Patents Assigned to American National Can Company
  • Patent number: 5358791
    Abstract: A sterilizable multiple layer packaging film comprising a first outer layer comprising polypropylene or propylene copolymers, a core layer comprising polyisobutylene modified high density polyethylene and a second outer layer of about 100% to 10% polyisobutylene modified high density polyethylene or at least one copolymer thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Richard E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5358542
    Abstract: A cooling system for neck ring molds in a glass molding machine having retractable parison-forming molds engageable with the neck rings employs air jets directed at exposed portions of the neck ring molds. The neck ring molds are configured to extend out of the bottom of the main parison mold and to engage with neck ring hangers. The neck ring molds are configured sufficiently long that a space is created between the bottoms of the main parison molds and the hangers to permit direct access to portions of the neck ring mold. Air supplied in the form of air jets from a pair of cooling air plenums is directed at the exposed portions of the neck ring molds to provide cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Johnson, Robert D. Hall, Sr., Roger L. Erb
  • Patent number: 5314987
    Abstract: Novel blends of (i) PET, PBT, CoPET, CoPBT or mixtures thereof with (ii) nylon, wherein component (i) is from a catalyst system based on antimony and germanium, or has virtually no residual cobalt and manganese are disclosed and claimed. These blends have superior barrier properties and clarity. The clarity thereof is further enhanced by adding cobalt octoate to the blend. Articles from such blends are also disclosed and claimed. Novel blends of nylon and cobalt octoate which exhibit superior barrier properties are also disclosed and claimed, as well as articles therefrom. And, multilayer structures and articles therefrom having a core layer of a blend of (i) PET, PBT, CoPET, CoPBT or mixtures thereof, and, (ii) nylon, and optionally (iii) cobalt octoate, are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Yong J. Kim, Ray Germonprez
  • Patent number: 5306325
    Abstract: A mold locking system is provided for a glass molding machine. The machine has first and second mold hanger support arms for moving respectively first and second mold halves. The arms are pivotally cantilever-mounted at their ends for rotation about a vertical axis between a retracted station where the mold halves are separated and a forming station where the mold halves are brought into contact. The locking system includes a pressure system for exerting an upward force on the free ends of the support arms and includes surfaces configured to pressingly engage specially configured portions of the free arm ends so that operation of the pressure system forces the free ends towards each other to ensure closure of the mold, and to force the free ends up against a limit stop to terminate upward travel to compensate for sag and mounting system wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Smith, Homer E. Miller, Roger L. Erb
  • Patent number: 5284687
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for fabricating films, especially films containing vinylidene chloride copolymer, wherein the process is susceptible of continued operation over an extended period of time greater than a few days. The process typically can operate for at least 2 weeks between shut downs for cleaning the die. The apparatus comprises a coextrusion feedblock 20 in combination with an annular extrusion die 10 having a crosshead mandrel 11, and means for conveying the exit stream 24 from the feedblock to the die. The particular apparatus combination especially reduces the rate of carbon buildup in the extrusion apparatus during extrusion of VDC-copolymer, such that the extrusion process can be operated for a longer time between shutdowns for cleaning and maintenance of the die. The invention further includes novel tubular films 32 made with the apparatus and methods of the invention, and packages made from the films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Blemberg
  • Patent number: 5281360
    Abstract: Blends of polymers, such as aromatic condensation polymers including formable polyesters and polycarbonates with an oxygen barrier material such as aromatic or aliphatic nylon, an amorphous nylon or EVOH, which have been oriented and which contain a transition metal catalyst, exhibit the improved barrier properties and oxygen absorption properties of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Kuo-Zong Hong, Yong J. Kim, Stephen W. Cornell
  • Patent number: 5251424
    Abstract: A method of hot filling a plastic container includes the steps of introducing a heated product into the container at a temperature of about 190.degree. F., introducing liquid nitrogen into the container and sealing the container before any significant thermal distortion occurs and cooling the container to room temperature, while maintaining a positive pressure within the cooled container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Richard D. Zenger, Stephen W. Cornell, E. James Schneiders
  • Patent number: 5236642
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and films, related to coextrusion of heat-sensitive polymer materials. The sensitive melt stream element (12) is encapsulated in a second polymeric melt stream element (16). Transport means (36) is preferably employed between the encapsulating means (20) and the die (42). A third melt stream element (68) is joined to one or both opposing surfaces (70) of the second melt stream element (16) between the encapsulating means (20) and the die (42). In the die (42) the encapsulated melt stream element (12) becomes an interior layer (46) between encapsulating layers (48A, 48B) derived from the second melt stream element (16). The third melt stream element (68) forms layers (72, 74) positioned outwardly of the encapsulating layers (48A, 48B). The positioning, on the interior of the extrudate, of edges (54) of layer (46) is adjusterd independently of the combined thicknesses of a layer derived from the third melt stream element (68) and an adjacent layer (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Blemberg, John P. Eckstein, Kevin J. Curie
  • Patent number: 5229180
    Abstract: A structure for use in making an easy open package comprises a thermoplastic sheet material. The sheet material has a strip of reflective metal on one surface. Over the metal strip on the opposite surface of the sheet material is a score line. The score line may be formed by a laser. The metal strip reflects the laser and provides a score line of more uniform depth and also provides barrier properties in the area of the score line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Richard Littmann
  • Patent number: 5222385
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming the bottom of a drawn and ironed or a drawn beverage container, and a container made by that method. The container for which this method and apparatus are suitable has a vertical axis; a generally cylindrical side wall parallel with the vertical axis; an outer annular wall; a convex U-shaped portion; a preformed bottom wall including a center domed portion; and an annular, substantially vertical wall joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The method comprises supporting the container in a jig, the jig having a bottom peripheral profile portion substantially corresponding in shape to the outer annular wall of the container. The bottom peripheral profile portion of the jig is then mated with the outer annular wall. A reforming roller is brought into engagement with the substantially vertical wall. The reforming roller rotates along the vertical wall and about an arcuate path, affecting the angle of the substantially vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Andrew Halasz, Sylvan Praturlon, Paul Azzaline, Christopher Caliendo
  • Patent number: 5190711
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for fabricating multiple layer sheet materials while minimizing the time during which a sensitive polymeric melt stream is in contact with metal. The method comprises encapsulating the sensitive melt stream with a second polymeric melt stream, preferably of a lower viscosity, at the outlet of the apparatus which produces the sensitive melt stream. When the encapsulating melt stream has a lower viscosity than the sensitive melt stream, a transport means is preferably employed between the encapsulating means and the die, whereby thickness variations about the circumference of the encapsulating melt stream are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Blemberg
  • Patent number: 5165988
    Abstract: Sheet materials and packages capable of holding hard-to-hold products such as methyl salicylate. The preferred embodiments include a foil layer 12 and a layer 14 of EVOH between foil layer 12 and the enclosed product. An anhydride modified adhesive layer 18 is disposed between the EVOH layer 14 and the product 52. Additional layers are used in the sheet material for purposes of adhesion, appearance, protection, body, and the like. One embodiment of the invention is a coextruded film comprising the EVOH layer 514, a surface layer 516 of LLDPE, an intervening adhesive layer 518, and a fourth covering layer 519 for covering and protecting the EVOH layer 514, especially from physical abuse. The sheet materials of the invention may be made into packages by means of fin seals 54 or lap seals 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Suzanne E. Schaefer
  • Can
    Patent number: D332750
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Moloney, Nelson N. Chernikoff, Edward K. Cassidy, John M. Mann
  • Patent number: D346745
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Heynen, Andrew Halasz, Christopher L. Caliendo
  • Patent number: D347172
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Heynen, Andrew Halasz, Christopher L. Caliendo
  • Patent number: D353336
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Christopher Caliendo, Andrew Halasz, Sylvan Praturlon
  • Patent number: D353337
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Andrew Halasz, Sylvan Praturlon, Christopher Caliendo
  • Patent number: D355363
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: John K. Iorii, Ashok K. Sethi
  • Patent number: D356264
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Sylvan Praturlon, Andrew Halasz, Christopher Caliendo
  • Can
    Patent number: D356265
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Moloney, Nelson N. Chernikoff, Edward K. Cassidy, John M. Mann