US2706847A

US2706847A - Apparatus for assembling the elements of liquid-dispensing containers

Info

Publication number: US2706847A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank C Jennings
Original assignee: Emhart Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Emhart Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1949-08-18
Filing date: 1949-08-18
Publication date: 1955-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 1972-04-26

Description

7 l M t w w a W 2 W h s 4 S T mm Em m mmw mmm um 5mm c m .R D 5mm Q SI wt W w April 2%, 1955 Filed Aug 18 1949 .2720? I LJnn 92 3 YUWW Z H or y April 26, 1955 Filed Aug. 18, 1949 F. C. JENNINGS APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING THE ELEMENTS OF LIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 jfz'wrqfor frzn/r CUFF]?! s April 26, 1955 F. c. JENNINGS APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING THE ELEMENTS 0F LIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18 1949 /50 fi mvzy m A new Apnl 26, 1955 JENNINGS 2,706,847

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING THE ELEMENTS OF LIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 18, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lkerzrzln s 425%) @m I w r w/4M .Il

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLIN G THE ELEMENTS OF LIQUID-DISPENSING CONTAINERS Frank C. Jennings, Westboro, Mass., assignor to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Delaware Application August 18, 1949, Serial No. 110,926

7 Claims. (Cl. 29-3s The present invention relates generally to improved apparatus for assembling the elements entering into containers such as are widely used for the dispensing of liquids of various kinds, in the form of a jet or spray. The invention relates particularly to containers of the type commonly known as squeezable bottles, by reason of the fact that the containers are composed of flexible plastic material that possesses sufiicient inherent rigidity to stand upright as a bottle, while at the same time being readily compressible by squeezing in the hand, thereby to expel the liquid contents of the container through a discharge opening provided in the container closure, which is in the form of a plug or cap fitting the container mouth.

In the handling and marketing of any liquid confined within a dispensing container, it is of the utmost importance that the closure cap make a liquid-tight seal with the container opening, and that the tube which extends downwardly into the liquid for delivering such liquid to the cap, be firmly attached to the cap in proper position with respect to the discharge opening, as Well as with respect to the bottom of the container. Generally speaking, the assembly of the various elements entering into the filled and sealed liquid-dispensing containers, such as squeezable bottles, involves the performance of a number of separate operations, such as the attachment of the tubes to the closure caps, and the placing of the cap and tube units in the bottle necks, with such operations being customarily performed by hand.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for assembling closure caps and tubes for use in dispensing containers of the above-described type, with such apparatus being characterized by its speed and uniformity of operation and accuracy of assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such apparatus with means to accurately control the lengths of the individual tubes that are severed from a supply of tubing and to properly position each tube for assembling in a closure cap while supported against lengthwise fiexure, with the assurance that each tube will be securely held in place in correct relation to the discharge opening of the associated cap.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for assembling all of the essential elements entering into dispensing containers of the abovedescribed type, with such apparatus being characterized by its ability to rapidly produce filled, sealed containers by a series of readily performed operations, starting with a supply of containers, closure caps and tubing and finishing with filled and sealed containers ready for dispensing a liquid.

Unless otherwise indicated in the present specification and claims, the term cap will be employed to include closure members and plugs, such as might be used for sealing dispensing containers of the type described herein, and is not limited to closure members which extend over or cover the upper rim of the container openings.

The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a view in side elevation of apparatus embodying the present invention, with the parts occupying a position in readiness for receiving a cap preparatory to inserting a tube therein.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, as viewed from the right, with the parts occupying a position wherein a tube is about to be inserted in a cap, and with the positioning of an assembled cap and tube unit being shown in dotted lines for presentation to a filled container.

Fig. 3 shows the apparatus of Fig. 1, as viewed from theopposite side, and with the parts occupying different positlons.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views, on an enlarged scale, showing the functioning of the tube cutting and positioning mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical circuits for controlling the operation of the tube feeding devices forming part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are schematic showings of the various operations performed by the apparatus with relation to a cap and tube and the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 7.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a base 1 on which is mounted an upwardly extending post 2 for pivotally supporting a laterally extending frame 3. The frame 3 can be swung about the vertical axis of the post 2, as illustrated in the full line and dotted line positions of Fig. 2, for the purpose of bringing a work-carrying plunger 4 in vertical alignment with either a cap and tube assembling station A or a container-sealing station B, 511i1 as will be apparent from a consideration of Figs. 2 an The plunger 4 is vertically movable in a sleeve 5 provided by the frame 3, and the lower end of the plunger 4 terminates in a cap-receiving head 6. For purposes of illustration, the plunger 4 is shown as being movable up and down with respect to the frame sleeve 5 by means of a handle 7 connected to a rod 8 suitably connected to the ends of the plunger 4, with the rod being movable in a guide 9 carried by the sleeve 5. Thus, the plunger 4 can be readily moved up and down by means of the handle 7 to bring the head 6 into position for cooperation with instrumentalities located at either station A or B, with the handle 7-also serving as a means for readily swinging the frame 3 about the post 2 to move the plunger 4 and its head 6 from one station to another.

The head 6 on the plunger 4 provides a pair of clamps 10, in the form of resilient fingers, that are adapted to receive and hold between them the upper portion of a cap C, shown in Fig. 6 as being of a type that is cus-l tomarily employed as a closure for containers, such as squeezable bottles, with the cap C providing a central opening 11 for the purpose of receiving a tube T prior to the insertion of the assembled cap C and tube T in the container. As previously pointed out, the apparatus of the present invention provides separate stations A and B for performing the separate operations generally indicated in Fig. 2, and there will next be described in detail, the particular mechanism for assembling a cap C and tube T on the plunger head 4.

At the same time, there will also be described the associated mechanism for feeding and cutting a tube T of predetermined length following the assembly of each cap and tube unit, so that a tube will be in readiness for the next cap and tube assembly operation upon the return of the head 6 to the station A, following the performance of a container-sealing operation at station B.

As best shown in Fig. 3, individual tubes T are adapted to be delivered to the cap and tube assembly station A from acontinuous supply of tubing T1 wound on a suitable spool 12 that is turnable freely on a spindle 13 supported by a bracket 14 extending upwardly from the base 1. A guide 15 extending from the bracket 14, below the spool 12, is adapted to conduct the tube T-1 into a conduit 16 that extends downwardly beneath the base and then curves upwardly so as to direct the tubing T-l into a tube positioning and cutting block 17 which is located at station A. This block 17 extends upwardly from the base 1, with a central opening 18 therein having its axis in exact alignment with the center of the head 6 when the plunger 4 is swung into the full line position of Fig. 2, with the axes of the block opening 18 and plunger 4 in vertical alignment.

The tubing T-l from the spool 12 is adapted to be fed into the opening 18 in block 17 by means of an autocatically controlled feed mechanism which, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, consists of a roll 19 mounted on a shaft 20 that is adapted to be rotatably driven by an electric motor 21 mounted on the base 1. A suitable speed-reducing unit 22 is interposed between the roll shaft 20 and the shaft 21a of the electric motor 21, so that the roll shaft 20 is adapted to be rotatably driven at a relatively slow speed, in the neighborhood of 40 R. P. M., with this low rate of speed of the shaft 20 being determined by the desired lineal speed at which it is desired to feed tubing T-1 into the tube block 17.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the feed roll 19 provides a V-groove 23 into which the tubing T4 is adapted to fit tightly so that rotation of the roll 19 by the motor 21 will cause the tubing to be positively fed into the conduit 16 and from thence upwardly into the delivery open ing 18 of the block 17. In order to eliminate slippage between the tubing T-l and the sides of the feed roll groove 23, and thereby insure accurate feeding of the tubing during each operatin cycle of the apparatus, a pressure roll 24 cooperates with the positively driven feed roll 19, with the roll 24 being mounted on an arm 25 turnable about a pivot 26. The pressure roll 24 is in the form of a narrow grooved disk that is adapted to fit on the tubing T-1 and press the latter firmly into the bottom of the groove 23, as will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 3.

