Abstract: A reforming apparatus, and method of using the same, is provided for reforming the bottom of a container to increase the dome reversal pressure and improve the drop resistance of a beverage container. The invention is particularly apt for use in reforming a beverage container integrally formed from a thin metallic sheet. Such containers generally have an open top portion connected to an outer wall that is disposed about a container axis. The outer wall is connected to a bottom portion having an annular support surface, an outer surface for connecting the annular support surface and the outer wall, a recessed or dome surface, and an inner surface for connecting the annular support surface and the dome surface. The invention provides a container rotating device for spinning, supporting, and positioning a container during reformation. A container positioning assembly is included to accurately position the container relative to reforming tools (e.g., rollers).

Abstract: A central turret rotates continuously on a central axis and carries a plurality of planetary turrets that rotate on their own axes. An index drive intermittently moves each planetary turret through a cycle consisting of both a period of rotation through a fraction of a revolution on the planetary turret axis and a period of dwell at an indexed position. The planetary turrets each carry a plurality of tool heads, and during successive periods of dwell, a successive one of the tool heads is presented to a workstation. A workpiece carrier supports a workpiece in proximity to the workstation. Rams operatively engage the workpiece and tool head as the successive tool heads dwell at the workstation. In this way, a workpiece is processed by a plurality of tool heads during a single revolution around the central axis.

Abstract: A can body embossing apparatus has a first mandrel with a first tooling member adapted to receive thereon a can body and a second mandrel with a second tooling member reciprocally movable from a first position distal the first tooling member to a second position proximate the first tooling member. In the second position, the can body side wall is engaged between the first tooling member and the second tooling member. The first tooling member defines one or more recessed portions therein and the second tooling member defines one or more protuberances extending therefrom and adapted to correspond with the recessed portions. The first mandrel and second mandrel are in mechanical communication throughout the reciprocal movement of the second mandrel such that the first and second tooling members rotate continuously with respect to each other and maintain a substantially constant relative position with respect to each other.

Abstract: The stretch leveling or stretch-bend leveling of aluminum or stainless steel strip of a thickness of 0.1 to 0.5 mm is carried out following a measurement of strip nonplanarity or strip profile by regulating the stretch in the stretch leveler or the contour of a roller thereof or both and/or by regulating the depth of penetration or degree of bending by the stretch-bend rollers. The tension in the strip just before coiling is varied in response to measurement of the thickness of the strip across the width, thereby optimizing the leveling and surface qualities of the strip.

Abstract: In machines for reshaping cylindrical metal bodies, wherein the machines include pairs of opposite, axially aligned ram assemblies, cams are provided for axially positioning tooling rams slidably supported by ram housings. The cams are provided having axially opposite cam guide surfaces, and cam followers are mounted on one axial end of each tooling ram with a cam follower being pivotally mounted to the tooling ram and biased into contact with a cam guide surface.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming circumferentially extending necked and flanged parts at an end of a bilaterally open hollow cylindrical body. First and second axially aligned shafts carry axially displaceable first and second inner tools, respectively. Each inner tool has a circumferential body-shaping and a circumferential body-supporting surface. In a first axial position of the two inner tools the shaping surfaces together define a circumferential shaping groove situated inside the hollow body, and the body-supporting surfaces support the hollow body. In a second axial position the two inner tools are at a greater axial distance from one another than in the first position to allow introduction of a hollow body therebetween. A third shaft, carrying an outer tool having a circumferential shaping surface, extends parallel to the first and second shafts.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing reshaping operations on a can, with the apparatus being modular in construction. The modular construction allows for the easy add-on of additional processing stations for performing additional reshaping operations to the cans. Each module is readily connected to an adjacent module in such spaced relationship that cans are transferred directly from can support pockets that hold the cans during processing on one module to can support pockets that hold the cans during processing on the adjacent module, without the need for any conveyors or track work to transfer the cans. The modules are cast with internal chambers that form vacuum chambers, gear chambers, and/or pressurized air passageways. The internal chambers of one module can be interconnected with corresponding internal chambers in adjacent modules.

Abstract: An apparatus for reshaping a container includes a number of reprofiler rollers supported by a mounting block that allows the rollers to travel along a circular path lying in a plane perpendicular to an axis along which the mounting block can be driven by a tooling ram. The mounting block and reprofiler rollers are rotated about the axis by a tooling drive shaft that is supported within the tooling ram. Removable spacers are provided between the reprofiler rollers and the mounting block and between the tooling drive shaft and the mounting block in order to provide a way of adjusting the radial and axial positions respectively of the rollers.

Abstract: A flanging apparatus includes a flanging head assembly having a cluster of freely rotatable spin flanging rollers and a stop ring against which the flange hits during the final flange forming stages to limit the flange to a specific diameter. To prevent the flange from entering the crack formed between the rotating roller and the stationary stop ring, there is provided a step spacing the stop ring surface from the roller forming surface. The forming process occurs as a result of spring biased relative axial movement of the can open end toward the forming surfaces, caused by contact between the can bottom with a base pad movable in a working stroke toward the flanging rollers with a cam controlled spindle. A spring extends between the base pad and a base pad spring collar attached to the spindle to create a predetermined spring force which is normally applied throughout the flange forming process.

Abstract: The method for necking a metal container body comprises the steps of reducing a first portion of the sidewall of the container body to a first necked diameter, applying force to create tension in at least a portion of a second portion of the sidewall, and further reducing the first portion of the container body to a second necked diameter, during at least a portion of the applying step, by effecting relative motion between the container body and an external forming member. The step of applying a force to create tension in the sidewall may comprise radially displacing at least part of the shoulder portion outwardly away from the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A drawn and ironed container (C) that includes a cylindrical side wall, a smoothly-tapered neck (134) with an open end and an integral bottom wall (137) at the opposite end has a plurality of inwardly-deformed panel segments (130) located in the side wall between adjacent arcuate segments (132) with the panel defining generally chordal bottom walls for the panel segments. The container is formed using a multi-station processing apparatus that consists of a plurality of identical stations (30) located around the periphery of a rotating turret (26). Each station includes a support mandrel (50), a container loading means (52, 53) and an impression mandrel (54), with the impression mandrel being pivoted into and out of pressure engagement with the support mandrel to deform the side wall of the container. The support mandrel has a cylindrical peripheral surface (102) that conforms to the inner diameter of the container side wall and has circumferentially-spaced, axially-extending pockets (104.

Abstract: A container is formed with a bottom wall comprising a central panel and a resting radius formed from an annular wall depending downwardly from the central panel periphery and then outwardly and upwardly to join the container side wall. A method is disclosed which reduces the resting radius by tightening the curvature thereof through deformation of the outer annular wall so that the resting radius is better able to resist eversion under the influence of pressure within the container. The outer wall is deformed by radially inward flexing of plural fingers which are cammed radially inwardly into contact with it through a cam follower arrangement which also controls a can support member to (1) locate the bottom wall in a first position between the reforming fingers and supporting anvil, and (2) in a second, elevated stripping position where the container is removed from the apparatus. The container bottom wall is preferably reformed during necking-in of the container open end.

Abstract: A multi-station machine for necking-in the open end of a metal container body includes a plurality of necking spindle assemblies mounted at circumferentially spaced locations on a tooling disc turret in coaxial alignment with corresponding base pad spindle assemblies mounted to a base pad turret. The turrets are co-rotatable with a main turret shaft. Cam controlled tooling activating assemblies are mounted on the tooling disc turret to control the necking-in movement of an eccentric roll and an external forming roll in each necking spindle in synchronism with the delivery of vacuum suction through the base pad spindles which clamps the container bottom walls to the respective base pads. A sequential latching arrangement associated with the tooling activating assemblies prevents tool-to-tool contact between the outer forming rolls with the eccentric rolls in the absence of container bodies on station.

Abstract: A carousel type head revolving about a vertical axis and skirted by a fixed reaction sector is equipped with work stations, each comprising a system of brackets to support the cylindrical tin can and a mandrel consisting in a shaft with an interchangeable outer barrel of diameter notably less than the internal diameter of the can, by which the revolving metal body is pinned against the fixed sector to bring about its deformation; the mandrel and brackets of each station rise and fall synchronously in mutual opposition between respective limit positions, each traversing through a vertical distance substantially equal to half the height of the production can.

Abstract: The seaming equipment is used for interlocking and sealing the rim of a can which includes a cylindrical body enclosed at the opposite ends by respective covers.

