FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a can container used for an effervescing
beverage.
BACKGROUND
CITATION LIST
PATENT LITERATURE
SUMMARY
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0004] In the above-described can container, the opening portion serving as a drinking opening
is smaller than an opening of a beverage container such as a cup or a jug. For this
reason, the can container has a problem in that a user cannot enjoy a feeling of drinking
an effervescing beverage in a glass, a jug, or the like.
[0005] Further, even if a full-open type can lid, which is opened on the entire surface
and used as a lid for cans of solid foods, etc., is used as the can lid, there is
a problem in that it is difficult to obtain foaming as when beer is poured into a
cup because the container is filled with the content in advance.
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a can container
which allows a user to drink a beverage with a feeling as if the user is drinking
the beverage in a beverage container and which can obtain a foaming property.
SOLUTION To PROBLEM
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a can container comprising:a can
lid includes a disk-shaped panel portion in which a circular score line defining a
region for forming a drinking opening is formed on an outer peripheral edge side,
a groove portion connected to the outer peripheral edge of the panel portion and recessed
from the panel portion, a rivet portion provided in the panel portion and adjacent
to an inner side of the score line in a radial direction, a tab for an opening operation
that is fixed to the rivet portion, and a flange portion connected to the groove portion,
wherein the panel portion includes a panel outer peripheral portion in which a portion
between the score line and the groove portion is inclined outward in an axial direction
toward the inner side in the radial direction; and a can body including a cylindrical
body portion, a fixing portion fixed to the flange portion, and a tapered portion
provided between the body portion and the fixing portion and having a diameter reduced
from the body portion toward the fixing portion, the can body being filled with an
effervescing content and having a positive internal pressure, wherein a ratio between
a diameter of the score line and an inner diameter of the body portion is 0.6 to 0.8.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a can container which
allows a user to drink a beverage with a feeling as if the user is drinking the beverage
in a beverage container and which can obtain a foaming property.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a can container according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an essential part of the
can container.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a can lid of the can container
during opening.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the can lid of the can
container after opening.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a configuration of the can lid.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the can lid.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged configuration of the can lid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] In the following, a configuration of a can container 100 according to an embodiment
of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the can container 100
according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 to 4 are enlarged cross-sectional
views showing a can lid 1 and a can body 101 of the can container 100. FIG. 2 shows
a state before opening the can lid 1, FIG. 3 shows a state during opening the can
lid 1, and FIG. 4 shows a state after opening the can lid 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a configuration of the can lid 1 before fixing it to
the can body 101, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of
the can lid 1 before fixing it to the can body 101. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view
showing an enlarged configuration of the can lid 1.
[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the can container 100 is a so-called full-open type container,
in which the can lid 1 is opened on the entire surface. The can container 100 is a
positive pressure can, the inside of which is under a positive pressure. The can container
100 is filled with an effervescing content as the content. Here, the effervescing
content is an effervescing beverage. Examples of the effervescing beverage include
beers, effervescing liquors, beer-like alcoholic beverages, and beer-like non-alcoholic
beverages. The effervescing beverages are not limited thereto.
[0014] The can container 100 includes the can lid 1 and the can body 101. After the can
container 100 is filled with a beverage, the can lid 1 and the can body 101 are integrally
assembled by seaming the can lid 1 to the can body 101, for example, by double seaming.
As a result, in the can container 100, the can lid 1 and the can body 101 are airtightly
fixed by a seamed portion 100a. The can container 100 is, for example, a so-called
two-piece can in which a bottom portion and a body portion of the can body 101 are
integrated.
[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the can lid 1 includes a can lid body 11 and a tab (can
lid tab) 12. The can lid 1 is of a full-open type, which is opened on the entire surface
so that an opening portion occupies most of the panel portion 21. The can lid 1 is
formed by pressing a metal plate to form the can lid body 11 and the tab 12 in another
process, and then fixing the tab 12 to the panel portion 21. Examples of the metal
plate forming the can lid body 11 include an aluminum alloy plate and a surface-treated
steel plate having a resin film formed on the surface thereof. Examples of the metal
plate forming the tab 12 include an aluminum alloy plate.
