Improvements in Machines for Testing Sheet Metal Cans.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1894-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by EDWIN NORTON, of Maywood, and OLIVER W.
NORTON, of Chicago, both in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, United
States of America, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Machines for Testing Sheet Metal Cans.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 43 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
'
This invention relates to machines for testing sheet metal cans, to ascertain if
their seams or joints are hermetically tight and perfect.
The machine shown in the drawing and embodying the invention is one specially.
designed for testing large rectangular cans, such as are commonly used for holding
petroleum.
In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, and in
which similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying my invention,
the same however showing only one end or half of the machine;
Fig. 2 is a plan view;
Fig. 3 an enlarged detail side elevation of a portion of the can carrier chain;
Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view of one link of the carrier chain, and
Fig. 5 an enlarged plan view showing two links of the carrier chain;
Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the operation of the inclined or approaching
track or cams H H for opening and closing the can clamping slides, as hereinafter
described.
In the drawing A represents the frame of the machine, B the tank for holding
the hot water in which the cans are immersed during the testing operation.
B B' represent.steam pipes for heating the water in the tank. C represents one
of the pulleys or sprocket wheels on which the can carrier chain D travels. The
carrier chain D is composed of a series of solid links pivoted together by pivots d d.
Each link is composed of a pair of side bars d' d' rigidly fixed together by cross
bars dd dd, there being preferably four cross bars for securing the two side
bars of each link together rigidly and firmly. The cross bars d² form a pocket or
cradle, and the same are so arranged in respect to the can body to be received
thereby that the pocket or cradle will fit the can body, as is clearly indicated in
Figure 3. The two side bars d' d' of each link, are each furnished with eyes or
bearings d³d to receive the hinge pivots d d. The pivot pins d are each provided
with a flanged wheel or anti-friction roller do to ride upon the track F by which
the carrier chain is supported and guided through and under the water tank. The
tracks or rails F, are preferably provided with upright flanges f. The flange de
on the wheel or roller serves to keep the chain carrier in proper position between
the tracks F F. The side bars d' d for each link are each provided with a
horizontal web or flange d', which is furnished with a guide or way a for a laterally
reciprocating slide G which carries the can clamping device g, one at each side of
the chain. The clamping devices 9 9 each have an overhanging lip or projection gl
which fits over the corner x of the can X, and thus serves to hold the can in place
in its pocket or cradle when the empty can is being immersed in and carried through

page_text: the bath of hot water. Each of the slides G is also furnished with a pad to press
against the end-of-the can, the pad at one end being preferably made of rubber
or other like material, and adapted to close the opening a¹ which is in one head of
the can.
This pad is preferably furnished with a beveled inner face ³, so that
the same may better conform to and close the opening a when pressure is exerted
against the head of the can, as this pressure will tend to cause the head to spring
inwards at its center, as indicated by the dotted lines at Figure 4. The other
pad which presses against the opposite end of the can where there is no opening
in the head may, preferably, be made flat and of, any, suitable yielding material
that will avoid marring the can. Each of the slides G is furnished with a wheel
or anti-friction roller 9, that engages the cam track or way H; which serves-to
close, and hold closed the slides G G while the can is being conveyed into and
through the water bath. Another section of this cam track or way engaging these
rollers on the opposite side, serves to open the slides G G to permit the discharge
of the cans from the carrier, and also to permit the cans to be delivered into
the carrier..
.
t
The pulley. C, one at each end of the tank around which the chain carrier travels,
consists of two wheels ce between which the links of the chain fit or are suspended,
each wheel c having notches c¹ on its periphery to receive the flanged wheels don
the pivot pin d.
K is a can delivery wheel furnished with pockets K to receive the cans from a
chute K² and deliver them one by one into the pockets or cradles of the endless
link chain can carrier D. This can delivery wheel K has a shaft K journalled
upon suitable brackets K' on the frame, and it is arranged, preferably, above the
pulley C and in such position that its pockets K' will register with the pockets
or cradles of the can carrier D as they are carried around on said pulley C. The
can delivery wheel 'K, or its shaft K³, is driven from the shaft C' of the pulley C
by means of the intermeshing gears K. K is a curved guard fixed to the frame and
extending around a portion of the circumference of the delivery wheel K for the
purpose of holding the can in the pockets of such wheel as it revolves.
The two tracks H H which operate the slides G G for clamping the can-are
slightly inclined towards each other at the point H* where the slides are forced
together to clamp the can, as is clearly shown in Figure 6, and these tracks or
ways H H incline outwardly or spread' apart at the point H**where the slides G G
are to be separated to permit the discharge of the can. The two tracks or ways HH
thus move the clamps connected with the roilers g g toward each other to clamp
the can, and then again move said clamps apart to release or discharge the can
from between them. The said cans being discharged froin between the separated
clamps by reason of the travel of the carrier chain, the cross stays' which are
below the can at the upper loop or line of the endless chain, being at the top of the
can instead of below it at the lower loop' or line of the endless chain, thus permitting
the cans to drop out.
..:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed; as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what claim is :-
1st. In a can testing machine, the combination with a tank" for holding hot
water, of an endless link-chain can-carrier 'coinposed of a series of solid links, each
comprising a pair of side bars rigidly connected together and furnished with pockets
or cradles for receiving the cans, and devices for clamping the cans and closing the
openings therein mounted upon and carried by said links, a track for said carrier
chain, and a cam or track for operating said clamping devices, substantially as
specified.
2nd.. In a can testing machine, the combination of tank Blink-chain can-carrier D
having links furnished with pockets or cradles to receive the cans, a' track for said
carrier chain and wheels or rollers' on the links of said chain, substantially as
specified

page_text: 3rd. In a can testing machine, the combination of tank B, link-chain can-carrier D
having links furnished with pockets or cradles to receive the cans, a track for said.
carrier chain, and wheels or rollers on the links of said chain, said wheels or rollers
having flanges, substantially as specified.
4th. In a can testing machine, the combination with a tank, a can carrier having.
pockets or cradles to receive the cans, clamps or slides furnished with lips or.
projections adapted to fit over the end edges of the can to hold the cans in said..
pockets or cradles, substantially as specified.
!
5th. In a can testing machine, the combination with a tank, can carrier having
pockets or cradles to receive the cans, clamps or slides furnished with lips or
projections adapted to fit over the end edges of the can to hold the cans in said
pockets or cradles, and elastic pads on said clamps or slides for closing the opening
in the can head, substantially as specified..
+
6th. In a can'testing machine, the combination with a tank, can carrier having
pockets or cradles to receive the caus, clamps or slides furnished with lips or
projections adapted to fit over the end edges of the can to hold the cans in said
pockets or cradles, an elastic pad on said clamps or slides for closing the opening in
the can head, said elastic pads having beveled faces, substantially as specified.
7th. In a can testing machine, the combination with a tank B of can carrier
furnished with pockets or cradles to receive the cans, clamp slides G furnished
with wheels or rollers, and a track adapted to engage said wheels or rollers for
operating said slides, substantially as specified.
8th. In a can testing machine, the combination with a tank B of can carrier
furnished with pockets or cradles to receive the cans, clamp slides G furnished
with wheels or rollers 9', and a track adapted to engage said wheels or rollers for
operating said slides, said slides having elastic pads g³, substantially as specified.
9th. In a can testing machine, the combination with a tank B of can carrier
furnished with pockets or cradles to receive the cans, clamp slides G furnished with
wheels or rollers d³, and a track adapted to engage said wheels or rollers for
operating said slides, said slides having elastic pads 2 and lips or projections y',
substantially as specified.
•
10th. In a can testing machine, the combination with tank B of a link-chain
can-carrier D, the links whereof consist each of a pair of si le plates d¹ secured
rigidly together by cross bars & forming the pocket or cradle to receive the cans,
substantially as specified.
11th. In a can testing machine, the combination with tank B of a link-chain
can-carrier D, the links whereof consist each of a pair of side plates d¹ secured
rigidly together by cross bars d forming the pocket or cradle to receive the cans,
said side bars or plates a¹ having lateral flanges or brackets and can clamping
slides G mounted thereon, substantially as specified.
12th. In a can testing machine, the combination with tank B of a link-chain can-
carrier D, the links whereof consist each of a pair of side plates d' d' secured
rigidly together by cross bars & forming the pocket or cradle to receive the cans,
said side bars d' d' of contiguous links being pivoted together by pins d, furnished
with friction wheels or rollers d' and a track for said carrier, substantially as
specified.
13th. In a can testing machine, the combination with tank B of a link-chain
can-carrier I), the links whereof consist each of a pair of side plates d' d' secured
rigidly together by cross bars d forming the pocket or cradle to receive the cans,
said side bars d' d' of contiguous links being pivoted together by pins d, furnished
with friction wheels or rollers d, and pulley C for said carrier D composed of a
pair of wheels cc, furnished with notches c in their periphery to engage said
wheels or rollers on the pivots of said links, and a track for said carrier,
substantially as specified.
14th. In a can testing machine, the combination with tank B, of a can carrier D
furnished with pockets or cradles to receive the cans and a can delivery wheel K,

page_text: having can pockets K' arranged and adapted to deliver the cans into the pockets
of said carrier, substantially as specified...
15th. In a can testing machine, the combination with tank B, of a can carrier D
furnished with pockets or cradles to receive the cans and a delivery wheel K,
having can pockets K' arranged and adapted to deliver the cans into the pockets 5
of said carrier, and a guard K' co-operating with said can delivery wheel.K,
substantially as specified.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.