US1760482A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1930. v w. V. DYERBY' 1,760,482

PACKAGING MACHINE 3 Filed Junela, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 19I0. jw. v DE RBY 1,760,482

A' PACKAGING MACHINE v Filed June 13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 27, 1930 om'reao STATE-"S PM ENT ore-let: 1

ILLIAM VAUGHAN DERBY, or Business, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY AssIGNMEnTs, 'lO GROWN com: resent contra-NY, ENQ, .or nnw YORK, 1N. Y, .A con- U PORATION 1 NEW YORK 'Application filed June 13,

QThis invention relates to packaging mabottleis sealed in apackaging'head by means 01": a compressible gasket, the bottle is filled, and the capfis applied whilethebottle is still sealed. i V

As is well known in the bottling art, bottles of a stardard size, e. g. pints, vary somewhat in height. Various so-called compensating devices have been used "for taking care of this variation in bottle height and in machines for capping only, a considerable variation can be taken care OfbY these compensatlng devlces. in the case of certain types of filling andcapping machines, however, in which the bottleneck is sealedin thehead by a gasket, the extent of variation which the machine is'adapted'to takecare ofis limited to an amountless thanthe variation often encountered. For example, in machines in which the packaging head moves up and down with respect tothe bottle, the head first 1 moves to a "filling position and then further,

into the 1 F gasket,

to a capping position. Assuming a setting for the shortestjbottle of a standard size, as

the head takesfilling position, it wedges the gasket over the bottle mouth s'ufliciently to "form a seal.

.Shouldthe next bottle heronsiderably oversize it would be forced further and perhaps so far that proper sealing would not take place. Further, in the case of machines in whichthe crown is suspended in line with the bottleabove filling ports this excess penetration of the bottle interferes with the filling operation. While an additionalvariation can be taken care of in some cases by an increase in thethickness of the gasket, this increase is limited, because too thick gaskets are .not practicable with short'necked bottles.

It is the principal objectof thepresent invention to provide a packaging apparatus capable of effectively filling and capping bottles of various kinds and regardless of the variations in standard sizes.

In the draw1ngs:-

1 Fig 1 is view partlyin vertical section PACKAGING MACHINE 1924. serial no. 719,867.

and partly inelevation, of a packaging apparatus constructed in accordance with the lnvention p Fig 2 is'an enlarged view,in Verticalgsection,1of part of the apparatus in a difi'erent 1 position;

Fig 3 is an enlarged view of thejpackaging head shown in Fig '1 moved into filling position; 1

Fig lisa similar View ofthe same in capplng posit-ion;

Fig 5 is a detail View showingthe relief valve in section and enlarged;and

Fig 6 is a detail face Viewotthe'cams Referring to 'thedrawings, there is provided a packaging head having-a cappingdie and liquid delivery means, and a bottle support. Inthe exemplification here illustrated, mounted on a plunger 16 is a packaging head =17 carrying a conical throat ring or capping die 18 of well known construction Extendlng into thecapping dieisthe end of a'presser -1f0ot19 iinovahle in the head and normally positioned by the engagement of a flange or collarfQO with a shoulder 21in the head. Bearing against the presser foot is. a coil spring 22, confined within the head and .a recess 23 formedfin the end of the plunger 16, the other end of the spring"hearing'against the end or the recess. The spring Q2 is arrangedto have its coils close solidly so as to liln'itthe relative displacement of; the press er foot and to cause the presserioot to act as a' knockout after capping, as hereinafter more fullydes'cribed. The headhere shown as an eXample,has, below'the capping die 18, and embraced hythe head lfla crown plat form ring .25 having an internal ledge 26. This ledge islarranged to support a; closure,

such, for example,- as-the Well known :croWn cork (Fig. 3 Below this ledge, :the ring 25 has 'a number otradial bores or passages 28 leading=to a peripheralchannelilll. 1 This channel 1 communicates with a passageway 30 in the hea'd which receives the end of a l-iquid supply pipe 31 having a control valve source of liquid supply (not shown) and when valve 32 is opened the liquid flows into Pipe 31 is designed "for connection with 1 a 1 channel 29 and so into passages 28 where it can pass to a bottle as later described.

