Abstract: A folding can opener and an improved method for opening cans are provided. The can opener includes a handle; a cutter pivotably mounted to the handle; and a locking mechanism for the cutter. The cutter can be locked in an operating position in which a pointed tip of the cutter is adapted to pierce the can. The cutter can also be locked in a storage position in which the pointed tip is folded towards the handle and shielded by the handle. The locking mechanism includes a barrel cam formed on the cutter and having a lug for engaging a seam of the can and pairs of indentations having camming edges. The indentations are adapted for mating engagement with pawls formed on the handle (or separate pins placed between the handle and cutter). The handle is formed in a wish bone shape which permits the pawls to flex to allow engagement and disengagement of the pawls with the indentations.

Abstract: A butterfly actuator is provided and has a pair of spaced apart cams which move a valve stem wherein the cams are integral with a shaft having one portion having a generally cylindrical outer surface which is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve fixedly mounted in a housing mounted at a fixed location and wherein the bearing sleeve has a length which is between about 2.0 and 3.5 times the diameter of the generally cylindrical outer surface. A butterfly actuator is mounted on an end portion of the shaft so that movement of the butterfly actuator rotates the shaft and is formed from a metallic material to provide for an extended life period of useful operation.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for each can filler unit of a can filling machine comprising a support for holding a liquid level controller within a housing of the can filler unit and control apparatus operated from outside of the housing for moving the support to position the liquid level controller at a proper position to ensure that each can is being accurately filled.

Abstract: An inline bottle rinser having quick bottle size changeover capabilities is disclosed. The bottle rinser has a linear bottle path therethrough with spray heads synchronized to the bottles for accurately directing rinse water through the open neck of the inverted bottles. The bottle carriers are mounted so as to be automatically snapped off the transport system so that bottle carriers for other size bottles may be snapped onto the transport system for changeover purposes. The rinser includes a rinse water spray system which may be raised and lowered in accordance with the bottle size in such a manner as to assure proper synchronization of the rinse water spray system for various bottle sizes. For particularly large containers, that smaller bottle carriers may be automatically removed and half that number of larger bottle carriers mounted on the transport system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a universal pipe lathe for performing plural cutting operations on pipe and the like including a lathe structure having a clamp for affixing the pipe to the lathe, a drive motor supported on a stationary ring member, and a rotatable second ring driven by the motor upon which second ring is provided cutting tools of various configurations and oriented in specific fashions so as to provide a plurality of cutting combinations for the apparatus. Additionally, an indexing mechanism is provided for advancing the cutting tool and the clamping mechanism for retaining the lathe on the pipe can be adapted to engage the pipe internally or externally. The pipe lathe has two major sections which allow the lathe to be straddled over a pipe, and a suspension mechanism is provided so that the lathe can depend from a sling suspension, or alternatively be supported by an underlying support carriage.

Abstract: In a bottle labeller of the type having a rotating discharge roller with an extending finger that withdraws a label from a magazine, the discharge roller contains a piston in which the finger is carried by a complimentary shape of a slot in the piston with the base of the finger. The piston moves in a cylindrical bore both axially and rotatably to retract the finger from extended position into the roller when a bottle detecting system discovers an interruption in the flow of bottles to the labeller. The detecting system directs pressurized air to the roller, forcing the piston to move in the bore and retract the finger when an interruption is discovered.

Abstract: A bottle rinser having a linear path for carried bottles has closely spaced bottle carriers on a lug chain, the carriers receiving the bottles in upright position and being pivoted in a plane perpendicular to the path of chain movement to invert the bottles and carry them over rinse means, then slightly tip the bottles from fully inverted position to aid in draining, and finally being pivoted to restore the bottles to upright position for unloading. The carriers are of stamped and formed construction with an elastomer retainer for simple operation and allowing good bottle exposure for external rinse. Guide rods positioned near the lug chain control carrier pivoting.