Improvements in Can Soldering Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Can Soldering Machines.
We, WALTER JOEL PHELPS and EDWIN PHELPS both of 704 Covington
Street, Baltimore, in the County of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, United
States of America, Gentlemen. do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 can soldering machines; and it has for its object to
provide a new and useful machine of this character having simple and efficient
means for securely and uniformly soldering the side seam of sheet metal can bodies.
To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide a
machine for soldering the lap side seam of a can body so that a perfect body of
solder will be distributed over the seam throughout its entire length and also
between the laps forming the seam, whereby a perfect and strong joint will be
formed and with a great saving in time and solder. It is also an object of the
invention to so simplify and reduce the parts of the machine that nothing but the
actual work required of a machine of this character will be accomplished, that is
providing a machine wherein, at one time, a can-blank with the side seam thereof
soldered will be undergoing the process of cooling, another can body will be
undergoing the process of soldering, while a third can blank or body is being placed
in position at the feeding end of the machine, and it will be therefore observed
that only three can bodies will be in the machine at one time, this being all that is
actually required of a can soldering machine.
With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of
the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction,
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated
and claimed.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can soldering machine constructed in accordance
with this invention.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.
Fig. 3 is a central horizontal sectional view of the machine showing the relative
positions of the three can bodies that are within the machine at one time.
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the expansible core.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a supporting frame or
stand supporting in an elevated position the machine table 2, over which is
arranged the horizontal cylindrical shell or casing 3. The shell or casing 3
is provided at its lower side with the short depending attaching feet 4, bolted or
otherwise attached to the machine table 2, to provide for properly supporting the
shell or casing in position. The shell or casing 3 is of a diameter substantially
agreeing with the diameter of the can bodies that are to be soldered by the machine,
and in its upper side the shell or casing is provided with a continuous top slot 5
extending continuously from end to end thereof, and at opposite sides of the top
slot 5, near the ends of the shell or casing the latter is provided with oppositely
located upwardly projecting adjusting lugs 6, which receive suitable adjusting
Place T

page_text: screws 7. The adjusting screws 7, which engage the oppositely locatei lugs of
the shell or casing at opposite sides of the top slot therein, when manipulated
provide means for slightly increasing or diminishing the interior diameter of the
shell or casing so that the same may be adjusted to accommodate slight variations
in the size or diameters of the can bodies that are to be soldered.
Between the opposite end pairs of the lugs 6, the cylindrical shell or casing 3 is
preferably flattened or thinned on its upper side as at 8, at directly opposite sides
of the top slot 5, in order that the operator can readily see the work through said
slot 5, and in its diametrically opposite sides the shell or casing is also provided
with the opposite longitudinal guide slots 9, which extend from end to end of the
shell or casing and communicate with the guide openings 1, formed in the
guide lugs 11, cast exteriorly on the shell or casing near its opposite ends and
co-operating with the slots 9, to secure a function hereinafter to be more
particularly referred to.
The cylindrical shell or casing 3 is provided at what may be termed its front
end with a flared mouth 12 which forms a guide to direct one end of the can-body
within one end of the shell or casing when such can-body is being fitted in place to
be fed within the shell or casing for the purpose of being soldered, and the said flared
mouth 12, at the front end of the cylindrical shell or casing directly surrounds the
expansible core 13, which is arranged to snugly fit inside of the outer cylindrical
shell or casing 3. The inner expansible core 13 extends the entire length of the
shell or casing within the same and projects a sufficient distance out of and beyond
the front end of said shell or casing as at 13" in order to form a receiving end on
which may be fitted the unsoldered can body so that the same may be readily
guided into the front end of the shell or casing between the latter and the core.
