Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation

Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.

Van Dorn Company

Crown, Cork & Seal Company, Inc.

William A Kirk

Paul R Heinicke

Danny L Fundom

Alejandro Saucedo

Henry S Chorzempa

Benjamin Derr

Jeffrey McFarland

David M Hoffman

Michael C Calhoun

Phillip E Baumeyer

Karl O Frentzel

Gary L Manack

Henry Chorzempa

Methods for producing a can end having a moveable portion disposed beneath a tab are disclosed. In one embodiment, a can end having a center panel may be formed. A moveable portion may be formed in the center panel. The moveable portion may be in a downward position after it is formed. The can end may then be restrained such that a portion of the center panel that is adjacent to the moveable portion is unrestrained. While the can end is restrained, the moveable portion may be moved into an upward position.

Method of forming a can end having a moveable portion

A container assembly for packaging nonliquid material includes a can body that may be filled with nonliquid material and an end panel that is secured to the can body, preferably by seaming. A score line that is formed in the end panel defines a first removable portion and a second nonremovable portion. Structure such as a tab is provided for initiating separation of the first removable portion from the second nonremovable portion at a first location along the score line that defines an axis of symmetry about which separation of the first removable portion from the second nonremovable portion during opening will progress substantially symmetrically. The score line is shaped so that the second nonremovable portion defines a spoon leveling shelf that is shaped and sized to permit a consumer to level a spoonful of nonliquid material. Moreover, at least one exposed edge of the spoon leveling shelf is afforded cut protection by a safety fold.

Easy open can end with cut protection

Spoon leveling protected can end

A method of forming a can end comprises the step of forming a substantially circular metal blank having a periphery and a center panel. An annular recessed panel is subsequently formed in the blank. The recessed panel has a first depth in relation to a substantially annular portion of the blank contiguously formed with the recessed panel. The substantially annular portion of the blank is then coined while the recessed panel is re-formed to a second depth in relation to the substantially annular portion of the blank. The second depth is greater than the first depth. Forming the can end in this manner minimizes warpage of the can end, and thereby allows the can end to be formed from a relatively thin sheet of metal.

Method and apparatus for forming a can end with minimal warpage

An easy open safety end having a central portion and a rim portion separated by a score line. A tab applies a force to the end adjacent the score line so as to shear the score line at opening. A circumferentially extending fold is formed in either the central portion or the rim portion, or both, to protect the user from being cut by the sharp edge the results upon shearing the score line. A first circumferential portion of the fold is tight, whereas a second portion, which is preferably proximate the tab is loose. The fold is displaced below a portion of the end adjacent the score line by a circumferentially extending gap. In the tight portion of the fold, the width of the gap is less than the thickness of the end, and preferably less than one half the thickness, whereas in the loose portion of the fold, the width of the gap is greater than the thickness of the end, and is preferably at least twice the thickness of the end.

Safety container end having improved opening characteristics

A method of making a can body of the type that has at least one axially extending rib formed therein includes a first forming step of creating a preform having a sidewall that has at least one axially extending rib formed therein and a bottom that is coextensive with the sidewall and intersects the sidewall at a rim. This first forming step is performed so that at least a portion of the bottom is recessed by a predetermined depth with respect to the rim. The method further includes a second step of performing a second drawing operation on the preform to form a can body having a bump-up bottom. It is important that the predetermined depth be sufficient to prevent the axially extending rib to be drawn into said bump-up bottom.

Method of making bump-up can bottom

A can end having an improved pour-type ecology opening mechanism includes a conventional can end wall that contains a score line that defines a displaceable panel. The score line includes an initial design rupture point, a radiused portion having a first tangent point and a second tangent point, and a main portion that terminates at a final transition point. The can end further includes a tab having a liftable heel portion and a tab nose portion, with the tab nose portion being positioned to apply downward pressure to the panel at a pressure point on the displaceable panel when the heel portion is lifted. The tab has a center line that is coincident with a radius of said can end wall. Advantageously, the pressure point is positioned a distance, taken in the direction of the center line, from the second tangent point of the radiused portion that is selected to prevent a buildup of force that would otherwise hasten propagation of separation along the main portion of the score. This prevents splashing of the beverage during opening of the can by the consumer.

Easy-open mechanism for can end

A steel can end construction for a special liquid product to be protected against contamination in which a pouring opening is to be formed in the can end by pulling the can end metal area defined by an endless score line with a centrally located aluminum pull tab riveted to the steel can end to completely tear the metal within the score line from the can end. The tearing operation is performed by a person holding the can in one hand and with a finger or thumb engaged with the pull tab, pulling the pull tab upward and forward from the can.

Can end pour spout and pull tab construction

A substantially full opening steel can end for food product cans easily opened by an aluminum pull tab riveted to a removable panel portion defined by a score line in a recessed end wall of the can end located close to a seam between the can end and can body. The panel portion has a protective triple fold formation along its peripheral edge when removed, and the score line is located in the top layer of the triple fold formation beneath an overlying stepped tip of the pull tab which ruptures the score line during opening of the can. The score line preferably extends 300.degree., 150.degree. in each direction from the stepped pull tab tip, around the can end to retain the opened panel portion and pull tab on the can when opened.

Growing community of inventors

Massillon, OH, United States of America

William A Kirk