US1915067A - Bottle capping machine - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1933. J E I v 1,915,067

' BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 19:50 -9 Sheets-Sheet 1 W I I ATWOBNY June 20, 1933. MEYER 1,915,067

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNl/EN TOR ATTORNEY m 1933' I G. J. MEYER 1,915,067

BOTTLE CAFPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 10, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 II 129 ml 1 4 J2? I ||I I I; I- I June 20, 1933.

G. J. MEYER BOTTIDEQCAPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9 Sheets- Sheet 7 E6 22 llllll" W/ TNEJSEJ Q V L'E-W Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oF-Fice GEORGE J. MEYER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB 'I'O J. m3 MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF CUDA'HY, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 01 WISCONSIN BOTTLE GAIPING MACHINE Application filed November 10, 1930. Serial No. 494,657.

The invention relates to container closing machines and more particularly to machines for capping bottles.

An object of the invention is to provide a bottle capping machine including a revo-- luble group of capping or crowning devices Which are successively operated by reciprocatory actuating means common to the group."

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle capping machine in which the capping devices are provided with flat-topped segments engageable by the reciprocatory ac tuating means, and in which the successive capping devices" are both depressed and" elevated by the actuating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a capping machine including capping heads, the lower portions of which are swingably mounted for facilitating the removal of defective crowns. p

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle capping machine in which the capping heads are equipped with yieldingly mounted ledges onto which the crowns aredeposited preceding the crowning operation.

A further object of the invention is. to provide a bottle capping machine including a simple but effective crown selector for properl'y entering the crowns into the crown chute. i A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle capping machine in which the crown hopper is provided with an interior perforated bottom for facilitating removal of foreign matter from the crowns, and in which the crown selector is pivotally mounted on the-crown hopper for expediting access to the interior of the hopper and selector.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle capping machine including a crown chute which is so constructed as to facilitate the movement of crowns therealong, and which has its lower end equipped with a movable gate for facilitating the removal of defective crowns.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.-

This application constitutes a continuation in part of my co-pending application for Filling and capping machine, Serial No. 7

189,548, filed May 7, 1927.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bottle capping machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectionalviewof the machine 1 Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5'5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. -8 is a detail view artly in section showing the capping head epressing means as it appears near the beginnmgof the capping operation;

Fig. 9 is a similar,view showin the capping head depressing means near t e end of the capping operation;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 1010.of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the upper ends of a number of adjacent capping heads;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional elevation of the lower portions of one of the capping heads;-

Fig. 13 is another sectional elevation of the lower portions of one of the capping heads taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detailelevation of the lower portions of the capping head;

Fig. 15 is a bottom view of two adjacent capping heads as they appear when assembled on the machine;

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view showing one of the crowning supporting ledges of Fig. 12 in its retracted position;

Fig. 17 is a detail elevation of the upper portion of the capping machine, a crown chute and crown selector thereof being ;5

Fig. 20 is a transverse sectional view of the crown ch uteitaken along the line -20 of Fig. 17;

ig. 21 is a similar view taken along the line 2121 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 22is a front elevation ofthe crdwn selector, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section;

Fig. 23 is a. fragmentary top plan view of the crown hopper, the crown selector thereof being shown in open position;

Fig. 24 is a detail view showing the inner face of the crown selector;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary sectional view of the discharge portion of the crown selector showing an improperly presented crown;

Fig. 26 is a similar view showing a properl selected crown;

ig. 27 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form ofcapping machine; Fig. 28 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 28-28 of .Fig. 27;

