Lightweight ram for bodymaker

#The invention relates to the construction of a ram that is utilized in high speed apparatus for forming elongated one piece metal can bodies from relatively shallow cups.

#The main section or body of a so-called two piece metal container or can of the type very often used for beer/beverages includes an elongated cylindrical sidewall, an integral bottom and an open top. Such bodies are often formed in drawing and ironing machines of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,619 issued Dec. 5, 1972 to E. Paramonoff for Redraw Blankholder Positioning Mechanism for Cup-shaped Article Formers such as Metallic Can Body Formers and the Like, U.S. Pat. No. 3,735,629 issued May 29, 1973 to E. Paramonoff entitled Apparatus for Forming One Piece Metallic Can Bodies, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,228 issued Jul. 23, 1985 to W. Snyder and D. Dettmer for Apparatus for Producing Seamless Container Bodies. The apparatus described in the aforesaid patents produce can bodies from blanks in the form of relatively shallow cups, by having a reciprocated ram drive each cup through a die pack which is a series of ringlike die elements having openings that are graduated. Each blank passes through the largest opening first, and each subsequent opening that the blank is driven through is slightly smaller than the preceding opening through which the blank has been driven.

#A replaceable punch mounted to the ram at the front thereof engages each cup to drive it through the die pack. The rear end of the ram is connected to the drive means that reciprocates the ram along its horizontally positioned longitudinal axis through a forward working stroke followed by a rearward return stroke.

#FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevation of a lightweight ram constructed in accordance with teachings of the instant invention.

#FIG. 2 is an end view of the ram looking in the direction of arrows 2--2 of FIG. 1.

#Now referring to the Figures.

#Ram 10 is a weldment constructed by utilizing weld 14 to metallurgically bond nose piece 12 to the front end of thin walled tubular center section 11, and weld 15 to metallurgically bond tail piece 13 to the rear of main section 11. Welds 14, 15 are the products of so-called electron beam welding. Typically, main section 11 has a length L that is approximately 42 inches and is at least one hundred times greater than the wall thickness T of main section 11. In a practical construction, main section 11 has an outer diameter of approximately 2.5 inches and an inner diameter of approximately 2 inches. This results in a wall thickness of 1/4 inch which is a reduction of as much as 64% of the 5/8 inch to 11/16 inch wall thickness of the central section in prior art rams that are machined from a single piece of bar stock. When the wall thickness of main section 11 is 1/8 inch, this is an 82% reduction from the 11/16 inch wall thickness found in the prior art.

#Suitable axial lengths for nose piece 12 and tail piece 13 are approximately 6.6 inches and 1.7 inches, respectively. The diameters of the axial passages 16, 17 for the respective nose and tail pieces are approximately 3/4 of an inch, although passage 16 is illustrated as being slightly greater in cross-section than is passage 17.

#Nose piece 12 is adapted to mount and operatively position punch nose 21 and sleeve 22, with the latter surrounding and being closely fitted to cylindrical outer surface portion 19 of nose piece 12. Punch elements 21, 22 are secured in place by retainer screw 23 having external threads that mate with internal threads 24 at the front of passage 16. At the end of punch sleeve 22 remote from nose 21 spacer ring 27 is interposed between sleeve 22 and nose piece shoulder 18.