Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 20th July, 1888
We PETER JOSEPH STOLLWERCK, and LUDWIG STOLLWERCK of the firm of Gelruder
Stollwerck of Cologne on the Rhino, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers to
the Count, 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 a method and means for stoppering or closing the ends or
mouths of jars and the like, which are used for preserving fruit, vegetables, and other
articles of food.
Heretofore preserve jars have been hermetically closed by applying lacker, putty,
or resinous substances, to the lid or cover after the preserves introduced into the jar
in the cold state have been subjected to a second evaporation, when however jars are
closed according to this method, the lacker or the like is liable to become separated
from the jar so that air often finds its way past the loosened or separated lacker or
the like, into the jar and spoils the preserve in a short time. This loosening or separa-
tion of the lacker or the like is due to the fact that the jars having become moist
through the filling and evaporating operation cannot be wiped thoroughly dry. As
however resinous substances never combine with a moist body and the moisture
enclosed or held upon the body by the said substance dries up in the course of time,
openings are produced between the jar and the resinous substance, which allow the
access of air to the said jar.
According to the present invention this defect is obviated by providing the lid or
cover and also the mouth of the jar for the reception of the preserves with a layer of
lacker or the like prior to the introduction of the boiled preserves.
For this purpose the jars when they are ready are inverted and the upper end
thereof dipped in a hot state into liquid lacker; they are then taken out and for
a short time set in rotary motion. By this operation the surfaces which are intended
to be coated with lacker are covered by a layer of the same. No lacker however can
enter the interior of the jar because of the expansion of the air contained therein.

page_text: The lacker is also applied to corresponding surfaces of the lid or cover of the jar
or the like (which is also heated) by dipping an instrument that conforms to the
shape of the inside of the said cover into the lacker and pressing it down upon
the jar.
The accompanying drawing represents a preserve jar with a conical neck, which
together with the cover is provided with lacker in the above-described manner.
According to the present invention a layer of lacker is applied not only to the conical
surface of the neck of the jar a but also to the top edge z of the said neck and to
the horizontal face y of the collar adjoining the same.
The corresponding surface a¹ y¹ and z¹ are also covered with a layer of lacker. By
reason of the introduction of the preserves in a bot state into the jar a the lacker on
the two parts is converted into a plastic state when the cover is put upon the neck of
the jar so that the surfaces of lacker on the cover are easily and rapidly united with
those on the jar thus effecting a complete air-tight joint. between the two parts. It
is to be understood that the lacker may if desired be applied upon only two surfaces
for example upon x and y and a¹ and y' of the jar and cover, the condition being that
the joint between the cover and jar shall be made through the medium of several
surfaces in order that, if one part of the ring of lacker should be interrupted there
will still be another part of lacker to keep the joint tight.
As above stated and shown in the drawing, the outer surface a of the jar a as well
as the inner surface a¹ of the cover bare made conical or taper. When a preserve jar
is closed by means of a cover secured by lacker or the like it is very essential that
the said cover shall be connected with the jar by at least two surfaces covered with
firmly compressed lacker. This is effected through the medium of the conical
surfaces x and x¹.
When putting on the cover a large quantity of lacker which has become pasty is
pressed between the surfaces and which at first leaves a comparatively large
space e between them; (the dipping of the inverted jar into the liquid lacker as above
described causing the same to collect to a greater thickness at the upper edge.)
In the downward movement of the cover however this intermediate space decreases
by reason of the conical shape of the surfaces and ¹, the lacker will therefore be
powerfully compressed and compelled to make a tight joint. By reason of this
strong compression of the lacker, the moisture which may settle upon the same
during the introduction of the preserves into the jar is forced downwards so that after
the cooling of the said preserves, only a single layer of lacker exists between the
jar and cover which are thus firmly united forming an air-tight joint by means of the
several surfaces.
In order to effect the opening of the closed preserve-jar in an easy and rapid
manner the lower outer edge 6 of the cover b is bevelled. This bevel 6 serves to
enable the layer of lacker to be cut, loosened or otherwise acted upon by a knife or
other suitable instrument.
After numerous trials it has been found that the firm connection obtained by the
lacker hetween the jar and cover is severed if the several molecules of the lacker
firmly connected with the two parts are caused to vibrate quickly. The vibration
causes a separation of these two bodies from each other by virtue of the different
coefficients of expansion of the glass, earthenware or the like of the jar and the
lacker. The bevel 6' is adapted to form a guide to the point of the knife in order to
enable the lacker to be scratched all round the jar.
By the employment of the above described improved means of closing jars or the
like, not only is a considerable saving of time effected in the preparation of preserves
but it enables fruit to be preserved merely by the addition of the fruit water obtained
in the boiling operation without using sugar or the like.
By pressing the lackered cover upon the lackered jar directly after the introduction
of the hot preserves, the evaporation of the preserve contained in the said jar before
or after the closing of the latter is dispensed with, which is quite impossible for
example with the air-tight joint produced by soldering.
The lacker which is destitute of moisture and which is compressed between the

page_text: peculiarly constructed edges of the cover and jar forms such an air tight joint that
the addition of antiseptic agents, such as sugar becomes quite superfluous. The cover
is so firmly connected with the jar that the heating of the preserves contained therein
although causing the latter to burst will never lift the cover. Accordingly this
method not only enables the preserves to be prepared at a very low cost thus placing
this very healthy food within the reach of the poorer classes but also enables persons
suffering from diabetes to use these fruit-preserves because they are prepared without
sugar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
First. The method substantially as herein described of closing preserve jars and the
like which consist in applying lacker in a plastic state to the corresponding surfaces
of the jar neck and cover, allowing the lacker to harden on the said surfaces so as to
intimately combine therewith, then filling in the hot preserves, the heat of which will
cause the lacker on the neck of the jar and on the cover placed thereon to soften again,
and finally applying pressure to the cover for a sufficient length of time to ensure an
intimate connection between the lacker coating on the said corresponding surfaces of
the jar and cover as and for the purpose specified.
Second. In preserve jars and the like the application of a layer of lacker not only
to the surfaces, a¹ but also to the surfaces y, y' and z, z' of the jars and their covers
before the introduction of the preserves into the said jars substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Third. In preserve jars and the like the arrangement of the conical surface a of the
neck and the corresponding surface ¹ of the cover between which is arranged the
lacker, so that by powerfully compressing the cover a perfect air tight joint is effected
and any moisture which may adhere to the lacker expelled substantially as described.
Fourth. The arrangement of the bevel 61 on the lower outer edge of the cover b to
permit the vibration of the molecules of the lacker, by introducing the pointed or
sharp edge of a knife or other instrument, thereby causing a quick and easy separation
of the cover from the jar.
D
101 1
T
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.