US2750722A - Package handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

J. FERGUSON ET AL 2,750,722

PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS June 19, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 50 1951 INVENTORS.

June 19, 1956 J. L. FERGUSON ET AL 2,750,722

PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30 1951 Q QQ Y June 19, 1956 J. FERGUSON ET AL PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 50 1951 INVENTOR5.

Jlme 1956 J. FERGUSON ET AL 2,750,722

PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 30, 1951 '6 Sheets-Sheet 4 n NVENTORS Q M91 .5 M

fl aq- June 1956 J. L. FERGUSON ET AL 2,750,722

PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 50, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 'gVENTORS. MW

Jlme 1956 J. L. FERGUSON ET AL 2,750,722

PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS INVENTORS.

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United States Patent PACKAGE HANDLING APPARATUS John L. Ferguson and Richard C. Talbot, Joliet, 111., assignors to J. L. Ferguson Company, .Ioliet, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 30, 1951, Serial No. 259,262

7 Claims. (Cl. 5372) This invention relates to package handling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for arranging items in a plurality of synchronized files and bringing the items of one file into association with those of another file. It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus of that character.

It is another object of the invention to provide a package handling machine which handles packages carefully, and more specifically with a minimum of acceleration and deceleration thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a package handling machine which arranges packages in predetermined positions in two synchronized files, and which compensates for the absence of one or more packages from their intended positions within one such file by preventing the placing of packages in the corresponding positions in the other file.

It is another object of the invention to provide a carton capping machine arranged to receive caps in inverted position and to turn the caps over and apply them to cartons.

According to one embodiment of the invention, cartons, which may be prefilled, are advanced to a capping station by conveyor means, the successive cartons being arranged on said conveyor means at definite, regularly spaced positions. The cartons are fed to this conveyor means by a separate feeder conveyor on which there are no definite positions for the individual successive cartons. The feeder conveyor tends to advance the cartons at a higher speed than the cartons are permitted to travel by star wheel means which advance successive cartons from the the feeder conveyor to the first-mentioned conveyor means at definite predetermined intervals. Accordingly, the feeder conveyor urges the cartons against the star wheel means and tends to maintain a supply of cartons in abutting relationship adjacent said star wheel means.

The star wheel means referred to are so arranged as to accelerate the cartons gradually as they are moved from the feeder conveyor to the faster moving firstmentioned conveyor means in order to prevent the spilling of the contents of the cartons. At the same time, the star wheel means are synchronized with the first-mentioned conveyor means whereby the cartons are arranged on the conveyor means by the star wheel means in the definite, regularly spaced positions referred to above.

Conveyor means for feeding carton caps to the capping station are provided which, although differing substantially in construction from the carton conveyor means, are similar in character in that they maintain the caps in definite predetermined spaced relationship. The cap conveyor means is in synchronism with the carton conveying means whereby the caps and the cartons are brought to the capping station in such relationship that the caps are inserted directly onto the cartons. Also a cap feeder conveyor is provided for feeding caps to the first-mentioned cap conveyor means, and star wheel means are provided for transferring successive caps from 2,750,722 Patented June 19, 1956 the feeder conveyor onto the first-mentioned cap conveyor means into definite predetermined spaced positions thereon. As in the case of the carton handling apparatus the cap feeder conveyor tends to advance the caps faster than the star wheel means will handle them, whereby a reserve supply of caps in abutting relationship may be maintained on the feeder conveyor even though the caps are placed thereon irregularly.

Control means are provided for detecting the presence of caps at a predetermined control position along the path followed by the caps. In the event that no cap is detected at said control position the flow of cartons is at least momentarily interrupted whereby the situation is avoided in which a carton is brought to the capping station with no cap available for application thereto. Similarly, control means are provided for detecting the presence of cartons at a particular control position along the route of the cartons. If no carton is detected at such control position the flow of caps is at least momentarily interrupted whereby the condition is avoided in which a cap arrives at the capping station with no corresponding carton arriving simultaneously to which the cap may be applied.

As will subsequently be explained in detail the control means in its entirety cooperates in the preferred embodiment with various of the cap and carton conveying apparatus and start wheel means. Preferably the control means interrupt operation of one of the star wheel means when a carton or cap is found to be missing from the control position in one of the conveyor systems. It will subsequently be explained also that said control positions must necessarily be arranged at definite locations within the respective conveyor systems in order that the desired cooperation may be obtained.

The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one portion of a machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1a is a continuation of Fig. 1 and is a plan view of the remaining portion of the same machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a continuation of Fig. 2 and is a front elevation of the portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. In;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view, partially broken away, of a part of the machine illustrated in Fig. In;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partially broken away, of the apparatus disclosed in Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are schematic drawings illustrating the operation of certain control apparatus disclosed in Figs. 1-5.

The invention is shown embodied in a machine specifically designed to apply caps, having pouring spouts, to filled salt cartons. The machine also glues the caps, closes and seals the spout, shrinks the caps onto the cartons and delivers the filled and sealed cartons onto an outgoing conveyor in single file. I-Iowever, certain' thermore, the term package as employed herein is intended to include any item, regardless of whether such item is enclosed or wrapped in any form of container.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention cartons 19 are fed to the machine proper by a feeder conveyor 20 seen at the left of Fig. 1, the cartons at this point being filled with salt but not capped. The conveyor 20 feeds the cartons 19 to a star Wheel arrangement 40 which in turn arranges the cartons in spaced relationship on a conveyor 60. This conveyor carries the cartons past a gluing station 90 and to a capping station 1% where caps are individually placed upon the successive cartons. Caps 109 are brought to the capping station 100 by a feeder conveyor 110, a star wheel mechanism 120, and an inverter wheel mechanism 130.

As the cartons leave the capping station the pouring spouts are closed by a roller 155 after which the spouts are sealed at a sealing station 160. The cartons, still carried by the conveyor 60, are then brought to a cap shrinking station 170 at which the caps are shrunk onto the cartons by the application of heat and pressure. As the cartons leave the cap shrinker station 170, they are carried back toward the left-hand end of the machine and are finally individually thrust off the conveyor 60 by a rotating star wheel 174 onto a third conveyor belt 175 which carries the cartons away, for example to a loading station, not disclosed in the drawings.

