Abstract: A device for inhibiting rotational motion of an article to be processed comprises a pressure plate assembly including a generally ring-shaped guide assembly. The guide assembly has and at least two guide pins extending from a first side in a transverse direction. The guide assembly further includes at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective one of the at least two guide pins and a container guide having an aperture for receiving an open end of a container moving in a first direction and for aligning the open end with a processing device. The container guide is positioned adjacent to the first side of the pressure plate assembly. At least two resilient devices are configured to be compressed in response to movement of the container guide in a first direction and are configured to decompress in response to movement of the container guide in a second, generally opposite direction.

Abstract: A device for inhibiting rotational motion of an article to be processed comprises a pressure plate assembly including a generally ring-shaped guide assembly. The guide assembly has and at least two guide pins extending from a first side in a transverse direction. The guide assembly further includes at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective one of the at least two guide pins and a container guide having an aperture for receiving an open end of a container moving in a first direction and for aligning the open end with a processing device. The container guide is positioned adjacent to the first side of the pressure plate assembly. At least two resilient devices are configured to be compressed in response to movement of the container guide in a first direction and are configured to decompress in response to movement of the container guide in a second, generally opposite direction.

Abstract: A device for inhibiting rotational motion of an article to be processed comprises a pressure plate assembly including a generally ring-shaped guide assembly. The guide assembly has and at least two guide pins extending from a first side in a transverse direction. The guide assembly further includes at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective one of the at least two guide pins and a container guide having an aperture for receiving an open end of a container moving in a first direction and for aligning the open end with a processing device. The container guide is positioned adjacent to the first side of the pressure plate assembly. At least two resilient devices are configured to be compressed in response to movement of the container guide in a first direction and are configured to decompress in response to movement of the container guide in a second, generally opposite direction.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a clutch assembly (100) for handling a container, and an associated method for using the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly includes a shaft (102) configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, opposite from the first direction. The clutch assembly further includes a clutch coupled to a first end of the shaft. The clutch includes at least two rollers (108) configured to move into a first position, extending radially beyond a periphery of the clutch, and out of the first position, extending radially flush with or inward from the periphery of the clutch.

Abstract: A metal bottle assembly adapted for use on a plastic bottling includes a metal bottle with an outsert assembled on the neck portion of the bottle. The outsert may be constructed from plastic material and may be fixed to the bottle using an interference fit. The outsert enables the bottle to be placed on a plastic bottling line with minimal or no modifications to the bottling line. The outsert also ensures that the metal bottle is not damaged by handling on the plastic bottling line. In some embodiments, the outsert is designed to elastically deform as it is pressed on the neck of a pre-formed metal bottle and therefore create the interference fit between the outsert and the bottle. In some embodiments the outsert is retained on the neck of the bottle through the interference fit alone.

Abstract: A device for inhibiting rotational motion of an article to be processed comprises a pressure plate assembly including a generally ring-shaped guide assembly. The guide assembly has and at least two guide pins extending from a first side in a transverse direction. The guide assembly further includes at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective one of the at least two guide pins and a container guide having an aperture for receiving an open end of a container moving in a first direction and for aligning the open end with a processing device. The container guide is positioned adjacent to the first side of the pressure plate assembly. At least two resilient devices are configured to be compressed in response to movement of the container guide in a first direction and are configured to decompress in response to movement of the container guide in a second, generally opposite direction.

Abstract: A metal bottle assembly adapted for use on a plastic bottling includes a metal bottle with an outsert assembled on the neck portion of the bottle. The outsert may be constructed from plastic material and may be fixed to the bottle using an interference fit. The outsert enables the bottle to be placed on a plastic bottling line with minimal or no modifications to the bottling line. The outsert also ensures that the metal bottle is not damaged by handling on the plastic bottling line. In some embodiments, the outsert is designed to elastically deform as it is pressed on the neck of a pre-formed metal bottle and therefore create the interference fit between the outsert and the bottle. In some embodiments the outsert is retained on the neck of the bottle through the interference fit alone.

Abstract: A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner to form a machine arrangement. Each machine includes a modular base, a transfer star wheel, and a turret mechanism configured to perform a working operation on an article. The turret mechanism includes a turret star wheel. A central axis of the transfer star wheel is approximately 45 degrees below horizontal relative to a central axis of the turret star wheel. The turret mechanism includes a cantilevered portion overhanging a portion of the base.

Abstract: A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles includes a plurality of machines arranged to cooperate with each other in a manner to form a machine arrangement. Each machine includes a modular base, a transfer star wheel, and a turret mechanism configured to perform a working operation on an article. The turret mechanism includes a turret star wheel. A central axis of the transfer star wheel is approximately 45 degrees below horizontal relative to a central axis of the turret star wheel. The turret mechanism includes a cantilevered portion overhanging a portion of the base.

Abstract: A turret for an article processing machine assembly includes a turret main body, a sliding ram assembly, and an air manifold device. The air manifold device is connectable to the turret main body and provides pressurized air through a pressurized air pathway system. The pressurized air pathway system includes a turret air passage extending from the air manifold through the turret body to the sliding ram assembly, and a ram air passage that supplies the pressurized air to an article in the machine assembly. A valve mechanism is positioned between one end of the turret body air passage and a first end of the ram air passage. The valve mechanism includes a slidable disc that seals the connection between the turret body air passage and the ram air passage.

Abstract: In an embodiment, there is a turret pocket key that includes a first slider block, a second slider block, a third slider block and a fourth slider block. The slider blocks are retained such that the slider blocks are adapted to move relative to one another, the key is adapted to move the first slider block and/or the fourth slider block to draw the first slider block and the fourth slider block relatively towards each other, and when the first slider block and the fourth slider block are drawn relatively towards each other, the second slider block and the third slider block move outward in a direction normal to the relative direction of movement of the first slider block towards the fourth slider block.

Abstract: A threading turret assembly includes a plurality of threading heads. The threading heads comprise first and second threading rollers. The threading head is configured to impart a thread onto a metallic can such that a threaded cap may be screwed onto the can to seal an opening in the can. The turret assembly is configured to rotate such that the plurality of threading heads orbit the centerline of rotation about which the turret rotates. The turret is configured to impart a rotation onto the plurality of threading heads as the threading heads orbit the center of rotation.

Abstract: A machine arrangement including a vacuum transfer turret assembly configured to releasably hold one or more containers and to rotate the one or more containers about the turret assembly when the one or more containers are held by the turret assembly. The turret assembly includes a shaft assembly, a starwheel assembly, and a vacuum assembly. The starwheel assembly is releasably secured to the shaft assembly. The turret assembly is adapted to, when the starwheel assembly is secured to the shaft assembly, rotate the shaft assembly to rotate the starwheel assembly relative to the vacuum assembly and when the starwheel assembly is rotatably released from the shaft assembly, enable movement of the starwheel assembly and the vacuum manifold along the shaft assembly towards and away from the vacuum assembly.

Abstract: A dual ram assembly for a turret machine includes a first and second ram. The first ram comprises a first cam follower bracket and a first set of cam followers. An outer die tooling is connected to the first ram. The second ram comprises a second cam follower bracket and second set of cam followers. An inner knockout tooling is connected to the second ram. The first set of cam followers is configured to follow a first cam surface. The second set of cam followers is configured to follow a second cam surface. The first ram is connected to the second ram on a slide block. As the first and second sets of cam followers follow the first and second cam surfaces, the inner knockout tooling and the outer die tooling move toward or away from an article to be worked on.

Abstract: A threading turret assembly includes a plurality of threading heads. The threading heads comprise first and second threading rollers. The threading head is configured to impart a thread onto a metallic can such that a threaded cap may be screwed onto the can to seal an opening in the can. The turret assembly is configured to rotate such that the plurality of threading heads orbit the centerline of rotation about which the turret rotates. The turret is configured to impart a rotation onto the plurality of threading heads as the threading heads orbit the center of rotation.

Abstract: A trimming turret including a first trimmer head including a first pilot. The turret is configured to receive a stress induced plastically deformed container having earing about a respective opening in the container, and at least one of (i) direct the container to the first trimmer head so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening, and (ii) direct the first trimmer head to the container so that the pilot becomes located inside the opening. The turret is configured to trim off the earing from the container with the first trimmer head.

Abstract: A burnishing tool including a tapered cam shaft including a camming surfaces having a planar spatial orientation substantially the same as the planar spatial orientation of sides of a pyramid, wherein respective keys respectively extend along respective camming surfaces of the tapered cam shaft, the keys having respective longitudinal axis of extensions parallel to the respective camming surfaces and lying in respective planes normal to the planar spatial orientations of the respective camming surfaces, wherein the camming surfaces are arrayed about a cam shaft axis that is normal to a plane that is parallel to a base of the pyramid. The burnishing tool further includes a burnishing assembly, the burnishing assembly includes segmented burnishing components including respective cammed surfaces positioned on the tapered cam shaft adjacent respective camming surfaces. These segmented burnishing components include mate with the cam shaft.

Abstract: A machine arrangement that operates on a plurality of articles, such as bottles, includes a plurality of machines arranged in a machine arrangement. At least one of the machines includes an apparatus configured to modify the articles by at least one of moving, holding, manipulating and shaping the articles as they pass from an article infeed to an article discharge of the machine arrangement. A recirculation mechanism moves articles from a downstream machine after a first pass (or run) and recirculates the articles back to an upstream machine in a second (recirculation) pass (or run) so that the articles, which are recirculated through the second pass are again subjected to a different machine modifying operation in at least one machine that the articles have previously passed in the first pass. The articles move continuously through the first and second passes while being subjected to at least one machine modifying operation.

Abstract: A burnishing tool including a tapered cam shaft including a camming surfaces having a planar spatial orientation substantially the same as the planar spatial orientation of sides of a pyramid, wherein respective keys respectively extend along respective camming surfaces of the tapered cam shaft, the keys having respective longitudinal axis of extensions parallel to the respective camming surfaces and lying in respective planes normal to the planar spatial orientations of the respective camming surfaces, wherein the camming surfaces are arrayed about a cam shaft axis that is normal to a plane that is parallel to a base of the pyramid. The burnishing tool further includes a burnishing assembly, the burnishing assembly includes segmented burnishing components including respective cammed surfaces positioned on the tapered cam shaft adjacent respective camming surfaces. These segmented burnishing components include mate with the cam shaft.