Can with removable lid and base

Abstract

A tin can comprising a body, a lid and a base, the base including a scored line at which the thickness of the tin is reduced.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to tin cans with a removable lid and base. The cans of the present invention are preferably sterilized, especially after filling and closing the can by applying the lid.

[0002] Cans are thin-walled metal storage containers, often made of tinplate, and have been used for decades to store food, feed, beverages, paints, varnishes, solvents, toxins, and oils. Tin cans are characterized by their tightness, light protection, low mass, good stackability, and sufficient stability and resistance to impact and corrosion. Cans are generally made from two to four sheet metal parts, forming a circular-cylindrical body and parallel round top and bottom sections (lid and base). The body and base can consist of one or two parts. The lid is usually a separate part.

[0003] Cans can be hermetic, i.e. gas-tight, or merely dust-tight. The lid of the can often includes a pull tab or lever with which the can can be opened exclusively by hand. By pulling the pull tab or pressing the lever, the lid is broken along scored lines. Opening hermetically sealed tin cans may require additional cutting or prying tools or a tear-off device. Certain tin cans with round, pressed-in lids or with a screw cap with a gasket can be resealed hermetically after opening. Specially flexible plastic lids are available for cylindrical cans, which offer the option of resealing after opening. The upper part of the can is called the lid and is a standard lid widely used in industry.

[0004] After the lid is opened and the contents are emptied, the can remains structurally stable and rigid due to its design. This means that even when the can is empty, a very large residual volume remains as waste.

[0005] Since it is possible to sterilize cans after filling and sealing by welding or soldering, cans can be used as food and feed containers without refrigeration in the supply chain, simplifying logistics and storage and saving energy.

[0006] Tin cans are typically manufactured industrially using one of two processes, which differ in the number of sheets of metal the can is made from. Three-piece cans are manufactured by processes that include rolling a rectangular sheet of metal into a cylinder and welding or soldering the side seam. The base is mechanically seamed or soldered to the cylinder, forming a bottom. The can is filled, and the lid is seamed using a double seam process, which mechanically bonds the lid to the can body, creating an airtight seal.

[0007] Two-piece cans are drawn and deep-drawn from a single sheet of sheet metal, with the body and base formed in one piece and without a side seam. The drawing and deep-drawing process stretches the sheet metal into a cylindrical shape with an integrated base. After filling, the end is seamed using a double-seaming process to securely fasten and seal it, using the same steps as for the three-piece can. The double-seaming process is important for both manufacturing processes, ensuring durability and airtightness. For food and beverage cans, coatings are typically applied inside the can to protect the contents and prevent corrosion of the metallic sheet.

[0008] Although tin cans offer many advantages, they also have disadvantages, most notably, they take up a lot of space in waste. Tin cans are difficult to compress by hand. This leads to inefficient waste disposal in private households, in municipal waste collection, and during transportation.

[0009] Alternative packaging solutions include containers made of plastic and composite materials. Although the EU has issued a directive to reduce plastic packaging (EU Directive 2019 / 904 on single-use plastics), many manufacturers have switched to packaging made of plastic or flexible composite materials because they are easier to flatten after use. At the same time, it is known that such packaging poses ecological problems (recyclability, microplastics, fossil raw materials) and often does not meet requirements for durability, light protection, or stackability. Plastic containers also require durable outer packaging, such as sturdy cardboard boxes, which further increases waste volume.

[0010] The inefficient disposal characteristics of the familiar tin cans used as food and feed containers are negatively impacting waste recycling targets in the EU and globally, as consumers are increasingly choosing plastic food and feed containers to reduce waste volumes. Currently, these plastic containers are not recycled.

[0011] In the past, methods for removing the lid and / or base of corresponding containers have been developed. For example, tin cans were developed in which score lines are integrated into the body and the tabs. A corresponding can is described in EP 167 855, in which two circumferential score lines in the body part of the can form a tear-off strip. An attached tab makes it possible to pull the strip off with a tool and open the can along the body wall. This structure was intended for easy opening (e.g., for the complete removal of the lid area). Compared to the teaching of the present invention, the teaching of EP 167 855 thus relates to a different problem (opening the can for consumption), which is solved by different means (tearing open the body).

