US1939401A - Transporting means for can washers - Google Patents

Description

De 12 1933- J.-M. MGCLATCHIE 1,939,401

TRNSPORTING MEANS FOR CAN WASHERS Original Filed May 7. 1931 `SShees-S'neei: l

Dec. 12, 1933. J. M. MccLATcHlE 1,939,401

TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR CAN WASHERS Original Filed May '7. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fof//v /7. /V-c- (ZAM/wf n vb Gx g N M EYs m (u Dec- 12, 1933. J. M. MccLATcHlE 1,939,401

TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR CAN WASHERS Original Filed May 7, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Dec. 12, 1933. J, M. McCLATcl-HE 1,939,401.

TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR CAN WASHERS Original Filed May 7. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 W INVENTOR DeC- 12, 1933 J. M. MccLA'rcHlE TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR CAN WASHERS original Filed May 7. 1951 5 sheets-seet 5 .QN www EYS Patented Dec. I2, 1933 TRANSPORTING MEANS Fon CAN WAsHERs John M.- McClatchie, New York, N. Y.,. assignor tof Y The Borden Company, New York, N. Y., a cor-- poration of New Jersey Original i application May 7, 1931, Serial No.

553,673. Divided and this application February' 20, 1933. Serial No. 657,545

s claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in machines for washing cans and the like. This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 535,673, led May 7, 1931.

The object of the present invention is io simplify and improve the construction and mode of operation `of certain of the parts of the machine disclosed in said application and particularly the can-conveying means, as hereinafter fully described and parlicularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the machine of this present invention, the cans to be washed are moved by a carriage from a position over one cleansing nozzle to a position over the next until the cans have each been subjected to a series of cleansing operations. The carriage or conveyor by which the cans are carried from one nozzle to the other, is moved with an upward, forward, downward and backward movement and when acleaned and dried can carried thereby reaches the exit end of the machine, it is uprighted on the upstroke of the carriage. In `this strucure also, covers for the cans are advanced through the machine pari passu with the cans, and means are employed for placing the covers within range of the cover advancing means. The machine of the present invention is provided with novel means for preventing the rcans from toppling over during their advance from nozzle to nozzle.

VIn the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the discharge end of the machine, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, looking `in the directionof the arrows; Figs. 2 and 3 taken togelher are a longitudinal section through the machine with the valves for controlling the supply of cleansing fluid to the nozzles, and most of the valve-operating mechanism, omitted; Fig. 4 `is a side elevation, with parts in section, of the discharge end of the machine; Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the can carriage and associated parts; and Fig. 6 isanelevation, partly in section, of the left hand side of the machine.

The improved can washing machine asillustrated in the drawings is providedwith two longitudinally extending bars 29 on which the cans 30 are supported in inverted position `during ldie various cleansing operations for the cans. The

bars 29 are provided at intervals throughout `their length with legs 31 which rest on cross pieces 32 supported at `their oui'erends from the upright standards 33 'forming part of the main or stationary frame of the machine. The bars 29 extend throughout the length of the machine, one

directingthe washing, sterilizing and drying fluids in o the cans extend upwardly from the can supporting `bars 29 and are arranged at equally spaced'intervals, being fixed in position between the bars by means of brackets 35. Each bracket 35 is provided with two oppositely disposed, longi- 65 tudinall'/ extending Vwings 36, the upper edges of which are flush the Yupper edges of the bars 29. The bracket wings 36 cooperate with the bars 29 in supporting the invertedcans over the nozzles. In this connection it will be observed that although the bars 29 are shown as of unbroken continuity throughout their length, they may consist of a series of interrupted supports like the bracket Wings 36, since the cans are not advanced or slid along the bars but are advanced through I5 the machine out of contact with the bars and only resten the bars during the washing operations, as will be presently explained.

The means for advancing the cans through the machine and depositing them successively over the nozzles comprises two longitudinally-extending, oppositely-facedv angle bars 37 which are spaced apart far enough to support on their horizontal webs the flanged mouths of the usual types of large milk cans. ends ofjthe pairs of transversely arranged pieces 38 secured to the lower-ends of the outer row of uprightsv 39 and the inner row of uprights 40. The uprights 39 and 40 are held in spaced rela?v tionship by longitudinally extending a'ngle irons 90 I 42, 43 and 44 secured to their lowerends,l and by the channel iron 45 resting` on the upper ends of the inner uprights 40, and are braced transversely by the cross pieces 46 and the obliquely arranged braces 47. Thereis thus produced a light movable frame or carriage rigid enough to lift all the cans in the machine simultaneously and transport them through the machine by a step by step movement. To the inner surfaces of the outer row of uprights 39 is secured a guard 101|4 plate 48 and to the inner surfaces of theV inner row of uprights 40 is secured a guardplate 49. The cans are prevented from striking the guardv plates `48 and 49 by the longitudinally-extending rails 5l and 52. 4

The cans are placed manually in the machine` at the intake end thereof and they arethen advanced through the machine by the carriage to which a four-step cycle of movements is imparted. The iirst step of the carriageis upward, 110

The bars 3'7 rest on' the inner 85 direction, viewing Fig. 2.

lifting the cans to a point at which their anged mouths are above the plane passing vthrough the upper ends of the nozzles. The carriage then moves forward one step toward the discharge end of the `machine and at the end of the forward step the carriage descends to lower the cans onto the bars 29, after which the carriage, freed from the cans, returns toward the intake end of the machine into position to pick up the next can which has been placed in thev machine.

The means Vfor imparting the four-step cycle of movements to the cantransporting carriage comprises two rectangularly shaped gear frames 56 and 57 supported from the lower sides of the angle irons 43 and 44. The gear frames 56 and 57 have parallel sides and are .guided in their movements between the longitudinally arranged bars 58 supported on the cross pieces 32. rights of thecan carriage are guided between two longitudinally extending" angle irons 53 resting on the transversely arranged channel irons 54 supported on the upper ends Vof the up- .a rights 33 of the stationary frame of the machine. 25

Each gear frame 56 rand 57 is provided with a four-sided internal gear, with round corners, adapted to be engaged by a pinion 60. The two pinions 60 are mounted on the inner ends of the transversely arranged shafts 6l their ends in frames 62 which are supported at their inner ends on the bars 58 and at their outer ends on the angle irons 63 supported from the uprights 33. On the outer ends of the shafts 6l are mounted bevell gears 64 which are driven by pinions 65 mounted on the opposite ends of the longitudinally arranged shaft 66 journaled in brackets 67 projecting outwardly from the frames 62. The shaft 66 may be driven from a conveniently placed motor and for this purpose 40 is provided with aV sprocket wheel 68 and chain 69. The shaft 66 rotates in a counter-clockwise From this it will be understood that while the rotating pinions' 60 K. are in mesh with the teeth of the kupper horizontal gear sections 71 the can carriage is traveling backwardly or toward the intake end oi the machine; at the right of Fig. 6, that while the pinions are in engagement with theY vertical gear sections72 vthe carriage is risingY or traveling upwardly; that while the pinions are in engagement with the lower horizontal gear sections 73 the carriage is advancing toward Vthe discharge end of themachine, Yand that while the pinions are in engagement with the verticalgear sections 74th'e carriage is descending or traveling downwardly. Since the pinions 60 rotate constantly and the gear sections constitute two internal, rectangular gears, the travel of the can ,carriage is substantially continuous, even Yat the points where it changes its directionr of travel.

However, the end of the backward movement or travel of thecarriage toward the intake end of l the machinemay be regarded as thepoint of- .beginning of the four-step cycle of movements ofthe carriage in transporting the cans through The cans rest in inverted position` orr'the bars 29 during the wholeof the backwardV stroke' of the'carriage and are supported by theV carriage during the upward,` forward and downthe machine.

ward strokes of the carriage, it being understood thatV the carriage deposits` the cans on theabars 29 just previous tothe completion of the kdownward stroke, and re-engages the cans just` after the beginning .of the upward stroke.l VThev` can carriage is supported `during its kupward and hangs the blocks 82 and rod 81.

The upper ends of the inner row of up-A journaled at downward movements and also while the pinions V69 are in engagement with the lower gear secv-ing the forwardmovement of the carriage, I

provide a series of guard arms each consisting oi' a V-shaped piece of metal the ends of the arms of which are fastened to the longitudinally vextending rod 81 journaled in blocks 82 secured to the inner surfaces of the guard plate 49 at the points where the latter are in engagement with the uprights 40. The angle iron 52 over- At the discharge end of the machine the rod 8l is provided with an arm 83 having an offset free end in which is formed a cam slot 84 (see Fig. 1) which receives a fixed rod 85 supported at one end by a bracket arm 86 secured to a drip tank 87 and at its other end by a bracket 88 vrising from a rail 89 (Fig. 4) formed on one edge of the discharge platform 99. The disposition ofthe rod 85 and the cam slot in the arm 83 is such that when the can carriage is on its rearward stroke returning toward the intake end of the machine, the arm 83 is held raised by the rod 85 and the guard arms 80 are thereby held pointed downwardly so as not to interfere with the cans, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. When, however, the can carriage rises to carry the cans one step toward the discharge end of the machine, the arm 83 is turned by the rod 85 to raise the -guard. arms 80 into horizontal position between the cans as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that if a can should tend to topple over during the forward movement of the carriage it will be caught and held by the adjacent guard arm and returned to normal position on vthe downward stroke of the carriage depositing the cans on the 'supports 29. It will thus be understood that the guard arms 80 are moved upwardly between the cans as the` carriage rises, continues in horizontal position during the forward step of the carriage and return into inoperative vertical position on the downward travel of the carriage.

The can carriage successively deposits the cans for the successive washing, sterilizing and drying treatments at stations indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 at A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I. At each station there is located a nozzle, the rnozzles at stations A and B being falsenozzies to afford the operator opportunity to place an inverted can in the machine, as at station A, and also to permit the milk or othersubstanee remaining in the can to'v run out before the can is subjected to thepreliminary cold water rinse which occurs at station C, and is followed by a hot water rinseat station D. A washing solution is directed againstgthe inner surfaces of a can at station E and at station F any solution adhering to the can is'removed by hot water rinse. At stations G and H the interior surfaces of the cans are subjected'to a steam bath, and at station I a blast oi" air isV directedinto the can toy dry it.

When the machine'is first started in operacenter the cans withresp'ect to the nozzles.v At the end of the stroke or travel of the carriage toward the intake end of the machine therear ends of the angle irons 37.0f the carriage are positioned under the can resting on the rear ends of the bars 29 at station A, so that on the upstroke of the carriage the can isA lifted from over the false nozzle 'at station A and on the next forward strokeof the carriage is brought to position over the false nozzle at stationrB,over which the carriage deposits thecan on the down stroke of the carriage and at which it leaves the can as it returns toward the intake end of the machine. While the carriage is depositing thecanat station B and until the carriage completes its return movement the operator has opportunity to place another can in inverted posi-V tion on the bars 29 at station A. On the next upward stroke of the carriage the two cans are lifted simultaneously from the bars 29, and are transported to the next successive nozzles on the next'forward step of the carriage, the can at station B being moved to station C and the can at station A being moved to station B. AsV

the carriage continues to pass through its four step cycle of movements, the operator continuesY to place cans in inverted position over the false nozzle at station A, the cans are successively placed over the succeeding nozzles until there is a can at each station,nine in all. After a can has been placed over the air nozzle at station I to receive `the blast of air against its interior surfaces during the backward stroke'of the carriage, the dried can is lifted from over the air nozzle on the next upward stroke of the carriage and is then pushed upwardly over a stationary abutment 91 so as to land top side up on a discharge platform 90, the uprighting of the can occurring during the upward and forward strokes of the carriage.-A During the next downward stroke of the carriage which deposits the next succeeding can over the air nozzle, and the return of the carriage toward the intake end of the machine, the operator has opportunity to place anothercan over the false nozzle at station A. It is thus seen that nine cans are.

