Cup feeding mechanism
AssigneeNational Can Corporation
InventorWalter W. Snyder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cup feeding mechanism for a bodymaker includes a guide chute defining a vertical path with a stop located at the lower end of the path defining a transfer area. The stop has a specifically configured area for receiving each cup and defining a fixed position for the cup in the transfer area. A drive member is reciprocated transversely of the path and picks up cups from the transfer area and positively drives them into alignment with a ram that extends perpendicular to the axis of the path so that the cups are maintained in accurate alignment with the ram prior to being transferred through the bodymaker.
Claims10
A cup feeding machine for feeding cups to a drawing and ironing apparatus including a fixed frame having a reciprocal punch and a yoke having an arcuate opening having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cup, said mechanism comprising a cup feeding means for supplying cups along a path to a stabilizing position, said stabilizing position being defined by a fixed planar surface having a cup receiving recess therein, said recess defining a stabilized position for said cups at the end of said path and having an inclined ramp portion merging with said fixed planar surface for guiding said cups to said yoke, and transfer means adapted to engage said cups while in said stabilizing position and move said cups from said stabilizing position along said inclined ramp portion into a final cup position in said yoke prior to drawing and ironing.
A cup feeding mechanism for a can forming machine comprising a generally horizontal path for a plurality of cups, said path extending from a supply of cups above said path to a final cup transfer means at the end portion of said path for moving said cups the final distance in said path to a yoke having an arcuate opening having a diameter equal to the diameter of the cup, said stabilized cup transfer means includes a shuttle having (a) a forward arcuate surface adapted to provide substantial contact with a portion of the side wall of each cup being moved the final distance;
- (b) a top surface which supports the next cup as one cup is being moved by the shuttle to the final cup position;
- (c) a height relative to the diameter of the yoke opening substantially less than said yoke opening;
- and, (d) a substantial depth relative to the yoke depth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.