Abstract: The principles of the present invention further provide both a shaped metal container and its preforms that exhibit a rounded grain structure characteristic created by an annealing process and a method for making a shaped metal container. The process of making said metal container results in a quicker process time and uses less metals (at least 10% metal weight savings), thus allowing for a decrease in the costs of making such shaped metal containers. A shaped metal container may include work hardened rolled sheet-metal defining a sidewall, an opening, and a base, where at least one section along the sidewall has grains with an average aspect ratio less than about 4 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal vessel by way of stamping of vertical halves from a metal sheet, and in particular to a method comprising: stamping at least a first vessel half and a second vessel half from a metal sheet; adhering at least the first vessel half with the second vessel half forming a vessel, the vessel being a single piece article having an opening on one end for ingress and egress of a liquid or a gas and having a seam along two of the vessel vertical walls and along the bottom of the vessel where the first vessel half and the second vessel half make contact; and applying a top finish at the opening of the vessel allowing for a closure to be used to seal and selectively reseal the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal vessel by way of stamping of vertical halves from a metal sheet, and in particular to a method comprising: stamping at least a first vessel half and a second vessel half from a metal sheet; adhering at least the first vessel half with the second vessel half forming a vessel, the vessel being a single piece article having an opening on one end for ingress and egress of a liquid or a gas and having a seam along two of the vessel vertical walls and along the bottom of the vessel where the first vessel half and the second vessel half make contact; and applying a top finish at the opening of the vessel allowing for a closure to be used to seal and selectively reseal the vessel.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention further provide both a shaped metal container and its preforms that exhibit a rounded grain structure characteristic created by an annealing process and a method for making a shaped metal container. The process of making said metal container results in a quicker process time and uses less metals (at least 10% metal weight savings), thus allowing for a decrease in the costs of making such shaped metal containers. A shaped metal container may include work hardened rolled sheet-metal defining a sidewall, an opening, and a base, where at least one section along the sidewall has grains with an average aspect ratio less than about 4 to 1.

Abstract: A method of configuring a production line to mass customize shaped vessels includes receiving a plurality of consumer or event data. Further, the method includes configuring a plurality of vessel forming stations based in part on the received consumer or event data. Once the vessel forming stations are configured, a plurality of vessels are shaped by indexing the plurality of vessels through the vessel forming stations. The shaping operation can include shaping by contouring a length of each of the plurality of vessels, selecting a decoration style to be applied to the plurality of vessels based in part on the consumer or event data, and configuring a top-forming station based in part on the consumer or event data.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of remotely managing a vessel forming production line, the method comprising communicating from a remote data processing resource a plurality of consumer or event data to a controller, the controller controls a plurality of vessel forming stations having a plurality of shape forming operations and a plurality of non-shape forming operations, configuring each of the plurality of shape forming operations and the plurality of non-shape forming operations based in part on the plurality of consumer or event data to manufacture the shaped vessel, and manufacturing the shaped vessel. Other embodiments include completing a sales transaction resulting in generation of the plurality of consumer or event data, generating the plurality of consumer or event data based in part on the current status of an event, and decorating the shaped vessel based in part on the plurality of consumer or event data.

Abstract: A system and method of forming a vessel may include providing multiple operation wheels configured in opposing facing pairs. Each operation wheel may include multiple work zones, each work zone of an operation wheel being configured in an opposing facing pair with a work zone of another operation wheel to engage the vessel and perform a forming operation on the vessel. Opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels may be linearly pushed to a closed position to engage the vessel, and pulled to an open position. The work zone(s) may perform least one forming operation on the vessel. The vessel may be indexed through the operations at a rotational timing coordinated to index the vessel when opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels are in the open position, the indexing may be clockwise or counterclockwise based on whether a decoration operation is to be performed on the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of shape forming vessels, the method comprising selecting a pathway to index the vessel across an operation wheel, indexing the vessel, controlling rotational indexing direction of the vessel across selected pathway, and operating on the vessel as the vessel is indexed across the operation wheel along selected pathway. Other embodiment include shaping by contouring length of the vessel, applying decoration to the vessel, wherein the decoration is added at a precise location based in part on reference to the registration spot, and using a controller to select the pathway based in part on desired shape of the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of coordinating vessel shaping style and decoration, the method comprising receiving a vessel in a decoration operation, the vessel having a formed shape style, determining the formed shape style, selecting based in part on the formed shape style a decoration style, and decorating the vessel with selected decoration style. Other embodiments include selecting the decoration style based in part on the vessel top form style, selecting the vessel top form style based in part on the decoration style, and selecting a pathway to index the vessel across the operation wheel through the shaping operation.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of performing non-shape forming operations during vessel shaping, the method comprising indexing a cylinder across a pathway of at least one of an operation wheel, the operation wheel further having a plurality of work zones, performing at the plurality of work zones a plurality of operations on the cylinder in a sequence of a first shaping plurality of operations followed by a non-shaping plurality of operations followed by a second shaping plurality of operations, and effectuating transformation of the cylinder into a shaped vessel. Other embodiment include applying decoration to the cylinder contoured surface during non-shaping operations, trimming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, and top-forming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, to name a few.

Abstract: A system and method of forming a vessel may include providing multiple operation wheels configured in opposing facing pairs. Each operation wheel may include multiple work zones, each work zone of an operation wheel being configured in an opposing facing pair with a work zone of another operation wheel to engage the vessel and perform a forming operation on the vessel. Opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels may be linearly pushed to a closed position to engage the vessel, and pulled to an open position. The work zone(s) may perform least one forming operation on the vessel. The vessel may be indexed through the operations at a rotational timing coordinated to index the vessel when opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels are in the open position, the indexing may be clockwise or counterclockwise based on whether a decoration operation is to be performed on the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a vessel forming station comprising a plurality of operation wheels, the plurality of operation wheels are configured in opposing facing pairs, a plurality of linear drives are interconnected with the plurality of operation wheels, the plurality of linear drives push opposing facing pairs of the plurality of operations to a closed position causing opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels to engage the vessel and perform operations on the vessel, the linear drives pull the plurality of operation wheels to an open position allowing the vessel to be indexed to other operation positions, and a conveyor system positioned between opposing facing pairs of the plurality of operation wheels engages the vessel and indexes the vessel through the plurality of operations.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a vessel forming production line comprising a plurality of vessel forming stations having at least one of an operation wheel, at least one of a conveyor, and a controller, the conveyor indexes a vessel across the operation wheel, the controller coordinates movement and operation of the operation wheel and the conveyor, a second conveyor transfers the vessel between the plurality of vessel forming stations, and a plurality of cylinder feeders feed the vessel into at least one of a pathway through the plurality of vessel forming stations, wherein the plurality of vessel forming stations are organized into a scalable matrix configuration allowing a plurality of different shaped vessels to be manufactured simultaneously. Other embodiments include a plurality of linear drives configured to cause opposing pairs of operation wheels to engage the vessel and perform operations on the vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates a shaped metal vessel comprising a shaped vessel body thin walled made of metal comprising a tapered body portion comprising an open end with integral rolled edge, a mid body portion, and a low body portion. A base seals one end of the low body, the low body blends with the mid body, and the mid body blends with the tapered body. Exemplary embodiments include an outsert fitted around the outside circumference of the tapered body proximate the open end, the outsert comprising a carry ring or carry ring edge formed around the circumference of the outsert, and a plurality of threads spirally affixed to the outer surface of the outsert to engage and secure a separate vessel closure to the shaped vessel body. Other exemplary embodiments integrally form a neck ring in the shaped vessel body.

Abstract: The present invention relates a shaped metal vessel comprising a shaped vessel body thin walled made of metal comprising a tapered body portion comprising an open end with integral rolled edge, a mid body portion, and a low body portion. A base seals one end of the low body, the low body blends with the mid body, and the mid body blends with the tapered body. Exemplary embodiments include an outsert fitted around the outside circumference of the tapered body proximate the open end, the outsert comprising a carry ring or carry ring edge formed around the circumference of the outsert, and a plurality of threads spirally affixed to the outer surface of the outsert to engage and secure a separate vessel closure to the shaped vessel body. Other exemplary embodiments integrally form a neck ring in the shaped vessel body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of isolating column loading and mitigating deformation of shaped metal vessels, the method comprising forming a cylindrical metal tube into a shaped metal vessel, the shaped metal vessel comprising a sealed end, an open end, and an integral carry ring proximate the open end. Column load is isolated between the open end and the carry ring by supporting the shaped metal vessel by the carry ring. The shaped metal vessel is sealed with a closure, wherein deformation of the shaped metal vessel between the sealed end and the carry ring due to column load is minimized during application of the closure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a metal vessel by way of stamping of vertical halves from a metal sheet, and in particular to a method comprising: stamping at least a first vessel half and a second vessel half from a metal sheet; adhering at least the first vessel half with the second vessel half forming a vessel, the vessel being a single piece article having an opening on one end for ingress and egress of a liquid or a gas and having a seam along two of the vessel vertical walls and along the bottom of the vessel where the first vessel half and the second vessel half make contact; and applying a top finish at the opening of the vessel allowing for a closure to be used to seal and selectively reseal the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of shape forming vessels, the method comprising selecting a pathway to index the vessel across an operation wheel, indexing the vessel, controlling rotational indexing direction of the vessel across selected pathway, and operating on the vessel as the vessel is indexed across the operation wheel along selected pathway. Other embodiment include shaping by contouring length of the vessel, applying decoration to the vessel, wherein the decoration is added at a precise location based in part on reference to the registration spot, and using a controller to select the pathway based in part on desired shape of the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of performing non-shape forming operations during vessel shaping, the method comprising indexing a cylinder across a pathway of at least one of an operation wheel, the operation wheel further having a plurality of work zones, performing at the plurality of work zones a plurality of operations on the cylinder in a sequence of a first shaping plurality of operations followed by a non-shaping plurality of operations followed by a second shaping plurality of operations, and effectuating transformation of the cylinder into a shaped vessel. Other embodiment include applying decoration to the cylinder contoured surface during non-shaping operations, trimming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, and top-forming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, to name a few.