A toolpack for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly is provided. The toolpack includes a tool pack housing assembly, a number of die spacers, a number of dies, and a compression device. The tool pack housing assembly defines a passage and includes an inner surface, an upper sidewall, a lower sidewall, a first lateral sidewall, a second lateral sidewall, a rear sidewall, and a door. The tool pack housing assembly passage extends generally vertically. Each die spacer structured to support a die and defining a central passage. Each die including a body defining a central passage. The die spacers and dies are disposed in said tool pack housing assembly. The compression device is disposed at said tool pack housing assembly lower sidewall and is structured to axially bias said number of die spacers.

A compression molding device, which can obtain a high compression molding force without lowering the efficiency of article production, and whose molding means has a long service life, is provided. In the compression molding device, a one-side mold assembly moving means (58) includes a toggle link mechanism including two links (62) and (64), and a toggle link mechanism operating means (60), while an opposite-side mold assembly moving means (108) includes a hydraulic cylinder mechanism. When a one-side mold assembly (16) and an opposite-side mold assembly (18) are to be brought from an open state into a closed state, the one-side mold assembly (16) is first moved to a nearly closed state by the one-side mold assembly moving means (58), and then the opposite-side mold assembly (18) is moved from the nearly closed state to the closed state by the opposite-side mold assembly moving means (108).

A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.

The invention relates to a press drive for a press or a press having a press drive. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the press drive by means of a control unit. The press drive is used for moving a ram of the press in a stroke direction H between an upper return point OT and a lower return point UT. It comprises a knee lever gear having a first lever and a second lever. A connecting rod engages on the knee lever of the two levers and is connected on the other end to an eccentric of an eccentric drive. The control unit can drive the eccentric drive in a first operating mode B1 or a second operating mode B2 or, in particular, also a third operating mode B3. In the first and the second operating modes B1, B2, the eccentric oscillates in a respectively different angle region W1, W2 about a rotation axis D of the eccentric drive, thus resulting in different force and movement states of the ram in both operating modes.

The invention relates to a press drive for a press or a press having a press drive. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the press drive by means of a control unit. The press drive is used for moving a ram of the press in a stroke direction H between an upper return point OT and a lower return point UT. It comprises a knee lever gear having a first lever and a second lever. A connecting rod engages on the knee lever of the two levers and is connected on the other end to an eccentric of an eccentric drive. The control unit can drive the eccentric drive in a first operating mode B1 or a second operating mode B2 or, in particular, also a third operating mode B3. In the first and the second operating modes B1, B2, the eccentric oscillates in a respectively different angle region W1, W2 about a rotation axis D of the eccentric drive, thus resulting in different force and movement states of the ram in both operating modes.

A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.

A hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly for a can bodymaker is provided. The hydrostatic/hydrodynamic fluid bearing assembly is separate from the ram body. The outboard guide bearing assembly includes a carriage assembly and a number of elongated journals. The carriage assembly includes a ram coupling, a crank coupling, and body defining a number of journal passages. The ram body is coupled to a ram coupling. The crank coupling is structured to be coupled to a crank arm. Each journal extends through a carriage assembly body journal passage. In this configuration, the ram body may form a can body in a traditional manner, but fluid bearing assembly fluid is not applied to the ram body. Instead, the fluid bearing assembly fluid is applied to the journals.

A tamping assembly for capsule filling machine is provided. The tamping assembly comprises a fixed base/platform for accommodating a dosing disc assembly; a movable platform disposed above the fixed platform, the movable platform having plurality of sets of top tamping plungers; a pair of movable rods extending from the movable platform; and a lifting assembly mounted below the fixed base, and operably connected with the pair of movable rods for lifting/lowering the movable rods and/or the movable platform, the lifting assembly comprising a pair of first link members, each first link member extends along an incline from a first end to a second end, at the first end each first link members is pivotally mounted below the fixed base; a pair of second link members, each second link member extends from a proximal to a distal end, the proximal end of each second link member pivotally coupled with the second end of the each link member via a first pivot rod, and the distal end of each second link member pivotally coupled with each movable rod via a second pivot rod; and a drive mechanism connected with the second end of each first link member for moving the first link members, movement of the first link member causes the second member to lift or lower the movable platform, and thereby the tamping assembly.

A tamping assembly for capsule filling machine is provided. The tamping assembly comprises a fixed base/platform for accommodating a dosing disc assembly; a movable platform disposed above the fixed platform, the movable platform having plurality of sets of top tamping plungers; a pair of movable rods extending from the movable platform; and a lifting assembly mounted below the fixed base, and operably connected with the pair of movable rods for lifting/lowering the movable rods and/or the movable platform, the lifting assembly comprising a pair of first link members, each first link member extends along an incline from a first end to a second end, at the first end each first link members is pivotally mounted below the fixed base; a pair of second link members, each second link member extends from a proximal to a distal end, the proximal end of each second link member pivotally coupled with the second end of the each link member via a first pivot rod, and the distal end of each second link member pivotally coupled with each movable rod via a second pivot rod; and a drive mechanism connected with the second end of each first link member for moving the first link members, movement of the first link member causes the second member to lift or lower the movable platform, and thereby the tamping assembly.

A thermoforming platen is provided having a tooling support plate and a plurality of discrete load paths. The tooling support plate has a top tooling surface, a bottom surface, and an outer periphery. The plurality of discrete load paths interconnect the bottom surface with one or more external load sources operative to distribute and centralize load deformation of the top plate from forming loads. The load paths are provided laterally inboard of the top tooling surface at one of a plurality of inboard locations to impart minimized tooling surface deformation along the top plate tooling surface. A method is also provided.