US2860812A

US2860812A - Container having tear strip

Info

Publication number: US2860812A
Application number: US520195A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henchert John
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1955-07-06
Filing date: 1955-07-06
Publication date: 1958-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-18
Also published as: DE1727973U

Description

Nov. 18, 1958 Filed July 6, 1955 J. HENCHERT CONTAINER HAVING TEAR STRIP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Jalm hencher/ INVENT OR ATTORNEYS Nov. 18, 1958 J. HENCHERT CONTAINER HAVING TEAR STRIP 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1955 INVENTOR John l-lencher/ ATTORNEYS Nov.,l8, 1958 a J. HENCHERT 2,860,812

7 CONTAINER HAVING TEAR STRIP Filed July-6, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIII/IIIIIIIM [-76.9 FIGJO INVENTOR Ja/m Hench err United States Patent CONTAINER HAVING TEAR STRIP John Henchert, River Forest, [1]., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 6, 1955, Serial No. 520,195 7 Claims. (Cl. 220--54) The invention relates generally to metallic receptacles, and more particularly to collar'cans wherein are provided tear strips adapted to be wound on keys and by this means torn out of the body walls of the cans in order to effect an opening of the cans, and it primarily seeks to provide a novel tear strip structure and a novel method of forming the same. I

In cans of the character stated the tear strips are defined by parallel score lines which surround the cans adjacent the upper end closures thereof, and a collar is mounted in the upper end of each can opposite its tear strip in position for extending upwardly from the upper extremity of the can body resulting from the tearing out of the tear strip, thereby to maintain the desired can body wall height and provide a support neck over which the skirt or body wall portion remaining attached to the upper end closure can be telescoped to effect a reclosure of the can.

Much difficulty has been experienced in the opening of conventional forms of collar cans because the conventional tear strips are springy, smooth and flat, and in the course of the winding of a tear strip about a key the winding strip tends to side slip or wind off line. This problem is aggravated by the springy nature of the tear strips and the tendency of the strips to partially spring out or unwind each time the key is released by a person opening a can preparatory to obtaining a new grip on the key after each partial winding of the strip. It is 2,860,812 Patented Nov. 18, 1958 "ice structure wherein is included a tear strip embodying multiple ribbing placed in a novel manner efiective to avoid the disadvantages hereinabove enumerated.

It has also been noted that in known practices of scoring the can body blanks totdefine the tear strips therein the rolling contact of the scoring rolls serves to distort and wave the edge of the body blank adjacent and paralleling the score lines, making it necessary to pass the blanks through flat surfaced, wave flattening .rolls in order to remove the objectionable marginal waves created during the scoring of the blanks. According to another feature of thepresent invention the formation of the tear strip ribbing is accomplished by rolling contact through the medium of ribbing and flattening roll action subsequent to the scoring action and simultaneously serving to form the ribbing and remove from the blanks all marginal waving created incidental to "said scoring action. It has alsov been found that this manner of forming the tear strip ribbing simultaneously with the rolling out or flattening of the wavy marginalportions created by the scoring action provides a flexing roll-like 1 function in breaking the grain in the tear strip and removing therefrom substantially all tendency to spring outwardly about the key when gripping of the' key is released by a person opening the can, as aforesaid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can of the character stated including a tear strip having therein at least three ribs, one projecting in one direction beyond the plane or cross section of the can bodywall,

and the other two projecting in the'opposite direction beyond said wall, thus making it po-ssibleto providea "i deeper rib and groove centrally of the three rib arrangement than at the other rib locations and withoutobjectionable projection of any of the ribs; at either side of the wall plane or cross section.

A further object of the invention is t-o provide a novel tear strip rib placement of the character statedwherein the center rib is projected inwardly of the bodyw'all a purpose of the present invention to provide a novel rib and groove arrangement on each tear strip subject to nesting as the strip is being wound about a key and in a manner assuring against side slipping and off line winding of the strip.

Single and even double ribbed tear strips have been known heretofore, but in these known structures the ribbing has been projected wholly outward or wholly inward with relation to the plane or cross section of the can body wall, and these arrangements have proven disadvantageous for a number of reasons. One disadvantage has been the necessity of projecting the ribs too far outwardly or inwardly of the can body wall plane or cross section in order to provide a practical depth of ribbing. When it has been sought to provide projection of the ribbing wholly inward of the can body wall the inward projections presented problems incidental to the mounting of the can collars. When it is sought to provide projection of the ribbing wholly outward of the can body wall approximately .007 of an inch and the rib; to each side of the center rib is projected outwardly of said wall approximately .007 of an inch, thereby providing with this limited and yet entirely satisfactory rib projection a center rib approximately .014 of an inch. in depth, much greater than could otherwise be provided without objectionabl'e projection of ribbing beyond either side of the body wall plane or cross section.

A still further object of the invention-is to provide a novel method of forming collar can bodies including the steps of moving the body blanks through scoring rolls to provide the tear strip defining scores, and then through tear strip ribbing and flattening rolls effective simultaneously to form ribs in parallel relation along the score line defined tear strips and flatten out wavy marginal portions of the blanks created incidental to the scoring action. With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter-appear, the nature of the'invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following the depth of the can body wall the depth of-theribbing H must be curtailed in order to avoid provision of unsightly and impractical outward projections. Also, outward ribbing alone, single or double, has been found somewhat objectionable in that it tends to provide such localized rigidity in the ribbing and leverage during the tearing out of a given strip that there is a resulting tendency to turn outwardly, the raw metal edge at the remaining can body top extremity, and this outwardly turned edge is positioned for damaging contact by a userof the can. An object of the present invention is to provide a collar can detailed description, the appended claims 'andthe several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a collar can embodying the invention, a portion of one side of the can adjacent the top thereof being brokenaway to show the positioning of the collar and tear strip.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the tear strip in the process of being tom out,

the same being partially wound onto akey. Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section showing the specific ribbing arrangement on the tear strip.

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view ill-us trating the blank scoring rolls and the-ribfembos ill and blank margin flattening rolls, the devices for feeding the blan'kstosaid rolls also being shown.

Figure 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation;

showing the parts illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view showing portions of the scoring rolls and the embossing and blank margin flattening rolls, a blankbeing shown between the cooperating roll sets and having the tear strip area thereof defined by the scoring'rolls and'ribbed or embossed by the embossing and flattening rolls and having the wave created'incidental to the scoring action removed by the flattening portion of said embossing and flattening rolls.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 8-8 on Figure 7 and showing the embossing and flattening rolls engaging and reshaping a blank passing therebetween.

Figures91and IO-a're partial developments of the cooperating embossing and flattening rolls showing how the cooperative ribbing and grooving in the rolls terminate so as to avoid embossing of the tear strip area adjacent the seam margins of the blanks and the tongue extension thereof.

In the example disclosure of the invention herein illustrated, the improved collar can structureincludes a body generally designated 5, a bottom end closure 6 and a top end'closure 7, said closures being secured in place on the flanged can body by the usual double rolled seam structures as at 8.

Scorel'ines 9 define'a tearstrip 10 near the upper end of the'canbody, and opposite this tear strip a collar 11 is mounted in the body in the-manner clearly illustratedin Figures 1and-3, said c'ollarhaving an inwardly directed curl 12 at it's upper end; and it's-lower end anchored as at 13 in the; outwardly directed body bead '14 immediately abovethe inwardlydirectedbody head 15. It is to be understood that the-collar mounting beading 14, 15 rnay be formed afterinsertion" of the collar 'into the formed canbody.

According to-' the invention, the tear strip 10 is equipped with an inwardly projecting centerrib 16, an upper outwardly projecting. rib 17 above the center rib, and a lower outwardly projecting'rib 18below the center rib. In this particular illustration, each-of the ribs-16, 17 and 18 is projected-inwardly or outwardly approximately .007 of an inch beyond th'e 'plane or cross section of the body wall 5. Itwillbe' clearly apparent by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings thatthis particular placement and dimensioning of-the tear stri'p'ribbing provides a center rib l6-of approximately .014 of an inch, thus providing the desired depth of ribs and grooves without projecting any rib an impractical distance inwardly or outwardly beyond the'body wall plane or-cross section'so that it would comprise an unsightly projection or one which would interfere with practical mountingof the collar within the upper portion of the can body.

The can body 5 shownin the previously described illustrations, preferably, but not necessarily, is made upfrom a bl'ank19 as illustrated in Figure 4i Such blanks may first be fed with a long edge forward, or in a direction perpendicular-to the length of the-blank, through suitable apparatus for notching the blank at 20*at one end and-at 21 at its other end in the tear strip area, andproviding the tongue extension 2 2 on the tear striparea 23 defined by the score lines. Duringsueh feeding of the blanks they are also slit at 24 at one end and notched at 25 at the other end to provide the hook margins 26 and lap areas 27, and also may be angle cut at 28 at their corners. This having been accomplished the blanks are then fed in the direction of their length through scoring rolls to form parallel scores 29 defining the tear strip and thence through embossing and flattening rolls which simultaneously flatten the wave provided in the blank margin adjacent the tear strip area and provide the inwardly projected center rib 30 and the upper and lower oppositely projected

ribs

31 and 32 along the tear strip area 23 defined between the score lines 29.

Portions only of the apparatus for feeding and shaping the blanks are shown diagrammatically herein, reciproeating feed means for feeding the blanks in a direction perpendicular to their length being indicated at 33, reciprocating feed means forfeeding the blanks in the direction of their length are indicated at 34 and are effective to present the blanks to the feeder chains 35 having thereon suitably spaced feed dogs 36 which feed the blanks over supporting table means 37 and between gaging devices 38 to the roll sets.

The blanks being fed by the chains 35first pass between the upper scoring roll 39rotatably supported at 40 and the lower plain surfaced opposing roll 41, and then said blanks pass between the upper and

lower ribbing rolls

42 and 43 which include in addition to the grooving at 44 and ribbing at 45, plain straightening surfaces 46 which are effective in the manner previously described for removing the wave created at the marginal portion of the blanks beside the tear strip area. Roll driving devices are diagrammatically illustrated and generally desig nated 47, and it is to be understood that the driving devices are so coordinated that the ribbing and grooving on the cooperating upper and

lower rolls

42 and 43 will be placed so as to terminate the ribbing on the tear strip at 48, short of the positionof the tongue extension 22 and the seam area at each end of the blank, as will be clearly apparent by reference to Figures 4, 9 and 10.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the tear strip includes three ribs, one projecting in one direction beyond the plane or cross section of the can body wall, and the other two projecting in the opposite direction beyond said Wall, thus making it possible to provide a deeper rib and groove centrally of the three-rib arrangement than at the other rib locations, without objectionable projection of any of the ribs at either side of the wall plane or cross section. It will be noted by reference to Figure 3 that the inward projection of the rib 16 provides an outwardly opening groove between the crests or high points of the upper and lower ribs 16, 17 which is approximately twice the depth, or in other words the degree of projection of any one of the

tear strip ribs

16, 17 and 18.

The particular method of passing the blanks first through the scoring rolls and then through the rolls which simultaneously emboss'the rib arrangement in the score line defined tear strip and straighten out the marginal wave in the blank created incidental to the scoring action isnovel and provides marked advantages. This particular manner of providing the rib arrangement in the tear strip provides a flexing roll-like function in breaking the grain in the' tear strip and removing therefrom substantially all tendency to spring outwardly about the key when gripping of the key is released by a person opening the can. It is possible in the use of the disclosed tear strip arrangement to apply a key to the tongue 22 and wind the strip thereonwith the strip ribs and grooves accurately and firmly nested in a manner securing the winding strip against side slip and off-winding.

Whileexample disclosures of the structure and method steps are made herein, it is to be understood that the disclosed structure and practices may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Ina can structure of the character described, a body wall -provided with-a tear stripdefined byparallel 1 score lines extending circumferentially about the wall, and

at least three parallel spaced rib means extending about the wall within the confines of the tear strip with an intermediate rib projecting in one direction from the wall cross section and the two immediately adjacent ribs projecting in the opposite direction from the wall cross section,-

thereby to provide cooperating rib and groove means effective to nest and prevent side slipping of the tear strip as it is wound about a key in the process of being torn out of the wall.

2. In a can structure of the character described, a body wall provided with a tear strip defined by parallel score lines extending circumferentially about the wall, and at least three parallel spaced rib means extending about the wall within the confines of the tear strip with the intermediately disposed rib projecting inwardly with relation to the wall and each of the other ribs projecting outwardly with relation to the wall, thereby to provide cooperating rib and groove means efiective to nest and prevent side slipping of the tear strip as it is wound about a key in the process of being torn out of the wall.

3. Can structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the inwardly and outwardly directed ribs are three in number and are projected substantially like distances beyond the cross section of the body wall, thereby to cause the intermediately projected rib to provide an outwardly presented groove extending between the crests of the outwardly projected ribs and which is substantially twice the depth of projection of any individual rib beyond the body wall.

4. Can structure as defined in claim 2 wherein there is included a collar arranged in-the can body with its upper and lower extremities respectively extending above and below the score line defined tear strip, and means anchoring the collar to the body wall in snug fitting contact within the inwardly projected tear strip rib. I

5. Can structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the inwardly and outwardly directed ribs are three in number and are projected substantially like distances beyond the cross section of the body wall, thereby to cause the intermediately projected rib to provide an outwardly presented groove extending between the crests of the outwardly projected ribs and which is substantially twice the depth of projection of any individual rib beyond and body wall,

and therev also being included a collar arranged in the can body with its upper and lower extremities respectively projection of any individual rib beyond the body wall,

and there also being included a collar arranged in the can body with its upper and lower extremities respectively extending above and below the score line defined tear strip, and means anchoring the collar to the body wall in snug fitting contact within the inwardly projected tear strip rib, said can body also including a side seam structure through which the tear strip extends to terminate in a key receiving tongue, and the rib means being terminated at each end of the tear strip short of the position of the seam structure.

7. In a can structure of the character described, a body wall provided with a tear strip defined by parallel score lines extending circumferentially about the wall, and at least three parallel spaced rib means extending about the wall within the confines of the tear strip with the intermediately disposed rib projecting inwardly beyond the wall cross section and each of the other ribs projecting outwardly beyond the wall cross section, thereby to provide cooperating rib and groove means elfective to nest and prevent side slipping of the tear strip as it is wound about a key in the process of being torn out of the wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 834,178 Williams Oct. 23, 1906 1,879,873 Hopkins Sept. 27, 1932 1,929,771 Burns Oct. 10, 1933 2,333,841 Bugge Nov. 9, 1943 2,495,294 Socke Jan. 24, 1950