Patents by Inventor R. Peter Stodd

R. Peter Stodd has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9073721
    Abstract: A sheet metal strip is directed from a supply coil into a unitized system including a frame supporting a feed roll driven by a variable speed motor. The strip is directed upwardly from the feed roll between vertical guide rods to produce an inverted U-shaped vertical loop detected by sensors connected to control the feed roll motor. A servo driven index roll receives and advances the strip into tooling within a reciprocating press. Vibration insulators support the frame from a base stand mounted on air casters which provide for quickly removing the system from the press. The axial length of each roll is less than the width of the strip and engages only a center portion of the strip. A second index roll driven by a servo motor may be used on the press to provide push/pull advancement of the strip through the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Global Feeding Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Publication number: 20150122829
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by an inclined curved or straight panel wall to an inclined inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has an outer wall which connects with an inclined lower wall portion of a chuck wall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuck wall has a curved or inclined upper wall portion which connects with an inner wall of the crown. The chuck wall also has an intermediate wall portion forming a break, and the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than the radial width of the panel wall. The inclined upper wall portion of the chuck wall extends at an angle greater than the angle of the inclined lower wall portion of the chuck wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicants: CONTAINER DEVELOPMENT LTD., BALL CORPORATION
    Inventors: R. Peter Stodd, Jess N. Bathurst
  • Patent number: 8931660
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by an inclined curved or straight panel wall to an inclined inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has an outer wall which connects with an inclined lower wall portion of a chuck wall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuck wall has a curved or inclined upper wall portion which connects with an inner wall of the crown. The chuck wall also has an intermediate wall portion forming a break, and the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than the radial width of the panel wall. The inclined upper wall portion of the chuck wall extends at an angle greater than the angle of the inclined lower wall portion of the chuck wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: Ball Corporation, Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventors: R. Peter Stodd, Jess N. Bathurst
  • Patent number: 8573020
    Abstract: Can shells are produced with tooling installed on a 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 pistons. An air chamber is connected by air spring passages to the inner pressure sleeve piston, and the outer pressure sleeve receives the same air as the air chamber or lower pressure air. The die center punch has an insert which initiates the drawing of a cup, and the inner pressure sleeve and die center punch have contoured surfaces which mate with opposing surfaces on a die core ring to form and clamp the chuckwall of the shell during downstroke of the press. A panel punch has peripheral surfaces which form the panel wall and countersink of the shell during upstroke of the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Patent number: 8434342
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Patent number: 8313004
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by an inclined curved or straight panel wall to an inclined inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has an outer wall which connects with an inclined lower wall portion of a chuckwall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuckwall has a curved or inclined upper wall portion which connects with an inner wall of the crown. The chuckwall also has an intermediate wall portion forming a break, and the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than the radial width of the panel wall. The inclined upper wall portion of the chuckwall extends at an angle greater than the angle of the inclined lower wall portion of the chuckwall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: R. Peter Stodd, Jess Bathurst
  • Publication number: 20120186321
    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: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Patent number: 8141406
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Publication number: 20120067102
    Abstract: Can shells are produced with tooling installed on a 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 pistons. An air chamber is connected by air spring passages to the inner pressure sleeve piston, and the outer pressure sleeve receives the same air as the air chamber or lower pressure air. The die center punch has an insert which initiates the drawing of a cup, and the inner pressure sleeve and die center punch have contoured surfaces which mate with opposing surfaces on a die core ring to form and clamp the chuckwall of the shell during downstroke of the press. A panel punch has peripheral surfaces which form the panel wall and countersink of the shell during upstroke of the press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Publication number: 20120048907
    Abstract: A sheet metal strip is directed from a supply coil into a unitized system including a frame supporting a feed roll driven by a variable speed motor. The strip is directed upwardly from the feed roll between vertical guide rods to produce an inverted U-shaped vertical loop detected by sensors connected to control the feed roll motor. A servo driven index roll is supported by the frame to receive and advance the strip into tooling within a reciprocating press. Vibration insulators support the frame from a base stand mounted on air casters which provide for quickly removing the system from the press. The axial length of each roll is less than the width of the strip and engages only a center portion of the strip. A second index roll driven by a servo motor may be used on the press to provide push/pull advancement of the strip through the press.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Publication number: 20110031256
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by an inclined curved or straight panel wall to an inclined inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has an outer wall which connects with an inclined lower wall portion of a chuckwall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuckwall has a curved or inclined upper wall portion which connects with an inner wall of the crown. The chuckwall also has an intermediate wall portion forming a break, and the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than the radial width of the panel wall. The inclined upper wall portion of the chuckwall extends at an angle greater than the angle of the inclined lower wall portion of the chuckwall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: R. Peter Stodd, Jess N. Bathurst
  • Patent number: 7819275
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by an inclined curved or straight panel wall to an inclined inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has an outer wall which connects with an inclined lower wall portion of a chuckwall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuckwall has a curved or inclined upper wall portion which connects with an inner wall of the crown. The chuckwall also has an intermediate wall portion forming a break, and the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than the radial width of the panel wall. The inclined upper wall portion of the chuckwall extends at an angle greater than the angle of the inclined lower wall portion of the chuckwall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Container Development, Ltd., Ball Corporation
    Inventors: R. Peter Stodd, Jess N. Bathurst
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20030121924
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by a curved panel wall to an inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has a generally cylindrical outer wall and an inner width less than the radius of the panel wall. The outer wall of the countersink connects with a frusto-conical chuckwall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuckwall extends to an inner wall of the crown at an angle of at least 16° with the center axis. In one embodiment, the chuckwall has an intermediate generally vertical short riser portion with small radii, the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than 0.040 inch, and the inner wall of the countersink extends at an angle less than 10°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Patent number: 6516968
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by a curved panel wall to an inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has a generally cylindrical outer wall and an inner width less than the radius of the panel wall. The outer wall of the countersink connects with a frusto-conical chuckwall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuckwall extends to an inner wall of the crown at an angle of at least 160 with the center axis. In one embodiment, the chuckwall has an intermediate generally vertical riser portion with small radii, the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than 0.040 inch, and the inner wall of the countersink extends at an angle greater than 10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Container Development, Ltd
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Publication number: 20030010785
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a generally flat center panel connected by a curved panel wall to an inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has a generally cylindrical outer wall and an inner width less than the radius of the panel wall. The outer wall of the countersink connects with a frusto-conical chuckwall at a junction below the center panel, and the chuckwall extends to an inner wall of the crown at an angle of at least 16° with the center axis. In one embodiment, the chuckwall has an intermediate generally vertical riser portion with small radii, the inner bottom width of the countersink is less than 0.040 inch, and the inner wall of the countersink extends at an angle greater than 10°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd
  • Patent number: 6419110
    Abstract: A drawn aluminum can shell has a peripheral crown which is double-seamed with an end portion of an aluminum can body to provide a can end having a slightly domed-shaped center panel extending to a curved panel wall forming the inner wall of an annular U-shaped countersink. The countersink has a generally cylindrical outer wall and a generally flat annular bottom wall, and the outer countersink wall extends to a frusto-conical chuckwall which extends to an inner wall of the double-seamed crown at an angle between 16° and 30° with the can end center axis. The overall height of the can end from the crown to the chuckwall is less than 0.230 inch, and the top portion of the center panel defines a plane extending substantially through the junction of the frusto-conical chuckwall with the inner double-seamed wall of the crown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Container Development, Ltd.
    Inventor: R. Peter Stodd