CA1090840A - Contour in-feed means for continuous motion can decorator - Google Patents
Contour in-feed means for continuous motion can decoratorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1090840A CA1090840A CA309,159A CA309159A CA1090840A CA 1090840 A CA1090840 A CA 1090840A CA 309159 A CA309159 A CA 309159A CA 1090840 A CA1090840 A CA 1090840A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lead
- arc
- set forth
- chute
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F17/08—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces
- B41F17/14—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces on articles of finite length
Abstract
CONTOUR IN-FEED MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MOTION
CAN DECORATOR
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A continuous motion can decorator is provided with a gravity feed chute which delivers undecorated cans directly to a pocket wheel for loading of these cans onto mandrels.
Adjacent pockets of the pocket wheel are connected by a lead-in surface that is tangent to the downstream pocket at a point radially outward of the tangent between the lead-in surface and the upstream pocket. The lead-in surface is of essentially constant radius. A can when initially fully seated in a pocket is engaged by a can in the chute which is positioned so that the center thereof is essentially on a line extending through the center of the fully seated can and the center about which the lead-in surface is formed.
CAN DECORATOR
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A continuous motion can decorator is provided with a gravity feed chute which delivers undecorated cans directly to a pocket wheel for loading of these cans onto mandrels.
Adjacent pockets of the pocket wheel are connected by a lead-in surface that is tangent to the downstream pocket at a point radially outward of the tangent between the lead-in surface and the upstream pocket. The lead-in surface is of essentially constant radius. A can when initially fully seated in a pocket is engaged by a can in the chute which is positioned so that the center thereof is essentially on a line extending through the center of the fully seated can and the center about which the lead-in surface is formed.
Description
10 ~ 8i~ Canada Sun-76(RUTH2 Continuous motion high speed can decorating apparatus of the type illustrated in U.S. Patents Nos.
3,563,170, 3,766,851 and 3,976,187 utilized freely rotatable mandrels to carry the cans while decorations are applied to the latter. The cans are loaded on the mandrels from a continuously rotating wheel having curved seats or pockets along the periphery thereo to recei~e undecorated cans from a supply source. Typi-cally, there is a feed screw and star wheel combination interposed between the supply source and the pocket wheel to space the undecorated cans by the distance between pockets prior to presentation of the cans to the pocket wheel.
At very high speeds, say in excess of 800 cans per minute9 ~he likelihood of cans being damaged by the ~eed screw or being jammed thereat increases. Thus, the prior art has attempted to utilize a gravity feed chute to fee~
cans directly into pockets of the pocket wheel. While a measure of success in this direction has been achieved by the prior art, at extremely high speeds can flow in the gravity feed chute becomes irregular causing the cans to bounce against one anotherO This bouncing often causes direct damage to the cans and in other instances interferes with loading into the pockets of the pocket wheel so that an out of sync condition exists whereby the pocket wheel damages the cans.
In order to eliminate the prior ar* difficulties of gravity feed chutes delivering cans directly to a pocket wheel, the instant invention provides a pocket wheel ~onstructed to cooperate with the gravity feed chute so that within the chute there is continuous flow at uniform speed rather than the stop-go, ~ibrating and/or non uniform rate of flow typical of prior art constructions.
The instant invention achieves uniform flow by connecting adjacent pockets of the pocket wheel by a lead-in surface that is tangent to both of these poc~ets and is an arc segment of uniform radius. In addition~ the gravity feed chute is constructed and positioned so that at the moment a can is initially seated in a pocket the center of the can adjacent thereto and in the chute is located on a line extendin~ from the center about which the lead-in arc is drawn through the center of the pocket that has just been loaded.
8'~U
Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide improved high speed contour feed means ~or loading undecorated cans in the pockets of a continuously rotating pocket wheel.
Another object is to provide contour feed means of this type which achieves improved operation at extremely high speeds.
Still another object is to provide a contour feed means of this type in which cans in the eed chute advance continuously at uniform speed.
