided
force, and the forward or end seal pressed into the hook and held therein during the
operation of inserting the loop, as hereinafter described-But' it will be understood
that the lengths of the rotary and the fixed bumpers are such that at the completion
of the loop, the rotary bumper has passed the fixed one, and until the arrival of the
next rotary bumper opposite the fixed one, the seals are released from any positive
movement and are held, loosely together by the rotation under them of the feeding
disc.
The object of this momentary release of the seals from a positive forward move-
ment is to admit of the removal of the completed seal from the hook, and its transfer
to a channel, along which the completed seals are pushed until they reach an
opening,, which communicates with a chute N. This chute is shewn only in Fig. 1,
but the channel is represented also in Fig. 6.
The channel, h, is formed by grooving a bar, 0, longitudinally and providing it
with a hole, i, leading to the chute.
P is a tube secured in the side of the frame A, through which wire, j, from a coil,
not shewn, passes. It is fitted with a tip, k, somewhat contracted in diameter which
centres the wire, and in connection with devices hereinafter described, holds it firmly
while the blank is being cut off. The tip is shewn in Fig. 4. Directly in the rear
of the wire is a cutter, 1, which consists preferably of a steel disc with a sharpened
edge. This cutter is held by a central spindle, m, in a hanger, n, dependent from the
cross piece, o, of the frame A. Another and similar cutter, P, is situated in the
short arm, P, of the lever, Q, which is pivoted to a bracket, r, on the front of
the said cross piece of the frame A. The end of the long arm, s, of the lever Q, has
a facing piece, t, adjustable in projection beyond its face by means of a set screw, a',
as shewn in Fig. 10.
R is the driving shaft of the machine, journalled in the upright parts, b₁, of the
frame; A, and provided at its outer end with a driving pulley, S. On this shaft is a
cam, T, and between this and the adjustable face of the lever, Q, is a roller, e¹, on a
stud, d, extending from the side of an arm, U, pendant from the upper cross piece, e',
of the frame.
A spring, V, attached at one end to a stud, f, on the lever, Q, and at the other
end to a second stud, g', on the cross piece, o, of the frame, A, serves to yieldingly
hold the facing piece, t, of the long arms, of the lever, Q, in contact with the roller, c
and the latter in contact with the face of the cam, T, see Fig. 10. At each revolu-
tion of the cam, T, the moveable cutter or disc, I', is brought up to the stationary
one, I, and the wire between then cut or pinched off, and the blank is thus provided
with chisel shaped points, as shown in Fig. 11 which illustrates the blank alone.
Although the cutting dises are circular and on spindles they are not revolvable in
the true sense of the term, but stationary, they being clamped between the jaws
which hold them, by means of nuts on the spindles. They may, however, be changed
in position so as to present new cutting edges to the wire, when worn, by first
slackening the nuts and then turning them slightly around. After they are changed
in position they are again clamped.
The wire is fed intermittently through the tube, P, and to between the cutting
discs, and by means of two mutilated rollers. W, one of which is on the shaft, A,
and the other on a similar shaft, i, connected to the first by the spur gears, j, and k¹.
Another spur gear, m³, on the shaft, , is in mesh with a similar gear n¹, on the

page_text: vertical shaft, o', and this shaft is driven from the driving shaft, R, of the machine
by means of the mitre gears A¹.
The above described gears and the mutilated rollers are constructed and arranged
so that at each full revolution of the said mutilated rollers, and one third of a
revolution of the seal feeding disc, a piece of wire projecting from the wire tube is
cut off, the same being of the proper length from which to form a loop for a seal.
The end of the wire before it is cut off is projected through a vertical slot, pl, in
the block, B¹, which is secured to the underside of the cross piece, o, of the frame A,
and compresses or moves inward the free end of a spring. C¹, secured in a cavity, q',
in the said block. An additional compression or movement of the said spring is
effected by the elongation of the wire blank D¹ by the pinching action of the
sharpened disc cutters thereon, which produces the chisel pointed ends before
alluded to. The upper end of the slot p', is countersunk as shown in Figs. 4
and 15, to guide the wire thereto.
After the wire blank is cut off, its inner end is held by the resiliency of the
spring, C, closely in contact with the faces of the cutters and in a proper position
to be acted on by the bending devices hereinafter described.
E is the former over which the wire blank, D₁, is bent in the forming of a
staple, F, shown in Figs. 5 and 12 and fit it for insertion through the seal held
within the hook M.
This former consists of a blade of suitable width and of a thickness practically
the same as the width of the staple or the distance between the two parts thereof.
It is secured to the end of a lever, G, which is pivoted or fulcrumed at 1, to
a bracket H, bolted to the rear side of the upper cross piece, e¹, of the frame. A
lag, t, on the face of the lever is held in contact with the face of the cam, 1', by
the resiliency of a U shaped spring, J', the ends of which are attached to the
bracket, H¹, and to the upper end of the lever, G¹, see Fig. 10.
The former-blade and its attachments are so arranged that in the extreme forward
movement of the former-blade, its upper edge is brought under and in contact with
the wire, with its end slightly forward of the same as shewn in Fig. 10; and in
order that the former-blade may rise slightly as it passes under the wire, the pivotal
point, r, of the lever, G', is thrown back of the vertical centre line of the wire as
shown. This lifting of the former-blade, as it passes under the wire blank, is desirable
for the reason that its upper edge should be brought in contact with the underside
of the wire, and this could not be accomplished with an absolutely straight wire and
a horizontally moving former-blade without tending to deflect the wire forward; and
further it is impossible to insure every wire blank being absolutely straight or free
from such downward curvature as would interfere with the passage under it of a
former-blade moving in a straight line or horizontal plane.
K' is a plunger adapted to have a vertical reciprocating movement in the cross
piece, o, of the frame, directly over the seal held within hook M. The lower end of
this plunger is bifurcated so as to straddle the former-blade as shewn in Figs. 1, 4,
and 5, and the two parts or branches are hollowed at the bottom where they strike
the wire blank, as shewn in Fig. 10, to prevent the wire glancing when the plunger
comes in contact with it. The said branches are also grooved on the inner side as
shewn in Figs. 4 and 5, to accommodate the wire staple the two parts of which pass
between them and the former-blade when the plunger descends as shown particularly
in Fig. 5, in which a staple is shown.
As there is considerable wear on the upper edge of the former-blade where the
staples are bent over it, the said edge is made hollow or grooved, and a cylindrical
pin, u, is inserted in the groove or channel, and projects, and thus forms the edge
proper, as shewn in Fig. 10. This pin when worn may be moved endwise and a new
unworn part thereof presented to the wire.
A second plunger, I, adapted to have a vertical movement in the first one which
is made hollow for the purpose, is shown particularly in Figs. 4. 5. and 10. This
second plunger is for the purpose of forcing the wire staples through the seals. In

page_text: order that this plunger may not change the shape of the crown of the staple, its
lower end is made hollow and to fit the staple, as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5.
The upper end of this plunger is provided with a cap-piece V, having a lug. W₁, of
hardened steel, which is held in contact with a cam, M', on the main driving shaft, R.
by means of a spring, N', as shown in Figure 10. When the lug becomes worn, the
cap-piece is raised by the insertion of a suitable liner beneath it.
The stroke of the plunger is such as to force the staple through the seal, and
invert its ends which are spread in opposite directions and turned around and back
towards the straight parts of the wire, as before stated, and hereinafter more particu-
larly described.
The means whereby the pointed ends of the wire staple are inverted and otherwise
bent as described, consists in a cylindrical die, O', which rests on an adjustable
screw, P¹, in a seat Q1, secured to the frame of the machine, see Figures 4. 5.
and 10.
In the top of the die are two curved pits or channels, a, each with a rounded
bottom, placed side by side, and at a distance apart equal to the distance between the
straight parts of the wire loop.
Both pits begin on a diametrical line of the die, but extend in opposite directions
from the centre line, and in order that the ends of the wire may enter the pits
in every instance the entering ends thereof are countersunk as shown in Figure 17.
This die, constructed as described is placed directly under the. hook, and the pointed
ends of the staple having passed through the seal, enter the curved pits and pass
around following their curvature; and owing to the length of the wire blank and the
stroke of the plunger being properly regulated, the curving of the ends of the staple
is continued after the ends leave the pits, and they assume the shape shewn in
Figures 13 and 23.
The outer end of the former-blade is provided with a point, 6, which as the
former-blade comes forward to receive a wire blank which is to be bent thereon,
enters the loop of the last completed seal and lifts it from the die, and deposits it
again on the annular part of the feeding disc, I, by means of which it is carried to
the channelled bar, O, from which it finally drops to the chute N. This channel is of
such length as to expose a large number of seals to view, which enables the attendant
to detect and remove any defective ones.
It is evident that in carrying the completed seal from its position within the hook,
in the manner described it must be moved slightly back or in a direction the reverse
of that taken in the feeding operation, to clear the point of the hook. But to admit
of this backward movement, the incoming seals must be loose or under no decided
pressure, or they could not be moved or started back collectively. It is for this
reason that the seals are only intermittently fed with force by means of the co-opera-
tion of the moving and the stationary bumpers as before described.
Supposing the wire fed to the machine to be pointed; and the pointed end at the
cutting edge of the stationary disc cutter; the other or movable cutter to be at or
near to its greatest distance from the fixed one; the former-blade to be back or from
under the wire; the two plungers partially elevated; the seals distributed loosely
along the annular part of the feeding disc, with the first one approaching, and at a
short distance from the hook; ana the machine to be in motion, the operation of the
various parts is as follows:
The changes in the relative positions of the various elements of the machine consist
in the further elevation of the plungers; the longitudinal movement of the pointed
wire until its pointed end comes in contact with; and forces back the free portion of
the spring; the forward motion of the former-blade until it passes under the wire ;
and the forcing of the first seal into the hook by the combined action of a rotary and
a fixed bumper, as before described.
The above named changes take place practically simultaneously.
The movable cutting disc now advances to the fixed one and severs or pinches off
the wire blank from the line of wire. While the blank is being cut off and for a

page_text: short time thereafter, the former-blade is held stationary, but the plungers descend,
the outer one in advance of the other. The outer plunger continues to descend
bending the wire blank over the former-blade into the shape of a staple, and passes
down over the completed staple until its lower end reaches and presses the seal held
in the hook, firmly upon the site beneath and holds it until the completion of the
loop.
At the moment the outer plunger reaches and passes the seal, the former-blade
begins to recede, and the inner plunger to descend, and this descent continues until
the staple is driven through the seal and its end inverted and turned back within the
substance of the same as before described.
Upon the completion of the loop, the plungers ascend, and the movable cutting
disc leaves the stationary one to admit of the next feed of the wire; and the former-
blade advances again to its forward position so as to receive the next blank wire as it
is cut off. In this second advance motion of the former-blade, its point enters the
loop of the completed seal, lifts the seal, and carries it to the annular surface of the
feeding disc by which it is carried to the channel and from which it falls to the chute,
and thence to the box placed under the chute to receive the completed seals.
It will be understood that just before the seal is lifted by the point of the former-
blade the rotary bumper has passed the stationary one, and the seals on the annular
part of the feeding disc are removed from any forced movement towards the hook.
This release of the forward pressure upon the seals by the bumpers, leaves them in a
loose condition and admits of the slight backward movement to which they are
subjected as the completed seal is carried by the former-blade past the point of the
hook.
The above description comprises one complete operation of the machine, beginning
with the feed of the wire to the cutting discs and the others which follow are an
exact counterpart of it, the seals being provided with loops at the rate of say two
hundred or more per minute.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed what we claim is :-
1. In combination with a bottle a cup-shaped stopper of flexible material, seated in
the mouth thereof with its convex side inward and its concave side outward, and
provided with a projecting loop, whereby it may be retroverted and withdrawn from
the bottle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In combination with a revertible bottle seal, a projecting wire loop with its ends
inverted in the substance of the seal and turned towards the straight portions of the
wire, substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
3. In combination with a revertible bottle scal, a projecting wire loop having its
ends inverted in the substance of the seal, and in opposite directions, the inverted
parts being at an angle which is less than a right angle with a diametrical line drawn
through the straight parts of the wire forming the loop, substantially as, and for the
purpose specified."
4. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, an intermittent wire feed
mechanism cutting devices to sever a blank from the wire, a former-blade, a plunger
to bend the wire blank over the former-blade and shape the same into a staple,
another plunger within, and adapted io have a longitudinal movement independently
of the first to drive the staple down through the seal, a die having pits in its surface
to invert the ends of the wire as the same pass through the seal, and a feeding
mechanism to deliver the seals to the die, combined substantially as specified.
5. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, the combination of the
devices substantially as described adapted to cooperate with others for cutting a wire
blank from a coil of wire, for bending the blank into a staple, forcing the said staple
through a seal and securing the ends therein, and a rotary annular feeding surface,
whereby seals when placed on the said annular surface, are conducted to the said loop-
affixing mechanism, substantially as specified.
6. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, the combination of a seal

page_text: feeding disc with an upwardly extending rim located some distance from its circum-
ference to form an annular space into which the seals are placed, segmental bumpers,
situated on the circumference of the said rim, and a stationary bumper which projects
within the inner edge of the opening in which the said seals are placed, whereby, as
the said rotary bumpers pass the stationary one, the seal space is doubly contracted
and a momentary forced feed of the seals towards the looping devices effected,
substantially as specified.
7. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, the loop-affixing devices
proper substantially as described combined with a rotary seal feeding disc and a
switch to direct the seals from the said disc to the loop affixing devices, substantially as
specified.
8. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, the combination of looping
mechanism substantially as described, with a table, a rotary annular feeding surface
for the seals, a book to receive the first or end seal of the series, a die directly under
the hook and a switch to direct the seals from the annular surface and guide them to
the said hook, substantially as specified.
9. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, a staple inserting mechanism,
substantially as described, combined with a rotary annular feeding surface which
conducts the seals to the said mechanism, a switch to deflect the seals from the annular
surface to the said mechanism, and a channel or way (having an outlet) into which
the completed seals are conducted by the said rotary annular surface, substantially as
specified.
10. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, a wire feeding mechanism,
and cutting devices which consist of two circumferentially adjustable discs, combined
substantially as specified.
11. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals the cutting devices for
the wire substantially as described which consists of a fixed disc, and a similar disc
which is moveable to and from the other, the said discs being adjustable circum-
ferentially, but held so as not to rotate in the cutting operation, substantially as specified.
12. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals the combination of a wire
feeding mechanism, cutters to sever a wire blank from the wire coil, and a spring,
whereby, after the blank is cut off, it is momentarily held in contact with the cutters,
substantially as specified.
13. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, cutters to sever a wire
blank from a coil of wire, a former-blade, a slotted block into which the end of the
wire block is fed, a spring to hold the said blank against the cutters, and a plunger to
bend the wire blank over the former-blade and thereby form a staple combined
substantially as specified.
14. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, cutters to sever a wire
blank from the wire coil, a former-blade, a slotted block into which the end of the wire
blank enters in the feeding operation, a spring to hold the wire blank in contact with the
cutters, a plunger to bend the wire blank over the former-blade, and another plunger
to force the staple from the first plunger, combined substantially as specified.
15. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, the combination of a wire
feeding mechanism, cutters to sever a wire blank from the wire coil, and a former-
blade secured to an arm the pivotal point of which is in the rear of the wire blank,
whereby in the forward motion of the former-blade to a position under the wire blank,
it is slightly elevated so as to come in contact therewith, and a plunger to bend the
wire over the said former-blade, substantially as specified.
16. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, the combination of a wire
feeding mechanism, cutters to sever a wire blank from the wire, a former-blade
attached to an arm, the pivotal point of which is in the rear of the wire, the said
former-blade having a point, which, in the forward movement of the same, has an
upward motion or sweep, and is thereby adapted to enter the loop of a completed seal
and lift and discharge the same from the curling die, substantially as specified.
17. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, a die having two pits
in its surface, substantially as specified.

page_text: 18. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals, the combination of a
former-blade, a plunger to bend a wire blank over the former-blade and shape the
same into a staple, a second plunger within and adapted to have a longitudinal
movement independently of the first and a die having pits in its surface which begin
on a diametrical, line and extend in opposite directions, whereby the points of the
wire staple, as they enter the said pits, are inverted in contrary ways substantially as
specified.
19. In a machine for attaching wire loops to bottle seals a die having pits in its
surface which are of segmental shape as shown in a longitudinal section of the die
taken lengthwise of the pits, substantially as specified.
20. In a machine for bending a straight wire blank into the form of a staple and
inverting the ends of the staple and turning the said ends back towards the straight
part of the staple, the following elements, in combination :-A former-blade, a branched
plunger, a second plunger adapted to have a movement within the first, and a die
with pits in its surface which begin practically on a diametrical line and extend in
diverging and opposite directions substantially as specified.
21. In a machine for bending a wire blank into the form of a staple and inverting
the points of the staple, the following elements in combination :--A former-blade, a
plunger to bend the wire over the former-blade, a second plunger within the first and
having a movement independently thereof to force the staple out of the first plunger,
and a die having two segmental pits, combined substantially as specified.
22. The former-blade E' having an adjustable and removable surface combined with
mechanism substantially as described to bend the wire over it into the form of a staple
substantially as specified.
23. The former-blade E' having a point adapted to enter the loop of a completed
seal and thereby discharge it from the dic, substantially as specified.
Dated this 18th day of November 1890.
AYRTON & THOMAS,
Patent Agents.