TESTING MEANS FOR A CAN CLOSER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a testing lid for testing the stroke of a holding plate of a closure head of a can closing device for cans, in particular beverage cans, the testing lid comprising: an edge portion provided for positioning onto a can edge, in particular for additional crimping with the can edge; and an inner portion, in which one or a plurality of testing pins are arranged in a force-fitting manner, the testing pins being displaceable by the holding plate in the direction of stroke while a stroke of the holding plate is taking place. The invention additionally relates to a method of testing the stroke of a holding plate of a closure head of a can closing device for cans making use of the testing lid according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A testing lid for testing the stroke of a holding plate of a closure head of a can closing device for cans, the testing lid comprising: an edge portion configured and arranged to be positioned onto a can edge and to be crimped with the can edge; an inner portion; and one or more testing pins are coupled in a force-fitting manner to the inner portion, the testing pins configured and arranged to be displaceable by the holding plate in a stroke direction during a stroke of the holding plate.

2. The testing lid according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion is an insert which is inserted in the edge portion.

3. The testing lid according to claim 2, wherein the insert is configured and arranged to be removable from the edge portion after testing has been carried out.

4. The testing lid according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion is plastic.

5. The testing lid according to claim 1, wherein the testing pins are arranged in one or more rows.

6. The testing lid according to claim 5, wherein the arrangement of the testing pins includes two crossed rows.

7. The testing lid according to claim 1, wherein the inner portion includes a reinforced area, in which the testing pins are provided.

8. The testing lid according to claim 1, wherein the testing pins have markings configured and arranged for indicating position.

9. A method of testing the stroke of a holding plate of a closure head of a can closing device for cans during operation of the can closing device, the method comprising the following steps: providing a testing lid within a stack of can lids on a feed path to the can closing device; pressing the testing lid onto a can body with the holding plate of the closure head; removing the can with the testing lid from a discharge path for closed cans; and based on the position of the testing pins of the testing lid, the stroke of the holding plate is determined.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein, after the step of pressing the testing lid onto a can body, the following additional step is provided: crimping a peripheral part of an edge portion of the testing lid with a can edge portion of the can body.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of: removing an inner portion from the edge portion of the testing lid.

12. The method according to one of the claim 9, wherein the can closing device includes a plurality of closure heads and, for testing the stroke of the respective holding plate, a number of testing lids, which are configured and arranged to be fed on to the feed path in succession.

13. The method according to one of the claim 9, further comprising the step of: adjusting the stroke of the holding plate, in response to at least one testing pin exceeding a predetermined limit value of displacement.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of testing the position of the testing pins of the testing lid includes checking the position of markings on the testing pins.

15. The testing lid of claim 2, wherein the insert is inserted into the edge portion in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner.

16. The testing lid of claim 4, wherein the testing pins are made of plastic.

17. The testing lid of claim 6, wherein the two rows of testing pins are arranged at right angles relative to one another.

18. The testing lid of claim 8, wherein the testing pin markings are color and/or line markings.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the markings on the testing pins are color and/or line markings configured and arranged for indicating the position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the testing lid according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the testing lid according to FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows schematically the testing method according to the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the testing lid according to the present invention.

[0030] The testing lid 100 according to the present invention is suitable for testing the stroke of a holding plate of a closure head of a can closing device for beverage cans, the testing lid 100 according to this embodiment comprising: an edge portion 10 provided for positioning onto a can edge, in particular for additional crimping with the can edge; and an inner portion 20, in which one or a plurality of testing pins 30 are arranged in a force-fitting manner, the testing pins 30 being displaceable by the holding plate in the direction of stroke while a stroke of the holding plate is taking place.

[0031] The inner portion 20 is provided as an insert 20. The insert 20 as well as the testing pins 30 are made of plastic material. The arrangement of the testing pins 30 comprises two crossed rows of testing pins 30, the two rows being arranged at right angles to one another.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the testing lid 100 according to FIG. 1.

[0033] The cross-sectional view shows that the edge portion 10 of the testing lid 100 is formed in accordance with a can edge normally provided for the cans, so that the edge portion 10 can be crimped with the upper edge of the can in a closing process. Likewise, it can be seen that in this embodiment the insert 20 has a reinforced area 21, in which the testing pins 30 are provided.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the testing method according to the present invention.

[0035] The testing lid 100 and a can body 200 are, when the can body 200 has been filled (e.g. with a beverage), fed on respective feeding paths to a downstream closing device 300. In addition to the actual devices provided for crimping the edge, the closing device further comprises a holding plate 310 by means of which the lids and in the present case also the testing lid 100 are held in position on the can body 200. The testing pins 30 of the testing lid 100 are displaced by the holding plate. The edge portion 10 of the testing lid 30 is crimped with the upper edge of the can body. Subsequently, the insert 20 can be removed from the testing lid 100 and the position of the individual testing pins 30 can be examined.

[0036] If excessive deviations from an optimum stroke of the holding plate 310 are detected, the closing device 300 must be stopped and the stroke readjusted.

[0037] The embodiments shown are only of an exemplary nature and the complete scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.