Improved Method and Means for Sealing Tins and Metal Boxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method and Means for Sealing Tins and Metal Boxes.
We JULES GERSANT of 71 College Road, Deal, Kent, Engineer, and
Place, London E.C.
ARCHIBALD GEORGE BUTTIFANT of 8 St. Benet
Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates particularly to a new or improved method and means for
effecting the hermetical sealing of tins or metal boxes for containing preserved
provisions and the like. Such receptacles are commonly composed of iron or steel
plate coated with tin and they are usually sealed by the application of solder.
According to this invention solder is dispensed with and the sealing is effected by
the fusion of the external stratum or coating of tin at those parts where the closing
is to be completed.
This fusion is brought about by the interposition of an electrical resistance in
contact with the tins or boxes at the required points and in connection with a
dynamo, electric generator or battery in the circuit. Such electrical resistance may
be in the form of a ring or of other shape corresponding with the shape of the
receptacle to be sealed; or it may be a straight or curved strip or wire, in
immediate proximity to a vertical, horizontal, or inclined plane upon which the tins
or boxes to be sealed are caused to travel automatically. It may be so arranged
that the tin or box itself shall complete the circuit at the moment when it is under
operation. It may be added that the receptacle to be sealed is automatically freed
from the electrical resistance when the fusion is achieved, thus avoiding any accident
which might arise from the circuit if left in action.
To expedite the process, when large quantities of tins or boxes have to be dealt
with a suitable device is employed to bring the tins or boxes automatically into
position for sealing. Such device may consist of a toggle joint or cam or eccentric
or equivalent mechanical contrivance revolving upon a shaft or axis underneath a
slide upon which the tins or boxes are placed or of a rocking lever or the like to
which an intermittent movement is given, for the purpose of raising each box, or tin
to the exact point for sealing at the precise moment when the contact is to be
made. As the tins or boxes are sealed, they may proceed along a strap for
delivering to any part of the works. A series of such sealing devices and
automatic receiving and delivering appliances may be operated in connection with
one electro-motor and it will thus be understood that very large quantities of tins
or boxes, may be hermetically sealed with facility and economy.
Dated this 28th day of May 1895.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23 Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicants.

page_text: '
Improved Method and Means for Sealing Tins and Metal Boxes.
We, JULES GERSANT, of 71, College Road, Deal, Kent, Engineer, and
ARCHIBALD GEORGE BUTTIFANT, of 8, St. Benet's Place, Gracechurch Street,
London, E.C., Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention relates to improvements in the method of and means for
hermetically sealing metal boxes, tins, or cans, such as those intended for preserving
alimentary substances and other articles, and in the machinery necessary for
effecting this result and relates to such boxes, tins, or cans as are composed of iron,
steel, or other plates having a coating or coatings of tin or other fusible metal or
material thereupon. The invention consists essentially in fusing by means of an
electric current of high intensity of heat a portion of the coating of tin or other
fusible metal or material at the junction of the plates. In this way, the tops and
bottoms can be joined with the bodies of the boxes, tins; or cans aforesaid, so
as to form a hermetically sealed joint without necessarily employing a soldering
iron or solder or any other soldering composition. The operation of hermetically
sealing the joints, is thus much facilitated and a considerable saving in the cost of
production and labour is effected.
In carrying out our invention, we proceed in or in about the following manner,
that is to say, we provide a rectangular and waterproof box or trough, and
within this we suspend a basket similar to, but smaller in dimension than, the
waterproof box or trough. This basket is made of a good conductor of
electricity such as copper and perforated with holes. On the bottom of the
interior of the basket, are a number of projections to retain in position the
boxes, tins, or cans which it is intended to contain. Through the side of the outer
trough is passed a binding screw which by means of a spring or the like, electrically
connects the inuer basket to one pole of a source of electricity of high intensity.
Hinged to, or sliding on the trough, is a cover having in it a number of holes, and
an equal number of plungers or pins working in these holes and each encircled by a
spring to allow them a certain margin of upward and downward movement.
All
these plungers or pins are electrically connected with each other, and also by
another binding screw to the opposite pole of the source of electricity above
referred to.
In practice the basket is filled with the appointed number of boxes tins or cans,
the same having been previously closed or connected by means of the ordinary
seaming machine or other machine of a like character.
The seams or joints of the boxes, tins or cans, having been arranged ready
for sealing, water is poured into the trough until it reaches to within about 16 of
an inch of such seams or joints, a waste pipe preventing it rising higher. The lid
or cover of the trough is thus slid over, and shut down, thus bringing the plungers
or pins into electrical contact with the joints or seams intended to be herinetically
sealed. A current of electricity of high heat is then switched on to the binding
screws, and the intense heat thus produced in contact with the seams or joints
of the boxes, tins or cans, intended to be hermetically sealed, melts at the points
of contact the tin or other fusible coating on the iron, steel, or other plate, of
which the boxes, tins, or cans are composed, and there hermetically seals the
same. We prefer to do without solder and to utilize as a substitute simply the
coating of tin or other fusible metal with which the sheet metal of the boxes,
tins, or cans, is covered. It is preferable to wipe with the usual flux the outer rims
or edges of the tops, bottoms, and side seams of the boxes, tins, or cans, before
fixing by means of the seaming machine or other machine of a like character.

page_text: The essential feature of the invention is, the fusion to amalgamation (by a
current of electricity of high intensity of heat) of the coating of tin or other
fusible metal on the tops and bottoms with that on the bodies of the boxes,.
tins, or cans, whether that coating be applied specially for the purpose, or exists.
as the original coating of the metal from which the boxes, tins, or cans, are made..
In order to more clearly shew the nature of the apparatus for carrying out our
process, we make reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which, Fig. 1
is a half sectional front view, and Fig. 2 a half sectional plan. Similar letters refer
to the same parts when they occur in each figure.
a is the water-tight trough, e the perforated basket suspended therein. the
projections for supporting the boxes, tins, or cans, or the like. j, k is one of
the binding screws passing through the trough and electrically connected with the
basket by the spring or other suitable means. To this binding screw is also.
connected one pole of a suitable source of electricity of high intensity.
m is a hinged lid which can be raised or lowered by the handle n, and is kept in
place during ascent or descent by pins o moving in slots p in the supports q.
Through the lid are the holes r, in which work the plungers or pins s encircled by
the spiral springs t, so as to permit of their accommodating themselves to any
slight inequality in the height of the boxes, tins, or cans, or the like under
treatment. u is the plate electrically connecting each pin or plunger with the
others, and the binding screw connecting them with the opposite pole of the
source of electricity to that connected at k. wo shews the level of the water,.
and the tap for preventing the proper height being exceeded. The operation of*
the apparatus has already been described.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise details, conformations, relative
proportions or disposition of parts, described in the Specification, and exemplified.
in the drawings, as any or all of them can be varied to suit circumstances and
requirements, and although we have described and shewn a practicable machine,.
nevertheless, we do not restrict ourselves to this one machine for carrying out our
process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The process for hermetically sealing metal boxes, tins, or cans by means of an
electric current of high intensity of heat, substantially as described in the above.
Specification and exemplified, as regards one mode of carrying the process into
effect, in the accompanying drawings.
2. The utilization of the layer of tin or fusible metal on boxes, tins, or cans,.
for the purpose of hermetically sealing the same by means of a current of
electricity of high intensity of heat applied thereto, substantially as hereinbefore.
described.
3. The combination of parts together forming and operating as a machine for
hermetically sealing metal boxes, tins, or cans, or the like, by means of a current.
of electricity of high intensity, of heat, substantially as described in the above.
Specification, and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1896.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicants..