CONTROL DEVICE FOR SEALER

Abstract

A control device for a sealer for sealing a container includes a carrier element, a seaming curve arranged at the carrier element and having a curve track, a seaming device including a carrier shaft having a control end and a seaming end, the seaming device further including a. control element arranged at the control end and a seaming lever arranged at the seaming end, and a first seaming roller for a first seaming operation and a second seaming roller for a second seaming operation are arranged at the seaming lever, the control element arranged in a movable manner in the curve track in such a way that the first seaming operation and the second seaming operation are capable of being controlled by the movement of the control element in the curve track.

Claims

1. A control device for a sealer for sealing a container, comprising: a carrier element; a seaming curve arranged at the carrier element and having a curve track; a seaming device comprising a carrier shaft having a control end and a seaming end, the seaming device further comprising a control element arranged at the control end and a seaming lever arranged at the seaming end; and a. first seaming roller for a. first seaming operation and a. second seaming roller for a. second seaming operation are arranged at the seaming lever, the control element arranged in a. movable manner in the curve track in such a way that the first seaming operation and the second seaming operation are capable of being controlled by the movement of the control element in the curve track the seaming curve comprising a first curve segment and a second curve segment, the curve track being formed by the first curve segment and the second curve segment ; and the first curve segment and the second curve segment capable of being moved independently of each other in such a way that the first seaming operation and the second seaming operation are capable of being adjusted independently of each other.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the first curve segment and the second curve segment are capable of being moved independently of each other in such a way that a curve profile (5) of the curve track is capable of being changed.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the control element comprises a curve roller configured to be unrolled during the movement through the curve track along the curve profile.

4. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the curve track has a first section configured to control the first seaming operation and a second section configured to control the second seaming operation.

5. The control device according to claim 4, wherein the first curve segment is capable of being moved in such a way that a position of the first section on the carrier element is capable of being changed.

6. The control device according to claim 5, wherein a first feed of the first seaming roller to the container is capable of being adjusted by changing the position of the first section.

7. The control device according to claim 4, wherein the second curve segment is capable of being moved in such a way that a position of the second section on the carrier element can be changed.

8. The control device according to claim 7, wherein a second feed of the second seaming roller to the container is capable of being adjusted by changing the position of the second section.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the seaming device is capable of being moved relative to the carrier element by the movement of the control element in the curve track.

10. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the carrier shaft extends along a carrier axis from the control end to the seaming end and a torque acting substantially perpendicular to the carrier axis is capable of being exerted on the carrier shaft by the movement of the control element, so that the seaming lever is capable of being moved by the carrier shaft by the control device.

11. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the first or the second seaming roller are arranged in a rotatable manner on the seaming lever.

12. A sealer for sealing a container, comprising: a control device according to claim 1.

13. The sealer according to claim 12, further comprising a sealing station comprising the control device and having a lifting station configured to receive the container; a container feed configured to feed containers to the sealing station; a feeding device configured to guide a lid to the container; and an outlet for sealed containers from the sealing station.

14. A method for sealing a container with a lid, comprising: providing a sealer according to claim 12; placing the lid on an opening of the container; and sealing the container with the lid.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the sealing of the container comprises positioning the container between a seaming head and a lifting station; and seaming the lid to the container by the first and second seaming roller.

16. The sealer according to claim 12, further comprising a sealing station comprising the control device and having a lifting station configured to receive the container; a container feed configured to feed containers filled with a product to the sealing station; a feeding device configured to guide a lid to the container; and an outlet for sealed containers from the sealing station.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] 100721 In the following, the embodiments of the invention and the state of the art are explained in more detail based on embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0070] FIG. 1A illustrates a first view of a control device of the state of the art;

[0071] FIG. 1B illustrates a second view of the control device of the state of the art;

[0072] FIG. 1C, illustrates a third view of the control device of the state of the art;

[0073] FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a can sealer according to the disclosure;

[0074] Fig, 3 illustrates a representation of a first and second seaming operation;

[0075] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an interaction of a control device according to the disclosure with a seaming device;

[0076] FIG. 5A illustrates a first view of a carrier element according to the disclosure with a first curve segment and a second curve segment;

[0077] FIG. 5B illustrates a second view of the carrier element according to the disclosure with a first curve segment;

[0078] FIG. 5C illustrates a third view of the carrier element according to the disclosure with a second curve segment;

[0079] FIG. 6A illustrates a first view from below of a carrier element according to the disclosure with a first curve segment and a second curve segment;

[0080] FIG. 6B illustrates a second view from below of the carrier element according to the disclosure with the first curve segment and the second curve segment;

[0081] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic representation of a sealing station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0082] FIG. 1A-C have already been described above in the representation of the state of the art.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a can sealer 1000 according to the disclosure. In principle, the sealing process is analogous to the state of the art, but the can sealer 1000 has a control device according to the disclosure.

[0084] The can sealer 1000 according to FIG. 2 comprises a lid providing device 11 for providing a lid 101, a gassing rotor 15 for supplying gas to the can 100 and for guiding and transporting the lid 101 to the can 100. In addition, the sealer 1000 comprises a sealing station 14 for sealing the can 100 with the lid 101. Thereby, the sealing station 14 is arranged in a working space 19 of the can sealer 1000 surrounded by a housing 20.

[0085] The lid 101 is introduced by the lid providing device 11 into the working space 19 of the can sealer 1000 along the arrow C. In this process, the lids 101 are placed on the gassing rotor 15. By rotation of the gassing rotor 15. the lids 101 are transported further.

[0086] The cans 100 are guided from a container dispenser in the direction of arrow A to the working space 19 by carriers of the container feed 12 arranged at a chain. There, the containers 100 are introduced into the container receptacles 17 of the gassing rotor 15. There, the can 100 is gassed in area D with a gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen and united with the lid 101.

[0087] The gassing is carried out along the arrow B by the gas supply 16 via the gassing rotor 15. After gassing, the can 100 with the lid 101 is guided further by the container transfer 13 from the gassing rotor 15 to the seaming process 14 and is sealed there. As an alternative to the gassing rotor 15, a lid rotor with rails can also be used for transporting the lids, whereby the gassing is carried out via a linear gassing device, which is arranged stationary.

[0088] Cans 100 with lids 101 are clamped and sealed by the seaming process 14. The sealed can is conveyed by a further rotor into the can outlet 18.

[0089] During gassing, the gas is conveyed to an underside of the lid 101. In this way, it can be ensured that a residual volume of the can 100 in which no foodstuff is arranged is substantially filled with the gas before sealing, whereby the air originally present in the residual volume is displaced as completely as possible by the gas, In this way, it may be possible to achieve a longer shelf life for the foodstuff arranged in the can 100.

[0090] FIG. 3 shows a representation of a first seaming operation OP1 and a second seaming operation OP2.

[0091] A seaming process according to the disclosure includes two operations: A pre-seam (by OP1) and the final seam (by OP2). These operations OP1 and OP2 are carried out by sequentially pressing the first seaming roller 81 and the second seaming roller against the can 100 with the lid 101 placed on it in the contact area between can 100 and lid 101. By pressing the respective seaming roller 81, 82, the sheet metal of the lid 101 and the can 100 are seamed into each other.

[0092] FIG. 4 shows a. perspective view of an interaction of a control device 1 according to the disclosure with a seaming device.

[0093] The control device 1 comprises a carrier element 2, a seaming curve 4 arranged at the carrier element 2 and having a curve track 3 and a seaming device.

[0094] Here, the seaming device comprises a carrier shaft 7 in the form of a. lever shaft mechanism 7 with a control end and a seaming end. In addition, the seaming device comprises a control element 6 arranged at the control end of the carrier shaft 7 and a seaming lever 8 arranged at the seaming end of the carrier shaft 7.

[0095] Here, the control element 6, which is designed as a curve roller 6, can be moved by rolling in the curve track 3 of the seaming curve 4 a in such a way that the first seaming operation and the second seaming operation can be controlled by the movement of the control element 6 in the curve track 3. Thus, it can be controlled when which seaming roller 81, 82 acts on the can and lid.

[0096] The first seaming roller 81 and the second seaming roller 82 are attached in the seaming lever 8. This is curve-controlled by the lever shaft mechanism 7 and curve roller 6 via the seaming curve 4. As a result, the seaming curve 4 controls the sequential pressing of the seaming rollers 81, 82 to form the seam.

[0097] If different can materials and/or lid materials (material type, wall thickness) are sealed on a sealer, the second seaming rollers 82 for the second seaming operation (and in rare cases the first seaming rollers 81 for the first seaming operation) of all seaming stations must be adjusted to changed can materials/lid materials with every can material and/or lid material change.

[0098] FIG. 5A-C show views of the carrier element 2 according to the disclosure with a first curve segment 41 and a second curve segment 42.

[0099] The curve track 3 is formed by the first curve segment 41 and the second curve segment 42. The first curve segment 41 and the second curve segment 42 can be displaced independently of each other in such a. way that the first seaming operation and the second seaming operation can be adjusted independently of each other by the displacement of the first curve segment 41 and the second curve segment 42, since a curve profile 5 of the curve track 3 can change at different sections.

[0100] In this case, can be displaced independently of each other means in particular that the first curve segment 41 can be moved without moving the second curve segment 42 and that the second curve segment 42 can be moved without moving the first curve segment 41, since the curve segments 41, 42 are attached to the carrier element 2 independently of each other.

[0101] In this way, the first seaming roller or the second seaming roller can be closer or farther to a seam of the container in an operating. state, i.e., the feed of the first and second seaming roller can be adjusted independently of each other.

[0102] All the adjustments described here can be actuated electrically with servomotors via gears. In doing so, the servomotor 22 can displace the second curve segment 42 via the eccentric cam 21.

[0103] The solution according to the disclosure is thus made up of two segments 41, 42, which can be displaced completely independently of each other.

[0104] FIG. 6A-B show views from below of a carrier element 2 according to the disclosure with a first curve segment 41 and a second curve segment 42.

[0105] The device according to the disclosure not only solves the basic problem of the distorted OP1 area, i.e., a first section 51 with OP2 area position displacement (i.e., a displacement of a second section 52), but also combines further functions which enable more varied seaming adjustments.

[0106] The disclosure offers a completely mechanical movement separation from OP1 area 51 to OP2 area 52. The system is designed in such a way that OP2 area 52 can be displaced in its positionwithout affecting OP1 area 51.

[0107] In addition, it is possible to displace the position of the OP1 area 51 in addition to the position of the OP2 area 52and this completely independently of the displacement of the OP2 area 52.

[0108] An OP2 setting mechanism (in the form of an eccentric cam 21) is used not only to adjust an OP2 seam (i.e., final seam), but also to enable a so-called disengaging function of the OP2 area 52. This means that the OP2 area 52 is moved so far outwards that the second seaming roller can no longer exert any force on the seam.

[0109] This disengagement of the OP2 area 52 now enables a pre-seam analysis and pre-seam adjustments of the first seaming rollers despite mounted second seaming rollers (since these now have no influence on the seam). A pre-seam (i.e., OP1 seam) can now be examined separately in order to adjust it if necessary.

[0110] Due to this combination of these two functions (OP2 adjustment and disengagement) made possible according to the disclosure, costs, number of parts and time required for putting into operation can be reduced.

[0111] The displacement of the second curve segment 42 about the pivot point 24 via the OP2 eccentric cam 21, results in a. change in position of the OP2 area. 52 and is used for the global setting/adjustment of the OP2 seam (i.e., for any plurality of seaming devices arranged at the seaming curve) without having to adjust/to set the second seaming rollers of each station separately at great effort. The curve track 3 of the OP1 area 51 of the first curve segment 41 is not affected with this adjustment of the OP2 area 52 due to the mechanical motion separation included in the present disclosure.

[0112] The displacement of the first curve segment 41 about the pivot point 26 via the OP1 eccentric cam 51 driven by a servo motor with gearbox, results in a change in position of the OP1 area 51 and is used for the global setting/adjustment of the OP1 seam (i.e., for any plurality of seaming devices arranged at the seaming curve)without having to adjust/to set the first seaming rollers of each station separately at great effort. The OP1 seam is controlled by the first curve segment 51. The curve track 3 of the OP2 area 52 of the second curve segment 42 is not affected with this adjustment of the OP1 area 51 due to the mechanical motion separation included in the present disclosure.

[0113] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a sealing station 1001 with a can 100 to be sealed and a can lid 101, in which the control device according to the disclosure is not represented with the individual components.

[0114] The sealing station 1001 comprises a can support with lifting station 23 and a seaming head 9, and a seaming roller 81 rotatably mounted about a seaming shaft and having a seaming roller profile 111. The can lid 101 is arranged centered above the opening of the can 100. The can 100 has a circumferential can flange in the area of the can opening, and the can lid 101 has a circumferential can lid flange.

[0115] During the sealing process, the seaming roller 81 is brought into contact with the can flange and the can lid flange via the seaming roller profile 111. in this process, the can flange and the can lid flange are pressed together via the seaming roller 81 by a force acting substantially radially, The pressing is effected by a continuous rolling of the seaming roller 81 in the circumferential direction along the circumference of the can opening. A double seam is preferably produced by seaming the can 100 with the can lid 101. For this purpose, however, a second seaming roller not represented here is used.

[0116] For seaming, the can 100 is rotated by a clamping device made up of a lifting station 23 and a seaming head 9, by rotating the seaming head 9 by the seaming shaft about the seaming axis X.

[0117] The disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and effected by persons skilled in the art in practicing a claimed disclosure from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the dependent claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are repeated in mutually different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these measures cannot be advantageously used. Any reference signs in the claims should not be interpreted as limiting the scope.

[0118] Particularly preferred embodiments of the disclosure relate to a control device which comprises a plurality of seaming devices which are arranged on a single seaming curve, i.e., are guided in a single curve track.