US2936558A - Bottle carrier loading machine - Google Patents

Description

May 17, 1960 l. D. GLAzER BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE Filed May 3l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet I1 INVENTOR /rv/'ng D. Glazer ATTORNEYS J Now m May 17, 1960 1. D. GLAZER 2,936,558

BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE `Filed May 3l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/g. /0 F/ge INVENTOR /rw'ng D. 6702er ATTORNEYS May 17, 1960 l. D. GLAzl-:R 2,936,558

BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE Filed May 3l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR /r w'ng D. G/azer ATTORNEYS May 17 1960 v l. D. GLAzz-:R 2,936,558

BOTTLE cARRxER LOADING MACHINE:

Filed May 3l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR F/g'g /rv/'ng D. G/azer ATTORNEYS May 17, 1960 l. D. GLAzl-:R

BOTTLE CARRIER LOADING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 3l, 1957 INVENTOR /rv/'ng D. Glazer MM BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent@ BOTTLE cARRmR LoADrNo MAcmNn Irving D. Glazer, Dallas, Tex., assigner to Dura Pak Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a corporation oi' Delaware Application May 31, 1957, Serial No. 662,741 21 Claims. (C1. 53-196) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bottle carrier loading machines.

One object of the invention is to provide yan improved machine for loading bottle carriers of the type adapted to suspend a plurality of bottles by their neck portions, which machine is of such construction that a plurality of carriers may be automatically and simultaneously engaged with the neck portions of a case of bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle carrier loading machine having means for placing a bottle carrier over the capped heads of a plurality of bottles into engagement with their neck portions by relative movement between the carrier and bottles axially of the bottles whereby said carrier may be quickly and economically loaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine, of the character described, wherein a plurality of bottle carriers are positioned for engagement with a case of bottles which are held against displacement while the carriers are forced into engagement with the neck portions of the bottles, the case of bottles being advanced into position for loading or connection with said carriers and being released after such loading or connection for removal from the machine.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved machine, of the character described, which inciudes a reciprocal carriage having bottle engaging means and bottle carrier feeding means movable therewith and :arranged to receive a case of bottles therebeneath whereby the bottles are held against displacement by the bottle .engaging means upon downward reciprocation of the carriage for receiving the carriers from the feeding means, said carriers being forced onto said bottles by ram means reciprocal relative to said carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine, of the character described, wherein the bottle engaging means includes longitudinal members for bearing against the enlarged lower portions of the bottles 4and individual elements for bearing against the capped heads of said bottles with the ram means being engageable with the bottle carriers between the elements, said members being arranged to permit advancing movement of said bottles therebetween before and after being loaded in said carriers.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved automatic machine, of the character described, wherein a case of bottles is adapted to be advanced beneath the carriage which is lowered to move its bottle engaging means into contact with the bottles, the bottle carriers being fed to said bottles and forced thereon, the ram means and carriage being raised to permit removal of the case of bottles loaded in the bottle carriers by the advancement of a following case.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference 2,936,558 Patented May 17, ieee ice to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a bottle carrier loading machine constructed in accordance with the invention, the carriage and ram being lowered,

Fig. 2 is an end elevational View of the machine with the carriage and ram lowered and the shuttles in retracted position,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the shuttles retracted,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view of one of the bottle cap bearing elements,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a typical bottle carrier connected to a plurality of bottles,

Fig. 6 is a perspective View fof the longitudinal bottle engaging members,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the ram heads,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken on line 8-'3 in Fig. 2 showing the advancing of a case of bottles to the loading mechanism,

Fig. 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View, taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3,

Fig. l0 is a plan view of one 'of the magazines, taken on the line 10410 of Fig. 2, and v Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing the pressure fluid actuating means and control, the carriage being raised and the bottle engaging means being omitted for clarity of i1- lustration.

in the drawings, the numeral lll designates the rectangular frame of a bottle carrier loading machine embody ing the principles of the invention and including horizontal, longitudinal channel or frame members vl1 and similar end members 12 supported by upright legs or standards i3. As will be explained, a conveyor 14 extends longitudinally of the frame between the channel members lil for conducting a case A of bottles B to and from a bottle carrier loading mechanism l5. The conveyor 14 coacts with case advancing or pusher means 16 which is `adapted to engage and move the case beneath the loading mechanism, said case being removed from beneath said mechanism by the advancement of the following case. The loading mechanism 15 includes a reciprocal carriage 17 having means `1li for engaging and holding the bottles B against displacement, `a pair of shuttles 19 (Fig. 2) for feeding bottle carriers C from magazines 20 into position for being forced onto the bottles by a ram 21.

