WO2004052738A1

WO2004052738A1 - Can for the conditioning of liquid products and method for making said can

Info

Publication number: WO2004052738A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/005795
Authority: WO
Inventors: Enrico Folchini
Original assignee: Enrico Folchini
Priority date: 2002-12-10
Filing date: 2003-12-09
Publication date: 2004-06-24
Also published as: AU2003286307A1; ITBO20020772A1

Abstract

The can for the conditioning of liquid products includes a cylindrical body 10, provided with a peripheral extension 11 at the opening edge, and a cover 20, provided with an external edge 21, having a conformation able to allow the perfect overlapping with the extension 11 to obtain the closure of the can 100. The cover 20 includes a key 30, extending from the edge 21, an internal portion 31 that is fit to insert between the peripheral extension 11 and the external surface of the cylindrical body 10. A preferential opening path 35, obtained onto said cover 20, defines an opening portion of the same, including the opening key10 30. The opening portion 25 is fit to be lifted up acting on the external portion 32 of the opening key 30 to open the can 100 along the preferential opening path 35.

Description

CAN FOR THE CONDITIONING OF LIQUID PRODUCTS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAID CAN

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical sector for the production of metal containers, mainly used to contain liquids.

More particularly the invention refers to a metal container, with a cylindrical structure, and a new Method for the production of the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE KNOWN ART

It is known the a type of container particularly used for the conditioning of liquids, and in particular drinks, is commonly known with the name of "can". This container is basically made of two parts that are produced separately and, further, assembled together: a cylindrical body, made of steel or, most often, of aluminium, used to contain the liquid to be conditioned and a cover mainly produced with the same material as for the body. This last is provided with, in its central part, a preferential rupture line opportunely designed with an opening key fixed in its central part that permit the partial detachment of the cover toward the inner part of the can allowing then the opening of the can itself.

The production process to obtain the can foresees different steps, not necessarily described in the sequence that follows. According to the chosen technology, they can be done contemporarily or performed singularly. SHAPING OF THE CYLINDRICAL BODY. The process starts from an aluminium metal sheet that is cut in a disk form. This disk is further shaped at different degrees till to obtain a cylinder made of a bottom part and of the real and proper cylindrical body.

The final result of this operation is thus a cylinder with a closed bottom and a side wall that, being irregularly shaped at the first instance, by means of the irregular edge cutting (with a small aluminium scrap production), finally becomes regular and with cylindrical shape.

The next step is the decoration of the external surface, made with already known technology available on the market, that will be printed with information related to the contained liquid (drink), the producer and other information.

A further step of the can production process is said "necking" that consists in the diameter reduction of the open upper portion of the cylindrical body.

As final step of the necking operation there is the upper edge preparation in a way that, in the canning step after the filling of the body, can be fitted with the external edge of the cover. Particularly, the external edge of the upper part is almost completely folded toward the external side.

SHAPING OF THE COVER. Also in this case the process starts from an aluminium disk, with a prefixed diameter, that is shaped as a function of the further operations for the assembling with the cylindrical body.

Particularly, a special shape (annular concavity) is obtained, on the external area of the disk in the side that comes in contact with the liquid after the cover application, in order to contain a compound (normally PNC or rubber in liquid form) that, once the liquid becomes solid (i.e. by heating / curing treatment), forms an annular gasket. This last, during the assembling between the can body and the cover, comes in contact with the top part of the body and allows the perfect coupling and sealing (once the metals are folded together : seaming) of the two parts.

During the shaping phase the point where, in a further step, the opening key is fixed is also formed. The rupture lines on the top cover, that during the opening will brake and origin the opening from which the liquid will flow out, are also formed during this step.

SHAPING OF THE OPENING KEY. The opening key functioning foresees to lift up the free part of the key from the cover in a way that, by means of a physical leverage, it pushes the area between the rupture lines toward the inside of the can and form the opening. This key is formed in a separate process from the cover (although on the same machine) and then applied onto the cover in correspondence of the already described fixing point.

The conventional procedure to close the can with the cover after the filling of the same with the liquid foresees (see fig.l) the coupling of the edge 1 of the cylindrical body 2 of the can with the edge 3 of the cover 4 of the same. These are then folded together on themselves in the way shown by the aforesaid figure 1. Said this, the edge 1 of the cylindrical body 2 is almost completely folded toward the external part and the external portion of the edge 3 of the cover 4 is then inserted between the edge 1 and the cylindrical body 2 itself. The remaining part of the edge 3 is then covering on the external part the upper portion of the cylindrical body 2. This way, the gasket 5, obtained in the internal part of the cover 4 comes in contact with the upper edge of the cylindrical body 2 and guarantees the sealing of this coupling.

The obtained can as above described, presents some inconvenience that, in some instances, can create some risks to the health of the final consumers. In fact, the portion of the external surface that during the opening in brought into the inside of the can comes directly in contact with the liquid contained in the can. The final consumer, thus, risks to come in contact with eventual polluting agent present onto the top of the can (i.e. rats' dropping that, as already happened, can create dangerous injury and, in some instances, also death).

Furthermore, the can cover, after the seaming process, still present a rim that is higher that the top surface of the cover itself. The presence of this rim can result in keeping all the dirt on the top surface, just before the beverage consumption. To this, the fact that the consumer often drinks directly from the can without pouring the liquid in another container and without cleaning it must be added. And this further contribute to increase the possibility and the risk that some dangerous substances can be swallowed. There is further to be added that the detaching of the opening key or even the simple movement of the preformed area of the cover inside the can originate an hole, from which the liquid will flow out, that is quite narrow and with the edges almost sharp and this can create a risk for the consumer that, if not paying the proper attention, could injury his lips or his tongue (especially in the case of children that, while drinking, use to play with the container itself).

Another drawback is given by the fact that the opening key is obtained separately from the cover and further assembled on top of it. This can result in a complication in both the structure of the apparatus currently used to produce the cover and in the production process of the same cover. Several solutions have been thought to solve the problem of the hygiene of the can for instance covering, after the filling and seaming phases, the top cover with other covers made either in plastic materials or aluminium foils.

These solutions, today available on the free market in both versions, have in both cases presented several drawbacks both for the consumers and for the drink producers that can be summarised in hygienic problems (different from those already described), cost problems and production flexibility.

Other solutions, already proposed, foresee the complete remove of the cover that, if from a point of view can solve the hygienic problem of the top surface of the cover, from another point of view this can create problems due to the possible release of the cover in the environment (that, with the respect to the old opening key technology where a small opening key was detachable from the cover, in this case the amount of metal released is very important). Further, the cover itself can be a danger source due to the very sharp edge surrounding the cover. And when the can is open, the upper end of the can presents also a sharp edge onto which the lips are suppose to come in touch while drinking with very high risk of injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a new kind of can that, once opened to drink the contained drink, doesn't allow to the drink to come in contact with the cover parts that are potentially contaminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can that, with the respect of the currently used ones, guarantees the top safety for the final consumer that eventually decides to drink directly from the can itself.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method for making the above cited can that can simplify both the industrial processes and the apparatus used for their production.

The aforesaid objects are entirely obtained, according to the content of the claims here under reported, by a can which comprises: at least an opening key, extending from a portion with a predefined angular width of the external edge of the can cover, to prolong the same cover, with an internal portion of the opening key being fit to be inserted between the edge and the external surface of the cylindrical body, and an external portion of the same opening key being placed outwardly of the can body; at least a preferential rupture path, obtained onto the cover in order to define an opening portion of the same, including the above opening key, suitable to be lifted acting on this last to open the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The characteristics features of the invention, as it will result from the claims, are highlighted in the following detailed description that refers to the enclosed tables of drawing in which : • the figure 1 (known art) illustrates, in a lateral section, a portion of the coupling area between the cylindrical body and the cover of a can, obtained with very well known technologies ;

• the figure 2 illustrates, in perspective, the upper portion of a can obtained with the present invention, with the cover in the closed position ; • the figure 3 illustrates the same portion of the can shown in figure 2 in the complete opening position ;

• the figure 4 illustrates a scheme of the top view of the cover of the same can just before its coupling with the cylindrical body of the can ;

• the figure 5 illustrates the section according to the line V-V of figure 4 ; • the figure 6 illustrates the enlargement of the portion A of figure 5 ;

• the figure 7 illustrates, in a lateral section, a significant portion of the coupling area between the cylindrical body and the cover of a can realised according to the invention ;

• figures 8A to 8D illustrate different opening phases according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to figure 2, 100 indicates, as a whole, a can that is realised according to the present invention in its closed configuration. The can 100 comprises, particularly, a metal body 10 having substantially a cylindrical structure, realised preferably using aluminium and / or its alloys provided with a closed bottom in one end (not shown being not part of the invention). At the opposite end, the cylindrical body 10 is open and presents a terminal portion with reduced diameter obtained with the known process of "necking".

