US1000100A - Machine for seaming can-tops. - Google Patents

Description

J. 'MALINE.

MACHINE FOB. SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911.

1 ,OOO, 1 O0. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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i INVENTOR mLuMBlA PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

J. MALINE.

MACHINE FOR SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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INVENTOR M WITNESSES:

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aha/3.0.11 @luvdk 1 HINOTO COLUMBIA FLANDGRA .L' MALINE.

MACHINE FOB smmme CAN TOPS.

1,000,100. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911. Patented Aug. 8

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INVENTOR By Attorneys,

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J. MALINE.

MACHINE FOR SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED Mn 3, 1911.

PatentedAug. 8, 1911.

5 SEBETS-SHEET 4.

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J. MALINE. MACHINE FOB. SEAMING CAN TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

5 SHBBTBSHEET 5.

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coumau PLANOGRAPH c0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MALINE, OF ST.-OUEN, SEINE, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO E. W.

BLISS COMPANY,

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

MACHINE FOR SEAMING CAN-TOPS.

To all whom it may conceive:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH MALINE, of No. 100 Boulevard Victor Hugo, St.-Ouen, Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Seaming Can-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a machine for seaming sheet metal, designed particularly to seam the bottoms or covers of sheet metal boxes, cans or tins, such as preserve tins, and especially those of non-circular form.

This machine presents the following characteristics 1. The machine is provided with special means for moving the seaming rolls to cause them to approach or recede from the axis of the machine while revolving around the metal box or can, so that they follow its exterior contour. The seaming rolls are carried by oscillating arms turning on axes parallel to the main axis of the machine and carried by a drum, serving also as a belt pulley for receiving the driving belt, each oscillating arm being provided with two rollers, one of which contacts with a fixed exterior former, and the other with an interior guide or mandrel of form correspond ing to that of the top to be seamed. In the rotary movement of the seamers and their carriers around the box or can, the contact of the first roller with the exterior former and of the second with the interior mandrel, determines at each instant the position of the oscillating arm, and hence of the seaming roll. The latter therefore follows a definitely determined path. The system operates positively and involves no springs. Further the reaction of the seaming roll is transmitted almost directly to the exterior former, which is in nearly the plane of the work, thus avoiding oblique strains.

2. The seaming rolls are automatically advanced to their working position or withdrawn from this position during the movement of rotation of the oscillating arms and of the drum which carries them around its axis. To this end the seamers are carried each by a movable piece or slide carried upon the oscillating arm. The position of this movable piece is determined by a cam, controlled by the transmission of movement through parts which are so arranged as to act during the operation, notwithstanding Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 3, 1911.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911. Serial No. 624,774.

the rotation of the oscillating arms and of their support. This result is obtained. by means of racks moving in the axes of the oscillating arms and meshing with driving pinions, which move the cams.

3. These racks are driven by special means. I11 the preferred form of the machine the racks carry rollers engaged by grooves in a cam sleeve which is driven by the pulley drum through differential gearing, so that for every revolution of the pulley the cam executes a relative movement of one turn. By reason of this relative movement the cam moves the rollers carried by the racks and causes the seaming rolls to approach or recede from the seam. In another arrangement the rollers for the racks engage in the circular groove in a non-rotative ring which is moved up or down by a cam.

at. The exterior former is carried by a vertically movable support which permits of lowering it to give easy access to the mandrel and seamers.

5. The machine may be provided with means for centering the covers, consisting of wings or guides which swing down at the beginning of the lifting movement of the box or can to be seamed, so that they locate the cover and guide it until the instant when it is held by a presser foot, which holds it in place until it is seated upon the mandrel which supports it during the seaming. These Wings move out of the way toward the end of the lifting movement, and so remain during the seaming operation, after which the closed box may be forced down by an ejector.

-One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- 'Figure 1 is an elevation of the entire machine; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the seaming mechanism on a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan from underneath corresponding to Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a face view partly in section of the arrangement for centering the covers; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation partly in vertical section showing a modification.

