Abstract: The present invention provides a wall for a package, which wall comprises, or includes a layer comprising, a composition comprising a polymer and capable of scavenging oxygen through the metal-catalyzed oxidation of an oxidizable organic component thereof. The oxidizable organic component is preferably itself a polymer, and may be the only polymer in the composition. Preferred compositions include a blend of 96% polyethylene terephthalate and 4% poly (m-xylyleneadipamide) containing 200 ppm cobalt as catalyst, with good permeance-versus-time performance (3) when formed into a bottle.

Abstract: A can end 50 is attached to a flange 16 of a can body 1 by means of a double seam. The radius r.sub.2 of the seaming panel 55 of the can end is related to the radius r.sub.1 of the body flange radius 17 by the formular.sub.2 =r.sub.1 +twhere t is the thickness of the body flange. The benefit arising is that a longer body hook in the seam is achieved so that the overlap of body hook and can end is reliably increased so that reduced axial pressure may be used during formation of the double seam.

Abstract: Apparatus for seaming an end E to an open end of a container body B in at least first and second seaming operations comprises a lifter pad to support the container body, a seaming chuck to support the end in place on the container body, and an annular seaming tool having at least first and second annular seaming profiles on its inner surface which surrounds the end. The apparatus includes drive means for providing relative rolling movement between the seaming tool and the end in which the drive means drives the annular seaming tool to gyrate around the can end. Means are also provided for causing relative movement between the end and the annular seaming tool, from a first relative position in which the first seaming profile can contact the end E to perform the first seaming operation, to at least a second relative position in which the second seaming profile can contact the end E to perform the second seaming operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for seaming a container end E to an open end of a container body B, comprises a pad to support the container body, a seaming chuck to support the end E in place on the container body B and cooperating with the pad to hold the container body and end one against the other, and an annular seaming tool having two annular seaming profiles on its inner surface which surrounds the end for progressively folding peripheral portions of the container body and end together to form a seam. The annular seaming tool is mounted on a tool holder and means are provided for supporting and driving the tool holder in orbiting motion such that the axis of the seaming tool follows a circular path around the axis of the seaming chuck. The seaming tool is mounted on the apparatus for free rotation about its axis such that when the seaming profile engages the peripheral portions of the container end, it is free to roll around the end to form the seam progressively.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing laminated materials comprising a metal sheet laminated on one or both sides to a polymer film or films. The process comprises forming a laminate by a combination of heat and pressure followed by reheating. A heat zone is provided for heating and/or cooling the laminate after the reheat stage and prior to quenching so that the laminate enters the quenching stage at a substantially constant temperature, irrespective of line speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of forming a metal coated with a polymer is achieved through the provision of a reservoir containing a cooling liquid having a relative undisturbed upper surface. A metal coated with a polymer is introduced into the cooling liquid through the upper surface and is subject to quenching liquid at a temperature T.sub.q directed at the polymer coated metal substantially immediately below the cooling liquid upper surface and substantially along the entire predetermined width thereof. This achieves rapid and uniform cooling in the absence of bubble formation and/or quenching liquid surface agitation to assure desired crystalline formation of the polymer absent the polymer blemishes.

Abstract: An annular device (10) particularly for use as a spacer between dies (200) in a drawing and wall ironing process, the device including an outer delivery channel (30) which is linked to an inner delivery channel (40) by angled slots (50), so that liquid passing from the outer to the inner channel merges in the inner channel to form a vortex of fluid. The device also includes a lip (42) on the wall of the inner channel adjacent to the bore of the device, which serves as directing means to force the merged vortex of liquid out of the spacer in a longitudinal manner for cooling, lubricating and washing adjacent members.

Abstract: A process for producing laminated materials in which one or more polymer films are laminated to a metal strip by a combination of heat and pressure. Generally, polymer films are applied to both sides of the metal strip in a lamination nip which exerts a force of at least 15 kN/m. The nip rolls may also be at different temperatures, either by one nip roll being of conducting material such as steel and the other nip roll being of insulating material, or by actively cooling one of the rolls. This enables films having different softening temperatures to be laminated without risk of micro-blistering or of pick-up on the rolls.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wall for a package, which wall comprises, or includes a layer comprising, a composition comprising a polymer and capable of scavenging oxygen through the metal-catalysed oxidation of an oxidisable organic component thereof. The oxidisable organic component is preferably itself a polymer, and may be the only polymer in the composition. Preferred compositions include a blend of 96% polyethylene terephthalate and 4% poly (m-xylyleneadipamide) containing 200 ppm cobalt as catalyst, with good permeance-versus-time performance (3) when formed into a bottle.

Abstract: An end wall for a can body has a central panel (7) surrounded by a conventional expansion ring (8) which is connected to an inner wall (16) of a channel portion by an upwardly extending deformable annulus (17, 18) so that during thermal processing of a closed can having this end wall, the deformable annulus changes shape to permanently increase the container volume. The deformable annulus protects the side wall and ends of the can from excessive pressure so thinner container materials may be used.

Abstract: A can end is formed from a metal sheet having adhered thereto a coating of a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polyester film. The can end comprises a central panel, a panel wall dependent from the periphery of the centre panel, an annular countersink bead extending outwardly from the panel wall, a chuck wall extending upwardly from the periphery of the countersink bead and an annular seaming panel extending radially from the chuck wall. The metal sheet comprises an aluminum alloy having a magnesium content between 0.8% and 2.0% by weight and manganese content between 0.6% and 1.5% by weight; the polyester coating has a crystallinity factor in the range 0.05 to 0.5 measured by X-ray diffraction; and the distance between the chuck wall and panel wall is between 0.85 mm and 1.0 mm as measured at a height of 0.45 mm above the lowest part of the upper surface of the countersink bead.

Abstract: A can body (40) drawn from a tinplate to comprise an end wall (41) and an integral side wall (42) which extends from the periphery of the end wall to a terminal portion defining a mouth, has a margin (48) of coating material, such as expoxy phenolic lacquer, applied only to an upper portion of the interior surface of the side wall (42) leaving the interior tin surface of the rest of the side wall and end wall (41) exposed. The side wall may be wall ironed from selected grade of tinplate. The advantages arising are protection of cold worked side wall material and control of the ammount of tin available to be picked up by a product in the can.Various methods are described for making the cans such as deep drawing and alternatively wall ironing.

Abstract: A method of forming a component having a metallic shell (12) and a plastics insert (34). The component is formed by placing the shell (12) inside the mould cavity of a mould assembly (10) which forms part of an injection moulding machine. Prior to injection of plastics material, part of the external surface of the shell (12) is spaced from the opposed surface of the mould cavity. The open end of the shell abuts the adjacent mould cavity and wall so as to form a seal. This end wall is frusto-conical in shape so that, during injection of plastics material, as the shell (12) is reformed by polymer pressure into complete engagement with the surface of the mould cavity, longitudinal contraction of the shell in response to this direct lateral strain is compensated for by the frusto-conical shape so that the seal is maintained.

Abstract: In a press comprising at least one die (3), a hollow punch (1) and ram (2) assembly movable through the die, and a bottom forming tool (13) having a convex surface portion (14) axially aligned with the punch, said punch and ram assembly having a valve seat (24) in the ram hollow and a valve member (21) which has a valve body engageable with the valve seat and a stem extending through the valve seat towards the free end of the punch so that as the punch approaches the convex surface portion of the bottom forming took, the valve member is lifted off the valve seat to permit compressed air to pass from the punch hollow, the valve stem is supported in a bearing between the valve seat and the extremity of the punch, and said valve stem and interior surface of the punch define a cavity of prechosen volume between the valve seat (24) and extremity of the punch (1) so that as the punch approaches the bottom forming tool (5) cooperation of the convex surface portion (14) of the bottom forming tool and valve stem (20)

Abstract: An oven for curing coating material applied to metal sheets (15) has a heating section (17), a cooling section (18) and an incinerator (19) for burning fumes from the coating material. The oven also as a conveyor for carrying sheets through it. The oven is associated with a sheet feeder (11), a coating apparatus (12), and a sheet stacker (13). In one embodiment, a conveyor (16) comprises an air bed (30) and two series of drive members (35) mounted on two endless chains (36). Air is ejected through a matrix of slots in the air bed (30) and thereby creates a cushion for supporting the sheets (15). The air is ejected in a direction which urges the trailing edges of the sheets into engagement with the drive members (35) and the drive members (35) propel the sheets through the oven. In another embodiment, a conveyor (200) comprises two series of drive members (205, 206) mounted on spaced apart chain (208, 209) and arranged in pairs for engaging the trailing and leading edges of metal sheets.

Abstract: A ram (40,50) of a press comprises metal sleeve (41,51), a hollow core (42, 58), a first end piece 42A, 52 attached to one end of the rod and a second end piece 46, 54 attached to the other end 47 of the ram to support a tool, the hollowcore being made of a material lighter than that of the sleeve. The benefit is a ram of reduced weight to minimize inertia forces arising during use.

Abstract: A one-piece plastics closure for a carbonated beverage bottle has a sealing ring which extends inwardly and downardly towards the closure mouth from its attachment to the closure body. When the closure is fitted the ring extends around the outer radius and over the annular top face of the bottle neck, backed by a stepless abutment and reaction surface of the closure body. The latter surface engages the sealing ring mechanically above the container top face to determine the fitted position of the closure and create a seal when the pressure in the bottle is low. When the product pressure is high, however, the effective seal is made between the sealing ring and the outer radius of the bottle neck. For that purpose the abutment and reaction surface is roughened, so allowing access for the product pressure to the back of the sealing ring.

Abstract: In a press feed of the kind comprising an upright chute 1, a rotatable feed cam 2 adjacent the chute and guide rails 3,4 around the feed cam to guide a workpiece or cup 5 to a cup holding stop member 7 between a punch 10 and die 9, a clamp member 6 engages the cup as it leaves the feed cam to push the cup into the stop member and hold it until the punch 10 and blank holder 8 have entered the cup.

Abstract: A sheet metal can body 1 comprises an end wall 2 and a tubular side wall 3 which includes a plurality of flexible panels 4 recessed within the cylindrical envelope of the side wall and extending between plain cylindrical end portions 5 of the side wall. Each panel 4 is formed of a plurality of flutes 6 defined laterally on each side by a convex rib 7.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of filling a flowable product into a succession of receptacles as they pass continuously along a predetermined path is defined by an elongated hollow containment member mounted above the predetermined path which is formed with an axially extending slot therein. A metering screw having a helical thread is mounted for rotation within the containment member and is biased into sealing engagement with the containment member on each side of the slot. A distribution chamber is formed within the containment member substantially around the screw member except that the sealing engagement and the slot whereby flowable products supplied to the distribution chamber when the screw is rotated is distributed through the slot between adjacent screw portions of the screw member and leaves the containment member in a succession of spaced moving streams.