US880119A - Can feeding and righting machine. - Google Patents

Description

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CAN FEEDING AND RIGHTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2441906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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No. 880,119. PATENTED PEB. 25, 1908. M. D. BLAKESLEE.

CAN FEEDING AND RIGHTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24.1906.

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A #any y PATBNTED FEB. 25, 1908.

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M. D. BLAKESLEB. GAN PBEDING AND RIGHTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24. 1906.

r`l n 57 Aftornaz/ No. 880,119. PATENTED FEB. 25, 1908.

M. D. BLAKESLEB.'

GAN FEEDING AND RIGHTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24.1906.

5 SHEBTS-SHEET 5.

for Witnesses: aan ggzw MMM' UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEToE.

MERTON BLAKESLEE, OF CAZENOVIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO HENRY BURDEN, SECOND; OF CAZENOVIA, NEW YORK. l.,

. CAN FEEDING AND RIGHTING MACHINE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

Application tiled August 24. 1906. Serial No. 331.888.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that, MERTON D. BLAKEs- LEE, of Cazenovia, in the county of Madison, in the State-of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can Feeding and Righting Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and eXact description.

This invention relates to improvements in can-feeding and righting machines by which the empty cans are conveyed some distance.

from the source of supply and are automatically deposited upon a suitable supporting bed with their open sides uppermost ready to receive the material with which they are to be filled.

My object is to reduce the labor and cost of supplying cans right side up to the filler by providing automatic mechanism for righting the cans with their open sides at the top while in transit from the source of supply to the -filler, thereby enabling the empty cans to be fed by hand, promiscuously into a ho per or chute at the source of supply and o viating the necessity for further attention to the cans while in transit to the filler.

A portion of niypresent device, relating to the righting of the cans, with their open sides uppermost, is similar to that disclosed 'in my pending application, Serial No.

303,064, filed February 26, 1906, but involves certain additions and improvements which makes it possible to feed the cans, one by one, from remote parts of the building without the eniploymeint of' manual labor, exce t at the receiving station or source of supp y where the empty cans are romiscuously, and therefore, rapidly dumpe( into a suitable hopper or chute leading to the righting mechamsm.

The more specific objects of my present invention relate to certain dotents and tripping devices whereby the cans may be automatically and successively arranged end to end,.or side by side, and caused to travel in ditl'erent directions before. reaching the righting device proper, wherel they are separated and caused to gravitnte, right side up upon a suitable support leading to the iller. f

Other objects relating to the righting device proper will be brought out in the following i escription.

1n the drawings-l `igure 1. is a top plan of my improved can-feeding and righting machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the detached supporting bed upon whieh.`the cans are finally deposited right side up, showing also the means for feeding said cans from said support. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the righting device proper, showing the separate chutes through which the cans travel, right side up, upon the underlying support. Fi 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on Fine 1 -4, Fig. 1. Fi 5 is a sectional view taken 4on line 5-5, Iiig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6 6, Fig. 1.- Fig.- 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7#7-, Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged end` views of the righting device proper, showing the separating blades and righting mechanism in different positions. Fig. 1() is an enlarged .transverse sectional View taken on line 10-10, Fig. 1.

In this particular device the empty cans are placed promiscuously by hand, upon the upper end of an inclined chute -1- along which they gravitate against a vertically movable stop -2- at the low end of said chute Where they are temporarily held before delivery upon an endless conveyer -3, which, in this instance, travels along the bottom of a guide -4- at substantially right angles to the chute -1- and is provided with upwardly projecting abutments -5- spaced a uniform distance apart somewhat greater than the length of the can, as best seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5. The lower outlet end of the chute -1-- is disposed in a plane a sufficient distance above the conveyer -3- to permit the 4cans to travel freely thereunder when engaged by the abutments --5-. The detent -2- is movable vertically into and out of the path of the descending cans and is actuated in its vertical movement by means of a lever -6- and bellcrank --7- which is flexibly connected to said lever by a chain or equivalent link -7. This detent -2- is guided in its vertical movement upon a suitable support 8 and is held in its downward or holding position by means of a spring -9- acting upon one end of the Vlever -6-, the latter being fulcrumed at 1.0- to a standard on the support -8-.

The bell-crank -7- constitutes what may be termed a tripping-pawl which is adjustably fulcrumed at --11- upon a suitable support -12- and hasone of its arms projectin downwardly into the pathpf the movin a utments 5 as best seen 1n Fig.

4, so t "at asjthe conve er belt is moved in the direction indicated y arrow Fig. 4, the abutments 5' successively engage and rock the lower end of the tripping pawl or bell-crank 7 in the same direction thereby rocking the lever 6 through the medium of a connection 7 and elevating the detent 2 against the action of the spring 9 ,'This elevation of the detent 2 allows the advance can engagedtherewith to gravitate through an opening 13 in the bottom of the chutel 1 and onto the conveyer belt 3 between two adjacent abutments 5 one of whic advances against the end of the can and arries it forwardly from beneath the openinr 13- leaving a clear space for the reception of the succeedingcan upon the conveyer belt. The tripping awl 7 is adjusted with reference to the a utments 5 so that it elevates the detent 2 to release the can just after the preceding abutment has passed beyond thev opening 13 permitting the can tol fall u on the conveyer slightly 1n advance of the a utment that last tripped the pawl 7 which abutment engages the adjacent end of the can and moves it under the opening 13 The degree and time of movement of the tripping'pawl 7 are regulated so that as soon as the detent Q is'elevated sufliciently, the abutment which engages the lower end of the tripping pawl 7 will have been moved by and out of the path of said pawl,v permitting the detent and its actuating pawl to be rocked to their normal positions by the act-ion of the spring 9 upon the lever 6 It is now obvious that the cans, as a roll in succession down the inclined chute 1 and are deposited, one by one, upon the conveyer belt 3 which carries them forward in similar succession end to end along the guide lt from which they are automatically discharged laterally into the upper end of a second inclined chute 15 which is located a predetermined distance from the outlet of the chute 1 This second chute 15 opens into one side of the guide 4 and directly opposite this opening is placed an oscillatory gate or sweep 16 which is hinged at 17 to the bottom of the guide 4 'at one side of the path of movement of the cans opposite to that from which the chute 15 leads, said gate or sweep Abeing actuated intermittingly or as the cans are successively presented to' or alined with the adjacent end of th echute 15 to force the cans successively into said chute along which they gravitate to the righting device presently described.

The action of the gate or swee i l6 is controlled by a vtrigger 20 w 'ch is pivoted at l 21 to a bracket on the guide L1-fand has one end projecting into .the path of and adapted to be successively engaged by the yabutments 5 while its other end is connected by a link 22 to the gate 16 The,vtrigger 20 is adjusted so that as each can is brought into alinement with the gate ]6 and adjacent open end of the chute 15 it is engaged and tripped by thepreceding abutment 5, thereby operating said gate inwardly against the action of a s ring 23 to force the adj acent can into t 1e open end of the chute 15 along which it gravitates to the righting device previously mentioned. The trigger- 20-- and its actuating abutment are so related that as soon as the can isl discharged by the gate 16 int-o the chute 15 the trigger is moved out of the path of its operating abutment, and together with the gate, is returned to its normal position by the spring 23 ready to divert the sucl ceeding can from the guide 4 into the chute 15 The cans arethus successively discharged side by side into the chute 15 along which they roll by gravity to the righting device..

Certain parts of the righting device are described in my pending application previously 1 referred to, the essential elements of whic consist of a horizontal can-supporting bed 25- which receives the cans from the lower end of the chute --15 and is -movable back and forth across the open upper ends of a series of separate vertical can chutes 26-, a series of vertically movable blades --27- for se arating the cans and alining them with t eir respective chutes 26 and a seriesl of can righting fingers' 28 movable back and forth and vertically to enter'and lift the open sides of the cans which may face the fingers to cause said cans to be reci'pitated right' side up into their respective chutes 26 The gravity of the cans causes them to roll against one another down the inclined chute 15 and upon the sliding bed 25 until the first advancing can encounters a vertically movable stop 29 at the opposite end of the bed 25 as best seen in Fig. 1. The movement of the blades 27 stop 29 and fingers 28 are synchronized in such mannerthat when the stop 29-- is in its operative position for limiting the forward movement of the cans, the blades are raised above the path of movement of said cans and the fingers 28 are drawn back to their eXtreme positions away from the adjacent end of said cans, but immediately upon the elevation of the stop 29 to allow the cans to advance afurther limited distance the blades 27 are caused to automatically descend between the cans to separate them and hold them in vertical alinement with their respective underlying --2S-- are caused to advance toward the adjacent ends of the cans so that if the open sides of said ans are presented to the fingers the latter will enter a slight distance into the can openings, thereby holding and slight-ly elevating the open end, during which operation, the sliding bottom ----is withdrawn from under the cans allowing them to precipitate right side up into their respective chutes and upon an underlying bed in position to be conveyed to a filler or other machine, not necessary to herein illustrate or describe. The can supporting bed -25- is mounted at its ends upon suitable guides -31- of the main supporting-frame --32- and consist essentially of a bottom plate 3S- and a top plate 34, which latter is movable upon the upper surface of the lower plate -33-, and will be hereafter termed the agitator-plate, the object of which is to feed the cans forwardly a limited distance after the stop -29- has been elevated, or untilv the iirst advancing can is brought against a fixed limiting stop -35-, as best seen in Figs. l and 3. When the cans are brought to this position by their own gravity aided by the action of the agitatorplate -33 their meeting faces are disposed in nearly vertical alinement with the separating blades -27- so that during the descent of the latter they readily enter between the contiguous faces of the cans, thereby separatingr them one from the other and holding them in vertical alinement with their respective chutes 26- during the action of the righting fingers 2S- and until the bottom 25- is withdrawn from under the cans.

'lhe movement of the can-supporting bed -25- is also synchronized with the action of the separating blades 27-, as will be clearly brought out in the following(lescription-`: lt is now apparent that the bedplate Q5- forms a continuation of the chute V-15--. 'lhe lower plate -38-- is actuated back and forth by mea-ns of bellcrank levers -f6 located at opposite sides of the machine and actuated in one direction by links --37-v and rotary disks --38- which are mounted upon a continuously rotating .driving shaft 3Q-'- and are provided with studs 4()- adapted to engage an'oflset 4l-- on the link S7-.- ltotary motion'is imparted from thel drivingshaft -39- to a parallel shaft --12- through the medium gea rs43 and 4f-lsecured respectively to the shal'ts -SEF- and 42. rlhe gear -43- is substantially twice the pitch of the gear -42- with which it meshes and has practically one-half o'll its teeth removed so that while the shaft 42 is rotated at substantially twice the speed of the driving shaft --29- it only males one revolution at each complete revolution o'lI the gear 43- and remainsat rest during onehalf of each revolution of the driving shaft for a purpose presently described.

