US3648884A

US3648884A - Container body having reinforcing bead with rib

Info

Publication number: US3648884A
Application number: US26852A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Joseph Mansolino
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co
Priority date: 1970-04-09
Filing date: 1970-04-09
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14
Also published as: JPS5429463B1; CA945087A

Abstract

A tubular container body has a reinforcing bead indented into and circumscribing the container body wall. A plurality of generally longitudinal ribs are formed in the container body wall within the bead indentation. The ribs are formed during formation of the bead by providing a plurality of forming elements which are advanced radially inwardly to engage and indent a portion of the container body wall which defines the bead. Adjacent forming elements, in the fully advanced position of the latter, define indentations in which the aforesaid ribs are formed.

Description

United States Patent Mansolino Mar. 14, 1972 [54] CONTAINER BODY HAVING REINFORCING BEAD WITH RIB [72] Inventor: Daniel Joseph Mansolino, Comwell Heights, Pa

[73] Assignee: American Can Company, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 26,852

[52] U.S. Cl ..220/72 [51] ..B65d 7/42 [58] Field of Search ..220/72, 74

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,260 1 1/1943 Chamberlain ..220/74 829,477 8/1906 .Kruse ....220/72 X 2,870,981 l/l959 Dellinger et al ..220/72 X 3,335,902 8/1967 Javorik ..220/72 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 754,549 8/1956 Great Britain ..220/72 Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-James R. Garrett Attorney-Robert P. Auber, George P. Ziehmer and Leonard R. Kohan [5 7] ABSTRACT A tubular container body has a reinforcing bead indented into and circumscribing the container body wall. A plurality of generally longitudinal ribs are formed in the container body wall within the bead indentation. The ribs are formed during formation of the bead by providing a plurality of forming elements which are advanced radially inwardly to engage and indent a portion of the container body wall which defines the bead. Adjacent forming elements, in the fully advanced position of the latter, define indentations in which the aforesaid ribs are formed.

1 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAR 14 I972 3,54

42 40 46 F G 6 Y INVENTOR DANEL JOSEPH MANSOLJNO ATTORNEY CONTAINER BODY HAVING REINFORCING BEAD WITH RIB BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to containers and more particular to a tubular container body in which a reinforcing bead is provided with generally longitudinal ribs.

I-Ieretofore, metal container bodies have been made with an indented, circumscribing reinforcing bead. For example, a reinforcing bead may be used adjacent a doubleseam by which an end closure is secured to a container body and in which the end closure has a pull tab and score line to provide a full-open and easy-open feature. While such container bodies have been satisfactory, it would be desirable to improve the structure of such container bodies in order to reduce the thickness of strength requirements of the metal plate from which the container body is made. The present invention effects the aforesaid desirable improvement by providing an improved container body structure, and more particularly, a structure which includes a plurality of strengthening ribs in the bead.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tubular container body which has a greater longitudinal crush strength and which may be made from a thinner metal material.

Another object is to provide, in a tubular container body of the type having a circumscribing reinforcing bead, a plurality of longitudinal ribs to strengthen the bead.

Another object is to provide, in a tubular container body of the type having a reinforcing bead, a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs within the bead indentation.

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus for making a container body having an indented, circumscribing bead in which a plurality of longitudinal ribs are disposed.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A tubular container body has a reinforcing bead indented into and circumscribing the body wall. A plurality of generally longitudinal ribs are formed in the body wall within the bead indentation. The ribs are formed during formation of the bead by displacing a plurality of backup support elements radially outwardly to contact the inner wall of the tubular body, providing a plurality of forming segments having leading faces in the configuration of a segment of a circle, advancing circumferential central portions of said leading faces of each segment radially inwardly to engage the outside of the container body along circumferential sections of the latter to form sections of a bead in the container body, and simultaneously advancing circumferential end portions of said leading faces of the segments radially inwardly less than the advancement of said central portions, whereby the end portions of adjacent leading faces are operable to form the ribs in said bead. Adjacent forming elements, in the fully advanced position of the latter, define indentations in which the ribs are formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective view of a container body having a reinforcing bead with ribs according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the ribs shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along a diametrical plane of apparatus for forming the reinforcing bead and ribs shown in FIG. 1 but showing the position of the parts just before the bead and ribs are formed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the position of the parts just after the reinforcing bead and ribs have been formed.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the position of the parts as in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 shows a container body 10 having upper and

lower flanges

12, 14 respectively each adapted to be incorporated in a doubleseam used in securing an upper and lower end closure (not shown) to the container body 10. The container body 10 has a reinforcing bead 16 indented into and circumscribing the body 10. The bead I6 has a generally arcuate cross-sectional configuration and serves to reinforce the container body 10 and to strengthen the container ultimately made from the container body.

As can be-seen in FIG. I, the bead 16 is provided with a plurality of spaced ribs 18 which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container body 10. The ribs 18 strengthen the bead 16 particularly against vertical crush such that it is possible to make the container body 10 out of a thinner metal plate as compared to a similar container body not having ribs.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ribs 18 extend externally of the container body and protrude from the portion of the body wall which defines the reinforcing bead 16. In the illustrated embodiment, each rib 18 extends only partially into the bead l6 and the rib 18 itself has a generally arcuate configuration (see FIG. 3) considered along a longitudinal plane which bisects the rib 18.

Apparatus for forming the reinforcing bead I6 and ribs 18 is shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 and comprises a frame 20 on which a plurality of forming segments 22 are mounted for reciprocal movement in a radial direction relative to the container body 10. In the illustrated embodiment four segments 22 are utilized in forming the four ribs 18 shown in FIG. 1, each rib 18 being formed between adjacent segments 22 as will be described, but only parts of two segments 22 are shown in the drawings.

Each forming segment 22 is mounted on its own slide element 24, the latter in turn being slidably mounted on the frame 20. Thus in FIG. 4, the forming segment 22 is shown disposed on a spacer 26 and suitably secured to the slide element 24 by the threaded bolt 28. Each segment 22 is in the form of a generally flat plate having a leading face 30 having an arcuate cross-sectional configuration (see FIGS. 4 and 5) conforming generally to the cross-sectional configuration of the desired bead 16. As can best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7 the leading face 30 also extends along an arc of a circle and the sides 32 of each segment converge towards the centerline of the container body 10.

Each of the four slide elements 24 are slidable in a radial direction from the open position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the closed position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The forming segments 22 are spaced from one another when they are in the open position (FIG. 5) but abut one another when in the closed position (FIG. 7). However, the comers of each segment 22, where the leading face 30 joinsthe side walls 32, are slightly rounded as indicated at 34 in order to form the ribs 18 as will be described in greater detail.

As can best be seen in FIG. 4, the upper end of the container body 10 is supported on its inner peripheral surface by a downwardly depending ring 36 forming part of a generally circular gauge plate 38 fixed to the frame 20. The outer diameter of ring 36 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the can body 10. The gauge plate 38 also includes a circular groove 40 adapted to receive the container body flange l2 and the upper end of the container body. The bottom surface 42 of groove 40 serves as a stop for the container body 10 as the latter is positioned in the apparatus, thereby predetermining the position of the body 10 relative to the operating parts of the apparatus.

The fixed circular gauge plate 38 has a central opening 44 in which a rod 46 is mounted for reciprocal movement between a lowered position (FIG. 4) and a raised position (FIG. The lower end of rod 46 has fixed thereto an enlarged end member 48 having a frustoconical peripheral surface 50. A bottom plate 52 is spaced from the gauge plate 38 and fixed to the latter in spaced relationship by a plurality of spacer bushings 55 and threaded members 56, only one each of the latter being shown in the drawings. The frustoconical member 48 has an opening to slidably receive the bushing 55 and the longitudinal ends of the bushing 54 abut the gauge plate 38 and the bottom plate 52 thereby to predetermine the distance between said

plates

38, 52. The threaded member 56 extends between the two

plates

38, 52 and through the bushings 55 to hold the latter in place and to securely hold the bottom plate 52 in the aforesaid spaced position relative to the gauge plate 38.

Slidably mounted between the two spaced

plates

38, 52 are a plurality of wedge-shaped slides 54. The slides 54 have a frustoconical surface 57 abutting the frustoconical surface 50 on member 48. Each slide 54 has an arcuate channel 58 therein adapted to accommodate a section of a biasing means in the form of a coil spring 60 formed into a closed loop. It will be apparent from the drawings that the spring 60 will urge the slides 54 radially inwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 but that when the frustoconical member 48 is raised from its FIG. 6 to its FIG. 5 position, the wedging action between the abutting

frustoconical surfaces

50, 57 will move the slides 54 radially outwardly against the bias of spring 60.

The upper portion of each slide 54 above the groove 58 is disposed radially inwardly of the downwardly depending ring 36 and thus is not adapted to contact the container body 10. The lower portion of each slide 54 on the other hand extends further radially outwardly and is adapted to contact and define a backup support for the inside of the container body during the forming operation. The backup portion is defined by a leading circular face 62 on each slide 54.

