US2248324A - Container capping and tying machine - Google Patents

Description

July 8, 1941.. l i IG, ARNBERG- n 2,248,324

CONTAINER CAPPING AND TYING MACHINE Filed Maron 6, 195e 9 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR. 'UN/VAk/vafps.

"WM mamma ATTORNEY July 8, 1941. G. AR1\|BERG CNTAINER CAPPING AND TYING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1935 9 Shee'Ls-SheeiI 2 INVENTOR. GUN/VA@ ,4R/venes'.

ArToRNEy July 8, 1941- G. ARNBERG 2,248,324

CONTAINER CAPPINGAND TYINGl MACHINE l Filed March e, 1936 9 sheets-sheet s ,6 9 INVENTOR. GUN/ww ARA/BERG i. I /7 BY Z ya ATTORNEY.

July 8, .1941. v G. ARNBERG 2,248,324 l N CONTAINER CAPPING AND TYING MACHINE Filed March 6, 1956 9 sheets-sheet s July 8, 1941. G. ARNBERG CONTAINER CAPPING AND TYINGI MACHINE 9 Sheets-'Sheet 7 Filed March 6, 1936 28% M259 INVENToR. GUN/VA@ ARA/BERG ATTORNEYl.

July 8, 1941. G. ARNBERG 2,248,324

CONTAINER CAPPINGl AND TYJQNG MACHINE Filed March 6, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 @www INVENTOR.

GUAINA/ ARA/BER@ A TTORNEY July 8, 1941,. f vcz.. ARNBERG' CONTAINER' CAPPING AND IYING MACHINE J 9 sheets-shed 9 F. Hogg. 60

Filed March 6, 1956 'l JNVENTOR. GUN/VAR APA/afm 5 j wwf wm .w um .Umm uw ATTORNEY Patented July 8, 1941 UNIT-.Eo "STATE-s PATENT oF-Fiesu 2,248,324 i v CONTAINER CAPPING AN'DTYNGL'MAGHINE YGunnar Amberg, Lidingef-Brevikfsweden, assignv or to Paterson Pacific Parchment ,Co.,l San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Application March f6, 1936,".-Seriai-Nn.-67503 f 1o claims. (.cigs'zef-jsoi i This` invention `relates to improvements -in containercapping and tying -machines and is, in the present instance, illustrated inthe -iorm of -a machinel for applying and tying a ski-rted paper cap over the mouth Lof la bottle.

Bottles ordinarily closed by a disk of past-eboard pressed into avrecess at the bottle mouth, as is common practice in the dairy industry, are unsanitary in 'that the top of the closed bottle presentsr a depressed area for the reception of germ-carrying Isubstances and, further, in that the rim -or pouring lip A'of the -bott1e,over which the contents -must be poured, is exposed to contamination during handling and shipping.

-Skirted paper caps of various types have Abeen used to protect-the tops of bottles, and various methods and materials have been employed to secure Y'the `caps to the bottles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved Vmachine for forming 'and securing a cap over the mouth of a container. A further object of the'invention is the provision in such `a machine yof improved means for for-ming a knot or tie of -stringor like material used for securing the cap to the bottle. A further object resides in the provision in such a machine of means for cutting paper blanks irom a continuous strip and placing them over the container properly centered with respect to printed matter occurring "at spaced intervals on the paper strip. Further objects of the invention will appear in the following specification, wherein detailed reference is made to the accompanying drawings, illustrating one form of the invention.

Vifhiie the invention is described and illustrated in the form of a machine designed specically for the purpose of capping milk bottles, it will appear and should be understood that many of the features disclosed are applicable to vcapping or tying other forms of containers -or packages. Theater-ms "bottle, paper and string are, therefore, to be understood as including any kind of container and any suitable form 'of covering and securing materials.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation yof a bottle capping and tying machine embodying my invention.'

Fig.1c` is a detail View illustrating in reduced scaletwo of the cams which control the movements of some of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. V1b is 'a similar View of another'of said cams.

Y Fig; 2 is .an elevation of the opposite side -of the same machine.-

Fig. 3 is'an lenlarged vertical central section civ theupper portion '-cf `the -machine illustrated lvgis.land;2 v Y, V--iiiglvfli :isa fragmentary sectional view ofv a portion of `mecliefnlism Yillustrated in yl1"ig.3; Y HVFig: 5 Vfis-'ef fper'spectivefview -of one of Ithe elementsillustratedy in Fig'. 4.V I I Y -Fig'. Gis La ysectional view;y taken enf-the line VI-WlefiFigs-i. f f Fig; 7 isla #sectional IvView,L taken Von the=l-ine -of--Fig'.Y 1l iand :illustrating -the position of i the' parts with the bottle 'ind' raised position after the cap has been formed thereon andthe tieplaced-:aroundfthe:samer v l l Y- Fig; 8 ifs-'a-p'lan 'view'of a portion-*ofthe ma'- chlinellwithv'la partof-theetop table and-other structure broken away.- Y Y f Fig.9 :isla sectionai view-taken von the line IX--AIX otFig-x. I -b f I Y v Rigid-0 is a sectional view, Vtaker-1"on-the line X-Xlof-Figf 13. f l Fig. 11 is anenlargedsec-tional viewf taken on the line XI-XI of Fig.--3.andillustrating in detail a portionfof -thetie-forming mechanism. VFig. 124isla sectioneliview'of another portion oil-'the saine mechanism, f taken onthe-line XFI-XEIaotFigfB. 1 y'ligz fl'is-a `view-s.iinilar.to 'Figa 1i; showing? an other position oithe1felementsduring'the -formingmtfa tie. l Y' v -f Fig. `11i is fa -viewafsimiiar to Fig. 12, showing the position of the-elements ina -diierentlstage of-the tieeiorming loperationf v Fig'. .15 is fa :View si-niilato` Figi-11, showing-the position zoiutheparts inanother v stage of the -operation. k Fig. ..16 is a perspective kView of portions yof the tie-formingmechanism; illustrati-ng the manner in which the-tieis supported-prior to its being release-dfor4 engagement with :the rbottle cap. Y Eig.z;17is..\a sectional..view,itaken on thelline XVliI-.LXVIIof.Fig. 18,of a portion ofthe .driving rmechanismfortt-he tie-iorminggrippers. Fig.; 18 is-a -sectionalviewof thesame .mech` anism,- .ta-ken on, the line XVIII-XVIII ,of

Eiga-,17. i Fig.- 19.` isca -sectional view of thel same mechanism, taken ronthe line XIX-XIX of Fig. 17.

, `Fig'., '20` is a perspective view, with certain elements illustratedas r spread apart, lof the mechanism illustrated inr Figs. '17' to 19, inclusive, and

with the; cams which actuate' said `elements illus# tratedfin 'a reduced "scale,`

Fig.LA 21-is"a sectional "View,` taken on the line the construction of a part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is 'a detail View of a cam which operates the paper feed drive illustrated in Fig. 24.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged view of a portion of the paper feed drive.

Fig. 25 is a sectional View, taken on the line XXV--XXV of Fig. 21 and showing the details of construction of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a view, taken on the line XXX/- XXVI of Fig. 3.

The machine, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a rectangular base I, upon which are mounted a set of four corner posts 2,` supporting at diierent elevations a lower table 3, an intermediate table 4 and an upper table 5. A pair of bearing brackets 6, mounted upon the base, support a main drive shaft 1, to one end of which is fixed a drive pulley 8 by which the drive shaft may be rotated through the means of a belt and a motor, or the equivalent. The drive shaft 'I carries a set of cams, generally indicated at 9 and arranged at intervals along the shaft between the bearing brackets 6. Two pairs of brackets I and I I, also mounted on the base I, carry transverselyT extending shafts I2 and I3, respectively, which shafts support a plurality of levers and bell cranks, each of which will be hereinafter described in detail, for cooperation with the several cams included in the set 9 carried by the drive shaft.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the power for most of the major operations is obtained, and the operations are timed, through this system of cams and levers. It is to be understood, however, that the means disclosed is merely illustrative of a simple form of mechanism for obtaining the required mechanical movements, and that any one of many forms of driving and timing mechanisms may be employed for this purpose.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a bottle elevator is shown as operating through an opening in the lower table 3. This elevator is in the form of a plunger comprising a head I4, normally disposed in the plane of the table and of a size to receive a bottle I5. A skirt I6 depending from the head I4 cooperates with the opening in the table 3 to guide the upper end of the elevator as it is vertically reciprocated. A rod I'I supports the head I4 and is guided for vertical sliding movement by a bearing I8 adjacent to its lower end. The elevator is raised and lowered a desired distance and at properly timed intervals to bring the bottle I into position for the capping and tying operations to be performed upon it.

To raise and lower the elevator, a link I9, pivotally conected to the rod I'I, is actuated by a bell crank 20 which rocks about a pin 2I carried by a bracket 22 on one of the corner posts 2. The upper end of the bell crank 20 is connected by an adjustable link 23 with the upper end of a bell crank 24, the lower end of this bell crank being provided with a roller 25 for engagement `with a cam 26, which is one of the set of cams indicated at 9 (see Fig. la). A spring 21, extending between the bell crank 24 and one of the corner posts 2, maintains the roller 25 in contact with the cam 26; and the contour of the cam is such that the bottle elevator is caused, through the linkage just describedfto raise the bottle into a to lower the bottle after these operations have been performed, o'nce after each revolution of the main drive shaft 'I.

Any desired form of mechanism may be employed for placing the bottles successively upon the elevator when it is at the level of the table 3 and for removing the bottles, one at a time, after the capping and tying operations have been performed. Such conveying mechanisms are found as standard equipment in connection with bottle and can handling machinery and form no part of the present invention.

A paper blank from which the bottle cap is to be formed is placed over the top of the bottle as it is being raised by the elevator. The paper for carrying these blanks is carried on a roll 39 Y (see Figs. 1 and 2) wound about a spindle 3l,

which is carried for free rotation in notches formed at the outer ends of a pair of spaced bracket plates 32 secured to two of the frame posts 2. As the leading edge of the paper leaves the roll 39, it passes under a rubber roller 33 (see Fig. 3) carried by brackets 34 adjustably supported upon a shaft 35, and the paper is thus urged into close contact with the face of a vacuum chamber 36 over which it passes for a purpose presently to appear. The paper then passes over a driven feed roller 31, against which it is held by a resilient roller 38.0n pivoted arms 39 which are urged downwardly under the influence of a spring 40. The paper is advanced at timed intervals by the feed roller 31, and a knife 4I severs a measured length from the leading end. Prior to the severing action of the knife, the end of the paper is guided and supported between two sets of conveyor belts 42 and 43, by which it is maintained in a horizontal plane and guided to a position for reception between a pair of grippers 44 which grip and carry the severed piece of paper to a position directly over the top ofthe bottle on the elevator.

It is desirable that the paper carry a printed legend to advertise or classify the Ycontents of the bottle, and the printing is preferably done on a regular printing press before the paper is placed on the roll. Such legends, appearing at 45 in Fig. 6, must be carefully centered with respect to the bottle top in order that they present a. neat appearance and assume a position in which they may be read before the cap is removed from the bottle.

Assuming that a ve inch square of paper is required for each cap, a roll of paper five inches wide is used, and the legends 45 are printed on the paper at ve inch intervals. It is then necessary that the paper be cut at points equidistant from the centers of the printed legends as it is advanced to the cutting knife. Theoretically, the simple expedient of advancing the paper exactly five inches for each cutting operationwould result in the proper centering of the legends printed thereon. It is apparent, however, that the slightest variation in measurement will, if continued as the paper is periodically advanced, result in marked misalignment.. Even though the legends were to be spaced with the utmost precision and the driving mechanism per.. fectly controlled, the slight discrepancy caused by shrinkage or expansion of the paper would, upon continuous operation, result in serious error.

To insure proper centering of the legends upon the .sequare blanks from which the bottle caps are to be formed, the feed of the paper is controlled by indicators formed on the paper itself. Indicators for this purpose may be, as shown atA 46 in Fig. 6, in the form of small semi-circular Youts in the paper, equa-ily spaced and :half way 'between vthe ceri-ters lof the printed legends 45. rI'he mannerin which such vindicators' control the paper Ifeed andfcontrol centeringof the printed legends will appear in the vfollowing V5de'- scrip'tio'nof v'-the paper "feed mechanism.