A further object is to provide contour eed means of this type in which adjacent pockets of the pocket wheel are connected by lead-in surfaces each o which is an arc of uniform radius.
A still further object is to provide contour ~eed means of this type in which a can initially seated in ~
poc~et is tange~t to a can in the chute upstream thereof at the point of tangency between the lead-in surface and the newly loaded pocket.
These objects as well as other objects of this invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in whîch:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of continuous motion can decorating apparatus including contour feed means constructea in accordance with teachings of the instant invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary po~tion of Figure 1 in the region of the contour feed means.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sec~ions taken through the respective arrows 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 o ~0 Figure 2 looking in the directions o the respective arrows~
3-3; 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6.
9C~
Figure 7 is a dia~ram i.llustratin~ an idealize~
orm embodying salient features of the lnstant invention.
Now ~e~erring to the Figures and more particul~rly to Figure l which illustrates continuous mo*ion cylindrical container decorating apparatus of the general type describe~
- in the copending Canadian Serial Numb r 304,351, filed May 2~,1978 for a Mandrel ~lounting ~or Continuous Uotion Decorator, and assigned to the assignee of the in-st~nt in~ention. Briefly, the apparatus of ~i~ure 1 includes lO . infeea conveyor lS which receives undecorated cans 16 3 open at on~ end thereof, from a supply (not sho-m) ana places ~hem in arcuate cradles or pockets 17 a~ong the periphery of spaced rin~s 13~ 14 (Figure 3) orming the peripheral portion oE pocket wheel 12. The latter is fixedly secured to carrier wheel 18 which in turn is keyed to c.on~inuously rotated ! horizontal drive shaft l9. Horizontal spindles or mandrels 20 tFigure 3) are also mounted to wheel 18~ with each spina~e 20 being in spaced horizontal alignment with an indi~idual pocket 17 in a short region extending downstream from infeea . conveyor l5. Und~co~ated cans 16 are transferred from each cradle l7 ko a mandrel 20 by an.individual spring arm 42 mounted on slide 43 which is driven horizontally throu~h the action of stationary cam 44 and ollowers 45~ 46 secured t~
slide 43. Suction applied through an axial passage extending to the end o mandrel which receiYes container l6 draws the lat~er t~ ~inal seating position on mandrel 20~ .
~Yhile moun~ed on mandrels 20, ~ans l~ are deco-rated by being brought into engagement with continuously rotating image transfer mat or blanket 21 o the multi-color printing press indicated generally b~ reerence numeral 22.
Thereafter, and while still mounted on mand~els 20~ each . .
~ ~0 8 ~ ~ .
decorated can 16 has a protective film of varnish appliea thereto by enga~ement with the periphery of applicator roll 23 in the overvarnish unit indicated generally by reference numeral 24. Cans 16 with dec.orations and protective coating thereon are then transferred from mandrels 20 to suction cups (not shownj mounted along the periphery of transfer wheel 27. The latter rotates continuously about shaft 28 in the center. Cans 16 carried by trans~er wheel 27 are aeposited on generally horizontal pins 29 carried by chain-type output conveyor 30 which carries cans 16 through a curing oven ~not shown).
Each mandrel 20 is loaded with a can 16 by the time mandrel 20 is in the proximity o~ sensors 63, 64 which detect whether the particular mandrel 20 contains a properly - mounted can 16. If sensors 63, 64 detec* that a mandrel 20 . is unloaded or is not properly loaded, then as this mandrel 20 passes through the decorating zone wherein printing blanket 21 normally engages cans 16 on mandrels 20~ as explained in the aforesaid application Serial No. 807,260~
~0 this misloaded mandrel 20 is moved to a "no-print" position wherein as this mandrel 20 moves through the decorating 20ne it will be spaced from the periphery o~ blanket 21.
