US1175697A - Apparatus for removing metal capsules from bottles. - Google Patents

Description

' i zmcses Jim W H. 0 BRAUN. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING METAL CAPSULES FROM BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3,1913- 1,175,697. A I Patented Mar.14,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Tm: COLUMBIA s LArgouhAPl C0,. WASHINGTON, a. c.

H. C. BRAUN. APPARATUS FOR REMOVING METAL CAPSULES FROM BOTTLES.

APPLICATION FlLED SEPT. 3, 1913. 1,175,697. Patented Mar. 14, 191,6.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 HENRY CHARLES BRAUN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE ANGLO-AMERICAN PATENT BOTTLE COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed September 3, 1913. Serial No. 787,885.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY CHARLES BRAU a subject of the King of England, residing at 236 Pentonville road, Kings Cross, London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Removing Metal Capsules from Bottles; and I do hereby declare-the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

It is found in practice that considerable diiiiculty is experienced in removing hard metal capsules or sleeves such as the aluminium capsules used for retaining non-refillable stoppers and the like devices, for preventing or rendering ditficult the fraudulent refilling of bottles, upon the necks of such bottles.

My present invention consists of a simple and efficient apparatus by means of which the capsules or sleeves may be easily and quickly removed from the bottle without damaging the bottle itself or breaking the stopper portion attached to the top of the V neck of the bottle by means of said capsule Means may also or sleeve.

In the general way of carrying out my invention I provide a suitable device for holding or keeping the bottle in the required position, means for preventing the sleeve or capsule from rotating upon or in respect to the neck of the bottle and a knife or knives or other cutting tools adapted to be brought upon the said sleeve or capsule and to cut or tear and remove or partially remove such sleeve or capsule from the neck of the bottle; the means for preventing the sleeve or capsule rotating in or with respect to the neck of the bottle may be a rubber pad, one or more fixed or spring controlled knives or the like or the rotation may be prevented by causing pairs of knives to operate in opposed directions upon the sleeve or capsule. Additional means may be provided for completing the removal of the capsule after the preliminary stripping has been elfected.

be added for adjusting the bottles or the like of different sizes in position for stripping in order that the apparatus may be accommodated for bottles of different sizes.

' In one particular method of carrying out my invention as applied to an apparatus more especially intended for removing hard metal, such as aluminium capsules, upon a suitable base plate or foundation 1 mount a rest of suitable size and form for the reception of a bottle lying upon itsside. This rest which may be of metal or wood is also furnished with a ledge for steadying the bottle when in position. A suitable rest is also mounted in connection with the base plate for the reception of the neck of the bottle having an adjustable device controlled by a screw or the like the position of which may be altered so as to accommodate the apparatus for use with bottles of different lengths and size. The rest or any of the parts may be covered with leather, vulcanized fiber or other suitable material for diminishing the liability of breakage. Attached to the base plate is a suitable standard which carries a bearing coming above the rest for the neck of the bottle. Through this bearing works a rod carrying at its lower end a block upon two sides of which are pivotally mounted cutting knives of particular formation. These knives are preferably formed of a number of laminae having at their lower ends wedge or chisel like cutting edges, and comb springs preferably are provided in connection with the block for normally pressing the knives toward one another, suitable stops being furnished for keeping them in a substantially parallel position with respect'to one another. The upper end of the rod carrying the block and the knives is pivoted to a long handle which is again connected directly or by means of a link to the upper portion of the framework. The lever forming the handle is also extended beyond the link or pivot for some distance and connected by means of a tension spring to some suitable portion of the framework.

Mounted upon or in connection with the framework near the adjustable device coming against the neck of the bottle is a projecting pin or the like which may be made adjustable for facilitating the stripping as hereinafter explained. A pedal attachment may be used for lowering the handle and knives by means of the foot. And in order that my said invention may be better understood I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying this specification in which is shown one method of constructing an apparatus ac= which has formedin one therewith a stand- 1 ard 6 provided with a vertical bearing 0. cl is another forked portion forming a bearing for a pivot pine upon which along arm 7' is mounted. This arm 7 is furnished at one end with a handle 9 and with a slot it through which a pin is mounted in a fork m passes. The fork m has connected thereto a vertical rod '12, of such size asto slide through the vertical bearing 6. Pinned to.

the lowerend of the rod 72 by means of a pin 12 is a block 9. This block has provided at either side thereof grooves in which are mounted laminated knives 1" upon a pivot 1n .9. p t are flat springs adapted to pressthe knives r normally inward. s is a stop for limiting the inward movement of the knives. The lever f extends beyondthe pivot pin 0 fora distance and has connected at the extremity one end of a long tension spring a, the other end'of which spring is suitably attached to the ,lower portion of the standard 5.

o is a base plate of wood or other suitable material so located as to bring the neck of the bottle or table resting thereon'at about the correct height to be operated upon by the knives.

In order to enable the adjustment to be effected for bottles varying somewhat in size, I mount upon the table two circular blocks 10 by means of eccentrieallyplaced screw pins 2 upon such table, so that by looseningthe pins and turning the blocks to a similar extent to one another the desired amount of adjustment is eflected; For enabling the height of the table '0 to be adjusted I mount the same upon a flat spring strip 2 which is attached by means of ascrew 3 to the base plate a,- the height: of which can be adjusted by regulating another screw l. Formed with the base plate a is anupwardly projecting portion 5 forming a rest for. that portion of the neck of the bottle to'be operated upon by the knives.

Attached to or formed with the rest 5 is a circular sleeve 6 the center of which comes at about the height of the center of the bottle. In the aperture on the said sleeve is mounted a rod or plug 2 of vulcanized fiber or other suitable material. The amount by with knives at which the said rod or plug project s from the sleeve 6 may be regulated and its 'position may be fixed by means of a screw 8.

9 is a collar passing over the sleeve 6' and i adapted to be held in any suitable position thereon by means of a set screw 10. This sleeve carries a plate 11 provided at the outer end with two projecting pins 12. By adjusting the collar 9 upon the sleeve 6 the position of the pins with respect to the end of the neck of the bottle may be varied. The method of using the machine will be readily understood: The required adjust ments are first of'all made with respect to the table 0 and other associated parts so that the bottles are laid in position upon the table with the necks coming upon or above the rest 5 and the end of the stopper or the like against the plug 0 the capsule or the like to be stripped ofi' comes vertically beneath the block 9 carrying the knives. The,

distancebetween the knives 1' isxalso correctly chosen according to the capsules to be removed, so that the edges of the knives come slightly closer together than the diameter of the capsule. The knives are now brought downby depressingthe handle 9 against the pull of the spring at and theedges of the knives catching in the metal of the capsule, cut the metal and then the edges neck of the bottle cause the knives to'be separated against the'action of the springs 25, opening out the metal of the capsule, owing to the wedge shapeof theends of the knives. These eifectivelyloosen the capsule moving farther down and riding over the and leave it in a condition ready to be easily 7 removed, or knocked off by means of the pins 12. After releasing the handle g-so that the block g and the-knives are raised out of the way owing to the pull of thespring a the bottle is moved toward the right so that the loosened capsule comes against the pins 12 which knock ofi the parts into a suitable receptacle placed beneath the machine. capsules of different sizes to be removed by the same machine I may, provide blocks 4 I may so make the knives that the distances between them can be adjusted by means of screw or other adjustments,which adjustment also effects the variation of the size of the stop. Owing to the cutting devices being formed the capsules are to be removed. r

Referring to the formof the device shown at Fig. 4c, in this case 13 is a rubber block suitably mounted upon the base plate a of the machine. This rubber block is shaped the sleeve or capsule. r is a'single knife,

of a number of laminae the cut- 7 ting devices can accommodate themselves to the conformation of the inequalities .of the" necks of. the bottles or the like from which;

In order to enable the 1 difierent distances apart, orf

Ito conform to the contour of the outside of which is preferably laminated, and which is adapted to be brought down by the action of the machine into contact with the capsule which it cuts and tears, the rotation of the sleeve or capsule upon the neck of the bottle being prevented by its contact with the rubber pad 18.

Fig. 5 shows another modification in which a rubber block I l is provided furnished with longitudinally extending ribs against which the sleeve or capsule is pressed to prevent its rotation upon the neck of the bottle while the knife or set of knives is operating.

Fig. 6 shows another modification in which a ledge 15 is provided furnished with a chisel-shaped edge, a rubber block 16 being also provided and suitably shaped for the sleeve or capsule to rest within or against a recess therein while it is being operated upon by the knife or set of knives 1". In this case should any slight tendency exist for the sleeve or capsule to rotate upon the neck of the bottle in spite of its frictional con tact with the block 16, the chisel edge of the ledge 1-5 will be forced into the metal of the capsule and assists in cutting and tearing the same.

In the form of the device shown at Fig. 7 the sleeve or capsule rests upon two pivoted chisel-edged knives 17, which knives are pressed normally upward by means of a spring 18. These knives prevent the rotation of the capsule or sleeve while it is being operated upon by the knife or set of knives r or if any slight rotation should take place the knives 17 themselves contribute a certain amount of cutting and tearing action.

Fig. 8 shows a further modified form in which the capsule rests at the bottom upon the base plate or equivalent part aand in which a pivoted knife 19 is provided attached to a vertical. member 20, and pressed normally outward against the sleeve or capsule by means of a spring 21. Chis knife 19 contributes to prevent the sleeve or capsule rotating upon the neck of the bottle while being operated upon by the knife or set of knives r or in the event of rotation taking place helps to cut and strip the capsule from the bottle.

It is to be understood that the method just described of constructing the apparatus is given merely by way of example, as the details of construction may be varied largely to suit requirements of the article from which the capsule or the like is to be stripped and the class of capsule or other device to be removed.

Various means may be provided for adapting the table to receive bottles or the like of different sizes and for bringing the capsules into the correct position to be operated upon by the knives. In place of oper ating the apparatus by means of a handle it may be operated by means of a foot lever or by other than manual power. Instead of causing the device carrying the knives to move up and down in order to ogerate upon the neck of the bottle in some cases the knives may be mounted in a stationary device and the bottle may be raised or brought against the knives for the same purpose.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is 1. In a machine for removing capsules from bottle necks, the combination of means to prevent rotation of the capsule, means adapted to cut away said capsule and springs acting on said cutting means, adapted to press said cutting means into said capsule.

2. In a machine for removing capsules, the combination of means to revent rotation of the capsule, laminated cutting means adapted to conform to irregularities in said capsule and springs acting on said cutting means adapted to press said cutting means into said capsule.

3. In a machine for removing capsules from bottle necks, the combination of means for holding the capsule, laminated cutting members adapted to conform to irregularities in said capsule, said cutting members adapted to cut in opposed directions with. respect to said capsule.

4. In a machine for removing capsules from bottle necks, the combination of a support for the bottle, and a pair of knives for engaging the bottle neck from opposite sides to cut away the capsule and prevent rotation during the cutting operation, said knives comprising each a plurality of individually movable members arranged to follow irregularities in the capsule, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for removing capsules from bottle necks, the combination of a support for the bottle neck, a reciprocating head mounted above said support, means for actuating said head, a central stop in said head, a pair of knives pivotally mounted in said head and arranged to engage the capsule at opposite sides to prevent rotation during the cutting operation, said knives comprising each a plurality of individually movable members adapted to follow irregularities in the capsule, and comb springs provided with teeth independently engaging each of the movable members of said knives and normally maintaining the same against said stop, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for removing capsules, the combination of a support for the capsule, means for cutting away the capsule, and adjustable means for stripping the capsule after the same has been cut, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for removing capsules, the combination of a support for the capsule, means for cutting away the capsule,

an arm provided with a plurality of strip-- ping pins, and means for adjusting said arm, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for removing capsules from bottles and the like, fixed means for supporting the bottle neck, an adjustable table for holding the bottles to position the necks upon said fixed support, and means for cutting away the capsule, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for removing capsules from bottles and the like, the combination of a fixed support for thebottle necks, a table for holding the bottles, adjustable means carried by said table for positioning bottles of varyingsize, and means'for cutting away the capsule, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for removing capsules from bottles and the like, the combination of a fixed support for the bottle necks, a table for supporting the bottles, means for adjusting the height of said table, means carried by said table for centering the bottles to properly position the necks thereof on said'support, and means for cutting away the capsules, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for removing capsules from bottles and the like, the combination of a support for the bottle necks, a table for holding the bottles, means for adjusting said table to accommodate bottles of varying size, means for centering different sized bottles to properly position the necks thereof on said support, means for cutting away the capsule, and means for stripping the cut capsules from the bottle necks, substantially as described.

12. In a machine for removing capsules from bottlesand the like, the combination of a support for the bottle necks, an adjustable table for holding the bottles, means for centering diiferent sized bottles to properly position the necks thereof on said support, means for cutting the capsules, means for stripping the cut capsules from the bottle necks, and means for adjusting said stripping means, substantially as described.

13. In a machine for removing capsules from bottle necks, the combination of a frame, a support for the bottle neck mounted on said frame, an adjustable core associated with said support for engaging the end of the bottle neck, and means mounted on said frame for cutting awaythe capsule, substantially as described.

from bottles, the combination of a frame, a support for the bottle neck mounted on said frame, a sleeve connected to said support, a core mounted for axial movement through said sleeve, means for adjusting-said core,

and means for cutting away the'capsule, substantially as described.

15. In a machinefor removing capsules from bottles, the combination of a frame, a

support for the bottle neck mounted on said 7 frame, a sleeve connected to said support, an ad ustable core mounted in said sleeve and adapted to engage the bottle neck, means for cutting away the capsule, and means for subsequently strlpping the capsule comprising an arm adjustably mounted on said.

said sleeve for engaging the bottle neck,

stripping means associated with said sleeve, 7

a reciprocating head mounted in said frame,

means for actuating said head, a pairof oppositely disposed knives pivoted in said reclprocating head and adapted to engage the capsule at oppositely disposedpoints to prevent the rotation thereof during the cutting operation, each of said knives compris- "ing a plurality of individually movable members, and individual springs for normally maintaining the members of each of said knives in yielding contact with the cap sule, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY CHARLES BRAUN. IVitnesses: r

W. E. Rooms, 0. J. WORTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

7 55 14. In a machine for removing capsules

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