US1574913A - Bottle-cap-assembling machine - Google Patents

Description

C. E. M MANUS BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE March 2 1926.

Filed March 17. 1924 '7 sheets-Sheet 1 March 2 1926.

c. E. M MANUS BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE v Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1'7, 1924 March 2 1926.

C. E. M MANUS BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Marph 17, 7 Shegts-Sh e t 5 Om m0 March 2 1926.

C. E. MCMANUS BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING umcum 7 Sheets-Shet 4- Filed March 17, '1924 March 2 1926.

I C. E. M MANUS BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed March 1'7, 1924 7 $h9ets-$hef 5 March 2,1926. 1,574,913

' C. E. MCMANUS BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 C. E. M MANUS BOTTLE CAP ASSEMBLING MACHINE March 2 1926.

cs-Sheet 7 Filed March 17, 1924 0 Q @(3 0 0 0K QC) 6b 0.

Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. MCMANUS, 0 NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOTTLE-CAP-ASSEMBLING MACHINE.

Application filed March 17, 1924. Serial No. 699,771.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. MCMANUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle- Cap-Assembling Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to bottle cap assembling machines, and more particularly to a machine adapted to assemblecork or composition cork disks within metal shells having a fluted skirt, and bonding such disks within said shells. p Heretofore in this art it has been the common practice to use a bottle cap assembling machine in which the metal shell-s were auto mat-ically delivered to the machine and advanced with a step by step movement in relation to-mechanisms adapted respectively to apply adhesive, coated collet to, within the shell, for delivering a cork or composition cork disk within 'the shell upon the adhesive or the adhesive coated collet; to applying heat and pressure to the assembled parts of the cap to proper- 1 condition the adhesive, and to convey the completed cap fro-m the last named mechanism in a manner which will permit the cooling and setting of the adhesive before delivering the cap to the inspecting belt, I have heretofore also invented a machine in which a mechanism is arranged between the point of the delivery of the cork or cork composition disk to within the shell, and the heat and pressure mechanism, by which waxor wax composition is applied to the exposedsurface of the cork or cork composition disk so that upon the application of heat and pressure to the cap, the wax will be melted and spread about the surface of the cork or cork composition disk in a thin In machines of the character above, described, the metal shell and its contents are stationary while the adhesive or the collet is being delivered thereto, while the cork or cork composition disk is being delivered or deliver an adhesive matebond between the cork or cork to within each shell, and while the wax or wax composition is being applied to the surface of the cork or cork composition disk when this practice is followed in the assembling machine, these operations occurring simultaneously between succeeding feeding steps of-the shells, but upon the parts of different caps.

In such machines, the capacity output of each machine is limited by the necessity of a dwell between feeding movements of the shell, sufficient to permit the other mechanisms to function, and while each interval of rest, or dwell, is very short, the aggregate of such dwells in a days run is sufficient to materially reduce the output of the machine. This will be readily understood when it is realized, that the output of the machine of the type described, will range from 900 to 1000 gross of bottle caps during a day. Furthermore, the construction of the heat and pressure mechanisms in such machines is such as to require the operation of other mechanisms of the machine below the maximum speed of which they are mechanically possible, in order to allow a suflicient time interval for causing proper conditioning of the adhesive in the shell or on the collet.

With the above conditions in mind, I have produced a machine which will operate continuously, as distinguished from intermittently, and one in which the various mechanisms may beoperated at their maximum speeds and without any restriction being imposed upon same, as a result of the application of heat and pressurefor conditioning the adhesive and securing the desired inti composition disk arid the metal shell.

In addition to this continuous operation of the machine, it is so constructed that a number of caps instead of a single cap will be completed and delivered by the machine with each cycle of operations, the various mechanisms being so constructed, and so combined with relation to each other, that each mechanism will act as a unit and in synchronism with the other mechanisms. Hence any such possible variation in any of the operations with relation to any cap of each group or form of a paste,

row such as to tend to cause interference of parts or the improper functioning of any of these mechanisms with a resultant jamming of the whole machine, is avoided. Another characteristic of the machine is its capability of using an adhesive in the in lieu of a liquid adhesive or an adhesive coated colletfthus spotting the formed capswith a moist adhesive while they are passing through the assembling machine and avoidinglikelihood of oil being depositedupon the exposed surface of the spot adhesive or' of the adhesive being broken away from the shell in spots as a a result of the action of punch pressers upon a spotted shell.

In a machine of my invention in which the shells are delivered in parallel rows, I have found it preferable to associate with the shell feeding mechanism, a member which will readjust all the shells of each row after the delivery of the shells thereto by the shell feeding mechanism, so as to secure the desired accurate positioning of the shells and avoid any likelihood of loss of accuracy in the succeeding operations due to the displacement of any shell in any row.

\ lVhere the carriers for the metal shells have continuous lineal traverse, it is essential to provide a mechanism which will deliver the cork or composition cork disks to within the shells while the shells are in mo- ,tion, and since these disks are slightly oversize as compared portion of the metal shell adjacent its top, so as to develop frictional resistance to the displacement of the disk, I have also found it necessary to provide a presser mechanism adapted to engage the disks after they have been deposited in the shell and force them against the top' of shells having movement while said presser mechanism is operative, the plungers of said mechanism must have simultaneous downward or upward, and longitudinal movement, the longitudinal movement being at the same speed as that of the'carriers. This permits the plungers to enter the shell, force the disk against and disengage themselves from the disk of the shell without interrupting the travel of the carriers. I

It is also possible and desirable to embody in the machine, a mechanism between the mechanism for positioning the disk within the shell and the heat and pressure mechanism, which will apply to the exposed surface of the 'disk, a wax or other finishing composition, before the carriers enter the heat and pressure mechanism.

With a machine of the high capacity which it is possible to develop in a machine embodying the characteristics of my invention, a baking or vulcanizing oven of any sheet of tin when forming the with the diameter of the the shell. Owing to the the inside of the top thereof desired length may be employed without any material loss of floor space, since the increase in the size of this oven will not necessitate any increase in the width of the machine.

In a machine embodying my invention, the pressure developing mechanism will consist of parallel rows of plungers having continuous movementat the same speed as the carriers, each row being so positioned as to co-operate with a carrier or with assembled shells upon a carrier, the pressure exerted upon the'cork or cork composition disk toward the metal shell being developed as a result of the engagement of the plungers with the disks. The disengagement of said plungers from the caps at the delivery point of the machine, and the relieving of the pressure are also entirely automatic, due to a mere change in the relation of the pressure mechanism and the carriers.

