IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR FACILITATING THE SECURING OF THE ENDS HEADS OR CAPS ON METAL CANS OR CASES USED FOR THE PRESER- VATION OF FRUIT OR OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1881

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the Firm of Haseltine Lake
and Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings London. for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR FACILITATING THE SECURING OF THE
ENDS HEADS OR CAPS ON METAL CANS OR CASES USED FOR THE PRESER-
VATION OF FRUIT OR OTHER MATERIALS " A communication from abroad by
John Moir Clark of Leadenhall Street in the City of London now temporarily
of Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th December 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR FACILITATING
THE SECURING OF THE ENDS, HEADS, OR CAPS ON METAL CANS OR CASES USED
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FRUIT OR OTHER MATERIALS" [A communication
from abroad by John Moir Clark of Leadenhall Street in the City of London
now temporarily of Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America.]
The said Invention relates to machines to be used in the operation of capping
or soldering on the heads ends, or caps of metal cans or cases used for the preser-
vation of fruit, vegetables, fish and other like perishable substances.
According to the said Invention construct a machine with a strong framing in
which I mount one or more series of vertical shafts or spindles. Each spindle has
at its upper end a bowl or rest for supporting and holding the can or case while the
sane is rotating and being soldered. At its lower end each spindle is provided
with a pulley from which a belt or chain extends to a driving shaft whereby all
of the said spindles are caused to revolve. Over the said driving shaft is a platform
on which the operatives can stand.
Adjacent to each of the said bowls at the top of the spindles I arrange a weighted
rod capable of turning on its axis and sliding vertically in its bearings. The said

page_text: rod is bent or otherwise so formed that it can be adjusted to bring one of its ends
to bear on the top or head of a can or case resting in the bowl. I prefer that the
end which bears on the top of the can should be provided with a small ball or knob
of glass, porcelain, or the like. The said rod is also provided with a horizontally
projecting arm. The said arm is rigidly attached. to or formed on the rod and
there is a semi-circular piece which serves as a guide for the said arm. This guide
being provided with stops. Or I may provide other convenient devices for facili-
tating the adjustment and holding of the can or case on the top of the spindle, and
retaining the head or cap in its proper position while the soldering iron is applied
to the same.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th June 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR FACILITATING
THE SECURING OF THE ENDS, HEADS, OR CAPS ON METAL CANS OR CASES USED
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FRUIT OR OTHER MATERIALS" A communication
from abroad by John Moir Clark, of Leadenhall Street in the City of London,
now temporarily of Wilmington, Delaware, United States of America.
This Invention relates to machines to be used in the operation of capping or
soldering on the heads, ends or caps of metal cans or cases used for the preservation
of fruit, vegetables, fish, and like perishable substances.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of part of a machine constructed according
to the said Invention.
Figure 2 represents a plan or top view of a modification of the said Invention.
Figure 3 represents a side view of the same and Figure 4 represents a transverse
section on the line xx Figure 2.
In Figure 1 a represents a strong framing in which I mount one or more serieš
of vertical shafts or spindles b. Each spindle has at its upper end a bowl or rest c
for supporting and holding the can or case while the same is rotating and being
soldered. At its lower end each spindle is provided with a pulley d from which a
belt or chain e extends to a driving shaft which receives motion by means of a
belt from any suitable motor, whereby all of the said spindles are caused to
revolve. Over the said driving shaft is a platform g on which the operatives can
stand.
Adjacent to each of the said bowls at the top of the spindles I arrange a weighted
rod h capable of turning on its axis and sliding vertically in its bearings. The said
rod is bent or otherwise so formed that it can be adjusted to bring one of its ends
to bear on the top or head of a can or case resting in the bowl. I prefer that the
end which bears on the top of the can should be provided with a small ball or knob
of glass, porcelain, or the like. The said rod h is also provided with a horizontally
projecting arm i. The said arm is rigidly attached to, or formed on, the rod, and
there is a semi-circular piece which serves as a guide for the said arm, this guide
being provided with stops. Or I may provide other convenient devices for
facilitating tho adjustment and holding of the can or case on the top of the spindle
and retaining the head or top in its proper position while the soldering iron is
applied to the same.
Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 A represents the framing of the machine which
is of sufficient width to afford room for a tray containing cans to be placed thereon.
A number of vertical shafts B placed at suitable distances apart have their ends
supported in bearings secured to the frame the upper bearing of the shafts being
in the outer rail. Each shaft has secured on its upper extremity a disc or bowl d
which serves as a seat upon which to place a can while its head or cap is being
soldered. A weighted rod e passes vertically through the framing; near the upper
end this rod is bent at a right angle to its vertical portion, and is provided at the
end with a small ball or knob of porcelain or some vitreous material, which rests
upon the cap during the operation of soldering and serves by means of the weight
to hold the cap down. The ball or knob may be made of other material than that
named provided the solder will not adhere to it,

page_text: An arm h projects from the rod e in line with the bent upper end, and rests on a
semi-circular guideway i placed edgewise on the frame. The upper edge is provided
with two stops and midway between these is a notch m in which the arm rests
when the knob is on the cap. The rod e is adapted to be turned by hand to the
right or left until the arin h comes in contact with one of the stops and it has a
vertical sliding movement to permit the arm h to drop into the notch or to be
raised out of it.
A horizontal shaft L has its bearings in the frame A and is by preference placed
midway between two series of vertical shafts, with which it is connected by belts
or cords n. This shaft L is of uniform size and of sufficient length to connect with
the entire series of vertical shafts. It is driven in any suitable manner and is
covered by the platform s.
It will bo seen that when the can is on the disc or seat, and the cap is held down
by the knob pressing on it, and the machine is in motion, the can is caused to rotate
and the cap may be instantly soldered by the application of an iron or soldering
tool at one point.
.
The rods having the knob for holding down the cap or the head, as the case may
be, are entirely out of the way of the operator and form no impediment
whatever.
The shaft L may be of uniform diameter so as to constitute a continuous pulley
adapted to receive the belts or cords which drive the vertical shafts, which is cheaper
and simpler than a shaft provided with a number of pulleys
Having thus fully described the said Invention_as_communicated-to-mo-by-my-
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim
First. The combination of parts comprising the bowl, disc or can-seat, the
weighted rod adapted to have a partial rotary movement and a vertical sliding
movement, so that its upper end or the knob thereon may be made to bear upon
the head or cap of the can resting on the said bowl, the projecting arm, and the
guideway for the said arın having stops and a notch all substantially as, and for
the purposes, set forth.
Second. The combination of the horizontal shaft having bearings in the frame,
the platform placed over the said shaft, a series of vertical shafts with or without
pulleys and each provided with a bowl, disc or can-scat, and the weighted rods
passing vertically through the frame and having their upper ends bent to rest on
the heads or caps of the cans, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord,
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two