US1513525A - Opening means of or for sheet-metal boxes - Google Patents

Description

- Oct. 28, 1924.

OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METAL BOXES Filed April 24 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 0- iii I I II I I: 64 I YZT'AdaJuS Oct. 28, 1924. 1,513,525

' F. E; ADAMS OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METAL BOXES Filed April 24.: 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet fave/2Z0) jZAda/ns Oct. 28, 1924. 1,513,525

F. E. ADAMS OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METAL BOXES Filled April 24, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. E. ADAMS OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METAL BOXES Filed April 24, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H615. V r

Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

PATENT F l QE.

FRANK EDWARD ADAMS, OF LOXVER BEBINGTON, ENGLAND.

OPENING MEANS 01* OR FOR SHEET-METAL BOXES.

Application filed April 24, 1923. Serial No. 634,387.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Enwnno AnAMs, a subject of the King of England, and residing at Lower Bebington, in the county of Chester, England, have invented Improvements Connected with Opening Means of or for Sheet-Metal Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to soldered or sealed sheet or thin metal boxes and tins, and means for opening them of the kind, more particularly, wherein a portion of the body, or a strip forming a part of same, is provided with a series of indentations, scorings, or the like. The object of such indentations, scorings, or the like is to weaken the metal in the direction of tearing, and in the tearing or severing action to cause the edges of the strip or band to more or less follow predetermined paths.

Closed or hermetically sealed sheet metal boxes which contain liquids cannot as a rule be conveniently opened below the end, that is round the body, and this invention pro-- vides means for enabling such boxes to be opened at the end, this being effected by incising or indenting the box end or stamping prior to being made up, with an endless row or ring of indentations or incisions, imparted to it by a multiplicity of rapidly imparted blows from reciprocating tools; the marking being in one or two annularly arranged rows or rings, with a ring of V-shaped marking extending between them.

When the top is so indented or scored on top, a suitable tongue is secured to the indented part, by pulling upon which by any known suitable kind of key or instrument, an annular strip is removed, and thereby a circular portion of the top or end can be removed.

In the operation of effecting this indenting or scoring, the box end, usually called the stamping, is clamped between discs carried on shafts with coincident axes; the lower shaft of which supporting the stamping being adapted to be rotated step by step; and the part of the stamping which is acted upon by the tools lies outside the supporting disc andris supported on an anvil, and the stamping revolves step vby step under the tools over the anvil. This step by step carrier is moved continuously by pawls or the like, which are operated suitably from a crank shaft or other motion; and the carrier is moved one tooth distance by the ratchet gear to say one turn of the driving shaft of the machine. The ratchet and pawl work continuously, whether stampings be present or not. The machine is provided with treadle, which when operated presses the stamping between the lower table" or support and the upper clamping disc which is pressed downwards by a spring forming part of the ram mechanism.

With regard to the mechanism for operating the tools and controlling their action generally, the several tools are carried in a carrier or ram which slides up and down in a suitable frame; and the tools and the carrier or ram are adapted to be operated by a continuously reciprocating part of the ma chine, which acts on a device which is alternately inserted between the reciprocating part and the tool carrier or ram, and removed therefrom, so the ramis actuated or missed by the'reciprocating part as and when required, and at the required time, the in denting action of the tools is stopped.

In this connection a means for effecting the declamping or freeing of the stamping when the scoring or indenting is to cease is provided, and a locking means connected with the treadle and the machine is actuated so as to unlock the treadle as required, so that it can be moved directly or by a spring; and this may be advantageously effected'by a ratchet wheel actuated by a pawl having a suitable number of teeth on it, the pawl being connected with the driving crank shaft of the machine.

To stop the rotation of the ratchet wheel,

one of its teeth may be longer than the stroke of the pawl, so that when the actuating pawl of the ratchet wheel reaches this longer tooth, no movement is imparted to the wheel,

and the stamping or end stops revolving,

and this pawl can be moved from the crank shaft by suitable connections operating on a lever carrying it, which also may operate the ratchet for rotating step by step the stamping carrier. i I,

But any other suitable stop mechanism may be employed.

With regard to the starting and control of the machine, when the treadle is in one position, the ram is up a considerably height to enable the stamping to be placed between the scoring tools and the anvil; and when the t'readle is moved to the opposite position. the upper clamping disc is moved down by the ram, which is held on normally by a spring; and the lever which acts on these parts and is acted upon by the treadle, becomes held and engaged by a detent in this position, so that the mechanism is locked; and when the operation is con'iplete, that is, a complete circle 01 indentations have been made the treadle mechanism is freed by the action of the mechanism, whereupon the treadle returns to its stop position. A second pawl is then brought into action which Works on the ratchet wheel, so that when the treadle is again worked, it moves the pawl forward, and so moves the ratchet wheel so as to take the long tooth past its operating pawl, and the action recommences.

The lever which the treadle operates upon has a short arm, which operates on ram, the long arm being operated upon by the treadle, which may be raised by a spring. Whilstthe invention has been described as applied to circulartins, it may by suitable arrangenient or modification be adapted to operate on tops or ends of tins or containers other than circular shape.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a lid or end of a sheet metal box provided with the ring or endless scorings or indentations according to this invention. Figure. 2 is a side elevation of a machine for effecting the scoring or indenting of the lid or end in continuous or endless form; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; Figures 1- and 5 are end views opposite that shown in Figure 3, and side elevation, respectively, 01 the machine; and Figure 6 is a plan in section of the machine.

Ret'erring to the drawings, and to the end or cover 1, shown in Figure 1, this may be assumed to be the common form of stamping used for closing the top of the vessel, which is usually seamed to the body after the tin is filled, the portion within the flange 2 being recessed in the usual way. vv ithin this flange the endless ring or band ot' scorings or indentations 3, are effected by the machine as hereafter explained; the indentations consisting in the case shown of three rings intermittently applied by three tools. Namely, the outside ring will consist of circularly "following indentations, running into each other, or nearly so. The next two rings are oppositely inclined indentations, the inner ones being such that they run into one another in a tangential manner so that at their inner edges they term a continuous scoring ring round the tin top.

F or starting the opening action, a suitable instrument for tearing out the band of metal between the inner and outer circular or annular indentings or scoiings 3, a tab l o't metalot about the width of the scoring band 3 is fastened to it by passing the tab through a slit in the band, the inner part 5 which is soldered to the under side of the can top, the whole being sealed up by the solder.

By engaging this tongue 4- by a suitable instrument of known kind, and turning it round, the band or strip will tear away clean between the inner and outer scorings, the tearing being effected in the direction of the arrow; and in the act if either of the lines of tearing comes away inwards from the inner or outer rings of indent-ings or scorings, when such wrong line of tearing comes on to one of the diverging indentations, the tear is led back along such indentation to the inner or outer ring, as the case may be, and so the band is completely torn all round without fault, and the central inner disc ot metal of the top is separated and removed.

The stamping 1 to be indented or scored is placed on a table '7 mounted on a spindle 8, and rotated step by step in a rapid manner as hereinafter explained; and when the stamping has been so placed on the table, a holding disc 9, carried in a spindle 10, is caused to move down on to the central part of the stamping, and presses it down on to the rotating table 7, namely, a rubber surface pad thereof, and this pressure causes the stam )ing 1 to we turned round step by step rapic ly.

T he stampings are preferably introduced into position under the tools, and removed therefrom, by means of a. vibrating locator device ll hinged by a spindle 12- to the base or frame 13 of the machine, and having two socket apertures l l in it, which receive the stampings alternately.

l i lien one stamping in one aperture 14: is being operated upon in the machine, the other will be away from the operating parts as shown in Figure 6, and into this latter aperture a stamping is placed; and when the operation o1 the other stamping is finished, i. e. the rings or band 3 formed in it, the locator is moved over so as to move it away from the operative position and tools. and to move the :treshstamping into position; the limit of movement of the locator being controlled by stops 15, against which a projection 16 on the locator comes.

In the case shown, there are as stated, three separate tools 18, which asshown are flat blades fitting one against the other; the inner one indents or scores the inner ring of diverging indentations or scorings, the middle one the next ring of diverging indentations or scorings; and the back or outer one, the outer ring of circularly following or continuous indentations.

The tools 18 are carried in a tool box or carrier 19, which is attached to a ram 20, sliding in the vertical bed or guide 21 on the frame of the machine, being held in place by the angle bars 22 fixed on 21.

Tie tool box 19 is secured to the ram 2*.) by holding stud bolts which pass through tools therein.

The tools 18 are adjustable both vertically and laterally, the vertical adjustment on the different tools being effected by the three screw studs 26,screwing through the top 3 bar or member of the tool holder 19, each screw bearing on a separate tool, so that they can be separately adjusted; and as regards the holding and adjusting laterally, this is effected at the top by upper screw studs 27 screwing through the sides of the box 19; while below the front or inner tool 18 is adjusted at its lower end by the screw studs 28, the intermediate and back tools being supported laterally by projections 29 on the lower inner face of the side members of the tool box 19.

The upper ends of the tools 18 are provided with heads as shown, and form sur faces on which the ends of the adjusted screws 26 can act the tools bein inclined in relation to one another as shown.

This manner of adjusting and holding the tools enables them to be so placed that an equal depth of cutting for each action from one end of the indentation to the other, is effected, and without requiring great precision of sharpening and making the tools themselves, that is an even and uniform cutting or indentation is effected in a simple and ready manner.

The indenting or scoringvof the metal stamping or top for producing the tearing and severing band is efiected by rapidly vibrating the reciprocating indenting or scoring tools 18, which act over and in connection with an anvil or support 6 on which the metal disc 1 to be indented or scored, is placed, and rotated step by step rapidly,

The rapidly vibrating tools have a Very short stroke, say from 1/16th to 1/8th of an inch with a rapidity of, say 600 to 1000 strokes per minute; whilst the stamping or box end will be rotated under the tools step by step at the same rate, by which method of operation the cost of production is low and commercially possible.

The reduction of the sheet metal at the indentings or scorings may be about 6/1000ths of an inch.

With regard to the operation of the up per presser disc 9, this is normally pressed down by a spring 30 extending between a boss 31 on the top of the tool box 19, and a collar 32 on the rod, which when down rests in a coned seat 33 on a bridge 35 on box 19, which tends to centre the disc 9 on the table 7; whilst when'l'the coneis lifted up, which takes place after the completion of the indentation or scoring, it is clear of the seat 33, so that when it comes down again, the disc 9 can adjust itself on the surface stamping of therubber 34011 the table 7. V j 1 When a stamping is being inserted for being operated upon, or when being removed after the complete ring vof indentations or scorings have been impressed, the ram 20 and tools are inoperative; and they are pressed up into their uppermost inoperative position, by a rod 37 connected with the ram 20, which is normally pressed upwards by springs 38, against which the ram and parts carried with it, are pressed by the positive downward. movement of the ram. The actuation of the .ram,.and the stopping of same, is automatically effected by means hereinafter described. V

The primary operating parts of the ram and tools work continuously, and the 0-peration of the tool carriers and ram is effected by a device whichiis alternately inserted between a driving reciprocating part, and the tool carrier or ram, and removed therefrom, so that the ram is actuated, or not actuated, by the reciprocating part as and when required, and at the required time, the indenting or scoring action of the tools is stopped. I

The continuously operating mechanism for operating the ram and tool carrier consists of a driven shaft 39, mounted in a bearing on the side of the frame 13 of the machine,'having on' its front end a, crank or eccentric 40, which, through a link 41, operates a lever 42 mounted on a pin in the frame 13, which operates a reciprocating rod or part 43, the lower end of which passes through and is guided by a fixed guide 44. The short arm of this lever 42 imparts to the reciprocating rod 43 a small stroke, say about 4 th of an inch.

The inserting device which operates in connection with the rod or part 43, and the crosshead 25 on the ram 20, consists of a slide 45, which slides between the guide 44 and the crosshead, and is operated upon positively by a'roller on a lever 46 when it is to be inserted between the part 43, and the crosshead 25; whilst when the roller moves away from the insertion device 45, a spring 47 pulls it away from under the lower end of the rod or part 43, so that in the downward movement of this rod or part, it does not act on the ram 20 and too-l carrier.

It may be assumed that the stroke of the reciprocating part 43, is about twice that required by the tools, and that in the upward stroke it moves say th above the insertion head of the device 45, so that the first portion of the down stroke of the rod 43 is inoperative as regards its action of the ram 20, and only when it comes on to the device 45 is the ram operated, and this is the latter half of the stroke of the rod 43.

With regard to the mechanism for automatically moving the insertion device 45, and the operation of the tool box and ram, this comprises a toothed ratchet wheel mounted on ashaft 51 on the frame 13, which is operated by a pawl 52 which is carried On and reciprocated by a toothed wheel 53, and which itself is driven by a pinion 54 on the shaft 39, so that it is driven by a relatively slow rate. The wheel 50 has a tooth 55 in it, which is longer than the others, so that when the pawl 52 comes on it, it does not slide over its tip, and thus does not actuate the wheel, and in this condition the wheel 50 is stationary, and it remains so until it is moved by another mechanism as hereafter explained, when the wheel 50 will then be given another revolution.

When the pawl 52 comes on the long tooth 55 of the wheel 50, a cam 56 fixed on the spindle 51 strikes the lever 57, which is normally pulled down by a spring 58, on the spindle 59 of which the insertion device actuating arm or lever 46 is fixed, so that this lever is moved away from the insertion device 45, which is then withdrawn between the reciprocating rod 43, and the crosshead 25, by the spring 47, and so the tools are inoperative, and remain up in their upper position above the anvil6, on which the stamping 1 rests, and is operated upon.

lVhen, however, the wheel 50 is started again, and the cam 56 leaves the lever 57, the spring 58 pulls it down, and so moves the lever 46 in, and thereby moves the insertion device 45 between the reciprocating rod 43, and the crosshead 25, and thereby the vibration of the tools is recommenced,

This starting of the action of the wheel 50, and the operation of the tools and ram, allows the holding disc 9 to be pressed down on to the newly inserted stamping i, on to the table 7, which is continuously revolved; whilst, otherwise, when the wheel 50 is stationary, and the device 45 out of action, the disc 9 will be above its normally operative level, so that the locator device 11 can be moved, and thereby a new stamping placed in ,aosition.

he re-starting of the wheel 50, and gear just described is effected by the operation of a treadle of the machine, as follows:

In connection with the ratchet wheel 50 there is a second pawl 60 mounted on a hell crank lever 61., and operating; on the wheel 50; and the outer arm of this lever 61 is adapted to be moved up by a lever 62, which is operated by the treadle of the machine through the rod 63 in the usual way, say by pressing on the treadle; and thus it pushes the pawl 61 forward, and moves it a portion of a revolution, so that the pawl 52 is taken off th long tooth 53, and into engagement with the next tooth; and so by the continuous vibration of this pawl 52 the wheel 50 is caused to make another revolution.

lln this rising of the lever 62, an extension 64 of this lever will have pressed back and got up above the catch or nose of a detent lever 65, (see Figure which is always pressed towards the extension 64 by a spring 66, and so the lever 62 will be held in this position, and cannot be moved or operated until it is liberated again from the detent lever 65; and this liberation is effected by a bowl or roller 67 on the wheel 50, which after this wheel has moved a certain part of its rotation or stroke round, strikes the upper nose of the detent lever 65, and s0 knocks the lower catch nose away from the extension 64, and allows the lever 62 and treadle to drop, after which the remainder of the cycle of revolution takes place.

The lever 62 is on the. outside of the frame or bed 13 of the niiachine, and the spindle 68 on which it is fired has within the casing a short arm or stop 69, which when this lever is iocired up by the detent 65, prevents the ram 20 and tool c rrier 19 from risingabove a small degree, say l/16th above the stamping i, this being efiected by a collar- 76' on the spindle 37, which comes in contact with the stop arm 69; Whereas when the lever 62 is down, which it is when the insertion device 45 is removed, the ram 20 can move up so that the tools are suliiciently raised above the anvil 6 to permit of the. removal and insertion of stampings. Thus, while the reciprocating rod 43 always moves its full stroke, the ram 20 and tool holder and tools can in their active strokes only move a portion of the stroke of their actuating device 43.

