Abstract: An end closure for food and beverage containers is provided. The end closure comprises a score fracture force reduction feature. Thus, less force is required by a user to fracture the score and open the opening in the end closure. In one embodiment, the score fracture force reduction feature is a collapsible form raised above the center panel and having a score line and a coined area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a container end closure that generally comprises a pour opening and a secondary vent opening which improves venting during emptying of contents from the container. In particular, the present invention relates to an end closure for a container having scores defining a secondary vent opening which may optionally be opened. The secondary vent opening has a significantly larger area then vents of prior art designs and thereby improves pour rate and smoothness of pour. After the pour opening is opened using a pull tab interconnected to the end closure, a consumer may selectively open the secondary vent opening by pulling back on the tab.

Abstract: A metal closure is described, in the form of a foil lid (1) bonded to a metal annular component (such as a container body or separate intermediate ring). The foil lid (1) and annular component are made of dissimilar metals, with the closure adapted to prevent bimetallic corrosion at the interface between the dissimilar metals of the foil lid and the annular component. The closure is adapted such that the lid comprises a peripheral wall which is upstanding from the annular component such that a gap is maintained between the annular component and an exposed metal peripheral edge of the lid. Further aspects of the invention include: i. a method for making such a metal closure; and ii. an apparatus for making such a metal closure.

Abstract: An easy-open can end including an inclined surface formed in a direction of a tab tail of a pull-tab from a center of a panel such that the center of the panel becomes a maximum concave portion, a lower surface of the pull-tab abuts on the inclined surface or is brought close to the inclined surface along the inclined surface, the pull-tab has a pit S formed by pressing-down forming, and the pull-tab is bent by the pit S. A method for manufacturing an easy-open can end including a process for pressing down part of an outer rim of the pull-tab after or at the same time as a process for fixing the pull-tab to the panel.

Abstract: A lid (2) for a can (1) has a general shape defining a main plane (9) and a depression (10) arranged in the lid. The bottom wall of the depression is tilted relative to the main plane of the lid, and to a method for orientating lids.

Abstract: A can lid (1) with a re-closable opening (11), in particular for drinks cans, is described. It has an opening region or a closure cover (11), bounded by a peripheral tear-open notch (4), and a lever member intended for breaking through the tear-open notch. Adjacent to the tear-open notch (4), the outer rim of the closure cover (11) is non-positively connected to a collar part (5) of a first plastics material. The collar part is assigned a cover receiving part (10), of a second plastics material, which is outside the opening region and adjacent to the tear-open notch and is non-positively connected to the cover area, wherein the collar part engages over the cover receiving part. Formed between the collar part (5) and the cover receiving part (10) is a sealing snap-in locking connection with a peripheral domed rib and a complementarily formed recess. A pull tab (15) is fastened to the fixing region of the collar part radially outside the cover receiving part.

Abstract: In this can lid, a rivet-slanting inhibitor which flows a metal of the can lid main body located between the rivet to the rivet side thereby correcting or preventing the slanting of the rivet is formed on a location in an opposite area which is opposed to an opening part across the rivet except for the coining part.

Abstract: A container has a selectively openable panel defined at least in part by a frangible score groove in a surface of the container. The frangible score groove is selectively fracturable by a lifting action administered by a user to a secured to the container. The tab has a nose portion separated from a lift end by a central webbing. The central webbing has a hinge region and a rivet island. The rivet island is at least partially surrounded by a first void region. The central webbing also has a grab portion at the lift end of the tab. The grab portion has an enclosed region defining a billboard surface. The billboard surface has a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. A bead created by displacing the material of the central webbing is located on the billboard surface. A pigment-carrying layer covers at least a portion of the billboard surface. A tactile indicium is located on the billboard surface.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a flexible tab used to open beer/beverage can ends and food can ends. The tab has a plurality of slots provided in about a middle part of the tab between a nose portion and a lift portion on opposing sides of the tab. The slots combine to form a fulcrum that extends generally transverse to an axis that passes along a length of the tab. The fulcrum allows the lift portion to pivot upwards and downwards in relation to the nose portion. The tab also has a paneled or beaded area adjacent to the slots at about the middle part of the tab. Tooling for the manufacture of the flexible tab is also provided. A method for manufacturing the flexible tab is additionally provided as well.

Abstract: A system for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form easy opening lift-tab can ends comprises a frame and a means for forming a lift-tab. The means for forming a lift-tab is mounted on the frame and adapted to form at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material. The system also includes a drive roller supported on the frame and adapted to move the strip of metal stock material through the means for forming a lift-tab. The system further includes a means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end. The means for attaching a lift-tab onto a can end is mounted on the frame and adapted to attach a lift-tab onto a can end to form an easy opening lift-tab can end.

Abstract: A method for making an easy-opening can end comprising providing an upper die and a lower die, at least one of the upper die and the lower die having a curved surface with a radius of 0.1 to 1 mm at the tip portion thereof, the other die having a flat surface at the tip portion thereof; and press-forming an end panel by using the upper die and the lower die to form a score on the upper surface or the lower surface of the end panel so that the end panel has a thickness of 0.025 to 0.08 mm at the thinnest portion thereof.

Abstract: The disclosed invention describes a container end that can be easily opened and does not rely on a conventional metal tab, riveted onto the end, thereby avoiding the problems and the cost associated with such a tab. The invention utilizes a traditional container end shell with a separate and distinct piece that is formed independently and is inserted into a countersink which is placed on the outer surface of the container end shell. The removal of this separate piece exerts a force or causes a change in the properties of the container wall in the countersink area, initiating and proliferating a discontinuity in the container wall, thereby creating an opening in the container. This change in the properties of the container wall can be mechanical, chemical, thermal or any other modality, which has the ability to influence the integrity of the container wall.

Abstract: A system and process is disclosed for use in forming lift-tab can ends. A press is employed to form lift tabs in a strip of stock material. The strip of material with the lift tabs formed therein is passed through a conversion press where the tabs are removed from the strip and attached to a can end. The tab press which forms the lift tabs in the stock material is capable of receiving strips of stock material having varying widths. If the strip of the stock material is of such width that more than one lane of tabs is formed in the material, then tooling may be provided, either in the press or as a separate device, such that the strip of stock material having tabs formed therein may be separated in such a manner that a plurality of strips may be formed, each having a lane of lift tabs therein.

Abstract: Ends for cans are made in a single press, eliminating the need for separate shell and conversion presses, balancers, track work, and other equipment, as compared to existing can end manufacturing systems, while reducing floor space and capital investment requirements for installation of a new can end line. A sheet of end material or stock is introduced into the press and fed to a series of work stations. The sheet is maintained in a substantially continuous and void free state as the work stations perform forming operations on the sheet of material to form one or more ends therein. After the forming operation is complete, the end is ejected from the press. The maintenance of the sheet of material in a substantially continuous and void free state permits precise movement of the sheet through the press, and registration of the sheet relative to the tooling in the press.

Abstract: A can lid made of a metal sheet having a resin coating on at least one surface thereof and superior in can openability, having an outer peripheral flat portion and an inner peripheral flat portion straddling a score line further having an outer bead and inner bead at the sides of the outer peripheral flat portion and the inner peripheral flat portion opposite to the score line, and having a cross-section where the score line becomes gradually thinner from the thicknesses of the outer peripheral flat portion and the inner peripheral flat portion and a process for forming the same.

Abstract: A container end is provided so that upon opening, a generally triangular vent region is formed with an apex pointing rearwardly toward the head space to vent the container, e.g. during pouring. A container is provided that achieves a fast and smooth pour with a relatively small increase (relative to certain previous configurations) in the opening area and achieves a superior pour without increased bursting, buckling or opening failures associated with relatively larger openings.

Abstract: An easy-opening can end comprises: an end panel; a score which is formed on the upper surface or the lower surface of the end panel; the score having a cross section of a curved surface; and a tab having a finger grasping portion. The tab is attached to the can end panel and is rotatable around tab-fastening device. The tab-fastening device is positioned offset.

Abstract: The present invention provides an end closure for a container having a central panel wall with a displaceable opening panel defined by a frangible score and a non-frangible hinge segment. A tab is attached to the panel wall by a rivet, the tab having a nose extending over a first area of the opening panel, the remainder of the opening panel which is exposed from the tab defining the second area of the opening panel. A deboss bead resides in the opening panel, formed in the second area. The deboss bead being curvilinear in shape, formed as a narrow channel in the opening panel. The narrow channel preferably being formed as a U-shaped bead with a first wall and a generally opposed second wall, with the first and second wall being joined by an arcuate intermediate segment. The end closure further has a deboss panel residing in a plane below the remainder of the panel, the deboss bead extending below the plane of the deboss panel.

Abstract: A container end is provided so that upon opening, a generally triangular vent region is formed with an apex pointing rearwardly toward the head space to vent the container, e.g. during pouring. A container is provided that achieves a fast and smooth pour with a relatively small increase (relative to certain previous configurations) in the opening area and achieves a superior pour without increased bursting, buckling or opening failures associated with relatively larger openings.

