US1976155A

US1976155A - Core capping machine

Info

Publication number: US1976155A
Application number: US613226A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bebie Edwin William; Dodge George Washington
Original assignee: International Paper Co
Current assignee: International Paper Co
Priority date: 1932-05-24
Filing date: 1932-05-24
Publication date: 1934-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1951-10-09

Description

Oct. 9, 1934. E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR; Edwin M'llllamfiebie 660776 washinylonflodye BY ATTORNEY 1934- E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 24. 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR$ Edwin Willi/am BebLe vGeorge washmglon Dodge 7 ATTORNEY 0st. 9, 1934. E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 24, 1952 ,mVEN roRs 5 Edwin Wzllmm BebLe ATTORNE eorqe Washington Dodge Oct. 9, 1934. E. w. BEBIE ET AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May '24, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 D v E Edwi n William Bebw eorqe washinqion Dodqe ATTORNEY 1934- E. w, BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 24, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 '4? A i/i INVENTORS Bcble @Edwin Willi'qm George Washtnglon Dodqe BY 6 7% ATTORNEY 1934- E. w. BEBIE El AL CORE CAPPING' MACHINE Filed May 24, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 .& mbigmm wk -W Q G .H- WNW;

mvzu-rons h Edwin Wzlliam Debts George Washington Dodge BY 4Z= ATTORNEY- Oct. 9, 1934. w BEBIE ET AL 1,976,155

CORE CAPPING MACHINE Filed May '24, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 l v I INVENTORS 2/ 5Edwin Willz'qm Bebte Georye washbnylon Dodge ATTORNEY Patented Get. 9, 1934 cons CAPPING MACHINE Edwin William Beloie, Hawthorne, N. J., and George Washington Dodge, Greenwich, Conn., assignors to International Paper Company,

New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application May 24, 1932, Serial No. 613,226

38 Claims.

This invention is concerned with the provision of a method of and machine for applying metal caps to the ends of members formed of relatively yielding material. More specifically, the invention relates to a machine for securing caps to the ends of tubular cores such as are commonly used for rolls of paper, for instance, for newsprint.

In order to provide for the rotation of rolls of paper in the printing presses it has been customary to fasten to the end of the core, on which the paper is wound, a metal cap having a keyway. The core has generally been formed of stiff but yielding material like compressed or tightly wrapped paper and the practice has been to trim the core and hammer the cap into place by hand. As the heavy rolls are rotated at high speed in the presses and often are suddenly stopped, a great strain is imposed on the caps with the result that there is a tendency to loosen them from the cores with obviously highly undesirable results. Therefore, in addition to the fact that it is troublesome and requires undue labor to secure the caps to the cores in the first place, the hand applied caps are not always capable of withstanding the rough usage to which they are put. Moreover, the cores and caps must be accurately formed both as to length and diameter, and this is difficult to attain in hand operations.

An object of the present invention is, accordingly, to provide an improved method of securing caps to cores of the character indicated. Another object is the provision of an efi'icient machine for this purpose. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of one preferred form of my invention, which, while it has been developed in connection with the production of cores for rolls of paper is capable of employment for other 10 purposes.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1. 1 V

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section in reduced scale, taken on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, central, vertical, longitudinal section through the construction shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but with the parts advanced to the positions they occupy after the first step in the operation of the machine.

8 and 9 are views similar'to portions of to Figs. 6 and 7 but showing the parts in the positions they occupy at successive subsequent stages in the operation of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a perspective detailed view of a part of the machine.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the parts in their positions corresponding to Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 11 and 12 but showing the parts in the positions they occupy shortly subsequent to their positions in Fig.12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective detailed view of a part of the machine.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged section taken on the line 1515 of Fig. 8. f

Fig. 16 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one end of a core after it has been capped in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of one end of a core ready for receiving its cap.

In its preferred form, our invention comprises a device for holding the core, mechanism for compressing the walls of the core at the end thereof, a. punch for cutting a slot in the core for receiving a key-way formed in the cap, and a member capable of pushing the cap onto the core, all operable from a single member. Preferably, provision is also made for automatically forcing the capped core outwardly beyond the compressing means. Means are provided for coordinating the actions of the various parts.

Referring now the drawings, there is shown at 1 a frame or base which may be mounted on any suitable support (not shown). Mounted on the top of the frame 1 there is shown a fixed head 2 secured to the frame through suitable bolts 3 while a traveling head 4 is shown adapted to reciprocate along the top of the frame. The fixed head 2 is adapted to receive a core 5. This core may be preferably made of compressed stock such as paper, although it will be understood that it might be made in other ways, as by tightly winding or rolling the paper into the core, and it might be formed of other suitable material such as soft wood or the like. The character of the cores commonly employed for present purposes is well understood and no further description of the same is required. The head 2 is preferably composed of a generally cylindrical unitary portion 6, the interior diameter of the ends of which, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, at 7 and 8, is substan tially the same as the outer diameter of the core 5, while an intermediate portion of the head has an internal diameter slightly larger, as shown at 9. As best shown in Fig. 15, the head 2 is provided adjacent its mid-portion with openings adapted to receive the narrower portions 10 of slidable, shouldered members or shoes 11. For receiving the larger ends 12 of the shouldered members 11 the head is shown formed with tapered portions 13 extending radially inward from between shoulders 14. In this manner, the members 11 are mounted for sliding radially within the head. The inner faces 15 of the members 11 are preferably curved to conform to the surface of the core and when the members are in their outermost positions, as determined by shoulders l4, lie substantially flush with the inner circumference of portion 9 of the fixed head 2; The portions 10 of members 11 protrude through the outer surface of the head as shown in Fig. 1 for purposes hereinafter described. The members 10 are shown as also having extensions 11 (Fig. 8) extending longitudinally of the head and which are adapted to engage shoulders 2' formed in the head 2. Through engagement of extensions 11 with these shoulders 2', the members 10 are prevented from falling into the interior of the head and interfering with the insertion of cores 5.

Formed as a downward extension on the head 2 there is provided a portion 16, the upper end of which, as shown at 17, merges with the head between the lowermost movable members 11. A central vertical opening 18 is shown formed in the portion 16 for receiving a punch 19 adapted to cut a slot 20 in the core, (see Figure 1'7), so that the key-way 21 of the cap 22 may be received in the slot; Formed in the top of the frame 1 for permitting the lower portion of extension 16 to pass therethrough is an opening 23.

Shoulders

24, 25, may be provided on the head 2 for supporting the same on the frame, the shoulders 25 serving to permit securing the head to the frame as by bolts 3. As shown in Fig. 6, a spring stop 28, of any suitable type, may be provided, to'limit insertion of the core beyond the desired point for proper operation of punch 19. The stop 28 is preferably arranged so that it may be urged outwardly by cap 22 when the latter is forced into place. One or more stops may be employed, suitably spaced around the end of the core.

If desired, the punch may be. formed hollow and open at the side adjacent the end of the core 5, so that the piece of material which is punched out may be received in the interior of the punch. If the material is wedged into the punch it will be forced downwardly by the next punching operation, and eventually forced out of the punch below the extension 16. For this purpose a suitable inclined surface may be provided in the punch at the bottom of the hollow portion.

The upper portion 30 of the frame 1 is preferably formed U-shaped as best shown in Fig. 2, with side portion 31 and a top portion 32 to which are secured, as by welding, anti-friction tracks 33 adapted to lie in suitable grooves 4 in the head 4. This head 4 may be provided with shoulders 34 adapted to lie at the sides of the frame portion 30. The head 4, which may be provided with reinforcing ribs or

flanges

35, 36, is shown as of generally semi-circular cross section with downwardly and laterally extending portions below the center of curvature and formed hollow for receiving therewithin a cylindrical member or sleeve 37 having a sliding fit along the interior surface 38 of the head. Within the member 3'7 thereis shown a hollow sleeve or cylinder 39 along which the member 3'7 is adapted to slide. The member 37 has a forwardly extending portion40 which is suitably of smaller diameter than the rearward portion 41. Portion 41 may have I shoulders as shown at 42 at the forward end of a cavity 43 within the members forming a seat for a spring 44 received within the cavity and adapted to bearagainst the end wall 45 of the member 4. For aligning the sleeve 37 and limiting its travel with respect to the member 4, bolts 46 may be employed, threaded as at 47 in the sleeve. These bolts may be adapted to slide in suitable openings formed in the end wall 45. By turning the bolts 46 the tension of the spring 44 may be adjusted as well as the clearance between the end of the sleeve and the wall 45.

Secured on a shouldered portion 39 formed on the forward end of the sleeve 39 there is shown a tapered member 50 having slots 51 for receiving pins 54 secured in a plurality of traveling members 52 adapted to act as wedges, said slots and pins acting to guide said members. These members52 are shown formed with grooves 53 for receivingresilient split rings 53 (Fig. 5) for retaining them in position on the tapered member. Shoulders 55 and 56 may be provided at either end of the tapered member for limiting the travel of the wedge members. As best shown in Figs. 6 and 10, the top of the rearward portion of the upper traveling member 52 may be cut away to receive an element 58 which may be secured thereto in any convenient manner, so that the main body of the members 58 does not protrude beyond the outer perimeter of member 39. This element 58 has a foot 59 at the rear portion thereof extending generally at right angles to the body of element 58 to a point slightly beyond the periphery of sleeve 39. In order to permit the extension 40 of sleeve 3'? to ride over the foot 59 a groove 60 is shown formed in the interiorsurface of the extension. v For guiding the sleeve 39 in its travel, there is shown a rod 61 located interiorly of the sleeve and having a bushing 62 threaded on the forward end thereof and adapted to have a sliding fit with the interior surface of the said sleeve. The rearward end of this rod 61 may have a threaded shank 61 formed thereon for securing it to an extension 30 of the frame. The sleeve 39 is shown as formed with a shouldered portion 63 adapted to abut against the outside of the rear wall 45 of the traveling head 4.

Fittedsecurely into the forward end of member 4 there is provided a bushing 65, formed of hard metal and having an internal diameter just enough larger than the outer diameter of the fixed head 2 to permit it to slide over the latter. As shown at 66 in Figs. 2 and 15 the lower central portion of the member 4 and sleeve are cut away to permit the member 4 to pass overportions 17 and 22 of head 2. Also, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 8, in order to permit proper operation of the punch 19, an opening 67 may be formed in the bottom of the tapered member 50 and a corresponding opening 68 in the lowermost wedge i member 52. These openings, as will later appear, are at the appropriate time brought in line with the punch and in effect form the female member of the punch.

In order to provide for a limited travel of the

members

4 and 39 in unison and a further travel of the member 4 independently of member 39, there may be provided the following construction. Referring particularly to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, an enlarged extension '75 may be formed on the rearward end of the sleeve 39 adapted to support and slide along rod 61 and also slidably support a pair of rods '76 threaded as at '77 into the rear wall 45 of the member 4. Rods '76 may extend dong extension on the frame and be guided and in part supported thereby. Overlying the rods 61 and '76 and adapted to align the rods and permit them to slide thereunder, is a plate 78 secured to the extension through bolts '79. Extending longitudinally between the

rods

61 and 76 and confined between upward projections 80 on the enlarged portion 75 of the sleeve 39 are a series of keys 81 having wedging or camming faces 82 and 83 at each of the ends thereof. The rod 61 is shown formed with notches or grooves 84 having faces 85 and 86 adapted to engage

