US1390338A

US1390338A - Dbieb

Info

Publication number: US1390338A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1921-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1938-09-13

Description

W. CAMERON.

DRIER,

APPLICATION FILED [150.4, 1919.

Patented Sept 13,1921

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

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W. CAMERON.

DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED 01:04, 1919.

1,9033%, P tentedfiept. 13, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNETED TAB WILLIAM CAMERON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Sept. 13, 1921.

Application filed December 4, 1919. Serial No. 342,342.

To a// whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, lVILLLiM CAMERON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Drier of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to driers. and more particularly to machines for drying the compound, which is applied to the margins of tin can ends.

In the manufacture of tin cans, the ends are stamped out of sheet metal, such as tin, and after the edges have been curled, a compound is applied to the margin on the inner face of each nd in order that when the ends are double-seamed onthe can body, a hermetic seal will be effected. This compound, when applied, is in the form of a. viscous fluid and in order that the ends may be handled in the operations preceding the application of the ends to the can bodies, it is essential that the compound applied to the ends be dried. Since the compound comprises a considerable proportion of volatile liquid, such as gasolene, the subjection of the ends to which the compound has been applied to heat for a moderate period of time will dry the compound sufliciently for the required purposes.

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to provide a drier which will automatically handle the ends to which the viscous compound has been applied and dry this compound rapidly and effectively.

Another object of the invention is to automatically stack the ends after the compound has been dried so that they can be easily handled and removed from the drier and placed in the magazine of the next machine, which operates upon the ends. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine of this character which will occupy a minimum amount of floor space, one which will be simple in construction and cheap to manufacture, and which will be rapid and eflicient in operation.

Another feature of a machine embodying my invention resides in the fact that the machine is readily adjustable to operate upon can ends of various diameters. This feature enables the machine to be quickly changed from one size of can ends to another and eliminates the necessity of a different machine for the different sizes of ends to be operated upon.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood, by reference to the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a drier embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on an en largeil scale, showing the adjustable support for the upper end of the rod which maintains the cam ends in the requisite vertical alinement F 3 a plan view of the machine shown. in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4t is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the stops which arrest the movement of the cam ends on the coni' 'eyer; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, it will be observed that the machine comprises primarily, a box-like base or frame 6, by which the various mechanisms are supported. Extending transversely of this frame and journaled therein, is the main drive shaft 7, upon the outer end of which is rotatably mounted the power pulley 8, adapted to be connected to the shaft 7 by means of a clutch 9 of well known or preferred construction, which is actuated by the hand lever 11. A gear 12, fixed upon the shaft 7 is adapted to mesh with and drive gear 13, fixed in turn upon a countershaft 1%, also extending transversely of the machine and journaled in the frame 0, as will be apparent from Fig. 3.

Upon the shaft 14, intermediate its ends is mounted a pulley 15 and in alinement therewith at the opposite side of the machine, there is mounted a pulley 16, which is supported in a bracket 17 carried upon a rigid rod or support projecting laterally from the machine frame. A conveyor in theform of a belt 18, is trained over the two

pulleys

15 and 16, the upper lap of the con-- veyer being adapted to travel upon a guide or support 19, so that can ends placed upon the conveyer will be carried thereby toward the right, viewing Fig. 3, into a position to be operated upon, as will be later explained. For the purpose of guiding the can ends in their travel, I have provided at each side of the conveyer, an upwardly projecting guide flange 21, the distance between these flanges being slightly greater than the diameter of the can ends 22. These guides are connected to the frame of the machine by bolt and slot connections so that they can be adjusted toward or from each other to accommodate between them can ends of various diameters.

