US2052513A - Can boxing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1936. I w. 0.. KIMBALL ET AL CAN BOXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1930 7 Sheets-$heet 1 INVENTORS Aug. 25, 1936. w. D. KIMBA'LL Er AL 2,052,513

CAN BOXING MACHINE v Filed Dec. 29, 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTORS a; ,%%w 47W 6mm avg A 0R 1936. w. D. KIMBALL ET AL CAN BOXI-NG MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1930 7 $heets-Sheet 3 Aug. 25, 1936.

w. D. KIM-BALL ET AL' CAN BOXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4' I I l 1Q" I In h A 9 Q- l Aug. 25, 1936.

W. D. KIMBALL ET AL CAN BOXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG? 1010 N I IHv Q f Aug. 25, 1936 w, KIMBALL, ET AL 2,052,513

CAN BOXING MACHINE Fild Dec. 29, 19s0 7 Sheets-Sheet es Aug. 25, 1936. w. D. KIMBALL ET AL 1 5 CAN BOXING MACHINE File d Dec. 29, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 v IIIIIIIIIIIE ll "HI w I VENTORS BY Z Mm I Patented Aug. 25, 1936 PATENT OFFICE CAN noxmo MACHINE Wallace D. Kimball, Jackson Heights, and Cornelius I. Bream-Jamaica, N. Y., and George P. Schaefer, Midland Park, N. J., assignors, by

mesne assignments, to Standard-Knapp Corporation, a corporation of New York Application December 29, 1930, Serial No. 505,282 16 Claim. (01. 226- This invention relates to machines capable of stacking canned goods or the like in suitable superposed rows or tiers and then forcing the cans into boxes or cartons of suitable size to receive a definite number of cans.

Machines of this general character constructed heretofore have been so designed that a number of cans in excess of that required for a single row have had to be introduced into the machine, before the cans for the next row above or below could be supplied. For example if it were desired to stack twelve cans in three rows of four cans each it would be necessary in theprior constructions to introduce a number of cans in ex-- cess of the twelve to be boxed in order to effect the desired stacking. Thus the first four cans of a batch fed into the machine would supply one of the rows, while the next group of between four and. ten cans or more would not become a part of the stack then in the process of formation.

The succeeding group of four cans would constitute a second row of the stack and there might be an additional group of cans entering the machine to fill up certain reserve storage spaces beof groups of four cans separated by other groups,

of cans successively introduced into the machine.

This is quite objectionable where the machine is used for the purposeof reboxing cans which have been stored away.

it is a common practice to store canned goods in unlabeled condition in'cartons or boxes which are not sealed. When the goods are to be shipped for use they are passed through a labeling machine and then through a boxing machine again. Due to the difierent character of the goods stored in difierent lots it is highly desirable that the goods should be repacked in the same boxes or at least in the same order in which they are taken from the original boxes. This is not possible in the operation of can boxing machines heretofore known for the reasons already explained. Whenever a change in the character of the goods being boxed is met with it is necessary to remove the final cans of the preceding group and stack these by hand.

It has been an important object of the present invention to provide a can boxing machine which willstack th- 'cans in the same order in which they are introduced into the machine. The arrangement is such, for example, that the first twelve cans put into the machine will be stacked in four rows of three cans each and introduced into the first box. Toward this end the machine includes the provision of means for separating or distributing the cans, as they are introduced, between a number of difierent channels corresponding with the rows to be formed. The means provided for this purpose is simple yet effective 4 and completely reliable and is capable of performing its function at a speed greater than that at which the machine as a whole may be operated. This mechanism enables the efilcient use'of the machine in the reboxing of stored cans.

Another feature of the machine contemplated by the present invention is the provision of means permitting the use of the same distributing and stacking instrumentalities for the grouping of two stacks, of say twelve cans each, one in, advance of the other and forcing these during one operationof the machine into a box of suitable dimensions. Heretofore in the boxingof cans in two layers it has been necessary to provide two separate stacking mechanisms placed side by side to form the two groups or stacks of cans or to operate the machine twice to separately introduce each layer into a box. The means provided in accordance with this invention for boxing two stacks of cans in a single operation is such that there is substantially no lost time due to the use of the same stacking devices and the operation is efliciently carried out.

