Method and apparatus for ironing containers
AssigneeNational Can Corporation
InventorEdward G. Maeder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for making a drawn and ironed container from a circular blank is disclosed herein. The process contemplates flowing a fluid medium through the punch of a drawing and ironing machine and maintaining the fluid medium at a predetermined temperature above the initial ambient temperature of a cup that is converted into a drawn and ironed container. The process also includes cooling the ironing dies by flowing a liquid through grooves located in the rings of the dies and the rings are made of tungsten carbide. The grooves in the ironing dies are non-radial with respect to the center of the opening in the ring so that the fluid has a tangential component of flow and flows in a generally circular pattern within the peripheral confines of the die opening.
Claims24
In an ironing process for making a drawn and ironed container from a circular metal blank by converting said blank into a cup, placing said cup on a punch axially aligned with an ironing die, and moving said punch and said ironing die relative to each other to reduce the wall thickness of the sidewall of said cup and produce an ironed container, the improvement comprising flowing a fluid medium through said punch and maintaining the fluid medium at a predetermined temperature above the initial ambient temperature of said cup to maintain said punch at a predetermined temperature.
In a method of converting a shallow metal cup into a container having a cylindrical sidewall and an integral end wall with a circular punch and at least one ironing die having a circular opening cooperating with the punch to reduce the wall thickness of said cup, comprising the steps of placing said cup in alignment with said punch and moving said punch axially of said cup and said at least one ironing die to force said cup through said at least one ironing die, the improvement comprising flowing a heated fluid medium through said punch to maintain the body of said punch a predetermined temperature above the initial ambient temperature of said cup.
In a method of producing an ironed container from a metal cup with a circular punch and at least one axially aligned ironing die having a circular opening with a supporting member surrounding and supporting said ironing die, comprising the steps of placing said cup in alignment with said punch and said ironing die, and moving said punch and ironing die relative to each other to force said cup through said opening and reduce the sidewall thickness thereof, the improvement of producing a liquid coolant flow channel in said support member and in communication with at least one surface of said ironing die, delivering a liquid coolant into said channel and directing said liquid across at least one surface of said die and along a path which is non-radial with respect to said opening so that said liquid coolant has a tangential component of flow with respect to a peripheral surface of said cup in said opening and said liquid coolant flows around the peripheral surface of said cup.
An ironing ring for use with a punch to iron a sidewall of a metal cup comprising a tungsten carbide body having a circular opening with leading and trailing surfaces extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of said circular opening, the improvement of said leading and trailing surfaces each having a plurality of grooves extending from the periphery of said member to said opening for receiving a liquid to transfer heat from said body to said liquid during an ironing process, said grooves being positioned non-radially with respect to said axis so that the liquid will have a tangential component of flow with respect to said opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.