JPS5994540A - Air transfer system for shell press - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an air transfer system, and more particularly to an air transfer system for a shell press basin having a commonly operated blanking and forming die station and a curling die station.

Beverage cans, food cans, and the like have a can body and a separate end, called a shell, that is sealed to the can body. Generally, the shell is made from sheet steel, aluminum, or other material that can be used in a pressing process, with the shell being blanked and formed in a first press and then transferred to a second press to form the edges of the shell. It is forced to curl.

An uncurled shell has a peripheral edge that is generally perpendicular to the main portion of the shell, and the peripheral edge is first curled and then attached to a resilient gasket against the can body before the shell is stacked and sealed onto the beverage can. The forming sealant must be coated.

The separation of the shell blanking and forming presses from the shell curling press is currently a major problem in industry.

Depending on the layout of the manufacturing plant, the blanked and formed shells are first stacked and then transferred to a curling die station where they are to be curled, or in some cases due to unforeseen circumstances such as the curler becoming inoperable. This makes it necessary to store blank, formed and stacked shells.

In any case, blanked and formed shells are a convenient shape for stacking because they can be nested closely together with other shells. However, because the blanked and formed shells nest closely together, it is virtually impossible to mechanically separate individual shells from a tightly nested stack of shells. This requires that the shells be stored in an unstacked manner, which takes up considerable space, is time consuming, is costly, and is unsatisfactory.

In some shell press machines, the blanking and forming die station and the curling die station are in close proximity to each other such that blanked and formed shells are transferred to the curling die station using, for example, a transfer assembly. The shells are generally blanked and formed from strip stock in groups of 12, 14 or 16 pieces. For example, groups of 16 are blanked and formed from strip stock in two rows of eight, with the rows being offset from each other to minimize the skeleton of the strip stock remaining after the blanking and forming operations. Since stacking blanked and formed shells is impractical, it is necessary to keep them separate from each other between the blanking and forming die station and the curling die station.

A typical conventional example of the above-mentioned shell press is a double-action press that blanks and forms the shell.
It has ring curlers for curling the blank and formed shells and a transfer system extending therebetween.

The blanked and formed shells are transferred to a transfer assembly in one of two common paths.
Blanking and forming shell presses are designed to be tilted toward the transfer assembly so that the blanked and formed shells either slide from the press to the ring curler on a conveyor for transfer or are blanked and formed. A mechanical kick type device is used with a stationary blanking and forming shell press that ejects the formed shells onto a conveyor. In this embodiment, the ring curler generally has two rotating rollers between which the shell passes as it is curled.

Although the embodiment described above allows the blanking and forming operations and the curling operations to be performed in close proximity to each other, it requires extra space for the transfer assembly and kicks when ejecting the shell onto the transfer assembly. There are several problems and disadvantages, including the tendency of the device to indent the shell and the tendency of the ring curler to produce shells with unevenly curled ends.

Another typical example of the conventional example, which is a modification of the above example, is as follows:
A die curler is used instead of a ring curler. There, the blanked and formed shells are curled in a die station which is separate from the blanking and forming shell press and is fixed in the press and driven independently thereof. The distance between the blanking and forming shell press and the forming curler is such that a transfer assembly is used to transfer the blanked and formed shells to the forming curler. Stacking for transfer to a gourd curler is impractical as the stacks of blanked and formed shells are tightly nested.

For transporting parts between different forming operations, means other than conveyor belt assemblies are used, such as pneumatic systems, which typically have large plenums and duct assemblies.

In these systems, parts such as bottles, cans, records, silicon wafers, etc. are transported along guide tracks located above ducts. The duct has a plurality of openings, and the blenheim provides a source of pressurized air that flows through the duct and exits the openings to transport parts from one area to another. This type of system has a number of drawbacks when applied to shell presses where multiple shells are formed simultaneously.

Further, the shells are arranged in rows 12. which are offset from each other so that the formed shells in one row overlap the shells in an adjacent row.
Blank and form in groups of 14 or 16. It is therefore preferable to transport alternating rows along different paths or tracks that are arranged longitudinally adjacent to each other. In such a device,
Due to the large size of the ducts that provide airflow to the truck, the use of conventional pneumatic systems is neither practical nor sufficient. Such conventional systems are difficult to adapt to blanking and forming die stations and curling die stations operated on the same shell press, and also require excessive material and space.

