Improvements in Apparatus for Soldering the Bottoms or Tops of Tin Cans and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Soldering the Bottoms or Tops of Tin
Cans and the like.
We, EMILE BESSE and LOUIS LUBIN, of 97, Rue Saint Lazare, Paris, in the
Republic of France, 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:-
Our invention relates to an apparatus for automatically soldering tin boxes for
preserved food stuffs and the like.
Our said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1, is an elevation.
Figure 2 a section on line AB, Figure 3, and
Figure 3 a plan respectively of the apparatus.
Figures 4, 5, 6 show in central section some modified patterns of the support-
ing frame for carrying the box and the soldering iron.
The apparatus comprises a standard a mounted in a base plate band fitted
with a ring c.
On this latter is supported the sleeve d of a cross-shaped frame
(Figure 3) which is loose on the standard a. This cross-frame receives an inter-
mittent rotary motion to the extent of one third of a revolution through the inter-
vention of a pinion f keyed to the sleeve and gearing with a wheel g having
teeth only over one third of its circumference and which is mounted on a cross-
shaft h. This wheel g receives its motion through the intervention of a worm
wheel and worm j provided on the shaft k which is rotated by means of a belt
fitted upon the step pulley 117, the whole of this mechanism being supported by
a bracket m fixed upon the standard a.
The cross-piece e carries three frames or holders nnn (Figure 3) of aluminium
(or other suitable metal which will not take solder) conforming to the shape of
the boxes o to be soldered which latter rest upon a projecting edge p (Figure 4)
or upon a thin aluminium plate (Figure 5) or upon a thicker plate p (Figure 6)
which is connected to the frame or holder n by three or four narrow strips in
such a manner as to leave annular apertures between such plate and the interior
of the holder for the passage of the sectional rim of the soldering iron.
P
Above each of the frames n there is arranged a plate 7 (Figure 2) pressed
downwardly by a spring and suspended from a rod s which itself is pressed
upwardly by a spring and which carries a roller running upon a cylindrical
cam v. Each rod s is mounted in a bracket w (Figure 1 and 2) integral with
the sleeve and revolving therewith, thus the plates q remain always in axial
alignment with their respective holders." The cani cannot turn on the
standard a but is adapted to be raised or lowered thercon (so as to suit the various
heights of boxes to be soldered) together with the brackets w, rods s and the
plates g The whole of this mechanism is adjusted by means of the screw
(Figure 2) mounted upon one of the arms of the cross piece e and screwing into
a screw nut provided on the socket y carrying the brackets w.
The socket y
turns freely upon the lower collar of the sleeve carrying the cam v and is
secured thereto by a ring z.

page_text: The bracket m is fitted with two guide boxes 2, 2 (Figures 1, 2, and 3) in which
rods or pins 3, 3 slide.
These rods or pins are forced downwardly by springs 4, 4 and are united
together by a bridge piece or flange 5 which carries a tooth 6 adapted to engage
in one or other of three sockets 7 (Figures 2 and 3) integral with the sleeve d.
The bridge piece 5 also carries a roller 8 running on a cam 9 keyed to the shafts h.
Upon the rods 3 supported by a spring 10 is a head 11 carrying the soldering
iron 12 which is heated by a circular gas jet pipe 13. The soldering iron is
adapted to enter the frame or holder n in which it can adjust itself and come
into contact with the edges of the box o to be soldered.
Where the arrangement shown in Figure 6 is employed the soldering iron 12
is cut to suit the centre plate p and passes through the annular apertures formed
by the said plate and the holder n so as to come into contact with the box.
The working of this improved soldering apparatus is as follows:-
In each of the holders in succession is placed the end plate and the body of a
box the edge of which may have been prepared to receive the end plate and
which is provided with a layer, or better a ring of solder. The boxes are brought
into position one after the other by the action of the cross e above the soldering
iron 12. As the boxes are brought round the roller u of the rod s running
against the inclined portion of the cam causes the plate g to descend so as to
exercise an elastic pressure upon the box owing to its spring r. At the same
time the rods 3, move upwards through the intervention of the cam 9 while
simultaneously therewith the cross piece e remains stationary owing to the inter-
ruption in the teeth of the wheel g. The tooth now engages in the socket 7
and locks the cross e in position whereupon the soldering iron is brought with
its annular edge into contact with the box, melts the solder by direct contact,
or through the thickness of plate 7 Figure 5.
1.
The cani 9 continues rotating,
the spring 4 causes the soldering iron 12 to return and at the same time dis-
engages the tooth 6 and thus unlocks the cross piece e. Thereupon the wheel
re-engages with the pinion f and causes the cross-piece e to rotate a third of a
revolution. During this period of rotation the roller u runs upon a horizontal
portion of the came for a sufficiently long time to permit the solder to solidify,
afterwards running again upon an incline. The plate is then raised and allows
the soldered box to be removed and replaced by another box. During this time
the next box is treated in the same manner and this continues.
With the arrangement Figure 6 where the box is supported upon an aluminium
plate attached by narrow pieces to the holder n it is advantageous to slightly
increase the stroke of the soldering iron 12 by suitably shaping the cam 9 so as
to cause the iron, while being applied to the bottom of the box, to lift the latter
a little off the plate p. In this manner the said plate cannot absorb any of the
heat, through contact with the box, required for the fusion of the solder and thus
the working speed. is augmented.
The improved apparatus may also serve in soldering the tops or lids on plain
boxes (which it would be impossible to turn upside down without disturbing their
contents). It suffices in this case to reverse the apparatus as indicated by dot
and dash lines, i.e., with the foot plate 6 turned upwards as shown in Figure 1.
The apparatus may be provided with a number of lower, or upper holders for
boxes and the form or shape of such holders may be varied to suit the form of
boxes for soldering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :--
1. An apparatus, for soldering the ends to tin boxes and the like consisting,
in the combination
(") of a cross piece e rotated intermittently and furnished with holders n for
carrying each a box to be soldered unon a lower uraiantino odwa n
or
Don

page_text: an aluminium plate p, the box being secured in position by a spring con-
trolled plate y rotating with the cross-piece e and suspended from a rod's
operated by a roller u in connection with a stationary cylindrical cam .
(b) of a soldering iron heated by gas and of the same form as the holders and
to which is imparted by appropriate mechanism an alternating intermittent
movement so that it can be applied against the edges of the bottoms or
tops of the boxes one after the other in order to melt the solder with which
they previously have been furnished.
'
2. The special arrangement, construction and combination of parts forming
e improved soldering apparatus, substantially as herein before described and
own.
00
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.