US1744661A - Can-sealing machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan.' 2l, T930. C, NELSON 1,744,661

CAN SEALINGMACHINE s snets-sneet 1 Invcnbor CARL NELSON M a 7 5 u n 3 4 i 4 Filed April 28, 1928 Jam 2l, 1930. c, NELSQN 1,744,661

CAN SEALING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll I n ven-tor OAR/ NELSON Jah. 21, :1930. c. NELSON "1,744,561

CAN SEALING Inclusa Filed April 2s. 192e s sheets-snm s F59 s f@ 55 l A tornejs Patented Jan.' 21, 1930 UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE CARL NELSON, OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO NORTHWESTERN STEEL & IRON WORKS, 0F EAU CLAIRE, -WISCC)1\`|'SI1\1', A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN CAN-SEALING MACHINE Application led April 28, 1928. Serial No. 273,648.

My invention relates generally to machines for sealing or seaming the covers of preserving cans,.and particularly to devices of this kind that areA adapted for operation by hand, being applicable to a table or bench in the home and easily operated to seal or seam the cover of a can containing fruit, vegetables or other food to be preserved.

The primaryobject of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive apparatus which can he easily and quickly set up for use and as readily taken down and stored away when the preserving season is completed.

A further object is to provide a hand operated can sealing or seaming machine which can be manipulated with little eiort on the part of the operator.

A further object is'to provide a sealing or seaming machine by means of which cans of different sizes can he hermetically closed and their contents preserved.

A further object is to provide a can-sealing or seaming machine, comprising upper and lower chuck plates, having means for moving them towards and away from each other to clamp the can therebetween, and

the lower chuck plate having a series of annular grooves in the upper face thereof, each adapted to receive the bottom flange of a certain sized can, and the widths of these grooves being such as to substantially fit the flanges on the bottoms of the cans, and a portion of the upper surface of the lower chuck plate being cutaway to provide clearance for the usual seam provided in the wall of the can and which seam causes that portion of the lower can flange to be in alinement with the seam, to be slightly thicker than the remainder of the flange, so that when the can is placed upon the chuck plate The invention consists generally of various` Y 'Figure 4 is a similar view showing another position of the rollers or another step in the sealing operation;

Figure 5 1s a sectional view on the line Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view showing a portion of the lower chuck plate and the position of the can thereon;

Figure 7 is a plan view of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of an unsealed can.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, 2 represents the base of the frame having suitable jaws 3 and supporting thumb screws 4 by means of -which the frame may be securely clamped in an upright position on the edge of a table, bench or other suitable support.

The frame includes the base 2, a pair of upright standards 5 and a suitable header 6 here shown connecting together the upper ends of the uprights 5. rlhe header is secured to the uprights by suitable screws 7. The removal of these screws permits separation of the working parts of the machine e from the frame.

The base 2 has a shaft 8 extending horizontally through the middle portion thereof and provided withan operating handle 9.

LN ear one end of the shaft within the orifice inthe base, an eccentric 10 is formed thereon, opposite a bore which extends upwardly through a boss 12 formed on the middle portion of the base. This bore is adapted to receive a stud 13 which depends from the under side of a chuck plate 14. The stud is preferably provided'with a fiat face -15 on one side adapted to be engaged by a clamping screw The chuck plate 14 is adapted to support the can 18 to be sealed or seamed. To prevent relative rotation of the can upon the chuck plate 14, the upper surface of the latter is provided with a series of annular grooves A, B, and C, each adapted to receive the bottom flange of a certain sized can, (see Figures 6 and 7). The width of each of the grooves A,

B, and C is such as to substantially fit the thickness of the depending rib or flange formed at the bottom of the can to be seated therein. The depth of each groove is also preferably equal to the depth of the can flange to be fitted therein, so that when a can is seated upon the chuck plate, it will be supported upon the top surface thereof and also in the bottom of one of the grooves. The upper corners of each groove are chamfered, as indicated at D, in Figure 6, so that the grooves are substantially 'tapered downwardly, thus securely holding the can llan'ge when inserted therein. A portion of the upper surface of the chuck plate 14 is also cut away as indicated at E in Figures 2 and 7.

Preserving cans usually have their bottoms secured thereto when they are manufactured, and are supplied to the user with the covers detached. In constructing the can, a seam F is provided in the wall thereof because of the edges of the material from which the can is formed, being overlapped and suitably secured together by such means as solder. When the bottom of the can is secured to the can body, a depending rib or flange G is formed on the can, 'as shown in Figures 6 and 8, and the portion of this flange in alinement with the seam F will be slightly thicker than the remainder of the flange as indicated at H in Figure 8, because of the ,overlapping of I the edges of the materialfrom which the can body is formed. Consequently, this thicker portion H of the lower flange G of the can will not enter the grooves A, B, and C. When the can to be sealed is mounted upon the chuck plate 14, the seam F isy positioned over the cut away portion in the chuck plate, as indicated in Figures 1 and 7, so that the thicker portion H of the depending can flange G will also be seated over the cut away portion E. Thus, it will be seen that the can cannot be relatively rotated uponl the chuck plate 14 because of the thicker portionH of the flange G engaging the end of its complementary groove, as shown in Figure 7 thereably formed around the orilice in the header- 6. When this crank is turned, the shaft 19 will be revolved. An eXteriorly threaded sleeve 23 is provided and has a' flange 24 at its upper end that is secured to the header 6 by suitable means such as bolts 25. A crosshead 26 is securely fastened to the lower portion of the shaft by suitable means such as a pin 27. A plate 28 is secured to the under side of this cross-head and a similar plate 29 is rotatably mounted on the lower end of the shaft and provided with an annular groove t0 receive a correspondingly shaped flange 30 formed on said shaft. Bearing' balls or rollers 31 are interposed between the plates 28 and 29 to take the thrust. An upper chuck plate 32 is secured to the under side of the plate 29 between which and the lower chuck plate 14 the can to be sealed is securely held against rotation. With this construction the plate 28 and the cross-head are free to rotate with the shaft 19, while the upper chuck plate is frictionally held against rotation through its engagement with the top of the can, the lower chuck plate being securely held againstrotation by the screw 16.

Between the cross-head and the lower end of the exteriorly` threaded sleevev23 I prefer to provide a thrust bearing 33. Above this thrust bearing on thesleeve 23 is a cam 34, adapted for rotation with the cross-head 26 because of its connection therewith by a suitable pin 35, on which the cam is free to slide vertically. The cross-head will of course revolve with the shaft as the crank is operated and the sleeve 23 being stationary, the cam will move up and down thereon according to the direction of the revolution of the crank. The peripheral surface of the cam is provided `with cam faces 36 and 37, and links 38 and 39 have wheels 40 at their upper ends ada ted to be engaged by these cam surfaces.

S anks 41 and 42 are adapted to fit within slots 43, longitudinally formed in the crosshead, and said Shanks are provided near the middle portion thereof with ears 44. The cross-head 0n each side of the slots 43 has a series of holes 45 adapted to receive pins 46. Corresponding holes are provided in the ears 44 and the lower ends of the links 38 and39 also adapted to receive the pins 46, thereby supporting the Shanks in the slots of the cross head. The upper end's of the Shanks extend to a point opposite the upper ends of the links 38 and 39 and have adjusting screws 47 mounted therein and adapted to bear on the links 38 and 39, so that'relative adjustment is permitted and the angle of the shanks with Shanks 41 and 42 in succession to perform the 'desired' sealing or seaming operation to the can, held between the chuck plates.

The series: of holes 45 in the cross head allows horizontal adjustmenty ofthe links 38 to adapt the sealing machine for cans of different diameters and sizes. The upper chuck plate 32 is demountably secured to the plate 29 So that it may readily be removed and another one substituted therefor, depending upon the size of the can.

The lower ends of the Shanks 41 and 42`have threaded extensions 48 and lock nuts 49 by means of which suitable seaming rollers 50 and 51\are removably mounted on said Shanks,

said rollers being substantially cylindrical in form and provided with annular grooves Y 52 and 53, respectively, which are adapted toengage the projecting edge of the can cover 54 and roll and seam it around and under the flanged edge 55 of the top of the can, the annular grooves having surfaces adapted through the rocking movement of the Shanks 41 and 42, to' perform the rolling and seaming operation quickly and effectually, as the can j is securely held, and the crosshead rotated by the operation of' the crank. The rollers are capable of adjustment on the Shanks so that their position may be changed with respect to the edge of the can cover until the annular grooves are in the proper position to engage the edge of the cover and roll it in the proper mannerto seal the can.

Any' adjustment-of the Shanks and their connections made necessary by the sealing of cans of dierent sizes, can be easily and quickly obtained by the provision of the adjusting screws 47, the adjustable 'mounting of the shanks in the cross head, and the manner of supporting the seaming rollers on the lower ends of the Shanks.

- tionof the filled can between them; the cover To use the device, the frame is clamped in an upright position to a suitable support.