As shown in Fig. 5, the bottles B are of the usual type having reduced neck portions D and caps E and are adapted to be suspended from the carrier C which has sockets or openings F and flexible jaws G for gripping the neck portions. Each carrier is arranged to support a plurality of bottles, usually six, and groups of carrier-connected bottles, usually fou-r, are mounted in the case A with the carriers extending longitudinallyA of said case. The flexible jaws G permit the carriers to be forced over the caps E onto the neck portions D by relative movement longitudinally o-f the bottles. A ilexible handle H is provided for each carrier. This type of carrier, when loaded, is particularly adapted for hand-carrying a plurality of bottles, loaded or empty, and facilitates retail consumer distribution `of bottled beverages and subsequent domestic handling thereof.

The conveyor 14 includes a pairof angle bars 22 overlying and extending longitudinally of the channels 11, and a plurality of narrow rollers 23 are disposed inwardly of and rotatably supported bythe inner upright flange of each angle bar (Fig. 2). Since the angle bars 22 are spaced from each other and the rollers 23 are of narrow width, said rollers engage the underside of the case adjacent its longitudinal edge portions. Although coextensive with the frame, the angle bars and their rollers are interrupted by the loading mechanism 15 which is disposed adjacent one end o'f said frame and which has a base plate or table 24 with its upper surface substantially ush with the upper edges of the rollers. Due to this arrangement, theadvancing case rides over the rollers at the left end of the conveyor onto the table 24 and from said table onto the rollers at the right-hand end of said conveyo'r. The case is delivered to and received from the conveyor by conventional conveyor means which is not shown. For guiding the case along the conveyor and beneath the loading mechanism, a pair of substantially coextensive angle bars or rails 25 are carried by stanchio'ns 26 upstanding from the channels 11. It is noted that the guide rails 2S are continuous so as to overlie the table and may have outwardly-flaring, left-hand end portions 27.

The advancing means 16 includes an air or other pres sure uid cylinder 28 which is suspended beneath the frame and extends longitudinally thereof, being pivotally connected to said frame at its right-hand end so as to be capable of limited swinging movement about a horizontal axis (Fig. 8). A piston rod 29 projects from the left-hand end of the cylinder 28 and carries an upright pusher element or plate 30 which is adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally of the frame between and below the rollers 23. As sho'wn in Fig. 2, the pusher plate 3i) has a pair of upstanding arms 31 for engaging the lefthand end of a case of bottles to advance the same along the conveyor. A flanged roller 32 is mounted on each side of the pusher plate for engaging pairs of parallel upper and lower tracks 33 and 34 extending longitudinally of the frame below the conveyor rollers 23. The tracks are supported by longitudinal mounting plates 35 which extend from the left-hand end of the frame to the loading mechanism 15, terminating therebeneath.

Pivoted portions or switches 36 and 37 are provided at the ends of the upper tracks 33 for establishing commu nication with the lower tracks 34 (Fig. 8). The lefthand switches 36 are pivoted at their inner ends so' as to hang downwardly. For maintaining the right-hand switches 37 in alinement with the upper tracks and permitting clockwise tilting of said switches about their intermediate pivots, springs 38 are connected to the inner ends of said switches. Counter-clockwise tilting of the switches 37 is prevented by adjustable stops 39 underlying their inner ends. The lower tracks 34 have upwardlyinclined end portions 40 and 41 which terminate in horizontal po'rtions 42 and 43 beyond and below the switches 36 and 37, respectively. The inclined track portions 40 and 41 .underlie the switches and, when said switches pivot downwardly, their outer ends rest on said inclined portions. It is noted that the rollers are held in engagement with the tracks by the weight of the cylinder 28 and that thatleft-hand end of said cylinder is supported by said rollers.

The upper tracks 33 support the pusher plate 30 in position for engagement o'f its arms 31 with the end of a case of bottles A and the case is advanced upon reciprocation of said plate with the piston rod 29 toward the right. When the rollers 32 pass the intermediate pivots of the switches 37, said switches are swung clockwise into engagement with the underlying inclined track portions 41 to' permit said rollers to ride onto the lower track portions 43. The force of the springs 38 immediately returns the switches to their alined or horizontal position whereby the inclined track portions are cleared for receiving the rollers. The elevation of the track portions 43 is sucient to maintain the arms o'f the pusher plate in engagement with the case.

Upon reciprocation of the pusher plate 30 to the left,

thejrollers 32 ride down the inclined portions 43 beneath the switches 37, along the lower tracks 34 and up their inclined portions 40. Since the switches 36 are pivoted at their inner ends, the same are swung upwardly by the rollers to permit said rollers to ride o'nto the horizontal track portions 42. Although the latter switches swing downwardly when the rollers ride onto the track portions 42, said switches direct said rollers onto the upper tracks 33. In order to accommo'date the pusher plate and permit positioning of a case of bottles beneath the loading mechanism 15, a medial recess 44 is formed in the lefthand end of the table 24 (Figs. 3 and 8).

The loading mechanism includes a plurality of upright, corner posts 45 which are cylindrical and which slidably support the carriage 17. Suitable nuts 46 are screw-threaded on the lower ends of the posts 45 above and below the table for connecting said posts thereto. A rectangular top plate 47 is secured to the upper ends of the posts. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the car* riage includes a horizontal, rectangular, flat plate 48 having apertured ears or lugs 49 at its corners for slidable engagement with the po'sts. A pair of parallel, rectanguiar openings S8 are formed in the medial portion of the carriage plate 4S and are separated by a cross bar 5l, the opening and cross bar extending longitudinally of the frame (Fig. 9). For suspending and vertically reciproeating the carriage plate, an upright, air or other pressure fluid cylinder 52 depends from the top plate 47 and has a piston rod 53 projecting from its lower end and fastened to the medial portion of the cross bar 51 (Fig. 2).

The bottle engaging means 18, which includes longitudinal guide members or bars 54 and 55 (Figs. 6 and 9), is disposed below the carriage plate 48. A horizontal, transverse bar 57 is adjustably connected to each end of the carriage plate by stud bolts 58 extending through bosses 59 and 60 and having nuts 61 screwthreaded on their ends. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6, the guide members depend from the end bars 57 and have their upper ends connected thereto. The members 54 are U-shaped and are disposed medially and outwardly of the openings 50 so as to overlie the outer margins of the outer bottles and the inner margins of the inner bottles of a case. For overlying the inner margins of the outer bottles and the outer margins of the inner bottles, the members 5S are L-shaped and positioned between the U-shaped members. Substantially coextensive holddown ribs or members 62, which may be padded to prevent marring of the bottles, are carried by the undersides of the horizontal lower arms 63 of the members 55 and the horizontal medial or lower portions 64 of the members 54. It is noted that the holddown ribs 62 are of substantially the same length as the case A and have opposed, arcuate recesses 65 in their longitudinal `margins for engagement by the enlarged lo'wer portions of the bottles B upon lowering of the carriage. Of course, only the inner margins of the outer ribs need be recessed. In order to permit a case of bottles, with the carriers C connected to their neck portions N, to move from beneath the carriage 17, the L-shaped members 55 are connected to the left-hand end bar 57 (Fig. 1) so that the free ends of their horizontal arms 63 extend toward the lright and said carriers pass thereover between the U-shaped members 54. The adjustable mounting of the end bars 57 permits variation in the elevation of the bottle engaging means 18 to accommodate bottles having necks of different lengths.

