A can 1 is provided with a mouth part (4), a shoulder part (3), and a body part (2). The shoulder part (3) of the can (1) is decorated, without damaging the shoulder part (3), by forming at least one of a recess and a protrusion by a rotating process in which the shoulder part (3) is held between a receiver (11a), having a concave-convex shape, of an inner roll (11) and an outer roll (12) having a convex-concave shape corresponding to the concave-convex shape of the receiver (11a) of the inner roll (11).

Systems and methods of forming articles using electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. In some aspects, the system includes a plurality of forming modules movably mounted relative to an infeed mechanism. The infeed mechanism is configured to supply pre-form articles to the plurality of forming modules, and each of the plurality of forming modules includes a multi-segment mold disposed about an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil is configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form articles when supplied with electrical energy that urges the pre-form articles into contact with the multi-segment mold to produce the formed containers. The multi-segment mold having a plurality of segments, each segment including a mold insert having an inner surface. The plurality of inner surfaces defining a desired shape of the formed containers. Each mold insert being comprised of a material that comprises at least one of small pores, grooves, pockets and crevices. The material comprising the at least one of small pores, grooves, pockets and crevices being configured to allow air to pass through the multi-segment mold or to allow the air to be less compressed.

A can (1) is provided with a mouth part (4), a shoulder part (3), and a body part (2). The shoulder part (3) of the can (1) is decorated, without damaging the shoulder part (3), by forming at least one of a recess and a protrusion by means of a rotating process in which the shoulder part (3) is held between a receiver (11a), having a concave-convex shape, of an inner roll (11) and an outer roll (12) having a convex-concave shape corresponding to the concave-convex shape of the receiver (11a) of the inner roll (11).

A machine for shaping an initially tubular cylindrical preform to form a non-round shape in registration with printed or similarly applied surface decoration or the like on the preform, comprises: a conveyor for carrying a series of the preforms; a tool table having a plurality of tool stations between which the preforms are conveyed by indexed motion of the conveyor, the tool table being reciprocable along an axis towards and away from the conveyor, to bring forming tools at the tool stations into and out of operative engagement with the preforms; a registered shaping tool at at least one of the tool stations operatively arranged to deform the preforms to an out-of-round shape; at least one sensor operatively arranged to determine the angular orientation of each preform in a plane normal to the reciprocation axis; at least one reorientation actuator operatively arranged to cause relative rotation between each preform and the registered shaping tool, whereby the registered shaping tool and the preforms are brought into a predetermined relative angular orientation about an axis of the preform at the registered shaping tool station; the relative rotation with respect to a given preform taking place during a plurality of reciprocations of the tool table and/or indexing movements of the conveyor. Improved embossing/debossing tools are also disclosed.

A machine for shaping an initially tubular cylindrical preform to form a non-round shape in registration with printed or similarly applied surface decoration or the like on the preform, comprises: a conveyor for carrying a series of the preforms; a tool table having a plurality of tool stations between which the preforms are conveyed by indexed motion of the conveyor, the tool table being reciprocable along an axis towards and away from the conveyor, to bring forming tools at the tool stations into and out of operative engagement with the preforms; a registered shaping tool at at least one of the tool stations operatively arranged to deform the preforms to an out-of-round shape; at least one sensor operatively arranged to determine the angular orientation of each preform in a plane normal to the reciprocation axis; at least one reorientation actuator operatively arranged to cause relative rotation between each preform and the registered shaping tool, whereby the registered shaping tool and the preforms are brought into a predetermined relative angular orientation about an axis of the preform at the registered shaping tool station; the relative rotation with respect to a given preform taking place during a plurality of reciprocations of the tool table and/or indexing movements of the conveyor. Improved embossing/debossing tools are also disclosed.

A method of forming a shaped container may include providing a metallic preform. A first pressure may be applied to the metallic preform within a mold of a shaped container to produce a container part with a partially formed container shape. The container part with the partially formed container shape may then be at least partially annealed. A second pressure may be applied to the container part within the mold to produce a container part with a fully formed container shape.

A machine for shaping an initially tubular cylindrical preform 1 to form a non-round shape in registration with printed or similarly applied surface decoration or the like on the preform, comprises: a conveyor (3, FIG. 3) for carrying a series of the preforms; a tool table 6 having a plurality of tool stations 7, 9 between which the preforms are conveyed by indexed motion of the conveyor, the tool table being reciprocable along an axis towards and away from the conveyor, to bring forming tools 11 at the tool stations into and out of operative engagement with the preforms; a registered shaping tool 11 at at least one of the tool stations operatively arranged to deform the preforms to an out-of-round shape; at least one sensor 118, 124, (128, 126, 130, 132) operatively arranged to determine the angular orientation of each preform in a plane normal to the reciprocation axis; at least one reorientation actuator (A1, A2, B1, B2, C, D, E), F1, F2, G operatively arranged to cause relative rotation between each preform and the registered shaping tool, whereby the registered shaping tool and the preforms are brought into a predetermined relative angular orientation about an axis of the preform at the registered shaping tool station; the relative rotation with respect to a given preform taking place during a plurality of reciprocations of the tool table and/or indexing movements of the conveyor. Improved embossing/debossing tools are also disclosed (FIGS. 8a-23).

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.

Generally, the instant disclosure is directed towards various methods of EMF-forming workpieces and the resulting workpieces. More specifically, the instant disclosure is directed towards various embodiments of imparting EMF-features onto workpieces, where workpieces with resulting EMF-features are configured as metal containers.

Systems and methods of forming articles using electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. In some aspects, the system includes a plurality of forming modules movably mounted relative to an infeed mechanism. The infeed mechanism is configured to supply pre-form articles to the plurality of forming modules, and each of the plurality of forming modules includes a multi-segment mold disposed about an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil is configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form articles when supplied with electrical energy that urges the pre-form articles into contact with the multi-segment mold to produce the formed containers.