Apparatus that clamps an end member to a casing

A container forming apparatus for pressing together an end member and a casing to join them to one another, the apparatus comprising:

• a mandrel for supporting the casing on the edge of the end member;
• clamping members pivotally mounted to pivot about a pivot axis to a clamping position to press together the end member and the casing;
• clamping surfaces on the pivotally mounted clamping members for pivoting to engage the end member;
• a frame having counter-clamping surfaces positioned opposite the clamping surfaces of the pivotally mounted clamping members to press together the casing and end member;
• a piston movable in opposite directions relative to a longitudinal direction of the casing;
• the piston having first pushing surfaces for engaging and for pivoting the clamping members in a pushing direction to pivot the clamping surfaces to press the end member against the casing;
• the piston having second pushing surfaces for pivoting clamping members to pivot the clamping surfaces away from the counter clamping surfaces on the frame when the piston is moved in an opposite direction to the first direction;
• and
• pivot bearing surfaces on the frame for pivotally mounting the clamping members to pivot about a pivot axis toward the clamping position and to pivot the clamping surfaces in an opposite direction away from the clamping position.