Container Making Patents (Class 72/379.4)
  • Patent number: 6374657
    Abstract: A method of making a can body of the type that has at least one axially extending rib formed therein includes a first forming step of creating a preform having a sidewall that has at least one axially extending rib formed therein and a bottom that is coextensive with the sidewall and intersects the sidewall at a rim. This first forming step is performed so that at least a portion of the bottom is recessed by a predetermined depth with respect to the rim. The method further includes a second step of performing a second drawing operation on the preform to form a can body having a bump-up bottom. It is important that the predetermined depth be sufficient to prevent the axially extending rib to be drawn into said bump-up bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Kirk, Benjamin Derr
  • Patent number: 6341709
    Abstract: A full aperture easy open end having a central panel, a circumferential score and a tab riveted to the central panel so that its nose is positioned above the score. When the end is first opened, the score is broken along an arc having a specific chord length. The end is of metal having a grain which is aligned to a tangent at one end of the chord. In a preferred embodiment, this “grain tangent” is also at minimum score residual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Alastair Wilson
  • Patent number: 6338263
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an embossed can body with a pattern printed on an outer surface of a cylindrical can barrel includes a plastic working step for forming a flange portion and a neck portion at an opening peripheral edge of the can barrel, and an embossing step for forming an embossed portion on at least a part of the pattern while aligning with the pattern. Thus, the pattern and the embossed portion can be aligned easily and accurately. Also, a stopping mark and a confirmation mark are formed on the can barrel, and a first sensor corresponding to the stopping mark and a second sensor corresponding to the confirmation mark are used. When the respective first and second sensors detect the stopping mark and the confirmation mark, it can be confirmed that the pattern on the can barrel is oriented in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumoto Obata, Wataru Ookubo, Sunao Morishita
  • Patent number: 6286357
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a shaped metal can comprising, on one hand, a bottom (1) and a peripheral wall (2) having a succession of regions of different diameters and, on the other hand, a lid crimped or seamed on the peripheral wall (2). The process comprises producing from a metal blank a cylindrical preliminary can comprising a bottom and a peripheral wall of diameter equal to a given diameter D of a region (2A) of the peripheral wall 2 of the can, effecting a necking operation on a part of the peripheral wall of the preliminary can situated above the region (2A) of the given diameter D of the peripheral wall (2) of the formed can to bring it to a diameter D1 less than the given diameter D, and effecting at least one expanding operation on a part of the peripheral wall situated above the region (2A) of the given diameter D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventors: Michel D'Amore, Patrick Erhard, François Muia
  • Patent number: 6269671
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing cold formed shaped packaging having at least one recess made from a metal-plastic laminate 20. Examples of such shaped forms of packaging are the base parts of push-through packs or blister packs. The process is such that the laminate 20 is held between a retaining tool 5 and a die 1. The die 1 exhibits at least one opening 8 and a stamping tool 6 is driven into the die opening 8 causing the laminate to be shape-formed into the said packaging and, correspondingly, exhibiting one or more recesses. The die 1 and the retaining tool 5 exhibit facing edge regions 11,12, and within the edge region 11 the die 1 exhibits a shoulder region 13 that surrounds the die opening 8 or openings 8. The surface of the shoulder region 13 lies 0.01 to 10 mm lower than the surface of the edge region 11 of the die 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Alusuisse Technology & Management Ltd.
    Inventors: Patrik Zeiter, Heinz Oster
  • Patent number: 6263719
    Abstract: The invention includes a novel profile for a container bottom and method of manufacturing the improved bottom. The improvement involves the creation of an additional angled portion in the inner leg area of a container bottom during the formation of the bottom profile during the body making step. Known container bottom profiles have a single portion in the inner leg area after the bodymaking process. The inventive profile includes the following discrete portions starting at the nose of the container bottom and working inwards towards the central axis: a nose, a substantially linear lower leg portion projecting upwards from the nose, a separate angled portion between the lower leg portion and the dome inclined generally at an angle more towards the longitudinal central axis of the container than the angle of the lower leg portion, and a dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Metal Container Corporation
    Inventors: Carl J. Szwargulski, Kevin A. Leonard, John W. Cooley, Thomas Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 6253597
    Abstract: Method for manufacturing a metal, body-necked can with an ironed wall, for example one intended for being provided on one open side with an easily opening lid in order thereby to form a beverage can, comprising the stages of reducing the diameter of the can with the ironed wall by necking the wall up a considerable part of the height of the can, to be referred to as body-necking, and applying a neck rim by necking the top rim of the can, whereby prior to being body-necked the can is first necked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Corus Staal B.V.
    Inventors: Auke Hogendoorn, Jacobus Frans Nak, Hans Nicolaas Schaaper
  • Patent number: 6240760
    Abstract: A system for performing sequential operations on a can body, such as necking the open end of the can body, in which two or more machines, such as die necking machines are, are coupled by a transfer module. The transfer module comprises a multi-pocket wheel that receives can bodies from a multi-pocket discharge wheel of the first necking machine and discharges them to a multi-pocket input wheel of the second die necking machine. The drive motor of one of the necking machines is eliminated, while the drive motor on the other machine is enlarged. A gear on the transfer module couples the gear trains on the first and second necking machines into a common gear train. Thus, the transfer module gear train transfers power from the necking machine having the enlarged drive motor to the necking machine for which the drive motor was eliminated. This enables a single drive motor to entire drive train for both machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Heiberger, Anton A. Aschberger, Floyd Arnold Jones
  • Patent number: 6230538
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously forming cases from blanks using a rotary turret. Blanks are deposited near dies located on the turret. Each blank is centered on the rotary turret using an associated centering mechanism so that the blank is centered over the die. A punch aligned with the die is drives toward an extended position to push the blank through the die, thereby forming a case. The punch and centering mechanism retract as an ejector extends to remove the case from the die. A redraw sleeve coaxial with the punch strips the case from the punch to deposit the punch on the extended ejector. Subsequent turrets may be connected through transfer wheels to the first turret for performing redrawing operations until a case with the desired dimensions is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: RD Systems
    Inventor: James E. Ribordy
  • Patent number: 6220073
    Abstract: A can bottom having an approximately frustoconical portion extending downwardly and inwardly from the can side wall, an annular nose portion extending downwardly from the approximately frustoconical portion, and a central portion extending upwardly and inwardly from the nose. The nose is formed by inner and outer circumferentially extending frustoconical walls that are joined by a downwardly convex arcuate portion. The inner surface of the arcuate portion of the nose has a radius of curvature adjacent the nose inner wall of at least 0.060 inch. The central portion of the can bottom has a substantially flat disc-shaped central section, having a diameter of at least about 1.40 inches, and an approximately dome-shaped and downwardly concave having a radius of curvature no greater than 1.475 inches. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inner surface of the arcuate portion of the nose is formed by a sector of a circle and has radius of curvature is no greater than about 0.070 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gin-Fung Cheng, Floyd A. Jones