US2175338A

US2175338A - Apparatus for printing, punching, and applying closure blanks

Info

Publication number: US2175338A
Application number: US32950A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Booth
Original assignee: Crown Cork and Seal Co Inc
Current assignee: Crown Cork and Seal Co Inc
Priority date: 1935-07-24
Filing date: 1935-07-24
Publication date: 1939-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1956-10-10

Description

Oct. 10, 1939. G, w BOOTH 2,175,338

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, PUNCHING, AND APPLYING CLOSURE BLANKS Filed July 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwumtoo G. W. BOOTH Oct. 10, 1939.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, PUNCHING, AND APPLYING CLOSURE BLANKS Filed July 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, 1939. G. w. BOOTH 8 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, PUNCHING, AND APPLYING CLOSURE BLANKS Filed July 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 G'eorye 20. 600% G. W. BOOTH Oct. 10, 1939.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, PUNCHING, AND APPLYING CLOSURE BLANKS Filed July 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gummy G. w. BOOTH 2,175,338 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, PUNCHING, AND APPLYING CLOSURE BLANKS Oct. 10, 1939.

5 sneets sneet 5 Filed July 24, 1935 Geofge Z 500% s W MWW MR wNN Patented Oct, 10, 1939 warren STATES PATENT car es APPARATUS FOR PRINTING, PUNCHING; AND APPLYING CLOSURE BLANKS Application July 24, 1935, Serial No. 32,950

21- Claims.

, The present invention relates to apparatus for printing and punching closure discs and the like from a blank of suitable material, the material being preferably in strip form. As incidental to the printing operation, the apparatus may include drying'means so that smearing of the ink in the subsequent operations will be prevented. The apparatus may also include-means for coating with wax or the like one or both sides of the material. v

The invention, while not limited thereto, is particularly useful in the production of closure discs as disclosed, for example, in my United States Patent No. 1,956,217, granted April 24, 1934. Such discs may have a slight central offset and for the production of this offset, the present apparatus may include suitable forming means.

Desirably, also, the new mechanism may include means for receiving and applying the discs as they are produced. a

While the invention relates. particularly to apparatus for carrying out a succession of operations such as mentioned above, novelty resides also in sub-combinations and elements of the whole. Further, it should be understood that I use the term printing herein in no excluding sense unless expresslyqualified, since mechanism for embossing or the like may be substituted for the printing mechanism without change in general principle.

In order that the invention may be thoroughly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, a practical embodiment thereof. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the new apparatus partly in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1:

Figure 4 is an elevation of-the apparatus as seen from the left of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the apparatus as seen from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a detail in elevation;

Figure 7 is a plan. view of a strip of material shown as having undergone the printing and punching operations;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view in elevation of apparatus comprising printing means, diiying means, coating means, forming means, punching means, applying means and feeding means for strip material;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the strip shown in Figure 8 locating the various apparatus mentioned; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic cross section of a disc as produced by the apparatus of Figures 8 and 9. 5

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 to '7, reference numeral l0 designates a standard which at its upper end is provided with laterally extending vertical ribs I I and I2, the standard being provided with a vertical recess l3 be- 10 tween the ribs. The forward faces of ribs II and I2 are in the same plane and have secured thereto vertical guide strips II and [5 whose adjacent edges are parallel, the strips projecting toward each other beyond the lateral walls of the recess I3. An elongated, substantially rectangular block or slide l6 has lateral grooves l1 and I8 in which are engaged the adjacent portions of the strips l4 and I5 so that the slide is guided for purely vertical movement. 2

Referring particularly to Figure 3, a rotary shaft I9 is journaled in the upper. end of the standard l0 behind slide l6 and in perpendicular relation thereto, this shaft, in the operation of the machine,. being continuously driven from any suitable source of power. The reduced end of shaft I 9 adjacent slide I6 has secured thereon a crank web 20 which carries a pin 2|. Slide I6 carries a pin 22 whose axis is in the same vertical plane as the axis of shaft l9 and pins 2| and 22 are connected by a link or pitman 23. It will be understood that when shaft I9 is rotated slide it is vertically reciprocated through the described connections. v

A yoke-shaped bracket 24 projects horizontally in front of slide I6 and, as here shown, is integral with a pair of parallel flanges 25 and 26 which are secured against the outer faces of strips I4 and I5 and clear of slide l6 so as not to interfere with the movement of the latter. At their lower extremities, flanges 25 and 26 have integral frontwardly extending arms 21 and 28 which, at their extremities merge into a horizontal platen or table 29, this platen being of a width determined by the widthof the strip upon which the apparatus is designed to operate. The platen 29 extends a substantial distance to the sides of the standard III. In front of slide IS, the platen is provided with a recess open toward the latter and generally designated at 30, Figure 3, the side walls of this recess being parallel in the planes of the parallel adjacent edges 21' and 28 of arms 21 and 28, these side walls being denoted by the reference numerals 3| and 32, Figure 1, the outer rectilinear wall of the recess. normal to the edges 3| and 32, being designated by the reference numeral 33, Figure 3.

The top surface of platen 29 is uniplanar, except that its left hand portion, Figures 1 and 2, is provided with

marginal shoulders

34 and 35 spaced apart substantially the width of the strip 36 to serve as lateral guide means for the latter. These shoulders preferably extend up to the edge 3 I, Figure 1, of the platen recess above described and are of slightly greater height than the thickness of strip 36.

To the right of recess 38 the table is provided with a transversely extending arcuately undercut recess 31, whose transverse extent is slightly more than the width of strip 36. To the right of recess 31, the platen is provided with an end recess 38 which has a width slightly greater than the width of strip 36. The end wall 39 of the recess is downwardly rounded.

At its outer extremity, yoke 24 is provided with a vertical bore whose axis intersects the central longitudinal line of strip 36 as guided by

shoulders

34 and 35. In this bore is received the upper threaded end of a stud 48 and retained, with possibility of vertical adjustment, by means of nuts 4| and 42. The stud has a lower threaded end 43 surmounted by an integral abutment shoulder 43, the end 43 being passed through a central aperture in a square plate 44 and threaded into an axial bore of a cylindrical male die 45. Plate 44 is clamped between the die and shoulder 43. The lower plane face of die 45 lies above the top plane of platen 29 a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of strip 36.

An externally square female die 46 underlies plate 44 and has a central downwardly flared through opening 41 whose upper edge is of a diameter to cooperate with the die 43 and is centered relative to the latter. Die 46 is slidably guided by the walls 3|, 32 and 33 of recess 38, the front and rear portions of the top surface of die 46 being slightly shouldered as at 48 and 49 to provide a trackway normally in direct continuation of that provided by

shoulders

34 and 35 of the platen.

Studs 58, 5|, 52 and 53 are fixed in the comers of die 46 and project upwardly with a sliding fit through apertures in the corners of plate 44, the upper ends of the studs being threaded and provided above plate 44 with lock nuts 54. Interposed between die 46 and plate 44 is a stripper plate 55 which has a central circular opening in which the lower portion of die 45 is slidably received. The stripper plate, which is square, as plate 44, is provided in its corners with openings which receive studs 58 to 53 with a sliding fit, and interposed between plates 44 and 55 are compression springs 56. These springs normally hold the stripper plate against the top of die 46 and the latter with its upper cutting edge below the cooperating edge of die 45 a distance only slightly greater than the thickness of strip '36. The proper adjustment is of course obtainable through adjustment of nuts 54. The trackway constituted by the top surface of die 46 between shoulders 48 and 49 is in substantially flush continuation of the trackway provided by the platen and shoulders 34 and 35 when nuts 54 abut the top of plate 44.

Secured to the lower portion of slide I6 is a carrier 51 which supports a capping head 58 and a magazine 59, the latter being a cylindrical container with its upper open end immediately below opening 41 of die 46. The carrier, capping head and magazine may be of exactly the same type as disclosed in United States Patent No. 1,956,218, issued April 24, 1934, to George J. Huntley and Harry A. Han, and are so shown. It will be understood that a packaging tube or other receiver may be used instead of the illustrated capper if the discs are not to be immediately applied.

Slide I6 also has secured to its lower portion flanges 68 and 6| of a yoke 62 which embraces carrier 5'! and magazine 59 and directly underlies die 46. For the sake of rigidity, the arms of the yoke are secured also to the carrier 51, as indicated.

A pair of

arms

63 and 64 have flanged lower extremities secured on top of the left hand ends of

shoulders

34 and 35, Figure 2, and at their upper extremity support a shaft 65 which carries a roll of the strip material 36.

Arms

63 and 64 also provide journal portions for the shaft 66 of a roller 6'! under which strip 36 is guided to the platen track.

To the right of roller 61, a pair of standards 68 and 69 are secured on top of

shoulders

34 and 35, these having vertically slotted upper ends slidably receiving bearings 18 and II in which is journaled the shaft I2 of a printing roll I3. Cap plates I4 and I5 bridge the slotted ends of pedestals 68, 69 and have threaded therein adjustable abutment screws I6 and TI between the lower ends of which and the bearings I8 and II are interposed compression springs as at I8, Figure 1. The bearings, shaft I2 and printing rolls I3 are thus yieldingly urged downwardly toward the platen. Pedestals 68 and 69 have arms extending in the longitudinal direction of the platen and carrying upwardly extending links in which are journaled inking rollers I9 and 88, tension springs connecting the links above the rollers so that the latter are yieldingly held against the printing roll.

Inasmuch as it is desired to print on spaced portions of strip 36, the printing roll is provided with a plurality of printing portions or pads 8| spaced about its periphery.

Shaft 12 of the printing roll has fixed thereon a pinion 82 which engages an idler 83 therebelow, the idler being journaled on a stud projecting from pedestal 68. Idler 83 is engaged by a pinion 84 fixed on a shaft 85 whose ends are journaled in a bearing 86 secured beneath the platen and a bearing 81 secured to rib II. A pinion 88 loose on shaft 85 is. adapted to drive the latter, through suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism, in a counterclockwise direction, so that through pinions 82, 83 and 84 the printing roll will likewise be driven in a counterclockwise direction, Figure 1.

Positioned in recess 31 is a feed roller 89 fixed on a shaft 98 which is journaled in bearings 9| and 92 secured beneath the platen and in a hearing 93 secured to rib I2. A cooperating feed roller 94, immediately above roller 89 is fixed on a shaft 95 journaled in bearings 96 and 91 fixed to the top of the platen. Shafts 98 and 95 have

pinions

98 and 99 fixed thereon respectively, these pinions being of the same size and mutually engaged. Loose on shaft 98 is a pinion I88 which has a radial flange I8I carrying a pivoted pawl I82 and a pawl spring I83. Pawl I82 cooperates with a ratchet I84 fixed on shaft 98. By means of this pawl and ratchet connection, shaft 98 may be driven only in a clockwise direction, Figure 1, shaft 95 being simultaneously driven in a counterclockwise direction through

pinions

98 and 99. 75

, tively movesthe same.

The rollers 89 and 94, being fixed on their shafts, are driven therewith. The same pawl and ratchet mechanism, reversed as to driving direction, is interposed between pinion 88 and shaft 85.

Flanges 6D and 6|, Figure I, have laterally projecting arms I05 and IE5 to the extremities of which are secured the upwardly extending racks III! and I08 whose teeth are adapted to engage pinions 88- and I00, respectively. Shaft 65, Figure 1, is removable and insertable through the opening of the spool I09 on which strip 36 is wound to support the same, as shown. The strip is pulled under guide roller 61, printing roll I3 and between dies 45 and 46, thelatterspaced portions of the strip and the strip will bepulled through just far enough to exactly center one of these portions beneath die 45. Assuming slide I6 to move upwardly upon initiation of rotation ofshaft I9, theyoke 62, which liesjust below die 46 in the normal lowermost position of the latter, will move the die. upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1,'so that a circular blank will be struck from the disc. 1 The strip is at rest during this operation. l l

The punched out disc falls into magazine 59 and as the slide and carrier. 5] move downwardly, the disc feeding mechanism will be placed in readiness to feedthe disc to the capping head, the feeding operation occurring as the carrier 51 travels upwardly,-all as described inthe Huntley .and Rau patentbefore mentioned. No. cap

'will be applied onthisfirst, downward movement of the-head but on succeeding downward movements caps will be applied to bottles, as at. I I0,

moved into register with the head.

Since upon downwardmovement of the slide I6, yoke .62 has moved away from die 46, the latter and the stripper. .plate .55 will be lowered by the springs 56 so that thestrip will be cleared from die 45 for freemovement therebeneath.

As slide I6 rises, racks I01 and I08,-w hich are in engagement with pinions 88 and I00, will rotate the same and therewith the printing roll and the feed rollers. such that the printing roll- .will bedriven at a peripheral speed the same as-the speed, at which strip 36 is fed by the feedrollers. As upward movement of the slide continues, the teeth of the racks move out of engagement with pinions 83 and I00 so that drive of the feed rollers and the printing roll is interrupted before yoke 62 comes into engagement again with die 46. g The feeding range .of the racks issuch that a new printed portion of the strip will be brought into exact registerwith die 45 andstrip 36 will be at rest when yoke 6 2,againengages die 45 and opera- Thus, all movements of the-machine are derived ifrom, the, reciprocatingslide I6- .As the slide-goes ,down,- a container capped and as it,

moves upwardly the stripis fed and printed and alblank is punched. .Sinca theprinting roll-is urged against-strip .35, it;. cou1d .be operatively rotated merelyby thestrip asthe. latter is pulled along the platen. Consequently, the positive The gearing ratios are drive for the printing roll may conceivably be omitted under some circumstances but to prevent slippage of the strip relative to the roll which might occur due to inertia of the latter, I prefer to provide the positive drive as shown.

In Figure 7, two spaced printed portions are indicated at I II on the strip 36 in advance of the printed portion II2 which is assumed to be at the punching station, reference numeral II 3 indicating the shear line. Printed discs have already been punched where the openings H4 appear.

The strip material is of thin ductile metal and preferably has a top facing of paper or the like so as to absorb the ink quickly and prevent smearing. The strip may also have a bottom facing of sealing material such as paper if desired. However, the invention is not limited as to the makeup of the strip and a metal strip may be directly printed upon, particularly where the strip has an eggshell finish and a quick drying ink is used.

In Figures 8 and 9, I have indicated apparatus for carrying out operations in addition to those above described. In these figures, it is assumed that it is desired to produce a cap of the form indicated in Figure 10 and designated by the reference numeral I20. Thiscap, while-substantially flat, has a slight upward central offset forming "lower shoulders which are adapted to position the cap accurately on the container to be capped.

Reference numeral I2I designates a roll of strip material which may be assumed to be composed of a metal strip of suitable gauge faced on both sides with paper or the like. As shown in Figure 9, the strip is of a width to enable two series of'discs to be struck therefrom. Reference numeral I22 designates a printing roll such as hereinbefore described, except that it is of a width to accommodate two series of printing pads, a cooperating platen being shown at I23. In order to insure drying of the ink, particularly where the strip includes no top paper facing, I

provide a drying chamber I24 into which the strip is drawn immediately after the printing operation. This chamber may be heated in any suitable manner, as, for example, by-an electric grid as indicated at I25. l

Following the drying chamberv are a pair of rollers I26 and I2! arranged above and below thestrip to contact both surfaces of the latter and supplied from reservoirs I28 and I29 with a fluid coating substance such as wax. Rolls I26 and I2'I may have electric heating coils I26 and I21 therein. They are preferably geared together in the manner of feed rolls 89 and 94 hereinabove described and may be positively driven exactly as the latter. The printing roll I22 may be conveniently driven from roller I25 Inthe operation of this forming mechanism, dies,

I3 I and collars I 34are broughttogether to gripthe strip of material, each of these members being preferably mov-edso that the. strip will .not be deflected from its prescribed plane .of movement.

have cir-' After the strip has been clampedinthis :man-v ner, dies I32 are moved upwardly to form offsets in the strip as shown at I35. The members are then returned to the illustrated relation so that the strip is freed for feeding. These forming devices may be generally as shown in my United States Patent No. 1,956,212, granted April 24, 1934, although with the dies reversed in position, since in the present instance the central portion of the discs must be upwardly offset in order to be printed upon.

Following the forming dies are two sets of punching dies I36 and I31 which may be of the same general design as those described with ref erence to Figures 1 to 7, dies I36, however, having cavities for the reception of the offsets I35. The vertical position of dies I36 is such as to permit the offsets to move thereunder without interference. At I38 is indicated a receiver which may be associated with a capping head in exactly the same manner as hereinabove described or it may be merely in the form of a cylindrical tube for the packaging of the discs. The feed rolls are indicated at I39 and I40 and may be driven as the rolls 89 and 94 of the first embodiment.

It will be understood that the feed rollers I39 and I40 are driven intermittently and rollers I26 and I2! may conveniently be of the same size as the feed rollers and similarly driven, their motion being imparted to the printing roll I22 in suitable ratio. The punching apparatus and the forming apparatus are operated while'the strip is at rest, the movable die I31 being operated, for example, by means such as yoke 62 of the first embodiment. The relative spacing of the printing, forming and punching devices and the extent of each feeding movement are such that printed portions are brought into exact register with the forming devices and offset portions are brought into exact register with the punching devices upon each feedingmovement of the strip.

In Figure 9, the printed portions of the strip are designated at I, the: formed portions at I35, the shear lines at I42, and the openings from which the discs have been struck at I43.

When the strip is faced with paper or the-like, the drying operation may be unnecessary and, accordingly, the heating unit I25 may be cut off. The arrangement is also preferably such that the coating rolls I26 and I121 and-the forming dies I3I and I32 may be rendered inoperative if desired. In printing on metal, the coating rollers, one or both, may be rendered inoperative by removing the coating substance from them and their associated reservoirs. In other words, the arrangement is preferably such that of the drying, coating and forming devices, anyone or any two or all may be thrown out of operation. They are placed in or out of operation in accordance with the requirements of any particular job.

The printing pads may conveniently be of rubber suitably secured to the printing rolls and they may be of a size to print an area of the full dimension of the discs to be punched or the printing may be otherwise distributed or localized with respect to the disc areas. The forming dies, furthermore, may be designed to produce other patterns than that shown. For example, an annular offset, illustrated in my patent first mentioned, may be produced.

The invention as described is of course susceptible of other variations as to form, arrangement of parts, etc.,.and, accordingly, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the illustrative disclosure herein, but only as in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on spaced portions of the strip, means for punching the printed portions from the strip as closure blanks, means for applying the closure blanks to containers. said last-named means comprising a reciprocable slide, said punching means comprising a movable die separate from the slide, and means carried by said slide for operatively moving said die.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on the strip at intervals, means for punching the printed portions from the strip as closure blanks, means for applying the closure blanks to containers, said last-named means comprising a reciprocable head, and means movable with said head for operating said feeding mechamsm.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on the strip at intervals, means for punching the printed portions from the strip as closure blanks, means for applying the closure blanks to containers, said last-named means comprising a reciprocable head, and means movable with said head for operating said printing mechanism.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on the strip at intervals,

means for punching the printed portions from the strip as closure blanks, means for applying the closure blanks to containers, said last-named means comprising a reciprocable head, said punching means comprising, a movable die, and means movable with said head for operatively moving said die and for operating said feeding mechanism.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on the strip at intervals, means for punching the printed portions from the strip as closure blanks, means for applying the closure blanks to containers, said last-named means comprising a reciprocable head, said punching means comprising a movable die, and means movable with said head for operatively moving said die and for operating said printing mechanism.

6.'Apparatus of the class described comprising feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on the strip at intervals, means for punching the printed portions from the strip as closure blanks, means for applying the closure blanks to containers, said last-named means comprising a reciprocable head, said punching means comprising a movable die, and means movable with said head for operatively moving said die and for operating said feeding and printing mechanisms.

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closure discs from a piece of suitable material, said means comprising a movable die, a reciprocating head for applying in one direction of movement said discs to containers, and means movable with said head for operatively moving said die during movement of the head in the other direction.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closure discs from a strip of material, said means comprising a movable die, a reciprocating head for applying in one direction of movement said discs to containers, means movable with said head for operatively moving said die during movement of the head inthe other direction, feeding means for said strip, and means movable with the head for actuating said feeding means during movement of said head in said other direction and prior to the operative movement of said die.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a platen, feed rollers for pulling a strip of mate rial along said platen, a printing roll, said strip being engaged between said printing roll and said platen, said printing roll having printing portions spaced around its periphery whereby to print on spaced portions of said strip as the strip is fed, punching means arranged between said 'feed rollers and printing roll and operative to punch the printed portions from the strip, said punching means comprising a movable die, a reciprocable capping head for applying to containers discs 'struck from said strip by said punching means, means for imparting operative and return movements to said head, and means for successively actuating said feed rollers to feed the strip and operatively moving said movable die during the return movement of said head.

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising a platemfeed rollers for pulling a strip of material along said platen, a printing roll, said strip being engaged between said printing roll and said platen, said printing roll having printing portions spaced around its periphery whereby to print on spaced portions of said strip as the strip is fed, punching means arranged between said feed rollers and printing roll and operative to punch the printed portions from the strip, said punching means comprising a. movable die, a reciprocable capping head for applying to containers discs struck from said strip by said punching means, means for imparting operative and return movements to said head, and means movable with said head during the return movement of the latter for successively driving. said feed rollers to feed the strip and operatively moving said movable die.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a platen, feed rollers for pulling a strip of material along saidplaten, a printing roll, said strip-being engaged between said printing roll and said platen, said printing roll having printing portions spaced around its periphery whereby to print on spaced portions of said strip as the strip is fed, punching means arranged between said feed rollers and printing roll and operative to punch the printed portions from the strip, said punching means comprising a movable die, a reciprocable capping head for applying to containers discs struck from said strip by said punching means, means for imparting operative and return movements to said head, and means for first actuating said feed rollers to feed the strip and driving the printing roll and then operatively moving said movable die during the return movement of said head. i

12. Apparatus of the class described comprls ing means for feeding a strip intermittently,

means for successively punching blanks from said strip, a reciprocating member, and means driven by said member in one direction of movement for operatively actuating the first one 01' said means to feed the strip and then the other of said means to punch a blank from the strip.

13. Apparatus of the class described comprising intermittently operative feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on spaced portions of the strip, means for forming the strip to provide offsets centered on the printed portions of the strip, and means for punching the printed and offset portions from the strip.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closures f rom a suitable piece of material, said means including upper and lower coacting dies of which the latter is hollow, and a capping head beneath said die, the punched closures dropping through said hollow die for direction to said capping head.

15. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closures from a suitable piece of material, said means including a hollow bottom die, a reciprocating capping he'ad beneath said die, the punched closures dropping through said die to be directed to said capping head, and means for operating said punching means during the return movement of said head.

16. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closures from a suitable piece of material, said means including a hollow bottom die, a reciprocating capping head beneath said die, the punched closures dropping through said die to be directed to said capping head, and means moving with said head for operating said punching means during the return movement of said head.

17. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closures from a suitable piece of material, said means including a hollow bottom die, and a capping head beneath said die, the punched closures dropping through said die to be directed to said capping head, said head having closure applying instrumentalities at its lower end and a magazine positioned to directly receive the punched closures from the hollow die and adapted to hold a plurality of the punched closures.

18. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closures from a suitable piece of material, said means including a hollow bottom die, a reciprocating capping head beneath said die, the punched closures dropping through said die to be directed to said capping head, and means for operating said punching means during the return movement of said head, said head having closure applying instrumentalities at its lower end and a magazine positioned to directly receive the punched closures from the hollow die and adapted to hold a plurality of the punched closures.

19. Apparatus of the class described comprising means for punching closures from a suitable piece of material, said means including upper and lower coacting dies of which the latter is hollow, a magazine to which the punched closures pass through said hollow die, and closure applying means to which the closures are passed singly from said magazine as required for application.

20. Apparatus of the class described comprising intermittently operative feeding mechanism for a strip of material, means for printing on spaced portions of the strip, means for forming the strip to provide ofisets centered on the printed portions ofthe strip, punching means, the feeding steps being of such extent as to bring a previously printed and oliset portion of the strip into position to be punched from the strip by said punching means, and means for actuating the punching means while the strip is at rest.

21. Apparatus of the class described comprising a platen, feed rollers for feeding a strip of material along said platen, a printing roll, said strip being engaged between said printing roll and said platen, said printing roll having localized printing portions equally spaced around its periphery whereby to print on spaced portions of v ister with the punching means and for concomitantly positively driving said printing roll intermittently, and means for actuating said punching means during the intervals when the strip is at rest to punch the printed portions from 5 said strip.

GEORGE W. BOOTH.