Fig. 29'is a sectional view taken along the line 29-29 of Fig. 27, and v Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken along the line 30-30 of Fig. 29.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in Figs, 1 to 26 inclusive, the-numeral designates a hollow base which in practice may form a part ;of a combined filling and closing machine. A bearing bracket 36 includes a flat upper portion secured to the upper wall of the base, as by screws 37, and includes a cup-shaped portion 38 depending into the interior of the base. An upright tubular standard 39 has its lower reduced "end portion secured in the reduced lower end of the bearing bracket 36, as by means of a bolt40. 'A- sleeve 41 is journalled about the tubular standard 39 .and has its lower end portion-extending into the cup-shaped portion 38 of the bearing bracket 36, where it is provided with a driving gear 42. A cover 43 receives the rotary sleeve 41 therethrough and is secured to the bearing bracket to close the space in which the gear is housed. A- bearing frame 44 is disposed within the hollow base 85 and is fixedly secured to the depending portion of the bearing bracket 36 and also to the lower portions of the base. I A horizontally-extending shaft 45 is journalled in the frame 44 and is drivenby any suitable I source of power. .A 46 are secured to the portions of a horizontally extending shaft 48 air 'of spaced pinions v aft 45 and mesh-with gear wheels 47 secured to the opposite end which is journalled on the frame 44 in parallel relationto the shaft 45.- A bevel pinion 49 is secured to the shaft 48 and meshes with a superposed bevel gear 50 which is secured to a gear 51 the latter gear being journalled on an upright stationary shaft 52 secured in the bearing frame 44 and in the bearing bracket- 36. The gear 51 .meshes with the gear 42 for rotating the sleeve .41 and also meshes with a large diameter gear 53 which I forms part of a bottle filling mechanism, not shown. Y

Thegear wheels 47 carry ali ed crank pins 54 at their outer faces. ese crank pins are journalled in blocks 55 slidably mounted in channels 56 formed in the spaced arms of a U-sha'ped rocker frame 57, which is pivotally supported on a bracket 58 secured to the lower portions of the base 35. A trun-- nion 59 is journalled in the rocker frame 57 to swing about a horizontal axis, and is provided with a depending boss 60 which is internally threaded to' receive the threaded lower end of a reciprocatory rod 61.housedwithin the tubular standard 39. The oscillation of the rocker frame by its crank connection with the gears 47 acts to reciprocate the rod 61 simultaneously with the rotation of the sleeve 41. By this construction, the loads on the bearings are reduced and equalized and a heavy load canbe imposed on the rod 61'without causing racking frame or the driving connectlons.

A circular table 62 is carried on an intermediate portion of the sleeve 41 and is rovided at its upper surface with resi lent bottle-supportingpads 63. A star wheel 64 is secured above the table and, in the present instance, is provided with five bottle-receivin notches. The'upper end ortion of the tu ular standard 39 is internal y threadedto catory'rod 61 passes through the sleeve 65 and is splined thereto by a key 66, An annularof the rocker receive therein the' lower end portion of an exteriorly threaded sleeve 65. :The reciproby a key 70. The'tubular portion of the capping head support is provided with a number of annular grooves 71 to receive the inwardly extending ribs.72 of a split bushin 73. Atubular spool-shaped capping hea guide 74 has its upper rtion surrounding the split-bushing 73 an secured thereto by screws 75, thus suspending the guide. from the capping head support. The lower portionsof the cappingv head uide 'slidably fit about the upper portions 0 the sleeve 41 to which they are splined by a key '76. The capping head guide is thus driven from the sleeve 41 and is suspended from the split bushing 73 which rotatabl fits on the grooved lower end of the capping iead support 68.

"A bevelgear 77 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the sleeve-67 and meshes with a bevel pinion 78 carried on a horizontal shaft 79 journalled in an extension 80 formed integrally with the ca ping head su port. At its outer end the sha 79 carries a and crank 81 which, when turned, serves to adjust the mechanism for use with bottles of difierent height. .When the crank is turned in one direction, the sleeve 67 is screwed downwardly into the standard 39, and simultaneously the 'reciprocatory rod 61 is. screwed downwardly ner indicated in Fig. 11. The outer projecting edges of the segments 85 are adapted to slidably rest on an inturned flange or ledge 86 formed on the capping head support 68, as best seen in Fig. 10, and the reduced inner edge portions of each segment are adapted to slidably rest on an outstanding rib or ledge 87 formed on a sleeve 88 which fits about the outer periphery of the capping head guide 74 and is secured to the capping head support by one or more screws 89. The inner edges of the segments are concave to fit about the circular periphery; of the sleeve 88 and thus prevent. rotation of the capping heads on their axes. During assembly, the capping heads are dropped into position onto the supporting ledges 86 and 87 through an opening 90 formed in the upper portion of the head support, as seen in Fig. 6. As seen in Fig. 7, the tracks or ledges 86 and 87 do not extend completely around the capping head support.

support 68, but are spaced to form an opening somewhat longer than each segment 85, so that the capping heads may be successively depressed at the capping position, as hereinafter described.

