Can end making apparatus

Claim 2

Can end making apparatus comprising, a press having frame means providing tool support means, slide means, a plurality of opposed pairs of tooling, each said opposed pair of tooling including first die means on said tool support means and second die means supported on said slide means, means supporting said slide means for reciprocation vertically between first and second slide positions, said first and second die means being spaced apart in said first slide position, means to feed sheet material between said first and second die means and along a horizontal feed path when said die means are spaced apart, said first and second die means being cooperable in said second slide position to partially form a can end from sheet material therebetween, said partially formed can end being cup-shaped and including skirt means, one of said first and second die means including means to displace a partially formed can end to a horizontal plane when said die means are spaced apart, said horizontal plane being vertically spaced from said feed path, kicker means for each said pair of tooling, said kicker means including kicker member means reciprocable in said horizontal plane when said die means are spaced apart to impact against a partially formed can end in said horizontal plane and propel said partially formed end in said plane, curling means for receiving said partially formed can end, and means between said pairs of tooling and said curling means to receive partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means and deliver said partially formed can ends to said curling means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means to receive and deliver partially formed can ends to said curling means includes guide chute means for each said pair of tooling and having an entrance end laterally adjacent the corresponding pair of tooling for receiving partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said curling means includes a plurality of curling machines, and said means to receive and deliver partially formed can ends includes corresponding endless conveyor means for delivering said can ends to said curling machines.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means to receive and deliver partially formed can ends further includes guide chute means for each said pair of tooling and having an entrance end laterally adjacent the corresponding pair of tooling for receiving partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means and discharge ends for directing partially formed can ends onto said conveyor means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said press has opposite sides and opposite ends, and said endless conveyor means extend in the direction between said opposite ends.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said feed path for said sheet material is in the direction between said opposite sides of said press.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said kicker member means is reciprocable in the direction between said opposite sides.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said feed path for said sheet material is in the direction between said opposite sides of said press.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said kicker member means is reciprocable in the direction between said opposite ends.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said feed path for said sheet material is in the direction between said opposite sides of said press.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said endless conveyor means includes conveyor belt means extending along each of said opposite sides of said press, said pairs of tooling being offset in the direction between said opposite ends of said press, and said kicker member means for adjacent ones of said pairs of tooling propelling a partially formed can end therefrom toward a different one of said conveyor belt means.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means to receive and deliver partially formed can ends further includes guide chute means for each said pair of tooling and having an entrance end laterally adjacent the corresponding pair of tooling for receiving partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means and discharge ends for directing partially formed can ends onto said conveyor belt means.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each said conveyor belt means includes upper and lower runs moving in opposite directions with respect to said ends of said press, said plurality of curling machines including a pair of curling machines for each said belt means, the curling machines of each said pair having can end receiving ends positioned to receive can ends from a different one of said upper and lower runs of the corresponding belt means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said feed path for said sheet material is in the direction between said opposite sides of said press.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said endless conveyor means includes conveyor belt means extending in the direction of reciprocation of said kicker member means.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each said conveyor belt means is aligned in said direction with the corresponding kicker member means.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means to receive and deliver partially formed can ends further includes guide chute means for each said pair of tooling and having an entrance end laterally adjacent the corresponding pair of tooling for receiving partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means and discharge ends for directing partially formed can ends onto said conveyor belt means.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said feed path for said sheet material is in the direction transverse to said direction of reciprocation of said kicker member means.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said curling means includes a curling machine for each said pair of tooling, and said means to receive and deliver partially formed can ends includes a guide chute for each said pair of tooling having an entrance end in said horizontal plane and adjacent said tooling and a discharge end for delivering partially formed can ends directly to the corresponding curling machine.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said curling machines are mounted on said frame means and have can end receiving passageway means each in a different vertical plane, said guide chutes being contoured between said entrance and discharge ends thereof for each said discharge end to be in the vertical plane for the corresponding curling machine.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said press has opposite sides and opposite ends, said kicker means being mounted on one of said sides for said kicker member means to be reciprocable in the direction between said sides, and said curling machines being mounted on the other of said opposite sides.

