Forming apparatus and method

Claim 1

A forming apparatus comprising, a first die member having aN outside forming surface, a second die member having an inside forming surface adapted to cooperate with said outside forming surface to form a flat workpiece interposed therebetween upon relatively moving said die members along a forming path into operative association, one of said members being movable in a fixed horizontal plane transverse said forming path enabling said forming surfaces acting through said workpiece to precisely align said one member to a forming position and thereby assure precise forming of said workpiece during said operative association, means supporting said one member for movement transverse said forming path, said supporting means comprising a supporting plate having said one member detachably fixed thereto and a support having a recess therein which defines a bottom surface which is larger in area than the bottom surface area of the supporting plate, said bottom surface defining said fixed horizontal plane and slidably supporting said supporting plate and one member fixed thereon with said larger area of said bottom surface allowing said transverse movement, and at least one fastener for fixing said one member and said supporting plate in said forming position in a rigid stationary manner.

Claim 3

An apparatus for forming a metal container closure comprising, a first die member having a central axis and a forming surface, a supporting plate held at a fixed position and having a top surface, a second die member slidably supported on said top surface and having a central axis arranged parallel to the central axis of said first die member and having a cooperating forming surface adapted to cooperate with said forming surface of said first die member to form a flat circular workpiece interposed therebetween, said first die member being movable relative to said second die member along a forming path defined by its axis and into operative association with said second die member, said second die member being movable transverse its axis enabling said forming surfaces acting through said workpiece to precisely align said second die member to a forming position wherein said axes coincide and thereby assure precise forming of said workpiece during said operative association, and holding means allowing said transverse movement while holding said second die member against movement parallel to its central axis, said second die member being movable on said top surface in an essentially free floating manner and said holding means comprising a cylindrical bore in said plate, a counterbore extending upwardly from the bottom of said plate and defining a bottom retaining surface between said bore and the maximum diameter of said counterbore, a projection extending downwardly from said second die member and through said bore with a substantial clearance therebetween, and a retainer disc detachably fixed to said projection and having a top bearing surface, said retainer disc allowing movement in said free floating manner with said top bearing surface engaging said bottom retaining surface while preventing movement of said second die member along its axis and away from said supporting plate.

Claim 4

An apparatus for forming a metal container closure comprising, a first die member having a central axis and a forming surface, a supporting plate held at a fixed position and having a top surface, a second die member slidably supported on said top surface and having a central axis arranged parallel to the central axis of said first die member and having a cooperating forming surface adapted to cooperate with said forming surface of said first die member to form a flat circular workpiece interposed therebetween, said first die member being movable relative to said second die member along a forming path defined by its axis and into operative association with said second die member, said second die member being movable transverse its axis enabling said forming surfaces acting through said workpiece to precisely align said second die member to a forming position wherein said axes coincide and thereby assure precise forming of said workpiece during said operative association, and holding means allowing said transverse movement while holding said second die member against movement parallel to its central axis, said second die member being movable on said top surface in an essentially free floating manner and said holding means comprising a cylindrical bore in said plate, a counterbore extending upwardly from the bottom of said plate and defining a bottom retaining surface between said bore and the maximum diameter of said counterbore, a projection extending downwardly from said second die member and through said bore with a substantial clearance therebetween, and a retainer disc detachably fixed to said projection and having a top bearing surface, said retainer disc allowing movement in said free floating manner with said top bearing surface engaging said bottom retaining surface while preventing movement of said second die member along its axis and away from said supporting plate.