KR-20260066138-A - Can end shell ironing system and method

Abstract

A method for forming a can end shell (101) includes the step of blanking a sheet material to form a can end blank and the step of forming the can end blank into a can end shell (101). The step of forming the can end blank includes the step of ironing the outer flange portion (107) of the can end blank. A can end forming system for forming a can end shell may include a die core ring (220) and a blanking die (208). The die core ring may include an ironing land (228), and the blanking die (208) may include an ironing feature (226) that cooperates with the ironing land (228) during the can end shell forming process to iron the outer flange portion (107) of the can end blank.

Inventors

• 주렌딕 세바스티안

Assignees

• 노벨리스 인크.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241025

Priority Date

20231027

Claims (20)

1. A method for forming a can end shell, wherein the method comprises: A step of blanking sheet material to form a can end blank; and A method comprising the step of forming the can end blank into the can end shell, wherein the step of forming the can end blank includes the step of ironing the outer flange portion of the can end blank.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of ironing the outer flange portion of the can end shell comprises at least a 30% reduction in ironing.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the can end shell comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
4. In paragraph 3, the method wherein the aluminum or aluminum alloy comprises a 3xxx series aluminum alloy or a 5xxx series aluminum alloy.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of forming the can end blank includes the step of forming a flange and a center panel area.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the step of forming the can end blank includes the step of finishing the ironing of the outer flange portion before forming the flange and the center panel area.
7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of re-bending the outer flange portion of the can end blank after ironing with a tucking feature on the blanking die.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of ironing the outer flange portion of the can end blank includes the step of ironing between the blanking die and the die core ring of the can end forming system.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of ironing the outer flange portion of the can end blank comprises the step of ironing during the initial down-stroke of the tooling of the can end forming system.
10. As a can end forming system, Die core including ironing land; and A can end forming system comprising a blanking die including an ironing feature—the ironing feature is configured to cooperate with the ironing land during the can end shell forming process to iron the outer flange portion of the can end blank.
11. In claim 10, the ironing land is an insert supported on the die core ring, a can end forming system.
12. In item 10, the ironing feature is an insert supported on the blanking die, in a can end forming system.
13. A can end forming system according to claim 10, wherein the blanking die further comprises a tucking feature for re-bending the outer flange portion of the can end blank after ironing.
14. A can end forming system according to claim 10, wherein the blanking die and the die core ring are configured to iron the outer flange portion of the can end blank during the initial down-stroke movement of the blanking die relative to the die core ring.
15. A can end forming system according to claim 10, wherein the ironing land comprises a top surface, a side surface, and a transition surface between the top surface and the side surface, wherein the transition surface extends at an angle with respect to the side surface.
16. As a can end forming system, Die core ring; and It includes a blanking die, and the blanking die is, Ironing feature for ironing the outer flange portion of a can end blank during a can end shell forming process; and A can end forming system comprising a tucking feature for re-bending the outer flange portion of a can end blank after ironing during the can end shell forming process.
17. In claim 16, the ironing feature and the tucking feature are formed monolithically with the blanking die, in a can end forming system.
18. A can end forming system according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the ironing feature or the tucking feature is an insert attached to the blanking die.
19. A can end forming system according to claim 16, wherein the ironing feature is configured to produce at least 30% ironing reduction in the can end blank.
20. In claim 16, the die core ring comprises an ironing land configured to cooperate with the ironing feature, a can end forming system.

Description

Can end shell ironing system and method Reference to related applications This application claims the interest and priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/593,811, titled “CAN END SHELL IRONING SYSTEMS AND METHODS,” filed on October 27, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The present application relates to a metal container, and more specifically, to a system and method for forming a metal can end shell that can be combined with a container body to form a metal container. Metal containers intended for storing food or beverages (e.g., aluminum beverage cans) generally comprise a container body having an opening defined at one end, and a closure designed to close the opening of the container body (referred to as a “container end” or “can end”). The container body and the can end are typically joined at their peripheries to form a liquid-tight and hermetic joint (e.g., by crimping or rolling together, also referred to as seaming). While some container ends are flat, circular discs, container end shells are more commonly provided with raised, contoured, or curled periphery edges to facilitate the joining process. The can end forming process typically includes the step of positioning a sheet metal blank between a pair of dies that are moved to shear the edge of the sheet metal blank, after which a punch descends to draw the now-circular blank into a can end shell having a periphery flange, a truncated wall, and an end panel. The periphery flange of the can end shell can be curled into a downward periphery flange suitable for double seaming. A subsequent process can form a dome on the end panel. This process can be performed by a single tooling assembly or multiple tooling assemblies. The embodiments protected by this patent are defined by the claims below and are not defined by this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts further described in the detailed description sections below. This summary is not intended to identify the core or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed invention. The subject matter of the invention should be understood by referring to the appropriate parts of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim. According to a specific embodiment, a method for forming a can end shell comprises the steps of blanking a sheet material to form a can end blank and forming the can end blank into a can end shell. In various embodiments, the step of forming the can end blank includes the step of ironing the outer flange portion of the can end blank. According to a specific embodiment, a can end forming system includes a die core ring having an ironing land and a blanking die having an ironing feature. The ironing feature can cooperate with the ironing land during a can end shell forming process to iron the outer flange portion of the can end blank. According to a specific embodiment, a can end forming system includes a die core ring and a blanking die. The blanking die includes an ironing feature for ironing the outer flange portion of a can end blank during a can end shell forming process. The blanking die may also include a tucking feature for re-bending the outer flange portion of a can end blank after ironing during a can end shell forming process. The various embodiments described herein may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which may not necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to those skilled in the art by examining the specific details for practicing the invention below and the accompanying drawings. All such systems, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be incorporated into the disclosure and protected by the appended claims. This specification refers to the following attached drawings, and the use of similar reference numbers in different drawings is intended to illustrate similar or similar components. FIG. 1 illustrates a part of a can end shell formed by a can end forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates a part of a can end forming system for forming a can end shell of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment. Figure 3 illustrates a part of the can end forming system of Figure 2 taken from circle 3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 illustrates a part of the can end forming system of Figure 3 during the can end forming process. Figure 5 illustrates a part of the can end forming system of Figure 4 during the can end forming process. Figure 6 illustrates a part of the can end forming system of Figure 4 during the can end forming process. Figure 7 illustrates a part of the can end forming system of Figure 4 during the can end forming process. Figure 8 illustrates a part of the can end forming system of Figure 4 during the can end forming process. Figure 9 illustrates a part of the can end fo