Abstract: A press assembly for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form lift-tab can ends. A tab press is mounted on a frame for forming at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material wherein the strip of metal stock material with the formed lift-tabs loosely attached thereto exits the tab press and is passed through either a half-twist or a half-loop to an inverted condition thereby inverting the tabs within the strip. The strip of metal stock material is further conveyed into a conversion press wherein the lift-tabs are detached from the strip and attached to the can ends. Another method of inverting and thereafter transporting the lift-tabs into the conversion press is to pass a non-inverted strip of metal stock material containing the lift-tabs into a tab punching station where the lane of lift-tabs is punched from the strip of metal stock material into a stacked lane of formed lift-tabs.

Abstract: The invention, relating to an easy-open metal container end, places a portion of the metal of the tear panel (12), in the region where a score stop otherwise would be located, under compression by forming a short coined depression or bead (40) in the tear panel, preferably in the public side, close to the score line (15) at least at the end of the vent region (35) opposite from the inner hook (16), which is located at the radially inward end of the tear panel score line. During initial opening or venting action, as the rivet (25) is lifted by initial tab motion, separation proceeds along the score line, beneath the nose (28) of the tab (27). The metal adjacent and in this coined depression tends to move partially underneath the metal on the opposite side of the score line from the coined vent bead. This action provides sufficient disruption or retarding of the score line separation or rupture, during venting, to confine such separation to the vent region until internal pressure is vented.

Abstract: Scoreline, profiling and reinforcing features are provided for an easy-access sheet metal end closure (20) and an integral opener (44). An endwall panel (28) is formed so as to substantially eliminate flexing of the sheet metal during rupture of residual metal of scoreline means defining a U-shaped tear strip (30). Such tear strip is oriented with its arcuately-shaped closed end (32) contiguous to the periphery of such endwall panel -with scoreline legs (34, 35) directed toward a portion at its geometric center (26). The opener is fabricated with a chisel-point (92) at its working end (66) to initiate puncture of such arcuate-shaped scoreline by Class I lever action. Rupturing of the scoreline is followed by pivoting of the opener about a pair of fulcrum points, (82, 83) which contact the panel one each external to a, side of opening 62, with movement of the opening about such fulcrum points rupturing the scoreline legs by Class; II lever action.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for manufacturing a tab for use with an easy-open can end, which tab is free from any exposed protrusion or cut edge thereon that would otherwise contact a finger or a lip of the user, without an increase in the number of manufacturing steps. A tab, attached to a carrier strip by a joint, is formed in a tab forming process, and the tab is severed from the strip in a joint severing process wherein the joint is cut off close to the tab nose to separate the tab from the strip. The tab with a protrusion which has a cut edge, remaining on the tab nose, is lowered while being held against horizontal movement. The protrusion is brought into engagement with a curling surface of an arm which is supported to swing in a downward passage through which the tab descends. When the tab is lowered in the downward passage, the arm is swung to cause the curling surface to press against the tab and curl the protrusion onto the tab.

Abstract: An easy open can end having an anti-missiling score integrally formed thereon, a method of further forming a can end to incorporate the anti-missiling score, and tooling for accomplishing the method.

Abstract: The invention, relating to an easy-open metal container end, places a portion of the metal of the tear panel (12), in the region where a score stop otherwise would be located, under compression by forming a short coined depression or bead (40) in the tear panel, preferably in the public side, close to the score line (15) at least at the end of the vent region (35) opposite from the inner hook (16), which is located at the radially inward end of the tear panel score line. During initial opening or venting action, as the rivet (25) is lifted by initial tab motion, separation proceeds along the score line, beneath the nose (28) of the tab (27). The metal adjacent and in this coined depression tends to move partially underneath the metal on the opposite side of the score line from the coined vent bead. This action provides sufficient disruption or retarding of the score line separation or rupture, during venting, to confine such separation to the vent region until internal pressure is vented.

Abstract: A press assembly for forming and attaching lift-tabs to can ends to form lift-tab can ends. A tab press is mounted on a frame for forming at least one lane of lift-tabs in a strip of metal stock material wherein the strip of metal stock material with the formed lift-tabs loosely attached thereto exits the tab press and is passed through a half twist to an inverted condition before entering a tab punching station. The tab punching station punches the formed tabs from the strip of metal stock material into a lane of formed tabs. A conveying moves the lane of formed tabs from the tab punching station to a conversion press wherein the conversion press attaches the lift-tabs to the can end.

Abstract: Scoreline, profiling and reinforcing features are provided for an easy-access sheet metal end closure (20) and an integral opener (44). An endwall panel (28) is formed so as to substantially eliminate flexing of the sheet metal during rupture of residual metal of scoreline means defining a U-shaped tear strip (30). Such tear strip is oriented with its arcuately-shaped closed end (32) contiguous to the periphery of such endwall panel with scoreline legs (34,35) directed toward a portion at its geometric center (26). The opener is fabricated with a chisel-point (92) at its working end (66) to initiate puncture of such arcuate-shaped scoreline by Class I lever action. Rupturing of the scoreline is followed by pivoting of the opener about a pair of fulcrum points (82,83) which contact the panel one each external to a side of opening 62, with movement of the opening about such fulcrum points rupturing the scoreline legs by Class II lever action.

Abstract: A pull tab type opening device is formed upon an insert metal strip mounted atop the can's lid. The opening device is affixed to and covers an opening in the can's lid by inter-locking rim portions on the strip and lid. Accordingly, the lid may be formed of a less expensive metal, such as steel, while the metal strip, occupying a small portion of the lid, is formed of the more expensive aluminum. Since the percentage of the dissimilar metal, aluminum, in a can is very small in comparison to steel, a used can may thereby be processed as a single metal, steel.

Abstract: A system and process for use when forming lift-tab can end assemblies wherein each can end assembly includes a lift tab having a smooth side, an opposite roughened side and a hole extending between the sides and a can end having a protruding shaft integrally formed in one face thereof utilizes a guide system for inverting a strip of metal stock through about 180.degree. as the strip is conveyed between one workstation at which lift tabs are pre-formed therein and another workstation at which the tabs are punched, so as to sever the tabs from, the strip. The punched tabs are thereafter collected in a stacked relationship and directed to a position adjacent still another workstation at which the tabs are attached, by way of the tab holes and the can end shafts, to the can ends. By inverting the strip of metal stock during the assembly-forming process, the tabs are inverted from a smooth-side-down condition to a smooth-side-up condition for attachment to the can end.

Abstract: The invention, relating to an easy-open metal container end, places a portion of the metal of the tear panel, in the region where a score stop otherwise would be located, under compression by forming a short coined depression or bead in the tear panel, preferably in the public side, close to the score line at least at the end of the vent region opposite from the inner hook, which is located at the radially inward end of the tear panel score line. During initial opening or venting action, as the rivet is lifted by initial tab motion, separation proceeds along the score line, beneath the nose of the tab. The metal adjacent and in this coined depression tends to move partially underneath the metal on the opposite side of the score line from the coined vent bead. This action provides sufficient disruption or retarding of the score line separation or rupture, during venting, to confine such separation to the vent region until internal pressure is vented.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a convenience-feature, sheet metal end closure structure (133) for a container body (153) having a non-cylindrical side wall. A new scoring tool (94) configuration enables a peripheral scoreline (102) defining a separable convenience-feature panel (112) to be located contiguous to the closure chuck wall (100) which interfits about its entire periphery with the open end of the side wall of such a container. Separation of such panel leaves substantially no obstruction to removal of solid-pack container. The separable panel (112) is formed with a multiple-layer fold (127) of sheet metal which is nested against the interior periphery of such panel, so as to shield torn residual metal remaining with the panel after severance along such peripheral scoreline.

Abstract: An end panel for an easy open end includes a pull tab fixed to the removable inside portion and a score line having two different defined depths, including a first severing depth passing under the nose of the pull tab and substantially all of the remaining areas except for an area rearward of the pull tab, where the score line extends to a second, shallower temporary retention depth in order to retain the rearward area with the outside portion as the inside portion moves outwardly away from the container during either inadvertent or intentional opening.

Abstract: An improved easy open can end having a retained tear strip extending diametrically partly across the can end defined by a score line, and a graspable pull tab adjacent and outside the open end of the score line. The pull tab is attached to the can end by means of a rivet, the can end around the base of the rivet being deformed so as to slightly tilt the rivet toward the finger end of the pull tab. Accordingly, initial lifting of the pull tab is fully directed to the initial fracture of the score line immediately in front of the rivet, thereby ensuring desirable venting action of internal pressure and allowing opening of the can end with less effort.

Abstract: A press regulating device for detecting can end tab related defects including a plunger assembly for engaging a can end to be tested; a plunger deflection monitoring device; and a data processing device which receives a signal from the plunger deflection monitoring device and a press timing device and which processes these signals to determine whether or not the tested can end is defective and which sends a control signal to the press to terminate press operation upon detection of a defective can end.

Abstract: An integral tongue is lanced from a steel can top except along a transverse bend line scored on the undersurface of the tongue adjacent to the can top. An arcuate nose portion of a pull tab is riveted to a first portion of the tongue. Opposing shoulders on the tab overlie portions of the can top adjacent to the tongue. A ring or lever portion of the tab is lifted and pivoted on the shoulders, thereby bending the first portion of the tongue under a ribbed second portion. The pull tab is then pivoted in the opposite direction, thereby displacing the entire tongue outwardly relative to the can top along the bend line.