Method and apparatus for producing two-piece beverage can bodies

A method of cleaning can bodies having a continuous sidewall closed at one end by an integral bottom portion opposite an open end, the method comprising the steps of:

• substantially continuously monitoring a concentration of a component within a washing solution using an electronic monitor;
• sending a signal corresponding to a concentration of the component in the washing solution from the monitor to a controller;
• and
• controlling activation of an electronic regulator in response to the signal which controls volumetric additions of the component to the washing solution,
• wherein the washing solution comprises an acid component and a surfactant component, and the method further comprises the step of maintaining an acid concentration and a surfactant concentration within the washing solution located in a reservoir by sending a signal corresponding to an actual concentration of the acid component within the washing solution to the controller wherein the controller outputs an activation signal to the electronic regulator responsive to the signal which triggers an automated addition of the acid component to the reservoir to increase the acid concentration in the washing solution and by sending a second signal corresponding to an actual concentration of the surfactant component within the washing solution to the controller wherein the controller outputs a second activation signal to a second regulator responsive to the second signal which triggers an automated addition of the surfactant component to the reservoir to increase the surfactant concentration in the washing solution.

A method of cleaning can bodies having a continuous sidewall closed at one end by an integral bottom portion opposite an open end, the method comprising the steps of:

• populating a can body transporter with a plurality of can bodies, wherein the transporter transfers can bodies through a can body washer apparatus from an entry end to a delivery end of the can body washer apparatus, wherein a plurality of spray bars located between the entry end and the delivery end delivers a washing solution to the plurality of can bodies;
• maintaining a substantially constant can body population density on the can body transporter by controlling a speed of the can body transporter relative to a rate of production of can bodies produced by a can body manufacturing apparatus upstream of the can body washer apparatus;
• and
• controlling a time duration of an exposure of the plurality of can bodies to the washing solution by regulating delivery of the washing solution from the spray bars.