Patent Publication Number: US-2017361971-A1

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

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/351,510 filed Jun. 17, 2016, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reforming the bottom portion of a metallic container to enhance strength characteristics. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Metallic beverage containers offer distributors and consumers many benefits. The metallic body of a beverage container provides optimal protection properties for products. For example, the metallic body prevents CO 2  migration and transmission of UV radiation which may damage beverages, negatively influencing the flavor, appearance, or color of the product. Metallic beverage containers also offer an impermeable barrier to light, water vapor, oils and fats, oxygen, and micro-organisms and keep the contents of the container fresh and protected from external influences, thereby guaranteeing a long shelf-life. The surfaces of metallic containers are also ideal for decorating with brand names, logos, designs, product information, and/or other preferred indicia for identifying, marketing, and distinguishing the metallic container and its contents from other products and competitors. Thus, metallic containers offer bottlers, distributors, and retailers an ability to stand out at the point of sale. 
     Additionally, many consumers prefer metallic containers compared to containers made of glass or plastic. Metallic containers are particularly attractive to consumers because of the convenience they offer. The light weight of metallic containers makes them easier to carry than glass containers. Metallic containers are particularly suitable for use in public places and outdoors because they are more durable than glass containers. Further, some consumers avoid plastic containers due to concerns that the plastic may leach chemicals into consumable products. 
     As a result of these benefits, sales of metallic containers were valued at approximately $53 billion globally in 2014. A large percentage of the metallic container market is driven by beverage containers. According to one report, approximately 290 billion metallic beverage containers were shipped globally in 2012. One U.S. trade group reported that 126 billion metallic containers were shipped in the U.S. alone in 2014. To meet this demand, metallic container manufacturing facilities operate some of the fastest, if not the fastest, production lines in the container industry. Accordingly, specialized equipment is required for many of the operations performed to form the metallic beverage containers. 
     Metallic beverage containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Common sizes range from about 6 ounces to about 32 ounces or larger. Exemplary diameter sizes for beverage containers are 2 2/16 inches, 2 4/16 inches, and 2 11/16 inches, which are commonly known as 202, 204, and 211 containers, respectively. Numerous other diameter sizes exist and are well known in the art. Metallic beverage containers are typically cylindrical, although other shapes are known. 
     Beverage containers are generally formed of two separate pieces, a container body and a container end closure. The container body is formed from a single piece of metal and includes a bottom dome portion, a sidewall portion, and a neck portion with a decreased diameter extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion is adapted to receive an end closure after the container body is filled with a beverage. An example of a known process of forming a container body is generally illustrated and described in “Inside a Ball Beverage Can Plant,” available at: http://www.ball.com/Ball/media/Ball/Global/Downloads/How_a_Ball_Metal_Beverage_Can_Is_Made.pdf?ext=.pdf (last visited Mar. 28, 2017) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     An important consideration in designing and fabricating such beverage containers involves providing a desirable balance between minimizing material requirements (such as providing relatively thin-gauge metal) while achieving a beverage container that will maintain its integrity and/or form, despite shipping and handling impacts or forces and impacts arising from dropped beverage containers and shipping mishaps. Moreover, it is critical to provide beverage containers which maintain integrity and/or form even when the contents are under pressure due to carbonated or otherwise gas-pressurized contents and/or arising from high internal temperatures, including, in some cases, pasteurization temperatures. 
     Typical beverage container forming processes include subjecting a thin sheet of metal alloy to a series of drawing, ironing, and/or forming operations. One of the first steps performed on such a metal sheet is a cupping process where the sheet is drawn into a seamless cup to establish an initial shape and inside diameter of the beverage container. Subsequently, the cup is pushed through a series of ironing rings to thin the outer wall of the container to a selected thickness. During these ironing processes, performed with equipment commonly referred to as bodymaker tooling, the diameter of the container is typically maintained while the outer wall length is substantially increased to establish the fluid capacity of the beverage container. The bottom portion of the beverage container is generally formed to define a recessed or concave dome surface to resist deformation due to internal fluid pressures. The pressure at which the recessed surface is deformed or reversed is often called the “static dome reversal pressure” of the beverage container. The bottom portion of the beverage container also includes an annular support member which will contact a supporting surface to maintain the beverage container in a vertical position during stacking, consumer use, and the like. 
     The annular support member generally contains outer and inner surfaces that join the outer wall to the annular support member and that join the annular support member to the domed surface, respectively. These outer and inner surfaces have profiles which are shaped during the manufacture of the container to provide an outside dome profile and an inside dome profile. 
     The configuration of the bottom portion of the beverage container is important for a variety of reasons. The outside dome profile is often configured for purposes of stacking beverage containers. The outside and inside dome profiles are also important in facilitating material usage reductions, since various geometric configurations can be utilized to enhance strength characteristics. For example, the bottom portion may be configured to enhance the static dome reversal pressure characteristics and to reduce the risk of damage caused when a filled beverage container is dropped onto a hard surface during shipping, storage, and use. This drop resistance may be described as the cumulative drop height at which the bottom portion is damaged sufficiently to preclude the beverage container from standing upright on a flat surface. 
     One method of improving the strength characteristics of beverage containers is known as “reforming.” During reforming, the inside dome profile of the bottom portion of a beverage container is formed to create a geometric configuration with improved strength characteristics. Reforming results in increased buckle and drop strength for beverage containers. Methods and apparatus, known as “reformers,” used in reforming the inside dome profile of beverage containers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,973, U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,385, U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,709, U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,468, U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,352, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,242, U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,241, U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,686, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,127, U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,393, U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,089, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,959,577 which are each incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     Typical beverage container manufacturing facilities contain expensive capital equipment and often produce hundreds of millions of beverage containers per year. The wear of components of reformers is inherent in such a container manufacturing facility based of the tremendous speed and output of product. The wear rings and bushings of known reformers are especially susceptible to wear and failure. In some reformers, wear rings and bushings typically last only a few months between rebuilds or before other substantial maintenance is required. For example, some known reformers typically only operate for about 3 to 4 months before requiring maintenance. During this period, the reformer may reform the interior dome of only about 315 million beverage containers. 
     Additionally, as the reformer components wear, there is frequently a deterioration in the precision with which the reform roller is positioned. Variations in the positioning of the reform rollers cause a departure of the container bottom shape from the intended shape or profile. Such departures can reduce the beverage container&#39;s strength, durability, or resistance to damage or failure. However, replacement of parts and other maintenance performed on reformers typically requires shutting down a production line with disadvantageous economic consequences. It is highly desirable to reduce such maintenance, as performing the maintenance results in the machine being out of service for manufacturing use, and also requires personnel to service the machine and replacement parts, all of which add to the total cost of producing beverage containers. 
     Further, some prior art reformers include a reform roller that is activated in response to a force applied by a metallic container contacting the reformer. For example, one known reformer requires the metallic container to apply a force to the reformer to move the reform roller outwardly into contact with the dome of the metallic container. As one of skill in the art will appreciate, the force applied by the metallic container may damage the metallic container, such as causing the body portion of the metallic container to buckle or otherwise deform. 
