WO2024135658A1

WO2024135658A1 - Can product manufacturing device

Info

Publication number: WO2024135658A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/045430
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: 2022-12-23
Filing date: 2023-12-19
Publication date: 2024-06-27

Abstract

Provided is a can product manufacturing device enabling efficient removal of a can product.　This can product manufacturing device interconnects an obverse member and a reverse member to manufacture a can product, and comprises: a printing unit that performs printing on a medium for printing; a die unit that interconnects the obverse member and the reverse member; a conveyance unit that conveys the medium for printing above the obverse member in a conveyance direction oriented from the printing unit toward the die unit; and a removal unit that is connected by the die unit and that removes the manufactured can product from the die unit.

Description

Can product manufacturing equipment

The present invention relates to a can product manufacturing device.

　Conventionally, there are known devices for producing can products such as can badges with a specified image applied to them, 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

However, in the above conventional technology, the pressing mold holding the can badge, which is a can product, is first retracted upward, and then the pressing mold is moved onto a shooter to push out the can badge and eject it onto the shooter, which is a process that removes the can badge from the mold. As a result, there is room for improvement in the efficiency of removing the can badge.

The present invention aims to provide a can product manufacturing device that can efficiently remove can products.

The can product manufacturing device of the present invention is a can product manufacturing device that manufactures can products by connecting a front member and a back member, and includes a printing unit that prints on a print medium, a mold unit that connects the front member and the back member, a transport unit that transports the print medium above the front member in a transport direction from the printing unit toward the mold unit, and a removal unit that removes the can product, which has been connected and manufactured by the mold unit, from the mold unit.

According to the present invention, the canned products connected by the mold unit are removed by the removal unit. This eliminates the need for the conventional process of moving a mold such as a pressing mold onto the shooter in order to push out the can badges and eject them onto the shooter. This allows the canned products to be removed efficiently. This allows the canned products to be provided to users more efficiently than before.

The present invention provides a can product manufacturing device, a can product manufacturing method, and a can product manufacturing program that are capable of manufacturing can products with high precision.

1 is a perspective view showing a can product manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan 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. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back member as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back member as seen from the back side. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a print medium. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a can product produced by crimping a front member and a back member. 11A and 11B are diagrams for explaining removal of canned products by the removal unit. FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining a magnet member provided on the swing arm of FIG. 8 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a seat of the ejection unit; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a canned product is placed on the seat portion of FIG. 10 . 11 is a cross-sectional view of the seat portion of FIG. 10 cut along a predetermined first plane, as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first plane. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the seat portion of FIG. 10 cut along a predetermined second plane, as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the second plane. FIG. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which a canned product is placed on the seat portion of FIG. 12A. FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a canned product is placed on the seat portion of FIG. 12B.

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 configuration of the can product manufacturing device)
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a can product manufacturing apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 of Fig. 1.

The can product manufacturing apparatus 100 is an apparatus that connects front and back members as multiple can members to manufacture can products. The can product manufacturing apparatus 100 crimps the front and back members to manufacture can products. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, 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. In Figures 1 and 2, directions that are perpendicular to each other are the first direction Dx, the second direction Dy, and the third direction Dz. In this embodiment, for example, the first direction Dx is the front-to-back direction of the can product manufacturing apparatus 100, the second direction Dy is the left-to-right direction of the can product manufacturing apparatus 100, and the third direction Dz is the up-down direction. In this case, the front side of the printing unit 1 is the front side, the back side is the rear side, and the left and right sides when viewed from the front are the left and right sides. In the following description, Dx is referred to as the front-to-back direction, Dy is referred to as the left-to-right direction, and Dz is referred to as the up-to-down direction.

The printing unit 1 is positioned below the mold unit 3, the front member supply unit 4, the back member supply unit 5, the pressing unit 6, and the removal unit 7. The printing unit 1 is an inkjet printer that prints an image on a print medium W (see FIG. 5A below), such as a transparent film. The printing unit 1 prints on the print medium W. Specifically, the printing unit 1 has an ejection head 10, and printing is performed by ejecting ink droplets from the ejection head 10 onto the print medium W. The printing unit 1 also has a transport motor 11 that drives a transport roller. The ejection head 10 may be a serial head type or a line head type.

The printing unit 1 also includes a sheet holder (not shown) that holds multiple sheets of print media W and multiple sheets of white film F (see FIG. 5B below), and the print media W and the white film F are alternately stacked and held in the sheet holder. The white film F is supplied to the transport unit 2 without being printed by the printing unit 1, and the print media W 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 that appears normal when the user views the image from the side of the print media W opposite the side on which the image is printed. Note that, although an example in which the printing unit 1 is an inkjet printer has been given in this embodiment, the printing unit 1 is not limited to this, and the printing unit 1 may be other printers such as a laser printer or a thermal printer.

A part of the transport unit 2 is disposed forward of the printing unit 1, and the entire transport unit 2 is disposed forward of the mold unit 3. The transport unit 2 transports the print medium W and white film F transported from the printing unit 1 along the transport direction Dc1 toward the mold unit 3, onto a surface member SE (FIG. 4A) included in a can member CE (described below) that is supplied in advance to the lower mold 30 of the mold unit 3.