constantly in the machine during* the normal, continuous operationthereof,iandthat of these nine, seven are simultaneously subjected to` cleansing, sterilizing and drying operations, and that as each can is uprighted onto the discharge platform 90, an unwashed can is placed in the machine. It will be understood that `in the practical operation of the machine the operator can only place a can in the machine when the can has'been emptied, and that consequently many gaps will occur in the` line through the machine. The valves correspondling to the absent cans will not be operated, but the valves opposite the stations `occupied by) cans will beoperated. The operation of the machine is continuous, the cans being placed in the machine manuallyvand then treated and discharged entirely automatically.`

'Ihe nozzles at the various stations, which direct the cleansing and sterilizing fluids against the interior `surfaces ofthe cams, are supplied bya system of piping not shown herein. The pipe leading Vto each nozzle is provided `with `a valve so operated that the Valve opens only when a can is positioned over the nozzle to which the valveV connects. are carried by the carriage and are shown at 97, the operation of these devices upon the valves Vbeing controlled initially by adevice `indicated of cans Ypassing The valve vcontrolling devices at 101 locatedad'j'acent the station B, andwhich is set in operative position only when a can is located over the nozzle B. Therefore, if no can they will be opened when required. This valve operating mechanism is fully described and. claimed inV my copending application, Serial No. 535,673, of which this application is a division,

so a specific and detailed description of it herein is deemed unnecessary.

While the cans are passing through the ma-V chine and undergoing the washing, sterilizing and drying operations, the covers or tops for the cans are advanced along a runway and, subjected to similar cleansing treatments. The covers 220 are supported topside up and are slid along in oblique position on two rails 221 and 222 fixed on the upper edges of the inturned fingers 223 of a series of frames or brackets 224 secured to the cross pieces 54. The rails 221 and 222 extendr from a point opposite the false vnozzle at stationV A to a point over the discharge platform, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The covers are advanced step by step along the rails 221 and 222 by fingers 227 secured to a longitudinally extending bar 228 provided at each end with a boss 229 secured to a shaft 230 journaled in the bearings 231 supported from the cross pieces or braces.232 in the upper part of the frames '224. The shaft 230 lifts the fingers 227 above the plane passing through the top surfaces of the can covers, and is yieldingly oscillated in the opposite direction to place the fingers y227 lin cover-engaging position, For this purpose the shaft 230 is provided withan arm 233 having its free end projecting through a slotted plate 234 secured to the upright 40 of the can carriage. A spring 235, attached to the arm-233 and to a pin. 236 normally holds the free end of the arm 233 against the top 237 of the slotted plate 234. On the down stroke of the can carriage, the part 237 engages with the arm 233 to depress it and so oscillate the shaft 230 to lift the fingers 227 above the can covers to the positionV shown in Fig. 4. Asthecan carriage rises the spring 235 drawsthe free end of the arm 233 upward and thereby causes the shaft 230 to place the fingers 227 in cover-engaging position, as shown `in Fig. 1. If during the movement of the fingers 227 into `cover-engaging position, one of the fingers should encounter a misplaced cover, the spring 235 will yield and thus no injury will occur to any of the parts of .the'machine While the fingers 227 are held above `the tops ofthe cam covers by the engagement of the part 237 with the varm 233, the can 'carriage isvmoving toward the slot of .member 234 mounted on theV carriage.

Before the operator places a can in inverted position over the false nozzle atlstation A, heA

places the cover on a hopper-likechute indicated generally 'at 240. The chute 240, as `best 4Vshown the carriage.

g' upwardly, so

lvanced to a position above each 243. The bars 241 and 242 are supported in posi-Y tion by the bracket 244 extending from the first.

upright 33 at the right hand side of the machine. The chute is provided with the obliquely arranged bottom 245. When the can is placed in inverted A the cover Vfor the can is' position at station placed topside'up in the chute, Athe lower edges of the cylindrical neck of the cover resting on the bottom 245 of the chute. The coverslides down the chute until the cylindrical neck portion thereof rests against the outerend ofthe lower rail 222, as shown in Fig. 1. Arranged over the `lower end of the chute is a directing guard member 246 supported from the first brace232.

Each cover is advanced its first step along the rails 221, 222, by means ofa pusher lever 248, pivotally mounted on the'carriage. lLever 248 has a hub 249 (Fig. 2) rotatably mounted onr a shaft 250 supported in bracketsg251 secured to This hub carries an arm 252 having a can-engaging end253 so placed that when the carriage rises to pick up a can from over the false .nozzle at station A, the arm 252 will be depressed and the pusher Ylever will be rocked that when the carriage is fully raised the pusher end 254 of lever 248 will come into line with the neck of the can cover. Then, as the carriage makes its-forward stroke the cover will be pushed along one step by the'pusher.

','Howeven if 'there is no can at station A to bey picked up by-the carriageas it rises, arm 252 will not become depressed and the pusher lever 248 will not engage the can cover vwhen the carriage advances, but will Vpass by beneath it.

When a covei` has beenr advanced such initial step it is in position to be engaged by the first rof the cover-advancing fingers 227.

When a cover is at the base of the chute 240 its position in the machine corresponds with'thevposition of a can placed over the false nozzle' at` station A. When the machine advances the can from station A to the false nozzle atstation B,

the cover simultaneously vis advanced by means` of the pusher lever 248 to a position in the machine corresponding to the position of the can atY station B. Now when'the carriage, after its return stroke, rises to lift this can from station B preparatoryto advancing it to station C, the

rising of the control member 234 for the arm 233,

l'which-2contro1s the positioning vof the cover iingers 227, causes the first cover finger" 227 to be lowered into position behind this cover, so that when the raised carriage advances thecan to -position over station C, the first rcover finger 227 1' simultaneously advances the cover along the rails 221 and 222 into a vposition in the machine ycorresponding to the positionV of the can depositedrat station C. A cover-washing` nozzle is appropristation so that-a cover ad-l ately placedat-each station will be acted upon by its nozzle.'

Thus, each cover is advanced step by step.

along the rails: 221, 222, and' from one nozzle to the nextin correspondencewith'the advance-- Vment of a can through thev machine; that. is, a

can and a'v cover start through the Ymachine togetherand are advanced correspcndinglystep by step until discharged.

When Y the cover reaches the seventh ycover. treating station itreceivesa blast of air from a through a pipe 266,'connected to a pipe 151 leadingv from a. conveniently placed air blower. The treatment of both can and cover having now beencompleted, the can-becomes disposed in upright position on the discharge platform 90 and simultaneously the cover is advanced into position for placement on the uprighted can.

