Smoothing roller assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11731183-B2
Application number	US-201615755787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2015
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

A turret head assembly for forming an article includes at least one smoothing roller. Each of the at least one smoothing roller is rotatably mounted on a respective at least one roller support member. The turret head assembly further includes an upper ring member and a lower ring member. The upper and lower ring members include respective apertures located in the centers thereof. The at least one roller support member extends between the upper ring member and the lower ring member. The turret head assembly further includes a turret head-assembly support member defining a turret-head axis. The turret-head-assembly member extends through the respective apertures in the upper and lower ring members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A turret head assembly for forming a necked article having a narrowed neck portion, the narrowed neck portion including a radiused portion extending from a cylindrical body and a tapered portion extending from the radiused portion, the turret head assembly comprising:
at least one smoothing roller, each of the at least one smoothing roller being rotatably mounted on a respective at least one roller support member, each of the at least one smoothing roller having a concave-shaped smoothing portion, a cylindrical upper portion, and a feathered portion bridging the smoothing portion and the upper portion, the smoothing portion having a complimentary shape to a desired shape of the radiused portion of the necked article, the cylindrical upper portion being integral with the feathered portion, the feathered portion having a receding diameter such that the feathered portion is configured to gradually recede from the necked article such that the feathered portion and the upper portion are configured to be spaced away from and upper portion of the necked article;
an upper ring member and a lower ring member, the upper and lower ring members including respective apertures located in the centers thereof, the at least one roller support member extending between the upper ring member and the lower ring member; and
a turret head-assembly support member defining a turret-head axis, the turret head-assembly support member extending through the aperture in the upper ring member,
wherein the axis of each of the at least one roller support member is disposed at an angle relative to the turret head-assembly support member and the turret-head axis.

2. The turret head of claim 1 , wherein the at least one smoothing roller freely rotates about a roller axis defined by the at least one roller support member.

3. The turret head assembly member of claim 1 , further comprising at least two ring-spacing members extending between the upper ring member and the lower ring member.

4. The turret head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller support member is mounted on the upper and lower ring members.

5. The turret head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the turret head-assembly support member is configured to support the turret head assembly on a forming turret.

6. The turret head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the turret head assembly is configured to rotate about the turret-head axis.

7. The turret head assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least two ring-spacing members are disposed parallel to the turret head-assembly support member.

8. The turret head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the feathered portion is greater than a diameter of the cylindrical upper portion.

9. A method of forming a necked article, the method comprising:
engaging the necked article having witness marks thereon by a turret head assembly, the necked article having a cylindrical body, a tapered neck portion, and a radiused portion bridging the cylindrical body and the tapered portion, the turret head assembly including an upper ring member, a lower ring member, and at least one roller support member extending between the upper ring member and the lower ring member, each of the at least one roller support members having at least one smoothing roller rotatably mounted thereon, the at least one smoothing roller having a concave-shaped smoothing portion, a cylindrical upper portion, and a feathered portion bridging the smoothing portion and the upper portion, the smoothing portion having a complementary shape to a desired shape of the radiused portion of the necked article, the cylindrical upper portion being integral with the feathered portion, the feathered portion having a receding diameter such that the feathered portion is configured to gradually recede from the necked article such that the feathered portion and the upper portion are configured to be spaced away from an upper portion of the necked article;
rotating the turret head assembly about a turret-head axis such that the at least one smoothing roller freely rotates about the respective at least one roller support member; and
engaging the smoothing portion of the at least one smoothing roller with the radiused portion of the necked article, thereby smoothing the witness marks on the radiused portion of the necked article,
wherein the axis of each of the at least one roller support member is disposed at an angle relative to the turret head-assembly support member and the turret-head axis.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving into a pocket of a turret starwheel the necked article having the witness marks thereon, the turret starwheel continuously rotating about a turret starwheel axis while the turret head assembly engages the necked article.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the turret head assembly further includes
at least two ring-spacing members extending between the upper ring member and the lower ring member, and
a turret head-assembly support member defining the turret-head axis.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the necked article is stationary, the method further comprising axially advancing the turret head assembly along the turret-head axis to engage the necked article.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the turret head assembly is axially stationary, the method further comprising axially advancing the necked article along the turret-head axis to engage the turret head assembly.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the turret head assembly is incorporated into a machine line.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the turret head assembly is configured to continuously rotate.

16. Method of claim 9 , wherein the diameter of the feathered portion is greater than a diameter of the cylindrical upper portion.

Assignees

• Belvac Production Machinery Inc

Inventors

• Gearhart Brian S
• Love Erika Sheaffer
• Meador Gerald

Classifications

• B21D1/08 Primary

  of hollow bodies made from sheet metal (of substantially open bodies B21D1/10 {; flattening hollow objects for transport and reforming B21D51/14}) · CPC title

• B21D51/2615 Primary

  Edge treatment of cans or tins · CPC title

• B21D51/2638

  Necking · CPC title