US2758766A - Apparatus for removing air from the head spaces of filled cans - Google Patents

Description

J. M. BOYD ET AL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AIR FROM THE HEAD SPACES OF' FILLED CANS Aug. 14, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17,. 1953 4.17.; www 00 La m .W

BY w ml MJfiorneys Aug. 14, 1956 J. M. BOYD ET AL 2,758,766

APPARATUS EoR REMOVING AIR FROM THE HEAD sPAcEs oF FILLED CANE Filed March 17, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4] l jing. Z,

IN V EN T ORS Jfm M 30g@ A BOYD T AL 2,758,766

J. M. APPARATUS FOR REMOVI AIR FROM THE HEAD SPACES OF' FILLED CANS Filed March 17, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 figg. 4Z 59.6 5 a y 57 I Aug. 14, 1956 l v Z0 lhwentors (ttornegs United States Patent O APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AIR FROM THE HEAD SPACES OF FILLED CANS John M. Boyd, Chicago, Ill., and Frank W. Parrin, Whittier, Calif., assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 17, 1953, Serial No. 342,852

`12 Claims. ('Cl. 226-68) The invention relates generally to the art of canning and to apparatus wherein filled cans are closed and sealed, and it primarily seeks to provide a novel means for displacing air from the head spaces in filled cans just prior to the closing thereof and by directing a gaseous medium such as an inert gas into said head spaces in a manner for displacing the air and replacing the same with the inert gas.

It is well known in the canning industry that when air is sealed in cans containing certain beverages and food products, said air has a bad effect on the products during the shelf life of the sealed cans, and it is therefore desirable to remove the air from the container head spaces prior to the sealing of the containers. This is not an entirely new procedure. Attempts have been made to attain the stated end by various means, as by the drawing of a vacuum or by force jetting, and even by introduction of a gaseous medium such as an inert gas or steam. However, only partial success has been achieved in prior known practices. Some attempts have proven unacceptable because of failure to accomplish the desired results at a commercially practical rate of speed. Attempts to speed up the air displacement have revealed faults in the gaseous medium directing devices resulting in incomplete air displacement, objectionable turbulence in the product and wastage of the gaseous medium, and the development of aspirating effects serving to draw air into the head spaces from which it is sought to displace the same. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of functioning in a manner which will eliminate the difficulties referred to.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated wherein the gaseous medium is directed into and over the filled can head space throughout substantially the whole width thereof in an evenly dispersed ribbon form and at relatively low velocity, thereby to substantially completely displace the air and replace the same with the gaseous medium without bringing about any objectionable turbulence in the fill, and without drawing in of air as by an aspirating action.

Another object of the invention .is to provide an apparatus of the character stated in which the even dispersion of the gaseous medium is accomplished by directing the same toward the filled container head space through a screen mesh.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character Stated wherein the gaseous medium is directed toward the filled container head space through a single open slot covered by a screen mesh and extending in concentric relation closely :adjacent the open 2,758,766 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 top of the can and about approximately one third of the circumference thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated wherein the filled cans are moved along in the peripheral pockets of a rotary turret as they are having the air displaced therefrom, a can end or closure being centered over and spaced a short distance above each open can top, the gaseous medium being directed toward each filled container head space through an individual open slot carried by the turret and covered by a screen mesh and extending about approximately one third of the circumference of ia can in the particular pocket at the level of the space between the open top of said can and the overlying closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus of the character stated wherein the gaseous medium directing screened slot associated with each turret pocket is placed to present the screen mesh uprightly with a portion thereof extending above the outwardly directed flange of a filled can moving along in said pocket, and another portion thereof extending below said flange so that a part of the emitted uniformly dispersed ribbon of gaseous medium will pass over the open top of the can and beneath the overlying closure, and the remainder will contact and pass downwardly against the can body wall in =a manner assuring against any aspirating effect likely to draw air into the open top of the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated wherein the filled can circumference conforming, screened gaseous medium delivering slot opens outwardly from an arcuate slot which receives the gaseous medium from ia plurality of equidistantly spaced, uprightly disposed orifices delivering from another chamber which is arranged arcuately and substantially concentric to the screened slot outlet.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus of the character stated wherein each screened gaseous medium delivering slot, the associated arcuate chamber and the communicating orifices are formed in a unitary, individually mountable and removable nozzle structure.

