Abstract: Apparatus is provided for forming a chime bead adjacent the closed end of a seamless cup-shaped metal can body and a plurality of peripheral beads intermediate the opposite ends of the can body. The apparatus includes a plurality of beading spindles receiving and supporting can bodies for movement along an arcuate path. The beading spindles are provided with beading tool portions corresponding to the chime and intermediate beads to be formed on a can body. The frame supports axially offset and sequentially arranged outer beading rails positioned along the arcuate path of spindle movement. During movement of the spindles along the path between input and output stations of the apparatus, can bodies on the spindles are rotated about the spindle axes and, as each can body moves past the outer beading rails, the beading tool portions of the spindles and the outer beading rails cooperatively engage a can body therebetween to sequentially form first the chime bead and then the intermediate beads on the can body.

Abstract: Press mounted apparatus is disclosed for shearing a blank from a metal sheet and for drawing the blank to a cup-shaped configuration. The apparatus includes a fixed annular drawing die mounted on the press bed and having a drawing surface extending radially from the die opening and terminating in a circular cutting edge, and a movable tool assembly mounted on the press slide and including a draw pad and a cutter member. The draw pad is mounted on the slide for reciprocating movement relative thereto and to the cutter member. The cutter member is cooperable with the cutting edge on the fixed die to sever a blank from a sheet of material therebetween, and the draw pad has a drawing surface opposite the drawing surface of the fixed die. The two drawing surfaces engage opposite sides of the blank, and the drawing surfaces are spaced apart a predetermined distance related to the thickness of the sheet material by opposed pins carried respectively by the draw pad and fixed tool assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for trimming the open end of a seamless cup-shaped metal can body. The apparatus includes a plurality of spindle units receiving and supporting can bodies to be trimmed for movement along an arcuate path. The spindle units cooperate to axially position the can bodies relative to a fixed cutting blade positioned along the path and past which the can bodies are moved. During movement of the spindle units along the path and between input and output stations of the apparatus, can bodies supported thereby are rotated about the corresponding spindle axis. As each can body moves past the fixed cutting blade it is rotated one complete revolution to sever an annular scrap ring from the open end thereof. Thereafter, the trimmed can and scrap ring are displaced from the spindle unit and discharged from the apparatus.

Abstract: An improved arrangement is provided for relatively reciprocating the ram and blank holder components of a horizontal can blank forming machine. The machine includes a reciprocable slide carrying the ram, and a reciprocable blank holder frame on which the blank holder is mounted. The slide and blank holder frame are driven by a common crankshaft through corresponding crank arms angularly related circumferentially of the crankshaft axis to impart the desired motion characteristics to the slide and blank holder frame upon rotation of the crankshaft. The blank holder frame includes a vertical plate member defining the driven end of the blank holder frame, and horizontal rods interconnect the vertical plate with a frame plate at the opposite end of the blank holder frame and on which the blank holder is mounted. The axes of the crankshaft, blank holder, blank holder frame rods and ram are coplanar with one another and with the axes between the crank arms and the blank holder frame and slide.