Transfer belt assembly for a six-out conversion system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11779992-B2
Application number	US-202217812194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2022
Priority date	Jan 10, 2019
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

A transfer belt assembly includes a plurality of transfer belts. The transfer belt assembly is structured to move any of an increased number of shells, a very increased number of shells, or an extremely increased number of shells through said conversion press.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transfer belt assembly for a conversion press, said conversion press including a ram press, an elongated ram body, and a plurality of die sets defining an elongated shell lane, said elongated ram body being structured to reciprocate and to apply a force along a line of action substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ram body, said transfer belt assembly comprising:
a first transfer belt including two and no more than two columns of shell recesses;
a second transfer belt including two and no more than two columns of shell recesses; and
a third transfer belt including two and no more than two columns of shell recesses,
wherein each of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt are structured to simultaneously receive a pair of shells in said columns of shell recesses and move said shells through said conversion press such that six shells are output from said conversion press for every stroke or cycle of said conversion press,

wherein each transfer belt has a deformation-resistant width of less than 9.0 inches, and
wherein said transfer belt assembly includes a number of transfer belt idlers, each transfer belt idler associated with a corresponding one of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt, wherein each transfer belt idler is a high speed belt idler, wherein each transfer belt idler includes a roller in contact with a lower span but not in contact with an upper span of the corresponding one of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt, and wherein each transfer belt idler is structured to draw the corresponding, one of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt and said third transfer belt taut.

2. The transfer belt assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive assembly, said drive assembly operatively coupled to each of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt and said third transfer belt.

3. The transfer belt assembly of claim 1 wherein each die set includes a number of score dies; wherein at least one kiss block is disposed adjacent each score die; and wherein each column of shell recesses is disposed an effectual distance from a corresponding kiss block.

4. The transfer belt assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said transfer belt assembly includes a lift gate assembly;
said lift gate assembly including an elongated lift gate member, a lifting assembly and an actuator assembly; and
said lift gate member having a reduced mass.

5. A conversion press comprising:
a housing assembly;
a ram press coupled to said housing assembly and including an elongated ram body structured to reciprocate and apply a force along a line of action substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ram body;
a first and second upper die shoe, each upper die shoe coupled to the ram press to move therewith;
a first and second lower die shoe, each lower die shoe coupled to the housing assembly to be substantially stationary;
a first two-lane shell die set defining a first pair of elongated lanes and coupled to the first upper die shoe and the first lower die shoe;
a second two-lane shell die set defining a second pair of elongated lanes and coupled to the second upper die shoe and the second lower die shoe;
a third two-lane shell die set defining a third pair of elongated lanes and coupled to the second upper die show and the second lower die shoe; and
a transfer belt assembly comprising:
a first transfer belt that moves between the first two-lane shell die set and including two columns of shell recesses,
a second transfer belt that moves between the second two-lane shell die set and including two columns of shell recesses, and
a third transfer belt that moves between the third two-lane shell die set and including two columns of shell recesses,
wherein each of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt are structured to simultaneously receive a pair of shells in said columns of shell recesses and move said shells through said conversion press such that six shells are output from said conversion press for every stroke or cycle of said conversion press,

wherein each transfer belt has a deformation-resistant width of less than 9.0 inches, and
wherein the first, second, and third two-lane die sets collectively occupy a reduced area, and wherein said transfer belt assembly includes a number of transfer belt idlers, each transfer belt idler associated with a corresponding one of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt, wherein each transfer belt idler is a high speed belt idler, wherein each transfer belt idler includes a roller in contact with a lower span but not in contact with an upper span of the corresponding one of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt, and wherein each transfer belt idler is structured to draw the corresponding one of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt taut.

6. The conversion press of claim 5 wherein:
the transfer belt assembly includes a drive assembly, said drive assembly operatively coupled to each of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt and said third transfer belt; and
wherein each transfer belt has a deformation-resistant width.

7. The conversion press of claim 5 wherein:
said transfer belt assembly includes a number of transfer belt idlers;
each transfer belt idler associated with a corresponding one of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt; and
wherein each transfer belt idler is a high speed belt idler.

8. The conversion press of claim 5 wherein:
said transfer belt assembly includes a lift gate assembly;
said lift gate assembly including an elongated lift gate member, a lifting assembly and an actuator assembly; and
said lift gate member having a reduced mass.

9. A conversion press comprising:
a housing assembly;
a ram press coupled to said housing assembly and including an elongated ram body structured to reciprocate and apply a force along a line of action substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the ram body;
a plurality of die sets each defining an elongated shell lane;
a lower die assembly coupled to said housing assembly and an upper die assembly operatively engaged by said ram press; and
a transfer belt assembly comprising:
a first transfer belt including two columns of shell recesses,
a second transfer belt including two columns of shell recesses, and
a third transfer belt including two columns of shell recesses,
wherein each of said first transfer belt, said second transfer belt, and said third transfer belt are structured to simultaneously receive a pair of shells in said columns of shell recesses and move said shells through said conversion press such that six shells are output from said conversion press for every stroke or cycle of said conversion press, and

wherein each die set includes a number of score dies; wherein at least one kiss block is disposed adjacent each score die; and wherein each column of shell recesses is disposed an effectual distance from a corresponding kiss block.

Assignees

• Stolle Machinery Co Llc

Inventors

• Williams Greg Scott
• Will Robert Joseph
• Soliday Michael Richard

Classifications

• B21D43/12 Primary

  by chains or belts {(B21D43/145 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B21D51/383

  scoring lines, tear strips or pulling tabs · CPC title

• B21D51/38 Primary

  Making inlet or outlet arrangements of cans, tins, baths, bottles, or other vessels; Making can ends; Making closures · CPC title

• B21D51/44

  Making closures, e.g. caps (folded of thin metal foils in the way of making paper caps B31D5/00; making closures in conjunction with applying same B67B) · CPC title

• B21D51/26

  cans or tins; Closing same in a permanent manner (making outlet arrangements B21D51/38; welding or soldering B23K) · CPC title