US2241455A - Container capping machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1 9 1- H. E. GANTZER 2,241,455

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR BY W ATTORNEY CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed July 19, 1939 :5 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Iii/I7 INVENTOR JfowaTdE G ang BYg ATTORN Patented May 13, 1941 2,241,455 CONTAINER. ammo MACHINE Howard E. Gantzer, Kenmore, N. Y., minor to Consolidated Packas' Machinery Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 19, 1939,.Serlal No. 285,418

6 Claims.

My invention may be advantageously employed in connection with container-capping apparatus capable of operation at extremely high speeds. In general, the apparatus of the present invention is designed to reduce waste motion in the operation of the cap-applying apparatus forming a part of a container-capping machine.

A container-capping machine normally comprises a cap sorting device, a'cap feeding device, a cap applying device, a container supplying device, a container spacing device and container engaging devices which hold the containers in position for the application of caps. Each of these various devices may be individually improved and the production capacity thereof raised. Certain other improvements may be' made which apparently do not increase the production capacity of the particular device improved but when the cooperation of this device with some other device of the machine is considered a substantial improvement in production capacity is realized. The present invention is an improvement of the latter class.

It has heretofore been customary in many capping machines to provide a cap sorting device which feeds caps in uniform positions through a chute to a revolving disc upon which is mounted a plurality of spaced fixed studs. These studs are so arranged as to engage caps furnished by the chute and to carry the caps individually around a circumferential path. This cap feeding disc is commonly located on the same vertical axis as the star wheel. The star wheel normally receives containers from a suitable supply device such as a conveyor and serves to space the containers and to conduct them in fixed spaced relationship around a circumferential path. The cap feeding studs above referred to are commonly located in vertical alignment with the open tops of the containers as they are carried by the star wheel. The containers and caps are then transferred from the star wheel and the cap feeding disc respectively to the container engaging wheel and cap applying head of the capping machine. The container engaging wheel and the cap applying head are normally arranged in vertical alignment and frequently upon the same vertical axis for rotation in a circumferential path substantially tangential to the path of the cap feeding studs.

A plurality of cap applying chucks is normally mounted within the head in positions vertically aligned with the containers carried by the container engaging wheel. The chucks are normally mounted for vertical movement relative to the caps and containers and the vertical movements usually provided for include a downward motion into position to engage a cap carried by the cap feeding stud above mentioned. This is followed by an upward movement to remove the cap from the stud, another downward movement to position the cap upon the container and another upward movement to remove the chuck from the capped container. Usually this latter upward movement serves to elevate the chuck to a level above the level of the caps carried by the cap feeding studs. This complete cycle of upward and downward movement must be completed within a single revolution of the cap applying head and it is obvious that in a high speed machine it would be of distinct advantage to eliminate any unnecessary vertical motion of the chuck and to avoid any rapid reversal of such vertical motions.

An analysis of the vertical motions usually found necessary will disclose that the downward motion of the chuck for engagement of a cap is followed by an upward motion to clear the cap from the stud and a downward motion to place the cap upon the container. It is ap parent that no substantial amount of time is necessary for engagement of the chuck with the cap and, accordingly, as small a portion of the cycle is assigned to this action as is possible. This results in a downward motion of the chuck followed almost immediately by an upward motion. The upward motion is terminated as quickly as possible and a downward motion then follows. It has been found that an undue portion of the cycle of operation must be devoted to this relatively simple function of the chuck largely because of the necessity for two reversals of the direction of travel thereof. It is obvious that any lengthening of this portion of the cycle will necessarily result ,in a proportionate shortening of the portion of the cycle devoted to actual capping operation. Since the capping operation requires a certain minimum amount of time the entire cycle must be slowed to such an extent as to provide such minimum time in that portion of the cycle devoted to actual capping.

It is an object of my present invention to reduce the portion of the cycle of operation of a capping machine devoted to removal of the cap from the cap feeding apparatus.

It is a. further object of my invention to increase the production capacity of a capping machine by the avoidance of unnecessary motions of the cap applying chucks.

It is a further object of my invention to increase the production capacity "of a capping machine by avoiding the necessity of rapid reversal in the direction of travel of the cap applying chucks.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a cap feeding apparatus which is so de signed as to decrease the portion of the cycle of a cap applying machine devoted to transfer of the caps from the cap feeding apparatus to the cap applying apparatus.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide a capping machine in which the complete cycle of verticle motions of a cap applying chuck comprises a series of successive downward motions and substantially a. single upward motion to return the chuck to its initial position.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following description of a preferred but not necessarily the only form of my invention taken in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification.

In accordance with my present invention I replace the stationary studs normally provided 'upon the cap feeding disc with movable cap feeding devices arranged for movement into cap engaging position at the proper time to remove the caps from the cap supply chute. These devices remain inoperative position to carry the cap engaged thereby to the point of transfer to the cap applying chucks. When the chuck has fully engaged the cap carried by such device the device is withdrawn from the cap leaving the cap entirely free for movement with the chuck which almost immediately may resume its downward motion to apply the cap to the container. The provision of these movable devices therefore obviates the necessity for upward vertical motion of the chuck to remove the cap from the cap feeding apparatus. By thus avoiding the necessity for two rapid reversals in motion of the cap applying chuck I secure a substantial increase in production capacity of the machine.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a partial elevational view of a cap applying machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating. a complete cycle of operation of the machine disclosed in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an irregular sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the parts in a different operative position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-1 of Fig. 3. In this view the line I-'I is a curvedline conforming generally to the path of the container caps and. the view has been flattened out for clarity of disclosure:

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig.4; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

Each of the sectional views above identified has been taken in the direction of the arrows accompanying the respective section lines. Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawings,

Fig. 1 illustrates various essential elements of one form of capping machine to which my invention may be advantageously adapted. A main frame or pedestal I0 is provided as the principal support for various parts of the machine. A main drive shaft H is connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) such as an electric motor. At its upper. end within the base It] the drive shaft II is connected to suitable gearing which serves to drive the various elements of the machine. Specific details of this gearing is not essential to an understanding of the present invention and reference is here made to my copending application Serial No. 285,417, filed July 19, 1939, for a complete disclosure of suitable mechanism of this type. An additional standard or pedestal i2 is shown in part and this pedestal serves to support a cap sorting device indicated generally at I3. It is customary to provide a separate motor for the drive of a cap sorting device of this type. Such motor is not shown and it will be understood that the particular details of the cap sorting device are of no importance to the present invention. Reference is here made to Patent No. 1,716,620 granted June 11, 1929 to L. A. Cherry and Patent No. 2,073,472 granted March 9, 1937 to H. E. Gantzer for illustration of suitable cap sorting devices. For

the purposes of the present invention the cap sorting device may comprise a hopper or bin 14, one end of which is closed by a sorting wheel l5 whose drive shaft I6 is connected to the driving means not shown. The sorting wheel I5 is provided with suitable devices for conducting caps in uniform positions into a delivery chute ll. In the present illustration the caps are conducted down the chute I! in a position with their open ends projecting to .the right as-viewed in Fig. 1. A reference to the sectional view in Fig. 3 will disclose a. cap l8 positioned within the chute II as above described. The operation of the cap sorting device is such as to maintain an ample supply of properly positioned caps within the supply chute l1.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the lower end of the cap supply chute I1 is so shaped as to permit the caps therein to turn into the direction of travel of a rotating disc 19 which is driven in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 by the main drive shaft II and the in ternal gearing above discussed. The disc !9 is mounted for rotation with a. stub shaft 20 which is in turn connected to the gearing above described. The disc I9 is formed with a hub 2| upon which is freely mounted a spider 22. The spider 22 carries a channel-shaped guide 23 comprising inner and outer vertical walls 24 and 25 respectively which rest upon the disc 19 and a top wall or cover 26 which may be provided at suitable intervals with inspection or access openings 21. The walls 24 and 25 are curved in conformity with the curvature of the disc I9 and are spaced from one another a distance substantially equal to the width of the caps for which the machine is designed. In Fig. 4 a cap 28 is shown in position within the guide chan-v nel while in Fig. 3 a number of such caps is shown. The guide channel 23 is secured to the lower end of the cap chute I! as by a. foot29 extending from such chute and machine screws 30 passing through such foot and into engagement with the channel 23. Since the guide chute I! is stationary the connection between the chute l1 and the channel 23 serves to maintain the channel 23 and spider 2| against rotation with the disc IS.

The structure thus described provides for gravitational feeding of the caps through the chute l1 and into contact with the rotary disc l9 whereupon the caps are turned about their transverse axes into positions upon the disc IS in which the open sides of the caps exflid downwardly. Rotation of the disc 19 will conduct the caps suc- :essively through the guide channel 23.

Adjacent its discharge end the guide channel 23 is provided with a yieldable cap stop indicated generally at 32. I Referring now to Fig. 9 the cap stop 32 comprises a plunger 33 mounted within 'a suitable bore in the guide channel 23. One end of the plunger 33 is preferably rounded as at 34 and arranged to be projected into the path of the caps 28 within the guide channel 23. The plunger 33 is mounted for axial movement within the bore and the outer end thereof is secured in any suitable manner to a vertically extending lug 35 which threadably receives at its upper end a plunger 36 which projects for sliding movement into a suitable perforation in an ear 31 formed upon the guide channel 23. The plunger 36 is provided with a perforated end 38 which is secured to one end of a contractile spring 39 whose opposite end is anchored upon a suitable post 48 carried by the guide channel 23. The structure thus described serves to yieldably project the top 34 of the stop plunger 33 into the path of the container caps. The plunger may be moved by the caps out of the path thereof against the force of spring 39 under circumstances which will be hereinafter described.

It will be understood that the first cap 28 to be fed through the chute l1 and onto the disc l9 will be carried through the guide channel into contact with the cap stop 32. Succeeding caps will be brought consecutively into contact and the guide channel 23 will thereafter be maintained filled with caps. When a cap is removed from the discharge end of the guide channel all of the caps therein will be advanced one position and another cap will be removed from the supply chute II.

The lower surface of 'the cap feeding disc I9 is provided with an annular hub 4| to which is secured as by screws 42 an annular ring 43. The upper face of the ring 43 is spaced from the lower face of a disc IS a distance sufficient to freely receive a cam ring 44. While the cam ring 44 is supported by the ring 43 which rotates with the disc l9 the cam ring 44 is maintained against rotation by an elongated bolt 45 (see Fig. 8) which passes through a perforation in an eye 46 pivoted as at 46 near the outer periphery of the cam ring 44. The belt 45 is held in adjustable fixed relation with the cam ring 44 by suitable nuts 41 and 48 threaded upon the bolt 45 on opposite sides of the eye 45. At its opposite end the bolt 45 is adjustably secured by nuts 49 and 50 to a perforated ear formed upon a collar 52 which surrounds a post 53 forming a part of the stationary frame of the machine. The cam ring 44 is thus held against rotation with the disc i9 and a suitable adjustment of the nuts 41, 48, 49 and 58 may be availed of to secure proper angular disposition of the cam ring 44 about the center of the stub shaft 29. By reference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that the cam ring is provided with a radially extend.-

atively small angular portion of the cam ring. The extended portion 54 is the active portion of the cam and it is preferably provided with an inclined surface 55 at the end thereof which is first engaged by the followers to be now described.

The cap feeding disc H! has formed near its periphery a series of openings 55 (see Figs. 6 and 7) which serve to receive the cap-engaging devices forming an embodiment of my invention. The cap-engagingdevices comprise levers 5'! pivoted upon the reduced ends 58 of pivot members 59 .threadably received within the cap disc I9. The levers 51 have formed thereon upwardly projecting portions 60 which serve to engage the caps and downwardly projecting portions 5| which serve as cam followers. The extreme ends of the levers 51 have formed thereon stop noses 82 which are adapted to rest upon ledges 63 formed within the openings 56. The openings 55 may be enlarged at suitable points for clearance to permit free pivotal movement of the levers 51 therein as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The openings 56 and levers 51 are so positioned ra'- dially of the cap disc l9 that the downwardly projecting cam followers 6| lie outside the periphery of the inactive portion of the disc 44 but lie within the periphery of the cam segment 54. As shown in Fig. 7, the levers 51 normally gravitate into positions in which the cam followers 6| project beneath the lower surface of the cap disc l9 while the projections 60 lie beneath the upper surface of the disc.

