US3714755A

US3714755A - Method and apparatus for supporting flexible container bodies in a closing machine

Info

Publication number: US3714755A
Application number: US00143936A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Phalin; W Birkholz
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co
Priority date: 1971-05-17
Filing date: 1971-05-17
Publication date: 1973-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-02-06

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supporting flexible open-ended container bodies, such as formed of plastic, in a closing machine are provided in which the body is moved laterally into an openended partial supporting mold, an end closure member is positioned in aligned relation with the open end of the body, a second partial supporting mold is moved against the side wall of the body at the open end of the open-ended partial mold, and both of the partial molds with the body therebetween are moved into a seaming mechanism whereby the side walls and open end of the body are supported by the partial molds during attachment of the end closure to the body.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Phalin et al.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING FLEXIBLE CONTAINER BODIES IN A CLOSING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Thomas Lawrence Phalin, Cary; William Stephen Birkholz, Zion,

both of I11.

[73] Assignee: American Can Company, Greenwich,Conn.

[22] Filed: May 17, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 143,936

[52] US. Cl. ..53/42, 53/300, 53/308, 53/334 [51 1 Int. Cl. ..B65b 7/28 [58] Field of Search ..53/42,-289, 300, 308, 346, 53/85, 89,91, 95, 96, 329,86, 334; 113/1 E, 29, 30, 31,120 XY 1451 Feb. 6, 1973 Diezel et al ..53/308 X 1,605,565 11/1926 Rooney ..53/89 1,767,475 6/1930 Podel .....53/89 X 3,491,936 1/1970 Fox 53/86 X [57] ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for supporting'flexible openended container bodies, such as formed of plastic, in a closing machine are provided in which the body is moved laterally into an open-ended partial supporting mold, an end closure member is positioned in aligned relation with the open end of the body, a second partial supporting mold is moved against the side wall of the body at the open end of the open-ended partial mold, and both of the partial molds with the body therebetween are moved into a seaming mechanism whereby the side walls and open end of the body are supported by thepartial molds during attachment of the end closure to the body.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEB 6 I975 SHEET 10F 2 PATENTEDFEB 6l975 3,714,755

SHEET 2 OF 2 ////r/ VA /7 INVENTORS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING FLEXIBLE CONTAINER BODIES IN A CLOSING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for attaching end closures to container bodies, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for supporting mold provided at the closing machine. This method was relatively slow and required a considerable amount of manual labor. Also, a separate metal mold for each can body was sometimes used and the mold and body were fed through an automatic can closing machine. This latter process also involved a considerable amount of manual labor since the cans had to be inserted and removed from themolds, and then the molds moved for reuse. The number of molds required for commercial operation was excessive. Also, the molds were expensive and had to be repaired or replaced when damaged,

for example, as a result of being dropped. These.

methods and the necessary apparatus were relatively expensive because of the relatively large labor time and cost, large number molds, and high cost of the separate molds. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for supporting flexible container bodies in a closing machine wherein the abovementioned disadvantages are substantially obviated or overcome in a large measure.

A more specific object is to provide a novel method and apparatus for supporting a relatively highly flexible container body in an end closure attaching system wherein the labor cost is reduced and wherein a relatively high speed of operation is obtainable.

Another object is to provide novel supporting mold apparatus which provides flange support during seaming of an end closure thereto for a can body made of relatively highly flexible material and which is adapted to readily receive can bodies and permit easy removal thereof.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a method of supporting a flexible container body during attachment of a closure member thereto is provided which includes providing a supporting mold portion, moving a container body into the mold portion so that awall portion of the body is supported thereby, moving another supporting mold portion into supporting engagement with the body so that another wall portion of the body is supported thereby, and moving the mold portions and the body into an end closure attaching mechanism to attach an end closure to the body. In accordancewith another aspect of the invention, apparatus for supporting the side walls of a container body during the attachment of an end closure thereto is provided which includes a supporting mold portion for supporting a portion of the side wall of a container body, and another supporting mold portion adapted to move into engagement with the container to support'anotherportion of the container side wall, the mold portions being movable with the body towardand away from an end closure attaching mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a can closing machine, with portions omitted for clarity, including apparatus for supporting flexible container bodies during the attachment of the end closures thereto in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view illustrating the position of a filled container body within the mold mechanism at the container closing station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the container body positioned to have the end closure attached thereto; and

FIG; 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the seam on a closed container. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a container or can closing machine indicated generally at 10 that includes a turret ll which is adapted to receive filled container can bodies B at a body delivery station 12, receive end closures or covers C at a station 13, attach the covers C to bodies B. at a cover attaching or closure seaming station 14, and to discharge the closed cans at a discharge station 15..

