Can bodies

Abstract

New can bodies are provided that are stackable after manufacture, during shipment and before use. The new can bodies have slightly tapered sidewalls with small shoulders near open ends, which allow empty cans to stack together in a nested arrangement and to separate easily before filling. The stacking and nesting saves space during storage and transportation. The new structure of the can bodies incorporates small shoulders near the open ends of the can bodies to control depth of insertion of adjacent stacked can bodies and prevent the can bodies from sticking together when nested in a stack and when being separated prior to filling. Thus, cans are separated easily for further processing. The new, small shoulder structure permits a shallower and / or steeper sidewall, thereby maximizing the size of the bottom of the can body and the volume content of the can.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 670,014, filed Apr. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Cans are widely used in packaging foods. Shallow and wide can bodies are used for packaging food and particularly meat and fish. More particularly, short and wide cans are used in the fish industry for packaging sardines, fish fillets and other seafood type products. [0003] Can bodies have rectangular, oblong, circular, or irregular shapes, with square, oblong, circular, or generally rectangular bottoms. Upward extending side walls are integrally formed with the bottoms. Upper edges of the sidewalls curve outward to horizontal seaming flanges. After the cans are filled, outer seaming flanges of generally flat covers are laid on the can body seaming flanges. Seams are rolled between seaming flanges of the can bodies and ends. Straight walled can bodies are formed and stacked with pa...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention provides new can bodies that are stackable after manufacture, during shipment and before use. The new can bodies have slightly tapered sidewalls with small shoulders near open ends, which allow empty cans to stack together in a nested arrangement and to separate easily before filling. The stacking and nesting saves space during storage and transportation. The new structure of the can bodies incorporates small shoulders near the open ends of the can bodies to control depth of insertion of adjacent stacked can bodies and prevent the can bodies from sticking together when nested in a stack and when being separated prior to filling. Thus, cans are separated easily for further processing. The new, small shoulder structure permits a shallower and / or steeper sidewall, thereby maximizing the size of the bottom of the can body and the volume content of the can.

[0008] The stacking of can bodies requires that some space be left between the can bodies. Straight tapered can bodies are difficult to separate before use. Generally, large shoulders at the open ends of the tapered can bodies provide separation of the can bodies, but also reduces the size of the can bottom.as well as the volume content of the can. Large shoulders and greater offset chuck walls require more peripheral area in can bodies and more material for construction.

[0009] The new, smaller shoulders near open ends and steeper walls of the can bodies of the present invention allow the can bodies to stack together in a nested manner while minimizing material. This allows the cans to be easily separated. The shallower tapers allow for maximizing the size of the bottoms of the can bodies.

Problems solved by technology

The stacking and nesting saves space during storage and transportation.

Straight tapered can bodies are difficult to separate before use.

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