Reinforced can end - can body joints with laser seaming
AssigneeRexam Beverage Can Company
InventorsGopalaswamy Rajesh, Michael Gogola, Timothy Turner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A can end and can body are seamed to each other using a seaming roller, seaming chuck and a laser fusing the peripheral portion of the can end to the can body. Laser seaming allows less metal to be used in the can end and can body. The can end and can body seam is further reinforced in order to ensure that the can is capable of withstanding internal pressures. The reinforcing techniques include crimping the seam with one or more crimping rollers, reforming the seam so as to incline the seam towards a central axis extending through the center of the can end and can body, and using multiple laser welds spaced apart from each other in the vicinity of the seam.
Claims36
A method of joining a can end to a can body, comprising:
- a) placing the end on the can body;
- b) performing a seaming operation so as to form a seam joining the end to the can body;
- and
- c) crimping the seam with one or more crimping rollers so as to further strengthen the seam.
A method of joining a can end to a can body, comprising:
- a) placing the end on the can body;
- wherein the can body comprises a flange and wherein the can end comprises a peripheral curl, and
- b) performing a seaming operation to form a seam joining the end to the can body;
- wherein during the seaming operation the peripheral curl is folded outwards over the flange, wherein the flange and peripheral edge are folded such as to provide a double folded seam, and wherein
- c) during the seaming operation of step (b), the peripheral curl is substantially folded under the flange to form a smooth seam.
A method of joining a can end to a can body, comprising:
- a) placing the end on the can body;
- b) performing a seaming operation so as to form a seam joining the end to the can body;
- and
- c) reforming the seam whereby the seam is inclined towards a central axis passing through the center of the can end and the can body so as to further strengthen the seam.
A method of joining a can end to a can body, comprising:
- a) placing the end on the can body;
- b) performing a seaming operation so as to form a seam joining the end to the can body;
- and
- c) providing a plurality of welds spaced apart from each other joining the can end to the can body at the location of the seam to further strengthen the seam.
A method of joining a can end to a can body, comprising:
- a) placing the end on the can body;
- b) performing a seaming operation so as to form a seam joining the end to the can body;
- wherein the can body comprises a flange and wherein the can end comprises a peripheral edge, and wherein during the seaming operation of step (b), the flange is folded inwards over the peripheral edge, and
- c) applying a printing to the can body in the vicinity of the flange wherein the printing is visible to a user at the location of said seam.
A method of joining a can end to a can body, comprising:
- a) placing the end on the can body;
- b) performing a seaming operation so as to form a seam joining the end to the can body;
- and
- c) performing a reinforcing operation on the seam to further strengthen the seam.
A can end, comprising:
- a center panel;
- a peripheral curl portion integral with the center panel;
- and
- wherein the curl portion is formed such that the curl portion does not curl past a line perpendicular to an axis extending perpendicularly through the center panel and wherein the curl overlaps and extends substantially beyond a peripheral flange of a can body when the can end is placed over the can body prior to joining the can end to the can body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.