IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING WIRE FOR SECURING CORKS OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING WIRE FOR SECURING CORKS
OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS."
A communication from abroad
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd January 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PREPARING
WIRE FOR SECURING CORKS OR STOPPERS IN BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS"
[A communication from abroad by Orril R. Chaplin, of Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America.]
This Invention relates to machinery for cutting looping and twisting pieces of
wire which are to be used in securing the corks or stoppers in bottles and other
like vessels.
Machinery constructed according to this Invention operates to take the continuous
wire from a reel cut it to the required lengths, form the loop, twist the wire upon
itself and deposit the wires so cut, looped, and twisted, in a holder in bundles of any
given number ready to be tied up by the operator and packed for future use or
transportation.
The said machinery is constructed as follows and combines mechanism for
performing five distinct operations viz., first feeding a given length of wire from
the reel into the conductor; second cutting off the length so fed in; third, seizing
the length at the middle and forming the loop; fourth, twisting the wire to form
the twisted portion; fifth, seizing the looped and twisted piece and carrying and
depositing it in the bundling rack.
I will describe the various parts of the complete mechanism in the order named.
I provide a reel or spool of any convenient form for holding the coil of wire
which is placed in convenient proximity to the feeding rollers which feed the
length of wire forward. The lower feed-roll is provided with a toothed periphery,
the teeth however not extending across the whole width of the periphery but
leaving a portion of it plain, the toothed portion of the periphery of the upper feed

page_text: roll. The lower feed roll is also fitted on the plain part of its periphery, with a ring
or band, preferably of steel or hard metal, which, as the rolls revolve, works in a
corresponding groove in the plain part of the periphery of the upper feed-roll; the
wire as it is fed forward lies in this groove and is nipped between the bottom of
the groove and the periphery of the hard ring. The upper feed roll is set on a
spindle which is set into a moveable arm which being pressed down by a spring
allows the rolls to vary slightly their relative positions to each other and thus
accommodate varying sizes of wire without continued re-adjustment by the
operator. The length of wire fed forward is dependent upon the number of
revolutions of the lower feed-roll, the upper feed roll being actuated by the lower one.
Motion is communicated to the lower feed-roll by the action of an intermittent
gear-wheel which is fast to a shaft. The teeth on this intermittent gear-wheel
mesh with a toothed hub of the lower feed-roll, said hub being fast with the lower
feed-roll. It will be plain therefore that the number of revolutions of the lower
feed-roll made (and consequently the length of wire fed forward) at each
revolution of the intermittent gear-wheel will depend upon the length of the
toothed portion of the intermittent gear-wheel, and that the length of wire may be
regulated by increasing or diminishing the length of said toothed portion.
In order to effect this I make said intermittent gear-wheel double, that is to say, I
construct two gear wheels each having an equal number of teeth and place them
The gear
together on the shaft and clamp them fast in any convenient manner.
wheels are clamped by means of a threaded pin fast to the face of the inside wheel
and which operates in a slot cut in the outside wheel. A thumb-screw working
in the threaded pin may be screwed tightly against the free face of the outside
gear-wheel thus holding the wheels securely together in any given position.
When therefore the toothed portions of the said toothed wheels are directly
opposite each other, the toothed portion of this compound gear-wheel is the shortest
length of wire will be fed forward at each revolution; if however it is desirable
to increase the length of wire, the thumb-screw is loosened and the wheels are
slipped upon each other to lengthen the toothed portion of the compound gear-
wheel thus causing a greater number of teeth to bear upon the toothed hub and
consequently causing a greater number of revolutions of the lower feed-roll and
therefore feeding a greater length of wire forward. To provide against any
backward or uncertain motion of the lower feed-roll I attach a pawl or clutch to
the frame and provided with a single spur or tooth and arranged to be thrown
against the toothed hub and held there during the times that it is desirable to hold
the lower feed-roll in a fixed stationary position. This pawl is controlled in its
movements by a spiral spring fast at one end to the pawl and at the other end to
the end of a conductor which acts to draw it against the toothed hub and by a
rider which is placed on the face of the intermittent gear wheel and which at
cach revolution of the wheel travels under the free end of the pawl throwing the
pawl back and freeing it from the toothed hub. It will be plain that this rider
may be so arranged on the face of the gear-wheel with relation to the toothed
portion of its periphery that as soon as the toothed portion of the periphery has
passed the toothed hub the rider will have passed the free end of the pawl thus
allowing the spiral spring to act and throw the pawl against the hub holding the
feed when securely in a fixed stationary position and rendering it certain that the
feeding mechanism can act only in a regular and certain manner. A pin is fast to
the frame and is provided with a hole through which the wire passes before going
between the feed-rolls. This ensures the straight passage of the wire between the
roil. The wire passes from the feeding rolls, through holes in cutters (one cutter
being stationary and the other being movable, in the tube shaped conductor which
conducts the wire to a mouth, the conductor being arranged with a lid and
supported at one end by the stationary cutter fast to the frame, and at the other
by an upright rising from the bed-plate. The lid extends the whole length of the
conductor and is arranged to remain closed when the wire is being fed forward
into the conductor. When so closed it forms a tube through which the wire is

page_text: allowed to pass as the rolls feed it forward. The mouth is cast solid with the
conductor at its feed end, and into which the beak of looping clamps is thrust to
seize the wire. If therefore it is desired to form the loop in the middle of the
length, the wire is fed forward so that one half of the length to be cut off is
projecting beyond the mouth, that is to say, the middle of the length of wire lies
across the mouth one half of the wire projecting free beyond the conductor while
the other half lies in the tube of the conductor. As soon as the looping clamps
descend into the mouth and seize the middle of the wire the lid is lifted by the
free end of the movable lever-cutter which acts under, and against, a lug on the end
of the lid. At the same moment the cutters severs the length of wire and directly
the looping clamps which may be made with clamping parts of greater or less size
according to the size of loop required which have seized the middle of the wire,
ascend and carry the length of wire back with them into position to be looped or
twisted The opening of the lid allows the half of the length of wire which lies
in the tube of the conductor to be drawn out by the looping and twisting
mechanism and carried back as described. The stationary cutter is secured to the
frame and the movable lever cutter is pivoted at its fulcrum to the stationary
cutter. The end of the lever is jointed to a connecting rod which is jointed at its
lower end to a cam-lever. Said cam-lever being pivoted at its middle to the frame
and bearing on one end a cam truck which acts in the cam path of a cam which is
fast to a shaft. The cam path is so arranged that at every revolution of the
shaft it acts through the cain-lever and connecting rod so as to tilt the movable
cutter, thus raising the lid and at the same time cutting off the length of wire.
