APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TEAR-OFF LIDS

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for the production of tear-off lids (27), in which a tear-off film (24) is sealed or glued onto the upper side thereof on a sealing surface (18) arranged around a removal opening (17). The apparatus includes a conveying device (13) for lid blanks (9), lid rings (8), and tear-off lids (27), as well as processing stations (14, 19, 21, 25, 26, 29) which are provided in succession in the conveying direction for processing the lid blanks (9), lid rings (8), and tear-off lids (27) and form a processing zone of the apparatus (1) extending in the conveying direction. At least some of the processing stations (14, 19, 21, 25, 26, 29) have lifting tables (5) for receiving lower machining tools which, in the intended operation of the apparatus (1), execute an intermittent upward and downward movement along lifting table guides (6) and, in doing so, work with the lower machining tools from below against associated upper machining tools which are supported on stationary yokes (4). According to the disclosure, the lifting table guides (6) are arranged in an area adjacent to the processing zone of the apparatus, as seen in the conveying direction, on exactly one of the two sides of the processing zone. This leaves the area on the other side of the processing zone largely unobstructed and provides excellent accessibility to the processing zone for inspection purposes and maintenance work.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the production of tear-off lids, in which a tear-off film is sealed or glued onto the upper side thereof on a sealing surface arranged around a removal opening, comprising a conveying device for lid blanks, lid rings and tear-off lids as well as processing stations which are provided in succession in the conveying direction for processing the lid blanks, lid rings, and tear-off lids and form a processing zone of the apparatus extending in the conveying direction, wherein at least some of the processing stations have lifting tables for receiving lower machining tools which, in the intended operation of the apparatus, execute an intermittent upward and downward movement along lifting table guides and, in so doing, work with the lower machining tools from below against associated upper machining tools which are supported on stationary yokes, wherein the lifting table guides are arranged in an area adjacent to the processing zone of the apparatus, on exactly one of the two sides of the processing zone, as seen in the conveying direction.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the yokes can be displaced for maintenance purposes along yoke guides, which are arranged in an area adjacent to the processing zone of the apparatus as seen in the conveying direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the yoke guides are arranged on exactly one of the two sides of the processing zone, in particular on the side on which the lifting table guides are arranged.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lifting table guides and the yoke guides are at least partially formed as common lifting table-yoke guides.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein all yoke guides are formed as common lifting table-yoke guides.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing stations are arranged on a common, in particular indivisible machine frame.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the machine frame has a substantially L-shaped or T-shaped cross-section as seen in the conveying direction, with a horizontal base plate and a center wall or rear wall rising perpendicularly therefrom, which forms part of the support structure of the machine frame.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the lifting table guides and in particular also the yoke guides are fastened to the center wall or rear wall.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a linear processing zone, and in particular wherein the apparatus is of single-lane design.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus comprises a control cabinet which is arranged on the side of the center wall or rear wall facing away from the processing stations.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each lifting table is assigned to exactly one lower machining tool.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the lower machining tools is fastened to the respective lifting table with quick-release fastening systems, in particular with zero-point clamping systems.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the yokes can be displaced along yoke guides for maintenance purposes, and at least a part of these yokes is fastened with quick-release fastening systems, in particular with zero-point clamping systems.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the yokes is assigned to several lifting tables.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising individual processing stations for the following processing steps: punching, drawing, rolling, pre-sealing, main sealing, embossing.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the lifting tables of the processing stations for the processing steps drawing and rolling and/or the lifting tables of the processing stations for the processing steps pre-sealing and main sealing each operate against a common yoke.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lifting table of the processing station for the processing step punching and/or the lifting table of the processing station for the processing step embossing each operates against its own yoke assigned only to this lifting table.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lifting tables of the processing stations for the processing steps punching, drawing and rolling and/or the lifting tables of the processing stations for the processing steps main sealing and embossing each have a common drive, in particular each using a common servo motor.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lifting table of the processing station for the processing step pre-sealing has its own drive, in particular using its own servo motor.

20. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus comprises a control cabinet which is arranged on the side of the center wall or rear wall facing away from the processing stations.

21. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a linear processing zone, and wherein the apparatus comprises a control cabinet which is arranged on the side of the center wall or rear wall facing away from the processing stations.

22. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lifting tables of the processing stations-for the processing steps drawing and rolling and/or the lifting tables of the processing stations for the processing steps pre-sealing and main sealing each operate against a common yoke.

23. The apparatus according to claim 16, comprising individual processing stations for the following processing steps: punching, drawing, rolling, pre-sealing, main sealing, embossing, and wherein the lifting tables of the processing stations-for the processing steps drawing and rolling and/or the lifting tables of the processing stations for the processing steps pre-sealing and main sealing each operate against a common yoke.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims and from the now following description with reference to the figures.

[0036] Thereby show:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a lid blank 9;

[0038] FIGS. 2 to 4 show vertical sections through a cover ring 8 at various stages of production;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a vertical section through a completed tear-off lid 27;

[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a prior art apparatus for the production of tear-off lids or for carrying out the steps according to FIGS. 1 to 5, respectively;

[0041] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the operator side of an apparatus according to the invention for the production of tear-off lids;

[0042] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 with the panels removed;

[0043] FIG. 9 is an illustration like FIG. 8 with additionally removed conveying devices;

[0044] FIG. 10 is an illustration like FIG. 9 with additionally removed station frames;

[0045] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rear of the apparatus of FIG. 10;

[0046] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the combined lifting table and yoke guide of the punching station of the apparatus of FIGS. 7 to 11; and

[0047] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the combined lifting table and yoke guides of the drawing station and the rolling station of the apparatus from FIGS. 7 to 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] In the background section, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the manufacturing of tear-off lids 27 according to the prior art known to the skilled person has been explained. Reference is made herein to this explanation in order to avoid repetition.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the operator side of an apparatus 1 according to the invention for producing tear-off lids 27, in which a tear-off film 24 is sealed or glued onto a sealing surface 8 arranged around a removal opening 17 on the upper side thereof. As can be seen, the processing zone of the apparatus 1 is completely covered and separated from the surroundings on the operator side by two upwardly pivoting doors 2 with glass fronts.

[0050] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 7 with the panels and doors 2 removed. As can be seen, the apparatus is of single-lane design and comprises a conveying device 13 for lid blanks 9, lid rings 8, and tear-off lids 27 as well as processing stations 14, 21, 25, 26, 29, which are provided in succession in the conveying direction (from left to right) for processing the lid blanks 9, lid rings 8, and tear-off lids 27 and form a linear processing zone of the apparatus extending in the conveying direction. The turning station is not shown.

[0051] As can be seen in synopsis with FIG. 9, which shows a representation like FIG. 8 but with the conveying devices 13 and the station drives removed, the processing stations 14, 21, 25, 26, 29 are formed in station frames 3 with yokes 4 and have lifting tables 5 for receiving the lower machining tools (not shown). Thereby, each lifting table 5 is assigned to exactly one lower machining tool, which is fastened to the respective lifting table with quick-release fastening systems. The processing stations 14 and 29 each have their own yoke 4. The processing stations 19 and 21 and 25 and 26 each share a common yoke 4.

[0052] As can be seen in further synopsis with FIG. 10, which shows a representation like FIG. 9, but in which the station frames 3 with the yokes 4 are additionally removed, the lifting tables 5 are provided with lifting table guides 6, along which they perform an intermittent upward and downward movement during the intended operation of the apparatus, and thereby work with the lower machining tools from below against associated upper machining tools (also not shown), which are supported on fixed yokes 4.

[0053] The yokes 4 are provided with yoke guides 7 along which they can be moved for maintenance purposes. They are fastened to the station frames 3 with quick-release fastening systems.

[0054] The lifting table guides 6 and the yoke guides 7 are here completely or partially formed as common lifting table-yoke guides 6, 7 and, viewed in the conveying direction (from left to right), are arranged in an area adjacent to the processing zone of the apparatus, namely on the side of the processing zone facing away from the operator side.

[0055] As can be further seen, the processing stations 14, 21, 25, 26, 29 are arranged on a common, indivisible machine frame 30, which has a substantially T-shaped cross-section as viewed in the direction of conveyance, with a horizontal base plate 31 and a center wall 32 rising perpendicularly therefrom, which forms part of the support structure of the machine frame 30. The lifting table guides 6 and the yoke guides 7 are attached to the center wall 32.

[0056] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the combined lifting table and yoke guides 6, 7 of the punching station 14 and the embossing station 29. As can be seen, these guides 6, 7 each have two long guide rods 34, which are fastened to the center wall 32 by fastening bodies 35. The guide bushings 36 of the lifting table 5 run on the lower part of the guide rods 34, and the guide bushings of the yoke (not shown) run on the upper part of the guide rods 34, which is exposed in the illustration.

[0057] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the combined lifting table and yoke guides 6, 7 of the drawing station 19 and the rolling station 21. As can be seen, these guides 6, 7 together have two long guide rods 34 and two short guide rods 37, which are fastened to the center wall 32 by fastening bodies 35. On the lower part of the long guide rods 34 as well as on the short guide rods 37 run the guide bushings 36 of the two lifting tables 5, and on the upper part of the long guide rods 34, which is exposed in the illustration, run the guide bushings of the common yoke (not shown).

[0058] As can be seen from FIG. 11, which shows a perspective view of the rear of the apparatus of FIG. 10, the apparatus comprises a control cabinet 33, which is arranged on the side of the center wall 32 facing away from the processing stations 14, 19, 21, 25, 26, 29.

[0059] The processing stations 14, 19, 21, 25, 26, 29 perform the following processing steps: Punching (processing station 14), drawing (processing station 19), rolling (processing station 21), pre-sealing (processing station 25), main sealing (processing station 26) and embossing (processing station 29).

[0060] The lifting tables 5 of the processing stations 19 and 21 for the drawing and rolling processing steps and/or the lifting tables 5 of the processing stations 25 and 26 for the pre-sealing and main sealing processing steps each work against a common yoke 4.

[0061] The lifting table 5 of the processing station 14 for the punching processing step and the lifting table 5 of the processing station 29 for the embossing processing step each work against their own yoke 4 assigned only to this lifting table 5.

[0062] As can be seen from FIG. 8, the lifting tables 5 of the processing stations 14, 19 and 21 for the punching, drawing and rolling processing steps and the lifting tables 5 of the processing stations 26 and 29 for the main sealing and embossing processing steps each have a common drive with a common servo motor 38, while the lifting table 5 of the processing station 25 for the pre-sealing processing step has its own drive with servo motor 38.

[0063] While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it should be clearly noted that the invention is not limited to these and may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the following claims.