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.

Abstract: A can body maker wherein the redraw sleeve is provided with an plurality of air escape openings to provide for the passage of air as the ram moves through the redraw sleeve and wherein the redraw sleeve is attached to the armature of a linear motor which includes a generally cylindrical armature which moves within a surrounding, coaxial stator. The armature includes a plurality of axially spaced apart armature salient pole rings separated by permanent magnet rings. The stator includes a plurality of axially spaced apart stator salient poles which each form a ring radially spaced from and surrounding a portion of the armature. The axial spacing between adjacent stator salient pole rings is one-third greater than the axial spacing between the armature salient pole rings, and an electromagnetic coil extends circumferentially within the stator around the armature between each stator salient pole ring.

Abstract: An improvement in necking apparatus for forming a necked end on a can body wherein during the necking operation pressurized air moves into the interior of a can body being necked through an open end portion of a conduit in a knock out ram which knock out ram is reciprocally mounted in the necking die and wherein valve means are provided to control the amount of pressurized air flowing out through the open end portion and to retain the pressurized air in the conduit after the necking operation has been completed.

Abstract: A multi-function fluid treatment system which can filter fluids or diffuse gases into liquids. To achieve filtration, the system includes a housing with multiple filter cartridges therein. The cartridges are connected to a drive system which rotates them in unison. Fluids to be filtered enter the housing and surround the cartridges. Cartridge rotation scrubs solids from the cartridges and promotes fluid flow therein. A separate cleaning system is also provided which involves a cartridge wiping assembly having multiple wiping members thereon. The wiping members directly contact the cartridges to remove collected debris and preferably involve multiple bristles secured to a vertical support member. The support member may consist of dual wires secured together with the bristles therebetween. The bristles can also be arranged in elongate rows (one row per cartridge) on the support member. In either embodiment, the wiping assembly improves filtration efficiency and reduces maintenance requirements.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a pushing force on a plurality of circular container ends to move them over a trough shape tray wherein two spaced apart rollers are each mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis and each roller has a surface contour in the longitudinal direction comprising a central arcuate section having a radius smaller than the radius of each of the circular container ends and spaced apart linearly extending sections extending from each end of the central arcuate section and cylindrical sections extending from each of the linearly extending sections.

Abstract: A container end member has a peripheral wall and integral central end wall portion with a stay-on-tab mounted on the central end wall portion for pivotal and rotational movement and a score line groove defined by two spaced apart terminal ends formed in the central end wall portion for defining a severable panel portion that is large enough so that when severed will provide an elongated opening that vents the container to permit pouring of the beverage in the container at faster pour rates than now available.

Abstract: Modular supports for supporting a plurality of necking-in stations and a plurality of transfer stations wherein each of the modular supports has a base that is releasably secured to an adjacent base, at least two spaced apart support columns; a first support plate supported on and secured to the at least two spaced apart columns for supporting a necking-in station and a second support plate secured to first support plate for supporting a transfer station.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a coating material, such as a lubricant, to the top and bottom surfaces of a continuous strip of material wherein the continuous strip of material is passed between two wicks mounted in each of an upper and lower housings with each of the housings having a plurality of spaced apart bores and wherein metered amounts of the coating material is supplied sequentially to each of the plurality of spaced apart bores by a piston mounted for reciprocating movement. In another embodiment, the wicks apply coating material to the outer surface of an upper drive roll and a lower idler roll so that coating material is applied to the upper and lower surfaces of a continuous strip of material as it passes therebetween.

Abstract: A multi-function fluid treatment system which can filter liquids or diffuse gases into liquids. To achieve filtration, the system includes a housing with multiple, closely-spaced filter cartridges therein. The cartridges are connected to a drive system which rotates them in unison. Fluids to be filtered enter the housing and surround the rotating cartridges. Cartridge rotation scrubs solids from the cartridges and promotes fluid flow into the cartridges. Filtered fluids collected within the cartridges thereafter exit the system. To achieve gas diffusion, the housing is filled with a selected liquid. During cartridge rotation as discussed above, a gas is introduced into the interior of each cartridge which is constructed of a porous material. The gas diffuses outwardly during cartridge rotation, causing substantial mixing of the gas and fluid, with gas diffusion into the fluid. Cartridge rotation also prevents solids from accumulating thereon to achieve maximum gas delivery.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating low density solids from an airflow where a first airflow containing low density solids moves through a first conduit at a predetermined velocity and pressure and flows into a separating chamber wherein it is changed into a second airflow at a substantially reduced velocity and pressure to separate a substantial portion of the low density solids and moves out of the separating chamber through one of a second or third conduits as a third airflow at a velocity and pressure substantially the same as that of the first airflow and also passes through filtering apparatus in the second or third conduits to separate additional low density solids out of the third airflow.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating the bottom rim surface of a container using a vacuum conveyor for holding and transporting a plurality of empty containers with the bottom rim surfaces exposed so that the bottom rim surfaces may be passed over a coating applicator roll and through a curing oven to provide the bottom rim surfaces with a cured coating and wherein the vacuum conveyor is wide enough so that a plurality of the bottom rim surfaces may be coated at the same time and then passed through the curing oven.

Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a cylindrical workpiece, such as a can body, from a cylindrical supporting device, such as a punch in a can body making machine, using a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fingers which are mounted for radial and linear sliding movement between a non-stripping location and a stripping location.

Abstract: A specialized process for producing purified iso-alpha-acids from hop extract. Hop extract is first combined with a metal salt isomerizing agent. The mixture is preferably boiled to ensure complete isomerization. First organic and aqueous phases are produced, followed by washing of the first organic phase with a primary acid. These materials are preferably boiled during washing. A second organic and aqueous phase are produced, with the second organic phase being washed with a primary alkaline washing agent. Optimum results are achieved if boiling temperatures are maintained during washing. Third organic and aqueous phases are then produced, with the third aqueous phase being washed using a secondary acid to generate fourth organic and aqueous phases. The fourth organic phase (containing purified iso-alpha-acids) may then be stored and subsequently treated with a secondary alkaline washing agent to produce an aqueous concentrate used in brewed beverage production.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging articles, such as container ends, using a product having a plurality of interconnected compartments formed in two continuous superposed sheets by a lengthwise extending seam and a plurality of spaced apart widthwise extending seams so that each compartment has one open end, by moving one of the compartments to a predetermined location, gripping the widthwise extending seams of the one compartment, moving one of the gripped seams toward the other of the gripped seams, applying a force to the open end to move apart the portions of the superposed strips forming the one compartment, holding a plurality of articles at a location aligned with the open end, pushing the articles into the one compartment, at least partially closing the open end to form a partially closed compartment having articles confined therein, moving the partially closed compartment to move another compartment into the predetermined location and repeating the process to form a plurality of interconnected partia