Abstract: A laminated metal sheet having adhered to one of its major surfaces a composite co-extruded polyolefin-containing film (B) comprising a plurality of layers in the following order:(B1) an inner layer of a bonding resin which is an acid modified polyolefin resin containing carboxyl or anhydride groups,(B2) a layer of a polyamide, the thickness of the layer being not greater than 9 microns,(B3) a further layer of a bonding resin which is as defined for layer (B1), and(B4) a layer of a polyolefin.The laminates of the invention are useful for forming with containers or various components therefor.

Abstract: In a method of forming at an open end of a can body an out-turned end flange and an adjoining inward bead, the free end of the can body is carried frictionally in an annular groove formed in a transverse end face of a rotating driving head. In a first stage, an inner support roll is placed inside the can body in contact with its inner surface at a position spaced axially from the driving head, and an outer work roll is progressively advanced against the outer surface of the can body adjacent the driving head so as to form the inward bead, and thereby gradually retract the open end of the can body within the groove. In a second stage, the inner roll is advanced to a can body stabilizing position, and the work roll is then advanced further so as to withdraw the open end of the can body from the groove and then to turn it radially outwards as the can body end advances eccentrically across the rotating end face of the driving head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for angularly orientating the beverage cans of multipacks 12 having sheet plastics couplers. The preformed multipacks, with their cans unorientated, are fed between a pair of opposed scrolls 36 of a can orientation station 34. While held by the scrolls against lateral movement they are clamped longitudinally and then individually rotated to desired orientated positions against the frictional resistance presented by the coupler. Orientation is achieved in two stages, in the first stage of which the cans are orientated to datum positions as determined by sensor recognition features on the can. In the second stage of the orientation process the cans are individually rotated from their datum positions to their desired final orientation in accordance with preset programmes.

Abstract: An optical disk case assembly comprises A-side and B-side case parts (10,11). Each case part has a central opening (28) and a radially extending window (29). Metal shutters (12) and (17) are mounted for sliding movement on the case parts (10,11). A slide member (13) made from a plastics material is slidably mounted on the case part (10) and held in position by shutter (12). A slide member made from a plastics material is also mounted on the case part (11) and held in position by shutter (17). The slide member on the case part (11) engages the slide member (13) so that the two slide members together with shutters (12 and 17) move together. The slide member (13) has an operating tab (72) which engages a projection in a cartridge compartment so that the shutters (12 and 17) are caused to open during insertion of the case assembly into such a compartment). The case part (10) is also provided with a locking lever (15).

Abstract: Apparatus for reforming an end wall of a container comprises a pair of cooperating pads 10, 11 cooperable to clamp the wall firmly on a central axis of the pads and wall, and a cluster of work rolls 12 arranged around the pads so that when a clamped wall is entered into the profiled rolls 12 relative rotation as between the rolls 12 and protruding edge of the wall 1 brings about progressive deformation of the periphery of the wall.The apparatus may be modified to form a peripheral curl on a can end or tighten the folds of a can bottom integral with a drawn side wall.

Abstract: A process for producing by simultaneous lamination a polymer/metal/polymer laminate, which process comprises(i) simultaneously laminating to each of the major surfaces of a metal sheet a composite polyester film (A) comprising an inner layer (A1) of a substantially non-crystalline linear polyester having a softening point (Ts-A1) below 200.degree. C. and a melting point (Tm-A1) above 150.degree. C. and below 250.degree. C. and an outer layer (A2) of a biaxially oriented linear polyester having a crystallinity greater than 30% and having a melting point (Tm-A2) above 250.degree. C., the metal sheet having been heated to a temperature T.sub.

