System for forming and securing lift-tabs to can ends having an elongated crank shaft

Abstract

A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening lift-tab can ends comprises a first frame, a second frame and a tab press for forming a lift-tab. The system also includes a drive roller adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the tab press. The system further includes a conversion press for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, a conveyor, a power source, and an elongated crank shaft operatively connected to the power source. The elongated crank shaft is adapted to transmit power for operating either or both of the tab press and the conversion press.

1 . A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening lift-tab can ends, wherein each of said can ends includes a rivet to which a lift-tab may be attached, 
     said system comprising:
 a first frame; 
 a second frame, said second frame being in close proximity to the first frame; 
 a means for forming a lift-tab, said means for forming a lift-tab being mounted on the first frame and adapted to form at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material, and wherein the means for forming a lift-tab includes a tab press mounted on the first frame, said tab press being adapted to form at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material; 
 a drive roller supported on the first frame and adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the means for forming a lift-tab; 
 a means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, said means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end being mounted on the second frame and adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end, and wherein the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end includes a conversion press mounted on the second frame, said conversion press being adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end, and said conversion press having a locating means for placing the strip of metal stock material into the conversion press with the lift-tab being placed into working relationship with a can end so that the conversion press may detach the lift-tab from the strip and attach the lift-tab onto the can end to form an easy opening lift-tab can end; 
 a conveyor means for conveying the at least one lane of formed lift-tabs from the means for forming a lift-tab to the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end; 
 a power source for providing power to operate either or both of the means for forming a lift-tab and the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, and wherein the power source includes a conversion press power source for providing power to operate the tab press and the conversion press and a separate tab press power source for providing power to operate the tab press and the conversion press, and wherein the conversion press power source has its own motor and the tab press power source has its own motor; and 
 a crank shaft operatively connected to the power source, said crank shaft including an elongated crank shaft that is operatively connected to the conversion press power source and the tab press power source and extends to and is adapted to transmit power for operating the tab press and the conversion press. 
 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end includes the conversion press having a tab ejector mounted on either the first frame or the second frame, said conversion press being adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end and said tab ejector being adapted to feed one tab at a time into said conversion press. 
   
   
       3 . A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening opening lift-tab can ends, wherein each of said can ends includes a rivet to which a lift-tab may be attached, 
     said system comprising;
 a frame; 
 a means for foaming a lift-tab, said means for forming a lift-tab being mounted on the frame and adapted to form at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material, and wherein the means for forming a lift-tab includes a tab press mounted on the frame, said tab press being adapted to form at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material; 
 a drive roller supported on the frame and adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the means for forming a lift-tab; 
 a means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, said means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end being mounted on the frame and adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end, and wherein the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end includes a conversion press being adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end, and said conversion press having a locating means containing electrical sensors and solenoids for placing the strip of metal stock material into the conversion press with the lift-tab being placed into working relationship with a can end so that the conversion press may detach the lift-tab from the strip and attach the lift-tab onto the can end to form an easy opening lift-tab can end; 
 a conveyor means for conveying the at least one lane of formed lift-tabs from the means for forming a lift-tab to the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end; 
 a power source for providing power to operate either or both of the means for forming a lift-tab and the means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end, and wherein the power source includes a conversion press power source for providing power to operate the tab press and the conversion press and a separate tab press power source for providing power to operate the tab press and the conversion press, and wherein the conversion press power source has its own motor and the tab press power source has its own motor; and 
 a crank shaft operatively connected to the power source, said crank shaft operatively connected to the conversion press power source and the tab press power source and extends to and adapted to transmit power for operating the tab press and the conversion press.