As best seen in Fig. S, the oll'set portion path of the stud so as to engage and lift the link -37 during substantially onefourth of the revolution of the shaft -39-, thereby operating the levers 3G- and bedplates --25- connected thereto from their normal closed positions shown in Fig. 8 to their open position shown in Fig. 9. As the disks $8- continueto rotate the links -37- are forced out of operative connection with their respective studs -40- with suitable strips -45- which are adjustably mounted upon disks dt, the object of such adjustment of the tripping devices -45-- being to regulate the time of release or disengagement of the links -37- from the studs -40- and consequent return of the levers 56- and bed-plates 25 to their normal closed position, as ell`ected' by suitable retracting springs -46-. During the half revolution of t-he. driving shaft B9-'- when the driven shaft is at rest, the sliding bed -25 is normally closed; the blades -37- are normally elevated above the path of the cans and the fingers -28- are nornially drawn back to their extreme rearward positions, the action of the blades 27-- and fingers 2S being primarily cont-rolled by disks -49-- on the driven shaft- -42-- in the manner presently described. The fingers d-28--` are slidably mounted in a rod or shaft -50- extending from. side to side of the machine and having its ends rigidly secured in suitable rock-arms 51 having their rear ends pivotally connected at -52- to the disks 4Q- The intermediate portions of thel arms 51 are slotted to receive lixed fulcrums --53F which are mounted upon the main supporting frame -32- between the rod or bar -5()- and driven shaft -42-, these fulcrums being located in a plane nearly co-incident with the direct line drawn between the axis of the driven shaft 42.-- and center of the cans when resting upon the bed-plate #25.

It is now evident that when the disks --49- are rotated from .their normal or starting positions, in the direction indicated by arrow s'-, the rear ends of the arms --51d arev elevated and carried forward, thereby depressing the tingcrs -28--, and at the same time forcing them forwardly into engagement with the adjacent ends of the cans, and as the disks 49m continue to rotate through the first half revolution, throwing the fingers -2S- from their extreme rearward to the extreme forward positions, the fingers which engage the closed ends of the cans will be forced back through' the rod --50- against the action of their retracting springs -54-, while the open ends of t-he 'i olution of the 'disks -49-, at which .time

the cans entered by their respective fingers will be brought nearly to an upright position,

right side up, or with their open 4sides at the top so that as the can supporting-bed -25 is withdrawn from one ofthe cans those having their closed ends facing the fingers will gradually tilt bottom downward upon the receding edge lof said bed and fall right side up into their respective chutes -26-, while those cans into the open ends o f which the fingers -28- have been forced will simply be held with their open sides uppermost untll the supporting table is entirely 'withdrawn from under the same. During the last onequarter revolution of the disks -49-, during which time the can-supporting bed -25- is completely open the fingers 2S-- are withdrawn from the open ends of the cans which they are holding, thereb releasing such cans and allowing them to fal by gravity right side up into their respective chutes The blades -27- are arranged side by side a predetermined distance apart substantiallyequal to the diameter of the can and are secured at one end to a rock-shaft having a radiall projecting arm -61- which is connected liy-a chain or other flexible connection -62- to one o1' the arms -51- near its connection with the disk 49-, said rock-shaft -60- being provided with an additional arm -64-, which is connected to a spring -65- -for aiding and accelerating the descent ofthe blades- 27- between the cans. The fiexible connection -62- is so adjusted that when the disk -49- is in its normal or starting position, as seen in Fig. 8, .the arm -51- is drawn to .its extreme rearward position, thereby tightening'the cable 62- and rocking the arm -61 and shaft -60-, and elevating the blades -27 to their eXtremey 11p-positions against the action of the spring 65 These blades +27- and fingers -28 remain in their normal positions, shown in F ig. 8, during practically half of a revolution of the driving shaft -39- and its disks -38--, or while the can supporting bed -25- is closed across the open upper ends of the chutes -26-, thereby allowing a free passage for the cans across and upon said bed. While these parts just described are in their normal position the stop -29- is rocked to its operative position by an arm -66 on the rock-shaft 60-, said arm being con'- nected by a yielding flexible connection' *67- to one end of a lever -68- upon which the stop -29- is mounted.

