The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 11, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 22, 1996
Tuan A Nguyen, Golden, CO (US);
Todd W Farley, Arvada, CO (US);
Ball Corporation, Muncie, IN (US);
Abstract
An annular groove of a can end with a reduced radius is disclosed. In one embodiment, this is by a method and apparatus which reworks the can end to increase the strength of the can end by reducing the radius of the annular groove of the can end. This method includes the step of reworking the annular groove of the can end to reduce a magnitude of the annular groove from a first radius to a second radius by exerting an inwardly-directed force on at least part of the annular groove and relative to the annular groove and collapsing at least part of the annular groove inwardly relative to the annular groove. The apparatus used in this reworking may include inner and outer die surfaces, wherein at least one of which engages a lower portion of the annular groove, and a punch, opposing and axially movable relative to the annular groove and die surfaces, for engaging the annular groove to exert inwardly-directed forces on the lower portions of the annular groove to collapse the lower portions of the annular groove inwardly, toward the punch. The reduced radius may also be achieved in a blank and form station where an axially-directed force is exerted on a flange such that portions of the blank flex into engagement with a generally concave die surface.