EP1308226A1 - Fermeture à ouverture facile, récipient équipé d'une telle fermeture et dispositif pour le produire - Google Patents

Fermeture à ouverture facile, récipient équipé d'une telle fermeture et dispositif pour le produire Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1308226A1
EP1308226A1 EP01204232A EP01204232A EP1308226A1 EP 1308226 A1 EP1308226 A1 EP 1308226A1 EP 01204232 A EP01204232 A EP 01204232A EP 01204232 A EP01204232 A EP 01204232A EP 1308226 A1 EP1308226 A1 EP 1308226A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
closure
score
pop
zone
tear
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01204232A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Ad Emmerzaal
Fabrice Leboucher
Jan Johan Bolink
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.)
Trivium Packaging Group Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
Impress BV
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 Impress BV filed Critical Impress BV
Priority to EP01204232A priority Critical patent/EP1308226A1/fr
Priority to JP2003541667A priority patent/JP2005507833A/ja
Priority to CA002465963A priority patent/CA2465963A1/fr
Priority to US10/494,642 priority patent/US20050082291A1/en
Priority to MXPA04004259A priority patent/MXPA04004259A/es
Priority to PCT/EP2002/011341 priority patent/WO2003039785A1/fr
Priority to CNB028238877A priority patent/CN1286594C/zh
Publication of EP1308226A1 publication Critical patent/EP1308226A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D51/00—Making hollow objects
    • B21D51/16—Making hollow objects characterised by the use of the objects
    • B21D51/38—Making inlet or outlet arrangements of cans, tins, baths, bottles, or other vessels; Making can ends; Making closures
    • B21D51/383—Making inlet or outlet arrangements of cans, tins, baths, bottles, or other vessels; Making can ends; Making closures scoring lines, tear strips or pulling tabs
    • 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
    • B65D17/28—Rigid or semi-rigid containers specially constructed to be opened by cutting or piercing, or by tearing of frangible members or portions at lines or points of weakness
    • B65D17/404—Details of the lines of weakness

