Improvements in Can Heading Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1899
Improvements in Can Heading Machines.
I, ROBERT DENISTON HUME, residing at Gold Beach, in the County of Curry,
State of Oregon, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to machines for placing and securing the flanged ends or
heads upon tubular sheet metal can-bodies, and is particularly designed to form
part of an automatic can-making machine in which can-bodies are made from
flat sheets of metal, turned into tubular form with the meeting edges secured
together, and then provided with heads. Machines of this general character are
shown in my Letters Patent numbered 2781 and 2782, and dated February 2,
1897. My present improvements can be substituted for the heading apparatus
shown in those patents.
My present invention relates particularly to the means for operating the heading
rams, to special means for delivering the can-heads, to the means for operating
the can-body carrier or support and to means for discharging the headed cans.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the header;
Fig. 2, is an opposite side elevation ;
Fig. 3, is a front elevation;
Fig. 4, is a front elevation of one of the heading rams;
Fig. 5, is a detail section of the means for operating one of the can-head crimp-
ing sections;
Fig. 6, is a longitudinal section of the upper part of the header, showing a
can-body and two can-heads in position;
Fig. 7, is an enlarged elevation of part of the can-carrier to illustrate the can-
head feed;
Fig. 8, is an elevation of one of the heading rams showing the crimping
sections;
Fig. 9, is a longitudinal section of the clutch which transmits motion in one
direction to the can-carrier;
Fig. 10, is a cross-section of the same.
The mechanism. shown in these drawings is supposed to be part of an automatic
can machine and is located at the end of a long hollow and stationary horn D;
having a movable extension D' This horn is a prolongation of the can-body
forming mechanism which forms no part of the present invention. The exten-
sion D is operated by a rod G, (Fig. 1) connected to the side-bar C, which is
caused to reciprocate by connections from the driving-shaft of the can machine.
In the present construction its function is to introduce the bodies to the header.
Near the end of the table or frame A, is mounted the heading mechanism, which
is supported by two standards B, B1. Between these standards is journaled upon
a horizontal longitudinal axis, the intermittingly rotating carrier L, having a
peripheral gear L', and a series of can-holding chambers L². The extension D'
in its forward movement carries a can-body into the lowest of this series of.
[Price 8d.1

page_text: chambers, a yielding stop L³ being located in the standard B¹ to ensure the proper
placing of the can-body in position.
The can-carrier L, derives an intermittent rotary motion in one direction from
the reciprocating side-bar C; that is, it moves step by step in the direction of
the arrow in Fig. 3, at the strokes of the side-bar. The derivation of this rotary
motion from a direct reciprocating motion is accomplished by connections shown
in Fig. 1. A worm-shaft I, journaled in standards 2, on the main frame, is
engaged by a roller 3 on the side-bar. This worm-shaft is connected by a clutch
to a pinion 4 which is in gear with the gear L', and by means of which the carrier
derives a motion in only one direction or on the backward stroke of the side-bar,
remaining at rest, while a can is being headed, during the forward stroke of said
side-bar. The purpose of the clutch connection is therefore to make the rocking
or oscillating motion of the worm-shaft effective in only one direction. The
details of the clutch, are shown in Figs. 9 and 10, which should be referred to in
connection with Fig. 1. The clutch 5, is a disk fixed on the worm-shaft and
recessed to receive the hub 6 of pinion 4. The hub 6 is grooved, as shown in
Fig. 10, the bottom of the groove being of angular shape to provide a shoulder 7.
A pawl 8, pivoted in the clutch is pressed by a spring 9 into the groove so as to
bear upon the shoulder at one motion of the shaft and drive the loose pinion.
The other motion is ineffective to operate the pinion, and simply presses the pawl
into the recess in which it is pivoted; but a holding-pawl 1, is pivoted in the
main frame to bear positively in the opposite direction against a shoulder in the
hub of the pinion to act as a positive stop. Since the utmost accuracy is desirable
in the operation of heading, I have also provided a positive stop operated by the
side-bar C, for stopping the rotary carrier in exactly the proper place. The for-
ward end of the side-bar is provided with opposite inclines or cams 10 and 11,
which slide through a yoke formed upon the lower end of a lever 12.
The upper
end of this lever slides through a slot 13 in the stop-rod 14. the slot having
inclined walls so that the vertically moving lever 12 can operate the stop-rod at
right-angles. The end of the stop-rod engages with a carrier and positively stops
the same in proper position.
The can-bodies carried around by the rotation of the can-carrier arrive in turn
at a position between two heading-rams M, N, which force the heads upon the
ends of the can-bodies protruding from the chambers in the carrier. These rams
slide in guides upon the standards B, B', opposite the highest can-holding chamber,
and are forced toward each other and away from each other simultaneously.
The
Each ram consists of a ring M¹, a covering-plate M2 and an independent
plunger M³ forming part of the slide which moves in the guides upon the
stationary standard. Springs 15 are interposed between the slide and the ring M¹.
A separate spring-pad O. is connected by a spring 16 to the plunger M³ so that
the movement of the slides first presses these pads against the separate can-
heads T, (Fig. 6) forces them upon the can-body and holds them there.
heads are firmly secured upon the body by the crimping sections P, carried and
operated by the rams. The sections in each ram are carried between the ring M¹
and plate 2, and are driven inwardly against the flange of the can-head by the
beveled pins 17 carried by the plunger M³, and which are forced against beveled
surfaces 18 on the crimping sections. Four of these sections are shown (Fig. 8)
and together they surround the can-head flange making a continuous crease
or groove in the flange which tightly secures it upon the body.
In order to operate the two heading rams simultaneously a lever 19 is pivoted
to the standard 131 from the end of which a pitman 20 is connected directly to the
slide of the ram N, (Fig. 2). Below the pivotal point of the lever another pit-
man 21 is connected to a sliding-shaft 22, which passes centrally through the hub
of the can-carrier which rotates upon it (Fig. 6). The shaft 22 is connected
to the slide of the ram M. The oscillation of the lever 19, pushes the ram N,
and simultaneously pulls the ram M, to bring them together in heading the can
while the can-carrier is stationary, the reverse movement withdrawing them to

page_text: the position of Fig. 6, when the can-carrier is in motion. Fig. 2, shows the con-
nections for automatically operating the lever 19. consisting of a pitman 23, a
lever 24, pivoted thereto, and to the main frame, and a rod 25 which is supposed
to extend along the can-machine on the side opposite the side-bar C, and to derive
a properly timed reciprocating motion from a cam or in any suitable way.
A can which has been headed will be driven out of the chamber which carries
it by a discharging plunger R, (Fig. 2) the stem of which slides in bearings in
the standard B, and is connected by a link 26 to the pitman 23. The headed cans
fall into a discharging chute S, complete in all respects, with the exception of
soldering the heads, which is usually done in a separate head-soldering machine.
In this connection it will be noticed (Figs. 1 and 3) that the ends of the can-
bodies in the carrier are caused to pass in contact with rollers U, U, journaled
in acid or flux baths V, V, mounted on the standards of the header. These
rollers apply acid to the edges of the body previously to heading, which facili-
tates the operation of head-soldering subsequently to the heading operation.
The can-head feeding chutes 27, 27, are arranged substantially as shown in my
patents referred to, but the devices for restraining the can-heads in the chutes
and for feeding them singly into the header. are operated by the can-carrier itself.
Each can-chamber before it arrives in line with the rams strikes a lever 28,
pivoted to the header standard, and connected by an arm 29 to a
rock-shaft 30. The lever 28. falls normally into a slot in the projecting
end of each can-holding chamber and is lifted thereby, On the rock-shaft 30
are two sets of fingers 31, 32, one in each chute, which automatically hold and
release the can-heads, permitting one to escape from each chute and holding back
the remainder. The can-heads when in position for heading rest upon the ring M
as shown in Fig. 6.
i
The machine is shown as adapted to the heading of round cans, but it is obvious
that without material change the improvements described can be adapted to and
used for heading cans of cross-section other than round.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a can-heading machine, a rotary can-carrier, having can-holding chambers
and provided with a peripheral gear, in combination with oppositely acting head-
ing-rams, a pinion engaging with such gear, and means for giving an intermit-
tent rotation in the same direction to said pinion.
2. In a can-heading machine, a rotary can-carrier having can-holding chambers
and provided with a peripheral gear, in combination with an oscillating shaft, a
loose pinion thereon engaging said gear, a clutch on said shaft for alternately
engaging with and releasing said pinion as the shaft oscillates, and oppositely
acting heading-rams.
3. In a can-heading machine and in combination, a rotary can-carrier having
can-holding chambers, a reciprocating side-bar, connections between said side-
bar and carrier for imparting an intermitting rotation to the carrier, oppositely
moving heading-rams, a second and independent side-bar, and connections
between said last named side-bar and said rams for moving them simultaneously.
4. In a can-heading machine and in combination, a can-carrier, means for
imparting an intermittent rotation thereto, two oppositely moving heading-rams,
a supporting frame, a lever pivoted thereto and connected to one of said rams,
a sliding-shaft, forming the journal or axis for said carrier and connected to the
other of said rams, and means for oscillating said lever to produce a simultaneous
movement of both rams.
5. In a can-heading machine supporting standards, a shaft sliding longitudin-
ally in said standard, a can-carrier journaled between said standards and upon said
shaft, oppositely movable heading-rams sliding in said standards, a lever pivoted

page_text: to one of the standards and connected by a direct connection to one of said rams
and by said sliding-shaft to the other ram, and means for operating, said lever.
6. In a can-heading machine, the combination with a rotary can-carrier, and
with oppositely movable heading-rams, of a reciprocating side-bar, a rocking-
shaft having a worm and connected to the side-bar, and carrying a fixed clutch
disk engaging with a pinion at alternate oscillations of the worm-shaft, and a
gear on the can-carrier engaging said pinion.
7. In a can-heading machine, a rotary can-carrier having can-holding_cham-
bers, in combination with a can-head feed chute, a head retaining and releasing
device for feeding the heads singly from said chute, a slot in the wall of each can-
holding-chamber, a lever normally extending into said slot, and connections from
said lever for operating the can-head retaining and releasing devices.
8. In a can-heading machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of
a rotary can-carrier journaled therein and having chambers from which the ends
of the can-bodies project, a flux bath mounted on the frame, and a flux roller
mounted on an axis at right-angles to the axis of the can said roller being of a
length not less than the diameter of the can in the movement of the carrier, sub-
stantially as described.
9. In a can-heading machine and in combination a rotary can-carrier, a plunger
for seating can-bodies therein, two oppositely acting heading rams, and a second-
plunger for discharging headed cans from said carrier.
10. In a can-heading machine, the combination with the rotary can-carrier and
with heading mechanism operating in connection therewith, of a sliding-rod,
adapted to engage with and act as a stop for the carrier, a reciprocating side-bar
and a lever connecting said side-bar with said stop-rod.
11. In a can-heading machine, the combination with the rotary can-carrier,
and with heading mechanism, of a sliding-rod adapted to engage with said car-
rier, a lever engaging with said rod by means of inclined surfaces on said rod
and lever, and a reciprocating side-bar connected to said lever, and having oppo-
sitely placed cams.
12. In a can-heading machine, a rotary carrier, having a series of projecting
can-holding chambers, means for operating said carrier, and a stop adapted to
engage said projecting chambers and connected to said operating means.
13. In a can-heading machine, the combination with the rotary can-carrier and
with heading mechanism operating in connection therewith, of a reciprocating
side-bar having opposite inclines or cams, a lever engaging therewith and having
an inclined end, and a stop-rod having an inclined slot and engaging said lever.
Dated this 14th day of February 1899.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Chartered Patent Agents, 34, Castle Street, Liverpool.