Abstract: A decorator for cylindrical objects, such as beverage cans and the like. The cylindrical members are carried by mandrels which are sequentially presented to rotating printing plates. A plurality of mandrels are carried by a mandrel cluster and the printing plates are carried by plate wheels. The decorator is capable of utilizing flexographic inks wherein the surface of the cylindrical body can be printed with a first ink, the ink rapidly dried, followed by the application of the second ink. The mandrels are compliantly supported on the mandrel cluster by pneumatic cylinders supplied with both high and low pressure air so that the spring rate of the complaint support may be varied to ensure uniform printing. Synchronization of the rotation of a mandrel with the rotation of a printing plate carried by a plate cylinder is critical so that the second image is precisely in register with respect to a first applied image.

Abstract: A method of controlling contamination of, and alloy variations in the remelted product of an electro-slag refining (ESR) or remelting process. More particularly, this invention is directed to a slag forming flux, to the timing and/or manner in which the flux is utilized during such method, and to a slag deoxidizer. The controls are achieved by the sequential additions of a (1) flux of predominantly CaF.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 with the balance a mixture of SiO.sub.2 and MnO, and (2) a non-aluminum containing slag deoxidizer such as CaSi. Preferably, the flux is added in two portions about one-third at start-up with the remainder after the start-up portion has melted to form a slag blanket. As a preferred alternative, the total amount of SiO.sub.2 /MnO of the flux is added with the start-up portion and the remainder portion comprises essentially only CaF.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.