The turret 11 is shown for illustrationas including a base plate 17 and a cover receiving plate 18 fixed to a main shaft 19 that is rotatably driven by a drive shaft 20 through a geneva gear and pinion drive mechanism 21. The mechanism 21 provides intermittent motion to main shaft 19 to rotate

plates

17 and 18, in this case, in steps between the stations 12-15 during each cycle of operation. The turret I1 is shown including four like partial supporting molds or main mold portions 24 disposed on base plate 17 90 apart and movable therewith between the four stations.

Each partial mold 24 is shown including a bottom wall or plate 25 and an upstanding side wall 26 having a bottom flange 27 connected, such as by a plurality bolts, to the bottom wall 25 of the mold portion. The sidewall 26 is generally complementary in shape to that of a portion of the. outer side wall 30 of the can body which it is adapted to support during the seaming operation. The partial mold is open atone end thereof to receive a can body and is also open at the top, the side wall 26 being generally U-shaped.

Each can body B is shown in the drawings as having an irregular or non-circular shape, a shape often used for ham cans. The side wall 30 of each body B'is formed of material which is relatively highly flexible and requires support during attachment of a cover thereto.

Each body is shown as an integral body having a bottom wall 31 (FIGS. 3 and 4) integral with the side wall 30. The can bodies B may be formed from one or more layers of flexible material and are shown formed of plastic. For example, each body may be thermoformed from a plastic material or a plastic laminate of different kinds of plastic materials, such as a polyethene-saranpolyethene laminate having a finished laminate thickness of about 0.035 inch.

In FIG 1, a driven chain or belt 32 delivers the plastic can bodies filled with a product 33, such asham, to delivery station 12. The filled can bodies are moved in .series until they reach station 12 where they are moved from a conventional delivery slide 39 onto a ledge 40.

provided adjacent the edge of an opening 41 provided in the upper plate 18 of the turret 11. Each cover C is preferably formed of metal, for example, steel or aluminum, and is provided with a top panel42 surrounded by a raised seaming flange 43 to be described in greater detail hereinafter. The covers are shown as a manually openable or easy-open type lids having a tab 44. The peripheral flange 43 rests on the ledge 40 in aligned relation with the can body 13 directly below it.

The turret 11 is automatically rotated through another90 to position the aligned coverC and body B at the closing station 14. As the turret rotates, a cam operated clamp 45 carrying another partial supporting mold or mold portion 46 is actuated to effect engagement between the radially outer free end of the side wall portion 30 of the body B and the mold portion 46.

At'the seaming station 14 in FIG. 1, the aligned cover C and filled body B are positioned below a conventional cover attaching device such as a seaming mechanism indicated'generally M48, and which is preferably a device of the doubleseaming type. Seaming device 48 is supported permanently at station 14, such as by sup- As seen in FIG. 2, the partial mold-46, shown also in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a partial mold wall member 50 generally complimentary in shape to the free end portion of the can body B and connected by screws 51 to a slidable guide member 52 that is guided for vertical movement in a slot 53 provided in an upstanding clamping plate 55. Theguide member 52 is shown connected for sliding movement relative to the plate 55 by means of an outer washer 56 spanning slot 53 and a screw 57. l

The clamping plate 55, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is connected to one end of a generally V-shaped cam arm 58 that is connected intermediate its ends for pivotal movement on a pin 59 which, in turn, is connected to a stationary support 60. A spring 61 biases the plate 55 in a horizontal direction away from the turret 11. The opposite end of arm 58 has a rotatable cam roller 62 thereon adapted for engagement with radially outwardly extending cam members 63 connected in a predetermined arrangement to the outer periphery of turret plate 17. During engagement between the cam member 63 and roller 62, the plate 55 is moved against the-force of spring 61 toward a can bodyiat station '14.. In FIG. 2, the partial mold 46 is shown in phantom in its retracted position. The turret 1 1 is provided with four such cam members 63 (two shown) and these, of course, synchronize the horizontal movement of the cam operated partial partial mold 46 with the movement of turret 11.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side wall 30 of can body 13 has a radially outwardly extending shoulder or ridge 64 which extends around the body and is shown seated on an inner shoulder or flange 65 extending around the inside of partial mold 26 (FIG. 1) and a shoulder or flange 65a extending along the inner side of partial mold 46 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Shoulder 64 serves as a The cover flange 43 as seen in greater detail in FlGS. 3 and 4 includes an upwardly extending wall 76 providing a seat which receives the seaming chuck 77 (FIG. 4) during the seaming operation. Flange 43 includes a radially outwardly extending portion 78 ending in a curl 79.

The body B is clamped at station 14 between the supporting

mold portions

24 and 46, these supporting mold portions providing sufficient support to the ridge 68 or upper peripheral open end portion of the body to permit attachment of the metal cover C thereto. The mold portion 24 provides support for the major peripheral portion of the upper end of the body, it extending along-the major portions of theopposed longer sides of the body and the smaller right end thereof, as viewed in FIG. 2. The mold portion 24 is formed to providean opening at the left end thereof large enough'to permit-lateral insertion of the body B into the mold portion. The mold portion 46 engages and supports ridge 68 at the upper end of the left end wall of the body.

While the twomold portions could be made to engage and surround the entire periphery'or substantially all of the upper end of the body, it was found that this was not necessary for good double seaming operations.

Where desired, the upper end portion of plate 55 may be provided with an abutment (not shown) which engages the cover C to center or ensure alignment between the cover and body prior to the seaming operation. v

In the illustratedembodiment, the bottom plate 25 of the partial mold 24 also serves as a lifter plate. As seen in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 the plate 25 extends into a slot or opening 80 provided in the mold portion 46 to move both mold portions 24 and 46and the filled body B upwardly into the double seaming head 48 and to lower them after a cover C has been double seamed to the body. Connected to each lifter plate 25 is a lifter shaft or rod 82 which is automatically operated such as by a syncr onizing cam mechanism not shown.

in operation, each time an empty partial mold 24 reaches station 12, a filled can body B is automatically moved into a partial mold 24. Also, each time a body reaches station 13, a cover C is automatically moved into place in plate 18. As a body B and cover C are rotated by turret 11 from station 13 to seaming station 14, a cam 63 engages arm 58 to move partial mold 46 into engagement with ridge 68 at the free end or radially outer end of the filled body B at station 14, such as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. The lifter rod 82 then moves the plate 25 upwardly which, in turn, moves both of the

mold portions

24 and 46 and the filled body B upwardly, whereby the body engages and carries the cover C with it into the seaming head 48 where the cover is double seamed or attached to the body. FIG. 4 illustrates the cover and body in position to be double seamed by the conventional double seaming device 48.

Since double seaming devices, such as device 48, are well known in the art, only fragmentary parts thereof are shown in the drawings. In FIG. .4, the seaming chuck 77 snugly fits against the inner side of wall 76 during the seaming operation. For purpose of illustration, only one conventional seaming roll 83 is shown for cooperation with chuck 77 in seaming the cover to the upper end of the body. During the seaming operation the upper end surfaces 70 and 70a of the

mold portions

24 and 46 engage and support the body ridge 68, while the chuck 77 and seaming rollers 83 provide the double seam. FIG. 5 shows the cover double seamed to the body.

After the cover is double seamed to the body the cam operated lifter rod 82 (FIG. 1) is lowered to thereby lower the closed can body and

mold portions

24 and 46. The bias spring 61 urges the partial mold radially outwardly away from the closed can.

The turret 11 will then be automatically rotated 90 by the geneva gear mechanism 21 to move a closed can to the discharge station 15. At station 15, the closed cans are removed from the turret 11 by any suitable or conventional device, such as by the suction device indicated at 85. Device 85 pulls the closed cans horizontally through the open end ofthe partial mold 24. The closed cans are shown discharged onto a delivery belt 87.

When the containers are filled by a product such as ham, they are vacuum sealed. The machine is a vacuum closing machine but well known portions have been omitted for sake of clarity. The apparatus shown is, of course, preferably continuously and automatically operated with the portions thereof operated in synchronism by apparatus well known to those skilled in the art.

