US1941972A - Double seamer - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1934. w CAMERON 1,941,972

DOUBLE SEAMER Filed Dec. 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l fax/en??? MW% W Jan. 2, 1934. w CAMERON 1,941,972

DOUBLE SEAMER Filed Dec. 11, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fzzz/e zZzam @77287072 Jan. 2, 1934.

Y W. CAMERON DOUBLE SEAMER 5 Sheets-Shet 4 Filed Dec. 11, 1951 @WALWW, WWW

Jan. 2, 1934. w CAMERQN 1,941,972

DOUBLE SEAMER Filed Dec. 11. 193,1 5 SheetsP-Sheet 5 i'l A fizz/e72??? 96 ZflzZZzt tm Cameron Patented Jan. 2, 1934 PATENT OFFICE DOUBLE SEAMER William Cameron, Chicago, Ill. assignor to Cameron Can Machinery 00., Chicago, Ill, 11. corporation of Illinois Application December 11, 1931 Serial No. 580,262

7 Claims.

This invention relates to seaming machines for securing can ends or heads to can bodies. One type of machine of this character employs a rotating head which carries tools or dies for seaming the peripheral edge of a can end to the outwardly flanged end of the can body, the dies being so shaped as to form a double seam and being actuated toward and from the can body by the differential action between the speeds of rotation of a head to which the cam arms are pivoted, and a second rotary cam member.

It is to this type of machine that is known as a double seamer that this invention relates and moreparticularly to a single head machine in which only one can is operated upon at a time, although it will be manifest that this invention will be applicable to multi-head machines.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a machine of the foregoing type which provides for greater speed and accuracy and. which is semiautomatic in its operation, that is, the dies must be set manually into operative position but are thereafter automatically maintained in operative position until the seaming is completedwhen the dies are immediately and automatically returned to inoperative position and the table lowered to permit removal of the can; and which further provides for resumption of operation at any time without the necessity of waiting for a predetermined position or relation of the parts to be reached.

In accordance with thisinvention a continuously rotating head is employed and electrical means are provided for automatically returning the dies to inoperative position and lowering the can table immediately at the completion of setting the machine for immediate resumption of the seaming operation at any time regardless of the immediate position of the head. Means are also provided to facilitate placing the can and guiding the can to operative position to have the end seamed thereto.

Other novel features and their resultant advantages will be apparent from the following description given in connection with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a double seamer constructed in accordance with this invention, the head guard being omitted, and a portion of the main standardor support being broken away to show the interior mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine, the head guard being again omitted and certain parts being shown in section to illustrate the interior construction,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the main pedestal taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating the table trip mechanism,

Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of the head of the machine taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 illustrating the head and cam driving mechanism,

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 illustrating primarily the forming rolls or dies,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal transverse section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 immediately above the two cams,

Fig. '7 is a detail of the clutch for connecting the drive to produce a differential cam action,

Fig. 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5 illustrating the construction of one of the arms and forming dies,

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of one of the forming die arms showing the actuating mechanism extending through the head, and

Fig. 10 is an electrical diagram showing the connections to the automatic electrical apparatus.

The entire machine is supported upon a hol low pedestal 1 generally rectangular in cross section, and in the upper end of which is journalled a main driving shaft 2 in spaced bearings 3 and 4. At its outer end shaft 2 carries a pulley 5 by means of which power may be applied to the shaft through a suitable clutch 6 operated by clutch lever 7. The inner end of the shaft carries a bevel pinion gear 8 having an elongated 8 hub 9 which serves as a bearing for the shaft, being keyed thereto for rotation with the shaft. The inner end of shaft 2 also carries a relatively smaller bevel pinion gear 11 mounted for rotation on the shaft and being provided with a series of radial clutch teeth 12 upon its inner face adapted to be engaged by a similarly toothed clutch finger 13 slidingly mounted within the hub 9 of gear 8 and selectively movable into and I out of engagement with clutch teeth 12 to cause either one or both gears 8 and 11 to be positively driven for reasons which will hereinafter appear.

Clutch finger 13 is normally maintained in disengaged position by a pair of springs 14 positioned in sockets formed in hub 9, and engag- 10 ing a collar 16 secured to the outer end of finger 13. Collar 16 is moved against the action of springs 14 to engage clutch finger 13 by a pair of arms 1'7 carrying rollers 18 at their upper end and being pivoted on a pivot 19 at their lower 5 ends. Also secured to pivot 19 is an upwardly extending arcuate arm 21 to the upper end of which is pivotally connected one end of a pair of toggle links 22, the other ends of which are connected to one end of a cooperating toggle link 23 also pivoted at 24 to arm 1'7 intermediate the ends of the latter. Toggle links 22 and 23 are actuated by a rod 26 which extends downwardly through the interior of the pedestal and is operated by means later to be described.

Also secured in the upper end of the pedestal is a stationary tubular vertical shaft 30 upon which is Journalled a rotary head 31 upon bushings 32 and a thrust bearing 33. The head carries a ring gear 34 which engages pinion gear 11 and is driven thereby when clutch 13 is engaged. Journalled on the head for rotation thereon is a rotary member comprising a larger ring gear 36 to the hub of which is secured for rotation therewith three ring cams 37, 38, and 39. Ring gear 36 engages pinion 8 and is driven thereby. The hub portion of ring gear 36 is provided with two or more sockets to receive springs 41 which engage friction plates 42 and urge them into contact with the upper face of head 31 whereby head 31 is frictionally driven by ring gear 36 through gear 8 when gear 11 is disengaged from shaft 2 by retraction of clutch finger 13.

The seaming dies, two being used in the illustrated machine, are actuated through a pair of levers 43 pivoted at one end upon studs 44 secured to head 31 adjacent the periphery thereof. The free ends of the levers project inwardly toward the center of the head and carry rollers 46 thereon which travel in a cam groove 47 formed in the cam plate 48 secured to the underside of the head, the cam groove being shaped in accordance with the contour of the can end intended to be seamed. Pivoted to levers 43 are operating levers 49, the inner ends of which carry dies 51 shape to seam the can end to the can body. Also journalled in the head 31 are two rocker shafts 52 which pass through the head and carry at their lower ends upon one side of the head, arms 53 which engage adjustable cam dogs 54 secured to the outer end of levers 49 to move levers 49 relatively to levers 43. The upper end of rocker shaft 52 carries a pair of cam arms 56 which lie on the upper surface of the head, one of which engages cam 37 and the other of which engages cam 38.

From the foregoing it will be seen that rollers 46 through cam groove 47 move levers 43 and 49 and die 51 into proximity to the can top and cause it to follow the contour thereof, whereas levers 49 with dies 51 thereon are moved relatively to levers 43 to curl the edge of the can end and seam the latter to the can body by engagement of cam arms 56 with cams 37 and 38. The seaming is caused by a differential action that is a difference in speed of rotation between the head and the cam rings, that is, cams 37 and 38 rotate relatively to the head and move dies 51 inwardly against the can end and body when pinion 11 is engaged by clutch pin 13. When pinion 11 is disengaged from the head the cams will be driven through friction plates 42, the cams and head being driven at the same speed. The movement of the die members 51 through the differential action between the cams and head is old and well understood in the art and will not be described in greater detail.

To facilitate placing the can bodies and ends in position to be operated upon, and to guide the can bodies and ends on the table into position without necessitating the operator placing his hand in proximity to the dies, a sliding template 59 is employed, the latter being slidable vertically into lowered position as shown in Fig. 4 upon guide pins 61 and 62 projecting from cam plate 48. The template is normally urged to lowered position by spring 63 and is limited in its downward movement by rod 64 which extends up through the center of the hollow stationary shaft 30. In lowered position the operator has full view of the template and can readily place the can body and end in proper position.

A table 66 is arranged beneath the head to carry the can bodies and ends into operative position and for this reason is mounted upon a sliding rod 67 guided for reciprocating movements in a bearing 68 projec ing forwardly from pedestal 1. A yoke collar 69 is secured to the lower end' of rod 67 but held against axial movement by collars 71 and 72. a pair of pins 73 carried at the outer end of the yoke lever 74, the latter being secured intermediate its ends to a rocking shaft 76 journalled in pedestal 1 for rocking movements therewith. The inner end of lever 74 (Figs. 1 and 3) is bifurcated and terminates in a clevis carrying a pin which engages in a slot 77 in a socket 78 connected to the lower threaded end of rod 26. Slot 77 provides for a certain amount of lost motion which may be regulated through the means of adjusting set screw 79.

It can be seen from the foregoing that when yoke lever 74 is rocked in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) about its shaft 76, rod 67 and table 66 will be raised to move a can thereon into engagement with template 59 which will guide the can and end into operative position. At the same time rod 26 is pulled downwardly against the action of spring 81 and straightens links 22 and 23 thereby swinging lever 17 to the left to cause engagement of clutch pin 13 whereby the cams and head are driven at different speeds. Lever 74 is latched in its operative position in which the outer end is raised by means of a latch lever 82 which engages a latch arm 83 also secured to shaft 76 and extending between the arms of the inner bifurcated end of lever 74. Lever 82 extends downwardly through the bifurcated inner end of lever 74 and is connected to the plunger 84 of a solenoid 86 by means of which the latch may be tripped to permit counterclockwise rotation of yoke lever 74 (Fig. 1) whereby table 66 is lowered and rod 26 is raised thus breaking the toggle links to disengage clutch pin 13.

Lever 74 is raised by a cam arm 87 secured to a shaft 88 journalled in bearings 89 projecting forwardly from the pedestal. A foot lever 91 is also secured to shaft 88 whereby shaft 88 and arm 87 may be rocked to cause the high point 92 to engage a cam roller 93 carried by arm 74 and thereby raise the arm into full operative position, at which time clutch pin 13 is engaged. The cam arm 87 also carries a low point or recess 94 at which point lever 74 is raised high enough to place the can and cover inoperative position but not high enough to straighten toggle links 22 and 23 to cause pin 13 to engage gear 11.

The machine is arranged to automatically disengage clutch finger 13 immediately upon a complete seaming operation, that is, after the head has rotated a sufllcient number of turns, at which there will be a differential action of one complete rotation of the cam gear. For this purpose, the third cam ring 39 is provided with a high point 95 which actuates a spring pressed plunger 96 to engage switch contact 97 to energize solenoid 86 to trip latch lever 82, resulting in disengagement of clutch finger 13. The high point 95 is, of course, timed to cause energization of solenoid The yoke collar is engaged by- 86 after a difierence of one rotation between the head and the cams has occurred, that is, after the dies have completed the seaming operation.

The circuit for energizing and de-energizing the solenoid at proper periods includes a switch member 97 which is mounted upon the head for rotation therewith but insulated therefrom and which is grounded when contacted by plunger 96 when actuated by cam 39. Switch contact 9'7 is connected by wire 98 to a contact ring 99 carried by but insulated from the upper end of head 31 engaged by brush 100 and connected by wire 101 to the energizing coil 102 of the low voltage relay. The other side of the coil is connected by wire 103 to one end of the secondary of the transformer 104, the other end of the secondary being grounded to the frame of the machine to complete the circuit, the circuit being grounded by plunger 96. The primary of the transformer is coimected by wires 105 and 106 to any suitable source of current through any standard cut-out 107 and switch 108. The relay controls a pair of contacts 109 which in turn control the current supply to relay 86. One end of the relay is connected by wire 110 to the source through wire 105 and the other end is connected to the other side of the supply by wire 111, contacts 109 and wire 112 which connects with wire 106.

, From the foregoing description of the circuit, it will be seen that when switch contact 97 is grounded through plunger 96, the relay will be energized through wire 98, ring 99, brush 100, wire 101, wire 103 and transformer secondary 104. The energization of the relay causes energization of the solenoid 86 through wire 110, wire 111, contacts 109 and wire 112. Energization of the solenoid trips the latch lever 82 which causes both head and cam rings to be driven from gear 36 with the result that there is no diiferential action between the head and cams and no seaming action of the rollers.

The operation of the machine is believed to be obvious from the foregoing description and will, therefore, be only briefly summarized.

The operator throws clutch lever 'I to apply power to the machine, places a can and can end to be seamed thereto upon the table 66 and depresses foot lever 91 until cam roller 93 is engaged by the lower portion 94 of the cam arm 8'7. During the upward movement of the table caused by the depression of the foot lever, the can cover engages template 59 which is in downward position and if the can has not been accurately placed, it can readily be adjusted prior to inward movement of rollers 51. When the cam roller rests in the portion 94 of the cam arm, the can will be in position with the template pushed upwardly into retracted position. The lowered template permits the operator to see the exact position of the can and accurately locate it before it projects up into the space between the rollers. Foot lever 91 is then depressed to its full extent which causes roller rod 26 to cause clutch pin 13 into engagement with gear 11. Engagement of clutch pin 13 causes a differential action between gear 36 carrying cams 36, 33 and 39 and head 31. After the head has made a suflicient number of revolutions to result in a difference of one revolution in rotation between the head and cams, the high point 95 of cam ring 39 engages plunger 96 which closes the circuit which energizes the relay and consequently solenoid 86. This trips latch lever 82 which has moved into latching engagement upon downward movement of the inner end of lever '14, permits raising of rod 26 under action of spring 81 andlowers the table. As soon as a new can has been inserted in place the cycle may be repeated.

It is obvious from the foregoing description that the machine is fully automatic to release the seamed can after which it may be started at any point without waiting for a predetermined position of the head or any particular relation to occur between the cam rings and head although the head is continuously rotated which eliminates the starting and stopping of the massive parts of the machine.

Many minor changes in the construction will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a can end seaming machine, a rotary head, seaming dies carried by said head, a rotary member for moving said dies into and out of operative position, driving means including a selectively operable clutch for rotating said head and rotary member in unison or independently, a latch for holding said clutch in one position, electro-magnetic means for releasing 100 said latch, and means carried by said members and automatically operable to energize said latter means after said head has made one revolution relatively to said rotary member.

2. In a can end seaming machine, a rotary 105 head, seaming dies carried by said head, a ro- ,tary member for moving said dies into and out of operative position, driving means including a selectively operable clutch for rotating said head and rotary member in unison or independno ently, toggle links arranged to actuate said clutch, a latch for holding said links in one position, electro-magnetic means for releasing said latch and means for energizing said latter means upon predetermined relative movement between said head and said rotary member.

3. In a can end seaming machine, a rotary head, seaming dies carried by said head, a rotary member for moving said dies into and out of operative position, driving means for ro- 12o tating said head, means selectively operable for driving said rotary member at a speed differing from said head, an electric circuit including a switch for controlling said selective means, and

a cam carried by said rotary member arranged to open and close said switch upon predetermined relative movement between said head and said rotary member.

4. In a canend seaming machine, a rotary head, seaming dies carried by said head, a rotary member for moving said dies into and out of operative position, driving means including a selectively operable clutch for rotating said head and rotary member in unison or independently, and a template for supporting the can end while being seamed, said template being movable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said head from a position below the seaming dies to operative position adjacent said dies.

5. In a can end seaming machine, a rotary head, seaming dies carried by said head, a rotary member for moving said dies into and out of operative position, driving means for rotating said head, a selectively operable clutch for driving said rotary member at a speed differing from said head, toggle links connected to and arranged to operate said clutch, electro-magnetic means controlling said toggle links, an electric circuit including a switch for controlling said electro-magnetic means, and means carried said head, means selectively operable for driving said rotary member at a speed diiiering from said head, and an electric circuit including a switch mounted on said head, and means on said rotary member for actuating said switch upon predetermined relative movement between said head and said rotary member.

7. In a can end seaming machine. a pair of rotary members, seaming dies carried by one of said members, means for moving said dies into and out of operative position carried by the other of said members, driving means for rotating one oi! said members, means selectively operable for driving the other or said members at a speed differing from said first member, and an electric circuit including a switch mounted on one of said members for controlling said selective means, and means carried by the other of said members for actuating said switch upon predetermined relative movement between said members.

WILLIAM CAMERON.

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