Beverage Can End Structure for Buckle and Tab-Over-Chime Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage can ends made from down-gauged metal blanks face challenges in maintaining strength, particularly in resisting buckle and tab-over-chime issues due to pressurized contents and pasteurization processes, leading to premature fractures during distribution.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a can end with a circumferential curl, U-shaped countersink, and a center panel featuring a displaceable tear panel and a tab, along with additional material in the circumferential panel to enhance buckle strength and reduce dimensional variability, allowing for a thickness less than 0.0082 inches while maintaining adequate resistance to buckle and tab-over-chime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the metal gauge of the can end is reduced to save expense, then the cost is reduced, but the strength and ability to withstand buckle and tab-over-chime deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating additional material specifically in the circumferential panel region where buckle resistance is needed, rather than uniformly increasing the gauge of the entire can end. The circumferential panel includes extra material that forms structural support features (such as beads or folds) localized to the area experiencing compressive stresses during pasteurization and handling, allowing thin-gauge metal to be used in non-critical areas while maintaining strength where required.
2Loss of substance
If the metal gauge of the can end is reduced, then the cost is reduced, but the ability to resist tab-over-chime and premature fracture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating additional material specifically in the circumferential panel region where buckle resistance is needed, rather than uniformly increasing the gauge of the entire can end. The circumferential panel includes extra material that forms structural support features (such as beads or folds) localized to the area experiencing compressive stresses during pasteurization and handling, allowing thin-gauge metal to be used in non-critical areas while maintaining strength where required.
3Strength
If additional material is added to the circumferential panel, then the buckle strength is improved, but the complexity of the can end structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the additional structural material directly into the circumferential panel formation process. The extra material in the circumferential panel is integrated into the existing can end structure rather than being added as a separate component. This merging approach allows the circumferential panel to provide enhanced buckle resistance through its increased material and formed features (beads, folds, or contours) while maintaining a unified, relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured in a single forming operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A can end has a public side and an opposing product side. A circumferential curl is located about a center axis and defines an outer perimeter of the can end. A circumferential wall extends downwardly from the curl. A circumferential, generally U-shaped countersink extends radially inwardly from the circumferential wall relative to the center axis and upwardly. A center panel extends radially inwardly from the countersink relative to the center axis and has a displaceable tear panel defined by frangible score and a hinge segment on the public side and a tab fixed to the public side which has a nose portion overlying a portion of the displaceable tear panel. A circumferential panel joins the countersink with the center panel and has a first panel radius joined to a second panel radius by a short wall extending upwardly and inwardly. The circumferential panel has a bead formed therein.