Improvements in Apparatus for Closing and Beading the Circular Seams of Caps, Stoppers, and Ends in Sheet Metal Vessels and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 13th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 12th Mar.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Closing and Beading the Circular
Seams of Caps, Stoppers, and Ends in Sheet Metal Vessels and the
like.
I, CONRAD FIELD MENDHAM, of Sydenham Road, Croydon, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in expanding machines or apparatus for
rolling out and uniting the touching surfaces of folded joints in tin or other sheet
metal vessels, especially for the closing or sealing of caps or coverings placed over
the apertures of tins, cans, drums, and the like, containing explosive or inflammable
material, the seams or joins being formed in accordance with the specification of the
invention for which Letters l'atent were granted to me, No. 6146, 1894; this inven-
tion is also suitable for attaching the ends to cylindrical vessels; it consists in the
arrangement of tapered spindles suspended on a circular bearing or collar and
actuated by a revolving taper mandril, which presses the spindles in an outward
direction towards the inner edge or jaw of a surrounding casing, thus rolling the
touching surfaces of the cap and vessel, when placed between the spindles and jaw,
into a homogeneous and airtight seam.
In carrying my invention into effect, a circular chamber is provided, open at the
bottom, the lower edge of which is slightly turned inwards to form a jaw or bearing
against which the outer sides of the caps are pressed; in a suitable position in
the chamber, a circular collar is placed with a rounded edge on the inside, to support
a number of tapered spindles; a cage with a number of cavities, corresponding
with the spindles, is placed below the collar to keep the spindles in their relative
positions; the spindles are made to rest on the collar and to revolve thereon:. the
lower ends of the spindles are made to press vertically against the inner sides of
the caps, and beads on the bottom edges of the spindles press the sides against the
lower edge or jaw of the chamber and make a close seam; a taper mandril operating
in the centre of the spindles presses them laterally and rotates them at the same
time, the power being supplied by means of a handle or other appliance at the top
of a frame which is attached to any suitable bearing. A thimble is placed in an
annular recess above the spindles and rests on the heads, which are made conical,
and a spring inserted above the thimble forces it down on the conical heads, making
the feet of the spindles to converge towards the centre when the mandril is raised
and the pressure removed, so that the caps and vessels may easily be placed under
the chamber ready to be operated by the feet of the rotating spindles when set in
operation.
Dithin 2nd day of in 1907
J. G. WESTLAKE,
Applicant's Agent, 2, John Street, Bristol.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Closing and Beading the Circular
Seams of Caps, Stoppers, and Ends in Sheet Metal Vessels and the
like.
I, CONRAD FIELD MENDHAM, of 57, Sydenham Road, Croydon, Engineer, 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: -
My invention relates to a new or improved process for rolling out and uniting the
touching cylindrical surfaces of flanged caps, covers, or ends on sheet metal vessels
and the turned up edges of circular holes made in the sides or ends of such vessels,
and to appliances for use in connection therewith; this process is specially adapted
for hermetically sealing and fastening covers on tins, drums, and other sheet metal
vessels containing explosive or inflammable material where the contact of a hot
soldering iron with the vapour arising from the contents is a source of danger, and
is equally valuable for fastening tins containing food and other articles of a
-perishable nature, as the effect of the heat from the iron is injurious to the contents,
scorching being a frequent result.
The apparatus employed consists of a series of tapered spindles, suspended from
a circular collar or bearing, actuated by a taper mandril, which is rotated and
presses the spindles in an outward direction towards the inner edge or jaw of a
surrounding casing, thus rolling the touching surfaces of the cap and vessel into a
homogeneous and airtight seam.
My invention, and the appliances by which it is put into operation, will be further
described in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1
is a sectional elevation of the case containing the mandril and spindles, the spindles
converging to admit of the insertion of the caps when placed over the cylindrical
edges of the holes in the vessels or cans; Fig. 2 shows the apparatus complete with
the spindles pressed outwards against the jaw by the action of the rotating handle
and fever on the mandril; Fig. 3 is a plan of the circular collar on which the necks
of the spindles are suspended; Fig. 4 is a plan of the loose collar or cage, which
is placed in the outer casing to partly enclose the spindles and to revolve with them,
keeping them at the right distance from each other, to ensure accuracy in their
operation: Fig. 5 is a section of a can with a circular hole cut therein and the edge
flanged up, with a cap in position above the hole, ready to be placed thereon;
Fig. 6 shows a section of the same can after the circular seam has been formed by
the expanding apparatus: Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of part of the concentric
jaw, showing parts of a cap and the turned up edge of the can or vessel within the
jaw before it is closed, and Fig. 8 is a section of the same after it is closed by the
expander Figs. 9 and 10 are further enlarged sections of parts of the cap and edge
of the can, before and after closing, to show more clearly the beading of the cap
against the under part of the turned up edge of the hole in the can or vessel.
Any number of spindles may be employed, but six are found to be a suitable
number, and the drawings are made accordingly. In Figs. 1 and 2, only the two
opposite spindles are shown, the position of the others being understood by reference
to Figs. 3 and 4.
A is the centre mandril, tapering as shown, with a shank a extending to the upper
part of the apparatus; B,B, are the tapering spindles, with conical heads, b, b, the necks
of which bear on the circular collar C. The inner edge of this collar is rounded to
form a suitable fulcrum for the spindles. D is a loose collar or cage, with the
required number of circular chases cut therein with sufficient slackness to receive
the spindles and yet not to interfere with their planetary motion. This cage fits

page_text: loosely in the outer casing E and revolves with the spindles, keeping them steady,
in their respective positions. F is a thimble surrounding the shank of the mandril,
its lower outer edge being tapered or curved to rest on and engage with the heads of
the spindles. G is a helical spring placed around the shank above the thimble to
keep it tightly bearing on the heads of the spindles.
His a bracket or other suitable means for supporting the apparatus in such a
position that the tins, cans, drums, and the like may be placed under the spindles
ready for operating: I is a lever fulcrumed at J, by which the pressure is put on the
mandril while it is actuated by turning the handle K, or by any other suitable
contrivance provided therefor.
For large vessels containing kerosene or the like, it is convenient to have the
bracket H made with a knuckle joint, so that the apparatus can quickly be brought
to bear on the cap or caps in any part of the vessel, but for cans containing food
and the like, which are usually of a small size and easily handled, the upper part
of the apparatus is made stationary, and instead of the lever I, a foot lever is used,
the cans being placed in position on a stand or platform, and raised by the foot
lever to engage with the spindles, the mandril being rotated by the handle shown
or other suitable appliance, and pressing the spindles outwards as they are pressed
upwards by the foot lever pushing the caps and cans against them.
L is the lower part of the spindles, which as they rotate, press the metal cylindrical
surfaces against the inner circular surface or jaw N of the outer casing. At the
bottom of the spindles, small projections or beads M are formed around them, for
expanding the metal of the cap, making it fit up to and against the inner and under
surface of the turned up edge of the hole in the vessel, the lower angle of the jaw N
holding the outside edge of the cap while the union is being made; a small annular
groove is made in the cap by the pressure of the bead, as shown more particularly
in Fig. 10.
R is a metal cap, with its edge U turned up and over to fit on the edge of the hole
in the can or vessel. S is part of the upper side of a sheet metal vessel or can,
with a circular hole cut therein, and the edge of the hole T turned up to receive
the cap. Around the hole a recess t is formed, so that the cap, when fastened to the
tin, shall not project above the surface, and so be protected from injury in packing.
When fastened by the apparatus described, the two cylindrical surfaces of the cap
and the turned up edge of the hole will have been compressed into a solid and airtight
seam, as shown at V, Figs. 6, 8, and 10.
The respective diameters of the spindles and mandril are so arranged that when
in operation, they will rotate in a perfectly vertical position, and will advance in
their planetary motion without any grinding or friction.
The caps R, as shown in Fig. 5 are stamped and formed into shape by any suitable
mechanical appliances; the cap is bunched up in the centre to strengthen it, and
in case of its receiving a blow from a hammer or the like, it would serve to tighten
rather than loosen the joint. The hole T in the top of the can or vessel is punched,
the edge flanged up, and the recess formed by ordinary appliances provided for
such operations.
The various parts of the apparatus being provided as described, their operation
is as follows: For use in fastening the caps on large vessels and drums containing
kerosene and other inflammable and explosive material, as already mentioned, the
upper part of the appliance is attached to a hinged or knuckled bracket H, fastened
to any suitable standard or support the lever I is fulcrumed at J to a bearing on the
end of the bracket, by this means the whole apparatus is raised and brought to bear
on the desired parts of the vessel, the pressure being obtained by pushing down the
lever I and turning the handle K at the same time, which depresses the mandril,
and this pushes out the spindles and their feet L against the jaw N, which com-
presses the flanges of the cap and the edge of the hole into an airtight circular seam.
For small tins, such as those containing condensed milk and other food, it is con-
venient to have the bracket H made stationary, and the lever I placed below the
table on which the apparatus stands, to be actuated by the foot, so that the operator

page_text: can use both hands, one for taking the tins and putting them in their position
under the spindles, and the other for turning the mandril by the handle K or other
means provided, the foot at the same time raising the tin and cap, and keeping them
in contact with the spindles until the circular seam is formed; the action being the
reverse of that described for large vessels or drums. In both cases, as soon as the
pressure of the lever is withdrawn, by the action of the spring G on the thimble F
pressing the heads 6 of the spindles outwards, as in Fig. 1, the feet L of the spindles
are made to converge and allow the tin and cap to be withdrawn from the apparatus.
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. The combination, with a stationary casing provided with a circular jaw, of
spindles arranged inside the casing, and a revoluble mandril, depressible or working
in a fixed bearing, operating to move the spindles towards the jaw, and to revolve
them about their own axes and the axis of the jaw, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with a stationary casing provided with a circular jaw of
conical spindles pivotally supported inside the said casing, and a revoluble mandril
bearing against the conical surfaces of the spindles, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with a stationary casing having a circular jaw, of spindles
arranged inside the casing with projecting beads arranged below the jaw, and a
revoluble mandril for forcing outward and revolving the said spindles and their
beads, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with a stationary casing having a circular jaw, and a collar
above the jaw, of spindles provided with heads pivotally supported on the upper
edge of the said collar, and a revoluble mandril for forcing outward and revolving
the said spindles, substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with a stationary casing provided with a circular jaw at
its lower part, a collar above the jaw, and a cage provided with chases between the
said jaw and collar; of spindles journalled loosely in the chases and provided with
heads pivotally supported on the collar, a revoluble mandril for forcing outward
and revolving the said spindles, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with a stationary casing having a circular jaw, of spindles
pivotally supported inside the casing, a revoluble mandril bearing against the
spindles below their fulcrums, and a spring pressed thimble bearing against the
spindles above their fulcrums, operating to move them away from the jaw when
the pressure of the mandril against the spindles is removed, all substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 11th day of December 1897.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
Applicant's Agent, 2, John Street, Bristol.