Can Making Machine.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
Can Making Machine.
I, ROBERT DENISTON HUME of Gold Beach, Curry County, State of Oregon
U.S.A., Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to can making machines. It consists in a novel mechanism
combination of parts, and certain details of construction which will be more fully
explained by reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figures 1 and 1^ are side elevations of my machine. Figures 2 and 2ª are plan
views of the same.
Figure 3 is a side view of the seam closing device.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the horn and the seam closing device.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the soldering device.
Figure 5 is a similar view of the solder feeding device.
Figure 6 shows the manner in which the edges of the tin are gradually formed
into hooks.
Figure 7 is a vertical section on line x-x Figure 8.
Figure 8 is a front view of the sheet feeding device.
Figure 9 is a transverse section of the horn and acid tank.
Figures 10 and 10 show the two carriers.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of the wipers.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section through the heading device and
Figures 13, 14 and 15 are sections on lines I-II, III—IV, V—VI, respectively
of Figure 1.
In my invention I employ a former A Figs. 1 and 14 around which the sheet of
metal is bent from a flat state, and curved as it advances until it is in the form of a
cylinder around the cylindrical horn or extension, into which the former A merges.
The sheets of tin are cut to the proper size and are placed upon a supporting
table as shown at B (Figs. 7 and 8).
Above these sheets of tin are a series of lifters C. These lifters are adapted to
adhere to the metallic sheet beneath them when depressed upon it, and when raised
will lift it by reason of the adhesion thus separating the top sheet from those
which lie below it as shown in Figure 7.
These lifters bave shanks attached to a transverse bar D, and are adjustable
with relation thereto, and this bar is reciprocated up and down by means of a vertical
rod E which is actuated by a horizontally reciprocating cam plate F, the upper
edge of which passes beneath a projecting pin with anti-frictional roller shown
at G, Fig. 1.
The upper edge of the plate F bas the end adjacent to the pin G, beveled so
that when the plate is forced beneath the pin, the rod and the lifters will be raised
until the uppermost sheet of metal is lifted above the carrier H, and when the
latter is advanced, it passes beneath the sheet of tin thus lifted, until the hook at
the outer end has passed beyond the edge of the sheet, the pin G meantime
traveling upon the straight upper edge of the plate F.
As soon as the hook of the carrier has passed beyond the edge of the sheet of tin,
the pin G drops into a depression in the upper edge of the plate shown at F' Fig. 1,
and this allows the lifters and the sheet of metal to drop so far that the edge of
the sheet of tin will then be engaged by the hook ends of the carrier H when it
[Price Rd 7

page_text: commences to retract, and the retraction of the carrier draws this sheet of tin
away from the lifters and advances it toward the former by which it is to be
eventually shaped.
In order to prevent a second sheet of metal from adhering and being lifted with
the uppermost one, I have shown small projecting corrugations I which are here
proportionately enlarged, but which in practical use are just sufficient to disengage
any second sheet which may adhere, while not sufficient to disengage the uppermost
sheet from the lifters.
When the carrier H is retracted, it carries the sheet of tin back with it, and
the sheet is guided and held in place by means of a spring-actuated plate J in the
side of its path, which keeps it perfectly secure in its channel.
K is a stop pawl, the end of which drops behind the edge of the sheet of tin
when it has been advanced by the carrier H, and this prevents the sheet from being
moved forward again, when the carriers again advance.
In order to elevate the table and the pile of metal sheets which lie upon it, so
that the uppermost one will always be at the proper height to be taken by the
lifters, I have shown a vertical screw L which turns in a suitable nut and has fixed
to it a bevel gear M which is actuated by a bevel gear M¹ upon the horizontal
shaft N.
This shaft carries upon it a ratchet wheel O, and a lever arm P has one end
loosely journaled upon the shaft N so as to swivel about it, the ratchet turning in
a slot in the arm.
This arm P is connected by a pin S with the arm Q which is secured to the
lower end of the vertical reciprocating rod E and projects toward the shaft N as
shown in Figure 8.
Within the lever P is a sliding pawl R having a spring R¹ behind it which
causes the point of the pawl to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel O.
When the rod E and the arm Q are raised, the lever P will be turned about its
fulcrum point on the shaft N, and the pawl R will move over the teeth of the
ratchet without advancing it, but when the parts are relieved and the rod E and
the lifters allowed to drop by gravitation when the cam plate F is retracted, the
pawl carrying lever P will be moved downward by means of a pin S which enters
a slot in the end of the arm Q, and as the pawl R is in engagement with the teeth
of the ratchet O, the latter will be rotated a short distance, and through the
gears M and M' will act to turn the screw L.
The thread of the screw L, and the distance to which it is advanced are so
calculated that each advance will raise the table carrying the sheets of tin the
thickness of one sheet, thus keeping the upper surface of the sheets constantly at
the same distance from the lifters, and the table will thus be raised intermittently
until all the sheets upon the table have been lifted and removed.
If the thickness of the sheets of metal vary, or the pitch of the screw advances
them upwardly too fast, the lifters will not drop as far, and as the rod E and
arm partake of this motion, their stroke will be so shortened that the feeding
mechanism will not be actuated until the pile of sheets has been reduced to the
proper height.
When it is necessary to depress the table to receive another supply of sheets it
is done by disengaging the half nut T which is fixed to the lower side of the table
and engages the serew L.
This disengagement is produced by means of a lever U and a connecting rod V
shown in Figure 7 which connects the lever U with the half nut T, and the latter
is adapted to slide in guides as shown at W so as to be withdrawn clear of the
screw threads, and the table may then be depressed to the desired point after which
the lever U is released, and the nut again engages the screw rod for further
operation.
When the sheet of tin has been advanced by the carrier H and prevented from
returning by the pawl K, the carrier H again moves to receive another sheet
of tin

page_text: When it is again retracted, the first sheet of tin is again advanced by recipro-
cating carriers and delivered between devices by which the edges of the sheet of
tin are turned over into a hook form to be subsequently engaged and form the side
seam of the can.
These devices consist of grooved rollers journaled to rotate in a horizontal
plane on opposite sides of the sheet, as shewn at X Fig. 1, and numbered 20 on
Fig. 6 so that the sheets of metal pass between them. In conjunction with these
rollers, are the plates 21 the edges of which are so disposed with relation to the
rollers, that the edges of the sheets passing between them, are gradually turned to
form interlocking hooks as shown in Figure 6.
The sheet is then conveyed by the carriers Y between the cover al and horn A,
which are so constructed, that, as the sheet advances between them, it is bent into
a cylindrical form by the cover a'. Figure 13 is a cross section of the cover a¹
and horn A on line I-II of Figure 1 shewing the sheet in the earlier part of its
passage between a² and A. Figure 14 is a cross section on line III-IV of Fig. 1
shewing the sheet bent into a form approximating to the cylindrical; and Figure 15
is a section on line V-VI of Figure 1 shewing the sheet in its final form. At the
support a Figures 1 and 2 the casing a' terminates and the sheet being now bent
to surround the horn completely, travels from this point on the outside of the horn
exposed to view.
The carriers, previous to those shown at Y¹, are actuated by a reciprocating
rod Z which extends along the side of the apparatus, travelling in suitable guides,
and is connected by a connecting rod or pitman a see Figs. 1 and 24 with a crank
pin or eccentric bdriven by the main driving shaft c which in the present case I have
shown at the end of the machine opposite to that at which the sheets are fed in.
This rod Z also connects with and actuates the reciprocating plate F by which
the lifters are actuated, and it is connected with the carriers H and d¹ by means of
a connecting rod or pitman d, Figs. 1 and 2, and with the carriers Y by means of
the short arm projecting from the head of the connecting rod or pitman d.
This arm projects into a cross-piece y which has hinged at y the stems of the two
carriers Y, which are guided in slots y¹ cut out of the casing a¹; the strips a³
serving to prevent the carriers from jumping out of their guides.
The sliding carriers Y have inwardly projecting spring actuated latches which
engage the rear edges of the sheets of metal to advance them, and which move
outwardly to allow the latches to pass over the sheets when the carriers Y
reciprocate in the opposite direction, see Figure 10. Thus when operated the
carriers being in their position behind the sheet will push it forward, and when
retreating will be dragged over the next sheet, and behind it again, the latter
having been presented by the carrier d'. After the carriers Y have delivered the
sheets to the end of their stroke, the sheets are then received at the point a² by the
carriers Yone of which is shewn in detail at Figure 10^.
As the sheets are closed together around the cylindrical born into which the
former merges, the hook edges of the sheets are caused to pass each other, and by
the elasticity of the sheet the hooks are caused to interlock. The can body thus
formed is then advanced until it reaches the hammer or closing device shown in
Figure 3. This consists of a vertically reciprocating bar e which is actuated by
an eccentric or cam f upon a horizontal shaft extending transversely beneath the
horn at this point. See Fig. 3.
Upon the outer end of this shaft is a gear or segment g which engaged by a
rack driven upon the reciprocating rod Z, and as the rod and rack reciprocate,
the gear or segment, and the shaft will be turned so that the cam or eccentric lifts
the hammer e to press the seam closely together.
(Fig. 3A) is a bar let into the horn and having behind it a spring; which acts
to normally force the bar out, and the particular angle which is formed by the
beveled edge of the bar acts as a guide to hold the seam in proper place as the can
body is moved along into position for the seam to be closed.
The bark which is let into the lower side of the horn has a groove or channel

page_text: 1
made in it adjacent to the edge of the guide i, and when the hammer or closing
bar e is brought up to press the seam together, it also presses the seam into this
groove or channel so that the seam projects in the interior of the can, leaving the
exterior a smooth and continuous cylindrical surface.
Above the horn at this point is a bar l, Fig. 1, of sufficient rigidity, so fixed as
to resist the pressure which is brought to bear beneath the horn to close the seam.
The presser bar e has also a guide e' upon it which projects upwardly upon the
opposite side from the beveled guide i, and this acts upon the opposite side to keep
the seam in place until it has been properly closed.
After leaving the seam closing device, the can body passes over the acid tank m
Figs. 1 and 9, which is supported upon springs so as to allow it to yield slightly
downwardly.
This tank has a slot in the top and fixed in it a piece of sponge or other
absorbent material, which being fixed in the slot and projecting upwardly above it,
...carries sufficient acid so that as the seam is moved over the sponge, the acid will be
properly applied to it, and the tank yields sufficiently to accommodate itself to the
passing can body, at the same time being held by the springs so that the acid will
be properly applied.
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:
After leaving the acid tank, the can body is carried on to the soldering
mechanism.
3. The horn, at this point, beyond the acid tank, is continued in the form of a
hollow cylindrical sleeve or continuation having perforations made in the sides as
shown at n (Figure 4).
Through the centre of this hollow continuation extends the gas pipe o having
openings or jets o' on the lower side for the escape of gas, and the perforations in
the outside of the horn admit a sufficient amount of air for proper combustion.
The lower part of the horn at this point is channeled longitudinally, and within
this channel lies the soldering iron p which is here shown in the form of a T, the
shank of which projects down through the slot or channel in the bottom of the
horn, while the projecting arms at the top lie upon the interior of the flattened
portion of the horn as shown in Figure 4.
When a can body is in position, around this portion of the horn, the bottom of
the shank of the soldering iron is in position to rest upon the seam on the interior of
the can, and when the can has passed beyond it, the soldering iron rests upon the
top of the solder carrier q which is supported upon springs beneath the horn and
soldering iron, and is heated by jets from a gas tuber situated beneath it.
This solder carrier is closed all around, and has an upwardly projecting
longitudinal ridge just beneath the soldering iron with a narrow slot so that when
the solder. is melted within the solder carrier, the upper surface forms a slight
-; protrusion through this slot, and in this melted material the soldering iron lies when
no can is in position beneath it, thus taking up a small portion of solder, and when
the can passes between the iron and the carrier, the iron is drawn over the seam in
the interior of the can and applies the solder to it, while the corresponding ridge
of the carrier, simultaneously applies the solder to the outside of the seam.
The small amount of solder thus exposed temporarily through the narrow slot in
the top of the solder carrier, enables me to use pure tin for soldering purposes,
because the atmosphere has little or no opportunity to come in contact with the
metal and thus oxidize it, which is the great advantage in this class of work.
In order to keep the requisite amount of solder in the carrier I have shown a
device for supplying it, which consists of a tubes through which the bar of solder &
slides by gravitation. See Fig. 5.
.Across the lower end of this tube works a reciprocating cutter u which acts to
sever a small piece of solder at each reciprocation, and this severed piece slides
down through a chute v, and falls into the exterior portion of the solder carrier
which is open at the top to receive it.
The amount cut off at each stroke of the cutter, is regulated by the distance the
bar of solder is allowed to move down for a cut.

page_text: Small holes from this exterior portion, admit the solder into the interior closed
portion previously described, and as fast as it melts the level of the solder is kept
up within the slot in the top of the carrier.
The cutter is actuated by a cam or eccentric upon a transverse shaft to extending
transversely across above the solder carrier, and this shaft and eccentric are rotated
by a series of radial arms or a star, so-called, as shown at c. See Fig. 1^.
These arms project into the line of travel of the reciprocating bar Z, and a lug
projecting from it, engages one of the arms of the star at each reciprocation.
This lug has a spring beneath it which holds it up so that it will engage the arm
of the star when moving in one direction, but the spring allows it to be depressed
to pass beneath the arm as it returns for the next stroke.
In order to have access to the interior of the hollow horn or sleeve at the point
where the soldering iron is located, I have shown a section at the top made
removable. See Fig. 4.
The wipers for the inside seam are made of asbestos fibre clamped between
plates 2 and 3, adjustable by a screw 4 and locked together to hold the wipers by
screws. The outside wipers are similarly clamped between plates 6 and 7, and
these have open slots 8 through which any surplus solder may fall. See Fig: 11.
In my apparatus I have shown two sets of carriers, the first one, previously
described, actuated by the crank pin b, and the reciprocating rod Z moves the self-
feeder, the hammer mechanism, and the solder cutter. See Fig. 1.
The other which is actuated from an eccentric 6' and a connecting rod 62
Figs. 1 and 2 moves the carriers Y¹ by which the can is advanced intermittently
through the various operations which are performed upon it.
The can body, after completion, is advanced along the horn until it passes over a
cylindrical extension 22 of the horn, Fig. 12 with its outer end just enclosing the,
conically shaped sections 23 which are fitted to the end of the cylinder and arc
movable outwardly for the purpose of expanding the end of the can.
The can is prevented from receding by spring-actuated beveled sections 24 over
which it passes as it advances upon the cylinder, and which are pressed outward
behind its rear edge to hold it in place.
The conical sections 23 are moved outwardly by a còne 25 Fig. 12, which projects
through the centre.
The can heads are fed through a slot 26 in a horizontally reciprocating carrier 27
which is moved back and forward by a cam 17 mounted upon the main driving
shaft.
The can heads are held up by a slotted slide 28, which is moved backward to
allow a single head to drop into the chamber 29 of the carrier by a contact pin 30.
when the carrier is advanced toward the cylinder 22, and as the carrier continues
to advance the can head is slipped over the end of the can when it surrounds the
expanding conical sections 23. The head of the cover resting against the end of a
plunger 31 forming the bottom of the chamber 29 in the carrier is then pressed
against the end of the projecting cone 25, and thus forces the cone to act so as to
expand the sections 23 which turn the edge of the can outward.
At the same time the segments 32 which surround the chamber 29, and which
are capable of being pressed inwardly, are thus pressed in by entering the counter-
sunk chamber 33 which surrounds the outwardly expanding sections 23, and this
crimps the flange of the can head over the expanded end of the can and locks the
two together. When the carrier is retracted, the sections 23 are allowed to contract
and release the can, which is withdrawn and discharged.
The bottom of the chamber 29 in the head carrier, is formed by the end of the
reciprocating plunger 31, and it is the forward movement of this plunger which
completes the crimping of the head upon the end of the can.
The plunger is held back while the carrier is being advanced by a latch 9 which
is hinged to the carrier, and has a lug dropping into the space between the end of
the carrier and the flange of the plunger. This holds the two in their relative
positions while the action of the cam 17 upon the end of the plunger moves it and

page_text: the carrier forward to place the head upon the end of the can. The latch is then
disengaged by the action of a plate 14 which is forced against it so as to lift it up,
by a lug 18, so fixed upon the cam that at the right instant it will disengage the latch,
and thus allow the plunger to be advanced so as to complete the crimping of the
head upon the end of the can.
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 :-
1st. A mechanism for feeding the blanks to a forming machine, consisting of
adherent vertically reciprocating lifters with mechanism for adjusting and
actuating them whereby the sheets are lifted successively from a pile containing
them and deposited upon a carrier by which they are delivered to the apparatus.
2nd. In a can making machine, mechanism for delivering the sheets from which
the cans are to be made successively to the apparatus, a mechanism by which the
opposite edges of each sheet are turned into a hook shape, a former over which
said sheets are passed and gradually bent into a cylindrical form as they are moved
over it and the edges hooked together, guides to retain the edges in position and a
compressing mechanism whereby the seam is closed together.
3rd. In a can making machine, mechanism for supplying blanks for forming hooks
upon the opposite edges; for bending the blanks into a cylindrical form, uniting
the hooks and pressing them together to form a seam, and a mechanism for supplying
solder to the inside and outside of the seam simultaneously.
4th. The mechanism for applying solder, consisting of a closed carrier with a
slotted top through which the solder is exposed, an iron resting upon the solder thus
exposed, a cutter and means for supplying the solder to keep the amount in the
carrier constantly the same, a means for advancing the can bodies so that they pass
between the carrier and the iron to apply the solder simultaneously to the outside
and inside of the can.
5th. The wipers consisting of fibrous material and clamps between which it is
held and adjusted, said wipers being mounted so as to pass over the outside and
inside of the seam simultaneously as the can moves between them.
6th. The mechanism for applying heads to the can body ends consisting of
expansible interior segments over which the end of the can body is delivered,
corresponding contractile exterior segments forming a receiver into which the can
head is delivered and by which it is placed upon the end of the can by recipro-
cating the parts toward each other so that the can head is first placed upon the end
of the can body and afterwards crimped thereon.
7th. A continuous can making apparatus consisting of an automatically operative
feeder, the former, and a cylindrical horn into which it merges, over which the sheet
is successively and intermittently moved to form interlocking hooks and close and
lock them to form a side seam cylinder, acid and solder applying devices, and
wipers over which the seam is passed and a mechanism continuous therewith
whereby the head is applied and crimped thereon.
Dated this Sixth day of November 1894.