METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLOSELY COUPLING MACHINES USED FOR CAN MAKING

摘要

A system (50) for performing sequential operations on a can body (2), such as necking the open end of the can body, in which two or more machines (6', 6''), such as die necking machines are, are coupled by a transfer module (52). The transfer module comprises a multi-pocket wheel (54) that receives can bodies from a multi-pocket discharge wheel (20) of the first necking machine (6') and discharges them to a multi-pocket input wheel (10') of the second die necking machine (6''). The drive motor of one of the necking machines is eliminated, while the drive motor on the other machine is enlarged. A gear (25) on the transfer module couples the gear trains on the first and second necking machines into a common gear train. Thus, the transfer module gear train transfers power from the necking machine having the enlarged drive motor (28) to the necking machine for which the drive motor was eliminated. This enables a single drive motor to drive both machines.