Can End Pressure Resistance Bead and Saw Tooth Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Can ends made from reduced gauge material deform and wrinkle due to pressure changes during the retort cooking process, leading to aesthetic issues and customer dissatisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A can end design featuring a recessed panel with a pressure resistance bead and a saw tooth panel formation, which distributes stress and resists deformation without increasing material thickness or panel depth, combined with specialized tooling for its production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If reduced gauge material is used to minimize metal consumption, then material usage and production costs are reduced, but the panel becomes susceptible to permanent deformation and wrinkling under retort pressure changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the panel by forming beads and dimples that alter the local geometry and mechanical properties. These features increase the panel's resistance to deformation without changing the material gauge, allowing thin-gauge material to withstand retort pressure changes without wrinkling or permanent deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces curved features (beads and dimples) into the otherwise flat panel surface. These curved geometries distribute stress more effectively and prevent the panel from flattening under vacuum pressure, maintaining structural integrity while using reduced gauge material
2Strength
If panel depth is increased to improve structural strength, then resistance to retort pressure is enhanced, but the can end dimensions and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement through beads and dimples at specific locations on the panel rather than increasing the overall panel depth uniformly. This localized approach provides structural strength where needed to resist retort pressures while maintaining shallow overall panel dimensions and minimizing material usage
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional flat panel design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but the panel deforms and wrinkles under internal and external pressure during retort processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates beads and dimples into the panel during the forming process before the retort operation. These pre-formed features are created using standard conversion press tooling, maintaining ease of manufacture while pre-positioning structural elements that will prevent deformation during subsequent retort processing
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a can end, which includes a recessed panel defined by an upwardly extending chuck wall, a peripheral scoreline disposed in a public side of the panel proximate to the base of the chuck wall, a tab fastened to the panel by a rivet, includes the step of employing tooling to form a pressure resistance bead extends around the panel inboard of the peripheral scoreline and outboard of the rivet. The tooling forms a saw tooth panel formation proximate to the pressure resistance bead inboard of the pressure resistance bead. Among other benefits, the pressure resistance bead and saw tooth panel formation created by the tooling and method combine to resist wrinkling or other undesired deformation of the can end.