Patent ID: 8020420

Claim:
An apparatus for continuously performing localized and/or extended deformations on metallic containers constituted by extruded or drawn and solid-drawn tubular bodies, comprising: a) an interface module ( 1 ), including a feeding station or feed drum ( 12 ) and an unloading station or unloading drum ( 16 ); b) at least one job module ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″), having a first work station ( 30 ) and a second work station ( 30 ), each work station ( 30 ) including an operative tower( 18 ) and a transfer drum ( 20 ), wherein each tower ( 18 ) includes a first rotating table ( 18 ″) having a plurality of deformation tools ( 19 ′) and a second rotating table ( 18 ′) having a plurality of gripping devices ( 19 ), said first and second rotating tables ( 18 ″, 18 ′) having a synchronous coaxial rotational movement, said deformation tools ( 19 ′) and said gripping devices ( 19 ) being adapted for relative axial movement therebetween, the transfer drum ( 20 ) of said first work station ( 30 ) cooperating with the feeding station ( 12 ) and the transfer drum ( 20 ) of said second work station ( 30 ) cooperating with the unloading station ( 16 ); c) an inversion module ( 3 ), including a first transfer drum ( 22 ) cooperating with said first work station ( 30 ) of said at least one job module ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″), a second transfer drum ( 22 ) cooperating with said second work station ( 30 ) of said at least one job module ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″), and a change drum ( 24 ) cooperating with said first and second transfer drums ( 22 ); said interface module ( 1 ), at least one job module ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″), and inversion module ( 3 ) are arranged so as to form a closed path for said containers; and d) a selective dispatch element cooperating with said interface module ( 1 ) for re-feeding selected containers from the second work station ( 30 ) to the first work station ( 30 ) of said at least one job module ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) and transferring completely processed containers from the second work station ( 30 ) of said at least one job module ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) to said unloading station ( 16 ).