Bead-formation in metal drum manufacture

Apparatus for forming beads in the cylindrical wall of a metal drum blank comprising:

• a die head comprising first, second and third circular dies mounted on a first axis in coaxial relationship to one another for entry into the interior of a drum blank, each die having a drum-engaging periphery, and the drum-engaging peripheries of the dies being spaced axially from one another to provide a first space between the peripheries of the first and second dies and a second space between the peripheries of the second and third dies, the second die being situated between the first and third dies and being radially expansible to a position in which the radius of its periphery is greater than the radii of the first and second dies;
• a roller having first and second coaxial, circular drum-engaging peripheral edges spaced axially from each other, the roller being rotatable on a second axis parallel to the first axis and in opposed relationship to the die head so that a portion of a cylindrical wall of a drum blank can be located between the roller and the die head, the first drum-engaging peripheral edge of the roller being positioned on the second axis to approach said first space radially, and the second drum-engaging peripheral surface of the roller being positioned on the second axis to approach said second space radially;
• pressing and rotating means for pressing the roller radially inward toward the first axis and for effecting relative planetary movement of the roller about the die head;
• and
• expanding means for effecting radial outward expansion of the second die;
• whereby, for the formation of a W-style bead, the pressing and rotating means can be operated, and, alternatively, for formation of a standard bead, the expanding means can be operated.