System and method for obtaining molding force for the distinctive part of a can end

Abstract

A can end conversion system (100) for forming a feature on a can end shell (103) includes a tooling station (102) having a tool assembly (112). The tool assembly (112) can form at least partially a can end feature on the can end shell (103) during the feature formation process. The tooling station (102) further includes a force measuring device (124) within the tooling station (102) for measuring the load on the tool assembly (112) during the feature formation process. A method for forming a feature on a can end shell (103) using the can end conversion system includes receiving the can end shell (103) at the tooling station (102), operating the tool assembly (112) to form at least partially a can end feature on the can end shell (103), and measuring the load on the tool assembly (112) at the tooling station (102) while at least partially forming the can end feature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 508,136, filed on June 14, 2023, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING FORMING FORCES OF CAN END FEATURES", the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] This application relates to metal containers, and more particularly, to systems and methods for forming can end features in a metal can end shell that can be joined to a container body to form a metal container.

Background Art

[0003] Metal containers (e.g., aluminum beverage cans) for the purpose of containing food or beverages generally include a container body having an opening defined at one end and a lid portion (referred to as a "container lid shell" or a "can end shell") designed to close the opening of the container body. The container body and the can end shell are typically joined at their peripheral edges (e.g., by crimping or co-winding) to form a liquid-tight and air-tight joint. Although some container lids are flat and circular discs, it is more common to provide a container lid shell with a convex contour or a curl at its peripheral end to facilitate the joining process.

[0004] Can end shells can first be formed from a metal sheet, for example, but not limited to, a sheet of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The can end shells may be further formed by adding features through one or more feature formation processes using appropriate tooling, which may include commonly practiced processes such as riveting, tab forming, paneling, scoring, embossing, and tab attachment. These feature formation processes are typically carried out by multiple individual tooling stations, which may be integrated into tooling such as a conversion press. Some conversion presses may include sensors at the rear and outside of the entire press, but such sensors cannot measure or detect the forming forces applied to the can end shells. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0005] The embodiments covered by this patent are defined not by the summary of this invention, but by the claims set forth below. The summary of this invention is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts further described in the section on embodiments for carrying out the invention below. This summary is not intended to identify any important or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by referring to the entire specification of this patent, any or all of the drawings, and the appropriate parts of each claim.

[0006] According to a particular embodiment, a can end conversion system for forming a feature on a can end shell includes a tooling station having a tool assembly for forming at least partially a can end feature on the can end shell in a feature formation process. The tooling station also includes a force measuring device inside for measuring the load on the tool assembly during the feature formation process.

[0007] According to various embodiments, a method for forming a feature on a can end shell using a can end conversion system includes receiving the can end shell at a tooling station of the can end conversion system. The method includes operating a tool assembly to form a can end feature on the can end shell at least partially, and measuring the load on the tool assembly in the tooling station while forming the can end feature at least partially using at least one force measuring device located within the tool assembly.

[0008] The various embodiments described herein may include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which are not necessarily expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. All such systems, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be contained within this disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

[0009] This specification refers to the attached drawings described below, where the same reference numerals are used in different drawings, they are intended to indicate similar or analogous components. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A can end feature formation system and can end shell according to an embodiment are shown. [Figure 2A] This shows a station for forming a can end feature according to an embodiment. [Figure 2B] This shows a station for forming a can end feature according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] A flowchart of the can end feature formation method according to the embodiment is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] This specification describes a can end feature forming system and related methods. The can end feature forming system includes at least one tooling station having a tool assembly, the tool assembly containing one or more force measuring devices for measuring loads during the forming process. Non-limiting examples of tooling stations having such tool assemblies may include a bubble forming station, a button forming station, a rivet forming station, an embossing station, a down paneling station, a scoring station, a tab forming station, and / or a tab-staking station. In certain embodiments, multiple stations may be provided for various can end feature processing, and each of the multiple stations may contain at least one force measuring device. In certain embodiments, one or more force measuring devices may be provided on the can end shell and adjacent and / or adjacent components of the tooling assembly during the feature forming process using the tool assembly.

