US2523350A

US2523350A - Machine for deoxidizing marginal edge portions of metallic sheets

Info

Publication number: US2523350A
Application number: US466955A
Authority: US
Inventors: Custis S Woolford
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1942-11-25
Filing date: 1942-11-25
Publication date: 1950-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1967-09-26

Description

C. S. WOOLFORD MACHINE FOR DEOXIDIZING MARGINAL EDGE Sept. 26, 1950 PORTIONS 0F' METALLIC SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1942 IN VEN TOR.

A *f TOENKS Sept. 26, 1950 c. s. wooLFoRD 2,523,350

MACHINE FOR DEOXIDIZING MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF' METALLIC SHEETS Filed Nov. 25, 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 26, 1950 c. s. wooLFoRD 2,523,350

MACHINE Foa DEoxDIzING MARGINAL EDGE PoRTIoNs 0F METALLIC SHEETS Filed Nov. 25. 1942 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR.

A T TOENEYS Sept. 26, 1950 c. s. wooLFoRD 2,523,350

MACHINE FOR DEOXIDIZING MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS 0F METALLIC SHEETS A TTONEYS Sept. 26, 1950 c. s. wooLFoRD 2,523,350

MACHINE FOR DEoxIDIzING MARGINAL EDGE PoRTroNs oF METALLIC SHEETS Filed Nov. 25, 1942 s sheets-sheet 5 Sept. 26, 1950 c. s. wooLFoRD MACHINE FOR DEOXIDIZING MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS 0F' METALLIC SHEETS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed NOV. 25, 1942 Patented Sept. 26,

MACHINE FOR DEOX-IDIZING MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF METALLIC SHEETS Cust S. Woolfordfsouth Orange, N. J., assigner to American Can- Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey ApplicaumNovember 25, 1942, serial No. 466,955

8`Claims. l

The present invention relates to a machine for treating metallic sheet material with a deoxidizin'g medium and has particular reference to nozzle devices for coniining the treatment to predetermined portions of the material.

In manufacturing sheet metal containers from untinned steel or iron blanks, usually referred to as black plate blanks, it has been found expedient to deoxidize the black plate blanks before attempting to solder or weld them to produce joints or seams. When making certain kinds of cans it is customary to solder or weld only the side seams, hence it is necessary to deoXidize only the side seam areas of such a blank. Such a treatment of certain portions of a blank is usually effected by flowing a stream of liquid deoxidizing medium over the surfaces to be soldered. However, this iiowing action sometimes splashes the deoxidizing medium onto other portions of a blank and thus mars or defaces it.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this diiculty by providing devices for controlling the now of fluids against the surfaces of a sheet metal blank to be deoxidized so that the fluids will be conned to a predetermined area of the blank and so that the splashing of the iluids onto other portions of the blank will be prevented.

An object therefor of the invention is the provision, in a machine for flowing a liquid deoxidizing medium over a portion of metallic sheets or blanks, of anti-splash devices for directing the liquid against only the portions of the blanks to be deoxidized, from a place within the boundaries of the blanks and such liquid is directed at an angle to the surfaces of the blanks and outwardly toward and across their boundary edges so that the liquid is prevented from splashing back onto other surface portions of the blanks. v

Another object is the provision of such antisplash devices which are adapted t o flowing different kinds of iiuids onto the surfaces of the blanks so that the same type of device may be used for deoxdizing, washing, and drying the portions of the blanks to be treated.

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

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a deoxidizing machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away, the view showing a procession of blanks in the machine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the machine as viewed from the left in Figs. 1 and 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the line 4 4 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away and showing a blank i. place for deoxidizing;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged sectional detail of one of the uid Ilowing nozzles, as shown for example at the right in Fig. 4, with parts broken away and with a blank in position between the nozzles;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken substantially along the broken line 6 6 in Fig. 5, with parts broken away and with a portion of a blank shown in place;

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional details of parts of different treating stations as taken substantially along the broken lines 7 7 and 8 8, respectively, in Fig. 1, with parts broken away and with blanks in treating position;

Figs. 9 is a plan section taken substantially along the broken line 9 9 in Fig. 8, with parts broken away and showing portions of a pair of blanks undergoing treatment;

