Concave Can End Structure for Pressure Resistance and Clean Opening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage can ends face challenges in withstanding high internal pressures due to insufficient reinforcement structures, leading to potential failure, and they often have complex geometries that trap debris and hinder easy opening.
Innovation Solution
A can end design featuring a concave center panel without a countersink groove, made from a lightweight aluminum alloy, with a domed structure that allows for a more compact seam and improved headspace clearance, enabling better cleanliness and easier opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional beverage can ends use flat or nearly flat center panels with reinforcement structures, then they can withstand high internal pressures, but they trap debris and have complex geometries that hinder easy opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional flat or domed center panel design by implementing a concave center panel that slopes downward from the periphery toward the center. This inversion allows the panel to be self-draining, preventing debris accumulation while maintaining structural integrity for pressure withstanding capability of at least 6.2×10^5 Pa.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a concave surface geometry that specifically addresses the debris trapping issue in the center panel area, while maintaining other conventional end features like the curl, wall, and tab structure for their respective functions. The concave region provides localized self-cleaning functionality without compromising overall structural strength.
2Reliability
If conventional beverage can ends include countersink grooves or reinforcement structures, then they can withstand high internal pressures, but they increase device complexity and trap debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the conventional countersink groove feature from the can end design. By removing this recessed groove structure, the patent reduces geometric complexity and eliminates the debris-trapping cavity, while maintaining pressure withstanding capability through the alternative concave sloping surface design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the center panel from a flat or domed configuration with recesses to a continuously sloping concave surface. This parameter change simplifies the geometry by eliminating sharp edges and recesses while providing adequate structural support for high internal pressures through the sloped surface configuration.
3Weight of moving object
If beverage can ends use lightweight aluminum alloys with thin walls, then they reduce weight, but they may insufficiently withstand high internal pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature principles by implementing a concave sloping surface geometry in the center panel, which distributes stress more effectively than a flat panel. The curved/sloped surface configuration enhances structural strength-to-weight ratio, allowing thin-walled lightweight aluminum alloy construction to withstand high internal pressures of at least 6.2×10^5 Pa.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~5
AI summary
A container can end includes a concave dome shape and may forgo a peripheral reinforcing bead around the center panel. The tab may also be curved. Tooling for forming the end and a corresponding method are provided.