Because the complete mold for supporting the upper end portions and seam forming portion of the flexible plastic side walls of the can body includes several portions, in this case, two portions, the main mold portion 24 and the mold portion 46 which is laterally movable toward and away from the partial mold 24, the canbodies can be readily horizontally moved into and out of the main molds, and this permits fast operation and with simple equipment Also, these mold portions are movable in concert toward and away from the seaming device, in this case vertically movable together, and this along with the fact that the bodies are fed horizontally into and out of the main mold, makes it possible to convert expensive existing vacuum ham can closing machinery, such as conventional machinery for metal can bodies, into machinery for use with flexible or plastic cans, relatively inexpensively.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangements of the parts, and in the steps of the method described and their order of accomplishment, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of attaching covers to open ends of can bodies having flexible side walls requiring support during attachment of the covers thereto comprising the steps of providing a plurality of similar partial supporting can body molds adapted to partially support the peripheral open end of a can body during the attachment thereto of a cover and having a can body receiving opening, moving a can body to be closed laterally through the body receiving opening into one of the partial molds located at a first station, moving the partial mold with the body therein to a second station, moving a cover into a position in aligned relation with the open end of the can body, moving the partial mold, can body, and cover to a third station, providing a can closing device at said third station, providing another partial can body mold at said third station, moving said other body mold laterally into supporting engagement with other portions of the can body, moving the partial molds with the can body therebetween vertically in one direction into said can closing device, effecting operation of said closing device to attach a cover to said can body, and moving said partial molds and closed can vertically in the opposite direction, moving said other partial mold laterally away from the can body, moving the first named partial mold and closed body to a fourth station, and removing the closed can body from said first named partial mold.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of molds are connected to a rotatable turret whereby a new can body is inserted in one of said plurality of partial molds each time an empty one returns to said first station.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of molds supports a major portion of the periphery of the open end of a can body.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the side walls of the can bodies are formed at least in part of plastic material. a

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the entire can body is formed of a laminate including a plastic layer.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said covers are metal.

7. In a can closing machine for attaching covers to can bodies having open ends with peripheral can seaming body flange means requiring support during the seaming of end covers to the bodies, the combination comprising a rotatable turret, a plurality of first angularly spaced similar partial molds connected with said turret, means for rotating said turret to position said first partial molds at a plurality of stations, each of said first partial molds including upstanding wall means with an upper peripheral portion adapted to engage and support upper peripheral portions of a can body to provide support for a portion of the body flange means during the seaming of a cover to the can body, each of said first partial molds having-an opening in said wall means for receiving said can body therethrough, means for moving a can body into one of said first partial molds at first one of said stations, means for rotating said turret a predetermined angular distance to position said one partial mold at a second station, means for positioning a cover in aligned relation with the open end of the can body when said onepartial mold is in said second station, a second partial mold including wall means with an upper peripheral portion adapted to engage and support other upper peripheral portions of a can body to provide support for a portion of the body flange means during the seaming of a cover to the can body, said second partial mold being pivotally movable into engagement with said other upper peripheral portions when said one partial mold is in a third station, a can closing seaming mechanism disposed above said one partial-mold when in said third station, means moving said one and said second partial molds with a can body therebetween upwardly into a seaming position with said cover, means for effecting operation of said mechanism to seam the cover onto the body, means for lowering said one and second partial molds, means for moving said second partial mold away from said one partial mold, and means for removing-the body with the cover seamed thereto at a fourth station;

.8. The closing machine according to claim 7 wherein said second partial mold is movable horizontally relative to said first partial mold.

9. The closing machine according to claim 8 wherein said can bodies are formed of a plastic material.

10. The closing machine according to claim 7 wherein said second partial mold is pivotally movable in a horizontal plane toward and away from a can body at said third station, and'means for continuously moving can bodies into a first partial mold when an empty one reaches said first station.

Claims

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the side walls of the can bodies are formed at least in part of plastic material.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said covers are metal.

7. In a can closing machine for attaching covers to can bodies having open ends with peripheral can seaming body flange means requiring support during the seaming of end covers to the bodies, the combination comprising a rotatable turret, a plurality of first angularly spaced similar partial molds connected with said turret, means for rotating said turret to position said first partial molds at a plurality of stations, each of said first partial molds including upstanding wall means with an upper peripheral portion adapted to engage and support upper peripheral portions of a can body to provide support for a portion of the body flange means during the seaming of a cover to the can body, each of said first partial molds having an opening in said wall means for receiving said can body therethrough, means for moving a can body into one of said first partial molds at first one of said stations, means for rotating said turret a predetermined angular distance to position said one partial mold at a second station, means for positioning a cover in aligned relation with the open end of the can body when said one partial mold is in said second station, a second partial mold including wall means with an upper peripheral portion adapted to engage and support other upper peripheral portions of a can body to provide support for a portion of the body flange means during the seaming of a cover to the can body, said second partial mold being pivotally movable into engagement with said other upper peripheral portions when said one partial mold is in a third station, a can closing seaming mechanism disposed above said one partial mold when in said third station, means moving said one and said second partial molds with a can body therebetween upwardly into a seaming position with said cover, means for effecting operation of said mechanism to seam the cover onto the body, means for lowering said one and second partial molds, means for moving said second partial mold away from said one partial mold, and means for removing the body with the cover seamed thereto at a fourth station.

8. The closing machine according to claim 7 wherein said second partial mold is movable horizontally relative to said first partial mold.