Abstract: Apparatus is provided for accepting a population of articles of the type having one axis generally longer than the other and one end different from the other with random orientation of the ends and providing a high-speed output stream of articles with all the ends thereof commonly oriented. The apparatus comprise a rotatable wheel adapted to accept the articles with randomly oriented ends in the periphery thereof and advance said articles to an output station having means for constraining the articles during advance thereof in the wheel and means for biasing said articles to turn end for end within the wheel only as the result of an article being in an undesired endwise orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for accepting an initially presented population of randomly oriented elongated slender articles which terminate in an enlarged head portion, and providing a high-speed output stream, wherein all said articles are commonly oriented for further mechanical manipulation. The apparatus comprises an input bowl for accepting the articles, which bowl includes a rotatable central disk for feeding objects incident thereupon to the periphery of the disk. A continuous wall member extends upwardly from the disk periphery about a major arced zone, the bottom of the wall member being spaced from the disk to define a gap through which the elongated portion of the articles may protrude while the heads of same continue to ride upon the disk periphery in sliding contact with the side wall. An output section defined adjacent the periphery of the disk at the portion opposed to the arced zone receives and delivers the articles from the disk.

Abstract: The apparatus disclosed is used to orient container caps with their open ends facing up from a randomly oriented vertical orientation by guide channel means having a base and including an input end for receiving the caps at the vertical orientation, an output end whereat the caps are reoriented along their diameters with the said open ends facing upwardly, and a transition zone between input and output ends, whereat the caps gravitationally tip and fall to their surfaces which include their diameters; a narrow support member extending longitudinally and centrally along the base of the transition zone for underlying and supporting the caps thereat; and a pair of members extending laterally along the sides of the transition zone, the spacing between the lateral members being such at the upstream end of the zone as to sandwich the caps and constrain same against tipping, and said members diverging toward the downstream end of said zone to remove the constraints and permit gravitational tipping from the narrow su

Abstract: Apparatus for accepting an initially presented population of randomly oriented container caps and providing an output in-line stream of said caps wherein the open ends of the caps face in an upward direction to facilitate further processing of the caps. The apparatus comprises a feeder bowl for accepting the randomly oriented caps, and feeding from an output port thereof, an in-line stream of caps oriented in a substantially horizontal plane. An inclined twisting chute extends from the output of the feeder bowl. This chute receives the in-line stream of caps and twists the plane of advance of same through 90.degree., whereby the caps are reoriented to a stream wherein their diameters are substantially in a vertical plane.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for lining container closures with seals, and for testing the closures. The apparatus includes means for forming an infeed stream of closures and means interacting with the stream for forming closure groups. Conveyor means accept the groups and convey same to the various stations. At an initial station the shell integrity of the closures is tested; and closures are rejected at a following station if found to be the product of short molding shots or so forth. Thereafter, an adhesive is dispensed to the closure interior, and at a successive station seals are punched from a web and emplaced in the closure. A loose liner detector and removal station detects and removes loose liners from the closures. The sealing characteristics of the closures are then tested at a further station, and closures found to be imperfect are rejected; after which the closures which successfully pass through the several stations are discharged from the apparatus.

Abstract: An elevatable operator-actuated lifting device, including a lower support frame and a platform section telescopically interfitted with the support frame as to be elevatable with respect thereto. Hydraulically actuated piston and cylinder means are provided for telescoping and de-telescoping the platform section with respect to the support frame, to enable elevation and lowering of the platform section. Means moveable with the platform section, including a manually actuated hydraulic pump, enable pressurization and de-pressurization of the piston and cylinder means, to thereby enable raising and lowering of the platform section by an operator standing thereupon.