Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Sheet Metal Cans.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Sheet Metal
Cans.
I, JOSHUA ENTWISLE, of the Firm of E. K. Dutton & Co., Chartered Patent
Agents, of 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (communicated to me from abroad
by Olin Stephen Fellows, of Middletown, Orange County, New York State, in
the United States of America, Manager), and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings.
it
The distinguishing feature of my invention consists in retarding the progress
of the cans, as they pass through the apparatus, for the purpose of treating them
for the removal of superfluous solder substantially as hereinafter set forth.
includes certain special features in the arrangement of parts for polishing and
cooling the cans, and controlling and collecting the superfluous solder removed
from them.
Figure 1, is an elevation of the parts used in carrying out my invention;
Figure 2, is a plan of the same; Figure 3, is a section upon plane of line 3, 3,
Figure 2; Figure 4, is a plan of the can-rotating wheels and adjoining parts;
Figure 5, an elevation of the parts in Figure 4; Figure 6, a horizontal section
upon plane of line 5, 5, Figure 5; Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 details views illustrat-
ing the several manipulations to which the cans are subjected; Figures 11, 12, 13
14 and 15, illustrate diagramatically different methods of forwarding and retard-
ing the cans.
W, are the ways which conduct the cans from the soldering apparatus, with
their longitudinal axes horizontal or approximately so. I have arranged to treat
the cans with their longitudinal axes substantially vertical, although they may
be manipulated at any angle or inclination, with like result. Thus the ways W,
in the drawings are formed with a "quarter twist," by which the cans are changed
from the horizontal to the vertical position before they enter between the peri-
phery f, of the forwarding wheel F, and the concentric rails C.
I employ one or more auxiliary wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, arranged in such relation to
the driving wheel F, as to bear peripherally on cans travelling along the con-
centric rails C, as said cans approach and pass the radial line between the axes
of the driving wheel F, and of said auxiliary wheels. By this means I retard
or hold the cans temporarily during their passage over the concentric rails and
increase the number of revolutions by causing the auxiliary wheels to rotate in the
same direction as the forwarding wheel F.
Where the auxiliary wheels have the same peripheral speed as the forwarding
wheel each can is held between the forwarding wheel, and an auxiliary wheel
until the next succeeding can rolled along the concentric rails C, displaces it by
contact, the displaced can being again forwarded on the rails, by the wheel F.
If it is desired to avoid actual contact of the cans with each other, the peripheral
speed of the forwarding wheel is slightly increased as compared with the peripheral
speed of the auxiliary wheels so that a can will be forwarded beyond an auxiliary

page_text: wheel before the arrival of the next succeeding, the feeding mechanism being
correspondingly timed.
The number of auxiliary wheels used depends on the number of special manipu-
lations to which the cans are to be treated. Thus, the wheel 1, may be designated
as the centrifugal wheel, by which, acting in conjunction with the forwarding
wheel ', a sufficient speed of rotation is imparted to a can to throw off by centri-
fugal force the main portion of the superfluous solder acquired in the soldering
bath.
The auxiliary wheel 2, may be designated as the vapor wheel which detains
each can and subjects it to the action of jets of vapor or gas directed through
nozzles 5, 6, so as to impinge against the portion of the can that has passed through
the soldering bath.
h, represents symbolically a heating device and H, a superheating chamber,
through which latter steam, air, or any other gas or vapor may be passed on its
passage to the nozzles 5, 6, if it is desired to impart heat as well as pressure to
the blast.
Any number of nozzles, 5, 6, may be arranged to direct the jets of vapor
against the can while rotating between the auxiliary wheel 2, and the forward-
ing wheel, preferably arranged to cause the vapor to impinge against the can
on both sides of the soldered joint, as shown in Figure 8.
Where it is desired to polish the exterior surface of the can by positive mechanical
means I employ a rotary brush B, in conjunction with the forwarding wheel, and
auxiliary brush wheel 3, arranged preferably to impinge against the soldered
joint, as indicated in Figure 9. The novelty in this arrangement consisting in the
special combination of the forwarding mechanism, auxiliary detaining wheel,
and the rotating brush B, whereby the cans are retarded and the number of axial
revolutions increased, while subjected to the action of the brush B.
Before the can leaves the concentric rails, I prefer to subject it to a cooling
blast while detained and rotated by the auxiliary cooling wheel 4, as in Figure 10.
The blast pipe P, is arranged with its nozzle p, substantially in line with the axis
of the can held by the auxiliary wheel 4, so that when the cap end of the can
(the end with the opening o) is being treated, the air will be projected into the
interior of the can, thereby displacing the hot air therefrom, and cooling the
can much quicker than if applied externally.
Some of the particles thrown off during the manipulation of the cans are com-
paratively small and light. For the double purpose of removing these particles
from the atmosphere and of saving them, I enclose the driving wheel, auxiliary
wheels and concentric rails between a table T, and a hood S, and connect the
latter with an apparatus E, by which air is withdrawn from the interior of the
shield S, and injected into a separator G. A simple form of separator consist
of a chamber containing a liquid against which the air from the exhaust pipe 7,
impinges the impetus of the particles carrying them into the liquid, which retains
them; although any form of separator may be used.
The hood S, is preferably suspended by means of counterweights s, s, the pipe e,
being made telescopic, as at 8, to admit of the raising and lowering of the hood,
which has openings for the ways W, and for the admission of air.
The forwarding wheel and the auxiliary wheels have their relative motions
imparted to them by well known mechanical expedients, the arrangement of belts
shown being simply illustrative. The driving pulley D, is on the shaft t, of the
forwarding wheel F, which also carries the pulleys 9, 10, by which motion is
transmitted through the belts 9, 9, to pulleys 11, 12, on the shafts 13, 14, which
in turn transit motion through the belts 15 15, to the pulleys 16, 17, on the
shafts 18, 19, the belting rotating the auxiliary wheels in the same direction as
that of the rotation of the forwarding wheel. By the use of the auxiliary wheels
in conjunction with the forwarding wheel I can arrange for several simultaneous
manipulations of the cans and attain any desired length of treatment within a
comparatively small space,

page_text: The driving wheel and auxiliary wheels are preferably formed with elastic
facings or pneumatic cushions to afford suitable contact with the can bodies.
A belt may be substituted for the forwarding wheel as indicated diagramatically
in the last five figures of the drawings. Thus in Figure 11, a forwarding belt 20,
is arranged in conjunction with one or more retarding wheels 21, and the ways W,
the belt 20 having slightly greater surface speed than the peripheral speed of
the retarding wheels, so that the can, while retarded temporarily by each wheel 21,
will finally be discharged by the belt.
In Figure 12, the ways W are inclined and conduct the cans between opposed
wheels 22, and 21, rotating in the same direction and at the same peripheral speed,
the cans displacing each other. Or, the ways W, being horizontal as in Figure 13,
a slight increase of peripheral speed imparted to the wheels 22, will throw the
cans along the ways from one retarding wheel to the other. In Figure 14, the
belt 20 and the wheels 21, have the same surface speed, the succeeding cans dis-
placing those in advance, as in Figure 11; while in Figure 15, a belt 23, is sub-
stituted for the auxiliary retarding wheels for the purpose of retarding the cans
against the action of the faster moving forwarding belt 20,-the exterior edges
of the cans being acted upon continuously as they pass by a series of blast jets 5, 6,
to remove the superfluous solder taken up in the solder bath.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :―
1. The combination of a can-forwarding surface, a can retarding surface moving
in the opposite direction, and means for effecting the removal of superfluous solder
from the cans while rotating between said opposed travelling surfaces, substan-
tially as described.
2. The combination of a can-forwarding wheel an opposed auxiliary wheel
revolving in the same direction, and means for effecting the removal of super-
fluous solder from the cans while rotating between said opposed wheels, substan-
tially as described.
3. The combination of a can-forwardsing surface, opposed concentric rails, and
means for manipulating the cans for the removal of superfluous solder, substan-
tially as described.
4. The combination of a can-forwarding wheel, and an opposed auxiliary wheel
revolving in the same direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the
cans and increasing their axial rotation, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a can-forwarding surface, opposed rails, and an opposed
auxiliary wheel revolving in the same direction for the purpose of retarding the
advance of the cans substantially as described.
6. The combination of a can-forwarding surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel
revolving in the same direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the
cans and increasing their axial rotation, and means for projecting jets of vapor
against said cans, substantially as described.
7. The combination of a can-forwarding surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel
revolving in the same direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the
cans, and means for projecting jets of superheated vapor against said cans, sub-
tantially as described.
8. The combination of a can-forwarding surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel
rotating in the same direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the
cans, and a brush arranged to act against a can while the latter is between the
said forwarding wheel and said opposed auxiliary retarding surface substantially
as described.
9. The combination of a can-forwarding surface, an opposed auxiliary wheel
revolving in the same direction for the purpose of retarding the advance of the
cans, and means for projecting a cooling blast into a can while between said for-
warding wheel, and an auxiliary retarding surface, substantially as described,

page_text: 10. The combination of apparatus for removing the superfluous solder from
cans, a hood surrounding said solder-removing apparatus, an exhausting device
for withdrawing the air from said hood and injecting it into a receiving chamber,
and said receiving chamber provided with means for retaining the solid particles
of matter carried over it by the air, substantially as described.
11. The combination of an endless travelling surface and an opposed can sup-
port, means for producing a relative motion between said travelling surfaces and
opposed can support whereby the cans are simultaneously rotated axially and for-
warded, and means for directing fluid under pressure against the cans between
said travelling surface and opposed can support for the purpose described.
12. The combination of two endless belts with opposed surfaces travelling in
opposite directions and at different speeds, whereby the cans are spaced and for-
warded by the faster moving belt while the slower belt increases the axial rotation
of the cans, and means for directing fluid under pressure against the cans rotating
between said opposed travelling surfaces for the purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of December 1897.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester..