METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN AEROSOL CAN MAIN PART, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN AEROSOL CAN BASIC PART, DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING AN AEROSOL CAN MAIN PART AND AEROSOL CAN MAIN PART

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing an aerosol can body, a method for producing an aerosol can base using such a method for producing an aerosol can body, an apparatus for producing an aerosol can body, and an aerosol can body.

[0002] US 3,262,303 relates generally to the extrusion of hollow articles and more specifically to a new and improved method and apparatus for forming extruded hollow articles such as squeezable tubes, aerosol cans and the like from blanks cut from a cylindrical wire or rod shaft. TASK AND SOLUTION

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a method for producing an aerosol can main part, wherein the method allows material savings in the aerosol can main part and thus the aerosol can main part is relatively cost-effective. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of providing a method for producing an aerosol can base part, comprising such a method for producing an aerosol can main part, an apparatus for producing an aerosol can main part, and an aerosol can main part.

[0004] The invention solves the problem by providing a method having the features of claim 1, a method having the features of claim 11, a device having the features of claim 14 and / or an aerosol can body having the features of claim 15.

[0005] The inventive, in particular automatic, method for producing an aerosol can main body, in particular for an aerosol can, comprises the steps: a) extrusion, in particular automatic extrusion, or extrusion, in particular only, of a slug to form a can main body blank comprising a can body, a can shoulder, and a can neck. The can shoulder has a shoulder wall thickness of at least 180 µm. The can body has a body wall thickness of at least 150 µm and a maximum of 300 µm, in particular a maximum of 250 µm.The shoulder wall thickness is at least 1.2 times the body wall thickness, b) supporting, in particular automatically supporting, the can shoulder on an inner side of the can shoulder by means of a supporting device and forming, in particular automatically forming, at least a portion of the can neck, in particular the complete can neck, into a spray valve seat, in particular for fastening a spray valve, in particular to the aerosol can main body, during the supporting.

[0006] The method or its step a) extrusion enables the can body and the can shoulder, and in particular the can neck, to each have different, in particular relatively small, wall thicknesses. In particular, the wall thickness(es) can be defined or fixed by the extrusion. Furthermore, in order to form at least the section of the can neck, the latter can be subjected to a force, in particular in an axial direction. This force can be transferred, in particular at least partially, to the can shoulder, in particular in the axial direction. The method or its step b) or the supporting or the supporting device enables the force to be diverted or absorbed by the can shoulder. The can shoulder does not need to transfer the force to the can body and the can body does not need to divert any force.Thus, the can shoulder and / or the can body, in particular, can each have a relatively small wall thickness. Consequently, the process allows for material savings in the aerosol can body, making the aerosol can body relatively cost-effective.

[0007] In particular, the slug can be referred to as a round blank. Additionally or alternatively, the slug can have the shape of a cylinder, in particular a circular cylinder. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the slug can be provided with an extrusion lubricant, such as a grease, for step a) extrusion. This can enable even flow of the slug material.

[0008] The extrusion can be cold extrusion. Additionally or alternatively, the extrusion of the can body can be reverse extrusion. Further additionally or alternatively, the extrusion of the can neck can be forward extrusion. Further additionally or alternatively, the extrusion of the can shoulder can be forward extrusion and / or extrusion away from the can body and / or the can shoulder. In particular, the reverse extrusion, the forward extrusion, and / or the extrusion away from the can body can be simultaneous or combined. In other words: the can body, the can shoulder, and the can neck can be extruded simultaneously. In other words: the can main blank, or its can body, its can shoulder, and its can neck, can be one-piece or integral.

[0009] The can shoulder can be connected, in particular spatially, to the can body, in particular directly. Additionally or alternatively, the can neck can be connected, in particular spatially, to the can shoulder, in particular directly.

[0010] The can body can have a, in particular medium, body radius, and the can shoulder can have a, in particular medium, shoulder radius. The body radius can be relatively larger than the shoulder radius. In particular, the can shoulder can be narrowed or tapered compared to the can body. Additionally or alternatively, the can shoulder can have a, in particular medium, shoulder radius, and the can neck can have a, in particular medium, neck radius. The shoulder radius can be relatively larger than the neck radius. In particular, the can neck can be narrowed or tapered compared to the can shoulder.

[0011] The can body can have the shape of a cylinder, in particular a circular cylinder, in particular directly after step a) extrusion. Additionally or alternatively, the can shoulder can have the shape, in particular either of a round shoulder or a flat shoulder and / or various angles. In particular, the can shoulder can have the shape of a cone, in particular a circular cone, in particular directly after step a) extrusion. In particular, the cone can taper away from the can body towards the can neck. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the can neck can have the shape of a cylinder, in particular a circular cylinder, in particular directly after step a) extrusion.

[0012] The can body can be referred to as the can jacket.

[0013] The can body blank, or rather its can body, can shoulder, and can neck, can be hollow. In particular, the can body blank can have a through-opening. In other words, the can body blank can be open on both sides, in particular at an end of the can neck opposite the can shoulder and at an end of the can body opposite the can shoulder.

[0014] The inner side can be an inner side of the hollow can body blank or its hollow can shoulder.

[0015] During supporting, the support device can be in direct contact or in contact with the inside of the can shoulder.

[0016] The support device may be different from the main can blank or its can body, its can shoulder and its can neck.

[0017] The support can be in the axial direction.

[0018] Support can be continuous throughout the forming process. In particular, support can begin before or during forming and end with or after forming.

[0019] Step b) can be carried out after step a).

[0020] The aerosol can main body can be designed to be further processed into an aerosol can, in particular the aerosol can. In particular, the aerosol can can be designed as a container for an aerosol. Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol can can be referred to as a spray can or aerosol can. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the aerosol can main body can be designed to withstand a nominal pressure of 12 bar, in particular 15 bar, in particular 18 bar.

[0021] In particular, further processing may include cleaning and / or washing. Additionally or alternatively, further processing may include varnishing an inner side. This may enable protection of the aerosol, the product, or the contents. Further additionally or alternatively, further processing may include decorating, in particular varnishing, printing, and / or coating an outer side, in particular opposite or facing away from the inner side. In particular, the decorating may include screen printing, anodizing, embossing, labeling, sleeve labeling, thermal transfer, digital printing, pad printing, offset printing, or a combination thereof. The coating varnish may enable protection of the printing.

[0022] In a further development of the invention, the can neck has a neck wall thickness, and the can shoulder has the shoulder wall thickness. The neck wall thickness is at least 1.2 times and at most 2 times the shoulder wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the can shoulder has the shoulder wall thickness, and the can body has the body wall thickness, with the shoulder wall thickness being at most 2 times the body wall thickness.

[0023] In particular, the respective wall thickness can be an average wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the respective wall thickness can be referred to as a thickness.

[0024] In a further development of the invention, the can neck has a, in particular the, neck wall thickness of at least 250 µm and a maximum of 500 µm, in particular a maximum of 450 µm. Additionally or alternatively, the can shoulder has a shoulder wall thickness of at most 400 µm, in particular a maximum of 350 µm. In particular, the, in particular respective, wall thickness can be a medium wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the, in particular respective, wall thickness can be referred to as a thickness.

[0025] In a further development of the invention, the forming step b) comprises flanging, in particular automatic flanging, or roll-bending of at least one section of the can neck, in particular radially outward, toward the spray valve seat. Additionally or alternatively, the spray valve seat has a rolled edge. In particular, the spray valve seat can be a rolled edge.

[0026] In a further development of the invention, step b) comprises: introducing, in particular automatically introducing, the support device at one end of the can body, in particular the end opposite the can shoulder, into the can body, in particular in the axial direction, up to the can shoulder, in particular before the forming, and removing, in particular automatically removing, the support device away from the can shoulder, in particular in the axial direction, at the end out of the can body, in particular after the forming.

[0027] In a further development of the invention, the slug is annular. This allows the can body blank to have a through-opening. In other words, the slug can have a through-opening. In particular, the through-opening can have the shape of a cylinder, in particular a circular cylinder. Additionally or alternatively, the through-opening can be arranged centrally or coaxially.

[0028] In a further development of the invention, the slug is made partially or entirely of aluminum. In particular, the slug can be made of an aluminum alloy, such as AW 3XXX material, in particular AW 3102 material or AW 3207 material, or of pure aluminum with an aluminum content of at least 99.5%, in particular at least 99.7%, such as AW 1050 material.

[0029] In a further development of the invention, the method comprises the step: ab) cutting to length, in particular automatically cutting to length, or stretching or milling or trimming, in particular axially, the can neck, in particular at one end of the can neck, in particular the end opposite the can shoulder. The forming of step b) comprises: forming, in particular automatically forming, of at least one section of the cut-to-length can neck, in particular the complete cut-to-length can neck, to form the spray valve seat. In particular, the can neck can have an irregular shape and / or be frayed at its end opposite the can shoulder. Additionally or alternatively, the can neck can be longer or higher than specified, in particular axially. The step ab) cutting to length enables a regular or unfrayed shape and / or a specified length of the can neck.In particular, step ab) can be carried out after step a) and before step b).

[0030] In a further development of the invention, the method comprises the step: bc1) cutting to length, in particular automatic cutting to length, or stretching or milling or trimming, in particular axially, of the can body, in particular at one end of the can body, in particular the end opposite the can shoulder. In particular, the can body can have an irregular shape and / or be frayed at its end opposite the can shoulder. Additionally or alternatively, the can body can be longer or higher than specified, in particular axially. Step bc1) cutting to length enables a regular or unfrayed shape and / or a specified length of the can body. In particular, step bc1) can be carried out after step a) and before, with and / or after step b).

[0031] In a further development of the invention, the method comprises the step: bc2) forming, in particular automatically forming, in particular expanding, an end or end section of the, in particular cut-to-length, can body opposite the can shoulder into a cone, in particular a circular cone. In particular, the cone can taper away from the end, in particular in the axial direction, in particular radially. In other words: a radius of the cone can decrease away from the end, in particular in the axial direction, or the radius can increase towards the end. In particular, the radius of the cone at the end of the can body can be relatively larger than a body radius, in particular the center radius, of the remaining can body. In other words: the end can be expanded compared to the remaining can body.Additionally or alternatively, step bc2) can be carried out after step a) and before, with and / or after step b).

[0032] The inventive, in particular automatic, method for producing an aerosol can base part, in particular for an, in particular the, aerosol can, comprises: the method for producing the aerosol can main part and the step: c) connecting, in particular automatically connecting, an aerosol can base part to a, in particular the, opposite the can shoulder or end section of the, in particular cut to length and / or conically shaped, can body of the aerosol can main part.

[0033] In particular, the aerosol can base part can be designed to be further processed into an aerosol can, in particular the aerosol can. Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol can base part can be designed to withstand a nominal pressure of 12 bar, in particular 15 bar, in particular 18 bar.

[0034] The method enables a separate or separate production of the aerosol can base part from the aerosol can main part and thus advantages, in particular freedom, in the production of both the aerosol can base part and the aerosol can main part.

[0035] In particular, the aerosol can base part can be or be produced by punching and / or deep drawing. Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol can base part can have a circular shape. Further additionally or alternatively, the aerosol can base part can have a circumferential recess or a conical shape, in particular on a radial edge. In particular, the aerosol can base part or its edge can have a shape complementary to the aerosol can main part or its can body or its end. This, in particular circumferential, connection shape or connection geometry can be produced, in particular, either directly during deep drawing, if present, or in a subsequent plastic deformation step of the aerosol can base part. This can enable a precise fit of the aerosol can base part in the aerosol can main part.In particular, the aerosol can base part can be or be inserted at least partially, in particular in the axial direction, into the aerosol can main part or its can body, in particular up to direct contact or touching with the aerosol can main part or an inner side of the aerosol can main part. Furthermore, or alternatively, the aerosol can base part can have a, in particular concave or dome-like, curvature, in particular inwards or towards the can shoulder. The curvature can be produced, in particular, either directly during deep drawing, if present, or in a, in particular subsequent, plastic deformation step of the aerosol can base part. This can enable better pressure resistance of the aerosol can base part. Furthermore, or alternatively, the aerosol can base part can be made of the same material as the aerosol can main part.

[0036] The connection can be a form-fitting connection, such as folding and / or snapping, and / or a material-fitting connection, such as gluing.

[0037] In particular, after the connection, the aerosol can base part can close the aerosol can main part or the end of the can body opposite the can shoulder, in particular in a gap-free or tight manner, in particular fluid-tight, in particular liquid-tight and / or gas-tight manner. In other words, the aerosol can base part can be open on one side, in particular at an end of the spray valve seat opposite the can shoulder.

[0038] Step c) can be performed chronologically after step b), and in particular chronologically after step bc1) and / or step bc2), if present. In particular, this chronological sequence or the joining chronologically after the forming can enable the supporting by means of the supporting device, in particular the insertion and removal of the supporting device.

[0039] In a further development of the invention, the joining of step c) comprises: welding, in particular automatic welding, in particular laser welding.

[0040] In a further development of the invention, the aerosol can base part has a base wall thickness of at least 200 µm and at most 1200 µm. In particular, the base wall thickness can be a medium base wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the base wall thickness can be referred to as the base thickness.

[0041] The inventive, in particular automatic, device for producing a, in particular the, aerosol can main part, in particular for an, in particular the, aerosol can, has, in particular only, one extrusion tool, in particular only, one, in particular the, support device and, in particular only, one forming tool. The, in particular automatic, extrusion tool has, in particular only, a die and, in particular only, a punch. The die and the punch are designed for, in particular automatically, extrusion of a, in particular the, slug into a, in particular the, can main part blank comprising a, in particular the, can body, a, in particular the, can shoulder and a, in particular the, can neck. The can shoulder has a, in particular the, shoulder wall thickness of at least 180 µm. The can body has a, in particular the, body wall thickness of at least 150 µm and a maximum of 300 µm, in particular a maximum of 250 µm.The shoulder wall thickness is at least 1.2 times the body wall thickness. The wall thicknesses of the can body, the can shoulder, and the can neck are defined by the extrusion process through a geometric arrangement of the punch and the die relative to one another during the extrusion process. The supporting device, which is in particular automatic, is designed for supporting the can shoulder on one side, in particular the inside, of the can shoulder. The forming tool, which is in particular automatic, is designed for forming at least one, in particular the at least one, section of the can neck into a, in particular the, spray valve seat during the supporting process.

[0042] The device can provide the same advantages as the previously described method. In particular, the device can be designed for carrying out the previously described method and / or for producing the aerosol can body, wherein the aerosol can body can be partially or even entirely formed as described for the previously described method.

[0043] In particular, the extrusion tool can be designed for simultaneous or combined backward, forward, and / or away extrusion. Additionally or alternatively, the die can be referred to as a negative mold.

[0044] The support device can have a complementary or negative shape to the forming tool, in particular so that the support device and the forming tool can be moved or brought into contact with each other for forming. This can make it possible to maintain a predetermined distance between the inside of the can shoulder and the top of the spray valve seat relatively precisely. Additionally or alternatively, the forming tool can have a flanging head.

[0045] The aerosol can main part according to the invention, in particular for an aerosol can, comprises a can body, in particular the can shoulder, and a spray valve seat. The can shoulder has a wall thickness of at least 180 µm, and in particular a maximum of 400 µm, in particular a maximum of 350 µm. The can body has a wall thickness of at least 150 µm and a maximum of 300 µm, in particular a maximum of 250 µm. The shoulder wall thickness is at least 1.2 times the wall thickness of the can body.

[0046] The aerosol can body can provide the same advantages as the previously described method. In particular, the aerosol can body can be manufactured by the previously described method. In particular, the aerosol can body can be partially or even entirely formed as described for the previously described method. Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol can body can be without or free of an aerosol can base part. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures. In the figures: Fig. 1 a flow diagram of a method according to the invention for producing an aerosol can base part according to the invention comprising an inventive method for producing an aerosol can main part according to the invention, Fig. 2 a slug, Fig. 3 an extrusion of the slug of the Fig. 2 to a can main part blank by means of an inventive device for producing the aerosol can base part comprising an inventive device for producing the aerosol can main part comprising an extrusion tool, Fig. 4 a cutting to length of a can neck of the can main part blank of the Fig. 3 by means of the device according to the invention for producing the aerosol can main body, Fig. 5 a support of a can shoulder of the can main body blank of the Fig. 3 and 4 by means of the device according to the invention for producing the aerosol can main part comprising a supporting device and forming at least one section of the can neck of the Fig. 3 and 4 to a spray valve seat during support by means of the device according to the invention for producing the aerosol can main body comprising a forming tool, Fig. 6 a cutting to length of a can body of the can main body blank of the Fig. 3 to 5 and forming an end of the can body into a cone to form the aerosol can main body by means of the inventive device for producing the aerosol can main body, Fig. 7 the aerosol can main body and connecting an aerosol can base part to the end of the can body of the aerosol can main body to form the aerosol can base part by means of the inventive device for producing the aerosol can base part, and Fig. 8 the aerosol can base part. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Fig. 1 shows, in particular Fig. 2 to 7show a method according to the invention for producing an aerosol can base part 30. The method comprises a method according to the invention for producing an aerosol can main part 1, as in Fig. 2 to 6 shown.

[0049] The method according to the invention for producing the aerosol can main body 1 comprises the steps: a) extrusion of a slug 2, as in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shown on the left, to a can body blank 3 comprising a can body 4, a can shoulder 5 and a can neck 6, as in Fig. 3 right and Fig. 4shown. The can shoulder 5 has a shoulder wall thickness T5 of at least 180 µm. The can body 4 has a body wall thickness T4 of at least 150 µm and a maximum of 300 µm. The shoulder wall thickness T5 is at least 1.2 times as large as the body wall thickness T4. b) supporting the can shoulder 5 on an inner side 7 of the can shoulder 5 by means of a supporting device 110 and forming at least a portion of the can neck 6, in particular the complete can neck 6, into a spray valve seat 8 during the supporting, as in Fig. 5 and 6 shown.

[0050] Furthermore, the method for producing the aerosol can base part 30 comprises the step: c) connecting an aerosol can base part 20 to an end 11 of the can body 4 of the aerosol can main part 1 opposite the can shoulder 5, as in Fig. 7 and 8 shown.

[0051] Fig. 3 to 7show a device 200 according to the invention for producing the aerosol can base part 30. The device 200 has a device 100 according to the invention for producing the aerosol can main part 1, as in Fig. 2 to 6 shown.

[0052] The device 1 according to the invention for producing the aerosol can main part 1 comprises an extrusion tool 101, as shown in Fig. 3 shown, the support device 110 and a forming tool 111, as in Fig. 5shown. The extrusion tool 101 has a die 102 and a punch 103. The die 102 and the punch 103 are designed for extrusion of the slug 2 into the main can blank 3 comprising the can body 4, the can shoulder 5, and the can neck 6. The can shoulder 5 has a shoulder wall thickness T5 of at least 180 µm. The can body 4 has a body wall thickness T4 of at least 150 µm and a maximum of 300 µm. The shoulder wall thickness T5 is at least 1.2 times as large as the body wall thickness T4. The wall thicknesses T4, T5, T6 of the can body 4, the can shoulder 5, and the can neck 6 are defined by the extrusion process through a geometric arrangement of the punch 103 and the die 102 relative to one another during the extrusion process. The support device 110 is designed to support the can shoulder 5 on the inner side 7 of the can shoulder 5.The forming tool 111 is designed to form at least a portion of the can neck 6 into the spray valve seat 8 during support.

[0053] In detail, the device 200 for producing the aerosol can base part 30 or its device 1 for producing the aerosol can main part 1 is designed to carry out the method described above.

[0054] In the embodiment shown, the slug 2 is ring-shaped, as in Fig. 2 shown. In detail, the slug 2 has a through opening 10.

[0055] In addition, the Butze 2 is made partly or entirely of aluminum.

[0056] For step a) extrusion, the slug 2 is placed in the die 102 as shown in Fig. 3 shown on the left.

[0057] In step a) extrusion, the punch 103 applies a relatively high pressure to the slug material in the die 102 and thus causes the slug material to flow between the die 102 and the punch 103, as shown in Fig. 3 shown on the right.

[0058] In the embodiment shown, the punch 103 performs the movement required for extrusion, in particular in the axial direction z in Fig. 3 downward, and the die 102 is stationary. In alternative embodiments, the die can additionally or alternatively perform the movement required for extrusion and / or the punch can be stationary.

[0059] In detail, the extrusion of the can body 4 is a backward extrusion, the extrusion of the can neck 6 is a forward extrusion and the extrusion of the can shoulder 5 is a forward extrusion and / or a away extrusion.

[0060] A shape(s) of the can body 4, the can shoulder 5 and / or the can neck 6 are / is defined by the extrusion, in particular by a shape of the extrusion tool 101 or a shape of the punch 103 and a shape of the die 102, in particular during the extrusion.

[0061] In the embodiment shown, the can body 4, in particular directly after step a) extrusion, has the shape of a circular cylinder, as in Fig. 4 shown.

[0062] Furthermore, the can shoulder 5 has the shape of a circular cone, in particular immediately after step a) extrusion.

[0063] In addition, the can neck 6 has the shape of a circular cylinder, in particular immediately after step a) extrusion.

[0064] In addition, the can main body blank 3 has a through opening or is open on both sides, in particular at an end 16 of the can neck 6 opposite the can shoulder 5 and at an end 9 of the can body 4 opposite the can shoulder 5.

[0065] In detail, the can neck 6 has a neck wall thickness of T6.

[0066] In the illustrated example, the neck wall thickness T6 is a minimum of 1.2 times and a maximum of 2 times the shoulder wall thickness T5. The shoulder wall thickness T5 is a maximum of 2 times the body wall thickness T4.

[0067] In detail, the T6 neck wall thickness is a minimum of 250 µm and a maximum of 500 µm. The T5 shoulder wall thickness is a maximum of 400 µm.

[0068] Furthermore, the method for producing the aerosol can main part 1 comprises the step: ab) cutting the can neck 6 to length, in particular at the end 16 of the can neck 6 opposite the can shoulder 5, in particular to a predetermined, in particular axial, length L6, as in Fig. 5 shown.

[0069] The device 1 for producing the aerosol can body 1 has a cutting tool 120. The cutting tool 120 is designed to cut the can neck 6 to length.

[0070] The forming of step b) comprises: forming at least one section of the cut-to-length can neck 6, in particular the complete cut-to-length can neck 6, into the spray valve seat 8, in particular by means of the forming tool 111.

[0071] In detail, the forming of step b) comprises: flanging of at least one section of the can neck 6, in particular radially outward, towards the spray valve seat 8.

[0072] The forming tool 111 has a flanging rolling head.

[0073] The spray valve seat 8 has a rolled edge, as in Fig. 6 shown.

[0074] In detail, step b) comprises: Inserting the support device 110 at the end 9 of the can body 4 opposite the can shoulder 5 into the can body 4, in particular in the axial direction z in Fig. 5 upwards, up to the can shoulder 5, in particular prior to forming, and moving the support device 110 away from the can shoulder 5, in particular in the axial direction z in Fig. 5 downwards, at the end 9 out of the can body 4, in particular after forming.

[0075] The support device 110 has a shape complementary to the forming tool 111. In the illustrated embodiment, the support device 110 has an internal recess 115 for the forming tool 111.

[0076] Furthermore, the method for producing the aerosol can main part 1 comprises the step: bc1) cutting the can body 4 to length, in particular at the end 9 of the can body 4 opposite the can shoulder 5, in particular to a predetermined, in particular axial, length L4, as in Fig. 7 shown.

[0077] The device 1 for producing the aerosol can body 1 has a cutting tool 130. The cutting tool 130 is designed to cut the can body 4 to length.

[0078] In addition, the method comprises the step: bc2) forming, in particular widening, one end 11 of the can body 4, which is opposite the can shoulder 5 and is in particular cut to length, into a cone, in particular a circular cone.

[0079] The device 1 for producing the aerosol can body 1 comprises a conical forming tool 140. The conical forming tool 140 is designed to form the end 11 of the can body 4 opposite the can shoulder 5 into a conical shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the conical forming tool 140 comprises a mandrel.

[0080] In the embodiment shown, the aerosol can base part 20 has a circular shape, as in Fig. 7 shown. In addition, the aerosol can base part 20, particularly at a radial edge 21, has a conical shape complementary to the conical shape of the end 11 of the can body 4.

[0081] For step c) connecting, the aerosol can base part 20 is at least partially, in particular in the axial direction z in Fig. 7upwards, at the end 11 into the aerosol can main part 1 or its can body 4, in particular until the conical edge 21 of the aerosol can base part 20 and the conical end 11 of the can body 4 of the aerosol can main part 1 lie tightly against one another.

[0082] In detail, the joining of step c) comprises: welding, in particular laser welding, in particular by means of a laser beam LS.

[0083] The device 200 for producing the aerosol can base 30 has a welding tool 150, in particular a laser welding tool, in particular a laser. The welding tool 150 is designed for welding, in particular for laser welding, in particular using the laser beam LS.

[0084] In particular, after the connection, the aerosol can base part 20 closes the aerosol can main part 1 or the end 11 of the can body 4 opposite the can shoulder 5, in particular without a gap or tightly. In other words: the aerosol can base part 30 is open on one side, in particular at an end 17 of the spray valve seat 8 opposite the can shoulder 5.

[0085] Furthermore, the aerosol can base part 20 has a base wall thickness T20 of at least 200 µm and a maximum of 1200 µm.

[0086] The interconnected aerosol can main part 1 and aerosol can base part 30 correspond to the aerosol can base part 30, as in Fig. 7 and 8 shown.

[0087] The extruded, cut to length, formed or flanged, cut to length and formed or expanded can main body blank 3 corresponds to the aerosol can main body 1, as in Figs. 6 and 7 shown.

[0088] The aerosol can base part 30 according to the invention has the aerosol can main part 1 according to the invention.

[0089] The aerosol can main body 1 according to the invention comprises the can body 4, the can shoulder 5, and the spray valve seat 8. The can shoulder 5 has a shoulder wall thickness T5 of at least 180 µm, and in particular of at most 400 µm. The can body 4 has a body wall thickness T4 of at least 150 µm and at most 300 µm, and in particular of at least 150 µm. The shoulder wall thickness T5 is at least 1.2 times as large as the body wall thickness T4.

[0090] Furthermore, the aerosol can main part 1 or the aerosol can base part 30 is designed to be further processed into an aerosol can.

[0091] As the embodiments shown and explained above make clear, the invention provides a method for producing an aerosol can body, wherein the method allows material savings in the aerosol can body, thus making the aerosol can body relatively cost-effective. Furthermore, the invention provides a method for producing an aerosol can base using such a method for producing an aerosol can body, an apparatus for producing an aerosol can body, and an aerosol can body.

Claims

1. Method for producing an aerosol can main part (1), wherein the method comprises the steps: - a) extruding a slug (2) into a can main part blank (3) comprising a can body (4), a can shoulder (5) and a can neck (6), wherein the can shoulder (5) has a shoulder wall thickness (T5) of at least 180 um, wherein the can body (4) has a body wall thickness (T4) of at least 150 um and of at most 300 um, and wherein the shoulder wall thickness (T5) is at least 1.2 times as large as the body wall thickness (T4), and - b) supporting the can shoulder (5) on an inside (7) of the can shoulder (5) by means of a support device (110), and forming at least one portion of the can neck (6) into a spray valve seat (8) while supported.

2. Method according to Claim 1, - wherein the extrusion of the can body (4) is a reverse extrusion, the extrusion of the can neck (6) is a forward extrusion, and the reverse extrusion and the forward extrusion are combined, in particular simultaneous, and / or - wherein the can body (4), the can shoulder (5) and the can neck (6) are extruded simultaneously.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the can neck (6) has a neck wall thickness (T6) and the can shoulder (5) has the shoulder wall thickness (T5), wherein the neck wall thickness (T6) is at least 1.2 times and at most 2 times the shoulder wall thickness (T5), and / or - wherein the shoulder wall thickness (T5) is at most 2 times the body wall thickness (T4), and / or - wherein the can neck (6) has a neck wall thickness (T6) of at least 250 um and of at most 500 µm, and / or - wherein the can shoulder (5) has the shoulder wall thickness (T5) of at most 400 µm.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the forming of step b) comprises: flanging of the at least one portion of the can neck (6) to the spray valve seat (8), and / or - wherein the spray valve seat (8) has a rolled edge.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein step b) comprises: introducing the support device (110) at one end (9) of the can body (4) opposite the can shoulder (5) into the can body (4) up to the can shoulder (5), and guiding out the support device (110) away from the can shoulder (5) out of the can body (4) at the end (9).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the slug (2) is designed to be annular.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the slug (2) consists partially or completely of aluminium.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the method comprises the step: ab) cutting to length the can neck (6), and - wherein the forming of step b) comprises: forming the at least one portion of the cut-to-length can neck (6) into the spray valve seat (8).

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the method comprises the step: bc1) cutting to length the can body (4).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the method comprises the step: bc2) shaping into a cone an end (11) of the can body (4) that lies opposite the can shoulder (5).

11. Method for producing an aerosol can base part (30), wherein the method comprises: - a method according to one of the preceding claims, and - the step: c) connecting an aerosol can bottom part (20) to an end (11) of the can body (4) of the aerosol can main part (1) that lies opposite the can shoulder (5).

12. Method according to Claim 11, - wherein the connecting of step c) comprises: welding, in particular laser welding.

13. Method according to Claim 11 or 12, - wherein the aerosol can bottom part (20) has a bottom wall thickness (T20) of at least 200 um and of at most 1200 µm.

14. Device (100) for producing an aerosol can main part (1), wherein the device (100) comprises: - an extrusion tool (101), wherein the extrusion tool (101) comprises a die (102) and a punch (103), wherein the die (102) and the punch (103) are designed for extruding a slug (2) into a can main part blank (3) comprising a can body (4), a can shoulder (5) and a can neck (6), wherein the can shoulder (5) has a shoulder wall thickness (T5) of at least 180 um, wherein the can body (4) has a body wall thickness (T4) of at least 150 um and of at most 300 um, and wherein the shoulder wall thickness (T5) is at least 1.2 times the body wall thickness (T4), wherein the extrusion tool (101) is configured in such a way that the wall thicknesses (T4, T5, T6) of the can body (4), the can shoulder (5) and the can neck (6) are defined by the extrusion owing to a geometric arrangement of the punch (103) and the die (102) relative to one another during extrusion, and - a support device (110) and a forming tool (111), wherein the support device (110) is designed for supporting the can shoulder (5) on an inside (7) of the can shoulder (5), and wherein the forming tool (111) is designed for forming at least one portion of the can neck (6) into a spray valve seat (8) while supported.

15. Aerosol can main part (1) comprising: - a can body (4), a can shoulder (5) and a spray valve seat (8), - wherein the can shoulder (5) has a shoulder wall thickness (T5) of at least 180 um, wherein the can body (4) has a body wall thickness (T4) of at least 150 um and of at most 300 um, and wherein the shoulder wall thickness (T5) is at least 1.2 times the body wall thickness (T4).