High speed necking configuration

Abstract

A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A horizontal beverage can necking machine assembly for forming necked beverage can bodies suitable for forming a seam with a beverage can end, the assembly comprising:
 multiple horizontal necking stages adapted for necking at least 3000 beverage can bodies per minute, each necking stage being configured to rotate about a respective axis that is substantially parallel to a surface on which the necking machine is supported;   longitudinal centers of adjacent necking stages forming an included angle with the longitudinal center of a transfer starwheel, measured with the longitudinal center of the transfer starwheel at the vertex, of no more than 170 degrees;   each one of the necking stages including a main turret that includes: a main turret shaft, a main turret starwheel having plural pockets adapted for carrying can bodies, and a main gear in mesh communication with a transfer starwheel gear;   each one of the pockets having a necking die at one end thereof and a pad on an opposing end;   each necking die of each one of the necking stages comprising:
 a throat portion that is at least 0.125 inches long; 
 a body portion having an inner dimension that is smaller than an inner dimension of the throat portion; and 
 a transition portion having an inner surface that smoothly transitions from an inner surface of the throat portion to an inner surface of the body portion; and 
   each one of the pockets of each one of the necking stages having a first configuration in which the can body is spaced apart from the necking die and a second configuration in which the can body is engaged with the necking die;   in the first configuration the pad is spaced apart from the necking die by a first distance, in the second configuration the pad is spaced apart from the necking die by a second distance that is at least 1.5 inches less than the first distance.   
     
     
         3 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the throat portion inner surface defines a cylinder having a diameter that is the throat portion inner dimension, the body portion inner surface defines a cylinder having a diameter that is the body portion inner dimension. 
     
     
         4 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second distance is at least 1.625 inches less than the first distance. 
     
     
         5 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second distance is at least 1.75 inches less than the first distance. 
     
     
         6 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3200 beverage can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         7 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3400 can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         8 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the throat portion of each necking die is at least 0.25 inches long. 
     
     
         9 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the throat portion of each necking die is at least 0.375 inches long. 
     
     
         10 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the pad is part of a pusher assembly adapted for moving the pad toward the necking die. 
     
     
         11 . The necking machine assembly of  claim 2  wherein the included angle is no more than 120 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . A horizontal beverage can necking machine for forming necked beverage can bodies suitable for forming a seam with a beverage can end, the horizontal necking machine including multiple operation stages, at least some of the operation stages comprising:
 multiple horizontal necking stages adapted for necking at least 3000 beverage can bodies per minute, each necking stage being configured to rotate about a respective axis that is substantially parallel to a surface on which the necking machine is supported;   longitudinal centers of adjacent necking stages forming an included angle with the longitudinal center of a transfer starwheel, measured with the longitudinal center of the transfer starwheel at the vertex, of no more than 170 degrees;   each one of the necking stages including a main turret that includes: a main turret shaft, a main turret starwheel having plural pockets adapted for carrying can bodies, and a main gear adapted for receiving torque to rotate the main turret shaft; each one of the pockets having a necking die at one end thereof and a pad on an opposing end;   each necking die comprising:
 a throat portion having an inner surface that defines a cylinder having a throat portion diameter; 
 a body portion having an inner surface that defines a cylinder having a body portion diameter; and 
 a transition portion having an inner surface that smoothly transitions from the inner surface of the throat portion to the inner surface of the body portion, wherein the throat portion diameter is larger than the body portion diameter; and 
   each one of the pockets of each one of the necking stages having a first configuration in which the can body is spaced apart from the necking die and a second configuration in which the can body is engaged with the necking die; in the first configuration the pad is spaced apart from the necking die by a first distance, in the second configuration the pad is spaced apart from the necking die by a second distance that is at least 1.75 inches less than the first distance;   whereby the throat portion inner surface is adapted for enhancing concentricity of the can body relative to the die.   
     
     
         13 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12  wherein the longitudinal centers of the adjacent necking stages form the included angle with the longitudinal center of the transfer starwheel of no more than 120 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12  wherein the pad is part of a pusher assembly adapted for moving the pad toward the necking die. 
     
     
         15 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the throat portion is at least 0.25 inches long. 
     
     
         16 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 15  wherein the included angle of no more than 120 degrees thereby increases the angular range available for necking the can body. 
     
     
         17 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 16  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3200 beverage can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         18 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 16  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3400 beverage can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         19 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the throat portion is approximately 0.375 inches long. 
     
     
         20 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 19  wherein the included angle of no more than 120 degrees thereby increases the angular range available for necking the can body. 
     
     
         21 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 20  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3200 beverage can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         22 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 20  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3400 beverage can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         23 . The horizontal can necking machine of  claim 12  wherein the pad is adapted for being moved toward the necking die. 
     
     
         24 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3200 beverage can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         25 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12  wherein the necking stages are adapted for necking at least 3400 beverage can bodies per minute. 
     
     
         26 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12  wherein for each necking stage the main gear is mounted on the main turret shaft. 
     
     
         27 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the throat portion is rounded proximate to an inlet of the throat portion. 
     
     
         28 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the operation stages further include an input station. 
     
     
         29 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the operation stages further include a bottom reforming station. 
     
     
         30 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the operation stages further include a flanging station. 
     
     
         31 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the operation stages further include a light-testing station. 
     
     
         32 . The horizontal beverage can necking machine of  claim 12 , wherein the operation stages further include at least one of an input station, a bottom reforming station, a flanging station and a light-testing station.