A straight-drawing neck flanging device for a zip-top can

Abstract

The application discloses a direct-arrangement necking and flanging equipment for zip-top cans, which comprises an equipment workbench, an incoming system, a work station transmission system, a necking processing unit, a flanging processing unit and an outgoing system arranged on the equipment workbench; the work station transmission system comprises a divider and a plurality of goods supports, the divider drives the goods supports to pass through the incoming system, the necking processing unit, the flanging processing unit and the outgoing system in sequence along a linear transmission path at a preset rhythm; the necking processing unit and the flanging processing unit are both driven by cam mechanisms; the equipment workbench is provided with an adjusting bottom plate system which adjusts the relative distance between the necking processing unit and the goods supports. The application solves the problems of the prior large rotary zip-top can necking and flanging equipment, such as large size, slow change, high cost of small batch production, low machining precision, single function and incapability of simultaneously completing the necking and flanging processes of the prior small equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of metal packaging container processing equipment, specifically to a necking and flanging processing equipment for easy-open cans. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the global beverage and food industry, the market demand for metal aluminum cans, as a safe, portable, and recyclable packaging container, has been increasing year by year. In the traditional can manufacturing industry, the production model is mainly based on large-scale and standardized production. The capacity of mainstream can manufacturing production lines generally reaches 1,000-2,000 cans per minute, and the output of a single batch is usually in the millions or even tens of millions. This production model can effectively reduce the production cost of unit products and meet the standardized needs of the mass market.

[0003] However, with the rise of consumption upgrades and personalized demands, the market demand for customized aluminum cans is increasing. In scenarios such as special events, corporate annual meetings, cultural festivals, and brand promotions, customers often require small batches of customized aluminum cans, ranging from dozens to tens of thousands, for brand promotion, gift-giving, or event souvenirs. Meanwhile, the rapid development of digital color printing technology has made personalized printing on aluminum can surfaces convenient and cost-effective, and the front-end printing process can perfectly adapt to small-batch customization needs. However, the back-end can forming and processing stage has become a bottleneck restricting the development of the small-batch customized can industry.

[0004] Currently, the mainstream can necking and flanging equipment on the market is a large-scale rotary production line. While this type of equipment boasts high production efficiency, it suffers from the following significant limitations: First, the equipment is bulky, typically occupying tens or even hundreds of square meters of space, and requires complex auxiliary systems, making it unsuitable for small processing plants or startups, and unable to meet the on-site processing needs of digital printing workshops. Second, equipment changeover is difficult. When producing cans of different specifications or shapes, numerous molds, fixtures, and transmission components need to be replaced. The adjustment process is complex and time-consuming, often taking hours or even days to complete, severely impacting the efficiency of small-batch, multi-variety production. Third, production costs are high. Large-scale equipment consumes a lot of energy and requires multiple professional operators. In small-batch production, the equipment's capacity cannot be fully utilized, leading to a surge in per-can production costs and a lack of market competitiveness. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address these issues, this invention provides a direct-discharge necking and flanging device for beverage cans, which solves the problems of existing large-scale rotary beverage can necking and flanging devices being bulky, slow to change models, and costly for small-batch production, as well as existing small-scale devices having low processing precision, limited functionality, and inability to complete the necking and flanging process simultaneously.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a straight-out necking and flanging device for beverage cans, comprising a workbench and an infeeding system, a station transport system, a necking processing unit, a flanging processing unit, and a shipping system disposed on the workbench; the station transport system includes a divider and several pallets, the divider driving the pallets to pass sequentially along a straight transport path through the infeeding system, the necking processing unit, the flanging processing unit, and the shipping system at a preset pace; both the necking processing unit and the flanging processing unit employ cam-driven mechanisms; the workbench is equipped with an adjustable base plate system, the adjustable base plate system adjusting the relative distance between the necking processing unit and the pallets.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-out necking and flanging equipment for beverage cans, the station transmission system further includes a transmission shaft, a transmission pulley, and a transmission belt; the output end of the divider is connected to the transmission shaft, the transmission shaft drives the transmission belt to circulate through the transmission pulley, and the pallets are fixed at equal intervals on the outer surface of the transmission belt.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-out necking and flanging equipment for beverage cans, the feeding system includes a feeding channel, a can-stopping cylinder, a can-stopping cylinder solenoid valve, and can positioning brushes; the outlet of the feeding channel is aligned with the upper surface of the workstation transmission system, the can-stopping cylinder is installed at the outlet of the feeding channel, the can-stopping cylinder solenoid valve is electrically connected to the control system of the divider, and the can positioning brushes are arranged on both sides of the outlet of the feeding channel.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the can straight discharge necking and flanging equipment, the shipping system includes at least one blowing nozzle and a shipping pipe; the blowing nozzle is installed above the outlet of the station transmission system, and the inlet of the shipping pipe is aligned with the side of the outlet of the station transmission system.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-out necking and flanging equipment for beverage cans, the necking processing unit includes a main drive system and a necking camshaft assembly; The main drive system includes a main motor and a main reducer. The output end of the main motor is connected to the input end of the main reducer. The output end of the main reducer is simultaneously connected to the divider and the necking camshaft assembly. The necking camshaft assembly has a number of necking cams that are equal to the number of necking stations, which are coaxially fixed on it.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-out necking and flanging equipment for beverage cans, the necking processing unit further includes several sets of necking arm fixing seats, several necking arms, several necking molds, and several cam followers; the necking arms are slidably installed in the guide holes of the necking arm fixing seats through necking arm positioning connecting seats, and the necking molds are fixed to the front end of the necking arms facing the station transmission system; the cam followers are disposed on the side of the necking arm positioning connecting seats, and the cam followers abut against the profile of the corresponding necking cam.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-out necking and flanging equipment for beverage cans, the necking processing unit further includes an oil injector, which is installed on the top of the necking arm fixing seat. The oil outlet of the oil injector is connected to the sliding mating surface of the necking arm fixing seat and the necking arm positioning connection seat. An air distribution block is installed on the side of the necking arm fixing seat, and the air distribution block is connected to the pneumatic auxiliary mechanism inside the necking mold through an air pipe.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-line necking and flanging equipment for beverage cans, the inner contour of the necking mold is a continuously gradient curved surface structure, and the minimum inner diameter of the necking mold at the necking station along the can conveying direction decreases sequentially.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-out necking and flanging equipment for beverage cans, the flanging processing unit includes a flanging mounting base, a flanging servo motor, a drive gear, a speed-changing gear, a flanging head, and a return spring. The flanging servo motor is mounted on the upper end of the flanging mounting base, and the output axis of the flanging servo motor extends forward and is fixedly connected to the drive gear. The drive gear meshes externally with the speed-changing gear. The flanging head is mounted horizontally on the front end of the flanging mounting base, and the return spring is sleeved on the guide rod of the flanging head. The tail end of the return spring is connected to a cam drive assembly.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the straight-out necking and flanging equipment for aluminum cans, the flanging servo motor is electrically connected to the main motor of the main drive system through a PLC control system; a workstation number label is fixedly installed on the upper surface of each necking arm fixing seat, and the corresponding workstation number is engraved on the workstation number label.

[0016] The present invention has the following advantages: First, the present invention adopts a single workbench to integrate the entire process of feeding, conveying, necking, flanging and shipping, without the need for complicated supporting auxiliary systems, with a small footprint, and can be directly deployed in small processing plants or digital color printing workshops for on-site processing, solving the problem of large rotary equipment occupying a lot of space and serious waste of resources in small batch production.

[0017] Secondly, the present invention can adjust the relative distance between the necking processing unit and the pallet as a whole by adjusting the base plate system. It can adapt to different specifications of easy-open cans with simple operation, without the need to replace a large number of molds, fixtures and transmission components, which greatly shortens the changeover time and perfectly meets the production needs of small batches of multi-variety customized cans.

[0018] Third, the main drive system of this invention simultaneously drives the divider and the necking camshaft assembly, achieving mechanical hard synchronization between station transmission and necking action; the necking mold is fixed as a whole at the front end of the necking arm, ensuring reliable positioning; multiple necking molds with continuously gradient inner contours cause the tank to gradually undergo plastic deformation, effectively avoiding processing defects such as tank wrinkles and cracks.

[0019] Fourth, the core processing actions of this invention all adopt a cam-driven mechanism, which ensures smooth operation and accurate response; the automatic oiler can periodically inject lubricating oil into the sliding mating surface of the neck arm, extending the service life of key components of the equipment; the modular design facilitates component replacement and daily maintenance, reducing equipment failure rate and maintenance costs.

