Metal box body comprising a reinforcing moulding

Technical field to which the invention relates

The present invention relates generally to the field of containers which comprise a box body made of a metallic material and a side wall of which comprises at least one stiffening molding.

BACKGROUND

Some containers have a box body made of a metallic material.

The walls of this box body must withstand different forces so as to prevent deformations likely to degrade the mechanical properties of the container.

In particular, the side wall is particularly sensitive to two types of deformations:

facet deformations, or "paneling", which may occur during an excessive decrease in internal pressure (or, alternatively, an excessive increase in external pressure), and

- The axial crushing deformations, or "crush", likely to occur in case of excessive axial force.

In addition, in case of initiation of a deformation, the latter is likely to spread over the entire height of the side wall.

To remedy these phenomena, it is common to provide at least one stiffening molding on the side wall, so as to define an annular stiffening strip extending over at least a portion of the height of said side wall.

These stiffening moldings are rectilinear, extending generally parallel to the transverse lines, or even parallel to the longitudinal lines generatrices.

But, in practice, such stiffening moldings are effective to combat only one of the two aforementioned deformations (either faceted or axial crushing).

The depth of molding makes it possible to choose which resistance to favor: a shallow depth favors resistance to deformations in axial crushing while a greater depth favors the resistance to deformation facets.

There is therefore a need for a new container structure that would be able to have improved resistance to the two aforementioned deformations.

It would also be interesting if, in the event of the initiation of a deformation, the latter can not propagate on the height of the side wall.

Object of the invention

In order to overcome the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a new container structure whose box body comprises a side wall whose resistance performance is improved both against the deformations in facet as deformations in axial crushing.

For this, the container according to the invention comprises a box body made of a metallic material; which box body has a side wall closed by at least one bottom wall.

The sidewall has at least one stiffening zone that extends over at least a portion of the height and circumference of said sidewall.

The stiffening zone has a plurality of virtual lines which are intended to form rectilinear virtual lines on said flattened stiffening zone, advantageously generating longitudinal lines, guide transverse lines and inclined lines.

The stiffening zone comprises at least one stiffening molding.

And said virtual lines of said stiffening zone are each cut by said at least one stiffening molding.

The particular structure of the stiffening zone has the advantage of conferring increased resistance, simultaneously, to facet deformations and deformations in axial crushing.

Similarly, in comparison with a box body of the prior art, the side wall thus has increased performance for the same thickness or identical performance for a reduced thickness.

This particular structure of the stiffening zone also has the advantage of limiting or even blocking the propagation of deformations.

This structure also makes it possible to delay the appearance of the failure mode, and thus confers resistance for this failure mode.

Other nonlimiting and advantageous features of the container according to the invention, taken individually or in any technically possible combination, are as follows:

said at least one stiffening molding consists of a non-rectilinear stiffening molding whose contour is non-rectilinear; said at least one non-rectilinear stiffening molding advantageously has the general shape of a curved line, a polygonal line which is composed of at least two line segments, or a polyline which is composed of at least one line segment and a curve segment; the nonrectilinear stiffening molding of the polygonal line type advantageously comprises straight segments having a length of between 2 and 200 mm, and forming, between them, an angle of 90 ° +/- 60 °;

said at least one stiffening zone comprises staggered patterns, corresponding to the surface of said at least one stiffening molding, and / or remaining patterns, corresponding to the surface surrounding said at least one stiffening molding; the offset patterns and / or the remaining patterns advantageously have a non-rectilinear contour, and said non-rectilinear contour comprises a junction portion located in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (advantageously a point whose tangent extends parallel to said perpendicular plane or a section extending in said perpendicular plane), and two longitudinal portions, connected by said junction portion, located on the same side of said perpendicular plane; the staggered patterns and / or the remaining patterns advantageously have a concave outline, and at least two of said staggered patterns and / or remaining patterns are imbricated;

said at least one stiffening molding is continuous, extending over the entire circumference of said stiffening zone;

- The stiffening zone comprises several stiffening moldings, each distinct and each terminated by at least two ends; the stiffening moldings advantageously have a non-rectilinear contour which form U-shaped patterns which each comprise a central line segment extended by two lateral line segments; the U-shaped non-rectilinear stiffening moldings are advantageously arranged in pairs, symmetrically and opening away from each other, and the lateral line segments of a pair are formed between the lateral straight lines a non-rectilinear U-shaped stiffening molding of another pair.

The invention also proposes a process for the manufacture of a container according to the invention.

This method comprises a step of forming the side wall, flat or after its setting volume, to provide said at least one non-rectilinear stiffening molding.

Detailed description of an example of realization

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be achieved.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 is a general view in perspective of a first container according to the invention, the side wall comprises a stiffening zone which comprises a plurality of distinct and interleaved non-rectilinear stiffening moldings;

FIG. 2 is a partial and enlarged view of the stiffening zone formed on the container of FIG. 1;

- Figure 3 is a general view and perspective of an alternative embodiment of the first container according to the invention, the stiffening zone comprises a marking area;

- Figure 4 is a general perspective view of a second container according to the invention, the side wall comprises a plurality of annular stiffening strips which each comprise a continuous non-rectilinear stiffening molding;

FIG. 5 is a partial and enlarged view of two annular stiffening strips formed on the container of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a general and perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the second container according to the invention, of which two annular stiffening strips are separated by an intermediate annular strip devoid of stiffening molding (s);

- Figure 7 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of a container according to the invention, with a partial and enlarged view of said container to illustrate the sections of the stiffening moldings.

containing

The container according to the invention, as shown in the figures, advantageously consists of a can, for the packaging of a foodstuff for example.

The container comprises a can body 1 which is made of a metallic material, for example aluminum or steel.

The box body 1 comprises a side wall 2 which is closed by at least one bottom wall 3 (FIG. 7). In other words, the periphery of the bottom wall 3 is extended, upwards, by the side wall 2.

In the case of a "two-piece" box (FIG. 7), the side wall 2 and the bottom wall 3 of the can body 1 can be made in one piece (for example by stamping). In the case of a "three-piece" box, these two walls 2, 3 can also be manufactured independently of one another, and then secured together by any suitable operation (for example by crimping or welding).

The side wall 2 advantageously has a generally cylindrical shape defining a longitudinal axis 2 ', for example in the form of a right circular cylinder.

The side wall 2 can advantageously be defined by different types of virtual lines:

longitudinal generating lines 2 a, advantageously parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 ',

- Guiding transverse lines 2b, advantageously circular lines, extending preferably in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 'and centered on this longitudinal axis 2', and

inclined lines 2c, advantageously helical lines for a cylindrical container, extending between the longitudinal generatrix lines 2a and the transverse lines 2b.

These different virtual lines 2a, 2b and 2c are intended to form rectilinear virtual lines 2a, 2b and 2c (preferably straight lines or segments) on the side wall 2 laid flat (or unfolded or with cylindrical projection).

The side wall 2 has two borders 21,22 defining its height (FIG. 1), namely:

a lower edge 21 connected to the periphery of the bottom wall 3, and

- An upper border 22 defining an upper opening 5 through which is reported / extracted the packaged product.

This upper edge 22 is also intended to receive a closure element (not shown) to finalize the container (for example a peelable membrane or a metal disk with possibly a breaking line).

The container, and in particular its box body 1, thus delimits an interior volume 6 for the packaging of the product of interest.

Molding (s) for stiffening

The side wall 2 comprises at least one stiffening molding 7 defining at least one stiffening zone 8.

By "stiffening molding" is meant in particular a ribbing (or a rib or a variation of curvature of the side wall 2 or commonly referred to in English as the "bead") formed in the side wall 2.

Said at least one stiffening molding 7 consists of a stiffening molding whose shape is different compared to conventional annular moldings (ie a molding extending over the entire circumference of the side wall 2 and in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 'of this side wall 2).

Such stiffening molding 7 is obtained for example by striking or embossing.

Such a stiffening molding 7 can be made:

- hollow (concave or re-entrant), towards the interior volume 6, or

- in relief (convex or outgoing), opposite to the interior volume 6.

Preferably, said at least one stiffening molding 7 is provided projecting inwardly of the side wall 2 (towards its inner face and towards the internal volume 6).

In other words, said at least one stiffening molding 7 advantageously has the shape of an open rib, opening towards the outside of the can body 1.

The section of this stiffening molding 7 is advantageously identical (or at least approximately identical) along its length, without geometric breakage.

A stiffening molding 7 advantageously comprises (FIG. 7):

a bottom 7a, for example in the form of a line 7a1 or in the form of a cylindrical portion 7a2, and

an outline 7b corresponding to the transition between surfaces.

In the case of a line 7a1, the section of this stiffening molding 7 may be of curved shape, for example in a semi-circle or half-oval.

For example, each stiffening molding 7 has the following dimensions:

a depth F of between 0.2 and 5 mm, and

a width L (or segment length in the cylindrical projection plane) of between 2 and 200 mm.

By "depth" is meant advantageously the distance dimension between, on the one hand, the bottom 7a of the stiffening molding molding 7 and, on the other hand, the side wall 2. It still corresponds to the dimension in distance between the offset surface 25 and the remaining surface 26, described hereinafter.

"Width" advantageously means the distance dimension of the segment measured transversely to a longitudinal line 7 'of the stiffening molding 7 (Figures 2 and 5).

The depths and widths may be different depending on the stiffening moldings 7 and their position.

The phenomenon of facet deformation appearing more in the center of the side wall 2, the stiffening moldings 7 in this region can then be deeper; Conversely, the stiffening moldings 7 located towards the ends may be shallower to resist the axial force while decreasing their sensitivity to the presence of a possible crimp.

The side wall 2 thus comprises two sets of surfaces (FIG. 7):

at least one offset surface 25 (also called "offset surface" or "resulting surface"), corresponding to the surface of said at least one stiffening molding 7, and

- a remaining surface 26 (also called "residual surface" or "original surface"), corresponding to the surface surrounding said at least one stiffening molding 7.

The remaining surface 26 advantageously extends in the bulk of the portions of the side wall 2 which are located at its two edges 21,22.

After molding, the offset surface 25 is offset relative to the remaining surface 26, according to at least one constant or variable level.

A stiffening zone 8 may comprise a single stiffening molding 7 or several stiffening moldings 7.

Said at least one stiffening zone 8 extends over at least a portion of the height of the side wall 2 (or even the entire height of the side wall 2) and over at least a portion of the circumference of the side wall 2 ( even the entire circumference of the side wall 2).

Preferably, a stiffening zone 8 extends over:

- a height of at least 5 mm, preferably at least 10 mm and / or

- A transverse angular sector (along the transverse lines 8b) of at least 10 °, preferably at least 180 ° and preferably 360 ° to form an annular band stiffening.

Said at least one stiffening zone 8 advantageously comprises at least one non-rectilinear stiffening molding 7 (not in a straight line).

The term "non-rectilinear stiffening molding" includes stiffening moldings 7 which, advantageously flattened or unfolded or by cylindrical projection, are in the form of curves, advantageously in the sense of an assembly which is not necessarily aligned, having or not one or more break of tangency.

By "non-rectilinear stiffening molding" is still meant a stiffening molding 7 whose contour 7b or the longitudinal line 7 'is non-rectilinear (Figures 2 and 5).

"Longitudinal line 7" is understood to mean a line extending advantageously parallel to and at an equal distance from two longitudinal edges of the stiffening molding 7.

The non-rectilinear stiffening moldings 7 advantageously have a general shape chosen from:

a curved line (not shown), or

a polygonal line, composed of at least two straight segments (FIGS. 1 to 6), or

a polyline (not shown) composed of at least one straight segment and one curve segment.

The curved line or the curve segment may or may not include a tangency break.

The stiffening molding 7 may comprise at least one branch (for example in the form of H, X or Y), or may be devoid of such branches.

For example, as described below in relation with FIGS. 1 to 6, a stiffening molding 7 of the polygonal line type comprises:

straight segments 72, 73 having a length of between 2 and 200 mm, and

- Straight segments 72, 73 forming, between them, an angle in the range 90 ° +/- 60 °, preferably an angle of 90 °.

In order to ensure optimum performance, said at least one stiffening zone 8 comprises at least one set of patterns 9 which are defined by said at least one stiffening molding 7:

at least one offset pattern 95, corresponding to the offset surface of said at least one stiffening molding, and / or

- At least one remaining pattern 96, corresponding to the remaining surface 26 surrounding said at least one stiffening molding 7.

"Pattern" advantageously means a set of geometric elements that are repeated.

The outline of these patterns 95, 96 advantageously corresponds to the contour 7b of the stiffening moldings 7.

And said at least one stiffening zone 8 advantageously comprises several of these patterns 9 which are formed by one or more stiffening moldings 7.

The patterns 9 may be identical to one another, or similar to each other, or different from each other (for example at the contours, the dimensions and / or the orientation).

These patterns 9 are distributed, and are repeated, within this stiffening zone 8.

A stiffening zone 8 may thus comprise a single elementary pattern 9, or even a sum of elementary patterns 9.

As developed below, the patterns 9 can be distinct and juxtaposed or even nested (Figures 1 to 3 and 5); the nonrectilinear stiffening rib 7 is thus terminated by at least two ends 71 ​​(depending in particular on its shape and its number of branches).

The patterns 9 may also together form a continuous stiffening molding 7, advantageously in the form of a frieze (FIGS. 4 to 6), possibly imbricated in at least one other stiffening molding 7.

