US2169311A - Can-body maker - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 15, 1939. M. E. wlDELL 2,159,311 Y CAN-'BODY HER Filed July 29, 1958 8 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR /d' WM ATTORNEYS NNN www M. E. WIDELL Aug. 15, 1939.

CAN-BODY MAKER Filed July 29, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 www N QN NN www INVENTQR.

BYBM a ATTORNEY Aug- 15, 1939. M. E. wlDELL 2,169,311

CAN-BODY MAKER Filed July 29, 1938 8 Sl'xeelzs--Sheei'l 5 l .E QI.

Allg. 15, 1939. M, E, w|DELL 2,169,311

CAN-BODY MAKER Filed July 29, 1958 A 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

17M ,e WM MM2/ATTORNEYS M. E. WIDELL Aug. 15, 1939.

CAN-BODY MAKER Filed July 29, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Aug. 15, 1939. M. E. wlDELL CAN-BODY MAKER lFiled July 29. 1938 a` sheets-sheet 8 v lax. v

. INVEN] OR.

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ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 15, 1939 CAN-BODY MAKER Y Magnus E. Widell, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of ANew Jersey Application July 29, 1938, Serial No. 222,053

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to can body making machines and has particular reference to improvements in producing bre can bodies from flat blanks which are progressively folded into can body shape in step by step stages, the side seam edges of the blank being incorporated in a side seam bonded with a thermoplastic adhesive carried on the blank and heated to a tacky bonding condition during formation of the can body.

An object ofthe invention is the provision 4of an improved can body making machine wherein flat and creased bre blanks carrying thermoplastic adhesive along at least one side seam edge are advanced along a straight line path of travel in step by step stages through a plurality of stations at which the blank is folded by cooperating jaws and the adhesive is heated to a tacky condition in order to bond the folded side seam edges into a tight side seam.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of cooperating wing jaws operating in pairs and in synchronism so that a can body blank after being folded is guided by one pair of jaws during advancement while another pair of jaws is moving out of the way to permit entrance into the folding station of a succeeding blank thereby effecting a greatly increased speed of operation of the machine.

Another object is the provision in a machine of this character of improved devices for heating the side seam flaps of the body blank and for quickly and eiiiciently rendering the adhesive on the flaps into a tacky condition.

Another object is the provision in such a body maker of devices which prevent overheating of the adhesive on the blank edges so that the adhesive will not be burned when blanks remain at the heating station due to stopping of the machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the `following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof. 5

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can body making machine embodying the instant invention, parts being broken away, the view also including a wiring diagram of the electric circuits used to impart certain operations in the machine;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bed of the machine with parts removed and other parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along a vertical plane indicated by the lines 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal elevation of a side of the machine with parts broken away;

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sections taken sub- 5 stantially along the respective lines 5-5 and 5--6 in Fig. 4;

Fig; 7 is an end elevation as viewed from the right in Fig. 4;

Fig.' 8 is an enlarged perspective detail of a portion of the machine bed and certain parts concealed therein;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through parts at the heating station of the machine, with parts broken away;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the broken line Ill- I0 in4 Fig. 9;

Fig. l1 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the line lI-II in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlargedV sectional View taken substantially along the line l2-I2 in Fig. 9;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are sectional details taken substantially along the respective lines |3-l3, lll-I4 and I5--I5 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line I6--l6 in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 17 is a side elevation taken substantially along a plane indicated by the line I'l-Il in. Fig. 16, parts being broken away and other parts being broken back. S0

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a can body making machine in which at blanks a (Fig. 1) preferably of fibrous material are moved successively past a plurality of working stations which form the blanks into tubular can bodies. In the present case the can bodies are rectangular in cross section, the forming of the bodies being eiected by folding or bending the blanks along creases b which are produced in the blanks before the latter are introduced into the body maker herein described. This creasing of the blanks forms no part of the present invention.

The creases preferably extend parallel with short edges c, d of the blank, these edges and the marginal portions adjacent them being referred to hereinafter as the side seam edges. Edge d carries a band of dried thermoplastic adhesive e which has been previously applied by mechanism not involved herein. This band c when heated bonds the side seam edges into a tight side seam when the edges are brought together during the body forming operations.

The creased and adhesive banded blanks a are introduced into the machine in any suitable f' l manner at a blank receiving station A (Fig. 1). The blank enters this station with its creased surface, i. e., the surface that will be the'interior of the body, upward and the creases extendingy longitudinally of the machine. In this relative position the blank is advanced along a straight line path of travel. from station to station in a step by step movement, the blank coming to a full stop at each station.

The first stepped movement advances the blank from the receiving station A to a notching station B. Here the corners are cutofi of the uncoated side seam edge c as shown at f in Fig. 1.

