Operating mechanism for a vertically oriented bodymaker

1. An operating mechanism for a vertically oriented bodymaker, said bodymaker including a housing assembly, said housing assembly including a number of elongated ram paths, said ram paths extending generally vertically, wherein said housing assembly includes a number of ram guides and slider channels, each said ram guide defining a generally vertical path of travel, each said slider channel defining a generally vertical path of travel, said operating mechanism comprising:

a crankshaft, said crankshaft rotatably coupled to said housing assembly, said crankshaft including a number of pairs of crankpin journals;

a motor, said motor operatively coupled to said crankshaft;

a link assembly including a number of links;

a number of ram assemblies each ram assembly including an elongated ram body, each said ram body structured to move over a ram path;

wherein a number of links from said link assembly extend between, and movably couple, each crankshaft crankpin journal to a ram body;

said link assembly include a link extending between said crankshaft and each said ram assembly, each said linkage including a connecting rod and a slider;

said slider including a body with two lateral sides, each said slider lateral side structured to be disposed in a slider channel;

each said connecting rod including a first end and a second end, said connecting rod first end including a rotational coupling, said connecting rod second end including a rotational coupling;

each said connecting rod body first end rotational coupling rotatably coupled to a crankpin journal; and

each said connecting rod body second end rotational coupling rotatably coupled to a slider body.

2. The operating mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

each said linkage includes a swing arm and a pivot rod;

each said swing arm includes a yoke including a first a first end and a second end, said yoke first end including a rotational coupling, said yoke second end including a rotational coupling;

each said pivot rod including a first end and a second end, said pivot rod first end including a rotational coupling, said pivot rod second end including a rotational coupling;

each said connecting rod first end rotational coupling directly rotatably coupled to a crankpin journal;

each said connecting rod second end rotational coupling rotatably coupled to a pivot rod first end rotational coupling;

each said pivot rod second end rotational coupling rotatably coupled to a slider body;

each said swing arm second end rotational coupling rotatably coupled to a connecting rod second end rotational coupling; and

each said swing arm rotatably coupled to said housing assembly.

3. A bodymaker comprising:

a housing assembly, said housing assembly including a number of elongated ram paths, said ram paths extending generally vertically;

a tool pack having a central passage, said central passage having an axis extending generally vertically, said tool pack coupled to the upper end of said housing assembly;

an operating mechanism including a crankshaft, a motor, a link assembly and a ram assembly;

said crankshaft rotatably coupled to said housing assembly;

said crankshaft including a number of pairs of crankpin journals;

said motor operatively coupled to said crankshaft;

said link assembly including a number of links;

said ram assembly including a number of elongated ram bodies, each said ram bodies movably structured to move over a ram path;

a number of links from said link assembly extending between, and movably coupled to both, a crankshaft crankpin journal and a ram body;

wherein each said pair of crankpin journals include opposing crankpin journals;

wherein said housing assembly includes a number of ram guides and slider channels, each said ram guide defining a generally vertical path of travel, each said slider channel defining a generally vertical path of travel;

said link assembly include a link extending between said crankshaft and each said ram assembly, each said link including a connecting rod and a slider;

said slider including a body with two lateral sides, each said slider lateral side structured to be disposed in a slider channel;

each said connecting rod including a first end and a second end, said connecting rod first end including a rotational coupling, said connecting rod second end including a rotational coupling;

each said connecting rod first end rotatably coupled to a crankpin journal; and

each said connecting rod second end rotatably coupled to a slider body.

4. The bodymaker of claim 3 wherein:

each said link includes a swing arm and a pivot rod;

each said swing arm including a yoke including a first end and a second end, said yoke first end including a rotational coupling, said yoke second end including a rotational coupling;

each said pivot rod including a first end and a second end, said pivot rod first end including a rotational coupling, said pivot rod second end including a rotational coupling;

each said connecting rod first end directly rotatably coupled to a crankpin journal;

each said connecting rod second end rotatably coupled to a pivot rod first end;

each said pivot rod second end rotatably coupled to a slider body;

each said swing arm first end rotatably coupled to a connecting rod second end; and

each said swing arm second end rotatably coupled to said housing assembly.