Patent ID: 6405853
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
A carrier nest for use in a conveyor system for container end shells to be processed, said nest includinga base ring having a central through opening and a peripheral support means dimensioned to seat upon the edge of an opening in a conveyor belt holding said through opening in alignment with the belt opening, an array of independent fingers spaced apart from each other and extending inwardly from a lower portion of said base ring and arrayed around said through opening and adapted to receive and surround the periphery of a shell and hold the shell in said nest during conversion work on the shell, said fingers also having a flexible support arm extending between said base ring and the related finger, said support arms being sufficiently flexible to permit independent motion of said fingers, said fingers each also including radially inwardly extending legs thereon defining a discontinuous annular surface within said base ring adapted to support the periphery of an end shell within the nest, said fingers also having upper cam surfaces above said inwardly extending legs defining an entrance opening into the nest which is statically lesser in area than the discontinuous annular support surface, whereby a shell can be moved through the entrance opening by causing said arms to flex with an outward component until the shell passes said cam surfaces and moves onto the discontinuous annular support surface.