Within the openings 50, upright bottle-top or cap bearing elements 66 are suspended from the margins of theV carriage plate 48 and its cross bar 51 by transverse angular brackets 67 which are fastened to said margins by screws 68. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, each cap bearing element 66 includes a tubular housing 69 welded or otherwise secured to one of the brackets 67 and having a reduced lo'wer end to provide a socket 70 for receiving a depending ball swivel 71. A bell-shaped guide thimble 72, having an open lower end and an insert 73 of rubber or other suitable material, is supported by the swivel 71 for receiving the cap E of an underlying bottle. For maintaining the ball swivel in engagement with the socket 70, a helical spring 74 is confined within the housing 69 essere between said ball swivel and an end cap or plug 75 secured in the upper end of said housing. Upon lowering of the carriage to engage the holddown ribs 62 with the enlarged lower portions of the bottles B, the thimbles 72 are adapted to resiliently engage the bottle caps E so as to aline said bottles with the bearing elements 66. The spring-pressed,` pivotal mounting of the thimbles facilitates this alinement and together with the inserts 73 accommodates slight variations in the elevation o'f the bottles. 1t is noted that the bottle caps engage within and are surrounded by the lower portions of the thimbles to prevent cutting or other damaging of the carriers C by the sharp edges of said caps as well as damaging of the latter upon forcing of said carriers downwardly over the bearing elements onto the neck portions D of the bottles. Thus, the bearing elements coact with the holddown ribs and form a part of the bottle engaging means 10. As shown in Fig. 9, the bearing elements at the outer margins of the opening 50 are of less length than the elements carried by the cross bar 51 and have their upper ends terminating flush with the upper surface of the carriage plate.

As shown by the numeral 76 in Fig. 3, the carriage plate 4S extends laterally of its openings 50 to provide bases or platforms for the shuttles 19 and magazines 20. Corner posts 77 upstand from each platform 76 and are connected by upper and lower longitudinal bars 78 and end bars 79 fo'r receiving two stacks of carriers C therebetween in end to end relationship (Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10). The carriers are slidably confined in the magazines by having their medial jaws G telescoped over upright guide rods 80 which are supported by brackets S1 extending inwardly from the bars 78 between and inwardly of the corner posts 77. In order to permit ejection of the carriers laterally from the magazines into position fo'r being forced onto the bottles by the ram 21, the lower ends of the inner guide rods S adjacent the openings 50 to terminate above the platforms 76.

One of the shuttles 19 is provided for each magazine 20, being disposed laterally outward thereof and including an air or other pressure fluid cylinder 82 secured by a horizontal bracket S2 below the platform 76 in axial alinement with the cylinder of the other shuttle (Figs. 2 and 3). A piston rod `83 projects from the outer end of each cylinder 82 and is connected by a yo'ke 84 to the outer ends of a pair of shuttle members 85. Each shuttle member is LJ-shaped and has a pair of parallel slide bars or arms 86 confined in complementary channels or grooves 07 extending transversely of the platform throughout its width (Figs. 3, 9 and l0). may be formed on one side of each slide bar 86 for coacting with an overlying guide shoe 89 secured to the platform. The inner ends of the slide bars are adapted to engage the lowermost carriers C in the magazines between their jaws G andare of reduced thickness to pro- I vide relatively-thin extensions 90 which are disposed below the upper surface of the platform for passing beneath said lowermost carriers as a supporting rack. As shown by the numeral 91, the shoulders formed by the reduced extensions 90 may be rounded and are adapted to bear against the carriers with said extensions therebeneath. Due to the provision of the extensions, the adjacent overlying carriers rest on the thicker portions of the bars upon the ejection of the lowermo'st carriers to permit retraction of said bars and positioning of said extensions beneath said overlying carriers. It is noted that the carriers fall through the openings 50 of the carriage plate 48 upon outward movement of the shuttle members 85.

The ram 21 includes an upright cylinder 92 o'n the top plate 47 overlying and in axial alinement with the carriage cylinder 52 and has a piston rod 93 projecting from its upper end (Figs. l and 2). A pair of shafts 94 are connected to the piston rod 93 by a cross head 95 and depend therefrom longitudinally of the cylinder 93, extending through guide bushings or collars'96 mounted in A longitudinal guide rib 88 the top plate 47 (Fig. 7). The lower end of each shaft 94 carriers an elongated, horizontal ram element or head 97 in overlying alinement with one of the carriage plate openings 50. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and -7, each ram head 97 is substantially rectangular and has opposed, arcuate recesses 98 in its longitudinal sides for accommodating the cap bearing elements 66 whereby the head clears said elements on downward recipro'cation through the carriage plate openings. The ram heads are adapted to bear against the carriers C, which have been 'Fed into position by the shuttles 19, for forcing said carriers over the caps E onto the neck portions D of the bottles B. Although not shown, conventional guide means may be provided for maintaining the ram heads in alinement with the carriage plate openings. If desired, a longitudinal groove 99 may extend medially of the underside of each ram head to accommodate the carrier handles H.

As shownschematically in Fig. 1l, a plurality of control valves 100, 101, 102 and 103 are provided for automatically actuating the cylinders 23, 52, 82 and 92 and their piston rods 29, 53, `81'# and 93 in sequence. The Valve 100 is connected to the cylinders 28 and 52 by lines 104 and the valve 101 to cylinders 2S and 92 by lines 106 and 107 the valve 102 to cylinders 52 and 82 by lines 108 and 109, and valve 103 to cylinders 82 and 92 by lines 110 and 111. Bleeder valves 112 and 113 are suitably mounted at the ends of the stroke of the piston rod 29 for reversing the reciprocation of the pusher plate 30 which carries an actuator 114, the bleeder valves being connected to the control valves 101 and 102 by lines 115 and 116. The carriage plate 43 has an actuator 117 for bleeder valves 113 and 119 at the ends of its stroke and connected to the control valves 100 and 103 by lines 120 and 121. Each piston rod 83 has a similar actuator 122, only one of which is shown, for engaging bleeder valves 123 and 124 at the ends of its stroke and connected to the control valves 102 and 103 by lines 125 and 126. Actuators 127 and 128 are carried by one of the ram heads 97 and the cross head 95 of the ram 21 for engaging bleeder Valves 129 and 130 at the ends of the cylinder 92 and connected to the control valves 100 and 101 by lines 131 and 132.

In operation, a case A of bottles B is advanced onto the table 24 of the loading mechanism 15 by the pusher plate 30 upon reciprocation of the piston rod 29 in a right-hand direction. Air or other fluid under pressure is directed to the right-hand end of the cylnder 16 through the line 104 from the control valve 100 so as to reciprocate the piston rod in a left-hand direction. When the actuator 113 engages the bleeder valve 112, pressure fluid is directed from the control valve 101 through the line 106 to the left-hand end of the cylinder for reciprocating the piston rod in a right-hand direction. This movement actuates the bleeder Valve 113 whereby pressure uid is directed from the control valve 102 through the line 108 to the upper end of the cylinder 52 for lowering the piston rod 53 and the carriage 17. As has been explained, the holddown ribs 62 and cap bearing elements 66 of the bottle engaging means 18 move downwardly with the carriage to position and aline the bottles. The bleeder valve 119 is actuated by the lowered carriage plate 4S and pressure uid is directed from the control valve 103 through the lines to the cylinders 82 so as to reciprocate the piston rods 83 and shuttles 19 inwardly and position the carriers C over the bottles. The shuttles are retracted immediately by the actuation of the bleeder valves 123 which direct pressure fluid from the control valve 102 through the lines 109 to the opposite ends of the cylinders 82.

The bleeder valves 124 are next actuated whereby pressure fluid is directed from the control valve 103 through the line 111 to the upper end of the ram cylinder 92 for lowering the piston rod 93 and ram heads 97 to force the carriers over the bottle caps E onto the reduced neck portions D of the bottles. Upon actuation of the bleeder 7 valve 130, pressure uid flows from the control valve 101 through the line 107 to the lower end of the ram cylinder for raising the ram heads. This movement actuates the bleeder valve 129 whereby pressure uid is directed from the control valve 100 through the line 105 to the lower end of the cylinder 52 so as to raise the carriage 17. When the bleeder 118 is actuated, pressure iluid is directed from the control valve 100 through the line 104 to the right-hand end of the cylinder 28 for repeating the sequence of operation so as to advance another case of bottles onto the table 24 and remove the case ot carrier connected bottles therefrom.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for loading bottle carriers having openings or suspending a plurality of bottles by their reduced neck portions including a support for a case of bottles, a vertically reciprocal carriage overlying the support, carrier magazines on the carriage, horizontal shuttles for feeding carriers from the magazines into positions overlying the bottles of the supported case, a vertically reciprocal ram overlying said support for moving the positioned carriers downwardly to forceV their openings over the caps of said bottles onto their neck portions, and bottle engaging means on said carriage for holding said bottles against displacement during rfeeding of said carriers and forcing of the same onto the bottle neck prtions.

