IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET- METAL CANS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SHEET-
METAL CANS" communicated to him from abroad by Edwin Norton and John
G. Hodgson, both of Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1883.
"
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR USE IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SHEET METAL CANS' [a communication to him from abroad by
Edwin Norton and John G. Hodgson, both of Chicago, Illinois, United States of
America]
This invention relates to machines for forming double seams on the ends of sheet
metal cans, and its object is to provide a machine for performing this operation
automatically and with greater facility and accuracy than heretofore.
In double seaming machines heretofore in use, the seaming tools are pressed
against the revolving can by the hand of the operator; first one tool and then
another, or if only a single tool is employed first in one position and then in
another for performing the different steps or operations of burring, peaning and
finishing the seam, which makes the operation of the machine somewhat slow and
tedious as the attendant must not only place the can upon the revolving stand or
chuck, but give it his attention throughout the whole operation. And to do good
work and make tight and perfect seans it is necessary that the requisite time
should be given to each separate step, and that the tool should be applied to the
can with the proper degree of force, so that heretofore it has been necessary to
employ skilled labor to run these machines, and even then many imperfect and
leaky seams will unavoidably occur.
The present Invention consists essentially in the combination with a revolving
chuck for holding and revolving the can, of a scaming tool or tools mounted upon a
rocking or movable holder and automatically applied to the can to form the seam

page_text: by cams or equivalent means, whereby the operation of the machine and its work
are rendered uniform and perfect. The movable disc of the revolving chuck is
automatically raised so as to clasp the can against the other disc of the chuck by
means of a cam and suitable connecting mechanism. The seaming tools consisting
of a plain roller, and a bevel edged roller, are mounted one above the other on
sliding arms which move radially in and out in suitable slots or guides on a holder
secured to a rock-shaft. As the rock-shaft turns up or down stationary cams force
the sliding tool arms in and out and present the tools in different positions to the
work as may be required. Except during the finishing or last step both tools
operate or bear simultaneously upon the work, the one offering an opposing surface
for the other to bear against. The tool-holder and cams for operating the tools are
all mounted upon an adjustable sliding head, so that the machine may be adjusted
to operate upon cans of different sizes or diameters.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a revolving chuck for
holding and rotating the cam while the scaming is being performed by the seaming
tools. The upper disc of the chuck is secured to a shaft mounted in suitable
bearings on the frame of the machine, which shaft is continuously rotated by
means of a bevel gear wheel meshing with a bevel gear wheel on the pulley shaft.
This shaft is arranged horizontally and journalled in bearings on the frame of the
machine. The driving pulley is keyed to this shaft. The lower disc of the chuck
'is secured to a shaft which is journalled so as to reciprocate vertically in a bearing
on a bracket secured to the frame of the machine by suitable bolts, or otherwise.
A rock-shaft is journalled in a suitable bearing on a sliding head and to the end
of this shaft the tool holder or head is secured so as to rotate or rock with it. The
tool holder is provided with radial grooves or guides in which arms or slides on
which the seaming tools are journalled may move in and out to or from the work.
The sliding arms are actuated as the tool-holder is rocked or rotated by means of
stationary grooved cams, the arms being provided with pins which fit in said
grooved cams. The pins should be provided with small friction pulleys or rollers.
The rock-shaft is rocked about a quarter turn on its axis by means of a crank-
arm and a pitman connected to a revolving cam-wheel on a shaft. The sliding
head to which the cams are secured, and upon which the rock-shaft is mounted,
may be moved in and out to adjust the machine to different sized cams, by means
of an adjusting screw. The upper cam is pivotted at its upper end to the sliding
head and is provided with an independent adjusting screw at its lower end, whereby
the force with which the finishing roll presses against the can may be regulated.
The other cam is secured to the sliding head by screws or bolts passing through
a flange on the said cam..
The shaft carrying the revolving cam wheel is journalled in suitable bearings on
the frame of the machine, and power is communicated to it by means of a belt
from a small pulley on a shaft, which belt operates a band wheel on a counter shaft
jourualled in suitable bearings on the frame; which counter-shaft is provided with
a spur gear wheel, which meshes with a spur gear wheel fitting loosely on the shaft.
