IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathan Thompson, of 1, Abbey Gardens, St.
John's Wood, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES,
AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE."
Sealed the 2nd June 1866, and dated the 1st January 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nathan Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st January 186*.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND
OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
stoppers for bottles and other articles, and in machinery employed in such
manufacture. For these purposes I construct stoppers of compressed wood
rendered hollow or tubular. The wood of the osier or willow is preferred,
though other classes of wood may be employed. Each stopper has a metal
cap or head, as well as a stop or check to regulate the distance to which the
[Price 8d.1

page_text: stopper is to enter the mouth of a bottle or other article. By these means
stoppers are formed which by reason of the nature of the substance employed
and in consequence of the stoppers being hollow can yield when entering
bottles or other articles, whilst any moisture or pressure on the interior of the
bottles or other articles will expand the stoppers and cause them to retain
their positions securely. When using the wood of the osier or willow, I prefer
to employ it when of about two years' growth. The bark is removed and the
wood is then cut into lengths suitable to form the stoppers desired. These
lengths of wood are compressed by being forced into or through dies or die
plates, by which each length of wood is compressed to the desired extent, and
although this part of the process may be accomplished by a fly or other press,
I prefer to employ a machine constructed in the following manner-The
lengths of wood to be compressed are fed into a hopper or holder capable of
receiving several lengths; this hopper or holder conducts each of the said
lengths of wood into position to be acted on by a plunger, which forces it into
a die or orifice of a size suitable to produce the desired amount of compression.
The plunger of the machine works in suitable guides and is actuated by a
crank and connecting rod. Each length of wood is discharged in succession
from the die or die plate by means of the length of wood next to be com-
pressed. It is preferred to construct these machines double acting in such
manner that whilst one plunger is acting to compress a length of wood the
other plunger shall retire. In some cases these machines are constructed
with instruments to eject the lengths of wood after they have beencompressed,
and instead of employing a hopper or holder to. feed the lengths of wood to
the machine, I feed such lengths of wood by hand. After the lengths of
wood have been compressed as described they are bored out to any desired
extent, but short of the whole length by which hollow cylinders are produced,
cach closed at one end; this boring out may be effected by any convenient
means. I,however, prefer to employ a machine having a drill or boring instru-
ment actuated by a belt from a suitable shaft; this drill or boring instrument
is moved up to its work by means of a pawl or driver actuated by a crank,
and is withdrawn from the length of wood operated on by means of a
spring which comes into action when the pawl or driver has been released
(from the shaft of the drill or boring instrument) by a fixed incline,
which throws it out of contact. The length of wood to be bored is
held in a suitable position by means of a holding instrument, one half of
which is fixed, whilst the other half is caused to move on suitable guides
au is worked by one end of a lever which is acted on by a cam on the
main shaft of the machine in such manner that a length of wood may be held

page_text: Each
firmly when placed in position between the two parts of the holder.
length of wood after it has been bored is ejected from the holder by an instru-
ment or finger which is acted on by a lever, one end of which is operated by a
cam in one direction, whilst a spring operates it in the other direction. It is
preferred that these machines should be double acting, one cutter being in
the act of boring a length of wood whilst the other is retiring. Or instead of
employing a self-acting boring machine of the character described, I some-
times employ a machine having a boring tool mounted in the end of a spindle,
to which rotary motion is given by a belt or strap from a suitable shaft, and
which is capable of being brought to its work by means of a lever handle.
The piece of wood is placed in a holding instrument, one half of which is
fixed to the framing of the machine; the other half of the holding instrument
moves on suitable guides and is forced up by means of a treadle to hold a
length of wood when being bored. Each part of the holding instrument has
a stop applied thereto to prevent the length of wood being forced too far in
either direction; a weight or spring is used to open the holding instrument,
and thereby release the length of wood. The closed or solid end of each
length of wood is coated on the outside with a waterproofing composition or
cement consisting of bees-wax and shellac by preference, with a little red ochre
or pitch, but other waterproofing cement may be employed. Each hollow
cylinder of compressed wood has then a metal head or cover formed thereon
in the following manner :- For these purposes discs of thin sheet metal,
generally of tinned iron or tin plate of a circular form having serrated edges,
are stamped or cut out of a sheet of metal. These discs are turned up or
and plunger such as are used
The cup after the teeth have
raised into the form of a cup by means of a die
in forming serrated collets for covered buttons.
been turned slightly inwards is placed over the solid end of the wooden
cylinder which is placed in a die; a hollow plunger, the acting end of which is
formed somewhat conical, then comes into action and presses the teeth further
inwards. A serrated collar, collet, or check ring is next put on to the wood
below the metal cup or cover above described, and is fixed securely by a die
and plunger, the teeth of the cup or cover and of the collar, collet, or check
ring being forced into the wood. The opposite end of the wooden cylinder is
then slightly bevilled or chamfered by a revolving cutter in order that it may
be capable of readily entering the mouth of a bottle or other article. In place
of boring each length of compressed wood only partly through, each length
may be bored through from end to end, in which case each length of wood is
plugged or stopped at one end by a wood plug, which may simply close
the end and the stopper finished as above described, or it may be formed

