May 1.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 999

air required to produce an oxyhydrogen mixture, and considerably lengthened in order to produce a good mixture, the foot of the said burner-tube preferably terminating openly above the gas-nozzle to allow of unimpeded inflow of air.

(Specification, 5s. 6d.; drawings, 1s.)

No. 14762.—18th April, 1902.—HALIBURTON PECK, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, temporarily of Sydney, New South Wales, Canning-machine Specialist (nominee of James Moore Kelly Letson and Frank Watts Burpee, both of 142 to 148, Alexander Street, Vancouver aforesaid, Canning Specialists and General Machinists). Improvements in can-washing machines.

Extract from Specification.—This invention relates to can-washing machines adapted for use in canning establishments for removing the grease and other foreign substances with which the exterior surfaces of the cans become covered in the process of filling, the removal of such foreign substances being necessary previous to securing the caps upon the cans in order to insure the adhesion of the solder or cement. The object of the invention is to provide a compact and efficient machine which will receive the cans, cover the same temporarily to prevent the escape of the contents thereof, carry them through a jet of hot water or other cleansing agent, remove the surplus water and dry the surfaces of the cans, and finally transfer them to a continuously moving carrier, whereby they are transported to the table where the caps are applied.

[NOTE.—The number and length of the claims in this case preclude them from being printed, and the foregoing extract from the specification is inserted instead.]

(Specification, 13s. 6d.; drawings, 3s.)

No. 14763.—18th April, 1902.—HALIBURTON PECK, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, temporarily of Sydney, New South Wales, Canning-machine Specialist (nominee of James Moore Kelly Letson and Frank Watts Burpee, both of 142 to 148, Alexander Street, Vancouver aforesaid, Canning Specialists and General Machinists). Improvements in machines for applying caps or ends to cans.

Claims.—(1.) A can-capping machine comprising a rotating frame having reciprocally movable can-seats, a rotatable table having openings for the cans, means for feeding the caps in position, vertically reciprocal cap-pressers, and means for simultaneously elevating the can-seats and depressing the cap-pressers, as specified. (2.) A can-capping machine comprising a rotating frame having can-seats, a rotatable table having openings for the cans, means for keeping the cap in position, and vertically reciprocal cap-pressers mounted on the frame, rotatable with the can-carrying frame, and means for reciprocally moving the cap-pressers in engagement with the caps and holding them during the operation of delivering the same to a take-off belt, substantially as described. (3.) In combination with a machine for applying the caps to cans, a rotatable table having openings for the cans and means for applying caps thereto, of a frame 24 having radial arms with spindles arranged therein, depending discs on the ends of such spindles, a rigidly fixed frame 27 secured to the top of the spindle 13, on which the table and the frames 14 and 24 rotate, said frame having a track 28 for rollers around the upper and lower sides of its rim, rollers 30 arranged to turn on the shanks of collars which are secured to the top of the spindles 25, and such rollers to take around the track 28, such track taking on the under-side of the rim of the frame 27 for a distance vertically above the fixed cam 46 on the bed, whereby the discs will be depressed and the can-supports will be elevated simultaneously, as set forth. (4.) A rotatable table having openings therein, in combination with reciprocating-discs above and below such openings, of jaws forming the annular rims of the said openings, a ring supporting said jaws having grooves in the upper side thereof beneath each respective jaw member, tongues depending from the under-sides of said jaws and engaging in the grooves, said grooves and tongues being placed at differential axis to the openings, for the purposes set forth. (5.) In combination with a rotatable table having openings therein, with reciprocating-discs vertically above and below such openings, of jaw members around said openings, rings connected with tongue-and-grooved mechanism with such jaws, said tongues and grooves arranged on arcs with a differential axis to the openings, of support members 53 secured beneath the table and supporting the said rings, arms 54 passing through slots in the upper sides of the members 53 and engaging fixed pins 52b depending from the said rings, antifriction devices on the projecting ends of said arms, and a cam 56 arranged on one side of the table which will engage and push the said arms inward and draw them forward, whereby the rings 52 will be turned for a distance back and forth, and whereby the openings will be expanded and contracted, as set forth. (6.) In combination with a rotatable table having openings therein, with reciprocating can and cap discs beneath and above such openings, of jaw members arranged at an angle around the said openings, said jaws being bell-mouthed from below and slightly flared from above, the contracted annular centre having rims for the seats of the can-caps, and upwardly projecting lips around such seats, of rigidly fixed pins depending from the table 20 to within slots 51c in said jaw members, said slots being arranged at an angle to each other, and with their slideways at right angles to the axis of the openings in the table, as specified. (7.) In combination with a rotatable table having openings therein, with reciprocating can and cap discs below and above such openings, of members for contracting and expanding the openings as specified, brackets 41 secured to the table at the rear sides of the openings, plates 48 arranged to reciprocate in slots on opposite sides of the openings, triggers 49 pivotally secured to oppositely fixed ears on the brackets 41, and the horizontally disposed arms of the triggers engaging with projections on the spindles which support the discs above the openings, as set forth. (8.) In a machine of the class described having a rotatable table with openings therein for the contact of cans and caps, the combination of spindles having discs 26 arranged above such openings, and means for raising and depressing the same, oppositely disposed projections secured on the rear sides of the said spindles 25, brackets 41 secured to the rear sides of the said openings, the inner sides of these brackets being of arc form on the same contour to the openings, slidable plates 48 arranged on opposite sides of the said openings, triggers 49 pivotally connected to upwardly and oppositely disposed ears on the brackets 41, and connecting with the projections on the spindles 25 and the slidable plates 48, whereby when the spindles rise and fall the said plates will be reciprocated over the opposite sides of the openings. (9.) In a machine of the class described having a rotatable table with openings therein, spindles arranged in a carrier 24 secured to the said table, said spindles having discs on their depending ends, collars 29 rigidly fixed to the upper ends of the said spindles, shanks on said collars which project inwardly, rollers on the ends of the shanks engaging with a track on the fixed frame 27, vertical apertures through the said shanks of the collars and guides 50, rigidly fixed in the arms of the frame 24 and passing upwardly through the apertures in said shanks of the collars, whereby the spindles 25 will be prevented from turning, as set forth. (10.) In combination with a rotatable table having openings therein, with reciprocating can and cap discs below and above such openings, slidable stems 42 arranged within the spindles 25 above the table, cap-holding discs 26 on the depending ends of the stems 42, coil springs 44 for normally pressing these holders downward, slots 25a in the sides of the spindles, and screws 43 inserted through such slots and secured in the spindles 42, whereby their movement will be controlled. (11.) In combination with a rotatable table having openings for cans, can-supporting discs arranged beneath in a frame integral with the table, a fixed table or can-guideway 33 supported and secured by brackets 32 on a level plane with the can-supports below the table, of an inwardly projecting horizontally disposed bracket 34 secured to one end of said table, a shaft 35 vertically journaled in such bracket, a wheel 36 having can-recesses 36a therein, said recesses being placed in alignment with the openings in the table, of a cap-feeding wheel 37 secured on the upper end of the shaft 35 and having recesses therein directly above the recesses in the wheel 36, and a toothed wheel 39 secured to upwardly projecting brackets on the cap-feeding wheel, which toothed wheel meshes with a like wheel 31 secured to the frame 24 above the rotatable table, as set forth. (12.) In combination with a rotatable table having openings therein, can-supporting discs below such openings, cap-engaging discs above such openings, of a can-feeding wheel having its recesses engage in alignment below the recesses or openings in the table, can-guards 40 arranged to prevent the cans from being pushed beyond such alignment, a table or bracket 38 secured upon the table 33 having a slideway for caps, a cap-feeding wheel 37 having recesses vertically arranged above the recesses or seats in the wheel 36, and means for communicating movements to these wheels simultaneously with the movement of the table 20, whereby a can will be placed on the support below the opening therein, and a cap will be placed over such opening, as set forth. (13.) In combination with a rotatable table having openings therein, and can-supports below such openings on a plane with a fixed table 39, a groove in such table for the passage of a belt 59, and an arc guide 63 fixed at even radii with the diameter of a can-feeding wheel 36, and means for changing