The next stepped movement advances the notched blank through a forming station C. At this station the blank is folded along the two inner creases b thereby converting the fiat blank into U-shape as shown in Fig. 1.

While the folded blank is maintained in this U-shape it is further advanced in three stepped movements through a heating station D which includes an auxiliary folding station E. During passage of the blank through the heating station D the dried adhesive e on its side seam edge d is sufficiently melted to produce a tacky condition. The blank is also folded at the auxiliary folding 4station E along its outer creases b and its side seam portions c, d are brought close togethenin overlapping relation, but not touching, and with the tacky adhesive between them.

In moving out of the auxiliary folding station E the blank is advanced directly into a. side seam bumping station F. Here the edges of the body are engaged by gauge fingers which longitudinnly aign or bring into register the overlapping scam edges. After being aligned the seam edges are pressed tightly together in the com- :leted side seam which thereafter holds the body together. The body forming operation being thus completed, the body is discharged from the machine to a suitable place of deposit.

The various operating parts of the machine are carried on a horizontal frame II having legs I2. One end of the frame is bolted to an upright auxiliary frame I3.

The step by step movement of the body blanks a through the machine is effected by a feeding device which includes a pair of parallel feed bars I5 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8). These feed bars extend throughout the full length of the machine and are provided with spaced feed dogs I6. The -eed bars are carried in inverted T-shaped slideways I1 formed partially in the top of the frame II and partially in a plate I8 which is secured :o the frame between the feed bars. The top of the plate is flush with the top of the frame and also with the top of the feed bars.

Each feed bar I5 is 'set inwardly for the greater portion of its length as best shown in Fig. 2. This brings the feed dogs in these set-in portions closer together along a transverse line so that they can better engage the blank after it has been folded along its inner creases b as hereinbefore explained. In like manner the slideways I14 in the frame II and the plate I8 are formed to properly guide these set-in portions of the feed bars.

The feed bars I5 are reciprocated in unison in the slideways I1. For this purpose the set-in portions of the feed bars are tied together by a spacer block 25 (Figs. 3 and 8) provided with depending lugs 26 which are connected to one end of a link 21. The opposite end of the link is connected to a rocker arm 28 (see also Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7) which is mounted on a pivot shaft 28 carried in bearings 3| formed in the auxiliary frame I3.

Intermediate its length the rocker arm 28 is provided with a pivot pin which carries a bifurcated end of a pitman 36. The opposite end of the pitman surrounds an eccentric crank pin 31 carried in a pair of eccentric discs 38 formed as la part of a transverse crank shaft 39 journaled in bearings 4I disposed in the main frame II. The crank shaft 39 carries a sprocket 43 which is rotated by a chain 44 taking over a driving sprocket 45. The driving sprocket is mounted on a main drive shaft 41 journaled in bearings 48 formed in the auxiliary frame I3. This drive shaft is rotated by any suitable means and constitutes the main source of power for operating the moving parts of the machine in synchronism.

Thus the main drive shaft 41 rotates the crank shaft 39 through the sprocket and chain connection and thereby rocks the arm 28 and hence reciprocates the feed bars I5 connected therewith first on a forward or feeding stroke and secondly on a backward or return stroke. On the forward stroke of the feed bars the feed dogs I6 engage behind a blank a introduced into the machine at the receiving station A and advance it one step into the notching station B as hereinbefore explained.

During this travel of the blank, it slides along the top vof the main frame and is guided bystationary guide rails 5I (Figs. l, 2 and 3). The blank is also prevented from vertical displacement by horizontal and longitudinal guide bars 52 which are secured to a cross-beam 53 bolted at its ends to the guide rails 5I.

At the notching station B there is provided a cutting or notching device 55 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which is located at one side of the machine adjacent the path of travel of the uncoated sideseam edge c of the blank. The notching device includes a stationary housing 56 having spaced vertically disposed gibs 51 in which a slide 58 operates. The housing is bolted to the top of the frame II. The slide is formed with a die head 59 which when performing the notching operation is adapted to move down into a suitable die 6I seated in a recess 62 formedin the frame II. It is these die members which cut off the corners ,f of the uncoated side seam edge c of the blank as hereinbefore described.

Movement of the slide 58 in its guideways 51 is effected by a cam groove 64 (Fig. 4) which is formed in the inner face of a combined cam and flywheel 65 carried on the main drive shaft 41. The cam groove is provided with a cam roller 66 (see also Fig. 6) which is carried on a lever 61 mounted at its lower end on a stud 68 secured in the auxiliary frame I3. Rotation of the iiywheel therefore rocks the lever 61 in time with the other moving parts of the machine and' in time with the advancement of the blanks along the top of the frame I I.

