813,320. Making caps; curling; jointing by stamping. OWENS-ILLINOIS GLASS CO. Jan. 31, 1956 [March 7, 1955], No. 3025/56. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4). A machine for assembling flanged caps and ring gaskets includes a rotatable horizontal cap plate formed with cap-receiving pockets in its upper face, means for rotating the cap plate intermittently step by step, means for placing caps in an inverted position in the pockets, means for introducing the rings into the inverted caps, the caps with the rings therein being brought in succession to a crimping station, a head mounted for vertical reciprocation over the cap plate, means for reciprocating the head in timed relation with the step movements of the cap plate, and a die assembly at the crimping station mounted on the head, the assembly including an expansion die comprising an annular series of expansion elements. The machine comprises a cap plate 24 with pockets 25 to receive caps 21 which are brought by a conveyer 26 to a star wheel 27 by which they are positioned over the cap plate and dropped into the pockets 25. The machine is driven by a motor 30 which through a solenoid-operated clutch rotates a shaft 33. The cap plate is mounted on a tubular shaft 39 which rotates about another tubular shaft 42 carried on the machine base 43. The cap plate is rotated step by step by the shaft 33 through a cam shaft and cam follower rolls 50 on an annular plate 51 attached to the tubular shaft 39. The intermittent rotation of the star wheel is effected by gearings 53, 54 on the shafts 39 and 55. A head plate 57 mounted over the cap plate is reciprocated vertically by cranks 58, 59 on the drive shaft 33 through spring-loaded adjustable rods 64 and carries plungers 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 operating at stations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The plunger 71 is positioned over the star wheel and the path of the pockets 25 and a spring- loaded head 76 on the plunger seats a cap firmly in a pocket. The ring gaskets 22 are brought to a transfer disc 80 by a conveyer 81. The disc 80 is mounted on a shaft 89 and has pockets 84 for receiving the rings 22 through side openings 85. Air blasts through nozzles 22c assist the rings into the pockets. A stationary plate 86 is positioned directly over the disc 80 and carries a cylindrical guiding member 87. The disc 80 is rotated step by step by the gear 53. The plunger 72 is positioned over the guide 87 and carries a spring-loaded head 91 for forcing a ring 22 downwardly within a pocket 84. Means for restoring the soft flexible rings to circular form prior to assembling them with the caps 21 includes a spring-loaded horizontally reciprocable head 93 the front face of which is concave to complete the cylindrical interior surface of the guiding member 87 and pocket in register therewith. Grooves 95 on the head 93 co-operate with vertical ribs on the head 91. The head 93 is driven from the main shaft 33 by sprocket drive, chain and gearing and a cam 105. In a modification (Fig. 18) ribs 96a are provided throughout the circumference of the head 91 and these ribs engage grooves in the head 93 and also are guided in grooves 95b in the disc 80. A key on the plunger slides in the guide 87 to prevent rotation of the plunger. Step-by-step rotation of the cap plate 24 and the disc 80 bring the caps and rings to the assembly station 3 where plunger 73 pushes the ring out of its pocket on to the cap beneath and the assembled caps and rings are advanced to station 4. The plunger assembly 74 at station 4 includes a cylindrical member 120 (Fig. 19) fixed to the head 57. A spring-loaded rod 121 formed with a foot 122 to seat when lowered on the cap 21 extends through the member 120. Also within the member 120 is a spring-loaded expansion die 123 formed with spring fingers 124 each having a rib 125 for engaging the ring 22. Surrounding the expansion die is a curling die 126. A spreader 127 expands the fingers 124 on downward movement of the head 57. In operation when the head 57 descends, the foot 122 seats within the cap and the ribs 125 engage the ring and move it downwardly until the expansion die engages the foot 122. Further downward movement of the head causes the spreader 127 to expand the fingers until the spreader also engages the foot 122. Finally, the curling die 126 inwardly curls the margin of the cap (Fig. 13). After this operation the caps are advanced to station 5 where the crimping operation is performed by an expansion die, spreader and curling die, Fig. 17, an inclined surface 141 being provided on the ribs to support the ring 22. From station 5 the caps are advanced to a discharge station from where they are ejected on to a belt conveyer 145. The discharging mechanism, Fig. 6, includes a plate 146 mounted over the cap plate to provide a chamber 147. Means for lifting the caps out of the pockets includes a pivoted rocker 148 operated by the die head 57. Air blast from inclined channels 155 in the plate 146 blow the caps outwardly on to the conveyer 145. A supplementary air blast is supplied through ports in the inner end wall of the chamber 147 and also through a channel 153a in the ejector 150 on the rocker 148. A safety device for automatically stopping the machine in the event of failure of the discharging mechanism consists of a hinged gate 165 having an arm 167 which holds open a safety switch 170. If the caps become jammed within the chamber 147 the caps press the gate open which closes the switch 170 and stops the machine. If a cap gets stuck in the die plate or a deformed cap prevents normal action of the dies a safety device at station 4 stops the machine. If a cap is deformed as at 21a (Fig. 13) the foot 122 will be held clamped by the cap and the expansion die 124 which holds the rod 121 in its upper position relative to the dies. Thus when the head 57 is raised the rod 121 engages a contact to switch off the motor 30 and energize the brake magnet 36.