Receptacles – End wall structure – One-piece side and end wall
Patent
1994-07-05
1996-07-30
Larson, Lowell A.
Receptacles
End wall structure
One-piece side and end wall
220608, 723794, B21D 5126
Patent
active
055403522
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for forming an improved, reformed can bottom, with a result that the entire can is strengthened. Typically, this method and apparatus are used for reforming the bottoms of drawn and ironed beverage containers. The reformed can bottom is an integral part of beer and beverage cans, and increases the strength of those cans above that of prior art cans.
2. Background of the Invention
Metal containers, and drawn or drawn and ironed metal containers in particular, are among the most widely used containers for pressurized carbonated beverages, including such beverages as beer and soft drinks. Such containers are also becoming increasingly popular for food and other uses.
Drawn and ironed metal containers are made from a disc of stock material which is converted into a shallow "cup" with short side walls. The base of this cup ultimately forms the bottom of the container, and the short side walls of the cup become the elongated side walls of the container.
The shallow cup is passed through a succession of ironing rings. As the spacing between successive rings becomes increasingly narrow, passage of the cup through these successive rings decreases the sidewall thickness and increases the height of the side walls.
The configuration of the bottom of such drawn and ironed containers has, over the last several years, been a topic of interest to both can manufacturers, packagers, shippers, retailers and the ultimate consumer who purchases products in such containers. This is because the configuration of the bottom is a factor in the ability of the container to resist its internal pressures and achieve adequate columnar strength, in addition to adding stability to the can. These internal pressures result from the weight, pressurization and carbonation of the liquids in the container. Columnar strength is the ability of a container to resist axial loads imposed by cans that are stacked upon other cans, as during transport and storage.
Can manufacturers are constantly striving to obtain high strength with relatively low weight. Generally, however, these goals are incompatible. Low weight, and a lowering of material cost, is generally achieved by reducing the thickness of the stock material. A reduction in stock material thickness, without more, typically lowers the strength of the container. Retailers and consumers desire a container which is stackable and which is of the lowest possible weight for ease in handling.
The bottom shape of the container has been found to be of importance in determining its strength. Issued U.S. patents disclosing this importance include U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,582, issued to Pulciani, et. al., on Aug. 11, 1987, and entitled "Container Profile With Stacking Feature." This patent, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a container having an inverted dome-shaped bottom. Other U.S. patents are also generally relevant. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,904,069, 3,979,009 and 4,412,627, disclose containers having bottom wall constructions designed to permit selected and controlled outward flexing or bulging of the bottom wall when the container is sealed and subjected to internal pressures developed by the contents.
Reforming of the bottom wall of a container of the general type described in this application has also been described in an Claydon, et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,924. This reforming takes place by applying a roller along the exterior transition wall 7 of the bottom of the container, rather than along its interior. However, when reforming the interior bottom wall to a negative angle, as shown in FIG. 10, a dedicated knock-out pad 46 is required. Additionally, due to material spring-back, it is more difficult to control the ultimate angle of the interior bottom wall.
Jentzsch, et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,973, issued Apr. 21, 1992, discloses a beverage container having an interior bottom wall with a negative angle. However, there is no disclosure of how this negative angle is for
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Azzaline Paul
Caliendo Christopher
Halasz Andrew
Praturlon Sylvan
Zenger Richard D.
American National Can Company
Larson Lowell A.
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