Patent Application
20240317456
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a can container used for a foamed beverage and a manufacturing apparatus.
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2000-264355, conventionally, a stay-on tab type can lid (SOT can lid) partially having an opening portion in a panel portion of the can lid has been used for a can lid used for a can container for a foamed beverage such as beer. In a case where such an SOT can lid is seamed around a can body, a flange portion of the can lid and a flange portion of the can body are seamed in a state where a part such as a central portion or a peripheral portion of a panel portion of the can lid is pressed by a knockout pad.
When the above-described SOT can lid is used, the opening portion serving as a lip is smaller than an opening of a beverage container such as a cup or a mug. For this reason, the can container has a problem that drinking comfort of a foamed beverage with a glass, a mug, or the like cannot be experienced.
Therefore, a full-open type can lid in which a ring-shaped score line is formed on an entire periphery of a peripheral portion of a panel portion and an opening portion is provided in the entire panel portion is known.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a can container includes: covering a can body with a can lid that includes a disk-shaped panel portion in which a score line is formed on an outer peripheral edge side, a flange portion that is seamed to fix the can body, a ring-shaped groove portion provided between the panel portion and the flange portion and protruding downward, and a tab that is provided in the panel portion, breaks the score line, and allows the panel portion to open along the score line; pressing an upper surface portion of the panel portion located on an outer side of the score line in a radial direction and above the score line with a knockout pad; and seaming the can lid pressed by the knockout pad and the can body.
Hereinafter, a configuration of a can container 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
The can container 100 includes the can lid 1 and the can body 101. The can container 100 is formed by integrally seaming and fixing the can lid 1 and the can body 101 by a seaming process, for example, double seaming molding after filling the beverage. The can container 100 is formed by airtightly fixing the can lid 1 and the can body 101 by a fixing portion 100a. The can container 100 is, for example, a so-called two-piece can in which the bottom portion 112 of the can body 101 and a body portion 111 are integrated.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
A panel outer peripheral portion 21a has a convex portion 21b formed on an inner surface on a can body 101 side on a score line 31 side, and an upper surface portion 21c continuous with the convex portion 21b. The panel outer peripheral portion 21a, which is a portion between the score line 31 and the groove portion 22 of the panel portion 21, is inclined outward (upward) in an axial direction of the panel portion 21 from an outer side in a radial direction toward a center side of the panel portion 21.
The convex portion 21b has, for example, a ring shaped along the score line 31, and protrudes from an inner surface of the panel outer peripheral portion 21a toward an inside of the can container 100. In such a panel outer peripheral portion 21a, a metal plate forming the panel portion 21 is bent, so that the convex portion 21b bent twice from the upper surface portion 21c and continuous with the upper surface portion 21c is provided between the upper surface portion 21c and the score line 31.
The upper surface portion 21c is located on an outer side of the score line 31 in the radial direction and above the score line 31 in a state before the can lid 1 is seamed and fixed to the can body 101. As a specific example, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The score line 31 is a groove that constitutes a fragile part that enables a part of the panel portion 21 to be broken in the shape of the opening portion by an external force. As illustrated in
The score line 31 is formed in, for example, a protection portion 34 provided on the outer peripheral edge side of the panel portion 21. As a specific example, the score line 31 is formed in an upper surface of an intermediate layer 34e described below of the protection portion 34. The score line 31 is not limited to a circular shape, and may have, for example, a configuration in which the score line 31 is formed in a partially intermittent arc shape, most of the panel portion 21 is opened, and an opening piece that is opened is partially continuous with the panel portion 21.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The rivet portion 32 is formed in a columnar shape in such a manner as to project from one main surface of the panel portion 21. The rivet portion 32 is formed by drawing a part of the panel portion 21 into a cylindrical shape. By swaging the rivet portion 32 after the tab 12 is arranged, the tab 12 is fixed to the panel portion 21. In
As illustrated in
The main score line 41 is a groove that constitutes a fragile part that enables a part of the panel portion 21 to be broken in the shape of the opening portion by an external force. The main score line 41 is, for example, a wedge-shaped groove provided on the outer surface of the panel portion 21. A part of the panel portion 21 is formed thin by the main score line 41. As illustrated in
The sub score line 42 is provided on an inner side of the main score line 41 in the radial direction. The sub score line 42 is formed in parallel to the main score line 41. The sub score line 42 is, for example, a wedge-shaped groove provided on the outer surface of the panel portion 21. The sub score line 42 is formed to have a depth smaller than that of the main score line 41. That is, a thickness of a portion of the panel portion 21 where the sub score line 42 is provided is formed thicker than a thickness of a portion of the panel portion 21 where the main score line 41 is provided. A part of the panel portion 21 is formed thin by the sub score line 42.