The upper end portion-of the reciprocatory rod 61 projects above the bevel gear 77 and carries thereon a spring housing 91.. The upper end of the rod is provided with a flange 92 engaging the spring housing, and

a strap 93 passes over the upper end of the flange and is secured by bolts 94 to the spring housing for retaining thehousing against relative longitudinal movement with respect to the rod while permitting the rotary adjustment of the rod. The spring housing carriesa lateral extension 95 which slidably fits about a rod 96 upstanding from the capping head support 68, thus preventing rotation of the spring housing with respect to the The spring housing includes upper and lower flanges 97 and 98 between which is interposed a coiled spring 99 engageable with end plates 100, the upper of which is en- 4 gageable with the upper flange 97 and the lower of which isengageable with the upper part of a hook-"shaped member 101. The spring 99 is'held in compressed relation by the end plates 100 which are adjustably connected by screws 102 entering one of the end plates, and having their head portions seated in tubes 103 secured to the other end plate. The compression of the spring is preferably on the order of 800 or 900 pounds. The upper end of the spring is held in position by a plug 104 threaded into the flange 97 and passing through the upper end plate 100, and the lower end of the spring is held in position by the reduced end of a plunger 105 which is slidably mounted in a bore 106 formed in the capping head support 68, the upper portions of the plunger 105 passing through the flange 98 are non-circular to prevent. rotation of the plunger. A plate 102 is disposed below the flange 98 and receives the plun er 105 therethrough. The end portions 0 the plate are secured to screws 103 which slidably pass through the flange 98 and are secured to the lower spring plate 100 and the upper portions of the ooh-shaped member 101. The lower portions of the plunger 105 are provided with a.

downwardly diverging V-shaped opening 107 terminating at its upper end in a horizontal bore 108. A toggle member 109 has a cylindrical upper end journalled in the bore 108 and has its lower end engageable with "the successiv ly presented segments 85 of the capping heads. The toggle member is normally held in the position of Fig. 8 by a. spring 110, or other suitable expedient, so that during the capping operation, as hereinafter described, the toggle member will pass over center as the segment moves laterallyof the toggle member. The toggle member is held in'position by a detachable plate 111 secured in plapeby a screw 112.

Each tubular capping head body 84 is exteriorly threaded at its lower end for the reception of a cup-shaped cap 113, as seen in Figs. 12 and 13. An ejector plunger 114 is housed withinthe capping head body and is provided with a flange 115 near its lower end portion engageable with the inturned bottom flange of the cap 113. A coiled spring 116 surrounding the ejector plunger 114 is housed within the tubular capping head body 84 and at its upper end bears against the lowermost of a number of plates or shims 117 by which the travel of the ejector plunger is adj ustahly limited. The compression of the spring 116 is somewhatless than the compression of the spring 99.- A sector body 118' includes a tubular upper portion 119 which fits about the cap 113 and is clamped thereto by a bolt 120 passing through a vertically 'split portion of the sector body and entering an annular groove 121 formed in the cap. The tubular portion of the sector body also houses and retains a crowning throat or die 122 which abuts against the lower face of the cap 113 and is provided with a downwardly diverging conical crowning opening 123. Acrowning tip 124 secured to the lower end of the ejector plunger 114 is dis osed within the opening 123 and is provide with a concave lower face 125 engageable with the bottle crown. The sector body 118 is provided with spaced de ending portions 126 between which fits a otte centering guide 127 pivotally secured at its lower rear portions to the'depending portion 126 of the sector body by means of pins 128, the bottle centering guide being swingable downwardly as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 13. Immediately below the crowning throat or. die 122, the sector body 118 and the upper portion of the botlug 131 formed on the sector upper faceof the lever engaging the lower as seen in Fig. 12. .The pivota tle centering guide 127 are 0 en at forward portions for the admission 0 a bottle crown 129 into the space immediately below the opening 123 inthe crowning throat. The bottle centering guide 127 is held in its normal position by a lever 130 pivotally mount ed on a In 131 formed on the sector body, and at its reeend portion 'en ages another body, the flat face of a projecting portion 132 of the bottle centerin guide, as seen' in 'Figs. 13 and 14. At its ower portions, the bottle centering guide 127 is provided witha downwardly flaring opening 133 b which the neck of a bottle 134' is center with respect to the crowning throat or die. The crown 129 is supported in its delivered position by resting at opposite edges'on 1e ge members 135 pivotally suspended in opposite recessed side portions 'of the'bottle centering guide 127,

suspende ledge members 135 are norma ly held by their weight in position to support a crown thereon preparato to the crowningoperation, but are ca ab e of swinging outwardly as indicated inv 16 to avoid interference -with the crowning o ation or the ejection of the, crowned bott e. By the use of the swinging'ledges, the crown is given asubstantial support without danger of the bottle beingsuspended from the le ges at the time of e ection. a

T e extension of the ca in head sup port has secured thereto as y olts 136 a superposed crown hopper 137. "The crown hopper is. provided with an inclined bottom 138 and an inclined perforated bottom 138' spaced thereabove as seen in Fig. 17, to permit foreign matter to sift'throughand to enter a receptacle139 formed at the lower end of the hop the rece tacle bein closed by a slidahl mounted oor1140. flat vertically. extending wall 141 of the hopper is provided with a'circular outwardlyflaring opening 142 through which crowns are discharged from the hopper. An outstanding circular rib 143 is integrally formed on the wall 141 concentric with the opening 142 to rotatably receive therein a pair of disk-like crown selector plates 144 and 145,

which are spaced at their outer portions.

The plate 145 is provided with a hub 146- about which the plate 144 is secured as by screws 147. The hub 146 is joumalled on an inwardly-projecting shaft 148 fixedly secured to the hub portion 149 of a spider frame 150, the inner ends of the hub 146 and cess to the crown selector and the interior of the ho per. The s ider frame 150 is normally held in close position by a suitable latch member 155.

The crown selector plate 145 hasratchet teeth 156 formed about its peripher for engagement with a sprin -pressed paw 157 carried at the outer end 0 a rocker arm 158 journalled on the hub portion 149 of the spider. frame 150. The rocker arm is reciprocated by a vertically extending rod 159 passing substantially axiallythrough the pivot pin 152 and secured at its lower end to an extension arm 160 fixedly carried on the spring-housing 91. The reciprocation of the spring-housing 91 by the rod 61 thus serves to rotate the selector assembly through the ratchet connection 156, 157. The crown selector plate 144 is provided with a plurality of outwardly flaring openings 161 which register with the circular ogening 142 in the hopper and are separated y outstanding ribs 162 of triangular cross-section projecting through the 0 ing. 142 to form agitators. At its peripheral portions, the se ector plate 144 is offset outwardly and is s aced from the similarly offset portions of. e selector plate 145 to form an angular crown-receiving assage between them. A narrow shoul er 163 is plate 144 and is enga ble with the flaring corrugated edge portions of an improperly presented crown, as indicated in Fig. 25, to prevent such crown from moving through the formed on the offset portions'of the selector THO oflset passa e between the plates, and for v preventing e crown from jamming in this position. During'the rotation of the selector plates, such improperly resented crown will be lifted and will final y fall back into'the hopper to be further agitated. As indicated in Fig. 26, a'properly presented crown will not be stopped at the shoulder 163, since the rounded edges of the crown will merely ride over the conical surface 163 of the selector' plate 144, and thus ,permit the crown to I to the periphery of the plates. To facilitate the movement of properly presented crowns, the face of the selector plate' 144 defim'n one wall of the crown passage is provided w th a shallow concave groove 164 concentric with the axis of the plate.

