Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-28
Wonderful Processes Used in the
Manufacture of Tin Cans.
TEE OLD SYSTEM and TIE new
Enormous Number Used for Pre-
serving Fruits and Vegetables.
OLD CANS IN COMMERCE

In view Oh the 1aCt tnAt prominent .TGll-
erers say that this will be one of the big
gest canning seasons on rec )rd, the won
derful process of tin can making takes an
added interest. Tin cans are made by ma
chinery. Over 400,OO0,OOO a year pro-
duced in this country. Out CT the 100000
boxes OF tin plate Q20 sheets to the box
used yearly only 100000 boxes go for gen.
eral use. The remaining 5,c00,000 boxes CT
tin QO0000,000 Sheets are made into cans.
Common fruit cans represent two-thirds OF
the entire product Assuming six inches as
the average height of a can. some idea Of
the enormity of this product may be had
when 1t is pointed out that If the cans were
to be placed end to lend The latter would
be 37,S7S miles in lensth-long enough to
reach one and one-half times around the
earth.
Twenty years ago fruit can factory
consisted of several dozen men and as many
boy helpers who made he cans ail by hand,
cutting them out with shears, passing the
sides through a ringer to roll them in
shape. The bottoms and covers were
shaped by means of dies, and the parts all
put together and soldered by hand. NatEr-
ally, when buying canned goods in those
days few cents went to pay fo- the can.
With twenty men and heir helpers, tho
most that could be produced in those days
was 5000 day. The same number of
by means of automatic machinery, to turn
out over 100000 day. There are now in
existence in New York. Chicago and Balti-
more large plants employing machines,
having a daily capacity of 100000. The r.o-
duction has increased rapidly year by year
as new machines have been invented. until
now 1t is only necessary to insert quantities
of tin sheets into one part of she ma
chine to have them automatically pass
through all the stages of manufacture and
drop out at the other end IN the shape OF
completely formed cans.
Like Printing Press.
The improved machine Of today is a COM
bnatfon Of eight or ten machines. The tin
sheets, cut exactly the same size, are load
ed in a machine that reminds one of a
printing press. This machine is a self
feeding, rolling and mortising machine.
taking one sheet at a time, looping over a
narrow margin on each edge of the sheet,
hooking these Topped edges together. and,
finally. clinching tightly the joint thus
made. This process completes the body of
the cans, which drop upon an endless belt
ing, and are carried to the next point of de-
velopment. AS it passes along, the seam
faces downward and runs through solder
well, which fills the joint with lead. The
surface Of the joint is rubbed off smooth.
The bodies of the cans now automatically
pass into the horizontal apertures of a
massive wheel, which revolves and stops
like tine cylinder of a pistol Two boys,
seated above this wheel, have all they can
do to keep two upright slides filled with
heads and bottoms for the cans. One by
one these fall in place, and are forced on
either end of the can bodies by dies. The
wheel revoves as each is finished, and they
are thrown out and carried along to the
next machine.
Soldering Tops and Bottoms.
The can. though now practically COM
pleted. runs into a long machine. consist
ing of belts and chains, the line Of cans
passing up on one side at an angle of for
ty-five degrees, around at the further end
and back again. This is the automatic
top and bottom solderer. An endless chain,
which moves along faster than the cans,
rests on top Of them, so that they are
rolled around as they advance. The cans
are tilted at an angle, SO that the bottom
and top edges or joints are, in turn, rolled
around in a long solder well at the lower
point of the angle. The tops are soldered
on one side of the machine, the bottoms on
the other. An elevator now carries them
to a burnisher, and thence to the big tester,
where a pressure of thirty-five pounds to
the square inch is exerted upon the can, to
insure it's strength and prove it water
tight.
This system Of machines occupies an en-
ormous space, and a continuous line of
bright cans is seen moving rapidly in all
directions, as plant usually consists Of
number of these complex systems on a
floor. Slightly different machines are used
IOr QlHerenC Styles OF CdnS-tOmat0 ana
ccrn cans, baking powder, condensed milk,
fruit, spices, druggists materials, ETC.
some machines tapping joints over a sec
ond time, so that they are water-tight
without being soldered.
Value of Old Cans.
It is a mistaken idea that there is no
further use for the tin can when thrown
out with the rubbish. Smelling companies
keep wagons employed constantly, and
many individuals make business Of gath
ering old tin cans by the wagon load at the
city dumps and around the suburbs, re-
ceiving as high as $780, load.
At the shelters they are dumped on a
CRATE, where the flames from burning shaw
iEgs melt of the tin and lead. Some of the
remaining iron pieces are frequently sold
to trunk manufacturers for use in binding
the frames Of trunks. the rough surface of
the metal holding the paint well. Gener-
ally. however. 1t is melted up over very hot
fires and nodded into various castings
Most of these factories manufacture sash
weights, weights for elevators etc, from
the tin and other common forms of cast
ings, although there is now a method by
which the iron from the old tins can be re-
fired and used for first-class castings
Arrur ANN