US1958476A - Cap applying machine - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1934- J. J. GAYNOR A1,958,476

CAP APPLYING MACHINE May 15, 1934. 1 J GAYNQR 1,958,476

CAP APPLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I 1 'Qf Z A- wm) /fxz aga .#f l e @i ff l 6 ..54 ,204 i 755 gigi: :of

1 4 Ljr M LJ is May 15, 1934-' J. J. GAYNOR CAP APPLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 15, 1934- J. J. GAYNOR 1,958,476

CAP APPLYING` MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 15, 1934 1,958,47eT CAP APPLYIGMACHINE Appiicatipn February 27, ie; sai Nb; 658,879"

' 24 claims.' (01.226484) machine of the simplest construction thatwill ex-t` pedite the capping Aof containers inorder toincrease theloutput-of `the filling machine.r` rriother object is to providesuchj'a machine thatvwill. transfer containersA thereto from the lling ma#` chine andcapj same very' soon thereafter, 'for the reason thatv in thebottling'voiecertain'liquid or' chemicalproducts, that are subject to che'rnical change by exposure tojatrnosphrefit is v i'niportant'lthat the bottlesvare not open to atmosphere too longvaft'er leaving the fillingheadsoitheillf' ing 1r1f1al1i1-1e-l 'In carrying out the invention,` a capping machine is vprovicledrwith'two capping heads mountedfto'reciprooatertogether *about a commonr axis.

Means is also Yprovidedffo rtransferringfilled con-V tainers from the container `conveying means offa llingymachine and placing saine alternately into cooperativejrelation with vsai'cl capping heads to be capped duringoscillationofttheheadsl r'The advantage of thisconstructionis t'l'iatjfewercap-y ping heads are required `to cap vcontainers ata given rate than would be required if "t'helheads ro-" tated about the s in the common rotar t e ams-a f 1;: Xy?. edpn'fa 'centralpedestalj support 3 4rotatablyg5 machine.

Other objects and advantagesrwill become apparent by reference to the s'pecication,"cla im`s and the accompanying drawings," inwhich:

' Fig. l is a small `diagifannnatic View of'ythe capping'machine embodying the' invention asfa'rranged in cooperative 'relation with a" wellknown type of rot'ary"`co'ntainer 'filling machine.

Fig. 2 is a front View 'of the cappi'ng'rii'achine 4 and a. Portion 0f. thuilmhm?, with Danis Fig. 7 isa side view of 'a' portion of the top end of the machine, as viewedi'n'the direction ofthe arrow'lin Fig. 2.' i'

broken awayand parts in section, anddasviewed; in Fig. l, looking in the direction ofthe arrow 2.

i ery'ofvthe' circular lateral extension 8of the ped-A substantially' on the section line 6--6 thereof.`

tially on the section line 8--8 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted' and'parts shown in full. Fig-9 is a backv View'of the central portion of the 'capping machine, asl may be'taken onthe sectionil'ine 9-9 of Fig. 6.' A

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan sectional View of Fig.'2, taken on the section Vline 10-10 of said' figure. .1, Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section of Fig. 6, taken substantially on the section line 11-11. ofsaid'gu'rel" i' "Fig, 12 is a plan section taken on the section line 12-12 of 'Fig.*11.v J" f" l' "Fig, -13 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 10 with parts shown in changed position. f Fig. 14 is a'view similar to Fig."-12 with part shown in changed position.v 1 fFig. 15 is a'plan sectional view taken on the section line 154--15 of'Fig.11; with1 partsin changed position corresponding tothe position of the parts' `ti5 in Fig. -'14.`

Fig."16, is a vertical section taken substantially on the section line'16-1'6 of Fig. 14.' --Fig1'17 is an'enlarged detailview of a portion of Fig. 16,`with'parts'omitted; i Y 'Referring to Fig. 1, the'iilling machine A, somewhat diagrammatically illustrated, is of =a well known type, in fthe rotary class; The filling machine' comprises a circular lling tank 21nount f mounted'in a suitable' manner concentric with the tank, on Vthe base support 4. 'Arranged equally spaced about the axis of the tank 2,'and dependestal-B. Rernovably secured at thetop end of each i plunger, isa stirrup 9 having an outwardly open yokevIO for receiving the containers or bottles 11 f to be iilled, and inwhich the bottles areA positioned under the filling heads,`central' therewith. The filling machine rotates continuously in clockwise direction as'viewed inplan, and as the plungers cross A'the station; indicated by the dot and dash line B4B in Fig. 2, the bottles are'placed in' Fig. 8 isa detail vertical section taken substanthe stirrups by automatic means, not shown, and.,A 110 at which point the plungers are in lowered position. The plungers are then moved to raised position, causing the bottles to enter and raise the filling heads, in which position they remain during considerable movement of the filling machine to effect the lling of the bottles. The filled bottles are then lowered by the plungers before reaching the bottle receiving stationof the lling machine, and are then transferred to the capping machine embodying the invention. It may be stated that the plungers 6 are operated by a circular cam track 12 on the base support, and which is engaged by rollers 14 on levers 15 radiating from the pedestal on which they are pivotally connected, and whose other ends are connected pivotally through the intermediation of the connecting rods 16, to the plungers 6.

After the plungers 6 reach their lowered position, the filled bottles thereon are transferred, or deflected, sharply outward radially of the filling machine, between the spaced curved ends 20 and 21 of spaced bottle guide rails 22 and 23onto an oscillating bottle support or table 24 so situated that the bottles are moved onto the table in a direction toward the axis thereof. In other words, the station at which the bottles are placed on the table is directly between the axis of the filling machine and the table axis, which station is indicated by the dot and dash line C'-C on Fig. 10.

On the table is a radially extended block 25, in whose opposite sides are formed'bottle positioning pockets 26 and 27, open in thedirection of oscillation of the table. The table is operably connected with the filling machine to oscillate about 105 degrees, and the block is so positioned whereby the the pockets 26 and 27 alternately register at the bottle receiving station of the table to receive a bottle at the limits of oscillation thereof. Above ' pockets 26 and 27 are capping heads 26a and 27a which apply caps to bottles in the pockets upon being carried around with the table, the bottles being guided so as to be held in the pockets during movement of the table, by the arcuate extensions 28 and 29 of the guide rails 22 and 23 respectively on each side of the table; Mounted on the guide rails 22 and 23 and positioned so as to extend into the path of the bottles, are leaf springs 30 and 31 respectively, which are deflected by the bottles passing thereby, but which prevent thel bottles from returning with the table upon being capped, as best understood'in Fig. 10. The bottles being capped on either side of the table are caused to push the capped bottles from the table, which are deflected therefrom by the guide bar 32 extending outwardv radially of the table, and then onto a shelf support 33 on which the guide bar is mounted. Cooperating with the guide bar on either side thereof are outward extensions 34 and 35 of the guide rails 22 and 23 respectively, for guiding the bottles in two separate rows, and which guide rails are mounted on the support shelf 33.

' The table is oscillatably mounted on the shelf,

j in whose plane the table is located within the circular recess 34 thereof, and the table has a depending trunnion 35 received within a bearing 36 of the shelf. A thrust ball bearing 37 is interposed between the under side of the table and L the top of the bearing 36, and engaging the other end of the bearing 36 is an end plate 33 at the end of the trunnion for holding the table in the plane of the shelf. `The shelf is mounted, so as to b e vertically adjustable, on the pedestal 39 comprisingan upright cylinder portion 40 mounted on the base 4 and which is received in the depending sleeve portion 41 of the shelf. A lock bolt 42 is provided in the sleeve portion for locking the shelf on the pedestal in adjusted positions.

The table is in driven connection with the filling machine by means of a vertical shaft 43 extending through an axial bore 44 in the table and its trunnion portion. In the` side of the shaft is an elongatedkeyway 45 in which is received the key 46 in the table bore so that the shaft is connected to oscillate the table but is vertically adjustable in the bore. The shaft 43 extends below the table trunnion, and at the bottom end of whichisa lcrank disc 47 having crank pin connection at 48 with one end of a connecting link 49. The other end of the connecting link is pivotally connected to the crank pin 50 of a crank arm 51 mounted at the bottom end of a vertical power shaft 52 extending upward through a bearing 53 in the shelf and whose tcp end is rotatably mounted. in a bearing 54 in a support head 55 Vat the top end of the pedestal 39. On the power shaft 52 is a spur gear 55 in key connection with the leyway 56 extending along the side of the shaft for rotating same but permitting its vertical adjustment therein. The spur gear 56 is held between the bearing 53 of the shelf and an arm 57 mounted thereon for holding the gear in a fixed plane with respect to the shelf. Meshing with the gear 56 is a spur gear 53 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 59 depending from the shelf and adjustably secured thereto. 0n the stub shaft and connected with the gear 53 is a smaller spur gear 66 meshing with a ring spur gear 61 mounted on the periphery of the lateral circular extension 3 on the pedestal 3 of the filling machine. 61 serves as an operable connection with gear driving means, not shown, for rotating the filling machine as well as providing an operable connection therewith for the capping machine. The shaft 59 is adjustably secured to the shelf 33 by means of its upper reduced threaded end portion 59 which projects through an elongated slot 592 in the shelf that extends toward the axis of the ring gear of the filling machine, and on which reduced shaft end is received a washer 593 and a nut 594 for securing the shaft in adjusted positions along the slot. Thus upon assembling the capping machine with the filling machine, the shaft may be adjusted toward or away from the ring gear 61 to accommodate the proper size of gear 60, in regulating the operation of the capping machine inaccordance with the number of bottle support plungers on the filling machine. The size of gear in turn determines the proper ratio of the gears 56 and 53 to be employed. The gears and cranks just described are so proportioned and timed that as the bottles are transferred onto the table they are carried around alternately in opposite directions with the table during oscillation thereof.

` The capping heads 26a and 27a mentioned briefly in the foregoing description will now be described. The capping heads each comprises a hollow cylindrical plunger 62 vertically disposed above its respective pocket so as to centrally register with a bottle therein. The plunger extends through and is reciprocably mounted in a bearing bore 63 in a cylindrical head or block 64 coaxial with the table and connected to oscillate therewith by the top end of the vertical shaft 43 being secured in the depending boss portion 65 of the head. The head 64 is oscillatably'mcunted in a bearing 66 in a bracket 67 mounted on the pedestal 39. The portion of the 1ro It may be stated that the ring gear iis pedestal on which saidbracket is mounted is in the form of a sleeve 68 extending 'within the pedestal portion 40 and having a threaded portion 69 receiving a nut 70 engaging the top end of the pedestal portion 40 for adjusting 'the` capping heads to various sizes of bottles.

Across the top end of each plunger 62 Vis a plate 71 secured thereto by means of a plug formation 72'-of the plate being in :threaded connection in the end of the plunger. Extending vupward from the headV 64 alongside of each plun'g'er is a guidepin 73 which slidably projects through the plate for holding the plungers from; rotating in their bearings. Each plungerV Vis vresiliently held in raised position by a coiled compression spring 74 interposed between the plate, on'which is a pin 75 projecting therein, and the head 64 in which is a recess 75 in which the other end of the spring is mounted. At the bottom end of each plunger is a peripheral flange 76 for limiting upward movementfof the plungers in their bearings.

Near the bottom of each plunger is a lateral cap receiving recess 77 for positioning a cap 78, of the well known crown bottle stopper type, slightly eccentric in the plungerV towardftheaxis of the head and'with its open side facing "downward, The cap receiving opening 79'of the recess extends toward the center' of the head, and each plunger is so operated that upon its respective bottle p0- sitioning pocketfbeing located at 'the 'bottle' receiving station of the table, the plunger is in raised position withl its cap receivingopening 'in register with the capdischargeend'f of'fa cap magazine'l, of the`-gravity feed ltype,"for directing a cap into therecess.

Upon movementof the table "after a bottle is positioned inV one of the pockets, the'plungerfof the capping head therover isfcaused to be lowered, whereby the neck of the'bottle enters the plunger and engages the cap so that the-peripheral bead 82 about'the'bottle'rnouth is surrounded by the flared skirt 83 of the cap. As the plunger lowers further, theskirt'of the cap becomes' engaged within thev cnicalboreporti'on 84 above the recess which effects the constriction-of the cap skirt about `thebead`82 about the bottle mouth, as the plunger is resiliently forced-'down over the bott-le by means later "described,

