Method and apparatus for reforming and reprofiling a bottom portion of a container

An apparatus adapted for reforming an end closure of a container, said container having an outer wall disposed around a longitudinal axis, comprising:

• a mandrel operably supporting said container in a substantially stationary position;
• a reforming assembly comprising:
• a main roller block;
• at least two reform rollers and at least two reprofile rollers extending outwardly from said main roller block, and positioned in opposing alignment to the end closure of said container;
• a shaft operably interconnected to said reforming assembly to rotate said reforming assembly around said longitudinal axis of said container;
• and
• a biasing means operably interconnected to said at least two reform rollers, wherein when a downward pressure is applied to an annular flange of said at least two reform rollers, at least one of said at least two reform rollers moves in an outward direction toward an annular edge of said main roller block to engage an inner surface of the end closure, wherein a preferred geometric profile of said container end closure is formed.

A method for simultaneously reforming and reprofiling a metallic workpiece, comprising:

• holding the metallic workpiece in a substantially stationary position;
• providing a reforming assembly, comprising:
• a roller block having an outer annular edge and a leading surface, said leading surface aligned in opposing relationship to the metallic workpiece;
• at least one pair of outside reprofile rollers which extend outwardly from said leading surface of said roller block;
• at least one pair of reform rollers which project outwardly from said roller block leading surface and which include a flange sized to engage an annular support member on said metallic workpiece;
• a spring in operable engagement with said pair of reform rollers, wherein when a force is applied to said flange, at least one of said pair of reform rollers moves outwardly toward said annular edge;
• and
• rotating said reforming assembly around said metallic workpiece;
• and
• engaging the annular support member of the metallic workpiece with said pair of reform rollers, wherein an inner surface of said annular support member is reformed to a preferred geometry and an outer surface of said annular support member is reprofiled to a preferred geometry at substantially the same time.

An apparatus adapted for reforming an end portion of a container, said container having an outer wall disposed around a longitudinal axis, comprising:

• a mandrel operably supporting said container in a substantially stationary position;
• a reforming assembly comprising:
• a main roller block;
• at least two reform rollers extending outwardly from said main roller block and positioned in opposing alignment to the end portion of the container;
• a shaft operably interconnected to said reforming assembly which is adapted to rotate said reforming assembly around said end portion of said container;
• and
• a biasing means operably interconnected to said at least two reform rollers, wherein when a downward pressure is applied to an annular flange of said at least two reform rollers, at least one of said at least two reform rollers moves in an outward direction toward an annular edge of said main roller block to engage the end portion of the container, wherein a preferred geometric profile is formed.