Patent GB-211175-A (GB)
Title: A new or improved method and apparatus for flanging and seaming sheet metal
IPC: B21D51/26
Filed: 1922-08-19
Abstract: 211,175. Rhodes, C. J., and Berry, G. W. Aug. 19, 1922. Seaming.-A machine for flanging and seaming sheet metal, particularly for attaching the bases and covers to sheet metal receptacles of cylindrical &c. section comprises a headstock b and a tailstock a having axially aligned plates or chucks b<2>, a<2>, between which work is held and rotated while being flanged and seamed in rapid succession by co-operating curling and seaming rollers e<3>, f<4>. The tailstock carries a slide e which is vertically adjustable on a screw e<1> and is provided with a bracket f in which are guided vertical rods f<1> supporting the seaming-roller f<4> under axial spring pressure f<3>. The roller f<4> is elevated or depressed by linkage from a shaft d<2> which is rocked by a cam d and is returned by a spring or by gravity. The slide e also has mounted thereon rollers g<1> for supporting the work and the curling-roller slide e<2> provided with pins i which are guided in a right-angled slot i<1> in the slide e and are constantly urged forward by a spring- pressed lever i<2>. The slide e<2> moves on a member supported by vertical rods e<4> controlled through linkage from a shaft h which is oscillated positively by a pair of cams h<1>, h<2> on the cam-shaft c<5>. The latter is driven through bevel and worm reduction gearing from a shaft b<3> which is itself driven by a pulley b<6> through an ordinary safetyclutch mechanism. The shaft b<3> is normally held stationary by brake shoes coacting with a drum m<4>. The work being positioned on the rollers g<1> and the end or cover being placed on the plate a<2>, the lever k<5> is depressed thereby releasing the brake shoes, starting the machine, and moving forward the shaft a' against spring pressure a<5> by means of bell-crank levers k, k<2>, k<4> and the bar k<3>. The latter is held in operative position by a spring-pressed catch l engaging a notch in the bar, the catch being tripped either by a cam l<5> at the conclusion o'f the seaming operation, or by a hand lever l<3>. The displacement of the plate a<2> is accompanied by a similar displacement of the roller e<3> till the pins i register with the vertical portions i<1> of the slot whereupon the slide e<2> is lowered by the rods e<4> and the flanging of the cover effected. At the lowest position of the roller e<3> the pins i coact with a catch j and are urged into an upwardly branching slot i<5> to the top of which they are slowly raised by their cam controlling-meohanism. This movement displaces the roller f<4> thereby allowing the cover flange to be curled. The pins i are then returned to the slot i<1> thus allowing the roller f<4> to flatten the seam, the rollers f<4> and e<3> being elevated together for this purpose. At the conclusion of the flattening operation the pins i retrace the horizontal portion of the slot and the catch l is tripped whereupon the spring a<5> withdraws the plate a<2> from the completed work and stops the machine. A similar mechanism may be mounted on the headstock b to secure a cover simultaneously on the other end of the receptacle. The slot i<11> has no horizontal portion in this case. The tailtock is adjusted by a screw a<1> and an adjustment k<6> on the bar k<3> is fitted, to enable the machine to operate on receptacles of different lengths.