US2842913A

US2842913A - Container capping machine

Info

Publication number: US2842913A
Application number: US324038A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick R Marindin
Original assignee: DORAN BROTHERS Inc
Current assignee: DORAN BROTHERS Inc
Priority date: 1952-12-04
Filing date: 1952-12-04
Publication date: 1958-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1975-07-15

Description

Jul 15, 1958 F. R. MARlNDlN 2,842,913 CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 B Ea O 2 mill 2% 11 /5 '1 64 INVENTOR Frederic/o lLMarL'ndin ATTORNEYS July 15, 1958 v F. R; 'MARlNDlN CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1952 "lllH H H RM fin mm n N R WM m m A f July 15, 1958 F. R. MARlNDlN 2,842,913

' CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Frederic/c JiMaI'L IzaiIl F. R. MARINDIN CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE July 15, 1958 v 10 meets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 4, 1952 INVENTQR I rederLc/c liLMarbndzn,

M (fi ATTO NEYS July 15, 1958 F. R. MARINDIN 2,842,913

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE 1o Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 4, 1952 INVENTOR Frederick 1?..Marzlnclin ww m July 15, 1958 F. R. MARINDINY 2,842,913

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE ,F'iled Dec. 4, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 T 95 ,7- I V INVENTQR, .Fi'ederuc/c fl, Mai-Lucian ATTORNEYS July 15, 1958 F. R. MARINDIN 2,842,913

' CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 1 .17. my ;5 1m. I59 2% 18 INVEN'IIOR Frederic/c R.Marz,ndo'n BY 2 M I r ATTORNEYS y 1958 F. R. MARINDIN 2,842,913

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR- Frede I ic/v R.Marzlndin Y I l I. Yaw

ATTORNEYS F. R. MARINDIN 2,842,913

CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE July 15, 1958 Filed Dec. 4, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 1O IVENTOR 102 W Freda-wk RMarmcZon M ATTORNEZQ United States Patent CONTAINER CAPPING MACHINE.

Frederick R. Marindin, Bethel, Conn., assignor to Doran Brothers, Inc., Danbury, Conn., a corporation of Con-=- necticut Application December 4, 1952, Serial No. 324,038

19 Claims. (Cl. 53-67) This invention relates to means for applying closures to containers, and more particularly to improved means for automatically capping bottles which are advanced seriatim on a continuously moving conveyor from which uncapped bottles are successively shifted laterally at suitably timed intervals into a capping position, caps are applied, and the capped bottles are then restored to the same conveyor.

Numerous machines for capping bottles have been disclosed heretofore but generally such devices in the prior art have required intermittently operated conveyors, with resultant vibration and risk of breakage or spillage, or they have been large, complex and costly devices employing a plurality of continuously moving capping heads, or subject to various other disadvantages which the present machine is designed to obviate.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide means controlling the operation of the capping mechanism by the presence of a conatiner to be capped,and to prevent operation of the closure applying means if no bottle is delivered to the capping position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for accumulating an ample supply of uncapped bottles adjacent the capping position to assure continuous operation of the capping machine, and having associated therewith an improved means for admitting uncappedbottles at suitably timed intervals into position for capping.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for feeding caps into the capping position only when an uncapped bottle is present thereat.

The above and other objects and desirable features are achieved in a relatively simple mechanism which may be manufactured, operated and maintained more economically than has heretofore been possible in the art.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will e indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a complete bottle capping machine according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed front view of an intermediate portion of the capping machine containing the main operating parts;

Figure 3 is a view of a similar intermediate portion looking fro-m the right of the machine;

Figure 4 is a rear'view taken from Figure 3 of a similar intermediate portion showing. certain details of the gate operating mechanism and means for vertically adjusting the capping unit;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken along the line 2,842,913 Patented July 15, 1958 66 of Figure 2 and showing details of the main cam arrangement;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical section through the cam housing taken along the line 77 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 88 of Figure 2 showing the mechanism for moving a can from the bottom end of the cap chute;

Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 8 but showing the mechanism operated to where the cap is positioned over the container;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view similar to that of Figure 7 but with certain parts omitted and showing the pusher bar and cap pressing member at the completion of a capping operation;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section on the line 1111 of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a vertical section through the hopper on approximately the axis of the rotary selector disc shaft;

Figure 13 is a vertical section through the hopper at right angles to the section of Figure 12 and on the line 13-13 thereof;

Figures 14, 15 and 16 are fragmentary partially diagrammatic views in plan showing successive positions of containers and caps and the mechanism for shifting or advancing them;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary vertical section through a modified capping member adapted toimpart rotational motion to the capping head; and

Figure 18 is a horizontal section along the line 1818 of Figure 17.

The general features of the embodiment shown in the drawings include a container conveyor comprising a fiat horizontally arranged belt 10 entrained over spaced

wide pulleys

11 and 12. Suitable power means is provided for operating the belt such as an electric motor 13 connected to rotate the pulley 11. The belt is mounted on a supporting frame which may be suitable to the particular situation and in the drawings is more or less diagrammatically shown as a housing 14 having an upper platform 15 and including a bar 1.6 for supporting the pulley 12. The apparatus also will normally have associated with ita suitable means for depositing uncapped containers C (Figures 14-16) on the left end of the belt in Figure 1 and means for receiving and removing capped containers at the right end. Such associatedmeans may be of varied types and character and form no part of the present invention. The container capping unit is, positioned inter mediate the ends of the belt conveyor and includes a base 17 which may be mounted on casters for ready transport of the unit from place to place. A pair of rigid posts 18 extend upwardly from the base having thereon a bracket 19 provided with holes through which the posts extend, the bracket being vertically adjustable on the posts.

Projecting forwardly from the bracket is a knee portion 20 having an upper anvil or platform surface 21 adapted to support the containers in the capping position, and a stepped-down section providing a lowered platform area 22 over which the belt 10 rides, the upper surface of the belt being substantially flush with the upper surface of the elevated platform 21 as shown particularly at Figure 3. The vertical adjustment of the bracket 19 and the related supporting

surfaces

21 and 22 comprise one of the features enabling the capping unit to be readily adapted to difierent uses and environments.

Positioned above the bracket 19 is the capping unit proper indicated generally at 25, this unit as a whole Figure 7 shows the connection of the shaft 26 to the housing through the medium of an enlarged head 26a rotatably mounted in the bearing sleeve 29 secured to the housing 27. The capping unit, therefore, is vertically adjustable by the rotation of the screw 26 through the hand crank 30 whereby the unit may be vertically positioned in accordance with the existing or preferred position of the conveyor belt 10 and to accommodate containers of different height.

Extending upwardly from the main housing 27 is a channel shaped housing member 32 carrying at its upper end a bottle cap hopper 33 which has associated therewith a cap selector disc 34 mounted on a shaft 35 which also has secured thereto a pulley 36 driven by a belt 37 from a source to be described later. The rotary disc 34 delivers caps S to a curved chute 38 which conveys the caps to a point adjacent the capping position.

Supported on the forward face of the main housing 27 are adjustable container guide means defining a path adapted to maintain the containers on the conveyor belt leading to the capping position. The supporting means therefor includes a pair of spaced

round bars

40 and 41 projecting horizontally from the front face of the main housing (Figures 1, 2 and 5). Suspended from the outer ends of these rods are L-

shaped bars

42 and 43 carrying at their lower ends a guide rail 44. As seen in Figures 1 and 11, the rail 44 has a flat horizontal section 44a with an intermediate offset portion or stirrup providing a V-shaped, notch 45 in which the containers are centered during the capping operation. The

rods

42 and 43 are both vertically and horizontally adjustable relative to the respective supporting

rods

40 and 41 as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The rod 42, for example, is secured in a block 46 (Figure 5) which is held in vertically adjusted position on the horizontal rod 40 between jam nuts 47. To ensure against rotation of the block 46 it may be provided with a spline connection including a groove such as that shown at 48 in Figure 1 into which a pin is extended through the block 46. The rod 42 is held in vertically adjusted position within the block 46 by any suitable means such as a set screw threaded into the left end of the block 46 into engagement with the rod 42. The support for the rod 43 is of similar con struction. An inner guide rail 50 is supported in a generally similar manner from the

rods

40 and 41, the supports including a pair of vertical rods such as that shown at 51 in Figure 5 the lower ends of which are connected to the guide rail 50 and the upper ends being secured in blocks such as shown at 52, the blocks being horizontally adjustable along the corresponding horizontal supporting

rods

40 and 41.

Suspended over the conveyor belt at the left just short of the capping position is a gate 55 carried on a rod 56 which extends to the rear completely through the main housing 27 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5). The details of this gate means will be described hereinafter in greater detail, but for the present it is noted that the gate is adapted to restrain uncapped bottles and maintain a supply thereof in position on the belt conveyor between the guide rails and is operated by automatic means to allow containers to advance singly to the capping position as fast as the unit effects the capping of the successive containers.

The capping mechanism is driven from an electric motor 60 which is supported upon a round bar 61 (Figures 3 and 4). The motor casing has rigid therewith a bearing sleeve 62 engaged over the supporting stud 61 and angularly adjustable thereon. The motor shaft carries a pulley 63 at its inner end which drives the V belt 64 which in turn drives the pulley 65 secured to the main shaft 66 which extends outwardly from and is supported in the main housing. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the angular position of the motor about shaft 61 and therefore the tension on belt 64 is adjustable by means of a screw shaft 68 rotatably secured in a block which has a round shank portion 70 rotatable in a block 71 secured to or integral with the motor casing. The screw shaft 68 extends upwardly through an internally threaded block 72 which is pivotally supported on a plate 73 secured to the main housing 27. The shaft has secured to the upper end an operating crank 74.

Extending through the main casing of the unit transversely to the main drive shaft, that is parallel to the conveyor belt, is an operating shaft (Figure 2) carrying operating cams 81 and 82 (Figure 6) and also at its outer end at the left in Figure 2 a pulley 83 over which is entrained the V belt 37 for driving the upper pulley 36 (Figure l) and the cap selector disc 34 as heretofore described. This cross shaft 80 is rotatably driven from the main shaft 66 (Figure 4) at an appropriate speed through suitable connecting gearing within the housing, the details of which are not important and are not shown.

Turning now to Figures 6 and 7, the cam 81 is designed to operate a pusher bar indicated generally at 85 which includes an intermediate rectangular frame portion 851:, a nose piece 85b and a tail piece 850. The tail portion 850 is slidable in a bearing in the rear wall of the casing 27 and the rectangular portion 85a is slidable on and supported by a block 86 in which the shaft 80 is designed to rotate. The pusher bar is normally urged forward, that is to the left, in Figure 7 by a coil spring 87 encircling the tail portion 850 between the rear wall of the casing 27 and the rectangular part 85a of the bar. The portion 85a carries a roller 88 adapted to be engaged by the cam 81 which imparts a cycle of movement to the pusher bar as dictated by the shape of the cam. As will be later described in more detail the nose portion 85b is adapted to engage the successive containers and push them into the capping position provided by the V notch 45 in the forward guide rail as shown particularly in Figures 10 and 11.

The cam 82 dictates the movement of a cap pressure arm 90 pivoted in the casing at 91 (Figures 7 and 10). A clevis 92 straddles and is pivoted to an intermediate point of the arm, the clevis having a rod 93 extending upwardly therefrom guided in a web portion 94 of the housing portion 32. A spring 95 located between the web 94 and a shoulder on the clevis 92 normally urges the pressure arm downwardly, the position being controlled by engagement of a roller 96 carried by the arm with the edge surface of the cam 82 on shaft 80. The outer end of the pressure arm 90 carries a capping head 97 adapted to engage and compress upon the container a cap at an appropriate point in the cycle of operation, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Referring to Figure 2, the capping head 97 is preferably made as a-separate part removably supported in the arm 90 by a shank portion received in a hole therein and releasably secured in place by a set screw 98 whereby diiferent heads appropriate to the particular cap may be employed.

Turning to Figures 7 to 9, the outer end of the cap pressing arm 90 also operates mechanism to position a cap over the container in the initial portion of the downward movement of the arm. This mechanism includes a plate 100 slidable horizontally in a channel in a stationary bracket 101 supported on the main housing. The plate 100 has secured thereto a thin auxiliary plate 102 extending laterally therefrom, that is to the right as viewed from the front (Figure 2). As appears particularly in Figure 5 and also in Figures 14, 15 and 16, the auxiliary plate 102 has the general form of a hook and is arc-shaped at its inner edge as indicated at 102a to conform to the particular cap being employed. Different plates 102 may readily be substituted corresponding to the size and shape of different caps, the plate 182 being secured to the slide plate 100 by suitable set screw means 103 as shown, for example, in Figure 8. Located above the slide plate 100 and pivoted at 104 to the bracket oscillatable in a vertical plane. I

101 is a cam plate 105 The plate 105 has a forked finger which straddles a a roller 106 secured to plate 100' and the plate also has a slotted opening 107 adapted to receive a roller 1118 secured to the head of the cap pressing arm 90. As appears in Figures 7, 8 and 9 angular movement of the arm 90 swings the cam plate 105 about its pivot which serves to move the slide plate 100 forward and back and, as will be described in more detail, the auxiliary plate 102 is adapted to engage and shift the container caps S from the bottom end of the supply chute into container capping position where the cap pressure arm 99 then in its continued downward movement corn presses the caps into or upon the container, as the case may be.

