US665476A - Side-seam-soldering machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 665,476 Patented la-n. 8,. l90l.

. v C. W'. SLEEPER.

SIDE sEAm SOLDERING MACHINE.

- A lication filed May 31, i900. i (No Model.) '5 Sheets-Sheet l-.

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TNE NORRIS PETERS co, FNGTO-LXYHQ, WASHWRYON. n. c

No. 665,476. Patented Jan. 8,190l.

C. W. SLEEPER. SIDE SEAM S DLDERING MACHINE.

(Application filed m 31, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-8heet 2.

I 4536 M 36%; T aka/wen No. 665,476. Patented Ian. 8, I90I.

C. W. SLEEPER. SIDE SEAM SOLDEBING MACHINE.

(Application fllo'd May 31, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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Patented Ian. 8, I90l.

0. w. SLEEPER. SIDE SEAM SOLDERING'MACHINE.

' (Application filed m 81, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

I bwntoh UNITED .TATEs FFICE.

ATENT CHARLES W. SLEEPER, OF LANCASTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE SLEEPER MACHINE COMPANY, OF MAINE.

SlDE-SEAM-SOLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 665,476, dated January 8, 1901.

Application filed May 31, 1900. serial No. 18,491. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it Wttty concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. SLEEPER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Coos and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Side- Seam-Soldering Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for automatically fluxing and soldering the side seams of can-bodies, and is especially intended for use upon can-bodies in which the side seam has been partially formed by interlocking the edges of the blank.

It consists, essentially, ofan intermittentlyrotating table or disk bearing upon its upper face, at its circumference, horns for bolding the can-bodies to be operated upon and means for holding said can-bodies upon said horns, means forgiving said disk intermittent rotary motion, means for locking said disk and holding the same firmly in the intervals between its movements, means for feeding flux and solder upon the seam of the can, means for melting and applying the solder to the seam, and means for ejecting the can after being soldered, the whole being so constructed and arranged that each can is carried by the intermittent motion of the carryingdisk to one after another of several stations, where the several operations of feeding 'fiux and solder and melting and applying the same to the seam by means of soldering-irons are performed, remaining at each station long enough for the operation there to be performed and then passing on to the next station, until at the last it is ejected from the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a top view of the machine as it would appear if the portions above the can-shaft were removed. Fig. 3 is a front elevation with some of the rear parts omitted to avoid confusion. Fig. 4 is a partial elevation of the machine, taken at a plane parallel with the first solderingiron and the ejector. Figs. 5 and 6 are an elevation and top view, respectively, of the second soldering-iron and wiper. Fig. 7 is an end view of the soldering-iron and supporting parts and of the soldering-horn and wings. Fig. 8 is a detail of the solder-feed ing mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail of the fluxfeeding mechanism. Fig. 10 is a detail showing cam and mechanism for raising and lowering the upper plate and mechanism for actuating the second soldering-iron and wiper. Fig. 11 is a detail of device used to guide the can-body while being placed upon the soldering-horn. Fig. 12 is a detail of cross, crank, and rack device for actuating the index-gear. Fig. 13 is a detail of cam and rack for moving the first soldering-iron and ejector. Figs. 14: and 15 are an end and top view, respectively,of the soldering-horn and wings. Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a part of flux-hopper and feed-plate. Fig. 17 is a detail of parts for moving first soldering-iron. Fig. 18 is a detail showing manner of supporting indeX-rack m Fig. 19 is a detail of solderingiron carrier, showing position of wiper.

The several stations through which each can passes during the operation of the machine are designated in Fig. l by the numerals 1 to 8, inclusive.

A is the base of the machine.

A A are stanchions secured to the base.

B is a girder between A and the central axis D.

