IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND SIMILAR VESSELS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Betts, of No. 1, Wharf Road, City
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Capsule Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES FOR
BOTTLES, JARS, AND SIMILAR VESSELS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
Sealed the 6th April 1869, and dated the 1st December 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Betts at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st December 1868.
I, WILLIAM BETTS, of No. 1, Wharf Road, City Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Capsule Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES
FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND SIMILAR VESSELS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to what are known in the
trade as trade mark capsules, that is to say, to soft métal capsules
having letters, trade marks, or other designs or ornamental devices

page_text: to
stamped or embossed thereon. Hitherto it has been the practice to
stamp or emboss the crown or top only of the capsule as being the part
anost easily operated upon; but according to my
Invention I propose
manufacture an embossed capsule, wherein the stamping or embossing,
either in relief or in intgglio) is produced on the cylindrical or conical
surface of the side of the capsule. Capsules so embossed will constitute
a novelty or speciality in themselves by reason of the practical difficulties
which have hitherto stood in the way of such system of embossing.
According to one method of embossing letters, trade marks, or orna-
mental designs upon the sides of capsules, the capsule to be operated
upon is placed upon a metal mandrill, which is caused to rotate in
conjunction with a circular revolving die or tool, having the required
letters, trade mark, or other design or ornamental device engraved on
the periphery thereof, either in relief or intaglio as preferred. The
spindle which carries the rotatory die or embossing tool should be placed
at an angle with the spindle carrying the capsule when the latter is
tapered, such angle varying of course with the amount of taper of the
capsule, and the two spindles are geared together so as to work in
concert, a rofatory motion being imparted to the capsule spindle by a
crank handle or otherwise. Provision is made in the bearings of the
rotatory die for enabling it to be adjusted towards or from the capsule
spindle, so as to force the embossing tool against the side of the capsule
with any desired degree of pressure. If found desirable the surface of
the mandrill which holds the capsule may be covered with india-rubber,
leather, or other suitable yielding or clastic material. By this arrange-
ment, one or more names and addresses with or without a trade mark
or ornamental device may be raised upon or sunk in the side of the
capsule at a single revolution or partial revolution of the capsule spindle.
Or in lieu of the rotating system above described wherein both the
capsule and embossing surface rotate together, the capsule alone may be
rotated, whilst the embossing surface remains stationary, in which latter
arrangement the embossing surface will be flat or horizontal, but curved
in plan to correspond to the are described by the tapered capsule when
rolling over a horizontal plane. The capsule is mounted upon a metal
mandrill, which may or may not be covered with elastic material, such
as india-rubber, and this mandrill should be free to revolve with the
capsule, and be attached to a radial arm working on a pivot which
coincides with the centre of the are described by the capsule. By

page_text: applying downward pressure to this radial arm in any convenient
manner, and actuating the same by a rack and pinion movement, or
otherwise, the capsule can be rolled over the embossing surface, and
thereby have the design thereon embossed on the side of the capsule
itself. Or by another arrangement the same result may be obtained by
employing a metal cup divided into two or more parts longitudinally,
which are held together and caused to separate or open slightly by
means of a surrounding ring and inclines or other equivalent mechanical
device. The internal sides of this cup may have the letters, trade mark,
or other design sunk therein or raised thereon. The capsule to be
operated upon is fitted on to a mandrill covered or not with india-rubber
or other suitable elastic material, and is introduced into the cup; the
sides of the cup may then be forced against the sides of the capsule, and
thereby emboss the same, or the mandrill may be made to expand
slightly, being split for that purpose, and acted upon by a wedge, so as
to force the sides of the capsule against the engraved sides of the cup;
or the letters or other devices may be engraved on the surface or sides
of the mandrill in lieu of on the interior of the cup, in which latter case
the cup may be lined with india-rubber or other suitable elastic material.
Or by another arrangement the mandrill may be composed entirely of a
block of india-rubber, which fits accurately when in its normal condition
the interior of the capsule, but so soon as pressure is applied in the
direction of the longitudinal axis of the mandrill, it will expand.
sufficiently laterally to force the metal of the capsule against the
engraved surface of the cup, and will resume its original dimensions
again so soon as the pressure is removed, thereby allowing the capsule.
to be withdrawn.
)
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Betts in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st June 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BETTS, of No. 1, Wharf Road, City Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Capsule Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
5 Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of December, in the year of

