US2353393A

US2353393A - Opposed spiral can handling machine

Info

Publication number: US2353393A
Application number: US407328A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis A Fahey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-08-18
Filing date: 1941-08-18
Publication date: 1944-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1961-07-11

Description

July 11, 1944. AHE 2,353,393

OPPOSED SPIRAL CAN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1941 4 Sheet-Sheet-l 58 Fig.1.

' V ZSnnntor Francis A. Fa hey] attornegs y 11 I I F. A. FAHEY 2,353,393

OP POSED SPIRAL' CAN HANDLING MACHINE -Fi1ed Aug. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 27 3 ZSnnntor Francis A. Fa hey W +M (Ittornegs July 11, 1944, F. A. FAHEY OPPOSED SPIRAL CAN HANDLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 18, 1941 4 sheets-Shea s 3nnentor Francis A. Fahey Gttomegc July 11, 1944. F. A. FAHEY OPPOSED SPIRAL CAN HANDLING MACHINE Fi led Aug. 18, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @1385 Francis A. Fahey Gttornenn Patented July 11, 1944 oPPosEn SPIRAL CAN HANDLING V MACHINE Francis A: Fahey, Seattle, Wash. Application August 1 8, 1941, Serial No. 407,328

19 Claims.

My invention relates to a machine for processing canned. food products, in particular for cooking such products after having been sealed in cans, and thereafter for cooling the cans before discharging them from the machine. This application is related to my copending application, Serial No.296,441, filed September 25, 1939, for .Can handling mechanism, patented April 7, 1942, No. 2,278,434.

The general construction and. certain details of my present machine are similar to those disclosed in the above mentioned application. Both involve, in general, a machine incorporating a number of superposed can holding tiers, each composed of a rotating plate and a spiral can guide. Cans are admitted to and discharged from each tier or spiral storage path through an opening in the guide periphery, the inner end of each such pathbeing blind, so .that the cans fed into such path must be removed therefrom through the sameperipheral opening which they entered. l

The principal difference between my batch machine disclosed herein and that covered in the above application is that in the present instance some of the spiral can guides are directed clockwise and others counterclockwise, so that While all the plates are being rotated conjointly in the same direction cans may be fed into the tiers whose spirals are directed in one direction, while at the same time cans'are being discharged from tiers whose spirals are directed oppositely. i i

My machine may either be of the batch type or of thecontinuous processing type, asexplained in my copending application. In the batch type all the tiers are first fully loaded with cans, and then all these cans are'processed at once, after which all the tiers are'emptied of cans and again refilled before the commencement of the next cooking operation. In the continuous type of process the cooking operation is uninterrupted, and the cans progress from one tier to the next below until they have passed through all the tiers of the machine and exit without cessation of the cooking operation of the machine as a whole.

' Variousdetails of my. previous machine have been altered in my present machine. Thus the construction of the tier assembly has been improved and simplified, yet the operating prin- .ciple of the spiral can guides and can supporting plates is the same as before. Similarly the control mechanismior operation of the gates blocking the spiral guide openings. and for regulating movement of the can storage tiers is more automatic. In particular, a new feed and discharge control mechanism is disclosed herein for a machine of the batch type, incorporating spirals some of which are directed in one direction and the remainder of which are directed oppositely. V

A principal purpose of my present invention is to provide a can processing machine having a plurality of superposed storage tiers for cans, each tier accommodating a spiral row of cans in which the spiral rows of some tiers are directed oppositely to the spiral rows of cans in other tiers, so that by rotation of all the tiers conjointly in a single direction cans may be removed from the spiral paths directed in one direction at the same time cans .are fed into the oppositely directed spiral paths, thus conserving the time required in filling or emptying the storage tiers by mechanism occupying a given space and of a given capacity.

A further purpose is to provide interconnected and automatic control features for such a machine to improve its reliability and automaticity of operation. Such control mechanism is particularly applicable to the batch process machine, V

In addition, it is an object to provide improved structural features in such a machine, decreasing the number of parts required, yet

' making it stronger, more compact, and more efilcient than when using the corresponding structural elements of the machine disclosed in my above mentioned application. While various features of the device shown in the accompanying drawings maybe incorporated in a machine of the continuous process type, in the manner described in my copending application, Serial No. 296,441,. for present purposes of illustration I have shown only abatch process machine. It is to be understood. however, that many features of this invention are not restricted to such type of machine, except as required by the appended claims...

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of my processing machine as a whole, with parts broken awayto show certain interior mechanism, while Figure 2 is a plan viewiof the machineproper takenon line 2-2 of Figure 1, and also has parts broken away.

Figure 3.is an enlarged plan View of the drive control unit on the central portion of the superstructurepwith parts broken away-to show interior mechanism, while Figure 4 -'is a vertical section through such. mechanism on line 4 l 2 a assasee tions of the feed and spiral can guide mechanisrn, Figure 9 illustrating the mechanism used for spiral guides convoluted in one direction, and. Figure 10 showing the mechanism used for oppositely directed spiral guides.

Figure 11 is a detail elevation view of a portion of the feed control mechanism, while Figure 12 is an elevation View of the same structure as it appears from line |2-|2 of Figure 11.

Figures 13 and 14 are detail sections of a portion of the control mechanism showing the same structure in different operative positions.

Figure 15 is a front elevation view, and Figure 16 is' a side elevation View of part of the can feeding mechanism of my machine and its operating structure.

Figure 17 is an'elevation view of an automatic control for limiting upward movement of the can storage mechanism.

Figure 18 is a wiring diagram of the electrical control and driving mechanism for the machine.

My machine, as explained generally, is used for cooking and cooling food products sealed in containers such as cans. The retort in which the processing occurs is preferably cylindrical and disposed with its axis upright. The can holding mechanism, by which the cans filled with 'food are carried during the process, consists of a number of superposed can'storage tiers each composed of a can supporting plate Zitand a spiral can guide 3 supported from a vertical shaft '2 disposed substantially coaxially of the-retort, generally illustratedin Figures 1 and 2-.

' The manner in which these elements are interconnected is shown best in Figures 7 and 8; The shaft 2, threaded in parts, extends continuously from top to bottom of r the machine when the can storage -mechanism is in lowered position, and serves; as the immediate support for such mechanism. Each plate 2|] has integral with it a stiffening disk 2|, preferably of cast iron, extending outward from'the center of the plate at least one-third of its radius. From its periphery may extend outward to the margin of the plate a plurality of radial bars of channel or other beam section, which bars are shown in Figure 10. Each disk 2| has acentral boss projecting below it, at least a portion of which boss is threaded complementally to the lower part of shaft 2. The lower edge of this boss is notched at 22 to receive the tongue or tab 23 0f a spacing collar 24 interposed between lower plate and the boss of the disk 2| immediately above it. Interengagement of the notch and tab prevents relative rotative displacement of the spacerand superposed disk, and the spacing collar is locked against relative rotation to the plate 2|) and disk 2| immediately below it by a key 25 inserted from beneath the disk through an aperture 26 in the disk and plate and into a registering keyway in the collar 24. Thus all plates and disks in the assembly are locked together against relativerotation through Moreover, to accommodate cans of various sizes spacers of different lengths may be provided for separating the plates 20 the proper distance for the size of can to be processed.

In assembling my machine, the shaft 2 will first be supported in operative position by the drive and supporting mechanism, which will be described more fully hereafter. Then a thrust bearing Ill and superposed cover H for the retort I will be elevated upwardly over the bottom end of shaft 2 until the thrust bearing can be pinned to the shaft, as shown in Figure 1. Proferably the lower boss of the thrust bearing is threaded complementally to the lower portion of shaft 2, which has a steep pitch thread, so that the bearing and cover can be elevated by rotating the shaft while such bearing boss is held against rotation until it is in position to be pinned to the shaft as stated above. With the cover ll now supported from the shaft 2, a suitable packing gland around the shaft may be tightened into place to seal the cover aperture through which the shaft extends.

Next a plate 20 is placed below the shaft with a spiral can guide 3 above it and supported from the plate by wheels carried upon legs 3| depending in circumferentially spaced relationship from the periphery of the guide, as shown in Figure 16. The length of these legs, as well as the the medium of the interposed spacing collars 24.

length of spacer collars 24, will depend upon the height of the cans carried by the plates to be processed. Any change in length of the spacers should be accompanied by an equal change in length of the legs 3|, so that when the machine is assembled the spiral guides in each instance will bethe same distance below the disk 2| immediately above them. For this purpose the legs 3| may be made adjustable in length, or replaceable, if desired. As shown in Fig. 6, the spiral guides 3 are spaced above their respective plates a distance equal to a major part of the height of the cans so that only the upper edge of the cans is engaged with the guides. Since they are supported solely by the legs 3| merely resting upon the respective plates, in case of a jam rotation of the plates may be stopped, the guide raised above the cans, and the cans may be raked directly radially oif the plate without following the spiral path defined by the guide.

Next a spacer 24 of appropriate length is interposed between the plate 20 and spiral can guide3, and shaft 2 is rotated as the plate and guide are raised by being screwed upward on it until the bearing collar 32 in the center of the spiral guide slips over the lower sleeve of bearing IEI pinned to shaft 2. This sleeve will be provided with a notch 22 the same as the bosses of disks 2|, and the spacer 24, which is not screw threaded, is rotated into the proper position and raised to engage its tab 23 in such collar. The shaft 2 may again be turned relative to'plate' 20 until its aperture 26. is in alignment withtab 23, and a key 25 is then driven upward from beneath the disk 2| to lock the disk, with its plate 20, to collar 24 for holding these parts in assembled position. Another plate 20 is now disposed below shaft 2, and again a spiral can guide 3 and spacing collar 24 are placed upon'the plate. Shaft 2 is again rotated with the first disk and plate already assembled upon it, while the plate being assembled is held against rotation. As before, this plate with its spiral guide is thus lifted as it is screwed onto shaft 2' until it approaches its proper position, whereupon tab-23 of collar 24 is inserted into the notch 22 of the disk already assembled on the shaft, and this next plate is secured in position, as was the previous one, with the center bearing ring or collar 32 of this spiral guide 3 encircling the hub or boss of the assembled disk 2|. This process is repeated until all the disks, plates, and spiral can guides have been screwed onto shaft 2 and locked into position to form an integral assembly.

This can storage assembly is received within the retort I, as shown in Figure 1, and may be rotated with respect to the retort, can feed chutes 4, and can discharge chutes 40,by a drive gear supported from the superstructure of the machine. The cover ll, however, does not rotate, being held against rotation by the ears l2 projecting radially beyond it, which are guided in columns |3 of H-beam section during upward and downward movement of the cover. These columns are suitablyembedded in the floor F, and are tied together at the top by the cross beam M which supports the weight of the storage mechanism through gear 5 resting upon bearing I5.

Gear 5 is driven by a worm on shaft 50 which in turn is rotated by a suitable drive, such as a belt and pulley transmission connected to a motor 5|. The worm gear 5 rotates at very slow speed, and a rheostat 52 for motor 5| may be provided to vary such rotative speed within quite wide limits. Moreover, the motor 5| also is reversible, as indicated in Figure 18, so that the gear 5 may be rotated in either direction.

The upper part of shaft 2 is preferably larger than the lower part .below cover II, and this upper part is provided with a thread having a pitch much less steep than the pitch of the thread below bearing ID. The steep pitch thread on the lower end of this shaft facilitates the assembly of the plates 23 and spiral can guides 3, as explained above, whereas the thread on the upper portion of the shaft cooperates with an internal thread on gear 5 for the purpose of slowly raising and lowering the storage assembly as a whole.

When gear 5 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the top, the storage assembly will be raised because the upper end of shaft 2. has a right hand thread, as shown, and is held against rotation. If the shaft is not thus held, but instead is locked to gear 5 for conjoint rotation therewith, the whole can storage mechanism will be rotated with this gear in a clockwise direction. Upon reversal of motor 5| the can storage assembly will be lowered if shaft 2 is held against rotation, whereas if this shaft is locked to gear 5 such assembly will be merely rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The controls for locking shaft 2 either to gear 5 for rotation therewith, or against rotation to be threaded through gear 5, are interconnected for differential operation, so that only one can be operative at any given time.

