WO2000026091A1

WO2000026091A1 - Cover forming arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2000026091A1
Application number: PCT/IB1999/001741
Authority: WO
Inventors: James George Nieuwoudt
Original assignee: Henbase 3172 (Pty.) Ltd.
Priority date: 1998-10-29
Filing date: 1999-10-27
Publication date: 2000-05-11
Also published as: AU6224899A

Abstract

An arrangement for providing covers (28, 60, 86) onto cans (32) is disclosed. It includes conveying means (16) for conveying cans (32) to a position for being provided with a cover (28, 60, 86) and thereafter removing cans (32) provided with a cover (28, 60, 86). The arrangement further includes a placement means (14, 22; 54; 66) for applying a cover (28, 60, 86) onto each suitably positioned can (32) and securing means (24) for securing a cover (28, 60, 86) placed onto each can (32). In one embodiment the arrangement includes a cover supply means (56, 84) for supplying preformed covers (60, 86) to the placement means (64, 68, 70). In another embodiment the arrangement includes a cover forming means (22) adapted to form covers (28) and to supply formed covers (28) to the placement means (22), and a cover material supply means (48, 52) for supplying cover material (34) to the cover forming means (22) for forming covers (28).

Description

Cover forming arrangement.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an arrangement for providing covers on cans.

More particularly, the invention relates to an arrangement for providing covers on beverage cans or cans containing foodstuffs.

BACKGROUND PRIOR ART

Cans for beverages or foodstuffs generally are closed by way of a lid which constitutes one end of a cylindrical housing closed at its opposite end by way of a floor or base. These cans are made of thin sheet metal, e.g. a suitable aluminium alloy material.

Such beverage or foodstuff cans often are stored, used or transported in surroundings which are not hygienic or clean. The result is that the cans may reach the consumer or end user in a condition, which is not only unattractive but also unhygienic.

Furthermore, beverage or foodstuff producers only have a limited number of options for attaching promotional or instructional material to cans.

A cover over the lid of the container would provide the ideal solution for attaching promotional or instructional material to a can, while keeping the dispensing opening clean.

USA 4 284 481 (Hascoe) describes a method of fabricating a metallic hermetic sealing cover for a container, which comprises plating a strip of base metal with a material comprising preponderantly a precious metal, such as gold, dividing the strip into cover elements of predetermined size, and barrel-plating such cover elements with the plating.

USA 4 960 216 (Giles) discloses a partially laminated closure cap for tamper proof container and method of making same. A tamper indicating seal is formed by a first laminate portion, including a layer of aluminium foil and a layer of a heat activated adhesive and a second laminate portion including a layer of heat resistant plastic film or foam and a layer of polyester film. The two laminate portions are secured together by an adhesive layer having two sections: a pattern section and a solid layer section. The solid layer section permanently secures the two laminate sections together. The pattern section covers the remaining portion and only lightly secures the two laminate sections together. The second laminate section can be easily removed from the pattern adhesive to form a pull tab to remove the seal from a container.

In USA 5 026 237 (Dorfman) a method for crimping a cap member on a can is described including the steps of positioning a unitary, integrally formed collet member in circumscribing relationship about the cap member; and elastically, inwardly deforming the collet member so as to engage and crimpingly deform the cap member.

In USA 5 257 709 (Okabe, et al) a container provided with a metallic cover and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same is disclosed. The metallic cover comprises a plastic container provided with a flanged portion and a metallic cover provided with a peripheral edge portion and having an improved reservation property.

It is an object of the invention to suggest an arrangement for providing covers onto cans in a continuous operation. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, an arrangement for providing covers onto cans which includes conveying means for conveying cans to a position for being provided with a cover and thereafter removing cans provided with a cover, is characterized thereby that it includes a placement means for applying a cover onto each suitably positioned can.

The arrangement may include securing means for securing a cover placed onto each can.

The arrangement may include a cover supply means for supplying preformed covers to the placement means.

The placement means may be adapted to form a cover directly onto a can.

The arrangement may include a cover forming means adapted to form covers and to supply formed covers to the placement means, and a cover material supply means for supplying material to the cover forming means for forming covers.

The cover may be applied onto the lid of a can.

Attaching means may be provided for attaching a promotional item to a lid of each can prior to the provision of a cover.

