Rotary Work Carrier (e.g., Turret) Patents (Class 72/405.03)
  • Patent number: 11565303
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
    Inventors: Richard James Edward Mercer, Ian Kenneth Scholey, Russell Bauer, Seth Daniel Holdmeyer
  • Patent number: 10967417
    Abstract: A key blank loading cartridge includes a sleeve defining a cavity for holding a stack of key blades within a box of key blanks. The key blanks are releasably retained in the cartridge cavity by their blade portions leaving the head portions of the blanks exposed. After having been removed from the box, the so retained stack of key blanks is ready to be loaded as a single unit in a corresponding key blank magazine. Once the head portions of the key blanks have been engaged in the magazine, the sleeve can be pulled off the blanks and returned to the key blank manufacturer and reused in another key blank shipping package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KABA ILCO CORP.
    Inventors: Christopher Dean Page, Deborah Johnson Parker, Allen Shelton Fisher
  • Patent number: 9849499
    Abstract: A rotary slide moves blanks cyclically from stage to stage of a cutting and processing tool. Work pieces are transferred in and out of the tool, without moving the slide in and out of the tool. The slide has a plurality of transfer openings and a discharge opening. Individual processing stages, including a discharge stage, are designed as separate components that support one another. The stages are arranged about a rotating axis of the slide. The transfer openings and the discharge opening lie in a circular path that coincides with circular paths of active elements of the cutting stage, the processing stages and the discharge stage. The openings have a distance from one another that is identical to the distance of the active elements in the circular paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FEINTOOL INTERNATIONAL HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Marti, Patrick Hofer
  • Patent number: 9744583
    Abstract: Provided are a method a for manufacturing metallic cans and resulting structure apparatus, where the method provides a continuous manufacturing process carried out instead of individually carrying out separate processing, thereby preventing the provision of any additional equipment and improving the efficiency in the manufacturing of metallic cans. A method for manufacturing metallic cans can be realized by simultaneously carrying out the sealing lip processing and the curling part processing by a press method, thereby simplifying the manufacturing facilities, manufacturing procedure or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Inventor: Il Han Yoo
  • Patent number: 9003851
    Abstract: To provide an embossing device, an embossing method and an embossed can which are capable of conducting embossing having a non-shaped section and an arbitral number of embossed areas, and are capable of improving quality or productivity. An embossed can 10 is a double-embossed surface can in which on a can barrel 101 a first pattern 104 is printed; a first concave part 105 is formed in the state that it is so positioned as to almost conform to the first pattern 104; a second pattern 106 is printed at a position which is distant in the circumferential direction with the non-shaped section therebetween; and a second concave portion 107 is formed in the state that it is so positioned as to almost conform to the second pattern 106.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumoto Obata, Keiji Sasaki, Wataru Ookubo, Masayuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8857232
    Abstract: A system and method of forming a vessel may include providing multiple operation wheels configured in opposing facing pairs. Each operation wheel may include multiple work zones, each work zone of an operation wheel being configured in an opposing facing pair with a work zone of another operation wheel to engage the vessel and perform a forming operation on the vessel. Opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels may be linearly pushed to a closed position to engage the vessel, and pulled to an open position. The work zone(s) may perform least one forming operation on the vessel. The vessel may be indexed through the operations at a rotational timing coordinated to index the vessel when opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels are in the open position, the indexing may be clockwise or counterclockwise based on whether a decoration operation is to be performed on the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: John E. Adams, Katherine W. Allen, Scott C. Biondich, Ruth Karina Espinel, Alejandro Jose Santamaria, Rajesh Gopalaswamy, H. Brock Kolls
  • Patent number: 8833125
    Abstract: Provided is a swaging apparatus for smoothly swaging a can of a rechargeable battery by absorbing excessive load above a predetermined level between a rod of a driving part and a collet of a driven part. A swaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a collet housing for swaging a can including an electrode assembly, a collet for swaging an opening of the can inserted in the collet housing, a shock-absorbing part disposed in the collet housing and connected to the collet, and a rod connected to the shock-absorbing part to transmit a swaging load to the collet through the shock-absorbing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Bae Cha, Jae-Ho Jeong, Kyung-Doo Ha
  • Patent number: 8826715
