Adjustable transfer assembly for container manufacturing process

摘要

A transfer turret assembly is provided for transferring can bodies between process stations in a can necking machine. The transfer turret assembly includes a rotatable transfer starwheel. A plurality of pockets is formed in the starwheel that can each receive a can body. The turret assembly includes a vacuum assembly having a first zone that is under vacuum and a second zone separated from the first region by a boundary. The first zone vacuum retention force to vacuum ports formed in the pockets to retain the can bodies within the pockets. The boundary between the first zone and the second zone is adjustable to correspondingly adjust the vacuum retention force according to desired starwheel rotation speed.

主权项

1. A transfer turret assembly for a can necking machine, the transfer turret assembly comprising:
a rotatable transfer starwheel configured to transfer can bodies between can pockets of a first process station and can pockets of a second process station, the transfer starwheel including a plurality of peripheral pockets, each peripheral pocket adapted to receive a can body and including a vacuum port; and at least one adjustable baffle that has an adjustable position relative to either an infeed position or a discharge position; wherein the peripheral pockets are adapted to rotate between the infeed position, in which a retaining airflow is applied through the vacuum port, and the discharge position, in which the retaining airflow from the vacuum port is removed, and wherein at least one of the infeed position and the discharge position is adjustable relative to the other by the at least one adjustable baffle to enable adjustment of the at least one of the infeed position and discharge position relative to the corresponding can pocket of the process station.