The placement means may include at least one capping head.

The cover material may be a foil sheet.

The foil sheet may be provided in rolls.

The placement means may include high frequency welding means to weld a cover directly onto a lid of a can. The can may be a beverage can or a can containing foodstuffs or containing anything else as required.

Attachment means may be provided for attaching a promotional item to a cover prior to supplying the cover to the placement means.

The cover may be applied onto or over the lid of a can, or at least onto or over part of the lid of a can.

The cover may be applied onto or over the lid on top of the can or on the bottom end of a can.

The cover may be applied onto or over the top of a can and the cover material stretched towards the bottom of the can in such a way as to cover or laminate the side walls of the can.

The cover may be formed onto the can in such a way that any promotional item may be attached to the can onto or underneath the cover during a cover forming process.

The cover may be formed or constructed in such a way that the complete or partial removal of the cover or any tampering with the cover on the can may result in visible or detectable signs of such actions. For example, physical destruction, complete or partial damage, changes in cover shape, changes in the material or colour of the cover, or any other visible indication.

The cover may be in the form of at least one thin layer of cover sheet material covering the top or dispensing opening of the can in such a way that the cover material follows the contour of the top of the can or lid or any other promotional item attached to or placed on the can or can lid. The placement means for forming the cover directly onto the can may consist of at least one capping head that may contain at least one material property transforming element, for transforming the cover material or cover sheet into or out of any pliable state, in order to form a cover onto the can by way of pressure forming a flat cover sheet, placed horizontally over the lid of the can, or over the lid of the can by activating a cover sheet property transforming element while applying pressure onto the cover sheet in order to form it in such a way that it follows the contour of the can lid or that part of the can that has to be covered or the contour of the can lid together with any promotional item attached to or placed on the can.

The cover sheet may be any foil material. The foil material may be supplied to the arrangement in pre-manufactured rolls or the foil may be manufactured by way of any extrusion process.

The placement means may use high frequency current to weld the covers directly onto the cans.

The foil material may be elasticized or brought to its plastic phase by using high frequency.

Feeding the foil material to the capping head may be done to individual cans or to an array of cans in a direction parallel to the conveyor movement or to a matrix of cans at a time.

The cover placement means may form the covers on the cans by way of a stamping process using heads that contain a mechanism for softening the cover sheet at those areas where the cover sheet has to be stretched or shaped.

The capping heads may operate in any static or dynamic way so as to perform the capping process on any static or dynamic conveyor or can moving means. The capping heads may form a cover on a can by way of any sequence of linear movements in any vertical or horizontal direction. The capping heads may operate in any rolling or circular moving manner in order to form the covers on the cans.

The capping heads may be operated rotationally.

The capping head may have a female shape corresponding to the can lid or the can lid together with any promotional item attached to it or that part of the can that has to be covered.

The pressure on the cover sheet situated between the capping head and the lid may be exerted by way of mechanical pressure on the capping head onto the lid of the can.

Hot air or steam may be blown or released or pressurised through channels on the capping head onto the cover sheet in order to heat the cover sheet or at least part of the cover sheet to a temperature where it becomes pliable. Once the material is formed on the lid, the hot air or steam flow may be alternated with cold air in order to cool the shaped cover sheet.

The pressure required for forming the covers may be exerted in any indirect way, such as by way of any pressure from any gas or liquid onto the cover sheet.

The material transforming element may operate by way of releasing any air or steam or liquid or gas or solid onto the cover sheet. For example by way of low/high pressurised hot air or stream or by way of any suitable chemical.

The pressure for forming the cover may be any negative pressure, for example vacuum between the. can and the cover sheet. The capping head may include any nozzles or channels that pass through or underneath the cover sheet in order to cause a vacuum on any part of the lid or the can where the cover sheet has to be formed.

The capping head or any part of the capping head may be made from any solid material or any resilient material or any pliable material or any recoilable material.

The material transforming element may include the use of principles of radio frequency or may operate on any electromagnetic waves of any static and/or dynamic frequency pattern.

The material transforming elements in or on the capping head may be strategically placed in order to cause transformation of material properties at least at those areas where the cover sheet has to be shaped, for example in a circular shape on the inside or on the outside of the shoulder of the lid of a can.

The covers may be formed by blow moulding.

