Method for necking-in can bodies

Claim 2

Apparatus for necking-in at least one end portion of a substantially cylindrical can body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces and at least one open end portion, said can body having a terminal end edge at said open end portion and a terminal end portion adjacent said terminal end edge, said can body defining a first structUre and having a longitudinal axis, comprising; expandable and contractible gripping means for positively gripping one of said peripheral surfaces over a major portion of the circumference thereof and over a major portion of the length of said can body to positively hold said can body in a substantially cylindrical shape, rotatably mounted female forming roll means having a circumferential arcuate groove therein defining a concave arcuate surface terminating at spaced-apart first and second end portions, said first end portion having a first diameter and said second end portion having a second diameter greater than said first diameter, said female forming roll means being positionable within said open end portion of said can body with said second end portion thereof located adjacent said terminal end edge for deforming said terminal end portion, rotatably mounted male forming roll means having a circumferential arcuate convex peripheral surface defining a rib receivable in said groove, said male forming roll means being positionable outside of said can body adjacent said terminal end portion with said rib aligned with said groove, said female and male forming roll means together defining a second structure, power means for rotating at least one of said first and second structures to pass the entire periphery of said terminal end portion of said can body between said female and male forming roll means, mounting means for independently mounting each of said female and male forming roll means for movement toward and away from said longitudinal axis of said can body, first operating means for moving said female forming roll means away from said longitudinal axis to engage said second end portion thereof with said inner peripheral surface adjacent said terminal end edge to deform said terminal end edge outwardly and provide an outwardly extending flange on said terminal end portion, and second operating means operable subsequent to said first operating means for moving said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis into engagement with said outer peripheral surface at said terminal end portion inwardly of said terminal end edge to deform said terminal end portion into said arcuate groove in said female forming roll means and squeeze said flange between portions of said groove and rib.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said male forming roll means has an end portion aligned with said second end portion of said female forming roll means transversely of said longitudinal axis of said can body, said end portion of said male forming roll means having a circumferential shoulder engageable with said terminal end edge of said can body during deformation of said terminal end portion.

Claim 4

The device of claim 2 and further including yieldable biasing means for biasing said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis of said can body.

Claim 5

The device of claim 3 wherein said can body has a predetermined diameter and each of said female and male forming roll means has a maximum diameter substantially less than said predetermined diameter.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 wherein said female forming roll means has a minimum diameter across said groove and said male forming roll means has a greatest diameter across said rib, said minimum and greatest diameters being substantially the same.

Claim 7

The device of claim 5 and further including adjustable stop means for said mounting means of said male forming roll means for adjustably positioning said male forming roll means adjacent said outer peripheral surface of said can body.

Claim 8

The device of claim 6 wherein said mounting means for said female and male forming roll means comprises a pair of pivotally mounted bearing block means movable toward and away from said longitudinal axis of said can body, a shaft rotatably mounted on each of said bearing blocks for rotation about a shaft axis, said female forming roll means being rotatably mounted on one of said shafts for rotation about female roll axis eccentric to said shaft aXis, said male forming roll means being rotatably mounted on the other of said shafts for rotation about a male roll axis eccentric to said shaft axis.

Claim 9

The device of claim 7 and further including stop collar means on said female forming roll means for positioning said female forming roll means within said open end portion of said can body, said stop collar means being engageable with said terminal end edge of said can body for locating said female forming roll means within said open end portion in predetermined relationship to said terminal end portion.

Claim 10

The device of claim 8 wherein said gripping means is positionable within said can body for gripping said inner peripheral surface.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1 wherein said male forming roll means has an end portion aligned with said terminal end edge transversely of said longitudinal axis of said can body, said end portion of said male forming roll means having a circumferential shoulder engageable with said terminal end edge of said can body during deformation of said terminal end portion.

Claim 12

The device of claim 1 and further including yieldable biasing means for biasing said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis of said can body.

Claim 13

The device of claim 1 wherein said can body has a predetermined diameter and each of said female and male forming roll means has a maximum diameter substantially less than said predetermined diameter.

Claim 14

The device of claim 1 wherein said female forming roll means has a minimum diameter across said groove and said male forming roll means has a greatest diameter across said rib, said minimum and greatest diameters being substantially the same.

Claim 15

The device of claim 1 and further including adjustable stop means for said mounting means of said male forming roll means for adjustably positioning said male forming roll means adjacent said outer peripheral surface of said can body.

Claim 16

The device of claim 1 wherein said mounting means for said female and male forming roll means comprises a pair of pivotally mounted bearing block means movable toward and away from said longitudinal axis of said can body, a shaft rotatably mounted on each of said bearing blocks for rotation about a shaft axis, said female forming roll means being rotatably mounted on one of said shafts for rotation about female roll axis eccentric to said shaft axis, said male forming roll means being rotatably mounted on the other of said shafts for rotation about a male roll axis eccentric to said shaft axis.

Claim 17

The device of claim 15 and further including yieldable biasing means for biasing said bearing block for said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis of said can body.

Claim 18

The device of claim 1 and further including stop collar means on said female forming roll means for positioning said female forming roll means within said open end portion of said can body, said stop collar means being engageable with said terminal end edge of said can body for locating said female forming roll means within said open end portion in predetermined relationship to said terminal end portion.

Claim 19

The device of claim 1 wherein said gripping means is positionable within said can body for gripping said inner peripheral surface.

Claim 20

The device of claim 1 wherein said one structure rotated by said power means is defined by said can body.

Claim 21

The device of claim 1 wherein said rib and groove have outer surfaces between which said terminal end portion of said can body is squeezed and said can body merges into said bead in a merging area, said rib and groove being shaped and dimensioned for maintaining said merging area free of squeezing action between said outer surfaces of said rib and groove when said rib is received in said groove during formation of said groove so that said merging area is free to develop an outwardly directed circumferential hump therein.

Claim 22

Apparatus for necking-in at least one end portion of a substantially cylindrical can body having inner and outer periphEral surfaces and at least one open end portion, said can body having a terminal end edge at said open end portion and a terminal end portion adjacent said terminal end edge, said can body defining a first structure and having a longitudinal axis, comprising; expandable and contractible gripping means for positively gripping at least one of said peripheral surfaces over a major portion of the circumference thereof adjacent said terminal end portion to positively hold said terminal end portion in a substantially cylindrical shape, rotatably mounted female forming roll means having a first end portion of a first diameter and a second end portion of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, said female forming roll having a circumferential arcuate groove therein defining a concave arcuate surface extending between said first and second ends thereof, said female forming roll means being positionable within said open end portion of said can body with said second end portion thereof positioned adjacent said terminal end edge and with said first end spaced inward axially of said can body from said terminal end edge for deforming said terminal end portion, rotatably mounted male forming roll means having a circumferential arcuate convex peripheral surface defining a rib receivable in said groove, said male forming roll means being positionable outside of said can body adjacent said terminal end portion with said rib aligned with said groove transversely of said longitudinal axis, said female and male forming roll means defining a second structure, power means for rotating at least one of said first and second structures to pass the entire periphery of said terminal end portion of said can body between said female and male forming roll means, mounting means for independently mounting each of said female and male forming roll means for movement toward and away from said longitudinal axis of said can body, first operating means for moving said female forming roll means away from said longitudinal axis to position said first end portion thereof substantially against said inner peripheral surface and to engage said second end portion thereof with said terminal end portion to increase the diameter of said can body at said terminal end edge and deform said terminal end portion into an outwardly extending flange during operation of said power means, and second operating means for moving said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis into engagement with said outer peripheral surface at said terminal end portion and for positioning said rib within said groove to deform said terminal end portion inwardly.

