Abstract: In a can opener having a traction wheel (18) for driving the end seam (26) of a can past the opener, and a cutter wheel (16) for severing the outer seaming wall of the seam, the axes (36,38) of the wheels being mutually perpendicular, the working parts are carried in a common cartridge (58) of metal, mounted removably in the housing (10) of the opener, the cutter wheel and its spindle (74) being integral with each other and mounted in a separate bearing cup (66) fixed in the body (60) of the cartridge and having a thrust bearing (68) remote from the cutter wheel. The housing carries a projecting abutment (54) having a forwardly curved seam-engaging surface which enables a variety of shapes and sizes of cans to be opened.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a hollow article with at least two coating materials, said method comprising the steps of applying a first coating material to the article and drying or partially curing at least the surface of the first coating before the application of the second material. Thereafter the two coatings may be fully cured together or alternatively the second coating material may be partially cured in readiness to receive a further coating. The preferred curing means is a gas flame.

Abstract: Biaxially oriented tubular articles which are destined to provide bodies for processable food containers are made from an elongate tube of thermoplastics material as it emerges from an extruder.

Abstract: A method of electrocoating the surface of an article such as the internal surface of a can body using as electrode a mandrel having an external surface of substantially the same shape as the surface to be coated. The can body is positively located in a cell containing the mandrel by way of a seal in the cell wall and a limiting surface such that the internal surface to be electrocoated is substantially equidistantly spaced from the mandrel. Electrocoating fluid is flowed by way of a central bore in the mandrel between the mandrel and the internal surface and one or more electrocoating pulses are applied between the mandrel and the can body to electrocoat the internal surface thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus associated with plastics material applied by injection moulding to a metal substrate by surrounding at least a portion of the substrate with a mould and injecting flowable plastics material into the mould, characterized in that the method and/or the apparatus utilizes locally induced heat in the portion of the metal substrate surrounded by the mould to bond and sealingly adhere the plastics material to the metal substrate in total surface-to-surface contact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating a hollow article with at least two coating materials, said method comprising the steps of applying a first coating material to the article and drying or partially curing at least the surface of the first coating before the application of the second material. Thereafter the two coatings may be fully cured together or alternatively the second coating material may be partially cured in readiness to receive a further coating. The preferred curing means is a gas flame.

Abstract: A monitoring circuit for an a.c. resistance welding apparatus for can bodies is arranged to produce an output signal which is representative of the integral with respect to time of the resistive or in-phase component of the welding voltage taken over the half-cycles of welding current. The output signal is representative of the energy expended during welding, and may be used for indication or control.

Abstract: Biaxially oriented tubular articles which are destined to provide bodies for processable food containers are made from an elongate tube of thermoplastics material as it emerges from an extruder.

Abstract: In manufacture of a can body by drawing a cup from a blank and subsequently redrawing the cup, one or more redrawing steps are performed by pulling the sidewall of the cup (2) by means of a punch (12) through an S-shaped path (30,24,31), whereby the wall is bent first in one direction and then in the other, to reduce its diameter, which is then reduced further in a convergent portion (20) of the die (10). The bending induces back tensions which stretch the metal and reduce its wall thickness.

Abstract: A method of producing a package of a product, which product does not include a significant amount of gas, comprising taking a shape-retaining container having a charging opening, charging the container with the product to a level which leaves a substantial headspace and, in any suitable order,(a) completely sealing the opening with a closure of stretchable material, and(b) deforming the closure inwardly onto the product to reduce the headspace and continuing the deformation, to move product adjacent the closure into the remaining headspace, until the headspace is eliminated by the continued movement of product and closure,the method being such as to form a package which is substantially gas free and substantially hydraulically solid.

Abstract: In a metal container having at least one seam by which two overlapping metal edges are joined together, at least one of the edges (58) has a resilient polymeric layer (56) bonded firmly to the metal, so that when that edge (58) is seamed to a second edge (60) the polymeric layer deforms without destroying the bond, and becomes bonded to the second edge, so creating a seal against leakage. A layer of latex no greater than 0.10 mm thick may optionally be included. Seams to which the invention is applicable include swaged seams, interlocked double seams or longitudinal side seams. In the latter case the polymeric layer may provide the bond to secure a single lap seam.

Abstract: A container comprises a body (12) having a base and an open mouth (18). A protective ring (20) fits snugly over a rim (16) of the body (12) encircling the mouth (18), and a closure (38) is insertable into the ring (20) to close the mouth (18). The ring has an outer portion (22) which lies against an outer surface (24) of the body (12) adjacent to the rim (16) and which has an inturned flange (26) biting into said outer surface (24), and an inner portion (28) which has a curled edge region (30) curved to provide the latter with a concealed edge (34) and engageable behind a shoulder (42) on the closure (38). The closure (38) or the ring (20) is resiliently deflectable to permit insertion of the closure (38) through the ring (20).

Abstract: A closure for an aperture in a container wall having an annulus of gasket material around the aperture, has a plug portion and a peripheral flange extending axially and outwardly of the plug portion to terminate in a feather edge adapted to engage the gasket material when the plug portion is inserted in the aperture.In order to seal the aperture, the gasket material applied to the wall to surround the aperture and the plug portion of the closure is force fitted into the aperture to hold the feather edge of the flange in sealing engagement with the gasket material.The closure may be used to close cans of beverages and permit easy access to the contents by pushing the plug portion into the can.

Abstract: A high-speed rotary filling machine, for filling containers with carbonated beverages or other flowable substances, has a turret (38) mounted on a horizontal axis (31). The containers (30) are carried in radially-extending positions around the circumference of the turret, open ends facing inwards, and are filled by conventional filling valves (43) within the turret. The centrifugal effect of rotating the turret at high speed is utilized to enable filling to take place over an arc of rotation approaching 360.degree.. Spillage problems due to centrifugal effects are avoided by transferring the containers to a linear exit conveyor (58) tangentially at the lowest position (19) of turret rotation, without changing the linear velocity of the container.