Improvements in or connected with Machinery for Pressing or Moulding Bottle Stoppers or Stopper Heads, Boxes, and other Articles from Plastic Composition.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Machinery for Pressing or
Moulding Bottle Stoppers or Stopper Heads, Boxes, and other
Articles from Plastic Composition.
I, FRANK BRIDGE, of 47, Lambs Conduit Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Bottle Stopper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with machinery for pres--
sing or moulding bottle stoppers or stopper heads, boxes and other articles from
plastic composition and has for its object to obtain a machine simple and compact
in construction and practically automatic in its action which will produce stoppers
or other articles in a continuous manner and with great rapidity.
In carrying the invention into effect, the material to form the bottle stoppers
or the like is introduced into a hopper mouthed receptacle which in some cases"
is steam or water jacketed or it might be otherwise heated in order to maintain
the material in the required plastic condition, for the operations hereinafter
described.
Arranged axially within this receptacle or feed chamber is a vertical shaft
which extends to the outside thereof and is driven from any suitable source of
power, and upon this shaft are fixed a number of vanes or propellers arranged at
such angle that in the revolution of the shaft they will force the plastic material
in a downward direction.
If desired the ingredients to form the composition may be introduced into the
feed receptacle in an unmixed state the mixing being effected by the blades or
vanes within the receptacle.
Passing through the receptacle or feed chamber or otherwise placed in con-
nection therewith is a horizontal pressure chamber which communicates with the
feed chamber or receptacle through a suitable opening.
Within this horizontal pressure chamber is arranged a piston or plunger which
through toggle levers or otherwise receives a powerful reciprocating movement
from a moving part of the machine, so that at each movement it presses forward
a given quantity of the plastic material and at the same time closes the supply
orifice.
The pressure chamber terminates in a conical mouth or nozzle laterally dis-
posed and adapted to be opened and closed by an internal valve carried by a
crank disc or pin connected with an external lever adapted to be actuated at the
desired times by a moving part of the machine in order to open and close the
valve.
In connection with the pressure chamber are employed a number of moulds
which may be arranged upon a suitable carrier in a right line or may be mounted
upon a rotative carrier but so arranged in either case that by some moving part
of the machine an intermittent motion will be given to the carrier and thus to

page_text: the moulds in order to bring them successively beneath the nozzle of the pressure
chamber.
Each mould is formed with a conical opening to receive the correspondingly
shaped nozzle of the pressure chamber and the carrier of the moulds at the desired
time receives a slight movement in order to bring the conical seating closely
against the nozzle of the chamber and thus make a tight joint between the parts.
At the same time the valve of the nozzle is opened and the plastic composition
is by the piston or plunger forced with considerable pressure into the mould.
The valve of the nozzle is then automatically closed and the carrier is moved
so as to carry the conical seat of the mould clear of the nozzle of the pressure
chamber and another mould is brought into position when the above described
operations are repeated.
Above the mould is arranged a reciprocating plunger which after the shifting
of the carrier is by an arrangement of toggle levers or other means actuated by
a moving part of the machine brought down into the mould so as to impart a final
pressure to the material and to form a stud or nib or otherwise impart a finish
to the under face of the stopper or stopper head.
The bottom of the mould is formed by a die on which is engraved the lettering
or pattern desired to appear upon the top of the stopper or stopper head, and this
die is fixed in a reciprocating holder which is preferably actuated by a toggle
from some moving part of the machine, and which after the final pressure has
been given to the composition in the mould is automatically retracted and thus
allows the moulded stopper or stopper head to be forced out of the mould by a
further advance of the co-acting plunger.
At this time the moulded article is caught by a pair of automatically actuated
fingers, the plunger is withdrawn from the mould and the fingers or holders
separate and automatically open and allow the moulded article to fall onto a
travelling band of wire gauze or other network which carries it away under a
cooling blast of air and to its destination.
The die or bottom of the mould then returns to its normal or closed position
in readiness to receive a new charge of plastic material when it again arrives
beneath the nozzle of the pressure chamber.
It will be obvious that the machinery hereinbefore described although especi-
ally designed for moulding and pressing bottle stoppers or stopper heads is
equally applicable to the manufacture of other articles such as boxes or the like,
the form of the parts being modified accordingly.
