Patents Represented by Attorney Robert A. Stenzel
  • Patent number: 4741447
    Abstract: A linerless cap closure includes circular top wall and a depending annular skirt having an internal thread with a tamper-evident band below the skirt. A sealing member is integral with the lower surface of the top wall and includes an annular protrusion having a depending annular axial projection. The tamper-evident band is connected to the skirt with a plurality of spaced tear tangs and a permanent connection and the band has an inwardly-directed bead with inclined ramps extending from the inner edge of the bed to the lower edge of the bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Christian J. John
  • Patent number: 4732027
    Abstract: A modular system for producing triple-necked open ended containers includes three substantially identical necking modules each having the same frame and identical rotatable turrets which have a plurality of identical necking stations around the periphery. Each necking station includes an annular necking die and a platform and punch which are cam-operated to move towards and away from each other and are maintained in engagement with the cams by pressurized fluid. Each necking station also has a container pressurizing means in the form of an annular chamber which acts as a holding chamber prior to transmitting the pressurized fluid into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Edward S. Traczyk, Michael M. Shulski
  • Patent number: 4724384
    Abstract: Shown is an apparatus for mounting an inductive transducer in position over an intermittently moved belt carrying easy open ends for a beverage container and designed to detect whether or not the tabs for easy opening are provided on the ends. The apparatus is designed to resiliently bias the detection transducer towards the ends with a predetermined gap therebetween such that an electrical signal will result that can be used to evaluate whether a tab is in place. The apparatus includes a camming ramp designed to trigger a limit switch to turn off the system should there be multiple ends positioned below the detector. The detector mounting on a resilient support is designed to back away from any obstruction therebeneath to protect the apparatus during the detection operation. The transducer face is protected by about 1/16 inch of the plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Joseph Castovilly, Walter J. Sieverin
  • Patent number: 4724035
    Abstract: Apparatus for assembling base cups onto bottles includes an assembly wheel that has a plurality of pockets on the periphery thereof and a plurality of fluid cylinders supported on an upper support plate and aligned with the pockets. The assembly wheel is positively driven by a drive motor, which also drives a bottle-infeed mechanism and a cup-infeed mechanism, as well as an ejector mechanism. The cup-infeed mechanism includes as indexable carrier that indexes each cup at a glue-applying station, where the cup is raised and simultaneously rotated while glue is being applied in an annular pattern to the inner surface of the cup. The cup and bottle have movement along paths which merge where the bottle is then forced into the cup through a pressurized source and held in that position while the glue sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: John M. Mann, Michael M. Shulski
  • Patent number: 4696580
    Abstract: A can container made of soft material such as aluminum having a wall thickness of less than 0.2 mm is used for low acid foods or drinks having pH of more than 5.0. A controlled quantity of liquified nitrogen is introduced into the can filled with the low acid foods or drinks and then the can is hermetically sealed off by double-seaming. The liquid nitrogen is soon gasified in the sealed can to increase internal pressure of the can to a level sufficient to prevent the can from being deformed. Then the can is subjected to retort sterilization treatment at a predetermined high steam temperature for a predetermined period of time for sterilization of any possible bacilli and bacteria in the low acid foods or drinks in the can. Prior to retort sterilization treatment, a thermal sensitive paint is applied to the can, which will change color when exposed to a steam of a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinori Kameda
  • Patent number: 4693376
    Abstract: A container inspection apparatus for inspecting coating integrity includes an electrical control system that produces an output signal representative of the reflectivity of an inner surface of the container which is fed to a microprocessor and is compared with lower and upper limit references. If the output signal is outside the limit references, an ejector mechanism located in a path for moving containers is activated to remove the defective container from the path. The ejector mechanism includes flipper rods pivoted at one end and located in an inclined portion of the path so that the defective containers are removed by gravity feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Marion, James J. Nemcoes, George C. Kolodziej
  • Patent number: 4693108
    Abstract: A modular system for producing triple-necked open ended containers includes three substantially identical necking modules each having the same frame and identical rotatable turrets which have a plurality of identical necking stations around the periphery. Each necking station includes an annular necking die and a platform and punch which are cam-operated to move towards and away from each other and are maintained in engagement with the cams by pressurized fluid. Each necking station also has a container pressurizing means in the form of an annular chamber which acts as a holding chamber prior to transmitting the pressurized fluid into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Traczyk, Michael M. Shulski
  • Patent number: 4685582
    Abstract: A drawn and ironed container having a reduced neck around an upper open end has a bottom profile which exhibits excellent strength characteristics and nests with an end double-seamed to the open end of the container. The bottom profile includes a center spherical dome surrounded by a U-shaped annular portion defining a lower support surface for the container. A joining segment is integral with the container side wall and the U-shaped annular portion includes a first annular arcuate portion having an exterior radius and a second annular arcuate portion having an interior radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Sam C. Pulciani, Robert M. Szczerba
  • Patent number: 4682707
