Patent ID: 7263867

Claim:
A can shaping apparatus, comprising: a turret rotatable about a turret shaft; a cam; a ram assembly including a shaping tool, the ram assembly coupled to the turret; a first cam follower inserted through the ram assembly, the first cam follower including a first racer contacting the cam; and a second cam follower inserted through a flexible bushing in the ram assembly, the second cam follower including a second racer contacting the cam, the second cam follower inserted through the flexible bushing such that when the second racer engages the cam in a neutral position, the second cam follower is deflected forming a preload, wherein when the turret rotates the first and second cam followers move relative to the cam with the first and second racers following a contour of the cam which exerts a deflection force deflecting the second cam follower deforming the flexible bushing, the second racer remaining in constant contact with the cam, wherein the following of the cam contour by the cam followers causes the ram assembly to reciprocate between a retracted and an extended position, wherein, when in the extended position, the shaping tool contacts a can material to perform an operation on the can material.