Ram support assembly for a can bodymaker and can bodymaker including same

A ram assembly for a can bodymaker, the ram assembly comprising:

• 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 ram support assembly comprising:
• a yolk body coupled to the proximal end of the ram body such that the ram body is supported by the yolk body and extends from a first side of the yolk body in a cantilevered manner, the yolk body structured to be coupled to, and driven by, an operating mechanism of the can bodymaker via a connection arrangement coupled to a second side of the yolk body opposite the first side;
• and
• a slide arrangement coupled to the yolk body and structured to be coupled to a frame of the can bodymaker such that the yolk body can move only linearly with respect to the frame, the slide arrangement comprising:
• a number of carriage members, each carriage member coupled to the yolk body, and
• a number of rails, at least a portion of each rail positioned directly below a respective portion of the yolk body when the ram support assembly is in use in the can bodymaker,
• wherein each rail of the number of rails has at least one carriage member of the number of carriage members slidingly engaged therewith.

A can bodymaker comprising:

• a frame;
• an operating mechanism coupled to the frame;
• and
• a ram assembly comprising:
• 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 ram support assembly comprising:
• a yolk body coupled to the proximal end of the ram body such that the ram body is supported by the yolk body and extends from a first side of the yolk body in a cantilevered manner, the yolk body coupled to and driven by the operating mechanism via a connection arrangement coupled to a second side of the yolk body opposite the first side;
• and
• a slide arrangement coupled to the yolk body and to the frame such that the yolk body can move only linearly with respect to the frame, the slide arrangement comprising:
• a number of carriage members, each carriage member coupled to the yolk body, and
• a number of rails, at least a portion of each rail positioned directly below a respective portion of the yolk body when the ram support assembly is in use in the can bodymaker,
• wherein each rail of the number of rails has at least one carriage member of the number of carriage members slidingly engaged therewith.