MXPA98001618A - Vertical track for mandrel unit of container movement cans - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles the apparatus includes: a carrier mounted for continuous rotation on a main axis, a plurality of mandrel subunits mounted on the carrier shaft in an array about the main axis, as a center and the adjacent mandrel subunits are between equal angular center-to-center separations, a decorator means beyond the subunits that moves as the carrier rotates, a stationary cam track positioned around the main axis, each of the mandrel subunits including a base, a cantilevered mandrel receiving a cylindrical article having a free end and another end opposite the free end, the mandrel is loaded and unloaded at that free end said mandrel being supported rotatably on the base at the other end, with a rotation axis for the mandrel that is parallel to and laterally offset from the main axis, a cam follower in the base cooperating with the stationary cam track to radially position said subunit so that normally an article on the mandrel is operatively coupled with the decorating means, during a predetermined interval of angular movement for the subunit about the Main axis: the operative coupling between the article on the mandrel and the decorating means during the predetermined interval of angular movement for the subunit about the main axis, generates a reaction force which is directed against the mandrel in a direction that has to tilt to the mandrel by driving its free end radially inwardly relative to the main axis, around a point of support established by the coupling between the cam follower and the cam track, characterized by a bracket device to resist tilting of the mandrel by the reaction force, said brace device includes a pr It is a section that is axially and radially fixed relative to the main axis and a second section that is connected to the base and can move with it, while an article is over the mandrel and in engagement with the decoration means, the first and the second section is in sliding engagement with each other at a location radially outwardly of said carrier, and the second section exerts an opposing force against the first section, with the opposite force increasing and decreasing in relation to the increase and decrease in said reaction force.

Description

VERTICAL TRACK FOR ÜMITY DK MAMMER OF DECORATORS OF CANS DB MOVIMIEMTO COWTIMOO AMTBCgDEW ES PE IA MVEHCl? H U.S. Patent No. 3,766,851 issued October 23, 1973 to E. Sirvet et al. for Continuous Can Printer and Can Handler Apparatus describes a relatively high-speed appliance for applying decorations to the exterior of cylindrical containers while these are mounted on mandrels placed along the periphery of a carrier similar to a large rotating wheel . In the continuous can printing apparatus of this type means are provided to ensure that, when a mandrel moves through the decoration zone along a normal printing path, the mandrel is suitably loaded with the cylindrical container. . If a particular mandrel is empty or improperly loaded, the mandrel moves away from the printing path to a non-printing position where neither the empty mandrel nor an improperly loaded container will be attached to the printing blanket. . Examples of the prior art provide means for retracting mandrels not loaded or improperly loaded to a non-printing position, for example in the P1130 / 98MX United States No. 4,140,053 granted on February 20, 1979 to J.P. Skrype et al. for Mandrel Assembly and Disconnection Mechanism for Continuous Motion Decorator and United States Patent No. 5,111,742 issued May 12, 1992 to R. DiDonato et al. for Mandrel Travel Subensa ble for Cans Decorator with Continuous Movement. In the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 4,140,053 each mandrel is part of a subassembly that is attached to a pivot shaft with a continuous rotating carrier. When an unloaded or improperly loaded mandrel is detected, a linear actuator, which operates through a crank arm and an eccentric wheel, moves the pivot shaft for the entire subassembly and in doing so moves the unloaded or loaded mandrel into improperly moving away from its normal or printing path, so that neither the mandrel nor the improperly loaded container will engage the printing blanket. While this type of mechanism works well at high production speeds, say 1200 cans per minute, the assembly and disassembly of the subassembly relative to the carrier or hauler is laborious and adjustments must be made while the subassembly is mounted on the carrier. According to the United States Patent P1130 / 9HMX No. 5,111,742 already mentioned, the mandrel disconnect actuator and the mandrel are combined into a subassembly that can be adjusted when the subassembly is dismounted from the carrier. In particular, this sub-assembly includes a base with a rotary actuator thereon, the actuator is energized directly by a non-mechanical source of energy, preferably pressurized air. The actuator includes a rotor having an extension on which the mandrel is rotatably mounted. The axis of the mandrel is slightly offset laterally from the axis of the rotor, so that the limited pivoting movement of the latter causes the mandrel to move between a normal printing position radially outward and a position of non-printing or disconnection radially into. Two guide rollers extend from the base and are received in guide channels extending radially to the carriage to removably mount the subassembly on the carriage and guide the subassembly radially in accordance with what is ordered by a stationary cam track cooperating with a follower. cam that is part of the subassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE IHVBKCIÓM In accordance with the present invention, high speed performance for travel subensables P113U / 98MX mandrel of the type disclosed in the aforementioned United States Patent No. 5, 111,742 is improved by providing means that inhibit the inclination of the subassembly relative to the carrier or carrier, due to the force that develops by decoupling between a can mounted on the mandrel and the printing blanket. If this type of inclination is allowed to be ignored, there is an excessive frictional engagement between the guide rollers and the sleeves that support the slides in the guide channels. This accelerates the wear of the support sleeves so that a loose fit develops between them and the guide rollers that move therein, to the point where there is a negative impact on the quality of the impression of the can that is get As will be described in more detail below, according to the present invention, the inclination of the subassembly or sub-unit is inhibited through the sliding engagement of a follower (roller) on the sub-unit with a strut or track on the rotating carrier. In addition, the cooperation between the follower and the stringer also acts to limit the deflection of the cantilevered mandrel relative to the carrier. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a construction Improved P1130 / 98MX for high-speed continuous motion decorators used for cylindrical containers. Another object is to provide such an apparatus that achieves superior print quality during extended periods of very high speed operation. Another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus constructed in order to increase the intervals between the maintenance procedures. Still another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus, wherein a strut is provided to inhibit the tilt of the mandrel units relative to the rotary carrier on which the units are mounted. These objects as well as others of the present invention will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a continuous motion decorating apparatus including tensioning devices constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention to block or prevent the tilting of the mandrel / actuator subunits during decoration. P1130 / 96MX Figure 2 is a fragmented and enlarged cross-sectional view of the chuck loader and the wheel loader, taken through line 2-2 of Figure 1, and oriented in the direction of arrow 2- 2. Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the portion of the apparatus of Figure 2 with the can receiving mandrel removed, oriented in the direction of Arrows 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a rear elevation of a of the mandrel / actuator subunits, having the tension elements removed. Figure 5 is a side elevational view oriented toward the direction of arrows 5-5 of Figure 3, illustrating the relationship between the tie members. Figure 6 is an elevation oriented in the direction of arrows 6-6 of Figure 5, the can receiving mandrels being withdrawn. Figure 7 is an exploded schematic perspective showing the relationship between the main elements of the mandrel / actuator subunit and the elements to hold them tight against the inclination.

