Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR CAN END CONVERSION SYSTEMS
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to conveyor systems for moving can
en.parts, namely shells. through end conversion apparatus
wherein the shel'_s are scored, sometimes embossed, and nave an
operating tab secured in position w,~th respect to a separable
pouring panel.
Background of the Invention
Several forms of conveying systems have been, and presently
are, used in conversion presses to carry shells through and
between tooling stages at which operat~~;;ns are perrormed on the
she-_~s. A rotary tooling system was widely used in the beginning
of the manufacturing of easy-open ends. such system was supplied
wit: tabs made on dif erent eau-pment and fed into the rotary
tooling from a magazine type supply. ';'hr~se systems are presently
considered as outdated, and those wh~c:~. remain are devoted to
converting some specialty ends. :~ nest :,levice used in the rotary
system has three movable fingers -o hold the end essentially in
the nest center. In reality the two strongest springs overcome
the weakest and hold the end against tha' outside diameter,
actually off center. The nest end location with respec;_ to the
too_~:ng stations around the rotatable ~able, and more cr_tically
between stations, _.. ccn-_rolled y;~ the :onditior. of an indexing
ae:== box .
Some conversion systems, princ~palivr used for specialty
ends, employ a transfer oar type of mechanism for moving the
parts though the stations of the end conversion tooli:~g. A
typical example is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,999,195. These are
generally considered as relatively slow ~r operation.
Continuous conveyor belts predominate in the types of end
conversion equipment presently marketed. Such continuous belts
are presently the choice fo= several systems designed for the
large volume beer/beverage type of ends. U.S. Patent 3,812,953
shows a typica; rubber:fabric type of belt, and U.S. Patent No.
5,~~8,410 shows a typical metal (usually stainless steeli type of
belt. Such continuous belts do operate at higher speeds, but
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they generally utilize a vacuu.-n system to hold the ends is place
in openings in the belts as these parts travel through the
teol;,r_g; this usually produces an additional. load on r_he belt
drive, and tends to collect dirt which poses another impediment.
S curthermore, there have been ~ngoing problems invol~~ing poor belt
life, difficulties in forming a splice when such belts are
replaced, or threading G continuous belt about drive and take-up
drums and through the tooling as part of the ~eit replacement
process.
1C Thus, vacuum hold-down systems for reeping shells in
position in holes of a bel= (as in the prior art) have been found
to be expensive and dirty, and to impose an extra ~:oad or. the
belt movement which reauires extra torque from the ~;elt drive and
additional wear along the bei~. ':'he elimination of macuum hold-
15 down systems alone the belt through the various staT~ions of
tooling wil-~ provide a post savings both in construction
operation and in later maintenance.
Another aroblem has arisen from the need to keep round
shells from rotating in the end carrying holes in the ;pelts.
20 U.S. Patents Nos. 9,799,896 and 4,946,208 disclose efforts to
avoid such turning of the spe_ls andlor ends. Namely Patent
4,799,846 discloses end shell carriers fitted to a continuous
belt, and Patent 4,946";28 dis;:loses roughened rims surrounding
the shell-receiving opening, _.. a continuous belt. 'Thus, it has
25 beer. recognized that turned ends between work stations have been
a long time :.case of spoi'~ed ends. A system wt:ich will
posv_.ively retain the ends against rotation, without vacuum, is
highly desirable.
U.S. Patent No. =,196,:317 disc-;oses a multi-carrier conveyer
30 system, one of which was designed and operated for some time
about forty years ago. The individual carriers are attached to a
pair or conveyor chains which are advanced intermittantiy to move
the carriers along the tooling stations of the end conversion
tooiir_g, in synchronism with sets of reciprocating press
35 rams/platens which close and open the tooling at the successive
stations. A lost motion. type of connection cetween ~;he carriers
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and the chains allows for substantia'~ relative motion of the
carriers, into and out of receptors which locate the carriers
(and thus the shells and/or ends! re~:ative to the upper and lower
tooling. Sucz connections inherently introduce play in the
fore/aft connections by which the chains advance the carriers,
thus slowing the operation and placiaa additiona'_ centering
responsibility en the receptors for consistent proper alignment
c= the shells and ends with respect to the tooling at each
station. Th'_s system used spring finger fer retaining parts in
the carriers, similar to the retainers used in the aforementioned
rotary systems.
