US2317408A - Method and apparatus for producing and dispensing sanitary mouthpieces for bottles - Google Patents

Description

Apnl 27, 1943. w. M. SCHNEIDER 2,317,408 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND DISPENSING SANITARY MOUTHPIECES FOR BOTTLES Filed June l0, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 27, 943.

W. M. SCHNEIDER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUClNCrV AND DISPENSING SANITARY MOUTHPIECES FOR BOTTLES Filed June l0, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 11a M112 115 747229Z ee:

M 5. Ma

April 27, y1943.

W. M. SCHNEIDER L 2,317,408 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND DISPENSING SANITARY MOUTHPIECES FOR BOTTLES Filed June l0, -1940 4Sheets-Sheet 3 JM Jal 02 April 27, 1943. w. M. SCHNEIDER 2,317,408

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR .PRODUCING AND DISPENSING SANITARY MOUTHPIEGES FOR BOTTLES lFiled June 10, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCIN G AND DISPENSING SANITARY MOUTH- PIECES FOR BOTTLES This invention relates to sanitary mouthpieces or protectors for drinking from bottles as commonly used for containing and dispensing carbonated beverages or other soft drinks, beer or the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus for producing and dispensing sanitary mouthpieces for bottles and to apply the same to a neck and mouth of a bottle to prevent contact of the lips with the bottle, or cutting thereon should the edges of the bottle mouth be rough, chipped or broken.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple method for feeding and applying the mouthpieces to bottles for drinking purposes after the removal of the ordinary crown caps or closures ordinarily used on bottles of this or similar character.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or device by which a supply of the mouthpieces may be held in a magazine in nested relation so -as to accommodate a large number and adapted for the insertion of a bottle after removing the cap therefrom and by the simple operation of the apparatus to t a mouthpiece into position over the mouth of the bottle by insertion of the bottle, and then to clamp or crimp the mouthpiece on the mouth and adjacent portion of the neck of the bottle, especially in conjunction with the reinforcements or enlargements of the latter so as to temporarily hold and eflectively prevent accidental displacement of the mouthpiece from the mouth of the bottle in removing the same from the machine and while drinking from the bottle and present a clean and sanitary protector for contact with the lips in drinking the contents from the bottle, thus preventing contamination or other deleterious effects and serving as a convenience to the public in lieu of the ordinary methods or use of straws which are difficult to maintain clean and sanitary or onhand in certain places where such bottled goods are sold or dispensed as Ia matter of convenience to the purchasing public or customers, especially at gasoline supply or service stations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is foolproof and which by the mere insertion of a bottle will dispose, the sanitary mouthpiece or protector over the mouth of the bottle and by the simple operation of moving the mechanism by means of a lever or otherwise will firmly fasten the mouthpiece on the bottle and to release the same after being applied so that the bottle may be removed in such condition for use andv without spilling the contents thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a relatively compact device which can be easily supported and which will occupy a minimum of space and yet retain the mouthpieces or protectors in a clean and sanitary condition While permitting a quick and convenient application thereof to bottles and which will also accommodate bottles of different sizes.

A still further object in connection with the preferred form of the invention and a sanitary mouthpiece or protector for bottles as a new article of manufacture, is to provide a novel and simple method of producing and applying such mouthpieces to bottles, whereby instead of having an attachment or mouth guard entirely preformed to be carried about by a person and applied to a bottle when it is desired to use same and which is objectionable because such device would not be clean and sanitary and perhaps not available when needed, which is produced in aY partially preformed state and fit to the bottles as desired by a suitable check control means or dispensing apparatus and dropped over Y the -mouthpiece of a bottle for immediate use and may be compressed or constricted about the bottle mouth after the usual cap has been removed, so as to be retained thereon and form a guard for the mouth bead of the bottle, but will fulfill all sanitary requirements of a device of this character.

