US2672269A

US2672269A - Container capping machine

Info

Publication number: US2672269A
Application number: US42305A
Authority: US
Inventors: Resina Rosa
Original assignee: RESINA AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO Inc
Current assignee: RESINA AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO Inc
Priority date: 1948-08-03
Filing date: 1948-08-03
Publication date: 1954-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-16

Description

March 16, 1954 M. s. RESINA V CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 3, 1948 INVEN TOR. W/VUEZ $7 PES/A/A Marsh 16, 1954 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 M. S. RESINA CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Mmh 16, 1954 M. s. RESINA 2,672,269

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIB March 16, 1954 M. s. RESINA CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5', 1948 MAM/1 J? Pas/M4 INVENTOR.

March 16, 1954 M. s. RESINA CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 m M M mHwni M J j W M WM B m March 16, 1954 M. s. RESINA CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 VIII/I114 March 16, 1954 s, RESINA 2,672,269

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1948 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 CAP/"50 V f/ozoze 64M 1 N V EN TOR. MAM/:1 6T FES/A/A JTraPA EY March 16, 1954 Filed Aug. 3, 1948 M. s. RESINA 2,672,269

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 ass INVENTOR. Mme/51 PES/ /A Zia, Jm

March 16, 1954 M 5. RESlNA 2,672,269

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Aug. 3, 1948 I; 472 II G ,l 480 482a a I 25 it I Ii l I m1 2 z I! HUI {53 @MM J Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE GONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Manuel S. Resina, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Rosa Resin'a, 'executrix of said Manuel S. Resina, deceased,

assignor to Resina-Automatic Machinery Co. Inc.,Brook1yn, N. Y., a cc'rporationof New York Application August 3, 1948,-Serial No. 42,305

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to container capping machines and more particularly to those of the automatic type.

It is among the principal objects of the present invention to provide a machine of the class described which is capable, with suitable adaptation, of handling a range of container and/or cap sizes.

Another object herein lies in the provisional container capping machines in which the caps may be'spun over the edge' of the container opening to produce an efiicient seal.

'Another object herein lies in the provision of a machine of the class described which acts upon the containers and caps at a rapid'rate.

A still further object herein lies in the provision of hopper and hopper feed structure which consecutively feeds properly positioned caps in correlation to the positioning of the containers being capped.

Another object herein lies in the provision of mechanism which stops the capping operations when the containers are improperly positioned, so as to prevent damage to the machine and the containers and caps.

The present constructions include safety features which act to prevent certain types of accidental injury to the operator.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed 'outin'theappended claims.

In the drawings, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing in detail the upper right hand'portion of Figure 1.

Figure 2A is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on plane Za-Za of Figure 2 with cap pushed in place.

Figure 3 is an enlargedfrag'mentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the'plane 3- 3 on Figure 9.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view partly in section 'as seen from the plane 4--4' on'Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section of the upperright hand portion of Figure 4 showing theparts in an altered position thereof.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from'theplane 6- 6 on Figures.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 1-! on Figure 9.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seenfrom the plane 88 on Figure 4. I

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from they plane 9-'-9 on Figure13. V

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewas'seen from the plane l0l0 on Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view partly in sectionas seen from the plane I I-| l on Figurel.

"Figure12 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section as seen from the plane l2'|2"on Figure 1.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view as seen from plane l3'-l3 on Figure 1.

Figure 14 is an enlarged'fragmentary' vertical sectional viewas seen from the plane'l4l4on Figure 13 when a container is ina cap receiving position.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding to Figure 14, but showing the altered position'of the parts when there isno container in the cap receiving .position.

Figure 16 is afragmentary" vertical sectional view as seen from the plane I 6|6 on Figure 13. Figurel'? is an approximatecam'displacement schematic diagram, showing linear displacement of cams with respectto degree phaserotation.

'Figure 18 is'an enlargedfragmentary vertical elevational viewas' seen in the upper central portion of Figure 1.

Figurel9 is anenlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen 'fromthe'plane i9-|9 on Figure 18.

Figure 20 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view as seen from above Fig. 18.

' Figure 21 isan enlarged sectional view as seen from'the planeZl-Jl on Figure 19.

