US3491574A

US3491574A - Horizontal ironing and doming press

Info

Publication number: US3491574A
Application number: US671388A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Arthur Helrigel; Bernard Kenneth Hook; Robert Gordon Suntheimer
Original assignee: EW Bliss Co Inc
Current assignee: EW Bliss Co Inc
Priority date: 1967-09-28
Filing date: 1967-09-28
Publication date: 1970-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-27

Description

Jan. 27, 1970 R. A. HELRIGEL ET AL 3,491,574

HORIZONTAL IRONING AND DQMING PRESS Filed Sept. 28. 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet l 1 I IVENTORS. ROBERT A. HELRIGEL, BERNARD K. HOOK a ROBERT G. SUNTHEIMER Maya, 7% 8 80d;

ATTORNEYS Jan'. 27,1970

Filed Sept. 28, 1967 R. A. HELmG-EL ET-AL HORIZONTAL niouiua AND DOMING mass FIG. 6

7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. ROBERT A. HELRIGEL, BERNARD K. HOOK 8:

B ROBERT G. SUNTHEIMER Mega, 7M 8 80d;

ATTORNEYS Jan. 27,; 19 70 k. A. HEQRIGEL ET AL 3,491,574

I HORIZONTAL I-RONI-NG AND DQMING ERESS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGS Filed Sept. 28,

m w M Wm m mmm 8 R WL N 0 0 V H U T .3 T I. 3K A NWT RAR E E ems 7, DEC RBR Jan. 27, I970 jn. A.-H-ELRIGELET m. 1 3,491,574

- 1 HORIZONTAL-1120mm ANDIDOMING PRESS Filed se t. 28 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet s 302 \f 302 30k P IIkl 30 3|O FIG. 9

law m 1. INVENTORS. ROBERT A. HELRIGEL, BERNARD K. HOOK a BY ROBERT e. SUNTHEIMER M W 6: M,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 27 1970 :R. A. HELRIGEL ET L 3,491,574

HORIZON-:TAL IRON-1N6 Arm DOMING PRESS Filed Sept 28, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS.

ROBERT A. HELRIGEL...

BERNARD K. HOOK 8 BY ROBERT G. SUNTHEIMER ATTORN EYS a 7, 1970 A. H EL R !GEL ET I HORIZONTAL 'inonme AND momma PRESS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Sept. 28, 1967 F56. El

- INVENTORS. ROBERTA. HELRIGE BERNARD K. HOOK 8n ROBERT G SUNTHEIMER M, 7'

ATTORNEYS United States Patent HORIZONTAL IRONING AND DOMING PRESS Robert Arthur Helrigel, Bernard Kenneth Hook, and

Robert Gordon Suntheimer, Hastings, Micl1., as-

signors to E. W. Bliss Company, Canton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 671,388 Int. Cl. B21d 22/30, 43/04 US. Cl. 72-348 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved machine for forming a can body having a desired radially facing shape and a closed end. The machine includes a frame and a plurality of parallelly extending, horizontally positioned rams arranged to be simultaneously reciprocated along separate axes in first and second directions relative to the frame. First members forming extruding orifices having a peripheral shape generally corresponding to the desired radially facing shape of the can are positioned coaxial with each of the separate axes, and second members forming can end shaping abutments and defining stops for the rams in the first direction are also positioned coaxially with the separate axes. Feed means are provided for positioning cupshaped can blanks intermediate the rams and their respective extruding orifices When the rams have been moved in the second direction. The feed means include head maintaining means for maintaining a head of cupshaped can blanks closely adjacent each of the respective axes. A horizontally reciprocated carrier is provided for removing the lowermost blanks from each of the head maintaining means and aligning them with the adjacent respective ram axis when the rams are reciprocated in the second direction.

The present invention is directed toward the art of can making and, more particularly, to an improved forming press for making can bodies.

The invention is especially suited for making can bodies from aluminum and will be described with particular reference thereto; however, it is appreciated the invention is capable of broader application and could be used for making can bodies or similar members from a variety of materials.

One of the methods commonly employed for making aluminum can bodies includes deep drawing a circular blank into a cup-shaped member which is subsequently redrawn or ironed to elongate and thin its sidewalls to the desired dimensions. Normally, the bottom wall of the member is then domed inwardly and the sidewalls trimmed to the desired height to produce a can body having the required final size and configuration.

Because of the many steps involved in the process a variety of different machines and conveyor mechanisms are required. These factors tend to increase the resultant cost of the can bodies. Additionally, because of the .many feeding and conveying steps the exterior surface of the bodies are often scratched or marred.

In order to simplify the process and reduce, as well as simplify, the handling and feeding mechanisms, machines have been designed for performing certain of the steps simultaneously. For example, in the commonly assigned copending application, Serial No. 575,387, filed Aug. 26, 1966, now Patent No. 3,446,167, there is disclosed a rotary turret type machine for simultaneously performing the final ironing and doming steps. Consequently, by the use of that machine, one handling and conveying step is eliminated. Additionally, there is a reduction in floor space required.

The present invention is directed to a machine which,

"ice

like the aforementioned machine, simultaneously performs the final ironing and doming steps; however, because of arrangement of the machine of the present invention, the feeding and discharge mechanisms are greatly simplified. Further, the machine itself is simplified and arranged so that necessary maintenance and repair can be more easily performed.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved machine for forming a can body having a desired radially facing shape and a closed end. The machine includes a frame and a plurality of parallelly extending, horizontally positioned rams arranged to be simultaneously reciprocated along separate axes in first and second directions relative to the frame. First members forming extruding orifices having a peripheral shape generally corresponding to the desired radially facing shape of the can are positioned coaxial with each of the separate axes, and second members forming can end shaping abutments and defining stops for the rams in the first direction are also positioned coaxially with the separate axes. Feed means are provided for positioning cup-shaped can blanks intermediate the rams and their respective extruding orifices when the rams have been moved in the second direction. The feed means include head maintaining means for maintaining a head of cup-shaped can blanks closely adjacent each of the respective axes. A horizontally reciprocated carrier is provided for removing the lowermost blanks from each of the head maintaining means for aligning them with the adjacent respective ram axis when the rams are reciprocated in the second direction.

By having the rams positioned horizontally, the feed mechanism can be simplified in the manner described. That is, for example, the head maintaining means can be simple vertical chutes terminating intermediate the rams and feeding a short stroke slide-type feeder. This allows alignment and final positioning of the blanks to be readily accomplished with a minimum of mechanism. Further, becuse of this arrangement, the distance through which the blanks must be positively driven is short and the blanks can be moved into position more rapidly, thus decreasing the time required for a complete machine cycle.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, means are provided for stripping the formed can bodies from the rams after engagement with the shaping abutment means, and conveyor means are positioned beneath the axes and intermediate the stripping means and the doming member for receiving the formed can bodies and discharging them from the machine.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an ironing and doming press arranged so as to simplify the required feeding and discharge mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an ironing and doming press which is capable of producing can bodies at a high rate.

A further object is the provision of an ironing and doming press arranged so as to facilitate maintenance and repair.

Yet another object is the provision of a machine of the type described wherein the relationship between the rams and the ironing and doming members can be readily adjusted.

These and other-objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an ironing and doming press formed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the press shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing the main drive mechanism of the press;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2 and showing in detail the press slide and gib arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the right end of the machine as viewed in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged plan view of the right end of the machine viewed in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 showing the arrangement of the doming members;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 7 and showing the feed and discharge mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of FIGURE 9 and showing in detail the drawing and doming elements for one of the rams; and,

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 10 but showing one of the rams at the end of a working stroke with the formed can body still in position on the ram.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting same, FIGURES I and 2 show the overall arrangement of the press including a horizontally extending main frame A which supports a main drive assembly B for reciprocating a punch or ram assembly C in working relationship with an ironing and doming assembly D. The ram assembly C and the ironing and doming assembly R function to elongate the side walls of cup-shaped aluminum can blanks and dome in the bottom wall to form a can having the desired final configuration. The cup-shaped aluminum can blanks are sequentially fed in timed relationship between the punch assembly C and the ironing and doming assembly D by a feed assembly E. The formed can bodies are discharged from the machine by a conveyor assembly F positioned generally beneath the path of movement of the punch assembly C.

