IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES FOR COVERING OR SECURING BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Barlow, of the Office for Patents, 89,
Chancery Lane, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES FOR COVERING OR SECURING BOTTLES AND
OTHER VESSELS."-A communication.
Sealed the 14th November 1854, and dated the 18th May 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Barlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
May 1854.
I, CHARLES BARLOW, of the Office for Patents, 89, Chancery Lane, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES FOR COVERING OR SECURING BOTTLES AND
OTHER VESSELS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of manufacturing metallic capsules for sealing or
securing bottles, jars, and other vessels, by pressing or turning metal in or
on a lathe or lathes, with or without a knife or knives attached thereto, for
cutting or separating the capsules when formed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Barlow in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th November 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
BARLOW, of the Office for Patents, 89, Chancery Lane, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Charles Barlow, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Barlow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Barlow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METALLIC CAPSULES FOR COVERING OR SECURING BOTTLES
AND OTHER VESSELS," a communication, upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Charles Barlow, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly 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 Charles Barlow, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention, which has been communicated to me by a person residing
abroad, consists of an improved method of manufacturing the metallic capsules
or covers now so extensively used for covering or scaling bottles and other vessels.
These capsules are small cups or caps of metal, made so thin as to allow of
being readily pressed over the top of the bottle and easily moulded thereto, and
are usually made of tin. The improved method communicated to me of manu-
facturing these capsules consists in making them from circular pieces or discs
of metal, which are pressed or moulded upon a mandril or mandrils by the
machine herein-after described, and which in principle is similar to a turning
lathe. The pieces or discs-of metal are held up to or against the mandril by

page_text: a spindle, as herein-after described; the mandril and discs being set in rapid
motion, a lever is made to press upon the sides of the discs, which presses or
rolls out the metal over the surface of the mandril; the edges of the capsules
are then cut off while revolving by a knife attached to the machine; this
completes the operation. Capsules may be made in this manner, either singly
(that is to say), one at a time, or a number of pieces or discs, not exceeding six,
may be put in the machine, and all turned and finished at once; in the latter
case, the layers of metal are rolled or pressed successively one over another, so
that, when the capsules are taken off the mandril, they are tightly fitted or
nested one within the other, and require to be separated or drawn asunder..
The machines may be fitted with from one to twelve mandrils, and if each
mandril be supplied with six pieces or discs of metal, those fitted with twelve
mandrils will thus make seventy-two capsules at each operation. In the
Drawing accompanying this Specification several views of the machinery above
referred to are given. Fig. 1 is an elevation of a macbine fitted with five
mandrils; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; Fig. 3, a side view parallel with tho
line C, D, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a section through the lino E, F, Fig. 2. A, A,
is the framing of the machine; B, B, are spindles or axles carrying the driving
pullies C, C. The spindles are supported by the bearings D, D, and fitted with
adjusting screws E, E. Upon the other or inner ends of the spindles C, C,
are screwed the mandrils F, F, each of which is surrounded by a coil of wire
G, attached to which is a metal plate H, Fig. 4. I, I, are spindles fitted in
the cross bar K. The ends of these spindles, which pass through the bar K,
have a screw thread turned upon them, so that the position of each (with
reference to its distance from the mandril) may be regulated by means of a
shifting handle, as shewn by Fig. 2. Upon the other end of each of the
spindles I, I, is fitted a collar or socket L, L, made to turn easily upon the
spindle, to which it is adapted. The bar K, K, which carries the spindles I, I,
is attached to the moveable cross bar M, M, by the connecting pieces N, N.
The bar M is attached to an endless screw O, which is put in motion by the
handle P; by turning the handle, the spindles I, I, are caused to approach or
recede from the mandrils F. Q, Q, are levers, carrying at their free ends small
rollers Q, Q'; the other ends are secured to a double sliding bar R, R, to
which a lateral motion is given by means of the lever R', and a transverse
motion, or one parallel to the back of the machine, by means of the shaft S, S,
and rack and pinion S', actuated by the handle S". The mandrils F are put
in motion by driving bands T, T, which pass round the pullies C and drum U.
The machine may be put in motion either by manual labor, horse or steam.

page_text: power. The mandrils F, F, are to be made of various sizes, corresponding with
the different sizes of capsules to be manufactured, and are made to screw
readily upon the spindles B. Tho machine being fitted with mandrils of the
required size, the spindles I are adjusted so as to leave the necessary space
between the collars L and the plate H of the spring G, to receive the number
of pieces or discs H' of metal intended to be inade at one operation: The bar
R is also moved aside, in order that the levers Q may be clear of the discs
of metal. Six or any lower number of pieces of metal are then placed
between each of the plates H and the collars L; the pressure of the springs
against the discs and collars L holds them securely. The mandrils are now
put in motion; which causes the discs Hand collars L to rotate-with the
mandrils. The levers Q are then caused to press against the sides of the discs,
by moving the sliding bar R, by means of the lever R'. As the metal is pressed
out by the rollers Q', the levers Q are made to advance in a direction parallel
with the sides of the mandril, by turning the handle, S"!; this forces the metal
over the mandrils and thus moulds the capsules, the top of the capsule being
of the same size as the end of the mandril upon which it is formed. When
the metal is driven sufficiently far down the mandril, the levers Q are with-
drawn, by reversing the motion of the lever R' and handle S". The edges of
the capsules may, if desired, be cut by knives attached to the machine, as
shewn by Figs. 6 and 7, or cut off when they are removed from the machine,
which is done by withdrawing the spindles I, by means of the handle P,
leaving the capsules free to be taken off the mandrils and their place supplied
by a like number of discs, as before. Fig. 5 is a front view of a modification
of the foregoing machine; Fig. 6 is a plan of the same; and Fig. 7, a vertical
section thereof through the line x, y. This machine is fitted with a single
mandril, and is intended to make from one to six capsules at a time. The
general arrangement of this machine is similar to that before described; but
in this case the metal is pressed over the mandril by a tool a, Figs. 6 and 8,
which is held by the workman and rests on the bar b. This bar is perforated
with holes, in one of which a pin c is placed, and which acts as a fulcrum
while the workman is pressing the metal over the mandril; d is a knife fas-
tened by a pin to a stand resting on the framing of the machine. The knife is
counterpoised by the weight e, so as to be out of the workman's way while the
capsules are being formed; when this is done the knife is brought down 'and
pressed upon the capsules, by which the edges are instantly cut off. The tops.
of the capsules may be ornamented with any design by cutting or engraving.
the same on the collars L, which press against the discs..

page_text: Having described the nature of this Invention, and the best means I am
acquainted with of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of the machinery
herein described for manufacturing capsules, as the same may be considerably
varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; nor
do I limit myself to the use of tin as a material for this manufacture, as
other metal or alloys of metal may be used; but what I claim and desire. to
secure by these Letters Patent is, the manufacture of metallic capsules for
covering or securing bottles and other vessels by machinery, in which pieces
or discs of metal are held to or against mandrils, and, being set in rapid motion,
are pressed and cut into the required shape or form, as herein-before described
and shewn by the Drawings annexed hereto.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Barlow, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
CHARLES BARLOW. (L.S.)