JP4728150B2 - Metal can with 3D pattern - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a metal can such as an aluminum can for beverages mainly, and relates to a metal can that expresses a specific three-dimensional pattern appearance by combining an embossed pattern and a printed pattern on at least a part of the peripheral wall of the can body.

  As cans for beverages such as beer and soft drinks, metal cans such as aluminum cans and steel cans formed by drawing and ironing processes called DI cans are often used.

  In such a metal can, in order to improve the appearance or to improve the mechanical strength in response to the thinning, in particular to improve the pressure resistance of the can body, the can body is hexagonal, rectangular There is known one in which a polyhedral wall in which polygonal concave unit embossed cells such as a polygonal wall are continuously formed is formed (see Patent Document 1).

  In this polyhedron wall, polygonal unit embossed cells constituting the structural unit are arranged side by side in a phase difference in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the can body by sharing the outer peripheral partition ridge line between adjacent cells. The outer peripheral partition ridge line has a convex shape, and the inner region surrounded by the ridge line is formed on a relatively concave flat surface, a concave arc surface, a refractive concave surface having a valley fold line, or the like. is there.

A metal can having an embossed polyhedral wall as described above can exhibit a unique three-dimensional effect and improve the decoration effect because the polyhedral wall exhibits an irregular reflection effect of light. In order to give the peculiarity, as shown in Patent Document 2 below, in each unit emboss cell, a high-reflectance portion having a high reflectance and a low-reflection portion whose reflectance is suppressed by printing or the like are adjacent to each other. By providing them, a metal can has been proposed that can express a three-dimensional feeling different from the actual embossed shape.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-180228 Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-210326 (refer to claim 1)

  However, the prior art proposed by the above-mentioned Patent Document 2 simply uses the three-dimensional effect due to the shape of the polyhedral wall and the three-dimensional appearance effect due to the contrast between the high reflection portion and the low reflection portion arranged adjacent to each other, There is no suggestion about expressing a synergistic decorative effect by combining the embossed shape and the printed pattern.

  The present invention is based on the background art as described above, and a metal can having an embossed polyhedral wall on at least a part of the can body is combined with a polyhedral wall and a printing pattern of a specific mode applied to the portion. It is intended to be able to show a more distinctive and unique three-dimensional pattern appearance not seen in conventional products with a synergistic effect.

  In addition, the above-mentioned metal can excellent in decorativeness can be maintained with high productivity without adding any other special process by combining embossing and printing processing equivalent to the conventional technology. However, one of the other purposes is to enable manufacture.

  In the present invention, for the above purpose, a printed pattern having the same shape as that of a unit embossed cell, which is a structural unit of a polyhedral wall formed on a can body, is dispersed in a plurality of unit printed cells at specific sites in the polyhedral wall. The main characteristic point is that it is expressed as follows. This will be described in more detail as follows.

  That is, the metal can having a three-dimensional pattern according to the present invention has an embossed polyhedral wall in at least a part of the body, and the polygonal wall has a polygonal unit embossed cell in the circumferential direction of the body and the can axis direction. In addition, a printed pattern portion is formed on the polyhedral wall so as to overlap the polyhedral wall, and the printed pattern portion includes a large number of polygonal unit print cells having the same shape as the unit emboss cell. And the unit print cell is present in a mode that spans a plurality of adjacent unit emboss cells, with the center being located at the intersection of the peripheral partition ridge lines of the unit emboss cell, Each of the unit print cells is configured to have a three-dimensional appearance when the outer peripheral partition ridge lines are present in a radial arrangement.

  The unit print cells include two or more types of unit print cells having different colors, and the unit print cells having the same color are distributed in a regular or irregular arrangement in the circumferential direction and can axis direction of the can body. Preferably.

  The printed pattern portion preferably includes a plurality of unit non-printing cells having the same color as the unit printing cell and exhibiting a metal ground color of the can body.

  From the necessity that the polygonal unit embossed cells constituting the polyhedral wall can be expressed continuously in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the can body by sharing the partition ridge line of the outer periphery between adjacent cells, It is desirable that the shape be a hexagon, or a quadrangle such as a square or a rhombus.

  Therefore, it is also desirable that the unit print cell and the unit non-print cell have a hexagonal shape, a square shape, or a diamond shape.

  In the metal can according to the present invention, in the region of the polyhedral wall formed in at least a part of the can body, a printed pattern portion including a polygonal unit print cell having the same shape as a unit emboss cell that is a constituent unit thereof Are provided so as to overlap each other, and each unit print cell is provided with its center set at the intersection of the peripheral embossing ridge lines of the unit emboss cell. Accordingly, each of the unit print cells is present in a manner that extends over a plurality of adjacent unit emboss cells, and the peripheral partition ridge lines of the unit emboss cells exist in a radial arrangement from the center in the unit print cell.

  For this reason, each unit print cell expresses a specific shadow effect by the convex or mountain-folded peripheral ridge line existing inside even though it is a single-color pattern portion printed in one color. In terms of appearance, a three-dimensional appearance such as a substantially triangular pyramid or a substantially quadrangular pyramid is exhibited.

  In addition, the three-dimensional appearance of the unit printing cells is combined with the unit embossed cells in a continuous polyhedron wall so that the unit embossing cells and the unit printing cells interfere with each other in a complex manner. It exhibits a unique three-dimensional pattern.

  Therefore, the metal can according to the present invention is highly decorative with a unique three-dimensional aesthetic that is different in appearance from the conventional metal can having a polyhedral wall.

  In addition, the metal can according to the present invention is a state in which a predetermined printed pattern portion is printed on a cylindrical can body portion that has undergone a molding process by a printing method according to a conventional technique and then aligned with the printed pattern portion. Can be manufactured by embossing according to the conventional technology, so it can be manufactured while maintaining high productivity by using the printing equipment and embossing equipment of the existing can manufacturing line as it is. There is also an advantage that metal cans with increased added value due to improvements can be provided at a relatively low cost at the same production cost as conventional products.

  In addition, the printed pattern portion includes two or more types of unit print cells having different colors, and the unit print cells of the same color are dispersedly arranged in a discontinuous manner in the circumferential direction of the can body and the can axis direction. When it is intended, it is possible to mix a plurality of types of three-dimensional patterns of different colors in the printed pattern portion, and to provide a metal can that is further excellent in decoration effect.

  Furthermore, when the printed pattern portion includes a plurality of unit non-printing cells in which a metal background having the same shape and the same size as the unit printing cell is exposed, the unit non-printing cell portion also dissipates metal glitter. However, since the three-dimensional appearance is exhibited, it is possible to provide a metal can having a unique three-dimensional pattern appearance in which the contrast by contrast with the colored unit print cell is emphasized.

  Further, by setting the unit embossed cells, unit printed cells, and unit non-printed cells to hexagonal, square, or rhombus, the arrangement of the unit embossed cells in the polyhedral wall in a continuously aligned state can be easily set by design. In addition, the decoration effect by the appearance of the three-dimensional pattern appearance as described above can be satisfactorily expressed without regret.

  Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of an aluminum metal can (1) showing one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

  The illustrated metal can (1) is sealed by sealing a lid on a flange (3) after filling the contents into a cylindrical can body (2) having a bottom and formed by drawing and ironing. Although a two-piece can is shown, the object of application of the present invention is not limited to this. A three-piece can in which a bottom wall member is also attached by tightening, or a base portion having a male screw at the upper end of the can body is formed. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a bottle-shaped metal can equipped with a screw cap.

  The metal can (1) has a polyhedral wall (10) formed around the entire circumference in the middle region of the height of the can body (2). This polyhedral wall (10) is shaped by embossing, and its basic structural unit is made of hexagonal unit embossed cells (11). And in the state which faced the opposing mountain part of this unit embossing cell (11) to the up-and-down direction of the can axis direction, in the form which shares the peripheral division ridgeline (12) with the adjacent unit embossing cell (11), 2) is represented in a continuous state in the circumferential direction and the can axis direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the outer peripheral section ridge line (12) has an outward convex shape, and the inner region surrounded by the outer peripheral section ridge line (12) is inward of the can body An arcuate recess that is slightly recessed is formed. The shape of the recessed portion is not particularly limited as long as it is recessed inward relative to the partition ridge line (12), and the center portion may be formed on a flat surface, or the hexagonal diagonal of the cell (11). May be formed on a concave concave surface having a shallow pyramid shape that is refracted into a valley fold.

  FIG. 3 shows the embossed shape of the polyhedral wall in a developed state.

  On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface of the can body (2), as shown in FIG. 1, a printed pattern portion (20) for makeup is printed over almost the entire region in the can axis direction including the region of the polyhedral wall (10). ) Is formed.

