CA1102734A - Can transport - Google Patents
Can transportInfo
- Publication number
- CA1102734A CA1102734A CA316,757A CA316757A CA1102734A CA 1102734 A CA1102734 A CA 1102734A CA 316757 A CA316757 A CA 316757A CA 1102734 A CA1102734 A CA 1102734A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- vacuum
- cans
- bodies
- turret
- work stations
- 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
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G29/00—Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones
- B65G29/02—Rotary conveyors, e.g. rotating discs, arms, star-wheels or cones for inclined or vertical transit
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
- B05B13/00—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00
- B05B13/06—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00 specially designed for treating the inside of hollow bodies
- B05B13/0609—Machines or plants for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces of objects or other work by spraying, not covered by groups B05B1/00 - B05B11/00 specially designed for treating the inside of hollow bodies the hollow bodies being automatically fed to, or removed from, the machine
Landscapes
- Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
- Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
- Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Can bodies are sucked by vacuum means onto rotat-ing, disc-shaped vacuum pads which accompany the cans throughout an indexing route. An adjustable can-centering guide positions each can on the center of one of the vacuum pads to insure eventual alignment with spray guns at two spray stations downstream. A spinner-drive belt encircles a turret and forms a substantially continuous rotational drive for spinning the can-bearing vacuum pads. The vacuum means comprises a vacuum manifold in the rear of the turret and has a manifold groove for vacuum communication with the can through the vacuum pad. As the can-bearing vacuum pads pass along the manifold groove, the cans, being securely centered on the vacuum pads, rotate at the same velocity as the belt-drive vacuum pads.
Can bodies are sucked by vacuum means onto rotat-ing, disc-shaped vacuum pads which accompany the cans throughout an indexing route. An adjustable can-centering guide positions each can on the center of one of the vacuum pads to insure eventual alignment with spray guns at two spray stations downstream. A spinner-drive belt encircles a turret and forms a substantially continuous rotational drive for spinning the can-bearing vacuum pads. The vacuum means comprises a vacuum manifold in the rear of the turret and has a manifold groove for vacuum communication with the can through the vacuum pad. As the can-bearing vacuum pads pass along the manifold groove, the cans, being securely centered on the vacuum pads, rotate at the same velocity as the belt-drive vacuum pads.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENI ION
The interiors of can bodies must be coated to pro-tect against corrosion and to insure quality control of the product. For efficient processing of millions of such cans, it is imperative that the interior coating be applied rapidly, uniformly, and economically. To this end, indexing turrets have been employed wherein a coating spray is applied to can interiors as the open-ended cans are indexed past coating-spray guns located at one or more spray stations along the turret indexing route.
A common problem associated with current turret arrangements is the lengthy turret-dwell time required for satisfactorily spraying the interior of each can.
A further problem is the misalignment both of the can center with respect to the center of the can moving means a~d of the can interior with respect to the spray gun. Possi-ble adverse consequences of such misalignment include uneven spray application, spray buildup on some interior surfaces, waste of spray, and denting and damaging of the cans. -Inventions of earlier vintage sought to reduce the time spent at spray stations. Accordingly, rather than move nozzles around to spray all portions of a can's interior, cans were rotated to spread the spray around the can interior. Can rotation has generally been imparted by drive belts positioned tangentially to the can and in direct contact with the can exterior. However, direct contact with the drive belts has had a tendency to force the can from the center of its trans-port means, resulting in the undesirable misalignment dis-cussed above. Moreover, rotation of the can in most earlier devices has been inefficient since a delay has occurred while the can was being accelerated to a satisfactory rotational velocity at the spray station.
.' ~ ..
.
In general, as cans journey through a turret mechanism they are moved by a starwheel structure having either pockets or rollers for the cans, and, when a can is not securely centered on its transport means as it is carried through the turret arrangement, there is the hazard of denting and damaging the cans, which are made as light weight as possible.
Another prior-art problem relates to overspray.
~lat is, since manufacturers have had no assurance of con-sistent, accurate can alignment, they have had to increase the spray dosage to maintain a satisfactory coating on the can interiors. At times, therefore, this excess spray builds up unpredictably and uneconomically in the can interior, and some excess spray must be drawn away through a vent stack ; and wasted.
The prior art has endeavored to combat the above problems by firmly mounting the can at the spray stations by use of a vacuum meansO However, the vacuum mounts have occurred only at the spray station with little or no assur-ance of accurate can centering with respect to the transport mechanism or the spray gun.
In view of the above problems, an object of this invention is to provide a can spraying apparatus which will economically and uniformly distribute a coating on can in-teriors.
Another object of this invention is to increase the turret-indexing frequency by eliminating the time here-tofore wasted by a rotational "warm up" at or proximate the spray station.
~ further object of this invention is the reduction of can damage and can dents that have resulted from prior can-spraying devices.
~i Z73~
Still another object of the invention is to reduce the amount of spray required for coating can interiors, and, even another object of the invention is the reduction of waste by reducing the amount of overspray.
SUMMARY
Cans are sucked by vacuum means onto rotating, disc-shaped vacuum pads which accompany the cans throughout an indexing route. An adjustable can-centering guide positions each can on the center of one of the vacuum pads to insure eventual alignment with spray guns at two spray stations downstream. A spinner-drive belt encircles a turret and forms a substantially continuous rotational drive for spinning the can-bearing vacuum pads. The vacuum means com-prises a vacuum manifold in the rear of the turret and has a manifold groove for vacuum communieation with the can through the vacuum pad. As the can-bearing vaeuum pads pass along the manifold groove, the eans, being seeurely centered on the vacuum pads, rotate at the same veloeity as the belt-drive vaeuum pads.
In aeeordanee with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for moving can bodies past a series of work stations; bottom engaging means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies at a first of said work stations said bottom engaging means permitting slidable positioning of said ean body thereon, means for spinning said bottom en-gaging means and thereby said ean bodies at said first work station, and means for continuously spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said can bodies solely by said botto~ engaging means whereby the sides of said can bodies ~ 30 are free of contact while spinning, as said can bodies are t moved past said series of work stations.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present :
~ .
~1~ z73~a invention there is provided a method of moving cans past a series of work stations including the steps of: engaging the bottoms of said cans by a bottom engaging means at a first of said work stations, including slidably positioning said can body on said bottom engaging means; spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans when said cans are engaged by said bottom engaging means at said first work station, indexing said cans past said series of work stations;
and continuously spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans solely by said bottom engaging means and keeping the sides of said cans free of contact while spinning, as said cans are indexed past said series of work stations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, features, and ad-vantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illus-trated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the various views.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a can-interior spray mechanism,according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 thereof and having cans added thereto.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the lines 3-3 thereof.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a vacuum-pocket plate and a vacuum manifold.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the lines 5-5 thereof.
FIGo 6 is a perspective view showing the position of cans within a can-interior spray mechanism of the invention.
. -3~
Referring to FIG. 1, a turret-indexing mechanism is generally denoted 20. An indexing shaft 22 in the center of the turret mechanism 20 imparts a counter-clockwise rotational motion as generated by a turret drive means located on a frame assembly not shown in FIG. 1. Since it is not the pur-pose of the present invention to focus on the turret drive means, such structure will not be further described at this time. It should be noted, however, that a purpose of this invention is to reduce the time which cans spend during spraying and, therefore, it is desirable to move them through the turret mechanism 20 as rapidly as practical.
Emanating from the indexing shaft 22 is a star-wheel 24 comprising a front starwheel plate 26 and a back starwheel plate 28 (best seen in FIG. 2). Each of the , plates 26 and 28 contains a plurality of starwheel pockets 30--the pockets of plate 26 being positionally aligned with pockets of plate 2~3. The starwheel pockets 30 accommodate the cans as they are ushered around the indexing route.
Hence, it is inconsequential whether the starwheel is of the pocket design (as shown) or of the conventional roller design.
In the figures, six starwheel pockets 30 are shown with the result that indexing occurs in 60 degree increments.
As displayed in FIGS. 1 and 6, during a turret-dwell period the starwheel pockets 30 are in significant positions corres-ponding to processing stations along the indexing route.
Specifically, the significant processing stations are denoted as infeed station 42, first spray station 44, and second spray station 46. The salient features of the present inven-tion can be applied to turret arrangements having more or less processing stations by substituting appropriate star-wheel plates with the desired number of pockets and by ad-justing the indexing driving means to index in the appropriate .
.. . .
~73~a increments.
Adjacent infeed station 42 is infeed chute 48 which supplies cans to the turret indexing arrangement 20.
The cans may be currently conventional drawn and ironed aluminum or steel can ~odies for beverages, open at one end and integxally closed at the other, or may be of other con-structions and materials for other products. The cans fall by gravity through infeed chute 48 in single file, pushing the can first in line into infeed station 42 as it becomes vacant. A timed release gate Snot shown) at the base of infeed chute 48 prevents jamming and prohibits entry of the first can in the infeed chute until a predetermined number of cans are stacked within the infeed chute.
A discharge chute generally denoted 50 includes a can-scoop rail 52 for removing the cans from the indexlng mechanism 20.
Behind starwheel 24 and firmly affixed to indexing shaft 22 is a disc-shaped vacuum-pocket plate 60 (see FIGS.
3, 4 and 5). Vacuum-pocket plate 60 has a diameter slightly greater than that of starwheel plates 26 and 28 so that its rim can be seen from the front of the turret-indexing mechanism in FIG. 1. A front surface 62 of vacuum-pocket plate 60 has a circular elevated collar portion 64 (see FIG.
5) surrounding a shaft engagement hole 66 which extends through the center of the vacuum-pocket plate 60.
Shaft-engagement hole 66 is notched at 68 through-out said hole, thereby permitting the vacuum-pocket plate 60 to receive indexing shaft 22 and to be locked thereon.
(See FIG. 4) Accordingly, vacuum-pocket plate 60 is~indexed at the same velocity as the starwheel 24.
A back surface 70 of vacuum-pocket plate 60 has a raised circular rib 72 along the circumference of the plate -.
60 in FIG. 5 and i5 concentric with shaft-engagement hole 66.
Rib 72 on vacuum-pocket plate 60 has six holes 74 bored therethrough in positions 60 degrees apart to correspond with the center of the six starwheel pockets 30. (See FIG.
4) Mounted on vacuum-pocket plate 60 between plate 60 and starwheel plate 28 are six steel disc-shaped vacuum pads 90. As seen in FIG. 1, the six vacuum pads 90 are aligned with the six starwheel pockets 30. During most of the turret route each vacuum pad 90 has a can sucked thereon and the pad accompanies the can throughout the indexing route.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the center of each vacuum pad 90 receives a hollow fastener, such as a hexagonal vacuum-pad bolt 92, through which a vacuum is communicated to the can riding on the pad. The vacuum-pad bolt 92 extends through the vacuum pad 90, through a vacuum-pad bearing 94 contained in the vacuum pad 90; through a vacuum-pad spacer 96 posi-tioned adjacent bearing 94: and, finally, through one of the six holes 74 bored through rib 72 of vacuum pocket plate 60.
In this manner, the vacuum pad 90 is free to spin while mounted on the vacuum-pocket plate 60, which is indexed with the star-wheel 24, while connected to the vacuum.
The vacuum pad further comprises a can-bearing ; surface 98 connected to two concentric annular ribs 100 and 102. External rib 100 contacts a spinner-drive belt 104 which imparts a rotational force to spin the vacuum pad 90.
Internal rib 102 is notched to receive beveled retainer ring 106, thereby forming a circular cavity in the vacuum pad 90 which houses vacuum-pad bearing 94.
As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, immediately behind vacuum pocket plate 60 is a kidney-shaped vacuum mani~old 120.
Vacuum-pocket plate 60, being locked to the rotating indexing ~ .
273~
shaft 22, skims a front surface 122 of vacuum manifold 120 during indexing. The stationary vacuum manifold 120, which is not coupled with the indexing shaft 22, is mounted within a frame assembly 23 as hereinafter detailed.
FIG. 1 reveals that the vacuum manifold 120 is positioned in the vicinity of infeed station 42; first spray station 44; and, second spray station 46. FIG. 4 (as well as FIG. 1) illustrates a semi-circular channel or vacuum-manifold groove 124 cut in the vacuum manifold 120 from point 126 to point 128. As shown in FIG. 1, point 126 resides slightly past the center of infeed station 42 as the turret indexes. Similarly, point 128 resides slightly past the center of second spray station 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum manifold groove 124 is 1/2 inch wide and extends 1/2 inch deep into the vacuum manifold 120.
A vacuum-pump interface hole 130 is radially bored into the vacuum manifold 120 to connect with the vacuum-manifold groove 124, thereby allowing communication with a vacuum source (not shown~ for maintaining the vacuum at 500 mm. mercury in a preferred embodiment. Also bored through the vacuum manifold are holes 132 and 134 (FIG. 5) for accom-modating vacuum-manifold stud bolt 136 and stud bolt 138, res-pectively, which anchor the vacuum manifold 120 in frame member 23 as seen in FIG. 4. Since hole 132 intersects the vacuum pump interface hole 130, vacuum-manifold stud bolt 136 is drilled per-pendicularly to the stud shaft to allow air passage through the bolt.
FIG. 5 exhibits the attachment of the vacuum mani-fold 120 wi~hin the frame member 23 by means of the vacuum-manifold stud bolt 136, washer 140, retaining spring 142, and screw cap 144. Although stud 138 is not drilled to faci-litate air passage, the manner of fixation is comparable.
Encircling the turret indexing arrangment 20 is spinner-drive belt 104 which loops around all vacuum pads . .
~ Z7;~4 except that particular vacuum pad which happens, at any given time, to be located at idle turret position 160 i~ FIG. 1.
Spinner-drive belt 104 also contacts drive pulley 162 of spinner-drive motor 164. In the illustrated embodiment spinner-drive belt 104 is a flat bélt approximately 1/2 inch wide and flexible enough to absorb the slight difference in belt length as indexing mechanism 2~ indexes through the different positions. Spinner-driver belt 104 forms a con-tinuous rotational drive for the vacuum ~ads 90 and the cans mounted thereon. The rotational speed of vacuum pads 90 can easily be changed by altering either the speed of the spinner-drive motor 164 or the size of drive pulley 162, The spinner-drive belt can be driven in either direction, but it is pre-ferred that its direction be opposite that of the starwheel.
The spinner-drive belt 104 can be driven at a relatively high velocity; and, in this manner, the vacuum ; pads 90 and the cans mounted thereon are rotated at high - velocity at the coating stations 44 and 46 so that more "wraps"
of spray (layers of coating) are delivered to the interior of the cans at the spray stations 44 and 46. This increased number of "wraps" provides a more uniform interior coating than has been obtained on cans using conventional spray ~truc-tures. That is, as will be described more fully later, the indexing mechanism 20 permits each can to dwell at the spray stations for a given period of time; and, the faster the cans are spun during that time, the more time a given point on th~ can's interior will pass a point on the spray pattern.
Attached to infeed chute 48 and positioned between infeed station 42 and first spray station 44 is a can-center-ing guide 180. A can-contacting surface 182 thereof forms a radial guide concentric with the center 184 of the indexing shaft 22. Adjustment screw 186 is used to selectively vary the radial distance from the center 184 of the indexing shaft _g_ ~1CI`~734 22 In this respect, the can-centering guide 180 can be pre-set by a dial indicator for reasons to be discussed more fully shortly. Similarly, a leg 183 to which centering guide 180 is attached is movable up and down in the direction of arrow 185 to adjust the overall distance of contacting sur-face 182 from center 184 and the rotating cans.
Other structural features of the can spray mech-anism include can sensors 190 and 191 for detecting the lo-cation of cans traveling through the indexing turret and initiating a timing sequence for spraying at first spray station 44 and second spray station 46. Each spray station is paire~ with a can sensor 190. W~en passing by spray stations 44 and 46, the cans are guarded but not contacted by turret-guard rail 192.- -FIG. 6 shows spray guns 194 and 196 positioned at first spray station 44 and second spray station 46 respec-tively. Spray guns 194 and 196 apply a thin, uniform coating to the interior of the open-ended cans as they are spun on vacuum pads 90 in the manner described above.
Focusing now on the operation of the can-interior spray mechanism, as the cans queue up in the infeed chute 48, gravity draws the first into the vacant starwheel pocket-30 at infeed station 42. FIG. 6 illustrates how the cans, in single file, push the lowermost can into infeed station 42 as that station becomes vacant during a turret dwell.
As a can falls into starwheel pocket 30 at infeed station 42, the can encounters front and back starwheel plates 26 and 28, as well as the vacuum pad 90. While in infeed station 42 the can is not rotating. Vacuum pad 90 is rotating, however, since it is driven by spinner-drive belt 104. The rotation of the vacuum pad 90 is not imparted to the can at this point, because the can is not in communica-tion with the vacuum while in infeed station 42.
As the turret begins to index in the counter-clockwise direction the first- of a sequence of significant steps occurs. That is, when the turret has indexed just a few degrees past infeed station 42, the vacuum pad 90 communicates with vacuum manifold 120 to promptly suck the can onto vacuum pad 90 at point 126 so that the can begins to spin with the same rotational velocity as the belt-driven vacuum pad 90. That is, vacuum from manifold 120 is deli-vered to pad 90 through hollow fastener 92 and hole 74 of vacuum-pocket plate 60. Hence, while the vacuum pad- 90, vacuum-pocket plate 60, and hole 74 ride over the vacuum- -~
manifold groove 124 from point 126 to point 128, the can is in continuous communication with the vacuum in vacuum mani-fold 120, an~, the can rotates continuously as it is moved between points 126 and 128.
The second significant step upon leaving infeed chute 42 is the centering of the can on the vacuum pad 90 by '~ means of can-centering guide 180. The can is centered on the vacuum pad 90 to reduce the quantity of spray required and the possibility of can damage as aforementioned. As the can encounters the can-centering guide 180, the outer dia-meter of the can rolls against the can-contacting surface 182 which is concentric with the center of the indexing shaft 184 and radially spaced therefrom so that clearance will be permitted only when the can is at the center of the vacuum pad 90. As vacuum pad 90 spins, can-contacting sur-face 182 keeps nudging the can to the center of vacuum pad 90. To move past the can-centering guide 180, the c,an diameter must be centered on the center o~ the vacuum pad 90 so that the loci of the outside surface of the can is con-centric with the can-contacting surface 182.
~ Z73~1 The third significant event occurring after de~
parture from the infeed chute 42 is the detection of the can by the can sensor 190 located between infeed chute 42 and first spray position 44. Upon detecting the can by photoelectric or other means, can sensor 190 triggers a timing sequence for the spray gun l94 in FI~. 6. Likewise, after the can has received a partial coat of spray at first spray station 44, can sensor 191, located between first station 44 and second spray station 46, is activated by the presence of the can and initiates a timing sequence for spray gun 196 at second spray--station 46.
Preferably the coating is partially applied at each station. That is, at station 44 spray gun 194 is aimed at the bottom of the can; and, at spray station 46 spray gun 196 concentrates on the cylindrical sides. Although some overlapping results, it has been found that this manner of spraying required less spray overall.
~s noted above, at each spray station the vacuum pad 90 and can mounted thereon are rotating since they are driven by spinner-drive belt 104: and, in a preferred embodiment the rotational speeds of the cans ranged between
The interiors of can bodies must be coated to pro-tect against corrosion and to insure quality control of the product. For efficient processing of millions of such cans, it is imperative that the interior coating be applied rapidly, uniformly, and economically. To this end, indexing turrets have been employed wherein a coating spray is applied to can interiors as the open-ended cans are indexed past coating-spray guns located at one or more spray stations along the turret indexing route.
A common problem associated with current turret arrangements is the lengthy turret-dwell time required for satisfactorily spraying the interior of each can.
A further problem is the misalignment both of the can center with respect to the center of the can moving means a~d of the can interior with respect to the spray gun. Possi-ble adverse consequences of such misalignment include uneven spray application, spray buildup on some interior surfaces, waste of spray, and denting and damaging of the cans. -Inventions of earlier vintage sought to reduce the time spent at spray stations. Accordingly, rather than move nozzles around to spray all portions of a can's interior, cans were rotated to spread the spray around the can interior. Can rotation has generally been imparted by drive belts positioned tangentially to the can and in direct contact with the can exterior. However, direct contact with the drive belts has had a tendency to force the can from the center of its trans-port means, resulting in the undesirable misalignment dis-cussed above. Moreover, rotation of the can in most earlier devices has been inefficient since a delay has occurred while the can was being accelerated to a satisfactory rotational velocity at the spray station.
.' ~ ..
.
In general, as cans journey through a turret mechanism they are moved by a starwheel structure having either pockets or rollers for the cans, and, when a can is not securely centered on its transport means as it is carried through the turret arrangement, there is the hazard of denting and damaging the cans, which are made as light weight as possible.
Another prior-art problem relates to overspray.
~lat is, since manufacturers have had no assurance of con-sistent, accurate can alignment, they have had to increase the spray dosage to maintain a satisfactory coating on the can interiors. At times, therefore, this excess spray builds up unpredictably and uneconomically in the can interior, and some excess spray must be drawn away through a vent stack ; and wasted.
The prior art has endeavored to combat the above problems by firmly mounting the can at the spray stations by use of a vacuum meansO However, the vacuum mounts have occurred only at the spray station with little or no assur-ance of accurate can centering with respect to the transport mechanism or the spray gun.
In view of the above problems, an object of this invention is to provide a can spraying apparatus which will economically and uniformly distribute a coating on can in-teriors.
Another object of this invention is to increase the turret-indexing frequency by eliminating the time here-tofore wasted by a rotational "warm up" at or proximate the spray station.
~ further object of this invention is the reduction of can damage and can dents that have resulted from prior can-spraying devices.
~i Z73~
Still another object of the invention is to reduce the amount of spray required for coating can interiors, and, even another object of the invention is the reduction of waste by reducing the amount of overspray.
SUMMARY
Cans are sucked by vacuum means onto rotating, disc-shaped vacuum pads which accompany the cans throughout an indexing route. An adjustable can-centering guide positions each can on the center of one of the vacuum pads to insure eventual alignment with spray guns at two spray stations downstream. A spinner-drive belt encircles a turret and forms a substantially continuous rotational drive for spinning the can-bearing vacuum pads. The vacuum means com-prises a vacuum manifold in the rear of the turret and has a manifold groove for vacuum communieation with the can through the vacuum pad. As the can-bearing vaeuum pads pass along the manifold groove, the eans, being seeurely centered on the vacuum pads, rotate at the same veloeity as the belt-drive vaeuum pads.
In aeeordanee with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for moving can bodies past a series of work stations; bottom engaging means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies at a first of said work stations said bottom engaging means permitting slidable positioning of said ean body thereon, means for spinning said bottom en-gaging means and thereby said ean bodies at said first work station, and means for continuously spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said can bodies solely by said botto~ engaging means whereby the sides of said can bodies ~ 30 are free of contact while spinning, as said can bodies are t moved past said series of work stations.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present :
~ .
~1~ z73~a invention there is provided a method of moving cans past a series of work stations including the steps of: engaging the bottoms of said cans by a bottom engaging means at a first of said work stations, including slidably positioning said can body on said bottom engaging means; spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans when said cans are engaged by said bottom engaging means at said first work station, indexing said cans past said series of work stations;
and continuously spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans solely by said bottom engaging means and keeping the sides of said cans free of contact while spinning, as said cans are indexed past said series of work stations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, features, and ad-vantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illus-trated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the various views.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a can-interior spray mechanism,according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 thereof and having cans added thereto.
FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along the lines 3-3 thereof.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a vacuum-pocket plate and a vacuum manifold.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the lines 5-5 thereof.
FIGo 6 is a perspective view showing the position of cans within a can-interior spray mechanism of the invention.
. -3~
Referring to FIG. 1, a turret-indexing mechanism is generally denoted 20. An indexing shaft 22 in the center of the turret mechanism 20 imparts a counter-clockwise rotational motion as generated by a turret drive means located on a frame assembly not shown in FIG. 1. Since it is not the pur-pose of the present invention to focus on the turret drive means, such structure will not be further described at this time. It should be noted, however, that a purpose of this invention is to reduce the time which cans spend during spraying and, therefore, it is desirable to move them through the turret mechanism 20 as rapidly as practical.
Emanating from the indexing shaft 22 is a star-wheel 24 comprising a front starwheel plate 26 and a back starwheel plate 28 (best seen in FIG. 2). Each of the , plates 26 and 28 contains a plurality of starwheel pockets 30--the pockets of plate 26 being positionally aligned with pockets of plate 2~3. The starwheel pockets 30 accommodate the cans as they are ushered around the indexing route.
Hence, it is inconsequential whether the starwheel is of the pocket design (as shown) or of the conventional roller design.
In the figures, six starwheel pockets 30 are shown with the result that indexing occurs in 60 degree increments.
As displayed in FIGS. 1 and 6, during a turret-dwell period the starwheel pockets 30 are in significant positions corres-ponding to processing stations along the indexing route.
Specifically, the significant processing stations are denoted as infeed station 42, first spray station 44, and second spray station 46. The salient features of the present inven-tion can be applied to turret arrangements having more or less processing stations by substituting appropriate star-wheel plates with the desired number of pockets and by ad-justing the indexing driving means to index in the appropriate .
.. . .
~73~a increments.
Adjacent infeed station 42 is infeed chute 48 which supplies cans to the turret indexing arrangement 20.
The cans may be currently conventional drawn and ironed aluminum or steel can ~odies for beverages, open at one end and integxally closed at the other, or may be of other con-structions and materials for other products. The cans fall by gravity through infeed chute 48 in single file, pushing the can first in line into infeed station 42 as it becomes vacant. A timed release gate Snot shown) at the base of infeed chute 48 prevents jamming and prohibits entry of the first can in the infeed chute until a predetermined number of cans are stacked within the infeed chute.
A discharge chute generally denoted 50 includes a can-scoop rail 52 for removing the cans from the indexlng mechanism 20.
Behind starwheel 24 and firmly affixed to indexing shaft 22 is a disc-shaped vacuum-pocket plate 60 (see FIGS.
3, 4 and 5). Vacuum-pocket plate 60 has a diameter slightly greater than that of starwheel plates 26 and 28 so that its rim can be seen from the front of the turret-indexing mechanism in FIG. 1. A front surface 62 of vacuum-pocket plate 60 has a circular elevated collar portion 64 (see FIG.
5) surrounding a shaft engagement hole 66 which extends through the center of the vacuum-pocket plate 60.
Shaft-engagement hole 66 is notched at 68 through-out said hole, thereby permitting the vacuum-pocket plate 60 to receive indexing shaft 22 and to be locked thereon.
(See FIG. 4) Accordingly, vacuum-pocket plate 60 is~indexed at the same velocity as the starwheel 24.
A back surface 70 of vacuum-pocket plate 60 has a raised circular rib 72 along the circumference of the plate -.
60 in FIG. 5 and i5 concentric with shaft-engagement hole 66.
Rib 72 on vacuum-pocket plate 60 has six holes 74 bored therethrough in positions 60 degrees apart to correspond with the center of the six starwheel pockets 30. (See FIG.
4) Mounted on vacuum-pocket plate 60 between plate 60 and starwheel plate 28 are six steel disc-shaped vacuum pads 90. As seen in FIG. 1, the six vacuum pads 90 are aligned with the six starwheel pockets 30. During most of the turret route each vacuum pad 90 has a can sucked thereon and the pad accompanies the can throughout the indexing route.
Referring now to FIG. 3, the center of each vacuum pad 90 receives a hollow fastener, such as a hexagonal vacuum-pad bolt 92, through which a vacuum is communicated to the can riding on the pad. The vacuum-pad bolt 92 extends through the vacuum pad 90, through a vacuum-pad bearing 94 contained in the vacuum pad 90; through a vacuum-pad spacer 96 posi-tioned adjacent bearing 94: and, finally, through one of the six holes 74 bored through rib 72 of vacuum pocket plate 60.
In this manner, the vacuum pad 90 is free to spin while mounted on the vacuum-pocket plate 60, which is indexed with the star-wheel 24, while connected to the vacuum.
The vacuum pad further comprises a can-bearing ; surface 98 connected to two concentric annular ribs 100 and 102. External rib 100 contacts a spinner-drive belt 104 which imparts a rotational force to spin the vacuum pad 90.
Internal rib 102 is notched to receive beveled retainer ring 106, thereby forming a circular cavity in the vacuum pad 90 which houses vacuum-pad bearing 94.
As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, immediately behind vacuum pocket plate 60 is a kidney-shaped vacuum mani~old 120.
Vacuum-pocket plate 60, being locked to the rotating indexing ~ .
273~
shaft 22, skims a front surface 122 of vacuum manifold 120 during indexing. The stationary vacuum manifold 120, which is not coupled with the indexing shaft 22, is mounted within a frame assembly 23 as hereinafter detailed.
FIG. 1 reveals that the vacuum manifold 120 is positioned in the vicinity of infeed station 42; first spray station 44; and, second spray station 46. FIG. 4 (as well as FIG. 1) illustrates a semi-circular channel or vacuum-manifold groove 124 cut in the vacuum manifold 120 from point 126 to point 128. As shown in FIG. 1, point 126 resides slightly past the center of infeed station 42 as the turret indexes. Similarly, point 128 resides slightly past the center of second spray station 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the vacuum manifold groove 124 is 1/2 inch wide and extends 1/2 inch deep into the vacuum manifold 120.
A vacuum-pump interface hole 130 is radially bored into the vacuum manifold 120 to connect with the vacuum-manifold groove 124, thereby allowing communication with a vacuum source (not shown~ for maintaining the vacuum at 500 mm. mercury in a preferred embodiment. Also bored through the vacuum manifold are holes 132 and 134 (FIG. 5) for accom-modating vacuum-manifold stud bolt 136 and stud bolt 138, res-pectively, which anchor the vacuum manifold 120 in frame member 23 as seen in FIG. 4. Since hole 132 intersects the vacuum pump interface hole 130, vacuum-manifold stud bolt 136 is drilled per-pendicularly to the stud shaft to allow air passage through the bolt.
FIG. 5 exhibits the attachment of the vacuum mani-fold 120 wi~hin the frame member 23 by means of the vacuum-manifold stud bolt 136, washer 140, retaining spring 142, and screw cap 144. Although stud 138 is not drilled to faci-litate air passage, the manner of fixation is comparable.
Encircling the turret indexing arrangment 20 is spinner-drive belt 104 which loops around all vacuum pads . .
~ Z7;~4 except that particular vacuum pad which happens, at any given time, to be located at idle turret position 160 i~ FIG. 1.
Spinner-drive belt 104 also contacts drive pulley 162 of spinner-drive motor 164. In the illustrated embodiment spinner-drive belt 104 is a flat bélt approximately 1/2 inch wide and flexible enough to absorb the slight difference in belt length as indexing mechanism 2~ indexes through the different positions. Spinner-driver belt 104 forms a con-tinuous rotational drive for the vacuum ~ads 90 and the cans mounted thereon. The rotational speed of vacuum pads 90 can easily be changed by altering either the speed of the spinner-drive motor 164 or the size of drive pulley 162, The spinner-drive belt can be driven in either direction, but it is pre-ferred that its direction be opposite that of the starwheel.
The spinner-drive belt 104 can be driven at a relatively high velocity; and, in this manner, the vacuum ; pads 90 and the cans mounted thereon are rotated at high - velocity at the coating stations 44 and 46 so that more "wraps"
of spray (layers of coating) are delivered to the interior of the cans at the spray stations 44 and 46. This increased number of "wraps" provides a more uniform interior coating than has been obtained on cans using conventional spray ~truc-tures. That is, as will be described more fully later, the indexing mechanism 20 permits each can to dwell at the spray stations for a given period of time; and, the faster the cans are spun during that time, the more time a given point on th~ can's interior will pass a point on the spray pattern.
Attached to infeed chute 48 and positioned between infeed station 42 and first spray station 44 is a can-center-ing guide 180. A can-contacting surface 182 thereof forms a radial guide concentric with the center 184 of the indexing shaft 22. Adjustment screw 186 is used to selectively vary the radial distance from the center 184 of the indexing shaft _g_ ~1CI`~734 22 In this respect, the can-centering guide 180 can be pre-set by a dial indicator for reasons to be discussed more fully shortly. Similarly, a leg 183 to which centering guide 180 is attached is movable up and down in the direction of arrow 185 to adjust the overall distance of contacting sur-face 182 from center 184 and the rotating cans.
Other structural features of the can spray mech-anism include can sensors 190 and 191 for detecting the lo-cation of cans traveling through the indexing turret and initiating a timing sequence for spraying at first spray station 44 and second spray station 46. Each spray station is paire~ with a can sensor 190. W~en passing by spray stations 44 and 46, the cans are guarded but not contacted by turret-guard rail 192.- -FIG. 6 shows spray guns 194 and 196 positioned at first spray station 44 and second spray station 46 respec-tively. Spray guns 194 and 196 apply a thin, uniform coating to the interior of the open-ended cans as they are spun on vacuum pads 90 in the manner described above.
Focusing now on the operation of the can-interior spray mechanism, as the cans queue up in the infeed chute 48, gravity draws the first into the vacant starwheel pocket-30 at infeed station 42. FIG. 6 illustrates how the cans, in single file, push the lowermost can into infeed station 42 as that station becomes vacant during a turret dwell.
As a can falls into starwheel pocket 30 at infeed station 42, the can encounters front and back starwheel plates 26 and 28, as well as the vacuum pad 90. While in infeed station 42 the can is not rotating. Vacuum pad 90 is rotating, however, since it is driven by spinner-drive belt 104. The rotation of the vacuum pad 90 is not imparted to the can at this point, because the can is not in communica-tion with the vacuum while in infeed station 42.
As the turret begins to index in the counter-clockwise direction the first- of a sequence of significant steps occurs. That is, when the turret has indexed just a few degrees past infeed station 42, the vacuum pad 90 communicates with vacuum manifold 120 to promptly suck the can onto vacuum pad 90 at point 126 so that the can begins to spin with the same rotational velocity as the belt-driven vacuum pad 90. That is, vacuum from manifold 120 is deli-vered to pad 90 through hollow fastener 92 and hole 74 of vacuum-pocket plate 60. Hence, while the vacuum pad- 90, vacuum-pocket plate 60, and hole 74 ride over the vacuum- -~
manifold groove 124 from point 126 to point 128, the can is in continuous communication with the vacuum in vacuum mani-fold 120, an~, the can rotates continuously as it is moved between points 126 and 128.