The continuous rotation of the table 7 effectr from the shaft 39 through an ea centric 71 thereon, which ope-rates through an eccentric rod 72, a bell crank lever 73, having on, its lower end a pawl 74 which operates a tooth or ratchet wheel 75, which ias a number of teeth in it to correspond with the number of indentations of scorings 3 to be effected in the stamping.

T he spindle 8 of the table 7 is carried in a bracket bearing 76 which extends through an aperture in the frame 13, and is adjust able therein.

When the treadle moves, and the stop arm 69 rises, an arm 77 on the rod 37, riseswith same, and strikes the rod 12 on which the locator 11 is mounted, so that the'stamping placed in one of the recesses or sockets of the locator, is moved clear of the rubber 34, and so is out of action of the table; and

when the clamping of the article between the disc 9 and rubber 34 of table 7 takes place, the locator falls a little, permitting the stamping to rest on the rubber, but the locator does not fall low enough to quite lose hold of the stamping.

What is claimed is 1. A machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal plates adapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, tools adapted to score or indent the plate, a vibratory tool actuating means, a slide adapted when in position be tween the tools and their actuating means to permit said actuating means to operate the tools, means for positively actuating the slide in one direction, and spring means for operating the. slide in the opposite direction.

2. A machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal plates adapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, tools adapted to score or indent the plate, a vibratory tool actuating means, a means adapted to be moved in be tween and Withdrawn from between the said tools and their said actuating means, means for rotating the plate under the tools step by step, and means adapted to remove the said insertion means from between the reciprocating actuating part of the machine, and the tool carrier, when the complete endless band of indentations or scorings hasv been efiected.

3. A machine for providing atearable endless band in metal plates adapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, tools adapted to score or indent the plate, a vibratory tool actuating means, means adapted to be moved in between and withdrawn from between the said tools and their said actuating means, means for rotating the plate under the tools step by step, and means adapted to remove the said insertion means from between the reciprocating actuating part of the machine, and the too-l carrier, when the. complete endless band of indentations or scorings has been effected; a. treadle mechanism, a detentdevice adapted normally to hold the treadle mechanism; and means in connection with the operating mechanism of the machine adapted to remove this detent on the com pletion or part completion of the indenting or scoring action of the tools, on the plate or stamping.

4. In a machine for providing a tearable band in metal plates, comprising a carrier, a plurality of tools arranged in said carrier, said tools being formed at their lower ends to engage and form difierent character of indentations in the metal, and screw studs for adjusting the vibrating tools laterally and independently in the carrier.

5. In a machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal plates adapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, a ram carrying upon it a tool holder, a plurality of tools 18 for indenting or scoring the plate within said carrier, and adjustable at their upper parts at right angles to their length in the carrier, a vibrating part or rod adapted to be continuously operated by the machine, a movable insertion device adapted to be moved between the operative end of the vibrating device, and a part of or on the ram, an

anvil directly in line with the tools over- Which the plate moves, and a rotary table adapted to operatestep by step and to support and carry the plate to be scored or indented; substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal plates adapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, a ram 20 carrying upon it a tool holder 19, a plurality of tools! 18 for indenting or scoring the plate within said carrier, an anvil 6 directly in line with the tools over which the plate works, and a r0- tary table '3' adapted to operate step by step and to support and carry the plate. to be scored or indented; means adapted to limit the rise of the ram and tools when operating upon the plate controlled from a. treadle or manually operated part, detent means for holding said treadle controlled part in the said position, and means on the machine for freeing said detentwhen the cycle of operations is complete.

a, 111 a machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal plates adapted 'to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, a ram 20 carrying upon it a tool holder 19, a plurality of tools 18 for indenting or scoring the plate within said carrier, an anvil 6 directly in line with the tools over which the plate Works, and a rotary table 7 adapted to operate step by step and to support and carry the plate to be scored or indented, a ratchet wheel, a pawl driven from the mechanism of the machine for operating same, and construct-- ed and adapted that at the completion of a revolution the pawl is rendered inoperative, and another pawl operative upon the ratchet wheel, and treadle operated means adapted to actuate the latter pawl, and move the ratchet wheel on so as to render the aforesaid pawl again operative.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK EDNARD ADAMS. Vfitnesses:

SHELAGH DoNALDsoN, BARBARA J Aoons.

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