Journal-boxes are provided for the main shaft 0 by boring through the stanchions A A 0 is a gear upon shaft Gand engaging with a pinion C on the driving-shaft G which shaft is driven by a pulley or other suitable means.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, D is an upright axle secured to the base A. d is a sleeve which fits loosely upon the axle D. d is a gear rigidly secured to d, and called the index-gear. d is a disk-shaped carrier also secured to d and revolving with it. Upon the top of disk (1 and equidistant from each other are arranged a series of can-carrying devices, hereinafter described. Just above t-heindexgear (1 is placed asliding plate (1 supported and guided by blocks d d and carrying the index-rack m and the latch-rack d A horizontal reciprocating motion is imparted to (1 through the lever e, pivoted at e and engaged by the barrel-cam 6 upon the shaft 0.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, l2, and 18, m is a cam-wheel having upon one side the camgroove m and upon the other the crank-pin m The crank-pin m enters the block m which slides in a groove m in the cross m, giving the said cross reciprocating motion as the crank revolves. m is guided by a standard m secured to the base A and is provided with a rectangular tooth m which engages a suitable rectangular slot in the back of the rack m and ata right angle with it. The rack m is guided by the clips m secured to the under side of the sliding plate d When the parts are in position shown in Fig. 2, the cross m being atone extremity of its motion, the sliding plate (1 moves quickly to the left, causing the index-rack m to engage the index-gear d and pull it around until the cross m reaches the opposite extremity of its motion, when the sliding plate 01 again moves to the right, disengaging the rack in and causing the latch-rack d to engage the index-gear d and prevent it from moving. The motion of the shaft C being continuous, it will be readily seen that regular intermittent motion is imparted to the index-gear 0?, with the period of rest just equal to the period of motion. By this movement the canbodies upon the disk (1 are carried around with the disk from one station to another, remaining at each station a sufficient time for the operation there to be performed and then moving on to the next station.

Above the carrier-disk d and also designed to slide upon the central axle D is a vertically-reciprocating carrier n, actuated from the shaft C by the cam j, cam-rodj, lever j and connecting-rod 3' Fig. 10. The motion of the carrier at is so regulated that it rises and remains up while the carrier (1 is in motion and descends and remains down while the said carrier is at rest.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 7, and 15, the cancarrying device is described as follows, viz: a is a metal horn, with a suitable groove in its top to receive the seam of the formed canbody. a n are wings or clasps pivoted upon pins 11 77. which project from the ears a n upon the sides of the horn n. The outer ends of the pins n are turned down to a diameter smaller than that of the remaining part, and each is surrounded by a coiled spring at, one end of which is secured to a slot in the end of the pin n while the other end engages the wing n drawing it down upon the can on the horn n and holding the can firmly in place. The edges of the wings a where they coinein contact with the seam are faced with aluminium or other non-tinning substance. n represents bars or levers, each resting upon a fulcrum n upon the horn 'n' and with one end under the ends of the wings a n These levers are designed to raise the edges of the said wings to permit placing the can-body upon the horn and ejecting the body when finished and are operated by screws 83, which project through the carrier 1t and strike the inner ends of the bars u pressing them down and raising the edges of the wings. As the Wings rise the springs a are cramped, and when they are released by the withdrawal of the bars 91 the action of the springs draws them down to their former position. At the point 1, Fig. 1, and immediatoly above the horn n is an arm 7t, (shown also in Fig. 11,) attached to the carriern and carrying two knife-edged pawls 7c 7;, held down by springs L The office of the pawls is to enter the seam of the can-body and guide it as it is being placed upon the horn n and hold it in place until gripped by the wings a n Referring to Figs. 1, 3, 9, and 16, p is a metal hopper attached to the stanchion A and designed to carry resin or other suitable flux for soldering the seams. p is a thin plate of metal attached to an arm 19 and arranged to pass through a slot 19 in the bottom of the hopper 1). It is raised and lowered for each can-body as the machine is operated and has its lower edge serrated. \Vhen p is raised, the points of the serrations are above the bottom of the hopper 1), (see Fig. 16,) allowing the flux to enter the serrations, and when p descends the flux in the said serrations is pushed through the slot 19 and falls upon the seam of thecan-body held upon the horn beneath. The arm p is moved by the cam m by means of the roller and pin m and cam-rod g Referring to Figs. 1, 3, and 8, g is a spool of ribbon solder upon a spindle g", supported by the frame g. g g are rolls to guide the ribbon of solder to the feed-rolls g 9 which are geared together by gears g Fig. 1, and driven by the ratchet g and pawl The bell-crank lever g pivoted at g and operated by the cam-rod g and cam 112, causes the feed-rolls to revolve as the camrod 9 rises by moving the pawl g through the medium of the connecting-rod g, and thus feeds down a portion of ribbon-solder. As the cam-rod g descends the segmental gear 9 upon the lower arm of the bell-crank lever g acting upon the rack g upon the knife 9 causes the knife g to move forward and under the knife 9 to cuta strip of solder from the ribbon and allow it to fall upon the seam. The extent of rotation of the feed-roll, and consequently the width of the strip of solder cut, is regulated by moving the thumb-nut thus giving more or less motion to the pawl g Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, t, 13, and 17, f, Fig. 13, is a cam-wheel upon the drivingshaft 0, having in its side a cam-groove which engages a pin and roller f upon the rack f", thereby imparting to said rack a vertical reciprocating motion. f isa rock-shaft. ff are journal-boxes carrying the same. f is a segmental gear upon the'shaftf and engaged by the vertically-reciprocating rack f. f is another segmental gear at the opposite end of theshaft f and engaging a pinion f f (see Fig. 17) is secured to one end of a short shaft which passes through the box f and terminates in an eccentric-pin f f actuates the connecting-rod f and through the lever f imparts reciprocating motion to the link f and the soldering-iron, hereinafter described, the said link being connected with said lever f at one end and with the soldering iron car rier at the other by loose joints, permitting the necessary vertical play of the parts in the operation of the machiue,and especially during the raising and lowering of the carrier 11. f is a link attached to the segmental gearf at one end and the can-ejecting lever f at the other. As the gear f oscillates the ejector f is drawn backward and forward, and these motions are so regulated that at the proper time f is brought in contact with the can-body and pushes it from the horn n.

