Apparatus for forming cup-shaped members

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR FORMING ELONGATED METAL CONTAINERS FROM CUP-SHAPED BLANKS COMPRISING A BARREL HAVING A RADIALLY EXPANDED END PORTION FOR THE RECEPTION OF THE BLANKS, A CUP HOLDER IN THE FORM OF A SLEEVE SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID BARREL, A PUNCH SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID CUP HOLDER, MEANS FOR PROJECTING SAID CUP HOLDER AND SAID PUNCH INTO SAID EXPANDED BARREL PORTION WHILE MAINTAINING THEM IN COAXIAL RELATION WITH SAID BARREL INCLUDING A PISTON WITHIN SAID BARREL FOR ACTUATION BY HYDRAULIC MEANS, PISTON ROD SECTIONS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PISTON AND SAID PUNCH, MEANS COUPLING SAID PISTON ROD SECTIONS IN A MANNER EFFECTIVE TO TRANSMIT A FORWARD THRUST OF SAID PISTON TO SAID PUNCH WHILE PERMITTING RELATIVE TILTING AND DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PISTON ROD SECTIONS; A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED STUDS OF A SMOOTH MATERIAL SUPPORTED IN AND PROJECTING RADIALLY FROM SAID CUP HOLDER ADJACENT THE INNER END THEREOF AND INTO SLIDING CONTACT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BARREL AND MOUNTED IN SAID EXPANDED BARREL PORTION INWARDLY DIRECTED SUPPORTS HAVING ROUNDED END SURFACES FOR SUPPORTING CONTACT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID CUP HOLDER AS SAID CUP HOLDER IS PROJECTED INTO SAID EXPANDED BARREL PORTION.