Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
  • B65B7/2821—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers applying plugs or threadless stoppers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
  • B44D—PAINTING OR ARTISTIC DRAWING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRESERVING PAINTINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SPECIAL ARTISTIC SURFACE EFFECTS OR FINISHES
  • B44D3/00—Accessories or implements for use in connection with painting or artistic drawing, not otherwise provided for; Methods or devices for colour determination, selection, or synthesis, e.g. use of colour tables
  • B44D3/003—Methods or devices for colour determination, selection or synthesis, e.g. use of colour tables
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
  • B44D—PAINTING OR ARTISTIC DRAWING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRESERVING PAINTINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SPECIAL ARTISTIC SURFACE EFFECTS OR FINISHES
  • B44D3/00—Accessories or implements for use in connection with painting or artistic drawing, not otherwise provided for; Methods or devices for colour determination, selection, or synthesis, e.g. use of colour tables
  • B44D3/12—Paint cans; Brush holders; Containers for storing residual paint
  • B44D3/127—Covers or lids for paint cans
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
  • B65B7/2807—Feeding closures
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
  • B65D77/10—Container closures formed after filling
  • B65D77/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers

Definitions

• the invention relates to a system for plugging paint cans, which system is arranged to press a hollow, cuplike, elastic plug provided with protruding circumferential rim into a hole made in a paint can lid in a sealed manner by means of the plug's shape, whereby the circumferential rim of the plug mounted in place is supported to the surface of the paint can lid, wherein the system comprises a storage container for plugs; a picker for picking one plug at a time from the storage container; a gripper for gripping the plug picked from the storage container and for carrying it above a container lid to be closed; and means for performing a mutual vertical movement of the gripper and the paint can in order for thereby pressing the plug in place in a sealed manner in the lid of the paint can.
• a typical manual operation is the closing of a paint can when toning is completed . In that case the closing involves, more precisely, closing a hole made in the paint can lid before the toning.
• the lid In fully manual toning, the lid has been opened by detaching the lid from the can manually or with a tool and by closing it again manually.
• the object of the invention is thus to eliminate the above drawback and provide a fully automatic plugging system for paint cans, which is well applicable, as a partial configuration, to substantially fully automated paint toning machines and systems.
• a system for plugging paint cans in accordance with the invention which is characterized in that the picker is arranged to move vertically through the storage container and the upper part thereof is shaped to receive a cuplike part of the plug such that the circumferential rim of the plug rests against the upper surface of the upper part of the picker.
• a gripper on a picking line may receive the plug and transfers it to the location of a paint can to be closed for inserting the plug into place in the lid of the paint can.
• the plugging system of the invention may be erected in a considerably small space, which enables extremely economical implementation. This opens up an opportunity to provide an automated toning line in paint store premises in an economical manner.
• Figure 1 is a top view of a plug used for closing a hole made in a paint can lid
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the plug of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a storage container and a picker of the system in accordance with the invention
• Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a storage container and a picker of the system in accordance with the invention
• FIG. 5 illustrates plug picking from the storage container of Figure
• Figure 6 shows a preferred embodiment of a picker in a system in accordance with the invention
• FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a gripper in a system in accordance with the invention together with the picker appearing in the preceding figures;
• Figures 8 and 9 show how the plug is placed in the gripper by using the combination of Figures 6 and 7;
• Figures 10 and 1 1 show how the plug is secured to the hole made in the paint can lid by using the combination of Figures 6 and 7.
• a paint can to be toned When a paint can to be toned is processed, its lid 1 is first provided with a hole 2. After the hole 2 is made, the paint can is transferred under paste nozzles for toning. After the toning is completed, the paint can is transferred to a plugging station for being processed with a paint can plugging system, which the present invention only concerns.
• FIGS 1 and 2 show a hollow plug 3 made of elastic material, such as rubber or plastic, for instance, to be fitted into the hole 2 ( Figures 10 and 1 1 ) in the paint can lid 1 , the plug comprising a cuplike part 4 fitting tight in the hole 2 and a circumferential rim 5 projecting from the upper edge of the cuplike part and intended for being supported to the surface of the lid 1 .
• the plugging system of the invention in Figures 3 to 1 1 for mounting the plug 3 into place in a sealed manner in the hole 2 provided in the paint can lid 1 comprises a storage container 6 for plugs 3, a picker 7 for picking one plug 3 at a time from the storage container 6, a gripper 8 for gripping the plug 3 picked from the storage container 6 and for carrying it above the container lid 1 to be closed and means for implementing a mutual vertical movement of the picker 7 and the paint can and for thereby pressing the plug 3 in place in a sealed manner in the paint can lid.
• the picker 7 is arranged to move vertically through the storage container 6 and its upper part is shaped to receive the cuplike part 4 of the plug 3 such that the circumferential rim 5 of the plug 3 rests against the upper surface of the upper part of the picker 7. At least the upper part of the picker 7 is tubular. Appropriately, the picker 7 is provided with a spring system, as shown in Figure 6, which protects the plug 3 while being transferred to the gripper 8. At the same time, the plugs 3 or the mechanisms are prevented from being damaged in case an erroneous picking of several superposed plugs 3 takes place.
• the storage container 6 may have a substantially flat bottom, but it is more advantageous that the storage container comprises a conical lower part 10 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 (or it is conical throughout or otherwise downwardly tapering), whereby the picker 7 is arranged to move through the lowest extending zone of the conical lower part 10, or from the conical part 10 there projects a downwardly-pointing tubular extension 1 1 , through which the picker 7 is arranged to move.
• reference M denotes a multitude of plugs in the storage container.
• a preferred embodiment of the gripper 8 shown in Figures 7 to 1 1 is a vertical structure that is movable in a lateral direction and comprises a frame 12 and, arranged in the lower part thereof, a sleeve-type annular part 13, the inner side of the downwardly-pointing end of which ends in a downwardly-widening, conical inner rim 14, whose smallest inner diameter is inferior to the outer diameter of the circumferential rim 5 of the plug 3 and the inner diameter of the annular part 13 thereabove is at least equal to the outer diameter of the circumferential rim 5 of the plug 3 for the height of the circumferential rim 5 of the plug 3.
• the conical inner rim 14 forms above a point where its inner diameter is narrowest a support shoulder 15 for the circumferential rim 5 of the plug 3 to rest on.
• the lower part of the frame 12, whose lower surface has a shape that corresponds substantially to the shape of the upper surface of the plug 3, is in turn located inside the annular part 13 for the relative vertical movement of the annular part and the lower part of the frame 12 so as to press the plug 3 into the paint can lid 1 .
• detecting means 17 for detecting the plug 3 and its location at any particular time.
• These detecting means comprise a probe 17 arranged in the lower part of the frame 12 and moving in a vertical direction into and out of said frame, the end of the probe being provided with a detecting sensor (not shown).
• a detecting sensor for instance, an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, a distance-measuring laser or compressed air may also be used as the detecting means.
• the means for implementing the mutual vertical movement of the gripper 8 and the paint can and thereby pressing the plug 3 into place in the paint can lid 1 are here simply comprised by a vertically movable base (not shown) of the paint can.
• a vertically movable gripper 8 could also be considered.
• the objective is to pick just one plug 3 that is in a correct position from a multitude M of plugs 3 with different orientations in order to carry out plugging.
• plugs poured into the storage container 6 gravitate to a tubular extension 1 1 belonging to the conical lower part 10 of the storage container, in which extension a plug 3 that is centrically in a correct position will drop.
• the picker 7 is pushed through the storage container 6 and the multitude M of plugs, it is likely that the desired one plug 3 that is in correct position will be caught by the upper surface of the picker 7 as shown in Figure 5 such that the cuplike part 4 of the plug is inside the picker 7.
• the plug 3 locating in the picker 7 is pushed to a gripper 8 that is moved to be vertically aligned with the picker 7.
• the plug 3 penetrates through the conical inner rim 14 of the annular part 13 of the gripper 8 bypassing the upper part of the inner rim 14, which is more reduced than the circumferential rim 5 of the plug 3, and remaining supported through its circumferential rim 5 by a support shoulder 15 above the inner rim14. This takes place with the proviso that the plug 3 is in correct position in the picker.
• the detecting probe 17 with its sensors checks here the situation. If the plug 3 is upside down or several plugs are in superposition, a spring system 16, or the earlier described spring system 9, will yield.
• Spring forces of the spring systems 16 and 9 are selected such that they will not harm the plugs. Only the plug 3 that is caught in the gripper 8 by its circumferential rim 5 is able to press the detecting probe 17 after the picker 7 has left the vicinity of the gripper and to tell that the plug 3 is reliably held by the gripper 8. If the picking and the subsequent gripping fail, these steps are repeated until they succeed in an appropriate manner.
• the gripper 8, or the paint can in relation thereto is transferred (either with an integrated or separate transfer device, not shown) to the location of the hole 2 in the paint can lid 1 waiting for plugging ( Figures 10 and 1 1 ).
• the plug 3 is mounted in place such that the gripper 8 with the plug 3 adhering thereto is held in place and the paint can is pushed by means of its base (not shown) against the gripper 8 and the plug 3 ( Figure 10) and it is pressed so hard that the annular part 13 of the gripper 8 is pushed upwardly against the spring force of the spring system 16, whereby the lower part of the frame 12 of the gripper 8, by means of the shape of its lower surface, presses the plug 3 into the hole 2 in the paint can lid 1 .
• the plug 3 When pressing is completely performed, the plug 3 is swapped from the gripper to the lid 1 . Now that the paint can is lowered ( Figure 1 1 ), the detecting probe 17 of the gripper 8 detects on a given travel that the plug 3 is reliably attached to the paint can lid 1 . The time, in which the paint can is shifted away in relation to the reaction point of the detecting probe 17, indicates whether the plug 3 is adhered to the lid 1 . [0027] After plugging the paint can is transferred to a mixer and after mixing the can is handed over to the customer.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=41395255

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (15)

• 2009
  • 2009-11-20 FI FI20096208A patent/FI123368B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2010
  • 2010-11-19 WO PCT/FI2010/050936 patent/WO2011061403A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-11-19 ES ES10831207.5T patent/ES2497169T3/es active Active
  • 2010-11-19 DK DK10831207.5T patent/DK2501625T3/da active
  • 2010-11-19 EP EP10831207.5A patent/EP2501625B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2010-11-19 US US13/510,574 patent/US20120285121A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-11-19 PL PL10831207T patent/PL2501625T3/pl unknown

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events