In order to make certain that the roll 24 will press on the tubing T1 with sufficient pressure to cause positive feeding of the tubing T1 by the roll 19, the roll arm 25 is adapted to be turned about its pivot 26 through the pull developed by an electromagnet 27. The armature 28 of the electromagnet 27 is connected to the free end of the arm 25 by a spring 29 which normally serves to maintain the roll 24- in engagement with the tubing at the bottom of the roll groove 23, and energization of the electromagnet 27 serves to increase the pull of the spring 29 as the armature 28 moves downwardly. As will be hereinafter described, the electromagnet 27 is adapted to be energized from a suitable source of electrical energy, whenever the motor 21 is caused to operate through its connection to the same source, with such energization of the electromagnet 27 and motor 21 being automatically controlled so as to cause the positive feeding of a predetermined length of tubing T1 into the block 17 during each complete operating cycle of the cap and tube assembling mechanism.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown, on an enlarged scale, the particular construction of the block 17 and associated mechanism, whereby a length of tubina T- l, as previously fed into the opening 18 by the roll 15, will be severed to provide a separate tube T of predetermined length which is firmly held in position against lengthwise flexure, while a cap C is carried downwardly by the head 6 to cause insertion of the upper projecting end of the tube T into the cap opening 11.

For the purpose of severing the tube into predetermined lengths, a knife blade 30 is movable through a slot 31 extending through the block 17 at right angles to the opening 18 through which the tubing T1 is fed. This knife blade 30 is adapted to be actuated by a pin 3% attached to the lower end of a lever 32 which is turn-ab e on a pivot 33 supported by a lug 34 projecting from the block 17, see Fig. 5. A spring 35 is connected at its ends to the knife-carrying portion of the lever 32, below the pivot 33. and a fixed pin 36, so that the knife blade 30 is normally maintained in a retracted position by the pull of the spring 35, whenever the head 6 on the plunger 4 occupies the raised position of Fig. 1 preparatory to the reception of a cap C between the spring clamps 10. When the lever 32 occupies this position, a cam proiection 37 at the upper end of the le er bears on a roll 38 mounted at the end of a stud 39 carried by the head 6, so that the pull of the spring 35 is adapted to yieldingly maintain the lever 32 in readiness for the cutting of a length of tube T, as soon as the head 6 starts its downward movement with a cap C, as later described.

As previously pointed out. the conduit 16 is adapted to deliver tubing T-l, as fed by the rolls l9 and 24. to the opening 18 in the tube control block 17, and there will next be described the particular mechanism for controlling the feeding and cutting of individual tubes T, in timed relation with movements of the head 6 which performs the cap and tube assembly operation. This tube controlling mechanism is best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which are on an enlarged scale, with the automatic functioning of the mechanism being further illustrated in the schematic diagrams of Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the opening 18 in the block 17 is shown as being in the form of a continuous passage extending upwardly through the block, with the size of the passage being slightly greater than the outside diameter of the tubing T-1. The opening 18 is in communication with a chamber 4-9 formed in the block 17 above the knife slot 31, with the chamber 40 being adapted to freely receive a support 41, the function of which is to yieldingly position a cap C, while a tube T is being inserted therein.

The cap support 41 is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5 by means of a spring 42 seated at the bottom of the chamber 40 with the top of the support lying flush with the upper end of the block 17. A stop pin 43 extends transversely through the wall of the chamber 40 so as to engage a shoulder 44 formed on the support 41, and so limit the upward movement of the support under the pressure of the spring 42. Therefore, the cap support 41 normally occupies a position in which it is capable of moving downward within the chamber 40 in response to a pressure applied by a cap C, as the latter engages the top of the support as a result of downward movement of the head 6 on the plunger 4.

The cap support 41 provides a central opening 45 of such size as to freely receive the upper end of a tube guiding sleeve 46 which extends upwardly into the chamber 40 inside the spring 42. The lower end of the sleeve 46 is in communication with the opening 18, and the function of the sleeve is to guide and rigidly support the tubing T-1 as the latter is fed upwardly into the cap support 41 by the operation of the

rolls

19 and 24. The outside diameter of the sleeve 46 is somewhat less than the in side diameter of the opening 45, so that the cap support 41 may telescope freely upon the upper end of the sleeve 46, as the support is pressed downwardly by a cap C on the head 6 at the start of a cap and tube assembly operation, as will be apparent from a comparison between Figs. 5 and 6.

