METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING TRANSFERRING SHELLS FOR CANS

摘要

DRT 052 P2 A method and apparatus are disclosed for making and transferring shells for cans within a ram press. The shells are formed in a two-step operation in which shell preforms are formed at a first station within the press and then transferred to second station where they are formed into completed shells. The first station includes first (FS-1) and second (FS-2) rows of tooling sets with the tooling sets of the first row being located in alternating transverse positions relative to the tooling sets of the second row. Similarly, the second station includes third (SS-3) and fourth (SS-4) rows of tooling sets in which the tooling set of the third row are located in alternating transverse positions relative to the tooling sets of the fourth row, and the tooling sets of the third and fourth rows are located for receiving the shell preforms from the tooling sets of the second and first rows, respectively. The shell preforms formed in the first row are transferred along a lower transfer plate LP within the press to the fourth row tooling, and the shell preforms formed in the second row are transferred along an upper transfer plate UP within the press to the third row tooling. In addition, extendable cylinders (110, 112) are provided for lifting the lower and upper transfer plates to provide access to the lower tooling and shell transfer paths.