page_text: no
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Betts, Her special license
that I, the said William Betts, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said William Betts, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES, JARS, AND SIMILAR
VESSELS, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Betts, my executors or administrators,
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 William Betts, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to what are known in the trade as trade
mark capsules, that is to say, to soft metal capsules having letters, trade
marks, or other designs or ornamental devices stamped or embossed
thereon. Hitherto it has been the practise to stamp or emboss the crown
or top only of the capsule as being the part most easily operated
upon, but according to my Invention I propose to manufacture an
embossed capsule wherein the stamping or embossing, cither in relief
or in intaglio, is produced on the cylindrical or conical surface of the
side of the capsule. Capsules so embossed will constitute a novelty
or specialty in themselves by reason of the practical difficulties which
have hitherto stood in the way of such system of embossing.
According to one method of embossing letters, trade marks, or orna-
mental designs upon the sides of capsules (illustrated by the Drawings
herein-after referred to) the capsule to be operated upon is placed upon
a metal mandrill, which is caused to rotate in conjunction with a

page_text: circular revolving die or tool, having the required letters, trade mark, or
other design or ornamental device engraved on the periphery thereof,
either in relief or intaglio, as preferred. The spindle which carries the
rotatory die or embossing tool should be placed at an angle with the
spindle carrying the capsule when the latter is tapered, such angle
varying of course with the amount of taper of the capsule, and the two
spindles are geared together so as to work in concert, a rotatory motion
being imparted to the capsule spindle by a crank handle or otherwise.
Provision is made in the bearings of the capsule spindle for enabling it
to be adjusted towards or from the rotatory die, so as to force the capsule
against the embossing tool with any desired degree of pressure. The
capsule mandrill may be entirely of metal, or if found desirable the
surface of the mandrill which holds the capsule may be wholly or
partially covered with gutta percha, leather, or other suitable yielding
material. By this arrangement one or more names and addresses, with
or without a trade mark or ornamental device, may be raised upon or
sunk in the side of the capsule at a single revolution or partial revolution
of the capsule spindle. Or in lieu of the rotatory system above described,
wherein both the capsule and embossing surface rotate together, the
capsule alone may be rotated whilst the embossing surface remains
stationary, in which latter arrangement the embossing surface will be
flat or horizontal, but curved in plan to correspond to the arc described
by the tapered capsule when rolling over a horizontal plane. The
capsule is mounted upon a metal mandrill, which may or may not be
wholly or partially covered with yielding material capable of hardening,
such as leather or gutta percha, and this mandrill should be free to
revolve with the capsule and be attached to a radial arm working on a
pivot which coincides with the centre of the arc described by the
capsule. By applying downward pressure to this radial arm in any
convenient manner and actuating the same by a rack and pinion move-
ment, or otherwise, the capsule can be rolled over the embossing surface,
and thereby have the design thereon embossed on the side of the capsule
itself. Or by another arrangement the same result may be obtained by
employing a metal cup divided into two or more parts longitudinally,
which are held together and caused to separate or open slightly by
means of a surrounding ring and inclines or other equivalent mechanical
device; the internal sides of this cup may have the letters, trade mark,
or other design sunk therein or raised thereon. The capsule to be
operated upon is fitted on to a mandrill covered or not with india-rubber

page_text: or other suitable elastic material, and is introduced into the cup; the
sides of the cup may then be forced against the sides of the capsule, and
thereby emboss the same, or a metal mandrill may be employed made
to expand slightly, being split for that purpose, and acted upon by a
wedge so as to force the sides of the capsule against the engraved sides
of the cup. Or the mandrill may be composed entirely of a block of
india-rubber, which fits accurately when in its normal condition the
interior of the capsule, but so soon as pressure is applied in the direction
of the longitudinal axis of the mandrill it will expand sufficiently laterally
to force the metal of the capsule against the engraved surface of the cup,
and will resume its original dimensions again so soon as the pressure is
removed, thereby allowing the capsule to be withdrawn on the opening
of the cup.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all
the Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings represents a side elevation of one form of
machine which I have found to answer well in practice for embossing
the sides of metal capsules by means of a rotatory die; Figure 2 is a
corresponding plan of the same; Figure 3 is an clevation of the front
or driving end of the machinc, shewing the capsule mandrill and
rotatory dic, and Figure 4 is a similar view of the opposite end of the
machine.
A is a base plate intended to be screwed or otherwise secured to a
table or other convenient support; B, C, are two brackets which carry
the bearings for the reception of the spindles D and E. The bracket B
which contains the front bearing F of the spindle D is, by preference,
for the convenience of construction, bolted, as shown in Figure 1, to a
smaller inclined bracket B' cast like the bracket C on the base A. This
bracket B carries also a projecting arm G, in which is fitted the vertical
adjustable front bearing H of the upper spindle E, two spiral or india-
rubber springs I being situate beneath the bearing to allow of it yielding
when subjected to downward pressure, for the purpose herein-after
described, the front end of the upper spindle working in a vertical slot
on the top of the bracket B to allow of such movement of the bearing H.
The two bearings K and L for the rear ends of the spindles D and E