I also provide a mechanism for ensuring the intermittent feeding of the metal shells in relation to the carriers for conveying the shells in relation to other mechanisms in the machine, and means co-operating with said carriers adjacent the delivery end of the baking or vulcanizing oven, which will positively remove the completed caps from the carriers and deliver them in relation to a delivery, inspecting and cooling belt. Said caps Wlll pass along said belt for a sufficient length of time to permit the adhesive used to set, and permit the inspectors to remove any defective caps before their final delivery from the machine.

To increase the time interval during which the caps are on the delivery, inspection and cooling belt and thus permit a decrease in its length, I provide a mechanism adj acent the ejecting mechanism by which all of the caps ejected ineach operation of said mechanism will be nested in relation to the row of shells ejected during the preceding operation of said ejecting mechanism, thus securing the close juxtaposition of the caps of succeeding rows, to facilitate inspection and avoid waste of space upon the delivery, cooling and inspection belt.

The construction and arrangement of the actuating means for the various mechanisms in the machine is such as to ensure absolute accuracy in the timing of the operations performed by each mechanism with relation to the movement of the carriers, this accuracy not only being in relation to they parts of the cap while upon succeeding carriers, but to the parts of the cap upon the same carrier. In fact, while each of these 'mechanisms include. a plurality of duplicated elements, each operating upon a cap, allof these elements are soconstructed and combined that they actas a unit and are incapable of any variation with relation to the adjoining elements.

group or metal caps and the cork or composition cork disks cemented therein, that every shell and every disk shall be acted" upon by the same or corresponding mechanisms at exactly the same instant, since variation from this condition where a sequence of multiple unit m-chanisms act progressively upon the same article, will result in injury to shells, improper feeding of the '(ork disks and resultant losses which will make the operation of such machinesco1n mercially impracticable.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of one end of the machine showing all of the mechanisms for assembling the different parts and substances entering into the caps, up to a point of their delivery to the heat and pressure mecha- .nism;

-Fig. 2 is a side view of the other end of the machine showing the remaining portion of the oven, and the delivery mechanism including the cooling and inspection belt;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with the exception of the shell feeding hopper, and the parts appurtenant thereto;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the shell hopper;

Fig. 5 is a section on theline 55 of Fig. 4; I 1g Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the cork or composition cork disl: hopper, and the feeding mechanism for the disks, adjacent thereto;

Fig. 8 .is a section on the Fig. 3:

Fig. 9 is an cnlargedsection of the delivery end of the oven; and

Fig. 10 IS a section on the line 10-10-of Fig. 9.

Like numerals refer to like parts through- 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of out the several views.

simultaneously delivering a group or row of metal shells to said carriers; a mechanism for applying a suitable adhesive upon the upwardly presented inner face of such shells; a mechanism for simultaneously depositing a cushion disk, usually of cork or line 8-8 of composition cork, within each shell of each group or row; a mechanism for forcing said cushion disks within the respective shells; at pressure developing mechanism passing through an oven with said carrier; and an ejector mechanism operative upon the shells of each group or row to remove them from the carrier and deposit them upon a delivery, cooling and inspection belt by which they will be conveyed from the machine with a speed substantially coincident with that of said carriers within the machine.

In describing the machine, I will first refer to the construction of the. carrier mechanism, and then-each of the mechanisms in the order of their progressive co-operation with each carrier forming a part of said carrier mechanism.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

at 11 and 12 upon opposite ends of the machine are two pairs oi? sprocket wheels about -which parallel endless sprocket chains 12 pass, and by which said chains are simul taneously and continuously driven.

'lhe sprocket wheels 12 are driven by means of a worm gear 15 co-operating with the worm 16 upon a shaft 17 driven through the chain and sprocket mechanism 18 by an electric motor 19, although any other desired means of driving said shaft may be employed. Said shaft 17 Xtends for substantially the entire length of the machine, and is utilized for driving various other mechanisms in the machine, the timing of which mechanisms must be in accord with that of the chains 13.

Extend ng between the chains 13 upon opposite sides of the machine and secured to these chains in any desired manner, is a quence of closely spaced carrier. bars 20 having a sequence of alined openings 21 therein each adapted to receive a metal cap 22 which is held upon said bar by its outwardly flared, fluted skirt. In the'embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, each bar is shown as having eight such openings 21,

number and arrangement of these elements of necessity being varied with any variation in the number or arrangement of the openings in each of said bars. The openings 21 in each carrier bar 20 correspond in number and position with the openings 21 in every other bar, so as to have corresponding openings in succeeding bars in alincment, longitudinally of the machine. Great pre- ISO cision is not required, since the Various mechanisms operating upon the cap parts carried by said bars are of a nature which will allow slight leeway in the positioning of these openings,

In a machine embodying my invention, the metal shells are delivered to these bars as each bar approaches the proper relation to a metal shell hopper and its feeding mechanism, the completely assembled cap being delivered at the opposite end of the-machine.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 8, 4, 5'and 6 of the drawings, thehopper for the metal shells, shown at 22, is provided with'a straightening mechanism shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 consist-- ing of oscillatory members 24 forming downwardly converging side walls and adapted to receive shells from the open bottom of said hopper and subject them to violent agitation in a manner to cause the readjustment of these shells to cause them to pass through narrow outlets 25 corresponding in number to the number of openings 21. In each of said outlets are selectors 26 and 27, which will direct the shells to diverging channels 28 and 29 at opposite sides of the outlets 25 according to the position of the shell as it passes through said constricted I outlets. In the form of the invention shown,

)there are four such outlet openings 25 upon each .side of the; member 24, and four channels 28 and four channels 29' communicating respectively with a chute 30 m" 31. The number and arrangement of the selectors 26 and 27 is merely such as to ensure the feeding of the shells in the proper position through an outlet 25 to a channel 2829 and a chute '3031 irrespective of the position of the member 24. Each member 24 is reciprocated by means of a crank 32 carried by a shaft 33, which shaft is driven in any desired manner as the motordriven gearing 35, Fig. 1, at high speed so as to rapidly reciprocate the member 24 in relation to the part in which the channels 28-29 are formed. The cranks 32 enter slotted heads carried by the parallel rods 34 connected with-the member 24, as shown more particularly in Figs.'4 and 5 of the drawings. v

The construction and arrangement of the shell hopper and its delivery mechanism is immaterial to the present invention, since any suitable mechanism may be used for accurately positioning and feedingthe shells in relation to the chutes 30 and 31, so as to' cause an adequate supply of such shells to be maintained in said chutes at all times and avoid any limitation upon the capacity of the machine as a result of failure to deliver shells to each' opening 21 in each bar 20 during the operation of the machine.

