Ring tab assembly operation

Abstract

Abstract A PRE-STAKING STATION IN A PRESS FOR PRE-STAKING RING TABS TO AN END CLOSURE IS PROVIDED WITH A MECHANICAL HOLDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE FOR GRIPPING A RING TAB BLANK AS IT IS FED INTO THE STATION ON A FEED STRIP, SEVERING THE RING TAB BLANK FROM THE FEED STRIP, AND POSITIONING THE RING TAB BLANK IN RELATION TO AN END CLOSURE SO THAT THE RING TAB BLANK CAN BE PRE-STAKED TO THE END CLOSURE BY MEANS OF A PUNCH ASSEMBLY LOCATED AT THE STATION. THE MECHANICAL HOLDING AND ALIGNING DEVICE COMPRISES A RING PILOT WITH SPRING-BIASED FINGERS THAT GRIP THE RING TAB BLANK TO RETAIN THE BLANK ON THE RING PILOT UNTIL THE BLANK IS PRE-STAKED TO THE END CLOSURE OR A SPRING-LOADED STAKING PUNCH AND RING PILOT (NO SPRING-BIASED FINGERS REQUIRED) WHICH PROTRUDE THROUGH THE APERTURE IN THE BLANK FOR THE RIVET AND THE RING PORTION OF THE BLANKO RESPECTIVELY. AS THE RING TAB BLANK IS PRE-STAKED TO THE END CLOSURE, IN THE FIRST FORM OF THE INVENTION, THE PILOT IS DEPRESSED INTO ITS HOUSING CAUSING THE FINGERS OF THE PILOT TO DISENGAGE THE BLANK AND RELEASE THE RING PILOT FROM THE RING TAB BLANK. IN THE MODIFIED FORM OF THE INVENTION, THE SPRING-LOADED STAKING PUNCH AND RING PILOT ARE BOTH DEPRESSED INTO THEIR HOUSING TO EFFECT THEIR RELEASE FROM THE BLANK. A SECOND SET OF SPRING-BIASED FINGERS ON A BLANKING INSERT ASSEMBLY TEMPORARILY GRIP THE RING TAB BLANK AS THE RING PILOT IS INITIALLY INSERTED THROUGH THE BLANK.

Inventors

• 👤 Jerry F Scharf

Bibliographic Details