Patent Application
20250235916
The disclosed concept relates generally to machinery and, more particularly, to can bodymakers for producing can bodies used in the food and beverage packaging industries. More particularly, the disclosed concept relates to drive systems for use in can bodymakers and can bodymakers including such drive systems.
Generally, an aluminum can begins as a sheet of aluminum from which a circular blank is cut. The blank is formed into a “cup” having a bottom and a depending sidewall. The cup is fed into a can bodymaker which passes the cup through a toolpack that thins and elongates the cup, thus forming a can body. That is, the cup is disposed on a punch mounted on an elongated ram. The ram is structured to reciprocate and pass the cup through the toolpack which (re)draws and irons the cup. That is, on each forward stroke of the ram, a cup is passed through the toolpack which forms the cup into the can body. Near the start of the return stroke, the now elongated can body is removed from the ram prior to the punch passing backward through the toolpack. A new cup is disposed on the punch prior to the punch passing forward again through the toolpack. Following additional finishing operations, e.g. trimming, washing, printing, etc., each can body is sent to a filler which fills the can body with product. A top is then coupled to, and sealed against, the can body, thereby completing the can.
The toolpack in the can bodymaker has multiple, spaced dies, each die having a substantially circular opening. Each die opening is slightly smaller than the next adjacent upstream die. Thus, when the punch draws the cup through the first die, the redraw die, the aluminum cup is deformed over the substantially cylindrical punch. Because the openings in the subsequent downstream dies of the toolpack have a smaller inner diameter, i.e. a smaller opening, the aluminum cup is thinned as the ram moves the punch and aluminum cup thereon through the rest of the toolpack.
After the cup (now generally in the shape of the can body) has moved through the last die, the cup bottom and sidewall have the desired thickness; the only other deformation required is to shape the bottom of the cup into an inwardly extending (i.e., concave) dome. To accomplish this, the distal end of the punch is concave while at the maximum extension of the ram is a generally convex dome element (having a shaped perimeter) commonly referred to as a “domer.” As the ram reaches its maximum extension, the bottom of the can body engages the domer and is deformed into a dome and the bottom perimeter of the can body is shaped as desired (typically angled inwardly so as to increase the strength of the can body and to allow for the resulting cans to be stacked). As the ram withdraws, the can body is stripped off of the end of the punch by injecting air into the center of the ram. The air travels through the ram and exits out of the end of the punch and breaks the can body loose from the punch. Typically, there is also a mechanical stripper, which prevents the can body from staying on the punch as it retracts back through the toolpack. The ram is withdrawn through the toolpack, a new cup is deposited on the punch, and the cycle repeats.
In conventional bodymaker arrangements, the ram is supported by a number of oil fed hydrostatic slides and driven by a mechanical crank and flywheel drive system. Such hydrostatic arrangements require high-levels of oil filtration and large amounts of electrical energy to power the motors to drive the large pumps for slide operation. Additionally, alignment settings with the slides are dependent on the oil temperature, pressure and the proper Lee jet orifices in place. Variations in hydraulic pressure provided to the slides can vary randomly and frequently during normal bodymaker operations producing can bodies, thus causing uncertainties in the alignment of the ram which can drastically affect the production of can bodies. Meanwhile, while such crank and flywheel arrangements work well, such arrangements can be costly to maintain, difficult to understand and may not be the most energy efficient/sustainable compared to newer technology.
The disclosed and claimed concept in one aspect provides a drive system for use in a can bodymaker. The drive system comprises: an operating arrangement comprising a number of drive motors, each drive motor structured to be coupled to a frame of the can bodymaker; a yolk body structured to be coupled to an end of a ram body of a ram extending from a first side of the yolk body; and a slide arrangement coupled to the yolk body and structured to be coupled to the frame of the can bodymaker such that the yolk body can move linearly with respect to the frame, the slide arrangement comprising: a number of rails, and a number of carriage members, wherein each rail of the number of rails has at least one carriage member of the number of carriage members slidingly engaged therewith, wherein each drive motor of the number of drive motors is operatively coupled to the yolk body such that the yolk body is structured to be driven in a reciprocal linear motion back and forth along the number of rails of the slide arrangement by the number of drive motors.
Each respective drive motor may be operatively coupled to the yolk body via the interaction between a circular gear coupled to an output shaft of the respective drive motor and a linear gear coupled to the yolk body. For each respective drive motor, the circular gear coupled to the output shaft may be operatively coupled to the output shaft via a gearbox.
The number of drive motors may comprise a plurality of drive motors. The number of drive motors may comprise two drive motors. Each drive motor may include an output shaft and the output shaft of each drive motor may be positioned in a common reference plane. The output shaft of each drive motor may be aligned with a common reference axis. The number of drive motors may comprise four drive motors. At least two drive motors of the plurality of drive motors may be positioned in opposite directions. At least two drive motors of the plurality of drive motors may be positioned in the same direction.
The number of rails may comprise two rails; and the number of carriage members may comprise at least two carriage members.
The disclosed and claimed concept in another aspect provides a can bodymaker comprising: a frame; a ram having an elongated, substantially cylindrical ram body positioned about a longitudinal axis, the ram body having a proximal end and a distal end positioned opposite the proximal end; and a drive system comprising: an operating arrangement comprising a number of drive motors, each drive motor coupled to the frame; a yolk body coupled to the proximal end of the ram body; and a slide arrangement coupled to the yolk body and the frame such that the yolk body can move linearly with respect to the frame, the slide arrangement comprising: a number of rails, and a number of carriage members, wherein each rail of the number of rails has at least one carriage member of the number of carriage members slidingly engaged therewith, and wherein each drive motor of the number of drive motors is operatively coupled to the yolk body such that the yolk body and the ram body are structured to be driven in a reciprocal linear motion back and forth along the number of rails of the slide arrangement by the number of drive motors.
Each respective drive motor may be operatively coupled to the yolk body via the interaction between a circular gear coupled to an output shaft of the respective drive motor and a linear gear coupled to the yolk body. For each respective drive motor, the circular gear coupled to the output shaft may be operatively coupled to the output shaft via a gearbox. The number of drive motors may comprise a plurality of drive motors.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the disclosed concept, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the disclosed concept.
A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The specific elements illustrated in the drawings and described herein are simply exemplary embodiments of the disclosed concept. Accordingly, specific dimensions, orientations and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting on the scope of the disclosed concept.
As employed herein, the term “can” refers to any known or suitable container, which is structured to contain a substance (e.g., without limitation, liquid; food; any other suitable substance), and expressly includes, but is not limited to, beverage cans, such as beer and soda cans, as well as cans used for food.
As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs. An object resting on another object held in place only by gravity is not “coupled” to the lower object unless the upper object is otherwise maintained substantially in place. That is, for example, a book on a table is not coupled thereto, but a book glued to a table is coupled thereto.
As used herein, “operatively coupled” means that a number of elements or assemblies, each of which is movable between a first position and a second position, or a first configuration and a second configuration, are coupled so that as the first element moves from one position/configuration to the other, the second element moves between positions/configurations as well. It is noted that a first element may be “operatively coupled” to another without the opposite being true.
As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are coupled in direct contact with each other.
As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. The fixed components may, or may not, be directly coupled.
As used herein, the word “unitary” means a component is created as a single piece or unit. That is, a component that includes pieces that are created separately and then coupled together as a unit is not a “unitary” component or body.
As used herein, “associated” means that the identified components are related to each other, contact each other, and/or interact with each other. For example, an automobile has four tires and four hubs, each hub is “associated” with a specific tire.
As used herein, “engage,” when used in reference to gears or other components having teeth, means that the teeth of the gears interface with each other and the rotation of one gear causes the other gear to rotate as well.