Upon rotation of the cap disc IS the cam followers 6| are brought into contact with the inclined edge 55 of the cam segment 54 and the levers 51 are thereby rockedfin a clockwise direction about their pivots 58. This rocking movement results in projection of the cap engaging portion 60 of the levers 51 above the upper surface of the cap disc H! as illustrated in the right-hand portion of Fig. '7. Preferably,

the levers 51 are so positioned upon the cap disc l9 that their path will lie substantially centrally of the channel guide 23 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The position of the cap stop 32 and the position of the edge of cam 54 are so relatively selected that the cap-engaging projection 88 will be swung upwardly into cap-engaging position only at the proper time to enter the open end ed portion or segment 54 formed upon a relof the foremost cap 28 which rests against the cap stop plunger 33. As illustrated in Fig. 6 continued rotation of the cap disc l9 will cause the projection 50 to force the thus engaged cap past the cap stop 32 and the cap will thereafter follow the projection 60 in its circumferential path. The cap stop 32 will, of course, return) to operative position under the influence of its spring 39 and will serve to stop the next succeeding cap and to maintain this cap in position for engagement by the next succeeding cap projection 68.

During the travel of the engaged cap with the projection 60, the cap is carried beyond the end of the cap guiding channel 23 and is brought into an exposed position wherein itmay be engaged by a cap chuck. Immediately that the cap is thus engaged by a chuck the cam follower 6| drops off the edge 64 of the cam 54 and the projection 60 will thereupon be disengaged from the cap. The cap may now be removed from the disc l9 by a horizontal movement within the plane of the top surface of the disc 19 and thus the necessity for upward movement of the cap chuck is avoided.

The relationship of the cap feeding mechanism above described with the other operative devices of a capping machine will now be described in detail.

Referring now to Fig. 1, I have shown a star wheel 65 mounted upon the vettical axis 28 in a position beneath the cap feeding apparatus above described. The star wheel 85 maybomprise upper and lower notched discs 68 and 61 respecwill occupy positions in substantial vertical alignment. v

The cap feeding apparatus and the'star wheel are thus so designed as to furnish caps and containers in proper relative position for delivery to the actual capping apparatus to be now described.

In Fig.-1 -I have shown a container engaging wheel III which is driven by gearing located within the casing Ill (not shown) suitably connected to the main drive shaft II. For convenience in illustration, the container engaging wheel III has not been shown in full detail. In Fig. 1 it is shown as having container engaging notches II which are presented for disc l9 and further downward movement of the chuck body will result in'relative movement between the annulus 19 and the jaws 11 to pro- 1 provided with outwardly flared jaws which are duce the contracting effect above described. Other suitable forms of chucks may, of course, be employed. For example, many chucks are urged into contracted position by a spring. In

this type of chuck, downward movement of the jaws into contoct with a v cap will result in a slight opening of the jaws against the force of the contracting spring and the cap will thereupon be gripped. Reference is here made to the following patents for detailed disclosures of several forms of chucks which may be used in connection with my invention: 1,754,461 granted April 15, 1930 to R. N. Cundall 2,076,631 granted April 13, 1937 to H. E. Gantzer 2,116,067 granted May 3, 1937 to H. E. Gantzer 2,116,068 granted May 3, 1937 to H. E. Gantzer.