There is provided, in connection with the 1 head, a bottle sealing gasket capable of alterthat the gasket is compressed when the headtakes filling position andis released only to pass the capped bottlej' While the bottle support may vary in construction, as here shown as an example, the support comprises a table 75 mounted on a wedge-shaped pillar 76 telescoping within a tubular slide 77 later referred to. The pillar 76 is adjustably positioned in the slide by means of a set screw 78. This adjustment is for setting the support for bottles of different standard sizes, e. g., quarts or pints. For a given standard size, e. g. pints, the pillar remains fixed with respect to the slide; and table, pillar and slide may be considered a unitary su port, This support is mounted as hereina ter described.

The invention in its entirety includes means for (a) tending to cause a given relative movement between head and support to place these elements in a filling position, (b) automatically regulating this relative movement, whereby the head and support have a filling position dependent on the height of the supported bottle, and (c) causing further relative movement for the capping operation. This may be accomplished, for example, by moving one element to a given filling position, permitting'the other element to adjust itself in filling position in accordance with the height of the bottle presented, and then causing. relative movement for the capping operation. While variable within a wide range, in structures embodying the invention to what is now considered the best advantage,

the head is moved into a given filling position and the bottle support is selfadjusting.

Although the head-moving means is capable of various constructions, in that here shown as an example, a base 11 supports a vertical standard 12 having'a cover 13. The standard and its cover have bearings 14,. 15, in which the head-carrying plunger 16 is slidable.

have bearings 40, 41 in which is slidable a pull The standard and its cover also yoke and journaled in the base 11. Associated with shaft 50 is a gear 51 meshing with a pinion 52 on a shaft 53 driven by a pulley 54 to which power may be applied in any suitable manner. Between gear 51 and shaft 50 is a clutch indicated at 55 and actuated by a control handle 56. This clutch connection is of a type that causes, for each operation of the handle 56, ahalf revolution of shaft 50. Such a connection may be of any suitable construction.

Surrounding the upper part of the pull rod 42, in the present embodiment, is a cylindrical sprin cage 60 enclosing a compensating spring 61. The bottom of the spring bears against-a washer plug 62 secured in the end of the cage 60 and engaging a collar 63 pinned to the pull rod. The upper end of the spring bears against a washer 64 slidable in the cage 60 and engaged from above by a collar 65,pinned to the pull rod. At the top, the cage 60 has an enlarged head 66, the shoulder of which engages a hub 67 pinned or otherwise secured to the cage 60. The head 66 has a flange 68 turned in above the washer 64 and embracing the collar 65. Hub 67 is connected by an arm 69 with hub 7 O pinned or otherwise secured to the plunger 16. When the pull rod 42 is moved down, and assuming for the present that the bottle is stationary, the movement of collar 65, through spring 61, pulls down the cage 60, thus lowering arm 69 and plunger 16 carrying the packaging head 17. Consequently pull rod and packaging head move down as a unit. This unitary movement continues as long as a predetermined resistance to the head is not encountered. This resistance is the predetermined capping pressure and may be encountered during the capping stroke. Should this occur, the force'of the spring 61 is overcome. The continued movement of the collar v against washer 64 moves'the washer downwardly inside the cage, compressing the spring, the cage, plunger 16 and the head remaining stationary during the remainder of the fixed stroke of the pull rod. On the movement of the head into filling position, however, this compensating action may be disregarded, the parts all moving down as a unit. v

The cams are so arranged that upon half a revolution of shaft 50 the head 17 is moved down toward the bottle with a fixed stroke into a given filling position and there rests. On the next half revolution of the shaft following actuation of the clutch, the head makes its further downward stroke for capping and then returns upwardly to initial position.

