US2349197A

US2349197A - Seal applying machine

Info

Publication number: US2349197A
Application number: US282932A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl R Rehfeld
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-07-05
Filing date: 1939-07-05
Publication date: 1944-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1961-05-16

Description

May 16,'1944. E. R. REHFELD 2,349,197

SEAL APPLYING' MAQHINE Filed July 5, 1939 8 sheets-sheet 1 l v .0 V o o oo 0 o "o o o o o o o o o o o o o, o

o o 0 'Q2 o (l) Q 0 o v o 9) & i (u l oc: G2 o o o o oo o. o o e 0 Go O 0 o o.

May 16, 1944 E. R. REHFELD 2,349,197 l SEAL APPLYING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 16, 1944.

Filed July 5, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 16, 1944. E. R. REHFELD SEAL APPLYING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1939 8 sneets-ShetA May 16, 1944. E. R. REHFELD SEAL APPLYING MACHINE;

Fild` July 5, 1959 8 Shee-cs-Sheet 5 May 16, 1944. E, #..REHFELD f 2,349,197 n SEAL APPLYING MACHINE l Filed July 5, i959 s sheets-sheet e May 16,-1944.

8 Sheets-Sheet '7 E. R. REHFELD f SEAL APLYING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1939 May 16, 1944. E. R. REHFELD SEAL APPLYING MACHINE.

Filed July 5, 1939 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 atented May 16, 1944 2,349,197 SML Mums Macu aan n.. nemen, chicago, ni..

Application July 5, 1939, Serial No. 282,932

- 2r claims. (ci. ee-i) This invention relates to a seal-applying ma.-

chine, and more particularly to a machine for automatically applying sealing straps to a container, such as a glass bottle, during the formation thereof.

One feature of this invention is that it provides of Figure 13; Figure 13 is a detailed partial front elevation of the applying apparatus; Figure 14 is a detailed sectional View along the line it of Figure 12; Figure 15 is a detailed view, partly in completely automatic means forede'cting permarient attachment of a sealingy strap to the wall of a container, as a bottle, during the formation of such containers by high speed automatic machinery; another feature .of this invention is that it does not interfere with the normal contemer-making machinery now generally found in commercial usage, but. cooperates with such machinery; a further feature is that the sealing strap is applied to the bottle or other container 'and permanently joined thereto without setting up undesired strains in or otherwise weakening the wall of the container; yet another feature of this invention is `that it provides machinery ior making commercially available sealing metinods and apparatus heretofore made the subject of other applications by this inventor; a further feature of this invention is that itprovides a recessed mold, or segment of a moldl for receiving the sealing strap, and eilicient means for auto-` matically placing the straps in the recesses at appropriate intervals in the container-making operation; a further feature of this invention is that the straps are located in the recesses with accuracy; other features vand advantages o this invention will be apparent fromthe following specification and the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial top plan view of bottlemalring fand strap-applying machinery; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the strap-applying appa ratus, along the line 2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detailed view oi drive mechanism transforming rotary motion into reciprocatory motion; Figure Ll is a fragmentary sectional detail viert1 along the line i of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a rear elevation of the strap-applying apparatus and a portion oi rthe base of the bottle-making machine; Figure 6 is a complete top plan view of the applying apparatus; Figure 'l is a detail view of a plurality .of the sealing' straps in continuous relation; Figure 8 is a partial elevationof the seal-applying apparatus in its back orA cutting and forming position; Figure 9 is apartial side elevation view of the apparatus in its forward or strap-applying position; Figure 101s a partial elevation of a mold segment with a strap' in place therein; Figure 11 is a view of a sealed bottle neck; Figure 12 is a detailed view of the forward end of the appa-l ratus, partially in section, along the line iZ-IZ section, of the clutch mechanism, the View being taken 'along the line id oi? Figure 6; and Figure 16 is afurther detailed View ot the clutch mecha nism along the line IE-i of Figure 15.

I have heretofore invented improved means for sealing a container such as a bottle to prevent unauthorized refilling, or at least to show unmistakable signs of such unauthorized refilling. The sealing means comprises a sealing strap adapted to be permanently attached or fused to the wall of the bottle during the formation; a metallic closure for covering the orifice of the bottle, the closure having a depending portion arranged to lie in juxtaposition to a portion of the strap; and a permanent junction between and apparatus forming the subject of this ,patent application is particularly shown in Figures 12, 13 and le of my aforesaid application, Serial No. 149,337.

I contemplate permanently attaching such sealing straps as those shown in Figure l of this patent application by placing them in recesses in the bottle .molds prior to the introduction oi the glass and the blowing of the hottie, The straps are provided with two spaced openings and the mold has enlarged openings in registry with and behind the openings in the strap. During the blowing operation, therefore, as the bottle wall is formed, part of the glass is forcedthrough the openings in the sealing strap and caused to expand in the mold openings therebehind, so that rivet-like projections permanently fuse the strap to the wall of the bottle.

Present-'day high-speed automatic bottlemaking machinery generally forms a slug of hot, plastic glass and inserts it in a body mold comprising two separated segments. The segments lare then closed, a blowing head applied, and the chine that it applies sealing straps to a recess provided in one of each' pair of body mold segments while they are open and just before the slug of glass is placed therein. Subsequent blowing and bottle removing operations remain exactly the same, it being only necessary to use molds provided with an appropriate recess.

In general, .my apparatusI comprises a continuously operating driving motor; timing apparatus for effecting driving connection between the motor and thevmachinery at appropriate intervals; a supply of sealing straps; means' for feeding a strap to the head of the machine, and forming it to a desired shape; and guide means insuring insertion of the strap in the recess provided therefor in one of the body mold segments as the head of the machine is moved forward at the appropriate time.

Before describing in detail my strap-applying apparatus I believe it desirable to describe briefly the construction and operation of an automatic bottle-making machine of conventional type.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, a top plan view, the table' and molds for the preliminary formation of a bottle are shown in detail; and the positions of the molds on the second cooperating or finishing table are also indicated. The bottle making machine has a base on which is mounted a table 2| rotatable about an axis 22; and this table carries a plurality of molds, here shown as six in number and `indicated as 23, 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28. Each mold,

as for example mold 24, is made up of two complementary segments, as 29 and 30. I shall hereafter refer to the molds on this table 2| as body molds, although they are sometimes also known in the industry as blank molds.

The table 2| rotates counter-clockwise (speaking with respect to Figure 1) in steps, being operated by` pneumatic mechanism. That is, each mold dwells for a short period in the station or position shown in Figure 1; the rotation of the table moves the mold to the next station, where it` again dwells for a short time. The speed of rotation of the tables is generally from five to ten revolutions per minute. This intermittent rotation may be effected in conventional manner by an air motor as shown in Figure 3 of Patent 2,067,949 to Rez, which issued January 19, I193'7. A slug of glass is inserted in the mold 26 at the station shown in the drawings. As the mold 26 moves to thestations in which molds 21 and 28 are shown, the slug is blown to form a parison of the general shape and size desired, but with a smooth exterior surface. The

segments of the mold 'then separate and when the mold reaches the station which is showny occupied bythemold 23 the parison is transferred to the mold 3| of the nishng table, which rotates about the axis 32. As this mold moves through the stations here indicated in dotted lines, as 33, 34 and 35, the glass is formed into the desired ilnal finish, with any external markings on the surface of the bottle. This may i which I have invented, a strap or segment of the strap;

sheet metal having openings therethrough must be placed in such a relation to the glass during the first blowing of the body of the bottle that part of the glass is forc'ed through the openings in the strap. Figure 7 shows a portion of the strip or tape in which I form my straps, the portion shown comprising slightly more than two complete strap segments. One strap 31 of the kind applied to each bottle is completely dened by the space between the dotted lines 38 and 39. It has a connecting portion 40 having the general shape of an arrow head; an attachment portion 4| having openings 42 and 43 therein; and a tab or pull portion 44. Score lines 45 and 46, or lines of weakening of the metal, are provided as illustrated so that when the tear tab 44 is pulled by the ngers the central portion will tear away from the portion of metal about the openings 42 and 43.

