US1548743A

US1548743A - Can-making machine

Info

Publication number: US1548743A
Application number: US715626A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred W Powell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-05-24
Filing date: 1924-05-24
Publication date: 1925-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 1942-08-04

Description

Aug. 4, 1925.

A. w. POWELL CAN MAKING MACHINE 4 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed May 24. 1924 Aug. 4, 192s. 1,548,743

A. w. POWELL CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 4. 1925.

A. w. POWELL- CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24. 19 24 4 Sheets-Sheet Flu/mm fez Q22 26% Z/JPaM Z Aug. 4, 1925.

A. w. POWELL CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24. 1924 4 SheetsSheet 4 of'zdifi audi Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

v UNITED STATES ALFRED w. POWELL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed May 24, 1924. Serial No. 715,626.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in CairMaking Machines, of which the'tollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to can making machines and more particularly to those of the class employed for applying metallic heads to the ends or" can bodies; and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved machine of this class which is capable of operating with equal facility and efiiciency in applying heads to either empty or filled cans, the operation of the machine is continuous, rapid and reliable, and the adjustments required are few and can be made readily and with facility.

To these and other ends. the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed outv particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a can male ing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the machine in this instance being adapted to efiect a single seaming of the head; I

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a can making machine constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the machine in this instance being adapted to eflect double seaming of the can head;

Figure 3 represents on an enlarged scale a side elevation of the machine as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, the same being viewed from the lower side of such figures;

Figure 4 represents'on an enlarged scale a cross-section on the line l-l, Figure 1;

v Figure 5 represents on an enlarged scale a section through the head-applying unit, the section being taken on the line 55 of Figure 1; v

Figure 6 represents on an enlarged scale a section through the seaming unit of the ma" chine, this section being taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

. Figure 7 is atop plan view showing on an enlarged scale one of the cau' holders;

' Figure 8 is an elevation of one of the can holders, a portion of this View being shown in section;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the can holder shown in Figure 8 as viewed from the right.

Figure 10 represents in section a development or lay-out of a portion of the headapplying unit of the machine, illustrating diagrammatically the mode of feeding the can heads and applying and seating the same upon the can bodies;

Figure 11 represents on an enlarged scale a section taken radially through a portion of the seaming unit which produces a single seaming of the can head, a portion of the can being shown in section to illustrate the seam produced in this unit;

Figure 12 represents a section taken radially through a portion of the second seaming unit, when such is employed, this View showing the double seaming operation partially performed;

Figure 13 represents a section taken at another point radially of the second seaming unit, showing the manner in which the double seaming operation is completed.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The present invention is applicable to the application of heads to form the bottoms of empty cans or the application of heads to the tops of filled cans, or to both of these operations, and it is also applicable to the seaming of heads on either empty or filled cans, or both. The preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter described in detail. It is to be understood, however; that the invention is not restricted to the precise constructions shown as equivalent constructions are contemplated and such will be included within the scope of the claims.

