Abstract: A drawing and ironing assembly consists of a redraw assembly, at least one ironing assembly and a stripper assembly that cooperate with a punch to redraw a cup and then iron the sidewall thereof. The redraw assembly includes a support and a redraw ring which are also biased to a centered position and a floating air bearing is defined between the support and the frame surface to reduce friction while a nesting ring is located adjacent the redraw ring. Lubricating means are provided for creating a generally circumferential flow into the opening in the nesting ring. The stripper assembly includes a support which carries the stripper elements and the support is biased to a centered position with respect to a predetermined axis or path for the punch and fluid is supplied to relatively movable surfaces to assist in reducing friction.

Abstract: A tool pack assembly includes three modular units that are aligned with the path for a punch to redraw and iron a cup into a container shell. The first modular unit has a redraw ring assembly, a lubricating ring and an ironing ring serially supported in a support member while the second modular unit has a lubricating ring and an ironing ring in a support member. The third modular unit has a unique lubricant removal ring, a lubricating ring, an ironing ring and a stripper assembly arranged in series in a support member.

Abstract: A domer assembly for use with a punch reciprocable along a path on a frame of an ironing machine to reform an end wall of a container includes a center domer element surrounded by an annular element that projects beyond the surface of the center element with separate support means for the respective elements. The support means consists of a first support member carrying the center domer element with resilient compressible members interposed between the support member and the frame and a second support member supporting the annular element and also having a resilient member between the frame and the support. The respective resilient compressible members are identical in construction and are exposed so that they can readily be inspected, with independent separately pressurizable means for the respective compressible members.

Abstract: A drawing and ironing assembly consists of a redraw assembly, at least one ironing assembly and a stripper assembly that cooperate with a punch to redraw a cup and then iron the sidewall thereof. The redraw assembly includes a support and a redraw ring which are also biased to a centered position and a floating air bearing is defined between the support and the frame surface to reduce friction while a nesting ring is located adjacent the redraw ring. Lubricating means are provided for creating a generally circumferential flow into the opening in the nesting ring. The stripper assembly includes a support which carries the stripper elements and the support is biased to a centered position with respect to a predetermined axis or path for the punch and fluid is supplied to relatively movable surfaces to assist in reducing friction.

Abstract: A cup holder sleeve and its support assembly for use in a drawing and ironing machine that has a circular bore and is supported for radial as well as tilting movement of the axis of the elongated bore with respect to the support. The support includes a pair of members that cooperate to define a recess surrounding a circular opening and an enlarged portion of the cup holder sleeve is received into the recess and cooperates with a cupper support element. The cup holder support element and cup holder sleeve are normally radially centered with respect to the opening by centering springs and the cup holder sleeve is normally maintained in engagement with the support element by hold-down springs. The cup holder sleeve and support element can be moved radially while the cup holder sleeve can be tilted with respect to the support element and all of the elements are normally maintained in a predetermined position by the centering springs and the hold-down springs.

Abstract: A domer assembly which cooperates with the punch of a drawing and ironing machine to reform an end wall of a container includes a support that has a flat supporting surface defined in the bottom of a recess and a carrier element having a cooperating surface engaging the flat bottom surface. A domer element is supported on the carrier element and both are movable as a unit radially of the path of movement of the punch and are normally centered with respect to the axis of the punch through biasing springs which will accommodate radial movement. The assembly also includes means for supplying air between the surfaces to act as a fluid bearing and reduce friction.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making a drawn and ironed container from a circular blank is disclosed herein. The process contemplates flowing a fluid medium through the punch of a drawing and ironing machine and maintaining the fluid medium at a predetermined temperature above the initial ambient temperature of a cup that is converted into a drawn and ironed container. The process also includes cooling the ironing dies by flowing a liquid through grooves located in the rings of the dies and the rings are made of tungsten carbide. The grooves in the ironing dies are non-radial with respect to the center of the opening in the ring so that the fluid has a tangential component of flow and flows in a generally circular pattern within the peripheral confines of the die opening.