Adjustable axial head flanger assembly

Abstract

A flanger head for use in forming a flange on an end of a can body includes a main housing structured to be rotated about a central rotational axis and a plurality of roller packs positioned in the main housing. Each roller pack has a flanging roller centered and rotatable about a flanging axis oriented parallel to the rotational axis. The plurality of flanging rollers are circumferentially spaced about the rotational axis, and the plurality of roller packs, and thus the flanging rollers thereof are adjustable between: a first positioning wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are each spaced a first distance from the rotational axis, and a second positioning wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are each spaced a second distance from the rotational axis different than the first distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flanger head for use in forming a flange on an end of a can body, the flanger head comprising:
 a main housing structured to be rotated about a central rotational axis; and   a plurality of roller packs positioned in the main housing, each roller pack having a flanging roller, each flanging roller centered and rotatable about a flanging axis oriented parallel to the rotational axis,   wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are circumferentially spaced about the rotational axis, and   wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are adjustable between:
 a first positioning wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are each spaced a first distance from the rotational axis, and 
 a second positioning wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are each spaced a second distance from the rotational axis different than the first distance. 
   
     
     
         2 . The flanger head of  claim 1 , wherein each roller pack comprises a shaft suspended by a number of bearings, and wherein the flanging roller of each roller pack is coupled to the shaft thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The flanger head of  claim 2 , wherein the number of bearings comprises a plurality of bearings. 
     
     
         4 . The flanger head of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the main housing comprises a plurality of stacked plates comprising:
 a top plate having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis and disposed at a first angle with respect to a radial reference line extending from the rotational axis; and 
 a lower plate having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis and disposed at a second angle with respect to a radial reference line extending from the rotational axis, 
   an upper portion of each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is slidably disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes of the top plate,   a lower portion of each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is slidably disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes of the lower plate, and   the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are moveable between the first positioning and the second positioning responsive to a predetermined rotational movement of the top plate with respect to the lower plate.   
     
     
         5 . The flanger head of  claim 4 , wherein the rotational positioning of the top plate and the lower plate are selectively fixable in:
 a first positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the first positioning thereof; and   a second positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the second positioning thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The flanger head of  claim 5 , wherein the rotational positioning of the top plate and the lower plate are selectively fixable via a pin member engaged with both a first aperture defined in the top plate and a second aperture defined in the second plate. 
     
     
         7 . The flanger head of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the lower plate comprises a mid-plate,   the plurality of stacked plates comprises a base plate having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole of the base plate extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis and disposed at the first angle with respect to a radial reference line extending from the rotational axis, and   a base portion below the lower portion of each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is slidably disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes of the base plate.   
     
     
         8 . The flanger head of  claim 7 , wherein the rotational positioning of the top plate and the mid-plate are selectively fixable in:
 a first positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the first positioning thereof; and   a second positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the second positioning thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The flanger head of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of shim members,
 wherein the main body comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis,   wherein each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes along with a respective shim member of the plurality of shims,   wherein in the first positioning each roller pack is positioned adjacent the first end of each respective slotted through hole and spaced from the second end by the respective shim, and   wherein in the second positioning each roller pack is positioned adjacent the second end of each respective slotted through hole and spaced from the first end by the respective shim.   
     
     
         10 . The flanger head of  claim 9 , wherein each slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes extends radially outward from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         11 . An arrangement for forming a flange on an end of a can body, the arrangement comprising:
 a flanger head comprising:
 a main housing structured to be rotated about a central rotational axis; and 
 a plurality of roller packs positioned in the main housing, each roller pack having a flanging roller, each flanging roller centered and rotatable about a flanging axis oriented parallel to the rotational axis, 
   an arrangement coupled to the main housing and structured to rotate the main housing about the rotational axis; and   an arrangement structured to engage the end of the can body with the flanging rollers of the plurality of roller packs while the flanging rollers are being rotated,   wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are circumferentially spaced about the rotational axis, and   wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are adjustable between:
 a first positioning wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are each spaced a first distance from the rotational axis, and 
 a second positioning wherein the plurality of flanging rollers are each spaced a second distance from the rotational axis different than the first distance. 
   
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein each roller pack comprises a shaft suspended by a number of bearings, and wherein the flanging roller of each roller pack is coupled to the shaft thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the number of bearings comprises a plurality of bearings. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the main housing comprises a plurality of stacked plates comprising:
 a top plate having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis and disposed at a first angle with respect to a radial reference line extending from the rotational axis; and 
 a lower plate having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis and disposed at a second angle with respect to a radial reference line extending from the rotational axis, 
   an upper portion of each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is slidably disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes of the top plate,   a lower portion of each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is slidably disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes of the lower plate, and   the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are moveable between the first positioning and the second positioning responsive to a predetermined rotational movement of the top plate with respect to the lower plate.   
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the rotational positioning of the top plate and the lower plate are selectively fixable in:
 a first positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the first positioning thereof; and   a second positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the second positioning thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the rotational positioning of the top plate and the lower plate are selectively fixable via a pin member engaged with both a first aperture defined in the top plate and a second aperture defined in the lower plate. 
     
     
         17 . The arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the lower plate comprises a mid-plate,   the plurality of stacked plates comprises a base plate having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole of the base plate extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis and disposed at the first angle with respect to a radial reference line extending from the rotational axis, and   a base portion below the lower portion of each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is slidably disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes of the base plate.   
     
     
         18 . The arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein the rotational positioning of the top plate and the mid-plate are selectively fixable in:
 a first positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the first positioning thereof; and   a second positioning wherein the plurality of roller packs and thus the flanging rollers thereof are in the second positioning thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of shim members,
 wherein the main body comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slotted through holes defined therein, each slotted through hole extending between a first end positioned closer to the rotational axis and an opposite second end positioned further from the rotational axis,   wherein each roller pack of the plurality of roller packs is disposed within a respective slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes along with a respective shim member of the plurality of shims,   wherein in the first positioning each roller pack is positioned adjacent the first end of each respective slotted through hole and spaced from the second end by the respective shim, and   wherein in the second positioning each roller pack is positioned adjacent the second end of each respective slotted through hole and spaced from the first end by the respective shim.   
     
     
         20 . The arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein each slotted through hole of the plurality of slotted through holes extends radially outward from the rotational axis.