In the present instance, the machine comprises a suitable table or base 1 which serves to support the various mechanisms of the machine. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the machine C011} prises generally a head-applying unit 2, a seaming unit 3, a feeding device 4 for supplying the cans or can bodies to the machine, and a discharge device 5 for removing the headed cans from the machine. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 the machine comprises a head-applying unit 2 which may be identical with that shown in Figure 1, the first seaming unit 3 which may be identical with the seaming unit shown in Figure 1, and a second seaming unit 6, the construction of which will be hereinafter described and which operates on the can heads after a single seam has been produced by the first seaming unit 3, to effect double seaming of the can heads. -The' tion 9 and bottom 10, the latter being rotatable relatively to the body portion. The body portion is in the form of a cylinder, the inside diameter of which approximately equals the diameter of the can bodies to be handled. The front of eachbody portion is cut away for a distance of somewhat less than half the circumference of the body portion, leaving more than half of the circumference of the body portion to receive and hold the can body. The portion 9 has an extension 11 which extends upwardly from its rear side. The upper portion of this exten sion is recessed at 12 on a radius which conforms with the periphery of the can heads, and the upper end of this extension forms a hook 13 which is adapted to overlie a head resting on a top of a can body in the holder and to thereby prevent displacement of the head relatively to the can body. A wing 14 extends from the rear edge of the body portion 9, this wing being inclined or extending at such an angle that its rear edge will lead to or aline substantially with the front edge 15 of the next following holder on the chain, this being clear from Figures 1 and 2. The can body, while in the holder, rests on the bottom 10 of the holder. The holder bottom comprises a plate which is freely revolu ble relatively to the bottom portion 9 of the holder. As shown in the present instance, the bottom 10 has a hub formed with avertical bore 16 which fits loosely over the up per end of a pin 17, which latter forms one of the pins or pintles of the conveyor chain l. The bottom 10 preferably rests on a steel ball 18, the ball, in turn, resting in a spherical or other suitable seat 19 in the upper end of the pin 17. Suitable means is provided for preventing vertical displacement of the bottom 10 relatively to the pin 17, the upper portion of the latter in the present instance being formed with a continuous circumferential groove 20 in which may fit the inner end of a retaining screw 21. The body portion 9 of the holder is mounted on the conveyor chain by means of a downwardly extending bracket or extension 22 which rests on the upper side of the conveyor chain 7 and may be secured thereto in any suitable way, as b a flange 23-011 the pin 17 which clamps tie bracket 22 against the upper side of the chain.

Any suitable means may be provided for supplying the can bodies to the holders on the conveyor chain before the holders reach the head-applying unit 1. Preferably, and as shown in the present instance, a continuouslytravelling belt 2% is provided, this belt passing over a pulley 25 which is located, immediately beside the path of movement of the holders, and the upper stretch of the belt travelling toward the holders between the sides 26 of a guiding trough. The can bodies, designated C, rest endwise on the upper stretch of this belt and the continuous movement of the belt carries the can bodies toward the holders on the conveyor chain, the can bodies on the belt abutting directly against one another. The foremost can body on the feeding belt will enter the open side or front of a holder 8 as the latter reaches a position substantially in alinement with the feeding belt, while the next following can body on the feeding belt, due to the movement of the conveyor chain, will be received by the receding or inclined wing 14 on the holder, this can body being thereby directed properly into the next following holder on the conveyor chain.

The head-applying unit 2 which fits and applies heads to the can bodies conducted thereto by the conveyor comprises a lower relatively fixed plate 27 and an upper revoluble plate 28 which rests directly on the plate 27. The upper revoluble plate 28 re: volves continuously and it may be driven from a shaft 29 through a hub 30 which is fixed to the shaft 29 and is bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 28. The shaft 29 has a sprocket wheel 31 fixed thereon, the chain of the conveyor 7 meshing with and passing around this sprocket wheel. The outer marginal portion of the lower relatively fixed plate 27 is imperforate to prov de a surface ,over which the can heads may travel, except for the openings 27 and 27 therein which permit the can heads to descend preparatory to their application to the can bodies. The upper revoluble plate 28 is of a thickness which corresponds substantially with the thickness of the beaded can heads h, and this plate is provided with openings 28 which correspond in spacing with the spacing of the holders 8, while the latter pass around the sprocket wheel 31, the openings 28 in the upper plate providing pockets in which the can heads are received singly orindividually and are thuscarried over the upper side of the lower plate 27 until they reach the openings 27 therein, the can heads then descending successively through this opening 27 preparatory to their successive application to the respective can bodies. The upper rotatable plate 28 may be held in proper relation with the lower stationary plate 27 by a suitable number of rollers 32 which are mounted on brackets 33 and overlie and bear upon the marginal edge of the plate 28.

The can heads h are supplied to this unit preferably by a magazine 34; which may be of any suitable construction adapted to hold the stack of the can heads. The bottom of the magazine, which may com-prise an approximately ring-lilre member 35 is sup ported slightly above the upper surface of the revoluble plate 528-,- it being shown secured in this position in the present instance by a screw 36 which secures it to a relatively fixed bracket 37. The lowermostcan head in the stack contained in the magazine will drop into an opening 28 in the plate 28, when such opening comes into a position beneath the magazine, and in order to separate this lowermost can head from the remain ing heads in the stack,,a blade 38 is provided at the rear edge of each opening 2 8, the blade being positioned slightly above the can head in the opening 28 and resting on the upper side of the plate 27 so that the continued rotation of the plate 28 will cause this blade to enter between the lowermost head in the opening 28* and the head next above it in the stack, the blade thus separating the lowermost head from those above it and insuring the reception of a single head only in each opening 28* as the latter pass beneath the magazine.

Means is provided beneath the plate 27 to guide the can bodies in a path concentric with the axis of the shaft 29 in order to insure proper reception of the heads. As shown, a pair of curved angle irons 39' are secured in parallelism on the under side of this plate 27, they forming a guideway between them which is of a width correspond ing to the diameter of the can bodies, Furthermore, curved rails 4-;0' may be fixed in position to engage the outer sides of the can bodies and thereby retain them within the holders.v In this way, the can bodies, while passing through the head-applying uni-t, travel in a true circular path.

The head-applying means receives the heads, one at a time, through the opening 27 in the plate 27 and applies the heads successively to the respective can bodies during the travel of the can bodies through the head-applying unit. The means for performing these operations consists in the present instance or a pair of rails 41 which may be secured at one. end to the under side of the plate 27 as at 42', these rails being curved to conform with the curved path through which the can bodies travel. and

- these rails are spaced apart sufiicien-tly to permit the extensions 11 of the travelling holders to project upwardly therethrough. These rails, moreover, extend in parallelism with the plane of movement of the holders and at a level slightly above the tops of the can bodies 0 contained therein, the hooks 13, however, on the extensions 11 of the holders projecting above these rails. Asa head being advanced over the upper side of:

the plate 27 while contained in an opening 28 in the upper revoluble plate 28 reaches the opening 27 in the lower stationary plate, the head, being no longer supported, drops by gravity onto the rails 41. The driving means for the revoluble plate 28 is timed in advance of the timing of the travelling holders so that each head will drop through the opening 27 onto the rails 41 somewhat in advance of the respective holders. Consequently, when the head has settled flatwise on the rails 41, the upper portion of the extension 1.1 on the holder will project above the head and it will abut against the rear edge of the head, and the continued advancing movement ofthe holder will cause the head, while resting on the rails tl, to be advanced in unison with the can body 0 beneath it and contained in the respective holder, as is shown in Figure 10. During this advance of the head, the latter is centered relatively to the can body by the angle irons or rails 39' at the sides and by the part of the extension 11 which it engages, this part: or? the extension being formed on the san're radius as that of the head and concentrically oi' the can body a in the holder; Also,- the can body in the holder is centered at this time by the body portion 8 of the holder which engages the can body at the front and rear thereof and also at the inner side, and by the rails- 39 and. 40. Beyond the rails ii are provided additional rails- 43 which may be secured to the under side of the relatively fixed plate 27, the portions 43 of these rails which are adjacent to the rails 41 being inclined downwardly from the plate 27 and the remainder oi the rails 43 extending downwardly into close proximity to the tops of the can bodies 0 the holders. Vhen a head reaches the inclined portions 453 of these rails, the head forced? downwardly toward the can body, the rails 41 being interrupted at this point to permit such action to take place and as the advancing movement of the head'an'd can body continues, the head will be pressed-- evenly and complet'ety onto the topof' the can body, as is shown in the left-hand end of Figure 1.0.

The cans with the heads applied thereto in the manner just described pass from the head-applying unit. 2 into the seaming unit 3 by the movement of the conveyor In order to retain the applied headson the can bodies during this transiier, rails 445' are preferably provided which may be continuations, in effect, of the rails 43, these rails 44 hearing on the heads and thus holding them on the respective can bodies. To prevent swaying of the conveyor or chain 7 while transferring the can bodies and heads from the unit 9. to the unit 3, a trough 45 may be provided through which the chain or conveyor travels, as shown in Figure4.

