American National Can Company

Paul H Azzaline

Andrew Halasz

Sylvan Praturlon

Christopher L Caliendo

Richard D Zenger

Henry J Etling

A method and apparatus for reforming a bottom of a drawn and ironed beverage container is disclosed. The container has a longitudinal axis and a side wall parallel with the longitudinal axis. The bottom has an outer annular wall, a convex U-shaped portion and a preformed bottom wall. The preformed bottom wall includes a center domed portion. The bottom further has an annular, substantially longitudinal wall joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The apparatus comprises a roller movable from an inward position where the roller does not contact the annular, substantially longitudinal wall to an outward position where the roller contacts the annular, substantially longitudinal wall, and a movable actuator to move the roller into engagement with and circumferentially about the annular, substantially longitudinal wall to reform the substantially longitudinal wall. The movable actuator moves the roller into engagement with the annular, substantially longitudinal wall to reform the substantially longitudinal wall to achieve a negative angle (A) relative to the longitudinal axis of the container.

Method and apparatus for reforming can bottom to provide improved

A method and apparatus for reforming the bottom of a drawn and ironed or a drawn beverage container, and a container made by that method. The container for which this method and apparatus are suitable has a vertical axis; a generally cylindrical side wall parallel with the vertical axis; an outer annular wall; a convex U-shaped portion; a preformed bottom wall including a center domed portion; and an annular, substantially vertical wall joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The method comprises supporting the container in a jig, the jig having a bottom peripheral profile portion substantially corresponding in shape to the outer annular wall of the container. The bottom peripheral profile portion of the jig is then mated with the outer annular wall. A reforming roller is brought into engagement with the substantially vertical wall. The reforming roller rotates along the vertical wall and about an arcuate path, affecting the angle of the substantially vertical wall.

A new type of inclined axes roller spin flanging tool for drawn and ironed containers is shown. The tool has a pilot, a specially configured roller and a predetermined cam rate for its use.

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Crystal Lake, IL, United States of America

Paul H Azzaline