By the means herein before described bottle stoppers or other articles may be
rapidly and effectually moulded or pressed from plastic composition, and by
reason of the peculiar arrangement of the means for heating and conveying the
composition to the moulds the same is more or less protected from atmospheric
influence and evaporation with the result that the moulded article has a glossy
surface and the necessity for subsequently varnishing or otherwise finishing the
same is obviated.
Dat 1
1 100%

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Machinery for Pressing or
Moulding Bottle Stoppers or Stopper Heads, Boxes, and other
Articles from Plastic Composition.
I, FRANK BRIDGE, of 47, Lambs Conduit Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Bottle Stopper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The invention relates to improvements in or connected with machinery for pres-
sing or moulding bottle stoppers or stopper heads, boxes, and other articles from
plastic composition, and has for its object to obtain a machine simple and compact
in construction and practically automatic in its action which will produce stoppers
or other articles in a continuous manner and with great rapidity.
In carrying the invention into effect the material to form the bottle stoppers
or the like is introduced into a hopper mouthed receptacle which in some cases
is steam or water jacketed, or it might be otherwise heated in order to maintain
the material in the required plastic condition for the operations hereinafter
described.
Arranged axially within this receptacle or feed chamber is a vertical shaft
which extends to the outside thereof and is driven from any suitable source of
power, and upon this shaft are fixed a number of vanes or propellers arranged at
such angle that in the revolution of the shaft they will force the plastic material
in a downward direction.
Passing through the receptacle or feed chamber or otherwise placed in con-
nection therewith is a horizontal pressure chamber which communicates with the
feed chamber or receptacle through a suitable opening.
Within this horizontal pressure chamber is arranged a piston or plunger which
through toggle levers or otherwise receives a powerful reciprocating movement
from a moving part of the machine, so that at each movement it presses forward
a given quantity of the plastic material and at the same time closes the supply
orifice.
The pressure chamber terminates in a conical mouth or nozzle laterally dis-
posed and adapted to be opened and closed by an internal valve carried by a
crank disc or pin connected with an external lever adapted to be actuated at the
desired times by a moving part of the machine in order to open and close the
valve.
In connection with the pressure chamber are employed a number of moulds
which are mounted upon a suitable carrier so arranged that by some moving
part of the machine an intermittent motion is given to the carrier and thus to
the moulds in order to bring them successively beneath the nozzle of the pressure.
chamber.
Each mould is formed with a conical opening to receive the correspondingly
shaped nozzle of the pressure chamber, and the carrier of the moulds at the desired
time receives a slight movement in order to bring the conical seating closely
against the nozzle of the chamber and thus make a tight joint between the parts.
At the same time the valve of the nozzle is opened and the plastic composition
is by the piston or plunger forced with considerable pressure into the mould.
The valve of the nozzle is then automatically closed and the carrier is moved
so as to carry the conical seat of the mould clear of the nozzle of the pressure
chamber and another mould is brought into position when the above described
operations are repeated.

page_text: a toothed pinion eª fixed with the main shaft e of the machine, upon which is
fixed a cam drum el hereinafter more fully referred to, and which shaft is driven
from any suitable source of power.
Upon the shaft 63 and within the receptacle or feed chamber bare fixed a
number of vanes or propellers 63* arranged at such an angle that in the revolution
of the shaft b³ they will force the plastic material in a downward direction.
Passing through the receptacle or feed chamber b or it might be otherwise
placed in communication therewith is a horizontal pressure chamber c which
communicates with the feed chamber or receptacle 6 through a suitable
opening c¹
Within the horizontal pressure chamber c is arranged a piston or plunger d
which receives a powerful reciprocating motion through toggle levers di pivotally
connected to the plunger d at * and similarly connected at d* with a sliding
block d hereinafter more fully referred to, and these toggle levers are actuated
by the pin of a crank disc e2** fixed with the main shaft e through a link or
connecting rod d, bell crank lever d³ and link ³, and thus at each revolution of
the cam drum e¹ and crank disc 2** the plunger d will be caused to press forward
a given quantity of the plastic material contained within the receptacle or feed
chamber and at the same time the plunger d will close the supply orifice c¹ as
shown more particularly at Figure 4.