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged sectional details taken substantially along the respective lines M d and H i in Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. l2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line l2 i2 in Fig. 10, with portions of two blanks shown in place; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line l3 l3 in Fig. l, with parts broken away and showing a blank in drying position.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings disclose a machiine in which metallic sheet material blanks A are subjected to a deoxidizing treatment prior to the blanks being formed into can bodies. In this treatment a liquid deoxidizing medium, such as diluted hydrochloric or sulphuric acid, is flowed across the side seam edge portions of the blank from within its boundaries to deoxidize only these edge portions.

directed against the deoxidized blank surfaces in the same manner as the acid and the water, and second, by a radiant` heating device through which the partially dried portions of the blanks are passed. After this treatment the blanks are discharged to any suitable place of deposit.

The blanks A to beV deoxidized are preferably fed into the machine in timed order from a supply of such blanks retained in a, magazine 2| (Figs. l, 2 and 3) disposed at the entrance end of the machine. The magazine includes a plurality of vertical guide -bars 22, preferably three in number. Two of these bars are of angle iron and are arranged at the rear end of the magazine where they engage the corners of the blanks to better retain them in a stack. The third bar is flat and is disposed at the front' of the magazine and midway between its ends.

The lower ends of the angle iron bars 22 are bolted to a pair of short spaced and parallel support rails 24 which extend longitudinally of the machine adjacent its entrance end. The support rails are secured to a pair of cross rails 25 bolted to two main frame rails 21 which extend the full length of the machine. These main frame rails are bolted to leg frames 28 disposed at each end of the machine. The flat guide bar 22 is secured to a bridge member 29, the ends of which are bolted to the support rails 24.

The blanks are fed from the bottom of the stack individually and in timed order. As an incident to this feeding operation, the lowermost blank in the magazine 2| is drawn down initially into a bowed or concave condition. This bowing of the blank is brought about by a pair of vertically movable suction cups 3| (Figs. 1 and 2) lwhich are mounted on a vertical slide bar 32 carried in a depending slide bearing block 33 bolted to one of the cross rails 25.

An air passageway 34 formed in the slide bar communicates with the vacuum cups at the upper end of the bar and with a flexible hose 35 at the lower end of the bar. The hose leads to any suitable supply of vacuum for exhausting the air from the cups in the usual manner when they are brought into engagement with the blank. A valve 36 carried by the slide bar is provided for breaking the vacuum in the cups to release them from the blank at the proper time.

The vacuum cups 3| are raised into contact with the lowermost blank A in the stack and are lowered to draw the blank down'4 into its bowed position by a rack and gear device which includes a segment gear 4| which meshes with rack teeth 42 formed on the slide bar 32. The segment gear is'mounted on the inner end of a rocker shaft 44 (Figs. 1 and 3) carried in bearings 45 formed in a bearing bracket 46 which is bolted to the outer cross rail 25.

The outer end of the rocker shaft 44 carries a crank arm 41 which is connected by a link 48 to a crank disc 49. The crank disc is mounted on one end of a drive shaft 5| journalled in bearing brackets 52 bolted to the frame leg 28 disposed adjacent the entrance end 0f the machine (Fig. 2). The drive shaft constitutes the main driving shaft of the machine and is rotated in any suitable manner, such as by way of a pulley 53.

'I'he drawn down or bowed blank A is removed from the magazine 2| by a pair of reciprocating feed bars 56 which carry two feed dogs 51 located near the outer ends of the bars. When the bars are in retracted position, the two feed dogs are 'back of the magazine.

The feed bars slide in spaced and parallel grooves formed in a bed 58 bolted to the cross rails 25 and disposed adjacent one end of a centrally disposed table 59, which is secured to brackets 6| mounted on the inner cross rail 25 and on the leg frame 28 at the discharge end of the machine.

The inner ends of the feed bars 56 are secured to a tie block 64having a depending lug 65 which is connected by a link 66 to the upper end of an upright lever arm 61. The lever arm is mounted on a pivot shaft 68 which is carried in depending bearing brackets 69 bolted to the frame rails 21. The shaft 68 also carries an arm 1| which pivotal- 1y connects with an eccentric arm 12 at one end, the other end of the eccentric arm being formed as an eccentric strap which operates over an eccentric 13 mounted on and actuated by the main drive shaft 6| Hence the rotation of the main drive shaft 5|. through the eccentric 13, rocks the lever arm 61 and thus reciprocates the feed bars 56 in unison, through a forward or feeding stroke and thence through a return stroke. On the forward stroke of the feed bars, the feed dogs 51 engage behind the bowed down blank A and push it forward out of the magazine and place it on the table 59. After such an advancement of a blank, the feed bars return to their original position in readiness for the next blank to be removed from the magazine in the same manner.

The advanced blank A as it rests on the table 59 thereupon is picked up by a continuously operating conveyor 15 and is advanced along the table toward the discharge end of the machine. The conveyor '15 includes a pair of spaced and parallel endless chains 16 having spaced feed fingers 11 (see Fig. 2). The chains travel through guide channels 18 formed in the top of the table 59 (see Fig. 4). These chains operate over a pair of driving sprockets 8| and three pairs of idler sprockets 82, 83, 84.

The driving sprockets 8| are mounted on the main drive shaft 5| and rotate with the' shaft.

' The idler sprockets 82 (see Fig. l) are disposed under the magazine 2| and are mounted on a short idler shaft 86 carried in bearings 81 formed in the table 58.

The other two pair of idler sprockets 83, 84 are disposed adjacent the discharge end of the machine. Sprockets 83 are mounted on a c ross shaft 88 which is carried in bearing brackets 89 bolted to the frame rails 21. The sprockets 84 are located below the sprockets 83 and are mounted on a cross shaft 9| carried in bearing brackets 92. Brackets. 92 are bolted to the leg frame 28 disposed at this end of the machine.

During the continuous advancement of a blank A through the machine it passes through a deoxidizing section in which the side seam edge portions of the blank are subjected to an acid deoxidizing treatment, as hereinbefore mentioned. In this section deoxidizing units |0| (Figs. l, 4 and 5) ow streams of the acid outwardly onto and across the side seam edge portions of the blank as the latter moves past.

There are two deoxidizing units I 0|, one disposed on each side of the machine adjacent the path of travel of the blanks. Each unit includes an upper horizontal plate member |02 and a lower horizontal plate member |83. These members are secured together and are bolted as at |84 to longitudinal side beams |06 (see also Fig. 2). There is one of these beams on each side of the table 59 and the beams in turn are supported rails 2'|.

The two plate members |02, |03 on each side extend inwardly toward thetable 69 and across the path of travel of the blanks. The inner end of each upper plate member |02 is formed with a horizontal recess (Figs. 4 and 5) which provides a narrow opening ||2 on each side and between the members for the passage of the side lseam edge portions of the blank as it moves along the table.

The inner adjoining surfaces of the plate members |02, |03, on the two sides of the blank opening I2, are formed with nozzle elements or bosses ||5 (see Fig. 5) which have a plurality of nozzle discharge orifices ||6 (see also Fig. 6) formed in the plate member. The outer discharge ends of the oriilces are located at a predetermined distance inwardly from and within the boundary of the side seam edges of the blank. These same oriiices are disposed at an angle to the blanks -surface and extend outwardly and point in a direction toward the side seam edges of the blank. There being one set of such orifices in each plate member |02, |03, thus there is provided one set for the upper side of the blank and one for the lower side on each side of the blank.

The opposite ends of each row of orifices ||6 lead into a horizontal channel 2|. Therefore there are channels |2| in'both pairs of plate members |02, |03. These channels |2| merge into vertical ports |22 which align with hollow couplings |23 secured to the particular plate member. The couplings are connected to ilexible hoses |24 which lead from a pressure dome |25 (Fig. 2) of a pump |26. The pump is' operated in any suitable manner, such as, by a pulley and belt connection |21 with some outside source of power. A tube |28 connects the pump with a tank |29 which contains the supply of deoxidizing liquid.

Hence the pump |26 draws the deoxidizing liquid from the tank |29 and forces it up intothev pressure dome |25 from whence it passes through f the flexible hose |24 into the two deoxidizing units |0|. In each unit the deoxidizing liquid iiows under pressure from the hose |24, into the ports |22, and the channels |2| and is discharged in a stream from the nozzle orifices ||6. This discharge is outwardly within the boundaries of a passing blank and the escaping liquid is directed onto and over the adjacent side seam edge portions on both upper and lower surfaces of the blank. It is this ilowing of the deoxidizing liquid across the edge portions of the blank that deoxidizes these portions on both sides of the blank simultaneously.

