US2254250A - Apparatus for reforming can bodies - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLOR, JR 2,254,250

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLOR, JR 2,254,250

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT R. W 5 BY SMAQ 4 b ATTORNEY5 Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLOR, JR

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Sept. 2, 1941. w. E. TAYLQR, JR

APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES Filed Feb. 18, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 2, 1941 2,254,250 APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CAN BODIES William E. Taylor, Jr., Riverside, Com, assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 18, 1938, Serial No. 191,311

Claims.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for reforming can bodies from a preliminary flat shape into a cylindrical or other flnal form such as is universally found in the tin can of commerce and has particular reference to first providing an integral flange on the flat or flattened body and reforming such body as a subsequent operation. In some respects the apparatus of the present invention may be considered as an improvement upon that disclosed in the J. A. Gray Patent 1,315,114, issued by the United States Patent Oflice, September 2, 1919.

In the manufacture of tin cans it is often desirable that economy of packing and shipping be provided for and this may be done by shipping or storing the can bodies while in a preliminary flat or flattened stage. In some instances the bodies are made in flat form while inother cases the full cylindrical or near cylindrical shape may be produced by the usual body making equipment and thereafter flattened to the desired shipping or storing condition. When either a flat or a flattened can body is to be made into a can, the body is reformed or rounded into the final body shape and is then supplied with an end or bottom to produce the desired can. The present invention is directed in part to the reforming stage and in part to flanging an end of the body in preparation for its bottom or to flanging both ends of the body prior to reforming.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for rapidly reforming flat or flattened can bodies by flanging an end of the body as an incident to reshaping it.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus for reforming flat or flattened can bodies wherein the body is partially opened and flanged and then reshaped in a manner that will not disturb the flange.

A further object is the provision of a can body reforming apparatus wherein the flat bodies are continuously removed from a magazine and subjected to a partial opening step, followed by flanging after which the flanged and partially opened bodies are advanced through reforming rollers which are relieved to permit passage of the flanges without their distortion while the bodies are reshaped or reformed.

Numerous other objects and'advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary plan details of the reforming rollers, showing in Fig. 2 a flat can body entering into and in Fig. 3 a reformed can body leaving, the rollers;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus, parts being broken away;

Fig. 5 is, a sectional view with parts in elevation of the flanging mechanism, parts being broken a y;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the reforming rollers;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6;

Fig..9 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken through a can body and showing flanging dies in (position at the end of the flanging operation; an

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail taken substantially along the section line l0lll in Fig. 5.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings dissubstantially closes a preferred embodiment of the inventionin which flat or flattened can bodies a. are stored in stack formation within a magazine or chute A (Figs. 1 'and 6). A sliding feed device B is used to remove the lowermost body from the magazine and to position it in a flanging station.

The flanging station includes spaced suction heads C which are adapted to engage on opposite sides ofrelatively flat side walls of the flat or flattened can body a. The flat or flattened can body has its flat sides joined by partially curved connecting parts as best illustrated in Fig. 6. In reforming the can body it is necessary to remove and entirely obliterate all traces of the partially curved part so that the finished body may have a cylindrical or other curved wall without irregularities.

The suction devices 0 are pulled apart to separate the flat walls of the can body as it rests at the flanging station and this initially opens the body (as shown in Fig. 10) and forms a body I). Flanging dies D (Fig. 9) are then moved into the open ends of this body which is thereby provided with end flanges produced by the flanging dies D. Since the flanging dies are circular their action also further rounds up the body. The partially opened and flanged can body will be designated by the letter 0.

The body 0 is then engaged by feeding elements E (Fig. 4) which push the body into reforming rollers F. Each roller F, as best illustrated in Fig. '7, is formed with transverse recesses or grooves G. The feeding elements in passing the partially opened can body into the reforming rollers F so place the advancing body relative to the rotating rollers that the flanges come within the recesses or grooves formed in the rollers.

The reforming rollers F are rotated in unison and round up the body into its final cylindrical shape, the finally reformed body being indicated by the letter 6 (Fig. 3). At the same time the rollers push out the can body and eject it into an inclined discharge chute H (see also Fig. 4).

All of the various elements of the machine are synchronized so that the operations of flanging and reforming are continuous, the operations taking place on a processional line of flat or flattened bodies a which are thus finally formed into cylindrical reformed, flanged can bodies d. The initial opening of the flat bodies a first into the partially opened shape I; and the further opening action of the fianging dies to produce the flangedbody c result in broadening the curve of the sharply curved connecting parts of the body where these parts merge with the relatively flat wall sections. The reshaping action completes this changing of" the curve of the sharply curved connecting parts and forms both the flat wall and the sharply curved wall parts into one uniformly curved cylindrical can body.

The apparatus containing the principal elements just described is mounted upon a base 2| (Figs. 1 and 6) which supports a housing 22 containing a part of the mechanism. The upper part of the housing 22 supports the magazine or chute A.

The magazine A is formed by four vertically disposed angle irons 23 which provide for guideways at the corners of the flattened bodies a when in stack formation.

The feeding device 13 comprises a reciprocating feed member 3| which slides within guideways formed in a horizontally disposed shelf 32. The shelf 32 is an integral upper part of a vertically movable slide 33 (see also Fig. 8). Slide 33 is raised and lowered in guideways formed within a block 34 which may be an integral part of the housing 22. A pair of slide strips II are spaced along the two sides of the block 34 and are connected therewith by screws. The inner edges of these strips overhang the outer edges of the slide 33 thus retaining it in position for vertical movement. Thus it will be seen that the feed member II of the feeding device moves in both a horizontal and a vertical plane. The reason for this will be further explained.

At its lower end, the slide 33 carries a pivot pin 26 which is connected to the upper end of an adjustable link 31. The lower end of the link is pivotally connected to a bell crank lever ll (see also Fig. 4) which is mounted for oscillation on a horizontally disposed shaft 39 supported at one end in a bracket 40 formed as an integral part of the housing 22. The opposite end of the shaft is journalled in a suitable bearing formed in the'h'ousing 22.

A short arm ll of the bell crank lever carries a cam roller 42 which operates within a groove 43 of a cam 44 mounted on a main drive shaft 45. Rocking of the bell crank 33 under the action of the cam raises and lowers the feeding device 3.

The main drive shaft 45 is supported in bearings It carried in the housing 22. The cam 44 acting through the bell crank It raises the feed member 3| so that when it is in an upper plane it effects feeding of the flat can body from the magazine A into the laming station 0. The same feeding position is aJso assumed when the flanged can body is removed from the station C. When in lowered position, the feed member is returned for a subsequent feeding operation. the lowered position being a nonfeeding position.

The main shaft ll is also a crank shaft and its crank movement is used for sliding the feed member back and forth, to effect the forward feeding action in the one case and to return the same after the feeding action is completed. For this purpose the shaft ll (Figs. 4 and 6) is formed with a crank 41 on which is mounted one end of a crank arm ll, this crank arm being held on the shaft in working position by a cap ll secured to the inner end of the crank arm.

The outer end of the crank arm 48 is threadedly secured to anadjustable clevis II which is pivotally connected to a pin 52. The pin 82 is carried near the middle of a rocking lever 82. The lever I8 is pivotally mounted at 84 on a bracket ll projected outwardly from the base 2| of the machine. The upper end of the rocking lever II is pivotally connected at It to a pair of links I! (see also Fig. i). The inner end ,of each link ll is pivotally connected at II to the feed member 3|. Thi construction provides for the forward and backward movement of the feed member.

The feed member 3| of the feeding device B is formed as an open frame having two side walls. Each side wall at the back projects up in a short rear finger feed dog M (Fig. 6). at the middle in an intermediate long feed dog 62 and a similar forward feed dog 63. when the slide 33 is first brought into its raised position, the feed member 2| is in its retracted or rear position. This upper position of the slide places the feed member in an upper or feeding plane as illustrated in Fig. 6. The feed member 3| upon being moved through a feeding stroke effects the feeding of three different bodies as will be explained.

First, the rear finger ll engages the outer sharply curved part of the lowermost flat body a as it rests within the magazine and slides this lowermost body toward the right as illustrated in Fig. 6. During this removal the can body is held against lateral displacement between spaced guide plates 84 which are mounted at one end in the magazine A and at the other end on a bracket 65 (Fig. 4) supported on the housing 22. This removes the lowermost body from the magazine A and places it in the flanging station.

As the fed body comes to rest at the flanging station it is directly above a lower sucker head 1| (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) of the suction devices 0. This sucker head is preferably made of rubber and at the time the body is brought into position, the upper surface of the rubber is flat, there being no suction in the head at the time, so that the lower flat side of the body easily passes over and comes to rest on top of the sucker head.

Sucker head II is mounted on the upper end of a vertical hollow shaft 12 which is carried in a boss 12 formed as an integral part of a wall of the housing 22, this being back of the block 34. This boss is thus located inside of the housing 22 and directly back of the movable slide 22. A screw ll threaded in the boss engages the lower end of the shaft 12 and holds the suction head in fixed vertical position.

The shaft I2 is provided with a central bore II which opens at the top into the inside of the terior therefore is in communication with the ports l1, l8 and the bore I8. The pipe 18 may be joined to any suitable source of vacuum, 1. e., suction so that when suction is applied, air will be exhausted from the central bore. from the ports and also from the inside of the sucker head 'II.

A similar upper sucker head II is also a part of the suction devices (Figs. 4, and 6). Head 8| is carried on the lower end of a hollow shaft 82 which is axially aligned with the lower stationary shaft 12 and has vertical movement within a boss 88 formed in an arch frame or bracket 84 which may be an integral part of the housing 22. This arch frame spans the flanging station and is alongside of the magazine A. At the time the flat body a is moved into the flanging station the upper suction head 8| is in its upper position and is spaced from the suction head II. The can body is slid in between the suction heads when it moves into flanging position.

The shaft 82 is formed with a vertical central bore 85 which connects with a transverse bore 88 near the top of the shaft. A suction supply pipe 81 is Joined to a collar 88 which is carried by the shaft 82. Provision is made for creating the desired suction in both pipes 18 and 81 simultaneously and thus simultaneously withdrawing the air from bores I5, 88 of the lower and upper shafts 12, 82. This may be done by connection with a vacuum pump, a vacuum tank or other well known expedient.

As soon as the flat can body has come to rest in the flanging station the upper suction head 8| is brought down upon the upper or top flat wall of the body. As the head descends it forces the body down so that its lower flat wall engages with the top of the suction head 1| It is at this time that suction is made effective in the heads '1 I, 8I and this causes the heads to adhere to the flat walls of the can body, the rubber heads adapting themselves in shape to the curvature of the body wall.

While the can body is thus held between the suction heads II, 8| flanging follows and it is during the flanging that the slide 33 is lowered carrying with it the feed member 3| which moves down and away from the can body. In its lowerm ost position the feed dog 8| of the slide member 3| is in a plane below the stack of flattened can bodies it within the magazine of the chute A. When in this lowered position, the slide member is moved back so that its short flnger 8| is again back of or beyond the outer edge of the flattened can bodies within the magazine. As soon as the feed member 3| is again raised it is in position and ready for another feeding stroke.

Reverting again to a consideration of the flat can body held between the suction heads 1|, 8| at the flanging station, the upper head 8| is first raised or separated from the lower head. The suction hold on both heads causes the engaged body walls to also spread apart and a partial opening of the can body is thus effected. This produces the partially opened shape b illustrated in Fig. 10. The curve of the sharply curved connecting parts of the flat body is thus broadened and the body is then in condition for flanging.

The shaft 82 at its upper end is pivotally connected to a link 8| which in turn is pivotally connected to a rocker arm 82. The arm is mounted upon a supporting shaft 88 carried in the bracket 84 and is pivotally connected at 84 to the upper end of a connecting rod 88. The rod 88 at itslower end is pivotally connected at 88 to one arm of a bell crank lever 81- (Figs. 4 and 6). The bell crank lever oscillates on the stationary shaft 88 and is disposed beside the bell crank lever 88. A collar 88 fixed to the shaft keeps the hubs of the two bell crank levers 88,

81 in working position.

The bell crank lever 81 is formed with an upper arm I8| which carries at its upper end a cam roller I 02, This roller operates within a cam groove I88 of a face cam I84. The cam I84 is secured to and turns with the main shaft 48. By means of this cam controlled connection, the upper suction head 8| is raised and lowered in proper time as already described.

The flanging dies D (Figs. 5 and 9) comprise a pair of spaced flanging heads IIII which at the time the can body is brought to rest at the flanging station are in separated position, as shown in Fig. 5. Each head H8 is formed with an inwardly projecting conical end III the base of which merges into an annular flanging groove H2. Each flanging head is carried on the inner end of a horizontally disposed slide shaft H8 which is mounted in a bearing I I4 formed in the arch frame 84.

The two shafts II 8 are slid together or separated from each other in unison, this action being the result of cams carried on the main shaft 45. For this purpose the outer end of each shaft 3 is pivotally connected at Hi to an adjustable connecting link 8 which has pivotal connection at I" to the upper end of a vertically disposed lever H8. Each lever H8 is mounted for oscillation on a pivot pin 8 carried in a bracket l2| formed as an integral part of the housing 22 and of the arch frame 84. The lower end of each lever H8 carries a cam roller I25 which operates within a cam groove I28 cut in the periphery of a barrel cam |2'| mounted on and rotated with the main shaft 45.

The actual-flanging takes place when the conical ends II I are inserted into the open ends of the can body I) and as the die heads H8 move over the ends of the can body. This places the annular flanging grooves 2 around the body ends and causes the metal of the end edges to flow around into a right angle position. This produces the flange on thecan body. The outer wall of each annular groove 2 provides a stop against which the can body edge comes to rest when the body is fully flanged. This insures a uniform size and shape of flange.

In the event that only one end of the can body is to be flanged, the fianging groove I I2 will be eliminated from one of the flanging heads 8 and at such time the ungrooved head will function as a stop block for the can body as the other end of the body passes through the flange reshaping end forming operation.

For a cylindrical can the flange groove 2 will be a true circle and therefore the can body near its ends will be nearly circular but further back toward the longitudinal center of the body the can walls will be more oval shaped. The partially curved connecting parts of the flanged can body 0, however, will be less sharply curved and this flange forming operation will further open the can body. While the flanges are circular while in'the flanging dies, after removal 'the spring ,of the metal will slightly distort the flange. However, throughout the operation which follows. i. e., during the reforming operation, the circular shape of the flanged end of the body will remain substantially without alteration.

Immediately following the M81118. the flanging heads lit aredrawn back or further separated and the can body is freed. It is still held by.

the suction heads H, il but when the suction is broken the body c comes to rest upon the guide rails t4 preparatory to being moved into position for the subsequent reforming action which immediately follows.

Removal of the flanged can body from the flanging station is effected by the next forward movement of the feeding member ii. The middle flnger I2 is now in position directly back of the flanged can body, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and when the feeding member Ii moves forward. the flanged can body is slid along the guide rail N and comes to rest at the end of the feed stroke at an idle station, designated by the letter K (Figs. 1 and 6).

The can body remains at station K as the feed member Si is again lowered and returned to its backward position on the next cycle of the feeding devices B. When the feed member II is again raised into its upper plane, the forward finger 83 comes into position directly behind the flanged cam body as it tests at the idle station.

At the next forward movement of the feeding member, the finger I! engages and slides the flanged can body further along the guideways N and brings it to rest at a station L (Figs. 1, 2 and 6). Here the body comes against astop plate I29. It is then in alignment with the reforming rollers F. As best illustrated in Fig. 2 the forward end of one of the guide rails I4 is notched out as at Iii and it is through this notch that the can body is moved into the reforming rollers F by the feeding elements E,

The feeding element E comprises a slide bar I35 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is mounted for sliding movement within a bearing m formed in an auxiliary housing I31, which may be an integral part of the housing 22. The inner end of the slide bar "I is cupped at I38 and this cupped end is directly alongside of the upper part of the rear flange of the can body as it rests on the guide bar It. Bar I35 moves forward to feed the can into the rollers F.

At the rear of the slide bar I35, its under surface is formed with rack teeth I. These teeth engage with a rack segment head I42 formed on the upper end of a lever I which rocks on a shaft or pivotal support I carried in the housing 22. The lower end of the lever I43 carries a cam roller 5 which operates within a cam groove I cut in the periphery of a barrel cam I" mounted on the main shaft 45 adjacent the face cam iill.

Thus at the proper time the upper end of the lever I43 moves forward under the action of the cam I" and through its gear connection with the slide bar I35, the latter engages the can body at its cupped end I38 and slides the body off of the guideways i4 and into the reforming roll ers F.

There are preferably two reforming rollers F and these are just alike. Each roller F (Figs. 1, 6 and '7) has upper and lower cylindrical rims HI and a rounded, reforming central section in therebetween. Each roller F as already mentioned is cut vertically in a pair of recess grooves G. The grooves G are formed by Peripheral gashes'lli and each cut is large at the top and bottom and is narrow at its center portion. The top and bottom ends of the groove stop in the cylindrical top and bottom rims I", 'asbest illustrated in Fig. I, and do not open out at either the top or the bottom of the roller.

One roller 1'' (Figs. 1 and 6) is mounted upon the upper end of a vertical shaft III. This shaft is mounted for rotation in a bearing sleeve Ill formed on a horizontal shelf 'section III of the housing 22.

The other roller F is'mounted on the upper end of a vertical drive shaft I II which is Journaled for rotation in a sleeve bearing in also formed on the shelf section I51. The shafts ill, I are parallel and the bearing I82 is signed from and is, also parallel to the bearing Provision is made for rotating the rollers F in unison so that the peripheral surfaces of the rollers will travel at the same speed, the rollers turning in opposite directions. To effect the proper cooperation of a rotation, the rollers are geared together and for this purpose the shaft I55 near its lower end carries a gear I" which merges with a similar gear i (Fig. 6) secured to the drive shaft III.

The lower end of the drive shaft III in addition to the bearing sleeve I" is further journaled in a bearing ill (Figs. 4 and 6) which is provided in a bracket I" extending in from a side wall of the housing 22. The drive shaft Iii carries a spiral gear I" at its lower end, this being below the bearing I". Gear I61 meshes with a spiral drive gear I" (Figs. 1 and 4) which is mounted on and which turns with the main shaft 45. v In this manner the rollers F are rotated in unison and at a continuous and uniform speed.

The feeding action of the feed bar ill advancing the can body c is timed with the rotation of the reforming rollers and the front flange of the moving can body enters into mating recess grooves G of the two rollers. This is shown in Fig. 2. As the can body continues to move forward, its side walls are engaged by the shaped middle section II! of each roller and this trues or rounds up the can body. The walls of the cut out gashes I53 of the rollers do not strike against the can flange and the flange passes through without being bent even though the can body walls are undergoing a complete ironing out. As the rear flange comes into the rollers it passes into the second set of grooves G and is likewise untouched.

The two rollers F are relatively close together so that a large part of the wall of the can body is circumferentially engaged between the shaping walls of the middle sections I52 of the rollers. The rotating rollers in addition to reforming the body and bringing it into the desired true cylindrical shape also move the body along.

The fully reformed can d is thus propelled through the reforming rollers F and out of the rollers and into the discharge chute H. The discharge chute H comprises an inclined troughshaped chute I'll (Figs. 1 and 4) which extends over one side of the machine. The inner end of the trough is carried on a bracket I12 which is mounted upon and is bolted to the top of the housing 22.

This completes the operation of reforming the flat can body a into the final cylindrical reformed flanged can body at and conditions the body for the reception of a bottom and its top flange is also complete. Producing the can by application of the bottom may be done in the usual well known manner but this forms no part of the present invention.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacriflcing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flat side parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination of a flanging die for bending an end of the body wall to form an end flange thereon the while broadening the curve of its sharply curved connected parts, and reforming rollers engageable with opposite sides of the can body for reshaping the body walls into tubular form with minimum alteration of said end flange to provide a flanged tubular can body, said reforming rollers having'means thereon to receive said end flange of said can body while the latter is engaged therebetween.

2. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flat side parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination of a chute adapted to receive the flat bodies, flanging dies mounted adjacent said chute and insertable into the open ends of a said flat body to form end flanges thereon the while broadening the curve of its sharply curved connecting parts, and reforming rollers engageable with opposite sides of the can body for reshaping the body walls into cylindrical form with minimum alteration of said flanges, to provide a reformed flanged cylindrical can body, said reforming rollers having means thereon to receive said end flanges of said can body while the latter is engaged therebetween.

3. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flat side parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination 5 of a flanging die for bending an end of the body wall to form an end flange thereon the while broadening the curve of its sharply curved connected parts, rotatable reshaping rollers having transverse recesses mounted adjacent said flanging dies, and feeding elements for passing said flanged body through said reshaping rollers to reshape the body walls into cylindrical form, the said flanges of the body extending into said roller recesses to minimize alteration of the flanges during the reshaping of the body thereby providing a reformed flanged can body.

4. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flat side parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination of a chute adapted to receive the flat bodies. flanging dies mounted adjacent said chute, feeding devices for removing a flat can body from said chute and for locating it between said flanging dies, suction means for en aging the outside of the flat walls of said positioned can body and for pulling the walls apart thus partially opening the body, means for moving said dies closer toward one another while said suction means are holding the body walls separated, at the same time inserting said flanging dies into the open ends of said held can body to form end flanges thereon while broadening the curve of its sharply curved connecting parts, and roller means for reshaping the body walls while passing by said end flanges to provide a reformed flanged cylindrical can body.

5. In a machine for reforming can bodies provided with relatively flat side parts joined by sharply curved connecting parts, the combination of tapered flanging dies, feeding devices for 10- cating a flat can body between said flanging dies, means for inserting said dies into the opposite open ends of a said flat body to form end of said body.

flanges thereon the while broadening the curvev of the sharply curved connecting parts, feeding means for further moving said flanged can body from said flanging dies, and means subsequently operative during said further feeding movement of the can body to engage the same between the said end flanges only to complete the reforming WILLIAM E. TAYLORt-Ia.

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