US1914146A - Machine for washing cans and the like - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1933. J. M. MGCLATCHIE 1,914,146

MACHINE FOR WASHING CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 13, 1933. J. M. McCLATCHIE MACHINE FOR WASHING CANS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 22, 1931 INVENTOR June 13, 1933. J. M. M CLATCHIE MACHINE FOR WASHING CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR .fa/sw fi flarm/e ATTORNEYS wh Sn June 13, 1933. M Mc fH 5 1,914,146

MACHINE FOR WASHING CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7.UTZGIZIJIIIIZQZDXIKIIIIIX" M W W ATTORN EYS June 13, 1933. J. M. M CLATCHIE 1,914,146

MACHINE FOR WASHING CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 NQ B veg W 3 ATTOR EYs Patented .laine id. 11933 JOHN M. MCCLATCHIE, OF NEW YORK, 'N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BURDEN COMPANY, OF 1 NEW YORK, N". Y, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY HACHIRE FQR WASHING CANS AND THE LIKE Application filed September 22, 1931. Serial No. 564,349.

The invention relates to an improvement in machines for washing cans and the like, and more particularly to an improvement in handling cans at the discharge end of a machine in which cans-are moved step by step through the machine in inverted position, the

interior or inner surfaces of the cans are subyected to treatment such as washing,

sterilizing and drying operations, and the cans are then uprighted to enable the introduction of covers into the mouths of the cans, the washing of the lower surfaces of the bottoms of the cans, or other operations. The can covers are moved step by step along a path parallel in general to the path of the cans and in order to apply the covers to the cans each can after uprighting onto a receiving platform is moved transversely of the machine to a point heneath the path of the covers. More specifically this invention is an improvement upon that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 4%,963, filed April 17, 1930. lathe machine of said copending application the feeding of the cans is effected by means of a can carriage having an upward, forward, downwardand rearward movement. T he uprighting act-ion is also initiated by the can carriage. After the uprighting and transverse movement of the can has been effected,'the can and corresponding cover are advanced simultaneously and the cover falls into the open mouth of the can.

Ihe object or the invention is to produce a can washing machine in which the upright ing and positioning of the cans at the discharge end of the machine are efiected with greater certainty than heretofore. In accordance with this object one feature ofthe invention consists in the provision of novel means for shifting an upright/ed can trans- .versely of the machine. This shifting means includes a finger to engage the bottom of the can, a chain carrying said fingerand mountand by upward movement of the carriage for moving the can to the other side of the machine. Another feature of the invention 1 a member or plate which at the time a can summersaulted is in raised pos1t10n and is lowered during the rearward movement of the can carnage. The upward movement of the plate takes place during the forward 7 movement of thecan carriage.

' The preferred form of the iiivention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in A which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the discharge end of the machine, the section being taken on the line 11 of Fig. 6; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in se ction, of the connection through which the movements of the can carriage are utilized to assure the proper positioning of each can after the uprighting thereof; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the right hand side of the machine at its discharge end, certain parts being omitted in order to show the other parts more clearly; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the discharge end of the machine above the stationary bars on which the cans are supported in inverted position during the various cleansing and drying operations; Fig. 7 is a tip'plan view of the discharge end of the machine, certain parts being shown in section and other parts being omitted to show the underlying structure; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on a larger scale of the can adjusting means shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 9 shows the parts in the positions assumed thereby just as an unwashed can has been placed in the machine, a washed can has been uprighted, and the can-transporting carriage is about to rise.

The improvement of the present invention is illustrated as embodied in a machine comprising a can support consisting of two longitudinally arranged bars 10 on which. the cans 11 are supported in inverted position during the various operations of washing, sterilizing and drying. The can supmounted on cross pieces 13 supported at each end by upright standards 14 forming part of the main or stationary frame of the machine. 'The barslO extend throughout the length of the machine, the right hand ends of the bars, viewing Fig. 9, constitutin the intake end of the machine and the left and ends of the bars being at the point at which the cans are uprighted onto the discharging platform indicated at 15. The spray nozzles for directing the washing, sterilizing and drying fluids into the cans extend upwardly from the can supporting bars 10 and are fixed in position between these bars by brackets 16.

The cans 11 are advanced through the machine from the intake end to the dischar e end and are successively lowered over t e nozzles for efiecting the treating operations by means of a transportin carriage or frame s ig. 9. The can-- own most clearly in transporting carriage comprises two longi tudinally extending oppositely-faced angle bars 17 which are spaced far enough apart to support the flanged mouths of large milk cans of the usual types. The bars 17 are supported on the inner edges of the transversely arranged pieces 18 which are secured to the lower ends of the inner uprights 19 and the outer uprights 20. The uprights 19 and 20 are held apart in spaced relation by three longitudinally extending angle beams 21, the upper ch annel"iron 22 and the cross piece 23, so that the carriage is sufiiciently rigid to perform the four-step cycle in transporting the advancing cans through the ma chine without vibration. The carriage is provided withan outer guard plate 24: "secured to the inner side of the uprights 20 and with an inner guard plate 25 secured to the inner sides of the uprights 19. The angle irons 26, secured to the inner sides of the plates 24 and 25 with the apexes of their angles oppositely disposed, extend throughout the carriage soas to assist in preventing chafing of the plates 24 and 25 by the cans during the movement of the carriage with respect to the cans.

The means for imparting the four-step cycle of movements to the carriage to ad- Vance the cans through the machine and to place them over the nozzles comprises two till rectan - shaped gear frames 27 and 28, secure to t e under sides of the inner set of angle beams 17. Each frame 27 and 28 is provided with a four sided internal gear the teeth of which constitute a rack to be engaged by a pinion 29. The pinions 29, are mounted on the inner ends of transversely arranged shafts 3t journalled at their ends in frames 31 supported at their inner ends on angle irons 32 secured to the cross pieces 13- and at their outer ends on the angle irons 33 secured to uprights 14. @n the outer needles ends of the shafts 30 are mounted the beveled gears 34 in mesh with the pinions 35, one of which is mounted on one end and the other of which'is mounted on the other end of the lon itudinally arranged shaft 36 journalled at its "ends in bearings 37 extending outwardly from the frames 31. The shaft 36 may be driven from any convenient source of power and for this purpose is provided with sprocket wheel 38 and chain 39.

The shaft 36 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1. From this it will' with the upright gear sections toward the intake end, the can carriage is rising or traveling upwardly; that, while the pinions are in engagement with the lower gear sections, the can carriage is advancing toward the discharge end of the machine; and that,

while the pinions are in engagement with the gear sections toward the discharge end, the can carriage is descending or traveling downwardly. The travel of the can carriage is substantially continuous, even at the pioint where it chan es its direction of travel.

owever, the end 0 the rearward movement or'travel toward the intake end of the machine may be regarded as the ointof beginning of the four-step cycle 0 movements of the carriage in transporting the cans through the machine. The carriage travels from the end of its downward stroke to the beginning of its upward stroke freed from the cans. During this movement of the can carriagethe cans remain stationary on the can supporting bars 10. The angle beams 17 of the'can carriage deposit the cans on the supporting bars 10 just before the completion of the downward stroke of the carriage, and the angle bars 17 re-engage the cans just after the beginning of the upward travel of the carriage.

The can carriage is sustained during its upward and downward travel and while the pinions 29 are in engagement with the lower gear sections by means of the rolls 40 concentrically alined with the shafts 30, respectively, and traveling in the grooves 41 formed in the rear sides of the gear frames 27 and 28 as best shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 9. The rolls 40 are mounted in the journals 42 resting on and secured to the longitudinally extending angle irons 43 supported at their ends on cross pieces 13. The gear frames 27 and 28 are guided in their movement by the angleirons 32 and 43, and the upper part of the uprights of the can carriage are guided by the longitudinal angle irons- 4A,. sup

ported on the cross pieces 45 resting "cattle are shown) for directin top ends of the uprights 14 of the stationary frame of the machine. v

The nozzles (of which only the last three the washing, sterilizing and drying fluids into the can may be regarded as stations at which each can pauses for treatment. As indicated by the cans-in Fig. 9, there are nine stations and these correspond in position to the ositions of the first nine cans counting from t e right. The first two stations include false nozzles and are provided partly to afford the opera tor opportunity to place an inverted can in the machine, as at the right hand station, and partly to permit the milk or other substance remaining in the can to run out before the can is subjected to the preliminary coldxwater rinse. At the other stations the interior of the can is subjected in succession to a cold water rinse, a hot Water rinse, the

direction of a washing solution into the can,

the removal of the washin solution from the interior of the can by 3%10t water rinse, a steam bath, and a stream of air directed into the can to dry it. As indicated on Fig. 6,

- the air is supplied at the last station 46 through a branch duct d7 connected with a main air duct 48 leading from a suitable source of air such as a conveniently located blower.

