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US 7,500,376 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for shaping a metallic container end closure
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsJess N. Bathurst, James D. Traphagen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention describes an apparatus and forming process to manufacture container end closures with improved internal buckle strength. The present invention provides greater material and dimensional control during the forming process by utilizing a pressure sleeve to provide support to at least a portion of an end closure chuck wall and seaming panel radius while placing an end closure countersink in compression during the forming process.
Claims26
A method for forming a predetermined shape in a metallic container end closure adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- positioning a metallic end closure blank in a forming press;
- providing a clamping force on at least a portion of a seaming panel between a first tool and a second tool, said at least a portion of a seaming panel being oriented in a first substantially horizontal direction;
- providing a clamping force on at least a portion of a central panel between a third tool and a fourth tool to substantially prevent movement of the central panel;
- while the clamping force is provided on the at least a portion of the central panel, supporting at least a portion of a chuck wall and an inner seaming panel radius on both an interior surface and an exterior surface to substantially prevent movement of at least a portion of the chuck wall and inner seaming panel radius, wherein said inner seaming panel radius is supported along its cross-sectional radius of curvature that begins proximate to a first point of divergence from said first substantially horizontal direction of said seaming panel;
- supporting a first portion of the countersink with at least one of said third tool and said fourth tool while an exterior portion of the countersink is unsupported with any tools;
- and
- providing a compressive force on a lower portion of the countersink while retaining the chuck wall in a preferred position, wherein the end closure is formed into a predetermined shape.
4 more elements
An apparatus for forming a preferred shape in a metallic material to create a beverage end closure adapted for interconnection to a container, comprising:
- a first tool in opposing relationship to a second tool which is adapted to provide a clamping force on a portion of a seaming panel of the metallic material;
- a third tool in opposing relationship to a fourth tool which is adapted to providing a clamping force on a central panel portion of the metallic material, said fourth tool further supporting a lower portion of an interior surface of the countersink to apply a compressive force on the countersink;
- a fifth tool positioned between said first tool and said third tool, which is adapted to support at least a portion of a chuck wall portion of said metallic material, without contacting an exterior surface of the countersink, wherein said fifth tool is further adapted to support a curving transition between said chuck wall and said seaming panel, wherein said curving transition begins at a location where the seaming panel begins diverging downward from a substantially horizontal plane;
- and
- providing a reciprocating motion between at least said fifth tool and said first and second tools while a portion of a countersink in the container end closure remains unsupported on an exterior surface while supported on an interior surface, wherein a preferred geometry is created in the countersink as a compressive force is applied thereto, thus substantially avoiding a reduction of material thickness of the countersink.
2 more elements
A method for forming a metallic end closure adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising:
- a first clamping means for holding a first portion of a metallic material;
- a second clamping means for holding a second portion of the metallic material and comprising a tool with a geometric profile adapted to support a lower interior surface of the metallic material, said second portion of the metallic material positioned interior to said first portion;
- an inner pressure sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end positioned between said first clamping means and said second clamping means, and comprising an engagement surface having at least one radius of curvature inwardly directed toward said metallic material and in operable engagement with said metallic material and said lower end positioned above the metallic material held by said second clamping means, wherein a void is located between said first clamping means, said second clamping means and said pressure sleeve, and wherein said metallic material that is in operable engagement with said engagement surface of said inner pressure sleeve comprises a radius that substantially begins at a point where said metallic material diverges downward from a substantially horizontal plane;
- wherein at least a portion of said first clamping means and said second clamping means travels with respect to said pressure sleeve, wherein a preferred metal geometry is formed in compression within said void while a portion of said metallic material is retained between said pressure sleeve and said first clamping means.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.