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JP-7855031-B2 - Reformer Assembly

JP7855031B2JP 7855031 B2JP7855031 B2JP 7855031B2JP-7855031-B2

Inventors

  • スコーリー，イアン ケネス
  • マーサー，リチャード ジェームズ エドワード

Assignees

  • ストール マシーナリ カンパニー，エルエルシー

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20240731
Priority Date
20190816

Claims (11)

  1. In a base reformer roller die unit (130) for a base reformer station (100) of a necker machine, A roughly ring-shaped chuck (132), A roller die (134), wherein the roller die (134) is movably disposed within the chuck (132), A roller die unit operating assembly (250) configured to operate the roller die (134), It is equipped with, The roller die unit operating assembly (250) is operably coupled to the roller die (134), All elements of the roller die unit operating assembly (250) have a robust cross-sectional area. The roller die unit operating assembly (250) includes a roller die friction reduction device (138), The friction reduction device (138) is a base reformer roller die unit that includes a sealed friction reduction element.
  2. The base reformer roller die unit according to claim 1, wherein the roller die unit operating assembly (250) does not include gears.
  3. The base reformer roller die unit according to claim 1, wherein the roller die unit operating assembly (250) is a cam-operated operating assembly.
  4. The base reformer roller die unit according to claim 1 , wherein the friction reduction device (138) includes a sealed thrust bearing (139).
  5. The roller die unit operating assembly (250) includes a parallel link (252), The parallel link (252) includes a proximal first link member (260) and a distal second link member (280), The first link member (260) includes a body (262) having a first end (264) and a second end (266), Each of the first end (264) and the second end (266) of the body of the first link member defines a pivot coupling (268), The second link member (280) includes a body (282) having a first end (284) and a second end (286), Each of the first end (284) and the second end (286) of the body of the second link member defines a pivot coupling (288), The first end (264) of the main body of the first link member is configured to be pivotably connected to the support plate (120) of the base reformer assembly. The second end (266) of the main body of the first link member is configured to be pivotably connected to the first end (284) of the main body of the second link member. The first end (284) of the body of the second link member is configured to be pivotably connected to the second end (266) of the body of the first link member. The base reformer roller die unit according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein the second end (286) of the main body of the second link member is configured to be rotatably coupled to the roller die (134).
  6. In a base reformer station (100) for a necker machine (10), It is equipped with multiple base reformer roller die units (130), and each base reformer roller die unit (130) is A roughly ring-shaped chuck (132), A roller die (134), wherein the roller die (134) is movably disposed within the chuck (132), A roller die unit operating assembly (250) configured to operate the roller die (134), It is equipped with, The roller die unit operating assembly (250) is operably coupled to the roller die (134), All elements of the roller die unit operating assembly (250) have a robust cross-sectional area. The roller die unit operating assembly (250) includes a roller die friction reduction device (138), The friction reduction device (138) includes a sealed friction reduction element in a base reformer station.
  7. The base reformer station according to claim 6 , wherein the roller die unit operating assembly (250) does not include gears.
  8. The base reformer station according to claim 6 , wherein the roller die unit operating assembly (250) is a cam-operated operating assembly.
  9. The base reformer station according to claim 6 , wherein the friction reduction device (138) includes a sealed thrust bearing (139).
  10. The base reformer station according to any one of claims 7 to 9 , wherein the roller die unit operating assembly (250) includes a parallel link (252).
  11. The parallel link (252) includes a proximal first link member (260) and a distal second link member (280), The first link member (260) includes a body (262) having a first end (264) and a second end (266), Each of the first end (264) and the second end (266) of the body of the first link member defines a pivot coupling (268), The second link member (280) includes a body (282) having a first end (284) and a second end (286), Each of the first end (284) and the second end (286) of the body of the second link member defines a pivot coupling (288), The first end (264) of the main body of the first link member is configured to be pivotably connected to the support plate (120) of the base reformer assembly. The second end (266) of the main body of the first link member is configured to be pivotably connected to the first end (284) of the main body of the second link member. The first end (284) of the body of the second link member is configured to be pivotably connected to the second end (266) of the body of the first link member. The base reformer station according to claim 10 , wherein the second end (286) of the main body of the second link member is configured to be rotatably coupled to the roller die (134).

Description

<Cross-reference of related applications> This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16/542,378, entitled "REFORMER ASSEMBLY," filed on 16 August 2019. <Field of Invention> The concepts disclosed and described in the claims relate to Necker machines, and more particularly to Necker machines in which a robust base reformer assembly has a limited number of elements in the drive assembly of the base reformer assembly. Can bodies are typically manufactured by a body maker. That is, the body maker forms a blank, such as a disc or cup, into a stretched can body. The can body includes a base and accompanying side walls. The side walls are open at the ends opposite the base. Body makers typically include a ram/punch that moves the blank through multiple dies to create the can body. After forming, the base of the can body includes a recessed dome that extends into the enclosed space defined by the can body. The can bodies are discharged from the ram/punch and placed on pallets for further processing, such as trimming, washing, printing, flanging, and inspection, and the pallets are sent to a filling machine. In the filling machine, the cans are removed from the pallets, filled, the can ends are attached, and the filled cans are then packaged into 6-pack and/or 12-pack cases, etc. Some can bodies are further formed in a Necker machine. The Necker machine is configured to reduce the diameter/radius of the open end of the can body; that is, the open end is smaller than the diameter/radius of the rest of the can body's sidewall. Typically, a Necker machine processes more than 3,000 can bodies per minute. A Necker machine includes several processing and/or forming stations arranged in series. Furthermore, each forming station processes multiple can bodies at once. In an exemplary embodiment, the forming station includes 12 forming units. Once a can body is placed in a forming unit, the forming unit moves along a path while forming the can body. The forming unit then discharges the can body and moves back to its initial position to receive the next can body. It is understood that other forming units in the forming station follow similar paths and operate in a similar manner. Therefore, in such a station, there are several can bodies undergoing different forming stages, and the number of forming units receiving/discharging can bodies or moving to the receiving position for the next can body is more limited. Furthermore, the processing and/or forming stations are located adjacent to each other, and the transport assembly moves the can bodies between adjacent processing and/or forming stations. As the can bodies move through the necker machine, they generally remain within the same plane. That is, viewed from the front of the necker machine, the can bodies move, for example, from left to right, while remaining within the same plane. In this configuration, "starwheels" are used to quickly move the can bodies between forming stations without moving them in and out of the overall operating plane. In other words, this configuration simplifies the transport assembly. However, this configuration also means that the molding assembly must operate in a confined space or plane. This means that the space in which the molding assembly positions its molding elements is limited. Specifically, the molding assembly is generally positioned between the front of the necker machine (or drive assembly) and the moving surface of the can body. Typically, the space between the front of the necker machine and the moving surface of the can body is approximately 18 inches. Therefore, each molding assembly is limited in length approximately perpendicular to the moving surface of the can body. This configuration presents known problems. In other words, the molding assembly must consist of molding and drive elements within the limited length/space allowed, as described above. This, in turn, means that many of the molding/drive elements are smaller than desired. That is, molding 3,000 can bodies per minute will cause wear on the molding/drive elements. Therefore, while large, robust elements are generally desirable, space limitations often result in these elements being smaller than desired. Consequently, these elements often require maintenance or replacement. This is a problem. For example, a certain station in a Necker machine is typically a base reformer. A base reformer station is used to reform, or reshape, the base of a can body using a die. As is well known, the aforementioned body makers produce can bodies having an annular ring with an inwardly facing dome-shaped portion surrounding it. The base reformer station improves the body strength of the base by reforming the annular ring through altering the inner base shape of the can body. This allows for a thinner can body and reduces the amount of metal used. In the prior art, the base reformer includes a roller die, which is configured to fit within the space defined by the dom