. As the can isbeing treated by the air blast at station I, the can carriage completes its return stroke toward the intake lend of the machine. The forward ends of the rails 37 of the can carriage are so arranged that on the completion of thereturn strokel of the can carriage, they will cause the can to be tilted against or onto the abutment 91, and then as the carriage completes its upward movement and moves forward, the can is pushed over the abutment and lands bottom side down on the discharge platform. If a can is not properly uprighted after sliding over the abutment, the uprighting of the can on the discharge platform is completed by means of a pusher arm 270 secured toa shaft 271 journaled in bearings such as 272 secured to appropriate frame members of the machine. Shaft 271 has also secured thereto an operating lever 273 against which a suitable stud or pin 274 carried on the can carriage is adapted to engage as the carriage completes its forward stroke. By ,this engagement, the operating lever 273 is moved to swing the arm 270 against the rear side of the can and to push the can into upright position in case the can should beleaning against the abutment-91.r Y f The platform 90 extends transversely across the discharge end of the machine and is supported on longitudinal channel irons 280 extending from the last pair of uprights 33 to the final short pair of uprights 281. t its forward edge, the platform 9@ is supported by the channel iron 282 extending transversely of the two uprights 281. These uprights are also connected toward their lower ends by anangle iron' 283.

The vcans are discharged onto the platform 90 at a point in alinernent with the bars 29, and here the forv/'ardedge ci platform 9o is provided withV an upright plate 284 which assists in guiding the can into upright position and prevents the uprighting can'fromtoppling off the end of the machine.. There is also a guard plate 285 secured along thevadjacent sideedge of the platform.

I The upright-ed can is now moved transversely across the discharge end of the machine on the platform and receives a spray of water against its bottom from a nozzle 121, and also receives its cover. The uprighted can is moved by an arm 290, having a can-engaging piece 291 at its Aupper end, is fixed on a shaft 292 journaled in bearings 293. The Yarm 290 is oscillated by means of a link 295 connected at one end to an arm 296 secured" to shaft 292 and connected at its other end with an arin 297 secured to an oscillating shaft 165. Whenever shaft 165 turns in clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 2, the arm 290 will be swung across the platform 90 and will be returned to initial position when the shaft 165 rotates counter-clockwise. The rear edge of platform 90 is cut away, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow f-orvthe swinging of arm 290. The pipe 120, which feeds nozzle 121,v has va Valve 302 having a stem 30G-over which isflrocated an actuating memberv 307 ladjustably secured to the under side of a plate 38.4 vhinged at 305 tothe platform. This plate 1 304 is normally retained slightly raised above the platform by the pressure of the valve stem 306 against the member 307. When a can is moved across the platform by the arm 290 into position lover the plate 304, the weight of the can will depress this plate and consequently depress the valve stem 306, causing the valve to open and avspray of water to issue from the nozzle 121 and impingeagainstthe bottom of the can. The nozzle 121 forms part of the platform 90. v

On the next forward stroke of the carriage, the can is pushed forwardly olf of platform 90 by an arm 309 on one of the rails 44 of the carriage, and onto-the rollers 308 which carry the can away from the machine. Arm 309 has a can engaging end 310 which, when the carriage is raised, comes into line with the can to be'discharged. The platform 90 is suitably cut away at 311 to allow for movement of the arm` 309 and its can engaging end 310 relatively to the platform, both vertically and horizontally.

On the forward stroke of the carriage which uprights a can onto the platform 90 opposite the discharge end of the bars 29, the cover which has just been subjected to a blast of air over nozzle 265 is advanced to the end of the rails 221 and 222 in position to be pushed off on the next forward stroke of the carriage. Before this occurs, the can is moved across the platform and into position under the ends of the rails 221 and 222, so that on the next or discharging stroke of the carriage-during which the cover is pushed off the rails 221 and 222- the cover will fall onto the open top of the can as the latter is discharged from the machine. Plates 286 are secured to the ends of the rails 221 and 222 to act as a guard for the reciprocating bar 228.

The left hand side of the machine is provided throughout its length and height with a sheathing indicated at 312 and the entire top of the machine is provided with a hood 313.

