SPRING-LOADED KNOCKOUT PAD

Abstract

The invention relates to a seaming assembly for seaming a can lid onto a can body with a chuck and a knockout pad that is movable relative to the chuck in an axial direction of the chuck, where the knockout pad comprises a holding element arranged in a spring-loaded manner. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for seaming a can lid onto a can body using the seamer according to the invention.

Claims

1. A seaming assembly for seaming a can lid onto a can body, the seaming assembly comprising: a chuck; and a knockout pad that is movable relative to said chuck in an axial direction of said chuck; characterized in that said knockout pad includes a holding element arranged in a spring-loaded manner.

2. The seaming assembly according to claim 1, where said holding element is formed to exert a force determined by a spring load of said spring-loaded assembly upon a can lid.

3. The seaming assembly according to claim 1, where said knockout pad is secured on a knockout rod, and said knockout rod can be moved together with said knockout pad in the axial direction relative to said chuck.

4. The seaming assembly according to claim 3, where said knockout pad further comprises a fastening element, where said fastening element is attached to said knockout rod.

5. The seaming assembly according to claim 4, where said holding element is mounted relative to said fastening element in a spring-loaded manner.

6. The seaming assembly according to claim 4, where said holding element is disposed rotatable about an axis of rotation extending in the axial direction relative to said fastening element.

7. The seaming assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a lifting element, where the can body with the can lid is arranged between said lifting element and said chuck during a seaming operation.

8. The seaming assembly according to claim 7, where the spring load of said spring-loaded assembly is configured and arranged to be exerted by said holding element of said knockout pad from above upon said can lid during the seaming operation.

9. The seaming assembly according to claim 7, where said knockout pad and/or said knockout rod can be moved synchronously with said lifting element during a knockout operation, where the spring load of said spring-loaded assembly can be exerted from above upon said can lid by said holding element of said knockout pad, and an equal counterforce can be exerted from below upon said can body by said lifting element.

10. The seaming assembly according to claim 2, where at least one spring positioned between said holding element and said knockout rod.

11. The seaming assembly according to claim 2, where the spring load of said spring-loaded assembly of said holding element is between 10 and 50 N and/or where a spring travel of said holding element arranged in a spring-loaded manner is between 0.2 and 2.0 mm.

12. The seaming assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one seaming roller.

13. A seamer comprising: a carousel with a plurality of seaming assemblies; a first inlet for can bodies to said carousel; a second inlet for can lids to said carousel; and an outlet for seamed cans from said carousel.

14. A method for seaming a can lid onto a can body, the method comprising the steps of: supplying said can lid and said can body to a seaming assembly of a seamer; positioning said can lid on said can body; positioning said can body on a lifting element; exerting a spring load upon said can lid by way of a spring-loaded holding element of a knockout pad that is movable relative to a chuck in an axial direction of said chuck; seaming said can lid to said can body by way of at least one seaming roller, in particular using two seaming rollers, and said chuck; synchronously lowering said knockout pad and said lifting element while maintaining the spring load upon said can lid; raising said knockout pad from said can lid; and discharging said seamed can from said seamer.

15. (canceled)

16. The seaming assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one spring is selected from a group consisting of: a coil spring, an elastomer spring, and a leg spring.

17. The seaming assembly of claim 3, further including at least one spring positioned between said holding element and said fastening element.

18. The seaming assembly of claim 1, further including two seaming rollers.

19. The seamer of claim 13, wherein the plurality of seaming assemblies each include a chuck, and a knockout pad that is movable relative to said chuck in an axial direction of said chuck; characterized in that said knockout pad includes a holding element arranged in a spring-loaded manner.

20. The seamer of claim 13, wherein the can bodies are configured and arranged to be filled with a product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1A shows a seaming assembly according to prior art.

[0029] FIG. 1B shows a seaming assembly according to prior art.

[0030] FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of the seaming assembly according to the invention.

[0031] FIG. 2B shows an embodiment of the seaming assembly according to the invention.

[0032] FIG. 2C shows an embodiment of the seaming assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIGS. 1 A and 1B show a seaming assembly 100 according to prior art.

[0034] Prior art seaming assembly 100 illustrated is for seaming/curling the edge of a metallic can lid 11 to the upper edge of a metallic can body 12 (in other words, seaming can lid 11 to can body 12) to provide a closed can 10, for example, a beverage can. Seaming assembly 100 comprises a chuck 20 and a knockout pad 50 that is movable relative to chuck 20 in an axial direction of chuck 20. Knockout pad 50 is secured on a knockout rod 40, and knockout rod 40 can be moved together with knockout pad 50 in the axial direction relative to chuck 20.

[0035] Can lid 11 is seamed onto can body 12 by way of the known double seaming method. The double seaming operation is typically executed on a seamer having a plurality of seaming assemblies 100. Each seaming assembly 100 comprises such a (rotatable) chuck 20 which serves as an anvil to support can body 12 while two rotatable seaming rollers 30 perform the seaming operation using a special groove geometry for producing a typical double seam. The ejection of seamed can 10 is achieved by use of knockout pad 50, which acts upon can lid 11 to release can 10 from the engagement with chuck 20. The can is there supported from below by a lifting element 60.

[0036] The disadvantage there is that a faulty setting of the stroke of knockout rod 40 with knockout pad 50 can, firstly, damage the lid or, secondly, limit the function of knockout pad 50, which can lead to production disturbances. For example, opening elements 15 on can lid 11, which serve to open the can to be opened by a user, can be damaged. In the case of conventional beverage cans, for example, the rivet, with which the tab for opening is attached, can be damaged. Other types of damage can occur, in particular, with resealable cans, since plastic elements are used in part. In addition, when changing over to different types of lidsas already mentioned abovechangeover times can be incurred due to the need to exchange parts or due to the need to change settings.

[0037] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show a seaming assembly 200 according to the invention.

[0038] Seaming assembly 200 according to the invention for seaming a can lid 11 onto a can body 12 comprises a chuck 20 and a knockout pad 50 that is movable relative to chuck 20 in an axial direction of chuck 20, where knockout pad 50 comprises a holding element 51 arranged in a spring-loaded manner. Knockout pad 50 is secured on a knockout rod 40, and knockout rod 40 can be moved together with knockout pad 50 in the axial direction relative to chuck 20. Knockout pad 50 further comprises a fastening element 52, where fastening element 52 is attached to knockout rod 40. Holding element 51 is mounted relative to the fastening element in a spring-loaded manner. The spring-loaded assembly of the holding element according to the invention is therefore realized between fastening element 52 fixedly connected to knockout rod 40 and holding element 51.

[0039] At least one spring 55 is provided between holding element 51 and fastening element 52 (alternatively between holding element 51 and knockout rod 40). One or more springs (coil springs) can provide the spring-loaded assembly. For example, a coil spring 55 like in this embodiment can be employed, which contacts fastening element 52 at one end and holding element in a respective circumferential region at an end opposite thereto.

[0040] The spring load of the spring-loaded assembly of holding element 51 can be between 10 and 50 N. The spring travel of holding element 51 arranged in a spring-loaded manner can be between 0.2 and 2.0 mm. These are preferred values, which, firstly, provide secure holding of can lid 11 or seamed can 10, respectively, and, secondly, avoid damage to lid 11 or can 10.

[0041] The contact of holding element 51 to can lid 11 is established in a springy region, so that the force exerted on lid 11 is defined by the spring action, in this embodiment, by the spring constant of a spring 55 and by the resting position/pre-tension defined by the preset stroke when contacting. Holding element 51 is provided for exerting force upon a can lid 11 determined by the spring load of spring 55. The stroke of knockout pad 50 is preset such that holding element 51 contacts can lid 11 in a central region of the available spring travel (see double arrow). Accordingly, the spring load exerted is in a central region of the available spring load range. Therefore, an adjustment or yield margin exists in both directions from the center position.

[0042] Furthermore, a lifting element 60 is provided, where can body 12 with can lid 1 is during a seaming operation arranged between lifting element 60 and chuck 20. Can body 12 can be raised using lifting element 60 (possibly together with can lid 11) and pressed against chuck 20. The spring load of the spring-loaded assembly can be exerted by holding element 51 of knockout pad 50 (by spring 55) from above upon can lid 1 during the seaming operation in order to hold can lid 11 on can body 12.

[0043] Knockout pad 50 together with knockout rod 40 can be moved synchronously with lifting element 60 during a knockout operation, where the spring load of the spring-loaded assembly can be exerted upon can lid 11 from above by holding element 51 of knockout pad 50 and an equal counterforce can be exerted upon can body 12 from below by lifting element 60. In this way, can body 12 can be moved with can lid 11 on a defined path towards chuck 20 and/or moved away from chuck 20 as a seamed can 10 after seaming (see FIG. 2B). Once seamed can 10 has been taken out of chuck 20 in this manner, can 10 which is clamped between holding element 51 and lifting element 60 is released by raising holding element 51 (by raising knockout rod 40) (see FIG. 2C) in order to then be discharged from seaming assembly 200 and subsequently also from of the seamer.

[0044] The embodiments illustrated are only by way of example and the full scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.