for corking
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1888
Specification Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
1. WILLIAM THOMSON of Smith Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow, Engineer, 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:-
My invention which relates to improvements in machines for corking bottles has for.
its object to simplify such machines in construction and thereby reduce their cost
whilst enabling them to be more easily operated.
As represented under one modification in sectional side elevation at figure 1 and in
end elevation at figure 2 of the accompanying drawings the improved corking machine
consists of a stool or table A having mounted on it light vertical standards B. B. within
guide ways in which is carried a bar or frame Chaving on one edge rack teeth D
gearing with a toothed segment E on a short spindle e carried on a snug formed on
the standard B and operated by a lever handle F to vertically reciprocate the frame C.
In the upper part of the frame C is a cam groove e in which is a roller g on a pin
fitted in the forked end of a sliding block G, whose other end is of concave form in
plan to correspond to the contour of the cork. On the descent of the frame C this
slide block G, is driven horizontally forward into a pocket H. fitted to or formed on
the standards B as indicated in plan at figure 3, and in which the cork is placed, the
action of the sliding block being to compress or crush the cork between it and the
contracted end of the pocket H prior to its being forced into the bottle by the plunger I
which is secured on an arm on the upper end of the frame C and is brought down
over the cork and into the pocket on the descent of the frame. The form of the cam
groove c is such that the crushing of the cork is fully effected before the plunger acts
to drive it into the bottle, and the diameter of the orifice into which the cork is pressed
by the crushing block G (as also that of the driver or plunger I) is such that the cork
is reduced so as to barely fill the mouth of the bottle when it enters, thereby permitting
of the escape of superfluous liquor from the bottle whilst upon the expansion the cork
tightly fits the bottle. The bottle is placed upon a stand J carried by a rod or
spindle K formed with a screw or other means for adjusting the position of the stand
to adapt the machine for corking different sizes of bottles ; and the neck of the
bottle when the corking operation takes place is entered in a guide h on the under side
of the pocket H. When the machine is out of operation the bottle rests in the position

page_text: indicated at figure 1, the frame C and corking plunger I being raised by means of a
counterbalancing weight F¹ on the operating handle F but when the handle is pulled
to effect the corking operation the stand J carrying the bottle is raised by means of a
wedging lever L having on one end a counterpoise which is lifted out of action by a
connecting wire m on the frame C rising but is released on the descent of said frame
and then by means of a circular wedgelike arm entering a notch k in the lower end of
the spindle K throws up and supports the spindle and bottle stand, the action of the
wedge and of a block L¹ formed on the bracket supporting the lever L preventing the
depression of the stand in the act of driving the cork into the bottle.
As shown in side elevation at figure 4 and in plan at figure 5 the machine may be
operated by a hand lever F2 without the intervention of the toothed segment and rack
arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2, the compressing of the cork being in the
present instance effected by driving it through a tapered tube H¹ through an orifice h¹
in the side of which the cork is entered. Or, as shown in sectional elevation at
figure 6 and in plan at figure 7, the hand lever F2 may operate a toothed segment E¹
geared with rack teeth D' on the spindle i of the plunger I'. In this case the cork
tube H', which is separately shown at figure 8, may be fitted to drop with the plunger
so that a flaring mouthpiece h² on its lower end engages the bottle during the corking
operation, or it may be secured in a fixed position by a pinching screw h³. The bottle
stand J may be carried as shown on a screw spindle K' and retained in place by a pin
or nut, or as indicated at figure 9 it may be carried by a rod K2 having in it a slot k²,
through which a circular or other wedge K³, may be pushed to a greater or less extent
to adjust the position of the stand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of parts constituting the improved machine for corking bottles
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated under several modifications in
the accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for corking bottles the combination of the reciprocating frame,
carrying the cork driver or plunger, and the cork crusher operated thereby sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to figures 1, 2 & 3 of the annexed
drawings.
3. In a machine for corking bottles the combination of the reciprocating frame
carrying the cork driver or plunger and the counter-weighted wedge lever supporting
the bottle stand substantially as herein before described with reference to figures 1 and 2
of the annexed drawings.
4. In a machine for corking bottles the combination of the reciprocating cork
driver or plunger and the tapered cork tube operating substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to figures 4 to 8 of the annexed drawings.
5. In a machine for corking bottles the several arrangements of apparatus herein-
before described and illustrated by the annexed drawings for adjusting and maintaining
in position the stand supporting the bottle.
Dated this Twenty fourth day of January 1888.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.