Stolle Machinery Company, LLC

Russell Bauer

Gregory H Butcher

Aaron Emmanuel Carstens

Kenneth E Carper

Ian Kenneth Scholey

Richard James Edward Mercer

Daniel A Jansen

Patrick Kevin McCarty

Neil Albert Zumberger

Jason Andrew Davidson

Seth Daniel Holdmeyer

Karl Scott Fleischer

Peter Frans Corssmit

A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.

Outboard hydrostatic bearing assembly for can bodymaker

A rotary manifold includes a manifold assembly outer body assembly with a generally toroid outer body, a number of manifold assembly outer body assembly bearing assemblies, a number of seals, and a number of fluid couplings. The manifold assembly outer body assembly body defines a number of radial passages. A generally toroid manifold assembly inner body defines a number of right angle passages. The manifold assembly inner body is rotatably disposed within the manifold assembly outer body assembly body. Each manifold assembly inner body passage inlet is discontinuously in fluid communication with the manifold assembly outer body assembly body passage outlets. Each manifold assembly inner body passage outlet is discontinuously in fluid communication with the process shaft assembly body passages inlets.

Rotary manifold

A quick-change die assembly for a necker machine includes an outer die mounting, an outer die, an outer die quick-release coupling, an inner die mounting, an inner die assembly, and an inner die quick-release coupling. The outer die is coupled to the outer die mounting by the outer die quick-release coupling. The inner die assembly is coupled to the inner die mounting by the inner die quick-release coupling.

Quick change tooling assembly

A drive assembly for a necker machine having a frame assembly and a plurality of processing stations includes: a plurality of drive sub-modules. Each drive sub-module includes: a primary input shaft, a first primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft, and a second primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft. For a first drive sub-module: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, a main drive assembly motor, and the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, an associated first drive shaft of a first processing station. For a second drive sub-module: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second primary output shaft of the first drive sub-module, and the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, an associated first drive shaft of a second processing station.

Drive assembly

Frame member

A forming station for a necker machine including a frame assembly, an inboard turret assembly, an outboard turret assembly and a forming station quick-change assembly.

Process shaft tooling assembly

A can bodymaker ram assembly is provided. The ram assembly includes an elongated, generally hollow ram body and a tension assembly. The ram body includes a proximal end, a medial portion, and a distal end. The tension assembly includes an elongated support member. The tension assembly support member includes a proximal end and a distal end. The tension assembly support member is substantially disposed within the ram body with the tension assembly support member proximal end coupled to the ram body proximal end, and the tension assembly support member distal end coupled to one of the ram body medial portion or the ram body distal end.

Mechanism and design for addressing ram droop

A conversion system wherein a crankshaft drives the motion of the tooling assemblies within a number of lanes is provided. The crankshaft is structured to move the tooling assemblies associated with less than the total number of lanes. That is, for example, a four lane conversion press could include two crankshafts each actuating the tooling assemblies of two lanes. In an exemplary embodiment, each lane has a single associated crankshaft. The conversion system includes a multiple press drive assembly with a clutch/brake assembly and a flywheel assembly. The clutch/brake assembly is structured to suspend operation of the press units while the flywheel assembly stores energy in a flywheel. When operation of the press units is restarted, energy from the flywheel aids the motor in bringing the press units to an operating speed.

Drive assembly for conversion system

A conversion system wherein a crankshaft drives the motion of the tooling assemblies within a number of lanes is provided. The crankshaft is structured to move the tooling assemblies associated with less than the total number of lanes. That is, for example, a four-lane conversion system could include two crankshafts each actuating the tooling assemblies of two lanes. In an exemplary embodiment, each lane has a single associated crankshaft.

Conversion system

A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.

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West Chester, OH, United States of America

Russell Bauer