The upper end of the lever 61 is secured to a connecting rod 1I, the opposite end of which is secured to one leg of a bell crank lever 12. Lever 12 is pivotally mounted on a side of the frame II adjacent the notching device 55. The other leg of the bell'crank lever is connected by a link 13 to an arm 14 mounted on a short shaft 15 carried in a bearing 16 (see Figs. l and 2) formed in the notching device housing 56.

Adjacent the inner end of the bearing 16 the shaft 15 carries a toggle arm 18 which connects with an auxiliary toggle arm 19 disposed in a recess 8| in the diehead 58. The auxiliary toggle u arm 79 is mounted on a pin 82 carried in the head. It is this mechanism which moves the die head 59 down into the die 6I at the proper time when a blank a is positioned at the station B and it is then that the corner notches f are produced.

'I'he rst folding operation performed on the notched blank, i. e., at the forming station C, is effected by bending its outer portions, adjacent the two inner crease lines b, into parallel vertical walls (Fig. 1). 'I'he blank is bent around a stationary mandrel or forming horn 9| and is thereupon U-shaped. This horn is square in cross-section when such a shape of the can body is being formed. In Width therefore the horn is the same dimension as the distance between the two inner creases b of the body blank.

The forming horn 9| is located over the top of the main frame and vis above the inset portions of the feed bars I5, one end of the horn being adjacent the notching station B, the horn extending longitudinally of the machine throughout the remainder of its length. The horn is spaced slightly above the top surface of the frame so that a blank in being fed from the notching station B into the forming station C will ride vfreely under the horn. Grooves 92 formed in the bottom of the horn provide clearance for the feed dogs IB.

The entrance end of the horn, i. e., the end adjacent tljle notching station B, is suspended from a curved bracket 93 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) which is bolted to the main frame on one side. The horn is further suspended nearer its center'from a curved bracket 95 which like 'bracket 93 is bolted at one side to the main frame. This manner of supporting the horn leaves its discharge end free and unsupported so that the finished tubular bodies may be readily removed therefrom.

The horn is maintained at an even temperature by circulating a fluid cooling medium therethrough. For this purpose the horn is provided with a pair of horizontally extending channels ||l| (Fig. 3). Adjacent the horn supporting bracket 93 the lower channel communicates with a fluid inlet pipe |02 which is threaded into the top of the horn. The upper channel communicates with a iiuid outlet pipe |93 which is threaded into the horn adjacent th pipe |02.

4At the discharge end of the horn the upper and hereinbefore mentioned is preferably done by g cooperating pairs of movable jaws ||2 (Figs. 1, 5 and 8) which fold the blank up and around the horn 9|. These jaws are disposed adjacent the two opposite vertical sides of the horn and operate within an opening ||3 formed in the top of the main frame 'I'here is a jaw ||I and a jaw I|2 on each side of the horn.

The folding jaws III, ||2are loosely mounted on a horizontal pivot shaft ||5 (see also Fig. 3) which is carried in bearing blocks ||6 secured to and depending from the top wall section of the main frame I l. Each jawI is provided with a toggle link ||8 which at its upper end is plvotally secured to the jaw. The lower ends of these-two links ||8 are joined and are connected to the inner end of la cam lever |2|.

The lever |2| is loosely mounted on a pivot shaft |22 carried in bearings |23 which depend from the top wall section of the frame II. The

outer end of the cam lever |2| carries a cam rollerv |25 which operates in a suitable cam groove formed in a face cam |26 secured to a cam .shaft cam mounted on the cam shaft |21 adjacent |21 journaled in bearings |28 formed in the main frame In a similar manner the jaws |2 are provided with toggle links |3. These links connect with each other and are secured to the inner end of 5 a cam lever |32. Lever |32 is mounted ,on the pivot shaft |22 alongside the cam lever |2|. The outer end of the lever |32 carries a cam roller |33 which operates in a .cam groove |34 of a face the face cam |25. lo

Cam shaft |21 is continuously rotated in time with the other moving parts of the machine by a bevel gear |38 (Figs. 7 and 8) which is carried on the cam shaft. This gear meshes with a driving bevel gear |39 which is mounted on the crank shaft 39. The crank shaft 39 therefore serves as a medium of power for the cam shaft.

Thus as the cam shaft |21 rotates. the face cams |26, |35 rock the cam`levers |2I, |32 on their pivot shaft |22 and thereby, through the toggle link connection with the folding jaws, move them toward and away from the vertical side walls of the forming horn 9|.

When a notched blank a is first advanced into 25 the folding station C both sets of folding jaws III, ||2 are in open position and below the path of travel of the blank along the top of the frame as shown in Fig. 5. The blank is brought to rest over the top of the jaws and as the feed bars I5 move away from the blank on their return stroke, both sets of jaws move up simultanedusly. Thejaws thus engage under the blank and fold it up around the horn 9| as hereinbefore explained. y

As soon as this folding operation is completed the first jaws immediately return to their open position Within the frame opening ||3 and below the path of travel of the blanks. The jaws |I2 remain in raised position where they hold the folded blank against the horn until its next step movement. Thus when the feed bars l5 again move on a forward stroke and bring a new blank a into the folding station C, while they simultaneously advance the folded blank into the next station, the jaws I are out of the way and will not interfere with the entrance of the new blank.

It is only when the preceding folded blank is well advanced into the next station, where it is retained in folded position by other elements. that the second set of jaws I I2 move down within the frame opening H3. This is done in time with the advancement of the new incoming blank so that the jaws will be out of its path of travel by the time it reaches them. Such cooperative action of the two sets of jaws permits quicker feeding of blanks through the machine and also permits a maximum of blank holding time.

The heating station D is disposed adjacent the folding station C and accordingly the U-shaped blank when advanced from the folding station is moved directly into the heating station. During this advancement the bent up portions of the advancing blank are held in upright position against the sides of the horn by guide rails (Fig. 1) which are disposed adjacent the horn on both sides. These guide rails are preferably mounted on hinged frames |46 so that they may be swung out of the way when desired. TheY frames are mounted on pivot shafts |41 carried in bearings |48 (see also Figs. 2, 4 and 6) bolted to the main frame Il.

At the heating station D there is located a heating hood |5I -which overhangs the horn II and which receives through its upper end a heating medium such as hot air or the like from any suitable source of supply. This heating medium is directed against the upright portions of the blank in two successive stages thereby preheating them. The bottom of the hood has bolted to it a iirst stage heating or deecting plate |52 (Figs. 1, 9, 10, 12 to l5) and a longitudinally coextensive second stage heating or auxiliary deflecting plate |53 (see also Figs. 16 and 17). These deflecting plates surround and abut against the horn supporting bracket 95.

Defiecting plate |52 provides heating channels |54, |55 (see Figs. 10 and 12) through which the upright bent portions of the U-shaped blank pass as the latter is advanced along the horn for its Iirst stage of heating. Channel |54 is set off by a transverse ceiling or arch wall |56 which merges along one side into a depending wall section |51 and along its opposite side into a depending wall section |58. Channel |55 is set oif by the wall section |58, a longitudinal ceiling or rib |59, and a baiile plate |60 which is secured to the side of the rib |59.

In a similar manner the auxiliary deflecting plate |53 provides heating channels |65, |66 (see also Figs. 10 and 16) through which the blank passes for its second stage of heating. Channel |65 is set oi .by a transverse ceiling or arch wall,

|68 which merges along one side into a depend'- lng wall section |69 and along its opposite side by a thickened and curved bottom rib |10. Channel |66 is set off by the curved bottom of the rib |10 and an adjacent depending wall section |1|.

Near the outer end of the auxiliary detlecting plate. |53 the channel ceiling walls |68, |10 slope downwardly into a bottom wall |12 which merges into an outer end Wall |13 of the plate. This end portion of the plate is divided off by inner walls |14 and is enclosed by a cover |15 thus providing a small heating chamber |16.

Hot air from the hood |5| is admitted into the heating channels |54, |55 of the deflecting plate and channels |65, |66 and chamber |16 of the auxiliary deflecting plate by slide valves which are carried in the plates. Heating channel |54 is served by a slide valve |8| (Figs. 10, 12 and 15) which slides in a groove |82 formed in the depending wall section |51. 'Ihe valve is provided with a plurality of vertical flutes |84 which communicate with the interior of the hood.

Under normal operation of the machine as when blanks a are advancing along'the horn 9| the iiutes |84 of the slide valve |8| are in register with spaced ports |85 which are formed in the depending wall section |51. These ports are adjacent the path of travel of the uncoated bent-up portion of the U-shaped blank a and thus direct the heating medium against this portion of the blank as the latter advances through the heating station.

In this first preheating stage the adhesive coated bent-up portion of the advancing blank -passes through the channel |55. This channel is served by a slide valve |88 which is carried in a groove |89 formed in the depending wall section |58. This valve is also provided With Iiutes |9| (see also Fig. 14) which register with spaced ports |92 arranged in a horizontal row and formed in the side of the Wall'section |58. Under normal operating conditions of the machine, the heating medium from hood |5| also passes through the flutes |9| and ports |02 and thereby impinges against the adhesive e on the passing blanks.

