EP3053833B2 - Device for closing of metal containers with an insert lid and securing it with a clamp ring - Google Patents

Description

The subject of the invention is a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Devices for closing containers with a plug-in lid are known from the prior art. The containers are mainly welded containers, the contents of which are often not used up all at once, i.e. the container must always be able to be closed airtight with the plug-in lid after a part of the product has been removed. For this purpose, insert lids are used, the edge of which extends axially over a relatively large height, for example 15 or 20 mm, and in this area lies flush against the inside of the container opening on the upper edge. In order to give the container and the lid edge increased rigidity and to avoid sharp edges, the edges are rolled up on the container and the lid and a so-called roll flange is formed. When the lid is inserted, the two flanged edges come to lie essentially radially next to one another, i.e. the rolled edge of the lid comes to lie radially outside the rolled edge of the container. Under normal conditions, the connection between the container and the inserted lid represents a secure closure of the container. often have to be transported over long distances and can tip over during transport due to careless handling or, if they are stacked, fall onto the floor from a relatively great height, securing means connecting the lid to the container must also be provided. A securing device that has been known for a long time is achieved by a clamping ring which encompasses the flanges of the container and the lid in a C-shape from the outside and also engages under the inside flange of the container from below. These clamping rings, which have a C-shaped cross-section, overlap at their ends, i.e. the stretched length of the clamping rings is greater than the circumference of the container or the lid. The two end areas of the clamping ring are connected to one another in the overlapping area. In the case of non-reclosable clamping rings, an opening is punched out at one end and at the other end an outwardly directed tab is formed on the clamping ring by means of a punching and bending operation, which tab protrudes outward through the opening. The two ends are firmly connected to each other by a locking pin. Such a clamping ring cannot be closed again without mechanical assistance. For this reason, clamping rings have long been known in which a lock formed by a lever and pulling the two ends together, e.g. a turnbuckle, is arranged. In contrast to the first-mentioned closure, which protrudes radially outward at the edge of the lid or container only insignificantly, a lever closure protrudes significantly beyond the periphery of the container. This means that containers closed in this way cannot be closed with a conventional closing machine, the pivot lever protruding only slightly beyond the periphery of the clamping ring. At least it is always necessary to align the lock with respect to the locking device to the position of the turnbuckle, which requires an additional work step and also a non-symmetrically designed locking device and thus means a delay in locking. Corresponding reversals must also be made at the locking devices.

Such a closure is known under the name "TOP EXPAND", with which it is possible to connect containers with a clamping ring with a lever to the container by inserting the edge of the lid together with the opening edge on the container into the clamping ring closed by the clamping lever be expanded. But even with this device, the container must be aligned in the closing device before it is expanded in such a way that the area of the tensioning lever, that is to say the turnbuckle, is not supported continuously from the outside. Here too, there is an additional and therefore time-delayed work step by aligning the toggle fastener.

From the U.S. 3,015,291 a sealing tool for large containers (e.g. 10-30 liters) is also known. This hand-operated device, which has to be hung on a suspension device for reasons of weight, comprises a plurality of pivot levers articulated on a ring, the C-shaped ends of which bend the edge of the lid formed from a plurality of individual spaced-apart tabs under the rolled edge of the container. The swivel levers can be swiveled via two manually operated or actuated rods via a lever system. Since all swivel levers have the same design, it is not possible to close a container with a clamping ring with or without a lever lock. Lids closed in this way are laborious to open and after opening they can at most still be plugged in, but no longer secured.

From the EP 1 236 645 a method and a device for closing a container is also known, the lid of which is to be secured with a clamping ring with a turnbuckle. The lid inserted on the container is closed by means of a roller rotating peripherally outside the container, which gradually bends the edge of the clamping ring under the flanges of the lid and the container in several turns. Although it is possible to secure lids on containers with a clamping ring, this device can only be operated in a work area surrounded by a protective fence. The rotating roller protrudes over the periphery of the lid and container and endangers people in the vicinity due to its repeated rotation at high speed. In addition If the lid and the container are deformed by the point-like radial force or very stable holding parts must be provided on the closure device in order to avoid deformation of the entire container and thus the deformation that affects the tightness of the lid.

One object of the present invention is to create a device with which plug-in cover with clamping rings with or without a turnbuckle, which is tensioned by a radially protruding lever, without aligning the turnbuckle or the device directly after the cover has been put on, including the clamping ring already definitely mounted on it can be secured on the edge of the container by deforming the lower edge of the clamping ring under the roll flange located in the clamping ring on the container and on the lid.

This object is achieved by a device according to the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the device are described in the dependent claims.

By using a large number of pivotable levers arranged on the periphery of a disk around horizontally lying tangential axes, any kind of clamping rings and, regardless of the position of the turnbuckle, the lower leg of the clamping ring along its entire circumference, can be plastically closed in one operation deform and press from bottom to top against the adjacent flanges of the lid and container. In one work step or the same stroke of a pneumatically or hydraulically operated carrier plate, the lid is secured to the container with a clamping ring placed on it and already tightly closed by the clamping lever and secured with a split pin. Due to the essentially radial movement of the lever ends from the outside inwards and from the bottom upwards, the position of the clamping lever on the turnbuckle on the clamping ring is immaterial, i.e. the clamping ring is also pressed against the flange in the area of the clamping lever. As a result, the stacked lids with clamping rings can be brought up to the container in the way that their clamping rings are lying, and then placed axially on the container. Due to the mutual connection between the insertion and retaining plate for placing or pushing the lid into the opening on the container and the clamping disc with the levers hinged to it and the drive plate, which causes the lever to pivot, there is only a single vertical feed movement of a hydraulic system - or pneumatic cylinder necessary. The same applies after the closure when the closure device moves back into the starting position. The deformation and bending of the clamping ring takes place simultaneously at every point along the circumference of the container, so that no unevenly acting forces act on the container, the lid and the clamping ring. The closing process takes place in one operation when the closing device is lowered onto the container with the lid and clamping ring in place.

Figur 1

eine perspektivisch aufgeschnittene Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Verschliessen von Metallbehältern, teilweise in Schnittdarstellung,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Vorrichtung von schräg unten,

Figur 3

eine Seitenansicht eines Verschlusshebels in Offenposition mit Deckel und Spannring (Behälter weggelassen),

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht eines Verschlusshebels in Offenposition mit eingesetztem Deckel und Spannring nach Beginn des Verschliessvorgangs und

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht eines Verschlusshebels in Offenposition mit eingesetztem Deckel und Spannring am Ende des Verschliessens.

The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment with a clamping ring with a lever lock. Show it:

Figure 1

a perspective cut-away representation of a device for closing metal containers, partly in a sectional view,

Figure 2

a perspective view of the device obliquely from below,

Figure 3

a side view of a locking lever in the open position with lid and clamping ring (container omitted),

Figure 4

a side view of a locking lever in the open position with inserted cover and clamping ring after the beginning of the locking process and

Figure 5

a side view of a locking lever in the open position with inserted cover and clamping ring at the end of the closure.

In the perspective view in Figure 1 the device 1 for closing and securing with a clamping ring 39 of containers is shown. The device 1 comprises an upper disk-shaped body 3 and a spaced-apart lower disk-shaped body 5 below, on which the actuating members for the device 1 are attached and guided. The two disc-shaped bodies 3, 5 are mutually connected at a distance by means of screws 7 and, together with a hollow cylindrical wall 12 arranged between the bodies 3, 5 and a drive disc 9 that functions as a piston and rests against the wall 12 in a sealing manner, form a double-acting pneumatic Drive. On the upper side of the upper body 3, a fastening coupling 6 is visible, with which the device 1 is held suspended from a frame (not shown). The drive pulley 9 is guided vertically displaceably in the displacement 10 with compressed air. The displacement 10 is formed by the hollow cylindrical wall 12 and the underside of the upper body 3 and the upper side of the lower body 5. A piston seal 8 is placed on the periphery of the drive disk 9 in order to separate the two sections of the displacement 10 divided by the drive disk 9 in a sealed manner. The supply of compressed air into the piston chamber 10 takes place via compressed air lines 14, 16. In the two disk-shaped bodies 3.5in Figure 1 only the connecting pieces of the two compressed air lines 14, 16 are visible. As an alternative to compressed air, a hydraulic or an electric drive could also be used. Due to the relatively huge piston cross-section, which corresponds approximately to the cross-section of a container 47, an immense adjustment force can be generated with compressed air from the existing factory network.

Furthermore, the drive pulley 9 is connected via one or more piston or guide rods 11, which penetrate the lower body 5, to a preferably circular bearing plate 15 which can be displaced below on a vertically arranged guide. A plurality of tangential lever bearings 17 are attached to the bearing plate 15 peripherally on its circumference.