    Abstract: A forming device for cup-shaped hollow bodies (56) with a machine frame (2), a drive mechanism (6), a workpiece turntable (3) to support hollow bodies (56) and a tool carrier (4) to support machining tools (58), wherein the workpiece turntable (3) and tool carrier (4) oppose one another and can be rotated in relation to one another around an axis of rotation (5) and can be linearly displaced in relation to one another along the axis of rotation (5) and wherein the drive mechanism (6) is designed to provide a rotational stepping motion and a cyclical linear motion between the workpiece turntable (3) and the tool carrier (4), in order to allow the forming of the hollowing bodies (56) by means of the machining tools (58) in a plurality of sequential machining steps, as well as a stationary supporting tube (33) assigned to the machine frame (2), the central axis of which extends along the axis of rotation (5) and supports the tool carrier (4) and/or the workpiece turntable (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hinterkopf GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Abt, Helmut Aichele, Carsten Brechling
  • Patent number: 8733146
    Abstract: A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner to form a machine arrangement. Each machine includes a modular base, a transfer star wheel, and a turret mechanism configured to perform a working operation on an article. The turret mechanism includes a turret star wheel. A central axis of the transfer star wheel is approximately 45 degrees below horizontal relative to a central axis of the turret star wheel. The turret mechanism includes a cantilevered portion overhanging a portion of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Babbitt, Harold James Marshall, Joseph Schill
  • Patent number: 8726710
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of coordinating vessel shaping style and decoration, the method comprising receiving a vessel in a decoration operation, the vessel having a formed shape style, determining the formed shape style, selecting based in part on the formed shape style a decoration style, and decorating the vessel with selected decoration style. Other embodiments include selecting the decoration style based in part on the vessel top form style, selecting the vessel top form style based in part on the decoration style, and selecting a pathway to index the vessel across the operation wheel through the shaping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Scott C. Biondich, Katherine W. Allen, John E. Adams, Ruth Karina Espinel, Alejandro Jose Santamaria, Gopalaswamy Rajesh, H. Brock Kolls
  • Patent number: 8726709
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of shape forming vessels, the method comprising selecting a pathway to index the vessel across an operation wheel, indexing the vessel, controlling rotational indexing direction of the vessel across selected pathway, and operating on the vessel as the vessel is indexed across the operation wheel along selected pathway. Other embodiment include shaping by contouring length of the vessel, applying decoration to the vessel, wherein the decoration is added at a precise location based in part on reference to the registration spot, and using a controller to select the pathway based in part on desired shape of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Katherine W. Allen, John E. Adams, Scott C. Biondich, Ruth Karina Espinel, Alejandro Jose Santamaria, Gopalaswamy Rajesh, H. Brock Kolls
  • Patent number: 8627697
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of performing non-shape forming operations during vessel shaping, the method comprising indexing a cylinder across a pathway of at least one of an operation wheel, the operation wheel further having a plurality of work zones, performing at the plurality of work zones a plurality of operations on the cylinder in a sequence of a first shaping plurality of operations followed by a non-shaping plurality of operations followed by a second shaping plurality of operations, and effectuating transformation of the cylinder into a shaped vessel. Other embodiment include applying decoration to the cylinder contoured surface during non-shaping operations, trimming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, and top-forming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, to name a few.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: John E. Adams, Katherine W. Allen, Scott C. Biondich, Ruth Karina Espinel, Alejandro Jose Santamaria, Gopalaswamy Rajesh, H. Brock Kolls
  • Patent number: 8627705
    Abstract: A turret for an article processing machine assembly includes a turret main body, a sliding ram assembly, and an air manifold device. The air manifold device is connectable to the turret main body and provides pressurized air through a pressurized air pathway system. The pressurized air pathway system includes a turret air passage extending from the air manifold through the turret body to the sliding ram assembly, and a ram air passage that supplies the pressurized air to an article in the machine assembly. A valve mechanism is positioned between one end of the turret body air passage and a first end of the ram air passage. The valve mechanism includes a slidable disc that seals the connection between the turret body air passage and the ram air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold James Marshall
  • Patent number: 8607607
    Abstract: A system and a method for feeding wire material to a rotary compaction press are provided. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of feeding a wire strand of material to a location adjacent a cutting surface; moving the cutting surface, thereby causing the cutting surface to cut the wire strand of material into a wire pellet of material; and transporting the wire pellet of material to adjacent a die table of a rotary compaction press. In some embodiments the system includes a wire exit aperture. A cutting disc may be provided adjacent the wire exit aperture and may have a plurality of wire cutting surfaces and adjacent wire notches. The cutting disc may be rotatable, thereby causing the wire cutting surfaces to sequentially pass over the wire exit aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Elizabeth-Hata International