The feeder conveyor 20 includes a continuous belt 21 supported over a part of its length by a suitable platform 22. Guide rails 23 and 24 are arranged at opposite sides of the belt 21 in order to retain the cartons 19 on the belt and in proper alignment.

As may be seen in Fig. 2 the belt 21 passes over an idler roller 26 at the forwardmost point of its travel and then extends rearwardly and over another idler roller 27. Continuing in the direction of movement of the belt, the belt next passes over a power driven roller 28 and a third idler roller 29. The remainder of the belt is not shown but it will be readily understood that it extends to the left of Figs. 1 and 2, around at least one other idler roller, not shown, and back over the platform 24. The roller 28 is driven by a motor 30 which operates continuously when the machine is running.

It is intended that the filled but uncapped cartons 19 may be placed onto the feeder conveyor 20 in irregular arrangement. It is desired, however, that the cartons be arranged on the conveyor 60, previously referred to, in regularly spaced order, the conveyor 60 travelling at a predetermined, substantially constant speed. The star wheel mechanism 40, previously referred to, operates in synchronism with the conveyor 60 and serves to place successive cartons 19 on the conveyor 60 in the desired spaced relationship. A steady flow of cartons is fed to the star wheel mechanism 40 by the conveyor 20, in spite of the irregular placing of cartons on the latter conveyor, by virtue of the fact that the belt 21 travels at a speed higher than that necessary to feed cartons to the conveyor 60 if the cartons were closely spaced on the belt 21. The result is that cartons 19 pile up at the righthand end of the belt 20, the belt 21 sliding under the cartons which have attained closed formation adjacent the star wheel mechanism.

Since the cartons on the belt 21 adjacent the star wheel. mechanism are in closed formation while the cartons on the conveyor 60 are in spaced relationship, it is apparent that the individual cartons must at some point be accelerated from the speed of the closed formation on the conveyor 20 to the relatively high speed of the spaced formation on the conveyor 60. If this increase in speed of the cartons were permitted to be accomplished substantially instantaneously, the high rate of acceleration would tend to cause spilling of the contents of the cartons. This would be particularly so where the contents are flowable, as is salt for example. The star wheel mechanism 40 is arranged to accomplish the necessary acceleration of the individual cartons gradually whereby spilling of the contents of the cartons is avoided.

The carton contacting portions of the star wheel mechanism comprise primarily a pair of star wheels 41 and 42, a single star wheel 43, and curved extensions 23' and 24 of the guide rails 23 and 24. Each of the three star wheels 41, 42 and 43 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 and has a plurality of recesses for receiving successive cartons 19. The star wheels 41, and 42 cooperate to pass successive cartons from a position on the conveyor 20 to a position in which they may be picked up by the star wheel 43. The star wheels 41 and 42 are synchronized and are so spaced apart that the recesses of the respective wheels may cooperate to receive a carton therein, the leading and trailing star points cooperating to maintain the successive cartons in definite spaced relationship.

As the cartons are ejected from the downstream side of the star wheels 41 and 42 they strike the curved extension 23 of the guide rail 23 and are thrust thereby to the right (downwardly in Fig. 1). The star wheel 43 is synchronized with the other star wheels and the recesses therein cooperate with the curved extension 24 of the guide rail 24 to form carton receiving pockets. As the wheel 43 rotates successive cartons are guided forwardly onto the conveyor 60 at definite, regularly spaced intervals.

It may be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that the successive cartons 19 under the control of the cooperating star wheels 41 and 42 are spaced apart by a substantial distance, that distance being shown in Fig. l as being approximately equal to one-half the radius of a carton. it is evident then that the cartons under the influence of these two star wheel's travel at a substantially greater speed than the cartons in closed formation at the right hand end of the conveyor 20. These two star wheels then cause an appreciable acceleration of the successive cartons.

The three star wheels 41, 42 and 43 are driven at the same speed as measured in revolutions per minute and have equal numbers of carton receiving recesses, but it may be noted in Fig. 1 that the star wheel 43 is larger in diameter than the star wheels 41 and 42 and therefore has a larger peripheral velocity. Accordingly, a carton under the control of the star wheel 43 has a greater lineal speed than a carton under the control of the cooperating pair of star wheels 41 and 42. This may be confirmed by observing the greater spacing between adjacent cartons under the influence of the star wheel 43 as compared to the spacing between adjacent cartons under the influence of the star wheels 41 and 42. Accordingly, the star wheel 43 causes a further appreciable acceleration of the cartons.

A third acceleration of the cartons is accomplished when the cartons leave the star wheel 43 and are placed on the conveyor 60, which conveyor will subsequently be described in detail. The individual cartons are thereby accelerated in three steps. First, they are accelerated by the star wheels 41 and 42 from a speed at which they are in closed formation (on the conveyor 20) to a speed at which they are spaced apart by a distance equal to approximately one-half the radius of a carton. Second, the speed of the cartons is increased by the star wheel 43 until they are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the radius of a carton. Finally, their speed is increased as they pass onto the conveyor 61 such that they are spaced apart by a distance slightly less than the diameter of a carton. Through this means there is avoided any violent acceleration of the cartons which might result in the spilling of the contents of the cartons.

The star wheel 42 is driven by a chain 45, seen in Fig. 2, which is in turn driven in synchronism with the carton conveyor 60 as will subsequently be explained. This chain engages a sprocket 46 which is connected to the driving portion of a clutch mechanism 47, the driven member of the clutch 47 being connected to a shaft 42a to which the star wheel 42 is rigidly connected. The shaft 42a extends down through the driving portion of the clutch 47 and at its lower end there is a sprocket 48 which engages another chain 49. In Fig. 1 this latter chain may be traced in its direction of movement counterclockwise around a sprocket 50 at the lower end of a shaft 41a to which the star wheel 41 is secured, back past the sprocket 48 and around an idler sprocket 51, past the sprocket 48 again and around a sprocket 52 at the lower end of a shaft 43:! to which the star Wheel 43 is secured, and finally back to the sprocket 43. Each of the sprockets 48, 50 and 52 is of the same radius. Accordingly, these sprockets and the corresponding star Wheels are driven at the same angular speed, as has previously been indicated.

