Tuan Huy Nguyen
Electrician at Harmony Park Dr, Westminster, CO

4333246, Jun 8, 1982

Oct 10, 1980

6/195974

Richard W. Sullivan - Denver CO
Tuan A. Nguyen - Broomfield CO

Ball Corporation - Muncie IN

F26B 304, F26B 2502

34 23

The present invention discloses a way of separating and treating the covered surfaces of stacked articles in abutting face-to-face contact. It is particularly applicable to stacked planar articles, those having a relatively small width dimension and at least two substantially parallel surfaces in abutting contact, such as metal beverage container closures. The articles are pushed through a curvilinear path defined by a constant width trackwork of a herein specified design, allowed to pivot on the portions of the articles in proximity to the shorter radius whereby fan-like separation of the portions in proximity to the longer radius occurs, and treating medium, such as heated air, is directed toward the separated portions. Greater uniformity in treatment may be obtained by rotating the articles, at least once, as they traverse the curvilinear path. A preferred embodiment designed to dry the sealant on metal beverage container closures is disclosed herein.

4434641, Mar 6, 1984

Mar 11, 1982

6/357032

Tuan A. Nguyen - Broomfield CO

Ball Corporation - Muncie IN

B26D 2200

72354

The present invention relates to improvements in the strength of ends used on metal beverage containers. Such ends generally comprise a central panel portion of a substantially planer character, a surrounding U-shaped sidewall having inner and outer legs, a curved intermediate portion integrally joining the inner leg to the U-shaped sidewall, and a peripheral curl extending from the outer leg for double seaming the end onto a can body. In accordance with the present invention, the intermediate portion and adjacent central panel portion are firmly supported by a die while a clamping force is placed on an annular band of the upper surface of the end at the intermediate portion. The clamping force is increased until metal flows inwardly and outwardly from the contact point resulting in a free compression doming of the center panel and an outward deflection of the inner leg. An end of increased buckle resistance is thereby produced which end is approximately within standard dimensions such that customers can use the end on existing seaming equipment without alteration. An optional feature is provided to minimize the compression doming by clamping a peripheral band of the end with a hold-down pad while the metal flowing is accomplished.

4577774, Mar 25, 1986

Mar 12, 1985

6/711001

Tuan A. Nguyen - Broomfield CO

Ball Corporation - Muncie IN

B65D 808, B65D 1700

220 66

The present invention relates to improvements in the strength of ends used on metal beverage containers. Such ends generally comprise a central panel portion of a substantially planer character, a surrounding U-shaped sidewall having inner and outer legs, a curved intermediate portion integrally joining the inner leg to the U-shaped sidewall, and a peripheral curl extending from the outer leg for double seaming the end onto a can body. In accordance with the present invention, the intermediate portion and adjacent central panel portion are firmly supported by a die while a clamping force is placed on an annular band of the upper surface of the end at the intermediate portion. The clamping force is increased until metal flows inwardly and outwardly from the contact point resulting in a free compression doming of the center panel and an outward deflection of the inner leg. An end of increased buckle resistance is thereby produced which end is approximately within standard dimensions such that customers can use the end on existing seaming equipment without alteration.

4796772, Jan 10, 1989

Apr 14, 1988

7/183498

Tuan A. Nguyen - Thornton CO

Ball Corporation - Muncie IN

B65D 808

220 66

A metal closure for beverage containers of the type having a center panel, a center-panel ring, an inner leg, and a pull-tab opener, includes circumferential variegations for increasing the buckling pressure of the container. The circumferential variegations are cold-worked or coined into the center-panel ring and/or into portions of the closure that are adjacent to the center-panel ring. The circumferential variegations include coined surfaces with variegated lengths, variegated coin angles, variegated coin residuals, variegated spaces between coined surfaces, or variegated widths of the center panel. The circumferential variegations achieve non-axisymmetric doming of the metal closure and increase the buckling pressure of the closure by obviating excess metal in the center panel that typically results from scorning the center panel for the easy open end.

RE33217, May 15, 1990

Aug 19, 1988

7/235787

Tuan A. Nguyen - Thornton CO

Ball Corporation - Muncie IN

B21D 5144, B65D 808, B65D 1700

220 66

The present invention relates to improvements in the strength of ends used on metal beverage containers. Such ends generally comprise a central panel portion of a substantially planer character, a surrounding U-shaped sidewall having inner and outer legs, a curved intermediate portion integrally joining the inner leg to the U-shaped sidewall, and a peripheral curl extending from the outer leg for double seaming the end onto a can body. In accordance with the present invention, the intermediate portion and adjacent central panel portion are firmly supported by a die while a clamping force is placed on an annular band of the upper surface of the end at the intermediate portion. The clamping force is increased until metal flows inwardly and outwardly from the contact point resulting in a free compression doming of the center panel and an outward deflection of the inner leg. An end of increased buckle resistance is thereby produced which end is approximately within standard dimensions such that customers can use the end on existing seaming equipment without alteration.