EP1474338A1 - Can end - Google Patents

Can end

Info

Publication number
EP1474338A1
EP1474338A1 EP03739439A EP03739439A EP1474338A1 EP 1474338 A1 EP1474338 A1 EP 1474338A1 EP 03739439 A EP03739439 A EP 03739439A EP 03739439 A EP03739439 A EP 03739439A EP 1474338 A1 EP1474338 A1 EP 1474338A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
panel
wall
score
countersink
flat portion
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP03739439A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1474338B1 (en
Inventor
Terence Alexander Benge
Robert Watkins
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.)
Crown Packaging Technology Inc
Original Assignee
Crown Packaging Technology Inc
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 Crown Packaging Technology Inc filed Critical Crown Packaging Technology Inc
Priority to EP03739439A priority Critical patent/EP1474338B1/en
Publication of EP1474338A1 publication Critical patent/EP1474338A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1474338B1 publication Critical patent/EP1474338B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B65D17/28—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
    • B65D17/401—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 characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall
    • B65D17/4011—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 characterised by having the line of weakness provided in an end wall for opening completely by means of a tearing tab

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a can end and, in particular to a can end which is adapted for opening by at least two different methods.
  • Easy open can ends in which a ring pull or tab is provided for removal of a panel defined by a score line
  • Full aperture easy open ends in which the score line surrounds the whole of a centre panel adjacent to the circumferential seam are in common use for the packaging of food items.
  • Such ends open in two stages: an initial "pop” when the tab is raised and tilted to rupture the score and break any vacuum within the can, and a "tear” stage when the tab is pulled away from the can in order to peel open and remove the end.
  • Much design work has been directed to reducing the forces required for opening the can end, without compromising the integrity of the can or reducing pressure resistance to unacceptable levels.
  • This invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.
  • a can end comprising a seaming panel, a wall depending from the seaming panel, a countersink bead and a centre panel; in which the centre panel includes a circumferential score and a tab adjacent the score, and the can end further includes a substantially flat portion between the wall and the countersink bead, such that the can end is adapted for opening either by raising the tab to rupture the score and thereby remove the centre panel, or by engaging the flat portion with a can opener blade and cutting around an annulus defined by the flat portion to remove the radially inward part of the can end, including the countersink and centre panel .
  • the invention also provides a two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end described above.
  • the dual opening characteristics of the can end of the present invention are particularly pertinent to use with a two piece can body as it is not possible to use a conventional can opener to open the base of a two piece can which lacks any seam on which the conventional opener engages.
  • Figure 1 is a side section of a prior art full aperture easy open end
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged part side section of another prior art full aperture easy open end
  • Figure 3 is a side section of the end of the present invention
  • Figure 4 is the enlarged view of IV in figure 3 ;
  • Figure 5 is the enlarged view of V in figure 3.
  • the easy open can end 10 of figure 1 includes a seaming panel 12, wall 14 joining the seaming panel 12 to a countersink bead 16 and inner wall 18 of the countersink bead which supports a centre panel 20 of the can end.
  • a line of weakness typically in the form of a score, extends around the centre panel 10 near the wall 14 to define a removable panel.
  • a pull tab 22 is fixed to an integral rivet 24 raised from the metal of the centre panel 20.
  • the tab is raised to break or "pop" the score line and is then pulled progressively to remove the removable panel by tearing the rest of the score line.
  • European patent application EP-98921661.9 describes how selective positioning of the tab with respect to the grain orientation of the metal of the can end reduces tear force requirements without adversely affecting the pop force needed to break the score. Orienting of the can end during manufacture, however, necessitates extra tooling and, possibly, additional tooling stations. Whilst the resultant can end may be more readily opened than conventional easy open ends, the extra capital costs involved may deter some manufacturers.
  • the enlarged section of figure 2 shows the part of a can end which included seaming panel 12, centre panel 20 and score 30.
  • this can end there is no countersink and the wall 14' is joined to the centre panel 20 by a double fold 32, 34.
  • Score 30 is situated in lower fold 34, rather than on the centre panel, and is partially covered by upper fold 32.
  • This means that the aperture obtained on opening the can end is maximised as not only centre panel 20, but also most of lower fold 34 is removed. Nonetheless, the abuse resistance of this can end is poor (i.e. when the can is dropped) as distortion of the double fold is transmitted directly through the score, causing score rupture.
  • pressure changes within the can may lead to rotation of the tab until it becomes hooked over the seam and risks hook-up on parts of the retort apparatus .
  • the outer wall of the countersink 16 is integral with the wall 14.
  • the wall 14 and outer wall 17 of the countersink 16 are separated by a flat "stepped" portion 19.
  • the nose 23 of pull tab 22 overlies the score 26 in the centre panel 20, as in figure 1.
  • the "stepped portion" 19 between wall 14 and outer wall 17 of the countersink 16 comprises a flat annulus of approximately 4 mm in width (difference between inner and outer diameter) .
  • a can opener By use of a can opener, the user is able to engage the wheel blade of the can opener on the flat portion and, by progressive cutting of the stepped portion 19 around the whole of the can end, removal of the centre panel 20 and countersink 16 is possible.
  • the height of wall 14 (distance h in figure 4) must be no more than 4 mm or a can opener will be unable to engage the annulus 19. This height should be from 3 mm to 4 mm, typically about 3.5 mm.
  • the annulus can be up to 10 mm although clearly the larger the annulus, the smaller the aperture of an end of the same overall diameter will be. Furthermore, a can end having an annulus of much greater than 4 mm may have unacceptable pressure performance.
  • the annulus should be at least 1 mm in width and ideally not be less than 2 mm to allow sufficient width of flat portion for engagement with a can opener.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Opened By Tearing Frangible Portions (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
  • Devices For Opening Bottles Or Cans (AREA)

Abstract

A can end (10) of the full aperture easy open end type, which comprises a seaming panel (12), a wall (14) depending from the seaming panel, a radiussed portion or "countersink" (16) and a centre panel (20). The end of the invention further includes a flat annulus or stepped portion (19) between the wall (14) and the countersink (16) such that, in the alternative, the can end is openable by engaging the blade of a can opener with the stepped portion. <IMAGE>

Description

CAN END
This invention relates to a can end and, in particular to a can end which is adapted for opening by at least two different methods.
Easy open can ends, in which a ring pull or tab is provided for removal of a panel defined by a score line, are well known. Full aperture easy open ends in which the score line surrounds the whole of a centre panel adjacent to the circumferential seam are in common use for the packaging of food items. Such ends open in two stages: an initial "pop" when the tab is raised and tilted to rupture the score and break any vacuum within the can, and a "tear" stage when the tab is pulled away from the can in order to peel open and remove the end. Much design work has been directed to reducing the forces required for opening the can end, without compromising the integrity of the can or reducing pressure resistance to unacceptable levels.
Although the current design for full aperture easy open ends has been optimised in many ways, for example by the provision of beads or by control of grain orientation, many people still find such ends difficult to open. Even with access to the ring on the tab increased by a finger well, those with weak fingers or hands may still find the lifting of the tab too difficult. Often such people will choose to open the can at the opposite end where there is no ring pull and score, using a conventional can opener, in preference to the so-called "easy open end". This, of course, may lead to leakage of the contents if the score at the easy open end has been ruptured at all. In some instances, a product in a can which has two conventional ends, that is neither end being an easy open end, will be purchased in preference .
This invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.
According to the present invention, there is provided a can end comprising a seaming panel, a wall depending from the seaming panel, a countersink bead and a centre panel; in which the centre panel includes a circumferential score and a tab adjacent the score, and the can end further includes a substantially flat portion between the wall and the countersink bead, such that the can end is adapted for opening either by raising the tab to rupture the score and thereby remove the centre panel, or by engaging the flat portion with a can opener blade and cutting around an annulus defined by the flat portion to remove the radially inward part of the can end, including the countersink and centre panel .
The invention also provides a two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end described above. The dual opening characteristics of the can end of the present invention are particularly pertinent to use with a two piece can body as it is not possible to use a conventional can opener to open the base of a two piece can which lacks any seam on which the conventional opener engages.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side section of a prior art full aperture easy open end;
Figure 2 is an enlarged part side section of another prior art full aperture easy open end; Figure 3 is a side section of the end of the present invention;
Figure 4 is the enlarged view of IV in figure 3 ; and
Figure 5 is the enlarged view of V in figure 3.
The easy open can end 10 of figure 1 includes a seaming panel 12, wall 14 joining the seaming panel 12 to a countersink bead 16 and inner wall 18 of the countersink bead which supports a centre panel 20 of the can end. A line of weakness, typically in the form of a score, extends around the centre panel 10 near the wall 14 to define a removable panel.
In the easy open end of figure 1, a pull tab 22 is fixed to an integral rivet 24 raised from the metal of the centre panel 20. The tab is raised to break or "pop" the score line and is then pulled progressively to remove the removable panel by tearing the rest of the score line. European patent application EP-98921661.9 describes how selective positioning of the tab with respect to the grain orientation of the metal of the can end reduces tear force requirements without adversely affecting the pop force needed to break the score. Orienting of the can end during manufacture, however, necessitates extra tooling and, possibly, additional tooling stations. Whilst the resultant can end may be more readily opened than conventional easy open ends, the extra capital costs involved may deter some manufacturers. The enlarged section of figure 2 shows the part of a can end which included seaming panel 12, centre panel 20 and score 30. In this can end, however, there is no countersink and the wall 14' is joined to the centre panel 20 by a double fold 32, 34. Score 30 is situated in lower fold 34, rather than on the centre panel, and is partially covered by upper fold 32. This means that the aperture obtained on opening the can end is maximised as not only centre panel 20, but also most of lower fold 34 is removed. Nonetheless, the abuse resistance of this can end is poor (i.e. when the can is dropped) as distortion of the double fold is transmitted directly through the score, causing score rupture. Furthermore, during processing of product (such as food) within a can which is closed by the end of figure 2, pressure changes within the can may lead to rotation of the tab until it becomes hooked over the seam and risks hook-up on parts of the retort apparatus .
In figure 1, the outer wall of the countersink 16 is integral with the wall 14. In the can end of the invention, as shown in figures 3 to 5 , the wall 14 and outer wall 17 of the countersink 16, are separated by a flat "stepped" portion 19. The nose 23 of pull tab 22 overlies the score 26 in the centre panel 20, as in figure 1.
In contrast in particular with the prior art design of figure 2, the provision of a countersink, i.e. radiused portion 16, gives improved abuse and pressure performance and avoids "tab over seam" hook-up. A most important aspect of the present invention is that the can end of figure 3 to 5 not only gives better performance than the prior art design of figure 2 and equal pressure resistance to the design of figure 1, but it also offers an alternative opening method to the consumer. Thus, although it is expected that the majority of customers will use the pull tab to break the score and remove the centre panel 20 in conventional manner, there is an alternative available to those unwilling or unable to use the tab.
Specifically, the "stepped portion" 19 between wall 14 and outer wall 17 of the countersink 16 comprises a flat annulus of approximately 4 mm in width (difference between inner and outer diameter) . By use of a can opener, the user is able to engage the wheel blade of the can opener on the flat portion and, by progressive cutting of the stepped portion 19 around the whole of the can end, removal of the centre panel 20 and countersink 16 is possible. The height of wall 14 (distance h in figure 4) must be no more than 4 mm or a can opener will be unable to engage the annulus 19. This height should be from 3 mm to 4 mm, typically about 3.5 mm.
The annulus can be up to 10 mm although clearly the larger the annulus, the smaller the aperture of an end of the same overall diameter will be. Furthermore, a can end having an annulus of much greater than 4 mm may have unacceptable pressure performance. The annulus should be at least 1 mm in width and ideally not be less than 2 mm to allow sufficient width of flat portion for engagement with a can opener.
By providing a combination of opening methods to the consumer, the applicant has found that the consumer offered more choice in opening, but there is not only no adverse affect on performance but also potential improvements in abuse and pressure performance.

