Container Making Patents (Class 72/379.4)
  • Publication number: 20100089942
    Abstract: A stamped bucket for a vending machine having an elongated body with opposing first and second ends, a first end wall integrally formed on the body along the first end and a second end wall integrally formed on the body along the second end. The first and second end walls extending in generally transverse relation to the body. The first end wall has one or more tab portions extending therefrom that are secured to the body adjacent the first end. The second end wall also has one or more tab portions extending therefrom that are secured to the body adjacent the second end. An axis of rotation extends between the first and second end walls substantially longitudinally along the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph J. Krish, SR., William R. Reis
  • Patent number: 7673490
    Abstract: An improved convenience closure that is adapted for sealing an end of a can includes an end panel having a peripheral score, a rivet formation, a mustache score and a flex line score defined therein. The mustache score may include a central portion that is positioned radially inwardly on the end panel relative to the rivet formation. The central portion is preferably curved, with a concave side of the curvature facing the rivet formation. The mustache score also may include first and second preferably symmetrical end portions, each of which is continuous with the central portion. Most of the total length of each of the end portions may be curved away from a nearest portion of the peripheral score, with a convex side of curvature facing the nearest portion of the peripheral score. Tooling for making the convenience closure and a method of making such a convenience disclosure are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Heinicke
  • Patent number: 7673491
    Abstract: A method of making an easy open end for a container includes steps of providing a can end blank having an end panel and forming the can end blank in a series of forming operations that are performed with specialized and unique tooling. The can end is preferably shaped during the forming operations so that a major portion of the end panel is curved. Specifically, the curvature is preferably such that a top surface of the major portion is generally concave and a bottom surface of the major portion is generally convex. The end panel is also preferably shaped and constructed so that the curved major portion will invert in shape upon the application of a sufficient predetermined pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces. A method of testing a fill level of a sealed container is performed in reliance on this “cricketing” or “oil canning” effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Heinicke
  • Patent number: 7670094
    Abstract: To produce can bodies, a continuous can jacket is disclosed, that is sealed by way of a first joint is produced from a flat metal material. At least one sealing element is mounted on the continuous can jacket by way of an additional joint. At least one of the additional joints is configured as a laser welding seam, which forms an annular continuous sealing seam between the continuous can jacket and the sealing element(s). Before the sealing seam is welded, complementary seam contact surfaces of the can jacket and the sealing element are configured as annular continuous edge regions that flare out of narrow towards the can axis. To weld the sealing seam, the can jacket and the sealing element(s) are pushed together until the edge regions make contact, one of the end faces of the two edge regions lying on the interior of the can body and the other lying on the exterior of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Crebocan AG
    Inventor: Werner Boltshauser
  • Patent number: 7644600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum-assisted method and a device for forming an essentially flat blank (12) of metal into a thin-walled, shell-type body (14), especially for performing the method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, that has a supporting structure (16) forming a mold chamber (18) that holds the blank (12) during increasing deformation into the thin-walled, shell-body (14), a device (20) allocated to the supporting structure (16) for clamping the blank (12) about its circumference (22) to the supporting structure (16), that seals the reverse face (24) of the blank (12) facing towards the mold chamber (18) against the front face (26) of the blank (12) facing away from the mold chamber (18), and a device (28) allocated to the mold chamber (18) that also communicates with the mold chamber (18) for applying a vacuum and evacuating the mold chamber (18), and at least one forming tool (50) applied to the front face (26) of the blank (12) is/are allocated to the supporting structure (16), an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: MT Aerospace AG
    Inventors: Helmut Michel, Wulf Radtke, Johannes Hegels
  • Publication number: 20090297740
    Abstract: Precision-folded, high strength, fatigue-resistant structures and a sheet therefore are disclosed. To form the structures, methods for precision bending of a sheet of material along a bend line and a sheet of material formed with bending strap-defining structures, such as slits or grooves, are disclosed. Methods include steps of designing and then separately forming longitudinally extending slits or grooves through the sheet of material in axially spaced relation to produce precise bending of the sheet when bent along the bend line. The bending straps have a configuration and orientation which increases their strength and fatigue resistance, and most preferably slits or arcs are used which causes edges to be engaged and supported on faces of the sheet material on opposite sides of the slits or arcs. The edge-to-face contact produces bending along a virtual fulcrum position in superimposed relation to the bend line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Industrial Origami, Inc.
    Inventor: Max W. DURNEY
  • Publication number: 20090266129
    Abstract: A winder assembly is provided for rotating a component of a can necking machine to a desired angular position suitable for performing maintenance on the component. The winder assembly includes a shaft coupled to a motor of that drives the components of the can necking machine during operation. A handle can be removably connected to the shaft, such that rotation of the handle in a rotational direction correspondingly causes the shaft to rotate. The shaft causes the motor to rotate, which drives a gear train that rotates the components of the necking machine that are coupled to the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Daniel Egerton, David William Smith
  • Publication number: 20090257847
    Abstract: A can assembly includes a can body, and a cap that is seamed to the can body, and a bag. The bag, which may be formed by a thermoforming process, includes a thickened portion as part of a peripheral flange that terminates in a bulb. A throat that receives the bulb is formed by necks on the body and cap such that the bulb is spaced apart from the seam. A constriction formed by the neck radially inboard from the bulb receives the thickened portion of the bag. The process for forming the can assembly includes forming the seam and thermoforming a billet into the bag. At least part of the flange is formed between matched portions of mold flanges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: CROWN CORK & SEAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald C. Schumann, Joseph J. Domijan
  • Patent number: 7584639
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce can bodies (24?) comprising a can shell (24) and a closing element (31b, 32, 31a) that is fixed to one face of the can shell (24). Said aim is achieved by producing a tube (11) from a metal strip (1), optionally from directly adjacent sections (112), by means of a shaping step, at least one optional cutting step, and a continuous welding step, sections of said tube (11) being used as closed convex surfaces for cans. The sections are shaped by a shell-shaping device in such a way that can shells (24) are provided into which a closing element (31b, 32, 31a), especially a can bottom (31b), can be inserted. The longitudinal seam (11a, 124) can be produced inexpensively and at great precision essentially as a continuous seam in the welding step by means of simple installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Crebocan AG
    Inventor: Werner Boltshauser
  • Publication number: 20090211329
    Abstract: In this bottle can manufacturing method, when a portion located at the skirt portion 7 is being molded, the portion extending in an opposite direction in which the male threaded portion 6 extends from a lower end 6a of the male threaded portion 6 over a range of at least approximately 180° along a circumferential direction of the skirt portion 7, the inner surfaces of molding pre-form portions of the first circumferential wall portion and the convexly curved surface portion from among the molding pre-form portions of the skirt portion 7 are pressed outward in the radial direction of the bottle can body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL CAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hanafusa, Ryoichi Ito, Masahiro Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7578158
    Abstract: A process for the shaping of the side surface of a metal body or container (10) such as an aerosol or a beverage bottle for food or technical use, obtained by progressive deformation operating steps of its side surface carried out in sequence on a machine having an intermittent rotating table, an opposite alternate translatory motion plate, a loading drum, gripping pliers of the bodies, deformation and possibly embossing and/or debossing tools and an unloading drum of the same bodies, the process including the steps: feeding the bodies (10) on the machine provided with an intermittent rotating table and of an opposite translatory motion plate; gripping the bodies along a limited area (12) between 10.0 and 35.0 mm, of their side surface from the bottom with a fixed or an axially rotating gripping plier; carrying out a broad deformation (18) on the side surface of the bodies (10) with tools working from the inner and/or outer part of the same bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Frattini S.p.A. Costruzioni Meccaniche
    Inventor: Roberto Frattini
  • Patent number: 7578412
    Abstract: A grippable container is provided for foodstuffs and other items, in which the container includes a closed bottom, an open top, and a body extending between the bottom and top, wherein the body includes a plurality of gripping indentations which are circumferentially spaced apart at an obtuse angle from each other. The grippable indentations each comprise a recess on the container body that has a relief pattern of substantially parallel projections, such as ribs. The grippable indentations on the container make it possible for a user to easily grasp and pick up a relatively large container from the side with enhanced control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventor: Eric D. Clamage
  • Publication number: 20090178456
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for conditioning metal container ends and for removing particles and accumulated dust. The apparatus, in a preferred form, comprises a minimum of two and preferably three shafts, each shaft being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and each shaft having a helical groove extending around the shaft at an outer surface thereof. A drive rotates the shafts about their axes of rotation. The shafts are aligned and positioned to receive therebetween container ends introduced into the apparatus from an entrance and convey them to an exit with the peripheries of the container ends engaged in the grooves of the shafts such that rotation of the shafts causes the grooves to release particles from the peripheries. Associated dust removal equipment then removes the particles so that dust is not generated in downstream equipment for the utilization of the container ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: McKay C. Brown
  • Patent number: 7559222
    Abstract: A method of making an easy open end for a container includes steps of providing a can end blank having an end panel and forming the can end blank in a series of forming operations that are performed with specialized and unique tooling. The can end is preferably shaped during the forming operations so that a major portion of the end panel is curved. Specifically, the curvature is preferably such that a top surface of the major portion is generally concave and a bottom surface of the major portion is generally convex. The end panel is also preferably shaped and constructed so that the curved major portion will invert in shape upon the application of a sufficient predetermined pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces. A method of testing a fill level of a sealed container is performed in reliance on this “cricketing” or “oil canning” effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Heinicke
  • Patent number: 7555927
    Abstract: In a bottle-shaped can manufacturing method and a bottle-shaped can, a necking process is performed on an opening portion of a cylindrical workpiece with a bottom several times to form a body, a shoulder, and a portion for forming a neck that is continuously connected to an upper end of the shoulder in the axial direction of the bottle-shaped can and extends upward, and a first convex is formed in at least one of a connection portion between the shoulder and the portion for forming the neck and a connection portion between the shoulder and the body. Then, the shoulder is pressed to the inside of the body while the first convex is recessed inward in the radial direction, thereby forming grooves in the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Universal Can Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hanafusa, Ryoichi Ito, Masahiro Hosoi, Takashi Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20090165526
    Abstract: A process and apparatus to make an edge or a collar featuring a complex structure on extruded, deep-drawn and deep-drawn/wire-drawn metal rough pieces with which bottles for the beverage and food sector or for technical use are particularly obtained, suitable for the application of a closing cap and fit to use on a tapering machine. The process includes a starting operating stage to deform an upper end portion of a metal holder by turning it outwardly so as to obtain an edge or a collar with a basically circular section, one or more intermediate operating stages to deform the edge or collar by squeezing in the radial direction and stretching towards the bottom of the metal holder, a final operating deformation stage to obtain an edge or collar with a complex ovoidal profile for the application of at least two caps of different types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: FRATTINI S.P.A. COSTRUZIONI MECCANICHE
    Inventor: Roberto Frattini
  • Publication number: 20090127272
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a can body for a two-piece can by multistage forming of a circular laminated steel sheet having a radius of R0 includes the steps of producing a form at least one time by using a laminated steel sheet coated with a polyester resin, which has a plane orientation coefficient of 0.06 or less, in such a way that the height h, the maximum radius r, and the minimum radius d of the form satisfy d?r, 0.2?d/R?0.5, and 1.5?h/(R?r)?2.5, where R represents the radius of the laminated steel sheet having a weight equivalent to the weight of a final form; heating the resulting form at least one time at a temperature of 150° C. or higher, and lower than or equal to the melting point of the polyester resin; and working the heat-treated form into a form satisfying d?r, 0.1?d/R?0.25, and 1.5?h/(R?r)?4. This method easily produces a can body for a laminated steel sheet two-piece can at a low cost without occurrence of peeling nor breakage of a resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kubo, Katsumi Kojima, Yuka Nishihara, Yoshihiko Yasue, Hiroki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 7526938