The gear -43 is provided with a pin G9- adapted to engage a radially projecting pin -70- on the gear -44- at about the same time that the stud 4or shoulder 4U-.- is brought into liftin engagement with the offset 41- of the link --37-- so that after each interval of rest, of the gear -44- and its driving shaft -42- the disks --49-l begin to rotate at about the same time that the stud -40- engages the offset --41-` of Pthe link -37- causing simultaneous actionof -the can-supporting bed -25-; blades -27g fingers -28-, and

stop -29-; that is, immediately upon the' initial forward movement of the fingers- -28- the cable -26 is slackened, allowing the stop -29- to be Iimmediately thrown u wardly by a retracting spring' 'can-supporting bed -25- is being drawn backwardly by the lever 36 and the fingers 28- are being advanced against the adjacent ends of the cans. These cans normally rest upon the bed-plates -25- directly above their respective chutes, and it is obvious that when the bed-plate is withdrawnirom under the cans those having their closed ends facing the fingers *28H will tilt bottom downwardly upon the recedingedge of the plate -25-- and fall right side up into their respective chutes, whilev those having their open sides facing said fingers are entered by said fingers, as best seen in Fig. 10, thereby temporarily supporting and elevating the open ends of' the cans during the recession of the bed -25-, and as soon as said bed has receded sufficiently to allow the latter cans to drop into their respective chutes the fingersy -28- are withdrawn Jfrom the o en ends ofthe cans, thereby releasing the latter allowing them to fall right side up into their respective chutes.

The fingers 2S- are all guided in suitable a ertures in the bar -50- and are norma ly projected outwardly by comparatively light springs -54- so that those fingers which engage the closed end of the cans are forced backwardly against the action of their springs -54- although the frictional contact of the fingers with the closed ends of the cans is insufficient to prevent the free gravitation of said closed ends downwardly into the chutes. This operation of righting the cans by the fingers *28- takes place while the supporting-bed -25- is being withdrawn from its normal closed to its open position, as shown in Fig. 10, that is, the fingers --2S- are moved from their extreme rearward to their extreme forward positions during a uartcr turn of the disks M38-, or rather rom the time that the studs engage the offset -41.-, until the interlocking connection between said stud and link -37 is broken by the trip W", at which time the can-supporting bed is instantly returned to its closed position by the retracting spring --46-. It is obvious that under this action of the can supporting bed and tripping fingers `the cans are instantly precipitated into their respective chutes even before' the sup )orting bed is withdrawn to its limit so that tlie cans which .formerly rested upon the bed are all reci itated into their respective chutes be ore t e return of the supporting bed to its closed position ready to receive another series of cans.

While the can supporting bed is o en the blades 27- are down and in order t at the cans in the inclined chute 15-'may be temporarily held back While the bed -25- is open, I rovide the rock-shaft -60- With a Astopbla e 8U- near the discharge end of the chute 15* and against which the cans rolling down said chute abut when the blades 29- are down.

In order to prevent `the upward displacement or buckling of the cans while rolling along and upon the bed Z5- I provide a series of horizontal stop fingers or presserbars -81- which are secured to a fixed portion of the frame -32-, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 10. I preferably provide one of these fingers for each can and arrange them directly over the path of said can's when rolling against the abutment -29-.

The su plemental bed-plate -34--has a horizontti) vibratory or oscillatory movement which is brought about b means of a link S2- having one end pivotally connected to a plate -34- and its other end pivotally attached at -83- to the main supporting frame -32- so that as the main bedplate -33- is reciprocated back and forth across the upper ends of the chutes -26- the supplemental plate -34- which frictionally engages the top face of the main late -33- is similarly moved back and orth and is at the same time moved endwise by the link -82- to shift the cans which rest thereon toward the stop -35-- This auxiliary or supplemental plate -34- has sliding interlocking connection with the main supporting bed -33- by means of a bar S4- and clips -85, as best seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the the plate -33-, and also forming a guide for the longitudinal movement ofthe plate -34- upon the plate -33-.

