Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying a coating of lubricant on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can body wherein a turret having a plurality of pockets formed in its outer peripheral surface is mounted for rotation about a relatively fixed axis and during the rotation thereof a can body is fed into each pocket. The can body in each pocket is held against the outer peripheral surfaces of a pair of rotating rolls having a space therebetween by a vacuum acting through the space so that the can body is rotated thereby and while rotating is moved against an arcuate wick having a supply of lubricant so as to form a coating of lubricant on the at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: Can ironing die members for use in a tool pack assembly which is part of a can body making apparatus used in forming cups into can bodies and wherein each can ironing die member is mounted in a fixedly mounted holding member so that the can ironing die member can be moved in radial directions by the cup from an initial location to a new location if the longitudinal axes of the cup and the can ironing die member are not in alignment and retaining apparatus for retaining the can ironing die member at the new location until moved again by an out of alignment cup. Also, the can ironing die member can be rotated relative to the holding member.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system for removing fluid particles retained on containers, each having an open end and a closed end, after they exit from a washing operation wherein the containers are transferred from the washing operation to a drying operation with the open ends thereof facing in a downward direction and wherein the fluid particles are removed from the containers as they are transferred from the washing operation to the drying operation by passing air at relatively high velocities over at least the portion of the containers next adjacent to the open ends thereof wherein the flow of the high velocity air is generated by a vacuum source.

Abstract: A container end member is provided and has a first severable tab portion which is defined by a score line groove and has an integral hinge portion for permanently securing it to the container end member and a force applying tab portion permanently pivotally mounted on the container end member and used to apply a force on the first severable tab portion to form a pour opening in the container end member and a second severable tab portion having an integral hinge portion for permanently securing it to the container end member and having a raised surface projecting outwardly from the container end member so that a force may be applied thereto to sever the second severable tab portion and form a vent opening in the container end member.

Abstract: A fountain roll and assembly for a can decorating apparatus wherein a pan holding a supply of ink is adjustably mounted on a fixed frame so that the level of the supply of ink is generally in a horizontal plane and a fountain roll rotatably mounted in the fixed frame and located so that the lower portion of its outer peripheral surface as it rotates is immersed in the supply of ink and wherein the fountain roll is rotated so that it enters the supply of ink in a generally downward direction and leaves the supply of ink in a generally upward direction. A plurality of doctor blades in a side-by-side contacting relationship are located to remove an excess amount of ink on the outer peripheral surface and to return such excess amount to the supply of ink. The doctor blades are mounted in a unit which is laterally and pivotally adjustable. Also, the doctor blades are individually adjustable in linear directions toward or away from the outer peripheral surface of the fountain roll.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a cylindrical workpiece, such as a can body, from a cylindrical supporting device, such as a punch of a can body making machine, using a plurality of resilient fingers which are mounted in a circumferentially spaced relationship to provide a circular opening having a diameter less than the outer diameter of the punch so that on the return stroke of the punch, the resilient fingers will be in contact with the outer surface of the punch and will contact the leading edge of the workpiece to disengage it from the punch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a continuous extrudate of a heated soft thermoplastic material into a continuous sheet of a cooled rigid thermoplastic material having a plurality of recesses formed in one surface thereof and a plurality of projections formed on the other surface thereof by feeding successive portions of a heated soft extruded thermoplastic material onto successive portions of a forming cylinder having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface having a plurality of recesses formed therein and applying a vacuum through the recesses to draw areas of successive portions opposite to the recesses into conformation with the recesses and cooling the thermoplastic material by moving a cooling fluid over the inner peripheral surface of the forming cylinder and removing the successive portions to form a continuous sheet of a rigid thermoplastic material having a plurality of recesses formed in one surface thereof and a plurality of projections formed on the other surface thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for debagging container ends from a package comprising two superposed continuous webs having a plurality of sealed compartments formed therein by two continuous end sealing strips and a plurality of widthwise extending sealing strips extending between and into the end sealing strips wherein a portion of each end sealing strip is cut away to form a cut compartment having an open end, then holding the cut compartment to prevent widthwise movement thereof, applying a force in one direction to expose an end container end, applying a force in the opposite direction to push the container ends out of the held cut compartment and onto a receiving and transferring unit and transferring the container ends to a conveying apparatus leading to further processing apparatus.

Abstract: This invention provides method and apparatus for reshaping the bottom wall of an aluminum can body wherein a mold member having a generally cylindrical outer surface having a longitudinal axis and a contoured bottom surface is mounted for rotation in a support structure and an aluminum can body having a generally cylindrical sidewall having a longitudinal axis and an integral bottom wall is secured on the mold member so that an annular portion of the bottom wall contacts at least an annular portion of the contoured bottom surface and the longitudinal axes thereof coincide. As the mold member and the can body are rotated, resilient forces are applied to the bottom wall using a tool member having a spherical surface which is moved in a diametrical linear direction across the bottom wall to reshape the bottom wall into conformation with the contoured bottom surface.

Abstract: A butterfly actuator is provided and has a pair of spaced apart cams which move a valve stem wherein the cams are integral with a shaft having one portion having a generally cylindrical outer surface which is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve fixedly mounted in a housing mounted at a fixed location and wherein the bearing sleeve has a length which is between about 2.0 and 3.5 times the diameter of the generally cylindrical outer surface. A butterfly actuator is mounted on an end portion of the shaft so that movement of the butterfly actuator rotates the shaft and is formed from a metallic material to provide for an extended life period of useful operation.

Abstract: A redraw apparatus is provided for a can body making apparatus wherein the redraw carriage of the redraw apparatus is mounted for substantially friction-free sliding reciprocating movement over a pair of spaced apart support posts which are fixedly mounted on the housing holding the can forming and ironing dies. Also, a counterbalancing system is provided for applying a force to counterbalance the weight of a portion of structures used to reciprocate the redraw carriage. Additionally, a raw assembly is provided for supporting a ram for movement through the redraw apparatus and the can forming and ironing dies wherein a pair of spaced apart elongated shafts are fixedly mounted and a ram carriage having the ram attached thereto is provided with liquid bearings using liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein for mounting the ram carriage on the elongated shafts for substantially friction free movement thereover. A guide liquid bearing is also used to ensure proper alignment of the ram.

Abstract: A collapsible mandrel for use in holding a can body in a process wherein a portion of the can body having uneven edges on the open end thereof is trimmed away is provided and comprises a hollow support member having a longitudinal axis and mounted at a relatively fixed location and having a plurality of axially and radially outwardly extending resilient fingers integral therewith and an elongated hollow member mounted on the hollow support member to provide for linear movement therebetween. The elongated hollow member has a bearing surface in contact with the resilient fingers so that movement of the elongated hollow member varies the radially outwardly extent of the resilient fingers so that can bodies having inner peripheral surfaces of differing inner diameters may be readily moved over the resilient fingers but wherein the resilient fingers will exert a sufficient force thereon so that the can body will rotate with the resilient fingers.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles, such as ends for beverage containers, using a plurality of accumulating cages and a plurality of transfer cages to feed an accumulated plurality of container ends in succession into a packaging station wherein the accumulated plurality of container ends are positioned between portions of a first continuous strip of a flexible material permitting passage of at least a gaseous substance and a second continuous strip having a thermally reactive surface facing the first continuous strip and superposed portions of the first and second continuous strips surrounding the accumulated plurality of container ends are sealed together to form interconnected plurality of sealed compartments each having an accumulated plurality of container ends confined therein.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preventing the curling of a composite material having a fluid permeable base and a fluid impermeable outer surface in a manufacturing operation wherein a continuous sheet of the composite material is moved in incremental amounts through a cutter-creaser apparatus to have carton blanks formed therein wherein the curling is prevented by forming a curtain of air under pressure to apply downwardly directed forces on the fluid impermeable surface during the incremental movement of the continuous sheet through the cutter-creaser apparatus and the forming of the carton blanks.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming can blanks into elongated can bodies comprising a support structure having first and second gears rotatably mounted on the support structure and drive means for rotating the first and second gears so that the second gear rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first gear. A redraw assembly and can forming and ironing dies located adjacent to the support structure. A ram mounted on the support structure for reciprocating linear movement with portions thereof passing through the redraw assembly and the can forming and ironing dies. Connecting the ram to the first and second gears so that rotation of the first and second gears reciprocates the ram. In one embodiment, the ram does not rotate during the reciprocation thereof but in another embodiment the ram rotates during the reciprocation thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in determining the approximate web tension setting necessary for providing a predetermined web width in a machine, such as a web printer, which is used to process a continuous plastic web of the type which is subject to significant stretching and shrinking in response to relatively small web tension variations, comprising a first web restraining device for holdingly engaging a first end of a length of web material to be tested; a second web restraining device for holdingly engaging a second end of the length of web material to be tested; a force application device for applying a controlled amount of longitudinal stretching force to the length of web material to be tested; and a measuring device for measuring the width of the length of web material to be tested in a mid-region thereof during application of the longitudinal stretching force thereto. The apparatus may also be used for determining web graphics distortion.

