Improvements relating to the Closing of Cans or Receptacles for containing Alimentary Substances.
Year: 1897

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by JOACHIM FAUBIN, of 42, Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle,
Paris, in the Republic of France.]
Improvements relating to the Closing of Cans or Receptacles for
containing Alimentary Substances.
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 to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved joint with a metallic ring designed for
hermetically closing preserve cans or receptacles.
In the industry of alimentary preserves, which has experienced a considerable
development in France and abroad, the closing of the cans or the like has heretofore
been effected either by means of solder or by means of a setting into which a rubber
joint is inserted.
This latter means, which has been used for a certain number of years, can be
applied only to vegetable preserves with water, the rubber, as is well-known, being
dissolved in contact with oil or fatty materials.
The rubber joint as originally manufactured gave very good results as regards the
tightness of the joint, but on analysis it was ascertained that the. rubber used con-
tained poisonous substances liable to be injurious to health, consequently the
Municipal Laboratory of Paris has prohibited the use of the same.
Manufacturers have then presented a new rubber which on analysis was found not
to contain any injurious substance. Its employment has therefore soon become
general but in a short time it was noticed that this joint, which was perfectly tight
at the time of the manufacture, has only a very limited durability, in fact after a
certain time the rubber is dissolved and the can leaks.
In order to obviate these inconveniences I have devised an improved joint made of
pure tin and having for its object to replace the rubber. In fact tin may be wire-
drawn like copper, iron and the like, this metal being very plastic and very malleable.
By putting in the place of the rubber thread a wire of pure tin of the same
diameter, and by setting with the same machines, I obtain a perfectly tight joint ;
it is of unlimited durability by reason of the unchangeableness of the material which
composes the same; it can in no case be injurious to health, nor affect the materials
to be preserved, because it is formed of the same elements which compose the cans
themselves, they are in fact made of the same tin covered with pure tin.
It can moreover be applied to the closing of preserves of any alimentary products
such as fish in oil, meat preserves, and the like.

page_text: This tin joint can be replaced by a joint of other malleable metal or metallic
compound.
Dated this 11th day of January 1807
Improvements relating to the Closing of Cans or Receptacles for
containing Alimentary Substances.
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 a novel joint made by means of a wire or ribbon of pure
tin intended for closing, cans or tins containing alimentary products.
- Such cans or tins have hitherto been closed by soldering or by folding or lapping.
The joint employed for lapping either by means of a press or of a milling
machine, is formed either by means of a ring or washer of lead, or by means of an
india-rubber cord previously placed in the joint which the can forms before being
lappcd.
Lead is not a suitable substance as it contains poisonous substances which are
liable to decompose in contact with the more or less acid liquids contained in
the tins, and is therefore dangerous to health.
India-rubber which has been used for a number of years is only suitable for use
with preserved vegetables in water, the india-rubber dissolving, as is well known,
when in contact with oil or fatty substances.
Nevertheless this. india-rubber joint as originally made,. was very successful
from the point of view of tightness, but upon making an analysis it was found that
this rubber contained poisonous matters equally with lead which were dangerous to
health; for this reason its employment has been prohibited almost everywhere and
also the sale of tins of preserved goods in which the joint was formed by india-
rubber.
In order to obviate these various disadvantages, I have devised a novel joint, which
is arranged in the same conditions as india-rubber, consisting of a wire or ribbon
of pure tin of the same diameter as the india-rubber. I then fold or lap by means
of the machines hitherto employed for this purpose and obtain in this manner a
perfectly tight joint.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings I have shown a method of applying my
said invention.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate three phases of operation in effecting the tight
closing of a tin according to my invention.
A is the metal can or tin and B is the lid which rests upon the turned-down
edge of the can from which it is separated by a band or wire of pure tin T.
(Figure 1).
For the second operation the external edges of the lid B and of the strip T of
pure tin are folded (Figure 2), and for the third and last operation the whole is
turned down upon the edge of the can (Figure 3).
A perfectly tight joint is thus obtained.
This joint has the following advantages over those hitherto employed.
1. It cannot in any case be injurious to health since it is formed of the same
substance as the tins themselves which consist of tin coated with fine tin.

page_text: 2. It is absolutely unchangeable and lasts for any length of time.
3. It is suitable for use for closing tins containing alimentary products of every
description whatsoever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
A novel joint specially applicable to tins or the like, of preserves of all kinds, and
formed by a wire or ribbon of pure tin lapped and compressed.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.