In the operation of the machine, anoperator stands at the intake end of the machine. When he removes a cover from a can, he places the topside up in the chute 240. He then empties the can and places it in inverted position over the false nozzle at station A. The machine now advances this cover and can pari passu through the machine in successive stages orsteps from one nozzle to the next until onV being raised from the last nozzle the can is pushed into upright position on the discharge platform, after which the can is moved across the discharge platform, its bottom is washed and then as it is discharged from the machine its cover is applied. As soon as the machine has advanced a can from the station A and its cover from the corresponding cover position, the operator may, and is intended to, place another cover inthe chute 240 and another can over false nozzle A. The timel allotted the attendant to place a cover and a can in the machine is the timeconsumed by the can carriage subsequent to the removalof a can from station.

A until'rit has returned to pick up another can from this station. The attendant, therefore, has no difficulty in placing a cover and can in the machine which may operate' at a speed consistent with the utmost speed with which the attendant can properly empty and handle the cans.

In the event that the attendant places a cover in the machine but does not place a. can in the machine, the cover will not be advanced on the forward stroke of the carriage because the initial advancement of the cover depends upon the arm 252 being depressed by the flanged mouth of a can positioned at station A. However, a can may be advanced through the machine without an accompanying cover, but this can be avoided by always .placing the cover in the chute 240 before theV can is placed on the bars 29 at station A. When the machine is-kept loaded to its full capacity, there is a can at each station, and acan is discharged from the machine and a new can is fed into the machinefor each cycle of the can carriage movement.

' What I claim is:- i

1. In a machine of the character described, a can carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being adapted to support and carry cans in predetermined spaced relation thereon during a predetermined part of each cycle of movement, and being adapted to be free of cans during the remaining portion of each cycle of movement, and means on said carriage for preventing displacement of the cans while supported on the carriage, said means including a series of guard arms movable into position between cans supported on the carriage and movable from between the cans when the carriage is free of cans.

2. In a machine of the character described, a carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being adapted to support and carry cans in predetermined spaced relation thereon during a predetermined part of each cycle of movement and being adapted to be free of cans during the remaining portion of each cycle of movement, means on the carriage for preventing displacement of the cans while supported on the carriage, said means including a shaft provided with guard arms, andY means for rocking said shaft to place and retain said guard arms between cans supported by the carriage when said cans are so supported, and for rocking said shaft to removeV said guard arms from between said cans when the carriage is free of the cans.

3. In a machine of the character described, a can carriage having horizontal and upward and downward vertical movement, said carriage being adapted to support and carry cans in predetermined spaced relation thereon during a predetermined part of each cycle of movement and being adapted to be free of cans during the remaining portion of each cycle of movement, and means on the carriage for preventing displacement of the cans while supported on Athe carriage and while the carriage is movingvupwardly and horizontally forward, said means including guard arms projecting between the cans supported on the carriage and movable from between the cans on the downward travel of the carriage.

4. In a machine of the character described, a can carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being adapted to support and carry cans in predetermined spaced relation thereon during a predetermined part of each cycle of movement, and

being adapted to be free of cans during the remaining portion of each cycle of movement, a series of guard arms supported on and moved with the carriage, said guard arms being so positioned relative to the spaced cans on the carriage that said arms are movable into the spaces between the cans while the cans are supported on and are being carried by the carriage and means for moving the arms in unison with an oscillatory movement to remove them from between the cans when the cans are freed from the carriage.

-able into position between cans supported on the carriage andmaintained in such position while the carriage is moving upwardly and forwardly, and movable from between the cans when the carriage is free of cans.

6.v In a machine of the character described, a

carriage having an upward,v lforward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being adapted to support and. carry cans in predetermined spaced relationvthereon during a predetermined part of each cycle of movement and being adapted to be free of cans during the remaining portion of each cycle of movement, and means on thecarriage for preventing displacement of the cans while supported on the carriage, said means including a rock shaft supported on the carriage and provided with spaced V-shaped guard arms projecting laterally from it, and means for rocking said shaft to project the guard arms horizontally between the cansv when the cans are supported on the carriage, or to remove said guard arms from between the cans when the carriage is free ofthe cans.

JOHN M; MCCLATCHIE.

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