Beverage Can End Cleat Design for Tuck Under Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage can ends with frangible tear panels and retained-tabs face challenges in openability due to downgauging of metal, increased stress from large-opening ends, and buckling issues caused by rough handling, leading to 'tuck under' failures and difficulty in opening pressurized containers.
Innovation Solution
A can end design featuring a curl, circumferential wall, and center panel with a frangible score and non-frangible hinge segment, where the tab is attached with a cleat that extends outwardly and has a V-shaped crevice to enhance leverage and prevent 'tuck under' failures, allowing for easier opening and improved structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the metal thickness of the end and tab is reduced (downgauging) to save expense, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the strength and openability of the tear panel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The score line is segmented into a frangible segment and a non-frangible hinge segment. The frangible segment is designed to rupture easily during opening, while the hinge segment maintains structural integrity to prevent tab detachment. This segmentation allows the tab to be thinner while still providing reliable opening functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The score line is pre-formed with specific geometry and depth variations during manufacturing. The frangible portion is pre-weakened to rupture at a controlled location, while the hinge portion is pre-strengthened to maintain structural integrity. This preliminary action ensures reliable opening behavior even with downgauged materials.
2Area of stationary object
If the size of the opening panel is increased to create large-opening ends, then user access to contents is improved, but the stress on the tab during opening increases, constraining further downgauging
Solution Approach 1:
The score line is divided into a frangible segment for easy rupture and a non-frangible hinge segment for structural support. This segmentation allows the opening panel to be larger while the hinge segment maintains sufficient strength to handle the increased leverage forces generated by the larger panel size.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the score line have different structural properties. The frangible segment has reduced strength to facilitate easy breaking, while the hinge segment maintains higher strength to withstand the increased forces from the larger opening panel. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between panel size and tab strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If the metal thickness is reduced to save expense, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the resistance to buckling from rough handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The score line is pre-formed with specific geometry during manufacturing, creating a controlled weakness that directs the rupture path. This preliminary structuring prevents uncontrolled buckling during handling while maintaining the ability to open reliably. The pre-formed score geometry provides structural guidance that compensates for the reduced material thickness.
4Ease of operation
If the tab leverage is increased to improve openability of the tear panel, then opening ease is improved, but the likelihood of tab tuck under failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The score line is segmented into frangible and non-frangible portions. The non-frangible hinge segment acts as a stop that prevents the tab from tucking under during the opening motion. This segmentation allows the tab to provide sufficient leverage for easy opening while the hinge segment maintains structural integrity to prevent failure.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A can end (10) for a beverage container has a center panel (12) about which a circumferential strengthening member (16) extends. The center panel (12) has a rivet (28) attaching a tab (26) to a public side (34) of the center panel (12). The tab (26) has a cleat (58) formed at a nose end (30). The cleat (58) intersects a diametrical line of the can end drawn through a lift end (32) of the tab (26), the nose end (30), and the rivet (28). The cleat (58) extends downwardly towards the public side (34) of a tear panel (20) such that a distance from a lowermost portion of the cleat (58) to the tear panel (20) is less than a distance of an uppermost portion of the cleat (58) to the tear panel (20). The cleat (58) has a compressed portion of the curled portion forming a substantially V-shaped crevice on an upper surface of the tab (26).