Method and Apparatus for Providing Metal Container with Lining

Abstract

Apparatuses configured to apply and methods for applying a lining element to an interior surface of a can and/or to a can end are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus configured to apply a lining element to an interior surface of a can including a sidewall, the apparatus comprising:
 a liner insertion apparatus configured to insert a liner sheet into the interior of the can; and   a can locator configured to locate the can relative to the liner insertion apparatus, the can locator including a sidewall defining a cavity which supports a sidewall of the can;   wherein the liner insertion apparatus is configured to dispense pressurized fluid to move the liner sheet toward the sidewall of the can.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a can heater configured to heat the can located in the cavity of the can locator. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a can cooler configured to cool the can located in the cavity of the can locator. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liner insertion apparatus is configured to seal the liner sheet to the can locator and wherein the can locator is configured to draw a vacuum to draw fluid from between an interior surface of the can and the liner sheet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liner insertion apparatus is configured to draw a vacuum to draw the liner sheet to the liner insertion apparatus prior to displacing the liner sheet into the interior of the can. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the liner insertion apparatus comprises a mandrel. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mandrel has first, second, and third fluid ports spaced apart axially along the length of the mandrel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the mandrel is configured to reverse the vacuum through the first port and expel fluid through the first port while continuing to draw vacuum through the second and third ports. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the mandrel is configured to subsequently reverse the vacuum through the second port and expel fluid through the second port while continuing to expel fluid through the first port and draw vacuum through the third port. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the mandrel is configured to subsequently reverse the vacuum through the third port and expel fluid through the third port while continuing to expel fluid through the first port and the second port. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locator is movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the locator comprises an actuator configured to selectively open and close the locator. 
     
     
         13 . A method of closing a can having a sidewall extending from a first open end to an end wall with a can end including a curl portion, the method comprising:
 applying a liner to an interior surface of the can, the liner including a first portion extending from the first open end of the sidewall to the end wall and a second portion extending from the first open end outside of the can; and   attaching the can end to the first open end of the sidewall at a joint wherein the second portion of the liner is located between the can end and the sidewall at the joint to form a hermetic seal between the can end and the side wall.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the coupling the can end to the first open end of the sidewall includes forming the joint in the form of a double seam between the can end and the sidewall. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a can end comprising:
 providing a liner sheet including a central portion having a first thickness and a radially outer portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness;   forming a can end having a curl portion;   wherein the liner sheet is attached to the can end such that the radially outer portion of the liner is located in the curl portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of forming a can end having a curl portion comprises stamping a metal blank into a can end shape including a curl portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the liner is attached to the stamped metal blank prior to forming the can end shape. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising double seaming the stamped metal blank with the liner sheet coupled thereto to a sidewall of a can with the radially outer portion of the liner sheet forming a hermetic seal between the stamped metal blank and the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the thickness of the radially outer portion of the liner sheet is increased by rolling the radially outer portion of the liner sheet inwardly to reduce its radius and increase its thickness. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of forming a can end having a curl portion comprises coupling the liner sheet to a metal sheet and punching the portion of the metal sheet with the liner sheet coupled thereto to form the can end.