EP2558231B1 - Arrangement for forming a band loop and process and apparatus for producing tear-open lids - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an arrangement for forming a belt loop between a unwound drivable tape supply roll and a tape feed device. In particular, the assembly is used in a method of manufacturing tear-open covers, comprising forming a plurality of parallel rows of metal lid rings, progressively conveying the lid members to a plurality of processing stations, and feeding a film strip from a supply roll to the lid rings and punching Film sections and the application and heat sealing of the film sections on the cover rings in a punching and sealing processing station takes place, wherein in the film strip by means of a hollow cylinder of the arrangement a film strap loop is formed, which comes to lie between the film roll and the collection of the film strip in the punching and sealing processing station , In this case, a movement of the hollow cylinder is limited by a cross bar. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for the production of tear-open lids with an arrangement according to the invention.

background

It is known to carry out lids for can or box-like packaging on the top of the package permanently attached metal lid, which form a removal opening, which is closed until the first use of the packaging content with a heat-seal applied, tear-off film, in particular metal foil. An additional, arranged over the metal lid plastic lid makes the packaging during the period of use for their contents closed again. Devices for producing such metal lid are described below with reference to the FIG. 5 explained in more detail. The FIGS. 6 to 12 serve to explain manufacturing steps in the production of such covers. The tear-off film is withdrawn during manufacture as a broad film web from a tape supply roll and introduced into the punching and sealing stations or guided over the lid parts. To provide a tape supply for the collection of the film strip in the punching and heat sealing processing station, one or more so-called dancer roller systems are used, which can, however, at high production cadences problems in the stepwise film transport, especially in thin film strips. Belt loops of conventional type are generated by the control of the drive of the unwinding tape supply roll and regulated, for example, by means of a distance sensor which measures the distance of the loop from the stationary sensor. For strongly changing pull-in lengths at high belt speeds, this is costly in terms of drive or results in unsatisfactory results. In DE-A 40 02 194 it is proposed to form a belt loop by means of an air flow.

U.S. 4,842,681 discloses a device in which a strip of material is unwound from a supply roll and processed in a further plant. Between the supply roll and the system, the strip of material is guided with a loop, which results from a cylinder acting on the strip in order to reduce or increase the extent of the loop.

DE 43 27 670 A1 discloses a device in which a film is unwound from a supply reel and cut in a cutting machine, with a loop of the film strip being formed therebetween. In this case, a rod is placed on the film strip, which is displaceable by means of suitable bearings vertically on rails in order to increase the size of the loop or to reduce. In this case, the vertical path of the rod is monitored by means of sensors, whereby an upper and a lower displacement limit of the rod are defined.

Presentation of the invention

The invention is based on the object to provide an arrangement with which a belt loop can be provided in a simple manner, which works safely even at high production cadences with gradual tape transport and in a variety of film materials.

This object is achieved with an arrangement according to claim 1.

It has been shown that a stable belt loop can be achieved even under the conditions mentioned by the hollow cylinder, which can move freely within limits, which thus temporarily rests loosely on the belt and forms the lower deflection of the belt loop. In this way, plastic films or laminate films or aluminum foils with belt speeds of 60 meters / min. and stroke from 50 to 150 millimeters per stroke very easy to handle, which allows the use of the arrangement in the production of high-speed tear-open lids.

The fact that through the hollow cylinder a horizontally extending, held on both sides in the side walls crossbar, which limits the free movement of the hollow cylinder, runs, results in a particularly simple travel restriction for the hollow cylinder. It is preferred that the cross bar is arranged vertically displaceable in each vertical slot guide in the side walls in order to restrict the freedom of movement of the hollow cylinder in the vertical direction. The diameter and also the material of the hollow cylinder can be chosen differently. So the diameter can be chosen eg 20 cm or bigger. As a material in particular plastic comes into question.

The invention is further based on the object to provide a method and an apparatus for the production of tear-open, in which the advantageous arrangement for obtaining the belt loop is used. This is achieved by the method according to claim 8 or the device according to claim 11.

In this case, the film strip is preferably viewed horizontally and in plan view with its longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the cover parts fed into the punching and sealing processing station with partly uneven step lengths.

With the rectangular feed of the film web can be achieved in comparison to the conventional oblique feed a film savings of about 20%. However, the straight feed results in more than two parallel rows of lids a widely varying step length of the film strip feed. The stabilization of the film strap loop by means of the arrangement makes it possible to handle the film or large step length variations even at high feed rates.

Brief description of the drawings

• Figur 1 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anordnung gemäss der Erfindung im Einsatz zwischen einer Bandvorratsrolle und einem Bandeinzug;
• Figur 2 die Anordnung von Figur 1 mit dem vom Band angehobenen Hohlzylinder;
• Figur 3 die Anordnung gemäss Figur 1 in schaubildlicher Darstellung;
• Figur 4 eine Seitenansicht der Anordnung mit einer anderen Stellung des Hohlzylinders;
• Figur 5 eine schematische Seitenansicht einer bekannten Vorrichtung zur Förderung und Herstellung von Aufreissdeckeln; und
• Figur 6 bis Figur 12 Sektoren von Metalldeckeln zur Erläuterung der Deckelherstellung.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and the production of tear-open is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. It shows

• FIG. 1 a schematic side view of an embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention in use between a tape supply roll and a tape feed;
• FIG. 2 the arrangement of FIG. 1 with the lifted from the belt hollow cylinder;
• FIG. 3 the arrangement according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view;
• FIG. 4 a side view of the arrangement with a different position of the hollow cylinder;
• FIG. 5 a schematic side view of a known device for the promotion and production of tear-open; and
• FIG. 6 to FIG. 12 Sectors of metal lids to explain the manufacture of lids.

Way (s) for carrying out the invention

The FIGS. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of an inventive arrangement 1. This is provided and configured to form a belt loop 7 in a band 6. The belt 6 is driven unwound from a supply roll 2 and then passes into the assembly 1. After this, the belt is conveyed by a feeder 4, which belongs to a device in which the belt is used or processed. An example of such a device will be explained below. The unwinding of the tape supply roll is usually carried out at a uniform speed or can be adjusted only relatively slowly via the drive 19 to rapid changes in speed of the intake device 4. In particular, the drawing-in device 4 can bring about a gradual introduction of the strip with changing catchment lengths. The arrangement 1 has the purpose on the belt loop 7 to compensate for the Einzugsschwankungen in speed and / or Einzugsschrittlänge by the loop forms an easily retractable strip material supply. This is known in principle.

There is provided a drive 19, not shown in detail, which is formed for example by an electric motor. The person skilled in such drives are known, so that no further information must be made here. The drive 19 can be done by the control of the device with the intake device 4 in order to adapt the tape processing to the tape needs. It can also be a sensor 19 ', in particular in the form of a distance sensor, be provided, whereby the drive 19 can respond to the increase in length or length decrease of the loop. The sensor signals can be delivered to the controller of the device and processed there for the control of the drive 19 or they can be delivered to a directly associated with the drive control to supplement the control signals from the device. The arrangement 1 has two side walls 8 and 9, which consist for example of plastic or metal. There is a hollow cylinder 10 is provided, which lies on the tape and the deflection of the same forms and thus supports the loop formation and thus determines the Abwicklungsreserve. The diameter of the hollow cylinder can be chosen differently. The hollow cylinder may for example consist of plastic, in particular of polymethyl methacrylate (abbreviated PMMA, colloquially acrylic glass). It can also be a material with a higher specific weight can be selected to achieve a greater bias, such as aluminum. The hollow cylinder preferably has the illustrated circular cross section, but could also have an oval or polygonal cross section. The hollow cylinder is guided substantially flush with its end faces between the side walls, so that it can move freely between the side walls without tilting relative to the side walls. The hollow cylinder is free to a limited extent in its movement, so that it can move freely in the direction of tape travel and perpendicular thereto by a predetermined amount. This amount depends on the diameter and depends on the processing. The restriction of movement can be limited by any means acting on the hollow cylinder. For this purpose is acted on the inside of the hollow cylinder by means of a cross bar 11, which is arranged horizontally lying between the side walls and extends through the hollow cylinder therethrough. The crossbar 11 may be arranged fixed in the side walls or preferably guided vertically displaceable therein. For this purpose, the illustrated vertical slot guides 12, 12 'may be provided.