Ineed conveyor 15 is constructed of interior plates 51, 52 and 53 and outer plates 54, 55 maintained in spaced parallel relationship by four assemblies each o~
which consists of stud 56, spacer sleeves 57~ 58, 59, 60, lock washer 61 and nut 62 (Figure 4). Four posts 63 extend horizontally from the machine frame and are receivea by aligned apertures in plates 51-55 t.o operatively position conveyor 15. Collars 64, 65 operatively position and lock conveyor 15 on pins 63.
5.
..
~ )8~ 0 Inner plates 51, 52, 53 are provided with horizontally aligned curved slots ~hich cooperate to form ~ravity feed chute 70 through which cans 16a, 16b, etc. flow into pockets 17 of pocke~ wheel 12. As cans 16a, 16b, etc. flow through chute 70 the a~es of cans 16a, 16b, etc. are horizontal and perpendicular to the flow direction. At loading region 71 where the outfeed or lower end of chute 70 meets pocket wheel 12, ring 13 runs through the space between plates Sl, 52 and ring 14 runs through ~he space between plates 52p 53 ~Pigure 3).
Downstream of loading region 71 inner plates 51-53 provide arcuate retaining surface 99 which is slightly out-board of cans 16 being carried upward by pocket wheel 12.
The spacing between the upstream end of surface 99 and can 16a which has just left chute 70 is substantially greater than spacing between surace 99 and cans downstream of can 16a. This increased spacing is provided to prevent damage to can 16a as its direction of motion changes abruptly at loading region 71 at which time there may be a tenaency for can 16a to jump upward which is not under cont~ol. To damp this jump~ e motion of can 16a readily yieldable resilient means constituted by brush sections 97, 98 ~Figure 6) are provided as an abutment to maintain can 16a seated on pocket wheel 12 at loading region 71.
The bristles o both brush sections 97~ 98 are arranged in a triangular configuration radiatin~ from rod 96. The latter is pivotally mounted to plates 5I and 55 and is held in a selected angular position by Iocking device 95 having manual operating handle 94.
In Figure 2 pocket wheel 12 is shown in its angular position wherein can 16a has just been fully seated in .. .. ....... ...... _ .. _ . .--. .. _ _ . . .
~o~
pocket 17a. Ideally lead-in surEace 75 between pocket 17a and adjacent upstream pocket 17b is a circular arc tangent to both poc~ets 17a and 17b. Further, the centers o~ cans 16a, l~b are connected by a line which extends through the center about which lead-in surface 75 is formed.
It has been found that iFor practical devices the center about which lead-in arc 75 is formed is located on one or ~he other o two quadrature lines described with reference to Pigure 6 in which point b is the center about ~o which lead-in surface 75 is formed. Point b is located on quadrature line q extending through the rotational axis 19 of pocket wheel 12. Line q is also perpendicular to the other quadrature line extending through center 19 and the center c about which the arc segment forming upstream pocket 17b is formed. The centers of all pockets 17 are uni~ormly spaced alon a circle ~f pitch radius a so that the angular spacing Q between adjacent pockets is 360~ divided by the number of pockets. Line s is parallel to line p so that the former is perpendicular to line q.
- Thus, the right triangle c, b, 19 is represente~
by the equation: -X2ga2 = tR~r)2 where R = the radius of the lead-in surface arc and r - the - radius of the pocket arcs.
Further, e is the center af pocket 17a 50 t}lat ri~ht triangle e, b, g is represented by the equation:
(X-a sin~)2 + (a cos~2 = (R-r~2.
In a practical construction wheel 12 has 24 equally spaced pockets 17 on a pitch radius o~ 2~ inches~ The pocket diameter is essentially e~ual to the can diameter of
3,563,170, 3,766,851 and 3,976,187 utilized freely rotatable mandrels to carry the cans while decorations are applied to the latter. The cans are loaded on the mandrels from a continuously rotating wheel having curved seats or pockets along the periphery thereo to recei~e undecorated cans from a supply source. Typi-cally, there is a feed screw and star wheel combination interposed between the supply source and the pocket wheel to space the undecorated cans by the distance between pockets prior to presentation of the cans to the pocket wheel.
