Year: 1887

page_text: I SAMUEL BEAVAN STEVENS of the firm of Huntley Boorne and Stevens of the
"Tin Works" Reading in the County of Berks Manufacturer 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 object of this invention is to fix or secure the bottoms or tops of metal boxes,
of either regular or irregular shapes, to the bodies of same by means of a double fold
or seam.
And in order that my invention may be easily understood and readily carried into
practice I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings
annexed.
The character of one of the folds or seams which the machine is capable of
producing is shewn in Figure 5, a being the body and 6 the bottom or top
of box.
A vertical elevation of the machine is shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 1 is an elevation one fourth the full size of a machine suitable for moderate
sized work.
Figure 2 is an end view of the novel and essential part of the same machine half
the full size.
The same letters denote the same parts in each view.
proper
C is a planed bed, somewhat similar to a lathe bed, upon which the machine
is mounted. This bed is supported upon legs D. D. of ordinary construction.
E is a bracket or head stock carrying double bearings in which the spindle F
revolves.
Motion is given to the spindle F by the cone pulleys G through the intervention of
the claw clutch H-this latter being kept in gear by means of a spring which comes
into action when the pin I is depressed by the action of an ordinary foot lever worked
by the attendant. Upon the foot-lever being released the pin I rises, engaging the
helical segment upon the clutch H and withdrawing it from gear.

page_text: On the other end of the bed C is fixed another bracket or "poppet" J carrying a
bar K in which is inserted a spindle carrying a plate L, which spindle is forced
outwards by means of a spring as shown. The plate L is capable of revolving.
The bar K. just mentioned, is moved to and fro by means of the same foot lever
above referred to-being connected therewith by means of a bell crank and the rod M.
Thus one motion of the foot lever drops the pin 1 setting the machine to work and
also advances the bar K. and the plate L. the latter of which holds the article to be
operated upon up to the working part of the machine now to be described.
Upon the bracket E is cast or otherwise fixed the inner part of a "V" slide N,
sliding upon which is the outer part of same O.
The rollers Q. Qgrooved on their outer edge to perform respectively the first and
second operations of double seaming, are carried by a small slide P working in the
large slide O mentioned above, and this small slide can be advanced or receded from
the work to apply the pressure necessary by means of the worm wheel R. and the
worm S actuated by the handle T¹ placed on the square part of worm spindle
at T.
These rollers Q and Q₁ are each mounted upon a fixed pin in a forked bracket-
which brackets are secured to--so as to be practically part of the handle d.
This handle (with the brackets and rollers) moves round a fixed stud which is part
of the small slide P. This fixed stud carries the notch plate in which the notches e
and fare cut.
The rollers run loosely upon the fixed pins above mentioned and revolve only when
brought into contact with the work-such revolution being alone caused by the
friction between themselves and the work.
The worm wheel spindle carries a small crank b¹ which communicates the to and
fro motion to the slide P.
The worm S slides on feathers on the spindle to allow of the in and out motion of
the slide O.
The rollers are made to follow the contour of the box or article to be operated
upon however irregular-by means of two cams U and V (which are in this case
shown of approximately square form with rounded corners, but their shape depends
upon the shape of the article operated upon) acting on rollers X and Y which are
fixed to the main slide O.
The better to keep the slide and rollers up to their work and prevent any slight
backlash while in rapid motion, a pitch-chain Z is used (passing over a pulley) at the
bottom end of which there is an ordinary coil spring (not shown) fixed to the floor or
legs of the machine.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The box or other articlo having been prepared to receive its top or bottom by being
flanged outwardly Figure 3, the recessed top or bottom 6 is placed into the body by
hand the edge of the former overlapping that of the latter, as shown.
The box is placed with the bottom b on the block V and the foot lever before
mentioned is depressed-which first advances the plate L, so as to hold the box
tightly up to its place and also sets the machine in motion by withdrawing the pin I,
from the clutch so allowing the latter to be shot into gear by the spring.
The lever d being in one of the notches e or f. one of the rollers is brought up to
the work by means of the handle T, thus performing the first operation—that of
turning over the edge of the bottom upon the flange of the body and bending both up
to an angle as shown at Figure 4.
The lever d is now thrown over into the other notch and the second roller brought
into action as before completing the double seam by turning the single fold upwards
still further and firmly rolling it against the body of the box-see Figure 5.
The handle d is for the purpose of bringing either one or other of the rollers Q
or Q¹ into action according to whether the detent is engaged into notch e or f, in
order to produce the first or second operation of double seaming.
I find it advantageous to recess the bottom or top to be double seamed on to the
box, and this recess fits over the bead g upon the block or cam V.

page_text: To take up the wear of the cams, rollers &c. and to enable the machine to accomo-
date different size cams-the roller X is mounted in a moveable block X¹ set in
position and adjusted by the screw X'.
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 machinery for double seaming metal boxes the employment of two cams of
simple construction one of which consists of the block or chuck upon which the box is
seated, substantially as described.
2. The adjusting arrangements by which the wear of cams and rollers are com-
pensated for and different size and shape of cams allowed for substantially as described.
3. The employment of a spring or weight to take up backlash between the cams
and rollers substantially as described.
4. The screw and worm wheel arrangement for applying the rollers to the work
and putting on the necessary pressure, substantially as described.
5. The improved general arrangement of the machine for double seaming metal
boxes and the construction of the various parts, and their combination, substantially
as described and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Fifteenth day of November 1887.