The cylindrical body 10 in then closed, in this considered end, with a cover 20, also obtained by using preferably aluminium and / or its alloys, obtained separately from the body 10 itself and applied onto it after its filling with the liquid to be conditioned, as it will be detailed described later on. In this open end of the cylindrical body 10 (see figure 7), a peripheral edge 11 folded toward the external side of the body 10 itself has been also provided. Onto this edge 11, a plastic material layer 13 having some softness and gas barrier features is then applied, preferably by means of an injection moulding process. This last material can be constituted by a generic polymeric material in the solid state at ambient condition of temperature, but in the molten physical state by means of heat due to the injection moulding process. This way also materials that don't contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride) can be used (PVC is normally used but it is investigated because it is considered dangerous due to the presence of phthalates and banned for legislative matters in some Countries). The layer of the plastic material 13 is also covering the extreme sharpen area of the edge 11. The advantages of this configuration will be clarified in the further steps of the description. To the material that is used in the layer 13, with technicality already known, an oxygen scavenger product can also be added in order to absorb the residual oxygen that is present in the inside of the can 100 in the head space. This absorption allows a better conservation of several products that are sensible to the action of the oxygen.

The aforesaid cover 20 is coupled to the cylindrical body 20 in correspondence of the peripheral edge 11 of the same. To this purpose, the, cover 20 is provided with an external edge 21, that is over placed onto the edge 11 and then together they are folded toward the external part. This way the plastic layer 13 is placed between the edge 11 and the internal side of the external edge 21 and acts as a gasket giving a guarantee of perfect sealing. From a portion of the cover 20, with a predefined width, an opening key 30 extends in a way to be kept and hold by the Consumer's hand and it is intended to be destined for the manual opening of the can 100.

The opening key 30 comprises an internal portion 31 (figure 7) that, in the closed configuration of the can, is shaped onto the peripheral edge 11 that results folded, together with the external portion 21 of the cover 20, in a way to result placed between the peripheral edge 11 and the external surface of the cylindrical body 10.

An external portion 32 of the opening key 30, that constitutes the prolongation of the above internal portion 31, is substantially in contact with the external surface of the cylindrical body 10, in correspondence of the "necking" area, and it follows the contour shape with variable diameter. In this external portion a central hole 38 is advantageously obtained in order to allow the Consumer to take and keep the opening key 30. Both the edge 39 of the central hole 38 and the external edge 40 of the opening key 38 are folded on themselves to avoid that the sharp edge, that is obtained during the formation process, could be a danger for the Consumer of the can 100. These edges 39, 40 can also be covered with soft plastic material in order to improve both the keeping of the opening key and the comfort of the Consumer that opens the can.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the cover 20 in its configuration before to be coupled to the cylindrical body 10. In the same figures, how the opening key 30 can be realised in a single body together with the remaining part of the cover 20 and how the external edge 21 can be initially shaped as per detail 21a in its internal part in order to facilitate its positioning onto the non-folded peripheral edge 11 of the body 10, can also be seen.

Further, the cover 20 foresees a preferential rupture path 35 designed in order to define an opening portion 25 of the cover 20 itself, that is thought to be lifted to open the can 100 that includes the aforesaid opening key 30. The path35 is substantially constituted by a couple of preferential rupture lines 36, 37. These extend, starting from the opposite ends to the connection of the opening key 30 to the external edge 21, in a radial way for a first path to finally cross the edge 21 itself describing two diverging circumference arches. A preferential folding line 9 is also foreseen extending between the internal end of the preferential rupture lines 36, 37. The design of both these last two lines and the folding line 9 is obtained in order to include, in the opening portion 25, the most of the cover 20.

The Method, according to this invention, foresees that the cylindrical body 10 of the can 100 is formed according to the technologies already known. In a further step the plastic material layer 13, that forms the sealing gasket, is obtained by bringing the cylindrical body 10 inside to an injection mould designed for the purpose. As already said, this material covers the whole peripheral edge 11. This implies a further advantage for the final Consumer in the case of drinking of the contained beverage directly from the can. In this case, in fact, the sealing gasket avoids the sharp end of the edge 11 to injury the Consumer's lips allowing him to drink in a safe way.

In another apparatus and in different times the cover 20 is also formed by shaping an aluminium foil. The shape of the cover 20, in this case, will not be circular as it is in the known technology, but will include the shape of the opening key 30 with its central hole 38. During this phase, both the preferential rupture lines 36, 37 and the preferential folding line 9 are also obtained. Subsequently, the edge 39 of the opening key 30 and the edge 40 of the central hole 38 are folded and, eventually, a layer of polymeric material is then moulded in correspondence of said edges. After the filling of the cylindrical body 10 with the product to be conditioned, the cover 20 is then placed with the throat shape 21a of the edge 21 onto the peripheral edge 11. Thus, by means of the technology similar to that currently used to close the can 100, the edge 21 is over placed onto the edge 11 and, finally, they are folded together toward the external side in order to obtain the can 100 closed. During this operation the internal portion 31 of the opening key to be further folded is also foreseen in order to be inserted, together with the external portion of the edge 21 between the peripheral edge 11 and the external surface of the cylindrical body 10. Further, the external portion 32 of the opening key 20 is, in this phase, placed in a way to be as close as possible to the cylindrical body 10 itself, in order to reduce as much as possible the space occupied by the can 100.

The opening of the can 100 is described with reference to both the figures 8A- 8D and the figure 3. In the figure 8 A, the can is shown in its completely closed status. The first operation that the Consumer has to perform is the partial lifting of external portion 32 of the opening key 30 (figure 8B). Subsequently, the opening key is then pulled toward both the bottom and the external side of the can in order to unlock the internal portion 31 of the opening key 30 itself from both the cylindrical body 10 and its peripheral edge 11 (figure 8C). The opening key 30 is then pulled toward the upper part of the can 100 (figure 8D) and this action causes the rupture of the first portion of the preferential rupture lines 36 and 37. By continuing to pull the opening key 30, horizontally and toward the inside of the can 100, the opening portion 25 of the can 100 itself is completely lifted and the opening becomes then totally free by hinging the portion on the preferential folding line 9 (figure 3). The content of the can 100 becomes, at this point, perfectly accessible. The advantages that the present invention allows to obtain becomes evident from the previous description. In first instance, the opening of the can 100 doesn't imply any contact among the external parts of the same and the contained liquid and, thus, avoids any contamination of the same. Further, the lifted portion of the cover 20 can be really large allowing a very easy access to the contained liquid itself.

The presence of the sealing gasket onto the peripheral edge 11 of the body 10 allows the Consumer to drink the contained liquid directly from the can avoiding any risk of injury for himself and without touching with his lips any external part of the cover 20 potentially contaminated.

The industrial process to obtain the cover 20 is substantially simpler than those currently known because of it doesn't foresee neither any separated production of the opening key nor any point for fixing the opening key onto the cover.

Finally, on the internal side of the opening portion 25 obtained according to the invention, some phrases or illustrations, that remain hidden till the opening of the can, are possibly printable. This allows, for example, to print inside some information related to the winning of prizes or to incentive for the recycling of the can.

What reported above is described purely as a example and thus it is not limitative. Thus, possible modifications and variants of the described invention have to be considered included in the protective scope according to the present technical solution as above described and claimed as follows.

Claims

1. Can for the conditioning of products, particularly liquid products, comprising a body (10) that presents substantially a cylindrical structure that presents a closed bottom part in the lower end and an open part on the opposite end, provided in this last end of at least a peripheral edge (11), said can (100) comprising also a cover (20), provided with an external edge (21) having the conformation suitable to allow the over placement onto said edge (11) in order to obtain the closing of said can (100) by folding toward the external part both said edge (11) and external edge (21) overlapped, said can (100) being characterised in that said cover (20) comprises: at least an opening key (30), extending from a portion with a predefined angular width of said external edge (21) to prolong the same cover (20), with an internal portion (31) of said opening key (30) that is destined to be inserted between said edge (11) and the external surface of said cylindrical body (10), and an external portion (32) of the same opening key (30) that is placed outwardly of said cylindrical body

(10); at least a preferential rupture path 35, obtained onto said cover (20) in order to define an opening portion (25) of the same, including said opening key (30), suitable to be lifted acting on this last to open said can (100).