The pressure chamber c terminates in a conical mouth or nozzle laterally
disposed and adapted to be opened and closed by an internal valve c³ pivotally
connected to a crank pin c carried by a crank disc co fixed with an external
lever at one end connected to a divided link e fitted with a spring coupling *
and which link at the other end is connected with one end of a cranked rocking
lever 8 mounted upon an axis of motion c*, and the other end of which lever is
fitted with a truck or roller engaging a cam groove of the cam drum e¹ and
thus the conical valve which seats within the conical nozzle c² is opened and
closed at the times desired.
In connection with the pressure chamber care employed a number of moulds f
which are mounted upon a carrier g fixed upon a shaft g mounted in suitable
bearings in the frame a with capability of rotary and endway movement and the
shaft g and consequently the carrier receives an intermittent rotary motion
by means of a ratchet wheel g* fixed with the shaft g and a co-acting spring
pawl or driver h¹ carried by an arm h at one end loosely mounted upon the shaft gl
and at the other end pivotally connected to one end of a link h², the other end of
which is pivotally connected at 2* to one end of a radius arm ³ mounted upon
a centre of motion h and provided with a truck or roller h* which works in a cam
groove e upon one end of the drum e so that at each revolution of the cam drum e¹
the carrier g will be advanced the distance of one tooth of the ratchet wheel gl*.
Each of the moulds f is formed with a conical opening f¹ to receive the corres-
bondingly shaped nozzle 2 of the pressure chamber c and the carrier 9 of the
moulds at the desired time receives a slight endway movement by means of the
levice hereinafter described in order to bring the conical seating f¹ closely against
he nozzle of the pressure chamber c, and thus make an approximately tight
oint between the parts.
This endway movement of the carrier g is accomplished by means of a short
haft i which is threaded to engage a corresponding nut carried by the frame a
nd this shaft i at one end is formed with a disc or button head which loosely
ngages an annular slotted groove ³ formed in a ring or fitting g² formed on
r fixed with the carrier g whilst the other end of the threaded shaft i has fixed
herewith a lever which is pinjointed to one end of a divided link 3, the two
arts of which are united by a spring coupling 3* and the other end of which
nk is pinjointed to one end of a crank or offset from a shaft mounted with
apability of revolution in suitable bearings and upon the other end of which
fixed a similar crank which is provided with a truck or roller which
gages a cam groove e5 in one end of the cam drum e¹ and thus at each revolution

page_text: of the cam drum e¹ the carrier 9 will receive a slight endway movement in order
to bring the moulds of successively up to the nozzle c² of the pressure chamber c.
At this moment the valve 3 of the nozzle c2 of the pressure chamber is by the
cam groove e of the cam drum e¹ and co-acting connections opened and the plastic
composition is by the piston or plunger d forced with considerable pressure into
the mould f.
The valve of the nozzle c² is then automatically closed by the further rotation
of the cam drum e¹ and the carrier g is by the threaded shaft i which is actuated
by the cam groove e in the further rotation of the cam drum e¹ moved so as to
carry the conical seat fl of the mould f clear of the nozzle c² of the pressure
chamber c; the carrier g then receives a partial rotation through the driver h¹,
ratchet wheel g₁*, and connections hereinbefore described, and another mould
is then brought into position beneath the nozzle when the above described
operations are repeated.
Above or in alignment with each mould f is arranged a reciprocating plunger j
which is at shaped to form the stud or nib of the stopper, and this plunger j
after the shifting of the carrier lastly hereinbefore described, is by the means
hereinafter described brought down into the mould f so as to press the material
therein and form the stud or nibal of the stopper and otherwise impart a finish
to the under face of the stopper or stopper head x.
The bottom of the mould f is formed by a die on which is engraved the
pattern or lettering desired to appear upon the top of the stopper or stopper-
head and this die k¹ is fixed in a reciprocating holder k which together with the
plunger j is actuated by the means hereinafter described in such manner that after
the final pressure has been given to the composition in the mould f, and shortly
before the mould is again brought into position for filling, the die holder k is
automatically retracted and thus allows the moulded stopper or stopper head x
by a further advance of the co-acting plunger j to be forced out of the mould f.
In order to give the required motions to the plunger j and die holder k at the
times desired and to hold those parts in their advanced positions for the time being
the following arrangement of parts is employed.
