Machine putting fruit in precious metal can at last (9)
I believe the answer is:
automaton
'machine' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'fruit in precious metal can at last' is the wordplay.
'fruit' becomes 'tomato' (type of fruit).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'precious metal' becomes 'au' (chemical symbol of gold).
'at last' suggests the final letters.
The last letter of 'can' is 'n'.
'au'+'n'='aun'
'tomato' put inside 'aun' is 'AUTOMATON'.
'putting' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for automaton that I've seen before include "Robotic figure" , "machine" , "Robot figure" , "Amount to a (anag) - robot" , "insensate being" .)