Abstract: A die assembly includes spinning pilot rollers for necking-in the open end of a container. The die assembly includes a cylindrical die for engaging the outside surface of a container. A tubular spindle is rotatably mounted along the axis of the die. One or more of rollers are rotatably mounted on the spindle, and each roller is pivotable about an axis which extends parallel to the axis of the die. An actuator is reciprocably mounted within the spindle and is movable between first and second positions for camming the rollers away from the axis of the spindle and toward the inside surface of the die.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming a bottom of a drawn and ironed beverage container is disclosed. The container has a longitudinal axis and a side wall parallel with the longitudinal axis. The bottom has an outer annular wall, a convex U-shaped portion and a preformed bottom wall. The preformed bottom wall includes a center domed portion. The bottom further has an annular, substantially longitudinal wall joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The apparatus comprises a roller movable from an inward position where the roller does not contact the annular, substantially longitudinal wall to an outward position where the roller contacts the annular, substantially longitudinal wall, and a movable actuator to move the roller into engagement with and circumferentially about the annular, substantially longitudinal wall to reform the substantially longitudinal wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming the bottom of a container (20) and a container made by that method is disclosed. The container for which this method and apparatus are suitable has an outer annular wall (26); a convex U-shaped portion (28); a preformed bottom wall (30), including a center domed portion (32); and an annular wall (34) joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The method comprises supporting the bottom peripheral profile portion and bringing a reforming means (36) into engagement with the annular wall. The reforming means is brought to bear against the annular wall to rework the annular wall. The reforming means can also reform the outer annular wall.

Abstract: A drawn and ironed container (C) that includes a cylindrical side wall, a smoothly-tapered neck (134) with an open end and an integral bottom wall (137) at the opposite end has a plurality of inwardly-deformed panel segments (130) located in the side wall between adjacent arcuate segments (132) with the panel defining generally chordal bottom walls for the panel segments. The container is formed using a multi-station processing apparatus that consists of a plurality of identical stations (30) located around the periphery of a rotating turret (26). Each station includes a support mandrel (50), a container loading means (52, 53) and an impression mandrel (54), with the impression mandrel being pivoted into and out of pressure engagement with the support mandrel to deform the side wall of the container. The support mandrel has a cylindrical peripheral surface (102) that conforms to the inner diameter of the container side wall and has circumferentially-spaced, axially-extending pockets (104.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming the bottom of a drawn and ironed or a drawn beverage container, and a container made by that method. The container for which this method and apparatus are suitable has a vertical axis; a generally cylindrical side wall parallel with the vertical axis; an outer annular wall; a convex U-shaped portion; a preformed bottom wall including a center domed portion; and an annular, substantially vertical wall joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The method comprises supporting the container in a jig, the jig having a bottom peripheral profile portion substantially corresponding in shape to the outer annular wall of the container. The bottom peripheral profile portion of the jig is then mated with the outer annular wall. A reforming roller is brought into engagement with the substantially vertical wall. The reforming roller rotates along the vertical wall and about an arcuate path, affecting the angle of the substantially vertical wall.