Beverage Can Printing After Necking to Reduce Body Waste
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional can manufacturing methods result in wasted can bodies when design changes or products are discontinued, as the diameter decreasing process is typically performed after image formation, leading to inefficiencies in storage and production.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves a molding process for cylindrical can bodies, followed by a diameter decreasing process before image formation, with paint application on both inner and outer surfaces to enhance protection and prevent damage, allowing for flexible design changes without waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the diameter decreasing process is performed after image formation, then the can body can be stored with images already formed for quick deployment, but the can bodies go to waste when design changes or products are discontinued
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the diameter decreasing process before image formation. This allows can bodies to be stored in a generic state without committed designs, and only after the diameter reduction is complete are they printed with specific images. This sequencing eliminates waste when design changes occur, as unprinted can bodies can be reused for different designs.
2Productivity
If can bodies are stored with images formed on them, then deployment is faster, but the can bodies are vulnerable to damage and deformation during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the diameter decreasing process as a preliminary action before image formation and storage. This creates a structurally stable can body with reduced opening diameter that is less prone to deformation, and only then are images applied. This sequencing protects the investment in image formation by ensuring the can body is already stabilized before the images are applied.
3Ease of manufacture
If the diameter decreasing process is performed after image formation, then the manufacturing process follows conventional sequencing, but the process complexity increases due to sorting and multiple printers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional sequence of operations. Instead of following the traditional order of image formation then diameter reduction, it performs diameter reduction first and then image formation. This simple sequence reversal eliminates the need for complex sorting systems and multiple printers, significantly reducing device complexity while improving manufacturing efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A can body that has been subjected to outer surface painting (OV), inner surface painting (INS), and a neck process (SDN) but that has not been subjected to image formation is manufactured in a canning factory. The can body that has not been subjected to image formation is shipped to a beverage can manufacturing factory. At the beverage can manufacturing factory, an image formation process using a printer (PR) is performed. Specifically, ink is ejected from an inkjet head toward the can body, to thereby form an image on the outer circumferential surface of the can body. Thereafter, the can body is filled with beverage in a filler (FL), and then a can lid is attached to the can body in a seamer (SM).