The loose gear wheel is clutched to the shaft by means of a clutch which engages
with a corresponding clutch surface on the side of the gear wheel. The said clutch
is operated by a spring surrounding the shaft which abuts against a collar secured
to the shaft in the ordinary manner. The operation of the spring is to press the
clutch against the clutch surface of the gear wheel when the horizontal pivotted arm
is raised, so that the pin secured to the outside of the clutch-sleeve does not strike
against said pivotted arm. The pivotted arm is provided with a cam-surface on its
side so that when said arm is dropped so as to rest upon the clutch sleeve it will
operate to retract the clutch from its engagement with the loose spur gear wheel.
The clutch sleeve is secured to the shaft so as to revolve with it by means of a pin
which passes through said shaft and through a slot in said clutch sleeve. The
pivotted arm is raised so as to permit the clutch to engage the gear wheel by
ineans of a rod connected with a bent lever which is pivotted to the frame of the
machine.

page_text: The vertically reciprocating shaft is operated so as to chuck the can from the
cam wheel by means of a crank-shaft provided with two arms one of which has a
roller which engages with the cam and the other is connected by a rod with an
arm on a crank shaft which is provided with another arm upon which the vertically
reciprocating shaft rests or is supported. The lower end of this shaft should be
made conical or tapering and the arm should be provided with a pivotted base-
block. A rod is secured in the end of the arm by means of a set screw, so that
said rod connection may be adjusted as may be necessary to operate upon cans of
different lengths. There is a tube or. chamber containing a spring which presses
against the lower end of the crank arun so as to press one of the arms always
against the cam surface.
Ordinarily I also provide the machine with a treadle connected with an arm on
a crank shaft so that the chuck disc may be operated by hand when desired by
simply loosening the set-screw which connects the rod with the arm. A friction
wheel is provided with a friction clamp which will serve to steady the motion of
the machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Patent Office on the 24th April
1884.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake and Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR USE IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF SHEET METAL CANS" (a communication to me from abroad by
Edwin Norton and John G. Hodgson, both of Chicago, Illinois, United States of
America
This invention relates to machines for forming double seams on the ends of sheet
metal cans, and its object is to provide a machine for performing this operation
automatically and with greater facility and accuracy than heretofore.
In double seaming machines heretofore in use, the seaming tools are pressed
against the revolving can by the hand of the operator, first one tool and then
another, or if only a single tool is employed first in ono position and then in
another, for performing the different steps or operations of burring and finishing
the seam, which makes the operation of the machine somewhat slow and tedious,
as the attendant must not only place the can upon the revolving stand or chuck,
but give it his attention throughout the whole operation. And to do good work
and make tight and perfect seams, it is necessary that the requisite time should be
given to ench separate step, and that the tool should be applied to the can with
the proper degree of force, so that heretofore it has been necessary to employ
skilled labor to run these machines, and even then many imperfect and leaky
seams will unavoidably occur.
The present invention consists essentially in the combination with a revolving
chuck for holding and revolving the can, of a seaming tool or tools mounted upon
a rocking or movable holder and automatically applied to the can, to form the
seam, by cams or equivalent means, whereby the operation of the machine and its
work are rendered uniform and perfect. Tho movable disc of the revolving chuck
is automatically raised so as to clasp the can against the other disc of the chuck by
means of a cam and suitable connecting mechanism.
The seaming tools, consisting of a plain roller, and a bevel edged rollor, are
mounted one above the other on sliding arms which move radially in and out in
suitable slots or guides on a holder secured to a rock shaft. As the rock shaft
turns up or down, stationary.cams force the sliding tool arms in and out and
present the tools in different positions to the work as may be required. Except
during the finishing or last step, both tools operate or bear simultaneously upon
the work, the one offering an opposing surface for the other to bear against. The
tool-holder and cams for operating the tools are all mounted upon an adjustable
sliding head, so that the machine may be adjusted to operate upon cans of different
sizes, or diameters,
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of mechanism embodying this invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are views of details drawn to an enlarged scale and showing
the double seam in several stages of completion, and the corresponding positions of
the seaming tools.
Figure 7 is a view showing the arm for operating the rock-shaft.
Figure 8, is a plan view of the rockshaft, tool-holder and cams, for operating the
tool-arms.
Figure 9 is a view of the clutch and the lever for operating the same.
Figure 10 is a plan view of the said lever, and
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the clutch drawn to an enlarged scale.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the soveral figures.

