Ball Corporation

Michael L Atkinson

Edward C Miller

The present invention relates to methods for reducing the open end of drawn and ironed containers such as beverage cans (20). It is desirable to provide a maximum reduction in diameter of the open end (36) in order to reduce the quantity of material in the lid (24); but previous forming methods have resulted in localized buckling in the reduced diameter portion (58) and/or crumpling of the transition portion (60). The present invention has solved the localized buckling and crumpling problems by a step wherein both the reduced diameter portion (58) and the transition portion (60) are reformed within controlled limits to provide a new reduced diameter portion (82) and a new curvilinear transition portion (84). Principal uses include the manufacture of beverage cans.

Method for necking thin wall metallic containers

Can or similar article

Can body or similar article

Method and device for loading cylindrical articles in a processing apparatus including a rotatable starwheel with pockets defined therein which carry the cylindrical articles and a plurality of mandrels aligned with the pockets for rotation with the starwheel such that the cylindrical articles may be axially transferred from the pocket onto the mandrel for processing, the device primarily comprising a plurality of conduit outlets which may be intermittantly connected through valve means to a compressed gas source to produce a jet of compressed gas at predetermined positions in the rotation of the starwheel pocket and onto the mandrel, and more preferably further including a vacuum passage through the mandrels which may be selectively connected to a vacuum source to work in synchronous with the compressed gas jet to provide both an internal vacuum and an external gas jet urging the cylindrical article onto the mandrel.

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Broomfield, CO, United States of America

Michael L Atkinson