DESCRIPTION pfT ^ .f. nA OF THE DRAWINGS ril 3ú / < »8MX If you want to expand the following description, the exhibits of the aforementioned US Patents Nos. 3,766,851, 4,140,053 and 5,111,742 are incorporated herein by reference. Referring now the Figures and with more particularity to Figure 1, which illustrates the continuous motion decorating apparatus of the general type described in the aforementioned US Pat. No. 3,766,851, for the decoration of aluminum cans used in drinks and other cylindrical containers. Briefly, the apparatus of Figure 1 includes a feed conveyor ramp 15 that receives the non-decorated cans 16, each open at one end thereof, from a supply (not shown) and places them in cavities or cradles arched 17 along the periphery of the spaced rings 13, 14 (Figure 2). The latter are fixedly secured to the wheel-like carrier 18 and keyed to a horizontal drive shaft 19. The horizontal free-running mandrels or spindles 20 are also mounted on the carrier 18, each mandrel 20 is spaced in horizontal alignment with a cavity individual 17 in a short region extending downstream of the feed conveyor 15. In this short region the non-decorated cans 16 move horizontally towards the rear, transferring from P113Ü / 9HMX each cradle 17 to a mandrel 20. Suction is applied through the axial passage 101 (Figure 7) which extends outwardly from the front end of the mandrel 20, and pulls the container or container 16 back to its position of final settlement on the mandrel 20. The cans 16 being mounted on the mandrels 20, the decoration process is carried out by coupling them with an image transfer blanket or blanket 21, which rotates continuously, and which is part of the decoration section with multicolor printing press which is generally indicated with the reference number 22. Subsequently, and while mounted on the mandrels 20, each decorated can 16 is coated with a protective film of varnish which is applied thereto by coupling with the periphery of the applicator roller 23 in the varnishing unit indicated in general with the reference number 24. While the transfer wheel 27 rotates around the arrow 28 as a center, the cans 16 with decorations and protective coatings on them are transferred from the mandrels 20 to the suction cups 36 mounted near the periphery of the transfer wheel 27. The cans 16 are carried by the transfer wheel 27 and are deposited on pins 29 that are generally horizontal, but are somewhat inclined and P1130 / 9ßMX are projected from the chain type output conveyor 30, which carries the cans 16 through a curing oven (not shown). Each mandrel 20 must be properly loaded with a can 16 when the mandrel 20 is in proximity to the sensor 33, which detects whether each mandrel 20 is suitably loaded with a can 16. If the sensor 33 detects that a mandrel 20 is not loaded or is improperly loaded, then, as the particular mandrel 20 passes through the decoration zone where the printing blanket 21 normally engages the can 16 on the mandrel 20, this mandrel discharged or improperly loaded 20 moves to a "non-printing" position. In the "non-printing" position, as the mandrel 20 moves through the decoration zone, it will separate from the periphery of the blanket 21. Each mandrel 20 is part of a mandrel / actuator subunit 40. A plurality of these subunits 40 are mounted to the carrier 18 along the periphery 39 thereof, there is an equal angular separation between each of the subunits 40 and are guided so that they have a radial movement inwardly and outwardly relative to the periphery 39 of the carrier 18. Each sub-unit 40 also includes a machined base 41 having, at its rear, a hollow bulb portion 42 formed PII ju / and t-i integrally, which is hollow and extends radially outwardly constituting the outer housing of a pneumatically energized rotary operator or actuator, which includes a rotor 43 with diametrically opposed vanes 44 secured thereto. The pivot axis for the rotor 43 is parallel to the axis of rotation 45 of the mandrel 20, and is slightly offset in the lateral direction of said axis. A pair of idle rollers 48, 49 constitute a cam follower, and are mounted on a short cantilever arrow 51 projecting from the rear of the base 41. As the carrier 18 rotates the cam follower rollers 48, 49 cooperate with the cam track 52 to establish the radial positions for the base 41 relative to the periphery 39 of the carrier. Two axially spaced parallel guide rollers 81, 82 extend radially inward from the base 41 towards the guide channels 83, 84, respectively, which extend radially inward from the periphery 39 of the carrier 18. The channels 83, 84 contain bearings linear ones in the form of respective sleeves 65, 66. The guide rollers 81, 82 are positioned so that the longitudinal axes thereof intersect the main axis of rotation 19 of the carrier 18. In front of the guide rollers 81, 82 and in form of radial projection inwards from the base 41 there are three hollow rolls P113Í 98M :. 85, 86, 87 which run in holes 95, 96, 97 of the carrier 18 to act as the equivalent of the flexible control lines for the vacuum and the pressure that is fed to the mandrel 20 and / or to the rotary actuator within the housing 42 Each of the subunits 40 is associated with an individual control valve 88 (Figure 2) which is a carrier 18 and is connected to the hollow rods 85, 86, 87 through the air passages or passages that include drill holes connected to it. the carrier 18. For a functional description of the subunit refer to the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 5,111,742. During printing, the engagement of a can 16 with a printing blanket 21 causes a considerable radially inward reaction force which is exerted against the mandrel 20, as indicated by arrow A in Figure 5. This exerts a force on the subunit 40 tending to tilt it forward and radially inwardly around the coupling point between the cam follower 48 and the control cam track 52 of 360 °. The inclination of this type imposes an undue tension on the bearing sleeves 65, 66 (Figure 2) thus reducing the service life thereof.

P1U0 / 98MX In order to restrict the radially inward inclination of the sub-unit 40 due to the forces generated during decoration, the present invention provides a tie-down device that includes tie-rod and follower sections 201, 202 that function in an operation coupling. sliding (for example by roller) and moving one with respect to another. That is, the tie section 201 extends radially outward from the periphery 39 of the rotary mandrel carrier 18 and is secured thereto by three bolts 203. The follower section 202 is secured to the base 41 of the subunit in a side of the base portion 42, by means of two bolts 204 that extend through clearance holes in the support member 205 of the section 202. The latter also includes a follower roller 206 which is mounted on the pin 208 and which has enlarged head 209. Roller 206 runs on track 207 provided by shoulder section 201 along the trailing edge thereof. The roller 206 is the outer ring of the bearing unit 210 which also includes the inner ring 211 and a plurality of rod-like bearing elements 212, placed between the rings 206 and 211 and which are operatively positioned by the retainer rings. 213. The pin arrow 208 extends through the P1130 / 98 X inner ring 211 and the headless end of arrow 208 is positioned within the clearance opening 214 of support members 205, extending into recess 215, where most of the roller 206 is positioned. The head 209 of the pin extends towards the locating recesses 216 on one side of the base portion 41. With the stringer device 201, 202 in place, the moment generated by the decoration reaction force A and the drive for tipping the subunit 40 receives a resistance from the coupling between the roller 206 of the follower section 202 and the track 207 oriented rearwardly of the tie section 201. All the tracks 207 are generally placed in a common vertical plane that is in right angle to the horizontal main rotational axis 19 of the mandrel carrier 18. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many anti-tilting benefits can be obtained by the cooperation of the follower roller 206 carried by the sub-unit 40 with a single radial stringer track 207 secured to carrier 18, and by other arrangements. For example, a radial stringer track in each sub-unit 40 can be coupled with a single follower roller secured to the carrier 18 or a follower roller on the front of each sub-unit base 41 that can run P1 1 3 / 9UMX on a common or stationary stationary cam track that is parallel to the subunit that places the cam 52a, at least while the subunit 40 is in the printing zone, or a common roller of a stationary axis can coupling to a cam track segment in each base 41 of the subunit while the subunit 40 is in the printing zone, this common stationary roller is located in front of the base 41 and radially inward of the cam track segment . Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications as well as other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is preferred that this invention is not limited by the specific exposure described above but only by the appended claims.