With thev above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the laccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view and part horizontal section illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 2 2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating one acceptable means for driving the associated turret shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an anlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section looking into one turret pocket opposite the screened outlet through which the gaseous medium is directed into the pocket against and over the open mouth or top of a can, a can end or closure being shown as moving into place over the pocket, the latter being shown as devoid of a can for clarity of illustration.

Figure 5 is a detail plan View .illustrating one ofthe gaseous medium outlet plates, a portion of the cover section thereof being broken away to 4show the. scre en coveredy outlet and the gaseous. medium chamber therebeneath to better advantage.

Figure 6 is a central vertical cross section taken through the plate of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a left end elevation of the plate shown in Figure 5.

In the somewhat diagrammatic illustration in Figure 1, there is shown one practical adaptation of the invention as a means for directing a gaseous medium against and over the open tops of filled cans for displacing air from the) head'y spaces therein as the filled' cans and' can end or closure complements are being rapidly fed to the closing machine, provisionr being made for holding the closures in horizontalposition inst above and centered over the open topsV of the cans, and' for directing the gaseous medium in the formY of a uniformly dispersed, non-agitating ribbon wholly across said open can tops and in contact beneath thel loverly-ing closures until the initiai assembly of each can andY closure complementI is completed, and immediately in advance of; the commencement of the double seam sealing of the cans.

While reference is made herein to displacement of the filledI can head space air by proper direction and dispersion of an inert gas such as CO2, it is' to be understood thaty the disclosed apparatus may be used in like manner for directing other inert gas, or steam into the cans for the stated purpose. When an. inert gas is to bel usedas` the air displacing medium it is preferred that the apparatus beequipped with some satisfactory form of'no-cankno-gas valve means in order to avoid unnecessary use of the gas, despite the economies in use of such gas madepossible by employment of: the particular form or' apparatus hereindisclosed.

Inthei-llustration'in Figure l, a lled can feeding means is shown and generally designated A, the can endsl are fed one-by-one from any suitable can end feeding means (not shown) located at the can endl feeding stationV B, a marker of any approved form (not shown) may be employed at the marking station C for marking the can ends prior to assembly with the cans, the cans withthe closures thereover are rapidly conveyed' by the canand closure transferring turret generally designated D, the inert gas flow control!l valve means isgene-rall-ydesign-ated E, and the closing and' discharging turrets of' a six-spindle closing machine are diagrammaticall-'y indicated, the closing turret being generally designated F4 and the closed cany discharging turret being generally designated G.

While any suitablemeans may be providedV for driving the cooperating parts in suitably timed relation, an ac'- cept-able drive arrangement is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3 wherein the main drive gear is indicated at- 5. I`tisv to be understood thatl rotation may be imparteci' to the shaft on which the gearV 5? is ailxed in any approved' man-ner (not shown). The drive gear 5 may serve to= drive an idler gear 6 which is rotatable with an idler gear '7' disposed to mesh with and impartv rotation to a gear 8 which may be connected in drive relation.l with the driver shaft (not shown): through.- which rotation is imparted to the cover feed devices at station B. The driver gear also imparts rotation to the cl'osing turret and drive gear 9' mounted' to:` rotate. with the: driver gear 10 which meshes with and drivesv the: transfer'tu-rret driver* gear 11 and?` also` the discharge turret drivergear lf2. The-markerreferred to generally herein is not absolutely essential and therefore a means for driving the same: is not shown and may take any acceptableform. The transfer-turret D includes a central hub 1 3`L whereon the turret platey 114 is secured. This turret has a plural-ity of peripheral pockets or half moldsx 1-5, six being shown, and' these are disposed to receive the filled cans asl they are fed along by the can feeding means generally desig-y nated A. See Figure 1. The turret D is equipped with a topface shelf or recess 16 at'they position of eachpocket whereon a gassing block or' nozzleV 1 '75 is removably secured, as by cap` screws 18.

It will be observedy that each of. the gassing blocks, or nozzles generally designated 17 includes an arcuate face 19 which bears concentric relation to the associated turret pocket and is stepped back from the pocket wall so as to provide a can flange clearance in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2. Each block or plate 17 also is equipped with an arcuate slot 20 which opens through the bottom face thereof in position for bearing concentric relation to the associated turret pocket wall and communicating with the outer leg 21 of a radial fluid duct 22 formed in the turret plate 14. The turret plate is provided with six cquidistantly spaced ducts 22, one for serving each gassing block' or nozzle 1'7, and each said duct includes an inner vertical leg 23 which opens, through the top surface of the turret plate. All of the vertical legs 23 or inner duct terminals are arranged in a circler for a purpose that Will become apparent as this description. progresses.

It will be yobserved by reference to Figures 4 through 7 that the arcuate slot 20 im the-under surface of each` block 17 is sort of L-shaped in vertical cross section and placed to present an inner deep chamber portion 24, which directly overlies the gassing duct outlets 21, and an outer shallow chamber portion 25. Each block also has an arcuaterecessy 26- in its top surface and extending through its turret pocket aligning outer wall in such position as toj provide a shelf or intermediate horizontal wall 27 overlying the shallow chamber portion of the arcuate slot 20. Each shelf 27 defines the bottom of an arcuate gas delivery or outlet chamber 28' which communicates with the underlying shallow chamber portion 25 through a plurality of equidistantly spaced orifices 29 extending upwardly through the shelf 27, and each chamber 28,

though openingoutwardly into the associated turret' pocket through approximately one third of a can circumference, is. closed' at the top by a can endv supporting closure plate 30' which seats in a shoulder recess 31 formed in the block and is removably secured on the block, asY by screw means 32'. The turret pocket opposing outer faces of each block 17 and its outlet chamber closure plate 30 are arcuately recessed to receive a gas. directing and dispersing screen 33 which serves to very uniformly disperse the gas as it is deliveredv through the chamber 28 into the turret* pocket, as will be apparent by reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5.

At theposition of each turret pocket 1'5, the turret pIate 14 is' equipped with two lugs, a high lug 34' at the trailing side of the pocket, and a low lug 35 at the advance side, of the pocket. The lugs of each set are cooperatively spaced in the manner illustrated in Figures l and 4 of the drawings so as to accurately center a can end or closure 36 between them in the direction in which the closure is being conveyed by the transfer turret D'. Other means for guiding and holding the closures 316 in a manner for accurately placing them over the open topped filled cans will be described hereinafter.

By reference to Figures l and 2 it will be apparent that the turret plate 14' is centrally recessed to receive thevvalve core 37"which is equipped with six. equidistantly spaced, uprightly disposedv duct bores 38' registering with the before mentioned inner vertical legs 23' of the radial gassing ducts 22'. At their upper ends the bores 38 open radially outwardly through the periphery of the valve core 37. A bushing sleeve 39l surrounds the core 37 within a stationary housing 40" and'is closed at its upper end by a spring pressed plate 41, the housing being secured in any approved manner to the stationary turret guard plate 42 The` sleeve- 39l is provided with an arcuate gas slot 43 which extends one hundred twenty degrees about theI valve core 37:'. This arcuate slot communicates with a gas: supply` pipe 4`4- and it will bel apparent that duringI rotation* of' the turret structure gas will.' bey delivered from tion during which the e'spective ducts 23 communicate with the stationary arcuate gas slot 43.

In passing to the pockets l5 of the transfer turret D the filled cans 45 with their conventional outwardly turned upper end iianges 46 are fed over a support or feedway 47 by a chain conveyor 48, being guided by an outside rail 49. The rail 49 may include a curved end section bearing concentric relation to the turret and cooperating with a fixed rail section 50 in outwardly conlining the travel of the cans until they are delivered onto the pads of the closing machine and into position for being cooperatively engaged by the pockets of the closing machine in the well known manner. See Figures 1 and 2.

As each cover or can end closure 36 is dropped by the diagrammatically illustrated screws 51 of the closure feed means at station B it falls upon inner and outer support tracks 52 and 53, to be conveyed thereover by the oncoming high turret lug 34 in proper alignment over the particular turret. pocket 15.

The undersurface of the turret guard plate has secured thereto an inner cover guide rail 54 which is stepped to present an inner cover guiding and conning surface 55 which is concentric to the center of the transfer turret. The stepping of the rail also provides a raised ceiling wall 56 which is shaped in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 4 to provide a high level portion 57, a low level portion 58 and a connecting downwardly inclined portion 59. A plate section 60 secured beneath the guide rail 54 projects outwardly beyond said rail to provide a cover supporting ledge or shelf shaped to provide a high level portion 61 on the same plane with the inner track 52, and a downwardly inclined portion 62 the discharge end of which drops the covers fed successively thereover onto the underlying and aligned turret pocket gassing nozzle closure plate 30, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. An outer guide rail 63 is secured beneath the turret guard plate 42 and is stepped to provide an outer cover guide conning surface 64 which is concentric to lthe turret axis and cooperates with the previously mentioned rail surface 55 and the pocket lugs 34 and 35 in accurately centering the can closures or covers 36 in the manner previously described. lt is to be understood that the outer guide rail 63 is shaped like the inner rail 54 to provide high level, low level and intermediate downwardly inclined ceiling portions as described at 57, 58 and 59 in Figure 4, and a plate 65 is secured to the bottom surface of the rail 63 to serve a purpose comparable to the previously mentioned plate section 60, and also to provide a narrow edge curl supporting ledge extension 66 as shown in Figure 2. The inner and outer rails 54 and 63 are spaced apart as at 67 to provide a clearance through which the cover feeding and positioning lugs 34 and may pass in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

At the position of the downwardly inclined portions 59 of the rails the turret guard plate 42 is recessed to receive an arcuate retarder shoe 68 which is spring depressed at 69 and serves to engage and retard the conveyed closures 36 in the manner shown in Figure 4. This retarding action causes the individual covers 36 to move accurately down into position between the lugs 34 and 35 of each conveying and aligning lug set and assures against covers being engaged by the respective rapidly travelling conveyor lug 34 and bouncing oif the same forwardly into position for jamming over the advance or positioning lug 35.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, and by reference to Figures l and 2, that the can closures 36 are held in horizontal position accurately centered and spaced above the filled cans they are to close, and this relation of each can and cover complement will pertain until the can is transferred onto the receiving pad 70 of the closing machine turret F shown diagrammatically in Figure l. Promptly after each can is received on the particular .turret pad the pad lifts the can into contact with the overlying cover, and the can and cover complement thus initially assembled, into contactywith the chuck of the sealing devices in the manner Well known in the art. It will be apparent by reference to Figure l that the gaseous medium supply slot 43 extends around to a point where communication therewith of the radial turret supply ducts 22 will permit continuation of the directing of the gaseous medium through the screened delivery slots right up to and through progression of the initial assembly of the can and cover complements previously referred to.

l't is to be noted that the top surfaces of the nozzle blocks I7 have arcuate recesses 71 in their upper inwardly presented surfaces which bear concentric relation to and clear the inner closure edge guiding or confining wall 55.

,- See Figures l, 2, 5 and 6.

Attention is directed to Figure 2 wherein the relation of the flanges 46 of the cans with the screened, gaseous medium delivering slots is shown. It will be noted that said flanges are disposed just below the horizontal centers of said slots. By reason of this positioning of the parts, the gaseous medium is caused to split at the can lianges so that some thereof will be diverted downwardly about the exterior of the cans below the flanges. By this causing of some of the gaseous medium to pass downwardly over the external surfaces of the cans in the transfer turret pockets 15, any movement of air upwardly about the cans and into the interiors thereof is avoided. In other words, any aspirating effect of the unformly dispersed body or ribbon of the gaseous medium passing over and into the open tops of the cans beneath the overlying covers 36 which would tend to draw air upwardly and over the can flanges 46 into the interiors of the cans is avoided.

