Abstract: A conveyor carries a plurality of pegs for supporting and rotating cylindrical containers having one open end and one closed end, each peg having a central pin mounted in the conveyor and a steel sleeve rotatably carried on the pin, the steel sleeve extending for a maximum distance within the carried container for uniform support and stability of the container on the peg, and the steel material acting against the wall of the container to provide proper friction for container rotation with stability. The inner end of the sleeve has an enlarged hub for rolling on an associated bar for rotating the sleeve on the pin, and a spacer tube holds the open end of the carried container at a distance from the hub. In a modified form, the pin extends only a small fraction of the length of the sleeve and the sleeve is held on the outer end portion of the pin by friction, the sleeve being scored outwardly from the end of the pin to bend or break under stress without damaging the pin.

Abstract: Containers are discharged from a continuously operable, closed loop container carrier, having a multiplicity of parallel longitudinally and transversely aligned rows of container baskets with each container basket being offset from adjacent container baskets in adjacent rows, by a method and apparatus in which containers in alternate transverse rows of container baskets are transferred from the container carrier to a first discharge conveyor by a first container transfer means and containers in the other alternate transverse rows of container baskets are supported in the carrier past the first container transfer means and are transferred from the container carrier to a second discharge conveyor by a second container transfer means.

Abstract: Conveyor apparatus for conveying articles such as flat annular can ends and for controlling the rate of feed of the articles. The articles are transported through a conveying conduit defining an elongated passage with an inlet opening for receiving the articles and an outlet opening for discharging the articles. Feed control apparatus is associated with the conduit, preferably near the outlet opening, for controlling the rate of feed of the articles and comprises resilient liner means associated with the conduit means and located at least partially within the passage for frictionally engaging articles in the passage and controlling the rate of movement of the articles therethrough and force applying means associated with the resilient means for forcing the resilient means into frictional engagement with the articles in the passage. The force applying means is used to control the amount of friction exerted by the resilient means on the peripheral surface of the articles.

Abstract: A metallic container having an outwardly flexible bottom wall adapted to flex to an outwardly generally convex position under pressure from within the container is provided with integral tripod-type support structure for the container in the bottom wall comprising an inwardly concave center portion of compound curvature having a generally equilateral triangular shaped bottom wall area extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and providing three equilaterally spaced support areas in the outwardly flexed convex position.

Abstract: A gun for tribo charging powder has a barrel body with a bore having an opening at one end. A venturi forming tube is contained in the barrel bore and a supply of powder enters the barrel through a bore of the venturi forming tube, which is in alignment with the bore of the barrel, creating an obstruction free passageway for the powder. A supply of pressurized propellant gas enters the barrel bore through an area between the outer venturi forming tube wall and the inner barrel wall and is the power source for charging the powder. Modifications for increasing the charge imparted to the powder include an insert in the venturi forming tube bore for forcing the powder to travel closer to the barrel wall upon exiting the venturi forming tube bore, and a system of holes through the venturi forming tube wall for imparting swirling motion to the powder in the venturi forming tube bore.

Abstract: A one piece container end member of metallic sheet material having an exterior rim portion for mounting on an open ended container member; a central wall portion surrounded by the exterior rim portion and extending generally radially inwardly relative thereto for closing the open end of the container body member; an integral inwardly severable and displaceable tab portion in the central wall portion extending generally radially inwardly from the exterior rim portion; the tab portion being hingedly integrally connected to the central wall portion by a generally arcuately extending hinge portion; the tab portion being defined by at least one continuous score groove extending from arcuately spaced points adjacent the interior rim portion on opposite sides of the hinge portion generally radially inwardly therefrom toward the central axis of the container end member with intermediate score groove portions extending along substantially straight lines and being connected adjacent the central axis by a curved interme

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for testing printed metallic can body members for defects by the use of light involving gravity infeed apparatus for locating can body members in separate pockets on a continuously rotating transfer wheel, seating apparatus for seating the can body members in the pockets, testing the exterior surface of the can body member for the presence of printed ink thereon, axially displaceable can body member support apparatus for axial displacement of the can body members relative to the pockets and the transfer wheel to locate a flange portion in sealed association with a resilient deflectable sealing member, application of vacuum to the bottom of the can body member to hold the can body member on the support apparatus until release of the vacuum, application of pressure to and pressurization of the sealing member and the inside of the can body member; location of the pressurized can body member in a zone of florescent light, location of the can body member relative to light detecting apparatus

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for simultaneously necking and flanging an unformed end portion next adjacent a rim portion of a cylindrical side wall portion of a sheet metal can body member to form a curved necked-in wall portion in the unformed end portion next adjacent and connected to the side wall portion and to form a radially and axially outwardly extending flange portion between the formed curved necked-in portion and the rim portion comprising:Means for rotatably supporting the can body member during the necking and flanging operation;Outer forming means mounted without the can body member in radially outwardly spaced relationship to and in axial alignment with the unformed end portion and having a curved annular outer forming surface extending therearound for engaging the outer peripheral surface of the unformed end portion to form the curved necked-in portion;Inner forming means mounted within the can body member in radially inwardly spaced relationship to and in axial alignment with the unformed end portio

Abstract: A tribo-electro-gas-dynamic powder coating apparatus with an obstruction-free barrel having a semi-toroidal section throat at the inner end and having an opening at the outer end. An end cap is connected to the barrel end over the semi-toroidal section to form an annular chamber circumferentially surrounding the semi-toroidal section and having a clearance between the section and the end cap leading from the chamber to the barrel bore.

