# US 2019/0168283 A1 · Shell system locating assembly for shells

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- Number: US 2019/0168283 A1
- Document ID: US20190168283A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/270,629
- Filed: 2019-02-08
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-01
- Assignees: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
- Applicants: Stolle Machinery Company, LLC
- Inventors: Aaron Emmanuel Carstens; James Ardel McClung; Paul L. Ripple; Edward E. Donaldson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168283A1

## CPC

- B21D 43/12: by chains or belts {(B21D43/145 takes precedence)}
- B21D 19/12: Edge-curling
- B21D 43/003: {Positioning devices (B21D28/04 and B21D28/265 take precedence; stops B21D43/26; centering moving strips B21D43/023)}
- B21D 43/05: specially adapted for multi-stage presses {(B21D43/145 takes precedence)}
- B21D 51/2615: {Edge treatment of cans or tins}
- B21D 51/383: {scoring lines, tear strips or pulling tabs}
- B21D 51/44: Making closures, e.g. caps (folded of thin metal foils in the way of making paper caps B31D5/00; making closures in conjunction with applying same B67B)
- B21D 51/446: {Feeding or removal of material}
- B21D 28/04: Centering the work; Positioning the tools
- B21D 51/443: {easily removable closures, e.g. by means of tear strips}
- 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 alignment assembly for a press assembly is provided. The alignment assembly includes a number of alignment elements. The alignment elements include a number of moving alignment elements. The moving alignment elements are coupled to an upper tooling assembly that moves between a first and second position. As the upper tooling assembly moves, the moving alignment elements move between a first position and a second position corresponding to the upper tooling assembly first position and a second position. The moving alignment elements are structured to move the shell from the initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position. Thus, as the upper tooling assembly moves from the first position to the second position, the moving alignment elements contact a shell and move the shell from an initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An alignment assembly for a press assembly, said press assembly including a transfer belt and a tooling assembly, said tooling assembly including a upper tooling assembly and a lower tooling assembly, said upper tooling assembly moving between a first position, wherein said upper tooling assembly is spaced from said lower tooling assembly, and a second position, wherein said upper tooling assembly is immediately adjacent said lower tooling assembly, said transfer belt including a number of apertures, each said aperture generally corresponding to a shell, said transfer belt positioning said shells in an initial alignment position said alignment assembly comprising:
a number of moving alignment elements;
said moving alignment elements coupled to said upper tooling; and
wherein said moving alignment elements are structured to move said shell from said initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein each said shell includes a first axis and a second axis, wherein each said shell first axis and each said shell second axis are generally perpendicular to each other, and wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a first alignment element and a second alignment element; and
wherein said first alignment element and said second alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of one of said shell first axis or said shell second axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The alignment assembly of claim 2 wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a third alignment element and a fourth alignment element; and
wherein said third alignment element and said fourth alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of one of said shell first axis or said shell second axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein each said shell is generally planar and has a generally rectangular shape and wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a first alignment element, a second alignment element, a third alignment element and a fourth alignment element;
said first alignment element and said second alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of said shell first axis; and
said third alignment element and said fourth alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of said shell second axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The alignment assembly of claim 4 wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a fifth alignment element and a sixth alignment element;
said third alignment element and said fifth alignment element disposed in an anti-twist configuration; and
said fourth alignment element and said sixth alignment element disposed in an anti-twist configuration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The alignment assembly of claim 1 wherein:
each said moving alignment element includes an elongated body with a first end and a second end; and
wherein each said moving alignment element body second end includes an angled surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The alignment assembly of claim 6 wherein when a shell is in said initial alignment position, at least one moving alignment element body second end angled surface is disposed directly above the perimeter of the shell.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The alignment assembly of claim 6 wherein said upper tooling assembly includes an alignment surface structured to engage a shell and to move said shell from said intermediate alignment position to said final alignment position, said upper tooling assembly alignment surface disposed at a first elevation, and wherein:
each said moving alignment element body second end angled surface includes a lower end disposed at a second elevation, and, an upper end disposed at a third elevation; and
wherein said third elevation generally corresponds to said first elevation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The alignment assembly of claim 6 wherein:
said number of alignment elements include a number of alignment recesses disposed about the perimeter of each said belt aperture; and
each said alignment recess disposed in the path of a moving alignment element when said shell is in said initial alignment position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The alignment assembly of claim 6 wherein:
said number of alignment elements include a number of alignment cavities in said lower tooling assembly;
each said alignment cavity disposed in the path of a moving alignment element; and
wherein, when said upper tooling assembly is in said second position, each said moving alignment element is disposed in an associated alignment cavity.

### Claim 11

A press assembly comprising:
a transfer belt;
a tooling assembly;
an alignment assembly;
said tooling assembly including a upper tooling assembly and a lower tooling assembly;
said upper tooling assembly moving between a first position, wherein said upper tooling assembly is spaced from said lower tooling assembly, and a second position, wherein said upper tooling assembly is immediately adjacent said lower tooling assembly;
said transfer belt including a number of apertures, said transfer belt apertures generally corresponding to a shell;
said transfer belt movably disposed between said upper tooling assembly and said lower tooling assembly;
said transfer belt positioning said shells in an initial alignment position when said transfer belt is not moving;
said alignment assembly including a number of moving alignment elements;
said moving alignment elements coupled to said upper tooling assembly;
wherein said moving alignment elements are structured to move said shell from said initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position; and
wherein, as said upper tooling assembly moves from said first position to said second position, said moving alignment elements contact a shell and move said shell from said initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position; and
said upper tooling assembly positioning said shells in an final alignment position as said upper tooling assembly moves from said first position to said second position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The press assembly of claim 11 wherein each said shell includes a first axis and a second axis, wherein each said shell first axis and each said shell second axis are generally perpendicular to each other, and wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a first alignment element and a second alignment element; and
wherein said first alignment element and said second alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of one of said shell first axis or said shell second axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The press assembly of claim 12 wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a third alignment element and a fourth alignment element; and
wherein said third alignment element and said fourth alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of one of said shell first axis or said shell second axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The press assembly of claim 11 wherein each said shell is generally planar and has a generally rectangular shape and wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a first alignment element, a second alignment element, a third alignment element and a fourth alignment element; and
said third alignment element and said fourth alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of said shell second axis.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The press assembly of claim 14 wherein:
said number of alignment elements includes a fifth alignment element and a sixth alignment element;
said fifth alignment element and said sixth alignment element are disposed generally opposite each other and on opposite sides of said shell second axis;
said third alignment element and said fifth alignment element disposed in an anti-twist configuration; and
said fourth alignment element and said sixth alignment element disposed in an anti-twist configuration.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The press assembly of claim 11 wherein:
each said moving alignment element includes an elongated body with a first end and a second end; and
wherein each said moving alignment element body second end includes an angled surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The press assembly of claim 16 wherein when a shell is in said initial alignment position, at least one moving alignment element body second end angled surface is disposed directly above the perimeter of the shell.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The press assembly of claim 16 wherein said upper tooling assembly includes an alignment surface structured to engage a shell and to move said shell from said intermediate alignment position to said final alignment position, said upper tooling assembly alignment surface disposed at a first elevation, and wherein:
each said moving alignment element body second end angled surface includes a lower end disposed at a second elevation, and, an upper end disposed at a third elevation; and
wherein said third elevation generally corresponds to said first elevation.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The press assembly of claim 16 wherein:
said number of alignment elements include a number of alignment recesses disposed about the perimeter of each said belt aperture; and
each said alignment recess disposed in the path of a moving alignment element when said shell is in said initial alignment position.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The press assembly of claim 16 wherein:
said number of alignment elements include a number of alignment cavities in said lower tooling assembly;
each said alignment cavity disposed in the path of a moving alignment element; and
wherein, when said upper tooling assembly is in said second position, each said moving alignment element is disposed in an associated alignment cavity.