US3155535A - Apparatus and method for applying side seam sealing compound to can body blanks - Google Patents

Description

G. W. THOMPSON APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING SIDE SEAM SEALING Nov. 3, 1964 COMPOUND TO CAN BODY BLANKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17. 1961 INVENTOR Geocee W. Thompson ATTORNEYs 1954 c; w. THOMPSON 55,535

APPARATUS AND METHbD FOR APPLYING SIDE SEAM SEALING COMPOUND TO CAN BODY BLANKS Flled Oct. 17. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S $16.5 6? Bo 40 36 Z mummy max 60 "III! M 53 620265 \rJ. THOMP$OM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,155,535 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR APPLYWG SEDE SEAM SEALING COMPOUND 'It) CAN BUDY BLANKS George W. Thompson, @rland Park, 131., assignor to (iontrnental Qan Company, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 145,559 I8 Claims. (Cl. lI7-Itl2) This invention relates to the manufacture of cans having side seams in which interengaging hook flanges are sealed together by a sealing compound, and more particularly relates to an apparatus and method for applying side seam sealing compound to can body blanks.

In order to provide for the proper cementing and sealing of a can body side seam, it is the customary practice to apply sealing compound to suitable areas of one of the hook flanges of the can body blank. This has been accomplished in the past in a manner disclosed in Patent No. 2,773,279, granted to Edwin L. Albright on December 11, 1956, and Patent No. 2,773,280, issued to Edwin L. Albright et al., on December 11, 1956. The prior apparatus and method have a deficiency in that the application of the sealing compound is such that when the hook flanges have been booked and the seam bumped, certain of the sealing compound has projected slightly into the interior of the can, in a manner which is undesirable. Further, there has been improper distribution of the sealing compound within the seam to provide for the necessary strength of the seam where great strength is desired.

In accordance with this invention, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a novel nozzle for applying sealing compound to can body blanks, and more particularly to the outside hook flange of a can body blank, the nozzle being provided with at least one plow for removing excess sealing compound from the zone of application, the plow having an upper surface which is coplanar with the upper surface of the nozzle and which engages the underside of the can body blank immediately adjacent to the bight portion thereof which connects the hook flange to the main portion of the can body blank wherein substantially all sealing compound is removed from the main portion of the can body blank and therefore excess sealing compound is not available at this point for being squeezed out into the can body at the time the side seam is bumped.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoe for use with a side seam sealing compound applying nozzle, the shoe being adapted to receive excess sealing compound plowed from within a zone defined by a hook flange, a bight connecting the hook flange to the main part of the can body blank, and a contiguous portion of the can body blank, the shoe applying certain of the excess sealing compound to the face of the hook flange remote from the zone wherein additional sealing compound is applied to the can body blank for distribution within the side seam so that the entire side seam is filled with sealing compound to provide both a greater strength seam and a more securely sealed seam.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of coating a can body blank with a sealing compound for use in sealing a side seam of a can body, the method including the steps of applying sealing compound into a zone generally defined by a can body blank hook flange, a bight portion joining the hook flange to the main portion of the can body blank, and a contiguous portion of the blank, with there being an excessive amount of sealing compound applied in order to assure that sufficient sealing compound will be available for forming the necessary seal in the completed side seam, and then plowing the excessive sealing compound out of the zone with certam of the excessive sealing compound being collected by a shoe, which shoe is utilized to apply certain of the excessrve sealing compound to the face of the hook flange remote from the zone wherein there is a desired distribution of sealing compound on the can body blank.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank which includes the longitudinal moving of the blank along a predetermined path with the outer hook flange thereof disposed longitudinally of the path and downwardly directed, injecting an overabundance of sealing compound in the zone defined by the hook flange, a bight connecting the hook flange to the main part of the can body blank, and a contiguous portion of the blank, plowing out the surplus sealing compound from the zone with certain of the surplus sealing compound flowing around a free edge of the hook flange, and then applying at least a portion of the surplus sealing compound to the outer surface of the hook flange.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel shoe for use with a nozzle which is utilized for the purpose of applying sealing compound to a can body blank, the shoe having an upper trough for receiving excess sealing compound, the trough having one wall thereof adapted to apply the excess sealing compound to an outer surface of a body blank hook flange.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view through a sealing compound applying apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, and shows the sealing compound applying apparatus in elevation.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing in more detail the sealing compound applying apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view of the nozzle and shoe of the sealing compound applying apparatus removed from the remainder of the mechanism, a can body blank bein shown in phantom lines in relation to the nozzle and shoe.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 and shows a can body blank in the initial stage of having sealing compound applied thereto.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, and shows the can body blank during an initial plowing operation removing a portion of the excess sealing compound.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, and shows the can body blank during the final plowing operation and the application of sealing compound around the edge and on the outer face of the hook flange.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the sealing compound applying nozzle in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a rotated perspective view of the shoe to be used with the nozzle of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a can body blank of the type to which sealing compound is applied.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec- 3 tional view taken through the outside hook flange of the can body blank of FIGURE along the line 11-11 and shows the manner in which the sealing compound is applied to the hook flange.

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through a can body seam utilizing the can body blank of FIGURE 10, and shows the distribution of sealing compound in the seam in accordance with this invention.

Reference is now made to the drawings in detail, wherein there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 an apparatus in which the present invention is incorporated. This apparatus includes a portion 13 of a conventional body maker having the usual feedway id for can body blanks, generally referred to by the numeral The feedway 14- includes a central support 16, a reciprocatory feed bar 17, and other details not shown.

Reference is now made to the patent to Edwin L. Albright, Patent No. 2,773,279, wherein the general environment of this invention is illustrated.

An arm 18 extends from the body maker 13 and is adapted to support a reservoir (not shown). The upper surface of the arm 13 is in the form of a trough 19 for returning excess sealing compound to the reservoir. Further, the arm 18 carries a nozzle, generally referred to by the numeral 29, on the upper face thereof alongside the body maker 13. The nozzle 2 3 is formed in accordance with the invention and carries a shoe, generally referred to by the numeral 21, also in accordance with the invention.

It is to be noted that the arm 18 has a vertical sealing compound delivery port 22 therein, the upper end of which is closed by a plug 22a. The arm 18 also has a generally horizontal sealing compound return port 23 therein which communicates with an intermediate portion of the port 22. The end of the port 23 remote from the reservoir is closed by a plug 23a. In addition, the arm 13 has a sealing compound delivery port 24 which extends off of the port 22 at an angle thereto and opens through the upper end of the arm 18 beneath the nozzle 20.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 8 in particular, wherein the nozzle 20 is generally illustrated. The nozzle 20 is in the form of an elongated block 25 having a fiat upper surface 26 over which can body blanks slide. The upper surface 26 has a tapered leading edge 27 to facilitate the movement of can body blanks 15 over the block 25 of the nozzle 20.

The block 25 is provided with a pair of vertical bores 28 in which fasteners 29 (FIGURE 1) are positioned, with the fasteners 29 being threaded into the arm 18 and serving to secure the nozzle in placement.

The block is provided with an overhang 139 which has the upper surface thereof coplanar with the top surface 26 of the block. The overhang 30 has a cross-section which is best shown in FIGURE 5, and includes a generally vertical side surface 31 and a downwardly and inwardly sloping undersurface 32. The overhang 30 also has a tapered leading edge 33 to facilitate the movement of a can body blank 15 over the overhang'in the relationship illustrated in FIGURE 5.

The overhang 39 terminates at its rear end in a first plow, generally referred to by the numeral 34. The plow 34 is in effect a continuation of the overhang 36, but in lieu of the vertical surface 31, the undersurface 32 of the overhang 30 is continued upwardly and intersects substantially with the top surface of the plow 34-, which top surface is continuous with the top surface 26 of the block 25. It is to be noted from FIGURE 6 that the undersurface of the plow 34, which undersurface is referred to by the numeral 35, terminates in a very short, generally vertical outer surface 36 which, in turn, terminates in the upper surface 26 of the block 25.

The nozzle 20 also includes a second plow 37 which is disposed rearwardly of the plow 34 and is also a continuation of the overhang 30. The plow 37 has a top surface which is a continuation of the top surface 26 of the block 25 and terminates in a downwardly inclined lower surface 33 which is disposed outwardly of and generally parallel to the lower or undersurface of the plow 34, the surface 35 being coextensive with the surface 32 of the overhang 30.