This treatment of the side seam edge portions of the blank takes place while the edge portions pass through the openings I2 in the deoxidizing units, this being while the blank is advancing along the table 59 under the action of the conveyor chains 16. The areas being deoxidized are thus conilned within the deoxidizing units and this, together with the angular position of the nozzle orifices, provides a circumstance which limits the deoxidizing action to a predetermined portion of the blank. It also prevents or at least minimizes splashing of the deoxidizing liquid onto other portions of the blank. It has been found that such a construction of nozzle flows the deoxidizing liquid over the desired areas of the blanks in such accurate and uniform manner that the boundary edge oi the deoxidized area may be held virtually to a straight line of demarcation as between the oxidized and the deoxidized portions ofthe blank.

The used or spent deoxidizing liquid as it flows from the outer edges of the passing blank falls into open drain chambers |35 which are formed in the two plate members |02, |03 of each unit. These chambers at the outside are in communication' with vertical drain conduits |36 (Figs. 1. 2, 3 and 4) which are bolted to the outer edges of the plate members. The lower ends of the conduits are connected by ilexible tubes |21 to the tank |29 and thus their function is to return the used deoxidizingliquid to the tank for reuse.

kAs the advancing blank moves out of the deoxidizing section oi.' the machine, it enters and passes through a drain section 4| (Figs. 1 and 7). Here the excess deoxidizing acid is permitted to drain oi the blanks. There are two of these drain units, located one on each side of the machine. Each unit includes two horizontally disposed plates, an upper plate |42 and a lower plate |43, which are held together by screws |44. This produces a unitary structure. These plates are disposed bolted to the beams |06 and are adjacent the deoxidizing units. y

The plates |42, |43, adjacent their inner edges are cut away to provide an opening |45 through which the edge portion of the blanks pass as the blanks move along the table 59. Adjacent this blank passageway, the plates are formed with internal recesses which set oil a drain chamber l|41. The excess deoxidizing liquid drains off the passing blanks into this drain chamber and flows into a drain pipe |48 which is attached to a coupling |49 threaded into the lower plate |43. The other end of the pipe is secured to a coupling 5| (see Fig. 4) threaded into the adjacent drain conduit |36. By this means the drained acid is returned to the tank |29 to be used again.

Fumes y from the deoxidizing liquid draining from the blanks is carried away to any suitable place of discharge by an exhaust fan (Fig. 2). This fan is connected by way of an exhaust pipe |56 to an exhaust conduit |51 (see also Fig. 7) which is bolted to the outer edges of the drain plates |42, |43. The interior of the drain conduit is in communication with a port |58 which is formed in the plates and which leads from the drain chamber |41.

After such a deoxidizing and draining treatment, the advancing blanks move through a washing section |6| (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) of the machine where any deoxidizing acid still adhering to the blanks is washed off with hot water,

These nozzle orifices |64 are in exactly the same location relative to the passing blank and are disposed at the same angle as those in the deoxidizing units |0I. The only difference bctween these two units is that one flows a deoxidizing liquid over the side seam edge portions of the blank while the other flows hot water over the same portions of the blank.

` Flexible hose |18 are fastened to these couplings.

These hose lead from a distributing'box |14 (Fig. 2) of a continuously operating pump |16. The pump may be actuated in any suitable manner, as by a pulley and belt connection |16 with an outside source oi' power. l

such as a sewer.

The third set |68 of nozzle orifices |64 in each piste 62,163 lead from a channel las formed in each plate. These channels communicate with couplings |89 which are threaded in the corresponding plates. Flexible hose |92 are fastened to the couplings. These hose lead from any suitable source of clean fresh water preferably water which has been heated to a temperature of approximately 180 F.

Hence, as a blank A advances through the washing section |6| of the ymachine its acid coated side seam edge portions are washed three times. The blank is first washed with water from the first set |66 of nozzle orifices |64. This water has been used once for washing and comes from the large compartment |83 of the catch basins |19 being forced through the nozzle orifices of the first set |66 by the pump |15. This water as it plays against the acid coated edges of the blank washes most of the acid ofl` and flows directly into the small compartment |82 of the catch basin and is discharged to the sewer. This water contains a considerable amount of acid and is too contaminated for reuse.

After this primary washing, the blank passes under the second set |61 of nozzle orifices |64 and receives a second washing. The water used for this second washing is received by way of the pump |15 from the large compartment |83 of the catch basin |19. This waterlrinses off the acid remaining on the blanks and since it is only slightly contaminated by a small amount of acid it flows back into the large compartment to be used again. This is done to conserve the water supply.

The third washing is a mere rinsing operation and the water used for this purpose is clean fresh hot water which is forced onto the edge portions of the blanks from the third set |68 of nozzle orifices |64. This water as it flows from the blanks falls into the large compartment |83 of the catch basins and is used to replenish and to dilute the reused water for the first and second washing operations.

In all of these washing operations the water is ejected in streams against both surfaces of the blank in a direction emanating from a position within the boundaries oi' the blank in ac- 8 cordance with the location ofthe nozzle orifices and is directed outwardly onto and over the adjacent edge portions of the blank to thoroughly wash these edge portions free of the deoxidizing acid used, as hereinbefore mentioned. During these washing operations the portions of the blank being treated are confined between the unit plates |82, |63 so that splashing of the vwater onto other portions of the blank is prevented.

The washedrblanks upon emerging from the washing units |6| immediately enter a drying section 28| (Figs. l and 10) where any water which adheres to they surfaces of the blank is quickly blowny off by compressed air. There are two drying units, located one on each side of the machine immediately adjacent the washing Each drying unit 20| includes a pair of horizontally disposed plates. an upper plate 282 and a lower plate 288, which are held together by cap screws 204` (see also Fig. 12) to provide a unitary structure. This plate unit is secured by bolts 205 to the support beams |06. The inner edges of the plates are formed with stepped

recesses

201, 208 which provide for a horizontal opening -289 through which an outer edge portion of a blank passes as the blanks are advanced through the units.

The recesses 281 are deeper than the recesses l 288 and contain upper and lower nozzlev insert blocks 2| 2|2. It is the space between adjacent faces of the blocks which constitutes the opening 289. These blocks in each

plate

202, 203 are shaped to set off between them a wide outwardly inclined nozzle opening 2|4. One-end of each opening terminates adjacent the surface of a blank passing through the unit and is located a predetermined distance inwardly from its side seam edge portion and therefore within the boundaries of the blank. The other ends of the openings 2|4 communicate with air supply tubes 2|6 which are threaded into the plates 282, 283.

These tubes lead from any suitable source of compressed air.

Hence as a blank passes between the unit plates 282, 283 on its way toward the discharge end of the machine, compressed air from the tubes 2|6 flows into and through the nozzle openings 2|4 and is projected against boul surfaces of the passing blank. This air hits the blank from within its boundary edges and is directed outwardly over the adjacent side seam edge portions of the blank. The air in sweeping across these portions of the blank on both surfaces thereof, blows away any water which may be on' the blank.

The water removed from the blank is blown through a chamber recess 2|8 which is formed in the

plates

202, 203. This chamber communicates with the passageway between the faces of the recessed parts 288 and with an exhaust pipe 2|9 which is bolted to the outer edges of the plate. 'Ihe pipe connects with the exhaust pipe |56 (see Fig. 2) which leads from the fan |55. In this way the water held in suspension in the air is drawn off by the fan and is discharged to any suitable place of deposit.

Any water which falls to the bottom of the chamber recess 2 I8 drains through an outlet coupling 22| (Figs. 1, 8 and 9) threaded in the bottom wall of the chamber. This coupling provides attachment for a hose 222 which is connected with a coupling 228 formed on the sewer catch basin |18. In this way the water ls drained into the basin and empties into the sewer or other place of disposal. f

As the partially dried blank progresses further through the drying units 20| its side seam edge portions are subjected to a second air blast drymg operation. This second air drying operation is performed by compressed air which is erected from-a nozzle which includes apair of insert blocks 23|, 232 (Figs. 11 and 12) disposed in both `of the plates 202,203. The nozzle blocks in each plate are shaped to set off between them a long narrow nozzle opening 233 which is disposed at an outwardly directed angle pointing toward a blank moving past the nozzles. The nozzle blocks are set into recesses 235 formed in the plates and are disposed atan angle of approximately forty five degrees to the path of travel of the blank as shown' in Fig. 12. Air issuing from the inclined nozzle openings 233 will be directed toward the blank as it enters between the nozzles, while at the same time the air is projected against the surfaces of the blank from above and below in the same manner as that just described in connection with the first air blast drying operation.

The air for performing the second drying operation is received from any suitable source of supply and is transmitted to the nozzle openings 233 by way of tubes 236 which are threaded into the two

plates

202, 203. The air as it sweeps across the side seam edge portions of the advancing blank, at the double angle above mentioned, blows any water which may be on the blanks, through the chamber recess 2 I8 and int-o the exhaust pipe 2|9.

To insure that the deoxidized edge portions of the blanks are perfectly dry before leaving the machine, the blanks after leaving the last described air blast drying units immediately pass through a radiant heater unit 24| (Figs. 1 and 13) There are two of these heater units, located one on each side of the machine. Each unit includes a horseshoe shaped ceramic body 242 disposed on edge so that the side seam edge portions of the advancing blanks can pass through the open portion of the body. This ceramic body is disposed within a casing 243 which is secured to a bracket 244 bolted to the support beams |06.

The bracket 244 is formed with a boss 245 which encloses a gas chamber 24S. This chamber receives gas, such as illuminating gas or other suitable heating medium, by way of a' pipe 241 which is threaded into the boss 245. The pipe leads from any suitable supply of the gas. The gas within the chamber 246 feeds through a small aperture 248 in the boss and is delivered to a burner 249 disposed in the ceramic body 242. The burner is formed with Y-shaped orifices 25| and when-ignited delivers a gas flame that heats the inner curved surfaces of the ceramic body.

Hence as the side seam edge portions of the advancing blanks move through the heater units 24|, the heat of the ceramic body 242 is radiated against both surfaces of the blank and thus subjects these surfaces to a final quick drying action. It is this radiated heat that insures that all residual moisture on the deoxidized edge portions of the blanks is eliminated before the blank is discharged from the machine. This completes the treatment of the blanks. They may be then discharged from the machine in any suitable manner.

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, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the process hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for deoxidizing marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of conveyor means for supporting and advancing the sheets in fiat horizontal position through the machine, means on one side of said conveying means for enclosing in spaced relation a side edge portion of said sheets during their advancement, and' means carried by said enclosing means for applying a deoxidizing uid to said enclosed edge portion of a. moving sheet to deoxidize and condition the same for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for deoxidizing marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of conveyor means for supporting and advancing the sheets in fiat horizontal position through the machine, i

means on one side of said conveying means for enclosing in spaced relation a side edge portion of said sheets during their advancement, and means carried by said enclosing means for applying to said enclosed edge portion of a moving sheet a spray of washing fluid to remove surplus deoxidizing fluid therefrom and condition the sheet edge portion for the :purpose specified.

3. In a machine for deoxidizing marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of conveyor means for supporting and advancing the sheets in fiat horizontal position through the machine, spaced plate members on one side of said conveying means for enclosing in spaced relation a side edge portion of said sheetsduring their advancement, and an inclined orifice in one of said plate members for applying a deoxidizing fluid to and in a direction outwardly from said enclosed edge portion of the moving sheet to deoxidize and condition the same and to insure against applying the deoxidizing fluid to the isgheet surface inwardly of its marginal edge porlon.

4. In a machine for deoxidizing marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of a conveyor for supporting and advancing the sheets in fiat horizontal position through the machine, spaced plate members on one side of said conveyor for enclosing in spaced relation a marginal portion of said sheets during their advancement, a series of spaced inclined spray orifices in each of said plate members for ejecting in opposite directions upon both sides of said enclosed marginal portion of a moving sheet separate sprays of deoxidizing fluid to deoxidize said marginal portion prior to directing'additional separate sprays of washing iiuid upon both sides of said sheet marginal portion to remove residual deoxidizing fluid therefrom.

5. In a machine for deoxidizing the marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of conveyor means for supporting and advancing the sheets in flat horizontal position through the machine in a horizontal path of travel, vertically spaced means on opposite sides of said conveying means for enclosing in spaced relation the opposite side edge portions of said sheets during their advancement by the conveyor means, and means l1 carried by said sheet edge enclosing means for electing a deoxidizing liquid upon the opposite side edge portions of the moving sheets to deoxidize and condition the same for the purpose specified.

6. In a machine for deoxidizing the marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of conveyor means for supporting and advancing the sheets in at horizontal position through the machine in a horizontal. path of travel, vertically spaced means on opposite sides of said conveying means for enclosing in spaced relation the opposite side edge portions of said sheets during their advancement by the conveyor means, and spaced means carried by said sheet edge enclosing means forrespectively impinging upon the opposite side edge portions of the moving sheets separate spaced sprays of deoxidizing liquid to deoxidize and condition the sheet edge portions for the purpose speciiied.

7. Ina machine for deoxidizing the marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of conveyor means for supporting and advancing the sheets in flat horizontal position through the machine in a horizontal path of travel, vertically spaced plate members on opposite sides of said conveying means for enclosing in spaced relation the `opposite side edge portions of said sheets during their advancement by the conveyor means, and

inclined orices carried by said plate members for ejecting sprays of deoxidizing liquid upon the opposite side edge portions of the moving sheets to deoxidize and condition the same and to insure against splashing the deoxidizing liquid upon the sheet surfaces inwardly of their marginal edge portions. y

8. In a machine for deoxidizing th'e marginal edge portions of metallic sheets for soldering and welding thereof, the combination of a conveyor for supporting and advancing the sheet's in fiat horizontal position through the machine in a horizontal path of travel, vertically spaced plate members on opposite sides of said conveyor for enclosing in spaced relation the opposite marginal edge portions of said sheets during their advancement by the conveyor means for successive deoxidizing and washing treatments, and a series oi oppositely spaced inclined spray orifices in said plate members for electing separate sprays of drying fluid against both sides of said sheet marginal edge portions to remove residual deoxidizing liquid from and to dry said sheet portions in directions outwardly from the sheet edges to insure against splashing the deoxidizing liquid upon the sheet surfaces inwardly from the marginal portions thereof.

CUSTIS S. WOOLFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Number Name Date 1,090,845 Goss et al Mar. 24, 1914 1,650,136 Koberle Nov. 22, 1927 1,674,064 Ridley June 19, 1928 1,719,410 Webb July 2, 1929 1,798,425 Lindgren Mar. 31, 1931 1,804,558 Haas May 12, 1931 1,806,805 Knapp May 26, 1931 1,846,703 Wiener Feb. 23, 1932 2,130,665 Bradner Sept. 20, 1938 2,225,778 Hallman Dec. 24, 1940 2,234,153 Herbert Mar. 4, 1941 2,235,258 Jones Mar. 18, 1941 2,271,442 Sanborn Jan. 27, 1942 2,275,437 Hopkins Mar. 10, 1942 2,295,617 Woolford Sept. 15, 1942 2,297,497 Popoff Sept. 29, 1942 2,302,730 Woolford Nov. 24, 1942 2,305,655 Woolford Dec. 22, 1942 2,311,014 Woolford Feb. 16, 1943 2,320,499 Wood June 1, 1943 2,372,599 Nachtman Mar. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 15,107 England 1909

Claims

8. IN A MACHINE FOR DEOXIDIZING THE MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF METALLIC SHEETS FOR SOLDERING AND WELDING THEREOF, THE COMBINATION OF A CONVEYOR FOR SUPPORTING AND ADVANCING THE SHEETS IN FLAT HORIZONTAL POSITION THROUGH THE MACHINE IN A HORIZONTAL PATH OF TRAVEL, VERTICALLY SPACED PLATE MEMBERS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CONVEYOR FOR ENCLOSING IN SPACED RELATION THE OPPOSITE MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SHEETS DURING THEIR ADVANCEMENT BY THE CONVEYOR MEANS FOR SUCCESSIVE DEOXIDIZING AND WASHING TREATMENTS, AND A SERIES OF OPPOSITELY SPACED INCLINED SPRAY ORIFICES IN SAID PLATE MEMBERS FOR EJECTING SEPARATE SPRAYS OF DRYING FLUID AGAINST BOTH SIDES OF SAID SHEET MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS TO REMOVE RESIDUAL DEOXIDIZING LIQUID FROM AND TO DRY SAID SHEET PORTIONS IN DIRECTIONS OUTWARDLY FROM THE SHEET EDGES TO INSURE AGAINST SPLASHING THE DEOXIDIZING LIQUID UPON THE SHEET SURFACES INWARDLY FROM THE MARGINAL PORTIONS THEREOF.