Can end production
AssigneeCrown Packaging Technology, Inc.
InventorNoe Jacques Francois Gailly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of making a can end by forming a can end shell in a shell press; and converting the shell into a can end. The step of forming the can end shell includes pressing sheet metal into an end shell with a bead feature in the radially outer circumference of its centre panel. In a subsequent can end conversion operation material from the bead feature is used to set final geometry of the converted can end.
Claims11
A method of making an easy open can end, the method comprising:
- forming a can end shell in a shell press, in which the step of forming the can end shell comprises:
- pressing a sheet metal material into the can end shell, the step of pressing the sheet metal material into the can end shell includes forming a seaming panel (2), a countersink bead (3) positioned below a center panel (4) in a press direction, and one or more features positioned above the center panel (4) in the press direction,
- transferring the can end shell to a conversion press, and,
- in a sequence of operations, moving the sheet metal material composing the one or more features inwardly towards a center of the can end shell to set a final geometry of the easy open can end.
An apparatus for forming an easy open can end from an end shell, the apparatus comprising:
- a shell press with shell tooling having upper tooling including a punch having a punch nose and lower tooling comprising a die center pad and a die center ring, the punch nose being configured to form a countersink, the die center pad including a protrusion for forming a feature between the countersink and a center panel of the end shell, the feature being positioned above the center panel in a press direction and the countersink being positioned below the center panel in the press direction;
- and
- a conversion press with tooling stations for a sequence of operations, at least one of the tooling stations being adapted to move material from the feature of the end shell, formed in the shell press, inwardly towards a center of the center panel.
A method of making an easy open can end, the method comprising:
- pressing a sheet metal material in a shell press to set an initial geometry of the can end, the initial geometry of the can end including a seaming panel, a center panel, a countersink bead positioned below the center panel in a press direction, and one or more features positioned above the center panel in the press direction;
- transferring the can end shell to a conversion press;
- and
- moving the sheet metal material composing the one or more features inwardly towards a center of the can end to set a final geometry of the can end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.