Abstract: Apparatus for applying a coating material, such as a lubricant, to the top and bottom surfaces of a continuous strip of material wherein the continuous strip of material is passed between two wicks mounted in each of an upper and lower housings with each of the housings having a plurality of spaced apart bores and wherein metered amounts of the coating material is supplied sequentially to each of the plurality of spaced apart bores by a piston mounted for reciprocating movement. In another embodiment, the wicks apply coating material to the outer surface of an upper drive roll and a lower idler roll so that coating material is applied to the upper and lower surfaces of a continuous strip of material as it passes therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a cylindrical workpiece, such as a can body, from a cylindrical supporting device, such as a punch in a can body making machine, using a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fingers which are mounted for radial and linear sliding movement between a non-stripping location and a stripping location.

Abstract: A can body maker apparatus including a stationary support frame; a housing having forming and ironing dies located therein mounted on the support frame; an elongated ram; a reciprocating ram drive; and a redraw assembly which includes a redraw sleeve for supporting a can body preform thereon; a redraw carriage for supporting and axially displacing the redraw sleeve relative the ram; a redraw electromagnetic coil fixedly positioned relative the stationary support frame; and a permanent magnet fixedly mounted with respect to the redraw carriage in displace relationship with the coil along the coil axis for co-acting with the electromagnetic field produced by the coil for controllably reciprocatingly displacing the redraw carriage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for necking tubular members such as cans utilizes an inner die that expands to support a neck portion to be formed by an outer die that travels around the neck. The inner die has a plurality of first die elements which may be retracted after the neck is formed so that the inner die may be removed. Selected ones of these first die elements nest with the others in the retracted state. Drive assemblies operate each of the inner and outer dies, and the drive assembly for the inner die operates to differentially drive the first die elements to allow nesting to occur. Preferably, the inner drive assembly employs a reciprocally retracting cam, and the first die elements have cam followers to allow reciprocation. A wedge cam can be used to support the first die element sin the expanded configuration, and a wedge drive moves the wedge cam into and out of position.

Abstract: A can body maker apparatus including a stationary support frame; a housing having forming and ironing dies located therein mounted on the support frame; an elongated ram; a reciprocating ram drive; and a redraw assembly which includes a redraw sleeve for supporting a can body preform thereon; a redraw carriage for supporting and axially displacing the redraw sleeve relative the ram; a redraw electromagnetic coil fixedly positioned relative the stationary support frame; and a permanent magnet fixedly mounted with respect to the redraw carriage in displaceable relationship with the coil along the coil axis for coacting with the electromagnetic field produced by the coil for controllably reciprocatingly displacing the redraw carriage.

Abstract: A spherical hydrostatic bearing having a ball mounted in a split socket for substantially friction free movement relative thereto and a linear hydrostatic bearing extending through the ball and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the ball for permitting substantially friction free sliding movement of a rod. Also, apparatus is provided for at least limiting rotational movement of the ball around the longitudinal axis of the split socket.

Abstract: A can body maker apparatus of the type having an axially reciprocal ram member and an axially reciprocal redraw carriage comprising a ram position sensing assembly for sensing the position of the ram member and for generating a ram position signal in response thereto; an electromagnetic bearing assembly for frictionlessly radially supporting and aligning one end of the ram member with a predetermined ram displacement path; an electromagnetic redraw carriage actuator for applying magnetic force to the redraw carriage for reciprocating the redraw carriage; and a control assembly for selectively energizing and deenergizing electromagnets in the electromagnetic bearing assembly and the electromagnetic redraw assembly in response to the ram position signal, also, an electromagnetic doming apparatus is provided for shaping the bottom portion of the can body.

Abstract: A can body maker apparatus of the type having an axially reciprocal ram member and an axially reciprocal redraw carriage comprising a ram position sensing assembly for sensing the position of the ram member and for generating a ram position signal in response thereto; an electromagnetic bearing assembly for frictionlessly radially supporting and aligning one end of the ram member with a predetermined ram displacement path; an electromagnetic redraw carriage actuator for applying magnetic force to the redraw carriage for reciprocating the redraw carriage; and a control assembly for selectively energizing and deenergizing electromagnets in the electromagnetic bearing assembly and the electromagnetic redraw assembly in response to the ram position signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a cylindrical workpiece, such as a can body, from a cylindrical supporting device, such as a punch of a can body making machine, using a plurality of pivotally mounted fingers which are mounted between a non-stripping location so that the cylindrical workpiece and the cylindrical supporting device may pass through the stripping fingers without contacting the stripping fingers and a stripping location whereat the stripping fingers will contact the leading edge of the cylindrical workpiece to disengage it from the punch and wherein the stripping fingers are formed from a magnetically conductive material and are moved into the stripping location by electromagnetic apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the punch on the reciprocating ram of a can body making machine wherein the punch is mounted on one end portion of the reciprocating ram so that the punch is capable of rotational movement relative to the reciprocating ram.

Abstract: A device for measuring electric current includes a toric core having a gap that establishes a pair of opposed end faces, and a continuous conductor having terminal ends and wound around the core in contiguous turns forming a toric solenoid interrupted by the gap. The solenoid has first and second ends adjacent the respective end faces of the core, and the conductor at each end of the solenoid passes through the core and extends along the axis thereof from the opposed end faces of the core such that the terminal ends of the conductor are located diametrically opposite the gap. A first compensation coil is serially connected to said first end of the solenoid such that the first coil overlies the first end of the solenoid to which the first compensation coil is connected.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a cylindrical workpiece, such as a can body, from a cylindrical supporting device, such as a punch of a can body making machine, using a plurality of resilient fingers which are mounted in a circumferentially spaced relationship to provide a circular opening having a diameter less than the outer diameter of the punch so that on the return stroke of the punch, the resilient fingers will be in contact with the outer surface of the punch and will contact the leading edge of the workpiece to disengage it from the punch.

Abstract: A redraw apparatus is provided for a can body making apparatus wherein the redraw carriage of the redraw apparatus is mounted for substantially friction-free sliding reciprocating movement over a pair of spaced apart support posts which are fixedly mounted on the housing holding the can forming and ironing dies. Also, a counterbalancing system is provided for applying a force to counterbalance the weight of a portion of structures used to reciprocate the redraw carriage. Additionally, a raw assembly is provided for supporting a ram for movement through the redraw apparatus and the can forming and ironing dies wherein a pair of spaced apart elongated shafts are fixedly mounted and a ram carriage having the ram attached thereto is provided with liquid bearings using liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein for mounting the ram carriage on the elongated shafts for substantially friction free movement thereover. A guide liquid bearing is also used to ensure proper alignment of the ram.

Abstract: A redraw apparatus is provided for a can body making apparatus wherein the redraw carriage of the redraw apparatus is mounted for substantially friction-free sliding reciprocating movement over a pair of spaced apart support posts which are fixed mounted on the housing holding the can forming and ironing dies. Also, the counterbalancing system is provided for applying a force to counterbalance the weight of a portion of structures used to reciprocate the redraw carriage. Additionally, a ram assembly is provided for supporting a ram for movement through the redraw apparatus and the can forming and ironing dies wherein a pair of spaced apart elongated shafts are fixedly mounted and a ram carriage having the ram attached thereto is provided with liquid bearings using liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein for mounting the ram carriage on the elongated shafts for substantially friction free movement thereover. A guide liquid bearing is also used to ensure proper alignment of the ram.

Abstract: A system for trimming a can body wherein a can body is positioned within a cutting member so that the cutting member is at the location where the can body is to be trimmed. A resilient, deformable object is inserted into the can body and positioned therein so that at least a portion thereof is located radially opposite portions of the can body on each side of the cutting member. The resilient, deformable object is deformed so as to move a first part thereof against a portion of the can body to prevent longitudinal movement of the can body and then to move a second part thereof against the portion of the can body located between the cutting member and the open end of the can body in a radially outward direction so as to sever that portion from the can body.

Abstract: A system for forming a surface configuration, such as a neck and a flange, on a can body adjacent an open end thereof using a mandrel having an outer surface comprising generally cylindrical portions on each side of an annular recess which recess has a surface configuration corresponding to the neck and the flange to be formed. A resilient deformable object is located around the mandrel. A portion of a can body is placed between the mandrel and the resilient, deformable object which is then deformed so as to move a portion of the can body into conformation with the surface of the annular recess. At the same time, a force is applied to a portion of the portion of the can body being deformed to resist the movement thereof so that the portion of the can body in which the neck and flange is being formed is stretched and thinned as it is moved into conformation with the surface of the annular recess.

Abstract: A system for the transfer of an individual folded carton from a supply of folded cartons to a conveyor for further processing using a vacuum unit that is reciprocated over an arcuate path and wherein vacuum is applied to the vacuum unit immediately prior to its contact with a first one of a supply of folded cartons so as to secure the first one to the vacuum unit and the vacuum is discontinued from the vacuum unit after the vacuum unit and the first one of the folded cartons have moved away from the supply of folded cartons through a distance less than about three inches.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for spray coating the interior cavity of a plastic bottle with a barrier material. The apparatus includes a spraying assembly for moving a nozzle body into and out of the interior cavity of the bottle while the bottle rotates about its central longitudinal axis. A spraying control system causes a predetermined amount of coating material to be dispensed to selected regions of the bottle as a function of the nozzle body linear displacement relative the bottle.

Abstract: An injection mold apparatus for forming molded plastic articles comprising a polymer supply source; a mold cavity; conduit connecting the mold cavity and the supply source; an injection assembly for injecting molten polymer into the mold cavity and a gate valve associated with the conduit and having an elongate central passage terminating in an outlet orifice and a needle positioned in skewed relationship with the elongate central passage and selectively insertable into the orifice in a closed position and retractable from the orifice and the elongate central passage to provide an unrestricted polymer flow in an open position.

Abstract: A device and method for flash suppression in a molding with rotation system having a non-rotating mating surface capable of venting gases during the molding process while simultaneously suppressing flash. Flash is directed inwardly and away from the mating surface and contained between a mandrel and mandrel housing in a low pressure reservoir which is completely separate from the mating surface. A cooling fluid is utilized to carry away flash particles from the low pressure reservoir and thereby further prevent contamination of the mating surface.