US2019493A

US2019493A - Machine for threading can covers

Info

Publication number: US2019493A
Application number: US517241A
Authority: US
Inventors: John M Hothersall
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1931-02-20
Filing date: 1931-02-20
Publication date: 1935-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 1952-11-05

Description

N 1935- J. M. HOTHERSALL MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20. 1931' INVENTOR gbb L, B

ATTORNEY NOV. 5, 1935. J, HQTHERSALL 2,019,493

MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVEgOR I Z B ATTORNEY 1935- J. M. HOTHERSALL MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR fi 2. W

ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1935. J. M. HOTHERSALL 2,019,493

MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 E g? 4 W 5/ 3 INVENTOR /C. ATTORNEY 1935; J. M. HOTHERSALL 2,019,493

MACHINE FOR'THREADING CANCOVERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A? 0 ATTORN EY .Ratented Nov. 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE MACHINE FOR THREADING CAN COVERS John M. Hothersall, BrooklymN. Y., asslgnor' to Ameri can Can Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application February 20, 1931, Serial No. 517,241 21 Claims. (Cl. 153-12).

is the provision of a threading machine for operating upon can covers or similar articles by shaping a wall of the article between internal and external threading elements.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a threading head formed with internal'and external threading elements which fit one within the other during a threading operation on a can cover.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character de-- surface of the article being threaded thus insuring more accurate threading.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure Us a plan view of a machine embodying the invention;

- Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially along the broken line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are enlarged fragmentary-central sectional views taken through the threading head and illustrating a can cover and its threading elements in diiferent positions, Fig.3 showing them in threading position, and Figs. 4 and 5 showing the can cover in two different stages of feeding into the threading elements;

' Fig. 6 is an end elevationof the upper part of the machine;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view of the can cover feed as viewed along the line in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a typical can cover illustrating the results obtained in the threading machine.

The machine disclosed in the drawings as a preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to thread articles such as can covers, caps, nozzles, necks, etc., which are provided with cylindrical sections. Can covers of the screw'neck type'are selected to exemplify the steps of operation. These can covers are fed into the machine in processional order through 5 a chute and the lowermost cover is removed from. the chute by a sliding feed device which positions it into axial alignment with a holder mandrel.

' The holder mandrel is mounted on one end of 10' a constantly rotating shaft adapted to move longitudinally to insert themandrel on the inside of the positioned can cover and to carry it into threading position. An exterior wall of a part oi' the mandrel is threaded and it is this threaded part which enters into the can cover the diameter of the threaded part being less than the diameter of the can coverpart- A spring-mounted pressure plate assists in holding the can cover during this mandrel insertion.

A chuck is mounted adjacent and substantially inline with the mandrel, being secured to a constantly rotating shaft rotatably mounted in a lever device which operates to shift the shaft and chuck bodily. This chuck is cup-shaped and provided with a pocket into which the cover and mandrel move,.the diameter of the pocket being greater than the diameter of that part of the can cover to be threaded. internal wall of the chuck is provided with threads, this constituting a threading die element. A spring-controlled knockout pad cooperates with the pressure plate to properly hold the can cover as it reaches its position within the chuck.

Rocking of the chuck shaft lever under cam action now takes place and moves the threaded part of the chuck into a position eccentric to the threaded part of the mandrel and clamps the wall of the can cover therebetw'een at a common 'point of 'tangency. The clamped cover rotates 40 ings it .will be observed that can covers l8 move by gravity down an inclined chute ll formed in a frame I! and are maintained in a single line within the chute by side plates l3 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7). The frame I! is slotted. longitudinally of the'chute to form a passage 20 for an extended neck part I4 of the can cover. The frame I2 is an integral part of a bracket I5 bolted to a bed member I5 carried on the upper end of supporting legs I1.

The bracket I5 is transversely slotted at I8 and a feed slide 2| has sliding movement therein. The feed slide 2| is provided with a pocket 22 which engages, when in retracted position, the neckpart I4 of the lowermost can cover II) as it rests in the chute I I (Fig. 2)

The slide 2| is moved within its slideway I9 and across the stack of covers in the chute, cutting out or separating the lowermost cover. To effect this movement a link 25 is pivoted at 21 to the slide 2| and pivotally connects at 28 to the end of an arm 29 mounted on a rock shaft 3!. The shaft 3| is journaled in brackets 32 (Figs. 1 and 6) projecting outwardly from the bed I5.

The shaft 3| also carries an arm 33 which is 'pivotally connected at 34 to an adjustable link 35 pivotally mounted on a crank pin 35 carried on a disc 31 secured to a longitudinal shaft 38 journaled in bearings 39 formed in the bed I5.

The shaft 38 carries a gear 4| which meshes with a pinion 42 secured to a drive shaft 43 journaled in bearings 44 formed in the side walls of the bed I5. Power is applied to rotate the shaft 43 in any suitable manner, as by means of a belt pulley 45 mounted on one end of the shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft, through the described connections, oscillates the shaft 3| and moves the slide 2| back and forth to effect removal of a can cover from the chute.

The lowermost can cover I during this movement is prevented from falling forward by an L-shaped plate 45 (Figs. 2 and '1) secured to the face of the frame I2. A slot 41 cut in the frame I2 and joining with but extending at right angles from the slot 20 provides the passageway for the neck I4 of the can cover. The can cover as thus brought into its forward position by the slide 2| and supported in the pocket 22 of the slide is between faces of the holding mandrel and the chuck.

One ofthe threading elements for the apparatus is carried on the holder mandrel which is mounted for operation above the bed member I5. This mandrel comprises a disc from which a conical stem 52 projects, the stem terminating in i a cylindrical head 53 of a diameter less than the diameter of the neck part I4 of the can cover I0 and this head is provided with exterior threading elements 54. The disc 5| is threadedly engaged on the inner end of a horizontal shaft 55 journaled for rotation and for sliding movement within bearings formed in brackets 55 projecting upwardly from the bed I5.

The mandrel disc 5| (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) carries a pressure plate 51 which is adapted to slide relative to the disc during certain movements of the mandrel. The pressure plate is mounted on the forward ends of spaced rods 58 which extend at their rear ends through spring barrels 59 threadedly secured in the disc 5|. A coil spring 50' is positioned on each rod 58 and is partially confined within its spring barrel 59. Locknuts 5| threadedly secured on one end of each rod 58 beyond the end of its spring barrel 59 limit the forward movement of the rod and determine the forward position of the plate 51 as held by the springs 50.

The can cover I0 in its forward position with the slide 2|, is in axial alignment with the shaft 55 and closely adjacent the end of the mandrel head 53 (Fig. l) and the pressure plate 51 held at gear 15 at such time.

explained. This longitudinal sliding of the shaft 5 I55 is effected in the following manner.

A collar 52 (Figs. 1 and 6) is mounted on the 'shaft 55 and is provided with a peripheral groove 53 in which rollers 54 are located, these being rotatably carried on pins secured to opposite arms of a yoke 55 mounted on a rock shaft 55 iournaled in bearings formed in brackets 51 bolted to the bed I5. The rock shaft 55 also carries an arm 58 which is connected to one end of a spring 58 held at its opposite end on a pin 1| extending from the bed I5.

The arm 58 carries a cam roller 12 which rides on the cam surface of a face cam 13 carried on the shaft 38. The spring 59 holds the roller 12 in engagement with its cam 13 and shifting movement of the arm 58 by reason of the contour of the cam is transmitted through the rock shaft 55 and the yoke 55, thereby shifting the rollers 54. the collar 52 and the shaft 55 back and forth.

This collar and roller construction permits con tinual rotation of the shaft 55 throughout its longitudinal movement. Rotation of the shaft is effected by a gear 14 (Fig. 1) secured thereto which meshes with a gear 15 carried on a horizontalshaft 16 journaled in bearings formed in brackets 80 11 projecting upwardly from the bed I5. The

shaft 16 also carries a gear 18 which meshes with the gear 42 on the drive shaft 43 (Fig. 2). The gear 42 is sufliciently wide to operate with both of the gears 18 and 4|. The gear 15 has a sufllciently wide face, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to permit the full sliding movement of the shaft 55 while maintaining geared connection between the

shafts

55 and 15 the gear 14 merely moving along the The threading chuck comprises a chuck head 8| (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) threadedly mounted on one end of a horizontal shaft 82 rotatably mounted in a sleeve 83 formed on the forward end of a duplex lever 84 which is mounted for oscillation on the shaft 15, between two of the bearings 11. An arm 85 of the lever 84 carries a pin 85 upon which is rotatably mounted a cam roller 81 which rides upon the periphery of a cam 88 secured to the shaft 38. The roller 81 is maintained in engage- 60 ment with the cam 88 by a spring 9| interposed between a pin 92 projecting from the bed I5 and an extension 93 formed on the arm 85. The contour of the cam'88 .thus determines the axial position of the chuck 8| through the controlled oscillation of the lever 84 on its pivot shaft 15.