In the place of using a cover sheet, covers may be formed by depositing raw material onto the cans and forming the raw material to take the shape of the covers.

The covers may be formed out of a multi-layered cover sheet material.

The cans or cover placement means may be operated on the principle of a wagon wheel.

The covers may be formed in a linear or cylindrical movement.

The arrangement for placing a cover onto a can may operate in such a way that it forms a cover on the cans one at a time or it may operate in such a way that it forms covers on a batch or array or matrix of cans simultaneously. The cover sheet may be fed horizontally over the matrix of cans.

Any promotional item may be attached to the cans by fixing the promotional item onto or underneath the cover sheet in any way.

The capping head may be used to cut the cover sheet for forming the cover after it has been formed from the cover sheet (e.g. waste) in any way. The cover sheet may be cut by a rotating cutting mechanism as part of the capping head.

The formed covers may be cut by way of a die inside a cylindrical hole. The capping head may form the die.

The formed covers may be cut by way of radio frequency.

The waste cover sheet resulted on forming the covers may be disposed of or recycled in any suitable way.

The capping head may contain any elements or knives for supporting a tamper proofing function in order to cut any number of horizontal slots into the cover sheet directly under the can rim.

The capping head may contain any elements for causing any perforation of any shape on the formed covers in order to assist with the removal of a cover from the can or for causing damage to the cover in any attempt to remove the cover from a can. The elements may be any range of studs or any sharp edges forming any particular shape of perforation on the can covers. The capping head may be used to insert any promotional item.

The material transforming element may be any material heating element. The heating element may be electrically operable. The heat may be blown onto or underneath the cover sheet in any way.

The material transforming element may be any heat transfer mechanism with channels on or inside or over the capping head through which heat is transferred. The channels may be filled with any solid material or any liquid or any gas. The channels may be used to flow or convey any hot/cold/diN steam/air or hot/cold gas (e.g. air) or hot/cold liquid.

The material transforming element may operate by spraying or blowing or releasing any liquid (e.g. water, chemical liquid) or gas (e.g. steam, hot air) onto or underneath the cover sheet.

The cover sheet may be made flexible by releasing any chemical agent on the cover sheet through at least one nozzle. The nozzles may blow hot air or steam blown over the cover sheet.

The material transforming element may operate by way of any radio frequency in any range of the frequency spectrum, and may include a radio frequency element operable on any static or dynamically varied frequency which may be pulsed or modulated in any way.

The material transforming element may be situated in any part of the cover forming arrangement, for example in the capping heads or on the capping heads or in the immediate environment of the capping heads or on the cover sheet feeding arrangement, for example between the feeding arrangement and the placement means.

The material transforming element may operate by way of any optical source in any range of the frequency spectrum. The optical element may operate on any static or dynamically varied frequency which may be pulsed or modulated in any way.

The material transforming element may be isolated on the capping head in order for this element not to transfer any energy to the rest of the capping head.

The capping head may be constructed from different materials in order to relay heat or energy to strategic points or areas on the capping head.

The material transforming element may be any mechanism that feeds all capping heads simultaneously.

The cover sheet may be made of any suitable plastics or polymer material or organic or inorganic material.

The cover sheet may be any sheeted material which may be of any particular shape.

The cover sheet may be provided as a number of individual cover sheet strips.

The capping head on the placement means may contain material solidifying means.

The capping head may contain at least one sheet cutting element in the outer rim of the can in order to cut the cover sheet underneath the capping head from the waste flat cover sheet supplied to the placement means.

The cover forming arrangement for forming a cover directly onto cans may be situated in a can filling factory in line with a conveyor which, for example, moves the cans in the factory line from the filling station to the rest of the packaging section (e.g. pasteurisation, quality control or six pack wrapping).

The cover may be attached to the can over the inside or outside of the shoulder of the can or can lid.

The cover may be attached to a dispensing opening mechanism of a can.

The cover may be formed in such a way that the material composition of the cover on the can consists of single or multiple layers of cover sheet which may be of varying shapes or sizes or thickness.

The material supplying means may feed layers of sheet material horizontally over the top of the cans on which the covers are to be formed.