If for any reason the machine stops operating while blanks a are passing through the heating station provision is made for shifting the slide valves into port closing position so that the heating medium will be cut oif. This prevents burning of the adhesive.

Shifting of the slide valve |8| moves its flutes into a position between the spaced ports |85 thereby completely cutting oif the heat. Shifting of valve |88 also moves its flutes into a position between its spaced ports |92 so that they are closed but in this position of the flutes they come into register with a second horizontal row of spaced ports |95 formed in the side of the depending wall section |58. These ports |95 direct the hot air over the topof the upright coated edge of the blank. The by-passed air strikes against the baille plate |60 and thus escapes without impinging against the adhesive e.

Shifting of both slide valves I8 l |88 is in unison and is effected by a rack and segment connection. The valves are provided with rack teeth |96 (Figs. 14 and l5) cut in the top edges thereof. These teeth are at all times in engagement withsimilar teeth |91 formed in depending segment arms |98 of a shift lever |99. There are two of these segment arms |98, one for each slide valve.

The shift lever |99 is rocked only when the machine starts or stops, the lever being mounted on a pivot pin 20| carried in bearings 202 formed in opposite side walls of the hood |5i. A single upright arm 2030i the lever is connected to a clevis 204 of a link 205 the opposite end of which is attached to a depending leg of a bell crank lever 206.

The bell crank lever 206 is mounted on a pivot pin 201 carried in bearings 208 formed in a bracket 209 bolted to the end of the hood |5| at the left as viewed in Figs. 9 and 10. A laterally extending leg 2|2 of the bell crank lever is connected to the lower end of a vertically disposed movable core 2I3 normally held retracted within a solenoid 2|4 mounted on a bracket 2|5 (Fig. l) secured tothe hood |,5|. The core is maintained under pressure of a compression spring located inside the solenoid, the tension of said spring tending to project the core outwardly from the solenoid.

'Solenoid'2l4 is preferably connected into a power line supplying electric energy to an electric motor which constitutes the main driving power of the machine and which drives the main shaft 41, the latter being connected with the motor in any suitable manner. In the Wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 1 this electric motor isindicated by the numeral 220. One terminal of the motor is connected by a lead wire 22| to the solenoid 2| 4. The other terminal of the motor is joined by a Wire 222 to a service Switch or button start and stop switch 223 which in turn is connected by a wire 224 to a suitable source of electric energy such as Aa generator 225. The generator is also connected by a Wire 22E to the solenoid 2|4.

When the switch 223 is closed the motor circuit is complete and energy from the generator 225 excites the motor 220 which in turn rotates the machine driving shaft 41. The energy flowing along the completed circuit also energizes the solenoid and this energy acting on the solenoid core 2|3 draws and maintains the latter in retracted position within the solenoid. Thus the 75 municate with the not air nood |51.

core, through the linkage connecting with the slide valves |8|, |88 maintains the latter in their normally open position.

When the machine is stopped for any reason the motor circuit is broken and the solenoid 2|4 is thus deenergized. Hence the compression spring within the solenoid depresses the core 2 i3 and thus shifts the slide valves. l8|, |88 into their closed position as hereinbefore described.

Returning now to the second heating stage of the U-shaped blank it should be understood that this stage of heating takes place while the blank, is passing under theY auxiliary defiecting plate |53. 'Ihe uncoated upright portion of the blank passing through the channel (Figs. 1() and 16) is heated by hot air admitted into the channel through spaced ports 23| which are formed in the depending wall section |69 of the auxiliary deflecting plate |53. These ports register with vertical utes 232 of a slide valve 233 when the latter is in its normal position. The iiutes com- This slide valve 233 is similar to the slide valve |8| and in like manner slides in a groove 234 formed in the depending wall section |69 of the auxiliary deflecting plate |53.

In similar manner the adhesive coated upright portion of the U-shaped blank passes through channel |66. Hot air is admitted into this channel by way of a slide valve 231 which slides ina groove 238 formed in the ceiling wail |18 of the auxiliary deecting plate |53. The valve is provided with vertical holes 24| which at their upper end communicate with the hood i5|. vit their lower end, when the valve is in its normal position, the vertical holes 24| register with. vertical spaced ports 2&2 formed in the bottom of the ceiling wall |18. Hot air isthus directed straight down onto the coated portion of the blank.

When the machine stops operating the slide valves 233, 231 are shifted into port closing position in unison with the two previously mentioned first stage slide valves |8|, i88. Valve 233 moves into a position where its utes 232 are between the spaced ports 23|thereby completely closing off the latter. Valve 231 also moves'its holes 24| into a position4 between its ports 242 so that the latter are closed oil.

Provision is made however for permitting the hot air to escape through the valve 231. This is effected by Way of horizontal and spaced escape ports 245 (see also Fig. 17) which are formed in the outer side portion of the ceiling Wall |18. 'These escape ports register with horizontal bores 248 which are formed in the outer side of the valve 231 and which communicate with its vertical hoies 2M. Hence when the valve is in closed position the heated air escapes through the side oi the auxiliary deiiecting plate so that the adhesiveon the blank will not be burned.

Shifting of the second stage slide valves 233, is done in an identical manner as described for the -lrst stage slide valve |8I, |88. This is brought about by a rock lever 25| (see also Fig. 9) `which is mounted on a pivot shaft 252 car.- ried in bearings 253 formed in opposite sides of the heating hood i5 l. The lever is provided with two dependingsegment arms 254 having rack teeth 255 which mesh with rack teeth 256 formed :in the top edges of each of the valves. The rock lever 25| is also provided with a single upper arm 251 which is connected by a link 258 to the rst stage link 205 and its clevis 204. The rock lever 25| and its slide valves 233, 231 thus' move in time with the lever |99 and its valves |8|, |88 and is controlled by the same solenoid 2|4.

Near the end of the second stage of heating and while the blank is -still under the hood 1| 5|, its luicoated andcoated edge portions c, d are folded down over the top of the horn 9| and into overlapping relation. This is done at the auxillary folding station E. This folding brings the U-shaped blank into the desired rectangular form of the body being produced.

The uncoated edge portion c is rst folded into horizontal position. This'is brought about by a stationary plate cam 26| (Fig. 1) which overhangs the horn 9| and which is secured to one of the blank guide rails |45 (see Fig. 4). The overhanging portion of the cam is formed With a sloping cam surface 262. As the blank advances along the horn it engages against the cam surface and is thereby turned down against the top of the horn (-see also Fig. 16) and under the cam. This folds the blank along the adjacent outer crease line b.

After the uncbated edge portion c has thus been brought d'own into place, the opposite and now heated or tacky adhesive coated edge portion d is folded over at an angle along its adjacent outer crease line b (e Fig. 16). This folding is accomplished by a stationary plate cam 286 (Fig. 1) which is secured to its adjacent blank guide rail (145. The cam is provided with a cam surface 265 which overhangs the horn and which is engaged by the moving blank as it advances along the horn.

During this folding and overlapping of the blank edges c, d the blank is passing under the heating chamber S1 (Fig. 16) of the auxiliary deilecting plate |53 and is still receiving a cur- 'rent of hot air. The exterior surface of the angularly disposed edge portion d receives heat from the ports 242. Other ports 281 (see also Fig. 10) formed. in the bottom ywall |12 which encloses the heating chamber, deflect heated air under the angularly disposed edge portion d of the blank and also against the turned down edge portion c. These ports 261 are disped at an angle in the bottom Wall |12 and transmit air received in the chamber from the ports 23| adjacent the slide valve 233. 'I'his completes the heating and folding of the blank.

On the next forward movement of the feed bars i5 the heated and folded blank is advanced into the bumping station F Where the side seam edges c, are brought into longitudinal alignment and are then squeezed together in a tight side seam. This is done while the adhesive on the blank is still tacky so that a strong side seam results.

Alignment of the side seam edges is effected by a pair of swinging gauge fingers 21! (Figs. l, 2 and 6) which are located, one on each side of the horn Si and in close proximity thereto. Each drager ls mounted on a rocker pin 212 carried in bearings 213 'formed in a cross web 214 of the auxiliary frame i3. At its upper end each rocker pin carries a bevel gear 218 which meshes with a bevel gear 211 mounted on a transverse rocker shaft 218. The rocker shaftis carried in bearings 219 formed in the frame web 214.

One end vof therocker shaft 218 projects beyond the side of the auxiliary frame and carries an arm 28| having a bifurcatedend 282 in which a block 283 is supported on trunnions 284. Arm 28| is yieldably connected by a link 286 to the outer end of a cam leverv 281. The cam lever is carried on a pivot pin 288 secured in a boss 289 of the auxiliary frame I3. The upper end of the link 28B extends through a hole in the block 283.

The yieldable connection is provided by a comf pression spring 29| which surrounds the link and which is held in place by a collar 292 on the link. The upper end of the spring abuts against the block 283 and forces it against a locknut 294 threaded on the end of the link. The arm 28| and the cam lever 281 are moved in unison by a cam roller 296 carried on the cam arm and operating in a cam groove 291 of a cam 298 mounted on the main drive shaft 41.

