Abstract: A can end having a small diameter centre panel and an opening of particular dimensions to improve the pourability and drinkability characteristics of the opening, compared to can ends having conventional openings.

Abstract: A can end having a small diameter center panel and an opening of particular aspect ratio to improve the pourability and drinkability characteristics of the opening, compared to can ends having conventional openings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to closures for mating with containers having a threaded finish. The closures comprise a flange and a skirt downwardly depending therefrom. The skirt includes a deformable element formed of a different material than that of the flange and skirt and disposed on an interior surface. The deformable element inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the container, and accordingly deforms upon mating the closure with the container. The container threads impress threads into the deformable element to form threads on the closure. The deformable element is formed of a suitable material. The closures of the present invention provide for the use of high-speed press-on capping equipment.

Abstract: A can assembly includes a can body, and a cap that is seamed to the can body, and a bag. The bag, which may be formed by a thermoforming process, includes a thickened portion as part of a peripheral flange that terminates in a bulb. A throat that receives the bulb is formed by necks on the body and cap such that the bulb is spaced apart from the seam. A constriction formed by the neck radially inboard from the bulb receives the thickened portion of the bag. The process for forming the can assembly includes forming the seam and thermoforming a billet into the bag. At least part of the flange is formed between matched portions of mold flanges.

Abstract: A composite closure includes a band and an insert disk. A contact surface urges downwardly against the disk even while the band moves longitudinally relative to the disk or container. The closure has a fully tightened position in which the band's ring contacts the disk's annular channel, a loose position in which the ring is spaced apart from the annular channel, and an intermediate tightened position in which the ring is spaced apart from the disk and the contact surface urges against the curl. Another composite closure includes plural fins or gussets. The fins or gussets engage the peripheral curl of the insert disk to secure the band to the disk, which provides a resistance to initial unscrewing of the band. The disengagement torque required to disengage the curl from the fins may enable the closure to function as a one-piece closure.

Abstract: A beverage can cap member (16, 100) is configured so that its exterior surface (28) extending radially inwardly from the rim (18) or rim forming portion (140) is substantially flat or continuous, or has a slight curve from a position adjacent from the rim (18) or rim forming portion (140). The cap member (16, 100) may have a countersink (160) which is filled with a filler material including a curable adhesive, an insert (180) of a natural or synthetic material or the like. The filler material increases the structural strength of the cap member (16, 100) to an extent that it can be made of a relatively thinner material and still complies with the minimum peaking pressure of the industrial standard.

Abstract: A can end having a small diameter centre panel and an opening of particular aspect ratio to improve the pourability and drinkability characteristics of the opening, compared to can ends having conventional openings.

Abstract: A can end having a countersink bead, an inclined chuck wall and a strong seam, resists distortion from its circular profile when subjected to thermal processing or when packaging carbonated beverages. This high hoop strength affects the manner in which the can end ultimately fails when placed under extreme abuse conditions, even if buckle pressure performance is within industry specified standards. The can end of the invention has control features introduced which control the failure mode whilst maintaining specified buckle pressure performance. In one embodiment, the can end has a two part wall and a control feature that comprises expansion of the countersink bead to act as a trigger for local peaking, together with a groove in the chuck wall which prevents the peaking force from being concentrated at a single point which could result in leaking by the production of a pin hole.

Abstract: A can assembly includes a can body, and a cap that is seamed to the can body, and a bag. The bag, which may be formed by a thermoforming process, includes a thickened portion as part of a peripheral flange that terminates in a bulb. A throat that receives the bulb is formed by necks on the body and cap such that the bulb is spaced apart from the seam. A constriction formed by the neck radially inboard from the bulb receives the thickened portion of the bag. The process for forming the can assembly includes forming the seam and thermoforming a billet into the bag. At least part of the flange is formed between matched portions of mold flanges.

Abstract: An easy open can end has an improved structure for facilitating the opening operation of the tear panel, a method of further forming a can end to have the improved structure, and tooling for accomplishing the method. The further formation of the can end is particularly useful in easy-open can ends having enlarged tear panels.

Abstract: A can assembly includes a can body, and a cap that is seamed to the can body, and a bag. The bag, which may be formed by a thermoforming process, includes a thickened portion as part of a peripheral flange that terminates in a bulb. A throat that receives the bulb is formed by necks on the body and cap such that the bulb is spaced apart from the seam. A constriction formed by the neck radially inboard from the bulb receives the thickened portion of the bag. The process for forming the can assembly includes forming the seam and thermoforming a billet into the bag. At least part of the flange is formed between matched portions of mold flanges.

Abstract: An apparatus for double seaming an end unit to a can body includes, as is conventional, a double seaming chuck, a double seaming roll and a mechanism for selectively moving the double seaming roll toward the double seaming chuck to perform a double seaming operation. Most advantageously, a drive mechanism is provided for driving the double seaming chuck and the double seaming roll at respective speeds that are selected so as to reduce relative rotational speed between the double seaming roll and a workpiece when the double seaming roll comes into contact with the workpiece during the double seaming operation.

Abstract: A can end having a countersink bead, an inclined chuck wall and a strong seam, resists distortion from its circular profile when subjected to thermal processing or when packaging carbonated beverages. This high hoop strength affects the manner in which the can end ultimately fails when placed under extreme abuse conditions, even if buckle pressure performance is within industry specified standards. The can end of the invention has control features introduced which control the failure mode whilst maintaining specified buckle pressure performance. In one embodiment, the control feature comprises expansion of the countersink bead to act as a trigger for local peaking, together with a groove in the chuck wall which prevents the peaking force from being concentrated at a single point which could result in leaking by the production of a pin hole.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting or inspecting for a lining of a container closure that is formed of a sheet metal and has a panel on an inside surface of the closure. The panel of the closure has a lining formed thereon. The system according to the present invention includes a conveyor for moving plural closures longitudinally and substantially through the system, a color sensor that inspects the panel of each one of the closures on the conveyor for a predetermined color, and a separator that is capable of removing closures that lack the predetermined color. The system may include an oven downstream from the sensor to bake the lining. Thus, the system automatically identifies and removes the closure having the deficient color from the conveyor. A corresponding method for identifying and removing a closure having a deficient color is also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite closure includes a band and an insert disk. A contact surface urges downwardly against the disk even while the band moves longitudinally relative to the disk or container. The closure has a fully tightened position in which the band's ring contacts the disk's annular channel, a loose position in which the ring is spaced apart from the annular channel, and an intermediate tightened position in which the ring is spaced apart from the disk and the contact surface urges against the curl. Another composite closure includes plural fins or gussets. The fins or gussets engage the peripheral curl of the insert disk to secure the band to the disk, which provides a resistance to initial unscrewing of the band. The disengagement torque required to disengage the curl from the fins may enable the closure to function as a one-piece closure.