Apparatus to seal a metallic container
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsJohn R. Ross, Anthony J. Scott, Howard C. Chasteen, Linda A. Hines
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a container that may be sealed and reclosed with a threaded closure. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods of manufacturing a metallic container having an opening with inwardly facing threads that are formed after a threaded closure is inserted at least partially into the opening. The container opening may be selectively sealed and reclosed with the threaded closure which releasably engages the container threads.
Claims20
An apparatus to seal a metallic container having a neck portion that is unthreaded with a threaded closure, comprising:
- a first tool having a chuck configured to engage the metallic container, the first tool configured to apply a top-load to the threaded closure positioned in an opening of the metallic container, wherein the threaded closure comprises a closure body with an outer surface including closure threads, and wherein the metallic container includes a bottom portion, a sidewall portion, the neck portion that is unthreaded which extends upwardly from the sidewall portion, and the opening positioned opposite to the bottom portion;
- and
- a second tool configured to apply a force to an exterior surface of the neck portion of the metallic container to form container threads on the neck portion of the metallic container which have a geometric profile which substantially coincides with the closure threads of the threaded closure.
An apparatus to seal a metallic container having a neck portion that is unthreaded with a threaded closure, comprising:
- a first tool having a chuck, the first tool configured to apply a top-load to the threaded closure positioned in an opening of the metallic container, wherein the threaded closure comprises a closure body with an outer surface including closure threads, wherein the metallic container includes a bottom portion, a sidewall portion, the neck portion that is unthreaded which extends upwardly from the sidewall portion, and the opening positioned opposite to the bottom portion, wherein the chuck is operable to press the threaded closure downwardly relative to a longitudinal axis of the metallic container, and wherein the chuck is operable to rotate the threaded closure;
- and
- a second tool configured to apply a force to an exterior surface of the neck portion of the metallic container to form container threads on the neck portion of the metallic container which have a geometric profile which substantially coincides with the closure threads of the threaded closure.
An apparatus to seal a metallic container having a neck portion that is unthreaded with a threaded closure, comprising:
- a first tool configured to apply a top-load to the threaded closure positioned in an opening of the metallic container, wherein the threaded closure comprises a closure body with an outer surface including closure threads, and wherein the metallic container includes a bottom portion, a sidewall portion, the neck portion that is unthreaded and which extends upwardly from the sidewall portion, and the opening positioned opposite to the bottom portion;
- a second tool configured to apply a force to an exterior surface of the neck portion of the metallic container to form container threads on the neck portion of the metallic container which have a geometric profile which substantially coincides with the closure threads of the threaded closure;
- and
- a mandrel operable to be inserted into an open chamber of the closure body, wherein the mandrel has a cylindrical exterior surface, wherein the mandrel has an exterior diameter that is variable,
- wherein, when the mandrel is inserted into the open chamber of the closure body, the mandrel has a first exterior diameter, and
- wherein, after the mandrel is positioned in the open chamber, the mandrel expands to a second exterior diameter to contact an interior surface of the open chamber, the second exterior diameter being greater than the first exterior diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.