Patent ID: 6434997
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B21D

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing at least a bead on a side wall portion of a metal container, said apparatus comprising a mandrel over which said side wall portion is disposed, said mandrel having reaction members with reaction surfaces for supporting the side wall portion internally, the apparatus further comprising a plurality of forming members surrounding the mandrel having forming surfaces being substantially parallel with the reaction surfaces but separated therefrom to define a gap between said surfaces which receives said side wall portion, said reaction members and forming members being capable of displacement towards and away from one another such that the gap between the reaction surfaces and forming surfaces can effectively expand and contact, said reaction surfaces and forming surfaces being provided with complementary formations thereon to deform the side wall portion therebetween and form a bead therein, wherein the reaction members and the forming members are moved back and forth by virtue of cam means particular to each reaction member and forming member, the cam means driving the reaction members and the cam means driving the forming members both being provided on an actuating plate disposed beneath said reaction members and forming members and being capable of linear reciprocal motion parallel with the central axis of the mandrel, said linear motion in a first direction causing said reaction members and said forming members to approach one another and in a second opposite direction causing said reaction members and said forming members to recede from one another.