US RE30,746 EGranted

Can cutting apparatus and method

AssigneeBelgium Tool and Die Company

InventorsAlphonse Stroobants, Daniel S. Cvacho

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Abstract

A can end trimmer has a main rotary support shaft with a radial turret plate. A plurality of self-contained cutter unit cartridge assemblies have radial head flanges directly connectable to one side of the turret plate with driven members in each cutter unit cartridge automatically engaging control members mounted on the turret plate for effecting movement of a transversely shiftable cutter knife into engagement with an axially fixed cutter knife for effecting rotation of both knives to trim the end from a can held in a vacuum chuck. A shim between the cutter unit cartridge and the turret plate cants the axes of the knife members with respect to the can by a very small amount normally less than 2.0 degrees to effect a smooth burr-free cut of the can end. Stripper pin means surrounds the can being cut which in turn surrounds the axially fixed knife with a reciprocating stripper plate on the pins being easily removed during replacement of the cutter cartridge unit. Substantial space is saved by the arrangement of the units on the turret plate so that a large number of cutter cartridge units can be employed on a support shaft of a given size.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A can end trimmer comprising:

frame means;
an elongated main support shaft mounted for rotation on said frame means;
a source of power;
power transmission means extending between said source of power and said main support shaft;
a removable cutter unit cartridge removably mounted on said main support shaft for unitary attachment thereto or removal therefrom, said cutter unit cartridge including:
a housing;
an axially fixed rotary knife shaft;
an axially fixed rotary cutter knife mounted on one end of said axially fixed rotary knife shaft;
a transversely shiftable rotary knife shaft having an axis parallel to said axially fixed rotary knife shaft;
a transversely shiftable rotary cutter knife mounted on one end of said transversely shiftable rotary knife shaft;
shaft shifting means for moving said transversely shiftable rotary knife shaft to effect movement of said transversely shiftable cutter knife into and out of cutting permitting engagement with said axially fixed rotary cutter knife;
coupling transmission means extending between said axially fixed rotary knife shaft and said transversely shiftable rotary knife shaft for effecting rotation of said cutter knives in unison;
shaft actuator means mounted for reciprocation on said main support shaft in a direction parallel to the axis of said main support shaft and engaged with said shaft shifting means for actuating said shaft shifting means;
means for reciprocating said shaft actuator means parallel to the axis of said main support shaft in a timed cyclic manner in response to rotation of said main support shaft to resultantly effect timed movement of said transversely shiftable rotary cutter knife into and out of engagement with said axially fixed rotary cutter knife;
a knife driving means on said support shaft drivingly engaged with said axially fixed rotary knife shaft for effecting rotation of said cutter knives;
and cyclically operated can feeding, holding and handling means for positioning cylindrical cans to be trimmed in cutting position and for discharging said cans following the completion of the trimming operation.

13 more elements

A can end trimmer comprising:

frame means;
a turret plate mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on said frame means;
power means for rotating said rotary turret plate;
a plurality of cutter unit cartridges removably supported on one side of said turret plate;
each of said cutter unit cartridges including:
a housing having a head flange engaged with one side of said turret plate;
an axially fixed rotary knife shaft;
an axially fixed rotary knife mounted on said axially fixed rotary knife shaft;
a transversely shiftable rotary knife shaft having an axis parallel to said axially fixed rotary knife shaft;
a transversely shiftable rotary knife mounted on one end of said transversely shiftable rotary knife shaft;
shaft shifting means for moving said transversely shiftable rotary knife shaft to effect movement of said transversely shiftable knife into and out of cutting permitting engagement with said axially fixed rotary knife;
a rotary power input member;
and
power transmission means connecting said rotary power input members to said knife shafts for effecting rotation of said knives in unison;
a vacuum chuck mounted on [said] a vacuum chuck supporting housing opposite each of said cutter unit cartridges for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said turret plate;
and
means for reciprocating each of said vacuum [chuck] chucks toward its associated cutter unit cartridge to effect positioning of a can held by said vacuum chuck to be trimmed over said axially fixed cutter knife so that the axially fixed cutter knife is inside the can to be trimmed and for subsequently reciprocating the can away from the associated cutter unit following trimming of the can to effect the removal of the trimmed can from the cutter blade area.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.