IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKING MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Farrow, of Great Tower Street, in the City of
London, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CORKING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Farrow at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1881.
CHARLES FARROW, of Great Tower Street, in the City of London, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in corking machines, and has for object
to prevent injury to the cork during compression.
In the corking machines now generally in use the compression of the cork is
effected by means of a slide pushing the cork from the larger to the smaller end of
a tube, whence it is propelled into the bottle or other vessel to be corked; in some
other machines the tube is contracted laterally before the slide acts on the cork,
and in practice it has been found that the cork is frequently injured from the
unequal compression.
In carrying out my improvements the tube is provided with a hinged joint at its
smaller end, which allows the tube to be opened sufficiently to receive the cork;
the movement of the lever closes the tube and moves forward the slide in such a
way as to effect an equal compression of the cork, and thus avoid injury to it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Farrow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st December
1881.
CHARLES FARROW, of Great Tower Street, in the City of London, Mechanical
Engineer. " IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in corking machines, and has for object
to prevent injury to the cork during compression.
In the corking machines now generally in use the compression of the cork is
effected by means of a slide pushing the cork from the larger to the smaller end of
a tube, whence it is propelled into the bottle or other vessel to be corked; in some
machines the tube is contracted laterally before the slide acts on the cork, and in
practice it has been found that the cork is frequently injured from the unequal
compression.
In carrying out my improvements I make the tube with a hinged joint at its
smaller end, which allows the tube to be opened sufficiently to receive the cork;
the movement of the lever closes the tube and moves forward the slide in such a
way as to effect an equalized compression of the cork, and thus avoid-injury to it;
or an arrangement effecting the desired equalised compression_in_an_equivalent
manner, as hereinafter described, may be employed.
In order to make my Invention clearly understood I will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front
elevation; Figure 2, a side elevation; and Figure 3, a plan of a corking machine
with my improvements applied thereto; Figure 4 is a detached plan of my
improvements; Figuro 5 is a side elevation; and Figures 6 and 7, plans of my
improvements with a modified arrangement for closing the tube; and Figure 8,
a plan of a further modification.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are drawn to a scale of about one quarter full size, and
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, one half full size. Similar letters in all the Figures
represent similar or corresponding parts.
I will first describe my improvements by reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
a is the framing of the machine; b, the vertically sliding trunk; c, the plunger
for forcing the cork into the bottle; d, tho counterweighted lever; and
counterweighted foot, all of which are of the ordinary construction.
the
In applying my improvements to this machine 1 form the tube for receiving and
compressing the cork in two parts forming a pair of arms or jaws f. f, jointed, as
shewn in dotted lines at g; the free ends of the said arms or jaws fare curved on
their outer sides, as shown at h; i, i, are arms or guides on the slide or presser j,
the said slide having the usual die k on the end thereof, and being otherwise of the
ordinary construction; the guides i, i, are curved on their inner ends and serve to
close the arms f, f, as hereinafter described; suitable springs are provided for
carrying the jaws into their open position, shewn at Figure 3, when the lever has
been released from pressure.
The action is as follows:-
A cork (shewn in dotted lines Figure 3) being placed in the usual manner in the
tube formed by the jaws f, f, the lever d is depressed, thereby moving forward the
slide or presser j, and with it the guides i, i, the curved ends of which sliding on
the curved ends h of the jaws f. f, move the jaws inwards into the spaces n, n,
between the guides i, i, and the slide j, so that the cork as it is moved by the slide
into the inner end of the tube is compressed equally in a lateral direction on each
side, and without injury to the cork. The forward motion of the slide being
completed, the parts will be in the position shewn in Figure 4, the cork being over

page_text: the usual opening or hole o in the plate at the bottom of the tube, and over the
mouth of the bottle, and the cork will be driven into the bottle by the plunger c
in the usual manner. The lever & being now released from pressure the parts will
retake their normal position, shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, ready for the next
operation.
It will be understood that some of my improvements are applicable to other
forms of machine than that shewn in the Drawing, whether such machines be
worked by lever, rack and pinion, or otherwise.
In the modification shewn in Figures 5, 6, and 7, the position of the tube f. f. is
reversed, and the tube is moved forward by the action of the lever d, the slide j
being fixed; the jaws ff, are closed on the cork by passing between the friction
rollers, working in brackets m on the frame, the action being otherwise
substantially the same as that hereinbefore described.
Figures 5 and 6 shew the tube in its open position, and Figure 7 shews the tube
closed.
In the modification shewn in Figure 8, the outer ends of the arms or jaws f, f
are dispensed with, the continuation of the tube being formed by the peripheries of
the rollers 1, l, carried in arms fixed on or forming part of the jointed tube, and
adjustable at p, p, to allow of varying the space between the rollers to suit corks
of different diameters. Or where it is not required to make the rollers adjustable
the jointing of the tube and arms may be dispensed with.
Having thus described my said Invention and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what
I claim is,
Firstly. Constructing the tubes of corking machines in two parts jointed at the
smaller end, and so arranged that the parts of the tube are closed by the movement
of the lever or its equivalent in such a way as to effect an equalised compression
of the cork, in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Secondly. In a corking machine, the use of a tube, such as the hereinbefore
described jointed tube combined with guides, such as i, i, on the slide j, for
closing the tube as the slide is moved forward, as herein before described and
represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, of the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. In a corking machine, the use of a tube such as the hereinbefore
described jointed tube combined with friction rollers so placed as to close the tube
as it is moved forward on the slide, as herein before described and represented in
Figures 5, 6, and 7, of the accompanying Drawing.
Fourthly. The modified arrangement herein before described and shewn in
Figure 8 of the accompanying Drawing, whereby an equalised compression is
given to the cork by the action of the roller surface.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Farrow, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty second day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
C. TARROW. (L.S.)