Apparatus and method for manufacturing metal containers
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for transferring compressed air between machine elements uses a rotary manifold ( 110 ) in which an orifice restrictor ( 140 ) is provided between the air supply ( 115 ), between each piston ( 125 ) and shoe ( 130 ). The orifice restrictors ( 140 ) meter volumetric flow rate during loading and/or unloading cans from the apparatus, thereby optimised compressed air consumption.
1. An apparatus for manufacturing metal containers, including a rotary manifold for transferring air according to events in the manufacturing process, the manifold comprising:
a connection to one or more air supplies;
an air outlet;
one or more fixed orifice restrictors;
a seal between static and rotating machine elements; and
at least one piston, a shoe, and a disc in which the seal is at the interface between the shoe and the disc, and the one or more orifice restrictors is/are positioned between the piston and the shoe.
2. An apparatus for manufacturing metal containers according to claim 1 wherein the shoe is part of the static machine elements and the disc is part of the rotating machine elements.
3. An apparatus for manufacturing metal containers according to claim 1 wherein the connection to one or more air supplies is only one connection to a single air supply.
4. An apparatus for manufacturing metal containers according to claim 1 wherein the connection to one or more air supplies is two or more connections.