[0012] Similarly, US 2009 / 0200305 describes a vent in the bottom of a can. This is a small portion of the bottom defined by a scored line and provided with a pull tab to allow air to escape when the bottom is opened. This facilitates pouring of viscous contents from the top of the can (e.g., soup) by allowing air to flow, but does not allow for removal of the bottom.

[0013] The bottle by Fabio Benetti described in EP 1 984 273 contains a base that can be unscrewed to serve as a drinking cup. The bottle with a removable base has a base that is attached to the body by means of snap-on and push-on elements. The bottle described in this publication also attempts to solve a different task using different means.

[0014] US2010 / 0282765 describes a remote waste container with a removable base to facilitate cleaning.

[0015] These prior art solutions also have the disadvantage that sterilization of the can is very difficult or impossible. Accordingly, there are currently no tin cans with a structure that allows manual compression to selectively reduce the volume of the can after emptying. This is the object achieved by the present invention according to the claims.

[0016] To achieve this object, the present invention provides a tin can having a body, a lid, and a base, wherein the base has a score line that reduces the thickness of the metal. The metal can may comprise a lid and a base, each having a score line that reduces the thickness of the metal.

[0017] In one embodiment, the score line represents a predetermined breaking point that facilitates removal of the base from the can body. If the lid and base of the can each have a score line, each score line represents a predetermined breaking point that facilitates removal of the lid and base from the can body.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the base of the can comprises an integrated pull tab, a lever, or a recess suitable for facilitating the removal of the base using the score line as a predetermined breaking point. While the base can generally be removed with any available tool, the present invention according to this embodiment offers the advantage that the base can be removed by hand without any tools. In a further preferred embodiment, the base and the lid can be removed by hand without tools. For example, the lid and base can each have a pull tab or an integrated lever that facilitates the removal of the lid and base using the score lines as predetermined breaking points.

[0019] In a preferred alternative, the present invention thus provides a tin can in which the bottom has a score line and one or more indentations. The indentation can be used to open the bottom using an external tool placed on a solid surface (e.g., a table). The can is placed on the tool, and by applying pressure, the bottom is pressed inward into the can body along the score line. In one embodiment, the bottom is pressed completely into the can body.

[0020] Alternatively, the base may have more than one scoring line. For example, the base may have two scoring lines that serve as a predetermined breaking point and allow two fragments to be removed from the base. The two fragments can be removed in such a way that part of the base remains intact, for example, in the form of a bridge between two circumferential points of the can body.

[0021] In another embodiment, the base has two scoring lines and two recesses. When pressure is applied to the two recesses with a tool, two fragments of the base are pressed into the previously emptied can body. In this embodiment, the base is not completely reshaped, but a bridge remains. This allows the can to still be easily compressed after emptying.

[0022] The body of the cans of the present invention may have any shape or form of known cans. In one embodiment, the body has a cylindrical shape or the shape of a fish can.

[0023] In another aspect, the tin can of the present invention comprises a body having at least one recess at the bottom of the body. The metal may have more than one, for example, at least two recessed areas at the bottom of the body, and the recessed areas may be located on opposite sides of the body.

[0024] The indentations may serve to facilitate the breaking out of the base from the body and / or the pressing of the base into the body of the can.

[0025] The present invention offers several advantages, including the manual and intuitive ease of compressing the can body along the score line after removing the lid and base, resulting in a significant reduction in waste volume and odor reduction. The cans of the present invention improve collection logistics and increase recycling rates. Simplified disposal of the cans through volume reduction helps consumers correctly separate packaging, thus promoting greater material recycling in line with EU packaging targets. The cans of the present invention can also be manufactured using conventional materials and techniques with minimal modifications.

[0026] Another problem with conventional food and feed cans is that a sharp edge often remains on the surface of the can, attracting wild animals such as hedgehogs or martens, which can injure themselves on the sharp edges or get their heads stuck in the opening. The design of the cans of the present invention, and in particular the ability to reduce the volume of the can after use by squeezing and deforming the can around its entire circumference, reduces the risk of injury and significantly reduces accessibility to the interior of the can. The invention thus contributes to the protection of wildlife in urban and natural areas.

[0027] The cans of the present invention are tin cans and can be made from any metal used in can making, including, but not limited to, tin, aluminum, iron, steel, and steel alloys. Most commonly, the cans are constructed from two or three sheets of metal forming a body, a lid, and a bottom. The bottom is either part of the body or a separate sheet that is seamed or soldered to the body before the can is filled. The lid is seamed, welded, or soldered to the body after the can is filled.

[0028] Sheets for can making typically have a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm, depending on the material quality and the manufacturing process.

[0029] The scribe line is created using any known scoring method, such as cutting the sheet metal with a rotating ring roll and an embossing machine. The machine reduces the sheet thickness by creating a U- or V-shaped depression. Even after reducing the thickness at the scribe line, the sheet metal must be sufficiently strong to allow for filling, pressure sterilization, transport, and storage. At the same time, the thickness of the scribe line must be thin enough to be easily opened by hand using targeted pressure or pulling. For this purpose, the thickness of the sheet metal in the center of the scribe line can be between 20% and 40% of the thickness of the sheet metal outside the scribe line. These values ​​can vary depending on the manufacturing process and sheet metal quality.The thickness of the sheet in the center of the scribe line can be, for example, between 0.04 mm and 0.15 mm, preferably between 0.05 mm and 0.075 mm, depending on the sheet quality and manufacturing process.

[0030] Accordingly, the present invention provides a tin can comprising a body, a lid and a bottom, the bottom comprising a score line reducing the thickness of the tin, wherein (a) the floor is made of a metal sheet with a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm; and (b) the thickness of the metal sheet of the base part in the centre of the scribe line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the metal sheet outside the scribe line, e.g. 0.04 mm to 0.15 mm, preferably 0.05 mm to 0.075 mm.

[0031] The scoring line is usually designed as a round line that runs parallel to the circumference of the base part.

[0032] Alternatively, the scoring lines can also be executed in the form of two semicircles on the base. When pressed into the can, the two semicircles leave a ridge across the center of the base. If the can is squeezed along the scoring lines, two fragments of the base are pressed into the body, and the remaining ridge can be pressed together with the body by hand or with a simple tool. This demonstrates that the scoring line can take many different forms.

[0033] The lid of the can of the present invention may be a known lid of tin cans. In a preferred embodiment, the lid also comprises at least one score line reducing the thickness of the sheet, for example a lid with a score line, wherein (a) the lid is made of a metal sheet with a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm; and (b) the thickness of the metal sheet of the lid in the centre of the scoring line is from 0.04 mm to 0.15 mm, preferably from 0.05 mm to 0.075 mm.

[0034] The score line serves as a predetermined breaking point for the bottom and allows for easy manual removal of the bottom through the controlled application of force. The score line is designed to reduce the thickness of the sheet metal in a specific area without compromising the seal before opening. After opening and emptying the can, manual force can be applied to the bottom to break the bottom along the score line and remove it. Manual force can then be applied to the body to reduce the volume by squeezing. This ensures that the volume of the can is significantly reduced through the application of manual force.

[0035] After opening and emptying the tin cans according to the invention, one can, for example, pull a lever that forms part of the base, causing the base to break along the scored line and allowing the base part to be removed. In the absence of a lid and base, the body can be easily crushed by hand, with or without notches at the bottom of the body.

[0036] The present invention provides methods for producing tin cans containing human food or animal feed, preferably cat, dog or other pet food, wherein the food or feed comprises meat and other feed materials, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tin can comprising a body and a bottom, the bottom comprising a score line reducing the thickness of the tin, preferably a tin can as described above; (b) filling the can with human food or animal food, preferably pet food such as dog or cat food, the food or food containing meat; (c) closes the can by folding, soldering or welding a lid onto the can body.

[0037] These methods may comprise, as a further step (d), sterilizing the sealed can after step (c). In this step, the sealed can and the contents therein may be subjected to sterilization methods conventional in the art. In one aspect, the step of sterilizing the sealed can comprises heating the sealed can to a temperature of at least 115°C, preferably, it comprises a step of heating the sealed can to a temperature of 119°C to 130°C, most preferably, it comprises a step of heating the sealed can to a temperature of 124°C to 128°C.

[0038] In a further aspect, the step of sterilizing the closed can comprises a phase of heating the closed can in a pressure chamber under a pressure of at least 2.5 bar, preferably at least 3.5 bar, more preferably in the range of 4 to 5 bar. In particular, the present invention enables methods for producing a can, in which the step of sterilizing the closed can comprises heating the closed can to a temperature of 120°C to 130°C in a pressure chamber at a pressure in the range of 2 to 5 bar, preferably 4.3 to 4.7 bar, depending on the can size and the sterilization temperature.

[0039] Heating a closed tin can for sterilization results in a significant increase in pressure within the can. Heating the closed can for sterilization in a pressure chamber therefore has the advantage that the tin can does not deform or break during the heating process.

[0040] The methods for manufacturing a tin can containing human or animal food, preferably cat, dog or other pet food, wherein the food or food comprises meat and other feed materials, may comprise the steps of: (a) providing a tin can comprising a body, a lid and a base, wherein the base comprises a score line reducing the thickness of the sheet, and wherein the base is made of a sheet having a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm, and wherein the thickness of the sheet of the base in the center of the score line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the sheet outside the score line; (b) filling the can with human food or animal feed, preferably pet food such as dog or cat food, the food or feed containing meat; (c) the can is closed by folding, soldering or welding a lid onto the can body; (d) sterilizing the closed can, wherein the sterilizing step comprises heating the closed can to a temperature of 124°C to 128°C, wherein the heating of the closed can is carried out in a pressure chamber under a pressure in the range of 4 to 5 bar, preferably 4.3 to 4.7 bar.

[0041] The processes for producing a tin can containing human food or animal feed, preferably cat, dog or other pet food, wherein the food or feed contains meat and other feed materials, may also be characterized in that they comprise steps of: (a) providing a tin can comprising a body, a lid and a bottom, the bottom comprising a score line reducing the thickness of the tin, wherein (i) the floor is made of a metal sheet with a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm and the thickness of the metal sheet of the floor in the centre of the scribe line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the metal sheet outside the scribe line; (ii) the lid also has a scribe line reducing the thickness of the sheet, wherein the lid is made of a metal sheet having a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm; and the thickness of the metal sheet of the lid in the center of the scribe line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the metal sheet outside the scribe line; (b) filling the can with human food or animal feed, preferably pet food such as dog or cat food, the food or feed containing meat; (c) closes the can by folding, soldering or welding a lid onto the can body; (d) sterilizing the sealed can, wherein the sterilizing step comprises heating the sealed can to a temperature of 124°C to 128°C, wherein the heating of the sealed can is carried out in a pressure chamber under a pressure in the range of 4 to 5 bar, preferably 4.3 to 4.7 bar.

[0042] In a further aspect, the present invention enables methods for reducing the volume of a tin can as described above, the methods comprising steps of manually removing the lid and the bottom of the can and manually crushing the body by pressing it.

[0043] In preferred embodiments, the respective methods comprise steps of: (a) removes the lid of the can by hand; (b) the contents of the can are emptied; (c) remove the bottom of the can by hand with or without tools; and (d) the volume of the tin can is reduced by crushing the body by hand.

[0044] The methods for reducing the volume of a tin can are preferably carried out with a tin can comprising a body, a lid and a base, wherein the base comprises a score line which reduces the thickness of the sheet, and wherein the base is made of a metal sheet having a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm and the thickness of the metal sheet of the base in the center of the score line is between 20% and 40% of the thickness of the metal sheet outside the score line.

[0045] The methods for reducing the volume of a tin can are preferably carried out with a tin can comprising a body, a lid and a base, the base comprising a score line which reduces the thickness of the sheet, wherein: (a) the floor is made of a metal sheet with a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm and the thickness of the metal sheet of the floor in the centre of the scribe line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the metal sheet outside the scribe line; and (b) the lid also has a scribe line which reduces the thickness of the sheet, wherein the lid is made of a metal sheet having a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm, and the thickness of the metal sheet of the lid in the center of the scribe line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the metal sheet outside the scribe line. Short description of the characters: Fig. 1: Bottom of a can with a tab (11), a score line (13) where the sheet thickness is reduced, a depression (10) allowing access to the tab, and recesses at the bottom of the body (1) and (2). Pulling the tab (11) breaks open the bottom along the score line (13), allowing removal of the bottom. This subsequently allows manual compression of the body by applying pressure to the recesses. Fig. 2: Bottom of a can with a central depression (3), a scoring line (13) in which the thickness of the sheet is reduced, and depressions at the lower end of the body (1) and (2). Fig. 3: Semi-circular tool (4), shown on a table; it allows the can to be positioned with a depression in the lower part on the tool and the exertion of pressure on the can to press the bottom into the can body. Fig. 4: Bottom of a can (7) with a scoring line (13) and depressions (6), the bottom having been pressed into the can body with a tool, causing the bottom to fracture at the scoring line. Fig. 5: Side view of a tin can with a body (9), a base part (8) and two recesses (6). Fig. 6: Side view of a tin can (7) with two recesses (6) and the bottom removed (12). Fig. 7: Side view of a tin can with a body (9) and two recesses (2) with the bottom removed (12). Fig. 8: View of the bottom of a tin can with two score lines (13) and two recesses (3). Fig. 9: Side view of a tool for opening the bottom of a tin can made of Fig. 8, with a tool (14) for pressing into the recess (3) on a table. Fig. 10: Supervision of Fig. 9 with tool (14). Fig. 11: Side view of a tool for opening the bottom of a tin can according to Fig. 8 with a tool (14) for pressing into a recess (3) on a table. Fig. 12: Supervision of Fig. 11, without tin can (top) and with tin can (bottom). QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 167 855

[0011] US 2009 / 0200305

[0012] EP 1 984 273

[0013] US 2010 / 0282765

[0014]

Claims

[1] A tin can comprising a body, a lid and a base, the base including a scored line at which the thickness of the tin is reduced. [2] Tin can according to claim 1, characterized by , that: (a) the floor is made of a sheet with a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm; and (b1) the thickness of the base sheet in the centre of the scribe line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the sheet outside the scribe line; or (b2) the thickness of the sheet of the base in the middle of the scribe line is 0.04 mm to 0.15 mm, preferably 0.05 mm to 0.075 mm [3] Tin can according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the base has a tab, an integrated lever and / or a central depression. [4] Tin can according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the soil includes: (a) an integrated tab which facilitates the removal of the base part using the scored line as a predetermined breaking point; or (b) a depression, the application of pressure to the depression facilitating removal of the soil using the scribe line as a predetermined breaking point. [5] Tin can according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the tin can comprises a lid, wherein the lid comprises a scoring line in which the thickness of the sheet is reduced, wherein the lid is preferably characterized by is that: (a) the lid is made of a metal sheet with a thickness of 0.10 mm to 0.55 mm; and (b1) the thickness of the metal sheet of the floor in the centre of the scribe line is 20% to 40% of the thickness of the metal sheet outside the scribe line; or (b2) the thickness of the metal sheet of the base in the center of the scribe line is 0.04 mm to 0.15 mm, preferably 0.05 mm to 0.075 mm. [6] Tin can according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the body has at least one depression at the lower end of the body, preferably at least two depression areas which are present on opposite sides at the lower end of the body. [7] Tin can according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the can contains human food, animal feed, beverages, paints, varnishes, solvents, toxic substances or oils, preferably pet food containing meat, such as cat or dog food. [8] Tin can according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the can contains sterilized human food or sterilized animal feed.

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