Referring 'particularlyfto Figs. 6 and 126, 'the feed roller *31 which advances the paper is illustrate'dfascarried by a shaft 50,'Which'is--journaled in 'the bracket -plates 32. A hub 5I is loosely mounted -upon the v shaftl) and carries lafg`ear-52 and a :cam 53. The outer `face of .'theca'm53 is ground nat and serves as a clutch surface cooperating with a similarly ground inner faceof a ratchet wheel 54, which is splinedto the shaft 50. A Yspring l55 is compressed by `a nut 56, threadedupon theiouter edge `Vof Ltheshaft5ll Eto urge the ratchet wheel vinwardly .and -p'r-oc'iu'ce friction between lthe clutch f-aces, to 'the 16X-tent that rotation :of the gear 52 willcau'se rotation of the ratchet wheel and shaft 50.to `feed. the paper, unless the ratchet Wheel is restrained against movement. The Agear I52 meshes with a gear 56 keyed to a countershaft 51, which also is j'o'urnaled between the bracket plates 32 and which is provided adjacent to vits opposite end with a gear 58.

A housing 59, which is 'also Villustrated -in Fig. 24, enclosesthe gear i58'and also servesas a guide for afrackbarfll which meshes with the gear '58. The rack `bar is, as illustrated in Figs, 2, 23 and 24, connectedby an adjustable rod 6l witha bell crank B2 carried on the shaft I3 and provid-ed with a`roller"53, atV its lower end, for engagement with a cam 64, which is vanother one of vthe -set of cams, generally indicated at 9. A spring 65 urges the roller againstthe cam, and the contour of the cam is such that 'the rack v'bar -60 is caused to reciprocate'oncefor `each cycle ofoperation of the lmain shaft 1, Ithus 'causing'the gear 58 to ro tate alternately inopposite directions.

As illustrated Vin Fig. 22, the .gear 58 is free to rotate rrelative to the shaft 51, but is formed with a flange B6 to which is pivoted a pawl lpressed by a spring 63 into-engagement with a notched cam :59 (see also Fig.r25). The vnotched cam 69 is secured tothe shaft 51 so-that -upon the .upwardstroke of the rack bar 60, the .pawl rides over vthe outer surface-of the cam without driving the shaft-51, but upon a downward'stroke Vof the rack bar, which imparts rotation to thegear 58 and Yflange-[i6 in the opposite direction, the

' pawl-61 engages with a notch of the cam 69 and drives the shaft 51 to impart rotary movementto the feed roller 31 through the gears 56 and 52y and the friction clutch above described. The driving movement effected by reciprocation of the rack bar 60 is sufficient to advance the paper the required distance to form one blank, plus sufcient distance to more than compensate for any probable error, due to mechanical inaccuracies and` error that may be ycaused vby shrinkage or expansion of the paper. l

In order to interrupt 4the driving movement of the paper at precisely the right Atime to insure proper centering of the printed legend thereon with respect to the blank that isto be cut, a pawl 1t (see Fig. 1) is pivoted on a shaft 1| so that it may swing into engagement with the toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel 54 tostop the rotation'of the wheel, thus causing slippage-of the clutch and rendering the .paper drive means ineffective. 'The shaft 1I, which carries'the pawl 10, also carries a lever 12 (see Figs.,3 'and 21) A spring 13, engaging with the lever 12,"n'o"rmally lnorderto I`hold lthe-pawl out of Ycontactwith A the ratchet wheel, a rod "14 iconnects the lever '1:2 with -a -enible diaphragm 15, 4which `forms the back wall--fof 'the vacuum `chamber 336. The face of '-thisfcfh'aniber over which the paper passes is provided wi-thea port 'z16vand a vacuumismaintained in the chamber throughiaconnecting port 11 '(see 6f) 'fwhich `is `in communication, yby meansiof Ia -ho's'e 1:8- and suitable fitting-s,l With-a vacuumfpump (not shown). So long-as-the -paper {coversthe port 16 in the-face -of the vacuum chamber,-the:diaphragm 15 is drawn inwardly and through the rod14 swings the lever 1.2 and shaft 111 to aposition'maintaining the `pawl 10 out-'of icontac't :with the vratchet Whee1s54. As'the paper is'advanced, the :vacuous condition is retained .in theiehamber 36 until `one -of .the indicators 46', formed in fthe paper, registers .with the p orti`16 '..intheface :of the vacuum chamber. .-As theindicators are .semi-circular cuts inthe paper,.=\they form `valves or flaps, which will be drawn inwardly upon registry with :the portv 16 tobrea'k the vacuum and :permit the rspring 13 to urge the .pawl .into engagementswith the ratchet, whereupon the feed'ofthepaper will beinstantly interrupted.

It should be understood, however, that the semi-'circular shapey of the indicators vis,;not vessential nto .their y'successful functioning but is chosen because of simplicity in the forming operation. IPerforations o'f any shape Will serve equally as well to admit air'to the vacuumchamber; The indicators 46, Whatever their vshape may be,I are'formed ,half-way between the printed legends :on the :paper Vand are, therefore, intercepted .by the lines at vwhich the paper .Y should -be cut toeffectproper centeringl of thelegends The port A`16y in 1the1vacuum chambery is spaced from the, cutting `/knife afdistance equal to the length of .twoblanksso 4that when one `of vthe indicators registers with the port, another indicator will be positioned directly beneath the cutting knife and therpaper will be'severecl at the-proper point.

The xpaper feeding operation for the next succeeding operation of the machine must be .preceded by the removal of thefpawl 10 from itsen- -gagementfwith the ratchet zwheel 54. To this end, the pawl carries-apin T83 (see Figs. 1 and21) engaging thejperiphery of the cam "5 3, which is circular'except fora relieved section'at .v8|. The regular circular portion ofthe cam prevents engagement of 'thefpawl 10 with the ratchetfwheel vfrom vthe ratchet lWheel 54 to permit feeding of the paper through the medium of the drive mechanism, which includes the vfriction clutch.

The'conveyor tapes 4'2 and 43 (illustrated in Figs. 3.and 9) are'drivenintermittently and in timed relation with the paper feed mechanism. These tapes `are carriedgby .idler rollers .84 and drive rollers 35. VThe spindles of the drive rollers are ttedwith intermeshinggearsf, Y(see Fig.

2),. thelowermost-o'f whichalso meshes Withan idler 'gear '81"Whic'hisdriven byia gear v88`fixed to one end of the shaft 53 of the feed roller 31. At the end of each cycle of the paper feeding mechanism, the knife 4| is operated to sever the measured length of paper which becomes the blank from which the bottle cap is to be formed.

The shearing blade or knife 4| is carried between the upper ends of a pair of vertically reciprocable rods I I2] (see Figs. 6 and 21) which are guided for sliding movement through bearings I I I fixed to the opposite inner walls ofthe bracket plates 32. The lower ends of the rods are connected by a bar I I2, to which is pivoted a connecting rod I I3 which, as shown in Fig. 1, leads to a lever IM pivoted on the shaft I2 andprovded with a roller engageable with a cam ||6 (see Fig. la). This cam is also one of the set of cams 9, and is shaped to raise and lower the knife blade at properly timed intervals with respect to the feed of the paper. The knife blade cooperates with a shear block ||1 (Fig 3) over which the paper passes, the cutting edge of the knife being formed on an arch, as illustrated in Fig. 2l, so that it will cooperate with the straight edge of the block ||1 to produce the shearing action. The blade lil is preferably formed of a steel plate which is slightly curved rather than flat, so that it may be brought into a proper position of adjustment with respect to the block ||1 by means of screws ||8 which pass through the blade and into a block I I9 directly behind it, and also secured to the uppermost ends of the vertically reciprocating rods H0.

In order to prevent slipping of the paper during the shearing action of the knife, a presser foot |20 is carried by posts |2| which extend upwardly through the block IIB. Springs |22 surround the posts i2| between the presser foot and the block and pins |23 limit the downward movement of the ypresser foot under influence of the springs |22. As the knife is moved downwardly to shear the paper, the presser foot cooperates with the shear block I I1 to clamp the paper during the operation of the knife.

The paper blank is meanwhile received by the grippers it which comprise stationary jaw members secured to rack bars 9 and movable jaw members 9i pivoted to the stationary jaws by a pin 92 and urged to a gripping position by springs 3S. The rack bars 90 are slidably mounted in opposed channel-shaped guides 91Sv (see Figs, 7 and l0) and are engaged by a pair of'gears 95 xed to a shaft S5 which is journaled in brackets 91 carried by two of the frame posts 2.

One end of the shaft 96 is fitted with a gear (not shown) which is enclosed by a housing 98. This housing also serves as a guide for a sliding rack S29, meshing with the said enclosed gear and connected by a rod |00 with a bell crank II mounted on the shaft I2 and having a roller |02 at its opposite end engageable with a cam |03 in the set of cams 9, against which it is retained by a spring |34. The said cam is shaped to impart reciprocation to the rack S9 and thus oscillate the gears 95 which, in turn, impart reciprocating movement to the racks 30 carrying the grippers 14. 1

As shown in Fig. 3, the pivoted jaws of the grippers M are provided with tails |05 which engage stopslli secured to the channels 94 to swing the jaws to an open position as they approach the paper blank to be received by the grippers. The leading edge of the paper blank is received between the open jaws of the grippers and as the grippers are withdrawn by their racks 90 and the associated operating mechanism,v the tails |05 leave the stops |05 andthe jaws close, gripping and carrying the paper blank to a properly centered position above the bottle on the elevator. The tension of the springs 93, which close the jaws of the grippers, is sufficient to carry the paper but is not too great to permit easy removal ofthe paper from the grippers Without the necessity of opening the jaws. The exact manner in which the paper is withdrawn from the grippers through the action of the cap-forming mechanism will appear during the description of said mechanism.

It should also be noted here that the grippers close upon the paper and have aslight movement away from the knife just prior to the shearing action of the knife. Due to this slight initial movement of the grippers, they are always in exactly the same position relative to the cut edge of the paper and the centering of the printed legend over the top of the bottle is therefore not varied by the possibility of the grippers engaging the paper blanks at slightly different positions.

In order that the paper blank which has been positioned over the top of the bottle on the elevator may be formed into a bottle cap, the elevator raises the bottle to a point with its top in the plane of the paper and, at the same time, a resilient plunger |25 (best illustrated in Fig. 3) descends to the same plane so that the paper is clamped between the plunger and the bottle tcp. The elevator then continues its upward movement and the plunger recedes to carry the paper out of the grippers 44 by means of which it has been brought into position over the bottle. The face of the plunger |25 is preferably of compressible material, such as rubber, backed with a shell |25 which is slidable on a rod |21.

The head |28 of a cap-forming tube |23 is fixed to the rod |21 and the tube serves as a guide for the plunger |25 which may recede into the tube but which is normally urged downwardly under inuence of a spring 3|). A nut |3| on the lower end of the rod |21 limits the downward movement of the plunger. The cap-forming tube |29 telescopes within a stripper cylinder |32 and the unit, which includes the cap-forming tube, resilient plunger and the rod |21 upon which they are mounted, is reciprocated through a link |33 connecting the upper end of the rod |21 with a crank |34 fixed lto a shaft |35. The shaft |35 is journaled in a pair of brackets |36, carried by two of the frame posts 2, and this shaft (as shown in Fig. 2) also carries a crank |31, connected'by an adjustable rod |38 with a bell crank |39 on the shaft I3, this bell crank having a roller |40 held in engagement with the periphery of a cam |4| by a spring M2. This cam is so timed that as the top of the bottle and the plunger |25 meet in the plane of the paper, the cap forming tube |29 begins to recede upwardly, the upward movement being slightly retarded with respect to the upward movement of the bottle carried by the elevator. The slight advance movement of the elevator causes the top of the bottle to press the resilient plunger upwardly within the cap-forming tube, and consequently the paper, which is held between the plunger and the bottle top, is engaged by the wall of the tube and folded downwardly to form a marginal skirt aroun'd'the neck of the bottle'.

Prior to this upward movement of the bottle, a piece of string has been formed into a double half-hitch or clove-hitch ina position surrounding the path o f movement of the bottle, so that as the bottle moves. upwardly and the cap-form.` ing tube moves downwardly', they pass: within the loop. formed bythe string. Thefpre-formed clove-v hiteh of the. stringis thenl released. so thaty a portion of it surrounds the skirted portion Yof the bottle cap and a portion of it surrounds'the cap-forming tube |29.

At this time the stripper cylinder |32, which telescopes over the tube |29, descends to push that portion Yoi the knot surrounding the capforming tube downwardly and off ofthe 'end of the tube, so, that upon pulling of the opposite ends of the string, the knot is tightened y about the` skirted portion of the cap to secure the same withr relation to the bottle. In Fig. 7 the bottle is shown after the cap has been formed and after the stripper cylinder has descended and the string has been'ti'ghtened inthis manner.

The stripper tube is guidedthrough' an opening in the intermediate table 4 and the mechanism for causing its descent to performithe stripping operation atfthe proper time isillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. In these figures, the head of the stripper cylinder'l32 is shown-atl0.15.v This headis connected by a-link |46 with a crank |41 on a shaft |48 which is carried in brackets |49 depending` fromtheflower surface ofthe-upper table 5. The shaft |143 (seel Fig. 1)-`also carries a crank `|50 which is connected by a-rod |5|1with a bell crank |52 on the shaft I3, a roller |53 -on said bell crank being held in engagementwith a cam |511A by means of a spring whichisnotishowni but which` extends between the upperend of the bell crank y|52y and the base just behind the cam |54.

The string from which .the tie. whichr secures the cap to thefbottle,v is. formed is carriedy on a spool |60 (Fig. 1) rotatably carried on av bracket |6|. spool overV a split `pulley or brake |52 which' is operatedv during the tying of the knot in a man# ner which will presently appear. From the brake |62 the string passes over one of a pair of sheaves |63 carried onv the outer endo a pivotally supported slack-take-up arm- |64, then over one of a pair of sheaves It, backiover'the other sheave |33, from-which it passesV under the other ofthe sheaves |55, which brings it tothe level of a shuttle |66; 1 .i

As illustrated inY Figs. 3' and 9,thestringpasses through aguide loopll on the'shuttle and then out to the end of the shuttle where it is threaded through'a holel. The slaek-take-'up arm |04, which is also illustrated-in Fig. 8;, is pivotally and resilientlyi-supported to prevent breakagelofthe string inv the event 'of any sudden pull thereon, and is swung downwardly during the forming of each-tie to provide a supply of slack string as it is required during the formationof the .tie by the shuttle. The'arm is pivoted-uponl al shaft |69, supported in brackets |10 and lresiliently secured relative to Vthe shaftthrough a fixed collar and a helical torsion spring |12. The torsion spring permits a slight downward swinging of the arm |64 and the shaft |30` is rocked periodicallyto swing the arm downwardly at desired intervals. The movement of the shaft andthe timing thereofy are effectedthrough the crank |13, secured to one end of the shaft` and, as il'lustratecliny Fig.'2,'f connected bya rod |14 with a bell crank |15: 'on' the shaft l2, the bell crank |15 carrying a-roller |10 which is maintained inengagement with acam |11: by a spring 18'.

`The shuttlain order to guidelineV string into 75S The freeend ofthe string is led '.from the the shape of-a loosely formed cloverhitchlater to be tightenedabout the skirt of Ithe capa to secure the.- same to the'bottle, passes through.- a circular path on one plane, then drops to a lower plane and repeats its circular movement. The,

mechanism for; effecting this; movement of; the shuttle willbe described -beforereference.isy made, to .the structure which supports the;V loosely formed tie ina positionwhichvmakes itpossible for theloottle'v to be moved into thesame prepara.- tory to itsy being tightened. l

Referring toFigs. 3., 6` and 8,i the` shuttle, v|66 isi shown as pivotally supported atfthe, outerfends of a pair of identical Acranks |80. These: cranks are secured. to the lower ends ofi apair of .vere tical shafts i8! which pass upwardly' through and are J'ournaled forrotation in theintermeiiiate table "iY and-'the upper table 5. Gears '182.1 are secured one to each of the shafts; '|8tandmesh with a gear |03 on a short :shaft |845 extending through the upper table 5. The-gear |8131@ is suiciently long to permit limited vertical-movement. of theshafts `lill withoutmovingthe gearslz out of mesh. The short shaft '|-84risf provided withv a pivotal gear `|85, at its.uppertend,xwhich meshes'withl a pivotal` gear |86 on arhorizontalf shaft |81 journaled'in bearing bracketsll'xed to lthe-top of the; upper table 5; The. shaft f8.1' is rotated-through'360i alternately infopposite directions, Y and imparts; rotation; ofi fthe; gear., :|183 through 3609 i-ntermittently'in one 'direction'nly zf'hefstructure rfior producing thisfeiectris illus'- trated Yin Eigs; 4. and f5,i wh`erefthef gear `|83 is illus#` tratedf asflooslely mounted on. the shortlshaft |84 but connected to the lshaft: through a spring-` pressed pin V|139 whichzridesover they surface f a cam |90, fixed tothe shaft,` upon rota-tion'fone direction. and engages 'Y 4with a shoulder 19|: lon said.'` cam torimpartrotationto the gearl 8.3 upon rotationiJoixthe; shaftin the opposite direction. On its upper surface, the lgear |83 carriesa cam |92- (also illustratediin. Fig. 8) provided withla notch for regist,ryewithl a--spring-pfressed* pawl 7| 03 to insure stopping of fthe; gearf and' shuttlen operated by it insa'properly centered position .at the mechanism just described, are effected through a.

gear secured to theouter end of thisfshaft and enclosed in a'housinglSA (see Figpl), which housing 'also'fservestd guide a raclsnbarl |962 in mesh withsaidgear. Y The rack bar is connected by afr'odrv |31 .with a'xbellA .crank |981ca'rrying a rollery'lSS inengagement with a'carn 200.v The cam-Zs providedwith Va double depression `so thatk upon` eachc'omplete rotation of the "main drive shaft 1,' two-"complete circular movements are effected. -A spring'200aadjacent to the upper end of the rod. |81 vmaintains the roller against the cam.

The mechanism for effecting movement of ithe shuttle from one plane to another betweenits successive. circular movements and then-returning it tothe first plane after completion of its knot-forming operation, is shown in Fig. 3. This mechanism comprises a yoke 20 which has arms embracing'bothV of the vertical shafts |8| and engaging with'the lowersuriaces of the gears |82 and the upper surfaces of a pair of collars 202 securedv onev to each of the shaftsl |8| A link'203' connectsthe yoke 20| Vwith a. crank 201| on. a shaft '2 05A which isV journaled in gearing bracketsl 206' on the intermediate tabley 4.' The outer end of the shaft (as shown in Figs. 2 and 6) carries a crank 201 connected by a rod 208 with a bell crank 22S, which carries a roller 210 bearing against a cam 2|| and restrained to follow the cam under influence of a spring 2 I2.

The shuttle forms the tie about two sets of pins, and these pins may be retracted through plates which cause the tie to be stripped from them so that upon tightening it will be drawn into position around the neck of the bottle. The upper set of pins, which are four in number, are shown in Figs. 3, '1 and 17, at 2|5. These pins extend upwardly from a pin shelf 2|5, disposed beneath a pin stripper plate 2|1. The lower set of three pins, illustrated at 2|8, extendupwardly from a pin plate 2 9 and through a pin stripper plate 220. Thelower set of pins are longer than the upper set, as it is necessary that they pass through portions of the string gripper actuating mechanism (hereinafter to be described).

Both the upper pin shelf 2| B and the lower pin shelf 2|9 are carried by a set of four vertically extending posts 22| which are slidably received through holes formed for this purpose in the intermediate table 4. The posts are joined at their upper ends by a top plate 222, and springs 223 (shown in Fig. 7) extend between the top plate 222 and the table 4 normally to urge the posts 22| and the pin-supporting plates downwardly. A collar 224 surrounding the stripper cylinder |32, which passes through the top plate 222, engages the bottom surface of the top plate and normally retains the pins in their uppermost position. Spacers 225 surrounding the posts 22| above the table 4 limit the downward movement of the posts and the pins.` The pin-stripper plate 2|1 is supported in aixed position by three posts 226, which extend downwardly from the intermediate table 4, and pin-stripper plate 220 is secured to the top of a ring 221 which is, in turn, secured to a Yplate 228 supported on downwardly extending posts- 229 at one edge and fixed relative to two of th'e frame posts 2 at its other edge` With the pins in their uppermost position, the free end of the string is held -by -a gripper which is disposed at the level of the bottom set of pins and whchis presently to be described in detail, as illustrated in Fig. 11. The shuttle then moves upwardly and circles the top pins 2|5 to lay the string about these pins so that it will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 12. Having completed thisfcircular movement, the shuttle again drops to' its starting plane and circles the Ibottom pins 2|8 to leadthe string about these pins in the manner illustrated in Fig. 13. The string having thus been led about both sets of pins, is in the form of a loosely tied clove-hitch, as is illustrated in Fig. 16, which shows the position of the shuttle just prior to the final portion of its movement which brings it to a position of rest.

l With the knot thus formed about the pins, the bottle is moved upwardly, it being understood that at this time the paper blank has been clamped to the top of the bottle by the resilient plunger |25 which has receded into the cap-forming tube |29 which folds the margin of the blank downwardly about theneck of the bottle. The stripper tube |32 thenjstarts its downward movement, the initial part -of this movement permitting the posts 22| vto move downwardly under tensionY of the springs4 223 s o that-both the upper and lower sets of pins, around which the tie is formed, are caused to recede through the pin stripper plates 2|1 vand 220.- As the tie is released its upper portion surrounds the cap-forming tube above the bottle and its lower portion is disposed around the neck of the bottle. Further downward movement of the stripper tube |32 engages and slides that portion of the tie which surrounds the capformng tube downwardly until it comes into place around the neck of the bottle and the tie is thenl drawn tightly about the bottle by the combined action of the string grippers, the slacktake-up arm |64 and the string brake |62.

The end of the string is held by one of a pair of grippers during the time that the shuttle is leading the string around the pins which support it in the form of a tie. The other one of this .pair of grippers is meanwhile moving into a position to grip the string at the other end of the tie to lead it into a cut-off knife and carry it to the position originally occupied by the first gripper and to hold it during the next tie-forming cycle of the shuttle. The two grippers follow each other in a circular path and exchange functions for alternate tying operations. The grippers, which are generally indicated at 230 and 23| in Fig. 11, may, for the present, be considered as identical. Each gripper comprises a base plate 232 which carries an outwardly extending string brake operatingear 233 `and a stationary gripper jaw 234. A movable gripper jaw 235 is pivoted relative to each of the base plates by a pin 236, and the plates which carry these movable jaws are provided with outwardly extending tails 231.

Springs 238 extending between these tails and the base plates normally maintain the jaws in a gripping position. For the sake of simplifying the description of the `gripper operation, the complete circular path of one gripper will be described in the terms of the various stations at which the gripper stops during its circular travel and the functions that it performs as it moves from station to station. It is to be understood, however, that the two grippers are following each -other `and performing their individual functions simultaneously during each cyclic operation of the machine.

In Fig. 11, the gripper 230 is shown in its initial position, or resting at that point in the cycle of its operation which will hereinafter be referred to as station A; in Fig. 15, the same gripper is at station B; in Fig. 1v1, the gripper 23| is at station C; and in Fig. 13, the gripper 23| is at station D. While the four stations A, B, C and D represent the major positions of the grippers, it being understood that each gripper stops at each station during its movement through 360, there is a temporary stop or hesitation of the grippers as they attain position E, illustrated in Fig. 15.

The end -of the string is held by the gripper in position A while the shuttle leads the string around the pins which support the loosely formed tie. After the tie has been formed, the bottle moved into position to receive the tie, and the tie-supporting pins Withdrawn, this gripper moves to station B for the purpose of taking up slack in the free end of the string and pulling the tie tightly about the neck of the bottle. Upon the initial portion of the gripper movement from station B to station C, the tail 231 strikes a stationary cam 240 to swing the movable jaw 235 about its pivot 236 and release the string just prior to the withdrawal of the bottle upon which the capping and tying operations have been completed. The gripper then completes its movement to station C. Upon moving from station C to station D, the tail 231 of the movable gripper jaw engages a stationary cam 24|, placing the gripper `in a wide-open Aposition for reception of the string As the gripper approaches station D, theear 233 engages the edge 242 of va stringbrakelle'ver 243. -This lever 243 fis pivotally carried byone of the posts 239 and is connected'by azrod "244 (see also Figs. 1 and 2), which rod extends through brackets 245 and serves kas an 'aXle for the split sheave |62 which acts as Ia Astring brake. Springs 24B are disposed about the rod at opposite sides of sheave |62, and Vnuts 241 ron-the end of Athe rod retain the assembly in place. When the lever 243 is pivoted, due toits lengagement by the ear r233 on the `gripper member, the rod 244 is drawn inwardly to compress `the split sheave |62 and clamp 'the string 'therein temporarily to prevent further unwinding of the 4string 260. The springs 246 serve to Vcushion thelclamping action and prevent lcutting or -bruising -of'the string as this action takes place.

At the time that the brake isapplied v to the string in the manner just described, the slacktake-up arm |64 assumes a 'lowered positionand v.

immediately after the brake has vbeen applied'this arm is raised to take up lany'existing Islack in the portion of the string that :is ledover-.thefsheaves |63 and |65 and to tighten ,the string around the bottle neck priorto cutting of the string so that a rm knot will be produced to Yeffect securing of the cap about the neck of the bottle. Asthe gripper leaves station D, the string, vnow having been tightened around the lneckpof the bottlegis received between the open gripper jaws. As the movement of the gripper progresses, Vthe tail 231 rides off of the cam 24| :to-close the jaws upon the string and the ear233 releases the "brake lever 243. The gripper A.than hesitates in position E, as illustrated in Fig. 1-5, in `whichposition it has carried the string Ainto-a'knife-250.

lThe knife 250 (see Figs.11,6:and 7) consists of a blade having a V-shaped slot in loneof its verticaledges and carried for vertical reciprocal movement in a guide block 25| secured adjacent'to the lower edge of the stripper cylinder 132. A pair of adjusting screws 252, in ytheblock 25|, press a spring plate 253 against the blade, causing frictional resistanceto its vertical reciprocation. As the stripper cylinder v-descends,the string is led into the V-s-lot of the knife and the vbottom -end of the blade engages v.the plate v22|), causing the blade to recede into the'block and shear the string, When the stripper cylinder returns to its uppermost position, the top-end ofthe blade 256 engages the intermediate table '4 and causes the blade to slide through the block and assume its lowermost position'relative to the block.

The string having thus been severed, the gripper moves on from position E to its position of rest at station A, to which position it carries the string and retains it preparatory to the next tieforming cycle of the shuttle.

The gripper movements fromv stations A to B and B to C are timed'diiferently thanfthe gripper movements from stations C to D and backto A, and as the two grippers are operating simultaneously in a different manner, yet performing the same functions alternately, it is desirable lto em- Y -sively ,asthey move 'from C to Dandbac'kto A. The manner in `which the driving mechanisms effect movementof 'the gripper 230 `through a.360 cycle willirstbe described, and this description will sb'e'fzfol'lowed'fby the description ofthe movefment of the gripper :23| vthrough its 360 cycle. The gripper 230 is secured by screws i255 to the raisedhub ofthe vring gear 255 (see also Fig. 3) :which rotates about the ring 1221. A pinion 251 (see Fig.2) meshes with 'the' toothed periphery of the :ring .gear 1256 and 'is carried by the upper .end of la shaft i258. VVThe lower end of the shaft 258 carries a pinion y259, which `meshes with a gear T260 freely rotatable about the vertical shaft 28| v(as best illustrated in Figs. 1'7 to 20, inclu.- sive). The upper-surface of the gear"26ii carries spaced Ypins i262 VAand 1263 'for engagement by 'the lower pawls in tvvo sets of Apawls 264 and 265. 'The pawls '2164 and 265 are referred yto as sets -by reason of the fact `that'the two pawls :in leach set fare Xed to 'their respective pivot pins '266 `and `261 so thatthe pawls of each set mustswing together.

The pivot pins are rotatably journaled-at the outer ends of separate levers 263 and 2ML-both of which are mounted for pivotal movement about the vertical shaft V26|. The pawls 264 `and 255 are urgedinwardly by springs 264a and 265s, respectively. The lever 268 is caused to oscillate, 'being connected by a rod 210 (see Figs. 2 and 20) with a 'bell crank 21|, which carries a roller -242 pressed `into eng-agement with the surface of a cam`2'l'3 by aspring2-T4. The crank' 269 is simi- -larly=oscillated, being connected by a rod 215 (see Fig. `1')}With a bell lcrank 216 which has a roller T211 engaging a cam `'2'l8 under influence of a spring '219. l Y Y y Upon thefrst oscillatory movement ofthe lever 268 the lower pawl 264 engages the pin 262 to Irotate the gear`2't0,Y and, through-the pinion 259,

`shaft i258 ,and pinion'25'L'iInpart rotation to the ploy two separate gripper driving mechanisms.

One of these driving mechanisms actuates .both of the .grippers successively during their movements from A to B and B .to C, and .the other driving mechanism actuates .the-.grippers succesring gear 256, and rmove the gripper 2,30 from station `Arto station B. As the rotary movement thus imparted to the gear '260'is substantially 90, the pini263 thereon is brought by this movement into Aposition for engagement by the lower pavvl 264 upon its next subsequent oscillation, whereupon vthe gripper will'be moved from -stationB to station C'. This movement of lthe gear 260 brings'thepin 262 into position 'for eng-age- Ament bythe lowermost of the pavvl`s""2 65.` T'Qseil- 'lation o f these pawls'will, therefore, ract isuccessively upon the pins n262 and "263to fm'ovthe gripper from station 'C to stationD, yand 'from station D back lto* station A.` As fone cani has been :effective to move the gripper throughout 'approximately one-half of its 36W/cycle Tan'd'the other cam leffective 4to 'move 'it throughoutrthe remaining Jhalf-of its cycle, it is apparent lthat 'these cams may be diie'rently cont oure'dfto'effect any d esired speed and timing of the 'operation of the grip-per as it is moved Vfrom anyfone sitationto` the next. v v 'V The-other gripper '23| 'is securedby-screws 285 to the surface of a ring gear 286 which-(asfsliown in Fig. 3) rides on top ofthe ring' gear'=256"fand is centralized about the raised -centralportion of the same. This ring gear 2.86 in'es hesyvithk a pinion 281 at the upper end of a shaft"23' 8 ."Ad-

jacent its lower end the vshaft .28a` carries apinpawls in the sets 264 and 265. The radial positions of the pins 292 and 293, with respect to the pins 262 and 263, are such that their engagement and movement. by the oscillating pawls in the sets 254 and 255 will compel the grippers to follow each other about their circular path in the proper timed relation.

Assuming the machine to be in continuous operation, it is most convenient to consider it as commencing a cycle during the time when the elevator is being lowered to remove a bottle upon which the capping and tying operations have been completed. It is at this time that the shuttle is operating to guide the string into the shape of a loosely formed clove-hitch supported by the pins which are later to be withdrawn to permit the hitch being tightened about the skirt of the cap where it surrounds the bottle neck.