2. Can according to claim 1, characterised in that said preferential rupture path (35) that delimitates said opening portion (25) comprises a couple of preferential rupture lines (36) and (37) extending from the opposite attachment point of said opening key (30) to said edge (21), affecting this last with a substantially radial path, and then continuing in the inner part of said cover (20) with diverging circumference arches that pass close to said edge (21).

3. Can according to claim 2, characterised in that at least a folding preferential line (9) is also included, which extends between the two ends of said preferential rupture lines (36,37), and fit to give an easy lifting of said opening portion (25).

4. Can according to claim 1, characterised in that said opening key (30) comprises, in correspondence of said external portion (32), at least a central hole (38), able to give an easy keeping of the opening key (30).

5. Can according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that the edge (39) of said central hole (38) is folded toward the external part of the same.

6. Can according to claim 5, characterised in that said edge (39) is covered with plastic material.

7. Can according to claim 1, characterised in that the external edge (40) of said opening key (30) is folded toward the internal part of the same.

8. Can according to claim 1, characterised in that the external portion (32) of said 5 opening key (30) is placed substantially adherent to the external surface of said cylindrical body (10).

9. Can according to claim 1, characterised in that it moreover comprises a surface layer of plastic material (13), applied onto the edge (11) of said cylindrical body (10), so as to being arranged between said edge (11) and the edge (21) of

10 said cover (20) to guarantee the sealing of their coupling.

10. Can according to claim 9, characterised in that said layer of plastic material (13) also affects the sharp edge of said edge (11).

11. Can according to claim 9 or 10, characterised n that said plastic material (13) is applied to said edge (11) by means of injection moulding technology.

15 12. Can according to claims from 9 to 11, characterised in that said plastic material

(13) comprises a liquid material that can be moulded by an injection moulding technology. 13. Can according to claim 12, characterised in that said plastic material (13) does not include PVC. 20 14. Can according to claims from 9 to 13, characterised in that this plastic material

(13) is added with an oxygen absorbing product.

15. Can according to claims from 1 to 3, characterised in that the inner surface of said open portion (25) presents a printing containing information related to promotions, or particular characteristics of said can (10), or related to the

25 product in it contained.

16. Method for making a can, particularly for the conditioning of liquids, comprising the shaping of a cylindrical body (10) provided with a closed bottom to one end and an open end on the opposite side, at a peripheral edge 11, characterised in that the following operating phases are also comprised:

30 shaping of the cover (20), provided with an external edge (21) suitable to be positioned onto said peripheral edge (11), and provided also with al least an opening key (30), extending from a portion with a predefined angular width of said edge (21) to prolong said cover (20); making of a preferential rupture path (35) in said cover (20), suitable to define on the same cover (20) an opening portion (25) comprising the opening key (30); further to the filling of the cylindrical body (10) with a product to be conditioned, positioning of said cover (20) onto said cylindrical body (10), with said edge (21) placed in correspondence of said peripheral edge (11), folding of said external edge (21) onto said peripheral edge (11) and of both together toward the external part of said cylindrical body (10) with the contemporary folding of an internal portion (31) of said opening key (30) to insert it between the external surface of said cylindrical body (10) and said peripheral edge (11).

17. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that it moreover comprises, previously to said phase of filling of the cylindrical body (10), an application phase of a surface layer of plastic material to said peripheral edge (11).

18. Method according to claim 17, characterised in that the application of said plastic material also affects the sharp edge of said peripheral edge (11).

19. Method according to both claims 16 and 17, characterised in that the application of said plastic material is performed by means of the injection moulding technology.

20. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that it also comprises a step of folding said opening key (30) toward the inside of the external edge (40).

21. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that said cover 20 shaping phase moreover includes the shaping, in said opening key (30), of at least one central hole (38).

22. Method according to claim 21, characterised in that it moreover comprise a step of outwardly folding the edge (39) of said central hole (38).

23. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that it moreover comprises the shaping, in said cover (20), of a preferential folding line (9), extending between the two opposite ends of said preferential rupture path (35), suitable to facilitate the lifting of said opening portion (25).

24. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that it moreover comprises a phase of printing, onto the inside surface of said opening portion (25), of information related to promotions or to particular characteristics of said can

(100) or to the product contained thereinside.