U.S. patent application number 10/291186 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for threading method of a metallic bottle.
Invention is credited to Beek, Alex van der, Temple, Oleg.
Application Number | 20030132188 10/291186 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27350793 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030132188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Beek, Alex van der ; et
al. |
July 17, 2003 |
Threading method of a metallic bottle
Abstract
An improved technique of threading for metallic bottles where as
the neck of the metallic bottles will receive a protrusion or
profile, onto which an independently made threaded collar is shot.
And fastened by seaming (this discards the slow process of seaming
each unit individually), the seam is then bent/curled inwards
forming a neat drinking orifice; the ROPP cap, screw cap, crown cap
or pull cap etc. is fitted on and after filling, a profiled,
concave dome end shell is added to the bottom of the aluminium or
metallic bottle and sealed by seaming.
Inventors: |
Beek, Alex van der; (Riga,
LV) ; Temple, Oleg; (Riga, LV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mr. Marc D. Machtinger, Esq.
Law Office of Marc D. Machtinger, Ltd.
750 W. Lake Cook Road, Suite 350
Buffalo Grove
IL
60089
US
|
Family ID: |
27350793 |
Appl. No.: |
10/291186 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/44 ; 215/40;
215/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/44 ; 215/40;
215/42 |
International
Class: |
B65B 007/28; B65D
001/46; B65D 001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 13, 2002 |
LV |
P-02-147 |
Nov 8, 2001 |
LV |
P-01-157 |
Jun 7, 2002 |
LV |
P-02-105 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An aluminum bottle comprising that the top of the neck is drawn
into a cylindrical diameter that receives a little below the
upper-most rim of the bottle neck an embossed ring-like protrusion,
profile or indent designed to hold/fix in place a threaded collar
that will be shot on at a later stage, after this the top of the
neck is trimmed (See FIG. 1) that leaves a neck of required size.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for threading a
metallic pipe such as an aluminum alloy cylindrical pipe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to beverage cans or bottles
for various soft drinks or beers and other fluids that could
require reclosing or resealing possibilities. From ongoing research
and development on threading methods that first occurred in our
patent application No P 01-157, date: Aug. 11, 2001: where it
describes a closure for a beverage container with inside/outside
threading, and patent application No P 02-105, date: Jul. 6, 2002:
where it describes separate threading method and making of a
conical bullet-shaped closure. All this is now developed into
separate threaded collar-making for metallic containers or bottles.
According to the afore-mentioned inside and outside threading of
the closure for the connectable beverage container, it is important
that the method described below is unveiling the possibilities of
welding, flanging or seaming a separate threaded collar onto a
chimney or neck of a metallic bottle. Thus creating a fully
recyclable product. Aluminium or metallic collars can be made in
different size or diameter or threads as well as a variety of
products enhancements such as embossing, shaving, brushing or a
logo or seal imprint. The welding or flanging and seaming gives the
collar once attached to the chimney enough strength to withstand
100 psi or seven bar internal pressure.
SUMMARY
[0003] The present invention introduces a method that threads a
metallic pipe such as an aluminium alloy cylindrical pipe. This
method is especially designed to enhance the threading process for
aluminium alloy or other metallic bottles, however the invention is
not limited to the metal bottles as applications to plastic
bottles/containers are like-wise foreseen; the invention
illustrates that by forming threaded collars, independently from
the bottle making process, costs and time can be effectively saved.
These aluminium alloy pipes or metallic pipes are fed into a
threading machine that fabricates threaded collars which are then
cut at even intervals and fed into a collar fitting machine (i.e.,
CFM) that shoots the threaded collars at high speed around or into
the metallic bottle neck. The next stage is to flange and seam the
collar to the top of the bottle; a following step is curling the
neck inwards to create a thick round orifice. More particularly,
the present invention circumvents the most complex and
time-consuming part of the metallic bottle making process. It
explains how a metallic pipe, that undergoes threading procedure at
a high speed-threading machine. This is an independent, continuous
process that occurs off line.
[0004] By eliminating the time consuming and complex process of
conventional threading, the present invention evades numerous drawn
and ironing steps that will automatically increase the speed of
bottle making. It is expanding threading application to a wide
variety of metallic bottle-shapes, which could bear different neck
diameters. Bottle producers are no longer limited to one
possibility of bottle forming which is dictated by the delicate
threading procedure; it will be possible to design various neck
shapes, sizes and make many "concept" bottles a practical reality.
It will like-wise be possible to quickly change the diameter,
profile, length, color, and material or shape of threaded collars.
The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating
plastic threaded collars, and as the metallic collars, plastic
collars come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. The plastic
threaded collar is a shrink fit collar (i.e., by applying heat the
collar it will shrink around the designed profile of the metallic
or glass bottle neck) that has a ready made orifice. The plastic
collars can be applied to metallic, glass or plastic bottles in
different size or diameter.
[0005] Other features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side elevation showing two
examples of a bottle neck on which one of the bottles is trimmed
and has a ring-like protrusion or profile.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a view showing the threading of the pipe.
[0008] FIG. 3 shows the collar-fitting process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0010] I. The circumference of the aluminium bottle's neck is then
embossed with a ring-like protrusion or indent profile. Making room
for the threading system. Since this is normally an expensive,
time-consuming process, this invention relates to the making of
separate threaded rings or collars. A thin aluminium alloy or
metallic pipe is fed into a threading machine that threads the pipe
at given distances. The pipe is then cut at even intervals into
"collars" that are fed into the collar fitting machine (CFM) that
shoots the collars onto the bottle necks at high speed. A
circumventing profile or protrusion below the upper-most rim of the
neck of aluminium or metallic bottle, which has the function of
supporting the threaded collar that will be pressed into it during
seaming. The neck is then seamed and curled inwards trapping the
collars and giving much-needed thickness to the drinking orifice.
Not only threaded collars can be fabricated, but collars which
would fit ROPP caps, pull caps or crown caps have been envisaged as
well. These independently fabricated collars are attached to the
aluminium or metallic bottle as described above. This procedure
will enhance the production speed.
[0011] II. The fourth stage is capping and filling: the bottle is
capped and then transported to the filling station where it will be
filled from the bottom, this will aid filling as carbonated fluids
are effervescent and hard to shoot into a small opening.
[0012] III. Once the bottles have been filled, their bottoms are
fitted with dome-shaped end shells, which are characterised by
having supporting profiles that increase the pressure resistance of
the concave shape, thereby cutting down on material and physical
weight of the aluminium bottle. With the domes in place, the bottom
circumferences of the bottles are seamed and
light/sound-inspected.
[0013] The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended
to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the
invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in
order to explain the principles of the present invention, so that
others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown
and described the exemplary embodiments those skilled in the art
will realise that many variations and modifications may be made to
affect the described invention. Many of those variations and
modifications will provide the same result and fall within the
spirit of the claimed invention.
[0014] The following are examples of the scopes of protection
sought in this application, but are not to be construed as limiting
the scope of the claims in this application. This list of items is
part of the description of the invention, and are not to be
considered claims.
[0015] 1. The aluminium bottle comprises that the top of the neck
is drawn into a cylindrical diameter that receives a little below
the upper-most rim of the bottle neck a embossed ring-like
protrusion, profile or indent designed to hold/fix in place a
threaded collar that will be shot on at a later stage, after this
the top of the neck is trimmed (See FIG. 1) that leaves a neck of
required size.
[0016] 2. A metallic pipe such as an aluminium alloy or a surface
threaded steel pipe characterised by: a step of forming a thread to
the metallic pipe by feeding it into a threading machine that
threads and cuts in segments of given length foreseeing that the
trimming of the threaded parts of the metallic pipe occurs at even
intervals creating collars of required length and exact measures
and diameters to fit exactly onto the necks of predestined
bottles.
[0017] 3. As in number 2 a threading machine that besides threading
the metallic pipe also contains a feature that creates one or more
vent lines or indents (see FIG. 2) crossing the spiral thread
necessary for closures that are fitted onto containers that are
containing carbonated liquids or fluids under pressure in order as
to vent excess pressure.
[0018] 4. As in afore-mentioned items the threading machine that
gives threading to the aluminium or any other metal pipe is not
limited to one specific thread but exemplify that by changing its
beak it can thread different sizes and profile depths onto the
aluminium or any other metal pipe required for different types of
liquid or fluids and bottle shapes that the collars will be applied
for.
[0019] 5. Comprises that the threading machine that gives threading
to the aluminium or any other metal pipe is not limited to thread
aluminium or any other metal pipes of one specific wall thickness
or diameter that exemplify the specific requirements for some types
of liquids or fluids or to different bottle needs and/or
shapes.
[0020] 6. As in afore-mentioned items the fabricated collars are
fed into a collar fitting machine (CFM) similar to a capping
machine the collars which are then lined up and shot on to the
bottle neck and are held in place by seaming and the ring-like
protrusion/indent as indicated in number 1 (See FIG. 3) this collar
fitting process can be done at high speed.
[0021] 7. The method comprises of a threading method on a
horizontal lying strip of aluminium or other metal of required
width and thickness that passes under a continuously threading
wheel which is then cut at calculated intervals and curled into
collars that are then shot onto the bottles this method
automatically provides one or more vent lines into the thread.
[0022] 8. As in afore-mentioned items the making of threaded
collars out of aluminium or any other metallic alloy can be used
for standard aluminium and tin cans to circumvent these similar to
the process of threading aluminium bottles with separate threaded
collars creating then a re-closable beverage can.
[0023] 9. Threading aluminium or any metallic bottle container
comprises that any neck shape with a different diameter or shape
can be threaded with separate pre-fabricated-formed plastic collars
these are shrink-to-fit collars.
[0024] 10. As in afore-mentioned items separate pre-fabricated
collars which are composed of metal alloy or plastic polymers
encompass a wide variety of size, shape, colour and applications to
allow these pre-fabricated threaded collars to facilitate a wide
variety of bottle shapes, necks and diameter sizes.
[0025] 11. As in afore-mentioned items the method of separately
fabricated threaded collar-making process is not limited to
circumventing the bottle necks, but can be applied as well to the
internal diameter of a bottle neck, the threaded collar is now
threaded on the inner side of its diameter in which case, the
direction of the thread is reversed, to face the centre of the
opening, this way it forms a smooth fit to the inner diameter of
the bottle neck.
[0026] Further embodiments of the present invention are disclosed
as follows:
[0027] BALU Collar laser Seam Process:
[0028] The Laser seaming process can be used to seam/weld the
separate prefabricated threaded collar onto the neck of the bottle,
can or other container, it introduces a new, non-contact seaming
technology for the aluminum bottle industry that allows for the
reduction of material content in the current double seam joint or
double flange technique, while maintaining hermetic seal quality.
There are various companies offering such laser technique, which
producers/manufactures can take advantage of and implement in their
bottle-making process.
[0029] The following are examples of the scopes of protection
sought in this application, but are not to be construed as limiting
the scope of the claims in this application. This list of items is
part of the description of the invention, and are not to be
considered claims.
[0030] 1. A metallic pipe such as an aluminum alloy is threaded in
a threading machine, the threaded collar is cut in even
intervals.
[0031] 2. The metallic collar resulting from item I is then bent
inward or outward at the drinking end to enlarge the area of the
drinking orifice producing the final shape for the collar.
[0032] 3. The ready-made collar which is the end product of item 2
is placed into the collar-placing machine that shoots the
pre-fabricated collars at high speed onto the necks of the bottles
where it is locked in place by protrusions or profiles in the
bottle and on the appropriate side of the collar.
[0033] 4. Once the ultimate position of the collar has been
established through the process outlined in item 3, the collar may
be fused with the neck of the bottle through laser-welding/seaming
or by "molecular gluing", these processes omit the double-seam
demanded by the mechanical process and thereby result in large
savings of material as it fuses one surface directly with the
other.
[0034] 5. If the manufacturer opts for standard mechanical double
seaming, then the collars resulting from completing item 1 should
not be finalized and bent as out outlined in item 2, they must be
first fitted onto the neck of the bottle and then double-seamed as
usual.
[0035] Sales points, advantages
[0036] The high-speed laser-welding allows the bottle maker to be
more creative with the neck or chimney part of a particular bottle
since no strong physical forces are applied during laser seaming we
can stretch the neck more and emboss it with various shapes without
raising concern about the rough, forceful seaming.
[0037] Cost Savings
[0038] Reduced Material Content per Seam
[0039] Minimized Capital Expenditures to Implement
[0040] Quality
[0041] Real Time Quality Control Monitoring Capability (the laser
can seal and scan simultaneously!)
[0042] Quality Hermetic Seal Integrity
[0043] Reduced Rejects
[0044] Meets or Exceeds Existing Standards
[0045] Patent Protection
[0046] Patent Protected Intellectual Property
[0047] Patent Covers Product, Process & Apparatus
[0048] Global Control of Technology & Process
[0049] Material Savings Model
[0050] The patented new process reduces material content in a 12
ounce aluminum 2-part container by 0.9 gram per assembly. This
represents a material reduction greater than 6%. In the North
American Market, the aluminum material savings would be in excess
of 247 Million pounds annually.
[0051] Process Advantages
[0052] Process
[0053] Adaptable to Existing Process
[0054] Usable with Ferrous/Non-Ferrous Materials
[0055] Manufacturing Flexibility for all Container Shapes and
Sizes
[0056] While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described, numerous modifications come to mind without
significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the
scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the
accompanying claims.
* * * * *