[0012] Compared to conventional can end feature formation systems, the systems and methods described herein allow for the measurement of forming forces acting on the can end shell during the can end feature formation process and during can end shell manufacturing. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may enable the measurement of forming forces during various steps performed throughout the can end feature formation process. The measurement of forming forces may be used to determine the properties of the can end shell and / or tool assembly itself, such as, but not limited to, the effect of the can end shell feature formation process on the properties of the metal, the design, setup, and / or placement of the tooling, the wear profile of the tooling, its combination, and / or other properties as needed. In some embodiments, the measurement of forming forces may be used to determine the properties of the metal, such as, but not limited to, formability, friction, and / or how changes in the metal interact with the tooling. The measured forming force and / or additional information determined based on the measured forming force may be used to control various aspects of the can end feature formation system and / or process, including, but are not limited to, the type of metal used for the can end shell, the loads applied by the components of the tooling assembly, and the arrangement and / or type of the components of the tooling assembly. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized in the systems and methods described herein, and the benefits and advantages described herein should not be considered limiting.

[0013] Referring to Figure 1, the can end conversion system 100 may include one or more tooling stations 102 for forming various features on the can end shell 103. In some examples, the can end shell 103 may be made of various metals as needed, including but not limited to aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, or other metals as needed. In some examples, the metal sheet 101 may be aluminum or aluminum alloy of the 1xxx (1000 series), 2xxx (2000 series), 3xxx (3000 series), 4xxx (4000 series), 5xxx (5000 series), 6xxx (6000 series), 7xxx (7000 series), 8xxx (8000 series), and / or any other aluminum or aluminum alloy.

[0014] In various embodiments, the tooling stations 102 are arranged to sequentially process can end shells 103 and / or feature portions of the can end shells 103 (such as tabs, but not limited to tabs). These tooling stations 102 may be arranged to process any number of can end shells 103 in a given time. In non-limiting examples, the can end conversion system 100 may be a single-lane can end conversion system 100 (e.g., one can end shell at a given tooling station 102), a two-lane can end conversion system 100 (e.g., two can end shells at a given tooling station 102), or a three-lane can end conversion system 100.

[0015] The number of tooling stations 102 used may be any number as needed, and the tooling stations 102 may be of various types as needed, and / or may be arranged in various configurations and orders. Each tooling station 102 includes a tool assembly having a forming surface for performing various feature formation processes. Non-limiting examples of feature formation processes include, in particular, button forming, bubble forming, rivet forming, embossing, down paneling, scoring, coining, doming, tab forming, and / or tab staking. In the example shown in Figure 1, tooling station 102A is a bubble forming station for forming bubbles 104 on the can end shell 103, tooling station 102B is a button forming station for forming buttons 106 on the can end shell 103, tooling station 102C is a scoring station for forming scores 108 on the can end shell 103, and tooling station 102D is a tab staking station for staking tabs 110 on the can end shell 103 using rivets 111. As described above, in other embodiments, other tooling stations 102 and / or combinations of tooling stations 102 may be used in various orders in the can end conversion system 100, as needed, including but not limited to rivet forming stations, coining stations, embossing stations, down paneling stations, doming stations, tab forming stations, and / or other feature forming stations as needed. In one non-limiting example, at least one tooling station 102 is a coining station. In various embodiments, a given tooling station 102 may perform one operation or multiple operations. In a non-limiting example, multiple sequential riveting stations may perform multiple forming operations sequentially (and possibly overlapping). In a further non-limiting example, a tooling station may extend during a drawing operation so that the gap between the tools becomes smaller than the metal gauge near the end of the drawing operation and the metal is coined.During coining, the metal may be compressed in the thickness direction and transformed into a final shape that facilitates subsequent forming operations.

[0016] Figures 2A and 2B show one example of a tooling station 102 for a can end conversion system 100 having a tool assembly 112. In Figures 2A and 2B, the tool assembly 112 may be fixed to or connected to a support 118 and includes one or more tools 116 (e.g., dies, inserts, etc.) having one or more forming surfaces 114. While a tooling station 102 with one tool assembly 112 is shown, in other embodiments the tooling station 102 may include multiple tooling assemblies, such as a lower tool assembly 112 (as shown in Figures 2A and 2B) and an upper tool assembly 112. In such embodiments, the lower tool assembly 112 may engage with the lower surface 120 of the can end shell 103 during the feature formation process, and the upper tool assembly may engage with the upper surface 122 of the can end shell 103 during the feature formation process.

[0017] In Figures 2A and 2B, the tooling station 102 is a bubble forming station, and the forming surface 114 of the tool assembly 112 may form a bubble 104 on the can end shell 103. In this example, during the bubble forming operation, the tooling station 102 may receive the can end shell 103 (Figure 2A), and the tool assembly 112 may engage with the can end shell 103 so that a bubble 104 is formed on the can end shell 103 (Figure 2B). As previously stated, in other embodiments, other tooling stations may have other tool assemblies having other components, configurations, and other characteristics as needed. Non-limiting examples of other tooling assemblies for the can end conversion system 100 may include, but are not limited to, those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,749,257 to McEldowney, et al. and U.S. Patent No. 4,568,230 to Brown, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0018] In various embodiments, at least one tooling station 102 of the can end conversion system 100 includes one or more force measuring devices 124 within the tool assembly 112. The one or more force measuring devices 124 may measure the load in the tool assembly 112 during the feature formation process performed at at least one tooling station 102. The one or more force measuring devices 124 may be various suitable types of sensors or other devices appropriate for measuring the load. As described later, the one or more force measuring devices 124 may measure the forming force applied to the can end shell during the feature formation process, including at various stages of the feature formation process.

[0019] The number of force measuring devices 124 used may be any number as needed. As a non-limiting example, the tool assembly 112 may contain one force measuring device 124, two force measuring devices 124, or more than two force measuring devices 124, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B.

[0020] One or more force measuring devices 124 may be provided on various components of the tool assembly 112 as needed. In a non-limiting example, in Figures 2A-2B, one force measuring device 124 is provided on a tool 116 having a forming surface 114, and the force measuring device 124 is positioned close to the can end shell 103 during the feature formation process. In other examples, depending on the type of tooling station 102 and / or tool assembly 112, one or more force measuring devices 124 may be provided on various components as needed. In embodiments in which the tooling station 102 includes an upper tool assembly and a lower tool assembly, one or more force measuring devices 124 may be provided on the upper tool assembly, the lower tool assembly, or both the upper and lower tool assemblies. When force measuring devices 124 are provided on both the upper and lower tool assemblies of the tooling station 102, the number of force measuring devices 124 on the upper tool assembly does not need to be the same as the number of force measuring devices 124 on the lower tool assembly.

[0021] In certain embodiments, in addition to measuring the load, the position of the tool assembly 112 and / or the tool 116 of the tool assembly 112 may be measured during the feature formation process. In some embodiments, the position may be measured using one or more force measuring devices 124, and in other embodiments, other sensors for measuring the position of the tool assembly 112 and / or the tool 116 of the tool assembly 112 may be included within the tool assembly 112.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, one or more position sensors 128 are used to detect and / or monitor the position of the tool assembly 112 and / or the tool 116 (and thus the change in the position of the tool assembly 112 and / or the tool 116). In various embodiments, information can be obtained with better accuracy by directly measuring the position rather than calculating it from the tool design and pressing timing. The position sensors 128 may be various types of sensors suitable for measuring position. The number and location of the one or more position sensors 128 should not be considered limiting, and in other embodiments, one or more position sensors 128 may be provided at various locations suitable for measuring the position of the tool assembly 112 and / or the tool 116. In various embodiments, the position of the tool assembly 112 and / or the tool 116 may be used to generate a load displacement graph (or other suitable output), which may be used to correlate the load change with the formability of the metal, tooling design, and / or specific steps in the forming process. In certain embodiments, by knowing the position of the tool 116 (obtained from the position sensor 128) and the corresponding load change (obtained from the force measuring device 124), it may be possible to determine the amount of deformation in a target area, such as, but not limited to, areas prone to cracking.

