US2532900A

US2532900A - Container capping structure

Info

Publication number: US2532900A
Application number: US635552A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward M Enkur; Leo F Pahl; Louis L Lauve
Original assignee: Crown Cork and Seal Co Inc
Current assignee: Crown Cork and Seal Co Inc
Priority date: 1945-12-17
Filing date: 1945-12-17
Publication date: 1950-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1967-12-05

Description

Dec. 5, 1950 E. M. ENKUR ET Al. 2,532,900

CONTAINER CAPPING STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 5, 1950 E. M. ENKUR ET AL 2,532,900

v CONTAINER CAPPING STRUCTURE @riginal Filed Aug. s, 1940 5 Sheets'sheet 2 Dru/umm.'

Dec. 5, 1950 E. M. ENKUR ET AL CONTAINER CAPPING STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 5, 1950 E. M. ENKUR ET AL CONTAINER CAPPING STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 MMM/134',

Dec. 5, 1950 E. M. ENKUR ET A1. 2,532,900

CONTAINER CAPPING STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a Q2 i Wowiwm Patented Dec. 5, 1950 CONTAINER marmo-STRUCTURE :Edwajld M. 'Enkun Babylon..N. Y., .and L80 Bahl and Louis L. Lauve,.altimone, Md yassignors vto Crown vCork & Seal Company, 1119, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of New NYork Application November 6, 1944, Serial -;N.0. 562,110,v which is .a .division of applicationfSeral 4No. 351,004, August 3,19%. Divided andfthisapf. plicationV-Beccmber 17, 1945,.Serial,No.. 63,5;552.

3Claims. 1

IIhe present invention relates to container capping Structuresandisa division ofourapnli- .cation ,for Container ,Caigiping Apparatus Serial .No. .562,110, .iiled November 6, .1944, and since issuedas Patent `Number,2,4l'79j522, which in turn, ,is-adivisien of our original application for ConrtainerSealing Apparatus Serial-No. 351,004, filed ,August .3, ,19.40, and since issued as Ratent 4Number 2,433,549.

An. object ,of the invention is .to provide an eicient apparatus-.for applyingY ac ap lo, a filled pontainerlandthen,moving thecap to sealedposi- .tionwithoutinterference.with ,the forward movement of the container'.

The usual apparatus for applyingV caps to moving containers for subsequent sealing-comprises a belt o-r the like which moves the filled containers beneath an inclined cap chute positioned at such height that the leading mouth portion of the .advancing :container will engage the depending Lor Aleading portion of the skirt of the downwardly inclined cap. The cap is `then released from the cap chute and its trailing portion.` drops .downwardly to affairly levelledor applied kposition upon thecontainer mouth.

It will be understood by `those skilled in the capping art that the terms levelled or fapplied, ras used above and elsewhere in this specification ,refer to the position assumed by the cap .ion `the fcontainer mouth. by its weight alone. In such position, thecap will usually be slightlyltilted due `to the fact that some points, such as lugs or the like, on the skirt may be of smaller diameter than the outside diameter of thel .container mouth.

,-However, when levelled upon the container, as is understood in the art, at least the lower edge vof the cap skirt is .aligned with. the cap.,mouth, even .though it .may be tilted on thecap mouth.

Thearrangement to control the cap during vthe above applying .or levelling ioperation is of .extreme importance .because some difculties .are .involved in handling thecap during such movement without losing co-mpletecontrol-of it. xOb- .viously, i-f control of the capis .lost .during the `vsfo-called levelling action, the cap will slide,.either fforwardlyor sidewiseo of the container, or it may move sufciently far forward upc-nthe mouth .of the vcontamer that-its skirt ywill .not be in sub-- stantial circular alignment with vthe `container mouth.

Another important feature lof this mechanism ofiouninvention is the provision of means to hold ,thefcap upon the container -untilthe subsequent ysealing operation. In prior machines, vafter the cap has been applied or levelled, the container :has carried itbut `of contact withthe levelling ..2 devi-ce and the cap and container movel tothe Ysealing device with the cap usually tiltedv Vat an angle. At the moment that the cap movesoutof contact with the levelling device the latter slides oi thetrailing portionl of the cap-and Vthe cap is apt to be Jtilted' entirely off the container. Alsof, if 1a capping 4element of vthe endless belt or chain type is used, it 'is Apossible for an applied capto be knocked -off *the container mouth whenfthe leading edge of the cap comes into contact with the continuously =moving belt,particularly if the cap is markedly tilted-With respect 'to the rcontainer.

Our invention includes means to contact with the lcapi-and rmly hold it upon vthe container from a time prior to the movement ofthe cap from the levelling `device until it fullyeonta-cts with the sealing device.

The above improvement'is of substantial value lwith any'combination offllevelling device'andcapping-means and-is of particular 'importance "iin that it `removes diiiiculties heretofore encountered with endless belt capping devices. Endlessbelt -cappingdeviceshave substantial advantages over -other ltypes dueto'the -fact that containersfmay be presented Yto them lin 'irregularly spaced .relati'on. :Allfo'ther-types ofcapping mechanisms require that containers be presented in exactly. spaced' .or 'ti-med' felation -and' in order f't'o Iobtain :this spacing, lit i-is necessary Ato `include a'timing device. 'The use ottiming .devi'cesis highlyI objectionable, since. they' intermittently vstop lthe movement loff-:the 4filled: butv -uncapped containers 'and 'this frequently .result-s inV some of "the y,con- :tainer contentsbeingspilled.overthe edge Aofiftl'le container mouth', which results in an :Lmdesirable condition.

In -view of Lthe above, uit--will be observed that Ythe ipresenti'nvention Yis :designed to so-combine rupting -themovement lofthel containers or .re-

-qu-iringany-timing devices -to :stop the filled foon- .trainersfl'rr its vpresent embodiment, -the-abovedescribed .holding mechanism includes a moving endless belt -oi bodily flexible Amaterial with which .a cap applied to a container will contact before-.such rcapV leaves the foontrol vof the. cap applying fmechanism. rChe `.endless element will -`then'ffurther acttolevel the capfupon--the `container Aand Awill `iir-,mly hold it upon the container until the Icap is gfrnoved-to sealed position. Y

{Another veoloiect `tof fthe invention fis .toprovide a capping mechanism of such construction that caps will not be marred and which will quickly and eiiciently move the caps to sealed position.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide a sealing element comprising an endless chain formed of metal links and with a fabric or other bodily-exible belt surrounding the metal chain to prevent caps being marred. It is necesary to have the metal chain driven at the same speed as the container supporting conveyor and if the fabric belt is not driven at the same speed, containers are apt to be tipped over or the caps thrown from the containers. In the prior arrangements, the fabric belt has been driven by surface contact with the metal belt but this ar-v rangement has not been altogether satisfactory. By the arrangement of the present invention, the fabric belt is positively driven at the same speed as the metal chain.

Other objects and advantages of the invention A- will be apparent from the following drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a top view of the machine;

Figures 3a and 3b taken together, comprise `a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the container centering element and the capping element;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional View on the line 4 4 of Figure 3b, and

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figures 2 and 3a.

In the following description of the invention, the apparatus is described as operating to apply `and seal skirted caps to containers having a horizontally projecting shoulder or ring on their mouths, the cap skirt being sufficiently resilient that inwardlv proiecting lugs at the lower end of the cap skirt will engage beneath the container mouth shoulder when the cap is in sealed position. Such caps are provided with a sealing ring or disc on the under side of their top wall to bear upon the top edge of the container mouth to form an air-tight seal. It will be understood that the apparatus may be used with numerous other types of caps.

The yconstruction yand operation of the apparatus may be generally described as follows: Caps of the type described are placed in tray 22 with their skirts downward and are moved by hand to the inclined chute 23 of the tray so as to slide -down upon the central portion of a continuously rotating disc 24. Rotation of the disc 24 in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 2) will cause the caps to be moved outwardly on the disc adjacent its periphery and through an outlet portion 25 'to move upon a `continuously moving endless chain 25 as described in said application Serial No. 351,004 which will conduct the cap to the left in Figures 1 and 2 between suitable lateral and top guiding members comprising the horizontal portion 21 of a cap passageway. This horizontal portion 21 terminates in an inclined chute 28 (Fig. 3b) forming a continuation of the cap passageway. Chute 28 is also provided with lateral and top guide means and terminates in a cap applving or levelling` mechanism 23 described in said original application.

Containers are delivered to the machine upon an endless conveyor (Fig. 1) and move toward the left beneath the structure described immediatelv above to come in contact with the. lowermost cap in the applying or levelling mechanism `29 as indicated in Figure 3b. At the time that the container contacts with the skirt of the lowermost cap, the side walls of the container will be firmly engaged by opposed endless belts included in the container centering mechanism 3| described in detail in our divisional application for Container Handling Apparatus, filed of even date herewith. This mechanism will prevent the container from being tilted backwardly as it contacts with the lowermost cap in the chute 28.

Immediately before the cap moves out of contact with the applying mechanism 29, its upper surface will be engaged by an endless fabric belt 32 which further levels and holds the cap upon the container. Belt 32 moves along the outer surface of a capping element 33 of a construction generally similar to that disclosed in the Patent No. 2,256,415 issued ySeptember 16, 1941 on an application of Robert J. Stewart for Container Sealing Apparatus, element 33 being vertically adjustable to operate upon containers of various heights. In order that the fabric belt 32, which is of greater length than the inner capping belt 33, will move at substantially the same speed as the latter belt, a tensioned roller 34 is provided at the outer end of belt 32 and a weighted roller 35 is provided above capping element '33 to hold the upper run of fabric belt 32 in contact with the capping element 33.

Referring in detail to the construction of the apparatus, the machine preferably includes a table or base portion 40 which forms a continuous support for the endless container supporting conveyor 30.

The endless conveyor 3i) for supporting container is of the construction best shown in Figure 3a. That is, it is formed of a plurality of pivotally connected links 45, each link including spaced ears 46 which have a plate 41 of substantially greater width than the link integrally formed thereon. The upper run of the conveyor 3@ is adapted to have the outer edges of its plates 41 supported upon the inwardly projecting and horizontal portions 43 of angle irons which are suitably spaced to form a channel 49 extending along the table or base 4G.

Referring to Figure 1, a motor 50 and a speed reducer 5| including a driven shaft 52 are supported upon the under side of the table 40. The driven shaft 52 of the speed reducer is provided with a small sprocket 53 which drives a sprocket chain 54 also encircling a sprocket 55 xed to a shaft 56 journalled in the outfeed end of the table 49. The links of the container supporting conveyor 35 move about a sprocket wheel secured to shaft 56.

In order to support the various mechanisms which apply caps and seal them upon the containers at a suitable height above the container supporting element 3D, the machine includes a longitudinally extending superstructure 51 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and including spaced bars 58 extending from the infeed end of the apparatus to the capping mechanism, while a plate element 59 comprises the superstructure for the capping mechanism. The superstructure 5l is supported above the table 4Q by means of pairs of heavy links 5i, 62 and 63 spaced from the outfeed to the infeed end of the machine, each pair of links comprising a link on each side of the supporting table and superstructure, As bestI shown in Figure 3a, the links 6I are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a shaft 55 hereinafter described which is provided adjacent the outfeed end of the machine. As shown in Figure 3a, the lower ends of the links 62 are journalled en. a @ni-extending throne-nime sidef-warls ci the-table :'4 0, while as beslt :shown in 'Figure *1, the-.linksE-Svare vp'ivota'lly mounted -at their lower `ends :upon a `lsloaitxtli `adjacent fthe `rin'ieed end ofthe-machine. The upper .endszo'f thelinksl :iF-ig. i3d) @are 'pivotally supported :upon fa shaft 68 journalled. inthe :superstructure :plate 59. Referring Ito: ffFigure'b, :the upper :ends or"y the Elinks 'llraie pivotallyiconnectedftopins S6 iii-extending throughplate fzwhilefasshown in Figure 1, the links '63 l:are :pivotal-'ly fmounted .on brackets 1%5 .secured tofthefsuperstructure bars 58.

YEtiwillthusbef observed V.tl'iatthe vlinks 1.6.1 -tot .Support the superstructure `vparallel relation with fthe upper lsurface off the 'ltable #El `".II-i nrderthat the superstructure 5Fl may Vbe supported at. .a `Iixed 'height #and its height iadusted wi-th. `respect-to ibase .66, 'the Astructure fshownfin *Figures 53a fand 5 1'is provided. This sconstruction "is similar to that disclosed Viin said :areffthreaded'inicollarfnutsfiSiandlt,respectively,

Jxed-to =the ends oi :a .pin fi-5`iwhi'ch is fjournalled fin :the superstructure'pla'te T159. 'They lower and xuntnreaded :ends or" `the shafts Lfl fand '12 Vare `journalled in `yupward extensions of a fbra'cket .iN/which extends-#beneath table 14B. Bracket 'i'l f *is pivotally supported :with vrespect to table 1w. Bracket "1T ispi-vo'tally supported vwith `respect to table 40 on a pin 7.8 "extending through the `|tabl/.e :and into :itsupward. extensions. The

vreducedl'soasfto provides. shoulder bearing upon the upper surface bracket extensions 176 -as shown in Figure 5. The extreme lower yends of the 'shafts 'll land' 'L7-'2 'are lprovided with 3bevelled 'pinions "T9 "which ymesh with spaced. `beve'lled -f-pinions filxed'to Iacross 'shaft 81| 'journalled in fdownward extensions "82 Aof bracket 11. Both ends -o'i' the shaft 8| are :squared to receive -a :crank F8-2indicated -in 'dotted lines in Figure vv5.

tion, rotationrof shaft'BSl willfcause ithe threaded Ashafts Y'H and' 'Tl-2 :to simultaneously -rotate with :respect :to thefnuts 13 and F:'Ifll -so that-the entire superstructure `may be :raised or lower-ed, the '-liriksl `to fwholding the superstructure parallel to the surface of the supporting conveyor 31T and ftabl'e `.at 'an-y point Ito -whichfthe superstructure-'may be elevated. The threaded drive 'included Vin the above :gearing -willrigidly hold `the superstructureflin 'any position.

The tray-.22 'upon which 'capsvare' placed by the foperator -ffor subsequent movement ythroug'lt'i the apparatus isi-flat with fupstanding :side walls end-ftheinclined-'chuteiportion223 through which the l.capsare .moved fby the operator :to the :disc 21Lis .frigidfwiththe :remainder yof :the tra-y. Tray 22 'fis vnormally .in #the position shown in solid ilines :in Figure 1', with its4 bottom wall resting :upon opstanding elements T85 .secured '.to fthe superstructure bars r58. In "this position, the lower edge of therdownwardly inclined. outfeed Aportion is "immediately above ithe .surface of .the rotating Adisc-fM-'fso that V.when the group .of :caps in the tray 2'2 .iis moved toward and down inclined. chute 23, the caps iwll slide directly yimto thedisc. 'llnforder :that v'the 'operating parts .of the .machine 'which are immediately beneath .the trayZlwill'befaccessible OredjuStment, the -itray'ilz'iis connected tothe elementsiby :pairs :ofilinks-lLBE.. One'end of feachilink iiszpi'votally connected to the associated fupstandi-nglelement '85 as :indicated in Figure 11 and 'the .Opposite end .thereotis pivotallyconnected :to a .lug'sextending .downwardly from the tray. .The :tray may lthus be .swung .upwardly to :the 'i'lotted .line position .shownin if-Figure 1, being-.maintained in this :position :by .reason of `the ffac't Athat vthe lower ends of one or more of thegflinks. 18.6 are lengthened to :contact :with .a stop pin :81--pro zvided .on an upstanding .element '85.

:les best 'indicated v'in Figure 51, caps. moving on fthe .ch-ain 2t are directediinto thefinclined chutesportion 2B of .passageway `2.1.

Thej ,cap applying" mechanism generally ...designated vbythe numeral .'29 .and describedv original iapplication Serial No. y351,004 is provided..at the-.lower rend of chute .28 as .shown-:n Figureb.

:In .order to prevent the .containers frombeng tilted vbackwardly lby .their initial :engagement with :the 'lowermost cap. inthe chute, Iwe prov-ide -the centering and holdingstructure'l described inidetail in said appiication for Container 'Han- L'dlin-g `Apparatus iled of even date herewith. This .structure is .particularly .desirable 'in .the fhandling of. full containers 'having a smalllbase.

.The container :centering mechanism may the ygenerally. described @as comprising two rsets fof .driven abelts 21.5.9 positioned -on each :side .of :the -lon'gitudinal center :line ofthe containersupp0rt1- .ing conveyor 3S. As best shown in'Figure l., each .feet of .belts comprises anu-pper beltand'fa lower ibelt. adaptedfto contact with .a container .at Neritica-ily spaced .points on the .side Vwall :o'itne foonztainer.

:Referring to Figuresisajb, 4 and 5', .the'levellin-g fandholding belt-32 and-sealing belt l33 .oper- 4.fate together, with vthelevelling 'beltfsurrounding nahe .sealing belt Yas .generally disclosed in .said

:struction -similar :to that disclosed iin the Stewart patent 'andliccmp-rises .pairs of links'2:10 :and 12`1I fpivotally supportedfrom:theiplate Eli-*ofthe superstructine bythe rod its: and :shaft 168, respectively. As `is `fully .described in 'said Stewart patent, -the lin'ks 21d have a shaft :21:2 journalled 'at 'their lowerv ends' which l carries an idler sprocket 213 while the Alinks 21H have a shaft 214 journalled between their lower ends Vto support a sprocket 321.5.. Shaft b25M carries va smaller .sprocket 216 "whichris drivenby means of a sprocket chainl'll :which v.extends 4upwardly to engage acorrespond'- .ingi sprocket whe'elZ'l on itheshaftf. Shaft 68 in tturn carries .a Isecond sprocket driven by la vchain 2:'3'9 whichfencircleslthe sprocketwheeliZU 1onithe:sha"it-.15.5. Asfbests shown inFigure 2,:shaft -.5..-carries .;a .pinion 28M Awhich meshes with 'a pinion 28! on the shaft 55 and shaft 5*"5'fis driven from the speed reduction mechanism '5| through :thedrive chain 5.4.

.Sprocket-215 drives the capping vbelt'to vmove the saine about the idler sprocket 21.3. -The`lower endsofithelinks 2.10 and2'H are connected'by a shoe 233 against the undersurface of whichzthe lower run-of the cappingchain'33 moves. The shoe 2.83 'therefore Vholds the Ylower run-of the .chain infirm contact withthe caps :of containers moving 'beneath the same. 'The under surface of shoe .2.83 is downwardly :bowed tosaslightextent and is heldin the position illustrated in Figures 3c and 3b "by a spring 23e .mounted v`upon -abolt 2.6? .pivotally connected to-theshoeas indicated :at .2818, .one .end of the spring .bearing upon .fa bracket :23S :fixed to the superstructure @bars 6.0. As :is iully l.described .in said Stewartxpatent, r.a

container moving beneath the belt 33 may raise the shoe 283 slightly, but the only movement which the shoe can have is along a diagonal line extending upwardly toward the outfeed end of the capping chain 33. That is, the shoe and chain 33 will swing bodily about the pivots 58 and 99 and upwardly toward the outfeed end of the capping mechanism.

The levelling belt 32 is preferably of fabric or other bodily flexible material in order that the cap tops will not be marred by the same. Belt 32 moves about the pulley 299 positioned immediately adjacent the cap applying mechanism 29 and also about a pulley 34, with the major portion of its runs in contact with the corresponding runs of the capping chain 33. The pulley 299 is carried by a shaft299 journalled in the bracket 29| and bracket 20| is pivoted upon a pin 291 extending through the lower end of a hanger 298 hooked over superstructure rod 69 and suitably held against swinging. In order that the pulley 299 may have a limited upward swinging movement on hanger 298, an arm 299 extends upwardly from bracket 29| between collars spaced on a stud 399 xed to hanger 298. A spring may be provided behind the inner collar which is slidable on the stud. However, the outer collar is threaded upon the stud. The downward swinging movement of the bracket 29| carrying pulley 299 is limited by a bolt 39| threaded in the lower portion of bracket 298.

The above adjustable mounting of roll 299 will be so set that the lower run of belt 32 from roll 299 to the lower point of capping element 33 will be normally horizontal. Hence, roll 299 will be slightly lifted by an advancing cap and will therefore exert a downward holding force on the cap before the latter leaves the wiper |89, while belt 32 will exert a corresponding force until sealing occurs. In view of this, a cap cannot fall from a container and, in fact, the belt 32 will tend to actually level the cap upon the container mouth, that is bring its top wall parallel with the edge of the container mouth. This downward pressure also prevents the container from being upset.

The roll 34 at the outfeed end of belt 32 is rotatably mounted between Vthe lower ends of a yoke 395 pivoted to the superstructure 51 at 396.

Above the pivot point yoke 395 has a coil spring 391 connected thereto so that the roll 34 exerts tension upon the leveling belt 32. The tension of the spring 391 may be exerted by means of the adjusting arrangement generally indicated at 399. The fact that the lower run of belt 32 is held under tension by roll 34 causes the cap to be rmly held upon the container until it moves beneath'the downwardly bowed portion of capping chain 33. 'Ihe leveling belt 32 is driven by means of its contact with the capping element or chain 33. Roller 35 is of sufficient weight to maintain the proper contact between the belt and the chain and is journalled in a yoke 3|| pivoted on the superstructure at 3| 2.

When the container moves beneath the downwardly bowed portion of the capping chain 33, shown at the righthand portion of Figure 3a,

vthe cap will be moved to a firmly seatedposi tion upon the container due to the fact that the lower run of the capping chain is arranged at the proper height to squarely seat the cap upon a container of the minimum possible height of that particular size. Containers taller than this minimum height will act upon the .lower run of chain 33, through belt 32, to lift the shoe 283 to swing on the links 219 and 21| in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 3a and 3b against the action of the spring 286. In other words, the capping shoe, 283 and in fact the entire capping chain, will move diagonally along a line inclined upwardly toward the outfeed end of the capping mechanism.

The fabric belt 32 moving at the same linear speed as the capping belt 33 insures that caps will not be marred by the metal links of the chain 33. In order that the belt 32 will be held properly centered upon chain 33 a pair of vertically mounted sheaves 3|5 are positioned adjacent the outfeed end of the belt. These sheaves are carried on links 3|6 horizontally pivoted at 3|1 upon the ends of downwardly projecting and adjustably mounted arms 3|8.

As best shown in Figure 1, the mouth 320 of a water jet pipe 32| may be positioned adjacent the outfeed end of each pair of centering belts 2|9 so as to remove from these belts any container contents which may drop upon them from an over-filled container.

It will be noted that all driven elements of the machine which contact with containers or caps move at the same speed with the possible exception of the disc 24 which supplies caps to the cap passageway 25. It is at least necessary that the centering and holding belts 2|9, container supporting conveyor 39, the levelling and holding belt 32 and capping chain 33 move at the same linear speed in order to prevent containers from being upset.

The terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description and not limitation, the scope of the invention being indicated in the claims.

We claim:

1. The combination in a container capping apparatus, of a base, a container supporting conveyor movable on said base, a support above said conveyor, an endless belt capping element carried by said support and including a substantially horizontal run, a second endless belt of bodily flexible material movable about and with said iirst belt, a member pivoted on said base in advance of the infeed end of said firstnamed belt to move vertically with respect to said rst belt, and a pulley journalled on said member to support the infeed end of said second belt.

2. The combination in a container capping apparatus, of a base, a container supporting conveyor movable on said base, a support above said conveyor, an endless belt capping element carried by said support and including a substantially horizontal run, a second endless belt of bodily exible material movable about and with said iirst belt, a pulley at the outfeed end of said second belt carried by said support at a point spaced from the corresponding end of said rstnamed belt, a member pivoted on said base in advance of the infeed end of said rst-named belt to swing vertically with respect to said first belt, and a pulley journalled on said member to support the infeed end of said second belt.

3. The combination in a container capping apparatus, of a base, a container supporting conveyor movable on said base, a support above said conveyor, an endless belt capping element carried by said support and including a Substantially horizontal run, a second endless belt of bodily ilexible material movable about and with said first belt, rotary means in advance of said first-named belt to support the Vinfeed end 9 f 10 of said second belt, means to support said ro- REFERENCES CITED tary means for upward Vertlcal movement Wlth The following references are of record in the respect to said first belt, an inclined cap chute adjacent the infeed end of said second belt, said me of thls patent cap chute including cap engaging means eX- tending therefrom toward said second belt, said UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date cap engaging means being of such length that a 1,407,901 Talaferro n Feb. 28 1922 cap withdrawn from the chute by a contamei 2 041 891 Wbt M 26 936 will be engaged by the infeed end of said second 2184490 E k1 e 1;"1 Day 6 i939 belt before moving out of contact with said cap 1n n ur e a ec 2 engaging means 2,256,415 Stewart Sept. 16, 1941 2 337 170 Wareham Dec. 21 1943 EDWARD M. ENKUR.

LEO F. PAHL.

2,347,668 Davies May 2, 1944 LOUIS L. LAUVE.