IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SECURING CORKS OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Luke Howard of Luton in the County of Bedford
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SECURING CORKS OR
STOPPERS IN BOTTLES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Luke Howard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1883.
ROBERT LUKE HOWARD of Luton in the County of Bedford "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SECURING CORKS OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES,”
In the specification of my patent dated 2nd March 1880 N° 926 I have described
and claimed 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. I also in the said specification described
and claimed certain means for carrying the said method into effect, vis: by the
employment of machinery in which the wire or wires fed forward a definito
ength was or were brought against the top of the bottle and cut off and gathered
and twisted.
'
Now according to this present invention I have devised other means for carrying
the aforesaid method of securing the wires into effect and one essential feature of
my present invention consists in so arranging the construction and modus operandi
of the machine that the wires are twisted before being cut, and so that a portion of
the so twisted part is ready and is applied to the securing of the next following
cork or stopper. For effecting the twist I revolve the wires or revolve the bottle,
thus placing and securing the wires across the top of the cork or stopper and round
the projecting rim of the neck. The wires are fed up to a die or guide from the
reels and are brought forward with one end twisted, ready for the next securing
operation, means being provided for severing the twisted part. The operations may
be performed partly or wholly by hand or foot or steam or other power, the parts
of the apparatus being connected accordingly.

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
19th July 1883.
ROBERT LUKE HOWARD of Luton in the County of Bedford "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SECURING CORKS OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES
"
In the Specification of my Patent dated 2nd March 1880 N° 926 I have described
and claimed 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. I also in the said Specification described
and claimed certain means for carrying the said method into effect, viz' by the
employment of machinery in which the wire or wires fed forward a definite length
was or were brought against the top of the bottle and cut off and gathered and
twisted.
Now according to this present invention I have devised other means for carrying
the aforesaid method of securing the wires into effect and one essential feature of
my present invention consists in so arranging the construction and modus operandi
of the machine that the wires are twisted before being cut, and so that a portion of
the so twisted part is ready and is applied to the securing of the next following
cork or stopper. For effecting the twist I revolve the wires or revolve the bottle,
thus placing and securing the wires across the top of the cork or stopper and round
the projecting rim of the ucck. The wires are fed up to a die or guide from the
reels and are brought forward with one end twisted ready for the next securing
operation, means being provided for severing the twisted part. The operation may
be performed partly or wholly by hand or foot or steam or other power, the parts
of the apparatus being connected accordingly.
And in order that iny invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will now describe it with reference to the accompanying drawing which
illustrates three constructions of machines one in which all the operations are
performed automatically, the machine being driven by power, one machine in which
all the operations are performed by the land aud by the foot and one machine
worked partly by power and partly by hand and foot.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a plan section on line A A of Figure 3
Figure 3 a vertical transverse section, Figure 4 a plan section on line B B of
Figure 3 and Figure 5 a side elevation of the first named machine and Figure 6
a series of diagrams illustrating the paths and functions of the cams which perform
'the various automatic actions of the machine.
F is the bed plate and G a hollow pillar frame fixed thereon.. Motion is by
means of straps transmitted from a shaft or motor to the horizontal shaft H which
partly enters the lower part of the pillar frame G, and is provided with a worm H¹
which gears with a worn wheel I on an upright shaft 1; this latter works in a
step brass I' in the bed plate F, and in a socket formed in the cap G¹ on the top
of the pillar frame G the cap G' is provided with a brass G³ which can be adjusted
against the top of the shaft l' by means of a set screw.
On the shaft I several cams are fixed which by suitable connections serve to
perform the various required functions of the machine. The cam A is provided
with a cam groove and serves to twist the wires, the cam B has an upper and a
lower can surface and serves to cut the wire when twisted. The cams C and D
which are formed on the top and bottom of the same rim casting serve to operate

page_text: the pliers which at certain intervals advance, grip the end of the twisted wire
where it has been severed by the previous cutting operation, pull it across the top
of the bottle and then release it. The cam E serves to raise the bottle and to
depress the wired bottle and to kick it off its rest, and discharge it out of the
machine. A complete set or series of the aforesaid operations is performed twice
in every revolution of the vertical shaft I'. The diagrams Figure 6 illustrate the
paths or forms of the cams and also indicate their functions.
The various cam connections and parts operated thereby or in connection
therewith are as follows. The grooved cam A operates a bowl a' which is mounted
on a rack a' that is guided between the guides a³ on the pillar frame G. The
rack a² gears with the pinion at which is fixed on a shaft a working in bearings
on the outside of the pillar frame G. On the shaft a' is also fixed a tooth wheel a
which by tooth gear a aª and a transmits the motion to a disc a fixed on the
same spindle as as the pinion aº. The disc al carries on its outer face four reels all
containing the wire for wiring the bottle corks. The spindle a¹² is mounted in
bearings on the pillar frame G, and forms the guide for the wires, it is for this
purpose formed with four tapering holes longitudinally through it and with a
rounded outer head a3 as shown in section at Figure 4. For guiding the wires
from the reels all to the holes through the spindle a" for taking the curl out of
the wires and for exerting a certain amount of tension on them as opposed to the
pull exerted on their other ends when the pliers pull them through the spindle a¹³
I provide the disc al with three rings n made of stout wire and held in four
uprights N Figure 4. The four wires from the reels are threaded in and out
between the rings n.
The cam B operates the shears b' for cutting off a piece of twisted wire the
bowls 62 on the back legs of the shears working on the upper and lower cam
surface of the cam B.
The cam C operates to reciprocate the slide c¹ working in guides c² and carrying
the fulcrum pivot c³ of the pliers c. These latter are at their front ends forined
suitably for taking hold of or gripping the twisted end of the wires to carry them
along across the top of the bottle as required, while the back ends of the pliers cª
are connected to the knuckle joint levers d'. The slide c¹ is jointed to the lever c³
which is fixed on the weigh shaft c that works in the boss c fixed on the pillar
frame G, and enters the latter where it is provided with a weighted lever c which
carries a bowl c. working on the cam C.
The knuckle joint levers d' are operated from the cam D and are for this purpose
jointed to a rod working in guides on a bracket d' which is fixed on the
pillar frame G. The rod d is connected to a lever d³ fixed on a weighted shaft dª
working in the boss of a bracket a fixed to the pillar G the other end of the
shaft de enters the pillar G and is provided with a bowl d³ working on the
cam D.
The cam E operates the concave block e' serving as a rest for the battle to stand
on while being wired. The rest e' is carried by a helical spring e' which is placed
on the bracket e³ working in guides on the pillar G; the spring serves to
accommodate bottles of different length; the rest e' is hollowed out sloping on
one side as shown in dotted lines at Figure 1. It is fixed on a stem c³ which is
guided in a boss on the bracket e; this latter is provided with a bowl e' which
operates on the upper surface of the cam E. e is a guard against which the side
of the battle rests as is a crutch adjustably fixed on a weighted levere which
serves to push the bottle off its rest el when wired the lever e turns on a pin e¹º
which is on the bracket e³ and has a nose e". When the bracket e³ is depressed
the nuse e comes against the tappet e on the pillar frame G and is thereby tilted
and its upper end pushed against the lower part of the bottle thus discharging it
lown the shoot L
This latter is by a pin jointed to the bracket which can be adjusted in
position on the pillar G. M is a stop against which the bottle is raised and which
an be adjusted by a screw m¹, and hand wheel m³..

page_text: "
The mode of operation of the machine is as follows:-The parts are at first in
the position shown at Figure 1, with a short twisted end of the four wires pro-
truding beyond the outer rounded head a¹³ of the guiding and twisting spindle a".
The pliers care by the cam C advanced towards the head a¹s and then by tho
cam D caused to close upon and grip the twisted wire end. The cam. C then 5
returns them to their original position, dragging the four wires along with them
pulling them off the four reels a" and through the wire straightening appliance N n.
A corked bottle is now placed on the rest e¹ the cam E raises the bracket e³ with
rest e¹ and the bottle thereon hard up against the stop M, whereby a further length of
the two middle wires passing across the top of the cork is pulled out of the guide
spindle a through the wire straightening appliance Nn and. off the two
corresponding wire reels a". The cam C now causes the pliers to open thus
releasing the twisted forward end of the wires. While the bottle is still held
firmly against the stop M and the right side of the bottle having thus all four
wires twisted and in the right place below the swell of the neck of the bottle, the
cam A causes the wires to be twisted (but in the opposite direction) at the other
or left side of the bottle neck. The cam B then causes the shears b to cut through
the last twisted part of the wires thus finishing the wiring operation The cam E
then lowers the bracket e³ with the bottle thereon and as the nose c¹ comes in
contact with the tappet.e", the crutch e³ is caused to kick the bottle off its rest and
discharge it down the shoot L.
Figure 7 shows the neck of a bottle wired by the employment of my machine.
