WO2024095816A1

WO2024095816A1 - Can product manufacturing device

Info

Publication number: WO2024095816A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/038283
Authority: WO
Inventors: 雄二古閑; 健二竹内; 洋二辻下
Original assignee: ブラザー工業株式会社
Priority date: 2022-11-04
Filing date: 2023-10-24
Publication date: 2024-05-10

Abstract

Provided is a can product manufacturing device that can automatically manufacture a can product.　The can product manufacturing device comprises: a printing unit that prints an image on a printing medium; and a conveyance unit that conveys the printing medium to above the can product. The conveyance unit comprises: a first roller and a second roller that are arranged spaced apart from each other in a direction orthogonal to a first conveyance direction in which the printing medium is conveyed above the can product; a third roller that contacts, among the surfaces of the printing medium, a surface differing from a surface that contacts the first roller; a fourth roller that contacts, among the surfaces of the printing medium, the same surface as the surface that contacts the third roller, the surface thereof differing from the surface that contacts the second roller; and an allowance part that allows bending of the printing medium between the third roller and the fourth roller.

Description

Can product manufacturing equipment

The present invention relates to a can product manufacturing device.

　Conventionally, devices for producing can products such as can badges with a specified image applied are known, and Patent Document 1 discloses a can product production device that produces can badges by crimping a front cover to a back cover.

JP 2019-136210 A

The above-mentioned conventional technology had the problem that the user had to place the transparent film on the film placement surface of the lower mold to be crimped together with the front cover to the back cover supported by the lower mold.

The present invention aims to provide a can product manufacturing device that can automatically manufacture can products.

The can product manufacturing device according to the present invention is a device for manufacturing can products, and includes a printing unit that prints an image on a print medium, and a transport unit that transports the print medium above the can product, and the transport unit includes a first roller and a second roller that are spaced apart above the can product in a direction perpendicular to a first transport direction in which the print medium is transported, a third roller that contacts a surface of the print medium that is different from the surface that contacts the first roller, a fourth roller that contacts a surface of the print medium that is different from the surface that contacts the second roller and is the same surface that contacts the third roller, and a tolerance portion that allows the print medium to bend between the third roller and the fourth roller.

The present invention provides a can product manufacturing device that can automatically manufacture can products.

1 is a perspective view showing a can product manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top view of the can product making apparatus of FIG. 1; 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the can product manufacturing apparatus of FIG. 1 . FIG. 4A is a top view of the print medium. FIG. 4B is a top view of the white film. FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the transport unit of FIG. 5 . FIG. 7A is a front view of the fifth drive roller and the fifth driven roller. FIG. 7B is a front view of the sixth drive roller and the sixth driven roller. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing the state in which the transport path is switched to the first transport path by the second transport guide and the third transport guide. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the state in which the second transport path is switched to the second transport path by the second transport guide and the third transport guide. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a lower plate and an upper plate provided on a lower mold. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the pressing unit. FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the front and back members. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of a can product produced by joining the front and back members of FIG. 11A. FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of an upper mold and two first lower molds for explaining the process of crimping the front member and the back member. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of an upper mold and two first lower molds for explaining the process of crimping the front member and the back member. FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view of an upper mold and two second lower molds for explaining the process of crimping the front member and the back member. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view of an upper mold and two second lower molds for explaining the process of crimping the front member and the back member. 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the can product manufacturing apparatus.

Below, a can product manufacturing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The can product manufacturing device described below is merely one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment, and additions, deletions, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

<Overall composition>
The can product manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for manufacturing a can product 200 by connecting a front member SE, on which a white film F and a print medium W are stacked, to a back member BE, as shown in the example of FIG. 11B. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a printing unit 1, a conveying unit 2, a mold unit 3, a front member supply unit 4, a back member supply unit 5, a pressing unit 6, a removal unit 7, a collection box 8, and a can product container 9. The print medium W, the white film F, the can product 200, and each part of the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 will be described later. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, directions perpendicular to each other are referred to as a front-rear direction Dx, a left-right direction Dy, and a front-rear direction Dz, but the arrangement direction of the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 is not limited to these.

As shown in the example of FIG. 3, the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 further includes a control device 110. The control device 110 has an interface 111, a calculation unit 112, and a storage unit 113. The interface 111 receives various data such as image data from an external device 114 such as a computer, a camera, a communication network, a recording medium, a display, or a printer. The control device 110 may be configured as a single device, or may be configured as multiple devices arranged in a distributed manner to operate the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 in cooperation with each other.

The storage unit 113 is a memory accessible from the calculation unit 112, and includes a RAM and a ROM. The RAM temporarily stores various data, such as image data and other data received from the external device 114 and data converted by the calculation unit 112. The ROM stores a can product manufacturing program and predetermined data for performing various processes. The can product manufacturing program may be stored in an external storage medium different from the storage unit 113 and accessible from the calculation unit 112, such as a CD-ROM.

The calculation unit 112 includes at least one circuit, such as a processor such as a CPU and an integrated circuit such as an ASIC. The calculation unit 112 controls each part of the can product manufacturing device 100 by executing a can product manufacturing program stored in the memory unit 113 or the like.

The control device 110 is connected to the ejection head 10 and transport motor 11 provided in the printing unit 1 via a first drive circuit 115. Based on a control signal from the control device 110, the first drive circuit 115 ejects ink droplets from the ejection head 10 and transports the print medium W in a predetermined direction using the transport motor 11. In this way, the first drive circuit 115 performs the ejection operation and the transport operation alternately or simultaneously, thereby printing an image based on image data on the print medium W.

The control device 110 is connected to the pusher motor 46 provided in the surface material supply unit 4 via a fourth drive circuit 118. The fourth drive circuit 118 drives the pusher motor 46 based on a control signal from the control device 110 to supply the surface material SE to the mold unit 3.

The control device 110 is connected to the transport motor 23 provided in the transport unit 2 via the second drive circuit 116. The second drive circuit 116 drives the transport motor 23 based on the detection results of the first transport sensor S1, the second transport sensor S2, and the third transport sensor S3, as well as a control signal from the control device 110. This causes the print medium W and white film F printed by the printing unit 1 to be transported above the surface of the surface member SE supplied by the surface member supply unit 4.

The control device 110 is connected to the pressing motor 60 provided in the pressing unit 6 via a sixth drive circuit 120. The sixth drive circuit 120 drives the pressing motor 60 based on a control signal from the control device 110. This causes the printing medium W or white film F transported by the transport unit 2 to be pressed against the surface member SE.

The control device 110 is connected to the pusher motor 56 provided in the backing material supply unit 5 via a fifth drive circuit 119. The fifth drive circuit 119 drives the pusher motor 56 based on a control signal from the control device 110 to supply the backing material BE to the mold unit 3.

The control device 110 is connected to the upper die lifting motor 34 and the lower die moving motor 140 provided in the mold unit 3 via a third drive circuit 117. The third drive circuit 117 drives the upper die lifting motor 34 and the lower die moving motor 140 based on a control signal from the control device 110. As a result, with the print medium W covering the front surface of the front member SE, either the front member SE, the back member BE, or both the front member SE and the back member BE are deformed so that a portion of the print medium W is sandwiched between the back surface of the front member SE and the back member BE supplied by the back member supply unit 5, thereby producing a can product 200.