[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, the can lid body 11 includes the panel portion
21, a ring-shaped groove portion 22 provided on an outer peripheral edge of the panel
portion 21, and a flange portion 23 provided on an outer peripheral edge of the ring-shaped
groove portion 22.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the panel portion 21 is formed in a disk shape. The panel
portion 21 includes a score line 31, a rivet portion 32, an auxiliary score line 33,
a protection portion 34, and a finger insertion concave portion 35. The panel portion
21 may also have a display portion 36 or the like such as braille for displaying the
content of the can container 100. Further, the panel portion 21 may have a convex
portion or a concave portion for product identification, design, reinforcement, or
the like.
[0018] A panel outer peripheral portion 21a, which is a portion between the score line 31
and the groove portion 22 of the panel portion 21, is inclined outward in an axial
direction of the panel portion 21 from an outer side in a radial direction toward
a center side of the panel portion 21. In other words, as shown in FIG. 1, when the
can container 100 is oriented with the can lid 1 on an upper side, the panel outer
peripheral portion 21a of the panel portion 21 is tapered upward from the outer side
(groove portion 22 side) toward an inner side (score line 31 side) in the radial direction
of the can lid 1. Further, the panel outer peripheral portion 21a has, on the score
line 31 side, a convex portion 21b on an inner surface on the can body 101 side. The
convex portion 21b has, for example, a ring shape along the score line 31 and projects
from the inner surface of the panel outer peripheral portion 21a to the inside of
the can container 100.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the score line 31 is broken by an opening operation of the tab
12. By being broken, the score line 31 creates an opening portion of the can lid 1
in the panel portion 21. In other words, the score line 31 surrounds a region which
becomes an opening piece of the panel portion 21 when the opening portion of the can
lid 1 is formed. Since the can lid 1 is of a full-open type, the score line 31 is
formed in a circular shape or an approximately circular shape as shown in FIG. 7,
for example. When the score line 31 is broken, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a portion
of the panel portion 21 that is on an inner side of the score line 31 in the radial
direction can be removed as an opening piece together with the rivet portion 32 from
a portion of the panel portion 21 that is on an outer side of the score line 31 in
the radial direction.
[0020] The score line 31 is a groove that constitutes a fragile part that enables a part
of the panel portion 21 to be broken in the shape of the opening portion by an external
force. As shown in FIG. 7, the score line 31 is, for example, a wedge-shaped groove
provided on an outer surface of the panel portion 21, and a part of the panel portion
21 is formed to be thin by the score line 31. Here, the outer surface of the panel
portion 21 is a main surface exposed to the outside in a state where the can body
101 of the can container 100 is provided with the can lid 1, that is, a surface constituting
an upper surface of the can container 100.
[0021] The score line 31 is, for example, arranged in the protection portion 34. The score
line 31 is not limited to a circular shape, and may have, for example, a configuration
in which the score line 31 is formed in a partially intermittent arc shape, most of
the panel portion 21 is opened, and an opening piece that is opened is partially continuous
with the panel portion 21.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, the rivet portion 32 is provided on one main
surface of the panel portion 21, specifically, on the outer surface of the panel portion
21. The rivet portion 32 is provided on an outer peripheral edge side of the panel
portion 21 and on the center side with respect to the score line 31. That is, the
rivet portion 32 is provided adjacent to the inner side of the score line 31 in the
radial direction.
[0023] The rivet portion 32 is formed in a columnar shape in such a manner as to project
from one main surface of the panel portion 21. The rivet portion 32 is formed by drawing
a part of the panel portion 21 into a cylindrical shape. By swaging the rivet portion
32 after the tab 12 is arranged, the tab 12 is fixed to the panel portion 21. In FIGS.
1 to 3 and 5 to 7, the rivet portion 32 is shown in a state after swaging.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the auxiliary score line 33 is formed in the vicinity
of the rivet portion 32 of the panel portion 21. A part of the auxiliary score line
33 is broken at the time of the opening operation of the tab 12. The auxiliary score
line 33 includes, for example, a main score line 41 and a sub score line 42 which
is provided in parallel to the main score line 41 and on a side opposite to the rivet
portion 32 across the main score line 41.
[0025] The main score line 41 is a groove that constitutes a fragile part that enables a
part of the panel portion 21 to be broken in the shape of the opening portion by an
external force. The main score line 41 is, for example, a wedge-shaped groove provided
on the outer surface of the panel portion 21. A part of the panel portion 21 is formed
thin by the main score line 41. As shown in FIG. 3, the main score line 41 is broken
at the time of the opening operation of the tab 12 to allow the rivet portion 32 to
move upward.
[0026] The sub score line 42 is provided on an inner side of the main score line 41 in the
radial direction. The sub score line 42 is formed in parallel to the main score line
41. The sub score line 42 is, for example, a wedge-shaped groove provided on the outer
surface of the panel portion 21. The sub score line 42 is formed to have a depth smaller
than that of the main score line 41. That is, a thickness of a portion of the panel
portion 21 where the sub score line 42 is provided is formed thicker than a thickness
of a portion of the panel portion 21 where the main score line 41 is provided. A part
of the panel portion 21 is formed thin by the sub score line 42.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 7, the protection portion 34 is formed by the panel portion 21 being
folded in a ring shape. The protection portion 34 is, for example, formed by being
folded four times on an inner side of the outer peripheral edge of the panel portion
21 in the radial direction and on an outer side of the rivet portion 32 in the radial
direction. That is, the protection portion 34 is formed by arranging the panel portion
21 in five layers. The score line 31 is formed in the protection portion 34 and in
the third layer of the panel portion 21.
[0028] When the tab 12 is opened and the score line 31 is broken, the protection portion
34 constitutes an outer protection portion 34a that protects an inner peripheral edge
of a portion (panel outer peripheral portion 21a) of the panel portion 21 broken along
the score line 31 that is present in the can body 101, and an inner protection portion
34b that protects an outer peripheral edge of a portion (opening piece) of the panel
portion 21 broken along the score line 31 that is removed from the can body 101. The
outer protection portion 34a is constituted by a three-layered panel portion 21, and
a folded portion is present at the inner peripheral edge of the opened panel portion
21. The inner protection portion 34b is constituted by a three-layered panel portion
21, and a folded portion is present at the outer peripheral edge of the portion separated
from the opening of the panel portion 21.
[0029] In other words, as shown in FIG. 7, the protection portion 34 has an upper layer
34c formed by the folded panel portion 21 in the first and second layers and located
on an outer surface side of the can lid 1, a lower layer 34d formed by the folded
panel portion 21 in the fourth and fifth layers and located on an inner surface side
of the can lid 1, and an intermediate layer 34e formed by the folded panel portion
21 in the third layer and located between the upper layer 34c and the lower layer
34d.
[0030] The outer protection portion 34a is formed by the upper layer 34c and a part of the
intermediate layer 34e, and the upper layer 34c is located above the score line 31
and functions as a protection portion after the score line 31 is broken. A part of
the upper layer 34c and a part of the intermediate layer 34e of the panel portion
21 constituting the outer protection portion 34a are the convex portion 21b located
on the inner surface of the panel outer peripheral portion 21a on the score line 31
side. To be more specific, the convex portion 21b of the present embodiment is formed
by a folded portion of the panel portion 21 in the second and third layers of the
configuration of the outer protection portion 34a of the protection portion 34.
[0031] The inner protection portion 34b is formed by a part of the intermediate layer 34e
and the lower layer 34d, and the lower layer 34d is located below the score line 31
and functions as a protection portion after the score line 31 is broken.
[0032] The finger insertion concave portion 35 is located below a rear end of the tab 12
on which a finger is hooked, and is recessed from the outer surface of the panel portion
21.
[0033] The groove portion 22 is a ring-shaped recess which is provided continuously with
the outer peripheral edge of the panel portion 21 and projects to a can body side
when the panel portion 21 is fixed to the can body. The groove portion 22 has a function
to improve pressure resistance of the can lid 1.
[0034] The flange portion 23 is seamed with an opening end of the can body 101. The flange
portion 23 is provided with a sealing resin layer on a surface contacting the can
body 101.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, the tab 12 includes an attachment portion 51,
a tip portion 52, and a finger hook portion 53. In the tab 12, the attachment portion
51, the tip portion 52, and the finger hook portion 53 are formed integrally. When
the tab 12 is opened by a finger or the like hooked on the finger hook portion 53,
the tip portion 52 presses a portion of the panel portion 21 that is adjacent to the
inner side of the score line 31 in the radial direction to break the score line 31.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 7, the attachment portion 51 is formed in a plate shape, and has
a rivet hole 51a. The attachment portion 51 is continuous with the tip portion 52
and the finger hook portion 53. The rivet hole 51a is formed to have an inner diameter
into which the rivet portion 32 can be inserted. The rivet portion 32 inserted into
the rivet hole 51a is swaged so that the attachment portion 51 is fixed to the panel
portion 21 by the rivet portion 32.
[0037] The tip portion 52 is formed on a tip side of the tab 12. The tip portion 52 has
a tip formed in an arc shape or a polygonal shape. The tip portion 52 is formed by,
for example, bending double an outer peripheral edge excluding the tip.
[0038] The finger hook portion 53 is a portion on which a finger is hooked in order to lift
the tab 12 at the time of the opening operation of the tab 12. As shown in FIGS. 5
and 6, for example, the finger hook portion 53 includes a ring hole 53a and is formed
in a ring shape. As a specific example, the finger hook portion 53 is formed in a
rectangular frame shape having arc-shaped corner portions. The finger hook portion
53 is formed on a side opposite to the tip portion 52 across the attachment portion
51. When the tab 12 is attached to the panel portion 21, a rear end of the finger
hook portion 53 faces the finger insertion concave portion 35. The finger hook portion
53 is formed by, for example, bending an outer peripheral edge and an inner peripheral
edge of the ring hole 53a so that they are doubled.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the can body 101 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The
can body 101 includes a body portion 111, a bottom portion 112, a tapered portion
113, and a fixing portion 114. The body portion 111 is formed in a cylindrical shape.
The bottom portion 112 is integrally provided at one end of the body portion 111.
One end (lower end) of the tapered portion 113 is integrally continuous with the other
end of the body portion 111, and the other end (upper end) thereof is integrally continuous
with the fixing portion 114. A diameter of the tapered portion 113 gradually decreases
from the body portion 111 side toward the fixing portion 114 side. The fixing portion
114 forms an opening end of the can body 101. The fixing portion 114 is fixed to the
flange portion 23 by seaming.
[0040] In the can container 100 having such a configuration, a ratio between a diameter
of the score line 31 of the panel portion 21 and an inner diameter of the body portion
111 is set to 0.6 to 0.8. More preferably, the ratio between the diameter of the score
line 31 of the panel portion 21 and the inner diameter of the body portion 111 is
0.6 to 0.75. For example, the diameter of the score line 31 is the maximum diameter
of the score line 31, and the inner diameter of the body portion 111 is the maximum
inner diameter of the body portion 111. The diameter of the score line 31 corresponds
to an inner diameter of an opening portion which serves as a drinking opening formed
in the panel portion 21 when the lid is opened.
[0041] A ratio between an inner diameter of an end portion (upper end portion) of the tapered
portion 113 on the fixing portion 114 side and an inner diameter of an end portion
(lower end portion) of the tapered portion 113 on the body portion 111 side is set
to 0.75 to 0.9. The inner diameter of the upper end portion of the tapered portion
113 is set to be larger than the diameter of the score line 31.
[0042] According to the can container 100 formed as described above, since the score line
31 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the panel portion 21, the can container
100 is a full-open type in which approximately the entire surface of the panel portion
21 is opened. Since the content is an effervescing beverage and the foam generated
in addition to the beverage moves from the tapered portion 113 where the inner diameter
of the can container 100 is reduced to the full opening, the foam generated in addition
to the beverage also flows together. Thus, the can container 100 can provide a drinking
feeling similar to that of a beverage container such as a cup, a beer glass, or a
beer jug. In addition, when the foam generated at the time of opening the lid is present
in the tapered portion 113, a thickness of the foam can be increased, so that the
amount of flowing foam is increased and the drinking feeling can be made the same
as that of the beverage container.
[0043] Further, in the can container 100, the panel outer peripheral portion 21a of the
panel portion 21 is inclined outward in the axial direction from the outer side toward
the inner side in the radial direction. Thus, when the content (effervescing beverage)
flows at the time of opening the lid or drinking, the content can be concentrated
toward the center of the can container 100. Thus, the effervescing beverage easily
foams, and the can container 100 can obtain the foaming property. Here, the foaming
property is an ability or efficiency of the can container 100 to cause foaming of
the effervescing beverage when the lid is opened or the effervescing beverage flows.
[0044] In addition, in the can container 100, the ratio between the diameter of the score
line 31 of the panel portion 21 and the inner diameter of the body portion 111 is
set to 0.6 to 0.8, and more preferably, the ratio between the diameter of the score
line 31 of the panel portion 21 and the inner diameter of the body portion 111 is
set to 0.6 to 0.75. By setting the ratio between the diameter of the score line 31
of the panel portion 21 and the inner diameter of the body portion 111 as described
above, in the can container 100, the content can be concentrated toward the center
of the container when the lid is opened or the content is drunk, and the content is
more likely to foam. Thus, the can container 100 has a high foaming property. In particular,
the foam is generated mainly on the inner surface of the body portion 111. The bubbles
generated on the inner surface of the body portion 111 interfere with each other in
the process of flowing toward the opening portion defined by the score line 31 having
a smaller diameter than the body portion 111. As a result, the content is more likely
to foam.