The looping and twisting mechanism is mounted upon the main shaft which
communicates power through bevel gear-wheels to the secondary shaft which
actuates the feeding and cutting mechanism above described. Said shaft is
journalled into two uprights which rise from the bed-plate and is connected with
the driving shaft in a boxing by a gear-wheel on the main shaft and pinion on the
driving shaft the driving shaft being journalled into an upright rising from the
bed plate.
On the main shaft rests a head or frame which is is of an inverted Y or yoke
shape and which is journalled on the shaft by boxes, but not fast to it, and project
above said shaft. The single arm projecting upward from the yoke is so arranged
with relation to the mouth fast to the conductor that a vertical plane passing
centrally through said arm and at right angles to said axis of the shaft will also
pass through the centre of the mouth. This arm and yoke are cast solid and act as
a frame for the support of the looping and twisting mechanism and the parts which
connect it with double actuating cam wheels set fast on the main shaft inside the
yoke-shaped frame. The upright arm is spread out at its upper end in two
elbowed supports arranged to act as a support for a hollow shaft which is journalled
therein. This shaft by its revolution twists the wire by revolving the clamping
jaws motion being communicated to the shaft by a bevel pinion into which a bevel
gear-wheel meshes. This wheel is set on the upper end of an upright shaft which
is set in a bearing in the elbowed support and at its lower end in a support cast
solid with the arın. The lower end of this shaft bears a bevel pinion which is
actuated by a curved rack or segment of a gear-wheel fast on the periphery of the
cam-wheel It will be plain that the length of this curved rack determines the
number of revolutions of the upright shaft and consequently also of the hollow
shaft and therefore the number of times the piece of wire is twisted upon itself and
the number of said twists may be increased or decreased by lengthening or shortening
said rack. A toothed pawl is pivoted to the inside of the frame and is provided
with a tooth which by means of a leaf spring, secured to the pawl and bearing
against the frame is thrown against the bevel pinion by the action of the spring
whenever the free end of the pawl has passed a rider on the periphery of the cam-
wheel This rider is so arranged on the periphery with reference to a toothed
segment or rack that as soon as the rack passes the pinion the rider will have
passed the free end of the pawl thus allowing the spring to press the toothed end

page_text: of the pawl against the bevel pinion and hold it stationary, thus preventing any
uncertain motion of the pinion and the mechanism actuated by it. A rock-shuft
is set below the main shaft near to the bed-plate and is journalled at one end in an
upright and at the other in a block secured to the bed-plate. To this shaft a
jointed lever is secured at one end while the other end of said lever is jointed to a
link which is pivoted. This lever is provided with a cam-truck which travels in
the cam-path on the face of the cam-wheel. When, therefore, the cam-wheel is
revolved by revolution of the main shaft, the cam-path is of such a shape that it
throws the lever down toward the bed-plato thus carrying down with it the frame
(which is journalled loosely on the main shaft), the arm and all the mechanism
supported thereon, and allows the beak of the clamping jaws to swing forward and
down into the mouth and seize the length of wire, and at another part of the
revolution of the cam-wheel throws the frame and its supported mechanism back
into a vertical position above the main shaft where it remains while the wire is
being twisted and until it is seized and carried away by the carrying mechanism
supported on an upright. Two levers are provided which are respectively for
actuating toggles which close the twisting clamps causing them to seize the wire,
and for actuating a toggle which closes holding clamps which seize the doubled
piece and hold one part of it stationary while the other is being twisted. One lever
is pivoted to the arm on the reciprocating frame and its upper end is fast to a rod
which passes through the hollow shaft and is pivoted to the toggles which operato
the clamping levers, causing them to close as the rod moves away from the clamps
and to open as the rod is moved toward the clamps. The lower end of said lever
It
bears a cam-truck which operates in the cam-path on the face of a cam wheel.
will be plain therefore that every revolution of the cam-wheel will throw the upper
end of the lever toward, and away, from the frame thus operating the rod, and con-
sequently the toggle clamping device, and causing the clamps to close and open to
seize and hold, and let go of, the wire.
The other lever is pivoted to the frame, and is connected at its upper end by a
link with a sliding head, said link being pivoted at one end to the lever and at
the other to the head. The sliding head is arranged to slide on a spindle which is
rigidly set in the elbowed support on the frame. The lower end of the lever is
provided with a cam-truck which operates in the cam-path on the face of a cam-
wheel and is arranged so as to throw the upper end of the lever toward, and away
from, the frame at each revolution of the cam-wheel. As the upper end of the
lever moves the connecting link insures the same relative motion of a sliding head
on its spindle This head acts as a support for the holding clamps between which
one part of the piece of wire is held. while the other part is being twisted. It will
be clear that the holding clamps must not be in position directly in front of the
twisting clamps while said twisting clamps are swung forward into the mouth in
the act of seizing the middle of the length of wire but must allow the twisting
clamps to act freely in seizing the wire For this purpose I construct the head
which holds the holding clamps in position, to slide on a spindle according to the
movement of the actuating lever and so arrange the toggle device of the holding
clamps that when the clamps are not holding the wire there is no pressure on the
toggles and the clamps are apart and open in which position the head may be
thrown back toward the frame carrying the holding clamps back with it and
allowing the beak of the twisting clamps to project between and in front of the
holding clamps. The holding clamps remain in this position while the reciprocating
frame is thrown forward to allow the twisting clamps to seize the wire in the
mouth and while the frame is moving back into its upright position with the
length of wire between the clamps. As soon as the frame has reached such
upright position the sliding head is slid forward carrying the holding clamps, which
by this forward movement impinge against the wire on either side of the twisting
clamps (the holding clamps being provided with notches or grooves which insure
the ends of the wire coming together), sweeping the ends of the wire around and
bringing them together, then closing on them and holding them stationary while

page_text: the twisting clamps form the twisted portion. The holding clamps are operated
by a toggle device of well known construction substantially like the toggle device
which operates the twisting clamps. The connecting rod jointed to the toggles
connects them with a cam-lever being pivotted to said lever at its end. The lever
is pivoted near its centre to the inside of the frame and the other end bears a cam-
truck which is operated by the cam on the periphery of the cam-wheel; the leaf
spring secured to the frame presses upon the end of the lever near the cam-truck
and holds said cam-truck by a yielding pressure against the cam-shaped periphery.
