Abstract: An ink replenishment system for a can decorator having a plurality of ink fountains corresponding to a plurality of ink station assemblies includes a robotic arm structured to pick up ink from a selected one of a plurality of ink container and to place the picked up ink into a selected one of the plurality of ink fountains, and a controller structured to control operations of the robotic arm.

Abstract: A connection rod coupling assembly includes a settable shape mounting second component having a lateral, primary axis and a bearing assembly including a bearing assembly body. The bearing assembly body includes a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a center axis. The bearing assembly body is coupled to the settable shape mounting second component in a non-aligned configuration. That is, the bearing assembly body center axis is offset from the settable shape mounting second component primary axis. Thus, the position of the bearing assembly body center axis is adjustable by repositioning the settable shape mounting second component relative to a settable shape mounting first component on a swing lever. The adjustment of the bearing assembly body, in turn, adjusts the range of the ram assembly and the ram assembly body.

Abstract: A domer station having a domer assembly, a housing assembly, and a stacked piston assembly is provided. The domer assembly is movably disposed within a domer body passage located in the housing assembly and structured to move between a forward, first position and a retracted, second position. The stacked piston assembly includes a plurality of pistons, preferably three pistons, disposed in series and a pressure supply. The pistons are disposed behind the domer in pressure chambers. The pistons have a constant pressure applied thereto and are biased towards the domer. The pistons are, however, each restrained by a stop and do not contact, or operatively engage, the domer when the domer is in the domer first position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A quick-change vacuum starwheel assembly including at least one of a quick-change height adjustment assembly or a quick-change vacuum starwheel mounting assembly.

Abstract: A forming assembly for use in a can bodymaker includes a stationary assembly and a moving assembly movably coupled to the stationary assembly. The stationary assembly and the moving assembly are a unified assembly that is structured to be selectively coupled to a mounting assembly body of the can bodymaker. The moving assembly is structured to be selectively coupled to a ram drive assembly of the can bodymaker and moved with respect to the stationary assembly thereby.

Abstract: A ram assembly includes an elongated ram body and a punch mounting assembly. The ram body has a reduced length. The punch mounting assembly includes an elongated body having a complementary length. The punch mounting assembly is coupled to the ram body. The assembled punch mounting assembly and ram body have an operational length.

Abstract: A connection rod coupling assembly includes a settable shape mounting second component having a lateral, primary axis and a bearing assembly including a bearing assembly body. The bearing assembly body includes a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a center axis. The bearing assembly body is coupled to the settable shape mounting second component in a non-aligned configuration. That is, the bearing assembly body center axis is offset from the settable shape mounting second component primary axis. Thus, the position of the bearing assembly body center axis is adjustable by repositioning the settable shape mounting second component relative to a settable shape mounting first component on a swing lever. The adjustment of the bearing assembly body, in turn, adjusts the range of the ram assembly and the ram assembly body.

Abstract: A ram drive assembly for a can bodymaker includes a mounting assembly and a number of forming assemblies supported thereon, each including: a stationary assembly, having a die pack and a domer, and a moving assembly having a ram assembly and a cam follower assembly. The die pack defines a passage having a proximal and a distal end, with the domer disposed adjacent the distal end. The ram assembly includes a ram body having a proximal and a distal end, with the cam follower assembly coupled to the proximal end. The ram body is structured to reciprocate through the passage between a retracted and an extended position. The ram drive assembly includes: a cam having a body with a number of surfaces for engaging each cam follower assembly; and a motor having a rotating output shaft operatively coupled to the cam body for rotating the cam body.

Abstract: A heating system for use with a can dryer or oven includes a gas burner, an electrical heating element, a heating chamber structured to heat cans using air heated by the gas burner and/or the electrical heating element, a circulation system structured to move air from the gas burner and the electrical heating element to the heating chamber, and a control system structured to selectively control the gas burner and the electrical heating element to switch between a first mode where the gas burner and the electrical heating element are active and both heat air provided to the heating chamber and in a second mode where the gas burner is inactive and the electrical heating element is active.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A can end including a central panel and a coined rivet disposed on the central panel. A press, a station, and/or a tooling assembly structured to form a coined rivet as well as a method to form the coined rivet is also provided.

Abstract: A printing plate pressure adjustment system for a can decorator including a printing plate cylinder assembly having a printing plate cylinder drive shaft, and a blanket wheel. The system includes an actuator, a control system structured to control operation of the actuator to adjust a pressure between the printing plate cylinder assembly and the blanket wheel, an eccentric bushing disposed around the printing plate cylinder drive shaft, wherein rotation of the eccentric bushing causes the printing plate cylinder to move toward or away from the blanket wheel, and a drive mechanism coupled between the actuator and the eccentric bushing, wherein operation of the actuator causes the drive mechanism to rotate the eccentric bushing.

Abstract: An infeed assembly for a necker machine includes a full inspection assembly wherein the full inspection assembly is structured to be coupled to a necker machine frame assembly.

Abstract: A forming assembly for use in a can bodymaker includes a stationary assembly and a moving assembly movably coupled to the stationary assembly. The stationary assembly and the moving assembly are a unified assembly that is structured to be selectively coupled to a mounting assembly body of the can bodymaker. The moving assembly is structured to be selectively coupled to a ram drive assembly of the can bodymaker and moved with respect to the stationary assembly thereby.

Abstract: A ram drive assembly for a can bodymaker includes a mounting assembly and a number of forming assemblies supported thereon, each including: a stationary assembly, having a die pack and a domer, and a moving assembly having a ram assembly and a cam follower assembly. The die pack defines a passage having a proximal and a distal end, with the domer disposed adjacent the distal end. The ram assembly includes a ram body having a proximal and a distal end, with the cam follower assembly coupled to the proximal end. The ram body is structured to reciprocate through the passage between a retracted and an extended position. The ram drive assembly includes: a cam having a body with a number of surfaces for engaging each cam follower assembly; and a motor having a rotating output shaft operatively coupled to the cam body for rotating the cam body.

Abstract: A system for performing necking operations on a can body includes a necker machine and a positioning system. The necker machine includes a frame; a processing arrangement having a plurality of components movable relative to the frame for performing the necking operations on the can body, and a drive motor having a shaft operatively coupled to the processing arrangement for moving the processing arrangement relative to the frame. The positioning system includes: an encoder associated with the drive motor for monitoring a rotational displacement of the shaft and a controller in communication with the encoder and the drive motor. The controller is structured and programmed to: receive an input from a user, the input being indicative of a desired movement of the processing arrangement relative to the frame, and to operate the drive motor using feedback from the encoder such that the desired movement of the processing arrangement is achieved.