The'seaming vunit 3, which operates to produce a single seam on the can head comprises, asshown in detail in Figure 6, a revs oluble seaming ring 46 which is fixed on and is concentric with a shaft 47, the latter serving torevolve this seaming ring, and an outer segmental seaming ring 48. The inner revoluble seaming ring may be carriedby a wheel 49' which is adjustably secured at' the proper elevation on the shaft 47 by the conical members '50 which are threaded on the shaft. The outer segmental seamingring 48 is'somewhat eccentric to the inner revoluble seaming ring 46, the spacing between the

rings

46 and 48 at the point where the upper ends of the can bodies and the heads enter the seaming unit being greater thaniat' the point where the seamed cans leave theseaming unit, this eccentricity between the seaming rings producing a progressive seaming operation as the headed cans pass through the seaming unit. The

formation of the seaming rings 46 and 48 is shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 11, the

rings having grooves

46 and 48*, re-

' spectively, into which the peripheral edges of the can headsh are rolled and the rings having ribs or

flanges

46 and 48 which produce the rolling or seaming action upon the canrheads. 'The outer segmental seam ing ring 48 is preferably mounted so that it may be adjusted both axially and radially of the: shaft 47, thereby enabling the outer ring 48 to be brought-intothe proper plane relatively to the inner revolublering 46 and the proper eccentricity between the rings maybe obtained. As shown in the present instance, the ring 48 is supported by a relatively fixed frame 51, and the ring 48 is fitted in a carrier 52 having threaded studs 53v thereon which project outwardly through openings 54 in the frame 51 and have adjusting nuts 55 and 5-6 threaded thereon. The adjusting nuts55 and 56 are. adapted to clamp against the inner and outer, sides of the frame v51 at different points around the shaft 47, thereby holding the. outer ring 48in the proper eccentric relation with the shaft 47; and set screws 57 threaded in lugs on the frame 51 engage, the upper and lowersides of the nuts 56 and thereby serve as'means for adjusting the elevation of the ring 48 and for holding said ring at the proper. level relatively to the ring 46. Y

. The can bodies having the heads applied thereto are introduced into and carried through the seaming unit by the movement of the conveyor 7 which passes around a sprocket wheel 59 which is loosely mounted to revolve on a relatively fixed hub 60 which is concentric with the shaft 47. .The inner seaming ring 46 isdriven at a speed higher than the speed of rotation ofthe sprocket wheel 59, and during the advanceofthe headed cans, the rapidly revolving seaming ring 47 causes the can bodies to revolve within their holders, the can bodies resting on the bottoms 10 of the holders and being free to revolve, and this revolving movement of the can bodies with the heads applied thereto between the seaming rings 46jand 48 causes the peripheral edges of the can heads to be rolled and seamed in substantiallythe manner shown in Figure 11. i 7 hen a single seam only is desired, the single seaming unit 3 only is used, but where a double seam is desired, the second seaming unit 6 is employed. This second seaming unit is identical with the seaming unit 3 excepting the formation of the operative surfaces of the seaming rings. Figures 12 and 13 show the form of the seaming rings used in the second seaming unit 6 to producea double seam. As shown, the inner seaming ring 146 has a rib or flange 146 which is shallower than that used in the seaming unit 3, and the outer seaming ring 148 has a. rib or flange 148 whichis shallower than that used on the outer ring of the seaming unit 3. These seaming rings of the seaming unit 6 are arranged eccentrically, as in the unit 3 and they receive the single seamedcans at the. point where they are more widely spaced, thisbeing represented substantially in Figure 12. 'As the. cans progress be.- tween these seaming ring's,the single seam on the can heads which was previously formed in the 'unit 3, is further rolled and fiattened, dueto the convergence of theseaming rings 146 and 148 and the shallowness of the ribs or flanges 146" and 148? thereof until a double seam substantially as shown in Figure 13, is produced. In using a second seaming unit 6, as shownin Figure2, to produce double seams on the cans, the conveyor 7 is preferably caused to pass around an idler sprocket 61 located between the two seaming units in order that thecans may pass through a substantially semicircular 'path while passing through eac of the seaming units. 7 i a The seamed cans may be removed from the conveyor in any suitable way. The discharge device 5 shown for this purpose in the present instance comprises a trough 62 through which .the seamedcans may dis-.

tion 9 and the bottom 10 of the holders, this finger acting as the holders advance to dis place the seamed cans from the holders and to direct them into the trough 62.

The invention as herein shown and de scribed enables heads to be applied to empty cans, in which case, the empty cans would be fed to the conveyor, and it also enables heads to be applied to filled cans which have been proviously provided with heads to form the bottoms thereof. The machine may be driven in any suitable way, as, for example, through the shaft 29 which may be connected to an electric motor, a line shaft, or the like, the driving of this shaft serving to drive the conveyor 7 through the sprocket wheel 31 fixed thereon. Also, the shaft 49 of the seaming unit may be driven from the shaft 29 by a belt 64 and pulleys 65 and 66 fixed, respectively, on the shafts 29 and 47.

The present invention provides a can making machine which is relatively simple and inexpensive in construction and which is capable of rapidly and efiiciently applying and seaming heads on cans and similar receptacles, the operations being performed while the cans or receptacles proceed continuously through the machine. It is to be understood, however, that the head applying unit is applicable to other uses where it is desired to apply heads, caps or closures to receptacles and the like, or that the seaming unit or units are applicable to other uses where it is desired to produce seams similar to those used in seaming heads to cans; and such uses are comprehended by the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising superposed relatively rotatable members, the lower member providing a surface along which can heads may travel and an opening through which the heads may pass for application to the can bodies, and the upper member having openings therein to receive the heads and to advance them to said opening in the lower giember while supported by the lower mem- 2. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a lower plate having an opening therein, an upper plate revoluble on the lower plate and having a series of pockets therein each to contain a can head and operative to advance such head along the upper surface of the lower plate for discharge through the opening therein, and a magazine for holding a stack of can heads which rest on the upper surface of the upper plate in the path of movement of the pockets therein.

3. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising superposed relatively rotatable members, the lower member having an opening for the discharge of heads therethrough, and the upper member having series of pockets to receive and advance heads to said opening while resting on the lower member, means for holding a stack of heads whereby the latter successively enter said pockets, and a blade adjacent to each pocket operative to separate a head Which has entered a pocket from the remainder of the stack.

4:. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising superposed relatively rotatable plates, the lower plate having a:

head discharge opening therein, and the upper plate having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the can heads and having slots therein to contain heads and to advance them toward the opening in the lower plate while the heads rest on the upper surface of the lower plate, means for holding a stack of heads whereby the lowermost heads in the stack will-successively enter the slots in the upper plate, and a blade at the edge of each slot in the upper plate and operative to separate a head which has entered the respective pocket from the remainder of the stack.

5. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a travelling carriage carrying holders for can bodies, a rail extending opposite to the path of travel of the upper ends of can bodies in said holders, means on each can body holder for advancing a head supported on said rail in unison with and above a can body, and means for applying said head to the can body.

6. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a conveyer for advancing can bodies, a rail extending above the path of travel of the upper ends of the advancing can bodies, means for advancing ahead resting on said rail in unison with and directly above the can body, and another rail arranged to engage above the head and to force it down onto the can body.

7. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a travelling holder for advancing a can body, and a rail to support a head above the can body, the can body holder having an extension thereon which projects upwardly above said rail and is operative to advance a head along it in unison and alinement above a can body in the holder.

8. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a travelling holder to contain and advance a can body in a direction laterally of its axis, a rail extending opposite the path of movement of an end of the can body to guide a head for travel there-along, and a part in fixed relation with the holder and projecting into a position relatively to the rail to engage an edge of; a head thereon and operative to advance a head along the rail in unison and alinement with a can body in the holder.

9, In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising 'a travelling holder to contain and advance a can body laterally, arail extending parallel to the path of movement of the holder for guiding a head for travel edgewise, means travelling in unison with the holder for feeding a head to said rail, and means travelling in unison with the holder and operative to advance the head along the rail while the head is in alinement with the can body in the holder. i

10. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a continuously travelling holder for advancing a can body laterally and in upright position, a support along which a head may travel in parallelism with the movement of the can body and in edgewise direction, means for guiding the can body and head to aline them transversely of their direction of movement,

and means for continuously advancing the head in unison with the can body and for registerlng the head with the can body.

11. In a can making machine, the combination of a support on which a head may rest fiatwise and travel edgewise, and a holder mounted to travel below the support and in parallelism therewith, the holder having a seat to engage the sides of a can body and thereby position it, and having an extension-which projects beyond' said support and is recessed to fit against the edge of the head and thereby advance it along said support and aline it with the can body in the holder.

