Method and Apparatus for Forming a Threaded Neck on a Metallic Bottle
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsGreg Robinson, David J. Bonfoey, Dean L. Johnson, Anthony J. Scott
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of making and applying threaded twist-off neck finishes for metal containers is provided. More specifically, the present invention relations to apparatus and methods used to form metallic bottles with threaded necks adapted to receive selectively removable threaded closures. The threaded neck may be formed by interconnecting a threaded outsert to a metallic bottle. Alternatively, the threaded neck may be formed as an integral portion of the neck of the bottle.
Claims20
A apparatus for forming a threaded neck to receive a removable closure on a metallic bottle, comprising:
- a mandrel to support the metallic bottle, the metallic bottle comprising a bottom dome portion, a body portion, a neck portion extending upwardly from the body portion, and an opening positioned on an uppermost portion of the neck portion;
- a forming tool aligned in a predetermined position with respect to the metallic bottle to provide a curl with an increased metal thickness on the uppermost portion of the neck portion;
- and
- a cutter with a cutting surface aligned in a predetermined orientation with respect to the metallic bottle to cut threads in a portion of the curl to form the threaded neck, wherein the threaded neck is adapted to receive a twist-off closure.
A metallic bottle with a threaded neck, comprising:
- a bottom portion;
- a body portion;
- a neck portion extending upwardly from said body portion;
- threads formed on an exterior surface of said neck portion, said threads having a predetermined geometry adapted to receive a twist-off closure, wherein said threads are formed by a cutter that cuts into a curl formed in a portion of said neck portion;
- and
- an opening positioned above said threads on an uppermost portion of said neck portion.
A method of forming a metallic beverage container with a threaded neck adapted to receive a closure, comprising:
- forming a metallic beverage container having a bottom portion, a body portion, a neck portion extending upwardly from the body portion, and an opening positioned on an uppermost portion of the neck portion;
- forming a curl with an increased metal thickness on the uppermost portion of the neck portion;
- supporting the metallic beverage container with a mandrel;
- and
- positioning a cutting surface of a cutter in contact with an exterior surface of the curl, wherein said cutting surface cuts threads in the curl to form the threaded neck, the threaded neck having a predetermined geometry to receive the closure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.