Abstract: A die assembly comprising: a housing; a die for drawing and/or wall ironing a metal cup mounted on an end of a ram to form a container body; and a support mechanism for the die or a die holder in which the die is mounted. The support mechanism is configured to allow the die to tilt relative to the housing to reduce misalignment of a longitudinal axis of the die with respect to the ram during drawing and/or wall ironing of a metal cup. The die assembly further comprises a chamber provided in the housing and adapted for sealing fluid therein. The chamber is sealed by one or more surfaces coupled to or provided on the die or die holder such that tilting of the die during drawing and/or wall ironing of a metal cup moves the one or more or more surfaces against fluid sealed in the chamber.

Abstract: A method of detecting defects or deterioration in the sidewalls of can bodies during production of the can bodies within a can bodymaker. Each can body is formed by pushing a cup, mounted on a punch of a reciprocating ram, through one or more dies contained within a tool pack of the bodymaker. The method comprises: obtaining output signals from one or more eddy current sensors arranged around the ram axis outside of the tool pack and adjacent to an exit end of the tool pack; processing the output signals to detect passage of open ends of can body sidewalls past the sensor(s) and thereby determine measures of the heights or thicknesses of can body sidewalls; and analysing the determined measures to identify can body sidewall defects or deterioration.

Abstract: A can bodymaker comprising a plurality of components that require relative alignment to one another. The can bodymaker comprises a toolpack module which includes a toolpack frame and components including one or more dies supported by the toolpack frame. The die(s) are alignable with respect to the toolpack frame when the toolpack module is not attached to the bodymaker. The can bodymaker further comprises a fixing that allows removable fixing of the toolpack module to the can bodymaker.

Abstract: A metal closure (1) comprising a panel (10) and a depending side wall (14) terminating in a cut edge (15), the inner surface of the closure having a plurality of coating layers applied (21-27) such that at least one of the coating layers extends to the cut edge and the coating thickness at and in proximity to the cut edge is less than the thickness at one or more other regions of the inner surface.

Abstract: Container (1) comprising a substantially tubular metal container body (2) having a top opening defined by an outwardly curled edge, and a bottom opening. The container further comprises a peelable lid (9) bonded to an upper surface of said curled edge to close said top opening in an airtight manner, the outermost edge of the peelable lid not extending beyond an outermost extent of said curled edge, and a metal closure (4) comprising a generally planar centre panel (8) and a downwardly extending sidewall (7) depending from a peripheral region of the centre panel and terminating with an inwardly or outwardly directed fold (12), and a plurality of features (5) pressed into the sidewall at respective circumferentially spaced locations between said peripheral region and the fold, wherein the radial inward extent of the features is greater than that of the fold.

Abstract: A can bodymaker comprising: a ram; a drive mechanism; a yoke coupling the ram to the drive mechanism in order to drive the ram with a linear, reciprocating motion; a yoke slide fixed relative to the can bodymaker, the yoke being confined by the yoke slide to move in a linear direction; and an alignment mechanism for aligning a yoke-coupled end of the ram with respect to the yoke within a plane perpendicular to said linear direction.

Abstract: A tab-less metal can end for seaming onto a metal can body. The can end comprises a substantially circular and planar panel, a chuck wall extending around the periphery of the panel and defining a curl, and a discontinuous score formed in said panel and following a circular path substantially concentric with said chuck wall, the score defining a hinge between first and second ends of the score.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning spray guns of a spray system includes a pair of adjustment mechanisms. A laser alignment system employs a target device.

Abstract: A metal easy open can end adapted for closing a metal can body is proposed. The can end has a score (27) defining a removable panel (26) and a tab (23), located at an edge region of the panel, for applying a force to the panel to allow the panel to be removed in a tear direction. The panel (26) has at least one embossed and/or debossed rib (25 a-c) extending substantially in said tear direction from a location or locations proximal to said tab to a location or locations proximal to an end of the panel opposite to said edge region. The rib(s) have a depth or height of at least 0.6 mm relative to surrounding panel regions along at least a part of the rib extent.

Abstract: An oscillating roller system for a beverage can decorator is driven back and forth by a cam follower. A cam body having a cam is mounted to a frame of the inker system. Three oscillating cam roller assemblies are positioned about the cam body. Rotation of the cam oscillates the cam followers for each one of the oscillating rollers. Bearings of the oscillating roller assemblies includes an inlet gallery and outlet gallery for a closed loop lubrication system. The rollers are water cooled.

Abstract: A die assembly comprising: a housing; a die for drawing and/or wall ironing a metal cup mounted on an end of a ram to form a container body; and a support mechanism for the die or a die holder in which the die is mounted. The support mechanism is configured to allow the die to tilt relative to the housing to reduce misalignment of a longitudinal axis of the die with respect to the ram during drawing and/or wall ironing of a metal cup. The die assembly further comprises a chamber provided in the housing and adapted for sealing fluid therein. The chamber is sealed by one or more surfaces coupled to or provided on the die or die holder such that tilting of the die during drawing and/or wall ironing of a metal cup moves the one or more or more surfaces against fluid sealed in the chamber.

Abstract: An oscillating roller system for a beverage can decorator is driven back and forth by a cam follower. A cam body having a cam is mounted to a frame of the inker system. Three oscillating cam roller assemblies are positioned about the cam body. Rotation of the cam oscillates the cam followers for each one of the oscillating rollers. Bearings of the oscillating roller assemblies includes an inlet gallery and outlet gallery for a closed loop lubrication system. The rollers are water cooled.

Abstract: A method of reducing a thickness and increasing a height of a cylindrical wall of a metal cup to form a can body comprises positioning a wall-ironing punch inside the cup, moving an annular wall-ironing die axially over the closed end of the cup towards the open end of the cup, but not beyond the open end of the cup, in order to iron the cylindrical wall from the closed end up to a position axially spaced from the open end and moving the wall-ironing die back in an opposite direction to remove the can body from the die. Methods of altering a diameter of one or more regions of a can body are also disclosed.

Abstract: An over-varnish unit and mandrel pre-spin system for a can decorator, especially for beverage can bodies, can have a mandrel pre-spin belt that is outside of the over-varnish unit housing. The position of the can infeed on the mandrel wheel and the print point is controlled.

Abstract: A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.