Method and apparatus for decurling a curled lid
AssigneeCoors Brewing Company
InventorsDavid M. Bowton, Peter H. Lauterbach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for decurling a curled lid for a container wherein three decurling units are mounted on a base having an upstanding support wall wherein the first unit provides a partially decurled lid, the second unit provides a further decurled lid for performing a desired measurement and a third unit provides a substantially fully decurled lid for performing another desired measurement.
Claims18
Apparatus for use in decurling a curled lid taken from a supply of curled lids to be attached to containers wherein each lid has a circular central body portion, an annular rib projecting from the central body portion in one axial direction, an integral conical sidewall projecting from the annular rib in an opposite axial direction and forming an annular recess, an outwardly extending flange portion integral with the sidewall and having a first portion extending generally in a radial direction and a second portion curled back in the one axial direction and terminating in an annular edge comprising:
- a first circular die having an axis and a central portion and at least one supporting surface;
- said first circular die having at least one generally radially extending annular surface;
- said at least one annular surface located to be contacted by said first portion of said flange portion of said lid;
- a second circular die having an axis coinciding with the said axis of said first circular die;
- said second circular die having an annular portion having a generally conical annular surface facing said at least one annular surface;
- moving apparatus for causing relative axial movement between said first and second circular dies;
- said at least one supporting surface supporting said lid so that said annular edge is at a predetermined location so that when said generally conical annular surface of said second die contacts said annular edge of said second portion it exerts a force thereon to move said annular edge in a generally radially outward direction and a general axial direction toward said at least one generally radially extending annular surface.
A method for decurling a curled lid taken form a supply of curled lids to be attached to containers wherein each lid has a circular central body portion, an annular rib projecting from the central body portion in one axial direction, an integral conical sidewall projecting from the annular rib in an opposite axial direction and forming an annular recess, an outwardly extending flange portion integral with the sidewall and having a first portion extending generally in a radial direction and a second portion curled back in one axial direction and terminating in an annular edge comprising:
- providing a first circular die having a generally radially extending annular surface;
- providing a second circular die having a generally conical annular surface;
- supporting a curled lid at a relatively fixed position on said first die with said first and second portions being located between said generally radially extending annular surface and said generally conical annular surface;
- causing relative axial movement between said first and second dies;
- and
- contacting said annular edge with portions of said generally conical annular surface to move said annular edge in generally radially directions and in generally axial directions toward said first die and in contact with said generally radially extending annular surface.
Apparatus for use in decurling a curled lid taken from a supply of curled lids to be attached to containers wherein each lid has a circular central body portion, an annular rib from the central body portion in one axial direction, an integral conical sidewall projecting from the annular rib in an opposite axial direction and forming an annular recess, an outwardly extending flange portion integral with the sidewall and having a first portion extending generally in a radial direction and a second portion curled back in the one axial direction and terminating in an annular edge comprising:
- a support base and an upstanding support wall;
- a first unit mounted on said support base and upstanding support wall for performing an initial decurling operation on said curled lid to provide a partially decurled lid;
- a second unit mounted on said support base and upstanding wall for performing another decurling operation on said partially decurled lid to provide a further decurled lid for performing a desired measurement;
- and
- a third unit mounted on said support base and upstanding wall for performing a final decurling operation to provide a substantially fully decurled lid for performing another desired measurement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.