The chuck spindle I4 carries a cam follower 88 which may be provided with an anti-friction hand end of said figure, it will be seen that the cam is provided with a relatively high level 83. When the follower 88 rests upon this level, the chuck I3 is held in a position above the level of the cap feeding disc I9. A cap 84 is illustrated in position upon the disc I9 and it will be asreception of a container from a notch 69 of the star wheel 65 at properly timed intervals. It will be understood that the container engaging wheel will normally be provided with gripping devices for securing and holding the containers during the capping operation. Such devices have not been shown and reference is here made to Patent No. 1,754,461 granted April 15, 1930 to .above the container engaging wheel Ill. The

chuck head is provided with parts which rotate with the container engaging wheel and with other parts which remain stationary. In general, the rotating parts include a plurality of capping chucks mounted upon vertically movable spindles and the stationary parts include a cam for producing desired vertical motions of the chuck spindles and chucks carried thereby. In Fig. 1 I have shown a chuck I3 carried on the lower end of a spindle I4 mounted for vertical movement within suitable bearings formed in upper and lower discs I5 and I6 respectively which are freely rotatable about a non-rotatable post 9 rising from the main frame II). Noat tempt has been made herein to illustrate the details of the chuck I3. For the purposes of the present disclosure it is only necessary that the chuck be provided with suitable gripping jaws 11 (see Fig. '7) which may be contracted into gripping engagement with a container cap I8 by the action of the inclined inner surface of an annulus I9 upon downward movement of the chuck body. As shown in Fig. '7, the jaws 11 may be pressed downwardly into contact with the cap or with the upper surface of the cap sumed that the cap engaging projection 60 of one of the devices 51 will be engaged with the cap 84 at this time. A container is shown directly beneath the chuck I3 and cap 84. The position of the container 85 illustrates the position of a container carried by a notch 69 of the star wheel 65.

The cam 82 is provided with a downwardly inclined portion 88 leading to a level 81. When the cam follower indicated at I88 progresses down the portion 88 the chuck I13 is lowered into gripping engagement with a cap I84 upon the cap feeding disc I9. -It will be understood that the cap I84 has been caused to rotate with the disc I9 by the action of the cap engaging projection 60 of a lever 51. A container I85 is illustrated in position beneath the cap I84 and it is to be understood that the container I85 is in position within a notch 69 of the star wheel 65. The positions of the chuck I I3 and cap I84 in Fig. 2 correspond substantially to the position of the chuck I3 and cap I8 shown in Fig. 3. From an observation of Fig. 3, it will be apparent that the projection 60 is still in engagement with the cap 18. As rota-tion of the disc I9 continues the cam follower 6| of the lever 51 will drop off the end 64 of the cam segment 54 whereupon the cap will be free to move with the chuck off of the disc I9. In Fig. 3 the path of the chuck is illustrated by a dot and dash line 88. Referring back to Fig. 2, it will be appreciated that the chuck I13 follows an inclined path as the follower I88 progresses down the portion 86. In order that the caps within the guide channel 23 may remain guided for so long a time as possible, I have shown the discharge end of the guide channel 23 as tapered or inclined to generally conform to the inclined path the inclined end of the uide channel 23 is in-' dicated at 89. While the ,cam follower I80 rests upon the level 81 of the cam 82 the chuck I13 will remain at the level of the cap feeding disc l9. The level 81 is made of suflicient extent to permit the chuck and the cap carried thereby to be moved completelyoff of the disc l9. While the cap is thus being removed from the/disc IS the container immediately thereunder will be transferred from the star wheel 65 to the container engaging wheel 10. It will be understood that thereafter the container will be positioned immediately beneath the chuck and that the chuck and container will thereafter follow the circumferential paths established by the chuck head 12 and container engaging wheel 18 respectively.

Immediately that the above positioning of the cap and container has been completed the chuck may be moved downwardly to position the cap upon the container. To this end the cam 82 is provided with a downwardly inclined portion 90 leading to a level 9!. It will be apparent that as the follower 280 progresses down the incline 98 the chuck 213 will be lowered into a position in which the cap 284 is pressed upon the container 285. As the follower 280 continues along the level 29I the capping operation may be completed. This completion will of course vary with thetype of cap employed. If a screw cap is employed the chuck 213 will be suitably rotated to screw the cap upon the container. If a deformable or a cam having a contour complementary to that of cam 82 may be positioned above the follower rollers 8| if so desired to provide for positive downward movement of the chucks. J

From a consideration of the above detailed description of one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that I have improved a container capping machine by reducing to a minimum the number of vertical movements of the capping chucks occurring during a cycle of operation of the machine. It will be further aptab skirt cap is employed the chuck will be suitthe level 9| for a period of time sufficient to complete the capping operation the chuck may be raised from the container. As shown in Fig. 2, the cam 82 is provided with an upwardly inclined portion 92 which leads up to the level 83. As the follower 380 progresses up the incline 92 the chuck 313 is raised from the container 385. A cap 384 is illustrated in final position upon the container 385. The chuck will progress upwardly to the level established by the portion 83 of the cam 82 and the cycle of operation is thus completed. It will be understood that the level 83 will be made of sufficient extent to permit the chuck to be positioned over another cap carried by the cap feeding disc IQ for a repetition of the cycle of operation.

The above description has dealt with the operation of a single chuck. It is of course obvious that any suitable number of chucks may be provided. In the illustration chosen I have shown a structure which includes four chucks. In Fig. 1 additional chuck spindles 93 and 94 have been partially shown and are in positions appropriate for a four chuck machine. In general, the number of capping chucks and the number of cap engaging devices 51 will be equal. Thus, in the machine chosen for illustration, I have shown a capping disc l9 designed to carry four levers 51. Three of these levers appear in Fig. 3 whereas the fourth has been omitted in order to avoid confusion in the showing of the foot 29 of the cap feeding chute l1. Any other desirable number of chucks and cap feeding devices may be used. The present invention is of particular value in machines designed for high speed operation and it is customary for such high speed machines to include a plurality of chucks.

As shown in Patent No. 1,773,960, an overhead parent that I provide for two successive downward movements of the chucks followed by a single upward movement for return to initialposition and that I have thus eliminated the necessity for any rapid reversals in the direction of vertical movement of the chucks.

I have thus described one embodiment of my invention in order to comply with the patent statutes. It is to be understood that such description shall be taken in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense and that my invention includes all modifications and variations within the scope of the following claims which may be resorted to by those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a capping machine, means for maintaining a line of container caps with the open sides thereof in uniform arrangement, cap feeding means projectible into the open side of the foremost' cap within said line to move said cap through a predetermined path, a capping chuck movable in a horizontal path intersecting said cap path within a predetermined zone and movable in a vertical path to engage said cap within said zone of intersection, and means operative subsequent to engagement of said cap by said chuck to cause withdrawal of said cap feeding means from said cap.

2. In a capping machine, means for maintaining a line of container caps with the open sides thereof in uniform arrangement, can feeding means projectible into the open side of the fore- ,most cap within said line to move said cap through a predetermined path, a capping chuck,

means to continuously move said chuck in a path having a horizontal projection intersecting said cap path within a predetermined zone, means to move said chuck to a vertical position to engage a cap within said zone of intersection, means to maintain said chuck in said vertical position 'for a predetermined period,. and means operative during said predetermined period to withdraw said cap engaging means from said cap.

3. In a device for handling container caps having open and closed sides, the combination of feeding means insertible into the open side of a cap to move said cap along a predetermined path, a chuck adapted to engage and hold said cap, means to move said chuck toward the closed side of said cap to engage and hold said cap in a predetermined plane, and means operative to cause withdrawal of said feeding means from said cap while the cap is held in said predetermined plane.

4. In a container capping machine, cap sorting means, a cap chute adapted to receive a series of caps in uniform positions from said sorting means, a rotating disc, cap guiding means for conducting said caps from said chute to positions with their open sides resting upon the upper surface of said disc, a plurality of cap engaging members mounted upon said disc for rotation therewith, said cap engaging members being pivoted relative to said disc for movement beyond the upper surface of said disc into cap engaging position and for movement below said upper surpath to engage said cap within said zone of, intersection, and means operative subsequent to enement of said cap by said chuck to cause withdrawal of said cap feeding means from said cap. 6. In adevice for handling container caps, the

combination of feeding means insertible into the open side of a cap to move said capalong a predetermined path, a chuck adapted to engage and hold said cap, means to move said chuck toward said cap to engage and hold said cap, and means operative to cause withdrawal oi said feedin means from said cap while the cap is held by said chuck.

HOWARD E. GANTZER.

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