Method for manufacturing cans for beverage, and beverage can manufacturing method

{
  "publication_number": "US2020122495A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Method for manufacturing cans for beverage, and beverage can manufacturing method",
  "abstract": "A can body that has been subjected to outer surface painting (OV), inner surface painting (INS), and a neck process (SDN) but that has not been subjected to image formation is manufactured in a canning factory. The can body that has not been subjected to image formation is shipped to a beverage can manufacturing factory. At the beverage can manufacturing factory, an image formation process using a printer (PR) is performed. Specifically, ink is ejected from an inkjet head toward the can body, to thereby form an image on the outer circumferential surface of the can body. Thereafter, the can body is filled with beverage in a filler (FL), and then a can lid is attached to the can body in a seamer (SM).",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for manufacturing a can for beverage, comprising: a diameter decreasing process decreasing a diameter of an opening portion of a cylindrical can body; and an image formation process forming an image onto an outer surface of the can body having been subjected to diameter decreasing by the diameter decreasing process. 2. The method for manufacturing a can for beverage according to claim 1, further comprising: a paint application process applying a paint on at least one of an outer surface and an inner surface of a can body before being subjected to the diameter decreasing by the diameter decreasing process. 3. The method for manufacturing a can for beverage according to claim 1, wherein, in the image formation process, image formation is performed on the can body by use of an image formation method without contacting a can body, the can body having been subjected to the diameter decreasing. 4. The method for manufacturing a can for beverage according to claim 3, wherein, in the image formation process, image formation is performed on the can body by use of an inkjet method, the can body having been subjected to the diameter decreasing. 5. The method for manufacturing a can for beverage according to claim 1, wherein, in the image formation process, the can body is supported by a support member inserted into the can body having been subjected to the diameter decreasing to support the can body from inside thereof, the support member including a portion approaching an inner circumferential surface of the can body to contact the inner circumferential surface. 6. The method for manufacturing a can for beverage according to claim 1, wherein, in the image formation process, the can body having been subjected to the diameter decreasing is supported by a support member supporting the can body from inside thereof, the support member having a function of sucking a bottom portion of the can body positioned at an opposite side of the opening portion. 7. A method for manufacturing a can for beverage, comprising: a molding process molding a cylindrical can body; and a diameter decreasing process decreasing a diameter of an opening portion of the can body molded by the molding process, the can body not being subjected to image formation on an outer surface thereof. 8. The method for manufacturing a can for beverage according to claim 7, further comprising: a paint application process applying a paint on at least one of an outer surface and an inner surface of a can body before being subjected to diameter decreasing by the diameter decreasing process. 9. The method for manufacturing a can for beverage according to claim 8, wherein, in the paint application process, a colored paint is applied to the outer surface of the can body. 10. A method for manufacturing a beverage can, comprising: an image formation process forming an image on an outer surface of a cylindrical can body having been subjected to a diameter decreasing process of an opening portion; and a beverage packaging process filling the can body with beverage, the can body having been subjected to the diameter decreasing process. 11. The method for manufacturing a beverage can according to claim 10, wherein, in the image formation process, the image is formed on a can barrel portion of the outer surface of the can body having been subjected to the diameter decreasing process, the can barrel portion being a portion of the can body excluding a diameter decreased portion. 12. The method for manufacturing a beverage can according to claim 10, wherein, in the image formation process, image formation is performed on the outer surface of the can body by use of an inkjet method, the can body having been subjected to the diameter decreasing process."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing cans for beverage and a beverage can manufacturing method.\n\nPatent Document 1 discloses a process of printing plural brands on can bodies by use of plural printers, and thereafter, sorting the can bodies by each brand.\n\nIn Patent Document 2, there is disclosed a printing device, in which inkjet printing is performed in at least one inkjet printing station, and plural inkjet heads are arranged in the inkjet printing station.\n\nIn a storage process of can bodies used as the cans for beverage, can bodies are piled up in the axial direction of the can bodies to be stored in many cases, and in these cases, it is preferable to decrease a diameter of an opening of a can body to secure the strength of the can body. Moreover, in conventional methods for manufacturing can bodies, it was a common practice that the diameter decreasing process was performed after image formation was performed onto the outer surfaces of the can bodies.\n\nIn this case, in the storage process of can bodies, the can bodies having images formed thereon are stored, but in the case where the can bodies with images formed thereon are stored like this, the stored can bodies go to waste when the design is changed, or products are discontinued.\n\nAn object of the present invention is to reduce can bodies vainly produced.",
  "cpc": [
    "B41J 3/4073",
    "B21D 51/26",
    "B21D 51/2638",
    "B41J 2/01",
    "B41J 3/40733",
    "B41M 5/0088"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B21D 51/26",
    "B41J 2/01",
    "B41J 3/407",
    "B41M 5/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Showa Aluminum Can Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Shinichi Ojima",
    "Kazunori Ikeda",
    "Asumi Suwa",
    "Kazuhisa Masuda"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-06-21",
  "publication_date": "2020-04-23",
  "priority_date": "2017-07-31",
  "application_number": "US-201816624576-A",
  "family_id": "65233726",
  "cited_by_count": 7
}