FRAME A The specific construction and arrangement of frame A is not of particular importance to the invention; however, as shown, it comprises a pair of vertically positioned, horizontally extending

side forming members

10 and 12 which are welded or otherwise positively connected to three horizontally extending base forming members 14, i6 and 18. Additionally, a plurality of plate members extend transversely between

side forming member

10 and 12 and function to support various mechanisms in the machine and to provide a rigid frame. The position of these additional frame forming members will be discussed in conjunction with the detailed description of the various assemblies of the machine.

DRIVE ASSEMBLY B Positioned at the left-hand end of the frame and supported by an outwardly extending bracket is a variable speed motor and gear reducer unit 22. Unit 22 serves as the primary source of power for driving the ram assembly C and the various feed and discharge assemblies. The output shaft 24 of the motor and gear reducer unit 22 has a pulley 26 keyed or otherwise positively connected thereto and, through a plurality of V-belts 28 is drivingly connected to a main flywheel 30.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, flywheel 30 is mounted for free rotation on suitable bearings 32 which are carried on a sleeve 34 of a conventional air operated clutch 36 which functions to selectively connect the flywheel 30 with a crankshaft 38. Sleeve 34 of clutch 36 is keyed to a horizontally extending crankshaft 38 rotatably mounted in

suitable bearings

40 and 42 carried respectively by the

side frame members

10 and 12.

As is apparent, engagement of the clutch 36 causes the flywheel to be effectively engaged with crankshaft 38 causing it to rotate at the speed of the flywheel. The crankshaft 38 is a relatively conventional counterbalanced crank having a crank arm 44 which is connected in a conventional manner with a connecting rod 46. As can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 5, the opposite end of crank 46 is connected to a ball unit 48' by a plurality of cap screws 50. The ball portion 52 of ball unit 48 is received in a socket 54 in the press slide member 56. The ball is retained in the socket by a split retainer ring and

plate

58 and 60, respectively. The retainer ring 60 is positively connected -to the slide 56 in any convenient manner, such as through the use of a plurality of screws 62.

As can readily be seen, rotation of the main crankshaft causes the slide member 56 to be reciprocated horizontally through a path the length of which is determined by the throw of the crankshaft 38. The slide 56 is constrained for horizontal movement by adjustable upper and lower horizontally extending

gibs

66 and 68, respectively. As best shown in FIGURE 4 the upper gibs 66 are bolted to the

side frame members

10 and 12 by a plurality of cap screws 78. Conventional gib retainer members 72 are positioned above each of the gibs 66 and connected to the slide frame members by screws 74. By varying the thickness of shim members 76 between the abutting surfaces of gib retainer 72 and gibs 66 the vertical position of the slide guiding surfaces of the gibs can be varied.

The lower gibs 68 are carried by brackets 80 welded to the

side frame members

10 and 12. Screws 82 serve to connect gibs 68 to their respective brackets 86 and to permit vertical adjustments of the lower gibs to be made simply by varying the thickness of shims 84 positioned between the mating surfaces of the gibs and their support brackets.

RAM OR PUNCH ASSEMBLY C Carried at the right hand end of slide '56, as viewed in FIGURES 1, 2 and 5 are a pair of elongated horizontally extending punch members 90. Each of the punch members 90 are of identical construction, consequently, only one will be described in detail and this description is understood to be equally applicable to the other.

As shown, the punch members 90 have a cross-sectional configuration determined by the desired final internal configuration of the particular can bodies being formed. In the subject machine the punches are of circular configruation. As best shown in FIGURE 11, each punch member 99 includes a rear portion 92 and a forward portion 94.

Portions

92 and 94 are connected in axially aligned relationship by a connection screw 96. This allows the forward portion 94 to be easily releasable from rear portion 92 so that it can be easily removed and replaced. The rear portion 92 has its leftmost end flared, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, to provide a flange 98 for connection of the slide through use of cap screws 100.

The forward end of the punch member 90 is shaped as best shown in FIGURES 10 and 11. As can be seen, the end has a recess 102 of circular cross-section formed therein. This recess is arranged so as to allow the bottom of the can to be domed inwardly during the fin al movement of the rightward stroke of ram member 90.

As is apparent from FIGURE 10, with the cup-shaped can blanks 11 axially aligned with the respective punch members 98 and the ironing and doming assembly B the rightward movement of the ram causes it to enter the can blank 11 and move it through the ironing members and into engagement with the doming member to form it to its final desired configuration as shown at 11.

Because the cup-shaped can blank 11 is imperforate and because the cross-section of the ram 90 is arranged to closely fit within the interior of the can blank 11, means must be provided to exhaust the air from the cup shaped blank 11 to prevent movement of the ram into the blank from causing the blank to be ruptured. For this reason, a longitudinally extending opening 104 is formed throughout the length of both portions of the punch member and then connecting screw. This opening 104 is connected to an opening 106 formed in the slide 56. Opening 106 in turn is connected with a vertically extending opening 108 which connects with the lower surface of the slide 56. If the machine were operated at a low rate the line 108 could simply serve as an exhaust to the atmosphere; however, because the machine is operated at an extremely high number of cycles per minute, line 108 is preferably connected through a flexible line 110 to a source of vacuum and a source of air pressure not shown. The control of air and vacuum through line 110 is accomplished in any convenient manner, such as for example, by solenoid valves actuated by a cam limit switch unit 111 driven from the main crankshaft 38.

In operation, the valves are controlled so that as the punch member begins entering the can a vacuum is pulled on line 108 and, accordingly, on lines 104 to thereby exhaust the air from the can; however, after the finish of the working portion of the punch stroke the valves are operated to supply air under pressure through the same lines to assist in removing the formed can bodies from the ram.

IRONING AND DOMING ASSEMBLY D The ironing and doming assembly D is best shown in FIGURES and 11. This assembly functions in combination with the punch members 90 to form the cupshaped can blanks 11 to their final desired form 11'.

The portion of the assembly D which performs the ironing function includes a first ironing ring assembly 110 and a second ironing ring assembly 112.

Assemblies

110 and 112 are mounted in a common frame 114 which includes a horizontally extending base plate 116. The base plate 116 is supported from inwardly extending brackets 118 which are welded to the

side frame members

10 and 12. The base plate is releasably connected to the brackets 118 by a plurality of screws 120. This arrangement allows the

ironing ring assemblies

110 and 112 to be readily removed from the machine as a unit for replacement or repair.

Referring specifically to ironing ring assembly 110 it is seen that the assembly includes a pair of ironing ring members 124 each adapted to cooperate with a separate one of punch members 90. Each ring member 124 is identically formed and mounted. Consequently only one will be described in detail. As shown, ring member 124 is carried in a recess 126 formed in the left-hand portion 128 of support member 114. The ring 124 has an extruding opening 130 formed centrally therein. The opening 130 is axially aligned with the path of movement of its respective punch member 90 and is of a diameter slightly larger than the desired finished diameter of the can body 11. As shown, the outer periphery of the ring member 124 is slightly smaller in diameter than the peripheral wall of the recess 126 and an O-ring 132 is received in an annular recess formed in the outer periphery of ring 124 to position the ring in the recess. This arrangement allows the ring to have some slight movement relative the ram so as to be somewhat self-centering.

The ring 124 is releasably retained in the recess by a retainer plate 134 which is connected to the support frame 114 by a plurality of screws 136. The retainer plate 134 is of a two-part construction so as to provide an internal annular recess 140 to which lubricant is supplied. The lubricant is conducted from recess 140 to the exterior surface of the blank via a plurality of small openings 142.

Referring now to assembly 112, it is seen that the ironing ring portion of the assembly is generally the same as described with reference to assembly 110 and includes a pair of ironing rings 144 each adapted to cooperate with a separate one of punch members 90. The rings are received in openings 146 formed in portion 148 of bracket 114. Extending centrally through each of rings 144 is an extruding opening 150. This opening is aligned with the path of movement of the respective punch member and is of a diameter equal to the desired final diameter of the can body 11'. Additionally, O-rings 152 extend in grooves formed in the outer periphery of the rings 144 so as to provide a degree of self-centering as described with reference to rings 124. Rings 144 are retained in recesses 146 by retainer plates 154 connected to portion 148 of bracket 114 by a plurality of screws 156. The retainer plates also include an annular lubricant receiving groove which, through openings 162 supplies lubricant to the ironing ring assembly.

Positioned in recesses 168 formed in the opposite side of member 148 are stripping ring assemblies 170. These assemblies function to remove the finished can bodies from the punch members 90 as the punches are reciprocated to the left as viewed in FIGURE 10. In particular, the two stripping ring assemblies 170 are formed in the same manner and each include a plurality of discrete ring sections 172 which are biased inwardly by a circumferentially extending garter spring 174. The ring segments 172 are retained in their respective recess 168, but permitted to have radial movement relative thereto by a circular retainer plate 176 connected to member 148 by a plurality of screws 178.

Mounted at the right-hand end of the punches path of movement is doming assembly 180'. This assembly is arranged to form the bottom wall of the can body to the desired final shape. Referring more specifically to FIG- URE 8 it is seen that doming assembly 180- includes 2 doming units 182 each of which is aligned with a separate one of punch members 90. Additionally, the doming units 182 are arranged for separate adjustment longitudinally of the path of movement of the rams by mechanism which will subsequently be described in detail; however, referring to FIGURE 10, it is seen'that each of the units includes a doming member 184 which has an end surface 186 of a configuration desired to be imparted to the bottom wall of the can 11'. Member 184 is connected by a plurality of cap screws 186 with a mounting sleeve -188. The mounting sleeves 188 of the two respective doming units 182 are, as best shown in FIGURE 8, releasably connected by a plurality of screws 190 to

independent support members

194 and 196, respectively.

Referring again to FIGURE 10 it is seen that an ejector ring member 198 is positioned about each of the doming members 184. This ejector ring is arranged so as to be slidable within the sleeve 188. A plurality of rods 200 extend from the rear end of the ejector ring into engagement with a slide flange 202 carried on a stud 204 threadably connected to the rear end of the doming member 186. A compression spring 206 surrounds stud 204 and functions to maintain a constant bias against the slide flange 202 to in turn bias the ejector ring 198 outwardly. Spring 206 is maintained in position by a washer and

nut

208 and 210, respectively.

Referring to FIGURE 11 which shows one of the punch members 90 at the rightward extent of its stroke, it is seen that at this time the can body 11 is completely formed and the ejector ring has been force rightwardly against the bias of spring 206. As the ram begins moving to the left, the outward bias against the ejector spring forces the can body 11 away from the doming member 184. Continued leftward movement of the ram causes the rear edge 186 of the can body 11' to be engaged by the stripping ring assembly 170. This, in combination with the pressurized air supplied through line 104, causes the can to be stripped or removed from the punch. The can is then received on the discharge mechanism F and discharged from the machine.

As previously mentioned the doming units 82 are mounted for independent adjustment longitudinally of the axis of movement of the rams 90. Referring specifically to FIGURES 7, 8 and 10, it is seen that the member 194 which carries the right-hand doming unit 182 (as viewed in FIGURE 8) has an inclined rear surface 220 which bears against a similarly inclined surface 222 of wedge member 224. As seen in FIGURE 7, member 224 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a recess 226 formed in a transversely extending frame or support member 228 which is welded between the side plates and 12. The doming unit support member 1'94 also has a pair of rearwardly extending portions 230' and 232 which further serve to guide member 224' and to prevent transverse movement of member 194. As shown in FIG-

URES

8 and 10, member 194 is maintained in engagement with wedge member 224 by a plurality of screws and springs 234 and 236, respectively. Screws 234 pass through horizontally extending openings 238 formed in the

rearwardly extending portions

230 and 232 of member 194. These screws are threadably engaged with the transversely extending frame member 228. Springs 236 positioned between the head of screws 234 and the bottom of the recessed opening 240 function to maintain member 194 firmly biased into engagement with the wedge member 224.

Although not shown, it is to be understood that the left-hand doming unit 182 and its support member 196 are adjustable by a mechanism identical to that disclosed with respect to the right-hand doming unit.

In order to restrain the

members

194 and 196 from having any vertical movement while permitting them to move longitudinally of the path of movement of the ram, guide blocks 244 are positioned at the four outermost corners of the assembly as shown in FIGURE 8. These blocks engage the outer surfaces of the corners of

members

194 and 196 and are connected by screws to inwardly extending support members 246 which are welded to the

side frame members

10 and 12. The inner lower corners of both of

members

194 and 196 are similarly supported by guide blocks 248 which are carried by a support member 250 which extends forwardly from transverse frame member 228 in the manner shown in FIGURE 10. Similar guide blocks 252 engage the upper inner corners of

members

194 and 196. These members are supported from a main support plate 254 which is connected by a plurality of cap screws 256 to transversely extending frame member 228.

The means for shifting wedges 224 vertically to vary the position of the doming units includes studs 260 which extend into threaded openings 262 formed in the wedges. The studs 260 are threadably received in a collar 266 which is releasably retained in member 254 by a plate 268 connected to plate 254 by screws 270. The screws 260 are arranged to be locked in their adjusted position by a nut 274.

FEED ASSEMBLY E The details of feed assembly E are best shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 9. Referring specifically to FIG- URE 9, it is seen that the assembly includes a pair of vertically extending blank holding chutes 300. These chutes are each offset slightly from a vertical line passing through the path of movement of each respective ram 90. As shown, each of the chutes comprise 6 vertically extending guide members 302 which are shown as being half round members positioned as shown in FIGURE 7 so that their curved surfaces define a guideway for the cup-shaped can blanks 11.. The members 302 are connected at their lower end to a horizontally extending support plate 304 which is supported on blocks 36 connected to the inside of the respective

frame forming members

10 and 12. At their upper ends, the members 302 are connected to a similar horizontally extending plate 308 whi h connected to the top surfaces of frame 8

members

10 and 12 by screws 310. This chute arrangement maintains a head of blanks closely adjacent the path of movement of each of the rams 90.

The means for removing the bottom blank from each of the chutes and moving it into aligned position with the punch members includes a horizontally reciprocated carrier unit 314. Carrier unit 314 includes a slide plate 316 which supports two

separate carrier members

318 and 320. The slide plate 316 is mounted for horizontal movement in a guideway formed by a bracket 322 which is supported from plate 118.as best shown in FIGURE 6.

Referring again to FIGURE 9, it is seen that each of the

carrier members

318 and 320 define an upwardly facing support surface 328 and 330, respectively. Support surfaces 328 and 330 are arranged to conform to approximately of the blanks exterior surface. Additionally, the

members

318 and 320 have a flat horizontally extending upper surface 332 and 334, respectively. When the carriers are in the position shown, the blanks 11 that they are at that time supporting are aligned with the paths of movement of the two punch members 90. The carriers are maintained in this position until the punches enter the blanks and begin moving them toward the ironing and doming assembly D. After the rams have entered the blanks and are supporting them the

carriers

318 and 320 are reciprocated to the left as viewed in FIGURE 9. As the carriers are reciprocated back, the next can in the chutes drops down into the respective support surfaces 330 and 328. Additionally, as can be seen in FIGURE 9, pivotally mounted fingers or plates 3'50 and 352 extend rightwardly from the

respective carriers

318 and 320. The fingers are biased into the position shown by respective compression springs 354 and 356. As is readily apparent, this arrangement provides means for supporting the blanks as they are moved from the chutes to their aligned position with the rams while permitting the carriers to be reciprocated back to the left after the rams enter the blanks.

Although a variety of means could be utilized for reciprocating the carrier unit 314 in timed relationship with the operation of the rams, the preferred means include a cam actuated lever 352 which is supported by a bracket 354 extending outwardly from frame member 12. The upper end of lever 352 is pivotally connected to a link 356 which in turn is pivotally connected to the carrier member 320. Consequently, oscillation of the lever 352 produces a corresponding reciprocation of the carrier unit 314. A compression spring 358 extends between frame member 12 and lever 352 to maintain the lever normally biased in a counterclockwise direction.

The means for oscillating the lever 352 includes a cam 360 having a camming surface 362 which engages a roller or cam follower 364 carried on the lower end of the arm 352. Cam 360 is keyed or otherwise positively connected to a shaft 366 which is rotatably mounted in bracket 354. The shaft 366 is driven in timed relationship with the main crank 38 through a positive drive belt system best shown in FIGURE 2. This belt system includes a pulley 368 which is connected to the outer end of crankshaft 38 and drivingly connected through a positive drive belt 370 with a second gear or pulley 372. Pulley 372 is keyed to a shaft 371 which extends from suitable bearings mounted on the side of the main frame. The final drive connection with shaft 366 is through a belt 376 which engages a gear 378 keyed to the end of shaft 366. Consequently, the carrier unit 314 is continuously reciprocated in exact timed relationship with the movement of the ram 90.

DISCHARGE ASSEMBLY F Because of the horizontal arrangement of the press the mechanism for discharging the finished cans from the machine is extremely simple. Referring particularly to FIGURES 6, 7 and 9 it is seen that the discharge assembly F consists primarily of an endless belt 400 which is positioned so as to have a horizontally extending run 402 positioned directly subjacent the path of movement of the punches at a location corresopnding to the position of the cans after they have been stripped from the punch members 90. Belt 400 is driven and guided in its movement by a pair of large diameter pulleys 404 and 406. Pulley 406 is supported by a horizontally extending shaft 408 which is carried by a pair of generally vertically extending members 409 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a bracket 410 which extends outwardly from side frame member 10 (see FIGURE 9). The upperend of the member 409 carry an adjustable stud 411 which engages the side of frame member 10. This stud provides means for adjusting the position of pulley 406 to maintain the desired tension on belt 400.

Pulley 404 is the driven pulley and, as shown in FIG- URE 7, is connected to an output shaft 414 of a right angle drive unit 416 which is mounted on side frame member 12. The right angle drive unit 416 is driven from the main crankshaft 38 by having its input shaft 418 connected through a positive drive belt that includes a gear 420 keyed to the shaft 418 and driven through a belt 422 which is in turn driven by a pulley 424 which is keyed to the end of shaft 471, (see FIGURES 1 and 2.)

The invention has been described in great detail sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the can making art to make and use the same. Obviously, modifications and alterations of the preferred embodiment will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the specification and it is our intention to include all such modifications and alterations as part of our invention insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An improved machine for forming a can body having a desired radially facing shape and a closed end, said machine including a frame, a plurality of parallelly extending horizontally positioned punch members arranged to be simultaneously reciprocated between first and second points along separate parallel axes; first members forming extruding orifices having a peripheral shape generally corresponding to the desired radially facing shape of the can positioned between said first and second points and coaxially with each of the said axes; second members positioned at said first point and coaxial with the separate axes and forming can end shaping abutments and defining stops for the punch members at said second point; feed means for positioning cup-shaped can blanks intermediate the punch members and their respective extruding orifices, when said punch members are at said first point, said feed means including upwarding extending guide means for supplying cup-shaped can blanks to first locations closely adjacent each of said axes and between said extruding orifices and said rarns when said rams are at said first points, said guide means arranged so that the blanks at said locations extend parallel to said axes and, a horizontally reciprocable carrier means mounted subjacent said axes and said guide means for movement along a path generally perpendicular to said axes, said carrier means including means defining support surfaces for receiving blanks from said locations, means for reciprocating said carrier means along said path to move said sup port surfaces to transfer blanks from said first locations into alignment with said axes when said rams are in said first positions; said support surfaces defining means including a retractable portion arranged to permit the carrier to be moved back to said locations as said rams move from said first to said second points.

2. The improved machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the second members are independently adjustable longitudinally of the separate axes.

3. The improved machine as defined in claim 1 including discharge conveyor means positioned subjacent the axes and intermediate the first and second members.

4. The improved machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the guide means comprise vertically extending chutes for holding a plurality of cup-shaped can blanks.

5. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the ram members are carried on an adjustably mounted slide member driven by a rotatable crank.

6. The improved machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the extruding orifices are mounted on a common frame which is releasably connected to the main frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 230,638 8/1880 King l13-113 I 1,156,972 10/1915 Carlson 72361 3,167,044 1/1965 Henrickson 72361 3,270,544 9/1966 Maeder et al. 113120 3,289,453 12/1966 Wyle et al. 72349 FOREIGN PATENTS 567,701 8/1944 Great Britain.

RICHARD J. HERBST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 72421