Universal seaming chuck

Abstract

A universal seaming chuck ( 30 ) having a working profile ( 60 ) that defines a seaming surface ( 64 ) and a chuck wall driving surface ( 68 ) including a distal radiused portion ( 80 ), a middle radiused portion ( 84 ) and a proximal radiused portion ( 88 ). The working profile ( 60 ) is configured to support at least a first type of can end and a second type of can end that is different than the first type of can end during the seaming process. A method for seaming said first and second type of can ends by using said chuck is also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A universal seaming chuck configured to support a can end during a double seaming process, the can end having a center panel, a countersink bead extending radially out from the center panel, a wall extending radially out from the countersink bead, and a curl extending radially out from the wall, the universal seaming chuck comprising:
 a cylindrical body defining a central axis, a distal end, and a proximal end spaced from the distal end along the central axis, the body including an outer working profile proximate to the distal end that is configured to receive a seaming force, the working profile defining:
 a seaming surface against which the curl of the can end is configured to be pressed; and 
 a chuck wall drive surface that extends distally from the seaming surface and is configured to abut the wall of the can end, the chuck wall drive surface including a distal radiused portion, a middle radiused portion that merges into the distal radiused portion, and a proximal radiused portion that merges into both the middle radiused portion and the seaming surface, 
   wherein the distal radiused portion has a radius that is between about 0.030 inches and about 0.050 inches, the middle radiused portion has a radius that is between about 0.020 inches and about 0.050 inches, and the proximal radiused portion has a radius that is between about 0.020 inches and about 0.040 inches.   
     
     
         2 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 1 , wherein the distal radiused portion has a radius of about 0.042 inches, the middle radiused portion has a radius of about 0.040 inches, and the proximal radiused portion has a radius of about 0.035 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal radiused portion merges with the middle radiused portion at an intersection such that the intersection defines an intersection angle with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         4 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 3 , wherein the intersection angle is between about 45 degrees and about 65 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 4 , wherein the intersection angle is between about 50 degrees and about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 5 , wherein the intersection angle is about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 1 , wherein the seaming surface extends from the proximal radiused portion at a non-zero seaming surface angle with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         8 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 7 , wherein the seaming surface angle is about 4 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The universal seaming chuck of 1, wherein the working profile has a height measured along the central axis that is less than 0.175 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 1 , wherein the chuck wall drive surface is shaped such that no portion of the chuck wall drive surface is disposed within the countersink bead of the can end during the double seaming process. 
     
     
         11 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 1 , comprising any of the preceding claims. 
     
     
         12 . A universal seaming chuck configured to support both a first type of can end and a second type of can end that is different than the first type of can end during a double seaming process, the universal seaming chuck comprising:
 a cylindrical body defining a central axis, a distal end, and a proximal end spaced from the distal end along the central axis, the body including an outer working profile proximate to the distal end that is configured to receive a seaming force, the working profile defining:
 a seaming surface; and 
 a chuck wall drive surface that extends distally from the seaming surface, the chuck wall drive surface being defined by a continuous blend of at least three radii such that the chuck wall drive surface is configured to (i) abut a first wall of the first type of can end such that a first curl of the first type of can end can be pressed against the seaming surface to thereby form a double seam, and (ii) abut a second wall of the second type of can end such that a second curl of the second type of can end can be pressed against the seaming surface to thereby form a double seam, 
   wherein the first type of can end includes a center panel having a first diameter and the second type of can end includes a center panel having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, and the first wall defines a first profile and the second wall defines a second profile that is different than the first profile.   
     
     
         13 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 12 , wherein the chuck wall drive surface includes a distal radiused portion, a middle radiused portion that merges into the distal radiused portion, and a proximal radiused portion that merges into both the middle radiused portion and the seaming surface. 
     
     
         14 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 13 , wherein the distal radius portion has a radius that is between about 0.030 inches and about 0.050 inches, the middle radiused portion has a radius that is between about 0.020 inches and about 0.050 inches, and the proximal radiused portion has a radius that is between about 0.020 inches and about 0.040 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 13 , wherein the distal radiused portion has a radius of about 0.042 inches, the middle radiused portion has a radius of about 0.040 inches, and the proximal radiused portion has a radius of about 0.035 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal radiused portion merges with the middle radiused portion at an intersection such that the intersection defines an intersection angle with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         17 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 16 , wherein the intersection angle is between about 45 degrees and about 65 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 17 , wherein the intersection angle is between about 50 degrees and about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 17 , wherein the intersection angle is about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 12 , wherein the seaming surface extends from the proximal radiused portion at a non-zero seaming surface angle with respect to the central axis. 
     
     
         21 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 20 , wherein the seaming surface angle is about 4 degrees. 
     
     
         22 . The universal seaming chuck of 12, wherein the working profile has a height measured along the central axis that is less than 0.175 inches. 
     
     
         23 . The universal seaming chuck of  claim 1 , comprising any of the preceding claims. 
     
     
         24 . A method of seaming at least a first type of can end and a second type of can end to can bodies with a universal seaming chuck, the method comprising:
 positioning a first type of can end onto a first can body to form a first can combination, the first type of can end having a first center panel that defines a first diameter, a first countersink that extends radially out from the first center panel, a first chuck wall that extends radially out from the first countersink, and a first curl that extends radially out from the first chuck wall, the first chuck wall defining a first profile;   moving the first can combination until the first type of can end engages a universal seaming chuck that defines a working profile having a seaming surface that is adjacent the first curl and a chuck wall drive surface that is adjacent the first chuck wall;   moving at least one seaming roll toward the first can combination such that the at least one seaming roll presses the second curl against the seaming surface to thereby form a double seam with the second curl and the first can body;   positioning a second type of can end onto a second can body to form a second can combination, the second type of can end having a second center panel that defines a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, a second countersink that extends radially out from the second center panel, a second chuck wall that extends radially out from the second countersink, and a second curl that extends radially out from the second chuck wall, the second chuck wall defining a second profile that is different than the first profile;   moving the second can combination until the second type of can end engages the universal seaming chuck such that the seaming surface is adjacent the second curl and the chuck wall drive surface is adjacent the second chuck wall; and   moving the at least one seaming roll toward the second can combination such that the at least one seaming roll presses the second curl against the seaming surface to thereby form a double seam with the second curl and the second can body.