    Inventors: Richard A. Sanderson, Scott Brady
  • Patent number: 8601843
    Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Dunwoody, Ian K. Scholey
  • Patent number: 8590358
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for forming a metal container including one or more devices that are electronically coordinated to perform operations of local and/or extensive deformation over metal containers and one or more interface devices (12) wherein the motion among the devices is accomplished in an indirect way through elements adapted to coordinate and synchronize these same devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Frattini S.p.A. Construzioni Meccaniche
    Inventors: Roberto Frattini, Anthony Kendrick Nixon
  • Patent number: 8584502
    Abstract: A forming device for cup-shaped hollow bodies (7) having a machine frame (2), a drive device (15), a workpiece rotary table (3) and having a tool holder (4) for accommodating processing tools (10), wherein the workpiece rotary table (3) and the tool holder (4) face one another and can be turned about a rotational axis (5) in relation to one another and can be linearly moved in relation to one another along the rotational axis (5), wherein the drive device (15) is designed for providing a rotary step movement and a cyclical linear movement between workpiece rotary table (3) and tool holder (4), in order to enable the hollow bodies (7) to be formed by means of the processing tools (10) in a plurality of consecutive processing steps, and wherein the workpiece holder (6) has a recess (16) for accommodating a hollow body (7) and a wall section (42), which limits the recess (16) in certain areas, has an adjustable geometry, which is designed to narrow the cross-section of the recess (16), in order to enable the hol
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hinterkopf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Aichele, Josef Schulz, Alexander Traxler
  • Patent number: 8464567
    Abstract: A multi-stage can necking machine having distributed drives is provided. The multi-stage can necking machine may include a plural of operation stages, wherein at least some of the operation stages may be configured for can necking operations. Each operation stage may include a main turret shaft, a transfer starwheel shaft, and a support for mounting the main turret shaft and transfer starwheel shaft. Each main turret shaft and transfer starwheel shaft may have a gear, and the gears of the operation stages may be in meshed communication to form a continuous gear train. A plural of motors may be distributed among the operation stages and mechanically coupled to the gear train, wherein each one of the motors may be capable of transmitting power to the gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Lee Saville
  • Patent number: 8459084
    Abstract: An elevated temperature forming system in which a sheet metal workpiece is provided in a first stage position of a multi-stage pre-heater, is heated to a first stage temperature lower than a desired pre-heat temperature, is moved to a final stage position where it is heated to a desired final stage temperature, is transferred to a forming press, and is formed by the forming press. The preheater includes upper and lower platens that transfer heat into workpieces disposed between the platens. A shim spaces the upper platen from the lower platen by a distance greater than a thickness of the workpieces to be heated by the platens and less than a distance at which the upper platen would require an undesirably high input of energy to effectively heat the workpiece without being pressed into contact with the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: USAMP
    Inventors: Paul E. Krajewski, Richard Harry Hammar, Jugraj Singh, Dennis Cedar, Peter A. Friedman, Yingbing Luo
  • Patent number: 8448487
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a vessel forming station comprising a plurality of operation wheels, the plurality of operation wheels are configured in opposing facing pairs, a plurality of linear drives are interconnected with the plurality of operation wheels, the plurality of linear drives push opposing facing pairs of the plurality of operations to a closed position causing opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels to engage the vessel and perform operations on the vessel, the linear drives pull the plurality of operation wheels to an open position allowing the vessel to be indexed to other operation positions, and a conveyor system positioned between opposing facing pairs of the plurality of operation wheels engages the vessel and indexes the vessel through the plurality of operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: John E. Adams, Katherine W. Allen, Scott C. Biondich, Ruth Karina Espinel, Alejandro Jose Santamaria, Gopalaswamy Rajesh, H. Brock Kolls
  • Patent number: 8438897
    Abstract: A forming device for cup-shaped hollow bodies, including a machine frame, a drive device, a workpiece turntable and a tool holder, wherein the drive device (15) is designed to provide a rotational step movement and a cyclic linear movement between the workpiece turntable and the tool holder, and wherein the workpiece turntable is assigned at a locking position a first actuating means for triggering a locking movement on the respective workpiece holder and at an unlocking position a second actuating means for triggering an unlocking movement on the respective workpiece holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hinterkopf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Aichele, Thomas Pfluger
  • Patent number: 8381561
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a vessel forming production line comprising a plurality of vessel forming stations having at least one of an operation wheel, at least one of a conveyor, and a controller, the conveyor indexes a vessel across the operation wheel, the controller coordinates movement and operation of the operation wheel and the conveyor, a second conveyor transfers the vessel between the plurality of vessel forming stations, and a plurality of cylinder feeders feed the vessel into at least one of a pathway through the plurality of vessel forming stations, wherein the plurality of vessel forming stations are organized into a scalable matrix configuration allowing a plurality of different shaped vessels to be manufactured simultaneously. Other embodiments include a plurality of linear drives configured to cause opposing pairs of operation wheels to engage the vessel and perform operations on the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Alejandro Jose Santamaria, Katherine W. Allen, John E. Adams, Scott C. Biondich, Ruth Karina Espinel, Gopalaswamy Rajesh, H. Brock Kolls
  • Patent number: 8375759
    Abstract: An apparatus for joining two fixed bases having a plurality of can necking stages, is provided. The apparatus minimizes space, and reduces the diameter of a can neck as it transfers a can body from a first fixed base to a second fixed base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Sanginiti, Roger Witt, Errol Hancock, Robert Chaffer, Robert Rose
  • Patent number: 8297098
    Abstract: A dual ram assembly for a turret machine includes a first and second ram. The first ram comprises a first cam follower bracket and a first set of cam followers. An outer die tooling is connected to the first ram. The second ram comprises a second cam follower bracket and second set of cam followers. An inner knockout tooling is connected to the second ram. The first set of cam followers is configured to follow a first cam surface. The second set of cam followers is configured to follow a second cam surface. The first ram is connected to the second ram on a slide block. As the first and second sets of cam followers follow the first and second cam surfaces, the inner knockout tooling and the outer die tooling move toward or away from an article to be worked on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold James Marshall, Dennis Shuey
  • Patent number: 8245551
    Abstract: A transfer turret assembly is provided for transferring can bodies between process stations in a can necking machine. The transfer turret assembly includes a rotatable transfer starwheel. A plurality of pockets is formed in the starwheel that can each receive a can body. The turret assembly includes a vacuum assembly having a first zone that is under vacuum and a second zone separated from the first region by a boundary. The first zone vacuum retention force to vacuum ports formed in the pockets to retain the can bodies within the pockets. The boundary between the first zone and the second zone is adjustable to correspondingly adjust the vacuum retention force according to desired starwheel rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Egerton
  • Patent number: 8132441
    Abstract: A device and a method for fine blanking and forming a workpiece out of a flat strip includes. a cutting plate formed as a disc-shaped transfer part, with several cutting openings adapted to the effective elements which take up and clamp a cut out a blank to transport the blank from one machining stage to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Feintool Intellectual Property AG
    Inventor: Ulrich Schlatter
  • Patent number: 8096156
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming (e.g. die necking) open ends of open-ended metal container bodies. An exemplary embodiment provides a number of movable holders for container bodies that move the container bodies along a path extending through the apparatus. A motor advances the holders and container bodies along the path in steps with pauses between each step. Each step advances one or more container bodies (and preferably two or more). One or more groups of work stations positioned adjacent to the path provides tool sets for carrying out a forming operation on one (and preferably two or more) container bodies simultaneously. Individual container bodies, or more preferably groups of two or more, are subjected to one or more forming operations during passage along the path (preferably the periphery of one or more star wheels).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Olson, Harold Cook, Jr., Michael Atkinson, Randy Worwag, Peter Kubisa, Chris Reynolds, Larry Patchen
  • Patent number: 8037728
    Abstract: This apparatus for producing a bottle can includes a die-ring 22 for holding bottom of a closed-end cylindrical body W, and a tool holding part disposed opposite an opening part of the closed-end cylindrical body W, having plural processing tools 32 for shaping the closed-end cylindrical body W into various forms, the die-ring 22 and the tool holding part being held so that each of them can rotate relatively and move in the direction of a center line of the closed-end cylindrical body W relatively to each other, each of the processing tools shaping the closed-end cylindrical body into various forms to produce a bottle can, further including: a regulating means 110 for regulating forward movement of each of the processing tools 32 or the die-ring 22 to prevent the space between each of the processing tools 32 and the die-ring 22 at the forward end of the tool holding part or the die-ring, from lessening to be not more than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Universal Can Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Hosoi
