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US 5,916,317 AGranted
Metal container body shaping/embossing
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsOtis Willoughby, Greg Robinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for shaping/embossing thin-walled work pieces, and is particularly apt for realizing complex and non-uniform shapes/designs in cylindrical metal container bodies. In one application, at least one pressurized fluid stream is ejected directly against one side of container body sidewall with a configured surface provided on the other side of the container body sidewall to achieve the desired shaping/embossing. At least one of the pressurized fluid stream and configured surface may be disposed for rotational and/or longitudinal motion. Such driven motion can be utilized to achieve progressive helical working of a cylindrical metal container body, thereby yielding the desired shaping/embossing.
Claims59
A metal container shaping apparatus comprising:
- a shape-defining means having at least one configured surface defined using at least two separable die members positionable adjacent to a metal, thin sidewall of a drawn and ironed container body having a longitudinal extent;
- and
- spray means for directing a pressurized fluid stream against a selected portion of said metal thin sidewall of said container body to force said selected portion toward at least one of said at least two die members of said shape-defining means, to provide local working of at least said selected portion into a predetermined configuration between said pressurized fluid stream and said at least one of said at least two die members and in which said spray means and said container body move relative to each other in a direction along said longitudinal extent during said local working, with at least portions of said spray means being inside said metal container body during at least some of the time said selected portion is shaped into said predetermined configuration.
A metal container shaping apparatus comprising:
- a shape-defining, means having at least one configured surface defined using at least two separable die members positionable adjacent to a metal, thin sidewall of a drawn and ironed container body having a longitudinal extent;
- spray means for directing a pressurized fluid stream against a selected portion of said metal thin sidewall of said container body to force said selected portion toward at least one of said at least two die members of said shape-defining means, wherein said selected portion is shaped into a predetermined configuration between said pressurized fluid stream and said at least one of said at least two die members and in which said spray means and said container body move relative to each other in a direction along said longitudinal extent, with at least portions of said spray means being inside said metal container body during at least some of the time said selected portion is shaped into said predetermined configuration;
- and
- means for rotating one of said shape-defining means and spray means relative to the other of said shape-defining means and spray means.
1 more element
A metal container shaping apparatus comprising:
- a shape-defining means having at least one configured surface defined using at least two separable die members positionable adjacent to a metal, thin sidewall of a drawn and ironed container body having a longitudinal extent;
- and
- spray means for directing a pressurized fluid stream against a selected portion of said metal thin sidewall of said container body to force said selected portion toward at least one of said at least two die members of said shape-defining means, wherein said selected portion is shaped into a predetermined configuration between said pressurized fluid stream and said at least one of said at least two die members and in which said spray means and said container body move relative to each other in a direction along, said longitudinal extent, with at least portions of said spray means being inside said metal container body during at least some of the time said selected portion is shaped into said predetermined configuration;
- wherein said spray means comprises a plurality of spray members, at least a first of which is angled upward and at least a second of which is angled downward.
1 more element
A metal container shaping apparatus comprising:
- a die assembly having a plurality of die members, with each of said plurality of die members being separable from each other;
- a configured die cavity for receiving a cylindrical thin sidewall of a drawn and ironed metal container body having an upper end portion and a lower end portion and with a central, longitudinal axis therewithin, wherein said container body is held using said die assembly along at least at one said upper end portion and said lower end portion in a radial direction from said central, longitudinal axis;
- spray means for ejecting at least one pressurized fluid stream and positionable adjacent to said die assembly;
- means for longitudinally advancing and retracting said spray means relative to said die assembly, wherein at least portions of said spray means advance and retract while being inside of said container body;
- and
- means for rotating said spray means relative to said die assembly.
3 more elements
A metal container shaping apparatus comprising:
- support means for supporting a thin sidewall of a drawn and ironed container body having a central, longitudinal axis;
- spray means including discharge means for directing a pressurized fluid stream directly against a selected portion of said container body;
- and
- means for moving at least one of said spray means and support means relative to the other in a predetermined manner to provide relative movement, wherein said selected portion of said container body is locally and progressively worked, during said relative movement, by said pressurized fluid stream into a predetermined configuration, wherein said discharge means is disposed at a first angle relative to a reference plane that is perpendicular to said central, longitudinal axis of said container body such that said pressurized fluid stream is directed against said selected portion at said first angle.
1 more element
A metal container shaping apparatus comprising:
- support means for supporting a thin sidewall of a drawn and ironed container body having a central, longitudinal axis;
- spray means including discharge means for directing a pressurized fluid stream directly against a selected portion of said container body;
- and
- means for moving at least one of said spray means and support means relative to the other in a predetermined manner, wherein said selected portion of said container body is locally and progressively worked by said pressurized fluid stream into a predetermined configuration, wherein said discharge means is disposed at a first angle relative to a reference plane that is perpendicular to said central, longitudinal axis of said container body such that said pressurized fluid stream is directed against said selected portion at said first angle;
- wherein said means for moving includes:
- longitudinal advancement means for advancing one of said support means and spray means relative to the other in a predetermined manner;
- and
- rotational means for rotating one of said support means and spray means related to the other in a predetermined manner, wherein said localized working progresses in a helical manner along and about a longitudinal extent of a said selected portion of the container body.
5 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body to provide local working of at least said discrete portion while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- and
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step.
2 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- and
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- wherein said directing step comprises directing a first fluid stream against a first discrete portion of said container body at a first angle relative to a reference plane which is perpendicular to a central, longitudinal axis of said container body and directing a second fluid stream against a second discrete portion of said container body at a second angle relative to said reference plane, said first angle being different than said second angle.
3 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- and
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- wherein said directing step comprises directing said fluid stream against said container body to form an angle between said fluid stream and said container body other than 90 degrees.
3 more elements
A method for making a contained, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- and
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- wherein said directing step comprise directing a plurality of separate fluid streams directly against said container body with different force vectors.
3 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- wherein said directing step comprises using a spray assembly comprising at least one spray member;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- moving said spray member relative to said container body;
- and
- controlling a rate of said moving step.
5 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- wherein said directing step comprises using a spray assembly comprising at least one spray member;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- moving said spray member relative to said container body;
- wherein said moving step comprises rotating said spray member relative to said container body.
4 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- wherein said directing step comprises using a spray assembly comprising at least one spray member;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using, said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- moving said spray member relative to said container body;
- wherein said moving step comprises axially advancing said spray member relative to said container body;
- and
- wherein said moving step further comprises rotating said spray member relative to said container body.
6 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- wherein said directing step comprises using a spray assembly comprising at least one spray member;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- moving said spray member relative to said container body;
- and
- progressively changing a shape of said container body using said directing, changing, and moving steps.
5 more elements
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a drawn and ironed container body comprising a generally cylindrical thin sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream directly against a discrete portion of said container body while said container body while said container body is positioned within at least two members that are separable from each other;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step and during which at least portions of said one fluid stream are located inside of said container body;
- separating said two members from each other after said changing step;
- and
- varying a pressure of said fluid stream during said directing step.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.