Apparatus for mechanically treating metal components

A machine for mechanically treating components, comprising a plurality of work stations arranged in a first circle, transfer mechanism means for advancing each of the components from one work station to at least another station along said first circle, at least one tool provided at each work station respectively, each tool having a working part which is constrained to move substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the directions in which components are supplied to and collected from the work station, means for operating each tool while said component is at its work station and for operating all of said tools consecutively, the work stations being symmetrically disposed on the first circle, and the transfer mechansim means including a carrier member, a plurality of pocket members carried by said carrier member, each pocket member adapted to hold a component for transporting it as the carrier member moves, said carrier member having a center, the centers of the pocket members being symmetrically disposed along a second circular path and support means supporting the carrier member so that the center of the second circle is spaced from the center of the first circle and so that the carrier member is movable about the center of the first circle without rotating about the center of the second circle, whereby the center of each pocket member moves in a circle passing through two adjacent stations.

A machine for mechanically treating components, comprising a plurality of work stations arranged in a circular path, transfer mechanism means for advancing each of the components from one work station to at least another station along said circular path, at least one tool provided at each work station each tool having a working part which is constrained to move substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the directions in which components are supplied to and collected from the work station, means for operating each tool while said component is at its work station and for operating all of said tools consecutively, the work stations being symmetrically disposed on a first circle defining said circular path, and the transfer mechanism including a first gear having its pitch circle equal in diameter to said first circle and having the center of said first circle on its central axis, and at least one turret assembly comprising first, second and third turrets each defining a plurality of pockets for holding components, each pocket having a center and the centers of the pockets of the three turrets being on first, second and third turret circles respectively, each turret including a gear having its pitch circle equal in diameter to the respective turret circle and having the center of the turret circle on its central axis, the gears of the first and second turrets being in meshing engagement with the gear of the third turret, the transfer mechanism further including support means by which the turret assembly is supported so that the gears of the first and second turrets are in meshing engagement with said first gear and the turret assembly is rotatable about the center of said first circle, as the turrets rotate, the pockets of the first and second turrets registering successively with said stations and with the pockets of the third turret, whereby a component can be collected from a first one of the stations py said first turret, transferred to the second turret by way of said third turret, and deposited a second one of the stations by said second turret;

• and means for causing the support means to rotate about the center of said first circle, which means includes a prime mover having an output shaft, a second gear secured to the support means and a speed reduction mechanism effecting driving connection between said second output shaft and said gear.

A machine for mechanically treating metallic components, such as one-piece cans having a body and a bottom, the machine having a frame to which is mounted a plurality of working stations each of the working station having a first respective tool coaxially arranged with respect to a second respective tool, said first and second respective tools being arranged on two circular paths and each of the respective second tools being located on a first end of a ram member, the ram member being slidably supported in a guiding means, a second end of the ram member opposite to said first end being operatively connected to an actuating means, a transfer mechanism being provided in operative relation to said first and second respective tools, the transfer mechanism having transfer elements guided so that in operation they move from one working station to another working station, each of said transfer elements having means for seizing a workpiece at one working station and depositing said workpiece at the other working station, in which the improvement comprises:

• the first and second respective tools being arranged on two circular paths defined by the periphery of an upright circular cylinder, said first respective tools being rigidly and immovably fastened to said frame, said actuating means being a cylindrical rotary cam member with a substantially vertical central axis, said cam member being rotatably supported and coupled to a driving means by at least one transmission member, said transfer means being driven in synchronism with the rotary motion of said cam member, at least one tool being actuated and at least one workpiece being transferred from one working station to another working station during each rotation of said cam member.

A machine for mechanically treating components, particularly metallic hollow members having a body and a bottom, the machine having a stationary frame (10) bearing a plurality of work stations (T1, T2 . . . ) each of which has a tool pair comprising a first fixed tool (13) coaxial with a movable second tool (12), said pairs of first and second tools (13, 12) being arranged on two coaxial circular paths the first tool (13) of each pair on a bolster, the second tool (12) of each on one end of a ram member (25) having a tool bearing end and an actuated end, the ram member (25) being slidably supported in guiding means (26), the actuated end of said ram member (25) connected to cylindrical actuating cam means whose free end is in contact with the actuated ram member end, the improvement wherein:

• (a) at least one pair of said tools is different from another pair;
• (b) said tool bolster is immovable;
• (c) said cam is rotatable by driving means;
• and
• (d) transfer means associated with said machine whereby each component is treated by at least two different pairs of tools.

A machine for mechanically treating components, comprising a plurality of work stations arranged on a circular path, a transfer mechanism for advancing the components from one work station to at least another work station, at least one tool provided at each work station, each tool having a working part which is constrained to move perpendicularly to the plane of directions in which components enter and leave the work station, and means for operating each tool while a component is at the work station and for operating all of said tools consecutively, said transfer mechanism having a turret assembly comprising a feed-in turret, an extract turret and at least one transfer turret, each of said turrets defining a plurality of pockets for receiving components, each turret being provided with a gear, the gears of said feed-in and said extract turret being in meshing engagement with the gear of said transfer turret and with a circular gear guiding said turret assembly along said circular path, so that the turret assembly is rotatable on said circular gear as said turrets rotate, the pockets of said feed-in and extract turrets registering successively with said work stations and with the pockets of said transfer turret, means outside said turret assembly for supplying a component thereto, wherein said component is collected from said supply means by said transfer turret, transferred to said feed-in turret and from the feed-in turret to a first work station, collected by said extract turret from said first work station and transferred via said transfer turret to a point outside the turret assembly.