US2650012A

US2650012A - Receptacle filler and capper having receptacle carrier and capper indexing means

Info

Publication number: US2650012A
Application number: US781060A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore H Kummer; Raymond E Bodendoerfer
Original assignee: Cherry Burrell Corp
Current assignee: Cherry Burrell Corp
Priority date: 1947-10-21
Filing date: 1947-10-21
Publication date: 1953-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 1970-08-25

Description

Aug. 25, 1953 'r. H. KUMMER ETAL 2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEPTACLE CARRIER AND CAPPER INDEXING MEANS Filed 001:. 21, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS: fhcodowe fl jfiummer jgyma/m ZTBoaendoergfer Aug. 25, 1953 T. H. KUMMER ETAL 2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEETACLE v CARRIER AND CAPPER INDEXING MEANS Flled Oct. 21, 1947 v 5 Sheets-Shee'LZ W-Z /W Aug. 25, 1953 'r. H. KUMMER ETAL 2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEPTACL CARRIER AND CAPPER. INDEXING MEANS Filed Oct. 21, 1947 5 shfiefbfi sheet 4 IN VEN TORS 3 Theodore H fifia-mmer Jfgymorzd EBoderzdoexfer A118. 5, 1953 T. H. KUMMER ET AL 2,650,012

RECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEPTACLE CARRIER AND CAPPER INDEXING MEANS FiIedOct; 21, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 26 r r Hp 39 W v INVENTORS: Theodore 17. 27511172772 67'' F gymorzdZfBoderzdaerfer Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BECEPTACLE FILLER AND CAPPER HAVING RECEPTACLE CARRIER AND CAPPER IN- DEICING MEAN S' Application October 21, 1947, Serial No. 781,060

This invention relates to receptacle fillers and cappers. More particularly, this invention relates to manually operable receptacle fillers and cappers.

The objects of this invention include the provision of a manually operable receptacle filler and capper, provided with automatic indexers wherebyto secure the proper alignment between the receptacles to be filled and the filling heads of the filler, as well as to secure the proper alignment between the receptacles to be capped and the capping head.

It is common practice in the conventional type of manually operable receptacle fillers and cappers of the type contemplated by this invention, for the operator to align the receptacles to be filled with the receptacle filling valves or to align the receptacle to be capped with the capping head immediately prior to the filling or capping operation. This is particularly true in such instances in which the device is provided with a single capping head, which may be moved from one receptacle to another during the completion of the capping operations.

The objects of this invention, therefore, include the provision of an improved, manually operable receptacle filler and capper; in which a set of a plurality of receptacles may be received and presented in successive order to a corresponding set of filling heads and at the same time to place the previously filled receptacles in capping position; in which the receptacle support is provided with bottle centering guides to properly center the bottles on the receptacle support in alignment with the filling heads and the zone of movement of the receptacle capper; in which all of the receptacles on the receptacle support table may be simultaneously manipulated, either rotatively or vertically, to be thus placed in proper position for filling or capping; in which indexing means are provided in association with the filling table on which the receptacles are properly centered and also in association with the capping head to properly align the receptacles with the filling heads and with the zone of movement of the receptacle capper; in which the receptacle support is provided with a plurality of sets of receptacle stations; in which the receptacle support is manually operable; in which the means for vertically actuating the receptacle support is manually operable; in which the receptacle support may be adjusted to compensate for the difference and height of difierent receptacles; and in which the means for vertically actuating the receptacle 6 Claims. (01. 226-75) support is automatically locked in either the uppermost or lowermost position of the receptacle support.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent and will be more readily understood when considered in connection with the drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which, without desire of limitation, will be described and illustrated as an improved type of apparatus for filling and capping milk bottles.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved receptacle filling and capping apparatus.

Figure 2 is plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side, elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a front, elevational view thereof, from which the base has been omitted.

Figure 5 is a sectional View, taken along line 5-'5 of Figure 4 of the drawings.

Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3 of the drawings.