All of the chutes 30 and 31 extend downat an incline toward, and terminate the sprocket wheels 11 with the discharge end of each chutepositioned in longitudinal alinement with an opening 21-of the various bars 20. Positioned above the sprocket wheels 11 and the carrier bars 20- passing from about said sprocket wheels, and in close relation to the upper surface of said'bars, is a roller 36, the curvature of which will form a graduated pocket be tween which and the bars 20, the shells will be directed as they leave the delivery end of the chutes 30 and 31in a position where they will either fall of their own accord into an opening 21 as each-carrier bar 20 passes beneath the roller 36, or so fall that the roller will engage every shell thus delivered to the bar. In the event of any shell not being properly seated in its opening, when passing from a chute to a' bar 20, the roller 36 willreadjust it so that it will be brought perfectly flat and in a true relation to said opening. Hence with a continued progress of the'bar through the machine, each shell will be in a position where every other mechanism-in the machine will accurately regiswardly above,

te'r therewith and any likelihood of mutilation of the shell, or a jamming of the machine is avoided. I

The various shells 22 will descend through the chutes 30 and 31 by gravity, but it will be readily realized that such shells must be maintained in the same position with relation to. the delivery point of its chute as every other shell, since these shells must all leave their chutes at exactly the same instant, or substantially so, inasmuch as their delivery is timed with relation to the position of a carrier bar for receiving them. Also it is apparent that these shells must be intermittently delivered from their chutes, since notwithstanding the continuous progressive movement of the bars, there are intervals during which no bar is in a position to receive such shells. To meet this condition, I provide a mechanism normally operative to prevent the escape of any shell from a chute while permitting movement of all other shells in the chute toward the delivery point, which mechanism is so actuated in synchronism with the movements of the -carrier bars, that .the shell nearest the de- One of these pins as 3-8 is adapted to be interposed between the lowermost shell in a chute and the outlet of said chute, while the 9 remaining pin 39 is adapted, with the elevation of the pin 38, to release the lowermost shell 22, and to engage the shell 22, next above it in the chute, and hold it and all the remaining shells against movement. These are two such pins 38 and 39 co-operating with each chute 30 and 31, these pins being carried by the cross bars 40 and 41, extending across both groups 30-31 of said chutes and connected at one, end with the lever 37 and the other end with a lever 42, Fig. 3.

The lever 37 is provided with a crank 43 icted upon by a link 44 connected with a rocking lever 45 carrying an anti-friction roller 46 co-operating with a striker wheel 47, the teeth of which are so positioned as to impart a timely oscillation to the lever 45, the levers 37-42 and the pins 3839 actuated thereby.

The parallel sprocket chains 13 and the respective bars 20 carried thereby, after leaving the roller 36, pass beneath afount 48, or a container for any suitable adhesive either in liquid or paste form, having therein the feeding rollers 49 and 50, which will serve to work and distribute the paste so as to secure the application of a. proper small amount thereof to within each shell by daubers or similar devices receiving paste from the roller 50.

The fount 48 is renewably supplied with paste from a removable reservoir 51 having a constricted outlet opening 52 in which is mounted a hinged cover 53 normally preventing the escape 'of paste from the reservoir. The fount 48 has a. projection 54 in the bottom thereof so positioned as to engage the closure 53 as the reservoir 51 is positioned in relation to its support55.

The bracket 56 carried by said reservoir and straddling the support is provided with an adjusting screw 57 by means of which the reservoir may be raised and lowered to regulate the level of the paste in the fount 48.

The fount 48 is supported from the cross bar 58 by means of the bracket- 59, which bracket is also provided with an adjusting screw 60 for regulating the position of the fount with relation to the feeding and distributing rollers. 49 and 50 receiving paste therefrom and delivering it to a mechanism for impressing it in the form of a spot" within the various shells of each bar.

Mounted adjacent the fount 48 is a shaft 61 having secured thereto a sequence of dauber units 62, each consisting-of a plurality of radially extending daubers 63 having a flexible head 64 adapted to successively engage the paste distributing roller 50 and the inner face of the top of the caps upon different carriers 20. The number of dauber units will correspond with the number of openings 21 in each bar and will be so positioned as to center each dauber 63 with relation to the openings 21 upon succeeding bars 20. The daubers 63 of each unit will gaging one of the chains 13, the paste rollers 49 and 50 being driven from this shaft 61 through the gear train 66.

lVhile the dauber heads 64 may be made of rubber or other flexible material, it is not my intention tolimit the invention to the use of the daubers of any particular construction, such being largely a matter of choice and" of adjustment in the parts of the machine.

The paste rollers 49 and 50 are mounted in suitable spring supported, adjustable bearings 67, so as to permit their adjustment in relation to the paste pot and each other. 3

After each shell in each bar has received its spot of adhesive, the continued movement of the chains 13 will cause said bars to pass below the delivery mechanism of a cork feeding mechanism, which will simultaneously deliver a cork disk within each shell of that row. The distance between the point of application of the adhesive or the spotting of the shell, and the point of delivery of the cork disk within the shell,

and upon the spot of adhesive, while not great, is sufficient to-permit the surrounding atmosphere to carry off some of the moisture of the adhesive which is beneficial in reducing the necessary drying out action in the oven.

The cork disk delivery mechanism above referred to comprises a plurality of cork de livery units corresponding in number with the number of openings 21 in each of the bars 20, and each unit consists of a plurality of devices adapted to receive a disk from the delivery chute of a cork disk hopper, and convey it to a point immediately above a bar 20, means being provided common to all of said devices whereby they will be actuated Lo force the disk from the conveying mechanism to Within a metal shell carried by said bar 20, one such last named rotate therewith, the peripheral speed of said units coinciding with the lineal traverse of said chains and said bars. Each unit is in the form of a wheel 69 having a sequence of sockets 70 about the periphery thereof, the centers of these sockets being spaced apart a distance coinciding with the centers of the openings 21 upon succeeding bars 20. Rearwardly of each socket is a pickup or thrust shoulder 71 in the form of a ratchet tooth.

Seated within each recess 70 is'an ejecting plunger 72 having a stem 73 projecting through an opening in the periphery of the wheel 69 and encircled by a spring74, one end of which engages a shoulder 75 upon the stem 73. This spring has a normal tendency to withdraw the plunger 72 within the socket 70. The end of the stem 73 is mounted in a suitable bearing 76 adjacent the shaft 68 so as to ensure the desired rectilineal movement of said plunger and avoid any possibility of its displacement in a manner which would cause the jamming of the machine,

or interfere with the free rotation of the wheel 69.- The shoulder 75 in addition to forming a spring seat, also affords a surface against which an ejecting arm may act for the purpose of forcing'the plunger 72 radially outward of the wheel 69 for the purpose of depositing a disk within a metal shell upon abar 20.

