Patent Application
20220274735
The invention relates to a lid, especially an easy open end, for a container and to a method for producing such a lid for a container.
The invention generally relates to containers that are typically made of sheet metal, such as cans for food and/or drinks, and that have a container wall or a lid or a closure, specifically an easy open end that is designed to be opened by a pull-tab mechanism. Herein, the pull-tab mechanism typically has a pointed nose that is arranged adjacent a weakened area, particularly a score line, in the lid or closure. To open the container, the user pulls the pull-tab upwards thereby causing the pointed nose to break the score line. By further pulling the pull-tab, the portion of the lid that is delimited or encircled by the score line can be pulled out along the score line and possibly even be removed from the lid and/or the container.
These easy open ends for containers generally have the problem and disadvantage that sharp edges remain in the container wall or lid in the region of the score line after opening the container in the above described manner. These sharp edges can be a safety risk in that the user of the container can get hurt or injured thereby, e.g. by cutting the user's fingers.
To overcome this problem, it is generally known to provide, in the manufacture of the container, protective shoulders or projections that are formed by folding, particularly double-folding, of the lid or closure in the region of the score line. These protective shoulders or projections are preferably arranged underneath and/or in close proximity to the score line, so that, after opening the container along the score line, the shoulders or projections substantially lie in the same axial plane as or even project radially beyond the sharp edge of the pulled-open score line. Thereby, the shoulders or projections form a safety protection for the user of the container in that e.g. the user's finger will first touch the projection/shoulder instead of the sharp edge, or will at the most simultaneously touch the projection/shoulder and the sharp edge, thereby substantially keeping the user's finger away from the sharp edge and thus avoiding injury.
An easy open end for a container of the above described kind is for example known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,790 B2. In this device, a scored central bead that extends from an outer side of a closure panel is compressed, thereby forming first and second double folds of the panel sheet beneath and adjacent to and positioned radially inward or outward, respectively, from the score, the two double folds thereby forming first and second cut protection beads. Therein, the scored central bead is bent and forms an annual concave recess about the score on the outer side of the closure panel. Thus, upon pulling-open of the closure panel at the score line, the ensuing rough edges will be angled inwardly toward the two cut protection beads underneath, thereby reducing an exposure of the user to the rough edges.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,334 B describes another manner of double folding of a container panel on opposite sides of a weakening or score line, thereby providing protective folds which overlap the raw edge that results from the tearing-open of the panel along the weakening line.
In these known easy open ends for containers, generally the wall thickness of the lid as such remains constant throughout the lid. That is, the lid in the minimum substantially has a triple thickness at the locations of the double folds of the lid where the respective sheet portions lie one above the other. It is thus a general problem of these known easy open ends (lids) for containers that a larger amount of sheet material is needed as the material for manufacturing the double fold in the panel sheet is taken from lid preform as such. In other words, the initial unfolded blank member of the lid needs to have a larger overall diameter or extension which then is reduced by the folding process thereby obtaining the correct final diameter or extension for the panel to fit to and close the container at the concerned container end.
Considering the fact that containers having easy open ends, such as cans for food and/or drinks, are produced in very high quantities, it is a negative economical factor for the manufacturer of the container having to use a larger amount of sheet metal material for producing containers having easy open ends (lids) of the above described kind. Due to the consumption of the required sheet metal material, such lids have higher manufacturing costs which the clients of the lid manufacturers generally do not want to pay.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lid or an easy open end, preferably made of steel, for a container being less expensive in its manufacture and thus economically more beneficial, while, at the same time, providing the same safety features as in the prior art containers to reduce the risk of a user's injury when opening the container.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,765,352 B describes an easy open end for a container similar to those described above, having a dull surface closely adjacent to the sharp edge to form a shield to avoid a user's injury at the sharp edge. Herein, a can end blank made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy includes a connecting wall which is coined, i.e. squeezed between two coining dies, the compressive force of which is sufficient to cause thinning and consequently axial elongation of the connecting wall. This elongation facilitates the formation of reverse bends in the can end blank in that the connecting wall is compressed lengthwise and thereby collapses.
Accordingly, some of the material of the connecting wall is used to form the reverse bends. The arrangement and the coining operation of this known can end are such that the formed reverse bends are located at one side, namely radially inwards of the score line, wherein the material of the can end blank radially inwardly of the score line is thinner than the material radially outwardly of the score line as a result of the coining operation. Consequently, this known device requires a complex arrangement of tools and dies, including the coining dies for compressing and thinning said connecting wall.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,938,043 B2 describes an end closure for food and beverage containers. The end closure comprises a score fracture force reduction feature as a collapsible form raised above the center panel and having a score line. A coined area surrounds the raised form.
Besides the above mentioned object, it is therefore a further object of present invention to provide a lid or an easy open end, preferably made of steel, for a container that can be manufactured with simpler, less complex tools and dies as compared to the devices of the prior art, thereby further contributing to a reduction of the manufacturing costs.
These objects are achieved by a method for producing a lid for a container according to claim 1 or by a lid for a container according to claim 14.
Accordingly, the invention provides a method for making an easy open end for a container, comprising the following steps
(a) providing a preform of the lid, wherein the preform of the lid has opposing first and second sides, wherein the first side faces towards the inside of the container when the lid is affixed to the container;
(b) forming a bead in the preform of the lid, wherein the bead extends out of said second side in an axial direction from said first side towards said second side, wherein the bead comprises two radially spaced apart side wall portions and a bridge portion connecting the side wall portions;
(c) thinning the side wall portions of the bead at least partially, thereby elongating the side wall portions;
(d) forming a score line in the bridge portion of the bead on said second side;
(e) flattening the bead such that the two thinned side wall portions collapse, thereby providing the lid.
It is preferred that the method steps are performed in consecutive order (step (a) to step (e)).
The thinning may be (wall) ironing.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method for making an easy open end for a container provides that, when flattening the bead (above mentioned step e), the two thinned side wall portions are being bent towards each other, thereby forming two opposite projections. Preferably the two thinned side wall portions are being bent radially inwardly towards each other. These two projections may be moved towards each other substantially until they are adjacent to or abutting each other.
In a further embodiment of the manufacturing method and the easy open end for a container as such according to the invention, when the bead is flattened (above mentioned step e), the bridge portion can be moved towards the two projections underneath (which projections are formed from the collapsed, folded thin side walls of the bead) substantially until the bridge portion is positioned under a distance to or is adjacent to the projections or abuts the projections. Therein, the two projections may substantially be positioned adjacent to or abutting each other in a radial direction. This enables a final cross-sectional form of the container panel or lid in this region such that e.g. the bridge portion and the two projections together are arranged in a form substantially resembling the letters O or Ω or having a mushroom-like form, or alternatively such that e.g. the bridge portion and the two projections are lying closely above each other in the manner of a stack of the respective wall portions of the sheet material of the panel/lid.
The step of thinning the side wall portions (step c) may be performed incrementally in separate steps. It is preferred that the step of thinning the side wall portions is performed in at least three separate steps.
In each of said separate steps the side wall portions may be thinned by at most 0.08 mm, preferably by at most 0.05 mm. In each of said separate steps the side wall portions may be thinned by between 0.01 mm and 0.08 mm, preferably by between 0.03 mm and 0.06 mm.
After thinning the side wall portions (step c), the thinned side wall portions may have a thickness of at most 0.20 mm, preferably at most 0.15 mm, more preferably at most 0.11 mm. It is preferred that the thickness of the side wall portions is between 0.08 mm and 0.11 mm after thinning of the side wall portions.
When (during) flattening the bead (step e), the bridge portion may substantially maintain its original form and alignment with respect to said second side.
When (during) flattening the bead (step e), the bead may as well be bent at the score line so that the bridge portion does not maintain its original form and alignment with respect to said second side.
Both embodiments may result in a form of the bridge portion of the bead such that the bridge portion extends outwardly from said second side in a substantially outwardly rounded, convex manner, or alternatively such that the bridge portion substantially forms an inwardly rounded, concave recess about the score on the upper or outer side of the bridge portion.
Upon or after flattening the bead (step e), the bridge portion may extend outwardly from said second side in a (substantially) convex manner.
When flattening the bead (step e), the bridge portion may be moved towards the two projections (substantially) until the bridge portion is arranged under a distance to or is adjacent to or abuts the projections.
The provided preform of the lid (step a) may have a (average) thickness of between 0.12 mm and 0.25 mm, preferably between 0.16 mm and 0.23 mm. The (average) thickness of the preform may be approximately 0.16 mm, approximately 0.18 mm, approximately 0.20 mm or approximately 0.23 mm. The “approximately” may allow a deviation of ±10% or ±5%.
The bridge portion may have a wall thickness, preferably after the flattening step, of between 0.12 mm and 0.25 mm. Preferably the bridge portion has a wall thickness, preferably after the flattening step, of approximately 0.16 mm, approximately 0.18 mm, approximately 0.20 mm or approximately 0.23 mm. Again, the “approximately” may allow a deviation of ±10% or ±5%.
Upon forming the score line in the bridge portion of the bead (step d), the bridge portion may have a residual thickness of between 0.02 mm and 0.15 mm, preferably between 0.05 mm and 0.09 mm, underneath the score line (30). Preferably, the residual thickness is approximately 0.07 mm (±10% or ±5%).
