Abstract: Apparatus for forming beads in the cylindrical wall of a metal drum blank comprising a die head and an opposed roller, for engaging the interior and exterior surfaces, respectively, of a cylindrical drum blank. The die head has first, second and third coaxial, circular dies, each made up of plural, wedge-shaped die elements. The roller has two coaxial peripheral edges cooperable with the dies to form a W-style bead. The second die is located between the first and third dies and is radially expansible, by the frusto-conical surface of a cam, for producing a standard bead. The same frusto-conical surface also expands the first die, and a separate frusto-conical surface expands the third die. Lands on the cam engage the wedge-shaped elements of the first and third dies and maintain the first and third dies at fixed radial positions in engagement with the inner cylindrical wall of a drum blank, while the cam continues to urge the wedge-shaped elements of the second die radially outwardly.

Abstract: The present machine, sometimes known as a beader or drum beader, receives a steel drum in a horizontal position and expands circumferential beads into the body to provide structural strength. A pair of opposed heads which reciprocate in and out of the drum body are driven respectively by means of a crank arrangement comprising a connecting rod which is fixed with a pivoting joint on the back of the head. The other end of the connecting rod is attached to gear by a pin which is offset from its center axis. Each head travels horizontally on a frame of the machine into and out of a drum which is placed thereon. A hydraulic cylinder provides the expansion of the dies on the head which are used to engage the drum and form the beads. Thus, the operation of the connecting rod is mechanical but the dies are operated by hydraulic cylinder in the head and when the proper stroke is reached that corresponds to the correct height of the bead the cylinder retracts the bead dies.