Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.