Methods and apparatus of decorating metallic containers are provided. More specifically, the present invention provides novel apparatus and methods of forming an indicia or a decorative shape on a closed end-wall of a metallic container body. A tool of one embodiment of the present invention is operable to form an indicia in a metallic sheet. A cupping apparatus can subsequently form a cup from the metallic sheet which includes the indicia. The cup can be formed into a container body by a bodymaker. In another embodiment, a tool of a bodymaker is operable to form an indicia or a decorative shape in a closed end-wall during formation of a metallic container body. The indicia or decorative shape can be formed by coining, punching, embossing, debossing, and other techniques of forming and shaping metal material from which the metallic container body is formed. In this manner, the indicia may include one or more raised portions and sunken portions in the closed end-wall. Optionally, the indicia may enhance the strength of the closed end-wall such as to prevent or resist buckling and deformation.

A craftwork accessory may provide a portable and/or easy-to-use tool to help users accurately and repeatedly apply stamp impressions and the like to items such as cardstock. The accessory may include a base portion, one or more elevated side portions and cover portion. The side portions may define a workspace for arranging the item. The cover portion may be movably attached to the base portion or a side portion, for example, by one or more hinges. In operation, the item and stamp may be aligned in the workspace and the cover portion may be pressed onto the stamp to stick the stamp to the cover portion. The cover may then be opened, the stamp may be inked, and the cover portion may be closed and pressed onto the item to stamp the item. The accessory may include alignment indicia on the base portion, side portions and/or cover portion to facilitate placement of the item and/or stamp. The accessory may also include fastening mechanisms, such as magnetic elements, to facilitate placement of the item and/or stamp.

A surfacing material includes a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A matte surface is formed on the bottom side thereof, wherein the matte surface of the surfacing material is a coating of an electron beam radiation curable material applied to the bottom side of the substrate. The coating is an epoxy acrylic or urethane acrylic laid upon the substrate. The epoxy acrylic or urethane acrylic is irradiated with UV-radiation to produce a UV-radiation layer wherein the epoxy acrylic or urethane acrylic is neither hardened nor is an entire layer of the epoxy acrylic or urethane acrylic crosslinked but rather the epoxy acrylic or urethane acrylic is only crosslinked on the surface thereof, which produces a matting surface through the effects of a micro-convolution.

A method of forming a tubular structure includes mechanically pickling a metal strip. The metal strip includes opposing first and second surfaces. The method also includes stippling indicia onto the first surface of the metal strip. The indicia includes an informational pattern. The method further includes forming the metal strip into a tubular structure such that the first surface forms an interior surface of the tubular structure.

A multi-purpose heat foil embossing machine and a heat foil adapter are disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, the heat foil adapter includes an injection molded body, a metal heat plate configured in the cavity of the molded body, a heating element, a temperature control system configured to maintain metal heat plate temperature, and a polycarbonate lid. According to another embodiment, the multi-purpose heat foil embossing machine is of platform and roller type construction wherein platform provides a flatbed working area and roller is moved over it that eliminates need to sandwich folder between plastic mats and push the mat between the rollers. According to another embodiment, the heat plate adapter is configured within a cavity on the platform of the embossing machine with electric connectivity.

An outer ring (29) is first transported to an insertion point (E) in the feed device (34). At the same time, a circular blank ring (30) is brought into a starting position (P) in the feed device. The circular blank ring (29) is first aligned coaxially with respect to an axis (A) using a centering body (61). The circular blank ring moves solely radially with respect to the axis (A). The circular blank ring (30) is then inserted into the hole of the outer ring (29). During this movement, the circular blank ring is aligned coaxially with respect to the axis (A) preferably using a centering channel (54). The circular blank ring (30) carries out a superimposed movement in the axial direction (V) and in the radial direction radially with respect to the axis (A).

A craftwork accessory may provide a portable and/or easy-to-use tool to help users accurately and repeatedly apply stamp impressions and the like to items such as cardstock. The accessory may include a base portion, one or more elevated side portions and cover portion. The side portions may define a workspace for arranging the item. The cover portion may be movably attached to the base portion or a side portion, for example, by one or more hinges. In operation, the item and stamp may be aligned in the workspace and the cover portion may be pressed onto the stamp to stick the stamp to the cover portion. The cover may then be opened, the stamp may be inked, and the cover portion may be closed and pressed onto the item to stamp the item. The accessory may include alignment indicia on the base portion, side portions and/or cover portion to facilitate placement of the item and/or stamp. The accessory may also include fastening mechanisms, such as magnetic elements, to facilitate placement of the item and/or stamp.

A method for embossing a nanostructure, formed on a nanostructure punch, into a punch surface of a curable material which has been applied to a substrate. The method includes the following steps, especially following sequence: alignment of the nanostructure relative to the punch surface, embossing of the punch surface by a) prestressing of the nanostructure punch by deformation of the nanostructure punch and/or prestressing of the substrate by deformation of the substrate, b) making contact of a partial area of the punch surface with the nanostructure punch and c) automatic contacting of the remaining surface at least partially, especially predominantly, by the prestressing of the nanostructure punch and/or the prestressing of the substrate.

A pressing tool for producing a workpiece having a pressing surface comprises a base structure and at least two ceramic layers which are arranged on top of one another on the surface and form the pressing surface, of which one of the ceramic layers is a full-surface ceramic layer with one degree of gloss and the other is a partial ceramic layer with a further degree of gloss which differs from the degree of gloss of the full-surface ceramic layer.

A swaging tool (1) forming a stamp, including a lower unit (2) and an upper unit, the lower unit (2) forming a bed to receive the metal movement-blank (12), the upper unit (4) being equipped with an upper die, to swage the metal movement-blank (12) in place in the bed of the lower unit (2), and mounted movable along a movement axis. The lower unit (2) includes a pliers (14) equipped with two arms (16A2, 16B2) mounted movable, in a perpendicular plane to said movement axis, between an opening position and a closing position wherein the two arms are moved closer together and then defining a part of said bed for receiving the metal movement-blank (12) and, between them, an opening (18), the dimensions of which are less than the corresponding dimensions of an upper part (12A) and a lower part of the metal movement-blank (12).