Can end fabricating system including an improved conveyor belt drum

In a can end press of the type including at least one can-end forming station, and a continuous belt including a plurality of can end supports and a plurality of drive teeth openings, a belt drive assembly comprising:

• a drive shaft including a rotational axis;
• a first cylindrical surface supported by a bearing to rotate independent of the drive shaft at a predetermined radius from the rotational axis;
• and
• a plurality of drive teeth fastened to the drive shaft to extend outwardly beyond the first cylindrical surface, wherein the continuous belt is supported by the drive belt assembly to contact the first cylindrical surface with at least one of the drive teeth being located within one of the drive teeth openings.

A can end press comprising:

• a support frame;
• at least one can-end forming station supported by the frame;
• a first drum including a first cylindrical surface located at a first radius from a first rotational axis, the first drum being rotatably supported about the first rotational axis by the frame;
• a belt drive assembly including a drive shaft rotatably supported about a second rotational axis by the frame, a second cylindrical surface supported by a first bearing to rotate independent of the drive shaft at a second radius from the second rotational axis, a third cylindrical surface supported by a second bearing to rotate independent of the drive shaft at the second radius from the second rotational axis, and a plurality of drive teeth fastened to the drive shaft to extend outwardly between and beyond the second and third cylindrical surfaces, the first and second rotational axis being parallel;
• and
• a continuous belt including a plurality of can end supports and a plurality of drive teeth openings, the belt being supported by the drum and the drive belt assembly, wherein the belt contacts the first, second and third cylindrical surfaces and at least one of the drive teeth is located within one of the drive teeth openings.

A belt drive assembly for driving a continuous belt having a plurality of drive teeth openings, the belt drive assembly comprising:

• a drive shaft;
• a belt support surface rotably supported above the drive shaft so as to rotate independent of the drive shaft;
• and
• a plurality of drive teeth fixedly coupled to the drive shaft and extending outwardly from the drive shaft beyond the support surface for being received within corresponding drive teeth openings of the belt.