' The lower portions of the annular rib 143 are provided with a notch 165, which registers with a crown chute 166 pivotally suspended by means of a pin 167 to the lower portion oi the crown hopper. The crown chute includes a curved lower portion terzminating in a lip 168 which is slidably enopening through" which the crown may he withdrawn, The crown chute is held in proper position with respect to the capping heads by a removable pin 171 passing through a lug 172 formed on the crown chute and also through a bracket 173 fixedly depending from the extension 88 of the capping head support. Upgn the removal of the pin 171, the crown chute may be swung outwardly from the capping heads about its pivot pin 167. The crown chute is provided'with a crown rejector which includes deflectors 17d disposed at the opposite side walls of the crown chuteand engageable with the flanges of an improperly presented crown to shunt the crown through an opening 17 5 in the chute and into a receptacle 178. In order to facil itate the movement of the crowns along the crown chute, the inner wall of the chute is made convex, as seen in Fig. 20, and the outer wall is formed by a medially located guide her 177 extending lengthwise of the chute and mounted on cross bars 17 8, which are secured to the chute by screws 179. The guide her 177 is engaged by the flaring edges of the.

crowns, as seen in Fig. 20. At the lower por tlon of the chute, guide lips 186 are secured to the chute to form additional support for the crowns. During the revolution of the capping heads, the discharge end of the crown chute intermittently registers with the crown receiving cavities of the capping heads, and at all other times the lower end of the crown chute is blocked by the curved outer surfaces of the capping head sector bodies 118.

The bottlesto be crowned are conducted to and away from the capping table 62 in any suitable manner. Where the capping mechanism forms part of a combined filling and closing machine, the bottles may be transferred from the filling mechanism 181 to the capping table by means including a star wheel 182, as indicated in Fig. 2. The bottles "are conducted away from the capping table between suitable guides 183, which lead the are indicated by arrows in Fig. 2.

bottles to a fiat-topped conveyor chain 184.

The incoming bottles may be conducted to the filling mechanism from the same'conveyor chain 184 by means of guides 185, which lead the bottles to a star wheel 186. The directions of rotation of the filling mechanism, capping table, and the transfer star wheels The star wheels 182 and 186 are carried at the upper ends of vertical shafts 187 and 188, respectively, which are-journalled in the upper portion of the bearing bracket 36, and which are driven at the proper speed in any suitable manner, as by means of gears 189 at their lower ends meshing with the ring gear 53-.

The U-shaped rocker frame 57 which reciprocates the capping rod 61 may also be used to operate parts of the filling mechanism, such as the filling siphons, valves, or bottle lifters. For this purpose, a-pair of vertical rods 190 are slidably mounted in the upper portions of the bearing-bracket 36 to extend therethrough and hear at their lower ends 1 on the upper surfaces of the arms 56 of the rocker frame. At their upper ends, the rods 190 are connected by a horizontal plate 191 which is engageable with the lower ends or rods 19% for operating filling siphons or" complishing the various functions of the machine.

Tn operatiomthe rotary cappingtable 62 carried on the sleeve 41 is rotated through gearing connections, heretofore described, including the gears 42, 51, 50, and 19, and simultaneously the rod 161 within the tubular standard 39 is reciprocated by the'crank operated rocker frame 57, In the present instance, the rod is given five complete reciprocations for each revolution of the capping table, corresponding to the number of capping heads. The rotary spool 74, carrylng the five capping heads, is driven synchronously with the capping table by its splined connection with the upper portions of the rotary sleeve 11, I As soonas the upper segment 85 of one of the capping heads leaves the supporting ledges 86 and 87 on the capping head support, the segment is deposited onto the lower inwardly projecting end of the gages movement of -the capping head, the bottle neck is uided into the capping head and ene crown, the crown being pushed onto the bottle neck by the spring-pressed ejector plunger 114. As the cappin' rod approaches its lowermostposition, t e toggle member 109 is brought into engagement with the upper flat face of the segment 85' under the pressure of the spring 99, thus urging the capping head downwardly and crimping the crown, which is now in the crowning dieor throat 122, firmly about the bottle neck.

During the further, movementof the bottle segment 85, the toggle member swings about its pivotal mounting in the plunger 106, thus creating a powerful crown ng pressure while" avoiding any appreciable Slldlllg movement of the toggle member on the segment during the application of the crowning pressure. As

the capping rod 61 rises, the capping head also risesby the reaction of the spring 116 which acts through the ejector lungerv 114 to push the crowned bottle out o the crowning throat. After-the ejector plunger is released from the bottle, the cappin head is lifted by the hook member 101 unt' the segment 85 is in register with the ledges 86 and 87, whereupon the continued movement, of

. the capping head brin p the segment into sliding en mentwi these ledges. The bottle is t en discharged from the capping table and, as the capping head revolves, it receives another crown from the crown chute 166. The cycle of operationis then repeated with the next capping head.

