Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention relates to a large press for
forming thin walled hollow drawn containers from precoated
stock by a series of multiple forming opera-tions in the press.
More particularly, a press is disclosed which can put out
about 700 containers per minute. The containers being formed
by the operations of blanking and cupping, drawing, redrawing-
profiling and trimming. In the past there has been a unitary
press for produclng such hollow drawn containers at rates of
about 125 per minute. Such a press was limited in terms of
capacity by the nature of its mechanical design for handling
the containers and the material entering and leaving the
press. In addi-tion, there have been arrangements for produc-
ing such containers in a more efficlent manner by using mul-
tiple presses with transfer conveyors between them. Those
arrangements require synchronization between the mul-tiple
presses and take more space and money to construct and oper-
ate. Consequently, the need for at least two presses in such
a system subjects one press to the infirmitles of its compan-
ion. ~hat is to say that, if one or the other is down both20
are down. Similarly, difficulty with the conveyor will stop
production.
The containers made by the press disclosed herein
must be made on high speed e~uipment as their cost must be
minimized for each is a disposable single use item. Simi-
larly, such containers are usually made of precoated stock.
It, therefore, becomes important to make and handle the con-
tainers at high speeds but with sufficient care to preve~t
damage to the thin wall or fragile precoating during the mul-
tiple forming operations.
In the past, t~chniques have been suggested for mov-
ing partially formed containers through the tooling in a press
for progressive forming, see, for example, U.S. Reissue Patent
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No. 29,6~5, which discloses a transfer arrangement which does
not provide posltive displacement or handling of the contai-
ners during transfer from one operating station to the next.
U.S. Patent No. 1,935,894 discloses an intermittent transfer
operation akin to that of the present disclosure but not as
uniform or continuous. Here the mechanism for transferring
the partially formed drawn and redrawn containers has been
streamlined so that a gang of such transfer mechanisms can be
included within the press opening between the tools.
It is also important that a press capable of manu-
facturing containers at the speeds required by simple and com-
pact. In a large press a series of refinements in every area
of the press construction promote structural lntegrity and
opera-tional
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efficiency. M~re particularly, ~t i~ essential that the
operations which require large tcols and large space be done on
one ~ide of the pre~s crown and those operations that can be
clo~er together ~e done on another side of ~he press crown such
that the overall si2e of the press in plan is minimized. U.S.
Patent ~4,026,226 9bow9 an inverted press with forming
operations above aGd below ~he crown such that di~tiDct
operations can be ~ade separately in the 9ame pres~. In that
pre~s, tabs are made atop ehe crown and ead9 are made be~eath
the crown. The tabs are ass~mbled to the ends beneath the
crown. That press m~rely separates the eooling but not for
economy of space or constluction and also not to mini~dze the
horsepower r~quired to drive the press. More specifically, the
peak load requir~ments are cut by u~ing both the upstroke and
dcwn~tro~e of the press and, in additicn, the load on the
driving members i8 balanced be~ter.
In order to be able to do multiple operations a~ different
levels in the same press handling of the contain OE becomes
critical. Handling techniques, equipment and processes have
been dlsclo~ed in connection with the aforementioned inverted
presses. M~re particularly, in the end press the tab is
carried by the parent metal from wbich it is formcd to the
opposite side of the crown for assembly to the end~ In th~e
prior inverted container pres~, the partially formed cans are
transferred ~y oscillating fingers c~rried by ~hif~ing trsnsfer
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!~ bar~. Wi~h those arrangements piece part ¢~v~ment during
progresqive forxing is accurate hut the mech3nisms are large
and complicated. A 3imple mechanisn for multi-lane transfer in
a large progressive press has not b~en seen in the prior art.
To minimize the overall ~ize of such large pre~ses for
multiple forming containers at high speed~, it i5 necessary to
drive re than one portion of the tooling off of one portion
of the crank shaft u~ing a commnn drive elæment thus minimizing
the nu~ber of connecting rods, drive arm~ and the like. To
~ome extent this fe~ture has been disclosed in the
aforeIEntioned inv~rted end press, bowever, in ~ large press
with multiple fon~ing station~ above and below the crown this
feature has been significantly refined. Furthermcre, tbe
clamping and formlng rams have been nested aside one another
rather th~n being ~tac~ed atop ~f one another, or a~ in the
past, nested by placing one ram in the hollow confines of
ano~her and gibbing the first to the second such that the
tolerance of the nested ram and those of the carrying ram in
which lt is nested are cumulative. Here the gibbing syste~s
are independent of one another such that tolerance problems are
mi~imized. In addition, gibbing systPns have usually had
external or open lubrication subject to environmental
conditions and dirt thus causing a certain amount of me5s in
the pres~ where the products are made as well as in the
surrounding environ~ent of the plant. This open lubrication of
the gibbing causes problems of cleanliness, loss of lubricant
and requires particular care in making good sanitæ y food
containers. Similarly, the use of cushion cylinders which
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get within the same and about the tooling in order to maintain a
minimum overall height is unique. In the crank case for the press
there i8 a worm and gear drive. The roller bearings for the worm are
set in the sides of the crank case such that lubricant for the bearings
is pumped into them from above and removed from below. This
arrangement to be effective must control the Elow of oil through the
beOE ings to prevent churning which would cause oil degradation and
overheating. Vertical press size limitations, crankcase wall strength
and requisite support for the ~earing prevent the use of sufficiently
large passages to provide adequate flow for draining these bearings.
Every press frame is construced fron a series of individual
components. The com~onents are usually fashioned in accordance with
the facilities available for manufacturing the press frame parts and in
accordance with the need to maintain tolerances as required for the
accuracy necessary to make the press assembly and operate efficiently
and reliably. Nbwhere is there disclosed of a press that is composed of
multlple subassemblies whi~h are individually operative units for
run-in or testing purposes, but which interco Mect to permit the
various subassemblies to cooperate with each other. Furthermore, the
opportunity to individually check such subassemblies of a large press
prior to assembly of the whole or during repair of one portion are not
disclosed in any o the art.
