Air manifold

A necking module comprising:

• an air manifold having at least one port for supplying low pressure air to pressurize a can prior to necking, at least one port for supplying high pressure air to pressurize a can prior to necking, at least one port for bleeding high pressure air from a can after necking, at least one port for bleeding low pressure air from a can after necking;
• and not having ports for supplying or bleeding air at pressures intermediate between the high and low pressures;
• a necking die;
• and
• an air distribution rotor.

An air distribution system for can necking comprising:

• an air compressor;
• a high pressure line;
• a low pressure line;
• and
• a least one necking module having an air manifold including at least one port for supplying low pressure air to pressurize a can prior to necking, at least one port for supplying high pressure air to pressurize a can prior to necking, at least one port for bleeding high pressure air from a can after necking, at least one port for bleeding low pressure air from a can after necking, and not having ports for supplying or bleeding air at pressures intermediate between the high and low pressures.

A method of necking a can comprising the steps of:

• supplying a first can to a necking module including an air manifold having ports for low pressure air, ports for high pressure air and not having ports at pressures intermediate between the high and low pressures;
• charging a first can with low pressure bleed air through a first reuse port;
• charging the first can with high pressure bleed air through a second reuse port;
• p1 charging the first can with high pressure air from a compressor through at least one feed port;
• inserting the first can into a necking die;
• necking the first can;
• bleeding high pressure air from the first can to at least one succeeding can through a first regen port;
• and
• bleeding low pressure air from the first can to at least one succeeding can through a second regen port.