As a cap is forced into thev conical' bore portion of a plunger, it'engages a spring pressed plunger head 85 slidably-mounted-in theshort reduced bore portion 86- extending from the conicalbore portion for holding the capsquare lwith the bottle mouth and for insuring ejection of the capped bottle from the capping head. The plunger head'85 has an'upwardly extended Vstemv8'1 reciprocably'mounted in the boreof a screw 88 extending through the plate '71 and inthreaded connection with a lock washer 89v threaded in the bore of the hollow plunger. Avcoiled compression spring 90 surrounds the stem and is interposed between the lock washer and the plunger head which is normally held in lowered positiomwith its bottom end forming the top wall" of the recess 77, by the annular extended shoulderQl of head engaging the annular shoulder in the bore of the hollow of the' capping hea'dplunger, indicated at 92. l

The cap magazine and its operable connection with the capping'heads will now be "described The magazine is in the form'of a closedsided chute in which thecaps are guidedin'uhiform single order, and extends from its'discharge end 80 horizontally outward into a lowerV end'portion 93 which'is snugly supportedin its planein `the outwardly'fopened chamber or recess 94 in the capping head 'support block 64. The chamber is formed outwardly flared laterally to permit movement of the support block with respect to' the chute end, which end is held centrally'positioned with respect to the block by the pivotal connection 95 at theaxis of the block therebetween.

` Between the bearing bore of each cappinghead plunger and the chamber 94 is a cap passage-'way 96' for ydirecting caps from the magazine discharge end into the recess ofthe plunger. The cap discharge end of the magazine is'arcuately formed -concentric with the `capping head support block and extends'very close to the side of a capping head plunger when in register therewith, whereby only the vskirt of a succeeding cap at'said end extends therebeyond. yBetween the cap passage-ways the wall portionof the chamber 94 is arcuately formed as at 97 to snugly close the magazine discharge end during oscillation of the capping head support and which also pushes back the succeeding cap at said end. In the event the succeeding cap is not pushed back before the plunger of the capping head is lowered, due to faulty timing of the elements, it is 'pushed back by vthe camming engagement with the outwardly and upwardly flared edge 98 of the ball of the plunger at the top of the opening when the plunger is lowered.

'The cap magazine continues upward into an upright portion 99 which is in supply connection with a cap vfeeder device 100 mounted on the support head'55 which has operating means for feeding caps to the magazine in proper order. In as much as the cap feeder device forms no particular part of the invention, for the reason that other means couldbe employed to feed caps to the magazine, it is thought that a detailed de- 4scription of said device Vis' not necessary. However, it may be stated that the Vdevice is in driven connection with the power'shaft 52 of the capping machine. The driven connection is effected by a worm-gear 101 on the power shaft at the top end thereof and which meshes withv a' worm gear 102 lon the end of a horizontal 'shaft 103 rotatably mounted 'in bearings 104 on the right side of the support head 55 as vviewed from the front of'the machine. On the shaft 103 isa gear 105 meshing'with a larger gear 1'06 thereover connected to one end of a shaft 107 mounted rotatable in spacedbearings 108 on the support head. On the shaft 107 is a sprocket 109A in driving connection with a sprocket 11'0 of the' operating shaft 111 of the capping devic'lze through the intermediation `of the sprocket chain 112.

Means for operating the capping heads will now be "described, y Located vertically reciprocable above the capping heads-26a vand 27a, are plunger shafts 113 and 114 respectively, each shaft being vslidably mounted 'in an elongated bearing 115 in the support hea'd 55. Upon movement of a capping head from the stationV at which a bottle is placed thereunder, when being carried around with the table, its respective plunger shaft is caused to be lowered which has a roller 116 at its bottom end that engages al strike plate lon the plate 71 of'the head, whereby the head is moved toits lowered position when having been turned about 90' degrees from the bottle receiving station, in whichipositon the capping head 26a is shown in Fig. l2. As the cappinghead continues on to its limit of oscillation, its plate 71 rides outV from under the plunger shaft, as seen in'Figs. 14 and 16, whereupon the head is returned to raised position by its spring 74, and out of connection with the capped bottle thereunder to prevent its returning to the bottle receiving station therewith.

Extending between the plunger shafts is a rock shaft 117 mounted in bearings 118 on the support head, and on which shaft is a spur gear 119 meshing on opposite sides with a longitudinal rack 120 on the side of each plunger shaft, fo-r reciprocating the plunger shafts in alternation. For resiliently oscillating the rock shaft, said shaft has a spur gear 121 mounted on its outer front end which meshes with rack teeth 122 on the bottom side of a connecting link or rod `123 slidably mounted in the guideway of a guide block 124 loosely mountedl on the rock shaft. One end of the connecting link is fulcrumed on a crank pin 125 at one end of a crosshead or slide 126 slidably mounted for limited movement in the guidevvay 127 traversing the axis and in the side of a vertically disposed crank disc 128 which is mounted on the forward end of the horizontal shaft 103. The cross'head is confined for limited movement between a fixed stop block 129 at one end of the guideway and a stop block 130 adjustably mounted in the other end of the guideway. Interposed between the adjustable stop block and the cross'- head are two spaced apart compression springs 131 mounted on pins 132 extending from the stop block and Whose other ends are received in recesses in the end of the cross-head. `The crank pin of the cross-head is so situated that the springs 131 urge the pin with the head outwardof the axis of the disc. The gear 121 is so proportioned with respect to the normal throw of the crank pin 125 of the cross-head that when the crank pin is on dead center with regard to the connecting link, on either side of the axis of the disc, a capping head is in pressure engagement with the cap on a bottle thereunder, which pressure is effected by thecompression springs 131 caused by the inward movement of the cross-head after initial engagement of the capping head with the bottle, whereby the 'springs are compressed an amount indicated by the space 133 existing between the cross-head and the stop block 129 as shownin Fig. 3. The advantage of this construction is that the same capping pressure is exerted on both the capping heads for the reason that the springs 131 are compressed in a like manner by the capping engagement of both heads with a bottle. For regulating the capping pressure of both capping heads, the adjustable stopl block is adjusted by a set screw 134 threaded into a lug 135 in the guideway of the disc, which regulates pressure of the springs 131.

A conveyor or stationary table, not shown, may be situated along the side of the shelf support to receive the capped bottles therefrom, or the bottles may be taken from the shelf byhand or other means.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a container capping machine, means for feeding capsin uniform singleorder, two cap applying devices relatively oscillatable about a common axis with respect to said feeding means and arranged whereby each device is alternately brought into cooperative relation With said means upon each oscillation thereof to receive a cap.

2. In a container capping machine, means for feeding caps in uniform single order, two connected cap applying devices mounted to oscillate about a common axis, each device having a cap receiving recess adapted to bey brought into cooperative relation with said feeding "means upon each oscillation of the device to receive a cap.

3. In a container capping machine having means for conveying containers in two rows of single order and means for feeding caps in uniform single order, the combination of two connected cap applying devices relatively oscillatable about a common axis with respect to said feeding means and arranged whereby each device is alternately brought into cooperative relation with the cap feeding means to receive a cap then moved into cooperative relation with a container on the conveying means to apply the cap thereto. l

4. In a container cappingmachine having means for conveying containers in single order, means for feeding caps in single order, two cap applying devices mounted to oscillate about a common axis and arranged to be alternately brought into cooperative relation with the cap feeding means to receive a cap, and means for transferring the containers from the conveying means and placing them into cooperative relation with said capping devices alternately.

5. In a container capping machine in combination with means for conveying containers in single order, twovcap applying devices mounted to oscillate about a common axis, and means for transferring the containers alternately into cooperative relation with said devices to be capped.

6. In a container capping machine, a horizontally oscillatable support element, two cap applying devices mounted vertically reciprocable on the support about vthe axis thereof, each,device having a cap receiving recess, the support having a radial cap passage-way registering with the recess of each device in its raised position, and a gravity feed cap Amagazine having a discharge end into which said radial passages are brought into registration upon each oscillation of the support for feeding a cap into a recess.

7." The structure as defined in claim 6 including 'means for blocking the magazine discharge end whenthe recesses of both cap applying devices are out' of registration therewith.

8. In a containercapping machine, an oscillatable support element, two cap applying devices mounted on the support yabout the axis thereof, each device having a cap receiving recess, a gravity feed cap magazine having a discharge end into which the Vrecesses are brought into cooperative registration alternately yupon each oscillation of the support, and the support having a cap engaging abutment brought into blocking relation with the magazine discharge end when both recesses are out of cooperative registration With said end. f

9. In a container capping machine, in combination with means for conveying containers in single order, an oscillatingcontainer support table, means for transferring the containers from the conveying means onto the table at a fixed station, the table having two container positioning pockets adapted to register at said station to receiveuacontainer transferred thereto, and twol cap applying devices, each reciprocably mounted. above a pocket and adapted to be brought into capping relations/ith the container therein upon leaving said station.

10. In a container capping machine, an oscillating container support table, means for placing containers onto the table at aixed station, the table having two container positioning pockets adapted to register at said station upon each oscillationof the table to receive a container, a cap applying device reciprocably mounted above each'pocket and adapted to be moved into capping relation with a container therein upon leaving said station.

11. In a container capping machine, an oscillating container support table, means for directing containers onto the table at a fixed station, the table having two container positioning pockets adapted to register at said station at each oscillation of the table to receive a container, and means for applying a cap to the container upon leaving said station.

12. In a container capping machine in combination with means for conveying containers in single order, two cap applying devices mounted to have movement together back and forth between iixed limits, and means for transferring the containers from the conveying means and placing them alternately into cooperative relation with said devices to be capped.

13. In a container capping machine, an oscillating container support table having means for positioning two containers thereon about its axis, two capping devices reciprocably mounted above the table, connected to oscillate therewith and each reciprocable into cooperative capping relation with a container on the table, means for directing containers to the positioning means from a common station, and means for operating the capping devices upon their respective containers being positioned on the table.

14. In a container capping machine, an oscillating support element, two cap applying devices mounted on the support about the axis thereof, and means for feeding caps from axially of the support alternately to said devices at each oscillation 0f the support.

15. In a container capping machine, an oscillating support element, two cap applying devices mounted on the support about the axis thereof and adapted to register at a fixed station at each oscillation of the support, and means for feeding caps from axially of the support to said devices when at said station.

16. The structure as defined in claim 14 including means for placing containers into cooperative capping relation with said capping devices after receiving a cap.

17. The structure as dened in claim 15 including means for placing containers into cooperative capping relation with said cap applying devices upon leaving said station.

18. In a container capping machine in combination with means for conveying containers in single order to be capped, an oscillating support element, two cap applying devices mounted on the support about the axis thereof and adapted to register at a common station at each oscillation of the support, means for feeding caps to the devices at said station, and means for transferring the containers from the conveying means and placing them alternately into cooperative relation with the cap applying devices after leaving said station.

19. In a bottle crowner, two reciprocably mounted capping heads having means for applying crowns to containers under pressure engagement therewith when reciprocated, an oscillatably mounted driven shaft operably connected with said heads to reciprocate same alternately, and means for resiliently oscillating said shaft.

20. In a bottle crowner, two reciprocably mounted cap applying devices having means for applying crowns tocontainers under pressure engagement therewith when reciprocated, a driven oscillating shaft operably connected with said heads to alternately reciprocate same, a power shaft, a cross head mounted at the end of the power shaft to have limited slidable movement transversely of its axis, a spring urging the cross head in one direction, a crank pin on the cross head and a connecting link pivotally connected to the crank pin and operably connected with the driven shaft to oscillate same upon rotation of the power shaft.

21. In a container capping machine, an oscillating table having two container positioning pockets arranged about its axis and adapted to register at a common station at each oscillation of the table, means for placing containers in said pockets at said station, a cap applying device disposed above each pocket, connected to oscillate with the table and mounted to reciprocate into capping relation with a container upon leaving said station, means for operating the devices, and means for ejecting the capped containers from the pockets.

22. In a container capping machine, two devices, each device mounted movably and having in association therewith means for applying a cap to a container upon pressure engagement therewith when moved in a given direction, driven operating means operably connected with the devices to move same in their respective said given directions in alternation, and means for resiliently driving said operating means.

23. In a capping machine, a cap magazine having a cap discharge end, an element at said end and having a portion for blocking the end in blocking the passage of the caps, said magazine and element mounted to have relative movement back and forth between fixed limits whereby said portion intermittently blocks the end intermediate the limits of its relative movement for allowing intermittent discharge of the caps, and two cap applying devices operably associated with said element whereby upon its relative movement cooperative relation is established alternately between the devices and the discharge end in feeding caps to the devices.

24. In a capping machine, a support element, two cap applying devices mounted on the support, each device having a recess for receiving a cap, a cap magazine having a discharge end., said support and magazine arranged to have relative movement back and forth between fixed 'limits whereby cooperative registration is established alternately between the recesses of the devices and the discharge end, and the support having a portion formed to block the discharge end when the recesses of both devices are out of registration therewith.

JOHN J. GAYNOR.

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