Further objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section showing a bottle inserted in an apparatus or device for applying and dispensing sanitary mouthpieces in accordance with the method and apparatus for producing same constituting the subject matter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the device taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on- Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 of the lower part thereof with the mouthpiece applying means opened out as distinguished from the applying position shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line Id-ID of Fig. 4;

Fig. ll is a plan view o-f forming plates for pressing the top of the mouthpiece against the bead of a bottle mouth;

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the plates or jaws for compressing or crimping the side or lateral Wall of the mouthpiece on a bottle, and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. '7 of a modified construction wherein the top forming plates or jaws for acting on the bead of a bottle are omitted.

Referring to the drawings, according to the present method and apparatus for producing and dispe-nsing sanitary mouthpieces for bottles, the same are not only dispensed or fedY individually for application to the bottles, but are frictionally held thereon or fastened thereto. The device or apparatus employed in this connection is shown as comprising a vertically elongated rectangular case I 5 which may be of sheet material of metal, Bakelite o-r molded plastic, and has a front wall I6, side walls Il and a back Wall I8. It also has a bottom wall I 9 and a top wall 26 which is preferably removable and may be fastened by suitable securing means so as to permit access to the interior with facility. The front wall I5 is provided with a relatively wide opening 2I extending almost across the width thereof and communieating With an opening or cut o-ut 22 in the bottom to facilitate the entrance of a bottle, preferably in a slightly tilting or rearwardly inclined position into the lower part of the case, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The top of the case is provided with an opening 23 which is preferably circular, although it may be of any other desired shape, such as square or polygonal Y and over which a magazine or container 24 is supported in a novel position, that is, with its open end downward and its closed end upward. This magazine may be in the form of a cylinder, or other shape, preferably agreeing with the shape of the opening 23 in the top wall and may be opaque with the sight or window opening 24a, or entirely of transparent material, preferably a reproof plastic composition such as mica or even Celluloid. The magazine or container 24 may be mounted in a iianged base 25, and of course the magazine may be constructed of sheet metal or Bakelite and the flange 25 formed on or applied to the bottom thereof to set on the top wall around the opening 23 therein. To center and position the magazine, the base flange may be disposed within a ring 26, mounted upon the top wall 2B and suitably secured theron or formed therewith so that the magazine may be held in position by having the top faces of the flange and ring flush, if desired, and retained in position by fasteners such as pivoted buttons or clips 21 acting over the ilange. A post or guide member 28 is suspended from the top wall of the magazine, this wall being closed and the guide post having a flange 29 secured thereto so i that the post will extend down through the opening 23 in the top wall 20 and below the latter a suitable distance, with its lower end preferably slightly tapered, as shown at 30, and adapted to terminate adjacent the top of a bottle mouth body portion 32 in the shape of a frustum of a cone with the top and bottom edges parallel and ,slightly enlarged or iiared downwardly toward its open bottom edge 33 which latter is smooth 'entirely around its surrounding edge and disposed horizontally, and the body, as well as the edge of uniform thickness throughout, as well as free of beads, rolled portions or enlargements so that the device may be made of relatively thin stock paper somewhat stiffened by waterproof treatment as by parain or wax, or made from a suitable blank of sheet. material or molded pulp or other plastic material which will render the same non-absorbent or waterproof vand either witha smooth wall or folded and crimped as is common in connection with drinking cups or the like. As above stated, the bottom of the body is freely open and the top is provided with an inturned flange 34 which may be inclined upwardly or downwardly, preferably away from the horizontal or rounded as at v35 in somewhat concavo-convex formation to fit the `bead of a bottle mouth while an opening 36 is provided in the top at the center to exactly register with the orifice of the bottle neck at the mouth thereof. However, it is to be understood that this frusto-conical body may be left upstanding at -thetop part instead of forming a flange extending overl the bead of the bottle, as described.

The checking, releasing and feeding mechanism by which the blanks or mouthpieces 3I,

formed or shaped as described, and a supply of which is held in nested position within the magazine, are fed singly and applied to the bottles containing beverages, will now be described. This mechanism is contained within the case or housing I5 and primarily in the upper portion thereof. It consists of a lower pair of coacting plates 3l on which the mouthpieces or blanks forming substantially inverted cups with apertured top walls are normally supported at their bottom edges. These plates are provided with co-acting semi-circular recesses or cut-outs 38 at their vertical inner edges as shown and coactingr to form a circular opening. These plates are slidable in channel guides 39 horizontally positioned as are the plates and the guides are supported at the front and back walls I6 and I8 respectively in any suitable way as by means of blocks 40 or the like, secured to said Walls at the inside. Similar, but oppositedly movable upper plates 4I are provided in spaced parallel relation horizontally above the plates 3l and have co-acting semi-circular recesses or openings 42 with downwardly and outwardly beveled or inclined inner edges. These plates are movable in similar horizontal channel guides 43 which are likewise suitably supported as by the blocks or brackets 40. The plates 3'I and 4I are limited in their outward movements by stops or blocks 44 situated in the guideways. The bodies of the mouthpieces, as previously described, Yare nested within one another in the magazine to any desired degree, but preferably so that one projects beneathy the other above at the lower enlarged open end and edge so as to extend beneath the magazine and top wall in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings with the lower blank of a body or mouthpiece normally resting on the plates 31 and guided beneath the top wall th-rough an upper depending apron 45 in the form of an angular collar secured against the bottom of the top wall 20 and extending down substantially to the guides-43 but spaced therefrom and the top plates 4|. A similar lower collar or apron 46 is mounted beneath the lower guides 39 to which it may be secured, as shown at 41, but this lower collar or apron is preferably made to permit the mouthpiece to freely pass therethrough whereas the upper collar may slightly friction such movement of the mouthpiece bodies fed by gravity as will be apparent. The lower plates 31 are provided with depending ears 48 and the upper plates 4| are provided with upwardly extending ears 49 which are pivotally connected by means of links 59 and respectively to the lower and upper ends of cross arms or levers 52 suitably -apertured for this purpose as are the ears and ends of the links. The cross arms are fixed to horizontal shafts 53 positioned in a horizontal plane between theplates 31 and 4| and journaled at their ends in bearings 54 carried by the side walls |1 at their inner faces. Arms 55 are also provided on the shafts 53 and pivotally connected by links 56 with radial arms 51 and 58 on a shaft 59 horin zontally supported in a bearing 66 centrally below the magazine, but offset therefrom at one side beneath the top 20 and below the plates 31, guides39 and apron 46. The bearing 5t is supported on a bracket attached to one side wall |1 and one end of the shaft 59 is provided with an operating arm or lever 6| which is normally disposed in an upwardly inclined position by means to be later described. Arcollar 62 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 59 to retain the lever in position, although any other suitable means may be provided for this purpose and to restrain the shaft against axial movement. In addition to the lever being xed to the shaft, both are limited in their rotation between upper and lower limitsby an upper stop 63 carried by the top 20 and extending into the path of the levery while-a lower stop B4, carried by the side or front wall limits the downward movement by abutment y with the lever.

The forming mechanism is described in connection with the bottle 65 of conventional design having a neck 65, an enlarged upper portion 61 forming an upwardly facing breast and a mouth portion 68 having an annular reinforcement or enlargement 69 and a similar enlargement or bead at the mouth orice. The enlargement 69 forms a bottom shoulder 1| and an inclined portion 12 with an annular shoulder or groove 13 at th-'e top thereof and beneath the bead 19. The bottle is adapted to rest on an adjustable support or auxiliary bottom 14 superimposed above the bottom wall i9 and enclosed within the case. This adjustable bottom is substantially horse shoe or U-shaped and it has an upright marginal flange so that when the bottle is placed thereon, it will be retained against displacement and properly positioned when pushed against the flange 15. A bracket shelf 16 is Dro* vided for the adjustable bottom and has an upright part 11 disposed against a vertical plate 18, both of which are serrated at their coacting faces as indicated at 19 to interfit and have vertical slots 8U registering with one another wherewing nut B2, but any other suitable form of ad'-A justing means may be employed for this purpose. The adjustable bottom 14 carries bearing ears 83 for a horizontal stud shaft 84 on which a trip plate or inclined pressure foot 85 forming part' of the bottom 14 is pivotally mounted. This platev has a forked arm 86 extending outwardly for pivotal connection with a vertical rod 81 which is also adjustable in length for different sized bottles and may comprise a series of telescoping sections including a lower section 88 and an upper section -89 held by clamping means such as a set screw 99. which is provided with an enlarged and slotted hea-d 92 having an elongated slot 93 and a depend ing lug 94 extending down from the top wall or upper end of the slot to engage a socket 95 in the shaft 59 so as to hold the shaft against rotation, but to permit turning of the shaft when disengaged therefrom. The auxiliary bottom 14 is normally elevated to support the bottle in operative position as by means of a spring 96 connected to the lower section 88 of the rod 81 and the bottom 14, but when the bottle is inserted on the trip plate 85, the latter is depressed to raise the rod 81 and disengage the lug 94 from the socket 95.

A horizontal partition or breast plate 91 is provided across the case at the enlarged upper portion 61 of the bottle 65 and has a hole 98 to receive the bottle therethrough with the neck projecting above or upwardly therefrom while the edge of the opening may contact with the bottle and assist in centering it in connection with a plurality of spring arms 99 which are mounted on the plate 91 and have flared or rolled upper ends to facilitate passage of the bottle and particularly the removal of the bottle and mouthpiece after the latter has been applied without mutilating or loosening the mouthpiece. The use of this structure, however, is optional, as the bottle will be substantially centered by the flange 15 of the horse shoe plate 14.

In connection with the forming mechanism, a structure is provided which is quite similar to the checking and releasing or feeding mechanism in the upper portion of the case as previously described for supporting the lower mouthpiece body at the lower edge of the latter before dropping the same into position to be applied'to a bottle mouth, and beneath the bottom edge of the nextmouthpiece body thereabove so that the supply in the magazine will be supported while the lower one is fed by gravity to forming position. For this purpose, guides |9| are horizon-l tally supported in spaced relation below the aforesaid guides 39 and 43, apron 46 and shafts 53 and 59 against the front and back walls as by means' of blo-cks |92. These guides |9| are arranged in pairs at the top and bottom of the horizontal guideways formed therebetween or bottle mouth receiving member as seen in Figs. 7 and i3 and the lower guides carry an annular plate |93, the inner edge of which projects inwardly to normally support the mouthpiece blank at its lower Guides 9| are provided for the rod' 4- a'srimoe edge when dropped -downinto applying position Y suilicient size to permit the applied and formedl cap on the bottle neck to pass therethrough when,v

the bottle is removed from applying position. In order to apply the mouthpieces, semi-circular molds or forming plates |04 are provided and oppositely slidable in the guideways formed by the guides These molds are shaped like the bottle externally at the mouthpiece on their inner faces, as indicated at |95, to a point above the bead 'l0 and extending outwardly at an angle of substantially 45 degrees at the top, whichis slightly below or substantially in line with the upper end or mouthpiece bead of the bottle. Shoes or ears |06 are also slidable in the guides outwardly of the plates or molds |04 and cylinders |01 having flanges for securing them to the front and back walls, are horizontally mounted between said Walls and the molds 04 to take plungers |08 having reduced threaded ends |06 threaded into sockets ||0 in the molds and normally held inward by springs disposedl in the cylinders between the front and back walls and the plungers |08. Horizontal pivot studs ||2, as shown in Figs. 4 and 12 are provided on the shoes or ears |06 of the molds or plates |04 and are pivotally connected by links |3 having elongated slots |4 to allow lost motion therebetween and prevent binding of these parts due to the centers of the operating connections having different radii. The inclined links |3 are pivotally connected at their upper ends to arms ||5 provided on the shaft 59 and the angular relation of the various arms on the shaft is such that they are disposed substantially diametrically opposite each other in pairs for connection with the respective links at opposite sides of the center axis of the machine vertically and of the shaft 59 whereby opposite movements toward and away from each other will be imparted to the respective plates of the checking and releasing or feeding mechanism as well as to the molds of the forming mechanism in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

Horizontal shafts I6 or other suitable pivots are provided above the guides |0| and the pivotal connection of the links l I3 at the pivot studs |2, and these shafts E are mounted in bearings at the inside of the side walls l1 and have arms ||8 pivotally connected by links ||9 to arms |20 xed on the shaft 58. Top former plates |2| are fixed to the shafts ||6 and are also of semicircular shape to fit the top of the bead T0 of the bottle and also at the mouth orifice of the bottle, if desired. The plates |2| are provided with apertured lugs or ears |22 so that they may be mounted on the shaft I6 and the bottom curvatures of the former plates |2| are clearly shown in the drawings and may have an internal shape or annular shoulder |23 disposed vertically in the form ofV an outwardly facing edge exactly conforming to the interior diameter and wall of the orifice in the bottle neck and within the bead so as to shape the top flange 34- of the mouthpiece at its inner edge 36 where the opening is provided in the blank or body 32 so as to exactly register with and be in conformity to said orifice, although as previously described, the top flange may be left in its original position inclined outwardly and downwardly or. inwardlyand` vdownwardly, as preferred, and. somewhat dictated by the style of bottle and the formation Yof the mouthpiece bead thereof, such asA described in my copending application above referred to.- In

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the form of the inventionshown in Figs. l, to 12 inclusive, side plates |24 may be provided between the bottom guides 39 and the guides |0| therebeneath through which the tapered end of the post or rod 28 extends so as to project slightly down into the central aperture formed by the semi-circular inner openingsof the top former plates |2l, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, `4 and 7 of the drawings. Thus, the top former plates |2| may freely move upward to open positions and outward in opposite directions on the shafts ||5 as axes or swung downwardly to horizontal positions horizontally aligned with each other in the same plane and around the lower end portion of the tapered part 30 of the posty 28 without interference and to insurethat the blanks will be properly fed to applying position for application to the bottle mouth.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings and where it is desired to leave the top flange 34 of the mouthpiece in its original condition sloping upwardly or downwardly, according to the top formation of the bead l0, as also described in my copending application above referred to, the top forming plates |2| may be omitted entirely, together with the operative connections between the same. and the shaft 59 for actuation by the lever 6|. In this form, the tubular guide or apron 46 is made longer as shown at a. Thus the top flange extends inwardly to the orice of the bottle neck at the mouth of the latter and in either case will pre-, vent contact of the lips with the glass of the bottle, which although sterilized, is not desirable and is often guarded against in various ways by ,Y ersons drinking from bottles where other means,

such as an individual glass or straws are not` available, because in most instances the bottles are submerged in iced water which is generally unclean and unsanitary. This will also prevent cutting or scraping of the lips against rough, chipped or broken glass at the mouth of the bottle, which ordinarily occurs due to rough handling and in any even-t contamination from direct contact of the bottle is prevented, while also presenting a comparatively pleasant Asoft contact surface, the cleanliness and sanitary condition of which cannot be questioned. In order to maintain the parts in normal positions with the operating lever 6|, raised or lifted to an inclined position, as shown in Fig, l of the drawings and the forming and molding plat-es open to permit insertion of a bottle to fit beneath the lower mouthpiece blank which has been dropped o r fed into receiving position, by slight friction up into and under the mouthpiece when the bottle is inserted through the openings 2| and 22 at the fron-t and bottom of the case in a slight angular arcuate upward and rearward movement, suitable means may be provided. This means is illustrated in the form of a spring |25 anchored to the top of the case and connected to an arm |26 on the shaft 59, as more clearly shown in Figs. 4, and 13 of the drawings. This spring normally pulls upwardly on the arm |26 to turn the shaft 59.

In the method of producing and applying the sanitary mouthpieoes to bottles, in accordance with the invention, and in the operation of the device or apparatus shown and described, the parts are normally in the positions shown in Figs. 1, 8 and 13 of the drawings. That is, the lever 6| is upwardly raised by the spring |25 or other suitable means provided for this purpose against the Lipper stop or abutment 63 and the mold plates I04 and I2I for compressing the body and iiange of the mouthpiece'against the bottle are normally separated outwardly sliding in the guides IUI and swung upwardly and downwardly on the pivots I I6 respectively. The upper plates fashion. Thus, when the lever 6I is swung downwardly the plates 4I are moved inwardly beneath the lower edge of the mouthpiece body immediately above the lower one supported on the plates 31 so as to check the downward movement of the supply in the magazine and at the same time move the plates 31 outwardly to release the lower one to be fed into applying position by dropping onto the ring |03. Before doing this, however, the bottle having been obtained from an attendant, a dispensing machine or other refrigerated container and the cap removed therefrom, is ini serted through the openings 2i and 22, as pre viously described to rest upon the adjustable bottom or support 14, and properly positioned against the ange or retaining member 15. When this is done, the bottle will depress the trip plate or inclined pressure foot 85 to raise the rod 81 and disengage the lug 94 from the socket 95 so that the lever will be free to be moved to partially turn the shaft 59. The bottle mouth is inserted upwardly into the mouthpiece body 32 supported on the ring or plate H33, as indicated in Figs. 7, 8 and 13 of the drawings and there is sufficient friction between the enlargements 69 and 1U and the interior of the body 32 to hold the mouthpiece Onthe mouth of the bottle or by omitting the plate ID3 to permit removal of the bottle with the mouthpiece so applied and with the ange 34 covering the mouth of the bottle at the bead 10 of the pouring neck or extending upwardly in the event that the top of the body is not flanged. However, ordinarily, and with the flange 345 provided and resting on the top of the bead 1li, the lever 6I is swung downwardly while supporting the bottle in the mannerstated and while still grasping the same through the opening 2l. This causes the former plates IllI to be moved inwardly to shape the body around the bottle at the enlargements B9 and 10, or either of them, according to the inner formation or curvature of the plates or molds, as previously described. In other words, the body may be compressed into either shoulder 1I or 13 or both and restricted or crimped in conformity therewith. At the same time, the upper or top former plates I2I are swung downwardly against the top body portion or flange of the mouthpiece blank and pressed against the top portion of the bead so that its inner edge will conform to the orifice. This may be facilitated by having the vertical edge |23 moved downwardly against the inner edge 3S of the fiange 34 at the top opening in the blank forming the mouthpiece in a sort of frictional wiping or shearingvmotion so that the edge is Y rendered smooth and pressed into conformity to the inner edge of the bead where it joins with the bottle orifice. The blanks are guided in their movements by the post or rod 28 and are freed A by the tapered portion .30 and retained against inward to the orifice possible displacement by the rings and 46 or 46a and in the form employing the top plates I2I, by the side plates |24. Inthe form shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings wherein the top plates I2I are omitted, the forming action is against the lateral or surrounding wall only of the bottle mouth and the mouthpiece may be compressed against either or both of the shoulders or grooves 1I and 13, as well as the inclined portion 12. Upon releasing the operating lever, the latter will be raised and the parts returned to initial positions by the Springl I25. The plates Iilfl with or without the plates IZI having been released from clamping or crimping position pressed against the bottle mouth so as to provide clearance between the same and the mou-thpiece applied to the bottle, the latter' may be readily removed by a downward and outward motion in an arc, the enlarged portions of the mouthpiece at the reinforcements or shoulders. particularly formed by the enlargements 69 and 1i) may readily pass through the inner opening of the ring or plate ID3 tangentially thereto without spilling the contents of the bottle and so that the latter may be partaken of with assurance that the lip will contact with a clean and sanitary surface properly guarded against infection or contact with the objectionable glass surface of the bottle and without scraping or cutting the lips.

While I have illustrated and described the prel ferred form of construction for carrying my invention' into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patin the shape of a frustum of a cone, dropping the same around the bottle mouth to frictionally en gage externally thereon only at the interior of the body and then pressing portions of the body laterally inwardly only into restricted areas of the outside of the bottle neck by means through which the bodies pass when dropped into position for removal with the bottle.

2. A method of applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles for drinking therefrom consisting in taking a preformed annular body with freely open ends in the shape of a frustum of a cone,

dropping the same over the bottle mouth by an upward movement of the bottle to frictionally engage externally thereon at the interior of the body, passing the body through pressing means to a bottle mouth and then pressing portions of the body into restricted external areas of the bottle neck and at the mouth bead thereof to the neck orifice of the bottle and in conformity therewith at all points of its area.

3. A method of producing sanitary drinking mouthpieces for bottles having neck enlargements consisting in preforming an annular open ended waterproof paper body of uniform thickness from edge to edge and enlarging slightly and uniformly toward the bottom edge so as to nest t one within the other and project one above the other sufcientlyto form an external guard for the exterior of the mouth beadpf the bottle, said body being dropped down and supported at its lower edge over the bottle mouth to receive the mouth portion of a bottle inserted upwardly therein and frictionally supported and then applying external pressure to portions of the body to restrict the same at reduced external portions only of the bottle adjacent the enlargements to secure the mouthpiece in position.

4. A method of making sanitary mouthpieces consisting in preforming a partially formed annular blank body, then applying the same frictionally over a bottle mouth by insertion of the bottle therein from the bottom while the body is restrained against movement and subsequently restricting, compressing and crimping the blank body around enlargements and restricted portions of the bottle mouth and over the pouring lip thereof to the orifice thereof, said body moving in a constant, straight path until removed with the bottle.

5. A method of applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles consisting in feeding open ended blanks downwardly by gravity to receiving position singly, retaining said blanks from beneath in receiving position, inserting the mouth of the bottles thereinto by an arcuate upward movement for frictional engagement therewith and subsequently conforming the blanks to irregularities of the bottle mouth.

6. An apparatus for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles Aor the like, comprising a magazine for containing a supply thereof, means therebelow for releasing the blanks for .axially feeding and fitting over a bottle mouth, means for checking the blanks and means therebeneath for receiving and 'compressing the blanks about the mouth of the bottle 7. A device for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles for drinking purposes only including a magazine for containing preformed frusto-conical open kended bodies of relatively flexible material, means in axial alignment therebeneath for supporting the lower body and the upper bodies nested thereon, means for intermittently releasing the lower body and supporting the upper bodies beneath the lower edge of the next to the lowest body, and means axially therebeneath for receiving and crimpingra body discharged from a previous lowposition to the outside only of the mouth of a bottle while leaving the topopen.

8. A device for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles including a case, a magazine thereon adapted to contain the mouthpieces partially preformed, means for releasing the mouthpieces to drop axially into the case from the bottom of the magazine, means axially therebeneath for supporting the bottle in applying position, said means being adapted to accommodate bottles of different sizes, means for checking the upper mouthpiece bodies and supporting the lower released mouthpiece body in applying position and means operable simultaneously with the checking and supporting mechanism for compressing the bodies about the mouths of bottles.

9. A device for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles including a case, a magazine thereon adapted to contain the mouthpieces partially preformed, means for singly releasing the lowest mouthpiece for feeding the same into the case from the bottom of the magazine, means for supporting the bottle in applying position, means for normally supporting the bodies in feeding position, means therebeneath for supporting a previously fed body, and means actuatable 'with the releasing and supporting means to compress the body about a bottle mouth.

10. A device for applying sanitary mouth pieces to bottles including a case, a magazine therefor adapted to contain the mouth pieces partially preformed in nested relation, means for supporting and releasing the mouth pieces into the case from the bottom of the magazine, means for supporting the bottle in applying position, means for supporting a released mouth piece for application to the bottle and means actuatable with the supporting and releasing means to compress the mouth piece about the outside or lateral wall of a bottle mouth provided with enlargements and restricted portions and simultaneously crimping the same over the bead of Y the` bottle mouth for removal with the bottle.

11. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for intermittently releasing and feeding frusto-conical bodies to supporting position, means for checking and supporting the same, means for releasing the checking means and means for applying the bodies after release.

l2. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for intermittently releasing frusto-conical bodies to feed the same to supporting position and checking the same, means for releasing the checking means to permit the bodies to move to applying position, means for applying the bodies after release, means for rendering said releasing, checking and applying means inoperative and means operated by insertion of a bottle for releasing the latter means.y

13. An apparatus for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles comprising means for supporting mouthpiece blanks Vin nested relation one over the other to receive the mouthpiece of a bottle upwardly therein, oppositely acting means for releasing the lower blank and supporting the blanks thereabove and means for anchoring the mouthpiece on the bottle,

14. An apparatus for applying drinking mouthpieces to bottles comprising a magazine for holding frusto-conical open ended bodies for feeding the same directly downwardly, means for individually discharging said bodies downwardly and supporting the remainder, means for supporting a body spaced therebeneath in position to receive a, bottle neck from beneath and means for compressinghthe body about the bottle so positioned, all of saidrneans being located in a single vertical line.

15. An apparatus for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles having mouth beads and reinforcements with restricted portions, comprising a case, means for individually releasing and feeding frusto-conical bodies to said case and means simultaneously Aoperated with the last named means for applying thebody to a bottle neck and bead inserted'into the bodies for crimping the latter thereon` and then releasing the same.

16. An apparatus for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles having mouth beads and reinforcements with restricted portions, comprisingra case, slidable means for individually releasing frusto-conical bodies for-*feeding the same to said case, said case having an opening for insertion of a bottle, means for supporting and ,centering the bottle so that the mouthpiece will be in positionV to frictionally receive a body thereover by upward movement of the bottle, means for actuating said releasingmeans, means to hold said actuating means against movement until a bottle is inserted and means to release the latter means upon insertion of a bottle.

17. An apparatus for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles having mouth beads and reinforcements with restricted portion, comprising a case, slides for individual releasing for feeding frusto-conical bodies downwardly to said case, 'said case having an opening for insertion of a bottle from beneath, means for supporting and centering the body relative to the bottle. means for crimping the body about the bottle neck and bead and then releasing the same and means for simultaneously actuating said slides and crimping means.

18. A method of making sanitary mouthpieces for bottles for drinking purposes only consisting of preforrning an annular frusto-conical open ended waterproof body and then frictionally applying the same to a bottle mouth by separable applying means through which the bodies are fed in a single straight path axially of the bottles, bodies and applying means.

19. An apparatus for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles having mouth beads and reinforcements with restricted portions comprising a case, means for individually releasing irusto-conical bodies for feeding the same to said case, said case having an opening for insertion of a bottle, means for supporting and centering the bottle so that the mouthpiece will be in position to frictionally receive a body thereover by upward movement of the bottle and means for actuating said releasing means. :y:

20. An apparatus for applying sanitary mouthpieces to bottles having mouth beads and reinforcements with restricted portions cQmprising a case, means for individually releasing and feeding frusto-conical bodies downwardly to said case, said case having an openingfor insertion of a bottle from beneath in an arcuate'path, means for supporting and centering the; body relative to the bottle, means for crimping the body about the bottle neck and bead and then releasing the same and means for simultaneously actuating said releasing and crimping means. Y

21. A device for applying sanitary mouth pieces to bottles including a case, a magazine therefor adapted to contain mouth piece bodies partially preformed in nested relation, means for normally checking and supporting the nested mouth piece bodies in feeding position and for releasing the lowest mouth piece body, means operable upon the release of the lowest mouth piece body for checking and supporting the bodies `thereabove, and means for supporting a released mouth piece body in position for application to a bottle and for releasing the same when said body has been applied to the bottle.

WENDEL M SCHNEIDER.

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