Beverage Can End Pressure Equalization Port Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ecology-type stay-on tab beverage can ends lack effective pressure equalization, leading to 'glugging' issues during pouring due to the absence of a suitable aperture for air to replace the volume of the beverage, and previous attempts to address this have been hindered by issues such as large openings causing spillage, manual rotation requirements, and undesirable location or size of additional features.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a circumferential curl with a center panel featuring a first curvilinear segment of frangible score for a vent opening and a second segment for a pour opening, allowing for automatic pressure equalization without manual rotation of the tab, with a nose end that engages a raised ramp to facilitate the opening sequence, ensuring smooth pouring without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pressure equalization aperture is added to ecology-type stay-on tab beverage can ends, then pourability is improved by preventing glugging, but device complexity increases and manual rotation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure equalization port and pour opening formation into a single frangible score line that fractures automatically during the opening sequence. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual operations to create both openings, resolving the contradiction between improved pourability and reduced device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible score line is pre-configured in the can end structure before use. When the tab is lifted, the score line automatically fractures to create both the pressure equalization port and pour opening in the correct sequence, eliminating the need for manual rotation or additional user actions
2Ease of operation
If a frangible score line is configured to automatically form both vent opening and pour opening, then manual rotation is eliminated, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible score line is segmented into distinct curvilinear segments: a first segment that fractures to form the vent opening and pressure equalization port, and a second segment that fractures to form the pour opening. This segmentation allows each segment to be optimized independently while maintaining overall automatic operation
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the frangible score line have different properties - the first curvilinear segment is positioned and configured to fracture at lower force to create the pressure equalization port, while the second segment requires higher force and is positioned to create the pour opening. This local differentiation achieves automatic sequencing with manageable manufacturing precision
3Ease of operation
If the first curvilinear segment of frangible score is severed to form pressure equalization port before the pour opening is completely formed, then glugging is prevented, but the opening sequence complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible score line is pre-configured so that the first curvilinear segment (forming the pressure equalization port) is positioned to fracture before the second segment (forming the pour opening). This preliminary action ensures pressure equalization occurs before pouring begins, preventing glugging without requiring complex user operations
Solution Approach 2:
Both opening actions (creating pressure equalization port and pour opening) are merged into a single continuous lifting motion of the tab. The sequential fracturing of the two score line segments occurs automatically during this unified operation, maintaining simplicity while achieving the desired opening sequence
Data Source
AI summary
An ecology stay-on tab beverage can end has a first curvilinear segment of frangible score severable to form a vent region and a pressure equalization port. A second curvilinear segment of frangible score has opposing terminal ends separated by a hinge segment of the center panel. The second curvilinear segment of frangible score is severable to form a pour opening. A lifting of a lift end of a tab actuates an opening sequence in which the first curvilinear segment of frangible score is severed causing the vent region and the pressure equalization port to form before the pour opening is completely formed.