'l he carriage passes through its four-step cycle of movements to advance the cans along the can supports and place the cans at the treating stations successively in the following manner :Assuming that the position of the carriage at the endof its movement toward the intake end of the machine is the beginning of its four-step cycle of movements, and that an operatorhas placed a can in inverted position over the false nozzle at the first station, as indicated by the right hand can in Fig. 9, the first movement of the carriage is upward, bringing the angle beams or bars 17 into engagement with the flanged mouth of such can, and lifting the can from the bars 10. The next movement of the carriage is toward the discharge end of the machine, and at the end of this movement the can is positioned above the false nozzle at the second station. The next movenient of thecarriage is downward, loweringthe can over the false nozzle at the second station .until the flanged mouth of the can rests on the can supports 10,'and then freeing the bars 17 from the can just before the com,-

pletion of the downward movement. The fourth or final step of the cycle of movements of the carriage is the return movement toward the intake end of the machine to the position shown in Fig. 9. .During the next four-step cycle of movements of the carriage, the can which had been placed over the second station is advanced to the third station where it receives the first or preliminary treatment. During succeeding, continued four-step cycles of movements of the car- On the next movement of the carriage toward the discharge end of the machine the can is moved to a position over a summersaulting device indicated generally at 49, so that on the succeeding downward movement the can will be turned over into upright position on I the platform 15, as shown in Fig. 5.

During the normal, continuous operation of the machine nine cans are advanced simultaneously, one from each of the nine stations. In order to keep nine cans constantly in the machine, the operator places an inverted can at the. first station (indicated by the right hand can Fig. 9) when the carriage has removed the can therefrom and carried it to the second station. While the cans remain at the first two stations, any milk residue in them drains into a pan 50 supported on the first two cross pieces 13. The pan 5O discharges into a sewer or other convenient drain. At the remaining stations, the interiors or inner surfaces of the cans are subject'ed to the series of treatments whereby they are thoroughly cleansed, sterilized and dried.

tile the cans are passing through the machine and undergoing the washing, sterilizing and drying operations, the covers to the cans are also passing through the machine and are subjected to a similar washing, sterilizing and drying treatment. The runway along which the covers are advanced occupies the space above the fluid controlling means at'the right hand side of the machine,

looking in the direction of movement of the,

covers are adapted to he slid along the rails 63 and 64 and since these are arranged on an inclinedplane and the rail 64 is lowermost the cylindrical partof the cover will bear against the rail 64. The rails 63 and 64 extend from a point opposite the first station at the inlet end of the machine to a point over the discharge platform 15, as shown in Fig. 9.

.The means for advancing the covers step by step along the rails 63 and 64 comprises a. I

series of fingers 68 secured to a longitudinally extending bar 69 connected'at each end by a boss 70 with a shaft 71 journalled in bearings 72 supported fromthe cross pieces or braces 73in the upper part of the frames 65, and

arranged to have recip'rocatory and oscillatory movements imparted it from the raised from tlidair nozzle at that station. 9

I inverted can at the first station.

can carriage. The shaft 71 is positively oscillated in the direction to lift the fingers 68 above the plane passing through the top surfaces of the can covers and is yieldingly osattached to the arm 74 and the upper end of which is attached to the channel beam 22 normally holds the tree end of the arm against'the top of the slot in the plate 75, as shown in Fig 9. On the down stroke of the can carriage, plate 7 5 depresses the free end of arm 74 and so oscillates the shaft 71 to lift the fingers 68 above'the canv covers. As the can carriage rises the s ring 7 6 holds the free end of the arm 7 t agamst the upper end of the slot in plate 75 and thereby causes the shaft 71 to place the fingers in cover-engaging position. if during the movement of the fingers 68 into cover-engaging positions one of the fingers should encounter a -m'wplaced cover the spring 76 will yield while the can carriage and plate 75 complete their, upward travel, and thus no injury will occur to any of the parts of the machine. While the fingers 68 are held above the tops of the can covers by the engagement of the part 75 with the arm 74 the can carriage is moving toward the intake end of the machine and so the shaft 71 and fingers 68move in that directlon with it, and while the fingers 68 are in covercngaging position the can carriage is moving toward the dischare end of the machine and consequently the ngers 68 advance the covers one step.