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic can lid 1, for use with a container of the lever ring type, has a periphery 20 which contacts an annular portion of the can wall 15, so as to center the lid 1 accurately relative to the can body. A recess 25 may be provided to enable a lever to be used to pry the lid 1 off the container. The recess 25 desirably includes a membrane 27 which is pierced when a lever is first used to open the container, so that rupture of the membrane 27 makes evident any unauthorized opening of the container. The lid 1 may also include one or more fins which form a seal in conjunction with an annular part 14 of the lever ring 16 of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventor: Keith E. Wiles
  • Patent number: 4620434
    Abstract: Apparatus for reforming an end wall of a container shell including a punch reciprocable along a path on a frame and a domer assembly at the end of the path. The domer assembly includes a domer pad and an annular forming element with biasing means between the pad, the annular forming element and the base. The biasing means for the annular forming element includes an annular chamber divided into spaced segments that each have a piston reciprocated therein and a pressurized fluid source connected thereto, while the domer pad is supported on a post that extends through a tubular column forming part of the base and has an enlarged pad at the opposite end which also is in communication with the pressurized fluid source to produce an end wall configuration that has a large outer annular arcuate portion merging with an annular flat support portion that has an upwardly-extending flat annular portion surrounding a central upward dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Sam C. Pulciano, Raymond Mikas, Robert M. Wyleta
  • Patent number: 4614531
    Abstract: A computer based system for controlling the operation of a ware reject mechanism for an independent section glassware forming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Bishop, David C. Oftelie, M. Victoria Selep
  • Patent number: 4583346
    Abstract: Pressurization of containers with liquid nitrogen to impart container strength and content protection is effected by injecting a small quantity of liquid nitrogen before sealing the container by the methods and apparatus including a gas pressure system wherein liquid nitrogen is maintained by control means at a constant pressure with nitrogen gas being separated from liquid nitrogen before dispensing and a recirculating pump pressure system wherein liquid nitrogen from a second of two supplies is pumped through a conduit to a dispensing gun and surplus liquid and gas is returned to the supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinori Kameda
  • Patent number: 4578976
    Abstract: A container embossing apparatus includes a container-supporting embossing mandrel that has circumferentially-spaced, axially-extending ribs on the periphery that are engageable with a resilient forming mandrel or member so that crease lines are formed on the container during the embossing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1986
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Shulski, John M. Mann
  • Patent number: 4546636
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the high-speed production of seamless metal container bodies is disclosed utilizing a reciprocating ram which forces a relatively shallow metal cup through a die assembly to iron the sidewall of said cup to form an elongated ironed container body, the ram is supported and critically-aligned by at least two stationary guide means along its length and a slide blank means rigidly secured to its rearward end, the slide block means having opposed hydrostatic pressure pads to provide constant critical alignment of the rear end of the ram and prevent misalignment of the ram relative to the die assembly to avoid producing container bodies of overly-inconsistent length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Walter W. Snyder, Dennis G. Dettmer
  • Patent number: 4534202
    Abstract: A cup feeding mechanism for a bodymaker includes a guide chute defining a vertical path with a stop located at the lower end of the path defining a transfer area. The stop has a specifically configured area for receiving each cup and defining a fixed position for the cup in the transfer area. A drive member is reciprocated transversely of the path and picks up cups from the transfer area and positively drives them into alignment with a ram that extends perpendicular to the axis of the path so that the cups are maintained in accurate alignment with the ram prior to being transferred through the bodymaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventor: Walter W. Snyder
  • Patent number: 4530228
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the high speed production of seamless metal container bodies is disclosed utilizing a reciprocating ram which forces a relatively shallow metal cup through a die assembly to iron the sidewall of said cup to form an elongated ironed container body, the ram is supported and critically aligned by at least two stationary points and also at its rearward end by a slideable ram block assembly to which the ram is rigidly secured, the critical alignment of the rear end of the ram prevents misalignment of the ram relative to the die assembly to avoid producing container bodies of overly inconsistent length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Walter W Snyder, Dennis G. Dettmer
  • Patent number: 4519232
    Abstract: A modular system for producing triple-necked open ended containers includes three substantially identical necking modules each having the same frame and identical rotatable turrets which have a plurality of identical necking stations around the periphery. Each necking station includes an annular necking die and a platform and punch which are cam-operated to move towards and away from each other and are maintained in engagement with the cams by pressurized fluid. Each necking station also has a container pressurizing means in the form of an annular chamber which acts as a holding chamber prior to transmitting the pressurized fluid into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Traczyk, Michael M. Shulski
  • Patent number: 4466553
    Abstract: A container for vacuum packaging of products includes an outer container and an inner liner which conforms generally to the configuration of the outer container and is secured to the upper open end thereof while the remainder of the container and liner are unattached. A vent is provided between the atmosphere and the space between the container and liner so that the liner can expand and collapse as differential pressures are applied to the product sealed in the liner by a plastic film secured open end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Zenger
  • Patent number: D279265
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1985
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy L. Turner, Frank R. Pileggi
  • Can
    Patent number: D290688
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: National Can Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas E. Moloney, Nelson N. Chernikoff, Edward S. Traczyk, Michael M. Shulski, Edward K. Cassidy, John M. Mann