816,117. Closure of glass ampoules &c. SOC. ACCOMANDITA SEMPLICE ING BRIZIO BASI & CO. Aug. 3, 1956 [Aug. 5, 1955], No. 24028/56. Class 56. In a machine for closing glass ampoules or the like under vacuum of the kind in which the ampoules are brought successively to different work stations in order to heat sections of their throats to produce a first constriction thereof prior to producing a vacuum in the ampoule and heating to melting temperature to carry out the closure under vacuum, the ampoules are each gripped in two coaxially disposed spring chucks which are rotatable in bearings, the upper of the two chucks being vacuum tight during rotation ; the bearings are operationally coupled together by a mechanism and subject to the face of an adjustable spring which acts to separate the bearings and whose movement is limited in predetermined work stations by an opposing member and which is completely free at least in that work station in which the ampoule is finally heated before closing, and the spring chucks are synchronously rotated about their axis through gearing during the heating, drawing and closing of the ampoules. Eight units each comprising spring chucks 7, 8 to hold the ampoules 26, are rotatably carried by members 9, 10 fixed to sliding rods 12 and tubes 13, each rod 12 passing through a disc 11 and the opposing member 10, the disc 11 being solid with a hollow shaft 1. The shaft 1 is intermittently rotated by a four-position maltesecross 2, which transfers the movement received from a disc 3 with knob 4 driven by an electric motor, through a pinion meshing with a toothed wheel 5 on the shaft 1. A compression spring 14 on tube 13 presses between the member 10 and an adjustable nut 15 on the rod 12 and separate the chucks 7, 8. In each unit a wheel 41 is rotatably mounted on the disc 11 and has the ends of three levers 42, 43, 44 connected thereto, the lever 42 being connected to the end of a rod 45 slidable in a bearing 46 and with a roller 47 engaging a cam path 48 to position the wheel 41. Lever 43 is pivoted on lever 50, fulcrummed at 51, which acts on the member 10 and lever 44 is pivoted on lever 52, fulcrummed at 53, which acts on the member 9. The chucks 7, 8 are rotated by rod 16 on disc 11 through gears 17, 18 and 19, 20 and intermediate gears 17<SP>1</SP> and 19<SP>1</SP>, the rod 16 being driven from the motor through sheaves 30, 31, 32 and gears 28, 29. The chuck 8, pressed to close by springs 24, is opened by mechanism 21, 22 engaging cam 23, the chuck 7 being opened and closed by hand lever 27 at the beginning and end of each cycle. Chuck 7 has a rubber gasket ring 25 for holding the neck of the ampoule 26 under vacuum and chuck 7 is axially bored and held by spring 33 in contact with a bored body 34 connected by a flexible pipe 35 to a central distributor formed by two discs 36, 36<SP>1</SP>, held in vaccuum tight contact by a spring 39 and adjustable nuts 38, on a fixed hollow shaft 37 passing through shaft 1 and connected to a suction pump through fitting 40. The disc 36 is keyed to shaft 37 and disc 36<SP>1</SP> is idly mounted on the shaft, the fixed disc 36 being bored to allow for communication of the bore of chuck 7 with the atmosphere in certain positions and the shaft 37 in other positions. The machine has eight operating positions as follows:-at I the ampoule 26 is inserted into chuck 7 by hand and lever 27 depressed to lock the chuck, the disc 11 then rotating to II, by which time cam 48 has caused chucks 7 and 8 to approach so that the lever end of ampoule 26 enters the open chuck 8. During rotation to III lever 21 leaves cam 23 to cause chuck 8 to grip the ampoule and at III the chucks 7, 8 are rotated and the neck is heated by a burner 54. Further heating is effected at IV, the chucks still rotating. On moving to V, the cam 48 lowers and the chucks 7, 8 are pressed apart a preset distance by the spring 14 to produce a shrinkage of the heated part of the neck. At V a cooling air stream cools the neck, the contents of the ampoule still being in contact with the air through disc 36. On moving to VI, the disc 36 puts the chuck 7 into contact with shafts 37 and at VI the suction pump produces a vacuum above the contents of the ampoule. At VII, with the ampoule 26 still evacuated, a burner 54 impinges on the stretched neck of the ampoule 26 until the glass melts the cam path 48 being lowered still further to draw out the neck, the flame thus closing the ampoule. As VIII is approached, cam 23 causes lever 21 to open chuck 8 so that the closed ampoule is automatically discharged through a shoot. At VIII, the disc 36 puts the chuck 7 into contact with the atmosphere and the operator lifts lever 27 and removes the broken end of the ampoule by hand.