Can body take-away mechanism for a vertical bodymaker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833830-B2
Application number	US-201615165353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2016
Priority date	Mar 12, 2013
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A can body take-away assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly and a domer is provided. The take-away assembly includes a drive assembly and a can body transport assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor and a support member. The take-away assembly motor is operatively coupled to the support member and structured to move the drive assembly support member in a generally horizontal direction. The can body transport assembly includes a number of gripping assemblies. Each gripping assembly is coupled to the drive assembly support member. Each gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed gripping members sized to grip a can body. The gripping assemblies are structured to travel across the path of the ram assembly and to selectively grip a can body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A can body take-away assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly and a domer, said ram assembly reciprocating over a generally vertical path and moving between a retracted, lower first position and an extended, upper second position, said ram assembly supporting a can body when in said second position, said take-away assembly comprising:
a drive assembly including a motor and a support member;
said drive assembly motor operatively coupled to said support member and structured to move said drive assembly support member in a generally horizontal direction;
a can body transport assembly including a number of gripping assemblies, each gripping assembly coupled to said drive assembly support member, each gripping assembly including a number of pairs of opposed gripping members sized to grip a can;
said gripping assemblies structured to travel across the path of said ram assembly and to selectively grip a can body;
said drive assembly includes a control system with a number of sensors structured to detect a target and to provide a command signal in response to detecting a target;
each said control system sensor is disposed adjacent said support member;
each said gripping assembly including a target; and
said drive assembly motor is structured to receive a command signal and, in response to receiving said command signal, said drive assembly motor is structured to switch between a first configuration and a second configuration.

2. The can body take-away assembly of claim 1 wherein each said gripping assembly defines an elongated gripping space, said gripping space having a generally vertical axis.

3. The can body take-away assembly of claim 2 wherein said pairs of opposed elongated members are in opposition across a gripping space vertical axis.

4. The can body take-away assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed, resilient elongated members; and
wherein said pairs of opposed elongated members are horizontally separated by a distance snugly corresponding to the horizontal cross-sectional area of can body.

5. The can body take-away assembly of claim 4 wherein:
each said elongated member includes an inner side; and
wherein each said elongated member inner side is substantially concave and has a curvature substantially corresponding to the perimeter of a can body.

6. The can body take-away assembly of claim 4 wherein:
each said elongated member includes a lower side; and
wherein each said elongated member lower side includes an angled inner edge.

7. The can body take-away assembly of claim 1 wherein said support member is a tension member.

8. The can body take-away assembly of claim 7 wherein the tension member is a roller chain.

9. The can body take-away assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed, resilient elongated members, said pairs of elongated members including a first set of elongated members and a second set of elongated members;
said first set of elongated members disposed on a first base member;
said second set of elongated members disposed on a second base member;
said first base member movably selectively coupled to said support member;
said second base member fixed to said support member; and
wherein said first base member is selectively positioned in one of a first position, wherein said first base member has a first spacing from said second base member or a second position, wherein said first base member has a second spacing from said second base member.

10. A can bodymaker comprising:
a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly;
said ram assembly reciprocating over a generally vertical path and moving between a retracted, lower first position and an extended, upper second position, said ram assembly supporting a can body when in said second position,
a take-away assembly including a drive assembly and a can body transport assembly;
said drive assembly including a motor and a support member;
said drive assembly motor operatively coupled to said support member and structured to move said drive assembly support member in a generally horizontal direction;
said can body transport assembly including a number of gripping assemblies, each gripping assembly coupled to said drive assembly support member, each gripping assembly including a number of pairs of opposed gripping members sized to grip a can;
said gripping assemblies structured to travel across the path of said ram assembly and to selectively grip a can body;
said drive assembly includes a control system with a number of sensors structured to detect a target and to provide a command signal in response to detecting a target;
each said control system sensor is disposed adjacent said support member;
each said gripping assembly including a target; and
said drive assembly motor is structured to receive a command signal and, in response to receiving said command signal, said drive assembly motor is structured to switch between a first configuration and a second configuration.

11. The can bodymaker of claim 10 wherein:
said gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed, resilient elongated members, said pairs of elongated members including a first set of elongated members and a second set of elongated members;
said first set of elongated members disposed on a first base member;
said second set of elongated members disposed on a second base member;
said first base member movably selectively coupled to said support member;
said second base member fixed to said support member; and
wherein said first base member is selectively positioned in one of a first position, wherein said first base member has a first spacing from said second base member or a second position, wherein said first base member has a second spacing from said second base member.

12. The can bodymaker of claim 10 wherein each said gripping assembly defines an elongated gripping space, said gripping space having a generally vertical axis.

13. The can bodymaker of claim 12 wherein said pairs of opposed elongated members are in opposition across a gripping space vertical axis.

14. The can bodymaker of claim 10 wherein:
said gripping assembly includes a number of pairs of opposed, resilient elongated members; and
wherein said pairs of opposed elongated members are horizontally separated by a distance snugly corresponding to the horizontal cross-sectional area of can body.

15. The can bodymaker of claim 14 wherein:
each said elongated member includes an inner side; and
wherein each said elongated member inner side is substantially concave and has a curvature substantially corresponding to the perimeter of a can body.

16. The can bodymaker of claim 14 wherein:
each said elongated member includes a lower side; and
wherein each said elongated member lower side includes an angled inner edge.

17. The can bodymaker of claim 10 wherein said support member is a tension member.

18. The can bodymaker of claim 17 wherein the tension member is a roller chain.

Assignees

• Stolle Machinery Co Llc

Inventors

• Fowler Tracy J

Classifications

• B21D51/26

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

• B65G17/12

  comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element · CPC title

• B21D22/20

  Deep-drawing (special deep-drawing arrangements in, or in connection with, presses B21D24/00) · CPC title

• B23Q7/035

  on which work holders are fixed · CPC title

• B21D22/28

  of cylindrical articles using consecutive dies · CPC title