When the operator verted position at the rst station he places the cover on a hopper-like chute indlcated generally at 77. The chute is obliquely arranged and is provided with the obliquely arranged bottom, the bottom and other parts being suitably supported on the stationary frame of the machine. When the can is placed in inverted position at the first station thecover for the can is placed top side up in the chute, the lower edge of the cylindrical neck of the cover resting on the bottom of the chute; The cover then slides down the chute until the cylindrical neck portion thereof rests against the outer end of the lower rail 64 of the cover runway.

As a matter of practice, the operator places the cover in the chute 77 before he places the The cover remains in the chute until its corresponding can has been placed at the first station and the carriage has risen to lift the can. This method of operating is employed to prevent a cover from advancing through the machine laces the can in in narrates unless accompanied by its can. Placing of the can in inverted position at'the first station renders effective a pin (not shown) connected with the can carriage so that upon upward movement of the can carriage said wardly from a hub 79 pivotally mounted on the stationary frame. :As the can carriage pin will engage a cam arm 78 extending upv rises the hub 79 is turned and an arm 80 .(also fixed on hub 79) is swung into engagement with the cover in the chute 77 and moves it forward to the position corresponding with the second station in Fig, 9. The distance from the chute 77 to the point to which the cover is moved b the arm 80 equalsone longitudinal step of the carriage. This action takes place while the can carriage is rising and before it completes its full upward stroke. As the can carriage completes its upward stroke a finger 81 carried by the first upright namely, washing, steaming and drying. The

station at which these operations on the cover, are efiected correspond respectively 'to the stations at which the cans are treated except that the cover cleaning stations are one step in advance of the can treating stations in order to secure the automatic placing of the cover in its can under the action of gravity. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 the last can treating station 46 is provided with an air nozzle connected by a suitable duct 47 connected with the main air duct 48.

When the dried can has been lifted from over the nozzle at the last station andadvanced through the next forward step of the can carriage it is positioned over the summersaulting device 49, as indicated above, so that on the next downward movement of the car- Inc riage the can is turned in upright position on the platform 15. The summersaulting device comprises a platform consisting of a horizontal section 82 and an oblique section 83 provided with an upturned lip 84. The horizontal section or part 82 of the summersaulting device 49 is supported by two uprights 85 rising from the forward end of the cansupporting bars 10. By'referring to Fig. 9 it will be evident that the center line of each can lowered on the horizontal section 82 is slightly to the left of the point of unction between the horizontal section and the slanting section of the summersaulting device. Consequently when the carriage on its downward stroke leaves the can on the platform 82, 83, the can immediately tilts, and the 15 as shown" in .the upright guard plate 94 to mouth of the can slides down the incline 15. The momentum of the falling can as it strikes the spring 87 is sufficient to cause the can to turn right side up onto the platform Figs. 5 and 9. In order that the mouthof the can may not slide backwardly along the horizontal section 82 of the platform as the cylindrical part of the can strikes the spring 87,,there is provided a deflecting finger or deflector extending upwardly from the center of the forwar edge of the horizontal platform section 82.

The deflector 90 is seldom brought into opergreatmajority of the cans ation because the will summersault over the spring 87 without moving axially. Occasionally, however, a can will tend to move inwardly and in that case the deflector 90 prevents the sliding of the mouth of the can along the platform section 82 and the can will be properly uprighted on the platform 15. s the can is summersaulted it is guided between two guards 91 extending from the rear or discharge end of the can carriage. a

The platform 15 of which the channel iron '89 determines the rear edge extends transversely across the discharge end of the machine and is supported by the longitudinal channel irons 92 extending from the next to' last pair of uprights 14 to the final, short pair of uprights 14. At its forward edge the platform is supported by a channel iron 93 extending transversely of the two; final uprights 14. The cans are discharged onto I platform 15 at a point in alinement with the bars 10. At its forward edge and opposite the spring the platform is provided with prevent the uprighting can from toppling off the end of the machine. At the left hand edge of the platform 15 there is a guard plate 95 which extends from the next to the last upright to the last upright at the left hand side of the machine.

The mechanism thus far described is substantially the same as corresponding mechanism disclosed in said copending application and has been disclosed principally to make clear the operation of the can handling mechanism at the .discharge end of the machine.

The uprighted can is moved transversely across the discharge end of the machine on the.platform 15 into position to receive a spray of water against its bottom previous to receiving its cover and to iis discharge from the machine, which actions take place simultaneously. The movement of the uprighted can transversely of the dischar e end of the machine is efi'ected by means 0 a finger 95a projecting upwardly above a transversly extending slot 96 and reciprocated along said slot by means of an endless chain 97 to which it is attached. The endless chain 97 is mounted on an idler sprocket wheel 98 rotatively supported by brackets 99 projecting from the web of the left hand channel 92 and a driving sprocket wheel 100 fixed on a driving shaft 101 journalled in brackets 102 projecting downwardly from the bottomof the platform 15. The sprocket wheels 98 and 100 are so arranged that the upper reach or stretch of the chain 97 is positioned in the slot 96, and said upper stretch is en ported by a plate 103 at the lower sideof t e platv,

form 15. The shaft 101 is driven oscillating shaft 56 which is oscillated by a connection with the cam frames includlng a rod-like arm 58 projecting from the shaft and having its outer end slidingly received in a sleeve 59 provided with a head 60 slidingly mounted on a rod 61 carried by the lower end of the downward extension 62 of the gear frame 27. The arrangement is such that when the can carriage descends the shaft .56 is turned in a clockwise direction, looking from the discharge end of the machine, and when the can carriage rises the shaft 56 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction. When the can carriage is moving longitudinally either toward the discharge end of the machine or toward the intake end thereof the rod 61 slides in the head 60 and the shaft 56 remains stationary.

by means of a sprocket chain 108a of which i the ends are secured to a member 1096; fixed on the oscillating shaft 56. As here shown, the member 109a has two parallel sides and arcuate ends on which the sprocket chain 108a wraps and unwraps, the ends of the chain passing around sa d curved ends and being secured to the member 1090 at its farther side by suitable means, such as screws 1100,. It will be evident that oscillation of the shaft 56 will cause reciprocation of the finger 95a and that the connections can be so designed as to produce the desired movement of this finger. In said copending application the cans are moved across the platform 15 by a swinging arin ;o'f which the point of contact with the-canvariesiverth cally during the shifting l-movement.

from the the present arrangement there is no such variation.

Bearing in mind that the shaft 56 is turned in a clockwise direction, viewin Fig. 1, as the can carriage descends, it will -nseen that the fin er 95a is returned to'normal position as indicated in dotted lines, when the can carriage descends, and that, on the upward movement of the can carriage the finger 95a is moved to push the can across the discharge end of the machine and to a position under the cover runway, as indicated in full lines.

, Although the linger 95a is moved into normal position as the can carrie is descending and the dried can is being summersaulted onto the platform 15, the parts are so timed in their movements that the can-engaging finger reaches the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 just before the bottom of the can comes down onto the platform. The finger 95a then remains stationary while the can carriage travels toward the intake end of the machine and on the next upward movement of the carriage the finger makes its can-shifting movement. As the can approaches the right hand side of the platform 15 the rear side of the can encounters a cam plate 111' fixed on the channel iron 89 and is deflected forwardly by it.

As the can reaches the right hand sideofthe platform, it moves onto the free end of a platedike lever 112 pivoted at 113 in the extensions 114: of the platform 15. The under surface of the plate 112 is provided with an adjustable valve actuatin member 115 which rests on the upper end of the valve stem 116 of the valve 117 which controls the passage of .hot water from the pipe 118 to the nozzle 119 for directing the spray against the bottom of the can. While the can'remains in contact with the plate 112 it presses the plate down and thereby opens the valve 117. The can continues in engagement with the plate 112 while the can carriage is moving for- .ward, during which time the bottom of the can is thoroughly washed by the spray from the nozzle 119. In order that no damage may be done either to the can or to the finger 95a as the can reaches the end of its travel across the platform a .yieldingly mounted guard rail 120 is provided at the right hand side of the platform 15. The rear end of the rail 120 is secured to a pivot pin 121 journalled in a bracket 122 supported from the channel iron 89. A spring 123 encircling the upper end of the pin yieldingly holds an ofiset part 124 of the free end of the rail against the end of the platform" 15. The bottom-washing I 66 means just described forms no part of the present invention but is so closely associated therewith that it appears desirable to describe its operation as controlled by the movement of the bans-at the discharge end of the ma=' chine. i

v The can reaches its position at the right nannies hand side of the platform 15 just about as the carriage completes its upward travel. As the carriage begins its next forward step an upright finger 125 carried by a bracket 126 extending forwardly from the inner side of the front end of the can carriage engages the rear side of the can which is now pausing over the nozzle 119 and pushes it forward ed the platform and onto a conveyor of usual form the intake end of which is indicated at 127. The finger travels in a slot 128 in the platform 15. This means for delivering cans to the conveyor, which is the same as that disclosed in saidcopending application, is utilized to operate a device for adjusting the position of each can summersaulted into position on the platform. This device includes a member or plate 129 arranged vertically opposite the summersaultingdevice and means whereby the plate is placed in raised position at the time of the summersaulting operation and prevents excessive movement of the open end of the can at the end of this operation. The late remains in raised position during the ownward movement of the can carriage but moves downwai'dly during the return movement-0f the carriage toward the can-receiving end of the machine and, if the] lower end of the summersaulted can is too far in advance of the rest of the can, engages the body of the can, for example, at the lower edge and straight/ens the can as well as moves it into proper position for engagement by the finger a ion the transversely extending sprocket chain. The plate 129 is mounted on a sprocket chain 130 carried by sprocket wheels 131 and 132 of which the v stretch of the chain so that the plate 129 extends across the slot. The chain 130 is not endless, the end extending upwardl from the lower sprocket wheel 131 to the p ate 129 terminating in a link 139 which is perinanently attached to the plate 129 at its rear, and the other end of the chain terminating in a screw-threaded rod 140 which passes.

through an eye 141. projecting from the rear of the plate. By means of one or more nuts 142 on the rod 140 the tension of the chain 130 can be regulated as desired. The upper shaft 136 is an idle shaft but the lower shaft 133 is utilized for actuating the chain and for this pu :w is provided with another sprocket wheel 143; which is connected by a aeie'me horizontally arranged sprocket chain 144 with, an idler sprocket 145 rotatably supported on'the frame of the machine at a point between the uprights 14 of the next to last pair at the dlscharge end of the machine,

149 secured at its upper end to the bracket. With this arrangement upward and downward movement of the can-carrying carriage will have no eifect on the position of the plate 129, but movement of the carriage to advance the cans will raise the plate and movement of the carriage in the opposite" direction will lower the plate.

As described in said copending 'a'pplica tion, each can is advanced step by step from the intake end of the machine to the position over the summersaulting and during this movement of the can the cover therefor is advanced-step by step to a position one interval farther along than the can. The downward movement of the can carriage will cause summersaulting of the can but will not affect the position of its cover. During this movement of the carriage the can-shifting finger a of the present invention will be shifted to the left of theplatform just before the uprightedcan is deposited on the platform. In the present machine proper uprighting ofthe can is assured by the mem her or plate129 and the operating means therefor. The forward movement of the can carriage raises the plate to its uppermost position in which it remains during the summersaulting action and thus serves to prevent excessive movement of the upper end of the can. During the rearward'movement of the carriage the can shifting finger remains in its extreme left hand position but the adjusting plate'moves downwardly and, if the lower end of the uprighted can has been advanced too far, moves it back into the proper position for engagement by the canshifting finger 95a when the latter is moved to the right as a result of the upward movement of the can carriage. to the right the can is positioned on the plate 112 and depresses the plate to effect washing of the bottom of the can. During this upward stroke of the can carriage, the final cover engaging finger 68 is placed behind the cover in the final position. Then on the next or final movement of the carriage (so far as the can in question is concerned) the finger pushes the can'ofi'f the platform 15 onto the conveyor 12'? and simultaneously therewith the final finger 68 pushes the cover off the rails 63v and 64 so that the cover falls into the open mouth of the can. This com- By thismovement- Having thus described the invention, what- I claim as new is y u p I 1. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a trackway along which a can-may be conveyed in inverted position, a can feeding carriage having an upward, forward, downward and rearward movement for advancing a can step by step along the trackway, a summersaultingdevice beyond the end of the trackway effective on the a downward stroke of the carriage to upright the can and a patform onto which the can is uprighted; of can-adjusting means including a member vertically movable at the farther side of the position to be assumed by the upighted cans and means operated by the carnage to lift said'member during the forward movement of the carriage and .to lower it during the rearward movement of the carriage to complete the uprighting of a can when the uprighting is not completed by the summersaulting device.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a trackway along which a can may be conveyed in inverted position, .a can feedlng carnage having an upward,

forward, downward and rearward movement for advancing a can step by step along the trackway, a summersaulting device beyond the end of the trackway effective on the downward stroke of the carriage to upright the can and a platform onto which the can is uprighted; of can-adjusting means including a member vertically movableat the farther side oftheposition to be assumed by the uprighted can and means operated by the carriage to lift said member during the forward movement of the carriage and to lower it during the rearward movement of the carriage to complete the uprighting of a can when the uprighting is'not completed bythe summersaulting device, said means being operated by the carriage including a forwardly and rearwardly movable member having a vertically slidable connection with the carriage whereby this movable member is moved horizontally with said carriage and is stationary during the upward and downward movements of the carriage. a

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a trackway along which a can may be conveyed in inverted position,

a can feeding-carriage having an upward,

forward, downward and rearward movement for advancing a can step by step along the trackway, a summersaulting device beyond the end of the trackway effective on the downward stroke of the carriage to upright the can and a platform receiving the uprighted can and having a transverse slot; of means for moving the uprighted can along said slot including a horzontally-reciprocable finger mounted to travel along said slot and means operated by said carriage for moving said finger during the downward movement of the Ill) ' said slot.

4:. In a machine of the character described,

' the combination with a trackway along which a can may be conveyed in inverted position, means for advancing a can step by step along said trackway including a carriage having an upward, forward, downward and rearward movement, a cover runway at one side of the path of the cans, means controlled by the carriage for advancing a' cover along the runway in timed relation with the advance of the can but one step in advance thereof, a sununersaulting device beyond the end of the trackway effective on the downward stroke of the carriage to upright the can and a platform receiving the uprighted can and having a transverse slot extending across the position where the can is received and toward a position beneath the cover runway; of means for moving the uprighted can to the position beneath the cover runway including a sprockct chain, sprocket wheels carrying said sprocket chain so that its upper stretch tram els in said slot, a finger projecting from said chain to engage the uprighted can, and means operated by said carriag for actuating said chain andthereby moving said finger to, advance an uprighted can to the position beneath the cover runway during the upward movement of the carriage and to move said finger in the opposite direction during the downward movement of thetcarriage.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a trackway along which a can may be conveyed in inverted position, means for advancing a can step by step along said trackway including a carriage having an upward, forward, downward and rearward movement, acover runway at one side of the path of the cans, means controlled by the carriage for advancing a cover along the runway in timed relation with the advance of the can but one step in advance thereof, a

sulnmersaulting device beyond the end of the trackway effective on the downward stroke of the carriage to upright the can and a plat-' form receiving the uprighted can and having a transverse slot extending across' the osition where the can is received and towar aposition beneath the cover runway; of can-adjusting means including a number vertically movable at the farther side of the position to be pleted b the summersaulting device, a finger niounte for rectilinear movement a ong said slot, and carnage-operated means for moving the finger to advance an uprighted can man ate 6. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a trackway along which a can may be conveyed in inverted position, means for advancin a can step by step along said trackway inclu ing a carriage having an upward, forward, downward and rearward movement, a cover runway at one side of the path of the cans, means controlled by the carriage for advancing a cover along the runway in timed relation with the advance of the can but one step in advance thereofiasummen saulti-n device beyond the end of the trackway e ective'on the downward stroke of the carriage to upright the can, a platform receiving the upri hted can and having a transverse slot exten ing across the position where the can is received and toward a position be neath the cover runway, and a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, means operated by the carriage for turning the shaft in one direction during the downward movement ofthe carriage and in the opposite direction during the u ward movement of the carriage; of a sproc et chain with its upper stretch extending along said slot, a can-engaging finger projecting from said chain above said slot, and means for actuating said chain to move said fin er to advance an upright/ed can to a position beneath the cover runway during the upward movement of-the carriage and in the opposite direction during the downward movement of the carriage ineluding a driving shaft carrying one of said -assumed 'by the u righted can, means- 019- 'iao

Images