As is best illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 8, the nozzle 2ft has an upwardly and outwardly sloping sealing compound delivery port 39 which opens through the surface 31 in the form of an orifice 40 immediately in advance of the plow 34. The lower left end of the port 39 is closed by a plug 41 and the port 39 communicates with the upper end of a vertical port 42, the lower end of which intersects the port 24 in the arm 18 for receiving sealing compound therefrom.

The block 25 includes a vertical outer wall 43 from which the overhang 3t and the plows 34 and 37 project. The Wall 43 is provided with a generally square socket E4 in the lower portion thereof. A fastener 45 extends through the socket 44 serves to secure the shoe 21 in place with respect to the nozzle 2ft.

The shoe 2f includes a mounting block 46 which has an end portion 47 adapted to be received within the The mounting block 46 also includes an internally threaded bore 43 for receiving the threaded member f5.

A shoe element is formed integrally with the mounting block 46 and extends longitudinally in generally parallel relation to the nozzle 2% The shoe element 49 is generally of a rectangular cross-section and includes an inner wall 53, an outer wall 53. and a bottom wall 52. The inner wall 51) terminates at its upper edge in an upwardly and inwardly sloping upper surface 53 which, in turn, terminates in a downwardly and inwardly directed surface 5%. The top part of the shoe element 4-9 is also defined by a wall surface 55 which slopes downwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of the wall surface 51 into intersection with the wall surface 54. It is to be noted that the wall surface 55 has a tapered leading part 56 and that the wall surface 55 is sloping with respect to the i all surface 54 so that the included angle between the wall surface 54 and 55 decreases between the forward end and th rear end of the shoe element 49.

socket Wen the sl-oe 21 is mounted on the nozzle 29, the shoe extends from a point in advance of. the plow 37 to a point well rearwardly of the plow 37, as is best shown in FIGURE 2. The wall surface 53 is disposed in spaced parallel relation to the wall surfaces 32, 35 and 33 of the nozzle The shoe element 19 is spaced from the wall 43 of the lock so as to permit the flow of sealing compound down between the two. It is also to be noted that the leading portion of the wall surface 55 is disposed in angular relation to the wall surfaces 35 and 3% and that the trailing portion of the wall surface 55 is disposed gen rally parallel to the wall surface 33.

Referring now to FIGURE 10 in particular, it will be seen that the can body blank 15 includes a main body portion 57 which is provided along one edge thereof with an inside nook flange 53 and along the opposite edge thereof with an outside hook flange 59. In the forming of a can body, the blank 15 will he rolled to a generally cylindrical shape with the hook 53 and 59 interrneshed, after which they are bumped to lock the same together. The hook flanges 53 and 59 combine to define a side seam. of a can body formed from the can body blank 15. This invention particularly pertains to the sealing and cement ng of the side seam by the application of sealing compound.

Referring now to FIGURE ll in particular, it will be seen that the outer hook flange 59 is connected to the n body portions 57 of th blank 15 by means of a hrgnt oil, the night 6% beino in turn connected to a contiguous portion 61 of the body portion of the blank 15.

It is to be noted that the nozzle 20 has associated therewith a hold-down block 62. The hold-down block 62 overlies the body portion 57 of the blank 15 and serves to hold the same in engagement with the top surface 26 of the block 25 of the nozzle 25). The hold-down block 62 is urged downwardly by a pair of springs 63 which, in turn, are carried by a suitable bracket 64 which, for illustrative purposes, is illustrated as being carried by a shield 65. The leading edge of the hold-down block 62. is tapered, as at 66, to facilitate the passage of a can body blank 15 therebeneath. It is to be noted that the taper 66 of the hold-down block 62 is generally aligned with the tapered leading edge 27 of the top surface of the block 25. In this manner, the passage of a can body blank between the hold-down block 62 and the block 25 is assured.

When the can body blank 15 is fed towards the body maker 13, the outer hook flange 5? is initially engaged generally around the overhang 3d. As the hook flange 59 passes the orifice 4t), sealing compound will be delivered from the orifice into the zone defined by the hook flange 59, the bight 6t and the contiguous portion 61. In order to assure the proper application of sealing compound into the zone, an excessive amount of the sealing compound is applied, with the result that there is a run-off of the sealing compound adjacent the orifice it in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Once the zone defined by the flange 59, the bight portion on and the contiguous portion 61 passes the orifice lt) of the nozzle 20, it passes over the first plow 34 which plows out an initial quantity of the sealing compound from within the zone defined by the flange 59 to in part remove the excess sealing compound. This excess sealing compound, together with the excess sealing compound which may run down during the application of the sealing compound to the hook flange 59, runs down the undersurface 32 of the overhang 3t) and along the side wall 43, as is shown in FIGURE 5.

