US1094776A - Bottle-capping machine. - Google Patents

Description

L. H. BRINKMAN. BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1911.

1,094,776. 1 Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

5 SHEETSISHEET 1.

WITNESSES: V W W W JNVENTOR.

. WW ATTORNEY.

L. H. BRINKMAN.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION :ILED NOV. 28, 1911.

1,094,776. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

5 8HEETS-$HEET 2..

my. 5. Fly. 4.

ITNESSES.-

JNVEQVTOR. 9W BY W ZUW ATTORNEY.

COLUMPM PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. C.

L. H. BRINKMAN.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1911. 1,094,776.. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

- 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.7.

I I! 9 HI 1| 4/ 40 H\ WITNESSES: 75, INVENTOR.

W 1 BY QM Za 44 Maw/1 "ZITTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D c.

L. H. BRINKMAN.

BOTTLE OAPPING MACHINE.

Am 1 9 1 00 2 v. p A d .w n m a P L 1 9 1 B 2 0 N D E L r. I N 0 I T A G I L P. A

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IIIIIIII I'm/mentor WM/mama L. H. BRINKMAN. BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28. 1911. 1,094,776. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

5 SHEBTS-SHEET 5.

' INVENTOR.

WITNESSES W I W ATTORNEY.

FFFE TATFLS ATEFIT LOUIS f-I. BRINKMAN, OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNGR TO GENERAL INDUS- TRIES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

To /wm only concern.

Be it known that i, LOUIS H. Barnum), a citizen oi the United States, residing at Glen Ridge, in the county of Essex and State of Xew Jersey, have invented a new and useful Bottle-Capping Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to bottle capping machines or the like, and es pecially to those adapted to put what is termed a metallic cap and seal upon a bottle.

One object of my invention is to provide a machine of this class which will automaticallv adjust itself to bottles of various heights so that the insertion of a bottle of greater height will not be liable to be followed by breakage of the bottle or injury to the machine.

A. further object is to provide a machine in which the capping dies will automatically adjust themselves to bottles with necks or months of various sizes and diameters and having other irregularities.

A further object is to provide a machine with a hopper and a chute leading from the hoppe and having one end secured to the die head whereby delivery of the caps or seals is made more eliicient.

A iurther object is to provide a machine which is entirely automatic in all its operations, especially with regard to the reversals of the capping pistons at both ends of their line of movement.

A further object is to provide a machine which may be operated at high speed witlr out danger of doing injury either to the bottles or machine.

Further objects are to provide a machine with a uniform and simple feeding mechanism and a machine in which the dies will act upon the bottle and cap with a uniform pressure, irr spective of irregularities in the bottle.

Further objects are to provide an arrangement for easily controlling the speed of such a machine, and to provide a machine which is simple in construction, easy to manipulate and not likely to get out of order.

Further objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to, which come Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 28, 1911.

Serial No. 662,878.

within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of the entire machine in elevation; Fig. 2, is view in elevation of the entire machine, taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, is an enlarged view in elevation in section, showing the bottle feeding mechanism; Fig. 4, is a view in elevation taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 3 with the capping head removed; Fig. 5, is a plan view showing the table and feeding fingers, the machine support being shown in section; Fig. 6, is a view in elevation taken in section through the operating cylinders, showing the valve arrangement. Fig. 7, is a view in elevation taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8, is a section taken on line A B of Fig. 6; Fig. 9, is a section taken on line C I) of Fig. 6; Fig. 10, is a section taken on line E F of Fig. 6; Fig. 11, is a sectional view in elevation of the hopper; Fig. 12, is a view in elevation taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 12 is a section, enlarged, taken on the line G-H of Fig. 12; Fig. 13, shows a view in section of a modified form of the crimping or securing die showing the automatic means of the adjustment of the same; and, Fig. 14, is a plan view in section of the modified form of the crimping die shown in Fig. 13.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

1 is the column which forms the base upon which the machine rests.

2 is the table adjust-ably secured to column 1 by set screws 4. and may be raised to accommodate it to the filling machine (not shown) against which it is placed.

3 is a leaf hinged to table 2.

5 is a rubber pad let into table 2 and flush therewith, and upon which the bottle rests while being capped.

6 is a fence for retaining the bottles in prppei position on table 2.

l is the pawl chamber in which operate pawls 8, 9 being the springs to keep the pawls engaged, and 10 are the teeth on sleeve 11 with which the pawls engage, the pawls being pivoted to pawl chamber 7 having an outside sleeve 17 attached thereto.

11 is a sleeve journaled on hollow shaft 12 at 13 and let, and is hung near its upper end on ball bearing 15 working in a groove in hollow shaft 12.

Patented Apr. 28 1814;.

heing ar 'anged to give over i one- ;th ot a turn of the sleeve 11. in the vert .Hl nmveinent or stroke of pinv 20. Pin operates through a straight vertical slot 23 i iollow shaiit 12. Tin 20 operates hopper oi ierat Hr rod lilollow shaft 12 is adably secured in column 1 for height to is is a collar seciu'ed in the upper end of sleeve 11 to hold ball bearing 15 in position.

is a

tence secured. to table 2, and acts 27 are throwing oil guides, one of which operates hetween table 9 2 nd lingers .6, and the other operating just above fingers 16, both guides being secured to table 2.

28 is the hopper which consists of shell 29,

at the side oil which revolves disk 30 Figs. 11. and In disk 30 are magnets 31 arranged so as to come in contact with c; ps in the hopper. in the line of rotation of the i '1 is gage 3'2, fitt'ng the caps when in proper position and through which such caps as are in position may pass and enter chute 35-3, tl aps which are not in proper position on. the magnets being wiped oil by the gage.

Eel is the lower chute telescoping over the lower end Oil the chute 38 and secured at its lower end to cap holder 81, so that as cap holder 81 moves up and down it forces the upper end of chute to slide over the lower end of chute 33, which is secured to the hopper shell 3i the pawl frame loosely mounted on the :t'ront end of shaft 38 to which frame are attache l pawls 2:37, which pawls operate ratchet and dist: 30 both secured to plli it 38 to rotate together.

lie )per shell 99 is secured to hollow shaft 12, by means oi? hopper asc 39.

h? is the main cylinder which is secured to hollow shaft 12, by means of lugs 1-1 and c: liar l2 J 1, 2, (3 and '7). At the lower end o1: main cylinder is secured lower cylind r had d3, and packing ower cylinder head .8 (hip and T) epc rates iston cylinder 46, to w.

prison c3 inner ieat it,

-15 is the n 1361' main cylinder head. Thrown l W is secured lower through which latter head operates piston 48, the lower end of which carri' s the cap hold down 4.9, lay n'ieans of a pivot or screw 50,

nee y/re which screw allows of angular adjustment, the hold down 49 being maintained in normal position by spring To piston 48 is secured piston head 52, which operates in piston cylinder 46. Piston head 52 carries adjustable Valve ope 'a'ting rod 53, which may be adjusted by screw threads 5% and lock nut above washer 57. This adjustment together with the adjustment of adjustable sleeve 79, controls the relative stroke of cap hold down 1:9, and capping die 83, required by dillerent heights of caps. Piston is packed in piston cylinder 16 by cup washer 56, which cup washer is spread by washer 57 and secured by lock nut 55. The upper end of piston cylinder d6, is form-ed into a head 58 in which is a valve opening with its seat 59. Valve 60 operates on valve seat 59, and is attached to valve stem (31, which is a long stem ope 'ating through adjustable sleeve 79, and main piston head 72, and having secured thereon valve 32 and reverse stop (33. In the upper end of piston cylinder 16 are openings or holes 3-11, to allow 'errupted COIHHlllillCDllOl] between main cylinder and piston cylinder 16.

is a space connecting passages 6-6 and (57 with the portat valve (30. Passages 66 and 67 open into the upper end of main cylinder 410, thus forming when valve is open a direct passage between piston cylinder 46 and the upper end of main cylinder 40.

(.39 is a cup washer, packing the piston cylinder 4:6 in main cylinder 40, and is held.

in place by junk piece 70, through which the pasrages 66 and 67 extend, and through which valve stem (31 operates.

71 bolts for holding main piston head 72, junk piece 70, and cup \asher (39 to pis ton cylinder head Between. main piston 72 and junk piece is cxhaut passage 73. In main piston head is alve seat 68, on which seats valve (32. In main piston head 72 are secured exhaust pipes 74:, which pipes op rate through main cylinder head i5, and are Jacked therein by cup wrshers to.

77 is the main inlet, and TS is the exhaust or outlet leading from the exhaust cha1nher 80.

T9 is an adjustable sleeve in piston head 1-5, and forms the upper al've check. and causes an automatic reverse. Through this sleeve operates valve stem 81 is the cap holder secured to die block 82, which block is secured to lower cylinder head 47.

83 's the cappii'ig die secured to die block 82.

Set is an opening in cap holder 81. tln'ough which the caps enter from telescopic connector 34.

is the operating pump, drawing its supply "from reservoir 86.

S7 is an automatic pressure relief valve in the main. line of piping 89, between the ltd pump and the main cylinder, and dis charges its overflow into the reservoir.

88 is an automatic pressure valve in the exhaust line of pipe 90, and will not allow any fluid to reach the exhaust, until a certain pressure is reached.

is the discharge pipe connecting the exhaust outlet 78 with the reservoir 86.

91 is the control valve in main line of pipe 89.

92 is a spring secured to the top end of adjustable valve operating rod and closes the valve 60 quickly after the cylinder 16 has moved a predetermined distance relatively to the piston 52. 93 is a spring operating in a similar manner, between adjustable sleeve '79 and valve 62. 91 is a spring which operates in a similar manner, between adjustable sleeve 7 9 and reverse stop 63.

75 is an opening in the lower end of piston cylinder 46, forming a relief from the rear of piston 52 to permit the escape of fluids which might get under said piston.

In the modified form of my crimping die shown in Figs. 13 and 1e, is a sectional die held in place and operated upon by pistons 96 which operate in cylindrical holes 98.

97 are adjusting screws which form the cylinder heads for the purpose of limiting the movement of piston 96.

99 are cup washer packings secured to pistons 96.

is a die holder in which are formed the cylindrical holes 98.

101 is a fluid passage connecting all of the cylindrical holes and is formed in the die holder 100.

102 is a fluid passage in the walls of piston cylinder 416 and in a pipe below said cylinder connecting cylinder 4L6 near the upper end thereof with fluid passage 101.

The operation of the described embodiment of my invention is as follows: The bottles having been filled by a filling machine, are delivered to the table between fences 6 and 26, the latter guiding them off of the filling machine platform and into position to be operated upon by one of the fingers 16 which carry the bottles into position for capping on the rubber pad 5. Assuming that a bottle has just been capped and that the capping head is ascending from the bottle but has not quite reached its extreme upward movement, the position of the parts will be as shown in the drawings (Figs. 3, 4, 6 and 13 being the more important figures to be considered in the following statement of operation). In this position of the apparatus the fluid is being admitted through inlet port 77 into cylinder 16 and is exerting downward pressure upon the hold-down-cap piston 52 to hold it in the lower end of cylinder 46, and is exerting pressure upon the upper end 58 of cylinder 16 and upon the cup washer 69,

to force the main piston head 72 and its attached capping parts upward, the valve 60 during this time being closed to prevent the flow of fluid to the upper surface of the piston head 72, and valve 62 being open to permit the fluid in the upper end of cylinder 10 above the piston head 72 to discharge through said valve 62, exhaust passage 73, and through pipes 74: to the exhaust chamber 80 and thence through the exhaust port 78. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, as the capping head continues to ascend, it is guided vertically by the engagement of pin 20 with the slot 23 in sleeve 12; and roller 21 mounted on said pin engaging the upper curved portion of slot 22 in the sleeve 11 (Fig. 1) causes the sleeve 11 and the finger 16 to be moved to the left a sixth of a revolution, thereby bringing the next filled bottle into position on the rubber pad. The capping head cylinder 46 continues to ascend until the upper end of spring 93 engages the lower end of sleeve 79 serving as an upper stop or abutment for the spring 93, whereupon valve stem 61 carrying valve 62 is thrust downward by spring 93, closing the valve 62 and opening valve 60 carried at the lower end of the rod 61. During the upward movement of the parts the spring 92 between valve rod 53 and valve 60 was placed under slight tension, but this was insutficient to open valve 60 against the fluid pressure exerted on the lower surface of the valve, and the valve thus remained closed as stated, until spring 93 on rod 61 engaged the lower end of sleeve 79, whereupon valve 60 was immediately opened and valve 62 immediately closed with a quick action. This feature of having these valves 60 and 62 held open until the limit of the desired movements of the parts and then quickly closed, is very important, since it will be seen that *ithout some such provision, just before the parts reach their extreme upward movaemenfivalve 62 would commence toclose and valve 60 commence to open, whereupon fluid would flow directly from cylinder 46 through the partly opened valve 60, passage 73, passageways 66, 67 (Figs. S10), into the upper end of cylinder 40 and through the partly closed valve 62 and pipes 74 into the exhaust chamber 80, whereupon the apparatus might stop. The closing of the valve 62 cuts off the exhaust-of fluid from the upper end of the cylinder 40 above the head 72 through passage 73 and pipes 74, and the opening of valve 60 admits fluid pressure from inner cylinder 16 through the valve 60 into the passage 65, and through openings 66, 67 (Figs. 8 and 9), passing through junk piece 70 and head 72 and opening directly into the upper end of cylinder 40 above head 72; whereupon the head 7 2 with the attached cylinder 46 and capping parts, is moved downward due to the greater effective area of the upper surface of head '72 presented to the Reid pressure as compared to the etlective area below said head. The head 72 with its capping parts continues to descend with the respective capping parts remaining in their relative positions until. cap-hold down l9 presses the cap upon the bottle (a cap having in the meantime passed through cap chute 34-. in position in cap holder 81 to be pressed upon the top of the bottle by cap-holddown head 49), whereupon the downward movement of the cap-hold-down piston 48 is arrested, but capping head 72 carrying the cylinder 16 with its lower cylinder head 4LT carrying the crimping dies 95, continues to descend with respect to the ca i-holddown piston until the valve 60 is closed and valve 62 opened by the compression of spring 92 due to relative movement between the cap hold-down piston 48 and the cylinder head ll. The crimping dies 95 are at all times forced inwardly by the fluid pressure which flows from the main cylinder ell) through pass-aye 102, passage 101, into the spaces back ot the piston 96, so that the crinn ing dies as they are brought down to the cap, at once force the rim or flange inward by fluid pressure to crimp the cap beneath or around the lip or crown of the bottle.

The valve having been closed and the valve 62 opened as a result of the relative i'uovement between piston lS and head 47, the fluid above the main cylinder head 72 now exhausted through valve (32 and pipes 7t into the exhaust cylinder 80 and the head i2 carrying the cylinder slit and its head l'l' is now moved upward while the cap-holddown piston it; remains tirmly pressed upon the cap by fluid pressure on pis on head until the lower side of the head 52 of this piston is engaged by the upper end of the i vlindcr head all. This relative movement is e but to permit the capping die to be withdrawn tree of the bottle beiiore the cap hold-down is lifted from the cap whereupon a cap is immediately fed into position in the cap holder 81 for the next capping oporation. The capping head parts all continue to move upward together until spring i -l again engages the lower end of sleeve 79, whereupon valve 32 is immediately closed with a quick, sudden n'iovement and valve similarly openeih whereupon the parts commence to descend to cap the next bottle, etc.

From the previous description of the operation ot the parts, it will be understood that should no bottle be placed under the Ctlpi'llllg heath the downward movement of the parts will nevertheless be stopped and the upward. movement commenced by the closing of valve 60 and the og iening of valve as by the engagement of reverse stop 63 at the upper end of rod 61 with spring 9 1 at the upper end of sleeve T9 which takes place when the main piston head Z 2 reaches the lower extremity of its desired travel, givin valve rod 61 a quick upward thrust to operate these valves.

lit will be observed. that the adjustable valve operating rod 53 carrying the spring 92 at its upper end is adjusted according to the height of the caps, so as to permit such relative movement between piston 48 and head 4:7 as will allow the die 95 carried by the head t? to pass down to the side of the cap so that it will. be in position to crimp the cap and clench it on the lip or rim of the bottle. will also be observed that the cap is pressed down upon the bottle with auto matically regulated pressure, and that fluid pressure is continuously exerted upon piston head 52 to press the cap firmly upon the bottle, iot only during the time while the cylinder head 457 carrying the dies is descending and while the dies are crimping the cap around the bottle lip, but also during the withdrawal of the dies from the cap by the upward movement of cylinder head 43? and until the dies are clear of the cap, at which time the upper end of the cylinder head 17 by eneagino the lower surface of the piston head 52 ill withdraw the caphold-down member 1:9 from the cap.

It will also be noted that the pressure with which the dies act to crimp the caps on the bottles is determined. by the pressure at which the pressure relief valve 87 is set to operate to permit the fluid to pass through the bypass pipe to the discharge pipe 90. The speed of the apparatus is largely determined by the diil'erence in pressure at which the pressure relief valves 87 and 88 are set to open, so that the speed may be regulated without changing the pressure with which the dies a ct, and vice versa.

FY0111 the above it will be clear that l: have provided a machine of the class described in which the reverse movemnt is dependent upon a predetermined relative mwement be tween the two fluid pressure operated. elements so that ii. irregular bottles of diiiterent heights are brought into 0 era'tive position in. the machine the capping mechanism is automatically adjusted to all such bottles and there is no tendency to break the bottles or injure the machine. "l hus as soon as the crimping dies pass a certain distance beyond the top of the bottle a reverse movement is automatically produced. it will also be noticed tl at when the reciprocating' elements move upward a reverse movement is caused automatically 3y the springthat is responsive to a predetermined movement of the crimping means away from the bot tle holding means.

lhn'thermore the arrangemont o'f the two operating pistons one within the other, with the automatic control valves 60 and 62, forms a simple automatic means for controlling the reciprocations of the pistons, as desired. By arranging the main piston head with a port therethrough, the valves and (52 controlling this port and the exhaust port are conven iently arranged to be operated by the relative predetermined movement of one piston with respect to the other.

By arranging the crimping dies 95 to be pressed inwardly by fluid pressure the dies will operate equally well upon the mouths of bottles of irregular shape and will not be liable to cause breakage of the bottles nor will injury be caused to the dies because of such irregular shape. Furthermore, the valves 87, SS and 91 form suitable means for regulating the operating fluid pressure and the speed of the machine by checking the flow of liuid through the machine and the pressure of the fluid supplied, when a predetermined pressure of fluid is reached, and checking the exhaust of the fluid until a predetermined pressure is reached. The fingers 16 not automatically to move the bottles in the operative position on the table and the chutes and deliver the caps automatically to the capping head. The chute 3% being rigidly connected with the head is always in position to deliver a cap thereto at the proper time and cannot get out of register with the head. By arranging a main working piston with different effective pressure areas on its reverse working side I am enabled to obtain all the parts in a small space, with the hold down piston within the main piston cylinder, whereby the various parts are eiiiciently and simply arranged.

here, in the appended claims, I have referred to the cap-hold-down element and the crimping dies by such-terms as cap-holddown means, die, device or member and cap-crimping means, dies or members, I do not wish to be understood as limiting these claims to any particular device r arrangement for holding down and crimping the caps, for obviously various forms of cap-crimping dies may be used, and the caphold-down means may, if desired, be simply the extension of the piston, withoutany special provision, although the form shown has its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, devices for securing the caps to the bottles embracing a cap-hold-down member and cooperating crimping means, and means operatively controlled by a pre determined movement of the crimping means with respect to the cap-hold-down member for causing the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is s cured thereon.

2. Bottle capping apparatus comprising ra e a bottle support, two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps to the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons to cause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is secured. thereon, said means embracing devices carried by one piston and devices carried by the other piston cooperating therewith for causing a reverse movement of both pistons under fluid pressure.

3. The combination of a bottle support, two relatively movable fluid pressure oper ated pistons, a cap-holddown member carried by one piston, cap-crimping means carried by the other piston, means operatively controlled by the relative movement or the pistons for controlling the action of the fluid to cause the withdrawal of the piston carrying the crimping means without removing the cap-holddown member, and connections between the cap-holddown member and the crimping means for removing the holddown member whereby the cap-hold-down is pressed against the cap by fluid pressure until the crimping means has been withdrawn past the hold-down member.

4. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps to the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons to cause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is secured thereon, said controlling means embracing a valved port through one of said pistons.

5. Bottle capping apparatus comprising two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps on the bottles, a cylinder for one of the pistons and an exhaustv tube carried by one piston and sliding through the head of said cylinder.

6. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps to the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons to cause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is secured thereon, said means embracing a valve carried by one piston to cause the space on one side thereof to be exhausted.

7. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps to the bottles, and means operatively controlled automatically by the movements of the apparatus for controlling the movement of the pistons to cause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is secured thereon and for causing the pistons to automatically move toward the bottles.

8. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing "he caps to the bottles, and means for con trolling the movement of the pistons to cans the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle alter a cap is secured thereon, said means embracing a valve carried by one piston to cause the space on one side thereoji to be exhausted and means for operating said valve at a certain point in the movement of the pistons toward the bottle support when no bottle is present.

9. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps to the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons to cause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is secured thereon and a cylinder for each piston, one of the cylinders being czrried on the underneath side of one of the pistons.

10. Bottle cappin apparatus comprising a bottle support, two fluid pressure operated pistons, devices carried thereby for securing the caps to the bottles, and means for controlling the movement of the pistons to cause the securing devices to be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is secured thereon and a cylinder for each 1 ston, one of the cylinders being carried on the under neath side of one of the pistons, and said cylinders being connected by always open ports so that one piston will be held down while the other is partially withdrawn.

11. Bottle capping apparatus comprising fluid. n'es ure oicrated cannin means a l l 1 pipe iior supplying fluid under pressure thereto, an exhaust pipe therefor, a by-pass pipe eirteiuling between the supply pipe and the exhaust pipe, a safety valve in the bypass pipe limiting the pressure at which the nuid is supplied to the capping means and a salty valve in the exhaust pipe for crea certain back pressure therein.

it machine for capping bottles or the like, having reciprocating fluid pressure operated devices for securing caps to the bot tles or the like, including fluid pressure opcrated crimping dies, means for automatically controlling the reciprocations of said devices, a passage supplying fluid under pressure thereto, a passage for exhausting the fluid therefrom, means for regulating the pressure of the fluid. supplied, and means i for independently regulating "he pressure of the fluid exhaust whereby the speed of fluid pressure operated devices may be regulated withoutchanging the pressure with which the devi res operate and vice versa.

in a fluid pres. re operated bottle capping machine, a pair of fluid pressure operated elements for holding and crimping a cap upon a bottle, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said elements to anse them to shift to operative position,

and automatic means for changing the action of the fluid upon said elements for causin them to move away from the bottle, and for causing the repetition of said movements, in combination with an automatic bottle feeding mechanism working in time relation therewith.

14,-. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a main cylinder with a port for admission of fluid thereto, a main .lltlltl-PITGSSHlG-OPQlt'llGd piston in said cylinder, a cylinder carried at the lower side oi? the main piston within said main cylinder and of such diameter as to provide a space for fluid between its outer wall and the in ner wall of the main cylinder, said inner cylinder having a port for admitting fluid thereto, a piston carried at the lower end. or the inner cylinder and operated therein by fluid pressure, a valved port for admitting fluid from one side of the main piston to the other side thereoit, an exhaust port through which the fluid is exhausted from the main cylinder above the main piston, the lower end of the inner cylinder and the piston operating therein having provision for holding a. cap down upon a bottle and securing it thereto, and having relative movement during said operation, and an automatically operated valve controlling flow of fluid to the upper surface of the main piston and actuated after said relative movement of said last mentioned cylinder and lower piston for effecting the return of: said piston and cylinder from the bottle.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a fluid pressure operated element for holding the cap upon the bottle, a fluid pressure operated element for securing the cap to the bottle, and means op eratively controlled by a predetermined movement of one of said elements relative to the other of said elements for causing said elements to move away from the bottle.

16. Bottle capping apparatus comprising a bottle support, devices for securing the caps to the bottles, embracing a cap-holddown membera'nd cooperating crimping means, and means operativcly controlled by a predetermined movement Olli the crimping means with respect to the ap-hold-down member for causing the securing devices be withdrawn from the bottle after a cap is secured thereon, said means emln'acing devices for automatically causing the securing devices to move toward another bottle. to cure a cap thereon.

17. A bottle capping n'iaehine or the like having in combination a cvliruler, a fluid pressure operated. piston cylinder operating in said cylinder, a die carried by said piston cylinder for crimping or securing the cans to the bottle or the like, a fluid pr sure operated piston operating in said piston cyliu der, means carded by said piston for holding the cap or the like, and means operatively controlled by a predetermined relative movement between said piston cylinder and piston irrespective of variations in the bottles operated upon for causing said piston cylinder and piston to move away from the bottle.

18. it bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a pair of fluid pressure operating elements for holding and crimping or securing a cap upon a bottle or the like, means for causing said elements to move away from the bottles after the capping operation, responsive to a predetermined movement of one element relative to the other, and for causing said elements to more toward the bottles responsive to a predetermined movement of the elements.

19. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a pair of fluid pressure operated pistons for holding and clenching a cap on a bottle or the like, a pas sage supplying fluid under pressure to said pistons, a passage for exhausting the fluid from said pistons, a safety "alve in the supply passage for limiting the supply pressure of the apparatus, a safety valve in said exhaust passage for limiting the exhaust pressure of the apparatus, and means for causing said pistons to move away from the bottle dependent on a predetermined relative movement between the pistons.

20. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination, apair of reciprocating fluid pressure operated pistons carrying cap holding and crimping mechanism, means for automatically feeding caps to operative position with respect to the bottles and crimping means, and an automatic valve device for causing repetition of the reciprocations of the pistons automatically.

In a bottle capping machine or the like, a bottle support, a die for pressing a cap to the bottle, a die for crimping a cap on the bottle, means for moving said dies by fluid pressure to the bottle and continuing the movement of the crimping die after the holding die has stopped and presses a cap on the bottle, and means operatively controlled by the relative movement of said dies for causing a reverse movement of the crimping die moving means while the holding die still presses the cap on the bottle.

In a bottle capping machine or the like, a bottle support, a die for pressing a cap to the bottle, a die for crimping a cap on the bottle, relatively movable means for moving said dies by fluid pressure to the bottle and continuing the movement of the crimping die after the holding die has stopped and presses a cap on the bottle, and means operatively controlled by the relative movement of said dies for causing a reverse movement of the crimping die moving means while the holding die still presses the cap on the bottle, and means for causing a reverse movement of the holding die moving means when the crimping die has moved away from the bottle a predetermined distance.

23. A machine for capping bottles or the like, having reciprocating fluid pressure operated devices for securing caps to the bot tles or the like, a passage supplying fluid under pressure thereto, a passage for exhausting the fluid therefrom, means for regulating the pressure of the fluid supplied, and means for independently regulating the pressure of the fluid exhaust, whereby the speed of fluid pressure operated devices may be regulated without changing the pressure with which the devices operate, and vice versa.

24. A bottle capping machine or the like having, in combination, a pair of reciprocating fluid pressure operated pistons carrying cap holding and crimping means, mechanism for feeding caps to operative position with respect to the bottles, and an automatically operated valve device controlling the pistons to cause a reversal of their movements in both directions, whereby repetitions of the reciprocations of the pistons are automatically produced.

25. In a fluid operated bottle capping machine or the like, a cylinder, a die carrying piston operating in said cylinder having different effective working areas on its reverse working sides and provided with a passage for fluid therethrough, and means for controlling the flow of operating fluid through said piston whereby the fluid may at one time operate only upon one of said areas and at another time operate on both of said areas, and means whereby the fluid acting on the larger of said areas may be exhausted.

26. In a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of crimping dies and means for maintaining a uniform pressure on the crimping dies in crimping a cap on a bottle irrespective of the irregularities in the neck or crown of the bottle, said means comprising fluidoperated means for moving the dies and means for connecting said moving means with the fluid pressure maintained within the machine.

27. A bottle capping machine or the like ha'ing in combination a cylinder, a fluid pressure operated piston operating in said cylinder, a second cylinder secured to said piston, a second fluid pressure operated piston operating in said second cylinder, means for holding down the cap or the like carried by said second piston, means for crimping or securing the cap or the like in place carried by said first piston, said first piston having a port therethrough, a valve for opening and closing said port, and means carried by the second piston for opening and closing said valve.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a main cylinder, a lluid. pressure operated piston and cylinder therein, a second fluid pressure operated piston operating in said last mentioned cylinder, the first piston having a port therethrough for connecting one end of the main cylinder with the other end thereof, means for opening and closing said port dependent upon a predetermined relative movement between the two pistons, a cap holding means carried by one piston and a cap crimping means carried by the other piston.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in (annbination a main cylinder, a lluid pressure operated piston and cylinder therein, a second fluid pressure operated piston operating in said last mentioned cylinder, the first piston having a port therethrough for connecting one end of the main cylinder with the other end thereof, an eX- haust port carried by said first cylinder, valves for opening and closing said ports, means for operating said valves dependent upon certain predetermined relative moveinenis between the two pistons, a cap holding means carried by one piston and a cap crimping means carried by the other piston.

30. A. bottle capping machine or the like having inv combination a main cylinder. a [laid pressure operated piston operating thereii'i, a second cylinder connected to said piston, a second piston operating in the last mentioned cylinder, an exhaust port carried by said first piston, a valve for opening and closing said exhaust port, means for operating said valve responsive to a predetermined movement at one piston relative to the other, a cap holding means carried by one piston and a. c: p crimping means carried by the other piston.

31. A bottle capping machine or the like having in combii'iation, a main cylinder, a fluid pressure operated piston operating therein, a secoinl cylinder connected to said. piston, a second piston operating in the last mentioned cylinder, an exhaust port carried by said first piston and embracing a pipe extending and reciprocating through the head oi. the main cylinder, a valve for opening and. closing said exhaust port, means for operating said valve responsive to a predetermined movement oi? one piston relative to the other, av cap holding means carried by one piston and. a cap crimping means carried by the other piston.

2&2. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a pair of tluid. pressure operating elements for holding and crimping or securing a cap upon a bottle or the like, and means for causing said elements to move toward. the bottles responsive to a predetermined movement of the elements.

38. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination amain cylinder, a piston and second cylinder operating therein, a second piston operating in the second cylinder, a cap holding means carried by one piston and a cap crimping means carried by the other piston, and means for causing said pistons to move toward the bottles responsive to a predetermined movement of the pistons away from the bottles or the like.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a cylinder, a fluid pressure operated piston operating in said cylinder, a second cylinder secured to said. piston, a second fluid pressure operated piston operating in said second cylinder, means for holding down the cap or the like carried by said second piston, means for crim iiing or securing the cap or the like in place carried by said first piston, said first piston having a port therethrough, a valve for opening and closing said port, a member 'arried by the second piston and a spring operating between said member and valve for closing the valve.

A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination a pair of fluid pressure operating elements for holding and crimping or securing a cap upon a bottle or the like, means for c: ising said elements to more to 'ard the bottles responsive to a predetermined movement of the elements, said means embracing a valve carried by one of the elements for controlling the application of fluid pressure to operate the elements, and

i a spring operating between said valve and a fixed part of the machine for closing said valve.

36. A bottle capping machine or the like having in combination. a fluid pressure operated means tor holding the cap upon the bottle or the like, and a fluid pressure operated means for crimping the cap upon the bottle or the like, said last mentioned means embracing crimping dies cushioned by fluid pressure to produce the crimping action.

37. A. bottle capping machine or the like having in coml'iination means for holding the cap on the bottle or the like, and means for crimping the cap upon the bottle or the like. said last mentioned means embracing a phirality of crimping dies each forced by fluid pre sure to crimp the cap on the bottle or the like.

38. In a bottle capping machine or the like a cap crii'nping head embracing a plurality ot crimping dies and a plurality of pistons :lor torcing said dies laterally by lluid. pressure to crimp the caps on the bottles or the like.

39. In. a bottle capping machine or the like, a fluid. pressure operated cap holding means, and fluid pressure operated vertically reciprocating cap crimping means, said last mentioned means embracing a plurality of crimping dies forced laterally by fluid pressure to crimp the caps on the bottles or the like.

40. In a bottle capping machine or the like, means for holding the bottle or the like, means movable relatively to the holding means and bottle for crimping a cap upon the bottle, means for causing the crimping means to move relatively toward the holding means responsive to a predetermined movement thereof away from the holding means, and means for causing a reverse relative movement of the holding means and crimping means responsive to a certain., predetermined movement of the crimping means with respect to the bottle, whereby the machine automatically adjusts itself for bottles of varying heights.

4.1. A bottle capping apparatus or the like having in combination, fluid pressure operated means for clenching a cap upon a bottle or the like, means for supplying an operating fluid to said means, means for checking the pressure of fluid supplied when a predetermined pressure of the fluid is reached, and means for checking the exhaust of the fluid from the apparatus until a predetermined pressure of exhaust fluid is reached.

42. A bottle capping apparatus or the like, having in combination, fluid pressure operated means for clenching a cap upon a bottle or the like, means for automatically causing the clenching means to move away from the bottle or the like, dependent upon a predetermined movement of the clenching means, means for supplying an operating fluid to the apparatus, and means for limiting the pressure of the fluid supplied to opcrate the clenching means.

43. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination, a cylinder, a piston cylinder operating in said cylinder, a piston operating in said piston cylinder, parts carried by said piston cylinder and piston for clenching a cap upon a bottle or the like, means for causing said piston cylinder and piston to move away from the bottle, and adjustable means carried by the piston for controlling said reversing means.

l i. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination means for securing the caps on the bottles or the like, a hopper for the caps, a disk rotatable in a path in communication with the hopper, a plurality of magnets extending in parallel and horizontally in said disk whereby said disk will pick up caps from the hopper by magnetic attraction, the caps attaching themselves to the vertical side of the disk, and means for conveying the caps from the disk to said cap securing means.

45. A fluid operated bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and carrying cap securing means, said piston having difl'erent effective pressure areas 011 its reverse working sides, means for admitting fluid through said piston from the smaller eflective working area side of the piston to the larger effective working area side of the piston, and means for exhausting the fluid from said larger side.

46. A fluid operated bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder and carrying cap securing means, said piston having different effective pressure areas on its reverse working sides, means for admitting fluid through said piston from the smaller effective working area side of the piston to the larger effective working area side of the piston, means for exhausting the fluid from said larger side, and means dependent on certain predetermined movements of the piston for controlling the operation of said admitting means and exhausting means.

47. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine, having in combination a piston chamber, a pair of fluid pressure operated pistons extending within said chamber and adapted when operated to hold a cap down and secure it upon a bottle, one of said pistons carrying an exhaust passage leading out of said chamber, means for establishing fluid communication between the ends of the chamber, means for establishing fluid communication between one end of the chamber and the exhaust passage, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the other end of said chamber.

48. In a bottle capping machine or the like, a securing die comprising a plurality of separate sections for securing a bottle cap or the like in position, each section being provided with means whereby it may be pressed by fluid pressure, and means for supplying fluid under pressure thereto.

49. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of two relatively movable pistons having provision at their lower ends cooperating to secure a cap upon a bottle, said pistons having provision for automatic reversal of their movement opcratively con trolled by predetermined relative movement between them, for withdrawing the said capsecuring means from the bottle after the cap has been secured.

50. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of two relatively movable poweroperated pistons, one of said pistons having provision at its lower end for pressing a cap upon a bottle, crimping dies carried at the lower end of the other piston to crimp the cap 011 the bottle, the pistons being arranged so that the first piston presses the cap upon the bottle before the crimping dies are brought into operative position by the second piston, and means operatively controlled by the relative movement of the pistons, for controlling the reversal oi the pistons to cause them to be automatically withdrawn from the bottle alter the cap has been socured.

51. in a bottle capping machine, the combination oi two relatively movable power operated pistons having provision at their lower ends cooperating to secure a cap upon a bottle, the pistons being so arranged that one moves with respect to the other after said other has pressed the cap upon the bottle, and means operated responsive to predetermined relative movement between the pistons, 'for causing the reversal of the pistons after the cap is secured, said last n'ientioncd means having provision for adjustment for varying the desired relative movement betw en the pistons to adapt them to caps and bottle crowns ct diterent shapes.

in a bottle capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, two relatively movable lluid pressureoperated pistons having provision at their lower ends for pressing a cap upon a bottle and for then crimping the cap upon. the bottle, said pistons being arranged to move one with respect to the other after said other has pressed a cap upon the bottle, a valve operatively related to the pistons and automatically operated after they relative movement between the pistons, for exhausting the fluid pressure from the cylinder to permit the withdrawal of the pistons from the bottle, and adjusting means for varying the desired relative movement be tween the pistons in securing the cap on the bottle, to adapt them to caps and bottle crowns of different shapes.

in a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, a plurality of relatively movable fluid-pressureoperated pistons having provision at their lower ends for pressing the cap upon the bottle and for then crimping the cap upon the bottle including a cap-hold-down part and cooperating cap-crimping dies, with means carried the lower end of one of the pistons and operated therein by fluid pressure for forcing the crimping dies against the cap, and means connecting said last fluid pressure operating means with the cylinder for conveying fluid to operate said means.

In a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, at plurality of relatively movable tluid-pressureoperated pistons, a cap-hold-down part carried at the lower end of one of said pistons for engaging and pressing a cap upon a bottle, cooperating eap-crinnaing dies for crimping the cap upon the bottle, fluidpressure-operated. means for forcing the dies inward into engagement with the cap oeepvc after the cap has been pressed upon the bottle by the hold-down part, and means controlled responsive to the relative movement between said pistons after the caphold-down parthas engaged the bottle, for causing the release of the crimping dies from the cap.

55. In a fluid-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of a cylinder, a plurality of relatively movable tlui iln'essui'ooperated pistons, a caphold-down part at the lower end oi? one o:[ the pistons, cooperating crimping dies carried at the lower end of the othe" piston, fluid-pressure-operated means carried by said last piston for torcing said crimping dies into position to en gage and crimp the cap, and means controlled. responsive to predetermined elative movement between the pistons and 0p erated immediately upon the completion oil: the relative movement, for exhausting the fluid pressure to permit the withdrawal of the pistons from the bottle.

56. In a fluid-pressure-operated bottle capping machine, the combination of a eylinder, a plurality of relatively movable fluid-pressureoperated pistons, one of said pistons having provision at its lower end for pressing a cap upon a. bottle, cooperating cap-crimping dies carried by the other pis ton, said pistons being so arranged that the last piston is moved with respect to the other after said other has pressed a cap upon the bottle, and means ope "atively controlled by the relative movement of: said pistons to cause automatic reversal of the crimping-die-carrying piston to withdraw the crimping dies after the cap has been socured to the bottle and to cause the caphold-down piston to be firmly pressed upon the cap until the crimping dies have been w i th drawn.

5?. In a fluid-pressure-operated bottle capping machine, the combination. of a cylinder, a plurality of relatively movable fluidpressure operated pistons, one of said pistons having provision at its lower end for pressing the cap upon a bottle, cooperating cap-crimping dies carried by the other piston, the pistons being so arranged that the first piston presses the cap upon the bottle before the crimping dies are brought into operative position by the second piston, and valve mechanism controlling the fluid pressure, operatively controlled by the relative movement of the pistons, for causing the reversal of the second piston to withdraw the crimping dies from the cap, while maintaining the fluid pressure on the first piston until the dies have been withdrawn from the cap.

58. A bottle capping machine or the like, having in combination a main cylinder, a main iiuid-pressure-operated piston in said cylinder, a cylinder carried at the lower end of said main piston and of less diameter than the main cylinder so as to provide a space between the outer wall of said inner cylinder and the inner wall of the outer cylinder for fluid, a port for admitting fluid to the main cylinder below the main piston during the reciprocations of the piston, a port for admitting fluid from the portion of the main cylinder below the main piston into the inner cylinder to maintain pressure therein during the reciprocations of the main piston, a piston carried at the lower end of the inner cylinder and having its upper surface constantly acted upon by fluid pressure to force it downward, said in ner piston being adapted at its lower end to engage and press a cap upon a bottle and the lower end of said inner cylinder having provision for effecting the crimping of the cap upon the bottle while it is held down by the said inner piston and being movable relative to the inner piston, whereby it will move downward after the inner piston has engaged the cap and will be lifted by fluid pressure from the bottle before the cap is released by the inner piston, a valved port controlling the flow of fluid from the low 3 surface of the main piston to its upper surface controlled responsive to the relative movement of the inner cylinder and its piston during the capsecuring operation for returning said inner cylinder to move it away from the bottle, and a valved exhaust port controlling the flow of fluid from the portion of the main cylinder above the main piston.

LOUIS I-I. BRINKMAN. Witnesses DANL F. REIsENWEBER, HENRY JANNEY.

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

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