At very high speeds, say in excess of 800 cans per minute9 ~he likelihood of cans being damaged by the ~eed screw or being jammed thereat increases. Thus, the prior art has attempted to utilize a gravity feed chute to fee~
cans directly into pockets of the pocket wheel. While a measure of success in this direction has been achieved by the prior art, at extremely high speeds can flow in the gravity feed chute becomes irregular causing the cans to bounce against one anotherO This bouncing often causes direct damage to the cans and in other instances interferes with loading into the pockets of the pocket wheel so that an out of sync condition exists whereby the pocket wheel damages the cans.
In order to eliminate the prior ar* difficulties of gravity feed chutes delivering cans directly to a pocket wheel, the instant invention provides a pocket wheel ~onstructed to cooperate with the gravity feed chute so that within the chute there is continuous flow at uniform speed rather than the stop-go, ~ibrating and/or non uniform rate of flow typical of prior art constructions.
The instant invention achieves uniform flow by connecting adjacent pockets of the pocket wheel by a lead-in surface that is tangent to both of these poc~ets and is an arc segment of uniform radius. In addition~ the gravity feed chute is constructed and positioned so that at the moment a can is initially seated in a pocket the center of the can adjacent thereto and in the chute is located on a line extendin~ from the center about which the lead-in arc is drawn through the center of the pocket that has just been loaded.
8'~U
Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide improved high speed contour feed means ~or loading undecorated cans in the pockets of a continuously rotating pocket wheel.
Another object is to provide contour feed means of this type which achieves improved operation at extremely high speeds.
Still another object is to provide a contour feed means of this type in which cans in the eed chute advance continuously at uniform speed.
A further object is to provide contour eed means of this type in which adjacent pockets of the pocket wheel are connected by lead-in surfaces each o which is an arc of uniform radius.
A still further object is to provide contour ~eed means of this type in which a can initially seated in ~
poc~et is tange~t to a can in the chute upstream thereof at the point of tangency between the lead-in surface and the newly loaded pocket.
These objects as well as other objects of this invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in whîch:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of continuous motion can decorating apparatus including contour feed means constructea in accordance with teachings of the instant invention.
Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary po~tion of Figure 1 in the region of the contour feed means.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sec~ions taken through the respective arrows 3-3, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6 o ~0 Figure 2 looking in the directions o the respective arrows~
3-3; 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6.
9C~
Figure 7 is a dia~ram i.llustratin~ an idealize~
orm embodying salient features of the lnstant invention.
Now ~e~erring to the Figures and more particul~rly to Figure l which illustrates continuous mo*ion cylindrical container decorating apparatus of the general type describe~
- in the copending Canadian Serial Numb r 304,351, filed May 2~,1978 for a Mandrel ~lounting ~or Continuous Uotion Decorator, and assigned to the assignee of the in-st~nt in~ention. Briefly, the apparatus of ~i~ure 1 includes lO . infeea conveyor lS which receives undecorated cans 16 3 open at on~ end thereof, from a supply (not sho-m) ana places ~hem in arcuate cradles or pockets 17 a~ong the periphery of spaced rin~s 13~ 14 (Figure 3) orming the peripheral portion oE pocket wheel 12. The latter is fixedly secured to carrier wheel 18 which in turn is keyed to c.on~inuously rotated ! horizontal drive shaft l9. Horizontal spindles or mandrels 20 tFigure 3) are also mounted to wheel 18~ with each spina~e 20 being in spaced horizontal alignment with an indi~idual pocket 17 in a short region extending downstream from infeea . conveyor l5. Und~co~ated cans 16 are transferred from each cradle l7 ko a mandrel 20 by an.individual spring arm 42 mounted on slide 43 which is driven horizontally throu~h the action of stationary cam 44 and ollowers 45~ 46 secured t~
slide 43. Suction applied through an axial passage extending to the end o mandrel which receiYes container l6 draws the lat~er t~ ~inal seating position on mandrel 20~ .