Summary of the Invention
The transfer :-onveyor system of '.die present Invention
uti~~izes a c~sr.vAyor comer i.,ing at yeast one ~.:ontinuous belt of
reinforced flexible rubber-like material, with cogs or teeth on
its underside and vrith a series of ~:ests which fit into holes in
the belt. The nests are attac:zed at their opposite edges to the
positively driven, intermittently advancing, belt.
The belt i.s supported by and routed around an idler drum,
located outside the press frame boosts next to a down-slacker
mechanism, and a drive drum located Yrithin the press frame
adjacent the opposite name posts. The progressive end
conversion too_i~rg for r~a~:ing snel~'.~s ~:ito completed easy-open can
ends is -iocatec between t:e post: alone !above and be'ow; the
upper and lower. tooling sets. The tab rr;aking tooling is
preferably located between the drive drum and the other frame
posts, and the carrying strip of formed tabs is routed back to
the main tooling station where the r_abs are applied to the ends.
'he drive drum and idler d rum are providzd with circumferential
tooth configurations which form a positive drive to the belt.
The press includes power take-off mechanisms which drive and
synchronize the shell feeding, tab strip feeding, and other
mechanisms.
The attachments between the IlestS and belt are located on
5 transverse center lines ;perpendicular to the path ef belt
travel;, which attachments permit the genera'_.ly flat and rigid
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nests to travel around the end =urns of the belts, and to carry
r_he parts within the nests about this turn. These attachments
thus allow for limited and c~r.trolled relative movement between
the nests Grid the belt, only ~a directions parallel to the plane
ef motion of the belts, but not in directions perpendici:lar (up
and down) with respect ~o the belt upper surface.
The active iupper; flight of the heir is lifted and moved
incrementally forward wrier the press is opened, -_0 locate the
nests successively in alignment with progressive stations of can
end conversion tooling. The flight is then lowered to locate the
rests onto the :over tooling :~1_.gned precisely with respect to
r_he 'oo'~ing before it closes.
::ach nest comprises a positive holding device in the ferrn of a
circular array of fle:tible fingers i:~ a nest ring, which array
engages shells firmly at their periphery and inhibits the shells
~ror~ rotating or shifting between operations. In a typical
embodiment of the lnventior, there are plurality of nests in each
of two to four lanes along the belt or belts. Shells are rotary
downstacked or loaded into the nests near the beginning of the
active flight of the conveyor belt.
The shells are positively seated into the rests by applied
differential air pressure, and then are mechanically positively
seated .~tc and firmly held by the circular array of ..ndependent
stepped fingers as the nests are transferred '~zrough the
conversion tooling. After corversicn the completed ends are
carried around the drum ar_ the end of the upper flight, and the
ends are elected =rom the nest _ings and moved ;as by force from
air streams] along a table or chutes to ~~onveyers familiar in end
making facilities. 'These chutes thus receive the ends rrom the
lower or return flight of the conveyor, providing a compact (end-
to-end? conveying system.
Also, this new belt transfer system, preferably but not
necesarily usung multiple belts, lends itself to easier end size
changes and even to 7wnning differenr_ sizes of ends in each lane.
This is readily accomp'~ished by attaching nests of different.
sizes in different ones of the lanes.
