US2928454A - Rotary beading machine for forming circumferential beads in can bodies - Google Patents

Description

March 15, 196 0 2,928,454 CUMFERENTIAL E. LAXO ROTARY BEADING MACHINE FOR FORMING CIR BEADS IN CAN BODIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8. 1956 INVENTOR. ED L A X 0 ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 ,928,454

E. LAXO 2 ROTARY BEADING MACHINE FOR FORMING CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEADS IN CAN BODIES Filed March 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I i I I ED LAXO INVENTOR. 1 g L 1: W4- 7;: 1 ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 E. LAXO 2,928,454

ROTARY BEADING MACHINE FOR FORMING CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEADS IN CAN BODIES Filed March 8, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ED LAXO BY f? ATTOR/Vf) United States Patent ROTARY READING MACHINE FOR FORMING CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEADS IN CAN BODIES This invention relates to a beading machine for heading and/ or flanging can bodies. The machine is also adapted for use informing end flanges on can bodies, but will be referred to herein as a header.

Can bodies are frequently beaded, i.e., they are formed with one or more peripheral grooves to strengthen the metal. By this means it is possible to use a thinner gauge metal in forming can bodies. Beading is especially important as a means of reinforcing large cans.

A can beader should be capable of operating at high speeds and it should form the beads accurately and dependably. It should adjust itself automatically for extra metal thickness as at can body side seams, so as to form the beads accurately and properly without exerting excessive pressure and causing rupture of the metal.

In my prior Patent No. 2,686,551, entitled Beading and Flanging Machine, granted April 17, 1954, a header is described which, among other things, is capable ofautomatic adjustment of the beading rolls in response to metal thickness to maintain adequate beading pressure and to avoid excessive pressure. I

It is an object of the present invention to provide a 2,928,454 Patented Mar. 15, 1960 In accordance with the present invention a header is provided which is preferably, although not necessarily of the rotary, turret type; which has a stationary beading member; and which also has at least one, preferably a plurality of movable beading members which move along the stationary member with a rolling motion, apply pressure to can bodies clamped between the two beading members, and cooperate with the stationary member to form beads and/or end flanges on the bodies. The movable beading members are preferably arranged in pairs which are axially aligned and movable into and out of can bodies, and they are resiliently urged toward the stationary beading member. To efiect a precise control thereof, each movable beading member has a lever which opposes the resilient means, and which is cam operated to determine the position of the respective movable beading member, yet permits oscillatory movement of such beading member, i.e., permits yielding in response to metal thickness.

Referring now to Figure 1, a can header is there shown which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and which includes a frame 11 within which is journaled a main shaft 12, as is best shown in Figure 2. Can bodies 13 (see Figure 1) are supplied by an indexing and'feed screw 14 which is driven, in timed relation to the shaft 12, by means including sprockets 15and 16, a chain 17 and helical gears 18 and 18a. The can body feed assembly also includes can guide rails, one of which is shown at 19, such rail being adjustable for cans of different height, and an adjustable side rail 20 which can be moved closer to or further from the feed screw according beading machine having a more positive and dependable operation and control of the heading rolls with regard to heading pressure. g

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine of the character and for the purpose described which is capable of operating at high speed, which forms beads and/or flanges dependably, which exerts the proper amount of'pressure, at points of extra metal thicknesssuch as can body side seams, and which has a more positive and dependable means of accomplishing such pressure control than prior machines.

These and other objects of the invention will be ap- I parent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

One form of the invention is illustratedby way of example in the following drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal midsection through the machine taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through one of the heading heads showing a pair of heading rolls inside a can body and in the act of forming beads on a can body.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the means employed to bring the heading rolls into contact with can bodies.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 of Figure 2, showing certain other features of the beading roll operating mechanism.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of one of the two cams employed to shift the beading rolls into and out of can bodies.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of one of the two beading cams employed to swing the beadingrolls into and out of engagement with can bodies.

to the diameter of can bodies. By removing set screws such as shown at 25 the feed screw can be removed and a feed screw of different pitch can be substituted for can bodies of different diameter. Can bodies are guided by plates 27 and 28 to the entrance station A, as best shown in Figure 2, and are held between rollers 28a best shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 2 the header 10 has identical left and right hand halves 10a and 10b, respectively, the

shaft 12 and certain other parts being common to both .shaft 12 being rotatable. in the drum 30, the latter being halves. The shaft 12 is driven by a gear 29 which is shown at the right of Figure 2 and it is journaled in end members 11a shown at the left of Figure 2 and 11b shown atthe right ofv Figure 2.

Mounted on the center of the shaft 12 is a drum 30, the

a fixed element of the machine. Clamped to the periphery of the drum 30 by gibs 31 is a cylindrical beading ring 32 having projecting ribs or beads 33. The drum 30 and beading ring 32 are shown in Figure 2 and, on a larger scale, in Figure 3. The beading ring 32 does not extend all the way around the drum 30. The ribs 33 are the elements which, in cooperation with the beading rolls, form beads in the can body. It will be apparent that. the heading ring 32 can be easily removed and replaced by another beading ring having a diiferent number, size and/or shape of beads. To facilitate removal and replacement, the heading ring is made in sections.

The drum 30 also supports left and right-hand beading cams 34a and 34b, respectively, each of which is made in sections for easy removal and replacement and each of which is clamped to the drum 30 by means of capscrews 35, a ring 40 keyed to the drum, a ring 41 and the cap screws 42. The ring 40 has a relatively loose tightened tongues 43 adjusted position.

Referring' now to Figure 7;.which is adiagrammatic view of the beading cam 34b it will be seen that the senses; a

contour of this cam is as follows: (The contour of the. 7

other beading cam 34a is identical.) There is a low dwell 44 which spans the entrance point A-wh'ere can bodies enter the beader; there is relatively shortand sharp rise at 45, followed by a longer and more gradual riseat. 46; then there is a high dwell at- 48; andat 49 there is a decline from the high dwell 48 to'the low dwell 44. It is the purpose of the beading cams 34a and 34b, acting through a mechanism described hereinafter, to con are supported and operated for shifting and pivotal movements'willnow be described. 4 Y

A carrier or spider 75. is provided for each. half of the machine which is keyed to and rotates with the main shaft 12. A pivot shaft 76 is provided for each beading roll 61a and 61b, and said shaft, as best shown in Figure trol the heading rolls positively and with precision. Such beads areshownin the process of formation in Figures The relative lengths of the dwell and rise- 2 and 3. portions of the beading earns 34:: and 34b may vary, but are preferably about as shown in Figure 7; The rise portion 46 should be long enough toapply a gradually" increasingzpressure and the high dwell 48 should be long enough to form the beads.

Referring. now. to Figure 2, shifting cams 55a and SSbar'eEmounted on opposite ends of the shaft 12, at the left-handand.right-hand ends thereof, respectively. Each lifter cam is fixed to the frame of the machineso asnot to, rotate and theshaft 12 is journaled. in thezcams 55a,-

and .55b.so as to be free to rotate therein. Onegofthese cams. (c'am55b) is shown inFigure 6. A cam'track 1 or groove-56isformed in each ofthe cams a and 55b, V

the contour of which is. best shown in Figure 6.. It

will. be seen that each cam track 56 has a first dwell 57;-aconnectingportion 58, atsecond dwell 59 and another connecting portion.60. It.is the purpose of the camsSSa and55b. to shift left. and right-hand beading rolls 61a; and 6112,; respectively, throughzrneanswhich will .now, be described. There: are; six pairsof, beading rolls; 61a and 61b; aswill be seen from an inspection of Figure. 1,. although a greater or lessernumber. maybe.

employed, andthe' members. of. each pair are inaxial alignmentand areparallel to the shaft 12 and beading.

ring 32 and are arranged uniformly about the shaft 12.

As best shown in Figure 3, the left-hand beading roll. 61a has circumferential grooves 62 formed therein, and it is clamped by means of a cap 63 and arprojecting cap screw. 6410a spindle '65. The right-hand beading roll 61b' is. also .formed with circumferential gro0ves 62, and

it.:h'as"a.head portion orlextension 63. The extension 631 isclampedto the respective spindle 65 by a recessed ca'p. screw. 66.. Itisintendedthat, when a pair of heading rolls. 61aiand .6'1b are located at the .in position illustrated in Figure 3, the projecting head of the cap screwr 64 oftheqbeading roll 61a will be seated in the socket 67 2, is clamped at 77 to the respective carrier 75. Each pivot shaft 76 therefore rotates with the main shaft 12, but it does not rotate-relatively thereto, nor to its carrier 75, nordoes it shiftaxia'lly'. Each spindle sleeve. 68' is rotatably and slidably'. supported onitspivot shaft 76 as follows: Referring to Figuresl4 and 5, arms 78 and 79, which are integral with thegsleeve 68,- terminate in sleeves 80 and 81 respectively, The sleeve 80 is split, and its parts are clamped together and t0- ahcdllar or bushing 82 (see Figure 2), which is rotatable, and slidable on the spindle, 65 which rolls in itsrespective cam groove 56 (see-Figure;2)- and which ismounted on one: end of an angular forked, member 85. At its r'nid'portion theforlted member 85 is-clarnped to a' shaft'90 which slides iriasleeve91 formed 'in the carrier 75. The other end? of the" forked rnemb'er' 85 is bifurcated" at- 92 andjas' shown in Figures 2' and 5'; it fitswithin the circum iere'nt'ialislot" 83' milled out ofthe sleeve 81. 1 Asibest shownin Figure 5, there is a small clearancespace 93. between the fork'ifl92 and the sleevesl, lt willl'be apparentf that, a's' eachean'r follower roller 84 moves in its cam groove 56,,its shifting motion will be transmitted to the respective spindle sleeve 68 and beading roll, 61a or 6112. Meanwhile, the respective shaft 90. will slide in its sleeve 91 and willimaintain the roller 84 in its cam groove 56'. V 7

Referring to Fig; 4, the aforesaid pivotingmovement 'ofeach beading roll 61a-or 611b, -i.e., its pivotal, oscillaw toryrnovement about the axisof itspivotfshaft 76, is acconfiplishecl as follows; A lever 94fis provided which is rotatablymounted'on the pivot shaft 76. The lever 94- has-marines on one end of which is a hub 97 whichrotatably arries1 a cam follower roller 98 intended to formed in,.the .beading roll 6115., As shownin. Figure 2,:=-;

theioircumferentialgrooves 62. register with thebeading ribs 33 on the beading ring 32. v

.Eachxbeading spindle 65 is journaled in a sleeve 68' (see Figure 2),. which has a purpose described hereinafter. At their 'outer ends the spindles 65 are fixed to .gearsior pinions 69 which mesh with and are driven by large stationary gears 70. It will be apparent that, as the beading spindles 65 revolve about the axiso.the main. shaft 1 2, the spindles will spin about their individual axes by reason .of the meshing relationship betv'veenth'e pinions 69 and the gears70. It-Will also be spind-le a cap screw 197a secures, eachcarn follower roller 98- to its liub 97 gindthe mounting'of the roller 98- iseccentrier Therefore, by. IOOSCIlihgIhB cap screw, rotating the eccentric mounting and-then.tighteningthe cap,screW,--

the-normalipo sition of the lever 94 is adjusted; The other arm 99] of] the lever 94 has an end portion 100" whichabuts'a lug integral with and projectin'gfrom the respective spindle. sleeve 68: A. screw 106 extends slidably' through the end portion 100 andthe lug 10 5. andth'e latterj is formed with a socket} 107 whichreceives a 'ooiled spring' lfl8 whichjis compressed by nuts 10 9, one

apparent that the pinions 69 are sufficiently long to allow 7 horizontal shifting of the spindles 65, while maintaining the meshing relationship between the pinions 69- and the gears,70.- v

l-lach of the heading rolls 61a and 61b is supported. for severaltypes of movement; i.e., forshifting move-. a

merit. to enter and retract from can bodies. located. b etween the plates 27 and 28 (see Figure'Z); for spinning i motion about its individual axis; and forpivotal, oscillatory movement to and from the beadingring 32. The spinning" motion arises from the fact that each spindle is journaled in its sleeve 68 and is drivenby its pinion 69 and gear' 70. "The means wherebythebead ing rolls Asthernai shaft 12, otatespeach cam follower roller of which servesas a locknut.

S il -rolls, on its cam fifla or 34b; and1 it oscillatesin ee- 7 cordanee with;thecontour of such cam. Bythis means, the respective beading roll 61a and 61b is held clear; of thet'beadingringr32i at the entry: portion; of thezm'achine. (point. in .Figure; il), The-rise 461*rnoves thebeading.

roll toward the beadingiring and the high dwell 48 holds the beading roll inaoperativerel-ation to the beading ring while the can body spins Beads are thereby formed."

The beading pressure is relieved when the rollers 98- roll onto the low dwell 44. The ,camsJSS'a and 55b retract the beadingiollsfilq and [61 .to release. the beaded;

can, while is then guided out of the machine by a blade 111 (see Figure 1).

When an extra metal thickness is encountered, as at a side seam, the extra metal will act against the beading roll and the expansive force of the spring 108. By reason of the clearance space 93 above mentioned (see Figure 5), the beading roll 61a or 61b and its spindle are permitted to pivot outwardly to relieve the excess pressure. Nevertheless, the spring 108 maintains adequate beading pressure, it restores the beading roll to its normal position instantly when the region of extra metal thickness has been passed; and the separation of the beading roll from its normal position occurs only at the precise point and to the precise degree needed.

It will be apparent that when a pair of heading rolls 61a and 61b are in their retracted position, i.e., while their rollers 84 (see Figure 2) are in the dwells 59 (see Figure 6), the corresponding cam follower rollers 98 are off the beading cams 34a and 34b. However, their freedom to swing is restricted by the following construction, which prevents clashing of the rollers 98 and cams 34a and 3412 when the beading rolls move in again. Referring to Figure 5, lugs 115 and 116 are formed on each forked member 85 and its spindle sleeve 68, respectively. A rod 117 is pivotally connected at one end to the lug 115 and at its threaded other end it extends slidably through lug 116. Nuts 118 are threaded to the rod 117 and serve to compress a coil spring 119 between the two lugs. It will be apparent that, by appropriate adjustment of the nuts 118, the roller 98 is prevented from clashing with its cam 34a or 34b when the respective beading roll moves in.

Referring now to Figure 1, the drum 30 which carries both of the heading cams 34a and 34b and the beading ring 32 is held stationary and is adjustable by the means now to be described: A block 125 is clamped to a casting 126, which forms a stationary part of the machine by a screw 127. A set screw 128 is threaded through the block 125 and bears against the casting 126. The block 125 is pivoted on the casting 126 and it has a rounded knob 129 seated in a notch 130 formed in a lug 131 projecting from the drum 30. By loosening the screw 127 and turning the set screw 128 one way or the other, the block 125 is rocked and moves the drum 30 one way or the other. When suitably adjusted the drum is clamped in position by tightening the screw 127.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a beading machine is provided which is capable of accomplishing the beading of can bodies at high speed, dependably and effectively. The machine, among other things, is relatively simple from the standpoint of assembly, disassembly, inspection, repair and timing. It is provided with a yieldable feature whereby proper and adequate beading pressure is exerted at all times during the heading part of the cycle of operation regardless of metal thickness interposed between the stationary and moving beading elements. The position of the moving beading element, hence the heading pressure, is under positive control at all times during the beading operation, yet it does not interfere with automatic yielding of the moving element in response to varying metal thickness.

=Iclaim:

1. A rotary can header comprising a stationary, arcuate beading ring concentric to a main axis, a carrier rotatable about said main axis, a pair of beading rolls cooperable with said ring to bead a can body as the latter is clamped between the ring and the rolls and the rolls move along the ring with a rolling movement; said machine also comprising a pivot shaft for each beading roll carried by said carrier outwardly of said beading ring,

said shafts being axially aligned and parallel to said main machine; said interconnecting means comprising first and second opposing members fixed to the lever means and to the rolls, respectively, and resilient means urging said opposing members into contact with one another-but permitting separation thereof when the rolls contact a can body side seam, said resilient means acting during such separation to exert a heading pressure on the beading rolls.

2. A rotary beader comprising a frame and a main shaft journaled therein, a stationary drum mounted on and concentric to said shaft betwen its ends, a beadingring clamped to said drum, a pair of circular beading cams also clamped to said drum at opposite ends of said ring, a pair of heading rolls cooperable with said ring to clamp can bodies to the ring and to bead the can bodies as said rolls revolve about said main axis with a spinning motion, means supporting said rolls outwardly of said ring for such revolving and spinning motions and also for radial, pivoting movement inwardly to and outwardly from the ring and means operatively connecting each cam with one of said supporting means to oscillate the rolls to clamp a can body to the ring, head the can body and release it during each cycle of operation of the machine.

3. A rotary beader comprising a frame and a main shaft journaled therein, a stationary drum mounted on and concentric to said shaft between its ends, a heading ring clamped to said drum, a pair of circular beading cams also clamped to said drum at opposite ends of said ring, a pair of beading rolls cooperable with said ring to clamp can bodies to the ring and to'bead the can bodies as said rolls revolve about said'main axis with a spinning motion, means supporting said rolls outwardly of said ring for such revolving and spinning motions and also for radial pivoting movement inwardly to and out:

wardly from the ringand coaxial lever means operatively connecting each cam with one of said supporting means to oscillate the rolls to clamp a can body to the ring, bead the can body and release it during each cycle of operation of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,609,986 Brenzinger Dec. 7, 1926 2,081,042 Krueger May 18, 1937 2,407,776 Gladfelter et a1. Sept. 17, 1946 2,686,551 Laxo Aug. 17, 1954 2,741,292 Butters Apr. 10, 1956

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