US20150290699A1 - Process for closing metal cans - Google Patents

Process for closing metal cans Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150290699A1
US20150290699A1 US14/348,086 US201214348086A US2015290699A1 US 20150290699 A1 US20150290699 A1 US 20150290699A1 US 201214348086 A US201214348086 A US 201214348086A US 2015290699 A1 US2015290699 A1 US 2015290699A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
lid
metal
seaming
deformed
inwardly directed
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/348,086
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English (en)
Inventor
Paul Charles Claydon
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
Assigned to CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC. reassignment CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CLAYDON, PAUL CHARLES
Publication of US20150290699A1 publication Critical patent/US20150290699A1/en
Abandoned 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
    • B21D51/26—Making hollow objects characterised by the use of the objects cans or tins; Closing same in a permanent manner
    • B21D51/2653—Methods or machines for closing cans by applying caps or bottoms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B29/00—Packaging of materials presenting special problems
    • B65B29/08—Packaging of edible materials intended to be cooked in the package
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
    • B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
    • B65B7/285—Securing closures on containers by deformation of the closure
    • B65B7/2857—Securing closures on containers by deformation of the closure and the container rim

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process for closing a metal can body, suitable for containing an edible product, with a can lid.
  • Canning is the process of preserving an edible product by processing and sealing it in an airtight metal can.
  • Cans are typically either two-piece or three-piece cans.
  • a can body is formed by punching a metal plate to form a cylinder closed at one end. The can is then filled and the open end closed by seaming a lid to the can body during the canning process.
  • a can body open at both ends, is formed by rolling and seaming a metal plate. A first end is closed by seaming a lid to the can body. The can is then filled and the second end closed by seaming a lid to the can body during the canning process.
  • a metal can Once a metal can has been filled and sealed, it is typically heated in order to cook and/or sterilise the edible product and interior of the can. Heating the can in this way increases the internal pressure of the can. Cooking generally takes place within a cooker referred to as a “retort”.
  • the retort pressure is set in an attempt to balance the internal and external pressures to which the can is subjected, i.e. to minimise the pressure differential and the stresses to which the can is subjected.
  • This pressure balancing allows the metal thickness, and therefore costs, of the cans to be reduced because it minimises the possibility that the cans will fail during the cooking process. Nonetheless, in some retorts this pressure balancing is not precise, and cans are still subjected to large pressure differentials during the cooking process, requiring that the cans have some minimum level of structural integrity.
  • cans are filled with a hot product prior to seaming the end closure onto the can body.
  • the internal pressure is reduced relative to the external pressure. It is sometimes desirable to minimise this negative pressure, again as a way of reducing the metal thickness.
  • FR 1,119,542 and in FR 2,753,684 describe can lid structures and canning processes with the aim of mitigating this problem. Specifically, lids are provided which deform inwardly, in a concave manner, following seaming and cooling. As well as reducing the negative pressure, the lids are able to temporarily return to their original, flat, position when the can and its contents are subsequently heated (e.g. during a cooking and/or sterilisation process) in order to minimise the increase in internal pressure.
  • a process for closing a metal can body suitable for containing an edible product, with a can lid, to provide a metal can suitable for heating in a retort.
  • the process comprises: placing a metal lid over and in contact with an open end of a metal can body; applying an inwardly directed mechanical force to the lid such that at least a central portion of the lid is deformed into the interior space of the metal can body; and seaming the lid to the can body to form an airtight seal between the lid and the can body.
  • the metal lids of the invention are typically at least semi-rigid and have a thickness greater than 100 ⁇ m of metal such as single-reduced steel.
  • the lids of the invention may be conventional can ends which are fixed to the can body by double seaming.
  • Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved process for closing metal cans with lids that are able to withstand an increase in internal pressure without having to increase thickness of the metal used to form the can body and/or the lid.