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Other ob'iects and advantages of the invention will ee
apparent from the following description, the accompanying
drawings and the appended clav~.ms.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is side view of the conveyor system, pith potions of
the parts in-feed and discharge and of the press bolster, ram,
and tooling, all shown schematically; L~ig. O is a
plan view of the sysr_em i::ui~ding portions :W to Lonveycr drive
and the tab tootling and tab transfer mechanisms;
Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the rear of the press fitted
with the system of the invention;
Fig. 4 is an er.'~arged view of a segment of a :.hree ~~ane
trap.~-.fen belt wit" artuczed nests;
Fi;: 5, o and ~ are, respecrively, side, top, and end views
of the mechanism fen discharging container ends rrom the system;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view or- the down-stacker or shell
feeder device (down-stacker) at the entrat:ce region of -he upper
flight of the transfer belt;
Fig. 9 is a plan view of the lifter pad for the tranfer belt
located in the region where that belt traverses the tooling;
=lg. 10 i.s an en'_~rged top view of one of the nest
structures;
=la. :._ is a cross-s°cticnal view o~ one nest;
Fig. 12 is an enlarged cross-sect'_enai ~,iew of nest ~aith a
shell g=ipped therein:, showing also the connection. of the nest to
the bel t;
Fig. i3 is an enlarged plan view of a typical embodiment of
the tooling station. shown in Fig. 2; and
Fig. 14 (sheet ii is a detail view of the positive a:.sertion
mechanism.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Press s Drive
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show, respectively, the overall
configuration of a press i:~ accordance with the invention, and
the general arrangement of the progressive tooling t:; work upon
shells, =orm completed tabs from a strip of material, and attach
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these tabs to complete the manufa,~_ture or conversion of the
shells into ends for cans and similar containers.
For purposes of this description the press ~.llustrated in
Figs. l, 2 and ? is typical of a one hundred twenty five ton
single acting press, and includes a bed 10, side frames including
uprights or posts 12, .?, 19 and 15 defining side openings 16 and
17, and a crown 18 supported or. the side frames. The crank 20 is
rotatably supported in the ,~.rown, has secured to it a flywheel
22, and is belt-driven by a drive :rotor 25 supported on top of
the crown structure. The crank is connected to the slide 30 by a
pair of connecting rods (not shown), a:rd ~.:ooperative upper and
lower end tooling sets, indicated by the general =eference
numerals 35 and 36, are mounted on the sl,~de and on -he bed,
resoectiTre 1 y . The upper and lower tab t,~ciing ?7~.,, fitte~~ to the
punch plate 38A which in turn is supported on the press slide 30,
and lower or die tooling 37B, fitted to a bed plate 38B or tre
press bolster, is mounted i:~ the press inside posts 13 and 17 and
is supplied with a continuous strip of metal (in conventional
fashion) i=rpm the rear of the press (fig. 2).
The -ab tooling may be of any desired type, an example being
disclosed in U.S. patents 5,741,105 of 21 Apr;~l 1998 and
5,799,816 of 1 September 1998, .~,oth issued to the assignee of
this app_~oa ion.
At the opposite side of the Dress from the flywheel, :rank
20 is fitted with a power take-off pulley 38. Referring to Figs.
3, a belt 40 transfers power from the crank pulley 38 to a pulley
42 connected to drive a shaft 95 which is mounted in suitable
bearings supported outboard from posts 13 and 15, which are part
of the right hand side frame of the press ~s viewed from the
front(see dig. 2). Shaft ~5 (see Fig. 3) is connected through a
clutc': and coupling 98 to a right angle intermittent drive unit
50, of conventional construction, which i.n turn i~ connected
through an output clutch to a shaft 53 supported in bearings and
carrying a drive drum 55 which is rotated in timed intermittent
fashion, synchronized with the rotation of the c.rar.s~ 20 and the
motion of press slide 30. At the other (or left) side of the
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press, outboard of the side frame and posts 12 and 14, an ,_dler
drum 57 (Figs. _ and :) is supported l.. suitable bearings 58,
Lxtending between the drums =5 and 3~ .s an endless conveyer belt
50, fitted with integral drive teeth 6i. The illustrated
embodiment employs a single belt with r_t:ree lanes, cut it should
be understood that para'~lel multiple belts, each with one or more
lanes of nests, are within the purview ~:f this invention.
The belts) is of the endless type, as later described, and
is provided with multiple rows or ia:~Ps (e.g. three lanes I, II
and III in the illustrated embodiment; of openings 62 (gig. 4)
which are regularly spaced to correspond to the spaying of the
centers of the tooling stations. In these openings are nests 65
of a diameter such that ears 66 ~a tre nest. overlap the edge of
the openings !Figs. 4 and 12).
The nests 65 are relatively light weight and generally rigid
molded plastic parts and thei- spacing in the direction of motion
or the belt and nests (see fig.4) is equal to the spacing of
successive stations of the tooling. The nests 65 are placed in
openings 62 along the lanes in belt 60 and attached to the belt
by r_~vets or pins 67. Thus ehells deposited in the .nests
are carried by the belt through the tooling 35-36, n
intermittent or step-wise fashion, synchrcnvzed to she operating
strokes of the press. Smells ~ ;!=lg. ~.~) to be conv'rted are
loaned onto belt 60 at tme _oading station indicated by general
?.5 reference numeral 68 in Figs. l, 2 and 3, and the shells, when
converted ir.tc finished ends, are unleaded from the rests at the
unloading station indicated by the general reference numeral 70
;Fig. _ and 5;, and located at the beginning of the lower flight
of belt 60.
The loading mechanisms, generally described later, are also
referred to in the art as a down-stacker mechanism, in reference
to the manner in which this mec~:anism removes single shells from
the bottom of a supply stack and places 3 single shell S into
each nest at the loading station 68 (Figs. l, 2 and 81. At the
discharge location, the Finished ends are ejected v~r.to disc2:arge
lanes or chutes, later described.
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In the present system, the caries oz ring shaped nests 65
Upreferably circular), are arrayed in lanes ., II and III, along
flexible conveyer be--= 60. Nests 65 have an underside 36 iFigs.
11. and w2) which rests on belt 60 at the edge of openings 62 to
define the vertical cr height dimension of she nest:s in the belt.
"'he nests have a rim i~l which .s Fitted v~nto the corresponding
opening 62, and include independently flexible gripping fingers
?5 which are integral t~:.~ rim '%4 througi; flexible arms ?3 and
whicr present a discontinucus ledge ?6 through whic, the curl C
of an end shell S initially passes iFigs. 10, 11 and 12i.
A shell ~s placed into a nest ri;.g by moving the she d with
the curl C upward and its central panel P and chu g: wale CW
facincr downwarc ;see ~'io. 6) . The cur: ~~ of the shell " -..
pulled tr'.rough -he '_r:ward and downward tapered f=~.r.gers ':.~ and
onto the lower rirn. The bottom of the shell, _r:cluding the lower
end of its chuck wall CW and the central panel n, is they. 'yocated
at the lower edge cf the nest with curl ~ between the lower rim
surface 71 and Fincers ~5.
fingers ~l5 are somewhat extended cr opened in a radially
cutward direction during tt-:is process, and then the fingers close
wnward entirely around and over the shell ctrl ~, so as to exert
a centering force en the shell as it is loaded lnto the nest, and
tc hold it securely aboc_ its ent-re periphery. '.'his retains the
shell especially against rurni.na while various operations are
performed on it and a tab is attached to it, as the shell
progresses through the tooling stations.
A vacuum box ?8 is located beneattn the loading station and
creates a differential in air pressure between the top and bottom
of each she'..i as it is p~~aoed onto nests 65, thereby F~lacinq or
locating the shells onto the nests. "_'hereafter the shells are
positively inserted into the nests and subsequently controlled by
the nests: no =urther vacuum retention i_~ needed as the shells
progress through tl:e tooling stations.
Belt 60 has rows of teeth or lugs 61 on its underside to
mate with teeth ~5T or. driving drum 55 and 5?T on idler and
guiding drum 5?. Thus belt 60, in passing around these vrums, is
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Guided into an upper Lligh_ 60A e:itendinq from she idler drum Sr,
and lower return flight 60B (see :'ig.w). One or more air
cy«nders 8:i urge idler dru-n 7 in a d~~recticz away from the
drive drum ~5, to maintain a predetert~,ined tension in tha belt,
partioular~-y along Lpper flight 60A.
The attachments between tests 65 and beet 60 a~_loca for
limited controlled relative movement of the nests, but only in
directions tangen- to the turns :,f the Lei:, about ~::e drums, thus
t:~e nests remain flat about the turns and can carry parts (the
shells and resultant ends) about drum 55 from the upper to the
lower be_t flights.
The upper flight 60P. of =he belts is ~-ifted upward by a
snr~:~g biased lifter pad ~s when the press is opened, an the
alis and attachoc nests %: are movee incrementally forward over
the lifer pad, to locate nests 65 su~ce~si~~ely in a.Lignment with
progressiv:~ tooling stations or sets ~5, ~6 ~~f the can end
conversion tooling ;Figs. :. & 2v. As the press closes, she
lifter pad descends and causes t~:e upper flight 60A to lower the
nests therein, and r_he end shells S therein, onto the lower
tooling 36 whi.~e pilot mechanisms (nor shown) align. the nests
precisely with respec!-. to the tooling before ~_ closes. Guide
rails 84R on the upper surface or pad 84 maintain centering of
the upper flight 60A pith .respect to the tool_ng as v_:.at flight
ad~.Tances through the tooling.
In the ellustrated embcd'_ment oz the invention, there are
three lanes I, II, iII of regularly spaced multiple nests 65 in a
sing:.e flexible reinforced rubber composite belt. As mentioned,
it is possible to use slightly spaced apart multiple belts each
with multiple lanes of nests, all mounted around common drive and
idler drums. Shells are rotary loaded (or down-stacked] near the
beginning of the upper fl=~ght 60A of the conveyor by down-stacker
mechanisms, at the left in Figs. 1, 2 and 13. The vacuum box 7~
under this region of the belt path produces a differential
pressure which tends r_o pull each shel'_ into a nest. The shells
are positively snapped i._ place and firmly held against rotation
as they are transferred through r_he conversion tooling.
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A positive insertion mechanism is provided in the form of
three insertion assemb~~ies 85 of like construction, each
comprising a mounting bracket ~SF~ extending from punch plate 38A,
a shat 855, a riser 85R on the Lottom of shaft 855, and an
insertion head 85H of a suitable plastic material which has is
'owes Face shaped to conform generally to the inner upper surface
of a shell placed in a nest. These insertion heads are
dimensioned and arranged to push a shell pcsitive'~y into
engagement with the internal teeth of each nest, one drive
increment before it passes into the tooling. the
F.fter conversicr, the ends travel around drum 55 anc then are
ejected from the rvests and moved, by Force °rom air streams; 87
a;orw.g the ~:hur_es 89 t~ ~.cnveyors -anvil iar ? n end making
°aci'~_ties_
Conveyor and Tab Strip Drive
The power takeo'f shaft 45 is connected via pulley 90 and
belt 9? to a further shaft 95 extending across ,-he _.ear of the
press bed. ~his shaft actually comprises several sections.
First Section 95A is supported in bearings 97 and carries pulley
99 driven by belt 92. Sec:cnd shaft section 95B is connected
through couple..~.g 101 to the input of right ancle gear drive unit
~00, and through that unit and a =urther ~~oiipling 10~ to third
shaft section °5C. _. f~srther ~oupli: g ,,0y ;Fig.. 4,'. is connected
to the riche angle output of cear drive uni~ ?.00, to drive a
shaft 105 which is supported i.n depending bearing mounts -_07.
The waft i05 drives a pair of pulleys 108, and also drives an
eccentri:. 1i0. The purpose o' these driven items '_s explained
hereafter.
Shaft section 95B is ::onnected '.~,y the .fLrther coupling 112
(Figs. 3 and =?) to another shaft section 115C, which is supported
in suitable bearings 114, and this shaft section in turn drives a
final shaft section =05D through an overload friction-type clutch
116. The ~-final shaft section 105D is supported in bearings 117
below and rearward of the discharge station 68, and a pulley 118
and belt 119 provide power to that station.
Tooling Layout
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Figs. 1, 2 and 13 illustrate general details of the upper
and lower tooling sets ?5, 36.
The punch holder plate 37A is fastened tc the bottom surface
of the slide 30, and a die shoe or plate 38A ;s supported below,
S in the space between Lhe flights cf belt n0. The die shoe and
the pu:~ch holder plate are provided with conventional cooperating
stop blocks which provide limits for the closed position of the
tco.linc (in known manner) and the punch holder plate is fitted
with guide rod.y arranged generally near the four corners of the
rectangui.ar parts or the tooling, and extending downward -nto
receiving posts or sockets fitted to the die shoe. These include
suitable precision bearinc glides whit: assure the necessary high
accuracy of _nterfit between the copper ipunch) and lower. ..die)
tooling carts.
Conventional end conversion -_ociina is mounted on the die
shoe, defining a plurality of sta~ivns arranged in multiple
lanes, corresponding Lo the lanes o= conveyor belt 60.
Corresponding upper or punch tco~~ing is mounted to the underside
of punch holder plate 37A, above the die tooling on plate 38A.
Thus shells placed in the apertures ef the ::onveyor nre carried
progressively to the succeeding stations cf the end conversion
toolinc by eacr step-wise movement of the conveyor. When the
press eoens -_-am rises) conveyor 60 is i.~.dexed :left to right it:
~'iqs 1 and 2;. °receding conveyor .-notion, the stripper pad 84
;Fig. ~) is rai..sed to guide the conveyor above the die tools.
The end converting Fath thus defined extands from, side to side of
the press and the end conversion staLv~:~ns are laid out on the die
shoe and punch holder plate in such fash,~or. that they are
generally symmetrically disposed with respect to the front to
back center _ines of the press, ~.rith t:ze tab tooling at the side
of the press, beyond, the location of drive drum 55.
Referring to ~~igs. 2 and 13, which show a one belt, three
lane embodiment, the end conversion cooling stations are disposed
in lanes 1, TI and III, and are ldent._fied ns:
bubble stations: I-A, II-A, III-A
button station I-B, II-H, III-B
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rivet forming station: I-C, ~i-~, I~1-c
score station: T-D, TT_-D, III-
panel form station: I-E, II-E, _~T_-E
transfer/stake .station: 1-~', II-., iII-F
a Details of the _rdividual cu..~.ches and dies are not shown
since these will vary with any ~articuiar instal~.~ation, and they
are not necessary nor an understanding of she present invention.
Referring to Figs. 1, _ and :3, in 'he end conversion
tooling, there is provided a bridua 120 at the stake stations
which -eceives the strip of part-ally formed tabs from the tab
tooling and carries the attached cabs across the end .~_~onversion
roo:~ing. The bridge consists of a bottom plate 121 with a front
to back extending slot, and a ;,over '24 secured to the strip,
whereby the slot ',?? p=oxides ~ closed passageway for a strip of
:hate=ial from which tabs are =o=_;~ed.
Thus, as particLlar_y shown. .a =igs. 2 and 13, the stations
of the end conversion tooling, a-~or.g witt: the conveyor, define a
site-to-side end conversion oat'.~_ while the tab forming tooling
defines a tab forming path in a Front-back direction tha:. is
transverse to and beyond the end conversion path at a location
beyond idler drum 57, and then loops bac~~ to carry the tabs into
.he t=ansferlstak~ station, as shown by the phantom lines i.n Fig.
Shell Feed/End Discharge
?5 The shell feeding mechanism 65, sometimes referred to as a
downstacker, has been mentioned earlier with respect to its
general 'unction, and its location on the press yFig. :.') outboard
of posts i2 and .4. 'This mechanism is per se known, but a brief
description of .t is desirable =,. apprecyate its fLnction in the
present invention.
There are multiple mechanisms, each designated ray r_he
general reference numeral 145, one each of which (as shown in
Figs. 1, 2 & 3. is mounted over .he conveyor lanes I, TI and III.
Fen s.impliiication only one will be described. The base plate
i5 ;47 holds these mechanisms, and is mounted ever conveyor 60,
outside of the left side frame. A bottom plate 148, to which r_he
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base plate is bolted, includes vacuum chamber 78 (F?.g. 1) to
which a vacuum hose fitting '.51 is attached from a vacuum lower
VB. Plates 147 and 148 are recessed to define a shallow
passageway 153 receiving the conveycr_ belt ~0.
Above chamber 150 there are circular feed opening of a
diameter just large enough to pass the shells S which descend
from a stack thereof contained within guide rods. The lowermost
shell ~ has its lip supported on the feeding threads of three
feed screws spaced around each feet opening such that one full
rotation of these screws will carry the lowermost shell from the
stack and deposit the sne~~l in a nest n5 located beneath the feed
operang.
a power and ti:ni_~g nor the feed screw rotation is derived
from a colt which is driven from Gower take-oft shaft section 45
as earlier described.
By proper selection of puiley~ sizes and gear sizes, teeth
numbers, and ratios, the intermittent rotation of the shaft is
translated into 360o rotat-ons of feed screws 158, Gnd a single
shell is deposited in a nest 65 as those openings halt under the
feed opening.
Tab Tooling and Attachment
As previously mentioned the ~abs are formed from a strip of
aluminum or :ike material, suppl-ed .nom a rol-i and directed
along the tab forcni:,g path ~nhicr. is °ransverse to tr:e en~u
Z5 conversion path. This strip is advanced through the tab forming
tooling, 37A, 37B, forms a reverse loop, passes back through the
guide 160A iFig. 2; into the stations 1-F, II-F, III-F and the
remaining scrap strip is cut into suitable pieces and discharged.
In known manner, the =ivet roles '_n the tabs located at this
station are thus aligned with the button. or rivet on the ends,
and as the tab strip connections are .severed, the tabs are set
onto the ends. Compiet~closing of the tooling =finishes the
attachment by staking the rivets to form the well-known integral
rivet attachment. between the tabs and ands. After =he final
tooling station operation tY:e end conversion is complete and the
ends proceed around drum 5% no r_:~e unloading mechanism. The
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remainder of the strip 115 proceeds to a cutter (not shown) where
the strip is cut into short lengths as it is fed incrementally.
"_'hese scrap lengths can cs suitab'ry collected for reclaiming, in
known fashion.
The conveyor belt 6C is taut in the upper flight and level
across the lifter pad. In his oositior: the belt advances only
after the lift movement has stopped. The finished ends are
parried _n nests 65 around the drum 57 into the beginning ox t'~e
return 'light. Discharge chutes 88 ;Figs. 5-?'~ extend from a
locatio:. below -he beginning of the return flight to a location
through and beyond the press frame.
A knock-out device, extending into the space between the
heir flights 60a, 60H, includes a bracket 1?.", attached to the
press ram (Figs. ~ and 7). :nook-out __ngs 172 are positioned
such that when ti:e ram descends, finished ends are elected from
the nests onto chutes 88 where they are carried by air streams,
from a compressed air pipe 86, to the end cf the chutes.
Another advantage of this invention is that it enables
producing ends of as many different sizes as r_here are lanes of
2G nests in the belt. The nests are spaced according tc the tool
station ~,enterlines, which is also the inde-:ed movement of the
belt. The retainers or ears on the nests _'~t.ersect these
centerli:~es by pre vidir.g rests in one o~ more lar:es ~iWch have
grew=~r :~r lesser radii c~ ~heii ears, _~ is possible to handle
sheyis, and produce ends, of di'ferent sizes simultaneously.
~rlhile the method herein described, and the 'orms of
apparatus for carrying this method into eTfect, constitute
preferrea embodimenr_s of -his invention, _t is tc be understood
that the izver_tion is not limited to This precise method and
forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made ~n either
without .ieparting from the scope of the invention, which is
defined in the appended cia~~.ms.
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