Claim 23

Apparatus for necking-in at least one end portion of a substantially cylindrical can body having inner and outer periphEral surfaces and at least one open end portion, said can body having a terminal end edge at said open end portion and a terminal end portion adjacent said terminal end edge, said can body defining a first structure and having a longitudinal axis, comprising; expandable and contractible gripping means for positively gripping at least one of said peripheral surfaces over a major portion of the circumference thereof adjacent said terminal end portion to positively hold said terminal end portion in a substantially cylindrical shape, rotatably mounted female forming roll means having a first end portion of a first diameter and a second end portion of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, said female forming roll having a circumferential arcuate groove therein defining a concave arcuate surface extending between said first and second ends thereof, said female forming roll means being positionable within said open end portion of said can body with said second end portion thereof positioned adjacent said terminal end edge and with said first end spaced inward axially of said can body from said terminal end edge for deforming said terminal end portion, rotatably mounted male forming roll means having a circumferential arcuate convex peripheral surface defining a rib receivable in said groove, said male forming roll means being positionable outside of said can body adjacent said terminal end portion with said rib aligned with said groove transversely of said longitudinal axis, said female and male forming roll means defining a second structure, power means for rotating at least one of said first and second structures to pass the entire periphery of said terminal end portion of said can body between said female and male forming roll means, mounting means for independently mounting each of said female and male forming roll means for movement toward and away from said longitudinal axis of said can body, first operating means for moving said female forming roll means away from said longitudinal axis to position said first end portion thereof substantially against said inner peripheral surface and to engage said second end portion thereof with said terminal end portion to increase the diameter of said can body at said terminal end edge and deform said terminal end portion into an outwardly extending flange during operation of said power means, and second operating means for moving said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis into engagement with said outer peripheral surface at said terminal end portion and for positioning said rib within said groove to deform said terminal end portion inwardly.

Claim 24

The device of claim 21 wherein said male forming roll means has an end portion positioned adjacent said terminal end edge, said end portion of said male forming roll means having a circumferential shoulder thereon engageable with said terminal end edge of said can body during deformation of said terminal end portion.

Claim 25

The device of claim 22 wherein said circumferential shoulder has a width greater than the thickness of said can body at said terminal end edge and said second end portion of said female forming roll means engages said shoulder outwardly of said terminal end edge during deformation of said terminal end portion.

Claim 26

The device of claim 21 wherein said can body has a longitudinal seam and further including yieldable biasing means for biasing said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis whereby said seam acts against said male forming roll means to move said male forming roll means away from said longitudinal axis against biasing force of said yieldable biasing means.

Claim 27

The device of claim 21 and further including stop collar means on said female forming roll means adjacent said second end portion thereof for positioning said female forming roll means within said open end portion of said can body, said stop collar means being engageable with said terminal end edge of said can body for locating said female forming roll means wIthin said open end portion in predetermined relationship to said terminal end portion.

Claim 28

The device of claim 21 wherein said rib and groove have outer surfaces between which said terminal end portion of said can body is squeezed and said can body merges into said bead in a merging area, said rib and groove being shaped and dimensioned for maintaining said merging area free of squeezing action between said outer surfaces of said rib and groove when said rib is received in said groove during formation of said groove so that said merging area is free to deveop an outwardly directed circumferential hump therein.

Claim 31

The method of claim 27 and further including the step of positively gripping one of said inner and outer peripheral surfaces over a major portion of the circumference thereof and over a major portion of the length of said can body to positively hold said can body in a substantially cylindrical shape prior to said step of positioning said female forming roll within said open end portion.

Claim 32

The method of claim 27 wherein said female forming roll includes a stop collar and further including the step of engaging said terminal end edge against said stop collar during said step of positioning said female forming roll within said open end portion to locate said female forming roll within said open end portion in predetermined relationship to said terminal end portion.

Claim 33

The method of claim 27 wherein said male forming roll includes an end portion having a circumferential shoulder thereon and further including the step of engaging said terminal end edge with said circumferential shoulder during said step of deforming said terminal end portion between said groove and rib.

Claim 34

Apparatus for necking-in at least one end portion of a substantially cylindrical can body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces and at least one open end portion, said can body having a terminal end edge at said open end portion and a terminal end portion adjacent said terminal end edge, said can body defining a first structure and having a longitudinal axis, comprising; expandable and contractible gripping means for positively gripping at least one of said peripheral surfaces over a major portion of the circumference thereof adjacent said terminal end portion to positively hold said terminal end portion in a substantially cylindrical shape, rotatably mounted female forming roll means having a first end portion of a first diameter and a second end portion of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, said female forming roll having a circumferential arcuate groove therein defining a concave arcuate surface extending between said first and second ends thereof, said female forming roll means being positionable within said open end portion of said can body with said second end poRtion thereof positioned adjacent said terminal end edge and with said first end spaced inward axially of said can body from said terminal end edge for deforming said terminal end portion, rotatably mounted male forming roll means having a circumferential arcuate convex peripheral surface defining a rib receivable in said groove, said male forming roll means being positionable outside of said can body adjacent said terminal end portion with said rib aligned with said groove transversely of said longitudinal axis, said female and male forming roll means defining a second structure, power means for rotating at least one of said first and second structures to pass the entire periphery of said terminal end portion of said can body between said female and male forming roll means, mounting means for independently mounting each of said female and male forming roll means for movement toward and away from said longitudinal axis of said can body, first operating means for moving said female forming roll means away from said longitudinal axis to engage said second end portion thereof with said terminal end portion for deforming said terminal end portion into and outwardly extending flange and increasing the diameter of said can body at said terminal end edge and to engage said first end portion thereof with said inner peripheral surface at a position spaced inwardly from said terminal end edge for forming an outwardly extending circumferential hump in said can body and second operating means for moving said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis into engagement with said outer peripheral surface at said terminal end portion and for positioning said rib within said groove to deform said terminal end portion inwardly between said hump and said terminal end edge.

Claim 35

Apparatus for necking-in at least one end portion of a substantially cylindrical can body having inner and outer peripheral surfaces and at least one open end portion, said can body having a terminal end edge at said open end portion and a terminal end portion adjacent said terminal end edge, said can body defining a first structure and having a longitudinal axis, comprising; expandable and contractible gripping means for positively gripping at least one of said peripheral surfaces over a major portion of the circumference thereof adjacent said terminal end portion to positively hold said terminal end portion in a substantially cylindrical shape, rotatably mounted female forming roll means having a first end portion of a first diameter and a second end portion of a second diameter greater than said first diameter, said female forming roll having a circumferential arcuate groove therein defining a concave arcuate surface extending between said first and second ends thereof, said female forming roll means being positionable within said open end portion of said can body with said second end poRtion thereof positioned adjacent said terminal end edge and with said first end spaced inward axially of said can body from said terminal end edge for deforming said terminal end portion, rotatably mounted male forming roll means having a circumferential arcuate convex peripheral surface defining a rib receivable in said groove, said male forming roll means being positionable outside of said can body adjacent said terminal end portion with said rib aligned with said groove transversely of said longitudinal axis, said female and male forming roll means defining a second structure, power means for rotating at least one of said first and second structures to pass the entire periphery of said terminal end portion of said can body between said female and male forming roll means, mounting means for independently mounting each of said female and male forming roll means for movement toward and away from said longitudinal axis of said can body, first operating means for moving said female forming roll means away from said longitudinal axis to engage said second end portion thereof with said terminal end portion for deforming said terminal end portion into and outwardly extending flange and increasing the diameter of said can body at said terminal end edge and to engage said first end portion thereof with said inner peripheral surface at a position spaced inwardly from said terminal end edge for forming an outwardly extending circumferential hump in said can body and second operating means for moving said male forming roll means toward said longitudinal axis into engagement with said outer peripheral surface at said terminal end portion and for positioning said rib within said groove to deform said terminal end portion inwardly between said hump and said terminal end edge.