7 12. In a. can making machine, the combination of a pair of laterally spaced rails adapted to support a can head fiatwise for travel edgewise thereon, a holder for a canbody mounted to travel in parallelism with saidxrails, the holder having an extension which projects upwardly between said rails to engage the edge of a head thereon and operative to advance said head in unison with a can body in the holder, and an additional pair of laterally spaced rails located beyond the rails firstmentioned and having inclined portions to engage the upper side of the head and thereby apply it to the can body.

13. In acan making machine, the combination of a conveyer carrying a series of spaced holders, and meansfor feeding can bodies to said holders by movement transversely of the length of the conveyer, each atively to the conveyer and asegmentwhich 'isvnon rotatable relatively to the conveyer and comprises more than half a cylinder which provides anopen side through which i a can body may be received laterally from the feeding means.

15. In a can making machine, the combination of a conveyer having a series or holders spaced thereon, and means for feeding can bodies laterally and to the side of the conveyer, each holder having an open side to receive a can body from the feeding means and a wing to direct the next following can body from the feeding means into the next following holder on the conveyer.

16. In a can making machine, the combination of a conveyer for rotatably supporting and advancing a can body having a. head applied thereto, and seaming members forming a passageway between them through which the head and adjacent portion of the can body are carried by the conveyer, one of said members being rotatable rela-' tively to the other member, and said members being operative to seam the head onto the can'body during the travel of the head and can body between them.

17. In a can making machine, the combination of a conveyer for rotatably supporting and advancing a can body having a head applied thereto, and a pair of eccentrically arranged seaming members spaced to receive the head and adjacent portion of the can body between them, said members converging as the can proceeds therethrough, and one of said members being rotatable relatively to the other member to cause spinning of the can body and head and seaming of the head onto the can body.

18. In a can making machine, the combination of a travelling holder embodying a rotatable bottom for revolubly supporting a can body and a body portion which positions a can body therein and exposes the upper portion of the can body and a head thereon, and spaced seaming members extending substantially in parallelism with the path of movement of the holder and adapted to receive the head and upperportion of the can body between them, one of said members being revoluble relatively to the other member and operative to effect seaming of the head onto thecan body. a

19. In a can making machine, seaming means comprising a circular revoluble seaming member, and a cooperative segmental seaming member arranged eccentrb cally of the revoluble seaming member and spaced radially therefrom a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the can head to be seamed.

20. In a can making machine, seaming means comprising a circular revoluble seaming member, a cooperative segmental seaming member, said members being relatively adjustable to bring them into the same plane, and means for adjusting the segmental seaming member in a direction radially of the circular seaming member.

21. Seaming means for can making machines and the like comprising a revoluble seaming member, and a cooperative segmental seaming member, said members presenting radially spaced complemental grooves to receive between them the edge of a can head, and adjacent ribs to effect seaming of the can head onto a can body.

22. In a can making machine, the combination of a head-applying unit, a seaming unit comprising opposed seaming members forming a passageway between them for the can heads and bodies, a flexible con- Veyer for continuously conducting can bodies to and through the head applying unit and for continuously conducting can bodies having heads applied thereto to and through the seaming unit, means for feeding can bodies to the conveyer at a point in advance of the head-applying unit, and means for removing headed can laterally from the conveyer at a point beyond the seaming unit.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a travelling conveyer having a series of holders thereon, each holder comprising a bottom to support a can body, and a portion spaced above said bottom to center a can body, and a relatively stationary ejector extending into the path of the conveyer and adapted to engage the portion of a can body exposed between the bottom and adjacent portion of the holder and to remove the can body from the holder.

24. In a can making machine, the combination of a head-applying unit, a first seaming unit capable of single seaming a bead to a can body, a second seaming unit capable of double seaming a bead to a can body, and a conveyer operative to conduct a can body into and through the headapplying unit to receive a head, then to conduct the can body and head to and through the first-seaming unit to eflect singleseaming of the head onto the can body, and then to conduct the singleseamed head and can body to and through the second seaming unit to effect doubleseaming of the head onto the can body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED W. POWVELL.