    Abstract: An assembly for can manufacture includes a toolpack having coolant dies (3,4,5,6) adjacent and either side of ironing dies (1,2) so that coolant may be circulated around cavities in the coolant dies so as to cool the ironing die inserts (12). Generally, the toolpack is used in conjunction with a ram (20), coolant tube assembly (30) and ram guidance assembly (60) which together ensure that the ram is cooled along its entire length, up to and including the punch nose (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: CROWN Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Robert Dunwoody, Philip Alan Marriott, Sudesh Kumar Nayar
  • Publication number: 20090104390
    Abstract: The laminated steel sheet for two-piece can satisfies the relation of the height h of the final formed body, the maximum radius r thereof, the minimum radius d thereof, with the radius R of circular disk, before forming, having the same weight to that of the final formed body, as [0.1?d/R?0.25] and [1.5?h/(R?r)?4]. The laminated steel sheet has a polyester resin layer prepared by polycondensation of a dicarboxylic acid component and a diol component. The dicarboxylic component has terephthalic acid as the main ingredient, and the diol component has ethylene glycol and/or butylene glycol as the main ingredient. The quantity of copolymerizing ingredients is ranging from 8 to 16% by mole. The plane orientation factor of the resin is 0.06 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: JFE Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kubo, Katsumi Kojima, Yuka Nishihara, Yoshihiko Yasue, Hiroki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 7520044
    Abstract: An aerosol can fabrication process comprises the following steps: formation of slugs from an aluminium-based alloy having the following composition, in weight percentage: Si 0.35-0.45 Mg 0.25-0.40 Mn 0.05-0.15 Fe 0.12-0.20 Total of minor elements ?0.15% Al Balance. thermal treatment of the slugs, forced cooling of the slugs, cold impact extrusion of a slug so as to form a can, applying a lacquer inside the can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Boxal France
    Inventors: Jean-Maurice Bulliard, Guenter Hoellrigl, Cedric Fanton
  • Publication number: 20090078020
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for protecting control lines used with tool strings in a downhole environment. A control line protector assembly comprises a plurality of components formed into a unitary piece which includes a guard section having a first end section and a second end section, a slot on each of the first end section and the second end section, and a securing mechanism for coupling the guard section having the first end section and the second end section to the coupling. A control line protector assembly is formed using a metal stamping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Iain Baxter
  • Patent number: 7506529
    Abstract: A method for producing a cylindrical, seamless can body (20) made of metal with associated can top end. The can top end includes a top end ring, that can be connected to the opening edge (21) of the can body (20) and borders a removal opening (30) and a sealing diaphragm (31) arranged on the top end ring and covering the removal opening. A cylindrical, seamless can body blank (10) is produced. Following trimming of the opening edge (11) of the can body blank (10), a cylindrical ring (18) is separated therefrom. The height of the can body blank (10) is preset in such a way that the can body (20) is formed during separation of the cylindrical ring (18). The scrap portion can also be reduced by the method during production of can bodies and top end rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Alcan Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventors: Sven Bauer, Reinhart Geisler
  • Patent number: 7503741
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for forming a curl in a closable container. A process of forming a pre-curl is used, which is followed by a second separate step of forming the completed curl. The two-step process provides for higher tolerances with respect to the shape of the curl that allows the curl to be used as a sealing surface for a recloseable metal bottle. A three-step process provides for even greater tolerances and reduces longitudinal forces by completing the curl using lateral forces. Also, a die curler is disclosed that has an eccentric motion that forms a curl in a single progressive curling process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Omnitech International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin Gillest
  • Publication number: 20090064502
    Abstract: A method for forming a bumper beam includes providing an elongated piece of sheet metal having opposing end portions and an intermediate portion, bending the end portions with respect to the intermediate portion until the end portions are substantially perpendicular to the intermediate portion, bending a central section of the intermediate portion to form a protruding bulge in the intermediate portion after the bending the end portions, and bending side sections of the intermediate portion to move ends of the end portions adjacent to one another and adjacent to the protruding bulge after the bending the central section to from the bumper beam. The end portions form front walls of the bumper beam, the protruding bulge forms inner side walls and a web portion of the bumper beam, and the side sections form outer side walls and rear walls of the bumper beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventor: Jeffery Jay Mellis
  • Patent number: 7500376
    Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus and forming process to manufacture container end closures with improved internal buckle strength. The present invention provides greater material and dimensional control during the forming process by utilizing a pressure sleeve to provide support to at least a portion of an end closure chuck wall and seaming panel radius while placing an end closure countersink in compression during the forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Jess N. Bathurst, James D. Traphagen
  • Publication number: 20090061133
    Abstract: A two-piece can has sufficient can strength and excellent corrosion resistance and to provide a method for forming the two-piece can easily without generating cracks. The two-piece can uses a laminated steel sheet as the base material and having a can body in a shape of cylinder integrated with bottom. The can body is treated by diametral reduction to become the diameter of opening side thereof smaller than the diameter of can body, and to satisfy the formulae (1) and (2). There is formed a bead at the opening side of the can body, being curled outward from the can at the tip of the opening in a shape of circular arc or vertically long ellipse in cross section, and is further formed a bead having a cross sectional shape of further curled at the tip thereof, an upper bead, and a lower bead: 1.5?h/(R?r)??(1) d/R?0.25??(2) where, h is the height from the can bottom to the tip of the opening, R is the net blank radius, r is the radius of the can bottom, and d is the radius of the tip of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: JFE Steel Corporation a corporation of Japan
    Inventors: Katsumi Kojima, Yuka Nishihara, Hiroshi Kubo, Yoshihiko Yasue, Yasuhide Oshima, Hiroki Iwasa
  • Patent number: 7493790
    Abstract: An easy open end for a container includes an end panel having a score defined therein that defines a removable end panel portion. The score is preferably notched to define a bottom edge having a continuous V-shaped recess. A first double fold is defined adjacent to and positioned radially inward from the score that defines beneath the score a first outwardly projecting extending cut protection bead. A second double fold is defined adjacent to and positioned radially outward from the score that defines beneath the score a second inwardly projecting cut protection bead. The end panel is elastically deformed in an area near the score so as to define a concave depression about the score, which provides enhanced cut protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Heinicke
  • Publication number: 20080309834
    Abstract: An exemplary metallic cover (20) includes a bottom base (21) and a plurality of side walls (22, 23, 24, 25). The side walls extend from bottom base. The bottom base and each of the side walls are connected by an edge structure (26). The metallic cover is made of a metallic material that has a yield strength in the range from about 80 MPa to about 150 MPa, an elongation ratio in the range from about 15% to about 28%, and a hardness in the range from about 45 HV0.2 to about 70 HV0.2. A method for making the metallic cover is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD ., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: HONG-ZHAN YI, AI-JUN XU, LONE-WEN TAI, ZI-LI WU, JUN DAI, XIAO-BO YUAN
  • Publication number: 20080302799
    Abstract: A food or drink container kit includes a metal container including a round threaded neck having at least one integrally formed thread. The kit also includes a metal press-on, twist-off closure comprising a round skirt including a gasket material located on at least a portion of the interior of the skirt, a seal forming between the neck and skirt when the closure is placed on the container and heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Seth Moore, Matt R. Brown, Gerald Baker, Bill Kapolas
  • Publication number: 20080282758
    Abstract: An apparatus to expand a diameter of a can or other article comprises a forming turret that includes a stop plate and a forming tooling. The stop plate is configured to be adjacent a dome-end of a can to restrict motion of the can; the stop plate is axially movable relative to a turret axis of rotation. The forming tooling includes a plate and an expansion tool axially movable relative to the turret axis of rotation. The plate includes an opening through which the tool passes. The expansion tool is configured to move into an open end of the can to expand the diameter of the can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Shortridge, Dennis Shuey
  • Publication number: 20080253862
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for forming a curl in a closable container. A process of forming a pre-curl is used, which is followed by a second separate step of forming the completed curl. The two-step process provides for higher tolerances with respect to the shape of the curl that allows the curl to be used as a sealing surface for a recloseable metal bottle. A three-step process provides for even greater tolerances and reduces longitudinal forces by completing the curl using lateral forces. Also, a die curler is disclosed that has an eccentric motion that forms a curl in a single progressive curling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: OMNITECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Gillest
  • Publication number: 20080223735
    Abstract: An object is to provide a gas container and a method of producing the gas container in which liner constituting members can appropriately be joined to each other and productivity can be improved. A gas container has a resin liner constituted by joining a plurality of liner constituting members, the liner constituting members each having at least a hollow cylindrical part, and a reinforcement layer arranged on an outer periphery of the resin liner. Joining portions of the liner constituting members are joined to each other over a circumferential direction by laser welding, and the joining portions are made of a laser transmitting resin and a laser absorbing resin, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishikawa, Masaaki Amano, Masahiko Ota
  • Publication number: 20080202182
    Abstract: A thin walled body is deformed in a process in which the body is gripped securely in a holding station and, whilst gripped in the holding station, tooling engages to deform the peripheral wall of the body at a predetermined wall zone. The tooling is provided at a tooling station which is adjacent the holding station during deformation. The predetermined wall zone is co-aligned with the tooling by rotation of the body about an axis prior to securing at the holding station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Santiago Garcia Campo, Juan Saiz Goiria
  • Patent number: 7416619
    Abstract: The present invention relates to new kitchen utensils, in particular relates to an application of a material in kitchen utensils. The present invention solves the problems of long-term presence in the field. SUS436L is used for kitchen utensils. SUS436L chemical composition (wt %) comprises Cr 16-19, C?0.025, Si?1.00, Mn?1.00, N?0.02, Ni?0.60, Ti?0.75, Mo 0.75-1.50 and balance of Fe. The kitchen utensils have all excellence of present kitchen utensils, overcome its disadvantage and possess high property of heat conduction and magnetoconductivity. The kitchen utensils are used in induction cooker, possess the all and the one structure and have low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Xinhui Rixing Stainless Steel Product Company Limited
    Inventor: Iou Lei
  • Patent number: 7409845
    Abstract: A machine arrangement includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner which comprises a machine line. This machine line incorporates apparatus which is associated with and/or comprises part of the machines for: at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping cans as they pass from a can infeed to a can discharge of the machine line and move along a path having a predetermined configuration. This apparatus minimizes operations necessary for changing from a set up suitable for modifying a can having a first set of dimensions to a set up suitable for a can having a second set of dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Schill, Jeffery Lee Shortridge, Christopher D. Shuey, Dennis Green
  • Publication number: 20080180894
    Abstract: The manufacturing method of the panel installation portion 12a allows the portions of the upper block and the lower block for forming the panel installation portion to be exchanged as the nesting blocks upon press working so as to change the protruding amount of the panel installation portion from the outer peripheral surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Yokawa
  • Patent number: 7401489
    Abstract: A one-piece frame for a refrigerator shelf is produced from a planar blank having first and second side members that extend at an angle from a central cross member. The side members are folded along bend zones located between each of the first and second side members and the cross member such that, once folded, the first and second side members extend outward from the cross member forming a three-sided frame. At this point, edge portions of the first and second side members are folded along additional bend zones to form upper flanges. Preferably, an upper edge portion of the cross member is folded along still another bend zone to form a hook element. The hook element is designed to engage with a shelf support member provided in the refrigerated compartment such that the shelf frame is supported in a cantilevered manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Forrest F. Wing
  • Publication number: 20080168818
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for forming a curl in a closable container. A process of forming a pre-curl is used, which is followed by a second separate step of forming the completed curl. The two-step process provides for higher tolerances with respect to the shape of the curl that allows the curl to be used as a sealing surface for a recloseable metal bottle. A three-step process provides for even greater tolerances and reduces longitudinal forces by completing the curl using lateral forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: OMNITECH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Gillest, Andrew Le, Harold Cook, Michael L. Atkinson
  • Patent number: 7398665
    Abstract: A thin walled body is deformed in a process in which the body is gripped securely in a holding station and, whilst gripped in the holding station, tooling engages to deform the peripheral wall of the body at a predetermined wall zone. The tooling is provided at a tooling station which is adjacent the holding station during deformation. The predetermined wall zone is co-aligned with the tooling by rotation of the body about an axis prior to securing at the holding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Envases (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Santiago Garcia Campo, Juan Salz Goiria
  • Patent number: 7395685
    Abstract: A thin walled body is deformed in a process in which the body is gripped securely in a holding station and, whilst gripped in the holding station, tooling engages to deform the peripheral wall of the body at a predetermined wall zone. The tooling is provided at a tooling station which is adjacent the holding station during deformation. The predetermined wall zone is co-aligned with the tooling by rotation of the body about an axis prior to securing at the holding station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Envases (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Santiago Garcia Campo, Juan Saiz Goiria
  • Patent number: 7395686
    Abstract: Drawn and ironed aluminum can bodies are made from aluminum having a gauge thickness of 0.01075 inches or less, in which the bottom profile meets customer requirements for bottom performance in terms of buckle, drop and growth, without requiring the bottom profile to be reformed in a separate bottom profile reforming step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Beuerage Can Company
    Inventors: Lillian Dervy, Michael R. Gogola, William Walsh
  • Patent number: 7392683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a rolled edge from an edge section (11) of a tube, wherein a flanging die is driven onto the edge section and flanges it into a roll. According to the invention, an initial area (14) of the edge section (11) is previously rolled in a positive fit manner by means of a forcibly controlled tool (30). This prevents buckling of the initial area (14), which has a controlled geometry as a result of rolling. The novel method is preferably used in the production of valve seats in so-called aerosol domes (10) for spray cans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Adval Tech Holding AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Lüthi, Yasar Renkci, Hans Jöhr
  • Publication number: 20080127705
    Abstract: A method of forming two-piece beverage can components is described. The method requires providing a plurality of pre-punched metallic disks. A disk feeder transfers at least one of the plurality of pre-punched metallic disks to a first process station in a plurality of processing stations. The first disk is deformed during a two-piece beverage can component manufacturing process is performed at the first station. The deformed disk is removed from the first station and transferred to each subsequent processing station in the plurality of processing stations. Further two-piece beverage can component manufacturing processes are performed in each subsequent processing station to produce a substantially finished two-piece beverage can component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph A. Sasso, Shaun Kelly
  • Publication number: 20080098787
    Abstract: A two-dimensional sheet material is provided that is suitable for bending along a bend line to form a three-dimensional object. The sheet material is provided with a plurality of displacements in a thickness direction of the sheet material on one side of the bend line. A portion of the displacements shear adjacent the bend line and define an edge and an opposed face. The edge and opposed face configured to produce edge-to-face engagement of the sheet material during bending. Alternatively, sheet material is provided with a plurality of displacements in a thickness direction of the sheet material on one or both sides of the bend line, and with a plurality of corresponding and cooperating protrusions to improve structural integrity and/or to improve electromagnetic and radio frequency shielding. The sheet material may also be provided with a self-latching structure. A method of preparing and using these sheet materials is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Industrial Origami, Inc.
