Improvements in Machines for Automatically Fixing the Heads or Ends to the Bodies of Sheet Metal Cans and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by EDWIN NORTON, of Maywood, and OLIVER W.
NORTON, of 4815, Lake Avenue, Chicago, both in the County of Cook, State
of Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in Machines for Automatically Fixing the Heads or
Ends to the Bodies of Sheet Metal Cans and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to machines for automatically applying the heads or ends
to the bodies of sheet metal cans.
The object of the invention is to provide an automatic machine for applying
flux to the ends of the can body, applying the heads or ends to the can body, and
finally crimping, squeezing or seaming the heads upon the body.
The invention consists in connection with mechanism for feeding or conveying
the can bodies into position for the application of the heads and the devices for
applying the heads thereto, of a device combined therewith to automatically apply
acid or flux to the ends of the can body before the heads are applied. This
aciding device preferably consists of a revolving wheel or disk furnished with a
pad on its inner face in connection with a trough or vessel for holding the acid or
Hux, and in which the rim of the disk revolves. The aciding or fluxing device is
preferably mounted upon the same reciprocating slide or cross head which carries
the head applying piston and the seaming devices, so that one movement of this cross
head may serve to apply the flux to the end of one can body and to apply the head to
the next succeeding can body. The means or mechanism employed for holding
and truing up the can body while the heads are applied thereto consists, preferably,
of two opening and closing half-molds or pockets which surround the can body
and true it up into shape to receive the heads by exerting external pressure upon
its periphery. One of these part molds is preferably mounted upon a reciprocating
slide or cross head and the other upon an intermittently revolving wheel. This
intermittently revolving wheel is provided with a series of part molds upon its
periphery each of which coact in turn with the reciprocating part mold, and this
wheel thus serves as the device for feeding or conveying the can bodies first into
position for the application of the flux thereto and then into position for the application
of the heads thereto. The means or device for applying and forcing the heads upon
the can bodies consists of reciprocating pistons or plungers which are preferably
mounted upon the same slides that carry the seaming devices or jaws. The
seaming devices, especially where the cans to be operated upon are rectangular,
preferably consist of reciprocating jaws or dies.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this Specification and in
which similar letters of reference indicate like parts,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side
elevation; Fig. 3 is a detail elevation showing the can head feed chute and the
can head feed device operating in conjunction therewith ;
Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

page_text: is a section on line 0-0 01 Fig. 5 ;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1 and showing au
elevation of the fluxing device;
Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a detail view of the can head chute ;
Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 12 is an elevation of the mechanism for operating the crimping or squeezing
jaws.
In the drawing A represents the frame of the machine. B are the half-molds
or pockets for holding and sizing the can body, which are mounted upon the
intermittently revolving wheel B C is the reciprocating half-mold carried by
the slide or cross head which coacts with the part-molds B on the wheel B¹.
DD are the pistons or plungers for forcing the can heads upon the can bodies,
the same being mounted upon the slides or cross heads D'. FF are the clamping
or seaming devices, the same consisting preferably of reciprocating slides mounted
in suitable guides F on the cross head D. E is the aciding or fluxing device
consisting, preferably, of a pad or cushion carried by the revolving disk E', the
rim of which revolves in a trough or vessel E' for containing the flux. G is the
can head feed chute or passage along which the can heads are fed into position
for application to the body of the can. The can head feed chutes G are mounted
upon the same reciprocating cross head D' which carries the pistons D, the fluxing
device E and the scaming or crimping jaws F. The cam head feed chute G is
furnished with a reciprocating feed slide a mounted in suitable guides y', the same
being furnished with pawls or feed fingers g2 which are held in place by springs g³.
Corresponding spring pawls affixed to the feed chute prevent the can heads
from being withdrawn at the return movement of the can head feed slide g. The
base or lower end G of the can head feed chute corresponds in size to the can
head and registers accurately in line with the can body holding and sizing
device B C, so that these two devices G2 and B C serve to register the can head
and can body accurately in line with each other at the time the body and head are
forced together by the pistons or plungers D. The squeezing jaws Falso may
serve as a means for registering the can head and can body together and to cause
the flange of the can head to pass around the end of the can body evenly and
uniformly, as they are mounted on the cross head D' concentric with the base G2
of the can head chute. So far as performing the function of applying the can
head to the can body is concerned, the base G2 of the can head chute and the
squeezing jaws F may both be considered as forming a continuation of the
mold BC by which the can body is held and sized in position to receive
the heads.
The intermittently revolving wheel B' which carries the part molds B is
operated by a ratchet B2 on the shaft B3 of wheel B', which is engaged by a
pawl B pivoted to a swinging arm B5 which is operated from the crank shaft K
by means of the crank K thereon, connecting link K2, lever K³ and connecting
link Kextending from the lower arm of said lever K³ to said swinging arm B. The
wheel B' is locked in position by means of a locking pawl or bolt b which engages
a notched rim on the shaft of said wheel B¹. The locking bolt bis withdrawn
at intervals by means of a cam or projection 62 on the swinging arm B. The
locking bolt is secured to a reciprocating slide 6, having a pin or projection
with which the cam or projection ou the swinging arm B coines in contact when
said arm B is drawn back by the connecting link K as before described, into
position for causing the pawl B to engage the next tooth of the ratchet B³ and
turn the wheel B' another step. The cross head C' which carries the reciprocating
part mold C is operated by cams C2 C3 on the crank shaft K.
The cross heads D₁ which carry the pistons D, fluxing devices E, the seaming
devices F and the can bead feed devices G g are reciprocated back and forth by

page_text: means of cams D³ on the countershafts D', said countershafts D' being connected
by beveled gears d with the crank shaft K. The crimping jaws F are
reciprocated in their guides F' on the cross head D' by means of cams F2 F3 on
the crank shaft K which operate the slide connected by a link F³ to one of
said crimping jaws F; and the remaining crimping jaws are operated from this
crimping jaw by means of the connecting links, crank shafts which are pivoted
to the cross head D' and which crank shafts are furnished with eccentrics for
operating the slides F. The can head feed slides are operated by cams G³ G'
on the countershaft G which engage a bell crank lever G pivoted at G7 to the
frame, the upper end of which is pivoted at g' to a pivoted link g to which is
pivotally connected a second link which is connected at its opposite end to the
slide g by a swiveling coupling . By this double link and double pivoted con-
nection of the operating lever G to the feed slide g, the radial movement of the
operating lever is compensated for, while at the same time the feed slide is
permitted to have its necessary transverse movement with the cross head D' upon
which it is mounted.
The fluxing device E is given a step by step revolving movement by means of a
ratchet E3 which is operated by a pawl E pivoted to a swinging arm E which is
actuated by a link E' from the crank E7, the shaft Es of which is revolved by a
gear E which meshes with a gear E⁰ on the shaft of the intermittently revolving
wheel B.
The can bodies are delivered to the can body feed wheel B' by a feed belt or
conveyor H.
The can head feed chute G at the upper portion thereof beyond the can head
feed slide g which receives the loose heads is provided on opposite sides alternately
with cam shaped projections which serve to twist or tilt two adjoining heads in
the chute into crossing or intersecting planes for the purpose of preventing one
head lapping or slipping beyond another and wedging in the chute. This is
clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9. The flanges of the can heads are often so
narrow that the heads would tend to slip or lap by each other without this
provision, especially where the can head chutes are inclined at an angle to the
vertical and are inclined to slide down the chute by their own gravity. It will of
course be understood that the projections are located the width or diameter of
the can head apart so that one projection will operate upon one can head and the
other projection operate on the succeeding can head and thus tilt the two so that
they will cross each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
1st. The combination with a device for holding the can body, of a device for
centering the can head in line with the body, a device for forcing the can head
upon the body, a device for applying flux to the end of the can body before the
application of the can head thereon, and a movable can body carrier or conveyor
furnished with can body holding pockets for conveying the can bodies from said
fluxing device to said can head centering and applying devices, said fluxing device
being arranged adjacent to said can body carrier or conveyor, and each of the
can body holding pockets on said carrier coacting in turn with the fluxing device
and serving to hold or support the can body while being operated upon by the
fluxing device, and also coacting in turn with said can head centering and applying
devices, substantially as specified.
2nd. In a can body heading machine, the combination with a can body feed
wheel B furnished with can body holding pockets B, of a ean body holding
device C co-operating therewith, a can head centering device, a can head applying
plunger D for forcing the can head upon the body, and a fluxing device E
arranged adjacent to said feed wheel B and adapted to co-operate in turn with
each of said can body holding pockets thereon, said an body holding pockets B

page_text: serving to hold or support the can bodies, each in turn, while being operated on by
said fluxing device, and said feed wheel B' serving to move or convey the can
bodies from said fluxing device to the can head centering device and can head
applying plunger, substantially as specified.
3rd. The combination with a device for holding the can body, of a device for
centering the can head in line with the body, a device for forcing the can head
upon the body, a device for applying flux to the end of the can body hefore the
application of the can head thereon, means for conveying the can bodies from said
fluxing device to said can head centering and applying devices, and a cross head
or slide D¹ upon which said fluxing device is mounted and by which it is brought
into contact with the end of the can body, substantially as specified.
4th. In a can heading machine, the combination with a can body feed device, of
a device for holding the can body in position, a device for centering the cau head
in line with the can body, a device for forcing the can head upon the body, and a
reciprocating and revolving fluxing device, substantially as specified.
5th. In a can heading machine, the combination of a can body feed device, of a
device for holding the can body in position, a device for centering the can head in
line with the can body, a device for forcing the can head upon the body, a
reciprocating and revolving fluxing device E, and a trough or vessel E² for
containing the acid or flux, substantially as specified.
6th. In a can heading machine, the combination with a can body feed device
and a device for holding the can body in position for application of the head
thereto, a device for centering the can head in line with the can body, a piston or
plunger D for forcing the can head and body together, a cross head or slide D¹ for
operating the same, and a fluxing device E carried by said cross head, substantially
as specified.
7th. The combination with a can body feed device and a device for holding the
can body, of a piston or plunger D for forcing the can head and body together,
a cross head or slide D' for operating the same, a fluxing device E carried by said
cross head, and a seaming or crimping device also mounted upon said cross head,
substantially as specified.
8th. The combination with a can body feed device and a device for holding
the can body, of a piston or plunger D for forcing the can head and body together,
a cross head or slide D' for operating the same, a fluxing device E carried by said
cross head, a seaming or crimping device mounted upon said cross head, and a can
head feed chute also mounted upon said cross head, substantially as specified.
9th. The combination with a can body feed device and a device for holding the
can body, of a piston or plunger D for forcing the can head and body together, a
cross head or slide D' for operating the same, a fluxing device E carried by
said cross head, a seaming or crimping device also mounted upon said cross head,
and a can head feed chute also mounted upon said cross head, said can head
feed chute being provided with a reciprocating can head feed slide, substantially
as specified.
10th. The combination with a can body feed device and a device for holding the
can body, of a piston or plunger D for forcing the can head and body together, a
cross head or slide D₁ for operating the same, a fluxing device E carried by
said cross head, a seaming or crimping device also mounted upon said cross
head, and a can head feed chute also mounted upon said cross head, said can head
feed chute being provided with a reciprocating can head feed slide furnished with
a pawl for engaging the can heads, substantially as specified.
11th. The combination with a can body feed device and a device for holding
the can body, of a piston or plunger Ď for forcing the can head and body
together, a cross head or slide D₁ for operating the same, a fluxing device
carried by said cross head, a seaming or crimping device also mounted upon
said cross head, and a can head feed chute also mounted upon said cross head,
said cau head feed chute being provided with a reciprocating can head feed slide
furnished with a pawl for engaging the can heads, and said can head feed

page_text: chute having a pawl to prevent the backward movement of the can heals therein,
substantially as specified.
12th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can head feed chute
mounted upon a reciprocating slile or cross head and furnished with a recipro-
cating can head feed slide, substantially as specified.
13th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can head feed chute
mounted upon a reciprocating slide or cross head and furnished with a recipro-
cating can head feed slide, and said can head feed slide being provided with a feed
pawl for engaging the can heads, substantially as specified.
14th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can head feed chute
mounted upon a reciprocating slide or cross head and furnished with a recipro-
cating can head feed slide, said can head feed slide being providet with a
feed rawl for engaging the can heads, and said can head feed chute having
a pawl to prevent the backward movement of the can heals therein, substantially
as specified.
15th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can heid feed chute
mounted upon a reciprocating slide or cross head and furnished with a recipro-
cating can head feed slide, and mechanism for reciprocating the cross head upon
which said feed chute is mounted, and mechanism for reciprocating the can head
feed slide on said chute, substantially as specified.
16th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can head feed chute
mounted upon a reciprocating slide or cross head and furnished with a recipro--
cating can head feed slide, mechanism for reciprocating the cross head upon which
said feed chute is mounted and mechanism for reciprocating the can head feed
slide on said chute, said last mentioned mechanism consisting of an operating
lever connected to said feed slide by two double pivoted links, substantially as
specified.
17th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can head feed chute
or passage with a reciprocating can head feed slide 9 for moving the can heads
along in said chute or passage, substantially as specified.
18th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can head feed chute
or passage with a reciprocating can head feed slide g for moving the can heads
along in said chute or passage, said feed slide being furnished with pawls or fingers
for engaging the cans, substantially as specified.
19th. The combination in a can heading machine of a can head feed chute or
passage with a reciprocating can head feed slide 7 for moving the can heads along in
said chute or passage, said feed slide being furnished with pawls or fingers
for engaging the cans, and said chute being furnished with spring pawls
for preventing the backward movement of the can heads therein, substantially
as specified.
20th. The combination of an opening and closing two part device BC for
embracing and holding the can body, of a device for centering the can head in line
with the can body, a device for forcing the can head upon the can body, a can
body conveyor, and a reciprocating and revolving fluxing device for applying flux
to the end of the can body prior to the application of the head thereon, sub-
stantially as specified.
21st. The combination of an opening and closing two part device BC for
embracing and holding the can body, of a device for centering the can head in
line with the can body, a device for forcing the can head upon the can body, a can
body conveyor, and a pair of movable fluxing pads EE adapted to be forced
against the end of the can body, said pads EE einbracing the entire end of the
can body, and a reciprocating and revolving fluxing device for applying flux to the
end of the can body prior to the application of the head thereon, substantially as
specified.
22nd. The combination with an opening and closing two part device BC for
embracing and holding the can body, of a device for centering the can head in line
with the can body, a can head feed chute or device for delivering the can heads

page_text: to said can head centering device, a device for forcing the can head upon the can
body, a can body conveyor, and a device for applying flux to the ends of the can
body before the application of the heads thereon, substantially as specified.
23rd. The combination with an opening and closing two part device BC for
embracing and holding the can body, of a device for centering the can head in line
with the can body, a device for forcing the can head upon the can body, a
can body conveyor, and a device for applying flux to the end of the can body
before the application of the head thereon, and a device for seaming and crimping
the head upon the can body, substantially as specified.
24th. The combination with a device for holding and supporting the can body,
of a revolving and reciprocating can body fluxing disk pad E adapted to
embrace the entire end of the can body, and a trough or vessel E' for holding
the flux and in which the rim of said disk revolves, substantially as specified.
25th. In a can heading machine the combination with an opening and closing
device for holding the can body, of a device for centering the can head in line
with the can body, a device for forcing the can head and body together, and a can
head feed chute G, furnished with oppositely disposed projections 9° 9° on the
inner side wall of the chute, adapted to engage the flat or disk portion of the
can heads and cause the can heads in the chute to cross each other at an
angle, and thus prevent their slipping or lapping by each other, substantially as
specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.