Canned food manufacturers need can sealing/seaming machines to ensure the integrity of the seams of their packaged goods. This avoids product contamination and spillage. Some can sealers even come with vacuum and nitrogen gas flushing devices to extend the product’s shelf life. Vacuum can sealers work by removing the oxygen from the containers before the sealing process.
Table of Contents
Components You Will Need
Below is a list of the parts you need to have to build a small can sealing machine. For the sake of this guide, we will use an Ives-Way can sealer, a small can sealer you can easily assemble, as our example. You can assemble most can sealers in the same way but we suggest that you follow the instruction manual that came with the can sealer kit you bought.
Head
Crank & Screw
Frame
Seaming roller washer
1st and 2nd seam rollers
2 Seaming roller springs
2 Seaming roller screws
2 3-hole nuts (left & right)
2 Adjusting thumb screws
Locking lever
Lever pivot
3-inch pin
Chuck screw
Turntable
Turntable Spring
Turntable extension
Gauge Wires
2 3⁄16-inch Spacers
Additional Components
Below are the additional components you will need depending on the size of the cans you are going to seam.
For Tall 1-Pound Cans (301×408)
For these cans, you will need a #301 chuck.
#301 Chuck
For Flat ½-Pound Cans (307×200.25)
For half-pound cans, you will need a #307 chuck and an additional 5⁄16-inch spacer.
#307 Chuck
5⁄16-inch Spacer
Tuntable extension
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Assemble Your Can Sealer
Before you start assembling your can sealer, determine the size of the cans you will be seaming first. Now, let us go into the assembly steps.
1. Mount the Frame
- Clamp the frame on a table
- Tighten the clamp screw using the 3-inch pin
2. Install the Seaming the Head
- Slide the head on the frame’s post
- Align the slots of the head and the frame
3. Install the Lever
- Slide the lever into the slot (make sure the writings are facing toward the can sealer’s body)
- Align the lever’s hole with the head’s slots.
- Get the lever pivot and insert it into the aligned slots from the head’s back (the pivot’s ridge side should be out)
- Tap the lever pivot using a hammer until its whole body is inside the hole
4. Attach the Crank
- Insert the crank’s gear into the sealer’s head
- Insert the crank’s screw and tighten it using your hands
- Turn the crank’s handle until you see a “0” at the center of the head’s indicating window (this is located at the head’s top portion).
- Loosen the screw and position the crank’s handle to let it hang straight down
- Tighten the screw using a quarter (a screwdriver might damage the screw so it is not recommended)
5. Insert the 3-Hole Nuts
- Insert the first 3-hole nut into the head’s right side first. You will find a channel labeled “first”. Make sure that the numbers on the nut are facing upwards.
- Place the 3-hole nut into the first channel with the label “1” towards the head’s center.
- Insert the second 3-hole nut into the head’s left channel labeled “second”. Position it like what you did to the first 3-hole nut.
- Make sure the nuts are moving freely. File any casting marks obstructing the nuts’ movement if there are any.
6. Attach the 1st Seam Roller
- Look for the seam roller with a more rounded and deeper profile (this is the 1st seam roller). The 2nd seam roller will have a flatter and shallower profile.
- Put a seaming roller spring onto a roller screw followed by the 1st seam roller and the washer.
- Make sure the 1st seam roller’s largest part is beside the washer.
- Thread the assembled 1st seam roller into the #2 hole of the 3-hole nut located at the right side of the head. Thread from the nut’s bottom section.
- Thread the thumb screw inwards loosely.
- Next, rotate the crank’s handle until you see a “1” in the head’s indicating window.
7. Attach the 2nd Seam Roller
- Assemble the 2nd seam roller as you did for the 1st seam roller but use the 2nd seam roller this time
- Rotate the crank’s handle until you see a “2” in the head’s indicating window.
- Attach the 2nd ream roller assembly as you did for the 1st seam roller.
- Rotate the crank’s handle again until you see a “0” in the indicating window.
8. Attach the Seaming Chuck
- Insert the chuck’s screw into the chuck’s center (the chuck’s concave side should be facing down).
- Thread the chuck screw into the sealer’s head using your hand.
- Tighten the chuck by inserting the 3-inch pin into one of the chuck’s small holes and rotating the crank in the clockwise direction until the chuck is tightened
- Remove the 3-inch pin
9. Adjust the 1st Seam Roller
- Turn the crank until the indicating window shows “1”
- Adjust the 1st seam roller until the larger gauge wire fits between the chuck and the roller
- Tighten the 1st seam roller
10. Adjust the 2nd Seam Roller
- Turn the crank until the indicating window shows “2”
- Adjust the 2nd seam roller until the smaller gauge wire fits between the chuck and the roller
- Tighten the 2nd seam roller
11. Install the Turntable
- Insert the spacers and the spring into the turntable’s shaft (make sure to use the spacers required for your cans)
- Insert the extension as well into the shaft if you will be sealing 1⁄2-pound cans
12. Test the Assembled Can Sealer
- Lock Down the Can
- Lock Down the Can
- Turn the crank until the indicating window shows “0” (make sure the crank is hanging down)
- Raise the lever until it is in the full upward locked position
- Place a can on the turntable
- Place a lid on top of the can
- Pull down the lever to lock the can
- Form the Seam
- Turn the crank in the clockwise direction (you should start and stop with a “0” in the indicating window)
Pull the lever up and remove your sealed can
13. Evaluate the Resulting Double Seam For Defects
- The last thing you need to do is check the test seam for any double seam defects.
Conclusion
Building your own can sealing machine is a fun experience. It helps you learn the basics and familiarize yourself with how these machines work before you buy a pre-built one in case your production demand increases. We hope that you will have fun in assembling your very own can sealer through this guide. You can also find a high-quality can sealers and can filling machines here in Levapack. Learn how vacuum sealing machines work here.
EN 
RU 
ES 
FR 
DE 
NL 
IT