Patent ID: 7344347

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 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 being mounted on the second frame and adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end, and wherein the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end includes a conversion press mounted on the second frame, said conversion press being 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; and 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 for providing power to operate either or both of the means for forming a lift-tab and the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, and wherein the power source includes a tab press power source for providing power to operate the tab press and a conversion press power source for providing power to operate the conversion press, the tab press power source and the conversion press power source being adapted to operate independently of each other; and a tab press crank shaft that is operatively connected to the tab press power source and adapted to transmit power for operating the tab press and 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 wherein: the first frame and the second frame are connected by a bridge.