'The chuck plates are then separated the desired distance to allow the convenient inserroller 51and actuated first by the cam surface36, will perform the initial folding operation for the edge of the cover. The second roller'51 following the first one and /ctuated by'itS cam surface, will complete the/seaming andsealing operation folding the edge of the cover'snugly under and against the projecting edge of the cam'wall, and thereby effectually Sealing the can and its contents. When this has been done, the rollers 'are separated, the

can released from between the chuck plates andthe operation described may then be repeated.

In various-ways the details ofV construction herein shown and described may be modified and IStill'be'within the scope of my invention. I claim as my invention f 1.' A machine ofthe class described, compris-ing a frame, chuck plates mounted in said frame adapted to support the can to be sealed, a Shaft mounted in said frame, a cross head secured thereon, Shanks mounted for horizontal adjustment on vsaid cross head, rollers carried by said Shanks and having Surfaces to engage the peripheral-edge of the can cover, and means actuated through the I with the edge of the can cover.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising a frame, upper and lower `chuck plates mounted in said fra-me between which the can to be sealed is held, a shaft vertically mounted in said frame, an operating crank on the upper end of said shaft, an externally threaded sleeve mounted on said shaft and having a flanged upper end secured to said frame, a cam mounted on said sleeve for vertical and rotary movement, roller supporting shanks and rollers thereon to engage the edge of the can cover, means actuated by said caln for oscillating said Shanks, and means supporting said Shanks on Said shaft for rotary movement with Said cam.

3. A machine of the class described, comprising a frame having means for temporarily securing it to a horizontal supoprt, upper and lower chuck plates mounted in said frame ybetween which the can to be Sealed iS held, a

vsaid Shanks successively toperform the initial and'nal seamingoperation to the can cover. i 4. The combination with a frame, having 'means for 'holding a can tofbe seamed, of 4a shaft mounted fin Said framefand provided .with means for operating it, a' mem-ber secured to the Shaft,shanks pivotally supported on Said member and adapted for horizontal revolution of Said .shaft for oscillating Said izo C to perform the final initial and seaming'oper- Aationof the can cover. I

6. A machine for applying'covers to cans, v comprising 'a frame, a rotary .cross Shanks pivotally mounted therein'and having rollers at their lower ends provided with peripheral grooves adapted to engage the can Y cover and roll'it downwardly to seal it to the can, chuck plates mountedlin the frame and between which the can to lbe sealed is placed, one of said chuck'plates being nonrotatable and having an annular groove l Jadapted to receive the depending flange formed at the bottom of the can, said groove being adapted to prevent the can from relatively rotating upon said chuck plate, when the machine is operated. l. Y

7. A machine for 'applying covers to cans, comprising. a frame, a rotary cross head,

` Shanks pivotally mounted therein and having rollers'at their lower ends provided with peripheral grooves adapted tol engagekthe can cover and roll it downwardly to seal. it to the can, chuck plates mounted in the frame and between which thev can to be sealed isv placed, one` of said chuck plates being nonrotatable and having annular grooves in the,

top surface thereof each'adapted to receive the depending flange formed at the bottom of a can ,cfa corresponding diameter, saidl grooves being tapered downwardly to grip the cam ange and adapted to prevent the cam from relatively rotating upon said chuck plate,j,when the machine-is operated.

8. A machine for applying can covers to cans, comprising spaced chuck plates between which the can to be sealed is placed, rotatable means adjacent to one of said chuck plates for engaging and sealing the cover to the can, the .other chuck plate bein lnonrotatable and' having a plurality of annular grooves in the surface thereof, tapered down v wardly, and each of which is adapted to receive the depending flange of a. can of correand also because of the taper of said grooves. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of April, 1928.

CARL NELsoN. 70

sponding diameter and having a seam in the l, wall thereof,-and a portion of the surface of said grooved chuck plate being removed to provide clearance for the seamed portion of the can, said grooves preventing relative rotation of the can upon the grooved chuck plate because of the inability of the seamed portion of the can flange to lenter said grooves lao CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. y

Patent No.` 1,744,661. Granted January 21, ,1930, to

` CARIJ NELsoN.

It`` ishereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to "Northwestern Steel 8i Iron Works, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, av Corporation of Wisconsin", whereas said patent should have been issued to "National Pressure Cooker Company, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a Corporation of Wisconsin", said corporation being assignee of the entire -interest in said invention, as "shown by l the l'eCOl'dS 0f aSSigl'lnlents in this office; and that the said Letters Phtent should 'be read with this correction therein that he same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. 5

signed and sensa this 4th day of Marien, A. D. 1930.

M. J. iMoore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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