The contour of the inner expansible core 13 is cylindrical to agree with the
contour of the shell or casing in which it fits, and said expansible core essentially
comprises a circular group or parallel spaced segmental plates 14, disposed
longitudinally of the shell or casing within which the core is arranged, and the
segmental core plates 14, have secured to their inner sides near their opposite ends by
means of the screws 14 or other suitable fasteners, the segmental cleat-irons 15. The
segmental cleat-irons 15 carry the plates 14 and are provided at their inner sides
with the inwardly extending and radially disposed pins 16, on which are arranged
the expanding springs 17, the inner ends of which springs rest in the spring
socket 18 formed in the periphery of the collars 19, fitted on a centrally arranged
core-rod 20. The core-rod 20 is arranged centrally within the core and extending
longitudinally the entire length thereof projects beyond the front projecting end 13
of the core, and is provided at such projecting end with a reduced portion 21, which
receives the collar 22, at the outer end of the angled supporting rod 23, preferably
secured one end to the outside of the shell or casing 3, to provide a rigid support
for the expansible core to prevent longitudinal or lateral slipping thereof and
thereby maintaining the same in proper relative position. The expanding
springs 17, normally hold the segmental core plates 14 adjusted out against the
inner side of the cylindrical shell or casing 3, and the said core plates are so
arranged that the longitudinal space between the uppermost pair of such plates
agrees or coincides with the longitudinal top slot 5 of the shell or casing and at
diametrically opposite points the spaces between the core plates at horizontally
opposite points of the core agree or coincide with the longitudinal guide slots 9,
formed in opposite sides of the shell or casing for the reception of the opposite
sliding or reciprocating carrier bars 25.
The opposite carrier bars 25 slide within the guide grooves 9 and also in the
guide openings 10, of the lugs 11, said lugs being closed at their outer sides
necessarily providing means for holding the carrier bars properly in position within
the guide slots of the abell or casing and at regularly spaced intervals, the carrier
bars 25 are provided with recesses or openings 26, in which are pivotally mounted
as at 27, the spring actuated dogs 28. The dogs 28 are normally projected out of
the recesses or openings 26 beyond the inner sides of the bars 25 by means of the

page_text: adjusting springs 29, disposed within said recesses or openings 26 and at this point
it will be noted that the pivoted ends of said dogs are disposed toward the front
feeding end of the machine, in order that the dogs will ride over the exterior of
the can bodies X, within the shell or casing, and will swing back within their
recesses or openings 26, when the said carrier bars are reciprocated or moved in a
direction toward the front feeding end of the machine.
The spring adjusted catch dogs 28, in the opposite carrier bars 25 are arranged
directly opposite each other in order to form pairs of said dogs in the same
horizontal plane and by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be observed
that three of such pairs of dogs are employed in the machine in order that each
pair of dogs will engage against one end of a can body, whereby when the carrier
bars are reciprocated in one direction, the three can bodies within the machine will
be simultaneously adjusted to their proper positions.
The reciprocating carrier bars 25 are connected together beyond the rear
discharging end of the cylindrical shell or casing by menus of a cross head 30,
suitably bolted to one end of said carrier bars as at 31, and provided at a central
point with a pair of Ings 32 between which is pivoted one end of a link 33, pivotally
connected at its outer end to the upper end of an oscillating lever 34. The
Oscillating lever 34 is pivotally supported intermediate of its ends as at 36, on the
frame or stand 1, and is pivotally connected at its lower end at one end of a short
connecting link 36, the other end of which link is connected to one arm of a bell
crank treadle lever 37. The bell crank treadle lever 37 is pivotally mounted at
its angle in a suitable support 38 and is provided at the extremity of one arm with
a foot portion 39, adjacent to which foot portion the said lever 37 has connected
thereto one end of a spring 40, the other upper end of which spring is connected
to a fixed point of attachment 41 of the supporting frame or stand 2.
Suitably supported above the cylindrical shell or casing 3 between the ends
thereof is a heater box or casing 42, open at one end as at 43, to provide for a
draft or circulation therethrough to insure the proper distribution of the flame
from the hydrocarbon burner 44, which is arranged within the upper part of said
beater box or casing, although it will be understood that any suitable burner may
be arranged within the heater-box or casing to secure the same result. The heater
box or casing 42 is provided centrally in its bottom with a longitudinal slot 45,
through which extends the soldering iron 46. The soldering iron 46 is of
substantially the same length as the heater hox or casing 42, and is provided with
a contracted lower portion 47 disposed below the bottom of the box or casing 42,
and projecting into the top slot 5 of the shell or casing 3, so as to rest on the side
lap seam of the can body as the same is carried through the shell or casing. The
soldering iron 46 is provided near one end with oppositely projecting pins 48, which
rest on the bottom of the box or casing 42, at opposite sides of the bottom slot 45,
thereof to limit the downward projection of the iron, and in the end opposite said
pins 48 the said iron has fitted thereto a headed screw 49 working in a slot 50,
formed in one end of the box or casing 42 and preventing longitudinal play of the
soldering iron, while at the same time allowing the same to act as a float iron so
that the iron will rest its entire weight on the seam of the can body being adjusted
thereunder.
