KR19990063929A - System and method for manufacturing decorative molded metal can - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of fabricating the metal can body 24 in a unique shape to enhance the visual effect for the consumer comprises, in one embodiment, preparing a can body blank 10 having a substantially constant diameter side wall; Preparing a mold unit (38) having at least one mold wall (46) forming a mold cavity conforming to a desired final shape of the can body (24); Positioning the can body blank 10 in the mold cavity 46; A pressurized fluid is supplied into the mold cavity to compress the can bodyshell blank 10 against the mold wall 46 so that the can bodyshell blank 10 is formed as a can body 24 of the desired final shape. It is preferable to compress the can bodied blank in the axial direction to reduce the internal stress during molding of the container. The second embodiment radially deforms the can bodied blank of the selected area by a selected amount to form a symmetrical but radially deformed intermediate can body around the axis; And superimposing the mechanically deformed portion of the preselected pattern having the axial component on the intermediate can body. Related devices and processes are also disclosed.

Description

System and method for manufacturing decorative molded metal can

Metal cans for soft drinks, other beverages and other products are of course widely used throughout North America and the world. The assignee of the present invention, Crown Cork & Seal Company of Philadelphia, is the world's largest designer and manufacturer of such cans.

In the field of manufacturing and packaging metal cans, the company is constantly developing new technologies, new materials, and new manufacturing techniques. Other factors driving technology development in this area include raw material prices, the nature of new products to be packaged, and the marketing goals of large companies manufacturing and selling consumer products such as soft drinks.

Have shown considerable interest in metal cans that are not part of a standard cylindrical can, but are part of a product contour or are otherwise shaped differently in a unique manner that represents the source or properties of the product. However, as far as the inventor knows, no practical technology has yet been developed for the production of such a unique shaped can with the quantity and speed required to actually market such a product.

US Pat. No. 3,224,239 issued to Hansson in the mid 1960s discloses a system and process for re-forming can using air pressure. In this process, compressed air is pushed into a can placed in a mold using a piston, and compressed air flows into the wall of the can in a plastic form, resulting in the shape of a mold.

The technique disclosed in Hansen's patent is a technique that the inventor of the present invention can not succeed in re-molding an injection-molded can. One of the reasons is that the stresses generated in the wall of the can when the can is deformed can cause defects such as local thinning, cracking, or splitting. The risk of thinning can be reduced by thickening the wall of the can, but it is inevitable that the production of the shaped can becomes expensive. The risk of cracking and breaking the can is reduced by a process such as annealing, but the toughness is reduced and the endurance of the final product is weakened.

An improved manufacturing apparatus and process for a shaped metal can that is efficient, useful, inexpensive, and thinned, cracked or broken to reduce the tendency of the molded can to break, particularly when compared to the technology developed to date for this purpose .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of consumer goods packaging, particularly to metal cans such as iron and aluminum cans which are commonly used in packaging soft drinks, other beverages, food and aerosol products.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a can bodied blank or preform having a structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a side view of a molded can body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

3 is a schematic view of a molding can body manufacturing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a first state of the mold unit in the apparatus shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a second state of the mold unit in the apparatus shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the pressure supply device for the mold unit shown in Fig. 3,

7 is a diagram showing a pre-compression step performed in the apparatus shown in Fig. 3,

8 is a diagram illustrating a beading step of a method performed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating spinning steps of a method performed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a knurling step that may be performed as the second step of any of the second or third embodiments of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for the production of moldings for internal stresses in cans that are efficient, useful, inexpensive, and thin, cracked, Provides an improved manufacturing apparatus and process for the can.