In the modified form of capping machine shown in Figs. 27 to 30 inclusive, the numeral face of which is substantially flush with the upper surface of the platform. The conveyor chain 216 may extend beyond the opposite ends of the platform 212 any desired distance, and in the present instance, one end of the chain passes over a sprocket 217 which is rotatably mounted in an outrigger bracket 218 secured to the platform at an end of the chain-receiving channel 215., The lower flight of the'chain may be supported in a channel plate 215 suspended below the platform 212, as seen in Fig-27. The upper flight of the bottle conveyor chain travels in thedirection indicated by an arrow in Fig.

29. The s rocket 217 at the discharge endof the chain 216 is the propelling sprocket" for the chain, and is mounted on 'a' shaft 220 ve the base plate 210 1n fixed "heads bein lower end portion 272 on which is screwed ahand wheel 273 wherebythe pillar may be adjusted in elevation. A rotary capping table 274 surrounds and is journalled on an 7 intermediate portion: of the pillar 271, and is carried in axial thrust relation on the upper end of the column 270 throu h an interposed anti-friction bearing 275. he rotary table 274 is provided with'a surrounding ear 276 which meshes with a ring gear 227 orming part of a eo-ordinated bottle filling mecha- ..nism, not shown.-. The ring gear meshes with a pinion 228' (seen in Fig. 27) secured to a shaft 229 journalled in a bearing bracket 230 mounted on the base plate 210. The vertical shaft 229 carries a bevel eat 23). meshin with a bevel inion 232 eyed at one on of a horizon shaft 233, which is also journaled in the bearin bracket230. The other end of the horizonta shaft 233 can ries a gear wheel 234 which meshes with a laterally. adjacent inion 235 secured to one end of a horizonta shaft 236-journalled in bearing brackets 237, the other end of the shaft 236 carryin 'a pulley 238 which is driven by any suit ble source of power, such as an electric motor.

The upper face of the rotary capping table 274 carries a resilient bottle-receiving capping disk 274', which is substantially flush with the upper s'urface of the platform 213,

there being a circularv opening in the plat-' A form slightly larger than the table to permit the free rotation of the table.

A central sleeve 277 forming part of the table 274 projects upwardly'a ove the disk 274' to surround the stationary pillar 271 on whichit is journalled. The sleeve has a splined connection with the lower rtion of a capping head turret 278 which a so has a bearing on the upper end portion of the stationa pillar 271. A bottle-receiving star wheel 27 is keyed onthe sleeve 277 in adjustable elevation above' the table 274;

- The capping head turret carries a concentric circular group of vertically movable s rin -mounted cappingheads or plungers 9 w ich are supplled with'caps or crowns throu h a chute 280 connected to a hopper 281.. n the present instance, the upper end of each capping or crowning head 279 is provided with an. arcuate flat-topped segment 282, the segments for the several capping 'arran d in a circular grou concentrica ly disposed about the axis of the turret 278, as seen in .Fig. 29. A lever 283 is disposed above the capping head turret with a portion immediately above the cap ping station, and carries a conical roller'284 which rolls on the flat horizontal upper surface of the segments 282. At-its forward portion the lever 283 is guided for vertical movement in a guide fork 283, and at its rear end, the lever is pivotally secured to one armof a bell crank 285 which is pivotally mounted on a standard 286 bolted to the platform 212 The end of the bell crank 285' pivotally carrying a lever 283 normally engages the upper end of an abutment 287 on :the standard 288. A. coiled spring 288 adjusted to a suitable compression urges the other end of the bell crank 285 upwardly, so as to normally maintain the bell crank in engagement with the abutment 28? 'lhe free end of the lever 283 has pivotally secured thereto a depending reach rod 289,

, the lower end of which passes through the platform 212 and is guided for substantially vertical movement by its pivotal connection with the free end of a laterally extending link 290 (seen in Fig 30) having its other end pivotally secured to the platform 212. A connecting rod 291 has its lower end mounted on a crank pin 292 on the gear wheel 234 and has its upper end pivotally secured to'the lower end of the reach rod 289 at-its pivotal junction with the free end of the link 290. By means of the above connection, the rotation of the gear wheel 234 effects the vertical reciprocation of the reach rod 289, which in turn rocks the lever 283 carrying the roller 284. On the downward movement of the reach rod 289, the roller 284 depresses the subjacent' capping head effecting the capping operation. I v