The operation, briefly described is as follows: The cans are fed promiscuously into bar S4- forming a part of l the chute -1- along which they roll by gravity and are automatically deposited end to end upon the traveling` carrier --3-- by which they are conveyed to the second inelined chutel 15- into which they are automatically discharged in succession, and along which they roll by gravity upon the supporting bed -25- until the first advancing can engages the stop 2Q- During this feoding of the cans upon the bed -25- the blades -27-- are, of course, elevated and the selecting fingers 28-- withdrawn to their eXtreme rearward position, these parts remaining in such )ositions during practically a half revolution of the disks 3S- and driving shaft -39-, thus allowing ample time for the cans to accumulate upon the bed -25-, whereupon the stud 40- engaging the link 37 operates the levers -36- to throw the can supporting bed -25- forwardly to uncover the chutes -26-, and at the same time the stop -29- is elevated to allow the cans to move againstthe stop -35- and the blades -27- are then releasedby the advance movement of the arms 51 and fingers -28-, allowing the blades 27 to descend into and hold the cans in registration with their underlying chutes, the stop-blade -80- serving to temporarily check the further movement of the cans from the chute 1.5- onto the receding bed. As the can supporting bed 25- is continuous it is withdrawn from under the cans those having their closed ends facing the fingers v-28--- tilt bottom down over the receding edge of the bed into their respective chutes while those which have their o en ends facing the fingers 28 are entere by said fingers and the open ends are elevated by the continued rocking movement of the arms -51-, causing said cans to be tilted bottom downward and to fall into this position into their respective chutes. The support -30 is provided with one or more openings 96- into which the cans are successively fed by fingers 91 on an endless belt -90- which isl mounted upon sprocket wheels -92- and is driven by suitable gears -94- and a driving shaft -95-, as best seen in Fig. 2.

What I claim is:

l. In a can-righting machine, an inclined chute along which the cans are adapted to roll, a carrier running transverselyof and in proximity to the low endof said chute and receiving the cans therefrom, a drtent at the low end of the chute for temporarily holding the cans in said chute, means actuated by the carrier for tripping the detent,

automatic means actuated by the carrierfor 2. `In a can-righting machine, a can chute having an outlet, a movable detent in the path of the cans near the outlet, a conveyer for receiving the cans fromsaid outlet, means actuated by the conveyer for tripping the detent to permit the cans to gravitate in succession onto the conveyer, means actuated by the conveyer for 'automatically forcing the cans therefrom when brought'to a predetermined position, and a can-righting mechanism receiving said cans from the conveyer and arranging them right side up with their open ends at the top.

3. In a can-righting machine, an inclined can-chute having an outlet, la detent projecting into the chute in the path of the cans near the outlet, a conveyer traveling under the outlet, meansactuated by`the conveyer for tripping the detent at regular intervals to allow the cans to gravitate one by one onto the conveyer, means forautomatically` forcing the cans, one by one, from the conveyer when brought to a predetermined position,l a can righting mechanism and means for receiving the'cans from the conveyer and carrying them to the' righting device.

4.. In a can-righting machine, a can chute having an outlet at its low end, a conveyer adapted to receive the cans discharged through said outlet, and to arrange them end to end thereon, a detent movable into and out of the path of the cans at the outlet, abutments on the conveyer for engaging the ends of the cans and feeding them endwise, and means actuated by said abutments for tripping the detent at regular intervals.

5. In a can feeding and righting machine, an inclined chute having an outlet at its lower end, a conveyer traveling under the low end of the chute for receiving the cans and conveying them away from said chute, means at the low end of the chute and actuated by the conveyer for feeding the cans one by one from the chute onto the conveyer, a swinging ate actuated by the conveyer for forcing t e cans laterally from said conveyer as they are successively presented thereto, and la can rightingmechanism receiving the cans as they are successively discharged from the conveyer by said gate.

6. In a can feeding and righting machine, an inclined chute along which the cans are adapted to roll, a carrier runnin transversely of and in proximity to the ow side of the chute and receiving the cans therefrom, a detent at the low end of the chute for temporarily holding the cans in said chute, means actuated by the carrier for tripping the detent whereby the cans are fed one by one upon the conveyer, an inclined chute leading laterally from one side of the conveyer, a swinging gate in line with the open end of the latter chuteI but at the o posite side of the conveyer for forcing t e cans one by one from the conveyer in the latter chute asthey are successively pre-` carrier for feeding a series of cans successively in one direction, achute leading from one side of the conveyer, ay swinging gate movable transversely of the path of movement of the conveyer for forcing the cans into said chute, means actuated by said conveyer for. operating the gate, and additional means for receiving the cans from the chute and arranging them with their-open ends uppermost.