In order to achieve the above and other objects of the present invention, in a first aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to enhance a visual effect for a consumer comprises the steps of: (a) and; (b) preparing a mold unit having at least one mold wall which forms a mold cavity corresponding to a can body of a desired final shape, the mold unit comprising one or more parts, The mold wall being movable toward the other in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the blank, the mold wall including an inner extension and an outer extension; (c) positioning the can body blank in the mold cavity to pre-compress the can body blank on the inner extension of the mold wall; (d) feeding the pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can bodysubstrate is pressed against the mold wall so that the can bodyshell becomes like the can body of the desired final shape, and the precompression performed in step (c) The amount of external deformation required to achieve the body is minimized; (e) substantially simultaneously with step (d), moving at least one of the mold sections axially towards the other.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a metal can body in a unique shape to enhance a visual effect for a consumer comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a can body blank; (b) at least partially annealing at least a portion of the can bodied blank, thereby increasing the ductility of the annealed portion of the can bodied blank; (c) preparing a mold unit having at least one mold wall which forms a mold cavity corresponding to a can body of a desired final shape, the mold unit comprising one or more parts, Movable toward another portion in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the body blank; (d) placing a can bodied blank in the mold cavity; (e) feeding the pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can bodysubstrate is pressed against the mold wall, whereby the can bodysubstrate is like a can body of the desired final shape; (f) moving the at least one of the mold portions toward the other portion axially, substantially simultaneously with step (e).

In a third aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to enhance visual effects for a consumer comprises a structure for manufacturing a can body blank; A mold structure comprising a mold unit having at least one mold wall which forms a mold cavity conforming to a can body of a desired final shape, the mold wall comprising an inner extension and an outer extension, Wherein at least one of the portions is movable during operation in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the can bodied blank and toward the other portion; A positioning structure for positioning the can body blank in the mold cavity so that the can body blank is pre-compressed to the inside extension of the mold wall; The pressurized fluid is supplied into the mold cavity so that the can bodysubstrate is pressed against the mold wall so that the can bodyshell becomes the can body of the desired final shape and the amount of external deformation required to achieve the can body of the final shape by precompression is minimized A fluid supply structure; And an axial reduction structure that moves at least one of the mold portions toward another portion in the axial direction.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to enhance visual effects for a consumer comprises a structure for manufacturing a can body blank; A structure that at least partially anneals at least a portion of the can bodied blank, thereby increasing the ductility of the annealed portion of the can bodied blank; A mold structure comprising a mold unit having at least one mold wall that forms a mold cavity corresponding to a can body of a desired final shape; and at least one of the mold units comprises at least one of the can bodies Movable toward the other portion in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the blank; A positioning structure for positioning the can body blank in the mold cavity; A fluid supply structure in which a pressurized fluid is supplied into the mold cavity such that the can bodysubstrate is compressed against the mold wall such that the can bodysubstrate is like a can body of a desired final shape; And an axial reduction structure that moves at least one of the mold portions toward another portion in the axial direction.

These and other features and advantages of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part hereof, but in order to facilitate an understanding of the present invention, Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a further part of the invention, and in which is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention.

1 and 2, a can bodied blank or a pre-form 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in cross-section, It is a two-part can body preferred to be formed by known injection molding. The can body blank 10 includes a generally cylindrical sidewall surface 12, a bottom surface 14, and a necked upper portion 16. Also, the upper portion of the cylindrical side wall 12 may be vertical.

As is known in the art, the can bodied blanks 10 must be cleaned after the injection molding process and dried before being sent to a decorator. The drying process is typically run at about 250 degrees Fahrenheit (about 121 degrees Celsius). In one aspect of the present invention, drying is performed at a temperature higher than the normal temperature to partially anneal at least a selected portion of the can bodys blank 10. 1 schematically shows a heat source 18, which is preferably part of the dryer assembly, but which can be any point of the device in front of the molding unit. As will be described in detail below, the can bodied blanks 10 are preferably formed of aluminum, and the partial annealing is performed in a range of about 375 degrees Fahrenheit (about 190.5 degrees Fahrenheit) to about 550 degrees Fahrenheit (about 288 degrees Fahrenheit) , Preferably at about 450 degrees Fahrenheit (about 232 degrees Celsius) to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit (about 260 degrees Celsius), and more preferably at about 475 degrees Fahrenheit (about 246 degrees Celsius). This contrasts with the typical annealing that can be done above 650 degrees Fahrenheit (about 353 degrees Celsius). The purpose of the partial annealing is to provide the can bodyshell 10 with sufficient ductility to form the mold can 20 as shown in Fig. 2, but the toughness is greater than when the can bodyshell is completely annealed .

Alternatively, the partial annealing can be done in an oven such as a lacquer or decorator oven rather than a dryer.