~Yhile moun~ed on mandrels 20, ~ans l~ are deco-rated by being brought into engagement with continuously rotating image transfer mat or blanket 21 o the multi-color printing press indicated generally b~ reerence numeral 22.
Thereafter, and while still mounted on mand~els 20~ each . .
~ ~0 8 ~ ~ .
decorated can 16 has a protective film of varnish appliea thereto by enga~ement with the periphery of applicator roll 23 in the overvarnish unit indicated generally by reference numeral 24. Cans 16 with dec.orations and protective coating thereon are then transferred from mandrels 20 to suction cups (not shownj mounted along the periphery of transfer wheel 27. The latter rotates continuously about shaft 28 in the center. Cans 16 carried by trans~er wheel 27 are aeposited on generally horizontal pins 29 carried by chain-type output conveyor 30 which carries cans 16 through a curing oven ~not shown).
Each mandrel 20 is loaded with a can 16 by the time mandrel 20 is in the proximity o~ sensors 63, 64 which detect whether the particular mandrel 20 contains a properly - mounted can 16. If sensors 63, 64 detec* that a mandrel 20 . is unloaded or is not properly loaded, then as this mandrel 20 passes through the decorating zone wherein printing blanket 21 normally engages cans 16 on mandrels 20~ as explained in the aforesaid application Serial No. 807,260~
~0 this misloaded mandrel 20 is moved to a "no-print" position wherein as this mandrel 20 moves through the decorating 20ne it will be spaced from the periphery o~ blanket 21.
Ineed conveyor 15 is constructed of interior plates 51, 52 and 53 and outer plates 54, 55 maintained in spaced parallel relationship by four assemblies each o~
which consists of stud 56, spacer sleeves 57~ 58, 59, 60, lock washer 61 and nut 62 (Figure 4). Four posts 63 extend horizontally from the machine frame and are receivea by aligned apertures in plates 51-55 t.o operatively position conveyor 15. Collars 64, 65 operatively position and lock conveyor 15 on pins 63.
5.
..
~ )8~ 0 Inner plates 51, 52, 53 are provided with horizontally aligned curved slots ~hich cooperate to form ~ravity feed chute 70 through which cans 16a, 16b, etc. flow into pockets 17 of pocke~ wheel 12. As cans 16a, 16b, etc. flow through chute 70 the a~es of cans 16a, 16b, etc. are horizontal and perpendicular to the flow direction. At loading region 71 where the outfeed or lower end of chute 70 meets pocket wheel 12, ring 13 runs through the space between plates Sl, 52 and ring 14 runs through ~he space between plates 52p 53 ~Pigure 3).
Downstream of loading region 71 inner plates 51-53 provide arcuate retaining surface 99 which is slightly out-board of cans 16 being carried upward by pocket wheel 12.
The spacing between the upstream end of surface 99 and can 16a which has just left chute 70 is substantially greater than spacing between surace 99 and cans downstream of can 16a. This increased spacing is provided to prevent damage to can 16a as its direction of motion changes abruptly at loading region 71 at which time there may be a tenaency for can 16a to jump upward which is not under cont~ol. To damp this jump~ e motion of can 16a readily yieldable resilient means constituted by brush sections 97, 98 ~Figure 6) are provided as an abutment to maintain can 16a seated on pocket wheel 12 at loading region 71.
The bristles o both brush sections 97~ 98 are arranged in a triangular configuration radiatin~ from rod 96. The latter is pivotally mounted to plates 5I and 55 and is held in a selected angular position by Iocking device 95 having manual operating handle 94.
In Figure 2 pocket wheel 12 is shown in its angular position wherein can 16a has just been fully seated in .. .. ....... ...... _ .. _ . .--. .. _ _ . . .
