Three-Piece Can and Method of Making Same
A method of making a can assembly includes double-seaming a double-countersink metal end onto a can body and reforming the double-countersink metal end so as to effectively yield a single-countersink metal end of smaller diameter. In the process, the region of the can body adjacent the metal end becomes necked-in. The method can be applied to make a stackable three-piece can in which the reformed smaller-diameter metal end will fit within a double-seam of a metal end attached to the opposite end of the can body.
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The present disclosure is related to containers for products such as foods. More specifically, the disclosure concerns three-piece cans that are configured to be stacked one upon another.
The three-piece can has long been a common type of container for products such as canned vegetable, canned fruits, canned meats, dry food products, liquids, etc. Three-piece cans have typically consisted of a metal can body and two metal ends that are seamed onto the ends of the can body by forming a double-seam.
Stackability of such metal three-piece cans has generally been achieved by necking in one end of the can body to a smaller diameter than the other end prior to application of the metal ends, and applying a smaller-diameter metal end to the necked-in end of the can body and a larger-diameter metal end to the opposite end of the can body. Accordingly, the smaller-diameter end of one such can will fit within the larger-diameter end of another such can, which provides stability to the cans stacked one on another. It is relatively easy to neck-in a metal can body because metal can be plastically deformed and will hold its deformed shape after the deforming forces are removed.
It would be desirable to be able to achieve stackability of three-piece cans without having to neck-in one end of the can body before application of the ends. This would enable the technique to be applied not only to metal can bodies but also to non-metallic can bodies (e.g., paper-based composite can bodies, and plastic can bodies) that are not capable of being plastically deformed and holding their deformed shape after the deforming forces are removed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure describes a method for making a stackable three-piece can that is applicable to can bodies of any composition. In one embodiment described herein, a method for making a stackable three-piece can comprises the steps of:
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- providing a can body having a top opening and a bottom opening;
- providing a first end and a second end each having a curl and a countersink region, wherein at least the first end is a metal end;
- wherein the countersink region of the first end comprises a double-countersink, the double-countersink comprising an outer chuck wall adjacent the curl and extending axially and radially inwardly from the curl, a transition portion joined to the outer chuck wall and extending generally radially inwardly therefrom, and an inner chuck wall joined to the transition portion and extending axially and radially inwardly therefrom and terminating in a countersink radius;
- forming a first double-seam between the first end and one end of the can body such that the first end closes the opening at said end, and forming a second double-seam between the second end and the other end of the can body such that the second end closes the opening at said end, each of the double-seams having an inside diameter and an outside diameter; and
- deforming the first double-seam and the outer chuck wall and transition portion of the first end radially inwardly so as to generally straighten out the countersink region of the first end and such that the outside diameter of the first double-seam is sized to fit within the inside diameter of the second double-seam.
With this method, the deforming of the first end to reduce the diameter of the first end causes the attached end of the can body to be necked-in, similar to the necking-in of a metal can body. The key difference, however, is that the first end, being metal, will hold its deformed shape and thus will hold the can body in the necked-in condition. Accordingly, the method can be applied to can bodies of non-metal construction such as composite or plastic can bodies that cannot be necked-in prior to the application of the ends. Of course, the method can also be applied to metal can bodies.
In some embodiments, the step of forming the first double-seam comprises the steps of using a first seaming chuck engaged with the outer chuck wall of the first end and a first seaming roll engaged with the curl so as to partially form the first double-seam, and using the first seaming chuck with a second seaming roll to complete the formation of the first double-seam. Then, the step of deforming the first double-seam comprises using a third seaming member together with a second seaming chuck differing from the first seaming chuck, wherein the second seaming chuck engages the inner chuck wall and the third seaming member engages the first double-seam and urges the first double-seam radially inwardly.
The method can include the step of sealing the ends to the can body. Sealing can be accomplished by compressing a rubbery compound (e.g., a conventional seaming compound) between the ends and can body in the seam regions. Alternatively, sealing can be accomplished by thermally fusing the ends to the can body by at least one heat-activated material disposed between opposing surfaces of the can body and each end.
As an example, the can body can be constructed substantially of thermoplastic, or the can body can include a non-thermoplastic layer (e.g., paper or metal) and a thermoplastic coating or layer on its interior-facing surface. The thermoplastic comprises the heat-activated material. In this case, the thermal fusing step can comprise heating and melting the thermoplastic in contact with the ends so as to thermally fuse the ends to the can body.
Alternatively or additionally, the ends can include an interior-facing layer or coating of heat-sealable material, and the thermal fusing step can additionally comprise heating and melting the layer of heat-sealable material on each end in contact with the can body, such that the heat-sealable material layers and the thermoplastic of the can body are thermally fused together.
It is also possible for one or both of the ends to have a bare metal interior-facing surface. A heat-activated material on the can body (e.g., a thermoplastic) can be thermally fused to the bare metal surface to seal the end(s) to the can body.