In each lever bearing 17, the first end of a push rod 19 is pivotably inserted on a bearing pin in a bore 18 with axis A. The second ends of the push rods 19 are connected to pivot levers 21 in an articulated manner about an axis B. The two-armed pivot levers 21 are in turn pivotably articulated on an axis C on a circular clamping plate 23, which is equipped on its underside with several spacer bolts 25, at the lower end of which a cover retaining plate 27 is attached (cf. Figures 3-5 ).

The clamping plate 23 with the articulated pivot levers 21 is attached to the lower end of a support column 24, which support column 24 is connected at its upper end to the disk-shaped body 5 below. On the support column 24, the bearing plate 15 is guided in a vertically displaceable manner.

The pivot levers 21 have the shape of an "F" placed upside down with a base leg 29, a closing leg 37 and a centrally arranged bearing leg 35. On the long leg 29 of the pivot lever 21, a bearing bore 33 is formed as a pivot bearing at its foot 31 (foot on top). At the head of the "F" (head lying at the bottom), the forming and closing leg 37 is formed at right angles to the long leg 29. With its internal, ramp-shaped ascending guide surface 38, the pivot lever 21 is designed to reshape a clamping ring 39, which is placed on the flanges on the lid 43 and on the container 47, in the axial direction from bottom to top so that the lower leg 39 'of the clamping ring 39 is essentially bent over from the position initially inclined to the horizontal into the horizontal. In order to be able to fully engage under the clamping ring 39 in the area of a turnbuckle with a clamping lever 45, the length of the closing leg 37 is greater than the radial distance between the surface of the clamping lever 45 and the jacket of the container 47 is made of sheet steel with a thickness of 1-2 mm. As a result, very high forces are necessary for plastic deformation.

Between the foot 31 and the head 35 of the pivot lever 21 there is also a shorter bearing leg 40 with a bore 41 arranged offset to the bearing bore 33. In the bore 41, which forms a pivot bearing about the axis C, a pin 42 is inserted, which is carried in the clamping plate 23 running tangentially to the latter in a tab 44 protruding from the clamping plate 23.
Next is in the Figures 3 , 4 and 5 the lid 43 for closing the container 47 is shown. The container 47 is in Figure 1 indicated by dash-dotted lines. The cover 43 is designed as a plug-in cover. The clamping ring 39 with a C-shaped cross-section is already placed on its upper edge, which is flanged, and is held securely against the flange of the lid edge by the closed clamping lever 45. The cover 43 and the clamping ring 39 attached to it are delivered as a unit to the device 1 and applied to the container 47 or inserted into it. The closed clamping lever 45 is preferably already secured with a split pin, which is only removed again when the container 47 is opened for the removal of filling material.

The drive pulley 9 is designed to be displaceable downward in the vertical direction by supplying compressed air through the line 16 in the upper piston chamber. The guide rod 11, which is connected to the drive pulley 9, guides the retaining plate 27 downwards until it rests on the clamping ring 39 and is prevented from further downward movement.

The device 1 is suspended from a frame (frame not shown) with a fastening coupling 6. In addition to the device 1, the frame can also carry a feed, e.g. a roller belt, for filled containers 47 below the device 1. The frame is known from existing systems and is therefore not described in more detail.

The operation of the device is described step by step below. After filling the container 47 with a filling material, e.g. paint, plaster or glue, these are e.g. B. guided by a robot or by hand under the device 1 and there, or even before, the cover 43 is put on. The clamping ring 39 is already attached to the cover 43 and the turnbuckle is closed and secured. After the lid 43 and the clamping ring 39 have been put on, the latter on the one hand engages over the flange of the lid 43 and thus also the flange on the container 47, which is located within the flange of the lid 43. The clamping ring 39, which has a C-shaped cross-section, rests with its upper leg on the flanges and the lower leg 39 'of the clamping ring 39 protrudes downward at an angle, with the flare on the container 47 not being undercut to prevent the lid from being put on beforehand 43 to obstruct the container 47.

After the container 47 has been positioned under the device 1 with the cover 43 inserted therein, the latter is driven down by introducing compressed air through the line 16 into the displacement space above the drive pulley 9. With the guide rods 11 attached to the drive pulley 9, the bearing plate 15, which is at the lower end of the guide rods, is also synchronized 11 is attached, moved down. The clamping plate 23 and the retaining plate 27 fastened to it at the bottom are also guided downwards. The clamping plate 23 and the retaining plate 27 are guided vertically on the column 24. The clamping plate 23 and the retaining plate 27 hang, connected to the push rods 19 and pivot levers 21, on the bearing plate 15. As soon as the retaining plate 27 comes into contact with the cover 43 or the clamping ring 39 and consequently comes to a standstill relative to the bearing plate 15, the bearing plate 15 lowers further, while the pivoting levers 21, still driven by the push rods 19, only now begin to turn to pivot the C axis. Before the bearing plate 15 is lowered further, the line connecting the axes AB is at an obtuse angle to the line connecting the axes BC. The pivoting movement initially takes place very quickly, since the push rods 19 are at an acute angle to the long legs 29. As soon as the pivot levers 21 or their long legs 29 are approximately in the vertical position, the speed of the rotational movements of the push rods 19 and the pivot lever 21 slows down legs 39 'protruding obliquely downward and press them against the rolled flange by plastic deformation. The front ends of the closing legs 37 make a movement running from bottom to top during this period. In the end position of lowering the bearing plate 15, the guide surface 38 is in full contact with the clamping ring 39 and its lower circumferential leg 39 'in full contact with the roll flange of the container 47. The connecting line of the axes AB is now at an acute angle in the connecting line of the axes BC. Lifting the cover 43 from the container 47 is then no longer possible and can only be done by opening the clamping ring 39.

By releasing the air in the upper part of the displacement above the drive pulley 9 and supplying compressed air through the lower compressed air line 14, the pivoting levers 21 open, i. H. they pivot outwards and at the same time the retaining plate 27 lifts off the container 47 and the closed and secured container 47 can be moved away and a new one can be supplied. As an alternative to a supply of compressed air through the compressed air line 14 to the underside of the drive pulley 9, a compression spring, such as a helical spring or a spring washer assembly, can be used below the drive pulley 9, which brings about the return of the drive pulley 9. Of course, when a spring is used when closing and securing the cover, a higher force is required on the upper side of the drive pulley 9.

Claims (7)

1. An apparatus (1) for closing containers (47) made of metal that have an insert cover (43) and a clamping ring (39) preventing the insert cover (43), together with the container (47), from being opened unintentionally, with a closing element formed on the clamping ring (39), comprising a drive for a closing device which, by deforming the clamping ring (39), places the cover (43) inserted into the container (47) and the already closed clamping ring (39) placed on the cover (43) against a rolled edge formed on the container opening, characterized in that

   - the drive comprises an upper disc-shaped body (3), a lower disc-shaped body (5) and a hollow-cylindrical wall (12) which is inserted between the two bodies (3, 5) and, together with the same, forms a displacement chamber (10) in which a drive disc (9) acting as a piston is inserted and is connected to a bearing plate (15) of the closing device, the bearing plate (15) being vertically movable by the drive along a guide,

   - the bearing plate (15) is connected to a clamping plate (23) positioned coaxially underneath,

   - pivoting levers (21), each having a closing leg (37), are hinged to the periphery of the clamping plate (23) so as to be pivotable about an axis C,

   - the pivoting levers (21) are connected by push rods (19) hinged peripherally to the bearing plate (15) so as to be pivotable about axis A, and form a toggle joint,

   - a restraining plate (27) is arranged below the clamping plate (23) and connected thereto,

   - the restraining plate (27) acts to rest on the clamping ring (39) to support said clamping ring counter to the upward closing force of the pivoting levers (21), and

   - the bodies (3, 5) have a diameter

   that corresponds approximately to the diameter of the containers (47) to be closed.
2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting levers (21) have the shape of an upside-down "F", a bearing hole (33) with an axis B being formed in the base (31) of the long closing leg (29), and a hole (41) with an axis C being formed in the central leg (40) positioned at right angles to the long closing leg (29).
3. The apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the long closing leg (37) positioned at the top of the "F" has, on the inner side of said leg, a guide surface (38) which, towards the free end, is designed as an ascending ramp.
4. The apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting line X between the axes A and B and the connecting line Y between the axes B and C are at an obtuse angle to one another before the start of the closing operation and at an acute angle to one another at the end of the closing operation.
5. The apparatus according to either of Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that, at the end of the closing operation, the guide surfaces (38) of the pivoting levers (21) engage under the lower leg (39') of the clamping ring (39) and fold said lower leg over from downwards to upwards and place said lower leg against the rolled edge on the container (47).
6. The apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that the length of the closing leg (37) is greater than the distance of the greatest radial extension of the clamping lock, with the clamping lever on the clamping ring (39), from the curved surface of the container (47).
7. The apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a compressed air line (14, 16) opens into the upper body (3) and/or lower body (5), it being possible to introduce compressed air, via said compressed air line, into the displacement chamber (10) above and/or below the drive disc (9).

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