Metal body for packaging purposes, for example a food can

Details Metal body for packaging purposes, for example a food can Metal body for packaging purposes, for example a food can

2000-05-05

2001-04-10

Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)

Receptacles

Sidewall structure

Contoured sidewall

Reexamination Certificate

active

06213337

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a metal body for packaging purposes comprising a closed metal shell extending around a longitudinal axis which is suitable for being provided on a side named here as the top with a lid running essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the shell comprising n essentially flat shell parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a body is known for example as a component of a packaging container, for example a food can, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,408.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,408 a container is diclosed with a central prismatic body portion which is linked at each end to a circular opening.
Besides its body, a three-piece packaging container comprises a base and a lid. With a two-piece packaging container the body and base are in one piece.
Also known is a conventional packaging container which is circular cylindrical, possibly provided with beads running essentially parallel to the lid face, or ‘blown up’ in a somewhat bulging shape.
Also known is a packaging container of an essentially circular cylindrical shape which has finger-shaped panels curved convexly inwards and extending up the height of the wall.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to create a lightweight packaging container, which, while also breaking away from the conventional circular cylindrical shaped appearance and improving the stiffness, achieves advantages discussed below in more detail.
To this end the body in accordance with the invention provides a metal body for packaging purposes comprising a closed metal shell
100
extending around a longitudinal axis
102
which is suitable for being provided on a side named here as a top
104
with a lid
106
running essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis
102
. The shell
100
comprises essentially flat shell parts
110
,
112
, wherein a transverse cross-section through the shell at the top and close to the top has a contour comprising alternately n contour line pieces
120
(
FIG. 3A
) that are curved concavely inwards with a minimum radius of curvature R, and n essentially straight contour line pieces (a portion of which is shown as element
122
in FIG.
3
A), wherein 3≦n≦6. The shell
100
comprises at least 2n essentially flat shell parts
110
,
112
, which are separated from one another by a sharp fold
130
running essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis
102
, which fold
130
has a maximum radius of curvature r≦0.4 R. As shown in
FIG. 1
, flat shell part
110
has a width W
1
and flat shell part
112
has a width W
2
. In this context an essentially flat shell part shall be held to comprise a shell part that is slightly convex or slightly concave or that comprises one or more inwardly and/or outwardly protruding terraces.
Here it is preferable that R≧15 mm and r≦5 mm.
In a particular embodiment the flat shell parts run essentially parallel to the straight contour line pieces.
The body has for example 2n essentially flat shell parts and preferably 2n sharp folds. The body then appears as illustrated in
FIG. 1
wherein n equals 4.
It is now possible to work a method for heat treating, for example sterilising a filled can comprising a body in accordance with the invention, whereby a pressure P
amb
is exerted on the can and a pressure p
can
prevails in the can, whereby &Dgr;p=p
can
−p
amb
, and p
1
<&Dgr;p<p
2
, characterised in that p
1
<<<p
1 ref..
and p
2
≦p
2 ref..
, where p
1 ref..
and p
2 ref..
represent respectively the minimum and maximum &Dgr;p for a conventional reference can.
It is found that when the can in filled state with a body in accordance with the invention is heat treated in an autoclave, it needs to be handled far less critically in terms of pressure. The external pressure on the can may be set far higher and does not need to be reduced accurately on cooling.
The invention is also embodied in a gas-tight can filled with non carbonated drink or food, such as vegetables, fruit, pet food, fish, meat or soup, comprising a metal body in accordance with the invention, preferably a can of packaging steel, whereby the material thickness of the packaging steel of which the body is made is thinner than 0.16 mm. It is even possible to use sterilisable cans in accordance with the invention which are manufactured with a thickness of less than 0.15 mm, 0.14 mm, 0.13 mm or even less than 0.12 mm.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1262289 (1918-04-01), Weber
patent: 1268582 (1918-06-01), Know
patent: 1423419 (1922-07-01), Halaska
patent: 2340473 (1944-02-01), Johnson
patent: 3563408 (1971-02-01), Bijvoet
patent: 5715968 (1998-02-01), Fink et al.
patent: 5833115 (1998-11-01), Eiten
patent: 2165139 (1972-07-01), None
patent: 0097399 (1984-01-01), None
patent: 1325085 (1963-07-01), None

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