Modular base can processing equipment

A modular base for supporting can processing equipment wherein said modular base includes a plurality of modules;

• each module having at least two drive shafts with one of said drive shafts being a spindle drive shaft and carrying thereon tools for reshaping cans and can support pockets for supporting said cans during said reshaping;
• another of said drive shafts being a transfer drive shaft mounted parallel to said spindle drive shaft and carrying thereon can transfer pockets for moving cans to and from said can support pockets;
• each of said modules further including a headstock support portion and a tailstock support portion;
• said headstock support portion supporting a first end of said spindle drive shaft and supporting driving means connected to said spindle drive shaft;
• said headstock support portion being subdivided into an upper gearbox portion for providing location and support of said first end of said spindle drive shaft along with said driving means connected to said spindle drive shaft, a vacuum chamber, and pressurized air passageways;
• said tailstock support portion supporting a second end of said spindle drive shaft;
• said tailstock support portion being subdivided into a mounting portion and a connecting portion;
• said headstock support portion and said tailstock support portion each having axially spaced transverse interfacing portions with said transverse interfacing portions having matching patterns of holes for alignment and connection of said headstock support portion and said tailstock support portion to each other.

A modular device for processing containers, wherein said modular device comprises:

• a plurality of modules;
• each of said modules having a shaft support portion;
• each of said modules having a first shaft rotatably supported by said shaft support portion;
• each of said modules having a drive means for rotating said first shaft;
• said drive means for rotating said first shaft being housed within an internal chamber defined within said shaft support portion such that interconnection of two of said modules results in direct connection between respective drive means of said two modules.

A modular base for supporting can processing equipment, wherein said modular base comprises:

• a module, said module having a drive shaft, and said module having a drive shaft support portion for providing location and support of a first end of said drive shaft;
• said drive shaft support portion being subdivided into a plurality of internal chambers;
• a first internal chamber forming a gearbox, with said gearbox housing a gear connected to said first end of said drive shaft;
• said drive shaft support portion having a side interface surface, with said side interface surface having a first opening therethrough into said gearbox for allowing direct meshing engagement of another gear outside of said gearbox with said gear connected to said first end of said drive shaft;
• and
• said side interface surface having a second opening therethrough into a second internal chamber forming an air passageway for supplying pressurized air or vacuum during processing of cans.

A modular base for supporting can processing equipment, said modular base comprising:

• a module;
• said module having a first and a second rotatably mounted shaft;
• said first shaft being connected to an axially aligned pair of tooling rams;
• a first can support pocket being connected to said first shaft in position for holding a can to be processed by said pair of tooling rams;
• a second can support pocket being connected to said second shaft, said second can support pocket being positioned in juxtaposed relationship to said first can support pocket such that rotation of said first and second shafts results in a transfer of a can from said first can support pocket to said second can support pocket;
• said module having a shaft support portion for providing location and support of a first end of each of said first and second shafts;
• said shaft support portion being subdivided into a plurality of internal chambers;
• a first internal chamber forming a gearbox, with said gearbox housing a first gear connected to said first end of said first shaft and a second gear connected to said first end of said second shaft;
• said shaft support portion of said module having an interface surface, with said interface surface having a first opening therethrough into said gearbox for allowing direct meshing engagement of another gear outside of said gearbox with one of said first and second gears;
• and
• said interface surface having a second opening therethrough into a second internal chamber forming an air passageway for supplying pressurized air or vacuum during processing of cans.

A modular base for supporting can processing equipment, wherein said modular base comprises:

• a plurality of modules;
• each of said modules having a first and a second rotatably mounted shaft;
• said first shafts each having a central axis and being connected to a first beveled can support pocket positioned radially outwardly from said central axis for holding a can to be processed with a central axis of the can skewed relative to said first shaft central axis;
• a second can support pocket being connected at a position radially outwardly from a central axis of each of said second shafts with each of said second can support pockets being mounted in juxtaposed relationship to one of said first beveled can support pockets such that rotation of said first and second shafts results in a transfer of a can from said first beveled can support pocket to said second can support pocket;
• each module having a shaft support portion for providing location and support of a first end of each of said first and second shafts;
• said shaft support portion being subdivided into a plurality of internal chambers;
• a first internal chamber forming a gearbox, with said gearbox housing a first gear connected to said first end of said first shaft and a second gear connected to said first end of said second shaft;
• said shaft support portion of each of said modules having an interface surface, with said interface surface having a first opening therethrough into said gearbox for allowing direct meshing engagement of another gear outside of said gearbox with one of said first and second gears;
• and
• said interface surface having a second opening therethrough into a second internal chamber forming an air passageway for supplying pressurized air or vacuum during processing of cans.