  • Particularly preferred embodiments may provide an improved process for closing metal cans with lids that are able to withstand an increase in internal pressure even when the thickness of the metal used to form the can body and/or the lid is reduced close to the minimum thickness of 100 ⁇ m.
  • the improved process forms a concave deformation in the lid which is independent of the filling temperature of the metal can, and which enables the metal can to better withstand extreme positive and negative pressure differentials.
  • the process can be carried out without requiring existing canning machines to be modified in order to accommodate a lid with a side profile of greater thickness.
  • the method typically includes providing a seaming apparatus which comprises a seaming chuck (or “punch”) and seaming rolls.
  • the step of applying an inwardly directed mechanical force to the lid is provided by moving the seaming chuck into contact with the lid and maintaining that contact throughout the remainder of the step of seaming the lid to the can body.
  • the process of the present invention preferably takes place in a seaming apparatus and the single change part required is that of the seaming chuck.
  • the lid requires handling independently of the can body using conventional machinery and prior to being deformed in the seaming apparatus.
  • the central portion of the lid may be deformed inwardly to the extent that the headspace volume inside the metal can is reduced by between 50% and 100%.
  • the metal can may be cylindrical and the lid may be circular.
  • the lid may be deformed by the inwardly directed force to a generally more dished shape.
  • the lid may comprise one or more beads extending across the surface.
  • the lid Prior to being deformed, the lid may be capable of passing horizontally through a slot having an opening of less than 6 mm for a lid of nominally 153 mm diameter.
  • FIG. 1 is a flow diagram outlining steps of a process according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sections through a lid showing application of a mechanical forming force in a seaming apparatus
  • FIG. 4 is the lid of FIGS. 2 and 3 on completion of seaming
  • FIG. 5 is the lid of FIG. 4 deformed outwardly during a cooking process
  • FIG. 6 is a lid that can be seamed to a metal can body and suitable for use with the process of FIGS. 1 to 5 ;
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-section through the lid of FIG. 6 , prior to it being seamed to a metal can.
  • the extreme positive and negative pressure differentials to which metal cans are subjected during a cooking/sterilisation process can cause the structural integrity of the can to fail.
  • a new process for seaming a lid onto a can will now be described, with reference to the figures, that mitigates these extreme positive and negative pressure differentials and the problems arising from them.
  • the sealed can resulting from the process is capable of withstanding both negative and positive internal pressure with respect to an ambient external pressure. This is facilitated by deforming a substantially flat lid in a seaming apparatus immediately before seaming the lid onto the can body.
  • Substantially flat in this context is taken to mean that the overall profile of the lid is flat, such that any corrugations in the centre panel profile (i.e. the central portion of the lid) do not project above the seaming panel or below the bottom of the countersink.
  • FIG. 1 is a flow diagram which describes the steps of a canning process which includes a process for closing the metal can according to an embodiment of the present invention. The steps of the process are as follows:
  • the edible product can be hot or cold as it is transferred into the can body.
  • the can body may be intended to form a “two-piece” can, whereby the first piece is the body of the can which is formed by punching the body from a sheet of metal, and the second piece is the lid that is used to seal close the open end of the metal can.
  • the can body may be intended to form a “three-piece” can, whereby the body of the can has two open ends, and is closed at each open end by a lid.
  • an “open can” may be a two-piece can with no lid, or a three-piece can which is closed by a lid at only one of the two open ends.
  • the first lid may be seamed to the can body during application of an inwardly directed force so as to form an airtight seal between the lid and the can body prior to filling the can body.
  • This results in a three-piece can with is already closed by a deformed lid at one end.
  • steps A 1 and A 5 of FIG. 1 are omitted.
  • the substantially flat lid may be a lid such as that described in FR 1,119,542.
  • the lid is substantially flat such that it can pass through existing size restrictions within standard machines used in a manufacturing and/or canning factory without any substantial adjustments being required to the machinery.
  • size restrictions within such machinery are such that the lids of nominally 153 mm diameter would be able to pass horizontally through a slot with a height of less than 6 mm.
  • the substantially flat lid may include an array of circumferentially spaced recesses, known in the canmaking trade as “Swedish dimples” and as described below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 .
  • the lid is made deformable by circular beads that form an area of circular corrugation 2 extending radially inwards from the outside edge of the lid 3 towards a flat central part of the lid 4 and shown in the cross sectional view of a lid at step A 2 of the process in FIG. 2 .
  • the lid is loosely placed onto the open end of a metal can body.
  • the dimples 12 hold the seaming panel 14 up off a flange at the upper edge of the can body 16 .
  • the corrugated portion is shown in area 2 of the lid, and the flat central portion is shown in area 4 of the lid.
  • FIG. 2 also shows a forming block, seaming chuck, or “punch” 5 , which may be part of a can seaming tool.
  • the punch 5 may have a lower surface that conforms to the shaped profile of the lid.
  • the punch 5 (which is also referred to as a seaming chuck) is used to apply a downward force F on the lid 1 in Step A 3 and as shown in FIG. 3 .
  • the side wall of the metal can body provides an opposing force to hold the outside edge of the lid in place.
  • a central region of the lid is deformed part way into the interior space of the metal can. This deformation gives the lid a generally more inwardly dished shape.
  • the lid is only held in place on top of the metal can body by the punch 5 that is applying the force F, and is not yet fully seamed to the can body, although the seaming process may be considered to have been initiated by the contact of the seaming chuck or punch with the can end. Therefore, the air displaced from the headspace is able to escape the metal can through the unsealed gap between the lid and the side wall of the can body.
  • dimples prevents build-up of pressure in the headspace of the can body by venting while the centre panel of the lid is pushed down during application of the punch.
  • the lid is then fully seamed to the metal can by folding metal of the lid and the can body together in step A 4 ( FIG. 1 ) to create an airtight seal between the lid and the can body.
  • any dimples are hidden within the seam and serve no further purpose.
  • the force F may still be applied to the lid while the seaming process is carried out.
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section through the lid after step A 4 .
  • the dotted line 8 in FIG. 4 shows the original position and shape of the lid in Step A 2
  • the arrow A shows the extent of the concave deformation.
  • the lid is deformed to the extent that the headspace volume of the metal can (i.e. the volume of air in the headspace of the can) is reduced by between 50% and 100%.
  • the can is then heated in a retort in order to cook and/or sterilise the edible product inside in Step A 5 .
  • the lid can be “pushed out” by the rise in internal pressure within the metal can to form a convex deformation, or dome, such as that shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the dotted line 10 shows the position and shape of the lid after seaming and prior to the can being heated.
  • the arrow B shows the extent to which the lid is deformed by the increase in internal pressure.
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of a lid 1 that may typically be used in the process according to an embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the lid 1 includes dimples 12 in the panel 14 of the lid which will form part of a seam when the lid is fixed to the can body.
  • FIG. 7 A partial side section of a lid with Swedish dimples is shown in FIG. 7 .
  • a dimple 12 is clearly shown in the seaming panel 14 .
  • the embodiments described herein refer to a metal can body of circularly cylindrical shape and a circular lid.
  • the can body and lid are not restricted to these shapes, and may, for example, be generally square cylindrical and square respectively. Further examples may include elliptical or rectangular lids, and suitably shaped respective can bodies.
  • the process may also comprise in Step A 3 applying an inwardly directed force on a central region of a second lid that is seamed to the bottom of a three piece metal can to elastically deform the bottom lid into the can to allow a larger volume of air to be displaced from inside the can prior to seaming the top lid onto the open end of the can body.
  • a further alternative may be that the can body does not contain the edible product and is not sealed at the bottom at the time the lid is deformed and seamed to the top end of the can.
  • the substantially flat lid once the substantially flat lid has been placed over and in contact with the top open end of the can body, it can either be deformed first by a downwards pressure and then seamed to the can body, or it can be seamed first and then deformed by the downwards pressure. Even if the lid is seamed to the can body first, the air displaced when deforming the lid is able to escape the can through the open bottom. The can body with the deformed top can then be filled through the opening in the bottom prior to it being sealed with a can bottom.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
  • Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
US14/348,086 2011-09-30 2012-09-10 Process for closing metal cans Abandoned US20150290699A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11183555A EP2574558A1 (en) 2011-09-30 2011-09-30 Process for closing metal cans
EP11183555.9 2011-09-30
PCT/EP2012/067620 WO2013045263A1 (en) 2011-09-30 2012-09-10 Process for closing metal cans