A can end being carried along by the conveyer is arrested in its movement in the requisite position by means of a pair of stops, illustrated in Figs. 3, a and 5. Each of these stops consists of a downwardly projecting finger 23 adjustably secured by bolt 24: to a plate 25, mounted by bolt and slot connections in a guideway 26 upon the bed or frame of the machine. From Fig. l, it will be manifest that the lower ends of the stop fingers 23 project below the plane of the upper surface of the conveyer 18 and from Fig. 5, it will be seen that these fingers are disposed at each side of the conveyor 18 so that a can end carried along by the conveyer will abut against these fingers and be brought to rest while the conveyer belt moves along beneath it. By loosening the nuts upon the bolts 2%, the stop fingers may be adjusted into the requisite position to stop the. ends at the proper point. The plate 25 is also adjustable by reason of its bolt and slot connection. and this plate is provided at one end with a pedestal or socket 27, in which is seated the lower end of a vertically extending rod 28. The pedestal 27 is cut away at one side tangent to the rod 28, as will be manifest from Figs. 4 and 5, so that this edge of the rod serves as a guide for the can ends during their vertical movements, as will be later described. The plate 25 carrying the rod, is capable of adjustment longitudinally of the conveyer to accommodate the machine to can ends of various diameters and when the proper adjustment of the rod 28 has been effected. the stop fingers 23 are then adjusted about the bolts 24 as a center to bring these fingers and the guiding edge of the rod 28 into an arc, the radius of which is equal to the radius of the can ends to be operated upon, so that the stop fingers will arrest a can end on the conveyor with its forward edge tangent to the guiding edge of the rod the top of the machine frame. Upon these plates 31 there are secured by bolts housings 33, suitably strengthened and braced by integral ribs 34 and these housings as will be evident from Fig. 1, surround the heating elements with the exception of the inner opposed edges thereof which are left exposed. The upper ends of the housings are equipped with roller bearings 35, in which the upper ends of the heating elements are journaled, the spindle of this hearing being formed by a hollow plug 36 fitted into the upper end of the cylindrical element and having a reduced upwardly extending portion 37 disposed within the roller bearing. The bearings for the lower ends of the heating elements are preferably constructed similar to the bearings for the upper ends.

Each heating element is provided upon its periphery with screw threads 38 which extend longitudinally thereof, the lower ends of the threads terminating in the plane of the conveyer belt so that a can end brought into osition by the conveyer against the stopl ngers 23 Wlll be disposed in alinement wit and between the threaded heating elements and upon rotation of these elements, the end will he picked up by the screw threads and caused to travel upwardly longitudinally of and between these elements.

F-ach heating element has affixed thereto at its lower end, a spiral gear 39 and upon the shaft '7 is splined a pair of driving spiral gears d1 adapted to mesh with and drive the gears 39, thereby imparting rotation to the heating elements. he gears are so designed that the elements will both be rotated simultaneously at the same speed and in the same direction, with the result that the exposed portions of these cylindrical elements will move in opposite directions so that a can end disposed between and engaged by these elements will be revolved during its upward travel so as to repeatedly bring all of the points on the peripheries of the ends into successive contact with the heating elements.

The plates 31 by which the heating elements are carried are equipped with downwardly projectingintcriorly threaded bosses through which an adjusting rod or shaft 4L2 extends. this shaft being provided with right and lefthand threads 43 and is respectively. which are engaged with the bosses on the respective plates so that when the shaft is revolved by means of an adjusting hand wheel affixed to the outer end of the shaft. the plates and the heating elements carried thereby will be adjusted toward or from each, other to accommodate between them can ends of various diameters. The spiral gears a1 splined on the shaft 7 are sleeved to lateral projections d6 of the plates 31 so that these gears move longitudi nally of the shaft with the plates 31 when they are adjusted, thus maintaining the meshing relation between the spiral gears ll on the shaft and the spiral gears 39 affixed to the lower ends of the heating elements. It will thus be manifest that the heating elements are capable of adjustment toward and from each other to accommodate between them can ends of various diameters and that this adjustment is accomplished by manipulation of a single hand wheel 45, and further more, that the driving mechanism for rotating the elements is maintained in cooperative relation irrespective of the adjusted positions of the elements.

The elements are heated. interiorly by gas flames at the lower ends of the elements. Beneath each element and projecting up thereinto above the bearings for the lower ends thereof is a gas burner 47 to which a proper combustive mixture of gas and air is delivered from the mixing valves 48, each capable of adjustment to deliver the requisite miXture through the instrumentality of hand wheels 49. Air in the requisite proportions enters the mixing valves from the atmosphere and the gas is supplied to these valves by branches 51 connected by main lead 52 with any suitable gas supply, which may be illuminating gas, natural gas or other preferred type. The heat generated by the gas flames heats the elements 29 throughout their length and the products of combustion are delivered at the upper ends of the elements through the channels 52 formed in the bearing members 3'7 and pass out through the passages 53 formed in caps 54, disposed over the upper end of the guards 33. Dampers 55 arranged within the channels 53 afford provision for regulating the draft and thereby the temperature to which the heating elements will be heated. This temperature also is further capable of regulation by manipulation of the valve wheels 49.

As previously explained the vertical rod 28 forms a guide for the rear edges of the can ends during their upward travel between the heating elements so that these ends, guided at three points, that is, by the two heating elements and by this guide rod are maintained in vertical alinement during their upward travel. This rod is adjustably supported at its lower end by the plate 25, as previously explained, and it is further adjustably supported just above the guards on housings 33 by a bracket 56 (Figs. 2 and 3) adjustably secured by a bolt and slot connection to one of the caps 54, as shown in Fig. 2 and carrying at its outer end a member 57 embracing the rod 28. This member 57 is also adjustable on bracket 56 by reason of a bolt and slot connection thereto so that whenthis member is loosened on the bracket and the bracket is loosened with respect to its supporting cap 54, any supporting de sired adjustment between the rod 28 and the housing 33 may be secured.

In order to guide the can ends and maintain them in stacked relation above the heating elements, I have mounted upon each of the caps 54 a vertically disposed guide rod 58 which is so positioned that its inner edge is in alincment with and in effect forms a continuation of the guiding surface of the heating element with the result that after the ends are delivered upwardly from the upper ends of the heating elements, they are maintained in vertical stacked alineine'nt between the

rods

28 and 58 and are gradually forced upwardly as succeeding ends are delivered to the bottom of the stack.

In the operation of the machine, after the burners have been lighted and the heating elements have been raised to the proper temperature, the clutch is thrown in to set the machine in operation. Can ends are now placed on the belt conveyer either by hand or automatically, and by this conveyer they are moved toward the center of the machine until they are stopped between the heating elements by the stop fingers 23. The screw threads on the exteriors of the heating ele ments now pick up the end and move it upwardly between the heating elements and since these elements rotate in the same direc tion, the ends during their elevation will be continuously revolved so that all points on their peripheries are repeatedly subjected to contact with the hot elements, with the result that they are sufiiciently heated to dry the compound by the time they reach the upper ends of the elements. After being delivered at the upper ends of the elements, they are still maintained in vertical stacked relation by the guide rods, and as successive ends are delivered upwardly to the bottom of the stack, the stack gradually rises and by the time the ends approach the tops of the guide rods, they are sufiiciently cooled to enable them to be manually removed in stacks and placed in the magazine of another machine.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that I have provided a machine which is simple in construction, compact in arrangement and one which will dry the compound on the can ends by direct conduction of heat to the ends from the heating elements and that after the compound has been dried, the ends are stacked so that they can be easily handled.

lVhile I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it

should be understood that it is not circumscribed by the description and drawings which are illustrated merely, but that it is capable of considerable modification and variation within the scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a drier, the combination of a hollow screw, means for heating said screw, means for holding a can end in contact therewith and means for rotating said screw to cause a can end to travel longitudinally of said screw in contact therewith.

2. In a drier, the combination of a hollow screw, means for applying heat to the interior thereof, means for holding a can end against said screw and means for rotating said screw to cause a can end to travel from one end to the other of said screw and in contact therewith.

3. In a drier, the combination of rotatable hollow heating means, means for delivering heat to the interior thereof, and means for rotating said heating means to bring successive portions thereof in heat conducting relation to a can end contacting therewith.

at. In a drier, the combination of a heating element, means for ap ilying heat to the in terior thereof, means for holding can ends in contact therewith, and means for actuating said element to cause said ends to travel longitudinally of said element and in contact therewith, and at the same time to revolve so as to subject all points on the periphery of said ends to the action of said element.

Ina drier, the combination of a hollow heating element having a screw threaded exterior, means for applying heat to the interior of said element, means for delivering can ends into operative relation to said element. means for maintaining said ends in contact with said element and means for revolving said element so as to feed the can ends longitudinally of the element and at the same time impart a rotary movement to said ends.

6. In a drier, the combination of a plurality of hollow heating elements arranged in spaced relation, each of said elements having a screw threaded exterior, means for applying heat to the interior of said elements, means for delivering can ends between said 'elements,'and means for simultaneously rotating said elements so that the can ends will be 'fed longitudinally of the elements by said screw threads and will be simultaneously rotated to bring all points on the peripheries thereof into contact with said elements.

'7. In a drier, the combination of a plurality of hollow cylindrical elements arranged in spaced relation and provided upon their peripheries with screw threads, means for delivering can ends between said elements, means whereby the distance between said elements may be varied to accommodate can ends of different diameters, means for applying heat to the interior of said elements, and means for simultaneously revolving said elements in the same direction.

8. In a drier, the combination of a plurality of rotatably mounted hollow cylindriill heating, elements arranged in spaced relation and provided with exterior screw threads, means for heating said elements, means for simultaneously rotating said ele ments in the same direction, and means for stacking can ends delivered by said elements.

9. In a drier, the combination of a plurality of vertically disposed cylindrical heating elements, each provieed on its exterior with screw threads, means for feeding can ends into position between the lower ends of said elements, abutments for stopping the horizontal travel of said ends, means for heating said elements, means for simultaneously rotating the elements to feed said can ends upwardly between the elements and at the. same time revolve said ends, and means for maintaining the ends in stacked relation above said elements after being delivered therefrom.

10. In a drier, the-combination of a plurality of vertically disposed cylini'lrical heating elements arranged in spaced relation, means whereby the distance between said elements may be varied, a conveyer disposed between said elements, means for stopping can ends on said conveyer in operative relation to said elements, means for a nalying heat to the interior of said elements, means for simultaneously rotating said elements in the same direction, and means extending above said elements for maintaining can ends delivered upwardly by said elements in stacked relation.

11. In a drier, the combination of a pair of vertically disposed cylindrical heating ele ments, provided with exterior screw threads, means for heating said elements, means for simultaneously rotating said elements in the same direction, a conveyor disposed between said elements, a plurality of adjustable stops by which can ends on said conveyer are brought to rest between said elements, a vertically disposed rod for preventing displacement of can ends from between said elements, means whereby the said rod may be adjusted toward or from said elements, and 1.

means whereby said elements may be adjusted toward or fromeach other to acccmmodate can ends of various sizes.

12. In a drier, the combination of a horizontal conveyer, means for feeding can ends successively vertically from said conveyer and simultaneously heating by conduction the peripheral margins of said ends, and means for arranging said heating ends in a vertical stack.

13. In a drier, the combination of a pair of vertically disposed heating elements, a horizontal conveyer'operating between the lower ends of said elements, an adjustable stop at each side of said conveyer whereby can ends on the conveyer are arrested between said elements, means for rotating said elements, means for applying heat to the interior of said elements, and means for stacking the can ends delivered by said elements.

14. In a drier, the combination of a cylindrical heating means provided with exterior screw threads, means for maintaining a can end in engagement withsaid heating means,

and mechanism for actuating said heating means to cause a relative movement between said end and said heating means.

15. In a drier, the combination of a pluiality of cylindrical heating elements, means for heating the same, means for maintaining a can end in heat conducting relation to said elements, and mechanism for rotating said elements whereby to change the points of heat conducting contact between said end and said elements.

1.6. In a drier, the combination of a plurality of cylindrical heating elements, means for applying heat to the interior thereof means for maintaining a can end in heat contacting relation to said elements, and means for actuating said elements to impart a 1'0- tary movement to said end and to cause a movement of: said end longitudinally of said element.

VILLIAM CAMERON.