In the FIGS. 1 and 3 the hollow cylinder 10 is shown in its vertical lowermost position. He lies with his inner wall on the crossbar 11, which in turn is located at the bottom of the slot guides. Now withdraws the collection device 4 more tape off, is handled as driven by the supply roll, so the belt loop shortens, causing the hollow cylinder is deflected from the illustrated bottom layer. He is free in his movement between the side walls. It has been shown that by such a freely movable hollow cylinder, which thus within the free mobility only with its weight (which is adaptable by diameter selection and / or choice of material of the hollow cylinder) rests on the tape and forms the deflection and causes the bias of the tape , even very thin and light foil bands are very good as a loop handle. The free mobility of the hollow cylinder through the band, however, is limited by the crossbar 11. If the path length of the free mobility is used up (which results here through the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder), contacted in this embodiment, the hollow cylinder first, the cross bar 11, whereby its free mobility is used up and is also reduced laterally. This position is in FIG. 3 shown. If more ribbon is drawn in than unwound, the hollow cylinder pulls the cross bar upwards. This is in FIG. 4 clearly visible. Here, a position is shown in which more tape has been drawn by the retractor 4 for a certain time, as has been supplied by the tape supply roll, so that the loop 7 has shortened so far that the hollow cylinder 10 has been pushed up and while the crossbar 11 in their slot guides 12, 12 'has also moved upwards. The upper end of the slot guides 12, 12 'would also limit this upward movement. If the feeder device subsequently pulls in less strip than is supplied by the supply roll, or if the drive of the supply roll is adjusted or regulated in such a way that more strip is unwound per unit of time, the loop 7 extends again and the hollow cylinder lying on the strip lengthens moves back down, maximum in the Position of FIGS. 1 and 2 , A further extension of the loop should be prevented by the control of the drive of the supply roll 2, since the belt or the loop 7 should not run through the assembly 1 without the stabilizing effect of the hollow cylinder.

In the embodiments shown, the arrangement has an upper inlet-side band deflection 14 and an upper outlet-side band deflection 15. The tape deflections are arranged at the top of the side walls. The deflections may be rollers that rotate with the tape. But it can also be provided non-rotating deflections. Preferably, adjustable lateral boundaries are provided for the band so that it runs in a defined position over the band deflections 14, 15. In the embodiment shown, axially displaceable and fixable thrust washers 14 'and 14 "on the band deflection 14 and 15' and 15" on the band deflection 15 are provided on the respective deflection 14 and 15, respectively. These thrust washers, after loosening their attachment, are adjusted in their spacing to the width of the belt and then re-attached to form lateral boundaries for the belt.

As an alternative to the tape guide shown on the inlet-side deflection 14 of the arrangement 1, the tape can on the inlet side via a deflection 16 (FIG. FIG. 3 ) are guided, so that the tape from the supply roll 2 under the guide roller 16 and the hollow cylinder 10 extends. The arrangement 1 is preferably fastened by adjustable fastening means 17, 18 to the carriers 5 and 3 for the supply roll 2. The adjustability makes it possible to adjust the spacing of the arrangement 1 in the horizontal direction from the carriers 5, 3. The preferred use of the arrangement in the production of tear-open lids will now be explained. In this case, the tape present on the supply roll 2 is the tear-open film material from which the tear-open film is punched out for each cover. Based on Figures 5 until 12 Briefly, processing devices and production steps for the production of metal lids with tear-off foil according to the prior art are explained. FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a known device 21, which has a plurality of processing stations 23 to 28 and a further station 29 on a machine frame 22. A conveyor for the lid parts is according to a preferred embodiment, a linear conveyor, as they are made WO2006 / 042426 is known. This linear conveyor is designed for conveying lid-shaped objects of the type described below by means of a toothed belt and is suitable for a very rapid promotion and lid production. At the opposite and synchronously moving timing belt opposite receptacles for the cover parts are provided. The conveyor device is used for cyclically conveying the lid parts or covers to the individual processing stations, as will be explained below. In the FIG. 5 shown conveying device conveys the lid parts or the finished lid with tear-off in the conveying direction, which is indicated by the arrow C, from the beginning of the device at the stack 31 to the end of the device where the lid via slides into the trays 36 or 37 arrive. From the stack 31 lid parts are stacked in a known manner and get into the conveyor. The conveyor shown has a different construction than the preferred linear conveyor according to WO2006 / 042426 and will be briefly explained here. There are two each individually laterally of the lid parts or lid arranged long rails are provided which raise the shelves or in the stations 23 to 29 cover parts or covers when lifting the rods by means of the drive in the direction A upwards and then by a forward movement in the direction of arrow B (rectified as the arrow C) by the crank drive by an amount forward. After that the rods are moved in the direction of the arrow A downwards with the lid parts or lids are in turn stored on their filing points. The rods are then moved below the storage positions in the direction of arrow B against the arrow C backwards to then perform the process described again. The cover parts or cover rest between the transport on their storage positions or are located in the processing stations and are processed there. After a processing step of all processing stations, the renewed promotion. FIG. 6 shows stacked metal lid blanks 120 as an example of lid parts as they are in the stack 31. These blanks 120 are eg round metal discs of eg 11 cm diameter. Of course, other basic shapes, such as square or rectangular discs and other diameters are readily possible. The blanks 120 are already in a processing machine, not shown, at its edge as in FIG. 5 shown preformed. In the FIG. 6 and the following figures, only one sector of the entire disk is shown to simplify the drawings. In the first processing station 23 of FIG. 5 is punched by punching with top and bottom tool an opening 129 in the disc, which in FIG. 7 can be seen, in which the edge of the opening is denoted by 121 and the punched round disc with 127. This disc is discharged as waste. The punching processing station 23 is - as is the case with the other stations - driven by a drive 115. At the processing station 24, the edge 121 is pulled down, whereby the in FIG. 8 shown course 122 of the edge is achieved. The annular blank blanks 120 now pass into the punching and processing station 25, in which the tear film 125 is placed over the opening of the lid 120 and fixed there by heat sealing, resulting in the FIGS. 9 and 10 is apparent. The tearing film 125 is preferably a laminate film or is an aluminum foil and is provided in known manner on its underside with a plastic layer. The required foil blank 125 is punched in the station 25 from a wide film web and placed over the central recess of the annular disc and the film is pressed by heat sealing at the edge of the circular recess of the part 120 under heat, so that the film 125 with the metal lid 120 is sealed by melting and subsequent cooling of the plastic layer. This is known and will not be explained here. It can also be provided that the tear-open film in the punching and processing station 25 is only pre-sealed and subsequently sealed in a further heat-sealing station. At most, a cooling processing station 27 may be provided for cooling. In a processing station 28, the film 125 can be embossed 124 (FIG. FIG. 11 ), and the edge 122 is further crimped to the finished edge 123. In a test station 29, the now finished covers are subjected to a test, which usually includes the below-explained in more detail density test for the applied on the lid liner 25. If the film is tightly attached to the rest of the metal lid, the lid enters the receptacle for the finished lid. If a leak is detected, the lid passes over the other slide shown in the waste container.

With the above-mentioned linear conveying device, the lid parts or lids can be conveyed at high speeds of, for example, 200 objects per minute and with reproducible partial steps between the stations. It also results in a flexible concept for a large format range of the items or lid, which may range from 50 to 200 mm in diameter for round lids and also include various rectangular formats for example for the usual fish cans can. The conveyor is also designed as a compact module especially for multi-lane construction. In combination with such a production of high cadence lids, the arrangement for forming the belt loop can be used particularly advantageously. However, it can also be used in other devices in which a belt loop must be created.

When handling a film strip to be unwound from a supply roll, which is drawn stepwise into a drawing-in device, a film loop is produced. So that this can take place without interference at high production cadences, an arrangement is provided in which a hollow cylinder loosely rests with limited freedom of movement to form the belt loop on the tape. Such an arrangement is preferably provided in the manufacture of tear-open lids, in which a foil strip is unwound from a supply roll and fed to a punching and sealing station.

Claims (13)

1. Arrangement (1) provided and adapted to form a band loop (7) between a band delivery spool (2) which is actuated for uncoiling and an actuated drawing-in device (4) for a stepwise drawing-in of a band (6), characterized in that the arrangement has two side walls (8, 9) between which the band runs, and a hollow cylinder (10) which is guided on each of its end faces through a respective side wall of the arrangement and is loosely movable to a predetermined extent between the side walls, wherein the free movement of the hollow cylinder (10) is limited by a horizontal running transversal bar (11) which is supported on both sides in the side walls and which runs through the hollow cylinder, wherein the hollow cylinder is intended to come to lie on the band (6) during operation of the arrangement and to deflect the band as a loop (7), wherein the hollow cylinder (10) lies on the band with its weight only.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the transversal bar (11) is arranged in a vertically slidable way in vertical groove guidances (12, 12') in the side walls (8, 9).
3. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 2, characterized in that a drawing-in-sided and an exit-sided band deflector (14, 15) are provided above the side walls.
4. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 2, characterized in that a band deflector (16) is provided on the drawing-in side in front of the side walls and on the exit side a band deflector (15) is provided above the side walls.
5. Arrangement according to one of the claims 3 or 4, characterized in that lateral limiters (14', 14", 15', 15") which are adjustable to the width of the band at the deflectors are provided for the band.
6. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has attachment means (17, 18) for an attachment to the support (3, 5) of the band delivery spool, by means of which the distance of the arrangement (1) to the band delivery spool (2) is adjustable in band transport direction.
7. Arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a contactless sensor (19') for determining the position of the band loop, particularly a distance sensor for determining the vertical distance of the band loop from the sensor.
8. Method for manufacturing peel-off lids by using an arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps of

   - forming a row or a plurality of parallel rows of lid rings made of metal, wherein a stepwise linear transport of the lid parts to a plurality of processing stations is carried out,

   - stepwise delivering a foil band from a band delivery spool to the lid rings and stamping out of foil sections as well as applying and heat sealing the foil sections onto the lid rings in a stamping and sealing processing station, wherein a band loop, which comes to lie between the band delivery spool and the drawing-in device of the foil band in the stamping and sealing processing station, is formed in the foil band by means of a hollow cylinder (10) of the arrangement, wherein the free movement of the hollow cylinder (10) is limited by a horizontal running transversal bar (11) which is supported on both sides in the side walls and which runs through the hollow cylinder.
9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that

   - the foil band is supplied to the stamping and sealing processing station with partially unequal step lengths and, as seen horizontally and from the top, with its longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the lid parts.
10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the stepwise linear transport of the lid parts is carried out on a transport device with toothed belts and tappets.
11. Device for manufacturing peel-off lids with an arrangement according to one of the claims 1 to 7, comprising a transport device provided for a stepwise, linear transport of lid parts to a plurality of subsequent processing stations, under which a stamping and sealing processing station is provided, which is adapted to stamp out foil sections as well as to apply and heat seal the foil sections onto the lid rings, and a foil band delivery which is provided for stepwise delivering a foil band from a band delivery spool to the stamping and sealing processing station, wherein a foil band loop is generated by the arrangement, which comes to lie between the band delivery spool and the drawing-in device of the foil web in the stamping and sealing processing station.
12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the foil band delivery is arranged in such a way that the foil band is supplied to the stamping and sealing processing station, as seen horizontally and from the top, with its longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the lid parts.
13. Device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a transport device with lid part trays formed by toothed belts and tappets is provided for the stepwise linear transport of the lid parts.

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