Method and apparatus for reshaping a container body
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsGreg Robinson, Otis Willoughby, Howard Curtis Chasteen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reshaping a container body (e.g., a metal, drawn and ironed container body) utilizing a floating mechanism for imparting an axial load is disclosed. In one embodiment, a container may have a substantially cylindrical sidewall with an inner surface and outer surface, where a shape defining means has a contoured surface positionable with respect to a container sidewall. When a floating mechanism imparts an axial load, a fluid seal is maintained allowing sidewall deformation by means of a directed pressurized fluid.
Claims25
An apparatus for shaping a metal container, the container including a thin, generally cylindrical wall extending axially between a bottom region and an upper region, the apparatus comprising:
- a die having a contour different from a first surface of said container wall and at least partially spaced therefrom;
- first and second supports for contacting at least portions of said container bottom region and upper region, respectively, said first and second supports positionable, with respect to one another, to place at least a first portion of said container wall in axial load;
- a pressurized stream of a first fluid directed in at least a first direction having a non-axial component, against at least a portion of a second opposite surface of said container wall, while said first portion of said container wall is in axial load, wherein at least a portion of said container wall is substantially conformed to said die contour;
- and
- a second fluid within said container under a substantially constant pressure.
A metal container shaping apparatus comprising:
- a shape-defining means having at least one contoured surface positionable adjacent to a metal container body, said metal container body defining a longitudinal axis;
- means for directing a pressurized stream of a first fluid in at least a first direction having a non-axial component, against a selected portion of a container body to force said container body portion toward said contoured surface of said shape-defining means, wherein said container body portion is shaped into a predetermined configuration between said pressurized fluid stream and said configured surface;
- means for placing at least said selected portion of said container body under axial load while said container body portion is shaped;
- and
- means for exposing a surface of said container body to a second fluid under a substantially constant pressure.
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a container body having a generally cylindrical sidewall defining a longitudinal axis;
- axially compressing at least a first portion of said cylindrical sidewall;
- directing at least one fluid stream in a direction having a non-axial component, directly against a discrete portion of said container body;
- changing a shape of said discrete portion of said container body using said directing step;
- and
- exposing a surface of said container body to a first fluid under a substantially constant pressure.
An apparatus for shaping a metal container, the container including a thin, generally cylindrical wall having a diameter, the apparatus comprising:
- a die having an inner surface adjacent at least a portion of said cylindrical wall, said inner surface having a contour different from a first surface of said container wall;
- said diameter being such that there is at least a first clearance between said cylindrical wall and said inner surface of said die;
- a pressurized stream of a first fluid directed against at least a portion of said container wall, to substantially conform at least a portion of said container wall to said contour of said inner wall of said die;
- and
- a second fluid within said container under a substantially constant pressure.
An apparatus for shaping a metal container, the container including a thin, generally cylindrical wall having an outer diameter and defining a longitudinal axis of symmetry of said cylindrical wall, the apparatus comprising:
- a die having an inner surface substantially surrounding at least a portion of said cylindrical wall, said inner surface having a contour different from a first surface of said container wall;
- at least a first portion of said inner surface of said die extending inwardly a first distance past said cylindrical wall outer diameter to define an interference fit between at least said first portion of said inner surface of said die and said container cylindrical wall;
- a pressurized stream of a first fluid directed against at least a portion of said container wall, to substantially conform at least a portion of said container wall to said contour of said inner wall of said die;
- and
- a second fluid within said container under a substantially constant pressure.
An apparatus for shaping a metal container, said container having a substantially cylindrical sidewall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the apparatus comprising:
- a shape-defining means having a contoured surface positionable around and spaced from said sidewall outer surface;
- means for directing a pressurized fluid stream against a selected portion of said sidewall inner surface to force said container body portion outward toward said contoured surface of said shape-defining means, wherein said container body portion is shaped into a predetermined configuration between said pressurized stream and said contoured surface;
- and
- means for exposing a surface of said container body to a second fluid under a substantially constant pressure.
An apparatus for shaping a metal container, said container having a substantially cylindrical sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface definings sidewall diameter, the apparatus comprising:
- a shape-defining means having a configured surface and positionable with respect to said sidewall of said container such that a first portion of said contoured surface extends inwardly past said sidewall diameter to provide an interference fit therewith;
- means for directing a pressurized stream of a first fluid against a selected portion of said sidewall inner surface to force at least said selected portion of said container body outward toward at least a second portion of said configured surface of said shape-defining means, wherein said container body portion is shaped into a predetermined configuration between said pressurized stream and said contoured surface;
- and
- means for exposing a surface of said container body to a second fluid under a substantially constant pressure.
A method for shaping a metal container, said container having a substantially cylindrical sidewall with an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising:
- positioning said container within a die having a contoured surface positionable around and spaced from said sidewall outer surface;
- and
- directing a pressurized stream of a first fluid against a selected portion of said sidewall inner surface to force said container body portion outward toward said contoured surface of said die, wherein said container sidewall is shaped into a predetermined configuration between said pressurized stream and said configured surface;
- and
- exposing a surface of said container body to a second fluid under a substantially constant pressure.
A method for making a container, comprising the steps of:
- forming a container having a substantially cylindrical sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface defining a sidewall diameter;
- positioning said container within a die having a contoured surface such that a first portion of said contoured surface extends inwardly past said sidewall diameter to provide an interference fit therewith;
- directing at least one stream of a first fluid against a selected portion of said sidewall inner surface to force at least said selected portion of said container body outward toward at least a second portion of said contoured surface of said die, wherein said container sidewall is shaped into a predetermined configuration between said stream and said contoured surface;
- and
- exposing a surface of said container body to a second fluid under a substantially constant pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.