Sequa Corporation

Pennwalt Corporation

Cmb Foodcan Plc

Richard A Gabel

Robert M Williams

Enn Sirvet

Robert Williams

Carl G Nilsen

David J Burke

David John Burke

A continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with mandrels that receive undecorated cans and a deco chain that carries decorated cans through a curing oven. The mandrels are mounted along the periphery of a continuously rotating carrier. Chain speed is much slower than linear mandrel speed and spacing between pins on the chain is much less than spacing between mandrels. Interposed between the chain and the mandrel carrier is a continuously rotating transfer carrier having a plurality of suction holding devices thereto. As the holding devices move through a transfer region they are in single file and receive cans that are blown from the mandrels. In the transfer region mandrel linear speed is substantially greater than linear speed of the holding devices, and spacing between the latter is much less than spacing between mandrels As the loaded suction holding devices move downstream through a pickup region cans thereon are loaded on two rows of pins carried by the deco chain. Linear speed of the holding devices while moving through the transfer region exceeds chain speed, and in this region the holding devices are spaced apart by a distance that exceeds pin spacing. By the time the holding devices reach the pickup region they are arranged in two rows, are spaced apart and are moving at a speed such that they essentially track the moving pins while the latter are being loaded.

Apparatus and method for substantially reducing can spacing and speed to

A continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with mandrels that receive undecorated cans and a deco chain that carries decorated cans through a curing oven. The mandrels are mounted along the periphery of a continuously rotating carrier. Chain speed is much slower than linear mandrel speed and spacing between pins on the chain is much less than spacing between mandrels. Interposed between the chain and the mandrel carrier is a continuously rotating transfer carrier having a plurality of suction holding devices thereto. As the holding devices move through a transfer region they are in single file and receive cans that are blown from the mandrels. In the transfer region mandrel linear speed is substantially greater than linear speed of the holding devices, and spacing between the latter is much less than spacing between the mandrels. Valving that controls application of pressurized air to unload the mandrels is positioned by a servo such that the valving opens automatically at a more upstream position for the mandrels as mandrel carrier speed increases.

Apparatus and method for automatically positioning valve means

An X-ray tubehead counterbalancing mechanism devoid of springs, cams and chains is disclosed. The mechanism requires only a single adjustment to precisely counterbalance objects, such as tubeheads and the like. The mechanism includes a commercially available gas spring which is used in conjunction with parallel motion linkage assembly which carries the tubehead. The piston rod end of the gas spring is adjustable upwardly or downwardly in a direction substantially normal to the axis of the piston rod by means of a single adjustment screw cooperating with a clevis which pivotally mounts the piston rod. With such adjustment capability, the present mechanism will support and counterbalance tubeheads having wide variations in weight and inertia.

Counterbalancing mechanism for X-ray tubeheads

Growing community of inventors

Livingston, NJ, United States of America

Richard A Gabel