As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).
As shown schematically in
Continuing to refer to
The toolpack 18 includes a number (e.g., without limitation, three are shown in the example) of die(s) 50 (each) having an opening 52 therein. The opening 52A in the first die 50A (the die 50 closest to the operating mechanism 12) is slightly larger than the opening 52B in the second (middle, as shown) die 50B. The opening 52B in the second die 50B is slightly larger than the opening 52C in the third (farthest from the operating mechanism 12) die 50C. The opening(s) 52 of the die(s) 50 are disposed along a common axis 54 that is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis 28 of the ram body 26.
In the configuration shown in
The domer assembly 22 is disposed at the end of the stroke of the ram body 26. The domer assembly 22 includes the domer die 40 that is coupled to the frame 24 of the can bodymaker 10 by a mounting assembly 56 which may be of any suitable arrangement. The domer die 40 is a body 44 with the cavity 38 defining the convex dome formation 42. The cavity 38 may include other features structured to shape the bottom of the cup. Ideally, the center of the dome formation 42 is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis 28 of the ram body 26. In such arrangement, when the ram body 26 is at its maximum extension, i.e., in the extended position previously discussed, the cup bottom, that portion of the cup covering the concave distal end 36 of the punch 34, is shaped by the punch 34 entering the cavity 38 of the domer die 40. That is, the cup bottom becomes a dome extending into the can body. After the dome is formed in the newly formed can body still positioned on the punch 34, the ram body 26 begins the rearward portion of the stroke from the extended position back toward the retracted position.
The can stripper 20 is disposed on the outer surface of a stripper bulkhead 60 opposite the toolpack 18. The can stripper 20 removes the can body from the punch 34 after the dome has been formed in the bottom of the can and the ram 14 has begun to move rearward. Thus, the punch 34 travels rearwardly with no cup or other material between the punch 34 and the dies 50 of the toolpack 18.
Having thus described a basic overview of the general parts of a can bodymaker 10 a detailed example embodiment of a drive system 100 in accordance with one example embodiment of the disclosed concept for use in such a bodymaker 10 will now be described in conjunction with
The drive system 100 further comprises a slide arrangement 104 coupled between the yolk body 102 and the frame 24 of the can bodymaker 10 such that the yolk body 102 can move only linearly (i.e., slide along a linear path, e.g., such as along the common axis 54 shown in
In order to minimize friction between, and wear of, the parts of the slide arrangement 104, each rail 106 is formed wholly or in-part (e.g., the contact surfaces) from, and thus comprises, a hardened steel or other suitable material. Meanwhile, each carriage member 108 comprises a plurality of balls and/or rollers formed from, and thus comprises, a ceramic material or materials that engage with a hardened portion of the corresponding rail. It is also to be appreciated that other suitable materials that enable high speed function, e.g., without limitation hardened steel rollers, hardened steel balls, etc., may be employed in carriage member(s) 108 and/or rail(s) 106 without varying form the scope of the disclosed concept. It is also to be appreciated that by employing such arrangement of rails 106, carriage members 108, and particular materials thereof, very tight/precise tolerances as required for can bodymaking can be readily maintained without the need for any lubricating fluid(s) and supply arrangements associated therewith.
The drive system 100 further includes an operating arrangement 112 which functions as the operating mechanism 12 such as described in conjunction with
In the example embodiment shown in
From the foregoing it is to be appreciated that embodiments of the disclosed concept provide drive systems and operating arrangements that provide advantages over existing solutions. For example, without limitation, arrangements such as described herein are generally more user friendly than existing designs, are more environmentally friendly, and simplify plant service operations. Further, such arrangements provide for stroke length of the ram to be infinitely adjustable to allow for the production of different can sizes as well as the speed to be similarly adjusted to adjust the cans per minute (CPM) of the can bodymaker.
While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed herein are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” or “including” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In any device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain elements are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that these elements cannot be used in combination.
