Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming end shells for containers with a peripheral curl and an annular reinforcing rib in a single stroke cycle of a press which includes a punch core, a punch shell, and a pressure sleeve carried by an inner ram of the press. A cut edge is carried by an outer ram for forming a flat disc-shaped blank at a first level from a strip of sheet material. A die core is mounted on the base at a second level and is surrounded by concentric inner and outer die core rings. A cup-shaped blank is formed from the flat blank by movement of the punch core, pressure sleeve, and punch shell through a blank and draw die. The cup is clamped at the second level between the die core and punch core and formed into an end shell by movement of the punch core, pressure sleeve, and punch shell into clamping engagement with the die core, and inner and outer die core rings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a container component has a fixed stock plate and cut edge mounted on a base at a first level for forming a disk-shaped blank from a strip of sheet material. A blank and draw die is mounted at a second level which forms the disk-shaped blank into a shallow cup upon advancement of a punch assembly through the die. A profile pad is mounted at a third level on the base and imparts a profile on the bottom wall of the shallow cup as the punch assembly continues a downward stroke. An air stream ejects the profiled container component from the press at the third level.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped metal members from a flat metal sheet in a press having a ram which moves a cut edge, draw horn and draw pad towards a base holding a blank and draw die. The draw pad is formed with an annular tapered relief area extending from its clamping surface to an annular wall of a central opening formed in the draw pad for reducing the clamping force which is exerted on a peripheral edge of the disk blank as the draw horn advances into the die opening of the blank and draw die to form the cup-shaped member. The angle of taper of the relief area is generally in the range of 4° and 10°. This tapered area reduces excess pinching of the peripheral edge of the disk blank as it moves around the die radius as the draw horn draws the disk blank into the cup-shaped member.

Abstract: A transfer pad for assisting in transferring a container body between work stations in a press has a flat planar guide surface extending between a pair of spaced guide rails for receiving the container body therebetween. A plurality of air holes are formed in the guide surface and extend along each of the guide rails. A vacuum is applied to peripheral edges of the container body through the air holes to maintain the container body in a secure position on the pad until being transferred to the succeeding work station. The ends of the guide rails are tapered to assist in guiding the container body between the rails.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming tapered metal container bodies from relatively hard material having a Rockwell hardness within the range of 73 and 79. A disc-shaped blank is formed into a cup having an integral bottom wall and cylindrical sidewall, wherein the sidewall has an axial height generally equal to one-half the axial height of the desired final container body without thinning the metal. The cup is then redrawn at a first redraw station to form a first stage container body having the desired axial height and bottom wall diameter with the sidewall being cylindrical or having a very slight taper. This first stage container body is then redrawn at a second redraw station to impart a taper of between 2.degree. and 4.degree. to the sidewall without affecting the axial height of the sidewall or the metal thickness thereof. The apparatus includes a draw station and at least two redrawn stations and may include a die for profiling the bottom wall of the final container body.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped metal members from a flat metal sheet in a press having a ram which moves a cut edge, draw horn and draw pad towards a base holding a blank and draw die. The draw pad is formed with an annular outer rib which engages an opposed clamping surface of the die upon the peripheral edge of a disc blank moving around an inner radius of the die and into a cup forming cavity to maintain a space between the clamping surfaces of the draw pad and die of between 50% and 95% the thickness of the metal sheet to reduce excess pinching of the peripheral edge of the disk blank as it moves around the die radius as the draw horn draws the disk blank into the cup-shaped member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped container bodies in a press by blanking a disk shaped metal blank from a flat metal sheet by a cutting die and forcing the disk blank through a blank and draw die by movement of a draw horn to form a generally cylindrical-shaped can body. Next, the cylindrical shaped body is moved by pressurized air through the bore of a cylindrical-shaped cup drop sleeve. The cup drop sleeve has an inner diameter just slightly larger than the outer diameter of the just formed cylindrical metal body thereby reducing the amount of spring back in the metal and setting the metal in the formed body to reduce distortion and maintain roundness thereof as the body is being ejected through the open bottom of the drop sleeve.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a non-cylindrical can body having a bottom wall and a side wall from an elongated flat strip of sheet metal having a known grain orientation. A non-circular blank is formed from the metal strip in a first forming press with the grain extending in a known direction. The blank is drawn by the press into a non-cylindrical can blank with the grain direction being known in the bottom wall of the can blank. The can blank is moved toward a second press and is oriented automatically as it passes through an orienting station so the direction of the grain is known when entering the second press. The can blank is redrawn to form a non-cylindrical can body with a known grain direction in the bottom wall of the can body by maintaining the orientation of the can blank as it is drawn and redrawn in the second press.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped metal container bodies or end shells from a metal blank in a double-acting press having inner and outer rams which operate in a timed relationship. A plurality of blank and draw dies are mounted on a fixed base in opposed relationship to a plurality of draw horns mounted on the inner ram and movable toward the base. A corresponding member of cutting dies and draw pads are mounted on the outer ram and are movable toward the base, whereby the cutting dies cut blank disks from the sheet and the draw pads clamp the disks against the blank and draw dies, followed by the drawing of the container bodies or end shells by the draw horns.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming cup-shaped metal container bodies or end shells from a metal blank in a double-acting press having inner and outer rams which operate in a timed relationship. Preferably, a plurality of blank and draw dies are mounted on a fixed base in opposed relationship to a plurality of draw horns mounted on the inner ram and movable toward the base. A corresponding member of cutting dies and draw pads are mounted on the outer ram and are movable toward the base, whereby the cutting dies cut blank disks from the sheet and the draw pads clamp the disks against the blank and draw dies, followed by the drawing of the container bodies or end shells by the draw horns. A plurality of stacked pressure-actuated pistons is carried by each of the outer rams and moves the draw pad into clamping engagement with the periphery of the blank disk.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly includes a conveying surface and at least one air manifold for directing air against the sidewall of the articles to be conveyed. The conveying surface includes longitudinally extending raised ribs along which the articles are moved and the air manifolds are connected directly to the source of air. Further, the conveyor assembly is attached directly to a die member and becomes an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a container body having a profiled bottom in a continuous operation wherein the body is formed from a blank of material into an inverted cup, the cup is reverse drawn and a preliminary profile is imparted to the bottom of the cup, and a final profile is imparted. The apparatus includes a die cut edge movable into telescoping relationship around a redraw die to form the inverted cup and a profile punch movable into telescoping relationship within the redraw die to form the preliminary profile against a profile pad. The profile pad is selectively supported by a pair of fluidly actuated pistons whereby, upon activation of the second piston, the final profile may be formed.

Abstract: A method of forming container end panels from a sheet of material includes inserting the material into a press at a first level, blanking the material at that level, passing the material through a die and preliminarily forming it in a continuous stroke but at a second level and transferring it laterally at the second level for reforming and curling. The apparatus includes blanking and forming tooling at a first station and reforming and curling tooling at second and third stations. The reforming and curling tooling is disposed at the second level and the first, second and third stations are interconnected by an endless, apertured belt also disposed at the second level. An alternative embodiment involves disposing the first station tooling at an angle with respect to the press centerline, feeding the material into the press in a first direction and moving the preliminarily formed ends in opposite directions normal to the feed direction to second and third stations disposed on opposite ends of the press.

Abstract: A method of forming a tapered container in which the container is first redrawn to a partial length having first and second straight sidewall portions interconnected by a transition portion and then redrawn to substantially its final length and tapered condition by drawing material from the transition portion. The method also optionally includes an overlength second redraw and a bottom profiling step utilizing the overdrawn portion to form the profile.

Abstract: A method of forming container end panels from a sheet of material includes inserting the material into a press at a first level, banking the material at that level, passing the material through a die and preliminarily forming it in a continuous stroke but at a second level and transferring it laterally at the second level for reforming and curling. The apparatus includes blanking and forming tooling at a first station and reforming and curling tooling at second and third stations. The reforming and curling tooling is disposed at the second level and the first, second and third stations are interconnected by an endless, apertured belt also disposed at the second level.

Abstract: A method of controlling the clamping movement of a single action drawing press having a fluid actuated pressure member wherein movement of the pressure member is interrupted by stops after a predetermined range of movement toward the base of the press. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes one or more stops, carried by the base, and dimensioned to engage the pressure member and overcome the pressure normally urging it toward the base after the predetermined range of movement.

Abstract: A method of forming a container body having a profiled bottom in a continuous operation wherein the body is formed from a blank of material into an inverted cup, the cup is reverse drawn and a preliminary profile is imparted to the bottom of the cup, and a final profile is imparted. The apparatus includes a die cut edge movable into telescoping relationship around a redraw die to form the inverted cup and a profile punch movable into telescoping relationship within the redraw die to form the preliminary profile against a profile pad. The profile pad is selectively supported by a pair of fluidly actuated pistons whereby, upon activation of the second piston, the final profile may be formed.

Abstract: A method of forming a container end piece from a sheet of material includes the steps of forming an inverted cup by wiping a peripheral edge of the material over a die core ring, inverting the cup by advancing a punch core into the material, thereby forming a flanged area, a central bottom area and a chuckwall interconnected thereto by a radiused portion. The radiused portion is initially formed by an annular nose on the punch core larger than the final radius. The punch core is then retracted and exerts force on the flanged area to shorten the chuckwall and reduce the radius by forcing the material in the chuckwall and radiused areas into the space between a die core and die core ring. A modified method includes supporting and aligning the radiused area with a contoured knockout sleeve between the die core and die core ring.

Abstract: A method of controlling the spacing between a material forming punch and a complemental die includes advancing a punch shell and a pressure sleeve into engagement with the material and holding the material with the sleeve and blanking it with the punch shell. The material is then preliminarily formed by clamping the periphery between the pressure sleeve and a die core ring and advancing a punch core past the top of the die core ring and clamping the material against a die core to establish the desired dimension. The material is then finally formed by further advancement of the punch core with the die core and die core ring moving together. The apparatus includes a die core and die core ring which are concentrically arranged and independently supported but movable into engagement with each other after a predetermined amount of travel so as to move together through any further travel caused by movement of a punch core against the die core.