# US 8,464,836 B2 · Lubrication applicator for can processing machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,836 B2 - Document ID: US8464836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/710,808 - Filed: 2010-02-23 - Published: 2010-08-26 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-26 - Assignees: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc. - Applicants: Dennis Green - Inventors: Dennis Green - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464836B2 ## CPC - B21D 21/00: Combined processes according to methods covered by groups B21D1/00 - B21D19/00 - B21D 37/18: Lubricating {, e.g. lubricating tool and workpiece simultaneously (lubricating workpieces for deep-drawing B21D22/201)} - B21D 51/26: cans or tins; Closing same in a permanent manner (making outlet arrangements B21D51/38; welding or soldering B23K) - B21D 51/2615: {Edge treatment of cans or tins} - B21D 51/2638: {Necking} - B21D 51/2692: {Manipulating, e.g. feeding and positioning devices; Control systems} - B23Q 3/061: {adapted for holding a plurality of workpieces} - B23Q 7/02: by means of drums or rotating tables or discs - B23Q 39/028: {with a plurality of workholder per toolhead in operating position (with only one workholder in operating position B23Q1/66)} - B23Q 39/044: {having at least one tool station cooperating with each work holder, e.g. multi-spindle lathes} - F16K 3/0218: {with only one sealing face} - F16K 3/0236: {the packing being of a non-resilient material, e.g. ceramic, metal} - Y10T 29/5152: with turret mechanism - Y10T 29/5165: including rotating and/or locking means - Y10T 29/519: Turret - Y10T 279/1041: Wedge - Y10T 279/32: Means to prevent jaw loosening - Y10T 403/7024: Longitudinally stepped or tapered - Y10T 403/7051: Wedging or camming - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A lubricating mechanism for a machine arrangement includes a lubricating track. The lubricating track may be connected to or part of an infeed mechanism of the machine arrangement, or may be connected to or adjacent a star wheel. The infeed mechanism is configured to supply articles to be processed to the machine arrangement. The lubricating track includes an outer guide member configured to contact articles adjacent open ends of the articles. The lubricating track also includes at least one opening in the outer guide member for passage of lubricant from the outer guide member to a lubrication path. The lubrication path is configured to be in contact with the articles in the track in order to apply the lubricant to the articles. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lubricating mechanism for a machine arrangement, comprising: a lubricating track connected to or part of an infeed mechanism configured to supply articles to be processed to the machine arrangement, wherein the lubricating track includes: an outer guide member configured to contact articles adjacent open ends of the articles, the outer guide member comprising a lubricant passage or chamber; and at least one opening in the outer guide member for passage of lubricant from the outer guide member to a lubrication path configured to be in contact with the articles in the lubricating track to apply the lubricant to the articles, and a starwheel with at least one pocket to hold one of the articles and at least one air passage to provide air flow to the at least one pocket to rotate the one of the articles in the at least one pocket, the starwheel being coupled to or adjacent the lubricating track such that the one of the articles located in the at least one pocket of the starwheel receives the lubricant from the lubricating track, wherein the lubricating mechanism is configured so that the articles rotate within the at least one pocket and on the outer guide member while the lubricant is being applied. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lubricating mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a wick positioned in the lubricant chamber or between the lubrication path and fittings of the outer guide member configured to supply the lubricant to the outer guide member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lubricating mechanism of claim 2, wherein the wick is positioned in the lubricant chamber or between the lubricant path and fittings such that the articles do not directly contact the wick. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lubricating mechanism of claim 1, wherein the lubricating track includes first and second frame members, and wherein the articles are configured to extend between the first and second frame members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lubricating mechanism of claim 4, wherein the the outer guide member and an inner guide member are attached to the first frame member such that a distance between the inner and outer guide members fits a diameter of the articles in the mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lubricating mechanism of claim 5, wherein the first frame member includes a guide/wear plate positioned between the inner and outer guide members such that a portion of a first end of each of the articles is adjacent the guide/wear plate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lubricating mechanism of claim 6, wherein the guide/wear plate is configured such that a smaller clearance is provided between the portion of the first end of each of the articles; and wherein a larger clearance is provided between a remaining portion of the first end of each of the articles and the first frame member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The lubricating mechanism of claim 5, wherein the inner guide member includes an inner profile surface configured to be adjacent to and/or contact each of the articles in the lubricating track, and wherein the inner profile surface includes a portion configured to avoid contact with the lubricant applied to the articles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The lubricating mechanism of claim 5, further comprising at least one fitting connected to the outer guide member, the at least one fitting configured to supply the lubricant from a lubricant source to the lubricant chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The lubricating mechanism of claim 5, wherein the outer guide member includes a heater configured to heat the lubricant in the lubricant chamber or passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lubricating mechanism of claim 10, further comprising a thermal insulator positioned between the first frame member and the outer guide member, the thermal insulator configured to reduce heat transfer from a heated outer guide member to the first frame member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The lubricating mechanism of claim 4, wherein the second frame member includes first and second guide rails configured such that a distance between the first and second guide rails fits a diameter of the articles in the mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lubricating mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a first spacer positioned between the first guide rail and the second frame member, and a second spacer positioned between the second guide rail and the second frame member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lubricating mechanism of claim 13, wherein the first and second spacers are of different thicknesses such that the first guide rail is spaced apart from the second frame member at a distance different from a distance separating the second guide rail from the second frame member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) The lubricating mechanism of claim 4, wherein the first and second frame members are adjustable relative to each other to accommodate articles of different height. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lubricating mechanism of claim 15, further comprising frame shafts connecting the first and second frame members, and wherein the first and/or second frame member is configured to move along a length of the frame shafts to change a distance separating the first and second frame members. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The lubricating mechanism of claim 1, wherein the infeed mechanism is configured to supply the articles to be processed in the machine arrangement, and wherein the lubricating track is curved so that the articles roll through the lubricating track as the lubricant is being applied. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The lubricating mechanism of claim 1, wherein the starwheel comprises a plurality of pockets to hold the articles, and wherein the articles to be lubricated are located in separate pockets of the starwheel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The lubricating mechanism of claim 18, wherein the articles rotate within their respective pockets and on the outer guide member when passing through the lubricating track. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The lubricating mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket receives positive air pressure or vacuum depending on a current angular position of the starwheel and the at least one pocket. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The lubricating mechanism of claim 20, wherein the positive air pressure is supplied to the at least one pocket when the at least one pocket is adjacent the lubricating track, and wherein the vacuum pressure is supplied to the at least one pocket when the at least one pocket is positioned away from the lubricating track. ### Claim 22 A machine arrangement with a lubricating mechanism, comprising: an article infeed mechanism with a lubricating track, the article infeed mechanism configured to supply articles to be processed to machines in the machine arrangement, wherein the lubricating track includes: inner and outer guide members configured such that an open end of each of the articles in the lubricating track are positioned between the inner and outer guide members; and a lubrication path on the outer guide member extending for at least a portion of a length of the lubricating track, and a starwheel with at least one pocket to hold one of the articles and at least one air passage to provide air flow to the at least one pocket to rotate the one of the articles in the at least one pocket, the starwheel being coupled to or adjacent the lubricating track such that the one of the articles located in the at least one pocket of the starwheel receives the lubrication from the lubricating track, wherein the articles contact lubricant in the lubrication path when rolling through the track within the at least one pocket and on the outer guide member without contacting a wick. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The machine arrangement of claim 22, further comprising a transfer starwheel coupled to the article infeed mechanism and configured such that articles exiting the article infeed mechanism move into corresponding pockets in the transfer starwheel. ### Claim 24 A method of lubricating an article in a machine arrangement, comprising: providing a lubricating track; applying a lubricant to a lubrication path on the lubricating track from a lubricant chamber or passage, holding at least one article in the at least one pocket of a starwheel, the starwheel comprising at least one air passage; and rotating the at least one article within the at least one pocket and on an outer guide member along the lubricating track or within a lubrication mechanism and the at least one pocket of the starwheel so that the lubricant transfers to an open end of each of the at least one article as the at least one article contacts the lubrication path on the lubricating track, wherein the rotating includes providing an air flow through the at least one air passage of the starwheel to the at least one pocket to rotate the article in the at least one pocket. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the lubricant chamber or passage includes a wick, and wherein the at least one article does not directly contact the wick. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising heating the lubricant in the lubricant chamber.