The second significant step upon leaving infeed chute 42 is the centering of the can on the vacuum pad 90 by '~ means of can-centering guide 180. The can is centered on the vacuum pad 90 to reduce the quantity of spray required and the possibility of can damage as aforementioned. As the can encounters the can-centering guide 180, the outer dia-meter of the can rolls against the can-contacting surface 182 which is concentric with the center of the indexing shaft 184 and radially spaced therefrom so that clearance will be permitted only when the can is at the center of the vacuum pad 90. As vacuum pad 90 spins, can-contacting sur-face 182 keeps nudging the can to the center of vacuum pad 90. To move past the can-centering guide 180, the c,an diameter must be centered on the center o~ the vacuum pad 90 so that the loci of the outside surface of the can is con-centric with the can-contacting surface 182.
~ Z73~1 The third significant event occurring after de~
parture from the infeed chute 42 is the detection of the can by the can sensor 190 located between infeed chute 42 and first spray position 44. Upon detecting the can by photoelectric or other means, can sensor 190 triggers a timing sequence for the spray gun l94 in FI~. 6. Likewise, after the can has received a partial coat of spray at first spray station 44, can sensor 191, located between first station 44 and second spray station 46, is activated by the presence of the can and initiates a timing sequence for spray gun 196 at second spray--station 46.
Preferably the coating is partially applied at each station. That is, at station 44 spray gun 194 is aimed at the bottom of the can; and, at spray station 46 spray gun 196 concentrates on the cylindrical sides. Although some overlapping results, it has been found that this manner of spraying required less spray overall.
~s noted above, at each spray station the vacuum pad 90 and can mounted thereon are rotating since they are driven by spinner-drive belt 104: and, in a preferred embodiment the rotational speeds of the cans ranged between
2,000 and 2,500 rpm. In this respect, the can speed can be adjusted by varying the size of drive pu~ley 162 or the speed of spinner-drive motor 164.
In any event, the faster the rotational velocity, the greater the number of spray wraps per unit of time in each can; and, the greater the number of wraps, the more even the coating application. Moreover, it should b~ appre-ciated that cans have customarily been "oversprayed" simply to provide a minimum coating thickness at all portions of their interior~ Hence, by providing a more uniform coating, less spray i~ required, less time is required at the spray 11~2734 stations, and, the unit can move faster.
Additionally, since the can is centered with respect to the vacuum pad 90 and the pre-set spray guns 194 a~d 196, little or no spray is lost or wasted due to mis-alignment of the spray gun and can.
In the above regard, it has been noted that prior systems have used driving belts to contact the can per-ipheries to rotate the cans during spraying. Those systems, however, have a tendency to push the cans against the star-wheel pocket or the like and displace the cans from the center of the spray pattern. The structure of the instant invention, however, permits the cans to be continuously spun without being moved out of the desired central alignment with the spray pattern. Hence, not only is a more uniform coating obtained, bu~ there is far less-overspray to go out a vent and pollute the atmosphere.
After the final coat of spray is applied at second spray station 46, the turret again indexes. When the turret has indexed just a few degrees Past the second spray station 46, the vacuum pad 90 and the can mounted thereon traverse point 128 on the vacuum-manifold groove 124. Since point 128 is the end of the vacuum-manifold groove 124, vacuum pad 90 and the can mounted thereon are severed from the vacuum.
At this point, the vacuum pad 90 continues to rotate since it is driven by spinner-drive belt 104. The can, itself is no longer secured to vacuum pad 90, but its rotational momentum causes it to continue to spin. At starwheel pocket 198 the can is stripped from vacuum pad 90 by can-scoop rail 52. The can then falls by gravity through the discharge chute 50.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments `Z734 thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alterations in form ana detail may be made therein without departing from the spiri-t and scope of the invention. For example, more rotating vacuum pads can be used, more spray stations can be employed; and, where steel cans are used, the bottom engaging means can be magnetic rather than the illustrated vacuum-type.
While present preferred embodiments of the inven-tion have been illustrated and described, it may be other-wise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
.
~ 14-,, .
SUP PLEMENTARY DI SC LOSURE
This supplementary disclosure relates to the following:
In summary, cans are held by vacuum, as discussed in the principle disclosure or alternatively by magnetic or other means, onto rotating, disc-shaped pads which accompany the cans throughout an indexing route. A can centering guide positions each can on the center of one of the pads to ensure eventual alignment with spray guns at two spray stations downstream. In a first embodiment, this can centering guide is an adjustable guide which contacts the can bodies. In a second embodiment, this guide is supplemented by or replaced by a guide forming a portlon of the pads. As with the use of the vacuum means, a spin~er-drive belt encircles a turret and forms a substantially continuous rotational drive for spinning the can bearing pads.
According to one aspect of the invention according to the supplementary disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for moving can bodies past a series of work stations comprising a generally disc-shaped bottom engaging means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies at the firs-t of said work stations, positioning means for centering the bottoms of said can bodies on said bottom engaging means, means for spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby spinning said can bodies without contacting the peripheries of said can bodies and means for indexing said bottom engaging means and thereby said can bodies past said series of work stations.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention according to the supplementary disclosure there is provided a method of moving can bodies past a series of work stations in-cluding the steps of engaging the bottoms of said can bodies by a generally disc-shaped bottom engaging means at a first of said work stations, centering said can bodies on said bottom engaging means, indexing said can bodies past said series of work stations and spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby spinning ll~n3~ -qaid can bodies without contacting the peripheries of said can bodie~ as ~aid can bodies are indexed past said series of work stations.
In a drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention according to the supplementary disclosure.
Figure 7 is a front view of a modified can interior spray mechanism, according to the invention, and Figure 8 i3 a partial ~ectional view, similar to Figure 3, of the modified can interior mechanism of Figure 7.
As discussed in the principle disclosure, the spinner drive belt 104 can be driven at a relatively high velocity causing the cans to rotate at high velocity. An important point to note is that the cans are rotated at this high speed without being driven by a mechanism in contact with their side walls.
This eliminates dents and other damage to the can bodies and/or the decorative printing which is often placed on the can bodies prior to their interior spray coating. This also eliminates the tendency for the can driving systems to force the cans out of alignment with the spray pattern and thus cause overcoating and undercoating of various regions of the cans.
A modified can transport mechanism is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. With one exception, to be noted below, this embodiment i~ identical in all respects to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 inclusive and operates in the same manner. Thus, ; while the coxresponding reference numerals have been repeated in Figurec 7 and 8, their operation need not be repeated.
The modi~ication of this embodiment concerns the vacuum pads 90. In this embodiment, the generally planar pads 90 include a guide boss 200. This boss 200 is generally disc-like, and is sized and shaped on its peripheral surfaces to permit a can body to fit thereover. The boss 200 is op~n at its center to the vacuum. The boss 200 may be attached to or formed as an integral portion of vacuum pads 90.
