Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Electrically Soldering and Cementing Cans.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Electrically Soldering
and Cementing Cans.
I, MARK WESLEY DEWEY, of No. 150, North Salina Street, in the City of
Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga, in the State of New York, United States of
America, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 those methods or processes, and apparatus for use in the
same, of uniting the parts of sheet metal ware, more particularly cans, which require
the employment of heat to melt or soften the uniting material, and afterward, the
withdrawal of the heat, to cool and set said material.
The object of my invention is, to employ electricity as the heating agent for the
solder or cement applied to the junction of the pieces and for the junction, so that
they may be heated easily to the required temperature, and when a series of
articles are soldered simultaneously, so that all will be heated uniformly, which
cannot be accomplished by gas or other heating mediums now employed for this
purpose.
The object of my invention also, is to heat electrically or by an electric curren
the solder and junctions of cap and cans in such a manner that the general
construction of capping machines now in use will not be required to be changed
very materially, as the present construction of the said machines is highly satis-
factory and desirable. Said machines contain revolving cylindrical soldering irons
that are vertically movable, and presser irons that are also vertically movable but
independent of the soldering irons so that pressure can be maintained upon the
caps of the cans for a certain length of time after the soldering irons have been
removed to permit the solder to cool and the caps to be firmly joined to the cans.
The object of my invention further is to electrically heat the solder and june-
tion without making a heating conductor of the soldering iron itself as it is of
low resistance and would require an enormous amount of current to heat it, and
also a large gauge and expensive conductor to lead the current to it. In my
process, the current is passed through the junction of the parts of the article
between suitable electric contacts, as, for instance, when capping cans, the current
is passed from the presser-iron bearing upon the cap, through the junction between
the cap and the top of the can, to the soldering iron in contact with the solder or
the can.
It has heretofore been proposed to soften the solder when soldering lids on cans
by passing a heating electric current through a stationary pressure iron, and
permitting the solder to cool by cutting off the current before the pressure of the
said iron was removed. This plan will not do for capping purposes as it not only
requires a change in the construction of the present capping machines but is very
inefficient as there is no revolving iron provided to distribute and sweat the solder
in the depression at the joint around the cap, and no unheated pressure iron to
maintain pressure upon the cap while the heated iron is removed. The above plan
would also occupy too much time, for the reason that the pressure iron must remain
on the cap after the current through it is cut off, a sufficient time to lose by
conduction a great part of the heat accumulated in it to permit the solder to cool
and set, before the pressure upon the cap is removed, and, if said iron is cooled to
this point it will require a strong current or a long flow of current and consequently
a loss of time and energy to again raise the temperature of the irons for the
next set of cans to be soldered or capped as the pressure iron is of large gauge.
With my invention, it will be observed, that not much time wil be lost in heating

page_text: and cooling the solder and junction, as the junction of the pieces make a good
heating conductor, which is rapidly cooled upon raising the soldering iron or one of
the electrical contacts and interrupting the current through the junction, the pressure
being maintained upon the pieces after the removal of the soldering iron, by the
remaining electric contact or the independent pressure iron.
To this end my invention consists in passing a heating electric current through
and between the parts, suitably applying the solder or cement to the junction
of the parts, bringing a tool in contact with the solder or can, and then moving the
tool along the said junction.
My invention consists also in passing a heating electric current through and 1
between the cap and can, suitably applying solder to the junction of the parts,
applying force to press the said parts together, bringing an iron or tool in contact
with the solder or can, moving the said tool along the junction, removing the tool
after the solder is sufficiently melted and distributed, simultaneously therewith
cutting off the current, and maintaining the pressure upon the parts while they are
cooling.
My invention consists further in placing the cap in position upon the can, suitably
applying solder to the junction of the parts, applying force to press the parts
together, bringing one terminal of an electric circuit in contact with the cap and
the other terminal in contact with the solder or can, and passing an electric heating 2
current through the junction and solder between the said terminals, moving the
terminal in contact with the solder along the joint until the solder is sufficiently
melted and distributed, and then removing said terminal and allowing the work to
cool under pressure.
And my invention consists in certain other combinations of the steps in the 2
method and also in certain apparatus and devices useful in practising the method
hereinafter described and specifically set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved can capping apparatus as applied to a
single can, and for use in practising my method,
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same,
Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the soldering tool raised,
Fig. 4 is a front view of a machine,
Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the same,
1
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modification of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 23
and 3, and
Fig. 7 is an elevation of the same.
Referring specifically to the first five figures in the drawings, A is the frame-
work of the machine which may be of any suitable form or construction, a a are
side vertical posts (shown in Figs. 4 and 5) to which are secured the bars or plates B
supporting the shaft bearings C C which fit therein. The bearings C hold the
vertical shafts or tubes D D of the soldering irons or electric contacts E.
It will be obvious that the bearings C and their supports may be constructed so
that the irons may be separated more or less as is sometimes done in such machines
to admit cans of different diameter.
The tubes D are provided with pulleys d at their upper ends. Between the
pulleys and the upper parts of the bearings C is a perforated or slotted bar F which
is adapted to be raised. At the lower end of each tube is a sleeve G having a
flange or collar e. The sleeve G is held to the tube by means of a set screw / but
is insulated from the tube by insulation 1. The collar e is of the same diameter a
as the interior of the cylindrical soldering iron E and rests therein, the connection
between the two parts being effected by means of the set screws k which pass
through slots cut in the body of the solder iron. A. presser rod m having a
weight m¹ at its upper end, passes through the centre of each tube D, the lower
end of the rod being adapted to rest upon the top of the can-cap. At the centre
of the bar F is a link n connected with a lever o having a fulcrum at o' which lever
when depressed, causes the entire series of soldering irons to be raised. A line of

page_text: shafting H is arranged in suitable relation to the soldering devices, and provided
with pulleys and belts for driving the same. Motion is given to the shafting H by
means of a belt leading from the wheel I which may be rotated by any suitable
power or means. K is a sliding table on which a tray L may be placed. The
cans M may be placed on the tray or directly on the sliding table. The presser-
iron m is connected at the top with one terminal of an electric circuit by a
binding screw and the soldering iron E is connected with the other terminal 6 of
the circuit through a spring or brush held at one end in a stationary support,"
and bearing with its free end upon the said iron: Any suitable source of electricity
may be employed.
indicate leads from some source, and g' is a circuit connected with the said
leads. The circuit contains a current regulator or adjustable resistance J and one
of its leads extends along the upper part of the frame while the other lead extends
along the lower bar B. The junctions of articles are shown connected in the
circuit in parallel, but it will be obvious that they may be connected in circuit in
series or otherwise, as desired, which will depend upon the strength of current
available, the resistance of the heating conductors or junction c and the amount of
heat required.
The operation of the machine is as follows: The soldering irons having been
placed the proper distances apart to suit the diameter of the cans to be capped, the
A series of filled cans
soldering irons are put in motion or caused to revolve.
bearing loose caps and pieces or rings of solder are then prepared for the action of
the machine, being either placed directly on the sliding table or in the tray. The
lever o is then depressed whereupon the entire series of soldering irons and pressure
rods are raised sufficiently to allow the cans to go under. The cans being put in
position, the soldering irons and presser rods are allowed to descend, the latter
holding the caps steadily in place. The electric circuit having been closed properly
through the current regulator J the current will immediately flow when the
soldering irons are lowered to come in contact with the solder at the junction,
and the junction will be rapidly heated and the solder melted thereat. The circuit
may not be closed through the current regulator until after the soldering irons
have been lowered upon the solder, if desired, but the former plan is preferred as
then more rapid operations are performed. The edges of the soldering irons will
be heated by conduction from the heated joints but are not the electric heating
conductors but simply electric contacts for conveying the current to the heating
conductors or the edges of the caps and tops of the cans in contact with each other,
and the solder. About two or three revolutions of the soldering irons have been
found sufficient to complete the operation.