As before stated, each gaseous medium delivering slot 26 and its screened outlet 33 extends about approximately one third of the circumference of a can being conveyed by the associated transfer turret pocket. It will be noted also by reference to Figure 5 that the side terminals 72 of each said slot are disposed in generally parallel relation and are spaced apart a distance approximating the inside diameter iof a can. The purpose of this is to assure that the body of gaseous medium emitted from each nozzle slot 26, uniformly dispersed by the screen 33 in the form of a ribbon expanding slightly horizontally and laterally as it passes out over the end walls 72 of the slot, will completely traverse and fill and crowd out air from the filled can head space throughout the full width and depth thereof, replacing said air With the gaseous medium so that upon prompt sealing of the can in the manner aforesaid, the gaseous medium filling the head space will be sealed therein.

It has been found that the herein disclosed gaseous medium delivery nozzle operates in a very eicient manner. The displacement of the head space air is substantially complete because of the manner of directing the gaseous medium and the action of the screen in uniformly dispersing the same in a continuous,l unbroken ribbon. Moreover, the action of displacing the air is a gentle crowding action rather than a high pressure blowing out of the air. Consequently the gaseous medium is delivered at low velocity, say for example, four ounces of pressure or even less, and therefore wastage of the gaseous medium is negligible, and objectionable stirring up of a turbulent condition in the can iill is avoided.

Outlet screens of varying total open area have been found practical in the efficient delivery and uniform dispersion of the gaseous medium, and these screens provide greater open area and more uniform dispersion of the gaseous medium than is possible in the presently known equipments employing orices or slots in the delivery of the gaseous medium. Screens ranging from forty mesh having a thirty-four percent pore area to eighty mesh having thirty one and four tenths percent pore area have served efficiently in displacing air from the head spaces in varied sizes of cans iilled with various products.

. While an example structure and mounting `of the screened nozzle is disclosed herein it is to be understood that variations in the structure and arrangement of the nozzle may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A gaseous medium delivery nozzle structure of the character described comprising a face uprightly disposed and arcuate in shape to bear concentric relation close to the exterior of a can to be treated by the delivered gaseous medium, a gaseous medium delivery slot extending through said face and of a length for extending without interruption about approximately one third of the circumference of a can disposed opposite and in concentric relation to said face, and a gaseous medium delivery chamber extending the full length of said slot for delivering the gaseous medium therethrough, means for directing a gaseous medium into said chamber, and a mesh screen uprightly disposed and covering said slot at the outlet therefrom and through which gaseous medium directed through the slot is uniformly dispersed in the form of a continuous ribbon.

2. A gaseous medium delivery nozzle structure of the character described comprising a face arcuate in shape to bear concentric relation to the exterior of a can to be treated by the delivered gaseous medium, a gaseous medium delivery slot extending through said face and of a length for extending about approximately one third of thecireumference of a can disposed opposite and in concentric relation to said face, and a gaseous medium delivery chamber extending the full length of said slot for delivering the gaseous medium therethrough, means for directing a gaseous medium into said chamber, and a mesh screen covering said slot and through which gaseous medium directed through the slot is uniformly dispersed in the form of a continuous ribbon, said gaseous medium delivery chamber being arcuate in shape, and said means for directing a gaseous medium into said chamber including a second chamber overlapping said delivery chamber in vertically spaced relation thereto to provide an intervening wall portion, and there being ineluded equidistantly spaced oriiices extending uprightly through said wall portion to distribute the gaseous medium into the delivery chamber from the other chamber to expand therein before passing through the screen.

3. A nozzle structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the gaseous medium delivery chamber is dened at its ends by two walls bearing generally parallel relation and spaced apart a distance approximating the inside diameter of a can to be treated by the delivered gaseous medium.