As illustrated in
The protection portion 34 constitutes an outer protection portion 34a that protects an inner peripheral edge of a portion (panel outer peripheral portion 21a) of the panel portion 21 broken along the score line 31, the portion being present in the can body 101, and an inner protection portion 34b that protects an outer peripheral edge of a portion (opening piece) of the panel portion 21 broken along the score line 31, the portion being removed from the can body 101 (panel outer peripheral portion 21a), when the tab 12 is opened and the score line 31 is broken. The outer protection portion 34a is constituted by the three-layered panel portion 21, and a folded portion is present at the inner peripheral edge of the opened panel portion 21. The inner protection portion 34b is constituted by the three-layered panel portion 21, and a folded portion is present at the outer peripheral edge of the portion separated from the opening of the panel portion 21.
In other words, as illustrated in
The outer protection portion 34a is formed by the upper layer 34c and a part of the intermediate layer 34e, and the upper layer 34c is located above the score line 31 and functions as a protection portion after the score line 31 is broken. A part of the upper layer 34c and a part of the intermediate layer 34e of the panel portion 21 constituting the outer protection portion 34a are the convex portion 21b located on the inner surface of the panel outer peripheral portion 21a on the score line 31 side. More specifically, the convex portion 21b of the present embodiment is configured by the folded portion of the panel portion 21 in the second and third layers, of the configuration of the outer protection portion 34a of the protection portion 34.
The inner protection portion 34b is formed by a part of the intermediate layer 34e and the lower layer 34d, and the lower layer 34d is located below the score line 31 and functions as a protection portion after the score line 31 is broken. The intermediate layer 34e is inclined downward from the center side toward the outer peripheral edge side of the panel portion 21, for example.
The finger insertion concave portion 35 is located below a rear end of the tab 12 on which a finger is hooked, and is recessed from the outer surface of the panel portion 21.
The groove portion 22 is a ring-shaped recess which is provided continuously with the outer peripheral edge of the panel portion 21 and projects to a can body side when the panel portion 21 is fixed to the can body. The groove portion 22 has a function to improve the pressure resistance of the can lid 1.
The first flange portion 23 is seamed to an open end of the can body 101. The first flange portion 23 is provided with a sealing resin layer on a surface that comes into contact with the can body 101.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The tip portion 52 is formed on a tip side of the tab 12. The tip portion 52 has a tip formed in an arc shape or a polygonal shape. The tip portion 52 is formed by, for example, bending double an outer peripheral edge excluding the tip. The tip portion 52 is disposed on an inner side in the radial direction of and close to the score line 31 of the panel portion 21.
The finger hook portion 53 is a portion on which a finger is hooked in order to lift the tab 12 at the time of the opening operation of the tab 12. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the can container 100 having such a configuration, for example, a ratio between a diameter of the score line 31 of the panel portion 21 and an inner diameter of the body portion 111 is set to 0.6 to 0.8. As a more preferable example, the ratio between the diameter of the score line 31 of the panel portion 21 and the inner diameter of the body portion 111 is 0.6 to 0.75. For example, the diameter of the score line 31 is the maximum diameter of the score line 31, and the inner diameter of the body portion 111 is the maximum inner diameter of the body portion 111. In addition, the diameter of the score line 31 is the inner diameter of the opening portion serving as a lip generated in the panel portion 21 when the lid is opened.
The ratio between the inner diameter of an end portion (upper end portion) of the tapered portion 113 on the second flange portion 114 side and the inner diameter of an end portion (lower end portion) of the tapered portion 113 on the body portion 111 side is set to 0.75 to 0.9, for example. The inner diameter of the upper end portion of the tapered portion 113 is set to be larger than the diameter of the score line 31.
Next, the manufacturing apparatus 200 and a method for manufacturing the can container 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to
The manufacturing apparatus 200 for the can container 100 is a so-called seaming device. As illustrated in
The conveyance device 201 conveys the can body 101 to a position where the can lid 1 is supplied to the can body 101, and conveys the can container 100 that has been seamed to a secondary side. For example, the conveyance device 201 conveys the can body 101 along a predetermined conveyance path while holding the can body 101.
The supply device 202 supplies the can lid 1 to the can body 101 conveyed to a predetermined position by the conveyance device 201. The supply device 202 disposes the can lid 1 at an upper end of the can body 101 such that the first flange portion 23 of the can lid 1 is located at the second flange portion 114 of the can body 101.
The pressing device 203 presses the can lid 1 supplied onto the can body 101. The pressing device 203 includes a moving device 213 and the knockout pad 223. The moving device 213 moves the knockout pad 223 between a retraction position and a pressing position. Here, the retraction position is a position where the knockout pad 223 is retracted upward from the can lid 1 disposed on the can body 101. The pressing position is a position where the knockout pad 223 comes into contact with the can lid 1 arranged on the can body 101 and the knockout pad 223 presses the can lid 1 toward the can body 101. For example, the moving device 213 reciprocates the knockout pad 223 in one direction between the retraction position and the pressing position.
The knockout pad 223 comes into contact with the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21. A lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 is formed in, for example, a planar shape. A part of the lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 comes into contact with the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21. The knockout pad 223 has a relief portion 223b on an inner side in the radial direction of the lower surface 223a in contact with the upper surface portion 21c, or an inner side in the radial direction with respect to the lower surface 223a opens. The knockout pad 223 prevents contact with a portion other than the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21 by the relief portion 223b or the opening.
The lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 is formed in, for example, an annular shape of a plane along the direction orthogonal to the up-down direction when the bottom portion 112 of the can body 101 is on the lower side and the can lid 1 is on the upper side. As illustrated in
As a specific example, the knockout pad 223 comes into contact with a portion of the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21, the portion not overlapping with the convex portion 21b (outer protection portion 34a) in the axial direction of the can lid 1, in other words, a portion shifted in the radial direction from the convex portion 21b.
The chuck device 204 supports the can lid 1 pressed on the can body 101 by the pressing device 203. The chuck device 204 includes a moving device 214 and a chuck member 224.
The moving device 214 reciprocates the chuck member 224 in one direction between the retraction position and a chuck position. Here, the retraction position is a position retracted upward from the can lid 1 disposed on the can body 101 and the knockout pad 223 pressing the can lid 1. The chuck position is a position where the can lid 1 pressed on the can body 101 by the knockout pad 223 comes in contact with the chuck member 224, and the chuck member 224 supports the can lid 1. For example, the moving device 214 reciprocates the chuck member 224 in one direction between the retraction position and the chuck position.
For example, a relief portion in which the knockout pad 223 can be disposed is formed in a part of a lower surface of the chuck member 224. The chuck member 224 supports a peripheral wall continuous with the groove portion 22 and the first flange portion 23 of the can lid 1 by an outer peripheral surface. The chuck member 224 is formed in, for example, a disk shape capable of supporting a peripheral wall portion of the can lid 1 with the outer peripheral surface, and having the relief portion for the knockout pad 223 formed on the lower surface side.
The first seaming device 205 seams the can lid 1 and the can body 101 supported by the chuck device 204. The first seaming device 205 includes a moving device 215 and a first seaming member 225.
The moving device 215 reciprocates the first seaming member 225 in one direction between the retraction position and a seaming position. Here, the retraction position is, for example, a position retracted outward in the radial direction from the first flange portion 23 of the can lid 1 disposed on the can body 101, pressed by the knockout pad 223, and supported by the chuck member 224. The seaming position is a position at which the first seaming member 225 seams the first flange portion 23 of the can lid 1 and the second flange portion 114 of the can body 101. For example, the moving device 215 reciprocates the first seaming member 225 in one direction between the retraction position and the seaming position. In
The first seaming member 225 is, for example, a seaming roll. The first seaming member 225 performs first seaming for seaming the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114 into a predetermined shape. For example, a side surface of the first seaming member 225 is formed in a shape for seaming the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114 into a predetermined shape.
