Systems and methods for powering wireless measurement devices on can body maker

Abstract

A can body maker for forming a can includes a ram assembly that is movable in a reciprocating linear motion in a predetermined direction. The can body maker also includes a linear generator for generating electrical energy from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly. The electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly may be used to power an electronic component such as but not limited to a sensor of the can body maker.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POWERING WIRELESS MEASUREMENT DEVICES ON CAN BODY MAKERREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 551,182, filed on February 8, 2024, and entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POWERING WIRELESS MEASUREMENT DEVICES ON CAN BODY MAKER, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application relates to metalworking techniques, and more particularly to can body making systems and methods.BACKGROUND

[0003] Cylindrical or tubular structures (hereinafter referred to as “cans”) are generally formed by making a blank out of material (such as metal) and then drawing the blank to form a shallow cup. After the shallow cup is initially drawn, a can body maker may carry the cups on an end of a reciprocating ram through a series of dies to obtain a desired size and thickness of the can. The can body driven by the ram may contact a bottom forming tool to shape the bottom of the can (e.g., to have a dome). Traditionally, sensors and other measuring devices have not been included on can body makers because they require wires for both power and communication, and such wiring is prone to failure due to the motion of the ram.SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter shouldbe understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.

[0005] According to certain embodiments, a can body maker includes a ram assembly movable in a reciprocating linear motion in a predetermined direction. The can body maker also includes a linear generator for generating electrical energy for an electrical component of the can body maker from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly.

[0006] According to some embodiments, a can body maker includes a ram assembly movable in a reciprocating linear motion in a predetermined direction. The can body maker also includes a sensor for measuring at least one characteristic of a drawing and ironing process, and the sensor is powered by electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear movement of the ram assembly.

[0007] According to certain embodiments, a drawing and ironing method for forming a can includes causing reciprocating linear motion of a ram assembly of a can body maker and powering at least one sensor measuring at least one characteristic of the drawing and ironing method using electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly.

[0008] Various implementations described herein can include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The specification makes reference to the following appended figures, in which use of like reference numerals in different figures is intended to illustrate like or analogous components.

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a can body maker with a linear generator according to embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates another can body maker with a linear generator according to embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Described herein are can body makers and associated methods that include an onboard linear generator for powering one or more electronic devices of the can body makers. The systems and methods described herein may convert at least some of the reciprocating linear motion of the can body maker into electrical energy for the one or more electronic devices. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may allow for the use of sensors with can body makers while minimizing or eliminating the need for wires for power from an external source. The systems and methods described herein may allow for the use of wireless sensors, thereby minimizing or eliminating the need for wires for communication. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may ensure that sensors and / or other electronic components of the can body makers are powered while minimizing impact on machine productivity. The systems and methods described herein may be used to power sensors and other electronic components attached directly to a ram of the can body maker, and / or may be used to power other electronics (e.g., electronic components attached to ironing dies, within the housing of the can body maker, etc.) without needing to extend wires out of a housing of the can body maker. As a non-limiting example, the electrical energy generated may be used to power a controller (e.g., processor and / or memory) and / or a communication module (transmitter and / or receiver) among other electronic components.

[0013] In various embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may generate electrical energy from the reciprocating linear motion of the can body maker while minimizing interference (and / or without interference) to the motion of the can body maker. The systems and methods described herein may minimize or eliminate the need for a can body maker to be tethered to external power sources and / or external communication devices and may minimize or eliminate the risk of tether failure due to fatigue from repeated motion of the can body maker. In various aspects, removing the tether wires (e.g., moving wires for power and / or communications) may eliminate a source of noise and interference. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the systems and methods described herein, and the aforementioned benefits and advantages should not be considered limiting.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a can body maker 100 with a linear generator 128 according to embodiments.

[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the can body maker 100 includes various components for performing a drawing and ironing process in which a can body 103 is formed from a cup-shaped blank 101. The cup-shaped blank 101 may be formed from various materials as desired, and in some embodiments, the cup-shaped blank 101 is a metal such as but not limited to an aluminum or an aluminum alloy in the Ixxx series, 2xxx series, 3xxx series, 4xxx series, 5xxx series, 6xxx series, 7xxx series, 8xxx series and / or any other aluminum or aluminum alloy as desired.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, the can body maker 100 generally includes a ram assembly 102 and a tool pack 104 with one or more dies 106 for performing a drawing and ironing process to reduce the diameter and deepen the cup-shaped blank 101 into the can body 103. The can body maker 100 may also include a domer 108 for shaping a bottom of the can body 103.

[0017] The ram assembly 102 generally includes a ram body 110 and a punch 112 supported by the ram body 110. The ram body 110 is generally elongated along an axis 118, and the punch 112 may be supported at or proximate to an end of the ram body 110. The can body maker 100 includes an actuator 114 that drives or otherwise causes the ram assembly 102 to have reciprocating linear motion (represented by arrow 116) in a predetermined direction. Various types of actuators may be utilized as the actuator 114 causing the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly 102.

[0018] Each die 106 of the one or more dies 106 of the tool pack 104 includes an aperture 120, and the dies 106 are arranged along the axis 118 such that during drawing and ironing, the ram assembly 102 drives the cup-shaped body through the dies 106. In various embodiments, an initial die 106A of the one or more dies 106 relative to the ram assembly 102 may be a redraw die and the subsequent dies 106B-D of the tool pack 104 may be ironing dies. As discussed in detail below, the redraw die may deform the cup-shaped blank 101 from a shallower and wider body into a narrower and longer body, and the ironing dies may iron sidewalls of the cup-shaped blank 101 from an initial thickness to an end thickness and to elongate the cup-shaped blank 101. The number of dies 106 illustrated should not be considered limiting.

[0019] In certain embodiments, the can body maker 100 includes a cup holder 121 in alignment with the axis 118 for initially receiving and supporting the cup-shaped blank 101 along the axis 118.

[0020] In addition to including the components for performing the drawing and ironing process to form the can body 103 from the cup-shaped blank 101, the can body maker 100 may includevarious other components. In some embodiments, the can body maker 100 includes an enclosure or housing 144 at least partially housing the components for performing the drawing and ironing process. In FIG. 1, the housing 144 houses at least the ram assembly 102 and the tool pack 104 of the can body maker 100.

[0021] As mentioned, the drawing and ironing process of the can body maker 100 generally transforms the cup-shaped blank 101 into the can body 103. Before shaping with the can body maker 100, the cup-shaped blank 101 may be formed by a blanking and cupping process in which a disc-shaped metal blank is punched from a metal sheet and drawn into the cup-shaped blank 101.

[0022] During the drawing and ironing process utilizing the can body maker 100, the cup-shaped blank 101 may be initially received between the ram assembly 102 and the tool pack 104. The actuator 114 may drive the ram assembly 102 along the axis 118, which in turn drives the cupshaped blank 101 through the dies 106 of the tool pack 104 and deforms the cup-shaped blank 101 from a shallower and wider body into a narrower and longer can body 103. The domer 108 may shape the bottom of the can body 103. The ram assembly 102 may be driven at any suitable speed to produce a desired number of can bodies 103 per minute. As some non-limiting examples, the ram assembly 102 may be driven at speeds of approximately 200-450 strokes per minute, such as about 400-450 strokes per minute, where one stroke refers to one cycle of engaging, forming, and releasing one can body 103. In other words, at 200-450 strokes per minute, the assembly engages, forms, and releases can bodies at a rate of about 200-450 strokes per minute.

[0023] The can body 103 formed by the can body maker 100 may be subjected to various subsequent processes depending on the end use of the can body 103, with such subsequent processes including but not limited to a trimming process, a printing process, a coating process, a necking process, a flanging process, combinations thereof, and other processes as desired.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 1 , in certain embodiments, the can body maker 100 includes one or more sensors 126 for measuring one or more characteristics of the can body maker 100 and / or the drawing and ironing process. As non-limiting examples, the one or more sensors 126 may be position sensors, force sensors, combinations thereof, and / or other types of sensors as desired. Any number of sensors 126 may be utilized, and the sensors 126 may be provided on various components of the can body maker 100 as desired. As non-limiting examples, FIG. 1 illustrates a sensor 126 on the tool pack 104, and FIG. 2 illustrates a sensor 126 on the ram assembly 102.

[0025] The one or more sensors 126 may be configured for wired and / or wireless communication with a controller (e.g., processor and / or memory) and / or other device as desired. As non-limiting examples, the one or more sensors 126 may communicate with a controller onboard the can body maker 100 and / or with a controller and / or other device remote from the can body maker 100. In some embodiments, the one or more sensors 126 may be wireless sensors configured for wireless communication (e.g., near field, cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth Low Energy, etc ), which may minimize and / or eliminate wiring within the can body maker 100 for communications.

[0026] In various embodiments, the one or more sensors 126 may be powered from an external device and / or may include a local or on-board power source 124 and / or power storage device such as local or on-board batteries. The one or more sensors 126 with the on-board power source may minimize and / or eliminate wiring within the can body maker 100 required for power. When included, the on-board power source 124 may be charged and / or re-charged as discussed in detail below. In various embodiments, and as discussed in detail below, the on-board power source 124 may be utilized to power the sensors 126 when the linear generator 128 is not activated and / or not providing sufficient power (e.g., during an initial start-up). In some non-limiting examples, the one or more sensors 126 may be configured for wireless communication and include a local or onboard power source 124. In certain embodiments, the on-board power source 124 may be chargeable and / or re-chargeable, such as but not limited to re-chargeable batteries, that may be charged and / or recharged with the electrical energy generated by the linear generator 128.

[0027] Optionally, a controller may control availability and / or ability of the on-board power source 124 to provide power to the one or more sensors 126. In certain embodiments, the controller may control the on-board power source 124 based on a detected operating characteristic of the can body maker 100 and / or as otherwise desired. As a non-limiting example, a controller, such as but not limited to an accelerometer, may control the on-board power source 124 to power the sensors 126 in the absence of detected motion and / or power from the linear generator 128 and to cease supplying power to the sensors 126 and / or enter a low power mode in the presence of motion from the linear generator 128 and / or after a predetermined time period without detected motion. Such control by the controller to provide power and / or full power only when needed may extend the working life of the on-board power source 124 and decrease requirements for maintenance andreplacement. In other embodiments, other control of the power from the on-board power source 124 may be implemented as desired.

[0028] In certain embodiments, the can body maker 100 includes the linear generator 128 for at least partially converting the reciprocating linear motion 116 of the ram assembly 102 into electrical energy which may be used to power the one or more sensors 126, charge the on-board power source(s) 124, and / or other electronics of the can body maker 100 as desired. In general, the linear generator 128 includes a stator 130 and a translator 132. The translator 132 moves linearly within the stator 130, which is stationary relative to the translator 132. In certain embodiments, the stator 130 includes one or more coil windings 134 and the translator 132 includes one or more magnets 136. Based on the reciprocating linear motion 116 of the can body maker 100, the translator 132 is moved to have reciprocating linear motion 138 relative to the stator 130, which produces a fluctuating magnetic field within the coil windings 134 generating electrical energy. One or more characteristics of the coil windings 134 and / or magnets 136 may be controlled as desired to control the generation of electrical energy, such as but not limited to a number of coil windings, a type of material of the coil windings 134, a location of the coil windings 134, a crosssection of the coil windings 134, a number of magnets 136, an arrangement of the magnets 136, a location of the magnets 136, combinations thereof, and / or other characteristics as desired.

[0029] In various embodiments, the linear generator 128 may utilize one or more components of the can body maker 100 as the stator 130 and / or the translator 132 (see, e.g., FIG. 1), and / or the linear generator 128 may be a separate component supported on or within the can body maker 100 (see, e.g., FIG. 2). In certain embodiments, the linear generator 128 is provided within the housing 144 of the can body maker 100.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the linear generator 128 includes one or more components of the can body maker 100 as the stator 130 and / or the translator 132. In FIG. 1, the ram assembly 102 is the translator 132 and the stator 130 is mounted within the housing 144. In this example, one or more magnets 136 may be supported on the ram assembly 102 such that during reciprocating linear motion 116, the translator 132 moves through the stator 130 to generate electrical energy. The linear generator 128 of FIG. 1 may be utilized to power the one or more sensors 126 and / or other electronics within the can body maker 100 without needing to extend wiring outside of the housing 144.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, in another embodiment, the stator 130 and translator 132 may be separate components supported on or within the can body maker 100. In the example of FIG. 2, the stator 130 and translator 132 are provided within a hollow portion 142 of the ram body 110, and the translator 132 is a moving mass with one or more magnets. The linear generator 128 of FIG. 1 may be used to power sensors and / or other electronics attached directly to the ram assembly 102 without requiring wiring to non-moving components, thereby eliminating a risk of tether failure due to fatigue.

[0032] While a single linear generator 128 is illustrated in each of FIGS. 1 and 2, in various embodiments, a can body maker 100 may include a plurality of linear generators 128. In such embodiments, the linear generators 128 may be of a same type, and / or the linear generators 128 may include both types (e.g., using the ram assembly 102 as the translator 132 as well as mounting a separate linear generator 128 within the ram body 110). In certain embodiments, either or both types of linear generators 128 may be utilized depending on the sensors 126 and / or other electronics incorporated into the can body maker 100.

[0033] A collection of exemplary embodiments is provided below, including at least some explicitly enumerated as an “Illustration” providing additional description of a variety of example embodiments in accordance with the concepts described herein. These illustrations are not meant to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive; and the disclosure not limited to these example illustrations but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

[0034] Illustration 1. A can body maker comprising: a ram assembly movable in a reciprocating linear motion in a predetermined direction; and a linear generator configured to generate electrical energy for an electrical component of the can body maker from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly.

[0035] Illustration 2. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the ram assembly comprises a hollow ram body, and wherein the linear generator is within the hollow ram body.

[0036] Illustration 3. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the electrical component is a sensor or other electrical component attached to the ram body.

[0037] Illustration 4. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the linear generator comprises a stator with one or more coil windings and a translator with one or more magnets and movable relative to the stator for generating the electrical energy.

[0038] Illustration 5. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein a ram body of the ram assembly is the translator of the linear generator.

[0039] Illustration 6. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, further comprising a can body maker housing, and wherein the linear generator is within the can body maker housing.

[0040] Illustration 7. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the electrical component is a wireless sensor within a can body maker housing of the can body maker, wherein the wireless sensor comprises a power storage device configured to store the electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion and to power the wireless sensor in the absence of the reciprocating linear motion.

[0041] Illustration 8. A can body maker comprising: a ram assembly movable in a reciprocating linear motion in a predetermined direction; and a sensor for measuring at least one characteristic of a drawing and ironing process, where the sensor is powered by electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear movement of the ram assembly.

[0042] Illustration 9. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, further comprising a linear generator for converting the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly into electrical energy for powering the sensor.

[0043] Illustration 10. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the linear generator comprises a stator with one or more coil windings and a translator with one or more magnets and movable relative to the stator for generating the electrical energy, and wherein the stator is mounted within a housing of the can body maker.

[0044] Illustration 11. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the translator a ram body of the ram assembly or a moving mass within the ram body.

[0045] Illustration 12. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the sensor further comprises a battery configured to selectively power the sensor.

[0046] Illustration 13. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the battery is charged by the electrical energy generated by the reciprocating linear motion.

[0047] Illustration 14. The can body maker of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the sensor is a wireless sensor on a ram body of the ram assembly.

[0048] Illustration 15. A drawing and ironing method for forming a can, the method comprising: causing reciprocating linear motion of a ram assembly of a can body maker; and powering at least one sensor measuring at least one characteristic of the drawing and ironing method using electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly.

[0049] Illustration 16. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein powering the at least one sensor comprises utilizing a linear generator comprising a stator and a translator, wherein the stator is mounted within a housing of the can body maker.

[0050] Illustration 17. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the stator is mounted within a ram body of the ram assembly.

[0051] Illustration 18. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the translator is a ram body of the ram assembly or a moving mass within the ram body.

[0052] Illustration 19. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, further comprising storing at least some of the electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion in a local power storage device of the at least one sensor and poweringthe at least one sensor using the stored electrical energy of the local power storage device in the absence of reciprocating linear motion.

[0053] Illustration 20. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, further comprising powering another electronic component within a housing of the can body maker for a component of the can body maker other than the ram assembly.

[0054] As used herein, the terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention,” and “the present invention” are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent application and the claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below.

[0055] In this description, reference is made to alloys identified by AA numbers and other related designations, such as “series” or “5xxx.” For an understanding of the number designation system most commonly used in naming and identifying aluminum and its alloys, see “International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys” or “Registration Record of Aluminum Association Alloy Designations and Chemical Compositions Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot,” both published by The Aluminum Association.

[0056] As used herein, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes singular and plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0057] The subject matter of embodiments of the present disclosure is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “longitudinal,” “front,” and “back,” among others, are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing.

[0058] The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention, and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0059] The above-described aspects are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described embodiments, nor the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMSThat which is claimed:

1. A can body maker comprising: a ram assembly movable in a reciprocating linear motion in a predetermined direction; and a linear generator configured to generate electrical energy for an electrical component of the can body maker from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly.

2. The can body maker of claim 1, wherein the ram assembly comprises a hollow ram body, and wherein the linear generator is within the hollow ram body.

3. The can body maker of claim 2, wherein the electrical component is a sensor or other electrical component attached to the ram body.

4. The can body maker of claim 1, wherein the linear generator comprises a stator with one or more coil windings and a translator with one or more magnets and movable relative to the stator for generating the electrical energy.

5. The can body maker of claim 4, wherein a ram body of the ram assembly is the translator of the linear generator.

6. The can body maker of claim 1, further comprising a can body maker housing, and wherein the linear generator is within the can body maker housing.

7. The can body maker of claim 1, wherein the electrical component is a wireless sensor within a can body maker housing of the can body maker, wherein the wireless sensor comprises a power storage device configured to store the electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion and to power the wireless sensor in the absence of the reciprocating linear motion.

8. A can body maker comprising:a ram assembly movable in a reciprocating linear motion in a predetermined direction; and a sensor for measuring at least one characteristic of a drawing and ironing process, where the sensor is powered by electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly.

9. The can body maker of claim 8, further comprising a linear generator for converting the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly into electrical energy for powering the sensor.

10. The can body maker of claim 9, wherein the linear generator comprises a stator with one or more coil windings and a translator with one or more magnets and movable relative to the stator for generating the electrical energy, and wherein the stator is mounted within a housing of the can body maker.

11. The can body maker of claim 10, wherein the translator is a ram body of the ram assembly or a moving mass within the ram body.

12. The can body maker of claim 8, wherein the sensor further comprises a battery configured to selectively power the sensor.

13. The can body maker of claim 12, wherein the battery is charged by the electrical energy generated by the reciprocating linear motion.

14. The can body maker of claim 8, wherein the sensor is a wireless sensor on a ram body of the ram assembly.

15. A drawing and ironing method for forming a can, the method comprising: causing reciprocating linear motion of a ram assembly of a can body maker; and powering at least one sensor measuring at least one characteristic of the drawing and ironing method using electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion of the ram assembly.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein powering at least one sensor comprises utilizing a linear generator comprising a stator and a translator, wherein the stator is mounted within a housing of the can body maker.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the stator is mounted within a ram body of the ram assembly.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the translator is a ram body of the ram assembly or a moving mass within the ram body.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising storing at least some of the electrical energy generated from the reciprocating linear motion in a local power storage device of at least one sensor and powering at least one sensor using the stored electrical energy of the local power storage device in the absence of reciprocating linear motion.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising powering another electronic component within a housing of the can body maker for a component of the can body maker other than the ram assembly.

Images