US2094031A - Method of and apparatus for manufacturing metallic closures - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 28, 1937. J. J. WILLIAMS 2,094,031 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC CLOSURES Filed Dec. 4, 1953 Smaentor JZZm J- William pami-um attorney 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Bnventqr dams J. J. WILLIAMS Filed Dec. 4, 1933 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC CLOSURES Sept. '28, 1937.

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Gnome Se t. 28, 1937. J. J. WILLIAMS 2,094,031 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC CLOSURES Filed Dec. 4, 1933 3 Sheets-$heet 3 Zmventor attorney T Patented Se t. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlc METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANU- FACTURING METALLIC CLOSURES' John J. Williams, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Hazel-Atlas Glass Company, Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Application December 4, 1933, Serial No. 700,900

18 Claims.

, tion is to greatly increase the speed of manufacturing these closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus by which the head will be completely curled inwardly right up to the lug, as distinguished from a construction in which the bead is gradually uncurled up to the lug. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which the cap will be positively and automatically ejected after its formation.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in 'which, I

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus; the parts being shown in the positions they assume in theirdownward movement,

but prior to reaching the metallic blank.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the parts in the positions they assume after engaging the blank, and with certain parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a similar view, but showing the parts in the positions they assume during their upward movement; the completed cap having been ejected. In this figure certain parts are broken away and other parts are omitted.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the curling ring.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the lug forming fingers and associated parts.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the lug forming fingers.

Figure 7 is a detail finger holder.

Figure 8 is a detail knockout pad.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail views illustrating the manner in which the bead is completely curled right up to the lugs.

Figure 11 is a similar view illustrating how, in the formation of a cap without the use of the improved lug forming fingers, the head would be gradually uncurled up to the lugs.

Figures 12 and 13 are a detail plan and vertical sectional view, respectively, of a portion of the cap and one of the lug forming fingers, and illustrating how the bead is completely curled up to the lugs; and

perspective view of the perspective view of the;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 12, but illustrating how the bead is gradually uncurled up to the lugs when the improved lug forming finger of the present invention is not employed.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, numeral I indicates a supporting plug which is solidly bolted to a plate 2; the plate being fastened to the bolster plate of the press. Numeral 3 refers to a locating ring sliolably mounted on the plug I, and normally held inits elevated position by the springs 4. When the ring is in its elevated position it assists in properly positioning the cap blank -5 on the supporting plug, and when the shaping mechanism descends to form the cap it pushes the locating ring downwardly out of the way.

Numeral '6 refers to the die holder which is clamped or otherwise secured to the crosshead 'l of the press. The crosshead is illustrated diagrammatically, and the mechanism of the press for raising and lowering the crosshead is not illustrated, as such mechanism is old and wellknown.

1 A centering ring 8 is mounted on the lower end of the die holder, and this ring is preferably beveled as indicated by numeral 9. The centering ring performs the function of accurately centering the blank 5 on the supporting plug, and also forces the locating ring 3 downwardly as the parts come into position to form the cap.

Also mounted in the holder, and above the' centering ring, is the curling diev H]. The lower side of the curling ring is provided with an annular groove II which causes the skirt of the blank to be curled inwardly; and at intervals the inner side of the groove is cut away at whatever may' be the desired angle of the In as best shown in Figure 4 and referred to by numeral l2. Of course the number of these angular portions in the curling die depends upon the number of lugs to be formed. In the form illustrated four lugs are formed but the number of lugs varieswith the size of the cap. Any desired means may be employed for securing the centering ring 8 and the curling die Hi to the die holder 6, but the preferred arrangement is best illustrated in Figure 1,

which shows in dotted lines bolts [3 for securing these three parts together.

Numeral l4 refers to the holder for the lugging members, and this holder is normally held downward against the curling die by the springs 15. These springs permit relative movement between the holder l4 and the curling ring ID, as will appear hereinafter. The lugging members, referred to by numeral I6, are pivotally mounted importance in the present invention as they are in the holder 14. The specific design of the holder is best illustrated in Figure 7, but it is to be understood that the invention is in no mannerlimited to this specific form. By reference to Figure '7 it will be noted that the holder is provided with channels I4 in which the lugging members are pivotally mounted by pins l8 carried in openings I8 provided in the walls of the channels.

The lugging members I6 are of very material so designed as to accomplish an entirely new and most desirable function. The construction of the lugging members is best illustrated in Figure 6, which shows one of the members in perspective and on an enlarged scale. By reference to that figure it will be noted that an upwardly extending finger or protuberance I1 is provided at the end' of the member. This finger is curved at its top to substantially the curvature of the bead, and

its rear face,'indicated by numeral I1, is inclined.

at the angle of the lug to be formed. Of course the size and particular shape of the finger Il may be varied according to the size of the cap and according to the particular inclination desired in the lug. Particular attention is called to the fact that the finger I1 is arranged centrally of the lug member, so that a flange or shoulder I9 is provided on either side of the finger; and that the sides 20 01? the finger extend upwardly abruptly. from these shoulders. these shoulder cause the bead to be completely The manner in which curled right up to the lugs will be described hereinafter. The lugging members I6 are, as previously stated, pivotally mounted upon pins I8, and

it will be noted that the tops of these members are provided two inclined faces 2 I and 22 which in cooperation with the bottom of the holder I4 limit the outward and inward swinging movement of the lug members.

Numeral. 23 refers to the knock-out pad which strikes against the bottom of the blank and holds it firmly on the plug I during the forming operation, and which subsequently ejects the cap, as will be described hereinafter. In the specific mechanism illustrated the knock-out pad is provided with an annular upstanding fiange 24, which is best illustrated in Figure 8. This flange is interrupted at intervals .to form openings 25 through which the lugging fingers pass; and at these points the pad is slightly recessed as indicated by numeral 26, so that there will be no possibility of the lugs catching on the pad when the caps are ejected. By reference to Fig. '7 it will be noted that the ends of the walls forming the channels I4 are cut away at 21 to an extent equal to the thickness of the flange 24, so that the lug holder will have a neat fit with the pad when these parts are in cooperating positions. It will of course be understood that this specific construction, which is merelythe preferred form, may be modified in any respect desired.

The knock-out pad 23 is mounted on a stem 28 which is angular in cross-section. This stem position with repect to the other moving parts by the spring 32, so that when the die is moving downward, as shown in Fig.1, the holder I4, the

curling die, the lugging fingers, and the knockout pad are all held together in proper position to act upon the blank or shell 5. When the knock-out pad strikes the bottom 'of the shell no. 4

further downward movementofthe pad, lugging members and the holder I4 is possible, but the die holder 6 and the curling die continue the downward movement to form the blank into a 4 finished cap, so that the curling die becomes spaced from the holder for the lugging members, as indicated in Figure 2, and referred to by numeral 33. When the cap is formed and the die moved upwardly the parts resume the positions shown in Figure 1, but the upward movement continues and finally the stem strikes the knockspect to the cap itselfas well as to the formation thereof.

While the crosshead of the press is at the upper end of its stroke a blank or shell is placed on the operating plug I, either automatically or by hand; the blank being centered by the ring 3. The positions of the parts when at the upper end of the stroke are shown in Fig. 3. The clutch of the press being now tripped the crosshead descends and carries with it the die holder 6, the curling ring I0, the holder I4 for the lugging members and the lugging members I6; it being understood of course that the springs I5 normally maintain the holder I4 in a downward position againstthe curling ring. Whilethese parts descend the spring 32 holds the knock-out pad upward, so that this pad is, in effect, drawn upwardly, until it engages the holder." and the lugging'members I6. The parts have now been brought to the position shown in Fig. l; and while the downward movement has not been sufficient to bring the die into contact with the blank, yet it will be noted that all of the parts are in position ready to enter the blank and shape it into a completed cap. The holder I4 is held down against the curling die by the springs I5, and the knock-out pad. is held upwardly against the lugging members and the holder by the spring 32. The flat bottom faces of thelugging members 00- operate with the fiat upper face of the knock-out pad, and a portion of the top face of the lugging members cooperates with the flat bottom face of the holder, so that the lugging members are firmly held'in the exact operative position desired. Thus positive -means is provided by which the lugging fingers II'and the shoulders I9 are always forced to assume the same position. This is of importance because these fingers and shoulders perform important functions in .the formation of the cap, and any variance in' their positions will cause undesirable variations in the finished cap.

As the crosshead further descends from the position shown in Figure 1 the centering ring-8 strikes the locating ring 3 and forces it downward out of the way, and the edge of the shell 5 enters the centering ring, which is preferably beveled at its lower edge to aid in receiving the shell. Upon continued downward movement the knock- When the knock-out pad strikes the shell no further downward movement of the pad, the lugging fingers or their holder is possible, but the die holder 6 continues to descend, thereby compressing the springs I5 and increasing the pressure of the pad against the bottom of the shell. The curling die now comes into contact with the upper edge of the shell and as the die descends the edge is forced to curl inwardly uniformly throughout its entire extent. This continues until a completely curled bead is formed entirely around the cap, except at those points where the lugs are to be formed. At these points the edge curls freely until it comes into contact with the face II of the lugging fingers I1, and as the die continues its downward movement the metal is forced to follow the contour of the lugging fingers, thereby positively shaping the metal to give the lugs the exact angle desired. It is important, in the manufacture of the specific cap illustrated, that these lugging fingers be of such design that the curling metal edge will strike them at the proper instant. For instance, if the plane of the inclined faces II' should be too low the metal will start to curl outwardly before contacting with the faces, with the result that the,

metal will double upon itself, thereby deforming the single sheet lugs illustrated and rendering the cap useless. Itwill therefore be understood that in the manufacture of caps with single sheet lugs the lugging fingers must be so positioned that the;

incurling metal will strike them before the curling operation has continued to such an extent that the metal is moving outward.

If the lugging members included only the fingers H the metal on either side of the fingers would be prevented from becoming completely curled, due to the strains set up in the metal by the lugging fingers. That is, in the completed cap the metal would remain largely uncurled immediately adjacent the lugs and would gradually taper oif away from the lugs to a complete curl.

This is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 14, and in practice it produces the most serious difllculties, just a few of which will be briefly mentioned here, before continuing the description of the operation. In the manufacture of glass containers there is always a slight variance in the finish. These variations are kept within fixed limits, termed the tolerance. In lug caps the lugs must project inwardly clear of other parts of the cap a suflicient distance to properly engage the threads of the finish whether the container happens to have a maximum finish, a minimum finish, or a finish anywhere between a maximum and minimum. If the bead remains partly uncurled adjacent the lugs then that portion of the lug which is free to engage the finish of the container is necessarily measured from the end' of the lug to the outermost uncurled portion. It

is apparent that in such a construction the lug is too shallow to take care of the tolerance, so that in minimum finishes or finishes near the minimum the lug might fail to engage the threads of the finish. In some instances instead of the lugs engaging the threads the uncurled portion adjacent the lugs will engage, and this not only improperly positions the cap on the container but also the edge of this uncurled portion is likely to become bent when pressure is applied in turning the cap to sealing position. In general, the

figures it will be. noted that in Fig. 9-the metal cations.

construction described above may result in-the cap being totally unfit for use, or it may be positioned off center of the c'ontainer, or it may assume a lopsided position on the container, etc. A poor seal is the result. These most serious difiiculties and various other difficulties are entirely overcome by the present invention, as will be made clear below. s

In the operation thus far described the die has descended far enough to curl the entire bead inward, and at the points where the lugs are to be formed the metal has engaged the inclined faces of the lugging fingers and is following the contour'of the lugs. The fingers I1 are arranged centrally of the lugging members, so that shoulders I9 are formed on each side of the fingers. The metal immediately adjacent the lug now engages theseshoulders and is forced to the same,-

complete curl it would have. assumed if the lugs were not formed. In other words the incurled bead of the cap leads directly up to the lugs in -a uniform curl. The shoulders I9 cause this complete curlingup to the lugs, and the ab-' rupt ends 20 of the fingers permit it. The accomplishment of this most desirable result will perhaps be better understood by 'reference to Figs. 9, 10, 12 and 13. By reference tothese d rectly adjacent the finger has just engaged the shoulder I 9, and further downward movement of the die causes it to curl completely; the shoulder preventing the metal from passing below its plane and causing it to curl upwardly. Fig. 11 makes clear what happens when the shoulders I9 are not present. Also, Figs. '12 and l3 illus trate how the curled head is completed directly up to the lugs when the shoulders are employed, and Fig. 14 illustrates how the portions adjacent the lugs remain partly uncurled when the shoulders'are not employed. It should be mentioned that the position of the shoulders is also of importance. If the shoulders are too high the metal will engage too soon and will be forcedtoward 'the center of the cap instead'of outwardly; and

if it is too low it will not causethe fmetal to be be engaged by themetal just about the time the metal is starting to curve outwardly.

curled 'sufiiciently. The best position is ap-' proximately as illustrated in Fig. 9; i. e., the shoulder is preferably so positioned that it will The cap is now completed and the die starts its upward movement. If this upward movement left the cap on the plug I the speed of production would be considerably reducedfor the cap would then have to be removed from the plug by hand or by some other means which would slow down production and cause compli- In accordance with the present invention the finished cap is automatically removed. As the die first starts upward the springs I5 maintain the holder I4, the lugging fingers and the knock-out' pad in their lowermost position, while the die holder and the curling dieIIJ move upward. But when the curling die strikes the holder I 4 then'all of the parts move upward together; and as the spring 32 is maintaining the knock-out pad upwardly against the holder I4 and thereby keeping the lugging fingers in their extended or operative positions, it follows that the completed cap must be lifted from the forming plug I, for the lugs ofthe cap are positioned over these fingers.

The cap 35 has now been lifted from the plug I, the locating ring 3 has been moved to its elevated position by the springs 4 in place to receive When the crosshead approaches the upper limit of its stroke the stem 28 strikes the knock-out bar 34 (Fig. 3) wh ch prevents furtherupward movement of the knock-out pad. The other parts ccntinue their upward movement and thus the pad is separated from the holder N. This relative downward movement of the knock-out pad forcibly ejects the completed cap, and the lugging members are thrown to their inoperative position, all of which is illustrated in Figure 3. The caps fall by gravity, or may be blown by compressed air, into a container suitably placed to receive them.

It should be noted that the lugging fingers are pivoted in such manner that they will swing downward and inward away from the cap lugs at a rate of speed relative to the downward speed of the knock-out pad that will permit them to clear these lugs without distorting them. Also, the cut-out portions 28 of the knock-out pad prevent the lugs from catching on the pad while being ejected. The inclined face 2! at the top of the lugging members limits the inward movement of these members so. that they will be proprepetition of the cycle is started by the tripping of the clutch.

While the preferred apparatus has been described in detail it is to be understood that the present invention in both the method and apparatus is in no manner limited to the specific disclosure. In other words, the particular apparatus shown and described is to be considered as illustrative rather than in any limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming a blank having a uniform depth, forming an incurled bead about the edge of the blank, while the metal is curling inward forming lugs at the desired points by causing the raw edge of the metal to extend inwardly beyond the curled portions,'and simultaneously with the formation of the lugs causing the metal immediately adjacent the lugs to be curled into a bead substantially uniform with the remainder of the incurled bead.

2. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming a blank having a uniform depth, forming an incurled bead about the edge of the blank, while the metal is curling inward forming lugs at the desired points by causing the raw edge of the metal to extend inwardly, beyond the curled portions, and during the formation of the lugs causing the metal immediately adjacent the lugs to be so curled that the portion thereof nearest the top of the cap will be in substantially the same plane as the similar portion of the remainder of the bead.

3. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming a blank having a uni- 'form depth, forming an incurled bead about the 4. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of curling portions of the blank over protuberances to form lugs, and while the metal is following the contour of the proturberances intercepting the curling metal immediately adjacent the lugs and causing it to curl outwardly. 1

5. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of curling portions of the blank over protuberances to form lugs, and while the metal is following the contour of the protuberances intercepting the curling metal immediately adjacent the lugs and preventing it from passing below a predetermined plane.

6. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming an incurled bead about the edge of the blank, at the points where lugs are to be formed engaging the incurling metal to form lugs after the metal has curled the desired extent, and engaging the incurling metal adjacent the lug forming portions and preventing it from passing below a predetermined plane.

7. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a curling die, means for moving said curling die to cause the edge of the cap blank to curl inwardly, lug forming fingers for shaping portions of the incurling metal into lugs, and means adjacent the fingers for limiting the downward movement of the metal adjacent the lugs.

8. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including means for curling inwardly the edge of the cap blank, means for forming inwardly projecting lugs from the incurling metal, and means for fixing the lowest plane of the incurled metal immediately adjacent the lugs.

9. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including means for curling inwardlkthe edge of the cap blank, means for forming inwardly projecting lugs from the incurling metal, and means engaged by the curling metal adjacent the lugs,

the last-mentioned means preventing further downward movement of the metal.

10. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including means for curling the edge of a cap blank into a substantially completely curled bead except at intervals, means for forming inwardly projecting lugs at said intervals, and means for forcing the incurled metal immediately adjacent the lugs into a substantially completely curled bead.

11. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a curling die for inwardly curling the edge of a cap blank, a lug-forming finger movable into the path of the curling die, and shoulders on boi sides of said finger to engage the incurling metal immediately adjacent to said finger.

12. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a curling die for inwardly curling the edge of a cap blank, a lug-forming finger movable into the path of the curling die, and means adjacent to and below the top of said finger for limiting the downward movement of the metal at the sides 01' the lug-forming finger.

13. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug to receive a cap blank, a plurality of lugging fingers, a curling die, means for moving the lugging fingers intothe path of said die, said lugging fingers lifting the completed cap from said forming plug.

14. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug to receive a cap blank, a plurality of lugging fingers, a curling die curling the edge of the blank inwardly and forming lugs over said lugging fingers, said lugging fingers lifting the completed cap from said forming plug,

1 and means for positively ejecting the cap after it has been lifted from the forming plug.

15. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug to receive a cap blank, a curling die, a holder for said curling die, lugging members, a holder for said lugging members, a knock-out pad, 2. spring normally maintaining the holder for the lugging membersdownward against the curling die, and a spring normally maintaining the knock-out pad upward against the lugging members.

16. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug to receive a cap blank, a curling die, lugging members, said curling die forming lugs in the blank over said lugging members, said lugging members lifting the completed cap from the forming plug, a knock-out pad, and means for causing relative movement between the lugging members and the knock-out pad to eject the cap.

17. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug to receive a cap blank, a curling die, a holder for the curling die, lugging members, a holder for the lugging members, said curling die and lugging members cooperating to form the cap, a knock-out pad below the lugging members, means normally holding together the knock-out pad and the holder for the lugging members, and means for separating the knockout pad and the holder for the lugging members to eject the cap.

18. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming a blank having a uniform depth, forming anincurled bead about the edge of the blank, forming lugs projecting inwardly from the bead at the desired points, and

bead.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS.

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