The soldering iron 46 is provided in one side thereof and at its front lower edge
with a solder recess or porket 51, into which is fed one end of a strip of solder 52,
which strip of solder is conveniently arranged on a revolving spool or reel 53, the
spindle extremities of which are conveniently journaled in the bearing brackets 53³,
projected from one side of the frame or stand 1. At a point at one side of the
shell or casing the strip of solder 52 is arranged to pass between a pair of friction
feed-rolls 54 and 55 the lower of which rolls 55 is mounted in a suitable bearing
support 56, arranged on the table 2, and from one side of which may be conveniently
projected a bracket 57, carrying a pair of guide rolls 58, which properly guide the
strip of solder in between the feed rolls and at the sanic time forn a check to
prevent the same from slipping out from between the feed rolls. The upper of

page_text: said feed rolls 54, is mounted on a short feed shaft 59 journaled in suitable bearing
supports 60 projected from the table 2 and said shaft 59 has mounted thereon a
ratchet feed-wheel 61, the teeth of which are engaged by a pawl 62, adjustably
mounted at one side of the feed lever 63, loosely mounted at one end on the
shaft 59 and carrying at its other end a track roller or wheel 64, riding on the track
rail 65, suitably supported above and carried by one of the carrier bars 25. The
said track rail 65 is provided with a front horizontal portion 66, and a rear inclined
portion 67 declining from the horizontal portion 66 to a plane materially below
the said horizontal portion of the track rail.
Suitably supported in front of the soldering iron and the heater box or casing
therefor is an acid reservoir 68, having a suitable feed spout 69 carrying a brush 70
projecting into the slot 5 at the extreme front end of the shell or casing and
providing means for distributing or wiping acid over the lap seam of the can body
before the same is carried under the soldering iron.
After the can budy has been carried from under and in rear of the soldering
iron, the soldering joint thereof will ordinarily cool before the can body is
discharged out of and drops from the rear discharging end of the shell or casing,
but if found necessary, a supplemental cooling device may be employed such as a
longitudinally slitted air-distributing pipe 71. The air distributing pipe 71, is
arranged longitudinally above the shell or casing in rear of the soldering iron so
as to dispose the longitudinal bottom slit 72, thereof directly above the top slot 5
whereby a blast of cold air may be directed on the soldered joint to positively
insure the cooling thereof before the can body is discharged from the shell or
casing.
In operating the machine the operator is stationed at the front end thereof
with any number of can bodies which have been previously rolled or bent into
a cylindrical shape within convenient reach. By now depressing the bell crank
treadle lever the carrier bars 25 will be carried rearwardly out of the way, and
in this movement it will be observed that the track roller of the feed lever 63
will ride from the inclined portion 67 of the track rail 65 onto the horizontal
portion 66. After this adjustment of the carrier bars, the operator places a can
body on the front projecting portion 13 of the expansible core and adjusts one end
of a can body into the flaring feed mouth 12 of the shell or casing 3, so that
the can body will be held gripped between the expansible core and the shell or
casing and will have a perfect outside fit to the said shell or casing and in this
adjusting the can body in place at the front end of the machine the overlapping
edges of the can body forming the side seam will be disposed directly in the centre of
the top slot 5, and the space between the upper pair of core plates 14, as very plainly
illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.
At this point in the operation, the operator releases the pressure of the foot
on the treadle, allowing it to rise under the influence of the spring 40 which
movement will cause the carrier bars to slide forwardly so that the front pair of
catch dogs 28, will spring into engagement with the outer end of the can-body
just fitted on the outer front projecting end of the expansible core and by again
depressing the treadle the said can body will be carried directly under the soldering
iron. At this point by holding the treadle down the operator can place another
can body in position on the front projecting end of the core as already described,
so by a repetition of this operation it must be obvious that after the machine
has been once filled with the can bodies, there will always be three of such can
bodies in position, one at the feeding end of the machine, one under the soldering
iron and one in rear of the soldering iron in the act of cooling either with or
without the air blast or other cooling device.
The pairs of ca.ch dogs are so placed as to each engage a can body as already
described, it being noted that the can body at the front feed end of the machine
passes under the brush of the acid feed before it reaches the soldering iron which
rests directly on the lap side seam thereof. Immediately as a can body commences
Lo pass under the soldering iron, it will be noted that the roller 64 of the feed

page_text: lever 63, will be riding on the inclined portion 67, of the track rail 65 as such
track rail is drawn under such roller with the rearward reciprocation of the
carrier bar. The rearward reciprocation of said track rail will therefore elevate
the feed lever 63 and communicate motion to the ratchet wheel 61 so as to turn the
feed shaft 59 and operate the feed rolls 54 and 55 so as to feed the strip of solder
toward the soldering iron and directly against said soldering iron within the recess
or pocket 51 thereof, the solder being melted at its point of contact with the
soldering iron so that it will run on the seam of the can body as it passes
thereunder. Before the can body passes entirely under the soldering iron or
more accurately, when the can body has passed half of its length under the iron,
the horizontal portiou 66 of the track rail will have passed under the roller of the
feed lever 63 and thereby stop the feeding mechanism and consequently the feed of
the strip of solder against the soldering iron. As the can body passes under the
soldering iron for the remaining half of its length the solder flowed onto said can
body while passing half under the iron will be distributed by the latter smoothly
and uniformly over the side seam and will thereby prevent uneven or lumpy
soldering, which is liable to occur if the solder is fed to the iron during the entire
time that a can body is passing thereunder. In this connection it will be further
observed that while the can body is in the machine there is no direct support below
the lap side seam so as to hold the lapping edges of the can body tightly
together, and this feature is important in the present machine, because during the
process of distributing the solder over said side seam, the solder runs into the space
between the laps and leaves a perfect body of solder between said laps so as to
insure a perfectly tight joint when the solder cools.
Many other advantages than these stated will readily appear and suggest
themselves to those skilled in the art, and it will be understood that changes in
the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to
without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
clain is :-
1. In a can soldering machine, an outer cylindrical shell or casing having a
longitudinal top slot a stationary cylindrical expansible core arranged within said
shell or casing and extending the entire length thereof, the soldering iron, and
means for sliding a can body longitudinally between said shell or casing and said
core, substantially as set forth.
2. In a can soldering machine, a cylindrical shell or casing having a longitudinal
top slot, a rigidly supported stationary expansible core arranged within the shell
or casing aud normally snugly fitting the interior thereof, a soldering iron arranged
to extend within said top slot, and a carrying device for positively carrying a can
body under the soldering iron and between said core and the shell or casing,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a can soldering machine, a cylindrical shell or casing, a suitably arranged
soldering iron, a stationary expansible core snugly fitting within the shell or casing
and extending the entire length thereof and means for carrying a can body between
the core and the shell or casing and against said soldering iron, substantially as set
forth.
4. In a can soldering machine, a cylindrical shell or casing provided with a
continuous longitudinal top slot, a suitably arranged soldering iron, carrying
mechanism for the can bodies and means for adjusting the distance between the
edges of said top slot te slightly vary the diameter of the shell or casing,
substantially as set forth.
5. In a can soldering machine, a stationary cylindrical shell or casing having a
continuous longitudinal top slot and a flared mouth at one end, a rigidly supported
stationary hollow cylindrical expansible core snugly fitting the interior of the shell

page_text: or casing and extending the entire length thereof, said expansible core having a
longitudinal top space coinciding with said top slot and projecting out of and
beyond the flared end of the shell or casing to form a receiving end for the
unsoldered can body, a soldering iron arranged to extend within the top slot of the
shell or casing, and means for sliding a can body longitudinally between the shell
or casing and the stationary core therein, substantially as set forth.
6. In a can soldering machine, the shell or casing provided with a continuous
longitudinal top slot and upwardly projecting lugs located at directly opposite sides
of said top slot adjusting screws mounted in said lugs to slightly vary the diameter
of the shell or casing, a soldering iron arranged to extend within said top slot, a
cylindrical core arranged within said shell or casing and means for carrying a can
body between the core and the shell or casing and under said soldering iron,
substantially as set forth.
7. In a can soldering machine, a cylindrical shell or casing having a continuous
longitudinal top slot a soldering iron arranged to extend into said top slot, a
cylindrical expansible core snugly 6tting within the shell or casing and comprising
a central core rod extending longitudinally of the shell or casing oppositely located
collars fitted on the rod, a circular group of parallel spaced segmental plates, and
expanding springs arranged between said segmental plates and said collars, and a
carrying device for the can body, substantially as set forth.
8. In a can soldering machine a cylindrical shell or casing having a continuous
longitudinal top slot, the soldering iron a cylindrical expansible core snugly fitting
within the shell or casing and comprising a central longitudinal core rod extending
beyond one end of the shell or casing, oppositely located collars fitted on the rod
and baving peripheral sockets, a circular group of parallel spaced segmental
plates having cleat irons on their inner sides concentric with said collars, and
extending springs arranged in said sockets and normally pressing against said cleat
iron, a rigid supporting rod suitably connected with the extended end of the core
rod and a carrying device for the can body, substantially as set forth.
9. In a can soldering machine a cylindrical shell or casing provided with a
continuous longitudinally disposed top slot and in its opposite sides with
diametrically opposite guide slots, a soldering iron arranged to project into said
top slot, a stationary cylindrical expansible core arranged within and extending
the entire length of the shell or casing aud having at opposite sides longitudinal
spaces coinciding with said guide slots, a pair of reciprocating carrier bars mounted
to slide in said guide slots and cach provided with a series of inwardly projecting
spring adjusted catch dogs, normally projected into the longitudinal side spaces of
the core, the catch dogs of the opposite carrier bars being oppositely arranged ia
pairs to simultaneously engage successive can bodies, a crosshead connection
between one end of said carrier bars and suitable treadle mechanism connected
with said cross head connection to provide for the reciprocation of the carrier bars
in both directions, substantially as set forth.
10. In a can soldering machine, a cylindrical shell or casing provided with a
longitudinal top slot a cylindrical core arranged within the shell or casing, a heater
box arranged above the shell or casing and provided in its bottom with a longi-
tudinal slot and in one end with a vertically disposed slot, a burner arranged within
the upper part of said heater box, a soldering iron arranged within the heater box
and projecting through the bottom slot thereof into the top slot of the shell or casing,
said soldering iron being provided near one end with oppositely projecting pins
disposed above the bottom of the heater box and at its opposite end with a headed
screw projecting through the slot in one end of the heater box, and a suitable
carrier device to move the can bodies under the soldering iron between the shell or
casing and the core, substantially as set forth.
11. In a can soldering machine, a cylindrical shell or casing provided with a
longitudinal top slot, a cylindrical core arranged within the shell or casing, a
soldering iron arranged to project into said top slot and provided at its front lower
edge with a solder recess or pocket, a carrier device for the can body, a suitably

page_text: arranged spool or reel carrying a solder strip, and feed mechanism controlled by
the movement of said carrier device to provide for feeding the solder strip into
said solder recess or pocket during the time that a can body is passing one half of
its length under the iron, substantially as set forth.
12. In a can soldering machine, a cylindrical shell or casing provided with a top-
slot, a cylindrical core arranged within the shell or casing, a soldering iron
arranged to project into said top slot, a reciprocating carrier device for the can
body, a track rail fitted to and reciprocated with said carrier device, said track
rail having a front horizontal portion and a rear inclined portion, a suitable holder
for a strip of solder, a suitably arranged pair of friction feed rolls gripping the
strip of solder there between to feed the same against one side of the soldering
iron and a ratchet device operatively connected with one of said feed rolls and
having a movable feed lever carrying at one end a track roller resting on said
track rail, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of December 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants..