US1406963A - Apparatus for moving articles of magnetic material - Google Patents

Description

.AIIGUS. APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES 0F MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. T 2, 19H,

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. J. ANGUS.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES 0F MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILE'D JAN. 12. T917.

1 ,406,963 Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2- D. J. ANGUS.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES 0F MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 19H. 1,406,963, Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

l ay D. J. ANGUS.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2. I91?- Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

8 SHIzETS-SHEET 4.

r I I D. l. ANGUS.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES 0F MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

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D. J. ANGUS.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES 0F MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. 1917.

8 SHEETSSHEET e.

m mi v Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

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APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES 0F MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

APPLECATION FILED JAN. 12. 191?.

1,406,963, Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

s SHEETSSHEET 7. //0' D. J. ANGUS.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES 0F MAGNETIC MATERIAL.

APPLTCATICN FILED JAN. 12, 1917.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

8 SHEETSSHEET 8.

Fjfji UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

DONALD J. ANGUS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CROWN CORK AND SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MOVING ARTICLES OF MAGNETIC Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

Application filed January 12, 1917. Serial No. 142,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DONALD J. ANGUS, a citizen of the United States, residin at Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Moving Articles of Magnetic Material, fully described and represented in the followlng specification and the accompanying drawings, forming apart of the same.

This invention relates to an apparatus for feeding crowns from a packing case or the like to a capping machine.

It has been the common practice heretofore to utilize a hopper into which crowns are dumped or shovelled from a packing box or similar receptacle. The crowns in the hopper are then agitated so the individual crowns will be selected by a dial which delivers them, properly faced, to a chute leading to the capping head. Such a method of feeding crowns from packing box to capping head involves, not only the general disturbance of the crowns due to their mass movement during the shovelling or dumping, but, in addition, the positive agitation of the mass in connection with the selecting ring.

There are a number of more or less serious objections resulting from this continued disturbance and agitation of the mass, with crown grinding over crown. For example, it sometimes happens that the cork disks of the crowns are not held in place firmly enough to withstand the agitation, and, consequently, they drop out of place. When such. incomplete crowns reach the capping head, the result is a broken bottle or an imperfect seal. Then, too, this continuous agitation of the crowns grinds ofi' small bits of metal, principally from the edges of the crown skirts, and it has been found that these small particles adhere to the cork disks, so as to be exposed to the contents of the bottles after, capping. In certain liquids, such as beer, which are very sensitive to the influence of metals, this results in a deleterious efiect on the bottled product. As a further example,-the grinding action of the crowns often proves injurious to the finish, particularly when the crowns bear lithographing and the like. A further objection to such method is that crowns are often spilled on the floor and then picked up and placed in the hopper, this sometimes resulting in contamination of the crowns.

It i the principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus for feeding crowns from a packing box or the like to the capping machine, such that the crowns are handled in a manner to avoid the objections resulting from mass movement such as above outlined, and contamination from causes such as those referred to.

The novel method ofthe present invention comprises automatically selecting individual crowns from a mass, such as that contained in a packing case, without substantial disturbance of the mass, and delivering the selected crowns to the capping machine. In the practical carrying out of this method to the best advantage, there is placed adjacent the mass of crowns a. crown remover and carrier designed to pick up individual crowns from the top of the mass and carry them to a point where they can be delivered, preferably by gravity. The automatic remover and the carrier may be of a nature to pick up the crowns from the top of the mass magnetically and to' carry them away in the same manner, and in the best constructions the crowns will be elevated without transferring or dislodging them from their original position, thus avoiding excessive handling and friction. Since the crowns picked up by magnetic means will be indiscriminately faced, the method in such case, comprises also facing the crowns all one way prior to delivery to the capping machine. While the vmethod outlined above may be carried out in various ways and by various means, the exemplification chosen for disclosure herein comprises the utilization of a travelling magnetic belt placed adjacent the top of a mass of crowns so as to remove individual crowns and elevate them to a point where they are allowed to drop to a facer and thence to the capping machine.

With this general object in view the invention consists inthe combinations, details of construction and arrangements of parts which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a crown selector and elevator constructed in accordance with the present invention, shownetic conveyor comprising two thin narrow ing the same connected to a crowner. Fig. steel bands 26 of a length to elevate the 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 1s crowns to a desired height. Fi .1 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the up er diagrammatically a crowner and t e relative portion of the device, the section being ta en height of an elevator of desirable dimenon the line 3-3 of Fig. 7, looking in the disions. These. bands 26 pass over upper rection of the arrows; Fi .4 is a cross-secpulle s 7 n lower pulleys 2 he latter tional view taken on the l1ne44 of Fig. 3. are i lers and are mounted on a stub shaft 29 v 9, 10 'and 11 are cross-sectional views taken Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the broken havin bearings 30 carriedby the lower head line 5-5.of Fig. 3. Fig.6 isa vertical cross- 1- he and are driven by h 11 P sectional view of the lower portion of the pulleys27- which are keyed to a cross s aft device, the section being taken on the broken 32 having one bearing supported by the l f line 6-6 of Fig. 10. ig. 7 is an enlargedg earin plate 33, Fig. 7, and the other carried cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of y a caring cap 34 screw threaded to a Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. 11 13 34 bolted to the right bearing plate Fig. 8'is a sectional view on the same section 33 1118 shaft has keyed thereto a mitre as that, of Fi Tshowing a, pqrtion f the P1111011 35 mesh1ngwith 8. mitre gear 36 on device below t e part shown in Fig. 7. Figs. a mam drive shaft hereinafter described.

7 To excite this magnetic conveyor on'its th li 9 9 f Fi 8, 10 1() f Fi 6, crown elevating course, the bands on their and 11-11 of Fig. 10, respectively. Fig. 12 upward path are drawn tight over the pole is an enlarged top plan view of the device faces of a U-shaped magnetic circuit. Exas shown in Figs. 1 and2. Figs. 13 and 14 ndlng from upper to lower pulleys are two are cross-sectional views taken on the lines magnetic slde plates 37 substantially in the 13-13 and 14l4 of Fig. 3, respectively. plane of the pulleys, having widened por- Fi 15 i a d t il i h i in ro tions at the endssubstantially commensurate section a portion of the crown facer, the sec-' with the diameter of the pulleys and tertion being taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. mlnatlng 1 n curves to conform to the pulleys, 13. Fig. 16 is a detail View showing in as shown 1n Fi .3 and 6. Acrossthe botcross-section the receiving chute. Fig. 17 t m of the e Si 8 plates and extending from is a view in front elevation with parts renear the up er end (see Fig. 7) almost to moved'and parts in section of the lowerporthe lower en argement of the plates (see Fig. tion of the device, and Fig. 18 is a cross- 6) is securedv a core 38, and wound lengthsectional view taken on the line 18--18 of wlse on this core is a long excitingcoil 39. Fig. 17. .Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view f Because it requires a heavier flux to pick the l vator. up the crowns from the mass than it does to The invention includes means for autoelevate them, the invention includes means matically selecting individual crowns from a for providing a heavier flux at the lower mass without substantially disturbingi or end, and forconcentrating this flux. In the agitating the mass, and carrying the selected resent embodiment, below the coil 39, and, crowns without dislodgment to a point where etween the widened portion of the side they can be delivered to a chute. Although plates 37 along the mlddle thereof, is secapable of a wide range of constructions, cured a second core-40 (Fig. 6) wound endthe means employed in the structures emwise with a short exciting coil 41 relatively bodying the invention to the best advantage greater than coil 39. This produces a greater comprises a travelling magnet adapted to be ux in the lower end of the magnet and this presented to outlying crowns of the mass, flow is concentrated in the desired locality 'whereby individual crowns are selected from by slots 42 cut in the side plates as shown the mass and carried to the delivery point. in Fig. 6. On the top edges of the side This may be accomplished in various ways, plates 37 are pole face pieces 43 rabbeted as, for example, by an endless conveyor, sli htly on the inner faces to receive a brass which is, in effect, atravelling magnetic pole coi cover 44an'd on the outer faces to reface. Such a conveyor may be of various ceive the conveyor bands 26, as shown for constructions. In the embodiment shown, exam le in Fig. 18. The magnetic circuit referring to the drawings, 25 indicates a reand t e conveyor bands are enclosed within ceptacle for a mass of crowns, as, for exabrass casing having narrow openings in the ample, a packing case such as crowns are ends. This casing is formed by two long packed in after manufacture. This recepside pieces 45 secured to the side pieces 37, tacle is supported on any suitable standard the edges being turned inwardly as at 46. in a slightly tilted position, so the crowns will This casing is wide enough to clear the path gravitate toward the bottom as the mass is of the elevating crowns, as shown in Fig. 9. diminished by removal. In length it extends from the lower pulleys Suspended vertically above this box to to the take-up yoke, hereinafter referred to. come in contact with the uppermost crowns, a portion being cut away in the rear end near as hereinafter described, is an endless magthe top to permit, the crowns to drop into 130 the receiving chute, as shown in Fi 3, and

another portion being cut away in t e front end from the bottom, up to a point just beyond the top paddle wheels, as shown in Fi 1 The bands are normally stretched tight enough to contact with the pole faces 43 as they are drawn over the same by the pulleys.

' Means are provided for adjusting the conup block 50, through which is threaded a set screw 51, the end of which bears on a takeup yoke 51*, the split ends of which engage the ends of the elevator casings.- -By screwing the set screw 51 against the yoke 51, the two bearing plates are raised up slightly, thus displacing the pulley shaft 32 to tighten the belts. It will be seen that the slots 47 permit this slight movement of the bearing plates and, as shown in Fig. 3, the elevator easing plates are slotted to accommodate this movement of the pulley shaft.

The two exciting coils are electrically connected by wires 52 with binding posts 52 carried by a terminal box 53 and in turn connected with a flexible conduit 54 which leads to a suitable source of electrical supply, this wiring connection being clearly shown in Fig. 7. 7

It will be seen that the conveyor bands, being drawn over the pole face pieces of the magnetic circuit are magnetized from pulley to pulley. Y The invention includes means for magnetically exciting the pulleys so that the conveyor bands are also magnetized while passing over the same. While this may be attained in numerous ways, in structures embodyin the invention to the best advantage, the pulleys are excited from the magnetic circuit already described and this may be accomplished by a variety of constructions. In the embodiment illustrated, attached to the inside of each magnetic side late 37 at the widened end thereof, is a distributing plate 55, the attached portion being substantially the width of the 'plate 37 The distributing plates are offset to clear the pulleys and they iie in close proximit tothe inner faces of the pulleys, each pair eing fastened to a spacing ring 56, as appears in 'Fig. 7. Such a construction serves as a path by which the magnetic flux passes from the side plates 37 to the pulleys, so that the conveyor bands are magnetized except from the time they leave the upper pulleys in their downward path until they reach the lower pulleys.

' ing Inorder to 'preventbrid 'ng across the bottom of the elevator an to allow the crowns to gravitate to the bottom of the box so that all may be removed, the invention includes means for intermittently placing the selector and elevator into and out of contact with the crowns. Such" means is capable of a wide range ,Of constructions. In .the exemplification illustrated the elevator casing has a sliding bearing in a stationary bracket 57. While this bracket may be supported in' any suitable manner, it is shown as being supported at the top of a crowner 58 diagrammatically illustrated as 1n Figs. 1 and 2. The lower head of the elevator carries aguide bracket 59 which has a roller 60 travelling between two track members 61 secured to the crowner near the bottom thereof. It will be seen, therefore, that the elevator isfreely suspended, the up and down movement being limited by the lugs 62 which support the traek'61 and act as stops for the roller 60. When a box of crowns is presented, curved'feet 163 formart of the lower head rest on the top of t e mass, and this lower head carries members for intermittently raising and lowering the entire elevator On each side (Figs. 10 and 11) is a lifting hoe 63, having a sllghtly curved bottom and which is attached to a plunger 64 sliding in upper and lower bearings 65, 65 carried by the side extensions 165 of the lower" head. The top of the plunger 64 is forked to receive a lever 66 pivoted on a cross rod 166 and connected by a link 67 with a bifurcated lever .68 mounted onstud 68 and which carries a roller 69 acted on by a cam 70. These two cams are keyed to a cross shaft ,71 which carries a mitre gear 72 meshing with a inion 73 on the main drive shaft, hereina ter described. As the cams 70 are rotated by shaft 71, they ride over the rollers 69 and intermittently, through the mechanism described, press downthe shoecarrying plungers. The lifting shoes thus being forced against the mass of crowns, lift the elevator, .so that the" bottom of the conveyor clears. As the cams continue to rotate, the shoe-carrying plungers are released, and coil springs 74 bearing against the base of the lower head extension 165 and against collars 75 pinned to the plungers, cause the shoes to be withdrawn, whereupon the elevator is again lowered into contact with the crowns under the force of gravity. (lover plates 265 secured to the head extensions 165 complete a housing for the springs and plungers, as appear in Figs. 10 and 11. In order to prevent this lifting action from exerting undue pressure on the crowns, a counter balance 76, Fig. 1, is provided which may be within a few pounds of the weight of the elevator, so that the pressure of the lifting shoes neces- 61 is of such length as to permit not only:

the intermittent reciprocation of the elevator, but alsoto allow its mean position to radually descend as the level of the crowns is lowered by removal, until the bottom of the box is reached, this position being shown in Fig. 6.

The invention includes means for preventing crowns from being delivered superposed n two or more layers. In structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, this is accom lished by apparatus which knocks back into the receptacle any superposed crowns. Although such apparatus iscapable of a'wide range of constructions, 1n the present, exemplification,

Figs. (land 17, a shaft carried by the lower head and located near the bottom of the conveyor and across the face thereof,

carries a plurality of paddle wheels or kickers 81 revolving in a direction opposite to the movement of the conveyor. The shaft 80 is so spaced from the conveyor that crowns su erposed to the extent of three may pass y the ends of the paddles, butany crowns above three will bestruck and knocked back into the box. Above this set of paddles is a second and similar shaft 82 carrying similar paddles 83 but located out from the conveyor so that only two crowns may pass in superposed relation, and above this is a third shaft 84 carrying a third set of paddles 85, so ositioned that onl one crown can pass. 0 drive these a dle wheel'shafts, the shaft 71, which rives the lifting cams, also drives a gear 86 which, through an idler 87, drives a pinion 88 on the upper end of the three paddle wheel shafts. This shaft 84 carries a sprocket 89, which drivesa chain 90, the chain in turn driving a sprocket on the intermediate paddle shaft 82, the lower paddle shaft 80 being driven by a second chain 91 driven by sprockets on the" shafts 80 and 82 as clearly'appears in Fig. 17.

The various moving parts connecting with the lifting shoes and the kicker addles are housed by the extensions of the ower head, as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 17 and 18.

The invention includes means whereby the elevated crowns are removed from the con ve or for delivery to a chute.

his may be accomplished in various ways, as, for example, by breaking the flux and directing the released crowns into a receiving chute. In the present embodi-- ment, the crowns are carried around the pulleys, the flux is brokenand the crowns relased; As the crowns at such point are- Crowns selected by a magnetic conveyor wilPbe elevated, indiscriminately faced, and at a non-uniform rate. With the elevator of the present invention, crowns are delivered to the receiving chute 92 at an average rate which exceeds the demand of the crowner.

.The invention includes means for facing the crowns all one way so they will be properly presented to the crowner and for taking care of .the excess crowns. means are capable of a wide range of constructions, in structures embodying the invention to the best .advantage, the facing means and means for taking care of the excess will be a self-contained unit and will be mechanicall may be accom ished in various ways, in the embodiment ilustrated as an example, the chute 92, referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 16, has, extending in from each side, triangular guiding ribs 93 and below the' receiving oint the chute branches into an inverted The guiding ribs at the branch 'unction act as a switch, so that crowns faced in one direction pass into one branch and oppositely faced .crowns into the other. to a sorting box 94 supported by a bracket 94 carried by the elevator, the side plates 37 having inwardly extendmg'wings 95 to furnish a suitable support for this bracket. Rotating inside the sortin box is a facing wheel 95 providedwith a plurality of crownreceiving pockets. These pockets are so arranged that their entrance ends are not all on the same circumference of the wheel. In the drawings, Fig. 13 shows three pockets 96 on one circumference and three pocket-s 97 on another. In other words, there are three vertical and three oblique. The branch chutes are so'arran ed that the right hand branch (Fig. 3) a igns with the vertical pockets 96 and the left hand branch with oblique pockets 97. As the facing wheel rotates, the ockets receive crowns from one chute or the other. The facing wheel rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, looking at it from above and just beyond the right hand branch of the feeding chute the bottom of the box has an opening 98 into a delivery chute 99 leading to .the capping head. It will be noted that, although the crown entrance ends of the wheel pockets are on different circumferences, the exit ends are all in the same circumference, so that each pocket aligns with the delivery chute Opening as the wheel revolves. Since the crowns delivered to the wheel at opposite sides by the branch chutes are oppositely operated. Although this- .80 While such These branch chutes ead faced, as above described, as the wheel revolves and brings them to the delivery chute opening, they drop into the same all faced the same way, and so are properly presented to the crowner. Just beyond the delivery chute opening in the sorting box is a similar opening 100 into an overflow chute 101 leading back to the original crown receptacle 25. If the crown delivery so far exceeds the demand as to cause the delivery chute 99 to fill up as far as the sorter, the crowns cannot pass out from the wheel into the first opening 98 but pass on and enter instead the overflow chute and so return to the mass. Thus, the facing and overflow is taken care of by a self-contained unit in a manner to avoid in'ury to the crowns, clogging and the like. f all the pockets were on the same circumference of the-wheel, crowns waiting in the near chute might grind over crowns in the pockets being brought around from the far chute. But, with the construction described, this friction is avoided. The vertical pockets which align with the near branch chute are necessarily empty as they approach, because they cannot receive from the far chute, and the oblique pockets, which approach the near chute filled, are on a different circumference and so are not in alignment therewith.

The facing wheel is rotated by a vertical shaft 102 for which the box furnishes bear-- ings and to which is keyed a gear 103 driven through idlers 104, 105, by a pinion 106 which in turn is driven by the main shaft, hereinafter described. The intermeshing train just mentioned is enclosed in a transmission box 107 integral with a bracket 108 bolted to the elevator, the magnetic side plates 37 being provided with rearwardly extending wings 109 to furnish a suitable support, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. It is. this bracket 108 to which the counterbalance cables 77 are secured.

Included in the invention is means for driving the various parts so as to allow for the reciprocation and steady lowering of the elevator. This may be accomplished by various constructions. In the present embodiment the source of power is derived from the central shaft 110 of the crowner. This latter has a mitre gear 111 meshing with a mitre gear 112 on a power shaft 113, the bracket 57 providing a bearing 114 therefor, the shaft having a safety clutch connection 115. Mounted on this power shaft is a spiral gear 116, the stationary bracket 57 providing suitable bearings and housings, as shown in Fig. 5. This ear 116 drives another spiral ear 117 which drives the main drive shaft, %efore referred to. This'drive shaft is in three sections, the intermediate section being square and on this square sec tion 118 is oosely carried the spiral gear 117. This construction allows the drive shaft to move up and down in the gear while being rotated thereby.

Means are provided for locking the spiral 117 against any movement other than its rotation. The gear has a hub-like extension 119 (Fig. 7) which has a bearing in a bushmg 120 embraced within a cylindrical bracket and a shoulder 122 on the gear bears down against the top of the bushing and bracket. The lower end of the hub extension of the gear is threaded to receive a locking nut 123 which bears up against the bushing and bracket.

The square, intermediate section of the drive shaft is connected with the upper round section. On the upper end of the square shaft is pinned a flanged collar 124 bolted to a similar collar 125 keyed to a relatively short shaft 126 which constitutes the upper section of the main drive. Shaft 126 has a bearing in a bushing 127 carried by the housing 34" and on this shaft is mounted the mitre gear 36 for driving the upper conveyor pulleys. The connection of the square shaft with the lower main drive section is made by the gear 106 which drives the train for the facer wheel. This gear (Fig. 8) has upper and lower hub-like extensions 106 the up er one fitting onto the lower end 0 the square shaft, the lower one being pinned, through a bushing 128, to a shaft 129 constituting the lower section of the main drive. By this construction the square shaft drives the gear 106 and through it the lower shaft 129. Mounted on the latter is the pinion 73 for driving the paddle wheel and lifting mechanism as already described.

To recapitulate the operation of the device, a box of crowns being in place the elevator rests on the top of the mass of crowns. Power being applied to the power shaft 113 by the crowner, the square section 118 of the main drive shaft is rotated through gears 116 and 117, this section rotating upper section 126 .and lower section 129. The upper belt pulleys 27 being driven by the main drive shaft through gears 36 and 35 and cross shaft 32, the conveyor bands are drawn over and excited by the magnetic circuit, so that as they travel past the outlying crowns of the mass, individual crowns are picked up and carried away without any disturbance of the'mass. Meanwhile the main drive shaft is rotating lower cross shaft 71 which, through the cams and the lever and link mechanism described, intermittently forces down the shoes 63 against the'crowns, thereby causing the elevator to be lifted slightly, so that the conveyor may clear; the elevator lowering again under force of gravity as the shoes are withdrawn by their s rings upon further rotation of the cams. this reciprocation of the elevator, it slides freely through the stationary bearing bracket '57 and the bracket roller 60 rides uring over the guide track 61, the square section 118 of the drive shaft sliding in its driving gear 117.

. lhe lower, cross shaft also drives, through the s stem of gears and sprockets described, the t ree sets of paddle wheels 81, 83 and 85. The magnetic conveyor picks up crowns 1n bunches, and as it starts to carry them upward, any supenposed crowns are knocked back into the box by the paddles until only single crowns remain adhering to the conveyor.

The crowns are carried up over the upper pulleys and, as the bands leave the latter, the break in the flux releases the crowns and allows them to drop into the receiving chute 92. Here theyv are switched by the ribs 93 into the near r far side of the facing wheel 95 which, by its rotation, delivers them all to the delivery chute 99 leading to the capplng head, any overflow crowns, should chute 99 be filled, being delivered into overflow chute 101 which leads them back to the original mass.

As the level of the mass of crowns in the box is lowered by removal of the outlying crowns, the mean position of the elevator descends accordingly until the boss 62, acting as a stop for roller 60, prevents any further descent. At this point the foot of the elevator is adjacent the bottom of the box and, as the box is tilted to allow the crowns to gravitate to the bottom, the supply is substantially entirely exhausted and the elevator is raised to its uppermost position and a new supply of crowns provided.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for feeding crowns from a large, indiscriminate, relatively stationary mass to a capping apparatus, a traveling magnetic belt, means for intermittently placing said belt adjacent the mass, a chute for receiving the crowns from the belt, means for facing the crowns all one way, and

means for delivering the faced crowns to the.

capping apparatus.

2. In an apparatus for feeding crowns from a large, indiscriminate, relatively stationary mass to a capping apparatus, and in combination a traveling belt moving in a generallyup and downdirection, upper and lower pulleys over which the belt travels, means for intermittently placing the belt adjacent the mass, means for magnetizing that portion of the belt which is traveling over the pulleys and in the upward direction, and a chute located below the point where the belt leaves the upper pulley on its downward path for receiving the released crowns.

3. In an apparatus for feeding crowns from a large, indiscriminate, relatively stationary mass to a capping apparatus, and in comblnation a magnetic conveyor, means for intermittently placing the conveyor ad.-

jacent the mass, a chute for receiving crowns from the conveyor and delivermg them to the caippin apparatus, and means for preventing de ivery of crowns to the chute 1n superimposed relation.

4. In combination, a ma netic belt for removing and elevating in 'vidual crowns from a mass, a paddle wheel located ust above the crown-removing end of said elt and rotatable in a direction opposite the direction of the belts travel, the clearance between said paddle wheel and the belt being sufficient to permit only one crown at a time to pass therebetween.

5. In combination, a magnetic belt for removing and elevating individual crowns from a mass, a plurality of paddle wheels rotatable in a direction opposite the direction of the belts travel, and havin clearances from the belt varying by the eight of a crown, the clearance of the nearest being sufficient to allow only one crown to pass at a time.

6. In a crown facing device, and in combination a rotating wheel having two crownreceiving pockets, the receivin orifices of which are on different circum erences, the discharging openings on the same circum ference, means for directing crowns facing one way into one pocket and crowns facing the other way into the other pocket, and a crown-receiving chute beneath said wheel in alignment with the path of said pockets.

7. In a crown facing device, and in combination a rotating wheel having a lurality of crown-receiving pockets having t eir discharging openings on the same circumference and part having their receiving openings on one circumference and the rest on another circumference, means for directing crowns facing one way into one set of pockets and crowns facin the opposite way into the other set of pocEets, and a crownreceiving chute in alignment with the path of the discharging openings of such pockets.

8. In combination with a movable crown facer having crown carrying pockets therein, a chute to receive crowns from the facer and leading to a cappin head, and an overflow chute beyond sai first-named chute with respect to the direction of movement of said facer.

9. In combination, a travelling magnetic belt for removing and elevating crowns from a mass, means for suspending said belt so the lower end thereof isadjacent the crowns to be removed, and means for reciprocating the belt toward and away from the crowns 10. In combination, a magnetic crown remover and elevator suspended to place the lower end thereof adjacent a mass of crowns, a plurality reciprocating said shoes to alternately place the remover and carrier in and out of contact with the uppermost crowns.

, 11. In combination, a magnetic crown re of lifting shoes, and means for mover and elevator suspended so that the lower end thereof rests on the top of a mass of crowns, a plurality oflifti'ng shoes, means for forcing said shoes against the mass of crowns to intermittently raise said remover and elevator out of contact therewith, and a counterbalance for reducing the pressure on the crowns, the remover and elevator being free to descend as the level of the crowns is lowered by removal.

12. In a crown remover and elevator, and in combination a crown carrying belt com prising two bands of magnetic material travel lng over upper and lower pulleys, a U shaped magnet circuit over the pole faces of which said bands travel in their upward course, and plates of magnetic material-connecting said circuit and pulleys for carrying flux into the latter.

13. In a crown remover and elevator, and in combination a crown carrying belt comprising two bands of magnetic material, a core, a coil wound around said core, side plates secured to the core having pole faces over which said bands are drawn, upper and lower pulleys, and means for magnetizing said pulleys from said side plates.

14. In a crown remover and elevator, and incombination a crown carrying belt comprising bands of magnetic material, a U- sha ed magnetic circuit over the poles of whlch said bands are drawn, means for creating greater magnetic flux in the lower end of said belt, and means for concentrating the increased flux in the lowest part of sald belt. 7

15. In a crown remover and elevator, and in combination a travelling magnetic belt, a magnetic element over which said belt travels, pulleys for the belt, means for reciprocating said belt, element and pulleys as a unit, and means for guiding the reciproeating movement of said parts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set In hand.

y DONALD J. ANGUS.

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