US1484449A - Can-topping machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19 1924.. HAMAQ c. J. HULTEN CAN TOPPING MACHINE Filed' Jur 1e` 2l 1922 j] A. 2 .71T 92 fir/@nforcHA/P/ Es J. HULTE/v.

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Patented Feb. 19, 1924i.

t? te r CHARLES JOSEPH HULTEN, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OLIVER S. ORRICK, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

CAN-TOPPING BACHINE.

Application filed June 21, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES J. HUL'rEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can-Topping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to a can topping machine and especially to that type which is employed when. applying friction tops or like closures.

A great variety of products or articles of manufacture is today packed in cans and friction tops or covers are the only closures required as an absolute hermetical seal is not necessary. For this reason it is more or less common practice to apply the tops or lids by hand. However where paint or other liquid products are being handled, uniform pressure asd seating is required when applying the lids as leakage might otherwise take place.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a machine whereby the lids may be forced into place and uniform pressure and seating insured;l to generally improve and simplify machines of this character and to render the operation of applying and forcing the lids into place automatically and rapidly to permit large numbers of cans to be topped. Y

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

rlhe invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts. as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of the machine partly broken away and partly in section.

Fig. 2 is an end view partly broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a base frame supported by legs, or standards as generally indicated at 2. The frame A consists of interspaced side sections 3 which are tied together by cross bars or frames 4. Formed in the side sections 3 are journal members 5 and supported thereby is a pair of cross shafts 6 and 7. Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 7 is a pair of sprocketgears 8, and similarly secured on the shaft 6 is a. pair of sprocket gears 9. The gears of the respective pairs are positioned to align and each aligned set of gears supports an endless sprocket chain 10. These chains are in the present instance Serial No. 569,848.

connected by cross bars 11 and these in turn form an endless conveyor or platform generally indicated at B, upon which the cans C are placed d ring the topping operation hereinafter to be described. Forming a part of the side sections 3 of the main frame A, or secured thereto, as at l2, are uprights or standards which are arranged in pairs as indicated at la and 15. rlhe upper ends of the standards are slot-ted as at 16, and they support a frame 17, consisting of a pair of side bars 18 between which is journalled a plurality of rollers 19. The side bars of the frame, indicated at 18, are supported and secured by clamp screws 20 and as these eX- tend through the slots 16, it is obvious that vertical and angular adjustment of the roller and supporting frame may be obtained. ln fact in actual practice it is necessary that the roller supporting frame is vertically and angularly adjustable as cans of various height must be taken care of, etc.

As stated in the preamble of this specication cans employing friction tops are the only type of can handled by the present inachine. The cans are delivered to the endless conveyor B in any suitable manner, the lids 22 having previously been placed thereon by manual operation or otherwise not here illustrated. The cans are placed on the forward end of the conveyor indicated at 24: and advance with the conveyor in the direction of arrow a. directly under the roller supporting frame 17, and as this frame, together with the rollers journalled thereon, is disposed on an angle, it can be seen that pressure is gradually applied to the lid and it is thus gradually forced into place and is finally seated when the last roller has been passed. An even pressure is thus applied to the lid and uniform seating is insured, thus rendering the joint leakproof against paint and other similar ma terials. The cans may be delivered to the machine in row formation and each can will thus successively discharge and may beremoved from the end indicated at 25 by means of a roller chute 26, or any other suitable means. The endless platforms presents a rigid support for the cans while the lids are being applied as the cross bars, forming the endless platform and carried by the chains, are supported on a longitudinally extending bar 27, which is supported by the cross frames 4L. The bar 27 extends from end to end of themachine and not only supports the endless platform, but forms a substantial guide therefor. The rollers 19 are journalled in any suitable manner, for instance by antifriction means or the like in the side frames 18 and they are only rotated by frictional engagement with the lids of the respective cans passing below the same. The conveyor B must hoW- ever be power driven and as this drive may be obtained by different methods, I have merely illustrated the simple form of worm gear drive as lgenerally indicated at D; shaft 2S being driven in any suitable manner not here shoivn.

The vtopping machine, forming the subject matter of the present application, may be employed in conjunction with the filling and nf'eighing machine, and if such is the case the can will irst enter the filling machine, then the Weighing machine, and Will finally have its lid applied to complete the operation When it reaches the endless conveyor B. In that case all three machines might be driven in unison. For this reason it is obvious that the drive employed may be altered to suit various conditions. Other changes in design and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, similarly the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturerl may dictate or various uses may demand.

By referring to Fig. l it will be noted that the last roller indicated at 19a is slightly raised Vwith relation to the remaining rollers. This roller is known as the relief roller and serves the function of relieving the lid of pressure when it has been finally applied. It serves another function, to-wit, that of reventing tilting or upsetting of the cans when they pass from under the rollers 19.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A can topping machine comprising a main frame, a pair of sprocket gears journalled at each end thereof, a pair of endless chains carried by said gears, cross bars connecting said chains and forming an endless receiving and supporting platform, means for transmitting a continuous drive to the sprocket gears and the chains and cross bars carried thereby, a longitudinal support engaging the underside of the cross bars, means for delivering cans in line formation to the -endless platform, said cans being provided With lfriction lids, which have been loosely applied, a series of rollers successively engageable with the lids of the respective cans to force the lids gradually into place, and a relieving roller disposed at the end of the first named rolls.

2. A can topping machine comprising a main frame, a pair of sprocket gears journalled at each end thereof, a-pair of endless chains carried by said gears, cross bars connecting said chains and forming an endless receiving and supporting platform, means for transmitting a continuous drive to the sprocket gears and the chains and `cross bars carried thereby, a centrally disposed longitudinal support engaging the underside of the cross bars and extending substantially from end to end of the chains, means for delivering cans in line formation to the endless platform, said cans being provided with friction lids Which have been loosely applied, a plurality of upright members arranged in pairs on each side of the endless platform, a frame disposed between said uprights, means permitting vertical adjustment of each end independently of the other, and a plurality of rollers journalled in the frame crossvvise of the endless platform.

onas. Josnri-r HUL'TEN.

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