4. A gaseous medium delivery nozzle structure of the character described comprising a face arcuate in shape to bear concentric relation to the exterior of a can to be treated' by the delivered gaseous medium, a gaseous medium delivery slot extending through said face and of a length for extending about approximately one third of the circumference of a can disposed opposite and in concentric relation to said face, and a gaseous medium delivery chamber extending the full length of said slot for deiivering the gaseous medium therethrough, means for directing a gaseous medium into said chamber, and a mesh screen covering said slot and through which gaseous medium directed through the slot is uniformly dispersed in the form ofv a continuous ribbon, said gaseous medium delivery chamber being defined at its ends by two walls bearing generally parallel relation and spaced apart a distance approximating the inside diameter of a can to be treated by the delivered gaseous medium, said gaseous medium delivery chamber being arcuate in shape, and said means for directing gaseous medium into said chamber including a second chamber overlapping said delivery chamber in vertically spaced relation thereto to provide an intervening wall portion, and there being included equidistantly spaced orifices extending uprightly through said wall portion to distribute the gaseous medium into the delivery chamber from the other chamber to expand therein before passing through the screen.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a transfer turret having thereon a gaseous medium delivery nozzle structure comprising a flat plate-like body having a gaseous medium delivery chamber therein and a delivery slot opening outwardly from said chamber through an upright delivery face portion of the body, means on said turret and at least in part including said .nozzle for supporting and moving a filled can and a complementary cover spaced slightly and horizontally thereover in position for having a gaseous medium delivered from said slot pass horizontally over the open top of the can and beneath said cover, means for directing a gaseous medium into said chamber for delivery through said slot, and a mesh screen covering said slot and uprightly disposed in close proximity to the exterior of a can being so moved and through which the gaseous medium is uniformly dispersed in the form of a continuous ribbon into the open top of said can.

6. Apparatus as deiincd in claim 5 in which the slotted delivery face portion of the body is arcuate in shape to bear concentric relation to the exterior of the filled can and the slot and screen are of a length for extending about approximately one third of the circumference of the can.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the slotted delivery face portion of the body is arcuate in shape to bear concentric relation to t'he exterior of the lled can and the slot and screen are of a length for extending about approximately one third of the circumference of the can and wherein the gaseous medium delivery chamber is defined at its ends by Walls bearing generally parally relation and spaced apart a distance approximating the inside diameter of the can.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the filled can supporting means bears such relation to the gaseous medium delivery slot that the continuous ribbon of the gaseous medium delivered through the screen thereover will split on the flange at the top of a conventionally anged can being treated so that a part of said ribbon s will contact and pass downwardly against the can body wall in a manner assuring against any aspirating effect likely to draw air into the open top of the can.

9, In apparatus of the character described, peripherally pocketed rotary turret means for conveying iilled can and cover complements toward a closing means with each cover disposed over the open top of the complementary can in` spaced relation, and means for delivering a gaseous medium into the space between the cover and open can top of each can and cover complement as they are being conveyed for displacing air from the can head spaces, said delivery means including a nozzlel structure on the turret at the position of each peripheral pocket and comprising a plate-like body having a face arcuate in shape to bear concentric relation to the exterior of a can in the respective pocket, a gaseous medium delivery slot extending through said face and of a length for extending about approximately one third of the circumference of said can, a gaseous medium delivery chamber extending the full length of said slot for delivering the gaseous medium therethrough and a mesh screen covering said slot and through which gaseous medium directed through the slot is uniformly dispersed in the form of a continuous ribbon, and valve means for controllingv the ilow of` gaseous medium to said delivery chambers.

l0. Apparatus as deiined in claim 9 wherein there are included means for so placing the cans as they are being conveyed that the continuous ribbons of the gaseous medium delivered by the individual screened slots will splitl on the flanges at the tops of conventionally jfianged individual cans so thatl a part of each said ribbon will contact and pass downwardly against the respective can body wall in a manner assuring against any aspirating effect likely to draw air into the open top of the can.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein each gaseous medium delivery chamber is defined at its ends by walls bearing generally parallel relation and spaced apart a distance approximating the inside diameter of the cans being conveyed.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein eac'h gaseous medium delivery chamber is arcuate in shape and is defined at its ends by walls bearing generally parallel relation and spaced apart a distance approximating the inside diameter of the cans being conveyed, and wherein 10 each nozzle structure also includes a second arcuate chamber bearing concentric relation to the delivery chamber and overlapping the same in spaced relation to provide an intervening wall portion pierced by equidistantly spaced oritices effective to distribute the gaseous medium into the delivery chamber from the second chamber wherein it is initially received through the valve means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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