Abstract: This disclosure provides new containers, preforms, methods, and designs for small and light-weight carbonated beverage packaging that provide surprisingly improved carbonation retention and greater shelf life, while still achieving light weight. This disclosure is particularly drawn to small PET containers for carbonated beverages, for example less than or about 400 mL, and methods and designs for their fabrication that attain unexpectedly good carbonation retention and shelf life.

Abstract: This disclosure provides new containers, preforms, methods, and designs for small and light-weight carbonated beverage packaging that provide surprisingly improved carbonation retention and greater shelf life, while still achieving light weight. This disclosure is particularly drawn to small PET containers for carbonated beverages, for example less than or about 400 mL, and methods and designs for their fabrication that attain unexpectedly good carbonation retention and shelf life.

Abstract: This disclosure provides new containers, preforms, methods, and designs for small and light-weight carbonated beverage packaging that provide surprisingly improved carbonation retention and greater shelf life, while still achieving light weight. This disclosure is particularly drawn to small PET containers for carbonated beverages, for example less than or about 400 mL, and methods and designs for their fabrication that attain unexpectedly good carbonation retention and shelf life.

Abstract: This disclosure provides new containers, preforms, methods, and designs for small and light-weight carbonated beverage packaging that provide surprisingly improved carbonation retention and greater shelf life, while still achieving light weight. This disclosure is particularly drawn to small PET containers for carbonated beverages, for example less than or about 400 mL, and methods and designs for their fabrication that attain unexpectedly good carbonation retention and shelf life.

Abstract: A method of configuring a production line to mass customize shaped vessels includes receiving a plurality of consumer or event data. Further, the method includes configuring a plurality of vessel forming stations based in part on the received consumer or event data. Once the vessel forming stations are configured, a plurality of vessels are shaped by indexing the plurality of vessels through the vessel forming stations. The shaping operation can include shaping by contouring a length of each of the plurality of vessels, selecting a decoration style to be applied to the plurality of vessels based in part on the consumer or event data, and configuring a top-forming station based in part on the consumer or event data.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of remotely managing a vessel forming production line, the method comprising communicating from a remote data processing resource a plurality of consumer or event data to a controller, the controller controls a plurality of vessel forming stations having a plurality of shape forming operations and a plurality of non-shape forming operations, configuring each of the plurality of shape forming operations and the plurality of non-shape forming operations based in part on the plurality of consumer or event data to manufacture the shaped vessel, and manufacturing the shaped vessel. Other embodiments include completing a sales transaction resulting in generation of the plurality of consumer or event data, generating the plurality of consumer or event data based in part on the current status of an event, and decorating the shaped vessel based in part on the plurality of consumer or event data.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of coordinating vessel shaping style and decoration, the method comprising receiving a vessel in a decoration operation, the vessel having a formed shape style, determining the formed shape style, selecting based in part on the formed shape style a decoration style, and decorating the vessel with selected decoration style. Other embodiments include selecting the decoration style based in part on the vessel top form style, selecting the vessel top form style based in part on the decoration style, and selecting a pathway to index the vessel across the operation wheel through the shaping operation.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of shape forming vessels, the method comprising selecting a pathway to index the vessel across an operation wheel, indexing the vessel, controlling rotational indexing direction of the vessel across selected pathway, and operating on the vessel as the vessel is indexed across the operation wheel along selected pathway. Other embodiment include shaping by contouring length of the vessel, applying decoration to the vessel, wherein the decoration is added at a precise location based in part on reference to the registration spot, and using a controller to select the pathway based in part on desired shape of the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of performing non-shape forming operations during vessel shaping, the method comprising indexing a cylinder across a pathway of at least one of an operation wheel, the operation wheel further having a plurality of work zones, performing at the plurality of work zones a plurality of operations on the cylinder in a sequence of a first shaping plurality of operations followed by a non-shaping plurality of operations followed by a second shaping plurality of operations, and effectuating transformation of the cylinder into a shaped vessel. Other embodiment include applying decoration to the cylinder contoured surface during non-shaping operations, trimming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, and top-forming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, to name a few.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a vessel forming station comprising a plurality of operation wheels, the plurality of operation wheels are configured in opposing facing pairs, a plurality of linear drives are interconnected with the plurality of operation wheels, the plurality of linear drives push opposing facing pairs of the plurality of operations to a closed position causing opposing facing pairs of the operation wheels to engage the vessel and perform operations on the vessel, the linear drives pull the plurality of operation wheels to an open position allowing the vessel to be indexed to other operation positions, and a conveyor system positioned between opposing facing pairs of the plurality of operation wheels engages the vessel and indexes the vessel through the plurality of operations.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a vessel forming production line comprising a plurality of vessel forming stations having at least one of an operation wheel, at least one of a conveyor, and a controller, the conveyor indexes a vessel across the operation wheel, the controller coordinates movement and operation of the operation wheel and the conveyor, a second conveyor transfers the vessel between the plurality of vessel forming stations, and a plurality of cylinder feeders feed the vessel into at least one of a pathway through the plurality of vessel forming stations, wherein the plurality of vessel forming stations are organized into a scalable matrix configuration allowing a plurality of different shaped vessels to be manufactured simultaneously. Other embodiments include a plurality of linear drives configured to cause opposing pairs of operation wheels to engage the vessel and perform operations on the vessel.

Abstract: A can end and can body are seamed to each other using a seaming roller, seaming chuck and a laser fusing the peripheral portion of the can end to the can body. Laser seaming allows less metal to be used in the can end and can body. The can end and can body seam is further reinforced in order to ensure that the can is capable of withstanding internal pressures. The reinforcing techniques include crimping the seam with one or more crimping rollers, reforming the seam so as to incline the seam towards a central axis extending through the center of the can end and can body, and using multiple laser welds spaced apart from each other in the vicinity of the seam.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a vessel forming production line comprising a plurality of vessel forming stations having at least one of an operation wheel, at least one of a conveyor, and a controller, the conveyor indexes a vessel across the operation wheel, the controller coordinates movement and operation of the operation wheel and the conveyor, a second conveyor transfers the vessel between the plurality of vessel forming stations, and a plurality of cylinder feeders feed the vessel into at least one of a pathway through the plurality of vessel forming stations, wherein the plurality of vessel forming stations are organized into a scalable matrix configuration allowing a plurality of different shaped vessels to be manufactured simultaneously. Other embodiments include a plurality of linear drives configured to cause opposing pairs of operation wheels to engage the vessel and perform operations on the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of shape forming vessels, the method comprising selecting a pathway to index the vessel across an operation wheel, indexing the vessel, controlling rotational indexing direction of the vessel across selected pathway, and operating on the vessel as the vessel is indexed across the operation wheel along selected pathway. Other embodiment include shaping by contouring length of the vessel, applying decoration to the vessel, wherein the decoration is added at a precise location based in part on reference to the registration spot, and using a controller to select the pathway based in part on desired shape of the vessel.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of remotely managing a vessel forming production line, the method comprising communicating from a remote data processing resource a plurality of consumer or event data to a controller, the controller controls a plurality of vessel forming stations having a plurality of shape forming operations and a plurality of non-shape forming operations, configuring each of the plurality of shape forming operations and the plurality of non-shape forming operations based in part on the plurality of consumer or event data to manufacture the shaped vessel, and manufacturing the shaped vessel. Other embodiments include completing a sales transaction resulting in generation of the plurality of consumer or event data, generating the plurality of consumer or event data based in part on the current status of an event, and decorating the shaped vessel based in part on the plurality of consumer or event data.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of coordinating vessel shaping style and decoration, the method comprising receiving a vessel in a decoration operation, the vessel having a formed shape style, determining the formed shape style, selecting based in part on the formed shape style a decoration style, and decorating the vessel with selected decoration style. Other embodiments include selecting the decoration style based in part on the vessel top form style, selecting the vessel top form style based in part on the decoration style, and selecting a pathway to index the vessel across the operation wheel through the shaping operation.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of performing non-shape forming operations during vessel shaping, the method comprising indexing a cylinder across a pathway of at least one of an operation wheel, the operation wheel further having a plurality of work zones, performing at the plurality of work zones a plurality of operations on the cylinder in a sequence of a first shaping plurality of operations followed by a non-shaping plurality of operations followed by a second shaping plurality of operations, and effectuating transformation of the cylinder into a shaped vessel. Other embodiment include applying decoration to the cylinder contoured surface during non-shaping operations, trimming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, and top-forming the cylinder during non-shaping operations, to name a few.