Abstract: A cam follower assembly for a can bodymaker includes a slider structured to be coupled to the proximal end of a ram body of the can bodymaker; and a plurality of cam follower members rotatably coupled to the slider. The cam follower members are structured to be operatively coupled to a cam of a ram drive assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automated system for measuring seam parameters of a crimped closure can and for determining seam tightness using the measured parameters. The system includes an image recording device with a magnifying lens which receives an image of a cross-sectioned seam. The automated system detects voids in the seam and compares the characteristics of those voids against predetermined standards to identify improperly formed seams and alert an operator.

Abstract: A fixture for holding a pivotally closable cap with a base connected to a cover by a foldable hinge during a closure operation. The fixture includes a U-shaped slide member having a back wall and a pair of side walls extending therefrom for accommodating the cap with the base and cover in an open condition. The side walls have distal extents, which extend beyond a transverse mid-line of the cover and prevent angular movement of the cover within the slide member.

Abstract: A can for packaging food, comprising a metal can body and a diaphragm lid (16) formed of lidding material which comprises a multilayer structure with at least an aluminum layer of from 6 to 90 microns thickness and a bond layer for fixing the lid (16) directly to the can body. One method for forming the can forms the lidding material by using an outwardly extending curl (20) at one end of the metal can body as the draw die. Lidding material which is carried by the body maker punch is drawn around the curl of the can body draw die so as to form the lidding material into a cup shape.

Abstract: A tab is provided for a can end. The can end includes an end panel and a scoreline defining a tear panel in the end panel for providing an opening in the can end. The tab includes a body having first and second opposing ends, a nose portion located at or about the first end, a lift portion located at or about the second end, and a rivet receiving portion disposed proximate the nose portion. The rivet receiving portion includes a rivet hole. A first rivet extends outwardly from the end panel and fastens the rivet receiving portion of the tab to the can end. A second rivet extends outwardly from the end panel to cooperate with a portion of the body proximate the lift portion.

Abstract: this invention relates to a closure for sealing an opening of a container. In particular, the present invention relates to a closure (10) for sealing a mouth of a container, such as a bottle. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure for sealing an opening defined by a mouth of a container, the closure comprising a body (12) adapted to overlie the mouth; and a discontinuous skirt (14) extending from the body, wherein the skirt is deformable between an open position and a closed position. The present invention also provides methods for applying the closure to a container.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container by placing body and lid portions together, keeping parts of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and vibrating the lid with respect to the body, thereby generating frictional heat to form a friction metallic weld therebetween. Apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of the metallic container includes a body supporting base, an assembly to support a flange of the body, a sonotrode to contact a flange of the lid so that wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonotrode. A motor vibrates the sonotrode relative to the support assembly to thereby move the flanges relative to one another generating sufficient frictional heat to create a friction metallic weld therebetween.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an inward edge flange with an inserted sealing ring is arranged in the form of a valve seat at the free end of a constricted can neck on a can body. The inward edge flange holds the sealing ring without completely surrounding it, and the sealing ring is therefore accessible from the interior of the can lateral surface. After the crimping of a valve part, an inner stop is formed between the sealing ring and the connecting shell flange. Since the sealing ring is elastic, the connecting shell flange bears against the sealing ring without gaps along the entire circumference. The sealing ring also bears tightly against an inner contact surface of the inward edge flange of the can body.

Abstract: A method of forming a metallic container includes the steps of providing body and lid portions, placing the body and lid portions together, keeping portions of the body and lid portions in contact with one another, and reciprocally rotating the lid portion with respect to the body portion, thereby generating frictional heat and forming a friction weld therebetween. An apparatus for attaching the lid and body portions of a metallic container includes a base to support the body, a support assembly to support a flange of the body, and a sonitrode for contacting a flange of the lid, wherein the flanges of the lid and body are held together between the support assembly and the sonitrode. A motor reciprocally rotates the sonitrode relative to the support assembly, thereby moving the flanges relative one another to generate frictional heat and create a friction weld therebetween.

Abstract: A method of making an easy open end for a container includes steps of providing a can end blank having an end panel and forming the can end blank in a series of forming operations that are performed with specialized and unique tooling. The can end is preferably shaped during the forming operations so that a major portion of the end panel is curved. Specifically, the curvature is preferably such that a top surface of the major portion is generally concave and a bottom surface of the major portion is generally convex. The end panel is also preferably shaped and constructed so that the curved major portion will invert in shape upon the application of a sufficient predetermined pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces. A method of testing a fill level of a sealed container is performed in reliance on this “cricketing” or “oil canning” effect.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to produce can bodies (24?) comprising a can shell (24) and a closing element (31b, 32, 31a) that is fixed to one face of the can shell (24). Said aim is achieved by producing a tube (11) from a metal strip (1), optionally from directly adjacent sections (112), by means of a shaping step, at least one optional cutting step, and a continuous welding step, sections of said tube (11) being used as closed convex surfaces for cans. The sections are shaped by a shell-shaping device in such a way that can shells (24) are provided into which a closing element (31b, 32, 31a), especially a can bottom (31b), can be inserted. The longitudinal seam (11a, 124) can be produced inexpensively and at great precision essentially as a continuous seam in the welding step by means of simple installations.

Abstract: A metallic container end closure is provided which includes a channel or groove in a predetermined location in at least one of an inner panel wall, outer panel wall, or chuckwall, and which is formed by a shaping tool. An apparatus and method for spin-forming the end closure with the improved geometry is also provided herein.

Abstract: Seaming apparatus and method for seaming ends to cans are described. The seaming apparatus includes a seaming chuck received by the can end. The chuck includes an anvil portion and a peripheral upper anvil wall. The upper anvil wall is inclined at an angle ? of greater than or equal to 6 degrees. The seaming apparatus also includes a seaming roll having a seaming surface for engaging the peripheral curl of the can end in a seaming operation to compress the peripheral curl against the peripheral flange and the peripheral upper anvil wall of the seaming chuck. The seaming surface of the seaming roll is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis by an angle ?. The value of ? is selected to be greater than about 4 degrees, and more preferably from between about 8 and about 14 degrees. Additionally, the value of ? bears a close approximate relationship to the value of ?, and in particular the value of angle ?=?±up to about 4 degrees.

Abstract: A driving cam for seaming a container includes a cam base, an annulus, a bar, and first and second load cells. The annulus is defined by an internal profile and an external profile and is formed with an active sector. The active sector has a first end and a second end and is defined by the internal profile and the external profile. The external profile for defining the active sector is formed with an ascending ramp at the first end and a descending ramp at the second end with a plateau located between the ascending ramp and the descending ramp. The internal profile for defining the active sector is formed with a first recess at the first end and a second recess at the second end with a flat inner face located between the first recess and the second recess. The bar is connected to the cam base and is located within the annulus below the active sector. The load cells are connected between the bar and the flat inner face adjacent to the recesses.

Abstract: A die and method of assembling a high torque capacity metal spool. The spool comprises a cylindrical barrel, a pair of flanges and a pair of flange hubs. The die includes a support member and a curling member that is adapted to move relative to the support housing. The die is adapted to be driven towards a matching die to press a spool therebetween. Each curling member includes an annular curling face which is adapted to curl and compress metal edges of the cylindrical barrel, the flanges and the flange hubs into tightened curls. The tightened curls secure the cylindrical barrel with the flanges and flange hubs. Each die further includes a plurality of nibs carried by the support housings which project outward from the curling face of the curling member after the tightened curls have been formed to swage a plurality of detents into the tightened curls of the spool. The resulting detents in the metal spool provide for increased torque transfer between the flanges, the flange hubs and the cylindrical barrel.

Abstract: Drums or vessels with bungs or orifices having generally cylindrical walls with edges capable of being sealed-against are sealed with closures that deform into contact with those edges and provide seals that are tamper-proof.

Abstract: In can production, a press apparatus is provided for tightly connecting a first contact surface of the can wall running around an axis to a second contact surface of a base, a lid or a closure membrane. If the press parts (16) are arranged essentially fixed in the axial direction or are held in a radial guide and can be moved radially by an actuating element (8) displaceable in the axial direction, the can need not also be moved during pressing. The contact regions of the can wall and of the separation element are guided in the region with the press surfaces. The end face of the can rests against a stop which is connected to the radial guide for the press parts and is immobile at least during the pressing process. Owing to the conical abutting region (18) between the actuating element (8) and the press parts (16), these can be pressed outward by means of an axial movement of the actuating element (8).

Abstract: A vessel with a metal skin particularly well suited for cosmetic use is provided. The metal skin covers the shoulder region from the base of the neck over the side wall and extends inwardly over a substantially planar metal plate adhered to the bottom of the container. The metal skin is formed into a cup shape and the jar is dropped in up-side down and crimped over the metal plate on the bottom. Pre-forming the shoulder region of the metal skin avoids unsightly stress marks in the upper exposed portion of the container.

Abstract: Machine for closing drums within a pool, wherein it comprises a telescopic pole having at its lower end a gripping head, handling means for moving the latter between a bottom position in the pool and a top position above the pool, transfer means for transferring a cover beneath the gripping head when the latter is in the top position, and control means for putting into action the means for attaching the cover to the drum, the handling means, transfer means and control means being positioned above the pool and the gripping head carrying the connection means for the control means and attachment means.The invention also relates to a drum cover to be fitted with the aid of such a machine.

Abstract: This relates to a double seam tightness monitor wherein the second operation track of a cam of a double seaming apparatus or can closing machine is modified so as to permit the high dwell portion of the lobe thereof to deflect under loading from the associated cam follower which forces the second operation roll against the double seam component. Suitable strain gauges are associated with the deformable cam track portion and these are coupled in a bridge having a voltage output which is directed to a microprocessor. The microprocessor is provided with selected inputs which in combination with the voltage input from the bridge may be utilized to provide various signals including a high force condition signal, a pass condition signal, and a low force condition signal. There may also be associated with the microprocessor a printer for identifying the station where an abnormal condition exists, the specific force of the abnormal condition, the machine number, the time and the date.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for dividing a single stick of can ends into a pair of can end sticks. The apparatus includes a pair of driven groved roll wheels between which the can ends are separated and fed in a pair of intermeshed star wheels for receiving the can ends and separating them into two separate can end sources.

Abstract: A heatable sealing head comprises a resiliently yielding pressure element and has at least one cup spring. The pressure element serves to transmit pressure and heat to a closure lid insertable between the sealing head and the rim of a container, this lid to be deformed about portions of the container rim. In the relaxed normal position, the sealing head includes a conical contact surface for the closure lid. The contact surface can be resiliently bent back against the pressure of the rim of the container mouth. The metallic closure lid is provided with thermoplastic material on the side facing the container rim. For the purpose of improving the fixing of the closure lid to the container rim, the contact surface of the pressure element projects increasingly radially inward starting from the sealing head.