Abstract: In a method of forming at an open end of a can body an out-turned end flange and an adjoining inward bead, the free end of the can body is carried frictionally in an annular groove formed in a transverse end face of a rotating driving head. In a first stage, an inner support roll is placed inside the can body in contact with its inner surface at a position spaced axially from the driving head, and an outer work roll is progressively advanced against the outer surface of the can body adjacent the driving head so as to form the inward bead, and thereby gradually retract the open end of the can body within the groove. In a second stage, the inner roll is advanced to a can body stabilizing position, and the work roll is then advanced further so as to withdraw the open end of the can body from the groove and then to turn it radially outwards as the can body end advances eccentrically across the rotating end face of the driving head.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for crimping an open end of a can body. A male die is inserted into the can body through the open end in such a manner as to be coaxial therewith. Then, the female die is caused to fit on the opening end, and the female die is kept moving along the outer peripheral surface of the male die while moving the male die, inserted into the can body, in a releasing direction from the can body. Thus, the opening end is crimped by the relative movement of the male and female dies. There is also disclosed a crimping apparatus which includes at least one crimping mechanism, a holder for holding the can body at a prescribed position, a complex cam and a drive mechanism. The crimping mechanism includes male and female dies, follower members connected to the male and female dies, respectively. The cam includes first and second cam faces with which the first and second follower members are respectively held in engagement.

Abstract: The apparatus for flanging and swaging both ends of a cylindrical can body has at least two axially opposing drivable flanging and swaging heads slidable into a can body each with a radially slidable wobbler braced centrally on a conical piece axially slidable against an inner spring. At least one wobbler comprises two ring members engaged in each other concentrically of which the outer one is stepped to form a circular shoulder for receiving the inner one. The outer ring member supports itself on a collar guided axially slidable along a spindle against an outer spring. The inner ring member, which has an outer diameter which is less than or about equal to the inner diameter of the unflanged can body, supports itself on one side on the conical piece and on the other side on a disk like abutting member.

Abstract: The apparatus for flanging and indenting both ends of a cylindrical contar body, particularly for an aerosol or beverage can or container, comprises at least two rotatably driven flanging and indenting heads slidable opposite to each other axially into the container body which are each provided with a radially slidable wobble disk supported centered on a conical member slidable against a spring. Each flanging and indenting head is associaed with a delivery device which brings the flanging and indenting rollers into engagement with the wobble disk. For working a container body composed of doubly reduced or other plate with a Rockwell hardness of at least 60 HR30T each of the wobble disks is associated with two flanging and indenting rollers with parallel rotation axes which are held so that they engage, sometimes simultaneously, the container body to be processed and deform it an increasing amount gradually as seen in the direction of its rotation.

Abstract: A process and machine for fabricating a rotation body having different diameters along the length thereof is disclosed, in which a blank is rotated and worked between two pressure zones to apply thereto a local pressure exceeding the flow limit of the blank material whereby circularly extending impressions of the different diameters are worked into the blank, the pressure zones crossing each other. The pressure zones are displaced relative to each other while applying the local pressure, the displacement motion having a component extending in the longitudinal direction of at least one of the pressure zones and the points of intersection of the crossing pressure zones forming a geometric line, and the blank is displaced in dependence on this line and on the different diameters to be produced.

Abstract: Open-ended cylindrical shells, such as might become beverage cans or containers, are necked (and/or may be flanged) at the open end by tooling including a cooperating internal mandrel and external forming roller; at the opposite end of the shell there is a chuck to clamp and spin the shell. The chuck spins the shell while the forming roller forces the rim portion at the open end of the shell progressively into contact with the opposed mandrel to form the neck and/or the flange. The tooling is repeated in sets at regular spaced intervals between and about a pair of rotating wheels, there being a shell supported between the tools at each tool position so that continuous production is achieved within a production loop or orbit which occupies limited space. Variations in shell thickness or metallurgy can be complied with by employing a variable speed drive both for the chuck and a rotatable collar which fits the open end of the shell. Gears are part of the variable speed drive.

Abstract: A tube transfer assembly for a tube printer includes a rotatable mandrel wheel which successively moves the tubes to be printed to different stations of the tube printer; a plurality of mandrels mounted along the circumferential periphery of the mandrel wheel for holding the tubes thereon; a rotatable star wheel assembly including a plurality of pockets for successively supplying the tubes to a position at the free end of the mandrel at the 11:00 position of the mandrel wheel; a guide disc rotatable with the star wheel and having a plurality of circular apertures positioned about the periphery thereof in alignment with the pockets; a first pusher rod which successively pushes one end of each tube within one of the apertures at a first rotatable position of the star wheel to correctly configure such end of the tube in a circular configuration; a second pusher rod simultaneously moveable with the first pusher rod which successively pushes each tube onto the mandrel at the subsequent 11:00 position of the mandre

Abstract: A device is described for straightening rotationally symmetrical, cold-deformable workpieces, wherein these workpieces are deflected between bearing and straightening points as far as the plastic stress region. The workpieces are simultaneously set in rotation and then, during the rotational movement, the deflection is continuously removed again. The invention is characterized in that the workpieces are guided between a stationary bearing surface and stationary upper rails, the workpieces being gripped between pairs of rollers which form a prismatic gripping device and roll on the bearing surface, the workpieces simultaneously travelling in the pairs of rollers and along the upper rails and thereby being simultaneously deflected. It can be acheived in a very short time because a plurality of pairs of rollers, each of which grips one particular workpiece, are continuously guided in one direction between the bearing surface and the upper rails behind one another with a spacing therebetween.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of making metal fibers and devices for effecting such methods.A method of making metal fibers from spherical particles (6) of a metal powder to be practiced by an apparatus for making such metal fibers is proposed, the method residing in that the spherical particles (6) of metal powder are deformed by rolling each such spherical particle (6) along the path of the process and stretching this particle (6) along its axis of rotation between a main roll (2) and an additional roll (3) of a deforming tool (1). The stretching is executed at a rate exceeding the rate of plastic flow of metal in elongation during reducing the diameter of the deformable spherical particle (6), the additional roll (3) being used as a stretching device. The ready metal fibers (7) are then discharged.

Abstract: The method and apparatus is disclosed to reduce the size of weld flash located at the junction of two workpieces each having a cylindrical contour and which have been butt-welded together. This method and apparatus employ roller members which positively feed the butt-welded workpieces through a slot opening smaller in width than the original diameter of the weld flash. In the preferred embodiment, a roller is spaced apart from the stationary block member to establish the slot opening while the workpieces are rotated while being fed through the opening in order to exert sufficient mechanical force with the sides of the slot opening to reduce the diameter of the weld flash by compaction during passage therethrough.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beading the bodies of metal containers, wherein container bodies are rolled between an inner tool and an outer tool, for instance inner and outer rolls, in order to increase their strength. To prevent sliding of the container at the inner and outer tools the container body is coaxially retained with respect to the inner tool. The outer tool is then radially moved, during the beading operation, towards the inner tool, and then the outer tool is rolled upon the inner tool and the intermediately disposed container body.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for providing a circumferential groove in a thin-walled cylindrical metal object such as the can or container (A) for a battery cell. As each object moves along a path (51, 90) defined between guide rails (42, 44, 46, 48, 88) and star wheels (56, 58, 78), it is supported on a spring-biased plunger (102-112) positioned in a rotatable support table (96-100). In the preferred embodiment, a groove-forming mandrel (132-138) is gradually inserted into the object as it moves along the path so that a radially extending shoulder (134) of the mandrel engages the lip of the open end of the object before the object is contacted by a groove-forming wheel (158, 160) which is rotated adjacent the path. A tapered surface (138) on the grooving mandrel and a radially extending flange (160) on the grooving wheel cooperate to form a circumferentially extending groove in the wall of the object while the object rotates. Following formation of the groove, the mandrel is withdrawn from the object.

Abstract: A continuous rotary machine for roll flanging the ends of cylindrical container bodies transports the container bodies in a star wheel while applying a roll flanging tool head to the end portion of the container body in two stages. In the first stage, the tool head forms a small flange that acts as a stress ring to maintain the cylindrical body in circular configuration at the open end, and the stress ring is ironed. In the second stage, the tool head advances by a greater distance to form a larger portion of the flange, and this flange is ironed. Both ends of a cylindrical container body may be simultaneously flanged by this method, in which case the opposite flanging heads rotate in opposite directions at substantially the same speed. The rotary apparatus provides a spindle/ram assembly on a turret for supporting and moving the flanging heads. A cam operates the axially movable ram portion and is located radially outside the ram for greater accuracy in the cam profile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for removing any out-of-round condition found in deformable metal cylinders by means of gripping the vertically aligned cylinder successively between a pair of spaced apart endless conveyor belts. The metal cylinders are fed to said pair of endless conveyor belts by moving alignment means which orients each cylinder with the cylindrical axis in a vertical direction and aligns said vertically oriented cylinders in a row while being fed to the cooperating belt members. In a preferred embodiment, the cylinder alignment is accomplished with a vertical gas column while the cylinders are proceeding in a horizontal direction.

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: A generally dome-shaped end closure for a receptacle, such as, the bottom end wall of a beverage container is roll-formed in a closely coordinated sequence of steps wherein the receptacle is fixed in position so that the external surface of the end wall to be formed is disposed in facing relation to a yieldable support, and rotatable bearing surfaces are simultaneously advanced into engagement with the end wall while being continuously rotated about a common axis whereby to form one or more annular ribs in the end wall while forcing the end wall to assume a generally convex or dome-shaped configuration as it is expanded outwardly against the yieldable support.

Abstract: A container body is simultaneously necked-in and flanged at the marginal edge adjacent to an open end by a tool assembly having first and second freewheeling rollers supporting the inside of the body while a die ring moves eccentrically between the rollers. An encapsulating annular nest ring circumferentially surrounds the open end of the body on the second roller to provide metal control, and the first roller innermost in the body is tapered at its end adjacent the second roller to define, in cooperation with a circumferential container body holder ring on the outside body surface, a volume for receiving metal reverse-flowing from the necked-in portion to prevent the metal from bulging. Compressive forming forces are minimized by the use of springs biasing the two rollers together that are characterized by spring force that increases with increased spring compression at less than a linear rate.

Abstract: In a rotary turret-type machine, in which operations are performed on successive can body cylinders (8) or the like by a mandrel (159) inside the workpiece co-operating with a beading rail (176), each workpiece is guided smoothly into a cradle (151) which so supports and locates it throughout its stay in the machine that axial movement of the mandrel is unnecessary. Each cradle is reciprocated towards and away from the mandrel by a fixed cam (145). Each cradle has a spring loaded support roller permitting eccentric support of the can body during beading. Each mandrel preferably has a quick-acting coupling (200) permitting temporary radial displacement of the mandrel without loss of parallelism to accommodate a can body side seam. This coupling consists of a spring mounted support plate (305) engaging a register plate (304) through three balls (306) mounted in seats (307) in the rings to give radially-yielding tripod support.

Abstract: A spin flanging machine for flanging the open end of container bodies, such as metal cans. The machine includes a drive shaft mounted for rotation on a supporting structure and a rotary turret is secured to the shaft and carries a series of flanging heads. Each head is provided with a plurality of flanging rollers which are adapted to engage the open end of the can. As the turret rotates, each head is rotated about its axis by the driving engagement of a pinion connected to the head shaft with a large fixed gear mounted on the supporting structure. The flanging heads are moved in a reciprocating manner towards and away from the can by a cam mechanism including a cam follower that is secured to the end of each head and engages a cam groove on the fixed supporting structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a reducing neck and a peripheral flange on a free peripheral edge portion of a cylindrical container body is disclosed herein. The apparatus consists of a fixed frame having a waxing station, a necking station, and a flanging station defined thereon. The containers are fed from a source in a synchronized fashion along a path with the axis of the cylindrical bodies of the containers extending vertically and are moved past the waxing station where the cans are rotated relative to fixed brushes to apply lubricant to the outer surface of the peripheral free edge portion. The reduced neck on the container is produced by supporting the containers on a bottom member that is carried on the periphery of a turret and an upper member having an annular die with the bottom member being cammed towards and away from the die to produce the reducing neck of the container.

Abstract: A spin flanging machine for flanging the open end of container bodies, such as metal cans. The machine includes a drive shaft mounted for rotation on a supporting structure and a rotary turret is secured to the shaft and carries a series of flanging heads. Each head is provided with a plurality of flanging rollers which are adapted to engage the open end of the can. As the turret rotates, each head is rotated about its axis by the driving engagement of a pinion connected to the head shaft with a large fixed gear mounted on the supporting structure. The flanging heads are moved in a reciprocating manner towards and away from the can by a cam mechanism including a cam follower that is secured to the end of each head and engages a cam groove on the fixed supporting structure.