     Accordingly, it would be beneficial to have a reformer with components that last longer and which operate according to specifications for longer periods without maintenance or replacement to reduce overall maintenance in a manufacturing facility, and to reduce the inherent wear of machinery and the tooling associated therewith. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides systems and methods for reforming a container dome wall in a cost-effective, fast, and reliable manner. One aspect of the present invention is a reforming apparatus which forms a consistent reform bead or groove in an inner wall portion of a dome portion of a beverage container while operating for extended time periods without excessive wear or failure. More specifically, the reforming apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention can operate for up to at least 1 year without significant maintenance or rebuilding. Stated differently, the reforming apparatus of the present invention can operate up to at least 400 percent longer than known reformers. In another embodiment, the reforming apparatus of the present invention can reform the bottom dome portion of approximately 1.26 billion metallic containers without significant maintenance. Accordingly, the reforming apparatus of the present invention can significantly reduce downtime and associated loss of a beverage container production line. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a reform apparatus that includes a novel sliding wedge. The sliding wedge transfers axial and rotational motion to pivot arms and to reform rollers. Biasing elements bias the pivot arms inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the reform apparatus. In one embodiment, the sliding wedge includes two slots adapted to selectively capture the pivot arms that hold the reform rollers. In this manner, the sliding wedge causes the pivot arms to rotate axially around the longitudinal axis and the reform rollers to move outwardly away from the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the biasing elements include at least one of spring bushings and compression springs. The spring bushings and the compression springs bias the pivot arms inwardly toward the longitudinal axis when the sliding wedge is withdrawn at least partially from a space between the pivot arms. In one embodiment, the compression springs are interconnected to a set screw that may be rotated to alter the biasing force applied by the compression springs. In another embodiment, the reform apparatus uses some of the parts of known single roller reformers. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a reform apparatus that includes two reform rollers. The two rollers balance the forming load and improve the performance and longevity of components of the reform apparatus. Said otherwise, each of the two reform rollers is configured to apply less force to an interior dome portion of a metallic container compared to known reform apparatus that only include a single reform roller. Accordingly, the reform apparatus of the present invention may reform the interior dome portion of a metallic container while applying a lower load to the metallic container than known reforming apparatus. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a reform apparatus which includes reform rollers interconnected to pivot arms. The reform rollers pivot outwardly in response to movement of a wedge member between the pivot arms. Thus, the reform rollers move outwardly to engage an inner wall portion of a metallic container due to movement of the wedge member. In one embodiment, the movement of the reform rollers and the wedge is not in response to contact of the metallic container with the reform apparatus. In this manner, the reform apparatus of the present invention does not require contact of the metallic container to move the reform rollers to an engaged position. Thus, the reform apparatus of the present invention applies a lower load to the metallic container during reforming of the metallic container dome wall compared to known reforming apparatus. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention is a novel sliding wedge. The sliding wedge includes grooves to selectively capture pivot arms of a reform apparatus. In one embodiment, the grooves are tapered. Optionally, the tapered grooves may include a first portion with a first slope and a second portion with a second different slope. In one embodiment, the sliding wedge is made of an engineered plastic. In another embodiment, the sliding wedge is made of an organic thermoplastic polymer. In still another embodiment, the sliding wedge is made of polyether ether ketone. In one embodiment, the sliding wedge is formed from a single piece of material. 
     It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a sliding wedge comprising a first portion interconnected to a second portion. The sliding wedge includes two grooves. Optionally, the grooves have a depth that varies along a length of the grooves. The grooves are generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the wedge and positioned on substantially opposite sides of the wedge. In one embodiment, the sliding wedge includes rollers. The rollers may be arranged generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the wedge. In one embodiment, the sliding wedge includes two rollers with one roller associated with each of the grooves. At least a portion of each roller projects through an aperture in the groove with which the roller is associated. In this manner, each roller contacts and rolls up an inclined surface of a pivot arm of the reform apparatus when the sliding wedge is advance axially between the pivot arms. 
     Another novel aspect of the present invention is a compression spring aligned to apply a biasing force to a pivot arm of a reform apparatus. The compression spring is configured to bias the pivot arm radially inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the reform apparatus. In this manner, a reform roller associated with the pivot arm is biased in an unactuated state such that the pivot arm is positioned proximate to the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the compression spring is generally radially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the reforming apparatus. Said another way, the compression spring is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention is a reforming apparatus which has fewer moving parts and requires less lubrication and maintenance than prior art reforming apparatus. In one embodiment, the reforming apparatus includes spring bushings that generate little or no friction. 
     It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a reforming apparatus for shaping an inner wall portion of a closed end of a metallic container. The apparatus includes, but is not limited to, one or more of: (1) a tooling support element; (2) 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; (3) pivot arms positioned within the tooling support element; (4) a biasing element to provide an inward biasing force to the pivot arms; (5) a track roller interconnected to a distal end of each of the pivot arms; (6) a reform roller interconnected to a distal end of each track roller, each reform roller including an annular edge with a predetermined shape; (7) a wedge member positioned between the pivot arms and in operable contact to travel between the pivot arms; and (8) 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. The biasing element biases the distal end of each of the pivot arms inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the reforming apparatus. In one embodiment, the biasing element is at least one of a spring bushing and a compression spring. In another embodiment, a spring bushing is positioned at least partially within each of the pivot arms. Optionally, a compression spring is interconnected to each of the pivot arms. In another embodiment, the compression spring is interconnected to an exterior side of each of the pivot arms to apply an inward biasing force to each of the pivot arms. 
     In one embodiment, 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. Optionally, 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. In one embodiment, each track roller has a roller axis that is oblique to the longitudinal axis when the pivot arms extend outwardly. 
     In another embodiment, each of the pivot arms includes a projection to be received by the wedge member. Optionally, each of the pivot arms includes an interior side which slopes inwardly proximate to the distal end. 
     In one embodiment, the wedge member is configured to selectively engage a portion of each of the pivot arms. In another embodiment, the wedge member includes grooves to engage an interior side of each of the pivot arms. In one embodiment, the grooves engage the interior side when the wedge member is advanced axially between the pivot arms by the shaft. Optionally, the grooves of the wedge member include a first portion with a first slope and a second portion with a second slope. In another embodiment, 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. In still another embodiment, the wedge member comprises at least one of an engineered plastic and an organic thermoplastic polymer. In one embodiment, the wedge member supplies rotational movement to the pivot arms. Further, the wedge member supplies an outwardly oriented force to the pivot arms when the wedge member is advanced toward the dome receptacle. 
     In one embodiment, the spring bushings include an outer portion with a central bore. In another embodiment, the spring bushings include an inner portion positioned within the central bore of the outer portion. Optionally, the inner portion includes a peripheral gap along a length of the inner portion. In another embodiment, the inner portion includes two peripheral gaps. Optionally the two peripheral gaps are substantially diametrically aligned. In one embodiment, the spring bushings are aligned with a plane that is substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the shaft. In another embodiment, longitudinal axes of the spring bushings define a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a tool adapted to shape an inner wall of a metallic container dome. The tool comprises at least one of: (1) a tool assembly with an upper end (or first end) and a lower end (or second end), the first end having a substantially flat upper surface adapted to engage the dome of the metallic container; (2) two pivot arms positioned within the tool assembly; (3) a reform roller associated with a first end of each pivot arm; (4) a wedge member positioned between the two pivot arms and having a tapered geometric profile between a first end and a second end to engage an inward portion of each of the two pivot arms; and (5) a shaft operably engaged to the second end of the wedge member, wherein when force is applied to the second 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. In one embodiment, the wedge member has an exterior surface configured to engage an interior portion of each of the two pivot arms. In another embodiment, the wedge member includes two outwardly facing grooves to engage the interior portion of each of the two pivot arms. Optionally, the grooves have a first depth proximate to the first end that is greater than a second depth proximate to the second end. In another embodiment, at least a portion of each of the reform rollers extends at least partially above (or beyond) the substantially flat upper surface of the tool assembly. In one embodiment, the shaft is operable to rotate around a longitudinal axis. In this manner, the shaft rotates the wedge member around the longitudinal axis. 
     Optionally, the tool further includes biasing elements interconnected to the tool assembly to bias each of the two pivot arms inwardly toward the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the biasing elements comprise at least one of a spring bushing associated with each of the two pivot arms and a compression spring interconnected to each of the two pivot arms. In another embodiment, a spring bushing is positioned at least partially within each of the two pivot arms. Optionally, the spring bushings include spring axes that define a spring plane, the spring plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Additionally, or alternatively, a compression spring may be interconnected to an exterior side of each of the pivot arms. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a method of reforming an inner wall portion of a metallic container. The method includes one or more of, but is not limited to: (1) positioning a lower dome portion of the metallic container on a reforming apparatus, comprising: (i) a tooling housing element with a first end and a second end; (ii) 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; (iii) pivot arms located within the tooling housing element; (iv) a reform roller associated with each pivot arm, each reform roller including an annular edge; and (v) 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; (2) moving the wedge member toward the dome receptacle; (3) 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 (4) moving the wedge member away from the dome receptacle to disengage the reform rollers from the inner wall portion of the metallic container. In one embodiment, the wedge member has an exterior surface configured to selectively engage a portion of each of the pivot arms. In one embodiment, the wedge member engages the pivot arms when the wedge member is moved toward the dome receptacle. In another embodiment, the annular edge of each reform roller extends beyond the support surface of the dome receptacle. 
     In one embodiment, the reforming apparatus further comprises a shaft interconnected to an end of the wedge member that is distal to the dome receptacle. The shaft is operable to rotate the wedge member around a longitudinal axis of the reforming apparatus. In one embodiment, the when the wedge member engages each of the pivot arms, the pivot arms rotate around the longitudinal axis. 
     Optionally, the reforming apparatus may include a bias element to bias the pivot arms inwardly toward the longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the bias element includes at least one of a spring bushing and a compression spring. Optionally, a spring bushing is positioned at least partially within each of the pivot arms. 
     Although generally referred to herein as “metallic container,” “beverage container,” “can,” and “container,” it should be appreciated that the current invention may be used with containers of any size or shape including, without limitation, beverage cans and beverage bottles. Accordingly, the term “container” is intended to cover containers of any type. Further, as will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the methods and apparatus of the present invention may be used for any type of metallic container and are not specifically limited to a beverage container such as a soft drink or beer can. 
     The terms “metal” or “metallic” as used hereinto refer to any metallic material that may be used to form a container, including without limitation aluminum, steel, tin, and any combination thereof. 
     The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or,” as used herein, are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. 
     Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, dimensions, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” 
     The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. 
     The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof can be used interchangeably herein. 
     It shall be understood that the term “means” as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C., Section 112(f). Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term “means” shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materials, or acts and the equivalents thereof shall include all those described in the Summary of the Invention, Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, Abstract, and Claims themselves. 
     The Summary of the Invention is neither intended, nor should it be construed, as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present invention. Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. The present invention is set forth in various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description and no limitation as to the scope of the present invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of elements or components. Additional aspects of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the Detailed Description, particularly when taken together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the Summary of the Invention given above and the Detailed Description of the drawings given below serve to explain the principles of these embodiments. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Additionally, it should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. 
         FIG. 1A  is a partial cross-sectional front elevation view of a beverage container illustrating a domed bottom portion before an inner wall portion of the domed bottom portion has been reformed; 
         FIG. 1B  is another partial cross-sectional front elevation view of the beverage container of  FIG. 1A  after the inner wall portion has been reformed following a reform operation of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  is an expanded cross-sectional front elevation view of the domed bottom portion of the beverage container of  FIG. 1B ; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a reform apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention with reform rollers illustrated in an unactuated state; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional front elevation view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2  taken along line  3 - 3  with a retaining ring of the reform apparatus removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional front perspective view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2  with the retaining ring of the reform apparatus removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 5  is another cross-sectional front elevation view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2  taken along line  5 - 5  and showing the retaining ring; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional front perspective view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2  with the retaining ring again removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 7  to a top cross-sectional perspective view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5  with the retaining ring removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2  taken along line  8 - 8 ; 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  are cross-sectional views illustrating a beverage container being moved into a predetermined position with respect to the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 2  with the reform rollers illustrated in an actuated state; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional front elevation view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 10  taken along line  11 - 11  and showing the reform apparatus with the retaining ring removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional front perspective view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 10  that is taken along a line similar to the front elevation view of  FIG. 11  with the retaining ring of the reform apparatus removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 10  taken along line  13 - 13 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 10  taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional front perspective view similar to the perspective view of  FIG. 12  and illustrating an inner wall portion of a bottom dome portion of a beverage container being reformed by reform rollers of the reform apparatus of  FIG. 10 , 
         FIGS. 16-17  are views of a carrier element of a reform apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention with a tooling element and the retaining ring of the reform apparatus removed for clarity and showing a wedge member of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 18A-18B  are cross-sectional perspective views of a spring bushing of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 19A-19B  are exploded perspective views of a wedge member of another embodiment of the present invention comprising two pieces that are interconnectable and positionable within the reforming apparatus; and 
         FIG. 19C  is a cross-sectional front elevation view of a portion of the reform apparatus showing the wedge member of  FIGS. 19A-19B  movable axially between pivot arms of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar components and/or features may have the same reference number. Components of the same type may be distinguished by a letter following the reference number. If only the reference number is used, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same reference number. 
     To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the present invention the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Number 
                 Component 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                  2 
                 Beverage container 
               
