Can-making apparatus with trimmer chute
AssigneeSilgan Containers LLC
InventorsGunnar J. Caylor, David S. Revers, Brandon Craig Garfoot, James B. Moses
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trimmer assembly for removing portions of sidewalls of cans is provided. The trimmer assembly includes a chute configured to receive the removed portions of sidewalls of cans. The chute includes an angled extending wall configured to prevent removed portions of sidewalls of cans from travelling past the chute without entering the chute without interfering with motion of the cans.
Claims20
A trimmer assembly for trimming metal cans comprising:
- an infeed configured to deliver metal cans;
- a discharge configured to receive the metal cans after being trimmed;
- a revolving assembly configured to receive each of the metal cans from the infeed and deliver the metal cans after being trimmed to the discharge, the revolving assembly being configured to revolve the metal cans around an axis;
- a cutter configured to remove a portion from each metal can;
- and
- a chute configured to receive the removed portion of each metal can, the chute including a first wall proximate the revolving assembly, the first wall including a lower portion extending upwardly generally perpendicular to the axis and an upper portion extending upwardly non-perpendicular to the axis from the lower portion to a first peripheral edge of the first wall, the upper portion being configured to prevent the removed portion of each metal can from moving past the chute in a direction parallel with the axis.
A method of removing a portion of a sidewall from a can comprising:
- rotating the can around a longitudinal axis of the can;
- revolving the can in around a first axis while moving the can toward a cutter configured to remove the portion of the sidewall;
- removing the portion of the sidewall of the can;
- and
- revolving the can around the first axis while moving the can away from the cutter;
- wherein at least a portion of a path of the can away from the cutter is parallel to an upper wall portion of a chute, the upper wall portion extending non-perpendicular to the first axis.
A chute for receiving a removed portion of a sidewall of a can, the portion of the sidewall of the can having been removed by a cutter while the can is rotated about its central axis and revolved around a first axis, the chute comprising:
- a first wall including a lower portion having an outer surface and an angled extending upper portion having an outer surface, the outer surface of the upper portion extending generally along a first plane from a first end proximate the lower portion to an upper peripheral edge, the outer surface of the lower portion extending generally along a second plane, the first and second planes being non-parallel and non-co-planar, the first plane extending at an angle of between approximately 15° and 40° relative to the second plane;
- and
- a second wall opposite the first wall extending from a first end to an upper peripheral edge;
- a pair of sidewalls extending between the first wall and the second wall, the first and second walls and the pair of sidewalls defining an opening configured to receive the removed portion of the sidewall of the can and a passage extending from the opening;
- wherein the upper peripheral edge of the upper portion of the first wall is located above the opening between the second wall and the lower portion of the first wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.