[0020] Fifth, the equipment of this invention has low energy consumption, and only 1-2 operators are needed to complete the entire production process for a single unit; the equipment has high capacity utilization during small-batch production, and the processing cost per can is much lower than that of large rotary equipment, which significantly enhances the market competitiveness of small-batch customized easy-open can products. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0022] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc. illustrated in this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed herein, and are not intended to limit the conditions under which the present invention can be implemented. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportions, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that the present invention can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in the present invention.

[0023] Figure 1 is a first-view three-dimensional structural diagram of the can straight-out necking and flanging device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 is a second-view three-dimensional structural diagram of the can straight-out necking and flanging device provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the feeding system of the can straight discharge necking and flanging equipment provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the shipping system of the can straight discharge necking and flanging equipment provided in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the necking processing unit structure of the straight necking and flanging equipment for easy-open cans provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the flanging processing unit structure of the straight necking and flanging equipment for easy-open cans provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] In the diagram: 1. Equipment workbench; 2. Infeeding system; 3. Station transmission system; 4. Necking processing unit; 5. Flanging processing unit; 6. Outfeeding system; 7. Divider; 8. Cargo pallet; 9. Adjustable base plate system; 10. Conveyor shaft; 11. Conveyor pulley; 12. Conveyor belt; 13. Infeeding channel; 14. Can stop cylinder; 15. Can stop cylinder solenoid valve; 16. Can positioning brush; 17. Can blowing nozzle; 18. Outfeeding pipeline; 19. Main drive system; 20. Necked camshaft assembly; 21. Main motor of the equipment; 22. Main reducer; 23. Necked cam; 24. Necked arm fixing seat; 25. Necked arm; 26. Necked mold; 27. Cam follower; 28. Necked arm positioning connection seat; 29. ​​Oil injector; 30. Air distribution block; 31. Flanging mounting seat; 32. Flanging servo motor; 33. Drive gear; 34. Speed ​​change gear; 35. Flanging head; 36. Return spring; 37. Cam drive assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, this embodiment of the invention provides a straight-line necking and flanging device for beverage cans, including a workbench 1, and a feeding system 2, a station transmission system 3, a necking processing unit 4, a flanging processing unit 5, and a shipping system 6 arranged on the workbench 1; the station transmission system 3 includes a divider 7 and several pallets 8, the divider 7 drives the pallets 8 to pass sequentially along a straight transmission path through the feeding system 2, the necking processing unit 4, the flanging processing unit 5, and the shipping system 6 at a preset rhythm; both the necking processing unit 4 and the flanging processing unit 5 adopt a cam drive mechanism; the workbench 1 is provided with an adjustable base plate system 9, the adjustable base plate system 9 adjusting the relative distance between the necking processing unit 4 and the pallets 8.

[0032] This invention replaces the traditional large rotary layout with a single-unit workbench linear layout, integrating all processing steps onto a single workbench, significantly reducing the equipment's footprint and adapting to the space requirements of small processing plants. The divider 7, acting as a cycle control element, enables intermittent transmission, ensuring that each can's dwell time at each station is completely consistent, meeting processing requirements. The adjustable base plate system 9, by adjusting the height of the necking processing unit 4 as a whole, changes the axial relative position of the necking mold 26 and the can, adapting to cans of different heights and specifications without replacing core components, enabling rapid changeover.

[0033] In this embodiment, the workstation transmission system 3 further includes a transmission shaft 10, a transmission pulley 11, and a transmission belt 12; the output end of the divider 7 is connected to the transmission shaft 10 for transmission, the transmission shaft 10 drives the transmission belt 12 to circulate through the transmission pulley 11, and the pallets 8 are fixed at equal intervals on the outer surface of the transmission belt 12.

[0034] Specifically, the divider 7 converts the continuous rotational motion of the main drive system 19 into intermittent rotational motion, and drives the conveyor belt 12 to perform intermittent linear cyclic motion through the transmission shaft 10 and the conveyor belt pulley 11.

[0035] The pallet 8 is fixed to the conveyor belt 12 at equal distances from the workstations, ensuring that each intermittent movement of the conveyor belt 12 transports one tank from the current workstation to the next, achieving synchronous flow across 14 consecutive workstations. This direct-flow transmission method is simple in structure, easy to maintain, and ensures stable tank posture during transport, preventing tipping or displacement.