               
                  4 
                 Container body 
               
               
                  6 
                 Container sidewall 
               
               
                  8 
                 Outer wall portion 
               
               
                  10 
                 Annular support member 
               
               
                  12 
                 Inner wall portion 
               
               
                  14 
                 Domed bottom portion 
               
               
                  16 
                 Groove or crease of reformed inner wall portion 
               
               
                  17 
                 Diameter of annular groove 
               
               
                  18 
                 Hook portion of inner wall portion 
               
               
                  20 
                 Reform apparatus 
               
               
                  21 
                 Longitudinal axis of reform apparatus 
               
               
                  22 
                 Housing 
               
               
                  23 
                 Housing end portion 
               
               
                  24 
                 Tooting support element 
               
               
                  26 
                 Retaining ring 
               
               
                  27 
                 Die cushion 
               
               
                  27A 
                 Die cushion 
               
               
                  28 
                 Ram 
               
               
                  29 
                 Ram end portion 
               
               
                  30 
                 Shaft 
               
               
                  31 
                 Distance between housing end and ram end 
               
               
                  32 
                 Bearing 
               
               
                  34 
                 Retaining ring 
               
               
                  36 
                 Dome receptacle 
               
               
                  38 
                 Annular bead of dome receptacle 
               
               
                  39 
                 Bearings 
               
               
                  40 
                 Reform roller 
               
               
                  41 
                 Annular edge of reform roller 
               
               
                  42 
                 Track Roller 
               
               
                  43 
                 Longitudinal axis of track roller 
               
               
                  44A 
                 Internal retaining ring 
               
               
                  44B 
                 External retaining ring 
               
               
                  45 
                 Angle between track roller axis and reform apparatus  
               
               
                   