As still another variation, a hot-melt material can be provided as a circumferentially extending bead or the like, located beneath the curl region of the metal end, similar to the placement of conventional seaming compounds. The metal end can be heated after application to the container, to soften or melt the hot-melt material so that it flows to fill in any gaps that may be present in the seam region that could provide a pathway between the interior and exterior of the container.
The present disclosure also describes a stackable three-piece can. In one embodiment, a stackable three-piece can comprises:
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- a can body of tubular configuration having a top opening and a bottom opening;
- a first end having a curl and a countersink region, and a second end having a curl and a countersink region, at least the first end being a metal end;
- a first double-seam formed between the first end and one end of the can body such that the first end closes the opening at said end, and a second double-seam formed between the second end and the other end of the can body such that the second end closes the opening at said end, each of the double-seams having an inside diameter and an outside diameter;
- wherein the countersink region of the first end comprises a single-countersink and the countersink region of the second end comprises a double-countersink, the single-countersink comprising a single chuck wall adjacent the curl and extending axially and radially inwardly from the curl and terminating in a countersink radius, the double-countersink comprising an outer chuck wall adjacent the curl and extending axially and radially inwardly from the curl, a transition portion joined to the outer chuck wall and extending generally radially inwardly therefrom, and an inner chuck wall joined to the transition portion and extending axially and radially inwardly therefrom and terminating in a countersink radius, the outside diameter of the first double-seam being sized to fit within the inside diameter of the second double-seam.
As noted, the can body can be constructed of various materials, including but not limited to plastic, paper-based composite, metal, and coated metal.
Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some but not all embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
As illustrated in
Before describing the method, the structure of the metal end 30 is explained with reference to
As shown in
Now referring to
As shown in
The next step, depicted in
As a result of this reduction in diameter of the metal end 30, the can body 22 becomes necked-in as shown in
As noted,
It may be advantageous, for purposes of reforming the double-countersink metal end 30 into a single-countersink metal end, to configure the metal end 30 as shown in
The method described above can be applied to various can constructions. As one example,
The invention is not limited to the particular can configurations described and illustrated herein. The method of double-seaming and reforming a double-countersink metal end so as to effectively yield a single-countersink metal end of smaller diameter is applicable in various ways to provide a wide variety of can configurations and types.
A further aspect of some embodiments of the invention entails thermally fusing the metal end to the can body by at least one heat-activated material disposed between opposing surfaces of the can body and the metal end. Specifically, after the double-seaming and reforming operations on the metal end, the metal end is thermally fused to the can body in the region of the double-seam. This can be accomplished in various ways. As one example, and as already described in connection with
As another example, each of the metal ends can have a bare metal surface as its interior-facing surface, and the interior-facing surface of the can body can have a heat-sealable material that is heat-sealable to the bare metal surface. For example, ionomers (such as SURLYN®) can be heat-sealed to a bare metal surface such as electrolytic tin plate (ETP) steel.
The can embodiments described and illustrated above have metal ends on both ends of the can body. It is within the scope of the invention, however, for the end that is not reformed to be a non-metal type of closure, which can be attached to the can body by means other than double-seaming. For instance, the non-metal closure can be a plastic end that is thermally fused to the can body.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Claims
1. A stackable three-piece can comprising:
- a can body having a top opening and a bottom opening;
- a first end having a curl and a countersink region, and a second end having a curl and a countersink region, at least the first end being a metal end;
- a first double-seam formed between the first end and one end of the can body such that the first end closes the opening at said end, and a second double-seam formed between the second end and the other end of the can body such that the second end closes the opening at said end, each of the double-seams having an inside diameter and an outside diameter;
- wherein the countersink region of the first end comprises a single-countersink and the countersink region of the second end comprises a double-countersink, the single-countersink comprising a single chuck wall adjacent the curl and extending axially and radially inwardly from the curl and terminating in a countersink radius, the double-countersink comprising an outer chuck wall adjacent the curl and extending axially and radially inwardly from the curl, a transition portion joined to the outer chuck wall and extending generally radially inwardly therefrom, and an inner chuck wall joined to the transition portion and extending axially and radially inwardly therefrom and terminating in a countersink radius, the outside diameter of the first double-seam being sized to fit within the inside diameter of the second double-seam.
2. The stackable three-piece can of claim 1, wherein the single chuck wall is substantially straight from the curl to the countersink radius.
3. The stackable three-piece can of claim 1, wherein the transition portion of the second end extends both radially inwardly and axially toward the first end.
4. The stackable three-piece can of claim 1, wherein the can body comprises a composite can body having at least one paperboard ply and an impervious liner.
5. The stackable three-piece can of claim 4, wherein the liner has a heat-sealable material forming a radially innermost surface of the can body.
6. The stackable three-piece can of claim 5, wherein the ends are thermally fused to the can body via the heat-sealable material of the liner.
7. The stackable three-piece can of claim 1, wherein the can body is constructed substantially of thermoplastic.
8. The stackable three-piece can of claim 1, wherein the can body includes a metal layer.
9. A method for making a stackable three-piece can, comprising the steps of:
- providing a can body having a top opening and a bottom opening;
- providing a first end and a second end each having a curl and a countersink region, wherein at least the first end is a metal end;
- wherein the countersink region of the first end comprises a double-countersink, the double-countersink comprising an outer chuck wall adjacent the curl and extending axially and radially inwardly from the curl, a transition portion joined to the outer chuck wall and extending generally radially inwardly therefrom, and an inner chuck wall joined to the transition portion and extending axially and radially inwardly therefrom and terminating in a countersink radius;
- forming a first double-seam between the first end and one end of the can body such that the first end closes the opening at said end, and forming a second double-seam between the second end and the other end of the can body such that the second end closes the opening at said end, each of the double-seams having an inside diameter and an outside diameter; and
- deforming the first double-seam and the outer chuck wall and transition portion of the first end radially inwardly so as to generally straighten out the countersink region of the first end and such that the outside diameter of the first double-seam is sized to fit within the inside diameter of the second double-seam.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of forming the first double-seam comprises the steps of
- using a first seaming chuck engaged with the outer chuck wall of the first end and a first seaming roll engaged with the curl so as to partially form the first double-seam; and
- using the first seaming chuck with a second seaming roll to complete the formation of the first double-seam.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of deforming the first double-seam comprises using a third seaming member together with a second seaming chuck differing from the first seaming chuck, wherein the second seaming chuck engages the inner chuck wall and the third seaming member engages the first double-seam and urges the first double-seam radially inwardly.
12. The method of claim 9, further comprising using a seaming compound to seal the metal end to the can body.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of thermally fusing the ends to the can body by at least one heat-activated material disposed between opposing surfaces of the can body and each end.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the can body is constructed substantially of thermoplastic, and the thermal fusing step comprises heating and melting the thermoplastic in contact with the ends so as to thermally fuse the ends to the can body.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the ends include an interior-facing layer of heat-sealable material, and the thermal fusing step additionally comprises heating and melting the layer of heat-sealable material on each end in contact with the can body, such that the heat-sealable material layers and the thermoplastic of the can body are thermally fused together.
16. A method for making a can assembly, comprising the steps of:
- providing a can body having a top opening and a bottom opening;
- providing a metal end having a curl and a double-countersink, the double-countersink comprising an outer chuck wall adjacent the curl and extending axially and radially inwardly from the curl, a transition portion joined to the outer chuck wall and extending generally radially inwardly therefrom, and an inner chuck wall joined to the transition portion and extending axially and radially inwardly therefrom and terminating in a countersink radius;
- forming a double-seam between the metal end and one end of the can body such that the metal end closes the opening at said end; and
- deforming the double-seam and the outer chuck wall and transition portion radially inwardly so as to generally straighten out the countersink region of the metal end and such that the outside diameter of the double-seam is reduced.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of deforming the double-seam comprises using a seaming roll together with a seaming chuck, wherein the seaming chuck engages the inner chuck wall and is spaced from the outer chuck wall, and the seaming roll engages the double-seam and urges the double-seam and outer chuck wall radially inwardly.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising using a seaming compound to seal the metal end to the can body.
19. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of thermally fusing the metal end to the can body by at least one heat-activated material disposed between opposing surfaces of the can body and the metal end.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the can body is constructed substantially of thermoplastic, and the thermal fusing step comprises heating and melting the thermoplastic in contact with the metal end so as to thermally fuse the metal end to the can body.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the metal end includes an interior-facing layer of heat-sealable material, and the thermal fusing step additionally comprises heating and melting the layer of heat-sealable material on the metal end in contact with the can body, such that the heat-sealable material layer and the thermoplastic of the can body are thermally fused together.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein at least an inner surface of the can body includes a heat-sealable material, and the thermal fusing step comprises heating and melting the heat-sealable material in contact with the metal end so as to thermally fuse the metal end to the can body.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the can body includes a metal layer in addition to the heat-sealable material.
24. The method of claim 19, wherein the metal end has a heat-sealable surface on an interior-facing surface of the metal end.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the heat-sealable surface is bare metal and the heat-activated material is thermally fused to the bare metal.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the metal end comprises thermoplastic-coated metal, the thermoplastic coating providing the heat-sealable surface.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein the metal end comprises metal with a heat-sealable coating, the heat-sealable coating providing the heat-sealable surface.
28. A method of making a can assembly, comprising double-seaming a double-countersink metal end onto a can body and reforming the double-countersink metal end so as to effectively yield a single-countersink metal end of smaller diameter.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 28, 2011
Publication Date: May 2, 2013
Applicant: SONOCO DEVELOPMENT, INC. (Hartsville, SC)
Inventors: Dave Dunn (Carrollton, OH), Jeremy Morin (Canal Fulton, OH)
Application Number: 13/284,100
International Classification: B65D 8/20 (20060101); B21D 51/44 (20060101); B65D 8/22 (20060101); B21D 51/30 (20060101);