US2043763A - Container handling machine - Google Patents

Description

Jun 9, 1936. y G. J. MEYER Er Al. 2,043,763

CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE ori'giz1a1`F11ed p'il 16, 1931 v @sheets-sheet 1 .-HUHUHUHUHNHUWNI y June 9, 1936. G. J. MEYER E-r AL CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed April 16, 1931 6 Sl'neets-Sheeil 2 June 9,

1936 G. J. MEYKlY-:B l-:T AL

' CONTAINER HANDLINGACHINE sheets-sheet s Crignal Filed April 16, 1931 A June's, 193.6.v

1 G. J. MEYER Ej Al.

CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE e sheets-sheet 4 Y Original Filed April 1e, 1931 wlTNEssEs G. J. MEYER ET AI.

CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed `April 16, 1931 gf- NVENTORS WWA/5555s )NMEA/'Tons 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 G. JI MEYER ET AL CONTAINER HANDLINGMACH Original Filed April 16, 1951 -June 9, 1936.

WlTNE-SSS l Wmv Patented June 9, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,043,763 CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE George J.' Meyer, .Milwaukee, Wis., and George L. N. Meyer, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignors to Geo. J. Meyer Manufacturing Company, Cudahy, Wis., a. corporation of Wisconsin Application April 16, 1931, Serial No. 530,590 Renewed August 15, 1934 14 Claims. (Cl. 259-54) The invention relates to machines for the handling of containers, such as bottles, cans, jars, and the like.

In the bottling of certain types of carbonated liquids, it is usual to first introduce syrup into the bottles and to then add cold carbonated Water without agitation of the syrup, thereby avoiding foaming and loss of gas. The bottles are then crowned as soon as possible after the iilling operation. It is desirable to agitate the bottles after crowning to effect mixing o f the contents, and.

it is also desirable to test the bottles for detecting leaks at the crowns and for discovering weak bottles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a high capacity container handling machine of simple and durable construction for effecting the mixing and testing functions in an expeditious manner, and also for subjecting the contents of the sealed containers to a heat treatment as by means of a fluid heating medium.

Another object of athe invention is to provide a container handling machine in which the containers are rotated to effect mixing of the contents, and to eilect an increase of internal gas pressure where the contents consists of carbonated liquid.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container handling machine in which containersk are rotated on `rollers for mixing and agitating the contents, and in which simple but eifecv tive means vare provided forloading the containers onto Ithe rollers and for removing the containers from the rollers.

A further object is to provide a container handling machine for heating bottled 'carbonated beverages to invert the sugar therein, and for features hereinafter set forth and more par-' ticularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1 and 2 are complementary side elevations of a,bottlehandling machine embodying the l invention, parts b'ciog broken away and parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine showing the bottle feeding and rotating means;

Fig. 4 lis a. fragmentary side elevation of the machine, parts being broken away and parts being' shown In section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bottle feeding and rotating means,` parts being broken away andparts being shown in section;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevationtaken along the line 6--6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of .the bottle rotating and advancing means, the bottle advancing means being shown at the endV of the retracting stroke.

In these drawings, the numeral Ill designates a frame of lsuitable construction including a horizontally extending bottom tank II, and a hori-` zontally extending upperchamber I2. At one kend of the frame Il) are journalled transversely extending upper and lower shafts I3 and I4, the former carrying a pair of spaced sprocket wheels I5 and the latter carrying a pair of spaced idler wheels I6. At the other end of the frame Ill are journalled a pair of transversely extending upper and lower shafts Il and I8, the former carrying a pair of spaced idler wheels I9 and the latter carryinga pair of sprocket wheels 20. The pairs of sprocket wheels l5 and 2l] and the pairs of idler wheels I6 'and I9 are disposed adjacent the opposite side walls of the frame I0. An endless bottle conveyor 2| is disposed within the frame II) and includes the usual roller-equipped side chains 22 which are carried on the sprocket wheels I5 and 20 and on the idler wheels I B and I9. Q The conveyor also includes the usual transversely extending rows of pockets 23 adapted to receive bottles 424. A lower horizontal flight of the conveyor extends between the idler wheels I6 and sprocket wheels 20 and passes through the testing tank I I. An upper horizontal return flight of the conveyor extendsbetween the idler wheels I9 and sprocket wheels I5.and passes through the upper chamber I2. In this chamber the conveyor side chains are supported on angle tracks 25 and at other points the conveyor may be simllarly guided in accordance with the usual practice in bottle handling machines. The conveyor includes a vertically descending flight connecting the sprocket wheels I5 andidler Wheelsv I6 and includes an inclined ascending ight at the other end of the machine connecting the sprocket Wheels 20 and idler wheels I9. At the descending Iiight of the conveyor, the crowned bottles are loaded onto the conveyor and discharged therefrom, as hereinafter described.

In the lpresent instance, the bottle conveyor is given an intermittent motion in the direction indicated by arrows, and this may be accomplished in any well known manner. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the sprocket wheel of the machine. An intermediate portion of the machine frame I0 is provided with spaced uprights 28 in which a horizontally extending shaft 23 is journalled. The shaft 23' carries gear wheels 3|) at'its opposite ends which have suitable reducupper end of the bell crank 35, and at its other end has a crank connection with one of the gear wheels 38. A lever 38 is journalled on the shaft i8 and carries a pawl 39 engageable with the ratchet wheel 21. A connecting rod 48 has one end secured to the lever 38 and at 'its lother end has a crank connection with the other gear wheel 30. The 'slowly rotating gear wheels 38 recipro- .cate the connecting rods 31 and 46 and through the pawl-and-ratchet connections advance the bottle conveyor one step during each`rvolution of the gear wheels. A brake member 36 acts on the ratchet wheel 26 to hold the conveyor stationary during the pauses in its intermittent travel.

A supplementary frame 4| is secured to that end of the main frame I8 having the descending conveyor ight. One end of the supplementary frame 4| supports a flat topped conveyor chain 42 which receives filled and crowned bottles from a crowner (not shown). The conveyor chain 42 is continuously-movable and is driven in any suitable manner. A vertically extending shaft 43 is journalled in the supplementary frame 4| and carries a dog 44 at its upper end, which is provided with adjustable screws 45 drivingly engageable with an upstanding pin 46 secured to a star wheel 41. The star wheel 41 receives bottles from the conveyor chain 42 and has peripheral. notches equal in number to the pockets in each transversely extending row of pockets 23 in the bottle conveyor 2|. The star wheel 41 is driven continuously, as hereinafter described, and is provided with a blank portion 48 in which no bottles are fed, so that the bottles are advanced in spaced series. The driving dog 44 and star wheelI 41 are made readily detachable from the shaft 43 in order to permit the substitution of other star wheels adapted to feed bottles of different diameters. Spring-urged safety gates 49 and 5l) are provided adjacent the star wheel for l guiding the bottles and for preventing damage to the bottles and mechanism in the event of jamming. The bottles are fed by the star wheel 41 in upright position onto a suitably supported cross conveyor 5| fgrmed of at top chain which, in the present instance, is continuously driven. The star wheel shaft 43 is driven through a bevel gear connection 52 with a horizontally extending shaft 53 suitably journalled in the supplementary frame 4| and extending parallel to the shafts 29, 3|, and 32 on the main frame I8. The shaft 53 carries a sprocket 54 at the end opposite the starwheel 41, and a chain 55 connects this sprocket with a sprocket 56 carried on the con-l tinuously driven shaft 3|. The cross conveyor t 5| is supported on horizontally extending trackforming channel members 51. The end ofthe cross conveyor. adjacent the star wheel 41 passes `*shafts i3 and I8 are provided with ratchet wheels 26 and 21, respectively, arranged at opposite sides about an idler sprocket 58 and the other end passes about a sprocket 59 which is continuously driven from the shaft 53 through suitable gearing connections including a chain drive 60 and a bevel gear drive 60'.

A pivotally mounted frame 6| extends between the cross conveyor 5| and the main frame l0 and includes a cross member 62 arranged below the cross conveyor and secured to side members 62 of channel cross-section. A continuously driven shaft 63 parallel to the shaft 53 is journalled in the frame 4| and in a number of spaced bearings 64 carried on the cross member 62. The frame 6| is thus mounted for vswinging movement about the axis of the shaft 63 and the free end of the frame 6| is disposed adjacent the main frame i0 and capable of vertical movement in a direction along the conveyor 2|. Transversely extending portions of the frame 6| rest on a pair of spaced angle bars 65, which are pivotally mounted on vthe frame 4| `and have their free end portions disposed laterally adjacent the frame i8. The free end portion of the frame -6| 'is connected by links 66 with arms 61 fxedly 'secured to a rock shaft 68 journalled on the frame 4|. Coiled springsv 69 secured to the frame I8 suspend the free ends of the bars 65 and thus hold the frame 6| in normal position, while permitting its downward movementunder abnormal conditions as hereinafter described.

Spaced trough-forming bottle-supporting rollers 16 extend horizontally on the frame 6| and longitudinally of the frame i8 and are journalled at opposite ends in bearings 1| and 'l2carried on the frame 6|. Each roller carries a helical gear 13, which meshes with a similar gear 14 carried pn the shaft 63, the several rollers being rotated in the same direction. The rollers 10 form bottle-receiving troughs therebetween which, at the free ends of the frame 6|, register with the intermittently stationary pockets 23 of the conveyor 2|. The shaft 63 carries a sprocket 15 at one end which is driven by a chain 16 meshing with a sprocket 11 carried on the shaft 32.

At a point in the cycle of operation when each series of upright bottles on the cross conveyor 5| are in register with the troughs between the rollers 18, the bottlesiare pushed laterally from the conveyor onto a tilting frame 18 which is plvotally mounted on chains 19 and carries a plurality of pairs of spaced fingers adapted to swing downwardly between the spaced rollers 10 and to tilt the bottles and deposit them onto the rollers. The tilting frame 18 is operated at the proper time in the cycle of operation by a connecting rod 8| which at one end has a safety slip joint connection 82 with a bell crank 83 carried on a pivot member 84. The other arm of the bell crank 83 has an operative connection with a cam groove 85 in one of the gearswheels 30. the tilting frame 18 is urged to its upper position by a coiled spring 19', as seen in Fig. 5. The bottles on the cross conveyor are Ipushed onto the tilting frame 18v by a pusher bar 86 carried onarms 81 flxedly secured to a rock shaft 88.' In the present instance, the tilter member 18 carries spaced partitions 89 which retain the bottles in centered position with respect ,to the sets of fingers 80 on the tilting'frame. One end of the rock shaft 88 carries an arm 98 which, at its free end, has -a sleeve 9| surrounding an end porticnof a connecting rod 92,- the Aother end' of the connecting rod `92 being secured to one arm o'f a bell crank 9,3 which ismounted for swinging movement on the pivot member 84. The other arm of the bell crank 93 has an operative connection with a cam groove 95 formed in one of the gear wheels 30. 'I'he pusher bar 86 is urged in pushing direction through a coiled spring 96 surrounding the end of the rod 92 and engaging the sleeve 9|, in order tending rock shafts and |02 are respectively journalled forlimited rotary movement. 'Ihe bearings 99 are connected by links |03 to a channel bar |04 extending transversely below the roliers 10. The channel bar |04 carries near its ends Vupstanding brackets |05 provided with rollers |06 guided in the channel bars 62 of the frame 6| 4The channel bar |04 is provided with spaced unstanding fingers |01 which extend between the l spaced rollers 10 and are adapted to bear against the bottles carried on the rollers for urging them therealong. Arms |08 are rlxedly secured to the opposite ends of the rock shaft |02, andan arm .|09 is flxedly secured to one end of the rock shaft |0| and is joined to the adjacent arm |08 by a link |`|0. The arm |09 is acted on by a coiled `spring |||`urging the rock shafts |0| and |02 in one direction of rotatiomas hereinafter described.

The rock shaft |0| carries bottle pushing fingers |2 extending between the spaced rollers 10. and the rock shaft |02 is provided with similar fingers I I3, which however are bent to provide clearance for the bearings 12. The bearings 12 are provided with upstanding partitions 4 which guide the bottles as they pass from the rollers and into the pockets of the conveyor2|.

The arms |08, carried on the opposite ends of the rock shaft |02, are connected by links ||5 withthe lower ends of an inverted U-shaped bar Y |6 which is suspended from ibearings ||1 on the main frame I0. One of the depending legs of the bar I6 is pivotally secured to a rod |8 which has` a safety slip joint connection ||9 with the lower cnd of a lever |20 pivotally suspended from a pin |2| .which is secured to one of the uprights 28. The lever |20 carries alaterally extending stud |22 which is received in a cam groove |23 formed in one of the gear wheels 30. Through this connection the lever |20 is periodically swung'to reciprocate thev bottle-pushing fingers disposed between the bottle-supporting rollers 10 and thereby load the bottles into the descending flight of the bottle conveyor 2|.' as hereinafter described.

An unloading device |24 is secured tothe frame v|0- above the rollers 10 and includes a swinging bottle support |25, which receives the bottles from the conveyor 2| and moves them to upright position for transfer to a cross conveyor |25. The swinging 'movement of the bottle support |25 is controlled by a link |21 operatively conneotedwith a rock shaft |28. The rock shaft carries an arm '|29 connected to thc lower arm' of the bell crank' 35 by a rod |30. The bottle support |25 is swung to its upright position by a spring |3|- Aand isreturned to its recumbent position through the linkage connections with the lbell crank 35.

The bottles in the conveyor 2l are pushed onto the bottle support |25 by means of ejectors |32 cngageable with the crowned heads of the bottles and pivotally carried on a pair of parallel swinging frames |93 suspended from bearings |34, thus providing a parallel motion for the ejectors. The frames |33 are swung periodically through a link |35 connected to the upper end of a lever |36- 5 which ispivotally mounted on the shaft 3|. The

lever |36 carriesa laterally projecting stud |31 which is disposed within a cam groove |38 formed inl one of the gear wheels 30.

The clutch' 33 on theshaft 32 is controlled 10 through a lever |39 pivotally mounted on a brackct |40.' The upper end of the lever |39 is connected to an arm |4| pivotally mounted on 'a with a.- suitable latch mechanism |44 carried on 15 an extension |45 of the frame I0. 'I'he clutchv is urged to offrposition by a'spring |46 acting. on the link |43, but is retained in on position by the releasable latch mechanism |44. The latch mechanism may also be automatically `released20 through a safety stop device which includes a vertically movable bar |41 carried on the frame |0 and urged to an upper position by a coiled spring |48. The upper end ofthe bar 411s engageable with 'an arm |49 carried on a rock shaft 25 |50, which has a link connection,|5| with the. latch mechanism |44. The lower` end of the bar= |41 is connected to one of the pivotally mounted bars' 65 so that the depression of this bar, incident to incomplete transfer of one ormore bottles 'from the rollers to the conveyor,will result in the tripping of the latch mechanism |44 through the rock shaft |50, J therebyl stoppingv the machine.

The bar |41 also has a'connection-with the bottle. support. |25 of the unloading device so that an -35 .incomplete transfer of bottles between the conf" veyor lfand -the loading device will cause vthe downward 'displacementof the bar vto enect re-V lease of the latch mechanism |44. The extension frame |45 alsov carries an'electric lamp |52 forv cross conveyor` |26. Y

At the end of the machine opposite the loading and unloading stations, the tank is connected by a pipe |53 to a centrifugal pump |54 driven by 45 an electric motor |55. The pump |54 delivers'waterthrough a pipe |56 to a number of trays |51 disposed above the bottles in the upper horizontal flight of the conveyor. 'I'he trays |51 have -perforated bottoms so that water is discharged onto 5o these bottles to keep them warm for a substantial part 'of the return travel. The water drains from the bottles onto the slightly slopingbottom of the chamber |3 and runs forwardly in this chamber to a wide inclined trough' |58 along which4 the 55 water descends to theforward end of the tank V| 'I'he warm water in the: machine isv thus kept in circulation and the bottlesare keptl warm on both their forward-and retum-travel-throughthe machine.' 1 60 In operation, crowned bottles are discharged in upright position from the crowner onto the continuously moving at top conveyor 42 which conducts the bottles to the continuously rotating star wheel 41. The bottles are fed by the star wheel 65 in spaced series onto the continuously moving cross'conveyor 5| along which the bottles move to a position abreast the tilting frame 18. At this point, the series of upright bottles are pushed' onto the tilting frame 18 by the pusher bar |16 70 carried on the rock shaft 88,`the latter being operated by previously-described linkage connections with the cam groove in one of the gear wheels 30. The arrival of the bottles at the tilting frame 18 can' be timed with respect to the opera- 75 4facilitating'the examination of the bottles on the tion of the pusher bar by adjusting 'the screws 45 on the driving dog di to change the angular position of the star wheel'lll on the shaft .43. As soon as the bottles are seated on the tilting frame, the A latter is tilted downwardly to the. position seen in Fig. '7 to deposit this series 'of bottles between therotating rollers ld. This movement of the tilting frame 18 is effected through previouslydescribed linkage connections with the cam groove 85 in one of the gear wheels 3Q. At the-time the tilting frame l@ swings downwardly, the bottle pushing ngers |01 are in their retracted position, and while the tilting frame is in its lower position, the fingers |01 are advanced through their previously-described linkage connections with the cam groove l|23 in one of the gear -wheels to urge the rotating bottles, necks rst, along the rollers. The cycle of operation is then repeated vand at the next retracting movement of the bottle |01, H2, and ||3, the latter two.