[0036] Referring to Figure 3, in this embodiment, the infeeding system 2 includes an infeeding channel 13, a can-stopping cylinder 14, a can-stopping cylinder solenoid valve 15, and a can positioning brush 16; the outlet of the infeeding channel 13 is aligned with the upper surface of the workstation transmission system 3, the can-stopping cylinder 14 is installed at the outlet of the infeeding channel 13, the can-stopping cylinder solenoid valve 15 is electrically connected to the control system of the divider 7, and the can positioning brush 16 is disposed on both sides of the outlet of the infeeding channel 13.

[0037] Specifically, the infeed channel 13 adopts an inclined design, utilizing the tank's own gravity for automatic feeding, eliminating the need for an additional feeding drive mechanism. The stop cylinder solenoid valve 15 receives the cycle signal from the divider 7. When each pallet 8 arrives at the infeed station, it controls the stop cylinder 14 to retract, releasing one tank. After the pallet 8 leaves, it controls the stop cylinder 14 to extend, blocking subsequent tanks, achieving precise feeding of each tank individually. The tank positioning brush 16 is made of flexible material, which can straighten the tank during its descent, ensuring it accurately falls into the positioning groove of the pallet 8 and preventing tilting that could lead to defective products in subsequent processing.

[0038] Referring to Figure 4, in this embodiment, the shipping system 6 includes at least one blowing nozzle 17 and a shipping pipe 18; the blowing nozzle 17 is installed above the outlet of the station transmission system 3, and the inlet of the shipping pipe 18 is aligned with the side of the outlet of the station transmission system 3.

[0039] Specifically, when the finished cans arrive at the shipping station via conveyor belt 12, compressed air is ejected from the blowing nozzle 17. The airflow impact force blows the finished cans off the pallet 8, allowing them to enter the inclined shipping pipe 18. The shipping pipe 18 utilizes gravity to automatically discharge the finished cans, eliminating the need for an additional discharge drive mechanism. This pneumatic shipping method is simple in structure, operates quickly, and does not scratch the surface of the finished cans, ensuring the product's appearance quality.

[0040] Referring to Figure 5, in this embodiment, the necking processing unit 4 includes a main drive system 19 and a necking camshaft assembly 20; the main drive system 19 includes a main motor 21 and a main reducer 22, the output end of the main motor 21 is connected to the input end of the main reducer 22, and the output end of the main reducer 22 is simultaneously connected to the divider 7 and the necking camshaft assembly 20; the necking camshaft assembly 20 is coaxially fixedly mounted with a number of necking cams 23 equal to the number of necking stations.

[0041] Specifically, the main drive system 19 adopts a single-motor dual-output design, using the same main motor 21 and main reducer 22 to simultaneously drive the divider 7 and the necking camshaft assembly 20, achieving mechanical hard synchronization between station transmission and necking action. This synchronization method is highly accurate and reliable, avoiding the phase deviation problem commonly seen in electrical control synchronization, ensuring that the movement of the necking arm 25 is perfectly matched with the position of the tank.

[0042] All necking cams 23 are coaxially mounted on the same camshaft to ensure that the timing of each necking station is completely consistent, thereby improving machining stability.

[0043] In this embodiment, the necking processing unit 4 further includes several sets of necking arm fixing seats 24, several necking arms 25, several necking molds 26, and several cam followers 27; the necking arms 25 are slidably installed in the guide holes of the necking arm fixing seats 24 through necking arm positioning connecting seats 28, and the necking molds 26 are fixed on the front end of the necking arms 25 facing the station transmission system 3; the cam followers 27 are disposed on the side of the necking arm positioning connecting seats 28, and the cam followers 27 abut against the profile of the corresponding necking cam 23.

[0044] Specifically, when the necked cam 23 rotates, its profile drives the cam follower 27 to perform reciprocating linear motion, which in turn drives the necked arm 25 to perform reciprocating linear motion along the guide hole through the necked arm positioning connecting seat 28.

[0045] When the necking arm 25 moves forward, the necking mold 26 is fitted onto the end of the tank to perform necking processing on the tank; when the necking arm 25 moves backward, the necking mold 26 separates from the tank, waiting for the next tank to arrive.

[0046] The cam follower 27 adopts a rolling contact method, which can significantly reduce the frictional resistance between the cam and the necked arm 25, reduce wear, and improve the service life of the equipment.

[0047] In this embodiment, the necking processing unit 4 further includes an oil injector 29, which is installed on the top of the necking arm fixing seat 24. The oil outlet of the oil injector 29 is connected to the sliding mating surface of the necking arm fixing seat 24 and the necking arm positioning connecting seat 28. An air distribution block 30 is installed on the side of the necking arm fixing seat 24, and the air distribution block 30 is connected to the pneumatic auxiliary mechanism inside the necking mold 26 through an air pipe.

[0048] Specifically, the reciprocating motion frequency of the necking arm 25 can reach 150 times per minute. Prolonged high-frequency operation can lead to severe wear on the sliding mating surfaces. The lubricator 29 can automatically inject lubricating oil into the sliding mating surfaces at preset time intervals, forming a lubricating oil film, effectively reducing the coefficient of friction, minimizing wear, and extending the service life of the necking arm 25 and the necking arm fixing seat 24. The air distribution block 30, as an integrated pneumatic control component, can uniformly control the action of the pneumatic clamping mechanisms inside each necking mold 26, ensuring a tight fit between the mold and the tank during the necking process and improving necking accuracy.

[0049] In this embodiment, the inner contour of the necking mold 26 is a continuously gradient curved surface structure, and the minimum inner diameter of the necking mold 26 at the necking station along the tank conveying direction decreases sequentially.

[0050] Specifically, the necking process for beverage cans requires gradual plastic deformation of the can's end. If the necking amount is too large at once, it can lead to defects such as wrinkles, cracks, or uneven wall thickness. This invention employs a multi-stage continuous necking process, where the minimum inner diameter of each necking die 26 decreases uniformly in sequence, allowing the can to gradually complete the necking deformation during transport. The inner contour of the necking die 26 uses a scientifically calculated, continuously gradient curved surface, which allows for uniform flow of the can's metal material, avoids stress concentration, effectively improves necking quality, and reduces the scrap rate.

[0051] Referring to Figure 6, in this embodiment, the flanging processing unit 5 includes a flanging mounting base 31, a flanging servo motor 32, a drive gear 33, a speed-changing gear 34, a flanging head 35, and a return spring 36. The flanging servo motor 32 is mounted on the upper end of the flanging mounting base 31, and the output axis of the flanging servo motor 32 extends forward and is fixedly connected to the drive gear 33. The drive gear 33 meshes externally with the speed-changing gear 34. The flanging head 35 is mounted horizontally at the front end of the flanging mounting base 31, and the return spring 36 is sleeved on the guide rod of the flanging head 35. The tail end of the return spring 36 is connected to a cam drive assembly 37.

[0052] Specifically, the flanging unit 5 is driven by an independent servo motor. A reduction mechanism consisting of a drive gear 33 and a transmission gear 34 reduces the rotational speed and increases the torque, driving the cam drive assembly 37 to rotate. The cam drive assembly 37 pushes the flanging head 35 forward to flanging the necked end of the can. When the cam drive assembly 37 returns to its starting position, the reset spring 36 uses its elastic force to quickly reset the flanging head 35, awaiting the arrival of the next can. The independent servo motor drive allows for flexible adjustment of the flanging speed and stroke, adapting to the flanging process requirements of cans of different specifications.

[0053] In one possible embodiment, the flange servo motor 32 is electrically connected to the main motor 21 of the main drive system 19 via a PLC control system.

[0054] Specifically, the PLC control system collects the operating signals of the main drive system 19 in real time, calculates the accurate time when the tank arrives at the flanging station, and sends a start command to the flanging servo motor 32 to achieve electrical synchronization between the flanging action and the station transmission. This synchronization method retains the high-precision advantages of mechanical hard synchronization while also possessing the flexibility of the electrical control system. The flanging timing can be quickly adjusted by modifying the PLC program to meet the processing requirements of different tank types.

[0055] In one possible embodiment, a workstation number label is fixedly installed on the upper surface of each of the necking arm fixing seats 24, and the workstation number label is engraved with the corresponding workstation number.

[0056] Specifically, since the inner diameter of the necking mold 26 is different at each necking station, and the profile of the necking cam 23 is also different, the necking arm 25 and the necking mold 26 must be installed at the corresponding station.

[0057] The workstation number label clearly identifies the corresponding workstation number for each neck arm fixing seat 24, facilitating equipment debugging and mold replacement, avoiding equipment failure or processing waste due to incorrect installation, and improving equipment maintenance efficiency.

