# US 11,440,078 B2 · Drive assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,078 B2 - Document ID: US11440078B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/021,401 - Filed: 2020-09-15 - Published: 2022-03-17 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-09-15 - Assignees: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC - Applicants: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC - Inventors: Richard James Edward Mercer; Ian Kenneth Scholey; Russell Bauer; Daniel A. Jansen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440078B2 ## CPC - B21D 51/2638: {Necking} - B21D 51/2692: {Manipulating, e.g. feeding and positioning devices; Control systems} - F16H 1/22: with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts - 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) - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A drive assembly for a necker machine having a frame assembly and a plurality of processing stations includes: a plurality of drive sub-modules. Each drive sub-module includes: a primary input shaft, a first primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft, and a second primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft. For a first drive sub-module: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, a main drive assembly motor, and the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, an associated first drive shaft of a first processing station. For a second drive sub-module: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second primary output shaft of the first drive sub-module, and the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, an associated first drive shaft of a second processing station. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive assembly for a necker machine having a frame assembly and a plurality of processing stations, each processing station having a number of drive shafts, said drive assembly comprising: a plurality of primary drive sub-modules, each primary drive sub-module comprising: a primary input shaft; a first primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft; and a second primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft; wherein for a first primary drive sub-module of the plurality of primary drive sub-modules: the primary input shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and driven by, a main drive assembly motor, and the first primary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, an associated first drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a first processing station of the number of processing stations, wherein for a second primary drive sub-module of the plurality of primary drive sub-modules: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second primary output shaft of the first primary drive sub-module, and the first primary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, an associated first drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a second processing station of the number of processing stations, wherein at least one primary drive sub-module includes a primary clutch unit structured to selectively operatively couple the first primary output shaft to the associated first drive shaft, and wherein the primary clutch unit is selectively moveably among: a first positioning wherein the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and thus able to drive, the associated first drive shaft; and a second positioning wherein the first primary output shaft is disengaged from, and thus not able to drive, the associated first drive shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary drive modules comprises at least three primary drive sub-modules, and wherein for a third primary drive sub-module of the plurality of primary drive sub-modules: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second primary output shaft of the second primary drive sub-module, and the first primary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, one drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a third processing station of the number of processing stations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein for each primary drive sub-module, the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to the primary input shaft via a primary right-angle gearbox. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one primary drive sub-module further includes a position sensing system structured to sense and provide an indication of the relative rotational positioning of the first primary output shaft and the associated first drive shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one primary drive sub-module further includes a primary brake unit structured to selectively brake at least one of the primary input shaft, the first primary output shaft, or the second primary output shaft. ### Claim 6 A drive assembly for a necker machine having a frame assembly and a plurality of processing stations, each processing station having a number of drive shafts, said drive assembly comprising: a plurality of primary drive sub-modules, each primary drive sub-module comprising: a primary input shaft; a first primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft; and a second primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft; and a plurality of secondary drive sub-modules, each secondary drive sub-module comprising: a secondary input shaft; a first secondary output shaft operatively coupled to the secondary input shaft; and a second secondary output shaft operatively coupled to the secondary input shaft, wherein for a first primary drive sub-module of the plurality of primary drive sub-modules: the primary input shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and driven by, a main drive assembly motor, and the first primary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, an associated first drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a first processing station of the number of processing stations, wherein for a second primary drive sub-module of the plurality of primary drive sub-modules: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second primary output shaft of the first primary drive sub-module, and the first primary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, an associated first drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a second processing station of the number of processing stations, wherein for a first secondary drive sub-module of the plurality of secondary drive sub-modules: the secondary input shaft is structured to be coupled to, and driven by, the main drive assembly motor, and the first secondary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, a second drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of the first processing station, and wherein for a second secondary drive sub-module of the plurality of secondary drive sub-modules: the secondary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second secondary output shaft of the first secondary drive sub-module, and the first secondary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, a second drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of the second processing station. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drive assembly of claim 6, further comprising a main gearbox having a main input shaft, a first main output shaft operatively coupled to the main input shaft, and a second main output shaft operatively coupled to the main input shaft, wherein the main input shaft of the main gearbox is structured to be operatively coupled to, and driven by, the main drive assembly motor, wherein the primary input shaft of the first primary drive sub-module is operatively coupled to, and driven by the first main output shaft of the main gearbox, and wherein the secondary input shaft of the first secondary drive sub-module is operatively coupled to, and driven by the second main output shaft of the main gearbox. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drive assembly of claim 7, further comprising: the main drive assembly motor operatively coupled to the main input shaft of the main gearbox; a primary motor operatively coupled to the second primary output shaft of the second primary drive sub-module; and a secondary motor operatively coupled to the second secondary output shaft of the second secondary drive sub-module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The drive assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of secondary drive modules comprises at least three secondary drive sub-modules, and wherein for a third secondary drive sub-module of the plurality of secondary drive sub-modules: the secondary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second secondary output shaft of the second secondary drive sub-module, and the first secondary output shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and drive, a second drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a third processing station of the number of processing stations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The drive assembly of claim 6, wherein for each secondary drive sub-module, the first secondary output shaft is operatively coupled to the secondary input shaft via a secondary right-angle gearbox. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The drive assembly of claim 6, wherein for each secondary drive sub-module, the first secondary output shaft is selectively operatively coupled to the secondary input shaft via a secondary clutch unit, and wherein the secondary clutch unit is selectively moveably among: a first positioning wherein the first secondary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the secondary input shaft, and a second positioning wherein the first secondary output shaft is disengaged from, and not driven by, the secondary input shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drive assembly of claim 11, wherein for each secondary drive sub-module, the second secondary output shaft is selectively operatively coupled to the secondary input shaft via a secondary brake unit. ### Claim 13 A necker machine comprising: a frame assembly; a plurality of processing stations, each processing station having a number of drive shafts, and a drive assembly comprising: a plurality of primary drive sub-modules, each primary drive sub-module comprising: a primary input shaft; a first primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft; and a second primary output shaft operatively coupled to the primary input shaft; and a plurality of secondary drive sub-modules, each secondary drive sub-module comprising: a secondary input shaft; a first secondary output shaft operatively coupled to, and driven by, the secondary input shaft; and a second secondary output shaft operatively coupled to, and driven by, the secondary input shaft, wherein for a first primary drive sub-module of the plurality of primary drive sub-modules: the primary input shaft is structured to be operatively coupled to, and driven by, a main drive assembly motor, and the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, a first drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a first processing station of the number of processing stations, and wherein for a second primary drive sub-module of the plurality of primary drive sub-modules: the primary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second primary output shaft of the first primary drive sub-module, and the first primary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, a first drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of a second processing station of the number of processing stations, wherein for a first secondary drive sub-module of the plurality of secondary drive sub-modules: the secondary input shaft is structured to be coupled to, and driven by, the main drive assembly motor, and the first secondary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, a second drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of the first processing station, and wherein for a second secondary drive sub-module of the plurality of secondary drive sub-modules: the secondary input shaft is operatively coupled to, and driven by, the second secondary output shaft of the first secondary drive sub-module, and the first secondary output shaft is operatively coupled to, and drives, a second drive shaft of the number of drive shafts of the second processing station. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The necker machine of claim 13, further comprising a main gearbox having a main input shaft, a first main output shaft operatively coupled to the main input shaft, and a second main output shaft operatively coupled to the main input shaft, wherein the main input shaft of the main gearbox is structured to be operatively coupled to, and driven by, the main drive assembly motor, wherein the primary input shaft of the first primary drive sub-module is operatively coupled to, and driven by the first main output shaft of the main gearbox, and wherein the secondary input shaft of the first secondary drive sub-module is operatively coupled to, and driven by the second main output shaft of the main gearbox. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The necker machine of claim 14, further comprising: the main drive assembly motor operatively coupled to the main input shaft of the main gearbox; a primary motor operatively coupled to the second primary output shaft of the second primary drive sub-module; and a secondary motor operatively coupled to the second secondary output shaft of the second secondary drive sub-module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The necker machine of claim 13, wherein: the first drive shaft of the first processing station drives a processing apparatus of the first processing station; the second drive shaft of the first processing station drives a transfer apparatus of the first processing station; the first drive shaft of the second processing station drives a necking apparatus of the second processing station; and the second drive shaft of the second processing station drives a transfer apparatus of the second processing station.