US2383523A - Flattened can body manufacturing machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 28, 1945.

|. D. THORNBURGH 2,383,523`

FLATTENED CAN BODY MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 2s, 194s.

l. D. THORNBURGH FLATTENED CAN BODY MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Deo. 5, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n lz INVENTOR.

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BYQQM y A T TOP/WSYS Aug. 28, 1945. l. D. THORNBURGH FLATTENED CAN BODY MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Deo. 5, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Aug- 28, 1945- D. THORNBURGH 2,383,523

FLATTENED CAN BODY MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Dec. 3, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

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,4 TToe/VE YS Allg. 28, 1945. l. D. THORNBURGH I FLATTNED CAN BODY MANUFACTURING MACHINE Filed Dec. 5, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. @lm-.M QW BY Z2 7 TToE//'a/-LS Patented Aug. 28, 1945 FLATTENED CAN BODY MANUFACTURING MACHINE Ivan D. Thornburgh, Leonla, N. J., assig'nor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New Jersey Application December 3, 1943, Serial No. 512,832 l1 Claims. (01.164-68) The present invention relates to the manufacture of containers or cans vfrom seamless or seamed tubing that has been flattened into double wall ribbon form and wound onto spools for convenience in shipment and storage and has particular reference to an apparatus for cutting the ilattened tubing into can body lengths and for distributing the resulting flattened can bodies to a plurality of machines incident to the manufacture of such bodies into cans.

An object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for severing can bodies from fiattened double wall ribbon form of seamless or seemed tubing wherein the flattened tubing is cut into can body lengths which thereupon are advanced in timed order and are distributed to a plurality of machines such as reforming machines in which the flattened can bodies may be formed into desired can body shape, to the end that production oi can bodies will take .place at a high rate of speed.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of vacuum devices for holding cut-olf flattened or partially formed can bodies under control during their movement through the machine so that the bodies may be properly distributed to a plurality of different places of deposit and in timed order.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially along the broken line 2 2 in Fig. l, with parts broken away;

Figs. 3, 4i and 5 are longitudinal vertical sections taken substantially along the lines 3 3, 4 4 and 5--5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a collapsed can fbody produced and distributed -by the machine; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the (broken line l-l in Fig. 3.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings disclose a high speed machine for cutting oii` collapsed can bodies A (Fig. 6) from a continuously moving metal tube B (Fig. 3) that has been flattened into the form of a double wall ribbon. The machine is also directed to distributing these crut-od collapsed can bodies to a plurality of subsequent operation machines such as reforming machines or the like as an incident in the manufacture of tubular sheet metal can bodies. The ribbon of tubing is substantially continuous in length and is made preferably from aluminum or aluminum alloy which is well adapted to certain kinds of containers such as beer or other beverage cans.

The ribbon of tubing B may be fed from a supply of tubing which has been reeled in a, compact coil on a spool or the like (not shown) and is continuously advanced into the machine, preferably in a horizontal position. This feeding or advancing of the ribbon of tubing is brought about by a pair of horizontally disposed feed rollers ll, l2 (Fig. 3) between which the flattened tubing passes. These rollers are mounted one above the other on short drive shafts i3, lil, journaled in bearings l5, l5 (see also Figs. l and 2) formed in a pair of spaced and parallel side frames l? which constitute the main frame of the machine.

The feed rollers ll, l2 are continuously rotated in synchronism by a pair of meshing spur gears 2l, 22 (Figs. l and 4) which are mounted on the roller drive shafts i3, M. The upper gear 2l is driven Iby an idler gear 23 which is mounted on a cross shaft 2t journaled in bearings 25 formed in the side frames. Gear 23 also meshes with and is driven by a gear 2t keyed to a drive shaft 2l journaled in bearings 28 formed in the side frames. The drive shaft may be rotated in any suitable mer.

The ribbon of tubing B advanced into the machine by the feed rollers ll, l2 is received on a horizontal table 3l (Figs. 3 and 7) formed on and located between the spaced side frames ll. During its advancement across the table, the tubing is maintained in place by a recessed side guide and hold-down plate 32 which is secured to the top of the table. f

As the advancing ribbon of tubing travels across the table 3l, its leading end extends out into space beyond the inner edge of the table and comes into a cutting oi station C (Fig. 3). At this station the leading end of the tubing is in tangential relation to a rotating cut-ofi head D which cuts the tubing into can -body lengths.

The cut=-oii head D is located between the side frames il and includes a star shaped head member 35 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is mounted on and rotates. in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. with the main drive shaft 2l. The head member is formed with a plurality of Wide flat-sided,

transverse nngers 33 which carry cutter blades 31. i

severing of the tubing B into can body lengths by the cutter blades 31 of the head D is brought about in cooperation lwith auxiliary cut-oi! blades 4I which back up the tubing during the cutting.

The turret E is rotatably mounted on a stationary turret shaft 42 (Figs. 2 and 3) keyed in place in bearings 43 formed in the side frames i1. This turret is continuously rotated in time with the cut-off head D and in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, by' a. spur gear 44 (see also Fig. 4) which is bolted to one side of the turret. The gear meshes with' and is driven by the main driving gear 23 on the drive shaft 21.

Hence as the attened tubing B advances into the cutting-off station C, between the rotating cut-off head D and the rotating carrier turret E, the blades 31 of the head and the auxiliary blades 4i of the turret cooperate in engaging opposite sides of the tubing and sever can body lengths therefrom. This action continues uninterruptedly and collapsed can bodies A are produced in rapid succession.

During this cutting off operation Just prior to the can body A being severed from the ribbon of tubing, and also just after cutting, it is h'eld under complete control by suction or vacuum cups 52 (Figs. 2 and 3). These cups are carried on the turret E, there being a cup adiacent each auxiliary cut-oi! blade 4i. in a coupling 53 wnich is threaded into the outer peripheral face of the turret. When a, vacuum cup 52 is first brought into engagement with' the free end of the ribbon A, a vacuum is established. The cup thereupon grips the tubing and holds it fest so that the severing which immediately follows is done in a precise manner.

After being cut on, the cups 52 continue to hold th'e body while the rotating turret E carries the body around to a place of deposit. In the instant machine the desired place of deposit for a particular can-body is selected from a plurality of chutes 55 (Fig. 3). These chutes lead to magazines 53 of subsequent operation machines, such as body reforming machines. The drawings show ilve of these chutes 55 arranged around th'e periphery of the turret although it will be obvious that the invention is equally well adapted for use with any number of such chutes.

In order to selectively distribute a cut-oil can body A to its proper receiving chute 35, the vacuum cups 52 are arranged in groups of a number equal to the number of chutes. In the present embodiment, as shown in the drawings, there are five cups in each group and the total number of cups around the turret is therefore a multiple of five. For convenience in explanation one group of cups and the chutes to be served by them are numbered from one to five in Fig. 3.

Hence with such a grouping of the cups, the body A held by cup number i will be deposited into chute number I, when the cup is advanced adjacent its associated chute. In like manner, the body held by cup number 2 will be deposited in ch'ute number 2, and so on until each body has been deposited in its proper chute. In this manner the can bodies are distributed equally Each cup is fastened A into the chutes 53 is brought about preferably by the timing of the making and the breaking of the vacuum in the cups l2. This timing is effected by a pair of stationary valve plates or discs 3i, 62 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) which are keyed on the stationary turret shaft 42 and which' are located one on each side of the turret and in engagement therewith. Valve disc 3| is used in connection with the numbered I, 2 and 3 suction cups, while valve disc 32 functions for suction cups numbered 4 and 5.

Valve plate 3l is formed with three concentric valve grooves 33, 33, 31 (Figs. 2 and 5) which' extend partially around the inner face of the plate in various length. These grooves communicate with ports 33, 33, 1l, which are formed in the plate and which connect with a pipe line 1I which leads to any suitable source of vacuum. The grooves are spaced radially from each other and from the center oi' the valve plate in orde;- to individually serve the I, 2 and 3 cups 52 of each group of five.

The numbered I, 2 and 3.as well as the 4 and I cups 52 communicate through their couplings 63, with' radial channels 15 cut in the turret E. The channels of the numbered I, 2 and 3 cups terminate at their inner ends in outlet ports 13 -which extend toward the left as in Fig. 2 and end at the face of the valve disc 3i. Similer outlet ports 16 for the numbered cups 4 and 3 extend toward the right (Fig. 2) and end at the face of th'e valve disc 32. This will be better understood as the description proceeds.

