Improved MACHINERY FOR SECURING THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS OF CYLINDRICAL METAL BOXES OR CANS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Downie, of Caledonia Cottage, Bowes Park,
Wood Green, in the County of Middlesex, and William Frederick Lotz, of
No. 20, Barbican, in the City of London, for an Invention. of "Improved
MACHINERY FOR SECURING THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS OF CYLINDRICAL METAL
BOXES OR CANS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Downic and
William Frederick Lotz at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
15th June 1881.
WILLIAM DOWNIE, of Caledonia Cottage, Bowes Park, Wood Green, in the
County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM FREDERICK LOTZ, of No. 20, Barbican, in the
City of London. "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR SECURING THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS
OF CYLINDRICAL METAL BOXES OR CANS."
Our Invention relates to machines used for securing the ends to the body of
sheet metal boxes or cans of a cylindrical form, made of tin-plate or similar
material for containing preserved fruit, meat, vegetables, and other articles in such
a manner that the joints or connections will be airtight without the use of solder.
In a suitable frame we mount two discs in a vertical position to each other, and
between which the box or can is placed before the machinery is put into operation,
the body of said box or can having been first formed with a flange round the edges
of its ends by bending or turning over a portion of the aforesaid body at right
angles to the axis thereof. The disc to form the end (either the top or bottom of
the box or can) is also provided with a flange by bending or turning down the
edge thereof in such a manner that there will be a rim or flange projecting beyond
the extreme edge of the aforesaid disc, so that under pressure thereof said end and
body are capable of rotating together, suitable bearing points being provided. We
provide a lever, of which one end is formed as a handle, and the other end as a
ratchet. The ratchet end of this lever holds a convenient number of milling-
wheels or rollers horizontally placed, and each of which performs its own part in
DA All

page_text: the fastening or clinching process. Said lever is mounted upon a screw-slide,
which admits of its being adjusted to suit the size of the box or can which is
being operated upon. We fix a vertical milling-wheel in a convenient position
so as to prevent the flanges of the body and cover or end of the box or can from
being bulged whilst being operated on by the aforesaid milling-wheels or rollers.
This vertical milling-wheel is nctuated by a handle fastened to a shaft, upon which
are mounted the necessary contrivances or devices for holding said milling-wheel.
Motion is imparted to the machinery by a handle or pulley mounted on a shaft,
upon which there is a bevilled wheel, which comes in contact with another
bevilled wheel which is attached to the shaft holding the upper disc. The lower
disc is actuated by a treadle connected in a suitable manner with the lower end of
said shaft. The box or can having been placed in position the first mentioned
milling wheels or rollers are successively brought into operation upon the flanges of
the body and cover or end of the box or can by the said herein before mentioned
lever, thereby completing the folding or clinching process. If deemed necessary
we may interpose a layer of paper, rubber, or other suitable material between
the cover or end and the body of the box or can before the fastening is
accomplished.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Downie and William Frederick Lotz in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th December 1881.
WILLIAM DOWNIE, of Caledonia Cottage, Bowes Park, Wood Green, in the
County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM FREDERICK LOTZ, of No. 20, Barbican, in the
City of London. "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR SECURING THE TOPS AND BOTTOMS
OF CYLINDRICAL METAL BOXES OR CANS."
Our Invention relates to machines used for the purpose of securing the ends to
the body of sheet metal boxes or cans of a cylindrical form, made of tin-plate or
similar material for containing preserved fruit, meat, vegetables, and other articles
in such a manner that the joints or connections shall be air-tight without the use
of solder. In a suitable frame we mount two discs made of suitable metal in a
vertical position to cach other, between which the box or can is placed before the
machinery is put into operation, the body of said box or can having been first
formed with a flange round the edges of its ends by bending or turning over a
portion of the said body at right angles to the axis thereof. The disc to form the
end (either the top or bottom of the box or can) is also provided with a flange by
bending or turning down the edge thereof in such a manner that there will be a rim
or flange projecting beyond the extreme edge of the aforesaid disc, so that under
pressure thereof the said end and body are capable of rotating together, suitable
bearing points being provided. We provide a lever, of which one end is formed as
a handle, and the other end as a ratchet. The ratchet end of said lever holds a con-
venient number of milling wheels or rollers horizontally placed, and each of which
performs its own part in the fastening or clinching process. Said lever is mounted
upon a screw-slide, which adınits of its being adjusted to suit the size of the box
or can which is being operated upon. We fix a vertical milling-wheel in a con-
venient position so as to prevent the flanges of the body and cover or end of the
box or can from being bulged whilst being operated upon by the aforesaid milling-
wlicels or rollers. This vertical milling-wheel is actuated by a handlo fastened to
a shaft, upon which are mounted the necessary contrivances for holding said last
mentioned milling-wheel. Motion is imparted to the machinery by a handle or
pulley mounted on a shaft, upon which there is a beveled wheel which comes in
contact with another beveled wheel, which is attached to the shaft holding the
upper disc. The aforesaid lower disc is actuated by a treadle or pinion-rack
connected with the lower end of said shaft in a suitable manner.
The box or can
having been placed in position the first mentioned milling-wheels or rollers are
successively brought into operation upon the flanges of the body and cover or end
of the box or can by the lever herein before mentioned, thereby completing the
folding or clinching process. If necessary we may interpose a layer of thin paper,
rubber, or other suitable material between the cover and end or body of the box
or can before the fastening is accomplished.
For the better explanation of our said Invention we refer to the accompanying
Drawings, in which the like letters designate the like parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved machinery; Figure 2 is a front
elevation thereof. The box or can having been placed between the discs attached
to the upper and lower shafts of the machine, the rim or flange of the cover or end
of said box or can is acted upon successively by the milling-wheels held in the
ratchet al, Figure 2. The vertical milling-wheel a, Figure 2, is brought in contact
with the flange or rim aforesaid, so as to provent its being bulged when operated
on by the milling-wheels or rollers held in ratchet a'. The screw-slide benables

page_text: the ratchet a¹ to be moved so as to admit of a larger box or can being operated
upon. By raising or lowering the pinion on the rack b the box or can may be
placed between the two discs or removed at pleasure.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Downic and William Frederick
Lotz, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty
one.
WILLIAM DOWNIE. (L.S.)