Can End With Offset Latching for Leak-Tight Reclosure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing can ends with a pivotable closure piece face difficulties in reversible reclosing due to deformations and misalignment, requiring excessive force and potentially inadequate sealing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a vertical offset between the latching lugs of the sealing frame and closure unit, allowing for movement play to compensate for deformations and ensure reliable latching engagement even after the first opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closure piece is pressed into the opening for reclosing, then the can end is sealed, but an undesirably high amount of force is required and the closure piece may abut the margin of the opening causing inadequate sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The latching lugs act as intermediary elements between the closure piece and the opening margin. These latching lugs engage with the opening margin to provide controlled latching engagement, preventing the closure piece from abutting the margin directly while ensuring reliable sealing without excessive closing force.
2Ease of operation
If the closure piece is moved out of the plane defined by the opening, then the opening can be opened for the first time, but the closure piece cannot be returned to its original position due to deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows changes in the positional parameters of the closure piece. The latching lugs are designed to accommodate variations in closure piece position and orientation, enabling the closure piece to be moved out of the original plane for opening while still allowing return to a functional sealed position without requiring precise restoration of the original geometry.
3Reliability
If the latching lugs are positioned to engage precisely, then the seal is tight, but any deformation or misalignment prevents latching engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The latching lugs are designed with dynamic engagement characteristics that allow them to adapt to deformations and misalignments. The latching lugs can move and adjust their position relative to each other to maintain engagement, providing both reliable latching and tolerance to deformation rather than requiring precise rigid alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A can end having a metallic end surface in which an opening is formed that is bounded by a closed margin of the end surface and that can be closed by a closure piece is provided. The can end has a sealing frame and a closure unit that supports the closure piece and that is pivotably attached to the metallic end surface. The sealing frame and the closure unit can be releasably connected in a fluidtight manner to one another via a sealing rib and an associated reception groove. Respective latching lugs are arranged at the one sealing rib and at the reception groove. In a starting position of the closure unit, the closure piece is flush with the surrounding end surface or is offset in parallel therefrom by less than the thickness of the metallic end surface.