An example of such a gas system is U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,740.
．． 3975057.3953076.3941070.
No. 3,293,414 and No. 3,645,581.

The present invention eliminates the drawbacks and problems of the prior art and provides unique features in shell presses.
In particular, a shell press is provided having a blanking and forming die station and a curling die station operated by a common slide assembly located on the shell press, thereby eliminating the need for stacking formed and blanked shells.

Because the shells are formed, blanked, and curled in the same shell press, the curled shells are easily "stacked" and, more importantly, easily mechanically separated from the stack. Blanking and A further advantage of using a die curler in the same shell press with a forming die station is that the shape of the curled edges produced by the die is more uniform compared to the curled edges produced by the ring curler. .

A further feature of the present invention is to provide a unique gas transfer system that is easily and compactly interposed between a blanking and forming die station and a curling die station within the same shell press. Basically, the gas transfer system has two guide tracks extending between die stations in a double deck apparatus. A hollow tube is located on the upwardly facing surface of each guide track and has a diameter smaller than the width of the guide track or the diameter of the shell to be transported. Each hollow tube has a plurality of uniquely shaped openings that provide a velocity component of airflow toward the curling die station, each connected to an air source that provides high pressure airflow. Because the gas system of the present invention uses extremely small diameter hollow tubes in place of the large plenums and ducts of conventional gas systems, the gas system of the present invention is double-day.

It can be easily placed between the guide track devices, thus reducing space and cost.

The present invention reduces shell denting caused by mechanical kick-type devices when ejecting the shell from the goo station. In particular, a curling die station is provided that has an efting or escape mechanism that applies an air pulse to the curled shell to eject the shell from the curling die station onto an ejection guide track.

The present invention provides a shell press for making shells for beverage cans and the like having a blanking and forming die station and a curling die station, both of which stations are operated by a common slide assembly of the shell press. An ejector is provided for ejecting the blanked and formed shell from the blanking and forming die station onto a fluid transfer device extending between the blanking and forming die station and the curling die station.

According to another feature of the invention, there is provided a gas transfer system coupled to a press having a reciprocating slide and a gouging station with a set of cooperating tools. One of the tools is connected to a reciprocating slide for reciprocating movement relative to the other tool elements. The gas transfer system has a fluid transfer track leading to the goo station and a guide track leading from the goo station. A first wall member having an aperture located between the fluid transfer track and the gou station and a second wall member having an aperture located between the guide track and the gou station are connected to the reciprocating slide for reciprocating motion. has been done. The reciprocating mechanism moves the slide from the uppermost position to an intermediate position where the first wall member opening is aligned with the fluid transfer track to cause the part to be fluidly transferred to the station, and then to the uppermost position where the part is formed by the tool element. Provided for downward reciprocating movement to the lower position. The reciprocating mechanism then moves the slide member from the lowest position until the second wall member aperture is aligned with the guide track and the air source delivers a pulse of air to the molded part to guide it through the second wall aperture. Move upward to a second intermediate position to eject onto the track. The reciprocating mechanism then moves the slide to the uppermost position for continued reciprocation.

A further feature of the invention is an air transfer system for moving parts from a first gouging station to a second gouging station of the press. The air transfer device extends between the guide stations and includes a guide track having an upwardly facing surface, an opposite end extending substantially the length of the upwardly facing surface, and an opposing end extending substantially the length of the upwardly facing surface. It has a downward facing surface. The upper and lower facing surfaces and opposing ends generally define an elongated space therebetween extending between the guide stations. A hollow tube member is located within the guide track, has a diameter less than the lateral distance between the opposing ends, and has a plurality of openings for providing fluid communication between the hollow tube and the elongated space. The aperture is shaped such that when airflow is supplied to the hollow tube by the airflow source, it creates an airflow velocity component within the elongated space towards the second guide station.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shell press for making shells for beverage cans and the like having a blanking and forming die station and a curling die station operated by a common slide assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air transfer system using a hollow tube with a plurality of openings for air transfer of shells from a blanking and forming station to a curling station.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pneumatic system for pneumatically transferring parts to a goo station and ejecting the parts therefrom by means of an air pulse. 5. FIG. 1A is a partially cutaway and partially sectional view of the blanking and forming die station of a shell press according to a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows a first air transfer device extending between a blanking and forming die station and a curling die station in an embodiment of the gas transfer system.
This is an extended view of the right side of the shell press in Figure A.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the blanking and forming die station showing the blanked, formed, and ejectable shell.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the air transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow, showing the position of the uncurled shell being transferred.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the air transfer device.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the curling die station showing the uncurled shell in a fixed position from the die station and the curled shell being ejected from the die stay line.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 for an uncurled shell entering the curling die station.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the shell being curled by the Gui station.

Figure i11 shows the first curled shell in position for ejection from the curling die station.
It is a figure similar to figure 0.

1A and 1B, the relevant parts of shell press 12 are shown: blanking and forming die station 14, air transfer assembly 16, and curling die station 18. A strip stock feeder for feeding strip stock 20 to shell press 12 and a scrap cutter for collecting the skeleton of strip stock 20 are not shown.

Additionally, in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the blanking and forming die station 14 is located on a press bed (
a fixed polster 22 fixed to the polster (not shown) and a cutting die holding assembly 24 fixed to its upper surface;
has. A lower forming die 26, whose cross section is circular in a plane parallel to the tin line 28, is secured to the cutting die holding assembly 4. Polster 22 and cutting die holding assembly 24
is rigidly connected to a shell press frame (not shown). Lower forming die 26 also has an annular bead portion 30 that forms a correspondingly shaped bead portion 32 in shell 66 .

Double action slide assembly 35 has a blanking slide 36 slidably received in a shell press post (not shown) and a forming slide 38 slidably guided by blanking slide 36. Slides 36,38 are driven by a connecting rod and crankshaft operated by an electric motor (not shown) similar to that described in US Pat. No. 3,902,347.
The housing assembly 40 is the blanking slide 3
6 and is slidably arranged with respect to the spindle 42 and a slide NeJ with respect thereto.
It holds a punch 44 for. Air passage 46
The punch 44 is continuously urged downwardly toward the annular cutting die 48 in the cutting die holding assembly 24 by air pressure from the cutting die holding assembly 24 .

The two-part forming die 50 is rigidly connected to the spindle 42 by a holding rod 52, the rod 52 having its lower end fixed to the forming die 50 by a screw and its upper end held to the spindle 42 by a nut 54. There is. The spindle 42 is fixed to a top plate 56, and this plate 5G is connected to the forming slide 38. The dowel 58 prevents rotation between the forming die 50 and the spindle 42;
The forming die 50 has an annular bead portion 6 at its periphery.
Has 0.

1A, 1B and 2, an ejector mechanism 62 has an ejector bar 64 positioned to eject a blanked and formed die 66 from the blanking and forming die station 14.
When the blanked and formed shell 66 is positioned in the shell press cycle as shown in FIG.
2 ensures that the shell 66 is brought into contact with the reshell 66, and then quickly accelerates the ejection of the shell 66 from the guide station 14 along the slope 68 to the air transfer assembly 16.

1A, 1B, 3 and 7, the air transfer assembly 16 is mounted on a long guide track 70, a hollow tube 7z extending the length of the guide track 70, and a hollow tube 72. It has an open lower 4 and a high pressure air flow source (not shown) connected to the hollow tube 72 through a suitable connector number 76.
Although the transfer and subsequent shaping of firefly shells 66 is specifically shown, the present invention provides for the construction of a plurality of shells along at least two guide track links 70 disposed one above the other. It is also contemplated that 66 may be transferred to multiple curling die stations 18.

1A, 1B and 5, a support plate 78 extends between blanking and forming die station 14 and curling die station 18, and supports plate 78I has beveled holes 82 and threaded holes 84.
It has a bevel 68 secured to the left end by a screw 80 received therethrough. The ramp 68 has a neck portion 86 (FIG. 3) solely for ease of assembly, and the upwardly facing surface 88 of the ramp 68 is formed by one tapered end of a guide track 70, which is connected to the guide track of the support plate 78. It is secured to support plate 78 by screws 90 received through holes 92 and threaded holes (not shown).