It is to be noted that the upper end of the sleeve 46 is contracted to form a tapered nozzle 46a which is adapted to fit Within an inwardly tapering tube feed orifice 47 formed in the top of the support 41 in communication with the opening 45 which freely receives the delivery end of the tube guiding sleeve 46. Therefore, when the cap support 41 is moving downwardly from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6, that portion of the tubing T-1 within the chamber 40 is firmly supported by the sleeve, and the nozzle 46a on the sleeve 46 will finally closely engage the upper end of the opening 45 adjacent to the orifice 47, so that the tubing is effectively prevented from buckling as the upper end thereof is received within the central cap opening 11, as the cap and tube assembly operation is completed.

As previously pointed out, the apparatus of the present invention provides means for automatically controlling the feeding and cutting of individual tubes T of predetermined length for assembling in the caps C, preparatory to inserting the assembled cap and tube units in containers, such as bottles of predetermined height. For this purpose, the upward movement of tubing T1 through the head 17 is utilized to cause automatic interruption of the tube feed through functioning of an electrical control circuit for the motor 21, which circuit is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. This control circuit includes a switch arm 49 mounted on a pivot 49 carried by the lever 32, which, as previously pointed out, carries the knife blade 30 at its lower end, and provides the cam projection 37 at its upper end. As best shown in Fig. 1, that portion of the switch arm 48 extending to the right of the pivot 49 overhangs the top of the tube feed block 17, so that as the leading end of the tubing T1 emerges from the orifice 47, it will lift the arm 48 and turn the latter in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 49 on the lever 32.

That portion of the switch arm 48 extending to the left of the pivot 49, as viewed in Fig. l, carries a contact 50 which is normally held in engagement with a stationary contact 51 mounted on the lever 32 by the pull of a sprmg 52. In the position of parts shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it is assumed that previous feeding of a predetermined length of tubing T-l has raised the right-hand end of the switch arm 48 so as to turn the arm on its pivot 49 far enough to cause the contact 50 to be separated from the stationary contact 51 so that the circuit of the tube feeding motor 21 is then open. It will be apparent, however, that when the lever 32 is turned from the position of Fig. 1 into the position of Fig. 3 by downward movement of the head 6 and its lever operating roll 38, the withdrawal of the end of the switch arm 48 from its previous position over the tube delivery orifice 47, will permit the

contacts

50 and 51 to be closed by the pull of the spring 52. The closed position of the

contacts

50 and 51 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, which position is occupied by the contacts when the lever 32 is turned to the position of Fig. 1 following the removal of an assembled tube T by a cap C, with the closed contacts then being in readiness to complete the motor circuit and cause feeding of the next tube through functioning of the electrical control circuit next to be described.

Referring now to Fig. 7, the control circuit is shown diagrammatically, from which it will be apparent that the motor 21 and the electromagnet 27 are connected in parallel circuit relation between one supply main M-1 and the stationary contact 51 of the lever switch of which the pivoted arm 48 forms a part. The movable contact 50 is adapted to be connected to the other supply main M-2 through a starting switch 53, under the manual control of the machine operator, and through a toggle snap switch 54, the position of which is determined by the position of the lever 32. The switch 54 provides an actuator 55 which is pivoted so as to hold the switch contacts 56 closed when the lever 32 occupies the position of Fig. 1. However, when the lever 32 is moved into the position of Fig. 3, as indicated by the dotted line position of the actuator 55 in Fig. 7, the contacts 56 will be opened to prevent completion of the circuit for the motor 21 and electromagnet 27 through

closed contacts

50 and 51 until after the cap and tube assembly operation has been completed at station A, and the tube withdrawn from the block 17, preparatory to feeding a fresh tube.

The wiring diagram of Fig. 7 is based on the full line showing of Fig. 1, wherein it is assumed that a previously fed length of tubing T-1 has turned the arm 48 about its pivot 49 to separate the contact 50 from the contact 51. The showing of Fig. 7 also assumes that the starting switch 53 has been closed and that the contacts 56 of the snap switch 54 are also closed, due to the fact that the actuator 55 has been turned into the full line position by the lever 32. Therefore, the circuit of the motor 21 is in readiness to be completed by closure of the

contacts

50 and 51, upon withdrawal of the righthand end of the arm 48 from its normal position over the projecting end of the tubing T-l, as shown in Fig. 3. Obviously, the

contacts

50 and 51 will remain closed when the lever returns to the position of Fig. 1 from the position of Fig. 3, in the absence of a tube T, so that the circuit of the motor 21 and the electromagnet 27 will be then completed to cause the

rolls

19 and 24 to feed a predetermined length of tubing into the block 17 to take the place of the previously severed tube T that has been removed as a result of the cap and tube assembling operation next to be described.

In describing this operation, it will be assumed that the parts occupy the full line position of Fig. 1, wherein the plunger 4 is raised so that a cap C may be positioned and held on the head 6 by the clamps 10. It will also be assumed that the switch arm 48 then occupies a position wherein its right-hand end portion is held slightly raised by the projecting end of a length of tubing T-l, previously fed by the

rolls

19 and 24, so that the

contacts

50 and 51 are then separated, and the circuit of the motor 21 is open. The above described relation of parts at the start of an operating cycle is shown schematically in Fig. 8, from which it will be also apparent that the knife blade 30 is then held in a retracted position clear of the tubing T-l by the pull of the spring 35.

The next step resides in moving the plunger 4 downwardly by means of the handle 7 from the position of Fig. 1 into the position of Fig. 3 which shows the head 6 at the lower limit of its downward movement, at which time the insertion of a tube T in the cap C has been completed. It will be apparent, however, from a consideration of the relation between the parts of the control mechanism at the start of the operating cycle, as indicated in Fig. 8, that downward movement of the head 6 is also accompanied by a number of operations that are performed in a closely timed sequence, whereby a length of tubing T-1 is first severed to provide a tube T of predetermined length, and whereby the motor circuit is held open to positively prevent feeding of the tubing T-1 until after the tube T just cut has been assembled in the cap C. Furthermore, the feeding of additional tubing is prevented until after an assembled tube has been removed from the block 17, preparatory to carrying an assembllged cap and tube unit to the container closing station Fig. 9 shows the above described operations schematically, with the downward movement of the head 6 having carried the cap C to a position just above the block 17, thereby turning the lever 32 about its pivot 33, in a counterclockwise direction, as a result of pressure exerted by the roll 38 on the straight portion of the lever below the cam projection 37. It will be apparent from a comparison between Figs. 8 and 9 that such turning movement of the lever 32 immediately causes the knife blade 30 to move to the right, as viewed in Fig. 9, thereby severing the previously fed tubing T-l at a predetermined distance below the top of the block 7, which distance corresponds substantially to the depth of the container into which the cap and tube assembly is to be inserted at station B. It will also be apparent from Fig. 9 that the same movement of the lever 32 swings that portion of the lever above the pivot 33 to the left, thereby withdrawing the end of the switch arm 48 from engagement with the projecting end of the severed tube T, and permitting the contact 50 to re-engage the contact 51, due to the pull of the spring 52. However, this closure of

contacts

50 and 51 does not, at that moment, complete the circuit of the motor 21 and electromagnet 27, because the above described movement of the lever 33 to the left, moves the actuator 55 of the snap switch 54 to the dotted line position of Fig. 7, thereby opening the contacts 56, in advance of closure of the

contacts

50 and 51. Therefore, as the cap C continues its downward movement to receive a tube T, the circuit of the motor 21 is temporarily held open at the open contacts 56, with

contacts

50 and 51 then being closed in readiness to energize the motor 21 upon the next operation of the snap switch 54 in the reverse direction.

Fig. 10 shows the cap and tube assembly operation as having been completed by downward movement of the head to the position of Fig. 3, wherein the roll 38 has reached the downward limit of its travel in engagement with the lever 32, and wherein the flange C-1 of the cap C has engaged the top of block 17. At this stage of the operating cycle, all parts of the control circuit remain in the same condition, as previously described with reference to Fig. 9, i. e., with the feed motor circuit open. The completion of the cap and tube assembly is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10, since such assembly is shown in detail on a larger scale in Fig. 6, it being sutficient to state at this point that as the cap support 41 yields in response to downward pressure of the cap C, the projecting end of the previously severed tube T enters the cap opening 11, with the lower end of the tube being then supported by the knife blade 30. Furthermore, any downward pressure on the tube T, as the result of the tube inserting operation, does not bend the tube because of the fact that the sleeve 46 firmly supports the tube within the chamber 40 of the block 17, with the tapered end of the sleeve accurately guiding the support 41, as the latter telescopes on the sleeve in moving from the position of Fig. 5 into the position of Fig. 6. The cap and tube assembly is, therefore, completed without any possibility of bending or distorting the tube T, and with the frictional nature of the plastic material composing the cap and tube, serving to insure retention of the tube T in the cap opening 11, due to the fact that the hollow tube is slightly larger than the opening, and there is a resulting compression of the walls of the tube.

The last step in the operating cycle of the apparatus is illustrated schematically in Fig. 11, wherein the plunger 4 is shown as having started its upward movement, thereby withdrawing the tube T from the block 17, due to its attachment to the cap C as described above. The head 6 is shown as having approached the upper end of its movement with respect to the lever 32, wherein the pull of the spring 35 serves to turn the lever in a clockwise direction about its pivot 33, as indicated by the arrow. When this occurs, the knife blade 30 is first withdrawn from the block 17, so as to be clear of the tube opening 18, followed by closure of the circuit of the motor 21, as a result of the movement of the snap switch contacts 56 to a closed position when the actuator 55 is moved to the full line position of Fig. 7. Since, as previously indicated, the

contacts

50 and 51 are then held closed by the spring 52, the motor 21 will continue to drive the feed rolls 19 and 24 to cause a fresh length of tubing T1 to be fed upwardly into the block 17, as indicated by the arrow at the bottom of Fig. ll. The motor 21 continues to run until the emergence of the leading end of the tubing T1 through the orifice 47 lifts the righthand end of the switch arm 48, and thereby separates the

contacts

50 and 51 to open the motor circuit and automatically interrupt the feed of the tubing T-l, with a predetermined measured length thereof extending within the block 17 between the knife blade 30 and the top of the block 17. This completes the operating cycle, with the parts then again occupying the positions indicated schematically in Fig. 8.

The final step in the production of a completely closed and sealed container resides in swinging the frame 3 from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, thereby delivering a cap and tube assembly at station B. A suitable container 57, in the form of a compressible bottle, is shown at station B with the neck 58 of the container being held in position by means of a clamp 59 which embraces the neck, see Fig. 4. It is to be noted that the clamp 59 serves to accurately position and support the container 57 with its neck opening in alignment with the vertical axis of the tube T, so that downward movement of the plunger 4 by the handle 7 results in the insertion of the tube T within the container. Obviously, continued downward movement of the plunger 4 will result in forcing the cap C into the neck 58 of the container to close and tightly seal the same, the cap inserting movement being completed when the flange C1 on the cap C engages the upper end of the container neck 58.

Upward movement of the plunger 4 following the closing and sealing of a container 57, results in the clamps 10 releasing the cap C from the head 6, whereupon the frame 3 is swung back into the position of Fig. l, preparatory to placing a fresh cap C thereon at the start of another operating cycle such as is shown schematically in Figs. 8 to ll, inclusive. The swinging movement of the frame 3 between the stations A and B is limited by means of stops 69 attached to the post 2, so that the frame 3 will always properly position the plunger 4 and its head 6 in alinement with the axis of a tube T at station A, and with the center of a container 57 at station B.

I claim:

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination, means for supporting a flexlble tube against fiexure throughout substantially its entire length, means for holding a container cap, with an opening therein in alinement with the axis of said tube, means for supporting a compressible container with its open neck spaced from and in parallel relation to said tube, means for moving said cap with respect to said tube support to cause the insertion of one end of said tube into said cap opening, and for thereafter moving said cap and tube, as a unit, to withdraw said tube from its supporting means, for the subsequent insertion of said cap and tube unit into the open neck of said container for closing and sealing said container, with said tube extending downwardly therein, said cap moving means including a movably mounted supporting member for moving said cap holding means, with the cap and inserted tube, from a tube inserting assembly station to a second assembly station at which the cap and tube are inserted in the container.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination. means for supporting a flexible tube against fiexure throughout substantially its entire length, means for holding a container cap, with an opening therein in alinement with the axis of said tube, means for supporting a compressible container with its open neck spaced from and in parallel relation to said tube, means for moving said cap holder with respect to said tube support to cause the insertion of one end of said tube into said cap opening, and for thereafter moving said cap holder, and cap and tube, as a unit, to withdraw said tube from its supporting means, for the subsequent insertion of said cap and tube unit by said cap holder into the open neck of said container for closing and sealing the same, with said tube extending downwardly therein, and means for delivering a second tube into said supporting means, following withdrawal of the first tube therefrom, said cap moving means including a post and rotatable frame on which, said cap holding means is mounted and which is movable to position the cap holding means at an assembly station at which the tube is inserted in the cap, and at a second assembly station at which the cap and tube are inserted in the container.

3. The improvement according to claim 1 including means for feeding a supply of tubing into one end of said tube supporting means, a detent located at the other end of said tube supporting means adjacent said cap holding means and disposed in the path of the tubing supply, means responsive to the striking of said detent by the leading end of said tubing supply to deenergize said feeding means, a reciprocable knife blade located near said one end of said tube supporting means, and means responsive to the movement of said cap holding means for moving said detent towards and away from said other end of said tube supporting means and for moving said knife blade across said one end of said tube supporting means to sever said tubing, said knife blade forming a stop for the so-severed tube to prevent the latter from moving axially within said tube supporting means while said tube is inserted into said cap opening.

4. The improvement according to claim 2 including means for feeding a supply of tubing into one end of said tube supporting means, a detent located at the other end of said tube supporting means adjacent said cap holding means and disposed in the path of the tubing supply, means responsive to the striking of said detent by the leading end of said tubing supply to deenergize said feeding means, a reciprocable knife blade located near said one end of said tube supporting means, and means responsive to the movement of said cap holding means for moving said detent towards and away from said other end of said tube supporting means and for moving said knife blade across said one end of said tube supporting means to sever said tubing, said knife blade forming a stop for the so-severed tube to prevent the latter from moving axially within said tube supporting means while said tube is inserted into said cap opening.

5. Apparatus for interfitting an elongated flexible tube of a predetermined length within an opening of a container cap so as to form a cap and tube assembly, comprising a tube measuring and cut-off device having a cylindrical passageway of substantially said predetermined length, said passageway being of substantially the same diameter as the outside diameter of said tube, whereby said tube is supported against flexure throughout its predetermined length within said passagewa means for feeding a continuous supply of tubing into one end of said passageway, a detent located at the other end of said passageway and disposed in the path of the so-fed tubing, means responsive to the striking of said detent by the leading end of the so-fed tubing for deenergizing said feeding means, a reciprocable knife blade located near said one end of said passageway and adapted by its movement across said one end of said passageway to sever the tubing so-fed, means responsive to the movement of a cap holder for moving said detent towards and away from said other end of said passageway after said feeding means has been energized and deenergized and for moving said knife blade across said one end of said passageway and for holding said knife blade over said one end of said passageway while the so-severed tube and said cap are fitted together, whereby said knife blade acts as a stop for said tube so as to prevent said tube from being pushed out of said passageway during the interfitting operation, and a movable cap holder located near said other end of said passageway for holding said cap with its opening in alignment with the axis of said passageway, a slidable block mounted at the outer end of a recess in said tube support at said other end of said passageway, a hole in said block forming said other end of said passageway, and a resilient means located in said recess between said block and the inner end of said recess for resisting movement of said block into said cavity in a direction along said passageway, said cap holder being adapted, upon its movement towards said other end of said passageway, to urge said block into said recess and to cause said cap to be fitted over the end of said tube, thus forming an assembly of cap and tube.

6. Apparatus for interfitting an elongated flexible tube of a predetermined length within an opening of a container cap so as to form a cap and tube assembly, comprising a tube support having a cylindrical passageway of substantially said predetermined length, said passageway being of substantially the same diameter as the outside diameter of said tube whereby said tube is supported against fiexure throughout its length within said passageway, a movable cap holder located near one end of said passageway for holding said cap with its opening in alignment with the axis of said passageway, means for feeding a supply of tubing into the other end of said passageway, a tube intercepting means located at said one end of said passageway and disposed in the path of the tubing so-fed, means responsive to the striking of said tube intercepting means by the leading end of the tubing so-fed for deenergizing said feeding means, a reciprocable knife blade located near said other end of said passageway and adapted by its movement across said other end of said passageway to sever the tubing sofed, means responsive to the movement of said cap holder for moving said tube intercepting means towards and away from said one end of said passageway and for moving said knife blade across said other end of said passageway and for holding said knife blade over said other end of said passageway while said cap and said tube are fitted together, whereby said knife blade acts as a stop for said tube so as to prevent said tube from being pushed out of said passageway during the interfitting operation, a slidable block mounted at the outer end of a recess in said tube support at said one end of said passageway, 21 hole in said block forming said one end of said passageway, and a resilient means located in said recess between said block and the inner end of said recess for resisting movement of said block into said cavity in a direction along said passageway, said cap holder being adapted upon its movement towards said passageway to urge said block into said recess and to cause said cap to be fitted over the end of said tube, thus forming an assembly of cap and tube.

7. Apparatus for producing a succession of tube and cap assemblies wherein each assembly consists of a container cap having its opening in interfitting relation with a flexible tube of a predetermined length, comprising a tube measuring and cut-off device providing a cylindrical passageway, said passageway being of substantially the same diameter as the outside diameter of said tube, means for feeding a continuous supply of tubing into one end of said passageway, a detent located at the other end of said passageway and disposed in the path of said tubing supply, means responsive to the striking of said detent by the leading end of said tubing supply for deenergizing said feeding means, a reciprocable knife blade located along said passageway at a distance from said detent equal to said predetermined length, said knife blade being adapted by its movement across said passageway to sever a tube of said predetermined length from said tubing supply, a movable cap holder located near said other end of said passageway for holding a cap with its opening in alignment with the axis of said passageway, means responsive to the movement of said cap holder for moving said detent towards and away from said other end of said passageway and for moving said knife blade across said passageway and for holding said knife blade across said passageway while the sosevered tube and said cap are fitted together, whereby said knife blade acts as a stop for said tube so as to prevent axial movement thereof in said passageway during the interfitting operation, a slidable block mounted at the outer end of a recess in said tube support at said other end of said passageway, a hole in said block forming said other end of said passageway, and a resilient means located in said recess between said block and the inner end of said recess for resisting movement of said block into said cavity in a direction along said passageway, said cap holder being adapted upon its movement towards said other end of said passageway to urge said block into said recess and to cause said cap to be fitted over the end of said tube, thus forming an assembly of cap and tube, means responsive to the withdrawal of said assembly from said measuring and cutoff device by said cap holder for retracting said knife blade from its position across said passageway, and means responsive to the retraction of said knife blade for reenergizing said feeding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,629,170 Matthias et al. May 17, 1927 1,681,829 Wesseler Aug. 21, 1928 1,803,871 Sgritta May 5, 1931 2,267,015 Church Dec. 23, 1941 2,340,360 Alden Feb. 1, 1944 2,370,828 Widmont Mar. 6, 1945 2,431,279 Remington et al. Nov. 18, 1947 2,510,878 Fairbairn June 6, 1950