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
  • B21D51/2646—Of particular non cylindrical shape, e.g. conical, rectangular, polygonal, bulged
• • 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
  • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/40—Details of walls
  • B65D1/42—Reinforcing or strengthening parts or members
  • B65D1/44—Corrugations
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S220/00—Receptacles
  • Y10S220/906—Beverage can, i.e. beer, soda

Definitions

• This invention relates to can bodies comprising a side wall provided with grooves; and furthermore to a method and apparatus for making the can bodies.
• Ribs and panels have been formed in the side wall of cans for several purposes such as: - a). To give an interesting appearance to the can body which may promote a brand image. Such can bodies are shown in British Design Registration 1022336 and US Design Patent 290688. In both cases the can body depicted is a drawn seamless can body having flange, neck and shoulder from which depends an array of longitudinal ribs and panels: the panels appear to be broad and thus substantially chordal in relation to the round body; b) . Longitudinal ribs and panels have been used to give rigidity to the side wall against loads applied to the top of the can body, such as arise during double seaming of a can end to close the body, or during stacking of filled cans.
• Such cans are described in US Patent 5040698 and are particularly suitable for containing thermally processed foods.
• the same principle may be applied to a can for pressurised beverages if the width of the longitudinal panel is narrow eg over 30 panels for a can body 65mm diameter; however there persists the problem that the shallow concave panels may be forced back to a continuous cylinder if pressure within the can is high and ribbed cans with concave panels are susceptible to damage to their coatings during manufacture and abrasion during transport.
• a can body having a generally cylindrical side wall with at least one narrow externally concave groove characterised in that the or each groove has a depth of 0.3 to 3% of the radius of the can body; and the side wall has a thickness of 3 to 30% of the radius of the groove or grooves.
• chordal panels which are externally concave or flat are not ideal for cans containing pressure because they return towards a generally cylindrical shape under pressure.
• chordal panels which are externally concave or flat are not ideal for cans containing pressure because they return towards a generally cylindrical shape under pressure.
• the grooves define externally convex panels between them.
• Such panels and grooves may be longitudinal, with panels being wider than the grooves and the grooves and panels extending between cylindrical portions of the side wall.
• the grooves and panels may usually connect directly with the cylindrical portions.
• the grooves may comprise locally folded portions. Such folding gives a tight radius within rhe groove which holds the groove in place even if the can is internally pressurised.
• These grooves may emphasise features of decoration or may be used to provide abstract features and may also strengthen the can body, for example by having grooves extending in a longitudinal manner as described above. It should be realised that in fact the strongest container shape is a smooth plain cylinder.
• a can body comprising a side wall provided with longitudinal externally concave grooves and convex panels which extend between cylindrical portions of the side wall, characterised in that, the grooves are between 0.5mm and lmm wide between inflection points; the panels are wider than the grooves and have a radius of curvature less than that of the cylindrical portions; and the grooves and panels connect directly with the cylindrical portions of the side wall.
• the can body may be formed by drawing and wall ironing to comprise a bottom wall and a side wall upstanding from the periphery of the bottom wall, the side wall comprising adjacent the bottom wall a first cylindrical portion of substantially equal thickness to that of the bottom wall; a second cylindrical portion of thickness less than that of the bottom wall; and an intermediate wall portion thinner than the second cylindrical portion and joined to the cylindrical portions by annular zones of tapering thickness wherein the externally concave grooves and externally convex panels terminate in the annular tapering zones.
• the perimeter of the grooves and panels, as measured at any position along the grooves ' and panels, is equal to the average perimeter of the cylindrical portions.
• the grooves may have an arcuate cross section or have a parallel sided channel shape with a flat bottom.
• a method of forming externally concave grooves in the side wall of a can body by the steps of placing the cylindrical can body in a mandrel and rolling the can and mandrel along an arcuate rail of hard material provided with at least one protrusion and applying a pinch pressure between the mandrel and rail, in which the mandrel comprises either a complementary profile to the rail or at least an outer sleeve surface of elastomeric material, whereby application of the pinch pressure progressively imposes at least one externally concave groove in the side wall of the can body.
• this method comprises a method of forming externally concave grooves and externally convex panels in the side wall of a can body by the steps of placing the cylindrical can body on the mandrel having an elastomeric sleeve surface, and rolling the can and mandrel along an arcuate rail provided with a toothed - o-
• the pinch pressure is such that the groove or grooves formed in the can body have a depth of 0.3 to 3% of the radius of the can body, the side wall having a thickness of 3 to 30% of the radius of the grooves.
• an apparatus for forming at least one groove in the side wall of the can comprising a frame, a turret driven to rotate about an axle fixed to the frame, a plurality of mandrels mounted around the turret for rotation on axles fixed to the turret, and a rail of hard material fixed to the frame having at least one protrusion and extending adjacent the turret, each mandrel having either a complementary profile to the rail or at least an outer sleeve surface of elastomeric material, so that as the turret rotates, each mandrel pinches the side wall of the can body against the rail progressively to form the groove or grooves.
• the or each protrusion is shaped such that the groove or grooves formed in the can body have a depth of 0.3 to 3% of the radius of the can body, the side wall having a thickness of 3 to 30% of the radius of the grooves.
• this invention provides apparatus for forming a plurality externally concave grooves and externally convex panels in the side wall of a can, said apparatus comprising a frame, a turret driven to rotate about an axle fixed to the frame, a plurality of mandrels mounted around the turret for rotation on axles fixed to the turret, and a rail fixed to the frame having a profiled arcuate surface extending adjacent the turret so that, as the turret rotates, each mandrel pinches the side wall of the can body against the rail progressively to form the grooves and panels.
• the rail is adjustable on the frame to permit adjustment of the pinch pressure of the rail profile on the can body.
• the mandrel may usually have a surface layer of elastomeric material.
• the mandrel may be made entirely of metal having a surface profile complementary to the profile of the rail.
• Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of the can body of Figure 1 after formation of the externally concave grooves and externally convex panels according to this invention.
• Figure 3 is a cut-away view of the can body of Figure 2 after provision of shoulder, neck and flange to complete a beverage can body;
• Figure 4 is a graph of side wall thickness of the can body plotted against the position of measurement below the flange
• Figure 5 is a diagram showing the groove and panel geometry on an enlarged scale
• Figure 6 is an enlarged fragment of sidewall in the as formed condition;
• Figure 7 is a like view to Figure 6 showing the side wall fragment when pressurised by an internal pressure.
• Figure 8 is an enlarged fragment of an alternative shape of externally concave groove;
• Figure 9 is a perspective sketch of apparatus for forming the grooves and panels in the side wall of can body;
• Figure 10 is diagrammatic sketch of a can body, mandrel, and rail during roll forming of the grooves and panels;
• Figure 11 is a perspective sketch of the rail, shown in Figure 10.
• Figure 12 is an end view of the rail of Figure 11;
• Figure 13 is a plan view of the rail of Figure 11 ?
• Figure 14 is a perspective sketch of a rail with decorative features
• Figure 15 is a plan view of the rail of Figure 14;
• Figure 16 is a can body having both strengthening and decorative ribs.
• Figure 17 is another can body with primarily decorative grooves.
• Figure 1 shows a can body 1 comprising a bottom wall 2 and a substantially cylindrical side wall 3 upstanding from the periphery of the bottom wall.
• the can body is made by drawing sheet metal to a cup, which may or may not be redrawn to a reduced diameter, after which the drawn cup is pushed by a profiled punch through at least one wall ironing die to create a longer side wall thinner than the bottom wall.
• the can body shown in Figure 1 is typically 66mm diameter by about 120mm tall.
• the bottom wall 2 is 0.012" (about 0.3mm) thick and the wall ironed side wall 3 changes in thickness along its length as shown in Figure 4.
• the side wall comprises a first cylindrical portion 4 adjacent the periphery of the bottom wall, a first annular zone 5 which reduces in thickness in a direction away from the bottom wall, a thin cylindrical wall portion 6 which constitutes the majority of the can height and extends away from the first annular zone to a second annular zone 7 which increases in thickness to join a second cylindrical wall portion 3 thicker than the cylindrical portion 6 but thinner than the bottom wall 2.
• the second cylindrical wall portion 8 defines the mouth of the wall ironed can body and is provided with the less thinned metal in order to avoid cracking of the work hardened metal around the mouth when a shoulder 9, neck 10 and flange 11 are formed on the body as shown in Figure 3.
• Figure 2 shows the can body of Figure 1 after a plurality of externally concave grooves 12 have been imposed on the side wall to define a like number of externally convex panels 13.
