Improvements in Cylindrical Shaped Tins which may be Hermetically Sealed for the Preservation of their Contents, and in the means of Opening same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1899
"
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
Improvements in Cylindrical Shaped Tins which may be Hermetically
Sealed for the Preservation of their Contents, and in the means of
Opening same.
.
We, ALFRED LOVELL, of Hanham Road, Kingswood, near Bristol, and GEORGE
FINCKEN, of Footshill, Tabernacle Road, Hanham, near Bristol, both Engineers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A cylindrical shaped tin which may be hermetically sealed by thin sheet metal,
preferably tagar tin, for the preservation of the contents, the said tin being further
provided with a loose cover in the ordinary way, on the inside of which is fixed
a rotary cutter attached to a radial arm, to be used for the purpose of cutting
through the said thin metal seal. The thin metal seal which covers the full
diameter of the tin is grooved near the outer edge to form a path in which the
rotary cutter travels when cutting through the metal seal this metal seal is also
dished or recessed in the centre to provide a clearance space for the rotary cutter
and radial arm (fixed on the inside of the cover as before mentioned) before being
put into position for cutting the metal seal.
.
The tin is provided at its top edge with a grooved flange of suitable form, which
in addition to stiffening the body of the tin at this point, is so shaped as to form
a support for the thin metal seal immediately under the path of the rotary cutter
during the process of opening.
A. tin constructed in accordance with this invention can be filled and. sealed
from either end with equal facility, the flange round the top (to which the thin
metal seal is soldered) being formed separate, and having a return edge fitting
over the body of the tin, the bottom being also provided with a return edge
exactly similar.
To cut through the thin metal seal, the loose cover should first be removed and
the arm carrying the rotary cutter pressed outwards towards the outer edge, a
suitable stop being provided to ensure the position of the rotary cutter when so
placed, being coincident with the groove in the thin metal seal the cover is then
replaced in position and revolved by hand, the body of the tin being held sta-
tionery, a alight pressure during the revolution of the cover will suffice to enable
the rotary cutter to penetrate the thin metal seal, which may then be removed,
giving access to the contents of the tin.
Dated this Sixteenth day of March 1899.
ALFRED LOVELL,
GEORGE FINCKEN.

page_text: Improvements in Cylindrical Shaped Tins which may be Hermetically
Sealed for the Preservation of their Contents, and in the means of
Opening same.
We, ALFRED LOVELL, of Hanham Road, Kingswood, near Bristol, and GEORGE
FINCKEN, of Footshill, Tabernacle load, Hanham, near Bristol, both Engineers,
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 follow-
ing statement:—
This invention has reference to a cylindrical shaped tin for storing articles of
food, tobacco and the like, which may be hermetically sealed by a metal seal
for the preservation of the contents, the said tin being also fitted with a loose
cover on the inside of which a suitable provision is made for cutting the said
metal sealy and will be best understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which.
Fig. 1. Is a view partly in section of the tin as it would be when sealed and
packed ready to be sent out.
Fig. 2. Is a plan projected from Fig. 1.
"
Fig. 3. Is a view partly in section shewing cutter arm in position ready for
cutting away the metal seal.
Fig. 4. Is a plan projected from Figure 3.
Fig. 5. Is an alternative form of cutter.
Like letters of reference represent similar parts throughout the drawings.
A tin constructed in accordance with this invention has a contracted top as
shewn to which is soldered a ring A, having two annular grooves B and B and
after being filled the tin is sealed by a thin metal seal C, of tagger tin or other
suitable metal, which reats upon. and is soldered to the before mentioned grooved
ring A, this metal seal C has its outer edge curled over falling into, the groove B
and has an annular groove D whose diameter and shape corresponds with the
groove B and further it has a recess or well E in the centre, which is provided
for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.
The tin is provided with a loose cover of the ordinary form, to protect the
contents after the metal seal C has been cut away or removed, and on the inside.
of this loose cover is attached a radial aim G carrying a cutter G for the pur-
pose of cutting through the before mentioned metal seal.
Having generally described our tin we will now proceed to describe fully the
several parts above referred to.
The ring A fixed to the top of the tin and provided with two annular grooves B'
and B, whilst stiffening the body of the tin, is provided for the following pur-
pose-firstly the groove B¹ receives the outer curled edge of the metal seal G,
and at the same time is provided as a channel in which to run the solder when
sealing the tin, and thereby preventing any solder or other material-used in
connection therewith from passing into the tin during the process of sealing and .
damaging the contents secondly the inner groove B³ is provided as a support
for the metal seal C, immediately under the path of the outter G¹, the diameter
of this annular groove B.being the same as that of the circle described by the
before mentioned cutter G¹ when cutting away the seal, by this means a much
cleaner cut is obtained.
The thin metal seal C is of such a diameter that its curled outer edge will
fall into the annular groove B¹ in the ring A, the joint or seal being made by
solder run in this groove the annular groove D is of the same diameter as the

page_text: circle described by the cutter G¹ at the end radial arm G, when cutting away the
seal, and forms a path for the said cutter, the recess or well E in the metal seal
forms a pocket in which the above mentioned radial arm G (fixed on the inside
of the loose cover F), rests when the cover is pressed home as indicated by Figs. 1
and 2-this is the position the radial arm G and cutter G¹ would occupy when
the tin is packed and sealed ready to be sent out.
The loose cover F is of the ordinary form, but has fixed on its inside a radial
arm G working on a pivot H, at the outer end of this radial arm a rotary cutter G'
is provided for the purpose of cutting away the before mentioned thin metal
seal C.
To open or unseal the tin, the loose cover F is removed and the radial arm G
carrying the cutter G¹ pushed over from the position indicated by Figa. 1 and 2
to that shewn in Figs. 3 and 4, a suitable stop being provided at M to fix this
position, the cover is then replaced on the tin, when the cutter (+' drops into
the annular groove D in the metal seal C as in Fig. 3, and by revolving the cover
in the direction of the arrow, holding the body of the tin stationery, the metal
seal C may by a slight pressure of the hand during the revolution of the cover,
be cut through and removed.
The special form of the grooved ring A fixed to the top of the tin, prevents
the risk of injury from the sharp edge of the metal seal ü left attached thereto
after the tin has been opened, as although this edge is cut clean, it lies at the
bottom of the groove B, whose inner edge is curled over specially to prevent
danger of injury should it be necessary to insert the hand into the tin.
Instead of making the cutter G¹ in the form of a rotary disc, a cutting edge
may be formed on the end of the radial arm G as in Fig. 5.
The before mentioned grooved ring A with thin metal seal C, and loose cover F
provided with a cutter fixed to a radial arm G as applied to cylindrical shaped
tins, is also applicable to tin boxes or cases of any shape provided their form of
construction is such as to permit of their being fitted with a circular cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be
understood that we are aware the mere sealing of a tin box or case by means
of a metal seal is no novelty, and that no such claim is made in this specification,
but what we do claim is:
1. The special form of the metal seal, having an annular groove, with its outer
edge curled over, and the provision of a recess in the centre of the said metal seal
for the purpose hereinbefore described, and substantially as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the said metal seal of a ring fixed to the top of a tin
box or case, the said ring having two annular grooves substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The provision on the inside of the loose cover of such tin box or case of a
cutter on a radial arm, to be used for cutting away the said metal seal substan-
tially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of November 1899.