faces

82 and 83, respectively. The rods 76 are formed with corresponding notches or grooves 87 having wedging faces 89 and 90. The grooves in the rods '76 are opposed to the grooves in the rod 61, and the length of the blocks or keys 81 will be such that each block must always be in engagement either with a groove 84 or a groove 8'7, but such that when a block or key is seated in one of the grooves, the outer surface of the opposite rod will be able to travel along the end of the block. The inclination of the

faces

82, 85, and 89 is desirably such that as the rods travel with respect to the blocks, they are capable of urging them'into opposite grooves. For example, as the rods '76 are shifted toward the right (Figure 11) the surfaces 89 will urge the blocks toward the rod 61 and into the notches 84 as they are brought into line. Similarly on the return movement of the sleeve 39, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, the cooperation between the surfaces 82 and 85 will tend to urge the blocks outwardly into the notches 87. The faces 83, 86 and 90 are preferably arranged at a somewhat greater angle to the axes of the rods so as to produce a somewhat smaller camming or wedging force upon the blocks. Thus, in the movement of the head 4 and rods 76 toward the right the more abrupt engagement of the faces 83 and 86, as the blocks are wedged inwardly by the action of

faces

82 and 89 willserve to more positively arrest the travel of the blocks and hence the member 39 along the rod 61.

Means for reciprocating the head 4 may comprise an electric motor shown bolted to frame 1 for driving pinions 96 at opposite sides of the carriage, through belt 97 and reduction gearing 98. The gearing 98 may be supported on suitable shafting, (not shown), carried by the frame 1. Pinions 96 are shown supported at opposite sides of the frame 1, on a shaft 99, and are adapted to engage toothed racks 109 which may be fastened against the undersides of flanges 161, formed on the head 4, by means of bolts 102. The operation of motor 95 may be controlled through a system of switches, (not shown but well known in the motor control art), effective upon the predetermined desired travel of the head 4 to reverse the direction of operation of the motor. A main control switch may, for example, be adapted to set the machine into operation and cause travel of the head 4 toward the right (Figure 1) while when the carriage reaches its desired limit of travel it may cause the motor to be automatically reversed so as to withdraw the head 4 to its position at the left as shown inFig. 1, at which point its travel may be automatically stopped, as by opening of the main control switch, and the reversing system may be restored to its initial condition.

Suitable mechanism is provided for clamp ng the core in place during operation of the machine, and one form of such device is shown generally in Fig. 1 and best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. In the form shown, a generally cylindrical resilient metal band or clamp 103 is provided having friction material 104 secured to the inside thereof for gripping the core 5. The clamp may lie within longitudinally extending bars 105, carried by an annular member 106 supported on frame portion 30, for limiting outward'expansion of the resilient band 103. The ends of member 103 are shown as connected with spaced studs 10'? on lever 108 having a fulcrum at 109 on bracket 110 secured to the top 32 of the frame. Attached to an end of the lever 108 is a cable 111 running over pulleys 112 and 113 journalled respectively on

shafts

114 and 115, the former of which is mounted in a bracket 116 secured to the frame. An opening 117 is shown provided in the top 32 of the frame for permitting the cable 111 to pass therethrough, and allowing the desired movement of lever 108. For operating the cable 111 to tighten the clamping band 103, one end of the cable is connected through a spring 113 and a turnbuckle 119 to a bell-crank 129 having a roller 121 adapted to be engaged by the end 122 of a flange 123 carried by the head 4, for swinging the bell-crank and thus holding the clamp tightened during the forward travel of the head. As the end 124 of flange 123 passes beyond the roller 121 the clamp is automatically released. The spring 118 serves to absorb some of the shock caused by the roller 121 striking the shoulder 122 and the turnbuckle serves to permit adjustment of the parts. A spring 125 may be provided for insuring a rapid and complete unclarnping action. It will be observed that upon the return movement of the carriage the arm 12:) will simply be rocked idly counter-clockwise (Fig. 5) and will not cause clamp to be operated.

