US3255568A - Jar capping machine - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1966 H. J. MARTIN ETAL 3,255,568

JAR CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS.

Hen/'gJ. Mar/in Char/e5 Ii Kre/schmer; Jr:

HIllllllll 1- 1 Hum] B yaw HTTOR/VEYS J1me 1966 H. J. MARTIN ETAL 3,255,568

JAR CAPPING MACHINE Filed May 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. H e'nry J Mar/in Char/es H Arefischme/ J/ HTTORNEVS United States Patent 3,255,568 JAR CAPPING MACHINE Henry J. Martin and Charles H. Kretschmer, In, Saginaw, Mich, assignors to M and K Jar Cleaner Corporation, Carrollton, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 14, 1962, Ser. No. 194,470 10 Claims. (Cl. 53-95) This invention relates to jar capping machines and particularly to certain novel and useful improvements therein. It is a prime object of. the present invention to provide a jar capping machine of improved design which is highly reliable in operation and is capable of receiving jars containing products of various kinds including granular and powder products, exhausting the air therefor picking up a cap, which is so constructed that suction forces will not be applied to the product filled jar and the cap gripping member will not be expanded, unless a cap is picked up by' the initial cap support member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jar capping machine suitable for use with various caps of the thread-on, press-on, or formed in .place type and constructed from various materials such as aluminum, steel, and suitable plastics.

Another object of the invention is to design a machine incorporating an inflatable member for gripping the cap and securing it in position on the top of the jar.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine incorporating an improved inflatable member for gripping jars which not only seals the interior of the evacuating housing but also prevents the jar from turning, even though the jars are slightly irregular, so that mechanical grippers are not required.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of turret type, employing multiple cap applying heads, which operates rapidly and more efiiciently than machines of known design.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, sectional elevational view taken through one of the cap applying heads, a typical jar being shown in position within the head just prior to commencement of the capping operation;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the cap gripping element;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional, side elevational view of a lower section of the machine, but on a reduced scale;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the machine with certain parts omitted and certain parts depicted only schematically in the interests of clarity; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view through the cam used in threading the caps on the jars.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein we have shown a preferredembodiment of the invention only, anumeral 10 generally indicates a head supporting carriage or turret which is mounted for continuous rotation on acentral shaft 11,

on the ice such as shown in Hohl et a1. Patent No. 2,506,363. As in that patent and Hohl et a1. Patent No. 2,338,852 referred to therein, which are incorporated herein by reference, thecarrier 10 carries a plurality of jar capping heads generally designated 12 and' revolves in a continuous circumferential path through various stations (see FIGURE 5) at which the machine is supplied with caps and product filled jars, for instance, and the capped jars are removed in a hermetically sealed condition to a conveyor line or the like. Agear 11a (FIG- URE 4) can be staked as at 11b to thecarriage 10 in mesh with agear 110, connected to a suitable drive motor through speed reduction gearing for drivingcarriage 10 at the desired rate of speed. In FIGURE 5 the incoming conveyor is shown at C and the outgoing conveyor at C, a transfer star wheel for the conveyor C being shown at S and a similar star wheel for the conveyor C being shown at S. The construction is similar to that shown in Barnby Patent No. 2,126,942 except that the curved jar guides G and G are spaced sufficiently to admit a jar cap carrying rotary disc D on which the caps C for the jars J are supplied.

Automatic machinery of this general design is well known and the present invention is concentrated with the construction of thejar capping heads 12 and the control system for supplying air under pressure and applying suction to thejar capping heads 12 rather than to the overall turret type machine on which these heads and their control system are employed. While the invention will be described as though the jar capping head is mounted on a rotary type machine, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to heads for such machines and it is not necessary to the construction disclosed that they be mounted on a continuously revolving turret or carriage. I

As shown in FIGURE 1, eachhead 12 includes a main housing generally designated 13 having aflange 14 which is bolted as at 15 to the outer edge of thecarriage 10. Mounted on a lower flange portion 16 of themain housing 13, as bybolts 17, is a two-part jar receiving housing of enlarged diameter comprising upper andlower portions 18 and 19,housing section 19 preferably being threaded on thesection 18 as at 20 and the housing being sealed by an O-ring 20a provided between the members as shown.

Provided within thehousing 13 to journal ashaft 21 is a bushing 21a, which is bolted to thehousing 13 as at 21b, and an O-ring seal 21c is also provided as shown. At its lower end theshaft 21 is supported by abushing 22 which is bolted to the lower end ofhousing 13 as at 220 and it will be seen thatshaft 21 mounts a dependentsuction cup member 23 which is received in an opening 24 provided in the lower end ofshaft 21. A tubular stud 24a threads into the lower end of theshaft 21 to hold thecup 23 in place. Outer O-ring members 2 5 and 26 seal the bushing 21 and shaft 16.

Theshaft 21 is also shouldered at its lower end at 27 to receive adriver plate 28 having adriver pin 29 received in a bore 30 provided in acapgripping member 31. Themember 31 is provided with O-ring seals 32, 33, and 34 as shown, anddriver plate 28 is provided with an O-ring seal 28a. At its lower end themember 31 is interiorly grooved as at 31:: to accommodate an inflatable cap gripping ring generally designated 35 which, as shown in FIGURE 3, includes relatively thin upper, lower, andexterior walls 35a-35c, respectively, and a relatively thickinterior side wall 36. The same construction is apparent in an inflatable ring generally designated 37, provided in aninterior groove 38 provided in thehousing ring 19 which likewise has relatively thin upper, lower, andexterior walls 37a-37c, respectively, and a relatively thickinterior side wall 39. The reason for this construction will later become apparent when the operation of the machine is described.

Theshaft 21, which is revolved in a manner to be described to thread a cap C" on the threaded neck a of a typical jar J is also vertically reciprocablein thehousing 13. At its upper end a ball-receiving member 41) is fixed on theshaft 21 by asleeve 41 which is retained in position by a guard member 4-2 which embraces thecam follower ball 43. Theball 43 is maintained up or in engagement with either asteel cam 44 or an inflated cam 44' supported in fixed position on the stationary framework F of the machine in any suitable manner, as in the Pasotti Patent No. 2,614,739. Under the influence ofcam 44 theshaft 21 is depressed to lower themember 31 andsuction cup 23 in the manner desired during the operation of the machine.

Supported on the upper end of reciprocable androtatable shaft 21 by a nut 45 is amanifold ring 46 mounted bycarriage 10, including a radially extendingpin 47 which, whenshaft 21 is moved downwardly bycams 44 or 44', rides in aslot 48 in a bifurcatedbracket 49 which can be bolted to the periphery of the carriage as at 51 Theshaft 21 is maintained in engagement with thecams 44 or 44' by areturn spring 51 withinhousing 13 bearing against a ball bearingrace assembly 52 which in turn bears against aflange 21d fixed on theshaft 21 as shown. Thespring 51 operates to restore theshaft 21 to the upper position in which it is shown in FIGURE 1 when permitted to do so bycams 44 or 44'.

Provided inshaft 21 in communication with anannular air passage 53 provided in themanifold ring 46 is a vertically extending, axiallyoffset passage 54 whichleads to theannular passage 55 provided in themember 31 betweenseals 33 and 34. Theannular passage 53 inmanifold 46 is sealed byrings 56 and 57 as shown. Thepassage 55 in themember 31 communicates with apassage 58 inmember 31 which leads to thepassage 59 incap gripping tube 32.

Also provided in theshaft 21 is avacuum passage 60,

extending axially in theshaft 21, which leads to the interior of the tubular retainer 24a as shown.Passage 60 could lead axially to themanifold 46 and there connect toline 62, if desired. A control valve generally designated 61 communicates theline 60 with a vacuum source such as a Beach Russ mechanical vacuum pump throughline 62 leading to aport 63 in thevalve body 64 which has a chamber 65 receiving areciprocable slide 66. Asuction line 67 leading from aport 68 incontrol member 61 communicates through anopening 69 in thehousing section 18 with the space 78 to evacuate air from the jar I whenport 68 is in communication with a vacuum source. Also, anair line 71 which communicates withchamber 53 and the cap grippingannular tube 35 leads to aport 72 in thevalve body 64. Thecontrol member 61 includes an axially extendingport 73 inbody portion 64 communicating with avacuum line 74 through aregulator valve 75 and it will be seen that theslide 66 hasports 76 and 77 which are communicable with theports 68 and 72 when thespool 66 is moved to the left as in FIGURE 1. To permitport 73 to communicate withport 63 at this time the left end ofslide 66 can be cut away as at 66a or this may be otherwise accomplished.Valve body 64 further includes a port '78 in alignment withport 68, and a port 79 in alignment withport 72, which communicate with vacuum andair lines 80 and 81, respectively.

Aline 82 connects to the jar grippingair tube 37, as shown in FIGURE 1, and leads to an airsupply control member 83 which includes a chamber 84 having aslide member 85 therein with two throughports 86 and 87. Also, vent ports 86a and 87a lead through theslide 85 andhousing 83 to atmosphere fromports 86b and 87b which communicate withlines 82 and 81 when the slide is in up position as in FIGURE 1. Provided in the lower end of chamber 84 is a spring 88 which normally biases thepiston 85 to the upper position where it engages exert a lifting force on the innermost cap C".

with a vertically reciprocable pin 89. The pin 89 may be depressed by a lever arm 90 pivotally mounted as at 91 to abracket 92 and having afollower roller 93 in engagement with acircular cam 94 supported by amember 95 from the framework F.Air pressure lines 96 and 97 supply thelines 82 and 81, respectively, with air when thepiston member 85 is depressed to align thepassages 86 and 87 with therespective lines 82 and,81.

Also supported by the frame F bybrackets 98 is a stationary,curvilinear rack 99 having gear teeth 1% on a certain portion of its periphery which are engaged by the teeth of the spur gear 181 fixed to asleeve 102 keyed in any suitable manner toshaft 21 for revolving theshaft 21 to thread the cap C" on the jar J at the proper time. Therack 99 can support cam 44', which differs fromcam 44 in that it includes an elastic rubber or rubber-like channel 44a closed by a hard wearing fdisogrin plastic plate 44b and an inflation anddeflation valve 440. If the thread on the cap C" does not quite match the thread on the jar, the cap is not forced on by cam 44' because resilient cam 44' is deformable. Moreover, in practice theheads 12 are so closely spaced that there may be threeheads 12 under cam 44' at one time. The operation of the end heads 12 will not be disrupted if it is the jar in the middle head of the three upon which the cap will not thread.

Theair lines 96 and 97 connect with aring manifold 103 mounted on thecarriage 18 to revolve therewith and particularly to airchambers 104 and 185, respectively, therein. Lines 106 and 106a lead to suitable sources of air pressure such as Gardner Denver compressors or the like and air under a pressure of about 45 p.s.i. is provided to line 97 and under a pressure of about 60 psi toline 96. The manifold 183 also includes vertically through vacuum ports 1G7 and 108 communicating with thelines 74 and 80, respectively. Mounted above therotating manifold 103 onbrackets 109 or the like is astationary manifold ring 110. Thestationary manifold ring 110 includes (FIGURE 5)arcuate slots 112, 113, 114, and 121, as shown, leading through its under surface, andhoses 116, 117, 118 and 123 communicating with them respectively. In addition, there are slots and 120 havingvent ports 119 and 122 to atmosphere. Thearcuate slot 112 communicates with thevacuum line 74 and theslots 113 and 114 with thevacuum line 80 throughports 107 and 108, respectively.

In the operation of the machine theheads 12 are first passed over the revolving disk D which has caps C" thereon supplied from a chute or in any suitable manner,carrier 10 revolving relatively slowly, of course. As each head 12 approaches the cap supply disk D,cam 44 forces theshaft 21 to descend to bringsuction cup 23 into engagement with the innermost cap C on the disk D. At about the time that suctioncup 23 is about to engage the cap, theline 74 has moved into communication with theslot 112, which is supplied with vacuum through theline 116, andline 60 is furnished with the vacuum force to Once thesuction cup 23 has sealed to the upper surface of cap C", then slide 66 (which has been in outward position) is drawn leftward to the position in which it is shown in FIGURE 1 by the vacuum inline 74 to communicatelines 76 and 77 withlines 80 and 81, respectively. At this time thereturn spring 51 is permitted bycam 44 to moveshaft 21 upwardly toward the position in which it is shown in FIGURE 1. -Eachhead 12 has apedestal 125 mounted under it and revolving with thecarriage 10 and for eachpedestal 125 there is a shaft 126 (FIGURE 4) slidably received by a bearing 12'!" in alower portion 10a of thecarrier 10, eachshaft 126 mounting afollower roller 128 which rides on acircular cam track 129 supported by the stationary frame F of the machine. The configuration ofcam track 129 is such that thepedestal 125 and jar J tends to follow the cap C" upwardly into the cappinghead housing 19.

