Improvements in Corking Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Corking Machines.
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me from abroad by The De La Vergne Bottle and
Seal Company, (Incorporated), of Foot East 138th Street, in the City and State of
New York, United States of America), and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention is here shown, and will be particularly described with reference to
its application in a machine for the insertion of bottle stoppers or seals, made of
rubber or other elastic and compressible material, though it is adaptable for the
insertion of various other styles of corks and stoppers.
In certain corking machines heretofore constructed, in which the plunger was
seated upon the outer circumference of the stopper, immediately prior to its being
compressed through a tapering tube or throat, it was considered necessary to make
provision for the collapsion of the plunger in order to enable it to pass through the
throat so as to insert the stopper. In the use of a machine so constructed sufficient
force must be applied to compress not only the stopper but also to collapse the
elastic plunger-fingers, and as the fingers of a collapsible plunger exert a pressure
against the walls of the tapering tube or throat during the period of their downward
and upward movements through the same, the frictional contact occasions a wearing
of the parts.
The chief object of the invention is to construct a corking machine with
convergent plungers adapted to the varying diameter of the stopper during its
compression into a bottle, and which being free from the objectionable features of
a collapsible plunger will readily and easily perform the work of forcing the stopper
into the aperture or cork receptacle of a bottle. The invention consists primarily
in providing a machine for inserting bottle stoppers with two or more plungers
arranged to move in an oblique downward direction and means whereby the several
plungers may be actuated; and more specifically in the construction and arrange-
ment of the parts as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a corking machine embodying my improvements,
and Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional plan of the plungers and connecting
parts taken on the line a, a, of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line y, y, of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an enlarged bottom plan of the head or bracket for connecting the
plungers to the actuating rod.
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of one of the plungers detached.
In these drawings "A represents the standard or casting within which the
actuating rod B may be moved in a foot-power machine by its attachment to a
connecting lever C. In a steam-power machine the rod B can of course be
actuated by a suitable pulley and crank shaft. The actuating rod B and con-
necting lever C may be supported in the ordinary way by a spring within the

page_text: standard or casting A. To the upper end of the rod B a head or bracket D may be
connected for the purpose of imparting motion to the plungers as the rod B moves
up and down within the standard or casting A. The head or bracket D is
preferably provided with ears a, a, for receiving bolts a', a', which form journals
for links b, b. These links have their opposite ends journalled in like manner to
the upper end of the plungers 61, 6. These plungers are shown in the form of rods
which have a portion cut away from the lower ends or extremities which are
preferably shaped, finished, and arranged so that if the several plungers are brought
into contact with each other such parts will take the form of a conical or tapering
plug filling the tapering tube through which the stopper may be compressed in its
passage to the bottle as shown. The lower ends of the plungers are blunt or
present a flat surface of sufficient area to prevent injury or cutting of the stopper
when seated thereon. The plungers 61, 6, are arranged and adjusted so as to
move in an oblique or inclined direction and the several plungers approach or
recede from each other according to the varying planes of movement as the
actuating rod goes up or down.
The ends of the plungers, besides being shaped as above described, may also
have their inner surfaces recessed, so that when the plungers are brought together
on the incline there will be a cavity formed within the end portions, which will
permit the plungers to pass over a pull wire, if one be used in the stopper. In
some cases pull wires are so used, and in others they are not, but the cutting away
or recessing of the inner surfaces of the ends of the plungers will permit them to
seat upon the top of the stopper over a pull wire.
In order that the plungers may always maintain their inclined position and have
an oblique movement, they are preferably passed through apertures in a guide-
piece of any suitable construction, as through the apertures e, e, in the casting E.
The casting or guide-piece may be of a form or construction which will also
contain or receive the tapering tube or throat through which the stopper is to be
forced into the aperture or cork receptacle of the bottle. As shown in the
drawing the casting E is shaped so as to leave a space below the guide apertures,
which forms an opening or mouth to permit the feeding of the stoppers c, into the
throat c', beneath the plungers and above the bottle. The lower part of the
casting E may be finished around the tapering tube by a flaring collar e', or other-
wise, so as to adapt it to seat properly and center the bottle which rests beneath
the throat upon a suitable support, as the bracket or bottle-rest F. The casting E
which in the construction shown contains both the guide apertures and the
converging throat, is provided with projecting collars ff, placed over and movable
on the upper portion of the standard A. which may be finished for the purpose.
The adjusting rod G may be employed to regulate the distance and relative
position of the plungers to the guide and throat. The adjusting rod G is shown
as screw threaded at its lower end, and provided with an adjusting nut g, the screw
threads on the lower end being fitted to a female threaded socket in the casting E
as shown in Figure 4. Above the nut g for a suitable distance the rod G may be
enlarged and provided with a shoulder beyond which it is of lesser diameter, and
extends upwardly through the bracket D being provided at its upper end with a
nut g', which acts as a means for lifting the casting E and throat off of the bottle
when the actuating rod B moves upward. By moving the nut g, on the rod G the
distance between the casting E and the bracket D may be regulated so that the
downward movement of the plungers will be limited by the shoulder on the rod G.
When the actuating rod B moves in a downwardly direction it carries the bracket D
and plungers which movement permits the throat-piece to seat itself upon the top
of the bottle, and the plungers pass on downward through the same until their
movement is arrested by the bracket coming into contact with the shoulder on
the rod G, thus limiting the distance which the plungers are permitted to move
beyond the depth of the throat and into the bottle. When the actuating rod B
moves upwardly the throat will retain its position on the bottle until the bracket D
bears against the nut or cap g', when the same will be lifted and the bottle released,

page_text: so that it can be removed, and another one placed in position for receiving a cork
or stopper, which is inserted in like manner.
In the arrangement shown use is made of four plungers which are found to be a
convenient number, but the compression of the stopper may be effected by any
desired number not less than two when arranged to move continuously in an inclined
direction, so that as they approach the plane of the largest diameter of the throat
they will come within a circle equal or nearly equal to the same. The plungers
being arranged to move in an oblique direction pass directly downward through
the throat, which is practically of the same incline as the line of movement of the
plungers, and when the plungers have passed through the same the ends thereof
will come within the mouth of the bottle, maintaining their force upon the stopper
until it is finally seated in the aperture or cork receptacle of the bottle. The
movements of the plungers in an oblique direction of the same incline as that of the
throat enables them to pass through the same without material if any friction
against the sides of the walls of the throat, thus making the operation an easy one
besides obviating the wearing of the machine incident to the use of a collapsible
form of plunger. While it is preferred to construct the machine with a tapering
tube or throat, still as the action of the plungers is not dependent upon the
presence of such throat but upon their convergency, the throat may even be
dispensed with and a stopper compressed directly into the bottle mouth.
The plungers and their connecting parts are shown in the form which is deemed
best, but it is obvious that they may be arranged and connected in various ways,.
and the improvement is not therefore confined to the specific construction shown
in the drawings, nor to auy special construction of the mechanism whereby the
several plungers are actuated.
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 I am aware
of the Patent No. 16,722 of 1890 granted to The Bottle Seal Company, Limited,
and do not desire to claim anything contained therein, but what I claim is:
1. In a corking machine two or more convergent plungers having blunt ends
arranged to be seated upon the top of a stopper near its outer circumference, a
guide for the stopper beneath said plungers, and means adapted to actuate the
several plungers whereby a stopper may be compressed and forced downwardly
into the aperture or cork receptacle of a bottle.
2. In a corking machine two or more convergent plungers having their lower
end portions diminished, and arranged to be seated upon the top of a stopper near
its outer circumference, a guide for the stopper beneath said plungers, and means
adapted to actuate said plungers whereby a stopper may be compressed and forced
downwardly into the aperture or cork receptacle of a bottle.
3. In a corking machine two or more convergent plungers having their lower
ends portion diminished, and the inner surfaces thereof recessed, said plungers being
arranged to be seated upon the top of a stopper over a pull-wire extending
upwardly from the same, a guide for the stopper beneath said plungers, and means
adapted to actuate said several plungers whereby a stopper may be compressed and
forced downwardly into the aperture or cork receptacle of a bottle.
4. In a corking machine a plunger-guide having downwardly converging
apertures, two or more plungers movable within the apertures of said guide, said
plungers being provided with blunt ends arranged to be seated upon the top of a
stopper, a guide for the same beneath said plungers, and means adapted to actuate
the several plungers, whereby a stopper may be compressed and forced downwardly
into the aperture or cork receptacle of a bottle.
5. In a corking machine a plunger-guide having downwardly converging
apertures, two or more plungers having their lower end portions diminished, and
having rounded outer surfaces, said plungers being movable within said apertures
and arranged to be seated upon the top of a stopper, a guide for the same beneath
said plungers, and means adapted to actuate said several plungers whereby a

page_text: stopper may be compressed and forced downwardly into the aperture or cork
receptacle of a bottle.
6. In a corking machine two or more convergent plungers having blunt ends
arranged to be seated upon the top of a stopper in combination with a bracket. or
head-piece with which said plungers are connected, and an actuating-rod connected
with said head-piece, and a guide for the stopper beneath said plungers, whereby
said stopper may be compressed and forced downwardly into the aperture or cork
receptacle of a bottle.
Dated this 18th day of October 1891
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.