Cap-lining machine feed assembly and method

An assembly for moving caps through a cap-lining machine, the assembly comprising:

• a track for the downstream movement of the caps from an upstream end of the track to an opposed downstream end of the track;
• a cap-lining location formed in the track between the upstream and downstream ends;
• and
• means for allowing the downstream movement of one of the caps to the cap-lining location in response to ejection of another of the caps from the cap-lining location.

A method of lining caps, comprising:

• providing an assembly for moving the caps through a cap-lining machine, the assembly comprising a track for the downstream movement of the caps from an upstream end of the track to a cap-lining location at an opposed downstream end of the track, and first and second gates each mounted downstream from the cap-lining location for movement between first and second positions;
• providing caps to the track;
• moving each of the first and second gates to the first position;
• allowing the caps to move downstream toward the cap-lining location until a first cap encounters the first gate, the first gate cooperating with the caps to define a cap-lining configuration;
• activating the cap-lining machine to line the first cap;
• allowing the caps to move downstream toward a sensing location until the first cap encounters the second gate, the second gate cooperating with the caps to define a sensing configuration;
• sensing the first cap at the sensing location;
• and
• ejecting the first cap from the sensing location.