Thus as the cam 298 rotates, it shifts the linkage connecting with the rocker shaft 218 and hence rocks the latter and the gauge fingers 21| in time with the advancement of the blanks a along the horn 9|. When the blank rst enters the bumping station F the ngers are open or in swung back position so that they will not interfere with the passage of the blank. When the blank comes to rest at the bumping station the ingers follow in after it and engage against and push the side seam edges c, d into longitudinal register with each other vso that the end of the body, produced from the blank, will Ibe even and straight.

Hot air is blown on the heated adhesive on the blank edge d while the blank is at this bumping station so that the adhesive will be maintained in a tacky condition. This air is preferably received from the heating hood I5I and is conducted through a conduit 30| (Figs. 1, 4, 10 and l1) one end of which connects with the hood. The opposite end widens out into a nozzle 302 which extends into close association with the angularly disposed blank edge d before it is bumped down.

While the side seam edges of the blank are held in register they are bumped or squeezed into tight engagement with each other. This is done by a vertically movable hammer 3I| (Figs. 3 and 7) which is located over the forming horn 9| just above the angularly disposed edge portion d of a blank at rest on the horn. The hammer is preferably cooled by a uid cooling medium which is circulated through a channel 3|2 formed therein. Circulation of the cooling medium is maintained through an inlet pipe 3|4 and an outlet pipe 3I5 threaded into the hammer and communicating with the channel.

The hammer 3| I is provided with an upwardlyl extending stem 3|1 which slides in a guideway 3|8 formed in a housing 3I9 secured to the web 214 of the auxiliary frame I3. The stem is connected to a lower toggle link 32| which in turn is connected to an upper toggle link arm 322 Y of a bell crank lever 323. This bell crank lever is pivotally mounted on a block 324 which slides above the hammer stem 3|1 in the guideway 3I8.

The block isl provided with a vertical shank 325 which extends up through a top web 326 of the auxiliary frame I3. The shank extends above the web`and is held in position by a nut 321 which is threaded onto the shank end. A compression spring 328 surrounds the shank and ls disposed between a collar 329 formed on the shankand the block 324 and thus maintains the latternnder a desired pressure. 'Ihe pressure may be changed as desired by adjustment of the nut 321.

Actuation of the hammer 3I| in time with the other moving parts of the machine is eiected by cam action through a train of links and levers connecting with an arm 332 of the bell Crank lever 323. The outer end of the arm is connected to a link 333 which also connects with an arm 334 of a bell crank 325. The bell crank 335 is mounted on a short shaft331 carried in bearings 338 formed in an extension 339 of the auxiliary frame I3.

A second arm 34| of the bell crank 335 carries a cam roller 342 which operates in a cam groove 343 of a face cam 344. The cam is mounted on the main, drive shaft 41.

Thus the cam 344 through the bell crank 335, the link 333 and the toggle links 32|, 322 forces the hammer 3| down onto the angularly disposed edge portion d of the blank and presses it tightly against the opposite edge portion e. The heated and tacky adhesive e carried von the edge portion d thus forms a bond between the pressed together seam parts, uniting them into a tight side seam as hereinbefore explained.

During this bumping of the side seam' edges the horn 9| is additionally supported from below by a vertically movable anvil 35| (Fig. 3). The anvil is provided with a square shank 352 which slides in a guideway 353 formed in the frame extension 339. This shank is connected by a link 354 to a third arm 355 of the bell crank 335.

Accordingly when the bell crank 335 rocks, in actuating the hammer 3II, it also moves the anvil upward against the bottom of the horn 9| and thus takes the thrust of the seam bumping action. brackets .93, from bearing the full force of the seam bumping load.

Bumping of the side seam completes the forming of the blank a into a can body. The body is thereafter pushed oif the end of the horn 9| on the next stepped movement of the feed bars I5 and is discharged to any suitable place of deposit.

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 sacricing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can body making machine, the combination of feeding devices for advancing can body blanks along a predetermined path of travel through the machine, a forming. horn disposed adjacent the path of travel of said blanks, cooperating pairs of movable instrumentalities located adjacent said horn on each side thereof for pressing said blank against the sides of said horn, means for operating said movable instrumentalities in unisonwhen pressing the blank against the horn and for operating them independently thereafter while the blank is advanced along the horn so that one pair of instrumentalities will guide the blank during advancement while the other instrumentalities are moving back out of the Way of the next following blank, and means for uniting side seam edges of the blank into a side seam.

