Abstract: Apparatus for stripping articles from a press ram including a plurality of individual strippers supported in ring members surrounding the press ram. Each of the strippers is formed as a rigid member having an operating piston and a stripping piston rigidly joined together by a web section with the pistons extending parallel to and laterally spaced from one another. The operating pistons of the respective strippers are rotatably supported in bores provided in a first support ring and the operating pistons are guidably supported in radial slots at a second support ring. The two rings are rotatably moved with respect to one another by way of a piston-cylinder unit, with relative rotation of the rings effecting a forced rotation of the strippers about the operating pistons into and out of respective stripping positions adjacent the press ram.

Abstract: Elongated closed bottom shells (cans) are produced in the preferred manner by a double-acting punch body arranged on a horizontal axis and reciprocated between opposed die stations at a substantially constant velocity by a hydraulic force alternately applied to opposite sides of a ram on the punch body; blanks (of cup form) are fed to the die stations at times when the punch body dwells at the end of a stroke. Preferably the applied force is such that punch body attains peak (maximum) velocity before the punch encounters a cup centered at the die station; cup feed, cup positioning, punch body travel and formation of a shell of correct length are monitored (sensed) and in the event a programmed condition of machine function or production criterion is sensed as not satisfied, the machine is stopped.

Abstract: An air lead-in for a can body former of the type comprising a ram having a can-forming punch at its end which draws and wall-irons a metal blank by forcing it through a series of rings, the ram and punch having air passages therein through which compressed air is pulsed in a programmed series to faciliate stripping a formed can from the punch. The lead-in comprises novel linkage having articulatingly connected oscillating sections with interconnected air passages therein one end of the linkage having a pivot connection to the ram passages at one end and the other end having a connection to a rocker drive arm air passages from a source external of the arm.

Abstract: The tool pack is designed for mounting on a metal drawing machine or press, and includes a frame having a mounting slot for holding a cartridge that carrys a drawing die, the mounting slot having a right angle corner formed therein against which the cartridge is seated and removably secured by hydraulic clamping apparatus, whereby precise positioning of the cartridge is assured. The cartridge includes screw actuated fluid adjusters for precisely positioning the die in two directions, to secure accurate alignment. Mounted rearwardly of the cartridge is a stripper assembly including radially movable, pivoted jaws that are hydraulically extended and retracted to provide stripping action.

Abstract: While performing an ironing operation (a specific kind of drawing operation) on a hollow workpiece by means of a mandrel or punch and a die, the workpiece is caused to leave the die at a speed exceeding the speed of the mandrel, and the resulting forward slip with respect to the mandrel is controlled. The required mandrel stroke is reduced. Stripping of the workpiece from the mandrel may be started while the workpiece is still in motion relative to the mandrel.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping hollow articles off of a press ram including a stripper supporting ring extending circumferentially around the press ram, a plurality of segments mounted on said supporting ring for limited radial displacement with respect to the press ram axis, and a plurality of individual hydraulically cushioned strippers mounted in each of said segments for direct engagement with the article to be stripped from the press ram. Various preferred embodiments include various mechanisms for permitting and/or positively providing radial displacement of the segments so as to accommodate passage of the press ram and article to be stripped. Several of these preferred embodiments include biasing means such as springs and/or pressure medium forces for biasing the segments radially inwardly and chamfered conical beveled edges on the segments for accommodating an outward biasing force application by way of the article and press ram.