I insert the strap in a recess provided therefor in the mold segmentv 29 while the mold is dwelling in the position shown in Figure 1, and then withdraw my strap-inserting apparatus to permit the mold segments to close and move on about the table in conventional manner. The time during which the mold segment 29 dwells at` the point shown in the drawings is very brief;

and my strap-applying machinery must, therev fore, separate the strap from the tape, bend it to a desired shape, insert it inthe mold segment,

and withdraw therefrom within a very short time.

The recess in the mold segment 29 adapted to receive the strap 91 is best shown in Figure 10, and is here indicated as 41. It consists of a shallow portion conforming to the general outline of deeper substantially hemispherical portions 48 and 49 adapted to lie behind the openings in the strap; and an upper slot portion 50 adapted to receive the head or connecting portion 40 of the strap. The position of the strap 31 in the mold segment 29 may be seen in Figure 9 on the same sheet. The nished sealed bottle is illustrated in part in Figure A11 on the same sheet, the strap 31 being shown as permanently connected, as by spot-Welding, to a depending portion of the closure cap 5|.

My apparatus for cutting, forming and inserting the straps in the mold segments is shown in part in Figure 1; in side elevation in Figure 2, in back elevation in Figure 5; and in top plan in Figure 6. Various details of the apparatus are shown in the other views which will be hereinafter described when they become pertinent.

The operating mechanism is carriedon. a base 52 wliich is supported in such a way as to enable correct adjustment of the position of the apparatus with respect to mold segments. This snpport is here shown as comprising several parts, one part being a bracket 53 adapted to be rigidly mounted on the side of the base 2li of the automatic glass-making machine heretofore described, as by the

studs

54 and 55. This has pivotally mounted on it an extending member 59. This extending member has a tubular portion 51 adapted to form a guide for a threaded rod 5I;

'and adjustable positioning of the rod is effected by an internally threaded rotatable nut member .et carried in an appropriate slot in the member t6. The nnal support for the table or base 52 is in the form of the member 60 which is slightly -eccentrically located with respect to the rod 58.

motor 6i adapted to be continuously rotated during operation of the machinaand here shown as incorporatingv a gear reduction. The motor op. crates through clutch mechanism referred to in general as 6r and controlled by a solenoid 63 to intermittently rotate cam mechanism 60 which transforms the rotary motion into reciprocating longitudinal motion of the rod 68.

A carriage 66 is mounted for recprocatory movement on the two

rails

61 and 60; and is guided for steadier movement by .the two backwardly extending rods 60 and l0, which are slidably journalled in the brackets 1l and l2.

The carriage 56 carries at its forward end an operating head hereinafter to be more fully described. .The head has limited longitudinal movement with respect to the carriage; and includes seal feeding, cutting, forming and holding means. Sealing straps in the form of a continuous tape 13 are supplied to the operating head from a reel 1t mounted on abracket 15 on the base 52.

Returning to the drive mechanism, the clutch 52 is best shown in detail in Figures 15 and 16. Driving shaft 16 is continuously rotated.' through the speed reduction gears as intermediaries, by the motor 6l. This driving shaft carries an annular housing 11 internally toothed asiat 18.

An internal rotatable member 19 is rigidly con-v nected to shaft 80 to drive it and the cam mechanism 64. The internal clutch member 10 has pivotally mounted at 8| a dog or pawi member This member is urged outwardly by the spring 83 in a direction which would cause it to engage with the teeth y'I8 were it not otherwise restrained. The restraining means provided is in the form of a projecting plunger or stop member 88 carried on the end of a longitudinally slidable rod 85. The rod 08 is bifurcated at its lefthand end (speaking with respect to Figure and has pivotallymounted thereonone end of the control- .engagethe internally toothed portion ofthe rotating outer clutch member 11, so that the shaft V80 is thenv driven through one complete counterclockwise rotation (speaking with respect toFigis discontinued until another energization of the solenoid takes place.

Referring more particularly to Figure 5, the circuit leads from the solenoid 68' are carried through the `cable 90 to a switch 9|, and then through the cable 02 to any convenient source of actuating current. As before mentioned, the table 3| of the automatic bottle-making machine (not shown in Figure 5) is rotated in steps by pneumatic means. The pulsating air supply for this pneumatic table drive passes through the pipes 03 and et; and branch or take-0E pipes 05 and 06 divert some of this air to a switch actuating cylinder t'h A projecting rod @t reciprocate@` by the piston in the cylinder 01 actuates the switch 0| to energize the solenoid 63 at intervals properly timed in relation to the step by step movement of the mold-carrying table of the bottle-blowing machine. That is, each time an open mold segment reaches the position occupied by mold segment 26 in Figure l the switch 9| is momentarily closed to`cause a. forward movement of the operating head of the apparatus to place a sealing strap into the recess in the mold, whereupon the head immediately withdraws to permit the mold to pass 'to the next station.

