Container (e.g., Cans) Patents (Class 219/64)
  • Patent number: 4404447
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a welded can body from tinplate or a tin-iron alloy plated steel sheet comprises overlapping the opposite marginal portions of a blank of the tinplate or the tin-iron plated steel sheet to form a can body preform having an overlapping portion, applying at least to the cut edges of the marginal portions of the blank a fluxing agent promoting wetting of steel with molten tin, and electrical resistance seam welding the overlapping portion in a nonoxidizing atmosphere by employing a pair of wire electrodes each covered by a layer of metallic tin on the surface thereof facing the overlapping portion. The welded portion has improved corrosion resistance, as an extruded weld portion and a remaining cut edge surface portion thereof are covered with tin transferred from the surfaces of the wire electrodes and/or the tinplate during the welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Limited
    Inventors: Yoichi Kitamura, Hisashi Hotta, Chikara Yurita, Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 4401874
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of welded cans, which comprises forming a blank into a cylinder and passing a lap portion of the formed cylinder between a pair of electrode rollers through an electrode wire to effect electric resistance welding, wherein said blank is a tin-free steel blank comprising a steel plate substrate, a layer of metallic chromium formed on the surface of the steel plate substrate and a layer of chromium oxide formed on the metallic chromium layer, and electric resistance welding is carried out in an inert atmosphere in the state where an electrode wire having a plated layer of a soft metal selected from the group consisting of tin and alloys thereof, the thickness of said plated layer being 0.1 to 20 .mu.m, is kept in close contact with the chromium oxide layer of the tin-free steel blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kitamura, Makoto Ito, Chikara Yurita
  • Patent number: 4399343
    Abstract: A welder for welding side seams of tubular bodies. The welder has a body feed in the form of a single conveyor which serves to receive bodies at regular intervals from a rounded unseamed tubular body supply and to move the bodies into a welding head nip with the bodies being initially widely spaced and then the gap between a body in the welding head and a trailing body being rapidly reduced so that the leading edge of a following body enters into the nip at the same moment as the trailing edge of a leading body begins to depart from the nip, with the adjacent edges of adjacent bodies being in substantially touching but positively spaced relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Fael SA
    Inventors: Jakob Muller, Peter Schreiber
  • Patent number: 4395614
    Abstract: In an apparatus and a method of at least partially suppressing oxidation of can components or the like during resistance roller welding with the aid of an inert gas, the steps include welding the can components to one another, so as to obtain a hot welding seam, supplying the inert gas to the hot welding seam so as to envelop it at least partially, and to create a region of the inert gas in contact with the surrounding atmosphere, so that oxidation of the hot welding seam is at least partially suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: Paul Opprecht
    Inventors: Wolfgang Weil, Andres Lanz, Max Vogt, Paul Meier, Martin Kaul, Hanspeter Fankhauser
  • Patent number: 4389556
    Abstract: A method of forming thin steel plate of predetermined dimensions into a tubular form such as a cylindrical or square tubular form and subjecting the side seam or the overlapped portion of the form to electric resistance seam welding by passing it between upper and lower electrodes, which comprises applying a higher welding current to both edge parts of the overlapped portion than to the other parts or the center of the overlapped portion thereby adjusting a welding current to such a value which does not substantially cause the formation of burrs but provides the center with a desired weld strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Daiwa Can Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tetuo Nozawa, Jun Nagata, Michiyuki Kakimoto
  • Patent number: 4376884
    Abstract: A signal emitted from a transducer responsive to the relative power applied during a welding process is enhanced electronically and mathematically to be of use in controlling welder operating parameters and/or in rejecting defective welds. Electronically the signal refined to minimize unnecessary noise in the signal and mathematically the signal is modified and analyzed against a standard. In a high speed welding operation automatic means are necessary to assure weld quality and control welder operation since the rapidity with which the welding takes place is too fast for manual readjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: American Can Company
    Inventors: Vance B. Gold, Edward F. Kubacki, Thomas Krewenka
  • Patent number: 4354086
    Abstract: A transport installation and method of transporting can bodies for a fully automated resistance welding machine comprising a roll former station for rolling the bodies, two successively arranged driven transport systems, and a pair of welding electrodes. The transport systems comprise endless, revolving chains equipped with fixed catches or cams and defining first and second chains. The first chain passes through the roll former station where, during rolling of the blanks into the can bodies, it cyclically and periodically remains at least approximately stationary, whereas the second chain has a sinusoidal velocity course. The can bodies exposed to the intermittent non-continuous mode of operation of the first chain, necessitated by the roll forming operation, are transferred to the second chain and experience a movement which is stabilizing for the can bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Inventor: Paul Opprecht
  • Patent number: 4354090
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding the opposed edges of sheet metal into substantially abutting edge-to-edge relationship with one another and thereafter welding said edges by a high energy welding source to form a seam. The invention enables the continuous high speed butt welding of the sheet metal to form cylindrical bodies. The apparatus includes three elements which are cooperatively secured in assembled relationship and thereby form opposed and converging guide channels which converge into open relationship with one another along the length of the apparatus so that the opposing edges of sheet metal are guided into intimate abutting edge-to-edge relationship with one another. The elements extend to a point adjacent the weld zone in order to maintain the sheet metal edges in abutting relationship as they enter the weld zone.In another embodiment, two of the elements may include portions which extend into and beyond the weld zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: SWS Incorporated
    Inventor: Carl J. Nilsen
  • Patent number: 4352001
    Abstract: An improvement in a method for producing a welded metallic can body. The method involves holding and pressing a lap portion of the side marginal portions of a can body-like structure, which has been formed by bending a metal blank into a cylindrical shape, along its entire length between a pair of opposing parallel wire electrodes placed on the opposing surfaces of parallel electrodes, and passing an electric current across the parallel electrodes for a predetermined period of time during the pressing to subject the lap portion to resistance welding. At least one of the parallel electrodes is divided longitudinally into two or more portions electrically insulated from each other, and an electric current is passed through at least one of them independently from the other portions so that the temperature rise in the lap portion of the can body-like structure becomes uniform. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing a welded metallic can body in accordance with the aforesaid method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Ishibashi, Sadaki Matsui, Hisakazu Yasumuro, Tsuneo Imatani, Hiroshi Ueno, Seishichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4350862
    Abstract: An apparatus for transporting successive pieces to be separated from one another at respective predetermined spacings at a predetermined velocity, includes a rotary-to-linear movement conversion device, including a crank normally arranged to be driven at a prearranged angular velocity by a drive mechanism, and a clutch normally connected to, but disconnectable from the crank, and adapted to be connected to a drive device for periodically reducing the angular velocity to zero, so that the spacing of successive pieces may be accurately adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: Paul Opprecht
    Inventor: Othmar Stieger
  • Patent number: 4341943
    Abstract: A method of positioning and guiding two edges of thin sheet metal in such a manner that the edges are urged into overlapping relationship with each other under pressure and are continuously moved in a longitudinal direction while converging toward each other. The edges of the sheet metal are forced out of overlapping relationship against the pressure so that such edges are in abutting relationship with each other at the point of convergence at which time such edges are welded together by a source of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: SWS Incorporated
    Inventor: Carl J. Nilsen
  • Patent number: 4334138
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method of and apparatus for making a welded metallic can body by effecting a mash resistance welding on a lapped side portion of a can body preform by means of a combination of a cooled elongated electrode and a cooled rotary electrode and, as required, with wire electrodes interposed between the lapped side portion and these electrodes. Also, disclosed are a tinfree steel welded can body and its making method wherein it is formed by a mash resistance welding on a lapped side portion of a can body preform made from tinfree steel, without requiring the removal of surface chromium film from the welded portion and its vicinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Limited
    Inventors: Kenji Matsuno, Hiroyuki Funamoto
  • Patent number: 4332994
    Abstract: An apparatus for resistance welding of the longitudinal seam of can bodies by means of electrode rollers which are suspended so as to be oscillatingly drivable transversely with respect to the edges of the can bodies which are to be welded, in order to prevent premature wear of the electrode rollers due to the formation of notches, scoring or the like. The lower electrode roller which is additionally oscillatingly or reciprocatingly suspended in vertical direction provides outstanding accessibility and low dead mass of the moved parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Inventor: Paul Opprecht
  • Patent number: 4296293
    Abstract: This relates to a method and apparatus for welding thin walled sheet steel tubular members of the type primarily intended for use as container bodies. The sheet steel may be provided with a suitable coating, such as tin plating, and is preferably heated by induction heating. The heated edge portions of a rounded tubular member are initially pressed together to effect bonding or welding, after which they are engaged by forge rolls to reduce the thickness of the resultant seam. The pressing together of the edge portions to initiate bonding is preferably effected between two coated surfaces, such as ceramic, with the pressure being applied by one of the members in the form of a spring loaded pin. When the electrical energy is induced into the edge portions, there is provided a secondary coil having a bore therethrough through which the rounded tubular member passes with the coil serving to size and guide the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: The Continental Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard L. Gerber
  • Patent number: 4282981
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bright welded seam can of tinplate having a side seam formed by welding, wherein each of the inner and outer surfaces of the side seam has an outermost surface layer having a thickness of 50 to 400 A and being composed of oxides and a subsequent intermediate layer composed of an iron-tin alloy, which has a thickness corresponding to 5 to 100% of the thickness of the whole tin layer in the tinplate blank, and wherein the inner and outer surfaces of the side seam have a reflectance corresponding to at least 60% of the reflectance of the tinplate.This bright welded seam can is excellent in the appearance of the seam, the corrosion resistance and the adhesion of the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Kitamura, Hisashi Hotta, Makoto Ito
  • Patent number: 4242561
    Abstract: An improved weld monitoring apparatus and a method for its use are disclosed. Specifically, the invention relates to the application of integrating voltmeters to the monitoring of a resistance seam welding process applicable to cans and the like, wherein a blanking pulse generator is used to direct a voltage signal from the welding process to suitably adapted integrating voltmeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.
    Inventor: George Long
  • Patent number: 4223196
    Abstract: A welded seam between overlapped edges of sheet material wherein the sheet material is heated to a temperature below the melting temperature and is forced together under high pressures to form a forged weld. The thickness of the sheet material in the weld area is reduced from double thickness to a thickness approaching a single thickness, with the weld interface being diagonally disposed. The weld is effected by grain growth across the interface such that the particular line along which the meeting surfaces of the metal are welded together is unobservable upon etching a cross section thereof and with magnification on the order of 100X. The heating is effected by applying to opposing edge portions which are to be overlapped and welded a high frequency current which effectively reduces heating to edge portions only of the metal with the heat effected area being in the vicinity of 0.1 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1960
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: Continental Can Company Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Erlandson, Lee R. Ullery, Roger S. Brigham
  • Patent number: 4220106
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatically annealing end portions of wall-ironed drawn can bodies and welded side seam can bodies formed of sheet steel to reduce stresses therein wherein the end portions may be flanged without cracking, wrinkling or folding. The can bodies are moved along a continuous path by a rotary table and are supported for rotation about their own axes during such movement. Associated with each rotating can body is a blowing hood for developing a protective gas atmosphere surrounding the portion of the can body to be annealed. The blowing hoods and associated can body upper end portions pass through an annealing zone defined by an elongated induction loop. The apparatus is particularly useful in annealing processes for sheet metal formed of unkilled steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Schmalbach-Lubeca GmbH
    Inventor: Helmuth Supik
  • Patent number: 4162382
    Abstract: A transport device for use with an electrical resistance welding machine producing longitudinal seams at workpiece bodies or the like which, prior to reaching the welding rolls of the machine, are transported at a desired welding speed by means of the transport device. The transport device comprises at least one endless chain revolving above the workpiece bodies to be transported and having workpiece body-engaging members in the form of pawls hingedly connected in spaced relationship with the endless chain. Each pawl has oppositely extending pawl arms, of which one arm possesses a contact or impact surface intended to bear against the end of a workpiece body engaged thereby and the other arm possesses a control surface which bears against a guide rail stationarily arranged above the lower chain run of the endless chain which revolves over at least two sprocket wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1979
    Assignee: Fael S.A.
    Inventor: Fred Schalch
  • Patent number: 4160892
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for longitudinally seam welding overlapped edges of metal sheets with continuously renewable flat wire electrodes in which the edges are overlapped a distance of from three to no more than six times the thickness of the edges and the flat wire electrodes have a width from about two to three times the width of the overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1979
    Assignee: Paul Opprecht
    Inventors: Paul Opprecht, Martin Kaul
  • Patent number: 4145986
    Abstract: A ring type calibrating cage for confining a metal container shell just prior to and during seam welding. The cage comprises a series of strategically located rings through which the can body is fed. These rings are of narrow width reducing friction drag and being optimally positioned to accurately hold the can body in cylindrical shape with overlapped edge portions particularly when these edge portions enter into the welding nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: The Continental Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul A. Bauer
  • Patent number: 4144440
    Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, respectively controlling the start of welding and the termination of welding during continuous resistance welding with the aid of an alternating-current at a roll-welding machine, wherein at least at one measuring station or location arranged ahead or upstream of the welding station or location and the workpiece to be welded passing through the measuring station there is determined the position as a function of time of the leading end as well as the trailing end of the workpiece to be welded with respect to the frequency and the phase of the welding current. By means of a computer processing the determined value there is accommodated to one another the speed of the workpiece to be welded and the frequency and phase of the welding current in such a manner that the first welding spot and the last welding spot are applied at an adjustable spacing from the leading end and the trailing end, respectively, of the workpiece to be welded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Assignee: Fael SA
    Inventors: Fred E. Schalch, Anton Szoky
  • Patent number: 4123646
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an arc welding system primarily intended to replace present systems utilizing an inert gas atmosphere in which the welding takes place. It is proposed to provide a high voltage, low power ignition supply to produce an arc across a spark gap between electrodes and thus provide an ionized atmosphere in which a welding arc may be produced from a low voltage high power main power source. The main power source may include a capacitor which is constantly charged between actuation of the ignition circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Continental Can Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry J. Keinanen
  • Patent number: 4074106
    Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of substantially cylindrical pressurized or liquefied gas tanks first and second portions deformable to open-ended cylindrical shape are stamped out of a same metal sheet, the cylindrical portions then being welded together by their free edges which mated in the sheet. A machine for automatically carrying out the method comprises means for stamping, shaping and assembling the portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Roger Pelleray
    Inventor: Paul Nee