US1262289A - Paneled asparagus-can. - Google Patents

Description

G. W. WEBER.

vPANELED AsPARAGUs CAN.v

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31.1913- LBQQ. Patented Apr. 9,1918. F49. ,1

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GEORGE W. WEBER, 0F ST. EAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOETO .AMERICAN CAN COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F -NEW'JERSEY.

PANELED AsrAnAGUs-CAN.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

Patented Apr'. e, 1918.

Application filed March 31, 1913. Serial No. 757,846.

broken from rough handling during shipment. f y

Hitherto, glass bottles or jars have sometimes lbeen used for shipping asparagus, but it has been found that the light which passes through glass, not only bleaches the `asparagus to an undesirable grayish yellow color, but also toughens the asparagus, and for these reasons and also for the further reason that glass containers are 'not adapted for rough handling, the use of glass has been practically abandoned in favor of tin containers. Of the sheet metal containers, which have been used for packing asparagus, there are two types generally used, the same being the well known cap-hole type of can and the oblong round corner type of can. The caphole can, however, while possessing some ad.- vantages over other forms of containers, is undesirable for the reasons that it is not of the sofcalled sanitary type which is now `being demanded more and more by the public; the asparagus stalks must be packed one at a time through the relatively small opening at the top; and furthermore, because of the difficulty in lacquering or coating the interiors of such cans which, when notl coated, are attacked by the vegetable acids or gases which cause the formation of large quantities of salts of tin, these salts being sometimes formed in such large quantities that the Government will reject the pack on the ground that the vquantity of salts eX- ceeds the amount allowed by law. The oblong round corner cans are most generally used and preferred on accountof the fact that the same are more easily filled and coated, but this type of can is objectionable for the reasons that the seam-forming flanges at the corners of the can break easily, thereby preventing the formation of perfect hermetic seams and because of the difficulty encountered in forming a tight double seam along a straight side.' In practice, it is found that `when forming a double seam along astraight side of a can, the iiange on vthe can body ybacks up during the searning operation `and does not unite with the flange of the can end as it should and does in the `case of thel ordinary sanitary round cans.

Also in the'rectangular or oblong eans,'the Ystrength of the seam uniting theV body and ends is limited to the strength of the folded portions which sometimes permits of the seam being broken from internal pressure,

whereas,y in the case ofthe double seamed round can, the seam tightens up like a hoop on a barrel and on account of its c1rcular shape, it is practically impossible to unfold the lseam by pressure from the interior of the can. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a sheet metal can which is of thev socalled sanitary type, having f cylindrical end portions whereby the ends maybe easily double seamed thereto, which is free from all of the objectionable features of the caphole and oblong round corner cans, above indicated, which when sealed under a vacuum, will have its paneled sides collapse so as to firmly hold the asparagus or other food-stud in position and prevent the same from moving yabout within the can during shipment to thereby preserve the contents intact until delivered to the consumer, and

in which the collapsed, paneled sides, beingy flexible, will accommodate any harmlessv .gases which may be generated within the can after sealing to thereby prevent the for# mation of what are known as ,swell heads.

The invention furthermore consists in the improvements in the parts and devices and in the novel arrangement of the parts and devices Y as herein shown, described or claimed.

,In the vdrawing forming a part of this specication, Figure l is a perspective View of a sheet metal can embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a similar view kof the can illustrated in Fig. 1,'showing the'samel after the panels have collapsed, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the'can shown in Fig. 2, taken substantially at theA longitudinal center of the can. l

'In said drawing, the can is designated generally by the reference A, and, as shown,

iol

comprises a body member B and a bottom C, the latter 'being united tothe body by means of a double sealnlQ- T116 lJQCly cylindrical Y B is normally substantially throughout, and when supplied to the packer Will be provided with the usual seam 'erming flange ll at the top, and a plurality of beads, creases, ribs, indentations or other suitable panel outlining means l2 so arranged: that theportion of they can vbodyfintermediatethe ends, isr divided into a plurality of panels 13, Whichas shown, have parallel sides. and converging upper and lower ends, the number of such panels shown in the dra vf'ing being five, although a greater or less number may be `used .if desired, rThe said beads enable the tin of the container' body to naturally bend Where they beads.v are located, promote the desired collapse of the panels and constitute means Which main.- tain the ends ofthe container. of cylindrical contour. The shape or' collapsible panel illustrated,y With rounded or narrowed upper and lower ends, closely approximates`` the torni oit panel nf'hich. naturally tends. .to form on the side of a cylindrical can when it is subjected to considerable exterior atmospheric pressure; and this form of panel will collapse more at the middle than Will panels of substantially rectangulai-form Without narrowed ends. The can is also, provided with an interior protective coating ,14- of lacquer or. other suitable material to prevent the tin being attacked bythe vegetable .acids or gases.

Inasmuch as the can, when suppliedto the packer, is substantially cylindricallrom end to end and is provided with a large open top, the same may be easily filled by placing the entire bunch of asparagus or other substance at one time in the can, and as is usual, the contents ot the can Will then be processed or cooked by being` passed through an exhaust box or cooker, and'ivliile the contents are still hot and the air in the space at the top of the can in a raretied condition., the cover or closing end can be easily double seamed to the body. After thecan has been sealed and the contents allowed to cool, a vacuum Will be.Y created Within the can, which will causethe flexible p aneled portionS l?) ot' the can to collapse as shown at 13L in Figs. 2 and 3, the collapsible areas being determined and delined by means of the beads orcreases 1.2 which outline the panels and which also` serve as strengthening means soj that the portions of the can. outsideI of the` ollilgineclv paneled; portions will be unaffected `by, tlievacuum. This action causes a decrease inthe cross sectional area of the incense can at the central portion thereof, so that the asparagusor otherV oodfstulisJvill-,be li-rmly. gripped 4by themiddle panel portions and prevented from longitudinal movement .in either direction or rotative movement within the can, and at the same time the delicate tips of the asparagusstalls still occupy as largeaspace as when irst placed in the can and therefore Will not be crushed or injured.

As indicated inthe foregoing, afterl the can is sealed, any harmless gases ivhich may be generated Within the can,"will be accommodated by the outward yielding. of the collapsed panel portions `which are more flexible than the can ends, thev latter in actual practice being formed with a'number of ribs or grooves which increase the strength of the ends, thereby preventingthe formation ot. swell heads, that is, cans havingV their ends b ulgedfv outwardly and which cannot be sold to the trade even though the contents oit the can are inperect edible condition, these swell heads sometimes causing a large loss to the packer.

l claim :.-V

l. A1 sheet meta-l; can orhermetically inclosingand gripping food products such as asparagus, the sides of said can beingfcylindrical fromend to end and having cylindrical end portions of substantially the same diameter, and thev can.havingitssides,between said end portions.outlinedwith panels and normally, before the cany is filled., circular in cross section, which circular middle portion becomes of less cross. sectionalarea than is either of the cylindrical .end portions by the regular collapsing otthesaidipanels, so asto grip .and hold the food product by the said panels at the middle part of' the can and hold the same vfrom, -movement .within the can, the said panels.. llwngcurved n arroived ends which are, outlinedby ,means bentfromthe metalojffthe canbody and n t', t l which promote, and define the limits of, the said collapsing and maintain the can of regf ularform and the endsof the, salfneof cylindrical contour. I

2. A sheet metal can for herinetically inclosing. and gripping food products,` the body olf said. canbeingcylindrical, bef ing 'formed with means.V tor vdellning", -colf-` l a psible p anels thereon, A `whereby a lpartial vacuum produced within the` can cause the regular'collapse of, thejfdenedfpa els and thev holding'oizthe food. product.

, M stessa W. vente.

Witnesses:

Copies of this patent may be obtapinrejor five cents each, byaddressingzthe CommissionerofPatentxs,

' Warrington; nl 0.7

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