The mold unit 3 performs crimping between the front member SE and the back member BE (FIGS. 4B and 4C) included in the can member CE, which will be described later. The mold unit 3 has a lower mold 30, a lower mold 31, a rotary support table 32, an upper mold 33, an upper mold lifting motor 34, and a lower mold moving motor 140. The lower mold 30 and the lower mold 31 are formed in a circular shape in a plan view and are supported by the rotary support table 32. The lower mold 30 and the lower mold 31 are arranged to face each other with the center of the rotary support table 32 as the reference. The upper mold 33 rises and falls in the vertical direction Dz so as to approach or move away from one of the

lower molds

30 and 31 based on the operation of the upper mold lifting motor 34.

The rotary support table 32 rotates in the vertical direction Dz based on the operation of the lower die moving motor 140. By rotating the rotary support table 32, one of the lower dies 30 and 31 can be positioned at a second die position, which is a position opposite the upper die 33 in the vertical direction Dz, as described below. The position opposite the second die position in the front-rear direction Dx is called the first die position, which is described below. When the lower die 30 is in the first die position, the front member supply unit 4 supplies the front member SE to the lower die 30. As a result, the lower die 30 supports the front member SE. After the white film F is transported onto the front member SE by the transport unit 2, the first separation process, which is described below, is performed. As a result, only the connected portion Fb, which is described below, of the white film F is positioned on the front member SE. Next, the transport unit 2 transports the print medium W onto the connected portion Fb on the front member SE, and then the second separation process, which is described below, is performed. As a result, only the connection portion Wb of the print medium W, which will be described later, is positioned above the connection portion Fb.

Then, the lower die 30, which is in the first die position supporting the front member SE, is positioned at the second die position by rotating the rotary support table 32. At this time, the lower die 31, which is in the second die position, moves to the first die position. Then, the upper die 33 is lowered, and the front member SE supported by the lower die 30 is held by the upper die 33. After that, the upper die 33 is raised, and the front member SE is separated from the lower die 30 by the upper die 33. At this time, the back member BE is supplied to the lower die 31 by the back member supply unit 5. Next, the rotary support table 32 is rotated to position the lower die 31, which is in the first die position, at the second die position. After that, the upper die 33 holding the front member SE is lowered toward the lower die 31 holding the back member BE, thereby crimping the back member BE and the front member SE. In this way, the mold unit 3 produces the can product 200 (Figure 7) by crimping the back member BE held by the lower mold 31 and the front member SE held by the upper mold 31. After this, the lower mold 31, which is in the second mold position, is moved to the first mold position by rotating the rotary support table 32. Then, the can product 200 supported by the lower mold 31 that has moved to the first mold position is removed by the removal unit 7.

The surface material supply unit 4 is disposed above the printing unit 1 and to the right of the die unit 3. The surface material supply unit 4 has a pusher motor 46. The surface material supply unit 4 supplies the surface material SE to the lower die 30 by the pusher pushing out the surface material SE based on the operation of the pusher motor 46.

The backing material supply unit 5 is disposed above the printing unit 1 and to the left of the die unit 3. The backing material supply unit 5 has a pusher motor 56. The backing material supply unit 5 supplies the front material SE to the lower die 31 by the pusher pushing out the backing material BE based on the operation of the pusher motor 56.

The pressing unit 6 is disposed forward of the front material supply unit 4 and the back material supply unit 5 and to the left of the mold unit 3. The pressing unit 6 has a pressing motor 60. The pressing unit 6 presses the print medium W and the white film F against the lower mold 30 based on the operation of the pressing motor 60.

The removal unit 7 is disposed in front of the front member supply unit 4. The removal unit 7 has a removal motor 70. The removal unit 7 removes the canned products 200 from the lower mold 31 based on the operation of the removal motor 70, and guides them to the canned product container 9 disposed in front of the removal unit 7. Details of the removal unit 7 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 further includes a control device 110, a first drive circuit 115, a second drive circuit 116, a third drive circuit 117, a fourth drive circuit 118, a fifth drive circuit 119, a sixth drive circuit 120, and a seventh drive circuit 150. The control device 100 includes an interface 111, a calculation unit 112, and a memory unit 113. The interface 111 receives various data such as image data as print 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 multiple devices may be distributed and configured 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 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, for example a processor such as a CPU and an integrated circuit such as an ASIC. The calculation unit 112 controls each part by executing a can product manufacturing program.

The control device 110 outputs a control signal to the first drive circuit 115. The first drive circuit 115 generates a drive signal based on the control signal and outputs it to the ejection head 10 of the printing unit 1. The ejection head 10 drives according to the drive signal, which causes ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzles. In detail, the first drive circuit 115 ejects ink droplets from the ejection head 10 onto the print medium W while moving the ejection head 10 in a predetermined movement direction based on image data acquired from the external device 114. The first drive circuit 115 then drives the transport motor 11 to transport the print medium W in the transport direction not shown. In this way, the first drive circuit 115 alternates between printing passes and transport operations, thereby printing an image based on the image data onto the print medium W.

The control device 110 outputs a control signal to the second drive circuit 116. The second drive circuit 116 generates a drive signal based on the control signal to control the operation of the transport motor 23 provided in the transport unit 2. In this case, the second drive circuit 116 controls the operation of the transport motor 23 based on the detection result by the transport sensor provided in the transport unit 2. As a result, the print medium W and white film F from the printing unit 1 are transported to the lower mold 30 by the transport unit 2.

The control device 110 outputs a control signal to the third drive circuit 117. The third drive circuit 117 generates a drive signal based on the control signal to control the operation of the upper die lifting motor 34 and the lower die moving motor 140 provided in the die unit 3. The control device 110 also outputs a control signal to the fourth drive circuit 118. The fourth drive circuit 118 generates a drive signal based on the control signal to control the operation of the pusher motor 46 provided in the front member supply unit 4. The control device 110 also outputs a control signal to the fifth drive circuit 119. The fifth drive circuit 119 generates a drive signal based on the control signal to control the operation of the pusher motor 56 provided in the back member supply unit 5. The control device 110 also outputs a control signal to the sixth drive circuit 120. The sixth drive circuit 120 generates a drive signal based on the control signal to control the operation of the pressing motor 60 provided in the pressing unit 6. The control device 110 also outputs a control signal to the seventh drive circuit 150. The seventh drive circuit 150 generates a drive signal based on the control signal to control the operation of the take-out motor 70 in the take-out unit 7.

(Front and back members)
Fig. 4A is a perspective view showing a front member SE, Fig. 4B is a perspective view showing a back member BE as viewed from the front side, and Fig. 4C is a perspective view showing a back member BE as viewed from the back side.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the front member SE is included in the can member CE that constitutes the can product 200 together with the print medium W. The front member SE has a front member main body portion SEb that is, for example, circular in plan view, and a peripheral edge portion SEa that is provided on the periphery of the front member main body portion SEb and protrudes downward. The front member SE is formed of a magnetic material, for example, a tin-plated steel sheet.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the back member BE is included in the can member CE which, together with the front member SE, constitutes the can product 200. The back member BE has a back member main body portion BEb which is, for example, circular in plan view, and a peripheral edge portion BEa which is provided on the periphery of the back member main body portion BEb and protrudes upward. The back member BE is formed of a magnetic material such as a tin-plated steel sheet. The back member main body portion BEb has two holes BEb1 which are spaced apart from each other in the radial direction.

As shown in Figures 4B and 4C, a safety pin 150 is provided on the back side of the backing member main body BEb. The safety pin 150 has a pin main body 151, protrusions 151a connected to the pin main body 151 and spaced apart from each other in the radial direction of the backing member main body BEb, and a connecting portion 152. The protrusions 151a of the safety pin 150 are inserted into each hole BEb1 so as to protrude to the front side of the backing member main body BEb. The connecting portion 152 connects one protrusion 151a and the other protrusion 151a on the front side of the backing member main body BEb. With the above configuration, the safety pin 150 is attached to the backing member BE.

Here, a fixing jig 155 is removably attached to the backing member BE. The fixing jig 155 has supported

portions

156, 157 spaced apart from each other in the radial direction. The supported portion 156 has

wall portions

156a, 156b spaced apart from each other in the radial direction. The wall portion 156b is positioned closer to the supported portion 157 than the wall portion 156a. The height of the wall portion 156a is greater than the height of the wall portion 156b. The pin main body portion 151 is positioned between

such wall portions

156a and 156b. The pin main body portion 151 is supported in an upright state by the

wall portions

156a and 156b. When the wall 156a and the supported portion 157 of the supported portion 156 are stacked in the vertical direction Dz and stored in the backing member supply unit 5, they are supported by the backing member main body portion BEb of the backing member BE located below the backing member BE on which the wall 156a and the supported portion 157 of the supported portion 156 are provided. This makes it possible to avoid interference between one stacked backing member BE and the other stacked backing member BE, thereby preventing damage caused by contact between the backing members BE. After the can product 200 is produced, the user can release the support of the pin main body portion 151 by the supported portion 156 by gripping the supported portion 157 and rotating it upward. This allows the fixing jig 155 to be detached from the backing member BE.

(printing media and white film)
Next, a description will be given of the print medium W and the white film F transported by the transport unit 2 from the printing unit 1 to the lower mold 30. Fig. 5A is a plan view showing the print medium W, and Fig. 5B is a plan view showing the white film F.

The print medium W, together with the front member SE and back member BE as the can member CE, constitutes the can product 200, and is, for example, a transparent sheet. As shown in FIG. 5A, the print medium W has a rectangular shape. The print medium W has one end We1 in a direction D1 parallel to the transport direction Dc1 when it is transported by the transport unit 2 toward the mold unit 3, and the other end We2 on the opposite side to the end We1. In the transport direction Dc1, the one end We1 of the print medium W corresponds to the downstream end, and the other end We2 corresponds to the upstream end.

The print medium W includes a sheet-like connected portion Wb that is connected to the front member SE and the back member BE by the mold unit 3, a sheet-like remaining portion Wa that is different from the connected portion Wb, and a plurality of connecting portions Wc that connect the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa. The remaining portion Wa is arranged so as to surround the connected portion Wb. As a result, the remaining portion Wa has the above-mentioned one end We1 and the other end We2 in the direction D1. The print medium W also has the above-mentioned plurality of connecting portions Wc and a cut portion Wf located between adjacent connecting portions Wc at the boundary between the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa. As a result, the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa are cut and not connected between the adjacent connecting portions Wc. The connected portion Wb also forms, for example, a circle in a plan view, and is located closer to the one end We1 than the other end We2. That is, the connected portion Wb is biased toward one end We1 with respect to the remaining portion Wa. Note that the connected portion Wb has the same size as the connected portion Fb or is larger than the connected portion Fb.

The print medium W further includes a linear weak portion Wd that extends from the edge Wh of one end We1 to the connected portion Wb. The connecting portion Wc and the linear weak portion Wd form a weak portion that is weaker than the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa. Specifically, examples include a combination of the connecting portion Wc and the cut portion Wf, and the linear weak portion Wd being formed by a perforation that is the same thickness as the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa but is partially cut. As another example, the connecting portion Wc and the linear weak portion Wd are exemplified as a depression that is thinner than the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa.

The connecting portion Wc includes connecting portion Wc1, connecting portion Wc2, and connecting portion Wc3. Connecting portion Wc1 connects the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa at a predetermined position Pw1 on the boundary between the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa. Connecting portion Wc2 connects the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa at a position Pw2 on the boundary that is different from position Pw1. Connecting portion Wc3 connects the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa at a position Pw3 on the boundary that is different from positions Pw1 and Pw2.

The connecting portions Wc are provided at a predetermined position Pw3 on the boundary between the connected portion Wb and the remaining portion Wa, and there are more of them at positions Pw1 and Pw2. In other words, the number of connecting portions Wc3 is greater than the total number of connecting portions Wc1 and Wc2. Note that two connecting portions Wc that exist on a line that is perpendicular to the transport direction Dc1 and passes through the center Cw of the connected portion Wb may be included in connecting portion Wc1 and connecting portion Wc2, or may be included in connecting portion Wc3.

The configuration of the white film F is basically the same as that of the print medium W. Like the print medium W, the white film F constitutes the can product 200 together with the front member SE and back member BE as the can member CE. As shown in FIG. 5B, the white film F has a rectangular shape. The white film F has one end Fe1 in the direction D1 and the other end Fe2 on the opposite side to the end Fe1. In the transport direction Dc1, the one end Fe1 of the white film F corresponds to the downstream end, and the other end Fe2 corresponds to the upstream end.

The white film F includes a sheet-like connected portion Fb that is connected to the front member SE and the back member BE by the mold unit 3, a sheet-like remaining portion Fa that is different from the connected portion Fb, and a plurality of connecting portions Fc that connect the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa. The remaining portion Fa is arranged to surround the connected portion Fb. As a result, the remaining portion Fa has the above-mentioned one end Fe1 and the other end Fe2 in the direction D1. The white film F also has the above-mentioned plurality of connecting portions Fc and a cut portion Ff located between adjacent connecting portions Fc at the boundary between the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa. As a result, the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa are cut and not connected between the adjacent connecting portions Fc. The connected portion Fb also has a circular shape, for example, in a plan view, and is located closer to the one end Fe1 than the other end Fe2. That is, the connected portion Fb is biased toward one end Fe1 relative to the remaining portion Fa.

The white film F further includes a linear weak portion Fd extending from one end Fe1 to the connected portion Fb. The connecting portion Fc and the linear weak portion Fd form a weak portion having less strength than the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa. Specifically, examples include a combination of the connecting portion Fc and the cutting portion Ff, and the linear weak portion Fd being formed by perforations that are the same thickness as the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa but are each partially cut. As another example, the connecting portion Fc and the linear weak portion Fd are exemplified as recesses that are thinner than the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa.

The connecting portion Fc includes connecting portion Fc1, connecting portion Fc2, and connecting portion Fc3. Connecting portion Fc1 connects the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa at position Pf1, which is a position on the boundary between the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa and corresponds to position Pw1. Connecting portion Fc2 connects the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa at position Pf2, which is a position on the boundary and corresponds to position Pw2. Connecting portion Fc3 connects the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa at position Pf3, which is a position on the boundary and corresponds to position Pw3.

The connecting portions Fc are provided at a predetermined position Pf3 on the boundary between the connected portion Fb and the remaining portion Fa, and there are more of them than at positions Pf1 and Pf2. In other words, the number of connecting portions Fc3 is greater than the total number of connecting portions Fc1 and Fc2. Note that two connecting portions Fc that exist on a line that is perpendicular to the transport direction Dc1 and passes through the center Cf of the connected portion Fb may be included in connecting portion Fc1 and connecting portion Fc2, or may be included in connecting portion Fc3.

After the white film F is transported onto the front member SE by the transport unit 2, the connected portion Fb of the white film F is pressed against the lower mold 30 by the pressing unit 6. Then, with the connected portion Fb pressed, the white film F is transported by the transport unit 2 in the transport direction Dc2 opposite to the transport direction Dc1. By this first separation process, only the connected portion Fb is placed on the front member SE, and the remaining portion Fa is separated from the connected portion Fb and transported to the collection box 8 for collection. The same is true for the print medium W. That is, after the print medium W is transported onto the connected portion Fb placed on the front member SE as described above by the transport unit 2, the connected portion Wb of the print medium W is pressed against the lower mold 30 by the pressing unit 6. Then, with the connected portion Wb pressed, the print medium W is transported in the transport direction Dc2 by the transport unit 2. Through this second separation process, only the connected portion Wb is placed on the connected portion Fb on the front member SE, and the remaining portion Wa is separated from the connected portion Wb and transported to the collection box 8 for collection. Through the above process, the connected portion Fb and the connected portion Wb are placed in this order on the front member SE.

(Mold unit)
Next, the mold unit 3 will be described.

The mold unit 3 performs crimping as an example of a connection between the front member SE and the back member BE. As shown in FIG. 6, the mold unit 3 has a lower mold 30, a lower mold 31, a lower mold movement motor 140, a rotary support table 32, an upper mold 33, an upper mold lifting motor 34, a first gear 35, a second gear 36, a pair of rotating cams 37, and a support plate 38.

The mold unit 3 has a lower mold 30 supporting the front member SE and a lower mold 31 supporting the back member BE as multiple molds arranged in a circumferential direction based on the rotation axis. The lower mold 30 and the lower mold 31 are formed in a circular shape in a plan view. The lower mold 30 and the lower mold 31 are arranged to face each other with the center of the rotating support table 32 as a reference, and are each supported by the rotating support table 32 via a spring 30s. Note that, in the initial state, the lower mold 30 is arranged forward of the lower mold 31. The rotating support table 32 has an approximately circular shape in a plan view. A gear 32a is provided on the side peripheral surface of the rotating support table 32 that is parallel to the axial direction. The lower mold moving motor 140 is provided on the side of the rotating support table 32. A gear 131 is connected to the rotating shaft of the lower mold moving motor 140. The gear 131 is engaged with the gear 32a of the rotating support table 32. As a result, when the lower die moving motor 140 is rotated, the driving force is transmitted to the rotary support table 32 via the

gears

131 and 32a. Therefore, the rotary support table 32 rotates in the vertical direction Dz. By rotating the rotary support table 32 in this manner, the lower die 30 and the lower die 31 are each displaced between a first die position and a second die position facing the first die position in the front-rear direction Dx. The first die position is a position where the front member SE or the back member BE is loaded. The second die position is a position where the front member SE held by the upper die 33 is joined to the back member BE loaded and supported by the lower die 31. When the lower die 30 is in the first die position, the lower die 30 receives the front member SE from the front member supply unit 4. On the other hand, when the lower die 31 is in the first die position, the lower die 31 receives the back member BE from the back member supply unit 5.

The support plate 38 is erected on the side of the rotary support table 32. An upper die lifting motor 34 for raising and lowering the upper die 33 is arranged on the support plate 38. A third gear (not shown) is connected to the rotating shaft of the upper die lifting motor 34. This third gear is meshed with the first gear 35. A fourth gear (not shown) is provided on the first gear 35 coaxially with the first gear 35. This fourth gear is meshed with the second gear 36. A pair of rotating cams 37 are connected to the second gear 36.

The support plate 38 is provided with a plate member 38a extending in the front-rear direction Dx toward the upper side of the lower mold 31. The upper mold 33 is located below the plate member 38a. The upper mold 33 has an inner mold 33a and an annular outer mold 33b that is coaxial with the inner mold 33a and is provided below the inner mold 33a and has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inner mold 33a. The inner mold 33a is provided with a pair of pressed members 33c that are provided below the plate member 38a and extend in the left-right direction Dy. One rotating cam 37a of the pair of rotating cams 37 presses one of the pressed members 33c downward, and the other rotating cam 37b of the pair of rotating cams 37 presses the other of the pressed members 33c downward. In this configuration, when the upper mold lifting motor 34 is rotated, the driving force is transmitted to the second gear 36 via the third gear, the first gear 35, and the fourth gear. As a result, the second gear 36 rotates in the rotation direction Dr2, and the pair of rotating cams 37 also rotate in the rotation direction Dr2. At this time, the rotating cam 37a presses down one of the pressed members 33c, and the rotating cam 37b presses down the other pressed member 33c, causing the inner die 33a to slide against the outer die 33b and lowering to the lower die 30 or the lower die 31. Note that the upper die 33 can be raised above the lower dies 30 and 31 by rotating the upper die lifting motor 34 in the reverse direction.

(Canned products)
7 is a cross-sectional view of a can product 200 produced by crimping the front member SE and the back member BE. As shown in FIG. 7, the front member SE is a member whose peripheral edge portion SEa protrudes downward, and the back member BE is a member whose peripheral edge portion BEa protrudes upward. The can product 200 is formed by crimping the front member SE and the connected portion Wb of the print medium W, which are held apart by the upper mold 33, and the back member BE. The can product 200 is, for example, a can badge. The peripheral edge portion Fg of the connected portion Fb and the peripheral edge portion Wg of the connected portion Wb arranged on the front member SE are folded and sandwiched between the peripheral edge portion SEa and the peripheral edge portion BEa, and the peripheral edge portion SEa and the peripheral edge portion BEa are crimped together. In this way, the can product 200 is produced.

(Removal unit)
Next, the take-out unit 7 in this embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the take-out of the canned product 200 by the take-out unit 7, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining the magnet member provided on the swing arm 63 in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the seat portion 73 of the take-out unit 7, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the state in which the canned product 200 is placed on the seat portion 73 in FIG. 10. FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view of the seat portion 73 in FIG. 10 cut at a plane Fa1, as viewed from a direction Dh1 perpendicular to the plane Fa1. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view of the seat portion 73 in FIG. 10 cut at a plane Fa2, as viewed from a direction Dh2 perpendicular to the plane Fa2. FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the canned product 200 is placed on the seat portion 73 in FIG. 12A, and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the canned product 200 is placed on the seat portion 73 in FIG. 12B.

The removal unit 7 removes the can product 200, which has been connected and manufactured by the mold unit 3, from the mold unit 3. Specifically, after the lower mold 31 holding the can product 200 moves from the second mold position to the first mold position by rotation of the rotary support table 32, the removal unit 7 removes the can product 200 from the lower mold 31 and guides it to the can product container 9 located forward of the removal unit 7. The removal unit 7 is located in front of the front member supply unit 4. As shown in Figures 8 to 11, the removal unit 7 has a removal motor 70, a swing arm 71, a removal head 72, a seat 73, and drive gears Ga6 and Ga7.

The swing arm 71 has a fulcrum Fu at one end, and a magnet member 72a made of a permanent magnet at the other end. More specifically, the swing arm 71 has a removal head 72 at its other end in which the magnet member 72a is housed. A plurality of magnet members 72a are provided within the removal head 72. In this embodiment, two magnet members 72a are provided. The two magnet members 72a are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the swing arm 71.

The rotating shaft of the take-out motor 70 is connected to the drive gear Ga6. The drive gear Ga6 is meshed with the drive gear Ga7. The swing arm 71 is connected to the drive gear Ga7. When the take-out motor 70 is driven to rotate and the drive gear Ga6 rotates, the driving force is transmitted to the swing arm 71 via the drive gear Ga7. This causes the swing arm 71 to rotate in the rotation direction Dr3. Therefore, the other end of the swing arm 71 is displaced along the rotation direction Dr3 between a predetermined take-out position Psd where the canned products 200 are taken out and a predetermined recovery position Psc where the canned products 200 are recovered. The swing arm 71 rotates between the take-out position Psd and the recovery position Psc. The swing arm 71 fits within the groove portion 73c at the recovery position Psc. The upper surface of the take-out head 72 of the swing arm 71 located at the recovery position Psc is located at a position lower than the upper end of the groove portion 73c. For example, when the drive gear Ga7 rotates forward, the swing arm 71 rotates from the collection position Psc to the removal position Psd, which is a position where the can product 200 held by the lower mold 31 is removed. On the other hand, when the drive gear Ga7 rotates backward, the swing arm 71 rotates from the removal position Psd to the collection position Psc. When the swing arm 71 removes the can product 200 at the removal position Psd, the surface of the can product 200 adheres to the magnet member 72a housed in the removal head 72 via the removal head 72. With the can product 200 attached to the removal head 72, the swing arm 71 rotates from the removal position Psd to the collection position Psc along the rotation direction Dr3.

The seat portion 73 extends toward the canned product container 9. As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the seat portion 73 has a seat surface 73a with which the canned product 200 comes into contact at the collection position Psc, a guide portion 73b connected to the seat surface 73a to guide the canned product 200, and a groove portion 73c formed lower than the seat surface 73a and extending in the extension direction of the swing arm 71. The seat surface 73a is an inclined surface that descends toward the guide portion 73b. The depth of the groove portion 73c gradually becomes shallower toward the guide portion 73. The seat surface 73a includes a first seat surface 73a1 provided on one side of the groove portion 73c and a second seat surface 73a2 provided on the other side. In other words, the groove portion 73c is provided between the first seat surface 73a1 and the second seat surface 73a2. The first seating surface 73a1 and the second seating surface 73a2 are inclined so as to approach the back of the groove portion 73c as they approach the groove portion 73c. In other words, the first seating surface 73a1 and the second seating surface 73a are arranged so that they join together to form a roughly V-shape. The recovery position Psc is the position where the swing arm 71 enters and fits into the groove portion 73c.

As shown in Figures 12A and 12B, groove portion 73c includes a first wall portion 73e1 and a second wall portion 73e2 disposed opposite the first wall portion 73e1. A chamfer 73d1 is provided between the first seating surface 73a1 and the first wall portion 73e1 of groove portion 73c. A chamfer 73d2 is provided between the second seating surface 73a2 and the second wall portion 73e2 of groove portion 73c. Although chamfer 73d1 and chamfer 73d2 may each be, for example, a C-surface or an R-surface, it is preferable that they are R-surfaces in order to further suppress damage to the can product 200.

The guide portion 73b includes a bottom portion 73b1 and wall portions 73b2, 73b3, and 73b4. The bottom portion 73b1 of the guide portion 73b is provided continuously with the seat surface 73a. The can product 200 slides on the seat surface 73a and then slides on the bottom portion 73b1. The wall portions 73b2 and 73b4 are provided on the bottom portion 73b1 while being spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the groove portion 73c. The downstream end of the wall portion 73b2 in the sliding direction of the can product 200 extends downstream from the downstream end of the wall portion 73b4. The wall portion 73b3 is connected to the downstream end of the wall portion 73b2. The wall portion 73b3 is provided so as to intersect with the wall portion 73b2 in a plan view. The wall portion 73b3 extends along a predetermined guide direction Dk. As a result, wall portion 73b2 and wall portion 73b3 are arranged so that they join together to form a roughly L-shape in plan view.

A notch 73b5 is provided at the downstream end of the guide portion 73b in the specified guide direction Dk of the can product 200. More specifically, the notch 73b5 is provided at the downstream end of the bottom 73b1 of the guide portion 73b. The notch 73b5 has, for example, an arc shape. The direction in which the notch 73b5 is provided in the guide portion 73b intersects with the direction in which the guide portion 73b is positioned relative to the seat surface 73a and is a direction from the rear to the front of the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 (i.e., the guide direction Dk).

In the above configuration, when the swing arm 71 rotates from the removal position Psd to the recovery position Psc and fits into the groove portion 73c, it abuts the can product 200 against the seat surface 73a. In this case, the surface of the can product 200 abuts on the seat surface 73a, and the back surface of the can product 200 faces upward. Then, the can product 200 attached to the magnet member 72a is detached from the magnet member 72a via the removal head 72. In other words, even after the surface of the can product 200 abuts on the seat surface 73a, the magnet member 72a moves together with the removal head 72 and fits into the groove portion 73c. Here, the power of the removal motor 70 is greater than the magnetic force of the magnet member 72a. In the process of the removal head 72 fitting into the groove portion 73c, the magnet member 72a is forcibly separated from the surface of the can product 200, and as a result, the surface of the can product 200 moves to a range that is not reached by the magnetic force of the magnet member 72a. When the surface of the can product 200 moves away from the magnet member 72a to a range beyond the reach of the magnetic force of the magnet member 72a, the can product 200 is released from the magnet member 72a. After being released, the can product 200 is guided to the guide portion 73b along the inclination of the seat surface 73. The can product 200 then slides in the guide direction Dk on the bottom portion 73b1 while abutting against the walls 73b2 and 73b3 of the guide portion 73b, and is then stored in the can product container 9 via the notch 73b5.

As described above, according to the can product manufacturing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the can product 200 connected by the mold unit 3 is removed by the removal unit 7. This eliminates the need for the conventional process of moving a mold such as a pressing mold onto the chute to push out the can badge and eject it onto the chute. This makes it possible to remove the can product 200 efficiently. This allows the can product 200 to be provided to users more efficiently than before.

In addition, in this embodiment, the swing arm 71 has a fulcrum Fu at one end and a magnet member 72a made of a permanent magnet at the other end. The swing arm 71 can be rotated around the fulcrum Fu as a base point to displace the removal head 72 between the removal position Psd and the recovery position Psc along the rotation direction Dr3. With this configuration, the canned products 200 can be attached by the magnet member 72a at the removal position Psd. This allows the canned products 200 to be easily removed at the removal position Psd.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, multiple magnet members 72a are provided. In particular, by arranging multiple magnet members 72a side by side in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the swing arm 71, the adhesion of the canned products 200 to the magnet members 72a when the swing arm 71 rotates can be improved compared to when the magnet members 72a are arranged side by side in the above-mentioned extension direction. This can reduce the possibility that the canned products 200 will come off the removal head 72 when the swing arm 71 rotates.

In addition, in this embodiment, the seat 73 has a seat surface 73a with which the canned product 200 comes into contact at the collection position Psc, a guide portion 73b connected to the seat surface 73a to guide the canned product 200, and a groove portion 73c formed lower than the seat surface 73a and extending in the extension direction of the swing arm 71. This allows the swing arm 71 to abut the canned product 200 against the seat surface 73a when it rotates from the removal position Psd toward the collection position Psc and fits into the groove portion 73c. Therefore, the canned product 200 attached to the magnet member 72a can be detached from the magnet member 72a via the removal head 72, and can then be guided to the guide portion 73b along the inclination of the seat surface 73.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first seating surface 73a1 and the second seating surface 73a2 are each inclined so as to approach the back of the groove portion 73c as they approach the groove portion 73c. This allows the canned product 200 to be moved toward the groove portion 73c along the inclined first seating surface 73a1 and second seating surface 73a2. This allows the canned product 200 to be stably slid in a certain direction (i.e., the extension direction of the groove portion 73c) on the seating surface 73a. Furthermore, even if the swing arm 71 should come into contact with the first seating surface 73a1 or the second seating surface 73a2, the swing arm 71 can be easily guided into the groove portion 73c after the contact. This allows the canned product 200 to be positioned at the collection position Psc even if the swing arm 71 should come into contact as described above.

In addition, in this embodiment, a chamfer 73d1 is provided between the first seating surface 73a1 and the first wall portion 73e1 of the groove portion 73c, and a chamfer 73d2 is provided between the second seating surface 73a2 and the second wall portion 73e2 of the groove portion 73c. This reduces the risk of damage to the canned product 200 when the canned product 200 is placed on the seating surface 73a by the removal head 72 of the swing arm 71 and when the canned product 200 slides on the seating surface 73a.

In addition, in this embodiment, the seat surface 73a is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the guide portion 73b. This allows the can product 200 to easily move from the seat surface 73a toward the guide portion 73b by its own weight.

In addition, in this embodiment, a notch 73b5 is provided at the downstream end of the bottom 73b1 of the guide portion 73b. This makes it easier to introduce the canned product 200 into the canned product container 9.

In addition, in this embodiment, the cutout 73b5 is arc-shaped. This makes it easier to introduce the canned product 200, which is circular in plan view, into the canned product container 9.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the can product container 9 is disposed forward of the removal unit 7 to realize front operation in which the user works in front of the can product manufacturing device 100. In this configuration, the direction in which the notch 73b5 is provided in the guide portion 73b is aligned with the direction from the rear to the front of the can product manufacturing device 100, that is, the direction toward the can product container 9, thereby making it possible to realize the above-mentioned front operation.

(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.

In the above embodiment, the can product 200 is attached to the removal head 72 by the magnet member 72a at the removal position Psd, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the can product 200 may be attracted by air pressure.

In the above embodiment, the can product 200 is attached to the removal head 72 at the removal position Psd by the magnet member 72a, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the can product 200 may be attached using an adhesive tape.

In addition, in the above embodiment, multiple magnet members 72a are housed in the removal head 72, but this is not limited to this, and a single magnet member 72a may also be housed.

In the above embodiment, the lower mold 30 and the lower mold 31 are each displaced between the first mold position and the second mold position by rotating the rotary support table 32. However, this is not limited to this. It is also possible to employ a slide mechanism that displaces the lower mold 30 and the lower mold 31 between the first mold position and the second mold position, for example, in a sliding manner.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the front member SE and the back member BE are circular in plan view, but this is not limited thereto and they may be other shapes, such as elliptical.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the connected portion Wb of the print medium W is circular in plan view, but this is not limited to this and may be other shapes, such as an ellipse.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, in the remaining portion Wa of the print medium W, a marker portion may be placed on one side of the direction D2 perpendicular to the direction D1, based on the center in the direction D2. This makes it less likely that a user will mistake the front and back and orientation of the print medium W when placing it in the sheet holder of the printing unit 1.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Printing unit 2 Transport unit 3 Mold unit 7 Take-out unit 71 Swing arm 72 Take-out head 72a Magnet member 73 Seat 73a Seat surface 73a1 First seat 73a2 Second seat 73b Guide 73b5 Notch 73c Groove 73d1, 73d2 Chamfer 73e1 First wall 73e2 Second wall 100 Can product manufacturing device 200 Can product BE Back member Dc1 Transport direction Dk Guide direction Fu Support Psc Collection position Psd Take-out position SE Front member W Printing medium

Claims

A can product manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a can product by connecting a front member and a back member,
A printing unit that prints on a print medium;
A mold unit that connects the front member and the back member;
a transport unit that transports the print medium above the front member in a transport direction from the printing unit to the mold unit;
a removal unit that removes the can product, which has been connected and manufactured by the mold unit, from the mold unit.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein the removal unit includes a swing arm having a fulcrum at one end and a magnet member at the other end.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 2, wherein the other end of the swing arm is displaced between a predetermined removal position for removing the can product and a predetermined collection position for collecting the can product.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the magnet members are provided.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 3, wherein the removal unit further has a seat portion including a seat surface with which the can product contacts at the collection position and a groove portion formed lower than the seat surface and extending in the extension direction of the swing arm.
The seating surface includes a first seating surface provided on one side of the groove and a second seating surface provided on the other side,
The can product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each of the first seating surface and the second seating surface is inclined so as to approach the back of the groove portion as it approaches the groove portion.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 6, wherein a chamfer is provided between the first seating surface and the first wall portion forming the groove, and between the second seating surface and the second wall portion forming the groove.
The seat has a guide portion connected to the seat surface to guide the can product,
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said seat surface is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward said guide portion.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 5, wherein the swing arm abuts the can product against the seating surface when it rotates from the removal position toward the collection position and fits into the groove, and detaches the can product attached to the magnet member from the magnet member.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 8, wherein a notch is provided at the downstream end of the guide portion in the predetermined guiding direction of the can product.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 10, wherein the notch is arc-shaped.
The can product manufacturing device according to claim 10, wherein the direction in which the notch is provided in the guide portion intersects with the direction in which the guide portion is positioned in relation to the seat surface, and is a direction from the rear to the front of the can product manufacturing device.