Reciprocating pusher for transferring articles between conveyors

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a can body transfer mechanism particularly adapted for use as part of an automatic coating and printing machine wherein can bodies and like tubular members are automatically positioned on mandrels and thereafter serially presented to coating and printing blankets. The transfer apparatus includes a vertically disposed feed screw which spaces can bodies and transfers them to a feed turret which, in turn, transfers the can bodies to a transfer turret. The transfer turret has generally horizontally disposed pockets axially aligned with mandrels carried by an endless chain and there is associated with the transfer turret a pusher turret having a plurality of pusher members thereon axially aligned with the turret pockets and the mandrels and automatically operable by a fixed cam in response to the rotation of the pusher turret to push can bodies from the transfer turret pockets onto the mandrels.