National Can Corporation

Walter W Snyder

Dennis G Dettmer

An apparatus and method for the high-speed production of seamless metal container bodies is disclosed utilizing a reciprocating ram which forces a relatively shallow metal cup through a die assembly to iron the sidewall of said cup to form an elongated ironed container body, the ram is supported and critically-aligned by at least two stationary guide means along its length and a slide blank means rigidly secured to its rearward end, the slide block means having opposed hydrostatic pressure pads to provide constant critical alignment of the rear end of the ram and prevent misalignment of the ram relative to the die assembly to avoid producing container bodies of overly-inconsistent length.

Method for producing seamless container bodies

A cup feeding mechanism for a bodymaker includes a guide chute defining a vertical path with a stop located at the lower end of the path defining a transfer area. The stop has a specifically configured area for receiving each cup and defining a fixed position for the cup in the transfer area. A drive member is reciprocated transversely of the path and picks up cups from the transfer area and positively drives them into alignment with a ram that extends perpendicular to the axis of the path so that the cups are maintained in accurate alignment with the ram prior to being transferred through the bodymaker.

Cup feeding mechanism

An apparatus and method for the high speed production of seamless metal container bodies is disclosed utilizing a reciprocating ram which forces a relatively shallow metal cup through a die assembly to iron the sidewall of said cup to form an elongated ironed container body, the ram is supported and critically aligned by at least two stationary points and also at its rearward end by a slideable ram block assembly to which the ram is rigidly secured, the critical alignment of the rear end of the ram prevents misalignment of the ram relative to the die assembly to avoid producing container bodies of overly inconsistent length.

Growing community of inventors

Burleson, TX, United States of America

Walter W Snyder