The second seaming device 206 seams the can lid 1 and the can body 101 supported by the chuck device 204. The second seaming device 206 includes a moving device 216 and a second seaming member 226.
The moving device 216 reciprocates the second seaming member 226 in one direction between the retraction position and the seaming position. Here, the retraction position is, for example, a position retracted outward in the radial direction from the first flange portion 23 of the can lid 1 disposed on the can body 101, and fixed by the knockout pad 223 and the chuck member 224. The seaming position is a position at which the second seaming member 226 performs second seaming for further seaming the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114 of the can body 101 for which the first seaming has been performed. For example, the moving device 216 reciprocates the second seaming member 226 in one direction between the retraction position and the seaming position.
The second seaming member 226 is, for example, a seaming roll. The second seaming member 226 performs the second seaming for seaming the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114 for which the first seaming has been performed by the first seaming member 225 into a predetermined shape. For example, a side surface of the second seaming member 226 is formed in a shape for seaming the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114 into a predetermined shape.
Note that the moving device 216 of the second seaming device 206 may be configured by the same device as the moving device 215 of the first seaming device 205. Further, for example, the first seaming device 205 and the second seaming device 206 may be configured as one seaming device, and may be configured to perform the first seaming and the second seaming by switching the first seaming member 225 and the second seaming member 226.
The control device 207 drives and controls the conveyance device 201, the supply device 202, the pressing device 203, the chuck device 204, the first seaming device 205, and the second seaming device 206. For example, the control device 207 drives the conveyance device 201, the supply device 202, and the moving devices 213, 214, 215, and 216 to supply the can lid 1, sequentially convey a plurality of the can bodies 101 to the position where the seaming is performed, supply the can lid 1, press and support the can lid 1 against the can body 101 by the knockout pad 223 and the chuck member 224, and sequentially perform the first seaming and the second seaming for the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114.
Note that the manufacturing apparatus 200 may be configured such that, for example, the control device 207 drives the conveyance device 201, the supply device 202, and the moving devices 213, 214, 215, and 216 to drive each device at predetermined timing so as to be able to repeat manufacturing processes. Furthermore, the manufacturing apparatus 200 may have a configuration in which, for example, the control device 207 controls drive timing of each configuration of the manufacturing apparatus 200 to repeatedly process each process.
Next, a method for manufacturing the can container 100 configured as described above will be described.
First, the conveyance device 201 conveys the can body 101 to a predetermined position (step ST1). The can body 101 conveyed to the predetermined position by the conveyance device 201 is filled with a content in advance.
Next, the supply device 202 supplies the can lid 1 onto the can body 101 to cover the can body 101 with the can lid 1 such that the first flange portion 23 is located on the second flange portion 114 of the can body 101 conveyed to the predetermined position (step ST2).
Next, the moving device 213 moves the knockout pad 223 to the pressing position. As a result, the knockout pad 223 presses the can lid 1 toward the can body 101 (step ST3).
Next, the moving device 214 moves the chuck member 224 to the chuck position. As a result, the chuck member 224 supports the peripheral wall of the can lid 1 in the state of being pressed toward the can body 101 by the knockout pad 223 (step ST4).
Next, as illustrated by the two-dot chain line in
Next, the moving device 216 moves the second seaming member 226 to the seaming position. As a result, the second seaming member 226 seams the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114 as the second seaming (step ST6). As a result, the fixing portion (seaming portion) 100a to which the first flange portion 23 and the second flange portion 114 are fixed is formed, and the can container 100 filled with a content is manufactured. The manufactured can container 100 is conveyed to the secondary side line by the conveyance device 201.
According to the can container 100 configured as described above, the panel portion 21 of the can lid 1 has the upper surface portion 21c on the outer side of the score line 31 in the radial direction and above the score line 31. In addition, the knockout pad 223 of the manufacturing apparatus 200 comes into contact with the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21. Therefore, the tip portion 52 of the tab 12 disposed on an inner side in the radial direction of and close to the score line 31 and the knockout pad 223 in contact with the upper surface portion 21c less easily interfere with each other. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 200 and the manufacturing method, the full-open type can lid 1 having the ring-shaped groove portion 22 can be stably seamed around the can body 101.
Further, the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21 is inclined outward and downward in the radial direction at the angle within the range of 1° to 15° with respect to the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the can lid 1. Then, the angle θ between the lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 and the upper surface portion 21c is set within the range of 1° to 15°. Therefore, the knockout pad 223 can stably press the can lid 1 toward the can body 101. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 200 and the manufacturing method, the can lid 1 and the can body 101 can be stably seamed. Specifically, when the inclination angle of the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21 is 1° or more outward and downward in the radial direction with respect to the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the can lid 1, the content and bubbles are easily poured out. Further, when the inclination angle of the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21 is 15° or less outward and downward in the radial direction with respect to the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the can lid 1, it is possible to suppress the positional shift of the can lid 1 with respect to the knockout pad 223 when the upper surface portion 21c is pressed by the knockout pad 223.
Further, the distance L in the axial direction of the can lid 1 between the lowermost portion of the upper surface portion 21c of the panel portion 21 and the uppermost portion of the score line 31 is set within the range of 0.4 to 4 mm. Therefore, the interference between the knockout pad 223 and the upper surface portion 21c can be suppressed, and the can lid 1 can be stably pressed by the knockout pad 223. Therefore, according to the manufacturing apparatus 200 and the manufacturing method, it is possible to stably seam the can lid 1 and the can body 101. Specifically, when the distance L is 0.4 mm or more, the distance between the tip portion 52 of the tab 12 located in the vicinity of the score line 31 and the upper surface portion 21c is secured, and the interference between the knockout pad 223 and the tip portion 52 can be suppressed. In addition, since the distance L is within 4 mm, an excessive increase in the distance between the outer protection portion 34a and the end portion of the score line 31 after breakage can be suppressed.
As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 200 and the manufacturing method of the present embodiment, the full-open type can lid 1 having the ring-shaped groove portion 22 can be stably seamed around the can body 101.
Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the can container 100 may be configured to store a foaming member that foams the filled foamed beverage, that is, performs so-called surging, together with the content. For example, the foaming member for foaming the foamed beverage is formed of a resin material in a spherical shape, a columnar shape, or the like, and is accommodated in the can container 100. Further, the can container 100 may be foamed with an ultrasonic foaming device or the like before or after the lid is opened. As described above, even in the case where the foamed beverage is foamed with a foaming member, a foaming device, or the like, it is possible to suppress disappearance of the foam and to obtain the same drinking comfort as a beverage container by using the can container 100 of the present embodiment having a foaming property.
In addition, in the above-described example, an example of the foamed beverage that is the content to be filled in the can container 100 has been described, but the foamed beverage is not limited to the above description. That is, the can container 100 exhibits the function of the foaming property of the foamed beverage by being filled with the foamed beverage, but it is a matter of course that a beverage other than the foamed beverage may be filled.
Furthermore, in the above-described example, an example in which the upper surface portion 21c is inclined outward and downward in the radial direction has been described. However, it is sufficient that at least the portion that the knockout pad 223 comes into contact with, of the upper surface portion 21c, is inclined. Furthermore, in the above-described example, an example of the inclination angle of the upper surface portion 21c and an example of the angle θ between the lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 and the upper surface portion 21c have been described. Here, the inclination angle of the upper surface portion 21c and the angle between the lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 and the upper surface portion 21c may be set to one angle, or may be set to a plurality of different angles. That is, the inclination angle of the upper surface portion 21c and the angle between the lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 and the upper surface portion 21c may be set to two or more different angles as long as the angles are set within the above-described predetermined angle range. As a specific example, the inclination angle of the upper surface portion 21c and the angle between the lower surface 223a of the knockout pad 223 and the upper surface portion 21c may be set to an angle range larger on outer side than on the center side in the radial direction.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments may also be implemented by combining them appropriately, in which case the combined advantages are obtained. Furthermore, the embodiments include various inventions, and such various inventions can be derived by properly combining the structural elements disclosed in connection with the embodiments. For example, even if some structural elements are deleted from all the structural elements shown in the embodiments, when the problem can be solved and the advantageous effects can be obtained, such a configuration in which those structural elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-191181 | Nov 2021 | JP | national |
This application is a Continuation Application of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2022/043567, filed Nov. 25, 2022 and based upon and claiming the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-191181, filed Nov. 25, 2021, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2022/043567 | Nov 2022 | WO |
| Child | 18672658 | US |
