Abstract: A new tamper-proof closure includes a cap having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slits separated by bridges with a plurality of lines of weakness extending perpendicular to the slits and aligned with the respective bridges. The lines of weakness have a residual thickness which varies between opposite ends.

Abstract: An easy open ecology end consisting of a removable section defined in an end panel and a tab for severing the removable section is disclosed herein. The removable section or disc is defined by a weakened score line and the tab has an opening edge aligned with at least a part of the inner edge of the score line with the opening edge having primary contact means for producing initial rupture of the score line. The tab is attached to the end using a unique method which will produce internal stresses in the metal of the tab so that the tab is constantly urged toward the surface of the end. The tab also has an opening therein aligned with the removable section and is designed to be locked into the opening created by severing the weakened line.

Abstract: A cup holder sleeve and its support assembly for use in a drawing and ironing machine that has a circular bore and is supported for radial as well as tilting movement of the axis of the elongated bore with respect to the support. The support includes a pair of members that cooperate to define a recess surrounding a circular opening and an enlarged portion of the cup holder sleeve is received into the recess and cooperates with a cupper support element. The cup holder support element and cup holder sleeve are normally radially centered with respect to the opening by centering springs and the cup holder sleeve is normally maintained in engagement with the support element by hold-down springs. The cup holder sleeve and support element can be moved radially while the cup holder sleeve can be tilted with respect to the support element and all of the elements are normally maintained in a predetermined position by the centering springs and the hold-down springs.

Abstract: A new tamper-proof closure and apparatus for forming such tamper-proof closures is disclosed herein. The closure includes a cap having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slits separated by bridges with a plurality of lines of weakness extending perpendicular to the slits and aligned with the respective bridges. The lines of weakness have a residual thickness which varies between opposite ends. The apparatus includes a cutting and scoring tool having a first elongated member that defines a cutting edge which has spaced V-shaped recesses and a second member having an elongated surface extending across each of the recesses with the elongated surface having a plurality of projections that extend perpendicular to the cutting edge and are centrally spaced with respect to the V-shaped recesses.

Abstract: A domer assembly which cooperates with the punch of a drawing and ironing machine to reform an end wall of a container includes a support that has a flat supporting surface defined in the bottom of a recess and a carrier element having a cooperating surface engaging the flat bottom surface. A domer element is supported on the carrier element and both are movable as a unit radially of the path of movement of the punch and are normally centered with respect to the axis of the punch through biasing springs which will accommodate radial movement. The assembly also includes means for supplying air between the surfaces to act as a fluid bearing and reduce friction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermoforming process and apparatus or machine including a male mold assembly and a pressure box or a female mold assembly disposed on support members or platens maintained in fixed relationship to each other whereby the pressure box assembly is first caused to pass through the plane of the heated plastic material whereafter the male mold then is caused to move into the pressure box together with the simultaneous introduction of controlled amounts of a pressurized fluid until complete interrelationship is attained with relative movement of the male mold to the pressure box being continued to a point proximate the plane of heated thermoplastic material as more clearly hereinafter discussed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a seamless container having a sidewall and an integral end wall with opening means in the integral end wall is disclosed herein. The method contemplates forming at least one substantially closed area of reduced thickness in the end wall to produce a fracturable web that defines an opening means during the conversion of a flat disc to a finished container. In one form, the method contemplates initially forming a shallow cup and then forming the opening means in the end wall of the shallow cup before the cup is converted into a drawn and ironed container. In another form, the opening means is formed while the container end wall is being reformed into its final configuration and in a further version, the end opening means is formed in the end wall after completion of the drawing and ironing process. The finished container includes a reformed end wall that is integral with a circular sidewall of a container and has a fracturable web surrounding a protuberance.

Abstract: A method of forming a removable section in a metal wall portion of a container is disclosed herein. A first, area of reduced cross-section is coined the wall portion outside the first coined area and most of the displaced metal is forced inside the first area so that the portion inside the first area is in compression and is substantially dish-shaped in cross section, a weakened line is then produced in the first area to define a removable section.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making a drawn and ironed container from a circular blank is disclosed herein. The process contemplates flowing a fluid medium through the punch of a drawing and ironing machine and maintaining the fluid medium at a predetermined temperature above the initial ambient temperature of a cup that is converted into a drawn and ironed container. The process also includes cooling the ironing dies by flowing a liquid through grooves located in the rings of the dies and the rings are made of tungsten carbide. The grooves in the ironing dies are non-radial with respect to the center of the opening in the ring so that the fluid has a tangential component of flow and flows in a generally circular pattern within the peripheral confines of the die opening.

Abstract: An easy open ecology end consisting of a removable section defined in an end panel and a tab for severing the removable section is disclosed herein. The removable section or disc is defined by a weakened score line and the tab has an opening edge aligned with at least a part of the inner edge of the score line with the opening edge having primary contact means for producing initial rupture of the score line. The tab is attached to the end using a unique method which will produce internal stresses in the metal of the tab so that the tab is constantly urged toward the surface of the end. The tab also has an opening therein aligned with the removable section and is designed to be locked into the opening created by severing the weakened line.

Abstract: An internal diameter gauge for measuring thin wall containers is disclosed herein. The gauge includes a pair of mandrel halves that are supported between a shaft and a housing with cooperating camming surfaces on the mandrel halves, the housing and the shaft which move the peripheral semi-circular surfaces of the mandrel halves radially. The camming surfaces on the housing and shaft are biased toward each other through a biasing mechanism between the shaft and the housing while the mandrel halves are biased toward each other through a further biasing mechanism and a handle cooperates with the shaft to displace the shaft and allow the mandrel halves to contract.

Abstract: An easy open ecology end is disclosed herein and includes an end panel that has a removable section defined by a weakened score line. A tab is secured to the removable section and the tab and removable section are designed so that both remain captive with respect to the end panel when the weakened score line is severed. The weakened score line is produced by a unique three step process and has an area of reduced residual which is first severed when a force is applied to the tab so that the container is vented before the remainder of the residual is severed. The tab is designed to produce a localized initial pressure to initially sever the area of reduced residual and then sever the remainder of the score line.

Abstract: An end panel for a container is specifically configured to be able to substantially reduce the metal thickness without sacrificing resistance to bulging and buckling of the panel when subjected to high internal pressures. The end panel consists of a central portion that has an outwardly directed annular bead around the periphery thereof which is connected to a countersink or inwardly directed bead along a flat first wall portion. The outer end of the countersink or inwardly directed bead has a second flat wall portion, the outer end of which is connected to a peripheral curl by a third flat wall portion and the curl is adapted for seaming the end panel to a container body. The first and third flat wall portions of the panel define small acute angles with respect to a vertical plane that extends perpendicular to the central panel portion while the second flat wall portion defines an angle of less than 4.degree. with respect to the vertical plane.

Abstract: A split punch tool for cooperating with a die block to form the wall of a drawn and ironed container is disclosed herein. The split punch or cooperating die includes a female portion that has a peripheral lip that can be placed in overhanging relation to the periphery of the die block and the female portion has a peripheral ledge which extends perpendicular to the direction of movement of the die block and die with respect to each other and also an inclined surface extending from the inner edge of the ledge or inwardly directed surface. The surfaces are adapted to engage mating surfaces defined on the end of a cylindrical member that forms part of the cooperating die so that the ledge defines a perpendicular support for the cylindrical member.

Abstract: Cup feeding means for feeding cups to a drawing and ironing machine having a generally elongated horizontal opening defined by ironing rings and a ram axially aligned with said opening is disclosed herein. The cup feeding mechanism consists of guide means for continuously supplying cups to a station adjacent the opening and an arm pivoted below the guide means and the opening. The arm has an arcuate surface for receiving cups from the guide means and is driven between first and second positions for moving the cups from the guide means into alignment with the opening of the drawing and ironing machine. The cup feeding means also includes stop means located adjacent the opening with the stop means also having an arcuate surface that generally defines an extension of the arcuate surface on the arm so that the cups are positively gripped between the arcuate surfaces when the arm is moved to the second position.