According to the invention, it is preferred that the step of forming the score line in the bridge portion of the bead (above mentioned step d) is undertaken after the step of thinning the side walls of the bead (step c). This may be advantageous as the formation of the score line can then use the larger forces that result from the thinning, e.g. ironing, process as compared to other or normal forming processes.
Alternatively, it may in certain cases also be beneficial that the step of forming the score line in the bridge portion of the bead (step d) is undertaken prior to the step of thinning the bead (step c).
Furthermore, the invention provides a lid, preferably an easy open end, for a container which is made according to the above-mentioned method.
Besides, the invention provides a lid or end, preferably an easy-open-end, for a container. The lid has opposing first and second sides, wherein the first side faces towards the inside of the container when the lid is affixed to the container, and wherein the lid has a first thickness. The lid comprises a bead that is formed in the lid and the bead extends out of said second side in an axial direction from said first side towards said second side. The bead comprises two, preferably radially spaced apart, side wall portions and a bridge portion connecting the side wall portions, wherein a score line (as a mechanically weakened portion) is formed in the bridge portion of the bead on said second side. The side wall portions of the bead have at least partially a wall thickness that is smaller than the first thickness of the lid. It is preferred that the first thickness of the lid is present at a location or a portion of the lid other than the side walls. Preferably, the thickness of the lid is measured/determined at a location/portion of the lid other than the (thinned) side walls.
The side wall portions of the bead may have at least partially a wall thickness that is smaller by at least 0.050 mm, preferably by at least 0.075 mm, more preferably by at least 0.10 mm, most preferred by at least 0.125 mm, than the first thickness of the lid.
The side wall portions of the bead may be bent towards each other, thereby forming two opposite projections.
The two projections may be (substantially) arranged adjacent to or abutting each other, and the bridge portion substantially is arranged under a distance to or adjacent to the projections or abuts the projections.
In any of the herein disclosed embodiments, the (preform of the) lid/end may comprise a metal, e.g. aluminum or steel, preferably steel. The (preform of the) lid/end may substantially (at least 90% by weight or at least 95% by weight) made of aluminum or steel, preferably steel.
The first side and the second side of the (preform of the) lid/end may be coated with PET (polyethylene terephthalate), preferably each side being coated with a PET layer having a thickness between 0.010 mm and 0.030 mm, more preferably about 0.020 mm (±10% or ±5%).
Also, the first side and the second side of the (preform of the) lid/end may be coated with PVC (polyvinyl chloride), preferably each side being coated with a PVC layer having a thickness between 0.010 mm and 0.030 mm, more preferably about 0.020 mm (±10% or ±5%).
The first side and the second side of the (preform of the) lid/end may be coated with an organosol, preferably each side being coated with an organosol layer having a thickness between 0.010 mm and 0.030 mm, more preferably about 0.020 mm (±10% or ±5%).
A container may comprise any herein disclosed lid. The container may be a metal container. The container may comprise foodstuff.
Thus, according to the invention, a bead that is formed in the lid or end for a container is thinned thereby elongating the two side walls of the bead in a substantially symmetrical manner. By this thinning process, the material of the two side walls is evenly, uniformly and symmetrically distributed, thereby keeping the forces on both sides of the bead, e.g. the forces acting within the side walls, equal. A score line is then formed on the outside of the outermost or top or bridge or cover portion of the bead.
This bead is then flattened in the direction towards the plane of the lid such that the two thinned side walls fold or collapse and are being bent inwardly towards each other in a substantially symmetrical manner. Thereby, the folded side walls form two opposite shoulders or projections that are substantially located underneath the score line in the bridge portion of the bead. As described above, these shoulders or projections form a safety feature to avoid an injury of the user at the sharp edges that result from the panel or lid at the score line when the easy open end is pulled or teared along the score line to open the container.
Furthermore, with the method and device of the invention, a lesser amount of sheet material of the panel or lid is needed to form the double fold for the safety projections in the panel/lid. Accordingly, the material for manufacturing the easy open end is not taken from the overall diameter or extension of the preform of the lid/end, so that the overall diameter or extension substantially remain constant throughout the manufacture of the panel/lid. Rather, the material or the volume of the material for manufacturing the double fold in the panel/lid is taken from the thickness of the panel sheet as such in that a certain amount of material is displaced during thinning of the side wall portions of the bead.
Consequently, as these thinned side wall portions are folded, the final panel comprising the bead with the score line on top does not have a minimum thickness at the locations of the double folds of the panel sheet of substantially three times the original thickness of the panel sheet material, but has a lesser minimum thickness (e.g. at least 10% lesser or at least 20% lesser minimum thickness). E.g. twice the thickness of the respectively folded thinned side wall portion added by the thickness of the bridge portion of the bead. This minimum thickness of course applies only when the respective side wall and bridge portions of the bead are folded closely onto one another, i.e. when they lie closely one above the other without any free space in between.
Consequently, for manufacturing the container end with a safe score line according to the invention, a lesser amount of sheet metal material is required, resulting in correspondingly reduced manufacturing costs. Considering the high quantities in which such containers are generally produced, this is an important economic and financial factor for the container manufacturer.
Finally, simpler and less complex tools and dies are only required for manufacturing the container with the easy open end according to the invention, as the thinned and elongated side wall portions of the bead do not have to be manufactured by coining and squeezing or pressing, thereby avoiding respective coining dies applying certain compressive forces onto the material. Rather, the thin side wall portions of the bead may be manufactured by (wall) ironing the bead. This just requires simple tools, thereby further contributing to a reduction of the manufacturing costs.
Summarizing, the invention provides an easy open end for a container being less expensive in its manufacture due to a savings in the used material and due to little or substantially reduced requirements as regards manufacturing tools, while, at the same time, providing safety features in the form of shoulders or projections that cooperate with and/or protect the sharp edges of the opened score line of the container panel/lid thereby reducing the risk of injury for a user of the container.
Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the enclosed drawings.
The preform of the lid 10 has a first side 11 and an opposing second side 12, wherein the first side 11 faces towards the inside of the container when the lid 10 is affixed to the container, and wherein the second side 12 faces towards the outside of the container.
For the purposes of this specification, the “axial direction” shall be the direction extending vertically from or out of the general plane of the lid 10, whereas the “radial direction” shall be the direction extending parallel to or in the general plane of the lid 10 or the preform of the lid 10. In other words, the “axial direction” extends from the first side 11 towards the second side 12 of the (preform of the) lid 10, or vice versa, when the first and second sides 11, 12 are seen lying in the general or main plane of the overall lid 10. In
Following the basic shape of the preform of the lid 10 as shown in
In the next manufacturing step, the side walls 22, 24 of the bead 20 are thinned, e.g. by ironing, thereby elongating the two side wall portions 22, 24. Accordingly, the volume of material for accomplishing the axial elongation of the side wall portions 22, 24 is taken from the lid 10 as such in that the side wall portions 22, 24 are thinned. In other words, the thickness of the lid 10 is reduced from the initial thickness in the region of the side wall portions 22, 24. The result of this step is substantially shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the thinned side wall portions 22, 24 have a thickness W of approximately 0.1 mm at the end of the process step of thinning the side walls 22, 24.
In contrast to the side wall portions 22, 24, the bridge portion 26 as such substantially maintains the initial thickness of the lid 10 during and after the thinning process. Thus, in a preferred case where the preform of the lid 10 originally may have a thickness of approximately 0.16 to 0.23 mm, also the bridge portion 26 substantially has a wall thickness C of approximately 0.16 to 0.23 mm, both prior to and after the thinning step of the side wall portions 22, 24 (see
As the next step for manufacturing the easy open end (lid) for a container, a score line 30 is formed on the outside of the bridge portion 26 of the bead 20, i.e. on the second side 12 of the preform of the lid 10 substantially on top of the bead 20.
In a substantially final manufacturing step, the result of which is shown in
After this step a lid 10, e.g. an easy open end, is formed. Further steps can be performed after the above described substantially final manufacturing step. E.g. a pull-tab may be attached to the lid 10, preferably via a rivet.
During the compression of the bead 20, the bridge portion 26 of the bead 20 is moved downwards and towards the two simultaneously formed projections 32, 34, substantially either until the bridge portion 26 remains arranged under a distance to the projections 32, 34 or until the bridge portion 26 is substantially lying on and abutting the projections 32, 34. This results in the double-folded arrangement of the lid 10 in the region of the bead 20 and the score line 30, as it was explained in the introduction above. In the first of said latter two cases, which substantially is shown in
Furthermore, during the flattening of the bead 20 in the axial direction towards the outer or second side 12 of the lid 10, the bridge portion 26 can substantially maintain its original form and alignment or orientation with respect to said second side 12. In other words, while the side walls 22, 24 are deformed in that they collapse and are folded to form the projections 32, 34, the bridge portion 26 as such is substantially not deformed but is moved as such in the downwards direction.
Alternatively, during the flattening of the bead 20, the bead 20 and particularly the bridge portion 26 can be bent at the score line 30 whereby the bridge portion 26 does not maintain its original form and alignment or orientation with respect to the second side 12 of the lid 10. In this case, the bridge portion 26 can e.g. be deformed such that in the end it is rounded outwardly, i.e. extends outwardly from the second side 12 in a substantially convex manner. This form resembles the general form of the bridge portion 26 as it is shown in
In
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19196289.3 | Sep 2019 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2020/058368 | 9/9/2020 | WO |
