Patent ID: 6848875

Claim:
A method of forming a double seam between a can body and a can end, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing a can end having a circumferentially extending peripheral curl and a wall extending circumferentially and radially inward from said curl and an annular reinforcing bead extending radially inward from said wall, said reinforcing bead having an interior surface, said peripheral curl comprising a seaming panel and a radiused portion extending from said seaming panel to said wall, said wall inclined between about 20° and about 60° with respect to an axial centerline of said can end; b) placing said curl of said can end into contact with a circumferentially extending flange of a can body; c) providing a rotatable chuck having first and second circumferentially extending walls, said first and second walls forming a juncture therebetween; bringing said chuck into engagement with said can end so that said juncture of said first and second walls of said chuck contacts said inclined wall of said can end; d) rotating said chuck; e) performing a first seaming operation by placing a first seaming roll into contact with said can end curl while rotating said can end so as to partially deform said curl and said can body flange into a partial seam, said rotation of said can end during said first seaming operation driven by said rotating chuck through driving contact between said juncture of said first and second walls of said chuck and said inclined wall of said can end without driving contact between said chuck and said can end bead interior surface; f) performing a second seaming operation by placing a second seaming roll into contact with said partially deformed can end curl so as to further deform said curl and said can body flange so as to further form said seam.