The channels of each cup in a group of five cups are of different lengths so that they will come into the Draper communication with diiferent valve grooves in the valve plates 6I, 32. In this way the cups numbers I, 2, 3 of each group are served respectively by the grooves Il, 33 and 61 in the valve plate 3i, while cups number 4 and 5 are served by similar concentric grooves 31, 3i (Fig. 4) cut in the face of the valve plate 62. Grooves 31, 3i communicate with ports 32, 93 whichalso lead into the vacuum pipe line 1i.

Hence in operation, when a number I vacuum cup 52 comes into position adjacent the free end of the tubing B at the cut-off station C its port 13 simultaneously comes into register with the vacuum groove 35 and thus brings the cup into communication with the source of vacuum. It is this action that causes the cup to grip and vhold the tubing. The port 13 sweeps along the arcuate length of th'e groove 35 and the vacuum in the cup holds the body after it is cut off.

When the body held by a number I cup reaches chute number I, the vacuum is broken to release the hold on the body. This is brought about by the port 13 having reached the end of the groove 65 in the valve plate 6I. Thereafter the body may be stripped off the cup and will be deposited into the chute as will be hereinafter explained.

In like manner, all the other vacuum cups 52 of each group of flve operate to establish a vacuum in the cups, successively at the cut-ofi station C. When the can body with its vacuum cup reaches its respective chute it will be released by breaking of the vacuum. Thus it will be observed that the selective vacuum operation of a vacuum cup is the result of winch groove B5, 86, 61, 31 or 9i is in communication with its radialchannels 13 and ports 13.

`Stripping. of acollapsedcan body ,A from a vacuum .cup 52l when it reaches its propergchute 55 is broughtabout by a stripper vacuum cup |0| (Figs. 2 and 3). 'These strippercupsare mounted on rotatable stripper members or selective distributilngjdevicesI |02 (Fig. 2) which in turn are mountedV on short cross shafts |03 journaled in bearings |04 formed in the side frames i1. The distributing members are continuously rotated by respective spur gears |05 (FigsQZand 4) which are rcarried'on thezcross shafts and which mesh withvthe turret gear 4,4., l

There vis one of the stripper members |02 located at the entrance end of each chute 55. The stripper cup |0| on each member is positioned in proper relation so that it will come into position with a held body on the turret only when that body is held by a cup corresponding to the chute into which the body is to be discharged. This relation is clearly discernible from Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The stripper cups |0| are vacuumized at the proper time by way of channels (Fig. 2) the outer ends of which come into register with curved vacuum grooves I2 formed in stationary valve discs H3 mounted on the cross shafts |03 and secured to one of each pair of the shaft bearings |01. The vacuum grooves are formed with ports ||4 which communicate with pipes ||5 (Fig. 1) leading into the vacuum pipe line 1|. 'I'here is one of these valve discs' foreach stripper member.

Hence, for example, when a' vacuum cup 52 of the number 2 series in each group brings its held can body A into position adjacent the entrance end ofthe chute number 2, the stripper cup |0| located at that chute comes .into'engagement with the body on the side opposite to that engaged by the cups 52, as best shown in Fig. 3. At this time the vacuum channel in the stripper member |02 comes into communication with the vacuum groove ||2 in the valve disc I3 and as a result a vacuum is created in the stripper cup. The cup thus gripsfthe body and .pulls it away from its holding suction cup 52.

yTo facilitatel the transfer of the body from a vacuum cup52 toa strippercup |0| a blast of compressed fair is forced into the. cup 52y to break.,v the vacuum therein and to-force the released bodyaway from the cup and into more positive engagement with-the stripper cup. This blast of compressed air is forced through the cup channels 15 inthe turret when their ports 16 come into regis- It is thought 4that the-invention and manyor itsattendant advantages wlllbe understood from the foregoing description, and it lwill be apparent that various changes may be madein the form, construction and arrangement ofthe parts without departing from the spiritiand scope of the invention or sacricing allof its material advantages.. the form hereinbefore described bein merely a preferred embodiment thereof. I claim: v

l. In a machine for making can bodies from tubing that hasl been attened intovdouble wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of cuttingmeans for severing the flattened .tubing into can body lengths to produce partially formed` can bodies,- means for receiving said cut-off partially formed can bodies and for carrying them along a path oi travel, distributing devices adjacent said path of travel for engaging and holding a cut-ofi can body to strip it from said receiving means, and means for moving a distributing device into stripping position only when a cut-off can body is located in a predetermined position on said receiving means for selectively diverting the partially formed can bodies into different places of deposit for further operations incidental to the manufacture o1' such can bodies,

2. In a machine ,for making can bodies from tubing that has been attened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of feeding devices for advancing theilattened tubing continuously in a straight line of travel, cutting means adjacent said feeding devices for cutting the moving flattened tube as it advances into fiat can body lengths to produce partially formed can bodies,

means Vfor receiving said ilat cut-off partially;

formed can bodies and for carrying them along a path of traveliinI a flat condition, and distrib.-

ter withI respective airgrooves |2|, |22, |23, in v the valve plate 6I or withsimilar grooves |24, |25 in the valve plate 62 as the case may be. These air grooves are also arcuate in form and are dis-` posed.A adjacent the ends of the vacuum grooves.

TheA air-.grooves maybe said toj constitute sep- ,i aratedmcontinuations` ci thevrespective vacuum grooves 65, 56, 61, B1, 9|..` `The airgroovesare in communication jwith pipes ,5| 2l which lead from any suitable source of compressed air.

When a body A has been `picked up a shortcurved pathof travel by the rotationot the stripper member.|02 and then is droppedinto ,6 the periphery of said carrier turret and adjacent said`path of travelI for e'ng'agingand holding al by a stripper cup |0| from a vacuum cup 52, it is ycarried throughV the .adjacent chute 55. The vacuumchannel |I|` y gaged by the bodyas it movesalong itsgcircular` path of travel and into-position over the entrance;`

end of the chute. -This engagement positively knocks the body` off `the stripper cup |0| in case it hasany tendency toclingiast.. l -f l uting devices adjacent said pathof. travel for selectively diverting the partially formed can bodies into diiIerent places of deposit for further operations incidental to the manufacture of suchcan bodies, ,said distributing devices having meansthereon-for engaging and removing the severed..

can bodies from said receiving means. l

3. In a machine fory making can bodies from tubing that has been ffiattened into double `wall ribbon form for kconvenience in shipment andstorage, the combination of'cutting means for.

severing the 'ilattened tubing' into Vycan body lengths to produce partially formed canbodies, a rotatable carrier turret for receiving saidcut-V off partially iormed can v`bodies and vfor guiding them along a path oftravel', means onsaid turret for holding the partially formed can bodies in place whilemoving with said turret, distributingv devices arranged inspacd positions` along cutoi canbody to strip the latter irorn said turret, and means fior making said distributing de- ,Y

vices progressively Zeiective so that all distribut-,Q ing devices engage and hold vsaid cut-,oil can bodies inthe order .of their:arrangementv on said'turret for selectively, diverting the, `guided partially formed'can bodies from said turret and for shifting thein into diierentplaces of deposit. for further operations incidental to the manufacture ot,y

such can bodies.

4. ma 4machine "in/making" cantdies fram' i l tubing that has ,been flattened intodouble .walt` Iribbon form for conveniencelll Shipment and storage, the combination of feeding devices for advancing the flattened tubing continuously, ro-

nism with said advancing tubing, cut-off bladesspaced at intervals around said turret for cooperation with said cutting means for severing the flattened tubing into can body lengths to produce partially formed can bodies, means on said turret and disposed between said cut-off blades for holding the cut-off partially formed can bodies in place while moving with said turret, and distributing devices adjacent the periphery of' said turret having means thereon for positively engaging and selectively stripping'the partially formed can bodies from said turret and for shifting them into different places of deposit for further operations incidental to the manufacture of such can bodies.

5. In a machine for making can bodies from tubing that has'been flattened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of feeding devices for y advancing the flattened tubing continuously, rotary cutting means atacent said feeding devices for cutting into can body lengths,the moving flattened tube as it advances to produce partially formed can bodies, a rotatable turret adjacent said cutting means, cut-off blades spaced at intervals around said turret for cooperation with said cutting means for severing the flattened tubing, suction cups on said turret and disposed between said cut-off blades for holding th cutoff partially formed can bodies in place while moving with said turret, valve means communicating with a source of vacuum and with said suction cups during a portion of their travel with said turret for attracting the partially formed can bodies to said suction cups, distributing devices disposed adjacent the periphery of said turret, and means carried 7by said distributing devices for selectively removing the partially formed can bodies from said suction cups and for shifting the can bodies into different places of deposit for further operations incidental to the manufacture of such can bodies.

6. In a machine for making can bodies from -tubing that has been flattened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage. the combinationk of feeding devices for advancing the flattened tubing continuously, rotary cutting means adjacent said feeding devices for cutting the moving flattened tube as it advances into can body lengths to produce partially formed can bodies, a rotatable turret adjacent said cutting means, cut-off blades spaced at intervals around said turret for cooperation with said cutting means for severing the flattened tubing, suction cups on said turret and disposed between said cut-oi blades for holding the cut-off partially formed can bodies in place while moving with said turret, valve means communicating with a source of vacuum and with said suction cups during a portion of their travel with said turret for attracting -the partially formed can bodies to said suction cups, distributing devices adjacent the periphery of said turret for selectively removing the partially formed can bodies from said turret and for shifting them into different places of deposit for further operations incidental to the manufacture of such can bodies, and means for introducing compressed air into said suction cups when they come adjacent said distributing devices to facilitate removal of the partially formed can bodies from said turret.

7. In a machine for making can bodies from tubing that has been flattened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of cutting means for severing the flattened tubing into can body lengths to'produce partially formed can bodies, a rotatable carrier turret for receiving said cu-toff partially formed can bodies and for carrying them around a curved path of travel, a distributing member disposed adjacent the periphery of said carrier turret and rotatable in time with said carrier turret, and means on said distributing member for positively engaging and stripping the partially formed can bodies from said carrier turret to distribute them to a place of deposit for further operations as an incident in the manufacture of such can bodies.

8. In a machine for making can bodies from tubing 'that has been flattened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of cutting means for severing the flattened tubing into can body lengths to produce partially formed can bodies, a rotatable carrier turret for receiving said cutoff partially formed can bodies and for carrying them around a curved path of travel, a. distributing member disposed adjacent the periphery of said carrier turret and rotatable in time with said carrier turret, a suction cup on said distributing member for positively engaging and removing the partially formed can 'bodies from said carrier turret to distribute them to a place of deposit for further operations as an incident in the manufacture of such can bodies, and valve means communicating with a source of vacuum and with said suction cup for attracting the partially formed can bodies from the carrier turret to the suction cup.

9. In a machine for making can bodies from tubing that has been flattened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of cutting means for severing the flattened tubing into can body lengths to produce partially formed can bodies, a rotatable carrier turret located adjacent said cutting means, suction cups carried on said turret and extending beyond its periphery for holding said flattened tubing during the cutting of and for receiving said cut-off partially (formed can bodies for carrying the same along a curved path of travel. a plurality of distributing members disposed adjacent the periphery of said carrier turret and rotatable in time therewith, a suction cup on each of said distributing members for engaging a can Ibody on its surface opposite to the surface held by said turret suction cup for stripping the body from the turret cup thus selectively distributing said can bodies to a plurality of different places of deposit for further operations incidental to the manufacture of such can bodies, and valve means communicating with a source of vacuum and with each of said suction cups to facilitate removal of the partially formed can bodies from said carrier turret.

10. In a machine for making can bodies from tubing that has been flattened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of cutting means for severing the flattened tubing into can body lengths to produce partially formed can bodies. a rotatable carrier turret for receiving said cut-on' partially formed can bodies and for carrying them around a curved path oi travel, a distributing member disposed adjacent the periphery of said carrier turret and rotatable in time with said carrier turret, a suction cup on said distributing member for engaging and removing the partially formed can bodies from said carrier turret to distribute them to a. place of deposit for further operations as an incident in the manufacture of such can bodies, stripper means disposed adjacent said distributing member for stripping the removed partially formed can bodies from said suction cup, and means for receiving and for guiding the stripped-olf can bodies to their place of deposit.

11. In a machine for making can bodies from tubing that has been flattened into double wall ribbon form for convenience in shipment and storage, the combination of cutting means for severing the attened tubing into can body length to produce partially formed can bodies, a rotatable turret located adjacent said cutting means, a plurality of separated localities of deposit arranged around the periphery of said turret, suction cups carried by said turret with one of said cups corresponding to each of said localities of deposit, and distributing devices located adjacent each of said localities, said distributing devices each having means thereon for positively engaging and removing a partially formed can body from a said suction cup, and means for operating each of said distributing devices to insure only the removal of a partially formed can body from the said corresponding suction cup without affecting any can bodies held by suction cups not corresponding to a particular distributing device, whereby each can body is delivered to a selected predetermined locality of deposit. IVAN D. THORNBURGH.

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