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.

A can seaming apparatus comprising a frame, a can handling assembly and a can seaming assembly. The frame has a bottom end and a top end, an upper mounting plate and a lower mounting member. The can handling assembly has an upper chuck and a lower chuck, the upper and lower chucks configured to releasably retain a can and top therebetween. The can seaming assembly includes a roller frame with a first and second roller, wherein the first and second rollers are directable into contact with the can and top while being retained by the upper and lower chucks. The upper chuck is fixed to an axle that extends through the upper mounting plate, and is rotatably coupled to the upper mounting plate. The axle extends beyond the upper mounting plate and structurally configured to be free from obstruction sufficient to allow a for the operable attachment of a chuck of a power tool. A combination can seaming apparatus and power tool is likewise disclosed, as are methods of operation.

The disclosure describes embodiments of an apparatus including a first gas chromatograph including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a first temperature control. A controller is coupled to the first temperature control and includes logic to apply a first temperature profile to the first temperature control to heat, cool, or both heat and cool the first gas chromatograph. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

A can seaming apparatus and methods of forming a seam on a can and lid assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more seaming arms pivotably attached to a shaft, a seam roller attached to one end of each seaming arm and a cam system. The cam system includes one or more cams associated with the end of each seaming arm opposite the seam roller. Force is transferred to each seaming arm through rotation of the one or more cams. The seaming arm then pivots and moves the associated roller into a seaming area of a can and lid assembly to create a seam.

A can seaming apparatus including a frame, a can handling assembly, a can driving assembly and a seaming assembly. The can seaming apparatus is configured to seal a lid to a can through a double seam can seal. The can is positioned and clamped between an upper and a lower chuck. The can driving assembly spins the can and the upper and lower chucks about an axis. The seaming assembly includes two rollers mounted to a roller frame which pivots about an axis relative to the frame. The roller frame can be pivoted so as to selectively have the two rollers sequentially engage the can to form the necessary crimping operations.

A sealer for sealing a container includes a working space, the container capable of being sealed with a lid from a plurality of lids in the working space, a housing surrounding the working space, and a lid supply configured to supply the plurality of the lids in a lid stack to the working space. The lid supply includes a first section which is arranged in the working space in such a way that the first section is surrounded by the housing, and a second section arranged outside the housing, and the lid supply comprising a seal arranged between the first section and the second section in such a way that the first section is capable of being sealed off from the second section.

A can closing machine (10) is operative to close standard gauge aluminum cans as well as lighter, weight reduced cans which have a lower column strength. Exemplary arrangements include a can closing machine that includes a turret (12) with a plurality of angularly spaced can closing stations (16). Each can closing station includes a lower chuck (44, 172) and an upper chuck (54). Can seaming rolls are operative to produce a continuous double seam (70) that join a can body (50) and a can lid (56) in sealed fluid tight relation. The machine is operative to precisely control the vertical velocity, position and momentum of the lower chuck and the can components supported thereon when engaging the upper chuck to reduce the risk of damage to can bodies and producing defective seams.

Container processing equipment, particularly for processing of food/beverage cans requires filling and sealing. A can seaming system may include interchangeable seaming chucks. A seaming system may be calibrated by sensing a relative position between a seaming spindle and a seaming roller. Conveyor systems may move container axes along a conveyor path irrespective of container size. Conveyors may include container bearers that are mounted for rotational motion allowing containers to enter and/or exit the conveyor. In beverage packaging, inert gas and beverage may be introduced into a container through a single fill conduit. A fill system may include a moving fill conduit arranged to deliver beverage to a lower region of the container. A closure system may include bulk and intermediate closure holders, for feeding closures to a closure head.

A can seamer comprising a frame, a lower chuck, an upper chuck, a first and second seam forming assembly, a seam drive assembly and a motor. The upper chuck having an axle. The seam forming assemblies including a first roller. The seam drive assembly includes a cam, a first roller follower and a second roller follower. A cam transmission assembly includes a drive gear rotatably coupled to the axle, an idler assembly and a cam gear coupled to the cam. The idler assembly includes an idler axle that is spaced apart from the axle. A first idler gear engages the drive gear, and a second idler gear with the first and second idler gears being rotatably coupled to the idler axle. The cam gear engages the second idler gear. The motor has an output shaft rotatably coupled to the axle.