Operation In use of the invention, can body blanks 15 are fed over the nozzle 2% with the outer hook flanges 59 in the positions illustrated in FIGURES 5 through 7. Sealing compound is continuously being discharged through the orifice 4t and as each hook flange 59 passes the orifice 4%, an overabundance of sealing compound is discharged into the zone defined by the hook flange 59, the bight portion 66 and the contiguous portion 61 in the manner generally illustrated in FIGURE 5. The excess sealing compound flows down out of the lower portion of the zone off of the lower edge of the hook flange 59 and is returned to the reservoir (not shown) through the trough 19. As the body blank 15 continues to move along the nozzle 20, the aforesaid zone remains filled with sealing compound and immediately thereafter passes over the first plow 34 where a portion of the excess sealing compound is removed from the body blank 15. For the most part, this excess sealing compound also runs down alongside the nozzle 29 and is returned to the reservoir (not shown) along the trough 19.

As the body blank 15 continues to move along the noz zle 29, the hook flange 59 passes the second plow 37 where the remainder of the excess sealing compound is removed. This excess sealing compound for the most part flows down and around the lower edge of the hook flange 59 and is deposited into the trough defined in the upper part of the shoe member 49 by the wall surfaces 54 and 55, the trough being referred to by the numeral 66. It is to be understood that there will be a sufiicient amount of the sealing compound removed to keep the trough 66 filled with sealing compound. If necessary, at the initiation of the operation of the body maker, the trough 66 may be filled with sealing compound.

As is clearly shown in FIGURE 7, the hook flange 59 passes through the sealing compound within the trough 66 and sealing compound is applied to the underside 6 of the hook flange 59, as well as around the lower edge thereof. The wall 55 controls the thickness of the sealing compound applied to the lower surface of the hook flange 59 and the excess sealing compound flows over and down the outer part of the shoe member 49, as well as down the inner part of the shoe member 49.

At this time, it is pointed out that due to the fact that the upper surfaces of the plows 34 and 37 are continuous with the upper surface 26 of the block 25, sealing compound will be removed from the underside of the contiguous portion 61 except immediately adjacent the bight portion so that the sealing compound applied to the body blank 15 will be limited primarily to opposite sides and around the free edge of the hook flange 59 and within the bight portion 60, as is best shown in FIGURE 11. The sealing compound, which is referred to by the numeral 67, will flow during the formation of the seam resulting from the hooking of the hook flanges 53 and 59 and the bumping thereof so as to completely fill the seam, as is best shown in FIGURE 12. It is to be noted that inasmuch as very little sealing compound 67 is applied to the contiguous portion 61, none of the sealing compound will be squeezed out of the seam into the interior of the can body, this being not desired.

It will be readily apparent that inasmuch as the seam illustrated in FIGURE 12 is filled with sealing compound 67, the necessary seal will be provided. Further, since the sealing compound is normally in the form of a cement, such as polyamide hot melt cements, the necessary strength of scam is also obtained.

When the strength of the seam can be reduced, a savings of cement can be effected by omitting the shoe 21 and its use. As a result, no sealing compound 67 will be applied to the lower surface of the hook flange 59 and only a minimum amount will appear at the free edge of the hook flange 59. As a result, the seam of FIG. 12 will not be completely filled with sealing compound. However, the amount of sealing compound will be suflicient to assure a seal and to provide for the necessary strength of the seam.