OBJECT5 CF TEE M 9GLOSURE
An object of this disclosure is to provide a compact press capable
of multiply forming containers from precoated stock at a rate of about
700 per minute.
Another object of the disclosure is to provide a sLmpliied can
conveying systems for multiple use in such a press.
Yet another object is to provide design features which facilitate
the manufacturing, testing, repair and ass~mbly of such a press.
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A still further object is to provide a tran fer mechanism
~hich is compact bu~ can handle a series of Laneq of cans
progressing through multiple foc~ing operations. I -
Yet an~the~ object is to provide a c~pacted nested ram
constructioT~ which is designed to maintain mini~ tolerarlces for
controlled ram movement.
An additi~al objeet is to provide a cushion cylind~
æ sang~mRnt whicb is conveniently u~ed in connec~ion with 9uch a .
p~e~s and which comp~ctly supports the tuoling.
A further object is to provide an improved gibbing system
which i~ clean, comp~ct, reliable and easy to fabricate and simple
to asselrible.
Another object is to provide a technique a~d an arrangement
of component~ which will insure adequate lubricant ~low through
high speed roller bearings.
SUMM~g~ ~F 19E DI9CLD6~gE
In accordance with the foregoing objects and in order to
¦solve the problems of the prior art, a mLltiple operation inverted
style press i9 disclosed with its crank shaft below the feed line
~or driving both the ran in a lower cupping pre~s and a double
action redra~ presæ unted above it. The cupping pres~ proc~sses
a scrolled sheet into cups which are conveyed to the upper pre~s
where multiple drawing, redrawing-profiling and trimming
operations progressively take place. Specifically, the upper
pr~ss has two redraw s~aticns (the second with profiling) and one
trimming station. Both the cupping and the upper presses have two
¦ram strokes, one ~or the shearing and/or clamping and one for the
drawing or redrawing or trimming. m e cupping draw ram has a 9"
stroke and is driven directly by the crank shaft through a pair of
connecting rods~ The blank and clamp rams in the lower press have
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about a 5/16" strok~ ~hich is driven off ehe cupping ram by a
cam and t~gle arrar~gementO me redraw or upper press bas
three rans, the two for clamping and trillming have the sæ 9"
stroke as tbe cupping ram and the r3m for tbe redrawing
processes has a 1?" troke. The clamping rams for the upper
press are driven through ver~ical tie rods which are mounted
for movement wi~h the cupping ram in the low~r cupping press.
The draw ram in the redraw pres~ is independently dri~en by the
crar~ shaft.
In thi3 inv~rted pre~s, maximum use of the press is made
by cupping and blanking below the crown and drawing and
redrawing above the crown. More partic~larly, the first
operatlon CbLanking and cupping the scroll ~tock) is performed
below the press crown The formed cup is made ace down
(inverted with it~ open end dcwnward) and tben conveyed above
the crown to the upper press whereat it is progreqsively formed
by drawing, redrawing and bottom profiling and finally die
trimm~d about ~he flange. An advantage of this approach is
that the largest diameter, being the blank, is cut in a
different part o~ the press and, therefore, the centerline
spacing of the subsequent forming statioos can be closer
together thus permitting a smaller overall press. Another
advantage is ~hat the blanking and cupping is accomDlished on
one stroke of the inverted press and the other fonming
operations are p~rformed on the other or opposite stroke. ~ore
specifically, m~ving the cup fr~m below the crown to above is
done by a magnetic conveyor systen which reverses the cup
position 90 that same is open upwardly fo~ the subsequent
forming operations.
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As explained, the blanking and cupping æ e first done in
the lower q~ction of the pre~s and a magnetic conveyor system
~hen carrie the formed cups to the upper section of the press
w~ere first redraw second redraw-profile and trinmi~g
progressively take place. In the lcwer section of the press
the cut edge of the blank establishes the center-to-center
distance between the blanking and cupping tooling for each
Lane. That center distance spacing is a function of the size
of ~he Largest container to be made in the press and,
therefore, is variable in aecordance with the size of tbe
containOE bei~g made and max~mum coil width and mini =
scrap.. In the upper section of the press the spacing betwe~n
the adjac~nt draw and redraw tooling i9 not restricted to the
larg~ diameter of the bLank cut edge and the lanes c~n, for
example, be advantageously positioned close to the support
posts of the upper section thereby obtaining max~mum rigidity.
Th~ magnetic conveyor system includes lane dividers for
variable spacing the cups to align same with tbe fixed spacing
for the first redrawing and ~he second re~rawing-profiling and
trimming tooling. More particularly, the ability to adjust the
convyor for handling containers of different sizes with
different tooling having different center distance spacings in
the upper and lower sections of the press fra~ is a part of
this disclosure. Similarly, the magnetic conveyor systen
including upper and lower magnetic ~elts and a
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~ection of transver~ely po~iticned roller3 which permit not
only the transer of the co~tainer from the lower pre~s to the
upper pre~ but al~o allcw the requisite ~hif~ing of the
containers to acount for the difference in 5pacing i~ an
important feature.
A ca~cade jam feeding technique is u8ed to transfe~ the
partially formed container~ received from the m~gnetic conveyor
syst3n to the first redraw staticn and then to the next
redraw-profile sta~ion. That tecb~ique con~ist~ of magnetic
feed belts which are positi~ned to carry the containers tipped
slightl7 away fr and relative ~o the vertical or axis of the
tooling whereby each can will ~nly assume the vertical position
~hen fed into axial alignment with the punch and die.
Consequently, only the container under the punch i~ ef~ected by
the 3troke of the ram. The adjacent containerg in line to be
fed are not cru~hed or touched by the punch wbich pu~hes the
container through the die redrawlng it into a snaller diame~er
container with more height. The redrawn c~ntaine¢ i~ then
caught by a second m~gnetic drive belt positioned below ~he die
and is carried to the next or second redra~ing punch in the
same manner. The second redraw profile station fir~ redraw~
~he container downwardly but not all the way through the die
and then profile3 the bottom by pushing the container bottom
upwardly against the punch. The form~d redrawn-profiled
container i9 released as the punch withdraws and since the
container ba: aD untri~med ilange, it is 8rabbed by a
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vacuum fing~r and shifted into posi~ion for trimming. The flange
trimning operation permi~s the con~ainer to pas~ all the way through
the trimmiqg die. The ~rim gcr2p remains on top of the die a~ the
container is caught beneath by a magnetic conveyor belt positioned to
carry it fr~m the pres5. The vacuum fi~ger is ~ammed upwæ d in its
travel toward the next container to avoid the trim scrap as same rests
atop the tr~m die. An advantage of this syst~m reside~ in the fact
that high speed container transfer can be obtained~ MbreovOE , in a
pre~s the size of this large inverted press which can handle up to six
lanes, tbis mechanlsm i~ simple, dular and efficier~t such that
multiple Lanes of coDtainers can be ~ormed alongside one another and a
cumno~ ~y~tem can be used for ramoval of the trim scrap.
The overall structural design of the press is such that the press
may be split into three self-contained sections. ~ore particularly,
each section can be separately asseIbled and tested on the floor of
the pLant and then shipped to the manufacturing site where the
components can be put together for operation notwithstanding the
common drive for upper and lcwer rams. The ~ottom subassembly is the
main drive which include~ the motor and gear reduction, in~hing drive,
flywheel clutch and brake and crank shaft with pitman arms. The
structure is box shapcd and opens upwardly foDming a strong support
for the crank shaft bearings and a collector for the lubricating oil.
The crankcase include~ flcw p.~ssages to and from the area for
supporting the worm gear roller bearings. These flow passage~ are
connected to input and output pumps whereby the incoming oil flow is
adequate to cool and lubrica~è the roller bearings and the output flow
is controlled by a suction pump capable of running dry. That is to
say that, the suction pump is used to positively evacuate the bea~ings
such that oil does not accuIulate, churn and overheat the bearing~.
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11 1
The center unit includes support posts which tie the upper
and lower portions of the press together and when eombined with
the bottom unit fonm a c~mplete blanking and cupping press.
The cupping punch slide or ram is actuated by pitman anns from
the main crank ~haft, four cams on the cupping ram actuate the
clamp beams through an arrangement of knuckle assemblies which
also permit the independent lowering or opening of the die for
service and clean out.
The top section i9 the first and second redraw and
trimming area of the press and contains punch and clamp rams,
the latter of which are actuated by the rods connected ~o
stroke with the cupping ram. The redraw punch r~m is driven by
the main crank via tie rod slides driven off the pitm~n arm
which only extends inta the cupping unit side frame.
Consequently, the three co~nponents of the press can be built
and tested separately and shipped independently before final
assembly because they are integral units. Similarly, the
bottcm and middle units can be run and tested together.
A technique is used in the upper section of the press to
minimize the overall height of the press. There is a
requirement for both cl~mping and redrawing ram3. In oder to
have sufficient vertical section in these rams and to minimiæe
the overall height of the press frame necessary to house the
rams a nesting teehnique is used. More specifically, nesting
the redraw ram between a split pair of clamp rams permits
adequate vertical height of all the rams but minimizes overall
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ram height. Normally, the rams would be stacked one atop the
other making the vertical height approx~mately twice as great.
By the present technique, tha overall height of the press is
reduced while each ram can be independently gibbed at both ends
to min~mize unnecessary ram move~ent toleran~es. The center
redraw ram has the longer stroke and is by cantilever supports
connected to the punch tooling which coaxially resides within
the clamping rams hollow cushion cylinders.
The upper section of the large inverted press has each ram
uniquely gibbed. The gibbing system permits all of the return
lubrlcant from the upper p~rt of the support to be carried
ln~lde its cylindrical support tubes thus eliminating
contamination of the oil or~flooding of the tooling during
periods of shutdown. Each hollow cylindrical support tube
contains all the oil flowing back to the crankcase. ~ore
particularly, for each gib support there is a lcwer support
which is located upon the base of the upper section and an
upper support wbich is carried in the crown of the press in a
m~nner which permits the upper support to be floated into axial
position thereby allowing the misalignment and eliminating the
need for premachining alignment. Cylindrical bushings are
carried about the tu~e and they support the rams by keying the
latter to the former. Three of these units are used on each
side of the press top section to carry each end of the three
r~r~.
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1~ 1
In the clamp ra~s carried in the upper section of the
press there are opening passages for carrying hollow redraw
nitrogen cushions which hold the container during the fonming
by the punch. Conventional systems use a series of cylinders
which bias the clamp ram and æ e connected to a main
reservoir. l'he present disclosure includes self-contained
integral cylinders and reservoirs which are carried within the
cl~mp ram, thus minimizing overall press height. The technique
also simplifies the overall construction of the press. Each
cushion cylinder is associated ~ith a coaxially located tooling
punch that rides within the central hollow of the hollow clamp
ram cushion. The cushion cylinder is easily serviced and in
combination with the ram design includes features which permit
quick alignment during changes of tooling for different size
containers. Mbre particularly, cylindrical pockets in the rams
are provided to accept the cushions for adjustable positioning
easing axial alignment of the tooling carried within each
hollow cu~hion.
In operation, the precoated scrolled sheets are
automatically and intenmittently fed into the lower section of
the press. Flangeless cups are formed by blanking and cupping
the ~etal through tooling composed of blanking shears, punches
and dies. Any number of lanes up to six lanes of cups are
established and are magnetically transferred from the lower
section to the upper redraw section. The cups are carried by
the transfer conveyor fr~m their open downwardly position
hrough 180 such that they are open upwardly as they arrive at
~l2~2~317
th~ redraw section. Each lane is fed into the firs~ jam
feeding station of the redraw press wherein the cups are in
axial alignment with the punches and dies of ~he first redraw
s~ation. As the rzms of the redraw section lowers the cup~ are
clamped and drawn throu~h the dies and stripped into position
on a magnetic conveyor belt below the die. Each redraw
container is taken and jam fed into the second redraw-profile
stati~n where a partial redraw i3 performed and then the bot~om
i~ profiled. Thi~ time the redrawn container is not pushed
entirely through the die, tbus, a flange reIsins. The
container i~ botto~ profiled and is carried back up thro4gh the
die on the punch and stripped above the die. Tbe container is
then vacuum transferred to a final operation where tbe flange
i9 trimmed. This trim~ing operation allcws the trimm~d
container to pass thro4gh the die and be caught by a magnetic
conveycr and be removed ~rom the press. me -trimmed rings
scrap and the sheet stock skelton are independently discharged.
ERE~ ~PrlaN a~ ~E ~
Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of the upp~r portion of
a large inverted s~ack press of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partially in section of
~he pres~ of Fig. 1 with portions of the frame wQrk removed and
sho~n approximately at the center thereof from top to bottom.
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122Z417
Fig. 3 is a seheIatic representation o the transfer
~am fe~d technique used in connecticn with feeding cups into
a redraw operation;
Fig. 4 is sim~lar to Fig. 3 ~xcept that ~h~ cup is now
shown redrawn;
Fig. 5 is similar to Figs. 3 and 4 but shows how the
next cup i8 fed into alignmen~ for redrawing and the
preceding cup is remcv~d;
Fig. 6 is a side elevaticnal view of a portion of the
press as it would appear iE a side of the press was re~oved
in order to allow examination of the forming o a container
by the steps from sheet blanking to flange trimming;.
Fig. 7 ~how3 an ~xploded view in perspective of the
variou~ largQ assemblies of the press and how they coopera~e
with one another. For clarity details have been omitted
from Fig. 7 and as ~uch it is largely schematic;
Fig. ~ is a side cross secticral view of the lower
portion of the press that being the sections p~i~arily below
and above ground level with particular emphasis on the worm
drive and lower ram support and operation;
Fi~. 9 is a partial perspective view of the portion of
ehe p~eDD eD~ 1 1 iD Pig- 8;
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¦ Fi8. 10 is a partial sectional view of the gibbing
syst~m u5ed to upport the rams in the upper portion of the
pre~s of Fig. l;
Fig. Il is a sectional view through a ran showing the
cooperaticn of a clamping redrawing sl~eve cushicn cylinder
and its coaxially disposed punch, and
Fig. 12 is a partial front elevational view showing the
transfer rollers and the upper belt used in ~oving cups into
~b~ ~e~ be p~ J.
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~ETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
Fig 1 is a perspective view above ~loor level of the press 20
taken from the rear sid~ of the press with portions partially cut
away or removed to show the operative inner components relevant to
this disclosure. The bottom of the press 20 is best shown in Figs.
2, 7, 8 and 9 and includes the crankcase and its drive section 30
which supports the crank shaft 31 in e~d bearings 32 located in the
crankcase 33 at each end of the crank shaft. In the center of the
crank shaft is a worm driven gear 35 also supported by side bearings
32a carried by crankcase 33 and by shaft 36. The worm 34a is carried
transverse to the crank shaft 31 by a shaft 36 supparted by rollOE
bearings carried in thP walls of the crankcase 33. In a manner well
known a belt drive and tor for same are provided to operate the
pres~ 20~ The cra~kcase 33 in the preferred embodiment is located in
a pit b~low ground level and is a hollow box-like construction opened
upwardly with a flanged upper face 37 designed to support the press
components which are carried by it, Figs. 8 and 9.
On each side of the crank shaft 31 are eccentrically mounted
sy~tems for driving the press rams, Fig. 9. That is to say that,
between the crank bearings 32 and the gear 35 thera are on each side
respective drives for the press clamping and forming rams. Mbre
particularly, eccentric redraw drives 38 are carried upon crank shaft
31 just inside crankcase 33 near the crank bearings 32. In the
preferred embodiment eccentric redraw drives 38 have a 12" stroke and
include a connecting rod 38a which i9 counterweighted at 38b.
Intermediate eccentric redraw drives 38 and the gear 35 are eccentric
cupping and clamping drives 39 having connecting rods 39a being
counterweighed at 39b. Connecting rods 39a drive the ram for
clamping and cupping as will be explained hereinafter in detail.
16a - I
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I
The middle section 40 of the press 20 Figs. 1, 2 and 7 eon3ist5
of a pa* of side~ 40a and a top 40b which ccnnect ~oge~her eo for~
a hollow box-like tructure which sits over the crank case ~3
flanged upper faca 37 and middle ~ection 40 includes a pair of
buttressed dcwnward facing support flaDges 40c that support the
middle section 40 at what would be ground lev~l for the press
structure, see Figs. 1 and 2. Riding within the middle section 40
i9 a lcwer press ra~ 41 which incl~des downwardly directed clevis
and pin connections 41a that pivotally connect to the upper ends of
connecting rod~ 39a, such that in the preferred embodiment the ram
41 has a 9" stroke Fig. 9. In a conventional m~nner ram 41 is
carried for controlled vertical movement within section 40 by flat
gibbing plate~ and a bll~hed centerpost. Lubrication for the gibbing
plate~ and centerpo~t are beaeath the f~nning ~rea of the ram 41
~uch that lubricant can drain directly into the crankcase 33 wi~hout
interferring with the formd articles. Atcp lower r~m 41 are a pair
of upstanding support shoulders 4Ib which æ e located at each end of
ram 41 near the sides 40a of middle section 40. A pair of tie rods
42 extend upwæ dly from supports 41b for driving connection wi~h the
upper portion of the press 20 at blocks 44.
S~milarly, the upper ends of connecting rods 38a carry
conventional slide members 43 which are box sbaped in cross section
and are guided by gibbing within the middle section 40 for
reciprocatory moveIent just inside sides 40a. M~mbers 43 are
located between the Lnside of sides 40a and the outside ends of ram
41. The lubrication for the aforesaid gibbing is apart from ram 41
and can easily drain back into the crankcase 33. The lower ends of
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slide memhers 43 contain clevis and pin connections 43a ant the
upper ends include threaded openings 43b for connecting to upper
drive for th~ center or redraw ram located as will ~e explained in
the top of the press 20. The members 43 extend upwardly througb the
11 middle section 40 of the press 20. In the preferred embodiment the
stroke of members 43 is l2".
The top section 45 of the press 20 is composed of a pair of box
shaped side mmbers 46 that are oper. through their middle and
include a base 46a and a pair of upstanding posts 46b and a top 47
see Fig. l. Atop the box shaped side members 46 is carried top 47
which ties ~oth ~ide members 46 together. This construction leaves
the inside of the top section open transversely at the space between
the side posts 46b. On each side of press 20 in the central space
between the side posts 46b are three gibbing systems 48 which
independently support the upper ram~ 49 and 50 for clamping and
redrawing respectively, see Fig. lO. Gibbing systems 48 are located
at each end of their respective rams 49 and 50, Fig. 2, such that
the rams 49 and 50 are carried aside one another for parallel
reciprocatory movement along the gibbing systems 48. There are two
(front and rear) upper rams 49 for cla~ping and nested between them
is the upper ram 50 for drawing, Fig. 6. The tie rods 42a extend
tbrough spacers 42 in the pres~ section 40 and up to the outer rams
49 which are driven by means of blocks 44 and extension rods 44a,
Fig. 2. The center part of the gibbing sys~eIs 48 is arranged to
directly drive ram 50 as same is connected to m~mber 43 as will be
explained.
Turning now to Fig. lO, wbich is a side elevational view
partielly in s ction ot the gibbing system 48, it shcws how same
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~222'~7
relates with the po3t9 46b, the base 46a ~nd the top 47. Ho1ding
the posts 46b and the tcp and base mem~ers 47 and 46a respectively
are a pair of tie rods 51 which clamp the box shaped side members 46
together leaving an inside opening for receiving the three gibbing
systems 48.
Each tie rod 51 is di~posed at a corner of ~he pre s 20 and is
positioned to extend from the top 47 through ~ec~ions 45, 40 and 30
to hold the press 20 together. Each of the s~ctions 30, 40 a~d 45
can bc independently fashioned and tested pri~r to final a~sembly,
such split construction facilitates manufacture and repair. The
drive sy3t~m~ are s~milarly split at 38a and 39a between sections 30
and 40 and at 43b and 44 between sections 40 and 45. Tie ro~s 51
are con~entional hollow tubular members composed of innOE and outer
sle ves cne in ten~ion and the other in compression such that
loadings applied are easily handled without distortion of the tie
rods 51. For assembly of the press 20, rods 51 are heated to expand
them and then nuts are tightened and upon cooling the tie rods 51
2ssuIe a preload.
Although one sidc for system 48 is shown in Fig. 10, it should
be understood that the opposite side is identical. The gibbing
system 48 includes upper and lower bushings 52 and 53 respectively
adapted to support a hollow tubular ~ember 54 in vertical relation
between the top 47 and the base 46a. For each side member 46 there
are three sets of upper and lower bushings 52 and 53 su~h that three
tubular members 54 are carried in parallel
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relation to one another and are contained within the open center of
side m~mber~ 46. The tubes 54 are free to ~ove v2rtica11y r~lative
to their respective bushings 52 and 53. An axially disposed rod 43c
i5 the connectioo to members 43 through threaded hole 43b and it
extends through the center tubular members 54 along the axis of each
~nd is connected to same by means of fasteners 55 at the top of each
end of the center tubular members 54. The top nut fastener 55 is
used to pull ram 50 down tight against slide 43. Movemeot of the
r a 49 is caused by members and tie rods 42a through blocks 44.
Consequently, the ram~ 49 are driven by tie rod3 42a which pass
thro~gh spacers 42 connected to blocks 44 and rods 44a with a 9"
~troke and the center gibbing system 48 located between the outer
two is driven by tie rod 44 with a 12" stroke. Similarly, movement
f ra~ 50 is caused by members 45 and the rod~ 43c which pass
upwardly thro4gh the center gibs of system 48. More particularly,
the rams 4g and 50 are carried at their ends 50a and 4ga for
controlled parallel vertical movement of the re~pective rams with
tubular members 54. The ends 49a and 50a of the rams are keyed by
keys 56 to move up and down with the tubular members 54 as the rams
49 and 50 move vertically with the controlled reciprocatory movement
of their respective drive systems.
The bushings 52 and 53 are bolted or clamped to their
respective supports 47 and 46a by means of clamping bolts 57 such
that once the lower bushing 53 has been positioned in its opening in
the base 46a the upper bushing 52 oan be easily aligned axially with
respect to the lower bushing and then clamped by bolts 57 into
place, Fig. 10. Between the tubular menber 54 and its ram there is
a sealing ring 58. The sealing ring 58 is located just above the ram
I and is c-~ shaped upward toward bushing 52 so as to provide an
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upwardly extended apron 59 which æ ts to catch oil pump~d up into
tbe gibbing sy~te~s 48 between the bushing~ 52 a~d the tubular
m~mber~ 54. Specifically, after the oil paqses throush th~ clearance
there~etwben it enters tbe hollcw center of m~m~er 54 through a hole
54a, pro~ided in the side of tubular m~mber 54J and thus may pass
downwardly through the area in which member 43 iY contained and back
to the crankcase 33. Consequently, the upper lubrication systam for
the clearance ~etween the bushing 52 and the tubular member 54 are
~ealed relative to the out~ide atmospbere. Similarly, the lower
oiling systen for bushings 53 includes a sealing ring 61 which i~
attached to the ~op of bushing 53 to prevent oil carried in the
clearance betwe~n the bushings 53, and the tubular me~bers 54 from
leaking. Pressur~ lubrication is provided (but not shown) for ~he
clearance space between the bushiDgs 53 and the tubular members 54.
This space terminates at its lower ~nd inside bushing 53 and 90 it
penmits the lubricating oil to pa~s downwardly along tha passages
for tbe respective drive systems and back to the crankcase ~3. An
0-ring 62 about the lower busbing 53 seals ~ame to the base 46a such
that the lubricating oil has no means of escape.
Sealing ring~ 58 are also used to clamp keys 56 between ram
ends 49a or 50a and their tubular mem~er 54 as shown in Fig. 10. A
~eries of elamping bolts 58b are used for this purpa~e. Each ram i3
thus able ~o move with the controlled vertical moveIent of members
54 in accordance with its lubricated gibbing system 48. The gibbing
systems 48 are provided with a top sealing cap and breather 48a
located atop the top 47.
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Each of the clamp rams 49 is elongated and greater in vertical qection
than horizontal. Within each clamp ram 49 are a series of vertically
disposed bollow cylindrical passages desig~ed to contain the redraw tooling
and more specifically the forming and clamping members which move with the
r~m to redraw the partially formed container. Above and transverse to the
rams 49 are a pair of spaced apart beams 96 connected between ~he rams 49
and gas springs 60 are positioned beneath top 47 aside rams 49, Fig. 1.
Fig. 11 shows a partial section through the press 20 taken vertically
at a point where the plane would cut through the middle of the cylindrical
openings 49b in the rams 49. The opening is labeled 49b in Fig. 11 and it
contains a unique cu~hion cylinder assembly 63 used to clamp the partially
fonmed container during the first and second redrawing operations. More
particularly, the cushion cylinder 63 includes a centrally disposed hollow
inner tube 64. Inner tube 64 i5 symmetrical about a horizontal plane
through its middle. That is to say that, it is designed so that either end
of tube 64 can be used in place of tbe other. The reason being that upper
and lower section work surfaces 64a are designed for sealing engagement and
can be reversed in order to double the useful life of same since the bottom
one will wear faster than the other as the bottom is the surface across
which movement takes place. The cushion cylinders 63 have concentrically
disposed outer tubes 65 cut from straight tubing and which tubes 65 are
held in spaced apart coaxial relation to i~ner tubes 64 by shouldered
mounting caps 66 positioned at the top end of tubes 65. 0-rings 66a are
used to seal the tubes 64 and 65 and are carried in grooves in the mounting
caps 66. S~milarly, at the bottom end of tubes 64 and 65 there are
SlydringTM assembly 67 CW- S. Shamban & Company) disposed within the
hollow concentric space between the inside of outer tubes 65 and the lower
outside work surfæes 64a ot ths inner tubes 64. aottom caps 68
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and their locator riogs 68a mount the bottoms of the outOE tubes 65 to the
r~ms 49 whereas th~ unting caps 66 connect the upper ends of tubes 65 to
the upper end of the ram cylindrical openings 49b. Similarly, rings 68a
and caps 68 hold tubes 64 and 65 in spaced concentric relation. The inner
cylinder 64 is held in place vertically by the mechanical connections at
each end. The gas pressure (nitrogen) resides in the annular space
between the tu~es 64 and 65.
The Slydring TM seals attach to the locking redraw sleeve asse~blies
69 such that nitrogen captured in the space between tubes 64 and 65 is
compressed as Slydring TM seals 67 moves upwardly during clamping loading, Irelative to the downward movement of rams 49 which carry the tubes 64 and
65 downwardly. Tbe connection between redraw sleeve assembly 69 and
SlydringTM seal 67 is through engagement of mating surfaces which do not
appear in the sectional view shown. The ultimate downward travel of
redraw sleeve assembly 69 is thus controlled. Gas escape passages (not
shown) are connected between the space for the nitrogen gas and a gas
reservoir, thus in a manner well known the ~mount of clamping of the
redraw sleeve assemblies 69 against the partially formed containers can be
controlled.
Through the hollow centers of the redraw sleeves 69 pass the p~nch
assemblies 70. Each assembly 70 is carried by a cantilever support banger
50b extending from ram 50 toward ram 49 such that the punch assembly 70
will have the 1~" stroke of ram 50, Fig. 6. Cantilever hanger 50b
includes a pair of spherical support bushings 71 which are vertically
spaced apart thereon and which act to align the punch drive rod 72 with
the axis of the cushion cylinder assenbly 63 as the former passes
downwardly through the center of the latter to
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connect with and carry the first redraw punch 73 for each punch
assembly 70, Fig. 11. A bushing 74 a~d its retaining cap 75 are
mounted above mounting cap 66 to secure same by cap screw 75a as
well as bushing 74 to the ram 49. l`he punch drive rod 72 is thus
additionally axially aligned for reciprocatory movement relative to
the cushion assembly 63 by bushing 74.
In the preferred arrangement, the punch 73 ~oves with the 12"
stroke of ram 50 while the redraw sleeve 69 has the 9" stroke of the
ram 49. On both sides of ram 50 toward the front and the rear of
the press 20 extend cantilever hangers 50b, and they carry the punch
drive rods 72 for the first and second redraw proile tooling Eor
each lane in a manner ldentical to that used and already explained
for the punch 73 of the first redraw station. Mbre specifically, the
partially formed containers are ved through the press transverse
to the directio~ of elongation of the rams 49 and 50. When the
front ram 49 comes down it carries with its cushion cylinder
asseIblie~ 63 (sufficient in number for up to six lanes of tooling
and front and rear clamping rams 49). Similarly, ram 50 carries
with it in cantilever fashion off 50b up to six punch assemblies 70
on each side and each assembly 70 coaxially passes through the
bollow center of a cushion cylinder assembly 63. The partially
formed cups or containers from the lower cupping seceion 49 are thus
first redrawn into a taller container with a smaller diameter as
such punch 73 pushes the cup through its respective draw die, Figs.
3, 4, 5 and 6. The container then ves transversely under ram ~0
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to ehe second redraw-proiile station where the rear or other rar 49
carries its cushion cylinder assemblies 63 which coaxially support
the other second redraw punches in aligo~ent to the redraw the
partially formed containers to a still taller height and smaller
diameter containers. Fig. l also shows the back of the press 20
where the second redrawing takes place. Fig. 6 is split along its
center Line such that ram 50 is shown on one side thereof at the
bottom of its 12" stroke and on the other side at the top of its
stroke.