' The filled bottles are transferred onto the rotary capping table 274 in any suitable manner, as by means including a star wheel 293 secured to the upper end of a suitably driven vertical shaft 294. .The bottles are guided in their discharge from the capping table to the conveyor chain 216 by spaced guide plates 296 forming a bottle-receiving channel between them, as seen in Fig. 29, the guide plates 296 being preferably extended along the sides of the chain.

In the operation of the machine of Figs. 27 to 30 inclusive, the bottles are successively deposited on the rotary capping table where the bottles enter the notches of the star wheel 277', to properly locate them with respect to the superposed capping heads. -As each capping head passes under the conical roller 284 of the lever 283, the lever is pulled downwardly by its crank connectionwith the rotating gear whepl 234, and the roller 284 thereupon engages the arcuate segment 282 to depress the attached capping head for effecting the capping of the subjacent bottle.

The capping operation takes place while the bottle is moving with the slowly rotating table 274, and during this interval, the conical roller 284 rolls over the arcuate segment 282 on the capping head as the crank operated lever 283 is first depressed and then elevated, the capping head being in its lowest posi-, tion when the roller is at the central portion of the segment, After the capping operation, the capping head is elevated by its spring, and during the next depression of the lever 283, the roller actsonthe succeeding arcuate segment which comes into position beneath the roller, The capped bottles are then guided 0d the capping table and onto the conveyor chain 216 by the guide plates 296, whereupon the bottles are conducted to the discharge end ofthe chain. Thecapping heads in their further revolution receive crowns from the crown chute 288. 8

During the capping operation, capping, pressure is determined by the compressed coiled spring 288 acting on the lever 283 through the bell crank 285, and if the capping head meets with unusual resistance, the

inner end of the lever 283 will rise above the abutment 287, thereby avoiding excessive crowning pressure. The spring 288 is compressed to an extent several times greaterthan the maximum spring action to obtain pressure will increase only a small amount during the capping of a bottle which is. longer than normal, With this capping an rangement, the capping pressure varies negligibly with longer or shorter bottles.

The term capping as herein used is not confined to the application of any particular type of bontainer closure.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

the initial crowning pressure, so that this 1. In a container closing machine, the combination of a container support, a revoluble group of capping heads disposed above said support, a plurality of segments respectively carried on said capping heads, and reciprocatory actuating means for successively depressing said capplng heads as they revolve into capping position, said reciproca'tory means including a toggle member engageable with the upper faces of said segments.

3; In a container closing machine, the combination of a container support, a revoluble group of capping heads disposed above said support, a lever engageable with said ca ping heads for successively depressing said capping heads as they revolve into ca ping position, means for reciprocatin said ever, and a yieldable fulcrum for said ever.

4. In a container closing machine, the combination of a container support, a capping head disposed above said support, a lever for actuating said capping head, a second s ringloaded lever ivotally secured to sai firstnamed lever or providing a yieldable fulcrum for saidfirst-named lever, and, means for periodically operating said first-named lever to depress said capping head.

bination of a lower container support, a stationary up r capping head support disposed above said container support, a revoluble group of capping heads suspended from I said upper support, and reciprocatory means common to said' cap ing heads for successively depressing sai capping heads as they revolve into capping position and for elevating said capping heads into supported en- 95 gagement with said upper support.

6. In a container closing machine, the combination of a hollow support, a rotary container-supporting table surrounding said support, a rotary turret disposed above said table, a plurality of vertically movable capping heads carried on said.turret,a reci rocatory rod extending within said. he ow support, operating means for said rod, and means carried on the upper portion of said rod for successively depressing said capping heads as they revolve into closing position.

7. In a container closing machine, the combination of a container support, a stationary capping head support dis osed above said' 0 container support, a revolu le group of capping heads suspended from said upper support and having segments attheir upper portions slidably resting on said upper support,

a and reciprocatory actuating means common engageable with said segments for successively depressing said heads from said upper support as they revolve into cap ing position, said actuating means inclu 'ng other portions engageable with said capping heads for elevatin said heads into supported en gagement with said upper support. a d 8. In a container closing machine, the combination of a container support, a capping headdisposed above said support, a reciprocatory rod having an operative connectionwith said capping head, a pivotally support ed rocker frame having laterally spaced arms, 1 means for. pivotally connecting said ,rod to said rocker frame intermediate said'spaced' arms, and a rotary member having crank connections with each of said arms for reciproeating. said rocker frame and connected'rod.

9. In a container closing machine, the combination. of a container support, a capping 5. In a container closing machine, the comto said capping heads and including portions v ratory capping head dis head disposed above said support, a reciprocatory rod having an operative connection with said capping head, a pivotally supported forked rocker frame having spaced arms,

means for pivotally connecting said rod to 5 said rocker frame intermediate the spaced arms of the rocker frame, and a rotary member disposed between the spaced arms of said rocker frame and having crank connections with said arms for reciprocating said rocker frame and connected rod.

. 10. In a container closing machine, the combination of a tubular standard, a container support disposed about said standard, a cappinghead disposed above said standard, a reciprocatory rod disposed within said I support and operatively connected with said capping head, a pivotally supported rocker frame adjacent the lower end of said standard, a trunnion journalled insaid rocker frame and having a threaded connection with said rod, a rotary member having a crank connection with said rocker frame for reciprocating said rocker frame and connected rod, and means for rotatin said rod for adjusting the elevationof sai capping head with. respect to the container support.

. 11. In a contai r closing machine, the

combination of a container support, a recipsaid rod, and means for simultaneously rotating said sleeve and rod to adjust the elevation of saidcapping head and its supporting member for accommodating containers of different height.

12. In a container closing machine, the combination of a container support, a recip-' sed above said support, a supporting mem r for said capping head, a hollow standard, a sleeve having'a threaded'connection with said stand- 'ard and'sustaining said head-supporting member,'a reciprocatory rod dis within said sleeve and standard an having an operative connection with said capping head, said rod and sleeve being secured against relative rotation, a' reci rocatory actuatin memberhavingi a threa ed connection witfiv said rod, a gear carried on said sleeve, and gearing means meshing with said gear for simultaneously rotating said sleeve and rod to adjust the elevation of said capping head and its supportin 'member for accommodatin'gaco'ntainers 0 different height.

. In a container closing machine, the

coroner 9 combination of a hollow base including an upper 'waiLa tubular standard upstanding from said upper wall, a rotary, sleeve sur rounding said standard and including a portion beiow said wall, arotary container support carried on said sleeve above said upper ivaii, gearing connections disposed below said Waii for rotating said container support, a capping head support carried at the 19 upper portions of said standard, a capping head carried on said last-named support, a

reciprocatory' rod disposed within said standard and having an operative connection with capping head, the lower end of said rod being below the upper wall of said base, and

disposed below said wall for recipro' eating said rod,

142, in a container closing machine, the combination of a rotary container support, a capping head disposed above said support,

a capping head support, and means extending sobstantiaiiy axiaiiy of said container support for reciprocating said capping head F.

adjusting the elevation of said capping I head support to accommodate bottles of difforemheight,

150 In a container closing machine, the combination of a container-supporting means, a revoinhie, groan of capping" heads above said supporting means, and reciprocatory actuating means for. successiveiyoperai ing said capping heads as they revolve into capping position and inciuding a pivotaily mounted member engageable with said caph-eads,

16, In a container closing machine, the combination of container-supporting means, a revoinble group of capping heads above said. supporting means, a reciprocatory member arranged substantiaiiy along the axis of said capping head group, operating means for said memiier, and means carried on said member for successiveiy operating said capping heads: w 17. In a container-closing machine, the combination of container supporting; means, a revoicbie grasp of capping heads above said supporting? means,-reciprocatory actu sting means for successiveiy operating said capping heads as they revolve into capping position, and spring means for said acttiat=. ingi means pieced under a-substantiai deiiec tion-produced initiei stress to minimize the variation in capping pressure appiied to containers which are shorter or longer than normal,

In testimony whereof I. afiz: my signature;

scones J, MEYER

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