Apparatus For Can Body Making Patents (Class 413/69)
  • Patent number: 11459144
    Abstract: A container for distilled spirits includes a stainless steel body, stainless steel top element and stainless steel bottom element wherein the body, top element and body element are joined together without solder such that the flavor of the distilled spirits therein is preserved. A method of making the container is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: AMERICANA JV INVESTMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Brad Beckerman, Steve Sandstrom, Zhao Shao Feng
  • Patent number: 11260445
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a tooling station for forming containers that includes a blank and draw punch configured to blank off a portion of stock from a stock element and draw the portion of stock to form a cup. The blank and draw punch includes a blank and draw punch curved edge disposed between a blank and draw punch inner circumferential wall and a blank and draw punch proximal surface. The blank and draw punch curved edge has a radius of curvature that varies along its circumference. The tooling station also includes a draw-redraw die configured to redraw the cup to form a can having a flange. The draw redraw die includes a draw-redraw die curved edge disposed between a draw-redraw die inner circumferential wall and a draw-redraw die proximal surface. The draw-redraw die curved edge has a radius of curvature that varies along its circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: EKL Machine Company
    Inventors: William Hibbs, Daniel Livezey, Jeffrey Schenk, Daniel Menno, Edward Lydon
  • Patent number: 10875684
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sealing a threaded container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to a ROPP closure with a novel pilfer band that may be used to seal a bottle shaped container without pressing directly against the bottle or deforming the bottle. The bottle includes an annular ring that is novel. Optionally, the annular ring can be formed without die necking or expanding the bottle neck. At least one protrusion which extends inwardly at least partially into the bottle annular ring is formed on the ROPP closure after the ROPP closure is positioned on the bottle neck. In one embodiment, the ROPP closure includes one inwardly oriented protrusion which extends around the circumference of the ROPP closure. The protrusion can be formed by a roller. Optionally, the protrusion has a substantially uniform depth. In another embodiment, the ROPP closure includes a plurality of individuals studs which each extend at least partially into the bottle annular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: BALL CORPORATION
    Inventors: John R. Ross, David J. Bonfoey, Dean L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10449594
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a tooling station for forming containers that includes a blank and draw punch configured to blank off a portion of stock from a stock element and draw the portion of stock to form a cup. The blank and draw punch includes a blank and draw punch curved edge disposed between a blank and draw punch inner circumferential wall and a blank and draw punch proximal surface. The blank and draw punch curved edge has a radius of curvature that varies along its circumference. The tooling station also includes a draw-redraw die configured to redraw the cup to form a can having a flange. The draw redraw die includes a draw-redraw die curved edge disposed between a draw-redraw die inner circumferential wall and a draw-redraw die proximal surface. The draw-redraw die curved edge has a radius of curvature that varies along its circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: EKL Machine Company
    Inventors: William Hibbs, Daniel Livezey, Jeffrey Schenk, Daniel Menno, Edward Lydon
  • Patent number: 10066537
    Abstract: An exhaust connection coupler and a method for manufacturing a braid cover incorporated therein are provided. The method of manufacturing comprises the steps of providing a tubular sleeve formed of braided wire filaments and forming at least one end of the sleeve into shape using a forming die such that the at least one end of the cover includes a circumferential neck portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a body portion of the cover. In the method, the sleeve may be pressed between male and female forming dies in order to create the cover's desired shape, which can include a shoulder extending radially outwardly from the cover's neck portion and meeting the cover's body portion at a corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: TRU-FLEX, LLC
    Inventors: Robert F. Stalcup, II, Scott R. Swank
  • Patent number: 9873145
    Abstract: To provide a variant-can having a narrow part in the vicinity of a bottom part by performing a diameter-reduction process up to the vicinity of the bottom part on a trunk part of a can-body made of metal in a can-manufacturing device which processes the can-body being held by a pocket-shaped conveying part while conveying. It is provided with: a can-body pocket which holds a can-body by being in contact with a part of an outer circumference surface of a trunk part of the can-body; a base pad which presses a bottom part of the can-body along a can-axis direction; a die in which the trunk part of the can-body is press-inserted; and a clamping ring which protrudes from the base pad toward the die and is provided so as to move back and forth along the can-axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Universal Can Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hosoi, Atsushi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9718117
    Abstract: A forging method is set in a shaping hole of a die body, and the forging material is pressed with a punch to perform plastic shaping of the forging material. Ultrasonic vibration having a vibration frequency is applied to the die body with a vibration applying apparatus during the plastic shaping of the forging material. The vibration frequency is converged to a resonance frequency of the die body when the vibration frequency is within a tracking range of the vibration applying apparatus during the plastic shaping of the forging material. When the tracking range is shifted in accordance with a discontinuous change of the resonance frequency during the plastic shaping of the forging material to deviate from the vibration frequency, the reference frequency is changed so as to fall within a shifted tracking range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventor: Ichitami Miyashita
  • Patent number: 9492861
    Abstract: A can body (II) having a can base (13) and a can wall (14) is shaped by a wall ironing process starting with a blank (12). A drawing punch (15) moves the blank (12) through a wall ironing container (34) from an opening (35) to an exit (36). The edge (R) of the can body (II) opposite the can base (13) is separated using a cutting device (45), which has a force generating unit (46) arranged adjacent to the exit (36) and at least one cutting edge (26, 27) which can be arranged on the drawing punch (15). The force generating unit (46) generates a force (F) onto the can wall (14) edge (R) to be separated, whereby the edge is sheared off on the at least one cutting edge (26, 27). The can body (II) is located on the drawing punch (15) while the edge (R) is being separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
    Inventor: Klaus Blei
  • Patent number: 9011609
    Abstract: An ironing apparatus includes an ironing die and an ironing punch, an injection port for injecting gas or liquid to the metal plate at a high pressure to remove substance adhered to the metal plate therefrom, a suction port for sucking the adhered substance removed from the metal plate, and a protrusion mount portion with a protrusion for preventing dispersion of the gas or the liquid. An ironing method for ironing the metal plate having the single surface or both surfaces coated with the organic resin film includes the steps of injecting the gas or the liquid from the injection port to the metal plate at the high pressure to remove the adhered substance from the metal plate, and sucking and collecting the adhered substance removed from the metal plate from the suction port. The adhered substance such as the hair may be removed by the aforementioned invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakagawa, Masaki Tada, Katsumi Kojima, Yasuhide Oshima, Hiroki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 8844334
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a steel container having a curled open end, comprising the steps of i) providing a steel cup; ii) deep drawing the steel cup into a drawn container preform; iii) thin drawing the body of the drawn container preform; and iv) curling an open end of the drawn container preform by forming a precurl and by curling the precurl into an elongated curl, to an apparatus for forming a steel container, and to such steel container and its preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Impress Group B.V.
    Inventor: Johan Willem Roeterdink
  • Publication number: 20140271042
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for providing a container with a lining are provided. A lining element is displaced into the interior of the container and coupled to the interior surfaces of the container to substantially cover the interior of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Alvin Widitora, Michael Gurka, Michael Richards, Dustin Lobner, Phil Frisella
  • Publication number: 20140169915
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deep-drawing packaging machine with a lifting gear for a forming station, sealing station or cutting station, wherein the lifting gear provides guides and lifting spindles which are arranged outside a collision region of a movable tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Multivac Sepp Haggenmuller GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Ehrmann, Klaus Weiss
  • Publication number: 20140161566
    Abstract: A method for manufacture of a metal can body is described in which two or more stretching operations are used so as to reduce the thickness of the central part of a cup base, prior to drawing the cup sidewall and forming a can body. By using two or more stretching operations, it has been found possible to control the thickness of the base without significantly reducing pressure performance of the finished can. Alternative embodiments of apparatus comprising tooling for carrying out this method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Presset, Keith Alan Vincent, Stuart Alexander Monro
  • Patent number: 8726712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a sealing lip of a metallic can, and a metallic can processed by the apparatus. The present invention provides an apparatus for processing a sealing lip of a metallic can comprising: a pressurization block which is lifted and lowered by a lifting means to elastically provide pressure downward; an interlocking means which moves downward step by step by the pressure of the pressurization block and has a coupling relation in which the means stops at stages in the level difference structure of a base so as to be held; and a lip processing member which presses the sealing lip to the inside and outside of a bottle neck of the metallic can while interlocking due to the movement of the interlocking means, and provides a metallic can wherein a notch groove is processed at a beading part by the apparatus for processing a sealing lip of a metallic can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Paseco Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il Han Yoo, Jin Ho Park
  • Publication number: 20140110408
    Abstract: A method of forming a can end shell is provided which includes providing a can end shell having a central panel portion, a first panel radius around the central panel portion, a chamfer extending from the first panel radius, and a second panel radius around the chamfer, coining the can end shell to form a coined section in the first panel radius around at least a portion of the circumference of the central panel portion, and reforming the can end shell to form a step in the chamfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: STOLLE MACHINERY COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: MARK RICHARD MITCHELL, Aaron Emmanuel Carstens, Craig Allen McEldowney
  • Patent number: 8590358
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for forming a metal container including one or more devices that are electronically coordinated to perform operations of local and/or extensive deformation over metal containers and one or more interface devices (12) wherein the motion among the devices is accomplished in an indirect way through elements adapted to coordinate and synchronize these same devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Frattini S.p.A. Construzioni Meccaniche
    Inventors: Roberto Frattini, Anthony Kendrick Nixon
  • Patent number: 8555692
    Abstract: The present invention provides an expansion die for manufacturing containers including a work surface including a progressively expanding portion and a land portion; and an undercut portion positioned following the land portion of the work surface. The present invention further provides a process for manufacturing shaped containers including providing a container stock having a first diameter; expanding at least a portion of the container stock to a second diameter with at least one expansion die; and forming an end of the container stock to accept a container lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, Anthony Fedusa, Robert E. Dick
  • Publication number: 20130216334
    Abstract: A dual double-action can body maker characterized in that a can body maker of the opposite way double-action structure is formed by means of a structural design of using two identical ram drive mechanisms and a design scheme of sharing one crankshaft. Two ram drive mechanisms share one crankshaft, and are arranged symmetrically to balance the inertial force of such parts as a swing lever. A slide yoke and a ram in motion and the reaction force generated in the can body redrawing and ironing process to reduce the load of the support bearing of the crankshaft and extend the service life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: SUZHOU SLAC PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Suzhou Slac Precision Equipment Co.,Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130216333
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming aerosol cans for metered dose inhalers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul A. Wilson, Mark Bolton, Derek A. Robinson, James E. Ribordy
  • Publication number: 20130126529
    Abstract: A beverage can end for seaming onto a can body may include a peripheral wall, a center panel, a tab attached to the center panel by a rivet (56), a tear panel (41b), a main reference line (RM), a transverse reference line (RT), and a score (31b). The score may include arcuate main score (31b) that defines a main portion of the tear panel (41b) and a score extension (32b) that defines a vent portion. The score may be configured such that actuation of the tab from its horizontal rest position to an intermediate position ruptures the main score portion (31b) to pivot the tear panel main portion (40b) about the hinge and further actuation of the tab by twisting from the intermediate position ruptures the score extension (32b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Emily Nesling, Ezekiel Johnson, Brendan Keane, Jan Dvorak
  • Patent number: 8438897
    Abstract: A forming device for cup-shaped hollow bodies, including a machine frame, a drive device, a workpiece turntable and a tool holder, wherein the drive device (15) is designed to provide a rotational step movement and a cyclic linear movement between the workpiece turntable and the tool holder, and wherein the workpiece turntable is assigned at a locking position a first actuating means for triggering a locking movement on the respective workpiece holder and at an unlocking position a second actuating means for triggering an unlocking movement on the respective workpiece holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hinterkopf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Aichele, Thomas Pfluger
  • Publication number: 20130108398
    Abstract: A can bodymaker, which includes a disc feed (1) for feeding a disc (5) directly to the bodymaker itself. A locator (9) positions the disc (5) centrally to a blankholder (12) and a draw pad (10) clamps the disc (5) against a draw die (11). The blankholder (12) then forms the disc into a cup (20) and clamps the cup against a redraw die (14) ready to be picked up by a punch and carried through dies for forming a can body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Egerton, William Woulds
  • Publication number: 20130098925
    Abstract: A can end includes an annular rib that may be inclines. Some embodiments of the bead form a teardrop shape. The bead of other embodiments are open. A combination beverage can end and can body, and the tooling and method for forming the can end are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130078056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of two-piece cans, comprising body and cover, with the most varied shapes of bodies, enabling expansion by means of various processes through the specific tooling, that expands the format desired to be obtained. The body of the can (1) is transported (2) for equipment (3) and, via a transport system with endless screw (4), which rotates synchronously, by means of gears (5), with the star input (6) via cardan shaft (14) and angled gearbox (15). By means of gears (8), the can body (1) is transferred to the expansion station (7), input by the star (6), where the expansion takes place the can body in two parts (1). Using this same type of synchronism, by means of gears (10 and 11), the can body is transferred expanded, the station (7) for a conveyor belt exit (13) by means of a star outlet (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Vlademir Moreno
  • Patent number: 8371495
    Abstract: When rounding metal sheet sections for forming can bodies by means of a rounding machine, a pre-rounding element is used, whose lower part is deflectable with respect to the upper part by means of an actuating element. Thereby, the joint between the upper and the lower part is executed as a solid body joint whose section modulus in bending during the deflection is different along the joint. Thereby, a uniform impact on the metal sheet may be reached. Furthermore, the separating gap between the upper and the lower part is arranged obliquely, thus reducing the bending of the lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Soudronic AG
    Inventors: Peter Hug, Guy Boissin, Oliver Schulthess
  • Patent number: 8356508
    Abstract: A real time detector system for monitoring ram alignment in a can bodymaker measures ram (10) position immediately before and during impact with the dome forming station (1). Displacement measurements of the ram enable the user to adjust dome (1) position or otherwise correct ram (10) alignment and avoid multiple can failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Davies
  • Publication number: 20120326372
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming (e.g. die necking) open ends of open-ended metal container bodies. An exemplary embodiment provides a number of movable holders for container bodies that move the container bodies along a path extending through the apparatus. A motor advances the holders and container bodies along the path in steps with pauses between each step. Each step advances one or more container bodies (and preferably two or more). One or more groups of work stations positioned adjacent to the path provides tool sets for carrying out a forming operation on one (and preferably two or more) container bodies simultaneously. Individual container bodies, or more preferably groups of two or more, are subjected to one or more forming operations during passage along the path (preferably the periphery of one or more star wheels).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher J. Olson, Harold Cook, JR., Michael Atkinson, Randy Worwag, Peter Kubisa, Chris Reynolds, Larry Patchen
  • Patent number: 8322183
    Abstract: The present invention provides a necking system including a plurality of necking dies each necking dies having an at least partially non-polished necking surface and a non-polished relief following the necking surface. The present invention further provides a method of necking a metal container including providing a metal blank; shaping the blank into a bottle stock; and necking the metal bottle stock, wherein necking includes at least one necking die having an at least partially non-polished necking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, Anthony Fedusa, Robert E. Dick
  • Publication number: 20120243963
    Abstract: A process of forming the wall of the mouth of a cylindrical, metal container or packaging from a tubular ring that may or may not be molded that has to accommodate a sealing lid equipped with an elastic seal secured by a vacuum created in the container is characterized essentially by the use of a single element, the head carrying out the deformation of the internal diameter of the container by expansion to produce a bead together and simultaneously with a contraction that produces shrinkage above the bead of the mouth, the head comprising an expansible stationary part and a moving part that turns around the stationary part, the parts of the head being coaxial, which has the effect of compressing the metal and hardening it by organizing the metal molecules under two simultaneous stresses, which hardens the packaging and allows it to withstand the vacuum applied thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SODETECH SARL
    Inventors: Jean LARROCHE, Francisco SERNA
  • Patent number: 8245556
    Abstract: A thin walled body is deformed in a process in which the body is gripped securely in a holding station and, while gripped in the holding station, tooling engages to deform the peripheral wall of the body at a predetermined wall zone. The tooling is provided at a tooling station which is adjacent the holding station during deformation. The predetermined wall zone is co-aligned with the tooling by rotation of the body about an axis prior to securing at the holding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Envases (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Santiago Garcia Campo, Juan Salz Goiria
  • Publication number: 20120189404