The offset patterns 95 and / or the remaining patterns 96 preferably have a concave outline; these offset patterns 95 and / or these remaining concave patterns 96 may be nested or non-nested.

By "concave pattern" (or non-convex pattern) is advantageously meant a pattern in which there are at least two points A and B, taken in this pattern, connected by a segment [A, B] which is not entirely contained in said pattern.

The offset patterns 95 and / or the remaining concave patterns 96 thus comprise at least one concave portion.

For example, each offset pattern 95 has the general shape of a U which includes a central line segment 72 extended by two lateral line segments 73.

The lateral straight lines 73 extend here, on the one hand, parallel to each other and, on the other hand, perpendicularly and on the same side with respect to the central line segment 72.

The U-shaped offset patterns 95 thus comprise a concave portion delimited by the lateral straight line segments 73.

Alternatively, the patterns 9 may also have a general shape of arc or oval arc (for example in the general form of C).

Still for example, the remaining patterns 96 may also include at least one concave portion.

In this regard, according to the example described below in connection with FIG. 5, the continuous stiffening molding 7 defines remaining patterns 96 in the general shape of T having two lateral concave portions.

By "nested" is meant an offset pattern 95 or a remaining pattern 96 which extends in the bulk of the concave portion, respectively, of another offset pattern 95 or other remaining pattern 96.

In this regard, Figures 1 to 3 show staggered patterns 95 which are nested and Figures 4 to 6 show remaining patterns 96 which are nested.

Still according to the invention, the non-rectilinear contour 951, 961 of the offset patterns 95 and / or the remaining patterns 96 is non-rectilinear.

This non-rectilinear contour 951, 961 advantageously comprises:

a junction portion 9511, 9611 (or angled portion) situated in a transverse plane P perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 ', advantageously a point whose tangent extends parallel to this perpendicular plane P (FIG. 2) or a section extending in said perpendicular plane P (Figure 5), and

- Two longitudinal portions 9512, 9612, connected by said connecting portion 9511, 9611 and located on the same side of said perpendicular plane P (preferably on the side of the upper edge 22).

Still according to the invention, the stiffening zone 8 can be defined by several types of virtual lines (respectively confused with the longitudinal generatrix lines 2a, the transverse lines 2b and the inclined lines 2c mentioned above), namely:

longitudinal generating lines 8a, advantageously straight lines parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 ',

- Guiding transverse lines 8b, advantageously circular lines, extending preferably in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 'and centered on this longitudinal axis 2', and

- Inclined lines 8c, advantageously helical lines for a cylindrical container, extending between the longitudinal generatrix lines 8a and the transverse lines 8b, and centered on this longitudinal axis 2 '.

In other words, the inclined lines 8c form an angle other than 0 ° or 90 °, relative to the planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 2 '.

The different virtual lines 8a, 8b and 8c thus pass through the stiffening zone 8 (or pass through this stiffening zone 8).

These various virtual lines 8a, 8b and 8c are intended to form rectilinear virtual lines 8a, 8b and 8c (advantageously straight lines or segments) on this rigidification zone 8 flattened (or unfolded or with cylindrical projection).

And in each stiffening zone 8, the virtual lines 8a, 8b, 8c (advantageously the longitudinal generatrix lines 8a, the guide transverse lines 8b and the inclined lines 8c) are each cut by the at least one stiffening molding 7, advantageously by said at least one stiffening molding 7 non-rectilinear.

These virtual lines 8a, 8b, 8c (advantageously the longitudinal generatrix lines 8a, the transverse guide lines 8b and the inclined lines 8c) are each cut at least once, or several times, by the at least one stiffening molding 7 (in particularly by its outline 7b).

In other words, the stiffening zone 8, flat or unfolded or cylindrical projection, is devoid of straight lines 8a, 8b and 8c rectilinear which are free of at least one cut by said at least one stiffening molding 7 (in particular by its outline 7b).

In other words, the rigidification zone 8, flattened or unfolded in a cylindrical projection, has no rectilinear virtual line 8a, 8b and 8c which is not cut at least once by said at least one stiffening molding 7 (in particularly by its outline 7b).

Said at least one stiffening zone 8 advantageously extends over at least half the height of the side wall 2.

Still generally, the side wall 2 may comprise an annular stiffening band which comprises:

a stiffening zone 8 above, over part of its circumference, and

- Annular moldings conventional per se, on a remaining portion of its circumference.

Separate moldings

According to first embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the stiffening zone 8 comprises several nonrectilinear stiffening moldings 7 which are distinct and each terminated by two ends 71.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the non-rectilinear stiffening moldings 7 form concave offset patterns 95 which are nested within each other.

In the present case, each non-rectilinear stiffening mold 7 forms a U-shaped offset pattern 95 which comprises the central line segment 72 extended by the two lateral straight line segments 73.

Each lateral line segment 73 is terminated, opposite to the central line segment 72, by one of the free ends 71.

Each offset pattern 95 is further oriented so that its central line segment 72 and its lateral line segments 73 define angles between 30 ° and 60 ° (preferably angles between 40 ° and 50 °, more preferably angle of 45 °) with respect to the longitudinal generative lines 8a and the transverse lines 8b.

The central line segment 72 and one of the lateral line segments 73 together form the two longitudinal portions 9512 connected by a joining portion 9511.

As further illustrated in this Figure 2, the offset patterns 95 are arranged in pairs, symmetrically and opening away from each other to form together a shape H.

The central straight segments 72 of a pair of offset patterns 95 are thus juxtaposed. The lateral straight segments 73 of the two juxtaposed offset units 95 are themselves aligned.

For their nesting, a pair of side line segments 73 of a pair of offset patterns 95 is formed between the side line segments 73 of an offset pattern 95 of another pair of offset patterns 95.

Such a configuration of the concave and interlocking offset patterns 95 is particularly effective in providing increased and simultaneous resistance to facet deformations and axial crushing deformations. This particular structure of the stiffening zone 8 also has the advantage of limiting or even blocking the propagation of deformations.

As shown in FIG. 3, the stiffening zone 8 may be provided with a marking zone 10 which is free from stiffening moldings 7.

This marking zone 10 is surrounded / delimited by these stiffening moldings 7.

The marking zone 10 here has an oval shape, but it could have any other desired shape.

This marking area 10 is particularly interesting for the legibility of a visual element, such as a text, a logo or an image.

Continuous moldings

According to second embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the side wall 2 comprises continuous non-rectilinear stiffening moldings 7 which each extend over the entire circumference of a stiffening zone 8.

More specifically, each non-rectilinear stiffening molding 7 here forms a repetition of offset patterns 95, identical to each other, which are arranged in two lines, alternately and interconnected.

Again, as described below in connection with FIG. 5, each non-rectilinear stiffening mold 7 forms U-shaped offset patterns 95 which each comprise the central line segment 72 extended by the two lateral straight line segments 73.

The central right segments 72 of the two lines are arranged parallel to each other; and the side line segments 73 of the two lines are arranged parallel to each other.

The lateral straight lines 73 of two opposite shifted patterns 95 are connected by transverse line segments 74 (here parallel to the center line segments 72).

The off-line patterns 95 of a line are here oriented to open toward the offset patterns 95 of the other line.

Each offset pattern 95 is further arranged such that each of its side line segments 73 is located between the two side line segments 73 of an opposite offset pattern 95.

Each U-shaped offset pattern 95 is further oriented such that its center line segments 72 and its side line segments 73 are oriented, respectively, parallel to the guide transverse lines 8b and the longitudinal generatrix lines 8a.

The central line segment 72 and the two lateral line segments 73 form an offset pattern 95 and a remaining pattern 96 whose contours 951, 962 each comprise, respectively, the joining portion 9511, 9611 and the two longitudinal portions 9512, 9612 above.

The continuous stiffening molding 7 again defines remaining patterns 96 in the general shape of T having two lateral concave portions.

The remaining 96 successive patterns are inverted relative to each other and are nested.

The side wall 2 thus comprises annular stiffening strips 8, each comprising a continuous non-rectilinear stiffening strip 7, separated from each other by annular bands 11, narrow and unmolded (Figure 5).

This configuration of the annular stiffening strips 8 is useful for receiving a readable visual element, such as a text, a logo or an image.

According to a variant shown in FIG. 6, the side wall 2 may again be provided with a marking zone 10 which is free of stiffening moldings 7 and which is surrounded / delimited by these stiffening moldings 7.

This marking zone 10 here has the shape of a continuous annular band.

Process

The present invention also relates to a process for the manufacture of a container according to the invention.

This method advantageously comprises a step of forming the side wall 2, flat or after it has been made to volume, to provide said at least one stiffening molding 7.

This forming step is for example carried out by means of tools that can be composed of male and female parts, to print the shape on the metal.

These tools can for example be in the form of flat parts (rails) or left parts (chucks).

This method makes it possible to obtain a side wall 2 which thus comprises two sets of surfaces: said at least one offset surface 25 and said at least one remaining surface 26.