Carousel can end feed unit

Claim 1

Apparatus for supplying can ends and the like, comprising a frame, endless upper and lower multi-link, roller drive chains mounted for cyclic motion on the frame, drive means for driving the upper and lower roller chains, a plurality of carrier members for supporting a stack of can ends or the like, carried by said roller chains, and ejector means for transferring a stack of ends from said carrier member to a receiving station, an improved mounting arrangement for said carrier members, comprising releasable interconnector means for connecting each carrier member to the upper and lower roller drive chains, which interconnector means includes first and second spaced extensions on each carrier member extending toward the respectively adjacent upper and lower roller chains, and vertically projecting pin means on said roller chains, said first and second extensions providing aperture means receiving said pin means to attach the carrier members to the roller chains for motion therewith, said interconnecting means enabling the positions of the carrier members on the chain to be altered and also providing for ease in the interchanging of carrier members of different size; and support means for said carrier members, comprising an upper, substantially planer frame surface, roller means journalled to the bottom of each carrier member in a position to roll over said frame surface to facilitate movement of said carrier member about the apparatus frame and to support the carrier members and any can ends carried therein so that the weight of said carrier members and can ends need not be supported by said drive structure or said interconnector means.