Extending about each wheel 69 is a shield 77, which shield extends in sufiiciently close proximity to the periphery of said wheel to Y prevent the escape ofa disk from any socket, and from a point just beyond that at which the cork disk is delivered to said wheel, to a point slightly in advance of that where it is required to deliver the disk to the metal shell.

Pivotally mounted adjacent the various units for delivering disks to the metal shell upon the bars 20, is a rock shaft 78 carrying a plurality of arms 79, one adjacent eac wheel 69, the free end of each of said arms carrying an antifriction roller 80 positioned above the lower vertical center of the wheels 69 and between the shaft 68 carrying the wheel andthe shoulders 75 upon the plunger stems 73.

The shaft 68 is actuated by a sprocketwheel 81 meshing with one of thesprocket chains 13, and a gear train 82 connecting the shaft of the wheel 81 with the shaft 68, so as to cause a peripheral speed of the wheels corresponding with the lineal speed of the bars 20.

The shaft 78 is actuated by means of a cam 83' cooperating with a crank 8& upon said ,shaft 78 and actuated by the skew gear 85 upon the shaft 17, the skew gear 86 and the intermeshin gears 87 and 88 one of which is carrie by the shaft of the gear 86 and the other of which is carried by the cam 83, the ratio of said gears being such as to impart a full rotation to the cam dur ing the interval required to bring succeeding bars 20 into relation to the wheels 69, or to impart twelve oscillations to 78 during each full rotation of the shaft 68.

Above the upper vertical center of the various disk delivery units is a cross bar 89 receiving and holding the lower ends of a sequence of delivery chutes 90 in a fixed rela tion to the various wheels 69. Each of these chutes is adapted to receive disks from a chamber 92 having a vibratory bottom 93 supported by the links 94. The bottom of said chamber has a constricted outlet opening 95 above each chute 90 toward which the side walls of the hopper converge so as to normally impart a tendency of the disks to slide toward and through said outlets 95. At opposite ends of the chamber 92 are two pairs of flanged, bevelled bearing wheels 96 supporting a bi-part vibratory shield 97-98 withing said chamber in a position between the vibratory bottom 93 and the hopper proper 99, which is adapted to receive the disks in bulk, and deliver them within the chamber 92, from which they will be delivered one at a time to the various chutes 90. The links 94 receive oscillatory movement and causevibratory movement of the bottom 93 of the chamber by means of the eccentric 100 and the eccentric strap and rod 101 shown more particularly in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The links 94 of each pair are connected by rods 102 about which the edges of the movable bottom 93 are rolled as shown more particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The eccentric 1.00 is carried by a shaft 103. one end of which is connected by the belt and pulley connection 104 with the shaft 17. The shaft 103 carries a smallgear 105 in mesh with a gear 106 carrying cranks 107. each co-operating with and having moveh ment in a vertical opening 108 in the extensions 109 of the oscillatory shields 97-98 respectively for imparting the desired simultaneous movement to said shields in op- Y posite directions to cause the agitation and separation of the disks in the portion 92 of the disk'hopper in a manner to cause the disks to descend-a few vat a time, edge-on, toward the vibratory bottom 93 of the chamber 92. In this manner eaclrof the chutes 90 will be kept substantially full of disks laying perfectly flat one upon the other so as to maintain a constant and adequate supply of such disks for permitting the continued operation of the machine at high speed.

Each of the tubular chutes 90 has a short section 110 movably mounted in relation thereto, and also in relation to the nipple 111 about each outlet opening of the movable bottom 93 of the chamber 92. The short chute length 110has oscillatory movement with the movable bottom 93 and maintains constant communication between the various chutes 90 and said chamber so that the n'lovement of disks from said CllilllllJBl to within the various tubes may occur at any time.

The cranks 107 are set 180". apart, so that the oscillatory shields 97 and 98 will be simultaneously moved in opposite directions.

The cork or other cushion disks are de livered from each pocket of each wheel (39 with considerable rapidity, so that I have found in actual practice, that in order to maintain the desired high speed in the machine, the various plungers 72 cannot be relied upon to force the disks into the desired intimate engagement with the inner top of a shell 22, and while the pressure developing mechanism might be relied upon to force the disk into the proper position within a shell. if the disk is at all loose, the conditions in the machine are such that there is always great likelihood of the mutilation of the disk by such pressure developing mechanism. I urthermore, when it is desired to wax the exposed surface of the disk, it is desirable to have all of the parts in their proper relative position before the application of the .wax to this surface, it being understood,

however, that when so positioned these parts are only lightly bonded. or not bonded at all, since the time interval has been insufficient. to permit the setting of the adhesive used, and there has been no application of heat to assist the drying-out operation of the adhesive necessary to secure the desired bond and the effective hardening of the adhesive.

To secure the best results, I preferably provide a mechanism below which the bars 20 will pass after receiving cork disks from the various .units of the disk delivery mechanism, which mechanism is so constructed as to have limited lineal traverse with the bars and at the same speed as said bars, while also having a movement inwardly of the shell for forcing the disk against the inner top thereof, and a movement outwardly of the shell followed by a return movement counter to that of its movement with the shells so as to accurately position it with relation to the succeeding bar 20, while at the same time not interfering in any way with the position of the shell upon the bar. In other words, this mechanism is capable of a four-way movement which will permit it to enter and leave a shell, and incidentally force a disk against the inner top thereof while still having ample clearance so as not to disturb the shell in any way. At the same time, the pressure developed by this mechanism will be parallel with the surface of the disk, and throughout a large portion of the area thereof, and will be a yielding pressure so as to compensate for any slight variance in the thickness of the metal of the shell, or of the disk itself.

Extending across the machine above the upper reach of the chains 13 and the bars 20 carried thereby, is a shaft 112 having a plurality of reduced portions 113 formed eccentrically of said shaft so as to have the effect of short cranks.

Mounted upon each of said cranks 113 is a fitting 114 having a forked projection 115 straddling a guide bar 116, thus permitting the fittings to have a fourway movement under the control of its cranks. Supported by extensions 11? adjacent the top of said fittings 11-1 is a cross bar 118 in which is mounted the upper ends of a sequence of presser plungers 119, these plungers corresponding in number with the number of openings 21 in each bar 20, and being positioned with their centers in alinement with the centers (if corresponding openings in the various bars 20.

Extending parallel with the bar 118 and supported from adjacent the bottom of the fittings 114, 1salower guide bar 120 for the presser plungers 119. The bars 118 and 120 have movement with the fittings 114', the bar 120 being capable of limited movement independently of said fittings, toward or away from same, in order to permit the automaticadjustment of the plungers to any slight variance between the lineal traverse of the bars 20 and the corresponding movement of the plungers 119, under the control of said fittings. To impart this flexibility in this portion of the machine,

lot)

the guide bar is slidably mounted upon rods 121 secured to the'fittings'llt respectively. and projecting through suitable openings in said bar 120. The ends of these rod'; 121 are screw threaded, and carry a suitable adjusting nut 122 by means of .which the bar and the lower ends of the plungers 119 may beset with relation to the :plane of the bars 20, to avoid the engagement of the plungers' with any portion of the metal shell of said 'bars upon their initial engagement with the caps upon any part thereof.

Encircling each rod 121 is a coiled spring 123 having a normal tendency to engage said bar with the regulating nuts 122.

The plungers 119 have an enlarged head 124 of approximately the diameter of the cork disks upon which they act.

To accommodate this presser mechanism to slight variances in the position of succeeding bars 20, or in the thickness of different shells 22, or of COIliJllSkS within said shells, the construction and arrangement of parts heretofore described is such that while the plunger-s are moved into engagement with the cork disks by positive movement from the fittings 114, the pressure developed by this movement will be regulated through spring tension, thus causing uniform pressure to be applied to all disks and permit theplungers to automatically adjust themselves to changing conditions in the machine while still applying substantially the same pressure to the disks. result, the various plungers 119 are slidab-ly mounted in the bars 118 and 120, and are each acted upon by a spring 125, one end of which seats against the bar 118, the other end of which acts against a suitable seat 126' upon the plunger. Since the plungers are thus thrust downward by the spring 125, I provide a stop shoulder such as the pin 109 for limiting the downward move-- ment of the plungers, this spring engaging the upper face of the bar 113.

The shaft 112 is driven by the interineshing skew gears 127 and 128 carried by the shaft 17 and the shaft 112 respectively.

After being acted upon by the presser plungers 119, the caps upon each bar 20, as a result of the continued movement of the chains 13, are brought into operative relation to a mechanism which will apply and spread a small quantity of wax or other finishing composition to the exposed surface of the disks within the various shells 22. .The spreading action of this mechanism is of secondary importance, since when the shells are passing through the heat and pressure mechanism of the machine, the surfacing materials will be made fluid and will be effectively spread throughout the entire surface of the disk.

.The mechanism above described comprises a heated fount 129 adapted to contain the wax or other composition which is kept fluid as a result of the application of heat to this\fount.. Mounted within the .fount are two feed rollers 130 and 131 by means of which the thin film of the-wax or other composition is removed from the fount, distributed and applied to daubers, to be hereinafter referred to. A constant supply of the fluid wax or other composition is maintained within the fount 129'by means of a heated reservoir 132 having a constrict ed outlet opening 133 provided with a closure 134. Within the fount 129 is a projection 135 which will engage and open the closure 134 as the reservoir is mounted in relation to the fount 129. The reservoir 132 and fount 129 are heated by means of an electrical resistance device 136 carried by the re:ervoir 132, the heating of the fountand of the wax or other composition within same resulting from distribution and radiation of heat by the Walls of this re:ervoir. Any other desired means of heating these parts, however, may be resorted to, an electrical resistance device being used merely to minimize the quantity of fumes about the machine.

Thefount 129 is supported by brackets To secure this tioned closely 148 heated applied to said rollers,

The reservoir 132 is supported by brackets 140 cooperating with extensions 141 upon the fount 129, these brackets also being quantity of the wax or other composition provided with adjusting screws 142 by which 7 the reservoir may-be raised or lowered for the purpose of controlling the level of the wax or other composition in the fount 129.

Beyond the fount 129 is a. shaft 143 carrying a sequence of units corresponding in number with the number of openings 2 in each bar 20 each of said units having a sequence of radially extending arms 144 adapted to receive wax, or other composition expdsed surface of a cork disk within'each shell 22 upon each bar 20. Thearms 144 each have a head 145" of slightly less diameter than the cork disks, it being desirable to slightly roughen heads so as to ensure their retaining sufficient wax to cause the desired quantity of wax to be applied to the disk, althoughthe quantity to be so applied is not great.

from'the roller 131 and apply it to the the face of said Each of the units is preferably composed.

entirely of metal and heated from an eleotrical resistance devicewithin the shaft 143 soias to prevent hardening of the wax, or other composition, after it is .received from the roller 131 and the disks Within the shells.

The shaft 143 is driven from one of the chains 13 by means of the sprocket wheel 146 carried by said shaft and meshing with one of othe chains 13. shaft is the first gea of a gear train 147,

before it is applied to Also carried by said 1 the other gears of which are carried respectively by the arbo'rs of the rollers and 131.

The units for composition, to the face of the disk are posiadjacent the mechanism for applying heat and pressure to the shells and their contained disks for the purpose applying the Wax, or other of conditioning the adhesive so that it will readily set upon cooling, thus placing these units in a position where theyare close to the high temperature zone in the machine, which will assist in keeping" them .warm, al-

though I have found it desirable to employ 1 an electrical resistance device, as above rcferred to, or some equivalent means, for directly heating these units, so as to as sure uniformity in the product, even with a machine operating at high speeds,

The heat and pressure unit in the machine above referred to, includes therein an oven tem 149, the

in any desired manner as by 1 'meansof gas flames from the burner sys- {2 burners of which are positioned 1 between the upper and the lower reaches of the chains 13 so as to apply the heat to the bars 20 and to the bottom of the shells 22 on said bars, if the openings 21 extend ing about sprocket wheels 151 upon the shaft of the sprocket wheels 12 and adja cent the inlet of the oven 148, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9 of the drawings, these chains 14E) engaging the bars 20 intermediate the openings 21 and being suliiciently taut to afford a suitable support for said bars.

Passing about two pairs of sprocket wheels 152 and 153 are sprocket chains 154 supporting between them cross bars 155 of substantially the same length, as the bars 20, and succeeding bars 155 being spaced apart substantially the same distance, as succeeding bars 20. Each of these bars 155 carries a sequence of spring housings 156 each having mounted therein a plunger 157 acted upon by a spring 158 having a normal tendency to force the plunger outwardly of the bar. Said spring 158 encircles the stem 159 of the plunger and the stem has a bearing in the top of its housing 156 and is provided with a stop pin 160 passing therethrough so as to limit the outward movement of the plunger. The head of the plunger is enlarged as shown, with the two fold object of havingit of substantially the same diameter as a disk within a shell 22,

and affording space for the spring 158. T he number of plungers 157 carried by each bar 156 corresponds with the number of openings 21 in each bar 20 and the arrangement of parts is such that as the lower reach of the chants.- 154 approaches the upper reach of the tion of the'gsehains 13 entering the oven, 1 e 'variou'splungers 157 of each bar willbeso positioned as to enter the caps upon the bar.20, the springs 158 being tensioned as a result of the engagement of the plungers with the cork cushions and being compressed to an extent to develop the desired pressure, which may run as high as twenty to twenty-five pounds.

