Patents Assigned to American National Can
  • Patent number: 5715964
    Abstract: A can end for a two-piece beverage can including a generally flat radially extending portion; a score panel defined in the generally flat radially extending portion by an arcuate score, the score panel having a central, longitudinal axis projecting in a first axial direction and a second axial direction opposite the first direction; an annular emboss bead formed in the score panel and projecting in a first axial direction; and an annular deboss bead formed in the score panel and projecting in the second axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignees: American National Can Company, Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Tim L. Turner, Robert L. Hurst
  • Patent number: 5705111
    Abstract: Methods 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 adjusted independently of the combined thicknesses of a layer derived from the third melt stream element (68) and an adjacent layer (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Robert John Blemberg, John P. Eckstein, Kevin J. Curie
  • Patent number: 5704244
    Abstract: A seamless drawn and ironed container body having a side wall with portions of the side wall expanded radially outward from an initial cylindrical configuration and a method and apparatus for reshaping such containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Andy Halasz, Rolf Wirz, Rene Meneghin, Louis Trepied
  • Patent number: 5697242
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming a bottom of a drawn and ironed beverage container is disclosed. The container has a longitudinal axis and a side wall parallel with the longitudinal axis. The bottom has an outer annular wall, a convex U-shaped portion and a preformed bottom wall. The preformed bottom wall includes a center domed portion. The bottom further has an annular, substantially longitudinal wall joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The apparatus comprises a roller movable from an inward position where the roller does not contact the annular, substantially longitudinal wall to an outward position where the roller contacts the annular, substantially longitudinal wall, and a movable actuator to move the roller into engagement with and circumferentially about the annular, substantially longitudinal wall to reform the substantially longitudinal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Andrew Halasz, Sylvan Praturlon, Paul Azzaline, Christopher Caliendo
  • Patent number: 5692635
    Abstract: A package comprising a container, a closure assembly which includes a tearing portion. The container includes a sidewall, a closed end and an end with an opening. The closure assembly includes a central panel covering the container opening and a circumferential edge secured to the container. The tearing portion allows the closure to be opened for access to the contents of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Christopher J. Farrell, Les Kaffko, Guy Richards
  • Patent number: 5691052
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric composition which acts as an improved cold seal mechanism over prior art cold seal structures. The composition comprises a blend of 40% to 80% by weight of a tacky adhesive and 60% to 20% by weight of a lower viscosity, non-tacky resin. The composition has a seal strength of at least 0.2 lbs per inch when sealed to itself at a temperature of less than 120.degree. F., and can be formed into a film for subsequent use in packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Gregory K. Jones
  • Patent number: 5679422
    Abstract: A coextruded multilayer polymeric film for use as a chub film having a core layer of an oxygen barrier material and layers disposed on either side of the core layer comprising a blend of an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer formed from a polymerization reaction in the presence of a single site catalyst and a tie or adhesive, or alternatively a blend of a tie or adhesive and an ethylene acid copolymer, including a neutralized ethylene acid copolymer such as an ionomer. The film also comprises outer sealant layers comprising a blend of an ethylene alpha-olefin copolymer formed from a polymerization reaction in the presence of a single site catalyst and optionally a compound selected from the group consisting of LLDPE, having a density of between about 0.910 g/cc to about 0.940 g/cc, and an ethylene acid copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Lind, Johnny Q. Zheng, Gregory K. Jones, Dennis Kittel
  • Patent number: 5659973
    Abstract: A device for removing liquid on a gauze conveyor for conveying products, the gauze conveyor having an upper side for carrying products and being provided with link portions and having a gauze pattern. The device having means for removing liquid on the upper side of the gauze conveyor by extraction said means being placed directly under the gauze conveyor and being formed by a hollow, rotatable roll which is provided with rows of separate projecting teeth, said rows extending axially on the roll, the teeth fitting into the gauze pattern and the link portions being enclosable by the teeth. The roll has holes between the teeth which holes extend into the cavity of the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignees: American National Can Co., VMI-EPE-Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Donald Lazarz, Jurjen Jan De Jong
  • Patent number: 5653090
    Abstract: A high temperature steam-sterilizable flexible pouch package includes a non-woven barrier web, a perforated plastic intermediate web, and an imperforate plastic upper web. Line heat seals bonding the webs form a cavity into which high temperature sterilizing steam may enter after passing through the barrier and intermediate webs. The line heat seal bonding the upper and intermediate webs is of the delamination failure type. An access opening is provided for insertion of an object to be sterilized into the cavity after which the access opening is sealed, enclosing the object in the cavity. After high temperature steam sterilizing, the package is opened by peeling apart the upper web from the intermediate web which causes a delamination failure of the line heat seal. Preferred materials enable vacuum cycle steam sterilization at a temperature of at least 270.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignees: OnGard Systems, Inc., American National Can Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Weiss, Thomas J. Bauer, Richard E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5630308
    Abstract: Packaging machinery alignment, and a package having tear initiation and tear control, result from laser scoring of the package substrate, particularly, by providing at least two substantially parallel, substantially straight or linear, laser scores across the entire width of such package substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: Anthony Guckenberger
  • Patent number: 5605996
    Abstract: An Improved Oxygen Scavenging Polymer containing unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds, functions as an antioxidant when the unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds are triggered by the presence of moisture, wherein the unsaturated polymer contains one or more alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl groups or combinations thereof, and the polymer is used in articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Michael S. Chuu, Thomas T. Tung
  • Patent number: 5598734
    Abstract: The present invention is a reformed container end and a method of forming the container end. The container end includes a center panel surrounded by a countersink having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a countersink bottom. The countersink bottom includes a first arcuate segment having a small radius and a second arcuate segment having a larger radius. The container end may also include a portion wherein the center panel is slightly expanded and the inner wall is further reformed to direct potential buckling away from the nose of a pour opening panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Randall G. Forrest, Timothy L. Turner, Donald M. Thurman
  • Patent number: 5590807
    Abstract: The present invention is a reformed container end and a method of forming the container end. The container end includes a center panel surrounded by a countersink having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a countersink bottom. The countersink bottom includes a first arcuate segment having a small radius and a second arcuate segment having a larger radius. The container end may also include a portion wherein the center panel is slightly expanded and the inner wall is further reformed to direct potential buckling away from the nose of a pour opening panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Randall Forrest, Timothy Turner, Don Thurman
  • Patent number: 5590777
    Abstract: A sterilizable flexible pouch package includes a non-woven barrier web, a perforated plastic intermediate web, and an imperforate plastic upper web. Line heat seals bonding the webs from a cavity into which sterilizing steam may enter after passing through the barrier and intermediate webs. The line heat seal bonding the upper and intermediate webs is of the delamination failure type. An access opening is provided for insertion of an object to be sterilized into the cavity after which the access opening is sealed, enclosing the object in the cavity. After sterilizing, the package is opened by peeling apart the upper web from the intermediate web which causes a delamination failure of the line heat seal. Preferred materials enable steam sterilization at temperature of 270.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignees: OnGard Systems, Inc., American National Can Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Weiss, Thomas J. Bauer, Richard E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5540352
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reforming the bottom of a container (20) and a container made by that method is disclosed. The container for which this method and apparatus are suitable has an outer annular wall (26); a convex U-shaped portion (28); a preformed bottom wall (30), including a center domed portion (32); and an annular wall (34) joining the domed portion and the convex U-shaped portion. The method comprises supporting the bottom peripheral profile portion and bringing a reforming means (36) into engagement with the annular wall. The reforming means is brought to bear against the annular wall to rework the annular wall. The reforming means can also reform the outer annular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Andrew Halasz, Sylvan Praturlon, Paul Azzaline, Christopher Caliendo, Richard D. Zenger
  • Patent number: 5527143
    Abstract: A method of reforming a countersink (14) of a container end (10) from a shell (10') is disclosed. A shell (10') is provided having a center panel (12') including an initial panel height (A') and an initial panel diameter (D'). The shell further has an integral countersink (14') including an initial countersink depth (A'), an inner wall (30') and an outer wall (32') being joined by a curved countersink bottom (34'). The bottom has an initial bottom radius (R1). The panel (12') is joined to the inner wall (30') of the countersink by a curved shoulder (36') having an initial shoulder radius (R2'). The shell is reformed by decreasing the panel height, increasing the panel diameter and decreasing the countersink depth. The reformed shell (14") is further reform by increasing the panel height and further decreasing the countersink depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Timothy L. Turner, Dennis Dettmer, Randall G. Forrest
  • Patent number: 5523045
    Abstract: Methods for injection molding and injection blow-molding multi-layer plastic articles, including containers and parisons for forming containers, which comprise providing a plurality of co-injection nozzle means for injecting plastic materials into associated injection cavities to form each article, providing streams of polymeric materials to form corresponding layers of the articles, moving each stream separately to plural nozzle means, separately receiving the streams in the plural nozzle means, and injecting the streams to form the multi-layer plastic articles. Preferably, each stream of material which is to form a corresponding layer of the articles is provided with substantially the same polymer flow, preferably from where each stream is split and moved to each nozzle means. Valve means can be employed in each nozzle means for positively controlling preferably substantially simultaneously the flow and nonflow of respective materials into the central channel of the nozzle means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Frederick G. Kudert, Maurice G. Latreille, Robert J. McHenry, George F. Nahill, Henry Pfutzenreuter, III, William Tennant, Thomas T. Tung, John Vella, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE35567
    Abstract: Linear low density polyethylene is used in multiple layer, molecularly oriented films. Novel blends of linear low density polyethylene with ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer are disclosed, and used in molecularly oriented multiple layer films. Bags made from the multiple layer films are especially useful for shrink packaging, and particularly for shrink packaging of meats having large cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventor: David L. Newsome
  • Patent number: D385192
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignees: American National Can Company, Coors Brewing Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Hurst, Tim L. Turner
  • Patent number: D389064
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: American National Can Company
    Inventors: Ashok Sethi, John K. Iorii