The clutch mechanism 47 is electrically operable by a control mechanism 53 best seen in Fig. 2. The details of the clutch mechanism 47 and the electrical control mechanism 53 will not be described in this application since their particular form does not constitute a part of the invention. It is believed to be sufficient for the purpose of describing the present invention to point out that upon receipt of a predetermined electric signal the control mechanism 53 will cause the clutch mechanism 47 to disengage, thereby interrupting operation of the star wheels 41, 42 and 43. Upon receipt of another signal the control mechanism 53 permits the clutch mechanism 47 to reengage to start rotation of the star Whels. However, the clutch mechanism is of a type, frequently used and well understood in the art, which will engage only when the driving and driven portions of the clutch occupy certain definite predetermined relative angular positions. The use of such a clutch mechanism is desirable in order that not only synchronism but proper phase relationship may be maintained between the star wheels and the conveyor 6%, even after the star wheels may have been stopped and restarted by control apparatus subsequently to be described.

The conveyor 66 comprises a plurality of platforms 61 for supporting individual cartons. The platforms are connected in definite spaced relationship and are driven by a chain 62 extending underneath the platforms and connected thereto. The platforms 61 ride on spaced apart rails 63 and 64 over most of the length of the conveyor, which support the platforms in horizontal position.

A vertically extending support 65 is secured to each platform 61 in order to prevent the cartons from sliding off the rear edge of the respective platforms. Further to guide the cartons, there is provided throughout the major portion of the length of the conveyor 6%, a pair of guide rails 6 and 67. These guide rails are spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the cartons and serve, in cooperation with the vertically extending supports 65, to maintain the cartons in definite predetermined positions with respect to the platforms 61.

The chain 62 which propels the platform 61 is in turn driven by a sprocket 68 and rides over idler sprockets 69, 76 and 71, the latter sprocket lying adjacent the star wheel mechanism 49 and the others adjacent the cap shrinking station 174 The drive sprocket 68 is powered by a motor 72 which may be seen near the center of Figs. 2 and 2a. The power drive may be traced in Figs. 2 and 2a from the motor 72 to a pulley 73 through a belt '74 to another pulley 75 and from there to a gear box 76.

A drive shaft 77 extends to the right from the box 76 to another gear box 78. The shaft 68a on which the drive sprocket 68 is mounted extends down into the gear box 78 and is driven by the shaft 77 through the gear box. In this way the sprocket 68 is driven by the motor 72.

It will be understood that the conveyor chain 62 is driven by the sprocket 68 and in turn drives the idler sprockets 69, 7t) and 71 with which it engages. It is through this means that the star Wheel mechanism 4% is driven. As previously explained the star Wheel mechanism is driven by the chain 45 seen near the centers of Figs. 1 and 2. This chain engages a sprocket wheel 45a which is secured to the lower end of the shaft 71a upo'ri which the large conveyor sprocket 71 is mounted. The conveyor chain 62, which is driven by the motor 72 and the sprocket 68, rotates the large sprocket 71 which, in the manner just described, drives the chain 45 which drives the star wheel mechanism 40. Thus it will be seen that the star wheel mechanism may be driven in synchronism with the conveyor belt 60.

The gluing station will not be described in detail herein since it does not constitute a part of the present invention. Any apparatus may be used at this station which is capable of applying a strip of glue to the upper edge of the outside surface of the cartons.

For the purposes of describing the present invention it may be pointed out that a glue roller 91 is rotated in such a manner as to pick up glue from a tank 92 and rub against the upper edge of the outer surface of the cartons as they pass thereby. A continuous belt 93 is located alongside the conveyor 6% and opposite the roller 91, movement of the belt 93 causing rotation of the cartons 19 as they pass by the glue roller 91 in order that the entire circumference of each carton may come into contact with the glue roller.

As the cartons emerge from the gluing station 96 they approach the capping station 10% at the left-hand side of Figs. la and 2a. A single file of caps 169 are fed to the machine proper by a conveyor 110 to a star wheel 120 which operates in synchronism with the carton feeding star wheel mechanism 4% and the carton conveyor 61?.

The cap conveyor 110 operates in a manner similar to the carton feeder conveyor in that it travels at a speed greater than would be necessary to supply caps to the star wheel 120 if caps were fed to the conveyor 110 in close formation. Accordingly, the conveyor 110 and the star wheel 120 will compensate for irregular supply of caps to the conveyor 110. The conveyor carries the caps toward the star wheel 120 at a relatively high speed and maintains a supply file of close formation adjacent the star wheel, the caps in such close formation travelling at a speed slower than that of the conveyor and slipping over the surface thereof. In this manner a supply of regular, close formation is maintained for feeding the star wheel 120 in spite of the fact that the caps 109 may be placed on the conveyor 110 in irregular formation.

Since the conveyor belt 110 does not operate in synchronism with the rest of the machine, and in particular with the star wheel 120, it may be driven by a separate motor. In Figs. 1a and 2a it may be seen that a motor 113 drives this conveyor through a belt or chain 114, and a wheel or sprocket 115 which is mounted on a roller over which the conveyor belt 110 rides.

Salt cartons conventionally include a pouring spout in the cover thereof, the pouring spout being located adjacent the periphery of the cap. Conventionally the pouring spout is closed and then sealed by a small piece of gummed paper. Since the pouring spout is displaced from the center of the cap and since it is desired for reasons of economy that the pouring spout seal be as small as is practical, a problem arises in centering the seal over the closed pouring spout. The principal element of this problem is that of maintaining the pouring spout at a particular angular position relative to the conveyor belt 60 as the cartons are presented to the sealing apparatus.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the caps are supplied to the capping station with the spouts in their open position, guide means being provided for engaging the open spouts and for maintaining at all times a predetermined orientation thereof with respect to the machine.

The conveyor carries the caps 109 in inverted position, that is with the opened spouts extending downwardly and with the cap flanges 109a extending upwardly, and has a centrally located longitudinal slot 110a therein, said slot being of sufficient width to receive the spouts freely but restraining the caps from twisting about a vertical axis by virtue of the engagement of the spouts with the sides of the slot. More specifically the belt 110 may be split in order to receive the downwardly directed open spouts.

The conveyor 110 terminates immediately adjacent one side of the machine proper as may be seen best in Fig. 5, the conveyor riding over the roller 116 and continuing back to the left in that figure.

