Expandable Rivet Button Geometry for Thinner Can Ends
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in the can manufacturing industry is to reduce the material thickness of can ends while maintaining their strength, particularly with the existing limitations of base thickness being 0.0082 inches, which leads to issues like rivet failure and uneven rivet collapse during the forming process.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an expandable bubble technology that forms an expandable rivet button and rivet, allowing for the use of sheet material with a base thickness less than 0.0082 inches, enhancing the overlap and strength of the rivet, thereby addressing the material thickness and forming stress issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the base thickness of sheet material is reduced to decrease material usage and weight, then material consumption is reduced, but rivet strength and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the bubble geometry parameters (increasing height and optimizing diameter ratios) to create an expandable bubble structure that compensates for reduced material thickness. The bubble height-to-diameter ratio is specifically optimized to enable adequate material flow during forming while maintaining rivet strength with thinner base material (0.0060-0.0078 inches instead of 0.0082 inches).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by creating an expandable bubble that transforms during the forming process. The bubble starts with a specific geometry and expands during rivet formation, dynamically adapting its shape to provide adequate material flow and pressure distribution. This dynamic expansion allows the use of thinner material while maintaining forming quality and rivet strength.
2Loss of substance
If the base thickness of sheet material is reduced to decrease material usage, then material consumption is reduced, but manufacturing precision and forming quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the bubble geometric parameters, specifically optimizing the bubble height-to-diameter ratio and coining surface dimensions. These parameter changes ensure that even with reduced base thickness (0.0060-0.0078 inches), the material flow during forming is adequate, preventing defects like wrinkling, thinning, or incomplete forming, thereby maintaining high manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the bubble with optimized dimensions before the actual rivet formation process. This preliminary bubble creation ensures that the material is pre-positioned and pre-stressed appropriately, so that during subsequent forming operations, the thinner material can be formed with adequate control and precision, avoiding common defects.
3Device complexity
If traditional bubble geometry is used with thinner material, then device complexity is maintained, but rivet formation quality and uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the bubble geometric parameters (height, diameter, coining surface length) to create an expandable bubble configuration. These parameter changes enable the use of thinner material (0.0060-0.0078 inches) while achieving uniform rivet formation. The optimized geometry ensures adequate material flow and pressure distribution throughout the forming process, preventing non-uniform collapse and improving overall rivet quality without requiring complex tooling modifications.
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 solution enables the production of can ends from thinner sheet materials with improved rivet strength and reduced material usage, overcoming the limitations of traditional thickness and forming stress challenges.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable bubble is formed into an expandable rivet button and, thereafter, into an expandable rivet
Data Source
AI summary
A can end including a central panel with an expandable bubble disposed thereon is provided. The use of an expandable bubble allows for an expandable rivet button and thereafter an expandable rivet that has an enhanced overlap of a tab body. Such an expandable rivet allows for the use of a metal sheet with a thinner base thickness.