The machine shown in these drawings comprises a frame a (Fig. 1) of suitable form, carrying an upper fixed mandrel Z), and a lower mandrel 0 movable vertically, which may be lifted by pressing down a pedal (Z so that the box to be seamed, placed on this lower mandrel, will be lifted against the upper mandrel and be held between the two mandrels during the seaming operation.

The driving pulley a through a belt a passing over pulleys c drives a drum pulley 6 (Figs. 1 and 2) which turns around the vertical axis of the machine and carries with it the seaming rolls 7 f (Fig. 2). One of these rolls f is the primary seamer, while the other f is the secondary seamer. These rolls approach successively to the box or can to be seamed, as will be explained, and seam the bottom or cover while rolling around the exterior contour of the box. They are carried by arms 9 turning on pivots g carried by the drum 0, the arm being preferably formed in one piece with the pivot, and the latter tubular and journaled in the opposite plates of the drum (Fig. 6). Each of the arms carries two rollers of which one, g", rolls against the inner margin of a stationary exterior former h (Fig. 4) the other, 9 rolls against an interior guide k formed on the head of the upper mandrel Z) (Figs. 4: and 2) These two rollers turning against two distinct curves, turn always in the same direction, and their path may be established without any play.

The former h and the guide 72, being fixed, when the pivots g are carried with the drum 0 turning around the axis 0 of the ma chine (Fig. 4), the arms 9 swing around this axis and take at each instant a position which is determined by the contact of the rollers 51' g with the former It and guide 72, these having a suitable profile, so that the seamers follow a path such that they inclose exactly the contour of the box to be seamed. In this manner the position of the seamers is determined with precision in a very simple manner, without having recourse to parts which may involve lost motion, and without any retracting springs. The reaction of the seamers is exerted against the former h, which as clearly seen in Fig. 6 is nearly in the working plane of the seamers. In this manner the seamer-carrying-arms work without lost motion.

Each of the seamers is provided with au tomatic means for causing it to approach the box to its working position, and for retracting it therefrom at the desired instant. These means may be arranged so that the seamers act against the flange to be seamed either simultaneously or successively according to the class of seam that it is desired to produce. To this end the studs of the seamers f and f are carried each on a slide 7' (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) movable in a slideway f (Fig. 6), this slide presenting shoulders 7 against which acts a triangular cam 2'. As this cam 2' turns it pushes the slide forward or backward and displaces the seamer to its working position, or withdraws it from this position, according to the relation which this cam has to the frame formed between the shoulders of the slide The cam i is driven by special means comprising a heli coidal pinion or skew-gear i (Fig. (3) fixed on its arbor i meshing with another similar pinion carried by an arbor i", which latter carries a pinion meshing with a rack is. This rack may follow the oscillating movement of the hollow pivot g by being swiveled or screwthreaded to its slide k which is guided in a slideway 71; carried by the drum 6. Thus in any position of the arm g the cams 2' are under control of the racks 7s. The slides carry each a roller k engaged respectively in one of two grooves Z Z in a cam Z loose on the hub e of the drum 6 (Figs. 2 and 5). This cam carries a toothed crown Z which meshes with a pinion m fixed on a shaft m on which is splined a clutch sleeve m The latter may be engaged with another sleeve m fixed to a pinion m in. mesh with a pinion e fastened on the hub 6 When the sleeve m is engaged with the sleeve of by any suitable controlling means, the drum (2 drives the cam Z, their respective speeds being a little different so as to constitute a differential movement; for example, while the pulley makes nine turns the cam may accomplish 10, in which case the cam turns once relatively to the drum. Because of this movement the rollers 71: traverse the circumference of the respective grooves Z Z and the racks are moved up or down with the result of causing the seamers to approach or recede from the box to be seamed, as has been explained.

The exterior former h is carried by a support it (Figs. 1 and 2) which may be raised or lowered by a rack a engaged by a pinion if, the support a being fastened in place by a stop button, the exact position of the support a being indicated by a pointer adjustable by hand. This arrangement permits of lowering the support to give easy access to the mandrel, seamers, and other parts, and of conveniently restoring it to its normal level.

The machine operates as follows :-*The box or can is placed on the lower mandrel 0 and provided with the bottom or cover to be seamed to it. The pedal (Z (Fig. 1) is then depressed, which lifts the mandrel 0 (during its lifting movement the box may encounter a special device for exactly centering the bottom or cover with respect to the box and which will be described in detail hereinafter). The box is then lifted against the upper mandrel Z) and is held immovable between the two mandrels ready to be submitted to the seaming operation. The pulley a being suitably driven, the belt turns continuously the drum 0 with the two seamercarrying mechanisms. The cam Z is turning freely with the drum at the same speed. If the operator then brings the sleeve m" into clutch with m by any suitable controlling means, not shown (the conncction may be such that the lifting of the lower mandrel engages these clutch sleeves), the cam Z is then revolved at. a speed different from that of the drum 0, and because of this movement the cam grooves act upon the rollers it. The roller corresponding to the first seamer is thus lifted, carrying with it the rack 7:, and through the intermediate mechanism turns the cam i which causes the first seamer to approach and perform its work. This roller is then retracted by an inverse movement. The second scanner is then caused to approach and perform its work, which completes the seaming. This seamer is then retracted in its turn, whereupon by any automatic means such as are well known the mandrel c is caused to descend, and an ejector is put in action. which forces the seamed box to fall out and separates the clutch sleeves m and m. Instead of operating successively as thus described, the second seamer roll may coinmence its work while the first is still in action, this resulting from an appropriate shaping of the cam-grooves Z Z This machine, besides the advantages above stated relating to the guiding of the seamer arms, the means for feeding and retracting the seamers, and the supporting of the seamer in substantially its working plane, possesses that of permitting work at high speed, and hence a large output, be- ?ause of the fact that the vertical displacements of the racks controlling the movements of approach and retard of the seamers are obtained with a diiferential movement of two parts turning with a continuous circular movement, thus avoiding the use of alternately moving parts, and also because the constant and forced contact of the seamers with their guides suppresses the violent shocks which have always required a reduction of speed. Furthermore this arrangement has the advantage that by giving to the grooves of the cam Z a suitable profile, the seamers may be actuated with absolute certainty independently of one another at any desired instant.

It remains to describe the means for centering the cover on the box which automatically places it in the correct position for seaming. This apparatus is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. It comprises wings 7) p turning on axes 72 having pinions p meshing with toothed sectors 29 formed on levers (1 pivoted at 9 These are connected by rods g to a cross head 1 which slides vertically, having slots engaging studs r carried on a fixed plate 8. The cross head is drawn down by a retracting spring The lower mandrel 0 carries a pawl 0 pivoted at 0 which may act against a pin r on the cross head. An adjustable abutment s is fixed on the plate 8 near the pawl. On the plate .9 is hung a catch t having a hook t and tail a pin r* on the cross head slide is to be engaged by the hook In the axis of the upper mandrel is placed a spring presser foot L. This arrangement operates as follows :1Vhen the box a is placed on the mandrel c as described, the latter being provided with a socket corresponding to the form of the box (see Fig. 7), the box is thus centered, but the cover a is free to be displaced, for it is only laid on the contents of the box. On pressing down the pedal so that the mandrel ascends, it carries with it .the pawl which pushes against the pin '1" and lifts the cross head 1, which causes the wings to swing down into vertical planes taking the positions shown in Fig. 9, so that the wings thus make contactwith and center the cover. The ascent continuing, the pin r* is caught by the hook t and the inclined lower part of the pawl 0 engages the screw 3 and turns the pawl so that it releases the pin 7, the mandrel then continuing its ascending movement independently of the cross head 1', which remains upheld by the hook t and the wings are held down. The cover thus guided comes againstthe presser foot 6 which presses the cover against the box, compressing the contents of the latter; then the pawl encounters the tail t of the catch t and turns it so as to release the pin 1 Whereupon the cross head 1' is drawn down by its spring r and the wings are turned up to their first position. The continued ascent of the lower mandrel lifts the box with its cover held on by the presser foot. t finally into contact with the upper mandrel Z), and the seaming then takes place. Upon the descent of the lower mandrel the seamed box or can is pushed otl? by any suitable ejector not shown.

