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US 4,783,982 AGranted
Apparatus and method for trimming a can body
AssigneeAdolph Coors Company
InventorsRoger A. Hahn, Robert H. Schultz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for trimming a can body wherein a can body is positioned within a cutting member so that the cutting member is at the location where the can body is to be trimmed. A resilient, deformable object is inserted into the can body and positioned therein so that at least a portion thereof is located radially opposite portions of the can body on each side of the cutting member. The resilient, deformable object is deformed so as to move a first part thereof against a portion of the can body to prevent longitudinal movement of the can body and then to move a second part thereof against the portion of the can body located between the cutting member and the open end of the can body in a radially outward direction so as to sever that portion from the can body.
Claims21
Apparatus for trimming away a portion of a can body adjacent its open end comprising:
- a cutting member having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening having a generally cylindrical inner surface extending therebetween;
- a generally circular cutting edge formed at the intersection of said generally cylindrical inner surface and said upper surface;
- support means for positioning a can body, said can body having an open end having an exposed top edge portion that remains exposed during said trimming operation, a closed end, generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces and a longitudinal axis, within said cutting member so that the portion of said can body to be trimmed away projects upwardly from said upper surface of said cutting member toward said open end and the next adjacent portion of said can body below said portion that is to be trimmed away is radially opposite said generally cylindrical inner surface of said cutting member and said support means in contact with said closed end of said can body for supporting said can body in such position with no external force being applied to said portion of said can body to be trimmed away;
- a resilient, deformable object;
- an expandable mounting means having an outer surface on which said resilient, deformable object is mounted and a central opening extending at least partially therethrough;
- movement means for moving said expandable mounting means to a location within said can body so that a first part of said resilient, deformable object is radially opposite to said next adjacent portion of said can body and a second part of said resilient, deformable object is radially opposite to said portion of said can body to be trimmed away;
- force applying means mounted for movement into said central opening to apply radially outwardly directed forces on said expandable mounting means;
- moving means for moving said force applying means;
- control means for controlling said radially outwardly directed forces to act first on said first part of said resilient, deformable object to move said first part into contact with said next adjacent portion of said can body with sufficient force to prevent longitudinal movement of said can body;
- and
- said control means controlling said radially outwardly directed forces to act secondly on said second part of said resilient, deformable object to move said second part into contact with said portion of said can body to be trimmed away to move said portion to be trimmed away against and over said cutting edge with sufficient force so as to sever said portion of said can body to be trimmed away from said can body.
8 more elements
A method for trimming away a portion of a can body adjacent its open end comprising:
- providing a cutting member having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening having a generally cylindrical inner surface extending therebetween;
- forming a generally circular cutting edge at the intersection of said generally cylindrical inner surface and said upper surface;
- positioning a can body, having an open end having an exposed top edge portion that remains exposed during said trimming operation, a closed end, generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces and a longitudinal axis within said cutting member so that the portion of said can body to be trimmed away projects upwardly from said upper surface toward said open end and the next adjacent portion of said can body is radially opposite said generally cylindrical inner surface and supporting said can body on supporting means so that said closed end of said can body is in contact with said supporting means to support said can body in such position with no external force being applied to said portion of said can body to be trimmed away;
- mounting a resilient, deformable object on the outer surface of an expandable mounting means;
- moving said expandable mounting means to a location within said can body so that a first part of said resilient, deformable object is radially opposite to said next adjacent portion of said can body and a second part of said resilient, deformable object is radially opposite to said portion of said can body to be trimmed away;
- initially applying radially outwardly directed forces on said first part of said resilient, deformable object to move said first part against said next adjacent portion of said can body to prevent longitudinal movement of said can body;
- and
- thereafter applying radially outwardly directed forces on said second part of said resilient, deformable object to move said second part into contact with said portion of said can body to be trimmed away and to move said portion of said can body to be trimmed away against and over said cutting edge with sufficient force so as to sever said portion of said can body to be trimmed away from said can body.
5 more elements
Apparatus for trimming away a portion of a an body adjacent its open end comprising:
- a cutting member having an upper surface, a lower surface and an opening having a generally cylindrical inner surface extending therebetween;
- a generally circular cutting edge formed at the intersection of said generally cylindrical inner surface and said upper surface;
- support means for positioning a can body, said can body having an open end having an exposed top edge portion that remains exposed during said trimming operation, a closed end, generally cylindrical inner and outer surfaces and a longitudinal axis, within said cutting member so that the portion of said can body to be trimmed away projects upwardly from said upper surface of said cutting member toward said open end and the next adjacent portion of said can body below said portion that is to be trimmed away is radially opposite said generally cylindrical inner surface of said cutting member and said support means in contact with said closed end of said can body for supporting said can body in such position with no external force being applied to said portion of said can body to be trimmed away;
- a resilient, deformable object having a longitudinal extent and an outer surface;
- mounting means on which said resilient, deformable object is mounted;
- movement means for moving said mounting means to a location within said can body so that a first part of said resilient, deformable object is radially opposite to said next adjacent portion of said can body and a second part of said resilient, deformable object is radially opposite to said portion of said can body to be trimmed away;
- force applying means for applying a force to said resilient, deformable object so as to move at least portions of said outer surface thereof in radially outward directions;
- moving means for moving said force applying means;
- control means for controlling said radially outwardly directed movement of said outer surface of said resilient, deformable object to act first on said first part of said resilient, deformable object to move said first part into contact with said next adjacent portion of said can body with sufficient force to prevent longitudinal movement of said can body;
- and
- said control means controlling said radially outwardly directed movement of said outer surface of said resilient, deformable object to act secondly on said second part of said resilient, deformable object to move said second part into contact with said portion of said can body to be trimmed away to move said portion of said can body to be trimmed away against and over said cutting edge with sufficient force so as to sever said portion of said can body to be trimmed away from said can body.
8 more elements
Apparatus as in claim 26 and further comprising:
- said mounting means having a longitudinal axis;
- said force applying means having a longitudinal axis;
- said mounting means attached to said force applying means for movement therewith but for permitting relative longitudinal movement therebetween;
- movement limiting means to stop the movement of said mounting means to position said resilient, deformable object within said can body so that portions of said resilient, deformable object are radially opposite to said portion of said can body to be trimmed away, said cutting edge and at least a substantial portion of said next adjacent portion of said can body that is radially opposite to said generally cylindrical inner surface of said cutting member;
- said moving means continuing the movement of said force applying means in the same direction to apply a force in the same direction to deform said resilient, deformable object in radially outward directions to force said substantial portion of said next adjacent portion of said can body against said generally cylindrical inner surface of said cutting member so as to prevent longitudinal movement thereof and while longitudinal movement of said can body is being prevented, movement of said force applying means is continued in the same direction to force said portion of said can body projecting upwardly from said upper surface of said cutting member against and over said cutting edge to trim it from the can body;
- and
- said moving means moving said force applying means in a direction away from said can body and relative to said mounting means so that said resilient, deformable object will resile to its original shape and then moving said mounting means therewith so as to remove said mounting means out of said can body.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.