The invention differs from the prior devices for applying side seam sealing compound to can body flanges in three advantageous ways. First, the plows 34 and 37 have the upper surfaces thereof continuous with the upper surface of the block 25 with the result that the amount of sealing compound applied to the contiguous 1 portion 61 of the-body blank 15 is held to a minimum and the squeezing of the sealing compound out of the seam and into the interior of the can body is eliminated. Secondly, the previously provided slot between the two plows has been eliminated, with the result that there is a smoother removal of the excess sealing compound and a smoother trowling of the sealing compound into the body blank 15 by the plows 34 and 37. Thirdly, through the use of the shoe 21, sealing compound, when desired, may be applied around the free edge of the hook flange and to the undersurface thereof to provide for a controlled application of additional sealing compound, such as is necessary to fill the final seam.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is directed to the fact that variations may be made in the example apparatus and method disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

, I claim:

1. In an apparatus for applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank wherein the apparatus includes means for longitudinally moving the blank and second means for applying sealing compound into a zone defined jointly by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of the blank while the blank is moving, and a plow for removing surplus sealing compound from the zone: a shoe underlying the plow for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound and applying the same to the face of the flange remote from the zone, said shoe having a longitudinally extending upper trough for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the path of movement of the hook flange extends through said shoe trough whereby application of the sealing compound in the shoe trough to the flange remote face is assured.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the path of movement of the hook flange extends through said shoe trough, and said trough having a sealing compound applying wall converging towards the path of movement of the hook flange whereby application of the sealing compound in the shoe trough to the flange remote face is assured, said sealing compound applying wall having a trailing portion disposed in closely spaced parallel relation to the path of movement of the hook flange.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the path of movement of the hook flange extends through said shoe trough whereby application of the sealing compound in the shoe trough to the flange remote face is assured, said shoe trough having an outer upper edge disposed below the plane of the path of movement of the bight wherein coating by said shoe is restricted to the hook flange.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the path of move ment of the hook flange extends through said shoe trough,

and said trough having a sealing compound applying wall converging towards the path of movement of the hook flange, whereby application of the sealing compound in the shoe trough to the flange remote face is assured.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the path of movement of the hook flange extends through said shoe trough, and said trough having a compound applying wall converging towards the path of movement of the hook flange from an angular relationship at one end of said compound applying wall to a closely spaced relationship at the other end of said compound applying wall whereby application of the sealing compound in the shoe trough to the flange remote face is assured.

7. In an apparatus for applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank wherein the apparatus includes means for longitudinally moving the blank and second means for applying sealing compound into a zone defined jointly by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of the blank while the blank is moving, and a plow for removing surplus sealing compound from the zone: a shoe underlying the plow, said shoe including means for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound and applying the same to the face of the flange remote from the zone, said shoe having an excess sealing compound applying wall converging towards the path of movement of the hook flange to assure the application of sealing compound to the hook flange remote face.

8. In an apparatus for applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the bank wherein the apparatus includes means for longitudinally moving the blank and second means for applying sealing compound into a zone defined jointly by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of the blank while the blank is moving, and a plow for removing surplus sealing compound from the zone: a shoe underlying the plow for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound and applying the same to the face of the flange remote from the zone, said shoe having a longitudinally extending upper trough for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound, said shoe having mounting means mounting said shoe in spaced relation to the means for applying the sealing compound and the plow 8 for permitting the inward overflow and downward escape of the excess sealing compound.

9. In an apparatus for applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank wherein the apparatus includes means for longitudinally moving the blank and second means for applying sealing compound into a zone defined jointly by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of the blank while the blank is moving, and a plow for removing surplus sealing compound from the zone: a shoe underlying the plow for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound and applying the same to the face of the flange remote from the zone, said shoe having a longitudinally extending upper trough for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound, said trough being shallow and defined by two intersecting sloping walls one of which is short as compared to the other of said walls and more upright.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said trough extends generally parallel to the path of movement of the hook flange.

11. A method of applying side seam sealing compound to can body blanks of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank comprising the steps of longitudinally moving the blanks along a predetermined path with the hook flanges disposed longitudinally of the path and downwardly directed, injecting an overabundance of sealing compound only in the zone defined by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of each blank, plowing out surplus sealing compound from said zone, collecting a portion of the plowed out surplus of the sealing compound, and applying at least a portion of the surplus sealing compound to the outer surface of the hook flanges.

12. A method of applying side seam sealing compound to can body blanks of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank comprising the steps of longitudinally moving the blanks along a predetermined path with the hook flanges disposed longitudinally of the path and downwardly directed, injecting an overabundance of sealing compound in the zone defined by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of each blank, plowing out surplus sealing compound from said zone, collecting the surplus sealing compound, and applying at least a portion of the surplus sealing compound to the outer surface of the hook flanges.

13. In an apparatus for applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank wherein the apparatus includes means for longitudinally moving the blank and second means for applying sealing compound into a zone defined jointly by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of the blank while the blank is moving, and a plow for removing surplus sealing compound from the zone: a shoe underlying the plow, said shoe including means for receiving the removed surplus sealing compound and applying the same to the face of the flange remote from the zone, said plow having a continuous planar upper surface engageable with the contiguous portion of the blank to reduce the final application of sealing compound to the contiguous portion to a minimum.

14. A nozzle for applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank, said nozzle having a flat upper surface adapted to have a blank contiguous portion moved thereover in bearing contact therewith, said nozzle having an overhang along one upper edge thereof adapted to be generally received in the angle defined by a hook flange and contiguous portion of a blank, said overhang having a generally vertical outer face opposing the path of movement of body blank bight portions, a sealing compound discharge orifice opening through said overhang outer face for applying an excess quantity of sealing compound into a zone of a body blank defined by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion thereof and outwardly of said overhang outer face, and said overhang having a rearwardly disposed extension in the form of a plow for removing excess sealing compound from the zone, said plow having an upper surface forming a continuation of the nozzle upper surface and extending substantially to the path of movement of the can body bight portions for removing sealing compound from substantially all of the can body contiguous portions, said plow also having a downwardly and inwardly sloping outer surface disposed parallel to the path of movement of can body hook flanges for limiting the thickness of sealing compound applied thereto, and a shoe underlying said plow for receiving removed surplus sealing compound and applying the same to body blank hook flanges on the faces thereof remote from the zones.

15. The nozzle of claim 14 wherein another plow is disposed immediately rearwardly of the orifice and in advance of the first mentioned plow for initially removing surplus sealing compound from the body blank zones, said another plow having a continuous upper coplanar with said nozzle upper surface.

16. The nozzle of claim 15 wherein said another plow extends continuously to the first mentioned plow and runs thereinto to provide for a smooth troweling of sealing compound by said plows.

17. A method of applying side seam sealing compound to can body blanks of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank comprising the steps of longitudinally moving the blanks along a predetermined path with the hook flanges it) disposed longitudinally of the path and downwardly directed, injecting an overabundance of sealing compound only in the zone defined by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of each blank, plowing out surplus sealing compound from said zone, flowing certain of the surplus sealing compound around a free edge of the hook flange, and applying at least a portion or" thesurplus sealing compound to the outer surface of the hook flanges.

18. In an apparatus for applying side seam sealing compound to a can body blank of the type having a hook flange joined by a bight to a contiguous portion of the blank wherein the apparatus includes means for longitudinally moving the blank and second means for applying sealing compound into a zone defined jointly by the hook flange, bight and contiguous portion of the blank while the blank is moving, and a plow for removing surplus sealing compound from the zone: a shoe underlying the plow, said shoe including means for receiving the removed surplus scaling compound and applying the same to the face of the flange remote from the zone, said plow having a continuous planar upper surface engageable with the contiguous portion of the blank to reduce the final application of sealing compound to the contiguous portion of a minimum, and a body blank holddown block overlying said apparatus and being resiliently urged theretowards to hold a body blank in engagement with said plow upper surface.

References (Cited in the file or" this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims (1)

12. A METHOD OF APPLYING SIDE SEAM SEALING COMPOUND TO CAN BODY BLANKS OF THE TYPE HAVING A HOOK FLANGE JOINED BY A BIGHT TO A CONTIGUOUS PORTION OF THE BLANK COMPRISING THE STEPS OF LONGITUDINALY MOVING THE BLANKS ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH WITH THE HOOK FLANGES DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE PATH AND DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED, INJECTING AN OVERABUNDANCE OF SEALING COMPOUND IN THE ZONE DEFINED BY THE HOOK FLANGE, BIGHT AND CONTIGUOUS PORTION OF EACH BLANK, PLOWING OUT SURPLUS SEALING COMPOUND FROM SAID ZONE, COLLECTING THE SURPLUS SEALING COMPOUND, AND APPLYING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SURPLUS SEALING COMPOUND TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE HOOK FLANGES.

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