Parallel with the shaft g¹ of the carrier g is arranged a bar which is mounted
with capability of sliding in bearings in the frame a and this bar has pivotally
connected therewith at* a fork m¹ carried by one end of a rocking lever m provided
with a truck or roller m² which works in a cam groove e in the cam drum c¹.
Upon the sliding bar are arranged two fingers either of which acts upon
a stud fixed with the plunger according to the direction in which the sliding
bar is for the time being travelling, and thus in order to depress the plunger
the sliding bar is traversed by the cam groove e until the finger coming against
the stud has carried the plunger j down into its depressed position thus more
or less compressing the composition in the mould f and forming the stopper æ.
The final pressure is imparted to the material in the mould f to form the stud
or nib to the stopper and otherwise impart a finish thereto by means of a screw
stud working in a corresponding hole in the carrier 9 and this stud is provided
with a reduced end which in the raised position of the plunger enters a corres
ponding hole j* formed in the upper end of the plunger whilst in the depressed
position of the same it impinges upon a stop plate or cover carried by an arm
mounted upon a centre of motion and acted upon by a spring * to cover the
hole and act as an abutment to the reduced end of the screw stud j³.
The screw stud³ is provided with two projecting pegs 3* ** and the frame
has fixed therewith two co-acting studs *1 * so that in the revolution of the
carrier « the peg 3* will come against the fixed stud j* thereby rotating the screw
stud and imparting the final pressure through the cover and plunger j to
the material in the mould f and this position of the parts is shown at the extreme
left hand of Figure 2.
This position of the parts is maintained during nearly a complete revolution
of the carrier and until the material in the mould f has completely set, afte
which and shortly before again reaching the feeding device the peg 3** come
.

page_text: against the fixed stud * thereby turning back the screw stud 13 when the stop
plate or cover j³ will by the means hereinbefore described be carried back to its
open position clear of the plunger j thus permitting the same to be retracted.
The arm of the plate or cover jo is provided with a nose or projection which
to allow of the stripping of the stopper and during the filling of the mould f
when the screw j is not required to act, at a certain point in the revolution of
the carrier g comes against and is held by a long fixed projection or cam 8 which
causes the stop plate or cover j³ to uncover the hole * thus permitting the re-
traction of the plunger j.
The die holder is similarly provided with a hole or recess k*, screw stud k
with reduced end k and co-acting stop plate or cover 5 carried by an arm mounted
upon an axis of motion and provided with a nose or offset 47 coacting cam
or projection and return spring and the screw studs ³ are provided with
pegs *** and the frame a is similarly provided with fixed studs * *, one k*1
of which in the revolution of the carrier g causes the screw stud to nip the
stop plate against the end of the die holder k and press the latter against the
underside of the mould f.
73
After the formation of the stopper and in the further revolution of the carrier g
and as it is again approaching the feeding device the peg ** comes against the
stud *, thus screwing back the stud 3 permitting the stop plate or cover by
its nose or offset 7 and co-acting cam or projection 8 to uncover the hole k* of
the die holder k at which time the plunger j is further slightly advanced by the
tail * of the finger of the sliding bar thus forcing the finished stopper through
the mould shortly previous to which movement a finger upon the sliding bar
engages a stud 2 fixed with the die holder k thus depressing the same to allow
of which motion the reduced end of the screw stud 3 enters the hole or recess k*.
In order to strip the stopper from the plunger j the reduced end of the plunger
in its lowest position is loosely embraced by a device consisting of a pair of
jaws n¹ carried by arms n mounted upon an axis of motion n² and furnished with
offsets n³ acted upon by a spring n to normally force the jaws n¹ together and
which jaws are normally held apart by a wedge 13* carried by the finger 1³ so
that as the latter depresses the die holder k the jaws n' automatically come into
action and in the rise of the plunger ; strip the stopper which may then be carried
away by an endless belt or like contrivance to any desired destination.
In the return movement of the die holder k caused by the return traverse of the
sliding bar the wedge 13* enters between the arms n thereby separating the
jaws n¹ and owing to the length of the body of the wedge holding them separated
until the next moulding operation has taken place.
The die holder k is then by the finger of the sliding bar returned to its
normal or closed position against the underside of its co-acting mould f in readi-
ness for the latter to receive a new charge of plastic material when it has arrived
beneath the nozzle c² of the pressure chamber c as hereinbefore described.
During the pressing operation the carrier g is locked against rotation by means
of a spring actuated rocking lever or latch o mounted upon a centre of motion o*
and at one end provided with a detent tooth of which automatically engages be-
tween the adjacent ends of long ratchet teeth g* on the periphery of the carrier g
whilst in order to retract the detent and release the carrier at the times at which
it is required to be rotated, the other end of the detent lever is provided with
a pin o which enters an eye or loop 23** in the link and in the upward move-
ment of such link is engaged by the lower end of the loop or eye, and the detent
tooth o¹ is thus withdrawn from the carrier g so that the latter may be advanced
a step as hereinbefore described.
In order to govern the pressure exerted by the plunger d upon the plastic
material and to automatically regulate the quantity of such material fed to the
mould f according to the size of the article to be moulded the sliding block di
tc which the toggle levers d¹ are pivotally connected has attached thereto one end.
of a chain do the other end of which is fixed to a quadrant lever d mounted upon

page_text: an axis of motion di* and this quadrant at its upper end has fixed therewith one
end of a chain d8 the other end of which is connected with a scale rod d³ which
is adapted to be weighted by means of weights 10 according to the pressure re-
quired to be exerted by the piston or plunger d.
It will be understood that the entire feeding arrangement herein before shown
and described is equally applicable to other similar machines and such for example
as those in which a mould carrier receives a rectilinear reciprocating instead of
a rotary motion.
By the means herein before described bottle stoppers or other articles may be
rapidly and effectually moulded or pressed from plastic composition, and by reason
of the peculiar arrangement of the means for heating and conveying the com-
position to the moulds the same is more or less protected from atmospheric in-
Huence and evaporation with the result that the moulded article has a glossy
surface and the necessity for subsequently varnishing or otherwise finishing the
same is obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
―
1. A feeding device for machinery for pressing or moulding various articles
from plastic composition comprising a closed feeding receptacle heated by suitable
means, a pressure chamber passing through or in close proximity to the feeding
receptacle and communicating therewith by a suitable opening means for feeding
the plastic material into the pressure chamber, a piston or plunger working
within the pressure chamber and powerfully reciprocated at the desired times
by suitable means so as to force the composition in regulated quantities along
the pressure or feed chamber and a feed nozzle controlled by a valve automatically
opened and closed at the required times for delivering material into the moulds
substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. A feeding device for machinery for pressing or moulding various articles
from plastic composition comprising a feeding receptacle, a pressure chamber
passing through or in close proximity to the feeding receptacle and communica-
ting therewith by a suitable opening, a piston or plunger working within the
pressure chamber and powerfully reciprocated at the desired times by toggle
levers or other suitable means so as to force the composition in regulated quan-
tities along the pressure or feed chamber, a conical feed nozzle to the pressure
chamber closed and opened at the required times by an internal conical or
equivalent valve actuated through a crank disc and lever at the required times by a
moving part of the machine substantially as herein shown and described and for
the purpose stated.
3. A machine for pressing or moulding various articles from plastic composition
comprising a feeding device for maintaining the composition in a plastic con-
dition and automatically delivering the same in regulated quantities to the moulds,
a conical nozzle to the feeding device, a carrier fitted with a number of moulds
adapted to register with the conical nozzle, means for intermittently and pro-
gressively moving the carrier so as to bring the moulds successively into position
for filling, means for intermittently moving the carrier so as to enable the mould
to clear the feed nozzle during such progressive movement, a plunger arranged
in alignment with each mould a die holder arranged in alignment with each
mould and fitted with a die which constitutes the bottom of the mould means for
forcing the plunger into the mould and pressing the composition therein means
for holding the die up to its work during the pressing operation means for
retracting the die holder immediately before the mould again arrives in position
for filling means for further advancing the plunger at the same time so as to
force the finished stopper or other article through the mould means for retracting
the plunger means for stripping the stopper therefrom and means for again bring-

page_text: ing the die up to the mould substantially as herein shown and described and for
the purpose stated.
4. A machine for pressing or moulding various articles from plastic composition
and for maintaining the composition in a plastic condition and feeding the same
to the moulds comprising the peculiar arrangement and combination of parts
all acting in manner substantially as herein shown and described and for the
purpose stated.
11
1001 1
... T.
1000