Abstract: A device for orientating ball caps in a bottle type capping machine of the type having an upper cap chute assembly, a lower cap chute assembly, a capping stabilizer assembly and a conveyor carrying bottles to be capped. The device consists of a sleeve sized to fit vertically between the upper cap chute assembly and the lower cap chute assembly to allow each ball cap to travel therethrough. A mechanism is for securing the sleeve to the bottle type capping machine in its vertical position. Another mechanism is for rotating each ball cap one hundred and eighty degrees when traveling through the sleeve by the force of gravity so that each ball cap will be in its proper position to be placed upon and capped to each bottle traveling along the conveyor below the capping stabilizer assembly.

Abstract: A hand held capper that will engage a cap for tightening the cap onto a container is provided and includes a clutch mechanism that will sense the torque between the cap and a neck of the container and will allow a cap driver chuck with an elastic chuck insert thereon to stop rotating once the desired torque is reached while allowing a spindle shaft from a drive unit to continue to rotate.

Abstract: A clamp for holding a fiber optic eye of a fiber optic cable or similar switch, sensor, etc. to a guide rail on a conveyor is provided and consists of a first jaw member which fits against the back surface and the bottom surface of the guide rail, a set screw in the first jaw member, for retainig the fiber optic eye of the fiber optic cable thereto, a second jaw member which is pivotally mounted on the first jaw member and fits over the top surface of the guide rail and a mechanism for causing the second jaw member to pivot and pinch against the top surface of the guide rail so that the clamp can manually slide on the guide rail and then be retained in a stationary position on the guide rail when the pinching mechanism is activated.

Abstract: An automatic conveyorized volumetric container filler is provided and consists of a mechanism to pump a predetermined amount of fluid from a reservoir into containers by using volumetric piston pumps operated by a pump drive cylinder. The containers are automatically conveyed to a plurality of filling nozzles for receiving the fluid therefrom so that after the containers are filled, they can be conveyed away to be capped.

Abstract: A movably mounted auxiliary hopper and a platform therefor are provided for discharging small articles contained in the container to a cooperably associated dispensing hopper mounted on the platform, the dispensing hopper being adapted to feed articles in an oriented position to a cooperably associated chute directed to a receiving station. The auxiliary hopper comprises a container having bottom, side and end walls and an open top for receiving a charge of small articles therein, the container being adapted to provide gravity flow of the articles to a discharge end of the container. A U-shaped trough extends from the discharge end of the container and which communicates with the interior of the container.

Abstract: A drip pan protector for a nozzle in a container filling machine that includes a drip pan carried on two swing arms which will go under the nozzle to catch liquid drippings when the nozzle moves up after filling a container and will move away from under the nozzle when the nozzle moves down to fill the container.

Abstract: A cap alternator feed device is provided for a capper machine and consists of a mechanism that will prevent deposition of a cap on a raised portion of a container that is at an elevation not lower than the container neck but will allow a cap to be placed onto the neck.

Abstract: A cap disc clutch mechanism is provided in which a pair of cap disc clutch mechanisms will sense the torque between a cap and neck of a container and will allow cap tightening discs thereon to stop once the desired torque is reached and at the same time, allow the spindle shaft to still spin. The cap disc clutch mechanisms are adjustable to different torques, since the torque required for caps and containers varies considerably.