It will be observed that the previously described forming segments 22 are disposed laterally opposite the ring 36 on gauge plate 38 and also opposite groove 58 and the upper portion of leading faces 62 on each of the slides 54 when the latter are in the FIG. 6 position. Further, the bottom of ring 36 and the upper part of leading face 62 on slide 54 are spaced from one another, the aforesaid space being disposed generally laterally opposite the leading face 30 of forming segment 22 when the slide is in the FIG. 6 position.

To effect formation of the bead 16, the lower outer peripheral surface of ring 36 is chamfered and may have a slightly rounded configuration to define a backup surface 64 for the upper part of the bead 16 as the latter is formed. Similarly, the comer between the leading face 62 and the bottom of groove 58 is rounded as indicated at 66 to form a backup support for the lower part of the bead 16 as the latter is formed.

In operation, the various parts are initially disposed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the container body is raised longitudinally into position to abut the surface 42 in groove 40 and to circumscribe the ring 36. The rod 46 is raised thereby causing the plurality of slides 54 to shift radially outwardly against the bias of spring 60 to abut the inner peripheral surface of the container body 10. Thereafter, the forming segments 22 are shifted radially inwardly whereby the leading face 30 of each forming segment 22 engages the outer periphery of the container body 10 and indents the latter to form the bead 16. As the bead 16 is formed as aforesaid, the ring 36 and slides 54 serve as a backup support for the container body in that the outer periphery of ring 36 and the leading circular face 62 of each slide 54 contacts the inner surface of the container body above and below the advancing forming segments 22. Further, the chamfered or rounded surface 64 on ring 36 and the rounded surface 66 on the segments are disposed generally radially inwardly of the general cylindrical configuration of the container body to serve as a backup support for the upper and lower parts of the head 16 as the latter is formed.

As previously described the forming segments 22 are provided with rounded corners 34 to effect formation of the ribs 18. In this regard, the forming segments 22 each have a configuration, in plan view (FIG. 5), conforming to a segment ofa circle. In the illustrated embodiment four segments 22 are used. The segments 22 are sized so that when the converging sides 32 abut one another, the leading faces 30 form a circle equal to the outer diameter of the container bead 16. As previously described, the circle formed by the leading faces 30 of the segments 22 is interrupted by relatively small indentations formed between adjacent segments 22 by adjoining rounded comers 34. Thus when the plurality of forming segments 22 are slid radially inwardly from their FIG. 4 to their FIG. 6 position to form the bead 16, the ribs 18 are simultaneously formed in the aforesaid indentations defined by adjoining surfaces 34. During formation of the bead 16 and ribs 18 the metal of the container body is pushed radially inwardly against the ring 36 and slide 54 by the forming segments 22 except within the area of the indentations defined by the adjoining surfaces 34.

Although four ribs 18 are shown in the illustrated embodiment, additional ribs may be formed by utilizing additional forming segments. For example, if it is desired to form six ribs 18, six forming segments subtending an angle of 60 each may be employed.

As may be desired the particular configuration of the surface 64 on ring 36, the surface 66 on the slides 54 and the comer 34 on forming segments 22 may be varied as desired depending on various factors such as the physical, dimensional, and structural characteristics of the container body.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the apparatus described and in the steps of the method described and their order of accomplishment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

I. A container body adapted to have end closures secured thereto to form a closed container, comprising:

a tubular body member;

a reinforcing bead formed in said body member, said bead being indented into said member and circumscribing the latter; and

a plurality of ribs formed in said body member in the portion of the latter defining said bead, said ribs extending generally longitudinally of said body member and protruding radially outwardly from the portion of the body member defining said bead, each of said ribs having a generally arcuate configuration along a plane extending longitudinally and radially of the body member and longitudinally bisecting each of said ribs, said ribs being totally included within the bead indentation.

Claims

1. A container body adapted to have end closures secured thereto to form a closed container, comprising: a tubular body member; a reinforcing bead formed in said body member, said bead being indented into said member and circumscribing the Latter; and a plurality of ribs formed in said body member in the portion of the latter defining said bead, said ribs extending generally longitudinally of said body member and protruding radially outwardly from the portion of the body member defining said bead, each of said ribs having a generally arcuate configuration along a plane extending longitudinally and radially of the body member and longitudinally bisecting each of said ribs, said ribs being totally included within the bead indentation.