The caps having been soldered on, the soldering irons are first lifted thus
interrupting the current through the junctions, the presser-rods remaining upon
the caps for a time, until the solder has cooled enough to firmly unite the pieces,
then the presser-rods are raised and the cans slid from under and a second series
made ready.
The operating edge of the soldering iron is provided with slots p, the object
being to prevent or obviate the presence of a completely circular edge, which has
been found objectionable.
The soldering iron may be of copper, steel or any other metal best adapted for the
purpose.
It will be obvious that any suitable and well known forms of aciding devices,
solder or cement applying devices, or cooling devices may be employed with my
invention and may be connected to and operated with my apparatus designed for
practising my process..
It will be also obvious that any suitable and well known forms of devices for
feeding and withdrawing the article, as the cans and caps, to and from the machine
may be employed with my invention.
In Figures 1 and 2 both the presser-iron and the soldering iron is shown lowered
in contact with the work, in Fig. 3 the soldering iron is shown raised from the joint

page_text: wine the presser rod is in contact with the cap, but in Figure 5 both of said irons
are shown raised from the can.
The contact irons on the lower extremity of the presser-irons are made large to
make good contact with the caps so that they will not be greatly heated. The
bifurcation or hollow in the contact iron is made in order that the vent usually pro-
duced in the cap upon which the iron rests may be uncovered during the process of
soldering.
It will be understood of course, that rotary apparatuses may be employed to
practise my method as well as the apparatus shown.
The soldering irons may not be continuously revolved but only when lowered
upon the solder or can.
It will be obvious that my method may be also used for soldering together
any of the parts of a can or similar article without departing from my invention.
Further than this, I would have it understood that if the can is made to
rotate or revolve under the soldering iron while the latter is held stationary it
will be equivalent to rotating the iron while the can is stationary.
The source of electricity may be a storage battery as shown in dotted lines at S
in Fig. 4 of the drawings."
Referring to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, it will be noticed that the soldering
iron E is not an electric contact, but that a bell-shaped frame T surrounding the
said iron and sleeved upon the presser rod m above the pulley d, is the electric
contact.
This contact T is moved vertically on the presser rod, is insulated from the rod
by insulation and is provided with a binding post which holds the terminal bof
the circuit.
The contact T does not rotate and is adapted to rest upon the head of the can
just outside of the circular depression in which the solder is distributed. This
contact and also the other contact on the presser iron may be made of either copper
or iron.
In this case, when the soldering iron is raised by the bar F, the end of the
tube D comes in contact with the frame T or the insulation thereon, and the
contact T is raised with it. When the said frame reaches the pin or stop » on
the rod m the presser rod is also raised for the purpose hereinbefore described. In
the first described apparatus the presser-rod is lifted when the tube or pulley comes
in contact with the weight m'.
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 herein described method of electrically soldering or cementing together
the parts of cans, consisting in suitably applying the solder or cement to the junction
of the parts, passing a heating electric current through and between the parts,
bringing a tool in contact with the solder or can, and then moving the tool along the
said junction, as and for the purpose described.
2 The herein described method of electrically soldering or cementing together
the parts of cans, consisting in suitably applying the solder or cement to the junction
of the parts, passing a heating electric current through and between the parts,
applying force to press the said parts together, bringing a tool in contact with the
solder or can, moving the tool along the said junction, removing the said tool after
the solder is distributed, cutting off the current and maintaining the pressure upon
the parts while they are cooling.
3-The herein described method of electrically soldering the caps on metal cans,
consisting in suitably applying solder to the junction of the cap and can, passing a
heating electric current through and between the said parts, applying force to press
the said parts together, bringing an iron or tool in contact with the solder or can,
moving the said tool along the junction, removing the tool after the solder is
sufficiently melted and distributed, simultaneously therewith cutting off the current,
and maintaining the pressure upon the parts while they are cooling.

page_text: 4-The herein described method of electrically soldering the caps on metal cans,
consisting in suitably applying solder to the junction of the cap and can, passing a
heating electric current through and between the said parts, applying force to press
the said parts together, bringing a circular iron or tool in contact with the solder or
can, rotating the said tool along the junction, removing the tool after the solder is
sufficiently melted and distributed, simultaneously therewith cutting off the current,
and maintaining the pressure upon the parts while they are cooling.
5-The herein described method of electrically soldering the caps on metal cans,
consisting in placing the cap in position upon the can, suitably applying solder to the
junction of the parts, applying force to press the parts together, bringing one
terminal of an electric circuit in contact with the cap and the other terminal in
contact with the solder or can and passing an electric heating current through the
junction and solder between the said terminals.
6-The herein described method of electrically soldering the caps on metal cans,
consisting in placing the cap in position upon the can, suitably applying solder to the
junction of the parts, applying force to press the parts together, bringing one
terminal of an electric circuit in contact with the cap and the other terminal in
contact with the solder or can, passing an electric heating current through the
junction and solder between the said terminals, and moving the terminal in contact
with the solder along the joint.
7-The herein described method of electrically soldering the caps on metal cans
consisting in placing the cap in position upon the can, suitably applying solder to the
junction of the parts, applying force to press the parts together, bringing one
terminal of an electric circuit in contact with the cap and the other terminal in
contact with the solder or can, passing an electric heating current through the
junction and solder between the said terminals, moving the terminal in contact with
the solder along the joint until the solder is sufficiently melted and distributed and
then removing said terminal and allowing the work to cool under pressure.
8 The herein described method of electrically soldering the caps on metal cans,
consisting in placing the cap in position upon the can, suitably applying solder to the
junction of the parts, applying force to press the parts together, bringing one
terminal of an electric circuit in contact with the cap and the other terminal in
contact with the solder or can, passing an electric heating current through the
junction and solder between the said terminals, moving the terminal in contact with
the solder along the joint until the solder is sufficiently melted and distributed and
then removing said terminal and allowing the work to cool under pressure of the
terminal on the cap.
9-In an electric soldering or cementing apparatus for cans, terminals of an
electric circuit to be applied to the work, and a movable tool for distributing or
sweating in the solder or cement at the junction.
10-In an electric soldering or cementing apparatus for cans, terminals of an
electric circuit to make contact with the work, a movable tool for distributing or
sweating in the solder or cement at the junction, and means for pressing the pieces
together and maintaining the pressure after the removal of one of the terminals.
11-In an apparatus for electrically soldering the caps on cans, a pressure
instrument to be applied to the cap and connected to one terminal of an electric
circuit, a rotable soldering tool connected to the other terminal of the circuit, and
means for removing the soldering tool from the work before the pressure instrument
is removed, as and for the purpose described.
12-In an apparatus for electrically soldering the caps on cans, a suitable source
of electricity, a series of pressure instruments to press the caps upon the cans
and connected to one terminal of said source, a series of rotable soldering
tools connected to the other terminal of the source, and adapted to be brought
simultaneously to the joints, and means for removing the said soldering tools
simultaneously from the work before the pressure instruments are removed, as and
for the purpose described.
13 In an apparatus for electrically soldering the caps on cans, means for

page_text: electrically heating the pieces at the junction, and a rotable iron or tool to make
contact with the solder.
14 In an apparatus for electrically soldering the caps on cans, means for
electrically heating the pieces at the junction, a movable iron or tool to make
contact with the solder at the junction, and to move while in contact with the same,
and means for applying pressure to press the pieces together, when the said iron or
tool is removed.
15 In an apparatus for electrically soldering the caps on cans, means for
electrically heating the pieces at the junction, a movable iron or tool to make
contact with the solder at the junction, and to move while in contact with the same,
and means for applying pressure to press the pieces together.
16 In an apparatus for electrically soldering the caps on cans, a pressure
instrument to be applied to the cap and connected to one terminal of an electric
circuit, a rotable soldering tool connected to the other terminal of the circuit and
mounted loosely upon the shaft of the pressure instrument, insulation for separating
the latter from the soldering tool, and means for removing the soldering tool
from the work before the pressure instrument is removed as and for the purpose
.described.
Dated this 19th day of Decembar 1800
MARK WESLEY DEWEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.