[0058] The workflow of this invention is as follows: After the equipment is powered on, the PLC control system executes the initialization program, controls the main motor 21 of the equipment to start, and after being reduced in speed by the main reducer 22, it simultaneously drives the divider 7 and the necked camshaft assembly 20 to rotate to the initial phase; at the same time, the PLC sends a synchronization signal to the flanging servo motor 32, so that the flanging processing unit 5 is reset to the initial position, ensuring that the phases of all moving parts are fully matched, and preparing for continuous production.

[0059] The cans to be processed are fed into the inclined feeding channel 13 via an external conveyor, and slide downwards along the channel by their own weight. The can-stopping cylinder solenoid valve 15 receives the cycle signal from the divider 7 in real time. When an empty pallet 8 arrives at the feeding station with the conveyor belt 12, the solenoid valve controls the can-stopping cylinder 14 to retract, releasing one can. During the descent, the can is flexibly straightened by the can positioning brushes 16 on both sides and falls into the can clamping groove of the pallet 8, achieving radial positioning. After the pallet 8 leaves the feeding station, the can-stopping cylinder 14 immediately extends to prevent subsequent cans from sliding down, completing one automatic feeding cycle.

[0060] The divider 7, acting as the cycle control element of the equipment, converts the continuous rotational motion of the main drive system 19 into equally spaced, high-precision intermittent rotational motion, driving the annular conveyor belt 12 to perform synchronous intermittent motion via the conveyor shaft 10 and the conveyor pulley 11. Since the pallets 8 are evenly fixed on the conveyor belt 12 at equal distances from the workstations, each intermittent movement of the conveyor belt 12 moves all pallets 8 forward one workstation simultaneously, allowing the tanks to pass through 14 consecutive processing workstations in sequence. This ensures that the dwell time of each tank at each workstation is completely consistent, meeting the time requirements of the processing technology.

[0061] The power output from the main reducer 22 simultaneously drives the necking camshaft assembly 20 to rotate, and multiple sets of necking cams 23, coaxially fixed on the shaft, rotate synchronously with the shaft; each necking cam 23 converts the rotational motion into the reciprocating linear motion of the necking arm 25 through a cam follower 27 that abuts against its profile surface, and the reciprocating motion frequency of the necking arm 25 can reach 150 times per minute; along the tank conveying direction, the minimum inner diameter of the mold at each necking station decreases uniformly in sequence. When the tank reaches a certain necking station, the corresponding necking arm 25 drives the mold forward, fitting onto the end of the tank to complete the necking deformation of that pass, and then the necking arm 25 quickly returns to its original position; after the tank passes through all the necking stations in sequence, it gradually completes the plastic deformation from the original diameter to the target diameter, avoiding wrinkles and cracks caused by excessive deformation in one pass; the oil injector 29 automatically injects lubricating oil into the sliding mating surface between the necking arm 25 and the fixed seat to form a lubricating oil film, reducing wear caused by high-frequency motion; the air distribution block 30 The pneumatic clamping mechanism inside each mold is uniformly controlled to ensure that the mold and the tank are tightly fitted during the necking process.

[0062] The PLC control system acquires the encoder signal of the main drive system 19 in real time and calculates the time when the tank arrives at the flanging station. When the necked tank arrives at the flanging station, the PLC sends a start command to the flanging servo motor 32. After the servo motor is reduced in speed and increased in torque by the drive gear 33 and the speed-changing gear 34, it drives the flanging cam to rotate. The flanging cam pushes the flanging head 35 to move forward in the horizontal direction to flanging the end of the tank. After the flanging action is completed, the flanging cam enters the return section, and the reset spring 36 uses elastic force to push the flanging head 35 to quickly reset, waiting for the next tank to arrive.

[0063] When the finished cans arrive at the shipping station via conveyor belt 12, the blowing nozzle 17 sprays high-pressure compressed air, using the impact force of the airflow to blow the finished cans away from the clamping groove of the pallet 8 and into the inclined shipping pipe 18. The finished cans then slide down the shipping pipe 18 under their own weight, completing the automatic discharge. When it is necessary to produce cans of different specifications, there is no need to change the core transmission components. Only the multiple can-type adjusting studs of the base plate system 9 need to be rotated synchronously to raise or lower the installation height of the necking processing unit 4 as a whole, changing the axial relative distance between the necking mold 26 and the can on the pallet 8. This allows for the adaptation to cans of different heights and diameters, enabling rapid conversion between different can types.

