Patent ID: 7370507

Claim:
In a cap making system for forming integral reclosable container caps from sheet metal in a reciprocating press, said caps having a substantial height with respect to their diameter for fitting around and over a container neck portion with a pour opening, said system comprising a first station and a second station mounted in the press at a predetermined distance apart, said first station including first station tools comprising a blank punch tool and a cooperating compound die tool mounted in a reciprocating press for cyclic movement between an open position in which said tools are separated and a closed position in which said tools are closely spaced to form a cap from a metal blank, said first station tools operating to separate a blank from a supply of thin sheet metal during initial closing motion of said first station tools and then to draw the blank into a cup shaped part having a top panel and a cylindrical side wall extending from said top panel, and then to form an outward curled rim on the open lower edge of the cup shaped part, said second station being aligned with and spaced from said first station, said second station including second station tools mounted in the press laterally of said first station tools for receiving parts from said first station tools and performing further operations thereon, a chute extending between said first station and second station tools at their open position and receiving parts in transfer from said first station tools toward the second station tools, said chute terminating adjacent the interface of said second station tools at their closed position, a set of spaced apart guide fingers shaped to form a continuation of said chute, said fingers being supported on opposite sides of the second station tools for movement toward and away from said second station tools, means for moving said fingers apart during closing of the second station tools and for moving said fingers into an extension of said chute when the second station tools are open, means projecting a first air stream into the interior of a cup shaped part in said first station tools to hold the top panel of said cup shaped part against said blank punch tool during separating motion of said first station tools upon forming a part, means projecting a second air stream across said blank punch tool at its open position and into said chute to propel cap parts into said second station tools, and control means coordinated with the operation of the press and connected to said means for projecting first and second airstreams for switching on said first and second air stream projecting means to (a) initiate the first air stream at the beginning of separation of said first station tools and maintaining the first air stream at least until said first station tools are fully separated, and (b) initiate the second air stream before said first station tools are fully separated and maintaining the second air stream sufficiently to propel the part through said chute.