Closure handling machine

Claim 1

IN A CLOSURE HANDLING MACHINE FOR ORIENTING AND FEEDING CLOSURES, IN COMBINATION, A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING INCLINED CARRIER, A BULK SUPPLY HOPPER DISPOSED BELOW THE CONTINUOUSLY MOVING CARRIER OF THE CLOSURE HANDLING MACHINE, MEANS FOR DELIVERING CLOSURES FROM THE BULK SUPPLY HOPPER ONTO THE CARRIER TO FORM A GROUP THEREOF FROM WHICH THE CLOSURES ARE WITHDRAWN AT RANDOM AND AT AN INDETERMINATE RATE, SAID DELIVERY MEANS INCLUDING AN INTERMEDIATE COMPARTMENT HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN, A CONVEYER HAVING A PLURALITY OF POCKETS ARRANGED TO RECEIVE CLOSURES FROM THE SUPPLY HOPPER AND TO ELEVATE AND DELIVER THE CLOSURES IN CONTROLLED AMOUNTS TO SAID INTERMEDIATE COMPARTMENT AND THROUGH SAID OPENING TO THE CARRIER OF THE HANDLING MACHINE, MEANS FOR DRIVING THE CONVEYER INCLUDING A NORMALLY ENGAGED CLUTCH, AND CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF CLOSURES IN SAID GROUP OF CLOSURES ON SAID CARRIER BEYOND A NORMAL HEIGHT SO AS TO IMPEDE THE FREE FLOW OF ARTICLES THROUGH SAID OPENING FOR DISENGAGING SAID CLUTCH TO DISCONTINUE THE OPERATION OF SAID CONVEYER AND FOR PERMITTING ENGAGEMENT OF SAID CLUTCH TO INITIATE OPERATION OF THE CONVEYER WHEN THE ACCUMULATION OF CLOSURES IN SAID GROUP ON THE CARRIER IS DECREASED BELOW SAID NORMAL HEIGHT.