Cam follower assembly for can bodymaker and can bodymaker including same

Abstract

A cam follower assembly for a can bodymaker includes a slider structured to be coupled to the proximal end of a ram body of the can bodymaker; and a plurality of cam follower members rotatably coupled to the slider. The cam follower members are structured to be operatively coupled to a cam of a ram drive assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A can bodymaker comprising:
 a ram drive assembly including a disk cam; and   a moving assembly comprising:
 a ram assembly including an elongated ram body having a proximal end and an opposite distal end; and 
 a cam follower assembly coupled to the proximal end of the ram body, the cam follower assembly comprising:
 a slider; and 
 a plurality of cam follower members rotatably coupled to the slider, wherein the cam follower members are operatively engaged with the disk cam. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The can bodymaker of  claim 1 , wherein the cam follower assembly further comprises a cam follower bearing assembly having a number of hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing pads positioned and structured to engage with corresponding, cooperatively positioned, bearing members. 
     
     
         3 . The can bodymaker of  claim 2 , wherein each bearing pad includes a recessed bearing pocket that is structured to house a pressurized supply of bearing fluid provided therein. 
     
     
         4 . The can bodymaker of  claim 2 , wherein the slider comprises a slider body and an upper frame portion extending upward from the slider body, and wherein the number of hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing pads are provided on the upper frame portion. 
     
     
         5 . The can bodymaker of  claim 4 , wherein the upper frame portion of the slider body comprises:
 a first member extending upward from at or about a first edge of the slider body;   a second member extending upward from at or about a second edge of the slider body; and   a third member extending between the first and second members and spaced a distance above the slider body.   
     
     
         6 . The can bodymaker of  claim 5 , wherein the number of hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing pads includes:
 a first bearing pad coupled to an outward facing face of the first member;   a second bearing pad coupled to an outward facing face of the second member; and   a third bearing pad coupled to an upward facing face of the third member.   
     
     
         7 . The can bodymaker of  claim 4 , wherein the slider further comprises a lower frame portion extending downward from the slider body. 
     
     
         8 . The can bodymaker of  claim 7 , wherein the lower frame portion comprises:
 a first member extending downward from at or about a first edge of the slider body;   a second member extending downward generally from at or about a second edge of the slider body opposite the first edge; and   a third member extending between the first and second members and spaced a distance below the slider body.   
     
     
         9 . The can bodymaker of  claim 1 , wherein each of the cam followers comprises a roller bearing. 
     
     
         10 . The can bodymaker of  claim 9 , wherein one of the roller bearings includes an eccentric bushing positionable between a first positioning, wherein the one roller bearing is disposed the fixed distance from the other roller bearing, and a second positioning, wherein the one roller bearing is disposed a fixed second distance, different than the fixed distance, from the other roller bearing. 
     
     
         11 . A can bodymaker comprising:
 a ram drive assembly including one of a disk cam or a barrel cam; and   a moving assembly comprising:
 a ram assembly including an elongated ram body having a proximal end and an opposite distal end; and 
 a cam follower assembly coupled to the proximal end of the ram body, the cam follower assembly comprising:
 a slider; and 
 a plurality of cam follower members rotatably coupled to the slider, 
 
   wherein the cam follower members are operatively engaged with one of the disk cam or the barrel cam,   wherein each of the cam followers comprises a roller bearing, and   wherein one of the roller bearings includes an eccentric bushing positionable between a first positioning, wherein the one roller bearing is disposed a first distance from another one of the plurality of roller bearings, and a second positioning, wherein the one roller bearing is disposed a second distance, different than the first distance, from the other one of the plurality of roller bearings.   
     
     
         12 . The can bodymaker of  claim 11 , wherein the cam follower assembly further comprises a cam follower bearing assembly having a number of hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing pads positioned and structured to engage with corresponding, cooperatively positioned, bearing members. 
     
     
         13 . The can bodymaker of  claim 12 , wherein each bearing pad includes a recessed bearing pocket that is structured to house a pressurized supply of bearing fluid provided therein. 
     
     
         14 . The can bodymaker of  claim 12 , wherein the slider comprises a slider body and an upper frame portion extending upward from the slider body, and wherein the number of hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing pads are provided on the upper frame portion. 
     
     
         15 . The can bodymaker of  claim 14 , wherein the upper frame portion of the slider body comprises:
 a first member extending upward from at or about a first edge of the slider body;   a second member extending upward from at or about a second edge of the slider body; and   a third member extending between the first and second members and spaced a distance above the slider body.   
     
     
         16 . The can bodymaker of  claim 15 , wherein the number of hydrostatic/hydrodynamic bearing pads includes:
 a first bearing pad coupled to an outward facing face of the first member;   a second bearing pad coupled to an outward facing face of the second member; and   a third bearing pad coupled to an upward facing face of the third member.   
     
     
         17 . The can bodymaker of  claim 14 , wherein the slider further comprises a lower frame portion extending downward from the slider body. 
     
     
         18 . The can bodymaker of  claim 17 , wherein the lower frame portion comprises:
 a first member extending downward from at or about a first edge of the slider body;   a second member extending downward generally from at or about a second edge of the slider body opposite the first edge; and   a third member extending between the first and second members and spaced a distance below the slider body.