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A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft.

A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

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1. A horizontal can necking machine assembly comprising: plural main turrets, each main turret including a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted proximate to an end of the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die; the main turret shaft is configured to rotate about an axis that is substantia

1. A horizontal can necking machine assembly comprising: plural main turrets, each main turret including a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted proximate to an end of the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die; the main turret shaft is configured to rotate about an axis that is substantially parallel to a surface on which the assembly is supported; the necking machine capable of necking a can body to prepare the can body for a flanging operation suitable for forming a double seam with a beverage can end;the die including:a throat portion having an inner surface that defines a cylinder having a first diameter;a body portion having an inner surface that defines a cylinder having a second diameter; anda transition portion having an inner surface that smoothly transitions from the inner surface of the throat portion to the inner surface of the body portion,wherein (i) the first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and (ii) the throat portion is at least 0.125 inches long; andplural transfer starwheels located in an alternating relationship with the main turrets, each transfer starwheel including a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted proximate to an end of the transfer shaft;the main gears and transfer gears are in meshed communication and positioned relative to each other such that lines that intersect centers of the main gear and centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body;wherein (i) the main turrets and transfer starwheels are capable of operating to neck and move at least 3000 cans per minute, and (ii) a stroke length between the pusher assembly and the die is at least 1.50 inches. 2. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each pusher assembly has a stroke length relative to the die that is approximately 1.625 inches. 3. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein each pusher assembly has a stroke length relative to the die that is approximately 1.75 inches. 4. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of approximately 135 degrees. 5. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of approximately 120 degrees. 6. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the main turrets and transfer starwheels are operative to neck and move at least 3200 cans per minute. 7. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the main turrets and transfer starwheels are operative to neck and move approximately 3400 cans per minute. 8. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the transfer gears have a larger diameter than the main gears. 9. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the throat portion is at least 0.25 inches long. 10. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the throat portion is approximately 0.375 inches long. 11. The horizontal can necking machine assembly of claim 1, wherein the throat portion is rounded proximate to an inlet of the throat portion.