As the conveyor belt 110 drops downwardly around the roller 116 the caps 109 are deposited on a track comprising a pair of stationary rails 121. These rails sup port the caps and receive the downwardly extending spouts therebetween to maintain the spouts in predetermined orientation. The caps are propelled along the rails 121 by the pressure of the close formation file of caps carried by the conveyor 110, the caps being fed thereby to the star wheel 120.

The single star wheel 120 has a plurality of recesses as may be seen in Figs. la and 3 for receiving successive caps. The rails 121 curve about the axis of rotation of the star wheel 120 whereby the star wheel may drive the caps along the rails, the speed of the caps on the rails 121 as well as that of the caps in the close formation file on the conveyor 1113 being controlled by the speed of rotation of the star wheel 121). The rails 121 after curving through an angle of approximately 90 again straighten out where by the caps as they continue along the rails are freed from the star wheel 12%.

The rails 121 then feed the caps to the inverting mechanism 130, best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. This apparatus includes a pair of rails 131 best seen in Fig. 3, which may be a continuation of the rails 121 and in any event are so located that the caps may continue in their movement from the star wheel 120 to the inverter apparatus 130.

The rails 131 curve downwardly through an angle of 180, a second set of rails 132 being provided radially outward of the rails 131 for confining the caps therebetween. A pair of substantially ring shaped members 133 are arranged axially of the tracks 131 and 132 to help maintain the caps in their proper position.

Located within the circle defined by the tracks 131 and 132 is a rotating wheel 135 having pairs of fingers 136 secured thereto. These fingers extend radially outward beyond the tracks 131 along opposite sides thereof and engage the rearward surface of the caps 11 to drive the caps along the tracks 131 and 132 in synchronism with the star wheel 129 and hence in synchronism with the carton conveyor 60. As the caps reach the bottom of the inverter apparatus 138*, they are in position to engage the upper edge of successive cartons being carried by the conveyor 60. Adjacent this point the radially outward tracks 132 terminate in order that the caps may be deposited on the cartons, while the radially inward tracks 131 continue horizontally as may be seen in Fig. 4 and serve to press the caps downwardly onto the cartons.

In order to facilitate the application of the caps to the cartons a flexible finger 137, best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, is provided which functions similar to a shoehorn. The finger 137 is normally in the lowered position illustrated in Fig. 4 but each successive carton strikes the free end of the finger and forces it resiliently upward such that an upturned flange 138 at the free end of the finger enters the space defined by the corresponding cap flange 1119a.

The forward edge of each successive cap is engaged by the forward edge of the corresponding carton and is carried forwardly thereby. As the rearward or trailing edge of the cap is forced downwardly by the rails 131 onto the corresponding carton, the upturned flange 138 of the finger 137 pries the trailing portion of the cap flange rear- Wardly over the trailing portion of the lip of the corresponding carton. The rails 131 extend horizontally forward along the line of movement of the cartons on the conveyor after the caps have been applied in order to press the caps firmly onto the cartons and also serve to maintain the spouts in their desired orientation. These 8 rails ultimately terminate adjacent the free running roller 155 which closes the spouts.

The inverter wheel and the star wheel 120 are driven by a gear box 141. A vertical shaft 142 extends upwardly from the gear box 141 and is connected through a pair of bevel gears 143 and 14-4 to a horizontal shaft 145 on which the inverter Wheel 1311 is rigidly mounted.

The vertical shaft 142 also has connected thereto the driving portion of a clutch mechanism 146, which may be engaged and disengaged by control mechanism subsequently to be described. On the driven member of the clutch mechanism 146 there is secured a ring gear 147 which meshes with another gear 148 secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 149. This shaft extends upwardly and is drivingly connected to the star wheel 120.

The gear box 141 is driven by the same motor 72 which drives the carton conveyor tl. As has previously been described, the motor 72 is drivingly connected to a gear box 76. Extending from the left of this gear box, as may best be seen in Fig. 20, there is a drive shaft 150 which connects to another gear box 151. Another drive shaft 152 extends still further to the left to another gear box 153. Finally, a drive shaft 154 extends rearwardly of the gear box 153 (upwardly in Fig. la) and supplies power to the gear box 141 previously referred to.

It is now apparent that the inverter wheel 13% and the star wheel 120 may be driven in synchronism with the carton conveyor 60 since all are driven by the same motor through synchronous power transmitting means.

The conveyor 61? carries the cartons from the capping station 100 on to the right in Fig. 1a to the spout sealer 16%. This apparatus is driven as may be seen in Fig. 2a by the gear box 151 through a sprocket 161, a chain 1&2 and another sprocket 163, the latter sprocket being rigidly secured to a shaft 163a which drives the operating parts of the spout sealer. Thus it may be seen that the spout sealer may be maintained in synchronism with the conveyor 60 and the rest of the machine.

As previously indicated the spout sealer places a piece of gummed paper over the critical spout. Since the spout sealing apparatus does not in itself form a part of the present invention, its construction and operation are not described in detail herein.

The cartons after passing under the spout sealer continue to the cap shrinker 171}, the conveyor 60 following a circular path through an angle of approximately 270 under the shrinker. Individual cap shrinkers 171 rotate in synchronism with the conveyor and cartons and are arranged to drop downwardly into contact with the successively entering cartons and continue in Contact therewith, sealing the caps on the cartons by application of heat and pressure, until the cartons approach the point of exit from the cap shrinker 170. The shrinker is mounted on the sprocket 69 and hence operates in synchronism with the conveyor 68.

The particular form of the cap shrinker does not constitute a part of the present invention and accordingly it will not be described in detail herein. Preferably the shrinker is constructed in accordance with Patent No. 2,445,214, issued July 13, 1948, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

Finally, the conveyor 613 carries the sealed cartons back to the left in Figs. la and l, and as they approach the sprocket wheel 71 they are individually thrust off the conveyor by the rotating device 174 and onto the conveyor belt 175 which removes the cartons from the machine proper.

The conveyor belt 175, while it need not operate in synchronism with the conveyor 69 is shown in the drawings as driven by the same motor 72 which drives the conveyor 61 and various other parts of the machine. The drive may be traced from the gear box 153 at the left of Fig. 2a through a shaft 176, seen in Fig. 2, another gear box 177, a shaft 173, and a roller 179 over which the conveyor 175 passes.

The machine as so far described will operate satisfactorily as long as there is a continuous supply of cartons and caps to the machine. However, without suitable control means, if the supply of cartons, for example, should be momentarily interrupted such that one of the conveyor platforms 61 were vacant after passing the star wheel mechanism 40, a cap 109 would nevertheless be fed to the capping station where it would be dropped onto the conveyor 60 and perhaps cause jamming of the machinery. Similarly if the supply of caps should be temporarily interrupted such that one or more of the recesses in the star wheel 120 should contain no cap, then the corresponding cartons on the conveyor 60 would pass by the capping station with no cap applied thereto. Control mechanism is employed in the illustrated embodi merit of the invention for eliminating these effects in the event that the supply of either cartons or caps is interrupted.

This control mechanism includes detecting apparatus 180, seen in Fig. 1, for detecting the presence of cartons on the individual conveyor platforms 61 as they pass by a control station. The detecting apparatus comprises a finger 181 mounted on a pivotable shaft 182. Also secured to the shaft 182 is an arm 183 for operating a link 184 which extends to the right in Figs. 1 and 2 and into Figs. 1a and 2a. In the latter figures and in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the link 184 is pivotally connected to an arm 185 which is secured to a shaft 186. Another arm 187 connected to the shaft 186 is formed into a hook 187a and is so positioned that it may engage dogs 190 on the driven member of the clutch mechanism 146. Also secured to the shaft 186 is another arm 191 which has a roller 191a at the free end thereof. This roller is adapted to engage a cam 192 which is also secured to the driven member of the clutch mechanism 146.

The operation of the control apparatus so far described may be best understood by reference to Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In Fig. 6 the finger 181 is shown rotated by a carton 19 in a counterclockwise direction to what will be termed herein, its actuated position. The control apparatus is preferably biased such that the finger 181 is urged in the clockwise direction, for example, by a spring, not shown in the drawings.

With the finger 181 in its actuated position, the shaft 182 and the arm 183 are also pivoted to their counterclockwise positions drawing the link 184 to the left. This rotates the arms 185, 187 and 191 in a clockwise direction to their actuated positions whereby the hook 187a is maintained in a position in which it will not engage the dogs 190. The roller 191a is also maintained clear of the cam wheel 192, although this is of no direct significance at this stage of the operation.

If the carton 19 illustrated in Fig. 6 were not present, the arm 181 and hence the arm 183 would be in their clockwise positions illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, the control apparatus being biased in that direction as indicated above. The link 184 and the arms 185, 187 and 191 would also be in the positions indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6. It will be apparent then that the hook 187a would then engage the lowermost dog 190 and would interrupt rotation of the driven portion of the clutch mechanism 146.

Returning again to the condition wherein a carton 19 is properly located on the conveyor 60 and referring now to Fig. 7, it will be seen that as the carton continues along its way the finger 181 and the lever 183 tend to move in a clockwise direction driving the link 184 to the right and the arms 185, 187 and 191 in a counterclockwise direction. If this movement were permitted the control apparatus would still permit normal operation of the clutch mechanism 146 since the hook 187a would not engage a dog 190, the latter having rotated slightly beyond a position in which it could be engaged by the hook. The hook 187a would then ride over the outer surface of the dog and would be withdrawn again, as suggested in Fig. 8, prior to the arrival of the next dog 190 to a hook-engaging position. Although such an arrangement would be operable, it would be undesirable because of the continuous and rapid movement of the entire control mechanism. It would also be objectionable because of the friction, noise and Wear resulting from the hook 187a riding over the radially outer surfaces of the dogs 190.

The arm 191 and the roller 191a cooperating with the cam wheel 192 eliminate these difficulties by maintaining the entire control mechanism in its actuated position during the intervals in which no conveyor platform is located alongside the feeler 180. The roller 191 is so arranged that when the finger 181 is in contact with a carton the roller is in such a position as to roll onto an oncoming lobe of the cam wheel 192. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seen that as a carton 19 recedes from the finger 181 the roller 191a engages a lobe of the cam and thereby prevents movement of the control mechanism away from its actuated position illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The roller continues to be supported by that lobe of the cam until the next carton (assuming that one is located on the next conveyor platform 61) reaches the control position alongside the detector apparatus 180. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the next succeeding carton 19 reaches a position in which it may support the finger 181 in its actuated position just as the roller 191a leaves a lobe of the cam 192. Accordingly, the control mechanism is maintained in its actuated position from the portion of the operating cycle illustrated in Fig. 8 to the portion of the cycle illustrated in Fig. 7 only by the carton 19 in contact with the finger 181. Accordingly, if no carton is present the control mechanism may recede to its normal or unactuated position, the roller 191a falling inwardly of the cam wheel 192 between adjacent lobes and the hook 187a moving to a position wherein it may engage a dog 190.

With the control mechanism operating in the manner just described, it will be apparent that when a carton 190 is missing from a conveyor platform 61, and when that conveyor platform is located alongside the detector apparatus 180, the control mechanism will lock the driven portion of the clutch mechanism 146 against rotation thereby interrupting rotation of the vertical shaft 149' and of the star wheel 120.

The clutch mechanism 146 is one in which the driving: and driven members thereof may be operatively connected only when the angular orientation therebetween is of a certain predetermined value or values. Such a clutch is. common in the art and since it does not form of itself a part of the invention, it will not be described in detail herein. The effect is that when the star wheel is: rotating (the control mechanism described above being: maintained in its actuated position) it is always in a specified phase relationship as well as in synchronisrn with the continuously rotating inverter wheel 130. More specifically when the star wheel 120 is rotating, it is always so synchronized with the inverter Wheel 1359 that the arms 136 of the inverter wheel may engage the trailing edge of the caps 109 as they leave the star wheel and are fed to the inverter wheel.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 1a, it will be seen that there are six uncapped cartons 19 ahead of the carton detecting apparatus 80, including the first whole carton shown at the left of Fig. la. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that there are six caps which have been committed to the continuously rotating inverter wheel by the star wheel 120. If now the conveyor platform 61 which is shown approaching the carton detecting apparatus. 188 were carrying no carton thereon, for any reason whatsoever, the carton detecting apparatus 180 would cause disengagement of the clutch mechanism 146 and stop rotation of the star wheel 120. The inverter wheel would, however, continue rotating and the carton conveyor 60 would continue to advance. Accordingly, the six caps 109 already committed to'the inverter wheel would be just sufiicient to take care of the six cartons on the conveyor platforms 61 which precede the empty platform adjacent the carton detecting apparatus 1%.