2. In a machine for making fibre can bodies from flat blanks having side seam edges one of which is provided with an adhesive, the combination of feeding devices for the blanks, a horn around which the blanks are formed, cooperating pairs of movable jaws adapted to engage under the blank and fold and press it into U-shape around the horn, devices for operating said jaws in unison when pressing the blank This relieves the horn supporting areaal:

against the horn and for operating them inde-f,

pendently thereafter so that onepair of jaws will retain the blank in its folded shape and guide it during its advancement while the other jaws recede out of theway of the next following unfolded blank, means for further bending the blank along its side seam edges to bring them into overlapping relation, and a bumping element for squeezing together the side seam edges of the blank so that the adhesive thereon will bond them together in a tight side seam..

3. lin a machine for making bre can bodies from nat blanks having side seam edges one of which is provided with an adhesive, a horn around which the blanks are formed, cooperating pairs of movable jaws adapted to engage under the blank and fold and press it into U-shape around the horn, means for operating said jaws in unison when pressing the blank against the horn and for operating them independently thereafter so that one pair of jaws will retain the bla-nk in its folded shape and guide it during its advancement While the other jaws recede out of the way of the next following unfolded blank, means for further bending the blank along its side seam edges to bring them into overlapping relation, members located adjacent said horn for longitudinally aligning the bent side seam edges of the blank, and a bumping element for squeezing together the side seam edges of the blank so that the adhesive thereon will bond them together in a tight side seam.

fi. in a machine for making fibre can bodies from fiat blanks having side seam edges one of which is provided with a dried adhesive, the combination of feeding devices for the blanks, a horn around which the blanks are formed, cooperating pairs of movable jaws adapted to engage under the blank and fold and press it into U-shape around the horn, means for operating said jaws in unisony when pressing the blank against the horn and for operating them independently thereafter so that one pair of jaws will retain the blank in its folded shape and guide it during its advancement while the other jaws recede out of the way of the next following unfolded blank, devices for heating the side seam edges of said blank to render the adhesive thereon tacky, means for further bending the blank along its side seam edges to bring them into overlapping relation, and a bumping element for squeezing together the side seam edges of the blank so that the heated' and tacky adhesive thereon will bond them together in a tight side seam.

5. In a machine for making' nbre can bodies from dat blanks having side seam edges one of which is provided with a thermoplastic adhesive, thecombination of a forming horn, feeding devices for advancing the blanks in succession in ,e

for reshifting said valves into port opening pom a step by step .movement along said horn, movablejaws forengaging under a blank and for bending it into U-shape around said horn, heating devices adjacent said horn for preheating the upright portions of the folded blank, which portions include the side seam edges, means for bending the heated side seam edges of the blank over the top of the horn and into overlapping relation, and a bumping element for securing said heated seam edges together to provide a tight side seam.

v6. In a machine for making fibre can bodies from dat blanks having side seam edges one of which is provided with a thermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a forming horn, feeding devices for advancing the blanks in succession in c a step by step movement along said horn, movable jaws for engaging under a blank and for bending it into U-shape around said horn, heating devices adjacent said horn for preheating the upright portions of the folded blank which por- -tions include the side seam edges,l means for bending the heated side seam edges of the blank over the top of the horn. and into overlapping relation, a bumping element for Vsecuring said heated seam edges together to provide a tight side seam therealong, and devices disposed adjacent said bumping element for finally heating the adhesive on the overlapping side seam edges so that the adhesive will be in a tacky condition during the bumping operation.

7. In a machine for making bre can bodies from flat blanks having side seam edges one of which is provided with a thermoplastic adhesive, the combination of a forming horn, feeding devices for advancing the blanks in succession in a step by step movement along said horn, movable jaws for engaging under a blank and for bending it into U-shape around said horn, heating devices adjacent said horn for preheating the upright portions of the folded blank, which portions include the side seam edges, means for bending the heated side seam edges of the blank over the top of the horn andinto overlapping relation, devices for cutting 0E the heat from said heating devices when the machine stops operating so that the adhesive will not be burned on blanks left under said heating devices, and a bumping element for securing said heated seam edges together to provide a-tight side seam.

8; In a machine for making fibre can bodies from flat blanks having side seam edges one of which is provided with a thermoplastic adhesive, the combination of feeding devices for the blanks, instrumentalities for bending said blank into a U-shape, a heating hood disposed over the path of travel of said blanks, heat deiiecting devices adjacent the bottom of said hood and having longitudinal channels through which the upright portions including the side seam edges pass while being advanced, slide valves in said deflecting devices and movable into register with ports also in said defiecting devices for directing heat from said heating hood against the side seam edges of saidadvancing blank to preheat the edges and to bring adhesive into a tacky condition, means for shifting said slide valves intoport closing position when the machine stops' operating and sition when the machine is in operation, devices for bending the heated side seam edges into overlapping relation, and a bumping elementA for securing said overlapped edges together to produce a side seam tightly bonded by the tacky adhesive. v

MAGNUS E. `W1DE LL.

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