Patent ID: 7399152

Claim:
An apparatus for double seaming an end unit to a can body, comprising: a double seaming chuck; a first drive mechanism operably connected to said double seaming chuck for rotating said double seaming chuck; a double seaming roll; means for selectively moving said double seaming roll toward said double seaming chuck to perform a double seaming operation; a second drive mechanism for rotating said double seaming roll in a direction so as to reduce relative rotational speed between said double seaming roll and a workpiece when the double seaming roll comes into contact with the workpiece during the double seaming operation, said second drive mechanism being constructed and arranged to be normally disengaged, and to become engaged as the double seaming roll is moved toward the double seaming chuck to perform a double seaming operation; wherein said second drive mechanism is constructed and arranged to engage said double seaming chuck in order to rotate said double seaming roll; wherein said second drive mechanism comprises means for frictionally engaging said double seaming chuck prior to performing said double seaming operation; wherein said second drive mechanism comprises a first frictional drive element that is mounted to rotate with said double seaming chuck and a second frictional drive element that is mounted to rotate with said double seaming roll, said first and second drive elements being oriented and configured so as to engage each other as said double seaming roll is moved toward said double seaming chuck prior to the double seaming operation; and wherein at least one of said first and second drive elements is elastomeric and compressible, whereby said first and second drive elements are capable of remaining engaged as the double seaming roll continues to move toward the double seaming chuck during the double seaming operation.