Automated Container Corporation

Crown, Cork & Seal Company, Inc.

General Can Company, Inc.

Citrus Central, Inc.

Edgar H Zysset

Raymond A Atkinson

A method of transporting a can end of the type which has a circumferential end curl portion and an interior shoulder, so that an upper edge of a prefabricated can body may be fitted between the end curl portion and interior shoulder to form a sealed can, includes steps of placing the can end on a movable support surface in such a manner that only the circumferential end curl portion of the can end is contacted by the movable support surface; and moving the movable support surface with the can end so supported thereon, whereby the interior shoulder of the can end will not be interfered with by the movable support surface during transport. An indexing belt for performing the method is also disclosed. The method and belt permit a can end which has sealant or adhesive on its interior shoulder to be transported without adhering to the transport mechanism.

Method and apparatus for indexing can ends

An improved full-open type of convenience closure includes an end panel having a peripheral score defined therein to define fixed and removable end panel portions, a tab having a nose portion for exerting a downward force on the end panel adjacent the peripheral score, a rivet formation for securing the tab to the end panel, and a moustache score for, among other purposes, providing a pivot point for the tab. The rivet formation includes a raised area on the end panel which is defined by an outer edge. The moustache score is curved away from the peripheral score at the point where it intersects the outer edge, thereby preventing tearing along the outer edge during opening.

Full-open convenience closure

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.

Easy open end with temporary retention center for safety purposes

An easy open end employs an enlarged 'moustache' score, in which the apex of the outward curves of the score lie outside of the plane of the sides of the pull tab to effectuate a rolling of the metal ribbon between the rivet and the peripheral weakened area, so as to avoid lateral forces which tend to tear the metal along the ribbon.

Easy open end for containers employing enlarged moustache score

Pull tabs for easy open containers are fabricated so as to avoid the presence of burrs after severing the carrier lugs, by removing each tab from the carrier sheet by severing each lug and a portion of the tab next adjacent the lug extremity, so that the burrs are avoided. Each radius has a dimension along the periphery of the tab which is slightly greater than the width of the severed lug, and with each radius located along a portion of the periphery of the tab which remains uncurled during the fabrication process.

Method for fabricating burr-free pull tabs and articles

Disclosed are easy open containers using pull tabs having rivet holes with not less than eight, nor more than ten sides. A point between any two flats of the rivet hole is aligned with the pull tab nose. The disclosed rivet holes provide good locking characteristics.

Rivet holes for easy opening containers

An easy open pull tab system and method is adapted for use with a container of the type having a weakened score line, the severing of which permits access to the container. A fastener is joined to the container end and spaced from the score line, with a pull tab joined to the fastener through an octagonal hole, the tab having a pull ring extending from the fastener in a direction away from the score line. The pull tab includes a nose portion extending adjacent to the score line to permit the desired severing upon pulling of the pull ring in a direction away from the container end. The tab is formed with a continuous peripheral curl extending along two beams forward to the nose portion, and is provided with only two carrier lugs on opposite sides of the pull ring for use in the manufacturing of the tab. The container end is provided with a crimped ridge designed to abut a flat metal strip through which the fastener is connected to the container, to limit axial rotation of the tab about the fastener.

Easy opening container system

An easy open pull-tab container and related method comprises a generally planar end having a line of weakness defining a tear line so that a portion of the end is partially removable, the tear line lying in the plane of the end. A pull-tab is provided for severing the portion along the tear line, with first and second portions of the end wall on opposite sides of, and spaced from the line of weakness, extending underneath the area adjacent the line of weakness and to form blunt, protective shoulders at the line of weakness. The protective shoulders are formed via first and second concentric grooves in the end, the grooves extending below the level of the end to form inner and outer beads, the inner bead extending substantially below the outer bead. A central bead is formed in the end between the first and second concentric grooves, the central head extending above the level of the end. The inner and outer beads are forced towards each other and toward the plane of the end until the inner and outer beads abut the center bead, but are spaced a distance apart approximately equal to the line of weakness.

Pull-tab forming method

A method and apparatus for making metallic-convenience closure for a cylindrical container by forming a panel with an endless severing line formed in the panel and defining a central removable portion and a peripheral fixed portion adapted for attaching a closure to the end of a container to close the end and attaching manually graspable pull-tab is attached to the removable portion of the panel, the pull-tab having a nose portion movable upon lifting of the tab into position adjacent the score line for severing the score line. The tab includes a first portion which is attached by a rivet to the removable portion of the panel, a second portion extending radially outwardly toward the score line, and a manual graspable portion integral with the second portion and extending radially inwardly. After the pull-tab is attached to the closure with the second portion of the pull-tab extending radially outwardly toward the score line of the panel, opposed clamping forces are applied to the exposed surface of the manual graspable portion, and the portion of the pull-tab attached to the removable portion of the panel, and a force is applied to the portion of the panel surrounded by the graspable portion of the pull-tab to deform the portion upwardly into the area surrounded by the graspable portion so that the deformed portion prevents rotation about the axis of the rivet.

Method for making a metallic-convenience closure

A metallic convenience closure for a cylindrical container comprises a panel, an endless score line formed in the panel and defining a central removable portion and a peripheral fixed portion, means forming a part of the fixed portion for attaching a closure to the end of a container to close the end, a manually graspable pull-tab attached to the removable portion of the panel and having a nose portion movable upon lifting of the tab into position adjacent the score line for severing the score line, and stiffening means on the removable panel extending generally parallel to the direction of pull of the pull-tab such that said stiffening means will resist the tendency of the removable portion to bend transversely of the general pull direction.

Metallic convenience closure

A metallic convenience closure for a cylindrical container comprising a panel with an endless severing line formed in the panel and defining a central removable portion and a peripheral fixed portion. A part of the fixed portion is adapted for attaching a closure to the end of a container to close the end. A manually graspable pull-tab is attached to the removable portion of the panel and has a nose portion movable upon lifting of the tab into position adjacent the score line for severing the score line. The tab includes a first portion riveted to the removable portion of the panel, a second portion extending radially outwardly toward the score line, and a manual graspable portion integral with the second portion and extending radially inwardly. The removable portion of the panel has a portion thereof deformed adjacent the first portion of the tab for preventing rotation of the tab about the axis of the rivet thereby maintaining registry of the nose portion with the score line during the opening of the convenience closure.

Growing community of inventors

St. Cloud, FL, United States of America

Edgar H Zysset