Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

Abstract: A method of reducing a thickness and increasing a height of a cylindrical wall of a metal cup to form a can body comprises positioning a wall-ironing punch inside the cup, moving an annular wall-ironing die axially over the closed end of the cup towards the open end of the cup, but not beyond the open end of the cup, in order to iron the cylindrical wall from the closed end up to a position axially spaced from the open end and moving the wall-ironing die back in an opposite direction to remove the can body from the die. Methods of altering a diameter of one or more regions of a can body are also disclosed.

Abstract: A closure assembly comprising a two-part closure having a metal panel or disc (2) and a ring (3), and a container such as a glass jar (20). The ring (3) is substantially cylindrical with an axially upwardly extending sidewall and has a radially inwardly extending lower edge. The jar (20) terminates in a radially outwardly extending beaded rim (16) and the disc (2) has a curled circumference (8) such that this curl (8) co-operates with the beaded rim (16) of the container to provide a primary seal. In one example, in a metal ring (3), the lower edge is curled with equally spaced lugs (13) on the skirt wall. In a plastic ring, the upper rim feature may be omitted.

Abstract: A method of reducing a thickness and increasing a height of a cylindrical wall of a metal cup to form a can body comprises positioning a wall-ironing punch inside the cup, moving an annular wall-ironing die axially over the closed end of the cup towards the open end of the cup, but not beyond the open end of the cup, in order to iron the cylindrical wall from the closed end up to a position axially spaced from the open end and moving the wall-ironing die back in an opposite direction to remove the can body from the die. Methods of altering a diameter of one or more regions of a can body are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of reducing a thickness and increasing a height of a cylindrical wall of a metal cup to form a can body comprises positioning a wall-ironing punch (40) inside the cup, moving an annular wall-ironing die (24) axially over the closed end of the cup towards the open end of the cup, but not beyond the open end of the cup, in order to iron the cylindrical wall from the closed end up to a position axially spaced from the open end and moving the wall-ironing die (24) back in an opposite direction to remove the can body from the die (24). Methods of altering a diameter of one or more regions of a can body are also disclosed.

Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

Abstract: A closure assembly comprising a two-part closure having a metal panel or disc (2) and a ring (3), and a container such as a glass jar (20). The ring (3) is substantially cylindrical with an axially upwardly extending sidewall and has a radially inwardly extending lower edge. The jar (20) terminates in a radially outwardly extending beaded rim (16) and the disc (2) has a curled circumference (8) such that this curl (8) co-operates with the beaded rim (16) of the container to provide a primary seal. In one example, in a metal ring (3), the lower edge is curled with equally spaced lugs (13) on the skirt wall. In a plastic ring, the upper rim feature may be omitted.

Abstract: A method of reducing a thickness and increasing a height of a cylindrical wall of a metal cup to form a can body comprises positioning a wall-ironing punch (40) inside the cup, moving an annular wall-ironing die (24) axially over the closed end of the cup towards the open end of the cup, but not beyond the open end of the cup, in order to iron the cylindrical wall from the closed end up to a position axially spaced from the open end and moving the wall-ironing die (24) back in an opposite direction to remove the can body from the die (24). Methods of altering a diameter of one or more regions of a can body are also disclosed.

Abstract: A beverage can end for pressurized contents includes a score that defines a pair of The lobes have longitudinal axes that are not mutually parallel and in some embodiments substantially perpendicular to improve flow.

Abstract: A metal closure (1) comprising a panel (10) and a depending side wall (14) terminating in a cut edge (15), the inner surface of the closure having a plurality of coating layers applied (21-27) such that at least one of the coating layers extends to the cut edge and the coating thickness at and in proximity to the cut edge is less than the thickness at one or more other regions of the inner surface.

Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

Abstract: A modular method of forming a two part metal closure comprises a lug forming module for forming lugs 3 on a ring 1, a panel curl module, and an assembly module which fixes the panel inside the ring while allowing axial movement of the panel for opening.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method of forming a can end comprising: holding a peripheral portion of a blank between inner (60, 70) and outer (80, 90, 100) peripheral tool sets; drawing a central portion of the blank against an outer center panel tool (80) having a central region and a sloping peripheral edge (84) extending to a peripheral wall (86) by moving the outer center panel tool (80) inwardly relative to the peripheral tool sets to form a drawn can end shell (10); and reforming the can end shell (10) against an inner center panel tool (60) having a central region and a peripheral region by moving the inner center panel tool (60) outwardly relative to the peripheral tool sets to reform the drawn central portion to have a center panel defined by the central region of the inner center panel tool (60) and a recessed reinforcing structure extending around the center panel, wherein the sloping peripheral edge (84) of the outer center panel tool (80) has a convex radius of curvature of 2 mm or more and 30 mm

Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

Abstract: A two-part closure (1) which has a disc (2) and a skirt (3). In one example, the skirt wall is smooth between upper and lower rims so that the disc is moveable between the rim features. Typically in a metal skirt or ring, the upper rim feature is a curl (11) and the lower rim feature is a curled edge (12) with equi-spaced lugs (13) on the skirt wall.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises holder (20) with a seating face on which a container such as a cupshaped article (1) stands. Air is supplied through channels and air pressure is balanced so as to hold the article (1) against the face. The profile of the apparatus guides a base feature, or “stand” of the article (1) into the holder (20) and onto the seating face (23), and contacts the article (1) radially outside the seating face (23). The apparatus also has a concentric outer sleeve (25) to provide the additional radial contact and resist lateral movement of the article (1) while maintaining concentricity.

Abstract: A closure assembly comprising a two-part closure having a metal panel or disc (2) and a ring (3), and a container such as a glass jar (20). The ring (3) is substantially cylindrical with an axially upwardly extending sidewall and has a radially inwardly extending lower edge. The jar (20) terminates in a radially outwardly extending beaded rim (16) and the disc (2) has a curled circumference (8) such that this curl (8) co-operates with the beaded rim (16) of the container to provide a primary seal. In one example, in a metal ring (3), the lower edge is curled with equally spaced lugs (13) on the skirt wall. In a plastic ring, the upper rim feature may be omitted.

Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.