The control device 110 is connected to the removal motor 70 provided in the removal unit 7 via the seventh drive circuit 150. The removal motor 70 drives the removal motor 70 based on a control signal from the control device 110, and removes the canned product 200 produced by the mold unit 3 from the mold unit 3.

<Canned products>
The can product 200 is, for example, a can badge, and is made of a front member SE, a back member BE, a white film F, and a print medium W, as shown in the example of FIG. 11B. As shown in the example of FIG. 11A, the front member SE and the back member BE are made of a magnetic material such as a tin-plated steel plate. The front member SE and the back member BE each have a circular shape in a plan view. The front member SE has a circular front portion SEb and a ring-shaped peripheral portion SEa that protrudes downward from the outer periphery of the front portion SEb. The back member BE has a circular back portion BEb and a ring-shaped peripheral portion BEa that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the back portion BEb.

11B, a covering portion Fb of a white film F is placed on the surface of the front member SE, and a covering portion Wb of the print medium W is placed on the white film F. Of these covering portions Wb, Fb, the portion that protrudes from the surface of the front member SEb is folded downward from the outer periphery of the front member SEb to cover the surface of the peripheral portion SEa, and the portion that protrudes from the surface of the peripheral portion SEa is folded upward from the lower end of the peripheral portion SEa to be sandwiched between the back surface of the peripheral portion SEa and the peripheral portion BEa of the back member BE. Then, with the covering portions Wb, Fb sandwiched between the opposing peripheral portions SEa and the peripheral portion BEa of the back member BE, at least one of the front member SE and the back member BE is deformed (for example, crimped) to form the can product 200. Note that the front member SE may be covered only by the print medium W without using the white film F in the can product 200.

<Printing medium>
4A, the print medium W is a rectangular transparent sheet. The print medium W has a rear end We1 that is the downstream end in the first transport direction Dc1 when transported by the transport unit 2 toward the mold unit 3, and a front end We2 that is the upstream end in the first transport direction Dc1. The print medium W includes a covered portion Wb that covers the front member SE, a remaining portion Wa that is different from the covered portion Wb, and a connecting portion Wc that connects the covered portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa.

The covered portion Wb has, for example, a circular shape in a plan view, and is biased toward the rear end We1 of the print medium W rather than the front end We2. The covered portion Wb is the same as or larger than the covered portion Fb of the white film F. The covered portion Wb has a first front portion Wf1 that covers the surface of the front portion SEb of the front member SE, a second front portion Wf2 that covers the surface of the peripheral portion SEa, and a clamped portion Wg that is clamped between the back surface of the peripheral portion SEa and the peripheral portion BEa of the back member BE.

The remaining portion Wa surrounds the covered portion Wb and includes a linear weak portion Wd that extends in the front-rear direction from the covered portion Wb to the rear end We1. The connecting portion Wc and the linear weak portion Wd are weak portions, such as perforations, that are weaker than the covered portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa. The connecting portion Wc and the linear weak portion Wd are cut when the covered portion Wb is pressed by the pressing unit 6 in the mold unit 3, and when the remaining portion Wa is transported in the second transport direction Dc2 by the transport unit 2 while the covered portion Wb is pressed by the pressing unit 6, and the covered portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa are separated.

<White film>
The configuration of the white film F is basically the same as that of the print medium W. As shown in the example of FIG. 4B, the white film F is the same size as the print medium W and has a rectangular shape. The white film F has a rear end Fe1, a front end Fe2, a covered portion Fb, a remaining portion Fa, a connecting portion Fc, and a linear weak portion Fd. The rear end Fe1 corresponds to the rear end We1, the front end Fe2 corresponds to the front end We, the covered portion Fb corresponds to the covered portion Wb, the remaining portion Fa corresponds to the remaining portion Wa, the connecting portion Fc corresponds to the connecting portion Wc, and the linear weak portion Fd corresponds to the linear weak portion Wd. The first front portion Ff1, the second front portion Ff2, and the sandwiched portion Fg of the covered portion Fb are the same as the first front portion Wf1, the second front portion Wf2, and the sandwiched portion Wg of the covered portion Wb, respectively. The color of the white film is not limited to white.

<Printing unit>
As shown in the examples of Figs. 1 and 2, the printing unit 1 is disposed below the mold unit 3, the front member supply unit 4, the back member supply unit 5, the pressing unit 6, and the take-out unit 7. The printing unit 1 is, for example, an inkjet printer that prints an image on a print medium W. As shown in the example of Fig. 3, the printing unit 1 includes an ejection head 10 and a transport motor 11. Ink droplets are ejected from the ejection head 10 onto the print medium W, and the print medium W is transported by the transport motor 11, so that an image is printed on the print medium W. The ejection head 10 may be a serial head type or a line head type. In addition, in the present embodiment, an example in which the printing unit 1 is an inkjet printer has been given, but the printing unit 1 is not limited to this, and may be other printers such as a laser printer or a thermal printer.

1, the printing unit 1 further includes a first sheet holder 28 that holds the print medium W, and a second sheet holder 29 that is different from the first sheet holder 28 and holds a white film F. In this case, the white film F from the second sheet holder 29 is supplied to the transport unit 2 without being printed by the printing unit 1, and the print medium W from the first sheet holder 28 is supplied to the transport unit 2 after a predetermined image is printed by the ejection head 10 of the printing unit 1. The predetermined image is an inverted image so that the image is a normal image when viewed by a user from the side of the print medium W opposite the side on which the image is printed. The printing unit 1 includes a sheet holder that holds multiple sheets of the print medium W and multiple sheets of the white film F, and the print medium W and the white film F may be held in a stack of alternate layers in the sheet holder and transported alternately.

<Surface material supply unit>
As shown in the examples of Figures 1 and 2, the front member supply unit 4 supplies the front member SE to the first lower die 30 provided in the die unit 3. The front member supply unit 4 is disposed above the printing unit 1 and to the right of the die unit 3. The front member supply unit 4 includes a front member stocker 40, a front member slope 43, a pusher 45, and a pusher motor 46 (Figure 3). The front member stocker 40 has a cylindrical shape and stores a plurality of front members SE, each of which is, for example, circular in plan view, stacked in the vertical direction Dz. The front member slope 43 extends from a position below the front member stocker 40 to the first lower die 30 disposed at the first die position P1.

The pusher 45 is connected to the pusher motor 46 via a rack gear, and is driven to rotate by the pusher motor 46 to move back and forth along the front member slope 43 in the space between the lower end of the front member stocker 40 and the upper surface of the front member slope 43. The pusher 45 moves in a direction approaching the first lower die 30, thereby pushing out the front member SE on the front member slope 43 in the space toward the first lower die 30. On the other hand, the pusher 45 moves back further away from the first lower die 30 than the space below the front member stocker 40, and one front member SE is supplied from the front member stocker 40 onto the front member slope 43.