9. In a can-ri hting machine, auf-"endless carrier having a utments thereon spaced a uniform distance apart for engaging the cans and feeding them successively m one direction, means actuated by said abutment for forcing lthe cans one by one from the conveyer as they are successively presented at a given point, and additional means for receivmg the can which are forced from the conveyer and arranging-them with their open endsu permost.

10. n a can-righting machine, an endless convfyer having a series of abutments spaced a un` orm distance apart for engaging the ends of the' cans and feeding them succesversely across the up er ace of the conveyer for forcing the cans t erefrom when resented at a given point in the line of trave of said conveyer, means actuated by said abutments for operatingsaid gate, an inclined chute leading laterally from the conveyer at the side of the conveyer opposite the gate, and a canrighting mechanism receiving the cans from the chute and arranging them with their open ends uppermost.

11. In a can-righting machine, a series of upright can chutes, a can supporting bed movable across the upper open ends of said chutes, and having an independent vibrator movement, means to actuate said bed, addltional means to ri ht the cans with their o en ends uppermost W ile the can supporting Bed is being Withdrawn from the upper ends of the chutes whereby said cans are allowed to fall bottom downward into their respective chutes.

12. In a can-righting machine, a series of can-chutes arranged si e by side, a can-supsively in one direction, a ate movable trans- CTL porting bed vmovable back and forth across the open endsl of said chutes, means for actuating said bed, additional means .to feed the cansu on the bed when covering the open ends o the chutes7 stop iingers overh'anging the bed to prevent u ward displacement of the cans, and means or causing said cans to spective chutes.

gravitate bottoni downward into their re- 13.l In a can-righting machine, a; series of upright can chutes arranged side by side, a can' supporting bed covermg the upper ends of the chutes, means to feed a predetermined number of cans upon the bed directly over the chutes, a vertically movable stop engaging the first advancing cans as they travel across the bed,y means forvwithdrawing the can supporting bed from under the cans, ad

- ditional means for elevating the stop at about the same time that the bed begins to be withdrawn, a series of supoporting blades. and. etween thecans immeans for forcing them mediately upon the elevation of the stop, a

series of iingers and means for actuating the same to cause said iingers to en age one end of thecans and to enter thoseaving their o en ends facing the iingers, and means for e evating the fingers after engaging the cans),

whereby those having their o en ends faclng the fingers are tilted right'side up and allowe'd to drop by gravit onto theirrespective chutes, while those aving their closed ends facing the fingers tilt fby' gravity upon the recedin edge of the supportingbed and fall rightsi e up into their respective chutes.-

14. In a can righting machine,. a series ofl canvchutes, al can supporting bed covering said chutes, means to feeddtvhe cans upon the bed vertical alinement with their respective chutes, means to movethe bed to one side of the chutes from under the cans 'whereby the cans having their closed ends facing in one direction are caused to gravitate bottom downward into the chutes, and additional means at the o posite side of the chutes for engagingv and e evating the open ends of the cans to allow themto drop bottom downward into their res ective chutes.

15. In a can rig ting machina, a can supporting bed and a series of underlying can chutes, said bed havin a su plemen-tal plate movable back'and fort an laterall means for feeding the cans upon the supp emental plate',` additional means for moving the bed in one direction at one side of the chutes to permit the cans having their closed ends'facing in lthe o posite direction to fall by gravity bottom ownw'ard into the chutes, and a series of yieldin ingers at the opposite -side of the chutes a apted to enter the adjacent open endsof the .cans and tov elevatethem so

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