Metal Box Corporation

Cmb Foodcan Plc

Carnaudmetalbox Plc

Roderick M De'ath

Martin R Ackland

Donald E Griffiths

Ian Flude

Brian Fairchild, Deceased

A method of forming a component having a metallic shell (12) and a plastics insert (34). The component is formed by placing the shell (12) inside the mould cavity of a mould assembly (10) which forms part of an injection moulding machine. Prior to injection of plastics material, part of the external surface of the shell (12) is spaced from the opposed surface of the mould cavity. The open end of the shell abuts the adjacent mould cavity and wall so as to form a seal. This end wall is frusto-conical in shape so that, during injection of plastics material, as the shell (12) is reformed by polymer pressure into complete engagement with the surface of the mould cavity, longitudinal contraction of the shell in response to this direct lateral strain is compensated for by the frusto-conical shape so that the seal is maintained.

Method of injection moulding a polymeric material insert into a metal

Apparatus for detecting micro-organisms comprises a sample container releasably received in a container-mounting member which comprises a spillage containment vessel. The sample container has secured to its base a socket member which nests with the inner surface of the spillage containment vessel. Spillage detection means comprises a pair of electrical probes in the base of the vessel.

Apparatus for detecting micro-organisms

An injection moulding apparatus (10) includes similar co-injection modules (12) each provided with common supplies (238-242) and supplied with different polymer materials at intermediate pressure by common plasticisers (14-18). Each module has a co-injection nozzle assembly (70) in wich each nozzle (148-154) is supplied with polymer at injection pressure by an injector (208) which receives polymer through a non-return valve (220). The injector is mounted alongside the nozzle on a polymer transfer plate (138-146), and has the position of its piston (212) controlled by a hydraulic actuator (214) under the control of a dedicated micro-processor (164) in accordance with a stored injection control program. Each polymer is injected by an injector (208) directly into the associated nozzle (148-154) and is controlled solely by injector operation, and without the use of any control valve between the injector and the nozzle. The module micro-processors are controlled by a host processor which organizes the operations of the apparatus.

Multi-cavity, co-injection molding apparatus

Apparatus for detecting micro-organisms comprises a rack having an array of stations at which a plurality of microbiological sample containers can be received. Each container is provided with an electrode or electrodes at its base for connection with electrical contacts on the base of the rack, and container retention means in the form of a cap with a bayonet joint or screw-threaded connection for releasably retaining the containers in the rack are adapted to be operable from above the upper support plate of the rack.

For use in detecting micro-organisms in a sample of a substance, a container for holding the sample consists of a glass bottle and closure in the form of an elastomeric bung, the bung being provided with a pair of chambers each housing a respective electrode until the container is required for use, when the electrodes are urged upwardly, breaking through a membrane of the bung to bring the electrodes into contact with the test sample in the bottle.

Growing community of inventors

Wantage, United Kingdom

Roderick M De'ath