The intermittent rotation of the shaft @il through one complete turn is translated by the A cam mechanism et into a forward and backward stroke of the rod 65. Referring particularly to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6, it will/be seen that the disk |00 is fastened to the shaft 00 and intermittently rotated by it through onecomplete revolution in the manner heretofore described. The disk carries a trunnon |0| radially adjustable on the vthreaded rod |02, so that the length of the stroke of the carriage can be adjusted. The trunnion |0i is received in a vertical slot or guideway in the channel bar |03 as may be best seen in Figure 4. This channel bar is rigidly mounted on the rod 65 parallel to the face of the disk |00; and is of a length equal to the diameter of the disk. A locking pawl |04 is provided to prevent backward rotation-of the disk, which is designed to rotate in a .counter-clockwise 'direction (speaking with respect to Figures 2 and 3) At rest position, with the clutch members disconnected as shown in Figure 16, the disk is adapted to lie in the position shown in Figure 3.

When the clutch members are connected by energzation of the solenoid 63 a complete rotation o! the disk |00 takes place and this drives the channel bar |03 from its back position shown in vFigure 3 to its forward position shown in Figure 2, and then returns it again to the back position illustrated in Figure 3. Since the channel -bar |03 is rigidly connected to the rod 65 and this is in turn connected to the carriage 66 on which the cpl erating head is mounted, this action causes a forure 16). When vthe clutch member 1g and shaft have made a complete revolution the stepr member 8l is again in Atheposition shown in Figure 15 as a result'of deenergization of the solenoid 63; thepawl 82 yis therefore knocked out v ,of engagement with the cooperating teeth; and driving connection between the shafts 18 and 88 ward and return stroke of the carriage and head at the desired time.

I will now describe the operating head, its details being best shown in Figures 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14. A toothed feed wheel |05 is rotatably mounted on a bracket |06. Anv operating lever |01 acts to rotate the feed wheel |05 clockwise (speaking with respect to Figure 8) each time the lever itself is moved. Referring particularly to Figure 13, it will be seen that the lever |01 is pivotally mounted on the same pin |08 that carries the feed wheel/ l |05. The lever has pivotally mounted .on it a pawl |09 `which cooperates with a ratchet ||0 to effect movement of the feed wheel in one direction only. Referrng now for a moment to Figure 2. it will be -:seen that the bracket 15 which ,Carries the reel has mounted on it a stud or stop member The carriage and head are in their forward position in Figure 2; as they return to their back position, however, the lever |01 strikes the stud I to effect movement of the feed wheel |05. This moves the tape 13 down, against resistance interposed by the friction arms I |2.acting on the reel, a distance equal to the length of one sealing strap. The teeth on the feed wheel |05 are in pairs so spaced as to engage the openings 42 and 43 (s'ee Figure 7) in the sealing straps. This insures proper location of each successive strap segment of the tape 13.

The bracket |06 serves as a support of secondary carriage mounted for limited movementl on the carriage 66. As may be best seen in Figures 8, 9 and 12, the carriage 66 has a pair of forwardly projecting rods, the rod ||3 being shown in the'drawings and there being a similar rod on the other side of the carriage. The bracket |06 is slideably mounted on these rods, its rearward position with respect to the carriage 66 being shown in Figure 8 and its forward position with respect to such carriage being shown in Figure 9. These two forwardly projecting rods on the carriage 66 have a member ||4 iixedly mounted thereon at the forward end. This member` has a pair of locating ngers on the forward end 'f adapted to be received by cooperating recesses in the mold segment 29, the finger ||5 being shown in Figure 9. Beneath these lingers is mounted a pair of slideable buffers or contact members, normally urged out ahead of the locating fingers. These bumper portions contact the mold segment 26 before thelocating'iingers and serve to steady,

