Apparatus for forming a domed bottom in a can body

Claim 1

Apparatus for forming an inwardly extending dome in the bottom wall of a metallic one-piece can body having a beveled peripheral edge bordering the bottom wall comprising: (a) a domer housing comprising a cavity having a longitudinal front-to-rear axis and a front end opening, (b) a doming die within said cavity having a longitudinal front-to-rear axis, a peripheral side surface, and a front outer convex surface for engaging the bottom wall of a can body to form a dome therein, (c) a pressure ring supported coaxially around said peripheral side surface for axial movement relative to said doming die, said pressure ring having a circumferential outer surface member and a front annular beveled surface adapted to engage the beveled peripheral edge bordering the bottom wall of a can body while said doming die is forming a dome in said bottom wall, (d) pressure-absorbing plunger means within said domer housing for engaging and moving axially with said pressure ring, (e) securing means supporting said doming die normally coaxially within said cavity for limited radial movement of said doming die and said pressure ring relative to said domer housing and said plunger means, (f) a segmented ring having a plurality of circumferentially arranged segments within said housing surrounding said pressure ring and having an inner surface normally in bearing engagement with said outer surface member, (g) abutment means in said cavity adapted to engage said inner surface of said segmented ring to limit the radial movement of said segmented ring to a normal central position coaxial of said cavity, (h) said pressure ring being radially movable relative to said abutment means, whereby in a radially extended position an extended portion of said outer surface member projecting radially outward beyond said abutment means moves radially outward segments of said segmented ring engaged by said extended portion, and (i) spring means surrounding said segmented ring to bias said inner surfaces of said segments toward said abutment means to urge said pressure ring and said doming die to said normal central coaxial position.