<Backing material supply unit>
The backing material supply unit 5 supplies the backing material BE to the second lower mold 31 provided in the mold unit 3. The backing material supply unit 5 is disposed above the printing unit 1 and to the left of the mold unit 3. The backing material supply unit 5 includes a backing material stocker 50, a backing material slope 53, a pusher 55, and a pusher motor 56 (FIG. 3). The backing material stocker 50 has a cylindrical shape and stores a plurality of backing materials BE, each of which is, for example, circular in plan view, stacked in the vertical direction Dz. The backing material slope 53 extends from a position below the backing material stocker 50 to the second lower mold 31 disposed at the first mold position P1.

The pusher 55 is connected to the pusher motor 56 via a rack gear, and is driven to rotate by the pusher motor 56 to move back and forth along the backing material slope 53 in the space between the lower end of the backing material stocker 50 and the upper surface of the backing material slope 53. The pusher 55 moves in a direction approaching the second lower die 31, thereby pushing out the backing material BE on the backing material slope 53 in the space toward the second lower die 31. On the other hand, the pusher 55 retreats further away from the second lower die 31 than the space below the backing material stocker 50, and one backing material BE is supplied from the backing material stocker 50 onto the backing material slope 53.

<Transport unit>
The transport unit 2 is arranged such that a part of the transport unit 2 is disposed forward of the printing unit 1, and the whole of the transport unit 2 is disposed forward of the mold unit 3. The transport unit 2 transports the print medium W and the white film F transported from the printing unit 1 along the first transport direction Dc1 toward the mold unit 3 onto the surface member SE supplied in advance of the first lower mold 30. The transport unit 2 also transports the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W and the remaining portion Fa of the white film F separated by the mold unit 3 along the second transport direction Dc2 to the collection box 8, and the remaining portions Wa and Fa are collected in the collection box 8 as waste portions. In this embodiment, the white film F is transported ahead of the print medium W so that the white film F is placed on the surface member SE held by the first lower mold 30 in advance of the print medium W. Note that the transport method of the print medium W and the transport method of the white film F by the transport unit 2 are the same, so the transport of the print medium W will be representatively described below.

Specifically, the transport unit 2 has a right support plate 20 and a left support plate 22, as shown in the examples of Figures 5 and 6. The

support plates

20, 22 have a flat plate shape extending in the up-down direction Dz. The right support plate 20 and the left support plate 22 are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart in the left-right direction Dy, and are connected by multiple plate connecting shafts 24 that extend in the left-right direction Dy.

The transport unit 2 further includes a transport motor 23 and drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6. The transport motor 23 and drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6 are disposed between a pair of

support plates

20, 22. The first drive roller Rk1, the second drive roller Rk2, the third drive roller Rk3, the fourth drive roller Rk4, and the fifth drive roller Rk5 are disposed in this order from top to bottom. The drive rollers Rk2 to Rk4 are aligned in the vertical direction, forward of the first drive roller Rk1 and the fifth drive roller Rk5 and behind the sixth drive roller Rk6. The fifth drive roller Rk5 and the sixth drive roller Rk6 are aligned in the front-to-rear direction. The transport motor 23 is disposed between the first drive roller Rk1 and the second drive roller Rk2 in the vertical direction, forward of the drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6.

The first drive roller Rk1 has a right first drive roller Rk1 and a left first drive roller Rk1 provided on the first drive shaft Sk1. The second drive roller Rk2 has a right second drive roller Rk2 and a left second drive roller Rk2 provided on the second drive shaft Sk2. The third drive roller Rk3 has a right third drive roller Rk3 and a left third drive roller Rk3 provided on the third drive shaft Sk3. The fourth drive roller Rk4 has a right fourth drive roller Rk4 and a left fourth drive roller Rk4 provided on the fourth drive shaft Sk4. The fifth drive roller Rk5 has a right fifth drive roller Rk5 and a left fifth drive roller Rk5 provided on the fifth drive shaft Sk5. The sixth drive roller Rk6 has a right sixth drive roller Rk6 and a left sixth drive roller Rk6 provided on the sixth drive shaft Sk6. These drive shafts Sk1 to Sk6 are shafts that extend in the left-right direction, and the drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6 are rotatably supported by

support plates

20 and 22.

The transport unit 2 further has a drive gear Ga1 and drive gears Gb1 to Gb6. The drive gear Ga1 is connected to the rotation shaft of the transport motor 23. The first drive gear Gb1 is connected to the first drive shaft Sk1, the second drive gear Gb2 is connected to the second drive shaft Sk2, the third drive gear Gb3 is connected to the third drive shaft Sk3, the fourth drive gear Gb4 is connected to the fourth drive shaft Sk4, the fifth drive gear Gb5 is connected to the fifth drive shaft Sk5, and the sixth drive gear Gb6 is connected to the sixth drive shaft Sk6.

Furthermore, the conveying unit 2 has endless drive belts Be1 to Be6. The first drive belt Be1 is tensioned between the drive gear Ga1 and the first drive gear Gb1, the second drive belt Be2 is tensioned between the first drive gear Gb1 and the second drive gear Gb2, the third drive belt Be3 is tensioned between the second drive gear Gb2 and the third drive gear Gb3, the fourth drive belt Be4 is tensioned between the third drive gear Gb3 and the fourth drive gear Gb4, the fifth drive belt Be5 is tensioned between the fourth drive gear Gb4 and the fifth drive gear Gb5, and the sixth drive belt Be6 is tensioned between the fifth drive gear Gb5 and the sixth drive gear Gb6. As a result, the driving force from the conveying motor 23 is transmitted to the drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6 via the first drive belts Be1 to Be6. Therefore, when the transport motor 23 is driven to rotate in one direction, the drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6 rotate forward and the print medium W is transported in the first transport direction Dc1. On the other hand, when the transport motor 23 is driven to rotate in the other direction, the drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6 rotate in the reverse direction and the print medium W is transported in the second transport direction Dc2.

The transport unit 2 further has driven rollers Ro1 to Ro6. The first driven roller Ro1 faces the first drive roller Rk1 located below it, and has a first right driven roller Ro1 and a first left driven roller Ro1 provided on the first driven shaft So1. The second driven roller Ro2 faces the second drive roller Rk2 located in front of it, and has a second right driven roller Ro2 and a second left driven roller Ro2 provided on the second driven shaft So2. The third driven roller Ro3 faces the third drive roller Rk3 located in front of it, and has a third right driven roller Ro3 and a third left driven roller Ro3 provided on the third driven shaft So3. The fourth driven roller Ro4 has a fourth driving roller Rk4 disposed in front of it, and a fourth right driven roller Ro4 and a fourth left driven roller Ro4 disposed behind the fourth driving roller Rk4 and provided on a fourth driven shaft So4. The fifth driven roller Ro5 faces the fifth driving roller Rk5 disposed above it, and has a fifth right driven roller Ro5 and a fifth left driven roller Ro5 provided on a fifth driven shaft So5. The sixth driven roller Ro6 faces the sixth driving roller Rk6 disposed above it, and has a sixth right driven roller Ro6 and a sixth left driven roller Ro6 provided on a sixth driven shaft So6. These driven shafts So1 to So6 are shafts extending in the left-right direction, and the driven rollers Ro1 to Ro6 are rotatably supported by the

support plates

20 and 22. In addition, the print medium W is sandwiched and transported between the opposing drive rollers Rk1 to Rk6 and the driven rollers Ro1 to Ro6.