P113U / 98MX

Claims (17)

1. NOVELTY OF THE IMVBMTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property; 1. An apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles, the apparatus includes: a carrier mounted for continuous rotation on a main axis; a plurality of mandrel subunits mounted on the carrier in an array about the principal axis, which remains as the center and the adjacent mandrel subunits remain at equal angular spacings from center to center; a decorator means beyond the subunits that moves as the carrier rotates; a stationary cam track positioned around the main axis; each of the subunits includes a base, a cantilevered mandrel receiving the cylindrical article having a free end and an end opposite the free end, the mandrel is loaded and loaded by that free end and is rotatably supported on the base in the other end, and a rotation axis for the mandrel is parallel to the main axis and laterally deviated from the P1130 / 9SMX itself, a cam follower at the base cooperates with the stationary cam track to radially position the subunit so that normally an article on the mandrel is operatively coupled with the decorating means, during a predetermined interval of angular movement for the subunit around the main axis; the operative coupling between the article on the mandrel and the decorating means during the predetermined interval of angular movement for the subunit about the main axis, generates a reaction force which is directed against the mandrel in a direction tending to tilt the mandrel driving its free end radially inwardly relative to the main axis, around a point of support established by the coupling between the cam follower and the cam track; and a tie device for resisting chuck tilt by the reaction force, the device includes a first section which is axially and radially fixed relative to the main axis and a second section which is connected to the base and can move with the same; When an article is on the mandrel and in engagement with the decoration means, the first and second sections are in sliding engagement between PU30 / 98MX itself, in a radially outward position of the carrier, and the second section exerts an opposite force against the first section, the opposite force increases and decreases in relation to the increase and decrease of the reaction force. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the mandrel is forward of the other end and the cam follower is rearward of the base, the mandrel is loaded and unloaded by the free end. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 1, wherein each of the sub-units of the first section defines a single track that is oriented towards the rear and which is coupled by an individual section of the second sections. . Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 3, wherein the second section includes a follower roller that runs on the track. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 4, wherein the first sections extend radially outward from the carrier at their periphery. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 5, wherein each of the follower rollers rotates on an axis that is transverse to the main axis and each of the cam followers rotates P113C "9 > -M > on an axis that is parallel to the main axis. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 1, wherein each of the subunits includes a guide roller extending towards the guide channel in the carrier, whereby the cooperation of the track of the stationary cam follower directs the subunit to move linearly relative to the carrier. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 7, wherein for each of the subunits the guide roller extends radially inward from the base, at a location in front of the cam follower. 9. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 8, wherein the carrier has a periphery from which it extends radially inwardly of the guide channel. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 9, wherein the guide channel is positioned so that its longitudinal axis intersects the main axis. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 10, wherein the free end of the mandrel is forward of the other end and the cam follower is rearward of the base. P113n /; i8MX 12. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 10, wherein for each of the subunits, the first section of the tension device defines a single track that is oriented towards the rear and that is coupled by an individual section of the second sections. 13. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 12, wherein the second section includes a follower roller that runs on the track. 14. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 13, wherein the first sections extend radially outwardly from the carrier at their periphery. 15. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 14, wherein each of the follower rollers rotates on an axis that is transverse to the main axis and each of the cam followers rotates on an axis that is parallel to the main axis. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 3, wherein the tracks are generally in a common plane that is at right angles to the main axis. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 16, wherein the common plane is vertical and the main axis is horizontal. P1130 / 9fc < MX 18. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 17, wherein the free end of the mandrel is forward of the other end and the cam follower is rearward of the base. 19. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 2, wherein for each of the subunits the coupling between the first and second sections of the tensioning device is behind the mandrel and in front of the cam follower. 20. Apparatus for decorating cylindrical articles according to claim 11, wherein for each of the subunits the coupling between the first and second sections of the tensioning device is behind the mandrel and in front of the cam follower. P1 I 30 98MX