# US 10,441,992 B2 · Can bottom former assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,992 B2 - Document ID: US10441992B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/411,822 - Filed: 2017-01-20 - Published: 2018-07-26 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-20 - Assignees: Pride Engineering, LLC - Applicants: Pride Engineering, LLC - Inventors: Rick Swedberg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441992B2 ## CPC - B21D 51/26: cans or tins; Closing same in a permanent manner (making outlet arrangements B21D51/38; welding or soldering B23K) - B21D 22/283: {with ram and dies aligning means} - B21D 22/30: to finish articles formed by deep-drawing - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) ## Abstract An actuator assembly for dynamically or manually positioning a dome die and clamp ring of a can bottom former assembly. The actuator assembly is also usable for other purposes where accurate and repeatable adjustments in position are needed. The actuator assembly may include an anchor member and at least one torsion rod having a torque end and an actuation end, with 2 bends at or near the actuation end, such that a torque applied to the torque end creates a substantially linear actuation force at or near the actuation end of the torsion rod. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An actuator assembly operated by torque, comprising: an actuation member having a first end, a second end, and an axis, the first end having a fixed position relative to a housing, the actuation member having a length and being bendable along its length; an anchor member spaced apart from the first end of the actuation member; and at least one torsion rod having a torque end and an actuation end, the at least one torsion rod further comprising a first bend and a second bend between the torque end and the actuation end, wherein the actuation end is pivotally connected to the anchor member and wherein the at least one torsion rod is pivotally coupled to the actuation member proximate the first bend, between the first bend and the torque end; wherein a torque applied to the at least one torsion rod proximate to the torque end creates an actuation force having a translational component proximate the first bend of the at least one torsion rod; and wherein the actuation force displaces the second end of the actuation member in a direction substantially normal to the axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuation end of the at least one torsion rod is positionally anchored but allowed to rotate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The actuator assembly of claim 2, further comprising a torsion rod linkage connected to the torque end of the at least one torsion rod to apply the torque. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The actuator assembly of claim 3, wherein the first bend and the second bend are configured to create the translational component of force due to a distance from the center of rotation of the actuation end and the first bend. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one torsion rod comprises at least a first torsion rod and a second torsion rod, the first and second torsion rods being configured to create substantially equal translational forces on the actuation member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The actuator assembly of claim 5, wherein the substantially equal translational forces are in substantially the same direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The actuator assembly of claim 6, wherein a rotational force component created by the first torsion rod is substantially counteracted by a rotational force component created by the second torsion rod. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The actuator assembly of claim 7, wherein torque is applied to the first and second torsion rods in opposite directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one torsion rod comprises at least a first torsion rod and a second torsion rod, the first and second torsion rod being configured to create translational forces on the actuation member, the translational forces having different directions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The actuator assembly of claim 9, wherein the translational forces are substantially perpendicular to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one torsion rod comprises a first pair of torsion rods and a second pair of torsion rods, and wherein the first pair of torsion rods comprises a first torsion rod and a second torsion rod, the first and second torsion rods being configured to create substantially equal translational forces on the actuation member in substantially the same direction, and wherein the second pair of torsion rods comprises a third torsion rod and a fourth torsion rod, the third and fourth torsion rods being configured to create substantially equal translational forces on the actuation member in substantially the same direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The actuator assembly of claim 11, wherein a rotational force component created by the first torsion rod is substantially counteracted by a rotational force component created by the second torsion rod, and wherein a rotational force component created by the third torsion rod is substantially counteracted by a rotational force component created by the fourth torsion rod, wherein the resulting translational forces of one or both torsion rod pairs move the actuation member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The actuator assembly of claim 12, wherein torque is applied to the first and second torsion rods in opposite directions by a first cross linkage shuttle, and wherein torque is applied to the third and fourth torsion rods in opposite directions by a second cross linkage shuttle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The actuator assembly of claim 13, wherein the first cross linkage shuttle is pivotally connected to the first and second torsion rods by first torsional linkages, and wherein the second cross linkage shuttle is pivotally connected to the third and fourth torsion rods by second torsional linkages. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The actuator assembly of claim 14, wherein the first cross linkage shuttle applies torque as a result of being moved by a first motion actuator, and wherein the second cross linkage shuttle applies torque as a result of being moved by a second motion actuator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The actuator assembly of claim 15, wherein the first and second motion actuators are manually operated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The actuator assembly of claim 14, wherein the first and second motion actuators are power operated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The actuator assembly of claim 17, further comprising an array of strain sensors configured to measure force on the actuation member, wherein a signal from the array of strain sensors is used to position the actuation member by driving at least one of the motion actuators. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second motion actuators are electrically powered. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second motion actuators are pneumatic. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein the first and second motion actuators are hydraulic. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The actuator assembly of claim 18, wherein the actuation member comprises a support tube, wherein movement of the support tube is used to position a dome die and a clamp ring of a can bottom former assembly. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one strain sensor configured to measure force on the actuation member, wherein a signal from the at least one strain sensor is used to position the actuation member. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one strain sensor configured to measure force on the actuation member, wherein a signal from the at least one strain sensor is used in a feedback loop to position the actuation member. ### Claim 25 An actuator assembly operated by torque, comprising: an anchor member; and at least four torsion rods, each torsion rod having a torque end and an actuation end and further comprising a first bend and a second bend between the torque end and the actuation end, wherein the torque ends of the at least four torsion rods are positionally anchored but allowed to rotate, and wherein the actuation ends are pivotally connected to the anchor member, wherein a torque applied to each torsion rod at the torque end creates an actuation force having a translational component proximate the first bend of each torsion rod; and wherein the at least four torsion rods comprise a first pair of torsion rods and a second pair of torsion rods, and wherein the first pair of torsion rods comprises a first torsion rod and a second torsion rod, the first and second torsion rods being configured to create substantially equal translational forces on the actuation member in substantially a first direction, and wherein the second pair of torsion rods comprises a third torsion rod and a fourth torsion rod, the third and fourth torsion rods being configured to create substantially equal translational forces on the actuation member in substantially a second direction. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The actuator assembly of claim 25, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The actuator assembly of claim 26, further comprising an array of strain sensors configured to measure force on the actuation member, wherein a signal from the array of strain sensors is used to position the actuation member by actuating the torsion rods. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The actuator assembly of claim 27, wherein the actuation member comprises a support tube, wherein movement of the support tube is used to position a dome die and a clamp ring of a can bottom former assembly.