Method and apparatus for aligning components of a press
AssigneeStolle Machinery Company, LLC
InventorJames A. McClung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for aligning opposed telescopically engageable cut ring and blank and draw die when mounted in a can body forming press to form non-round disc-shaped blanks which are subsequently formed into container bodies. A pair of opposed precision formed notches are formed in the peripheries of the spaced press components and a precision formed key is inserted into the notches. The key is then slidably removed from the notches. The notches are precisely located with respect to each other and to major and minor axes of the press components so that said major and minor axes align with each other when the key is seated in the notches.
Claims20
A method of aligning opposed telescopically engageable first and second annular components mounted in a press for making non-round disc-shaped blanks for subsequent forming into container bodies including the steps of:
- providing the first annular component with a precision formed opening at a precise location;
- providing the second component with a precision formed opening at a precise location;
- forming said first and second openings in their respective components
- whereby major and axes of said components are in accurate alignment with each other when said openings are in alignment with each other;
- mounting said first and second components in a spaced relationship from each other in the press whereby said notches are in general alignment with each other;
- inserting an alignment key between the spaced components and into the spaced openings;
- rotatably adjusting one of said components until the alignment key properly seats in the spaced openings which accurately align the major and minor axes of the spaced components with respect to each other;
- and
- securing the components in their accurately aligned positions in the press.
A method of retrofitting a container body forming press from producing round disc-shaped blanks to producing non-round disc-shaped blanks comprising the steps of:
- removing a cut ring and a blank and draw die having telescopically engageable mating surfaces for cutting round disc-shaped blanks from sheet material;
- providing a cut ring with a non-round central opening defined by major and minor axes with a precision opening formed at a precise location;
- providing the blank and draw die with a non-round outer cut edge defined by major and minor axes with a precision opening formed at a precise location;
- forming said first and second openings whereby major and minor axes of said cut ring and blank and draw die are in accurate alignment with each other when said openings are in accurate alignment with each other;
- mounting said cut ring and blank and draw die in a spaced relationship from each other in the press whereby said precision openings are in general alignment with each other;
- inserting an alignment key into the spaced openings;
- rotatably adjusting one of said cut ring and blank and draw die until the alignment key properly seats in the spaced openings which accurately aligns the major and minor axes of the spaced cut ring and blank and draw die with respect to each other;
- and
- securing the cut ring and blank and draw die in their accurately aligned positions in the press while the key is in the spaced opening and extending between the cut ring and blank and draw die.
A key for aligning a cut ring and a blank and draw die when mounted in a press for making non-round blanks for subsequent forming into container components comprising:
- a main body having a first end complementary to the cross sectional shape of a notch formed in the periphery of the cut ring and a second end complementary to the cross sectional shape of a notch formed in the periphery of the blank and draw die;
- and
- stabilizing legs extending outwardly from the main body adapted to engage one of the cut ring and blank and draw die when the first and second body ends are engaged in the notches formed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.