WO2006098597A1

WO2006098597A1 - Method of manufacturing a promotion tab end for a can

Info

Publication number: WO2006098597A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000966
Authority: WO
Inventors: Do Hee Lee
Original assignee: Do Hee Lee
Priority date: 2005-03-17
Filing date: 2006-03-16
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: KR100614464B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a promotion tab end for a beverage can, which is both for enhancing the marketability of canned beverage by printing a logo, a picture or any specific design on the front side of a tab, stacked on a can end, that functions as an opener, and for the promotional events by marking various figures, characters, alphabets or letters in other languages, serial numbers, or random cords on the rear side of the tab, which is applicable, for instance, in a way of using the tab as a token or ticket in drawing the lots for promotion goods. More precisely, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a tab end of a beverage can with a process of printing a tab coil having a series of operations; measuring automatically the numerical changes in outer diameter of the coil loaded on an uncoiler and a recoiler; controlling the speed and frequency of revolution simultaneously through a control unit of a printing process. Therefore, it empowers to keep a constant transfer interval, transfer speed and coil tension, thereby it not only increases proficiency of the whole printing process and qualify of the product through simplifying the structure of its printing equipment which permits cost reduction additionally, but also allows to make the printing work of the front side and marking on the rear side of the tab in succession for the promotion of canned beverage or overaË marketing for a company. The present invention includes an operation of cutting precise parts of a tab coil using a tab coil start-cutter in order to fix its location in the tab on which the intended designs are printed in the process of feeding a tab coil into a conversion press for production of a finished promotion tab end.

Description

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING APROMOTION TAB END

FOR A CAN

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a promotion tab end

for a beverage can, which is both for enhancing the marketability of canned beverage

by printing a logo, a picture or any specific design on the front side of a tab, riveted on a

can end, that functions as an opener, and for the promotional events by marking

various figures, characters, alphabets or letters in other languages, serial numbers, or

random cords on the rear side of the tab, which is applicable, for instance, in a way of

using the tab as a token or ticket in drawing the lots for promotion goods.

Description of the Related Art

A beverage can is ordinarily composed of a cylindrical body, mainly made of

aluminum or steel, and an aluminum end which is joined by curling on the upper side of „

the body. The aluminum end has a designated score line on which a tab riveted is

destined to press down the score line to open the can.

In general, a beverage can has the advantage of efficiency of production, stability in

preservation, easy distribution and, notably, higher margin that other receptacles,

thereby it is agreeable to the fact that beverage companies prefer canned products to

other ones, such as glassed ones or those of PET, in marketing their beverage products.

However, a can has a strict limitation of its variety of its standards and shape. In

addition, beverage companies have found difficulty in promoting their products by

canned products themselves since they have been impossible to utilize the tab of

canned beverage as a marketing tool, comparing to the caps of bottled ones for the

same purpose, which they have used in a way of printing some lottery winning words on

the inside bottom of the cap.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a promotion tab end

for a beverage can, which is not only for enhancing the marketability of canned

beverage by printing a logo, a picture or any specific design on the front side of a tab

riveted on a can end, but for the promotional events by marking various figures,

characters, alphabets or letters in other languages, serial numbers, or random cords on

the rear side of the tab at the same process of printing on the front side of the tab, which is applicable, for instance, in a way of using the tab as a token or ticket in drawing the

lots for promotion goods.

One of the conventional arts related to application of specific information or an

ornament on a tab has been disclosed in the U.S., Pat. No. 300,554, applied by Coca

Cola Co.. In the method disclosed in the same, its keynote feature is that the said

method is applicable on a tab after forming the tab. However, according to the actual

process of manufacturing the can end, it is practically impossible to printing or marking

on a tab right before stacking on a can end. Assuming that it is possible in real mass

production, it degrades the productivity considerably as an inevitable consequence so

that the said method has never been operated in reality.

We, also, have previous one related with the invention which has published in

Korea, Republic of, PAT. No. 0436996(Application No. 10-2001-59438) applied by the

same inventor with the present invention. It includes several processes; infeeding a tab

coil into a printer upon a pitch set by each pilot hole made on a tab coil; sensing the pilot

hole on a tab coil fed into the printer; controlling the speed of revolution of a printing

roller through color controllers, which govern a intended design to be printed on the

assigned position; printing the intended design on a tab by a roller printer adjusted by

the said color controllers. Upon the above processes, feeding pitches, speed and tension of coil show unstable

status since outer diameter of a tab coil on an uncoiler gets reduced as unloaded, but

that of the coil on a recoiler gets spread gradually as rolled up while the uncoiler and the

recoiler revolve at a constant speed.

The above invention (the previous invention applied by the same inventor with the

present invention) aims to remove the accumulated tolerance generated on the printing

location of a tab coil by controlling the speed of roller printer after sensing alterations of

feeding speeds, but it is still vulnerable to occurrence of the accumulated tolerance in

the actual mass production.

The primary reason in hardship of eradication of the accumulated tolerance is that it

is impossible to maintain a constant feeding pitch, its speed and tension of a tab coil

since outer diameter of the tab coil loaded on an uncoiler and a recoiler is inclined to

change through an entire printing process. Secondly, difficulty arise in controlling the

speed of revolution of printing rollers suitably for the purpose of the above invention by

adopting color controllers which sense differences in feeding pitches and its speed of

the coil and modify the speed of revolution of a roller printer accordingly in real time.

Due to those reasons, the above invention can not fix operation efficiency and a large

portion of inferiors, thus a producer shall be resigned to cost burden from of a high price of printing controllers.

First of all, it cannot provide a fundamental method to control the changes and

instability of feeding pitches, feeding ranges and tension of a tab coil which lies in the an

entire printing process with a way of adopting color controllers which are expected to

adjust the speed of revolution and assure the removal of the accumulated tolerance

generated on the printing location on the tab coil. Therefore, it can not secure marking

on the rear side of the tab coil in a consecutive process with a printing on the front side

of that.

Moreover, for production of a promotion tab end for a beverage can, it shall be

possible to mark each randomly or independently chosen numbers, alphabets, random

cords combining those on the rear side of the tab coil unlike the front side of that which

bears identical designs in each sectors so that a method of non-contact-type printing,

such as inkjet or laser marking, shall be selected in stead of that of contact-type, such

as that of a roller printing.

Consequently, the above invention originally intended to adjust printing pitches by

controlling the speed of revolution of a roller printer adopting color controllers has failed

to offer a method of marking on the rear side of the tab coil in a consecutive process

with printing on the front side of the tab coil. In order to fix the problems, the inventor has introduced a sensing unit to detect

changes of outer diameter automatically and in real time of a tab coil loaded on an

uncoiler and a recoiler. With this solution, we can control the speed and frequency of

revolution of an uncoiler and a recolier for printing at once so that it allows to maintain a

constant feeding pitches, its speed and tension of the tab coil through an entire printing

process, which also make possible to get rid of unnecessary printing controllers for each

color to be printed.

The present invention, furthermore, can provide an efficient method of

manufacturing promotion tab ends for beverage cans conducting of marking on the rear

side of the tab coil in a consecutive process after printing on the front side of that while

maintaining a constant feeding pitch, its speed and tension of the coil. In addition, the

present invention intends to bring a method of minimizing the generation of the inferiors

by adding a function of automatic checking whether the position of coil is on the right

track or not. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary technical focus on the tab coil printing lies in the efficient production

conforming feeding pitches, its ranges and tension of the coil to the condition of

production. Furthermore, a loss caused by delinquency of production shall be

preventable by scrutinizing the generation of delinquency in real time on the spot of

operation.

The present invention has an effectiveness to provide an efficient method for the

production of tab coils by measuring alterations of outer diameter of a tab coil loaded on

an uncoiler and a recoiler and by controlling the speed and its frequency of revolution of

an uncoiler and a recolier for printing at once which enables to maintain a constant

feeding intervals, its speed and tension of a tab coil.

Besides, in this way, the present invention is regarded to present a method of

manufacturing promotion tab ends for beverage cans whereby marking on the rear side

of a tab coil in a consecutive process with printing on the front side of the coil for various

promotional events with beverage cans. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 illustrates a side view of an apparatus for manufacturing a promotion tab end of a

beverage can upon the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart to explain the method of manufacturing a promotion tab end upon

the present invention.

FIG 3 demonstrates the tab coil start-cutting of a process of manufacturing a promotion

tab end for a beverage can upon the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a tab coil feeding apparatus, which is suitable for a standstill

method, i.e., pad or silk-screening printing, for printing on the front side of a tab

upon the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a tab coil feeding apparatus, which is suitable for a

consecutive method, i.e., Gravia roller, inkjet, or laser printing, for printing on the

front side of a tab upon the present invention.

• Explanation of reference numerals for main elements of the drawings

10: hole punching uncoiler 10-1: hole punching recoiler

11 : pitch hole punching press 12: tab coil looping machine 13, 13-1 : tab coil proximity sensor 14: tab coil washer

15: tab coil dryer 16: hole punching controlling unit

20: printing uncoiler 20-1: printing recoiler

21 , 21-1 : outer diameter measuring unit 30, 30-1 : tab coil feeding guider

40: front side printer 50: printed coil dryer

60: pitch hole sensor 61: rear side marking control unit

62: rear side marking nozzle 70: coil outfeeding unit

80: tab coil dryer 90: parallel outfeeding unit

100: printing control unit 110: conversion uncoiler

120: tab coil start cutter 130: conversion press

DESCRPITION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It has a process of making pitch holes on a tab coil for the preferred embodiment of

the present invention, which consists of operations passing through some apparatus; a

hole punching uncoiler that releases a tab coil at a constant speed; a pitch hole

punching press that shapes pitch holes at a designated range on the tab coil which is fed into continuously by a hole punching uncoiler at a constant speed; a tab coil looping

machine that gives certain length of curvature to the coil out of a pitch hole punching

press; a tab coil washer that cleans a tab coif containing oii spotted on the hole

punching operation; a tab coil dryer that functions after washing; a recoiler that rolls up

the hole punching.

in this process of pitch holes punching, it becomes unstable in feeding pitches, its

speed and tension of the coil in case a hole punching uncoiler and hole punching

recoiler have identical speed and frequency of revolution upon changes of outer

diameter of a tab coil loaded on a hole punching uncoiler and a hole punching recoiler.

This defect causes distortions of pitch holes most often above all matters in the hole

punching operation of a tab coil, which result in different pitches and a biased degree of

flatness from side to side. For the worse, it sometimes ends with a broken coil.

To resolve the problem, a hole punching uncoiler feeds a tab coil into a pitch hole

punching press at a constant speed and a hole punching recoiler performs rolling and

suspension repeatedly in accordance with a control of a proximity sensor loaded on a

tab coil looping machine, and thereby afford a satisfactory work without excessive

tension through an entire process of punching holes.

However, it shall maintain a constant feeding pitch, its speed and tension of a tab coil in order to secure the target position of printing, to procure a high level of printing

quality and to mark, finally, on the rear side of the coil in a consecutive process.

To acquire the intended outcome, it is essentially required that alterations of outer

diameter of the coil loaded on a printing uncoiler and a printing recoiler shall be

persistently detected and that precise feeding pitches, feeding speed and tension of the

coil shall be secured by controlling of the speed and frequency of revolution of the

uncoiler and the recoiler.

In addition, it can provide an efficient method of manufacturing promotion tab ends

for canned beverage by marking consecutively on the rear side of the coil for

promotional events with a precisely constant feeding pitch, its speed and tension of the

coil.

Hereinafter, it gives detailed description of the preferred embodiment in reference to

drawings of the present invention.

