Abstract:
A full-open, disc-removal, end wall structure (25) with improved easy-open lever action and edge-protection features is disclosed along with methods of fabricating and opening. A back-scoreline (38, 52) is ruptured, by Class 2 lever action, upon lifting of a rigid (non-lanced) tap opener (28, 51, 63) as the working end (32) of the tab opener ruptures a portion of peripheral scoreline (33); continued movement of the tab opener in the direction (46) into contact with chime seam (47) provides for continued lever-action rupture of the peripheral scoreline by Class 1 lever action about the chime seam as a fulcrum. Multi-folds of sheet metal provide rounded edge metal (73, 78) shilding for residual scoreline metal; pre-folding of the metal is carried out while leaving access for scoring tooling (86, 88) to enable scoring on a single thickness of sheet metal; and so as to avoid premature damage to the residual scoreline metal upon final orientation. Rivet button (83) and riveting of the tab opener to the removable disc (30) are carried out in the metal folding sequence.
Abstract:
Continuous in-line control of work product is provided in draw-redraw processing of flat-rolled sheet metal, coil coated on both its surfaces with organic coating, to finished one-piece can bodies. Drawing of a sheet metal blank is controlled to present flange metal at the open end of the cup-shaped work product which is disposed with its closed end wall in the sheet metal line. The drawn work product is pneumatically controlled to separate the sheet metal line from the can line eliminating random accumulation of work product. Redrawing operations are carried out closed end up to present flange metal which stabilizes in-line movement of work product. Electrostatic lubrication to protect organic coating and facilitate forming is carried out prior to each redrawing operation; in-line movement of work product is controlled during such lubrication. Final redrawing and countersinking of an end wall profile are carried out at a single station with timing control of separate functions while avoiding time delay and damage to can body sheet metal due to such end wall countersinking.
Abstract:
The invention provides a novel method of increasing the corrosion resistance and improving the organic coating characteristics of cold rolled flat steel. In practicing the method, cold rolled flat steel in the as rolled condition having iron oxide and thermally degradable rolling oil on the surface thereof is heat treated at a tempterature sufficiently elevated to thermally degrade the rolling oil. The surface of the cold rolled steel has a relatively low corrosion resistance and relatively poor organic coating characteristics initially, and the heat treatment is continued until the corrosion resistance and the organic coating characteristics of the resulting heat treated steel are improved. Thereafter the heat treated steel is cooled to a temperature sufficiently low to prevent further thermal degradation of the rolling oil and produce a residual film on the heat treated steel surface which imparts corrosion resistance and improved organic coating characteristics. In a further variant of the invention, as rolled cold rolled flat steel of container stock gage is heat treated as described above, a hardenable fluid organic protective coating composition is applied to the resulting cooled heat treated steel, and thereafter the coating composition is hardened to produce container stock having a hardened coating of an organic protective coating thereon. The invention further provides the various products produced by the method of the invention.
Abstract:
Die-forming method for forming necked-in flanging metal on a light gauge drawn and ironed can body with a longitudinally extended transition zone between the necked-in portion and the original can body diameter portion while avoiding wrinkling or puckering of the flanging metal. In an initial stage of the die-forming operation, sheet metal contiguous to the peripheral edge is strengthened by turning such edge inwardly about a small radius. The strengthening member formed exerts a lateral restraint during a second stage of the die-forming operation in which the flanging metal and longitudinally extended transition zone are formed. The die-forming operation is carried out from a single end of the can body using a loose fitting inner die which is readily removable from the working end after reducing the diameter of such end.
Abstract:
In the manufacture of drawn and ironed, unitary, can bodies, structure and method which interrupt surface contact between an ironing mandrel and the interior sidewall of a can body being ironed to reduce friction for removal of the ironed can body from the mandrel.During passage through an ironing ring, sidewall metal is moved into a narrow-width, linearly-extended indentation in the mandrel sidewall. The metal of the protrusion thus formed on the interior surface of the can body is moved along the mandrel sidewall during passage through a subsequent ironing ring, with such movement breaking surface adhesion between the mandrel sidewall and the interior surface of the container body sidewall to facilitate removal.
Abstract:
New technology for fabricating a one-piece cup-shaped can body which is formed free of side wall ironing from can stock comprising flat-rolled sheet metal substrate precoated with protective organic coating and forming lubricant. A plurality of successive diameter-reduction operations are carried out on a planar blank and cup-shaped work product during which side wall height is increased and side wall substrate is decreased in thickness to provide controlled uniformity in side wall substrate thickness over about 85% to about 95% of side wall height for such can body. The fabricating tooling provides for a preselected clearance between a punch peripheral wall and a die cavity internal wall in each of such plurality of diameter-reduction operations to achieve a desired decrease in side wall thickness as the precoated substrate is moved into a die cavity by relative movement of its respective punch. In a flat-rolled steel embodiment, one-piece can bodies for carbonated beverage packs require less metal than that currently being used to produce the commercially drawn and ironed product from flat-rolled steel, and can body finishing steps are diminished.
Abstract:
New technology for fabricating a one-piece cup-shaped can body is formed free of side wall ironing from can stock comprising flat-rolled sheet metal substrate precoated with protective organic coating and forming lubricant. A plurality of successive diameter-reduction operations are carried out a planar blank and cup-shaped work product during which side wall height is increased and side wall substrate is decreased in thickness to provide controlled uniformity in side wall substrate thickness over about 85% to about 95% of side wall height for such can body. The fabricating tooling provides for a preselected clearance between a punch peripheral wall and a die cavity internal wall in each of such plurality of diameter-reduction operations to achieve a desired decrease in side wall thickness as the precoated substrate is moved into a die cavity by relative movement of its respective punch. In a flat-rolled steel embodiment, one-piece can bodies for carbonated beverage packs require less metal than that currently being used to produce the commercially drawn and ironed product from flat-rolled steel, and can body finishing steps are diminished.
Abstract:
Convenience-feature sheet metal end closure structure and tooling apparatus including a new scoring tool configuration (94) which enables a peripheral scoreline (102), which defines a separable convenience-feature endwall panel (112), to be located contiguous to the end closure chuck wall (100) which interfits about its periphery with the open end of a container side wall. The resulting convenience-feature endwall panel is separated such that substantially no obstruction to removal of solid-pack contents as a single piece remains. The separable panel (112) can be formed with a multiple-layer fold (127) of sheet metal extending along its periphery so as to shield torn residual metal remaining with the panel after severance along such peripheral scoreline. An elongated, longitudinally-rigid integral opener (148) is placed at a selected designated location on non-circular configuration endwall panels which, in cooperation with novel shaping of chuck wall tooling (170), enables desired chuck wall support, free of registry concerns, during chime seam assembly of the end closure with a container body of matching non-cylindrical configuration.
Abstract:
Composite-coated flat-rolled sheet metal substrate subject to surface oxidation, after surface cleaning and oxidation removal is cathodically E-coated with minimal organic coating to stabilize such surface to prevent oxidation prior to application of protective organic coating finish to provide a total coating weight on each surface selected in the range of about 3 to about 20 mg/in.sup.2 of organic coating per surface. Such E-coat being applied to such substrate after removal of surface oxidation so as to enhance coating adhesion of end product protective organic coating. Lubricant for draw processing is embodied in the protective organic coating as a "blooming compound" or can be precoated after such organic coating to enable draw-processing of articles such as a unitary cup-shaped can body while maintaining desired full surface protective organic coating to meet requirements for such article.