Adjustability of the various portions of the machine to adapt it readily to the handling of cans of 'various diameters is another feature of the invention. The construction for this purpose is such that the opening through which the cans are introduced into the separating or distributing mechanism and the width of certain channels in this mechanism, may be varied to insure proper operation of this mechanism in the handling of different sized cans. Means are also provided for adjusting the runways which deliver the cans into thestacking chamber or portion of the machine and for adjusting certain detents and stops associated with this portion of the machine.

Other features and advantages of the construction contemplated by the present invention will appear from the detailed description of an illustrative form of the invention which will now be described indetail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the complete machine.

Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken through the separating or distributing portion of the machine.

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal, sectional view of a detail taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

'gure 5 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a plan view partly in section of the stacking chamber or portion of the machine disclosing the runways leading thereto.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of the stack: ing portion of the machine with certain parts broken away, illustrating certain detents and stops, as well as the pushing devices used in forcing the cans into the boxes.

Figure 8 is a vertical, sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 Showing the construction at the stacking and boxing end of the machine.

Figure 9 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a sectional view disclosing a detail and is taken along the lines III-I0 of Figure 9, and

Figure ll'is a diagram illustrating the development of certain cam faces.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine may comprise a suitable frame structure Ill adapted to support all of the various portions of the machine at a suitable height above the ground. This frame may be provided with upstanding arms having mounted thereon at an appropriate inclination to the horizontal a base or frame structure II. At the high or .eft end of this structure, as shown in Figure '1, there is provided the distributing or separating mechanism designated generally by the reference character I2. Suitable inclined runways or tracks I3 leading from the discharge end of the distributing mechanism serve to convey the cans to the stacking chamber or portion of the machine, generally designated by the reference character I4. The cans to be stacked and boxed may be supplied to the machine in any suitable way, as by means of an inclined runway I5 above the distributing mechanism.

Figures 2 to 5 disclose the details of the construction of the separating or distributing mechanism. This mechanism may be suitably enclosed by a pair of side plates I6 and I! which are joined by various cross rods and shafts, to be referred to hereinafter. Between these side plates, which are spaced a slightly greater distance than the normal height of the cans to be handled by the machine, are aifiustably mounted pairs of guide elements I8 and I9. The guides I8, one of which is adjacent each of the side plates I6 and I1, may be joined and held suitably spaced by means of rods riveted or otherwise secured to the guides. The spacing of the latter may be such as to place them in close proximity to the side plates or they may be separated slightly therefrom. In a machine intended to handle filled cans the guides are preferably held close to the side plates so that the beads of the cans will engage. or roll upon the edges of the guides. On the other hand where the machine is intended to handle empty cans it is preferable to permit the bead at the bottom of the can to fit between the guide and the adjacent side plate. Guides I8 may be adjustably supported by the side plates through the use of bolts or studs 2| riveted or otherwise secured to one of the guides and adapted to extend through-elongated openings 22 in the side plate IS. A wing nut 2-,- may be provided for each of the bolts 2I and will serve to hold the two ends of the guides in any desired position of adjustment. One extreme position of the guides is shown in full lines in Figure 2 and the other extreme position is shown in dotted lines in this figure. In a similar way the pair of guides I9 may be joined by a pair of rods 24 and may be adjustably supported by studs or bolts 25 riveted or otherwise secured to one of the guides and adapted to pass through elongated openings 26 in the side plate I8. Wing nuts 23 may be provided on the bolts 25 for clamping the guides in any adjusted position between the full and dotted lines indicated in Figure 2.

By proper adjustment of the pairs of guides the opening at the top of the distributing mechanism as well as the channel formed in part by the guides may be varied to a suitable extent to accommodate cans of various diameters. The adjustment of the guides should be effected in such a way that the opening will at all times be substantially centrally disposed. This opening,

furthermore, should be of such size as to permit the cans to drop freely through it but should not be so large that any considerable lateral movement of the can within the opening is permitted, since such a movement would be apt to cause a binding of a pair of cans between certain devices below the opening and the walls of the opening.