While the selfadjusting arrangement of the bottle support may vary, this may be accomplished, for example, by tending to give the support a position having a given separation from the bottle but permitting itto ing to cause a given elevation of-the support, rel ef means, permitt ng the support to re- .locked in its adjusted position; Although capable-ofwvarious constructions, in the prescede fromthe head when the head engages the bottlef By confiningthe body of fluid atithe proper time, the support is thereafter entrembodimenuthe slide 77 is movable in .guidebearing 79 and itsl'ower end, which isclosedjby a plug1S0,is slidable in the upper part :of a cylinder 81, This cylinder has a narrowedportion 82 in which a plunger 83 hasa tight sliding fit. The upper end of this plunger has ahead 84 which engages the plug and whichlimits the downward movement of theplunger, The lower end of the plunger extends into .-anxenlarged chamber 85 in the bottom of the cylinder whichjcontains-a noncompressible tluid such as oil. The chamber 85 isconnected by a ipe 86 withaport 87 openingginto the cylinder 45a From thebottom of cylinder 45, a pipe .88 leads to an adi iustable relief valve (to be described) and has a branch pipe90 leading through a check valve 91 to :anoil reservoir which, in i the present embodiment, is the base 11. The i check valve 91 is set'to permitafiow from 1 suitable construction.

but not {to the reservoir and ay; be of any .The relief valve, hereinatterdescribed in detail is constructed toopen only upon a predetermmed pressure.

Within: this limit, therefore, iffpressure Lapplied to the oil in the system theplunger 83, .and consequent ly the bottle support-will be elevated. As

result the supported bottle is raised toward the packaginghead. WVhile the pressure may be applied *toitheoil in various ways,in the present embodimenu-this is accomplished by 1 piston l4cdescending in cylinder l5. Assoon,

u therefore, asthepull rod starts down to lower r50 wtend ngwtoglve the support a given separa tion from the lflGitCl,1.Cl8PQIlCl6I1l3,0II. the stroke H the packaging head, the. force stroke of .pis.

ton l4: causes the bottle support ton-start upward toward the approaching head, thus ioffipiston A l; :The extent of its upward movement, however, is controlled by the particular bottle presented. When the descending head encounters the mouth of thesupported bottle the resistanceto the upward .1novement.of the support causes the relief a valve to open. =Thereafter,as the piston it continues its force stroke, the oil passes put through the relief valve thus permitting the 1bottlesupportyto-floator yield. This allows the bottle and its support to precede as the head continues downward. ,While the means for-locking thesupport in its fina posit on may vary use p e en embo i entthis is ac ompli hed by so t Q P t 8 and s d m nsi ni g use 44; that thepiston covers port 87 atthe proper time; .When this occurs, theoilgin the con tainer85 is confined and as none ean escape the bottle support is locked against further receding movement, That is,the bottlesupport has automatically adjusted itself,,de-

pending on the height of thebottle, to give the bottle mouth a givenposition with respect to thepackaging head. i y

Whilethe relief valve may ,vary in construction, that here shown as anexample comprises a valve casing 89 enclosing a valve ,chamber 93, into which is threaded a coupling 94 to which pipe 88 is connected. The coupling provides a valve seat 95fagainst which seats paconical yalve96, the valve having a Fig. 15. The valve is normally heldto itsseat by a coil spring98 enclosed bye spring cage '99 secured to the valve casing. This spring is compressed between ashonldered valve stem 100 and a shouldered button Bearing :against the latter is the endof anadyustmq screw 102 which is threaded through the. end

.ofthe spring cage 99. The spring tension may be Lad-juste'd by manipulationflof the coupling an-jd acts as aguide. The direction "of oilpressure is indicated by the arrow n screw 1.02xto regulate the forcenecessary .to

open thevalve. A check nut 103 serves to lock the adj usting screw in its, adjusted .position. .Communicating with the valve ehan 1- ber 93 isaireliet pipe 104,which 1n the present embodiment, leads to the top :ofthe standard 12.- i