page_text: in such manner as to produce an enlarged or flanged end to the stopper.
These are cut from a board by meaus of two revolving cutters, one of which
bores a hole of the proper diameter to receive one end of the tube, the other
cutter then removes the ring from the board; a spring ejector acts in the
return motion of the cutters to force out the ring of wood from the cutters.
The ring of wood is covered with a metal head or cup, waterproof cement
being employed to render the end waterproof. When closing one end of
each length of wood which has been bore I completely through a number of
circular discs or plugs of wood are fed into a trough or holder, and a number
of hollow cylinders ofcompressed wood are placed in another trough or holder
in such manner that the lowest disc or plug in the one trough or holder is
opposite to a plunger, and at the same time is also opposite to one end of a
hollow compressed wooden cylinder supported in one of the hollows or
chambers of a wheel. This supporting wheel has a step-by-step rotary notion
given to it by means of a pawl or driver which acts upon a ratchet wheel
fixed on its axis. This pawl or driver is connected to one end of a lever, the
other end of which is acted upon by a suitable cam, and a spring is used to
keep the end of the lever up to the cam. The punch or plunger which forces
up the plug is acted upon by means of an eccentric fixed to the main or
driving axis. It is preferred for the sake of economy to construct this machine
double, so that two punches or plungers may be operated or worked by means
of one eccentric. In some cases when employing other descriptions of wood
an external covering of waterproof cement or other suitable material, such as
thin cork or shammy leather, is employed to the stem of each stopper. In
some cases also, in order to economize the wood of which stoppers are
forned, I first compress lengths of wood and then remove cylinders
therefrom by means of cutters such as are now well understood. The
lengths of wood taken from the centres are then again compressed and
again cut. For some purposes stoppers may be formed by moulding or
casting hollow cylinders of gutta percha, the heads and stems thereof
being made in one piece; or hollow cylinders of gutta percha, or of paper, or
of scale board, or of other similar material may be employed, formed with
metallic heads as above described. In order to withdraw stoppers of
the character described from bottles or other articles I prefer to employ
an instrument similar to a pair of pincers; the jaws thereof are of a
form suitable to grasp the head or cap of such a stopper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Nathan Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th June 1866,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHAN
THOMPSON, of 15, Abbey Gardens, St.John's Wood,in the Countyof Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excelle: t Majesty Queen Victoria,by Her Letters
l'atent, bearing date the First day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto nie, the
said Nathan Thompson, Her special licence that I, the said Nathan Thompson
inyexecutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathan
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all timesthereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britainand Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF STOPPERS FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND IN MACHINERY
EMPLOYED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Nathan Thompson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of theirhands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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 Nathan Thompson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention has for its objectimprovementsinthemanufactureof stoppers
forbottles and other articles, and in machinery employed in such manufacture.
In manufacturing stoppers for bottles and other articles I form them of com-
pressed wood rendered hollow or tubular. The wood of the osier or willow is
preferred, though other classes of wood may be employed. Each stopper has a
cap or head which may be of wood or metal, and has also a stop or check to
regulate the distance to which the stopper is to enter the mouth of a bottle or
otherarticle. Stoppers thus formed will by reason of their being formed hollow
and by reason of the substance employed yield when entering bottles or other

page_text: articles, whilst any moisture or pressure on the interior of the bottles or other
articles will expand the stoppers and cause them to retain their positions
securely. When using the wood of the osier or willow, I prefer to employ it.
when of about two years'growth. The bark is removed and the wood isthencut
into lengths suitable to form the stoppers desired. These lengths of wood are
compressed by being forced into or through dies or die plates, by which each
length of wood is compressed to the desired extent. After the lengths of wood
have been compressed as described theyare bored outtoany desired extent, but
short of the whole length by which hollow cylinders are produced,eachclosed
at one end. The closed or solid end of each length of wood is then coated on
the outside with a waterproofing compositionorcementconsisting of bees-wax
and shellac by preference, with a little red ochre or pitch, but other water-
proofing cement may be employed. Each hollow cylinder of compressed wood
has then a metal head or cover formed thereon. The opposite end of the
wooden cylinder is then slightly bevilled or chamfered by a revolving cutter,
in order that it may be capable of readily entering the mouth of the bottle
or other article. In place of each length of compressed wood being bored
only partly through, each length may be bored through from end to end, in
which case each length of wood is plugged or stopped at one end by a wood
plug. The wooden plug may simply close the end of the tubular length
of wood, and the length of wood be afterwards finished into a stopper in
the manner above described, or the wooden plug may be formed in such
mauner as to produce an enlarged or flanged end to the stopper. In some
cases when employing other descriptions of wood an external covering of
waterproof cement or other suitable material, such as thin cork or shammy
leather, is given to the stem of each stopper. In some cases also, in order to
economize the wood of which stoppers are formed, I first compress lengths
of wood and then remove cylinders therefrom by means of cutters such
as are now well understood. The lengths of wood taken from the centres are
then again compressed and again cut.
In order to withdraw stoppers of the character described from bottles or
other articles I prefer to employ an instrument similar to a pair of pincers;
the jaws thereof are of a form suitable to grasp the head or cap of such a
stopper.
The Drawings hereunto annexed show arrangements of machinery suitable
for manufacturing stoppers such as areabovedescribed; otherarrangementsor
machinery may, however, be employed for this purpose. A finished hollow
wooden stopper fitted with a metal head is shown at Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Figure 1 represents a sideview; Figure 2 a longitudinal section, and Figures

page_text: b
3 and 4 two end views of the stopper. a is the hollow cylindrical portion
of the stopper, 6 is the metal stop or check to regulate the distance to which
the stopper is to enter the mouth of a bottle or other article, and cis the metal
cap or head.
In order to compress the lengths of wood,a fly or other press may be used,
but I prefer to employ a machine constructed in the following manner:-The
lengths of wood to be compressed are fed into a hopper or holder capable of
receiving several lengths; this hopper or holder conducts each of the said
lengths of wood into position to be acted on by a plunger, which forces it into
a die or orifice of a size suitable to produce thedesired amount of compression.
The plunger of the machine works in suitable guides and is actuated by a
crank and connecting rod. Each length of wood is discharged in succession
from the die or die plate by means of the length of wood next to be com-
pressed. It is preferred to construct these machines double acting in such
manner that whilst one plunger is acting to compress a length of wood the
other plunger shall retire. Figure 5 is a side view partly in section, and
Figure 6 is a plan of a machine thus arranged. b are two hoppers into which
the lengths of wood to be compressed are fed; at the bottom of each
hopper there are openings in order that the lengths of wood mayin succession
be forced out by a plunger and caused to pass through a die or orifice d, the
mouth of which is slightly conical in order that the lengths of wood may
readily enter. After the plunger has moved back another length of wood
descends to the bottom of the hopper and so comes opposite the end of the
plunger, and at the next forward movement the plunger forces it into the die,
and in so doing ejects from the die the length of wood previously compressed
within it. The plungers c are connected together by the link e, and they have
a to-and-fro motion given to them by a link el, which connects them to the
crank f. The crank fis fixed on the shaft g, on which is a toothed wheel h,
which receives motion from the shaft i bymeans of the toothed pinion i².
On the shaft i is a pulley 2, which receives motion by a strap or band from
a steam engine or other suitable power. By thus connecting together
two plungers, one plunger is acting to compress a length of wood whilst
the other plunger is retiring from the length of wood last compressed.
At Figures 7 is shown a length of wood previous to its being passed
through the machine, and Figures S show a length of wood after it has
been compressed; by comparing these Figures the amount of compression:
I prefer to give to the lengths of wood will be seen. In some cases I
construct these machines with instruments to eject the lengths of wood
after they have been compressed, and instead of employing a hopper or

page_text: holder to feed the lengths of wood to the machine, I feed such lengths
of wood by hand.
Figure 9 is a side view, partly in section, Figure 10 is a plan, and
Figure 11 is an end view of a machine thus constructed. In these Figures
similar letters of reference to those employed in Figures 5 and 6 are employed
to mark similar parts. In this arrangement the lengths of wood to be
compressed are placed separately by hand on rests or supports k. Connected
to each of the plungers c is a finger or instrument working in suitable guides,
which after a length of wood has been compressed to the desired extent acts
on the return stroke of the plunger to which it is connected to eject the length
of wood last compressed from the dies or orifices d. This machine is arranged
to compress the lengths of wood only for a portion of their length, and by
slight modifications the extent of such compression maybe varied as desired.
After the lengths of wood have been compressed as described they are bored
out to any desired extent, but short of the whole length by which hollow
cylinders are produced, each closed at one end; this boring out may be
effected by any convenient means. I, however, prefer to employ a machine
having a drill or boring instrument actuated by a belt from a suitable shaft;
this drill or boring instrument is moved up to its work by means of a pawl or
driver actuated by a crank, and is withdrawn from the length of wood
operated on by means of a spring which comes into action when the pawl or
driver has been released (from the shaft of the drill or boring instrument) by
a fixed incline, which throws it out of contact. The length of wood to be
bored is held in a suitable position by means of a holding instrument, one
half of which is fixed, whilst the other half is caused to move on suitable
guides and is worked by one end of a lever which is acted on by a cam
on the main shaft of the machine in such manner that a leng.h of wood
may be held firmly when placed in position between the two parts of the
holder. Each length of wood after it has been bored is ejected from the
holder by an instrument or finger which is acted on by a lever, one end of
which is operated by a cam in one direction whilst a spring operates it in
the other direction. It is preferred that these machines should be double
acting, one cutter being in the act of boring a length of wood whilst the
other is retiring.
Figure 13 is a plan, Figure 14 a side view, Figure 15 an end view, and
Figures 16 and 17 are sectional views of a machine constructed as above
described.
a, a, are the lengths of compressed wood, which are fed separately by hand
into suitable holding instruments b, b', the parts of which are each caused

page_text: in turn to descend and firmly hold a length of compressed wood to have the
interior bored out therefrom; the parts 6 of the holders are provided with
pins 3 working in guides as shown; around these pins 62 are spiral springs 63
which constantly act to force the parts b¹ upwards, and thereby after the
interior of a length of wood has been bored out release such length of wood;
the end c¹ of a lever acts upon each of the parts b₁ to force them down at
the times desired on to the lengths of wood to be operated upon, and thereby
firmlyhold them. This is effected in the following manner: -The levers c work
upon pins c², and the ends c³ thereof are acted upon at the times desired by
means of cams & on the cam shaft e. The length of wood held in one of the
holders b, 61, is then bored out to form it into a hollow cylinder closed at one
end. For this purpose a drill or boring tool f is employed, on the axis of
which is a pulley f1, which receives motion by means of a strap or band from
a pulley g¹ on the shaft or axis g, to which motion is given by a steam engine
or other suitable power. The drills or boring instruments are at the times
desired caused to approach the lengths of wood to be operated upon by means
of pawls or drivers acting upon projections on the slides i, in one end of
each of which the shafts fx of the boring tools turn. The pawls or drivers h
are connected to and operated by crank pins h¹, fixed in the sides of the cams
or tappets; the parts of the holding instruments are each provided with a
projection or stop 64, against which the length of wood to be operated upon is
pressed in order that the boring tools f may bore out the lengths of wood to
the depth desired. When the drills or boring tools f have advanced to their
work to the desired extent the pawls or drivers are acted upon by fixed
inclines k, carried by the standards 1, to release them from the projection i¹; a
spring then acts to draw back the bar i and with it the drill or boring
instrument f, from its work; the projections 64 also act to prevent the boring
tools drawing with them in their backward motion the lengths of wood
operated upon; a finger or instrument m then acts to eject the length of
wood last operated upon from the lower part of the holding instrument b.
This finger or instrument is fixed near one end of a rod or bar m¹ working in
suitable guides as shown; the other end of the rod or bar m¹ is piu-jointed to
a lever m², which turns upon a centre m³, and is acted upon by a cam j to
hold the finger or instrument m back and prevent its acting upon the
length of wood whilst the drill or boring tool is acting upon it; but when a
drill or boring tool has retired from its work the cam j allows the spring m
to force the finger or instrument me towards the length of wood to eject it
from the holder b. Motion is communicated to the cam shaft e from the

page_text: shaft or axis y in the following manner:-On the shaft or axis y is a pulley g²,
from which a strap or band passes to a pulley n¹ on the axis n, which by a
toothed pinion thereon gives motion to the toothed wheel e¹ on the cam
shaft e. Or instead of employing a self-acting boring machine of the
character described 1 sometimes employ a machine having a boring tool
mounted in the end of a spindle, to which rotary motion is given by a belt or
strap from a suitable shaft, and which is capable of being brought to its work
by means of a lever handle. The piece of wood is placed in a holding
instrument, one half of which is fixed to the framing of the machine; the
other half of the holding instrument moves on suitable guides and is forced
up by means of a treadle to hold a length of wood when being bored. Each
part of the holding instrument has a stop applied thereto to prevent the
length of wood being forced too far in either direction; a weight or spring
is used to open the holding instrument, and thereby release the length of
wood.
Figure 18 is a plan, Figure 19 a side view, and Figure 20. an end view
of a machine arranged as above described. Each length of wood to be
operated upon by the drill or boring tool a is placed separately by hand in
the opening between the parts b, b', of the holding instrument, the part b
thereof being fixed to the bed plate of the machine, whilst the part b¹ is
capable of sliding on guide rods 2 carried by the part b; and when desired to
hold a length of wood between the parts b, 61, the treadle c is depressed by
the foot of the attendant, thereby forcing the part of the holder up to the
part b, and firmly bolding a length of wood between them; a weight d acts to
separate the part 1 from the part 6 of the holder, and thereby release the
length of wood operated upon when the foot of the operator ceases to act
upon the treadle c. The drill or boring instrument a is carried in the end of
a shaft or axis a', which is capable of sliding in suitable bearings as shown,
and receives rotary motion by a strap or band acted upon by any suitable
power passing around the pulley a². The drill or boring instrument is
forced up to its work by the attendant acting upon the lever handle a³, whilst
a spiral or other suitable spring a constantly acts with a tendency to with-
drawthe drill or boring instrument a from its work; 63,04, are stops to prevent
the lengths of wood being forced too far in either direction. Before applying
the metal head to the closed or solid end of each length of wood, the closed or
solid end is coated on the outside with a waterproofing composition or cement
consisting of bees-wax and shellac by preference, with a little red ochre or
pitch, but other waterproofing cement may be employed. Each hollow

