Hoogovens Staal B.v.

Gerard M Louwerse

Auke Hogendoorn

Hans Nicolaas Schaaper

Eelco A Stevens

A die for use in a stage of a multi-stage die-necking process of a metal body such as a beverage can, has a surface around a center-line. The die surface, seen in longitudinal section through the center-line, has a profile which includes in direct succession a feed-in zone, an intermediate zone and a neck zone. The intermediate zone has, as well as a contact part, a relatively steep part in which tangents to the die surface include an angle .alpha. to the center-line greater than .alpha..sub.n, where .alpha..sub.n is the neck angle between the necked part following die-necking and the center-line of the body. The presence of this non-contact steep part reduces the axial force needed in the die-necking.

Die for use in die-necking of a metal can body and method using such a

Full-aperture easy-open metal can-end for a can of the lift-up type with a tab, having an endless score-line close to its outer circumference of the can-end, wherein the removable part is profiled with a plurality of terraces at different heights, including an outer terrace close to the outer circumference of the can-end, an innermost terrace and at least one intermediate terrace. Adjacent terraces merge into one another with a height transition. To achieve low tear-force and/or other advantages, the intermediate terrace is inclined in a direction opposite to that of the outwardly adjoining transition at an angle .alpha. in the range 3 to 20 degrees to a plane perpendicular to the can axis.

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Velserbroek, Netherlands

Gerard M Louwerse