Abstract: A nozzle actuating and adjustment system for applying sealant to a can lid member comprising a nozzle which has a sealant dispensing opening, a needle valve means, a needle valve seat surface and a sealant flow passage for enabling flow of sealant material onto the lid member. The needle valve is selectively axially movable between an open sealant applying position and a closed non-flow position relative to the needle valve seat surface. A spring means is operatively associated with the needle valve means to normally hold the needle valve means in the closed lowered position. A needle valve actuator solenoid is operatively connected to the needle valve for selectively causing axial upward movement of the needle valve from the closed position to the open position by a predetermined axial distance to provide a predetermined sealant flow gap in the nozzle means to dispense a predetermined amount of sealant material during a predetermined dispensing time period.

Abstract: A nozzle actuating and adjustment system for applying sealant to a can lid member comprising a nozzle which has a sealant dispensing opening, a needle valve, a needle valve seat surface and a sealant flow passage for enabling flow of sealant material onto the lid member. The needle valve is selectively axially movable between an open sealant applying position and a closed non-flow position relative to the needle valve seat surface. A spring is operatively associated with the needle valve to normally hold the needle valve in the closed lowered position. A needle valve actuator solenoid is operatively connected to the needle valve for selectively causing axial upward movement of the needle valve from the closed position to the open position by a predetermined axial distance to provide a predetermined sealant flow gap in the nozzle to dispense a predetermined amount of sealant material during a predetermined dispensing time period.

Abstract: An offset blanket print/coat assembly for printing or coating rotating containers has a novel inker blade adjustment means which adjusts the fountain blade relative to the fountain roll both inwardly and outwardly, and holds the blade edge in various desired positions along is entire length by the adjustment of individual adjustment threaded shafts positioned along the blade length. Each shaft has spaced apart threaded sections, one of which is more coarsely threaded than the other. One threaded section threadably engages a threaded mounting block mounted to the ink reservoir, while the other threaded section threadably engages a threaded adjusting eye slidably received in a sliding block mounted to the ink reservoir. The adjusting eye is coupled to the blade by a pivotable linkage.

Abstract: An offset blanket print/coat assembly for printing or coating rotating containers has a blanket wheel supporting a plurality of blanket assemblies by means of radial frame plates and an air cylinder operable for retracting the blankets inwardly on the blanket wheel. The blanket assemblies move in both a radial direction and an axial direction in moving from a printing position to a stop-print position in response to the detection of the absence of a container of a mandrel approaching the printing position. Novel inker blade adjustment means adjusts the fountain blade relative to the fountain roll both inwardly and outwardly relative to the fountain roll and holds the blade edge in various desired positions along its entire length by the adjustment of individual adjustment members positioned along the blade length.

Abstract: A one-piece metallic can body member comprising a cylindrical relatively thin side wall portion; an open end rim portion; a dome-shape bottom wall portion having a concave dome-shape central portion, a convex axially outwardly extending lowermost annular support rib portion connected to the dome-shape central portion, and a radially outmost inclined connecting wall portion which extends between the side wall portion and the lowermost annular support rib portion. A plurality of circumferentially spaced radially inwardly extending convex groove-rib portions in the concave dome-shape central portion extend radially inwardly from the lowermost annular support rib portion. An annular convex groove-rib portion is located in the concave dome-shape central portion and intersects the radially inwardly extending convex groove-rib portions.

Abstract: A sealant supply system for a sealant applying machine having a plurality of rotatable sealant applying head devices rotatable about a central axis of rotation and comprising support means for supporting the system on the machine; a rotatable sealant supply chamber means mounted on the support means for holding a supply of sealant material and having a bottom wall portion, a side wall portion, and an upper wall portion; coupling passage means in a lower portion of the chamber means for connection to the sealant applying head means to supply sealant thereto; a spindle means mounted on the upper wall portion of the chamber means for enabling rotation of the chamber means; a first central passage means in the spindle means enabling supply of air and sealant to the chamber means; bearing journal means and bearing means on an outer wall portion of the spindle means for rotatably supporting the spindle means; a non-rotatable housing means for receiving and rotatably supporting the bearing means and the spindle mean

Abstract: A decorator apparatus and methods for applying an ink image to cylindrical can body members comprising multiple station ink supply and transfer apparatus for transferring ink from an ink fountain to a blanket wheel through a plate cylinder with ink image registration adjustment apparatus and axial and circumferential tightness control apparatus operatively associated with each plate cylinder and each ink supply and transfer apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously conveying decorated container members having wet ink images on the outer periphery thereof between a first continuously moving rotatable mandrel wheel type container carrying apparatus of a high speed container decorator or coater machine and a high speed second continuously linearly moving pin chain container carrying apparatus comprising: a continuously rotatable disk type conveyor rotatably movable in a predetermined endless path between the first and second continuously moving container carrying apparatus including a first path portion located in juxtaposition to the first continuously moving container carrying apparatus for receiving decorated container members therefrom and a second path portion located in juxtaposition to the second continuously moving container carrying apparatus delivering decorated container members thereto; a plurality of individual cirumferentially spaced vacuum cups fixedly peripherally mounted in equally spaced relationship on and extending laterally o

Abstract: A mandrel assembly for use in a machine for continuous printing of cylindrical containers, comprising a mandrel wheel; mandrel holders, pivotally mounted on circumferential portions of the mandrel wheel; elongate mandrels for supporting cylindrical containers on peripheral surfaces thereof, rotatably mounted on the mandrel holder and radially displaceable relative the central axis of rotation of the mandrel wheel; a cam follower rotatably mounted on each mandrel holder; and a cam track assembly operably associated with the cam followers for causing preselected radial displacement of the cam followers with respect to the central axis of rotation of the mandrel wheel which in turn causes preselected radial displacement of associated mandrel spindles relative a blanket wheel device to either cause a container to be printed or to be skipped from printing.

Abstract: A continuous can printing machine for decorating can bodies having a printing cylinder assembly including multiple printing plates of predetermined size accurately mounted on a peripheral surface of a cylinder having a circumference substantially greater than the circumference of a can to be printed and being quickly and accurately mountable and removable from a drive shaft by use of an eccentric tightening apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously conveying decorated container members having wet ink images on the outer periphery thereof between a first continuously moving rotatable mandrel wheel type container carrying apparatus of a high speed container decorator or coater machine and a high speed second continuously linearly moving pin chain container carrying apparatus comprising: a continuously rotatable disk type conveyor rotatably movable in a predetermined endless path between the first and second continuously moving container carrying apparatus including a first path portion located in juxtaposition to the first continuously moving container carrying apparatus for receiving decorated container members therefrom and a second path portion located in juxtaposition to the second continuously moving container carrying apparatus delivering decorated container members thereto; a plurality of individual circumferentially spaced vacuum cups fixedly peripherally mounted in equally spaced relationship on and extending laterally

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous heat transfer of ink images onto the outer surfaces of continuously moving articles, for example, generally cylindrical articles, from a length of continuously moving heat transfer sheet material having thereon a series of uniformly spaced heat transferable ink images. In the case of cylindrical articles, an elongated wrapping and heating tube is used for continuously wrapping a portion of the sheet material into intimate contact with the outer surface of each cylindrical article as the sheet material and the cylindrical members move through the tube and for heating the wrapped portion of the sheet material and the cylindrical articles during movement through the tube to cause transfer of the ink image to the articles within the tube. The sheet material is thereafter unwrapped and disassociated from the decorated cylindrical members after passing through the tube during continuous movement of the sheet material and the printed cylindrical members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous heat transfer of ink images onto the outer surfaces of continuously moving generally cylindrical articles from a length of continuously moving heat transfer sheet material having thereon a series of uniformly spaced heat transferable ink images by use of an elongated wrapping and heating tube for continuously wrapping a portion of the sheet material into intimate contact with the outer surface of each cylindrical article as the sheet material and the cylindrical members move through the tube and for heating the wrapped portion of the sheet material and the cylindrical articles during movement through the tube to cause transfer of the ink image to the articles within the tube. The sheet material is thereafter unwrapped and disassociated from the decorated cylindrical members after passing through the tube during continuous movement of the sheet material and the printed cylindrical members.

Abstract: A can printing machine of the type having a rotating assembly of mandrels contacting a rotating printing blanket for transferring decoration from the blanket to cans on the mandrels is provided with mandrel assemblies which are axially alignable with the printing blanket to permit axially uniform decoration of the cans. Each mandrel assembly comprises a rigid central member; a cylindrical sleeve mounted on the central member for receiving thereon a can to be printed; first mounting means pivotably mounting the sleeve to the central member at an axial midline of the can; and second mounting means accommodating pivoting and positioning the sleeve in a rest position to permit loading and unloading of the cans. Since the sleeve rotates relative to the central member to transfer circumferential decoration from the printing blanket to the can, the first and second mounting means permit rotation of the sleeve and rotatable pivoting.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous heat transfer of ink images onto outer surfaces of continuously moving generally cylindrical members from a length of continuously moving heat transfer sheet material having thereon a series of uniformly spaced heat transferable ink images.