Abstract: In an high speed electro-coating apparatus having a plurality of electro-coating cells (96) arranged around the periphery of a rotatable turnable (14), each can (128) is placed upright on a cell lid (100) below a hollow cell body (94) and is introduced into that body (94) by upward movement of the cell lid (100). Separate simultaneous flows of electro-coating fluid fill and immerse the can (128), and each cell (96) receives electro-coating current pulses via slip-ring segments (272-278) carried on the turnable (14) past respective sets of brushes (286) which are disposed at the respective electro-coating stations. Control apparatus (300,302) is arranged to feed current to the brush sets only during the periods of turntable rotation during which each brush (286) has full contact with an adjacent slip-ring segment (278) and for as long as such full contact is maintained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the cross-section of a terminal portion of a tubular body said apparatus comprising an external die which defines a convergent work surface therein of like shape to the exterior of the reduced cross-section to be produced; a plug having a work surface thereon of like shape to the interior of the reduced cross-section to be produced; means to hold the plug in axial alignment with the die during relative motion as between the plug and die to center the plug within the die to define a pass gap of shape and gap width substantially equal to that shape and thickness of the reduced cross-section; means to enter the terminal portion of the tubular body into the pass gap between the plug and die; and means to cause the die to vibrate in a radial mode at an ultrasonic frequency while the terminal portion is progressively reduced to the shape of the pass gap.

Abstract: Thermally processable plastics tubs (10) filled with a liquid or semi-liquid product so as to leave a headspace are closed by preformed lids (12) which are heat-sealed to their peripheral flanges when the headspace is filled with steam. In order to prevent the steam from affecting the heat-sealing operation, the lid flanges are wider than the container flanges, and their projecting annular parts (29) are engaged so as to form a barrier separating the steam from the heated heat-sealing head.

Abstract: A dispenser for a pasty or viscous product such as toothpaste is arranged to operate by peristaltic action of an actuator on a deformable member which is backed by an arcuate reaction face. The actuator is mounted for simple pivotal movement to and fro about spigots when a user-engagement member is operated by a user for dispensing and is subsequently released. An integral resilient tongue on the actuator returns the actuator and user-engagement member to their reset positions. For engaging the deformable member, the actuator has a finger portion attached by an integral hinge and arranged to adopt a rigid condition during each forward, dispensing movement of the actuator and a yielding condition during each backward, resetting movement thereof.

Abstract: In the vapor deposition of tin on to a surface such as a polymeric film (3) to be used for packaging, a dispersion of titanium hydride (17) in a dispersant is applied to the interior surface of an evaporation boat (9) and the dispersant is evaporated before the boat is used to vaporize tin metal under vacuum for the purpose of metallizing the surface.

Abstract: A plastics strap handle is secured to a plastics container body by means of a spigot which is pushed into the wall of the container body to form a socket. Material from the wall around the socket is coined into an annulus surrounding the shank of the spigot to retain the head of the spigot in the socket.

Abstract: Can ends having an off-center aperture, are each orientated by a resiliently mounted peg which engages a surface of the can end and is rotated about a pitch circle for one complete revolution. The peg seeks and enters the aperture and thereafter causes the can end to rotate with it until it stops at a position corresponding to the desired orientation of the can end. The peg is then withdrawn from the aperture and the can end, supported in a carrier plate and is delivered to a moulding machine (not shown) in which a plastics closure is moulded into the aperture.

Abstract: Apparatus for orientating circular can ends having an eccentric aperture encompassing the geometric center of the can end comprises a supply stack for delivering can ends to a table and a first conveyor for moving can ends one by one to a first station at which the center of successive can ends is precisely located. Can ends are then engaged by fingers on a second conveyor and drawn along a support track. The dragging action of the fingers in co-operation with a guide causes the can ends to adopt a required orientation in which the center trails behind the finger from that part of the aperture most remote from the center.

Abstract: An apparatus for deforming an existing external curl on a tubular side wall of a container to form a crushed curl through the use of a first die having an annular groove of generally semi-circular cross section which engages a peripheral inside and outside portion of the curl to prevent lateral spreading thereof, a second die includes a convex generally V-shaped annular surface which enters into the annular groove of the first die, an imaginary line diametrically intersecting the V-shaped convex surface is also generally coincident with an imaginary line diametrically intersecting the annular groove, and upon relative movement of the die such that the convex surface enters into the annular groove, a portion of the curl is crushed into a generally V-shaped configuration.

Abstract: An end component for a spin welded container comprises a plug which is received within the container side wall for spin-welding thereto. An annular bead co-operates with a step on the wall to locate the plug. During welding, flash generated at the main weld area below the bead is prevented from escaping upwardly by the bead. A cavity is provided above the bead to retain any material which passes the bead or is formed by melting of the bead.

Abstract: A capping machine for applying removable closures to bottles, jars or other containers has a capping head cantilevered (without other support) from a post rising from the machine base, the capping head height being infinitely variable by simple adjustment. The side belts which engage the containers are also infinitely variable for height, being carried by a parallelogram structure pivoted on the capping head body and adjustable by means of a single nut. The cap chute has a pair of retractable rollers to locate the closures at the pick-up point, these rollers being mounted on tension-spring biased cranked levers so pivoted that their lever arm, for movement of the roller axes, makes only a small acute angle with the path of the closures. The sealing shoe is suspended in the capping head by a pair of levers which permit the shoe to rock in a vertical plane.

Abstract: In a method in which containers, such as cylindrical metal cans, are printed by means of dye diffusion transfer, from a flexible paper carrier which is heated to shrink the carrier into intimate contact with a dye receptive coating on the surface of the container, and to effect dye transfer, the carrier has a weight of 35-110 grams per square meter, an equilibrium moisture content of 2-15% when exposed to air with a relative humidity of 50%, and is applied to the container so that the direction of grain of the paper is parallel to the axis of symmetry passing through the center of the base of the container.

Abstract: A lever lidded container has a lever ring moulded from plastics material to comprise an annular flange engaged with the container body, and a frustoconical portion extending radially and axially in relation to the annular flange, towards the interior of the container, to support a cylindrical receiving portion which engages with the plug portion of a lever lid. The container body may be moulded from plastics material or formed from sheet metal.

Abstract: A plastics closure for a can end of the kind having a pouring aperture and a venting aperture comprises a first connecting member which connects a vent plug and a pouring aperture plug and is extended to form a pull tab acting directly on the vent plug. The plugs are rupturably sealed over the respective apertures of collar portions connected by a second connecting member and fitting in the venting aperture and the pouring aperture. Flexible tie means extend from the pouring aperture plug to flexible hinges joined to the venting aperture collar. When the pull tab is lifted the vent plug is torn away from the venting aperture collar to achieve dry venting before the pouring aperture plug is torn away to complete opening for pouring. The plugs are retained captive by the tie means for reclosure of the apertures.

Abstract: A unit portion pack is made from two webs, at least one of which is a laminate (2) having layer (4) of tear resistant material, such as polyester film, and a layer (6) of rupturable material, such as aluminum foil. The two webs (2, 26) are bonded together by way of heat seals, (38, 40) to define a plurality of cavity-forming regions (34) in each of which a single pill (36) or other solid product item is received. A longitudinally extending score or slit line (10) extends along each longitudinally arranged row of regions (34) inwardly of the peripheries of the regions. The pill (36) is released by manipulating the pack such that the score or slitline is located on or outboard of the periphery of the pill by movement of the latter. The area of the cavity-forming region on the other side of the score or slit line to the pill is then squeezed to fracture the rupturable material at the score or slit line. This forms a dispensing opening through which the pill may be pushed.

Abstract: A method of forming a smooth shoulder (16, 14b, 19b), neck (17, 37) and flange (18, 38) at the open end of the cylindrical side wall (12) of a can body (10) comprises the steps of forcing a marginal edge portion (13) of the side wall into at least a first die to form a first portion of reduced diameter having a first shoulder portion (14) and a first cylindrical portion (15); and optionally applying at least one rolling operation to the first portion of reduced diameter, and any further die formed portions of reduced diameter subsequently formed, to generate a smooth shoulder (16, 14, 19b), neck (17, 37) and flange (18, 38). Reference is made to the roll forming process described and claimed in British Pat. No. 1,534,716 as being particularly suitable. The margin-portion (13) is preferably thicker than the rest of the side wall (12).

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, forming a tapered-wall metal can body by drawing.

Abstract: Metal containers, such as cans, are printed when empty by means of dye diffusion transfer, the dyes being first printed on to a paper web which is cut into individual carriers. Each carrier is secured, somewhat in the manner of a label, to a container by a water-soluble adhesive so that, upon being heated to effect dye transfer, the carrier comes into intimate contact with a suitably receptive coating, pre-applied to the container, solely by virtue of its own shrinkage. The carrier and adhesive are subsequently removed by water spray.