Patent GB-1070541-A (GB)
Title: Production of drawn cans
IPC: B21D24/00
Filed: 1964-06-23
Abstract: 1,070,541. Making cans; stamping. REYNOLDS METAL CO. June 23, 1964 [June 26, 1963], No. 25965/64. Headings B3A and B3Q. Apparatus for making cans (200, Fig. 1) comprises a die (Fig. 14), a reciprocable feeder (48, Fig. 15), for feeding cup-shaped blanks (22) in front of the die, a punch (20) for drawing the blanks through the die, and a holder (180) movable ahead of the punch for aligning the blanks with the die and guiding the punch. The punch carries the can through the die and deposits it in one of the pockets (34, Fig. 3) of an indexable drum (30) where the can-base may be pressed to convex form. The end of the can is also trimmed and flanged (Fig. 12) before the can is dropped from the pocket into a shoot (74). An upper part (250, Fig. 4) of the machine-frame, containing the punch, die and feeder, is detachable from the lower part (254), housing the drive unit. This comprises a motor (82, Fig. 1), pulleys and a belt (86) driving a shaft (88) geared to a second shaft (94) having a replaceable eccentric (96) for varying the stroke, connected to a drive-lever (102) for the punch-ram. A bevel-gear (112) on the second shaft, through a flexible coupling (116<SP>1</SP>) and a further angle-drive, drives an indexing mechanism (120) for the indexable drum (30), which is adjustable by means of racks (148) moved by pinions (149) turned by hand. Drive for the feeder is taken from the drum by a lever (40A, Fig. 3), operated by a cam. (56) on the drum, a shaft (42, Fig. 2) and a further lever (40B connected by a link (46) to the feeder. Springs (45, 47, Fig. 15) in the connection allow the feeder to be located by stops (49, 51) with either of its receptacles (58, 60) under a shoot (24) and the other in alignment with the punch. The workholder-sleeve (180, Fig. 6) is secured by lugs (234) to rods (230) slidable in guides (232, 233), and is withdrawn against the pressure of springs or pneumatic cylinders (236), by contact between flanges 228 on the ram and lugs (231) on the rods. The pneumatic cylinders engage the workholder with the rim of the blank, or telescope it into the blank, before the blank is struck by the punch. With the drawn can positioned in the top pocket (34), the punch may co-operate with a spring-pressed convex die (158, Fig. 14) for forming the end of the cam. The convex die may be mounted on the bed, or a number of such dies may revolve with the indexable drum. The dies may be formed by convex surfaces integral with, or mounted on, a plate indexable with the drum, and the plate may be resiliently mounted. A central stem (190, Fig. 8) with a flat or convex end remains in its advanced position as the rest (192) of the punch is withdrawn, so as to strip the can from the punch assisted by compressed-air supplied through the stem. The stem (190) is carried by a yoke (202) slidable on pods (220) in the ram, and is retained in its forward position by a spring-pressed catch (206) released by contact between an abutment (214) on the ram and an inclined surface on the catch. Upon release, the stem is moved against the end of the punch by a spring (209). The trimming and/or flanging operations may be performed by one or two machines (68, 69, Fig. 3).