In FIGS. 3 and 7, guide track 70 has a lower surface 94 with a central longitudinally disposed groove 96. In FIGS.
A hollow tube 72 is fixed to the length of the groove 96, one end 100 of which is closed and the other end 102 of the hollow tube 72.
2 (FIG. 1B), which provides high pressure airflow through the length of the connector 76. What is important in the present invention is that the diameter of hollow tube 72 is extremely small relative to the width of lower surface 94 and the diameter of shell 66. This allows the hollow tube 72 to be easily positioned in narrow spaces, e.g. between guide tracks positioned one above the other, and to move the shell into the shell press 1.
Fluid can be transferred from a first area to a second area within 2. The hollow tube 72 has a plurality of open lower portions 4 having pressure passages in a unique shape. Each pressure passage section 104 (FIGS. 6 and 7) of tube 72 has a concave surface 106 and a convex surface 108, which generally define the hollow tube 72.
It's inside. Therefore, high pressure air flows into the hollow tube 7.
2, the high-pressure airflow flows through each open lower 4 with velocity components generally perpendicular and parallel to the lower surface 94.
through which the seal 66 is lifted upwardly and moved along the lower surface 94 in the direction of the parallel velocity component.

To confine the shell 66, opposing side walls 110 are upright from the lower surface 94 (FIG. 5), each side wall 1-10 having an overhang 112 disposed inwardly above the lower surface 94. The side walls 110 are separated by a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the shell 66 and the overhang 1
The ends 114 of 12 are separated by a distance slightly less than the diameter of shell 66. Sidewalls 110 and bulges 112 permit fluid transport of shell 66 on lower surface 94 as shown in FIG. Note that the shell 66 is lifted above the lower surface 94 by the vertical velocity component emanating from the open lower lower 4 and is moved along the lower surface 94 by the parallel velocity component emanating from the open lower lower 4.

1B, 8 and 11, curling die station 18 includes curling die holding assembly 116, lower curling die 118, lift-out means 120, upper curling die 122, and sleeve 12.
It has 4.

A curling die holding assembly 116 is secured to a stationary polster 22 and includes a lower curling die 118 and lift-out means 120 therein.

Lift-out element 120 is slidably attached to curling die retaining assembly 116 and lower curling die 118 .
is accepted around.

Lift-out element 126 is also receivable in circular groove 130 of polster 22, but lift-out element 126
-L due to the annular spring 128 located in the groove 130
biased towards lift out arm 13
2 is slidably received in an aperture 136 having a narrow upper portion 138 and a wider lower portion 140.

The lift-out arm 132 has a cylindrical seat 134 secured to its upper end and a small piston 142 secured at its lower end to a lower portion 140 of the opening 136. Lift-out arm 132 is biased in the L direction by a spring 144 located below piston 142 and within open lower portion 140 and cylindrical pore 146 of polster 22 .

A piston 148 is slidably positioned within the upper curling die 122 , with a narrow middle section 150 slidably received within an aperture 152 , an upper portion 154 slidably received within an aperture 156 , and an aperture 160 .
It has a lower portion 158 that is slidably received therein. Two O-ring seals 162, 164 are located within grooves 166, 168 in the upper curling die 122 and piston top 154, respectively. Air source (not shown)
supplies pressurized air to a space 170 defined by an opening 156 in the upper curling die 122 and a slide opening 172 in which the upper curling die 122 is slidably received.

The sleeve 124 has an aperture 174 located on its side and vertically aligned with the guide track underside 94, and an aperture 17.
4 with a diagonal opening 176 located on the slightly lower side. Opening 174 has sufficient vertical and horizontal dimensions to allow blanked and formed shell 66 to pass therethrough into curling die station 18 .

Conduit 178 is located on support 180 of curling die holding assembly 116 and has an end connected to an air flow source (not shown). The limit switch (not shown) of the curling die station 18 is connected to the diagonal opening 17.
6 are aligned such that an air source connected to the end of conduit 178 pulses air flow through conduit 178 (FIG. 8). Opening 182 is located in sleeve 124
on the side opposite the aperture 174 and slightly below the aperture 174 and of sufficient longitudinal and lateral dimensions to allow the curled shell 188 to be ejected therethrough.

The guide track 70 is connected to a support 180 having a hole 184 located so that the blanked curled shell 66 to be transferred can pass into the curling die stage 718. . The support 180 has a second hole 186 located so that the ejected curled shell 188 can be further transported by the air transport assembly 16 or other suitable transport means.

FIG. 9 shows the blanked and formed shell 66 received in the curling die station 18, where the upper surface 190 of the sheet 134 is substantially flush with the lower guide track surface 94 and insert hole 184 so that the shell 66 is curled. Note the smooth transfer into die station 18. FIG. 8 shows the curled shell 188 being ejected from the curling die station 18, where the top surface 190 is substantially connected to the support holes 186 and the air transfer assembly 1.
6 or other suitable transfer means.

Upon receiving a portion of the strip stock 20, the blanking and forming die station 14 blanks and forms the shell 66, and the ejector mechanism 62 ejects the shell 66 onto the guide track underside 94 of the air transfer assembly 16. The blanked and formed shell 66 is then transferred from the blanking and forming die station 14 to the curling die station 18 by an air jet with vertical and horizontal velocity components exiting through the open lower portion 4 of the hollow tube 72. FIG. 5 shows the position of shell 66 in air transfer assembly 16 during transfer, whereby shell 66 is lifted by a vertical velocity component such that shell bead portion 32 contacts overhang 112 and shell 66 is brought into contact with lower surface 94. It can be seen that the horizontal velocity component causes the shell 66 to be transported over the lower surface 94 to the curling die station 18.

FIG. 8 shows the curling die station 18 when the crankshaft (not shown) of the shell press 12 is at approximately 0 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Thus, the blanked and formed shell 66 is shown at approximately 0 degrees of crankshaft rotation with respect to the curling die station 18, and the previous shell is shown in the curled shell 18 position.
8.

Blank and formed shell 66 is positioned adjacent sleeve 124 as shown in FIG. 8 at approximately 0 degrees of crankshaft rotation. As the crankshaft continues to rotate, the blanking slide 36 moves downwardly, and at approximately 67 degrees of crankshaft rotation (FIG. 9), the sleeve 124 moves downwardly and closes the sleeve opening 174.
Align the shell 66 with the support hole 184
and the curling die stage 1 through the opening 174.
8 and thus shell 6
6 is centered on the north face 190 of the sheet 134. During this time, air is supplied to the space 170 to apply a predetermined downward pressure on the bias piston 148, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows the curling die station 18 at about 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation and about 0 degrees of crankshaft rotation. From about 67 degrees to about 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation, the lower piston 158
6 and hold it there during the curling operation. The blanking slide 36 continues its downward movement and the lower curling die 118 is moved by the spring 128.14.
It is urged downward against the spring force of 4.

After springs 128, 144 are fully compressed, upper curling die 122 is forced downwardly by blanking slide 36 with a force greater than the force exerted on piston 148 by the air in space 170. The large force exerted by the blanking slide on the upper curling die 122 causes the shell bead portion 32 to curl against the inner curling surface 192 of the sleeve 124. Immediately prior to this curling operation, lift-out arm 132 has fully compressed spring 144, preventing further downward movement by sheet 134.

The annular lift-out element 126 then moves downwardly against the spring 128 a short distance so that the die annular bead portion 196 fully rests on the die annular bead portion 194 and curls the shell bead portion 32 against the inner curling surface 192. to be able to be

As the crankshaft rotates from about 180 degrees to about 264 degrees, the portion of curled shell 188 within curling die station 18 becomes as shown in FIG. As the crankshaft rotates past about 180 degrees, the blanking slide 36 begins to move upward until it reaches a position where the force on the upper curling die 122 is less than the force on the piston 148 due to the air in the space 170. In this position, the blanking slide 36 moves upwardly, causing the upper curling die 122 to move upwardly, thus causing the gou annular bead portion 196 to move upwardly.
moves away from the curled shell 18B while the lower piston 158 is urged against the upper surface of the shell 188. Upon further upward movement by blanking slide 36, lower curling die 118 ceases further upward movement while lift-out element 126 and lift-out arm 132 are under the spring force exerted by springs 128, 144, respectively. move upwards.
This causes the annular bead portion 194 to separate from the shell bead portion 32, and in this position the curled shell 1
88 is firmly supported by the seat 134 and piston lower part 158.

