MX2013013736A

MX2013013736A - Closure arrangement for cans.

Info

Publication number: MX2013013736A
Application number: MX2013013736A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Antonio Carlos Teixeira Alvares; Antonio Roberto Sene
Original assignee: Brasilata S A Embalagens Metálicas
Priority date: 2011-05-25
Filing date: 2011-05-25
Publication date: 2014-02-27
Also published as: US20140209556A1; BR112013028180A2; BR112013028180B1; MX340117B; WO2012159175A1

Abstract

The can of the invention comprises: a body portion (11) joined to a neck portion (13) of reduced contour and which incorporates an outer peripheral projection (15) and which defines an upper opening (A); and a lid (20) having a peripheral tubular portion (22) to be fitted into the upper opening (A), and an outer circumferential rib (25). The outer circumferential rib (25) presents a semi-tubular shape, inferiorly opened and having: a radially inner edge (25a) which is joined to the upper edge (22a) of the peripheral tubular portion (22) of the lid (20), by an annular step (26); and a radially outer edge (25b). The outer circumferential rib (25) carries, in its interior, an annular gasket (30) to be seated on the outer peripheral projection (15) of the neck portion (13), upon the fitting of the lid (20) into the upper opening (A) and the seating of the annular step (26) on said outer peripheral projection (15).

Description

CLOSURE PROVISION FOR CANS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a closure arrangement that is applied to cans formed of a metal sheet and comprising a portion of the tubular body, which generally has a circular section and which has a lower wall, a portion of the upper neck with a contour smaller than that of the body portion, and a transition portion joining the body portion and the neck portion and having an end edge defining the outline of a top opening for the can, where a removable lid is fitted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The tubular cans obtained from a metal foil and comprising a portion of the body, of circular or polygonal cross section and having a lower wall and an annular upper wall which are joined peripherally, generally by means of a double union, to the edge of lower end and edge of upper end of the can.

This type of construction, which is well known in the art, allows the lower wall and the upper annular wall to exert a function of structuring the portion of the body of the can, without the incorporation of additional reinforcement structural elements being necessary. This type of can has the portion of the body having a cross section that is progressively reduced or is constant from the lower wall to the annular upper wall, the thickness of the metal sheet being dimensioned as a function of this structural configuration of the can.

There are also known cans which have a portion of the tubular section body which has the lower wall towards the lower part and which are joined at the upper part, through a transition portion, to a portion of the neck of the smaller contour, whose edge of the free upper end is doubly joined to the peripheral edge of the annular top wall.

In the construction of the can where the body portion extends from one edge of the end to the other with the same cross section, the provision of the annular top wall is critical to obtain adequate structural strength of the can, through a metal sheet of adequate minimum thickness. Without the annular top wall, the thickness of the metal sheet of the body portion would have to be increased considerably, with the consequent increase in the cost of the raw material and in the weight of the can.

On the other hand, in the cans comprising a portion of the body and a portion of the neck of reduced cross-section and height, joined by a frusto-conical or frusto-pyramidal transition portion only slightly spaced from the edge of the upper end of the can, the provision of the transition portion in the upper region of the can provides a substantial increase in the structural strength of the latter, which allows to eliminate the upper annular wall, with the upper opening of the can corresponding to the inner cross section of the neck portion. In this construction, it is sufficient that the edge of the upper end of the can, that is, the portion of the neck, be bent or otherwise work to form a curvature or outer peripheral projection, surrounding the upper opening of the can and defining, together with the edge of the upper end of the latter, a seat for seating a removable lid, comprising a portion of the panel that incorporates a peripheral tubular portion that fits hermetically, with interference, into the upper opening, into the interior of the portion of the neck, said peripheral tubular portion has a free upper edge that is bent or otherwise worked, to form a curvature or other outer circumferential rib, to settle on the edge of the upper end of the can, after closure from the top.

This prior art construction allows to eliminate the annular top wall and form an initial tubular body, with a metal sheet of usual thickness, for example from about 0.21 mm to about 0.27 mm for cans of 3.6 liters, and having a cross section that corresponds to the neck portion. Subsequently, said tubular body is subjected to an expansion operation, through which the transition portion and the body portion are formed, the latter It has a concentric cross section, similar to and larger than that of the neck portion. In this way, it is possible to obtain a can with less consumption of metallic foil.

In spite of the aforementioned advantages for the cans provided with a portion of the neck of reduced section and without an annular top wall, this prior art construction has the drawback of not guaranteeing a high and reliable degree of tightness in the closing of the top.

In addition to the sealing aspect discussed above, in this known construction of the can, the joining region, in an externally concave arch, of the transition portion with the neck portion defines a region with a lower strength of the can to the forces axial compression that occurs in the filling line, after closing the lid or mounting a seal and suspension ring, in cases where the latter is provided. The more the cross-sectional contour of the portion of the neck relative to the body portion is reduced, the more pronounced the structural structural weakness of the can against axial compressive forces will be for a given height of the transition portion. This constructive particularity generally affects, in a restrictive manner, the structural strength of the can when stacked.

As a function of the inconveniences mentioned above, the constructive solution described and claimed in the patent application BR Pl 070521 1-1 (PCT / BR2008 / 000334) was proposed Applicant and according to which, a circumferential rib of the cap has, at the bottom, an annular gasket, for example, a resin bead, to settle on the edge of the upper end of the neck portion after the closure of the neck. the lid when fitting in the upper opening.

Although the provision of said annular gasket provides an adequate degree of thickness in closing the lid in the upper opening of the lid, it leads to complex and undesirable complex operations to be applied to apply the gasket, in the form of a resin bead under the outer circumferential rib of the lid.

In said anterior construction, the outer circumferential rib of the cap has the shape of a tubular curvature, which defines a lower convex surface portion, wherein the resin bead must be correctly and controllably applied, made of, for example, "Plastisol" , which defines the package. It is difficult to control the limits of the resin bead on the lower convex surface of the outer circumferential rib of the cap, which in fact makes it difficult or even impossible to obtain a desired quality standard.

In this prior solution, the outer circumferential rib of the lid defines a stop that sits on the outer peripheral projection of the can, to limit the adjustment of the lid in the upper opening of the can, during closing operations of the lid . In this way, the tubular shape of the outer circumferential rib allows the latter to resist the forces applied to the lid, during its automated closing in the filling line or even in its manual closure during the progressive consumption of the canned product. Even compromising the application of the sealing gasket, the tubular shape of the outer circumferential rib is a structural requirement to fulfill the function of limiting the fit of the cap in the upper opening of the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Due to the operational difficulties in providing a sealing package for the lid of a can of the type considered herein, the present invention has the main objective of providing a closure arrangement for this type of can, which is easy to make and reliable in terms of quality standards, and that presents a high degree of tightness, even allowing larger dimensional tolerances in the formation of the upper opening of the neck portion and the lid, without subjecting the outer circumferential rib to the forces that are going to be applied to the last one during its closing in the upper opening of the can.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved with a closure arrangement applied to cans of the type comprising: a portion of the body closed at the bottom; a portion of the neck, having a reduced contour and an edge of the upper end, incorporating an outer peripheral projection and defining the outline of a top opening; a transitional portion, joining the body portion and the portion of the neck; and a lid having a portion of the panel incorporating a peripheral tubular portion to be fitted, with interference, into said upper opening and having an upper edge having an outer circumferential rib.

According to the invention, the outer circumferential rib has a semi-tubular shape open at the bottom and having: a radially inner edge which is joined to the upper edge of the peripheral tubular portion of the lid, by means of an annular passage that projects outward from the peripheral tubular portion; and a radially outer edge, spaced from the radially inner edge, the outer circumferential rib carries, in its interior, an annular gasket which sits and presses against the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion, after adjusting the cap in the upper opening and Set the annular passage in the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion.

According to the closure arrangement of the present invention, the outer circumferential rib of the cap has its tubular shape open at the bottom, in order to allow the inside thereof to easily store an annular gasket, for example, a pearl of resin, which sits and presses against the outer peripheral projection of the neck portion. The provision of the annular passage, which is based on the outer peripheral projection of the neck, allows to limit the adjustment of the lid in the upper opening of the can and avoids excessive deformation of the semi-tubular outer circumferential rib, after the lid pressure against the body From the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example of a possible embodiment of the invention and in which: Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a can, in the condition where it is closed by means of a lid, the last one retained, in its closed condition, by a retaining ring peripherally blocked under the outer peripheral projection of the can; Figure 2 shows a partial longitudinal sectional view of the can illustrated in Figure 1, said section taken in accordance with the line ll-ll in said previous figure, the lid is in a partially closed position and the retaining ring is in an exploded condition; Figure 2A represents an elongated detail of the upper portion of the assembly illustrated in Figure 2 and excluded from the retaining ring; Figure 3 represents a view similar to that of Figure 2, but illustrating the lid and the retaining ring mounted on the can; Y Figure 3A depicts an elongated detail of the upper portion of the assembly illustrated in Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As already described above and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the closure arrangement proposed by the invention is applied to a can 10 formed of a metal sheet, generally tinplate, having a generally circular cross section, but which can be polygonal, although it is not illustrated in the drawings.

The tubular shaped can 10 comprises: a portion of the body 1 1, on whose edge of the lower end 1 1 a is fixed, usually with a double joint, the peripheral edge of a lower wall 12; a portion of the neck 13 having a concentric contour, which is similar and reduced relative to that of the body portion 1 1, and an edge of the upper end 13a defining the outline of an upper opening A for the can 10; and a transition portion 14 with a profile inclined relative to the axis of the can 10 and joining the portion of the body 11 and the portion of the neck 13.

The edge of the upper end 13a of the neck portion 13 incorporates an outer peripheral projection 15. In the illustrated condition, the outer peripheral projection 15 takes the form of a curvature of the tubular cross-section, obtained by bending the metal sheet radially outwardly. in the edge region of the upper end 13a. In the drawings, the cross section of the curvature is circular, but it should be understood that a peripheral projection with different cross sections, tubular or not, can be formed.

The formation of the body portion 1 1 is initiated by the formation of a tubular body with a cross section corresponding to that of the neck portion 13, and which then expands radially along a portion of its height, so as to defining the body portion 1 1 and the transition portion 14, according to methods already known from the prior art. The transition portion 14 remains attached in the lower part to the body portion 1 1 by means of a convex arc-joining region 14a and joined in the upper part to the neck portion 13 by a joining region in the concave arc 14b.

The can 10 further comprises a lid 20 formed in a single piece of stamped metal sheet, which has a portion of the panel 21 which occupies a large part of the cross-sectional area of the upper opening A and which incorporates a peripheral tubular portion 22 which is It configures and dimensiones to fit hermetically, with interference, in the upper opening A, inside the portion of the neck 13. Said peripheral tubular portion 22 has an upper edge 22a wherein an outer circumferential rib 25 configured to settle in the interior is incorporated. outer peripheral projection 15 on the edge of the upper end 13a of the neck portion 13.

As illustrated, the lid 20 is preferably constructed with its portion of the panel 21 incorporating a sloping skirt 21a that forms, with the peripheral tubular portion 22, a peripheral channel 24, of rectangular cross-section, radially separating the portion of the panel 21 from the portion peripheral tubular 22, the portion of the panel 21 is in a plane higher than that of the lower wall 24a of the peripheral channel 24.

According to the invention, the outer circumferential rib 25 has a semi-tubular shape open at the bottom and having: a radially inner edge 25a, which is joined to the upper edge 22a of the peripheral tubular portion 22 of the lid 20, by an annular passage 26 projecting outwardly from the peripheral tubular portion 22; and a radially outer edge 25b, separated from the radially inner edge 25a, the outer circumferential rib 25 has, in its interior, an annular gasket 30, preferably in the form of a resin bead, for example made of "Plastisol", molded in the inside of the outer circumferential rib 25 of the lid 20.

The annular gasket 30 is configured inside the outer circumferential rib 25, to settle and press against the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13, after the adjustment of the cap 20 in the upper opening A of the can and the seating of the annular passage 26 in the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13.

Although the drawings illustrate only the outer circumferential rib 25 in the form of a semi-tubular curvature, with a cross-section in the form of an arc of a circle, it should be understood that other forms of said cross-section may be used different from those which present a perfect circular arch.

According to the illustrated construction, the rib outer circumferential 25 has the projection of its radially inner edge 25a, in the axial direction of the can, placed secantly to the medial radially innermost contour of the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13, the projection, therein axial direction of the radially outer edge 25b of the outer circumferential rib 25, being radially external to the contour of the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13.

Further, according to the illustrated construction, the radially inner edge 25a and the radially outer edge 25b of the outer circumferential rib 25 define, between them, an alignment that is secant to the upper half of the outline of the outer peripheral projection 15 of the portion of the neck 13. This construction allows that, after adjustment of the lid 20 in the upper opening A of the can, the upper portion of the contour of the outer peripheral projection 15 penetrates slightly into the interior of the lower contour of the outer circumferential rib 25, pressing the annular gasket 30 and guaranteeing a high degree of tightness in the closing of the lid.

In order to give a certain degree of interference between the annular gasket 30 and the upper portion of the outer peripheral projection 15, the annular gasket 30 is configured to be tangent in the lower part or to be crossed by the alignment defined by the radially inner edge 25a and the radially outer edge 25b of the outer circumferential rib 25 of the cap 20.

As illustrated in the figures of the drawings, the can with closure arrangement of the present invention further comprises a retaining ring 40, in a single piece of plastic material, and has: an upper annular portion 41 to be set in the outer circumferential rib 25 of the cap 20; a peripheral portion of the skirt 42 slopes from the upper annular portion 41 laterally sealingly surrounding the outer circumferential rib 25 of the lid 20 and the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13 and incorporates an inner circumferential projection 43, which is it will seat and axially locks under the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inner circumferential projection 43 has a profile in the form of a ramp inclined radially inwardly and downwardly, to define a class of a tooth acting under the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13, to provide a reliable axial locking of the lid 20 to the body portion 1 1 of the can 10.

The retaining ring 40 prevents the lid 20 from being removed, without evidencing the use of a lever tool supported on the outer peripheral projection 15.

