Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th June, 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
The present invention relates to machines for soldering heads or end pieces to or
on the bodies of cans.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine.
Figure 2 is a plan view.
Figure 3 is a side elevation.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on line x x Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a sectional plan on the line 5, 5, of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a detail of the device for supplying and regulating the flow of the
acid.
Like letters of reference, indicate corresponding parts.
The machine is automatic and comprises a combination of devices operating together,
which perform all the inanipulations of the article and all the distinct acts required
in soldering; the whole constituting one complete operation.
The machine proper consists of the frame A, A, and top B, to which are secured
the operative devices hereinafter described. The main shaft C³, is suitably journalled
in boxes C, C', and secured to the frame beneath the table or top B, as shown in
Figure 1. The shaft C2, is driven from the pulley C, and a loose pulley C¹, is
provided for convenience. On shaft C, is placed the gear x², neshing with gear x³,
the latter being secured on the lower end of upright shaft c², Figure 4, suitably
journailed to the frame. On the upper end of shaft c², is placed the disk c³,
represented by dotted line in Figure 5. The shaft and disk constitute a live spindle,
upon which the bottom of the can rests, and by means of which, it is revolved in
the process of soldering as hereinafter described. On shaft C2, is also placed the
cam-wheel C, Figure 1. The form being shown by the broken line, in Figure 4.
Against the edge of cam-wheel C³, presses the loose wheel k*, journalled at 5, in end
of lever said lever being movably secured to frame at 3; resting upon the opposite
end, is the part k, adjustably secured to upright rod K; said rod is pivotally
connected at its lower end K³, to an arm K', which arm is pivoted to foot piece K²,
as shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 4. The object of the bottom attachment is simply to
hold and steady the rod K, in place, while permitting a vertical movement of the
rod. The same result could of course be reached by other well known means.
[D77
A

page_text: second piece is adjustably secured to said rod, and supports a spiral spring K+,
Figure 1, the upper end resting against the under side of the top of the machine;
this spring, together with the weight of the rod and attachments, tends to press the
rod down and causes the piece k, to press upon the end of lever k¹, and thus keep the
wheel, in contact with the cam-wheel C³.
The rod K, preferably passes through the table and is pivoted at its top n, to
arm n¹, and the arm being journalled to the side n² of part F, at n³ as shown,
Figures 2 and 4; the extended end of said bent arm, being pivotally connected with
clamp b, which clamp holds the dead spindle c, pointed at its lower end c¹; the
spindle bar being held in the bearings F1, F2, and actuated vertically by the raising
or depressing of rod K. The piece K³, Figure 5 also performs another important
function; projection or rod e³, extends from K³, inwardly and fits into the forked
or slotted end e, of lever e, which lever is pivotally journalled to the frame or a
suitable bracket attached to the frame e9, and the other end or arm of said lever
formed at right angles, extends upward; the top of this arin es being shown in
Figure 5. Near the top of said arm is placed a set screw e¹0, which is arranged to
preferably extend entirely through the arm es; resting against the end of the set
screw el, is the loose bar or rod ell, this rod or bar is held by the frame through
which it passes, the hole in the frame being sufficiently large to admit of its free
movements. The opposite or outer end of said bar or rod rests against the extension
end e¹², of hinge e, said hinge being supported by the pivotal staples e¹, e². Figure 1,
attached to the frame. The hinge e, carries the shelf E2, to which is attached by
suitable adjustable bolts and set screws the fire or heating box E. On the extreme
end e³, of the extension of the lower part of hinge e, Figures 1, 2 and 5, is secured
the spiral spring et, Figure 5, the opposite end being held by a screw inserted in the
frame as shown in said figure, or otherwise held in any convenient manner.
The heater box is moved and removed from the frame by the devices just
described.
The heating box E, is of any convenient form and is secured to the movable
shelf E2, by bolt E, Figure 4, and may be adjusted by means of the set screws E³,.
suitable holes on the side are provided for the escape of gas within the box and the
top is covered with a thick plate of steel E³, which may be clamped on the top of the
box as shown at E8, Figure 1. This plate is so placed that its under edge will be
slightly above the disk c³, Figure 4 of the live spindle c². The edge of plate E³, is
concaved at E, to approximately correspond with the periphery of the can head and
body, and is also beveled for about half the thickness of the plate; at one side of
said bevel, a small slot E, Figure 2 is formed to receive the end of the solder wire s.
The edge of plate underneath the bevel is recessed back slightly, so that in soldering,
the upper edge of the plate will rest against the can body and the recessed edge will
rest against the fold of the head or end piece to be soldered to can body. The recess
is represented by E1, Figure 4. The plate E', is heated by any suitable apparatus,
an ordinary Bunsen burner E¹, is shown, and may be supplied by a gas pipe E. The
plate being kept hot, the solder is melted from the wire and continuously presented
at the proper point as the can is revolved between the spindles as hereinafter
described.
