Abstract: A composite closure for a container has a moulded plastics band (24) closed at one end by a plastics sure disc (72) which is held captive within a recess formed around the band interior. Also on the band interior is a screw thread (44) by which the closure may attached to a container neck (12). The disc is cut from flat plastics sheet and is initially plane. However, when the closure is fitted to the container a marginal edge region 78 surrounding the container neck is deformed downwardly to generally frustoconical form.

Abstract: A compartmented container, such as an aerosol container, has a plastics pouch (12) attached to a top component such as an aerosol cone (1). The cone is typically formed of steel laminated with polypropylene, and the pouch is attached to the cone by means of a platics/plastics heat-sealed bond using the polypropylene surface layer of the cone. The pouch is attached to the cone (1) at an area away from that used to attach the cone to an aerosol container with a double seam. The cone typically has an annular countersink (4) and the pouch is attached either to the outer countersink wall (5) or the inner countersink wall (6).

Abstract: Resistance welds on overlapped sheets of metal, such as the welded side seam of 3 piece cans, are monitored by measuring the width of the extrusion (5, 6) formed by material flowing out from the edge of the overlapped sheets (1, 2) caused by the welding process. The width of the extrusion (5, 6) is interpreted in terms of the temperature of the weld, and the welding process can be adjusted accordingly. The measurement of the extrusion width can be done optically.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a double seam joining a can end (2) to a can body (1) which includes a sidewall (13) terminating in an outwardly directed flange (16) having a flange angle (.alpha.) within the range of 0 to -45.degree.. During the support of the can end (2) upon the flange (16) of the can body, seeming rolls (37, 38) form a double seam while an axial load of 600N or less is applied to force the can end and the can body one against the other.

Abstract: A process for thermally treating a product in a container having a headspace above the product, in which the container is subjected to a heated or cooled environment and is simultaneously agitated. The acceleration to which the container is subjected by the agitation is of sufficient magnitude to cause the process to operate in a regime in which the heating or cooling time required for the product to reach a predetermined temperature is very substantially reduced and moreover is substantially insensitive to changes in the acceleration.

Abstract: A chuck, for use in a machine forming a double seam joining a can body to an end wall of a can, has a hollow body portion 36 made of machinable material and an annulus 37 of harder material joined to the body portion to define a lower part of the side wall of the chuck. The annulus of harder material is preferably covered by an impervious continuous layer 38 of hard material such as titanium nitride, chromium carbide, iron boride or chromium boride.

Abstract: A capping apparatus, in particular for applying PRESON.TM. style caps to glass jars, comprising a chute with grooved sidewalls to allow free passage of the caps irrespective of tab orientation. At the chute outlet, stops depend from a bridge bar in order to engage the leading cap above its tab, again allowing caps to be presented in random orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus, for forming a container body from a sheet metal component, comprises a punch 31, an annular die 10, axially aligned with the punch, and an annular blankholder 32 surrounding the punch so arranged that relative motion as between the blankholder 32 and an end face 12 of the die restrains the periphery of the sheet metal component as the punch enters the annular die; the die 10 has a spherical bearing surface 17 centered on the longitudinal punch axis, and a die holder 20 has an arcuate surface 22 to co-operate with the spherical surface 17 of the die to impose a restraining force on sheet metal between the die face 12 and the blankholder, 32.

Abstract: A lid 1 for a container body 8 having a side wall 7 portion at one end of which an annular portion 9 extends at an obtuse angle to the side wall to define the mouth of the container. The lid has an elastically deformable central panel 2 and a peripheral annular flange 3 which extends downwardly and outwardly from the central panel to define a seal surface to co-operate with the annular portion 9 of the body. When adhered or fused together the inclined portion of the lid and body receive the stress, arising as a thermal processing increases the volume of product packed, as a load in shear peel force being minimized.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus for inspecting, in particular, vacuum closures, the apparatus having an indexing turret which transports the closures to stations at which various parameters can be measured. The closures are removed from the production line for measurement and returned to the line after testing, with no damage to the closures.