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.

An apparatus and methods of sealing a metallic container with a metallic end closure are disclosed. The apparatus includes a tool operable to releasably join the closure to the container. In one embodiment, the tool is configured to form a thread in the closure and the container. The tool may optionally crimp the closure to the container. Once sealed, the container can be opened by rotating the closure in an opening direction. The closure can subsequently re-close the container by rotating the closure in a closing direction.

Systems and methods of forming articles using electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. In some aspects, the system includes a plurality of forming modules movably mounted relative to an infeed mechanism. The infeed mechanism is configured to supply pre-form articles to the plurality of forming modules, and each of the plurality of forming modules includes a multi-segment mold disposed about an electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic coil is configured to impart an electromagnetic force on the pre-form articles when supplied with electrical energy that urges the pre-form articles into contact with the multi-segment mold to produce the formed containers. The multi-segment mold having a plurality of segments, each segment including a mold insert having an inner surface. The plurality of inner surfaces defining a desired shape of the formed containers. Each mold insert being comprised of a material that comprises at least one of small pores, grooves, pockets and crevices. The material comprising the at least one of small pores, grooves, pockets and crevices being configured to allow air to pass through the multi-segment mold or to allow the air to be less compressed.

A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.

The present invention relates generally to a container that may be sealed and reclosed with a threaded closure. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods of manufacturing a metallic container having an opening with inwardly facing threads. The threads are formed on the metallic container by pressing a neck portion of the metallic container against closure threads of a threaded closure which is inserted at least partially into the opening. The container threads may optionally be formed while the threaded closure is in tension. In this manner, after the container threads are formed, the closure threads can apply a force to the container threads such that the threaded closure is in tension. The container opening may be selectively sealed and reclosed with the threaded closure which releasably engages the container threads. Novel apparatus and methods of sealing metallic containers and forming threads on the metallic containers are also disclosed.

A trimmer device includes an inner mounting block having a first central aperture for receiving a turret shaft. The inner mounting block has an inner bore. The device includes an outer mounting block having a second central aperture for receiving the turret shaft. The outer mounting block has at least one outer bore. The device includes an inner trimmer spindle positioned through the inner bore. A first end of the inner trimmer spindle includes a pilot having an inner spindle blade. The device further includes an outer trimmer spindle positioned through the outer bore. The outer trimmer spindle includes an outer spindle blade positioned at a first end. At least one of the inner mounting block or the outer mounting block is rotatable about the turret shaft to adjust for a diameter of an article such that the article is positioned between the inner and outer spindle blades for trimming.

A bottle-shaped can includes a cap having an excellent sealing ability but easy to be opened. A top section includes a leading end section as an upper end of a neck portion, a diametrically-largest section formed beneath the leading end section, a diametrically-shrunk section extending downwardly from the diametrically-largest section, and an outer circumferential wall section extending downwardly from the diametrically-shrunk section. The leading end section, the diametrically-largest section, and diametrically-shrunk section form a smooth curved surface. A curvature of the diametrically-largest section in a cross-section is zero or negative value, given that a curvature of the diametrically-shrunk section is positive value. A flexion section is formed between the diametrically-shrunk section and the outer circumferential wall section. The outer diameter of the outer circumferential wall section in which the curvature is zero or negative value is larger than an outer diameter of the flexion section.

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.

A horizontal can necking machine assembly includes a plural of main turrets and a plural of transfer starwheels. Each main turret includes a main turret shaft, a main gear mounted on the main turret shaft, a pusher assembly, and a die capable of necking a can body upon actuation of the turret shaft. Each transfer starwheel includes a transfer shaft and a transfer gear mounted on the transfer shaft. The main gears are engaged with the transfer gears such that lines through the main gear center and the centers of opposing transfer gears form an included angle of less than 170 degrees, thereby increasing the angular range available for necking the can body. The main turrets and transfer starwheels may operate to neck and move at least 2800 cans per minute, and each pusher assembly may have a stroke length relative to the die that is at least 1.5 inches.