Patent ID: 7237999

Claim:
A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening lift-tab can ends, wherein each of said can ends includes a rivet to which a lift-tab may be attached, said system comprising: a first frame; a second frame, said second frame being in close proximity to the first frame; a means for forming a lift-tab, said means for forming a lift-tab includes a tab press being mounted on the first frame and adapted to form at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material; a drive roller supported on the first frame and adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the means for forming a lift-tab; a means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, said means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end includes a conversion press being mounted on the second frame and adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end; and said conversion press having a locating means for placing the strip of metal stock material into the conversion press with the lift-tab being placed into working relationship with a can end so that the conversion press may detach the lift-tab from the strip and attach the lift-tab onto the can end to form an easy opening lift-tab can end; a conveyor means for conveying the at least one lane of formed lift-tabs from the means for forming a lift-tab to the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end; a power source; said power source includes a conversion press power source for providing power to operate the tab press and the conversion press; a tab press crank shaft adapted to transmit power for operating the tab press; a conversion press crank shaft that is operatively connected to the conversion press power source and adapted to transmit power for operating the conversion press; and a drive belt connecting the tab press crank shaft and the conversion press crank shaft.