[0045] In the can container 100, the inner diameter ratio between the upper end portion
and the lower end portion of the tapered portion 113 is set to 0.75 to 0.9. By setting
the inner diameter ratio between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of
the tapered portion 113 as described above, in the can container 100, the content
can be more concentrated toward the center of the container when the lid is opened
or the content is drunk, and the content is more likely to foam. Thus, the can container
100 has a high foaming property.
[0046] Since the can container 100 has the convex portion 21b on the inner surface side
of the panel outer peripheral portion 21a of the panel portion 21, the content flowing
to the opening portion collides with the convex portion 21b, and the content can be
further foamed. Since the convex portion 21b can improve the foaming property of the
can container 100, the can container 100 has a high foaming property.
[0047] As an example of dimensions of the can container 100, the can container 100 was set
such that the diameter of the score line 31 of the panel portion 21 of the can lid
1 is 44 mm, the inner diameter of the body portion 111 of the can body 101 is 65.9
mm, the inner diameter of the upper end of the tapered portion 113 is 54.9 mm, and
the inner diameter of the lower end of the tapered portion 113 is the same as the
inner diameter of the body portion 111, i.e., 65.9 mm. When the can container 100
of this example was filled with beer and the lid was opened, the foaming of the beer
was good and the drinking feeling was also favorable.
[0048] As described above, according to the can container 100 of the present embodiment,
it is possible to drink with a feeling of drinking from a beverage container, and
it is possible to obtain the foaming property of the filled effervescing beverage.
[0049] Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.
For example, in the example described above, an example has been described in which
the convex portion 21b provided on the inner surface side of the panel outer peripheral
portion 21a of the panel portion 21 is formed by a part of the intermediate layer
34e constituting the outer protection portion 34a, but the present invention is not
limited thereto. For example, a groove portion may be formed in a portion of the panel
outer peripheral portion 21a that is adjacent to the score line 31, and this groove
portion may constitute the convex portion 21b.
[0050] Also, the can container 100 is not limited to the configuration or use described
above. For example, the can container 100 may have a configuration in which a foaming
member that foams the filled effervescing beverage, that is, performs so-called surging,
is accommodated together with the content. For example, the foaming member that foams
the effervescing beverage is formed of a resin material having a spherical shape,
a columnar shape, or the like, and is accommodated in the can container 100. The can
container 100 may be foamed with an ultrasonic whisk or the like before or after opening
the lid. As described above, even if an effervescing beverage is foamed by a foaming
member, a whisk, or the like, by using the can container 100 of the present embodiment
having a foaming property, it is possible to prevent the foam from disappearing and
to obtain a drinking feeling similar to that of a beverage container.
[0051] In addition, in the above-described example, the effervescing beverage which is the
content filled in the can container 100 is exemplified, but the effervescing beverage
is not limited to the above-described example. That is, the can container 100 exhibits
the function of the foaming property of the effervescing beverage by being filled
with the effervescing beverage, but it is needless to say that the can container 100
may be filled with a beverage other than the effervescing beverage.
[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can
be modified in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments
may also be implemented by combining them appropriately, in which case the combined
advantages are obtained. Furthermore, the embodiments include various inventions,
and such various inventions can be derived by properly combining the structural elements
disclosed in connection with the embodiments. For example, even if some structural
elements are deleted from all the structural elements shown in the embodiments, when
the problem can be solved and the advantageous effects can be obtained, such a configuration
in which those structural elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0053] 1: can lid, 11: can lid body, 12: tab (can lid tab), 21: panel portion, 21a: panel
outer peripheral portion, 21b: convex portion, 22: groove portion, 23: flange portion,
31: score line, 32: rivet portion, 33: auxiliary score line, 34: protection portion,
34a: outer protection portion, 34b: inner protection portion, 34c: upper layer, 34d:
lower layer, 34e: intermediate layer, 35: finger insertion concave portion, 36: display
portion, 41: main score line, 42: sub score line, 51: attachment portion, 51a: rivet
hole, 52: tip portion, 53: finger hook portion, 53a: ring hole, 100: can container,
100a: seamed portion, 101: can body, 111: body portion, 112: bottom portion, 113:
tapered portion, 114: fixing portion