An apparatus for making one or more registering contour features in a workpiece. At least some of the registering contour features have an outer annular rim and basin-shaped portion there within. One embodiment has: (i) one or more first tools, each tool being adapted to form the outer annular rim in one or more registering contour features; and (ii) one or more second tools for forming in cooperation with the first set of insert tools one or more of the basin-shaped portions that lie within the outer annular rims, thereby forming a set of one or more registering contour features in the workpiece so that workpieces in a stack are separated to facilitate subsequent handling by removing an uppermost workpiece from the stack.

Disclosed is a method to manufacture a pressed component from an intermediate stock, which includes two bent portions with a spacing thereof narrower than a width of a top plate of the pressed component, by employing a press including a die having a die pad and a punch having an inner pad, the method including: gripping a portion between the bent portions with the inner pad and the die pad in a state in which the inner pad projects from the punch and the die pad projects from the die; moving the die toward the punch side to form vertical walls of the pressed component with the die and the punch; and integrating the die and the die pad and then moving the die, the die pad and the inner pad toward the punch side to form the top plate.

Disclosed is a method to manufacture a pressed component from an intermediate stock, which includes two bent portions with a spacing thereof narrower than a width of a top plate of the pressed component, by employing a press including a die having a die pad and a punch having an inner pad, the method including: gripping a portion between the bent portions with the inner pad and the die pad in a state in which the inner pad projects from the punch and the die pad projects from the die; moving the die toward the punch side to form vertical walls of the pressed component with the die and the punch; and integrating the die and the die pad and then moving the die, the die pad and the inner pad toward the punch side to form the top plate.

A method and apparatus for forming a can end in a forming press including positioning a sheet of material between an upper punch assembly and a fixed base assembly; cutting a can end blank from the sheet of material; clamping a peripheral portion of the can end blank; moving the upper punch assembly to clamp a central portion of the can end blank between an upper panel punch and a lower panel punch to define a central panel section positioned below an annular inner bead die located adjacent to the lower panel punch on the fixed base assembly; and extending the upper punch assembly to form an initial annular countersink radius next to the peripheral portion of the can end blank, with a substantially undeformed intermediate area extending between the initial annular countersink radius and the annular inner bead die.

In forming a press-formed product that is made of a high-tensile steel sheet having a tensile strength of 390 MPa or more, and has a substantially gutter-shaped cross section and an outward continuous flange, wrinkling in ridges and cracking in the outward continuous flange are reduced. A method for manufacturing a press-formed product that is made of a high-tensile steel sheet of 390 MPa or more, and has a substantially gutter-shaped cross section and an outward continuous flange in at least one end in a predetermined direction includes a first step in which, after a first pad restrains at least a part of a portion to be formed into a gutter bottom in a forming material, a second pad restrains at least a part of the end of portions to be formed into ridges and subsequently carries out press forming.

In forming a press-formed product that is made of a high-tensile steel sheet having a tensile strength of 390 MPa or more, and has a substantially gutter-shaped cross section and an outward continuous flange, wrinkling in ridges and cracking in the outward continuous flange are reduced. A method for manufacturing a press-formed product that is made of a high-tensile steel sheet of 390 MPa or more, and has a substantially gutter-shaped cross section and an outward continuous flange in at least one end in a predetermined direction includes a first step in which, after a first pad restrains at least a part of a portion to be formed into a gutter bottom in a forming material, a second pad restrains at least a part of the end of portions to be formed into ridges and subsequently carries out press forming.

A domer station having a domer assembly, a housing assembly, and a stacked piston assembly is provided. The domer assembly is movably disposed within a domer body passage located in the housing assembly and structured to move between a forward, first position and a retracted, second position. The stacked piston assembly includes a plurality of pistons, preferably three pistons, disposed in series and a pressure supply. The pistons are disposed behind the domer in pressure chambers. The pistons have a constant pressure applied thereto and are biased towards the domer. The pistons are, however, each restrained by a stop and do not contact, or operatively engage, the domer when the domer is in the domer first position.

A domer station having a domer assembly, a housing assembly, and a stacked piston assembly is provided. The domer assembly is movably disposed within a domer body passage located in the housing assembly and structured to move between a forward, first position and a retracted, second position. The stacked piston assembly includes a plurality of pistons, preferably three pistons, disposed in series and a pressure supply. The pistons are disposed behind the domer in pressure chambers. The pistons have a constant pressure applied thereto and are biased towards the domer. The pistons are, however, each restrained by a stop and do not contact, or operatively engage, the domer when the domer is in the domer first position.

An apparatus and method of forming a metallic cup that is subsequently reformed into a container body. More specifically, an apparatus and methods used to form a metallic cup with a reformed bottom having an inwardly oriented projection are disclosed. The inwardly oriented projection reduces a height of the metallic cup but utilizes the same amount of metallic stock material as a taller cup with substantially the same diameter that does not have an inward projection. The inwardly oriented projection thus allows the use of a conventional bodymaker and other can manufacturing tools to convert the cup into a container body of a preferred size and shape.

An apparatus and method of forming a metallic cup that is subsequently reformed into a container body. More specifically, an apparatus and methods used to form a metallic cup with a reformed bottom having an inwardly oriented projection are disclosed. The inwardly oriented projection reduces a height of the metallic cup but utilizes the same amount of metallic stock material as a taller cup with substantially the same diameter that does not have an inward projection. The inwardly oriented projection thus allows the use of a conventional bodymaker and other can manufacturing tools to convert the cup into a container body of a preferred size and shape.