pushing fingers sets of fingers are depressed as seen in Fig. 'I to pass under previously-deposited bottles; This depression is accomplished by pushing against the arms |08 which rotates the rock shafts IUI and |02, the slide members Sil-tending to remain vstationary for a moment by their frictional engagement with the bars 65, and the Arotation of the rock shafts being resisted by the spring I. When the pushing effort ceases, the spring urges the fingers ||2 and ||3 to their upper positions so that the previously-deposited bottles on the roller will be advanced along the rollers during the next advancingmovement of the fingers. During each advancing movementl of thel iingers the bottle conveyor 2| is stationary, so that the foremost bottles on the rollers are urged into the adjacent pockets of the conveyor by the fingers H3. As soon as each series of bottles is loaded onto the conveyor, the conveyor is .moved one step crowns are then readily detected by the gas bubbles escaping from the bottles and rising through the warm water in the tank. The leaky bottles are then identied by an attendant in any suitable manner, as by means of rings slipped about their.

necks, or by other suitable expedients. In the upper horizontal return flight of the conveyor, the.4 bottles are sprayed with warm water from the trays |51 in order to prolong the time during which the bottles are kept at an elevated temperature. This further increases. the gas pressure in the bottles sothat any weak bottles will be cracked by internal pressure. 'I'he bottles are discharged from the descending flight of the conveyor by means of the bottle ejectors |32. which act on the bottles while the conveyor is stationary, these ej ectors having previously-described linkage. connections with the cam groove |38 in one' of the gear wheels 30. The bottles are discharged onto the swinging frame |25 |24 and during the feeding movements of the conveyor this bottle support is swung through previously-described linkage connections with t-he bell crank to bring the bottles in upright position in readiness to be urg'ed onto the cross containers may material which is mixed by the rotation of the of the unloadingdevlc'e" veyor- |26. ."The bottles on the cross conveyor are examined by an attendant, who removes any vleaky or defective bottles.

`the rapid drying. of the labels Vbefore the bottles are packed in the shipping cases. The prolonged :.heat treatment to'which the bottles are subjected aihey are passed through the machine produces 10 an inversion of the sugar present in the syrup.

The bottle conveyor 2| may move continuously, instead of intermittently, without interfering with the bottleftransferring operations.

The machine is capable of operation on various types of containers, such as bottles, cans,A and jars. In some instances, the contents of the conconsist of granulated or powdered containers. I

What we-claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: K

l. In a container handling machine, the comf bination of a container support, a conveyor arranged transversely o'f said support, a tltably- 25 mounted container receiving member disposed laterally adjacent said conveyor and movable to a position for depositing containers on said sup-- port, meansfor llaterally displacing containers from said conveyor on to said tiltably-mounted 30 member, means for tilting saidm'ember to a position adjacent said container support, and means for urging containers along said support and away from said tiltably-mountedmember.

2. In a container handling machine, the combi-'35 nation of a container support, a conveyor arranged transversely adjacent said support, means for feeding containers on to said conveyor in spaced series each including a plurality of containers, a tiltably mounted container receiving member disposed laterally adjacent said conveyor and movable to a positionfor depositing containers on said support, means for laterally displacing the containers from said conveyor on to said member, means for tilting said member to deposit containers on said support, and means for urging said containers along said support away from said tiltably-mounted member.

3. In .a container handling machine, the com-- bination of a container support including spaced 'i members for receiving containers there between, means extending transversely of said container supporting members, container impelling members carried by said means and extending between saidscontainer supporting members for urging containers there along, means for reciprocating said rst named means in a direction along said container supporting member,. and means for withdrawingsaid impelling members from contact with the containers on the retracted movement of said rst named means.

4. In a container handling machine, the combination of a support for receiving containers in upright position, a second support, means for transferring the containers from their upright position on said rst named support to a reclined' position on said second support, a container conveyor, and reciprocatory container impelling means for'moving containers from said second support on to said conveyor.

` In a container handling machine, the combination of spaced supporting members between vwhich containers are adapted to rest, atiltablyananas amers m substantially upright position, said tiltably-mounted member including a pair oi spaced elementsengageable with the side walls of a container and movable to a position between said'container supporting members for depositing the containers on said members, means movableA betweenv said spaced elements for advancing the container along said container supporting members and means for operating said tiltably-mounti ed member.

6. In a container handling machine, the combination of spaced container supporting members, a reciprocatory member disposed adjacent said, container supporting members; means for` supporting said reciprocatory member, container impelling means 'carried by said reciprocatory member engageable witha vertical end of a container to advance the container along said -container supporting member on the 'advancing stroke yof said reciprocatory member, said containerimpelling means extending between said spaced container supporting members, and means for withdrawing contact between saidcontainer impelling means and said container on the retracting stroke of said reciprocatory member.

'1. In a container handling machine, the, com.

- l -blnation of spacedcontainer supporting members, a reciprocatory slide" member adjacent said supporting members, means for supporting said re- .'ciprocatory'member, container impelling means carried bysaid reciprocatory member and disposedbetween said container supporting memy bers andengageable with a vertical 9nd of a container to advance the Vcontainer along the support when said reciprocatory member travels on its advancing stroke, means for depressing said container impelling means o n its retracting stroke,

and means forv normally vurging said container impelling means to its upper position.

8. In a container handling machine, the corri-A-^ bination of a `conveyor on which containers are supported in upright position, a starwheel for delivering a spaced series of containers on to said conveyor, a support disposed laterally adjacent said conveyor for receiving containers from said conveyor, means for displacing said containers from ysaid conveyor on to said support, means for operating said starwheel and container pushing means in timed relationship? and means for adjusting the angular position of said starwheel to Atime thearrival of the series of containers abreast said support. f

9 In acontalner handling machine, the combination of a ,conveyor for receiving containers thereon in upright position, means for placing the lcontainers on said conveyorin spaced succesv sive rows, means for moving the containers lat- `nrst conveyor.'

erally of said conveyor; a member adapted to receive containers displaced `Ylaterally from said' first named conveyor, reciprocatorymeans for advancing containers along said last named mem- Y ber, and a second conveyor for receiving containerswhich have been displaced laterally of said .said support.

along said receiving member on to said second 10 I conveyor.

11. In a container handling machine, the com-v bination of a conveyor receiving containers thereon in upright position, a starwheel for transferring containers on to said conveyor and havingl5 a notched portion and an inactive portion for feeding said containers in spaced successive rows,

means for removing said containers from' said conveyor, means for receiving containers displaced from said conveyor, a second conveyor, and means for advancing containers along said last named receiving means on to said second conveyor.

12. In a container handling machine, the combination of a' container support including means 5 to effect the rotation oi contalnersthereon to mix the contents thereof, a container conveyor mounted adjacent said support, container receiving members on said conveyor in intermittent register with one Vend of. said support, means for30 moving said container along said support and transferring the container to the receiving member, and means'for movably mounting the end portion of the support adjacent the conveyor to permit proper alinement oi theI support with th container receiving means. -13. In acontainer handling machine. the combination of a support adapted to receive containers, means to 'rotate the containers on said support to eiTect mixing of the contents thereof, 40

a conveyor mounted adjacent one end of said support, container receiving members carried by said Y conveyor and in intermittent register with' said support, means for moving the'containers along 45 said support and transferring the containers to the receiving members, .and means for pivotally mounting the end of the support remote from the conveyor to permit movement 'of the edge adjacent the conveyor relative thereto, said container rotating means including driving members dis 'posed coaxially with'said pivotal mounting. l

14. In a container handling machine, the combination vof a container" support, including a plurality of rolls adapted to receive containers with 5 the axes thereof parallel to the axes ofthe rolls, means to rotate 'each of the rolls in the same direction, whereby said containers are rotated on' their longitudinalaxes, and reciprocatory impeiling-means, operated independently of said 60 i rolls to periodically move said containers along Groen .1. Amma. GEORGE L. N. MEYER.

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