The soldering device, Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 19, consists of acarrier h, sliding upon a track it, which is fastened to the carrier n and rises with it. Fitting loosely in the carrier n and supported by four bosses at the bottom corners is a soldering-iron holder 72?, which is a rectangular box with an opening in each side to receive the gas-flame and allow the passage of the heated vapors. h the soldering-iron proper, passes through the bottom of the holder 71, and projects upward into the path of the gas-flame, receiving the heat at ifs upper end and transmitting it to the outward or bottom part. The gas-burner h, fastened to' the front of the carrier h, is rectangular in shape, the side nearest the soldering-iron being perforated by a large number of small holes k to allow the passage of the gas which is supplied through a pipe h, connected at one end of h. To allow for moving the soldering-iron along the seam, a flexible tube must be used to connect the gas-burner with the gas-supply pipe.

The soldering is done by two soldering-irons applied to the seam in different ways. The first soldering-iron (which with its appendages is marked H in Fig. 1) is applied at point 4 in Fig. l and is passed forward and backward upon the seam twice or more in short strokes to melt the solder and sweat it into the seam. The second soldering-iron (marked H in Fig. 1) is applied at point 5, Fig. 1. This iron is drawn over the entire length of the seam in one direction only and is closely followed by a wiper h, which is a bundle of cane fiber or other suitable material bound together in the form of a brush and secured in a clasp h which slides loosely on a guiderod h and serves to steady the top of the wiper and also by its weight to press it down upon the seam.

h Figs. 6, 7, and 19, is a bell-crank lever pivoted at h to the carrier h and having a long horizontal arm bent, as shown in Fig. 7, around the track h and a short perpendicular arm or detent adapted to bear against the wiper h and hold it against the perpendicular plate 77, Fig. 5, which projects from the rear of the carrier h in a plane at a right angle with the lever h Upon the outer end of the horizontal arm is the roller and stud h riding upon a stationary cam h Figs. 3, 5, and 7. As the wiper reaches the seam of the can to be operated upon the outer end of the horizontal arm of the lever h is raised by the cam h thereby releasing the wiper h and allowing it to rest upon the seam. Just before the wiper leaves the seam at the end of the stroke the lever h again presses upon the wiper and holds it firmly against the plate It, while the carrier, with the soldering-iron, rises and returns to position for the next seam. The wiper h is thus readjusted for each seam and allowed to compensate for wearing away at the bottom. This device is intended 'to wipe off and save the surplus solder and fill up irregularities and blowholes in the seam.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10, the cam j actuates the cam-rod j by means of a pin and rollerj ,'secured to the cam-rod and e11- gaging the face of the said cam. j is a lever pivoted at its center to the girder B and attached to the cam-rod j, serving to raise and to lower the carrier 11 by means of the connecting-rod j. The rack j, arranged to slide in a suitable guideway, is connected by a link 7' to a crank-pin on the back of the camj and is given a vertical reciprocating motion as the cam revolves. A segmental gear j upon a rock-shaft j engages the rackj and is operated by it. The rock-shaft 9' terminates in an arm j", which is connected with the lever j by a link j 'and imparts horizontal reciprocating motion to the second soldering-iron and wiper through the link 7' said link being connected to the lever 7' at one end and the soldering-iron carrier at the other by loose joints, permitting the necessary vertical play of the parts.

In operating the machine the can-body, af ter being properly formed and locked or otherwise secured, is thrust upon the horn n at point 1, Fig. 1, the wings n n being raised to allow the can-body to pass under them. The pawls k guide the can-body and hold it down upon the horn. The carrier n then rises, withdrawing the screw 3 from the lever 41", allowing the wings n n to rest upon the canbody upon either side of the seam to be soldered. The carrier-disk d with its series of can-carrying devices, is then moved one point, bringing the first can-body under the resin-hopper at point 2, where a sufficient amount of flux is dropped upon the seam. The carrier d is moved again, bringing the can-body under the solder-feed at point 3,.

The third motion of the car IIO rier brings the can-bodyunder the first soldering-iron at point at, where the said iron descends upon the seam and melts the solder. The next motion of the carrier brings the canbody under the second soldering-iron at 5, where the process of soldering is continued and the seam wiped. At points 6 and 7 the seam is allowed to cool, and at point 8 the finished can-body is ejected from the machine.

It will be understood that the process is continuous, a can-body being placed upon each horn as it arrives at point 1.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the can-carrying disk d with the described mechanism for imparting intermittent rotary motion thereto, consisting of the sleeve d with the index gear 01 attached thereto, sliding plate 61 latch-rack d and index-rack m with means for giving lateral reciprocating motion to the sliding plate at, and means for giving longitudinal reciprocating motion to the index-rack m substantially as described.

2. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans the can-carrying disk (1 mounted upon the sleeve cl, index-gear d attached to said sleeve, sliding plate d carrying the latch-rack d and index-rack m said racks being adapted to engage alternately with the opposite sides of the index-gear d oscillating lever e operated by the barrel-cam 6 adapted to give to said sliding plate lateral reciprocating motion and means for giving longitudinal reciprocating motion to said index-rack m substantially as described.

3. In a machine forsoldering the side seams of cans the can-carrying disk d mounted on the sleeve (1, index-gear d attached to said sleeve, sliding plate (1 carrying the latcl1- rack d and index-rack m means for giving to the sliding plate d reciprocating lateral motion and means for giving to said rack m longitudinal reciprocating motion consisting of the slotted cross m engaging the rack m and operated by the revoluble disk m through the medium of the crank-pin m and sliding block m working in the slots in said cross, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the soldering-horns n,having hinged clasps "n provided with springs a for holding the can-bodies in place upon said solderinghorns, and means for opening said clasps, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the soldering-horns n having hinged claspsn provided with springs a for holding the can-bodies in place upon said solderinghorns, in combination with the lever 72 operated by screws .9 upon the carrier n and means for raising and lowering said carrier, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the arm 7t mounted upon the carrier 71 and provided with spring-pawls lt'substantially as described.

7. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the solder-feeding mechanism described, consisting of the solder-reel g, guiderolls 9 feed-rolls g g, ratchet g pawl g and adjustable connecting-rod g in combination with the lever g provided with a segment-gear sliding knife g provided with a rack stationary knife 9 and means for imparting an oscillating motion to the lever g substantially as described.

8. Ina machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the lever g cam-rod g and camwheel m, in combination with solder-reel g, feed-rolls g 9 knives g g and means for transmitting motion from said lever to said feed-rolls and knives, said parts being so combined and arranged that when the cam-rod g rises, the feed-roll g is turned a measured distance, thereby feeding a portion of the solder downward between the knives, and by the return motion of the cam-rod the knife g is carried toward the stationary knife, thereby cutting off the projecting piece of solder, substantially as described.

9. In a machine forsoldering the side seams of cans, the carrier at with the soldering devices H H attached thereto and means for giving to said carrier intermittent vertical reciprocating motion substantially as described.

10. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the carriern with soldering devices H H attached thereto, means for giving said carrier intermittent vertical reciprocating motion and means for holding the cans to be operated upon and bringing them in succession under said soldering devices, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combination with the carrier h, in the soldering device H the wiper 71 held by the sliding clasp 71.7 so arranged as to press upon the soldered seam during the forward movement of the carrier, with means for holding said wiper during the upward and backward movement of said carrier, substantially as described.

12. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combination with the sliding carrier h, in the soldering device H and means for giving reciprocating motion thereto, the wiper It held by the sliding clasp W, the lever 77, provided with the roller and stud h and the cam 71., substantially as described.

13. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the wiper h in combination with the soldering-iron it in the soldering device I-I, and means for operating the same, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combination with the soldering device H, means foroperating said device, consisting of the rock-shaftf operated by the cam-wheel f on the driving-shaft O, rack f and segmental gear f segmental gear f attached to said rock-shaft, pinion f, eccentric-pin f connecting-rod f leverf and link f, substantially as described.

15. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the ejector-leverf with means for giving to said lever an oscillating motion, consisting of the rock-shaft f operated by the cam-wheel f on the driving-shaft C, rackf IIC and segmental gear f segmental gear f attached to said rock-shaft and link f connecting said gear with the ejector-lever, substantially as described.

16. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, in combination with the soldering device H means for moving said device in one direction over the surface of the seam to be operated upon With the solderingiron and wiper in contact with said seam, and means for returning said device to its original position without such contact, consisting of the leverj and link 7' with means substantially as described for giving to said leverj an oscillating motion,in combination with the carrier 71 carrying said soldering device, and means for giving said carrier a vertical reciprocating movement, substantially as described.

17. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the soldering device H with means for giving to the same horizontal reciprocating motion, consisting of the cam-wheel j on the driving-shaft O, sliding rack j, connecting-linkj, segmental gear 7' rock-shaft j arm j", link oscillating lever j and connecting-1inkj substantially as described.

18. In a machine for soldering the side seams of cans, the carrier n and means for giving to said carrier intermittent vertical reciprocating motion, consisting of the camwheel 7' on the driving-shaft O, cam-rod 7", os-

cillating lever j and connecting-rod 7' substantially as described.

19. The described mechanism for automatically soldering the side seams of cans, consisting of the disk d with can-carrying horns attached thereto and means for giving said disk intermittent horizontal rotary motion, the carrier n having soldering devices H H attached thereto and means for giving said carrier intermittent vertical reciprocating motion, means for giving said soldering devices horizontal reciprocating motion, means for holding the cans upon said horns and for releasing the same when the operation of soldering is completed, means for feeding flux and solder upon the can-seams and means for ejecting the soldered cans from the carryinghorns, the mechanism for moving said disk 61 and carrier 'n, being so arranged and adj usted that the carrier begins to rise just before each movement of the disk 01 and descends and remains stationary as the motion of the disk (1 ceases, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. SLEEPER;

Witnesses:

ONEIL TWITCHELL, F. H. TWITOHELL.

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