In :operation, .;assuming that a bottle T05 of intermediate height for-the standard size being filledis placed on the table and assuniingthe system filled withoil, Fig. 1 shows thepackagihg head in raised position with the sealing gasket compresse'dand a cap place ontheledgei26. Handle56 is operated revolution of shaft 50, therebywto lower the head tofilling position i as above described. Moving in unison with the pullrod, theipiston 44: moves downin the cylinder 4E5. against the oil. contained therein.

to cause ahalf The check valve 9l is closed, as is the relief valve 96 and consequently the oil flows throughpipe'86 into-.chamber 85 and raises plunger 83. .The engagement ,of plunger -head84: with plug 80 raises the slide 77, which forms part ofthe bottle support, andthereby carries the bottle on-the table? 5. upward toward the descending head. .When the gasket '33 engages the bottle mouth, the resulting resistance to themovementof the bottle support causes the reliefvalve 9 6 to open, thus permitting .the oil underpressure by piston 4A to flow into pipe .104 and baekinto the reservoir. The bottlesupport may now be said to floatdend as the head 117 continues parts are so arranged that there is a slight,

overthrow of the piston 44 beyond port 87 before the shaft completes'its first half revolution and the head takes filling position. This overthrow is suihcientto permit a the head to descend against the locked bottle enough for the compressed gasket to be Wed (1 into sealing engagement with the bott e mouth, as shown in Fig. 3. I

' With the construction described the support 'is locked against further receding movement at a fixed point with relation to the movement of the head into'filling position. But this downward movement of the support starts at varying times, dependent on the height-of the bottle. I Thus, if the bottle is abovethe-average size, the head'and bottle mouth will meet earlier in the cycle and the support will start to recede earlier; If, on the other hand, the bottle is shorter than average, the engagement with the head will take place later and there will be less receding downward movement before the support is 2.". locked. That is, the support adjusts itself in final position according to the height of the 'thensupported bottle. As a result, successivebottles are so placed that the mouths have i a uniform; position withrespect to'the head,

this postion being such as to enable the gasket to be wedged with proper sealing engagement with the mouth as illustrated in Fig. 3 and also such as to position the bottle properlyfor the packagin operations.

' kt this stage in t 1e cyqleof operat ons the shaft 50 has completed'a half revolution and ceased to rotate. The head, therefore, pauses in its given filling position with the mouth of the locked bottle sealed in the head by the gasket. To fill the bottle, the operator opens valve 32 thereby admitting the liquid being packaged to passages 28, whence it flows into the bottle. When the bottle is filled to a pro er height the valve 32 is closed. I

0 continue the cycle of automatic operations, the handle 56 is operated to cause another half revolution of the shaft 50. During the first part of this movement, the cams cause the pull rod 42 to make a further descent to lower the head for its capping stroke. As the headmoves down, the gasket slides down over the neck of the bottle and the bottle mouth picks upthe waiting cap. The presser foot 19 is forced back against its spring 22 until the coils close, thus controlling the relative position of the bottle and the die. The pressure of the presser foot on the bottle and its cap effect a seal between the cap and bottle and the capping die causes the skirt of the cap to be crimped about the bottle neck in the usual well known manner.

During this capping stroke of the head, compensation may or may not take place, depending on the effective height of the bottle. Under ideal conditions compensation is unnecessary. That is to say, the pull rod completes its down stroke before the predetermined capping pressure between the head and bottle is exceeded. In the event that the bottle mouth should, for some reason, be higher than the predetermined position, the capping pressure is exceeded before the pull rod completes its stroke. As a result, the head can yield and remain stationary, spring 61 being compressed during the remainder of the pull rod stroke. At or about the end of the cap ping stroke, the gasket 33 is released so as to open to clear the capped bottle mouth. Fig. 4 shows the head at the end of its capping stroke with the cap attached to the bottle and the gasket released, just prior to the re turn upward movement of the head.

In the meantime, during this capping operation, the piston 44 has moved down the cylinder 45 to the broken line position of Fig. 2. Port 87 having been covered during such movement, the bottle support has been locked. The oil impelled by this piston movement passes through the relief valve chamber into and up pipe 104 and is delivered to the top of the standard 12. From there it flows down Within the'standard and base, thus serving to lubricate the moving parts enclosed therein, and so reaches the reservoir in the lower part of the base.

Following the end of the capping operation, continued rotation of the cams causes a return upward movement of the pull rod 4:2, thus carrying the head back to its initial position. As the head rises, the presser foot 19 remains held against the capped bottle until spring 22 reexpands, thus serving as a knockout to prevent the bottle being carried up by the head. Near the end of this upward movement of the head the gasket is recompressed. As the piston 44 moves upwardly it performs a suction stroke. The relief valve 96 closes under the force of its spring and the check valve 91 opens to admit new oil from the reservoir to take the place of that previously delivered thereto. As soon as the piston 44 again uncovers port 87, oil is with drawn from chamber 85, thus permitting the plunger 83 to descend by gravity, whereby the bottle support may return to its initial position.

In order to prevent air from interfering with the action of the fluid pressure system the piston 44 has, as here shown as an example, an internal bore 105 of the shape of an inverted L. l appears in Fig .1,when the parts opens into the oil reservoir and any air in the are at the top of theupstroke, the bore 105 system can pass out. Itwill be apparent that on the downwardstroke, the piston cannot being arranged to compensate for thislost motion.

At the end of this half revolution of the shaft 50 theparts have been returned to initial position where they rest until the clutch is again operatedfor the next bottle.

What I claimisz n v 1. Ina packaging apparatus, and in com bination, a paclraging head having a capping port, means for movingthe head toward the support with a given stroke forfilling position and for thereafter-causing relative movement between head and support for the capping operation, and meanstending to move the support towardthe head during part of the movement ot the head into filling position, but permitting, the support to yield,

whereby the head and sulpport are spaced,

heightof the supported bottle, I

during filling, a distance governed by the g 2. in a packag" g machine,

nation, ,a packaging head having a capping i die and liquid delivery means, anormally compressedsealing gasket carriedfiby the head, a-slidablyfmounted bottle support, a,

container for containing a substantially none compressible fluid, a plunger in said contain er having operative relation with said support, a cylinder having a port therein, a con nection fromsaid port to the container, a reservoir: for a supply of the fluid, a connection between said reservoir and the. cylinder, a

check valve in 'said last named connection permitting flow of fluid from but a, not to the reservoir, a relief valve, a connection from the relief valve to the reservoir,means, in-

eluding a reciprocating element, for moving nation, apackaging head havinga capping die and fluid delivery means, anormally c0mpressed sealing gasketcarriedby'the head, a

cylinder and connected with said-reciprocat ing element, said port and piston being so arranged that the, piston covers the portjust prior to the end of the stroke of the head into filling position. g I L 3.In apackaging machine, and in combi slidably mounted bottle support, an enclosed base and standard for supporting and housing parts of themachine andserving as an'oil reservoir, means, ineluding a reciprocating pull rod connected with thelhead and'housed insaid base and standard,for moving the head toward the support into a given posit-ion :Eor filling and further forthe cappingoperation and {thereafter back to initial position, a container for containing a substantially nonlcompressible fluid, a plunger in said con tainer having operative relation with the sup port, a cylinder having a port therein, a cone nectionfrom the port to the container, a connection between the cylinder and said reservoir, a checkvalve in said last named con-F nee-tion, permittingfiow from but not tothe reservoir, a relief valve,a connection between the cylinder and the relief valve, a connec-f tion between the relief valve and the upper part of the standard, a pump piston operat in said cylinder and connected with said pullrod, thepiston and port being so arranged that the piston covers the port just priorto theend of the stroke of the head into filling position. V e e 4C. In a packaging machine, and in combination, a packaging head elementhaving a capping die and liquid delivery means, a bottle supporting J element, means for causing oneot said elements to approach the other element a given distance to place the head andsupported bottle in filling relation and to approach further the approached element forthe cappingloperation, and means for giving the approached element a displace ment toward the approaching element that is, in eictent, dependent on the, height ot the supported bottle.

5; In apackaging machine, and in combi a nation, a packaging head element having a capping die andfiuid delivery means, a bottlefsupporting element, meansfor causing one of said elements to approach the other with a-givenstroke for filling position andto approach further the approached element for the capping operation, and means tending to move the approached element toward the apapproached element to yield and; just prior proachi ngjelement during part of the teeding'stroke otthelatter but permitting said to the end of such stroke,caus1ng the approachedelement to be held against movement in a direction away'tmmthe approaching element, H a i I:

6. In a packaging machine, and in combiw nation, a packaginghead having ac apping die ,andqfluid deli-very means, a bottle sup port, means for moving the head toward the support into a givenposition for filling, container means for containing asubstantially non-compressible liquid with relation to which the? bottle supportv'is suspended, and

I means for applyingpressure to thefluid to tend to cause, the supportto be moved a given distance toward-the head during part ofthe head movement and for relieving the sup port from the pressure of the liquid whilejthe a pressure'iomthe liquid is maintained, where by the support may yield and sorecedelwlth a means being bination, a packaging head, a bottle sealing gasket carried thereby, a bottle support,

means for moving thehead toward the support into a given position for filling, container means for containing a'substantially non-compressible liquid with relation to which the bottle support is suspended, a cylindelhaving. a port communicating with said container means, a pump iston working in said cylinder and operated V y said head mov- 'mg means, whereby pressure is applied to said liquid to tend to cause the support to move toward the vhead as'the. head moves toward the support, and a relief valve forpermitting.

escape of the liquid under said pressure upon a predetermined resistance to the support, whereby the support can yield'w'ith respect to and recede withthe head upon engagement of the head with the supported bottle, said piston and said port, being so arranged that the piston covers the port and confines the liquid in the container means just rior to the end of the head movement to ho d the suprt a inst recedingfrom the head, wherey sai gasket may be wedgedinto sealing engagement with thebottle during the final part of the headmovement. v

8. In a packaging machine, and in combination, apackaging head having a capping die and liquid delivery means, a bottle supporting element, means, operating with a given stroke,1for lowering the head into filling position with respect to a supported bottle and further vlowering the head for the capping operation, means for moving the bottle support with respect to the descending head, and for causingthe bottle support to take a position, when the head i sin fillingrposition, and retain such position during the capping stroke ofthe head, that is automati cally controlled by the height of thesupported bottle. i l a 9. In a packaging machine, and in combinatioma packaging head having a capping die, abottle sealing gasket and liquid delivery means, a bottle su port, means for moving the head toward the support into a given position'forthe filling operation and further for'the-capping operatiommeans for mounting the supportto float duringjthe first part of the movement of the head, whereby the support can yield and so recede with the head upon engagement between the head and the 8d ported bottle, whereby the support can ta e a position dependent on the height of the suppurtedlbottle, and means for thereafter locking the support against movement in' a direction ,awayfrom the head, said locking arranged to takeeffect shortly before thedend of the stroke ofthehead into fillingv position whereby' the sealing gasket 0nto.;the bottle mouths 10. In a packaging machine, and in combination, a packaging head, a bottle support, means for moving the head toward the support into a given position, and means 0perated by said head-moving means for (a) moving said support toward said head but permitting the support to recede with the head upon engagement of the head and supported bottle, and (12) causing the support to be locked against further receding movement at a predetermined point in the stroke of the head.

11. In a packaging machine, and in combination, a packaging head, abottle support, means for moving the headtoward the support into a given position for filling, and further for the; ca ping operation, means operated by said cad-moving means for (a) moving the support toward the head during the stroke of the head into filling position but permitting the support to recede with head upon engagement of the head and the supported bottle, and (b) causing the support to be locked against further receding movement after said head has made at least part of its first stroke and during the capping stroke of the head.

