APPLICATION OF DESIGNS TO PORTION OF FOOD CONTAINER
The present disclosure describes a process for applying a design to a sheet metal for use in a portion of a container, for example a cap or an end of a food container. Embodiments provide for applying a multi-color design in a single printing step to a sheet of metal to create a printed metal sheet that can then be rolled into a printed coil or cut to length. The printed metal sheet can then be cut pressed into can ends or caps. The ends or caps with the multi-color design can then be used to manufacture containers, such as a beverage container.
1 . A food container, comprising:
an aluminum alloy sidewall;
an aluminum alloy first end; and
an aluminum alloy second end, the first and second ends being opposed to one another, wherein at least one of the first and second ends comprise a multi-colored design.
2 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the first end is integrally formed with the sidewall, wherein the second end is discrete from the sidewall, and wherein the multi-colored design is on the second end.
3 . The container of claim 2 , wherein the second end comprises a three-dimensional feature, the multi-color design being in register with the three-dimensional feature, whereby an element of the three-dimensional design is positioned in a raised area of the second end.
4 . The container of claim 1 , wherein the first end is integrally formed with the sidewall, wherein the second end is discrete from the sidewall, wherein the multi-colored design is on the first end, and wherein the first end comprises a three-dimensional feature, the multi-color design being in register with the three-dimensional feature, whereby an element of the three-dimensional design is positioned in a raised area of the first end.
5 . The container of claim 3 , wherein the second end is free of a primer between the multi-color design and the aluminum alloy in the second end.
6 . The container of claim 3 , wherein the second end comprises a primer between the multi-color design and the aluminum alloy in the second end.
7 . The container of claim 3 , wherein a protective coating is located on an exterior of the second end such that the multi-color design is positioned between the aluminum alloy in the second end and the protective coating.
8 . The container of claim 3 , wherein an EB and/or UV cured coating is located on the second end such that the EB and/or UV cured coating is positioned between the aluminum alloy in the second end and the multi-color design.
9 . The container of claim 7 , wherein the protective coating is electron beam and/or ultraviolet light curable.