The engagement of the plungers 157 with the caps will impart the desired feeding movement tothe chains 154 and to the "arious bars and plungers carried thereby,

elimination of the moisture from the ad-- hesive' used in properly conditioning the adhesive to make it sufficiently tacky to secure the desired bond.

At the delivery end of the machine and of the oven 148, as each rowof plungers 157 is automatically disengaged from caps upon a bar 20 as a result of the divergences in the paths of the chains 13 and the chains 154,- an ejector mechanism becomes operative to force the shells 22 and their contained disks carried by said bar from the openings-21 in the bar so as to deliver them to a belt conveyor upon which the shells will rest with the disk exposed upwardly, in order to permit the operator, whose duty it isto inspect the completed shell, to clearly observe the condition of the cork, or cork composition disk, while within the shell, during that period while the otherwise completed caps will be subjected to a low temperature for the purpose of finally setting the adhesive.

The ejector mechanism above referred to, in the form of the invention shown, comprises a rock shaft 161 having a series of cranks 162 secured thereto, each crank being acted upon by a springl63'. Pivoted to each crank is a thrust finger 164 having a cam 165 riding upon a sleeve 166 secured to the shaft of the sprocket wheels 12. The'purpose of this cam is to impart a slight upward movement-lo its finger 164 simultaneous with its movement longitudinally of the machine by its crank 162. The finger 164 is held in engaging relation with the sleeve 166 by the spring 167.

Also carried by the shaft for the sprocket wheels 12, is a toothed striker wheel 168 acting upon an anti-friction roller carried by a crank arm 16!) upon the shaft 161, thus ensuring a timely actuation of the fingers 164 so as to cause said fingers to have movement through the openings 21 of each bar 20 as this bar comes within operative range of said fingers. The end of the fingers 164 may be formed in any'desired manner to avoid mutilation of the decoration upon the shells 21, with which it engages.

In Fig. 9 I haveillustrated the operation of the ejector mechanism, a row of shells 22 veyed to a horizontal reach of said beltshown, which serves as an inspecting table at 172. Said belt 171 passes about end rollers 173 and 174 and an intermediate guide roller 175, at the point where the belt passes from an inclined to a horizontal, plane. The belt is driven from theshaft of the sprocket wheels '12 by the chainand sprocket mechanism 176, the arrangement of which is such that the lineal traverse of the of caps deposited upon said belt, to be in fairly close juxtaposition. I

One face of the striker wheel 168 is provided with a sequence of cams 177 acting upon a rock lever 178, the function of which is to actuate a shift mechanism so as to cause the caps delivered from one bar 20 to {be staggered in relation to the caps delivered from the preceding bar, thus permitting a closer nesting of the caps upon the belt 171. This shift mechanism comprises a sequence of vertically extending guide plates 179 pivotall supported from a cross bar 180 above the's ideway} 170, said plates also being pivotally connected with a shift bar 181 pivotally connected with the rocking lever 178.

There is one cam 177 to two teeth of the striker member 168, since both movements of the rocking lever 178 are utilized in shifting the guide plates 179.

Adjacent the delivery end of the belt 171 is a dischargechute 182 along which the caps pass to a suitable container in which they are removed from adjacent the machine.

The operation of the herein described machine is substantially as follows When starting a run of the machine, and from time to time during the continuance ofthe run, metal shells 22 l are delivered in.

bulk to the hopper 23, and cushion disks are delivered in bulk to the hopper .99.

In the continued description'bf the operation of the machine, I will first refer to the functioning of the mechanism for delivering the shells, and then to that of the mechanism for delivering-the cushion disks, and then follow with a description of the action of the'various mechanisms in the machine with Vented, excepting relation to the shellsdelivered to one bar 20 and the disks delivered within said shells, itbeing understood that while such shells and such disks carried by any bar 20 are acted upon successively by these mechanisms, some of these mechanisms are-operative with relation to the shells and disks upon one bar 20, while others of said mechanisms are simultaneously operative upon shells and disks upon others of said bars, thus securing a continuous operation of the machine, notwithstanding that successive operations are re gui-red upon the shells and their contained isks upon each bar 20.

The power for operating the metal shell hopper and its appurtenances is preferably derived froma source independent of that for operating the sprocket chains 13, thus permitting a brief stoppage of the movable parts of the hopper mechanism, in case of the clogging of any of the chutes or of the outlet openings of the hopper, without inter fering with the operation of the machine,

and permitting the operator to hand-agitate such shells in order to cause a resumption in the feeding movement of the shells from said hopper.

As the shafts 33 are rotated, the cranks 32 carried thereby will rapidly oscillate the side walls or the members 24 in opposite di- ..rections, and thus keep in agitation shells falling from the hopper between the stationary end walls of this member so that they will assume a moreor less flatwise posi tion in' relation to the sides of said member 24:. and thus slide into the constricted outlet openings 25. In passing through the said openings 25, the position of the fluted edge of each shell and the wedge-shaped partit1on dividing the outlet chutes 28 and 29, will determine into which group of chutes 30 or 31 the shells will slide. As each shell assumes an inclined position, it will free itself from the selectors 26 or 27 and descend by gravity through a chute 30 or 31. These shells will accumulate in Ethese chutes for substantially the full length of the chutes, since the capacity of the shell hopper and its mechanism is such as to deliver shells at least as rapidly as they are used in the machine. There being four outlet openings 25 upon each side of the hopper, and eight such chutes 30 and 31, it 'will be apparent that each opening 21 of each bar 20 will receive a shell from a chute 30 or 31, particularly as the outlet of each a position where a shell passing therefrom will enter one of said openings.

Since the bars 20 are brought successively into operative relation to the outlets of the various chutes 30 and 31, it is apparent that means must be provided whereby the escape of shells 22 from said chutes will be prewhen a bar is in position to receive same. It is for this reason that the pins 38 and 39 are provided, one set of such pins as39 being so positioned as to engagethe lowermost shell in each chute when it is in its lowermost position, and the chute 30 or 31 of each group terminates in other row of which 38, is adapted to engage I the succeeding shells in the various chutes when the lowermost shell is released by the elevation of the pins 39. This escapement mechanism is actuated by the lever 37 and the connections between same and the lever 45 and the striker member 47, operative upon said last named lever. This mechanism is so set, and the striker wheel 17 is so constructed, that the lever 37 will be actuated to raise the pins 38 substantially simultaneously with a bar 20 coming into a position where it will receive shells, and to lower. said pins 38 immediately following the escape of the lowermost shells in said chutes, so as to prevent the succeeding shells from also escaping from the chutes. In this manner the desired intermittent delivery of shellsis secured, the dwell between the delivery movements being merely suflicient to compensate for the distance between the centers of the openings 21 of succeeding bars 20.

As the shells pass from the chutes 30 and 31, and shells will pass simultaneously from the chutes in each group upon the same bar 20, they will automatically seat themselves in the openings 21 of said bar,

but there is always a possibility that they composition cork disk hopper and it appurtenances, the disks are delivered in bulk to the hopper 99 and will pass therefrom in bulk to the chamber 92. The opposite oscillatory movement of the parts 97 and 98 of the shield within said chamber will agitate the cork disks in the upper part of the chamber in a manner to cause them to slide down the inclined faces of said shield in opposite, directions, and pass between the edges thereof and the side walls of the chamber 90, falling substantially edgewise upon the oscillatory bottom 93 of said chamber. The disks will fall along the full length of said shield so as to bein a position where they will readily slide toward the numerous circular outlet openings 95 and pass through the nipples 111 projecting downwardly about said opening into the short oscillatory tube lengths 110, through which they will. pass flatwise into the main tubular chutes 90, so as to furnish an adequate supply of disks in'each tube, to permit the operationof the machine at high speed. The violent agitation resulting from the oscillatory movement of the bottom 93 will not only tend to keep the disks flat, or substantially so, but will result in an irregular movement of the disks which will ensure their being delivered to all of the tubes 110 and 90.

The disks will descend in the tube by gravity as the lowermost disk ineach tube is removed by thedisk delivery mechanism.

The particular construction of the shell feeding mechanism and the cork disk hopper is not material to the invention of mypresopening 21 in each bar 20, and deliver a cork disk to each shell thus delivered.

,While I have referred to the necessity for simultaneously delivering metal shells to the openings in each bar and cork disks to each shell upon the bar, 1 have referred rather to .such an operation with a reasonable degree of certainty since the occasional failure to so deliver a shell or so deliver a disk will not seriously interfere with the operation of the machine nor its output capacity.

\Vhile the machine is in operation, the chains 13 receive continuous moven'ient and carry with them the various closely adjacent bars 20, so that while the operations of the various other mechanisn'is in the machine, excepting the heat and pressure mechanism, will be intermittent the dwell between succeeding operations, will be so small as not to be appreciable, the machine, to all intents and purposes being a continuously operating machine.

I have heretofore described how, as each bar passes the discharge end of the various groups of the chutes 30 and31, it receives metal shells from these chutes, which shells are readjusted when required by the roller 36. After passing this roller 36, and I now refer merely to some particular bar 20, this bar with a continued movement of the chains 13, passes below the paste fount 48 and below the shaft 61. As the bar approaches this shaft one of the daubers 64, which has previously picked u a small quantity of adhesive from the distributing roller 50, enters the shell with a rolling action and applies a spot of adhesive to theinner top of the shell and spreads it about in a thin film, The

dauber with the continued rotation of the shaft 61 and movement of the bar 30, leaves the shell with a rolling action so as to have no tendency to carry the shell with it or disturb the position of the shell with relation to the bar 20. Since there is one dauber unit for each shell upon the bar'20, it is apparent that eachshell upon said bar will simultaneously receive its supply of adhesive.

Since the peripheral speed of the dauber unit coincides with the'lineal speed of the bar, there will be only therolling and pressing action above referred to. By form-ing each dauber of elastic material, as described, it will yield and accommodate itself to any irregularity in the surface of the shell or to any slight variance in the thickness of different shellsupon the succeeding bars 20.

The adhesive used in the paste fount 48 may have the consistency of printers ink or be slightly more fluid, the use of the rollers 49 and 50 securing the effective working of the adhesive and the daubers effectively pick ing up this adhesive and applying it to the shells.

- I have found this construction highly desirable since it permitsa reduction in the quantity of liquid employed to ensure the efiective application of the adhesive, and minimizes the likelihood of the production t9 of imperfect caps, due to a failure or partial failure of the adhesive applying mechanism.

The shaft 61 is rotating continuously while the chains 13 are in motion and as a bar 20 passes the shaft 61, and the daubers 64 operativeupon the shells thereon, leave said shells, the succeeding daubers 64 will approach their operative position and engage the shells upon the succeeding bar 20 as it approaches said shaft 61. The spacing of the daubers 64; of each unit, as heretofore described, is such that succeeding daubers upon each unit, will co-operate with the shells upon succeeding bars.

While the machine is in operation the shaft 68 will be continuously rotating and as each pocket 70 of each disk delivery unit passes the'tube 90- associated therewith, the column of disks in the tube will descend by gravity and the lowermost disk will drop upon a plunger head 72 in said pocket and be engaged by the tooth 71 rearwardly of the pocket in the direction of movement of the wheel 69. lVith the continued movement of the wheel, the disks thus received by corresponding pockets on different units from the tubes 90, will be conveyed from substantially the upper vertical center of the wheel to substantially the lower vertical center thereof, the shield 77 co-operating with each of said wheels preventing the escape of the disk from the pocket and defining its path of movement as described. Particular refer-. ,ence is had to Fig. 6 as clearly illustrating this mode of operation of the machine.

As each pocket'70 of each wheel 69 approaches the lower vertical center of" the wheel, a bar 20, moving at-the same speed as the peripheral speedfof the wheel, approachesthi vertical center so that it will be in a position to receive the disks as they drop from. the pockets. "The plunger 72 is provided to ensure the timely delivery of the disk to the shell positioned to receive it, and

this plunger will be reciprocated b the arm 7 9 acting upon the enlarged head 5, of the plunger substantially simultaneously with the plunger reachingthe lower vertical cen-,

ter of the wheel. This arm acts with relation to each plunger carried by. the wheel, the movement of the arm 7 9 being rapid and that of the plunger'merely sufliciently great to ensure the disk entering the shell.

; Each wheel 69 will operate in the same manner and at the same time with relation to #10 construction, in arrangement-and in the timdifferent shells: upon the same her, all of,

these disk delivery units bei-n'glthe same in ing of their operations as the others.