page_text: A indicates the frame of the machine and B B¹ the revolving chuck for holding
and rotating the can while the seaming is being performed by the seaming tools.
The upper disc B of the chuck is secured to a shaft 6 mounted in suitable
bearings b' on the frame of the machine, which shaft is continuously rotated by
means of the bevel gear wheel 6' engaging with the bevel gear wheel bs on the
pulley shaft b. The shaft b* is arranged horizontally and journalled in bearings 6³
on the frame of the machine.
C indicates the driving pulley keyed to this shaft. The lower disc B₁ of the
chuck is secured to a shaft bª which is journalled so as to reciprocate vertically in a
bearing 67 on a bracket A' secured to the frame of the machine by suitable bolts or
otherwise.
D indicates a rock-shaft journalled in a suitablo bearing D¹ on the sliding
head G and to the end of this shaft the tool-holder or head d is secured so as to
rotate or rock with it. The tool-holder d is provided with radial grooves or
guides in which arms or slides d', on which the seaming tools d³, d* are
journalled may move in and out to or from the work. The sliding arms d² aro
actuated, as the tool-holder is rocked or rotated, by means of stationary grooved
cams E and E', the arms d³ being provided with pins e which fit in the said grooved
cams. The pins e should be provided with small friction pulleys or rollers.
The shaft D is rocked about a quarter turn on its axis by means of the crank
arm D and the pitman D' connected to the revolving cam-wheel D' on the shaft D³.
The sliding head G to which the cams E and E¹ are secured, and upon which the
rock-shaft is mounted, may be moved in and out to adjust the machine to different
sized cans by means of the adjusting screw H. The upper cam E is pivoted at its
upper end to the sliding head G and is provided with an independent adjusting
screw at its lower end, whereby the force with which the finishing-roll presses
against the can may be regulated. The cam E¹ is secured to the sliding head G by
screws or bolts passing through a flange on the said cam E¹.
The shaft D is journalled in suitable bearings Dª on the frame of the machine
and power is communicated to it by means of a belt D' from a small pulley D³ on
the shaft b, which belt operates a band-wheel K on a counter shaft journalled in
suitable bearings on the frame; The said counter shaft is provided with a spur-
gear wheel, which engages with a spur-gear wheel fitting loosely on the shaft D.
The loose gear-wheel kis clutched to the shaft D³ by means of a clutch ¹ which
engages with a corresponding clutch surface on the side of the gear wheel k¹. The
clutch is operated by a spring ³ surrounding the shaft D' which spring abuts
against a collar secured to the shaft D³ in the ordinary manner.
The operation
of the spring is to press the clutch k against the clutch surface of the gear wheel
when the horizontal pivoted arm is raised, so that the pin secured to the
outside of the clutch-sleeve does not strike against the said pivoted arm. The
pivoted arm is provided with a cam-surface on its side, so that when the said
arm is dropped so as to rest upon the clutch-sleeve kit will operate to retract the
clutch from its engagement with the loose spur gear wheel. The clutch sleeve k
is secured to the shaft D³ so as to revolve with it, by means of a pin ³ which
passes through the said shaft and through a slot 10 in said clutch-sleeve. The
pivotted arm is raised so as to permit the clutch to engage the gear wheel by
means of a rod connected with a bent lever k¹s pivotted to the frame of the
machine.
The shaft 6 is reciprocated vertically so as to chuck the cam from the cam
wheel D' by means of the crank shaft L provided with two arms and the
former of which has a roller which engages with the cam D' and the latter of
which is connected by a rod with an arm on the crank shaft which is
provided with another arm upon which said shaft bo rests or is supported. The
lower end of the shaft 66 should be made conical or tapering, and the arm should
be provided with a pivotted base-block . The rod is secured in the end of the
arm by means of a set scrow, so that the said rod connection may be adjusted
as may be necessary to operate upon cans of different lengths.

page_text: M indicates a tube or chamber containing a spring m which presses against the
lower end of the crank arm so as to press the arm always against the cam
surface D. Ordinarily the machine is also provided with a treadle N connected
with an arm n on the crank-shaft so that the chuck disc B¹ may be operated by
hand when desired by simply loosening the set screw which connects the rod ³
with the arm l³.
P indicates a friction wheel provided with a friction clamp p which serves to
steady the motion of the machine.
