US279222A - Machine for scouring and polishing tin cans - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I. G. CASS.

Patented June 12,1883.

INVENTUH- N. PETERS. Mia-lithograph. Wahinghn. OJ;

(No Model.)

MACHINE FOR SGOUBING AND POLISHING TIN CANS. No. 279,222.

WITNESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

7 v P. G. CASS, MACHINE FOR SCOU-RING AND POLISHING TIN CANS.

PatentedJune 12,1883.

5/0 7 t u 1 f0 X WITNEEEEE f4 gENTUFk UN TED STATES PATENT I OFFICE,

FREDRICK o. CASS, F GAMBRIDGEPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR SCOURING AND POLISHING TIN CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,222, dated June 12, 1883.

Application filed January 2, 1883.

To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK G. CASS, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Gambridgeport, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Machine for Scouring and Polishing Tin Packing Cans or Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my machine for securing and polishing tin cans.

"Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in a plane passing through the brushes. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken in a plane passing between the sets of brushes on each side.

The rectangular tin cans or boxes in which fancy and other crackers or biscuits are packed, after having been emptied and before being again used, require to be thoroughly washed and scrubbed to remove from their exterior surfaces dirt, old labels, &c. This scrubbing or scouring process has heretofore always been performed by hand with soap and water and an ordinary scrubbing-brush, and is a slow and tedious operation.

My invention has for its object to enable me to perform this scouring and cleansing operation much more rapidly and perfectly than heretofore, and thus effect a great saving in time and labor and it consists in the details of construction of an organized machine,.hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, A represents the bed or table of the machine, which is supported upon legs or otherwise at a convenient height from the floor. From the center of the table A rises a frame, B, at the bottom of each side of which is a groove, b, within which and a groove, 0, in a strip, d, placed opposite thereto at the outer edge of the table, fit tenons or projections at the opposite edges of a horizontal slide, 0, which is connected by a piece, e, Fig. 3, with a slide, D, arranged at right angles thereto and adapted to move therewith, its upper and lower edges fitting into grooves f g at the top and bottom of the frame B.

To each of the lower slides, C, is pivoted, at 7:, one end of a rod, 17, the opposite end of (No model.)

by a belt (not shown) passing over a pulley,

m, the two pairs of slides O D O D are alternately reciprocated, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

To each slide 0 are secured two brushes, H H, having their workingsurfaces in a horizontal plane, and to each of the contiguous slides D are secured two brushes, I I, having their working-surfaces in a vertical plane, the two brushes H I of a set touching each other at 10, their workingsurfaces forming a right angle at this point.

Each pair or set of brushes is provided with a rest, K, having its ends secured at 5 6 to the table and frame B, and against this rest the tin can is firmly held by the operator while it is being acted upon by the reciprocating brushes H I, a stationary rest or support for the can while being scrubbed being essential to the proper operation of the machine, as otherwise it would be impossible for the operator to hold the can steadily and prevent it from being carried. from side to side with the brushes.

In the operation of scrubbing or scouring, a rectangular tin can, L, Fig. 1, having been first Soaked in hot water and soap-suds, is taken by the operator and held firmly against one of the rests K and also against the two rapidly-reciproeating brushes H I belonging thereto, which thus act simultaneously u-pon twocontiguous sides of the can and rapidly scour and cleanse the same',.removing all dirt and impurities, and leaving a clean, bright, and polished surface, Soapand water or other cleansing liquid or substance being applied to the brushes while in operation, if found necessary. After these two sides of the can have been secured the can is turned to bring two more surfaces in contact with the brushes, this op eration being repeated until the entire exterior surface of the can has been scoured, cleansed, and polished, as required, to again render it fit for use, an immense saving in time and laher being thus effected, as the operation of scouring and polishing the can is performed much quicker and better than heretofore.

The different sets of brushes are preferably made of different degrees of fineness, to adapt them for use'on cans which are more or less dirty, an old can which is very dirty requiring a stiffer and coarser brush than one which is comparatively new and clean, and eachbrush is preferably made with a slightly-convex workingsurface, in order that it may come into contact with all parts of the surface of the side of a can, which often becomes slightly hollow from long use.

Each brush should be about twice the length of the largest can, in order that the entire surface of the can may be at all times in contact with the brush without regard to the position of the latter with respect to the rest K.

I prefer to arrange two brushes, H l, at right angles to each other, as shown, to work 011 two sides of a can simultaneously; but a single brush adapted to operate on one side only at a time may be used, if desired.

Any desired number of brushes or sets of brushes may be attached to a single slide, a rest K being provided for each brush or set of brushes to support and steady the can and keep it in its proper position while being scoured and polished.

Instead of making the machine double to admit of its being used on each side, as shown, it may be made single or with a brush or brushes on one side only, if preferred.

The table or bench A is placed at such a height from the floor as to make it convenient for the workman to bear his weight on the can, thereby rendering the operation more effective.

I do not wish to confine myself to the precise details of construction here shown, as

these may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. For instance, the rest or support for thecan, instead of being constructed and arranged with respect to the brushes as shown, may be so constructed and arranged as to allow the tin can to be placed upon it, and the reciprocating brush or brushes be adapted to act upon the upper side or surface of the can and be pressed down thereon by hand or any suitable mechanical device, such construction being obviously but a mere modification of my invention.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for scouring and polishing tin cans, boxes, and other similar articles, the table A, provided with the eccentrics G- and rods t, in combination with the rest K, projecting beyond the faces of the rubbers or scourers, a reciprocating brush or brushes, and suitable mechanism for operating the same.

2. In a machine for securing and polishing tin cans and other similar articles, the reciprocating slides O D, arranged at right angles to each other, in combination with the brushes H I and suitable mechanism for reciprocating the same, as set forth.

\Vitness my hand this 27th day of December, A. D. 1882.

FREDRICK c. CASS.

\Vitnesses:

P. E. TESCHEMAOHER \V. J. CAMBRIDGE.

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