Figure 8 is a side elevation Figure 9 a front elevation and Figure 10 a plan of
a wiring machine worked by the hand and by the foot. Figure 11 is a part
vertical section and Figure 12 a plan section detail views of the nippers for
conveying the wire across the top of the bottle. The operative elements of the
machine are substantially the same and the sequel of oporation precisely the same
as in the first' described machine.
G is the frame of the machine. a¹ is the guide spindle for the wires and a the
disc fixed thereon and carrying the four. wire-reels.a" and the wire guide and
straightener N n. On the guide spindle a" is fixed the tooth pinion a² which gears
with the wheel a³ on a spindle a working in bearings on the bracket at which is
fixed on the frame G. Motion is imparted to the spindle as by manual power
exerted on tho handle A. On the spindle a³ is also fixed two cams B which
operate the shears b' for cutting off a piece of twisted wire the bowls b² on the
back ends of the shears following the cam path.
The pliers which are shown in detail at Figures 11 and 12 turn on a common
fulcrum and are held in a carriage or part c¹ which is provided with a handle C.
The pliers are opened by a rubber loop spring d* and can be made to close by
pulling back a handle D, having a lower forked fulcrum end and the fulcrum pin
of which is formed or provided with a cam d8 working between the back shanks of
the pliers c. cc are parallel rods for guiding the carriage c' in a horizontal
direction; one of them is at the lower end formed with a prolongation which in
the back stroke comes against the stop d³.
•
The stop M, the bottle reste and parts connected therewith and the crutch e
for kicking the wired bottle down the shoot L are all constructed and arranged as
in the first described machine, except in so far as that the bottle rest e' is moved
and down by means of a treadle E instead of by a cam. Figure 13 is a part
side view Figure 14 a part end view and Figure 15 a part plan view of an arrange-
ment for using power in connection with the Patent Hand-Wiring Machine just
above described instead of a crank worked by hand.
up
A is a belt pulley, B is a friction cone, O, is a clutch, these are all cast in one
piece ; and run loose upon the shaft D which is the same as the spindle a
Figures 8, 9 and 10. The pulley and cone are driven continuously by the belt
in the direction shown by the arrows. E is a plate which has a notch, cut in its
edge fitting the catch F. Upon the side of this plate and in one with it the scating
is formed, for the friction cone B.... G is a brake.rim, on the side of which a cam.H

page_text: projects. The catch-plate E carrying the brake rim G is secured to the drawing
shaft of the machine D by a pin J.
The action is as follows:-
The handle K secured to the shaft L is pushed into the position shown and by
means of a claw clutch M, also secured to the shaft the cone B is forced into its
working position by the lever N thereby causing the shaft D to rotate driving the
machine after say $/, of a revolution has been completed. The cam H engages
with the lever P and withdraws the friction cone at the same time the cam Q on
the shaft L lowers the lever R; and applies the brake S, also the cam T releases
the lever U which is connected by a rod V, to the catch F, which catch by the
action of a spring will fall into the notch in the plate E when the revolution is
completed.
. I
In starting the machine the actions are reversed, the brake S is taken off
and the catch F withdrawn, by the same motion employed to force in the friction
cone
It will be noticed that the movement of the lever P is nearly 2" while lever N
moves only about " this difference is allowed for by a slack action in the claws of
the clutch M which engage with those on the lever N, the lever N being loose
upon the shaft and driven by M which is fixed upon the same. The lever K is
kept in position by a stop Y which is pressed by a spring Z against a projection a¹
forged on the lever K.
In the afore described machine the wiring produced is of such a form that
pincers will be generally required for unwiring when it is desired to open a bottle.
I shall proceed to describe a Wiring Machine which produces work that can be
undone without the aid of tools.
:
Figure 16 is a part end view of the upper part of such a machine (the lower
part being the same as that of Figures 8 to 12) Figure 17 a side view partly in
section and Figure 18 a plan section. The machine as shown in the position it
would assume when the twisting is complete, the shears having just cut the
wires, and the prongs which have formed the loop only needing to be withdrawn
to release the bottle. The twisting gear consists of a ring D which works in an
outer trunnion bearing L and has a pinion D' attached thereto. A slide E fits in
the middle of the ring D and is provided with three prongs F.
....
When commencing to wire a bottle the lever A is raised and with it the slide B
which works in guides B' and carries a tongue C that catches in a groove turned
in the edge of the twisting ring D and slido E this catch withdraws the slide E
which is fitted. in the twisting ring D, and lifts the prongs F clear, so that the
pincers G may pass through the aperture H in the twisting ring D and pinion D!
attached thereto, thence past the shears J to grip the twisted wires projecting
from the guide The wires are then pulled across the top of the bottle; tho
bottle is then raised to its wiring position, the pincers release the wires the
slide E with its three prongs F is then lowered, the prongs passing between the
four wires as shown, the ring D with its slide E and prongs F is then caused to
revolve (say two revolutions) by the toothed wheel D secured on a driving
shaft D at its side this twists the wires and forms a loop M best seen at
Figure 19.
"
The twisted ends of the wires are then severed by the shears J the prongs are
withdrawn and the operation is completed. The finished loop will appear in plan
as shown in Figure 19 from which it will be seen that a loop M¹ is formed in the
outside of the bottle neck for taking hold of by the fingers thus facilitating the
untwisting of the wiring on the neck,
Figure 20 is a sectional side view and Figure 21 a plan view of another form of
Wiring Machine. The samo general description and mode of working applies in
this arrangement as in that for Figures 16, 17 and 18 except that the position of
the shears and twisting.ring. is reversed and instead of three prongs F, one only is
employed. It will be observed-that-in Figures 16, 17 and 18.the wires are severed

page_text: by the shears in the twisted portion, but in this arrangement the cut takes place
in the loop.
The finished loop will appear in plan as shown in Figure 22.
Figure 23 is part sectional side view of another form of machine Figure 24
part end view and Figure 25 plan. The general form and arrangement is very
similar to that described with reference to Figures 8 to 12 but the pincers are
caused to revolve as. well as the wire guide K. The sleeve F to which the
pincers A are jointed slides with a feather and groove through the bush & which
works in a bearing G' and has fixed on it a pinion H This latter receives motion
as required from a tooth wheel H on the shaft H' which is revolved at stated 1
intervals, this shaft also by tooth wheel H³ and pinion H' imparts motion to the
wiro guide spindle K. The sleeve F at its outer end works in a bearing J that
can slide along the bed K¹ motion being then imparted to it by taking hold of
the handle O attached thereto. The spindle B for closing the pincers A is actuated
by the lever C.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The handle O is pushed by hand across the face of the machine towards the
twister (the pincers and casing F going bodily with it and sliding inside the
revolving buah G.which carries the driving pinion H), where the twisted wires are
laid hold of by the pincers (through the action of the lever C on the rod B) and
pulled across the top of the bottle, then both the nozzle. K and the pincers A
revolve a twist being given to the wires simultaneously on each side of the bottle,
the pincers then release their loop and the shears divide the twisted wires on the
other side.
The wires appear in plan as shown in Figure 26.
Figure 27 is a sectional view of a portion of another form of machine.
A being the guide through which the wires are carried; this guide is of similar
internal construction to as a Figures 1 to 6. B is a lever working on a joint
pin C and has a roller or bowl Ď about the middle of its length which works
against the internal cam E. Upon the end of the lever B a curved steel blade F
is fixed which slides against the blade J and forms the shears. The projection or
pin G is circular and serves the same purpose in twisting the wires as the pin F
shown and described with reference to Figures 20 and 21. H is a spring which
serve to hold the lever B in the raised position to allow the pincers to enter
between the open shears and grip the twisted wires. To follow the working it
will be necessary to suppose the shear blade F open so that the pincers could pass
to grasp the wires (as described in the other arrangements and pull the same
across the bottle, then upon turning the shaft P, the pin G will pass between the
wires, the wheel L revolving twice carrying with it the sleeve K and also the
shears. This movement twists the wires and at the same time the wheel O has
caused the wheel M (which runs loose upon the sleeve K) to make one revolution,
the cam E is secured to the wheel M and by a projection on its inner surface which
presses against the roller D the twisted wires are severed by the shear blades F J.
The finished loop will be same as shown in Figure 22.
It will be observed that the movement for working the shears is a differential
one.
Figure 28 is a side elevation of a combined Filling Corking and Wiring Machine.
It consists essentially of a combination of a Macdonell's Patent Filling and Corking
Machine mounted on a pillar frame A and of Patent Power Wiring Machine
mounted on a pillar frame B both machines being driven from one shaft by the strap
pulleys C and of a travelling endless band D fitted with blocks E placed equi-
distant along its length the said blocks being constructed to carry the bottles that
are to be filled corked and wired.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The empty bottle is placed in the position as shown on the Filling and Corking
Machine at F and after the bottle has been filled and corked the lever G which is

page_text: actuated by a cam on the vertical or centre spindle of the machine actuates a
ratchet H and advances the endless band D with the bottle and brings it into the
position K ready for wiring.
At the same time that the bottle is being wired at K a second bottle is being
filled at F and on the completion of the first bottle being wired and the second
bottle filled the lever G with its ratchet attachment H again advances the endless
band and brings the first bottle over the discharge shoot L and the second bottle
to the position K ready for wiring.
Figure 29 is a part sectional side elevation of a modified arrangement of the
Patent Hand Wiring Machine described with reference to Figures 23. to 24. In
this modification the bottle is made to revolve while the wires remain stationary,
the relative motions of bottle and wire being the reverse of those previously
described.
The Bottle is held between the upper and lower part of a bracket or Frame P
and kept in position by the sliding rest Q which is pressed against the bottle by
the helical spring R.
The frame P is secured to the toothed wheel H which is fixed to the bush V
by a key and revolves in the bearing W. The hollow spindle F to which the
pincers A are attached does not revolve being held by a set screw U but will slide
longitudinally through the bush V when required to pull the wires across the top
of the bottle. The guide nozzle N and its spindle which carries the reel disc is
also stationary and is secured by the set screw T.
The frame P derives its revolving motion from a countershaft which carries &
wheel gearing with the wheel H.
From the foregoing and from the knowledge possessed by one skilled in the art
it will also be understood that the hand power wiring machine may be used in
conjunction with a hand power bottling machine or with a steam power bottling
machine.
And Having thus described and ascertained the nature of this invention and the
manner of carrying the same into effect I declare that I claim
First-The method of wiring corked or stoppered bottles by machinery con-
sisting in guiding the wires (which are twisted together at the forward end) over
the cork or stopper and alongside the bottle neck then raising the bottle then
twisting the wires together on the guiding or feeding side and then cutting them
across the so twisted part, substantially as set forth.
Second-The machine for wiring corked or stoppered bottles consisting of a
disc having wire reels and which is fixed on a spindle forming the guides for the
wires, means for revolving the said spindle and thus twisting the wire ends
together or vice vered twisting the bottle while the guide spindle remains stationary,
pincers for gripping the wire ends with means for opening and shutting tho
pincers and for pulling the wires over the bottle stopper or cork and by the side
of the bottle neck, a rest to receive the bottle with means for moving said rest up
and down, a stop against which the bottle stopper or cork is pressed, and shears
for cutting the twisted wires, with means for actuating said shears, all substantially
as described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Third: The automatic bottle wiring machine illustrated by Figures 1 to 7
consisting mainly of the periodically revolved wire guide spindle a" a" with wire
reels all the periodically opening and shutting shears b', the periodically recipro-
cating and opening and shutting shears cl cc, the periodically rising and falling
bottle rest ee with stop M; bottle discharging appliance es el ela and shoot L,
the several aforesaid working parts being actuated from cams A, B, C, D and E on
a continuously revolved shaft I' substantially as set forth.
Fourth-The bottle wiring machine worked by the hand and by a foot treadle,
illustrated by Figures 8 to 12 consisting mainly of the wire guide spindle a¹² als
with wire reels a", the shears c' ccc, the bottle rest ¹ with stop M, bottle
discharging appliance es elle and shoot L, the several aforesaid working parts
being actuated by the crank handle A, the cams B, the jointed handle D the rigid

page_text: handle C. and the treadle E substantially, as set forth, also the modification;
described with 'reference to Figures 13, 14 and 15. in which the wire twisting, and
shearing operations are as required performed automatically from a continuously
revolving belt pulley A and: friction cone B by means of clutch C, wire guide
spindle D with wire roels, notched plate E, catch F, brake rim G and' brako S
unclutching lever P, and cams HQ and T substantially as set forth.
Fifth The bottle. wiring machino illustrated by Figures 16 to 27 consisting
partly of the same parts as that described with reference to Figures 7 to 12 but
having an arrangement for producing a loop on the bottle. neck wire substantially
as set forth.
Sixth-The combination of parts forming the, combined filling corking and
wiring machine substantially as described with reference to. Figure 28.
Seventh-The bottle wiring machine illustrated by Figure 29 consisting partly.
of the same parts as that described with; reference to Figures 7 to 12 and 23 to 25,
but in which the bottle is revolved for twisting the wires substantially as set
forth.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Luke Howard have hereunto set my hand
and seal this sixteenth day of July 'in 'the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
i