Tubular Can Body Bead Sealing With Conventional Lid Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional metal cans with rings for securing lids are costly due to increased metal usage and complex manufacturing processes, and ringless designs either damage the lid or can when opening or require new lid designs, limiting compatibility with conventional lids and increasing manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method of processing a tubular can body involves forming an inwardly directed bead around the can body, collapsing it to create a flat, circular sealing surface, and using angled compression tools to shape the bead into a triangular cross-section, allowing for secure sealing without a ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ring is added to the can body to secure the lid, then sealing integrity and lid security are improved, but manufacturing cost and metal usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function previously performed by a separate ring component is merged into the can body itself through the formation of an inwardly directed bead. This integration eliminates the need for additional metal components while maintaining the sealing function, directly resolving the contradiction between sealing integrity and metal usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring component is extracted from the can assembly, with its sealing function being transferred to the can body through the bead structure. This extraction eliminates unnecessary material while preserving the essential sealing capability.
2Reliability
If a ring is added to the can body, then sealing integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bead structure combines multiple functions (sealing, lid retention, structural reinforcement) into a single integrated feature of the can body, eliminating the need for separate ring components and associated assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inwardly directed bead serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides a sealing surface for the lid, retains the lid on the can body, and reinforces the can body structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Quantity of substance
If a ringless design with beads is used, then metal usage is reduced, but lid damage or can damage occurs during opening
Solution Approach 1:
The bead structure is designed with specific local characteristics: it extends around the can body and is collapsed around its periphery to create a sealing surface that overlaps with the curled edge. This localized structural design provides controlled engagement that prevents damage during opening while maintaining the ringless benefit.
Solution Approach 2:
The bead is pre-formed and collapsed during manufacturing to create the sealing surface before the can is put into service. This preliminary formation ensures that the bead structure is properly configured to prevent damage during subsequent lid opening operations, while still reducing metal usage compared to a ring design.
4Quantity of substance
If a ringless design is used, then metal usage and manufacturing cost are reduced, but compatibility with conventional lids is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The inwardly directed bead structure is designed to be compatible with conventional can lids by providing a sealing surface that works with standard lid configurations. This universal design allows the reduced-metal can body to work with existing lid inventory, maintaining adaptability while reducing metal usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The bead structure is configured with specific local characteristics (inward direction, collapsed periphery, flat sealing surface) that are compatible with conventional lid sealing surfaces. This localized design ensures compatibility with standard lids while eliminating the need for a ring, reducing metal usage without sacrificing versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional metal and complex processes while maintaining sealing integrity and compatibility with conventional lids, allowing for easy reattachment and preventing product ingress.
Implementation Method 1
The method may further involve that the step of collapsing comprises applying opposed compression tools to upper and lower surfaces of the inwardly directed bead, with the opposed surfaces of the compression tools being angled relative to the transverse direction, so as to compress the bead such that its adopts a cross-sectional shape that is substantially triangular.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7A~7C
AI summary
A can comprises a can body (10) and a lid (4). The can body is manufactured using only a single homogeneous piece of material and has an edge that defines a top opening into the can. The can body also has an inwardly directed bead (23), which extends around the body, is adjacent to the can body edge, and defines an inwardly facing sealing surface (24) of substantially constant transverse cross-sectional dimension along an axial extent. The lid defines an outwardly directed sealing surface which abuts the inwardly facing sealing surface presented by the inwardly directed bead in order to seal the lid to the can body. An alternative can body has an inwardly directed pinched or collapsed bead which defines an upwardly facing sealing surface (34) for engagement with a downwardly facing sealing surface of a can lid. The alternative can body additionally has an inwardly directed bead (35) between the can body edge and the pinched or collapsed bead. An outer brim (42) of the lid is configured to be retained between the two beads of the alternative can body.