Distributed drives for a multi-stage can necking machine
View Patent ↗A multi-stage can necking machine having distributed drives is provided. The multi-stage can necking machine may include a plural of operation stages, wherein at least some of the operation stages may be configured for can necking operations. Each operation stage may include a main turret shaft, a transfer starwheel shaft, and a support for mounting the main turret shaft and transfer starwheel shaft. Each main turret shaft and transfer starwheel shaft may have a gear, and the gears of the operation stages may be in meshed communication to form a continuous gear train. A plural of motors may be distributed among the operation stages and mechanically coupled to the gear train, wherein each one of the motors may be capable of transmitting power to the gear train.
1. A multi-stage can necking machine assembly having distributed drives, comprising:
plural operation stages, at least some of the operation stages configured for can necking operations, each operation stage comprising a main turret shaft, a transfer starwheel shaft, and a support for mounting the main turret shaft and transfer starwheel shaft;
each main turret shaft and transfer starwheel shaft having a gear, the gears of the operation stages being in meshed communication to form a continuous gear train; and
at least a first motor, a second motor, and a third motor that are distributed among the operation stages and mechanically coupled to the gear train such that the second and third motors are downstream from the first motor,
wherein the second and third motors apply greater torque to the gear train than the first motor so as to minimize variation in backlash in the gears.
2. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 1 , wherein the gears of the main turret shafts are made of a composite.
3. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 1 , wherein the gears of the transfer starwheel shafts are made of a composite.
4. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 1 , wherein the second motor has a fixed frequency that is greater than a fixed frequency of the first motor.
5. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 1 , wherein the plural of operation stages comprises a necking stage, a base reforming stage, and a flanging stage.
6. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 1 , wherein each motor is capable of driving all of the operation stages.
7. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 1 , wherein the shafts extend beyond a back surface of a respective support, such that the gears are exterior to the supports.
8. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 4 , wherein the third motor has a fixed frequency that is greater than a fixed frequency of the second motor, and the fixed frequency of the second motor is greater than a fixed frequency of the first motor.
9. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 8 , wherein the third motor has a fixed frequency that is approximately 0.02 Hz greater than a fixed frequency of the second motor, and the fixed frequency of the second motor is approximately 0.02 Hz greater than a fixed frequency of the first motor.
10. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 8 , wherein the second and third motors slip.
11. A multi-stage can necking machine comprising:
a first high speed operation stage configured for can necking operations, the first operation stage comprising, a first shaft, a second shaft, and a first support for mounting the first and second shafts;
a second high speed operation stage comprising, a first shaft, a second shaft, and a second support for mounting the first and second shafts, wherein (i) each shaft comprises a gear and the gears are in meshed communication to form a continuous gear train, and (ii) the gears of the first shafts are made of a composite material and are configured to operate without being disposed in an oil-tight chamber; and
a first motor and a second motor that are mechanically coupled to the gear train such that the second motor is downstream from the first motor, the second motor is configured to operate at a higher speed than the first motor, so as to maintain contact between driving gear teeth and driven gear teeth.
12. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 11 , wherein the first shafts each support a transfer starwheel, and the second shafts each support a main turret.
13. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 11 , wherein the gears of the first shafts have a larger diameter than the gears of the second shafts.
14. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 11 , wherein the first and second shafts extend beyond a back surface of their respective supports such that the gears are exterior to the supports.
15. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 11 , wherein the composite material expands when the material is heated.
16. The multi-stage can necking machine of claim 11 , wherein the first operation stage is adjacent to the second operation stage.