IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR INTRODUCING AËRATED WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS INTO BOTTLES AND FOR SECURING SAME THEREIN within the of for en
Year: 1880

page_text: AND TUR SECURING DARIE 1HEREIN
2nd day of March 1880 N° 926.
stating wave u
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
lodged by the said Robert Luke Howard pursuant to the Statutes in that case
made and provided.
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent under the
Great Seal of Great Britain and Ireland bearing date the second day of March
One thousand eight hundred and eighty in the Forty third year of Her Reign did
give and grant unto the said Robert Luke Howard his executors administrators
and assigns the sole privilege of making using exercising and vending the said
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR INTRODUCING AËRATED WATERS
AND OTHER LIQUIDS INTO BOTTLES AND FOR SECURING SAME THEREIN within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland the Channel Islands and Isle of
Man for and during the term of Fourteen years thence next ensuing.
"
And whereas since the filing of the Specification in pursuance of the said
Letters Patent it has been ascertained or doubts have arisen whether some parts of
the Invention viz: those parts relating to the machinery for the introduction of
the aërated waters into bottles as described in the aforesaid Specification were new
and comprise more than the Patentee was entitled to claim.
Now therefore the said Robert Luke Howard by and with the leave of
Her Majesty's Solicitor General desires to amend the said Specification by
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration as hereinafter set forth and to make
the following alterations in the Title Specification and claims viz,
On page 3 of the Queens Printers Copy line 5 to strike out the word
"introducing" and to insert the word "securing" and on same line to alter the
word "into" to "in"

page_text: Line 7 to strike out the words "self acting."
To strike out all the words from line 9 same page to line 25 page 4.
Page 4 line 26 after the word "stopper" to insert the following words "after
the bottle has been charged with the aërated water or other liquid
Page 7 to strike out claims "First" "Second and "Third" and to change the
ordinals of claims "Fourth" "Fifth" "Sixth " "Seventh ""Eighth " and " Ninth "
into respectively "First" "Second" "Third" "Fourth" " Fifth" and "Sixth."
And the said Specification when so disclaimed and altered as aforesaid will read
as follows:-
:-
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT LUKE
HOWARD of Luton in the county of Bedford Send greeting WHEREAS Her Most
Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters Patent bearing date the second
day of March in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty
in the Forty third year of Her Reign did for Herself Her Heirs and Successors
give and grant unto me the said Robert Luke Howard Her special license that I the
said Robert Luke Howard my executors administrators and assigns or such others
as I the said Robert Luke Howard my 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 MACHINERY
FOR SECURING AËRATED WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS IN BOTTLES
upon the
condition (amongst others) that I the said Robert Luke Howard my executors or
administrators by an Instrument in writing under my 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 I
the said Robert Luke Howard Do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following Statement thereof that is to say.
"
33
My Invention is applicable both to bottles closed by stoppers and also to those
closed by corks.
For securing the cork or stopper after the bottle has been charged with the
aërated water or other liquid the bottle is placed in the apparatus for wiring it;
the wires, say four in number, are fed to the place required by rollers or other feed
gear, and either by the turning of a handle or by self acting gear, two wires being
passed through guides across and beyond the top of the cork and a wire similarly
passed along and beyond each side of the bottle neck the wires are taken hold of
by nippers and held in suitable position with the bottle, a knife or shears cutting
off the wires to the required length. The ends of the wires are then seized by
holders which twist them together and thus fasten them. Or instead of single
wires a looped wire or wires may be used.
The wiring apparatus may be arranged in connection with a revolving table or
wheel which is constantly supplied with bottles to be wires and to be delivered
when finished, some or all of the working parts being driven from a revolving shaft.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a hand wiring apparatus; Figure 4, a front
elevation of the upper part of same, and Figure 5 a plan.
The wires for securing the corks pass from a reel or reels through suitable guides.
The wires in this case are taken to be four in number. The bottle is placed on a
rising bed and between guides on a rocking standard, and by the depression of a
treadle, the bottle is raised, and during its upward travel comes in contact with
a block or slide, and the raising of this by the bottle causes the wires to be cut to
the required length, and also to close a pair of nippers or jaws the action of which
presses the wires arround the cork and around the neck of the bottle. The treadle

page_text: being still held depressed, the pivotted or rocking standard is brought forward
together with the bottle, and by this action, the loose or projecting wires on each
side of the neck are caused to go into slits or openings formed in the inner ends of
a pair of spindles which I term holders or twisters which are rotated by a crank
handle and suitable gearing. The wires having thus been twisted and the corks
made secure the rocking standard is moved and the bottle taken away and a fresh
one inserted, and so on.
A is the main frame or stanchion and B is the pivoted or rocking standard;
C is the block or rising bed on which the bottles rest. It is secured to a rod a
sliding through a guide or guides a' on the standard B, and is raised or lowered
by the treadle D. The standard B at its lower end is pivoted at b. The frame A
at the upper part carries the wire reels c, d, e, and f, and other apparatus for
cutting off the required lengths of wire. The rocking standard B carries the
appliance for pressing the wires over the cork and around the neck of the bottle.
The wires pass from their reels c, d, e, and f into a corresponding number of
circumferential grooves c¹, d', e, f, in a drum c² which is rotated by handle M
and gear wheels M' M. The wires are prevented from getting out of these
grooves by a friction roller x working between bearings and held in tension by the
spring ca.
Then the wires pass under the bracket part A¹ of the frame A, then through four
holes in the shearing blade g shown separately in front elevation at Figure 6 and
in side elevation at Figure 64, and from here the wires project the required distance
over the top of the bottle and underneath the sliding block F on each side of which
are the pairs of nippers h, h' which at their lower ends have openings to allow for
the wires to be fed freely through them, and which, by their closing or scissors like
action reduce the said space and so the pressing or nipping action is effected. The
two middle wires require to be longer than the two outer wires and in order to
produce this difference in the amount of feed I form the two outer grooves fl
and c¹ in the feed pulley c² with flat parts in three places of the circumference as
shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 so that the feed of the two outer wires is lessened
to that extent. In the upward travel of the bottle it takes with it the two inner
wires which go over the cork the two other wires remain on each side of the neck.
A further depression of the treadle D causes the block F to rise and the spring F
to be compressed; H is the fixed block on the top of the standard A, and which
when block F rises causes the pairs of nippers h, h', to open above their pivot h²,
and to close at their lower ends but previous to this closure the head of the pivot h³
engages with a projection on the head of the shear g, the raising of which effectually
cuts off all four wires, the shearing being effected between the shearing blade g and
the stationary shear blade E shown also in Figure 6 in front view and in Figure 6ª
in side view and by additional application of power to the the treadle the lower
ends of the nippers h, h' are caused to close and to leave the four ends of the wires
gathered together and projecting from the sides of the bottle neck.
The next operation for the completion of the fastening is to pull forward the
rocking standard B and the collected projecting ends of the wires consequently
come in openings i, i, formed in the ends of the spindles or twisters k, k', and by
turning the handle N and wheels J, J2, the twisting is effected. Figure 7 is a
detached vertical longitudinal sectional view of one of these twisters and parts
connected therewith and Figure 8 is an end view of the twister k. The ends of the
twisters are slightly conical and the rotation of the twister by the crank handle J
and pairs of gear wheels, J¹, J2, causes the ends of the wires to be twisted and at
the same time the pair of clamps K are closed by the attendant and the fact of the
clamps clipping over the conical ends k, k, of the twisters causes the said twisters to
slide inwards towards the bottle (and thus suiting themselves to the exact pressure
required for the twisting of the wires) and consequently to prevent the breaking
of the wires. 2 is a spring to draw back the spindle to its normal position and ³
a spring to force the parts k, l, apart again.
For greater rapidity of work I have found it desirable to arrange the wiring

page_text: apparatus in connection with a revolving table or wheel driven by steam or other
power.
Figure 9 is a side elevation, Figure 10 a plan, and Figure 11 an end elevation of
such an arrangement. A is the framing which carries the disc L mounted in the
bearing A and arranged with three bottle holders C; 1, , are fast and loose
pulleys, a pinion on their shaft drives a spur wheel 1³ mounted on the same
centre as the disc L and turning loosely on the hollow boss or axis m.
The spur
wheel drives a pinion on the back of which is a wheel 1 having teeth on only
half of its circumference, and which during one half of its rotation gears with
another pinion 16, and by a wheel on the same axis as the pinion 16 drives a
pinion on the shaft 19, and by the two pairs of wheels J¹ and J' drives the
twisters, as before described with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, the said
twisting mechanism only acting during the one half of the revolution of the partly
toothed wheel. The spur wheel 13 and disc m are mounted on the hollow axis m²
Figures 10 and 11, so as not to interfere with the central shaft m²; the disc L is
mounted loosely on the shaft m², but the cam m³ is keyed on the said shaft or axis
m². The eccentric m* is keyed on the hollow shaft m²; m³ is the eccentric ring or
hoop which is provided with two teeth me, m. They act on pins or projections n
on the back of the disc and carry it forward a third of a revolution.
The wire feeding mechanism is actuated by rods and levers from the crank
pin 8 on the disc a on the driving shaft S; s² is the feed rod from the crank pin 8',
it is connected to a lever 83 keyed on the shaft o; on the other end of this shaft o
is a lever o¹, which terminates in a fork and clips around the vertical sliding rod o²
working in guides o³.
The grooved wheel c² has projections p on the one side, and by the part turn of
the shaft o the lever o¹ raises the vertical shaft o³, which has on it a tooth p¹,
which in its upward stroke gives a third of a turn to the grooved roller c², and by
the assistance of the tension or friction wheel x, the requisite length of wire is
drawn off the reels c, d, e and f and protruded through the guides and shears, as
described with reference to the previous machine; the outer grooves fl and c¹ of
the feed roller c² have flat parts to reduce the feed of the outer wires, as described
with reference to the hand machine.
To the crank pin s' is also connected the cut off rod t, which is connected to a
crank t¹ keyed on the shaft m², on which is fixed the cam m³ for actuating the
bottle carriers C, which for this purpose are provided with friction rollers or
trucks a*.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
After the insertion of a bottle in the carrier C and the partial rotation of
the disc L, the truck a* of one carrier will run over the lower track m*
of the cam m³ and assume a vertical position directly under the wires. The
cam m³ is then caused to turn to the right by the action of the lever t,
and the bottle frame and its friction truck a* therefore come on the upper
surface of the cam m³. The bottle consequently being raised the cut off and
the gathering and nipping of the wires are caused to take place, as before described
with reference to the previous machine, a third of a revolution of the disc L is
made by one of the teeth me or m³ on the eccentric ring m³ coming in contact with
one of the projections n on the back of the disc L, and at the end of this partial
rotation the bottle and its projecting wires are, while still retained in the raised
position by the raised part in 5 of the cam, brought between the twisters, which
act in consequence of the partly toothed wheel coming into gear with the
wheel, and thus imparting motion to the twisting mechanism through the
wheels 18 and J', J. The twisting mechanism is precisely the same as that before
described.
A link 1 pivotted at one end to the wheel 15, and at the other to the arm 2
carrying a weight, opens and closes the clamps K automatically; the arm 2 is fixed
on a sleeve loose on the shaft 1º.
A detached view of this is shown closed at Figure 19

page_text: On the periphery of the disc L are three hollows q into which at every third of
a revolution falls a small roller q', in order to prevent the disc from turning beyond
the desired point. A similar contrivance is arranged to act on a disc r keyed on
to the shaft carrying the wheels 16, 17, and which prevents the twisters from rotating
more than a certain number of revolutions.
Figure 13 is a front elevation, Figure 13ª is a side elevation, and Figure 14 a
plan of an appliance for securing a stopper by means of one single wire; this
appliance would in the machine shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and Figures 9, 10,
and 11, take the place of the feeding and gathering arrangements, while the
twisting appliance and the other parts of the machine would remain substantially
the same.
c² is a feeding roll having a groove in the circumference for the wire to lie in ; it
is worked by tooth wheels u and u' from a handle or by a handle direct (in case
of a hand machine) or from some revolving part on the driving shaft S of the
machine Figures 9, 10, and 11 (if forming an attachment thereto); x is a loose or
friction wheel working against the feed roll c². A suitable length of wire having.
been fed forward by the feed roll c³, the two hooks v, v, on the shaft v³ are by
means of the lever brought in under the wire, taking hold of same and in their
return movement drawing it out into two loops, as shewn in Figure 14:
The block C on which the bottle rests is then brought forward centrally under
the looped wire; this block slides in a V guide on the part L' which corresponds
to the brackets L' on the disc L, Figures 9, 10, and 11, and to the frame B in
Figures 1, 2, and 3; on each side of the head F there is a plate f formed with a
slot f, into which the four parts of the wire enter; Figure 15 is a separate front
view, and Figure 16 a corresponding side view of the block F with the slotted
plates f. The block C and bottle are then raised (by the cam m³, Figure 9, or
treadle D, Figure 1, as the case may be) so that the two middle parts of the wire
are pressed against the top of the cork, the two side parts of the wire remaining
one on each side of the neck, and below the rim of same, and the cork entering the
head F; Figure 17 is a side view and Figure 18 a plan of the bottle neck with
the wire in this position; a further upward movement of the bottle brings the side
parts of the wire in contact with the gatherers h, one of which is shown separately
in Figure 19.
The wire is gathered in the V cut of the gatherers, but during this gathering the
wire is cut off at one end by the movable shear g, which is attached to the frame A
of the machine sliding in a guide A² thereon, when impelled by the slanting lugf
on the head F coming in contact with a corresponding slanting lug g¹ on the
shear g; the shear g works against a stationary shear E. The block C with the
bottle is then brought over to the twisting mechanism already described with
reference to the two previous machines.
Having thus described and ascertained this my Invention and in what manner
the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that I claim.-
First: The securing of corks or stoppers in bottles by means of pieces of wire or
one wire, one or more of such wires, or one or more parts of such wire, being fed
over the top of the cork; and the other wires or parts of the wire by the side of
the neck, where they are twisted together, as set forth.
Second Wiring bottles by machinery in which the wire or wires fed forward
a definite length is or are brought against the top of the bottle, and cut off and
gathered and twisted as set forth.
Third-Bringing forward the bottle by a treadle, cam, or equivalent, which
brings the top of the bottle to the wire or wires, and cuts off and gathers them
preparatory to their being twisted together, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Fourth-
-The construction and mode of operation of the nippers and also of the
twisters for firmly and effectually securing the cork substantially as described and
illustrated.
Fifth-The general combination of mechanisms, as described, constituting the

page_text: hand machine, and the automatic machine for wiring and securing the corks in
bottles substantially as described and illustrated.
Sixth-The employment of revolving appliances for carrying bottles to be
wired, the wiring operations being automatically and consecutively performed
during such revolution.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Luke Howard have hereunto set my
hand and seal this second day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
-Yרס שטע,IUD
To the Commissioners of Patents for Inventions.
Notice of the application for leave to file this Disclaimer and Memorandum of
Alteration having been advertized in accordance with my direction
I hereby grant my Fiat giving leave to the above named Robert Luke
Howard to file in the Office of the Commissioners of Patents the above written
Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration with the Specification to which the
same relates.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Luke Howard, of Luton, in the County of Bedford,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR INTRODUCING AERATED
WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS INTO BOTTLES, AND FOR SECURING SAME THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Luke Howard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1880.
ROBERT LUKE HOWARD, of Luton, in the County of Bedford.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR INTRODUCING AERATED WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS INTO
BOTTLES, AND FOR SECURING SAME THEREIN."
My Invention is applicable both to bottles closed by self acting stoppers and
also to those closed by corks.
Heretofore the machines or racks used for filling the bottles closed by selfacting
stoppers have been so constructed that two separate operations were required to
hold the bottle in its place, and to introduce an air tube into the bottle, which air
tube also serves to keep the stopper out of the neck until the filling is completed.
One of these operations was generally performed by means of a treadle, and the
other by means of a handle actuating a rack or equivalent appliance. Now,
according to my Invention I use one lever for both operations, which lever I work,
by preference, as or by a treadle, so that the bottler has both his hands free and
the bottling operation is expedited; the lever whether worked by the foot or the
hand is, by preference, made with a shifting fulcrum. The operation of syruping
or discharging a measured quantity of syrup into the bottle may also be performed
by the same movement of the lever.
When applying my. Invention to bottles closed with corks I can make the
mouthpiece of the bottling machine in, say, two parts, so hinged or fitted together
as to be tight when brought together, and arranged to open by lever or other gear
when the bottle is to be released. A bottling machine so constructed or adapted
enables me to form a mushroom head on the cork.

page_text: For securing the cork or stopper the bottle is placed in the apparatus for wiring it;
the wires, say four in number, are fed to the place required by rollers or other feed
gear, and either by the turning of a handle or by self acting gear, two wires being
passed through guides across and beyond the top of the cork, and a wire is similarly
passed along and beyond each side of the bottle neck; the wires are taken hold of
by nippers and held in suitable position with the bottle, a knife or shears cutting
off the wires to the required length. The ends of the wires are then seized by
Or instead of single
holders, which twist them together and thus fasten them.
wires a looped wire or wires may be used.
The wiring apparatus may be arranged in connection with a revolving table or
wheel which is constantly supplied with bottles to be wired, and to be delivered
when finished, some or all of the working parts being driven from a revolving
shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Luke Howard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
September 1880.
"
ROBERT LUKE HOWARD, of Luton, in the County of Bedford. IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR INTRODUCING AERATED WATERS AND OTHER LIQUIDS INTO
BOTTLES, AND FOR SECURING SAME THEREIN."
My Invention is applicable both to bottles closed by self acting stoppers and
also to those closed by corks.
Heretofore the machines or racks used for filling the bottles closed by self acting
stoppers have been so constructed that two separate operations were required to
hold the bottle in its place, and to introduce an air-tube into the bottle, which air
tube also serves to keep the stopper out of the neck until the filling is completed.
One of these operations was generally performed by means of a treadle, and the
other by means of a handle actuating a rack or equivalent appliance. Now,
according to my Invention I use one lever for both operations, which lever I work,
by preference, as or by a treadle, so that the bottler has both his hands free and
the bottling operation is expedited; the lever whether worked by the foot or the
hand is, by preference, made with a shifting fulcrum. The operation of syruping or
discharging a measured quantity of syrup into the bottle may also be performed by
the same movement of the lever.
.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation, and Figure 2 a
side elevation of a bottling machine of this construction.
A is the bottle, the neck of which rests in an ordinary socket piece B, which is
fastened to the frame D, and is provided with the usual india rubber or leather
washer for making joint with the bottle neck. The syrup and the aërated water
are introduced into the socket piece B through the hollow shank C. The rod E
passes down through suitable guides from the top of the machine where it is
provided with a head e, which carries a block F that can be adjusted to the varying
lengths of bottles by means of the screw G; the lower end of the rod E is by a
pin jointed to the treadle lever H; the pin h projects at each end, and works in a
slot d in the frame D; I is the air tube attached at the bottom to a cross head K
which slides in guides L, L, in the frame D; the air tube I passes through a
stuffing box in the socket piece B, and is in the lowest position, as here shown,
below the level of the neck of the bottle A. The cross head K is by means of the
connecting rods M and O and the lever N connected to the joint pin P in the
treadle lever H.
The lever H is formed with a treadle Q at one end and a counterbalance weight q
at the other end; when at rest, that is, when the foot is off and the weight q down,
as here shown, the fulcrum of the lever is on the wedge piece R on the frame D..
When the pressure of the foot is applied to the treadle the piece R forms the
fulcrum of the lever H until the pin h has reached the bottom of the slot d; by
this movement the block F is brought down on the bottom of bottle A and holds it
firmly in its place; the fulcrum of the lever H then shifts from the wedge piece R
to the bottom of the slot d; the pin h and the rod E thereupon remain stationary,
while by the further depression of the treadle Q the rod Q raises the lever N,
thereby through means of the connecting-rod-M-also-raising the cross head K and
the air tube I which is thus inserted in the bottle the required distance, the stopper
inside the bottle being pushed to one side. The stroke or lift of the air tube I is
regulated by the proportions of the levers N and H.
When the syrup pump is worked by hand, as shown at S, the syrup and aërated
water are then introduced into the bottle, but by preference I place the syrup
pump in the position shown with dotted lines at T where it is worked direct from
the cross head K, the piston or plunger of the syrup pump being arranged to

page_text: commence its stroke at any convenient point in the upward travel of K, so that
the syrup is being injected into the bottle while the air tube I is finishing its
pward motion. The aërated water is then introduced by any convenient valve
either worked by hand or automatically from some moving part of the machinery,
such as the cross head K. The valve U attached to the cross head K allows the
exit of the atmospheric air from the bottle, the spindle u being forced upwards by
the pressure of the foot on the treadle against a fixed block attached to the
frame, and so opened to any extent required while the bottle is being filled in the
same way as hitherto. A self acting "snifting" valve may also be used for the
same purpose.
When the treadle Q is allowed to rise the point d forms the fulcrum, until the
weight q has caused the hinder end of the lever H to descend until it rests on the
point R. During this movement the crosshead K. is caused to descend bringing
with it the air tube I, which is completely withdrawn from the bottle, and allows
the stopper to fall into the neck of the bottle and close it. The syrup pump also,
if attached to the crosshead K, draws a measured quantity of syrup in readiness
for the next stroke.
As the upward motion of the treadle Q is continued the fulcrum of the lever H
shifts from d to R, and the pin h carrying the rod E and the block F then rises
and releases the bottle which can then be removed, and the machine is ready for
the introduction of another bottle to be filled.
As shewn in the Drawing the lever H is worked entirely by the foot, but the
same functions may be performed by a lever with shifting fulcrum worked entirely
by one hand or by the combination of a hand lever with the lever H, H, so that
either hand or foot may be used at pleasure.
For securing the cork or stopper the bottle is placed in the apparatus for wiring
it; the wires, say four in number, are fed to the place required by rollers or other
feed gear, and either by the turning of a handle or by self acting gear, two wires
being passed through guides across and beyond the top of the cork, and a wire
similarly passed along and beyond each side of the bottle neck; the wires are taken
hold of by nippers and held in suitable position with the bottle, a knife or shears
cutting off the wires to the required length. The ends of the wires are then
seized by holders which twist them together and thus fasten them. Or instead of
single wires a looped wire or wires may be used.
The wiring apparatus may be arranged in connection with a revolving table or
wheel which is constantly supplied with bottles to be wired and to be delivered
when finished, some or all of the working parts being driven from a revolving
shaft.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a hand wiring apparatus; Figure 4, a front
elevation of the upper part of same, and Figure 5 a plan.
The wires for securing the corks pass from a reel or reels through suitable guides.
The wires in this case are taken to be four in number. The bottle is placed on a
rising bed and between guides on a rocking standard, and by the depression of a
treadle the bottle is raised, and during its upward travel comes in contact with a
block or slide, and the raising of this by the bottle causes the wires to be cut to
the required length, and also to close a pair of nippers or jaws, the action of which
presses the wires around the cork and around the neck of the bottle. The treadle
being still held depressed, the pivotted or rocking standard is brought forward
together with the bottle, and by this action the loose or projecting wires on each
side of the neck are caused to go into slits or openings formed in the inner ends of
a pair of spindles which I term holders or twisters, which are rotated by a crank
handle and suitable gearing. The wires having thus been twisted and the corks
made secure the rocking standard is moved and the bottle taken away and a fresh
one inserted, and so on.
A is the main frame or stanchion, and B is the pivotted or rocking standard; C is
the block or rising bed on which the bottles rest. It is secured to a rod a sliding
through a guide or guides a¹ on the standard B, and is raised or lowered by the

page_text: treadle D. The standard B at its lower end is pivotted at b. The frame A at the
upper part carries the wire reels c, d, e, and f, and other apparatus for cutting off
the required lengths of wire. The rocking standard B carries the appliance for
pressing the wires over the cork and around the neck of the bottle. The wires
pass from their reels c, d, e, and f, into a corresponding number of circumferential
grooves c, d, e, f, in a drum c³, which is rotated by handle M and gear wheels M², M².
The wires are prevented from getting out of these grooves by a friction roller
working between bearings and held in tension by the spring c³.
Then the wires pass under the bracket part A' of the frame A, then through four
holes in the shearing blade g, shown separately in front elevation at Figure 6, and in
side elevation at Figure 64, and from here the wires project the required distance
over the top of the bottle and underneath the sliding block F, on each side of
which are the pairs of nippers h, h¹, which at their lower ends have openings to
allow for the wires to be fed freely through them, and which, by their closing or
scissors like action reduce the said space and so the pressing or nipping action is
effected. The two middle wires require to be longer than the two outer wires, and
in order to produce this difference in the amount of feed I form the two outer
grooves f and c¹ in the feed pulley with flat parts in three places of the
circumference, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, so that the feed of the two
outer wires is lessened to that extent. In the upward travel of the bottle it takes
with it the two inner wires which go over the cork, the two other wires remain on
each side of the neck. A further depression of the treadle D causes the block F to
rise and the spring F1 to be compressed; H is a fixed block on the top of the
standard A, and which when block F rises causes the pairs of nippers h, h¹, to open
above their pivot h³ and to close at their lower ends, but previous to this closure the
head of the pivot h² engages with a projection on the head of the shear g, the
raising of which effectually cuts off all four wires, the shearing being effected between
the shearing blade g and the stationary shear blade E, shown also in Figure 6 in
front view, and in Figure 64 in side view, and by additional application of power to
the treadle the lower ends of the nippers h, h¹, are caused to close and to leave the
four ends of the wires gathered together and projecting from the sides of the bottle
neck.
The next operation for the completion of the fastening is to pull forward the
rocking standard B and the collected projecting ends of the wires consequently
come in openings i, i, formed in the ends of the spindles or twisters k, k², and by
turning the bandle N and wheels J, J, the twisting is effected. Figure 7 is a
detached vertical longitudinal sectional view of one of these twisters and parts
connected therewith, and Figure 8 is an end view of the twister k. The ends of
the twisters k are slightly conical and the rotation of the twisters by the crank
handle J and pairs of gear wheels, J, J, causes the ends of the wires to be twisted,
and at the same time the pair of clamps K are closed by the attendant, and the
fact of the clamps clipping over the conical ends k, h³, of the twisters causes the
said twisters to slide inwards towards the bottle (and thus suiting themselves to
the exact pressure required for the twisting of the wires), and consequently to
prevent the breaking of the wires. is a spring to draw back the spindle to its
normal position, and is a spring to force the parts k, k³, apart again.
For greater rapidity of work I have found it desirable to arrange the wiring
apparatus in connection with a revolving table or wheel driven by steam or other
power.
Figure 9-is-a-side-elevation, Figure 10 a plan, and Figure 11 an end elevation
of such an arrangement. A is the framing which carries the disc L mounted in
the bearing A¹ and arranged with three bottle holders C; L, l, are fast and loose
pulleys; a pinion on their shaft drives a spur wheel s mounted on the same
centre as the disc L and turning loosely on the hollow boss or axis m.
The spur
wheel drives a pinion 1, on the back of which is a wheel 1 having teeth on only
half of its circumference, and which during one half of its rotation gears with

page_text: another pinion 7º, and by a wheel on the same axis as the pinion & drives a
pinion 18 on the shaft 19, and by the two pairs of wheels J and Js drives the twisters,
as before described with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, the said twisting
mechanism only acting during the one half of the revolution of the partly toothed
wheel. The spur wheel 13 and disc m are mounted on the hollow axis m¹,
Figures 10 and 11, so as not to interfere with the central shaft m²; the disc L is
mounted loosely on the shaft m², but the cam m³ is keyed on the said shaft or
axis m³. The eccentric m* is keyed on the hollow shaft m¹; m³ is the eccentric
ring or hoop which is provided with two teeth mo, m². They act on pins or
projections n on the back of the disc and carry it forward a third of a revolution.
The wire feeding mechanism is actuated by rods and levers from the crank pin 8¹
on the discs on the driving shaft S; 83 is the feed rod from the crank pin s¹ it is
connected to a lever 83 keyed on the shaft o; on the other end of this shaft o is a
lever o', which terminates in a fork and clips around the vertical sliding rod o³
working in guides o³.
The grooved wheel has projections p on the one side, and by the part turn of
the shaft o the lever o¹ raises the vertical shaft o², which has on it a tooth p¹, which
in its upward stroke gives a third of a turn to the grooved roller c², and by the
assistance of the tension or friction wheel x, the requisite length of wire is drawn
off the reels c, d, e, and f, and protruded through the guides and shears, as described
with reference to the previous machine; the outer grooves f¹ and c' of the feed
roller chave flat parts to reduce the feed of the outer wires, as described with
reference to the hand machine.
To the crank pin s¹ is also connected the cut off rod t, which is connected to a
crank t¹ keyed on the shaft m², on which is fixed the cam m³ for actuating the
bottle carriers C, which for this purpose are provided with friction rollers or
trucks a*.
The mode of operation is as follows:-
:-
After the insertion of a bottle in the carrier C and the partial rotation of the
disc L, the truck a* of one carrier will run over the lower track m* of the cam m³,
and assume a vertical position directly under the wires. The cam m³ is then
caused to turn to the right by the action of the lever t, and the bottle frame and
its friction truck a* therefore come on the upper surface of the cam m³. The
bottle consequently being raised the cut off and the gathering and nipping of the
wires are caused to take place, as before described with reference to the previous
machine, a third of a revolution of the disc L is made by one of the teeth m
or m² on the eccentric ring m³ coming in contact with one of the projections n on
the back of the disc L, and at the end of this partial rotation the bottle and its
projecting wires are, while still retained in the raised position by the raised part
in 5 of the cam, brought between the twisters, which act in consequence of the
partly toothed wheel coming into gear with the wheel 1°, and thus imparting
motion to the twisting mechanism through the wheels 17, 18, and J¹, J. The twisting
mechanism is precisely the same as that before described.
A link 1 pivotted at one end to the wheel 1, and at the other to the arm 2
carrying a weight, opens and closes the clamps K automatically; the arm 2 is fixed
on a sleeve loose on the shaft 1.
A detached view of this is shown closed at Figure 12.
On the periphery of the disc L are three hollows q, into which at every third of
a revolution falls a small roller q¹, in order to prevent the disc from turning beyond
the desired point. A similar contrivance is arranged to act on a discr keyed on to
the shaft carrying the wheels 1º, 17, and which prevents the twisters from rotating
more than a certain number of revolutions.
Figure 13 is a front elevation, Figure 13ª is a side elevation, and Figure 14
a plan of an appliance for securing a stopper by means of one single wire; this
appliance would in the machine shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and Figures 9, 10,
and 11, take the place of the feeding and gathering arrangements, while the

page_text: twisting appliance and the other parts of the machine would remain substantially
the same.
is a feeding roll having a groove in the circumference for the wire to lie in;
it is worked by tooth wheels u and u¹ from a handle or by a handle direct (in case
of a hand machine), or from some revolving part on the driving shaft S of the
machine Figures 9, 10, and 11 (if forming an attachment thereto); x is a loose or
friction wheel working against the feed roll c². A suitable length of wire having
been fed forward by the feed roll c³, the two hooks v, v, on the shaft v are by
means of the lever v2 brought in under the wire, taking hold of same, and in
their return movement drawing it out into two loops, as shewn in Figure 14.
The block C on which the bottle rests is then brought forward centrally under
the looped wire; this block slides in a V guide on the part L' which corresponds to
the brackets L' on the disc L, Figures 9, 10, and 11, and to the frame B in
Figures 1, 2, and 3; on each side of the head F there is a plate f formed with a
slot f¹, into which the four parts of the wire enter; Figure 15 is a separate front
view, and Figure 16 a corresponding side view of the block F with the slotted
plates f. The block C and bottle are then raised (by the cam m³, Figure 9, or
treadle D, Figure 1, as the case may be) so that the two middle parts of the wire
are pressed against the top of the cork, the two side parts of the wire remaining one
on each side of the neck, and below the rim of same, and the cork entering the
head F; Figure 17 is a side view, and Figure 18 a plan of the bottle neck with
the wire in this position; a further upward movement of the bottle brings the
side parts of the wire in contact with the gatherers h, one of which is shown
separately in Figure 19.
The wire is gathered in the V cut of the gatherers, but during this gathering the
wire is cut off at one end by the movable shear g, which is attached to the frame A
of the machine sliding in a guide A² thereon, when impelled by the slanting lug f
on the head F coming in contact with a corresponding slanting lug g¹on the shear g;
the shear g works against a stationary shear E. The block C with the bottle is
then brought over to the twisting mechanism already described with reference to
the two previous machines.
Having thus described and ascertained this my Invention and in what manner
the same is or may be performed, I would have it understood that I claim,―
First. Performing the operations of securing the bottle in place, and of
inserting the air tube therein consecutively and by the foot, or by one hand, by
combining the parts for producing said operations substantially as described.
Second. The lever H having shifting fulcrum, substantially as and for the
purpose described.
Third. The combination of parts, substantially as described and shown, whereby
the air tube and the syrup pump are operated by the same moving part of a bottling
machine.
Fourth. The securing of corks or stoppers in bottles by means of pieces of wire
or one wire, one or more of such wires, or one or more parts of such wire, being
fed over the top of the cork, and the other wires or parts of the wire by the side
of the neck, where they are twisted together, as set forth.
Fifth. Wiring bottles by machinery in which the wire or wires fed forward a
definite length is or are brought against the top of the bottle, and cut off and
gathered and twisted, as set forth.
Sixth. Bringing forward the bottle by a treadle, cam, or equivalent, which
brings the top of the bottle to the wire or wires, and cuts off and gathers them.
preparatory to their being twisted together, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Seventh. The construction and mode of operation of the nippers and also of the
twisters for firmly and effectually securing the cork, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Eighth. The general combination of mechanisms, as described, constituting the

page_text: hand machine, and the automatic machine for wiring and securing the corks in
bottles, substantially as described and illustrated.
Ninth. The employment of revolving appliances for carrying bottles to be wired,
the wiring operations being automatically and consecutively performed during such
revolution.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Luke Howard; have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ROBT. LUKE HOWARD. (L.S.)