The transport unit 2 further has transport guides 21, 25 to 27 that guide the print medium W. The first transport guide 21, the second transport guide 25 and the third transport guide 27 form a first transport path Cp1 that transports the print medium W in a first transport direction Dc1 to the first lower mold 30 of the mold unit 3. The fourth transport guide 26 and the third transport guide 27 form a second transport path Cp2 that transports the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W in a second transport direction Dc2 from the first lower mold 30 of the mold unit 3 to the collection box 8. Furthermore, the second transport guide 25 and the third transport guide 27 form a switching section that switches between the first transport path Cp1 and the second transport path Cp2.

The first transport guides 21 include a right first transport guide 21 that protrudes to the left from the left surface of the right support plate 20, and a left first transport guide 21 that protrudes to the right from the right surface of the left support plate 22. In the left-right direction, a gap E is provided between the right first transport guide 21 and the left first transport guide 21. In other words, the transport unit 2 is arranged with a gap in a direction perpendicular to the first transport direction Dc1, and has, for example, a right first transport guide 21 and a left first transport guide 21 as two transport guides that guide the print medium W transported in the first transport direction Dc1.

In the left-right direction, the distance E between the two first transport guides 21 is, for example, greater than the width of the covered portion Wb of the print medium W. Therefore, the remaining portion Wa to the right of the covered portion Wb is guided by the right first transport guide 21, and the remaining portion Wa to the left of the covered portion Wb is guided by the left first transport guide 21. In this case, the covered portion Wb passes between the left end of the right first transport guide 21 and the right end of the left first transport guide 21. As a result, the print medium W is transported without the image printed on the covered portion Wb coming into contact with the first transport guide 21, reducing damage to the image caused by contact with the first transport guide 21 when the print medium W is transported.

The first transport guide 21 has a first guide piece 21a and a second guide piece 21b. The first guide piece 21a is, for example, plate-shaped, and has a lower part that curves diagonally upward from its lower end toward the front, a middle part that extends upward from the front end of the lower part, and an upper part that curves diagonally upward from the upper end of the middle part toward the rear. The second guide piece 21b is, for example, plate-shaped, and has a lower part that curves diagonally upward from its lower end toward the front, and a middle part that extends upward from the front end of the lower part. The space between the lower part of the first guide piece 21a and the lower part of the second guide piece 21b arranged below it is provided as a lower groove, and the space between the middle part of the first guide piece 21a and the middle part of the second guide piece 21b arranged in front of it is provided as a middle groove. The end of the print medium W in the left-right direction Dy passes through the lower groove and the middle groove, and the print medium W is guided by the first transport guide 21.

The first driven roller Ro1 is disposed behind the lower end of the first guide piece 21a, and the first drive roller Rk1 is disposed behind the lower end of the second guide piece 21b. The print medium W discharged from the printing unit 1 is sandwiched between the first driven roller Ro1 and the first drive roller Rk1 and transported forward along the lower groove.

The center of the first guide piece 21a and the center of the second guide piece 21b are disposed between the second to fourth drive shafts Sk2 to Sk4 and the second to fourth driven shafts So2 to So4, respectively. The first guide piece 21a and the second guide piece 21b are provided with a notch Ng. Parts of the driven rollers Ro2 to Ro4 protrude forward through the notch Ng of the first guide piece 21a, and parts of the drive rollers Rk2 to Rk4 protrude rearward through the notch Ng of the second guide piece 21b. As a result, the print medium W transported below each

guide piece

21a, 21b is sandwiched between the driven rollers Ro2 to Ro4 and the drive rollers Rk2 to Rk4 in the center groove and transported upward.

The second transport guide 25 has a right second transport guide 25 that faces the upper part of the right first guide piece 21a, and a left second transport guide 25 that faces the upper part of the left first guide piece 21a. The second transport guide 25 is disposed above the upper part of the first guide piece 21a and the central groove. The second transport guide 25 is plate-shaped and extends diagonally upward and rearward from its front end, then curves and extends rearward. The space between the second transport guide 25 and the upper part of the first guide piece 21a is provided as an upper groove, which is connected to the central groove. The end of the print medium W in the left-right direction Dy passes from the central groove through the upper groove, and the print medium W is guided by the first transport guide 21 and the second transport guide 25.

The front end of the second transport guide 25 is fixed to the

support plates

20, 22, and the second transport guide 25 can rotate around this front end as a fulcrum. The third transport guide 27 is disposed above the second transport guide 25, between the right second transport guide 25 and the left second transport guide 25. The third transport guide 27 is plate-shaped and flexible, and is made of, for example, resin. The front end of the third transport guide 27 is fixed to the

support plates

20, 22, and the rear end is vertically flexible. The rear portion 27a of the third transport guide 27 is bent to the same height as the upper end of the fifth driven roller Ro5 and the second transport guide 25, or slightly below the upper ends.

After the left and right ends of the print medium W are transported upward along the middle groove, the left and right ends are transported backward along the upper groove. Here, the center of the print medium W in the left-right direction is aligned with the third transport guide 27. Therefore, as shown in the examples of Figures 6 and 8A, the second transport guide 25 and the third transport guide 27 are pushed upward by the print medium W, the rear end of the second transport guide 25 leaves the first guide piece 21a, the rear end of the upper groove opens, and the print medium W is transported backward from the upper groove through this rear end opening. As a result, the second transport guide 25 allows the print medium W to be transported from the fourth drive roller Rk4 and fourth driven roller Ro4 to the fifth drive roller Rk5 and fifth driven roller Ro5.

Then, a fifth driven roller Ro5 and a fifth drive roller Rk5 are arranged behind the upper groove, aligned in the vertical direction. The print medium W transported rearward through this upper groove is sandwiched between the fifth driven roller Ro5 and the fifth drive roller Rk5 and transported along the first transport direction Dc1 to the first lower mold 30 of the rear mold unit 3. Here, since the upper part of the first guide piece 21a is curved diagonally upward toward the rear, the print medium W transported along the upper part of the first guide piece 21a is transported diagonally upward toward the rear and is transported above the first lower mold 30 without hitting it. Furthermore, as shown in the example of FIG. 8A, the third transport guide 27 is positioned slightly lower than the second transport guide 25, and the center of the print medium W is pressed downward by the third transport guide 27, so that the print medium W is stretched horizontally and the rear end We1 of the print medium W does not sag, and the print medium W is transported above the first lower mold 30 without hitting the first lower mold 30. As described above, the first transport guide 21, the second transport guide 25, and the third transport guide 27 form the first transport path Cp1 for the print medium W toward the first lower mold 30 of the mold unit 3.

On the other hand, when the print medium W is transported onto the first lower mold 30, the print medium W is positioned behind the second transport guide 25 and the third transport guide 27. Therefore, as shown in the example of FIG. 8B, the second transport guide 25 descends under its own weight, and the rear end of the second transport guide 25 comes into contact with the first guide piece 21a, closing the rear end opening of the upper groove. Also, the rear end of the third transport guide 27 is positioned below the rear end of the second transport guide 25. In this way, the second transport guide 25 and the third transport guide 27 obstruct the transport of the print medium W to the first transport path Cp1 and guide the transport to the second transport path Cp2. Therefore, the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W is transported over the second transport guide 25 and the third transport guide 27 to the second transport path Cp2 without moving back to the first transport path Cp1.

5 and 6, the third transport guide 27 is disposed between the fifth driven roller Ro5 and the sixth driven roller Ro6. The fourth transport guide 26 is disposed above the third transport guide 27 between the fifth drive roller Rk5 and the sixth drive roller Rk6. The fourth transport guide 26 is generally plate-shaped and extends rearward beyond the rear end of the third transport guide 27, with this extension 26a curving diagonally upward toward the rear. With the covered portion Wb pressed by the pressing unit 6 in the mold unit 3, the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W is sandwiched between the fifth drive roller Rk5 and the fifth driven roller Ro5. By rotating this fifth drive roller Rk5, the remaining portion Wa is separated from the covered portion Wb and transported in the second transport direction Dc2. Here, the remaining portion Wa is guided to the second transport path Cp2 by contacting the upper surface of the second transport guide 25 and the upper surface of the third transport guide 27, and is transported toward the sixth drive roller Rk6 and the sixth driven roller Ro6. In this case, since the rear end of the second transport guide 25 and the rear portion 27a of the third transport guide 27 are curved downward more than the upper end of the fifth driven roller Ro5, the remaining portion Wa is easily guided to the second transport path Cp2. Thereafter, the remaining portion Wa is sandwiched between the sixth drive roller Rk6 and the sixth driven roller Ro6, transported forward, and collected in the collection box 8. The third transport guide 27 and the fourth transport guide 26 constitute the second transport path Cp2 for the remaining portion Wa, which runs from the first lower mold 30 of the mold unit 3 to the collection box 8.

The transport unit 2 further has a first transport sensor S1. The first transport sensor S1 is, for example, a contact sensor, and is arranged behind the first drive roller Rk1 and the first driven roller Ro1. When the first transport sensor S1 detects the rear end We1 of the print medium W being supplied from the printing unit 1 to the transport unit 2, the second drive circuit 116 (Figure 3) starts driving the transport motor 23 in response to the detection signal of the first transport sensor S1. This causes the transport unit 2 to start transporting the print medium W.

The transport unit 2 further has a second transport sensor S2. The second transport sensor S2 is, for example, a contact sensor, and is disposed between the first guide piece 21a and the second transport guide 25. The second drive circuit 116 stops driving the transport motor 23 when the elapsed time from when the second transport sensor S2 detects the rear end We1 of the print medium W reaches the movement time for the print medium W to a predetermined position based on the amount of rotation of the transport motor 23. This allows the print medium W to be transported with high precision to above the first lower mold 30 in the mold unit 3.

The transport unit 2 further includes a third transport sensor S3. The third transport sensor S3 is, for example, a contact sensor, and is disposed in front of the fifth drive roller Rk5 and the fifth driven roller Ro5 and behind the sixth drive roller Rk6 and the sixth driven roller Ro6. Whether or not the remaining portion Wa is transported to the collection box 8 can be determined based on the detection result by the third transport sensor S3. If the remaining portion Wa cannot be detected by the third transport sensor S3 within a predetermined time after the second drive circuit 116 starts to reversely rotate the transport motor 23, the control device 110 determines that a jam of the remaining portion Wa has occurred. In addition, the control device 110 may determine that a jam of the remaining portion Wa has occurred if the remaining portion Wa remains detected after a predetermined time has elapsed after the third transport sensor S3 detects the remaining portion Wa. If the control device 110 determines that a jam of the remaining portion Wa has occurred, it causes the second drive circuit 116 to stop the rotation of the transport motor 23.

As described above, the transport unit 2 sandwiched the print medium W between the right fifth drive roller Rk5 and the right fifth driven roller Ro5, and between the left fifth drive roller Rk5 and the left fifth driven roller Ro5, and transported it above the can product such as the front member SE. Here, the right fifth drive roller Rk5 and the left fifth drive roller Rk5 were arranged with a gap in the left-right direction, and were in contact with the top surface of the print medium W. The right fifth driven roller Ro5 and the left fifth driven roller Ro5 were arranged with a gap in the left-right direction, and were in contact with the bottom surface of the print medium W.

For this reason, the transport unit 2 has, for example, a right fifth drive roller Rk5 and a left fifth drive roller Rk5 as first and second rollers arranged at a distance above the can product in a direction perpendicular to the first transport direction Dc1 in which the print medium W is transported. The transport unit 2 also has a third roller that contacts a surface of the print medium W different from the surface that contacts the first roller, and a fourth roller that contacts a surface of the print medium W different from the surface that contacts the second roller and the same surface that contacts the third roller, for example, a right fifth driven roller Ro5 and a left fifth driven roller Ro5. In this case, the first roller and the second roller are drive rollers, and the third roller and the fourth roller are driven rollers.

The fifth right drive roller Rk5 and the fifth left drive roller Rk5 are provided on the fifth drive shaft Sk5, and the fifth drive shaft Sk5 is connected to the transport motor 23 by drive belts Be1 to Be5 via drive gear Ga1 and drive gears Gb1 to Gb5. The direction of rotation of the fifth right drive roller Rk5 and the fifth left drive roller Rk5 changes depending on the direction of rotation of the transport motor 23. Therefore, the fifth right drive roller Rk5 and the fifth left drive roller Rk5, for example, as the first roller and the second roller, can rotate forward and backward. The forward rotation of the fifth drive roller Rk5 can transport the print medium W to the mold unit 3 through the first transport path Cp1, and the reverse rotation of the fifth drive roller Rk5 can separate the covered portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W, and collect the remaining portion Wa into the collection box 8 through the second transport path Cp2.

The fifth drive shaft Sk5 is inserted through the center of the right fifth drive roller Rk5 and the center of the left fifth drive roller Rk5. Therefore, the transport unit 2 has a drive section that has, for example, the fifth drive roller Rk5 and the fifth drive shaft Sk5 as a first drive section that has a first roller, a second roller, and a shaft that is inserted through the first roller and the second roller.

Furthermore, the fifth right driven roller Ro5 and the fifth left driven roller Ro5 are provided on the fifth drive shaft Sk5. Therefore, for example, the fifth right driven roller Ro5 and the fifth left driven roller Ro5 as the third roller and the fourth roller are provided on the same shaft.

As shown in the example of FIG. 7A, the distance J2 between the right fifth driven roller Ro5 and the left fifth driven roller Ro5 is wider than the distance J1 between the right fifth drive roller Rk5 and the left fifth drive roller Rk5. In other words, the distance between the third roller and the fourth roller is wider than the distance between the first roller and the second roller. In this case, the left portion that is part of the right fifth driven roller Ro5 faces the right portion that is part of the right fifth drive roller Rk5, and the right portion that is part of the left fifth driven roller Ro5 faces the left portion that is part of the right fifth drive roller Rk5. The print medium W is sandwiched and transported between a portion of the fifth drive roller Rk5 and a portion of the fifth driven roller Ro5 that face each other.

The first space between the right fifth driven roller Ro5 and the left fifth driven roller Ro5 is located lower than the second space between the right fifth drive roller Rk5 and the left fifth drive roller Rk5, and is wider than the second space. Therefore, for example, the center of the print medium W in the left-right direction may bend lower than the left and right ends due to the resistance when the remaining part Wa is separated in the mold unit 3 and the frictional force during transport in the transport unit 2. Even in such a case, the bent part fits into the first space, so the print medium W can pass between the right fifth driven roller Ro5 and the left fifth driven roller Ro5. Therefore, the transport unit 2 has, for example, the first space between the right fifth driven roller Ro5 and the left fifth driven roller Ro5 as an allowance section 12 that allows the print medium W to bend between the third roller and the fourth roller. In addition, by bending the print medium W, the rigidity of the print medium W increases and the print medium W is less likely to buckle in the front-to-rear direction, so the print medium W is transported smoothly forward. This makes it possible to automatically produce can products that include the print medium W.

As shown in the examples of Figures 5 and 6, the transport unit 2 transported the print medium W sandwiched between the right sixth drive roller Rk6 and the right sixth driven roller Ro6, and between the left sixth drive roller Rk6 and the left sixth driven roller Ro6, downstream of the fifth drive roller Rk5 and the fifth driven roller Ro5 in the second transport direction Dc2. Here, the right sixth drive roller Rk6 and the left sixth drive roller Rk6 were spaced apart in the left-right direction and were in contact with the top surface of the print medium W. The right sixth driven roller Ro6 and the left sixth driven roller Ro6 were spaced apart in the left-right direction and were in contact with the bottom surface of the print medium W.

For this reason, the transport unit 2 has, for example, a right sixth drive roller Rk6 and a left sixth drive roller Rk6 as the fifth and sixth rollers arranged downstream of the first and second rollers in the second transport direction Dc2 of the print medium W when the first and second rollers are reversed. The transport unit 2 also has, for example, a right sixth driven roller Ro6 and a left sixth driven roller Ro6 as the eighth rollers that contact a surface of the print medium W different from the surface that the fifth roller contacts, and contact a surface of the print medium W different from the surface that the sixth roller contacts and the same surface that the seventh roller contacts. In this case, the fifth and sixth rollers are drive rollers, and the seventh and eighth rollers are driven rollers. In this way, by sandwiching the print medium W between the fifth to eighth rollers in addition to the first to fourth rollers, the print medium W can be transported more smoothly, making it possible to automatically produce can products.

The sixth drive shaft Sk6 is inserted through the center of the right sixth drive roller Rk6 and the center of the left sixth drive roller Rk6. Therefore, the transport unit 2 has a drive unit having, for example, the sixth drive roller Rk6 and the sixth drive shaft Sk6 as a second drive unit having the fifth roller, the sixth roller, and a shaft inserted through the fifth roller and the sixth roller. Furthermore, the fifth drive shaft Sk5 and the sixth drive shaft Sk6 are connected to the transport motor 23 by drive belts Be1 to Be6 via drive gears Ga1 and Gb1 to Gb6. Therefore, the transport unit 2 has, for example, the transport motor 23 as a drive source that drives the first drive unit and the second drive unit. As a result, the first drive source and the second drive source work together to smoothly transport the print medium W, making it possible to automatically produce can products.

As shown in the example of FIG. 7B, the distance J4 between the right sixth driven roller Ro6 and the left sixth driven roller Ro6 is equal to the distance J3 between the right sixth drive roller Rk6 and the left sixth drive roller Rk6. That is, the distance between the fifth roller and the sixth roller is equal to the distance between the seventh roller and the eighth roller. In this case, for example, the entire right sixth driven roller Ro6 and the entire right sixth drive roller Rk6 face each other, and the entire left sixth driven roller Ro6 and the entire right sixth drive roller Rk6 face each other. As a result, the print medium W is sandwiched between the opposing sixth drive roller Rk6 and sixth driven roller Ro6 and transported, so that bending of the print medium W can be reduced, and canned products can be automatically produced.

<Pressing unit>
As shown in the example of FIG. 9, the pressing unit 6 has a lower plate Mp1 arranged on the first lower die 30, and an upper plate Mp2 arranged on the lower plate Mp1. The lower plate Mp1 has a lower plate body 121 having a substantially rectangular plate shape. The lower plate body 121 has a circular cutout 123 at a position overlapping with the recess 30c of the first lower die 30 (i.e., the holding portion of the front member SE). Since the lower plate body 121 is provided so as to surround the periphery of this cutout 123, it is possible to provide strength to the lower plate body 121. In addition, the diameter dimension of the cutout 123 is the same as or slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the recess 30c of the first lower die 30.

The upper plate Mp2 has an upper plate body 124 that is a generally U-shaped plate. The upper plate body 124 has a notch 128 at a position that overlaps with the notch 123 of the lower plate body 121 when viewed from above. This notch 128 has a shape that is integrally connected to a semicircular front portion that protrudes forward and a rectangular rear portion that extends rearward from a straight portion of the front portion and opens at the rear end of the upper plate body 124. This shape makes it possible to reduce the material cost of the upper plate body 124. The notch 128 is larger than the notch 123, and the edge of the notch 128 is positioned outside the edge of the notch 123.

The entire recess 30c of the first lower mold 30 is exposed from this cutout 128 through the cutout 123. The print medium W or white film F passes between the lower plate Mp1 and the upper plate Mp2 and is transported above the front member SE housed in the recess 30c. Here, as shown in the example of FIG. 10, the covered portion Wb of the print medium W or the covered portion Fb of the white film F is disposed on the front member SE. Behind the covered portions Wb, Fb, the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W or the remaining portion Fa of the white film F is disposed on the lower plate main body 121 in a state exposed from the cutout 128 of the upper plate Mp2. The other remaining portions Wa, Fa are sandwiched between the lower plate main body 121 and the upper plate main body 124.

The pressing unit 6 has a pressing motor 60 (Figure 3), a swing arm 63, a remaining portion pressing head 65, and a pressing head 66. The rotating shaft of the pressing motor 60 is connected to the base end of the swing arm 63 via a gear. The remaining portion pressing head 65 and the pressing head 66 are attached to the tip of the swing arm 63. When the pressing motor 60 is driven to rotate, the remaining portion pressing head 65 and the pressing head 66 press the print medium W or white film F sandwiched between the lower plate Mp1 and the upper plate Mp2.

Here, the pressing head 66 is generally cross-shaped and extends in the front-rear and left-right directions, and its dimensions in the front-rear and left-right directions are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the covering parts Wb, Fb, the cutout 123, and the recess 30c. In addition, the front and left and right ends of the pressing head 66 protrude downward from the center in the front-rear and left-right directions. Therefore, the pressing head 66 presses the covering parts Wb, Fb against the front member SE housed in the recess 30c via the

cutouts

128, 123. This causes part or all of the connecting part Wc to be cut off.

The remaining portion pressing head 65 has a support shaft 65a, a head body 65b, and a spring 65c. The support shaft 65a extends in the front-rear direction, with its front end connected to the spring 65c and its rear end connected to the head body 65b. The support shaft 65a is rotatably supported by the swing arm 63 between the spring 65c and the head body 65b. The head body 65b extends in the left-right direction, with its left and right ends protruding downward and biased downward by the elastic force of the spring 65c. Therefore, the head body 65b presses the remaining portions Wa, Fa exposed from the cutout 128 by sandwiching the linear weakened portion Wd. The remaining portions Wa, Fa are then transported forward by the transport unit 2.

As a result, the remaining portion Wa is transported forward by the transport unit 2 from the position where the apex of the triangular cutting portion 67, which is pointed backward, of the pressing head 66 faces the front end of the linear weak portion Wd, and the linear weak portion Wd is cut by the cutting portion 67. Here, the head main body portion 65b presses the remaining portions Wa and Fa by the elastic force of the spring 65c, so that the transport force of the transport unit 2 exceeds this and the remaining portions Wa and Fa are transported forward. At this time, while the covered portions Wb and Fb remain pressed by the pressing head 66, the left and right remaining portions Wa separated by the linear weak portion Wd pass through the left and right of the pressing head 66 and move forward, so that the remaining portions Wa and Fa are transported to the collection box 8 without getting caught by the pressing head 66. In this way, the remaining portions Wa and Fa are collected in the collection box 8 while the covered portions Wb and Fb remain on the surface member SE.

<Mold unit>
As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the mold unit 3 has a first lower mold 30, a second lower mold 31 different from the first lower mold 30, a rotary support table 32, a lower mold moving motor 140 (FIG. 3), an upper mold lifting motor 34 (FIG. 3), and an upper mold 33. The rotary support table 32 is a rotating part that rotates the first lower mold 30 and the second lower mold 31 about a second axis extending in the vertical direction, and has, for example, a substantially circular shape in a plan view. The first lower mold 30 and the second lower mold 31 are disposed on the rotary support table 32 at positions symmetrical with respect to the center of the rotary support table 32. The rotary support table 32 rotates about an axis in the vertical direction Dz by the rotary drive of the lower mold moving motor 140. As a result, one of the first lower mold 30 and the second lower mold 31 is positioned at the second mold position P2 facing the upper mold 33 in the vertical direction Dz, and the other lower mold is positioned at the first mold position P1 located on the opposite side of the second mold position P2 across the center of the rotary support table 32 in the front-rear direction Dx. The first mold position P1 is sandwiched between the front member slope 43 of the front member supply unit 4 and the back member slope 53 of the back member supply unit 5. When the first lower mold 30 is at the first mold position P1, a front member SE is supplied from the front member supply unit 4 to the first lower mold 30. On the other hand, when the second lower mold 31 is at the first mold position P1, a back member BE is supplied from the back member supply unit 5 to the second lower mold 31.

As shown in the example of FIG. 12A, the first lower mold 30 has a cylindrical first base 30a, a cylindrical first slide mold 30b that surrounds the periphery of the first base 30a and slides up and down relative to the first base 30a, and a first spring 30s that biases the first slide mold 30b upward. The first slide mold 30b has an annular upper surface 30b5 and a cylindrical guide wall 30b2 that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the upper surface 30b5. The diameter of the inner surface of the guide wall 30b2 is larger than the diameter of the inner surface of the first slide mold 30b, and the central axis of the inner surface of the guide wall 30b2 and the central axis of the inner surface of the first slide mold 30b are arranged on the same straight line.

As shown in the example of Figure 13A, the second lower mold 31 has a cylindrical second base 31a, a cylindrical second slide mold 31b that surrounds the periphery of the second base 31a and slides up and down relative to the second base 31a, and a second spring 31s that biases the second slide mold 31b upward. Also, as shown in the examples of Figures 12A and 13A, the upper mold 33 has a cylindrical inner mold 33a and a cylindrical outer mold 33b that surrounds the periphery of the inner mold 33a. The inner mold 33a and the outer mold 33b are raised and lowered by an upper mold lifting motor 34.

With such a mold unit 3, a can product 200 is produced, as shown in the example of Figures 12A to 13B. Note that in Figures 12A to 13B, the white film F between the print medium W and the surface portion SEb is omitted. As shown in Figure 12A, when the first lower mold 30 is in the first mold position P1, the surface portion SEb of the front member SE is placed on the upper surface 30a2 of the first base 30a of the first lower mold 30. The peripheral portion SEa of this front member SE is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the first base 30a and the inner peripheral surface of the first slide mold 30b. Furthermore, the covering portions Wb, Fb are placed on the upper surface 30b5 of the first slide mold 30b within the guide wall 30b2.

As shown in FIG. 12B, the first lower die 30 is moved to the second die position P2 by the rotation of the rotary support table 32, and the second lower die 31 is moved to the first die position P1. When the upper die 33 descends at the second die position P2, the lower surface 33b1 of the outer die 33b abuts against the guide wall 30b2 of the first slide die 30b, and the first slide die 30b is pressed down to a predetermined position against the first base 30a against the biasing force of the first spring 30s. As a result, the lower surface 33a1 of the inner die 33a presses the covering portion Wb against the front member SE, and the front member SE and the covering portions Wb and Fb are fitted into the outer die 33b, and the first front portion Wf1 and the clamped portion Wg of the covering portion Wb are bent downward. After that, as shown in the example of FIG. 13A, the upper die 33 rises to separate the front member SE from the first lower die 30.

Furthermore, at the first mold position P1, the backing material BE is placed on the upper surface 31a1 of the second base 31a of the second lower mold 31. The periphery of the backing material BE is surrounded by the tapered surface 31b2, which is the inner peripheral surface of the second slide mold 31b, whose diameter decreases downward. Then, as shown in FIG. 13B, the second lower mold 31 is moved to the second mold position P2 by the rotation of the rotary support table 32.

When the upper die 33 descends, the lower surface 33b1 of the outer die 33b comes into contact with the upper surface 31b1 of the second slide die 31b, and pushes the second slide die 31b down to a predetermined position against the biasing force of the second spring 31s. At this time, as shown in the example of FIG. 11B, the clamped portion Wg of the covered portion Wb comes into contact with the peripheral portion BEa of the back member BE and is folded between the back surface of the peripheral portion SEa of the front member SE and the front surface of the peripheral portion BEa of the back member BE. The peripheral portion SEa of the front member SE is then pressed against the tapered surface 31b2 and deformed. In this way, the front member SE and the back member BE are crimped together to produce the can product 200.

<Removal unit>
2 , after the second lower die 31 holding the canned product 200 moves to the first die position P1 by rotation of the rotary support table 32, the removal unit 7 removes the canned product 200 from the second lower die 31 and guides it to the canned product container 9 arranged forward of the removal unit 7. The removal unit 7 is arranged forward of the front member supply unit 4.

The removal unit 7 has a removal motor 70, a swing arm 71, a magnet member 72, and a seat 73. The swing arm 71 is a long member, and a magnet member 72 such as a permanent magnet is provided at its tip, and a rotating shaft of the removal motor 70 is connected to its base end via a gear. The swing arm 71 rotates in a direction approaching the second lower die 31 by the drive of the removal motor 70, and attaches the magnet member 72 onto the can product 200 held by the second lower die 31. On the other hand, the swing arm 71 rotates in a direction away from the second lower die 31 by the drive of the removal motor 70, and moves the can product 200 attached to the magnet member 72 to the seat 73. The seat 73 extends while inclining obliquely downward toward the can product container 9. After the can product 200 detaches from the magnet member 72 at the seat 73, it slides toward the can product container 9 and is stored in the can product container 9.

<Overall process flow>
14, the control device 110 first determines whether or not a user has issued an instruction to produce a can product (step S1). If there is no instruction to produce a can product (No in step S1), the control device 110 waits as is. On the other hand, if there is an instruction to produce a can product (Yes in step S1), the control device 110 causes the front member supply unit 4 to supply the front member SE to the first lower die 30 (step S2).

Next, the control device 110 causes the transport unit 2 to transport the white film F onto the surface member SE (step S3). Next, the control device 110 causes the pressing unit 6 to cut the connecting portion Fc of the white film F (step S4). The control device 110 then causes the transport unit 2 to separate the remaining portion Fa of the white film F from the covering portion Fb, and transport the separated remaining portion Fa to the collection box 8 (step S5).

Then, the control device 110 causes the transport unit 2 to transport the print medium W printed by the printing unit 1 onto the covered portion Fb of the white film F (step S6). Next, the control device 110 causes the pressing unit 6 to cut off the connecting portion Wc of the print medium W (step S7). The control device 110 then causes the transport unit 2 to separate the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W from the covered portion Wb, and transport the separated remaining portion Wa to the collection box 8 (step S8).

Next, the control device 110 moves the first lower mold 30 from the first mold position P1 to the second mold position P2 below the upper mold 33 in the mold unit 3, and then causes the upper mold 33 to hold the front member SE and the covering portions Wb, Fb held by the first lower mold 30 (step S9). The control device 110 also causes the backing material supply unit 5 to supply the backing material BE to the second lower mold 31 (step S10). The control device 110 then moves the second lower mold 31 to the second mold position P2 below the upper mold 33 holding the front member SE and the covering portions Wb, Fb, and then lowers the upper mold 33 to perform the crimping process (step S11). This produces the can product 200. The control device 110 then moves the second lower mold 31 holding the can product 200 to the first mold position P1, and then causes the removal unit 7 to remove the can product 200 (step S12), and places the can product 200 in the can product container 9.

After the removal unit 7 has finished removing the can products 200, the control device 110 moves the first lower mold 30 from the second mold position P2 to the first mold position P1. The control device 110 then determines whether or not the predetermined number of can products 200 have been produced (step S13). If the predetermined number of can products 200 have not been produced (No in step S13), the control device 110 returns to the process of step S2 and repeats the subsequent processes. On the other hand, if the predetermined number of can products 200 have been produced (Yes in step S13), the control device 110 ends the process of producing can products.

<Modification>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications are possible.

The shape of the first notch 123 in the lower plate Mp1 is not limited to the above shape, and may be, for example, a shape that is an integral combination of a semicircular rear portion that protrudes rearward and a rectangular front portion that extends forward from the rear portion and opens at the front end of the lower plate body 121. In this way, the lower plate body 121 has a U-shape due to the first notch 123 cut from the front end of the lower plate body 121 toward the rear. Since the shape of such a first notch 123 is larger than a circle, the material cost of the lower plate Mp1 can be reduced. In addition, the number of first notches 123 is not limited to one, and multiple first notches 123 may be provided.

The shape of the second notch 128 in the upper plate Mp2 is not limited to the above shape, and may be, for example, circular. In this case, the upper plate body 124 surrounds the periphery of the second notch 128, and therefore can have higher strength than when the second notch 128 has a shape that opens at the rear end. In addition, the number of second notches 128 is not limited to one, and multiple second notches 128 may be provided.

In the above configuration, when the first transport sensor S1 detects the print medium W, the second drive circuit 116 starts driving the transport motor 23, but the timing of this drive start is not limited to this. For example, the second drive circuit 116 may start driving the transport motor 23 before, during, or after printing an image on the print medium W by the printing unit 1.

In the above configuration, the surface material supply unit 4 is disposed above the printing unit 1 and to the right of the mold unit 3, but this is not limited to the above. The surface material supply unit 4 may also be disposed above the printing unit 1 and to the left of the mold unit 3.

In the above configuration, the backing material supply unit 5 is located above the printing unit 1 and to the left of the die unit 3, but this is not limited to the above. The backing material supply unit 5 may also be located above the printing unit 1 and to the right of the die unit 3.

1: Printing unit 2: Transport unit 3: Mold unit 12: Allowing section 21: First transport guide (transport guide)
100: Can product manufacturing device Rk5: 5th driving roller (1st roller, 2nd roller, 3rd roller, 4th roller) Rk6: 6th driving roller (5th roller, 6th roller, 7th roller, 8th roller) Ro5: 5th driven roller (1st roller, 2nd roller, 3rd roller, 4th roller) Ro6: 6th driven roller (5th roller, 6th roller, 7th roller, 8th roller)

Claims

1. An apparatus for making a can product, comprising:
a printing unit for printing an image on a print medium;
a transport unit that transports the print medium above the can product,
The transport unit includes:
a first roller and a second roller arranged above the can product with a space therebetween in a direction perpendicular to a first conveying direction in which the print medium is conveyed;
a third roller that contacts a surface of the print medium other than the surface that contacts the first roller;
a fourth roller that contacts a surface of the print medium that is different from a surface that contacts the second roller and is the same surface that contacts the third roller;
a tolerance portion between the third roller and the fourth roller that allows the print medium to bend,
Can product manufacturing equipment.
The third roller and the fourth roller are provided on the same shaft,
The distance between the third roller and the fourth roller is greater than the distance between the first roller and the second roller.
2. The apparatus of claim 1.
The first roller and the second roller are capable of rotating in a forward and reverse direction.
2. The apparatus of claim 1.
The transport unit includes:
a fifth roller and a sixth roller disposed downstream of the first roller and the second roller in a second transport direction of the print medium when the first roller and the second roller rotate in the reverse direction;
a seventh roller that contacts a surface of the print medium that is different from the surface that the fifth roller contacts;
an eighth roller that contacts a surface of the print medium that is different from a surface that the sixth roller contacts and is the same surface that the seventh roller contacts;
4. The apparatus of claim 3.
the first roller and the second roller are drive rollers,
The third roller and the fourth roller are driven rollers.
5. An apparatus for making a can product according to claim 4.
the fifth roller and the sixth roller are drive rollers,
The seventh roller and the eighth roller are driven rollers.
6. An apparatus for making a can product according to claim 5.
The transport unit includes:
a first driving unit including the first roller, the second roller, and a shaft inserted through the first roller and the second roller;
a second driving unit including the fifth roller, the sixth roller, and a shaft inserted through the fifth roller and the sixth roller;
A drive source that drives the first drive unit and the second drive unit.
7. An apparatus for making a can product according to claim 6.
The distance between the fifth roller and the sixth roller is equal to the distance between the seventh roller and the eighth roller.
5. An apparatus for making a can product according to claim 4.
The transport unit includes:
the first transport direction is perpendicular to the first transport direction, and the second transport direction is perpendicular to the first transport direction.
2. The apparatus of claim 1.
The can product has a front member including a front surface and a back surface, and a back member,
The transport unit transports the print medium above a surface of the front member,
The printing apparatus further includes a mold unit that deforms the front member, the back member, or both the front member and the back member so that a portion of the printing medium is sandwiched between the back surface of the front member and the back member while the printing medium covers the front surface of the front member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1.