US 5,018,379 A · Apparatus and method for crimping end of can body

Abstract

There is disclosed a method for crimping an open end of a can body. A male die is inserted into the can body through the open end in such a manner as to be coaxial therewith. Then, the female die is caused to fit on the opening end, and the female die is kept moving along the outer peripheral surface of the male die while moving the male die, inserted into the can body, in a releasing direction from the can body. Thus, the opening end is crimped by the relative movement of the male and female dies. There is also disclosed a crimping apparatus which includes at least one crimping mechanism, a holder for holding the can body at a prescribed position, a complex cam and a drive mechanism. The crimping mechanism includes male and female dies, follower members connected to the male and female dies, respectively. The cam includes first and second cam faces with which the first and second follower members are respectively held in engagement. The drive mechanism is operable to move the first and second followers along the first and second cam faces to move the first and second follower members axially of the male and female dies in a prescribed manner.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for crimping an open end of a can body by using a male die having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the can body and a female die having a processing surface of crimping the open end, which comprises:

inserting said male die into the can body through the open end in such a manner as to be coaxial therewith;
causing said female die to fit on said open end, and keeping said female die moving along the outer peripheral surface of the male die toward said can while moving said male die, inserted into said can body, in a releasing direction from the can body at a speed of 10-20% of the speed of movement of said female die toward said can, such that the opening end is crimped by the relative movement of said male and female dies so as to have a reduced diameter;
and
(c) releasing said male and female dies out of engagement with said can body.

1 more element

An apparatus for crimping an open end of a can body of a prescribed diameter, comprising:

at least one crimping means including a cylindrical male die having a diameter smaller than the can body and adapted to be inserted into the can body through the open end, a cylindrical female die disposed generally coaxially with said male die and having a processing surface for processing the open end of the can body, and first and second follower members being connected to said male and female dies, respectively;
holding means disposed adjacent to said at least one crimping means for holding said can body at such a position that the open end of the can body is opposed to said male and female dies in a generally coaxial relation therewith;
and
cam means associated with said first and second follower means of said at least one crimping means, said cam means having first and second cam faces with which said first and second follower members are respectively held in engagement;
and
drive means operably connected to said at least one crimping means for moving said first and second follower members axially of said male and female dies along said first and second cam faces in a prescribed manner and including means for moving said female die toward said can for crimping an open end thereof while moving said male die in a releasing direction from said can at a speed 10-20% of the speed of movement of said female die toward said can.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for crimping end of can body

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for crimping end of can body

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16