IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FIXING CAPSULES ON BOTTLES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Paterson, Engineer, 22, South Back of
Canongate, Edinburgh, and James Ritchie, residing at Roseburn
Works, Murrayfield, near Edinburgh, for the Invention of “Im-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Paterson and
James Ritchie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 11th October 1873.
We, JOHN PATERSON, Engineer, 22, South Back of Canongate,
Edinburgh, and JAMES RITCHIE, residing at Roseburn Works, Murray-
field, near Edinburgh, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FIXING CAPSULES ON BOTTLES," to
be as follows:-
Our Invention consists of a new method. of fixing capsules upon
bottles. Hitherto capsules have been always fixed by hydraulic pressure,
and the expense of keeping up machinery for this purpose has been
considerable.

page_text: The object of our Invention is to lessen the expense; and the apparatus
which we have invented acts simply by pressure by clams or pads
applied directly to the neck of the bottle, which is protected by the
ordinary cap made of india-rubber or other suitable material.
The first apparatus which we use for this purpose is in the form of
four or any sufficient number of clams held together by a collar formed
so as to act as a fulcrum and to keep the clams together. The reverse
ends of the clams are then brought up to a hollow point, into which we
introduce a friction cone of suitable shape, which being pressed forward
by an eccentric or cam wheel or other motive power is driven into the
small end of the clams, and by the force of the collar as a fulcrum
presses the lower ends of the clams upon the neck of the bottle and so
·
fires the consula
The object of our Invention is to lessen the expense; and the apparatus
which we have invented acts simply by pressure by clams or pads
applied directly to the neck of the bottle, which is protected by the
ordinary cap made of india-rubber or other suitable material.
The first apparatus which we use for this purpose is in the form of
four or any sufficient number of clams held together by a collar formed
so as to act as a fulcrum and to keep the clams together. The reverse
ends of the clams are then brought up to a hollow point, into which we
introduce a friction cone of suitable shape, which being pressed forward
by an eccentric or cam wheel or other motive power is driven into the
small end of the clams, and by the force of the collar as a fulcrum
presses the lower ends of the clams upon the neck of the bottle and so
fixes the capsule.
The necessary motion is given to the eccentric or cam wheel by the
hand or foot of the operator, or by steam or other power, as may be
wished.
4
Our second method is somewhat similar although different in con-
struction. It consists of an outside case or collar, to which is attached
a lever handle. This collar is so formed internally as to consist of four
or any necessary number of internal cams, into each of which works a
roller or pulley. Each roller presses upon an iron pad, which again
presses upon the ordinary cap of india-rubber or other suitable material.
When the outer collar is pulled round by the lever handle the cams
inside thereof act upon the rollers and so press the pads on the bottle
neck. The necessary force can be applied either by hand, foot, or
steam..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Paterson and James Ritchie in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 12th February 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN 30
PATERSON, Engineer, 22, South Back of Canongate, Edinburgh, and
JAMES RITCHIE, residing at Roseburn Works, Murrayfield, near Edin-
burgh, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Paterson and James Ritchie,
Her special licence that we, the said John Paterson and James Ritchie,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said John Paterson and James Ritchie, our executors, administrators,.
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
FIXING CAPSULES ON BOTTLES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said John Paterson and James Ritchie, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Paterson and James Ritchie,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and figures marked
thereon :-
Our said'Invention consists of a new method of fixing capsules on
bottles. Hitherto capsules have been usually fixed by hydraulic pressure,
and the expense of keeping up machinery for this purpose has been
considerable.
The object of our Invention is to lessen the expense; and the apparatus
which we have invented acts simply by pressure by clams or pads
applied directly to the neck of the bottle, which is protected by a cap
made of india-rubber or other suitable material.
The apparatus which we use for this purpose is in the form of four or
any sufficient number of clams held together by a collar formed so as to

page_text: act as a fulcrum and to keep the clams together. The reverse ends of
the clams are then brought up to a hollow point, into which we
introduce a friction conc or conical plunger of suitable shapo, which ·
being pressed forward by an eccentric or cam wheel or other motive
power is driven into the small reverse end of the clams, and by the aid 6
of the collar acting as a fulcrum presses the outer or lower ends of the
clams upon the neck of the bottle and so fixes the capsule.
The necessary motion is given to the eccentric or cam wheel by the
hand or foot of the operator, or by steam or other power, as may be
wished.
In order that our said Invention may be fully understood we now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Drawings, the letters of
reference indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
1
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of the machine or apparatus 1
as used by us having four clams operated on by friction cone or conical
plunger; Figure 2 is a view of the same seen from above; Figure 3 is
an end clevation; Figures 4, 5, and 6, shew details of the various
parts.
A is the case or cover containing the elastic cap C and clams F, F; 2
B is the frame to carry machine; G, eccentric or cam wheel for moving
the friction cone or conical plunger D; E, lever and balance weight to
give motion with the foot to the cam wheel G, which presses forward
the cone D. If any other power is preferred it can easily be attached
to the cam wheel G in any of the well-known methods.. The ends of 2
the clams. F, F, and their mode of operating on the cap are shewn also
by Figure 4. The ends of the clams F, F, may be protected by friction
rollers K, K, K; H is a screwed ring to keep the india-rubber cap in its
place, but this does not require to be screwed tight, so that the rubber
can be more easily. compressed without straining. The cone or conical
plunger D is used with or without a friction roller I. The case A is
formed with a deep neck, bush, or guide N to carry the cone D and keep
it in position..
Figure 4 is an elevation of the end of the case or cylinder with the
cover removed, shewing four grooves to carry the ends of the cross frame
or collar L, which carries the clams. M is used as a tablo or stand for
the machine, and as a seat for the operator.

page_text: Figures 5 and 6 are a plan and elevation of the india-rubber cap,
which we prefer to be formed with four segments of a flange, so as to
allow it to be more easily compressed. The body of the cap does not
require to be strengthened by ribs or to be either air or water-tight.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, we have to state that what we consider novel and
original and claim as of our Invention are,—
(First). The compressing of the india-rubber cap for the purposes and
substantially in the manner shewn in our Drawings and as before
described or any mere modification thereof.
And (Second). A second method somewhat similar although different
in construction; it consists of an outside case or collar, to which is
attached a lever handle. This collar is so formed internally as to
consist of four or any necessary number of internal cams, into each of
which works a roller or pulley. Each roller presses upon an iron pad,
which again presses upon the ordinary cup or cap of india-rubber or
other suitable material. When the outer collar is pulled round by the
lever handle the cams inside the collar act upon the rollers and so press
the pads on the bottle neck. The necessary force can be applied either
by hand, foot, or steam.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Paterson and James Ritchie;
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirtieth day of
January, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.