  The printed pattern portion (20) has a large number of hexagonal unit print cells (21) having the same shape and the same size as the unit emboss cell (11) in a region overlapping the polyhedral wall (10). In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the unit print cell (21) includes two or more types of unit print cells (21A) (21B) (21C) that are different from each other. Further, the unit print cells (21A) (21B) (21C) of the same color are connected to the can body (2) so that the unit print cells (21A) (21B) (21C) of the same color are not adjacent to each other. Are arranged in a distributed state in a regular or irregular arrangement, spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction and the can axis direction.

  Furthermore, in the printed pattern portion (20), a portion where the unit print cell (21) does not exist is left in a random arrangement. That is, a portion having a metal background color in which the metal background of the can body (2) is exposed is mixed. In addition, the exposed portion of the metal background includes a plurality of hexagonal unit non-printing cells (22) having the same shape and size as the unit printing cells (21).

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the arrangement state of the unit print cells (21A) (21B) (21C) and the unit non-print cells (22) in the print pattern portion (20).

  The first unit print cell (21A) is, for example, dark orange, the second unit print cell (21B) is, for example, light orange, and the third unit print cell (21C) is, for example, dark gray. The three types of unit print cells (21A), (21B), and (21C) having different colors are arranged in a staggered arrangement so as not to be continuous with ones of the same color. In addition, the unit non-printing cells (22) with the exposed metal background are provided in a scattered arrangement manner.

  By the way, the said printed pattern part (20) is combined based on the specific arrangement | positioning relationship with respect to the polyhedron wall (10). That is, the hexagonal unit print cell (21) of the printed pattern portion (20) has the center (0) at the outer peripheral section ridge line (12) of the hexagonal unit emboss cell (11) of the polyhedral wall (10). Are arranged so as to coincide with the intersection (P) where the two intersect. That is, for the polyhedral wall (10) of the array pattern of the unit embossed cells (11) shown in FIG. 3, the printed pattern portion (20) of the array pattern of the unit print cells (21) shown in FIG. The vertical and horizontal rows are superimposed in a state where they are shifted by half a row in the direction of the can axis or in the direction of 60 ° with respect to the can axis. As a result, each unit print cell (21) and unit non-print cell (22) in the printed pattern portion (20) are adjacent to the three unit emboss cells (11), (11), and (11) adjacent to the polyhedral wall (10). In the inner region surrounded by the outer perimeter line (23) of the cells (21) and (22), three of the convex outer perimeter partition ridge lines (12) of the unit embossed cell (11) exist in a straddled manner. Are present in a centripetal radial arrangement.

  FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the polyhedral wall (10) and the printed pattern portion (20) in an expanded state when they are combined in an overlapping manner based on the specific arrangement relationship as described above. As shown in the figure, in the unit print cells (21A) (21B) (21C) of each color and the hexagonal unit non-print cells (22) in the printed pattern portion (20), the outer peripheral line (23) Among the six corners, the straight line part of the outer peripheral partition ridge line (12) of the unit emboss cell (11) exists in a Y-shape from every other three corners toward the center (0). Yes. For this reason, each unit print cell (21) and unit non-print cell (22) are constituted by three inclined surfaces having different directions across the ridge line (12), and as a result, In terms of appearance, it has a three-dimensional shape that forms a mountain shape with a hexagonal bottom surface and three circumferential surfaces, and this produces a remarkable three-dimensional appearance with a shadow effect.

  The printed pattern portion (20) is generally formed on a portion other than the polyhedral wall (10), and the portion other than the polyhedral wall (10) has an arbitrary color in consideration of the overall harmony. Or patterns or characters are printed.

  The production of a metal can having a three-dimensional pattern appearance as described above according to the present invention is performed by printing means according to a conventional method in advance on a can body molded body formed by D / I processing (squeezing / ironing processing) or the like. Then, after the printed pattern portion (20) including the predetermined unit print cell (21) is printed on the outer surface, the printed pattern portion (20) is subsequently embossed so as to be precisely aligned with the printed pattern portion (20). This is performed by molding the polyhedral wall (10). The embossing for forming the polyhedral wall (10) is performed by sandwiching the can body between a roll-shaped inner mold inserted and disposed in the can body and an outer mold disposed outside the can body. This is generally done by rotating the mold relatively.

  As one preferred embodiment, when the outer diameter of the can body (2) of the metal can (1) is 66.2 mm, the hexagonal unit emboss cell (11) of the polyhedral wall (10). Is approximately 10 to 15 mm, preferably 12 to 13 mm in the circumferential dimension of the can body. Of course, in the present invention, the size of the unit emboss cell (11) is not limited at all.

  Moreover, in said preferable embodiment, although the case where the unit embossing cell (11) of the polyhedral wall (10) was set to a regular hexagon was demonstrated, this invention is a square, rhombus as another preferable embodiment. It is also possible to set to.

  FIG. 6 shows an appearance when the shape of the unit embossed cell (31) is set to a square, and the unit printed cell (41) and the unit non-printed cell (42) of the printed pattern portion are also set to a square. Is shown.

  In FIG. 7, similarly, the unit embossed cell (51) is set in a diamond shape, and the unit print cell (61) and the unit non-print cell (62) are both the same shape and the same size as the cell (51). The external appearance aspect at the time of setting to a rhombus is shown.

  6 and 7, the other components are substantially the same as those in the case of the hexagonal cell, and the repeated description is omitted. However, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the unit print cells (41) and (61) are formed in a form extending over the four adjacent unit emboss cells (31) and (51). Accordingly, in the unit print cells (41) and (61) and in the unit non-print cells (42) and (62), the four peripheral partition ridge lines of the unit emboss cells (41) and (61) exist in a cross shape. Each unit printing cell (41) (61) and unit non-printing cell (42) (62) includes four inclined surfaces having different directions, and is substantially a pyramid having a substantially quadrangular pyramid. It will exhibit the shape appearance.

  In addition, in the correspondence relationship with the unit emboss cell of the polyhedral wall, it is allowed to set the unit print cell of the print pattern part to a similar shape having a different size. In view of the fact that the impression of inconsistency and randomness is received, it is preferable to set the same shape and size in the present invention.

It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the metal can which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional shape of the polyhedral wall part of a can body is shown, Comprising: (A) is sectional drawing in alignment with a can axial direction, (B) is sectional drawing in alignment with the circumferential direction of a can body. It is a partial development view showing the shape of the polyhedral wall formed in the can body. FIG. 5 is a partial development view showing an arrangement mode of unit print cells of a printed pattern portion provided to be overlapped with a polyhedral wall. FIG. 6 is a partial development view showing an appearance pattern in which a polyhedral wall and a printed pattern portion are combined and represented by overlapping. FIG. 6 is a development view corresponding to FIG. 5 when the shape of the unit embossed cell of the polyhedral wall is set to a square. FIG. 6 is a development view corresponding to FIG. 5 when the shape of the unit emboss cell of the polyhedral wall is set to a rhombus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Metal can 2 ... Can body 10 ... Polyhedron wall 11 ... Unit embossing cell 12 ... Outer periphery division ridgeline 20 ... Print pattern part 21 ... Unit printing cell 22. ··· Unit non-printing cell P ··· Intersection of outer peripheral section ridge lines of unit embossed cell O ··· Center of unit print cell 31, 51 ··· Unit emboss cell 41 and 61 · · · Unit print cell 42 62 ... Unit non-printing cell

Claims (6)

Having an embossed polyhedral wall on at least a part of the trunk,
The polyhedral wall is formed by continuously forming polygonal unit embossed cells in the circumferential direction and can axis direction of the body part,
A printed pattern portion is formed on the polyhedral wall so as to overlap therewith,
The printed pattern portion includes a large number of polygonal unit print cells having the same shape as the unit emboss cell, and
The unit printing cell has its center placed at the intersection of the peripheral partition ridge lines of the unit embossing cell,
Exists in a manner that spans multiple adjacent unit embossed cells,
A metal can having a three-dimensional pattern, characterized in that each unit print cell has a three-dimensional appearance when the peripheral partition ridge lines are present in a radial arrangement in the unit print cell. The unit print cells include two or more types of unit print cells having different colors, and the unit print cells having the same color are distributed in a regular or irregular arrangement in the circumferential direction and can axis direction of the can body. A metal can having the three-dimensional pattern according to claim 1. 3. The metal having a three-dimensional pattern according to claim 1, wherein the printed pattern portion includes a plurality of unit non-printing cells having a metal ground color and having the same shape as the unit printing cell. can. The metal can having the three-dimensional pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein each of the unit embossed cell, the unit printed cell, and the unit non-printed cell has a hexagonal shape. The metal can having a three-dimensional pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein each of the unit emboss cell, the unit print cell, and the unit non-print cell is a square. The unit emboss cells, Collate cell and unit unprinted cell, a metal can having a three-dimensional pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 3 each a rhombus.