Inventors:
Barry Spletzer - Lansing MI
George J. Swiatlowski - Fremont MI
Maurice W. Brandt - Fremont MI
Assignee:
Gerber Products Company - Fremont MI
International Classification:
B23P 2100
B23P 1900
Abstract:
A baby bottle top assembler automatically assembles nipple, collar and hood cap components into a unitary structure. Nipple, collar and hood feeders serially supply the cap components to pickup points. The feeders each include a hopper for holding the cap components, a conveyor for removing the cap components from the hopper and a magazine assembly for serially feeding the cap components to the pickup points adjacent the assembly wheel. Pickup pins pass the pickup points and first engage a nipple, then a collar and finally a hood. The components are snapped together into a unitary structure by a pinch roller. The unitary nipple/collar/hood assembly is removed from the pickup pin by an assembly stripper having fingers which engage under the nipple/collar/hood assembly forcing it off the pickup pin.