Provided are a can discharge unit and a can forming machine including a can body holder in which the can body does not fall at an unexpected timing.

A knockout unit has a knocking out piston which is disposed to be movable in a depth direction of a cylindrical part and is provided to be displaceable between a protruding position at which the knocking out piston protrudes into the cylindrical part and a recessed position at which the knocking out piston exits the cylindrical part, and a cylinder which supports the knocking out piston to be displaceable. At a discharge position at which the formed can body is discharged from the cylindrical part of the can body holder, a piston displacing unit which displaces the knocking out piston from the recessed position toward the protruding position is provided adjacent to the other surface side of the base.

A housing including an internal gear having a first central axis as a center; a first rotating body relatively rotatably joined to the housing ; a second rotating body including an external gear having a second central axis parallel to the first central axis as a center and meshing with an internal gear and relatively rotatably joined to the first rotating body; a ram shaft joining part connected to the second rotating body and configured to be linearly moved in a reciprocating manner in a prescribed direction; and an air supply path passing through the insides of the first rotating body, the second rotating body, and the ram shaft joining part are provided.

Presented herein are container forming machines, forming ram assemblies, and methods for making and for using forming ram assemblies. A forming ram assembly is presented for a container forming machine, which includes a turret assembly with a cam rail. The ram assembly includes a mounting rail for attaching to the turret assembly. A cam follower is mounted to the mounting rail and configured to rollably seat against the cam rail. Connected to the cam follower is a forming die which moves as the cam follower traverses the cam rail. A knockout tool is mounted inside the forming die and includes a stepped segment. A drive cylinder moves the knockout tool within the forming die. An O-ring is seated inside a complementary channel of the knockout tool. An annular knockout guide is seated on the stepped segment of the knockout tool, located between and abutting the O-ring and forming die.

A housing including an internal gear having a first central axis as a center; a first rotating body relatively rotatably joined to the housing; a second rotating body including an external gear having a second central axis parallel to the first central axis as a center and meshing with an internal gear and relatively rotatably joined to the first rotating body; a ram shaft joining part connected to the second rotating body and configured to be linearly moved in a reciprocating manner in a prescribed direction; and an air supply path passing through the insides of the first rotating body, the second rotating body, and the ram shaft joining part are provided.

A stripper assembly for a can bodymaker is configured to remove a can body from a punch mounted on a ram of the can bodymaker. The stripper assembly comprises a stripper housing defining an internal bore through which the punch passes and a radial offset monitor. The radial offset monitor comprises one or more eddy current sensors located within the stripper housing or attached thereto. The radial offset monitor is configured to detect misalignment of a ram and/or a punch, or a can body held on the punch, within the bore. A method of detecting axial misalignment of a ram and/or a punch of a can bodymaker, or of a can body held on the punch is also described. The method comprises providing a stripper housing defining an internal bore through which the punch passes; obtaining electrical output signals from one or more eddy current sensors within the housing or attached thereto, and processing the signal(s) to detect any axial misalignment.

Presented herein are container forming machines, forming ram assemblies, and methods for making and for using forming ram assemblies. A forming ram assembly is presented for a container forming machine, which includes a turret assembly with a cam rail. The ram assembly includes a mounting rail for attaching to the turret assembly. A cam follower is mounted to the mounting rail and configured to rollably seat against the cam rail. Connected to the cam follower is a forming die which moves as the cam follower traverses the cam rail. A knockout tool is mounted inside the forming die and includes a stepped segment. A drive cylinder moves the knockout tool within the forming die. An O-ring is seated inside a complementary channel of the knockout tool. An annular knockout guide is seated on the stepped segment of the knockout tool, located between and abutting the O-ring and forming die.

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.