Provision is made for constantly rotating the shaft 82 with the chuck 8| irrespective of its axial position and for this purpose the shaft The rear wall of the chuck 8| where it is joined to its shaft 82 is recessed at I05 to provide a pocket for a knockout pad I01 formed on the inner end of a knockout rod I08 which terminates in a re-, duced portion I09. The rod I08 and its extension 109 is located in and slides longitudinally of a duced portion I03 of the rod I and is confined between the junction wall of the rod I00 with its end I09 and a nut |I3 threadedly secured in an opening I I0 formed in the end of the shaft 02,, this opening communicating with the bore I I I. Locknuts II are threadedly secured-in an adjusted position on the terminal end of the knockout rod.

Prior to the longitudinal feeding movement of the shaft 55 it is in axial alignment with the shaft 32 and the knockout pad I01 at such time,under the action of the spring I I2, is forward of its recess I05, being within the open end of the pocket |0| of the chuck 0| and its. forward face being substantially flush with the face of the chuck. This flush position of the pad is maintained by the locknutsl I5 engaging the outer face of the nut I I3 and limiting the action of the spring "2 on the rod I00. The pressure plate 51 at this time is in extended or forward position of the disc, 5| as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

The shaft 55 then moves forward and the pressure plate 51 engages the can cover I0, which is supported at the time on the slide 2|, and moves the outer face of its neck part I4 into engagement with the face of the knockout pad I01. Continued movement brings the mandrel head 53 into the can cover, the springs 50 yielding to permit the relative movement between the pressure plate 51 and the disc 5| of the mandrel. The spring II2, holding the knockout pad I01 in-its forward position, is stronger than the combined springs 50 and the cover is therefore held clamped between the knockout pad I01 and the pressure plate 51 during yielding of the; springs 50. This initial entering of the mandrel head within the can cover is illustrated in Fig. 4. The slide 2| moves back out of the way as soon as the can cover is clamped between the plate 51 and the knockout pad I01.

The continued forward movement of the shaft 55 positions the mandrel head 53 fully within the neck part ll of the can cover at which time the forward face of the mandrel head engages the wall of the can cover, the pressure plate 51 at such time reaching the position illustrated in Fig. 5 wherein it is in solid contact with the disc 5|.

- Continued forward movement of the shaft 55 thereafter compresses the spring 2 and the knockout pad I 01 is forced backwardly, the cancover at such time ,being moved farther into the pocket I0| of the chuck 3|. This movement continues until the knockout pad I01 is fully seated in its recess I05 and the can cover has been moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein its neck part I 4 is fully within the chamber I02 and its outer flange is held between the face of the chuck ill and the pressure plate 51. It is now in position for threading.

The lever 80 is then oscillated .on its shaft by the'cam 88 and the center of the shaft 82 and chuck is brought into a position out of alignment or eccentric to the center of the shaft 55 and its mandrel. This clamps the wall of the cover neck part I4 between the threading elements 54 and I03, it being remembered that both mandrel and chuck are rotating constantly at the time. A common point of tangency thus obtains in the engaged part of the cover and the engaging sections of the threading elements and this tangency is maintained as the mandrel, cover and chuck rotate on their respective axes. 'A threaded surface (Fig. 8) is thus formed on the neck I0 of the can cover I 0.

The completely threaded can cover is now ready-for discharging from the threading head 1' and. the shaft 02 is shifted back into axial allsnment with the shaft 55 whichthen moves back. The. can cover held on the mandrel head 53 by the knockout pad I01 is thus carried out of the 5 7 pocket I0| of the chuck 0|, the pad I01 following the mandrel head under the action of its spring I I2 and knocking out or stripping it from the chamber I02 until stopped by the nuts 5' striking against the outerwall of the nut I|3 l0 Duringthis movement the springs 50 of the pressure plate 51 are under compression andthe pressure plate is against the disc 5|, spring 2 being much stronger than the combined springs.

80. -.In this manner the can cover clears the 15' chuck 0| but is still held between the .pad I01 and the pressure plate 51 while the disc 5| and the mandrel head 53 .continue to movebackward, the springs 50 thereupon, expanding and retaining the pressure plate in cover clamping- 20 position against the pad I01. a

The pressure plate 51 under the action of its expanding springs holds the can cover in this clamped position (Fig. 4) until the rods 58 have slid through the disc 5| and the nuts 5| strike against'the ends of the spring barrels 59 (Fig. 1) At such engagement the face of the plate 51 is then flush with the face of the mandrel head .53 and the final movement of theshaft 55 draws the plate 51 away from the can cover I0. The

engaged by the threading elements and the result is an easier and more accurate threading action. The threading element of the mandrel 0 being enclosed within the threading element of the chuck furthermore insures greater rigidity of the threading parts by. one-partsupporting the other. The can cover being spring-held by the pressure plateagainst the face of the chuck also aids in correct threading action and there is therefore not the tendency for the parts to be, moved outof alignment.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material ad- 05 vantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I 'claim: 7

- 1. In a can coverthreading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel adapted to engage 00 the interior of a can cover for a threading operation, a chuck mounted adjacent said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a thread- I ing die, means for moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the cover against said threading die, and means for rotating said mandrel, cover and chuck while the cover is against: said die to form threads in the cover.

2. In a. can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel having threads 10 r formedin its surface and adapted to engage the* interior of a can cover fora threading operation, a chuck mounted adjacent said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die, andmeans for moving the chuck bodily side- 15 wise for pressing the cover between said threading die and the threads formed on said mandrel to form threads in the cover.

3. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel mounted on a mandrel shaft and having threads formed on its sur:

face, a chuck mounted on a chuck shaft parallel.

. bodily shifting said chuck shaft while maintaining parallelism with said mandrel shaft to move said chuck and press the cover between said threading die and the threads formed on said mandrel to form threads in the cover.

4. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel mounted on a mandrel shaft and having threads formed on its surface, a chuck mounted on a chuck shaft parallel to said mandrel shaft, said chuck having an inside surface formed as a threading die, means for imparting axial movement to said mandrel shaft to insert said mandrel into the cover and move the cover into said chuck, means for bodily shifting said chuck shaft while maintaining parallelism with said mandrel shaft to move said chuck and press the cover between said threading die and the threads formed on said mandrel to form threads in the cover, and means for rotating said mandrel and said chuck during movements of their respective shafts and during the thread forming operation.

5. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel adapted toengage the interior of a can cover for a, threading operation, a chuck mounted adiacent said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die, means for moving said mandrel first into a positioned can cover and then with said cover into said chuck, and means for moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the cover against said threading die to form threads in the cover.

6. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threading operation, a pressure plate carried by said man-- drel, a chuck mountedadjacent said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die, and means for moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the cover against said threading die while holding it against said pressure plate in position on said chuck to form threads in the cover.

7. 'In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threading operation, feeding devices for positioning a cover in axial alignment with said mandrel, a chuck: mounted adjacent said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die, means for moving said mandrel to engage the positioned cover and move it into said chuck, and means for moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the cover against said threading die to form threads in the cover.

8. In a can cover threading. machine, the combination of a holder mandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threading operation, feeding devices for positioning a cover in axial alignment with said mandrel, a chuck mounted adjacent said mandrel and having an .inside surface formed as a threading die, means combination of a holder mandrel,

for moving said mandrel to engage the positioned cover and move it into said chuck and means for moving the chuck bodily sidewise for pressing the cover against said threading die while in said chuck, and means for rotating said man- '5 drel, cover and chuck to cause said threading die to traverse the circumference of the cover wall to form threads therein.

9. In a can cover threading machine, the com bination of a rotatable holder mandrel having external threads formed on its surface, a rotat-- able chuck having an inside surface formed with internal threads and adapted to extend around said mandrel, means for positioning a can cover on-said mandrel and within said chuck, and 16 means for positioning said mandrel and chuck eccentric to one another and clamping a wall of the cover between said external and internal threads of said rotating mandrel and chuck, and means for rotating the mandrel and chuck to 20 form threads in said cover wall.

10. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a rotatable holder mandrel having external threads formed on its surface, a rotatable chuck-having an inside surface formed with internal threads and adapted to extend around said mandrel, means for positioning a can cover on said mandrel and within said chuck, means for positioning said mandrel and chuck eccentric to one another and clamping a wall of the cover between said external and. internal threads of said rotating mandrel and chuck, and means for rotating the mandrel and chuck to form threads in said cover wall, and means for discharging the threaded cover from said chuck.

11. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of 'a rotatable holder mandrel having external threads formed on its surface, a rotatable chuck having an inside surface formed with internal threads, means for positioning a 40- can cover on said mandiel and within said chuck, means for positioning said mandrel and chuck eccentric to one another and clamping a wall of the cover between said external and internal threads of said rotating mandrel and chuck to form threads in said cover wall, means for discharging the threaded cover from said chuck, and means for ejecting the cover from said mandrel.

12. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a rotatable, cylindrical, holder mandrel having external threads formed on its periphery and of a diameter less than the diameter of a wall of the can. cover to be threaded,

a rotatable chuck formed with a cylindrical, in-

can cover.

13. In a can cover threading machine, the a chuck mounted adjacent thereto, means for feeding a can cover between said chuck and said mandrel, means for yieldingly supporting the can cover while moving it with said mandrel into said chuck, and threading elements carried .by said chuck and said mandrel for forming threads in g the can cover while in said chuck, and means 15 1 for moving one of said threaded parts bodily sidewise relative to the other.

14. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel, a chuck mounted adjacent thereto, means for feeding a can cover between said chuck and said mandrel, means for yieldingly supporting the can cover while moving it with said mandrel into said chuck, means for rotating said mandrel, cover and chuck, and threading elements carried by said chuck and said mandrel for forming threads in the can cover while in said chuck, and means for moving one of said threaded parts bodily sidewise relative to the other.

15. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel, a chuck mounted adjacent thereto, meansfor feeding a can cover between said chuck and said mandrel, means for yieldingly supporting the can cover while moving it with said mandrel into said chuck, threading elements carried by said chuck and said mandrel for forming threads in the can cover while in said chuck, and means associated with said yieldingsupporting means for discharging the threaded cover from said chuck.

16. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of male and female screw-threading members, means arranging said members in axial alignment and spaced relation for the reception of the cover, means for thereafter telescoping said members with the outer threading member enclosing the inner threading member and means for arranging them in relatively eccentric position to clamp said cover between the thread form- .ing surfaces, and means for rotating said members.

17. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of, a holder mandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threading operation, a chuck mounted adjacent and adapted to extend around said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die, means for moving one of said parts sidewise relative to the other, for pressing the cover against said threading die to form threads in the cover, and yielding clamping means operating at front and rear of the can cover between which the cover can slide edgewise while the mandrel is operating within the chuck and the chuck is operating on the outside of the cover.

18. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of an axially movable holder mandrel adapted to engage the interior of and support 'a 10 can cover for a threading operation, a chuck. mounted concentrically with said mandrel and having an inside surface formed as a threading die and means for moving one of said parts out of concentricity with the other, thereby pressing-the 16 cover against said threading die to form the threads in the cover.

19. In a can cover threading machine in combination, an inner threading member, a complementary outer threading member concentric with 20 said inner member before the threading action proper, means for moving said members out of concentricity during the threading action proper and means for continuously revolving said members.

20. In a can cover threading machine, the combination of a holder mandrel adapted to engage the interior of a can cover for a threading operation, a complementary threading .member mounted in axial alignment .with said mandrel, 30 and opposed yielding means adapted to engage a can cover in advance of said mandrel and member, one of said means also adapted to function as a knockout device.

21. In acan cover threading machine, the com- 85 bination of male and female threading members mounted in axial alignment with each other, means for feeding a can cover to be threaded into axial alignment with said members and opposed yielding means adapted to cooperatively 40 hold said can cover free of said members before and after the threading operation.

Q JOHN M. HOTHERSALL.