Figure 22 is a viewsom'ewhat similar to" Figure 3, but showing a modified construction.

Figure 23 is an enlarged'fragmentary' horizontal sectional 'view as seenfrom the' 'plane"2323 on Figure 24.

Figure 24 is an enlarged fragmentary'sectional View as seen from the plane"24 24 on Figure22. Figure 25 is a fragmentarysectional'view'corresponding" to the left portion of Figure 24,but

showing the parts in a cap'pick-up position.

Figure 26 is afragmentary sectional viewcorresponding toFigure 25, but showing the'parts in a cap depositing position.

Figure'27 is a fragmentary bo'ttomperspective view of the cam in the upper left portion of Figure 22.

In accordance with the invention, the machine 30 comprises broadly: container conveyor means 32; container movement guide means 34; hopper and cap supply means 36; container ca feeding means 38; container cap transfer means 40; cap placing means 42 and safety mechanism 43; container positioning means 44 and safety mechanism 45; container holding means 46 and safety mechanism 41 (Fig. 12); and cap closing means 48 and safety mechanism 49.

Turning to Fig. 1, the machine as includes a frame upon which is mounted a motor 52, which through the belt drives the speed reduction device 53. Device 53 drives the main drive shaft 54.

Located at the forward upper portion of the frame as is the container conveyor means 32 which includes a continuous conveyor link belt to carried by rotatable supports 58 and 62 therefor. The support may be driven by the chain 82 and the sprocket 84, the latter being suitably supplied with power from the main drive shaft 54. The upper rim of the belt is supported in a horizontal position by the platform 63, while the lower rim is supported by the shelf 68. During operation, the belt 56 moves in the direction of the arrows 10.

The container guide means 351 include the ralis T2 and 1 along which the rear surfaces of the containers (generally indicated by reference character Hi6) slide, and the plates it and 18 supported by the uprights iii! and 22 against the rear portions of which the front surfaces of the containers slide.

Projecting perpendicularly up from the upper surface of the platform 66 are a pair of

stationary posts

84 and 38 upon which is slideably supported a carriage 88. The carriage 88 includes a top plate 98 and a bottom plate 92 and is adjustable in height, as a unit, with respect to the platform 66 by means of a threaded post 94. The post 53 projects downward from the plate 92, extends through a hole in the platform 66 and carries a nut and handwheel 96. The bottom plate 92 is suspended from the top plate 9|] by four tierods 98, I02, I04 and IE6. The carriage 88 supports the hopper means 35 above it upon supports I68, Hi), and II2. Also above the top plate 90 is the gear train H4 for power take-off for the cap closing means 48. Disposed between the top plate and extending below the bottom plate of the carriage 88 are the lower portion of the cap feeding means 38, the cap transfer means 40, cap placing means 52, mechanism 43, and cap closing means 58 and mechanism 49. This enables the operator to adjust the machine 35 to accommodate it to containers of different height.

In the operation of the machine 32, a series of containers Iilfi is placed upon the conveyor belt 56 at the area I I6 (Fig. 1). As the first container is moved to the left as viewed in said figure, it strikes against the container positioning means 44. The means 44 includes a cam I33, which cam in turn causes continuous oscillation of the arm I68 having the upright projection I34 normally passing too far to the right (Fig. 12) of the catch member I54 to engage the same. The finger I59 is normally kept forward in the path of the containers It!) by the spring I55 which acts upon the slideable member I42 in the slide bearing I39. The lever M35 is pivotally mounted on the forward end of the slideable member I22. The pressure of the container against the finger I50 causes the lever I 45 to rotate clockwise against the action of spring I13, thus bringing the catch member I54 into the path of the oscillating projection I54 resulting in engagement, which will draw the finger I50 from the path of the containers allowing one to pass to the left. The speed of the conveyor and the arrangement of the cams I63 and II is such that the container holding element 55 is retracted until the container just released by the finger I50 reaches the cap closing position IIB (Fig. 12); whereupon the element 5'5 moves forward to clamp the container in a fixed position against the rails 12 and 14 (Fig. l) where it can be acted upon by the means 42-. The eleent 55 includes a rear member 51 and a pair of spaced lateral members 59 and SI. The member 51 is secured to the front end of the slideable member as mounted in the slide bearing 85. The element 55 is reciprocated by the lever 6'1 pivotally mounted at it on the platform 58, said lever being connected by the adjustable link 13 to the lever 15. Lever 15 is pivoted at 11 and is urged forward to follow the cam II by the spring 19. The spring 19 forms part of the safety mechanism since if a container is improperly positioned, it will be acted upon only by a resilient pressure insufficient to damage it. When held stationary by the finger I56 and the element 55, the conveyor belt 5;? slides along thereunder. The cams I63 and II are driven in synchronism with the other mechanisms of the machine 33 by being mounted on the shaft [-4.

The hopper means 3'6 includes a stationary partial cone II'I, a stationary rim H8, and a rotatable disc H9. The disc is concentrically mounted on a short shaft I 22 which is journalled in a bracket I24 extending rearwardly and up from the rim I IS. The disc is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) by a pulley I23, and a belt I28, the latter being driven by a motor (not shown). The disc I26 has a plurality of pins I30 which are axially reciprocated by cams (not shown) so that the pins I33 project into the cone H1 and enter the hollow depression ZUI (Fig. 2A) of a cap generally indicated by reference character 265:. When the pins I38 overlie the trough I32, they become retracted so that the caps 2% drop down into the trough I32, the caps resting on edge in a position substantially parallel to the plate I20.

The trough I32 includes an inner wall I34, an outer wall I36 and a bottom wall I38, and it is supported on the rim H8. The forward end of the trough I32 leads into the upper end of the cap transfer means, which includes the cap inversion mechanism I44 and the chute I40. The trough I32 inclines downwardly in a forward direction so the caps roll into the mechanism I40 by gravity. As best seen in Fig. 8, the forward portion of the inner wall I34 penetrates the cover I46 and is connected to irregularly shaped lip plate I48. The outer wall I36 stops at the edge I31 to meet the rear edge of the tipping member I50. The tipping member is generally vertically reciprocable, moving longitudinally between the lateral guides I52 and I56. The reciprocation of the tipping member I59 isobtaincd by a pin I58 which projects from the lower portion thereof and enters a slot in the forward end of a lever I62, the latter being pivoted at I65 on the rim' H8. The lever I62 has an offset member I68 carrying a roller I10 on its end, which roller acts as a follower for a lever I12. The pin I58 extends through the cover plate I14 which has an elongated slot I16. The upper end of the lever I12 has ashoe I18 which coacts withthe roller 41 10. The lever El 12 is in-two parts, an upper part 180 and a lower part 182. The upper ,part 18.0 is :pivotally connected at I84 by a bracket .186 to the right edge portion of the top plate -96 *(Fig. 2). The lower .part 182 is pivotally connected at 188 to the lower end-of the upperpart VI 80., :the lug I 90 being drawn against the edge 192 by the spring I94. The-spring I94 is assisted by the spring 1'96 which extends between the part 82 and the anchor -i98 projecting upward from the base member 202 for the safety mechanism 49. The lowermost end 204 of the lower :part l-82 of the lever l 12 terminates in a roller 206 (Fig. 9.) which acts as a follower for the cam 208 (Figs. 13, .14 and 15).

The cam .208 is integral with 'theforward end of lever 210, the rear end of which is pivotally mounted at 212 on a rearward extension of the bottom plate 92 (Fig. 16). The lever 218 has a roller 2M which acts as a follower for the cam 246,, so that when the roller 214 follows the cam 216, for every single revolution of the shaft 54, one cap 200 is fed. The lever 2N3 is urged to follow the cam 216 by the spring 218, the right end of which is connected to said lever, and the left end (not shown) is suitably anchored. The lever 210 may be prevented from operating by a hook 229 on the left end of a lever 222, the right end of which is pivotally mounted by the bolt 224 on the post I92. The hook 226 is adapted to engage the lug 226 on the forward end of the lever 210. The lever 222 is normally urged upward to a position of disengagement by a spring (not shown) which is connected at its lower end to said lever and at its other end is suitably anchored, while said lever is pushed down to a position of engagement by the adjustably mounted pin 22-8 in the extension 230 extending to the left from the forward arm 232 of the lever 234. The forwardarm 232 is bifurcated, forming a pair of

fingers

234 and 236 having inwardly extending rollers which ride in an annular groove 233 of the cap transfer means 40 (Fig. 2).

Turning now from the structure just described for moving a cap 203 from the trough I32 into the chute I40, or preventing such movement; back to Figs. d, 5, 6 and 8, in Fig. 4 .is seen the position of the parts as a .cap 283 is ready to be pushed into the chute. In Fig. 5, the tipping member has been elevated so that the capis pushed over the precipice Hi I. As seen in Fig. 8, the cap turns over because its center of gravity is to the right, or it is assisted in so turning over by contact with the inner surfaces of the cover I46. The slot 147 permits inspection. The cap now inverted slides down the chute I40 to the exit l4l thereof and is deposited in the cap transfer means 40 It may be noted at this point that while during normal operation, the trough is preferably kept loaded with caps, the chute I40 is kept empty, being used as a passage for each individual cap which is fed into the chute by the tipping member I50 as needed.

The cap transfer means 49 receives a cap from the chute exit I4! and drops it into the mouth 99 of a container I99 (Fig. 2A). The left open edge of the exit I4 1 (Fig. 9-) is in juxtaposition'with the right edge of the means 40 which is Composed of a plurality of laminated members. The bottom member is a ring 240, while the one next above is an orificed plate 242. Above the last mentioned plate are two

U-shaped plates

244 and 246 opening to the left followed by shoe 248. Above these last mentioned members is a U-shaped back stop 250 which opens toward the right .3). The

ring 2.40 attached :to *the plate 242 While the rest of the members are suitably integrated and mounted upon the lower ends of a pair of

rods

252 and 254. The rods252 and 254 have enlargements 253 and 258 .andare slideably mounted in the sleeve 260 which is .fixed to the base member 202 secured to the bottom plate 92.

Disposed above the plate .242, and at itherlevel of the plate 244 is a gate 262 which is pivotally mounted at .264 on the plate 242 to swing :in a clockwise direction from the position shown in 3. The gate .262 is articulately connected by the link 266 to the right end of a short lever 266, the "latter being pivoted at 210 On plate .242. Thegate 262 urged to theclosed position there of in which position it vertically supports -'a "cap from underneath, by the contractile spring 212, the rear end of said spring being anchored :on the link 266 and the forward end of said spring being anchored on a pin 214 projecting from the plate 242. Thegate 262 is opened by the follower 216 which is driven by the roller 278 carried by the pusher 230. The pusher 28s is adjustably secured to the extension 232 on the plunger 284 which is slideably mounted in the sleeve 2 69. Plunger 284 has two spaced flanges at the upper end thereof between which lies the groove 238 previously referred to.

The transfer means 49 is connected by the safety mechanism 4| to the finger 234 of the bifurcated arm 232, see Fig. 10. The plate 242 is pivotally attached at 286 to a first connector element 288, said element having an indentation 299 and an elongated depression 292 on the inner edge 294 thereof.

The lower portion of the connecting member 288 is provided with a tab 291. A pivotal mounting 293 provides means for mounting a symmetrical connecting member 295. Like member 282, member 295 has therein an indentation 292, and an elongated depression 293. The upper portions of members 298 and 295, are resiliently connected by means of a contractile spring 332. This spring normally holds the members 283 and 295 in the position shown in Figure 10, wherein the pin 304 engages the sides of the opening formed by the indentations 200 and 291-. Under excessive downward pressure of the 364, the connecting

members

288 and 295 will be forced out permitting the pin to ride in the slot formed by the

depressions

292 and 2 99.

The cap closing means '48, as may be seen on Figures 18 to 21, is supported in the plate 23, the bracket 396, and the collars 3'38 and 318. lhe upper portion 312, of the bracket 326, is modified to engage a flat tab 344, rigidly secured to the main spline 316, by any suitable means such as the rivets 318, and serves to prevent the spline SIG-from rotating. A plug 323 forms the upper terminus of the rotating sleeve 322. Threaded on the upper portion of the sleeve 322 are the lock nuts 324 and 32B, and an upper race element 3-28. The first two serve to position the third axially with respect to the sleeve, whereby the upper portion thereof may be supported by the ball bearings 336, which are held in place by the cage 332 in a well known manner. The lower raceway 335 is supported by the lower supporting member 335 of the bracket 396. The gear 339 transmits rotational motion from the gear train I2 3 (see Fig. 1). A key 340 slideably movable in the keyway 342 allows the gear 338 to be movable axially with respect to the sleeve. The gear 333 is maintained in a position to clear the bolts 344 by the collar 346. The bolts 344 rigidly secure the col-' lar 3l0 to the plate 96. l

Below the collar 3!!) is the intermediate thrust element 343. It is secured'to the sleeve 3.22, by suitable means, such as the set screw 339. Together with the upper intermediate race 352 it rides on the ball bearings 354.

The collar 308 has provided therein an annular groove 356, through which the. links. 358 transmit the reciprocation of the arm .360. (see Fig. 13) An intermediate bearing 362 allows relative rotating between the collar 368,. and the sleeve 322. I

The lower bearing assembly 364, is generally similar in construction to the other bearings heretofore described, including an upper race 365, a lower race 368, a retainer 373, and balls 312.

Contacting the bearing assembly 364 is an elongated outer sleeve 3114, the upper portion 316 of which may be knurled to facilitate grasping by the hand of the operator. The frusto conical portion 313 has a channel 336 enclosing a coil spring 382 therein. Extending within the channel 386 and contacting the lower terminus of the spring 382 is the crimper retaining element 334 which encloses the lower portion of the sleeve 322and is secured to the sleeve, by any suitable means such as the setscrew 386. The lower portion 338 of element 384 is of a considerably larger diameter than the upper portion 396 and is provided with a pair of slots in which the crimper elements 364 may be pivotally mounted by means of the pins 392.

The crimper elements 364 include a main 7 portion 396, a roller 398, and a crimping member 462. The roller 398 normally rests on the circular surface 404 of the outer sleeve 314.

The lower terminus of the spline 3 I 6, is secured by means of a pin 436 to a coupling 463. A shorter spline M6 is similarly secured to the coupling 436 by the pin M2. The coupling is provided to facilitate rapid and easy changing of crimping elements when so desired.

The element 384 is provided with a threaded orifice M4 in which a spacing element 446 is eni.

gaged. A ball bearing assembly 453 allows relative rotation between the spacing element 4:6 and the stationary cap engaging head 423.

The head 42B is secured to the spline in any suitable manner as for example by means of a bolt (not shown).

Although the operation of the cap closing means 46 will be more fully described in another portion of this disclosure, it might be note-i that the splines 316 and did when the machine is in operation, are stationary, power from the gear 338 being transmitted through the sleeve 322. A downward force transmitted through the links 358, results in the entire mechanism below the collar 3 l 6 moving downwardly,.until the head 426 engages the cap 230 of the container 66. Continued downward force, causes the outer sleeve 374 to move relative to the sleeve 3'22, whereby the frusto conical portion 618 contacts the rollers 368 of the crimper element 364, thereby engaging the edges 462 with the rim of the cap.

As may be seen on Figure 9 the safety device 49 cooperates with the cap closing means 48, and comprises generally an upper portion 422, and a lower container spacing member 424. The upper portion 422 comprises generally a support link 426, part of which is secured to one of the links 358, and which provides a base for the mounting of the main body element 428. The two are maintained together by any suitable means such as screws 430. An outer casing element 432 contacts small' coil springs 434 'at their outer terminals, the other terminals maintaining resilient pressure against two ball detents 436. A finger element 438, is slideably disposed in a channel 440 and is held in a lowered position by the engagement of the ball detents 436 in an annular groove 442. Excessive pressure on the bottom of the finger 438 will unseat the ball detents 436. The finger may be returned to its operative position manually by pressing downwardly upon the surface 444.

The lower portion 424 of the device 49 includes generally a main body element 446, a shaft 448, a coil spring 450, a retaining member 452, and a finger member 454. An upper contact member 456 is engageable with the finger member 438. The spring 450 normally urges the shaft in an upward direction, so that the retaining member 452 contacts the lower surface of the plate 92. Downward movement of the links 358 is transmitted through the upper portion 422, element 438 engaging the top member 456. The finger 454 is displaced downwardly, whereby the wedge shaped portion 458 enters the space between the two successive containers I00. If the containers should happen to be slightly displaced from their proper position the wedging action of the finger 454 tends to correct this displacement. If the displacement of the containers is so great that the finger 454 strikes the top portion of one of the containers, the finger transmits the pressure through the shaft 443 to the upper portion 442, which action dislodges the ball detents to allow the element 433 to displace upwardly.

Referring now to Figure 13, the shaft 54 in addition to driving the cams H and I63, drives the wheel 466. The upper surface of the wheel is modified to form the cam 462 which through cam follower 464 drives the arm 360. The arm is urged to follow the profile of the cam 462 by a coil spring 463 (Fig. 16), one terminus 01' which is secured to the arm, the other of which is suitably fixed to a stationary member of the frame (not shown). The arm 232 is driven in a similar manner from the cam 468 formed by the lower surface of the wheel 460, the cam follower 410 being urged to follow the cam surface by the spring 4'12. The

arms

360 and 232 are suitably mounted for pivotal movement at 414 and 416 respectively.

Turning now to the second embodiment, to avoid needless repetition certain of the parts corresponding to those in the first embodiment have been designated by similar reference characters with the addition of the suffix a.

As may be seen on Figures 22 through 2'7, the second embodiment diners from the first embodiment principally in the means whereby a cap of which is rotatably fixed to the lever 46011 at 482a.

As may be seen on Figure 27 the cam 468a is somewhat altered from that of the first embodiment, having an additional small depression 468a therein. The purpose of the depression is to enable the magnetic cap chuck to be lowered slightly whereby it may engage a cap 200a after the time of delivery from the hopper mechanism (Fig. 26). When the gate is opened, the arm 232a drives the chuck downwardly, thereby engaging the cap firmly in the orifice in the container Hi0 (Fig. 27). The static friction caused by this engagement, allows the chuck to be withdrawn by the arm 232a without disturbing the position of the cap.

It may thus be seen that I have invented a novel automatic capping machine, in which the caps employed may be crimped over the openings of the containers to produce an eificient seal, which acts upon the containers at a rapid rate, and which stops the capping operations when the containers are improperly positioned so as to prevent damage to the machine, the containers or the caps.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of structures as set forth in this specification, as obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a capping machine for use with containers and caps therefor, said machine having a relatively fixed frame, a container conveyor means, a reciprocating cap closing means supported upon a reciprocating arm operated by a cam engageable with said arm; the improvement comprising means to align successive containers beneath said cap closing means as said cap closing means is lowered to a cap closing position; said means including a reciprocating shaft having a wedge,

shaped container engagement portion slidable and resiliently mounted for vertical movement upon said frame; means upon said arm adjacent and movable with said cap closing means engageable with said shaft to move the same downwardly upon the lowering of said arm to align successive containers moving upon said conveyor means directly beneath said cap closing means.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said last mentioned means includes a finger slidably mounted for vertical movement with respect to said arm and engageable with said shaft; and resilient detent means maintaining said finger in normal operating position; whereby upon the lowering of said arm and shaft the direct contact of said wedge-shaped engagement portion with a horizontally disposed surface of a container occurs, said finger is moved upwardly from normal operating position to prevent damage to said finger and shaft.

MANUEL S. RESINA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 799,095 Shriner Sept. 12, 1905 1,094,163 Nissinen et a1 Apr. 21, 1914 1,227,244 Buhles May 22, 1917 1,393,016 Hammer Oct. 11, 1921 1,440,246 Sharp Dec. 26, 1922 1,661,401 Arnstein Mar. 6, 1928 1,761,488 ONeil June 3, 1930 1,855,465 Bacon Apr. 26, 1932 1,992,557 Tone et al Feb. 26, 1935 2,093,138 Riesebeck Sept. 14, 1937 2,339,866 Lyon Jan. 25, 1944 2,352,761 Bell July 4, 1944 2,353,200 Sundell July 11, 1944 2,408,447 Rau Oct. 1, 1946 2,434,053 Resina Jan. 6, 1948