When thesuction cup 23 has risen to the upper position in which it is shown in FIGURE 1 andpedestal 125tubes 35 and 37 so that they grip the jar cap C" and the jar J, respectively. The configuration of these tubes, as demonstrated in FIGURE 3, is important to proper gripping of the cap C" and jar I. With theinner walls 36 and 39 being of substantially greater thickness, the expansion is lateral, rather than upwardly or downwardly. Thewalls 36 and 39 do not themselves bulge or expand but remain in tight engagement with the surfaces over their vertical lengths. In this way the cap and jar are prevented from lifting and this is particularly important from the standpoint ofinflatable ring 37 since, whenspace 70 is evacuated, atmospheric pressure is tending to push the jar up into the head.

Just after the time that inflatable rubber rings 35 and 37 are expanded into gripping engagement with the cap C" and jar I, respectively, thecontrol slide 66 being in leftward position,slot 113 communicates with thevacuum line 80, with thecontrol slide 66 being at the left as in FIGURE 1. Withvacuum line 80 in communication withvacuum line 67, the air is evacuated from thespace 70 and the jar J but in such a manner that the contents of the jar I remain undisturbed.

It is important to note that, had thesuction cap 23. not picked ,up a cap C", slide 66 would not have been shifted to the left in FIGURE 1 and no air would have been delivered toline 71 to inflate thecap gripping tube 35. This is important from the standpoint that, if thetube 35 is not inflated when no cap C" is in place, the tube cannot be mashed against the threads of the jar neck a or damaged by them when theshaft 21 is revolved. Further, unless a cap C" is picked up bycup 23 thevacuum line 67 is not communicated with thespace 70 and the release of vacuum will not disturb the product in the jar J. It is necessary to the operation of the system that the cap C" be in position on the jar I, as shown in FIGURE 1, to prevent this from happening. Thearcuate slot 114 may also be connected with avacuum line 118, or theline 118 could lead to a source of carbon dioxide gas, for instance, if it were desired to gas pack the product.

In any event, at about the time thattube 80 has revolved sufliciently to approach the end clockwisely of slot "114,cams 44 andgear teeth 100 simultaneously revolve and lower shaft.21 to thread the cap C" into secured position on the top of the jar J. Finally, theline 74 comes into communication with theslot 121, which is supplied with air under a pressure of about 1 p.s.i. through thesupply hose 123 and restores theslide 66 to the right in FIGURE 1, thereby discommunicating the suction inline 80 with theline 67 and'the air pressure inline 81 with theline 71.Cam 94 permits the spring 88 to return theslide 85 upwardly and therebytubes 35 and 37 can be simultaneously deflatedthrough vent ports 86a and 87a.

.Theslot 120 is open to atmosphere and just before the time that theslide 66 is returned to the out position, atmospheric air is supplied through theline 80 to theline 67 andchamber 70. Also, at about this time, whenline 74 is communicating with theslot 115, the vacuum inline 62 andsuction cup 23 is released by the pressure of the atmosphere. At this time, with the cap C" securely in position on the jar I, thepedestal 125 is gravity lowered as permitted by thecam 129 until the cap on the jar clears thehousing 19 and thence, having completed 'a circuit of the machine, is transferred to the outgoing conveyor C by the star wheel S. In a typical machine there may be twenty-eightheads 12 rotating continuously to cap jars through the cycle of operations described, although less are shown for convenience sake in FIGURE 5.

It is to be understood that the drawings and descriptive matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made inv the various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a jar capping machine; a downwardly opening housing adapted to receive the upper end of an uncapped threaded jar; a jar support member; means for rela- 'tively moving said jar support member and housing to.

dispose the upper end of the jar within the housing; seal and holder element means on said housing for engaging the sides of the jar and holding it from rotating while air sealing the said upper end of the jar within said housing; a vertically travelable spindle within said housing, mounting a cap carrying suction member thereon, and lowerable to a position to pick up a cap; a driver rotatably carried by said housing and surrounding said suction member; an inflatable, tubular, cap gripping element carried by said driver above said seal and bolder element means generally circumferentially adjacent said suction member when the latter is in raised position; means for selectively inflating and deflating said cap gripping element; means for revolving said driver; means for selectively vacuumizing the interior of said housing above said sealand holder element means; means for selectively vacuumizing said suction member; and control means for operating all said means in sequence to vacuumize and lower said suction member to engage a cap to raise said suction member and cap, to inflate said cap gripping element to cause it to grip the cap, to vacuumize the interior of the housing above said seal means when a jar has been moved within said housing, to revolve said driver while at the same time lowering said driver to thread the cap on the jar, and to deflate said cap gripping element.

2. In a jar capping machine; a downwardly opening housing; a jar support member movable relatively vertically therewith to dispose the upper end of a jar within said housing; an inflatable member within said housing for gripping a cap to be secured on the upper end of the jar; means for relatively moving the inflatable member and jar support member; seal means on said housing below said inflatable member for engaging the sides of the jar and sealing off the interior of the housing; line means connectable with a source which will remove air from a jar and leading to the interior of the housing and the upper end ,of the jar; fluid pressure line means leading from 'a source of fluid under pressure to said inflatable member; and control means, including valve means interposed between said source and housing interior and said inflatable member and fluid pressure source for operating all said means, in the following sequence:

communicating the fluid pressure source and inflatable member for inflating the inflatable member to grip the cap, thereafter communicating the said source which will remove air from the jar and interior of the housing, moving the inflatable member and jar support member relatively to secure the cap on the jar, and deflating the inflatable member.

3. In a jar capping machine; a downwardly opening housing; a jar support member movable relatively vertically therewith to dispose the upper end of a jar within said housing; a suction member within said housing for engaging the topof a jar cap; an inflatable ring member within said housing for peripherally gripping a cap to be secured on the upper end of the jar; a vacuum line connectable with a vacuum source and leading to the suction member; a fluid pressure line leading from a source of fluid pressure to said inflatable member; and control valve means interposed between said vacuum source and suction member and said inflatable member and fluid pressure source; said control valve means preventing communication of said fluid pressure line and inflatable ring member if no cap is engaged by said suction member.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 in which means is connected with said housing for selectively vacuumizing the interior thereof and said control valve means comprises a single valve preventing operation of said vacuumizing means as well as communication of said inflatable member and fluid pressure source if no cap is engaged by the suction member.

5. In an evacuating, jar capping machine; a downwardly opening housing adapted to receive the upper end of an uncapped threaded jar; vertically travelable spindle means within said housing including a cap engaging member thereon; means for revolving said cap engaging member; and a tubular, inflated, deformable cam carried above said spindle means for urging said spindle downwardly at a time when said cap engaging member is rotating to thread the cap on the jar.

6. In an evacuating, jar capping machine; a rotary table; means for revolving said table; a downwardly opening housing carried by said table adapted to receive the upper end of an uncapped threaded jar; seal elements on said housing for engaging the sides of the jar and air sealing the said upper end of the jar; a vertically travelable spindle within said housing mounting a cap carrying suction member thereon lowerable to a position to engage a cap and return with it up into said housing; cap gripping means on said spindle generally in surrounding relation with said suction member; rigid cam means above said spindle for lowering said spindle to engage the cap at a particular time during rotation of the housing with the table; a driver carried by said housing for revolving said spindle; means for revolving said driver at a later time during rotation of the housing with the table; means for moving a jar within said housing after said suction member has engaged a cap and returned; means for selectively vacuumizing the interior of said housing above said seal elements; means for selectively vacuumizing said suction member; elastic, deformable cam means carried above said spindle for urging said spindle downwardly at a time when said driver is rotating the spindle to thread the cap on the' jar; and means for operating all said means in sequence to vacuumize said suction member When it is lowered to engage a cap, to vacuumize the interior of the housing above said seal means when a jar has been moved within said housing, to devacuumize the suction member, and to devacuumize the interior of said housing when the cap has been threaded on the jar.

7. In a jar capping machine; a downwardly opening housing adapted to receive the upper end of an uncapped threaded jar; a jar support member; means for relatively moving said jar support member and housing to dispose the upper end of the jar within the housing; seal element means on said housing for engaging the sides of the jar and sealing the said upper end of the jar within said housing; means within said housing, mounting a cap carrying suction member thereon; a driver rotatably carried by said housing and surrounding said suction member; means mounting said driver and jar support member for relative vertical movement; an inflatable, cap gripping element carried by said driver above said seal element means generally circumferentially adjacent said suction member; means for selectively inflating and deflating said cap gripping element; means for revolving'said driver; means for selectively vacuumizing the interior of said housing above said seal element means; means for selectively vacuumizing said suction member; and control means for operating all said means in sequence to vacuumize said suction member to engage a cap, to inflate said cap gripping element to cause it to grip the cap, to vacuumize the interior of the housing above said seal means when a jar has been moved within said housing, to revolve said driver while the cap and jar are being moved relatively vertically to thread the cap on the jar, and to deflate said cap gripping element.

8. In a jar capping machine; a downwardly opening housing adapted to receive the upper end of an uncapped jar; a jar support member; means for relatively moving said jar support member and housing to dispose the upper end of the jar within the housing; seal element means on said housing for engaging the sides of the jar and sealing the said upper end of the jar within said housing; means within said housing, mounting a cap carrying suction member thereon; an inflatable, cap gripping element above said seal element means generally circumferentially adjacent said suction member; means for relatively vertically moving said cap gripping element and jar support member; means for selectively inflating and deflating said cap gripping element; means for selectively vacuumizing the interior of said housing above said seal element means; means for selectively vacuumizing said suction member; and control means for operating all said means in sequence to vacuumize said suction member to engage a cap, to inflate said cap gripping element to cause it to grip the cap, to vacuum-ize the interior of the housing above said seal means when a jar has been moved Within said housing, to move the cap and jar relatively vertically to secure the cap on the jar, and to deflate said cap gripping element.

9. In a jar capping machine; a downwardly opening housing adapted to receive the upper end of a jar; a jar support member; means for relatively moving said jar support member and housing to dispose the upper end of the jar within the housing; means within said housing, mounting a cap carrying suction member thereon; an inflatable, cap gripping element generally circumferentially adjacent said suction member; means for relatively vertically moving said cap gripping element and jar support member; means for selectively inflating and deflating said cap gripping element; means for selectively vacuumizing said suction member; and control means for operating all said means in sequence to vacuumize said suction member to engage a cap, to inflate said cap gripping element to cause it to grip the cap, to move the cap and jar relatively vertically to secure the cap on the jar, and to deflate said cap gripping element.

10. In a jar capping machine; -a downwardly opening housing adapted to receive the upper end of an uncapped jar; a jar support member'movable relatively vertically therewith to dispose the upper end of a jar within said housing; vertically travelable means within said housing including a cap engaging member thereon; and a tubular, inflated, deformable cam carried above said means for urging said means downwardly to secure the cap on the ar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,860,270 5/1932Thubron 53 112 2,120,272 6/1938 Williams et al. 53--88 2,343,104 2/1944Williams 53*109 X 2,670,117 2/1954 Kantor 53-95 X 2,694,516 11/1954Barnby 53 2,884,751 5/1959Bjering 53 317 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,844 8/1893 Great Britain.

TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

FRANK E. BAILEY, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 7. IN A JAR CAPPING MACHINE; A DOWNWARDLY OPENING HOUSING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE UPPER END OF AN UNCAPPED THREADED JAR; A JAR SUPPORT MEMBER; MEANS FOR RELATIVELY MOVING SAID JAR SUPPORT MEMBER AND HOUSING TO DISPOSE THE UPPER END OF THE JAR WITHIN THE HOUSING; SEAL ELEMENT MEANS ON SAID HOUSING FOR ENGAGING THE SIDES OF THE JAR AND SEALING THE SAID UPPER END OF THE JAR WITHIN SAID HOUSING; MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING, MOUNTING A CAP CARRYING SUCTION MEMBER THEREON; A DRIVER ROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING AND SURROUNDING SAID SUCTION MEMBER; MEANS MOUNTING SAID DRIVER AND JAR SUPPORT MEMBER FOR RELATIVE VERTICAL MOVEMENT; AN INFLATABLE, CAP GRIPPING ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID DRIVER ABOVE SAID SEAL ELEMENT MEANS GENERALLY CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ADJACENT SAID SUCTION MEMBER; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY INFLATING SAID DEFLATING SAID CAP GRIPPING ELEMENT; MEANS FOR REVOLVING SAID DRIVER; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY VACUUMIZING THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING ABOVE SAID SEAL ELEMENT MEANS; MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY VACUUMIZING SAID SUCTION MEMBER; AND CONTROL MEANS FOR OPERATING ALL SAID MEANS IN SEQUENCE TO VACUUMIZE SAID SUCTION MEMBER TO ENGAGE A CAP, TO INFLATE SAID CAP GRIPPING ELEMENT TO CAUSE IT TO GRIP THE CAP, TO VACUUMIZE THE INTERIOR OF THE HOUSING ABOVE SAID SEAL MEANS WHEN A JAR HAS BEEN MOVED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, TO REVOLVE SAID DRIVER WHILE THE CAP AND JAR ARE BEING MOVED RELATIVELY VERTICALLY TO THREAD THE CAP ON THE JAR, AND TO DEFLATE SAID CAP GRIPPING ELEMENT.

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