Coined Can-End Rivet Structure for Thinner Metal Stock

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in the can making industry is to reduce the amount of metal used in can ends while maintaining strength, particularly when using materials with a base thickness less than 0.0082 inch, which can lead to rivet failure and material thinning issues.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves forming a can end with a central panel and a coined rivet button, where the rivet button is coined to reduce its thickness and the surrounding material is used to maintain strength, allowing for the use of thinner sheet materials without compromising the structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If the thickness of sheet material is reduced to decrease metal usage, then material efficiency is improved, but rivet strength deteriorates leading to rivet failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetal usageVSAvoidrivet strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a coined rivet button with non-uniform thickness distribution. The rivet button has a thinner top portion (reducing overall metal usage) while maintaining a sufficiently thick sidewall portion (preserving rivet strength). This localized variation in thickness allows the patent to reduce overall material consumption while preventing rivet failure, directly resolving the technical contradiction between material efficiency and rivet strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of substance

If the base thickness of sheet material is reduced below 0.0082 inch, then metal consumption is decreased, but material integrity deteriorates causing thinning issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetal consumptionVSAvoidmaterial integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing a coining operation on the rivet button before the final forming stages. This coining process pre-consolidates the material in the rivet button area, creating a denser, more stable structure that prevents subsequent thinning and integrity issues. By addressing material consolidation in advance, the patent enables the use of thinner base materials (below 0.0082 inch) without compromising material integrity during subsequent forming operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of substance

If the rivet button thickness is reduced to optimize metal efficiency, then material usage is improved, but structural strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial usageVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a coined rivet button with non-uniform thickness distribution. The rivet button has a thinner top portion (reducing overall metal usage) while maintaining a sufficiently thick sidewall portion (preserving rivet strength). This localized variation in thickness allows the patent to reduce overall material consumption while preventing rivet failure, directly resolving the technical contradiction between material efficiency and rivet strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies composite materials by creating a rivet button with heterogeneous thickness characteristics within a single component. The rivet button functions as a composite structure with different thickness zones: a thinner top portion for material efficiency and a thicker sidewall portion for structural strength. This internal differentiation allows the single rivet button to simultaneously optimize both material usage and structural performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the production of can ends with enhanced strength and reduced material usage, specifically by maintaining the thickness of the rivet button's sidewall while thinning the top portion, thus preventing rivet failure and optimizing metal efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a coined rivet button formed from a blank

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasticity: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12202030B2Can end with a coined rivet, tooling assembly therefor and a method of forming

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 STOLLE MACHINERY CO LLC

AI summary

A can end including a central panel and a coined rivet disposed on the central panel. A press, a station, and/or a tooling assembly structured to form a coined rivet as well as a method to form the coined rivet is also provided.