• the grooves 12 and panels 13 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the can body 1 and terminate in the first and second annular zones (5, 7) of reducing thickness. This feature is important because it is possible to form the consistent terminal shapes of grooves and panels in these zones without significant stretching of the work hardened side wall metal.
• the shape of can body shown in Figure 2 may be used to contain thermally processed foods but would need a can end closure having expansion panels.
• Figure 3 shows that the shoulder 9, neck 10 and flange 11 are typical of a beverage can formed after formation of the grooves and panels. Whilst it is possible to form the grooves 12 and panels 13 in a can body already provided with a shoulder neck and flange it is more convenient to perform the groove rolling process on a cylindrical body because the mouth is bigger to facilitate entry and removal of an internal mandrel, as will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10, and because the grooves and panels confer column strength to the side wall about to be die necked.
• Figure 6 shows a groove between two panels in the unpressurised state.
• the dashed line indicates one of the cylindrical portions 8 or 4.
• the same principles may be applied to can bodies in which the cylindrical portions 8 and 4 are of different diameter such as will arise in a frustoconical can body but such frustroconical bodies are made by deep drawing and are not wall ironed.
• Figure 7 shows grooves and panels in the pressurised state in which pressure "P" inside the can body has pushed the grooves outwards giving a small increase in container volume.
• Figure 8 shows an alternative form of groove which has parallel sides 14 and a relatively flat or chordal portion between the sides.
• the width of this flat or chordal portion 15 is narrow, preferably between 0.5mm and 1.0mm between inflection points to be consistent with the geometry already discussed with reference to Figure 2 in respect of grooves of arcuate cross section and the minimising of stretch of the metal of the side wall.
• beverage cans according to this invention may usefully have between 25 and 83 grooves/panels.
• Figure 9 shows apparatus for forming longitudinal grooves and panels in the side wall of a round can.
• the apparatus comprises a frame 20, a turret 21 driven to rotate about an axle 22 fixed to the frame 20, a plurality of mandrels 23 mounted around the turret for rotation on axles fixed to the turret, and a rail 24 having a profiled arcuate surface extending adjacent the turret so that as the turret rotates, each mandrel 23 rolls along the rail 24 profile as is shown on a larger scale in Figure 10.
• the apparatus further comprises means to feed a can body 1 onto each mandrel.
• a can body 1 rolls along an entry conveyor 25 from which it is taken by a star wheel 26 which rotates to bring the body into a transfer cage 27 which supports the can body in axial alignment with a mandrel.
• Each mandrel has a transfer cage but for simplicity only one cage 27 is shown in Figure 9.
• the cage moves the can body axially to surround the mandrel.
• the transfer cage 27 retracts and a second star wheel 28 removes the ribbed can to an exit conveyer 29.
• Figure 10 shows a can body 1 pinched between a mandrel 23 and rail 24 at a position about halfway along the rail profile so that about half the groove and panel profile has been formed.
• the mandrel has an external sleeve 30 of elastomeric material such as polyurethane, a tubular metal core 31, and the axle 32, fixed to the turret on which the core rotates.
• the axle 32 is driven to rotate to bring the can body to a speed which matches the linear rate of travel along the rail profile. Thereafter the mandrel is driven to rotate only by engagement of the can body with the rail.
• the rail 24 is provided with adjustable support (not shown) which permits adjustment of the distance the teeth 33 of the profile of the rail will penetrate the elastomeric material to define the depth of grooves formed in the side wall of the can 1. Adjustment of this penetration ensures that the forming of the grooves and panels is done by a rolling motion without slip so that surface coatings or decoration on the can body will not be spoiled by abrasion.
• the rail can include protrusions which penetrate the side wall of the can body so as to emphasise and enhance surface decoration as will be described in more detail below.
• Figure 10 shows use of a mandrel having an elastomeric sleeve, this sleeve may be replaced if commercial demand for cans justifies the cost, by a metal mandrel having a profile complimentary with the profile of the arcuate rail.
• Figure 11, 12 and 13 show details of the arcuate rail.
• the rail 24 is thick so that the profile of teeth 33 and grooves 34 is rigidly supported against the working pinch force as arising as the mandrel travels along the rail.
• the teeth extend most of the distance across the rail but are flanked by inclined margins ' 35, 36 at each edge of the rail.
• the slope of these inclined margins extends to define inclined ends on each tooth so that the side wall metal is not pinched by localised end portions of the teeth which could impose localised stress, excessive strain and even piercing of the metal.
