EP0267643B1 - Can - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0267643B1
EP0267643B1 EP87202084A EP87202084A EP0267643B1 EP 0267643 B1 EP0267643 B1 EP 0267643B1 EP 87202084 A EP87202084 A EP 87202084A EP 87202084 A EP87202084 A EP 87202084A EP 0267643 B1 EP0267643 B1 EP 0267643B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cover plate
surface area
openings
corners
shows
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87202084A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0267643A2 (en
EP0267643A3 (en
Inventor
Dennis Cockerill
Angus George Peacock
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Original Assignee
Unilever PLC
Unilever NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unilever PLC, Unilever NV filed Critical Unilever PLC
Priority to AT87202084T priority Critical patent/ATE95781T1/en
Publication of EP0267643A2 publication Critical patent/EP0267643A2/en
Publication of EP0267643A3 publication Critical patent/EP0267643A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0267643B1 publication Critical patent/EP0267643B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/04—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions of polygonal cross-section
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D17/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions
    • B65D17/06—Integral, or permanently secured, end or side closures
    • B65D17/08—Closures secured by folding or rolling and pressing

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a can consisting of a can body and an upper and a lower cover plate, each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, each cover plate connected to the can body by means of a double seam, and each cover plate having a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners and having a surface area of less than 250 cm2.
  • FIG. 1 A well-known can having a substantially rectangular cross-section is shown in Figure 1.
  • This can consists of a non-tapered can body 1, an upper cover plate 2 and a lower cover plate (not shown).
  • Each cover plate is made of a continuous metal sheet not having openings and/or scoring lines.
  • Each cover plate is connected to the can body by means of a double seam (3, 4) and has a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides, interconnected by curved corners.
  • cover plates having a surface area of less than 250 cm2, more preferably less than 100 cm2.
  • the above-mentioned can body is provided with scoring lines 5, 6, a pull-grip 7 and a key (not shown).
  • Opening of this can is effected by pulling the pull-grip with the key and tearing off the scoring strip. After removal of the scoring strip, the end of the can can be removed, thereby providing an uncovered part of the food product which can function as a grip for the removal of the food from the can.
  • This method of opening a can has, however, several disadvantages.
  • the key is usually loosely connected to the can and can therefore easily be lost during distribution and storage, thereby causing major difficulties in opening the can.
  • the removal of the scoring strip causes the exposure of two sharp edges; it is well known that many can users have previously cut themselves with these sharp edges, thereby receiving unwanted and sometimes severe injuries.
  • a third disadvantage of this opening method is that removal of the food product from the can remains difficult, since the displacement of the food creates a vacuum under the cover plate, thereby hindering further removal.
  • US 969 220 discloses a key opening can comprising a can body, can heads having countersunk walls fitting inside the can body and external double seams uniting the can heads to the can body.
  • the can body has a roll side wherein each edge of the roll side has a weakened line between the adjacent inner face of the can head and the double seam uniting the head to the can body.
  • the countersunk walls and double seams support the metal of the can body on opposite sides adjacent to the weakened liners.
  • the invention relates to a can as described above wherein the can body has no openings and/or scoring lines and has a tapered form, the internal radius of curvature of each of the corners of the cover plates being at least 20 mm (see characterizing portion of claim 1).
  • the internal radius is meant the radius of curvature at the inside of the double seam.
  • a radius of more than 20 mm allows the opening of both ends of the can by means of a standard butterfly can-opener, the food product can subsequently be removed by pushing one cover plate, thereby pushing the food product out of the can.
  • the internal radius of curvature is from 22-26 mm.
  • the can can be opened with a standard butterfly can-opener there is no need to have openings and/or scoring lines in the cover plates and the can body.
  • the can body For easy storage of the unfilled cans and easy removal of the food, the can body has a tapered form.
  • Suitable heights for the can body vary in the range from 5-15 cm.
  • the tapering of the can body is chosen such that the ratio of the surface area of the upper cover plate to the lower cover plate lies between 6:10 and 9:10.
  • the lower cover plate can also be smaller than the upper cover plate as long as the ratio of surface area between the smaller and the larger one lies between 6:10 and 9:10.
  • this can is filled with a solid or semi-solid piece of food, such as luncheon meat, corned beef, ham, cheese, pet foods, bakery products, etc.
  • a solid or semi-solid piece of food such as luncheon meat, corned beef, ham, cheese, pet foods, bakery products, etc.
  • Figure 1 shows a can according to the prior art for packaging of meat products, consisting of a non-tapered can body 1 and an upper cover plate 2 and a lower cover plate (not visible), each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, wherein the cover plates are connected to the can body by means of double seams 3 and 4.
  • the can is provided with scoring lines 5 and 6 and a pull-grip 7 and a key (not shown).
  • Figure 2 shows a view from above of the can of Figure 1 with a substantially rectangular cover plate 2, the cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines and having an internal radius of 16 mm and attached to the can body by means of a double seam 4.
  • Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a can according to the invention, consisting of a tapered can body 8 having a height of approximately 9 cm and an upper cover plate 9 and a lower cover plate (not shown), each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, each cover plate connected to the can body by means of a double seam 10, each cover plate having a substantially rectangular form with two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners having an internal radius of 24 mm.
  • the upper cover plate has a surface area of approximately 43 cm2.
  • Figure 4 shows a view from above of the can of Figure 3, with the substantially rectangular upper cover plate 9 having curved corners with an internal radius of 24 mm and attached to the can body by means of a double seam 10, the surface are of the cover plate being approximately 43 cm2.
  • Figure 5 shows a view from below of the can of Figure 3, with a substantially rectangular lower cover plate 11 having curved corners with an internal radius of 24 mm and attached to the can body by means of a double seam 10, the lower cover plate having a surface area of approximately 52 cm2.
  • Figure 6 shows a tapered can body 13 according to the invention having an upper opening 12 and a lower opening (not shown), each opening having a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners with a radius of 24 mm, the can body having a height of from 10 cm, the surface area of the upper opening being approximately 45 cm2 and the surface area of the lower opening being approximately 55 cm2.
  • Figure 7 shows a detail of a preferred embodiment of a can body according to the invention, with the upper end of a can body 14 having an outwardly flanged edge 15.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Shaping Of Tube Ends By Bending Or Straightening (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)