The container gate 55 and its associated elements will now be described. As heretofore noted, the gate is mounted on a rod 56 which extends through the housing to the rear and is both rockable and slidable in bearings in the housing. The rod has secured to its rear end a yoke 111, as appears in Figures 3, 4 and 5, which has an arm 112 projecting radially with respect to the rod 56 carrying a weight 109 adjustable therealong. The arm normally occupies a position such as shown in Figure 4 in which position the gate 55 occupies a vertical position such as shown in Figure 2. When, however, a sufficient number of containers collect in the channel between the

guides

44 and 50 on the conveyor belt such that the frictional drag is sufficient to overcome the effect of the weighted arm 112 the gate and arm are rocked clockwise as viewed from the rear of the machine (Figure 4) to the dotted line in this figure. The rod 56 also has secured to it a finger 113 and in the above described angularly displaced position of the rod 56, arm 113 is swung to a position indicated in dotted line in Figure 4 where it extends over and in the path of the rear end 350 of the pusher bar 85. Consequently when the pusher rod is moved rearwardly by its cam the gate assembly is correspondingly retracted and a container is allowed to pass the gate. As the pusher bar subsequently advances forwardly the gate is concurrently moved forwardly by a tension spring 114 acting on the bracket 115 having a finger which extends into the space between the arms of the yoke 111. The bracket 115 is slidably mounted on a rod 116 extending rearwardly from the fixed plate 73. The distance of gate retraction may be changed by adjusting the position of the finger 113 on rod 56, i. e., its position with respect to'the rear end of bar 55. Also by loosening finger 113, rod 56 may be rotated to adjust the angular position of the gate 55 as viewed in Figure 5.

As heretofore described, a supply of container caps is maintained in the hopper 33 and is fed therefrom into the chute 38 by a selector wheel 34, the details of the selector wheel and associated elements will vary dependent upon the character of the cap being operated on. In the particular example shown the cap S has a plug portion adapted to be received in the neck of the container and an overlying crown portion of larger diameter. The selector wheel on its inner surface is provided with a row of spaced teeth or lugs 120 and as the disc 34 rotates in the direction of the arrows shown in Figures 1 and 13 it picks up caps which occupy a position thereon approximately as shown at S in Figure 13. As shown particularly in Figures 12 and 13 the hopper is provided with a webbing or cross bafile 121 and the caps gravitate down the inclined surface 122 underneath the bafl le and come into engagement with the selector disc 34 at the bottom ofthe hopper. Here they are picked up by the selector wheel 34 and if oriented properly drop between lugs 12t1int o-chute 38 shown at the bottom of Figure 13. An auxiliaryyweb 123 in the hopper carries a flexible brush 124 brushing'against disc 34. When, however, caps fall between 'the lugs in reverse from the position show-n in Figure 13 or when chute 38 is filled, excess caps S which have fallen between lugs 120 but cannot enter the chute or reversely placed caps ride up with the disc'and are swept otf by the brush 124-where they fall back into the hopper from web 123. A rotary brush means 127 is provided as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 for urging the caps forward in the chute, particularly at the lower portion. The brush is mounted on a shaft 128 (Figure 3) supported in a bearing member 129 which in turn is supported on a vertical rod 130. Rod 130 rests in straps 131 on the main housing for vertical or pivotal adjustment to position properly the brush 127 with respect to chute 38. The shaft 128 is rotated by means of a pulley 132 driven by a V-belt 133 from a policy 1.34 mounted on the main shaft 66.

A typical operating cycle will now be described. Referring particularly to Figures 14 to 16, it is assumed that a group of containers C have collected on the conveyor adjacent the gate 55 and the foremost container is being ur ed against the gate tending to rotate the gate and its shaft 56 and when the force overcomes the resistance provided by the weighted arm 112 (Figure 5) at the rear the gate and rod will swing in a counter clockwise direction looking from the front of the machine in Figure 2, for example, to a position where the finger 113 at the rear occupies a position over the rear end 850 of the pusher bar as shown in dotted line in Figure 4, and as the pusher bar is retracted by cam 81 acting on roller 83 (Figure 7) the gate 55 is moved rearwardly permitting the foremost container to advance with the conveyor. The cam 81 is so shaped that the pusher bar is held in a retracted position for a short period only, and upon its forward return the nose piece b engages the container which has advanced with the belt conveyor and pushes it forward into a self-centering position in the ti-shaped opening 45 (Figure 11) in the guide rail plate which comprises the capping position.

Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 10 and assuming a con tainer is positioned as indicated for example in Figure 8, the continued rotation of the power shaft 81} and the cam 82 thereon gradually releases the cap pressure arm permitting it to advance downwardly under the force of spring 95. At the initial point of this operation the foremost cap S in the supply chute occupies a position on the supporting plate 140 as shown in Figure 2 and more clearly in Figures 8 and 14, the crown portion occupying the arc-shaped opening 102a (Figure 5) in the cap feeding plate 102. As the pressure arm 90 continues its downward movement, roller 108 thereon swings the cam plate 105 in a counter clockwise direction in Figures 7 to 9 which moves the slide and its cap feeding plate 102 to the right to the position shown in Figure 9 and also in Figure 15. The cap which has been fed laterally as described by the hook 102 is held centered in the curved portion 1112a in exact capping position over the container by a finger 141 pivoted at 142 (Figure 5) at the side of the cap chute. It is urged in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 5 and 15 by a spring 143 secured to an tip-standing pin 144 on the finger and at its opposite end to a stationary part of the chute. When the hook 102 occupies the position shown in Figure 15 a trailing finger 1132b blocks the advance of the caps in the chute. With the cap in the position shown in Figures 9 and 15 the continued rotation of the cam 82 permits the presser arm to continue downwardly and firmly seat the cap in a container under the force of the spring 95, the lowermost position of the arm being indicated in Figure 10.

As the operation continues, the presser arm is raised and the pusher bar 35 is retracted by the respective cams. Referring to Figure 11, as released by the pusher bar the cappedcontainer is pushed back onto the conveyor by a pair of fingers 146 which are pivoted at 147 on the section 44a of the forward guide rail and occupy positions above and below the guide rail section respectively. The fingers .146 are urged in a clockwise direction by a tension spring 148 hooked around a spacer bushing located between laterally projecting portions 146a integral with the fingers 146 and secured together by a pin 149 which passes through the bushing (Figures 2 and 3). As seen in Figures 3 and 10, it is noted that during the capping operation the container bottom rests in large part on the rigid platform surface 21 and the edge portion which overhangs the conveyor imposes very little frictional restraint on the conveyor. The overhanging portion may be as small as desired as long as it ensures that the container may be moved back onto the conveyor without catching on the edge.

An important feature of the capping mechanism is the incorporation of means which ensures that if no container is in capping position at the period in the cycle when the pressure arm normally descends to compress a cap the pressure arm will be restrained in an upper position and therefore no cap will be fed from the chute. This means is shown particularly in Figures 6, 7 and 10. An abutment lug 150 projects upwardly from the rectangular frame 85a adapted to cooperate with a plate 151 secured to the under edge of presser arm Ni. Figure 10 shows the extreme forward position of the pusher bar 85 as limited by a container when in capping position. In such case the lug 150 remains short of the plate 151. If, however, when its cam releases the pusher bar in the normal cycle there is no container present to be engaged by the finger 85b, the pusher bar will continue forward to a position corresponding to that shown in Figure 7, and as the pressure arm is subsequently released by its cam and starts to move downwardly, the plate 151 comes in contact with the end of lug 150 and the arm is restrained in its upper position. As previously described, slide 100 and the connected hook member 102 will not move from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 10 unless arm 90 is free to move downwardly. Consequently, when lug 150 prevents such downward movement, hook member 192 will not move a cap to the capping position as has been described.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the gate 55 will not move rearwardly to release a container until a sulficient supply of containers are ready for capping which creates the force necessary to move finger 113 into the path of the reciprocating end 85c of the pusher bar 85. Also, arm 90 and the capping head will not move downwardly unless a container is in proper position for capping, nor will a cap be fed into the capping position. Further, if a bottle should be upset after being released for capping by gate 55 so that it is not properly picked up by the forward end 8512 of the pusher bar to be placed in capping position, the same result will take place, i. e., arm 90 will not move downwardly and hook member 102 will not move a cap to the capping position.

Attention is directed also to the fact that both the pusher bar and the cap pressing arm are moved into engagement with the container or cap by an impositive power means comprising a spring as distinguished from an arrangement in which the operating elements are advanced by positive mechanical means. Accordingly damage to either the machine or the containers resulting from clogging or displaced parts is substantially obviated.

In order to overcome the friction between tight-fitting rubber stoppers and the openings of containers into which they are to be inserted, and to avoid excessive deformation of such yieldable stoppers or caps, it is frequently necessary to employ rotational force as well as downward pressure when applying rubber stoppers or caps to glass bottles or other like containers. Rotational motion may also be desirable to facilitate the firm application of bottle stoppers and caps of other materials, such as plastics.

Means for imparting a rotational twist to caps simultaneously with the application of downward pressure by which a cap is forced on to a container, are provided by the modification of the capping head disclosed in Figure 17 and Figure 18.

Figure 17 discloses in sectional view the head end of pressure arm modified by the insertion therein of a vertically moveable plunger 152, slidably retained in housing 153 which is threaded into a vertical hole through the pressure arm head and held securely therein by set screw 98. Secured to the lower end of plunger 152 is capping head 154 having a bottom surface 155 adapted for frictional engagement with the top of a container cap.

A vertical bore 156 through the upper portion of plunger 152 accommodates spiral spring 157 which is held in compression by cover plate 158 secured to the top of housing 153 by machine screws 159. The force of spring 157 compressed within plunger 152, between the lower end thereof and upper plate 158, normally holds the plunger 152 extended to its lowermost position as seen in Figure 17, with an enlarged upper end 160 of the plunger 152 engaging shoulder 161 of housing 153.

As seen in Figure 17, a spiral cam groove 162 in the enlarged upper end of plunger 152 is engaged by pin 164 mounted in the side wall of housing 153. A corresponding cam spiral diametrically opposite to cam 162 is also provided in the upper end of plunger 152. As may be seen in the sectional view of Figure 18, cam groove 163 engages pin in the same manner that cam 162 engages pin 164. Pins 164 and 165 are rigidly held in housing 153 by means of set screws 166.

The modified capping head of Figure 17 operates in the following manner. As pressure arm 90 moves downwardly the capping head 154 bears down upon a cap which has been positioned above a container in the manner described hereinbefore. As upward pressure on capping head 154 increases, with continued downward motion of arm 90, spring 157 yields, allowing plunger 152 to move upwardly within its housing 153. As plunger 152 rises it is caused to rotate by operation of

spiral cam grooves

162 and 163 in engagement with pins 164 and 165. Rotation of plunger 152 is transmitted through capping head 154 to the cap which is thus simultaneously rotated and pressed downwardly onto the container. If desired, the bottom surface 155 of capping head 154 may be knurled or otherwise treated to afford increased frictional engagement with caps, so as to assure sufficient rotation of a cap when the plunger 152 is rotated during the capping operation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and dilferent embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In an automatic container capping machine to be used with a conveyor for transporting containers thereto, in combination, a gate adapted to be positioned over said conveyor and located to restrain movement of containers on said conveyor whereby said containers with said conveyor exert opening pressure on said gate, said gate adapted to release individual containers on said conveyor when said containers exert sufiicient pressure thereagainst, means positioned beyond said gate for moving a released container crosswise of said conveyor into a capping position, means for placing a cap over said container in said capping position, impositive means for placing said cap onto said container, and means for restoring each capped container to said conveyor.

2. In an automatic container capping machine to be used with a conveyor for transporting containers there to, in combination, a gate adapted to be positioned over said conveyor for restraining movement of containers on said conveyor, mechanism associated with said gate for withdrawing it when sufiicient pressure is exerted thereagainst, a stationary platform for supporting said containers in a capping position, horizontal reciprocatory means for moving a released container crosswise of said conveyor into a capping position on said stationary 9 platform, means for placing a cap over said container in said capping position, impositive vertically reciprocating means for pressing said cap onto said container, and means for restoring said capped container to said conveyor.

3. In a container capping machine to be used with a conveyor adapted to move the containers into the machine, in combination, a pair of rotatable cams mounted on a common axis, power means connected to rotate said cams simultaneously in timed relation, a horizontal reciprocator having a cam follower spring pressed against one of said earns, a vertical reciprocator having a cam follower spring pressed against the other of said cams, said horizontal reciprocator being located so that in its retracted position a container from the conveyor is in alignment with its front end and upon extending movement of said horizontal reciprocator, it moves an uncapped container from said conveyor into capping position, means for placing a cap over said uncapped container in said capping position, means including said vertical reciprocator for pressing said cap onto said container, means for moving said capped container from the capping position back to said conveyor, and means associated with said horizontal reciprocator in its fully extended position for restraining vertical motion of said vertical reciprocator whenever an uncapped container is not moved to said capping position.

4. In a container capping machine to be used with a continuously moving conveyor having a flat conveying surface upon which successive containers are adapted to ride, the combination of a gate adapted to be positioned over said conveyor to be engaged by containers and to restrain the advance thereof, means for opening said gate to release a container, and control means responsive to the pressure exerted by the presence of one or more containers behind said gate to actuate said gate opening means to permit the passage of a container by said gate.

5. In a machine for capping containers automatically adapted to be used with a continuously moving conveyor for transporting containers into and from the machine, in combination, capping means, a gate adapted to normally extend over said conveyor in position to restrain containers on said conveyor from passing to said capping means, further means responsive to an accumulation of containers adjacent said gate to operate said gate to release a container so that it may move into the machine, means associated with said capping means adapted to move each released container to a capping position, and means associated with said capping means for restoring said gate to its normal restraining position over said conveyor while a container is being capped.

6. In a container cappingmachine adapted to be used with a continuously moving horizontal conveyor, the combination of a releasable gate adapted to be mounted over said conveyor and adapted to restrain the advance of containers, a device operable back and forth crosswise of said conveyor beyond said gate and operative upon its forward movement to shift containers crosswise of said conveyor into capping position, and means adapted to form operative connections with said device controlled by container pressure against.said gate to operate said gate to release containers successively for advance on the conveyor to a position opposite said device whereby said containers are successively placed in said capping position.

7. In a container capping machine adapted to be used with a continuously moving horizontal conveyor, the combination of a movable gate adapted to be mounted over said conveyor and adapted to occupy a position restraining the advance of containers on said conveyor or a position releasing said containers thereon, a device operable back and forth crosswise of said conveyor beyond said gate and adapted upon its forward movement to transfer 21 released container from said conveyor to a T0 capping position, means adapted'to form operative connections with said device for moving said gate into said releasing position upon backward movement of said device and to restore the gate to said restraining position upon forward movement of said device.

8. In a container capping machine adapted to be used with a continuously moving horizontal conveyor, the combination of a movable gate adapted to have a normal restraining position over said conveyor to releasably hold containers thereon, said gate being mounted for movement crosswise of said conveyor to release said containers, a device operable back and forth crosswise of said conveyor beyond said gate and adapted upon its forward movement to transfer a container released by said gate crosswise of said conveyor into a capping position, and means responsive to a predetermined container pressure on said gate adapted to form an operative connection between said device and said gate to move said gate to a container release position upon backward movement of said device and to restore the gate to said restraining position over said conveyor upon forward movement of said device.

9. In a container capping machine adapted to be used with a conveyor for advancing successive containers to the machine, the combination of a pushing device movable back and forth crosswise of said conveyor operative cyclically to push the successive individual containers from said conveyor into a capping position, a vertically movable cap pressing member including impositive means for urging it downwardly in a cap pressing direction, and engageable means between said device and said pressing member adapted to be rendered effective to prevent the downward movement of said member when a container is not moved by said device to the capping position.

10. in a container capping machine adapted to be used with a conveyor for advancing successive containers in a predetermined path to the machine, the combination for a device mounted for a reciprocatory movement crosswise of said conveyor and adapted on its forward movement to push successive individual containers crosswise of said path into a capping position, impositive means for moving said device to an extreme forward position when there is no container to be moved to the capping position, a'vertically movable cap pressing member above said capping position, impositive means for moving said pressing member downwardly in the cap pressing direction, and abutment means adapted to be rendered effective when said device moves to said extreme forward position because of the absence of a container in the capping position to prevent the downward capping movement of said member.

11. In a container capping machine adapted to be used with a conveyor for advancing successive containers in a predetermined path to the machine, the combination of a pushing device mounted for reciprocatory movement crosswise of said conveyor and adapted on its forward movement to push successive individual containers crosswise of said path into a capping position, operating means for said device including impositive means for moving it in said forward direction, abutment means in front of said device adapted to receive and hold the containers in the capping position upon said forward movement of said device, said impositive means adapted to move said device to an extreme forward position when no container is in front of said device, a vertically movable cap applying member, impositive operating means adapted to move,

said member downwardly in the cap applying direction,

and abutment means associated with said device adapted over a container at said station, means for moving containers to be capped to said cap applying station, means for supplying caps successively to a support adjacent and above said station, a cap transfer element mounted for horizontal reciprocatory movement and having a hook portion adapted to engage an individual cap on said support and draw it to a position over a container at said station, and means for cyclically operating said member and element in timed relation whereby said element moves a cap into position over a container and said member thereafter descends to press the cap on the container.

13. In a container capping machine, the combination of means forming a cap applying station, a cap applying member mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement over a container at said station, means for moving containers to be capped to said cap applying station, means for supplying caps successively to a support adjacent and above said station, a cap transfer element adapted to engage an individual cap on said support and move it to a position over a container at said station, means associated with said transfer element for frictionally engaging the cap and frictionally holding it in position over said container, and means adapted to operate said cap applying member and transfer element in timed relation whereby said member engages the cap in said frictionally held position, descends and presses the cap onto the container.

14. In a container capping machine to be used with a conveyor for advancing containers thereto, the combination of means forming a capping station, means for feeding successive caps to a waiting position above and laterally spaced from said capping station, a hook member adapted to successively move caps from said waiting position to a position immediately above said capping station, a pusher mounted above said capping station for vertical reciprocation to successively apply said caps to said containers at said capping station, means adapted to move successive containers to said capping station, and means for rendering said hook member inoperative when a container is not at said capping station in position to be capped.

15. In a container capping machine to be used with a conveyor for advancing containers thereto, the com bination of means forming a capping station, a feeder adapted to reciprocate toward and from said capping station to push containers thereto, said feeder adapted to move into said capping station when a container is not in position for capping, means for feeding successive caps to a waiting position above and laterally spaced from said capping station, a hook member adapted to successively move caps from said waiting position to a position immediately above said capping station, a pusher mounted above said capping station for vertical reciprocation, means associated with said pusher adapted to position each container accurately at said capping station, said pusher adapted to successively apply said cap to said containers at said capping station, and means for rendering said hook member inoperative to move said caps to said capping station whenever said feeder moves into said capping station.

16. In a container capping machine to be used with a conveyor for advancing successive containers thereto, the combination of means forming a capping station,

a feeder adapted to reciprocate toward and from said capping station to push containers thereto, said feeder adapted to move into said capping station when a container is not in the position for capping, means for feeding successive caps to a waiting position above and laterally spaced from said capping station, a hook member adapted to successively move caps from said waiting position to a position immediately above said capping station, a pusher mounted above said capping station for vertical reciprocation, means associated with said pusher adapted to successively apply said caps to said containers at said capping station, and means for preventing the capping operation of the machine at said capping station whenever said feeder moves into said capping station.

17. In a container capping machine to be used with a conveyor for advancing successive containers thereto, the combination of means forming a capping station, a feeder adapted to reciprocate toward and from said capping station to push containers thereto, said feeder adapted to move into said capping station when a container is not in position for capping, means for feeding successive caps to a waiting position above and laterally spaced from said capping station, a hook member adapted to successively move caps from said waiting position to a position immediately above said capping station, a pusher mounted above said capping station for vertical reciprocation, means associated with said pusher adapted to suecessively apply said caps to said container at said capping station, and means for rendering said hook member and said pusher inoperative whenever said feeder moves into said capping station.

18. In a container capping machine to be used with a conveyor for advancing containers thereto, the combination of means forming a cap applying station, a cap applying member mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement over containers at said station, means associated with said member for moving said containers to said cap applying station, means for supplying caps successively to a waiting support adjacent the container, a cap transfer element mounted for horizontal reciprocatory movement, said element having a hook portion adapted to engage around the periphery of an individual cap, means forming a pin and cam-slot connection between said cap applying member and said cap transfer elcment, and power means associated with said element and said member to move said member downwardly to a cap applying position whereby said pin and slot causes said element to move a cap from said waiting support to be engaged by said member during its downward stroke.

19. The combination defined in claim 17 in which said cap transfer element is slidably mounted with respect to said support and there is a pivotal connection between said member and said element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,125,821 Sibley Aug. 2, 1938 2,267,409 Massini Dec. 23, 1.941 2,419,475 Barr Q Apr. 22, 1947 2,544,009 Detrez Mar. 6, 1951 2,587,180 Lindstrom Feb. 26, 1952 2,595,894 Hammond May 6, 1952 2,635,800 Dickinson Apr. 21, 1953