A ram assembly for a can bodymaker includes a pair of slideways structured to be coupled to a frame of the can bodymaker and a carriage slidingly engaged within the pair of slideways. The ram assembly also includes a ram body having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end supported by the carriage such that the ram body is slidable generally along a primary axis. A punch is positioned at the second end of the ram body. The ram assembly further includes an adjustment arrangement structured to provide for dynamic adjustment of the radial positioning of the punch with respect to the primary axis during normal operation of the can bodymaker producing can bodies.

A toolpack arrangement for a can bodymaker having a frame. The toolpack includes a toolpack having a number of forming dies and an adjustment arrangement. The adjustment includes a number of adjustment mechanisms coupled between the toolpack and the frame, each adjustment mechanism being dynamically adjustable so as to selectively adjust the positioning of the toolpack with regard to the frame and/or a ram body of the can bodymaker as the ram body passes within the toolpack during normal can body making operations of the can bodymaker.

An actuator assembly for dynamically or manually positioning a dome die and clamp ring of a can bottom former assembly. The actuator assembly is also usable for other purposes where accurate and repeatable adjustments in position are needed. The actuator assembly may include an anchor member and at least one torsion rod having a torque end and an actuation end, with 2 bends at or near the actuation end, such that a torque applied to the torque end creates a substantially linear actuation force at or near the actuation end of the torsion rod.

A precision high cyclic rate metal forming toolpack is disclosed for ironing processes used to produce can or other bodies and preforms of ultra-high precision. An example of the toolpack provides improved centering, dampening and force attenuation response. In an example, the toolpack may be implemented with integrated feedback communication and sensoring. An example of the toolpack also provides unified coolant distribution, including enhanced locational intelligence of infinitely variable tooling positions. An example of the toolpack also provides improved axial and longitudinal articulation for improved tool tracking and floatation. The toolpack may enable improved product quality, throughput, manufacturing efficiency, reduced costs, and reduced labor.

A can bodymaker comprising: a ram; a drive mechanism; a yoke coupling the ram to the drive mechanism in order to drive the ram with a linear, reciprocating motion; a yoke slide fixed relative to the can bodymaker, the yoke being confined by the yoke slide to move in a linear direction; and an alignment mechanism for aligning a yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the yoke within a plane perpendicular to said linear direction.

A can bodymaker comprising a ram and a redraw sleeve assembly for holding a cup or other preform article against a redraw die. The redraw sleeve assembly comprises: a redraw sleeve; a redraw carriage to which the redraw sleeve is removably coupled, the redraw carriage being driven in a reciprocating motion along an axis; and a redraw sleeve alignment mechanism. The redraw sleeve alignment mechanism comprises: a redraw sleeve module having one or more bearings defining a passage through which the redraw sleeve moves and a bearing adjustment mechanism to facilitate radial alignment of the redraw sleeve module with the redraw die. The coupling between the redraw carriage and the redraw sleeve permits variable radial offset, relative to said axis, between the two components.

A can bodymaker comprising a plurality of components that require relative alignment to one another. The can bodymaker comprises a toolpack module which includes a toolpack frame and components including one or more dies supported by the toolpack frame. The die(s) are alignable with respect to the toolpack frame when the toolpack module is not attached to the bodymaker. The can bodymaker further comprises a fixing that allows removable fixing of the toolpack module to the can bodymaker.

A can bodymaker is provided. The can bodymaker includes two rams that travel over a generally vertical path. The bodymaker includes a housing assembly and an operating mechanism structured to move a number of ram assemblies over a vertical path of travel. The operating mechanism includes a crankshaft, a motor, a link assembly, and a number of ram assemblies. The crankshaft is rotatably coupled to the housing assembly and includes a number of pairs of crankpin journals. The motor is operatively coupled to said crankshaft. The link assembly includes a number of links. Each ram assembly includes an elongated ram body, each ram body structured to move over a ram path. Links from said link assembly extend between, and movably couple, each crankshaft crankpin journal to a ram body.

A method of reducing a thickness and increasing a height of a cylindrical wall of a metal cup to form a can body comprises positioning a wall-ironing punch (40) inside the cup, moving an annular wall-ironing die (24) axially over the closed end of the cup towards the open end of the cup, but not beyond the open end of the cup, in order to iron the cylindrical wall from the closed end up to a position axially spaced from the open end and moving the wall-ironing die (24) back in an opposite direction to remove the can body from the die (24). Methods of altering a diameter of one or more regions of a can body are also disclosed.

A ram assembly includes an elongated ram body and a punch mounting assembly. The ram body has a reduced length. The punch mounting assembly includes an elongated body having a complementary length. The punch mounting assembly is coupled to the ram body. The assembled punch mounting assembly and ram body have an operational length.