Mechanism for operating the punch 19 may comprise, as best shown in Fig. 8, a link piv otally connected with the lower end of the punch as indicated at 136 and pivoted at 137 on arm 138 fixed to shaft 139 which is carried by frame 1. Also secured to shaft 139 is a bell crank 140, to the arm 141 of which there is shown pivoted, as by a stud 142, a lever 143 adapted to be engaged by a stud 144 carried at one side adjacent the formed end of the reciprocating head 4. As the stud after the forward travel of the head,- to a predetermined extent strikes the lever 143, the latter by bearing against a set-screw carried by an extension 145 of the bell crank will cause this to be rocked, thereby raising the punch. As the stud 144 passes beyond arm 143, the parts may return to their positions shown in Fig. 1, for instance, through their own weight, a set-screw 146 being shown for limiting movement of the 2 parts in this direction. It will be apparent that upon the return of the head toward the left the stud 144 will simply rock the lever 148 idlyupon the arm 141 in a counter-clockwise direction (Figure 1). shown in Fig. 1, to retain the stud 142 in the arm 141.

The caps 22 to be employed in our machine may be preformed in any suitable manner, and preferably take the form shown in Fig. 16 when they are to be employed in connection with cores for rolls of paper for printing presses. If desired, the walls of the cap may be serrated or indented to cooperate with indentations formed in the core, in the manner to be explained, so as to in sure a good grip. To place such a carpin the machine it is merely necessary to push the wedges 52 to the smaller end of the tapered member 5 and slip the cap over said member into abutment with flange 59 on element 58. If desired, the

the j A set screw 14'? may be provided, as i 10,, sud

wedges 52 may, in applying the cap, be. manually returned to their position shown in Fig. 6, though this is not necessary as the restoration of the parts to this position will take place automatically inthe operation of the machine. A core 5 may then be inserted in head 2 so that its end is just over that edge of opening18 which is nearer the head 4.

To start the operation of the machine it is then merely necessaryto start the motor 95, whereupon the depressions 130, 131 (Fig. 17) will be formed in the core, the slot 20 out, the cap forced into place, the clamp 103 released, the capped core ejected past the crimping members 11, the head 4 and parts carried therewith returned totheir positions in Fig.- 6, and the ma chine stopped.

This sequence of operations will now be more fully set forth. As the head 4 advances by reason of engagement of pinlons 96 with racks 10%), the

sleeves

37 and 39 are simply carried along during the first part of the travel by engagement of .keys 81 with grooves 87 in rods 76, as shown in Fig. 11. As the end 122 of the flange 123 strikes the roller 121 on bell-crank 120, the clamping of the core 5 in position in the head 2 is effected, as described. The tapered portion on the sleeve 39 then enters the interior of core 5 as shown in Fig. 7, the wedges 52, if they have not previously been moved into their positions shown in Fig. 6, being cammed into such position and compressing the core. The tapered member .50 and wedges 52, having penetrated the interior of the core to the desired extent, as shown in Fig. '7,

' and as determined by the initial distance between

grooves

87 and 84 in the

rods

76 and 61 respectively, the keys 81 come opposite grooves 84 in the fixed rod and are cammed thereinto by the wedging faces 82 as the head continues to travel forwardly. As the keys 81 enter the grooves 84 as shown in Fig. 12, the rods 76 are permitted to travel past the keys and consequently the head 4 is free to travel forward from its position in Fig. '7 to that shown in Fig. 8. At the same time the engagement of the keys 81 with the grooves 84 will definitely arrest theforward movement of the sleeve 39 and its connected portion 75, thus retaining the wedges 52 in the position shown in Figure 7. During the further travel of head 4, its bushing 6.5 engages the protruding ends of elements 11 in the head'2 and forces them inwardly, thus forming recesses or depressions 130 in the core 5. At about the same time, the punch 19 is operated by engagement of stud 144 with lever 143. Since at this stage the sleeve 39 is held againstfurther inward movement, the wedges 52 and elements 11 will jointly act to compress the core from within and without. The wedges 52 and elements 11 are preferably staggered or offset, one with respect to the other, about the perimeter of the core so that the outer and

inner depressions

130, 131 do not lie exactly opposite, and this may be accomplished, as indicated in Fig. 15, by employing a greater number of wedges 52 than elements 11. or vice versa.

