US3769713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
External can seam checking apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-27
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1990-11-27
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for simultaneously measuring the seams and overall height of cans. The apparatus includes mechanisms for externally measuring the seam thickness, seam height, counter sink depth and the overall height of cans, simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 P Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
External can seam checking apparatus, comprising: A. a base; B. support means carried by the base for rotatably supporting and positioning a can in a gauging position; C. seam height measuring means carried by the base for measuring the height of an external can seam; D. said seam height measuring means including a can seat carried by the base and mounted for vertical movement relative to the base between an upper position and a lower position; E. spring means carried by the base urging the seat to its upper position; F. means limiting the spring urged movement of the seat; G. a lever; H. a pivot on which said lever is pivotally mounted on the base, said lever having a bore adjacent the upper end, said bore opening toward the can seat; I. a part of said lever depending below the pivot, the inner edge of said lever forming a cam; J. a plunger slidably disposed in and biased outwardly of said bore of the lever, the level having limiting outward movement of said plunger; K. a horizontal rod connected with the seat and movable vertically therewith, said rod being mounted for horizontal sliding movement relative to the seat; L. yielding means urging one end of said rod into operable engagement with the cam edge of the lever for effecting pivotal movement of said lever with vertical movements of said can seat; M. said lever being in an inoperative position when the seat is at its upper position and when a can is placed on the seat and pushed downwardly to a position whereat the lower end of the can rests on the support means, the rod effecting rotation of the lever to bring the plunger into lateral contact with the upper edge of said seam; N. and gauge means engaged by the lever when rotated to the position whereat the plunger engages the upper external edge of the cam seam for actuating the gauge to indicate the external height of the can seam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
External can seam checking apparatus, comprising: A. a base; B. support means carried by the base for rotatably supporting and positioning a can in a gauging position; C. seam height measuring means carried by the base for measuring the height of an external can seam; D. said seam height measuring means including a can seat carried by the base and mounted for vertical movement relative to the base between an upper position and a lower position; E. spring means carried by the base urging the seat to its upper position; F. means limiting the spring urged movement of the seat; G. a lever; H. a pivot on which said lever is pivotally mounted on the base, said lever having a bore adjacent the upper end, said bore opening toward the can seat; I. a part of said lever depending below the pivot, the inner edge of said lever forming a cam; J. a plunger slidably disposed in and biased outwardly of said bore of the lever, the level having limiting outward movement of said plunger; K. a horizontal rod connected with the seat and movable vertically therewith, said rod being mounted for horizontal sliding movement relative to the seat; L. yielding means urging one end of said rod into operable engagement with the cam edge of the lever for effecting pivotal movement of said lever with vertical movements of said can seat; M. said lever being in an inoperative position when the seat is at its upper position and when a can is placed on the seat and pushed downwardly to a position whereat the lower end of the can rests on the support means, the rod effecting rotation of the lever to bring the plunger into lateral contact with the upper edge of said seam; N. and gauge means engaged by the lever when rotated to the position whereat the plunger engages the upper external edge of the cam seam for actuating the gauge to indicate the external height of the can seam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
The invention defined by claim 1, wherein there is means mounted on the base for measuring the thickness of the can seam, said means comprising seam backing means including a back-up member positioned to engage the inner side of a seam when the can is resting on the support means; and a radial plunger mounted for movement toward and away from the can seam when the can is on the support means; yielding means urging the inner end of said radial plunger into engagement with the outer side of the can seam; and a gauge operably connected with said radial plunger for indicating the thickness of the can seam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention defined by claim 2, wherein the means for measuring the height of the seam and its thickness are mounted at spaced positions on the base to operate simultaneously when a can is disposed on said can seat and said can is moved onto the support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention defined by claim 3, wherein said radial plunger has a frusto conical can seam engaging end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined by claim 2, wherein the back-up member is rotatable and the position of the back-up member relative to the inner side of the seam is fixed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention defined by claim 1, wherein the support means carried by the base comprises a plurality of annularly spaced shafts arranged radially and having limited radial movement, each of said shafts including a free end portion at the inner end, said free end portion having a generally V-shaped groove therein with a flat bottom on which the free end of a can seam is adapted to rest when the can is moved downwardly to move the seat to its lower operable position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention defined by claim 2, wherein there is means mounted on the base for measuring the depth of the can counter sink, said means comprising a further plunger engagable with the bottom of the counter sink when the can is on said support means, and a counter sink measurement indicator having an operable connection with said further plunger; and variations of the depth of the counter sink being indicated by the indicator as the can is rotated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention defined by claim 7, wherein the means for measuring the depth of the counter sink is effective simultaneously with the means for measuring the height and the thickness of the seam when the can is disposed on the seat and moved into engagement with the can support means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The invention defined by claim 8, including means mounted on the base for measuring the height of the can, said last named means operating simultaneously with the means for measuring the height of the seam and the thickness of the seam by the movement of the can onto the support means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |