A lubricator 2 supplies an unwound coil material as an alloy plate material 11 to a metal beverage can production line for forming the alloy plate material 11 into a metal beverage can. The lubricator 2 includes: a felt roll 21 configured to contain lubricating oil in a first outer circumferential section, a felt roll 22 with a second outer circumferential section, a plate material lift configured to switch between a first state in which the alloy plate material 11 contacts the first outer circumferential section of the felt roll 21 and the second outer circumferential section of the felt roll 22, and the first outer circumferential section and/or the second outer circumferential section apply the lubricating oil to the alloy plate material 11, and a second state in which the felt roll 21 and/or the felt roll 22 applying the lubricating oil in the first state are idly rotatable by separating from the alloy plate material 11, and an air receiving section configured to apply a driving force to the idly rotatable felt roll 21 and/or the idly rotatable felt roll 22 in the second state as switched by the plate material lift.

Systems and methods of forming articles using electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. In some aspects, the system includes a plurality of forming modules movably mounted relative to an infeed mechanism. The infeed mechanism is configured to supply pre-form articles to the plurality of forming modules, and each of the plurality of forming modules includes a multi-segment mold disposed about an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil is configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form articles when supplied with electrical energy that urges the pre-form articles into contact with the multi-segment mold to produce the formed containers.

A cup feed assembly for a can bodymaker with a vertically oriented, reciprocating, elongated ram assembly is provided. The cup feed assembly includes a chute assembly, a rotatable feeder disk assembly, and a cup locator. The chute assembly includes a transfer chute. The transfer chute includes an outer second side member, a first end and a second end. The transfer chute first end is in communication with the feeder chute outlet end. The outer second side member at the transfer chute second end includes a first biasing device. The cup locator defines a holding space, the holding space in communication with the transfer chute second end. The feeder disk assembly is structured to move a cup disposed at feeder chute outlet end through the transfer chute into the cup locator. The first biasing device is structured to maintain a cup in the holding space.

A redraw assembly for a can bodymaker includes a frame and a hold down piston moveably coupled to the frame so as to be slidable with respect thereto. The hold down piston is structured to have a blank holder coupled thereto for engaging and securing a cup adjacent an opening of a die pack. The redraw assembly further includes a cam disk engaged with the hold down piston and moveably coupled to the frame so as to be readily rotatable about a rotation axis and a motor having an output shaft coupled to the cam disk. The motor is structured to selectively rotate the cam disk about the rotation axis. The hold down piston is movable among a first positioning and a second positioning dependent on the positioning of the cam disk.

A sensing arrangement for use in a can bodymaker includes a plurality of sensors positioned around, and spaced a radial distance from, a sensing axis. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors is structured to determine a number of characteristics of a can body positioned on a punch of the can bodymaker as the punch passes along the sensing axis during normal operation of the bodymaker producing can bodies.

A can body maker includes a ram shaft extending in a front-rear direction, a punch disposed at a front end portion of the ram shaft, a reciprocating linear motion mechanism connected to a rear end portion of the ram shaft to reciprocate and linearly move the ram shaft in the front-rear direction, a die having a through hole into which the punch is inserted, a cup holding mechanism which presses a cup-shaped body against an end face in which the through hole of the die opens, and a cup holder drive mechanism that oscillates the cup holding mechanism in the front-rear direction, wherein the cup holder drive mechanism has a cam structure and is disposed directly below the cup holding mechanism.

A symmetric, modular base for a can processing system. The base includes a leg portion comprising a plurality of openings adapted for receiving at least one of a transfer star wheel and a turret mechanism configured to perform a working operation on an article. The base further includes a first foot portion extending from a first side of the leg portion. The base further includes a second foot portion extending from the second side of the leg portion. The base further includes a plurality of openings in the first foot portion and the second foot portion, the plurality of openings of the first and second foot portion providing access to an interior portion of the base. The base is generally symmetric about a center line drawn vertically through a midpoint of the leg portion of the base between the first foot portion and the second foot portion to allow for mounting of components on either a first side or a second side of the base.

While deterioration in processing efficiency caused by printing devices with slow printing speed is suppressed, facilities necessary to manufacture can bodies are able to be shared. A can body manufacturing system includes: a can body conveyance route, by which can bodies are conveyed, provided to branch halfway and thereafter merge again, the can body conveyance route at least including a first branching conveyance route and a second branching conveyance route; a first printing device performing printing on can bodies conveyed by the first branching conveyance route; and a second printing device performing printing on can bodies conveyed by the second branching conveyance route, the number of can bodies on which printing is performed by the second printing device per unit time being different from the number of can bodies on which printing is performed by the first printing device per unit time.

An upstream-side guidance part 400 is provided with plural upstream-side guidance members 410 guiding disc-shaped members 300. A downstream-side guidance part 500 is provided with plural downstream-side guidance members 510 guiding the disc-shaped members 300. The positions of the upstream-side guidance members 410 in the circumferential direction of the disc-shaped member 300 are different from the positions of the downstream-side guidance members 510 in the circumferential direction of the disc-shaped member 300, and at least one of the upstream-side guidance part 400 and the downstream-side guidance part 500 is able to move forward and backward with respect to the other.

A rotary manifold includes a manifold assembly outer body assembly with a generally toroid outer body, a number of manifold assembly outer body assembly bearing assemblies, a number of seals, and a number of fluid couplings. The manifold assembly outer body assembly body defines a number of radial passages. A generally toroid manifold assembly inner body defines a number of right angle passages. The manifold assembly inner body is rotatably disposed within the manifold assembly outer body assembly body. Each manifold assembly inner body passage inlet is discontinuously in fluid communication with the manifold assembly outer body assembly body passage outlets. Each manifold assembly inner body passage outlet is discontinuously in fluid communication with the process shaft assembly body passages inlets.