US2743859A - Negoro - Google Patents

Description

y 1, 1956 K. NEGORO 2,743,859

CAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l O I\ O 70 ll WIN 5 a 24 52 W a ze Q //VV7V70R Kay? Neyoro May 1, 1956 K. NEGORO CAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 3, 1952 May 1, 1956 K. NEGORO 2,743,859

CAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 5, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I QM Arry.

May 1, 1956 Filed Oct. 3, 1952 K. NEGORO 2,743,859

CAPPING MACHINE AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 wmmroxe Kay? Neyoro United States Patent O CAPPDJG MACHINE AND METHOD Kaiji Negoro, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Dairy Containers, Inc., Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application October 3, 1952, Serial No. 312,986

21 Claims. (Cl. 53-39) This invention relates to capping machines and has for its principal object the provision of a simple and practical machine for applying and heat sealing paperboard caps or tops on paperboard cartons or containers, and more particularly ones especially designed and adapted for use as milk cartons, although, of course, they are not limited to that or any other specific use.

In the capper of my invention, a rectangular mandrel that is kept heated continuously at a uniform temperature by a thermostatically controlled electric heating element, so as to render plastic a thermoplastic coating on the carton and the carton contacting surface on the rim portion-of the rectangular cap, is arranged to press the cap down into the mouth of the carton so that the inner foldable portion of the rim will be heat sealed to the inside of the carton, after which a set of four L-shaped jaws, the right angular legs of which are made to fit the adjoining sides of the carton at the corners, are all arranged to be moved radially inwardly at the four corners to press the outer foldable portions of the rim of the cap against the outer side of the carton to heat seal the same thereto also, these four jaws being all heated the same as the mandrel from the same heating element for this purpose.

In the present machine, the mandrel and associated jaws are carried on a spindle reciprocable vertically with an enclosing housing relative to a machine frame, and the housing supporting the spindle is suspended from said frame by a pair of coiled tension springs which normally hold the housing raised, the housing being movable downwardly against the action of these springs by the oscillation of a hand lever pivoted to the machine frame and connected by links to the housing. The radially movable jaws are operable by means of four levers that are pivoted intermediate their ends and have one end slidably connected with the jaws and the other end urged inwardly under tension of four springs that extend between and interconnect these ends of the levers, whereby normally to hold the jaws in retracted position. When the mandrel reaches a predetermined level in the downward travel'of the spindle it is stopped by engagement of a plate on the spindle with the machine frame, and then, in the further downward movement of the housing, a cam slidable on the spindle actuates the four levers against the action of their return springs to close the jaws. Hence, the heat sealing operation is under the control of the operator, who knows that he must move the lever all the way down and hold it there a few seconds in order to do a good capping job, and, inasmuch as two separate cappin operations are performed in a four-station machine on two filled cartons during the filling with milk of two other cartons, enough time is easily allowed for each of the capping operations.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a perspective view of a filling and capping machine in which the capper is made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the capper on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cap and carton showing the cap preformed as it is when placed in the magazine of the capper;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a carton with cap applied;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the capper;

Fig. 6 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 showing one of the capping jaws and its operating lever and return spring, and the cam for actuating the lever;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 6 showing the parts in moved position to indicate how the cam actuates the levers;

Fig. 8 is a view of the mandrel and jaws partly in bottom elevation and partly in section at two different elevations;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the capper, and

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are more or less diagrammatic views illustrating the different stages of a complete capping operation. 1

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to Figs. 3 and 4, the reference numeral 13 designates a square paperboard carton or container and 14 the preformed top blank of the same kind of paperboard material as the carton adapted to be applied at the end of the filling operation as a cap under heat and pressure, defining a recess 15 in the top in which the bottom of another carton will fit loosely, the cartons being tapered from top to bottom, whereby to permit stacking of filled and capped cartons. .The tapering of the cartons 13 is incidentally also of advantage because it enables nesting the empty cartons so that a small dairy plant can keep a much larger stock of unfilled cartons on hand ready for use than was heretofore possible with other constructions, such nesting also improving cleanliness and sanitation and reducing shipping costs and the likelihood of damage to cartons in shipment. Preforming of the top blanks 14 is also advantageous because it enables nesting, with the same advantages as mentioned in regard to the cartons, and the nested top blanks can moreover be handled more readily in the filling and capping machine, because they can be stacked in the magazine thereof similarly as other caps have heretofore been handled. The filled cartons, when they reach the customer, are adapted to be cut open across one corner of the top and the top portion so cut is adapted to be folded back to form a pouring opening, the opened corner portion of the carton providing a good pouring spout. The square bottom 16 of the carton is also made of the same paperboard.

material and its rim 17 is heat sealed to the outer side of the body of the carton. The paperboard material used in the three parts 13, 14 and 16 is like that commonly used for waxed paper cartons used as containers for milk and dairy products but in lieu of a wax coating the blanks for the top 14 and bottom 16 have a thermoplastic coating 01 of Vinylite or the like applied to the inner side and a coating 02 of alkyd or other thermo-setting material applied to the other side, while the blank for the body of carton 13 has both sides coated with the thermo plastic coating 01. These coatings render the paper nonabsorbent but the coating 01 serves also as an adhesive and sealing medium under heat and pressure. In that way the lap joint 18 is heat sealed lengthwise of the body of carton 13 where the edge portions of the blank overlap, and the joint 19 is heat sealed between the upturned rim 17 of the bottom 16 and the sides of the carton 13, and the same is true of the joints 20 and 21 which join the rim of the top or cap 14 to the inner and outer sides respectively of the mouth of the carton. The thermoplastic coating c1, in other words, make it unnecessary to provide glue in these various joints, which is required in waxed cartons and production of the cartons is simplified and the same is true of the capping operation, and the nuance costis accordingly greatly reduced. The coatings c1 and u of also other advantages over wax; forexample, a-

carton thus coated is nicer to handle, being less slippery and hence less likely to be dropped, and these coatings will not rub off like wax on the hands or-cl'othing and leave-arrears on shelves and counters; These coatings are, furthermore, not perceptibly affected by-changes in temperature, and-are odorless and tasteless and virtually un noticeable on the carton except for a certain sheen that theygive tothe-finish, which improves thegeneral appearancoof the carton. In short, the coatings c1 and on give all of he advantages of a wax coating without any of its disadvantages. The carton of Figs. 3 and 4* forms thesubject matter of my copending application, Serial; No. 269,438,!iled February 1-, 1952-.

The filling and capping machine shown in Fig. l embotfies a capper madein accordance with my invention and generally by the reference numeral 22 and no invention is claimed in so far as any of the rest of this: filling and capping machineis concerned, it being well known to provide the hopper 23 containing the milk and equipped with two spouts on the bottom, one of whichisindicated at 24, for simultaneously filling two cartons while two filled cartons are being capped; The discharge tubes usually provided in connection with spouts 24 extending downwardly therefrom to discharge milk I by gravity into the bottoms of the cartons are not shown nor'are the rubber plugs that surround these tubes and fit into the mouths of the cartons to predetermine thelevel up towhich the cartonswillbe filled, sothat each carton'receives the same amount of milk. Four open top sheet metal boxes 25 are provided on the four cornersof the table 26 that is rotatably mounted by means of a bearing 27 on a vertical post 28 and is adapted to be turned by hand, first 180' in one direction and then back again through 180', lugs 29' and 30 engaging first" one side and then the otherof a post 31- to limit therotation. After-two cartons 13 have been filled the table 26 is turned through 180 so that two other cartons placed in the other two boxes 25 can be filled, and during that filling operation the cartons previously filled are cappedby the capper 22, one at a time, the-capper 22 being oscillatable on a vertical axison an extension of the center post 28, previously mentioned, on which the bearing 32 provided on the capper frame 33 is'supported. Two stop projections are provided on the bearing 32 in circumferentially spaced relation to engage first one side and then the, other of a frame, member 34 that extends radially from a collar 35 fixed with respect to the post 28 andis attached at its outer end to the support for the hopper 23, only one of the two aforementionedstop projections appearing in Fig. l at 36. However, in view of the necessity for accurate registration ofgthe capper 22-with respect to the filledcarton to be capped and in order to prevent crushing of the top of such a carton in the event the capper wasoperated'when out of register with the carton, a locating pin 37 is provided on the housing 38 of the capper 22 slidable. in bearings 39 provided on the frame 33, and this pin 37 is arranged to enter a location hole 40' provided in the table at each of After one of the two filled cartons.

the four stations. has been capped the capper is swung through 90 to-the other station and the other filled carton is capped. The

small amount of time required to cap two filled cartons is approximately the time required for the filling opcration, the-flow of the milk'being purposely restrictedsufliciently to reduce likelihood of frothing and thereby insure full measure. A hand lever 41' oscillates a cam 42' through 90' to raise and lower the table 26 between each filling and capping operation, two filled and capped cartons beingremoved andtwo empty cartons placed in theboxes toreplace them, and the table being turnedthrough 1180"" soaato position the empty cartons for fil1ing -andp osition thefilled cartons for capping. When the table 26 israigd bymeans of the cam 42: the filling is thereby started automatically as filler tubes are raised with the cartone by contact with the bottoms thereof, thereby unseating valves in the spouts 24, as is well known in this art. The milk fiows into the cartons by gravity and the flow continues only until the cartons are filled up to the level of the rubber rings previously mentioned. Hence, there is no danger of spillage and when the table 26 is subsequently lowered, the valves in the spouts 24 are automatically closed as the cartons are lowered away from the filler tubes, so that there is no loss of milk from the hopper.

A square tubular magazine 43 is supported in a square hole 44 provided in the top wall 45 of the housing 38, and a stack of preformed caps or top blanks 14 are placed in this magazine and suitably supported at the four corners of the bottommost cap by four pins, two of which are indicated at 46 in Fig. 5, the same entering the notched-out corner 47 of the bottommost cap in the stack and affording a sufiicient hold so that thestack cannot drop and yetit is possible to withdraw the bottommost' cap from the stack by means of a suction cup-48' when this cup is raised far enough to raise the stackand suction is applied as the cup is lowered to a plane below the horizontal plane of the pins 46; This suctioncup 48 is reciprocated in a predetermined time relation'to' the operation of the rest of the capper 22 so asto' remove the cap sufficiently ahead of the rest of the operation to enable a finger 49 that swings about the center" 50 (Fig. 9) in a counterclockwise direction to transfer the cap from the cup 48 to the capping station 51 under themandrel 52; No invention is claimed in-the cap feed mechanism, thesame being like'that employed in other cappers. Hence, it will be sufiicient to state that the suction applied to the cup 48 for removal of the bottommost cap 14 from the stack in the magazine 43 is automatically relieved when the cup 48 carrying the capreaches the lower end of its travel, and the cap is, therefore, free to be slid by the finger 49 along the ledges 53' from beneath magazine 43 to the capping station 51, and it is not deemed'necessary to go into a complete disclosure of the means for operating the cup 48 and transferfinger 49.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the blanks for the tops or caps 14 are square and have the corners notched out; as at 47, to define edges 54 at right angles to one another, forming the ends of marginal rim portions 55 that' are destined to be outer flaps foldable against the outer sidesof the mouth ofthe carton 13. Theblanks' 14 are scored in the form of a square, as indicated by the lines 56, except inthe corners where arcuate' webs 57 aredefined interconnecting theends of the inner marginal portions 58. Other score lines 59in outwardly'spaced-parallel relation to the lines 56 and midway between the lines 56' and the outer-edges of the outer marginal portions 55 define the linesof folding, the flange po1'tions'5'8 being folded upwardly along the lines 56 and the flange portions 55 being folded downwardly along the lines 59 to define marginalrim portions of inverted V-form. These folds are made'between' dies which also givethe inward arcuatecurvature to the corner web portions 57, each ofthese web portions having the same inward'bulgeso that when the flange portions 58in the application-of the cap to the carton are bent upwardly into planes substantially at right angles to one another, as'indicated in Fig: 4, they form closedci-rcular loops of substantially the same size and shape that are flattened outwardly "under heat andjpressure'invthe cappingoperation to form extremely sturdy corners. In thisoperation there is sufiicient compression of the paper stock so that five layers are actually reduced in thickness to the equivalent'of'three layers; the thermoplastic coating materials 01 on the, paper filling in whatever slight voids would otherwise. be left: Ofcourse, ,in the same operation that the flange portions 58 'andcorner web portions 57 are formed under heat'and" pressure in the manner described, the flange portions 55'" sealed against the outer side of the mouth portion of the carton, the edges 54 on the ends of the adjoining flanges 55 being brought into abutment with one another as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring mainly to Figs. 5 to 12 and to some extent to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 60 designates a spindle reciprocable vertically with the enclosing housing 38 of the capper relative to the machine frame 33. The housing 38 is suspended from the frame 33 on a pair of coiled tension springs 61 which tend normally to hold the housing raised although the housing is movable downwardly against the action of these springs by the oscillation of a hand lever 62 pivoted to the frame at 63 and connected by links 64 to arms 65 that are rigidly attached to the housing 38 and are suitably guided in the frame 33. When the housing 38 moves downwardly by downward operation of the hand lever 62 the plate 66 secured in the bottom of the housing 38, of course, moves downwardly with it, admitting the mouth portion of a carton- 13 in square opening 67 over which a cap 14 has just previously been placed by the finger 49 with its downwardly inclined outer flange portions 55 engaging in a marginal recess 68 provided in the plate 66 around three sides of the opening 67. The bevels 69 on the four sides of the opening 67 help to bring the square mouth of the carton into register with the cap in the event the carton happens to be cocked to one side or the other in the box 25 and requires jogging into position. The inverted V- form of the marginal flange portions of the cap makes for easy entry of the cap in the mouth of the carton, as should be evident from inspection of Figs. and 11, the plate 66 moving downwardly below the level of the mouth of the carton after depositing the cap, and the mandrel 52 in this same downward movement pressing the cap down into the mouth of the carton, as shown in Fig. 11. The downward travel of the mandrel 52 is positively limited by engagement of a stop plate 70 with the machine frame 33, as indicated in Figs. 11 and 12, this plate 70 being fixed to the upwardly extending tubular shank portion 71 of the mandrel. Hence, even though the housing 38 is moved farther downwardly thereafter, as shown in Fig. 12, in order to operate the movable jaws 72 inwardly radially relative to the mandrel, as required for folding the marginal flange portions 55 inwardly against the outer side of the mouth of the carton, there is no possibility ofcrnmpling the paper carton 13, because there is no further downward pressure being applied to it. The jaws 72 have supporting shank portions 73 by means of which they are guided in radial recesses 74 provided on the heating section 80 of the mandrel 52 and by means of which they are also arranged to be reciprocated, these shank portions having sockets 75 provided therein into which the lower ends of levers 76 pivoted intermediate their ends, as at 77, on the mandrel 52 are engaged. Coiled tension springs 78 interconnect the upper ends of the levers 76 and extend along the four sides of the assembly, as best appears in Fig. 8, holding these upper ends normally inwardly so that the lower ends are normally disposed in outwardly diverging relation relative to the mandrel 52, holding the movable jaws 72 in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 10. The spindle 60 moving with the housing 33 has downwardly tapered cam portions 79 thereon, which, in the downward movement of the housing 38 relative to the mandrel 52, cause the upper ends of the levers 76 to be spread outwardly against the action of the springs 73, as illustrated in Fig .12, forcing the jaws 72 inwardly and pressing the marginal flange portions 55 of the cap 14 against the outer side of the mouth of the carton 13. The mandrel-52 has an upper heating section 80, as indicated at Fig. 5, in which an annular recess 81 is provided for an electrical heating element $2, the heat from which is distributed substantially uniformly to all portions of the mandrel 52 and the movable jaws 72 that cooperate with it and are in close heat conducting contact therewith. A suitable thermostatic control indicated at T maintains the heat uni:

formly at a temperature suflicient to render plastic the" thermoplastic coating 01' so that the caps 14 will be sealed to the cartons under heat and pressure in the application thereof, but in the event the operator holds lever 62 down longer than necessary in any given instance, there will be no danger of charring. After a cap has been fully applied under heat and pressure in the manner described, the operator can allow the housing 38 to return under action of the coiled tension springs 61 by merely releasing the downward pressure on the hand lever 62, and in this return movement the first thing that happens as the housing 38 rises is the jaws 72 are retracted as the cam 79 is retracted relative to the upper ends of levers 76 and these levers are returned under the action of their springs 78. Hence, there is nothing to interfere with the withdrawal of the mandrel 52 from the depression 15 in the top of the capped carton 13 and, of course, the carton being filled with milk has sufficient weight to overcome any tendency to rise with the mandrel 52 by reason of any tendency toward adhesion of the cap on the mandrel. The use of a thermosetting coating 02 on the outer side of caps 14 avoids likelihood of adhesion to the hot mandrel 52 or jaws 72. At the upper limit of-movement, a lug 83 on plate 70 strikes a pin 84 on frame 33 to stop the return movement of housing 38 and lever 62 under action of springs 61.

In operation, viewing Figs. 10-12, it is clear that the cap 14 is first deposited on top of the carton 13, as the housing 38 is lowered, and at about the same instant the mandrel 52 presses the cap down into the mouth of the carton and stops. Then, while the mandrel 52 is standing still and internally supports the cap and the mouth portion of the carton, the jaws 72 are forced inwardly to press the marginal portions 55 of the cap against the outer side of the mouth of the carton. Heavy pressure can be and is exerted between the jaws 72 and mandrel 52 suflicient to compress and conform the corners of the cap in the manner described in detail above, the heat applied at the same time by the coil 82 to the mandrel and jaws rendering plastic the thermoplastic coating 01 on the cap and carton to make such compression and forming possible and insuring a good seal. The thermosetting coating c' on the outer side of the cap 14 is virtually unaffected by the heat so that there is n tendency for adhesion to the mandrel or jaws.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. The method of capping and sealing paperboard car tons with paperboard caps which consists in coating said cartons and the carton engaging side of the caps with a of the mouths of the cartons, the method comprising coat-Q mg the cartons on the inside and outside and the caps on the inside with a thermoplastic material that becomes tacky when heated, coating the outside of said caps with, a

thermosetting material that does not become tacky when heated, whereby to avoid adhesion to a heated capper,r

and applying the rims of said caps to the mouths ot said cartons under localized heat and pressure. I

3. In a capper, an upright open endedtubular maga- Y zine adapted to house and support a stack of caps, said magazine being generally square in cross-section loosely toneeive and guide therein caps of sheet material of We: tom. a stack of such caps disposed in said magacapshaving registering radially inwardly extendin notches provided therein in the corners thereof; and too: short. pins. fixed inv the corners. of'the lower end porfined aid magazine extending inwardly and" downward- I; from a commonv horizontal plane into the notched m of the: lowermost caps of the stack diagonally with. aspect. to the corners of the caps so as to support. the. stack and yet allow the lowermost cap to be therefrom. by the. downward pull thereon of eeuetioncup applied to. the center of the bottom thereof.

4.5111 ncapper, an. upright open ended tubular magaaim. to house and support a stack of caps,, said being generally square in cross-section loosely togreedveand guide. therein caps. of sheet material of a stack ofsuchcaps disposed'in said maga+ .thecnps havingregistering.radiallyinwardly extendpmvided. therein in the corners thereof and arched upwardly inclined web portions on the eeit'lmersradially inwardly of the notches which archedof neighboring caps in the stack are disposed inland relation, and four. short pins fixed in the corners of, the-lower end portion of said magazine extendingdiagoddly of the corners of the caps inwardly and downwardly from-a common horizontal plane into the notched m'ofthelowermostcaps of the stack and engagingthe underside of the web portions of the lowermost cap for! atleast a portion of the length thereof so as to support the stack. and yet allow the. lowermost cap to be with drawn therefrom by the downward pull thereon of a suction cup applied to the center of the bottom thereof.

5. In a: carton capper, a table supported for rotation lbwt. a central vertical axis and carrying on a common radius aplurality of equally circumferentially spaced carton. receptacles, a capper housing, manually operable mean: for lowering andraising said capper housing relative to-said table, cap applying means in said housing operated inthe downward movement, and a combination locating dowel and stop pin fixed with respect to. and

extendingdownwardly from said housing and adapted to in. location holes provided in said table, each in a predetermined relation to the associated one of said receptacles when the capper housing and receptacle are correctly registered for application of a cap to a carton, the saidv pin stopping the housing by contact with the table when said housing, and receptacle are not in correctnegister.

6. Ina carton capper, a table supported for rotation about a centralverticalaxis. and carrying ona common radius a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced carton receptacles, two adjacent ones of which are adapted to be: disposed in capping position at a time, a capper housing supported for oscillation about the same aforesaid. central vertical axis to be movable from an operative pmition over one of said two carton receptacles to a corresponding positionover the other of said two carton. receptacles, stop means limiting oscillation of said housing relative to said table, manually operable means for lowering andraisingsaid capper housing relative to said table cap applying means in said housing operated in the downward movement, and a combination locating dowel. andv stop pin fixed with respect toand extending dfiwnwardly fromsaid housing and adapted to slidein location holes provided in said table, each in a'predeter mined rei'ationto theassociated one of saidreceptacles the-capper housing and receptacle are correctly for applicationof a cap to a: carton, the said lli'n flopping thehousing by contact withthe-table: when .saidtbouxing and receptacleare not'in correct register.

Ti'ln a carton capper, a frame, a carton receptacle Mona supportcon said frame, a capper housing overreceptacle slidably guided on said'frameforr reapmcationvenically, relative to.- said receptacle, a cap plateforrningthe bottom of. said housing and having an opening, provided therein in concentric relation to the cap and. through which the mouth end of a carton to be capped disposed in said receptacle is adapted to protrude for application of. the. cap when the housing is lowered relative to said receptacle, spring means normally urging. said. housing upwardly, manually operable means for. lowering said housing, a cap inserting mandrel disposed above said cap supporting plate and lowerable with said housing to. press a cap into the mouth of a carton, a stop limiting the downward travel of said mandrel when the cap is fully inserted, jaws guided for reciprocation. radially of. said mandrel to engage a cap externally while. it and the mouth portion of the carton are supported internally by said mandrel to press marginal portions of. the cap radially inwardly against the outside of'the mouth portion of the carton, and means movable in the movement of said housing relative to said mandrel for operating: said jaws.

8. A carton capper as set forth in claim 7 including means. for heating. the mandrel and jaws.

9. A carton capper as set forth in claim 7 including means for heating the mandrel and jaws to a temperature sufficient to render tackyfor heat sealing a thermoplastic coating onthe. cap when engaged by said mandrel and jaws.

1.0. A carton capper asset forth in claim 7 including a. thermostatically controlled electrical heating element heating. the mandrelto a. temperature sufficient to render tacky for heat sealing-a thermoplastic coating on the cap when engagedby. said mandrel.

11.. A carton. capper as. set-forth in claim 7 including a thermostatically controlled electrical heating element heating the mandrel to a temperature sufiicient to render tacky for heatsealing a thermoplastic coating on thecap when engaged. by said mandrel, the jaws being heated from themandrel by conduction sufficiently to apply a similar amount of heat to the cap when it engages the same.

12. In a capper for applying preformed caps into the mouths. of cartons, the caps each having an upstanding annular rim defining adownwardly opening channel for receiving the. upper. edge portion of the side wall at the mouth end of thecarton, a substantially horizontal mandrel fitting closely Within the upstanding rim of a cap and :tdaptedto press the cap into the mouth of a carton, jaws movable substantially horizontally in straight lines and slidable radially in andout relative to the periphery of the mandrel in guides. provided in rigid relation to the mandrel to close the channel and compress "the rim portion of the cap and mouth portion of the carton between the jaws andmandrel while the cap and carton are supported internally by said mandrel, said mandrel having a vertical shank in ligid relationship thereto, and means for opening and closing said jaws in a predetermined delayed relationship to the mandrel pressing the cap into the mouth of a carton, said means comprising levers disposed in vertical planes in circumferentially spaced relation around said shank and being pivoted intermediate their ends relative to. said shank and having their lower ends slidably connected with said jaws to operate the same, tension springs interconnecting the upper ends of said levers tending to urge the. same inwardly toward the shank and thereby open. the jaws, and an annular cam slidable on said shank relative to the upper ends of said.

agonally of the mandrel at the four corners in diagonally extending guides provided in rigid relation to said mandrel to close the channel of the cap and compress the rim portion on the mouth portion of the carton between the jaws and the periphery of the mandrel while the cap and carton are supported internally by said mandrel, the four jaws when closed completely encompassing the rim of the cap, and means for opening and closing said jaws in a predetermined delayed relationship to the mandrel pressing the cap into the mouth of a carton.

