US3730118A - Linear clinching for round cans - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device which allows continuous crimping of an end onto a can of circular section thereby providing the engagement of the end on the can along its whole periphery. This device comprises, on either side of a moving track which conveys the cans, two elongated guides of which one at least is constituted by a moving section of a chain passed in a loop on at least two pinions of which one is a drive pinion, and at least one of the guides being profiled so as at least to contribute to the desired crimping.

Description

May 1, 1973 LINEAR CLINCHING FOR ROUND CANS Inventor:

Claude Del-Frate, Boulogne, France ETS. J. J. Carnaud & Forges De Basse-Indre, Paris, France Nov. 3, 197 1 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 16, 1970 France 7040927 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1966 Bofinger et al. ..1 13/26 2/1969 Wessely ..1 13/30 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,073,763 6/1967 Great Britain ..53/333 Primary ExaminerRichard J. Herbst Attorney-Charles E. Brown et al.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a device which allows continuous crimping of an end onto a can of circular section thereby providing the engagement of the end on the can along its whole periphery. This device comprises, on either side of a moving track which conveys the cans, two elongated guides of which one at least is constituted by a moving section of a chain passed in a loop on at least two pinions of which one is a drive pinion, and at least one of the guides being profiled so as at least to contribute to the desired crimping.

18 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures '1] hhl'l I TILL I l l I Patented May 1, 1973 3,730,118

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented May 1, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIII\IIIIT'IIIIL lllllll LINEAR CLINCHING FOR ROUND CANS present invention relates in general to the securing of a cover onto the body of a can having a circular cross section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such securement, commonly referred to as clinching, finds its application primarily but not exclusively in automatic machines or apparatus which effect peripheral crimping of a cover or bottom onto the body of a can having a circular cross section preliminarily filled with a product of some kind, e.g. a food product, etc.

In general such an automatic crimping machine includes a device for delivery of cans preliminarily filled with the product to be packaged, a device which delivers the ends and which distributes one end on each can, a mechanism that delivers cans and ends to a crimping station, and a crimping station per se.

Each can has formed on its upper edge a flange that projects laterally, and each end has a peripheral rolled edge, with the crimping operation consisting in folding the rolled edge of an end on the flange or a can, then bending down against the can the rolled and flanged edges that are thus joined.

The can may contain a more or less homogeneous product which is more or less liquid and which does not overflow the can, in which case the end delivered by the delivery device of the machine rests directly in contact with it, or it may contain a product that extends above the can, immersed in juice or sauce that is more or less liquid, in which case the lid delivered to the can actually rests on the product, away from the can itself.

In either case there are often losses of the product between the moment when the full can receives its end or lid and the moment at which the latter is finally crimped onto the can, as a function namely of nature of the product and more especially of its fluidity or of the fluidity of at least one of its elements, and also as a function of the nature of the machine, especially of its rate of utilization and of the jarring that it imparts to the cans through change of direction, for example, or of acceleration or braking which may occur, depending upon the movement of translation of such a can.

To reduce these losses it has previously been proposed to effect thecrimping of the end onto the can as soon as the end is set in place on the can.

This crimping consists in a hooking of the end onto the body of the can by suitable rolling of the rolled edge of the end on the flanged edge of the can.

But in the past such a crimping has been effected at only two diametrically opposite points on the end, which of course reduces the losses, but it is not always adequate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for continuous crimping of an end onto a can of circular cross section, i.e., the engagement of the end along the whole periphery of the can.

The crimping device of the invention is characterized inthat it comprises, on either side of a circulating track for the cans, two elongated guides disposed so as to come into engagement with the end of a can at two diametrically opposed points on the said end, at least one of the said guides being formed by a straight section of a chain passed in a loop on at least two pinions of which one is a drive pinion and at least one of the guides having a profile that is suitable to contribute at least to the desired crimping.