Abstract: A transfer system for transferring decorated containers, having images of wet ink on the outer peripheries thereof, from a first container carrying apparatus, comprising a continuously rotating mandrel wheel type apparatus carrying decorated containers with their open ends exposed, to second and third container carrying apparatus, each comprising continuously moving vacuum belts for carrying the decorated containers through a curing oven with their open ends exposed, comprising a continuously rotating transfer wheel which carries the decorated containers with their closed ends exposed and which is located between the first and the second and third container carrying apparatus and wherein the transfer wheel receives containers from the first container carrying apparatus for movement in a circular path and moves the containers while they are held thereon so that they are separated into two parallel spaced apart circular paths to be transferred to the second or third container carrying apparatus.

Abstract: A control assembly for use in controlling the operation of a can end press of the type having a plurality of operating stations for performing different work operations on a can end passing through the press, each operating station including a fixed station portion and a reciprocally movable station portion which engages a can end mounted on the fixed station portion, comprising: strain gauge operatively associated with at least one of the operating stations for detecting the strain experienced in a portion of the station during press operation and for providing a strain gauge signal indicative thereof; data processing assembly for receiving and processing the signal of the strain gauge for detecting a signal condition conforming to predetermined criteria associated with an abnormal operating state of the press and for providing a control signal responsive to the detected abnormal operating state.

Abstract: A redraw apparatus is provided for a can body making apparatus wherein the redraw carriage of the redraw apparatus is mounted for substantially friction-free sliding reciprocating movement over a pair of spaced apart support posts which are fixed mounted on the housing holding the can forming and ironing dies. Also, the counterbalancing system is provided for applying a force to counterbalance the weight of a portion of structures used to reciprocate the redraw carriage. Additionally, a ram assembly is provided for supporting a ram for movement through the redraw apparatus and the can forming and ironing dies wherein a pair of spaced apart elongated shafts are fixedly mounted and a ram carriage having the ram attached thereto is provided with liquid bearings using liquid coolant comprising water having solubles contained therein for mounting the ram carriage on the elongated shafts for substantially friction free movement thereover. A guide liquid bearing is also used to ensure proper alignment of the ram.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting at least one endless movable chain conveyor for carrying articles and having a top run and a bottom run wherein a plurality of spaced apart base support members are mounted on a fixed support surface with each of the base support members having a primary plate support member releasably secured thereto. Each primary plate support member has opposite end portions and a primary support member is releasably secured to each end portion. A rigidifying tube is releasably secured to a plurality of the primary support members to provide rigidity to the apparatus which rigidifying tube in located between the top and bottom runs. Top run chain guides and supports extend between and are releasably secured to adjacent primary support members and bottom run chain guides and supports are releasably secured to the primary plate support members. The apparatus is substantially completely open so that all portions thereof are readily available for inspection and/or cleaning.