Claims

1. A can end (10) comprising a seaming panel (12), a wall (14) depending from the seaming panel, a countersink bead (16) and a centre panel (20); in which: the centre panel (20) includes a circumferential score and a tab (22) adjacent the score; and the can end further includes a substantially flat portion (19) between the wall (14) and the countersink bead (16); and the height of wall (14) is from 3 to 4 mm; such that the can end is adapted for opening either by raising the tab to rupture the score and thereby remove the centre panel, or by engaging the flat portion with a can opener blade and cutting around an annulus defined by the flat portion to remove the radially inward part of the can end, including the countersink and centre panel .
2. A can end according to claim 1, in which the substantially flat portion (19) is 2 mm or more in width.
3. A can end according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the substantially flat portion is 10 mm or less in width.
4. A can end according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , in which the substantially flat portion is 4 mm in width.
5. A two piece can comprising a can body with integral base, and the can end of any one of claims 1 to 4.
EP03739439A 2002-02-15 2003-01-20 Can end Expired - Lifetime EP1474338B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP03739439A EP1474338B1 (en) 2002-02-15 2003-01-20 Can end

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP02251059 2002-02-15
EP02251059A EP1336570A1 (en) 2002-02-15 2002-02-15 Can end
PCT/EP2003/000521 WO2003068615A1 (en) 2002-02-15 2003-01-20 Can end
EP03739439A EP1474338B1 (en) 2002-02-15 2003-01-20 Can end

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1474338A1 true EP1474338A1 (en) 2004-11-10
EP1474338B1 EP1474338B1 (en) 2007-03-28

Family

ID=27619186

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02251059A Withdrawn EP1336570A1 (en) 2002-02-15 2002-02-15 Can end
EP03739439A Expired - Lifetime EP1474338B1 (en) 2002-02-15 2003-01-20 Can end

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02251059A Withdrawn EP1336570A1 (en) 2002-02-15 2002-02-15 Can end

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20050082292A1 (en)
EP (2) EP1336570A1 (en)
AT (1) ATE358059T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2003210171A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60312823T2 (en)
WO (1) WO2003068615A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2075199B1 (en) * 2007-12-24 2016-02-24 Ardagh MP Group Netherlands B.V. Can and a method for making such a can
EP2157023B1 (en) * 2008-08-21 2014-10-22 Ardagh MP Group Netherlands B.V. Lid for a can and method for orientating such a lid
US8939308B2 (en) 2009-09-04 2015-01-27 Crown Packaging Technology, Inc. Full aperture beverage end
US9714114B2 (en) 2013-11-08 2017-07-25 Crown Packaging Technology, Inc. Full aperture can end

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2168672B (en) * 1984-12-11 1989-01-11 Toyo Seikan Kaisha Ltd Lid for readily openable can
US5169017A (en) * 1990-09-05 1992-12-08 H. J. Heinz Company Can end closure apparatus
DK173974B1 (en) * 1996-09-26 2002-03-18 Glud & Marstrand As Box with lid, which is fitted with a lifting ring
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

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO03068615A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20050082292A1 (en) 2005-04-21
WO2003068615A1 (en) 2003-08-21
ATE358059T1 (en) 2007-04-15
AU2003210171A1 (en) 2003-09-04
EP1474338B1 (en) 2007-03-28
EP1336570A1 (en) 2003-08-20
DE60312823T2 (en) 2007-08-16
DE60312823D1 (en) 2007-05-10

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