Method and Apparatus for Reforming an Inside Dome Wall Portion of a Container

Abstract

A reform apparatus for reforming a bottom portion of a metallic beverage container is provided. The reform apparatus generally includes a pair of reform rollers interconnected to pivot arms. Spring are operably interconnected to the reform rollers such that the reform rollers a biased radially inwardly in an unactuated state. The springs at least one of spring bushings and compression springs. The reform rollers rotate radially outwardly when a wedge member pushes axially between the two pivot arms. The wedge member engages and imparts rotation to the pivot arms. An annular edge of each of the reform rollers contacts an inner wall portion of the bottom portion of the beverage container to form a groove of a predetermined size and shape.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reforming apparatus for shaping an inner wall portion of a closed end of a metallic container, comprising:
 a tooling support element;   a dome receptacle interconnected to a distal end of the tooling support element and including a surface portion adapted to support the closed end of the metallic container;   pivot arms positioned within the tooling support element;   spring bushings positioned at least partially within the pivot arms to provide an inward biasing force to the pivot arms;   a track roller interconnected to a distal end of each of the pivot arms;   a reform roller interconnected to a distal end of each track roller, each reform roller including an annular edge with a predetermined shape;   a wedge member positioned between the pivot arms and in operable contact to travel between the pivot arms; and   a shaft interconnected to a proximal end of the wedge member to selectively supply axial movement to the wedge member, wherein when the wedge member is advanced toward the dome receptacle between the pivot arms by the shaft, the pivot arms extend outwardly and the annular edges of the reform rollers engage the inner wall portion of the metallic container.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior distance between the annular edges of the reform rollers increases by at least about 0.08 inches when the pivot arms extend outwardly. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein an angle between the reform rollers and a longitudinal axis of the reforming apparatus increases by at least about 0.9° when the pivot arms extend outwardly. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pivot arms includes an interior side which slopes inwardly proximate to the distal end of each pivot arm. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wedge member includes grooves to engage an interior side of each of the pivot arms when the wedge member is advanced axially between the pivot arms by the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the grooves of the wedge member include a first portion with a first slope and a second portion with a second slope. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the grooves of the wedge member have a first depth proximate to the shaft which is less than a second depth of the grooves proximate to the reform rollers. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wedge member comprises at least one of an engineered plastic and an organic thermoplastic polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spring bushings comprise:
 an outer portion with a central bore; and   an inner portion positioned within the central bore of the outer portion, the inner portion including at least one peripheral gap along a length of the inner portion.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spring bushings are aligned with a plane that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a compression spring interconnected to an exterior side of each of the pivot arms to apply an inward biasing force to each of the pivot arms. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the wedge member supplies an outwardly oriented force and rotational movement to the pivot arms. 
     
     
         13 . A tool adapted to shape an inner wall of a metallic container dome, comprising:
 a tool assembly with an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having a substantially flat upper surface adapted to engage the dome of the metallic container;   two pivot arms positioned within the tool assembly;   a reform roller associated with an upper end of each pivot arm;   a wedge member positioned between the two pivot arms and having a tapered geometric profile between an upper end and a lower end to engage an inward portion of each of the two pivot arms; and   a rotatable shaft operably engaged to the lower end of the wedge member, wherein when force is applied to the lower end of the wedge member, the pivot arms extend outwardly and annular edges of the reform rollers engage the inner wall of the metallic container dome.   
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 13 , further comprising biasing elements interconnected to the tool assembly to bias each of the two pivot arms inwardly. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein the biasing elements comprise at least one of a spring bushing positioned at least partially within each of the two pivot arms and a compression spring interconnected to an exterior side of each of the two pivot arms. 
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 13 , wherein the wedge member includes two outwardly facing grooves to capture the two pivot arms. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reforming an inner wall portion of a metallic container, comprising:
 positioning a lower dome portion of the metallic container on a reforming apparatus, comprising:
 a tooling housing element with a first end and a second end; 
 a dome receptacle interconnected to the first end of the tooling housing element and including a support surface configured to support the lower dome portion of the metallic container; 
 pivot arms located within the tooling housing element; 
 a reform roller associated with each pivot arm, each reform roller including an annular edge; and 
 a wedge member arranged between the pivot arms and operable to travel between the pivot arms toward the dome receptacle, the wedge member adapted to extend the pivot arms outwardly when the wedge member travels toward the dome receptacle; 
   moving the wedge member toward the dome receptacle;   engaging the inner wall portion of the metallic container with the annular edges of the reform rollers to form a predetermined geometry in the inner wall portion of the metallic container; and   moving the wedge member away from the dome receptacle to disengage the reform rollers from the inner wall portion of the metallic container.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reforming apparatus further comprises a shaft interconnected to an end of the wedge member that is distal to the dome receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reforming apparatus further comprises springs to bias the pivot arms inwardly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the springs comprise spring bushings positioned at least partially within the pivot arms.