US1378215A - Can-testing machine - Google Patents

Description

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CAN TESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-31,1920. I 1,378,215D Patented May' 17, 192.1.

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W-m/ INVENTOR w, E. BURNS. CAN TESTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IAN- SI, 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. j

WILFORD E. BURNS. 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO MAX J'. BRAN- DENSTEIN, MANFRED BRANDENSTEIN, AND EDWARD BRANDENSTEIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A FIRM DOING BUSINESS AS M. J'. BRANDENSTEIN & C0.

CAN-TESTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented DIay 17, 1921,

Application led January 31, 1920. Serial No. 355,362.

To all Hwm. if may concern Bc. it known that I, VILFORD E. BURNS, a citizen ofthe nited States. and a resident of the city and county of Sau Francisco' and State of California, have invented a new and useful Gan-Testing Machine, of which `the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for testing the tightness of the joints in a can.

An'object of the invention is to provide a machine for determining whether or not, the joints of cans are tight, before the contents of the cans are placed in them.

T he invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said dra-wings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through the middle of the machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the middle of the machine, the plane of section being at right angles to that of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on a larger scale of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in diagram 'of the automatic switch forming partl of the mechanism.

Before the contents are placed in metallic containers it is desirable to ascertain if the `seamed and soldered joints of the containers are perfectly tight, so that defective containers may be rejected. In general terms, theV testing machine of my invention comprises a tank adapted to contain water, a

carriage into which the can to be tested maybe thrust by the operator, means for lowering the carriage lnto the, tank to immerse the can..a reservoir of air under pressure, means acting automatically andy in time with the downward movement of the carriage for closing the filling opening in the can and connecting the can with the air reservoir so that prior to immersion there is a pressure within the can greater than the maximum pressure exerted on the can by the water, mea-ns for automatically lighting the tank `from below so that the operator can see bubbles arising from a defective can and means acting in time with the liftlng of the carriage for-allowing the air under pressure to exhaust from the can.

My testing machine comprises a tank 2 inclosed and supported in a suitable frame 3, vertical side members 4 of which, extend upwardly to provide a. mounting for the op. erating mechanism. On cross beams 6 and 7, and directly over the center of the tank 1S arranged a cylinder 8 setinv suitable heads 9 and 11. A rod 12 fitted with piston 13 is slidably mounted in thecylinder, the rod projecting from the cylinder through a stuffing box 14 in the. lower'head 9. A valve box 16 is fixed on one ofthe side members 4, and is formed withV an air chamber 17 in which a slide valve 18 is adapted to be reciprocated to cover or uncover passages 26 connects the passage 21 to the passage- 27 formed inthe lower cylinder head and opening into the cylinder below the piston. The valve box is also provided with an exhaust passage 28 connecting the air chamber 17 with the passage 29 which, passes through' the valve box and opens at both ends into the atmosphere. Thus, by movement of the` slide valve 18 upwardly, air under pressure is admitted below the piston 13to drive it upwardly in the cylinder, and a passage opened to allow. the airabove the piston to escape. Dlownward movement o f the slide, valve opens the passage for -theair below the piston to escape and at thesame time connects the proper passages to allow air under pressure' to enter the cylinder above the Apiston to limpel it downwardly..

The valve rod 31 is fixe-d at its outer end to the slide 32, slidably mounted in a bracket 33 fixed on the frame 4. The lower end of the slide is pivotally connectedto the rod 34. pivoted to the control lever 36 pivoted on the frame. The control lever is formed with handles 37, one at eachrextremity, and provides means whereby an operator on either side of the machine may manually initiate the action of the apparatus.

Fixed on the lower end of' the piston rod 12 is the carriage in which the canv to be tested is placed. The carriage comprises two square hoops 38 connected on the inside by slats 39 within which the can .41,

The position and proportion of the parts is such that when the carriage is in its upper position, the wheels rest on the upper end of the tracks, supporting the plates as shown inl Figrl. In this position the plates form platforms or rests of' use in facilitating the placing of the cans in and withdrawing v them rom the carriage. As the carriage is lowered into the tank, the engagement of the rollers with the track forces the plates into a vertical position as shown in the dotted linesnear the bottom of Fig. 1 holding the can securely in the carriage. The plate 43 is provided with a passage 49 connected by flexible hose 51 with pipe 52 fixedly held in the arm 53 projecting from the carriage and slidably mounted in the cross beams 6 and 7. The top of the pipe is connected by flexible conductor 54 with a source ofl air under low pressure, say about 12 pounds. Conveniently such low pressure air may be taken from the high pressure tank through a reducing valve of known structure. The opening of the passage 49 upon the face of the plate 43 is surrounded by a gasket 56 adapted, when the plate rises to vertical position, to engage about the filling neck 57 of the can and establish a sealed connection between the can and the low pressure air conductors. This connection is established immediately following the initial downward movement of the carriage 62 into the and is maintained until the carriage is again .near the upper position.

. Means are provided for closing the low pressure conductors to the passage of air while the carriage is in and adjacent to its upper position, and for openingl the conductors to thepassage of' air to create a pressure withinpltheycan.just prior to its immersion and continuinguntil it is about to leave the wateinx'. jlve'j61, Fig. 4, with vent here arranged in the pipe 52 andi-1s apted' to be`moved by a lever includingtwof spring pressed fingers 63 and Stops-:166 and 67 are arranged on the sideframe member 4 for actuating the valve as follows: In tlie position of parts shown in Fig. 2, the valve is closed, the passage below the valve being in communication with the atmosphere through the vent 62. Shortly following the beginning of the downward stroke of the carriage, it being remembered that the pipe 52 is fixed to the carriage and moves with it, the finger 63 engages the stop 66, operating the valve to close the vent and open a passage to permit air to flow through the conductors into the can, the engagement of the gasket 56 with the filling neck of the can having just previously occurred. ,As the carriage and pipe 52 near the bottom of their stroke the spring pressed finger 64 which is now on the outside snaps past the stop 67, but on the upstroke is operated by the stop to close thel valve and open, throughthe vent 62, communication between the conductors below the valve and the atmosphere. By the time the plate 43 falls and uncovers the filling opening of the can the air pressure in the can has dropped to about' that of the atmosphere, whatever air under pressure there is in the can at this time escaping through the uncovered filling opening. Near the end of theeupward stroke the finger 63 vsnaps past the stop 66, and the parts are again in the first position as shown in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for `cushioning the stroke at both ends so that the carriage is brought to rest quietly and without jar or noise in both upper and lower positions. Slidably mounted in bearings on thev cross beams 6 and 7 lis a rod 68. The upper bearing comprises blocks 69 resiliently pressed together and against the rod by springs 71 interposed between the blocks and the bolt 72 passing through the blocks and the housing 73. Thus a regulable fricf tional resistance to the sliding of the rod 68 is provided which prevents movement ofthe rod except as actuated Vby superior force. Arms 74 and-76 are fixed on the rod, and areA provided with apertures through which the pipe 52 loosely passes. The position'of the arms xis such that near the end of the upward stroke of thev carriage and pipe 52 the upper endof' the valve 61 engages the arm 74' and carries the rod 68 upwardly a short distance. Near the end of the downward'stroke, the lower arm 76 is engaged b the lower end of the valve or by a collar 7 fixed on the'pipe 52 and the rod 68 is carried downwardly 'a short distance. Mounted for pivotal movement on the slide 32 isa lever arm 78, pivotally connected at one end with -therod 68, and at the other end with a rod 79, to which is fixed a plunger 81 loosely fitting the passage 29 through which, it will be remembered, the exhaust from the cylinder 8 is discharged. When the lever 36 is moved to lower the slide valve 18, to allow air under ressure to enter the top of the cylinder the lever 78 pivots about its connec- 77 engages the arm 76, and moves the rod 68 downwardly. The arm 78 then pivots about its connection on the slide 32, movingl the plunger '81 upwardly to cover the eX- haust passage 28. The remaining air under the piston 13 and in the passages is thus trapped, slowly escaping past the loosely fitting plunger 81, and cushioning the end of the stroke. .When the lever 36 is moved to initiate the upward stroke of the piston 13, the lever 78 is actuated to push up the plunger 81 above the outer opening of the passage 28, and then, near the end of the upward stroke, with movement of the rod 68, is actuated to pull down the plunger 81 to trap the air escaping from the upper end of. th'e cylinder 8, cushioning the end of' the stroke as before.

Means are provided for illuminating thetank during the immersion of the can so that the operatorA can more clearly see the low the plate so that the light rays are,

thrown' upwardly through the water of the tank. Thelamp is connected in series to circuit 86, one side of the circuit being connected to the power line 87, and the other side of the power'line and the other side of circuit 86 being connected to spaced con- `tact ribs 88 arranged on and insulated from the frame member 4 in position to be engaged by contact 89 mounted on and insulated, from the collar 77. Near the end of the downward stroke of the carriage the Contact 89 engages between the ribs 88, closing 'the circuit 86 therethrough and lighting the `lamp until the contact leaves the ribs on the upward stroke of the carriage.

I claim:

1. A can testing machine comprising a tank, a carriage for the can to be tested, means for lowering and raising said carriage in-to and out of said tank, and means operated by said carriage during its downward movement for introducing into the can in said carriage air under pressure.

2. A can testin machine comprising a tank, a carriage or the can to be tested, means for lowering and raising said carriage into and out of said tank, a conductor for air under pressure, a valve in said conductor and means operated automatically during the downward movement of said carriage for eistablishing a connection between said conductor and said can and for turning Said valve to permit air under pressure to ll said can.

3. A can testing. machine comprising a tank, a carriage for the can to be tested, means for lowering and raising said carriage into and out of said tank, and means operated automatically during the downward movement of said carriage for introducing into the can in said carriage air under pres-` sure, and during the upward movement of said carriage for releasing the pressure in said can.

' 4. A can testing machine comprising a tank adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, a carriage for the can to be tested, means' `for moving the carriage to immerse the can in the liquid and to lift the can above the liquid, and automatically operated means for maintaining air under pressure within the can'during the period of immersion.

5. A can testing machine Vcomprising a tank adapted to containa quantity of liquid, a carriage for the can to be tested, means for moving the carriage -to immerse the can in the liquid and to lift the can above the liquid, automatically operated means for maintaining air under pressure within the can during the period of immersion and means for illuminating the liquid in the tank during the period of immersion.

6. A can testing machine comprising a tank adapted to containra quantityof liquid, a carriage for the can to be tested, means for movin-g the carriage to immerse the can in the liquid, a plate pivoted to said carriageA and having a passage therein adapted to be registered with the filling openingA of said. can, a conductor for air under pressure connected to said plate and opening into said passage, a valve in said conductor, means for moving said plate to register said passage' with said filling opening prior to the period of immersion, and means for opening saidvalve to permit air under pressure to fill said can subsequent to the movement of said plate. A 7. A can testing machlne comprislng 'a" tank, a carriage for the can to be tested, means for lowerinor and raising said carriage into and out of said tank, a plate pivoted to said carriage and having a passage therein ing opening of said can, a 'cam track arranged to move said plate to register said passage with said filling opening during the downward ino-vement of said carriage, and means for introducing `air under pressurel into said passage during the period of such registration.

9. A can .testin machine comprising a tank, a carriage or the can to be tested, means for lowering and raising said carriage into and out of said tank, a plate pivoted to 5 said carriage and having a passage therein adapted to be registered with the filling opening of said can, a second plate pivoted to said carriage and adapted to engage the oppositel end of said can, said plates forming loading and unloading platforms for said carriage in its upper position, means operative with the' downward movement of said carriage for moving said plates into engagement with said can, and means for introducing air under pressure into said passage to fill said can during said downward Inovement.

10. A can testinginachine ,comprising a tank, a carriage for the can to be tested;-

means for lowering and raising said carriage into and out of said tank, a plate pivoted to said carriage and having a passage therein adapted to be registered with the filling opening of said can, a second plate pivoted to said carriage and `adapted to engage the opposite end of said can, said plates forming loading and unloading platforms for said carriage in its upper position, a cam track arranged to move each plate into engagement with said cam during the downward movement of said carriage, a conductor for airl underpressure connected to said first plate and opening into said passage,'and means operated during the downward movement of the carriage ,for permiting air to flow through said conductorv into said can and during the upward movement of the carriage for permitting said air to escape vfrom said can. p 40 11. A can testing machine, comprising a tank adapted to contain a liquid, a carriage for the can to be tested, a cylinder, a piston and piston rod in said cylinder and connected to said carriage, manually controlled means .for admitting air under pressure into oneend of said cylinder to move said carriage into said tank, automatically operating means for trapping air in the opposlte end of the cylinder to cushion the end of the v stroke, and means for introducing air under A pressure into said can V during said stroke.

12. A 'can testing machine, comprising a `tank adapted to containa liquid, a carriage for the can to-be tested, a cylinder, a piston and piston rod in said cylinder and connected to said carriage, manually controlled means for admitting air under pressure into one end of said cylinder .to move said carriage into saidtank, means for cushioning ,Q0 the end of the stroke, andmeans for introdncing airunder pressure into said can during`sad stroke. a l

13'. A' can testing machine, comprising a tank adapted to contain a 1i uid,`a carriage for the can to'be tested, a cy inder, a piston and piston rod in said cylinder and connected to said carriage, manually controlled means for admitting air under pressure into one end of said cylinder tor move said cari riage into said tank, means .for cushioning the end of the stroke, a plate pivoted to said carriage and having a passage therein adapted to be registered with the filling opening of said can, aconductor for air underpressure connected to said plate and opening into said passage, means operative during the movement of said carriage for moving said plate to register said passage with said filling opening, 'and means operative during the movement of said carriage Jfor permitting air to flow through said conductor into said can.

14. A control mechanism for a fluid pressure operated piston comprising a cylinder in which said piston slides, a valve box -formed 'with an air chamber therein, means for introducing air under pressure into said air chamber, means vproviding a passage from each end of the cylinder to said'air chamber, means providing an exhaust passagefrom said air chamber, a valve in said air chamber movable to uncover either passage to said cylinder and to place the other `passage in communication With said exhaust passage, a manually controlled slide for moving said valve,A a lever pivoted on said slide, means for blocking said exhaust passage connected to one end of said lever and normally lying to one side of said passage, and means operating in time with the movement of said piston for moving said lever about its pivot on said slide to move said blocking means across said exhaust passage.

15. A control mechanismfona fluid pressure operated piston comprising a cylinder inwhich said. piston slides, a valve bo formed with an air chamber therein, means for introducing air under pressure into said air chamber, means providing a passage from each end of the cylinder to said air 110 chamber, means providing an exhaust passage from said air chamber, a valve in said air chamber movable to uncover either pas sage to said cylinder and to place the other i passage in communication with said exhaust 1115 passage, a slide for moving said valve, a lever pivoted on said slide, means for blocking said exhaust passage connected to one end of said lever and normally l ing to one side of said passage, a rod slidab y arranged 12 0 adjacent said cylinder and pivotally connected to the other end of said lever, and means for moving said rod with said iston near the end of each stroke to turn sai lever about itsv pivot on said 'slide to move said y125 blocking means across said exhaust passage.

16. A control mechanism for a Huid ressure operated piston comprising a cylinder in which said piston slides, a valve box formed with an air chamber therein, means for introducing air under pressure into said ,airv chamber, means providing a passage from each end of thecylinder to said air chamber, means providing an exhaust passage from said Aair chamber, a valve in said ,air chamber movable to uncover either pasv sage to said cylinder and to place the other passage in communication With said exhaust passage, a slide for moving said valve, a

lever pivoted on said slide, means for blocking said exhaust passage connected to' one end of said lever` and normally lying to one vside of saidpassage,y a rodvslidably arranged adjacent said cylinder and pivotally connected to the other end of said lever, means for moving said rod with said piston near the end of each stroke to turn said lever about its pivot on said slide to move said blocking means across said exhaustI passage, andmanually controlled means for moving said slide t0 operate said valve and to move said lever about its pivot on said rod to move said blocking means clear of said exhaust passage.

In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at an Francisco, California, this 21st day of January 1920.

-WILFORD E. BURNS.

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