~ 1 6 , . ... . ... , , .. ... ~. , . ~ .. ........ ...... . . .
;Z734 When a can body is drawn by the vacuum to the vacuum pad 90, it is drawn from the starwheel 24. While the starwheel 24 does not alone always center the can body exactly on the pad 90, as previously mentioned in the principle disclosure, the deviation from center is, while not acceptable for spraying purposes, as mentioned above, not excessive. As the can body is drawn to vacuum pad 90, if it is not exactly centered when ... ,~
drawn to vacuum pad 90, it will rock on the guide boss 200. That i8, the can bottom will align itself on the guide boss 200, due to the vacuum and the spinning of the can body, so that the can bottom fits over the guide boss 200 and the can body is centered on the vacuum pad 90.
The guide boss 200 may be used in addition to the can centering guide 180. However, the guide bos~ 200 may replace the guide 180. When this is acomplished, there is no contact of the peripheral surfaces of the can bodies while they are rotating on the vacuum pads 90. This further reduces any change for damage to the can body or the decorative printing thereon.
~7 ' . ~ . __,. ............ . . .. .
In any event, the faster the rotational velocity, the greater the number of spray wraps per unit of time in each can; and, the greater the number of wraps, the more even the coating application. Moreover, it should b~ appre-ciated that cans have customarily been "oversprayed" simply to provide a minimum coating thickness at all portions of their interior~ Hence, by providing a more uniform coating, less spray i~ required, less time is required at the spray 11~2734 stations, and, the unit can move faster.
Additionally, since the can is centered with respect to the vacuum pad 90 and the pre-set spray guns 194 a~d 196, little or no spray is lost or wasted due to mis-alignment of the spray gun and can.
In the above regard, it has been noted that prior systems have used driving belts to contact the can per-ipheries to rotate the cans during spraying. Those systems, however, have a tendency to push the cans against the star-wheel pocket or the like and displace the cans from the center of the spray pattern. The structure of the instant invention, however, permits the cans to be continuously spun without being moved out of the desired central alignment with the spray pattern. Hence, not only is a more uniform coating obtained, bu~ there is far less-overspray to go out a vent and pollute the atmosphere.
After the final coat of spray is applied at second spray station 46, the turret again indexes. When the turret has indexed just a few degrees Past the second spray station 46, the vacuum pad 90 and the can mounted thereon traverse point 128 on the vacuum-manifold groove 124. Since point 128 is the end of the vacuum-manifold groove 124, vacuum pad 90 and the can mounted thereon are severed from the vacuum.
At this point, the vacuum pad 90 continues to rotate since it is driven by spinner-drive belt 104. The can, itself is no longer secured to vacuum pad 90, but its rotational momentum causes it to continue to spin. At starwheel pocket 198 the can is stripped from vacuum pad 90 by can-scoop rail 52. The can then falls by gravity through the discharge chute 50.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments `Z734 thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various alterations in form ana detail may be made therein without departing from the spiri-t and scope of the invention. For example, more rotating vacuum pads can be used, more spray stations can be employed; and, where steel cans are used, the bottom engaging means can be magnetic rather than the illustrated vacuum-type.
While present preferred embodiments of the inven-tion have been illustrated and described, it may be other-wise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
.
~ 14-,, .
SUP PLEMENTARY DI SC LOSURE
This supplementary disclosure relates to the following:
In summary, cans are held by vacuum, as discussed in the principle disclosure or alternatively by magnetic or other means, onto rotating, disc-shaped pads which accompany the cans throughout an indexing route. A can centering guide positions each can on the center of one of the pads to ensure eventual alignment with spray guns at two spray stations downstream. In a first embodiment, this can centering guide is an adjustable guide which contacts the can bodies. In a second embodiment, this guide is supplemented by or replaced by a guide forming a portlon of the pads. As with the use of the vacuum means, a spin~er-drive belt encircles a turret and forms a substantially continuous rotational drive for spinning the can bearing pads.
According to one aspect of the invention according to the supplementary disclosure, there is provided an apparatus for moving can bodies past a series of work stations comprising a generally disc-shaped bottom engaging means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies at the firs-t of said work stations, positioning means for centering the bottoms of said can bodies on said bottom engaging means, means for spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby spinning said can bodies without contacting the peripheries of said can bodies and means for indexing said bottom engaging means and thereby said can bodies past said series of work stations.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention according to the supplementary disclosure there is provided a method of moving can bodies past a series of work stations in-cluding the steps of engaging the bottoms of said can bodies by a generally disc-shaped bottom engaging means at a first of said work stations, centering said can bodies on said bottom engaging means, indexing said can bodies past said series of work stations and spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby spinning ll~n3~ -qaid can bodies without contacting the peripheries of said can bodie~ as ~aid can bodies are indexed past said series of work stations.
In a drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention according to the supplementary disclosure.
Figure 7 is a front view of a modified can interior spray mechanism, according to the invention, and Figure 8 i3 a partial ~ectional view, similar to Figure 3, of the modified can interior mechanism of Figure 7.
As discussed in the principle disclosure, the spinner drive belt 104 can be driven at a relatively high velocity causing the cans to rotate at high velocity. An important point to note is that the cans are rotated at this high speed without being driven by a mechanism in contact with their side walls.
This eliminates dents and other damage to the can bodies and/or the decorative printing which is often placed on the can bodies prior to their interior spray coating. This also eliminates the tendency for the can driving systems to force the cans out of alignment with the spray pattern and thus cause overcoating and undercoating of various regions of the cans.
A modified can transport mechanism is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. With one exception, to be noted below, this embodiment i~ identical in all respects to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6 inclusive and operates in the same manner. Thus, ; while the coxresponding reference numerals have been repeated in Figurec 7 and 8, their operation need not be repeated.
The modi~ication of this embodiment concerns the vacuum pads 90. In this embodiment, the generally planar pads 90 include a guide boss 200. This boss 200 is generally disc-like, and is sized and shaped on its peripheral surfaces to permit a can body to fit thereover. The boss 200 is op~n at its center to the vacuum. The boss 200 may be attached to or formed as an integral portion of vacuum pads 90.
~ 1 6 , . ... . ... , , .. ... ~. , . ~ .. ........ ...... . . .
;Z734 When a can body is drawn by the vacuum to the vacuum pad 90, it is drawn from the starwheel 24. While the starwheel 24 does not alone always center the can body exactly on the pad 90, as previously mentioned in the principle disclosure, the deviation from center is, while not acceptable for spraying purposes, as mentioned above, not excessive. As the can body is drawn to vacuum pad 90, if it is not exactly centered when ... ,~
drawn to vacuum pad 90, it will rock on the guide boss 200. That i8, the can bottom will align itself on the guide boss 200, due to the vacuum and the spinning of the can body, so that the can bottom fits over the guide boss 200 and the can body is centered on the vacuum pad 90.
The guide boss 200 may be used in addition to the can centering guide 180. However, the guide bos~ 200 may replace the guide 180. When this is acomplished, there is no contact of the peripheral surfaces of the can bodies while they are rotating on the vacuum pads 90. This further reduces any change for damage to the can body or the decorative printing thereon.
~7 ' . ~ . __,. ............ . . .. .
Claims (19)
1. Means for moving can bodies past a series of work stations;
bottom engaging means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies at a first of said work stations said bottom engaging means permitting slidable positioning of said can body thereon;
means for spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said can bodies at said first work station; and, means for continuously spinning said bottom en-gaging means and thereby said can bodies solely by said bottom engaging means whereby the sides of said can bodies are free of contact while spinning, as said can bodies are moved past said series of work stations.
bottom engaging means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies at a first of said work stations said bottom engaging means permitting slidable positioning of said can body thereon;
means for spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said can bodies at said first work station; and, means for continuously spinning said bottom en-gaging means and thereby said can bodies solely by said bottom engaging means whereby the sides of said can bodies are free of contact while spinning, as said can bodies are moved past said series of work stations.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 including vacuum means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies on said bottom engaging means.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom en-gaging means includes a plurality of pads mounted on an indexable turret; and, belt-drive means mounted around said turret and being operative to spin said pads.
4. The mechanism of claim 3 including a vacuum means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies on said bottom engaging means.
5. The mechanism of claim 1 including means for cen-tering said can bodies on said bottom engaging means.
6. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein said bottom en-gaging means are mounted on an indexable turret for moving said can bodies past said series of work stations; and, wherein said can-centering means includes means for centering said can bodies on said bottom engaging means so that the peripheries of said can bodies move along an arc that is concentric with the center of rotation of said turret.
7. The mechanism of claim 6 including means for ad-justing said can centering means to adjust the path of travel of said can bodies centering thereof with respect to the center of rotation of said turret.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 including vacuum means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies on said bottom engaging means.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bottom en-gaging means includes a plurality of pads mounted on an in-dexable turret; and, belt-drive means mounted around said turret and being operative to spin said pads.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 including vacuum means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies on said bottom engaging means.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 including spraying means located at a plurality of said work stations for spraying the interiors of said can bodies.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 including vacuum means for engaging the bottoms of said can bodies on said bottom engaging means.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said bottom en-gaging means includes a plurality of pads mounted on an in-dexable turret; and, belt-drive means mounted around said turret and being operative to spin said pads.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 including means for centering said can bodies on said bottom engaging means.
15. A method of moving cans past a series of work stations including the steps of:
engaging the bottoms of said cans by a bottom engaging means at a first of said work stations, including slidably positioning said can body on said bottom engaging means;
spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans when said cans are engaged by said bottom engaging means at said first work stations;
indexing said cans past said series of work stations; and continuously spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans solely by said bottom engaging means and keeping the sides of said cans free of contact while spinning, as said cans are indexed past said series of work stations.
engaging the bottoms of said cans by a bottom engaging means at a first of said work stations, including slidably positioning said can body on said bottom engaging means;
spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans when said cans are engaged by said bottom engaging means at said first work stations;
indexing said cans past said series of work stations; and continuously spinning said bottom engaging means and thereby said cans solely by said bottom engaging means and keeping the sides of said cans free of contact while spinning, as said cans are indexed past said series of work stations.
16. The method of claim 15 including the step of holding said can bottoms onto said bottom engaging means by means of a vacuum.
17. The method of claim 15 including the step of spin-ning said cans by spinning said bottom engaging means with which said cans are engaged so that the can walls are not abraded by said spinning means during operations upon said cans at said work stations.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein said cans are rotated past said series of work stations and including the step of:
centering the walls of said cans so that said walls move in an arc that is concentric with the center of rotation of said cans past said work stations.
centering the walls of said cans so that said walls move in an arc that is concentric with the center of rotation of said cans past said work stations.
19. The method of claim 15 including the step of spraying the interiors of said cans at a plurality of said work stations.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US86544677A | 1977-12-29 | 1977-12-29 | |
| US865,446 | 1977-12-29 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1102734A true CA1102734A (en) | 1981-06-09 |
Family
ID=25345524
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA316,757A Expired CA1102734A (en) | 1977-12-29 | 1978-11-23 | Can transport |
Country Status (10)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6050503B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU524589B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7808524A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1102734A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2853669A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2413295A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2011337B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1100874B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX147624A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7812375A (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS56130257A (en) * | 1980-03-19 | 1981-10-13 | Hokkai Can Co Ltd | Repair painting method of tin body and its device |
| FR2504032B1 (en) * | 1981-04-15 | 1985-11-29 | Haut Rhin Manufacture Machines | CONTINUOUS PROCESSING MACHINE, PARTICULARLY VARNISHING CONTINUOUSLY OF BODY OF REVOLUTION |
| DE3924651A1 (en) * | 1989-07-26 | 1991-02-07 | Kronseder Maschf Krones | Transport arrangement for containers in handling machines - has drive belt enclosing belt pulleys which turn transport elements, e.g. for labelling or inspection machines |
| JPH03279156A (en) * | 1990-03-23 | 1991-12-10 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Ejecting device for conveyer |
| JPH04125241U (en) * | 1991-05-02 | 1992-11-16 | 稔 大山 | sorting device |
| CN109279323B (en) * | 2018-09-19 | 2024-02-20 | 东莞市焦点自动化科技有限公司 | Material wheel type CCD vision feeding machine |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3452709A (en) * | 1966-01-10 | 1969-07-01 | Coors Porcelain Co | Machine for coating interior of containers |
| US3977358A (en) * | 1975-05-08 | 1976-08-31 | Alphonse Stroobants | Can feeding and coating apparatus |
| US4051805A (en) * | 1975-11-11 | 1977-10-04 | Amchem Products, Inc. | Can washing and coating system |
-
1978
- 1978-11-23 CA CA316,757A patent/CA1102734A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-11-29 AU AU42039/78A patent/AU524589B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-12-13 DE DE19782853669 patent/DE2853669A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-12-14 MX MX175997A patent/MX147624A/en unknown
- 1978-12-19 JP JP53157365A patent/JPS6050503B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-12-20 NL NL7812375A patent/NL7812375A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1978-12-27 BR BR7808524A patent/BR7808524A/en unknown
- 1978-12-29 FR FR7837011A patent/FR2413295A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1978-12-29 GB GB7850311A patent/GB2011337B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-12-29 IT IT31445/78A patent/IT1100874B/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| IT1100874B (en) | 1985-09-28 |
| NL7812375A (en) | 1979-07-03 |
| GB2011337A (en) | 1979-07-11 |
| FR2413295A1 (en) | 1979-07-27 |
| DE2853669A1 (en) | 1979-07-05 |
| MX147624A (en) | 1983-01-03 |
| AU4203978A (en) | 1979-07-05 |
| AU524589B2 (en) | 1982-09-23 |
| JPS5494535A (en) | 1979-07-26 |
| BR7808524A (en) | 1979-08-28 |
| IT7831445A0 (en) | 1978-12-29 |
| JPS6050503B2 (en) | 1985-11-08 |
| GB2011337B (en) | 1982-08-18 |
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