TINNED IRON CAN FOR LIGHT COLORED FRUITS

Abstract: A method of making packaging for light colored fruits includes steps of providing a base material (18) having a steel substrate (20), a first layer on tin material (22) on a first side of the substrate (20) and a second layer of tin material (24) on a second side of the substrate (20), forming the base material into a can body for a DWI can having a bottom surface and a sidewall comprising an exterior surface that has a first coating including tin and an interior surface having a second coating also including tin, inserting foodstuffs into the can body so that the foodstuffs are exposed to the tin surface, and applying a top end to the can body.

Description: TINNED IRON CAN FOR LIGHT COLORED FRUITS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to packaging for foodstuffs, and more particularly to a tin-coated can for packaging certain light colored fruits and vegetables, such as pineapples, peaches and pears that require an exposed tin surface to maintain proper coloration. 2. Description of the Related Technology The field of canmaking is generally subdivided into two-piece cans and their related technology, and that for three-piece cans. A two-piece can is characterized by a bottom end that is unitary with the sidewall of the can, and a separate top end that is secured to the sidewall. Most of the cans in which soft drinks are packaged today are two-piece drawn wall ironed (DWI) cans. A three-piece can, on the other hand, is characterized by a sidewall portion and separate top and bottom end that are fastened to the can body, usually by a double seaming process. Certain light colored fruits and vegetables, such as pineapples, peaches and pears require an exposed tin interior can surface to maintain proper coloration. The tin material has long been known to have a bleaching effect on the fruit to prevent such discoloration. In the past, it has been typical to make packaging for such light colored fruits and vegetables with the three-piece can making process. The main reason for this is that it has generally been felt that the tin coating on tin-coated stock steel material would be unlikely to survive intact the manufacturing process that is used to manufacture DWI cans. In the typical manufacturing process for DWI cans, specialized presses known as body makers are used to draw cup-shaped metallic can blanks into the elongated, thin can bodies with which consumers are familiar. During this process, an enormous amount of heat and friction is generated. Those who are skilled in the area of this technology and always assumed that the tin coating could not reliably be maintained on the interior wall of the can body during this process. It is known to use DWI cans to package such products with an enamel material protecting the inside surface of the can body, but this is in general considered inferior to the standard three- piece can having the interior exposed tin surface. A need exists for an improved packaging and method of packaging certain light colored fruits and vegetables using a DWI can, but without the disadvantages that are created by the application of an enamel coating. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved package and method of packaging certain light colored fruits and vegetables using a DWI can, but without the disadvantages that are created by the application of an enamel coating. In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a DWI can for packaging foodstuffs such as light colored fruits and vegetables includes a bottom; a sidewall integral with the bottom, the sidewall comprising a steel substrate, a first coating comprising tin on an outer surface thereof and a second coating comprising tin on an inner surface thereof, the second coating having a mass per unit area that is at least 30 pounds of tin per base box; and a top end secured to the sidewall. According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of making packaging for light colored fruits includes steps of providing a base material having a steel substrate, a first layer of tin material on a first side of the substrate and a second layer of tin material on a second side of said substrate, forming the base material into a can body for a DWI can having a bottom surface and a sidewall comprising an exterior surface that has a first coating including tin and an interior surface having a second coating also including tin, inserting foodstuffs into the can body so that the foodstuffs are exposed to the tin surface, and applying a top end to the can body. These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a fragmentaiy cross-sectional view depicting a base material that is used according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting an intermediate blank that is used according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatical fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting a DWI can constructed according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view depicting a sidewall of the DWI can shown in FIGURE 3; and FIGURE 5 is a flowchart depicting a process that is perfoπned according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to FIGURES 1-4, a DWI can 10 that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is best shown in FIGURE 3. As is conventional, the DWI can 10 includes a bottom 12 and a sidewall 14 that is unitary with the bottom 12. The assembled DWI can 10 will further include a top end 16, which is preferably applied to the upper end of the sidewall 14 through the conventional double-seaming process. Looking now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the DWI can 10 is preferably fabricated from a base material 18 that includes a substrate 20 which is preferably fabricated from a ferrous material such as steel, a first layer 22 of a material that includes tin, and a second layer 24 of a material that also includes tin. Preferably, the first layer 22 is formed of tin, and is applied to the substrate 20 at a mass per unit area that is at least 100 pounds per base box. More preferably, the layer of tin 22 is applied at a mass per unit area that is at least 120 pounds per base box, and is most preferably applied so as to have a mass per unit area that is at least 135 pounds per base box. Similarly, the second layer 24 is also preferably tin, and is preferably applied at a mass per unit area that is at least 20 pounds per base box, and is more preferably at least 25 pounds per base box. Most preferably, the second layer 24 is applied so as to have at least 30 pounds of tin per base box. According to the well-known draw wall ironing process, the base material 18 is first formed into a cup-like blank 26, which is then drawn and ironed into the DWI can body that is depicted in FIGURE 3. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, this is performed so that the sidewall 14 of the resulting DWI can body 10 has mimimal tin reduction on both the first, exterior tin coating 34 and the second, interior tin coating 36. The second coating 36 of tin material that is on the interior surface 28 is preferably attached to the substrate 32 of the sidewall 14 at a mass per unit area that is at least 30 pounds of tin per base box. More preferably, the second coating 36 has a mass per unit area density of at least 40 pounds per base box, and most preferably this mass per unit area density is at least 50 pounds per base box. After the can body is formed, there is no need to further applying any protective materials such as an enamel coating on to the interior surface of the sidewall 14. After the body of the DWI can has been formed, it is filled with product, such as light colored fruits and vegetables, and then the container is sealed by applying the top end 16. The packaged product may then be shipped to the consumer, with the presence of the unbroken coating 36 of tin on the interior surface 28 of the sidewall 14 of the can 10 ensuring that the product will not darken prior to being used by the ultimate consumer. It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A DWI can for packaging foodstuffs such as light colored fruits and vegetables, comprising: a bottom; a sidewall integral with said bottom, said sidewall comprising a steel substrate, a first coating comprising tin on an outer surface thereof and a second coating comprising tin on an inner surface thereof, said second coating having a mass per unit area that is at least 30 pounds of tin per base box; and a top end secured to said sidewall. 2. A DWI can according to claim 1, wherein said second coating has a mass per unit area that is at least 40 pounds of tin per base box. 3. A DWI can according to claim 2, wherein said second coating has a mass per unit area that is at least 50 pounds of tin per base box. 4. A DWI can according to claim 1, wherein said sidewall is fabricated by a drawn wall ironing process from a tin coated steel substrate having a tin coating with a surface thereof corresponding to said second coating that has a mass per unit area that is at least 100 pounds of tin per base box. 5. A DWI can according to claim 4, wherein said sidewall is fabricated by a drawn wall ironing process from a tin coated steel substrate having a tin coating with a surface thereof corresponding to said second coating that has a mass per unit area that is at least 120 pounds of tin per base box. 6. A DWI can according to claim 5 wherein said sidewall is fabricated by a drawn wall ironing process from a- tin coated steel substrate having a tin coating with a surface thereof corresponding to said second coating that has a mass per unit area that is at least 135 pounds of tin per base box. 7. A DWI can according to claim 1, wherein said sidewall is fabricated by a drawn wall ironing process from a tin coated steel substrate having a tin coating with a surface thereof corresponding to said first coating that has a mass per unit area that is at least 20 pounds of tin per base box. 8. A DWI can according to claim 7, wherein said sidewall is fabricated by a drawn wall ironing process from a tin coated steel substrate having a tin coating with a surface thereof corresponding to said first coating that has a mass per unit area that is at least 25 pounds of tin per base box. 9. A DWI can according to claim 8, wherein said sidewall is fabricated by a drawn wall ironing process from a tin coated steel substrate having a tin coating with a surface thereof corresponding to said first coating that has a mass per unit area that is at least 30 pounds of tin per base box. 10. A DWI can according to claim 1 , wherein said sidewall is fabricated by a drawn wall ironing process. 11. A method of making packaging for light colored fruits comprising steps of: (a) providing a base material having a steel substrate, a first layer of tin material on a first side of said substrate and a second layer of tin material when a second side of said substrate; (b) forming said base material into a can body for a DWI can having a bottom surface and a sidewall comprising an exterior surface that has a first coating comprising tin and an interior surface having a second coating also comprising tin; (c) inserting foodstuffs into the can body so that said foodstuffs are exposed to said tin surface; and (d) applying a top end to the can body. 12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second coating has a mass per unit area that is at least 40 pounds of tin per base box. 13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said second coating has a mass per unit area that is at least 50 pounds of tin per base box. 14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said first layer has a mass per unit area that is at least 100 pounds of tin per base box. 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said first layer has a mass per unit area that is at least 120 pounds of tin per base box. 16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said first layer has a mass per unit area that is at least 135 pounds of tin per base box. 17. A method according to claim 11 , wherein said second layer has a mass per unit area that is at least 20 pounds of tin per base box. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said second has a mass per unit area that is at least 25 pounds of tin per base box. 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said second layer has a mass per unit area that is at least 30 pounds of tin per base box.

Inventors: TARULIS GEORGE J, TARULIS, GEORGE, J.
Applicants: CROWN CORK & SEAL TECH CORP, CROWN CORK & SEAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65D1
IPC codes: B65D1, B65D6, B65D8, B65D25