:The' spacing of the various ratchet teeth {71.11pm each wheel 69 coincides with the spacingiof the openings in succeeding bars '20, i'so" that as the shells-upon each bar receive their disks, a disk is approaching the lower vertical center of the wheel at the same-speed as the succeeding bar approaches said centers, so that the succeeding bars will receive disks from succeeding pockets in the feeding mechanisms for the cork disk as they pass this mechanism.

\Vhile in using an adhesive of heavy consistency, which is possible with a machine embodying my present invention, the drying out of the moisture from the adhesive requires less time thanwith a more fluid adhesive, the travel of the bars 20 and the shells thereon between the point where they receive the adhesive and the point where they receive the disks, during which time the adhesive is exposed to the air, will prove beneficial in securing a quick bonding action between each disk and its shell, although the interval be short. This condition, however, is not relied upon for securing the desired bonding action, the result beingmerely incidental to the operation of the machine and the shortening of the machine being more desirable than the lengthening of the space between the adhesive applying and the cork disk distributing mechanisms.

After receiving the cork disks from the wheels 69,'or other means for conveying the disks from the various tubes 90 and depositing them within the shells 22 upon a bar 20, the disks in the shells upon the bar are acted upon by the plungers 119, which plungers enter the shell and have movement therewith and at the same speed thereas, while at the same time having movement toward the inner top of the shell so as to press the disk firmly against same and in close contact with the adhesive. This plunger action will serve 'to effectively spread the adhesive, if such is required, although the quantity of adhesive used is so small, and the manner of applying it is such, that there is little likelihood of the presence of adhesive in globular form within the shell.

Since the plungers 119 are engaged with the disks in the various shells upon a bar 20 with a ressure exerted through the springs 125, it 1s apparent that said plungers will adjustthemselves to variances between different shells and their contained disks, and thus have no tendency tointerfere with any of the shells, or mutilate them in any way. 1n fact this plunger mechanism will a ply substantially uniform pressure to the s ells and disks uponall of the bars 20.

Unlike the daubers of the adhesive applying and the pocketsof the cork disk delivery mechanisms, the same plungers 119 act upon the disks and shells in succeeding bars 20, the engaging and disengaging move ment of the plungers, their travel with the succeeding bar, resulting from the four-way movement of the fittings 114 heretofore described.

' The manner of supporting the lower cross bar 120 and the springs 123 acting thereon will permit these plungers to adapt themselves to any variance in the speed of travel of said plunger-s 119 and the chains 13 and the bars 20 carried thereby, although the timing of the cranks 113 upon the shaft 112 with relation to the speed of the chains 13 will ensure approximate coincident movement of the plungers and the bars While the plunger-s are engaged with the disks in the shells, thereon.

- After the disks have thus been firmly pressed within the shells'22upon a bar 20, the bar with its contained shells and disks passes beneath the wax or wax composition fount 132 and approaches the shaft 143.

W'hile the chains 13 are in movement, this shaft is constantly rotated, so that the enlarged heads 145 of the radially extending arms 144 carried by this shaft, by engagement with the feed roller 131, will have received suflicient Wax or other composition in a fluid state, so that as thebar 20 approaches the lower vertical center of said shaft 143, a head 145 will come into rolling contact with a disk in a shell upon said bar 20, the heads 145 upon the arms 144 of the other 'units having the same action with relation to the other disks in other shells upon said bar. The heating of the various dauber units upon said shaft, and of the fount 129 will ensure the wax, or other composition, being sufficiently fluid to ensureits proper distribution by the rollers 130 and 131 and its application in sufliciently fluid state by the heads 145 to the exposed surface of the cork disk.

The arms 144 are spaced apart a distance coinciding with the spacing between the openings in succeeding bars 20 so that the action of this mechanism with relation to the disks in shells upon succeeding bars will be the same as that heretofore described with relation to the application of adhesive to the shells 21 by the daubers 64. There is this difference, however, that while the daubers 64 are flexible, because they cooperate with an unyielding body, the shells 22, the heads 145 and the arms 144 may be rigid and of metal, since this facilitates their being maintained at the desired temperature to avoid the solidification of the wax or other composition, and the material upon which they act is itself'sutficiently flexible to compensate for those slight variances in different shells and disks.

When the wax, or other composition, has been thus applied to the exposed surface of the disks in the various shells upon a bar 20,

the cap is in condition to be subjected to the final heat, pressure and cooling action for the purpose of rapidly conditioning the adhesive so as to secure the desired bonding action, and of setting it, so as to secure the desired permanency in the bond.

The various mechanisms heretofore described co-operate with the shells, with or without their contained disks, while passing in a straight line along the upper reach of the chains 18, this reach being upon a horizontal plane, in the form of the invention shown, although I do not consider this arrangement essential to the invention, since any variances in the path of the bars 20 would merely require corresponding adjustments in other mechanisms of the machine, and the chains 13 may be guided so as to be caused to follow any desired path.

1 In the form of the invention shown, after the disks receive wax from the heads 145 of the wax applying mechanism, they enter the oven 148 receiving sup-port intermediate the chains 13 and the side guides for the bars, from the chains 150.

The chains 154 receive movement as a result of the engagement of the presser plungers 157 with the shells upon a plurality of bars 20, thus ensuring the travel of thebal's 155 carried by said chains, at the same speed as that of the bars 20. Con sequcntly as each bar 20 approaches the lower vertical center of the sprocket wheel 152, the bars 155 positioned about the pe riphery of these wheels, will converge toward said bar 20 and come to a parallel posi tion in relation thereto at the lower vertical center of said wheel. The plungers 157 upon a bar 155 engage the disks within the shells upon said bar 20 as they are approaching this lower vertical center, so as to tension the springs 158 acting upon said plungersto an extent to develop the desired pressure to maintain the pressure and the desired intimate contact between the two surfaces to be bonded together, to wit: the inner surface of the disk and the inner top of the shell 22, while the caps are subjected to the oven temperature. sure is applied in the manner described, it will be continued so long as the lower reach of the chains 154 and the bars 155 carried thereby, and the upper reach of the chains 13 and the bars 20 carried thereby, remain in parallel relation, or until these bars diverge as they pass about the sprocket wheels 151 and 12 respectively.-

Pressure is applied to the cork disks and therethrough to the metal shells 22 as each bar 20 enters the oven'148 and the pressure is relieved as each bar leaves said oven. The desired heat 'for expediting the drying out of the moisture in the adhesive is applied to the ba-rs20 and to the face of the shells 22 in the event that the openings 21 extend When this pres-.

Images