[0064] Although the present invention has been described in detail above with general descriptions and specific embodiments, modifications or improvements can be made to it, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, all such modifications or improvements made without departing from the spirit of the present invention fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for straight-line necking and flanging of aluminum cans, characterized in that, The equipment includes a workbench (1), and a feeding system (2), a station transmission system (3), a necking processing unit (4), a flanging processing unit (5), and a shipping system (6) set on the workbench (1). The station transmission system (3) includes a divider (7) and several pallets (8). The divider (7) drives the pallets (8) to pass through the feeding system (2), the necking processing unit (4), the flanging processing unit (5), and the shipping system (6) in sequence along a straight transmission path at a preset rhythm. The necking processing unit (4) and the flanging processing unit (5) are both driven by a cam mechanism. The workbench (1) is equipped with an adjustable base plate system (9), which adjusts the relative distance between the necking processing unit (4) and the pallets (8).

2. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The workstation transmission system (3) also includes a transmission shaft (10), a transmission pulley (11), and a transmission belt (12); the output end of the divider (7) is connected to the transmission shaft (10) for transmission, and the transmission shaft (10) drives the transmission belt (12) to circulate through the transmission pulley (11), and the pallets (8) are fixed at equal intervals on the outer surface of the transmission belt (12).

3. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inlet system (2) includes an inlet channel (13), a stop cylinder (14), a stop cylinder solenoid valve (15), and a tank positioning brush (16). The outlet of the inlet channel (13) is aligned with the upper surface of the workstation transmission system (3). The stop cylinder (14) is installed at the outlet of the inlet channel (13). The stop cylinder solenoid valve (15) is electrically connected to the control system of the divider (7). The tank positioning brush (16) is set on both sides of the outlet of the inlet channel (13).

4. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shipping system (6) includes at least one blowing nozzle (17) and a shipping pipe (18); the blowing nozzle (17) is installed above the outlet of the station transmission system (3), and the inlet of the shipping pipe (18) is aligned with the side of the outlet of the station transmission system (3).

5. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The necking processing unit (4) includes a main drive system (19) and a necking camshaft assembly (20); the main drive system (19) includes a main motor (21) and a main reducer (22), the output end of the main motor (21) is connected to the input end of the main reducer (22), and the output end of the main reducer (22) is simultaneously connected to the divider (7) and the necking camshaft assembly (20); the necking camshaft assembly (20) is coaxially fixedly mounted with a number of necking cams (23) equal to the number of necking stations.

6. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The necking processing unit (4) also includes several sets of necking arm fixing seats (24), several necking arms (25), several necking molds (26), and several cam followers (27); the necking arm (25) is slidably installed in the guide hole of the necking arm fixing seat (24) through the necking arm positioning connecting seat (28), and the necking mold (26) is fixed on the front end of the necking arm (25) facing the station transmission system (3); the cam follower (27) is set on the side of the necking arm positioning connecting seat (28), and the cam follower (27) abuts against the profile of the corresponding necking cam (23).

7. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The necking processing unit (4) also includes an oiler (29), which is installed on the top of the necking arm fixing seat (24). The oil outlet of the oiler (29) is connected to the sliding mating surface of the necking arm fixing seat (24) and the necking arm positioning connecting seat (28). An air distribution block (30) is installed on the side of the necking arm fixing seat (24), and the air distribution block (30) is connected to the pneumatic auxiliary mechanism inside the necking mold (26) through an air pipe.

8. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inner contour of the necking mold (26) is a continuous gradient curved surface structure, and the minimum inner diameter of the necking mold (26) at the necking station along the tank conveying direction decreases sequentially.

9. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The flanging processing unit (5) includes a flanging mounting base (31), a flanging servo motor (32), a drive gear (33), a speed gear (34), a flanging head (35), and a reset spring (36). The flanging servo motor (32) is mounted on the upper end of the flanging mounting base (31). The output shaft of the flanging servo motor (32) extends forward and is fixedly connected to the drive gear (33). The drive gear (33) meshes externally with the speed gear (34). The flanging head (35) is mounted horizontally on the front end of the flanging mounting base (31). The reset spring (36) is sleeved on the guide rod of the flanging head (35). The tail end of the reset spring (36) is connected to a cam drive assembly (37).

10. The can straight-out necking and flanging device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The flange servo motor (32) is electrically connected to the main motor (21) of the main drive system (19) through a PLC control system; each of the necking arm fixing seats (24) has a station number label fixedly installed on its upper surface, and the station number label is engraved with the corresponding station number.

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