As long as empty conveyor platforms continue to come past the carton detecting apparatus, the star wheel 120 remains stationary and releases no further caps to the inverter wheel. However, as soon as a conveyor platform which carries a carton 19 reaches a position alongside the carton detecting apparatus the clutch mechanism 146 will be permitted to engage and the star wheel 120 will rotate, thereby releasing a capto the inverter wheel. By the time the carton has advanced through the six positions to the capping station, the cap 1&9 released by the star wheel 120 will also have advanced through six positions and will arrive at the capping station at the proper time to be applied to: the carton.

While it is intended that the apparatus opera e continuously and while the star wheel 12% will in fact rotate continuously as long as each conveyor platform 61 carries a carton, the control mechanism in effect releases a single cap 109 for each successive carton 19 as the carton passes by the carton detecting apparatus 186, the cap 109 which is released at that time being the cap which will be applied to that carton. In this manner, the carton detecting apparatus 180 and the associated control mechanism including the clutch 146 provide that no cap will be released by the star wheel 12th for which there is no corresponding carton on which that cap is to be placed.

Other control apparatus is provided for assuring that no carton will pass by the capping station without there being a corresponding cap fed to the capping station in proper time for application to that carton. This apparatus may include cap detecting apparatus 200 including a spring actuated feeler 261 and an electric switch 262, all as may be seen in Fig. la. The feeler 2ft is urged resiliently downward against the successive caps 1G9 and as long as caps are supplied in a continuous stream, the feeler is maintained upwardly in what may be termed an actuated position. In the event that there should be an interruption in the flow of caps past the detector apparatus 200, the feeler 201 drops down to a normal or unactuated position and operates the switch 2&2. The switch M2 is connected by suitable electric circuits, not shown in the drawings, to the control apparatus 53 previously referred to and shown in Fig. 2. As previously indicated the control apparatus 53 operates the clutch mechanism 47 through which the star wheels 41, 42 and 43 are driven. More specifically, when the feeler 291 is permitted to drop, as when there is an interruption in the supply of caps, the switch 2&2 causes the control apparatus 53 to disengage the clutch mechanism 47 whereby the star wheels 41, 42 and 43 cease rotation.

The control circuit interconnecting the switch 202 and the control apparatus 53 may he of any suitable form and may readily be arranged by anyone skilled in the art, and since its particular form does not constitute a part of the invention it is not described in detail herein.

According to a simplified embodiment of the invention a single cap detecting apparatus 200 may be employed, this apparatus disengaging the clutch mechanism 47 when there is an interruption in the flow of caps past the cap detecting apparatus and causing reengagement of the clutch mechanism at any time that a cap again raises the feeler 26 1. This simplified arrangement has a disadvantage, however, in that it would cause continued engagement and disengagement of the clutch mechanism 47 in the event that the supply file of closely spaced caps should fall short of the control station at which the cap detecting apparatus is located.

Another arrangement calls for two cap detecting control stations spaced apart by a substantial distance, a second control station not being shown in the drawings but preferably being similar to the detecting apparatus 200. In such case, the downstream cap detecting apparatus may serve to disengage the clutch mechanism 47 to. stop the star wheel mechanism 40 whenever the spring actuated feeler at that control station is permitted to drop downwardly to its normal or de-actuated position, as for example when there is a temporary interruption in the flow of caps. The control circuits interconnecting the two control stations and the clutch mechanism then cause the clutch mechanism to remain disengaged until such time as the spring actuated feelers at both stations are moved to their actuated positions. Furthermore, the upstream cap detecting apparatus is so arranged as to be actuated only when caps are arranged in close formation from the star wheel back to the second control station.

With such an arrangement, when the supply file of close formation falls short of the downstream control station, the latter causes disengagement of the clutch mechanism 47 to stop the star wheel mechanism 40. The clutch mechanism will not then be re-engaged until such time as the supply file of close formation is built up to the upstream control station. This arrangement avoids a continuous and rapid engagement and disengagement of the clutch mechanism which might result where only one cap detecting control station is employed.

As indicated above, a second control station is not shown in the drawings and is not described in detail herein since its particular form does not constitute a part of the invention. Two such control stations and their method of operation are disclosed and claimed in application Serial No. 221,288 titled Method and Apparatus for Handling Packages, filed April 16, 1951, by the same inventors and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

It is important that the cap detecting apparatus 200 be located along the conveyor 110 at such a point that the number of caps arranged downstream thereof is at least equal to, and preferable appreciably greater than, the number of uncapped cartons arranged downstream of the star wheel mechanism 40. With the cap detecting apparatus so located a temporary interruption in the supply of caps be detected early enough to avoid the possibility of a carton being committed to the conveyor 60 by the star wheel mechanism 40 with no cap available for application thereto.

Other cap detecting apparatus 21% is illustrated in the enlarged views, Figs. 3, 4 and 5. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus 210 is provided to detect any interruption in the flow of caps which might result from disturbances in the cap supply between the apparatus 210 and the apparatus 200. This extra protection is desired because the flow of caps, which are very light in weight, might easily be disturbed. The detector 10 is located too far downstream to stop the star wheel mechanism 40 in time to prevent cartons 19 from being committed to the conveyor 6'!) for which there will be no caps. Accordingly, this safety device operates to interrupt operation of the motor 72, thereby halting the conveyor 60 and various other elements of the machine driven by that motor. The apparatus 210 and its function do not form parts of the invention and accordingly will not be described in further detail.

The various parts of the control apparatus now having been described, it is believed that its operation will be best understood by consideration of exemplary operations.

Let it be assumed that supply files of close formation are present on both the carton feeder conveyor 20 and the cap feeder conveyor 110 and that cartons or caps are located at allprop'er points downstream thereof. As long as this condition continues to exist, the cap detecting apparatus 200 and the carton detecting apparatus 134 will be maintained in their actuated positions and the machine in its entirety will operate continuously.