As the head 4 continues to travel forwardly after coasting with elements 11, the forward end of sleeve 37 strikes cap 22, while the end 59 of the element 58 is received by groove 60 in the sleeve. This, initially, results in the compression of spring 44', the resistance of which is preferably less than the force required to push the cap onto the core. The rear wall 45 of the head now comes solidly against the end of sleeve 37, as shown in Fig. 8, and as the head travels on, the cap 22 is positively forced ontothe core 5 as shown in Fig. 9. Just as the parts reach their positions illustrated in Fig. 9, the core is unclamped, by reason of the roller 121 running off at the rear end of flange 123, and the spring 44 then throws the sleeve 37 suddenly forward and automatically throws the core 5 to a point beyond the crimping members 11, so that when the head 4 is retracted these members will not strike the cap as the bushing urges them inwardly during its return to its position shown in Fig. 6. To effect the retraction of the head 4 the motor is reversed just after the core has been thrown forward, as

described.

As the head 4 travels toward the rear of the machine, the rods '76 move from their positions in Fig. 13 to their positions in Fig. 12. At this point, the end wall 45 of the head comes into solid engagement with a shoulder on the portion '75 of sleeve 39 and the head and sleeve are then shifted in unison, whereupon, since rod 61 is stationary and the head 4 continues to travel, the keys 81 are cammed outwardly into grooves 87 by the faces 85, and the parts return to their positions in Fig. 11, when the motor is automatically stopped.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a capping machine in which it is only necessary to place the cap and the article to be capped in position and then start the machine. All other necessary operations are performed by the machine. However, it will be understood that certain of the operations, such as the clamping, could be manually performed, if desired, thus somewhat simplifying the mechanism.

' Compressing the core as at 130, 131, a particularly firm engagement between core and cap may be effected, probably due to displacement, as the cap is forced into place, of the outstanding ma terial of the core between the indentations or de 1.1,

pressions to fill substantially the space between the wallsof the cap and provide for frictional engagement around the circumference of the core.

. Moreover, there is no deformation of the caps,

with the result that the caps may be removed and any equivalents of the features shown and deg scribed, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a hollow member to be capped, means for retaining a cap, means for indenting said member both internally and externally adjacent the end, an operating device, means'operated by said device for actuating said indenting means, j

and means subsequently operated by said device for forcing said cap onto said member.

-2. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a member to be capped,means for retaining a cap, means for indenting said member adjacent the end, a reciprocating operating device, means driven thereby for actuating said indenting means, and means driven by said device for subsequently forcing said cap onto said member.

3. In a machine of the character described, for applying caps to tubular members formed of relatively yielding material, a frame including a stationary member adapted to receive an end or" said tubular member and means to clamp the tubular member in place, and movable means adapted to travel along the axis of said tubular member, said means comprising a member adapted to lie within said. tubular member, and a member for forcing the cap on said tubular member.

4. In a machine for applying rigid caps to members formed of relatively yielding material, means for indenting the ends of the members including a reciprocating member of substantially circular interior cross section and a member slidable therewithin for urging a cap onto said member of yielding material.

5. In a machine for applying a rigid cap to a tube of relatively yielding material, means to hold the tube, means to punch a slot in the tube, and subsequently operative means to force the cap onto said tube.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a tubular member, means for retaining an annular cap adjacent the end of said member, means adapted to be passed through said cap into said member to reduce the wall of the latter, and means for subsequently forcing said cap onto the end of said member.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for holding a tubular member, means for retaining an annular cap adjacent the end of said member, means adapted to be passed through said cap into said member to retain the wall of the latter, means for recessing said member adjacent its end, and means for subsequently forcing said cap onto therecessed end of said memher, said last-named means traveling along the axis of said tubular member.

8. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member formed of yielding material, means to compress a portion of the material at the end or" the member, said compressing means comprising a fixed head adapted to receive the member, radially movable elements carried in said head for engaging said member, and movable means to urge said elements inwardly, and means to force the cap into firm engagement with said compressed portion upon release of said elements by the further movement of said movable means.

9. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member formed of yielding material, to compress a portion of the material at the end of the member, said compressing means comprising a fixed head adapted to receive the member, movable elements carried in said head for engaging said member, and reciprocating means including a portion adapted to lie within the member and a portion for urging said elements inwardly, and means to force the cap into firm engagement with said compressed portion.

10. In a machine of the character described, means to support a tubular member, reciprocating means including a portion adapted to enter and support the walls of the tubular member, a punch, an opening in said portion adapted to receive the end of the punch, and means controlled by the reciprocating means for operating the punch.

11. In a machine of the class described, means to support one end of a tubular member in predetermined position a hollow reciprocating head, means to move the head, a member mounted within said head for travel with respect thereto,

and positive means for causing said member to travel with said head a predetermined distance into operative relation with said tubular memher and thereupon be maintained against further travel during continued movement of the head in the same direction.

12. In a machine of the class described, means to support one end of a tubular member in predetermined position, a hollow reciprocating head, means to move the head, a member mounted within said head for travel with respect thereto, and means for causing said member'to travel with said head a predetermined distance into operative relation with said tubular member and thereupon be maintained against further travel during continued movement of the head in the same direction, said last named means comprising keys shiftable on said member and having camming faces for engagement by camming shoulders carried with said head.

13. The combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said last named means are again efiective to cause the head and member to travel together upon the return of the head.

14. The combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said keys are carried withsaid member and are adapted to be cammed into engagement with grooves in a stationary member upon predeerinined travel of the head.

15. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member, a travelling head, means carried with the head for forcing the cap into engagement with the member to be capped, and means cooperating with the first-named means for ejectlng the capped member from the machine.

15. In a machine for applying a metal cap to a tubular member, a traveling head, means carried with the head for forcing the cap into engagement with the member to be capped, and spring means cooperating with the first-named means for ejecting the capped member from the machine.

17. In a machine of the character described, for applying a metal cap to a tubular member of relatively yielding material, a fixed head carrying compressing members adapted to position an end of said member, a traveling head adapted to reciprocate with respect to said fixed head and to operate said compressing, members during its reciprocation, means adapted to support a cap and having a portion carrying other compressing members and adapted to enter the end of the member, and means to force the cap into firm engagement with the member.

18. The combination as claimed in claim 1'7, wherein said cap supporting means and forcing means are carried with said traveling head. I

19. The combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein said cap supporting means and forcing means are mounted on said traveling head for reciprocation with respect thereto.

29. The combination as claimed in claim 1'7, wherein said cap supporting means and forcing means are concentrically arranged Within said traveling head and are operable thereby.

21. In a machine for applying a rigid cap to a tubular member of relatively yielding material, means to receive and support an end of said member, a tapered member carrying compressing members and adapted to enter and compress said end of the yielding member, and means for applying a cap to said end while said tapered member is within said tubular member.

22. In a machine for applying a rigid cap to a tubular member of relatively yielding material, means to receive and support an end of said member, meansadapted to enter the end of said member and deform the material thereof, said means comprising a tapered element and wedge elements slidably mounted thereon,,and means for applying a cap tosaid end while said tapered element is within said tubular member.-

v23. In a machine ,forv applying a rigid cap to atubular member of relatively yielding material, means to receive and support an end of said member, means adapted to enter the end of said member and compress the material thereof, said means comprising a tapered element and wedge elements slidably mounted thereon, said tapered element being adapted to support a cap, and means for applying said cap to said end while said tapered element is within said tubular member.

