Patent Grant
7677404
The invention generally relates to a tab used to open food can ends and beer/beverage can ends, tooling for the manufacture of the tab and a method of manufacturing the tab.
A tab is typically secured to a can end and the can end is opened by lifting a lift portion of the tab by pulling upwards on the tab so as to pivot the tab about a rivet which secures the tab to the can end. Lifting the lift portion of the tab upwards fractures a score line disposed on the can end which permits the end-user to access the contents of the can end.
Canmakers desire to maintain a nose of the tab by the score line of the can end in order to allow for the proper fracture of the score line by the nose of the tab to enable the end-user to access the contents of the can end. A problem that exists with tabs is that tabs can rotate relative to the can end. Such rotational movement of the tab could allow the tab to be rotated too far which causes a situation in which the can end cannot be opened by an end-user because of incorrect alignment of the nose of the tab relative to the score line of the can end.
Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a tab, tooling for the manufacture of the tab and a method for the manufacture of the tab that provides the tab with rotational resistance relative to the can end in order to maintain the nose of the tab by the score line of the can end to permit the tab to fracture the score line and enable the end-user to access the contents of the can end.
An object of the invention is to provide a tab, tooling for the manufacture of the tab and a method for the manufacture of the tab that provides the tab with rotational resistance relative to the can end in order to maintain the nose of the tab by the score line of the can end to permit the tab to fracture the score line and enable the end-user to access the contents of the can end.
Certain objects of the invention are achieved by providing a tab to be affixed to a can end. The tab has a nose portion located at a front end of the tab and a lift portion located at a back end of the tab. The tab also has a rivet receiving portion located proximate to the nose portion with a rivet hole. The rivet receiving portion is coupled to the nose portion. The rivet hole has a non-round perimeter with a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion. The first diameter portion has a plurality of first arcuate segments and the second diameter portion has a plurality of notches. The second diameter portion is greater in length than the first diameter portion.
Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing tooling for the manufacture of a tab to be affixed to a can end. The tooling includes a rivet hole punch having a lower surface with a non-round perimeter that has a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion. The rivet hole punch is structured to form a rivet hole with a non-round perimeter. The tooling also includes a rivet die having a hole which is structured to receive sharpened edges located on the lower surface of the rivet hole punch. The rivet die has sharpened edges located about an upper surface of the rivet die proximate to an outer periphery of the hole. The first diameter portion has a plurality of first arcuate segments and the second diameter portion has a plurality of projections. The second diameter portion is greater in length than the first diameter portion.
Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method of manufacturing a tab to be affixed to a can end. The method comprises forming a rivet hole in a rivet receiving portion located proximate to a nose portion of the tab, the rivet hole having a non-round perimeter with a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion. The first diameter portion has a plurality of first arcuate segments and the second diameter portion has a plurality of notches. The second diameter portion is greater in length than the first diameter portion.
For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “axial”, “top”, “bottom”, “aft”, “behind”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention, as it is oriented in the drawing FIGS. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative configurations except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific elements illustrated in the FIGS. and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Therefore, specific dimensions, orientations and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting.
As used herein, the term “fastener” means any suitable fastening, connecting or tightening mechanism such as dowel pins, fasteners, rivets and the like. As used herein, the statement that two or more parts are “coupled” together means that the parts are joined together either directly or joined together indirectly through one or more intermediate parts. As used herein, the term “arcuate” means an elliptical or rounded: (i) arc; (ii) arch; (iii) bend; (iv) bow; (v) curve; (vi) radius; and (vii) the like that have one or more radii of curvatures. As used herein, the term “tab” means rigid material that has undergone one or more forming and/or tooling operations.
Turning to
The rivet receiving portion 20 is a generally semi-circular shaped, square shaped or rectangular shaped panel located rearwardly of the nose portion 12 with a central rivet hole 22. The rivet hole 22 is shaped to receive an integral rivet 24 to affix the tab 10 to a can end 26 about which the nose portion 12 can pivot. The rivet receiving portion 20 is integrally attached to the nose portion 12 along a panel 28. A generally C-shaped slot 30 surrounds a portion of the outer periphery of the rivet receiving portion 20. The C-shaped slot 30 is an aperture that further facilitates flexibility of the tab 10 with the opposed ends of the C-shaped slot 30 defining a fulcrum 32. The fulcrum 32 allows the tab 10 to pivot upwards and downwards about the fulcrum 32.
V-shaped detent 34 is provided proximate to the panel 28. The V-shaped detent 34 reduces the requisite opening force needed to open the can end 26. Lift portion 14 is the part of the tab 10 actuated by an end-user to open the can end 26. The lift portion 14 is generally U-shaped with curled or hemmed portion 16 located along the peripheral surface 18 of the lift portion 14. The curled edges or hemmed portion 16 located proximate to the lift portion 14 are curled or hemmed underneath the lift portion 14. The lift portion 14 includes a finger hole 36 disposed through a surface of the lift portion 14 for user activation. While the finger hole 36 is shown as having the shape of an ellipse, one of skill in the art would appreciate that finger hole 36 could be in the shape of a circle, oval or other geometric shapes.
With reference to
The end panel 38 is defined by a score line 42 which surrounds the end panel 38 so the end panel 38 is removable from the can end 26 by an end-user when the score line 42 is fractured. The score line 42 is typically fractured by having the end-user grasp the lift portion 14 of the tab 10. The end-user then lifts the lift portion 14 upward which flexes the integral rivet 24 forward thereby causing the nose portion 12 and the V-shaped detent 34 to flex downward and fracture the score line 42. The end-user may then pull on the lift portion 14 to remove the end panel 38 from the remainder of the can end 26.
As can be seen in
A first circle or ellipse 52 may be drawn around the first diameter portion 44. Various other diameters may be drawn from a first arcuate segment 48 located on one side of the first circle or ellipse 52 through a center 54 of the rivet hole 22 to another first arcuate segment 48 located on the other side of the first circle or ellipse 52 which various other diameters may be of the same length or may be of different lengths. While
A second circle or ellipse 56 may be drawn around the second diameter portion 46. Various other diameters may be drawn from an outer extent of a midpoint of a notch 50 located on one side of the second circle or ellipse 56 through the center 54 of the rivet hole 22 to the other side of the second circle or ellipse 56 which various other diameters may be of the same length or may be of different lengths. While
The center 54 of the rivet hole 22 has a focal point located approximately at the center 54 of the rivet hole 22 which faces the first diameter portion 44 and the second diameter portion 46. The first arcuate segments 48 and the notches 50 when the notches 50 comprise a plurality of second arcuate segments have a concave appearance from the focal point. A top plan view of the rivet hole 22 shows the rivet hole 22 as having a general appearance of being non-round, scalloped, splined or the like. The first arcuate segments 48 and the notches 50 are integrally connected together with connector segments 60 that may extend towards an inner area of the rivet hole 22. Each of the connector segments 60 may also have a tip portion which is structured to have an interference fit with the rivet 24 after being staked to the rivet 24. The tip portion may be sharp or radiused.
One of the first arcuate segments 62 located proximate to the nose portion 12 of the tab 10 has an arcuate size or curved length which is greater than an arcuate size or curved length of at least one other of the plurality of first arcuate segments 64. The one first arcuate segment 62 located proximate to the nose portion 12 of the tab 10 has a generally U-shaped depression 66 formed proximate thereto on a bottom surface 68 of the tab 10. The U-shaped depression 66 allows the tab 10 to slide relative to the rivet 24 and avoid damage to the rivet 24 during opening of the can end 26.
The rivet 24 has a base 70 (
Certain canmakers desire that a tab 10 coupled to a can end 26 resists rotation of the tab 10 relative to the can end 26. The rotational resistance of the tab 10 is desired to maintain the nose 12 of the tab 10 by the score line 42 of the can end 26 to allow for proper fracture of the score line 42 by the nose 12 of the tab 10 which enables an end-user to successfully remove the end panel 38 from the can end 26. Tabs that rotate relative to a can end have the potential of being rotated too far which causes a situation in which the can end cannot be opened by an end-user because of incorrect alignment of the nose of the tab relative to a score line of the can end.
In the tooling for the manufacture of the tab 10 of the invention and associated method, material to be converted into a plurality of tabs 10 is conveyed into a conversion press. In the typical operation of a conversion press, material is introduced between at least one upper tool member and at least one lower tool member that are in an open, spaced apart position. A ram advances the upper tool member toward a lower tool member in order to perform any of a variety of tooling operations such as rivet forming, hole punching, scoring, paneling, embossing and/or final staking. After performing an operation at a specific station, the press ram retracts until the upper tool member and lower tool member are once again in the open, spaced apart position. The partially converted material is transported to the next tooling station until the tab 10 is completely formed and discharged from the conversion press. As the material leaves a given tooling operation, more material is introduced to the vacated position, for example, as part of a continuous sheet, thus continuously repeating the manufacturing process.
