Re-closable Can End Lid Ring-Wall Sealing Alignment
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing can end lids face challenges in achieving reliable leak-tightness, especially when opened and closed multiple times, due to deformation of the break-away portion and the sealing attachment, which affects the alignment and sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A re-sealable can end lid design featuring a ring-wall around the break-away area with a complementary sealing rim, decoupling the break-line from the sealing rim's shape, and using a ring-wall for surface-to-surface sealing, along with a pedestal-mounted fixing stud and a reinforced fastening tongue for enhanced alignment and jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing rim is tightly shaped to the edge of the aperture created by breaking the break-away portion, then leak-tightness is improved, but deformations of the break-away portion and dislocation of the aperture edge occur when breaking, compromising sealing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is divided into two separate components: the aperture edge formed by the break-away portion and the sealing rim on the sealing attachment. By decoupling these functions, the sealing rim can be independently shaped and positioned to ensure consistent sealing contact without being affected by deformations of the break-away portion during opening.
Solution Approach 2:
A flat sealing surface is introduced as an intermediary between the aperture and the sealing rim. This flat surface acts as a stable reference plane that compensates for deformations and dislocations, ensuring that the sealing rim maintains consistent contact pressure and alignment during repeated opening and closing operations.
2Ease of operation
If the opening tab fastening tongue is bent to and fro when lifting and swivelling before breaking, then the opening operation is enabled, but permanent bending deformation occurs, dislocating the sealing rim relative to the aperture
Solution Approach 1:
The flat sealing surface serves as a mediator that decouples the sealing position from the fastening tongue position. Even when the fastening tongue deforms during operation, the sealing attachment remains positioned relative to the flat sealing surface, maintaining alignment with the aperture edge through the stabilizing effect of the ring-wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring-wall and flat sealing surface are pre-formed on the lid plate before the opening operation. This preliminary structure provides a stable reference framework that maintains sealing alignment regardless of subsequent deformations caused by the opening tab operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the break-away portion is stiffened by rib-shaped beading or groove-like flaring, then deformation is prevented, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening function is extracted from the break-away portion itself and transferred to the ring-wall structure surrounding it. This allows the break-away portion to remain simple and easy to break, while the ring-wall provides the necessary structural stability and defines the aperture edge geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid plate structure is segmented into functional zones: the break-away portion for opening, the ring-wall for structural support and aperture definition, and the flat sealing surface for sealing contact. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2~4
Figure 6~8
AI summary
Re-closable can end lid with a rotatable opening and re-sealing tab, wherein a lid plate (2) includes a break-away portion (8) surrounded by a predetermined break-line (9) that is separable from the lid plate by the press portion (21) of an opening tab (20) in an opening position of the tab, so that an aperture (10) is created in the lid plate that is surrounded by a steep inner wall (16) of an elevated ring ring bead (15). The aperture (10) can be closed again, after rotating the opening tab (20) into a closing rotating position, by a sealing attachment (25) on the underside of a grip portion (22) of the opening tab (20). The grip portion (22) is rotatably attached to a fixing stud (6) that is disposedon an upper surface of a pedestal elevation (18) on the upper side of the lid plate.