IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BENDING AND JOINTING METALLIC OR OTHER SHEETS 80 AS TO FORM BOXES, CANS. OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jabez James, of 40, Princes Street, Stamford
Street, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BENDING AND JOINTING METALLIC OR
OTHER SHEETS 80 AS TO FORM BOXES, CANS. OR OTHER VESSELS."
Sealed the 22nd April 1870, and dated the 29th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jabez James at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th October 1869.
I, JABEZ JAMES, of 40, Princes Street, Stamford Street, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BENDING AND JOINTING
METALLIC OR OTHER SHEETS SO AS TO FORM BOXES, CANS, OR OTHER VESSELS," to
be as follows:-
My Invention relates to apparatus for bending over suitable moulds
or forms and jointing sheets of tin or other metal, also sheets of
any suitable material, such as paper, veneer, card, scale board, paste-
[Pric

page_text: board, or other substances used in making boxes, cans, flasks, or other
vessels.
For this purpose I employ apparatus of two different kinds, which I
will describe.
In the apparatus of the first kind I mount in suitable bearings a shaft
carrying suitable cams, cranks, or eccentrics for giving motion to the
various parts. One of these parts is a reciprocating feed or sliding
frame, which at each revolution of the shaft makes a stroke to and fro,
so that a sheet of the proper dimensions being laid upon the frame is
by it delivered to the bending apparatus. The bending apparatus
consists of a core or mandril of the form required for the interior of the
box or cam, which may be round, oval, rectangular, or polygonal. This
core is made to slide in such a manner that when a sheet is brought
forward by the feeding frame it passes over the sheet and holds it
between itself and a fixed bed beneath it. To this bed are jointed two
suitably shaped jaws, which while the core or mandril remains stationary
over the sheet are made to fold in and thereby to bend it over the core
or mandril. The sheet being thus bent the core or mandril is withdrawn,
and the jaws are opened out so as to leave the bent sheet free, resting
on the bed.
A lever then is moved so as to push the bent sheet off,
and to leave the bed clear to receive another sheet, when the action
is repeated. When the sheets employed are of metal, such as tin plate,
I sometimes attach to the apparatus above described mechanism for
forming a hook or clasp joint without solden. Such a joint is formed
by bending over the opposite edges of the sheet, so that when they are
brought together by bending the whole sheet the one bent edge hooks
into the bend of the other, and the two hooked edges are then secured
together by pressure. For this purpose I place the sheet on the
feeding frame and cause two jaws to act on the opposite edges so as to
bend them into a hook form. The sheet with its edges so bent is
carried forward by the feeding frame, and is bent round the core or
mandril as above described. The sides of the core or mandril are made
to give a little inwards on receiving the pressure of the jaws, being
forced out again by springs when their pressure is relieved. The sides
of the sheet with hooked edges are thus squeezed somewhat beyond
their finished condition, and the hooks are permitted to engage with one
another. A punch is then caused to bear on the hooked edges so
engaged with one another, and the pressure of this punch upon them

page_text: squeezes the joint close. At the same time two wedges-shaped pro-
jections on the punch enter inclined slots in the core or mandril, and
expand to its full width. The punch and the core or mandril are
then withdrawn, the jaws are opened, and the bent or jointed sheet
is pushed off as above described. The movements of the various parts
of the apparatus are effected by rods and other connections with the
cams, cranks, or eccentrics on the shaft, which are so set and shaped
that the successive movements which they impart during each revolution
of the shaft follow in proper time for the successive operations on the
sheet.
The apparatus of the second kind to which my Inventions applies is
constructed so as to be capable of bending sheets to various forms and
dimensions. In this case I employ a fixed core or mandril of the form
desired, and I place over it the sheet to be bent, resting its edges on spring
catches. Above this a shaft mounted in suitable bearings carries a
cam, crank, or eccentric, which in each revolution causes a sliding frame
to descend and ascend. This sliding frame is fitted with two cheeks
which are brought down with it, one on each side of the core or mandril.
These cheeks descending on the sheet bend it along the two sides of the
core or maudril, the spring catches on which the sheet was placed
giving way and releasing it when the cheeks bear upon it. At the
lower end of each of the two cheeks is a jaw cam-shaped on the outer
face, which as the frame approaches the end of its down stroke, bears
against a fixed incline, The continued descent of the frame causes
these jaws to close in against the core or mandril, and thereby to bend
the sheet round its under edges. The ascent of the sliding frame releases
the sheet from the pressure, and two fingers, one on each side of the
core or mandril, are then caused to move forward so as to push the bent
sheet off the core or mandril. The movement of these fingers is
effected by a cam on the main shaft, in such a manner that they are
made to push off the bent sheet at the proper time and to return so as
to be ready to push off a succeeding sheet. The core or mandril may
be readily removed, and another of different size or form may be sub-
stituted for it. Also the checks on the sliding frame and the jaws and
fingers can be adjusted to various widths, so as to suit different cores or
mandrils, and thus boxes or cams or vessels of various forms and
dimensions can be produced by the action of the apparatus.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jabez James in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 20th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JABEZ
JAMES, of 40, Princes Street, Stamford Street, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Jabez James, Her special
licence that 1, the said Jabez James, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jabez James, my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should, and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR BENDING AND JOINTING METALLIC OR OTHER SHEETS SO AS TO
FORM BOXES, CANS, OR OTHER VESSELS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Jabez James, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jabez James, do hereby declare
he nature of my said 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 apparatus for bending over suitable moulds
or forms and jointing sheets of tin or other metal, also sheets of any
suitable material, such as paper, veneer, card, scalcboard, pasteboard, or
other substances used in making boxes, cans, flasks, or other vessels.
I employ apparatus of two different kinds which I will describe.

page_text: In the apparatus of the first kind I mount in suitable bearings a shaft
carrying suitable cams, cranks, or eccentrics for giving motion to the
various parts. One of these parts is a reciprocating feed or sliding
frame, which at each revolution of the shaft makes a stroke to and fro,
so that a sheet of the proper dimensions being laid on the frame is by
it delivered to the bending apparatus. The bending apparatus consists
of a core or mandril of the form required for the interior of the box or
can, which may be round, oval, rectangular, or polygonal. This core is
made to slide in such a manner that when a sheet is brought forward by
the feeding frame it passes over the sheet and holds it between itself and
a fixed bed beneath it. To this bed are jointed two suitably shaped jaws,
which while the core or mandiil remains stationary over the sheet are
made to fold in, and thereby to bend it over the core or mandril. The
sheet being thus bent the core or mandril is withdrawn, and the jaws are
opened out so as to leave the bent sheet free, resting on the bed. A lever
then is moved so as to push the bent sheet off and to leave the bed clear to
receive another sheet, when the action is repeated. When the sheets em-
ployed are of metal, such as tin plate, I sometimes attach to the apparatus
above described mechanism for forming a hook or clasp joint without
solder. Such a joint is formed by bending over the opposite edges of the
sheet so that when they are brought together by bending the whole sheet
the one bent edge hooks into the bend of the other, and the two hooked
edges are then secured together by pressure. For this purpose I place
the sheet on the feeding frame, and cause two jaws to act on the opposite
edges so as to bend them into a hook form. The sheet with its edges so
bent is carried forward by the feeding frame, and is bent round the core
or mandril as above described. The sides of the core or mandril are
made to give a little inwards on receiving the pressure of the jaws, being
forced out again by springs when their pressure is relieved. The sides of
the sheet with hooked edges are thus squeezed somewhat beyond their
finished condition, and the hooks are permitted to engage with one another.
A punch is then caused to bear on the hooked edges so engaged with one
another, and the pressure of this punch upon them squeezes the joint
close, at the same time two wedge-shaped projections on the punch enter
slots in the core or mandril, and expand it to its full width. The punch
and the core or mandril are then withdrawn, the jaws are opened, and the
bent and jointed sheet is pushed off as above described. The movements
of the various parts of the apparatus are effected by rods and other
connections with the cams, cranks, or eccentrics on the shaft, which are

page_text: so set and shaped that the successive movements which they impart
during each revolution of the shaft follow in proper time for the successive
operations on the sheet.
The apparatus of the second kind to which my Invention applies is
constructed so as to be capable of bending sheets to various forms and
dimensions. In this case I employ a fixed core or mandril of the form
desired, and I place over it the sheet to be bent, resting its edges on
spring catches. Above this a shaft mounted in suitable bearings carries
a cam, crank, or eccentric, which at each revolution causes a sliding frame
to descend and ascend. This sliding frame is fitted with two cheeks,
which are brought down with it one on each side of the core or mandril.
These cheeks descending on the sheet bend it along the two sides of the
core or mandril, the spring catches on which the sheet was placed giving
way and releasing it, when the cheeks bear upon it. At the lower end
of each of the two cheeks is a jaw cam-shaped on the outer face, which as
the frame approaches the end of its down stroke bears against a fixed
incline. The continued descent of the frame causes these jaws to close
in against the core or mandril, and thereby to bend the sheet round its
under edges. The ascent of the sliding frame releases the sheet from the
pressure, and two fingers one on each side of the core or mandril are
then caused to move forward so as to push the bent sheet off the core or
mandril. The movement of these fingers is effected by a cam on the
main shaft in such a manner that they are made to push off the bent
sheet at the proper time, and to return so as to be ready to push off a
succeeding sheet. The core or mandril may be readily removed and
another of different size or form may be substituted for it. Also the
cheeks on the sliding frame and the jaws and fingers can be adjusted to
various widths so as to suit different cores or mandrils, and thus boxes or
cans or vessels of various forms and dimensions can be produced by the
action of the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The accompanying Drawings represent on Sheets I. and II. apparatus
constructed according to the first part of my Invention for the purpose
of bending and jointing sheets of tin plate or other suitable material so
as to form four sides of a box or can of rectangular section with a hook
joint or seam along the middle of one of the sides.
In order that the action of the apparatus may be clearly understood I
will refer first to Figs. 6, 7, and 8 on Sheet II. Fig. 6 represents a section

page_text: of the plate with its edges bent to an acute angle on opposite sides, which
is effected by the first part of the process. Fig. 7 represents a section
of part of the plate when it is bent round the core or mandril by the
second part of the process, the one bent edge being just about to hook
itself into the other beni edge. Fig. S represents a section of part of
the plate completely bent with the hook joint or seam closely compressed
by the third part of the process, so that.it forms the four sides of a box
or can of rectangular section, which can be fitted with a bottom and
lid.
The apparatus for effecting the several parts of the process is repre-
sented in Fig. 1, Sheet I., which is a side view with one side of the
farming supposed to be removed in order to shew the internal construction,
in Fig. 2, Sheet II., which is an end view, and in Fig. 3, Sheet II., which
is a part end view and part transverse section of the feeding portion of
the apparatus.
a is the main shaft of the machine, which is caused to revolve by any
convenient power;
a is a cam on the shaft a, which by means of a
slide 2 and a connecting rod and lever b works a punch or presser b
with a reciprocating vertical movement; the office of the punch or
presser is to compress or squeeze together the hook joint; a² is a cam
the curvature of which is represented as it would appear if developed or
unrolled from the periphery in Fig. 4, Sheet II. This cam acting on
the bracket or arm c³ gives reciprocal horizontal movement to the sliding
core or mandrile round which the plate is bent. The core or mandril c
consists of a solid central part with two folding cheeks c² c², pressed
outwards by spiral springs c fitted in recesses in the mandril. These
cheeks are wider than the plate which is bent, and the presser b is made
with wedge-shaped ends, which when the presser descends enter into
the spaces between the cheeks on either side of the bent plate and press
the cheeks outwards. 3 is a cam, the developed curvature of which is
represented in Fig. 5, Sheet II. This cam gives reciprocating horizontal
movement to a slide d. This slide by means of a connecting rod and
lever works a rocking shaft d5, on which are fixed two fingers do, one
on each side of the mandril c. The rocking shaft d5 has also at each end
a guide arm di adjusted to the length of the plate after its edges have
been bent, and these guide arms have the same reciprocating movement
as the fingers 18. The slide by means of a connecting rod and
lever communicates reciprocating horizontal movement to the feed

page_text: slide d² is attached a bracket k¹, in which is mounted a gripper / and
a spring catch or tumbler k². The bracket k¹ slides along a fixed
horn or har k³, on the side of which there is a stop or projection
, and on the top of which there is an incline 7+. The tail of the
gripper comes against the stop k at the back or right-hand stroke of
the slide d, and the tumbler then is pressed down by its spring
behind the tail of the gripper so as to retain it in the attitude to which
it is pushed by the stop 4. When the bracket makes its forward
or left-hand stroke the tumbler 2 passing over the incline > is raised,
and the gripper is released. The slide has attached to it two bars 1, 1,
the back or right-hand portions of which stand at a higher level than
the front or left-hand portions, so that they are notched down towards
one end for the purpose of catching and advancing the plate, as will
hereafter be described. a is a crank fixed on the shaft a. fis a secondary
shaft, on which is fixed a cam f¹. On this cam there is a pin to the
same radius as the pin of the crank at, and these two pins are coupled
by a link g¹, so that the shaft a through these crank pins and link
drives the shaft f at the same speed with itself. The two crank pins by
means of connecting rods e, e¹, give reciprocating movement to the two
bending jaws e³, et, which are mounted on pins fixed to the framing of
the machine. The cam f¹ by means of the lever and link and spring g
works the throwing off lever g. 2 is a crank on the shaft f, which by
means of the levers and connecting rods gives reciprocating movement
to the two angling jaws h and h¹. These jaws have cam-shaped bosses
which work in gabs attached respectively to two pressers or grippers h², h³,
so as to give them a very small reciprocating movement. ³ is a cone
pulley fixed on the shaft f, which by means of a band gives motion to
two star wheels i, ; these star wheels i, i, act on pallets j,j, attached
to the sides of the feed hopper, so as by their rotation to give these
sides a vibratory movement.
I will now describe the operation of the mechanism, premising that
the various cams and cranks are so set as to time in proper order the
several steps of the process. A sheet of tin plate or other suitable
material cut to the proper length and width is placed on the feed table
at A. Its front or left-handed edge is seized by the gripper. The sheet
is by this gripper drawn onwards to the left until the tumbler is
raised by the incline 5 releasing the gripper and letting go the sheet
which drops into the feed trough B. The vibratory motion imparted

page_text: o the sides of this trough by the star wheels 1, 2, causes the sheet
to drop down clear of those sides until it rests upon the higher parts
of the bars l, l. When these bars retreat towards the right so as to
withdraw these higher parts from under the sheet, the sheet falls still
farther down till it rests on the bottom of the feed trough B. The
bars 1, 1, now returning towards the left with the sheet in front of
their higher or projecting parts carry the sheet on to the bed C, where it
has its edges bent to the angles, as represented in Fig. 6, Sheet II.
This operation is effected as follows:-The sheet is placed on the bed C
when the angling jaws h, h', are at the extreme of their stroke clear off
the bed C, and when the pressers or grippers h², 43, are also clear of the
bed, and the edges of the sheet when it is so placed project beyond the
edges of the bed C; while the sheet is lying in this position the angling
jaws come to bear on its projecting edges, the pressers or grippers h2, h3,
at the same time bearing on the sheet and holding it firmly on the
bed C. The angling jaws then bend the edges of the sheet, as repre-
sented in Fig. 6, Sheet II., and having done so make their return stroke
so as to be clear of the sheet, and to release the pressers or grippers ", h³,
On each of the
thus leaving the sheet free to be moved onwards.
sliding bars 1, 1, there is a spring catch, which is borne down while
it is under the sheet, but which rises up, when it retreats clear of the
right-hand edge of the sheet. When the bars 1, 1, advance towards the
left these spring catches having risen behind the sheet, carry it onwards
from the bed C to the position D, where it has to be bent round the
core or maudril. At the time when the sheet is so noved onwards
the bending jaws e³, e, are in their down stroke clear below the level of
the sheet, and the mandril or core cis in its left hand stroke also
clear of the sheet. When the sheet is placed at D, the fingers (1
come down upon it, and the guide arms di descend on either side so as
to adjust the sheet in its proper position for being bent. The core or
mandrile then advances towards the right immediately over the middle
part of the sheet. In its advance it acts by an incline on a hook, stop,
or latch c³, which rising behind the right-hand edge of the sheet pre-
The core or
vents it from being pushed back by the advance of c.
mandril having come fairly above the sheet the fingers
guides d retreat upwards, the two bending jaws e³, e, make their
upwards stroke, and so bend the sheet round the mandril. The one of
these jaws working slightly in advance of the other causes the one of the
hooked or angled edges of the sheet to be bent over the upper angle of
and

page_text: the mandril a little before the other, so that the bent sheet is brought to
the condition represented in Fig. 7, Sheet II., with the one hooked or
angled edge just ready to enter into the hook or angle of the other edge;
also the folding cheeks c², c², of the mandril giving a little inwards to
the pressure of the jaws 23, et, allow the edges of the hooks or angles of
the sheet to overpass each other a little for the purpose of their being
hooked as desired. As soon as the jaws e, e, begin to make their back
stroke the cheeks 2, c, being opened outwards by the pressure of the
springs which act on them expand the bent shect so as to cause the
hooked edges to be fairly interlocked. When this is effected the punch
or presser descends upon the hooked joint and squeezes it close, at the
same time by means of its wedge-shaped ends pressing outwards the
cheeks c, c², so as to give an internal strain to the bent sheet, and
thereby to complete the bends at its angles. A slight groove is formed
either in the upper part of the mandril e or in the lower part of the
presser b, so as to form the joint of the sheet as an inside or outside
seam when the presser bears down upon it. The seam being completed
the presser brises, the mandrile retreats to the left, leaving the sheet
bent and seamed as represented in Fig. S, Sheet II.; the jaws e3, 4, being
also clear below the position occupied by the sheet the throwing off
lever striking the bent sheet knocks it away from the machine side-
ways, leaving the place clear for operations on a succeeding sheet.
y
Although for the sake of distinctness I have described the successive
steps of the operation as being performed on one sheet, it is to be understood
that while the machine is at work there are several sheets always
succeeding each other in undergoing these steps of operation; thus while
one is being bent round the mandril and seamed at D, another is being
angled at C, a third is in the feed trough at B, and a fourth is laid on the
feed table at A; and as these are successively operated on and thrown off
from the position D they are succeeded by fresh sheets placed on the feed
table at A to be similarly operated on in succession.
It is also to be understood that when sheets are employed of material
which does not admit of a hook joint. such as cardboard, or when it is
not desired to form a hook joint for metallic sheets, a soldered joint
being used instead, the apparatus may be made without the angling
portion at C and the punch 6 and the parts for working them; or these
parts may be thrown out of gear and thus the apparatus may be consi-
derably simplified. I have however described it as for the complete

page_text: operation to form a hook joint, the alterations necessary to adapt it for a
butt or plain overlapping joint being such as can be readily made by merely
suppressing parts that become unnecessary for the simpler operations.
Fig. 9. Sheet III., represents a front view, and Fig. 10, Sheet IV.,
represents a side view of apparatus constructed according to the second
part of my Invention for the purpose of bending sheets round a core or
mandril so as to form the four sides of a box cam of rectangular
e is the mandril or core
section. is a driving shaft, caused to rotate by any convenient
power; a is a crank or disc with a crank pin, which can be adjusted in
a groove in the disc to the stroke required. This crank pin by means of
a connecting rod gives a reciprocating vertical movement to a slide b.
On the face of the slide are fixed two cheeks 62, 62, by means of bolts
passed through slotted holes, so that these cheeks can be set higher or
lower, or more or less wide apart thereon.
c, c, are two jaws mounted
on pins on the cheeks, and behind them are two snail levers c', c¹, of
a² is a cam
similar shape to the jaws c, c, and fixed on the axles of c, c.
fixed on a shaft, which acts by means of the rods and levers d', d,
upon the throwing-off fingers d, the form and arrangement of which are
indicated by lines d in Fig. 9.
72 is a spring for bringing back the
fingers to the position represented in Fig. 10.
round which the sheet is bent. This mandril is supported by a bracket e¹,
which in Figure 9 is supposed to be removed to show the construction
behind it. ff are two inclined cheeks, against which the snail
levers c', ', are brought to bear by the descent of the slide b; g, y, are
two brackets supporting guide springs g', g', which are obliquely notched
at the top. The action of the apparatus is as follows:-A sheet of the
material to be bent is laid as indicated by the dotted lines at h, so that
its two edges rest on the inclined tops of the guide springs g', g'; the
slide then descends, and the sloping faces of the cheeks 62, 62, bearing
on the sheet bend it round the the mandril e, the springs g', ', giving
to release its edges. As the slide approaches the lower part of its stroke
the two snail levers c¹, c, bearing on the inclined cheeks f, f, cause the
two jaws c, c, to turn on their axes, and thus to bend the two ends of
the sheet round the lower angles of the mandril e. It is preferred that
one of the inclined cheeks f. f, should be a little hollowed, so that the
one of jaws c, c, should close the one end of the sheet against the
mandril a little before and without interference with the other end of the
sheet. The slide with its checks then rises, and the fingers being

page_text: caused to make a sudden stroke backwards push the bent sheet off the
mandril. Another sheet is laid on the springs and the operation is
repeated.
It is to be understood that in apparatus of both of the kinds such as
I have described the mandrils round which the sheets are bent may be
varied in size and form, and the other parts of the mechanism altered in
proportions and dimensions to correspond therewith.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jabez James, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 28th day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
JOHN IMRAY,
28, Great George Street,
Westminster.
J. JAMES. (L.S.)