US1432197A - System for making and handling cork disks - Google Patents

Description

c E. McMANUS. SYSTEM FOR MAKING AND HANDLING CORK DISKS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 29,192!- msz wfizo mm 0%.1751922.

Patented @ct. l7, 119322.

nearer CHARLES E. IVICIVIANUS, (3F NEW YORK, N. Y.

SYSTEM: FOR MAKING AND HANDLING CORK DISKS.

Application filed December 29, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, CHARLES E. Mc- MANUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a System for Making and Handling Cork Disks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to a system for making and handling cork disks, and more par ticularly to an association and combination of mechanisms whereby disks are cut from cork stock, either natural or composition, or from previously formed composition cork rods and delivered to their point of ultimate use, all imperfect disks, broken parts of disks and cork dust, designated generally as waste, being automatically removed from the product of the disk forming or slicing machines before delivery of such disks to their point of ultimate consumption.

*leretofore in the art of making disks for bottle caps, it has been the practice particu larly when the disks are cut from composi tion cord rods to deliver such cork rods from the baker to the slicing machines the product of said slicing machines having been accumulated in baskets and the dust,broken particles and imperfect disks, or waste, removed therefrom by mechanical sitters and by hand, the perfect disks after being separated from the imperfect ones and the refuse, being removed by hand and either stored or delivered manually to the bottle cap assembling machines. In some instances. the cork disk feeding mechanisms of such assembling machines were utilized to separate some waste from the disks delivered thereto in bulk. The method of producing and handling such disks in large bulk, ias required a large force of men, and the product has not always been satisfactory.

With the above conditions in mind, lhave provided a system whereby the product of the disk forming or slicing machines will be automatically removed from adjacent such machines as it is produced, thus permitting the accumulated product of a number of Serial No. 525,808.

machines to be simultaneously handled and delivered in volume to one or a plurality of tumbling sieves which will effectively sepaarate imperfect disks and cork particles or dust from the perfect disks, and automatically deliver hem to a mechanism which will convey the perfect disks, after the waste has been separated therefrom, to the hoppers of bottle cap assembling machines with which the disks are user The mechanisms of system embodyino; my invention work entirely automatically, prevent the accumulation of a mass of proclucts of the slicing machines which require separation in order to permit the effective actuation of other separating mechanisms thereon, and avoid any handling of the prodnot after the formed disks have once been delivered by the slicing or forming machines.

The manner of handling'the product of the slicing or forming machines before and after it leaves the separators, is such as to secure a partial separation of perfect disks from the waste, so as to facilitate the handling; of this product by the separators and remove any line dust which may adhere to the disks and be separated therefrom during their motion while in transit from the sepa rators to the bottle cap assembling chines. The system is such that different portions thereof may be utilized or not, as desired, so as to adapt the entire system to the output capacity of the slicing or forming machines and permit variance in the capacity of the entire system through the shutting down of such machines.

In addition to delivering the disks to the bottle cap assembling machines. I provide means whereby, if desired, a portion or all of the disks may be delivered at a point be fore they reach the assembling machines, since under some conditions these disks sold as separate articles of commerce instead whereby disks delivered thereto will. be conveyed from adjacent said mechanism, a movable screen into which said tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, and means maintaining a constant circulation of air within said last named tube, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said last named means to a point remote therefrom; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a condensed plan view showing the arrangement of the different mechanisms Cir entering into the system of my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Like letters refer to like parts in both of said views. v

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, 1 have lndicated at a, a and a three cork disk slicing machines particularly adapted to separate composition cork rods into disks of the desired thickness. While I have shown but three of these machines, it is apparent that the number thereof may be increased to any deslred extent.

The outlets of said machines are indicated at 7), 6 and b respectively, said outlets discharging into a pneumatic tube so that the disks as produced in said machines will be discharged directly into openings in said tube irrespective of whether said disks are perfect or imperfect, broken particles of cork or cork dust, being delivered to said tube as an incident to the delivery of the disks thereto.

in-dicated at c and is shown as being of gradually diminishing diameter or capacity for the purpose of accommodating this tube to a number of disk producing mechanisms arranged in a battery.

Communicating with the tube 0 is the intake of a blower (,5 so as to constantly withdraw air from said tube and thus maintain a constant circulation of air toward said blower and maintain a-constant suction sufficient to carry the cork disks andwaste from adjacent each machines, a and a such disks and waste being sufficiently light to be readily carried in suspension in the air. When a large battery of disk making machines is used, I also employ at the other end of the tube 0, a blower e which will serve to deliver an air current to, and ac celerate the flow of air through, said tube 0.

By graduating the diameter of said tube 0, the effective suction adjacent each ofthe machines 01, a and a will be substantially equalized, the blower e preventing any stag nation adjacent the machines of the battery more remote from the blower 03.

Leading from the oiftake of the blower at is a pneumatic tube f discharging into an inclined agitating screen 9, or if desired a plurality of such screens, in which the latter case branch pipes f are provided leading from the main pneumatic tube f and discharging respectively into a screen 9. Said screens 9 are preferably in the form of rotating drums having agitators g therein, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

In each of the branch pipes f is a cutoff valve f so that one or more of the screens 9 may be used, as desired, the tube f, when a plurality of screens 9 are to be served thereby, being of progressively reduced diameter as shown, with the small end thereof closed, thus retarding the movement of the air, and disks and other matter in suspension therein, in a manner to ensure the feeding of such matter to a succession of such screens 9.

The screens 9 are supported and rotated in any desired manner .as by the belts 9 The screens g are preferably in barrel form and are covered with a mesh sufficiently large to permit the escape of cork particles, cork dust and imperfect disks therethrough, .the movement of said screens constantly agitating the mass of disks therein, to which is constantly added a fresh sup ply through the branch pipe f so as to secure a separation of the perfect disks from the imperfect ones and waste, and the gradual feeding of the perfect disks towardthe low end of the screens from whence they will flow upon a conveyor belt h. The disks 7 are conveyed by said belt from adjacent the screen to a pneumatic tube i, one end of which communicates with the intake of a blower j and the other end of which is closed, said pneumatic tube 71 being of gradually increased diameter so as to ensure an affective application of suction to all parts thereof by the blower The upper reach of the belt h passes about the pulleys h and 7L2 so as to have different portions of said reach upon different horizontal planes and thus cause the turning of all disks as they pass from one portion thereof to the portion upon the lower plane, so that an operator stationed at this point may inspect the disks as they are passing from the screen.

Thetubes 0 and i are provided with suitable openings to receive'the cork disks and waste, the capacity of these openings being insufiicient to materially impair the efiiciency of the blowers d and 7' while ensuring the entrance of the disks to within the tu e.

Leading from the discharge end of the blower y is a pneumatic tube is having discharge openings in the bottom thereof through which the cork disks may be discharged to an elongated hopper m having a sequence of outlets m through which said disks may be delivered to chutes 41 adjacent the hopper of a cork feeding mechanism 0 of a bottle cap assembling machine 39. Said assembling machine is shown merely conventionally, as the details of construction thereof are immaterial to the present invention.

The tube is of reduced diameter toward the end thereof most remote from the blower j, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1, so as to ensure the desired distribution of the cork disks throughout different portions of the hopper trough m.

I employ a plurality of chutes a, one adjacent each assembling machine, the trough m having a gate m controlling the opening m to each chute n so as to permit the cutting 01f of the supply of disks to any assembling machines.

I also provide each opening in the tube Z: with gate 70 .50 thatif desired all or any outlet openings 70 in the tube is may be closed, as when limiting the quantity of disks delivered to the trough m, or when it is desired to deliver some or all of said disks to boxes or barrels instead of to the assembling machines.

This delivery of the disks to boxes or barrels is secured through the medium of the vertically extending branch tub-e qleading from the tube 70 intermediate the blower j and the trough m, the opening between. said tube 1 and said tube 7: being controlled by a gate 9.

Adjacent the disk cutting or slicing machines a, a and a and above same is a platform 9' upon which the workman may stand when feeding cork rods to said machines.

The operation of the herein described mechanism is substantially as follows lVhen producing cork disks, the blowers (Z, c and 7' have power applied thereto sub stantially simultaneously with the application of power to the disk producing machines a, a and a and the conveyer mechanism 7a and the screens 9.

As a result of the actuation of the blowers (Z and 6, air will be withdrawn from adjacent the large end of the pneumatic tube 0 so as to have a tendency to develop a subatmospheric pressure within said tub-e which is relieved through the openings in said tube into which the outlet chutes b, 25 and o discharge, the air rushing into said tubes through said openings carrying with it disks delivered by the machines a, a and 64 including imperfect disks, particles of cork and cork dust.

The blower 0 will deliver air to the small end of the tube 0 so as to maintain the desired circulation of air, this blower being of lower capacity than the blower d and being designed merely to ensure the development of the desired current of air ad acent the cork disk producing machines more remote from the blower (Z, since if a large battery of such machines is used, the effective suction adjacent the machine most remote from the blower (Z may be insufficient to impart the desired rapid movement to the material delivered by said machines.

The constant current of air through the tube 0 is sufiiciently strong to carry the cork disks and incidental .i'aste away from the machines (4., a and a? as rapidly as they are delivered, such material passing through the blower (Z and being delivered into the pneumatic tube f, being discharged therefrom through the branch pipes f to the rotary screens 9', the reduced end of said tube f causing the retardation of the air current towards the end of the tube so that a portion thereof with the cork disks and waste will pass through each branch tube 7 to a barrel screen The screens 1 are constantly rotating, and as a result of this rotation, and of the large mesh screen, practically all broken particles, imperfect disks and heavy dust will be sifted from the perfect disks, the mass of perfect disks gradually working longitudinally of the barrel until they are discharged upon the conveyer 72. The tumbling action of said screens 9 will not only serve to sift the imperfect disks, broken particles and cork dust from the products of the machines a, a and a passing therethrough, but will, through the constant agitation of the perfect disks and the rubbing action against the mesh and the baffles of the screen and each other, tend to separate any loose cork dust from the disks so that when they emerge from the screen they will be sufiiciently clean to permit them to be packed for shipment, or be used in the assembling machines 17, as de sired.

' By looping the conveyor belt it about the pulleys h and h, the disks which fall upon this belt fiatwise will be automatically turned so that if desired an operator stationed at this point may inspect the disks and remove imperfect ones of a size too large to pass through the meshes of a screen 9.

The disks are delivered from the belt it to the tube 2' connected with the air intake of the blower y so as to be conveyed from adjacent each belt rapidly as they are delivered to said tube a, the current of air and the disks carried thereby being delivered through the tube it" to the trough m and then to the hoppers of the cork feeding attachment of the various machines g), or if desired, through the branch tube (1 to storage boxes or barrels, or a part may be delivered to said trough and part to said boxes or barrels.

A system embodying my invention must be so designed as to handle the maximum volume of disks which may be produced in the machines a, a and a and any desired number of such machines may be used.

These machines produce disks with great rapidity, cork rods being fed thereto as required, by a workman upon the platform r. If it be desired, however, to curtail the capacity of the system this may be done by shutting down any desired number of machines a, a. or a and reducing the capacity of the screen unit by closing one or more of the gates 7, as desired, Since the capacity of the battery (4, a and a will ordinarily be proportioned to the requirement of the battery of assembling machines 79, it is apparent that when some of the units of the bat-- tery of: disk producing machines are in operative, the gates m and leg adjacent some of the assembling machines p should also be closed. In fact by employing the gates F, k and m the capacity of the system may be controlled throughout.

Under some conditions it is desirable to operate the battery of cork disk producing machines to the full capacity even though conditions do not justify the operation of all assembling machines 1)?) of the battery served thereby. Under such conditions some of the gates m and adjacent the assembling machines 7) which are not in use, are closed, and the gate y is open, the surplus product of the disk producing 1nachines then-being delivered through the branch tube Q where they may be stored in suitable receptacles so that if desired said disks may be used without being assembled in the bottle caps, or may be stored as a reserve for use in the assembling machines when the cork disk producing machines are not operating.

A system embodying my invention has the advantage, in addition to the automatic supply of cork disks to the assembling machines, and the incidental reduction of labor cost in handling the disks, that the disks are kept always clean and uncontaminated by handling or by falling upon the floor adjacent the machines a, c and a are thoroughly cleansed by being passed through the pneumatic tubes and through the screens 9, of cork particles and dust, and have but few ii'i'iperitect disksat the point of ultimate delivery due to the fact that the finer particles of dust are separated from the heavier matter when being delivered to the screens 9 and are delivered to said screens in rapid succession instead of in bulk so that the imperfect disks and broken particles are more readily and more rapidly separated from the perfect disks while in the screens.

l have discovered by actual practice that the pneumatic transportation of light cork disks, results in less waste and can be much more rapidly accomplished than the trans-- ter of the disks from point to point'of the factory by hand, and that the disks when delivered are in better condition when transported in this 'manner than when this work is done by hand I Furthermore, it is possible to widely separate the cork disk producing machines from the bottle cap assembling machines and thus avoid the presence of fumes freed from the cork rods or other material by the action of the cutters thereon, adjacent the assembling machines.

VVhile an effective distribution of disks is secured by theparticular arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, it is apparent that this arrangement is immaterial to the invention and may be varied according to a particular desired grouping of mechanisms in a factory, to secure the most effective utilization of floor space. v

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

l. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a disk forming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanism, means maintaining a constant circulation of air in said tube, whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed "from adjacent said mecha nism, a movable screen into which said tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, and means maintaining a constant circulation of air within said last named tube, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said last named means to a point remote therefrom.

2. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a disk forming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanism, means maintaining a constant circulation of air in said tube, whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed from adjacent said mechanism, a tube leading from said means, a movable screen into which said last named tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, means maintaining a constant circulation of air within said last named tube, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said last named means to a point remote therefrom, a bottle cap assembling machine having a cork disk feeding attachment, a tube leading from said last named means and terminating, and

having a discharge openlng therein, ad-

jacent said assembling machine, and means whereby disks passing through said opening are conveyed to said disk feeding attachment,

8. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a disk forming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanism, means maintaining a constant circulation of air in said tube, whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed from adjacent said mechanism, a tube leading from said means, a movable screen into which said last named tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, means maintaining a constant circulation of air within said last named tube, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said last named means to a point remote therefrom, a bottle cap assembling machine'having a cork disk feeding attachment, a tube leading from said last named means and terminating, and having a discharge opening therein, adjacent said assembling machine, means whereby disks passing through said opening are conveyed to said disk feeding attachment, a branch tube leading from said last named tube intermediate said means maintaining a circulation of air therein and said assembling machine, and a gate controlling said branch tube whereby cork disks may be exeluded from, or permitted to pass through, said branch tube.

4. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a disk forming mechanism, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanism, a blower, the inlet of which is connected with said tube, whereby disks delivered thereto will be conveyed from adjacent said mechanism, a tube connected with the outlet of said blower, a movable screen into which said tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, a blower having its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube, and a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last named blower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point remote therefrom.

5. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said blower, a movable screen into which said tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, a blower having its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube, and a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet 01 said last named blower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point remote therefrom.

6. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a blower having its outlet connected with the small end of said tube, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said first named blower, a movable screen into which said tube discharges, means adapted to receive disks from said screen, a pneumatic tube into which said means discharges, a blower having its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube, and a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last named blower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point remote therefrom.

7. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named means respectively discharge, a blower having its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube, and a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last named blower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point remote therefrom.

8. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet or said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named means respectively discharge, said last named tube being of gradually increasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower having its inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last named blower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point re mote therefrom.

9. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneu matic tube leading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named means respectively discharge, said last named tube being of gradually increasing diameter from adjacent last named means, a blower having its inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, a plurality of bottle cap assembling machines'each having a cork disk feeding attachment, a pnuematic tube leading from the outlet of said last named blower and extending adjacent each. of said assembling machines, and having openings therethrough, and means adapted to receive cork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feeding attachments respectively.

10 A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted ,to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneu matic tube leading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named means respectively discharge, said last named tube be ing of gradually increasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower having its inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, a plurality of bottle cap assembling machines each having a cor disk feeding attachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said last named blower and extending adjacent each of said assembling machines, and having openings therethrough, means adapted to receive cork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feeding attachments respectively, and a gate adapted to close the opening in said last named tube adjacent each assemblin machine, said tube adjacent said assembling machines being of grade ually decreasing diameter from adjacent said blower.

11. A system for making and handlingcork disrs embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic: tube adapted to receive disks from: said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneu matic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last namedmeans respectively discharge, said last named tube being of gradually increasing diameter from adjacent saidlast named means, a blower having its inlet connected with the large end ofsaid last named tube, a plurality of bottle cap assembling machines each having a cork disk feeding attachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said last named blower and extending adjacent each of said assembling .m achines, and having openings therethrough, means adapted to receive cork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feeding attachrnents respectively, a branchtube leading from said last named tube between said assembling machines and said blower, and a gate whereby said branch tube may be opened or closed, as desired.

12. A. system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic, tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens. branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, a gate in each of said branch tubes whereby the products of said disk forming mechanisms may be delivered to any or all of said screens, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectlvely, a pneumatic tube into which said last named means IGSPGCtlVGlY CllSClllIgQ, said last named tube being of gradually increasing diameter from ad acent said last named means, a blower having its inlet connected.

with the large end of said last named tube, a plurality of bottle cap assembling machines each having a cork disk feeding attachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said last named blower and extending adjacent each of said assembling 1,432,197 machines, and having openings thereand disch'ar ing into said screens respeo' through, means adapted to receive cork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feeding attachments respeo tively, and a gate adapted to close the opening in said last named tube adjacent each assembling machine, said tube adjacent said assembling machines being of gradually decreasing diameter from adjacent said blower.

13. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein plurality of disk forming mechanisms, pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mecha nisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, a gate in each of said branch tubes whereby the products of said disk forming mechanisms may be de livered to any or all of said screens, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named means respectively discharge, said lastnamed tube being 0t gradually increasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower having its inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, a plurality of bottle cap asser s bling machines each having a cork disk feeding attachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said last named blower and extending adjacent each of said assembling machines, and having openings ther through, means adapted to receive cork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feeding attachments respectively, a gate adapted to close the opening in said last named tube adjacent each. assembling machine, said tube adjacent said assembling machines being of gradually decreasing diameter from adjacent blower, a branch tube leading from said last named tube between said assembling machines and said blower, and a gate i ereby said branch tube may be opened or closed, as desired.

14. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisms, a pneumatic tubeadapted to receive disks from said mechanisms respectively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent said blower, a second blower having its outlet communicating with the small end of said tube, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said blower,

, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube tively, a gate in each or said branch tubes whereby the products of said disk forming mechanisms may be delivered to any or all of said screens, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which said last named means respectively discharge, said last named tube being of gradually increasing diameter from adjacent said last named means, a blower having its inlet connected with the large end of said last named tube, a plurality of bottle cap assembling machines each having a cork disk feeding at tachment, a pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of said last named blower and extending adjacent each of: said assembling machines, and having openl -gs there through, means adapted to receive cork disks from said last named tube and deliver them to said cork feeding attachments r spectively, a gate adapted to close the open ingin said last named tube adjacent each assembling machine, said tube adjacent said assembling machines being of gradually de creasing diameter from adjacent said blower, a branch tube leading from said lasnamed tube betwee said assembling machines and said blower, and a gate whereby' said branch tube may be opened or closed, as desirec.

15. A system for making and handling cork disks embodying therein a plurality of disk forming mechanisi is, a pneumatic tube adapted to receive disks from said mechanisms espec'tively, a blower having its inlet connected with said pneumatic tube, said tube being of gradually reduced diameter from a acent said blower, a second pneumatic tube leading from the outlet of: said blower, a plurality of movable screens, branch tubes leading from said second pneumatic tube and discharging into said screens respectively, said second pneumatic tube being of gradually reduced diameter from adjacent the outlet of said blower, means adapted to receive disks from said screens respectively, a pneumatic tube into which id last named means respectively discharge, a blower having its inlet connected with said last named pneumatic tube, and a pneumatic tube connected with the outlet of said last named blower, whereby said disks will be conveyed from said blower to a point remote therefrom.

in witness whereof I have hereunto ai'liXed my signature, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. this 22nd day Of December, 1921.

CHARLES MoMANUS.

Witnesses Fmnna Roxanna Scrum M. Brennan.

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