Carnaudmetalbox Plc

Cmb Foodcan Plc

Christopher P Ramsey

Paul Charles Claydon

A sheet metal can body 1 comprises an end wall 2 and a tubular side wall 3 which includes a plurality of flexible panels 4 recessed within the cylindrical envelope of the side wall and extending between plain cylindrical end portions 5 of the side wall. Each panel 4 is formed of a plurality of flutes 6 defined laterally on each side by a convex rib 7.

Open-topped can body with panelled side walls

Can body

A method and apparatus are described for forming a plurality of axially extending externally concave complete flutes defining a fluted profile in a cylindrical can body 1. The apparatus comprises a correspondingly profiled mandrel 11 of maximum diameter less than the minimum diameter of the cylindrical can body and comprising a whole number of complete flutes which is less than the number of flutes on the finished can body, an elongate rail 14, means 12 for locating a cylindrical can body over the mandrel, and means 10 for rolling the mandrel relative to the rail to deform a portion of the cylindrical can body between the mandrel and the rail into the fluted profile.

Method and apparatus for forming a fluted can body

A metal can body comprises an end wall and a tubular side wall. The side wall has upper and lower cylindrical portions joined by a plurality of concave flexible panel portions and ribs. The benefit arising from the flexible panels in the side wall is the ability to attenuate the internal pressure changes arising during thermal processing of lidded cans by providing a elastic mechanism which enhances the change in internal can volume.

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Uffington, United Kingdom

Christopher P Ramsey