As the loosely formed hitch or knot is being completed, an uncapped bottle is placed upon the elevator, from which the last bottle has been removed, and the paper feed mechanism operates to advance the paper the length of one blank. The blank is sheared from the roll and carried by the grippers 44 to its position over the bottle o-n the elevator. The bottle rises and the plunger |25 :descends to meet in the plane of the paper, thus clamping the paper and then drawing it upwardly. Owing to the greater upward speed of the bottle and the resilient mounting of the plunger head, the cap-forming tube |29 has a movement which is downward relative to the bottle and the lower edge of this tube engages and folds the margin of the cap blank down to form the desired skirt which surrounds the neck of the bottle and around which the string passes to secure the cap to the bottle.

The bottle having been raised to a position where its neck is encircled by the loosely formed tie, the pins which support the tie Vare withdrawn. 'Ihe gripper which is holding the leading end of the stringk and the slack-take-up arm |64 which engages the string before it passes through the shuttle are then actuated to place a tension on the ends of the knot and draw it tightly about the skirt of the cap. During the tightening operation, the stripper cylinder |32 descends to push downwardly any portion of the knot which may have remained on the lower end of the cap-forming tube so that the entire knot will come into its intended position around the bottle neck This downward movement of the stripper lcylinder actuates the string knife to sever one end of the string where it leaves the tie, and -the other end of the string is released upon the movement of the gripper which causes it to open. This permits the bottle to move down- Wardly with the elevator during the first steps of the next succeeding cycle of operation.

The string employed may be of any suitable type having the required strength, and it is to be note'd that the knot which has two projecting ends is formed without the necessity of employing any mechanism for tucking either of these ends under the portions that have aready been passed around the object to be tied. The knot is secure against accidental removal, yet may be untied by simply pulling upwardly on either of its projecting ends.

The paper of which the cap is formed is preferably of a type that has been treated toy render it highly impervious to moisture. It is relatively thin and :comparatively inexpensive. Owing to the fact that inexpensive paper and plain string may be used. the cost of capping bottles with the machine is far below that of capping containers under presently known methods which require pre-formed pasteboard caps and fastening means of lmetal or specially treated twines.

Although the invention has been described. and illustrated in a specic form, it is to be understood as limited only by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a machine of the character described, mechanism for tying and supporting a knot in a position to receive an object to be tied comprising a first set of pins disposed in one plane, a second set of pins disposed in a lower plane, a shuttle member for leading a string to a position surrounding and supported by said pins, and means for moving the shuttle around the pins of the first set, then down, and then around the pins of the second set whereby the string will assume the form of a loosely tied clove-hitch.

2. In a machine of the character described, mechanism for tying and supporting a knot in a position to receive an object toy be tied comprising a first set of pins disposed in one plane, a second set of pins disposed in a lower plane, a shuttle member for leading a string to a position surrounding and supported by said pins, means for moving the shuttle around the pins of the first set, then down, and then around the pins of the second set whereby the string will assume the form of a loosely tied clove-hitch, means for moving an object to be tied into the knot, means for retracting all of the pins to release the knot, and means for putting a tension on the string at opposite ends of the knot to draw it tight about the object.

3. In a machine of the character described, a set of retractable pins, means for leading a string about said pins to form a loosely tied knot, a gripper for holding the free end of said string stationary as it is being led about the pins, a string cutter, and a second gripper movable to engage the string after the knot is formed and lead it into the cutter.

4. In a machine of the character described, a set of retractable pins, means for leading a string about said pins to form a loosely tied knot, a gripper for holding the free end of said string stationary as it is being led about the pins, a string cutter, a second gripper movable to engage the string after the knot is formed and lead it into the cutter, and means for moving said grippers intermittently in a circular path whereby the second gripper will carry the cut end of the string to the position of the first named gripper and the two grippers will perform the same functions alternately.

5. In a machine of the character described, means to tie and support a knot in a position to receive a capped container to be tied, an elevator for supporting a container, means to place a paper blank over the container on the elevator, means to raise the elevator, a cap-forming tube, means to lower said tube to meet the container and form a skirted cap thereon within the area surrounded by the knot, means to release the knot, and means to draw the knot tight about the skirt of the cap.

6.In a machine of the character described, means to tie and support a knot in a position to receive a capped container to be tied. an elevator for supporting a container, means to place a paper blank over the container on the elevator, means to raise the elevator, a cap-forming tube,

means to lower said tube to meet the container and form a skirted cap thereon within the area surrounded by the knot, means to release the knot, a stripper cylinder telescoping over the cap- A forming tube and movable downwardly to remove any portion of the knot which surrounds the tube, and means to draw the knot tight about the skirt of the cap.

7. In a machine of the character described, a support for a supply of string, a gripper for holding the free end of the string, a shuttle having an eye through which the string passes intermediate the gripper and the supply, means for moving the shuttle to lead the string into the form of a knot, a resiliently tensioned slacktake-up arm engaging the string between the supply and the gripper, means for moving the slack-take-up arm to provide slack for the formation of the knot by the shuttle, a string brake between the slack-take-up arm and the supply, and means eiective after completion of the knot to apply the brake, move the arm and move the gripper to effect tightening of the knot.

8. In a method of constricting an element having exible walls, those steps which comprise forming a loop of flexible strand, transferring said loop to a transfer member, bringing said element into position for receiving the loop, transferring the loop to and about the flexible Walls of said element, and constructing and securing in constricted condition the loop about said walls.

9. In a method of constricting elements having flexible walls, those steps which comprise forming loop to a transfer member, bringing one of said elements into position for receiving the loop, transferring the loop to and about the ilexible walls of said one element, constricting the loop on said walls, and forming another loop for transfer on another element while said one element is being replaced by said other element in the position for receiving its loop.

10. A bottle capping machine comprising mechanism for forming a clove hitch from a continnous length of twine, a device for inserting a capped bottle into said mechanism and for removing the bottle after the cap has been secured thereto, means for exerting a pull on the ends of the clove hitch so as to constrict it and thus secure the cap on the bottle, and means for causing said mechanism to form another clove hitch while the capped bottle is being replaced by another bottle.

GUNNAR ARNBERG.

a loop of flexible strand, transferring saidA

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