2. A bottle carrier loading machine as set `forth in claim l wherein the bottle engaging means includes bottle cap bearing elements depending from the carriage and overlying the bottles, the elements extending longitudinally of said bottles whereby the openings of the carriers are alined with said bottles and threaded over the elements upon downward movement of said carriers.

3. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim 2 including a head depending from the ram and movable between the bottle cap bearing elements for engage-ment with the carriers.

4. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim l wherein the bottle engaging means includes bottle cap bearing elements depending from the carriage and overlying the bottles, the elements extending longitudinally of said bottles whereby the openings of the carriers are alined with said bottles and threaded over the elements upon downward movement of said carriers, and horizontal parallel members depending from said carriage for movement into and out of engagement with the enlarged lower portions of said bottles.

5. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim l wherein the carriage includes a plate having an opening, the ram having means movable through the opening for engaging the carriers.

6. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and Whichcarrier is substantially horizontal and suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including means for supporting a case of capped vertical bottles, bottle engaging means includingfa plurality of spaced apart parallel horizontal members movable vertically of the bottles into and out of bearing engagement against the en larged lower portions of said bottles to hold the bottles against lateral displacement during carrier loading, means for feeding a plurality of bottle carriers of the described type into overlying relationship to said bottles with the sockets of the carriers axially aligned with said bottles, Iand means for forcing the aligned carriers downwardly over the caps of said bottles onto the neck portions thereof, said carrier not forming an integral part of said machine and being detached from the forcing means.

7. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim 6 including a vertically reciprocal carriage for supporting and moving the .bottle engaging means into and out of contact with the bottles.

8. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottle beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, means for positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement with'the neck portions of the bottles, means for bearing against the tops of the bottles to align said carrier sockets and bottle tops prior to loading the bottles in the carrier sockets and to subsequently hold said bottles against lateral movement during loading of the carrier with bottles, and forcing means for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier sockets and bottles so that the bottle receiving sockets pass over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said carrier not forming an integralV part of said machine and said forcing means not being connected to the carrier.

9. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, bottle engaging means having a plurality of elements for bearing against the tops of the bottles to align said bottles with the carrier sockets, means for positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops with the sockets of the carrier positioned to thread over the elements during loading of bottles into the sockets by subsequent engagement of the neck portions of the bottles by the sockets, and forcing means for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier sockets and bottles so that the bottle receiving sockets pass over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said carrier not forming an integral part of said machine, and said forcing means not being connected to the carrier.

10. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including means for supporting a case of capped vertical bottles, means for engaging the bottles to hold the same against lateral displacement, said bottle engaging means including a plurality of elements for bearing against the caps of the case of bottles to align said bottles with the openings of the carriers, means for feeding a plurality of bottle carriers of the described type into overlying relationship to said bottles with the sockets of the carriers axially aligned with said elements and bottles, and means for forcing the aligned carriers downwardly so that the carrier sockets thread over the elements and caps of the bottles onto the neck portions thereof, said carrier not forming an integral part of said machine.

11. A bottle carrier loading machine as set forth in claim l() wherein the forcing means includes ram elements for engaging the carriers, said ram elements being movable between the cap bearing elements.

12. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions vin 9 A bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including table means for supporting a plurality of bottles, rack means for supporting a bottle carrier of the described type thereon and away from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement with the neck portions of the bottles, and forcing means separate from the table means having a ram thereon for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to the carrier so that the bottle receiving sockets are pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said ram having a carrier pressure-applying surface movable from above the tops of the bottles to a point below and between the tops of the bottles and to at least about the neck portions thereof.

13. The machine of claim 12 in which the forcing eans and ram are vertically reciprooative.

14. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the oarrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, a magazine for holding a plurality of empty carriers, means for delivering a bottle carrier of the described type from the magazine to a position away from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement with the neck portions of the bottles, and forcing means for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to the carrier so that the bottle receiving sockets are pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said forcing means not being connected to the carrier and being displaceable away from the bottle-loaded carrier upon engagement of the bottles by the carrier.

15. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, reciprocating bottle engaging means for securing the bottles against lateral displacement during subsequent carrier loading, means for positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement With the neck portions of the bottles, and reciprocating forcing means having a ram thereon for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to the carrier so that the bottle receiving sockets are pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said ram having a carrier pressure-applying surface movable from above the tops of the bottles toa point below and between the tops of the bottles and at least to about the neck portions thereof.

16. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality of bottles, means for positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement with the neck portions of the bottles, bottle engaging means having a plurality of elements for bearing against the tops of the bottles to align said bottles with the carrier sockets, each of said elements being shaped conically to expand a socket as it threads downwardly thereon, and forcing means having a ram thereon for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to the carrier so that the bottle receiving sockets are spreadably pressed down the conical elements and acess-ss 10 over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said ram having a carrier pressure-applying surface movable from above the tops of the bottles to a point below the tops of the bottles and to at least about the neck portions thereof.

17. A machine according to claim 16 in which the conical elements have a lower area which enshrouds the bottle top and protects the carrier socket from being cut by bottle-cap edges.

18. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality of 11p-right bottles beneath a reciprocating carriage, bottle engaging means on the carriage comprising a first means for steadying the bottles against lateral movement and a second means for aligning the bottle tops, means for positioning a bottle carrier of the described type away from and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement of the neck portions of the bottles by the carrier sockets, and reciprocating forcing means having a ram thereon for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to the carrier so `that the bottle receiving sockets are pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carrier, said ram having a carrier pressure-applying surface movable from above the tops of the bottles to a point below the tops of the bottles and at least about the neck portion thereof.

19. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends -a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including positioning means for supporting a plurality of up-right bottles beneath a vertically reciprocating carriage, bottle engaging means on the carriage comprising a first means for steadying the bottles against lateral movement and a second means for aligning the bottle tops, a magazine on the carriage for holding a stack of empty carriers, means on the carriage for conveying an empty carrier from the magazine to a position above and horizontal to a plurality of bottle tops for subsequent engagement by the carrier sockets with the neck portions of the bottles, and vertically reciprocating forcing means having a ram thereon mounted on the carriage for effecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to the carrier so that the bottle receiving sockets of the carrier are pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load` the carrier, said ram having a carrier pressure-applying surface movable from above the tops of the bottles to a point below the tops of the bottles and at least about the neck portion thereof.

2D. A machine according to claim 19 including means for advancing a group of bottles at a time onto the bottle supporting means whereby the advancing group of bottles moves the group of carrier-connected bottles off of said supporting means.

2l. A machine for loading hand-transportable bottle carriers of a type used for facilitating retail consumer distribution of bottled beverages and which carrier suspends a plurality of bottles by their neck portions in bottle-neck receiving resilient sockets provided in the carrier, including table means for supporting a case of capped bottles, rack means for supporting a plurality of bottle carriers of the described type thereon over and horizontal to all of the capped bottle tops in the case for subsequent engagement with the neck portions of the bottles, and forcing means separate from the table means having rams thereon for etfecting relative movement axially between said carrier and bottles by applying pressure to 1 1 the carriers so that the bottle receiving sockets are pressed over the tops of said bottles and onto the bottle-neck portions and thereby load the carriers, said rams having carrier pressure-applying surfaces movable from above the tops of the bottles to a point below the tops of the bottles and at least about the neck portion thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Arneson Aug. 26, 1952 Birch Ian. 19, 1954 George Sept. 24, 1957

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