A postural awareness apparatus includes a pad, signal means for producing a signal, detection means for determining a weight applied to the pad and activating the signal means when the weight exceeds a predetermined weight, means for producing an output when the detection means determines the weight, and means for recording the output.

Postural awareness apparatus

A bodymaker tool pack including a plurality interleaved ironing and spacer rings through which a ram or punch forces a workpiece to redraw a metal can body. Hydrostatic pads are created between the punch and spacer rings to effectively guide the punch through the tool pack. Additionally, the ironing and spacer rings are themselves supported by hydrostatic pressure pads formed within the tool pack housing.

Bodymaker tool pack

A dual double-action can body maker characterized in that a can body maker of the opposite way double-action structure is formed by means of a structural design of using two identical ram drive mechanisms and a design scheme of sharing one crankshaft. Two ram drive mechanisms share one crankshaft, and are arranged symmetrically to balance the inertial force of such parts as a swing lever. A slide yoke and a ram in motion and the reaction force generated in the can body redrawing and ironing process to reduce the load of the support bearing of the crankshaft and extend the service life.

Dual double-action can body maker

A can forming apparatus interposes a plurality of feed guides projecting part way into a path of feed of a can blank. The feed guides hold a leading can blank and embrace it in cooperating outer peripheral recesses to move the can blank into alignment with a die. Radially extended portions, continuous from the recesses, press the can blank downward after the can blank is released from the recesses. A pair of leaf springs or a pair of rollers temporarily hold the can blank before it is pressed downward by the radially extended portions of feed guides. An elongated punch is advanced into the die bore effect deep drawing and ironing of the can blank in the die bore thereby forming a can body. The punch is driven in reciprocating linear motion, supported on fluid bearings. Pressurized gas is admitted through the punch into the can body at a time in the can-forming cycle appropriate to remove the can from the punch. The pressurized gas separates the can body from the punch.

Can forming apparatus

A bidirectional double-punching can body stretcher is characterized in that a can body stretcher for a zip-top can in a bidirectional double-punching structure is formed by using two sets of punching rod drive mechanisms that are the same through a design solution of sharing the same crank shaft in structural design. In the solution, after the crank shaft is shared by the two sets of punching rod drive mechanisms, the two sets of punching rod drive mechanisms are arranged in a symmetrical layout, so as to balance inertial forces of components in motion, such as an oscillating rod, a sliding block, and a punching rod, and a reacting force produced in a process of forming a can body, thereby significantly reducing the load on a crank shaft support bearing, lowering requirements on design and machining of the bearing, and prolonging the service life. Besides, in the present invention, one device can realize the capacity of two conventional can body stretchers, and compared with the two conventional can body stretchers, the manufacturing cost of the device is reduced and energy consumption is also decreased.

Bidirectional double-punching can body stretcher

The ram is supported through a hydrostatic type bearing support assembly mounted on a main frame. The support bearings are formed with a unique arrangement of hydrostatic pressure pad slots and hydrodynamic stepped end sections to center the ram with constantly pressurized and flowing oil films supplied through the pressure pad slots. The hydrodynamic bearing sections provide hydrodynamic support at high reciprocating speeds and the pressure pad slots provide hydrostatic support at lower reciprocating speeds that occur at the end of the working and return strokes of the ram. A piston and cylinder arrangement mounted to the bearing housing imparts a deflection force against the ram, between the end bearings and through a center bearing, to counteract gravitational vertical deflection of the unsupported working end of the ram. A cardan type crank drive mechanism for converting rotational input force into straight line reciprocating movement of an output shaft is also disclosed.

Brian L. Matthews

Papers

Apparatus for forming one-piece metal can bodies