page_text: cylinder of compressed wood has then a metal head or cover formed thereon
in the following manner :-Discs of thin sheet metal (generally of tin plate),
having serrated edges as shown by Figure 21, are stamped or cut out of a
sheet of metal. These discs are turned up or raised into the form of a cup, as
shown by Figure 22, by means of a die and plunger such as are used in
forming serrated collets for covered buttons. The cup after the teeth have
been turned slightly inwards, as shown by Figure 23, is placed over the solid
end of the wooden cylinder, which is placed in a die. A hollow plunger, the
acting end of which is formed somewhat conical, then comes into action and
presses the tecth further inwards. A serrated collar, col'et, or check ring is
next put on to the wood below the metal cap or cover above described, and is
fixed securely by a die and plunger, the teeth of the cap or cover and of the
collar, collett, or check ring being forced into the wood.
For this purpose I
employ a disc such as is shewn at Figure 21, but instead of forming it into a
cup I remove the centre portion thereof by a suitable plunger and die, and at
the same time turn up the edge, and after turning the edge slightly inwards
the collar, collett, or check ring is placed over the wooden cylinder and against
the metal cap, which are then placed in a suitable die; a hollow plunger then
comes into action and presses the teeth further inwards against the wooden
cylinder, thereby firmly fixing it thereon; the opposite end of the wooden
cylinder is then slightly bevilled or chamfered by a revolving cutter, in
order that it may be capable of readily entering the mouth of a bottle or
other article.
In place of the metal head being formed in the manner shown at Figures 21,
22, and 23, the head of the stopper may be formed in the manner shewn in
the sectional view, Figure 24. In this Figure a is the hollow cylinder of
wood;
b is a thin disc of wood placed above the closed end of the cylinder;
the grain of this strip of wood runs crosswise of the cylinder; c is a covering
of thin sheet tin. When formning the head of the stopper in this manner the
closed end of the cylinder and the disc b are dipped in melted wax; the two
are then placed together, and a disc of sheet tin is drawn down over the end
of the cylinder by forcing all the parts through a die.
When a stopper is
constructed from a length of wood bored through from end to end I cut out
the plugs which are to close one end of the tubular lengths of wood by means
of revolving cutters. The plugs are inserted into one end of the cylinder, by
preference by the machine which I will presently describe. The closed end
of the cylinder is then covered with a metal head or cup, waterproof cement
being employed to render the end waterproof. In order to insert one of the

page_text: wooden plugs into the end of a cylinder of compressed wood a number of the
circular discs or plugs of wood are fed into a trough or holder, and a number
of the cylinders are placed in another trough or holder in such manner
that the lowest disc or plug in the one trough or holder is opposite to a plunger,
and at the same time is also opposite to one end of a wooden cylinder
supported in one of the hollows or chambers of a wheel. This supporting
wheel has a step-by-step rotary motion given to it by means of a pawl or
driver which acts upon a ratchet wheel fixed on its axis. This pawl or driver
is connected to one end of a lever, the other end of which is acted upon by a
suitable cam, and a spring is used to keep the end of the lever up to the cam.
The punch or plunger which forces up the plug is acted upon by means of an
eccentric fixed to the main or driving axis. It is preferred for the sake of
economy to construct this machine double, so that two punches or plungers
may be operated or worked by means of one eccentric.
Figure 25 is a side view, Figure 26 a plan, and Figure 27 an end view
of a machine constructed in the manner above described.
a, a, are hollow cylinders of compressed wood which are fed into troughs or
holders b, b; c, c, are circular discs or plugs of wood which are fed into
troughs or holders d, d, the lowest disc or plug c in each trough or holder
being opposite to the end of a plunger e, and at the same time opposite to
the end of a hollow wooden cylinder a, supported in one of the hollows or
chambers of a wheel f. The two plungers e are connected together, and
intermediate of their length is a slot or opening in which an eccentric g
works in order that each of the plungers e may receive a to-and-fro notion,
so that the disc or plug which for the time is opposite such plunger may be
forced into the end of the hollow wooden cylinder a, which is supported in
the top chamber or hollow of the wheel f. Each of the wheels receives a
step-by-step rotary motion by means of a pawl or driver h acting upon a
ratchet wheel f" fixed to the axis of each of the wheels f, such pawls or
drivers h being pin-jointed to the ends of levers *, which levers are worked
by a cam or tappeti on the shaft or axis g'. Springs h' act to keep the ends
of the levers * up to the cam or tappet i. A spring k, carrying at its end a
roller k¹, acts upon each wheel f to render the action of such wheels more
certain and steady, whilst a spring f2 acts upon the hollow wooden cylinder in
the uppermost hollow or chamber of the wheel f, to prevent such hollow
wooden cylinder flying off when motion is given to such wheel. The upper
parts of the troughs or holders d, d, have two of their sides formed of strips
of glass, in order that the attendant may see when it requires refilling. Motion

page_text: is given to the machine by means of a strap or band passing around the
pulley on the shaft or axis g¹.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nathan Thompson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
NATHAN THOMPSON. (L.S.)