Apparatus for simultaneously tapering and flanging the bodies of cylindrical metal cans
United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,874,209 Maiorino Apr. 1, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY 3.260.089 7/1966 11mm) et a1 72/117 3,754,424 8/1973 Costanzo 72/121 TAPERING AND FLANGING THE BODIES OF CYLINDRICAL METAL CANS Giuseppe Maiorino, Napoli, Italy FMl-Mecfond-Aziende Mecchaniche Riunite S.p.A., Napoli, Italy Filed: Aug. 17, 1973 Appl. No.: 389,426  
 Inventor:  
 Assignee:  
  Foreign Application Priority Data May 4, 1973 Italy 49793/73 References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 6/191 1 Osborn 72/94 7/1947 Peters 72/94 4/1956 Butters 72/94 Primary Examiner-C. W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-E. M. Combs Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Young &amp; Thompson [57} ABSTRACT A device for simultaneously obtaining the tapering and the flanging of the bodies of metal cylindrical cans, comprising in combination one pair of spindles symmetrically located on a common axis, capable of revoluting about said axis and destined to slide along said axis in order to enter into the worked body and to issue from the body itself when the operation is ended, a negatively shaped surface on the inner ends of said spindles reproducing the shape to be obtained in said cylindrical body, a pair of shaping collars idly mounted on said spindles and provided in their inner surface with the positive shape corresponding to that of the spindles, means for holding centered said collars and for allowing a progressive radial displacement thereof, so as to deform the said interposed cylindrical body, according to the aforesaid shape.  
 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY TAPERING AND FLANGING THE BODIES OF CYLINDRICAL METAL CANS The present invention relates to a device for simultaneously tapering and flanging the bodies of metal cylindrical cans. to be used on an automatic machine with multiple operative elements.  
  Certain systems for obtaining the tapering of metal cylindrical bodies are already adopted on certain types of machines; one of them, employed on an eccentric press embodies, however, only a tapering with a straight profile terminal portion, whereby the flanging renders necessary a further operation by means of another suitably equipped machine.  
  A more widely known system, which embodies simultaneously the two operations, is based on the principle of operating two half-rings provided internally with the profile of the tapering, and half-rings when gripping the workpiece compressing the surface of the edge of the body about a stationary cylinder, where in correspondence with the half-rings, the circumferential shaped groove, of the tapering to be obtained, has been provided. The device according to this invention aims to use the new working techniques and the new mechanical characteristics of the tinned plate used for manufacturing the metal cylindrical bodies. This device, in fact, when applied on automatic machines with multiple operative elements, allows a high rate of production to be reached, obtaining at the same time the tapering and the flanging of cylindrical bodies by a single operation by a process of gradual deformation of the material (as required by its novel mechanical features).  
  According to the present invention, the device includes:  
  l. One pair of spindles revolving about their axes, symmetrically located and provided at the adjacent ends with the negative tapering and flanging profiles to be obtained:  
  2. a pair of shaping collars provided in their internal surfaces with the positive profile, idly mounted on said spindles. and with their shaped portions in register with the corresponding shaped portions of the spindles;  
  3. a pair of centering cones for the aforesaid collars elastically adherent thereto by means of springs, with the possibility of an axial displacement;  
  4. coupling means for the aforesaid members, suitable for mounting them on the shafts of the operative elements symmetrically arranged by pairs on the rotation unit of the utilized machine, the kind of which is known;  
  5. a pair of cams fixed to the non-rotating central support ofthe machine in order to form a means for the progressive approach of the shaping collars to the spindles.  
 This invention will be now described with reference to the attached drawings showing by way of non limitative example, one preferred embodiment of the invention itself.  
  HO. 1 shows a partial view of the automatic machine with multiple operative elements, already mainly used for receiving thereon the members forming the system for obtaining the tapering and the flanging of metal cylindrical bodies.  
  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1, on a reduced scale, wherein the feeding system of the worked bodies to the various operative elements is shown.  
  FIGS. 3 and 4 show the longitudinal sectional view of the members forming the system for tapering and flanging the bodies, mounted on the shafts of the operative elements, in different working positions.  
  FIG. 2A shows a partial sectional view of the machine itself, where the stationary cam for the progressive approach of the shaping collars against the spindles has been shown.  
  With reference to FIG. 1, the operative elements 1 and 2 are located symmetrically by pairs, on the rotating unit of the machine formed by the drums 3 rigid with the rotary shaft 4. During the revolution of the drums 3, the elements 1 and 2 are given axial movement by the stationary cams 5 for inserting the spindles 6 and 7 into the cylindrical body 8 for carrying out the tapering and flanging ope rations, and for extracting the spindles in order to render free the body 8 when the operation has been completed. Simultaneously, the revolution of the shafts 9 is obtained by the gears 10 mounted thereon, engaged with the two gears 11 stationary and rigid with the cams 5.  
  The bodies 8 to be worked are fed to the machine by means of the feeding unit of FIG. 2 consisting of a conveying screw 12 and of two pairs of star members 13 and 14.  
  The star members 13 synchronous with the screw l2 take up the bodies 8 carrying them on the centering and conveying supports 15 so as to feed the various operative elements of the machine.  
  The star members l4 synchronous with the centering supports 15 take up the bodies rendered free from the spindles 6 and 7 after the required operations have been carried out, carrying the worked pieces in the collecting channel 16.  
  The device according to the present invention, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises: a pair of spindles 6 and 7 rotating on the shafts 9 of the operative elements 1 and 2 which during their axial movement introduce the spindles themselves 6 and 7 inside the workpiece 8. centering them on one another by means of the hub l7 and of the chamber 18 provided thereon.  
  On the external ends of the spindles 6 and 7 are circularly provided the grooves 19 corresponding to the tapering and flanging profiles to be obtained. Said grooves end in the projecting flanges 20 provided on the spindles 6 and 7, and used for axially centering the body 8.  
  On said spindles 6 and 7 there are the shaping collars 21 provided in their internal part on one side, with the positive profile corresponding to that of the spindles 6 and 7. at their centres with the guide flange 23, and on the other side with the recess 24 for the centering cone 25. The cone 25 by means of the springs 26 received within the bores 27 provided therein and in the stationary spring carrier disc 28 and by the guide pin 29 will be elastically pushed into the conical recess 24 of the collar 21, holding it thus centered with respect to the spindles 6 and 7 so as to allow the free entry and exit of the bodies 8.  
  These members are located on the shafts 9 of the elements 1 and 2 by means of the sleeve 30 provided with the flange 31 for positioning the shaping collar 2i and the spacer 32, the entire unit being fixed by the screws 33 passing through the spindles 6 and 7.  
  The collars 21 which are positioned and held with respect to the spindles 6 and 7 by their flanges 23, which are guided between the surfaces of the flange 31 of the sleeve 30 and the flange of the spindles 6 and 7, are driven during their contact with the cams 4| through a radial displacement. and are thus brought near to the rotating spingles 6and 7, taking as a consequence of the generated rolling friction, a rolling revolution movement.  
  HO. 3, as aforesaid, shows a cross sectional view of the members of the unit in their working condition, wherein the spindles 6 and 7, introduced into the work piece 8 are engaged with one another, while the shaping collars 2i arc co-axially centered with the respective spindles 6 and 7 by means of the cones which are elastically pushed into the recesses 24 of the associ ated collars 21.  
  At this point the elements I and 2 carrying the system according to this invention, proceeding with their rotation about the axis of the machine will meet the cams 41 fixed by the screws 34 and the spacers 35 and 36 to the non rotating central support of the machine; thus the tapering and flanging operation of the body 8 will start.  
  These operations will be carried out by moving the shaping collars 2! against the spindles 6 and 7 (FIG. 2A) due to the trust of the cams 4] on the outer surfaces of which are located in portions having progressively increasing radiuscs, the rolling races 38, 39 and 40. so embodied as to obtain a gradual working displacement of the collars 2! and consequently the gradual deformation of the material of the body 8 in correspondence with its two ends.  
  FIG. 4 shows the device during the tapering and flanging operations on the last portion of the rolling race 40 of the cam 4].  
 It is to be noted that in this position. due to the radial displacement of the collars 21. the centering cones 25 able for carrying out said operations also on one end only of the can body,  
  The present invention has been described in one embodiment at present preferred, but it is to be understood that constructive variations might be practically adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.  
  Having thus described the present invention, what is claimed is:  
  1. Apparatus for simultaneously tapering and flanging the bodies of cylindrical metal cans. comprising a pair of spindles, shafts mounting said spindles for rotation about and sliding movement along a common axis toward and away from each other so as jointly to sup port a said can when said spindles are together, each spindle having a negative surface on its inner end for shaping one end ofa said can, a pair of shaping collars idly mounted on said spindles and having an inner surface having a positive shape corresponding to said negative shape but of a larger diameter than the diameter of said negative shape, each said spindle having a centering end flange for a said can. means for yieldably centering said collars and for permitting said centering means comprising conical rings idly mounted on said shafts, resilient means yieldably urging said conical rings to their center positions, discs idly mounted on said shafts but fixed against axial sliding movement on said shafts, said resilient means acting between said discs and said rings, guide pins disposed in bores in said discs and rings for permitting said rings to slide on said pins axially, a sleeve idly mounted on each said shaft, a flange extending radially outwardly from said sleeve and a flange extending radially inwardly from each said collar and disposed between said radially outward flange and said end flange of a said spindle to guide the radial displacement of said collar.  
  2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said means for radially displacing said collars comprising a pair of stationary cams engaging with a cylindrical peripheral surface on each said collar that rolls on a said cam.