Systems and methods for electromagnetic forming of containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11596994-B2
Application number	US-202217743349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2022
Priority date	May 4, 2014
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mold system comprising:
a first plate disposed opposite a second plate, each of the first plate and the second plate including a plurality of slots thereon, each of the plurality of slots in the first plate corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of slots on the second plate; and
a multi-segment mold extending the distance between the first plate and the second plate, the multi-segment mold having an open state and a closed state, the multi-segment mold including a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments having one of a plurality of inner surfaces thereon, the plurality of segments being cooperatively arranged such that the plurality of inner surfaces defines a volume when in the closed state, each of the plurality of segments of the multi-segment mold including a first end disposed proximate the first plate and a second end proximate the second plate, the first end and the second end of each of the plurality of segments including slot followers, each of the slot followers being configured to engage one of the plurality of slots,
wherein each of the plurality of slots is shaped such that engagement of the slot followers with the respective slots guide movement of the plurality of segments between the open state and the closed state when each of the plurality of segments moves relative to the first plate and the second plate.

2. The mold system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-segment mold further includes a plurality of hinges coupling the segments of the multi-segment mold such that actuating a first segment of the multi-segment mold actuates the remaining segments of the multi-segment mold.

3. The mold system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of segments further includes one of a plurality of inserts, each of the plurality of inner surfaces being disposed on a respective one of the plurality of inserts.

4. The mold system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments further comprises a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the plurality of apertures being coupled to a vacuum system, the plurality of apertures being configured to evacuate air from a volume between the plurality of inner surfaces and the pre-form article.

5. The mold system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inner surfaces includes an embossing pattern thereon.

6. The mold system of claim 1 , further comprising an electromagnetic coil disposed within the volume when the multi-segment mold is in the closed position, the electromagnetic coil being configured to urge a pre-form article into contact with the plurality of inner surfaces.

Assignees

• Belvac Production Machinery Inc

Inventors

• Lee Richard H

Classifications

• B23C3/34

  Milling grooves of other forms, e.g. circumferential · CPC title

• B23C3/32

  Milling helical grooves, e.g. in making twist-drills · CPC title

• B21D51/26

  cans or tins; Closing same in a permanent manner (making outlet arrangements B21D51/38; welding or soldering B23K) · CPC title

• B21D51/2607

  Locally embossing the walls of formed can bodies (B44B5/00, B44C1/24, B44C3/085 take precedence; bulging B21D51/2646) · CPC title

• C22F1/04

  of aluminium or alloys based thereon · CPC title