Can product and method of making can product

Abstract

To provide a can product suitable for a user and a manufacturer, and a method of making a can product.SOLUTION: A method of making a can product includes the steps of: heating and softening a plastic sheet (transparent sheet 2) formed of a thermoplastic resin, disposing an original mold 1 on one surface side of the plastic sheet, and sucking air on the one surface side to bring the plastic sheet into close contact with the original mold 1 and mold the plastic sheet into a three dimensional shape; and coating the surfaces of can parts (first can parts 101) with the plastic sheet in a state where the one surface of the plastic sheet is disposed in a direction facing the surfaces of the can parts, in which a flat portion of an upper surface, an R shape (peripheral edge portion 15) having the same shape as the peripheral edge portion of the can part 101 connected to the flat portion, and a convex portion of a three dimensional design 14 are formed on a surface of the original mold 1 facing the plastic sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a can product such as a can badge and a method for producing the can product. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a device for producing can products such as can badges with a given design.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method for producing a can product, which includes the steps of: printing a printing image generated by inverting given image data onto one side of a transparent film; arranging one side of the transparent film facing the surface of a first can part, and covering the surface of the first can part with the transparent film; and manufacturing a can product by joining the second can part to the first can part so that the peripheral portion of the transparent film that protrudes around the first can part is sandwiched between the first can part and the second can part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-136210 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional methods for producing can products using transparent films result in can products with monotonous shapes that do not leave a sufficiently favorable impression on users, and as a result are not sufficiently suitable for manufacturers of can products.

[0006] The present invention provides a can product and a method for producing a can product that are suitable for users and manufacturers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The can product of the present invention is a can product comprising a can part and a resin sheet covering the can part, and the resin sheet has a bulging portion with a three-dimensional design formed on the surface.

[0008] The can product manufacturing method of the present invention includes the steps of heating and softening a resin sheet made of a thermoplastic resin, placing a master mold on one side of the resin sheet, and sucking air from the one side to bring the resin sheet into close contact with the master mold and mold it into a three-dimensional shape, and coating the surface of the can part with the resin sheet while oriented so that one side of the resin sheet faces the surface of the can part, and a three-dimensional design convex portion is formed on the surface of the master mold facing the resin sheet.

[0009] Furthermore, a can product production method of the present invention includes the steps of: printing a print image generated from image data onto a light-transmitting sheet made of a light-transmitting thermoplastic resin; heating and softening the light-transmitting sheet, placing a master mold on one side of the light-transmitting sheet, and sucking air from the one side to bring the light-transmitting sheet into close contact with the master mold and form it into a three-dimensional shape; arranging the light-transmitting sheet so that the back surface of the light-transmitting sheet faces the surface of a first can part, and covering the surface of the first can part with the light-transmitting sheet; and joining the second can part to the first can part so that the peripheral edge of the light-transmitting sheet protruding around the first can part is sandwiched between the first and second can parts, thereby producing a can product, wherein the surface of the master mold facing the light-transmitting sheet has a peripheral edge formed in a simple shape, and a convex portion with a three-dimensional design is formed inside the peripheral edge. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present invention can provide users and manufacturers with a suitable can product and a method for producing the can product. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a top view showing a master mold used in a can badge production method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a translucent sheet before thermoforming on which a printing image used in a can badge production method according to an embodiment of the present invention is printed, an oblique view of a can badge according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a side view of the can badge. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a first explanatory diagram showing the steps of a can badge production method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a second explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a third explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a fourth explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 5 is a fifth explanatory diagram showing the steps of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a can badge according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing a master mold used in a method for producing a can badge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(b) is a top view showing a master mold used in the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(a) is a plan view showing a light-transmitting sheet on which a printing image is printed and which is used in the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention, before thermoforming. FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of the can badge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2(c) is a side view of the can badge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a first explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a second explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a third explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a fourth explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a fifth explanatory diagram showing the procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8(a) is a cross-sectional view of the can badge according to the embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state. FIG. 8(b) is a cross-sectional view of the can badge according to the embodiment of the present invention in an exploded state.

[0014] <Tools and materials used in the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention> As shown in Figure 1(a), the master mold 1 used in the can badge production method according to an embodiment of the present invention is a trapezoidal rotating body 11 to which a three-dimensional design part 12 to be formed is fixed. The three-dimensional design part 12 is fixed with screws or the like, and can be easily changed.

[0015] The trapezoidal rotor 11 is tapered upward in consideration of die cutting. The three-dimensional design part 12 has a three-dimensional design 14 formed thereon in a convex shape.

[0016] The three-dimensional design 14 is, for example, a relief shape of a bust of a bear. The peripheral edge 15 of the upper surface 13 of the master mold 1 is formed in an R-shape that is the same shape as the flat part of the upper surface and the peripheral edge of the can part 101 that is connected to it, and the three-dimensional design 14 is provided on the inside of the peripheral edge 15.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the transparent sheet 2 is a sheet made of a transparent (for example, colorless and transparent) thermoplastic resin formed into a planar shape.

[0018] A print image 21, generated by inverting the image data, is printed on one side (the back side as seen from the front of the drawing) of the transparent sheet 2. The print image 21 consists of a bust-up image 22 of a bear and various text images 23 and 24.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2(b) and 2(c), the thermoformed sheet 3 formed from the transparent sheet 2 in Figure 2(a) has a bulging portion 31 of a three-dimensional design that bulges out from the surface when the can badge 100 is completed. The printing image 21 printed on the back surface can be seen through the bulging portion 31 of the three-dimensional design.

[0020] <Configuration of the skin part manufacturing device used in the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention> 5 to 7, the skin part manufacturing apparatus 4 is composed of an upper section 41 and first and second lower sections 42 and 43.

[0021] The upper portion 41 is composed of an upper mold 51 for skin parts and a frame member 52. The upper mold 51 for skin parts is arranged inside the frame member 52 in a state where it can move up and down. A peripheral edge portion 53 on the lower surface of the upper mold 51 for skin parts is formed to match an R-shape (hereinafter referred to as a continuous portion between the flat and R-shape) 32 that is the same shape as the flat portion on the upper surface of the thermoformed sheet 3 and the peripheral edge portion of a can part 101 (described later) that is connected to it, and the inside of the peripheral edge portion 53 on the lower surface of the upper mold 51 for skin parts forms a recess 54 into which a bulging portion 31 of a three-dimensional design is inserted.

[0022] 5 and 6(a), the first lower portion 42 is composed of a base plate 61, a lower mold for skin parts 62, a frame member 63, and cushion springs 64 and 65. The lower mold for skin parts 62 is fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 61 with screws. The lower mold for skin parts 62 is inserted inside the frame member 63. The cushion springs 64 and 65 are interposed between the base plate 61 and the frame member 63.

[0023] The second lower section 43 shown in Figures 6(b) and 7 is composed of a base plate 71, a lower mold for a back cover part 72, a frame member 73, and cushion springs 74 and 75. The lower mold for a back cover part 72 is fixed to the upper surface of the base plate 71 with screws. The lower mold for a back cover part 72 is inserted inside the frame member 73. Cushion springs 74 and 75 are interposed between the base plate 71 and the frame member 73. The outer diameter of the lower mold for a back cover part 72, as viewed from above, is the same as the outer diameter of the second can part 102 and is smaller than the outer diameter of the lower mold for a skin part 62 of the first lower section 42. A sloped portion 76 sloping downward toward the inside is formed on the inner periphery of the upper surface of the frame member 73.

[0024] <Procedure of the can badge production method according to the embodiment of the present invention> Below, we will explain the steps for creating a can badge.

[0025] First, when creating a can badge 100, the first step is to print a print image 21 generated by inverting image data onto one side of a transparent sheet 2 made of a colorless, transparent thermoplastic resin, as shown in Figure 2(a).

[0026] Next, in the second step, as shown in Fig. 3, the transparent sheet 2 is heated and softened in a thermoforming machine (vacuum forming machine), a master mold 1 is placed on the printed surface side of the transparent sheet 2, and the air on the printed surface side is sucked out, so that the transparent sheet 2 is tightly attached to the master mold 1 and molded into a three-dimensional shape, as shown in Fig. 4(a). This results in a thermoformed sheet 30 with unnecessary portions remaining.

[0027] Then, in the third step, as shown in Figure 4(b), the master mold 1 is pulled out from the bulge 34 formed in the thermoformed sheet 30 by the master mold 1. The bulge 34 is then cut away, leaving part of the peripheral edge, to obtain the thermoformed sheet 3 shown in Figure 5(a).

[0028] Furthermore, the master mold 1 can be not only the convex mold shown in Figure 4, but also a concave mold.In the case of a convex mold, the mold is pulled out from the thermoformed sheet 30, but in the case of a concave mold, the thermoformed sheet 30 is pulled out from the mold.

[0029] The thermoformed sheet 3 has a flat and rounded continuous portion 32 (see FIG. 4(b)), and a protruding portion 33 (see FIG. 4(b)) that protrudes from the flat and rounded continuous portion 32 to the back surface side, and has a bulging portion 31 with a three-dimensional design inside the flat and rounded continuous portion 32. In this state, the printing image 21 printed on the back surface can be seen through the bulging portion 31 with the three-dimensional design to the front surface side.

[0030] In the explanation using Figures 1 to 5, it has been explained that one thermoformed sheet 3 that can be attached to one can badge 100 is obtained from one master mold 1 by thermoforming using a single thermoforming machine, but it is also possible to place multiple master molds in the thermoforming machine and obtain multiple thermoformed sheets that can be attached to multiple can badges from the multiple master molds by thermoforming using a single thermoforming machine, and furthermore, the multiple master molds may all be the same shape or may each be a different shape (the character may be different for each part made).

[0031] 5(a), the fourth step in producing the can badge 100 is to attach a first can part 101 made of metal such as tin in a dome shape to the upper side of the lower mold for skin part 62 of the first lower part 42 of the skin part manufacturing device 4, and then place the thermoformed sheet 3 on top of the first can part 101. In this state, the protruding part 33 on the peripheral edge of the thermoformed sheet 3 is nearly vertical (slightly open downward) in accordance with the shape of the first can part 101.

[0032] Next, as a fifth step in producing the can badge 100, the thermoformed sheet 3 is placed over the first can part 101 and set as shown in FIG. 5(b).

[0033] Next, in the sixth step, the upper part 41 is moved downward as shown in FIG. 5(c), and then, as shown in FIG. 5(d), the upper part 41 is pushed into the first lower part 42, thereby fitting the first can part 101 covered with the thermoformed sheet 3 into the upper mold 51 for the skin part and the frame member 52 of the upper part 41.

[0034] In this state, the lower peripheral edge 53 of the upper mold 51 for skin parts is in close contact with the flat and rounded continuous portion 32 of the thermoformed sheet 3 .

[0035] Next, as the seventh step, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the upper part 41 is moved upward, thereby completing the preparation of the skin part 111 made of the first can part 101 covered with the thermoformed sheet 3.

[0036] Next, in the eighth step, the upper portion 41 is moved above the second lower portion 43 as shown in FIG. 6(b).

[0037] Next, in the ninth step, the second can part 102 is set in the recess formed by the lower mold 72 for the back cover part of the second lower portion 43 and the inner periphery of the frame member 73 .

[0038] Next, in the tenth step, as shown in Fig. 7(a), the upper part 41 is moved downward, and as shown in Fig. 7(b), the upper part 41 is pressed into the second lower part 43, whereby the protruding part 33 of the thermoformed sheet 3 of the skin part 111 is bent by the inclined part 76 of the frame member 73, and the protruding part 33 of the thermoformed sheet 3 is covered from the outer periphery to the back side of the dome-shaped edge 112 of the first can part 101. Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 7(c), the second can part 102 wraps the protruding part 33 around the inner periphery of the edge 112, and the second can part 102 is fitted inside the edge 112 covered by the protruding part 33 of the first can part 101, thereby completing the can badge 100.

[0039] Here, when the second can part 102 is inserted, if the protruding portion 33 of the thermoformed sheet 3 is too thick or too hard, it will not be able to be rolled up. Therefore, instead of heating and suctioning as uniformly as possible as in general thermoforming, detailed heating and suction conditions are set for each part to make the protruding portion 33 as thin as possible (for example, about 0.2 mm), while the bulging portion 31 of the three-dimensional design is made to have a certain thickness (for example, about 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm) to maintain its shape.

[0040] As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the can badge 100 is composed of a skin part 111 made of a first can part 101 covered with a thermoformed sheet 3, and a second can part 102. A safety pin 121 is attached to the second can part 102. The protruding part 33 of the thermoformed sheet 3 is wrapped around the inner periphery of the edge part 112 of the first can part 101 and is attached between the inner periphery of the edge part 112 and the outer periphery of the second can part 102.

[0041] In addition, in this embodiment, the can badge 100 with a safety pin is used as the can product, but the present invention can also be applied to other can products, such as a can badge magnet.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transparent sheet 2, which is colorless and transparent, is used as the light-transmitting sheet formed from a thermoplastic resin having light-transmitting properties, but other light-transmitting sheets, for example, translucent sheets, may also be used.

[0043] Furthermore, an opaque sheet (for example, a white sheet) may be used as the resin sheet covering the can part, and in this case, an image for printing is printed on the surface of the opaque sheet.

[0044] Furthermore, a printing image may be printed on the surface of the light-transmitting sheet, or may be printed on both the front and back surfaces of the light-transmitting sheet.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first and second can parts 101 and 102 are used as can parts, but other can parts may also be used.

[0046] <Summary of the configuration and operation of the embodiment of the present invention> The configuration and operation of this embodiment of the present invention will be summarized below. The can product (can badge 100) is a can product consisting of a can part (first can part 101) and a resin sheet (thermoformed sheet 3) that covers the can part, and the resin sheet (thermoformed sheet 3) has a three-dimensional design bulge portion 31 formed on the surface.

[0047] Furthermore, the can product (can badge 100) of an embodiment of the present invention is a can product consisting of a can part (first can part 101) and a resin sheet (thermoformed sheet 3) that covers the can part, and the resin sheet (thermoformed sheet 3) is printed and has a three-dimensional design bulge portion 31 that bulges out on the surface due to thermoforming.

[0048] A can product manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes second and third steps of heating and softening a resin sheet (transparent sheet 2) made of thermoplastic resin, placing a master mold 1 on one side of the resin sheet, and sucking air from the one side to bring the resin sheet into close contact with the master mold 1 and mold it into a three-dimensional shape; and fourth to seventh steps of arranging the resin sheet so that one side faces the surface of a can part (first can part 101) and coating the surface of the can part with the resin sheet, and a convex portion of a three-dimensional design 14 is formed on the surface of the master mold 1 facing the resin sheet.

[0049] Furthermore, the can product production method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a first step of printing a print image generated from image data onto a light-transmitting sheet (transparent sheet 2) formed of a light-transmitting thermoplastic resin; second and third steps of heating and softening the light-transmitting sheet, arranging a master mold 1 on one side of the light-transmitting sheet, and sucking air from the one side to bring the light-transmitting sheet into close contact with the master mold 1 and form it into a three-dimensional shape; and fourth to fifth steps of covering the surface of the first can part 101 with the light-transmitting sheet while arranging the back surface of the light-transmitting sheet so that it faces the surface of the first can part 101. The method includes a seventh step, and eighth to tenth steps of joining the second can part 102 to the first can part 101 so that the peripheral portion of the translucent sheet (the protruding portion 33 of the thermoformed sheet 3) protruding around the first can part 101 is sandwiched between the first can part 101 and the second can part 102 to produce a can product (can badge 100), and on the surface of the master mold 1 facing the translucent sheet, a peripheral portion 15 is formed in an R-shape that is the same shape as the flat portion of the upper surface and the peripheral portion of the can part 101 connected thereto, and a convex portion of a three-dimensional design 14 is formed inside the peripheral portion 15.

[0050] Furthermore, the can product production method of the embodiment of the present invention includes a first step of printing a printing image generated by reversing image data onto one side of a light-transmitting sheet (transparent sheet 2) formed of a light-transmitting thermoplastic resin; second and third steps of heating and softening the light-transmitting sheet, arranging a master mold 1 on one side of the light-transmitting sheet, and sucking air from the one side to bring the light-transmitting sheet into close contact with the master mold 1 and form it into a three-dimensional shape; and a third step of covering the surface of the first can part 101 with the light-transmitting sheet while arranging the back surface of the light-transmitting sheet so that it faces the surface of the first can part 101. and eighth to tenth steps of joining the second can part 102 to the first can part 101 so that the peripheral portion of the light-transmitting sheet protruding around the first can part 101 (the protruding portion 33 of the thermoformed sheet 3) is sandwiched between the first can part 101 and the second can part 102 to produce a can product (can badge 100). On the surface of the master mold 1 facing the light-transmitting sheet, a peripheral portion 15 is formed in an R-shape that is the same shape as the flat portion of the upper surface and the peripheral portion of the can part 101 connected thereto, and a convex portion of a three-dimensional design 14 is formed inside the peripheral portion 15.

[0051] If the sheet formed from thermoplastic resin (thermoformed sheet 3) is transparent, printing can be done on the inner surface so that the printed surface will not come into contact with the outside and be damaged when the can product is completed, which also protects the image.

[0052] According to the can product and can product manufacturing method of the embodiment of the present invention, the protruding portion 31 with a three-dimensional design is formed on the surface of the can product (can badge 100), which can give an even more favorable impression to the user.

[0053] Furthermore, according to the can product and can product production method of the embodiment of the present invention, a metal first can part 101 covered with a three-dimensionally designed thermoformed sheet 3 is used as the surface material for the secondary process in which the first can part 101 is wrapped around and fitted to a can part 102 that will become the back cover part. The peripheral edge 15 of the thermoformed sheet 3 is formed with a simple shape (a rounded shape that is the same as the flat portion of the top surface and the peripheral edge of the connected can part 101) without a three-dimensional design. Therefore, when producing can products with a variety of three-dimensional designs, the mold parts other than the individual three-dimensional design part of the master mold 1 (the convex portion of the three-dimensional design 14) and the frame member 73 that serves as the press mold for wrapping and fitting can be shared, minimizing costs. Furthermore, because the master mold 1 used for thermoforming is not subjected to high heat or pressure, a resin mold is sufficient, and it can be produced using a 3D printer, casting, or by cutting engineered wood, which has low processing costs, which is a major cost advantage. If a dedicated mold and a press mold for secondary processing are designed for each three-dimensional design, the restrictions on the location of the three-dimensional design will be further reduced. Therefore, the can product and the can product manufacturing method according to the embodiment of the present invention will be suitable for users and manufacturers.

[0054] In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the sizes and materials of the master mold 1, the transparent sheet 2, and the first and second can parts 101, 102 can be changed in various ways.

[0055] Regarding the master mold, not only convex but also concave molds can be used, and as the resin sheet covering the can parts, any of transparent, translucent, and opaque sheets can be used, and printing can be done on the surface of any of the transparent, translucent, and opaque sheets.

[0056] A thermoforming machine may be provided with a plurality of master molds, and the master molds may all have the same shape or may have different shapes.

[0057] In this way, the structure, connections between components, chemical substances, and the like of the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Materials can also be freely selected from metal, plastic, FRP, wood, etc. For example, it is possible to combine two or more components into one, or conversely, it is possible to configure one component from two or more separate components and connect them together. Furthermore, the above embodiment is merely one of the best modes currently available. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 archetype 11 Trapezoidal revolution 12 Three-dimensional design parts 13 Top side 14 Three-dimensional design 15 Periphery 2 transparent sheets 21 Printable images 22 Images of bear bust up 23, 24 Character images 3 Thermoformed sheets 30 Thermoformed sheet with unnecessary parts left 31 Bulging parts of three-dimensional designs 32 Flat and R-shaped continuous sections 33 Protruding part 34 Bulge 4. Skin parts manufacturing equipment 41 Upper part 42 First Lower Section 43 Second Lower Section 51 Upper mold for skin parts 52 Frame members 53 Lower edge 54 Recess 61 Base plate 62 Lower mold for skin parts 63 Frame members 64, 65 cushion spring 71 Base plate 72 Lower mold for back cover parts 73 Frame members 74, 75 Cushion spring 100 badges 101 First Can Part 102 Second can part

Claims

1. A can product comprising a can part and a resin sheet covering the can part, The resin sheet has a bulging portion formed on the surface thereof with a three-dimensional design.

2. a step of heating and softening a resin sheet formed of a thermoplastic resin, placing a master mold on one side of the resin sheet, and sucking air from the one side of the resin sheet to bring the resin sheet into close contact with the master mold and mold the resin sheet into a three-dimensional shape; a step of coating the surface of the can part with the resin sheet in a state where one surface of the resin sheet is arranged facing the surface of the can part; Including, A method for producing a can product, wherein a convex portion having a three-dimensional design is formed on the surface of the master mold facing the resin sheet.

3. a step of printing an image for printing generated from image data on a light-transmitting sheet formed of a thermoplastic resin having light-transmitting properties; a step of heating the light-transmitting sheet to soften it, placing a master mold on one side of the light-transmitting sheet, and sucking air from the one side to bring the light-transmitting sheet into close contact with the master mold and form it into a three-dimensional shape; a step of covering the surface of the first can part with the light-transmitting sheet in a state where the back surface of the light-transmitting sheet faces the surface of the first can part; a step of manufacturing a can product by joining the second can part to the first can part so that the peripheral edge portion of the light-transmitting sheet protruding around the first can part is sandwiched between the first can part and the second can part; Including, a peripheral portion formed in a simple shape on the surface of the master mold facing the light-transmitting sheet, and a convex portion with a three-dimensional design formed inside the peripheral portion.

Images