Beverage Can End Deboss Groove Stiffness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage can ends with larger pour openings tend to bulge under pressure, increasing the opening force required and causing sponginess in stacked cans, leading to miscounts and inefficient tab design due to the need for reduced tab height and imperfect edges.
Innovation Solution
A can end design featuring a deboss groove located radially inward from the score line, which is non-circumferential and positioned between the score line and the down panel, providing additional stiffness and reducing the need for an anti-fracture score line, allowing for easier opening and improved stackability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the pour opening size is increased, then the opening area is improved, but the tear panel tends to bulge under pressure requiring increased opening force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a debossed groove at a specific location on the tear panel (radially inward from the score line) to provide localized stiffness enhancement. This allows the majority of the tear panel to maintain its larger area for improved pouring while the grooved region provides targeted structural support to prevent bulging and reduce opening force requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If the tear panel surface area is increased, then the opening area is improved, but the tendency to bulge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The debossed groove provides localized structural reinforcement at the critical region near the score line, allowing the overall tear panel area to be enlarged for better pouring access while maintaining dimensional stability and flatness in the grooved region to prevent bulging.
Solution Approach 2:
The debossed groove introduces a controlled curvature or depression in the tear panel surface, which creates a geometric feature that resists outward bulging under pressure. This curved feature acts as a structural element that maintains panel flatness while allowing the rest of the panel to maintain its larger area.
3Force
If a down panel is added to reduce opening force, then the opening force is reduced, but the tab design becomes less perfect and height is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the opening force reduction function from the tab mechanism and relocates it to the tear panel structure itself through the debossed groove. This allows the tab to maintain its full height and perfect design for reliable operation, while the groove provides the structural support needed to reduce opening force independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the opening force reduction function from the tab assembly and places it in the tear panel structure. This separation allows the tab to be optimized for its lifting function while the debossed groove handles the structural support function, eliminating the need to compromise tab design.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the tear panel is made stiffer to prevent bulging, then the panel stability is improved, but the opening force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The debossed groove provides localized stiffness enhancement at the critical region near the score line, creating structural support exactly where needed to prevent bulging. This localized approach maintains overall panel stability while minimizing the increase in opening force compared to making the entire panel uniformly stiffer.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A can end (10) for a beverage container (11) has a circumferential curl (14) positioned about a longitudinal axis (50), a wall (15) extending downwardly from the curl (14), a strengthening member (16) joined to the wall (15), and a center panel (12) joined to the strengthening member (16) and extending radially inwardly relative to longitudinal axis (50). A rivet (28) is located at a center position of the center panel (12). A frangible score (22) has terminal ends located on a common side of the rivet (28). The terminal ends are separated by a non-frangible hinge segment (25). A displaceable tear panel (20) is defined by the frangible score (22) and the non-frangible hinge segment (25). A non-detachable tab (26) has a nose (30) and a lift end (32). The nose (30) overlies a portion of the displaceable tear panel (20). A deboss groove (60) is located on the public side (34) of the center panel (12) and extends downwardly in a direction towards the product side (35). The deboss groove (60) is located adjacent the score line (23).