Flattening metal cans

Claim 2

A mechanism for flattening a can having a generally cylindrical side wall defining a can axis and ends generally perpendicular to the can axis, the mechanism comprising a frame providing a can receiving area; means for deformably creasing a notch into the side wall transverse to the can axis thereby inclining the can ends to the can axis, the creasing means comprising first means comprising first and second platen elements mounted for approaching movement in a path of platen movement intersecting the can receiving area, the first platen element having a dimension parallel to the can axis substantially less than the distance between the can ends, the second platen element spanning the can receiving area and being imperforate opposite the first platen element in the path of platen movement; and means for folding each can end about an axis adjacent the juncture of the side wall and the respective can end for increasing the angle of inclination between the can ends and the can axis, the folding means including second means comprising platen elements mounted for approaching movement in a second path intersecting the can receiving area for engaging the can ends and substantially simultaneously applying thereto a moment about the respective axis thereof.

Claim 3

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the second path is generally parallel to the first path.

Claim 4

The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the second means comprises the second platen element and a third platen element mounted in the first path of movement; and further comprising means for moving the first platen element out of the first path of movement.

Claim 5

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the last mentioned means comprises means on the third platen element for telescopingly receiving the first platen element.

Claim 6

The mechanism of claim 3 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a foldable platen element presenting a first narrow surface comprising the first platen element and a second wider surface comprising the third platen element and means enabling movement of the foldable platen element to present the first and second surfaces successively to the can receiving area.

Claim 7

The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the platen elements of the second means comprise a third platen element and a fourth platen element mounted for movement in a path spaced from the first path; and further comprising means for moving cans from a position between the first and second platen elements to a position between the third and fourth platen elements.

Claim 8

The mechanism of claim 6 wherein the first and third platen elements are mounted for simultaneous movement for simultaneously folding the ends of a can between the third and fourth platen elements and creasing a can between the first and second platen elements.

Claim 9

A mechanism for flattening a plurality of cans each having a generally cylindrical side wall defining a can axis and ends generally pErpendicular to the can axis comprising a frame for receiving the cans and providing a creasing station and a flattening station; means for moving the cans through a path of can travel successively including the creasing station and the flattening station; and means for deformably creasing a notch into the side wall transverse to the can axis, for inclining the can ends to the can axis and for folding each can end about an axis adjacent the juncture of the side wall and the respective can end to increase the angle of inclination between the can ends and the can axis, the creasing and folding means comprising first and second pairs of cooperating platen elements on opposite sides of the creasing and flattening stations respectively and means mounting the first and second pairs of cooperating platen elements for movement in first and second paths respectively intersecting the creasing and flattening stations; and means for relatively forcibly advancing the respective cooperative platen elements simultaneously toward each other for simultaneously creasing a can at the creasing station and folding can ends of another can at the flattening station.

Claim 10

A mechanism for flattening a plurality of cans each having a generally cylindrical side wall defining a can axis and ends generally pErpendicular to the can axis comprising a frame for receiving the cans and providing a creasing station and a flattening station; means for moving the cans through a path of can travel successively including the creasing station and the flattening station; and means for deformably creasing a notch into the side wall transverse to the can axis, for inclining the can ends to the can axis and for folding each can end about an axis adjacent the juncture of the side wall and the respective can end to increase the angle of inclination between the can ends and the can axis, the creasing and folding means comprising first and second pairs of cooperating platen elements on opposite sides of the creasing and flattening stations respectively and means mounting the first and second pairs of cooperating platen elements for movement in first and second paths respectively intersecting the creasing and flattening stations; and means for relatively forcibly advancing the respective cooperative platen elements simultaneously toward each other for simultaneously creasing a can at the creasing station and folding can ends of another can at the flattening station.

Claim 11

The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the first pair of cooperating platen elements comprises a first platen element having a dimension parallel to the can axis substantially less than the distance between the can ends and a second platen element spanning the creasing station and being perforate opposite the first platen element in the first path of movement.

Claim 12

The mechanism of claim 8 wherein the creasing station is spaced upwardly from the flattening station and the moving means includes means for holding an undeformed can at the creasing station.

Claim 13

The mechanism of claim 10 wherein the moving means includes means positioning the can axes generally horizontally for gravitational transfer from the creasing station to the flattening station.

Claim 14

The mechanism of claim 11 wherein the holding means comprises an abutment position centrally of the path of can travel adjacent the lower end of the creasing station for engaging an undeformed can at the creasing station; and the creasing means comprises means deforming the side wall out of engagement with the abutment for releasing a creased can from the creasing station.

Claim 15

The mechanism of claim 12 wherein the abutment is supported by a strut extending from above the creasing station into the first path of movement; and the first pair of cooperating platen elements includes a first platen element having a dimension parallel to the can axis substantially less than the distance between the can ends and providing a slot parallel to the first path of movement for passing the first platen element past the strut.