    Abstract: When rounding metal sheet sections for forming can bodies by means of a rounding machine, a pre-rounding element is used, whose lower part is deflectable with respect to the upper part by means of an actuating element. Thereby, the joint between the upper and the lower part is executed as a solid body joint whose section modulus in bending during the deflection is different along the joint. Thereby, a uniform impact on the metal sheet may be reached. Furthermore, the separating gap between the upper and the lower part is arranged obliquely, thus reducing the bending of the lower part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: SOUDRONIC AG
    Inventors: Peter Hug, Guy Boissin, Oliver Schulthess
  • Patent number: 8161784
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a two-piece can comprising: a cylindrical housing, the cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; a first round bushing having a longitudinal rectangular bore and received in the first end; a second round bushing having a longitudinal rectangular bore and received in the second end; a substantially cornerless rectangular ram which slides in the longitudinal rectangular bore of the first round bushing and the longitudinal rectangular bore of the second round bushing; a spring interposed between the first round bushing and the second round bushing and surrounding the substantially rectangular ram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy J. Farnham
  • Patent number: 8157494
    Abstract: When rounding metal sheet sections for forming can bodies by means of a rounding machine, a pre-rounding element is used, whose lower part is deflectable with respect to the upper part by means of an actuating element. Thereby, the joint between the upper and the lower part is executed as a solid body joint whose section modulus in bending during the deflection is different along the joint. Thereby, a uniform impact on the metal sheet may be reached. Furthermore, the separating gap between the upper and the lower part is arranged obliquely, thus reducing the bending of the lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Soudronic AG
    Inventors: Peter Hug, Guy Boissin, Oliver Schulthess
  • Patent number: 7934410
    Abstract: The present invention provides an expansion die for manufacturing containers including a work surface including a progressively expanding portion and a land portion; and an undercut portion positioned following the land portion of the work surface. The present invention further provides a process for manufacturing shaped containers including providing a container stock having a first diameter; expanding at least a portion of the container stock to a second diameter with at least one expansion die; and forming an end of the container stock to accept a container lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, Anthony Fedusa, Robert E. Dick
  • Patent number: 7845204
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming cup-shaped members used in conjunction with a single-acting or a double-acting press having an outer punch assembly, an inner punch assembly and a base. A draw pad and a cutting edge are carried on the outer punch assembly, a draw horn is carried on the inner punch assembly and a blank and draw die is carried on the base. The draw pad and the draw horn oppose the blank and draw die such that the draw pad clampingly engages the blank and draw die in order to exert a clamping pressure on the pressure piston system having first and second pistons vertically stacked with respect to one another. The pressure piston system includes a damping member located within the pressure piston system for continuously increasing the clamping pressure during advancement of the outer punch assembly toward the base of the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Standard Engineering Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles V. Smyers, William J. Simmons, Ronald S. Schlemmer
  • Publication number: 20100296897
    Abstract: A can bodymaker and a method of forming different sizes of drawn and wall ironed cans from the same bodymaker, in which the bodymaker includes a ram (4), a crank (22), first and second connecting rods (21, 23) and a swing lever (20) connecting the crankshaft (22) to the ram (4). Different locking positions (X, Z) are provided on the swing lever so that the first (primary) connecting rod is connected to alternative positions on the swing lever. The primary connecting rod (21) then rotates about an axis between the selected locking position and position (Y) of pivot pin 30 on the swing lever (20). The primary connecting rod drives the swing lever to rotate by a corresponding degree, and thereby converts the swing lever rotation into axial movement of the ram (4) so as to move the ram by a specific stroke length. By altering the locking pin (25) position and therefore the pivot point for the primary connecting rod, the stroke of the ram is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Egerton, Willaim Woulds, Ian Scholey
  • Publication number: 20100096279
    Abstract: A laminated steel sheet used as a raw material has a tensile strength TS after forming at an equivalent strain ?eq of 1.6 is 800 MPa or less and satisfies 0.25?tb/to where tb is a sheet thickness at a fracture surface after fracture and to is a sheet thickness before the fracture. In forming the laminated steel sheets, forming is conducted so as to satisfy the relationships below: 1.5?h/(R?r), 2.8?R/r1, and 1.1?r2/r1 where h: a height from a can bottom to an opening edge portion; r: an outer diameter of a can body; R: a radius of a circular blank before forming having a weight equivalent to a weight of a final formed can body; r1: an outer radius of an opening edge portion; and r2: an outer radius of a bead portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Kojima, Yuka Nishihara, Yasuhide Oshima, Hiroki Iwasa, Hiroshi Kubo
  • Publication number: 20100092266
    Abstract: A can manufacturing device in which a tool supporting base has: a plurality of working tool units that support a plurality of working tools; a supporting member that supports a plurality of working tool units; and a linear driving mechanism that reciprocates the working tool units with respect to the supporting member in the axial direction of a workpiece. The linear driving mechanism has: a guide section fixed on the supporting member with a base plate therebetween; a slide rail that is fixed on the working tool unit and slides along the guide section; an electromagnetic coil provided on the base plate; a magnet plate that is provided on the working tool unit and generates, between the electromagnetic coil and itself, a thrust force for the guide section; and a supply pipe that is provided at the electromagnetic coil and supplies coolant to the inside of the electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Syouji Matsuo, Kenji Fujimoto, Masahiro Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20100089116
    Abstract: Can shells are produced with tooling installed on a single action mechanical press, and the tooling includes an upper retainer supporting a blank and draw die enclosing an outer pressure sleeve and an inner pressure sleeve surrounding a die center punch, all having air actuated pistons. The die center piston has an air reservoir connected by air passages which form air springs for the inner pressure sleeve, and the outer pressure sleeve receives the same controllable air as the reservoir or low pressure plant air supply. The inner pressure sleeve has a projecting nose portion which initiates the drawing of a cup and has contoured surfaces which mate with corresponding surfaces on a die core ring to form and clamp the chuckwall of the shell during downstroke of the press. A lower panel punch forms the center panel, panel wall and countersink of the shell during upstroke of the press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Patent number: 7584639
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce can bodies (24?) comprising a can shell (24) and a closing element (31b, 32, 31a) that is fixed to one face of the can shell (24). Said aim is achieved by producing a tube (11) from a metal strip (1), optionally from directly adjacent sections (112), by means of a shaping step, at least one optional cutting step, and a continuous welding step, sections of said tube (11) being used as closed convex surfaces for cans. The sections are shaped by a shell-shaping device in such a way that can shells (24) are provided into which a closing element (31b, 32, 31a), especially a can bottom (31b), can be inserted. The longitudinal seam (11a, 124) can be produced inexpensively and at great precision essentially as a continuous seam in the welding step by means of simple installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Crebocan AG
    Inventor: Werner Boltshauser
  • Patent number: 7578158
    Abstract: A process for the shaping of the side surface of a metal body or container (10) such as an aerosol or a beverage bottle for food or technical use, obtained by progressive deformation operating steps of its side surface carried out in sequence on a machine having an intermittent rotating table, an opposite alternate translatory motion plate, a loading drum, gripping pliers of the bodies, deformation and possibly embossing and/or debossing tools and an unloading drum of the same bodies, the process including the steps: feeding the bodies (10) on the machine provided with an intermittent rotating table and of an opposite translatory motion plate; gripping the bodies along a limited area (12) between 10.0 and 35.0 mm, of their side surface from the bottom with a fixed or an axially rotating gripping plier; carrying out a broad deformation (18) on the side surface of the bodies (10) with tools working from the inner and/or outer part of the same bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Frattini S.p.A. Costruzioni Meccaniche
    Inventor: Roberto Frattini
  • Patent number: 7526937
    Abstract: A can bottom forming assembly for use in forming the bottom of metal cans, such as steel and aluminum two piece cans. The bottom forming assembly is lightweight, compact and comprises outer and cylinder housing assemblies which house a clamp ring retainer assembly, a transfer piston assembly and an annular spring member. The clamp ring retainer assembly includes biasing members to float a clamp ring thereby centering the clamp ring and domer die plug with respect to the ram of a bodymaker. Increased piston size, spring position and size are provided to permit increased clamp ring pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventor: Mark L. Zauhar
  • Publication number: 20090107202
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a two-piece can comprising: a cylindrical housing, the cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end; a first round bushing having a longitudinal rectangular bore and received in the first end; a second round bushing having a longitudinal rectangular bore and received in the second end; a substantially rectangular ram which slides in the longitudinal rectangular bore of the first round bushing and the longitudinal rectangular bore of the second round bushing; a spring interposed between the first round bushing and the second round bushing and surrounding the substantially rectangular ram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy J. Farnham, Brian M. Blake
  • Publication number: 20080282758
    Abstract: An apparatus to expand a diameter of a can or other article comprises a forming turret that includes a stop plate and a forming tooling. The stop plate is configured to be adjacent a dome-end of a can to restrict motion of the can; the stop plate is axially movable relative to a turret axis of rotation. The forming tooling includes a plate and an expansion tool axially movable relative to the turret axis of rotation. The plate includes an opening through which the tool passes. The expansion tool is configured to move into an open end of the can to expand the diameter of the can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Shortridge, Dennis Shuey