The operation of the seaming tools is as follows that is to say :--a can and its
head or cover being placed in the chuck, the machine is set in motion by means of
the hand lever, when the revolution of the wheel D' rocks the shaft D causing the
cam E¹ to force the bevel roller against the flange of the cover and fold it over the
flange on the can-body, as shown in Figure 4, and at the same time the cam E-
presses the smooth or finishing tool down on the top edge of the cover so as to bold
the same on and afford an opposing surface for the bevel roller to bear against As
the tool-holder swings down on the curve, the cams hold both tools against the
seam until it assumes the form shown in Figure 5, the bevel roller offering a
support to the under side of the seam, while the smooth roller above is turning the
seam down, as the tool-holder swings still further down to the end of its stroke,
the cam E draws back the bevel roller while the smooth roller, assuming a
horizontal position, finishes the seam and presses it smooth against the side of the
can. The seaming tools it will thus be seen have a compound swivel or rotary and
reciprocating motion, the swivel or rotary motion being communicated to the tools
by the swinging or rocking of the tool-holder on the rock-shaft, and the reciprocating
motion of the tools on the tool-holder being due to the action of the camis on the
sliding tool arms.
The point or edge of the bevel roller d' as shown in Figures 1, 4 or 5, is the
centre or axis of the rock-shaft and the circular or middle portion of the cam E¹ is
an are of a circle about such centre so that the bevel roller swings around such
point as a centre until it is withdrawn by the lower or upper portions of the cam.
I have shown in the drawings what I consider the best method of carrying this
invention into practice and the preferable number and form of seaming tools to be
used, as well as what I believe to be the most desirable means or mechanism for
actuating the same but the particular number and form of the seaming tools may
be greatly varied as well as the particular form of the mechanism for actuating
the same, without departing from the essential feature or principle of the
invention.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
First The combination with a revolving can-holder or chuck, of a rocking or
swivelling tool-holder provided with a seaming tool reciprocating thereon, and
means for operating the said tool-holder and seaming tool, substantially as
specified.
Second: The combination with a revolving chuck for holding the can, of a
rocking or swivelling tool-holder, seaming tools reciprocating radially on the said
tool-holder, means for rocking or swivelling said tool-holder, and means for
reciprocating the said seaming tools on the said tool-holder, substantially as
specified.
Third-The combination of a revolving chuck for holding the can, with &
mechanism for chucking the can therein, a rocking tool-holder provided with a
reciprocating seaming tool and mechanisin for rocking the said tool-holder and
reciprocating the said tool, substantially as specified.
Fourth-The combination of a revolving can-holder or chuck, with a tool-
holder secured to a rock-shaft, a seaming tool mounted movably on the said holder, 5
and a cam for operating the said tool as the shaft is rocked, substantially as
specified

page_text: Fifth In a can-seaming machine, the combination of a revolving chuck or
holder for the can, with a seaming tool journalled on a sliding arm, a rocking tool-
holder in which the said arm is mounted, and a cam for operating the said sliding
arm as the tool-bolder is rocked, substantially as specified:
Sixth-The combination with a revolving chuck for the can, of a tool-holder
secured to a rock-shaft and provided with radial grooves or guides, sliding tool-arms
mounted in the said grooves; a finishing tool and a bevel edged tool jurnalled on
the said arms, and stationary cams for operating the said tools, substantially as
specified.
Seventh The combination with a revolving chuck for the can, of an adjustable
sliding head and seaming-tools, and means for operating the seaming-tools mounted
on the said sliding-head, substantially as specified.
Eighth-The combination with a revolving chuck, mechanism for chucking the
can therein, an adjustable sliding-head and a rocking tool-holder, of seaming tools
and cams for operating the said seaming tools, all mounted on the said adjustable
sliding head substantially as specified.
H
Ninth The combination of the seaming tools, with a tool-holder, a rock-shaft, a
pitman-rod for operating the said rock shaft and cams for actuating the seaming-
tools, substantially as specified.
Tenth-The combination of the revolving chuck for the can, with a rock-shaft;
a tool-holder secured to the said rock-shaft, seaming tools journalled on sliding arms.
mounted in the said tool-holder, cams for actuating the said sliding arms, and a cand
and connecting mechanism for actuating the movable disc of the chuck, substantially
as specified:
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty fourth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.