Machine for Making Cans of Angular Form.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
Machine for Making Cans of Angular Form.
I, ROBERT DENISTON HUME, of Gold Beach, in the County of Curry, State
of Oregon, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 the manufacture of cans from sheet metal, and its object
is to form can bodies of square, oblong or rather polygonal cross-section from flat:
blanks, and to place heads or covers upon such can bodies by a connected continuously
operated mechanism.
In the following description, I have set forth in detail the method and apparatus
employed by me, and in connection with such description I refer to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations, which taken together represent the machine as
a whole i
Fig. 2 is a cross section through the angular part of the horn:
Figa. 3 and 4 are plan views of the same:
Fig. 5 is a cross section through the forming horn on line - Fig. 1.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are end views of the body blank at successive periods in its
formation into a tube.
Fig. 9, is a longitudinal section through the forward end of the machine showing
the can body, head and bottom with the crimper jaws open :
Fig. 10, is the same longitudinal section showing the bottom slipped over the can
body and the crimper closed:
Fig. 11, is a rear view of the ram containing the crimping mechanism :
Fig. 12, is a similar view of said ram with the covering plate removed :
Fig. 13, is a section through a crimping jaw:
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Fig. 14, is a horizontal section through the holder for the preventer and squeezer
rings:
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Fig. 15, is a rear view of said bolder:
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Fig. 16, is a rear view of the shaping ring for producing the angular cross-section.
of the can body :
Fig. 17, is a section through the same, showing also the carrier attached. to the
shaping ring and its connection with the reciprocating side bar :
The main frame A, of my machine extends throughout its length, as shown in..
Figs. 1 and 2, taken together. The driving shaft B, is journaled at the forward
end of the frame (Fig. 2) and is provided with belt pulleys and fly wheel as shown.
The crank 3 gives motion to the reciprocating side har C, through the connecting
rod 4. The side bar is supported by guides in the main frame, and extends
throughout its length; and froin the reciprocation of snch bar are derived all the
operative motions required in the making of cans.
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At the rear end of the machine is a device for cutting the body blanks from
sheets of metal, and for feeding them to the carriers which convey them toward :
the forward or heading end of the machine. The sheets from which. these blanks
are cut, are long enough to make several of such blanks, but in width are of the
right dimension to form the complete tubular body. A sheet holder A¹, having
an open bottom is mounted upon the main frame, into which the sheets are placed
edgewise, so that they may fall by gravity, through the open bottom. Below the >
holder is pivoted a cutter head A carrying a cutter A. The cutter head is sector
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page_text: shaped in end view as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with a tail piece A' which
is connected by a link A to the side bar C. Near the pivot or center of
oscillation, is a ledge or projection A, upon which the lower edge of the metul
sheet rests, when the cutter head is at the rear limit of its oscillation, that is, in the
position opposite to that of Fig. 1, where it is shown at its forward limit of motion.
A die A' is set near the bottom of the holder, in connection with which the cutter
operates to shear off the part of the sheet protruding below the holder. Since the
exposed part of the sheet is supported by the cutter head itself, the continuation of
the shearing stroke, to the position shown in Fig. 1, carries the severed blank
forward and delivers it in a horizontal position to the carriers, which impel it
along the machine. When in this position (Fig. 1) it will be noticed that the
cutter head acts as a stop, by closing the sheet holder and preventing the sheet
therein from dropping until such cutter head, has returned to its first position.
The initial impulse of this movement is preferably given by a spring A³, so that
the bolder is quickly opened, the reciprocating side bar continuing and completing
the movement.
The reciprocating carriers C² have hooked ends, are dovetailed in grooves in the
frame, and are connected by a cross head 7 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) and
secured directly to the side bar. The forward stroke of the carriers pulls the flat
blank forward, beneath the plate 8, and above the forming horn D. Beneath this
plate and shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, are the horizontal rollers 5 which bend the
edges of the blank into hooks which are afterwards interlocked to form the side
seam. The carriers C³, are recessed as shown, and in each recess is pivoted a
latch 9, which by a pressure spring, is caused to project so as to bear upon the
rear edges of the blanks and move them forward. On the back stroke of the
carriers, the latches are pressed inwardly by passing under the next blank
following. As the carriers work in spirally arranged grooves in the tapering part
of the horn, I have made such carriers in sections swiveled together so that the
latches in the carriers adjust themselves in the grooves as they travel as shown in
Fig. 3. Each piroted latch 9, is held in a recess in a blook 11. The ends of the
block are slotted to receive the links 13. These links have circular heads 14,
as shown, which form swivels; and the blocks are thus permitted to turn on
the swivels and conform to the grooves as they travel in the tapering part of
the horn.
As shown in former English Patent granted to me and dated Nov. 6, 1894; and
numbered 21,364, the flat blanks are carried between the tapering horn D, and
the adjacent stationary and curved sheath D, and, in their passage are gradually
shaped into tubular cylindrical form, the hooks on the edges interlocking.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate this, the former showing a cross section of the horn and
sheath, while the two latter, show respectively a partially formed, and completely
formed tubular can-body.
In the same English Patent just referred to, I also described the hammer and
dies compressing the interlocked hooked edges of the can bodies to form the side
seam. The construction of these parts in the present case is substantially like
those shown in that patent, and hence are only indicated in outline, and are
represented as a whole by the letter E, (Figs. 1 and 3) so as to indicate their
position relatively to the horn and to the other parts of the machine.
Beyond the side seaming device the cross section of the horn is changed from
circular to polygonal as represented in Figs. and 24. In the drawings I have
shown the cross-section as oblong, with rounded edges. But any angular cross-
section can be given the horn according to the shape of can to be made.
The circular can body enters upon the angular part of the hora, (which for
convenience I term the square part), at the left hand end of Figs. 2 and 4, and its
cross section commences to change at that point. It first assumes the form of a
circle partly flattened on four sides. At this point the body is seized by
carriers C, (Figs. 2 and 4). These carriers are secured to the shaping ring
which surrounds the horn, such ring being bolted to the side bar and moving with

page_text: it. The cross-section of the horn at this point,—that is, beneath the line of travel
of the shaping ring-corresponds to that of the ring. Its sides, top and bottom,
are slightly curved inward, so that the ring, similarly shaped, will slightly curve
the sides of the can body inward. The ring is shown in detail in Figs. 16 and 17.
It has an internal bevel 15, forming an ironing or shaping edge, which, on its
backward stroke, presses all sides of the can body against the horn, and produces
the slight inward curvature above referred to. When released from the shaping
ring, the sides of the can bodies spring out so that they are flat on all sides. If the
shaping surface of the ring were square, instead of curved inwardly, the elasticity
of the can body would, tend to cause the sides to bulge slightly outward, instead of
being flat. In the carriers C³, are latches 16, pivoted in recesses in such carriers and
extending transversely across them, so that they can bear upon the side edges of
the can bodies for the greater part of the length of such edges. In the horn and
just in front of the top and bottom of ring F, are pivoted similar latches 17, which
act as stops to prevent the shaped can bodies from moving backward until they are
taken by the movable extension D' of the horn which carries them into the header.
The shaping ring itself acts as a carrier to bring each can body to the extension D',
its inwardly curved edges 15 slipping over the rear straight edges of the can
body, so that its forward stroke carries the can body just shaped, along the horn to
the point where the movable extension of the horn hereinafter described, comes
into operation.
The operation following the shaping of the can bodies, will depend upon the
kind of cans to be made, and the purposes for which they are to be used. The
machine shown is to make cans for holding pepper, spices, or other dry products,
and hence the can bodies after being side seamed and shaped, are ready for the
operation of heading. G is a rod extending through the horn, which at its rear
end is connected to the side bar by a cross head G, through which the rod can
slide freely a limited distance. A spring 21, is interposed between the cross head
and a nut 22, at the end of the rod which forms a yielding stop for preventing jar.
In Fig. 1, where the side bar is shown at the end of its backward stroke, the
spring is compressed. At the forward stroke of the side bar the cross head G³,
slides on the rod until it strikes a nut 23, fixed on the rod G, and pushes the rod
forward. Thus if the side bar has for instance a full stroke of eight inches, while
it is only desired to move the rod G and the heading extension or ram the length of
a can body (say four inches), the nut 23, can be adjusted relatively to the cross
head G³, so as to cause the side bar to act on the rod G during only a part of its
stroke.
The can body is now ready to receive its heads. The heading mechanism shown
in the drawings is especially constructed and adapted to head a certain kind of
square can, for containing dry products, such as pepper, spices etc., which are used
gradually and in small quantities at a time. Such cans must be provided with two
heads, or speaking more accurately, with a tightly secured bottom, and a closely
fitting but removable slip cover or top. In making cans for holding liquid or partly
liquid contents, the heading mechanism must be so modified as to firmly and rigidly
secure a head at each end.
The ram or telescopic extension D!, of the horn is connected to the reciprocating
rod G, so as to have a stroke of about the length of the ean body, independently
of the horn. It slides in guides D, in the sides of the hora, and receives the can
bodies successively from the latter. At each forward stroke of the rod G, the
latches Do pivoted to the ram carry a can body into the heading tube D, and past
the beveled sliding blocks P,.four in number, (Fig. 14) which are held in recesses
in the tube and are forced constantly toward the interior of the said tube by
springs 27. As soon as the can body is in place, and the extension 'D', is withdrawn,
these blocks spring in behind the can and hold it in the position shown in Fig...
The can bottom and cover are fed simultaneously into the tube through feed
passages or chutes 28. The feed takes place while the extension 'D', is withdrawn,
and is controlled by the mechanism for putting the bottom upon the can 'body.

page_text: :
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A sliding bolt or cut-off 29, has shoulders 30, which simultaneously open, and
simultaneously close both feed passages 28, above the heading cylinder. Connected
to this cut-off by a forked lever 31, is a sliding frame having stop pins 32, which
close the feed passages when the cut-off is open, and vice versa. Thus a large
number of can heads may be in the passages above the pins 32, but such pins will
allow them to drop only singly and successively upon the shoulders of the cut-off in
each passage. Fig. 9, shows a slip cover and a can bottom in position in line with
a can body and ready to be placed upon such body.
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The slip cover is placed upon the body by the extension D', at its forward stroke
following that which placed the can body in position, an operation that will be
hereinafter described. This specification follows the operation of the machine in
the order of its successive steps; and as in point of time, the securing of the
bottom upon one end of the can body precedes the placing of the slip cover upon
the other end, I shall first describe the devices which necomplish the former result.
Reference is inade to Fige: 9 and 10, to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and to Figs. 2 and 4;
the latter for general views showing the connections for operating the header from
the driving shaft. Mounted upon the shaft B, is a cam K. L is a slide guided
in the main frame of the machine, and moved toward and away from the heading
tube by the action of the cam upon rollers 33, and 34, respectively journaled in the
slide. In its motion toward and into the heading tube it opens the cut-off and
feeds the can bottom and cover into line with the can body, places the bottom upon
the can body and then crimps it there. By its reverse motion it opens the end of
the tube, so that the extension D', in its forward stroke can drive the finished can
out of the tube after placing the cover in position. To the slide L, is secured a
heading ram, which consists of a ring M, a back or covering plate M', secured
thereto, and an independently movable plunger M², which fits loosely within the
ring M, and is normally forced outward by the springs 35, in recesses 36, of the
ring. These springs are strong enough to allow the cam K, to move the ring and
plunger together toward the cylinder. When this movement takes place the back
plate M, strikes an arm 37, pivoted to the cut-off 29, and opens the cut-off so as
to let the bottom aud cover drop as before described. This arm 37, is pivoted
to an S-shaped lever 38, one extremity of which is pivoted to the cut-off while the
other rests upon the can in the heading tube. The lever 38, also acts as a safety
latch to prevent the feeding of can heads excepting when a can body is in readiness
to receive them. A slot is formed in the top of the extension D', into which the
latch drops unless held up by a can body. The dropping of the latch raises the
arms 37, above the plate M', and hence the cut-off cannot be moved, nor can heads
be supplied until an incoming can body raises the latch. The cut-off is closed by
the action of the springs on bolts 32, through the lever 31.
Secured to the plunger M, and projecting a little beyond its face, is a square
pad M³, having a spring 39, which bears against and fits within the recessed or
paneled can bottom and places and holds such bottom upon the can body, the latter
it will be remembered being held firmly by the block P. This pressure is imparted
by the cam K, (Fig. 10) which drives the plunger aud pad inwardly. An
independent movement of the plunger operates the crimping sections by which the
bottom is firmly.crimped upon the can body. These crimping sections N, are held
between the back plate M', and the ring M. Fig. 12, shows their shape clearly.
Their inner peripheries when brought together form a continuous crimping edge 40
(Fig. 12), extending entirely around the flange of the can bottom. Each section
crimps a quarter of the periphery of the flange including one corner. The
crimping edges are formed by a double bevel 41, and the pad M³, is also beveled at
its edges so as to fit snugly and hold the can head rigidly in place while the
crimping is being done. This ensures the accurate crimping of the flange in a line
around its entire extent.
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The crimping sections, are forced inwardly by pins 42, secured in the rim of the
plunger and having. inclined surfaces 43, at their ends, (Fig. 13). A recess 44, is
formed in each crimping, section and provided. with an opposing inclinė 45.

page_text: A projection K, on the cam forces the plunger inward, independently of the
ring M, and pad so that the pins 42, act against the inclines 45, and drive the
crimping sections inward and toward each other and against the flange of the can
bottom. The slido L, then withdraws and the end of the heading tube is
now open.
All this operation of securing the can bottom has taken place during the
backward movement of the extension D' and while it is advancing to push the slip
cover upon the can body. At the forward stroke of the extension following up the
retreating rain, three results are accomplished. The slip cover is placed on the can
just before the slide L, commences to retreat, the finished can is driven out of the
heading tube, and another can body is placed within the tube ready to be headed.
Referring again to Figs. 10, 14 and 15, the can body and slip cover are in place
and in line when the extension commences its forward stroke. A sectional
compressing ring O, having rounded and inwardly curved edges (like the shaping
ring, Fig. 16), is pressed constantly inward by springs 46, Bo that the curved edges
bear against the can body close to its rear or open end. The object of this is to
temporarily compress the end of the can body on all sides reducing the size a little
so that the slip cover will readily pass into place upon it. The extension strikes
the slip cover, pushes it over the end of the can body, and by the same movement
drives the can, now complete out of the heading tube. The blocks P and
sections O, yield as the extension enters, and the compressed end of the can body
springs out against the slip cover which now fits closely.
I now have a finished can with tight bottom and removable cover, which if
intended for dry products, is ready for use. If intended for liquid or partly
liquid contents, the side seam will have to be soldered and it is also necessary to
solder the bead or heads.
It must be understood that although throughout the foregoing description,
I have used the terms, "square," "angular," and "polygonal" to define the kind
of can produced by my machine, such terms are not literally correct, although
customarily used in the art. The corners of the can bodies are usually rounded,
for strength and to give a better appearance and thus, strictly speaking, do not
form angles. Hence the words used apply to the general shape of the cans
and are not necessarily to be taken literally; although, of course cans of a literal
angular cross section can be produced by modifying the shape of the forming
devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a can making machine the combination with a former or horn of angular
cross section of carriers for propelling can bodies successively along said horn, and
a movable shaping ring surrounding the horn and of a cross section corresponding
to that of the horn, substantially as described.
2. In a can making machine and in combination, a blank feeding mechanism,
a tapering former, for bending blanks into can bodies of tubular form, a prolongation
of the former of angular cross section for shaping such can bodies into angular
cross section, and carriers for propelling the can bodies successively along the said
former, substantially as set forth.
3. In a can making machine and in combination, a blank feeding mechanism,
a tapering former or horn, and a surrounding sheath for bending the blanks into
tubular form, mechanism for side seaming the can body, a prolongation of the horn
of angular cross section, a movable shaping ring surrounding said angular part of
the horn, and carriers for moving the cans in succession upon the horn, substantially
as set forth.
4. In a can making machine and in combination, a stationary born of angular
cross section, a blank feeding mechanism, reciprocating carriers for moving said
blanks along said horn successively and intermittently, a shaping ring fitting upon

page_text: and around the horn, and a reciprocating side bar connected to said shaping ring,
substantially as described.
5. In a can making machine the combination with the horn or former of the
reciprocating sido bar, the movable shaping ring surrounding said former and
connected to the side bar, and carriers secured to and moving with said shaping
.ring, substantially as described.
6. In a can making machine the combination with a stationary and tapering
"horn or former, having spiral grooves, of carriers reciprocating in such grooves,
⚫ such carriers being composed of two or more sections swiveled together, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a can making machine the combination with a stationary and tapering
Thorn or former, having spiral groover, of recessed carrier blocks, spring latches in
Baid recerres, and rods or links swiveled to said blocks, whereby said blocks and
latches are self adjusting in said groover, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
8. In a can making machine the combination with a former or horn having its
top, bottom and sides formed on inwardly curved lines in cross section, of a tapering
ring having an inner edge of corresponding cross sectional curvature, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a can making machine, the combination with a former or horn having its
top, bottom and sides formed on inwardly curved lines in cross section, of a
shaping ring, surrounding said horn and having an inner edge of corresponding
curvature, and a reciprocating side bar connected to said shaping ring, substantially
as described.
10. In a can making machine a former or horn having a flat or rear upper
surface merging first into a tapered portion, thence into cylindrical cross section,
-and thence into an angular cross section in combination with a sheath enclosing the
tapered portion, a separato shaping ring surrounding the angular portion and
carriers for impelling flat blanks and can bodies along such horn or former,
substantially as set forth.
11. In combination with the former or horn having at one end a sliding extension,
a reciprocating ride bar, rod connected loosely to said side bar, and an adjustable
stop on said rod for regulating the length of the stroke derived from said side bar,
substantially as described.
12. A mechanism for heading cans comprising an open ended heading tube
adapted to receive and hold a can budy, and can heads in line, in combination with
reciprocating heading rams and connections for operating such rams successively,
whereby the can heads are placed successively upon the ends of the can body,
substantially as set forth.
13. In combination with a heading tube, having means for holding a can body
and two can beads or covers in line, two heading rams, adapted to act independently
and successively upon the respective heads or covers, substantially as described.
14. In a can making machine, and in combination, a heading chamber or tube;
a reciprocating plunger for placing can bodies within such tube and for heading one
end of such can bodies; can head feeding passages into said heading chamber for
placing can heads in position in line with said can bodies; a heading ram for heading
the other end of said can bodies; a driving shaft, and independent connections
from said driving shaft to the plunger and to the heading ram, whereby they are
successively operated to head both ends of the can and to discharge the headed can,
substantially as described.
15. In a can making machine and in combination, a heading chamber or tube;
a reciprocating plunger or ram for placing can bodies within such tube and for
heading one end of such can bodies; can head feeding passages into said heading
chamber; a heading ram for heading the other end of such can bodies; a driving
-shaft; a connecting rod for operating said plunger, and a cam for operating said
ram, all substantially as described.
16. In a can making machine, a can body former having a telescopic extension,

page_text: in combination with a heading tube, a can head feeding mechanism, a heading ram
and driving means for causing the following consecutive operations. The intro-
inction of a can body into the heading tube by the forward stroke of the telescopic
extension; the withdrawal of said extension; the feeding of two can heads into.
line with the can body; the securing of one can head upon the can body by the
advancement of the heading ram; the placing of the other head upon the can by
the next forward stroke of the telescopic extension, and the discharge of the
headed can from the tube by the same stroke of said extension, substantially as.
set forth.
17. In a can making machine, the combination with the heading tube, having can
head feeding passages communicating therewith, of a heading ram, a sliding cut-off,.
an arm for opening said cut-off normally in the path of said ram, and a safety
latch connected to raid arm, adapted, when no can body is in the heading tube, to
fall and thereby remove said arm from the path of the ram, substantially as and.
for the purposes set forth.
18. In a machine for making cans of angular cross section, the combination with
a heading tube and with can body and head supplying devices, of a heading ram.
having orimping sections and means for forcing such sections together so as to.
surround and bear upon the rim of the can head, substantially as set forth.
19. In a can making machine, the combination with the heading tube, of a two-
part beading ram, erimping sections, a cam for moving said two-part ram as one,
for placing a can head upon a can body in the heading tube, and a cam for
moving one part of said ram independently for operating the crimping sections,.
substantially as set forth.
20. In a can making machine, a heading tube, can head crimping sections, a.
reciprocating heading ram, having an independently movable plunger, beveled pins..
in said plunger, and beveled recesses in said crimping sections, all constructed and
arranged to operate substantially as described and shown.
L
1007
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant..