Container with Lid for Packaging Pourable Products

Abstract

The invention concerns a container comprising a container body of a material such as metal, PE or cardboard, having a primary opening which is closed by a metal plate portion acting as a first lid element, wherein the metal plate portion includes a lid tab which is defined by a separation line and which after being broken open opens a discharge opening, and the lid tab has an inclined surface co-operating with a first projection arranged on an opening means movable substantially parallel to the plate portion for applying a force to the lid tab in order to break open the separation line. In order to ensure that in such a container of the general kind set forth, a sufficiently high force can be provided for breaking open the plate portion at the separation line of the lid tab, it is proposed that a depressed bead ( 32 ) and adjacent thereto a raised bead ( 36 ) is provided at the lid tab ( 30 ), wherein the inclined surface is composed at least of a portion of a flank ( 33 ) of the depressed bead and at least a portion of a flank ( 37 ) of the raised bead. The invention further concerns a lid ( 20, 50 ) for such a container and a method of opening such a container (FIG. 4 ).

1 . A container comprising a container body having a primary opening which is closed by a metal plate portion acting as a first lid element, wherein the metal plate portion includes a lid tab which is defined by a separation line and which after being broken open opens a discharge opening, and the lid tab has an inclined surface co-operating with a first projection arranged on an opening means movable substantially parallel to the plate portion for applying a force to the lid tab in order to break open the separation line, wherein the lid tab has a depressed bead and adjacent thereto a raised bead, wherein the inclined surface is composed at least of a portion of a flank of the depressed bead and at least a portion of a flank of the raised bead. 
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the depressed bead and the raised bead go into each other, wherein the transitional region is formed substantially without a bead bottom. 
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the depressed bead and/or the raised bead is or are substantially oval-shaped in plan view. 
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein bead depth of the depressed bead is substantially equal in magnitude to the bead height of the raised bead. 
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the depressed bead and the raised bead are respectively introduced into the lid tab in one shaping operation without the use of a hold-down arrangement. 
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the depressed bead and/or the raised bead in the operative region of the inclined surface with the associated first projection has or have a flank angle of 30° to 70°, in particular 40° to 50°. 
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein a venting means connected in respect of motion to the opening means for venting of the container prior to the separation line defining the lid tab being broken open. 
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein a vent tab on the lid tab which is defined by a separation line extending on the lid tab, wherein the venting means includes a second projection which in the movement of the opening means co-operates with the vent tab on the lid tab to produce a force extending substantially perpendicularly to the plate portion on the vent tab to break open the separation line of the vent tab. 
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the first projection which is arranged at the opening means and which is associated with the inclined surface on the lid tab in its starting position before the separation line of the lid tab is broken open projects into the recessed bead and has therein a free travel, within which the first projection does not contact the inclined surface. 
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 8  wherein the second projection which is arranged on the venting means and which is associated with the vent tab in its starting position before the separation line of the lid tab is broken open is arranged in the immediate proximity of the vent tab. 
   
   
       11 . A container according to  claim 8  wherein the vent tab has a raised bead which in plane view is in particular of a substantially circular configuration. 
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the plate portion is connected to the container body by a fold configuration, adhesive means or soldering means. 
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the opening means which is movable substantially in the plane of the plate portion for applying a force to the lid tab is in the form of a second lid element which is arranged over the first lid element and is mounted rotatably relative thereto, wherein the second lid element has an eccentric opening which can be brought over the discharge opening by rotation of the second lid element. 
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 13  wherein the second lid element is rotatable relative to the container body about the axis thereof. 
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein a sealing means which extends outwardly with respect to the separation line of the lid tab and around same and which is arranged in particular on the first lid element. 
   
   
       16 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the first projection after the separation line of the lid tab is broken open, in the continuing rotary movement of the opening means relative to the container body, comes to bear against the edge of the discharge opening whereby the rotary movement is stopped. 
   
   
       17 . A container according to  claim 15  wherein after the separation line of the lid tab is broken open, in a predetermined relative rotary position of the first and second lid elements, the sealing means of the first lid element co-operates with the inside surface of the second lid element for sealing off the container. 
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the first projection co-operating with the inclined surface on the lid tab is provided on the opening means in the form of a depressed bead which in a starting position extends with its bead top into a depressed bead on the lid tab. 
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 3  wherein the depressed bead and the raised bead of the inclined surface are so arranged relative to each other that the large profile semi-axes thereof are substantially tangential to a circular path on the lid tab. 
   
   
       20 . A container lid for a container comprising a container body of a material which is stable in respect of shape such as metal, PE or cardboard, which has a primary opening which is closed by a metal plate portion acting as a first lid element, wherein the metal plate portion includes a lid tab which is defined by a separation line and which after being broken open opens a discharge opening, and the lid tab has an inclined surface co-operating with a first projection arranged on an opening means movable substantially parallel to the plate portion for applying a force to the lid tab in order to break open the separation line, wherein the lid tab has a depressed bead and adjacent thereto a raised bead, wherein the inclined surface is composed at least of a portion of a flank of the depressed bead and at least a portion of a flank of the raised bead. 
   
   
       21 . A method of opening a container comprising a container body of a material which is stable in respect of shape such as metal, PE or cardboard, having a primary opening which is closed by a metal plate portion as a first lid element, wherein in the opening operation for opening a discharge opening a separation line on the plate portion is broken open, which defines a lid tab, and for breaking open the separation line a first projection arranged on an opening means movable substantially parallel to the plate portion is guided along an inclined surface of the lid tab, whereby a force is produced on the lid tab, wherein the first projection in the opening operation is guided at least portion-wise along flanks of a depressed bead and a raised bead adjacent thereto. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein in the opening operation a venting means is moved together with the opening means in order to vent the container prior to breaking open the separation line of the lid tab. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein for venting the container a separation line is broken open on the lid tab, said separation line defining a vent tab.