Claim 23

Can end making apparatus comprising, an underdriven press having frame means including upper and lower portions, a slide supported by said lower portion of said frame means for reciprocation vertically along a slide axis between first and second positions with respect to said upper portion, and drive means in said lower portion for reciprocating said slide, said slide and said upper portion of said frame means supporting a plurality of opposed pairs of tooling, the tooling of each pair being axially spaced apart when said slide is in said first position and being cooperable in said second position of said slide to partially form a can end from sheet material interposed therebetween, means to feed sheet material between said tooling along a horizontal feed path in a first direction transverse to said slide axis, each said pair of tooling being offset from the other in said first direction, the tooling of said pairs on said slide including means to position a partially formed can end in a horizontal plane beneath said feed path when said slide is in said first position, kicker member means for each said pair of tooling, said kicker member means being supported by said frame means on one side of the corresponding tooling and being reciprocable horizontally in a second direction transverse to said first direction and in said horizontal plane to propel a partially formed can end positioned in said horizontal plane in the direction toward the opposite side of the corresponding tooling on said slide, means for reciprocating said kicker member means, curling means for each said pair of tooling mounted on said frame means and spaced from said opposite side of said corresponding toolng, said curling means including entrance means in said horizontal plane and aligned with the corresponding kicker member means, and means between said opposite side of said corresponding tooling and said entrance means for receiving and delivering partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means to said curling means.

Claim 24

Can end making apparatus comprising, an underdriven press having frame means including upper and lower portions, a slide supported by said lower portion of said frame means for reciprocation vertically along a slide axis between first and second positions with respect to said upper portion, and drive means in said lower portion for reciprocating said slide, said slide and said upper portion of said frame means supporting a plurality of opposed pairs of tooling, the tooling of each pair being axially spaced apart when said slide is in said first position and being cooperable in said second position of said slide to partially form a can end from sheet material interposed therebetween, means to feed sheet material between said tooling along a horizontal feed path in a first direction transverse to said slide axis, each said pair of tooling being offset from the other in said first direction, the tooling of said pairs on said slide including means to position a partially formed can end in a horizontal plane beneath said feed path when said slide is in said first position, kicker member means for each said pair of tooling, said kicker member means being supported by said frame means on one side of the corresponding tooling and being reciprocable horizontally in a second direction transverse to said first direction and in said horizontal plane to propel a partially formed can end positioned in said horizontal plane in the direction toward the opposite side of the corresponding tooling on said slide, means for reciprocating said kicker member means, curling means for each said pair of tooling mounted on said frame means and spaced from said opposite side of said corresponding toolng, said curling means including entrance means in said horizontal plane and aligned with the corresponding kicker member means, and means between said opposite side of said corresponding tooling and said entrance means for receiving and delivering partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means to said curling means.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said means to reciprocate said kicker member means includes kicker member actuator means mounted on said slide for displacement therewith.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said means to position a partially formed can end in said horizontal plane includes liftout means on said slide and means on said frame means for actuating said liftout means in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said means for receiving and delivering partially formed can ends to said curling means includes endless conveyor means.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said means for receiving and delivering partially formed can ends further includes guide chute means between said conveyor means and said opposite side of said corresponding tooling.

Claim 29

Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said conveyor means includes an endless conveyor for each said pairs of tooling and the corresponding curling means.

Claim 30

Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said guide chute means, endless conveyor means and entrance means to said curling means provide a linear delivery path in said horizontal plane.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein each said kicker member means includes a kicker bar supported for reciprocation in said horizontal plane, means biasing said kicker bar to a first position in the direction from said one side of the corresponding tooling toward said opposite side, and kicker bar actuating means to displace said kicker bar to a second position in the direction against said biasing means and to release said kicker bar for displacement by said biasing means from said second position to said first position to propel a partially formed can end in said horizontal plane.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said kicker bar actuating means includes a lever having opposite ends pivotally connected one to said kicker bar and the other to said frame means, said biasing means acting against said lever, and cam and cam follower means mounted one on said lever and the other on said slide and cooperable with said biasing means to pivot said lever in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 33

Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said biasing means includes spring means, and means for adjusting the biasing force of said spring means.

Claim 34

Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said means for receiving and delivering partially formed can ends to said curling means includes endless conveyor means and guide chute means between said conveyor means and said opposite side of said corresponding tooling.

Claim 35

Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said conveyor means includes an endless conveyor for each said pairs of tooling and the corresponding curling means, said guide chute means, endless conveyors and entrance means to said curling means providing a linear delivery path in said horizontal plane.

Claim 36

Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said means to position a partially formed can end in said horizontal plane includes liftout means on said slide and means on said frame means for actuating said liftout means in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 37

Can end making apparatus comprising, an underdriven double action press having frame means including a lower portion and means providing bed means on said lower portion, upper and lower slides, means on said lower portion of said frame means supporting said slides for reciprocation vertically along a slide axis toward and away from said bed means between corresponding first and second positions, said slides having opposite sides and opposite ends transverse to said slide axis, drive means in said lower portion of said frame means for reciprocating said slides, a plurality of pairs of opposed tooling supported on said slides and bed means in offset relationship to one another in the direction between said ends of said slides, the tooling of each said pair being axially spaced apart in said first positions of said slides and being cooperable in said second positions of said slides to partially form a can end from sheet material interposed therebetween, means to feed sheet material between the tooling of said pairs along a horizontal feed path in the direction between said sides of said slides, the tooling of said pairs on said bed means including means to position a partially formed can end in a horizontal plane above said feed path, kicker member means supported by said frame means on each said opposite sides of said slide and provided one for each said pair of tooling, said kicker member means being reciprocable in said horizontal plane and in the direction between said sides of said slides to propel partially formed can ends positioned in said horizontal plane toward said opposite sides of said slides, means to reciprocate said kicker member means, means including first and second conveyor means for receiving partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means, each said conveyor means being supported outwardly of a different one of said opposite sides of said slides and extending in the direction between said ends of said slides to convey partially formed can ends along a corresponding conveyor path in the direction from one of said slide ends toward the other, and curling means for each said conveyor means including entrance means positioned along said conveyor path for receiving partially formed can ends conveyed by the corresponding one of said conveyor means.

Claim 38

Can end making apparatus comprising, an underdriven double action press having frame means including a lower portion and means providing bed means on said lower portion, upper and lower slides, means on said lower portion of said frame means supporting said slides for reciprocation vertically along a slide axis toward and away from said bed means between corresponding first and second positions, said slides having opposite sides and opposite ends transverse to said slide axis, drive means in said lower portion of said frame means for reciprocating said slides, a plurality of pairs of opposed tooling supported on said slides and bed means in offset relationship to one another in the direction between said ends of said slides, the tooling of each said pair being axially spaced apart in said first positions of said slides and being cooperable in said second positions of said slides to partially form a can end from sheet material interposed therebetween, means to feed sheet material between the tooling of said pairs along a horizontal feed path in the direction between said sides of said slides, the tooling of said pairs on said bed means including means to position a partially formed can end in a horizontal plane above said feed path, kicker member means supported by said frame means on each said opposite sides of said slide and provided one for each said pair of tooling, said kicker member means being reciprocable in said horizontal plane and in the direction between said sides of said slides to propel partially formed can ends positioned in said horizontal plane toward said opposite sides of said slides, means to reciprocate said kicker member means, means including first and second conveyor means for receiving partially formed can ends propelled by said kicker member means, each said conveyor means being supported outwardly of a different one of said opposite sides of said slides and extending in the direction between said ends of said slides to convey partially formed can ends along a corresponding conveyor path in the direction from one of said slide ends toward the other, and curling means for each said conveyor means including entrance means positioned along said conveyor path for receiving partially formed can ends conveyed by the corresponding one of said conveyor means.

Claim 39

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said means for receiving partially formed can ends further includes guide chute means between each said pairs of tooling and the corresponding one of said first and second conveyor means, each said guide chute means having an entrance end in said horizontal plane and adjacent the corresponding tooling and an exit end for delivering a partially formed can end onto said corresponding conveyor means.

Claim 40

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each said first and second conveyor means includes an endless conveyor belt having upper and lower runs providing for said corresponding conveyor path to be in opposite directions with respect to said ends of said slide, and said curling means includes a curling machine for each run of each said belts and having an entrance positioned to receive partially formed can ends conveyed by the corresponding belt run.

Claim 41

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each said kicker member means includes a reciprocable kicker rod, means biasing said rod to a first position in the direction to propel a partially formed can end toward the corresponding one of said opposite sides of said slide, and kicker rod actuating means to displace said kicker rod against said bias to a second position in the direction opposite said first direction and to release said kicker rod for said biasing means to displace said kicker rod from said second position to said first position.

Claim 42

Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said actuating means includes cam follower means on said kicker rod and cam means rotatable relative to said follower means and including a first circumferential portion to engage said follower means and displace said kicker rod to said second position and a second circumferential portion releasing said follower means for said biasing means to displace said kicker rod to said first position.

Claim 43

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said frame means has opposite sides corresponding to said sides of said slide, said means to feed sheet material including feed table means on one of said opposite sides of said frame means, bracket means on each said opposite sides of said frame means supporting the kicker member means on the corresponding side of said slides, means on said one side releasably supporting said feed table means and the corresponding bracket means for displacement outwardly from said one side, and means releasably supporting said bracket means on the other of said opposite sides of said frame means for displacement outwardly from said other side.

Claim 44

Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each said first and second conveyor means includes an endless conveyor belt having upper and lower runs providing for said corresponding conveyor path to be in opposite directions with respect to said ends of said slide, and said curling means includes a curling machine for each run of each said belts and having an entrance positioned to receive partially formed can ends conveyed by the corresponding belt run, said means for receiving partially formed can ends further including a guide chute between each said pairs of tooling and the corresponding one of said endless belts, each of said guide chutes having an entrance end in said horizontal plane and adjacent the corresponding tooling and an exit end for delivering partially formed can ends onto one of said upper and lower runs of the corresponding belt, the exit ends of adjacent ones of said guide chutes associated with each said belt delivering can ends to a different one of said upper and lower runs of the corresponding belt.

Claim 45

Apparatus according to claim 41, wherein each said kicker member means includes a reciprocable kicker rod, means biasing said rod to a first position in the direction to propel a partially formed can end toward the corresponding one of said opposite sides of said slide, and kicker rod actuating means to displace said kicker rod against said bias to a second position in the direction opposite said first direction and to release said kicker rod for said biasing means to displace said kicker rod from said second position to said first position.

Claim 46

Apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said actuating means includes cam follower means on said kicker rod and cam means rotatable relative to said follower means and including a first circumferential portion to engage said follower means and displace said kicker rod to said second position and a second circumferential portion releasing said follower means for said biasing means to displace said kicker rod to said first position.

Claim 47

Apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said frame means has opposite sides corresponding to said sides of said slide, said means to feed sheet material including feed table means on one of said opposite sides of said frame means, scrap discharge means on the other of said opposite sides of said frame means, means releaseably supporting said feed table means for displacement outwardly of said one side, first bracket means on said feed table means and displaceable therewith, said bracket means on said other side of said frame means, means releaseably supporting said second bracket means for displacement outwardly of said other side of said frame means, said first and second bracket means including means supporting the kicker means on the corresponding side of said slides and the guide chutes forthe kicker means on the other side of said slides, and said second bracket means supporting said scrap discharge means.

Claim 48

Can end making apparatus comprising a press having frame means including upper and lower portions and means providing bed means on said lower portion, a slide, means on said bed means supporting said slide for reciprocation vertically along a slide axis toward and away from said bed means and between first and second slide positions, drive means for said slide including drive shaft means above said slide and having opposite ends rotatably supported by corresponding sealed cartridge bearing means interposed between said drive shaft ends and said upper portion of said frame means, said slide having opposite sides and opposite ends transverse to said slide axis, a plurality of pairs of opposed tooling supported on said slide and bed means in offset relationship to one another in the direction between said ends of said slide, the tooling of each pair being axially spaced apart in said first position of said slide and being cooperable in said second position of said slide to partially form a can end from sheet material interposed therebetween, means to feed sheet material between the tooling of said pairs along a horizontal feed path in the direction between said ends of said slide, the tooling of said pairs on said slide means each including means to displace a partially formed can end to a horizontal plane above said feed line, kicker member means for each said pair of tooling supported on one of said opposite sides of said slide for reciprocation therewith, said kicker member means being reciprocable in said horizontal plane in the direction between said opposite sides of said slide to propel a partially formed can end in said horizontal plane toward the other of said opposite sides, means to reciprocate said kicker member means, a curling machine for each said pair of tooling mounted on said frame means on the side of said slide opposite said kicker member means, said curling machines having entrance means facing the corresponding pair of tooling, and guide chute means for each said pair of tooling and having an entrance end in said horizontal plane and adjacent the tooling and a discharge end at said entrance means of the corresponding curling machine.

Claim 49

Can end making apparatus comprising a press having frame means including upper and lower portions and means providing bed means on said lower portion, a slide, means on said bed means supporting said slide for reciprocation vertically along a slide axis toward and away from said bed means and between first and second slide positions, drive means for said slide including drive shaft means above said slide and having opposite ends rotatably supported by corresponding sealed cartridge bearing means interposed between said drive shaft ends and said upper portion of said frame means, said slide having opposite sides and opposite ends transverse to said slide axis, a plurality of pairs of opposed tooling supported on said slide and bed means in offset relationship to one another in the direction between said ends of said slide, the tooling of each pair being axially spaced apart in said first position of said slide and being cooperable in said second position of said slide to partially form a can end from sheet material interposed therebetween, means to feed sheet material between the tooling of said pairs along a horizontal feed path in the direction between said ends of said slide, the tooling of said pairs on said slide means each including means to displace a partially formed can end to a horizontal plane above said feed line, kicker member means for each said pair of tooling supported on one of said opposite sides of said slide for reciprocation therewith, said kicker member means being reciprocable in said horizontal plane in the direction between said opposite sides of said slide to propel a partially formed can end in said horizontal plane toward the other of said opposite sides, means to reciprocate said kicker member means, a curling machine for each said pair of tooling mounted on said frame means on the side of said slide opposite said kicker member means, said curling machines having entrance means facing the corresponding pair of tooling, and guide chute means for each said pair of tooling and having an entrance end in said horizontal plane and adjacent the tooling and a discharge end at said entrance means of the corresponding curling machine.

Claim 50

Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the tooling of said pairs on said slide includes knockout means to displace a partially formed can end to said horizontal plane during movement of said slide from said second toward said first position, and interengaging means on said slide and frame means to actuate said knockout means in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 51

Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein each said kicker member means includes a kicker rod and means on said slide supporting said kicker rod, said means to reciprocate said kicker member means including interengaging means on said slide and frame means to reciprocate said kicker rod in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 52

Apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said interengaging means includes actuating lever means pivotally supported on said slide and cam means supported on said frame means for pivoting said lever means in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 53

Apparatus according to claim 48, wherein said tooling of said pairs on said slide includes knockout means to displace a partially formed can end to said horizontal plane during movement of said slide from said second toward said first position, said knockout means including means interengaging said lever means to actuate said knockout means in response to said pivoting of said lever means.

Claim 54

Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said entrance means of each said curling machine is in a vertical plane, and said guide chute means are contoured between said entrance and discharge ends thereof for each said discharge end to be in the vertical plane for the entrance means of the corresponding curling machine.

Claim 55

Apparatus according to claim 50, wherein each said kicker member means includes a kicker rod and means on said slide supporting said kicker rod, said means to reciprocate said kicker member means including interengaging means on said slide and frame means to reciprocate said kicker rod in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 56

Apparatus according to claim 51, wherein said interengaging means includes actuating lever means pivotally supported on said slide and cam means supported on said frame means for pivoting said lever means in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 57

Apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said tooling of said pairs on said slide includes knockout means to displace a partially formed can end to said horizontal plane during movement of said slide from said second toward said first position, said knockout means including means interengaging said lever means to actuate said knockout means in response to said pivoting of said lever means.

Claim 58

Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said frame means includes upright end plate members with respect to said opposite ends of said slide, said end plate members having upper and lower portions and front and rear sides with respect to said opposite sides of said slide, said end plate members further having openings in said front sides between said upper and lower portions, said openings having lower edges, means including bolster plate means extending between said end plate members and supported on said lower edges to provide said bed means.

Claim 59

Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said means on said bed means supporting said slide includes upright guide pins having lower ends mounted on said bolster plate means and upper ends extending through corresponding guide pin openings in said slide.

Claim 60

Apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said cartridge bearing means are mounted on said upper portions of said end plate members, said drive shaft having slide driving cam means thereon intermediate said opposite ends thereof, said drive means for said slide further including connecting rod means having upper and lower ends, means pivotally connecting said lower end of said connecting rod means to said slide, and cam follower means on said upper end of said connecting rod interengaged with said slide driving cam means on said drive shaft.

Claim 61

Apparatus according to claim 56, wherein said cam follower means includes follower rollers on said upper end of said connecting rod means engaging said slide driving cam means below the axis of said drive shaft, and pneumatic piston and cylinder means including cylinders mounted on said lower portions of said end plate members and piston rods extending upwardly from said cylinders and engaging said slide to bias said follower rollers upwardly against said slide driving cam means.

Claim 62

Apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said means on said bed means supporting said slide include upright guide pins having lower ends mounted on said bolster plate means and upper ends extending through corresponding guide pin openings in said slide.

Claim 63

Apparatus according to claim 58, wherein said curling machines are mounted between said end plate members adjacent said rear sides thereof.

Claim 64

Apparatus according to claim 58, wherein each said kicker member means includes a kicker rod and means on said slide suppporting said kicker rod, said means to reciprocate said kicker member means including interengaging means on said slide and frame means to reciprocate said kicker rod in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 65

Apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said interengagine means includes actuating lever means pivotally supported on said slide and cam means supported on said frame means for pivoting said lever means in response to reciprocation of said slide.

Claim 66

Apparatus according to claim 61, wherein said tooling of said pairs on said slide includes knockout means to displace a partially formed can end to said horizontal plane during movement of said slide from said second toward said first position, said knockout means including means interengaging said lever means to actuate said knockout means in response to said pivoting of said lever means.

Claim 67

Apparatus according to claim 62, wherein said curling machines are mounted between said end plate members adjacent said rear sides thereof.

Claim 68

Apparatus according to claim 63, wherein said entrance means of each said curling machine is in a vertical plane, and said guide chute means are contoured between said entrance and discharge ends thereof for each said discharge end to be in the vertical plane for the entrance means of the corresponding curling machine.