As the crankshaft approaches approximately 264 degrees of rotation, the blanking slide 36 continues its upward motion to pull the piston lower portion 158 from the top surface of the curled shell 188, as shown in FIG. 188 is the lift-out element 12 as shown in FIG.
6 and rests on the upper surface 190 of the seat 134.

In FIG. 8, the curled shell 188 is transferred from the curling die station 18 to the air transfer assembly 1.
6 or other suitable transfer means. Crankshaft is about 264 degrees to about 294 degrees
Upon rotation to a degree, the sleeve 124 moves upwardly so that the sleeve opening 182 is aligned with the curled shell 188 and the sleeve opening 176 is aligned with the conduit 178.

Just before the sleeve opening 176 is aligned with the conduit 178, a limit switch (not shown) in the curling die station 18 is tripped to cause an air source connected to the opposite end of the conduit 178 to direct the air flow through the conduit 178. Pulsed and curled shell 188
A sleeve opening 176 facing the air transfer assembly 1 passes through the sleeve opening 182 and the support hole 186.
6 or other suitable transfer means.

As the crankshaft rotates from about 294 degrees to about 360 degrees, the curled shell 188 is completely ejected from the curling station 18 by the fluid;
The second blank, formed shell 66 is fluidly transferred to the sleeve 124 by the air transfer assembly 16 and curled by the curling station 18.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1A is a partial cutaway and partial cross-sectional view of the blanking and forming die station portion of a shell press according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is an extended view of the right side of the shell press of FIG. 1A showing an air transfer device extending between the blanking and forming die station and the curling die station of an embodiment of the gas transfer system. FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the blanking and forming die station showing the blanked, formed, and ejectable shell. FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the air transfer device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow, showing the position of the uncurled shell being transferred. FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the air transfer device. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the curling die station showing the uncurled shell in a fixed position from the die station and the curled shell being ejected from the die station. FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 for an uncurled shell entering the curling station. FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the shell kerfed by the gou station. Figure 11 shows the first curled shell in position for ejection from the curling station.
It is a figure similar to figure 0. F-]-];8 F-]-];l○ Continued from page 1 0 Inventor Donald N. Safelead New Bremen Eastmoor, Ohio, United States of America

Claims (12)

[Claims] (1) First slide members (36) that reciprocate with each other
and a second slide member (38), wherein the slide assembly has a blanking and forming station (14) and a curling die station (18), which are operated by the slide assembly. a set of first tooling means (44, 50) mounted on the blanking and forming station for blanking, forming and forming the shell (66);
[wherein one of the tooling means is connected to a first slide member (36) and the other of the tooling means is connected to a second slide member (38)]; In a shell press for making shells for beverage cans etc., the second tooling means (122, 124) has: means (62) for ejecting blanked and formed shells from a ranking and forming station; is mounted on the curling die stage for curling blanked and formed shells, and the second tooling means is connected to and driven by one of the first or second slide member i. A shell for a beverage can or the like, characterized in that fluid transfer means (16) extend between the die stations for transferring the ejected shells from the blanking and forming station to the curling station. Shell press for making. (2) the fluid transfer means includes: an upwardly facing surface (94), an opposing side wall (iio) extending substantially the length of the upwardly facing surface; having a downwardly facing surface (112), the upper and downwardly facing surfaces and side walls generally define an elongated space extending therebetween between the guide stations (14, 18), and a hollow tube member (72) extends between the guide stations (14, 18) in the elongated space. a plurality of hollow tube members extending in length, the hollow tube member having a diameter less than the lateral distance between the opposing sidewalls (1io) and further for providing fluid communication between the hollow tube member and the elongate space; an opening (74), the opening being shaped such that when airflow is provided through the hollow tube member, it creates an airflow velocity component within the elongated space toward the curling die station; and means are provided for providing airflow through the hollow tube member;
The shell press of claim 1, wherein the blanked and formed shells are fluidly transported through the elongated space and into the curling die station by airflow through the openings. (3) a free end (114) with each of the downward facing surfaces positioned from the side wall (110) and above the upward facing surface (94);
A shell press according to clause 2, formed by a set of projections (112) having a diameter, the tips (114) of which are laterally separated by a distance less than the diameter of the shell to be moved. (4) the hollow tube member (72) is connected to the upward surface (94);
), the shell press of item 3 is located within. (5) The shell press of paragraph 1, wherein said needle lifting means (62) is reliably driven in synchronization with said slide assembly. (6) At least two die stations (14, 18
) and a pneumatic transfer device for moving the part from the first goo station to the second goo station. an opposing side wall (110) extending between the guide stations for guiding the guide holes (66) therein, the track means extending substantially the length of the upwardly facing surface (94); , and a downward facing surface (1) located above the upward facing surface and extending substantially the length thereof.
12), the upper and lower facing surfaces and the side walls generally forming an elongated space extending therebetween between the guide stations, a hollow conduit (72) located in the track means and opposite side walls of the track means. the hollow conduit has a plurality of openings (7) for providing fluid communication between the conduit and the elongated space;
4), the opening is shaped such that when airflow is supplied through the conduit, it causes an airflow velocity component within the elongated space toward the second guide station; Means is provided for providing an air flow so that parts ejected from the first guide station onto the upwardly facing surface (94) of the track means are directed through the opening (74) of the conduit. A press device, characterized in that an air flow discharged through the elongated space causes fluid to be transferred to the second gou station. (7) The conduit is a tube member (72), and the opening (
74) is one in which a part of the tube member is provided with a pressure path, and the pressure path portion allows a part of the supplied air to flow between the end portion that remains integral with the tube member and the internal space of the tube member. and a corresponding other end (104) positioned toward the airflow to skim through the opening (74).
Apparatus according to paragraph 6. (8) The apparatus of claim 6, comprising a plurality of track means for guiding a plurality of parts (66) from the first goo station (14) to the second goo station (18). (9) said downwardly facing surface has a set of protrusions (112) with free ends (114) above said upwardly facing surface (94) and laterally a distance less than the lateral dimension of the part to be moved; separated by. Apparatus according to paragraph 6. (10) having a die station (18) having a reciprocating slide member (36) and a set of cooperating tool elements, one (122) of the tool elements for performing a forming operation on the part (66); The other of the tool elements (118
) connected to said reciprocating slide member for reciprocating motion relative to said goo station, said gas transfer system comprising fluid transfer means (16) leading to said goo station for transferring the part to be formed to said goo station; death,
In a press having track means (70) directed from the goo station for guiding a molded part (188) therefrom: a first wall member (124) is connected between the fluid transfer means and the goo station; located between and connected for reciprocating motion to the reciprocating slide member, the first wall member having an aperture (174) and the second wall member (124) having the track means (70). located between the goo station and connected to the reciprocating slide member for reciprocating movement, the second wall member having an opening (182) so that the reciprocating slide member is in a predetermined position; means (174) for applying an airflow pulse to the molded part in the die station to eject the molded part;
, and the slide member from the uppermost position so that the first wall member opening (174) is aligned with the fluid transfer means (16) so that the part to be molded can be fluidly transferred to the goo station. means for reciprocating the slide member downwardly to an intermediate position and to a lowermost position in which a part is formed by the tool element, the reciprocating means moving the slide member from the lowermost position to the second position; Wall member opening (1
82) is aligned with the truss means and the pulsed airflow supply means (178) supplies airflow pulses to the molded part to open the second wall member opening (182).
a press, characterized in that it is moved upwardly to said predetermined position for ejection through said track means and to said uppermost position for a subsequent reciprocating movement. (11) the first and second wall members are connected to the tool element (12);
2) and connected to said reciprocating slide member (36) for reciprocating movement.
4), the press of paragraph 10. (12) The first wall member (124) is connected to the second opening (17).
6), wherein the pulsed air supply means has a conduit (17) leading to the first wall member for supplying air flow.
8), wherein the conduit and the second opening in the first wall member allow the molded part (188) in the die station when the slide member (36) is in a predetermined position.
of paragraph i11, whereby an airflow pulse is fed through the second aperture and ejects the formed part through the second wall member aperture and into the track means (70). press.