  • Patent number: 8020420
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for continuously performing localized and/or extended deformations on metallic containers constituted by extruded or drawn and solid-drawn tubular bodies including: —A) interface module (1); —B) at least one work module (2, 2?, 2?) and —C) possibly one inversion module (3), wherein said modules are arranged so that they form a closed path and said interface module (1) includes a feeding station or drum (12), an unload drum (16) and at least one selective dispatch element for re-feeding the containers to the work modules (2, 2?, 2?) or the unload drum (16), depending on the number of predetermined operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Frattini S.p.A. Costruzioni Meccaniche
    Inventor: Roberto Frattini
  • Patent number: 8001823
    Abstract: The invention involves a multi-drive tool for use on a fabricating press having a table with multiple stations. Each station can include a mount opening passing through the table. The multi-drive tool can have a bridge member relating to at least two drive members such that a ram stroke of the press simultaneously moves the drive members or components thereof in a direction toward the workpiece. The invention also involves a die shoe adapted for use on a press. A die-mounting recess configured to receive a die is formed in the top of the die shoe. The invention also provides a fabricating press in combination with a multi-drive tool, as well as methods of fabricating a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Wilson Tool International Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Straka, Jon M. Shimota, Brian J. Lee
  • Patent number: 7997111
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a container body that utilizes frictional forces rather than the engagement of gears to rotate the container body is provided. Such an apparatus may include a stationary housing and a turret rotating on a shaft proximate to the housing. The turret may have a plurality of pockets and a roller assembly disposed within each pocket. Each roller assembly may have a body portion and a drive roller portion. Each body portion may have a contact portion for contacting a container body received in a respective pocket. Each drive roller may be in contact with the housing such that as the turret rotates, friction between the drive rollers and the housing causes each roller assembly to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Crown, Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Mercer, David William Smith
  • Patent number: 7963139
    Abstract: An apparatus to expand a diameter of a can or other article comprises a forming turret that includes a stop plate and a forming tooling. The stop plate is configured to be adjacent a dome-end of a can to restrict motion of the can; the stop plate is axially movable relative to a turret axis of rotation. The forming tooling includes a plate and an expansion tool axially movable relative to the turret axis of rotation. The plate includes an opening through which the tool passes. The expansion tool is configured to move into an open end of the can to expand the diameter of the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Shortridge, Dennis Shuey
  • Patent number: 7950259
    Abstract: A trimming turret including a first trimmer head including a first pilot. The turret is configured to receive a stress induced plastically deformed container having earing about a respective opening in the container, and at least one of (i) direct the container to the first trimmer head so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening, and (ii) direct the first trimmer head to the container so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening. The turret is configured to trim off the earing from the container with the first trimmer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold James Marshall
  • Patent number: 7818987
    Abstract: A trimming turret including a first trimmer head including a first pilot. The turret is configured to receive a stress induced plastically deformed container having earing about a respective opening in the container, and at least one of (i) direct the container to the first trimmer head so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening, and (ii) direct the first trimmer head to the container so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening. The turret is configured to trim off the earing from the container with the first trimmer head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold James Marshall
  • Patent number: 7784319
    Abstract: Systems and methods are employed for monitoring and controlling a can necking process in a multi-stage can necking machine. Sensors are employed that communicate with local controllers. A local controller is used at each stage of the multi-stage can necking machine. The local controllers are used to perform fast processing of information from the sensors located in the stage associated with the local controller. A main controller is then used to determine drop rates. Predefined threshold rates may be used to compare with calculated drop rates. A multi-stage can necking machine may be controlled in part based on drop rates crossing threshold rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Crown, Packaging Technology, Inc
    Inventor: Benjamin Lee Saville
  • Patent number: 7770425
    Abstract: A winder assembly is provided for rotating a component of a can necking machine to a desired angular position suitable for performing maintenance on the component. The winder assembly includes a shaft coupled to a motor of that drives the components of the can necking machine during operation. A handle can be removably connected to the shaft, such that rotation of the handle in a rotational direction correspondingly causes the shaft to rotate. The shaft causes the motor to rotate, which drives a gear train that rotates the components of the necking machine that are coupled to the gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Crown, Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Egerton, David William Smith
  • Patent number: 7555926
    Abstract: A cooling mechanism is provided to control the direction of flow of cooled air in an apparatus used to manufacture metallic containers, wherein machinery wear is reduced and the tolerance of the finished factory container height is maintained within a predetermined tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew Trim
  • Patent number: 7464573
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a curl on a top edge of a can comprises a forming head; and a forming turret with a push ram to load the can into the forming head. The forming head includes a plurality of independent rollers mounted on a common head. The plurality of rollers includes a first set of rollers configured to form an inner portion of a curl and a second set of rollers configured to form an outer portion of the curl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Shortridge
  • Patent number: 7418852
    Abstract: A machine arrangement includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner which comprises a machine line. This machine line incorporates apparatus which is associated with and/or comprises part of the machines for: at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping cans as they pass from a can infeed to a can discharge of the machine line and move along a path having a predetermined configuration. This apparatus minimizes operations necessary for changing from a set up suitable for modifying a can having a first set of dimensions to a set up suitable for a can having a second set of dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Schill, Jeffery L. Shortridge, Christopher D. Shuey, Dennis E. Green
  • Patent number: 7404309
    Abstract: A machine arrangement includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner which comprises a machine line. This machine line incorporates apparatus which is associated with and/or comprises part of the machines for: at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping cans as they pass from a can infeed to a can discharge of the machine line and move along a path having a predetermined configuration. This apparatus minimizes operations necessary for changing from a set up suitable for modifying a can having a first set of dimensions to a set up suitable for a can having a second set of dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Schill, Jeffery L. Shortridge, Christopher D. Shuey, Dennis E. Green
  • Publication number: 20080148801
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming (e.g. die necking) open ends of open-ended metal container bodies. An exemplary embodiment provides a number of movable holders for container bodies that move the container bodies along a path extending through the apparatus. A motor advances the holders and container bodies along the path in steps with pauses between each step. Each step advances one or more container bodies (and preferably two or more). One or more groups of work stations positioned adjacent to the path provides tool sets for carrying out a forming operation on one (and preferably two or more) container bodies simultaneously. Individual container bodies, or more preferably groups of two or more, are subjected to one or more forming operations during passage along the path (preferably the periphery of one or more star wheels).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher J. Olson, Harold Cook, Michael Atkinson, Randy worwag, Peter Kubisa, Chris Reynolds, Larry Patchen
  • Patent number: 7387007
    Abstract: A machine arrangement includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner which comprises a machine line. This machine line incorporates apparatus which is associated with and/or comprises part of the machines for: at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping cans as they pass from a can infeed to a can discharge of the machine line and move along a path having a predetermined configuration. This apparatus minimizes operations necessary for changing from a set up suitable for modifying a can having a first set of dimensions to a set up suitable for a can having a second set of dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Schill, Jeffery L. Shortridge, Christopher D. Shuey, Dennis E. Green
  • Publication number: 20080034832
    Abstract: A crimping tool is disclosed that includes a housing assembly carrying a crimping assembly having jaws with engagement surfaces designed to move in the radial direction under controlled load and controlled displacement with application of hydraulic pressure to pistons provided to load the jaws. The crimping tool is designed to be separable into two parts, which facilitates assembly and disassembly of the tool around the work piece for crimping at locations remote from the end of a continuous or long section of pipe. This tool is adapted for use in crimping end fittings onto composite pipe and for use in a field environment where the tool is manually transportable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Maurice William Slack
