Method of Forming a Can End Having a Moveable Portion

Abstract

Methods for producing a can end having a moveable portion disposed beneath a tab are disclosed. In one embodiment, a can end having a center panel may be formed. A moveable portion may be formed in the center panel. The moveable portion may be in a downward position after it is formed. The can end may then be restrained such that a portion of the center panel that is adjacent to the moveable portion is unrestrained. While the can end is restrained, the moveable portion may be moved into an upward position.

1 . A method for producing a can end having a moveable portion disposed beneath a tab, the method comprising:
 forming a can end having a center panel;   forming a moveable portion in the center panel that is moveable between an upward position and a downward position, the moveable portion initially being in its downward position;   restraining a portion of the can end such that a portion of the center panel that is adjacent to the moveable portion is unrestrained; and   moving, while the can end is restrained, the moveable portion into its upward position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 attaching a tab to the can end, the tab having a handle portion that is located above the moveable portion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the can end is formed to have a wall portion, an annular reinforcing bead extending radially inward from the wall portion and the center panel extends radially inward from the annular reinforcing bead. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable portion includes an annular step about its periphery. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 filling a can body with a comestible product;   seaming the can end onto the can body; and   moving the moveable portion back to the downward position, the moving being in response to internal negative pressure caused by cooling of the product within the can body.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the moving step includes moving a tool into contact with the moveable portion such that the moveable portion moves from the downward position to the upward position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein during the restraining step, the can end is restrained between an upper tool and a lower tool, the lower tool having a protrusion for contacting an underside of the moveable portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the upper tool is spaced apart from the portion of the center panel that is adjacent to the moveable portion as the moveable portion is reformed into the upward position. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein (i) the center panel further includes a recessed portion, (ii) the moveable portion is formed in the recessed portion and (iii) the upper tool is spaced apart from the recessed portion as the upper tool and the lower tool restrain the can end. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a score is formed in the can end proximate to the periphery of the center panel during the forming of the moveable portion, the score defining an openable panel portion. 
     
     
         11 . A method for producing a can end having a moveable portion disposed beneath a tab, the method comprising:
 forming a can end having a center panel;   forming a moveable portion in the center panel that is moveable between an upward position and a downward position, the moveable portion initially being in its downward position;   restraining the can end with a restraining tool, the restraining tool comprising an upper tool that presses against an upper surface of the center panel and a lower tool that presses against a bottom surface of the center panel, wherein the upper tool is spaced apart from a portion of the center panel that is adjacent to the moveable portion when the can end is restrained between the upper and lower tools; and   moving, while the can end is restrained, the moveable portion into its upward position.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein (i) the center panel further includes a recessed portion, (ii) the moveable portion is formed in the recessed portion and (iii) the upper tool is spaced apart from the recessed portion as the upper tool and the lower tool restrain the can end. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the upper and lower tools restrain the can end by pressing against a portion of the center panel that is radially outward from the recessed portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the moveable portion includes an annular step about its periphery. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 filling a can body with a comestible product;   seaming the can end onto the can body; and   moving the moveable portion back to the downward position, the moving being in response to internal negative pressure caused by cooling of the product within the can body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a score is formed in the can end proximate to the periphery of the center panel during the forming of the moveable portion, the score defining an openable panel portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the can end is formed to have a wall portion, an annular reinforcing bead extending radially inward from the wall portion and the center panel extends radially inward from the annular reinforcing bead. 
     
     
         18 . A tool for restraining and reforming a can end having a moveable portion formed in a center panel of the can end, the tool comprising:
 an upper tool having a first contact surface for contacting a top surface of the center panel; and   a lower tool having a protrusion and a second contact surface for contacting a bottom surface of the center panel;   wherein (i) the first and second contact surfaces press against the center panel to thereby restrain the can end, (ii) a portion of the center panel that is adjacent to the moveable portion of the center panel is spaced apart from the upper tool when the can end is restrained by the upper and lower tools, and (iii) the protrusion contacts an underside of the moveable portion to thereby move the moveable portion from a downward position to an upward position.   
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 18  wherein (i) the center panel of the can end includes a recessed portion, (ii) the moveable portion is formed in the recessed portion, and (iii) the first and second contact surfaces press against the center panel radially outward from the recessed portion. 
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the upper tool includes a recess above the moveable portion of the can end. 
     
     
         21 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the can end is 73 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         22 . The tool of  claim 18  wherein the can end is formed to have a wall portion, an annular reinforcing bead extending radially inward from the wall portion and the center panel extends radially inward from the annular reinforcing bead.