A horizontally disposed support beam 76 located above the press
20 supports the weight of the rams through connectors 72a. In a
manner similar to that with rams 49 and gas springs 60 beam 76 frcm
the connectors 72a extend outwardly to front and rear gas springs
77. Each spring 77 bas a drive rod 77a which connects to the
support beam 76. Thus, the return stroke of the first redraw punch
73 as caused by the ram 50 is counterbalanced by the gas springs 77.
As mentioned, the containers are transferred through the top
section 45 of the press 20 from front to rear and through the middle
section 40 from rear to front. This process is best shown in Figs.
3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 wherein a transfer system 80 from the top middle
section 40 of the press 20 and to the top section 45 of the press 20
is shown. The transfer system 80 includes a lower magnetic drive
belt 81 and an upper magnetic belt 82. Between the belts 81 and 82
are eight horizontally disposed magnetic rollers 83 mQunted in
¦ juxtaposed relation for rotating in tbe same direction (clockwise)
such that the containers are passed from roller to roller. The
metallic cups hotn in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 are magnetically
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held by their ~ottGms by the magnetized rollers 83 or the magnetized
belts 81 or 82. It should be appreciated that the side to side
spacing between the lower belts 81 ar.d the upper belts 82 may be
different such that aligning the containers to follow a path which
will take it frcm the lower belt 81 to its respective upper belt 82
requires lateral motion. That is to Yay that, at least some lanes
of cups must be shifted laterally. This is done by guide bars 84
as~ociated with the rollers 83. Each lane has its respective set of
guide bars 84 wbich cooperate to assure that the containers are
properly aligned with and received by the appropriate upper magnetic
belt 82, only one lane is shown in Figs. 6 and 12.
Turning now to Fig. 6, which is a side elevational view of the
can tran~fer system 80 taken through the center of the press 20 and
along a plane defined by line 6-6 shown in Fig. 1. The entire
operation of moving the containers from the middle section 40 to the
top section 45 will be apparent as well as the various operations
which take place in the press 20 for one lane as a re~ult of tbe
tooling carried by both tbe front and rear upper rams 49, and the
ram 50. Starting at the lower left band corner of Fig. 6, the sheet
of ~crolled strip is intenmittently brough~ into the press at a
sheet feed line so designated and is moved from left to right. The
sheet is first blanked in a conventional well known manner between
die shear ring 85 and a punch shear ring 86. The die shear ring 85
is moved by the ram 4L through a ~eries ot togg1in~
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knuckle~, Fig. 8, which are can dri~en by side face cams 41c
as~ciated wi~h the flanks of ram 41. The knuckle arrangement is
generally designated 87 (see Fig. 8) and is toggle like in its
action. ~bre specifically, there i5 on each side of the ram 41 a
lower toggle link 88 and an upper tGægle link 89. Each lower toggle
link 88 is pi~ned to pivot relative to the inside of side wall 40a
and ext~nds u~wardly to a pivot connection with an upper toggle link
8g. At the pivot connection between the links 88 and 89 there is
carried a roller follower 90 which rid~ across the face of cam 41c.
Upper toggle link 89 are pivotally attached to 2 support 91 which
ves the punch qhear ring 86. Consequently, the stroke of the
blanking ring for shearing the stoc~ to it~ cut edge is minimized.
The support 91 also clamps the blank during the cupping operation.
The lower toggle links 88 are jack sc~ew 91a connected to sides 40a
and by unscrewing the connection of links 88, the roller followers
90 may be moYed off the can face 41c beyond their normal s~roke.
Thus. ~he knuckle systen 87 can be folded or collapsed such that
maintenance clearance in this portion oE the tooling is qulckly
provided.
The hollow center 85a o~ the die shear ring 85 includes a
cupping punch 92 which is connected to ram 41 and moves a full 9
during its stroke. ~he locking of the blank after she~ring and
during cupping is provided as explained by clamping between ~he die
shear ring 85 and a tool face 93 by the action of the knuc~le syst~
87. The punch 92 thus draws the cup upwardly forming the blank into
a hollow thin walled cylindrical cup with an intwgral oottom wnd no
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3L;~Z~7
flange a~ ~ame is b~ought to rest against the lower magnetic drive
belt 81, see Fig. 6.
Belt 81 moves from right to left carrying the cup in the
general direction that the sheet moves as s~me came into the
blanking and cupping tools. Just out~ide the press 20 m2gnetic
conveyor belt 81 curves upwardly toward rollers 83 and the cup is
carried to the first of the rollers 83 where it is moved as
explained between the guide bars 84 until it is brought into
alignment with the leading edge of magnetic drive belt 82. As seen
ln Figs. 6 and 12, the conveyor belts move in a clockwise direction.
The magnetic belt 82 carries the cup upwardly before curving into
the top section 45 of the press 20. As can be appreciated from
Figs. 6 and 12, the cup is made so that it is open dcwnwardly and as
the transfer system 80 moves the cup it rotates it through an arc or
180 such that it is now open upwardly. The magnetic drive belt 82
extends into the top section of the press at a slightly upward
incline or angle "A" as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6. The cups are
held as they move into the press by an escapeIent m~chanism 94 which
is provided to assure that there are sufficient number of cup~ being
carried by the belt 82 to provide the requisite jam feeding of the
cups into the first redraw station of the press. Mbre particularly,
a cup holder 95 shown in Fig. 6 is provided to catch the cups on
conveyor belt 8~. Holder 95 operates only after escapement 94
captured a sufficient number of cups to assure that adequate force
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12Z2~117
will be available to push the furthest cup into and against cup
holdOE 950 Since belt 82 is angled upwardly, the lower side wall of
the last cup on the kelt 82 bears against the lower side ~all of the
cup in holder 95. That is to say that, the cup in holder 95 bas its
axis in alignI~nt wlth the axis of the punch 73 and the next
zdjacent or jamming cup has it~ axis normal to the ~urface of the
drive b~lt 82. The upper edges or uths of these two container~
are sp æ ed apart because their side wall~ are at the angle of belt
inclination "A", thus, leaving room for the tooling to move during
forming.
Once again, in Fig~. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the container is pushed
through the first redraw die 96 thus making tha container taller but
smaller in diameter. At the bottom of the first redraw stroke the
container is s~ripped from the punch 73 and lands on intermediate
magnetic transer ~elt 97. Belt 97 is angled upwardly at an angle
"A" for the same purpose as was the terminal portion of belt 82.
Belt 97 rotates clockwise carrying the re~rawn containers further
into the press 20 to the second redraw-proile station. Thus, the
intermediate magnetic transfer helt 97 ca~ries the first draw
containers under ran 50 and into alignment with the second redraw
station carried in rear ram 49. m e cup holder for the second
redraw-profile station is associated with the station and includes
curved abubments on each side adapted not only to align the
container with the axis of the second redraw punch 99 but also
slotted to permit the redrawn and profiled container to be moved by
a vacuum finger 98 to a trImming station 100. That is to say, that
after the second redraw operation the container is of a smaller
diameter and so it is able to be moved by finger 98 through the slot
toward the stati~n 100.
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The redraw punch pushes the container almost entirely throush a
¦~ draw die 101 in the second redraw operation thus, a flange is left on
i the redrawn container. ~ear the bottom of the stroke a boeeom
¦I profiling tool is held upwardly against the bottom of the container by
the ac~ion of its gas spring ~ounting in the pres~ such that a ~ottom
or domed profile is established in the container as the container
reaches the bottom of its stroke. This doming operation causes the
container to take substantially all of its final configuration. As the
punch 99 and it5 draw sleeve 102 retract upwa~dly the redrawn and
bottom profiled container is carried up through the draw die 101 until
it has cleared the die 101 at which point it is in alig~ment with
vacuum finger 98. Finger 98 grasps the side of the container to pull
same from left to right while msintaining its vertical alignment. m is
movement by finger 98 shifts the container to the trLmming station 100
such that the container is in alignment for flange trimming. More
pa~ticularly, a die 103 is provided which is larger than the container
diameter but equal to the flange diameter. Die 103 is set to trim the
flange to the required dimension for a hermetic double seam flange. A
punch assembly 104 pushes the untriImed container dcwnwardly thro4gh
the die 103 and causes the trimmed container to drop on to a magnetic
belt conveyor 105 below the die 103 such that the container can be
essily removed froD the press 20. m e punch assembly 104
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I i5 attached to the rear side of ram 49 s~ch that it moves
therewith. Conse~uently, and when containers are availabie each
stroke of rear ram 49 redraws and profiles one container ~hile
s~multaneously trimming the preceding container.
In Fig. 6 a mechanism 106 is shown Eor moving the vacuum
finger 98. This mechanism 106 is designed to shuttle the vacuum
finger 98 between its container holding position aligning the
container with the second redraw-profile station and the axis of
the trim station lO0. The tion of the vacuum finger cannot be
purely reciprocatory since it has to move upwardly in order to
clear the trim ring left atop the trim die 103 as the vacuun
¦ finger 98 moves towards its position as a container holder Eor
the second redraw-profile station. S~nilarly, the vacuum fingers
98 must be timed to move out of the way of the flange of the cup
as same i9 lowered while being redrawn before profiling and out
of the way of assembly 104 as same moves to trim. Mechanism 106
includes a first portion 107 which is designed to reciprocate the
vacuum finger and a second portion 108 which is designed to lift
the vacuum finger relative to the tr~m die 103. The first and
second portion~ rotate relative to a drive axis 109 but are
driven independently of one another. The first portion 107 has
tion that îs converted from rotary to reciprocatory by
eccentricallr mounted rotating lin~ llO. The second portion
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108 is c~m d ~ =eans of eccentric links 108a in a manner quite
ndependent of the first portion but only insofar as their
respective ~rive ~ystems ~re concerned.
In Fig~ 8, the wonm 34a is shown supported by a pair of
roller bearings 111. These bearings are carried in the walls of
the crankcase 33 and support the shaft 35 which carries the worm
34a. Oil is supplied to bearings 111 by means of upper oil
passage 112 froD the main pump for the press in a m~nner well
~nown. The main pump is not shown in the fiO~res. The main pump
supplies a sufficient head of oil to all of the operative
components of the p~ess. In order eo balance the flow,
restrictions are placed in the variouq feed manifolding passages
to as ure that adequate control of flow is provided to the
various areas within the press. Mbre specifically, passages 112
carry oil through the upper crankcase 33 walls into the bearings
111. For purposes of evacuating ehe bearings and controlling
the 3 unt of oil passing therethrough, there are a pa * of
lower passages 113 which are provided to drain the bearings
111. These passage~ 113 are c~nnected by means of inte~nal
tubing 114 to a suction punp, not shcwn. (c~ c~le~ k )
In the preerred embodiment a Model L75 MEGATCRlpump (not
shown) capable of moving 6.5 gallons per minute at 45 psi is
used. This pump is a ~liding-shoe type which includes eccentric
discs ~it closely in displacement chambers within the shoes such
that eccentric movement of the discs generates horizontal
movqment of the discs and verticle mov~ment of the shoes. The
horizontal motion provides the displacement of ~luid in the
chamber; the verticle motion shu~tles the shoe controlling the
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entry and discharge of the pump fluid. In this case synthetic
gear otl is used to cool and lubricate the bearings 111, Fig.
8. Once the pump begins to operate a hydraulic pressure dif-
ference is genera-ted; that difference holds the shoe in con-
tact with the ports which control the suction and dellvery or
the pump. The Megator pump can be operated without priming in
that it will repaatedly self-prime and the Megator model L75
has a slightly higher volumetric capacity than the vGlume nec-
essary to lubricate and cool the roller bearings 111. The
pump can be used to pump high viscosity fluids~ run dry, purnp
air and yet will maintairl a high suction capacity. Volumetriccontrol of oil entering and leaving the highly loaded worrn
gear roller bearlngs 111 is controlled and flow of cooling
lubricant can be maintained.