14. A capper as set forth in claim 13 wherein the last mentioned means comprises elongated vertically disposed levers, one for each jaw, pivoted intermediate the ends relative to the mandrel with the lower end attached to the associated jaws, tension spring means interconmeeting the upper ends of the levers normally urging these ends inwardly whereby to hold the jaws normally retracted relative to the mandrel, and cam means reciprocable relative to said mandrel for moving the upper ends of said levers outwardly.

15. In a carton capper, a table element supported for rotation about a central vertical axis and carrying on a common radius a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced carton receptacles, a capper housing element, manually operable means whereby one of said table and capper housing elements is given up and down movement relative to the other for the application of a cap to a carton, cap applying means in said housing operated in said movement, and a combination locating dowel and stop pin fixed with respect to and extending downwardly from said housing and adapted to slide in location holes provided in said table, each in a predetermined relation to the associated one of said receptacles when the capper housing and receptacle are correctly registered for application of a cap to a carton, the said pin stopping the relative up and down movement by contact with the table when said housing and receptacle are not in correct register.

16. In a carton capper, a table element supported for rotation about a central vertical axis and carrying on a common radius a plurality of equally circumferentially spaced carton receptacles, two adjacent ones of which are adapted to be disposed in capping position at a time, a capper housing element supported for oscillation about the same aforesaid central vertical axis and movable from an operative position over one of said two carton receptacles to a corresponding position over the other of said two carton receptacles, stop means limiting oscillation of said housing element relative to said table element, manu' ally operable means whereby one of said table and capper housing elements is given up and down movement relative to the other for the application of a cap to a carton, cap applying means in said housing operated in said movement, and a combination locating dowel and stop pin fixed with respect to and extending downwardly from said housing and adapted to slide in location holes provided in said table, each in a predetermined relation to the associated one of said receptacles when the capper housing and receptacle are correctly registered for application of a cap to a carton, the said pin stopping the relative up and down movement by contact with the table when said housing and receptacle are not in correct register.

17. In a carton capper, a frame, a carton receptacle fixed on a support element on said frame, a capper housing element over said carton receptacle, one of said support and capper housing elements being slidably guided on said frame for reciprocation vertically relative to the other of said elements for application of a cap to a carton disposed in said receptacle, manually operable means for raising and lowering said movable element, a cap supporting plate forming the bottom of said housing and having an opening provided therein in concentric relation to the cap and through which the mouth end of a carton to be capped disposed .in said receptacle is adapted to protrude for application of the cap in the capping operation, a cap inserting mandrel disposed above said cap supporting plate and adapted to press a cap into the mouth of a carton in the capping operation, a stop limiting the entry of the mandrel into the mouth of the carton at an intermediate point in the movement of the support and capper housing elements relative to one another when the cap is fully inserted, jaws guided for reciprocation radially of said mandrel to engage a cap externally while it and the mouth portion of the carton are supported internally by said mandrel to press marginal portions of the cap radially inwardly against the outside of the mouth portion of the carton, and means movable in the balance of the movement of said support and capper housing elements relative to one another for operating said jaws.

18. A carton capper as set forth in claim 17 including means for heating the mandrel and jaws.

19. A carton capper as set forth in claim 17 including means for heating the mandrel and jaws to a temperature sufficient to render tacky for heat sealing a thermoplastic coating on the cap when engaged by said mandrel and aws.

20. A carton capper as set forth in claim 17 including a thermostatically controlled electrical heating element heating the mandrel to a temperature sufiicient to render tacky for heat sealing a thermoplastic coating on the cap when engaged by said mandrel.

21. A carton capper as set forth in claim 17 including a thermostatically controlled electrical heating element heating the mandrel to a temperature sufi'icient to render tacky for heat sealing a thermoplastic coating on the cap when engaged by said mandrel, the jaws being heated from the mandrel by conduction sufliciently to apply a similar amount of heat to the cap when it engages the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,384,049 Coates July 12, 1921 1,486,151. McIntyre Mar. 11, 1924 1,965,550 Kniesche July 3, 1934 2,058,892 Koch Oct. 27, 1936 2,204,664 Clark June 18, 1940 2,268,244 Davis Dec. 30, 1941 2,542,702 Prow Feb. 20, 1951 2,696,936 Courtney Dec. 14, 1954

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