12. In a packaging machine, and in combination, a packaging head having a capping die and liquid delivery means, a normally constricted sealing gasket carried by the head, a'bottle support,;means for-moving the head toward the-support into a given position for filling and further for the capping operation, andlmeans operating in' synchronism with saidilast'headmoving means for (a) moving the support toward the head during the stroke ofv the head into filling position but permitting the support to recede with the head upon engagement of the head and the supported bottle, and causing the support'to be locked against further receding movement enough prior to the end of the stroke of the head into filling position to permit the gasket to be wedged intosealing engagement withvthe mouth of the supported Iliottle and during the capping stroke of the eadQ a a 13. In a packaging machine. and in combi-. nation, a packaging head, a bottle support, means for moving the head toward the support intoa given position for filling, container means for containing asubst-antially non-compressible liquid with relation to which the bottle support is suspended, means operating in synchronismvwith said head moving means for applying pressure to the fluid during the movement of the head toward the support to tend to cause the support to be moved toward the head a given distance, and means whereby. the support is relieved from pressure whereby the support can yield and sorecede with the head upon engage ment of the head with the supported bottle. 14. In apackaging machine, and in com H to ' bination, a packaging head, a bottle supnon-con'ipressible fluid with relation to which the bottle support is suspended, a cylinder connected with saidcontainer means, a piston in said cylinder connected and movingwith said puli rod for applying pressure to the fluid to tend to cause the support to be moved toward the descending head, means whereby the support is relieved from said pressure I and can yield and so recede with the head upon engagement of the head and supported bottle, and aport between the cylinder and container means and located to be covered by said piston prior to the end of its force stroke,

therebyto confine a portion of the fluid and hold the support against receding movement. 15. In a packaging machine, and in combination, a packaging head, a bottle support,

means for moving the head toward the sup port into a given position for filling, container means for containing a substantially non-compressible fluid with relation to which the bottle support is suspended, means for so applying pressure to the liquid totend to cause thesupport topbe moved toward the head, and a relief valve forpermittingescape of fluid, thereby to relieve the support from inder and a piston connected with said reciprocating element, for pumping a fluid against said support to tend to move the latter toward the head, a relief valve for passing fluid upon predetermined pressure whereby the support, upon engagement of the head and supported bottle, can yield and so recede with the head, a port in the cylinder arranged to be covered by the piston, thereby to confine a bodyof the fluid and hold the support against receding movement, said piston having an L-shaped bore therein for permitting the escape of air, when the end ofits suction stroke.

18. In apackaging machine, and in combination, a packaging head having a capping die and fluid delivery means, a bottle support, means for moving one of said element-s toward the other with a given stroke for the filling operation, and further for the capping operation, and means for (a) moving the other of said elements toward the first element, whereby the latter may take a position determined bythe height ofthe supported bottle, and (b) thereafter holding the element so positioned against movement in a direction away from the other element.

In testimony whereof, have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM VAUGHAN DERBY.

pressure upon engagement of the head and supported bottle, whereby the support can yield and so recede with the head.

16. In apackaging machine, and in combination, a packaging head, a bottle support, an oil reservoir, means including parts operating in said oil reservoir for moving the head toward the support into a given position for filling and further for thecapping operation and then back to initial position, pump means, having communication with the oil in said reservoir and operating in synchronism with said head-moving means, tending, on the force stroke, to cause thebottle support to be raised toward the head, and, on the suction stroke drawing oil from the reservoir, a relief valve between the pump means and reservoir for the escape of oil upon a predetermined pressure, whereby,

upon engagement of the head and a supported bottle, the support is relieved from pump pressure and canyield and so recede with the head and .a connection for conducting oil from the relief valve to the res ervoir.

i 17 In a packaging machine, andin combination, a packaging head, a bottle support,

means including a reciprocating element, for

a moving the head toward the support into a i given position for filling and further for the capping operation and thereafter back a to initial position, means, includingacylpiston is at the

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