Abstract: A pocket mandrel wheel having mandrels mounted on mandrel arms that pivot to move the mandrels laterally to prevent the mandrels from contacting an associated printing wheel. The mandrel arms are attached to the mandrel wheel by a pivot arm that controls the radius of the mandrels line of motion as the mandrel wheel rotates. The pivot arm causes the mandrel arm to rotate the mandrel in response to an electronic system that detects improperly seated cans on the mandrels. The pivot arm rests against an interposer block having a recessed step, and the mandrel is withdrawn when the block is moved in response to a signal from the electronic system so that the pivot arm rests against the recessed portion of the block. The movement of the block is controlled by a mechanical system that moves the pivot arm away from the block prior to the time when the mandrel may be tripped.

Abstract: A metallic container having an outwardly flexible bottom wall adapted to flex to an outwardly generally convex position under pressure from within the container is provided with integral tripod-type support structure for the container in the bottom wall comprising an inwardly concave center portion of compound curvature having a generally equilateral triangular shaped bottom wall area extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and providing three equilaterally spaced support areas in the outwardly flexed convex position.

Abstract: Used oil and water emulsion coolant recovered from can bodies in a can manufacturing process is processed to form reconstituted emulsion coolant by washing emulsion coolant adhering to can bodies off of the cans with an aqueous solution having a pH less than about 2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a generally rectangular array of containers into a single file line of similarly oriented single file containers. The array is comprised of a plurality of rectangular containers, some having transverse orientations and some having longitudinal orientations. The method of the invention includes advancing all the containers of the array into a number of lines of advancing containers, turning the containers with transverse orientations to longitudinal orientations, and converging the various transversely spaced and longitudinally oriented containers into a single file line of longitudinally oriented containers. The apparatus for practicing the invention may include a number of successive conveyor stations each having various conveyor means such as belts or rollers which sequentially advance the containers generally in a longitudinal path of movement.

Abstract: A powder feeder pick-up tube having a central powder delivery tube receiving powder entrained in a propellant gas, an outer concentric tube delivering propellant gas to the powder delivery tube and evenly entraining powder in the gas as the powder enters the powder delivery tube. The propellant delivery tube has an inwardly curving end that forms a gap with the open end of the powder delivery tube, and the geometry of the curving end and the size of the gap are factors determining the operational characteristics of the pick-up tube. Variations on the basic pick-up tube include a concentric fluidizing tube surrounding the propellent delivery tube and locally fluidizing powder around the opening of the powder pick-up tube. The shape of the fluidizing orifice at the outlet of the fluidizing tube may be modified to alter its fluidizing characteristics. The tube is immersed in a hopper of powder when operating and the entire hopper may be fluidized and vibrated to assist the operation of the pick-up tube.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bottle packer apparatus for encasing bottles in a continuous operation, comprising a downwardly inclined case conveyor on which inverted cases are moved to a loading area, means at each side of the case conveyor contacting sides of the cases and moving them to loading position, and a bottle conveyor having a continually moving belt on which bottles are carried in a plurality of lanes to an area beneath the inverted case in the loading position, the belt continuing to move forwardly while a predetermined number of bottles enter the case in the loading position and other bottles accumulate rearwardly of the said case due to back pressure exerted by the loaded case against said accumulating bottles. The bottle conveyor speed is always equal to or faster than the case conveyor speed in order to provide for a continuous accumulation of bottles to avoid gaps.

Abstract: A one piece container end member of metallic sheet material having an exterior rim portion for mounting on an open ended container body member; an interior rim portion axially and radially inwardly offset relative to the exterior rim portion; an axially outwardly domed central wall portion surrounded by the interior rim portion and extending generally radially inwardly relative thereto for closing the open end of the container body member; an integral inwardly severable and displaceable tab portion in the central wall portion extending generally radially inwardly from the interior rim portion; the tab portion being hingedly integrally connected at the interior rim portion by a generally arcuately extending hinge portion; the tab portion being defined by at least one continuous score groove extending from arcuately spaced points adjacent the interior rim portion on opposite sides of the hinge portion generally radially inwardly therefrom toward the central axis of the container end member with intermediate sco