y the head of the carriage as the locating fingers move into the appropriate recesses in the mold,

to rod through the spring |40. As "may, be

The strap carrying portion |22 has yieidably mounted in th forward end thereof two supporting ypins |24 and |25, as may be best'seen in Figures 13 and 14. These are normally in the position shown in Figure 14, and are adapted to passy through the openings 42. and 43 (see Figure 7) in the seal 31. When the seal is applied 'to the recess in themold segment 29, however, these pins are able to yield. As before mentioned, this supporting member |22. is slideably supported in the top portion` of the bracket |06. A pair of rods |26 and |21 and the springs surrounding these rods serve to keep the member |22 in the` relation to the plate 2| shown in Figure 14 except when some part `of this member 22 is'in actual engagement with the mold segment.

A plate |26 is slldeably mounted on the forward I part of the bracket |06 and is provided with side- I After the apparatus has inserted a sealing strap in the recess in a mold segment the operating head is moved backwardly on its return stroke by the drive mechanism heretofore described. As it moves lrearwardly the lever |01flrst strikes the stop member (see Figure 2) to rotate the feed wheel |05 and bring a new segment of the tape down in place in front of the supporting member |22 and between it and the plate |23, which lies in the position shown in Figures 12 and 13, as soon as the operating head has backed away from the mold an inch or two. Further backward movement of the operating head causes the cutting member |23 (normally urged to a position back of the tape ``|3 by the spring Ill) to strike a stop ymember |32, this stop member being rigidly mounted on the base 52. Still further backward movement of the operating head 'causes relative forward motion of the cutting .as for example the line sa illustrated in Flgure v;

and then bends the head portion 43 of the sealing strap 31 forward to the position shown in Figure I2. During this last movement the depending portion |4| comes`-intocontact with the back of the member |22 and forces it up tightly against the strap and the plate |23 to give. the strap a curve adapting yit to conform to the neck of the finished bottle. -At this time the clutch has disconnected and the cam drive mechanism has reached the position shown' inA Figure 3, the parts of the operating head all being in the position shown in Figure 8. A

When the mold table of the glass machine has rotated to the next station the heretofore described timing mechanism again connects the clutch and causes a forward movement of the drive rod 65, an'd thus of the operating head. The carriage 66 and bracket |03 stay in the positlen with respect to each other shown in Figure s until the bumpers andlocating fingers engage the mold segment 23, as shown in Figure 9.

' Thereafter the bracket |06 moves forwardly with respect to the carriage 36 until it reaches the position shown in Figure 9. During this, forward movement the plate |-26 drops down away from its position in front of the sealing strap, since the pins |29 and |30 travel down the inclined cam surfaces. By the timefthe bracket |33 reachesV its furthest forward position the pins |24and |23 have already entered the holes 43 'and 43` in the mold recess; and the sealing strap has been forced in to position in the recess. The recess sealing strap remains'in place therein as the wardly extending pins |23 and |30 adapted to cooperate with the inclined cam surfaces'as |23, tc effect vertical movement of the plate.

operating head oi the machine withdraws on its return stroke. At the foremost part of its movement there is, of course, nothing positively holding the strap to the supporting member |22, the trsap merely lying in place on the pins |24 and After the operating headhas withdrawn the moldmoves to the next station, that occupied by the mold 25 in Figure 1, and during this movement the mold segments 23 and 33 close. When the mold reaches'the next stage, as 'heretofore described, a slug of molten glass is inserted.

Thereafter the bottle is blown and the plastic glass ilows through the openings 42 and 43 in the sealing strap to formrivet-like pieces per-V manently attaching the strap to the bottle Wall. When the bottle leaves the finishing table of the machine it travels to an annealing furnace. The bottles are then shipped to a distiller or the like, where they are fed t a filling and capping machine of conventional type, and thereafter a closure is applied and the depending portion of the closure spot-welded to the upwardly projecting head t0 of the sealing strap to make a finished sealed assembly of the kind shown in Figure l1.