  • Patent number: 7310983
    Abstract: A machine arrangement includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner which comprises a machine line. This machine line incorporates apparatus which is associated with and/or comprises part of the machines for: at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping cans as they pass from a can infeed to a can discharge of the machine line and move along a path having a predetermined configuration. This apparatus minimizes operations necessary for changing from a set up suitable for modifying a can having a first set of dimensions to a set up suitable for a can having a second set of dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Schill, Jeffery L. Shortridge, Christopher D. Shuey, Dennis E. Green
  • Patent number: 7004000
    Abstract: A thin walled body such as a container is gripped at a holding station and tooling is engaged to deform the wall of the body at a predetermined zone. The predetermined wall zone is co-aligned with the tooling by means of co-ordinated movement of the tooling (typically by means of rotation about a tooling axis) prior to engagement with the wall zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Envases (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Santiago Garcia Campo, Juan Salz Goiria
  • Patent number: 6851294
    Abstract: A clip disk assembly according to the invention includes an adapter hub which attaches to the motor of an existing crimping machine and a plurality of clip disks, each being removably attachable to the adapter hub. Each clip disk is provided with a different sized peripheral notches to accommodate a different sized eyelet. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the adapter hub has four threaded peripheral studs and the clip disks have four corresponding holes. Four wing nuts are used to removably attach the clip disks to the adapter hub. Preferably, one stud has a larger boss than the others and one hole in the clip disks is correspondingly larger. The assembly permits changing of clip disks in about one minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Edwin B. Stimpson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Campbell, Hershell P. Sablowski
  • Patent number: 6698265
    Abstract: A preferred method for closely coupling a first and a second necking machine comprises removing an input module from the second necking machine, removing end portions of a bearing support plate and a base of the second necking machine, and fixing a cover plate to the base of the second necking machine. The presently-preferred method also comprises positioning the first and second necking machines end to end so that a drive gear of the discharge module of the first necking machine meshes with a drive gear of the necking module of the second necking machine, and the necking module of the second necking machine is adapted to receive the can body from the discharge module of the first necking machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Keith A. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6421894
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in assembling an anti-vibration device having an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a rubber elastic member joining them and an intermediate cylinder fitted to the outer cylinder and internally forming a liquid chamber, an assembling apparatus for caulking an end of the outer cylinder while suppressing the occurrence of buckling without causing cracks, breakage or the like. This assembling device has a press-fit device to press-fit an internal unit joined with the inner cylinder and the intermediate cylinder through a rubber elastic member to the outer cylinder within a liquid tank, a caulking device to caulk an end of the outer cylinder of an assembly completed in press-fitting, and transporting means to transport the assembly from the press fit device to the caulking device. The caulking device can perform caulking in two stages of caulking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Tsujimoto, Tsuyoshi Inada
  • Patent number: 6341409
    Abstract: A clip disk assembly according to the invention includes an adapter hub which attaches to the motor of an existing crimping machine and a plurality of clip disks, each being removably attachable to the adapter hub. Each clip disk is provided with a different sized peripheral notches to accommodate a different sized eyelet. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the adapter hub has four threaded peripheral studs and the clip disks have four corresponding holes. Four wing nuts are used to removably attach the clip disks to the adapter hub. Preferably, one stud has a larger boss than the others and one hole in the clip disks is correspondingly larger. The assembly permits changing of clip disks in about one minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Stimpson Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Campbell, Hershell P. Sablowski
  • Patent number: 6233992
    Abstract: A high production multiple station endforming machine mounts a plurality of work stations upon an indexable rotary head whereby rotation of the head permits the work stations to be indexed between loading, operational and unloading positions. The workpieces are locked in jaw members operated by an over-center linkage wherein the position of the linkage is controlled by expansible chamber motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Lomar Machine & Tool Co.
    Inventor: James L. Geisman