Tooling 72 for the manufacture of the tab 10 is shown in
A first circle or ellipse 90 may be drawn around the first diameter portion 82. Various other diameters may be drawn from a first arcuate segment 86 located on one side of the first circle or ellipse 90 through a center 92 of the lower surface 80 of the rivet hole punch 78 to another first arcuate segment 86 located on the other side of the first circle or ellipse 80 which various other diameters may be of the same length or may be of different lengths. While
A second circle or ellipse 94 may be drawn around the second diameter portion 84. Various other diameters may be drawn from an outer extent of a midpoint of a projection 86 located on one side of the second circle or ellipse 94 through the center 92 of the lower surface 80 of the rivet hole punch 78 to the other side of the second circle or ellipse 94 which various other diameters may be of the same length or may be of different lengths. While
A rivet die 98 having a hole 100 is provided in opposed relation to the rivet hole punch 78. The hole 100 is structured to receive sharpened edges located on the lower surface 80 of the rivet hole punch 78. The rivet die 98 has sharpened edges located about an upper surface of the rivet die 98 proximate to an outer periphery of the hole 100.
The lower surface 80 of the rivet hole punch 78 has a center 92 and a focal point located approximately at the center 92 of the lower surface 80 which faces the first diameter portion 82 and the second diameter portion 84. The first arcuate segments 86 and the projections 88 when the projections 88 comprise a plurality of second arcuate segments have a concave appearance from the focal point. A bottom plan view of the lower surface 80 has a general appearance selected from the group consisting of non-round, scalloped and splined. The first arcuate segments 86 and the projections 88 are integrally connected together with connector segments 102 that may extend towards an inner area of the lower surface 80. The connector segments 102 may also have a tip portion that may be sharp or radiused.
The rivet hole punch 78 is structured to form at least one, some or all of a plurality of first arcuate segments 48 in a first diameter portion 44 of the rivet hole 22 and at least one, some or all of a plurality of notches 50 in the second diameter portion 46 with one of the first arcuate segments 48 to be formed being located proximate to a nose portion 12 of the tab 10. The one first arcuate segment 62 which is to be formed has an arcuate size or curved length which is greater than an arcuate size or curved length of at least one other of the plurality of first arcuate segments 64 to be formed in the tab 10. One of the plurality of first arcuate segments 86 has an arcuate size or curved length which is greater than an arcuate size or curved length of at least one other of the plurality of first arcuate segments 86. The enlarged first arcuate segment 86 is structured to form the one first arcuate segment 62 proximate to the nose portion 12 of the tab 10. A punch retainer 104 couples the rivet hole punch 78 to the conversion press 76 and a die retainer 106 couples the rivet die 98 to the conversion press 76 as well.
The forming steps or processes described below occur in this tooling station when the ram (not show) of the conversion press 76 begins to descend. The sharpened edges of the lower surface 80 of the rivet hole punch 78 cooperate with the sharpened edges of the hole 100 of the rivet die 98 to form, lance or pierce the tab 10 to form the rivet hole 22 having a non-round perimeter with the first diameter portion 44 and the second diameter portion 46. The first diameter portion 44 that is formed has the plurality of first arcuate segments 48 having a non-uniform arcuate size or curved length and the second diameter portion 46 that is formed has the plurality of notches 50. The second diameter portion 46 is greater in length than the first diameter portion 44. In certain embodiments, one of the first arcuate segments 62 located proximate to the nose portion 12 of the tab 10 that may be formed with the rivet hole punch 78 has an arcuate size which is greater than an arcuate size of at least one other of the plurality of first arcuate segments 64 that are formed with the rivet hole punch 78.
Next, the ram of the conversion press 76 begins to ascend once the forming step described above has been completed. When the ram ascends, the rivet hole punch 78 lifts upwardly away from the rivet hole 22 that was formed and the conversion press 76 moves the sheet of material that is being formed into the tab 10 to the next tooling station to perform the next tooling operation on the tab 10.
With reference to
A rivet reform die 130 having a shank portion 132 is provided in opposed relation to the rivet hole reform tool 108. The shank portion 132 is structured to cooperate with the base 116 of the rivet hole reform tool 108 in order to reform the first diameter portion 44. A portion of the shank portion 132 also extends into the aperture 126 during the process of reforming the first diameter portion 44. A retainer 134 couples the rivet hole reform tool 108 to the conversion press 76 and a retainer 136 couples the rivet reform die 130 to the conversion press 76 as well.
The forming steps or processes described below occur in this tooling station when the ram of the conversion press 76 begins to descend. The radius 118 is structured to reform the first diameter portion 44 and at least one of the first arcuate segments 48 of the rivet hole 22. Also, one first arcuate segment 62 of the at least one first arcuate segments 48 to be reformed is located proximate to a nose portion 12 of the tab 10. The one first arcuate segment 62 has an arcuate size which is greater than an arcuate size of at least one other of the plurality of first arcuate segments 64 formed in the tab 10. With reference to
Next, the ram of the conversion press 76 begins to ascend once the reforming step described above has been completed. When the ram ascends, the rivet hole reform tool 108 lifts upwardly away from the rivet hole 22 that was reformed and the conversion press 76 moves the sheet of material that is being formed into the tab 10 to the next tooling station to perform the next tooling operation on the tab 10.
With reference to
As illustrated in
The upper staking punch 148 may include a biasing member 160 as well to cushion any axial movement of the upper staking punch 148 during the staking process. The biasing member 160 may also determine the degree to which the rivet 24 is flattened or squeezed outwardly in order to retain the tab 10 on the can end 26. A spacer 162 functions to assure that the upper staking punch 148 stakes the tab 10 to the can end 26. Additionally, the tooling 72 may be provided with a position dowel 164 which is designed to fit within the finger hole 36 of the tab 10. Likewise, the tooling 72 may be provided with another dowel 168 which is designed to support the can end 26. The dowel 164 is biased by a biasing member 166 and the dowel 168 is biased by a biasing member 170 so that the dowels 164 hold the tab 10 in position and the dowel 168 holds the can end 26 in position while the upper staking punch 148 flares the rivet 24 outwardly to secure the tab 10 to the can end 26. The can end 26 will be properly positioned once the rivet 24 projects through the rivet hole 22 of the tab 10 and the dowel 164 securely positions the tab 10.
In operation of the staking process, a can end 26 is inserted between the upper staking punch 148 and the lower stake tool 140 and a tab 10 is placed above the can end 26 with the rivet hole 22 of the tab 10 supported on the rivet 24. At least one, some or all of the first arcuate segments 48 are structured to have a clearance fit with the rivet 24 prior to being staked to the rivet 24. Also, one of the first arcuate segments 62 located proximate to the nose portion 12 of the tab 10 has an arcuate size which is greater than an arcuate size of at least one other of the plurality of first arcuate segments 64. At least one, some or all of the connector segments 60 are structured to have an interference fit with the rivet 24 after being staked to the rivet 24. Such interference would provide the tab 10 with resistance against rotation of the tab 10. The connector segments 60 proximate to the lift portion 14 are structured to be further affixed to the base of the rivet 24 when a rotational force is applied to the tab 10 which further affixing would provide the tab 10 with resistance against further rotation of the tab 10. As described above, certain technical benefits exist in providing a tab 10 coupled to a can end 26 that resists rotation of the tab 10 relative to the can end 26. To complete the staking process, the ram of the conversion press 76 forces the upper staking punch 148 down upon the can end 26. As the conversion press 76 advances to the closed position, the tab 10 is staked to the can end 26. The staking of the tab 10 to the rivet 24 causes plastic deformation in the material of the rivet 24 which flows the material of the rivet 24 outwardly into a portion of a space supplied by the notches 50 supplied by the notches 50 and provides a certain amount of interference between the rivet 24 and the notches 50. Such interference between the rivet 24 and the notches 50 would provide the tab 10 with resistance against rotation of the tab 10.
While
The material can be conveyed through the conversion press 76 by any means known in the art. Typically, material is fed into the conversion press 76 as sheets or is uncurled first and then fed into the conversion press 76 in sheets which is conveyed through the stations as a solid sheet until enough tooling operations have been performed on the material that separate tabs 10 are formed. Further, the material that manufactures tabs 10 is a relatively ductile metal such as, for example, aluminum alloyed sheet, but it may be made from other acceptable materials as required, such as, for example, steel alloyed sheet.
While the disclosure of
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended hereto and any and all equivalents thereto.
This patent application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e)(1) to provisional patent application No. 60/848,687, filed Oct. 2, 2006, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this patent application in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
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| 3425591 | Pugh, Sr. | Feb 1969 | A |
| 3606076 | Hanke et al. | Sep 1971 | A |
| 3715051 | Hanke | Feb 1973 | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080078764 A1 | Apr 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60848687 | Oct 2006 | US |