~o~
pocket 17a. Ideally lead-in surEace 75 between pocket 17a and adjacent upstream pocket 17b is a circular arc tangent to both poc~ets 17a and 17b. Further, the centers o~ cans 16a, l~b are connected by a line which extends through the center about which lead-in surface 75 is formed.
It has been found that iFor practical devices the center about which lead-in arc 75 is formed is located on one or ~he other o two quadrature lines described with reference to Pigure 6 in which point b is the center about ~o which lead-in surface 75 is formed. Point b is located on quadrature line q extending through the rotational axis 19 of pocket wheel 12. Line q is also perpendicular to the other quadrature line extending through center 19 and the center c about which the arc segment forming upstream pocket 17b is formed. The centers of all pockets 17 are uni~ormly spaced alon a circle ~f pitch radius a so that the angular spacing Q between adjacent pockets is 360~ divided by the number of pockets. Line s is parallel to line p so that the former is perpendicular to line q.
- Thus, the right triangle c, b, 19 is represente~
by the equation: -X2ga2 = tR~r)2 where R = the radius of the lead-in surface arc and r - the - radius of the pocket arcs.
Further, e is the center af pocket 17a 50 t}lat ri~ht triangle e, b, g is represented by the equation:
(X-a sin~)2 + (a cos~2 = (R-r~2.
In a practical construction wheel 12 has 24 equally spaced pockets 17 on a pitch radius o~ 2~ inches~ The pocket diameter is essentially e~ual to the can diameter of
2.6". This results in the positioning center b about ~hich 7.
109~)8~0 lead-in surface 75 is formed on quadrature line q at a distance X = 10.753" from rotational axis 19 of po~ket wheel 12, with the radius of surface 75 being 21.407 inches~
At the instant can 16a becomes fully seated in pocket 17a, can 16b in chute 70 upstream of can 16a engages the latter at poin~ t where the arc of lead-in surface 75 is tangent to the arc of pocket 17a. At this instant, center f of ca~ 16b is on a line extending through points b, e and t.
With reference to Figure 2 it is seen that the extreme downstream end 85 of lead-in surface 75 is connected with the pocket arc 17 by a curve o small radius rather than by a sharp tip section. This assures smooth engagement between a canJ such as can I6b, leaving chute 70 and engagin~
lead-in surface 75. It is also seen that the downstream portion 75a of lead-in surface 75 is slightly undercut to provide clearance as lead-in surface 75 initially contacts -can 16b so as to reduce the likelihood that can 16b will, even momentarily, be pushed away from pocket wheel 12.
~ A contour chute positioned in accordance with the instant invention to feed cans directly to a pocket wheel constructed in accordance with the instant invention enables feeding to occur at speeds in excess of 1,000 cans per minute. Because there is essentially continuous can 10w at uniform speed within the chute the likelihood of jams and~or can damage is substantially reduced as compared to prior ar~
g~avity feeders.
It sh~uld now be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing dimensional relationships are idealized conditions. }{owever, for some applications tolerable results may be obtained by deviating by between 5 and 10%
from the idealized dimensional Telationships.
8~U
Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this invention, many variations and modifications.
will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by ~he specific disclosure he~ein, but only by the appended claims.
.
.
109~)8~0 lead-in surface 75 is formed on quadrature line q at a distance X = 10.753" from rotational axis 19 of po~ket wheel 12, with the radius of surface 75 being 21.407 inches~
At the instant can 16a becomes fully seated in pocket 17a, can 16b in chute 70 upstream of can 16a engages the latter at poin~ t where the arc of lead-in surface 75 is tangent to the arc of pocket 17a. At this instant, center f of ca~ 16b is on a line extending through points b, e and t.
With reference to Figure 2 it is seen that the extreme downstream end 85 of lead-in surface 75 is connected with the pocket arc 17 by a curve o small radius rather than by a sharp tip section. This assures smooth engagement between a canJ such as can I6b, leaving chute 70 and engagin~
lead-in surface 75. It is also seen that the downstream portion 75a of lead-in surface 75 is slightly undercut to provide clearance as lead-in surface 75 initially contacts -can 16b so as to reduce the likelihood that can 16b will, even momentarily, be pushed away from pocket wheel 12.
~ A contour chute positioned in accordance with the instant invention to feed cans directly to a pocket wheel constructed in accordance with the instant invention enables feeding to occur at speeds in excess of 1,000 cans per minute. Because there is essentially continuous can 10w at uniform speed within the chute the likelihood of jams and~or can damage is substantially reduced as compared to prior ar~
g~avity feeders.
It sh~uld now be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing dimensional relationships are idealized conditions. }{owever, for some applications tolerable results may be obtained by deviating by between 5 and 10%
from the idealized dimensional Telationships.
8~U
Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this invention, many variations and modifications.
will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by ~he specific disclosure he~ein, but only by the appended claims.
.
.
Claims (13)
1. Container infeed apparatus including a continuously rotated carrier wheel having a plurality of pockets equally spaced along the periphery thereof, said pockets being positioned and contoured to receive cylindrical articles having their axes parallel to the rotational axis of said wheel, a feed chute through which cylindrical articles move in adjacent side-by-side relationship with their axes perpendicular to the direction of movement through said chute, said chute guiding these articles from a supply source to a loading region where these articles are delivered directly to said pockets while said wheel rotates, each of said pockets having a profile that is a segment of a circular pocket arc of a radius substantially equal to the radius of those containers in the chute, each of said pockets and the pocket adjacent thereto and downstream thereof being connected by a lead-in surface the major portion of which is defined by a segment of a circular lead-in arc, said pocket arcs having centers located on a pitch circle having said rotational axis as a center, each of said lead-in arcs having the downstream end thereof tangent to said pocket arcs at a point outboard of said pitch circle and having the upstream end thereof tangent to the next upstream one of said pocket arcs at a point inboard of said pitch circle, and said chute being constructed and operatively positioned so that at the loading region a cylindrical article upon initial full seating in a pocket is engaged by an adjacent upstream article in said chute at the tangent point between the pocket arc at the loading region and the lead-in arc extending upstream therefrom.
2. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 in which the carrier wheel and feed chute are operatively positioned so that a cylindrical article upon being fed from the chute and upon initial full seating in a pocket is immediately thereafter carried upward by said wheel.
3. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 in which each of the lead-in arcs is formed about a center disposed on one of two lines perpendicular to each other and extending through the rotational axis, with one of the lines extending through the center of the pocket arc at the upstream end of this lead-in arc.
4. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 in which the lead-in surface at its downstream end is joined to said pocket by a rounded section of relatively small radius.
5. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 4 in which a portion of the lead-in surface immediately upstream of the rounded sections is slightly undercut with respect to the lead-in arc.
6. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 in which each of the lead-in arcs is formed about a center disposed on a line extending approximately through said rotational axis and being approximately perpendicular to a line extending through said rotational axis and the center of the pocket arc at the upstream end of this lead-in arc.
7. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 6 where the center of the lead-in arc is located a distance X from the rotational axis determined by solving the equations:
x2 + a2 = (R + r)2 and (X-a Sin)2 + (a Cos)2 = (R-r)2, Where:
a = radius of pitch circle R = radius of lead-in arc r = radius of pocket arc = 360° ? number of pockets.
x2 + a2 = (R + r)2 and (X-a Sin)2 + (a Cos)2 = (R-r)2, Where:
a = radius of pitch circle R = radius of lead-in arc r = radius of pocket arc = 360° ? number of pockets.
8. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 7 in which the lead-in surface at its downstream end is joined to said pocket by a rounded section of relatively small radius.
9. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 8 in which a portion of the lead-in surface is rounded and the portion immediately upstream thereof is slightly undercut with respect to the lead-in arc.
10. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 in which each of the lead-in arcs is formed about a different center each of which is displaced from the axis of rotation.
11. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 3 in which the center of each of the lead-in arcs is on said one of the lines.
12. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 also including a yieldable resilient abutment means operatively positioned at the loading region to block movement of cylindrical articles out of said pockets.
13. Container infeed apparatus as set forth in Claim 12 in which there is a brush-like device constituting the yieldable resilient abutment means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US82398077A | 1977-08-12 | 1977-08-12 | |
| US823,980 | 1977-08-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1090840A true CA1090840A (en) | 1980-12-02 |
Family
ID=25240295
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA309,159A Expired CA1090840A (en) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-08-11 | Contour in-feed means for continuous motion can decorator |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS599444B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU524888B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1090840A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2835129C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2399965A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2002311B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX148336A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL189341C (en) |
| SE (1) | SE437254B (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4458804A (en) * | 1977-08-12 | 1984-07-10 | Sun Chemical Corporation | Contour in-feed means for continuous motion can decorator |
| NL8005601A (en) * | 1980-10-09 | 1982-05-03 | Thomassen & Drijver | Device for further conveying a row of cylindrical articles by means of a rotating drive member one by one along a circular arc-shaped web. |
| JPS58207209A (en) * | 1982-05-28 | 1983-12-02 | Toshiba Battery Co Ltd | Parts supply method |
| JPH0348824Y2 (en) * | 1985-11-11 | 1991-10-18 | ||
| JPH01149325U (en) * | 1988-04-04 | 1989-10-16 | ||
| JP2022506480A (en) | 2018-10-31 | 2022-01-17 | クラウン パッケイジング テクノロジー インコーポレイテッド | Printing registration system for can decorators |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB852570A (en) * | 1958-12-16 | 1960-10-26 | Gottscho Inc Adolph | Marking apparatus |
| US3563170A (en) * | 1968-04-16 | 1971-02-16 | Reynolds Metals Co | Machine for marking the exterior cylindrical surfaces of cans in a continous nonidexing manner |
| US3893562A (en) * | 1970-12-18 | 1975-07-08 | Ball Corp | Rotatable apparatus for transferring articles |
| US3766851A (en) * | 1971-11-15 | 1973-10-23 | Sun Chemical Corp | Continuous can printer and handling apparatus |
| US3976187A (en) * | 1972-04-07 | 1976-08-24 | Continental Can Company, Inc | Reciprocating pusher for transferring articles between conveyors |
-
1978
- 1978-07-31 MX MX174357A patent/MX148336A/en unknown
- 1978-08-03 NL NLAANVRAGE7808188,A patent/NL189341C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1978-08-04 GB GB7832279A patent/GB2002311B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-04 JP JP53095347A patent/JPS599444B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-07 AU AU38705/78A patent/AU524888B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-10 DE DE2835129A patent/DE2835129C2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-08-11 FR FR7823818A patent/FR2399965A1/en active Granted
- 1978-08-11 SE SE7808573A patent/SE437254B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1978-08-11 CA CA309,159A patent/CA1090840A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2835129C2 (en) | 1983-01-13 |
| AU3870578A (en) | 1980-02-14 |
| MX148336A (en) | 1983-04-13 |
| NL7808188A (en) | 1979-02-14 |
| AU524888B2 (en) | 1982-10-07 |
| JPS599444B2 (en) | 1984-03-02 |
| SE437254B (en) | 1985-02-18 |
| NL189341C (en) | 1993-03-16 |
| GB2002311B (en) | 1982-08-04 |
| JPS5433464A (en) | 1979-03-12 |
| NL189341B (en) | 1992-10-16 |
| DE2835129A1 (en) | 1979-02-22 |
| GB2002311A (en) | 1979-02-21 |
| FR2399965B1 (en) | 1984-09-21 |
| SE7808573L (en) | 1979-02-13 |
| FR2399965A1 (en) | 1979-03-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |