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.

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 position 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. The apparatus includes a plurality of stations wherein the redrawing is accomplished in the first instance with a tapered punch and straight walled die and in the second instance with a tapered punch and tapered die.

Abstract: A method of forming a deep-drawn and ironed container having a bottom profile wherein a cup is formed by drawing an inverted cup and reverse drawing the cup and simultaneously imparting a bottom profile thereto while controlling the thickness of the material in the bottom. The method also includes providing support to the profiled bottom while ironing the cup thus formed. The method is accomplished by a system which includes a draw-redraw station wherein the inverted cup is adjustably held by a fluidly actuated lift out ring and draw pad in the bottom area against a punch during reverse drawing to control metal thickness in the bottom. A separate pressure sleeve is also engaged with the profiled bottom during ironing to prevent pulling material from the bottom.

Abstract: A method of forming a container end piece includes blanking a work piece from a sheet of material and forming an inverted cup therefrom by wiping the peripheral edge of the blank over a die core ring. The inverted cup is then reversed by advancing a punch core and a punch core ring simultaneously to form a cup having a flange area, a central body area and a chuckwall area interconnecting the flange and the bottom. The punch core ring is then advanced ahead of the punch core to shorten the chuckwall area and reduce the radius between the chuckwall and the central bottom portion. The method also includes engaging the flange area of the reversed cup by a pressure sleeve which moves downwardly with the punch core ring during the final forming of the chuckwall.

Abstract: A method of forming a container end panel having a countersink radius and a chuckwall including preforming the radius and the chuckwall so that the chuckwall includes a straight wall portion tangent to the radius and reforming and reducing the radius without tooling restraint while holding pressure against the straight wall area. Apparatus for performing the method includes a punch core and a cooperating die core ring having complimental geometry for forming the chuckwall and radius configuration. The article formed by the method and apparatus includes an end panel having a straight wall portion between the normal tapered wall portion and countersink radius.

Abstract: A method of forming container end panels includes first forming the bottom outer panel and then preliminarily forming the chuckwall and countersink radius by pulling material from the peripheral edge area with a punch core. The countersink radius is finally formed by partially retracting the punch core from the radius while holding the chuckwall to wrap some of the material in the radius upwardly. The apparatus includes an outer punch core with a tapered nose which preliminarily forms the chuckwall and countersink radius and then is retractable from the radius while holding the wall during final forming of the radius.

Abstract: A method of forming a container in one or more double acting presses includes the steps of blanking, drawing an inverted cup and reverse drawing the inverted cup while retaining a flange thereon at a first station and then transferring the cup to a second station where the cup is drawn to an inverted configuration and then reverse drawn to form a finished container again retaining the flange throughout. The drawing operations at each station are performed in a single stroke of the press. The apparatus at the first station includes a blank and draw punch and a fixed, hollow die core ring with the punch telescoping over the ring to form the inverted cup and a draw horn telescoping within the ring to reverse draw the cup. The apparatus at the second station includes a hollow redraw sleeve and a pressure sleeve telescoping over the redraw sleeve to invert the cup and a profile punch telescoping within the redraw sleeve to reverse draw the cup.

Abstract: A conversion system for converting plain container end pieces into easy-open end pieces in a single press includes multiple slides, all driven by the press and carried within the confines of the press frame but independently adjustable and controllable. At least one of the slides carries conversion tooling and the other carries tab forming tooling and is arranged adjacent the conversion tooling so that the tab strip may be fed into the conversion tooling for attachment of the tabs to the end pieces by the conversion tooling. High speed feed rolls having helical gripping grooves are also provided to feed plain end pieces to the conversion tooling for forming and for attachment of the tabs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the spacing between a metal forming punch and a die pad in which the method includes supporting the work-piece on a fluid supported pad and the periphery of the work-piece on a fluid supported sleeve, engaging the workpiece with a forming punch and, during a portion of the travel of the forming punch, moving the pressure sleeve and the support pad for the central portion of the workpiece simultaneously while maintaining the spacing between the top of the pad and the bottom of the punch. The apparatus includes a die pad riser attached to the pad and to a pressure sleeve, both of which are movable in response to movement of the punch during a portion of the travel of the punch. The pressure sleeve is secured to the die pad riser so that the spacing between the punch and the die pad is maintained during such movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming end panels of uniform thickness for use with two-piece containers. The method includes the steps of engaging the stock under fluid pressure and blanking it; wiping the periphery of the stock against the blanking die to form a lip extending in a direction substantially normal to the planar surface of the blank. While still maintaining pressure on the blank, further steps involve drawing the blank to form an edge area that extends above the top planar surface of the blank and has a cross-sectional configuration resembling an inverted letter J, and finally completing forming of the end panel by reverse drawing the central body portion of the blank in an upward direction to set a chuckwall between the central body portion and the edge area. The apparatus includes tooling for a double action shell press which is capable of engaging and holding down the work piece under fluid pressure while performing the blanking and drawing operations.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming or reforming the shell of a two-piece container includes forming a cup shaped member in an upside down condition, reverse drawing the shell to form an over length chuckwall loosely holding the shell while pulling the excess material from the chuckwall into the bottom panel of the shell. The apparatus comprises tooling incorporated into a double acting press and including a punch core carried by the inner ram and an opposed die core carried by the bottom platen, a first pressure member carried by the outer ram and a die core ring fluidly supported on the bottom platen opposed to the pressure member and a punch shell carried on the inner ram. A second fluid pressure sleeve means is carried on the bottom platen in opposed relationship to the punch shell and a knockout piston is also carried by the lower platen opposed to the punch core and encircling the die core.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming end closures for containers complete with a peripheral curl for attachment to the top of a container without press modification includes a unique split die core ring. The method includes performing the operations of blanking the end panel against the cut edge, forming the chuckwall against the die core ring with a punch and punch shell and finally setting the chuckwall by wiping over the radius of the die core ring against a fluidly supported piston and simultaneously applying a curl to the peripheral edge of the panel prior to completion and removal from the press station. The method is performed by utilization of a split die core ring having inner and outer concentric segments, the outer segment of which is withdrawn as the punch shell advances to initiate a curl between the inner face of the punch shell and the outer face of the fixed inner segment of the die core ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming end panels or shells for two-piece cans includes incorporation of the tooling necessary to form the panel within a double acting press. The tooling includes a fluid actuated hold down sleeve, carried by the outer slide of the press, which is capable of being moved into holding engagement with the metal from which the panel is formed. The inner slide of the press carries a punch which is movable into forming engagement with the metal and the outer slide carries tooling which is capable of blanking the metal against a cut edge carried by the fixed lower platen of the press. The chuck wall of the end panel is then preliminarily formed by the action of the punch drawing the blank around the fixed radius of a die core member fixedly carried by the bottom press platen.

Abstract: A system for forming unitary containers from flat metal stock includes a unique arrangement of both previously known and newly discovered apparatus, including means for blanking and cupping the flat metal stock into individual cups; means for drawing and redrawing the cups and bottom profiling them in one machine; and additional means for trimming, flanging, and beading the containers thus drawn. The system and method include, among other things, the utilization of apparatus which permits drawing, redrawing, and bottom profiling to take place in one press. This is accomplished by carrying draw, redraw, and bottom profile tooling in a single press and by inserting the cups in the press for the draw operation and them removing them and reinserting them for the redraw and bottom profile operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming end panels or shells for two-piece cans includes incorporation of the tooling necessary to form the panel within a double acting press. The tooling includes a fluid actuated hold down sleeve, carried by the outer slide of the press, which is capable of being moved into holding engagement with the metal from which the panel is formed. The inner slide of the press carries a punch which is movable into forming engagement with the metal and the outer slide carries tooling which is capable of blanking the metal against a cut edge carried by the fixed lower platen of the press. The chuck wall of the end panel is then preliminarily formed by the action of the punch drawing the blank around the fixed radius of a die core member fixedly carried by the bottom press platen.

Abstract: A system for forming unitary containers from flat metal stock includes a unique arrangement of both previously known and newly discovered apparatus, including means for blanking and cupping the flat metal stock into individual cups; means for drawing and redrawing the cups and bottom profiling them in one machine; and additional means for trimming, flanging, and beading the containers thus drawn. The system and method include, among other things, the utilization of apparatus which permits drawing, redrawing, and bottom profiling to take place in one press. This is accomplished by carrying draw, redraw, and bottom profile tooling in a single press and by inserting the cups in the press for the draw operation and then removing them and reinserting them for the redraw and bottom profile operations.