Abstract: Scoreline, profiling and reinforcing features are provided for an easy-access sheet metal end closure (20) and an integral opener (44). An endwall panel (28) is formed so as to substantially eliminate flexing of the sheet metal during rupture of residual metal of scoreline means defining a U-shaped tear strip (30). Such tear strip is oriented with its arcuately-shaped closed end (32) contiguous to the periphery of such endwall panel with scoreline legs (34,35) directed toward a portion at its geometric center (26). The opener is fabricated with a chisel-point (92) at its working end (66) to initiate puncture of such arcuate-shaped scoreline by Class I lever action. Rupturing of the scoreline is followed by pivoting of the opener about a pair of fulcrum points (82,83) which contact the panel one each external to a side of opening 62, with movement of the opening about such fulcrum points rupturing the scoreline legs by Class II lever action.

Abstract: A system and process for use when forming lift-tab can end assemblies wherein each can end assembly includes a lift tab having a smooth side, an opposite roughened side and a hole extending between the sides and a can end having a protruding shaft integrally formed in one face thereof utilizes a guide system for inverting a strip of metal stock through about 180.degree. as the strip is conveyed between one workstation at which lift tabs are pre-formed therein and another workstation at which the tabs are punched, so as to sever the tabs from, the strip. The punched tabs are thereafter collected in a stacked relationship and directed to a position adjacent still another workstation at which the tabs are attached, by way of the tab holes and the can end shafts, to the can ends. By inverting the strip of metal stock during the assembly-forming process, the tabs are inverted from a smooth-side-down condition to a smooth-side-up condition for attachment to the can end.

Abstract: A pressurized container end has a frangible member covering an opening in the end. The frangible member is cut away from the end by the action of increased pressure from within the container against the member. A protrusion in a portion of the end is depressed into the container for increasing pressure in the container. In an alternate form of the invention, the container itself is depressed inwardly for causing the increased pressure sufficient to cut the frangible member away from the end. Various opening geometries are each formed with a cutting edge.

Abstract: A method of scoring a metal panel such as a can end lid includes forming a first scoreline having a base and a pair of lateral walls and subsequently forming a second scoreline within the first scoreline by indenting a portion of the first scoreline base. The final scoreline may be created by employing two or more scoring operations after the first scoreline has been formed. The apparatus preferably includes a press which supports the first scoring die and second scoring die in such a manner as to establish the desired sequence of scoring operations. This method and associated apparatus provide a scored metal panel or container lid having improved performance characteristics. The resultant lid is characterized by reduced residual strain.

Abstract: End tooling for forming easy open can ends has cooperatively-engageable upper and lower tooling defining a plurality of stations. Each station has appropriate punches and dies for progressively converting shells indexed by conveyor into easy open can ends. The tooling is adapted to convert ends of multiple diameters. The punch caps and die caps at each station have cylindrical bodies sized to engage and align a turned edge of a shell. The caps also have one or more arcuate grooves in the end face thereof for receiving the turned edge of ends having a diameter smaller than that of the cap.

Abstract: A core cap is formed from a one-piece sheet metal blank in which an inner cylindrical sleeve is formed and a reverse-fold outer sleeve determining a bight therebetween, and a recess is gradually formed by stamping in the bight and the inner sleeve so as to provide a keyway with parallel side walls symmetrically parallel with the axis of the inner sleeve.

Abstract: Forming a convenience-feature, sheet metal end closure structure (180, 216) for a container having a non-cylindrical side wall (250). Scoring and back-up tooling enable peripheral scoring (102, 130, 142) on either surface of such end closure to define a separable panel (160, 218) with its peripheral scoreline located contiguous to the end closure chuck wall (132, 144); which interfits within the open end of the container body. Separation of such endwall panel leaves substantially no obstruction to removal of solid-pack contents. The separable panel is provided with means to prevent tear-out of a segment of the endwall panel and retain an integral opener (148) with the panel.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a closing structure (3), openable in a controlled manner of a can, in particular a metallic can (1), the method comprising press forming the sheet blank so as to form a bulging zone, forming from the bulging zone a small curved zone, and producing in the region of the curved zone a cut-away part so as to form an aperture (5) including a peripheral skirt (10c), enlarging a part of the peripheral skirt (10c) and fixing by seaming to the aperture (5) a removable closure member (4) by forming a seamed edge portion (10e) constituted by the peripheral skirt (10c).

Abstract: A method for making a lid for a can-like container is disclosed which comprises a gas barrier-type multi-layer base for the lid, a reinforcing thermoplastic resin layer formed on said multi-layer base, and a tab seat of synthetic resin having a tab and formed on that portion of the upper surface of the bottom surrounded by said reinforcing thermoplastic resin layer. The tab seat is disposed in spaced relation to said upper surface of the bottom and disposed in such a manner that a score portion having as small a width as possible is formed between the outer periphery of the tab seat and the inner peripheral edge of said reinforcing thermoplastic resin layer. The upper surface of said bottom is exposed through the score portion.

Abstract: A convenience-feature full-open end closure structure (27) with a shock-absorbing bead (45) located between a peripheral scoreline (34) which defines the end wall disc (31) to be removed from a recessed end wall panel (49). An arch-shaped back scoreline means with central vent portion (36) and legs (37, 38) is located within the removable disc (31) and co-acts with a longitudinally rigid (non-lanced) opener (30) which is made integral by a rivet (32) formed from sheet metal of disc (31). A multi-layer sheet metal fold (40) shields the raw edge of ruptured residual peripheral scoreline metal which remains with disc (31); and a multi-layer sheet metal fold (42) shields residual raw-edge metal remaining with container (94). The back scoreline central portion (36) is contiguous to and radially inward of rivet (32) and the pair of legs (37, 38) extend with a radially-directed component on opposite sides of the rivet toward the adjacent portion of the peripheral chime seam (92).

Abstract: A punch press has first and second sets of tooling mounted longitudinally of a press conveyor belt. The second set of tooling is located externally of the usual press columns. A second ram slidably mounted on the outside of the columns is driven by a connecting arm eccentrically mounted on a crankshaft extension. The second ram drives the upper tooling of the second tooling set in a reciprocating manner. The second ram can be operated out of phase with the main ram to reduce the total tonnage required of the press.

Abstract: A press regulating device for detecting can end tab related defects including a plunger assembly for engaging a can end to be tested; a plunger deflection monitoring device; and a data processing device which receives a signal from the plunger deflection monitoring device and a press timing device and which processes these signals to determine whether or not the tested can end is defective and which sends a control signal to the press to terminate press operation upon detection of a defective can end.

Abstract: A rupturable can member (10) of sheet metal has a pair of scorings (16) which define a tearing strip (18) laterally. Welded onto the tearing strip (18) is a tongue (20) which has a thickened portion (24) at its welded-on end (22). This thickened portion is formed by a margin folded back towards the other free end (26) of the tongue (20).

Abstract: A method of making a metal can end with a tear-open plastics closure, for a can intended to be resistant to leakage when subject to internal pressures, such as arise from carbonation of a beverage or thermal processing, wherein the undersurface of the can end is provided with a plastics coating, and the can end is pierced to form an aperture with a peripheral downturned flange at an angle of 70.degree. to 110.degree. to the plane of the can end and having a flat end. A one-piece ring pull closure is injection-moulded onto the can end from a plastics material resistant to softening at up to at least 65.degree. C., without additional heating of the metal, so as to fill the aperture, bond with the coating, and enclose the flange, with a residual thickness below the flange of 0.125 to 0.5 mm. The thickness of the plastics material of the closure is such that it can be sheared against the flange when the ring pull is pulled manually.

Abstract: A press for converting work pieces into finished parts has an elongated bolster mounted on a press bed. The bolster supports columns on which a ram is slidable. The bolster also supports the lower die shoe of the press tooling. A conveyor or transfer system mounted on the bolster carries work pieces into and out of the area of the tooling. The bolster is a unitary piece which integrates support of the die shoe, columns and conveyor to assure proper cooperation and alignment among them. A pivotable carrier mounts a feed mechanism for feeding a stock strip into the tooling. Power to the feed mechanism is supplied through a shaft which is coaxial with the hinge line of the carrier, so that the carrier can be swung away from the tooling for service access without requiring disconnection of the power supply. A traveling vacuum box on the lower die shoe supports the conveyor for vertical as well as longitudinal motion, and retains the work pieces on the conveyor.

Abstract: A full-open, disc-removal, end wall structure (25) with improved easy-open lever action and edge-protection features is disclosed along with methods of fabricating and opening. A back-scoreline (38, 52) is ruptured, by Class 2 lever action, upon lifting of a rigid (non-lanced) tap opener (28, 51, 63) as the working end (32) of the tab opener ruptures a portion of peripheral scoreline (33); continued movement of the tab opener in the direction (46) into contact with chime seam (47) provides for continued lever-action rupture of the peripheral scoreline by Class 1 lever action about the chime seam as a fulcrum. Multi-folds of sheet metal provide rounded edge metal (73, 78) shilding for residual scoreline metal; pre-folding of the metal is carried out while leaving access for scoring tooling (86, 88) to enable scoring on a single thickness of sheet metal; and so as to avoid premature damage to the residual scoreline metal upon final orientation.

Abstract: A machine and process for making container lid assemblies with a flexible membrane with a pull tab adhesively secured to a rigid ring so that when desired the membrane can be peeled off and removed from the ring to provide access to the container. Individual membranes are cut and separated from a web by rotating dies and individually transferred, accelerated and applied by a rotating anvil cylinder and transfer roller to individual rings which have been preheated sufficiently to activate an adhesive to adhere the membrane about its periphery to the ring. The rings are heated by an induction coil and a downstacker deposits heated rings on a moving conveyor belt which conveys them under the transfer roller where they are urged into firm engagement with a membrane by a resilient applicator pad on the transfer roller and an underlying support roller.

Abstract: Can-like containers are frequently closed or sealed with a diaphragm, the wall of which is provided with severance points, or the part of which that is U-shaped in cross section (3) covering the cut edge (15) of the can wall (17) is already located at least partially at a distance (a) from the nearly dish-shaped closure part (14). The diaphragm (14) according to the present invention has severance points that are formed by narrow ligaments (4) interrupted by cut-outs (5), said ligaments being arranged alternatingly along a circumferential line in the rim (2) of the diaphragm. A diaphragm for the closing of can-like containers is e.g. fabricated in that the foil is deep-drawn, and in the end phase of the closing movement cut-outs (5) are formed in its rim (2) by shearing edges (8 and 11). At least one shearing edge (8) is interrupted by notches (9), in the area of which ligaments (4) remain.

Abstract: A method of making a metal can end with a tear-open plastics closure, for a can intended to be resistant to leakage when subject to internal pressures, such as arise from carbonation of a beverage or thermal processing, wherein the undersurface of the can end is provided with a plastics coating, and the can end is pierced to form an aperture with a peripheral downturned flange at an angle of 80.degree. to 120.degree. to the plane of the can end and having a flat end. A one-piece ring pull closure is injection moulded on to the can end from a plastics material resistant to softening at up to at least 67.degree. C., without additional heating of the metal, so as to fill the aperture, bond with the coating, and enclose the flange, with a residual thickness below the flange of 0.08 to 0.5 mm. The thickness of the plastics material of the closuure is such that it can be sheared against the flange when the ring pull is pulled manually.

Abstract: A can end (1) made from metal for cans whose contents is under inside pressure is provided with at least one opening tab (4) partly punched from the end leaving a hinge area (6) and a relative aperture (2) formed by the partial punching, with the opening tab (4) and/or the area of the end surrounding the aperture (2) being cold formed so that the edge area (8) of aperture (2) covers the edge area (4a) of opening tab (4) on the end outside (1a). On the end inside (1b), plastisol (10) is applied in ring-form to the edge areas (4a, 8) of opening tab (4) and of aperture (2) and jellied under heating. Before its application and gelation respectively, the plastisol (10) has a viscosity .eta..sub.D4441s -1 (40.degree. C.) of about 2000-2800 mPa.s, and an edge angle .alpha. of about 0.4-1.0 N/mm.sup.2, and a maximum elongation of 120-250%.

Abstract: A process for producing an easily openable closure including the steps of producing a closure body by subjecting a shell formed from a metal blank to panel formation, score formation for defining a portion to be opened, bead formation while the shell is intermittently moved for producing a tab, placing a bonding surface of the closure body opposite to a bonding surface of the tab, and bonding the bonding surface of the tab to the bonding surface of the closure body with an adhesive while the closure body and the tab are continuously moved.

Abstract: A method is provided of temporary assembling by soldering of peel off plates through soldering material and a flexible junction element for a mechanical release device to release two parts temporarily fixed edgewise by peeling off the flexible element and the soldering material. There is provided on the plates and flexible junction element reserve areas without any adherence to the soldering material, and preferably at the limits of said reserved areas a recess for removing any excess of soldering material, and the melting solder material is put under load for distributing it between the plates and the flexible junction element. A so obtained assembly can be applied particularly to obtain automatic opening of containers in particular in space for spreading out solar panels.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing can ends having a push down vent tab and a push down main tab, with recessed score lines under a double folded ridge of metal, where part of the score lines are broken to facilitate opening the cans. The method of manufacture uses six stations to make the can ends. One station to bubble the surface of the can end. One station to reform the bubble into a side wall and a flat bottom having a raised vent button and a raised tab button. One station for scoring the vent score line and forming the bend ridge. One station for scoring the main score around the main tab. One station for folding the side walls. And one station for depressing the area around the folded side walls and for stenciling the top of the can end. The last step in the manufacture of the can end is to spray a sealant material on the bottom of the can end.

Abstract: A closure for closing the open end of a container having contents therein which dissociate a gas therefrom. The closure is adapted to provide an opening for access to the contents. The opening is adapted for a snap assembly with a plastic cap to effect a substantially gas-tight seal of the opening under high pressures to enable resealing of the container after dispensing a portion of the contents.

Abstract: An easy open can end having a retained tear strip extending diametrically partly across the can end defined by a score line, and a graspable pull tab adjacent and outside the open end of the score line. The pull tab is provided with a nose portion to initiate a tear along the score line upon lifting of the pull tab. The edges of the nose portion are curled into a cylindrical cross-sectional shape to provide a high beam strength and to rigidize the nose portion and to prevent failure by bending before the tear strip is opened. A method for manufacture of the pull tab includes forming at least one relief knotch in the peripheral edge of the pull tab blank at the nose end thereof, whereby to relieve compressive forces when the edge is curled, and curling the peripheral edge of the nose portion in successive steps to form an edge portion of continuous cylindrical cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: An easy open pull-tab container and related method comprises a generally planar end having a line of weakness defining a tear line so that a portion of the end is partially removable, the tear line lying in the plane of the end. A pull-tab is provided for severing the portion along the tear line, with first and second portions of the end wall on opposite sides of, and spaced from the line of weakness, extending underneath the area adjacent the line of weakness and to form blunt, protective shoulders at the line of weakness. The protective shoulders are formed via first and second concentric grooves in the end, the grooves extending below the level of the end to form inner and outer beads, the inner bead extending substantially below the outer bead. A central bead is formed in the end between the first and second concentric grooves, the central head extending above the level of the end.

Abstract: A method of providing a can end plate with a score and a tab for facilitating the opening of the can. The method comprises the steps of lining the can end plate with a layer of a thermoplastic resin at at least one side thereof, forming a score in the can end plate through the layer of thermoplastic resin and attaching a tab member to the can end plate, and heating and pressing the thermoplastic resin to melt, press and charge the thermoplastic resin into the score while sealing the juncture between the tab member and the can end plate by means of the thermoplastic resin, thereby to completely eliminate any leak or exudation of the content through the score and the juncture between the tab member and the can end plate.

Abstract: An improved method of making a collector ring enhances the cyclic engagement and disengagement of a spring clutch of the type having an annular spring compressed between a clutch cover and plurality of externally located release levers. The preferred method is applicable to a collector ring which defines a radially extending annular base member having an integral axially extending rim on its outer perimeter. The rim abuts and encircles the outer circumference of the annular spring, while the base member is positioned interjacent the spring and levers for transfering reaction loads therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a coupling clamp formed by shaping a sheet-metal blank or tube length and having an axially slotted hollow body (14) forming a socket for a shaft or other transmission member and having a lug (17) depending from either side of the slot (15), the lugs being pierced (18) for the passage of a bolt or the like by which the clamp can be tightened to bear radially onto a shaft, at least one of the lugs having at least one internal tab (13) extending at least part-way across the slot and shaped to bear radially onto a shaft on tightening the clamp.

Abstract: A seal and closure for a container end includes a metal foil seal having a cylindrical part sealed to the inner surface of the container adjacent the end, a transverse diaphragm part recessed inwardly from the end, and a tear tab on the diaphragm. An annular groove is formed in the cylindrical part between the container end and the diaphragm, the groove defining a tear line so that the membrane and the inward portion of the cylindrical part separate from the remainder thereof when the tear tab is pulled. An insertable lid covers the seal.

Abstract: The process of the present invention allows for the manufacture of lacquered aluminum or tin-plate rings which have the inner edge thereof bent over outwards so that they are suitable for the closures on cans for foodstuffs. A ring blank made of lacquered sheet is pre-shaped by deep drawing to form the curvature needed for bending over the inner cut edge. The final shaping of the pre-shaped blank into a ring for a can lid takes place, after stamping out the opening, by stretching and bending over the cut edge. When a tear-back membrane is sealed on to the bent-over edge, the ring is suitable as an easily opened closure for cans for foodstuffs.

Abstract: A non-silver scored metal end closure member, and an apparatus and method for forming the same, are disclosed, characterized by the provision of a continuous scoreline between the radius and central panel portions of the end. The scoreline includes, in cross-sectional profile, a horizontal flat bottom wall, and outwardly divergent outer and inner side walls. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the scoreline is contained in the upper horizontal surface of the metal end, the other side wall of the scoreline being concave and having a radius less than that of the radius portion of the metal end, the bottom wall being tangent to the outer side wall. The inner side wall comprises either a flat surface arranged at an obtuse angle of about 165.degree. relative to the bottom wall, or a concave surface tangent to the bottom wall. In another modification, the inner side wall is concave and tangent to the bottom wall, the radius of the inner side wall being at least as great as that of the outer side wall.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive proof-of-purchase label is transferably affixed to the undersurface of an opening lever of a self-opening can such that the label is inaccessible without actuating the lever to open the can. The label, after opening the can, is transferable to a storage surface for subsequent use or redemption. The label is applied in a continuous process to the lever arm after it is formed and prior to riveting the lever arm to a can end.

Abstract: The process for producing a container cover member by stamping a sheet of material stock to form a plurality of through bores, injection molding a closure member in each through bore and subjecting each through bore to a second stamping to form a handle in a portion of the closure member.