JP2004524229A - Beverage can with reinforced beads extending outward - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a beverage can end (2) having an outwardly concave reinforcing bead (8) with an upper edge (10). The upper edge (10) extends outward beyond a substantially vertical plane defined by the downwardly extending chuck wall (6).

Description

【Technical field】
[0001]
This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 271,629, filed February 26, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates generally to beverage can ends and, more particularly, to metallic beverage can ends used for interconnection with beverage can bodies.
[Background Art]
[0002]
The manufacture of beverage cans, and more particularly metal beverage cans, typically involves interconnecting the beverage can end to a beverage container body. In some applications, one end is interconnected to the upper side of the can body and one end is interconnected to the lower side. However, it is more frequent to interconnect the beverage can end only at the upper end of the beverage can body drawn and ironed from a flat sheet of raw material such as aluminum. Because of the potentially high internal pressure created by carbonated beverages, both the beverage can body and the beverage can end generally have an internal pressure of up to 655 kPa (95 psi) without catastrophic and permanent deformation. Is required to be maintained. In addition, due to heat, overfilling, high CO ₂ content, and vibration, the internal pressure of the beverage can can have excessive internal pressures approaching or exceeding 689 kPa (100 psi).
[0003]
Therefore, the beverage can end must be durable to withstand high internal pressures, and is made of a very thin metal material such as aluminum, reducing the overall cost of the manufacturing process and the weight of the final product. There must be. For this reason, a durable beverage can end made of a durable, lightweight and ultra-thin metal material that can withstand the high internal pressure generated by carbonated beverages and the external force applied during shipping Department is strongly demanded. There is also a need to improve the design and to make durable beverage cans using equipment commonly used in beverage can factories. The following patent application is directed to an improved beverage that is adapted for interconnection with a beverage can body and that can improve the countersink reinforced bead structure to save material costs and withstand large internal pressures Describe the cans.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
[0004]
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is a metal beverage that can withstand large internal pressures approaching 689 kPa (100 psi) while saving 3% to 18% of the material costs associated with manufacturing typical beverage can ends. To provide a can end. Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a beverage can end that can be easily and quickly double seamed into the neck of a beverage can body.
[0005]
In another aspect of the present invention, a beverage can end is provided that eliminates the need for expensive new punches and presses that are manufactured using conventional manufacturing equipment and thus required for manufacturing. That is, the production of an improved beverage can end can be started quickly and effectively at an existing manufacturing plant using existing and well known manufacturing equipment and processes.
[0006]
Yet another aspect of the invention provides a can end having an outwardly concave reinforcing bead, at least a portion of the reinforcing beat of which extends outward beyond a substantially vertical plane defined by the chuck wall. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a beverage can end. More specifically, this manufacturing method generally consists of a two-step process, first forming a conventional can end "pre-shell" and then trapping between two opposing tools. Then, a rotational forming tool having a lower "limb" is placed on the pre-shell. The rotary reforming tool includes a desired countersink geometry, and more specifically, an outwardly concave reinforcing bead. Next, the pre-shell is pressed into the deforming tool and the rotational forming tool is pressed against the pre-shell, thus obtaining the panel tool shape and forming the preferred geometric shape.
[0007]
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a beverage can end that significantly reduces material costs by reducing the size of the material plate, rather than utilizing thin materials that may break. is there. In other words, the material cost is greatly reduced as a result of reducing the size of the raw material plate without lowering the connectivity and strength of the beverage can end.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0008]
Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, a metal beverage can end is provided,
A peripheral cover hook adapted for interconnection with the upper end of the beverage can body;
A chuck wall hanging down from the inner surface of the cover hook and extending downward in a substantially vertical direction;
An outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead (hereinafter "outwardly concave annular") having an upper edge extending radially inward from the chuck wall and extending outward beyond a linear plane defined by the chuck wall. Reinforcement beads))
A lower edge extending upwardly from the outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead and interconnected to a central panel.
[0009]
Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, an outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead is provided, the bead having a non-linear arc shape extending between an upper edge and a lower edge, and inwardly facing the waist of the beverage storage body. Extend to. In one embodiment, the reinforcing bead is fully creased, and the first upper portion is disposed substantially parallel to the second lower position, and is thus substantially 180 degrees inverted.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0010]
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a cross-sectional front view of one embodiment of the present invention. That is, it is shown that the beverage can end 2 is interconnected to the beverage can body 20, which also includes a beverage can constriction 22. The beverage can end 2 generally has a peripheral cover hook 4 which is used to secure the beverage can end 2 to the neck 22 of the beverage can. The peripheral cover hook 4 is integrally interconnected to a chuck wall 6 which extends substantially vertically downward. In some embodiments, chuck wall 6 may be oriented at an angle θ ₁ . This angle is preferably between about 0 and 6 degrees, more preferably about 4 degrees.