The placement means may consist of a capping head to form the cover from any arrangement for the manufacturing or forming of the covers from a cover sheet. This manufacturing process may include any moulding, casting, vacuum forming, stamping, pressing, blow moulding process, material dipping, material deposit, or any other material forming process. The covers may be formed in the shape of a can by using a can or each can that has be to capped as a template.

The capping head may be a negative and/or female shape of the can.

The placement means for applying the cover to the can may be operated by any linear or rotational or semi-rotational process. This may include pressing or stamping or screwing or rolling or vacuum or gravity and pressure or welding or glueing or crimping or seaming process, or any other application process. Removing means may be provided as part of the placement means to form a capping head unit. A number of these units may operate in a rotational or semi-rotational manner and may consist of more than one capping head unit configured around an axis on different angles. In this way, one capping head may perform a cover removing function from the cover guide while another performs a cover placement function on the can.

The covers may be heated prior to their application to the cans and cooled down after application in order to ensure tight crimping onto the cans. The covers may be heated in a reservoir or in the cover guide which guides the covers to the dispensing opening or by the placement means that applies the cover onto the lid. The covers may be heated by any electrical elements or magnetic waves of any frequency (e.g. magnetic, electric, light) or air or liquid or gas, or any other medium.

The cover reservoir may include any arrangement for manufacturing of the covers. This manufacturing may include any moulding, casting, vacuum forming, stamping, pressing, blow moulding process, material dipping, material deposit, or any other material forming process.

The placement means may attach the covers to the cans by way of depositing any material on the can prior or after the application of the cover. The material depositing process may also be performed by any other part of the arrangement. The material deposit process may be for material compatibility purposes or for hygienic purposes, or for any other purpose.

The cover sheet may be lifted by way of rollers after it has been cut.

The can moving means may include a can arranging or sorting means for ensuring that the cans are supplied to the application means in a specific order or configuration.

The arrangement may include a marking device for marking or printing or stamping onto the cover sheet before or after the forming of the cover. Marking may be promotional text or pictures, a code of any nature, lucky number, competition material, advertisements, information, or any other visual picture or text.

The placement means for handling of covers between the dispensing opening of the cover guide and the can itself may operate using gravity or magnetic force or pneumatic or vacuum or mechanical clamping or pressure or static electricity process, or any other medium.

The arrangement may include a synchronisation means for synchronising the placement means operation with the position of the cans on the conveyor.

The cover sheet supplying means may include a sensing mechanism for the detection of damaged or poor quality covers before they are applied to cans. The arrangement may also include a disposing means for disposing of damaged covers or promotional items.

The promotional items may be attached or placed below the cover sheet in the form of a matrix or between layers of cover sheets fed into the placement means.

The promotional items may be fixed onto the covers beforehand or in any part of this arrangement in order to be applied to the cans as part of the cover. The promotional items may also be supplied to the cover dispensing mechanism as part of the cover but not fixed to the cover. For this purpose, the promotional items may be supplied to the cover placement means through the dispensing opening of the cover guide. The arrangement may include a mechanism for impregnating of the promotional item or for ensuring that the promotional item used with the cover is clean and sterile.

The arrangement may include a second (or more) feeding means for feeding additional items, for placing such items onto a can prior to the application of a cover. This means may include a sensing mechanism for ensuring that the promotional items are placed onto the container correctly. The additional item guide may also be fitted with a reservoir for other supply of promotional items. This reservoir may also include mechanisms for manufacturing or sorting or scrambling of the promotional items.

The promotional material may be inserted on top of the can by way of a roll of tape turning at an angle (say more than 90 degrees) in order to dispose of the item as the item goes around this angle.

The arrangement may include any electronic data writing device for writing or loading any form of analogue or digital data onto the lids prior or after the application of a cover. The data may also be written/loaded onto any medium underneath the cover or any medium attached by means of the cover.

The arrangement may include any data reading device for reading or logging data with respect to the cover or promotional material. This data may be used for record keeping or counting, or any other purpose.

The arrangement may include a sensing device for monitoring the quality or success of the placement of a cover or promotional item to a can. The monitoring may operate on any image (e.g. video, infra red, thermal, laser etc.) or on any automatic active or passive measurement of the can or the cover or the promotional item. This arrangement may also include a mechanism for reacting to detection of poor quality covers or any insufficiently covered cans. This arrangement may include a mechanism for physically removing such cans from the moving means (e.g. conveyor).

The arrangement may include a further placement means for applying a cover detachment means to the cover or can. The detachment means may be a string for easy removal of a cover from a can. The application of the detachment means may also be conducted by the cover placement means.

The covers may be attached to the cans using any suitable means to ensure that the covers are attached to the cans with a positive friction.

The output of the cover reservoir may also be the dispensing part of the cover guide in such a way that the cover guide could be omitted.

The cover reservoir may include any cover manufacturing arrangement. Such manufacturing arrangement may include any moulding, casting, vacuum forming, stamping, pressing, blow moulding process, material dipping, material deposit, or any other material forming process.

The arrangement may include a mechanism for impregnating of promotional items or for ensuring that the promotional items used with the covers are clean and sterile.

The covers may be in the form of a sleeve or flat piece of material which is applied to the cans as a sleeve and then applying a disk shaped lid to the top part of the sleeve. The application means would apply the sleeve, ensure tight fitting by way of temperature shrinking and apply a disk shape top which can be smelted or temperature (e.g. heat) shrinked to the sleeve material. The sleeve and disk material may be any metal or non-metal or polymer or plastic material, or any other material. The arrangement may also include a can sensing mechanism and a reaction mechanism to prevent the attachment or application means from handling a cover should a container not be present in a particular cycle.

The arrangement for applying a cover onto a lid of a can may consist of multiple cover guides, multiple removing means and multiple application means for capping of several cans simultaneously in series or in parallel.

The promotional items may include instructions, information, a gift, a toy, a condom, a sachet, a sweet or any other suitable item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1 a side view of a first embodiment of an arrangement for forming covers out of sheet material or other forms of raw material directly onto cans in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 a front view seen along arrow II in Figure 1 but only showing the cover forming means;

Figure 3 on a reduced scale, a top view seen along arrow III in Figure 1 but showing the various components only schematically;

Figure 4 a schematic side view of a second embodiment of an arrangement for applying preformed covers onto cans in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 5 a side view of an alternative cover placement means for use in the arrangements illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a cover forming arrangement, generally indicated by reference numerical 10, which includes promotional item feeding channels 12, cover forming means 14, a conveyor 16, an air blower and can cleaning device 18, a promotional item means 20, a stamping device 22, a cover securing means 24 and an inspection means 26.

The cover forming means 14 forms covers 28 out of sheet material 34 directly onto the lids 30 of each of the cans 32. This forming means 14 is located above the conveyor 16.

A printing device 36 may be used for printing of promotional data or other data on the sheet 34 and/or promotional items 38 contained in the channel 12.

The stamping device 22 includes a number of stamping heads 40 stamping a cover 28 out of the sheet 34 and for fitting a cover 28 to the lid 30 of each can 32. The position of the cans 32 is synchronised relative to the stamping heads 40 by means of the synchronisation device 42.

During operation, cans 32 are transported by the conveyor 16 in the direction indicated by arrow 44. The cleaning device 18 blows hot air onto the cans 32 to dry the cans 32 and to clean the area of the lids 30 where the covers 28 are to be applied.

When reaching the feeding channels 12 a promotional item 38, such as a ticket, is applied onto the lid 30 of each can 32. The application may be by way of the promotional item placement means 20. When a can 32 reaches the cover forming means 14, the sheet 34 is supplied above the lid 30 of the can 32 and thereafter the stamping head 40 is operated to stamp or press the cover 28 onto the lid 30 of the can 32. The sheet 34 may be heated before the stamping process by way of any energy source (e.g. high frequency, hot air or steam). Alternatively the sheet 34 may already be in a plastic state (e.g. being supplied from an extrusion process).

The stamping heads 40 may also include cutters 46 for cutting the covers 28 from the sheet 34 or for welding the covers 28 to the lid 30 of each can 32 (e.g. by way of high frequency welding).

The cans 32 then pass through cover securing means 24 to ensure that each cover 28 is fitted tightly to the lid 30 of each can 32 (e.g. low or high temperature tunnel for tight fit crimping purposes).

Thereafter the cans 32 pass the inspection means 26 to ensure that the cover 28 has been applied successfully to the can 32.

Figure 2 shows a front view of the cover forming means 14. The cans 32 move on the conveyor 16 while the sheet 34 is supplied over the top of the cans 32. The stamping device 22 forms the covers 28 onto the lids 30 of the cans 34. The sheet 34 is provided as a roll 48 which is drawn above the cans 32 in the direction of arrow 50 and the remaining waste material is drawn onto a spool 52 to be discarded.

Figure 3 shows a top or plan view of the arrangement 10 on a reduced scale with the various components shown schematically. The cans 32 move on the conveyor 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow 44. The cover forming means 14 forms the covers 28 onto the lids 30 of the cans 32 while the sheet 34 is supplied from the roll 48 to the spool 52. The drawing shows how an array, matrix or any other arrangement of cans may be capped simultaneously.

In Figure 4 a second embodiment of a can cover arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown. The same reference numerals will be used as in Figures 1 to 3 to indicate the same parts. However, in this case preformed covers are provided, which are fed from a reservoir.

The can cover arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 54, includes promotional item feeding channels 12, a conveyor 16, an air blower and can cleaning device 18, a promotional item placement means 20, a stamping device 22, a cover securing means 24, and an inspection means 26. Furthermore cover feed channels 56 are joined by way of their upper ends 58 to a reservoir (not shown) containing preformed covers 60. The respective dispensing openings 62 of the channels 56 are is located above the transportation movement of cans 32 conveyed by way of the conveyor 16.

A printing device 34 may be used for printing of promotional data or other data on the covers 60 and/or promotional items 38.

During operation, cans 32 are transported by the conveyor 16 in the direction indicated by arrow 44. The cleaning device 18 blows hot air onto the cans 32 to dry the cans and to clean the area of the lids 30 where the covers 60 are to be applied.

When reaching the feeding channels 12 a promotional item 38, such as a ticket, is applied onto the lid 30 of each can 32. The application may be by way of the promotional item placement means 20.

When the cans 32 reach the dispensing opening 62 of the cover feeding channels 56 a cover 60 is caused to drop onto the lid 30 of each can 32 or the cover 60 is supplied to the lid 30 of each can 32 by the cover placement means 64 and thereafter the stamping device 22 is operated to stamp or press the cover 60 into position onto the lid 30 of each can 32. The covers 60 may be heated before their application to the cans 32, which is done to increase the size of the cover 60 for better fitting onto the can 32 after cooling.

The cans 32 then pass through a low or high temperature tunnel 24 for tight fit crimping purposes.

Thereafter the cans 32 pass the inspection means 26 to ensure that the covers 60 have been applied to the cans 32 successfully.

Figure 5 shows a side view of another embodiment of a cover placement means for covers and/or promotional items. The placement means 66 has capping heads 68, 70 carried by rods 72, 74 joined to a carrier member 76 on a rotational shaft 78, which can turn in the direction indicated by arrow 80. The carrier member 76 may also move in a linear way in the direction indicated by arrow 82. There further is provided a cover (or promotional item) guide 84 for preformed covers 86 to be placed onto the lid 30 of each can 32 for further processing as described above. The shaft 78 may also be connected to a vacuum tube 88 by means of a swivel connection in order to supply vacuum to the capping heads 68 and 70.

During operation, the cans 32 are transported by the conveyor 16 in the direction indicated by arrow 44. The covers 86 are stacked in an upside- down position in the cover guide 84 and are dispensed through the dispensing opening of the cover guide 84 to the capping head 70.

The shaft 78 and/or the upper capping head 70 then move(s) upwardly towards the dispensing opening of the cover guide 84. The capping head 70 then operates as a removing means and removes a single cover 86 from the cover guide 84. If a can 32 is not present in the environment of the synchronisation means 42, then there is provided a prevention means 90 for preventing the head 70 from removing a cover 86 from the opening of the cover guide 84.

The shaft 78 thereafter turns through a fixed angle depending on the number of capping heads 68, 70 mounted on the shaft 78 (180 degrees for the two heads shown in the drawing). The lower capping head 68 and/or the shaft 78 then moves downwardly while the capping head 70 operates as an application means and applies the cover 86 to the correctly positioned can 32. The synchronisation means 42 ensures that the can 32 is in position before the cover 86 is applied to the can 32.

The process is repeated, this time with the other capping head 68 acting as a removing means.

Any suitable number of capping heads 68, 70 may be mounted on the shaft 78 (or on more than one shaft) in order to apply more than one cover to the cans 32.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10. cover forming arrangement

12. promotional item feeding channel

14. cover forming means 16 conveyor

18. air blower and can cleaning device

20. promotional item placement means

22. stamping device

24. cover securing means

26. inspection means

28. cover

30. lid

32. can

34. sheet material

36. printing device

38. promotional items

40. stamping head

42. synchronisation device

44. arrow

46. cutter

48. roll

50. arrow

52. spool 54. can cover arrangement

56. cover feed channel

58. upper end

60. preformed covers 62. dispensing opening

64. cover placement means

66. placement means

68. capping head

70. capping head 72. rod

74. rod

76. carrier member

78. rotational shaft

80. arrow 82. arrow

84. guide

86. covers

88. vacuum tube

Claims

1. An arrangement for providing covers (28, 60, 86) onto cans (32), which includes conveying means (16) for conveying cans (32) to a position for being provided with a cover (28, 60, 86) and thereafter removing cans (32) provided with a cover (28, 60, 86), characterized thereby that it includes a placement means (14, 22; 54; 66) for applying a cover (28, 60, 86) onto each suitably positioned can (32).

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized thereby that it includes securing means (24) for securing a cover (28, 60, 86) placed onto each can (32).

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized thereby that it includes a cover supply means (56, 84) for supplying preformed covers (60, 86) to the placement means (64, 68, 70).

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized thereby that the placement meas (14, 22; 54; 66) is adapted to form a cover directly onto a can (32).

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized thereby that it includes a cover forming means (22) adapted to form covers (28) and to supply formed covers (28) to the placement means (22), and a cover material supply means (48, 52) for supplying cover material (34) to the cover forming means (22) for forming covers (28).

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that the cover (28, 60, 86) is applied onto the lid (30) of a can (32).

7. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that attaching means (20) is provided for attaching a promotional item (38) to a lid (30) of each can (32) prior to the provision of a cover (28, 60, 86).

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that attaching means (20) is provided for attaching a promotional item (38) to a cover (28, 60, 86) prior to supplying the cover (28, 60, 86) to the placement means (14, 22; 54; 66).

9. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that the placement means (66) includes at least one capping head (68, 70).

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, characterized thereby that the cover material (34) is a foil sheet.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10, characterized thereby that the foil sheet (14) is provided in rolls (48).

12. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that the placement means (14, 22, 54, 66) includes high frequency welding means to weld a cover (28, 60, 86) directly onto a lid (30) of a can (32).

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 17 March 2000 ( 17.03.00 ) - original claims 1 -12 repl aced by new cl aims 1 -12 (2 pages ) ]

1. An arrangement for providing covers (28, 60, 86) onto cans (32), which includes conveying means (16) for conveying cans (32) to a position for being provided with a cover (28, 60, 86) and thereafter removing cans (32) provided with a cover (28, 60, 86), characterized thereby that it includes a placement means (14, 22; 54; 66) for applying a cover (28, 60, 86) onto each suitably positioned can (32); and attaching means (20) for attaching a promotional item (38) to each can (32).

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized thereby that the attaching means (20) is adapted to attach a promotional item (38) to a lid (30) of each can (32) prior to the provision of a cover (28, 60, 86).

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized thereby that the attaching means (20) is adapted to attach a promotional item

(38) to a cover (28, 60, 86) prior to supplying the cover (28, 60, 86) to the placement means (14, 22; 54; 66).

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that it includes securing means (24) for securing a cover (28, 60, 86) placed onto each can (32).

5. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that it includes a cover supply means (56, 84) for supplying preformed covers (60, 86) to the placement means (64, 68, 70).

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized thereby that the placement meas (14, 22; 54; 66) is adapted to form a cover directly onto a can (32).

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , characterized thereby that it includes a cover forming means (22) adapted to form covers (28) and to supply formed covers (28) to the placement means (22), and a cover material supply means (48, 52) for supplying cover material (34) to the cover forming means (22) for forming covers (28).

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized thereby that the cover (28, 60, 86) is applied onto the lid (30) of a can (32).

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized thereby that the cover material (34) is a foil sheet.

1225(amended claims)