Metal Products And Methods For Forming Components Thereof

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method is provided, comprising:
 a. positioning a workpiece adjacent to an inductor of an EMF device, wherein at least a portion of the workpiece is positioned between an inductor coil and a die;   b. discharging a power source of the EMF device to generate an electromagnetic frequency via the inductor; and   c. generating an electromagnetic force via the inductor, wherein the inductor is positioned such that the electromagnetic force acts upon the workpiece, and   d. concomitant with the generating step, imparting an EMF-feature on the workpiece adjacent to the inductor and the die.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece and inductor are placed adjacent to each other but not in direct contact with each other, so as to prevent arcing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein imparting an EMF-feature comprises:
 a. threading an upper portion of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece is configured as a metal container and further wherein, the upper portion is the neck of a metal container;   b. curling an upper portion of the top portion of the workpiece wherein the workpiece is configured as a metal container and further wherein the upper top portion is the open upper end of the metal container;   c. embossing a bottom portion of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece comprises a metal container and further wherein the bottom portion comprises a dome;   d. stamping a bottom portion of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece comprises a metal container and further wherein the bottom portion comprises a dome; and   e. embossing the sidewall of the workpiece, wherein the workpiece comprises a metal container and the sidewall comprises a non-necked portion of the metal container.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the EMF-feature is selected from the group consisting of: an asymmetrical feature, a symmetrical feature, a finish, a threaded configuration, a lug pattern, a structural feature, a carrier ring, a pilfer band, an imprinted feature, a stamped feature, a logo, a graphic, a text, a curl, a hem, a trim, and/or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A method, comprising:
 a. disposing/positioning an inductor in electrical communication with a pulsed magnetic device, such that the inductor is configured to impart a magnetic force to at least a portion of: a sidewall, a bottom, or combinations thereof of a workpiece;   b. energizing the inductor via a power source to a voltage potential via a transducer, a capacitor, and an induction coil configuration;   c. imparting a pulsed electromagnetic frequency into the portion of the workpiece sufficient to impart a deformation in the workpiece adjacent to the inductor;   d. directing the workpiece onto a support surface die, and   e. imparting, via the support surface die and EMF frequency, an EMF feature configured onto the workpiece.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the support surface die is selected from: a die, an imprinting stamp, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the directing step is selected from the group consisting of:
 a. imprinting the workpiece with the pattern on the die;   b. molding the workpiece with the pattern on the die;   c. impacting the die with the workpiece;   d. deforming the metal into the workpiece;   e. engraving the workpiece;   f. incising the workpiece; and   g. combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising after the imparting step, necking an upper portion of the workpiece via a forming operation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising trimming an upper end portion positioned proximate to the open end of a workpiece to provide a trimmed upper end. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the workpiece is constructed from: aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, steel alloys, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the workpiece comprises an AA series aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of: a 1xxx series aluminum alloy; AA1060; AA1070; a 3xxx series alloy; AA3104; AA3004; A 5xxx series aluminum alloy; AA 5182; AA 5052; AA5042; AA5352; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , where the workpiece is a formed aluminum bottle with at least one EMF feature selected from the group consisting of: threads, lugs, imprinted portions of the body, imprinted portions of the bottom, carrier rings, carrier ring inserts, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the workpiece thickness range for imparting EMF-features ranges from at least 0.003″ to not greater than 0.039″. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the workpiece comprises a container with a sidewall thickness of at least 0.003″ that is formed from a sheet having a thickness of at least 0.006″. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising: a metal container configured with an EMF feature selected from the group consisting of: a thread configured along the upper portion of the metal container; a stamped feature on the body of the metal container; a stamped feature positioned on the bottom of the metal container, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the workpiece thickness ranges from at least 0.003″ to not greater than 0.039″. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the workpiece comprises a container with a sidewall thickness of at least 0.003″ that is formed from a sheet having a thickness of at least 0.006″. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the workpiece is constructed from: aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, steel alloys, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the workpiece comprises an AA series aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of: a 1xxx series aluminum alloy; AA1060; AA1070; a 3xxx series alloy; AA3104; AA3004; A 5xxx series aluminum alloy; AA 5182; AA 5052; AA5042; AA5352; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the EMF-feature is selected from the group consisting of: an asymmetrical feature, a symmetrical feature, a finish, a threaded configuration, a lug pattern, a structural feature, a carrier ring, a pilfer band, an imprinted feature, a stamped feature, a logo, a graphic, a text, a curl, a hem, a trim, and combinations thereof.