Abstract: A lamp assembly comprises a lamp housing having a removable top cover and a removable end cover. A pair of cradle arrangements are contained in the lamp housing. One of the cradle arrangements comprises two individual lamp cradles, while the other cradle arrangement comprises three individual cradles. The cradle arrangements may be removed from the lamp housing by removing the top cover or, alternatively, by removing the end cover. Each of the individual cradles has an ultra violet lamp mounted thereon. When the cradle arrangements are positioned in the lamp housing, the individual cradles are disposed successively along a common axis but in a staggered fashion with respect to the common axis. The cradles are arranged so that the individual lamps are substantially parallel to the common axis and so that the ends of neighbouring cradles overlap each other. It is thus possible to achieve a relatively long light source using relatively short lamps.

Abstract: A packaging container is closed by using a double seam 152 to secure over the container body 70 a cover 74 of smaller diameter than is usual, creating a radial space 104 around the cover chuck wall 122 into which the body sidewall 72 is deformed to form a neck 76. The cover is initially placed on the body to form a sealable interface 142 therebetween, this interface being preserved throughout the seaming process. The body and/or the cover may be of plastics or metal or a laminated material. In an aseptic packaging process, a primary seal is created at the interface 142 under sterile conditions, seaming subsequently being carried out under non-sterile conditions.

Abstract: In a method of joining a metal matrix composite (cermet) or ceramic tool material 1 to a metallic holder 2 by diffusion bonding through an intermediate metallic layer, the tool material 1 includes at least one carbide, nitride or boride in the matrix. In one example, the tool material includes titanium carbide and titanium nitride in the metal matrix. The intermediate metallic layer is chosen from a group consisting of nickel, titanium and tungsten. The tool holder metal 2 is a ferrous alloy. The intermediate metallic layer is placed between the tool material and the metallic holder, and heat and pressure are applied for a controlled period to diffusion bond the tool material to the metallic holder. Articles made by the method include a blank holder, a punch, a die and various wear surfaces of a continuous extrusion apparatus.

Abstract: When a blank is cut from metal sheet which suffers from crystallographic anisotropy, there is a tendency for ears to be formed during subsequent forming operations, such as drawing or pressing. In order to compensate for this tendency, there may be used a metal blank which is not completely round, but has lobes at positions to cancel at least some of the valleys between the ears. There is described a punch and die which may be used to form such a lobed blank. The punch has four circumferentially extending lobe-forming sections. Each lobe-forming section is constructed by forming a stepped recess in the cutting edge of the punch. In each lobe-forming section, the depth of the recess varies from a maximum at the middle of the section to zero at the ends. The die is conventional.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wall for a package comprising: (a) an outer set of one or more layers (1-4) and (b) an inner set of one or more layers (5-6) which layer or the outermost of which layers (5) comprises a composition comprising a polymer and having oxygen-scavenging properties, wherein (i) the outer set of layers would have, if separate from the inner set and in the absence of any oxygen-scavenging properties in any of the layers or the layer constituting the set, a permeance, for oxygen, of not more than 1.5 cm.sup.3 /(m.sup.2 atm day); (ii) the inner set of layers would have, if separate from the outer set and in the absence of oxygen-scavenging properties in any of the layers or the layer constituting the set, a permeance, for oxygen, of at least 2.0 cm.sup.3 /(m.sup.2 atm day); and (iii) the inner set of layers would have, if separate from the outer set, a permeance, for oxygen, less than the permeance specified in (ii) by at least 1.0 cm.sup.3 /(m.sup.

Abstract: A method of making a container by laminating a metal substrate layer and a polymeric material layer together by bonding over the whole of at least one side of the metal substrate layer thereby forming a laminate container component, providing another container component, forming one of the container components into a tubular container body component having an opening set off by a peripheral edge portion, forming the other of the container components into a container closure component having a peripheral edge portion, assembling the container body component and the container closure component with the polymeric material layer in sandwiched relationship between the peripheral edge portions and in the complete absence of adding any additional sealing material between the peripheral edge portions other than the polymeric material layer of the first step and mechanically deforming the peripheral edge portions into a mechanical joint with sufficient force to compress the polymeric material layer and form an an air/

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a reinforced pressure resistant can end shell from sheet material comprises a cutting ring (11), a cutting punch shell (13) enterable into the ring (11) to blank out a disc of material therebetween, an annular draw ring (14) axially aligned with the cutting punch shell (13) to support a peripheral margin of the disc held against it by the cutting punch shell, a die center ring (15) arranged coaxially and slidably within the draw ring (14) and having an end face profiled to define a surface of a seaming panel of the can end shell, an ejector pressure ring (19) arranged coaxially and slidably within the punch shell and axially aligned with the die center ring so that when in use peripheral material of the blank is restrained between the die center ring and the ejector pressure ring, a draw punch center (16) arranged coaxially and slidably within the ejector pressure ring and reform pad (20) arranged coaxially and slidably within the die center ring to engage the central panel of the blank

Abstract: A metal can body comprises an end wall and a tubular side wall. The side wall has upper and lower cylindrical portions joined by a plurality of concave flexible panel portions and ribs. The benefit arising from the flexible panels in the side wall is the ability to attenuate the internal pressure changes arising during thermal processing of lidded cans by providing a elastic mechanism which enhances the change in internal can volume.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing a pattern on an endless side wall of a container component comprises six handling mechanisms 13 mounted on an indexing table 11, four printing heads 10 located at spaced apart positions on the indexing table 11, and a carrier 12 associated with each handling mechanism and arranged to carry a container 1 on which a pattern is to be printed. Each handling mechanism 13 comprises an outer roller 26 driven by a motor 20 and an inner roller 32. Each carrier 12 has an endless wall part 35 having a profile which matches that of the side wall of the container and a support part 38,39 for holding a container 1 on which a pattern is to be printed. The endless wall part is held in the nip between roller 26,32. A sensor 41 and an encoder 45 are provided for detecting the position of carrier 12.

Abstract: An injection moulding apparatus (10) includes similar co-injection modules (12) each provided with common supplies (238-242) and supplied with different polymer materials at intermediate pressure by common plasticisers (14-18). Each module has a co-injection nozzle assembly (70) in wich each nozzle (148-154) is supplied with polymer at injection pressure by an injector (208) which receives polymer through a non-return valve (220). The injector is mounted alongside the nozzle on a polymer transfer plate (138-146), and has the position of its piston (212) controlled by a hydraulic actuator (214) under the control of a dedicated micro-processor (164) in accordance with a stored injection control program. Each polymer is injected by an injector (208) directly into the associated nozzle (148-154) and is controlled solely by injector operation, and without the use of any control valve between the injector and the nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for closing lidded cartons has a turning station including a flightless horizontal conveyor, and a chain conveyor which extends along one side of the flightless conveyor and has light restraint members pivotally mounted on its links. The chain conveyor is moved in the same direction as the horizontal conveyor, but at a slower speed. Part way along the chain conveyor an upwardly directed air jet moves the restraint members individually but in succession to temporary raised positions in which they are available for engagement by a carton which is moving along the flightless conveyor in overlapping relation to the chain conveyor. A restraint member engaged by a carton in this way thereafter serves as a fulcrum about which the carton pivots through a substantial angle. Plough bars later complete the rotation of the carton through 90.degree. in total.

Abstract: Apparatus for welding longitudinal seams in can bodies includes upper and lower electrode wheels mounted on arms, a transducer for detecting vertical displacement of the upper wheel, a pair of pick-ups for detecting the rotational positions of the wheels, and a single processing circuit. The transducer output is divided into a set of traces, each corresponding to a single wheel rotation. The traces are averaged to produce a representation of the wheel profile. Each wheel profile is subtracted from the transducer output to produce a good indication of weld thickness. Alternatively, the transducer output is divided into a series of traces, each of which represents the vertical displacement of the upper wheel while welding a single can body. These are averaged to provide a good indication of weld thickness. The wheels have surface irregularities and each is inevitably mounted with some degree of eccentricity. Unwanted transducer output components due to these irregularities and eccentricities are removed.