EXCESS COATING REMOVAL DEVICE FOR CAN COATING MACHINES

Abstract

An excess coating removal device, which may be used with or retrofit to a can coating machine. Excess coating is removed before it can contact undesirable locations on the machine or the can.

Claims

1. A machine for coating a selected portion of a can, while preventing excess coating from dripping onto a conveyor or portions of the can not desired to be coated, comprising: an application device for applying the coating to the can; a conveyor for moving cans in a controlled fashion adjacent to the application device; and an excess coating removal device working with the application device, for substantially removing excess coating not needed to coat the selected portion of the can, while substantially preventing the coating from contacting other portions of the can or the conveyor.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the machine is designed and configured to coat a bottom rim of beer and beverage cans.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the application device comprises an adjustable metering roll and a stationary distribution roll, and the metering and distribution rolls are adjustably mounted a predetermined distance from each other, forming an adjustable gap, and wherein the amount of coating applied to the can is controlled by the gap.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the gap is adjustable by turning a handwheel on a gearbox located adjacent the application device, thereby enabling the amount of the coating applied to the can to be selectively increased or decreased.

5. The machine of claim 3, wherein the application device further comprises an adjustable applicator roll for applying the coating to the cans, and wherein the applicator roll receives the coating from the distribution roll.

6. The machine of claim 3, wherein the metering roll has a chrome outer surface, and the distribution roll has a rubber outer surface.

7. The machine of claim 1, wherein the excess coating removal device comprises a blade contacting the applicator roll to remove excess coating after the applicator roll has applied the coating to the can.

8. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a drip pan for catching excess coating, the drip pan being mounted below the excess coating removal device.

9. The machine of claim 8, further comprising a coating supply tank in fluid communication with the drip pan.

10. A method for coating a selected portion of a beverage or beer can, while preventing excess coating from dripping onto a conveyor or portions of the can not desired to be coated, comprising the steps of: using an application device to apply the coating to the selected portion of the can; providing a conveyor to move the cans in a controlled fashion adjacent to the application device; and providing an excess coating removal device located adjacent the application device, to substantially remove excess coating not needed to coat the selected portion of the can, while substantially preventing the coating from contacting other portions of the can or the conveyor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of applying the coating comprises mounting an adjustable metering roll a predetermined distance from a stationary distribution roll to form an adjustable gap, so that the amount of coating applied is controlled by the gap.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the cans comprise beer or beverage cans, and the selected portion of the can comprises a bottom rim of the can.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the excess coating removal device comprises a blade wiping against the applicator roll to remove excess coating not needed to coat the selected portion of the cans.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of catching excess coating from the excess coating removal device using a drip pan mounted below the excess coating removal device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing the drip pan in fluid communication with a coating supply tank.

16. An excess coating removal device for use with a machine for coating a selected portion of a can, while preventing excess coating from dripping onto a conveyor or portions of the can not desired to be coated, wherein the machine includes an applicator roll for applying the coating to the can, and a conveyor for moving cans in a controlled fashion adjacent to the application device, the excess coating removal device comprising: a blade wiping against the applicator roll to substantially remove excess coating not needed to coat the selected portion of the can, thereby substantially preventing the coating from contacting portions of the can not desired to be coated, or from contacting the conveyor.

17. The excess coating removal device of claim 16, wherein the machine is designed and configured to coat the bottom rim of beer and beverage cans.

18. The excess coating removal device of claim 16, further comprising an adjustable metering roll and a stationary distribution roll, and wherein the metering and distribution rolls are mounted a predetermined distance from each other, forming an adjustable, predetermined gap, and wherein the amount of coating applied to the selected portion of the cans is controlled by the gap.

19. The excess coating removal device of claim 18, wherein the applicator roll of the machine receives the coating from the distribution roll.

20. The excess coating removal device of claim 16, wherein the blade comprises a rubber material that is substantially chemically impervious to the coating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a planar perspective view of a conventional can coating machine;

[0021] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial planar perspective view of the conventional rollers used to coat the bottom rim of cans;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a section view of one preferred embodiment of the excess coating removal device of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the circled portion of FIG. 3, showing the excess coating removal device; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of the conventional can coating machine shown in FIG. 1.

[0025] The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, as emphasis is instead placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.

[0027] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the current invention includes an excess coating removal device, designed to work with, and which can be retrofitted to, can coating machine 10 as described above (or another can coating machine). The arrows in FIG. 3 show the direction of can flow.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, excess coating removal device 100 includes a rubber blade 110, mounted to rubber blade mounting bracket 115. Preferably, both rubber applicator roll 40 and rubber blade 110 may be made from a rubber material that is chemically impervious to the coating, such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber. Alternatively, the blade could also be made of Teflon or other materials. Preferably blade 110 and its mounting bracket 115, and the associated drip pan 120 positioned below blade 110 (FIG. 6), can be retrofit to can coating machine 10, making the machine more user friendly by minimizing problems caused by operator error resulting in under-coating or over-coating.

[0029] In the preferred embodiment, rubber blade 110 removes excess coating not needed to be applied to the can rim, in a controlled manner. Rubber blade 110 may be set at a predetermined distance from applicator roll 40, equal to the desired coating thickness. The blade removes the coating from the applicator roll after a can has been coated and before more coating is transferred, keeping the coating from building on the applicator roll, which can lead to the dripping.

[0030] Blade mounting bracket 115 may be mounted to drip pan 120. Excess coating is removed by rubber blade 110 as applicator roll 40 revolves. This excess coating is scraped by blade 110 and allowed to drip from blade 110 into drip pan 120. From drip pan 120, the excess coating may be returned to day tank (coating supply tank, see FIGS. 1, 5) 140, for further use. The blade will also catch drips caused by too much pressure on the rubber applicator roll. Again, the blade scrapes roll 40 and removes excess coating, which is then returned to the day tank for further use.

[0031] In another embodiment of the invention, instead of the rubber blade shown, a gravure roller could be used (roll with grooves that runs in a coating bath), utilizing a doctor blade to control the coating thickness. A problem with this design is that in order to change coating weight applied to the can, a new roll with different grooves would be required to be used.

[0032] The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs still falling within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned