The present invention relates generally to apparatus for doming the bottom walls of cans and, more particularly, to apparatus for doming thin walled aluminum can bodies of the type having a cylindrical side wall and an integrally formed bottom wall.

Metal containers such as cans which are adapted to hold contents under pressure are often provided with a upwardly extending dome in the bottom wall thereof to resist the tendency of the bottom wall to deform excessively under pressure and also to provide a generally planar annular portion at the periphery of the bottom wall which provides a stable support base for the can. Numerous domed containers are described in prior art patents such as U.S. Patent No. 1,963,795; 3,904,069; and 4.037,752 which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In doming the bottom of relatively thin walled metal cans, such as conventional aluminum beer cans, a continuing

problem has been the formation of radially extending crease lines in the domed portion of the can. These crease lines are probable formed as a result of non-uniform deformation of the can bottom wall at the time it is initially contacted 5 by a dome-shaped die assembly. The non-uniform deformation may be due to the fact that the die assembly initially makes a point contact at the center of the can bottom resulting in an initial deformation of the can bottom into a conical configuration. It is in the transition of the can bottom 0 • from a generally planar shape to such a conical shape that radial creasing of the can bottom takes place. Such a creased dome configuration is generally known in the art as a "flower dome." A problem with flower dome formation, other than the generally aesthetically unacceptable appearance, it

15 that the crease lines may rupture or weaken the can bottom and may cause leaks or non-uniform deformation of the can bottom when the can is pressurized. Another problem associated with dome formation in integrally formed thin walled can bodies is that the deformation of the can bottom

2 _Q wall during doming tends to cause metal flow from the can lateral side wall to the can bottom wall resulting in a slight axial shortening of the can. One prior art technique for eliminating these problems has been to tightly engage a peripheral portion of the can bottom wall and a lower

- _ς portion of the can side wall between a bodymaker punch assembly and a pressure ring during dome formation. Such a peripheral engagement of the can wall tends to stabilize the bottom wall circumferentially, thereby reducing the tendency of the bottom wall to crease during dome formation. Such a

30 peripheral engagement also tends to limit the flow of metal from the can side wall to the can bottom wall. Another prior

art method, sometimes used in combination with a pressure ring, for eliminating flower dome formation iβ application of relatively high pressure to the domed region of the bottom wall during dome formation to "iron out" any creases that may have been formed during the initial portion of the doming operation. A problem with the former technique is that, in applying sufficient pressure to the periphery of the can bottom to prevent the undesirable effects of can shortening and flower dome formation, the engaged portion of the can bottom is sometimes damaged by the pressure ring. A problem with "ironing out" radial creases is that the ironed out creased area has different strength and deformation characteristics than the other portions of dome. Furthermore, such ironing out techniques are not always successful in removing all of the radial creases.

According to the present invention there is pro¬ vided an apparatus for forming a can bottom configuration in an aluminum can body of the type comprising a generally cylindrical sidewall terminating in an open top end and a generally flat, circular bottom wall connected with the cylindrical sidewall by an inwardly tapering annular portion in which the bottom wall configuration to be formed comprises a peripheral ring portion extending downwardly and inwardly from said can body sidewall; a relatively small radius, downwardly convex support ring portion integrally connected to said peripheral ring portion for supporting the can constructed from the can body on an underlying base surface; a generally vertically extending riser ring portion integrally connected to said support ring portion and extending upwardly therefrom; and an upwardly projecting dome portion integrally connected to said riser

ring portion, said formed bottom configuration being adapted to nest within a can end provided on a can identical to and situated below a can constructed from said can body for enabling stable stacking of such cans, the apparatus comprising: a) an axially, reciprocally movable punch means insertable within the can body in engagement with the interior bottom surface thereof for urging the can body in a first axial direction against die means for forming the can bottom configuration, said punch means comprising a surface portion conforming generally to the configuration of the can bottom peripheral ring portion, the can bottom support ring portion and the can bottom riser portion; b) die means for coacting with said punch means to form said can bottom configuration, said die means comprising: i) an axially reciprocally movable outer die ring means for forming an outer portion of said can bottom configuration, having a can body engaging surface conforming generally to said can bottom peripheral ring portion and an outer portion of said can bottom support ring portion; ii) an axially reciprocally movable middle die ring means for forming a middle portion of said can bottom configuration, positioned concentrically with and inwardly of said outer die ring means and in closely adjacent relationship therewith, said middle die ring means having a can body engaging surface conforming generally to an

inner portion of said can bottom support ring portion, said can bottom riser portion and an outer annular portion of said can bottom dome portion; and iii) a relatively fixed, inner die means for forming an inner portion of said can bottom configuration, positioned concentrically with said outer die ring means and said middle die ring means and located inwardly of said middle die ring means in closely spaced, adjacent relationship therewith; said inner die means having a can body engaging surface conforming generally to an inner portion of said can bottom dome portion.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :

Fig . 1 is a schematic cross sectional elevation view of a prior art can doming assembly .

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of a domed can bottom having radial crease lines therein.

Figs. 3 through 6 are schematic cross sectional elevation views of a can doming assembly of the present invention showing various operating positions thereof.

Fig. 7 if a detailed cross sectional elevation view of a portion of a forming ring of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 through 6.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of a domed can bottom of the type formed by the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 3 through 7.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional elevation view of the domed can bottom of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10-13 are schematic cross sectional views of another embodiment of a can bottom forming apparatus of the present invention showing various operating positions thereof.

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional elevation view of a can bottom configuration formed by the apparatus of Figs. 10-13 and further illustrating the nesting arrangement of that can bottom configuration with an associated can end.

A can doming device of the prior art is represented schematically in Fig. 1. A can body 10 to be domed has an open top end 11 defining a circular opening, a cylindrical side wall 12 and a closed circular bottom wall 14 integrally connected to the side wall at a relatively small radius annular shoulder portion 13. The can body 10 is mounted about an axially extending cylindrical bodymaker punch 20 of approximately the same external diameter as the internal

diameter of the can. The bodymaker punch is in turn mounted don an axially extending ram 16 as by a bolt 18. The bodymaker punch and the can 10 mounted thereon are axially reciprocally movable by ram 16 in a first horizontal direction 22 and a second opposite horizontal direction 24. The bodymaker punch 20 comprises an annular peripheral rim portion 26 defined by an interior cavity 28 provided at the terminal end of the bodymaker punch 20. Rim portion 26 has a rounded terminal end portion 30 which engages an interior peripheral portion 32 of the can shoulder 13 and bottom 14. Bodymaker punch 20 urges the can bottom and shoulder against external pressure ring 40 and, subsequently, urges the can bottom against stationary domer die 50 as the ram moves in direction 22. The external pressure ring 40 which engages the can body 10 has an inner peripheral recessed ring- portion defined by an inwardly facing concave surface 42 adapted to, ordinarily, nondeformingly engage an outer peripheral portion of the can bottom 14, can shoulder 13 and a lower portion of side wall 12. The external pressure ring 40 is mounted on a plurality of biasing air cylinders 44 which enable the pressure to be moved with can body 10 in the direction 22 as the can bottom 14 moves from an initial engagement position A to a position B associated with maximum ram movement in direction 22. Pressure ring 40 has a central cylindrical opening 44 defined by interior surface 46 which is adapted to receive domer die 50 in close sliding relationship therewithin. Domer die 50 is fixedly mounted on a stationary base surface 56 and remains stationary throughout the doming operation. Domer die 50 has a generally circular sidewall surface 52 and terminates in a constant radius dome-shaped, sometimes herein referred to as

"spheroid," end surface 54. As the can engages stationary domer die 50 during its movement in direction 22, the domer die end surface 54 engages the bottom wall 14 forcing it into a dome-shaped configuration 58, shown in phantom, of substantially the same shape as the terminal surface 54 of the domer die 50. An outer generally flat surfaced peripheral bottom ring 60 is also thus provided in the bottom wall by the doming operation. Bottom ring 60 provides a stable support base for the can. Earlier can doming assemblies did not include an external pressure ring 40. However such earlier can domers produced undesirable radially extending creases 62, 64, 66, etc., in the domed can bottom as illustrated in Fig. 2. Such a creased dome bottom is known in the art as a "flower dome." Such crease formation is aesthetically undesirable and also weakens the domed can bottom. Another undesirable effect of such doming without an external pressure ring is that metal in can body side wall 12 tends to flow into the dome region 58 as it is being formed thereby shortening the axial length of th can body 10. It was to overcome the effects of can shortening and flower dome formation that pressure rings such as shown in Fig. 1 were introduced. The pressure ring 40 engages the bottom periphery of the can body prior to the can's engaging the stationary domer die 50. The pressure ring applies sufficient pressure against the engaged portion of the can body to limit the metal flow conditions associated with can shortening and, to some extent, stabilizes the can bottom circumferentially to prevent flower dome formation. Although such an external pressure ring 40 may be relatively effective in preventing flower dome formation and can shortening, it has been found

that in many cases the biasing pressure which must be applied by the pressure ring against the can bottom to prevent such problems may itself be damaging to the engaged portion of the can bottom.

The can doming assembly 100 of the present invention also prevents flower dome formation and can shortening but is much less likely to damage the lower portion of a can than prior art pressure rings.

As illustrated by Figs. 3 through 6, the can doming die punch assembly 100 of the present invention is adapted for operating on a can body 110 of a type having an open top end 111, a cylindrical side wall 112, a generally flat bottom wall 114, and a relatively short length sort radius annular shoulder 113 connecting the side wall and bottom wall. The can doming die punch assembly 100, in general, comprises a bodymaker punch 120 mounted as by a bolt 118 on a reciprocating ram unit 116 adapted to reciprocally move in a first horizontal direction 122 towards a domer die 180 and a second opposite horizontal direction 124 away from the domer die; a forming ring 140 adapted to for ingly engage an inwardly positioned annular band portion 187 of the bottom wall 114 to provide a peripheral portion 203 of a dome 201 to be formed in the can bottom wall; and a fixed domer die 180 adapted to engage a central circular portion 189 of bottom wall 114 to form an inner dome portion 208 of the dome 201 to be formed in bottom wall 114; and biasing means such as air cylinders 194, 196 adapted to provide a constant relatively low biasing pressure in a direction 124 as the forming ring 140 moves in direction 122 during can dome formation.

In operation ram 116 and attached bodymaker punch 120 move can body 110 in direction 122 from an initial position in spaced relationship from forming ring 140 and domer die 180 as shown in Fig. 3. Can bottom wall 114 is initially engaged by annular surface 144 of forming ring 140. Ram 116 and bodymaker punch 120 subsequent to engagement of bottom wall 114 by surface 144 continue moving in direction 122 while forming ring 140 initially remains in a fixed position. The continued movement of the bodymaker punch and associated can 110 thus cause deformation of the can bottom 114 in the area engaged by the forming ring 140. Forming ring 140 remains relatively fixed until the bodymaker punch 120 and can body 110 have moved into the position illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the outer peripheral portion of the can bottom is forced into engagement with a radially outer peripheral portion of forming ring surface 144. Thereafter further movement of the bodymaker punch 120 is accompanied by movement of the forming ring 140 in the same direction (122) and at the same relative rate. As illustrated in Fig. 5 this downward movement of forming ring 140 causes the central portion of the can bottom 114 to subsequently be engaged by an upper dome-shaped surface 186 of domer die 180. Subsequent movement to a position illustrated in Fig. 6, which represents the furthest extension of ram 116 in direction 122, causes the can bottom 114 to be further deformed by the domer die 180 to complete the formation of a dome 201 having a relatively constant radius and composed of a first dome portion 203 formed by the forming ring 140 and a second portion 208 formed by the domer die 180. Having thus described the invention in

general further specific features of the invention will now be described.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 through 7, forming ring 140 comprises an annular can bottom engaging portion 142 having an outwardly facing generally outwardly convex can bottom engaging annular surface 144. The forming ring also comprises an internal cylindrical surface 146 adapted to slidingly accept the domer die 180 therewithin; and a recessed annular fluid discharge ring 148 adapted for collecting lubricating fluid and gases trapped between the can bottom 114 and various surface of the forming ring and domer die and having associated therewith axially extending fluid discharge passages 150, 152, etc. for expelling such collected fluids. The forming ring also comprised an outer body portion 154 having a cylindrical outer surface 156 and a pair of oppositely radially extending surfaces 158, 160. As illustrated in Fig. 7 the outwardly facing generally convex can bottom engaging annular surface 144 may include a generally planar radially extending surface portion 162 extending perpendicular to the direction of ram reciprocation and associated with an outer peripheral support ring portion 202 of the can bottom 200 being formed. Surface 144 also comprises an outwardly facing, concave, relatively short length, small radius (.05 in.), annular transition surface portion 164 which is associated with a can bottom transition surface 204 and which connects surface 162 to an outwardly facing, relatively large radius (.219 in.), convex surface portion 166 which is associated with a peripheral portion 203 of the can dome 201 to be formed. Surface 166 is integrally connected to axially extending

cylindrical surface 146 by radially inwardly facing, small radius (.05 in.), convex shoulder portion 168.

Domer die 180 which is positioned in axially aligned relationship with bodymaker punch 120 comprises a main cylindrical body portion 182, having a cylindrical side wall 184 having a diameter, e.g. 1.736 in., about 30% less than the can body diameter, e.g. 2.50 in. and a dome shaped terminal end surface 186 which may have a radius approximately equal to the can diameter, e.g. 2.50 in., Domer die ISO also comprises a base portion 188 having a radially extending surface 190 affixed to a support surface and opposite radially extending surface 192 connected by a outer cylindrical wall portion 195. Biasing means such as air cylinders 194, 196 may have barrel portions 191, 193 mounted in recessed portions of the radially extending base portion 188 and may have piston portions 197, 199 attached to outer radial portions of forming ring 140. The air cylinders 194, 196, etc. having central longitudinal axes CC, DD extending parallel to the central longitudinal axis AA of the bodymaker punch 120 and domer die 180. Of course the biasing air cylinders 194, 196 may be replaced by conventional biasing springs or other biasing means. A surprising feature of the can doming die punch assembly 100 of the present invention is that the pressure exerted by the forming ring surface 144 against the can bottom during doming may be significantly less, approximately an order of magnitude less, than the pressure exerted by a conventional pressure ring 40 against an associated can bottom during dome formation by conventional prior art techniques. For example, in the formation of a conventional aluminum beer can having a diameter of approximately 2.50 inches, a force

of approximately 50 lbs. on the can bottom wall is sufficient to prevent axial can shortening and flower dome formation when using a can doming die punch assembly 100 of the present invention; whereas a force of approximately 900 lbs. must be exerted by a conventional pressure ring 40 against a can bottom to prevent axial shortening and flower dome formation. Thus the present invention is much less likely to damage a can bottom than prior art apparatus such as described in Fig. 1. Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in

Figs. 10-14. In this embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus 300 for forming a can bottom configuration 301 in an aluminum can body 10' of the type comprising a generally cylindrical sidewall 12' terminating in an open top end 11' and comprising a generally flat, circular bottom wall- 14' integrally connected with the cylindrical sidewall by an annular tapered portion 13'. As shown in Fig. 14, the bottom wall configuration 301 to be formed comprises a peripheral ring portion 302 extending downwardly and inwardly from the can body sidewall 12 ' ; a relatively small radius, downwardly convex support ring portion 304, integrally connected to the peripheral ring portion 302, for supporting the can 10A constructed from the can body 10' on an underlying base surface; a generally vertically extending riser ring portion 306, integrally connected to the support ring portion and extending upwardly therefrom; and an upwardly projecting dome portion 308 integrally connected to the riser ring portion 306. The formed bottom configuration 301 is adapted to nest within a can end 310 having a flat, circular base portion 312, an integrally formed peripheral rim portion 314, and a centrally positioned pull tab 316

which is provided on a can 10B identical to and situated below the can 10A constructed from the can body 10' for enabling stable stacking of such cans.

As shown in Fig. 10, the apparatus 300 comprises an axially, reciprocally movable punch means 320 insertable in close sliding relationship within the can body 10' in engagement with the interior bottom surface 322 of the can body for urging the can body in a first axial direction 324 against a die means 326 for forming the can bottom configuration 301. The punch means comprises a surface portion 328 conforming generally to the configuration of the can bottom peripheral ring portion 302, the can bottom support ring portion 304 and the can bottom riser portion 306. The apparatus comprises die means 326 for coacting with the punch means 320 to form the can bottom configuration 301. The die means 326 comprises an axially reciprocally movable outer die ring means 330 for forming an outer portion of the can bottom configuration 301. The outer die ring means 330 has a can body engaging surface 332 conforming generally to the configuration of the can bottom peripheral ring portion 302 and an outer portion of the can bottom support ring portion 304.

The die means 326 further comprises an axially reciprocally movable middle die ring means 336 for forming a middle portion of the can bottom configuration 301. The middle die ring means 336 is positioned concentrically with and inwardly of the outer die ring means 330 in closely adjacent relationship therewith. The middle die ring means 336 has a can body engaging surface 338 conforming generally to the configuration of an inner portion of the can bottom

support ring portion 304, the can bottom riser portion 306 and an outer annular portion of the can bottom dome portion 308.

The die means 326 also comprises a relatively fixed, inner die means 342 for forming an inner portion of the can bottom configuration 301. The inner die means 342 is positioned concentrically with the outer die ring means 330 ■ and the middle die ring means 336 and located inwardly of the middle die ring means in closely spaced, adjacent relationship therewith. The inner die means 342 has a can body engaging surface 344 conforming generally to the configuration of an inner portion of the can bottom dome portion 308.

As illustrated in Figs. 11 and 13, the outer die ring means 330 is biased in a second axial direction 325 opposite the first axial direction 324 by a plurality of springs 350 or other biasing means such as air cylinders (not shown) . Biasing means such as springs 352 are also provided for biasing middle die ring means 336 in axial direction 325. Biasing means 350 supports the outer die ring means 330 above a support base surface 354 in a relatively elevated position with respect to the middle die ring means 336 and inner die means 342 when the outer die ring means 330 is otherwise unloaded. Springs 352 similarly support the middle die ring means 336 in elevated position above the inner die means 342 when the middle die ring means 344 is otherwise unloaded. The elevation of the uppermost surface portion 360 of outer die ring means 330 may be, e.g., 0.4 inches above the uppermost surface portion 362 of middle die ring means 336, and the uppermost surface portion 362 of the

iddle die ring means 336 may be, e.g., 0.1 inches above the uppermost surface portion 364 of the inner die means 342.

In operation, as illustrated in Fig. 10, a can body 10' mounted on punch means 320 makes initial contact with the outer die ring means 330 at tapered portion 13' thereof as the punch means moves in axial direction 324. The chamfered portion of outer die ring means 330 which provides the can engaging surface 332 has a maximum diameter at the uppermost portion thereof which is slightly larger, e.g. 0.2 inches, than the diameter of the can body sidewall portion 12'.

As shown in Fig. 10, at the time of initial engagement, only can body tapered portion 13• makes contact with the die means 326, and only nominal deformation of the can body takes place at this time due to the relatively low bias force provided by outer die ring biasing means springs 350 and the relatively high structural integrity of the can body in tapered region 13'. As the punch means 320 moves downwardly, engaged outer ring portion 330 moves downwardly at approximately the same rate. As illustrated in Fig. 11, the can bottom next makes contact with the middle die ring means 336 which immediately begins to defor the can body bottom wall 1 ' due to the relatively greater biasing force provided by springs 352 than that provided by springs 350, and also due to the fact that the mid-portion of the can bottom has less structural integrity than the can tapered portion 13'. As the punch means 320 moves downwardly from this point, the outer die ring means 330 moves relatively more in direction 324 than the inner die ring means 336 and the punch means 320 moves relatively more than the outer die ring means 330, thus initiating the formation of the can bottom peripheral ring portion 302, support ring portion

304, and riser portion 306, as well as an outer portion of the can bottom dome portion 308, prior to contacting engagement between the can body bottom wall 14 ' and the inner die means 342, as illustrated in Fig. 12. As illustrated in Fig. 13, subsequent to contact of the can bottom wall with the inner die means 342, further downward movement of the punch means 320 produces formation of the inner portion of the can bottom dome portion 308 and causes completion of the other portions of the can bottom configuration 301. At the position of greatest movement in direction 324, as shown in Fig. 13, punch means 320 has urged the associated portions of the die means 326 into a relationship such that the can body engaging surfaces 332, 338, and 344 are aligned to define a substantially continuous can engaging surface which is substantially identical to the configuration of the can bottom configuration 301 which is to be formed by the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, this alignment position occurs when the outer die ring means 330 and the middle die ring means 336 are bottomed-out against their associated stop surfaces 354 and 355.

As illustrated in Fig. 14, the can bottom configuration 301 which is formed provides a nesting configuration with an associated can end 310 mounted on a can 10B positioned below the bottom configuration 301 in which the support ring portion 304 of the can bottom is positioned immediately inwardly of the can end peripheral rim portion 314 and in which the riser portion 306 has a sufficient dimension to elevate the can bottom dome portion 308 into non-interfering relationship with the pull-tab portion 316 of the can end

310. Stackable can configurations such as illustrated in Fig. 14 are known in the art.