US1126838A - Method of applying vent-shields to can-caps. - Google Patents

Description

J. W. NICHOLS. METHOD OF APPLYING VENT SHIELDS TO CAN GAPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1912.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

7 -JWezzZar/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JESSE W. NICHOLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD or APPLYING VENT-S IELDS T0 CAN-CAPS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEssE W. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods for Applying Vent-Shields to Gan-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to caps used for closing cans in which vegetables, meats and the like are preserved, and has more particular reference to a method of applying vent shields to such caps. Can caps, for the purpose indicated, are in practically all instances provided with a small opening or vent hole for the purpose of permitting the heated air or gases inside the can to escape. This vent hole is finally closed, usually by means of solder, thereby in some instances maintaining a partial vacuum Within the can and in all cases preventing the entrance of air to the can contents. In the closing of this vent hole it frequently happens that some of the solder will find its way through the aperture and unless some means are provided to catch this solder it becomes mixed with the food stuff within the can. It is also the case that unless protection is afforded the vent opening from within the can contents frequently fill the vent opening and thus interfere with the soldering process. To

overcome these objections it has been the common practice to' apply a protecting shield beneath the vent opening. This shield has been held in position by soldering the same to the underside of the can cap or by crimping its edges into corresponding crimps of the cap. Such processes have proven slow and expensive, and it is the particular object of the present invention to provide rapid and efiicient means for attaching shields of this character to the can caps. In accomplishing this result the shield is first formed preferably in the form of an are or other shape so that on compression the distance between its endsis increased. This shield in its bent condition is applied to the cap and the two are thus passed under a suitable roller, preferably by means of an endless belt, and the shield is thus flattened and elongated so that its ends, are caught under a suitable portion of the cap or, as is preferably and conveniently done, under a ring of. solder which incloses also the edge of the cap and is subsequently used for securing the cap to the can. Still other Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed May 17, 1912. Serial No. 697,840.

advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which I have illustrated, in a somewhat diagrammatic way, a preferred embodiment of the present shield-applying means, together with an improved form of shield which l have made the subject of a co-pending application Serial No. 628,845. It should be understood, of course, that my improved method of applying the shield may be used on many different styles and varieties of shields and caps.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can, the

upper portion of which is broken away in order to show the cap and vent shield in section; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the cap before the vent "shield is supplied; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the vent shield in position; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken onthe line d-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 4, except that the vent shield has not been fiattened and elongated into the position in which it is shown in Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic elevation of the apparatus used for fastening the vent shield to the cap, and Fig. 7 is a perspective of the vent shield before it has been flattened. I The cap 10 shown in the drawings is formed with an obliquely disposed edge ll, about which is placed a marginal strip of solder 12 substantially U-shaped in cross section. The vent aperture 13 is at the apex of the downwardly projecting cone 14 at the center of the cap. The vent shield 15 is preferably made of metal which is annealed dead soft. A cup-shaped depression 16 is formed at the central portion of the shield, and each end of the shield is preferably provided with a tongue 17 of somewhat less width than that of the main portion of the shield. As already mentioned, the shield is first bowed or given the contour of an are, as well shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This bending of the shield is preferably done simultaneously with its being stamped from a sheet of tin or other light metal, or from refuse cuttings from the manufacture of cans and can tops.

Referring to Fig. 6 for a description of the method of securing the shield to the can cap, the endless belt 18 is carried by a pair of pulleys 19-only one of which is shown.

The belt passes over a table 20 whi h is suitably supported'to withstand some pressure" during the shield-applying process. At a suitable distance above the table there is provided a roller 21 mounted on a shaft 22.' Only the endlessbelt, serving as a conveyer for the' caps and shields, needs to be actuated by driving .power, the roller 21 turning upon the shield by frictional contact.

"The ring of solder having been placed upon the edge of the cap and the vent shield rested upon the inverted cap with the tongues 17 just inside of the strip of solder 11, as in the position shown in-Fig. 6, the inverted cap is placed upon the 'conveyer 18 and carried beneath the roller 21, the result being that the shield isfiattened by its con- .tact with the roller and the reduced ends of the cap and being snugly inclosed by the solder ring. Owing to the fact that the shield has been annealed and all springiness removed therefrom it retains its d8S1I'6d' shape and position after passing beyond the pressure roller 21. It will thus be seen that a large number of can caps may be equipped.

with shields in a comparatively short time and consequently also at a greatly reduced cost and without the use of an extra application of solder.

When the cap 10 and its attached vent strip 15 are applied to the can 23, as shown in Fig. 1, it is evident that the solder strip 12 may readily be melted in a well'known manner thereby simultaneously securing both the cap and the vent shield in their desired position. The vent hole 13 may be readily closed by a drop of solder, which'is prevented from falling into thematerial,

within the can by means of the cup-shaped depression 16, which also serves to prevent said material from obtaining access to the,

vent hole.

While there is herein illustrated and described a preferred form of conveyer and preferred means for carrying into effect my improved method of attaching'vent shields to can caps, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that this method may be practised through various instrumentalities and upon caps and vent shields of various constructions. The invention is therefore not limited to the precise constructions shown, but reference is had to the accompanying claim toindicate' its scope.

That process of closing open topped cans which consists in preparing a vent-hole provided closure for the opening of the can by applying to the edge of such closure a U- shaped solder ring in engagement with opposite faces of the closure, applying to the inner face of the closure a longitudinally bowed guard strip of soft metal having a cup-shaped portion intermediate its ends,

.said strip being applied with the ends thereof butting against the solder ring, forcing the ends oft-he strip beneath the solder ring by pressure on the cap, applying the closure thus prepared to the can opening, heating the solder ring to solder the closure in the opening and simultaneously secure the guard strip in place, and closing said vent hole. a v

c JESSE W. NICHOLS. Witnesses: A, B. STRA'1'ION,.

L. J. Poms.

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