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150290699A1 true US20150290699A1 (en) 2015-10-15

Family

ID=46851968

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/348,086 Abandoned US20150290699A1 (en) 2011-09-30 2012-09-10 Process for closing metal cans

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20150290699A1 (es)
EP (2) EP2574558A1 (es)
CA (1) CA2850244C (es)
ES (1) ES2613095T3 (es)
HU (1) HUE031786T2 (es)
MX (1) MX343211B (es)
WO (1) WO2013045263A1 (es)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN116368072A (zh) * 2020-10-29 2023-06-30 顶盖控股有限公司 罐盖和制造罐盖的方法
US11834237B2 (en) 2017-06-07 2023-12-05 N2 Packaging Systems, Llc Child resistant double seam container lid adapter ring
US11858701B2 (en) 2016-06-08 2024-01-02 N2 Packaging Systems, Llc Child resistant and senior friendly can lid
US11958666B2 (en) 2017-06-07 2024-04-16 N2 Packaging Systems, Llc Child resistant double seam container lid

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10010926B2 (en) 2013-10-28 2018-07-03 Ball Corporation Method for filling, seaming, distributing and selling a beverage in a metallic container at a single location

Citations (9)

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US4321330A (en) * 1980-04-04 1982-03-23 Baker Fraser L Tissue culture device
US4574607A (en) * 1983-02-03 1986-03-11 Kyocera Corporation Can end seaming tool
US4744484A (en) * 1985-07-10 1988-05-17 Grabher Indosa-Maschinenbau Ag Can, and a diaphragm for the closing and sealing thereof
US5021351A (en) * 1983-05-02 1991-06-04 Becton, Dickinson And Company Petri dish
US5054265A (en) * 1984-05-14 1991-10-08 Cmb Foodcan Plc Method of aseptic packaging and closing containers
US20070125781A1 (en) * 2005-11-29 2007-06-07 Sonoco Development, Inc. Container lid formed as a laminate having a built-in opening feature, container incorporating same, and method for making same
US7559222B2 (en) * 2006-07-20 2009-07-14 Crown Packaging Technology, Inc. Method for testing can ends
US20110000912A1 (en) * 2007-04-18 2011-01-06 Impress Group B.V. Container, Set Comprising a Ring, a Foil and a Lid, a Preset Therefor, and a Method for Producing the Set for the Container
US20120315111A1 (en) * 2009-07-07 2012-12-13 Mejia-Quinchia Carlos Andres High speed seaming assembly

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FR1119542A (fr) 1955-02-12 1956-06-21 Perfectionnements apportés aux fonds et couvercles pour boîtes, bidons ou fûts en métal ou matières plastiques
BR7707256A (pt) * 1977-10-31 1979-05-29 E Rondelli Maquina para fechamento de embalagens contendo refeicoes prontas
DE3319323A1 (de) * 1983-05-27 1984-11-29 Alcan Ohler GmbH, 5970 Plettenberg Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verschliessen eines behaelters mit einem deckel, welche beide aus plastisch verformbarem material bestehen
US4967538A (en) * 1988-01-29 1990-11-06 Aluminum Company Of America Inwardly reformable endwall for a container and a method of packaging a product in the container
FR2753684B1 (fr) 1996-09-25 1998-10-16 Lorraine Laminage Fond de boite metallique alimentaire
DE69907040T2 (de) * 1999-09-10 2003-10-16 Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey Verfahren zur herstellung von abgedichteten behältern für in einem ofen gekochte produkte
US20030021920A1 (en) * 2002-08-06 2003-01-30 Williamson James T. Container forming method and product
EP2376347B1 (en) * 2008-11-11 2013-06-12 Crown Packaging Technology, Inc. Method of assembling an easy open can end

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4321330A (en) * 1980-04-04 1982-03-23 Baker Fraser L Tissue culture device
US4574607A (en) * 1983-02-03 1986-03-11 Kyocera Corporation Can end seaming tool
US5021351A (en) * 1983-05-02 1991-06-04 Becton, Dickinson And Company Petri dish
US5054265A (en) * 1984-05-14 1991-10-08 Cmb Foodcan Plc Method of aseptic packaging and closing containers
US4744484A (en) * 1985-07-10 1988-05-17 Grabher Indosa-Maschinenbau Ag Can, and a diaphragm for the closing and sealing thereof
US20070125781A1 (en) * 2005-11-29 2007-06-07 Sonoco Development, Inc. Container lid formed as a laminate having a built-in opening feature, container incorporating same, and method for making same
US7559222B2 (en) * 2006-07-20 2009-07-14 Crown Packaging Technology, Inc. Method for testing can ends
US20110000912A1 (en) * 2007-04-18 2011-01-06 Impress Group B.V. Container, Set Comprising a Ring, a Foil and a Lid, a Preset Therefor, and a Method for Producing the Set for the Container
US20120315111A1 (en) * 2009-07-07 2012-12-13 Mejia-Quinchia Carlos Andres High speed seaming assembly

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11858701B2 (en) 2016-06-08 2024-01-02 N2 Packaging Systems, Llc Child resistant and senior friendly can lid
US11834237B2 (en) 2017-06-07 2023-12-05 N2 Packaging Systems, Llc Child resistant double seam container lid adapter ring
US11958666B2 (en) 2017-06-07 2024-04-16 N2 Packaging Systems, Llc Child resistant double seam container lid
CN116368072A (zh) * 2020-10-29 2023-06-30 顶盖控股有限公司 罐盖和制造罐盖的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2613095T3 (es) 2017-05-22
EP2574558A1 (en) 2013-04-03
CA2850244A1 (en) 2013-04-04
EP2760744A1 (en) 2014-08-06
MX2014003809A (es) 2014-06-04
MX343211B (es) 2016-10-27
CA2850244C (en) 2019-03-12
EP2760744B1 (en) 2016-11-02
HUE031786T2 (en) 2017-08-28
WO2013045263A1 (en) 2013-04-04

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Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC., ILLINOIS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CLAYDON, PAUL CHARLES;REEL/FRAME:033282/0082

Effective date: 20140415

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION