Air Saving Fast Can Handling Process and Device

Abstract

A process, with enabling mechanical system, for providing very brief pulses of pressurized air to can making tooling, in particular, punches found in cuppers and bodymakers. Electromagnetic valves having very high speeds of operation are used. The electromagnetic valves can operate in a fraction of the time of the standard valves used in the prior art. This in turn means that air can be conserved since continuous high pressure air is no longer required, and production can be accelerated. High speed valves, combined with a pneumatic check valve, can be used to deliver a sequence of pulses of air pressure, resulting in air hammer. The air hammer is found to be very effective for can removal from tooling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of removing a can engaged to a punch, the method comprising the steps of:
 Providing a source of high pressure air;   Providing a high speed valve, the high speed valve capable of actuation in a time of 5 milliseconds or less, the source of high pressure air pneumatically connected to the high speed valve, the high speed valve pneumatically connected to such punch;   Using the high speed valve, providing a plurality of pulses of the high pressure air to such punch but not providing the high pressure air continuously;   Whereby such can is disengaged from such punch using less of the high pressure air than if the high pressure air had been provided continuously.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulses of the high pressure air further comprise:
 A timed sequence of the plurality of pulses in a resonant frequency resulting in air hammer within the pneumatic connection from the high speed valve to such punch and such punch.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the punch further comprises:
 A die center mounted to a cupper machine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the punch further comprises:
 A punch mounted to a bodymaker machine.   
     
     
         5 . A can making machine for forming a can from a work piece, such can making machine having at least one punch, such punch carrying such work piece through a constricted tooling to increase an interior size of such work piece, such work piece having a tendency to become engaged to such punch for a period of time due to vacuum formation in such interior of such work piece as such punch increases such interior's size, the can making machine comprising:
 a source of air pneumatically connected to a pressure regulator;   the pressure regulator pneumatically connected to an receiver tank;   the receiver tank pneumatically connected to a high speed valve;   the high speed valve controlled by a signal generated by a programmable logic controller, the high speed valve operable to supply high pressure air;   the valve pneumatically connected to a pneumatic check valve;   the pneumatic check valve pneumatically connected to such punch;   the high speed valve not supplying the high pressure air continuously to the pneumatic check valve and such punch;   the high speed valve supplying a plurality of pulses of the high pressure air to the pneumatic check valve and to such punch and such interior of such work piece while such work piece is engaged to such punch for such period of time;   whereby such work piece is disengaged from such punch without the high pressure air being continuously supplied.   
     
     
         6 . The can making machine of  claim 5 , wherein the high speed valve is an electromagnetic valve. 
     
     
         7 . The can making machine of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 A can stripper, the can stripper functioning only to guide the punch.   
     
     
         8 . The can making machine of  claim 6 , wherein the can making machine further comprises:
 A bodymaker;   and the punch further comprises:   a ram.   
     
     
         9 . The can making machine of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 A lightweight insert disposed within such bodymaker ram, the lightweight insert reducing a ram interior volume;   Whereby the amount of air used is further reduced and the speed of operation is further increased.   
     
     
         10 . The can making machine of  claim 6 , wherein the can making machine further comprises:
 A cupper.   
     
     
         11 . The can making machine of  claim 10 , wherein the cupper further comprises:
 A check valve, the high speed valve supplying high pressure air pulses to such punch via the check valve.   
     
     
         12 . The can making machine of  claim 6 , wherein the electromagnetic valve has an actuation time of less than 5 milliseconds, preferably less than 1 millisecond. 
     
     
         13 . The can making machine of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pulses of high pressure air have a pulse time and the pulse time is less than 5 milliseconds. 
     
     
         14 . The can making machine of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of pulses further comprise: a time sequence of the plurality of pulses in a resonant frequency resulting in air hammer within: the pneumatic connection from the high speed valve to such punch, such punch, and such work piece interior.