Fig. 10 shows a modification of the machine in which the rollers k carried by the slides of the racks Z: are engaged in a circular groove of a ring 41 which is carried by two rods 11 sliding in fixed guides and conuected by a cross head of carrying rollers c which make contact with a double cam The up and down movements imparted by the cam a to the rollers Q2 and thus to the ring a, are transmitted to the rollers 7 and the racks k, and control the apprcach or recession of the seaniers. The drum 6 turns during the entire seaming operation as formerly. In this arrangement the movements of the two seamers takes place simultaneously.

The arrangements herein described constitute merely one exampleof the embodiment of this invention, it being understood that the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the details may be varied according to any given case, without changing the principle of the invention.

I claim as my invention, a machine for seaming metallic boxes, having the following defined essential characteristics, namely 2- 1. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer having two rollers, a stationary exterior former engaged by one of said rollers and an interior guide engaged by the other roller, said guide and former having outlines corresponding to the contour of the seam to be formed.

2. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, a stationary former, said arm having a roller engaging the inner contour of said former, and said roller and former arranged in a plane approximately coinciding with that of the seamer.

A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving said arm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing the scanner to approach and recede from its work comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying said seamer, controlling means for imparting movements thereto, and intercommunicating mechanism revolving with said drum.

t. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving said arm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from. its work comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying said seamer, controlling means for imparting movements thereto, and intercomnninicating mechanism comprising a part moving in line with the pivotal axis of said arm.

5. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving said arm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from its work comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying said seamer, controlling means for imparting movements thereto, and intercommunicating mechanism comprising a cam engaging said movable piece, and a part connected between said cam and the controlling means and moving through the pivotal axis of said arm.

6. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving said arm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from its work comprising a movable piece mounted to slide on said arm, a cam acting against said sliding piece, said cam turning in said arm, and connecting means for turning said cam comprising a part passing through the hollow pivot of said arm, and exterior means for communicating motion thereto.

7. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving said arm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from its work comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying said seamer, a revolving cam, a slide operated by said cam, and intercommunicating means between said slide and movable piece.

8. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, means for giving said arm an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing the seamer to approach and recede from its work comprising a movable piece mounted on said arm and carrying said seamer, a controlling cam having connections for operating said movable piece, and differential gearing be tween said drum and cam, whereby the cam revolves at a speed approaching that of the drum and at a slow rate relatively thereto.

9. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, primary and secondary seamers, oscillating arms carrying said seamers, means for giving said arms an invariable motion conforming to the contour of the seam to be formed, and means for causing said seamers to approach and recede from their work comprising movable pieces mounted on said arms and carrying said seamers respectively, and controlling means for imparting movements thereto comprising a cam having two cam grooves, rollers entering said grooves respectively, and intercommunicating mechanism between said respective rollers and the respective seamers, whereby to independently advance and retract the primary and secondary seamers.

10. A machine for seaming sheet metal comprising a revolving drum, a seamer, an oscillating arm carrying said seamer, said arm having a roller, a stationary former against which said roller moves, and a support for said former with means for displacing said support to give access to the seamer and its accessories.

11. In a machine for seaming sheet metal comprising seaming mechanism and a mandrel for receiving the work and lifting it against said mechanism,-the combination therewith of guiding means for centering the work comprising-movable guides, mechanism engaged by said mandrel in its ascent for moving said guides into engagement with the work, said mechanism adapted to withdraw said guides after the work has been centered.

12. In a machine for seaming sheet metal comprising seaming mechanism and a mandrel for receiving the work and lifting it against said mechanism, the combination therewith of guiding means for centering the Work comprising pivoted wing guides, mechanism for swinging said guides comprising a movable part engaged by said mandrel in its lifting movement, whereby to swing the guides into engagement with the work, a catch for holding said movable part after displacement to retain the guides in such engagement, and means actuated by the further lifting of the mandrel for disengaging said catch and for thereupon retracting said part to withdraw the guides out of the way.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

JOSEPH MALINE.

lVitnesses:

A. WILZIN, H. C. Coxn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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