CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR FIXING CAPSULES ON BOTTLES, VESSELS, OR FLAGONS
Year: 1854

page_text: pucation for Letters Latent was not given within the time prescrived
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Valentin Henry de Sto
Marie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th May 1854.
I, JOSEPH VALENTIN HENRY DE STE MARIE, of Paris, in the Empire of
France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR FIXING CAPSULES
ON BOTTLES, VESSELS, OR FLAGONS," to be as follows:-
In fixing capsules of tin or other soft metal on the necks of bottles it is
customary to pass a cord round the neck and capsule, and to stretch this cord
tight, and then to turn the bottle round with the hand. The pressure of the
cord compresses the capsule and causes it to adapt itself closely to the neck of
the bottle. In this way the cord has to be put round the neck of each bottle
by hand, but by my improvements the apparatus is always ready to receive the
bottle.
A board is fixed in a vertical position, and has another smaller board fitted
to slide up and down in guides on the face of the first board. The sliding
board is drawn upwards by a spring of vulcanized caoutchouc or other suitable
material, and it may be forced down by means of a treadle. The sliding board
carries a loop of cord, or gut, or other suitable material, which passes over the
neck of the bottle, (which is placed horizontally,) and the fixed board carries a

page_text: similar loop, which is looped into the first loop and passes under the neck of the
bottle. The ends of each loop are attached to bars or levers forced apart by a
spring, so that when the sliding board is allowed to rise, the loops open out.
The neck of the bottle with the capsule upon it may thus be inserted at once
into the loops, and there is no necessity for passing the cord round it by hand.
The bottle is turned round by hand, gradually advancing it, so as to compress
the whole of the capsule. A cross piece is adapted for keeping the loops from
being displaced as the bottle is advanced, and a spring may be placed to exert
a pressure on the top of the capsule during the operation. This spring may be
a band of vulcanized caoutchouc, which may also serve to raise the sliding board,
as above mentioned.
Another means of effecting the same object consists in applying a revolving
disc or chuck, which carries two jaws or pieces of wood sliding in guides, and
drawn together by a spring or springs of vulcanized caoutchouc or other
suitable material.
These jaws are drawn apart by a cord or otherwise, and the neck of the
bottle with the capsule on it is inserted between them. The jaws are thus
pressed upon the capsule by the spring, and at the same time they are carried
round by the revolution of the disc. The bottle is not turned round, but is
pressed gradually forward against a moveable block which is forced against it
by a spring. The disc may be driven by a fly wheel and treadle, worked by
the foot or otherwise. Other materials than those above mentioned may be
nised in the construction of of the apparatus.