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an easy opening closure, to a container provided with an easy opening closure, and to an apparatus for producing such an easy opening closure.
  • An easy opening closure is a metal closure in which an opening may be formed by using one or more fingers and without the requirement for using tools.
  • An easy opening closure comprises a closure having a folding rim to be connected to an open end container, and a circumferential score line provided in the closure and enclosing a removable central closure part.
  • This central closure part is provided with a tab which is connected using a rivet to the central closure part. This tab is used for providing an opening in the easy opening closure by popping, tearing off and subsequently loosing the central closure part along the score line from the remaining part of the closure.
  • this upwardly extending free end of the tab is gripped by one or more fingers and the other part of the central closure is torn loose along the score line.
  • the score opens simultaneously in a clock-wise and anti-clock-wise direction of the score line.
  • the final part of the opening procedure is the tearing off the central closure at the diametral position to the pop ignition zone.
  • the tab popping of the closure takes place in the pop zone.
  • the tearing in the clock-wise and anti-clock-wise direction results in the tear zones.
  • the tearing loose of the central closure part from the remainder of the closure takes place in the so called hinge zone.
  • a metal easy opening closure has a thickness of about 0.17 to 0.30mm. A more specific value of this thickness is dependent on the type of metal of the closure, such as aluminum and tin plate.
  • the so called score residual is generally in the range of 50-90 ⁇ m again dependent on the type of metal used and the content of (pressure in) the container.
  • the score residual is conventionally transversally measured in the score line. In a practical embodiment the score residual resides between score lines formed in both surfaces of the closure. If these score lines are not aligned, then the score residual is measured as the shortest distance between the two score lines.
  • both sides of the easy opening closure is provided with a lacquer having a thickness of about 0.01 mm.
  • the easy opening closures may be produced at high speed up to 400-500 closures per minute.
  • the first lift and popping of the easy opening closure using the tab generally requires a popping force.
  • this popping force is of about 15-25 N.
  • the tearing off in the tear ignition zones over the clock-wise and anti-clock-wise directions by tearing the tab requires initially a maximum tear force of 30-60 N. When the tearing progresses along the score line the tear force gradually decreases. The total loosing of the central part of the closure requires some force.
  • a container provided with an easy opening closure may comprise a pressurized (carbonated) beverage and therefore the easy opening closure as a whole should be able to withstand a burstpressure of about 3-5 bar.
  • the present invention has for its object to provide an easy opening closure which possesses an improved handling in that the opening procedure requires less tear force, in particular a smaller initial tear force.
  • an easy opening closure having a curl rim and a circumferential score line having a score residual (t) over the thickness of the closure in the scoreline, enclosing a removable central closure part; and a tab connected to the central closure part, which score line has a pop zone in which the tab pops a section of the central closure along the score line and the pop zone comprises a pop ignition zone adjacent to the tab, in clock-wise and anti-clock-wise direction subsequent tear zones in which using the tab the central closure part is teared off from the closure along the score line and eventually looses from the closure, wherein the tear zones comprise each a tear ignition zone adjacent the respective pop zone, and wherein the score residual in the tear ignition zones is reduced relative to the score residual in the pop ignition zone.
  • the invention is based on the insight that by reducing the score residual in the tear ignition zone the initial and highest tear force is reduced and the easy opening closure still meets the requirements for burst pressure and is still abuse-proof.
  • the reduction in score residual is maximum at least in that part of the tear ignition zone, which is adjacent to the respective pop zone. For reasons that after popping and at the start of the tearing operation, scoring starts here at the highest tear force. Over the length of the tear ignition zone the score residual may be reduced to a maximum level (that is to a smallest thickness) or may gradually increase from a maximum reduced plateau level, that is the reduction will gradually decrease.
  • the end of the pop zone and the start of the tear ignition zone is dependent on the design of the easy opening closure and on the manner in which the popping operation has been carried out.
  • a high tear force may be appreciated during the scoring of the score line in the pop zone. Therefore, it is preferred that the score residual is reduced in a part of the pop zone adjacent to the tear ignition zone.
  • This reduction in score residual is maximum at the beginning of the tear ignition zones.
  • This reduction in the score residual may have the form of an abrupt step or may gradually decrease over a part of the pop zone, but reaches the maximum at least at the transition between the pop zone and the adjacent tear ignition zone.
  • This reduction in score residual (t) is relative to the score residual in the pop ignition zone, which is generally having a higher or highest score residual in order to impart the easy opening closure with abuse-proof properties.
  • the reduction in score residual which results in an appreciation of a lower tear force is generally such that the maximum tear force is reduced as from 1N (0.2 lbs), such as 1-15N (0.2 - 3.3 lbs), reductions in maximum tear force of 1-10N (0.2 - 2.2 lbs) or 1-8N (0.2 - 1.8 lbs) are feasible within the ghist of the present invention, all in comparison with an easy opening closure which is not provided with the inventive reduction of score residual in at least the tear ignition zones.
  • the score residual may be reduced over the score line length in the tear zones, but it may be sufficient that it is only reduced in at least the first part of the tear zone. This reduction is relative to the mid part of the score line in the pop zone because at the interface between the pop zone and tear zone the residual may already be reduced such that at the start of the tear zone the residual score is maximum reduced, the sight where the highest tear force is initially required.
  • the reduction in score residual is generally maximum 25 ⁇ m. Practically the reduction is in the range of 5-15 ⁇ m. Good reductions in initial tear force are obtainable at 6-9 ⁇ m, such as 7-8 ⁇ m. This in comparison to the score residual in at least the pop ignition zone where the score residual is generally in the range of 60-90 ⁇ m, such as 65-80 ⁇ m,, 70-85 ⁇ m and 70-80 ⁇ m.
  • the score residual in the pop ignition zone is higher than in the remainder of the pop zone. Accordingly, the pop force for the initial popping the central closure part is increased but to a level which is still below the maximum initial tear force.
  • the formation of the reduced score residual is critical in view of the burst pressure and the requirement for abuse-proof.
  • the reduction in score residual is at least partly formed by a score in the surface of the public side of the closure.
  • a variation in the reduced score residual in at least the tear ignition zones is minimal if the reduction in score residual is at least partly formed between a score in the public facing surface and a score in the surface of the product side of the closure (see Fig. 3B).
  • An other aspect of the invention relates to a container which is provided with an easy opening closure of the invention.
  • this container its end opening is connected to the rim of the easy opening closure by a folding operation of the closure rim and the container rim.
  • the invention relates in an other aspect to an apparatus for producing such easy opening closure.
  • This apparatus is provided with particular means for forming the reduced score residual.
  • the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a tool for forming a score in a surface of the closure which has a larger thickness in a tool section for forming the reduction in the score residual.
  • the apparatus comprises a lower anvil and the score is formed in the surface of the product side of the closure.
  • Figure 1 shows an easy opening closure 1.
  • the closure 1 comprises a curl rim 2 which extends over the circumference of the closure 1. Radially inwardly of the rim 2 is provided a score line 3 which encloses a removable central closure part 4.
  • the central part 4 has a substantially terrass form.
  • the central part 4 is provided with a tab 5 which is connected by a rivet 6 to the central part 4.
  • the tab 5 has a first free end 7 with an opening 8 and a pop end 9.
  • the score line 3 comprises several zones.
  • a pop ignition zone 10 where due to a levering action of the tab 5 the pop end 9 of tab 5 pops the central part 4 inwardly by scoring alone the score line 3. Due to an undesired action on the pop end 9 by a load an undesired interaction of the pop end with the score results in an abusive opening of the score.
  • This pop ignition zone 10 lies within the lines 11 and 12 and forms part of the pop zone which lies between the lines 13 and 14. These lines 13 and 14 are defined by a cord 38 extending between the points 39 and 40 where the scoring of the score line 3 stopped at the end of the popping operation by lifting the tab 5 (see figure 2).
  • the pop zone is followed by a tear ignition zone 15 in clock-wise direction and tear zone 16 in anti-clock-wise direction and is limited by the lines 14 and 17 and the lines 13 and 18 respectively.
  • tear ignition zones 15 and 16 highest tear forces are encountered.
  • the length of the tear ignition zones 15 and 16 corresponds to a length over which the tear forces reduces to 60-90%, such as 70 or 80% of the maximum value for the tear ignition.
  • the tear ignition zones 15 and 16 are followed by the other parts of the tear zone 19 and 20 and meet in an optional hinge zone 21.
  • Figure 2 shows the end of the pop procedure in which the tab popped the score line 3 thereby forming an opening 22.
  • the tab 5 is extending upwardly with its end 7. Over the pop zone between the lines 13 and 14 the central closure part 4 is loose from the remainder of the closure 1.
  • Figure 4 shows the reduction of the score residual t over the length of the score line 3.
  • the reduction of the score residual in the pop ignition zone 10 is nil.
  • the reduction of the score residual is maximum and amounts 8 ⁇ m in this embodiment of the closure and forms a plateau 23.
  • the score residual t gradually decreases to the plateau 23 in the pop zones (between the respective lines 12 and 14, and 11 and 13) and in the tear ignition zones 15 and 16 gradually increases (curve A).
  • the reduction of the score residual may stay substantially constant in the tear zones 19 and 20 but decrease gradually towards a hinge zone 21 where the scored central point is broken off from the closure (curve B).
  • the residual may be increased to about 70 ⁇ m to make the closure more abuse-proof.
  • the residual may also be increased (for instance to about 100-150 ⁇ m in order to make the closure more injury-proof.
  • figure 3 shows an apparatus 26 for producing an easy opening closure of the invention.
  • the apparatus comprises a score die 27 and lower anvil 28.
  • the lower anvil 28 has a flat anvil surface 29.
  • the upper anvil 27 has an sharp end 30 for making the score line 3 in the closure 1.
  • the score residual (t) shown in the tear ignition zone 25.
  • FIG. 3B shows an other apparatus 31 for producing an easy opening closure 1 according to the invention.
  • This apparatus 31 comprises a score die 27 with the sharp end 30, but comprises in addition a lower anvil 32 which has a rounded anvil surface 33.
  • the closure 1 produced in the apparatus 26 has a public facing surface 34 in which the score line 3 is produced and a product facing surface 35 which is flat in the region of the score 3.
  • the closure 1 produced with the apparatus 31 of figure 3B has a score 3 in the public facing surface 34 and a score 36 in the product facing surface 37.
  • the scores may be formed in one step or in two consecutive steps.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)
EP01204232A 2001-11-06 2001-11-06 Fermeture à ouverture facile, récipient équipé d'une telle fermeture et dispositif pour le produire Withdrawn EP1308226A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01204232A EP1308226A1 (fr) 2001-11-06 2001-11-06 Fermeture à ouverture facile, récipient équipé d'une telle fermeture et dispositif pour le produire
JP2003541667A JP2005507833A (ja) 2001-11-06 2002-10-09 イージーオープン式閉鎖体、当該閉鎖体を備えた容器、及び、当該閉鎖体を製造するための装置
CA002465963A CA2465963A1 (fr) 2001-11-06 2002-10-09 Fermeture a ouverture rapide, contenant equipe d'une telle fermeture, et appareil de production de cette fermeture
US10/494,642 US20050082291A1 (en) 2001-11-06 2002-10-09 Easy opening closure, container provided with such closure, and apparatus for producing such closure
MXPA04004259A MXPA04004259A (es) 2001-11-06 2002-10-09 Cierre de apertura facil, recipiente proviesto con este cierre y aparato para producir el mismo.
PCT/EP2002/011341 WO2003039785A1 (fr) 2001-11-06 2002-10-09 Fermeture a ouverture rapide, contenant equipe d'une telle fermeture, et appareil de production de cette fermeture
CNB028238877A CN1286594C (zh) 2001-11-06 2002-10-09 易开密封以及装有这种密封的容器

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01204232A EP1308226A1 (fr) 2001-11-06 2001-11-06 Fermeture à ouverture facile, récipient équipé d'une telle fermeture et dispositif pour le produire

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1308226A1 true EP1308226A1 (fr) 2003-05-07

Family

ID=8181192

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01204232A Withdrawn EP1308226A1 (fr) 2001-11-06 2001-11-06 Fermeture à ouverture facile, récipient équipé d'une telle fermeture et dispositif pour le produire

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20050082291A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1308226A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2005507833A (fr)
CN (1) CN1286594C (fr)
CA (1) CA2465963A1 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA04004259A (fr)
WO (1) WO2003039785A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3022895A1 (fr) * 2014-06-30 2016-01-01 Ardagh Mp West France Couvercle metallique pour un corps de contenant

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2238116B1 (es) * 2002-11-07 2006-12-01 Mivisa Envases, S.A.U. Tapa de facil apertura.
ES2568435T3 (es) * 2007-12-24 2016-04-29 Ardagh Mp Group Netherlands B.V. Bote de lata y un método para hacer tal bote de lata
EP2322440B1 (fr) * 2009-11-12 2014-07-23 Ardagh MP Group Netherlands B.V. Panneau pour conteneur, conteneur fourni avec celui-ci et son procédé de fabrication
USD653109S1 (en) 2010-10-18 2012-01-31 Stolle Machinery Company, Llc Can end
US9550604B2 (en) 2010-10-18 2017-01-24 Silgan Containers Llc Can end with strengthening bead configuration
ES2574903T3 (es) * 2011-12-20 2016-06-23 Ardagh Mp Group Netherlands B.V. Panel y recipiente provisto de dicho panel
US9114451B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-08-25 Ball Corporation Container end closure with buckle control feature
HUE049750T2 (hu) * 2014-12-01 2020-10-28 Trivium Packaging Group Netherlands B V Fedél és ilyen fedéllel ellátott tartály
ES2935714T3 (es) 2018-06-19 2023-03-09 Top Cap Holding Gmbh Procedimiento para fabricar una tapa de lata metálica

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3359773A (en) * 1964-03-03 1967-12-26 Metal Box Co Ltd Scoring of thin sheet metal
GB1217295A (en) * 1968-04-10 1970-12-31 Aluminum Co Of America Container closure adapted to be removed by tearing
FR2079293A1 (fr) * 1970-02-06 1971-11-12 Rasselstein Ag
US3688718A (en) * 1969-10-23 1972-09-05 Aluminum Co Of America Method and apparatus for scoring metal container ends
US4055134A (en) * 1976-02-12 1977-10-25 The Continental Group, Inc. Edge protection for easy opening end closure
US4122791A (en) * 1977-06-30 1978-10-31 Dayton Reliable Tool & Manufacturing Company Method and apparatus for scoring an enameled metal surface
US4503989A (en) * 1984-02-01 1985-03-12 Ermal C. Fraze Can end with retained tear strip
WO1998055366A1 (fr) * 1997-06-03 1998-12-10 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Couvercle de boite a ouverture facile
US6234337B1 (en) * 1998-08-14 2001-05-22 H.J. Heinz Company Safe container end closure and method for fabricating a safe container end closure
WO2001078918A1 (fr) * 2000-04-12 2001-10-25 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Dessus de recipient a ouverture facile ameliore et procede de fabrication correspondant

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3416700A (en) * 1967-10-25 1968-12-17 Continental Can Co Safety device for easy opening container ends
EP0737624B1 (fr) * 1995-04-14 1999-10-13 Impress Metal Packaging Sa Procédé de fabrication d'un couvercle à ouverture facile à incision dans une zone inclinée
US5934498A (en) * 1997-09-19 1999-08-10 Aluminum Company Of America Convenience easy opening end with large removal panel
US6435368B1 (en) * 1999-04-20 2002-08-20 Nkk Corporation Easy opening can end and method for fabricating the same

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3359773A (en) * 1964-03-03 1967-12-26 Metal Box Co Ltd Scoring of thin sheet metal
GB1217295A (en) * 1968-04-10 1970-12-31 Aluminum Co Of America Container closure adapted to be removed by tearing
US3688718A (en) * 1969-10-23 1972-09-05 Aluminum Co Of America Method and apparatus for scoring metal container ends
FR2079293A1 (fr) * 1970-02-06 1971-11-12 Rasselstein Ag
US4055134A (en) * 1976-02-12 1977-10-25 The Continental Group, Inc. Edge protection for easy opening end closure
US4122791A (en) * 1977-06-30 1978-10-31 Dayton Reliable Tool & Manufacturing Company Method and apparatus for scoring an enameled metal surface
US4503989A (en) * 1984-02-01 1985-03-12 Ermal C. Fraze Can end with retained tear strip
WO1998055366A1 (fr) * 1997-06-03 1998-12-10 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Couvercle de boite a ouverture facile
US6234337B1 (en) * 1998-08-14 2001-05-22 H.J. Heinz Company Safe container end closure and method for fabricating a safe container end closure
WO2001078918A1 (fr) * 2000-04-12 2001-10-25 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Dessus de recipient a ouverture facile ameliore et procede de fabrication correspondant

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR3022895A1 (fr) * 2014-06-30 2016-01-01 Ardagh Mp West France Couvercle metallique pour un corps de contenant
WO2016001562A1 (fr) * 2014-06-30 2016-01-07 Ardagh Mp West France Couvercle metallique pour un corps de contenant
RU2676661C2 (ru) * 2014-06-30 2019-01-09 Ардаг Мп Вест Франс Металлическая крышка для корпуса емкости

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003039785A1 (fr) 2003-05-15
JP2005507833A (ja) 2005-03-24
MXPA04004259A (es) 2004-11-29
CN1596162A (zh) 2005-03-16
CN1286594C (zh) 2006-11-29
CA2465963A1 (fr) 2003-05-15
US20050082291A1 (en) 2005-04-21

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