Abstract

Can, consisting of a can body (8) and an upper and a lower cover plate, each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, each cover plate (9) connected to the can body by means of a double seam (10), each cover plate having a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners and having a surface area of less than 250 cm<2>, the internal radius of curvature of each of the corners of the cover plate being at least 20 mm.

Description

  • This invention relates to a can consisting of a can body and an upper and a lower cover plate, each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, each cover plate connected to the can body by means of a double seam, and each cover plate having a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners and having a surface area of less than 250 cm².
  • A well-known can having a substantially rectangular cross-section is shown in Figure 1. This can consists of a non-tapered can body 1, an upper cover plate 2 and a lower cover plate (not shown). Each cover plate is made of a continuous metal sheet not having openings and/or scoring lines. Each cover plate is connected to the can body by means of a double seam (3, 4) and has a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides, interconnected by curved corners. For domestic use, it is preferable to use cans with cover plates having a surface area of less than 250 cm², more preferably less than 100 cm². Normally, the above-mentioned can body is provided with scoring lines 5, 6, a pull-grip 7 and a key (not shown). Opening of this can is effected by pulling the pull-grip with the key and tearing off the scoring strip. After removal of the scoring strip, the end of the can can be removed, thereby providing an uncovered part of the food product which can function as a grip for the removal of the food from the can.
  • This method of opening a can has, however, several disadvantages. First, the key is usually loosely connected to the can and can therefore easily be lost during distribution and storage, thereby causing major difficulties in opening the can. Secondly, the removal of the scoring strip causes the exposure of two sharp edges; it is well known that many can users have previously cut themselves with these sharp edges, thereby receiving unwanted and sometimes severe injuries. A third disadvantage of this opening method is that removal of the food product from the can remains difficult, since the displacement of the food creates a vacuum under the cover plate, thereby hindering further removal.
  • US 969 220 discloses a key opening can comprising a can body, can heads having countersunk walls fitting inside the can body and external double seams uniting the can heads to the can body. The can body has a roll side wherein each edge of the roll side has a weakened line between the adjacent inner face of the can head and the double seam uniting the head to the can body. The countersunk walls and double seams support the metal of the can body on opposite sides adjacent to the weakened liners.
  • The invention relates to a can as described above wherein the can body has no openings and/or scoring lines and has a tapered form, the internal radius of curvature of each of the corners of the cover plates being at least 20 mm (see characterizing portion of claim 1).
  • With the expression "the internal radius" is meant the radius of curvature at the inside of the double seam. A radius of more than 20 mm allows the opening of both ends of the can by means of a standard butterfly can-opener, the food product can subsequently be removed by pushing one cover plate, thereby pushing the food product out of the can. Preferably the internal radius of curvature is from 22-26 mm.
  • As the can can be opened with a standard butterfly can-opener, there is no need to have openings and/or scoring lines in the cover plates and the can body.
  • For easy storage of the unfilled cans and easy removal of the food, the can body has a tapered form.
  • Suitable heights for the can body vary in the range from 5-15 cm. Preferably the tapering of the can body is chosen such that the ratio of the surface area of the upper cover plate to the lower cover plate lies between 6:10 and 9:10. As the can according to the invention has no preferred orientation, it is obvious that in this embodiment the lower cover plate can also be smaller than the upper cover plate as long as the ratio of surface area between the smaller and the larger one lies between 6:10 and 9:10.
  • Preferably this can is filled with a solid or semi-solid piece of food, such as luncheon meat, corned beef, ham, cheese, pet foods, bakery products, etc.
  • The invention will further be illustrated by means of a preferred embodiment, the figures showing:
    • Figure 1
    shows a can according to the prior art for the packaging of meat products.
    Figure 2
    shows a view from above of the can of Figure 1.
    Figure 3
    shows a preferred embodiment of a can according to the invention.
    Figure 4
    shows a view from above of the can of Figure 3.
    Figure 5
    shows a view from below of the can of Figure 3.
    Figure 6
    shows a can body according to the invention.
    Figure
    7 shows a detail of a preferred embodiment of a can body according to the invention.
  • Figure 1 shows a can according to the prior art for packaging of meat products, consisting of a non-tapered can body 1 and an upper cover plate 2 and a lower cover plate (not visible), each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, wherein the cover plates are connected to the can body by means of double seams 3 and 4. The can is provided with scoring lines 5 and 6 and a pull-grip 7 and a key (not shown).
  • Figure 2 shows a view from above of the can of Figure 1 with a substantially rectangular cover plate 2, the cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines and having an internal radius of 16 mm and attached to the can body by means of a double seam 4.
  • Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a can according to the invention, consisting of a tapered can body 8 having a height of approximately 9 cm and an upper cover plate 9 and a lower cover plate (not shown), each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, each cover plate connected to the can body by means of a double seam 10, each cover plate having a substantially rectangular form with two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners having an internal radius of 24 mm. The upper cover plate has a surface area of approximately 43 cm².
  • Figure 4 shows a view from above of the can of Figure 3, with the substantially rectangular upper cover plate 9 having curved corners with an internal radius of 24 mm and attached to the can body by means of a double seam 10, the surface are of the cover plate being approximately 43 cm².
  • Figure 5 shows a view from below of the can of Figure 3, with a substantially rectangular lower cover plate 11 having curved corners with an internal radius of 24 mm and attached to the can body by means of a double seam 10, the lower cover plate having a surface area of approximately 52 cm².
  • Figure 6 shows a tapered can body 13 according to the invention having an upper opening 12 and a lower opening (not shown), each opening having a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners with a radius of 24 mm, the can body having a height of from 10 cm, the surface area of the upper opening being approximately 45 cm² and the surface area of the lower opening being approximately 55 cm².
  • Figure 7 shows a detail of a preferred embodiment of a can body according to the invention, with the upper end of a can body 14 having an outwardly flanged edge 15.

Claims (5)

  1. Can, consisting of a can body (8) and an upper and a lower cover plate, each cover plate without openings and/or scoring lines, each cover plate (9 & 11) connected to the can body by means of a double seam (10), each cover plate having a substantially rectangular form with two sets of two parallel sides interconnected by curved corners and having a surface area of less than 250 cm², characterized in that the can body has no openings and/or scoring lines and has a tapered form, the internal radius of curvature of each of the corners of the cover plates being at least 20 mm.
  2. Can according to claim 1, wherein the internal radius of curvature of each of the corners of the cover plates (9 & 11) is from 22-26 mm.
  3. Can according to claim 1 or 2, having a height of from 5-15 cm.
  4. Can according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the ratio of the surface area of the upper cover plate (9) to the area of the lower cover plate (11) lies between 6:10 and 9:10.
  5. Can according to one or more of the preceding claims, filled with a solid or semi-solid piece of food.
EP87202084A 1986-11-10 1987-10-29 Can Expired - Lifetime EP0267643B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87202084T ATE95781T1 (en) 1986-11-10 1987-10-29 CANNING CONTAINER.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8626766 1986-11-10
GB868626766A GB8626766D0 (en) 1986-11-10 1986-11-10 Can

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0267643A2 EP0267643A2 (en) 1988-05-18
EP0267643A3 EP0267643A3 (en) 1991-09-04
EP0267643B1 true EP0267643B1 (en) 1993-10-13

Family

ID=10607055

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87202084A Expired - Lifetime EP0267643B1 (en) 1986-11-10 1987-10-29 Can

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0267643B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE95781T1 (en)
AU (1) AU598053B2 (en)
DE (1) DE3787786D1 (en)
GB (1) GB8626766D0 (en)
NZ (1) NZ222420A (en)

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US969220A (en) * 1910-02-10 1910-09-06 American Can Co Roll-side key-opening can.
US2016988A (en) * 1934-09-06 1935-10-08 Continental Can Co Container for bottles and like vessels

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DIN Taschenbuch 136, 2nd edition, "Verpackung 2", 1982, Beuth Verlag GmbH, Berlin, Köln, pp. 64, 65, 72 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE95781T1 (en) 1993-10-15
AU8084487A (en) 1988-05-12
NZ222420A (en) 1990-10-26
EP0267643A2 (en) 1988-05-18
AU598053B2 (en) 1990-06-14
EP0267643A3 (en) 1991-09-04
GB8626766D0 (en) 1986-12-10
DE3787786D1 (en) 1993-11-18

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