Directly beneath the opening provided between the guides I8 and I9 there is mounted a shaft 21 which may be suitably supported by a pair of bearing elements 28 secured in any suitable way to the outer sides of the plates I6 and II. The shaft 21 may.have keyed or splined thereto a pair of elements 29 in the form of a portion of a star wheel, one of these elements being placed adjacent each of the side frames I6 and I1 and being either in contact therewith or spaced slightly therefrom depending upon whether the machine is intended to handle filled or empty cans. The elements 29 are provided with a pair of curved surfaces 30 and 3| which are suitably inclined toward the point 32 of a star wheel con struction. When the elements 29 are in the position shown in Figure 2, a can dropping through the opening between the guides I8 and I9 will strike the surfaces 30 and due to the slope of these surfaces and the relation of the center of gravity of the can with respect to the shaft 21,

the members will be rocked about their pivots until the extensions 33 engage the upper surfaces of plates 34 secured to the side plates l6 and I1. As a result of this operation the can in question will be directed into the channel formed in part by the guides I8. The succeeding can passing through the opening between the guides I8 and I9 will then strike the curved surfaces 3| of the elements 29 and will cause these elements to be rocked in a clockwise direction until the melee-- tions 35 strike the upper surfaces of the plates 34, being then again in the position shown in full lines in Figure 2. In the course of this rocking movement of the elements 29 the second can will be directed toward the guide l9. The elements 29 thus provide a means for dividing or distributing the cans, fed continuously through the opening, alternately into channels at the left and right of these elements.

The cans which are delivered to the left of the elements 29 slide over extensions 36 of the plates 34 and drop into contact'with one or the other of a pair of curved surfaces on star wheel elements 3! which are similar in all respects to the elements 29. The elements 31 are carried by a be apparent that through the provision of the elements 31 a further separation of the cans between two additional channels is provided. In

" a similar way a further separation of the cans directed toward the right of the elements 29 is effected. These cans roll over the ends 4| of plates 34 and drop into engagement with one or the other of the pairs of curved surfaces carried by s'tarwheel elements 42. These elements are keyed to a shaft 43 suitably mounted in bearings 44 secured to the side plates. movements of the elements 42 are limited in each direction by engagement of lateral wings or extensions thereof with plates or brackets 45 secured to the side plates.

Suitable channels to receive the cans as they are distributed or divided between the four lanes to the left and right of the shafts 38 and 43, respectively, are formed by guide strips'or plates 46 secured in any suitable way to the side plates of the mechanism. The guide strips 46 terminate directly in line with the inclined runways l3 and serve to deliver the cans to theserunways. It will be clear that through the provision of the three sets of star wheel or divider elements 29, 31 and 42, in; the manner explained, each successive group of four cans will be distributed between the four separate runways l3. As illustrated in Figure 3, these runways may comprise a bottom plate 41 and side angle members 48 having their vertical legs suitably spaced a slight distance greater than the height of the cans handled by the machine.

As the cans are discharged to the runways I 3, they are fed by gravity to the lower or righthand end of the machine, as shown in Figure 1, which constitutes the stacking chamber and boxing portion of the machine. Here the cans are arrested by a series of stops 50, one of which is provided for each of the rows of cans. These stops, as will be presently explained, are only temporarily held in the position shown. in Figpermit the cans to shift a slight distance further toward the end of the machine. At the same time a series of detents or divider bars one related to each of the runways, will be rocked downwardly in 'synchronism with or preferably slightly in advance of the withdrawal of the stops 50 to engage the lowermost can on each runway and hold itflback to produce a separation between the cans to be boxed and those remaining on the runways. This construction is for the purpose of avoiding the'tearlng of the labels on the cans, which would arise from the relative longitudinal movement between those being shifted and the adjacent stationary cans. At the appropriate time the cans which have been properly lined up for boxing are forced by means of a pusher 52 into a funnel 53 over or adjacent to which is placed the open end of the box or carton into which the cans are to be loaded.

