Method and apparatus for forming can ends

In an apparatus for forming metallic can ends in a press comprising upper and lower die assemblies, each of said die assemblies having relatively vertically reciprocal die components which coact with die components of the other die assembly, a cutting edge with which said upper die assembly cooperates to cut blanks from a sheet of metal stock, after which said ends are formed from said blanks between said die assemblies and then are released from said die assemblies, the improvement comprising means for ejecting said ends from between said die assemblies at a predetermined position above the uppermost position of said lower die assembly and below said metal stock and said upper die assembly to thereby prevent passing of said ends through said metal stock, said means for ejecting said ends including at least one air jet and including an ejection slot located immediately and substantially coelevationally adjacent said predetermined position, said ejecting means including means for blowing air through said air jet substantially at the instant said ends are released from said die assemblies, said ends thereby being blown horizontally from between said die assemblies into said ejection slot.

In a method for forming metallic can ends between upper and lower die assemblies, each of said die assemblies having relatively vertically reciprocal die components which coact with die components of the other die assembly, comprising cutting metal blanks from a sheet of metal stock between said upper die assembly and a cutting edge and forming said blanks into ends between said die assemblies, the improvement comprising ejecting said ends from between said die assemblies at a predetermined position above an uppermost position of said lower die assembly and below said metal stock and said upper die assembly to thereby prevent passing of said ends through said metal stock, wherein said ends are blown from between said die assemblies with at least one air jet into an ejection slot located immediately and substantially coelevationally adjacent said predetermined position and wherein said upper and lower die assemblies form a slot which guides each said end into said ejection slot.

In a method for forming metallic can ends between upper and lower die assemblies, each of said die assemblies having relatively vertically reciprocal die components which coact with die components of the other die assembly, comprising cutting metal blanks from a sheet of metal stock between said upper die assembly and a cutting edge and forming said blanks into ends between said die assemblies, the improvement comprising ejecting said ends from between said die assemblies at a predetermined position above an uppermost position of said lower die assembly and below said metal stock and said upper die assembly to thereby prevent passing of said ends through said metal stock, wherein said ends are blown from between said die assemblies with at least one air jet into an ejection slot located immediately and substantially coelevationally adjacent said predetermined position, wherein said upper and lower die assemblies form a slot which guides each said end into said ejection slot, and wherein said at least one air jet is blowing on each said end while at least the periphery of said end is contacted at upper and lower portions thereof by portions of the upper and lower die assemblies respectively, so as to impart horizontal movement to said end substantially at the instant said end is released from said die assemblies.

In an apparatus for forming metallic can ends in a press comprising upper and lower die assemblies, each of said die assemblies having relatively vertically reciprocal die components which coact with die components of the other die assembly, a cutting edge with which said upper die assembly cooperates to cut blanks from a sheet of metal stock, after which said ends are formed from said blanks between said die assemblies, the improvement comprising means for ejecting said ends from between said die assemblies at a predetermined position above an uppermost position of said lower die assembly and below said metal stock and said upper die assembly to thereby prevent passing of said ends through said metal stock, wherein said ends are blown from between said die assemblies with at least one air jet into an ejection slot located immediately and substantially coelevelationally adjacent said predetermined position, wherein said upper and lower die assemblies form a slot which guides each said end into said ejection slot, and wherein said at least one air jet is blowing on each said end while at least the periphery of said end is contacted at upper and lower portions thereof by portions of the upper and lower die assemblies, respectively, so as to impart horizontal movement to said end substantially at the instant said end is released from said die assemblies.