Sequa Corporation

Standun, Inc.

Ralph M Main

Elpidifor Paramonoff

Rodney Blue

A bodymaker that transforms shallow metal cups into elongated can bodies includes a reciprocated ram which, during its forward stroke, drives the cups through a set of graduated circular dies. Ring shaped wipers engage the outer cylindrical surface of the ram and are arranged so that a first of the wipers scrapes tool coolant from the ram as the latter moves rearward and a second of the wipers scrapes hydraulic bearing fluid from the ram as the latter moves forward. The wipers are provided with flexible flaps that are in relatively low pressure frictional engagement with the ram resulting in only a very low temperature rise for the wipers to increase operating life thereof at production rates of approximately 400 per minute for cans of 21/2 inch diameter.

Wiping unit for ram of bodymaker

A ram that is utilized in high speed apparatus for forming elongated one piece metal can bodies from shallow cups is constructed by metallurgically bonding either a nose piece to a body or a tail piece to a body, the body constructed from a single integral piece having an elongated thin walled tube section with either a tail piece section or a nose piece section for connection to a drive means.

Lightweight ram for bodymaker

Apparatus for forming elongated metal cans from relatively short cups by utilizing a reciprocating ram to drive the cups one at a time through a die pack, is provided with a continuously rotating feeder that transfers the cups from the exit of a gravity feed chute to a receiving station where each cup is indexed for engagement by the ram as it moves forward in its working stroke. The feeder rotates through one complete revolution for each forward-return cycle of the ram and during each revolution thereof a pocket in the feeder receives a cup from the chute, which cup then moves downstream through a guideway to a receiving station. Prior to being seated in a registry formation at the receiving station, the cup is engaged by a stripper that removes the cup from the feeder pocket. The feeder continues to drive the cup toward the registry formation while the cup is being stripped from the feeder pocket. A tensioner device and a formation on the feeder maintain the cup seated fully on the registry formation during the initial engagement of the cup by the ram while the latter moves forward in its working stroke.

Rotary cup infeed

A press for forming the relatively long cylindrical body of a so-called two piece beverage can utilizes a horizontally reciprocating ram to drive a relatively short cup through a circular die pack. Compressed air applied through a rotary valve is utilized to strip the bodies from the ram. Such valve includes a continuously rotating rotor that is mechanically connected to the drive for the ram such that for each rotor revolution the ram moves through a complete cycle consisting of a forward working stroke followed by a rearward return stroke. The rotor is constructed of two disks that abut face to face. A rotor drive shaft extends through the center of the rotor and the angular position of the disks relative to each other is adjustable to adjust the portion of each rotor revolution during which compressed air is applied for stripping. Each disk is provided with an arcuate aperture and the extent to which these apertures overlap determines how long compressed air is applied for stripping. The angular position of the rotor on the drive shaft determines when compressed air is applied for stripping.

Rotary valve controlled apparatus for stripping cans from bodymaking ram

A ram that is utilized in high speed apparatus for forming elongated one piece metal can bodies from shallow cups is constructed as a weldment in which there is an elongated relatively thin-walled tube, a tail piece metallurgically bonded to one end of the tube and a nose piece metallurgically bonded to the other end of the tube.

A reciprocal ram carries a metallic cup on an end thereof axially through a die pack opening and a die ring thereof in a working metal forming stroke, the cup is stripped therefrom and the ram moves reversely through the die ring in a return stroke. An annular lubricant nozzle surrounding the die pack opening forwardly adjacent the die ring directs an annular flow of lubricant continuously axially along and against an angled die ring entrance surface to a die ring forming surface during presence of the cup therein, and over the die ring forming surface and through natural adherence along a die ring angled exit surface during lack of presence of the cup regardless of the ram position in its strokes. The nozzle also preferably directs the lubricant constantly impinging on an exposed leading end surface of the die ring and preferably the outer of nozzle angled and parallel internal annular surfaces is formed by a separately mounted lubricant distribution ring, the exact ring mounting determining the nozzle lubricant direction and flow volume.

Die lubricant nozzle for use in can bodymakers and the like

A horizontally reciprocal ram is movably supported on a can bodymaker for forward and rearward movement of a ram forward end through a die assembly by stationary, spaced, hydrostatic oil bearing sleeves located rearwardly of the die assembly thereby isolating at least a major portion of the ram for support and alignment for remainder of the bodymaker. Drive mechanism supplying horizontal ram drive to a ram rearward end may include a movable hydrostatic oil bearing slide connected to the ram through various optional forms of drive connection means supplying varying degrees of relative flexibility between the ram and slide to thereby determine the degree of ram isolation by the bearing sleeves with an optimum of substantially full ram isolation. Included in certain of the drive connection means providing greater flexibility for greater ram isolation are variously located hydrostatic oil bearing pad assemblies.

Growing community of inventors

San Pedro, CA, United States of America

Ralph M Main