The present invention relates to an apparatus for machining cylindrical, monolithic metallic bodies which are used, for example, in the packaging, personal care, beverage, medical and similar sectors.

Apparatuses are known for machining containers, which are typically made of aluminum or steel and are constituted by preformed bodies with a cylindrical cross-section which are obtained by way of extrusion or drawing and which have, at one longitudinal end, a rear wall and, at the other end, a free edge on which to carry out a coning operation in order to obtain, generally, a mouth on which is then provided, for example, a threading adapted to be associated with a cap for closing the container.

Usually, such apparatuses are constituted by a supporting frame for a carousel that can rotate intermittently about a main rotation axis and defines, at its peripheral region, a plurality of supporting seats for the respective metallic bodies to be worked, which are fed to the carousel by way of a feeder.

The apparatus comprises, furthermore, a front table, arranged parallel to and facing toward the carousel, which can move with an alternating translational motion along a direction that is substantially parallel to the main rotation axis of the carousel.

In particular, the front table supports a plurality of working stations, which are intended to engage sequentially with the metallic bodies supported by the carousel.

The apparatus is provided with a motor that is connected, by way of kinematic connection means which comprise, among other things, a rod and crank assembly, both to an elongated element, which supports the front table for moving such front table in an alternating motion, and to the carousel in order to enable the intermittent rotation thereof about the main rotation axis.

A percentage, typically 60%, of the travel of the front table is given over to engagement with the metallic bodies while the remaining percentage, in which the stations are not engaged with the containers, is used to make the carousel rotate.

If it is desired to vary the extent of the portion, also known as the useful travel, in which the stations are engaged with the bodies to be worked, it is necessary to make changes to the kinematic arrangement of the rod and crank assembly.

This makes it possible to vary, typically increasing it, the useful travel, which will still however be substantially equal, in percentage terms, to 60% of the total travel of the front table.

Since, usually, when the useful travel is increased, the speed is reduced and as a consequence the number of pieces machined per unit of time is also reduced, it appears evident that increasing the useful travel corresponds to a perceptible increase, in absolute terms, of the time given over to the intermittent movement of the carousel, an increase that necessarily has repercussions on the overall productivity of the apparatus.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems and overcome the drawbacks, by providing an apparatus for working metallic bodies by plastic deformation which is extremely reliable in use.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to make available an apparatus for working metallic bodies by plastic deformation which makes it possible to appreciably increase productivity while reducing the problems owing to operations to vary the useful travel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for working metallic bodies by plastic deformation which is extremely simple in terms of construction and as a consequence is low cost, so as to make its use advantageous from an economic viewpoint as well.

Another object of the invention is to devise an apparatus that is extremely simple from the point of view of ordinary and extraordinary maintenance. This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus for working metallic bodies by plastic deformation according to claim 1.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an apparatus for working metallic bodies by plastic deformation according to the invention, which are illustrated by way of non- limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for working metallic bodies by plastic deformation according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a variation of embodiment of the second motor for moving the carousel;

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the variation shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a partial view from behind of the variation in Figures 3 and 4.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

The present invention relates to an apparatus, generally indicated with the reference numeral 1, for working metallic bodies by plastic deformation.

The apparatus 1 comprises a supporting frame 2 for a carousel 3 that can rotate intermittently about a main rotation axis 100.

The carousel 3 defines a plurality of supporting seats 3 a for respective metallic bodies to be worked 4a, which are fed to the carousel 3 by way of a feeder (not shown in the figures).

Conveniently, the worked pieces are unloaded by the carousel 3 by way of an unloading device, which is also not shown in the figures.

Preferably, the supporting seats 3a are arranged substantially at the peripheral region of the carousel 3 and are mutually angularly spaced in a regular manner about the main rotation axis 100.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a front table 5, which can move with an alternating translational motion along a direction that is substantially parallel to the main rotation axis 100 of the carousel 3, as shown by the arrow 101.

The front table 5 supports a plurality of working stations 6, which are intended to engage sequentially with the metallic bodies 4 that are supported by the carousel 3.

According to the present invention, the front table 5 is moved with an alternating translational motion by a first motor 10 and the carousel 3 is moved intermittently about the main rotation axis 100 by a second motor 11.

In this manner the speed of angular movement of the carousel 3 about the main rotation axis 100 is made independent of the useful travel and of the speed of movement of the front table 5.

In this manner it is possible to vary, and typically increase, the useful travel of the front table 5, during which the working stations 6 are engaged with respective bodies to be worked 4a, without making changes to the kinematic mechanism for connection between the first motor 10 and the front table 5.

Advantageously, the apparatus 1 comprises a management device connected functionally to the first motor 10 and to the second motor 11.

Such management device is adapted to synchronize the alternating translational motion of the front table 5 and the intermittent motion of the carousel 3 about the main rotation axis 100.

Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second motor 11 is coupled directly to the carousel 3.

By independently managing, although in synchronization, the speed of the first motor 10, and thus of the front table 5, and of the second motor 11 which controls the rotation of the carousel 3, it is possible, within the limits of the inertia values of the apparatus 1 , with respect to the known solutions which involve making changes to the kinematic arrangement of the rod and crank assembly:

to obtain more time, for the same useful travel of the front table 5, for engagement of the stations 6 with the respective bodies to be worked 4a, with consequent greater precision and efficacy of the operations carried out; to obtain a higher level of productivity as a result of the reduction, in absolute terms, of the time given over to the intermittent rotation of the carousel 3.

Obviously, there is no reason why, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the second motor 11 should not be connected kinematically to the carousel by way of the interposition of kinematic connection means 12.

The kinematic connection means 12 can comprise, for example, a ring gear 12a that rotates integrally with the output shaft of the second motor 11 and meshes with a rack 12b that is integral with the carousel 3 and extends about the main rotation axis 100.

The apparatus 1 has, advantageously, a rod and crank assembly 7 for connection between the output shaft 10a of the first motor 10 and the front table 5.

In particular, the rod and crank assembly 7 is adapted to convert the rotation of the output shaft 10a of the first motor 10 to the alternating translational motion of the front table 5.

In this regard, it is possible for the free end of the link rod to be connected to an elongated element 5a which extends parallel, and advantageously correspondingly, to the main rotation axis 100.

The elongated element 5a supports the front table 5 so as to enable the alternating translational motion of the front table 5 along the direction indicated by the arrow 101.

With particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second motor 11 comprises a stator 11a fixed to the supporting frame 2 and a rotor l ib, which that can rotate with respect to the stator 11a about the main rotation axis 100, fixed to the carousel 3.

In particular, it is possible for the supporting frame 2 to have a wall 14 that is connected to a fixed containment frame, and which defines an abutment 2a to which the stator 11 a is fixed.

The abutment 2a extends, preferably, on a plane of arrangement that is arranged substantially parallel to the main rotation axis 100.

Likewise, the inward-facing edge of the abutment 2a can be connected to a tubular containment body 13 which extends around the elongated element 5 a.

Preferably, the apparatus 1 comprises a coning machine.

Operation of an apparatus 1 according to the invention is evident from the foregoing description.

The first motor 10 and the second motor 11 move, respectively, in an alternating translational motion along the direction indicated by the arrow 101, the front table 5 and the carousel 3, thus bringing the working stations 6 with the bodies to be worked 4a sequentially into engagement.

Differently from what is done in known apparatuses, when it is necessary to vary, and in particular increase, the useful travel of the front table 5, it is not necessary to intervene by making changes to the kinematic arrangement of the rod and crank assembly 7, but instead it is sufficient, after having readied the adapted apparatuses at the working stations 6, to change the speeds of the first motor 10 and of the second motor 11 , while ensuring, obviously, the synchronization between the alternating translational motions of the front table 5 and the intermittent rotation of the carousel 3 about the main rotation axis 100.

In fact the percentage of useful travel is increased, of the total travel of the front table 5, while keeping the intermittent rotation time substantially unchanged.

In particular it has been found that, for extremely high useful travels (which usually correspond to low productivity levels) the useful travel can correspond to 70%- 80% of the total travel of the front table 5.

It thus appears evident that the apparatus 1 according to the invention makes it possible, simply and without changing any kinematic mechanism, to vary the useful travel.

In this manner it is possible to obtain, for the same productivity as traditional apparatuses, longer engagement times of the working stations 6 with the bodies to be worked 4a or, optionally, within the limits of the overall inertia values of the apparatus 1 , a higher number of worked products per unit of time.

All the characteristics of the invention, indicated above as advantageous, convenient or similar, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

In practice it has been found that in all the embodiments the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.

In practice the materials employed may be any, according to requirements.

Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2014A000013 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.