Standun bodymaker manual

16. A yoke according to claim 15, the alignment mechanism comprising: an inner bushing for supporting the ram, the inner bushing being annular and having eccentric inner and outer surfaces; 15 an outer bushing supporting the inner bushing, the outer bushing being annular and having eccentric inner and outer surfaces; and an adjustment
mechanism for independently rotating the inner and outer bushings about respective axes of rotation defined by their outer surfaces. Intellectual Property Office Application No: GB1613057.7 Examiner: Tim James 16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15 and comprising locking the ram in position with respect to the yoke once the yoke-
coupled end of the ram is correctly positioned with respect to the yoke. 17.
A yoke for a can bodymaker and configured to couple a ram to a drive mechanism in order to drive the ram with a linear, reciprocating motion, the yoke being further configured to fit within a yoke slide so that the yoke is confined to move in a linear direction, the yoke comprising an alignment mechanism for aligning a yokecoupled end of the ram
with respect to the yoke within a plane perpendicular to said linear direction. 18. A yoke according to claim 17, the alignment mechanism comprising: an inner bushing for supporting the ram, the inner bushing being annular and having eccentric inner and outer surfaces; an outer bushing supporting the inner bushing, the outer bushing being annular
and having eccentric inner and outer surfaces; and an adjustment mechanism for independently rotating the inner and outer bushings about respective axes of rotation defined by their outer surfaces.
19. 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; and a yoke slide fixed relative to the can bodymaker, the yoke being confined by the yoke slide to move in a linear direction; wherein said yoke allows adjustment of the yoke-
coupled end of the ram with respect to the drive mechanism along said linear direction. 20. A can bodymaker according to claim 19, wherein the yoke is coupled to the ram by a threaded rod screwed into a tapped hole, the yoke allowing adjustment of the yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the drive mechanism along said linear direction by
screwing the threaded rod into or out of the tapped hole. 21. A can bodymaker according to claim 19 or 20 and comprising an insert located between the yoke-coupled end of the ram and the yoke, the insert preferably being formed from an elastomeric material such as PTFE. 22. A can bodymaker according to any one of claims 19 to 21 and
comprising a bottom forming tool located at an end of the can bodymaker opposite the drive mechanism. 23. A yoke for a can bodymaker and configured to couple a ram to a drive mechanism in order to drive the ram with a linear, reciprocating motion, the yoke being further configured to fit within a yoke slide so that the yoke is confined to move in a
linear direction, the yoke being further configured to allow adjustment of the yokecoupled end of the ram with respect to the drive mechanism along said linear direction. 24. A yoke according to claim 23 and comprising a threaded rod configured to screw into a tapped hole in the yoke-coupled end of the ram. 25. A yoke according to claim 23 and
comprising a tapped hole configured to allow a threaded yoke-coupled end of the ram to be screwed therein. 26. A method of aligning a ram of a can bodymaker having a yoke coupling the ram to a drive mechanism in order to drive the ram with a linear, reciprocating motion, and where a yoke slide is fixed relative to the can bodymaker and the yoke
is confined by the yoke slide to move in a linear direction, the method comprising adjusting the yokecoupled end of the ram with respect to the drive mechanism along said linear direction.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the yoke and the yoke-coupled end of the ram are coupled by a threaded rod screwed into a tapped hole and adjusting the yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the drive mechanism along said linear direction comprises screwing the threaded rod into or out of the tapped hole. 28. A method
according to claim 26 or 27 and comprising inserting or replacing an insert between the yoke-coupled end of the ram and the yoke. 29. A method according to any one of claims 26 to 28 and comprising locking the ram in position with respect to the yoke once the yoke-coupled end of the ram is correctly positioned with respect to the drive mechanism.
5 30. A method according to any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the can bodymaker comprises a bottom forming tool located at an end of the can bodymaker opposite the drive mechanism, and wherein the yoke-coupled end of the ram is adjusted with respect to the drive mechanism until the other end of the ram is aligned with respect to the bottom
forming tool. 23 05 17 Amendments to the claims have been made as follows; CLAIMS: 1. A can bodymaker comprising: a ram; 5 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 10 an alignment mechanism for adjustably positioning a yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the yoke within a plane perpendicular to said linear direction, the alignment mechanism comprising a locking mechanism for securing the ram in said plane once positioned. 15 2. A can bodymaker according to claim 1,
the alignment mechanism comprising: an inner bushing supporting the ram, the inner bushing being annular and having eccentric inner and outer surfaces; an outer bushing supporting the inner bushing, the outer bushing being annular and having eccentric inner and outer surfaces; and 20 an adjustment mechanism for independently rotating the
inner and outer bushings about respective axes of rotation defined by their outer surfaces. 3. A can bodymaker according to claim 2, wherein the axes of rotation of the inner and outer bushings are separated by a distance between 0.10 mm and 0.30 mm and 25 preferably 0.25 mm. 4. A can bodymaker according to claim 2, wherein the ram axis and
the rotational axis of the inner bushing are separated by a distance between 0.10 mm and 0.30 mm and preferably 0.25 mm. 5. A can bodymaker according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, the adjustment mechanism comprising a first worm gear for rotating the inner bushing and a second worm gear for rotating the outer bushing. 23 05 17 6. A can
bodymaker according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a compression coupling arranged axially about the bushings. 5 7. A can bodymaker according to claim 6 and comprising a nut for locking the ram in position with respect to the yoke, the nut being threaded on to the ram. 8. A can bodymaker according
to any preceding claim, wherein said yoke allows adjustment of the yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the drive mechanism 10 along said linear direction. 9.
A can bodymaker according to claim 8, wherein said yoke is coupled to the ram by a threaded rod screwed into a tapped hole, the yoke allowing adjustment of the yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the drive mechanism along said linear 15 direction by screwing the threaded rod into or out of the tapped hole 10. A can bodymaker according
to claim 8 or 9 and comprising an insert located between the yoke-coupled end of the ram and the yoke, the insert preferably being formed from an elastomeric material such as PTFE. 11. A can bodymaker according to any preceding claim and comprising a bottom forming tool located at an end of the can bodymaker opposite the drive mechanism.
12. A method of aligning a ram of a can bodymaker having a yoke coupling the ram 25 to a drive mechanism in order to drive the ram with a linear, reciprocating motion, and where a yoke slide is fixed relative to the can bodymaker and the yoke is confined by the yoke slide to move in a linear direction, the method comprising using an alignment
mechanism to adjust the position of a yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the yoke within a plane perpendicular to said linear direction and locking the ram in position 30 with respect to the yoke once the yoke-coupled end of the ram is correctly positioned with respect to the yoke. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the use of the
alignment mechanism comprises rotating one or more of a pair of eccentrically nested bushings. 23 05 17 14. A method according to claim 13 and comprising alternately rotating the eccentrically nested eccentric bushings in an iterative sequence. 15.

A yoke for a can bodymaker and configured to couple a ram to a drive 5 mechanism in order to drive the ram with a linear, reciprocating motion, the yoke being further configured to fit within a yoke slide so that the yoke is confined to move in a linear direction, the yoke comprising an alignment mechanism for adjustably positioning a yoke-coupled
end of the ram with respect to the yoke within a plane perpendicular to said linear direction, the alignment mechanism comprising a locking mechanism for 10 securing the ram in said plane once positioned.