24. In a machine of the character described, aframe, a fixed hollow head carrying compression members and having a base secured rigidly to the frame, and a movable head adapted to reciprocate along said frame and to envelope said fixed head, said movable head having a portion adapted to engagesaid compression mem bers to actuate the same, said movable head being cut away at its lower side for receiving the base of said fixed head, and said movable head having a portion of enlarged internal diameter rearward of the first named portion to relieve said movable head from cooperation with said compression members.

I 25. In a machine for applying an annular metal cap to a tubular member of relatively yielding material, a reciprocating member adapted to enter the cap and support the same, a flange carried with said reciprocating member for positioning the cap thereon, means adapted to overrun the flange to push the cap off the reciprocating member onto the tubular member, and means cooperating with said reciprocating member for compressing the walls of the tubular member adjacent the end thereof.

26. In a machine for applying an annular metal cap to a tubular member of relatively yielding material, a reciprocating member adapted to enter the cap and support the same,-a flange carried with said reciprocating member for positioning the cap thereon, and means for forcing the cap from said last-mentioned member into engagement with the tubular member.

27. The combination as claimed in claim 26, wherein said means comprise a sleeve slidably mounted on the reciprocating member and having a slot adapted to receivesaid flange.

28. In a machine of the class described, means including a stationary head adapted to receive and surround av tubular member of yielding material, a clamping deviceto hold said tubular member, means cooperating with said head for forming depressions in said member near-the end thereof, and means for cutting a slot in said member.

29. In a machine of the class described, means including a stationary head adapted to receive a tubular member of yielding material, meanscooperating with said head for forming depressions in said member in both the inner and outer surfaces of the wall near the end thereof, and means for cutting a slot in said member.

for applying a cap having a key to a tubular member of yielding material, means to compress the end of said member means to form a key-way in the member, and means to force the cap into place on said member with the key in the key-way.

31. In a machine of the character described for applying a cap having a key to a tubular member of yielding material, means to form a keyway in the member, and means to force the cap into place on said member with the key in the key-way.

32. The combination as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first-named means operatively controls both the other means.

33. In a machine of the character described for applying a cap having a key to a tubular member of yielding material, means to punch a key-way in said member, means operable at substantially right angles to the direction in which the punch means operates for forcing a cap onto said member, and a member for effecting operation of both said means.

34. In a machine of the class described, means to position the end of a tubular member, means including a member adapted to enter said tubular member and a member adapted to lie around the outside of said tubular member cooperating to compress the walls of the tubular member adjacent the end thereof, said members being arranged one within the other and being mounted for reciprocation with respect to the first-named means.

35. In a machine of the character described, for engaging a cap of rigid material with a tubular member of relatively yielding material, means for compressing the walls of the tubular member including a stationary head adapted to receive and position an end of said tubular member, a reciprocating head adapted to receive the stationary head and cooperate with the first-named means, a cap supporting member carried by said reciprocating head and having an end adapted to enter said tubular member, and a sleeve carried by said reciprocating head and extending between the inner periphery of said reciprocating head and the outer periphery of said cap supporting member and adapted to force the cap onto the tubular member.

36. The combination as claimed in claim 35, wherein said sleeve is arranged for reciprocation with respect to said cap supporting member.

37. In a machine of the class described, means for retaining a member to be capped in fixed position, a main operating member, and coordinated means operated by said operating member for forming the end of said member to be capped, for forcing a cap onto the end of said member while in the fixed position, and for thereafter ejecting the capped member from the machine.

38. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting a member to be capped, means for clamping said member, means for forcing a cap onto the end of said member, means for operat ing said clamping means in synchronism with said forcing means to retain said member during the capping operation, and means for ejecting the capped member upon release of said clamping means.

EDWIN WILLIAM BEBIE. GEORGE WASHINGTON DODGE.