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The present invention describes an apparatus and forming process to manufacture container end closures with improved internal buckle strength. The present invention provides greater material and dimensional control during the forming process by utilizing a pressure sleeve to provide support to at l

The present invention describes an apparatus and forming process to manufacture container end closures with improved internal buckle strength. The present invention provides greater material and dimensional control during the forming process by utilizing a pressure sleeve to provide support to at least a portion of an end closure chuck wall and seaming panel radius while placing an end closure countersink in compression during the forming process.

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What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a predetermined shape in a metallic container end closure adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising: positioning a metallic end closure blank in a forming press; providing a clamping force on at least a portion of a seaming panel be

What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a predetermined shape in a metallic container end closure adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising: positioning a metallic end closure blank in a forming press; providing a clamping force on at least a portion of a seaming panel between a first tool and a second tool, said at least a portion of a seaming panel being oriented in a first substantially horizontal direction; providing a clamping force on at least a portion of a central panel between a third tool and a fourth tool to substantially prevent movement of the central panel; while the clamping force is provided on the at least a portion of the central panel, supporting at least a portion of a chuck wall and an inner seaming panel radius on both an interior surface and an exterior surface to substantially prevent movement of at least a portion of the chuck wall and inner seaming panel radius, wherein said inner seaming panel radius is supported along its cross-sectional radius of curvature that begins proximate to a first point of divergence from said first substantially horizontal direction of said seaming panel; supporting a first portion of the countersink with at least one of said third tool and said fourth tool while an exterior portion of the countersink is unsupported with any tools; and providing a compressive force on a lower portion of the countersink while retaining the chuck wall in a preferred position, wherein the end closure is formed into a predetermined shape. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the end closure countersink material retains substantially the same thickness during the forming of the end closure. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unsupported portion of the countersink changes shape during the forming process. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first tool comprises an outer pressure sleeve and said second tool comprises a die core ring. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the chuck wall is supported on the interior surface with a die core ring and on an exterior surface with an inner pressure sleeve. 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the third tool comprises a countersink punch and said fourth tool comprises a panel punch. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the countersink is placed in compression as an inner pressure sleeve travels from a position of top dead center to bottom dead center. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the end closure chuck wall is supported on an exterior surface by a pressure sleeve. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pressure sleeve may have a distinct geometry to define a chuck wall shape during the forming process. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a clamping force on a portion of the seaming panel provides compression between said first tool and said second tool. 11. An apparatus for forming a preferred shape in a metallic material to create a beverage end closure adapted for interconnection to a container, comprising: a first tool in opposing relationship to a second tool which is adapted to provide a clamping force on a portion of a seaming panel of the metallic material; a third tool in opposing relationship to a fourth tool which is adapted to providing a clamping force on a central panel portion of the metallic material, said fourth tool further supporting a lower portion of an interior surface of the countersink to apply a compressive force on the countersink; a fifth tool positioned between said first tool and said third tool, which is adapted to support at least a portion of a chuck wall portion of said metallic material, without contacting an exterior surface of the countersink, wherein said fifth tool is further adapted to support a curving transition between said chuck wall and said seaming panel, wherein said curving transition begins at a location where the seaming panel begins diverging downward from a substantially horizontal plane; and providing a reciprocating motion between at least said fifth tool and said first and second tools while a portion of a countersink in the container end closure remains unsupported on an exterior surface while supported on an interior surface, wherein a preferred geometry is created in the countersink as a compressive force is applied thereto, thus substantially avoiding a reduction of material thickness of the countersink. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said first tool comprises an outer pressure sleeve. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second tool comprises a die core ring. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said third tool comprises a countersink punch. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said fourth tool comprises a panel punch. 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said fifth tool comprises an inner pressure sleeve. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a blank punch and draw ring which arc adapted to retain a portion of metallic material during manufacturing and which are positioned adjacent to the first and second tools. 18. A method for forming a metallic end closure adapted for interconnection to a neck of a container, comprising: a first clamping means for holding a first portion of a metallic material; a second clamping means for holding a second portion of the metallic material and comprising a tool with a geometric profile adapted to support a lower interior surface of the metallic material, said second portion of the metallic material positioned interior to said first portion; an inner pressure sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end positioned between said first clamping means and said second clamping means, and comprising an engagement surface having at least one radius of curvature inwardly directed toward said metallic material and in operable engagement with said metallic material and said lower end positioned above the metallic material held by said second clamping means, wherein a void is located between said first clamping means, said second clamping means and said pressure sleeve, and wherein said metallic material that is in operable engagement with said engagement surface of said inner pressure sleeve comprises a radius that substantially begins at a point where said metallic material diverges downward from a substantially horizontal plane; wherein at least a portion of said first clamping means and said second clamping means travels with respect to said pressure sleeve, wherein a preferred metal geometry is formed in compression within said void while a portion of said metallic material is retained between said pressure sleeve and said first clamping means. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said first clamping means comprises an outer pressure sleeve in opposing relationship to a die core ring. 20. The method of claim 18, wherein said second clamping means comprises a countersink punch positioned opposite to a panel punch. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein said preferred metal geometry in said void comprises a countersink in the metallic end closure. 22. The method of claim 19, further comprising a blank punch and draw ring positioned adjacent said outer pressure sleeve and die core ring, respectively which are adapted to clamp a portion of said metallic material. 23. The method of claim 1, further comprising supporting at least a portion of a seaming panel radius on both an interior surface and an exterior surface in addition to supporting the inner seaming panel radius. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least a portion of the seaming panel radius and the inner seaming panel radius are supported by a common tool. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the common tool comprises an inner pressure sleeve. 26. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said curving transition comprises a portion of at least one of a seaming panel radius and an inner seaming panel radius.