Apparatus for joining sheet metal convenience-feature end closure to non-cylindrical sidewall of sheet metal can body

Apparatus for use in joining a sheet metal convenience-feature end closure structure to a container body having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration,

• said end closure structure including
• an endwall panel,
• peripheral chime seam metal disposed for joining the end closure structure to the container body,
• a unitary chuck wall extending between the chime seam metal and the endwall panel,
• the endwall panel being substantially planar and countersunk in relation to the peripheral chime seam metal toward the interior of the container body as the end closure structure is oriented for assembly with the container body, with
• such endwall panel being joined to the chime seam metal by the chuck wall,
• the chuck wall having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration and dimensional characteristics matching those at the open end of the container body so as to interfit in contiguous relationship within such open end during assembly of the end closure structure with the container body by means of the chime seam metal,
• a peripheral scoreline contiguous to the chuck wall and defining the endwall panel as separable from the end closure structure to enable one-piece removal of solid-pack contents,
• said non-circular configuration being selected from the group consisting of square, rectangular, oblong, and elliptical shapes so as to have a major dimension centrally-located axis dividing the endwall panel into mirror image halves which are uniformly symmetrical along said centrally-located axis,
• a rivet button disposed symmetrically in relation to the centrally-located axis and adjacent to a distal end of the centrally-located axis where said axis intersects the peripheral scoreline,
• said rivet button forming rivet means for securing an elongated longitudinally-rigid integral opener to the endwall panel in a position to rupture a starter segment of the peripheral scoreline,
• said elongated integral opener, having a working end and a handle end, and being secured to the endwall panel with its longitudinal axis coincident with said centrally-located axis of the endwall panel, with
• the working end of the integral opener, as secured by said rivet means to the endwall panel, being contiguous to the starter segment of the peripheral scoreline at one distal end of said centrally-located axis,
• a back scoreline, partially circumscribing the rivet means and presenting a leg portion extending on each side of said rivet means forming an arcuate configuration, opening toward said starter segment of the peripheral scoreline at said distal end of the centrally-located axis,
• said apparatus comprising:
• seaming chuck tooling for coacting with said non-circular configuration end closure structure for chime seam assembly with a container body of corresponding non-circular configuration at an open end of the container body,
• said seaming chuck tooling having substantially identical configurational and dimensional characteristics in the plane of the endwall panel as said chuck wall,
• said seaming chuck tooling projecting axially toward the endwall panel to interfit in contiguous relationship with said chuck wall so as to provide backing during chime seam assembly of the end closure structure with the container body, in which
• a portion of said seaming chuck tooling, as confronting said endwall panel, is partially cut away to provide an access opening between the seaming chuck tooling and the endwall panel in approaching each distal end of said centrally-located axis,
• each said access opening being capable of receiving the working end of said integral opener regardless of location of said working end at either distal end of the centrally-located axis, while
• said seaming chuck tooling continues to provide substantially continuous backing support peripherally along the interior surface of said chuck wall during chime seam joinder of the end closure structure to said container body, with
• said access opening contiguous to each distal end of the major dimension centrally-located axis eliminating registry requirements for said non-circular configuration end closure structure during chime seam joinder to a correspondingly configured container body.