The strap-applying apparatus is capable. of

. use with present standard bottle-making machines; and it may be adjusted for any size or shape of bottle within the capacity of the machine. The machine is rugged and positive in action, yet capable of the high speed of operation necessary to keep up with a bottle-making machine which turns out nearly a bottle a minute. No reorganization of the bottle-making machine is required, it only being necessary to drill a few holes in the base to enable attach- -ment of the bracket 53, and to provide recessed molds. The molds are, 'of course, always readily interchangeable parts of a conventional bottlel. Apparatus for severing sealing straps from a ilat tape comprising a plurality of identical sealing straps and supplying .them to holding means on a member adapted to move to and away from a mold to insert a strap in a recess in each mold of .a plurality of molds successively presented to the member, including: means iorl moving the' tape in steps equal to the length of a strap; Lmeans for severing the end strap from the tape at each movement thereof and means for bending a lportion of the severed strap at anangle to the remainder thereof.

2. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 1, wherein the severingand bending means comprise a movable bar havingv an upwardly and forwardly inclined face, .a shear plate adapted, to cooperate with the upper edge of the face to eiect severance of the end strap, anda plate adapted to cooperate with the lower edge of the face ,to bend a portion of the strap at an angle to the remainder'thereof.

3. Apparatus for releasably holding a strap of thin material with an opening 'therethrough on p the forward end of a reciprocable member adapted to insert the strap in a recess in a. mold, including: a pin projecting forwardly from the member and adapted to project Athrough the opening in the strap; and a plate vertically movable in/a plane immediately in front of the strap when said strap is supported on the pin.

4r Apparatus for releasably holding a strap of Athin material with an opening therethrough on the forward end of a reciprocable member adapted to insert the strap in a recess in a mold, in`

cludingrja.-f pin projecting forwardly-from the member and adapted to project through the opening in the strap: a -p/late vertically movable' in a plane immediately in front of the strap when said strap is supportedon the pin and normally in front of the strap to positively maintain it on the pin; and means for moving the plate out of its position in front of the strap, said means including a portion adapted to engage the mold before .the strap and being operative upon such engagement.

5. Apparatus of the character claimed-in claim 3, including a second pin horizontally spaced from the rst mentionedV pin and adapted to project through a second opening in the strap.

5. Apparatus of the character described for successively inserting atleast a portion of a sealu ing element in a desired `position in each of a plurality of molds, including: means for supporting avplurality of molds; means for moving said supportingr means to successively bring said molds to a desired position; a member movable toward and away from said position; means on the member for releasably holding an element; and means for moving the member toward each mold as it is brought to said position to deposit the element therein.

7. Apparatus of the character describedfor successively inserting at least a portion of a sealing element in a recess provided therefor in each of a plurality of molds, including: means for supporting a plurality of molds; means for moving said supporting means to successively bring said molds to a desired position: a member movable toward and away from said position; means on the member for releasably holding an element; means for moving the member toward each mold as it reaches said position to deposit the element in the recess therein; and means for supplying another element to the holding means each time an element is removed therefrom. I

' 8. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 6, including automatic means for causing movement of the supporting meansl and movement of the member to be eiected in properly timed relationship. 9. Apparatus of the character described for successively inserting .at least a portion of a seal- Y stands at said particular station to deposit the element in the recess therein; and feed means for supplying another element to the holding means each time an element is removed therefrom.

l0. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 6, including cooperating aligning means on the member adapted to cooperate with aligning means on each mold.

11. Apparatus ofthe character claimed in claim 9, including aligning means on the forward end of the member adapted to cooperate with aligning means on each mold.

12. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 7,' wherein the elements are initially in the form yof a strip or tape, and the feed means includes means for severing each successive elementfrom the tape as itis supplied to the holding means.

' continuously rotating driveL shaft;

'13. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 9, wherein the elements are initially in the form of a strip or tape, and the feed means includes means for severing each successive elementfrom the tape as it is supplied to the holding means.

14. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 7, wherein the elements are initially in the form of a at strip or tape, and the feed means includes means for severing each successive element from the tape as it is supplied to the holding means and bending a portion of the element at an angle to the remainder thereof.

15. Apparatus of the character described for successively inserting at least a portion of a sealing element in a recess provided therefor in each of a plurality of molds, including: means for supporting a plurality of molds; means for effecting step-by-step movement of the supporting means to successively bring said molds to a desired operating station; a member movable toward and away from the position occupied by the mold at said station; means on the member for 'releasably holding an element; means for movingthe member toward and away from each mold as it stands at said station to deposit the element in the recess therein; feed means for supplying another element to the holding means each time an element is removed therefrom; and means for coordinating the movement of the member in properly timed relationship with that of the mold supporting means.

16. Apparatus of the character described for successively inserting at least a portion of a sealing element in a recess provided therefor in each of a plurality of molds, including: means for supporting a plurality of molds, means for effecting step-by-step movement of the supporting means to successively bring said molds to a desired operating station; a member movable toward and away from the position occupied by the mold at said station; means on the member for releasably holding an element; means for moving the member toward and away from each mold as it stands at said station to deposit the element in the recess therein; feed means for supplying another element to the holding means each time an element is removed therefrom; con. tinuously operating drive means; and means for intermittently connecting the drive means to the member to effect a forward and rearward stroke of the member at each such connection.

17. Apparatus of the? character described for successively inserting at least a portion of a sealing element in a recess provided therefor in each of a plurality of molds, including: means for supporting a plurality o f molds, means for eiecting step-by-step movement of the supporting means to successively bring said molds to a desired operating station; a member movable toward and away from the position occupied by the mold at said station; means on the member for releasably holding an element; means for moving the member toward'and away from each mold as it stands at said station to deposit the element in'the` recess therein; feed means for supplying another element to the holding means each time an element is removed therefrom; a

shaft; means connecting the second shaft to the member to `eil'ect reciprocatorymovement thereof; clutch means adapted to connect the shafts: and means for operating the clutch in accordance with movement of the mold supporting means.

18. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 17, wherein the apparatus is so constructed and arranged as to effect a complete forward and rearward stroke of the member upon each connecting operation of the clutch. v

19. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 17, including means for causing the clutch, when once connected, to remain in engagement for one complete revolution of the shafts and then to automatically disengage.

` 20. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 9, including a base on .which the mold supporting means is itself supported, a track on which the member moves, and means carried by the base and supporting the track, this last mentioned means being so constructed and arranged as to enable adjustment of the track as to angle, height, and spacing from the mold supporting means.

21. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 9, includingl a base on which the mold supporting means is itself supported, a track on which the member moves, and means carried by the base and supporting the track, this last mentioned means being so constructed and arranged as to enable adjustment ofthe track as to angle, height, andv spacing from the mold supporting means, the apparatus further including means for adjusting the length of stroke of x claim 9, wherein the holding means includes a pin adapted to pass through an opening inthe l with fixed stops.

a second l element and a member positively maintaining the element in place on the pin during most of the movement of the` first mentioned member toward the mold, the maintaining member being movably mounted tomove down away from the element just before it reaches the recess in the mold.

24. Apparatus of theA character claimed in claim 1'5 wherein the elements are derived from a tape, including means for moving said tape and severing elements therefrom, and means for causing said moving and severing operations to be successively effected during the movement of the member away from the mold.

25. Apparatus of the character claimed in claim 15, wherein' the elements are derived from a tape, including means for moving said tape and severing elements therefrom, wherein said tape moving and severing means are movable with the member and are adapted to be successively operated during the movement of the member away from the mold by engagement of movable portions of said last mentioned means 26. Apparatus of the character described for successively inserting at least a portion of a sealing element in a `desired position in each of a p1ura1ity of molds, including: means for supporting a plurality of molds; means for moving said supporting means to successively bring said molds to a desired position; a member movable toward and4 away from the mold in said positionrmeans on the member for releasably holding an element; aligning means on the member adapted to engage cooperating aligning means on the mold before the sealing element engages the'mold to insure placement of the element4 in the desired position; and means for moving the member toward each mold as it reaches said position to deposit the element therein:

27. Apparatus of the character described for successively inserting at least a portion of a sealing element in a recess provided therefor in each of a plurality of molds, including: means for supporting a plurality of molds; means for eecting step-by-stepmovement of the supporting means to successively bring said molds to a desired operating station; a member movable toward and away from the mold at said station; means on the member for releasably holding an element; means for aligning the member with respect to the mold comprising a pin adapted to be at least partially received by a bore before the sealing element reaches the recess: and means for moving the member toward and away from each mold as it stands at said station to deposit the element in the recess therein.