It will be plain therefore that at each revolution of the cam-wheel, as the truck
rides the raised portion of the periphery, the end of said lever to which the
connecting rod is pivoted will be depressed thus drawing down the connecting
rod, straightening the toggles, and closing, the clamping jaws, and as soon as the
truck passes said raised portion of the periphery, the leaf-spring acts to press the
truck down against the plain portion of the periphery thus raising the end of the
lever and throwing up the connecting rod, thus taking pressure off the toggles and
throwing open the clamping jaws.
An upright rises from the bed-plate and acts as a support for the mechanism
which actuates a carrying and depositing head. The upper part of said upright
consists of a hollow cylinder with a flaring top, the upper edge of said top being
cut away on one side forming a cam. The lower part, of the upright is divided
into two supporting feet Inside of said upper portion is placed a hollow shaft
bearing at its upper end arms which project above the cain-shaped top. Between
these arms a reciprocating semi-rotating head is pivoted. This head consists of a
frame within which a double toggle device is arranged for the purpose of operating
carrying clamps; small toggles which operate directly the clamps are pivoted to
the toggle of a second and larger pair of toggles which are pivoted to each other,
the outer end of a toggle arm being provided with a threaded pin projecting
through the end of the frame, said pin being provided with check nuts, one inside
and the other outside of the frame by which the toggles may be adjusted and
greater or less pressure brought upon the clamps. A leaf-spring is secured by a
screw at the end of the frame and is bent under said frame and brought to hear
upon a link which rests in a groove on a shoulder at the upper end of the shaft.
The pressure of this spring acts to keep the end of the frame in which the carrying
clamps are pivoted pressed down upon the cam shaped edge of the flaring top
over which it rolls on a truck. This ensures the dipping of the clamps when they
open to drop the wire into the bundling rack; guide pins on the small toggles act
in slots cut in the side of the frame and serve to prevent any tilting of the clamps
relatively to the frame.
A link pivoted to the joint of the largo toggles connects them with a connecting
rod which passes through the inside of a hollow shaft and at its lower end passes
through the end of a lever and is provided above and below said lever end with
check nuts which give the lever end a bearing in raising and lowering the rod. A
lever is pivoted between the upper ends of the Y shaped support rising from the
bed-plate and is provided at its other end with a cam-truck which acts in the
cam-path in the face of a cam-wheel which is arranged so that at every revolution
of the main shaft, a rod is raised and lowered thus opening and closing the
clamping jaws. The lower end of the hollow shaft is provided with a spur-wheel
which ineshes into a toothed sector. This sector is pivoted to the underside of an
arm projecting from the upright and a tail piece of the sector is provided at its
end with a cam-truck which acts in the cam path on the periphery of the cam-
wheel. At each revolution therefore of the cam wheel the toothed sector is thrown
past the spur-wheel thus semi-rotating the upright hollow shaft and consequently
the carrying head, and the sector in the same revolution of cam-wheel is also
thrown back across the spur-wheel causing semi-rotation of the shaft and carrying
head in the opposite direction thus causing the carrying head, after seizing the
looped andt wisted piece, to swing through a half circle and deposit the wire in the
bundling rack and then swing back again for the next piece.

page_text: The bundling rack may be of any convenient form to receive and retain the
wires as they drop from the carrying clamps. It may consist of an upright piece
rising from the bed-plate with a horizontal piece extending across its top, springing
from which are four arms within which the pieces fall and are held. A receiver of
sheet brass or other metal may be slid between these arms to receive the wires as
they are deposited, and as soon as one receiver contains the required number it may
be removed for bundling and another substituted in its place, thus keeping the
machine constantly in operation. The number of wires deposited in the bundling
rack or in the receiver is noted by means of a ratchet-wheel which is studded to an
arın cast on the upright. About half the width of the periphery of said ratchet
wheel is covered by the ratchet-teeth, the other portion being plain. A feed pawl
is secured at one end to the cam-lever and is held against the ratchet-wheel by the
pressure of a spring, and as the lever moves downward the feed-pawl turns the
ratchet-wheel one tooth forward. A retaining pawl which is a leaf spring is fast
at one end to an arm of the upright and as the ratchet is fed forward by the
downward motion of the feed-pawl, the retaining pawl is slipped over the succeeding
tooth of the ratchet and prevents any backward motion of it. A notch is cut in
the plain portion of the periphery of the ratchet-wheel into which a pawi drops at
every revolution of the ratchet-wheel, and if the ratchet wheel be provided with
one hundred teeth it will therefore revolve once to every hundred revolutions of
the main shaft or to every hundred pieces of wire which are cut, looped, twisted!
and deposited. The pawl is fast to a horizontal rock-shaft which lies in bearings
set on the bed-plate. A spiral spring surrounds the rock shaft and is fast at one
end to the shaft and at at the other to the bed plate. This spring keeps the
pawl pressed against the plain portion of the periphery of the ratchet-wheel and
throws it into the notch in the periphery whenever during the revolution of the
ratchet-wheel the notch comes opposite the tooth of the pawl. As soon as this
takes place a shipper-lever attached to the rock-shaft is thrown forward sufficiently
to take with the free end of a clutch-pawl on the driving shaft throwing out the
clutch and thereby releasing the pulley which then turns loosely on the driving
shaft stopping the machine.
A safety pawl trip lever is provided made of a thin piece of steel plate hung
loosely on the stud which holds the ratchet-wheel in place and against the free
face of the ratchet-wheel. This safety pawl is constructed with two arms and a
balance piece, An arm projecting to the right of the stud at the centre and
upward and bearing on its end a pin which projects across the inner face of the
feed pawl. If the arm be pressed down the pin will press against the pawl and
force it back from the ratchet wheel, and if while in this position the pawl be
moved downward its end will not take with the ratchet teeth, but will be entirely
free from them and therefore the ratchet will not be fed forward. The other arm
of the safety pawl projects to the right of the centre stud and downward. It is so
arranged that when the tooth of the pawl drops into the notch on the plain portion
of the periphery of the ratchet wheel the underside of the tooth rides the end of
this arm, depressing it and so depressing the other arm, thus pressing the pin
against the feed pawl and throwing it back from the ratchet wheel and holding it
in that position until the tooth of the pawl is raised out of the notch, thus
preventing the breaking of any part of the mechanism by attempting to feed the
ratchet forward when it is held stationary by the pawl in the notch. A balance
piece projects to the left of the centre stud and serves to give balance to the safety-
pawl on its centre stud.
To start the machine when power is applied to the pulley it is only necessary to
raise the handle of the shipper-lever thus freeing the lever from the free end of the
pawl, thereby allowing the pawl to act and making the pulley fast to the driving
shaft

page_text: Figure 9 is a side view of the two cats which actuate the twisting and holding
clamps, part of the lever which operates to open and close the twisting clamps
being shewn in section, as is also part of the upright shaft through which power is
transinitted to revolve the twisting clamps. The lever and lower end of the
connecting rod which operate to open and close the holding clamps are also
shewn.
Figure 10 is a similar view to Figuro 9, but showing the cam which operates
to throw the head, to which the holding clamps are attached, back and forth on its
spindle.
Figure 11 is a vertical section through the upper part of the reciprocating
frame and the mechanism which it supports, showing the shafts and gear-wheels
which operate to revolve the twisting clamps, also the upper part of the lever and
connecting rod which operate through the toggles to open and close the twisting
clamps, also showing the spindle which supports the moving head and a vertical
section of the head and attached holding clamps and part of the connecting rod.
The bolding clamps being shown in position to hold the wire while it is being
twisted, the sustaining head being at the outer end of the spindle.
Figure 12 is a section on the line x, x Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a section shewing the holding clamps with their toggles and the
upper end of the connecting rod.
Figure 1+ is a section on the line x, x Figure 11, showing the pawl which acts
to prevent any uncertain motion of the gear on the lower end of the upright shaft
through which motion is communicated to revolve the twisting clamps.
Figure 15 is a vertical section of the upright frame supporting the semi-rotating
head which carries and deposits the wires after they are completed, showing the
carrying head and its actuating mechanism, also the device for noting the number
of wires cut, looped, twisted and deposited, and shewing also the bed-plate in
section, and, at the left of the figure, the upright or standard which supports one
end of the conductor, together with a vertical section of the conductor.
Figure 16 is a side view of the cam which actuates the clamps of the carrying
head, together with the cam-lever and the support to which it is pivoted, and
showing one side of the counting mechanism.
Figure 17 is a view of the counting device from the side opposite to that shown
in Figure 10.
Figures 18 and 19, are views of different styles of the bottling wires which are
looped and twisted by the machines.
A represents a reel or spool, which may be of any convenient form for holding
the coil of wire, and which is placed in convenient proximity to the feeding rollers
which feed the length of wire forward. The lower feed roll B is provided with
a toothed periphery, the teeth, however, not extending across the whole width of
the periphery but leaving a portion of it plain the toothed portion meshes with
the toothed portion of the periphery of the upper feed roll C. The lower feed
roll B is also fitted, on the plain part of its periphery, with a ring or band b
preferably of steel or hard metal, which, as the rolls revolve, works in a corre-
sponding groove c in the plain part of the periphery of the upper feed roll C; the
wire as it is fed forward lies in this groove c and is nipped between the bottom of
the groove and the periphery of the hard ring b. The upper feed roll C is fixed
on a spindle C fitted into a movable arm C which, being pressed down by the
spring (the lower end of which bears against a pin fixed in the upright
support F), allows the rolls B and C to vary slightly their positions relative to each
other, and thus accommodate themselves to varying sizes of wire without continued
re-adjustment by the operator. The length of wire fed forward is dependent upon
the number of revolutions of the lower feed roll, the upper feed roll being actuated
by the lower one.
Motion is communicated to the lower feed roll B by the action of the intermittent
gear-wheel D which is fixed to the shaft E. The teeth on this intermittent gear-
wheel mesh with the toothed hub B' of the lower feed roll B, the said hub being

page_text: fast with the lower feed roll. It will be plain, therefore, that the number of
revolutions made by the lower feed roll (and consequently the length of wire fed
forward) at each revolution of the intermittent gear-wheel will depend upon the
length of the toothed portion of the intermittent gear-wheel, and that the length of
wire may be regulated by increasing or diminishing the length of the said toothed
portion. In order to effect this I make the said intermittent gear-wheel double,
that is to say, I construct two gear-wheels, each having an equal number of teeth,
and place then together on the shaft and clamp them fast in any convenient
manner. The gear-wheels shown are clamped by means of a screw-threaded pin
which is fast to the face of the inside wheel and operates in a slot cut in the outsido
wheel. A thumb-screw 6 working in the threaded pin may be screwed tightly
against the free face of the outside gear-wheel thus holding the wheels securely
together in any given position. When, therefore, the toothed portions of the said
wheels are directly opposite each other, the toothed portion of this compound gear-
wheel is reduced to its smallest dimensions and the shortest length of wire will be
fed forward at each revolution; if, however, it is desired to increase the length of
wire, the thumb-screw b³ is loosened and the wheels are slipped upon each other to
lengthen the toothed portion of the compound gear-wheel, thus causing a greater
number of teeth to bear upon the toothed hub B', and consequently causing a
greater number of revolutions of the lower feed roll B and feeding a greater length
of wire forward. To provide against any backward or uncertain motion of the
lower feed roll B, I employ the pawl or clutch 63 pivoted at b* to the frame F, and
provided with a single spur or tooth 65, and arranged to be thrown against the
toothed hub B¹ and held there during the times that it is desirable to hold the feed
roll B in a certain position. This pawl is controlled in its movements by the spiral
spring fast at one end of the pawl and at the other end to the end of the
conductor G which acts to draw it against the toothed hub B₁, and by the rider b'
which is placed on the face of the intermittent gear-wheel D and which at each
revolution of the wheel travels under the freo end of the pawl, throwing the pawl
back and freeing it from the toothed hub B'. It will be plain that this rider may
be so arranged on the face of the gear-wheel with relation to the toothed portion
of its periphery that, as soon as the, toothed portion of the periphery has passed the
toothed hub B', the rider will have passed the free end of the pawl, thus allowing
the spiral spring to act and throw the pawl against the hub, holding the feet wheel
stationary and rendering it certain that the feeding mechanism can act only in a
regular and certain manner. The pin 610 is fast to the frame F and is provided
with a hole through which the wire passes before going between the feed rolls.
This ensures the straight passage of the wire between the rolls. The wire passes
between the feeding rolls, through the cutting holes 0, 20 (see Figures 6 and 7)
in the cutters K, K' (the cutter K being stationary and K¹ being movable) and
into the tube-shaped conductor G which conducts the wire to the mouth G³, the
conductor G being arranged with a lid G¹ held down by the pressure of a spring
and supported at one end by the stationary cutter K fixed to the frame F and at
the other end by the upright or standard F¹ rising from the bed-plate F. The
lid G' extends the whole length of the conductor and is held closed by the pressure
When
of the said spring, when the wire is being fed forward into the conductor.
so closed it forms a tube through which the wire is allowed to pass as the rolls feed
it forward. G is a mouth, cast solid with the conductor at its free end, into which
the beak d of the looping clamps d², d² is thrust to seize the wire. If, therefore, it
is desired to form the loop in the middle of the length, the wire is fed forward so
that one half of the length to the cut off projects beyond the mouth G, that is to
say, the middle of the length of wire lies across the mouth G2, one half of the wi.e
projecting free beyond the conductor while the other half lies in the tube d of the
conductor. As soon as the looping clamps descend into the mouth G and seize the
middle of the wire, the lid G' is lifted against the pressure of the aforesaid spring
by the free end of the movable lever cutter K¹, which acts under and against a lug
on the end of the lid. At the same movement, the cutter severs the length of wire

page_text: and the looping clamps d², d² (which may be made with clamping parts of greater
or less size according to the size of loop required,) ascend and carry the length of
wire back with them into position to be looped and twisted. The opening of the
lid Gallows the half of the length of wire which lies in the tube of the conductor
to be drawn out by the looping and twisting mechanism and carried back as
described. The stationary cutter K is secured to the frame F and the movable
lever cutter K is pivoted at its fulcrum K³ to the stationary cutter. The end of
the lever cutter is jointed to a connecting rod K which is jointed at its lower end
to the cam-lever K5. This cam-lever is pivoted at its centre to the frame F and
curries at one end a bowl or runner K³ which acts in the cain-path K7 of the cam L
which is fast to the shaft E. The cam path K7 is arranged as shown so that, at
every revolution of the shaft E it acts through the cam-lever K³ and connecting
rod K to tilt the movable cutter K', raising the lid G, and at the same time cutting
off the length of wire.
The looping and twisting mechanisin (see Figures 8 and 11) is mounted upon
the main shaft E which communicates motion through the bevel gear-wheels ƒ ƒ'
(see Figure 2) to the secondary shaft E which actuates the feeding and cutting
mechanism above described. The shaft E' is journalled in the two uprights or
standards E, E3, which rise from the bed-plate F, and the said shaft is connected
with the driving shaft in the boxing H by the gear-wheel H' on the main shaft
and the pinion H on the driving shaft. The latter shaft being journalled in the
upright H rising from the bed-plate.
On the main shaft E' rests the head or frame J which is of an inverted V, or yoke
shape and which is journalled on the shaft by boxes h, but not fast to it, and
projects above the said shaft. The single arm projecting upward from the yoke J
is so arranged in relation to the mouth G of the conductor, that a vertical plane
passing centrally through the said arm j and at right angles to the axis of the
shaft E will also pass through the centre of the mouth G. This arm and yoke J,
are cast solid and act as a frame for the support of the looping and twisting
mechanism and the parts which connect it with the double-actuating cam-wheels M
and N set fast on the main shaft E' inside the yoke-shaped frame J. The upright
arm is spread out at its upper end into two elbows j, arranged to act as
supports for the hollow shaft m which is journalled therein. This shaft m by its
revolution twists the wire by revolving the clamping jaws 22, motion being
communicated to the shaft m the bevel pinion with which the bevel gear-
wheel meshes. This wheel it is fixed on the upper end of the upright shaft m'
which is set in a bearing in the elbowed support and, at its lower end, in a
support cast solid with the arm j. The lower end of this shaft bears the bevel-
pinion which is actuated by the curved rack or segment of a gear-wheel 7 fast
on the periphery of the cam-wheel M. It will be plain that the length of this
curved rack determines the number of revolutions of the upright shaft m¹ and
consequently also of the hollow shaft m and therefore, the number of times the
piece of wire is twisted upon itself, and the number of the said twists may be
increased or decreased by lengthening or shortening the said rack 77. The toothed
pawl is pivotted to the inside of the frame J at and is provided with a tooth jo
which, by means of the leaf spring j", secured to the pawl and bearing against the
frame J, is thrown against the bevel-pinion by the action of the spring j" when-
ever the free end of the pawl has passed the rider j on the periphery of the cam-
wheel M. This rider is so arranged on the periphery with reference to the toothed
segment or rack that, as soon as the rack passes the pinion ja, the rider will have
passed the free end of the pawl, thus allowing the spring to pass the toothed
end of the pawl against the bevel-pinion j and hold it stationary, so as to prevent
any uncertain motion of the pinion and the mechanism actuated by it. The rock-
shaft is set below the main shaft E, near to the bed-plate F, and is journalled
at one end in the upright or standard E3 and at the other end in a block E' secured
to the bed-plate. To this shaft n the jointed lever O is secured at O¹ while the
other end of the said lever is jointed to the link 0 which is pivotted to the frame J

page_text: at O. This lever is provided with a cam-truck or bowl at Os which travels in the
cam-path O on the face of the cam-wheel M. When, therefore, the said cam-
wheel is revolved by the revolution of the main shaft E', the cam-path, which is of
suitable shape (shewn in Figure 8), throws the lever O down toward the bed-plate,
thus carrying down with it the frame J (which is journalled loosely on the main
shaft) the arm
and all the mechanism supported thereon, and allows the beak of
the clamping jaws d², d², to swing forward and down into the mouth G² and seize
the length of wire; and, at another part of the revolution of the cam-wheel M,
throws the frame and its supported mechanism back into a vertical position above
the main shaft, where it remains while the wire is being twisted and until it is
siezed and carried away by the carrying mechanism supported on the upright or
standard P. The levers and are respectively for actuating the toggles which
close the twisting clamps d², d² causing them to seize the wire and for actuating the
toggle which closes the holding clamps, which seize the double piece and hold
one part of it stationary, while the other is being twisted. The lever p is pivoted
at p' to the arm j³ on the reciprocating frame J, and its upper end is fast to the
rod which passes through the hollow shaft m and is pivotted to the toggles p³, 2
which operate the clamping levers d d causing them to close as the rod 22 moves
away from the clamps, and to open as the rod is moved toward the clamps. The
lower end of the said lever p bears the cam-truck or bowl p³ which operates in the
cam-path 2 (see Figure 9) on the face of the cam-wheel N. It will be plain,
therefore, that every revolution of the said cam-wheel will throw the upper end of
the lever ก toward and away from the frame, thus operating the rod mand
consequently the toggle clamping device, and causing the clamps d² to close and
open to seize and hold and let go of the wire.
The lever is pivotted at to the frame J and is connected at its upper end by
the link with the sliding head, the said link being pivotted at one end to the
lever and at the other to the head. The sliding head is arranged to slide on a
spindle which is rigidly set in the elbowed support on the frame. The lower
end of the lever r is provided with a cam-truck or bowl which operates in the
cam-path on the face of the cain-wheel Al, and is arranged, as shown in Figure 10,
so as to throw the upper end of the lever toward and away from the frame jat
each revolution of the said cam-wheel. As the upper end of the lever r moves, the
connecting link ensures the same relative motion of the sliding head on its
spindle. This head acts as a support for the holding clamps d³, d³, between which
one part of the piece of wire is held while the other part is being twisted. It will
be clear that the holding clamps d³, d³ must not be in position directly in front of
the twisting clamps d² while the said twisting clamps are swung forward into the
mouth G2 in the act of seizing the middle of the length of wire, but must allow the
twisting clamps to act freely in seizing the wire. For this purpose I construct the
head, which holds the holding clamps in position, to slide on the spindle 2
according to the movement of the actuating lever », and I so arrange the toggle device
of the holding clamps d³, d³, that, when the clamps are not holding the wire, there
is no pressure on the toggles and the clamps are apart and open, in which position
the head may be thrown back toward the frame j, carrying the holding clainps
d³, back with it and allowing the beak of the twisting clamps to project between
and in front of the holding clamps (as shown in Figure 8). The holding clamps
remain in this position while the reciprocating frame J is thrown forward to allow
the twisting clamps d² d², to seize the wire in the mouth G2, and while the frame is
moving back into its upright position with the length of wire between the clamps
de, d². As soon as the frame has reached such upright position (see Figure 8), the
sliding head is slid forward carrying the holding clamps, which, by this forward
movement, impinge against the wire on either side of the clamps c, d (the holding
clamps being provided with notches or grooves which ensure the ends of the
wire coming together), sweeping the ends of the wire around and bringing them
together, then closing on them and holding them stationary while the twisting
clamps de, de form the twisted portion. The holding clamps d³, ds, are operated by a

page_text: toggle devices of well known construction substantially like the toggle device
which operates the twisting clamps d², d². The connecting rod s' jointed to the
toggles connects them with the cam-lever 8 and is pivoted to the said lever at its
ends. The lever 83 is pivotted near its centre to the inside of the frame J and tho
other end bears the cam-truck or bowl s which is operated by the cam 8 on the
periphery of the cam-wheel N (see Figure 9). The leaf spring secured to the
frame J presses upon the end of the lever 8 near the cam-truck or bowl and holds
the said cam-truck by a yielding pressure against the cam shaped periphery 6.
It will be plain, therefore, that at each revolution of the cam-wheel N as the truck
8* rides upon the raised portion & of the periphery, the end 83 of the said lever, to
which the connecting rod s' is pivotted, will be depressed, thus drawing down the
connecting rod, straightening the toggles and closing the clamping jaws d³, d³, and,
as soon as the truck passes the said raised portions of the periphery, the leaf
spring acts to press the truck down against the plain portion of the periphery, thus
raising the end of the lever and throwing up the connecting rod, thereby taking
the pressure off the toggles and throwing open the clamping jaws d³, d³.
The upright or standard P rises from the bed-plate and acts as a support for the
mechanism which actuates the carrying and depositing head P. The upper part
of the said upright consists of a hollow cylinder with a conical top v, the upper edge
of the said top v being cut away on one side and forming a cam.
The lower part
of the upright is divided into two supporting feet v¹, v. Inside the said upper
portion is placed a hollow shaft bearing at its upper end the arms ³, which
project above the cam-shaped top. Between these arms the reciprocating semi-
rotating hend P¹ is pivotted. This head consists of a frame g, within which a
double toggle device is arranged for the purpose of operating the carrying
clamps d³, ds. The small toggles g¹, g', which directly operate the clamps, are
pivotted to the toggle aring of a second and larger pair of toggles g³, g', which
are pivotted to each other at g³, the outer end of the toggle arm g' being provided
with a screw-threaded pin g projecting through the end of the frame g, the said
pin being provided with check-nuts, one inside and the other outside of the frame,
by which the toggles may be adjusted, and greater or less pressure brought upon
the clamps d, d³. The leaf spring g is secured by a screw at the end of the frame,
and is bent under the said frame and brought to bear upon a link g which rests
in a groove on a shoulder at the upper end of the shaft . The pressure of this
spring acts to keep the end of the frame g, in which the carrying clamps d³, d³ are
pivotted, pressed down upon the cam-shaped edge of the conical top v, over which
it rolls on the truck or bowl g. This ensures the dipping of the clamps when
they open to drop the wire into the bundling rack, (see dotted lines Figure 1). The
guide pins go on the small toggles act in slots cut in the side of the frame g and
serve to prevent any tilting of the clamps (5, d relatively to the frame g. The
link g pivotted to the joint of the large toggles y³, g, connects then with the con-
necting rod gwhich passes through the inside of the hollow shaft 5, and, at its
lower end, passes through the end of the lever 7 and is provided above and below
the end of the said lever with the check-nuts q', q2 which give the lever a bearing,
in raising and lowering the rod. The lever 7 is pivotted at q³ between the upper
ends of the V-shaped support I rising from the bed-plate, and is provided, at its
other end, with the cam-truck or bowl q which acts in the cain-path q in the face
of the cam-wheel L' which is arranged, as shown in Figure 16, so that, at every
revolution of the main shaft, the rod g is raised and lowered, thus opening and
closing the clamping jaws d³, d³. The lower end of the hollow shaft vs is provided
with the spur-wheel which meshes with the toothed sector 7. This sector is
pivotted at us to the underside of the arm projecting from the upright P, and the
tail-piece of the sector is provided at its end with a cam-truck or bowl which
acts in the cain-path on the periphery of the cam-wheel L. At each revolution,
therefore, of the cam-wheel, as will be plain from the shape of the cam-path, the
toothed sector is thrown past the spur-wheel ", thus semi-rotating the upright
hollow shaft ³, and consequently the carrying head; and the sector, in the same

page_text: revolution of the cam-wheel L', is also thrown back across the spur-wheel 2, causing
a semi-rotation of the shaft and carrying head P₁ in the opposite direction, thus
causing the carrying head after seizing the looped and twisted piece to swing
through a half-circle and deposit the wire in the bundling rack and then swing
back again for the next piece.
The bundling rack R may be of any convenient form to receive and retain the
wires as they drop from the carrying clamps d³, ds. The one shown consists
essentially of an upright piece rising from the bed-plate, with a horizontal piece
extending across its top, springing from which are the four arms R' within which
the pieces fall and are held. A receiver of sheet-brass or other metal, may be slid
between these arms to receive the wires as they are deposited, and, as soon as one
receiver contains the required number, it may be removed for bundling and another
substituted in its place, thus keeping the machine constantly in operation. A
receiver of this kind is not shown, but only the rack into which it may be placed.
The number of wires deposited in the bundling rack or in the receiver is noted by
means of the ratchet-wheel R which is carried by a stud 8* fixed in an arm cast
on the upright I. About half the width of the periphery of the said ratchet-wheel
is covered by the ratchet teeth, the other portion being plain. The feed pawl wis
secured at one end to the cam-lever q and is held against the ratchet-wheel by the
pressure of the spring w, and as the lever moves downward the feed pawl turns
the ratchet-wheel one tooth forward. The retaining pawl which is a leaf
spring, is fast at one end to an arm of the upright I and, as the ratchet is fed
forward by the downward motion of the feed pawl, the retaining pawl is slipped
over the succeeding tooth of the ratchet and prevents any backward motion of it,
see Figure 16.
It will be plain, therefore, that, as a piece of wire is cut, looped, twisted and
deposited for every revolution of the main shaft, and, as the lever q has a downward
movement once during every revolution of the said shaft, and, as at each downward
movement, it carries downward with it the feed pawl turning the ratchet forward
one tooth, the retaining pawl is slipped one ratchet-tooth for every piece of wire
which is cut, looped, twisted and deposited. A notch w³ is cut in the plain portion
of the periphery of the ratchet-wheel into which the pawl w drops at every
revolution of the ratchet-wheel, and if the ratchet-wheel be provided with one
hundred teeth, it will, therefore, revolve once to every hundred revolutions of the
main shaft or to every hundred pieces of wire which are cut, looped, twisted and
deposited. The pawl w is fast to the horizontal rock-shaft which lies in
bearings set on the bed plate. The spiral spring w surrounds the rock-shaft and
is fast at one end to the shaft and at the other to the bed-plate. This spring
keeps the pawl w' pressed against the plain portion of the periphery of the ratchet-
wheel and throws it into the notch in the periphery whenever, during the
revolution of the ratchet-wheel, the notch comes opposite the tooth of the pawl.
As soon as this takes place, the shipper lever w7, attached to the rock-shaft, is
thrown forward sufficiently to engage with the free end of the clutch-pawl T on
the driving shaft, throwing out the clutch and thereby releasing the pulley (which
then turns loosely on the driving shaft) and stopping the machine.
T is a safety pawl-trip-lever made of a thin piece of steel plate hung loosely on
the stud which holds the ratchet-wheel in place, and against the free face of the
ratchet-wheel. This safety pawl is constructed with two arms and a balance piece,
the art projecting to the right of the centre stud and upward, and bearing on its
If the arm t
end a pin which projects across the inner face of the feed-pawl w.
be pressed down, the pin t' will press against the pawl w and force it back from
the ratchet-wheel, and if, while in this position, the pawl be moved downward, its
end will not engage with the ratchet-teeth, but will be entirely free from
them, and therefore the ratchet will not be fed forward. The arm t" of
the safety pawl projects to the right of the centre stud and downward and is
constructed in the form shewn in Figures 17. It is so arranged that, when the
tooth of the pawl w drops into the notch w³ on the plain portion of the periphery

page_text: of the ratchet-wheel, the under side of the tooth rides upon the end of the arm t
depressing it, and also the arm t thus pressing the pin against the feed pawl and
throwing it back from the ratchet-wheel, and holding it in that position until the
tooth of the pawl to is raised out of the notch, thus preventing the breaking of
any part of the mechanism by attempting to feed the ratchet forward when it is
held stationary by the pawl in the notch. The balance piece projects to the
left of the centre stud and serves to balance the safety pawl on its centre stud.
To start the machine when power is applied to the pulley B, it is only necessary
to raise the handle of the shipper lever 207, thus disengaging the lever from the free
end of the pawl T, thereby allowing the pawl to act and making the pulley fast to
the driving shaft.
The operation of the machine is as follows, that is to say-The wire passes
from the reel through the guide and between the feed rolls, through the cutters
and into and through the conductor, crossing the mouth.
When the required
length of wire has been fed forward, the feed rolls cease acting. The twisting
clamps being open, now swing forward and down into the mouth and close on the
wire, the cutter acts to sever the length and to open the lid of the conductor, the
twisting clamps which have seized the wire then swing back and up into an
upright position carrying the length of wire with them, the holding clainps move
forward, their jaws sweeping the ends of the wire together, closing on the ends,
and holding them stationary, while the twisting clamps act to twist the wire.
While the wire is being twisted, the carrying clamps, which have previously
swung into position, seize the wire, and when the twisting and holding clamps
have opened, the carrying head semi-rotates carrying the wire to a position over
the bundling rack or receiver. When it has reached this position, the carrying
clamps open and the wire falls into the rack.
The main and secondary shafts are geared to one another by mitre gear-wheels
and move at the same speed and the motions of the parts, other than the feeding
device, are obtained by means of cams fast to the shafts, and, therefore, each part
completes its motion once, and a piece of wire is cut, looped, twisted and deposited,
at each revolution of the main shaft.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by iny
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that claim.―
First. The combination, with the toothed hub B' and feed rolls B, C, of the
compound intermittent gear-wheel D and its actuating shaft, the gear-wheel D
constructed as shown to enable the toothed portion of the periphery to be increased
or diminished so as to feed forward a greater or less length of wire as desired, all
substantially as set forth.
Second. The connecting rod K', the cam K, and the connecting link or lever,
in combination with the perforated cutters K, K', substantially as and for the
purposes, set forth.
Third. The conductor G provided with a hinged lid or cover G¹, in combination
with the movable cutter K and its actuating mechanism, which also acts to raise
the said lid, and a spring which exerts pressure on the lid to keep it closed, all
substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. The conductor G, in combination with the reciprocating frame J, the
clamps d², connecting rod p², lever 1, and cam p³, substantially as, and for the
purpose set forth.
Fifth. The seizing and twisting clamps and the toggles, connecting rod,
lever, and cam, which operate to open and close the said clamps, in combination
with the shaft m provided with the pinion, the upright shaft m' provided with
the gear-wheels, and the toothed segment on the periphery of the cam-wheel M.,
operating together to cause the rotation of the shaft m and consequently of the
clamps, and to twist the wire, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination of the twisting clamps d², with the connecting rod p²,

page_text: lever p, and cam p, which operate to open and close the clamps, substantially as
shown and described.
Seventh. The clamps d³, sliding head, and spindle 7, in combination with the
connecting rod s¹, lever s, and cam 86, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighth. The clamps 3, sliding head, and spindle 7, in combination with the
link, lever, and its actuating cam, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Ninth. The combination of the clamps head 23, spindle r', connecting rods,
lever s², cam s, link, lever 7, and its actuating cam, all substantially as, and for
the purposes, set forth.
Tenth. The clamps d², toggles p³ p', connecting rod p², lever 1, and its actuating
cam, in combination with the clamps, connecting rod sl, lever s2, and its actuating
cams, all substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
Eleventh. The reciprocating frame J, with its rock-shaft n, lever O, link O¹º,
and cam O, in combination with the seizing and twisting clamps d², and their
toggles 23,p, connecting rod p², and lever 2, with its actuating cam, all substantially
ns, and for the purposes, specified.
Twelfth. The combination of the carrying head P', with the shaft v³ and its
gear-wheel, and the sector and cam which operate to semi-rotate the said
head, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Thirteenth. The carrying head P₁, in combination with the shaft and
mechanism as shown described to semi-rotate the said head, and the cam-shaped
edge v, spring g, and link g¹³, which operate to tilt the said head, all substantially
as set forth and for the purposes specified.
Fourteenth. The carrying clamps
and their toggles, in combination with
the frame g, toggle arms g³, g', connecting rod g, lever q, and actuating cam q³,
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Fifteenth. The carrying head P, and its operating mechanism as shown and
described, in combination with the clamps d², toggles p, p, connecting rod 2)²,
lever p, and its actuating cam, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixteenth. In combination with the mechanism for cutting and twisting, as
above specified, the cam q³, lever q, feed pawl w, retaining pawl w' and ratchet R2,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventeenth. The ratchet-wheel R2 provided with the notch w³, and the feed
pawl w, and its lever and cam, in combination with the retaining pawl w', stop
motion pawl w³, rock-shaft w", lever w, and clutch T for stopping the machine, all
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Eighteenth. The safety pawl-trip-lever T', in combination with the ratchet-
wheel R, stop motion pawl w and feed pawl w for the purpose of disengaging
the feed pawl from the ratchet whenever the stop-motion-pawl is engaged in the
notch, substantially as described.
Nineteenth. A machine for preparing wire for securing corks or stoppers in
bottles or other vessels, the said machine being constructed with intermittently
operating feed rolls to feed the wire forward, cutters for severing the length of
wire, and mechanism for looping and twisting the wire, combined, and operated by
means of a main shaft and a secondary shaft, so that the entire operation of
forming a completed bottling-wire is thereby performed, all substantially as shown
and described.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Third day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
W ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)