[0011]
The chuck wall 6 is interconnected at its lower end to a reinforcing bead 8. The reinforcing bead 8 comprises a reinforcing bead upper edge 10 at the upper end and a walking bead lower edge 12 at the lower end. The reinforcement bead lower edge 12 extends upwardly and is integrally interconnected to the central panel 14. Alternatively, the panel inner wall 16 at an angle phi ₁ extending upwardly may be provided. The chuck wall 6 is interconnected to the reinforcing bead upper edge 10. The upper edge 10 of the reinforcement bead extends at its lowest part outwardly beyond the longitudinal plane defined by the chuck wall 6 towards the can body 20. As a result of the internal pressure of the can, the inner panel wall 16 and the lower reinforced bead edge 12 are pressed outwardly against the upper reinforced bead edge 10 and are located opposite the neck 22 of the can. This geometry has been found to significantly reduce bulk material requirements from between about 3% to 18%, and further enhances resistance to internal buckling.
[0012]
Referring now to the beverage can end shown in FIG. 1, various dimensions are shown, but each embodiment is not necessarily limited to these specific dimensions. is not. That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, a crown 18 representing the uppermost portion of the beverage can end 2 is shown. Preferably, the distance from crown 18 to the uppermost portion of central panel 14 is between about 0.050 and 0.200 inches (about 1.27 mm to about 5.08 mm). Further, the height between the crown 18 and the top portion of the can body is preferably between about 0.050 to 0.250 inches (1.27 mm to 6.35 mm). Similarly, the distance from the crown 18 to the bottom of the wound peripheral cover hook is between about 0.050 to 0.125 inches. In addition, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the total thickness of the peripheral cover hook, when double-seamed to the waist of the beverage can end, is about 0.762 mm to 1.905 mm (about 0.030 to 0.95 mm). 075 inches). Further, the radius of curvature of the reinforcing bead 8 is preferably between about 0.005 inches and about 0.030 inches, while the chuck wall of the reinforcing bead upper edge 10 is about 0.127 mm to about 0.762 mm. The total outward divergence from the vertical plane defined by 6 is between about 0.005 and 0.030 inches. In this particular embodiment, the material thickness of the center panel is between about 0.005 and 0.014 inches.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in one embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing bead 8 has an upper part directed downwards towards the constriction 22 of the beverage can, and is substantially parallel to the upper part and has a central part. And a lower part extending upward toward the panel 14. That is, the upper and lower portions of the reinforcing bead 8 are oriented in a substantially parallel geometry. Therefore, when the internal pressure of the can increases, the upper part and the lower part of the reinforcing bead 8 may come into contact with each other.
[0014]
Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the beverage can end 2 is shown. That is, in this particular embodiment, the center panel 14 does not protrude above the reinforcing bead or upper edge 10 of the reinforcing bead. Conversely, there is no panel inner wall 16 extending upward from the lowest part of the reinforcing bead 8. Thus, in this particular embodiment, the center panel 14 is located substantially on the same horizontal plane as the lowermost portion of the reinforcement beam. This is contrary to many of the other embodiments where the central panel 14 is raised above the lowest part of the reinforcing beam 8.
[0015]
Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention, which is very similar to the drawing shown in FIG. As shown in this particular view, when pressure is applied inside the beverage can 20, the reinforcing beam 8 is pressed against the neck 22 of the can and / or the can body 20. In this embodiment, the central panel 14 is higher elevations than the lowest portion of the reinforcing bead 8, the panel inner wall 16 extending upwardly at the panel inner wall angle phi ₁ can be confirmed.
[0016]
Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional front view of the pre-shell conventional can end, with the peripheral cover hooks 4 interconnected to the waist 22 of the beverage can. The rotational molding tool 26 is shown positioned above the central panel 14 and just before it begins to rotate to form the beverage can end 2. As shown, the rotational forming tool 26 also has a forming tool loop 28. As the forming tool loop 28 rotates, it is driven into the lowest part of the chuck wall 6 at the end of the beverage can adjacent to the reinforcing bead 8. As shown in FIG. 5, when the loop 28 of the rotational forming tool is driven outwardly into the reinforcing bead 8, the reinforcing bead 8 is pushed beyond the vertical plane defined by the chuck wall 6. As a result, the reinforcing bead upper edge 10 is further pressed against the lower part of the constriction 22 of the can and pushed against the can body 20. In this particular embodiment, the central panel 14 is not raised and is substantially flat with respect to the lowest part of the reinforcing bead 8.