  • Publication number: 20080199278
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for continuously performing localized and/or extended deformations on metallic containers constituted by extruded or drawn and solid-drawn tubular bodies including: —A) interface module (1); —B) at least one work module (2, 2?, 2?) and—C) possibly one inversion module (3), wherein said modules are arranged so that they form a closed path and said interface module (1) includes a feeding station or drum (12), an unload drum (16) and at least one selective dispatch element for re-feeding the containers to the work modules (2, 2?, 2?) or the unload drum (16), depending on the number of predetermined operations
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventor: Roberto Frattini
  • Publication number: 20080168815
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling articles (4) through a multi-stage process, the apparatus comprising at least one rotatable process turret (2) having a number of pockets (3), wherein each pocket (3) is adapted to support an article (4). The pockets (3) are arranged in groups and each group of pockets (3A, 3B, 3C) has associated tooling (5A, 5B, 5C), which carries out one stage of the process. The articles (4) are initially fed into one group of pockets (3A) only. A re-phase means (6) is provided to transfer the article (4) from one group of pockets (3A, 3B) to another (3B, 3C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Jonathan Coates
  • Publication number: 20080149648
    Abstract: A method of producing a can body in which, when a barrel section of the can body is held between the outer peripheral surfaces of first and second rotation bodies (20, 21), the barrel section is pressed radially inward by a second projection (21a) from the outer periphery side of the barrel section such that at least a part of the quantity of deformation in the direction of the pressing is elastic deformation, the second projection (21a) is fitted into a first recess (20a) with the barrel section in between and with that portion of the inner periphery side of the barrel section which corresponds to the elastically deformed portion advanced into the first recess (20a), and after that, when the holding of the barrel section by the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second rotation bodies (20, 21) is released, that portion of the barrel section that corresponds to the first recess (20a) and the second projection (21a) is caused to restore radially outward, thereby the outer peripheral surface of that por
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL CAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuro Shinguryo
  • Publication number: 20080050205
    Abstract: To produce can bodies, a continuous can jacket is disclosed, that is sealed by way of a first joint is produced from a flat metal material. At least one sealing element is mounted on the continuous can jacket by way of an additional joint. At least one of the additional joints is configured as a laser welding seam, which forms an annular continuous sealing seam between the continuous can jacket and the sealing element(s). Before the sealing seam is welded, complementary seam contact surfaces of the can jacket and the sealing element are configured as annular continuous edge regions that flare out of narrow towards the can axis. To weld the sealing seam, the can jacket and the sealing element(s) are pushed together until the edge regions make contact, one of the end faces of the two edge regions lying on the interior of the can body and the other lying on the exterior of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Werner Boltshauser
  • Patent number: 7140223
    Abstract: Aerosol cans, more particularly, aluminum aerosol cans made from disks of aluminum coil feedstock, are provided. A method for necking aerosol cans of a series 3000 aluminum alloy is also provided. The method prevents the cans from sticking in the necking dies and produces a can with a uniquely shaped profile. The aluminum aerosol cans that are produced have the attributes of strength and quality, while being produced at a cost that is competitive with steel aerosol cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Exal Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Chupak
  • Patent number: 7073365
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming metal containers. The method involves introducing a knockout element (110) into the container body through the open end, providing a forming die shaped to reduce the diameter of the sidewall of the container body (100) when the open end of the container body (106) is forced therein to produce a neck portion of reduced diameter on the container body, driving the open end of the container body into the forming die (108), retracting the knockout element through the neck portion as the neck portion is formed, and removing the container body (106) from the forming die (108) and knockout element (110). In the invention, the driving of the open end of the container body into the forming die and/or the movements of the knockout element are carried out under computer numerical control, preferably employing linear motor drives, thereby enabling the driving or movement to be optimized for the container body and the neck portion formed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Novelis, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Edward Geho, Harold Cook, Jr., Christopher J. Olson, Michael L. Atkinson, William Kennedy