If there should now be an interruption in the supply of cartons, whether temporary or permanent, when a conveyor platform 61 reaches the control station at which the carton detecting apparatus is located, the latter will fall into its normal or unactuated position anddisengage the clutch mechanism 146 to stop the star wheel 120. As previously indicated the carton detecting control station is so located with respect to the capping station that the number of caps already committed to the inverter wheel 130 will be just sufficient to cover the uncapped cartons on the conveyor platforms 61 which are downstream of the carton detecting apparatus 180. At any such time that another carton or cartons are carried past the carton detecting apparatus 180 the star wheel 120 will be rotated to release a corresponding number of caps which will reach the capping station at the proper time to be applied to the cartonst Let it be assumed now that a continuous supply of cartons is available but that the supply of caps is cut off and the supply file of close formation on the conveyor 110 no longer extends upstream to the control station at which the cap detecting apparatus 200 is located. The feeler 201 will then be permitted to swing downwardly to its normal or unactuated position whereupon the clutch mechanism 47 will be disengaged and the carton feeding star wheel mechanism 40 stopped. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the conveyor 60 continues to operate and to carry forward the uncapped cartons already committed thereto by the star wheel mechanism 40. Since the star wheel mechanism 40 has stopped, however, a continuous series of empty conveyor platforms 61 will approach the carton detecting apparatus 180.

Since the cap detecting apparatus 200 is located at least as far upstream of the cap supply as the star wheel mechanism 40 is located upstream of the carton supply, it will be apparent that there will be at least enough caps in advance of the carton detecting apparatus 200 in close formation to supply all of the uncapped cartons already committed to the conveyor 60.

When the first empty conveyor platform 61 reaches the carton detecting apparatus 180 the star wheel 120 will be stopped. The number of caps already committed to the inverter wheel 130 by the star wheel 12% will then be just sutficient to cover the uncapped cartons still advancing toward the capping station. After these cartons have been capped, the conveyor 60 will continue to advance the capped cartons through the spout sealer station and through the shrinker and back to the left in Figs. 1 and la onto the exit conveyor 175, with no caps or cartons being fed by the star wheel 12% or the star wheel mechanism 40.

At such time as caps are again made available, the cap detecting apparatus will again be energized. As previously explained, in the simplified arrangement this would merely call for actuation of the carton detecting apparatus 200 but in the more advanced embodiment would call for building up a supply file of close formation which extends appreciably upstream of the apparatus 200. In either case, when the supply file has been built up to the desired point the star wheel mechanism 40 will again operate and when an uncapped carton has been carried forward by the conveyor 60 to the carton detecting apparatus 180, the star wheel 120 will again be started. The first cap released by the star wheel 120 will arrive at the capping station at the proper time to be inserted on the first carton and the machine will again continue to operate as long as a continuous supply of cartons and caps is available.

One specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in the drawing and described above. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothis particular embodiment. For example, the invention is not limited to the capping of cartons. It is frequently desired to bring two files of articles into association for interconnection, mutual treatment, or other purposes. In many such cases the control apparatus, which forms one feature of this invention, may be employed, in various forms, to assure that no article from either file passes the area of intended association without an article from the other file arriving at the area in time for association therewith. There are also ifi'an'y instances in which it is desired that articles in an irregular file, or in a file of close formation, be arranged in file in regular, spaced relationship. The star wheel mechanism 40 or variations thereof is adapted to the solution of such a problem in a great variety of cases. Similarly, the inverter wheel and other parts or features of the machine are susceptible to wide variations and devious applications without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be apparent that the invention may be varied in its physical embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for placing caps on filled cartons at a capping station, apparatus for arranging a moving single file of said filled cartons of close formation into a faster moving single file of spread formation, said apparatus comprising first conveyor means for advancing said filled cartons in a single file of close formation, second conveyor means for advancing said cartons in a single file of spread formation to said capping station at a higher speed than that of said first-mentioned file, said second conveyor means having definite spaced positions therealong for receiving cartons, first star wheel means for removing successive cartons from said first conveyor means and for accelerating said cartons to a speed intermediate the speeds of said two files, and second star wheel means operating in synchronism with and in phase with said first star Wheel means for subsequently engaging and accelerating said cartons to a speed approximating that of said faster moving single file of spread formation and for arranging said packages on said second-mew tioned conveyor means; apparatus for receiving caps in inverted position and feeding said caps to said capping station in substantially right-side-up positon, said appatus including third conveyor means, third star wheel means, and an inverter wheel, said third conveyor means serving to feed caps to said third star wheel means, in a single file of close formation, said third star wheel means feeding said caps to said inverter wheel and being synchronized with and in phase with said first and second star wheel means and said second conveyor means, said inverter wheel inverting and feeding said caps to said capping station in synchronism and in phase with the filled cartons on said second conveyor means, said inverter wheel including a pair of spaced guide members defining a cap passage therebetween for guiding said caps along a predetermined path curved through an angle of substantially to invert said caps, one of said guide members extending substantially tangent to the line of movement of said cartons at said capping station, and the other of said members terminating immediately adjacent said capping station, and means for driving successive caps along said predetermined path in more closely spaced relationship and at a slower speed than said cartons on said second conveyor means, said guide members being so positioned relative to the line of movement of said cartons that the forward lip of each successive cap may be engaged by the forward lip of the respective carton and said cap carried along at an accelerated rate by said carton, said one guide member continuing into said capping station and being so located as to guide said cap firmly onto the rim of said carton; and control apparatus for interrupting operation of said first star wheel means when the supply of caps on said third conveyor means is interrupted and for interrupting operation of said third star wheel means when the supply of cartons on said second conveyor means is interrupted, said control apparatus comprising means for detecting the presence of a carton at a predetermined control position along said second conveyor means, control means operated by said detector means for interrupting operation of said third star wheel means when no carton is detected at said control position along said second conveyor means, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of cartons between said control position and said capping station is equal to the maximum possible number of caps being advanced by said inverter wheel, means for detecting the presence of a cap at a predetermined control position along said third conveyor means, and control means operated by said cap detecting means for interrupting the operation of said first star wheel means when no cap is detected at said last-mentioned control position, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of caps between said control position and said capping station is at least equal to the maximum possible number of cartons carried by said second conveyor means.

