Alfons Haar, Inc.

Carl W Hoying

Stephen B Turner

A dome of a domed aerosol can end is initially formed and then a crown of the can end is formed so that material flow within a workpiece from which the can end is formed is controlled to substantially eliminate wrinkling problems associated with the use of sheet material which is thinner than conventionally used, for example double reduced steel. The peripheral portion of the workpiece is initially clamped between a blank punch and a draw pad, and also between a knockout and a crown ring. An outer first portion of the dome is then formed by an outer redraw sleeve and a dome form die. An inner second portion of the dome is next formed by a dome punch and the dome form die. There may be limited contact of the dome punch with the workpiece during formation of the first portion of the dome and the workpiece may also be clamped between the outer redraw sleeve and the dome form die during formation of the second dome portion. Controlled clamping between the blank punch and the draw pad, between the knockout and the crown ring and between the outer redraw sleeve and the dome form die control material flow for improved formation of the domed aerosol can end with effective elimination of radial wrinkles associated with prior art forming methods and apparatus.

Aerosol can ends

A can end is formed from sheet material in a single acting press by blanking a workpiece and holding the workpiece between a blanking punch and a draw pad. The periphery of the workpiece is worked between a knockout and a crown ring to contour a crown. A bead punch advances into the workpiece to form a shell extending from the crown. The bead punch bottoms out on a bead die and collapses to a predetermined position to form a plurality of beads adjacent the shell by flowing a portion of the shell to form the beads while shortening the shell to less than specifications for the can end. The bead punch returns to an uncollapsed position during upstroke of the press to extend the shell to be within specifications. Apparatus for forming a can end in a press includes a fluidly supported die crown ring having an upper surface defining a can end crown contour. A knockout is aligned with the die crown ring for engaging a workpiece upon downstroke of the press to form a crown in the periphery of the workpiece. A punch, mounted to collapse against fluid pressure, forms a shell extending from the crown and presses the workpiece against a bead die to form a plurality of beads adjacent the shell. The punch collapses so that a portion of the shell flows to form the beads and returns to an uncollapsed position during upstroke to extend the shell to meet specifications.

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Springboro, OH, United States of America

Carl W Hoying