• the periphery of the grooves and panels is to be substantially equal to the periphery of the cylindrical side wall portions, even at the extremities of the grooves and panels.
• Shallow grooves may not fully define the top arches of the panels as shown in Figures 2 and 3, because the centre of the panel metal remains axially aligned with the cylindrical surfaces.
• the rail as shown in Figure 13 is preferably provided with a gently inclined surface 37 which the can body engages to synchronise the surface speed of rotation of the can with the linear rate of travel along the rail.
• the rail also may have an inclined exit surface 38 which the grooved can body passes over to leave the rail without abrasion or risk of a tooth imposing a double strike on the can side wall.
• Figures 14 and 15 show details of an arcuate rail for a second embodiment of the invention, in which protrusions on the rail are used to provide emphasised features of decoration in the can side wall by forming shallow grooves corresponding to the protruding rail profile.
• such grooves are obtained by the use of a solid steel rail which penetrates into the elastomeric material of a flexible mandrel carrying the can body.
• the mandrel be of elastomeric material rather than of hard material having a complementary surface to that of the rail since there is then no need to alter all the mandrels when a different surface decoration is required. The only requirement would be to change the arcuate rail to one having the desired protrusions for the new design.
• Figures 16 and 17 show two embodiments of can body which include features of both decoration and strengthening, formed by the use of a solid profiled rail.
• the grooves may be set to shape by the pinch pressure between the mandrel and rail, so that the panels between the grooves are pulled elastically to shape.
• the longitudinal grooves and panels have been formed as described with reference to Figures 1 to 13 above but a logo has also been added in the portion above the grooves and panels.
• This logo is formed simply by additional protrusions on the profiled rail.
• the can body of Figure 17 includes less strengthening grooves than that of Figure 16 but has a larger printed logo, the outline of which is defined by outwardly concave creases in the can side wall.
• Such large features may be particularly attractive to the customer to emphasise brand image and may also be used to assist recognition by the blind or partially sighted consumer. The features are not only visually attractive and have a functional and tactile appeal to them.
• concave grooves as a decorative feature is particularly useful since cans often abut each other when on the manufacturing line, in transport, storage or display.
• the external profile of the can body with concave grooves remains the same so that the risk of scuffing of the feature during transport is minimised.
• the radius of the grooves formed in the can bodies must preferably be chosen within the range of 0.3 to 3% of the can body and the thickness of the can side wall may typically be between 3 and 30% of the radius of the creases. There is substantially no change in the thickness of the can body as the grooves are formed by "folding". If the radius is too tight, then the material of the side wall will split, but if it becomes too large then the grooves will not hold their profile should the can be pressurised as will arise for example when a can contains a carbonated beverage.
• Typical values for the formation of grooves for decorative purposes in a can having a radius of 32.5mm are given in the table below, where R is the radius of the can body, d is the depth of the groove, r is the radius of the groove and t is the thickness of the can side wall: R d r t %d/R r/t %t/r typical 32.5 0.5 1.5 0.1 1.5 15 6.7 maximum 32.5 1.0 2.5 0.08 3.0 35 3.2 minimum 32.5 0.1 0.5 0.15 0.3 3 30
• the can body may be of a variety of materials, including aluminium and steel and the can may be of either two or three piece configuration, although grooves or creases are naturally more readily formed in a softer aluminium body and are particularly suited for two piece beverage cans where a carbonated beverage generates pressure in the closed can.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Rigid Containers With Two Or More Constituent Elements (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
• Shaping Of Tube Ends By Bending Or Straightening (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10746142

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (13)

Families Citing this family (36)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 1993
  • 1993-12-04 GB GB939324910A patent/GB9324910D0/en active Pending
• 1994
  • 1994-11-22 UY UY23858A patent/UY23858A1/es unknown
  • 1994-11-23 ZA ZA949304A patent/ZA949304B/xx unknown
  • 1994-11-24 TW TW083110954A patent/TW259771B/zh active
  • 1994-11-30 EP EP95902198A patent/EP0731740A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-11-30 CA CA002178092A patent/CA2178092A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-11-30 SG SG1996002887A patent/SG72620A1/en unknown
  • 1994-11-30 WO PCT/GB1994/002620 patent/WO1995015227A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-11-30 US US08/646,328 patent/US5699932A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-11-30 AU AU11136/95A patent/AU1113695A/en not_active Abandoned
• 1997
  • 1997-09-12 US US08/944,043 patent/US5899355A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (4)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events