A lid ring (7) for sterilizable containers (1) is proposed which is formed from a metal ring (40) coated on both sides with at least one plastic layer (37, 43), a radially outer cut edge and a radially inner flange (31). The radially inner flange (31) is folded back on itself at least once.

A method and apparatus for forming a can end in a forming press including positioning a sheet of material between an upper punch assembly and a fixed base assembly; cutting a can end blank from the sheet of material; clamping a peripheral portion of the can end blank; moving the upper punch assembly to clamp a central portion of the can end blank between an upper panel punch and a lower panel punch to define a central panel section positioned below an annular inner bead die located adjacent to the lower panel punch on the fixed base assembly; and extending the upper punch assembly to form an initial annular countersink radius next to the peripheral portion of the can end blank, with a substantially undeformed intermediate area extending between the initial annular countersink radius and the annular inner bead die.

A method of manufacturing a can lid composed of a composite material comprising at least one sheet metal part, in particular an aluminum part or a tin plate part, and at least one plastic part, in particular composed of polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate, wherein the plastic material and the sheet metal part are joined together by pressing together and by inductive heating to effect a stable connection with an effort and a manufacturing time that are as small as possible.

An alignment assembly for a press assembly is provided. The alignment assembly includes a number of alignment elements. The alignment elements include a number of moving alignment elements. The moving alignment elements are coupled to an upper tooling assembly that moves between a first and second position. As the upper tooling assembly moves, the moving alignment elements move between a first position and a second position corresponding to the upper tooling assembly first position and a second position. The moving alignment elements are structured to move the shell from the initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position. Thus, as the upper tooling assembly moves from the first position to the second position, the moving alignment elements contact a shell and move the shell from an initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position.

An alignment assembly for a press assembly is provided. The alignment assembly includes a number of alignment elements. The alignment elements include a number of moving alignment elements. The moving alignment elements are coupled to an upper tooling assembly that moves between a first and second position. As the upper tooling assembly moves, the moving alignment elements move between a first position and a second position corresponding to the upper tooling assembly first position and a second position. The moving alignment elements are structured to move the shell from the initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position. Thus, as the upper tooling assembly moves from the first position to the second position, the moving alignment elements contact a shell and move the shell from an initial alignment position to an intermediate alignment position.

A can end including a center panel, an annular portion disposed about the center panel, a standard chuck wall disposed about the annular portion, and a curl extending radially outwardly from the standard chuck wall. The annular portion includes an enhanced annular countersink.

A can end including a center panel, an annular portion disposed about the center panel, a standard chuck wall disposed about the annular portion, and a curl extending radially outwardly from the standard chuck wall. The annular portion includes an enhanced annular countersink.

A can end includes a center panel, an annular portion disposed about the center panel, a chuck wall disposed about the annular portion, a curl extending radially outwardly from the chuck wall, the annular portion including an annular ridge and an annular countersink, the annular countersink disposed adjacent and about the annular ridge. The annular countersink and the annular ridge are structured to resist deformation from external or reverse pressure.

A method of forming a closure member comprises the steps of providing a support member with an outer support surface, providing a member comprising a first member made of electrically conductive material, the first member comprising a first tubular sleeve extending along a longitudinal direction between a first top end and a first bottom end, positioning the member on the support member, applying a magnetic field on the member to deform at least a portion of the first tubular sleeve around the support member to form a closure member, removing the formed closure member from the support member for subsequently fitting the formed closure member on a neck of a container or a closure body.

A method of forming a closure member comprises the steps of providing a support member with an outer support surface, providing a member comprising a first member made of electrically conductive material, the first member comprising a first tubular sleeve extending along a longitudinal direction between a first top end and a first bottom end, positioning the member on the support member, applying a magnetic field on the member to deform at least a portion of the first tubular sleeve around the support member to form a closure member, removing the formed closure member from the support member for subsequently fitting the formed closure member on a neck of a container or a closure body.