[CAN MAKING MACHINERY]

[Music] other items now the construction of a sanitary can is really very simple it consists of a body a top and a bottom the dull gray material around the perimeter of the top and bottom pieces is a ceiling compound which acts as a gasket to make the can airtight while a sanitary can seems uncomplicated making them by the millions is another story to produce the simple three-piece can economically and in the huge quantities demanded by a hungry World high-speed complicated equipment is required actually two produ an end lung Mill is first trimmed and then cut into scrolled sheets ready for feeding to the strip feed print where it is blanked and formed the sheets are coated or lacquered on the side that will become the inside of the can this protective coating is required on practically all sanitary cans most of the cost of a can lies in the tin plate and a constant effort is made to save material by reducing scrap proper scrap layout determines the size of the tin plate sheet and in as much as most all canins are made in double dyes two per stroke the strip delivered by the scroll Shear is known as a double die scrolled Strip by interlocking the cuts in a strip of this type significant Savings in tin plate are accomplished from 3 to 7% depending on the size of the can end operation can end starts with the automatic sheet feeder which feeds sheets of tin plate to the first table of the scroll Shear on this table each sheet is first located correctly by reciprocating side gauges feed bars Advance the sheet to the two slitting Cutters which accurately trim and square the sheet on both sides the thus ensuring scrolled sheetss of exact length and squareness an air operated sheet stop prevents the sheets from advancing into the slitting Cutters until they have been positioned correctly the sheets are then engaged by the feed bar and advaned to the Cutters a double she sheet detector stops the machine if two sheets are accidentally fed to the first table this first table is designed so that it can be retracted to permit the slitting Cutters to be ground without removing them from their shafts after the sheets are trimmed and squared they are discharged to the second table of the scroll Shear where they are picked up by the feed bar for feeding to the scroll d the feed bar is of the magnetic type which carries the sheet slightly past the fixed stop fingers on the forward stroke on the return stroke the sheet is registered against the stop fingers which ensures an extremely accurate width of the strip on an average four scroll strips are produced from each sheet of tin plate the Bliss number 1103 scroll Shear has been designed with an auxiliary mechanical feed bar which eliminates the idle stroke between sheets this feed bar rapidly advances each sheet so that it catches up with the sheet ahead thus every stroke of the shear is a cutting stroke in this operation the machine is arranged so that the scrolled strips drop into one bin and the last strip from each sheet with the straight edge into the fourth or lowest bin however when desired this Arrangement can be changed and all strips collected in the top bin in either case scrap trimmed from the front edge of the sheet is kept separate the double die scroll strips are now stacked for transfer to the strip feed press the Bliss number 1831 strip feed press blanks and forms canins in double dyes at speeds up from 250 to 325 Strokes per minute this means 500 to 650 canins per minute the scrolled strips are hand loaded in an overhead long Supply type of strip magazine the strips are pulled from the bottom of the stack by suction cups and are then engaged by the cross feed mechanism and carried down to the feed table where the main feed bar can pick them up the feed bar advances the strip at each stroke of the press the exact amount required for the particular die being run notice how the auxiliary feed bar engages the strip so as to advance it a pitch and a half for each stroke this produces an overlap of incoming and outgoing strips and eliminates the idle stroke thus ensuring that each stroke of the press produces two canins this is a typical Cann double die which blanks and forms two canins at each stroke of the press here through slow motion Technique we can see the overlapping of the incoming and outgoing strips which enables the press to delivered two ends at each stroke as the ends are stripped from the punches they are contacted by mechanical kickers which eject them to the rear the scrap is automatically discharg to the side of the press by a timed roll type scrap ejector in addition to the regular controls automatic electric stops are provided as a safeguard to the die and press and disengage the Bliss air friction clutch in the event of jams or double strips the Press is restarted at the main control panel when the ends come from the 1831 press they are completely formed except for the edge which is only only started they are then automatically conveyed to a bliss number 20 curler mounted at the rear of the press here the ends are completely curled and magnetically conveyed to high speeed automatic compound applying machines compound is applied just inside the curl of the end and ensures an airtight seal when the ends are double seam to the can B body following the compound operation the ends are packed for transfer to the double seamer in the body line or to the closing operation at the packing plant although these operations from blanking and forming to applying compound take place at relatively high speeds only one operator is needed to keep the line operating at top efficiency this is is made possible by the utilization of a unique conveying system from the curlers the can ends are discharged to a magnetic elevator that carries the ends to the top from where they are conveyed back over the press to the compound machine this allows the operator to be stationed between the press and the compound machines so that he has free access to each so much for making can ends making canned bodies is a more complex problem however the operation of a body line can be broken down into four basic steps First Step produce a body blank from tin plate Second Step form the body and solder the side seam third step flange both ends of the body to take a top and bottom and the fourth and final step double seam the bottom to the body so here are four seemingly simple steps that actually require many separate mechanical operations performed at the amazing speed of 350 to 450 times a minute this is a bliss number 5325 duplex slitter with automatic sheet feeder it produces body blanks to be fed to the body maker this duplex slitter will take sheets as large as 44x 44 in as the sheet is fed from the automatic sheet feeder onto the first operation table of the slitter the two sides are trimmed and the sheet is slit into three strips passing on to the second table the strips are individually picked up and carried to the second set of Cutters where they are trimmed and slit to the required size the planks drop into the stacker ready for transfer to the body maker a closer examination of the various components will reveal the ingenious engineering and expert craftsmanship required to accomplish this high production rate as the sheets are fed to the first operation table of the slitter the table feed bar engages the sheet and pushes it toward the first operation cutters simultaneously gauges on both sides of the table move in and position the sheet correctly this ensures precise registry of both plane or lithograph sheets these side gauges are equipped with rollers to permit easy passage of the sheets the sheet then passes through the alloy steel Cutters where it is trimmed on both sides and slit into three strips from the cutter the strips then pass to the second operation table as the strips feed onto the second table they strike a spring backed side gauge which automatically lines them up for the next step which is cutting the body blanks to advance the strips to the second slitter a feed chain to which a number of metal fingers are attached is used after strips drop into place the fingers are raised slightly above the table by cams so that they can Engage The Back edge of each strip and feed them forward to keep the strips above the feed chain fingers as they move across the table magnetic rollers are used to lift the moving strips above the fingers hold Downs press the back edge of each strip tight against the table ensuring proper engagement with the advancing feed fingers final registration of the strips occurs before they reach the Cutters two back fingers on the feed bars pick each strip off the chain fingers immediately after cam actuated side gauges move in and complete the positioning of the strip before it enters the Cutters finally the strips are cut into body blanks and are dropped into the stacker all of this complex movement is accomplished in a matter of seconds in fact a sheet of tin plate is cut into 24 body blanks every 1 and A2 seconds truly a very short time in which to accomplish this important First Step the making of a body blank the Bliss number 603 body maker produces a canned body with the side seam locked and soldered the blanks are transferred to the body maker and before insertion into the magazine they are checked by the operator for squareness and size installation of regular change Parts permit the number 603 body maker to produce all sizes of sanitary cans commonly used today sizes up to 6 and 3/16 in diameter by 5 and 9/16 in high can be produced with the normal change Parts larger sizes up to 7 and 1316 in high require a slightly more involved change the 603 performs eight different operations flexing knurling notching and edging flux application forming and side seaming soldering all controls are contained in one unit convenient to the operator the blanks are pulled down from the magazine by suction cups and pushed into the flexor flexing breaks down the Grain in the metal so that the finished body will be a perfect cylinder without Flats on the sides after the flexing operation the blank is picked up by the feed fingers and carried through the nerling rolls both edges of the blank are Nur knurling ensures a better flow of solder from the nerling station the blank is carried to the notching station where it is registered and one Edge notched and the other Edge slit the notches and slits are necessary to provide a proper lap at each end of the side seam the hooks are formed at the next station in a double action operation after the blank is registered one Edge is formed up the other down The Edge is first turned at a right angle then formed inward to make a hook at the next station a rotating fiber brush applies flux to the edges in preparation for soldering and the blank advances to the wing or forming station at the Wing Station several operations seem to take place simultaneously actually there are four operations taking place and timing is extremely close by slowing up the action at this point each operation can easily be seen when the blank is Advanced to the Wing Station it is clamped on top of the horn next the wings fold the blank Around the Horn both sides of the horn expand and lock the body hooks after which the hammer comes up and sets or bumps the hook observe the expanding action of the horn as the blank is f fold it around it the hammer comes up immediately and sets the hook at this point the body is now formed and is ready for the next step as the body leaves the Wing Station it is picked up by the chain dogs on the soldering attachment the soldering attachment is an integral part of the bodymaker and also performs several functions from The Wing Station the Cann body is carried on to the water cooled rail or horse where it is first preheated it then passes to the solder pot where the solder roll applies solder to the seam after soldering the body is then post heated to ensure flow of the solder through the entire seam it is then passed over a wiper roll and any excess solder is removed to prevent solder from being thrown into the body during the wiping operation a solder Splash Eliminator is usually used this consists of a chain driven series of baffles the body now moves along the rail to a cooling section where a blower forces cool air over the seam to set the solder passing further along the attachment a roll turns the body 90° before it enters the conveyor to the flanger occasionally a body is removed from the line inspected and broken open in order to examine the soldered seam as the bodies leave the body maker they are conveyed to a bliss number 1315 flanger this is an eight station rotary unit which flanges both ends of the body simultaneously precise feeding of the bodies to the flanger is ensured even though an interruption in production empties the feed in choot this precise feeding is accomplished by the use of a spiral feed which permits single cans to be fed to the machine in the same manner as when the Chute is full this prevents jamming and contributes to uninterrupted production now the body is flanged and ready for a top and bottom from the flanger the body again enters the conveyor where it is carried to the double seamer here can ends are fed into the machine where they are attached to the body by folding the curled Edge under the flange of the body and flattening it thereby making a bottom the body now becomes a can the can again enters the conveyor system where it is carried to the Bliss number 304 air tester this 36 head bucket type tester is actually the Watchdog of the can body line it ensures delivery of perfect cans for the filling machine imperfect cans are quickly rejected permitting the operator to correct any malfunction on the line here again a spiral feed is used to ensure Jam proof feeding of the cans to the star wheel regardless of whether the Chute is filled or not a plunger picks up the can from the Star wheel and clamps it against a rubber disc the bucket comes in over the can leaving a small air or test space between the outer wall of the can and the inner wall of the bucket the pressure in this space is normalized to atmospheric pressure before the test cycle starts as the tester revolves compressed air at a predetermined pressure is forced into the can an imperfect seal between Cann bottom and body or a faulty side seam will allow the air Under Pressure to leak into the small space between can and bucket causing a pressure rise in this space which in turn actuates a sensitive detection and ejection device resulting in the ejection of the imperfect can or leaker the perfect cans leave the tester by way of the bottom shoot any reject discharges by way of the top shoot where it is examined and rechecked in an airwater tester to determine why the can was deficient an important part of an automatic can- making line is the conveying system and the controls used to operate it in this line cans are discharged from each machine to a Pneumatic elevator a powerful blower in the base raises the cans to the top of the elevator column where they are discharged into a Runway from which they drop by gravity to the next machine controls at various points throughout the system ensure the proper flow of cans from machine to machine under all circumstances proper flow of cans is also ensured by the action of the accumulator hanging above and between the flanger and double seamer when all machines in the line are in operation the cans pass directly through the accumulator if operation of the seamer should be interrupted the remainder of the line will continue to operate from 2 to 3 minutes and the cans will be retained in the accumulator during this period an ingenious arrangement of electric controls assures proper operation of the accumulator after operation is resumed the cans will be discharged from the accumulator and conveyed to the double seamer in the normal manner the last step in the story of can making is closing the can and this takes place in a packing plant at the filling line at the packing plant the canned bodies and canned tops are brought together to provide a strong clean and longlasting container for the thousands of food products made available because of the airtight feature of this valuable and convenient container after filling and sealing the cans move on for additional processing are labeled packed and shipped all over the world the sanitary can is the Bull workk of the food industry today and ew Bliss is proud of its contribution to this industry not not only in the development of the most modern equipment available today but also as a Pioneer in automated can manufacturing equipment with an eye to the Future needs of the canning industry Bliss through research and development is constantly seeking newer and better ways to improve can production constantly producing newer and better equipment for all types of metal containers