IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES, AND IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hugh Wright Beckton, of Dudley, in the County of
Worcester, Mechanic, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKING OR
STOPPERING BOTTLES, AND IN APPARATUS OR MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR
THAT PURPOSE.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hugh Wright Beckton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1880.
HUGH WRIGHT BECKTON, of Dudley, in the County of Worcester, Mechanic.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES, AND IN APPARATUS OR
MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
This Invention consists in forming a plug of cork or of wood, or other material
alone, or covered with cork, india rubber, or other yielding substance, and of a
wedge or conical form at its lower end to fit closely into a corresponding conical
shaped neck of the bottle, in which position it may be securely held by wire
passing round the neck of the bottle and over the plug or stopper, the ends of the
wire being twisted together in the ordinary way or by means of a clip of metal
or wire.
The form of the lower end of the plug may if preferred be that of a round or
hollow cone, so long as it is of a shape to prevent its passing through the neck and
entering the bottle.
My Invention also consists of improved apparatus to be employed in corking or
stoppering bottles, and holding them whilst being filled and wired or clipped down.
This apparatus is composed of an upright standard fitted at its head with a rack
and winch motion, working a plunger through suitable guides down on to the head
of the cork or stopper. At the foot of the apparatus is a treadle and balance
weight, and to the treadle is jointed a rod working upwards through guides, and
holding the bottom of the bottle in the cup; it is thus pressed upwards and
gripped between the cup on the treadle rod below and the plunger above.
The filling is thus performed:-Under the lowest guide of the plunger is fixed the
socket to which the tap supplying the liquid is connected, through this socket the
plunger passes; the bottle placed on the cup of the treadle rod, is by the action of
the balance weight brought up with its neck to enter the socket at which part the

page_text: socket is cushioned with some elastic washer to receive it. The tap being turned
the liquid enters the bottle and nearly fills it, but not quite, as there is no escape for
the air; a slight and rapid lowering of the bottle by means of operating the treadle
with the foot allows the air to escape, and liquid to take its place, when the bottle
immediately springs upwards again, and the tap having been turned off, a cork has
been placed in the top of the socket, which cork is now by the action of the plunger
driven down on or into the neck of the bottle, and forcing the bottle downwards
the plunger follows it, and holds the cork whilst it is being wired or clipped. This
may be done in various ways, either by means of a single wire or clip, in which
case the end of the plunger is slotted to allow the wire or clip to pass through, or
with a solid end plunger of a form to allow a double wire or clip to pass on each
side the plunger.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Hugh Wright Beckton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
March 1881.
HUGH WRIGHT BECKTON, of Dudley, in the County of Worcester, Mechanic.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CORKING OR STOPPERING BOTTLES, AND IN APPARATUS OR
MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE."
This Invention consists in forming a plug of cork or of wood, or other material
alone, or covered with cork, india rubber, or other yielding substance, and of a
wedge or conical form at its lower end to fit closely into a corresponding conical
shaped neck of the bottle. Referring to the annexed Drawings, this cork is shewn
at (a), Figure 1. In this position it may be securely held by wire passing round
the neck of the bottle and over the plug or stopper, the ends of the wire being
twisted together in the ordinary way, or the cork may be held by means of a clip
of metal, or by a clip of wire. This metal clip is shewn at (b). The form of the
lower end of the plug may if preferred be that of a round or hollow cone, so long
as it is of a shape to prevent its passing through the neck and entering the bottle.
My Invention also consists of improved apparatus to be employed in corking or
stoppering bottles, and holding them whilst being filled and wired or clipped down.
This apparatus is composed of an upright standard (c), Figures 1 and 2, fitted at its
head with a rack (d), and winch motion (e) working a plunger (f) through suitable
guides (g) down on to the cork or stopper. At the foot of the apparatus is a
treadle (h, Figure 2) and balance weight (i), and to the treadle (h) is jointed a
rod working upwards through the guides (c), and holding the bottom of the
bottle in the cup (m). It is thus pressed upwards and gripped between the
cup (m) and the treadle rod below and the socket (n). The filling is thus
performed-The tap (o) supplying the liquid is fixed to the socket (n); through
this socket (n) the plunger passes; the bottle placed on the cup (m) of the treadle
rod, is by the action of the balance weights brought up with its neck (g) to enter
the socket (n), at which part the socket is cushioned with some elastic material to
receive it. The tap being turned the liquid enters the bottle and nearly fills it, but
not quite, as there is no escape for the air. A slight and rapid lowering of the
bottle by means of operating the treadle (h) with the foot, allows the air to escape
and liquid to take its place, when the bottle (l) immediately springs upward again,
and the tap (o) having been turned off a cork has been placed in the top of the
socket, which cork is now by the action of the plunger driven down on or into the
neck of the bottle, and forcing the bottle downwards the plunger follows it, and
holds the cork whilst it is being wired or clipped. It being necessary to release
the handle of the winch (e) when in the act of placing the clip upon the cork or
stopper, a spring (p) is attached to the handle to hold it in position whilst the
cork (a) is being secured. This securing of the cork may be done in various ways,
either by means of a single wire or clip, in which case the end of the plunger (f)
is slotted to allow the wire or clip to pass through, or with a solid end plunger of a
form to allow a double wire or clip to pass on each side the plunger.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I claim, without limiting myself to these
precise details, the improvements in corking or stoppering bottles, and in the
apparatus or machinery to be used for that purpose, as herein more fully set
forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hugh Wright Beckton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
HUGH WRIGHT BECKTON. (L.S.)