                 longitudinal axis 
               
               
                  46 
                 Pivot arm 
               
               
                  47 
                 Ramp of pivot arm 
               
               
                  48 
                 Carrier element 
               
               
                  50 
                 Spring bushings 
               
               
                  51 
                 Threaded fasteners 
               
               
                  51A 
                 Threaded fasteners 
               
               
                  52 
                 Wedge member 
               
               
                  52A 
                 Wedge member 
               
               
                  54 
                 Driver element 
               
               
                  56 
                 Threaded fasteners 
               
               
                  58 
                 Cap of threaded fastener 
               
               
                  60 
                 Grooves of wedge member 
               
               
                  61 
                 Sloped grooves of wedge member 
               
               
                  62 
                 Distal portion of wedge member 
               
               
                  64 
                 Proximal portion of wedge member 
               
               
                  65 
                 Shims 
               
               
                  66 
                 Shims 
               
               
                  67 
                 Distance between dome receptacle and reform roller 
               
               
                  68 
                 Exterior distance between roller annular edges 
               
               
                  69 
                 Distance between interior of the roller annular edges. 
               
               
                  70 
                 Mandrel 
               
               
                  72 
                 Aperture for spring bushing 
               
               
                  82 
                 Compression springs 
               
               
                  84 
                 Set screw 
               
               
                  86 
                 Fixed sleeve of spring bushing 
               
               
                  88 
                 Load bearing sleeve of spring bushing 
               
               
                  90 
                 Core 
               
               
                  92 
                 First springs 
               
               
                  94 
                 Second springs 
               
               
                  96 
                 First portion of core 
               
               
                  98 
                 Second portion of core 
               
               
                 100 
                 Axial gap 
               
               
                 102 
                 First portion of wedge member 
               
               
                 104 
                 Second portion of wedge member 
               
               
                 106 
                 Rollers 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 108 
                 Apertures 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant&#39;s intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the invention being disclosed despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by the requirements of referring to the specific examples disclosed. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the present invention, a preferred embodiment that illustrates the best mode now contemplated for putting the invention into practice is described herein by, and with reference to, the annexed drawings that form a part of the specification. The exemplary embodiment is described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the arts, may be modified in numerous ways within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , before describing certain features of the present invention, some general aspects of reforming a beverage container  2  will be described. A beverage container  2  is illustrated after initial forming but before dome reforming. The beverage container  2  includes a container body  4  with a generally cylindrical sidewall  6 , an outer wall portion  8  with a reduced diameter, a generally annular support member  10 , and an inner wall portion  12  coupling the annular support member  10  to a domed bottom portion  14  which defines a closed end-wall of the beverage container. The inner wall portion  12  of the dome portion  14  is substantially linear in a vertical direction before being reformed by a reform apparatus. By reforming the domed bottom portion  14  of the beverage container  2 , enhanced strength characteristics can be achieved. 
     Reforming the beverage container  2  involves changing the shape of the inner wall portion  12 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall portion  12  is reformed substantially as depicted in  FIG. 1B  to include a radially outwardly extending groove or crease  16 . Typically, the groove or crease  16  extends substantially the entire circumferential extent of the inner wall portion  12 . The position, magnitude, and shape of the groove  16  can affect the strength, durability, and/or damage-resistance of the beverage container  2 . Accordingly, it is critical to provide accurate control of the reforming apparatus to obtain the proper geometry of the groove  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1C , an expanded view of the inner wall portion  12  of the beverage container  2  is illustrated after having been reformed by a reform apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Following a reform process performed by a reform apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall portion  12  of the annular support member  10  may include a portion  18  having a relatively pronounced “hook” shape. The annular support member  10  has a radius R 2  which is smaller than either of radii R 1  and R 3 , which defines this hook portion  18 . The hook portion  18  helps to enhance the strength characteristics of the domed bottom portion  14  of the beverage container  2 . Further, the hook portion  18  substantially locks the inner wall portion  12  and the domed bottom portion  14  in place. The hook portion  18  also resists rollout because the hook radius R 2  is smaller than either radii R 1  and R 3 . By reforming the inner wall portion  12  in such a manner, the inner wall portion  12  resists plastic unrolling, or rollout, which may occur when the container  2  is pressurized, and is associated with a change in one or more of radii R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 . 
     The diameter  17  of the groove or crease  16  is larger than the interior surface diameter of the inner wall portion  12 . Accordingly, it is more difficult to pass through the smaller opening of the inner wall portion  12 . Said another way, the dome portion  14  cannot roll out or move downward past the inner wall portion  12  because the diameter  17  of the groove  16  is larger than the diameter of the inner wall portion  12 . Further, the groove or crease  16  helps prevent unwinding and the resultant increased container length during any pasteurizing process. When pressure is applied to the domed bottom portion  14  from inside the container  2 , the domed bottom portion  14  is forced toward the bottom portion of the beverage container  2 . The geometric shape of the domed bottom portion  14  results in pressure applied to the inner wall portion  12  in a direction toward the bottom of the container  2  and toward the outer wall portion  8 . When such pressure is applied, because of the geometry of the inner wall portion  12 , it is unlikely that any of the radii R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  will increase, thus reducing the likelihood of rollout and/or buckle. Examples of the dimensions and geometry of the groove  16  that may be formed with the reform apparatus  20  of the present invention are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,473 which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-8 , one embodiment of a reform apparatus  20  of the present invention is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the reform apparatus  20  generally includes a housing  22  interconnected to a tooling support element  24  by a first retaining ring  26 . In one embodiment, a die cushion  27  is positioned between a portion of the tooling element  24  and the first retaining ring  26 . 
     The housing  22  includes a ram  28  and a shaft  30  substantially concentrically aligned. The ram  28  and the shaft  30  can move axially generally parallel to a longitudinal axis  21  of the reform apparatus. The shaft  30  may also rotate around the longitudinal axis  21  within the housing  22 . In one embodiment, when the reform apparatus  20  is in an open position in which the tooling of the reform apparatus  20  is in an unactuated state (as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-9 ) a distance  31  between an end portion  23  of the housing  22  and an end portion  29  of the ram  28  is greater than approximately 0.3 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the distance  31  is greater than approximately 0.33 inches. In a still more preferred embodiment, the distance is greater than approximately 0.34 inches. 
     The shaft  30  is supported by bearings  32  such that the shaft  30  can rotate with respect to the ram  28  while the ram  28  does not rotate. Any suitable bearings  32  may be used with the reform apparatus  20 . In one embodiment, the bearings have a bore diameter of approximately 17 mm and an outer diameter of approximately 40 mm. 
     The tooling support element  24  generally includes a second retaining ring  34  (illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 ), a dome receptacle  36 , and reform rollers  40 . Optionally, a second die cushion  27 A is positioned between a portion of the second retaining ring  34  and the dome receptacle  36 . In one embodiment, the second die cushion  27 A is the same as, or similar to, die cushion  27 . 
     The dome receptacle  36  includes an annular bead  38  adapted to receive an annular support member  10  of a beverage container  2  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 9B-9C ). Different dome receptacles  36  may be used with the reform apparatus  20  with annular beads  38  of diameters sized to fit beverage containers  2  of any diameter. For example, the annular bead  38  of the dome receptacle  36  may have a diameter selected to receive the annular support member  10  of a 202 diameter beverage container (a beverage container with a diameter of 2 2/16 inches), a 204 diameter beverage container (a beverage container with a diameter of 2 4/16 inches), a 211 diameter beverage container (a beverage container with a diameter of 2 11/16 inches), or a beverage container of any other diameter. 
     Each reform roller  40  is rotationally interconnected to a head portion of a track roller  42  by a retaining ring  44 A. The track rollers  42  include internal bearings (not illustrated). In one embodiment, the bearings of the track rollers  42  are needle rollers. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the needle rollers of the track rollers  42  provide a longer service life than other bearings. The retaining rings  44 A enable the reform rollers  40  to rotate axially about a longitudinal axis  43  of each track roller  42 . In one embodiment, the head or cylindrical roller of the track rollers  42  has a diameter of approximately ⅝ inches and a width of approximately 7/16 inches. 
     An annular edge  41  of each reform roller  40  is adapted to contact and apply a compressive force to an inner wall portion  12  of a beverage container  2  when the annular support member  10  of the beverage container  2  is received in the annular bead  38 . The annular edge  41  has a predetermined profile adapted to form the groove or crease  16  on the beverage container  2  described above in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . 
     The track rollers  42  are interconnected to pivot arms  46 . In one embodiment, the track rollers  42  include a stud portion that threadably engages a bore formed in the pivot arms  46 . 
     The pivot arms  46  have radially inward edge portions. Optionally, the radially inward edge portions of the pivot arms  46  may be shaped to engage a portion of a wedge member  52  of the reform apparatus  20 . In one embodiment, the radially inward edges of the pivot arms  46  form a ramp  47 . The ramp  47  has a maximum thickness proximate to the reform rollers  40 . Said another way, the radially inward edges of the pivot arms  46  slope inwardly proximate to the dome receptacle  36 . 
     The pivot arms  46  are pivotally interconnected to a carrier element  48 . The pivot arms  46  are biased inwardly toward the longitudinal axis  21 . Optionally, the pivot arms  46  include by spring bushings  50  that bias the pivot arms inwardly. In one embodiment, a medial portion of each spring bushing  50  is positioned at least partially within a bore of one of the pivot arms  46 . End portions of each spring bushing  50  are interconnected to the carrier element  48 . The medial portion of each spring bushing  50  can rotate with respect to the end portions. Each of the spring bushings  40  has a longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axes of the spring bushings  40  are substantially parallel. In another embodiment, the spring bushing longitudinal axes define a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the reform apparatus axis  21 . 
     In one embodiment, the spring bushings  50  are pre-loaded. In another embodiment, the spring bushings  50  are not preloaded when installed in the reform apparatus  20 . In this manner, angular actuation of the spring bushings  50  is increased compared to spring bushings that are pre-loaded. Additionally, spring bushings  50  which are not preloaded generally have a longer service life compared to spring bushings that are pre-loaded. In one embodiment, the spring bushings  50  apply between about 3 lbf and about 7 lbf to the pivot arms  46  to bias distal ends of the pivot arms inwardly. 
     Optionally, the reform apparatus  20  may also include compression springs  82 . By including both compression springs  82  and spring bushings  50  in the reform apparatus  20 , the load on the spring bushings  50  may be reduced. In this manner, the service life of the spring bushings  50  is increased. In one embodiment, the service life of the spring bushings  50  is at least equal to the design life of the reform apparatus  20  such that spring bushings  50  are not scheduled to be service or replaced during the service life of the reform apparatus  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the compression springs  82  are positioned between pivot arms  46  and the carrier element  48 . In one embodiment, the compression springs  82  are aligned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  21  of the reform apparatus  20 ; however, it will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the compression springs  82  may be arranged in a different position with respect to the pivot arms  46  and the carrier element  48 . Optionally, the compression springs apply between about 3 lbf and about 7 lbf to the pivot arms  46  to bias the distal ends of the pivot arms inwardly. 
     The spring bushings  50  and the compression springs  82  are adapted to bias the pivot arms  46  radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis  21  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . A set screw  84  may be associated with each compression spring  82 . By rotating the optional set screw  84 , the bias force applied to the pivot arms  46  by the compression springs  82  may be adjusted. In one embodiment, the reform apparatus  20  includes the spring bushings  50 . In another embodiment, the reform apparatus includes the compression springs  82 . Optionally, the reform apparatus may include both the spring bushings  50  and the compression springs  82 . 
     In one embodiment, when the track rollers  42  are biased inwardly, an angle  45  between the apparatus axis  21  and the track roller axis  43  is no greater than approximately 0.450. In another embodiment, the angle  45  is less than approximately 0.350. In a more preferred embodiment, the angle  45  is approximately 0.3290. In one embodiment, an exterior distance  68  between the roller annular edges  41  is less than approximately 1.9 inches when the reform rollers  40  are in the unactuated state. In a more preferred embodiment, the distance  68  is approximately 1.78 inches. In another embodiment, the distance  68  is between about 1.6 inches and 1.9 inches when the reform rollers  40  are in the unactuated state. 
     A distance  69  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) separating the roller annular edges  41  in the unactuated state is less than approximately 0.01 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the distance  69  is approximately 0.002 inches. Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a distance  67  between an exterior surface portion of the dome receptacle  36  and an exterior surface portion of the reform rollers  40  is less than approximately 0.095 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the distance  67  is approximately 0.092 inches. 
     Threaded fasteners  51  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) may be used to retain the spring bushings  50  in the pivot arms  46 . Similarly, additional threaded fasteners  51 A (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) may retain the spring bushings  50  to the carrier element  48 . In one embodiment, threaded fasteners  51 A have a different dimension than threaded fasteners  51 . 
     The carrier element  48  is substantially concentrically aligned with, and rotationally interconnected to, the tooling element  24  and the dome receptacle  36  by bearings  39 . The bearings  39  are held in predetermined positions by retaining rings  44 B. In this manner, the carrier element  48  may rotate axially around the longitudinal axis  21  of the reform apparatus  20 . Although any type of bearing may be used with the reform apparatus  20 , in one embodiment the bearings  39  have a bore diameter of approximately 2.0 inches and an outer diameter of approximately 2.5 inches. 
     A wedge member  52  is positioned between the pivot arms  46 . The wedge member  52  is interconnected to a driver element  54  by threaded fasteners  56  (illustrated in  FIG. 8 ). The cap  58  of a threaded fastener interconnects the driver element  54  to the shaft  30 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the driver element  54  may optionally include an aperture sized to at least partially receive the screw cap  58 . Additionally, the driver element  54  may include a recess adapted to receive the distal portion  62  of the wedge member  52 . More specifically, the recess may have a shape and size substantially the same as the shape and size of the wedge distal portion  62 . 
     The wedge member  52  is adapted to move axially substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  21  between the pivot arms  46 . The wedge member  52  is configured to engage the pivot arms  46  when the wedge member  52  is advanced toward the dome receptacle  36 . In this manner, the wedge member  52  can impart axial and rotational movement to the pivot arms  46 . More specifically, exterior edges of the wedge member  52  are shaped to engage an inwardly facing edge of each of the pivot arms  46 . In one embodiment, the wedge member  52  includes recesses or grooves  60  (best seen in  FIG. 6 ) that engage the ramp  47  of each pivot arm  46 . The grooves  60  are tapered and increase in depth from a portion  62  of the wedge member  52  distal to the reform roller  40  to a portion  64  of the wedge member  52  proximate to the reform rollers  40 . Said another way, the proximal portion  64  between the grooves  60  has a width that is less than the width of the distal portion  62  of the wedge member  52 . The spring bushings  50  and/or the compression springs  82  bias the pivot arms  46  inwardly against the centrifugal force when the wedge member  52  rotates the pivot arms  46  around the longitudinal axis  21 . 
     The wedge member  52  may be made of any durable and long lasting material. In one embodiment, the wedge member  52  is made of engineered plastic. In another embodiment, the wedge member  52  is made of an organic thermoplastic polymer. Optionally, the wedge member  52  may be made of Polyether ether ketone (or “PEEK”). However, it is contemplated that other materials may be used to form the wedge member  52 , such as a metallic material. In one embodiment, the wedge member  52  is formed of a single piece of material. However, in another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 19A, 19B , a wedge member  52 A of another embodiment of the present invention is formed of two or more pieces that are interconnected together. 
     The reform apparatus  20  may also include a number of shims  65 ,  66 . For example, shims  65  may be positioned between the track rollers  42  and the pivot arms  46 . In one embodiment, the shims  65  have an inner diameter of approximately 0.25 inches, and outer diameter of approximately 0.375 inches, and a thickness of between about 0.01 inches to about 0.06 inches. Shims  66  may also be positioned between the housing  22  and the tooling element  24 . In one embodiment, shims  66  have an inner diameter of approximately 70 mm, an outer diameter of approximately 76 mm, and a thickness of between about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9A , in operation a beverage container  2  is mounted to a mandrel  70 . The mandrel  70  moves the beverage container  2  axially and generally along the longitudinal axis  21  toward the dome receptacle  36  of the reform apparatus  20 . Referring now to  FIGS. 9B-9C , the mandrel  70  continues moving axially until the annular support member  10  of the closed end of the beverage container  2  is positioned on the annular bead  38  of the dome receptacle  36  of the reform apparatus  20 . In one embodiment, the mandrel does not rotate axially around the longitudinal axis  21 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10-15 , when the beverage container  2  is in a predetermined position on the dome receptacle  36 , the ram  28  and shaft  30  of the reform apparatus  20  advance axially within the housing  22  toward the dome receptacle  36  substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  21 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the axial movement of the ram  28  and shaft  30  cause the driver element  54  to push the wedge member  52  axially between the pivot arms  46  toward the reform rollers  40 . This causes the wedge member  52  to engage the pivot arms  46 . In one embodiment, the grooves  60  of the wedge member  52  engage the ramp  47  of each pivot arm  46 . The axial rotation of the wedge member  52  around the longitudinal axis  21  is thus transferred to the pivot arms  46 . Accordingly, the pivot arms  46  begin to rotate axially around the longitudinal axis  21 . In some embodiment, the wedge member  52  is rotating continuously. 
     As the ram  28  and shaft  30  continue pushing the wedge member  52  toward the dome receptacle  36 , the ramps  47  of the pivot arms  46  follow the grooves  60  of the wedge member  52 . In this manner, the radially inward bias of the spring bushings  50  and compression springs  82  is overcome and the pivot arms  46  are pushed radially outwardly away from the longitudinal axis  21 . Accordingly, in one embodiment, the reform rollers  40  move to the actuated state and apply a predetermined force to the inner wall portion  12  of the container body dome  14  in response to movement of the wedge member  52 . Said differently, the movement of the reform rollers  40  to the actuated state is not in response to a force applied to the reform apparatus  20  from the beverage container  2 . Thus, the reform apparatus  20  of the present invention applies less force to the beverage container  2  during reforming of the domed portion  14  compared to known reforming apparatus. In one embodiment, the reform apparatus  20  may be used to form a groove  16  on a beverage container  2  with a thinner container body  4  than prior art reforming apparatus. Thus, beverage containers  2  formed of thinner gaged material may be reformed with the reform apparatus  20  of the present invention, reducing the amount of material and associated costs used to form the beverage container  2 . 
     In one embodiment, the angle  45  between the track roller axis  43  and reform apparatus axis  21  increases to greater than approximately 1.0° when distal ends of the pivot arms  46  move outwardly. In a more preferred embodiment, the angle  45  increases to more than about 1.2°. In a still more preferred embodiment, when the reform apparatus  20  is in the actuated state, the angle  45  increases to approximately 1.24°. In another embodiment, the angle  45  increases by at least about approximately 0.90 when the reform apparatus  20  moves to the actuated state. 
     In the actuated state of the reform apparatus  20 , the annular edge  41  of each reform roller  40  projects at least partially beyond an interior diameter of the annular bead  38  of the dome receptacle  36 . In one embodiment, the exterior distance  68  between the roller annular edges  41  increases to greater than approximately 1.8 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the distance  68  is more than approximately 1.85 inches. In a still more preferred embodiment, the distance  68  is approximately 1.87 inches. In another embodiment, in the actuated state, the distance  68  is between about 1.8 inches and about 2.0 inches. In another embodiment, the distance  68  increases by between approximately 0.08 inches and 0.09 inches when the reform apparatus  20  moves to the actuated state. 
     The distance  31  between the end portion  23  of the housing  22  and the end portion  29  of the ram  28  decreases in the actuated state of the reform apparatus  20 . In one embodiment, in the actuated state, the distance  31  is less than approximately 0.25 inches. In another embodiment, the distance  31  is between approximately 0.18 inches and approximately 0.25 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the distance is between about 0.187 inches and about 0.247 inches. In another embodiment, the distance  31  is approximately 0.217 inches when the reform apparatus  20  is in the actuated state. 
     The distance  67  between the exterior surface portion of the dome receptacle  36  and the exterior surface portion of the reform rollers  40  also decreases in the actuated state of the reform apparatus  20 . In one embodiment, the distance  67  is less than approximately 0.09 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the distance  67  is approximately 0.087 inches. 
     Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 15 , when the annular support member  10  of a beverage container  2  is in the predetermined position in the annular bead  38  of the dome receptacle  36 , the annular edge  41  of the reform rollers  40  apply a predetermined force to the inner wall portion  12  of the container body  4 . As the pivot arms  46  rotate axially around the apparatus axis  21 , the roller annular edges  41  form the groove  16  circumferentially around the inner wall portion  12 . 
     After at least one of a predetermined number of rotations and a predetermined period of time, the ram  28  and shaft  30  begin to move axially away from the dome receptacle  36  in a direction substantially parallel to apparatus axis  21 . The wedge member  52  moves at least partially out of the space between the pivot arms  46  and the wedge member  52  loses engagement of the pivot arms  46 . In one embodiment, the ramps  47  of the pivot arms  46  move out of the wedge grooves  60 . Accordingly, the spring bushings  50  and compression springs  82  bias inwardly toward longitudinal axis  21 , returning the reform rollers  40  to the disengaged state, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9B-9C . The beverage container  2  may then be removed from the reform apparatus  20  by the mandrel  70 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16-17 , a carrier element  48  of an embodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated. The carrier element  48  is shown separated from the housing  22  of the reform apparatus  20  with the tooling element  24 , second retaining ring  34 , and the dome receptacle  36  removed for clarity. Apertures  72  are formed in the carrier element  48  to receive the spring bushings  50 . In  FIG. 16 , the wedge member  52  is partially withdrawn from between the pivot arms  46  showing a grove  60  of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , the wedge member  52  is shown completely withdrawn from the carrier element  48 . The proximal portion  64  is shown illustrating that, in one embodiment of the present invention, the wedge groove  60  is deeper at the proximal portion  64  than at the distal portion  62  of the wedge member  52 . The proximal portion  64  of the groove  60  may also optionally include a groove portion  61  with a slope that is different than the slope of groove  60 . The exterior cross-sectional shape of the wedge member  52  is substantially uniform from the distal portion  62  to the proximal portion  64  except within the groove  60 . Said another way, the exterior shape and dimensions of the wedge member  52  are substantially uniform. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 18A-18B , partial cross-sectional views of spring bushings  50  of the present invention are illustrated. The spring bushing  50  generally comprises two fixed sleeves  86  with a common core  90 . A load bearing sleeve  88  is rotationally interconnected to core  90 . The load bearing sleeve  88  can rotate axially with respect to the fixed sleeves  86 . In one embodiment, the load bearing sleeve  88  is limited to a predetermined amount of axial rotation with respect to the fixed sleeves  86 . In one embodiment, the fixed sleeves  86  are interconnected to the aperture  72  of the carrier element  48 . Similarly, the load bearing sleeve  88  is received within an aperture formed through the pivot arm  46 . In this manner, the pivot arm  46  is interconnected to the carrier element  48 . 
     First springs  92  and second springs  94  are arranged generally radially within the core  90 . More specifically, a first end of each spring  92 ,  94  is interconnected to a first portion  96  of the core  90  and a second end of each spring  92 ,  94  is interconnect to a second portion  98  of the core  90 . Two axial gaps  100  separate the first and second core portions  96 ,  98 . Although only one of the axial gaps  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 18A, 18B , both axial gaps  100 A,  100 B are illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 . In one embodiment, the springs  92 ,  94  comprise a plate of flexible material. In another embodiment, the first springs  92  are transverse to the second springs  94 . As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, since the spring bushing  50  does not include sliding parts, no lubrication is generally required and limited or no friction is created. 
     Spring bushings  50  of any suitable type may be used with the reform apparatus  20  of the present invention. In one embodiment, suitable spring bushings  50  may be obtained from C-Flex Bearing Co, Inc., although other suppliers are contemplated. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 19A-19B , a wedge member  52 A of another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The wedge member  52 A has the same or similar dimensions as wedge member  52  and may be made of the same or similar materials. Similar to wedge member  52 , wedge member  52 A is shaped to engage an interior portion of a pivot arm. In one embodiment, the wedge member  52 A includes grooves  60  that have a first depth at a distal portion  62  of the wedge member  52 A and a second greater depth at a proximal portion  64 . Optionally, the groove  60  includes a second portion  61  which has a different slope. The wedge member  52 A further comprises a first portion  102  interconnected to a second portion  104 . Additionally, in one embodiment, wedge member  52 A includes rollers  106  received in apertures  108  of the first portion  102  and the second portion  104 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 19C , as the wedge member  52 A is driven axially forward toward the dome receptacle  36 , the rollers  106  contact the angled surface, or ramps  47  of the pivot arms  46 . Inner radial surfaces of the rollers  106  contact each other and resist movement inward. Since the rollers  106  are captured in the apertures  108 , the rollers  106  roll against each other and roll up the inclined surface of the pivot arms  46  forcing the pivot arms to open as the pivot arms  46  rotate about pivot points held by the spring bushings  50 . The rollers  106  then act as roller bearings, rolling instead of sliding. In this manner, the rollers  106  reduce friction and wear. 
     The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments described and shown in the figures were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Moreover, references made herein to “the present invention” or aspects thereof should be understood to mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a particular description. It is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.