The secondary shaft g', has upon it the gear-wheel g', provided with an extended
hub (Figure 3,) which meshes with and actuates bevel gear g³, placed upon the lower
end of standard G; the extended hub as of gear-wheel g', is shown in Figure 5, and
is provided with recesses as shown; next beside this is placed the loose gear-wheel y³,
having upon the end of its extended hub, the pin °, Figure 5, to fit the recesses in
the hub x, of wheel gt; upon the opposite side of gear-wheel y³, and pressing against
its hub is the spring 10, which tends to press the gear-wheel y³, towards gear-
wheel g*.
On the main shaft is placed the gear-wheel y, Figure 1, meshing into loose gear-
wheel y¹, held in position on its journal y², secured to the frame of the machine;
gear-wheel y¹, meshes and actuates the loose gear-wheel y³, on the secondary
shaft, Figure 5. On the side of gear-wheel y, is formed a cam 4, Figure 1; the

page_text: opposite end of a lever y presses against the side of the loose gear-wheel y³. When
the lever is actuated by the cam y', it slides the wheel y³, to the left and withdraws
the pin, see Figure 5, from the recess in hub and of course, ceases to actuate
wheel g; as the lever is released from contact with cam y, the spring x10, forces the
connections of wheels y' and g', together, interlocking them as before described.
Upon the upper end of standard G, is the adjustable hub H', to which are attached
radial arms, represented herein, as four in number, H, H1, H2, H3, Figure 2, beneath
these arms and secured to standard G, is the wheel g¹, with its hub g, secured to said
standard by bolt g³, Figures 3 and 4; this wheel g¹, is provided with notches g",
Figure 5, corresponding with the number of arms. When one of the arms is brought
directly to the front, so that a can is placed upon the live spindle top c³, Figures 4
and 5, one of the notches g', will receive the projection x, formed on spring x³,
Figure 5, and will prevent the standard and arms from turning, until the spring is..
withdrawn; the rod x³, is operated by the lever a', Figure 3, which lever is secured
at one end all, to the frame, while the free end is actuated by the pin or cam x', on
the gear-wheel x², Figure 1 upon the main shaft, or an independent cam-wheel may
be provided if preferred.
The arms may be raised or lowered in relation to the table by adjusting the hub H*
on standard G, and held in position by set screw h, Figure 2. At the outer end H5
of the arms H, H1, H2, H3, is socketed a holder a¹, with a disk a, recessed upon its
under side to receive a can body N, Figure 4; to the holder is attached a shank a³,
extending upward through the end of the arm H³, and held in place by a washer and
pin a, on the upper end of the shank; the holder is provided with a rim a², under
the end H above mentioned of arms. A forked lever a³, Figures 3 and 4 pivoted to
the hub a, at one end, contacts at its free end with holder a¹, the forked ends resting
between the disk and rim, which serves to hold the lever in place and press the disk
downward by its weight upon the can top. The shank a³, with holder and disk may
be moved vertically and also may be revolved independently.
The holders may be
removed and replaced as desired, it being important that the disc of the holder be
suited to the size of the can body. The gauge d³, Figure 2, is secured to the table at
a point so that a can body placed between the two arms of the block, will be in a
correct position to be seized by the disc of the holder a¹. In order that the holder
may be raised to receive the can body, a rod d, is adjustably secured to the frame or
table by set screw d², Figure 4, having a bevelled piece d', upon its upper end, and so
placed that just before the arm is in a position to receive a can body placed within the
arms of gauge d³, the lever as, is raised by the bevelled piece d¹, of rod d, to the
required height, said lever a³, raising the can holder a¹, in the end H of the arm;
now, as soon as said arm is sufficiently revolved, so that the disk a, of the holder a¹, is
over the can N, Figure 2, the lever a³, passes off the bevel piece d', and instantly the
disc drops over the top of the can body. The arm H², in its revolution carries the can
around to the other side until it passes between the guides L, L, secured to the top
of the table, where the can is released by the lever a³, again sliding upon bevel
piece d¹, and of course, lifting the holder from the can. The said holder so raised is
then in position to seize another can body placed between the arms of gauge d³.
Each arm has the same devices and performs the same operation as already described
for the arm H2. A plate l, Figure 2 secured to bed of table at one end l', and having
one edge 12, bevelled, is placed near the live spindle top 3, and raises the can body
from the table and from which it slides to spindle top c³.
The solder preferably used is wire solder and may be fed from a coil. The
solder 8, is inserted in the tube o, the lower end resting in the slot E, of heating
plate E5; to the outside of tube o, is secured the slide p6, Figures 1, 2 and 3, which
moves up and down upon the outside of said tube. Upon the upper side of the
tube o, is formed a slot o', Figure 2. Moving in said slot is a piece of spring
metal o², the upper end being secured to slide p, and the lower end in slot o¹, and
so formed as to rest upon the solder in tube o. There is also a second piece of
spring metal o³, secured at its upper end in slot o¹, its lower end being in the slot
and pressing upon the solder within the said tube. The spring piece o³, serves to

page_text: retain the solder in place, while the spring piece o², carries the said solder downward,
with each movement of the slide p. When the slide is moved upward, the spring
piece o², slides over the surface of the solder, it being prevented from moving
upward by the end of spring piece o³, pressing upon it; said piece o³, is so formed
that it does not exert much force in preventing the said solder from being carried
downward by means of the spring piece o². The tube o, is bolted at p³, or otherwise
held to arm p7, and the other end of arm is adjustably secured at 29, to the table
top B. The movement of slide p³, is regulated and actuated by means of rod p³,
secured to said slide at its upper end and adjustably secured to the end p4, of lever p³,
the distance the slide is to move being determined, relatively, by the point of
connection on end of lever p³, with the end of rod p³. The lever p³, is pivoted to
frame near its centre at p10, Figure 1 and to the opposite end p², is preferably
attached the spring p, suitably secured at the bottom pl. The lever p³, is held by
said spring against and actuated by the cam wheel x, attached to the main shaft C2,
Figures 1 and 3.
Underneath, a drip cup 2, Figures 1 and 3, catches the excess of
The flux or acid is applied to the joint to be soldered by the devices illustrated in
detail shown in Figure 6. The acid is contained in air tight tank m¹, supplied to it
under pressure by pipe m². Within the tank is placed a valve of any ordinary
construction m³, operated by the lever m², actuated by connecting rod m³, and
lever mo, adapted to be actuated by cam m7, Figure 1, attached to hub of gear-
wheel y, on the main shaft C². The cam m7, may be separately attached, either to
shaft C², or by reversing the lever me, to shaft go. When the valve is opened by the
device described, the acid will be delivered through the tube m, see Figure 4, at the
proper point upon the bottom of the can to be soldered. The tank is placed,
preferably, underneath the table and the tube m, extended upward to the delivering
point.
solder, if any.
Having sufficiently described the several devices, I will now explain the operation
of the machine as a whole.
A can body with the end suitably attached to the lower end is placed in gauge d³,
and the machine is started; the can is seized by the holder attached to the end of
one of the arms and is conveyed around upon the bed of the table until it reaches the
slide, by which it is slightly raised and passing over it stops so that the bottom of
the can exactly rests upon the disk c³, of live spindle c³, the rod K, is raised forcing
the point c¹, of dead spindle c, into a slight depression formed in the top of holder
shank as, the arms being prevented from moving by the projection x7, of spring,
entering the notch g', of wheel g₁, attached to standard G; the heating plate E³, is
brought in contact with the can by the moving of the box up to the table; the can
is revolved by the live spindle; the valve in the acid tank is opened and the acid
flows against the lower end of the can; the wire solder is forced down upon the
edge of the heater plate, melted and flows against the lower end of the can and the
end is soldered on. The cam y', is then reversed and allows connection to be made
between the pin x, on hub of wheel y³ and slot, in hub of wheel gt, at the same time,
the wheel g¹, is released by the withdrawal of spring x, the dead spindle c, is with-
drawn by the falling of rod K, and the heater box and plate are drawn away by
action of spring et, and the standard G, carrying the arms, is revolved, removing the
can from the live spindle. The arms move in this construction one fourth of a circle,
and at each movement, a new can is brought between the spindles to be soldered as
described. Just before reaching the full revolution the can is released by the raising
of the lever ao, upon the bevelled arm d¹, attached to rod d, and the can passes
between the guides L, L' and is forced forward by each succeeding can that arrives
at the delivery point the cans are collected in any convenient receptacle. The
holder in the arm that has thus travelled round and delivered its soldered can is
raised ready to seize another can as the arm revolves sufficiently to allow the lever a³,
to fall from the bevel arm d¹. As each arm is similarly provided with its holder,
there will be four cans at all times being manipulated, each going through the same
series of movements and each soldered in the manner already described, all opera-
4

page_text: tions being performed by the several devices of the machine, automatically, and in
conjunction.
I do not confine myself to the exact construction and details herein described, as
these may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. The herein described automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans,
consisting of a frame and table with suitable mechanism for seizing a can body,
placed at a given point upon said table, conveying it between two spindles, holding
and revolving the said can, preventing the conveying mechanism from moving while
said can is being held between said spindles and revolved. Applying the acid and
molten solder to the revolving can and soldering the end piece to the body, releasing
the can from the spindles and releasing the conveying mechanism, removing the
heating plate from the can and conveying said can to the delivery point, all arranged,
combined and adapted to be actuated from a main shaft and to act in combination,
automatically, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. In an automatic machine for soldering end "pieces to cans the gear-wheel y,
provided with the cam y, the gear-wheel y¹, the loose gear-wheel y³, provided with
the pin x, and the lever y, in combination with the gear wheel *, provided with
the recessed hub x, and gear-wheel g³, secured to the standard G, and adapted to
actuate it, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans the gear-wheel y,
provided with the cam y', the lever yo, the gear-wheel y³, in combination with
suitable devices for placing and removing cans in the process of soldering,
substantially as set forth.
4th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the main shaft C³,
gear-wheel x², secured to said main shaft; the spindle shaft c², the gear-wheel x³,
secured to said spindle shaft and adapted to actuate the live spindle by the rotation
of the main shaft, in combination with suitable can soldering mechanism,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the cam-wheel C³,
secured to the main shaft C2, the lever k², provided with the wheel, and adapted
to actuate the vertical rod K, in combination with suitable can holding and can
soldering devices substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the rod K, the
piece K³, secured to said rod and having the arm e, the spring K*, the lever e',
having the bent armes, the set-screw e10, the independent movable rod e¹¹, in
combination with the hinge e, provided with the shelf E², and the extension end e¹¹,
and the spring e, substantially as and for the purposes described.
7th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the cam wheel C³,
the lever k², provided with the wheel k*, the rod K, movably secured at its lower end
and provided with the adjustable piece k, secured thereto, the arm n¹, pivotally secured
to the upper end of said rod, and also to the clamp b, the said arm being journalled
to part F, in combination with the spindle c, and adapted to actuate said spindle, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
8th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the rod at, adapted
to be operated by a suitable cam movement, the rod x', the spring ", provided with
the projection 7, in combination with the wheel g¹, having the notch g', the said
wheel secured to the standard G, and adapted to hold the same, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
9th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the heating plate E³,
having a concaved circular bevelled edge, a slot upon its upper side and a recessed part
underneath, and adapted to be removably secured to a movable heater box, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
:

page_text: 10th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the solder holder
and conveyor, consisting of the barrel o, the spring o³, secured at one end to said
barrel, the other end being free and resting in the slot o', of barrel o, the movable
slide p, provided with the spring piece o², secured at one end to said slide and the
other end being free and resting in the slot o¹, of barrel o, and adapted to hold the
wire solder within said barrel and to move the same forward, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
11th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the cam wheel x,
secured to the main shaft C2, the lever p³, the spring p, the rod p³, slide po, and the
barrel o arranged and adapted to hold and convey the solder intermittently to the
soldering point, and in combination with suitable soldering mechanism, substantially
as set forth.
12th. In an automotic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the lever a³,
pivotally secured at one end to hub H*, and contacting its other end with holder a¹,
the rod d, provided with the bevelled end piece d¹, and adapted to raise the
holder a¹, in combination with suitable conveying and soldering mechanism,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
13th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the acid tank m¹,
the pipe m2, the pipe m, adapted to deliver the acid at the soldering point, the said
tank provided with a suitable valve for regulating the flow of the acid in the tank
under pressure to the discharge pipe, and arranged to be actuated by suitable cam
devices, and all combined with suitable can soldering mechanism and adapted to
operate in connection therewith, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
14th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the independent
socketed rotatable, removable and vertically movable can holder a¹, provided with the
rim a², stem a³, the rotating arm H³, lever as, adjustable rod d, provided with the
bevelled end d¹, and table B, combined with suitable can soldering mechanism, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
15th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the plate l,
provided with the bevelled edge 12, and adapted to be suitably secured to table B, in
combination with the live spindle c², and suitable can revolving mechanism, all
substantially as herein set forth and for the purposes described.
16th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to can bodies, the guide
ways L, L, secured to the table, in combination with automatic rotating mechanism,
adapted to deliver the cans within-the guide ways, substantially as described.
17th. In an automatic machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the combination
of a revolving standard, radial arms, adjustably secured on said standard, removable,
revolving can holders, secured to said arms and adapted to rotate can bodies on a table,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
18th. In a machine for soldering end pieces to cans, independently movable,
rotatable, removable, socketed can holders, adapted to be secured to radial movable
arms, in combination with a live and a dead spindle, substantially as and for the
purposes described.
19th. In a machine for soldering end pieces to cans, a heating plate, provided with
a curved surface, approximately formed to correspond to the can body being soldered,
a recessed edge underneath the curved surface and suitable means for heating said
plate, substantially as described.
20th. In a machine for soldering end pieces to cans, the combination of an adjust-
able, movable heater box, a live spindle and suitable mechanism for the delivery of
acid and solder for the purpose set forth.
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents for the Applicant.