This chain effects a rotation of each can, and thereby a linear advance of the can, according to a preferred form of embodiment it contributes at least to the rolling of the rolled edge of the end onto the flanged edge of the can, for engagement of the end. Through the rotation imparted to the can and the end, this engagement gradually affects the whole of the periphery of the end.

Preferably, the chain of the device of the invention is formed of a succession of blocks articulated like the outer links of a roller chain, and each shaped so as at least to contribute to the sought crimping action and, conjointly, the second guide associated with such a chain is either a rigidly fixed bar, shaped so as also to contribute at least to the crimping, or a straight section of a second chain similar to the first but driven in the opposite direction at a different speed from the first.

The crimping device of the invention allows engagement of the end of the can along the whole of its periphery as soon as the said end is placed on the can. The crimping device is therefore capable of reducing to a minimum or even eliminating the losses of the product which occur in the case of cans moved in a machine or automatic crimping apparatus, it being understood however that the application of this crimping device is not limited to such facilities or machines, and that the advantages resulting from it are not limited to those due to reduction or elimination of the aforementioned losses.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description, given as example, with reference to the attached schematic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the crimping device of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the device, with a part of the can broken away, taken along line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the crimping blocks used in this device;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on the same scale as FIG. 3, through a can and its end;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the same scale as FIGS. 3 and 4, showing the action of the crimping block on the end and can;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view somewhat similar to FIG. 2 but on a smaller scale and shows the regulation of the crimping device as a function of the diameter of the can;

FIG. 7 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 and shows a modified form of crimping device.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be seen that a crimping device according to the invention includes two elongated guides 10A, 10B disposed parallel to each other on either side of a circulating track 11 which carries cans 13 at a height that allows them to come into engagement with ends 12 placed on the cans 13: the said cans 13 being cylindrical cans of circular cross section which are to be closed.

As best seen in FIG. 4, a can 13 presents at its upper part a flanged edge 15 which projects laterally, and the associated end or lid 12, which rests on said flange 15, presents peripherally a rolled edge 16 whose rolling is to be continued until there is interlocked engagement with the flange 15 of the can 13.

In the illustrated example, the circulating track 11 has cleats 17 which are capable of thrusting cans 13 as indicated by arrows 19 of FIG. 1.

According to the invention, elongated guide 10A is formed by a straight section of a chain 20 which is passed in a loop determined on the one hand by two return pinions 21, and on the other hand on a drive pinion 22 rotatably driven by a drive unit 23.

The chain 20 is in the form of a succession of blocks 24 which are successively articulated like the outer links of a roller chain, each block 24 having dimensions such that the blocks 24 become contiguous to one another along each straight section of chain 20, especially along straight section 10A thereof.

Such block 24, or crimping block, is illustrated in section in FIG. 2. In this figure, numeral 25 designates a pin by which a block 24 is articulated with links 26, 26 which provide for the connection of the block with an adjacent block 24. A roller 27 is engaged on the pin 25 between the links 26, 26' within a recess 28 in block 24 in question.

In the illustrated example, chain 20 has associated with it a rigid bar 30 which presents on the one hand an angle piece 31 for supporting the chain of blocks along its straight section 10A and on the other hand a rib 32 for lateral counterthrust of the chain along the same section 10A at the level of rollers 27 for the rolling of the chain 20.

On its working face, each crimping block 24 presents a profile 35 which is suitable for effecting or contributing to the desired crimping. This profile 35 is best seen in FIG. 3 and is a standard profile of a conventional crimping wheel. In short, such a profile presents a rounded indentation 36 which matches the rolled edge 16 ofan end 12.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the elongated guide 108 is formed by a fixed rigid bar which has a first section 40 disposed slightly oblique with respect to the straight section 10A of the crimping chain 20 and gradually approaching the latter, and a second section 41 which is parallel to the straight section of the crimping chain 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, this bar or guide 1013 presents on its work face a profile 42 which is symmetrical to the profile 35 of crimping blocks 24 with reference to the median vertical plane of the circulating track 1 1.

Finally, in the illustrated example, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two guides 45A, 45B are additionally provided above th circulating track 11, but near it, for guiding the bases of the cans 13.

As is readily understandable, cleats 17 push cans 13 until they are introduced into the crimping device of the invention. This introduction is advantageously gradual because of the obliquity of the first section 40 of. the bar or guide 10B.

As soon as a can 13 enters into the crimping device of the invention, the can is set into rotation by chain 20 which, by the can rolling against bar 10B, also leads to a movement in translation of such can 13.

Preferably the linear speed of chain 20 is selected so that the speed of translation thus imparted to cans 13 is greater than the speed of translation previously effected by cleats 17, so that cans 13 lose all contact with the cleats as soon as they start to rotate: this arrangement avoids any friction of the cans 13 against cleats 17 during the rotation thereof.

The separation between straight section 10A of chain 20 and the oblique section 40 of bar 10B at the entrance end of the bar corresponds to the initial diameter of ends 12, and the separation between straight section 10A of chain 20 and the parallel section 41 of bar 10B corresponds to the diameter of the ends after their engagement with the cans.

This engagement is insured jointly by blocks 24 of chain 20 and sections 40, 41 of bar 1013. It is effected by the gradual continuation of the rolling of rolled edge 16 of lids 12, as shown in FIG. 5. This rolling is effected gradually at first because of the obliquity of section 40 of bar 1013: the length of this section is such preferably as to give a roll on more than half the perimeter of the lid. Section 41 which follows insures the smoothing of the formed roll, its length corresponds preferably to substantially half the perimeter of a lid.

According to FIG. 6, bar 10B is supported by an angle element 50 by means of bolts 51 which allow the shifting of this bar perpendicularly to track 11. This allows for an adaptation of the crimping device of the invention to cans of different diameters.

In order that this adjustment may be made in equal amounts on either side of the longitudinal plane of symmetry of track 11, bar 30 which guides chain 20 and angle element 50 that carries bar 108 are screwed on stays 52 which present threaded sections with opposite pitch. Thus, it is readily understood that manipulation of the stays 52 effects the conjugated approach or separation of section 10A of chain 20 and bar 10B.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, two chains 20A, 20B of the type described above are disposed on either side of track 11, for the desired crimping.

Chian 20B is driven in the direction opposite to that of chain 20A, at a speed which is less than that of chain 20A, so that cans 13 which are treated maintain a linear speed of motion on track 11.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments that have been described and illustrated, but encompasses other modifications. Particularly, chain 20 could serve solely for driving cans 13, the crimping then being effected only by guide 10B associated with the chain.

Moreover, as mentioned above, the application of the crimping device of the invention is not limited to the engagement of an end on a can in crimping machines for reduction of loss of contents of such a can, but it extends to any case in which such engagement is useful or desirable.

I claim:

1. A device for the continuous crimping of an end on a can body, said device comprising means for moving a can body along a predetermined path, opposed guides on opposite sides of said path at an elevation for engaging ends carried by can bodies moving along said path for engaging can bodies and ends positioned thereon at diametrically opposite points points thereon, at least one of said guides comprising a moving section of an endless articulated member mounted for movement in a loop about at least two supports one of which is a drive means for said articulated member, said articulated member forming can rotation means for rotating cans as the cans move along said path between said guides, and at least one of said guides having a configuration to at least partially effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said articulated member is in the form of a chain formed in part by a succession of profiled blocks.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said blocks are of a size to be contiguous along said moving section to provide a substantially continuous can engaging surface along said straight section.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the other of said guides is in the form of a fixed rigid bar.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the other of said guides is in the form of a fixed rigid bar having two sections, said sections including a first section disposed slightly oblique to and converging with said moving section, and a second section disposed substantially parallel to said moving section.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said second guide has said configuraiion to at least partialy effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

7. A device according to claim 2 wherein the other of said guides is formed by a moving straight section of a chain of a construction similar to said first mentioned chain, and means moving said other guide straight section in a direction opposite to and at a speed different from that of said first mentioned chain straight section.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other of said guides is in the form of a fixed rigid bar having two sections, said sections including a first section disposed slightly oblique to and converging with said moving section, and a second section disposed substantially parallel to said moving section.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said second guide has said configuration to at least partially effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein both said articulated member and said rigid bar have said configuration to at least partially effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

11. A device according to claim 1 together with a fixed member associated with said articulated member moving straight section and supporting the same.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said articulated member is in the form of a chain formed in part by a succession in profiled blocks and including rollers, and a fixed member associated with said articulated member moving straight section and including a back-up guide engageable by said rollers and operable to counter thrusts thereon.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said fixed member has a portion underlying said moving straight section and supporting the same against downward movement.

14. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving can bodies along a predetermined path includes a cleated conveyor, and said moving section imparts to a can engaged thereby a linear speed along said path greater than the speed of advance of said cleated conveyor.

. A device according to claim 1 wherein said path is defined by two fixed supplementary guides on opposite sides of said path and above said moving means,

16. A device according to claim 1 together with means for adjusting the spacing between said guides.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said adjusting means includes means for simultaneously moving said guides in opposite directions at the same rate to retain said guides centered relative to said path.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said adjusting means includes means for simultaneously moving said guides in opposite directions at the same rate to retain said guides centered relative to said path, and other means for individually adjusting at least one of said guides.

Claims (18)

1. A device for the continuous crimping of an end on a can body, said device comprising means for moving a can body along a predetermined path, opposed guides on opposite sides of said path at an elevation for engaging ends carried by can bodies moving along said path for engaging can bodies and ends positioned thereon at diametrically opposite points points thereon, at least one of said guides comprising a moving section of an endless articulated member mounted for movement in a loop about at least two supports one of which is a drive means for said articulated member, said articulated member forming can rotation means for rotating cans as the cans move along said path between said guides, and at least one of said guides having a configuration to at least partially effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said articulated member is in the form of a chain formed in part by a succession of profiled blocks.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said blocks are of a size to be contiguous along said moving section to provide a substantially continuous can engaging surface along said straight section.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the other of said guides is in the form of a fixed rigid bar.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the other of said guides is in the form of a fixed rigid bar having two sections, said sections including a first section disposed slightly oblique to and converging with said moving section, and a second section disposed substantially parallel to said moving section.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said second guide has said configuraiion to at least partialy effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

7. A device according to claim 2 wherein the other of said guides is formed by a moving straight section of a chain of a construction similar to said first mentioned chain, and means moving said other guide straight section in a direction opposite to and at a speed different from that of said first mentioned chain straight section.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other of said guides is in the form of a fixed rigid bar having two sections, said sections including a first section disposed slightly oblique to and converging with said moving section, and a second section disposed substantially parallel to said movIng section.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein said second guide has said configuration to at least partially effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein both said articulated member and said rigid bar have said configuration to at least partially effect a crimping of ends on can bodies.

11. A device according to claim 1 together with a fixed member associated with said articulated member moving straight section and supporting the same.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said articulated member is in the form of a chain formed in part by a succession in profiled blocks and including rollers, and a fixed member associated with said articulated member moving straight section and including a back-up guide engageable by said rollers and operable to counter thrusts thereon.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said fixed member has a portion underlying said moving straight section and supporting the same against downward movement.

14. A device according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving can bodies along a predetermined path includes a cleated conveyor, and said moving section imparts to a can engaged thereby a linear speed along said path greater than the speed of advance of said cleated conveyor.

15. A device according to claim 1 wherein said path is defined by two fixed supplementary guides on opposite sides of said path and above said moving means,

16. A device according to claim 1 together with means for adjusting the spacing between said guides.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said adjusting means includes means for simultaneously moving said guides in opposite directions at the same rate to retain said guides centered relative to said path.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said adjusting means includes means for simultaneously moving said guides in opposite directions at the same rate to retain said guides centered relative to said path, and other means for individually adjusting at least one of said guides.

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