SEAMING DEVICE FOR SEALING A CONTAINER

Abstract

A seaming device includes a seaming head for fixing the lid to the container, first and second seaming rollers and a rotary drive. The seaming head is arranged between the first and second seaming rollers such that the container with the lid is fixed centered between the first and second seaming rollers in the operating state. The rotary drive is drive-connected to the first and second seaming rollers, the first and second seaming rollers rotated about the seaming head by the rotary drive, so that, in the operating state, the first and second seaming rollers are moved along a circumference of the container immovably fixed by the seaming head, and a container flange of the container are seamed with a lid flange of the lid.

Claims

1. The seaming device for sealing a container with a corresponding lid, comprising: a seaming head configured to fix the lid to the container; a first seaming roller with a first seaming profile; a second seaming roller with a second seaming profile, the seaming head arranged between the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller such that the container with the lid is capable of being fixed centered between the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller in an operating state; and a rotary drive drive-connected to the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller, the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller configured to be rotated about the seaming head by the rotary drive, so that, in the operating state, the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller with the first seaming profile and the second seaming profile are capable of being moved along a circumference of the container immovably fixed by the seaming head, and a container flange of the container can be seamed with a lid flange of the lid.

2. The seaming roller device according to claim 1, wherein the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller are configured to be rotated about a seaming head axis of the seaming head, a container axis of the container capable of being arranged with the seaming head axis in the operating state.

3. The seaming device according to claim 1, wherein the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller are arranged on a seaming roller arrangement and the rotary drive comprises a seaming drive drive-connected to the seaming roller arrangement, the seaming drive configured to rotate the seaming roller arrangement at a first angular speed so that, in the operating state, the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller with the first seaming profile and the second seaming profile are capable of being moved along a circumference of the container immovably fixed by the seaming head.

4. The seaming device according to claim 3, wherein the seaming drive is a first servo drive.

5. The seaming device according to claim 3, wherein the seaming roller arrangement is arranged around the seaming head and an axis of rotation of the seaming roller arrangement corresponds to a seaming head axis of the seaming head.

6. The seaming device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary drive comprises a seaming roller drive drive-connected to the first seaming roller or to the second seaming roller, and the first seaming roller is configured to be rotated along the first seaming profile by the seaming roller drive in the operating state or the second seaming roller is configured to be rotated along the second seaming profile by the seaming roller drive in the operating state, so that, in the operating state, the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller with the first seaming profile and the second seaming profile are capable of being moved along the circumference of the container immovably fixed by the seaming head.

7. A seaming device according to claim 6, wherein the seaming roller drive is a second servo drive.

8. The seaming device according to claim 1, wherein the first seaming roller is configured to be rotated along the first seaming profile and the second seaming roller along the second seaming profile, synchronously and at a fixed angular distance from each other.

9. The seaming device according to claim 1, further comprising a third seaming roller with a third seaming profile and a fourth seaming roller with a fourth seaming profile to seam a container flange of the container with a lid flange of the lid, the seaming head centerably arranged between the third seaming roller and the fourth seaming roller such that the container with the lid is capable of being fixed centered between the third seaming roller and the fourth seaming roller in the operating state, and the third seaming roller and the fourth seaming roller are drive-connected to the rotary drive, the third seaming roller and the fourth seaming roller configured to be rotated about the seaming head by the rotary drive, so that, in the operating state, the third seaming roller and the fourth seaming roller with the third seaming profile and the fourth seaming profile are capable of being moved along the circumference of the container immovably fixed by the seaming head, the container flange of the container capable of being seamed with the lid flange of the lid.

10. The seaming device according to claim 9, wherein the first seaming roller and the third seaming roller are pre-seaming rollers configured to form a pre-seam, and the second seaming roller and the fourth seaming roller are finishing seaming rollers configured to form a finishing seam.

11. The seaming device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second seaming rollers is drive-connected to first and second seaming roller drives, respectively via first and second shaft connections, respectively.

12. The seaming device according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second shaft connections comprises an eccentric connection so that the respective first and second seaming roller is arranged eccentrically to an axis of rotation of the respective first and second seaming roller drive.

13. The seaming device according to claim 1, wherein the seaming head comprises a gas supply configured to supply a gas to the container.

14. The seaming device according to claim 1, wherein the seaming head comprises a suction device configured to suck the lid.

15. A seaming device comprising: a detector system configured to locate a container position of a container.

16. A hollow shaft for the seaming device according to claim 1, comprising: a first end configured to fasten the seaming head; and a second end arranged opposite the first end and connected to a feeding device, the first end being flow-connected to the second end by a recess inside the hollow shaft.

17. A method for seaming the container by the corresponding lid, the method comprising: providing the seaming device according to claim 1; introducing the container and the lid into the seaming device; c) applying the lid to an opening of the container; immovably fixing the container and the lid by the seaming head centered between the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller; and rotating the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller about the seaming head, so that the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller with the first seaming profile and the second seaming profile are moved along the circumference of the container, the container flange of the container being seamed with the lid flange of the lid.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein prior to the container and the lid being introduced into the seaming device, a run-out correction of the seaming rollers is carried out by moving the first and second seaming rollers up to the seaming head and rotating the first and second seaming rollers around the seaming head, and a run-out sensor determines an unevenness in the seaming head or the seaming roller during rotation around the seaming head and corrects the unevenness during sealing of the container by adapting an infeed of the first and second seaming rollers to the seaming head.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the lid is aligned in a predeterminable orientation before being applied to the opening of the container.

20. The method according to anyone claim 17, wherein an infeed of the first and second seaming rollers or of the seaming head to the container takes place by feeding the seaming rollers or the seaming head to the container until a predeterminable force is reached and then moving the first and second seaming rollers further to the container over a predeterminable distance.

21. A sealer comprising: the seaming device according to claim 1.

22. The sealer according to claim 21, further comprising a container feed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] The invention will be explained in more detailed hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a seaming device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates a further representation of the seaming device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0060] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a schematic representation of a view onto a bottom side of the seaming device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates a section of the schematic representation according to FIGS. 3A and 3B;

[0062] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the seaming device according to the invention;

[0063] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic representation of the state of the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a seaming device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0065] The seaming device 1 comprises a seaming head 10 (which is arranged on the seaming device 1 by the hollow shaft 50) for fixing a lid to a container and a first seaming roller 11 with a first seaming profile 110 and a second seaming roller 12 with a second seaming profile 120.

[0066] The seaming head 10 is immovably arranged between the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12. In the operating state, the container with the lid can be fixed by the seaming head 10 centered between the first seaming roller and the second seaming roller by arranging the container with its opening at the seaming head 10. The lid is preferably already arranged at the seaming head 10. For this purpose, the seaming head 10 comprises a suction device by which the seaming head 10 can be received, for example by generating a vacuum.

[0067] The seaming device 1 comprises a rotary drive 20 drive-connected to the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12, wherein the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 can be rotated about the seaming head 10 by the rotary drive 20, so that, in the operating state, the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 with the first seaming profile 110 and the second seaming profile 120 can be moved along a circumference (not shown here; but corresponds to circumference U of the seaming head as shown in FIG. 2) of the container 100 immovably fixed by the seaming head 10, wherein a container flange of the container can be seamed with a lid flange of the lid.

[0068] To seal the container, first the lid is applied to the opening of the container by the seaming head 10, then the container and the lid are fixed centered between the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 by the seaming head 10. Subsequently, the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 are rotated about the seaming head 10, so that the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 with the first seaming profile 110 and the second seaming profile 120 are moved along a circumference of the container, wherein the container flange of the container is seamed with the lid flange of the lid.

[0069] In the case of the present embodiment, the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 can be rotated about a seaming head axis X of the seaming head, in which seaming head axis X the container with its container axis can be arranged in the operating state.

[0070] The rotary drive 20 is designed as a seaming roller drive 20 drive-connected to the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12, and the first seaming roller 11 can be rotated along the first seaming profile 110 in the operating state by the seaming roller drive 20 and the second seaming roller 12 can be rotated along the second seaming profile 120 in the operating state by the seaming roller drive 20, so that the first seaming roller 11 with the first seaming profile and the second seaming roller 12 with the second seaming profile 120 can be moved along the circumference of the container which can be immovably fixed by the seaming head 10. The seaming roller drive 20 can be designed in particular as a servo drive 20. This means that the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 rotate along their respective seaming profiles, wherein the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 preferably rotate synchronously and at a fixed angular distance from each other.

[0071] Both seaming rollers 11, 12 are drive-connected to a respective seaming roller drive 20 via a respective shaft connection 25. This means that each seaming roller 11, 12 is connected to a separate seaming roller drive 20. The respective shaft connections 25 each comprise an eccentric connection 30, so that the respective seaming roller 11, 12 is arranged eccentrically to an axis of rotation Y of the seaming roller drive 20.

[0072] By adjusting the eccentric connection 30 (also movement device), an adjustment of a gap distance of the seaming rollers 11, 12 can be enabled, whereby an adaptation to different seaming dimensions, i.e. containers of different sizes, is enabled.

[0073] FIG. 2 shows a further representation of the seaming device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0074] The seaming device 1 comprises two seaming rollers 11, 13 arranged opposite each other. A third seaming roller 13 is arranged on the side of the seaming head 10 opposite the first seaming roller 11. The first seaming roller 11 and the third seaming roller 13 preferably have the same seaming profile. In the operating state, the first seaming roller 11 and the third seaming roller 13 move toward the center (the seaming head 10) in an identical infeed movement. Due to the symmetrical arrangement of the seaming rollers 11, 13, the forces acting on the seaming head 10 cancel each other out.

[0075] In addition, the seaming head 10 comprises a gas supply 16 for supplying a gas, in particular an inert gas, to the container. The gas supply 16 is designed as an opening 16 from which the gas can flow out.

[0076] In addition, the gas supply 16 can be used as a suction device 16 for sucking the lid, whereby the lid can be sucked and placed on an opening of the container by creating a negative pressure by the suction device 16. This means that the lid is pneumatically sucked in and ejected.

[0077] The gassing with the gas supply 16 could take place in a vacuum gas chamber, whereby the lid is first clinched, then evacuated via the gas supply 16, then gassed via the gas supply 16 and finally the container is completely sealed.

[0078] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a schematic representation of a view onto a bottom side of the seaming device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0079] The first seaming roller 11 and the third seaming roller 13 are arranged on a seaming roller arrangement 15, wherein the rotary drive can comprise a seaming drive drive-connected to the seaming roller arrangement 15, by which seaming drive the seaming roller arrangement 15 can be rotated at a first angular speed so that, in the operating state, the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 with the first seaming profile 110 and the second seaming profile 120 can be moved along the circumference of the container immovably fixed by the seaming head. However, each seaming roller preferably comprises its own seaming roller drive 20 according to FIG. 1.

[0080] The seaming device 1 further comprises a third seaming roller 13 with a third seaming profile 130 and a fourth seaming roller 14 with a fourth seaming profile 140 for seaming the container flange of the container with a lid flange of the lid. The seaming head 10 is arranged centered between the third seaming roller 13 and the fourth seaming roller 14 (and also between the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12 in such a way, that the container with the lid can be fixed centered between the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 in the operating state.

[0081] The third seaming roller 13 and the fourth seaming roller 14 are also drive-connected to the rotary drive, wherein the third seaming roller 13 and the fourth seaming roller 14 can be rotated about the seaming head 10 by the rotary drive, so that, in the operating state, the third seaming roller 13 and the fourth seaming roller 14 with the third seaming profile 130 and the fourth seaming profile 140 can be moved along the circumference of the container immovably fixed by the seaming head 10, wherein the container flange of the container can be seamed with the lid flange of the lid.

[0082] In this case, the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 can be rotated along their respective seaming profile along the arrow C, preferably by their respective seaming roller drives. If the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 are in force-locked contact with the container in the operating state, they also rotate around the container due to the rotation along the arrow C. Here, the seaming roller arrangement 15 is therefore also set in rotation and rotates along the arrow R with the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 around the seaming head 10.

[0083] The seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 rotate synchronously and at a fixed angular distance from each other. The seaming roller arrangement 10 is ring-shaped and arranged around the round seaming head 10.

[0084] According to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 with their seaming profile 110, 120, 130, 140 are brought into contact with the lid flange and the container flange in the operating state in order to seal the container. Due to the rotation of the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 around the seaming head 10 and thus around the container, the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 are rotated around the container in the circumferential direction of the container, whereby the lid flange is seamed to the container flange, since the seaming rollers exert a pressure on the lid flange and the container flange. Here, it is crucial that the container is fixed during sealing, i.e. that it does not move and in particular does not rotate, as is the case with the devices known from the state of the art.

[0085] The four seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 are arranged in the form of a rectangle, in particular in the shape of a square. The first seaming roller 11 with the seaming head 10 and the third seaming roller 13 is arranged on a first straight line G1 and the second seaming roller 12 with the seaming head 10 and the fourth seaming roller 14 is arranged on a second straight line G2. The first straight line G1 and the second straight line G2 are orthogonal to each other.

[0086] The seaming device 1 comprises a movement device connected to the first and third seaming rollers 11, 13 and to the second and fourth seaming rollers 12, 14, by which movement device the first and/or third seaming roller can be displaced along the first straight line G1 (arrows B1 and B3), and the third and fourth seaming rollers can be displaced along the second straight line G2 (arrows B2 and B4), whereby an adaptation to different seaming dimensions, i.e. to containers of different sizes is enabled, and also an infeed of the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 to the seaming head 10 and thus to the container.

[0087] The infeed and movement of the seaming rollers preferably takes place via the eccentric connection and the seaming roller drive, which form the movement device. The arrangement according to FIGS. 3A and 3B is a preferred embodiment of the invention as a symmetrical application of force to the container is enabled. In addition, the container can be sealed particularly advantageously with a double seam, with the first and third seaming rollers producing a pre-seam and the second and fourth seaming rollers producing a finishing seam. Due to the symmetrical arrangement of the seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14, the forces acting on the seaming head 10 cancel each other out. In addition, considerably less time is needed to seal the container, since fewer rotational movements are required to seal the container due to the large number of seaming rollers 11, 12, 13, 14 arranged opposite each other.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows a section of the schematic representation according to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0089] According to FIG. 4, the first seaming roller (as well as all other seaming rollers) can be moved relative to the center of rotation of the infeed Y and thus moved along the arrow B1 towards the seaming roller 10 or away from the seaming roller 10.

[0090] To control the movement of the seaming rollers, the seaming rollers or the seaming device can comprise sensors. The sensors can measure forces during operation or a power consumption of the motors (seaming roller drive). In doing so, on the one hand, a quality control can be performed. On the other hand, a path control of the seaming can be performed, and particularly preferred, a force control of the seaming can be performed. For force control, a pre-determinable force can be adjusted by the seaming roller drives which the respective seaming roller should exert on the container. For this reason, the seaming roller drives are preferably designed as servo drives.

[0091] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the seaming device 1 according to the invention in a sealer 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0092] The seaming device 1 comprises the first seaming roller 11 and the second seaming roller 12. The sealer 1000 comprises a container feed 40 which is preferably designed as a conveyor belt. The container 100 is guided under the seaming head 10 by the container feed 40. By moving the seaming head 10 along the axis X, the seaming head can be fed to the container 100 so that the container is immovably fixed, i.e. fixed in such a way that it does not rotate when being sealed by the seaming rollers 11, 12.

[0093] To seal the container with its lid 101, the lid 101 is applied to the opening of the container 100 by the seaming head 10. Then, the seaming rollers 11, 12 are fed to the container 100 as described above and rotated about their axis along the arrows C1 and C2. The seaming rollers 11, 12 are rotated with their seaming roller arrangement 15 around the seaming head 10 and around the container 100 by the rotation C1 and C2 and by the force-locked contact with the container 100.

[0094] Particularly preferred, the container 100 is a can 100 and the lid 101 a can lid 101.

[0095] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the state of the art, which has already been described above. As already mentioned above, the reference signs of FIG. 6 have an inverted comma, since they refer to the known state of the art.