2. In a package capping machine in which packages and caps are both fed in sequence to a capping station, first conveyor means for conveying packages to said station, said conveyor means carrying at any one time a definite maximum number of packages thereon, package inserter means operating in synchronism with said conveyor means for inserting successive packages onto said conveyor means, second conveyor means for conveying caps to said station, said second conveying means operating in synchronism with said first conveying means and carrying at any one time a definite maximum number of caps thereon, cap inserter means operating in synchronism with said second conveyor means for inserting successive caps onto said second conveyor means, third conveyor means for feeding caps to said cap inserter means, means for detecting the presence of a package at a predetermined control position along said first conveyor means, control means operated by said detector means for interrupting operation of said cap inserter means when no package is detected at said control position on said first conveyor means, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of packages between said control position and said station is equal to the maximum possible number of caps on said second conveyor, means for detecting the presence of a cap at a predetermined control position along said third conveyor means, control means operated by said cap detecting means for interrupting operation of said package inserter means when no cap is detected at said last-mentioned control position, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of caps between said control position and said station is equal to the maximum possible number of packages on said first conveyor.

3. In a machine for bringing successive first articles in one moving file into association with successive second articles in another moving file at a definite station, first conveyor means for conveying said first articles to said station, said conveyor means carrying at any one time a definite maximum number of articles thereon, first inserter means operating in synchronism with said conveyor means for inserting successive articles onto said conveyor means, second conveyor means for conveying said second articles to said station, said second conveying means operating in synchronism with said first conveying means and carrying at any one time a definite maximum number of said second articles thereon, second inserter means operating in synchronism with said second conveyor means for inserting successive ones of said second articles onto said second conveyor means, third conveyor means for feeding said second articles to said second inserter means, means for detecting the presence of an article at a predetermined control position along said first conveyor means, control means operated by said detector means for interrupting operation of said second inserter means when no article is detected at said control position on said first conveyor means, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of said first articles between 1b said control position and said station is equal to the maximum possible number of said second articles on said second conveyor, means for detecting the presence of an article at a predetermined control position along said third conveyor means, control means operated by said last-mentioned detecting means for interrupting operation of said first inserter means when no article is detected at said last-mentioned control position, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of said second articles between said last-mentioned control position and said station is equal to the maximum possible number of said first articles on said first conveyor.

4. In a package capping machine in which packages and caps are both fed in sequence to a capping station, first conveyor means for conveying packages to said station, means for interrupting the passage of packages past a predetermined package stop position along said conveyor means, second conveyor means for conveying caps to said station, means for interrupting the passage of caps past a predetermined cap stop position along said second conveyor means, means for detecting the presence of a package at a predetermined control position along said first conveyor means, control means operated by said detector means for causing said cap interrupting means to interrupt the passage of caps past said cap stop position when no package is detected at said control position on said first conveyor means, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of packages between said control position and said station is equal to the maximum possible number of caps between said cap stop position on said second conveyor and said station, means for detecting the presence of a cap at a predetermined control position along said second conveyor means, control means operated by said cap detecting means for causing said package interrupting means to interrupt the flow of packages past said package stop position when no cap is detected in said control position on said second conveyor means, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of caps between said control position and said station is at least as great as the maximum possible number of packages on said first conveyor between said package stop position and said station.

5. In a machine for bringing successive first articles in one moving file into association with successive second articles in another moving file at a definite station, first conveyor means for conveying said first articles to said station, means for interrupting the passage of articles past a predetermined stop position along said conveyor means, second conveyor means for conveying said second articles to said station, means for interrupting the passage of articles past a predetermined stop position along said second conveyor means, means for detecting the presence of an article at a predetermined control position along said first conveyor means, control means operated by said detector means for causing said second-mentioned interrupting means to interrupt the passage of said second articles past said second-mentioned stop position when no article is detected at said control position on said first conveyor means, said control position being so selected that the maximum possible number of said first articles between said control position and said station is equal to the maximum possible number of said second articles between said stop position on said second conveyor and said station, means for detecting the presence of an article at a predetermined control position along said second conveyor means, control means operated by said lastmentioned detecting means for causing said first-mentioned interrupting means to interrupt the vflow of said first articles past said first-mentioned stop position when no article is detected in the said control position on said second conveyor means, said control position on said second conveyor means being so selected that the maximum possible number of said second articles between said control position and said station 'is at least as great as the maximum possible number of said first articles on said 17 first conveyor between said first-mentioned stop position and said station.

6. In a machine for applying caps to a moving file of regularly spaced cartons, apparatus for receiving caps in inverted position and feeding said caps to a capping station in substantially right-side-up position, said apparatus including means for guiding said caps along a predetermined path curved through an angle of substantially 180 to invert said caps and terminating substantially tangent to the line of movement of said cartons at said capping station, and means for driving successive caps along said path in more closely-spaced relationship and at a slower speed than said cartons and in synchronism therewith, said guide means being so positioned relative to the line movement of said cartons that the forward lip of each successive cap may be engaged by the forward lip of the respective carton and said cap carried along at an accelerated rate by said carton, said guide means continuing into said capping station and being so located as to guide said cap firmly onto the rim of said carton.

7. In a machine for applying caps to a moving file of regularly spaced cartons, apparatus for receiving caps in inverted position and feeding said caps to a capping station in substantially right-side-up position, said apparatus including guide means comprising a radially inner guide member and a radially outer guide member defining a cap passage therebetween for guiding said caps along a predetermined path curved through an angle of substantially 180 to invert said caps, said radially inner guide member extending substantially tangent to the line of movement of said carton-s at said capping station, said radially outer member terminating immediately adjacent said capping station, and means for driving successive caps along said path in more closely-spaced relationship and at a slower speed than said cartons and in synchronism therewith, said guide means being so positioned relative to the line of movement of said cartons that the forward lip of each successive cap may be engaged by the forward lip of the respective carton and said cap carried along at an accelerated rate by said carton, said radially inner guide member continuing into said capping station and being so located as to guide said cap firmly onto the rim of said carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,754 Fleischer Jan. 16, 1917 1,445,296 Clark Feb. 13, 1923 1,649,267 Tevander Nov. 15, 1927 1,689,247 Longe Oct. 30, 1928 1,761,223 Meyer et al. June 3, 1930 2,041,891 White May 26, 1936 2,359,932 Newey Oct. 10, 1944 2,539,427 Jakob Jan. 30, 1951 2,583,700 Lyon Jan. 29, 1952 2,598,380 Hotfecker May 27, 1952 2,618,425 Stover Nov. 18, 1952

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