The rocking the pusher is given two operations of different magnitude. The first operation of the pusher, following the release of the tripping mechanism provided, serves to force two stacks or groups of cans placed end for end into the box; In the machine illustrated this will mean the boxing of twenty-four cans stacked intwo groups, end for end, of four rows of three cans each! For this purpose the pusher is given its full or long stroke. Subsequently after'a new set of cans has been fed into the stacking chamber of the machine, the pusher is given its second or short stroke which servesmerely to-force the single stack of cans into the funnel. The parts are then restored to normal position so that a new stack of cans may be formed within the stacking portion of the machine and this new stack, together with the stack already in the funnel, will then be forced into another box at the beginning of the next operation.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 8, the means for operating the stops, detents and pushers comprises a large cam 54 having camming projections extending axially from its opposite faces. This cam is carried by ashaft 55 journalled in the side frames Id. The shaft 55 is in turn driven, through a suitable clutch connection, by a shaft 5t, connected with an electric motor 51. The connection between the shafts 55 and 56 is made through suitable reduction gearing enclosed in a housing 58 and through a one-revolution clutch 59 of any suitable form, the construction being such that under the control of a foot pedal, or any other suitable form of control mechanism, the cam 54 may be given a single revolution at will. The foot pedal, or'similar control device, not shown, is disposed conveniently beneath the funnel 53 where it may be tripped by the operator of the machine whenever he is ready to have the cans forced into a box, or the clutch may be tripped automatically upon application of a box to the funnel. The pedal may be connected by a link 60 to any suitable mechanism for tripping the clutch to permit the shaft 55 to be driven through one revolution at the end of which it will be automatically stopped until the clutch is again tripped.

For the purpose of operating the stops 5B, the

cam '54 is provided with an axially extending camming projection 63 adapted to cooperate with a roller 84 carried by an arm 65 secured to a shaft 68 suitably mounted in a bracket G60 supported by the framework of the machine. A spring 630,

serves to rock shaft 86 and the arm 65 to maintain the roller 64 in engagement with the surface of the cam. Also secured to the shaft 66 is an arm 51 which is connected by link 68 to a shaft 10 mounted in a bracket Ii carried by the framework of the machine. A pair of arms 12, also secured to the shaft 10, carries a rod 130 which forms a pivotal connect-ion between the arms and a rearward extension 13 of each of the stops 50. The extensions 13 are also pivotally connected by means of a rod 14 to a pair of arms 15 pivotally supported by means of a shaft 16 carried.

by the bracket H. The shafts l0 and 16, as well as the rods I30 and I4 by which the arms 12 and I5 are connected to the stops 50, may extend verticaily to a sufficient extent to carry and operate all of the detents simultaneously. Due to tl'. parallel link construction provided the stops 5 will be moved in such a way as to maintain their forward faces in'a plane constantly parallel to that shown. Y

In order to provide for adjustment of the position of the stops to maintain cans of different diameters in proper relation to the pushers, the link 99 may be provided with a series of holes 11, three being shown, any one of which may be used in pivotally connecting the link by means of a bolt 19 to the arm 69. In this way the normal position of the stops may be varied to suit the requirements. As already indicated, the cam 93 is of such form as to cause the stops to be withdrawn twice during each operation of the machine at the appropriate time prior to the operation of the pushers.

For the purpose of operating the detents or dividers 5i, a second axially extending cam formation I9 is provided on the element 54. This cam formation is adapted to cooperate with a roller 89 carried by an arm 8| secured to a shaft 82 mounted in the bracket 669. A spring I99 serves to rock the arm to maintain the roller 99 in constant engagement with the surface of the cam 19. Mounted on the shaft 92 and adapted to rotate therewith is a yoke 83 having an upwardly extending bar 96 of channel form. A similarly formed bar 85 is vertically disposed at the opposite side of the-machine and is provided with a yoke 86 secured to a shaft 81. The two shafts 82 and 91 are adapted to be oscillated in unison but in opposite directions, angularly, by virtue of the interengagement of segments 89, one of which is secured to each of the shafts. Cooperating with the channels of the bars 94 and 85 are a series of rollers 89 carried by arms 99 pivotally mounted on pins or studs iii. The arms 99 are portions of hell crank levers having arms 92 which are.adapted to support the opposite ends of the series of detent rods 5 I, as best shown in Figure 8. A bell crank 99, 92 is provided at each end of the detents 5|.

It will be apparent that as the channel bars 84, 95 are shifted toward the right in Figures 6 and 9, the bell cranks will be rocked in unison in a clockwise direction to lower the detents into the path of the cans on the runways I3. This downward movement of the detents will take place twice during each cycle of the machine, due to the form of the cam I9, and it will be so timed as to occur substantially in unison but preferably slightly in advance of the withdrawal of the stops 59. When the detents are lowered the cans to the left of the same, as viewed in Figure 7, will be held against further movement along the runways and may even be cammed slightly up the runways. As the withdrawal of the stops 59 is then continued, a separation will be effected between the three cans in each row which are in line with the pushers and the remaining cans on the runways.

The means for operating the pushers comprises a cam formation 99 extending axially from the opposite side of the element 54 from the cam formations 69 and 19. A roller 94 carried by an arm 95 secured to a shaft 96 is held in contact with the surface of the cam formation 99 by means of a spring 91 which is attached at one end to a fixed portion of the machine and at its opposite end to an arm 99 secured to the shaft 99. At its free end the arm 95 is connected to a bolt or stud 99 with an arm I99 pivotally connected with a vertically extending shaft or rod IN. This shaft at its upper end is connected by a similar system of links to the shaft 99. For this purpose an arm I92 is secured to the shaft 99 and is connected by a stud or bojltlto an arm I93 pivotally connected to the upper end of the shaft I9I. Asthe arms 95 and I92 are rocked. about the axis of the shaft 99, the shaft or rod I9I is drawn bodily toward the stacking chamber of the machine and in its movements is guided by means of suitable guide elements I94 arranged adjacent both the top and bottom of the shaft. At its upper end the shaft I M may have secured thereto a shoe I9I9 which has grooves along its side edges adapted to engage and slide along the edges of the guides I94. This arrangement will prevent turning of the shaft as it is shifted by the arms I99 and I92. A similar construction may be provided at the lower end of the shaft I9I, if desired, or a roller or collar I9II may be provided at this end to ride between the guides I94. Secured to the shaft or rod II, as by means of split collars I95, are a series of yokes I99 which carry at their forward ends the pushers'52. The yokes I 96 are suitably spaced along the rod IN to place the pushers 52 in line with the cans to be forced into the funnel 53 and into the box. They may be adjusted to any desired elevation by unclamping the split collars. As previously mentioned, the cam 93 is adapted to give to the arm 95 and to the pushers both a long or complete stroke and a short or half stroke during each operation of the machine. For this purpose the cam surface is provided with a deep depression or dwell 93I and a shallow dwell 932 appropriately situated with relation to the normal position of the cam. The relation of the various cam surfaces on the cam 54 is such that at the beginning of an operation of the machine the detents 9| are lowered and the stops 59 are withdrawn. The pushers 52 are then given their long or full stroke to force two stacks or groups of cans into a box. The detents and stops remain in their lowered and withdrawn positions throughout the operation of the pusher. During the continued operation. of the machine, after the pusher has been restored to its normal position the detents and stops are also restored and a new stack of cans is formed in the stacking cham ber. Subsequently the stops 59 and detents 5| are again operated and the pushers 52 again shifted to force the newly formed group or stack of cans into the funnel 53 in readiness for the next operation of the machine. By timing the operations in this way the attendant may trip the clutch mechanism whenever he has a box in readiness to receive the cans from the funnel 53. While he is then preparing for the application of a new box to the funnel, the machine will continue its operation to store the first stack or group of cans in the funnel. In order to facilitate the operation of the machine by a single attendant suitable means, forming no part of the present improvements, may be provided for holding the boxes in position during the loading operation and for lowering or discharging them after they have been loaded. This leaves the operator free to attend to the preparation and application of the boxes to the funnel.

In order to adapt the machine to more readily handle cans of different diameters, provision is made for varying the positions of the ends of the runways I3 which are located In and adjacent the stacking chamber of the machine. It is desirable to reduce as far as possible the amount of separation between the cans in the various rows as they stand in the stacking chamber. Any separation between the rows at this point must be eliminated as the cans are forced into the funnel 59 by the dropping of the upper rows of cans and it is de sirable to reduce this movement to a minimum. In the adjustment of the runways I3, provision is made for raising the lower runways at the same time that the upper rimways are lowered so as to bring about a convergence between the upper and lowermost runways. To effect the adjustment, each runway, as well as the upper guide above the top row of cans, is supported adjacent the detents 5I by means of a bracket I0'I which is carried by a rod I08. Each of these brackets has an arm I09 which carries the pivot 9i for the bell cranks 90, 92. The intermediate one of the five brackets I01. is supported by the rod I08 at a fixed elevation'but the runways and guide above and below the central runway are adjustable toward and away from the latter. For this purpose the rod is provided with aseries of threads IIO, III, II! and H3. The threads H0 and III may be righthand threads, for example, while the threads H2 and H3 are lefthand or of opposite sense to the upper threads. Furthermore, the threads H0 and H3 are double or are of greater pitch than the threads II I and H2; therefore, as the shaft or rod is rotated, the threaded engagement between the various series of. threads and the brackets I01 will cause the two uppermost brackets to move downwardly and the two lowermost brackets to move upwardly and vice versa, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft I08. Furthermore, the rate of advance toward or recession from the central runway for the uppermost and lowermost brackets will be double, or at least materially greater than that for the two brackets adjacent the central bracket. At. its upper and lower ends the shaft I08 is suitably supported by bearings H4 and H5, respectively. It will be understood that a rod I08 and a series of brackets I0'I will beprovided on each side of the runways and adjustment of the two sides should be effected in unison to maintain the runways in proper planes. To insure uniform adjustment of the two shafts, they may be provided with sprocket wheels II6 connected by a chain III, and either shaft may have a handwheel at its upper end or be adapted to receive a wrench.

The funnel 53 may be supported in any suitableway by the framework of the machine and may be replaced by funnels of differentfsizes when diiferent sized cans and boxes are used.

The intended mode of operation of the machine has been sufliciently fully set forth in connection with the detailed description of the various portions of the same so that a general rsum of operation is believed to be unnecessary. While an illustrative form of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction of the parts and the arrangement disclosed without departing from 'ently of other features.

, tions of the pusher and other partsduring a single operation of themachine so that two stacks or groups of cans will be simultaneously forced into a box, this construction may be varied whenever desired to provide for only a single, preferably long, operation of the pusher during each operation of the'machine so that only a single group will be boxedv at a time. Similarly, the number of rows of cans and the number of cans in each row to be forced into a box at one time may be varied to suit conditions.

What we claim-is: I

1. In a machine of the class described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged one above the other, means for shifting said cans in the direction of their axes, and an operating mechanism for said machine adapted to operate said shifting means twice and to different extents .during a single cycle of operation.

2. In a machine of the class described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged one above the other, means for shifting said cans in the directionof their axes, and an operating mechanism for said machine adapted to operate said. shifting means twice and to different extents during a single cycle of operation, said first mentioned means forming a stack of cans between each operation of said shifting means.

3. In a machine'of the class described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged one above the other, means for shifting said cans in the direction of their axes, a main operating mechanism, and connections from said operating mechanism for giving a partial and a complete operation to said shifting means at different periods of a single operation of said mechanism.

4. In a machine of the class described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged one above the other, means for shifting said cans in the direction of their axes, a. main operating mechanism, and connections from said operating mechanism for giving a partial and a complete operation to said shifting means at different periods of a singleoperation of said mechanism, the complete operation being given to said shifting means prior to the partial operation during a cycle of said operating mechanism.

5. In a machine of the class described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged l shifting said group together with another group into a box. 1

6. In a machine of the class described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged one above the other, means for shifting said cans in the direction of their axes, means for storing a group of stacked cans, and means for operating said shifting means to first shift a group of cans from said stacking means into said storing means and subsequently shifting said group into a box, said stacking means being operable to form a second group of cans in line with the stored group of cans between the operations of said shifting means, whereby two groups of cans will be simultaneously shifted into a box.

7. In a machine of the class described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged one above the other, means for shifting ,said cans in the direction of their axes, means for storing a group of stacked cans, an operating mechanism adapted to be released for a single cycle of operation, and connections from said mechanism for operating said shifting means near the end of one cycle of operation to shift a group of cans into said storing means, and for operating said shifting means during the next cycle of operation to shift said group of cans from said storing means into a box.

8. In a machine of the class. described means for stacking cans in a plurality of rows arranged I cycle of operation, and connections from said mechanism for operating said shifting means near the end of one cycle oi operation to shift a group of cans into said storing means,

and for operating said shifting means during the next cycle of operation to shift said group of cans from said storing means into a box, said stacking means being operable to form a second group of cans in line with the stored group or 10 cans between the operations of said shifting means, whereby two groups of cans will be simultaneously shifted into a box.

9. In a machine of the class described apiu rality of spaced superposed can supports and means for adjusting said supports to reduce or increase the spacing between the same at will, said means comprising devices for simultaneously raising certain of said supports and lowering others.

10. In a machine of the class described a plurality of spaced superposed can supports and means for adjusting said supports to reduce or increase the spacing between the same at will,

' said means serving to simultaneously shift the 26 supports at opposite sides of a substantially horizontal median plane through the same in opposite directions.

11. In a machine of the class described a can stacking chamber, means for delivering cans in 30 rows into said chamber, stops at the end of said chamber for arresting the cans delivered thereto, detents adapted to prevent the movement of cans into said chamber, means adjustably connected with said stops to withdraw the same, a main op- 35 crating mechanism, and a cam for simultaneously operating said last mentioned means and controlling the movement of said detents twice uponeach cycle of operation of said main operating mechanism.

40 12. In a machine of the class described a can stacking chamber, a plurality of superposed runways for delivering cans into said chamber, pivoted detents adjacent the ends of said runways for arresting the cans thereon, means for adjust- 46 ing the elevation of said runways and the pivots of said detents, and means including a channel bar adapted to cooperate with all of said detents regardless of their elevational adjustment to simultaneously rock the same into and out of can 60 arresting position.

modate cans oi dii'lerent diameter, said last 10 mentioned means serving also to shift the pivots of said detents.

14. In a machine of the class described a distributor having an adjustable opening for the reception of cans of different sizes, a plurality of 15 spaced superposed runways adapted to receive the cans from said distributor, said runways delivering said cans into a stacking chamber, and means for varying the spacing between the delivery ends of said runways by simultaneously shifting certain of the same in opposite directions to accommodate cans of diiIerent sizes.

15. A machine of the character described comprising a can-holding rack adapted to receive and hold a plurality of cans for ejecting into a case, an ejector mounted for reciprocable movement in the rack for ejecting the cans, power means for operating said ejector, and controlling means for giving said ejector short and long strokes whereby a row of cans is moved forward in the rack upon ashort stroke and ejected upon a long stroke.

16. In a machine of the class described a can stacking chamber, a plurality of superposed runways for delivering cans into said chamber, detents adjacent the ends of said runways for arresting the cans thereon, the said detents each having an actuating member movable longitudinally of said runways, an operating member extending vertically of said superposed runways and having a longitudinally extending channel, the said actuating members being disposed in said channel and engaging the walls thereoi, and means for moving said operating member longitudinally of said runways to cause the simultaneans actuation of said detents.

WALLACE D. KIMBALL. CORNELIUS I. BRAREN. GEORGE P. SCHAEFER.

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