For locking shaft 2 to gear 5 for conjoint rotation therewith the mechanism shown in Figures l, 3, 4 and 5 is employed. As shown in Figure 4, the shaft 2 is at all times threaded in the gear 5, and the locking mechanism acts in a manner similar to a lock nut, so that when the shaft threads are clamped between the reciprocable clamping jaws 53 in the full line position of Figures 4 and 5, these jaws, shaft 2, and gear 5 will be locked together to rotate as a unit. When,

the jaws 53 are moved to the broken line positions shown, however, the shaft will be released from the gear, for screwing through it. Jaws 53 are slidably guided for reciprocation toward and from shaft 2 by guideways cut in the collar 54. Reciprocation of each jaw is effected by the offset crank portion 55 of .a transverse crank shaft 56, extending loosely through a jaw aperture, as shown in Figure 4, while the ends of the shaft 56 are journalled in the collar 54, as shown in Figure 5. V

The two shafts 56 are rotated oppositely and in unison, to effect conjoint opposite reciprocation of the jaws 53, by suitable means such as levers 51, the levers for the two shafts being interconnected for swinging simultaneously to rotate the shafts in opposite directions. These levers may be inclined upwardly and centrally, each having a roller on its upper end received between plates 58 of a shifter head coaxial with collar 54, and encircling shaft 2. These plates are held in definitely spaced relationship by circumferentially spaced rivets or bolts 59 interconnecting their peripheries. As this head is moved lengthwise along shaft 2, the lever rollers will ride transversely of the shaft across the plates 58, as shown in Figure 3, thus swinging levers 5'] equally and oppositely to reciprocate the shaft locking jaws 53. As the shifter is raised by a yoke 60 on operating lever 6, levers 51 will be swung upward to retract jaws 53 from th threads of shaft 2 by outward swinging of offset crank portions 55. Conversely, as yoke 65 slides the shifter downward, the rollers of levers 51 will move in the opposite directions, respectively, across plates 58, to depress the levers for swinging crank portions 55 inward to reciprocate jaws 53 toward each other into locking engagement with the thread of shaft 2, for its rotation conjointly with gear 5.

The mechanism for locking shaft 2 against rotation, for threading through gear 5, consists of a gear 1 keyed to this shaft as shown in Figures 1 and 2. With this gear 1 meshes a complementally toothed dog head 10, guided for reciprocation toward and away from the gear by a shaft supported for non-rotative reciprocation on retort cover I l. The outer end of shaft 1 lis bifurcated to form a yoke in which is journalled a wheel 12 continually engaging an upright rod l3, disposed parallel to shaft 2. This rod,-as shown in Figure 1, has inclined cam surfaces 14 at top and bottom, positioned to engage upper and lower transverse pins 15 fixed upon an H-beam l3. Rod E3 reciprocates lengthwise only far enough to enable the coaction of inclined ca'm surfaces 14 with pins 15, to force the rod bodily toward shaft 2 for reciprocating shaft H to move dog 10 into locking mesh with gear 1. Normally shaft H is urged outward, to hold the dog out of engagement with gear I, by a spring 16 reacting between the shaft and its supporting mechanism on retort cover I As has been stated previously, downward movement of yoke 60 will effect engagement of the clamping laws 53 to lock gear 5 and shaft 2 together for conjoint rotation. During such engagement dog 10 must be in the released position shown in Figure 2, in order to prevent breaking some part of the mechanism. On the other hand, when yoke 60 is raised jaws 53 are retracted to free shaft 2" from rotation with gear 5, so that under such conditions dog 18 may be in holding engagement with gear I, to restrain rotation of shaft 2 for threading through gear 5, as it rotates in one direction or the other with respect to the threaded shaft 2.

Engaging movement of dog 10 may be effected, as explained previously, by downward reciprocation of rod 13. In order to obtain differential movement of yoke 60 and rod 13, as mentioned above, lever 6 is fulcrume'd at 6| between its ends,

and its end remote from yoke 60 is pivoted to the upper end of rod 13. Thus when yoke 60 is in its lower position to lockgear '5 to shaft 2, rod 13 will be raised, and dog 10 will be held in released position by spring l6,.to enable gear I to rotate freely with shaft 2. When lever 6 is tilted into the broken line position of Figure 1, however,

the locking jaws 53 will be retracted and dog 10 will be engaged simultaneously withgear I by downward reciprocation of rod 13.

The operator for rocking lever 6 and reciprocating rod 13 may conveniently. be a piston and cylinder mechanism 63 acting upon the upper end of such rod. Because such mechanism must not move laterally,,yet rod 13 is thus moved d'uring its reciprocation by coaction of cam surfaces 14 with pins 75, the upper portion of this rod is held against sidewisemovement anda laterally slidable connection 71, as shown in Figure 1, is provided between the, upper cam surface 14 and the operating piston. In the form shown, this may consist merely'of two abutting surfaces, the upper one forcing the lowerone downward when rod 13 is moved downward, and the lower one raising the upper one by the force of spring 16. Such spring not only urges shaft ,1 l outward, but also, through the reverse action, of cam surfaces 14 and pins 15, serves to again raise rod 13, when the downward pressure exerted by the operating piston is relieved. Alternately, such laterally movable connection may be of the parallel linkage type or the equivalent.

To operate the piston and cylinder 13 either air or liquid may be used. The supply and discharge of fluid from opposite ends of the operating cylinder may be effected by two three-way valves 64, each controlled by a solenoid 65, which are energized simultaneously by a switch 65, as shown in FigurelS. One such valve controls supply and discharge for the upper end of the operating cylinder and will. beof the normally relief type, while the other valve will control supply and discharge of fluid from the lower end of the operating cylinder and will b of the normally .pressure type. .When the switch 66 is off, therefore, the solenoid, plungers will both be down,

so that pressure isadmitted beneath the piston through the lower valve, and th upper end of the cylinder above the pistonis open to exhaust through the other valve.v I

The piston will therefore normally be maintained in its upper position, forcing yoke downward and jaws53 into locking engagement with shaft 2, while dog 18 will be maintained in released position-by the action of spring 16.

This will permit rotation of thestorage assembly in either direction by motor 5| without verticalmovement. Such rotation alone is desired when the plates 20 are being loaded or unloaded, or when the cans are being rotated within the retort I while filled with cold water, to cool the cans after completion of the steam cooking process. As soon as the switch 66 is closed the valves will be drawn upward to admit fluid under pressure above the operating piston, and to vent the lower end of the cylinder. Movement of the piston is thus effected to tilt lever B in the opposite direction to that shown in Figure l, accompanied by downward movement of shaft 13, and consequently the clamping jaws 53 will be retracted and dog 10 will b engaged simultaneously, so that as motor 5| rotates, shaft 2 will be screwed upward or downward through gear 5 depending upon the, direction of such motor rotation.

In order to prevent raising of the storage assembly too. far by inadvertence, safety mechanism, such as shown in detail in Figure 17, may be.provided. A vertically reciprocable rod 67 is suitably supported from cross beam i l with its lower end projecting downwardly for engagement by retort cover II when it reaches an excessively highposition. If the retort cover still continues to ris it will force lever 6 from the shaft elevating position into the shaft rotating position shown in Figure 1, thus mechanically overcoming the action of the normal cylinder and piston operating mechanism 63. A pressure relief valve may be provided for the cylinder, or through the piston from the pressure end of the cylinder to its vented end, to relieve excessive pressure within the cylinder as the mechanical action of rod 67 overpowers the fluid pressure action of the operating piston and cylinder, Safety mechanism may also be provided to effect movement of the lever B into the position shown in Figure 1 when the cover H in moving downward engages the retort rim, if desired.

The machine shown in the drawings, as stated previously, is of the batch type and the tiers of the storage mechanism are loaded and unloaded when above the rim of the cooking retort l. Preferably the feed, storage, and discharge mechanism is arranged so that a feed operation and a discharge operation may occur simultaneously, as in the continuous cooker described in my above mentioned copending application. The individual storage tiers, each composed of a can supporting plate 20 and a spiral can guide 3 with their interconnecting, dummy can mechanism, are substantially-th same as that disclosed in my aforesaid companion application. Improvements in the mounting structure for such plates and guides have been described above. In each instance cans are admitted to the spiral storage path only from the periphery, and afterward are discharged from the periphery, being pushed outwards by a dummy can 2'? always inwardly of the food filled cans.

While the spiral can guide 3 need not be a true spiral, I prefer such construction, and the slot 28 extendingthrough plate 25 and disk 3i will be arranged so that it is always perpendicular to the local portion of the guide spiral projection, A bolt or pin preferably disposed eccen trically of the dummy can El will be engaged in such slot to be moved along the spiral guide by rotation of plate 2!] while such guide is held fixed. The structure and operation of this mechanism is precisely the same as that disclosed in my copending application mentioned above.

As in the continuous process machine of my above mentioned application, some of th spiral guides in my present batch machine are convoluted in one direction and others in the opposite direction. The. plates 20 are all interconnected for conjoint rotation in the same direction, as previouslydescribed, and consequently, if oppositely directed spirals are held against rotation, the dummy can will be moved inwardly around a spiral path directed in one direction, while the dummy can of the spiral path directed opposite- 1y will be movedoutwardly around it. Cans may therefore be fed into the first spiral path behind the dummy can as it moves inwardly, whereas cans outwardly of the dummy can in the other spiral path will be discharged from it. If the spiral guides are not held against rotation, of course, they will rotate jointly with their corresponding plates 20, being driven from such plates by engagement of the interposed dummy can at either the inner or the outer extremity of the spiral guide, depending upon whether the tier is empty or full.

It will be seen, therefore, that oppositely directed spiral can guides may be placed one immediately above the other, and cans may be fed into one and discharged from the other by rotation of both plates 20 in the same direction. This is the action which occurs in the continuous process machine, described in my copending application mentioned above, the cans being discharged from an upper spiral guide and being fed into the spiral guide'immediately below it. In my present batch type of machine cans filled with uncooked food would be fed into one spiral, while cans whose contents were completely cooked would be discharged from the other. While different separate single spiral paths could thus be filled and emptied simultaneously in a batch machine, I prefer that several tiers be filled and an equal number of other tiers emptied at the same time, cans being supplied conveniently to four tiers, as shown, while cans are being removed from the next four tiers immediately beneath. r

' Where the tiers are thus arranged in groups of four, the spirals of the can guides in alternate groups of four will be directed in one direction, while those of the other alternate groupsof four will be directed in the opposite direction. Cans may thus be moved simultaneously along the spiral paths of eight superposed tiers, cans containing uncooked food being fed into one group of four tiers, and cans filled with food just cooked being discharged from the group of four tiers immediately below such group to which cans are being supplied.

Assuming with such an arrangement that the storage mechanism is filled with cans containing cooked food and is submerged within retort l, the first step, after releasing the cover clamps shown in Figure 2, of conventional type, would be to tilt lever 6 by operation of piston and cylinder E3, to lock gear "I and to release clamping laws 53. The motor is now rotated in the direction to screw nut 5 along shaft 2 to move such shaft upward until the first four tiers are raised into registry with the group of four discharge chutes 40. Switch 66 will then be opened, to release locking dog and to engage jaws 53 with the threads of shaft 2. The spiral guide 3 of the first four tiers will now be held from rotating by mechanism to be described hereafter, while all the plates 20 and the remainder of the spiral guides 3 will be rotated in the direction to move dummy cans 21 outward around the first four spirals. The cans of cooked food will thus all be forced outwardly for discharge through chutes 40.

When these tiers have been emptied, switch 66 will again be closed and the motor operated to effect elevation of the storage mechanism another four tiers, at which time the first four tiers already emptied will be in registry, respectively, with the four feed chutes 4, while the next group of four tiers will be in registry with the four discharge chutes 40. The switch 66 will again be opened and motor 5| will be energized to rotate the plates of the storage assembly in the direction opposite from that in which it was rotated during the preceding can discharging operation. Mechanism coordinated with such rotation will supplycans to the upper four tiers, while the.

second four tiers are being emptied in the manner previously described. a

When this step of the loading and unloading operation has been completed, switch 66 will again be closed and motor '5! energized to raise the storage mechanism another four tiers, whereupon the simultaneous loading and unloading operation will be repeated, the direction of plate rotation being reversed again, to correspond to that of the first unloading operation. The last step will be to load the bottom four tiers of the storage assembly, during which operation no cans arebeing unloaded. After the storage mechanism hasuthus been completely filled, switch 66 will again be closed and motor 5 l, rotated in reverse to lower thestorage mechanism into. the retort I, and to place the cover H insealing engagement with the rim of the retort wall. The cover clamps are then fastened and the entire load of cans filled with uncooked food i processed, such-as steam cooked. After the cooking state has been completed, cold Water may be admitted to the retort in place of the steam used for cooking-and the storage mechanism rotated to cool the cans before the next unloading and loading process is commenced. Conventional mechanism can be provided for dividing .an inflowing stream of cans equally among all four feedchutes of the group 4. .Ihe spiral storage paths for the cans have'a definite capacity ,for cans of each diameter. When a suflicient number of cans has been delivered through one of these chutes, as indicated by a counter 4|, known as a productometer, it operates automatically to effect raising of link.42, shown in Figures 15.and 16, by means of a solenoid operated plunger or the like. Such link movement swings ates 43 from the solid line position of Figure 15 into the broken line position, to interdict movement of additional cans into the spiral paths.

Because the

chutes

4 and 40 must terminate sufiiciently far outwardly to enable cover I I to move past them, and because the plates 20 must be ofsufiicienfly small diameter to be received within retort l, bridges are pivoted on e'to the end of each

chute

4 and 40 across which cans may' slide between the chutes and the plates- 20. All the bridges, both for the feed chutes. 4 and for the discharge chutes 40, are intercon-,

nected for simultaneous operation by a link 46,.

bridges will all be raised simultaneously, where-, as when dog "1 is withdrawn from such gear for notationof the storage mechanism without re-- ciprocation of shaft 2, the bridges 45 will all be lowered simultaneously. i

Because .the bridges from thev loading chutes 4 should be inclined downward to their.respec-. tive plates 20, while the discharge bridges shouldv be inclined upwardly from the discharge chutes' 40 to their plates, thepivots interconnecting the latter with link 46 move in slots 48 in such link.

Furthermore, when the storage assembly is rotated. within the retort I during the cooling operation, the bridges will be lowered, as at any other time.

wardly as far as the others, but ,will rest against the edge of .the cover H. The link slotwill enable such operation to occur.. The bridgepivots;

Despite full downward movement. of link 45 the lowest bridge can not swing down fit quite loosely in the slots to compensate for any difference in lateral disposition of the pivots on the feedand discharge bridges.

Each discharge bridge, as shown in Figures 10 and 16, also has a lower lip 49 which is level with, orslightly below, the top surface of registering plate 20, so that there will be no obstruction to free outward movement of the cans into the discharge chute. The bridges may be provided with ball bearings in the'corners of their swinging ends, serving as an antifriction support to rest upon the edges of plates 20, as-shown in Figure 16. The bridges may also be provided with side Walls, as shown, to prevent the cans falling sidewise from them.

In feeding cans from chute s 4' into the spiral paths of the storage tiers, or in discharging cans from such paths, the spiral can guides 3 must be held against rotation while the plates 28 are rotated with respect to these guides, to move the dummy cans either inward or outward, respectively, along the spiral paths. Moreover when the spiral paths are filled with cans a gate should be provided for closing each peripheral opening to prevent the cans from moving outward. Such gates, of course, must be opened during a feeding or discharging operation, and consequently control mechanism to accomplish both these operations is provided, as shown best in Figures 9 to 14, inclusive. I I

Attached to each spiral guide 3 is a pivoted arm 33 urged outwardly by a spring 34, which outward movement is limited bya stop hook 35 carried bythe arm and engaged over the marginal member of the spiral guide. These arms 33 are the same whether the spirals are directed clockwise or counterclockwise, and serve to restrain rotation of the guideswhile they are being loaded orv unloaded. The gates 36 and 316', respectively, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, hbw-. ever, are different, the gate 36 being used fora counterclockwise spiral guide and the gate 36 for a clockwise spiral guide. The clockwise guide of Figure 9 is shown in registry with a supply chute 4,- while the counterclockwise guide of Figure 10 is shown in registry with a discharge chute 40. Such relationship would, of course, be alternately reversed during the progress of completely unloading and reloading the can storage mechanism. These gates are normally urged by suitable springs 38 toward closed position, wherein a downwardly projecting tab 31, shown in Figure 6, is disposed substantially centrally of the spiralguide opening. Upon outward movement a can would strike this tab and be stopped. Closing movement of the gate, by such springs is limited by engagement of a tab 39 in Figure 9, or 39' in Figure 10, with a portion of the spiral guide mechanism 3, in the instance shown being a strap over the center of the spiral path. Such latter tab may engage behind the outermost can when the gate is in closed position to hold itagainst appreciable inward movement.

These

gates

36 and 36 are swung by means of. an arm 80 pivoted to each gate, whose outer end is adapted to be deflected into a channel guide member 8 by means of a deflector 8 I.

arm 80 also is spring pressed outwardly by a spring 82, but again outward movement of the arm islimited by a hook B3, fastened to the arm,

Guide a in its lowered position of Figure 13,

is housed behind a shield or cover 84 having gradually sloping sides, so that when the ends of arms 33 and engage such cover during rotation of the spiral can guides in conjunction with the plates 28, these arms will be deflected inwardly and pass over guide 8 and its associated mechanism without hindrance. Thus while the tiers are received within the retort I the gates will be held closed by springs 38, and the spiral can guides may be rotated with the plates 20. 1

When it is desired to elevate the storage mechanism all the peripheral spiral guide openings will be brought into alignment with the feed chutes 4. and discharge chutes 40, which themselves are in vertical alignment. In this position the buttons or rollers on the ends of arms 33 will *be in contact with the guide shield 84. Switch 66 will then be closed and motor 5| energized to elevate shaft 2, as previously described, whereupon, "as the storage mechanism mloves upward, the rollers or buttons of arms 33 will pass successively upward over the end of the shield 84. These will progress along ramp member 88, integral with and extending upwardly from shield 84, and dipping into the groove 85 of guide 8, as shown in Figure 11. Springs 34 will press the buttons well into this groove. This guide is held between flanges or cleats integral. with the wall of 'retort I so that it cannot tilt or move circumferentially, and consequently each spiral guide, as it passes above shield 84, will be held against rotation, with its peripheral opening in registry with the line of

chutes

4 and 40.

As arms 3! are moved upward the rollers or buttons on their ends will engage the inclined shoulder 86 of deflector 8|. These arms will thus be successively wedged lengthwise as the spiral guides continue their upward movement, which will ,pull each

gate

36 and 36 open, to dispose its tab 31 at the side of the spiral path peripheral aperture, as shown in solid lines in Figures 9 and 10. Springs 82 will urge the rollers of these arms into the groove 81 of guide member 8, in which they will be held as the storage assembly continues its upward movement.

The buttons on

arms

33 and 88 would remain engaged with the guide 3, as just described, for their entire travel above the rim of retort I if this guide extended upward to a point adjacent to the cover and above the top spiral guide in all elevated positions. After the spiral paths have been filled, howevenand are raised above loading chutes 4, the arms 33 must be released from guide 8 so that the spiral can guides may rotate with plates 20 during the filling and discharging operation for the tiers below them. Moreover, since such spiral guides are to rotate with the plates, it is desirable that arms 80 be released so that the

gates

36 and 36 may move to closed position. It is only necessary, therefore, that the guide members 8 extend upward to the top of the group of feed or loading chutes 4. Since such guide is inwardly of the wall of retort I, however, it cannot remain in this upwardly extended position during the cooking operation. Consequently it must be retractable completely within the retort into the position shown in Figure 13, and mechanism must be provided to draw it upwardly into its position extended above the retort wall, as shown in Figure 14. The retort cover ll, of course, moves upward far beyond this position, but it may be used as the agency for raising and lowering the guide.

Such guide operating mechanism may include a lever arm 9 extendin substantially the full length of the guide member 8 and received in an outwardly facing channel groove 98 between the inwardly facing

guide channels

85 and 81. This lever arm is pivoted centrally at 9i to the guide, and its upper end is provided with a hook 92 facing toward the inside of the retort and engageable with a complemental, outwardly facing hook 93 carried by the cover II. The lower end of lever 9 is pressed outward by a spring 98, urging it to swing in a direction to engage

hooks

92 and 93. The lower end of the lever is also formed With a cam point 95 which cooperates with a stepped wedging cam 98 fixed upon the retort wall.

When the retort cover is closed the

hooks

92 and 93 will be engaged, as shown in Figure 13. As switch 86 is closed and motor 'is rotated to elevate the can storage mechanism, cover I! will move up and draw with it the guide 8 to which lever 9 is pivoted. When this guide member has been pulled outwardly from behind shield 84 until its upper end reaches approximately the top of the group of feed chutes 4, the cam point 95 will ride up the lower step of fixed cam 96, whose wedging action will gradually swing the lever in a direction to disengage

hooks

92 and 93, as shown in Figure '14.. At the instant cam point 95 slips over the first shoulder of cam 98, the

hooks

92 and 93 willusually be disengaged, both because of the laterally outward movement of hook 82 effected by such cam wedging engagement, and the inclined shape of the contacting hook surfaces.

If these hooks should not be disengaged for any reason before the cam point 95 has passed over the first shoulder of cam 98, guide 8 will be drawn on upward a short distance farther, the cam point riding up the second incline of the cam, which has a greater wedging action than the first, sufficient to insure positive disengagement of the hooks before such point reaches the top of the second incline. As these hooks are disengaged by either action cam point 95 will lodge above the first shoulder of cam 98, and their abutment, maintained by spring 84, will prevent downward movement of guide 8 despite elimination of the lifting force effected by hook 93 from the cover. It therefore remains in this raised position until cover H again descends.

After the loading operation has been completed, and the cover is being moved downward, the lower inclined surface of hook 93 will strike the complementally inclined end of lever 8, and the wedging engagement thus efiected will swing the lever in a direction to release cam point 95 from the ledge of cam 98. Simultaneously hook 93 will pass below the outwardly deflected end of lever 9, again to interlock

hooks

92 and 93. If, having thus been released from cam 98, guide 8 does not move downward by its own weight, the upper end of the lever will be positively engaged by the cover H, as shown in Figure 13, to force the guide downward behind shield 84. After the cooking operation the guide 8 will again be moved upwardly conjointly with the cover in the manner described.

It will be noted that deflector 8|, as shown in Figure 11, in operative position projects upward slightly above the upper edge of retort In this position it might conflict with cover II in its lowered position, and consequently I prefer that it be rotatable into the broken line position of Figure 11 when guide 8 is retracted downward. For this purpose the deflector is pivoted at 89, and is provided with a spring 88"encircling the pivot, which normally urges it upward toward the full line position. Its movement in this direction is limited by engagement with'the edge of a fixed ramp 98, the principal purpose of which will be discussed hereafter. A finger 91, projecting laterally from its upper end, will engage the deflector to swing it in opposition to its pivot spring 88 into the broken line position. This finger will then retainthe deflector in such depressed position as long as the guide is in its lowered position. As soon as it starts to rise, however, spring 89 will gradually swing the deflector upwardly toward the full line position of Figure 11 as the finger is withdrawn, until it is stopped by engagement with the edge of ramp 88, and will remain in such position until the guide 8 again descends.

As previously explained, during upward movement of the can storage mechanism the rollers on the ends of arm 33 will move upwardly over incline 88 and into groove of guide 8, to prevent rotation of the spiral can guides 3 while they are opposite either a discharge chute 48 or a loading chute 4. Simultaneously, the roller on the end of arms 88 will ride 'up the inclined shoulder 88 of deflector 8| into groove 81, to open the gates con trolling the entrances to the spiral paths. When these rollers move upwardly beyond the upper end of guide .8 they will no longer be confined by the groove 85, so that the loaded spiral can guides may be rotated with their respective plates 28. Similarly the rollers on the ends of arms 88 will pass out of the upper end of groove 81 in guide member 8, whereupon the gate springs 38 will snap thegates closed, throwing arms 88 laterally into the position shown at the top of Figure 11.

When the bottom group of four tiers has been loaded from chutes 4, the storage mechanism will be moved downward. The spiral guides, all being full, will have their arms 33 in alignment, so that their end rollers or buttons will all pass downward through guide groove 85, to be wedged outward from such groove by the inclined ramp member 88 onto the shield 84. The rollers of arms 88 of the last four tiers to be loaded, being still engaged in groove 81, will likewise move back down it and will be wedged out of it, as shown in Figure 12, by engagement of these arms with the humped and inclined ridge 86 of deflector 8|. The rollers of arms 88 of the upper tiers, however, cannot pass down through slot 81, for, as stated, they have been moved laterally away from this groove, with their associated gates and arms, by gate springs 38, into vertical alignment with the roller shown at the top of Figure 11. These arms, therefore, will move straight downward and their rollers will ride up a fixed inclined ramp 98, to pass over the central portion of deflector BI and down into the retort.

In order to load the last four tiers from chutes 4, the storage mechanism must be elevated so that these tiers will register with such loading chutes. In such position the bottom of the storage mechanism will be spaced above the top of the retort by a distance equal to approximately the height of four tiers. While the entire weight 8 of this assembly is carried by shaft 2, this shaft should not alone be relied upon to maintain alignment of the storage mechanism with respect to the retort. When in lowered position, the bottom. of the storage mechanism is supported centrally from the bottom of the retort I by a thrust bearing It. A spider having three or more arms [1 is carried by the lower end of shaft 2 by means of a second thrust bearing l6, one part of which is pinned to the shaft. Thus the lower end of the shaft will be journalled in the spider, having the outer, ends of its arms received in guide channels I8. These channels in turn are received betweenguide bars [9 for vertical reciprocation.

While the channels l8 may be of; a length approximately equal to the height of retort I, such length must at least be greater than the height of four tiers of the storage mechanism. Thus when the bottom tiers are raised above the top of the retort, spider ll, also moved upward, will lift channels I8 by engagement with their flanged upper ends, to project beyond the retort rim. If it were not for spider I! being raised above the retort, it would not be necessary for channels 48 to slide, but in raised position of the storage mechanism these serve to bridge the gap between the top of the retort and the spider, so that the lower end of the shaft 2 will be kept centered even in such raised position. As the storage mechanism is lowered, of course, these channel members will again be telescoped downward into the retort between guid members 19.

'What I claim as my invention is:

1. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a rotatable can carrying plate for reception within said retort, means supporting said plate for rotation about an upright axis, said means being movable vertically for raising said plate from and lowering it into said retort, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate and movable vertically therewith, locking means engageable with said spiral can guide for restraining rotation thereof, including a member projecting above said retort and guided for retracting movement down into it as said plate moves downward, means for effecting rotation of said plate, and means for feeding cans onto said plate thus rotated, to be moved by said rotating plate along said spiral guide restrained from rotating by said locking means.

2. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a rotatablecan carrying plate for reception within said retort, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate, can loading means above said retort, means supporting said plate and said spiral guide for conjoint movement upward from said retort into a position adjacent to said loading means, locking means actuated by upward movement of said plate and spiral guide, operable to restrain rotative movement of said guide with said plate, means to effect rotation of said plate relative to said guide, and means for feeding cans onto said plate thus rotated, to be moved by said rotatin plate along said spiral guide restrained from rotating by said locking means.

3. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a rotatable can carrying plate for reception within said retort, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate, having an opening in. its periphery for movement of cans into the spiral path defined thereby,can loading means above said retort, means supporting said plate and said spiral guide for conjoint movement upward from said retort into a position adjacent to said loading means, a gate normally closing such peripheral spiral guide opening, and means actuated by upward movement of said plate and spiral guide to open said gate.

4. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a rotatable can carrying plate for reception within such retort, a' spiral can guide immediately above said plate, having an opening in its periphery for movement of cans into the spiral path defined thereby, can loading means above said retort, means supporting said plate and said spiral guide for conjoint movement upward from said retort into a position adjacent to said loading means, locking means operable to restrain rotative movement of said guide with said plate, and to hold said guide with its peripheral opening in registry with said can loading means, a gate normally closing such spiral guide opening, means operable to open said gate, said gate opening means and said locking means being actuated by upward movement of said plate and spiral guide, and means to effect rotation of said plate.

5. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a cover therefor, a rotatable can carrying plate for reception within said retort, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate, having an opening in its periphery for movement of cans into the spiral path defined thereby, can loading means above said retort, means supporting said retort cover, said plate and said spiral guide for conjoint movement upward from said retort, to dispose said can carrying plate adjacent to said loading means, a gate normally closing said peripheral spiral guide opening, means to open said gate, locking means operable to restrain rotative movement of said guide with said plate, and to hold said guide with its peripheral opening in registry with said can loading means, operating means for said gate opening means and for said locking means, including a member projectable above said retort by said cover during its upward movement, guided for retracting movement down into said retort, and engageable by said lockin means and by said gate opening means.

6. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a can carrying plate for reception within said retort, can loading means spaced above the upper rim of the wall of said retort, means supporting said plate centrally for movement upward from said retort into a position adjacent to said loading means, and centering means for restraining appreciable sidewise movement of said plate with respect to said retort, including members movable upward from within said retort to a position above the upper rim of the wall thereof and adjacent to said loading means, and retractible downward into said retort.

'7. Can handling mechanism, comprising a can carrying plate, an upright threaded shaft supporting said plate, a rotary drive member threaded on said shaft, and thread gripping means associated with said rotary drive member operable to grip the thread of said shaft for conjoint rotation of said shaft with said drive member, said thread. gripping means being releasable for relative rotation of said shaft and drive member, for screwing the shaft lengthwise through said drive member.

8. Can handling mechanism, for a retort, comprising a can carrying plate for reception within the retort having a central boss thereon, an upright shaft extending through said plate, the plate boss and shaft being threaded complementally, an unthreaded spacer collar encircling said shaft beneath said plate and keyed to such plate, a second can carrying plate beneath said spacer collar, also having a boss threadedly engaged with said shaft in a rotative position corresponding to that of said first plate, and keyed to said spacer collar, to secure together as a unit said plates and such collar.

9. Can handling mechanism, comprising two superposed can carrying plates, two spiral can guides blind at their inner ends and having peripheral openings, one guide being disposed immediately above each plate, can loading and can unloading means for said plates located adjacent their peripheries, drive means operable to rotate said plates simultaneously, one plate in a direction relative to its spiral guide to feed cans onto such plate and into such guide, and the other plate in a direction relative to its spiral guide to move cans out of such guide for discharge from such plate, and reversing means for said drive means to rotate said plates simultaneously, each 7 in the direction opposite its previous direction of rotation, for loading cans onto the plate from which cans were previously unloaded during its rotation prior to reversal of said drive means.

10. Can handling mechanism comprising a plurality of plates connected for rotation all in unison about a common axis in either sense, and spaced along such axis, can loading and can unloading means for said plates located adjacent their peripheries, spiral can guides disposed each adjacent a cooperating plate, one set of said guides having their spirals directed in one direction and another set of guides having their spirals directed in the opposite direction, drive means operable to rotate said plates conjointly all in the same sense for simultaneously feeding cans into a spiral guide of the first set and discharging cans from an oppositely directed spiral guide of the second set, and reversing means for said drive means to effect rotation of said plates conjointly all in the opposite sense for simultaneously discharging cans from one spiral guide and feeding cans into an oppositely directed spiral uide.

11. Can handling mechanism, comprising a plurality of can carrying plates, spiral can guides one immediately above each plate, one set of said guides having their spirals directed in one direction, and another set of said guides having their spirals directed in the opposite direction, can loading and can unloading means for said plates located adjacent their peripheries, drive means operable to rotate all said plates conjointly about a common axis in the same sense relative to said guides, for simultaneously feeding cans into a spiral guide of the first set and discharging cans from an oppositely directed spiral guide of the second set, means to shift said spiral guides relative to said can loading and can unloading means, and reversing means for said drive means to effect rotation of said plates conjointly all in the opposite sense, after such shifting of the spiral guide means relative to the can loading and unloading means, for simultaneously loading cans onto a plat from which cans were previously unloaded during rotation in the first direction, and unloading cans from a plate coopcrating with an oppositely directed spiral guide.

12. Can handling mechanism, comprising a plurality of plates connected for rotation all in unison about a common axis in either sense, and spaced along such axis, means to feed cans upon each plate, means to receive cans discharged from each plate, spiral can guides disposed each adjacent a cooperating plate, and supported for rotary shifting about the plates axis, different spiral guides being oppositely directed, means to secure the entrance of cans to a spiral guide of one direction in registry with a feed means, and

simultaneously the exit of cans from an opposite,

spiral guide in registry with a discharge means, during rotation of the plates in one sense, and to secure the entrance of cans to the latterspiral guide and exit of cans from a spiral of the former direction simultaneously during rotation of the plates in the opposite sense.

13. Can handling mechanism, comprising a can carrying plate, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate, means for effecting relative rotation between said spiral guide and said plate for moving along said guide cans carried by said plate, and means supporting said spiral guide spaced above said plate a distance equal to a major part of the height of the cans carried by said plate, and said guide supporting means enabling said spiral guide to be raised to space it from said plate in excess of the height of such cans for movement thereof across said plate other than along the spiral path defined by said uide.

14. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a can carrying plate for reception within said retort, means supporting said plate for rotation about an upright axis, said means being movable vertically for raising said plate from and lowering it into said retort, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate and movable vertically therewith, locking means movable upward above the rim of the wall of said retort and in such position engageable with said spiral can guide for restraining rotation thereof, and retractable downwardly below the rim of the re tort wall, means for eifecting rotation of said plate, and means above the rim of the retort wall for feeding cans onto said plate thus rotated, to be moved by said rotating plate along said spiral guide restrained from rotating by said upwardly moved locking means.

15. Can handling mechanism, comprising a can 'carrying plate, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate, and having a peripheral opening communicating with the spiral path defined thereby, means to effect conjoint rotation of said plate and said spiral guide, a gate carried by said spiral guide for closing its peripheral opening during such conjoint rotation of said plate and guide, means to effect relative rotation between said plate and said spiral guide, and means for maintaining said gate in open position dur-' ing such relative rotation, for enabling cans to move through the spiral guide opening.

16. Can handling mechanism comprising a retort and a cover therefor, a can carrying plate for reception within said retort, an upright threaded shaft having its lower end carrying said cover and secured to said plate, can loading means above the upper rim of the wall of said retort, a nut threaded upon the upper end of said shaft, means for rotating said nut, means restraining said retort cover from rotation, and means interengageable between said threaded shaft and said retort cover, for holding said shaft from rotating to effect translational movement thereof by threading of said rotating nut along the shaft, thus to lift said plate into registry with said can loading means, and said interengageable means being releasable for rotation of said screw with said nut, in turn to rotate said plate while in registry with said can loading means for loading cans therefrom onto the plate.

17. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a can carrying plate for reception within said retort, an upright shaft secured to said plate, a spiral can guide immediately above said plate, can loading means above the upper rim of the wall of said retort, control means coopcrating with said shaft, alternatively operable for raising said plate and said spiral guide from said retort into a position adjacent to said loading means, or for rotating said plate in such raised position, bridging means interengageable between said loading means and said can carrying plate for movement of cans thereover, means synchronized with said control means and operable to lower said bridging means for disposition in operative position during rotation of said plate, and to raise said bridging means for disposition in retracted position during upward movement of said can carrying plate, and means operable to hold said spiral guide against rotation during such rotation of said plate, for movement by said rotating plate of cans, loaded thereon from said loading means across said bridging means, along said spiral guide thus held against rotation.

18. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a plurality of can carrying, plates movable vertically upwardly out of said retort and back down into it, spiral can guides, one immediately above each plate and movable vertically therewith, a, plurality of chutes above the upper rim of the wall of said retort for handling cans, a plurality of bridges, one for each chute, extending between th chutes and their respective plates when moved upward into registry with their chutes, operating means operatively interconnecting said bridges for lowering them simultaneously into operative position and for raising them simultaneously into retracted position, means operable to rotate all said plates conjointly while in registry with their chutes, and means operable to hold all said spiral can guides from rotating with their respective plates while in registry with their chutes, for movement by said rotating plates of cans, loaded thereon from said chutes, along said spiral guides thus held against rotation.

19. Can handling mechanism, comprising a retort, a can carrying plate for reception within said retort, a spiral guide immediately above said plate, having an opening in its perihery for movement of cans into the spiral path defined thereby, and for movement of cans therethrough out of such path, can loading means above the upper rim of the wall of said retort, can unloading means also above the upper rim of the Wall of said retort and disposed in vertical alignment with said can loading means and at a different level, and means operable to raise said can carrying plate and said spiral guide above said retort to the level of said unloading means and into registry therewith to unload cans from said plate, and thereafter operable to shift said plate vertically and non-rotatively to the different level of said can loading means and into registry therewith for reloading said plate with cans.

FRANCIS A. FAHEY.

PatentNo. ,5 55 Q595- CEhTIFICATE' 0F CORRECTION f July 11, 19th.

FRANCIS A. ama.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification 'o f'the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 8, sec- 0nd column, line 55} claim 5', after the word "means" and before the period insert -v--to actuate thesame by upward movement of'said plate, and means to. effect rotation of said plate--; and that the said Letters latentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the rec- 0rd of the we in the Patent Office.

Signed. and sealed this. 5th day of September, A. D. 191 1 Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.