US1319922A - Planoqraph co - Google Patents

Description

MACHINE FOR PACKING DISK LIKE ARTICLES IN TUBULAR CONTAINERS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20.*I9I6. 1,319,922. Patented oet. 28,1919.

.5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Y .k Tm: coLmmm pLmnsR/ml cb., WASHINGTON, me'.

I. E. BUxIoN.

MACHINE FOR PACKING DISK LIKE ARTICLES IN TUBULAR CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. I9Ie.

1,319,922. PaIenIed OCI. 28,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Alll Il llllllllllllllmlllIllllllllllllllllllllll' wml.

THE coLUMnIA PLANQCIRAPII C0.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

F. E. BUXTON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING DISK LIKE ARTICLES IN TUBULAR CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. |916.

1,319,922. I Patented oef. 28,1919.

5 lSHIiETS--SHEIT 3- @A of JMZW ATTORNEY.

F. E. BUXTON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING DISK LIKE ARTICLES IN TUBULAH CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 19I6.

e- 4 [N VE N TOR.

b, y LQ/MQ', 6003:(

ATTORNEY.

THE COLUMJM PLLNOGRRPH Co.. WASHINGTON, D, c.

F. E. BUXTON.

MACHINE FOR PACKING DiSK LIKE ARTICLES lN TUBULAR CONTAINERS.

APPLlcATloN FILED MAR. 2o. 19.16.

1,819,922. Patented oct. 28,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

. IN VEN TOR:

ygwcm ATTORNEY.

FRANCIS E. BUXTON, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MACHINE FOR PACKING DISK-LIKE ARTICLES IN TUBULAR CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0015.28, 1919.

Application mea March 2o, 191e. 'serial No. 85,498.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. BUx'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Indianapolis. in the county o-f Marion and State ofIndiana, whose postoiiice address is No. 33 East Downie street, Indianapolis, Indiana, have invented a new and useful Machine for Packing Disk-like Articles in Tubular Containers, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive exposition, the same being such as will enable others to construct and operate the same with exactitude.

My present invention hasv reference to packing and securing fiat disk-like articles in tubular containers, and it relates especially to machines for tubing milk bottle caps in plain commercial cardboard tubes and securing such caps in their tubes.

Broadly stated, my object is to provide a machine to rapidly and practically accomplish the results above stated.

Other objects and particular advantages of this invention will be brought out in the course of the following description, and that which is new and useful will be brought out in the claims.

The preferred means for carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical and a mechanical manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is alefthand end elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a right-hand end elevation of same. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the bell-crank and push-rod arrangement. Fig. 5 is a partial cross section of the machine, showing one of the tube filling mechanisms and a detail of the friction gear drive. Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the top tie-bar and showing the manner of posi.- tioning the receiver heads therein. Fig. 7 is a plan view of one of the means for intercepting the articles and Wfor dropping them in horizontal position into the tubes. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the means for supporting and preparing the tubes. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of certain of the parts shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is an inner side elevation of the righthand standard broken away and on which is carried the receiving heads and their mechanisms. Fig, 1l iS. a front elevation of the parts sho-wn in Fig. 10 and also showing the tube crimping head inr mounted position. Fig. 12 is a broken vertical plan view of the receiving heads, also showing the tube crimping head. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the receiving head and the valve devices for the disks. Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 13, showing the cam faces in detail. Fig. 15 is a vertical plan of the same as shown in Fig. 13, and showing the pivoted arms in detail. Fig. 16 is a broken Sectional view of the receiving head showing the feeding device in mounted position. Fig. 17 is ardetail of the broken Y portion of the right-hand side of the standard, on which is shown mounted a slightly l modified form of the crimping head mechanism. Fig. 18 is a vertical plan of that shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 19 shows a broken portion of the right-hand standard on which is shown the lower reaming head mechanism. Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the complete crimping and reaming devices. Fig. 21 is a detail view of the crimping cup and reaming head. Fig. 22 is another view of the parts shown in Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a vertical elevation of the lower tube-support and reamer, also showing the reamer speed device in detail. Fig. 24 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the valve released, the same being extended. Fig. 25 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 24. Fig. 26 shows a side elevation of the valve as, it appears in action; and Fig. 27 is a top plan of the parts shown in Fig-26. Similar indices denote like parts through the several views of the four sheets of drawings.

This machine comprises in its construction the main frame-including the two end members, 1 and 2; respectively, which are connected at the bottom by the two tie-rods 3 and 4, and thereabov@J by the two crossbars 5 and 6. The frame is braced by the two brace rods 90 which cross each other,l

as shown in Fig. 2, with their ends to the end members of the frame. The frame is mounted on rollers 7 to facilitate the machine being moved about over a floor.

Vertical screw anchors 8 are provided b y which the machine may be secured in posltion as desired.

The machine herein shown has five supports .for containers, and the same number ing'and supporting a container in an exact vert-icaly position to receive the caps; means todeliver the capsto vthe tubes; Aand having means intermediately positioned between the points of horizontal delivery and the tubes that act on the caps to ycause them toaccumulate in bunches or loose packs before they are allowed to drop by gravity into the tube, by which they will fall in perfectly flat position.

'Each unit also comprises a conveyer device which in Yits highest position receives the caps and gradually recedes downward, holding the vuppermost cap at relatively the saine height as the ymouth of the tube until the tube is filled with the caps.

is shown in `the drawings, they tubes or containers are arranged vertically extending between the two cross-bars 5 and 6, and for this purpose cross-bars 5 land 6 are provided with seats 9 and .10 which are arranged in series, having their front sides formed as shown iiiFig. 7, to permit the tube to be slid within the saine. Adjacent to seat 9 there 4is vprovided a `spring clip 9a, the arms of which conform to the tube near the extreme ends thereofin order to hold the tube in position, but allowing it to be removed by hand when it is so desired. The upper seat 10 is :positioned on the under side of the cross-bar .6, and it is provided with an opening 12, yit being in exact alineinent with the vertical tube and of .the saine internal diameter. Extending upward from the opening 12 is a round throat which registers with the opening` formed within the receiving head 13 as'shown. Said head V13 is rigidly inoui'ited within the cross-bar6, and extends vertically vupward to the feeding mechanism substantially as shown. `rlhe caps are conveyed to lthe 'respective heads by means of endless belts 114, `which are not a part ofv this invention but .belong to the factory equipment..

Each head 13 is lprovided with kan apron 16 that bridges the space Vbetween the head opening and the belt lfabove mentioned.

The upper surface of the. apron 16 is `horizcntallyl inline with l.the carrying surlis in the .form ofendless belts 1.7, carried by the rollers 18, which' latter are carried by `all of the caps in horizontal position.

the shaft 20, and the rollers 19, which are secured on the shaft 21, the same being journal mounted in floating arms 21a, which are also journaled to the shaft 20, as shown in Fig. 12.

The said rollers are arranged in pairs, and in such manner that the lower run of the belt 17 will engage the caps carried up by the belt 14, and carrying them over the apron 16 into the head 13, whereby I secure perfect feeding of the caps to the heads and to further assure the same provide an intermediate roller 22, carried by a floating shaft, which is journaled to the arms 22a,

which are in turn mounted on the drive shaft 20 adjacent to the arms 21a. The forward roller 18 is positioned in the inclosure of the apron, as shown in Fig. 16, and `it is slightly back from the edge of the receiver head-opening. This is in order that the caps may travel directly forward in a true horizontal position until they are released by the feeding .belt 17, and permitted to drop singly into the bell-shaped opening of the head, moving down only a slightl distance when they are checked as hereinafter described.

The checking devices act as valves in the heads, they being arranged in pairs in each head, one above the other and they are so operated that when one set is in the ypath of the bunch of caps, the other may be open, and vice versa, whereby when a bunch of caps is released by one set it will be caught by the .other set, thereby retaining As each valve comprises essentially two parts, which open outwardly and inwardly oppositely to each other, the Vparts of the upper valve Aare denoted bythe numerals 23 and 2st, while the corresponding parts of the lower valve are denoted by the numerals 25 and 26. These valves are plainliat plates, having their inner portions equally spaced and formed to register tothe equally spaced :position of the heads, see Figs. 10, 1st and 15,

they beingeut away at 27 in order to remove them out of the path of the caps inuch .more quickly and not destroy the base support for the bottom cap thereof. The said valve plates extend for a proper ydistance v'beyond the width of the positioned heads 13,

and formed in the ends of said plates are slots into which are vertically located the arms 28 and.29, which are trunnioned to the heads 13. Each of'said arms is provided at its upper end .with an integral inturned extension 31, which will hereinafter be referred to. Each set of valves is caused to act in parallel mot-ion, and yin this instance l provide cams 32 and 33, which are mount- `ed on horizontal shafts 311 and 35 positioned near the eXtreme ends of the machine, but they act centrally betweentlie lower pair of valve ends, and indirectly through the. said arm devices 31 and 31, to positively time the closing of the lower valve. For this purpose each cam is provided on its two opposite faces with two cam surfaces 36 and 37, Fig. 14. The cam surface 36 acts to open the lower valve, but in so acting, by reason of the pivoted arm connection 31, the upper valve is quickly closed. The upper valve is positively timed in its closing, by reason of the inner cam in contact with the arm extension 31. The said cam surfaces are so arranged relative to each otherl that before the lower valve has positively released the pack Aof caps the upper valve has positioned to obstruct the passage of the oncoming caps, and a new bunch of caps is being formed, and vice versa.

Said cam surfaces are arranged relatively to the time of receiving the bottommost cap, and to the release ofthe accumulated pack, thus: There is an intermediate throw provided on both the outer and inner cam faces 38 and 39, these cam surfaces acting on the same arm devices partially open each pair of valves after a single cap has formed a base, and it is evident that this is provided for safety from fouling, and a quick ,release at constant speed.

The caps having been deposited in a position relatively to the container or tube, means have been provided whereby the said caps are safely deposited in their tubed position. I have, therefore, arranged within each tube a receiving and lowering device which will check the rapid downward movement of the caps. This device is herein shown as comprising a plunger 40 having an enlarged head 40a, to support the accumulated caps. Said plunger is mounted within a reciprocating tube-portion 41, which extends through an opening in the cross-bar 5, which opening registers with the seat formed through the lower end of the tube or container, and it is slidab-ly journaled at its lower end to a -bracket 42 carried by the said cross-bar 5. The said plunger 40 is caused to recede at a speed that is regulated by the speed of filling, and the gage of the material from which 'the caps are formed.

Ihe receiving and lowering device includes a tube or bar 40 contained in a reciprocating tube portion 4 1 which is carried by a base connecting bar 43 which is attached to a vertical friction bar 44, and arranged to be moved downward by a friction-pinion 45 carried by a shaft 46. The shaft 46 is shown as being carried by two extension arms or bearings 47 which are integral with the cross-bar 5, said cross-bar may be adjusted up and down by the hand-wheel screws 48 which are carried by the standards 1 and 2, these are provided as a means to vary the distance required for various lengths of tubes. The shaft 46 is provided with a pin-gear comprising a disk 49 and a pinion 50 to form the driving mechanism. The pinion 50v being mounted on the angle shaft 51 which is driven in a manner herein-` after described.

rllhe speed of the shaft 46 is regulated by raising or lowering the pinion 50 by turning the thumb-screw 52, and the proper downward motion of the friction bar 44 is thus secured. 'Ihe length of the saidA friction bar is such that it will have receded beyond the frictional contact of its driving pinion 45 when the plunger-head 40a shall have reached the position at rest within the seat 9.

The cut-od' valve 53, located just over the uppermost end of the filling tube, is now brought into action, which divides the caps and closes the head passage, the description and further action of which will be further stated hereinafter.

After the lled tube has been removed and an empty one is substituted in its place, the cut-off valve 53 will automatically swing the rack-portion free of the pinion 45, it being actuated -by the following: A bracket 54 is mounted upon the lower cross-bar 5 in a suitable position and the-same carries a bellcrank 55 journaled to its upper standard portion and it is provided with a connecting draft-rod 56. Engaging its lower portion is a reciprocating plate 57 which is carried by the cross-'bar 5. Said plate has an overhanging slotted portion 58vwith which registers the said vertical friction bar 44. The upper end of the rod 56 has provided a suitable hinged connection, with a second bellcrank lever 59 that connects with the cut-off' valve handle bracket 60 and also by a connecting link 61, as in Fig. 10.

It should be noticed that when the cut-off valve handle is pushed inwardly by the operator that the mechanism just described will give the conveying mechanism "a slight rotary motion to the right suiicient to release and allow the device to be raised by the operator 'by menas of the lifting rod 62.

The plunger rod l40 being again in its uppermost position and a new cycle of operation can now proceed as before. In order to shorten the travel and make more compact the cap conveyor the mechanism including the parts 40, 41 and 44, I propose to make the `plunger collapsible. To this end I have shown the plunger proper in two parts, both parts being hollow, the upper part 40 being telescoped within the lower part, and held normally in its extended position by means of a spring 63. A cable 64 is attached to the lower end of theupper plunger 40, and it extends downward through the hollow portion of member 41, and then extends about a suitable sheavc-wheel 65 carried by the Ibar 43, thus as the friction bar 44 is moved downward by friction contact with the friction pinion 45 (shown in Fig. 7 and in dotted lines in Figs. l, 3 and 5) the rods will become telescoped in such manner as to greatly reduce the length thereof. To avoid excessive compression of the spring 63, and to 5 maintain its raising force that the initial posit-ion of the plunger tube 40 may be constant, I have shown a plug 66 slidably mounted within the lower end-portion of the hollow rod 41. Said plug is so formed as to be a yielding` support for the said spring, and it is connected by a projecting lip 67 to the lifting device 68. The lower ends of the hollow rod 4l and said plug are slotted to receive the lip of the device 68 and the l5 sheave 65 to permit the plug 66 to operate freely. y Y

A suitable clip 69, carried by the cross-bai 5, is broughtV in spring contact with the lifting rod 62,' to counteract the downward pressure of the spring 63. As the plunger rods move downwardly the tension'of the 'springs would be greatly increasedv at `their lowest point, therefore the plug will be caused to move downwardly thus relieving the" tension. When lifting the operating rod 62 a reinforced section of thesprin'g-tension is thereby secured to maintain the plunger in' its initial position. The upper cross-bar 6 is permanently locatedk within the standards and 2 of the machine.

Mounted on the'shaft 46, that is journaled into the arm 47, is a friction pinion wheel 45, and thesame rotates vcontinuously in a forward direction for the purpose previously stated.

A cut off 53 is provided, as hereinbefore mentioned and as shown in F ig.` l2, to close the receiving head 13 at its bottom end, and

lo this cut off acts to separate and stop the passage of the caps when a filled tube is to be removed; rlhis cut off is in the form of a thin fiat plate mounted in a guide-way in the head 13, and the same is supported by the end clip extensions slidably mounted on a runner-rod 70 which is secured to the cross-bar 6. A valve handle bracket 60 is mounted on the Asaid cut off for the purpose before mentioned.

y A spring 71is carried by the rod l70, be-

tween the bracket 60 and the cross-bar 6, to positively holdv the cut off out of the head passage when not in use.

In Fig. 24 the cut-off 53 is shown in its inoperative position, and as being held in that position by the spring 71. To apply the cut-0E the operator has only to push the butt of the handle inward until the latch 72 by its own weight drops within .its

60 position' at the top of the vertical extension 53", asshown in Fig. 26. A tooth 72X is formed on the under side of the latch 72 which engages with the extension 53X. To release the cut-ofi' the operator has only to raise the latch 7 2 which releases the tooth 72X and the vspring 71 automatically causes the latch to rebound forward against the nut on the end of the rod 70, which will move the cut-ofi'1 to a distance suflicient to clear the throat passage, and allowing the accumulated caps to drop to their lower position.

Thelatch 72 is pivotedly mounted on the bar 6 and it engages the valve extension when the same is in operative position and it is thereby held secure. It will now be seen that when an empty tube is lifted by the operator that the said spring automatically opens the cut-off, thereby releasing the accumulated caps positioned within the head 13, allowingfthem toy freely drop upon the receding plunger 40a, as hereinbefore described.

n In Fig. 3 there is shown a main drive pulley 7 3, which is motor driven, and it is mounted on the standard member 2, and it is driven by the belt 74. Connected concentrically with the pulley 73 is the smaller pulley 75 which is connected by a chain 76 with the sprocket wheely 77 which is carried by the shaft 20. However in Fig. 20 I show 90 a slightly modified form, but only as to position relative to the frame, the drive wheel K occupying a position on the inside of the frame standard as indicated. A Y

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 there is mount- 95 ed on the drive shaft 20 apulley 80, which is belt driven by pulley 81, upon which is mounted a sprocket wheel 82 connected by the chain 83 with the sprocket wheel S4 carried by the shaft 85 which is mounted in the 100 end standard of the frame, and having thereon a plurality of miter membersy 86 and 87 which gear-connect the shafts 34 and 35, as shown in Fig. 12, on which the cams 32 and 33 are fixed. The shaft 85 also carries a 105 worm-gear 88 which drives the angularly positioned shaft 51 which latter drives the cap conveying mechanism above stated.

The shaft 51 drives the cap conveyer in the following manner: yAs shown in ig. l12 110 the power is transmitted from the shaft 85 by a suitable reducingworm gear, 88 and 88, the latter is permanently attached to Jthe angular-ly located shaft V51. The lower end of the shaft 51 is carriedrotatably by a 115 bracket bearing, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, which is secured to the frame standard. A vertically adjustable gear` pinion 50 is iocated on the lower enjd portion of the shaft 51, and said pinion engages Yat right-angles with the pin-wheel disk 49 which is rigidly attached to and carried by the shaft 46. The speed of the shaft may be varied by raising or lowering said pinion by means ofthe nut 52. A plurality of spaced apart friction wheel gears 45 are rigidly secured to the driven shaft 46, and the same engages the contact portions provided on the vertical rods 44, thereby causing the conveyer devices to be drawn downward at the proper speed that they accord with the lling of the tubes by the caps.

In order that the plain commercial tubes or retainers may be filled it is necessary that their ends be treated in a manner that will facilitate their being filled; and also thatJ the ends be operated upon in order to retain the caps therein. I accomplish these results first by chamfering or beveling the inner surfaces of the ends, particularly the end that is placed uppermost in the machine; and second by crimping or'turning in the ends of the tubes in such manner that the caps will be retained in compact position therein. Since one end of the tube must be crimped in, and the other end thereof must be beveled, before being filled, therefore I provide devices for accomplishing these results simultaneously, and then after the tube is filled, as hereinbefore set forth, the other end of the tube must be crimped or turned in in order toseal the caps therein, therefore to accomplish the above advantageously upon the right-hand standard 2 a reaming head 91 is mounted upon a suitable shaft 92 and a vertically adjusting bracket 93, which is carried by said standard. The shaft 92 has secured thereto a pulley 94, around which the belt 95 extends and extends to the driving pulley 96 which is mounted on the vertical shaft 97 which is carried by the brackets 98 and 99, and on said shaft is mounted the drive pulley 100, which is driven from any source of power.

Carried by the bracket 493 are two arms 101 and 102 (Fig. 23) on the former is mounted an idler 103, and on the latter is a bell-crank 105 and an idler 104. Attached to said bell-crank is a connecting link 105a into which is hinged a second bell-'crank lever 106 carried by a suitable bracket 107 which is secured to the frame standard.

The horizontal arm of the crank 106 is pivotedly attachedto a push rod 108, which is hinged to a hand-lever 109 which is swung on the frame standard. A coil spring 110 is disposed on the rod 108 and is supported by a bracket 111attached to the frame in a manner to hold the hand-lever in a raised position. Positioned directly over the reaming head is a Crimping head 112, which is mounted on the shaft 113 and carried by a bracket 114, which is slidably mounted on the frame standard.

A driven pulley 115 is carriedby the said shaft and in a manner to be connected by an endless belt 116, which is driven by a pulley 117 carried by the vertical shaft 97. Positioned on each of the- brackets 93 and 114 are a plurality of arm lugs 118 and 119, on which are projected a plurality of rods 120. And attached tothe said rods are a pair of yokes 121 formed in such manner as to slidably engage the rims of the driven pulleys 117 and 96. The said pulleys are feather-keyed in suitable ways formedV on the shaft.

It will be obvious that in whatever position the heads are located vertically the driving pulleys are maintainedy in exact valinement, by means of the instrumentalities hereinbefore set forth.

The crimping head device is actuated by a belt tightener in a positive manner, as indicated in Fig. 18, which shows a device mounted on the yoke 122 that is slidably carried by the bracket arms 119 and positioned between said yoke arms is a shaft and an idle pulley 123, in a position to press against the belt 116, but it is withheld away by a spring 124 (shown in Fig. 18). Asec- 0nd roller 125 is carried by said yoke and engages a cam'127 permanently positioned on the frame.

To actuate the crimping and truing heads I provide a foot lever 128 f which swings from the rear standard leg, to which is pivoted a draft rod 129, the uppermost end of which is yoked to the bracket arm 130 as shown. An intermediate coil spring` 131 is engaged around the lower yend of said rod and attached to the lug 132 in order to assist in maintaining the crimper-head' in its normal position. A second Aspring is shown at 133 which is attached to the frame arm 134 and to the bracket arm as described. A balance wheel 135 (Fig. 11) is mounted on the crimping head shaft to assist in the momentary 'period required to treat or seal the tubes. It should be understood that the lower head device answers for two purposes: The flanged or base portion 136 acts to true and roam only, while the tcp portion 137 acts as a centering support while sealing the filled tube. To operate the complete mechanism, and in order' to prepare a tube, I'placean empty tube within the said reamer and center the saine within the fork 138 directly under the crimping head, now by applying downward pressure on the hand'lever 109 the idler 104 acts on the belt 95 in a manner such as to drive the said reaming head in the proper direction to true the tube, but at the same time the operator has applied downward pressure on the foot lever 128, which by reason of the aforesaid devices simultaneously, tightens the crimping head belt 116, and also exerts a downward pressure and a right centrifugal turn to the said crimping head relative to the lower vertically fixed truing head thereof. This combined 'operationhas instantly prepared a tube that can now be filled by the filling devices above mentioned.

Now on releasing the levers 109 and 128 the said crimping head device automatically resumes its former inactive position, and also reaming head resumes its formel inactive position,

A filled tube may now be brought forward and placed Ain the same vertical position intermediate said heads, the .lowerI crimped end being supported 7on its centering and now stationary seat 137. The crimping or sealing of the filled tube requires only an action of ones foot,as ypreviously described. Havingl now sealed the lilled tube the device returns toat rest position to be again-employed.

Having now fully shown and described the best exemplification of my invention to me known at this time, what l claim and de" sire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A machine of the character set forth, comprising` a support for a container, a feeding device to discharge articles above said container, and means to intercept the articles so discharged and arrange them ,in .proper position relatively to the container land vthen release them to continue .their movement toward the container by gravity, and means for lowering the articles gradually 1n ythe container.

2. A machine ofthe character described` comprising supports for a containeiya feeding device to discharge articles above .sa-id container, adevice to intercept the articles as discharged and arrange them vin proper position relatively .to the container, means for releasing the articles and permitting them to gravitate toward the container, and a receiving device operative within the container and adapted to gradually lower said articles in the container, there being means for causing the container to retain Vthe articles therein in compact lposition with relation to each other.

3. A machine for `packing flat articles'in a container, comprising a support for the container, means lfor delivering' vthe articles in a substantially horizontal positiony above the container, means to intercept the articles and arrange them in packs to be delivered into the container, a receiving means adapted to check the packs of articles nea-r the upper end of the container and lower them gradually in the container, substantially as shown and described.

4L. A machine for packing sheet ,like articles in fiat compact relation to eachother, comprising a. support for the `container in which the articles are to be packed, ,means for discharging the articles in horizontal position above said container, a head into which the articles are delivered and arranged in groups, means for grouping the articles and permitting them to gravitate to the upper end of the container and then discharge them therein, and means for receiving the articles near the top of the container and then lowering them gradually in the container.

5. In a machine of the character set forth,

a support for a container, a Xed head whose interior leads to the top of the container, a feeding device Eto deliverk articles to said head, means for forming the articles in groups and ,then delivering them into the open upper end of the container, Ymeans for lowering the articles in ithe container, and means for securing thearticles within the container,` all substantially as shown and described.

6. a machine of ,thecharacter set forth, a support for a container, a head leading to the containeron the support, a feeding device to deliver articles to said head, a plurality of valve like devices each movable into and out ofthe path of theuarticles moving through said head, said valve like devices being spaced apart and so controlled lthat when one device is out of the `path of movement another device `will be in said path in order to assemble the articles in packs before delivery vinto the container.

7. In a. machineof the character described, a support for a. container, a head whose interior leads into the container, a tro-ugh portion mountedpn the head in vsuch manner as to convey the articles to bepacked', a feeding device to deliver articles through said head into .said container, a controlling mechanismv carried by the. -head and comprising two valves4 each- 1lliaving' two ymembers arranged on opposite sides nof the head, the two members of each valve being vmovable simultaneously toward and away from each other to obstruct or open said opening through the head, the two valves being Y arranged one ioo above the other and spaced apart, and means i v bar and providing means whereby the receiving device is operated therein, a worm geared driving shaftpositioned transversely at the rear and having its extreme ends supported by arms carried by said cross-bar, a friction gear ,which coperates with the said receiving device and providing ,means to gradually bring the said receiver downto its lower limit 0f movement, all substantially asset forth.

9. In a machine of thecharacter set forth, a frame including cross-bars, means for supporting containers between two of said lcrossbars, means to deliver the articles to be packed to the upper ends of the containers, means lto receive said articles and causethem i to move gradually to their final positions, tion mounted Within said receiving rod, and means to release said receiving device after means whereby the receiving device may be it has reached its lowest position, means to raised to its initial position.

iaise said receiving device comprising a ver- FRANCIS E. BUXTON. tical slidahle rod mounted in the lower cross- Witnesses:

bar, a bracket to which said rod is attached, VIOLA M. BUXTON,

said bracket being attached to a plug por- ORA L. HULL.

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

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