    Inventors: Max W. DURNEY, Radha Vaidyanathan, Ryan Lam
  • Patent number: 7354234
    Abstract: A can body manufacturing method, in which a bottomed cylindrical long cup is shaped from a metal material, in which a printed decoration is then applied to the outer face of a cylindrical trunk portion of the long cup, and in which one of the end sides of the long cup is then shaped into a sloped shoulder portion which is diametrically reduced toward the leading end side: wherein the printed decoration is printed on the outer face of the cylindrical trunk portion of the long cup to the portion to be shaped into the shoulder portion at a subsequent treatment, and wherein the pattern or letter of the printed decoration applied to the portion to be shaped into the shoulder portion is distorted to be wider in the upward direction, in comparison with a final desired figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Daiwa Can Company
    Inventors: Eiji Fujishige, Yasushi Enoki
  • Patent number: 7350392
    Abstract: A can end member has a center panel, a circumferential chuck wall, a transition wall, and a curl. The center panel is centered about a longitudinal axis and has a peripheral edge. The center panel has a peripheral edge. At least a portion of the peripheral edge includes coined segment. The curl defines an outer perimeter of the end member. The circumferential chuck wall extends downwardly from the curl to the transition wall. The transition wall connects the chuck wall with the peripheral edge of the center panel. The transition wall has a folded portion extending outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Company
    Inventors: Timothy Turner, Rajesh Gopalaswamy, Randall G. Forrest
  • Patent number: 7337518
    Abstract: A Cooking vessel has an interior lining of titanium or an allow thereof. The bottom is optionally formed of anodized aluminum as the titanium walls withstand the corrosive environment of the anodizing bath. The titanium lining is more resistant to corrosion, staining and attack by acid foods than anodized aluminum. The method of forming the cooking vessel allows a relatively thin layer of titanium metal to be used as the lining, thus reducing the total weight as well as the cost of the cooking vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Meyer Intellectual Properties Limited
    Inventor: Stanley Kin Sui Cheng
  • Patent number: 7337646
    Abstract: A method and a device for manufacturing a synthetic resin coated metal can body capable of drawing and ironing the synthetic resin coated metal can body with a large processing quantity without causing can body breakage. First and second ironings are conducted to the side wall of a redrawn can (20) formed by drawing a thermoplastic resin-coated aluminum sheet (1) on both surfaces by a first ironing die (14) and a second ironing die (15) in that order according to the pressing-in of a punch (11) with such processing quantities that sheet thickness reduction ratios from an original sheet thickness come within the rages of 35 to 55% and 60 to 75% respectively for manufacturing a metal can body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Aoyagi, Norihito Saiki, Hidekazu Tomaru
  • Publication number: 20070295051
    Abstract: The present invention provides an expansion die for manufacturing containers including a work surface including a progressively expanding portion and a land portion; and an undercut portion positioned following the land portion of the work surface. The present invention further provides a process for manufacturing shaped containers including providing a container stock having a first diameter; expanding at least a portion of the container stock to a second diameter with at least one expansion die; and forming an end of the container stock to accept a container lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Gary L. Myers, Anthony Fedusa, Robert E. Dick
  • Patent number: 7287408
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a battery case which has a tubular shape with a closed end and which houses an electricity-generating element, the apparatus including: a die assembly including a blanking die, a drawing die, a redrawing die and an ironing die which have respective die holes having mutually different sizes and which are immovably and coaxially arranged in series in the order of the sizes of the die holes; a first punch, a second punch and a third punch which are disposed coaxially with respect to the die assembly such that the first through third punches can be inserted into the corresponding die holes of the respective dies; and a moving mechanism which permits the first through third punches to be inserted into the corresponding die holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Kojima Press Industry Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Kawai, Kazunori Noba, Toshi Saeki, Takahisa Morita, Norikazu Morita, Haruo Morita