Vertical Cup Feed Mechanism With Biased Locator for Ram Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional can bodymakers with horizontally oriented rams face issues such as ram droop, mis-alignment, and reduced production efficiency, leading to quality problems and the need for multiple machines to meet production quotas.
Innovation Solution
A cup feed mechanism for a vertically oriented reciprocating ram assembly, incorporating a chute assembly, a rotatable feeder disk, and a cup locator with biasing devices to maintain cup position and orientation, enabling efficient cup feeding and can body formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a horizontally oriented ram is used in a can bodymaker, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but ram droop and mis-alignment occur leading to quality problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal ram orientation to a vertical orientation. This inversion eliminates gravity-induced ram droop and mis-alignment issues while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through the vertical configuration of the cup feed mechanism and bodymaker components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of ram orientation from horizontal to vertical. This parameter change fundamentally alters the gravitational effects on the ram, eliminating droop and improving alignment precision while requiring corresponding changes to the cup feed mechanism design.
2Productivity
If multiple machines are used to meet production quotas, then production capacity is sufficient, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vertically oriented bodymaker with improved cup feed mechanism is designed to handle multiple cups per cycle, increasing productivity without requiring additional machines. The mechanism universally processes multiple cups through the vertical ram stroke, eliminating the need for multiple horizontal machines to achieve the same output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from horizontal multi-machine processing to vertical single-machine processing. By utilizing the vertical dimension for the ram stroke and cup stacking arrangement, the system achieves higher productivity within a single machine footprint, reducing overall device complexity and space requirements.
3Device complexity
If cups are fed horizontally through the die pack, then the feeding mechanism is simpler, but alignment and positioning precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the cup feeding direction from horizontal to vertical, aligning with the vertical ram orientation. This inversion improves cup positioning precision by eliminating horizontal mis-alignment issues while the biasing devices and guide structures maintain feeding mechanism simplicity through vertical guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces biasing devices as intermediary elements between the cup feed mechanism and the vertical ram. These intermediaries actively maintain cup positioning precision during vertical feeding, compensating for any positioning variations and ensuring accurate cup placement on the punch without significantly increasing overall mechanism complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A cup feed assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly is provided. The cup feed assembly includes a chute assembly, a rotatable feeder disk assembly, and a cup locator. The chute assembly includes a transfer chute. The transfer chute includes an outer second side member, a first end and a second end. The transfer chute first end is in communication with the feeder chute outlet end. The outer second side member at the transfer chute second end includes a first biasing device. The cup locator defines a holding space, the holding space in communication with the transfer chute second end. The feeder disk assembly is structured to move a cup disposed at feeder chute outlet end through the transfer chute into the cup locator. The first biasing device is structured to maintain a cup in the holding space.