Alternatively, the can bodied blank 10 can be made of steel instead of aluminum. In this case, the preferred temperature range for partial annealing may range from approximately 1112 degrees Fahrenheit (600 degrees Celsius) to approximately 1472 degrees Fahrenheit (800 degrees Celsius). More preferably, the partial annealing can be done at about 1382 degrees Fahrenheit (750 degrees Celsius).

Referring next to Fig. 2, the molded can 20 has a unique shape, which improves visual effects for the consumer. As can be seen in Figure 2, the can body 20 includes a molded side wall 22 of a generally deformed shape from a bottom surface 26 and a standard cylindrical can body shape, for example, a can body blank 10 . The forming side wall 22 includes areas such as ribs 30 and grooves 32, and it may be desirable to deform the excitation from the cylindrical shape noticeably. In an important aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical surface is deformed on the outer surface of the forming sidewall 22 to dispose the ornament to make the desired area stand out. As can be seen in FIG. 2, one or more decorations 36 of a second type, which may be of a dark color, are arranged on at least one groove 32, . By providing such optional decoration and appropriately displaying the decoration on the deformed portion of the molding side wall 22, the visual effect that can not be obtained by molding the can or decorating the can is increased.

Referring again to Figure 2, the forming sidewall 22 also has a flat area 28 that is closed by the can end 24, to which a letter or label may be applied by a conventional double seaming process .

In a preferred method, after the partial annealing by the heat source 18 is carried out in a drying station, the can bodys blank 10 is conveyed to a decorator where the cylindrical bodys of the can bodys blank 10 are still intact, do. A marker, which can be used to mark the decor on the mold shape during subsequent forming steps, which will be described in detail further below, may also be applied during the decorating process.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown an apparatus 38 for producing a molded can 20 of the type shown in Fig. 2, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the device 38 includes a mold 40 having a mold wall 46 forming a mold cavity 42 coinciding with the molding can body 20 of the desired final shape, . 7, the mold 40 is of the split wall type and the mold wall 46 is of a cylindrical shape having a diameter equal to the diameter of the cylindrical side wall 12 of the can body blank 10, And an inner extension 48 smaller than the diameter D _b . The mold wall 46 also includes a plurality of outer extensions, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter D _b of the side wall 12 of the can body blank 10. That is, the inner extension 48 compresses the cylindrical side wall 12 of the can body blank 10 to the position 12 'shown in solid line in FIG. 7b, and the side wall 12 of the one- Should be expanded to conform to the outer extension 50 of the mold wall 46. Preferably, the outer circumferential length of the cylindrical side wall maintains a constant length when compressed in this manner, such that the cylindrical compressed side wall 12 'is the same length as the circumference of the side wall 12 of the can body blank 10 do.

3, the mold unit 40 has three die portions 82, 46 and 84 which form a neck ring, a mold side wall and a base support, respectively, do. The die portions are separated from each other by gaps, that is, split lines 86 and 88. To facilitate matching, the base support die 84 is comprised of two parts, and the central part 90 supports the base dome of the can body. The neck ring 82 simply supports the neck portion of the can body. These components together form a chamber or mold cavity 42 to receive the can body and form the can body of the desired final shape after blow molding. An outlet 49 is provided (see FIGS. 4 and 5) so that the captured air is discharged during the formation.

A pair of seals and support rings 92 and 94 and a rubber sealing 96 are disposed to seal the upper edge of the container body. A small mandrel 98 penetrates the center of the seal and support rings 92, 94, 96 to a position directly above the base support dome 84. The mandrel 98 supplies air to the hollow of the can body in the hollow 42 via the central bore 100 and the radial passage 102. The apparatus also includes an upper piston and a lower piston (104, 106) which together apply a load to both ends of the can of the mold cavity (42). The lower piston 106 is movable upward by the pressurized air supply structure supplied to the piston via the passage 108. [ Likewise, the upper piston is movable downward by the pressurized air supply structure supplied to the piston via the passages 110 and 112. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the passages 110 are connected to the central bore 100 of the mandrel 98 such that the upper piston and the can hollow share a common air supply. The common air supply is distributed for the piston 104 and the hollow and central mandrel bore 100 at the connection to the airway passageway 112 so that the losses are minimized within the piston 104 and the same pressure as that supplied to the hollow and piston . It is preferable to dispose means for controlling the amount of air supplied to each piston and the hollow. Thus, the hollow pressure and the piston pressure are closely controllable.

6 is a schematic circuit diagram showing how air is supplied to the piston and the hollow of the can. The figure schematically shows the upper piston 104 and the seal and support rings 92 and 94 as one unit 114. [ Further, the base supports 84, 90 and the lower piston 106 are shown as one unit 116. [ The units 114 and 116 and the neck ring 82 are movable while the sidewall die 46 of the mold is stationary.

The circuit consists of two pressure supplies. The pressure supply section 118 supplies pressurized air to the hollows of the upper piston 104 and the hollows of the mold in the mold cavity 42 and the pressure supply section 120 supplies pressurized air to the lower piston 106 only.

Each of the two supplies consists of pressure regulators 122 and 124, reservoirs 126 and 128, blowing valves 130 and 132 and exhaust valves 134 and 136. In addition, the lower pressure supply part 120 includes a flow rate regulator 138. Optionally, the upper pressure supply 118 may also include a flow regulator, although it is not considered necessary to regulate the flow rate of the two-sided feed. The reservoirs 126 and 128 prevent the pressure supply from dropping significantly during the process.

Typically, about 30 bar of high pressure air is injected into the hollow of the can to drive the top of the can. The air pressure driving the lower piston 106 is typically about 50 bar depending on the piston area. The air pressure in the mold cavity 42 not only provides the force necessary to expand the can bodyside outwardly, but also undesirable forces are applied to the neck and base of the can, causing longitudinal tension in the can side wall. Two pistons are thus used in the upper and lower drive of the can to provide a force to counteract this tension in the can side wall.

The air pressure supplied to the pistons is important to prevent breakage of the can due to splitting or wrinkling during formation. Since the pressure in the piston is very low, tearing occurs if the tension of the can side wall is not sufficiently counteracted by the piston pressure. Conversely, if the supplied air pressure is not so high, a ripple is formed in the side wall.

For this reason, it is preferable that a stop for restricting the stroke of the piston is not required. In the case of restricting the stroke, the piston can reach the stop only after the can is sufficiently inflated against the mold wall. In this case, the balance of the can side wall may be interrupted by the piston pressure, thus resulting in a risk of tearing. In fact, the engagement of the inflated can with the sidewalls of the mold prevents further movement of the piston.

It should therefore be noted that the balance between can hollow pressure and piston pressure is always maintained throughout the forming cycle so that the rate of increase in pressure in the hollow and in the back of the piston must be balanced throughout the cycle, especially when the can wall is formed . The rate of pressure increase is controllable by adjustment of the supply pressure through the flow regulator 138 or the pressure regulators 122,

By adjusting the can hollow pressure against the applied pressure such that the mold members 82, 46, 84 move toward one another, the device can operate in one of three different ways. By minimizing the pressure on the outer mold portions 82 and 84, the device can be operated to simply move the mold portions toward each other without applying any force on the can body. This reduces the gaps 86, 88 in the mold unit 40 when the can body is retracted in the longitudinal direction during the expansion process and reduces the axial tensile strength generated in the sidewall of the can body during expansion, no. Alternatively, by increasing the pressure driving the outer mold portions toward each other, a slight vertical axis or axial force substantially equal to the axial tensile strength in the can body sidewall is applied to the can body, And the can body is consequently weakened or protected from possible splitting. In operation in the third mode, a greater pressure is applied to drive the outer mold portions toward each other to apply an axial compressive force to the can body that is greater than may be required to offset the tensile strength in the sidewall during operation. It is believed that it is desirable to provide a net compressive force to prevent this force from forming wrinkles.

To form the can, the blowing valves 130 and 132 are first opened. It may be necessary to shorten the interval between the opening times of the blowing valves if necessary to better match the piston and the hollow pressure, but it is necessary to increase the pressure increasing rate for one stroke to maintain this balance. Also, delays can be used to correct pipes of different lengths while maintaining pressure balance during formation. The upper supply portion 118 is split into the piston 104 and the hollow as close as possible to the piston 104, as described above with reference to Fig.

The device is designed such that when at least each piston reaches its maximum travel distance, the can is completely reformed and the gaps 86, 88 are not closed at their ends. Closing the gap can cause the can to break due to excessive tension in the sidewall in the same manner as restricting the motion of the piston before full expansion occurs. However, although the final gap can eliminate this problem by eliminating the sharp edges of the split line, it is not excessive because any markings on the sidewalls become too pronounced.

When the molding operation is completed, the air is exhausted through the valves 134 and 136. It is clear that the exhaust valve is closed throughout the actual forming process. In order to balance the hollow pressure (longitudinal tension), the compressive force exerted by the piston can be greater than the axial strength of the can, which makes it possible for both of the feeds to be discharged simultaneously because the can is crushed due to uneven exhaust Do.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the can bodyshell 10 is preferably located in the mold cavity 42 and, as described above, its internal space is preferably sealed to communicate with the source of the pressurized fluid. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the hollow 42 is designed to be slightly compressed when the can body blank 10 is inserted therein. This is preferably done so that the mold assembly member is formed in the split halves 52, 54 shown in Fig. 4 and is closable around the can bodblank prior to pneumatic expansion of the can bodys blank 10.

The inner side extension portion 48 of the mold wall 46 is positioned at a distance of R _in as shown _in Fig. 7 from the cylindrical side wall 12 because the mold halves 52 and 54 close around the cylindrical side wall 12 Compression or pre-compression. After the mold is closed and sealed and the pressurized fluid is fed into the mold cavity 46 so that the can bodys blank 10 is pressed against the mold wall 46, 20). The state of the forming side wall 22 is shown after the step in Fig. At this stage, the cylindrical side wall 12 of the can bodied blank 10 is expanded by _Rout as shown in the diagram of Fig.

Precompression resulting from the closure of the mold halves 52 and 54 is preferably carried out such that the side walls 12 of the can bodys blank 10 are deflected radially inward by a distance R _in , i.e. within a range of about 0.1 to 1.5 mm . The distance R is _in the range of 0.5 to about 0.75 mm I is more preferable. The distance R _out at which the cylindrical sidewall 12 extends radially outwardly to form the most distal end of the molding sidewall 22 is preferably in the range of about 0.1 to 5.0 mm. The most preferred range of the distance R _out is about 0.5 to 3.0 mm, more preferably about 2 mm.

In order to understand the benefits of precompression of the cylindrical side wall 12 before the expansion step, a certain amount of annealing, or partial annealing, may be useful to obtain the ductility required for the expansion step, especially for aluminum can bodies. However, as the annealing is complete, the forming can 20 eventually becomes less strong and less rigid. By using precompression to obtain the difference between the innermost and outermost portions of the pattern superimposed on the final forming can 20, the actual radial expansion required to achieve the desired pattern is reduced. Therefore, the amount of annealing that needs to be applied to the can-body blank 10 is also reduced. The desired pattern in the precompression step is superimposed on the molding can 20 while minimizing annealing and hence the loss of strength so that the cylindrical side wall 12 of the can bodied blank 10 is formed as thin as possible for this type of process do.

In one embodiment of the invention, the mold wall can be formed of a porous material so that trapped air between the side walls of the can body blank and the mold wall is ejected during operation, but an outlet is still needed. One such material is porous steel, which is a commercially available material from AGA of Sweden (Leydig).

For quality monitoring and control, the fluid pressure in the mold cavity 46 is monitored during and after the expansion process by a pressure monitor 69 structure schematically shown in FIG. The pressure monitor 69 has a conventional structure. If the can body is leaky during the expansion process, or if sealing with the gas probe is not good due to unevenness of the upper flange or neck of the can, the pressure in the mold cavity may be less than the pressure inside the mold chamber 46 In the same direction. The pressure monitor 69 senses this and informs the operator that the can body is likely to be defective.

In the case of a steel can, the can body can be formed in a beading-type pattern, for example, a plurality of outer circumferential ribs formed on a crucible, by sufficiently increasing the pressure in the mold chamber.

A second method and apparatus for manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to improve a visual effect on a consumer are shown in Figs. 7 and 9, and a third embodiment is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. In the second and third embodiments, the uniquely formed metal can body is prepared by preparing a can bodied blank having substantially the same diameter of the side wall 12 as the can body 10 shown in Fig. 1, Blank 10 achieves an intermediate can body 74 that is symmetrical about its access, deformed into a radial echo by a selected amount, and then superimposes the mechanically deformed portion of the preselected pattern onto the intermediate can body 74 . In a second embodiment of the present invention, a beading device 62 of a type well known in the art includes an anvil 66 and a beading tool 64. The beading device 62 is used to deform the can bodyshell 10 radially to create a radially deformed intermediate can body 74 shown in Fig. The intermediate can body 74 is generally cylindrical, centered on the access of the can body 74, without having a deformation portion having axial components thereon, as can be seen in Fig. The knurling tool 76 is used to superimpose a pre-selected pattern of mechanical deformation, in this case ribs and grooves, on the intermediate can body, thereby making it possible to manufacture the molding can 20 of the type shown in FIG. .

In the third embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9, a spinning unit 68 is used to radially deform the cylindrical side wall 12 of the can bodyshell 10 to the intermediate can body 74 Is used. The spinning unit 68 includes a mandrel 70 and a forming roller 72 opposite the mandrel 70, as is well known in the art. After this process, it is preferable to perform the knurling step shown in Fig. 9 on the intermediate can body 74 thus formed in the same manner as described above.

Instead of the knurling step shown in FIG. 9, the intermediate can body 74 made by any of the methods shown in FIG. 7 or 8 can be located in a pneumatic expansion die of the type shown in FIGS. 3-5, . The intermediate can body 74 is expanded in the same manner as described above to achieve the forming can 20.

In the second and third methods described above, the can bodied blank 10 is preferably partially annealed by the heat source 18 during the drying process, but is preferably less annealed than in the first preferred embodiment . Preferably, the annealing for the second and third methods described above is performed at a temperature in the range of about 375 degrees Fahrenheit (about 190 degrees Fahrenheit) to about 425 degrees Fahrenheit (about 218 degrees Fahrenheit). Thus, the method described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 requires less annealing than that described for the previous embodiments, which allows for a stronger molded can 20 to be of a predetermined weight or wall thickness, ) Can be reduced than that produced by the first method. However, the disadvantages of the second and third methods are that they are mechanically more complicated, the can wear becomes worse, and further mechanical processes and handling allow damage and decoration damage.

However, while the various features and advantages of the present invention have been disclosed in the foregoing description, along with the details of the structure and function of the present invention, the disclosure is merely exemplary and, without departing from the principles of the invention, The shape, size and arrangement of the components may be possible. Also, for example, the can-body blank 10 may be used in other processes such as a draw-redraw process, a draw-thin-redraw process, Cement treatment manufacturing process.

Claims (35)