page_text: respectively are both carried in the upright bracket C. To the front end
of the spindle E is fitted a conical rotatory metal mandrill M of the same
taper as the capsule to be embossed, and composed of a metal sufficient
soft, say tin, to receive the impression from the engraved surface of the
rotatory die N, having the design engraved thereon in relief; this
rotatory dic N is to be of the same taper as the mandrill, and is secured
on to the front end of the spindle D, which is more or less inclined when
conical or tapered capsules are being operated upon, in order to ensure a
perfect contact or parallelism throughout the entire length of the two
contiguous surfaces of the die and mandrill respectively, as will be
clearly understood on referring to Figure 1 of my Drawings. In order
to vary the angle of the axis of the die and mandrill to suit capsules of
different taper, which variation is very slight, I raise or lower the rear
bearing L of the capsule spindle E by means of the adjusting screws O,
and move the two spur wheels P, P, which gear the two spindles
together along their respective spindles, in order to ensure their con-
tinuing to gear together. When it is desired to employ dies and
mandrills of larger or smaller diameter, then both the front and rear
bearings of the spindle E are to be raised or lowered together accordingly
by adjusting screws for the purpose, the wheels P, P, being shifted
along their respective spindles to ensure their proper gearing together.
Both the mandrill M and rotatory or rolling die N are removeable in
order to admit of different sizes and shapes of mandrills and dies being
employed in the same machine. The capsule to be operated upon
may be placed either upon the mandrill or upon the die, the design
being engraved accordingly. On the lower end of the inclined spindle D
there is keyed the spur wheel Q, into which gears a spur wheel R fast
on the driving spindle S, which works in the bearings T, T, and is
provided with a winch handle U. V is a horizontal lever handle
working on a fixed centre W, and having a curvilinear incline X formed
upon its shorter end, which incline works between the fixed cross
piece Y screwed to the top of the bracket B, and the top of a sliding
brass Z resting upon the upper spindle near its front end. By moving
the handle V more or less it is obvious that the capsule which is to be
operated upon may be subjected to any required degree of pressure
between the surface of the rotatory die N and mandrill M, when by
turning the winch handle U the die and mandrill will be caused to
revolve and so produce a sharp embossing on the side of the capsule.
As the metal of the capsule thus undergoes a slight extension between

page_text: the mandrill and die the capsule is slightly enlarged thereby, and
may be removed from off the mandrill or die with ease after it has
been embossed, even in cases where it fitted tightly in the first instance.
By the use of this machine capsules may be embossed on the side at
the rate of from 10 to 15 pcr
minute.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The manufacture of capsules for bottles, jars, and similar vessels,
wherein the stamping or embossing, either in relief or in intaglio, is
produced on the cylindrical or conical surface of the capsule, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
2nd. The production, either in relief or in intaglio, of names, trade
marks, or other designs, upon the sides of capsules by the combined
rolling action of a mandrill and dic, substantially as herein-before
described.
3rd. The peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of
machinery or apparatus for embossing or producing raised or sunk
designs upon the sides of capsules, as herein-before described and
illustrated by Figures 1 to 6 inclusive of my Drawings.
4th. The combination of a rolling mandrill and stationery flat die or
matrice for. producing raised or sunk designs upon the sides of capsules,
as herein-before described.
5th. The use of a cup-shaped die or matrice in combination with a
mandrill operating together, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Betts, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.