Abstract: An easy open tear control package, preferably a pouch, from a film of polymeric barrier material is disclosed. Methods and films for making of such packages are also disclosed. The easy open tear control feature arises from roughening portions of the outer or inner surface of the films, prior to fabricating into the package. The roughened portion is on one face or on each face of the package and is at least a full width of a seal when the film is made into the package. The roughened portion can extend the entire width of the package and can be of any desired length.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 24, 1994
Date of Patent:
April 30, 1996
Assignee:
American National Can Company
Inventors:
Richard Littmann, Ulrich Weingartner, Thomas S. Wildenberg, Jerry Jesse, Deane E. Galloway
Abstract: A die necking method and apparatus for producing a smooth tapered wall between the container side wall and a reduced diameter neck includes a plurality of rotatable necking turrets that each have a plurality of identical necking substations each having a necking die. The necking dies in the respective turrets have an internal configuration to produce a necked-in portion on the container which has a first arcuate segment integral with the container side wall and a second arcuate segment integral with the reduced diameter neck. The necking substations also have a floating form control element that engages the inner surface of the container to control the portion of the container to be necked. The necked-in portion is reformed in each succeeding turret by dies to produce a smooth tapered wall between the arcuate segments.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 28, 1995
Date of Patent:
March 12, 1996
Assignee:
American National Can Company
Inventors:
Antonio Caleffi, T. William Ames, Edward S. Traczyk, Dietrich K. Naggert
Abstract: Method and device for drawing and ironing a metallic or metalloplastic can by utilizing a chamber arranged for flow of lubricant therethrough, including an input opening and an output opening, and which is placed upstream of at least one drawing die. The chamber includes an annular, long and narrow, cylindro-conical antechamber located upstream of the die, adjacent to the external surface of the can which is being drawn, the antechamber having a length lo between 3 and 50 mm, and a thickness jo between 25 and 200 .mu.m.
Abstract: A steam sterilizable pouch is disclosed. The pouch includes a non-woven steam-permeable bottom web. A multi-layer intermediate web is bonded to the bottom web. The multi-layer web is substantially steam impermeable, except for a perforated steam-permeable region. The intermediate web includes top and bottom layers. A steam-impermeable top web is bonded by a first line heat seal to the top layer of the intermediate web. A cavity having a heat sealable access opening is located between the top web and the top layer. At least a portion of the first line heat seal is peelable after steam sterilization of the pouch at 270.degree. F., the peel strength being from 3/4 to 5 pounds per inch. The bonding of the intermediate web to the bottom web is by a second line heat seal that is located peripherally outside of the perforated steam permeable region of the intermediate web.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 1, 1993
Date of Patent:
October 24, 1995
Assignees:
OnGard Systems Inc, American National Can Company
Inventors:
Mark E. Weiss, Thomas J. Bauer, Richard E. Johnson
Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are formulations of polyvinylidene chloride, methyl acrylate and substantially no ethylene vinyl acetate which have high gas, especially oxygen, barrier properties and which maintain said high gas, especially oxygen, barrier properties after retorting; films and film-packages such as pouches from such formulations; and, methods of preparing foods employing such film-packages.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 16, 1993
Date of Patent:
June 13, 1995
Assignee:
American National Can Company
Inventors:
Robert J. Blemberg, John P. Eckstein, Mark E. Nordness
Abstract: Multi-layer films having an outer sealant layer which readily delaminates from the adjacent sealant layer are disclosed. For retort applications, preferably one of the outer or adjacent sealant layers is comprised of a majority of ethylene moieties and the other of the outer or adjacent sealant layers is comprised of a majority of propylene moieties. The film is especially well-suited for use as a lidstock sealed to a container, such as a tray.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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