System and method for forming a metal beverage container using pressure molding
AssigneeThe Coca-Cola Company
InventorsJohn Adams, Rajesh Gopalaswamy, Karina Espinel
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Abstract
A system and method of manufacturing a metal vessel may include inserting a preform into a mold that includes multiple segments, the preform being a work hardened metal. A pre-pressure may be applied to the preform at a first pressure level. The multiple segments of the mold may be closed, and the pressure being applied to the preform may be increased using a step function to a second pressure level after the mold is closed to cause the preform to take a shape defined by the mold.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a metal vessel, said method comprising:
- inserting a preform into a cavity of a mold that includes multiple segments, the cavity defining a shape of the metal vessel to be manufactured when the mold is closed, the preform being formed of a metal;
- pre-pressurizing the preform by supplying a first fluid to an inside of the preform until an internal pressure of the preform achieves a desired level of pre-pressurization;
- once the desired level of pre-pressurization is achieved, closing the multiple segments of the mold about the pre-pressurized preform;
- after the multiple segments of the mold are closed about the pre-pressurized preform, increasing the internal pressure being applied to the inside of the pre-pressurized preform by supplying a second fluid to the inside of the pre-pressurized preform using a step function to increase the desired level of pre-pressurization to a second pressure level, causing the preform to be shaped against the cavity of the mold and take the shape defined by the cavity of the mold;
- and
- removing the molded preform from the mold.
A method of manufacturing a metal vessel, said method comprising:
- inserting a preform formed of a metal into a cavity of a mold, the cavity defining a shape of the metal vessel to be manufactured when the mold is closed;
- prior to closure of the mold, pre-pressurizing the preform by supplying a first fluid to an inside of the preform until an internal pressure of the preform achieves a desired level of pre-pressurization;
- closing the mold about the pre-pressurized preform;
- and
- with the mold closed, increasing the internal pressure applied to the pre-pressurized preform by supplying a second fluid to the inside of the pre-pressurized preform to create a second defined pressure level inside the pre-pressurized preform to cause the preform to be shaped against the cavity of the mold and take the shape defined by the cavity of the mold.
A method of manufacturing a metal vessel, said method comprising:
- inserting a metal preform into a cavity of a mold, the cavity defining a shape of the metal vessel to be manufactured when the mold is closed;
- applying pressure to an inside of the preform by supplying a fluid to the inside of the preform prior to closure of the mold to create a pressurized preform;
- closing the mold about the pressurized preform;
- and
- with the mold closed, varying the pressure applied to the inside of the pressurized preform by varying the supply of fluid to the inside of the preform to re-shape the preform against the cavity of the mold to cause the preform to take the shape defined by the cavity of the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.