BOTTLE MANUFACTURE

The following mechanism for moulding bottles, forms the subject of a patent obtained by Henry Rickets of Bristol in 1822. Fig. 155. is a section of the apparatus, consisting of a square frame, a a , of iron or wood; this is fixed in a pit formed in the floor; b b is the base of the frame, with an aperture for knocking up the bottom of the bottle; c c are four legs secured to the frame-floor b , upon which the mould is supported. The platform or stand of the mould d d has an opening in its centre for the introduction of the bottom of the mould, which is raised against the bottom of the bottle by the knocker up; e e are the sides of the mould; and f f is the top of the mould in two pieces, turning over upon the joints at g g , so as to form the neck of the bottle; h h are levers or arms for raising and depre ing the top pieces; i i is a horizontal shaft or axle, turning in bearings at each end, from which shaft two levers, k k , extend; these levers are connected by upright rods, l l , to the levers or arms, h h , of the top pieces f f . The weight of the arms h h , and rods l l , will, by their gravity, cause the top pieces to open, as shown by the dotted lines; in this situation of the mould, the melted gla is to be introduced by a tube as usual. The workman then steps with one foot upon the knob m , which forces down the rod n , and by means of a short lever o , extending from the shaft i , forces down the top pieces f , and closes the mould, as seen in the figure; the gla is then made to extend itself to the shape of the mould, by blowing as usual, so as to form the bottle, and the workman at this time putting his other foot upon the knob p , depre es the rod q , and hence raises the bottom of the mould by means of the knocker-up, r , so as to form the bottom of the bottle. At the bottom of the mould a ring is introduced of any required thickne , for the purpose of regulating the capacity of the bottle; upon which ring it is proposed to raise letters and figures, as a mould to imprint the maker’s name and the size of the bottle. These moulds can be removed and changed at pleasure. Under the knob p , a collar or washer is to be introduced, of any required thickne , to regulate the knocking up of the bottom, by which a perfect symmetry of form is presented. In order to make bottles of different sizes or forms, the mould is intended to be removed, and its place supplied by another mould of different dimensions and figure; the lower parts of all the moulds being made to fit the same frame. Such a mould ought to be prescribed by legislative enactment, with an excise stamp to define the capacity of every bottle, and thereby put an end to the interminable frauds committed in the measure of wine and all other liquors sold by the bottle.