[0017]
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention. That is, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, but showing a state before the peripheral cover hook 4 is double-seamed to the constriction 22 of the beverage can. In this particular embodiment, the reinforcing bead 8 has a substantially arcuate shape and extends substantially inward towards the beverage can body 20, but differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. Instead, it utilizes a small diameter central panel. In this embodiment, the chuck wall angle θ ₁ is preferably between about 0 and 5 degrees. On the other hand, the panel inner wall phi ₁ is preferably between about 0 degrees and 20 degrees. In addition, the reinforcing bead upper edge 10 lies outside the vertical plane defined by the chuck wall 6 and extends inwardly into it, adjacent to the beverage can neck 22 under double seam. . Further, the lower bead lower edge 12 of the reinforcing bead 8 is interconnected to the panel inner wall 16, which extends upward and interconnects to the central panel 14.
[0018]
It is believed that the arc shape of the reinforced bead, unlike prior art beverage can ends, imparts additional force to the can end 2 due to its non-linear shape and geometric orientation with respect to the chuck wall 6. The reinforcing bead 8 shown at the end of the beverage can in FIGS. 6 and 7 is believed to have a radius of curvature between about 0.050 to 0.375 inches. Alternatively, the reinforcing beads may be substantially straight. Further, the reinforcing bead 8 may have an overall horizontal length between the upper edge 10 and the lower edge 12 of about 1.27 mm to 6.35 mm (about 0 mm), depending on the diameter of the beverage can and the diameter of the center panel 14. 0.050 to 0.250 inch). In addition, as seen in FIG. 8, a cross-sectional front view of a typical can body 20 is shown here, with the can body 20 and can neck 22 prior to interconnection with the beverage can end 2. You can check.
[0019]
9 and 10, there are shown front perspective views of two different embodiments of the present invention. That is, in FIG. 9, the central panel 14 has been raised to a given geometric location, and the pull tab 30 used to open the beverage can along the kerf 32 can be seen. FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of the beverage can end shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, wherein the central panel 14 is raised differently. Also shown is the opening 34 at the end of the beverage can after breaking the kerf line 32 by applying force to the pull tab 30. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art and as described in the previous figures, the present invention can present various embodiments, including a central panel 14 as shown in FIGS. In some cases, the protrusion does not rise, but extends substantially along the same horizontal plane as the lowermost portion of the reinforcing bead 8.
[0020]
For clarity, the components and associated numbers found in the figures are listed in the description of the reference numerals.
It should be appreciated that the invention described herein can be modified or modified when applying the principles of the invention to different embodiments and situations. Therefore, the embodiments described herein should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, but rather the invention should only be construed according to the claims and as supported by the specification.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of the present invention shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view of an embodiment of the present invention before forming a reinforcing bead using a deformation tool.
5 is a cross-sectional front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, in which the position of the deforming tool during manufacture and immediately before removal can be confirmed.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a beverage can end interconnected to a can body.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, with the beverage can end positioned on the can body just prior to interconnection.
FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of a can body and a part of a neck of the can.
FIG. 9 is a top front perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, further showing the center panel and pull tab.
FIG. 10 is a top front perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, further showing the opening of the pull tab and beverage can.
[Explanation of symbols]
[0022]
2 ... end of beverage can, 4 ... peripheral cover hook, 6 ... chuck wall, 8 ... reinforcement bead, 10 ... reinforcement bead upper edge, 12 ... reinforcement bead lower edge, 14 ... center panel, 16 ... panel inner wall, 18 ... Crown, 20 ... Can body, 22 ... Can neck, 24 ... Double seam part, 26 ... Rotation forming tool, 28 ... Forming tool loop part, 30 ... Pull tab, 32 ... Cut line, 34 ... Opening, θ ₁ : chuck wall angle, φ ₁ : panel inner wall angle.

Claims (30)

A metal beverage can end,
A peripheral cover hook adapted for interconnection with the upper end of the beverage can body;
Depending from the inside of the cover hook, a chuck wall extending downwardly at a chuck wall angle theta _1,
An outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead having an upper edge extending radially inward from a lower end of the chuck wall and extending outward beyond a plane defined by the chuck wall angle θ ₁ ;
A lower edge extending upwardly from the outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead and interconnected to a central panel;
A metal beverage can end comprising: The can end according to claim 1, wherein the outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead has an arc shape extending substantially between the upper edge and the lower edge. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead is between about 0.005 inches and about 0.030 inches. . The can end of claim 1, wherein the upper edge extends outwardly from the primary plane defined by the chuck wall at least about 0.005 inches. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the length of the outwardly concave annular reinforcing bead is between about 0.005 inches and 0.030 inches. . The can end of claim 1, wherein the central panel is raised above the lowermost portion of the lower edge by at least about 0.030 inches. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the central panel is positioned substantially at a given height between the lower edge and the upper edge. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the raised central panel has a circular shape. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the raised central panel has an elliptical shape. The can end according to claim 1, wherein the raised central panel has a non-concentric shape. 2. The can end according to claim 1, wherein, when a given internal pressure is present inside the can body, the upper edge is pushed into an opposing constriction of the can body, and the can end is resistant to breakage. A can end. 2. The can end according to claim 1, further comprising means for opening the metal beverage can end. The can end according to claim 1, wherein said opening means is a pull tab. The can end of claim 1, wherein the upper edge and the lower edge are substantially parallel. 2. The can end of claim 1, wherein the upper edge and the lower edge define an upper portion and a lower portion of the reinforcing bead, the upper and lower portions being oriented in generally opposite directions. , Can end. A metal beverage can end,
A peripheral cover hook adapted for interconnection with the upper end of the beverage can body;
A chuck wall integrally interconnected with said peripheral cover hook, extending downward at a chuck wall angle θ ₁ and defining a chuck wall surface;
A reinforcement bead having an upper edge at an upper end and a lower edge at a lower end, wherein the upper edge is interconnected to a lower end of the chuck wall, and at least a portion of the reinforcement bead extends beyond the chuck wall surface. A reinforcing bead extending outwardly toward a sidewall of the beverage can;
A central panel interconnected to the lower edge of the annular reinforcing bead;
A metal beverage can end comprising: 17. The beverage can end according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcing bead has an outwardly concave shape. 17. The beverage can end according to claim 16, wherein the length of the reinforcing bead between the upper edge and the lower edge is about 0.005 to 0.030. 17. The beverage can end according to claim 16, wherein the central panel rises vertically above the lower edge. 20. The beverage can end of claim 19, wherein the central panel rises at least about 0.030 above the lower edge. 17. The beverage can end of claim 16, wherein the reinforcing bead has an arc shape and a radius of curvature of about 0.015 inches. 17. The beverage end according to claim 16, wherein the lower edge is vertically spaced from the upper edge by a distance of about 0.030 inches. 17. The beverage can end of claim 16, wherein, when an internal pressure is present inside the beverage can body, the upper edge is adapted to engage an opposing interior surface of the beverage can body. Beverage can end. 17. The beverage can according to claim 16, further comprising a pull tab disposed within the central panel, wherein the metal beverage can is selectively openable. 17. The beverage can of claim 16, wherein the upper edge and the lower edge define an upper portion and a lower portion of the reinforcing bead, wherein the upper and lower portions are substantially parallel. can. A beverage can end,
A substantially circular end wall adapted for interconnection with the beverage can body;
A chuck wall integrally interconnected with said substantially circular end wall and extending downward at a defined chuck wall angle θ from a substantially vertical plane;
A reinforcement bead having an upper edge at an upper end and a lower edge at a lower end, wherein the upper edge is interconnected to a lower end of the chuck wall, at least a portion of the reinforcement being outwardly extending beyond the substantially vertical plane. A reinforcing bead extending toward a side wall of the beverage can,
A central panel interconnected to the lower edge of the reinforcing bead;
Opening means interconnected with the central panel for selectively opening the beverage can end;
A beverage can end comprising: 27. The beverage can end of claim 26, wherein the reinforcing bead is outwardly concave and has a radius of curvature between about 0.005 inches and 0.030 inches. Beverage can end. 27. The beverage can end according to claim 26, wherein the upper edge is located substantially below a double seam between the beverage can end and the beverage can body. 27. The beverage can end of claim 26, wherein the horizontal length between the upper edge and the lower edge of the reinforcing bead is at least about 0.050 inches. edge. 2. The beverage can end according to claim 1, wherein said opening means comprises a pull tab.

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