US235428A - Can-soldering machine - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS H. HAMILTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CAN-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,428, dated December 14, 1880.

Application filed October 5, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. HAMILTON, of Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (Jan-Soldering Machines; and I hereby declare the same to be fully, clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the clampingdevice; and Fig.3 is a top plan of the same.

My invention relates to devices for soldering the side seams of square cans such as are commonly used for containing raw oysters.

In this class of cans a rectangular wall-blank is cut out and is bent four times at right angles, the end edges of the blank being caused to overlap slightly to form the side seam. The other edges of the blank are bent inward at right angles, forming a flange at each end, against which the heads rest. Inasmuch as thesecans are made of a standard size, (about six inches by four anda half by one and threequarters,) and the packing-cases are made to contain a particular number of them, it is a desideratum', or rather a practical necessity, that the cans be uniform in size, as the result of any irregularity would be to prevent the complement of cans being packed in the case properly.

My invention is designed to provide a machine for soldering the longitudinal seam, which shall so clamp the cans, preparatory to soldering, that they are of absolutely uniform size, so far, at least, as diameter is concerned.

Uniformityas to length necessarily results from the mode of cutting the blank. p

- In the accompanying drawings, A is a standard, rigidly secured upon the support B, and on it is mounted a wheel, 0, which carries a numberof uprights, D, preferably four. From the upper end of the upright D projects horizontally a rectangular plate, F, which is accurately of the size of the smaller sides of the can.

E is a bearing, in which is pivoted a lever, G, to the outer end of which, at a, the clamp and guide H is secured. This latter. has a beveled lip, 72, and a clamping lip .or face, h,

and to either end is secured a spring-clamp, t, having a curved end, 1', as shown, To the (No model.)

inner end of the lever is attached a rod, b, terminating below the wheel 0 in a disk, d. A rod, f, also terminating in a disk, 6, projects upward through the support B, and at its lower end carries a treadle. A spring, connects the outer end of the lever G with the wheel 0, normally holding the lever down, as shown. A little cup, g, for the solder, is conveniently secured near the can L when in place on the plate F.

It will be understood that in Fig. 1 I have shown but a single clamping mechanism, as above described, and have shown the wheel G as broken away at the right of the standard.

In practice four of the clamps are carried by a single wheel; but as they are all alike I .have considered it necessary to show but one.

In practice the blank being cut is bent, as indicated, four times at right angles, one of the small sides, m, of the can being at one edge of the blank and being of full width-that is, wide enough to abut against the larger side a of the can when the blank is clamped upon the gageplate F. The edge of the larger side is turned over to form a flange, I, about a quarter of an inch wide, or rather less, which lies on the small side m, as shown in Fig. 2. The blank being so formed the operator stands on the side of the machine oppositethe rod f and its treadle and revolves the wheel 0 until one of the clamps comes in front of him. In this position the disk d comes under the disk 0, and as the treadle is depressed the lever G, clamp H, and spring-clamps t are raised. The blank is then slid over the plate F, and the clamps are allowed to descend, being drawn down by the spring I. It will be seen that as the beveled lip h on one side and the spring-clamp i on the other come to bear on the can blank the larger sides of the same are pressed against the plate F, which accurately gages the side of the can. Finally the lip h comes down on the seam very near to its edge, as shown in Fig. 2, and the clamping is complete. The operator then throws a little powdered rosin on the seam, revolves the wheel a quarter of a turn, and proceeds to clamp a second one. Pending the clamping of the second or subsequent can, another operator 011 the other side of the machine throws a lump of solder on the seam of the can-blank first clamped, and runs the iron along the same, melting the solder and securing the seam. In this operation the iron rests against the side of the clamp II, which directs the edge of the iron fairly on the seam, and serves as a gage in running the iron back and forth. As the soldered can comes around to the first operator he releases the clamp, removes the can, and applies another bent blank, as above described.

The clamps H and 2' serve to hold the can with a yielding pressure and bring the tin close]; against the plate F, a result which could not conveniently be attained were the parts rigid.

'hat I claim is- 1. In combination with the gageplate and pivoted lever, the clamping plate H, and springs i t, as set forth.

2. In combination with the gage-plate, the clamping-plate having lipshh', and the springs 20 i i, as set forth.

3. In combination with the plate F, the clamp H, springs i I, and lever G, and meehanism for operating the latter, as set forth.

4. In combination, with the revolving table 25 C, the clamping mechanism, consisting of the plate F, clamp H, springs i I, lever G, rods b f, and disks d e, as set forth.

THOS. H. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

S. D. WILLIAMS, J N0. '1. Mumox.

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