Method and apparatus for trimming a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11819933-B2
Application number	US-202117496331-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2021
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A trimmer device includes an inner mounting block having a first central aperture for receiving a turret shaft. The inner mounting block has an inner bore. The device includes an outer mounting block having a second central aperture for receiving the turret shaft. The outer mounting block has at least one outer bore. The device includes an inner trimmer spindle positioned through the inner bore. A first end of the inner trimmer spindle includes a pilot having an inner spindle blade. The device further includes an outer trimmer spindle positioned through the outer bore. The outer trimmer spindle includes an outer spindle blade positioned at a first end. At least one of the inner mounting block or the outer mounting block is rotatable about the turret shaft to adjust for a diameter of an article such that the article is positioned between the inner and outer spindle blades for trimming.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A trimmer device, comprising:
a circular inner mounting block having a first central aperture, the inner mounting block having at least one inner bore;
a circular outer mounting block having a second central aperture generally aligned with the first central aperture, the outer mounting block having a larger diameter than the inner mounting block, the outer mounting block having at least one outer bore;
at least one inner trimmer spindle positioned through the at least one inner bore; and
at least one outer trimmer spindle positioned through the at least one outer bore;
a first end of at least one of the inner trimmer spindle or the outer trimmer spindle including a pilot having at least one spindle blade for trimming the article,
wherein at least one of the inner mounting block or the outer mounting block is rotatable relative to the other of the inner mounting block or the outer mounting block such that the relative rotation of the inner and outer mounting blocks generates a variation of the distance between the inner trimmer spindle and the outer trimmer spindle.

2. The trimmer device of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one inner bore is a plurality of inner bores, each of the plurality of inner bores positioned at the same radius from the first central aperture,
the at least one outer bore is a plurality of outer bores, each of the plurality of outer bores positioned at the same radius from the second central aperture,
the at least one inner trimmer spindle is a plurality of inner trimmer spindles, and
the at least one outer trimmer spindle is a plurality of outer trimmer spindles.

3. The trimmer device of claim 1 , wherein the outer mounting block is rotatable about a turret shaft extending through the first and second central apertures, the inner mounting block being fixed relative to the turret shaft.

4. The trimmer device of claim 3 , further comprising one or more mechanisms for fixing the outer mounting block to the inner mounting block.

5. The trimmer device of claim 4 , wherein the mechanism includes clamps.

6. The trimmer device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inner trimmer spindle and the at least one outer trimmer spindle are coupled to one another via a cartridge housing.

7. The trimmer device of claim 6 , wherein the cartridge housing includes a first and second aperture for receiving the inner trimmer spindle and the outer trimmer spindle, respectively.

8. The trimmer device of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the at least one inner trimmer spindle includes a respective inner spindle gear and a second end of the at least one outer spindle includes a respective outer spindle gear.

9. The trimmer device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a first and second intermediate gear configured to rotate about a bearing, the bearing being fixed relative to the outer mounting block, the first and second intermediate gears being fixed relative to one another; and
a first and second sun gear having respective central apertures generally aligned with the first and second central apertures, the first and second sun gears being fixed relative to one another,
wherein the first sun gear engages the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear engages the outer spindle gear to drive the outer spindle, the second sun gear engaging the inner spindle gear to drive the inner trimmer spindle.

10. The trimmer device of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the outer spindle is in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the inner trimmer spindle.

11. The trimmer device of claim 1 , wherein one rotation of the processing turret causes two rotations of the outer spindle in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the inner trimmer spindle.

12. The trimmer device of claim 1 , further comprising a push ram assembly for moving the article, a first end of the push ram assembly including a feature for holding the article.

13. The trimmer device of claim 1 , wherein the inner trimmer spindle includes a pilot, the inner trimmer spindle being configured to receive the article such that the pilot becomes located inside an open end of the article.

14. A method of configuring a processing turret for trimming an open end of an article, the method comprising:
positioning a first end of an inner trimmer spindle through an inner bore of a circular inner mounting block, the inner mounting block having a first central aperture having a turret shaft positioned therethrough;
positioning a first end of an outer trimmer spindle through an outer bore of a circular outer mounting block, the outer mounting block having a second central aperture having the turret shaft being positioned therethrough, the outer mounting block having a larger diameter than the inner mounting block, a second end of at least one of the inner trimmer spindle or the outer trimmer spindle including at least one spindle blade for trimming the open end of the article; and
rotating one of the inner mounting block or the outer mounting block relative to the other of the inner mounting block or the outer mounting block, such that the relative rotation of the inner and outer mounting blocks generates a variation of the distance between the inner trimmer spindle and the outer trimmer spindle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the outer mounting block is rotated relative to the inner mounting block, the inner mounting block being fixed relative to the turret shaft.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, prior to positioning the first end of the inner trimmer spindle through the inner bore and the first end of the outer trimmer spindle through the outer bore, coupling the inner trimmer and the outer trimmer spindle to one another via a cartridge housing.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
positioning the first end of the inner trimmer spindle through a first aperture in the cartridge housing; and
positioning the first end of the outer trimmer spindle through a second aperture in the cartridge housing.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein a second end of the at least one inner trimmer spindle includes a respective inner spindle gear and a second end of the at least one outer spindle includes a respective outer spindle gear.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising rotating a first and second sun gear about the turret shaft, the first and second sun gears being fixed relative to one another, the first sun gear engaging a first intermediate gear, the first intermediate gear rotating about a bearing, the bearing being fixed relative to the outer mounting block, the first intermediate gear being fixed to a second intermediate gear, the second intermediate gear engaging the outer spindle gear to drive the outer trimmer spindle, the second sun gear engaging the inner spindle gear to drive the inner trimmer spindle.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein one rotation of the processing turret causes one rotation of the outer trimmer spindle in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the inner trimmer spindle.

21. The method of claim 14 , further comprising moving the article toward the pilot via a push ram assembly, a first end of the push ram assembly including a feature for holding the article.

Assignees

• Belvac Production Machinery Inc

Inventors

• Green Dennis E
• Bright Christopher

Classifications

• B23D31/001 Primary

  for trimming deep drawn products (combined with deep-drawing presses B21D24/16) · CPC title

• B21D51/2615

  Edge treatment of cans or tins · CPC title

• B23B3/00

  General-purpose turning-machines or devices, e.g. centre lathes with feed rod and lead screw; Sets of turning-machines · CPC title

• B23D31/00 Primary

  Shearing machines or shearing devices covered by none or more than one of the groups B23D15/00 - B23D29/00; Combinations of shearing machines · CPC title

• B21D51/26

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