FIG 1 illustrates a side view of an manufacturing apparatus for a promotion tab end

in accordance with the present invention. According to FIG 1, a hole punching uncoiler(10) releases a tab coil to a pitch hole

punching press at a constant speed of revolution; A pitch hole punching press(11)

makes holes on the coil fed into in pursuance of a certain pitch; A tab coil looping

machine(12) gives a loop with in shape of a curvature and leads the coil to approach

5 the direction of a proximity sensor(13) which is established in a tab coil looping

machine; A proximity sensor(13) activates a hole punching recoiler(10-1) as the coil gets

near; A tab coil washer(14) cleans oil on the coil spotted on the hole punching operation;

A tab coil dryer(15) makes the coil dried; A hole punching recoiler(10-1) rolls up the coil

while performing its rolling and suspension repeatedly in accordance with signals from a

l o proximity sensor(13).

After operation of punching pitch holes, a hole punching recoiler feeds the rolled

coil into a printing process, thus, the coil gets loaded on a printing uncoiler(20) in which

a outer diameter measuring unit equipped.

The coil is fed into a front side printer(40) through tab coil feeding guider(30); A

15 front side printer(40) shall be equipped in the plural numbers conforming to adoptable

numbers of color. A printed coil dryer(50) that is installed consecutively in a front side

printer(40) ensure additional color printing;

A pitch hole sensor(60) delivers detected signals of pitch holes to a rear side ₁

marking control unit(61). The rear side marking control unit(61) enables rear side of tab

coil to be marked on its precise position through a rear side marking nozzle(62) with

signals from the pitch hole sensor(60).

A coil outfeeding unit(70) feeds out a tab coil at a distance of each preset round of

a printing uncoiler(20) and printing recoiler(20-1). Particularly, with pitch pins and a

touch sensor for the pins built in the outfeeding unit(70), it can be selected between

rearrangement of the coil or continuation of a printing process upon detecting whether

pitch pins contact the touch sensor or not.

A tab coil dryer(80) is installed to prevent ink from staying wet. A parallel outfeeding

unit(90) sustains the horizon of a tab coil in the process of printing on the front side and

marking on the rear side of the coil so that it keeps up a favorable condition of rolling on

a printing recoiler(20-1), by which confirm a certain level of quality.

A printing control unit(100) adjusts the speed and frequency of revolution of a

printing uncoiler(20) and a printing recoiler(20-1) upon the signals from outer diameter

measuring units(20, 20-1). This ensures a constant length of tab coil to be unrolled then

re-rolled at a designated interval of time between a printing uncoiler(20) and a printing

recoiler(20-1) so that it holds feeding pitches, speed and tension of the coil equivalent

to the target level. A coil outfeeding unit is controlled simultaneously with that of a printing uncoiler(20)

and a printing reoαiler(20-1). A coil outfeeding unit(70) having pitch pins and a touch

sensor for detection of the designated position rectifies fine errors in the position of the

coil.

FIG 2 illustrates a flow chart which demonstrates the method of manufacturing a

promotion tab end for a beverage can upon the present invention.

Step 1: A hole punching uncoiler releases a tab coii at a constant speed to feed the coil

into a pitch hole punching press. (ST-1)

Step 2: A pitch hole punching press makes holes with a designated pitch on the coil fed

into from a hole punching uncoiler. (ST-2)

Step 3: A tab coil looping machine gives a loop on the coil and leads it to a tab coil

proximity sensor, thus, a hole punching recoiler gives an activation signal upon

detection of the proximity sensor as the coil gets near. (ST-3)

Step 4: The tab coil is washed and dried. (ST-4)

Step 5: A hole punching recoiler rolls up the coil in accordance with the signals from the

proximity sensor. (ST-5)

Step 6: The coil loaded on a printing uncoiler passes thorough a printing line and is ID

rearranged in connection with a printing recoiler. (ST-6)

Step 7: A printing control unit commands operation of a front side printer of the coil.

(ST-7)

Step 8: outer diameter measuring units equipped in a printing uncoiler and a printing

recoiler gauge outer diameter of the coil loaded on each coiler and send the

data to a printing control unit. (ST-8)

Step 9: The printing control unit computes the speed and frequency of a printing

uncoiler and a printing recoiler upon the difference in outer diameter of the coil

loaded between a printing uncoiler and a printing recoiler. (ST-9)

Step 10: The printing control unit controls a printing uncoiler, a printing recoiler and a

coil outfeeding unit at the same time. (ST-10)

Step 11 : it is judged that the coil is on the designated position by detecting whether pitch

pins contact a touch sensor or not (ST-11)

Step 12: In the step 11, a coil outfeeding unit, a printing uncoiler and a printing recoiler

are operated simultaneously to feed the coil when pitch pins contact the touch

sensor. At this point, a pitch hole sensor detects pitch holes of the coil on

feeding, then marking on the rear side is conducted. Thereafter, printing

processes continue consecutively. (ST-12) Step 13: a printing line stops to rearrange the coil in case it is judged that the coil is not

on the designated position which is evidenced by untouched sensor as pitch

pins contact the coil instead of the touch sensor through pitch holes of the coil.

(ST-13)

Step 14: With completion of the printing process, a lab coil rolled on a printing recoiler is

fed into a conversion uncoiler for the production line of tab ends. (ST-14)

Step 15: The coil is cut with a tab coil start-cutter on the designated location that

assures designs to be placed on the both side formed tabs. (ST-15)

Step 16: A conversion press makes tabs form the coil. (ST-16)

Step 17: Promotion tab ends for beverage cans are completed through the operation of

staking tabs on the provided shells.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Relating to a method of manufacturing a promotion tab end that has both various

designs on the front side of a tab and markings on the rear side of that, which is

applicable for promotional events, for instance, in a way of using the tab as a token or

ticket in drawing the lots for promotion goods, the first claim is comprise of following

steps or processes;

A step of releasing a tab coil at a constant speed;

A step of punching holes with a designated pitch on the coil;

A step of looping on the coil at a type of a curvature and leading the looped coil to

get near a tab coil proximity sensor built in a tab coil looping machine;

A step of punching pitch holes characterized in that the coil gets recoiled

performing its rolling up and suspension repeatedly in accordance with a

control of a proximity sensor;

A step of rearranging the rolled coil in a printing line;

A step of operating a front side printer;

A step of measuring outer diameter of the coil loaded on a printing uncoiler and a

printing recoiler, and sending the data to a printing control unit;

A step of computing the speed and its frequency of a printing uncoiler and a

printing recoiler upon the difference in outer diameter of the coil loaded 1

between a printing uncoiler and a printing recoileπ

A step of operating a printing uncoiier, a printing recoiler and a coil-outfeeding unit;

A step of judging the destined location of the coil position by detecting whether

pitch pins contact a touch sensor or not.

A step of marking on the rear side of the coil sensing pitch holes of the coil on

feeding by a pitch hole sensor;

A step of printing the tab coil which is distinguishable in that printing after

rearrangement of the coil or continuation of the printing without rearrangement

can be selected and operative accordingly in an automatic way upon detecting

whether pitch pins contact the touch sensor or not;

A step of feeding the coil rolled up by a printing recoiler into a conversion press

uncoiler;

A step of cutting precise parts of a tab coil using a tab coil start-cutter in order to

secure its location in the tab on which the intended designs are printed, and

supplying the coil to a conversion press thereafter;

A step of manufacturing promotion tab ends for beverage cans by staking shaped

tabs on the ends.

2. The method of manufacturing a promotion tab end for a beverage can, wherein a pad printing is applicable as the front side printer mentioned in CLAIM 1.

3. The method of manufacturing a promotion tab end for a beverage can, wherein a

silk-screen printing is applicable as the front side printer mentioned in CLAIM 1.

4. The method of manufacturing a promotion tab end for a beverage can, wherein a

roller printing is applicable as the front side printer mentioned in CLAIM 1.

5. The method of manufacturing a promotion tab end for a beverage can, wherein

an ink-jet printing is applicable as the front side printer mentioned in CLAIM 1.

6. The method of manufacturing a promotion tab end for a beverage can, wherein

an ink-jet marking is applicable as the rear side marking mentioned in CLAIM 1.

7. The method of manufacturing a promotion tab end for a beverage can, wherein a

laser marking is applicable applied as the rear side marking mentioned in CLAIM 1.