Figure 7 is a view taken along line 1'! of Figure 3 of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like elements, the applicants invention in an improved bottle receptacle filler and capper contemplates the use of a base I, open at the top and bottom thereof. Base l is provided toward the rear portion thereof with two upwardly extending tank supporting legs 2, which are securely fixed at their lower ends, as by welding, to the base I, and securely fixed at their upper ends, as by welding, to the base plate 3 of the filler tank 4. A bottle turntable support leg 5 is pivoted in a suitable bearing in the front portion of the filler base I. Although the vertical leg 5 is maintained in fixed vertical position, downward axial motion of the leg 5 is prevented by the collar 6, which is suitably keyed to the leg 5 and rests against a suitable upper bearing surface on the frame 5-, thereby supporting the leg 5.

Upward motion of the leg 5 is prevented by the collar 1 which is suitably keyed to that portion of the lower end of leg 5, which extends through the associated bearing in the support I, against the end of which bearing the collar 1 is snugly fitted.

A horizontally extending bracket element 8 is suitably secured, as by welding, at one end to the filler base plate 3, and is provided at its opposite end with the collar portion 9, telescoped over the upper end of the cylindrical leg mem be:- 5, The inner surface of the cellar t is in a bearing contact with the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the leg 5, thereby stabilizing the tank 4 and leg 5.

Collars It and M, respectively, are keyed to the vertical leg 5, immediately above and below the collar 9 with the surface of the collars iii and l I which are adjacent to the surface of the collar 9 abutting thereagainst. Collars til and H prevent any relative vertical motion between the collar 9 and the leg 5. To prevent any undesirable relative, radial motion between the collar 8 and the leg 5, a locking screw !2 threaded through the collar 9, is adapted to engage the outer wall of the leg 5, so as to prevent such undesired relative rotation when the inner end of screw !2 is in engagement with shaft 5.

For the purposes of sanitation, the base I is provided with three feet !3, which are of a suitable length to support the base or frame l at a convenient distance from. the floor of the dairy plant in which the applicants improved bottle filler and capper may be used. Feet l3 permit ready cleaning of the floor beneath the bottle filler and capper, and the ready cleaning of the interior of the frame I.

As clearly illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, the filler tank d is laterally disposed with respect to the front leg 5 of the filler. The bottle turntable or receptacle support assembly hi, the bottle capper l5 and turntable elevator it are rotatably supported on the front filler leg 5.

Turntable or receptacle support assembly M, in its preferred embodiment, consists of a. flat, rectangular receptacle supporting surface H, which is provided with a centrally positioned aperture, through which the vertical leg 5 extends. The receptacle support surface H is securely fixed to and rests upon the receptacle support elevator 6. The receptacle support elevator !6 includes an internally threaded tube !8, telescoped over the cylindrical, vertical leg 5, and maintained in axial alignment therewith by the journals !9 and 2d at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the tube is. The vertical leg or shaft 5 is provided with a peripheral thread 2!. Thread 2! has a larger root diameter than the outer diameter of the leg 5, and is complementary to and engages the threads 22 in the inner face of the tube It.

A slidable hub 23, telescope-d over tube !8, is provided on its inner periphery with a bearing 2%, lockedinto position within the hub 23 by any suitable means, as, for example, by a tongue and groove arrangement. The inner cylindrical surface of the bearing 2% is in close bearing and sliding contact with the outer surface of the tube !8-. The upper end of the hub 23 extends through the central opening in the receptacle turntable bottle support surface H, with the outer face of the hub 23 snugly engaged in the central opening in the support If. The turntable assembly l rests upon the annular flange 25, which extends outwardly from the upper portion of the outer periphery of the hub 23.

The lower portion of the hub 23 terminates in an outwardly extending, annular flange 26, which is provided on its lower face with a replaceable friction resisting disk or wear plate 2?, which is secured to the flange 26 in any suitable manner.

Formed integrally with the hub 23 are the aligned, laterally projecting, indexing bars 2%, which lie in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft or support leg 5'.

The tube It is supported in predetermined axial position with respect to the shaft 5 by means of the interengagenient of the screw threads 2! and Although the shaft 5 is fixed in position, the relative, vertical position of the tube It on the shaft 5 may be varied by the relative rotation between the shaft 5 and the tube It, which may be accomplished by the rotation of the shaft 5. A bracket element 28 is snugly telescoped over and permanently secured in any suitable manner to the lower end of the tube !8 and may be supported thereon by the flange of the lower bearing or journal 29.

The portion of the bracket 29, which extends inwardly toward the filler tank support legs 2, is provided an aperture through which the guide shaft 30 extends. The guide shaft 39 is locked in place in the bracket 29 by any suitable means, such, for example, as a set screw. The lower end of the guide bar 3% extends into a close fitting socket in the frame I, in which socket the guide shaft 36 is freely movable in a vertical manner. By this arrangement, the bracket 29 is prevented from rotating upon the support shaft or leg 5.

The wear plate 2*! of the hub 23 rests upon the cams 3!, which are carried by the rock shaft 32, suitably journaled in the ported lugs 33 formed integrally with the bracket 29. The rock shaft 32 may be actuated by means of the crank 34, formed on one end thereof. By the partial rotation of the crank 3d, with the resulting partial rotation of the rock shaft 32, the cams iii are rotated about the axis of the rock shaft 32., with the resultant raising or the gravity lowering of the hub 23, and the assoiated bottle support table I].

As clearly indicated in the drawings, each of the cams 3i consist of a hub portion 35, secured to the shaft 32. The wing portions 35 of cams 3! extend in both directions tangentially from the outer periphery of the hub 35. In each instance the end of the wing 36 is provided with a rounded elbow portion 3?, the extreme end 38 r of which is nearer the axis of the rock shaft 32 than the angle portion 39. When the cams 3! are oscillated with the shaft 32 in a direction to force the cam elbow 39 against the plate 2'1, the hub it is elevated until the wing 36 of the cam 3! is in a substantially vertical position. In that position the friction plate 2? of the hub iii rests on the slightly downwardly directed elbow end 3? of the cam 3! beyond the angle portion 39. The further rotation of the cam 3! in the mentioned direction is prevented by the abutment of the free end of the cam. wing 35 against the adjacent face of the bracket '29, thereby looking the cam 3! and the rock shaft 32 in position, supporting the hub It in its uppermost vertical position. To lower the hub l5 and the associated bottle support table i? to the lowermost position, it is necessary only to oscillate the rock shaft 32 in the opposite direction until the end 38 of the cam wing 35 beyond the elbow 33 engages the adjacent face of the bracket 29, in which latter position the friction face 2? of the hub H5 will rest upon the extended face of the cam wing 36.

When the hub I6 is in its lowermost position, it may be rotated through a maximum arc of approximately degrees. The rotation of the hub it in one direction is limited by the engagement of one of the indexing bars 28 with the side of the guide shaft 38 positioned immediately to the rear of the hub It. The rotation of the hub 6 in the opposite direction is limited by the engagement of the opposite guide bar 28 with the opposite side of the guide shaft 30.

To accurately position the turntable I l in its elevated position, the guide shaft 30 is provided at its upper end with a cross bar 46, having at each end thereof a downwardly depending lug 4 l, spaced from the guide shaft 30 a distance approximately equal to the width of the indexing bars 28. When the hub l6 has been rotated in the desired manner, until a guide bar 28 abuts against the side of the guide shaft 35, the crank 34 may then be partially rotated so as to turn the cam 31 to elevate the turntable support hub 16. As the turntable support hub I6 is elevated, the indexing bar 28 is forced into position between the guide shaft 36 and the associated depending indexing lug 4|, thereby locking the hub l6 and the associated receptacle support table 11 against relative, rotary motion on the shaft 5 when in their relative elevated positions.

. In the event that undue wear on the indexing bar 28, the shaft 30, or the depending lugs 4| should result in improper indexing of the hub l6 and the associated turntable H, the cross bar 40, Which is keyed to the shaft 30, may be rotated slightly on the shaft 30, thereby decreasing the available spacing intermediate the shaft 33 and the depending lugs 4| for receiving the indexing bars 28.

The receptacle support or turntable H is pro vided with two receptacle guide

arms

42 and 43, respectively, as clearly shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. Each of the

guide arms

42 and 43 are provided at each end with laterally extending, bottle engaging prongs, sufficient to engage four receptacles. The prongs are so constructed that each set of prongs adapted to engage a receptacle will engage the receptacle on at least four points, thereby to accurately center either a rectangular-shaped receptacle or a circular receptacle in predetermined position on table l. The guide bar 43 is provided at each end with laterally extending prongs 45, arranged in opposed order to the laterally extending prongs 44 on the corresponding ends of the guide bar 42. The ends of the guide bars 43 are superimposed on the ends of the guide bar 42, and each of the ends of the guide bars 42 and 43 are provided with aligned slots 46. One set of slots 46 registers on the guide stud 41 while the remaining set of slots 45 registers on the stud 48.

As mentioned, the ends of the guide bar 43 are superimposed on the ends of the guide bar 42 and the guide bar 43 rests upon the guide bar 42. The guide bar 42, in turn, rests upon the spacers 49, which are telescoped over the capped guide studs 41 and 48. The lower ends of the studs 41 and 48 pass through the receptacle support table I! and aresecured thereto in any suitable manner.

With respect to the guide stud 41, the lower endthereof is threaded, and it is secured to the table ll by means of the thumb nut 59, which, when tightened, securely locks the ends of the guide bars 43 and 42 to the guide stud 4'l', to thereby maintain them in locked position. Upon the release of the thumb nut 55, the guide bars may be moved back and forth to the limit permitted by the inter-action of the slots 46 and the associated guide studs 41 and 48.

To assure the uniform, complementary move ment of both of the guide bars 42 and 43, there is provided an equalizer bar 5!, pivoted on the vertical shaft 5, immediately above the upper surface of the bottle support table ll. The ends of the equalizer bar 5| are slotted to receive the dogs 52, which depend from the mid-portion of the

bars

42 and 43.

As. viewed in Figure 7 of the drawings, all of the bottle positioning prongs on the guide bar 42 are those prongs of each set of prongs furthest removed from the reader. All of the remaining prongs are on the guide bar 43. It, therefore, becomes obvious that by moving the guide bar 43 one way or the other, all of the bottle gripping prongs 45 forming a part of bar 43 will also be moved in the same direction. Equalizer bar 5|, pivoted to the shaft 5 and linked to the guide bars 42 and 43 by the dogs 52, will cause the complementary movement in the opposite direction of the guide bar 42 and the associated prongs 44. In this manner, all of the

bottle gripping prongs

44 and 45 will be moved either toward or away from the center of the position upon which a bottle is to be supported on the bottle support table ll. After a suitable adjustment in the guide bars 42 and 43 has been made, they may be locked into the adjusted position by the tightening of the thumb nut 59.

The capper assembly I5 is supported on the upper end of the capper and turntable support leg 5 by means of hub 53, which is swiveled to the upper end of the shaft 5, rests upon collar l4, and is provided adjacent the lower end thereof with two depending, rearwardly and outwardly extending indexing dogs 54, the lower ends of which straddle the bracket 3. The swinging or oscillatory movement of the capping head I5 about an axis coincident with the axis of the shaft 5, the axis of hub l6 and the axis of turntable receptacle support I! is limited in either direction by the engagement of bracket 8 with one or the other of the indexing dogs 55.

The capper support arm 55 extends horizontally from the side of the hub 53, opposite the spacing dogs 54, and is provided at its outermost end with spaced arms 56, which are provided on their opposed inner faces with opposed vertical grooves 51 to receive opposed flanges on the capper element 58. Grooves 5'! provide vertical guideways for the vertical reciprocation of the capper 58.

The capper 58 is supported by means of linkage 59 on a capper actuator or handle 65, which is pivoted for vertical oscillation to handle support brackets 3|, formed along the upper edge of the capper support arm 55. A spring guide 52, which is pivoted to the handle 54, and which extends downwardly through an aperture in the capper support 55, is provided with a compression spring 63, which is telescoped over the spring guide 62. Spring 63 is compressed between a shoulder on the upper end of the spring guide 62, and the adjacent face of the capper support 55, thereby maintaining the handle 56 in its uppermost position. The lower end of the spring guide 52 is provided with a suitable lock means adapted to engage an adjacent surface of the capper support 55, when the handle is raised by the spring 63 to thereby limit the maximum elevation of the handle 60.

The dimensions of the capper support arm and the capper 58, are such that the bell 64 of the capper 58 is adapted to be moved, by the swinging of the handle 53, along an arcuate path which has the same radius as the arcuate path along which are positioned the filling heads in the lower surface of the filler bowl 4. The bottle support positions on the filling table 1'? intermediate the opposed bottle guide

fingers

44 and 45 are also: each spaced along an arcuate path similarly centered on. the shaft latter arcuate path has the same radius. as that of the arcuate path for the capper bell and the filling heads 55.

It, therefore, follows that bottles, placed on the filling table I? intermediate the bottle guide fingers M or G5, in any position of appropriate ad-- justment thereof, will always be centered along an arcuate path spaced from the center of the vertical turntable support axis a distance equal to the spacing of the capper head bell 6d and the filling nozzle 65 from the same vertical axis.

By this design expedient, it is possible to place empty bottles to be filled upon the turntable support if at any angle of rotation thereof, move them into position below the filling heads 65, rotate the crank 34 until the mouth of the bottles are pressed against the associated filling heads 65, so as to enable the filling of liquid thereinto. Incidental to such elevation of table ii, the indexing bars 28 will be moved into position between the guide shaft Bil and guide dogs ll, thereby indexing the table i-l.

Upon the completion of the filing of the receptac'les under the filling. head the crank is partially rotated in the opposite direction, s ficient to lower the turntable support ii to its lowermost position. In the lowered position, the support it may then be rotated through of 180 degrees, to move the filled receptacles into position below the path of motion of the capper bell 86-. The crank 3 is then once again rotated in a direction to lift the turntable it to bring i mouth of the filled bottles into capping posit. and again to index the table t'i. With table 5? again indexed, the bottles may then be capped sequence by the actuating of the capper actuator 60 after first aligning. the capper bell he with the bottle to be capped. The alignment of the capper bell E i with the bot ac to be capped ac complished by the swinging of the capper support arm 55 into one or the other of its extreme I .s of horizontal motion, which limits. are determined by the engagement of one or the other of the dogs 54 with the bracket 8. When the capper has been moved into such extreme position, the bell 64 of the capper as will be in exact alignment with a receptacle held intermediate the bottle guide jaws 4d and 85 on the indexed turntable ll.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a bottle filler and capper adapted for use in the filling of receptacles of varying height, as well as varying diameter. The manner of accomplishing the necessary adjustment of prongs 411 and 45, to permit the handling of recep tacles of diiferent diameters or different shape, has hereinbefore been described. To adjust the improved filler and capper for the handling of bottles of varying height requires the raising or lowering of the turntable and the associated elevator hub 5E, and the guide shaft 30, all of which are supported by means of the internally threaded tube it upon the capper and turntable support 5.

As previously mentioned, collar i3 and the as sociated bracket 29, although supported directiy upon the shaft 5 by means of the internally threaded tube It and the threaded portion of the shaft 5, are not rotatable thereon. Also, as previously mentioned, the shaft 5 is rotatable when not locked in position by the thumb screw I2 in the collar 9 of the bracket 8. Upon the release of the thumb screw f2, the shaft 5 may be rotated in either direction, by appropriately turning the hand grip 56 at the top of the shaft 5, thereby either elevating or lowering the tube l8 upon the shaft 5 by means of the interaction of the screw and screw threads 2! and 22. By this procedure, the elevation of the turntable assembly or receptacle carrier as may be adjusted to any such elevation as may be required for filling andcapping of bottles of different heights. When the desired elevation of the tab e H has been secured, the shaft 5 is again locked in position to prevent further rotation thereof by the re-tightening of the thumb screw it in the collar 9.

The present invention provides an improved, manually operable bottle filler and capper, which embodies all of the design objectives and advantages hereinbefo-re mentioned and which e. bodies the automatic indexing advantages, whereby to assure the proper alignment between the bottles to be filled and the filling heads, and the bottles to be capped and the capping heads, when the filling and capping table is elevated into operative filling and capping position.

Having thus described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of the present invention in an improved, manually operable bottle filler and capper, the invention is not to be restricted to the specific embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinbefore described, except insofar as may be necessary view of the disclosure of the prior art and the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A receptacle filling and capping apparatus, comprising, in combination, a support, a rotative receptacle carrier, a filling head overhanging a receptacle supporting portion of said rotative receptacle carrier, a capper pivoted for oscillatory movement about an axis coincident with the extension of the axis of said rotative receptacle carrier and movable through an arc overlying a receptacle support portion of said receptacle carrier, depending index means on and rotatable with said carrier, a stop on said support interposed in the path of rotation of said index means to arrest the rotation of said carrier at a selected position, and means for arresting the oscillatory movement of said capper at a selected position over said carrier comprising a depending projection onsaid capper adaptedto oscillate therewith and an extension on said support in the path of oscillation of said projection and engageable thereby.

2. A receptacle filling and capping apparatus comprising in combination a support, a receptacle platform rotatably mounted on said support, a carrier disposed over said receptacle platform swiveled to said support for pivotal oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a capper bracket disposed over said receptacle platform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a depending projection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexing extension on said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capper bracket at a selected location over said receptacle platform, a capper supported on said bracket and swingable therewith along a restricted arcuate path over a portion of said receptacle platform, receptacle filling means disposed over said receptacle platform at a position beyond the restricted arcuate path of said. capper bracket and at substantially the 9 same radial distance from said rotative axis as said capper, an outwardly extending indexing member spaced axially from and adapted to rotate with said receptacle platform, and a projection on said support interposed in the rotative path of said indexing member and adapted to be engaged thereby upon rotation of said receptacle platform to arrest rotation thereof at a selected position to align a selected portion of said platform with said receptacle filling means and to align another selected portion ofsaid platform with said capper when the capper carrier is moved to one end of its restricted arcuate path.

3. In a receptacle filling and capping apparatus the combination of a support, a receptacle 2 platform adapted to be elevationally adjusted and intermittently rotated on said support, a capper carrier superposed above said receptacle platform and pivoted to said support for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a capper bracket disposed over said receptacle platform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a depending projection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexing extension on said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capper bracket at a selected location over said receptacle platform, a capper actuator supported on said capper bracket and hinged thereto, a capper associated with said capper bracket and capper actuator adapted to be swung therewith along a restricted arcuate path over said receptacle platform, a receptacle filling head superposed over said receptacle plat- 5;

form beyond the restricted arcuate path of said capper, an outwardly extending indexing member spaced axially from and adapted to rotate with said receptacle platform, and a projection on said support extending into the rotative path of said indexing member and adapted to arrest rotation of said receptacle platform at a predetermined position so as to align a selected portion thereof under said capper when the latter is positioned at an end of its restricted arcuate path and so as to align another selected portion thereof under said receptacle filling head.

4. In a receptacle filling and capping apparatus the combination of a support, a platform adapted to be intermittently rotated on said support, a plurality of receptacle holders on said platform, a capper carrier superposed above said receptacle holders and pivoted to said support for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of said platform, a capper bracket disposed over said receptacle platform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a depending projection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexing extension on said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capper bracket at a selected location over said receptacle platform, a capper actuator supported on said capper bracket and hinged thereto, a capper associated with said capper bracket and capper actuator adapted to be swung therewith along a restricted arcuate path over said receptacle holders, and a receptacle filling head superposed over said receptacle holders substantially diametrically opposite the restricted arcuate path of said capper, said platform having an outwardly extending indexing member spaced axially from and adapted to rotate with said platform, and said support having a projection extending into the rotative path of said indexing member and adapted to arrest rotation of said platform at a predetermined position so as to align a selected receptacle holder with said capper when the latter is positioned at an end of its restricted arcuate path and to align another selected receptacle holder with said receptacle filling head. r

5. In a receptacle filling and capping apparatus the combination of a support, a platform adapted to be intermittently rotated on said support, a plurality of receptacle holders on said platform, a capper carriersuperposed above said receptacle holders and pivoted to said support for oscillatory movement about an extension of the rotative axis of said platform, a capper bracket disposed over said receptacle platform swiveled to said support for oscillatory movement about-an extension ofthe rotative axis of said receptacle platform, a depending projection on said capper bracket and a co-operating indexing extension on said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capper bracket at a selected location over said receptacle platform, a capper actuator supported on said capper bracket and hinged thereto, a capper associated with said capper bracket and capper actuator adapted to be swung therewith along a restricted arcuate path over said receptacle holders, and a receptacle filling head superposed over said receptacle holders substantially diametrically opposite the restricted arcuate path of said capper, said platform having an outwardly extending indexing member spaced axially from and adapted to rotate with said platform, and said support having a projection extending into the rotative path of said indexing member and adapted to arrest rotation of said platform at a predetermined position so as to align a selected receptacle holder with said capper when the latter is positioned at an end of its restricted arcuate path and to align another selected receptacle holder with said receptacle filling head, each of said receptacle holders comprising a pair of cooperating receptacle engaging jaws, each of said jaws being attached to a corresponding bracket on said platform, and each of said brackets being mutually adjustable with respect to the-other to provide a space between the respective cooperating jaws to receive a receptacle of a predetermined size and shape.

6. In a receptacle filler and capper the combination of a capper swiveled to a capper supporting post, a capper supporting bracket, said capper being adapted to be oscillated in a horizontal plane about the axis of said post for capping operations in an arc of a circle concentric to the axis of said post, a filler tank, filling heads associated with said tank and positioned in another arc of said circle concentric to the axis of said post, a receptacle carrier rotatably mounted on said post at a level below that of said capper and said filling heads whereby a receptacle on said carrier may be moved in a circular path under said circle concentric to the axis of said post, means for vertically actuating the receptacle carrier for movement of a receptacle thereon into receptacle filling engagement with a filling head and for movement of a receptacle thereon into receptacle capping position, a depending projection on said capper bracket and a cooperating indexing extension on said support engageable thereby for arresting movement of said capper bracket at a selected location over said receptacle carrier, an outwardly extending indexing member spaced axially from said carrier and adapted to rotate therewith, and a projection on said post extending into the rotative path of said indexing member and adapted to be engaged by said indexing member at either side of said projection so as to arrest rotation of said carrier at either of two predetermined positions, in one of which said positions a receptacle on said carrier is aligned with a filling head and in the other of which said positions such receptacle is aligned with the capper when said capper is positioned at an end of its arc of oscillation.

THEODORE H. KUMMER.

RAYMOND E. BODENDOERFER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,386,299 Wright et a1. Aug. 2, 1921 10 Number Name Date Strandt June 24, 1930 Davis 1 Dec. :8, 1931 Maringer June 6, 1933 Barrett Feb. 25, 1936 Lewis et a1 .Aug. 16, 11938 Namur et a1. Jan. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Apr. 25, 1931