Although not illustrated herein, the retaining ring 40 may have its upper annular portion 41 internally incorporating the diametrically opposite ends of a suspension handle to move between an inoperable retracted, coplanar or substantially coplanar to the upper annular portion 41 and a high operative position and is obtained after the breaking of brittle bridges connecting a middle portion of the handle to the upper annular portion of the lid.

In the illustrated construction form, the retaining ring 40 further incorporates, in its upper annular portion 41, an upper tubular projection 46 positioned and sized to fit against the lower wall 12, internally to its double peripheral joint, from another identical can seated in the first in the stack of said cans.

When the can is applied to contain paints, varnishes and similar products, the upper annular portion 41 of the retaining ring 40 can extend radially inward relative to the position of the upper tubular projection 46, to form a flap 41a for scraping the brushes and brushes when, after removing the lid 20, the retaining ring 40 is redirected to its axially locked position under the outer peripheral projection 15 of the neck portion 13. In cases where the retaining ring 40 is provided with a suspension handle, its fit in the can that lacks the lid, allows the can to be suspended by the handle of the retaining ring 40, while its content is progressively removed in a continuous painting operation.

Although only one embodiment of the closure arrangement of the present is illustrated, it should be understood that said arrangement may be altered in form and arrangement of the component parts, without departing from the inventive concept defined in the claims accompanying this description.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A closing arrangement for cans of the type comprising: a portion of the body (11) closed at the bottom; a portion of the neck (13), which has a reduced contour and an edge of the upper end (13a), which incorporates an outer peripheral projection (15) and defines the outline of an upper opening (A); a transition portion (14), which joins the body portion (11) and the neck portion (13); and a lid (20) having a portion of the panel (21) incorporating a peripheral tubular portion (22) to be fitted, with interference, to said upper opening (A), and having an upper edge (22a) having an outer circumferential rib (25), the arrangement characterized in that the outer circumferential rib (25) has a semi-tubular shape open at the bottom and having: a radially inner edge (25a) which is joined to the upper edge ( 22a) of the peripheral tubular portion (22) of the lid (20), by an annular passage (26), which projects outwardly from said peripheral tubular portion (22); and a radially outer edge (25b), separated from the radially inner edge (25a), the outer circumferential rib (25) has, in its interior, an annular gasket (30) that sits and presses against the outer peripheral projection (15) of the neck portion (13) after the adjustment of the cover (20) in the upper opening (A) and the seat of the annular passage (26) in the peripheral projection outer (15) of the neck portion (13).

2 - . 2 - The closing arrangement in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that the outer circumferential rib (25) has the projection of its radially inner edge (25a), in the axial direction of the can, secant to the radially innermost medial outline of the outer peripheral projection (15) of the portion of the neck (13), the projection, in the same axial direction of the radially outer edge (25b) of the outer circumferential rib (25), being positioned radially external to the contour of the outer peripheral projection (15) of the neck portion (13) ).

3. - The closing arrangement in accordance with the claim 2, further characterized in that the annular gasket (30) is defined by a resin bead molded inside the outer circumferential rib (25) of the lid (20).

4. - The closing arrangement according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3, further characterized in that the radially inner edge (25a) and the radially outer edge (25b) of the outer circumferential rib (25) define, between them, an alignment that is secant to the upper half of the outline of the outer peripheral projection (15) of the neck portion (13).

5. - The closing arrangement according to claim 4, further characterized in that the annular gasket (30) is tangent in the lower part a or is crossed by the alignment defined by the inner radial edge (25a) and the radially outer edge (25b) of the circumferential rib outside (25) of the lid (20).

6. - The closing arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that the outer peripheral projection (15) and the outer circumferential rib (25) are defined by folding radially outward the edge of the upper end (13a) of the portion of the neck (13) and the free upper edge (22a) of the peripheral tubular portion (22) of the lid (20), respectively.

7. - The closing arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that it additionally comprises a retaining ring (40), in a single piece of plastic material, and has: an upper annular portion (41) that goes away to seat in the outer circumferential rib (25) of the lid (20); a peripheral portion of the skirt (42) slope from the upper annular portion (41) laterally sealingly surrounding the outer circumferential rib (25) of the cap (20) and the outer peripheral projection (15) of the neck portion ( 13) and incorporates an inner circumferential projection (43), which is to be seated and locked axially under the outer peripheral projection (15) of the neck portion (13).

8. - The closing arrangement according to claim 7, further characterized in that the inner circumferential projection (43) has a profile in the form of a ramp inclined radially inwardly and downwardly.

9. - The closing arrangement in accordance with the claim 7, further characterized in that the retaining ring (40) also incorporates, in its upper annular portion (41), an upper tubular projection (46) positioned and sized to fit against the lower wall (12), internally to the double peripheral joint , of another identical can, seated in the first one in a stack of said cans.