Abstract:
A method and apparatus for applying an impervious protective coating over the seams of cylindrical metal can bodies either before or after the seams are welded, soldered, or cemented. The apparatus is operable to intermittently apply an airless spray to the interior overlapped seams of the cans as they continuously move past an airless spray gun secured to the end of a stubhorn of a can forming line. This apparatus includes an airless spray nozzle located on one side of the seams for directing a spray onto the inside corner of the seams of the formed can bodies and an air jet located on the opposite sides of the seams from the spray nozzle for confining the atomized spray or fog to the seam area of the can.