Vacuum manifold having dual timing adjustability for process turret

Abstract

A vacuum manifold assembly for a station of a necker machine incudes an annular shaped housing positioned about a central axis for coupling to a subframe adjacent a rotatable process turret. The housing includes an end face disposed perpendicular to the central axis, an annular trough defined in the housing spaced about the central axis, and a number of vacuum inlets opening into the trough. First and second adjustment members are positioned in the trough and adjustably coupled to the housing among a plurality of positions, each including a face sized and configured to close off a portion of the trough. The end face is structured to sealingly engage with the process turret such that the top of the trough is sealed by the process turret. The faces of the adjustment members delineate the trough into an active vacuum zone and inactive vacuum zone, with changes therebetween being adjustable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum manifold assembly for use in a station of a necker machine, the vacuum manifold assembly comprising:
 a housing of annular shape positioned about a central axis, the housing being structured to be fixedly coupled to a fixed subframe adjacent a rotatable process turret of the station, the housing comprising:
 a first end face disposed perpendicular to the central axis; 
 an annular trough defined in the housing spaced about the central axis, the annular trough extending a depth into the housing axially along the central axis from a trough top at the first end face to a trough base; and 
 a number of vacuum inlets defined in the housing and opening into the annular trough, each vacuum inlet being structured to communicate a vacuum to the trough from a source of vacuum pressure; 
   a first adjustment member positioned in the trough and adjustably coupled to the housing among a first plurality of positions, the first adjustment member having an end face sized and configured to close off a first portion of the trough; and   a second adjustment member positioned in the trough and adjustably coupled to the housing among a second plurality of positions independent of the first adjustment member, the second adjustment member having an end face sized and configured to close off a second portion of the trough,   wherein the first end face of the housing is structured to sealingly engage with the rotatable process turret such that the top of the trough is sealed by the rotatable process turret,   wherein the end face of the first adjustment member and the end face of the second adjustment member delineate the trough into two portions: an active vacuum zone and an inactive vacuum zone, the active vacuum zone being the portion of the trough between the end face of the first adjustment member and the end face of the second adjustment member having the number of vacuum inlets opening therein,   wherein an angular starting point of the active vacuum zone is adjustable by adjusting the positioning of the first adjustment member, and   wherein an angular ending point of the active vacuum zone is adjustable by adjusting the positioning of the second adjustment member.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a backer plate and a manifold plate coupled to the backer plate, wherein the manifold plate comprises the first end surface and defines the trough, and wherein the first adjustment member and the second adjustment member are adjustably coupled to the backer plate. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the number of vacuum inlets open into the base of the trough. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the number of vacuum inlets comprise a plurality of vacuum inlets circumferentially spaced along the vacuum zone. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum manifold assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an outward extending flange opposite the first end face, wherein the housing is structured to be fixedly coupled to the fixed subframe of the station via the outward extending flange. 
     
     
         6 . A station for use in a necker machine, the station comprising:
 a subframe;   a process turret rotatably coupled to the subframe and structured to be rotated about a rotation axis by a drive assembly of the necker machine, the process turret having a plurality of vacuum conduits defined therein, each vacuum conduit extending from a respective opening defined in an end face of the process turret positioned perpendicular to the rotation axis to an arrangement for receiving a can body for processing; and   a vacuum manifold assembly comprising:
 a housing of annular shape positioned about a central axis aligned with the rotation axis of the process turret, the housing fixedly coupled to the subframe adjacent the end face of the process turret, the housing comprising:
 a first end face disposed perpendicular to the central axis; 
 an annular trough defined in the housing spaced about the central axis, the annular trough extending a depth into the housing axially along the central axis from a trough top at the first end face to a trough base; and 
 a number of vacuum inlets defined in the housing and opening into the annular trough, each vacuum inlet being structured to communicate a vacuum to the trough from a source of vacuum pressure; 
 
 a first adjustment member positioned in the trough and adjustably coupled to the housing among a first plurality of positions, the first adjustment member having an end face sized and configured to close off a first portion of the trough; and 
 a second adjustment member positioned in the trough and adjustably coupled to the housing among a second plurality of positions independent of the first adjustment member, the second adjustment member having an end face sized and configured to close off a second portion of the trough, 
   wherein the first end face of the housing is sealingly engaged with the end face of the process turret such that the top of the trough is sealed by the process turret,   wherein the end face of the first adjustment member and the end face of the second adjustment member delineate the trough into two portions: an active vacuum zone and an inactive vacuum zone, the active vacuum zone being the portion of the trough between the end face of the first adjustment member and the end face of the second adjustment member having the number of vacuum inlets opening therein,   wherein an angular starting point of the active vacuum zone is adjustable by adjusting the positioning of the first adjustment member,   wherein an angular ending point of the active vacuum zone is adjustable by adjusting the positioning of the second adjustment member, and   wherein the respective openings of the vacuum conduits of the process turret aligned with the active vacuum zone communicate the vacuum to the arrangement for receiving the can body for processing associated therewith.   
     
     
         7 . The station of  claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises a backer plate and a manifold plate coupled to the backer plate, wherein the manifold plate comprises the first end surface and defines the trough, and wherein the first adjustment member and the second adjustment member are adjustably coupled to the backer plate. 
     
     
         8 . The station of  claim 6 , wherein the number of vacuum inlets open into the base of the trough. 
     
     
         9 . The station of  claim 6 , wherein the number of vacuum inlets comprise a plurality of vacuum inlets circumferentially spaced along the vacuum zone. 
     
     
         10 . The station of  claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises an outward extending flange opposite the first end face, wherein the housing is structured to be fixedly coupled to the fixed subframe of the station via the outward extending flange. 
     
     
         11 . A necker machine for use in forming can bodies, the necker machine comprising:
 a drive assembly; and   a plurality of stations, wherein one or more of the plurality of the stations comprises:
 a subframe; 
 a process turret rotatably coupled to the subframe and structured to be rotated about a rotation axis by the drive assembly, the process turret having a plurality of vacuum conduits defined therein, each vacuum conduit extending from a respective opening defined in an end face of the process turret positioned perpendicular to the rotation axis to an arrangement for receiving a can body for processing; and 
 a vacuum manifold assembly comprising:
 a housing of annular shape positioned about a central axis aligned with the rotation axis of the processing turret, the housing fixedly coupled to the subframe adjacent the end face of the process turret, the housing comprising:
 a first end face disposed perpendicular to the central axis; 
 an annular trough defined in the housing spaced about the central axis, the annular trough extending a depth into the housing axially along the central axis from a trough top at the first end face to a trough base; and 
 a number of vacuum inlets defined in the housing and opening into the annular trough, each vacuum inlet being structured to communicate a vacuum to the trough from a source of vacuum pressure; 
 
 a first adjustment member positioned in the trough and adjustably coupled to the housing among a first plurality of positions, the first adjustment member having an end face sized and configured to close off a first portion of the trough; and 
 a second adjustment member positioned in the trough and adjustably coupled to the housing among a second plurality of positions independent of the first adjustment member, the second adjustment member having an end face sized and configured to close off a second portion of the trough, 
 
   wherein the first end face of the housing is sealingly engaged with the end face of the process turret such that the top of the trough is sealed by the process turret,   wherein the end face of the first adjustment member and the end face of the second adjustment member delineate the trough into two portions: an active vacuum zone and an inactive vacuum zone, the active vacuum zone being the portion of the trough between the end face of the first adjustment member and the end face of the second adjustment member having the number of vacuum inlets opening therein,   wherein an angular starting point of the active vacuum zone is adjustable by adjusting the positioning of the first adjustment member,   wherein an angular ending point of the active vacuum zone is adjustable by adjusting the positioning of the second adjustment member, and   wherein the respective openings of the vacuum conduits of the process turret aligned with the active vacuum zone communicate the vacuum to the arrangement for receiving the can body for processing associated therewith.   
     
     
         12 . The necker machine of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a backer plate and a manifold plate coupled to the backer plate, wherein manifold plate comprises the first end surface and defines the trough, and wherein the first adjustment member and the second adjustment member are adjustably coupled to the backer plate. 
     
     
         13 . The necker machine of  claim 11 , wherein the number of vacuum inlets open into the base of the trough. 
     
     
         14 . The necker machine of  claim 11 , wherein the number of vacuum inlets comprise a plurality of vacuum inlets circumferentially spaced along the vacuum zone. 
     
     
         15 . The necker machine of  claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises an outward extending flange opposite the first end face, wherein the housing is structured to be fixedly coupled to the fixed subframe of the station via the outward extending flange.