A method of manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to enhance a visual effect on a consumer, (a) fabricating a can body blank; (b) at least partially annealing at least a portion of the can bodied blank, thereby increasing the ductility of the annealed portion of the can bodied blank; (c) preparing a mold unit having at least one mold wall that forms a mold cavity corresponding to a can body of a desired final shape, the mold unit comprising one or more portions, Movable toward the other in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the can bodily blank during the can; (d) positioning the can body blank in the mold cavity; (e) supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity such that the can bodysubstrate is compressed against the mold wall, whereby the can bodysubstrate is formed as a can body of a desired final shape; (f) substantially simultaneously with step (e), moving at least one of the mold sections axially towards the other Wherein the metal can body is made of a metal. The method of claim 1, wherein the partial annealing step is performed at a temperature in the range of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190.5 degrees Celsius) to 550 degrees Fahrenheit (288 degrees Celsius). 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the partial annealing step is performed at a temperature in the range of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius) to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the partial annealing step is performed at a temperature of 475 degrees Fahrenheit (246 degrees Celsius). The method of claim 1, wherein the mold unit comprises three parts, wherein step (f) comprises directing at least two of the three parts toward the third part such that the parts are spaced apart by a gap opening into the mold cavity To a second position where the gap between the mold sections is reduced in size with the gap open to the cavity of the mold. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (f) further comprises positioning the gap at a maximum expansion point of the can bodied blank. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of balancing the force applied by the pressurized fluid in step (e) with the axial force applied in step (f). The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) comprises applying a force in the axial direction sufficient to apply a net compressive force on the sidewall of the can bodysubstrate during step (e) A method of manufacturing a body. The method of claim 1, wherein the can bodied blank has side walls having a substantially constant diameter. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed in a lacquer or decorator oven. The method of manufacturing a metal can body according to claim 1, wherein step (b) is performed during drying of the can-bodied blank. An apparatus for manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to improve a visual effect on a consumer, Means for producing a can body blank; Means for at least partially annealing at least a portion of the can bodied blank, thereby increasing ductility at the annealed portion of the can bodied blank; Mold means comprising a mold unit having at least one mold wall defining a mold cavity corresponding to a can body of a desired final shape, the mold unit comprising at least one portion, Means movable towards the other portion in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the blank; Positioning means for positioning the can body blank in the mold cavity; Fluid supply means for supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity such that the can bodysubstrate is compressed against the mold wall such that the can bodysubstrate is formed like a can body of a desired final shape; Axially reducing means for moving said at least one of said mold portions towards another portion in the axial direction; Wherein the metal can body is made of metal. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the partial annealing step is performed by the drying means at a temperature in the range of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190.5 degrees Celsius) to 550 degrees Fahrenheit (288 degrees Celsius). 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the partial annealing step is performed by the drying means at a temperature in the range of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius) to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the partial annealing step is performed by the drying means at 475 degrees Fahrenheit (246 degrees Celsius). 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the axial reduction means comprises: molding means having three parts forming the mold cavity and at least two of the three parts toward a third part, And means for moving from a first position mutually spaced apart by an open gap to a second position where the gap between the mold portions is reduced in size while being opened into the mold chamber. A device for manufacturing a body. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the gap in the mold is located at the maximum expansion point of the container. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the axial reduction means comprises applying a sufficient axial force to the can bodily blanks to apply a tamping force on the sidewall of the can bodysubstrate during expansion. 13. The apparatus for manufacturing a metal can body according to claim 12, wherein the axial reduction means is constituted and arranged so that a force applied on the container body blank is balanced by the fluid supply means. 13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising one pressurized fluid line for supplying both the fluid supply means and the axial compression means. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for partially annealing comprises a lacquer or decorator oven. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for partially annealing comprises a can body drier. A container made according to the method as recited in claim 1. A method of manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to enhance a visual effect on a consumer, (a) fabricating a can body blank; (b) at least partially annealing at least a portion of the can bodied blank, thereby increasing ductility at the annealed portion of the can bodied blank; (c) preparing a mold unit having at least one mold wall that forms a mold cavity conforming to a can body of a desired final shape; (d) positioning the can body blank in the mold cavity; (e) feeding a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity such that the can bodysubstrate is compressed against the mold wall, whereby the can bodysubstrate is formed as a can body of a desired final shape; Wherein the metal can body is made of a metal. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the partial annealing step is performed at a temperature in the range of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190.5 degrees Celsius) to 550 degrees Fahrenheit (288 degrees Celsius). 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the partial annealing step is performed at a temperature in the range of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius) to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the partial annealing step is performed at a temperature of 475 degrees Fahrenheit (246 degrees Celsius). 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein step (b) is carried out in a lacquer or decorator oven. 25. The method of manufacturing a metal can body according to claim 24, wherein step (b) is performed during drying of the can-bodied blank. An apparatus for manufacturing a metal can body in a unique shape to improve a visual effect on a consumer, Means for producing a can body blank; Means for at least partially annealing at least a portion of the can bodied blank, thereby increasing ductility at the annealed portion of the can bodied blank; Mold means comprising a mold unit having at least one mold wall defining a mold cavity corresponding to a can body of a desired final shape; Positioning means for positioning the can body blank in the mold cavity; A fluid supply means for supplying a pressurized fluid into the mold cavity so that the can bodysubstrate is compressed against the mold wall so that the can bodysubstrate is formed like a can body of a desired final shape; Wherein the metal can body is made of metal. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the partial annealing step is performed by the drying means at a temperature in the range of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190.5 degrees Celsius) to 550 degrees Fahrenheit (288 degrees Celsius). 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the partial annealing step is performed by the drying means at a temperature in the range of 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius) to 500 degrees Fahrenheit (260 degrees Celsius). 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said partial annealing step is performed by said drying means at a temperature of 475 degrees Fahrenheit (246 degrees Celsius). 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said means for partially annealing comprises a lacquer or decorator oven. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said means for partially annealing comprises a can body drier.