[0001] The invention relates to a metal can comprising a bottom and a standing wall which
is connected thereto and whereof the zone remote from the bottom comprises an outwardly
extending bead having in cross section a first part extending through about 360°,
a second part lying against the first part and extending through about 90°-120° and
a third part connecting thereto with a considerably smaller radius of curvature. Such
a can is known. It is designed to be closed by means of a lid that co-acts clampingly
with the bead. To improve reliable closure of the can by means of the lid use is made
of a closing ring which grips around the top edge of the lid and the bottom edge of
the bead. Reference is made in this respect to applicant's Netherlands patent application
which is being filed with the Dutch Patent Office on the same day as the present application
and bears the title "Closing ring for a metal can with a lid".
[0002] The object of the invention is to improve the reliability of the closure as far as
possible. Since it is known that a bead tends to continuously deform, the invention
proposes means for preventing this tendency so that a can once closed in the manner
described preserves its tightly closed state.
[0003] With a view hereto the invention provides a can of the type described which has the
feature that the first part is pressed inward in its most outwardly located peripheral
zone. The inward pressed peripheral zone also provides an action comparable to the
action of a hooking edge, while the advantage is also achieved that the bead has an
increased rigidity or, if the rigidity is to remain constant, can be manufactured
from a smaller quantity of material. The inward pressed peripheral zone can be obtained
by techniques per se known from the metal working art and mechanical engineering,
such as performing a deforming operation by means of moulds or performing a rolling
operation. A rolling operation can have the advantage that through a number of deforming
cycles the degree of deforming per cycle can remain limited. Use can for example be
made of a set of rollers placed on one deforming station.
[0004] The can according to the invention preferably has the feature that the second part
extends through about 90°.
[0005] A considerable improvement of the rigidity is obtained with an embodiment in which
the inward pressed zone is pressed against the third part.
[0006] The rigidity is particularly stimulated with a variant in which the inward pressed
zone is pressed against the third part such that the third part is correspondingly
deformed and presses against the zone over a considerable surface.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment the can has the feature that the inward pressed zone is
flat in cross section.
[0008] It has been found to be technically advantageous if the middle of the inward pressed
zone is situated above the middle of the first part.
[0009] In this latter case the variant is advantageous in which the zone situated beneath
the inward pressed zone extends further outward than the zone situated above the inward
pressed zone.
[0010] The can preferably has the feature that the portion of the bead facing toward the
standing wall is substantially arcuate in cross section through about 180°.
[0011] The bottom surface and the top surface in axial direction of the bead can be substantially
flat.
[0012] In particular the flat underside in combination with the relatively small radius
of curvature of the bead portion connecting thereto assists the good gripping of the
lid and the closing band onto the bead.
[0013] It is noted that the height of the bead can be equal to the height of the bead normally
in use up to the present time. Thus achieved here is that no further alterations in
the setting of machines is necessary.
[0014] The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawing, in which:
figure 1 shows a paint can of the so-called conical type with a closing lid drawn
at a distance therefrom and around which a closing ring is arranged;
figure 2 shows the paint can according to figure 1 in the situation in which the lid
is placed on the can and the underside of the closing ring is pressed inward to form
a sealing;
figure 3 shows on enlarged scale the detail III in cross section, wherein it is noted
that the bead is of the known type;
figure 4 shows a detail of a machining device for forming the can according to the
invention in a phase in which the bead is placed but not yet deformed;
figure 5 shows a view corresponding with figure 4 of the situation in which the deforming
operation has taken place;
figure 6 shows a partially broken away perspective view corresponding to the cross
section of figure 5 and showing that the bead is deformed by means of deforming rollers;
and
figure 7 is a very schematic perspective view of the deforming operation according
to the figures 4, 5 and 6.
[0015] Figure 1 shows a metal can 1 according to the prior art comprising a bottom 2 and,
connected thereto, a standing wall 3 in which the zone remote from the bottom 2 comprises
an outward extending bead 4 (also see figure 3) having in section a first part 5 extending
through about 360°, a second part 6 lying against the first part 5 and extending through
about 90°-120° and a third part 7 connecting thereto with a considerably smaller radius
of curvature.
[0016] Figure 3 shows the can 1 before it is closed by a lid 8.
[0017] Figure 2 shows the can 1 after it has been closed by the lid 8.
[0018] Figure 3 shows the manner in which the lid 8 co-acts with the can 1. A filler mass
or compound 10 is situated between the rim 9 of the lid 8 and the top surface of the
bead 4. This mass serves to seal the lid 8 relative to the can 1.
[0019] After the lid 8 is placed on the can 1 the connection is reinforced by means of an
encircling closing band 11. This grips around the rim 9 and the bead 4 as figure 3
clearly shows.
[0020] The figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show schematically a finishing operation on the bead 4
which has for its object to press inward the first part 5 in its peripheral zone lying
furthest to the outside.
[0021] Use is made for this purpose of two co-acting rollers which can be carried toward
one another, respectively a profile roller 12 rotatably supported by rotation bearings
20 and a pressing roller 13. The latter has a pressing surface 14 the shape of which
corresponds with the portion of the first part 5 of the bead 4 connecting to the wall
3. As indicated with an arrow 15, the pressing roller 13 can be moved toward the profile
roller 12 whereby the first part 5 comes into engagement in its peripheral zone 16
lying furthest to the outside with a modelling surface 17, the profiled shape of which
can be seen in figures 4, 5 and 6.
[0022] Figures 5 and 6 show that the peripheral zone 16 has obtained a shape which corresponds
with the shape of the modelling surface 17. The peripheral zone is therefore designated
with 16' in figures 5 and 6. It is apparent that this peripheral zone has an inwardly
pressed portion 18.
[0023] Figure 7 shows very schematically a rotatably arranged positioning member 18 with
clamps 19 for fixedly holding the can 1 for rotation around its axis. The profile
roller 12 and the pressing roller 13 engage onto the bead 4 through at least one revolution.
[0024] Per se known drive means are not drawn here.
[0025] The profile roller 12 has two identical modelling surfaces 17, 21. The profile roller
12 can hereby be used twice if desired.
1. Metal can, comprising a bottom and a standing wall which is connected thereto and
whereof the zone remote from the bottom comprises an outwardly extending bead having
in cross section a first part extending through about 360°, a second part lying against
the first part and extending through about 90°-120° and a third part connecting thereto
with a considerably smaller radius of curvature,
characterized in that
the first part is pressed inward in its peripheral zone lying furthest to the outside.
2. Can as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second part extends through about 90°.
3. Can as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the inward pressed zone is pressed against the third part.
4. Can as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the inward pressed zone is pressed against the third part such that this third part
is correspondingly deformed and presses against the zone over a considerable surface.
5. Can as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the inward pressed zone is flat in cross section.
6. Can as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the middle of the inward pressed zone is situated above the middle of the first part.
7. Can as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the zone situated beneath the inward pressed zone extends further outward than the
zone situated above the inward pressed zone.
8. Can as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the portion of the bead facing toward the standing wall has a substantially arcuate
cross section through about 180°.
9. Can as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the underside and/or the upper part of the bead is substantially flat.