Granted Patent B2

US 7,624,615 · App. 11/553,524 · Granted Dec 1, 2009

Abstract

Claims (32)

1. A cam system comprising:

at least one filler cam;

at least one wedge assembly connected to a rotatable drive shaft, said wedge assembly including an actuation arm fixed to said drive shaft, a drive arm hingedly coupled to said actuation arm, and a wedge connected to said drive arm; and

a drive mechanism for rotating said drive shaft,

wherein upon rotation of said drive shaft, said wedge assembly engages said filler cam to rotate said filler cam from a first position to a second position.

2. The cam system of claim 1 , further comprising a second rotatable drive shaft including a second wedge assembly, said second wedge assembly also including a second actuation arm fixed to said second drive shaft, a second drive arm hingedly coupled to said second actuation arm, and a second wedge connected to said second drive arm, said second drive shaft connected to said drive shaft by a U-joint.

3. The cam system of claim 2 , wherein said second actuation arm of said second wedge assembly has a length that is greater than a length of said actuation arm of said wedge assembly.

4. The cam system of claim 1 , wherein said drive mechanism is an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder.

5. The cam system of claim 1 , further comprising a form cam.

6. The cam system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one cap adjacent said wedge assembly.

7. The cam system of claim 6 , wherein said cap and said filler cam are integral.

8. A rotating filler cam system comprising:

a lower die;

a plurality of filler cams mounted to said lower die;

a first group of wedge assemblies connected to a drive shaft, each of said wedge assemblies of said first group including an actuation arm fixed to said drive shaft, a drive arm hingedly coupled to said actuation arm, and a wedge connected to said drive arm;

a drive mechanism for rotating said drive shaft; and

a forming cam,

wherein upon rotation of said drive shaft, said first group of wedge assemblies engage said filler cams to rotate said filler cams from a first position to a second position.

9. The rotating filler cam system of claim 8 , further comprising a 8 econd group of wedge assemblies connected to a second drive shaft, each of said wedge assemblies of said second group including a second actuation arm fixed to said second drive shaft, a second drive arm hingedly coupled to said second actuation arm, and a second wedge connected to said second drive arm, said second drive shaft connected to said drive shaft by a U-joint.

10. The rotating filler cam system of claim 9 , wherein said drive mechanism rotates said second drive shaft, and upon rotation of said second drive shaft, said second group of wedge assemblies engage said filler cams to rotate said filler cams from said first position to said second position.

11. The rotating filler cam system of claim 10 , wherein said first group of wedge assemblies and said second group of wedge assemblies rotate said filler cams to said second position at the same time.

12. The rotating filler cam system of claim 8 , wherein said forming cam is mounted to said lower die.

13. The rotating filler cam system of claim 8 , further comprising an upper die.

14. The rotating filler cam system of claim 13 , wherein said upper die actuates said forming cam.

15. The rotating filler cam system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of caps mounted to said lower die.

16. A rotating filler cam system comprising:

an lower die and an upper die;

a plurality of filler cams rotatably connected to said lower die;

a plurality of first wedge assemblies connected to a first drive shaft and a plurality of second wedge assemblies connected to a second drive shaft, said second drive shaft connected to said first drive shaft, each wedge assembly including a wedge, a drive arm connected said wedge, and an actuation arm hingedly connected to said drive arm and fixed to said drive shaft, said actuation arms of said second wedge assemblies being longer than said actuation arms of said first wedge assemblies;

a drive mechanism for actuating said drive shafts; and

a forming cam attached to either said lower die or said upper die,

wherein upon actuation of said drive shaft, said wedge assemblies are driven by said drive arms and said actuation arms to contact said filler cams and rotate said filler cams from a first to a second position.

Assignments (20)