Article retention system for transfer equipment

A system for transporting can ends in a predetermined orientation through a plurality of can end reforming stations, said system comprising:

• carrying means, including a movable member for supporting said can ends, for moving can ends supported on said movable member from one position to another, said movable member having spacing means for positioning said can ends in predetermined spaced apart relationship and substantially preventing longitudinal and lateral movement of said can ends relative to said movable member;
• and
• orientation maintaining means for preventing a change in orientation of said can ends on said movable member as said can ends move through said plurality of can end reforming stations, said orientation maintaining means comprising a pair of resilient strips biased into engagement with opposite edge portions of said can ends on said movable member, said strips being spaced sufficiently to facilitate the passage of reforming dies into engagement with said can ends, said strips being fixed relative to the motion of said carrying means and to the motion of said can ends, said strips applying a force to said can ends to hold said can ends on said movable member between said strips and said movable member during movement from said one position to another and prevent reorientation of said can ends during said movement.