A die-pressing die used for die-pressing a workpiece includes a die body on whose upper face a die hole is formed and on whose bottom face a discharge hole for discharging dusts of the workpiece is formed, and a roller unit disposed within the die hole and having a roller protruding upward from the upper face of the die body. A collection passage for collecting the dusts is formed at a peripheral edge portion of the die hole. One end of the collection passage is opened at the upper face of the die body, and another end thereof is opened to the discharge hole. The collection passage is configured to suction air due to a negative pressure state in the discharge hole.

A die-pressing die used for die-pressing a workpiece includes a die body on whose upper face a die hole is formed and on whose bottom face a discharge hole for discharging dusts of the workpiece is formed, and a roller unit disposed within the die hole and having a roller protruding upward from the upper face of the die body. A collection passage for collecting the dusts is formed at a peripheral edge portion of the die hole. One end of the collection passage is opened at the upper face of the die body, and another end thereof is opened to the discharge hole. The collection passage is configured to suction air due to a negative pressure state in the discharge hole.

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.

A guided keeper assembly includes a base, at least one marginal fastener aperture to detachably mount the base to an associated die shoe, and a central guide aperture. A guide pin is closely received in the central aperture of the base. A first end of the guide pin has an enlarged head to positively limit travel between the die shoe and die pad, and an opposite second end with a generally flat terminal shoulder configured for close reception in a blind hole in the die pad. The shoulder has a fastener aperture at a location spaced radially offset from the central axis of the guide pin. A fastener extends through the fastener aperture in the die pad and engages in the fastener aperture in the second end of the guide pin to securely, yet detachably, connect the second end portion of the guide pin with the die pad.

A die-pressing die used for die-pressing a workpiece includes a die body on whose upper face a die hole is formed and on whose bottom face a discharge hole for discharging dusts of the workpiece is formed, and a roller unit disposed within the die hole and having a roller protruding upward from the upper face of the die body. A collection passage for collecting the dusts is formed at a peripheral edge portion of the die hole. One end of the collection passage is opened at the upper face of the die body, and another end thereof is opened to the discharge hole. The collection passage is configured to suction air due to a negative pressure state in the discharge hole.

One aspect of the invention provides a jacket-stripping tool including: a reference stop adapted and configured to contact an end of corrugated stainless steel tubing; and one or more cutting blades arranged substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the tool and adapted and configured to create one or more cuts through one or more external jacket layers of the corrugated stainless steel tubing. At least one of the one or more cutting blades is positioned relative to the reference stop such that the at least one of the one or more cutting blades is a multiple of a distance between adjacent corrugation valleys of the corrugated stainless steel tubing.

One aspect of the invention provides a jacket-stripping tool including: a reference stop adapted and configured to contact an end of corrugated stainless steel tubing; and one or more cutting blades arranged substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the tool and adapted and configured to create one or more cuts through one or more external jacket layers of the corrugated stainless steel tubing. At least one of the one or more cutting blades is positioned relative to the reference stop such that the at least one of the one or more cutting blades is a multiple of a distance between adjacent corrugation valleys of the corrugated stainless steel tubing.

A guided keeper assembly includes a base, at least one marginal fastener aperture to detachably mount the base to an associated die shoe, and a central guide aperture. A guide pin is closely received in the central aperture of the base. A first end of the guide pin has an enlarged head to positively limit travel between the die shoe and die pad, and an opposite second end with a generally flat terminal shoulder configured for close reception in a blind hole in the die pad. The shoulder has a fastener aperture at a location spaced radially offset from the central axis of the guide pin. A fastener extends through the fastener aperture in the die pad and engages in the fastener aperture in the second end of the guide pin to securely, yet detachably, connect the second end portion of the guide pin with the die pad.

A guided keeper assembly includes a base, at least one marginal fastener aperture to detachably mount the base to an associated die shoe, and a central guide aperture. A guide pin is closely received in the central aperture of the base. A first end of the guide pin has an enlarged head to positively limit travel between the die shoe and die pad, and an opposite second end with a generally flat terminal shoulder configured for close reception in a blind hole in the die pad. The shoulder has a fastener aperture at a location spaced radially offset from the central axis of the guide pin. A fastener extends through the fastener aperture in the die pad and engages in the fastener aperture in the second end of the guide pin to securely, yet detachably, connect the second end portion of the guide pin with the die pad.

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.