[0023] As a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, a tooling station 102, such as, but not limited to, a coining station, performs one or more operations, and a position sensor 128 (or other suitable device) may identify various operations, start one operation and complete another operation, etc., thereby improving the evaluation of the tool 116 and / or the process executed. As an example, in a tooling station, an overhang may be performed during a drawing operation, and near the end of this drawing operation, the gap between the tools becomes smaller than the metal gauge and the metal is coined. In such an example, a position sensor 128 (or other device) that measures the position of the tool assembly 112 and / or the tool 116 can confirm the start of coining based on the detected position without being affected by other changes, and can enable an evaluation of how the initial drawing or overhang causes crack formation. In various embodiments, knowing the change in the position of the tool and the corresponding load can enable the determination of the amount of deformation in an important area. In certain embodiments, by directly measuring the position rather than calculating from the tool design and press timing, the information obtained can be more accurate and reliable.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, the can end conversion system 100 optionally includes a control device 126 (e.g., a processor and / or memory) communicatively coupled to one or more force measurement devices 124 (and optionally a position sensor if provided separately). Such communication may be of various types, including various wired and / or wireless communications as needed.

[0025] In an embodiment that includes the control device 126, the control device 126 may receive the load measured from one or more force measuring devices 124. Further, the control device 126 may also receive the measured position from the force measuring device 124 and / or, if provided separately, from a position sensor. In a particular embodiment, the control device 126 may generate an output response based on the received load and / or position. The output response may include providing the received information to the operator via a user interface and / or a remote device, warning or notifying the operator, and / or controlling one or more components of the tooling station 102 and / or the can end conversion system 100, but is not limited thereto.

[0026] In some embodiments, the control device 126 may generate a graph and / or other output indicating the relationship between the measured load and the measured position. In a particular embodiment, the control device 126 may provide a graph and / or other output indicating the relationship between the measured load and the measured position for each stage (e.g., bending, overhang, coining, etc.) of the feature forming process for a particular tooling station 102.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, in a particular embodiment, the control device 126 may measure or determine the forming force applied to the can end shell during the feature forming process performed by the tooling station 102 based on the measured load from one or more force measuring devices 124. As a non-limiting example, in block 302, the control device 126 may receive one or more first loads from one or more force measuring devices 124 during a first process in which the tooling station 102 performs the feature forming process without the can end shell 103 (e.g., during a calibration process). In various embodiments, in block 302, receiving the measured first position from one or more force measuring devices 124 and / or other position sensors during the first process is also included.

[0028] In block 304, the control device 126 may receive a second load from one or more force measuring devices 124 during a second process in which the feature formation process is performed with the can end shell 103 in place (for example, during can end conversion operation). In various embodiments, block 304 may also include receiving a measured second position from one or more force measuring devices 124 and / or other position sensors during the second process.

[0029] In block 306, the control device 126 may determine the forming force applied to the can end shell 103 during the feature formation process based on the difference between a measured second load (and optionally a measured second position) and a measured first load (and optionally a measured first position). Optionally, the control device 126 may determine the forming force applied to the can end shell at each state of the feature formation process at a particular tooling station 102.

[0030] The measured loads from one or more force measuring devices 124 may be used to determine the properties of the can end shell 103, the tooling station 102, and / or the tool assembly 112. Such determinations may be made by the control device 126, the operator, and / or by other means as needed. As a non-limiting example, the measured loads and / or measuring forming forces may be used to determine the metallic properties of the can end shell 103, the effects of the design, setup, and placement of the tool assembly 112, their combination, and / or other properties as needed.

[0031] In some embodiments, the measured forming force, and / or additional information determined based on the measured forming force, may be used to control various aspects of the can end conversion system 100 and / or process. Such control may be performed by the control device 126, the operator, and / or other means as needed. Non-limiting examples of control include controlling the type of can end shell 103 supplied, the loads applied by the components of the tool assembly 112, the arrangement and / or type of components of the tooling station 102, their combinations, and / or other controls as needed. In other embodiments, measured loads from one or more force measuring devices 124 may be used to perform various other processes and / or controls as needed.

[0032] A set of exemplary embodiments is provided below, including at least some expressly listed as “exemplary” to provide a further description of various exemplary embodiments of the concepts described herein. These examples are not intended to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or limiting, and this disclosure is not limited to these examples but rather encompasses all feasible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

[0033] Example 1. A can end conversion system for forming a feature portion in a can end shell, wherein the end conversion assembly is a tooling station including a tool assembly, the tool assembly being configured to perform a can end conversion operation; the tooling station comprising a force measuring device within the tool assembly, the force measuring device being configured to measure the load in the tool assembly during the can end conversion operation; and the can end conversion assembly.

[0034] Example 2. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of examples, in which the tooling station is the first tooling station among a plurality of tooling stations, the force measuring device is the first force measuring device among a plurality of force measuring devices, and each of the plurality of tooling stations includes a corresponding force measuring device inside.

[0035] Example 3. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, in which the tooling station is a rivet forming station.

[0036] Example 4. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, in which the tooling station is a panel processing station.

[0037] Example 5. A can end conversion system in which the tooling station is a scoring station, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples.

[0038] Example 6. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, in which the tooling station is an embossing station.

[0039] Example 7. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, in which the tooling station is a tab staking station.

[0040] Example 8. A can end conversion system in which the tooling station is a doming station, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples.

[0041] Example 9. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, in which the tooling station is a tab forming station.

[0042] Example 10. The tool assembly includes an upper tool assembly and a lower tool assembly, and the force measuring device is located on the upper tool assembly, and is an exemplary can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of both exemplary can end conversion systems.

[0043] Example 11. The tool assembly includes an upper tool assembly and a lower tool assembly, and the force measuring device is located on the lower tool assembly, in either a preceding or succeeding example, or a combination of the example, can end conversion system.

[0044] Example 12. The force measuring device is a can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, located in close proximity to the molding surface of the tool assembly.

[0045] Example 13. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding example, or a combination of examples, further comprising a control device communicatively connected to the force measuring device, wherein the control device is configured to measure the forming force on the can end shell by receiving a first measuring load from the force measuring device during a calibration process without the can end shell, receiving a second measuring load from the force measuring device during the can end conversion operation of the tool assembly with the can end shell present, and determining the forming force on the can end shell based on the difference between the first measuring load and the second measuring load.

[0046] Example 14. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of both, where the force measuring device is further configured to measure the position of the tool assembly.

[0047] Example 15. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, further comprising a position sensor configured to measure the position of the tool assembly.

[0048] Example 16. A can end conversion system, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of the examples, in which the tooling station is a coining station.

[0049] Example 17. A method for forming a feature portion on a can end shell using a can end conversion system, the method comprising receiving the can end shell at a tooling station of the can end conversion system, the tooling station comprising a tool assembly having a forming surface, the method comprising: causing the tool assembly to form at least partially a can end feature portion on the can end shell, and measuring the load on the tool assembly at the tooling station using at least one force measuring device located within the tool assembly while at least partially forming the can end feature portion.

[0050] Example 18. The tooling station includes at least one of the following: a bubble forming station, a button forming station, a rivet forming station, an embossing station, a down panel processing station, a scoring station, a tab forming station, or a tab staking station, either preceding or succeeding example, or a combination of examples.

[0051] Example 19. A preceding or succeeding example, or a combination of examples, further comprising measuring the position of the tool assembly while at least partially forming the can end feature portion on the can end shell.

[0052] Example 20. An exemplary method, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of exemplary methods, wherein the measured load is a machining load, and the method further comprises determining the forming force applied to the can end shell by receiving a calibration load from the force measuring device during a calibration process of the tool assembly before receiving the can end shell, and determining the forming force based on the difference between the calibration load and the machining load.

[0053] Example 21. An exemplary method, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of exemplary methods, for measuring the load, which includes measuring the load during each stage of the molding process performed by the tooling station.

[0054] Example 22. An exemplary method, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of exemplary methods, for measuring the load, which includes measuring the load during each stage of the molding process performed by the tooling station.

[0055] Example 23. A measuring tooling station is a coining station, either preceding or succeeding, or a combination of both.

[0056] As used herein, the terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention,” and “the present invention” are intended to broadly refer to the subject matter of this patent application and all of the following claims. It should be understood that any statements containing these terms are not intended to limit the subject matter described herein, or to limit the meaning or scope of the following claims.

[0057] Throughout this disclosure, reference numerals accompanied by letters refer to specific examples of elements, while reference numerals without letters refer to elements in general or collectively. Thus, for example (not shown), device "12A" refers to an example of a class of devices that may be collectively referred to as device "12," any one of which may be collectively referred to as device "12."

[0058] As used in this disclosure, the meanings of “a,” “an,” and “the” include singular and plural references, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0059] This description refers to alloys identified by AA numbers and other related symbols, such as "System" or "5xxx". For an understanding of the most commonly used numbering system for naming and identifying aluminum and its alloys, please refer to "International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Wrought Aluminum and Wrought Aluminum Alloys" or "Registration Record of Aluminum Association Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits for Aluminum Alloys in the Form of Castings and Ingot" (both published by the Aluminum Association).

[0060] The subject matter of embodiments of this disclosure is described herein using specifics to satisfy statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be construed as implying any particular order or arrangement in or between the various steps or elements, except when the order of individual steps or the arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “upper side,” “lower side,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “sideways,” “vertical,” “front,” and “back” are intended, among other things, to refer to the orientation shown and described in one (or more) figures to which the components and directions refer.

[0061] The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” should be interpreted as unrestrictive terms (i.e., “including, but not limited to”) unless otherwise specified herein. All methods described herein may be performed in any preferred order unless otherwise indicated herein or unless the context clearly contradicts it. Any and all embodiments or illustrative expressions (e.g., “e.g.”) provided herein are intended solely to better illustrate embodiments of the invention and do not impose limitations on the scope of the invention unless otherwise asserted. Nothing expressed herein should be interpreted as indicating that an unclaimed element is essential to the practice of the invention.

[0062] The embodiments described above are merely possible examples of embodiments and are described solely to provide a clear understanding of the principles of this disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the embodiments(s) described above without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of this disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be incorporated herein within the scope of this disclosure, and all possible claims for individual embodiments or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by this disclosure. Furthermore, certain terms are used herein and in the following claims, but they are used in a general and descriptive sense only and are not intended to limit the embodiments described or the following claims.

Claims

1. A can end conversion system for forming a feature portion in a can end shell, comprising the following: Tooling station including tool assembly, Here, the tool assembly is configured to perform can end conversion operations; and Force measuring device in the tool assembly, Here, the force measuring device is configured to measure the load on the tool assembly during the can end conversion operation.

2. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the tooling station is a first tooling station among a plurality of tooling stations, the force measuring device is a first force measuring device among a plurality of force measuring devices, and each of the plurality of tooling stations includes a corresponding force measuring device inside it.

3. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the tooling station is a rivet forming station.

4. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the tooling station is a panel processing station.

5. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the touring station is a scoring station.

6. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the tooling station is an embossing station.

7. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the touring station is a tab staking station.

8. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the touring station is a doming station.

9. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the tooling station is a tab forming station.

10. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the tool assembly includes an upper tool assembly and a lower tool assembly, and the force measuring device is located on the upper tool assembly.

11. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the tool assembly includes an upper tool assembly and a lower tool assembly, and the force measuring device is located on the lower tool assembly.

12. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the force measuring device is located in close proximity to the molding surface of the tool assembly.

13. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, further comprising a control device that is communicably connected to the force measuring device, The control device is Receiving a first measured load from the force measuring device during the calibration process in the absence of the can end shell; Receiving a second measuring load from the force measuring device during the can end conversion operation of the tool assembly with the can end shell present; and The molding force applied to the can end shell is determined based on the difference between the first measured load and the second measured load; It is configured to measure the molding force applied to the can end shell, Can end conversion system.

14. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the force measuring device is further configured to measure the position of the tool assembly.

15. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, further comprising a position sensor configured to measure the position of the tool assembly.

16. The can end conversion system according to claim 1, wherein the touring station is a coining station.

17. A method for forming a feature portion on a can end shell using a can end conversion system, comprising the following: The can end shell is received at the tooling station of the can end conversion system, where the tooling station includes a tool assembly having a forming surface; The tool assembly is provided with a can end feature portion formed at least partially on the can end shell; and To measure the load on the tool assembly of the tooling station using at least one force measuring device located within the tool assembly, while at least partially forming the can end feature portion.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the tooling station includes at least one of a bubble forming station, a button forming station, a rivet forming station, an embossing station, a down panel processing station, a scoring station, a tab forming station, or a tab staking station.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising measuring the position of the tool assembly while at least partially forming the can end feature portion in the can end shell.

20. The measured load is the processing load. Receiving the calibration load from the force measuring device during the calibration process of the tool assembly before receiving the can end shell; and The forming force is determined based on the difference between the calibration load and the processing load; thereby, The further includes determining the molding force applied to the can end shell, The method according to claim 17.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the measurement of the load includes measuring the load during each stage of the molding process performed by the tooling station.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the touring station is a coining station.

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