Device for feeding lids to a can sealer

Abstract

Device (1) for feeding lids (21) to a can seamer, comprising a destacking screw (110) for conveying lids (21) fed via a lid feeder (16) and for transferring the lids (21) to a downstream transport and / or treatment unit (130) in a division-appropriate manner, further comprising a stop device for interrupting the feeding of the lids (21) to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit (130) in the event of a production interruption, wherein the stop device is formed by the destacking screw (110), characterized by the fact that the destacking screw (110) is mechanically coupled to the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130) or a can filler or a capper (43) and is driven via the drive (131) of the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130) or of the can filler or capper (43), wherein the destacking screw (110) can be decoupled from the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130) or of the can filler or capper (43) in the event of a production interruption.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for feeding lids to a can sealer. State of the art

[0002] Cans for beverages, canned goods, or non-food items are very popular because they are an ideal packaging solution for a variety of products. Cans are unbreakable, lightweight, inexpensive, easy to recycle, and completely opaque to light and oxygen.

[0003] Before being filled, the cans are initially in two parts: empty cans, which comprise the can wall and bottom, and lids, which are usually designed as pull-tab lids and are only joined to the can after filling to form a gas- and liquid-tight package.

[0004] The filling of cans takes place in a can-filling line. The filling process occurs in a filling carousel, and the sealing of the filled cans with the can lids takes place in a capper located downstream of the filling carousel. After filling, the cans are initially transported without lids in the filling carousel. Following filling, a lid is placed on each filled can using a can capper. In the can capper, the placed can lids are then crimped onto the filled cans by means of a capping head and a capping roller.

[0005] The corresponding can lids are fed in via an external lid feeder. At the end of the lid feeder is a destacking screw with a holding blade. The destacking screw separates and isolates the lids from the stack using a spiral groove. The holding blade is positioned just above the destacking screw, holding the lids in place during production interruptions and releasing them when production restarts.

[0006] In conventional can seamers, the destacking screw is driven by the drive of the downstream transport and / or processing unit; that is, the destacking screw rotates synchronously with the downstream transport and / or processing unit. If production is interrupted, so that no lids need to be supplied by the destacking screw, the holding blade extends, which retains the lids stored in the lid feeder. Due to the position of this holding blade, no further lids are conveyed, even though the destacking screw continues to rotate. When lids need to be fed again, the holding blade retracts, and the destacking screw resumes conveying lids.

[0007] DE 27 54 736 A1 describes a device for attaching end closure elements to a series of container bodies.

[0008] DE 42 16 576 A1 describes a lid magazine for automatic machines for the production of can bodies.

[0009] US 1 967 254 A describes a mechanism for feeding can ends.

[0010] Can-sealing machines are known from the prior art in which lids are fed via a destacking screw driven by a servo motor. The operation of the destacking screw is synchronized with the drive of another unit by a purely electrical control system. In such known machines, the lid feeding is interrupted by stopping the separate servo drive of the destacking screw. A mechanical coupling of the destacking screw to the drive of the other unit is not provided. Description of the invention

[0011] Starting from the known state of the art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a further improved device for feeding lids to a can sealer.

[0012] The problem is solved by a device for feeding lids to a can sealer with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0013] Accordingly, a device for feeding lids to a can seamer is proposed, comprising a destacking screw for conveying lids fed via a lid feeder and for transferring the lids to a downstream transport and / or processing unit in a division-compliant manner, and a stop device for interrupting the feeding of the lids to the downstream transport and / or processing unit in the event of a production interruption. According to the invention, the stop device is formed by the destacking screw.

[0014] The device for feeding lids to a can seamer serves to provide lids for sealing filled cans in a can-filling plant. The can-filling plant can be designed for filling cans for the beverage industry, cans for canned goods, or cans for non-food products in all possible and suitable sizes.

[0015] The destacking screw is designed to convey the lids fed in via the lid feeder and deliver them in the correct order to a downstream transport and / or processing unit. For this purpose, the destacking screw has, for example, a spiral groove that engages with an edge section of each can lid and then conveys it towards the downstream transport and / or processing unit. In other words, the can lids are moved individually out of the lid feeder. The lids are only conveyed when the destacking screw is rotating.

[0016] A transfer process tailored to the downstream transport and / or processing equipment is understood as one that is coordinated with the downstream system. The transfer of lids therefore does not occur continuously, but rather in a timed manner, i.e., only when a lid is needed for a filled and sealed can in the downstream transport and / or processing equipment. This timed transfer can be achieved, for example, through the geometry of the spiral groove of the destacking screw, the geometry of the destacking screw itself, and / or the drive mechanism of the destacking screw.

[0017] The downstream transport and / or treatment unit receives the lids provided by the destacking screw. The downstream transport and / or treatment unit then either transports the lids provided by the destacking screw to another downstream transport and / or treatment unit or performs a treatment step directly. Treatment steps can include, for example, gas purging and / or sterilizing the lids, placing the lids onto filled cans, or sealing the cans by folding the lids.

[0018] The lids can also be sterilized before the destacking screw, for example, on the stack of lids from which they are destackled for individual removal by the destacking screw. Subsequently, the headspace of the can to be sealed can also be fumigated, thus resulting in under-lid fumigation.

[0019] The downstream transport and / or treatment system can be designed in the form of rotating transfer and / or treatment stars. Linear transport systems, for example in the form of conveyor belts, are also possible.

[0020] The stop device's function is to halt the transfer of lids fed via the lid feeder and conveyed by the destacking screw, when necessary. This prevents, for example, the conveying of further lids even though no cans to be sealed are being conveyed in the downstream transport and / or processing unit, and therefore no lids need to be supplied.

[0021] The proposed stopping device is to interrupt the conveying of lids by stopping the destacking screw. The destacking screw thus fulfills both the function of a conveying device for the lids and the function of a stopping device to retain the can lids.

[0022] Because the stop mechanism is integrated into the destacking screw, an additional holding device to retain the lids during production interruptions is no longer required. This eliminates the need for the additional, usually pneumatically controlled, holding knife assembly. Since this assembly is no longer needed, the design of the device for feeding lids to a can seamer is simplified. This simpler design allows for easier cleaning of the system, which in turn improves overall product quality and stability.

[0023] Because no additional holding device, such as a holding knife, is required, which would otherwise need to be laboriously adjusted and readjusted when changing lid size and / or type, system changeovers are simplified, significantly reducing changeover time when switching between containers. Since the destacking screw itself acts as a stop device, eliminating the need for an additional holding knife, the removal of fine metal shavings from the lids due to incorrect extension of the holding knife is also prevented. This eliminates the risk of lid damage during production interruptions and, consequently, the risk of metal shavings contaminating the finished product. Overall, this results in higher product quality, improved product stability, and enhanced consumer safety.

[0024] In a non-inventive alternative, the destacking screw is driven independently of the downstream transport and / or processing device. In contrast to the devices known from the prior art for feeding lids to a can sealer, in which the destacking screw is driven by the drive of the downstream transport and / or processing device, the non-inventive alternative for feeding lids to a can sealer provides a separate drive for the destacking screw, which can be operated independently of the drive of the downstream transport and / or processing device.

[0025] Due to the separate drive of the destacking screw (not according to the invention), it is also possible, in the event of a production interruption (for example, when no cans to be sealed are being conveyed in the downstream transport and / or treatment unit), to stop the destacking screw independently of the drive of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit. In other words, the downstream transport and / or treatment unit continues to run during a production interruption, whereas the destacking screw is stopped. This was previously not possible by coupling the destacking screw to the drive of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit.

[0026] Because the destacking screw can be driven independently of the downstream transport and / or treatment equipment and can therefore also be stopped independently, the destacking screw simultaneously fulfills the function of a conveying device for can lids from lids fed via a lid feeder and for the division-compliant transfer of the lids to a downstream transport and / or treatment equipment as well as the function of a stop device to retain the can lids in the event of a production interruption.

[0027] If, for example, no lids are to be provided for sealing filled cans, the destacking screw can be stopped, while the downstream transport and / or processing equipment continues to operate. This prevents unnecessary disruption to the filling process and avoids stopping the entire filling line. When the destacking screw is stopped, no further lids are conveyed. Therefore, an additional holding device for the lids is no longer required.

[0028] When lids need to be reinserted, the destacking screw drive is restarted and the corresponding lids are conveyed. This eliminates the need for a complex extending and retracting of a holding device with additional pneumatic control.

[0029] In a further alternative not according to the invention, the destacking screw has a separate drive, preferably a servo drive, wherein the separate drive can be operated independently of the drive of the downstream transport and / or processing device. The servo drive allows the rotational speed and acceleration of the destacking screw drive to be controlled, thus enabling perfect coordination with the production or sealing process.

[0030] Furthermore, in a manner not according to the invention, the drive of the destacking screw is synchronized with the drive of the downstream transport and / or treatment device in order to synchronize the destacking screw with the downstream transport and / or treatment device again after a stop and to achieve a feeding in accordance with the division.

[0031] In a further alternative not according to the invention, the drive of the destacking screw is synchronized with the drive of the downstream transport and / or treatment device via a software coupling, preferably via Drive PLC (Powerline Communication).

[0032] The downstream transport and / or processing unit determines the intake speed and the spacing for the lids to be fed in. After the destacking screw stops independently of the downstream transport and / or processing unit, it must be restarted promptly. This is achieved through software-based coupling, preferably a drive PLC, between the destacking screw and the downstream transport and / or processing unit. This allows the speed and acceleration of the downstream transport and / or processing unit to be detected, and the destacking screw to be restarted accordingly.This ensures that the destacking screw achieves a dispensing speed and lid division that exactly matches the intake speed and lid division in the downstream transport and / or treatment facility as soon as cans to be resealed are conveyed in the downstream transport and / or treatment facility after a production interruption and lids need to be provided.

[0033] According to the invention, the destacking screw is mechanically coupled to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit and is driven by the drive of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit, wherein the destacking screw can be decoupled from the downstream transport and / or treatment unit to interrupt the lid feed. The destacking screw can also be coupled to a drive via a movement of the carousel of the can filler or via a movement of a capper.

[0034] In other words, when lids are being conveyed, the destacking screw is mechanically connected to the downstream conveying and / or processing unit, or the carousel of the can filler or capper, such that it is driven by the drive of the downstream conveying and / or processing unit, or the can filler or capper. When lids are not being conveyed, i.e., when the destacking screw is to be stopped, the mechanical connection between the destacking screw and the downstream conveying and / or processing unit, or the carousel of the can filler or capper, is temporarily disconnected, thus preventing the destacking screw from being driven by the drive of the downstream conveying and / or processing unit, or the can filler or capper.The downstream transport and / or treatment equipment or the carousel of the can filler or the capper continues to be driven in the decoupled state, whereas the destacking screw is no longer driven and consequently does not convey any lids.

[0035] The mechanical and detachable coupling of the destacking screw with the downstream transport and / or treatment unit or the carousel of the can filler or capper provides a simple mechanism with which the destacking screw can be stopped independently of the drive of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit or the can filler or capper, or with which the conveying of lids can be interrupted independently of the operation of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit or the can filler or capper.An additional holding device is also not required here, since the destacking screw fulfills the function of a conveying device in the coupled state and the function of a stop device in the decoupled state, because it is no longer driven by the drive of the downstream transport and / or treatment device or the can filler or the capper.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the downstream transport and / or treatment device is a gassing star for gassing the can lids. Generally, gassing refers to the process of introducing a protective gas into the contents of a package after evacuation or by gas purging, e.g., to extend shelf life. To keep oxygen uptake low during can filling, the air from the can's headspace is displaced by gassing the lid with an inert gas immediately before sealing. Gassing is also used to kill germs on packaged goods, packaging materials, and packaging materials with a suitable gas.

[0037] Preferably, the downstream transport and / or treatment facility can also be a can sealer. Brief description of the characters

[0038] Preferred further embodiments of the invention and alternatives not in accordance with the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures. These show: Fig. 1A A schematic top view of an outflow area of ​​a filler carousel with downstream can sealer during the transfer of lids, Fig. 1B a schematic top view of a discharge area of ​​a filler carousel of a can filler and a downstream can capper during the transfer of lids in a further embodiment, Fig. 2 a schematic, partially cut-away side view of a device not according to the invention for feeding lids to a can sealer, wherein lids are conveyed by a destacking screw driven by its own drive, Fig. 3 the device of Fig. 2, wherein the drive of the destacking screw is stopped and no lids are conveyed, Fig. Figures 4A to 4E schematically show in a top view a synchronization of the non-inventive drive of the destacking screw and the drive of a downstream transport and / or treatment device, Fig. 5 a schematic, partially cut-away side view of a device according to the invention for feeding lids to a can sealer, wherein a destacking screw is mechanically coupled to the downstream transport and / or treatment device and lids are conveyed, and Fig. 6 the device of the Fig. 5, wherein the destacking screw is decoupled from the downstream transport and / or treatment equipment and no lids are conveyed. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0039] Preferred embodiments and non-inventive alternatives are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar, or equivalent elements in the different figures are designated with identical reference numerals, and repeated descriptions of these elements are sometimes omitted to avoid redundancy.

[0040] In Fig. Figure 1A shows a schematic top view of the discharge area of ​​a can filler 41, to which a schematically indicated capper 43 is attached. Cans 20 to be filled are filled with the desired product in the can filler 41.

[0041] Basically, the filling of the cans 20 in the can filler 41 includes, for example, the following steps: Inserting the cans 20 to be filled into the can filler 41, rinsing the cans 20 with CO2 and pre-pressurizing them with CO2, filling with a carbonated filling product, and slow pressure release to prevent foaming.

[0042] In another operating mode, still filling products can also be filled, so that at least the pre-pressurization of the can 20 with CO2 can be dispensed with.

[0043] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1A, the cans 22 filled in this way are then transported out of the can filler 41 without lids 21 after the filling process.

[0044] To close the filled cans 22, suitable can lids 21 must be provided. The can lids 21 are provided by a device 1 for feeding can lids. Here, lids 21 fed into a lid feeder 16 are removed by a rotating destacking screw 10 and transferred to a downstream transport device 30. The downstream transport device 30 is designed as a conveyor in the form of a star wheel, into whose transport pockets the lids destacking by the destacking screw 10 are transferred.

[0045] From the downstream transport unit 30, the lids 21 are transferred to a sealer 43, where the cans 23 are joined together with the lids 21 in such a way as to create a gas- and liquid-tight package. The lids 21 can be placed on the cans 20 in the sealer 43 and then sealed to them in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner.

[0046] However, the transfer of the lids 21 to the cans 20 can in principle also take place at a different position in front of the capper.

[0047] In an alternative embodiment of the device, which is in Fig. Figure 1B shows a schematic top view of the discharge area of ​​a can filler 41, to which a schematically indicated capper 43 is attached. Cans 20 to be filled are filled with the desired product in the can filler 41.

[0048] As in Fig. As shown in 1A, they are also shown in the embodiment of the Fig. 1B the cans 22 filled in this way are then transported out of the can filler 41 after the filling process, initially without lids 21.

[0049] To close the filled cans 22, suitable can lids 21 must be provided. The can lids 21 are provided by a can lid feeding device 1. In this device, lids 21 fed into a lid feeder 16 are removed via a rotating destacking screw 10 and transferred to a downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. The downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 can, for example, be configured as a fumigation star, in which the lids 21 are fumigated with inert gas to displace oxygen or with a suitable gas to kill germs. From the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30, the lids 21 are transported via a transport star 40 and placed onto the filled cans 22.Filled cans 23 with lids 21 in place are then conveyed via a conveyor belt 42 to a capper 43, in which the cans 23 with their lids 21 are sealed together to form a gas- and liquid-tight package. The capper 43 comprises the following elements (not shown): a spring-loaded quill plate, a capping head, and a capping roller.

[0050] When a can 23 is sealed in the capper 43, the attached lid 21 is crimped tightly to the can rim of the can 23 in two successive steps, creating a gas- and liquid-tight seal. In the capper 43, the cans 23 to be sealed are first lifted by the quill plate and pressed against a capping head with the attached lid 21. The capping head, which rotates with the can, holds the lid 21 in position, while the counter-rotating capping roller presses against the capping head, bending the outer part of the lid 21 downwards around the can rim of the can 23. In a second step, the seal between the can 23 and the lid 21 is made gas- and liquid-tight by pressing the capping roller.Sealed cans 24 are transported from the capper 43 via a discharge star 44 and, for example, passed on to an inspection device (not shown) to check the fill level.

[0051] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic, partially cutaway side view of the device 1 for feeding lids 21 to the can sealer 43, wherein the lids 21 are conveyed by a destacking screw 10 driven by its own drive 12. The drive 12 is preferably a servo drive or another individually controllable actuator.

[0052] The lids 21 to be conveyed are fed into the lid feeder 16, which is located directly above the destacking screw 10. The lids 21 are conveyed downwards towards the destacking screw 10 either by gravity alone or by a corresponding drive (not shown). The destacking screw 10 is driven by the drive 12, causing it to perform a rotational movement, indicated by an arrow 13. The destacking screw 10 has a helical groove 11, which engages with an edge region of each individual lid 21. The helical groove 11 is shaped such that it can move a single lid 21 from the feeder 16 and convey and discharge it downwards towards the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 by the rotational movement 13 of the destacking screw 10.After a single lid 21 has been delivered to the subsequent transport and / or treatment unit 30, the destacking screw 10 continues to rotate and can again pick up a single lid 21 from the feeder 16 and convey it to the subsequent transport and / or treatment unit 30.

[0053] Fig. Figure 2 further shows the transport and / or treatment unit 30 following the destacking screw 10, which has a separate drive 31. The following transport and / or treatment unit 30 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow 32.

[0054] The drive 31 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 and the drive 12 of the destacking screw 10 are coordinated such that the discharge speed of the destacking screw 10 of lids 21 from the feeder 16 corresponds exactly to the intake speed of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. This ensures that for each can to be filled and sealed (in Fig. (2 not shown) a lid 21 is provided in time and there are no delays or disruptions.

[0055] Fig. Figure 3 shows the device 1 of the Fig. 2, wherein the drive 12 of the destacking screw 10 is stopped and no lids 21 are conveyed. In contrast to Fig. 2. No lids 21 will now be dispensed from the destacking screw 10 to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. This is the case, for example, if no cans 23 to be sealed are conveyed in the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 and therefore no lids 21 need to be provided. As in Fig. 2 The transport and / or treatment device 30 downstream of the destacking screw 10 is driven in the direction of arrow 32 by means of the drive 31. In contrast to Fig. 2. However, the destacking screw 10 is stopped, i.e., it is no longer driven by the drive 12. The downstream transport and / or treatment device 30 therefore continues to rotate, whereas the destacking screw 10 is stationary. Because the destacking screw 10 can only convey lids by means of the spiral groove 11 when it is driven by the drive 12, i.e., rotating, no lids 21 are conveyed when the destacking screw 10 is stationary. The destacking screw 10 thus fulfills the function of a stop device when it is not driven. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the stationary destacking screw 10 stops the feeder 16 storing lids 21, thus preventing any lids 21 from being conveyed to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. Because the destacking screw 10 can be stopped independently of the drive 31 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30, it fulfills the function of both a conveying and a stopping device, eliminating the need for an additional holding device to keep the lids 21 in the event of a production interruption.

[0056] Fig. Figures 4A to 4E schematically show a top view of the synchronization of the drive 12 of the destacking screw 10 and the drive 31 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. The synchronization comprises the phases engagement, synchronous operation, and disengagement. Engagement refers to the step in which the drive 12 of the destacking screw 10 is restarted after the destacking screw 10 has stopped, for example, due to a production interruption, during which the drive 31 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 continues to run, in order to accelerate to the speed of the drive 31 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 in a timely manner.

[0057] In Fig. Figure 4A shows a schematic top view of a possible arrangement of the destacking screw 10 with respect to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 and a cover 21. The destacking screw 10 has a helical groove 11 with a sickle chamfer 15 and a separating blade 14. The helical groove 11 and the sickle chamfer 15 serve to separate a single cover 21 from a (in Fig. 4A (not shown) the lid feeder picks up the lid 21 and conveys it by a rotational movement 13 towards the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. The separating knife 14 then discharges the lid 21 to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30, and the destacking screw 10 can again pick up a single lid 21 from the lid feeder 16. The downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30 has a plurality of pockets 35 along its circumference into which the lids 21 conveyed by the destacking screw 10 are discharged.

[0058] In Fig. Figure 4B shows the initial position of the destacking screw 10 and the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. The initial position describes the state in which the destacking screw 10 is stopped due to a production interruption, i.e., it is not rotating. The downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30, on the other hand, is driven by the drive 31 and rotates in the direction of arrow 32. In this state, the destacking screw 10 functions as a stop device; the lids 21 are therefore not conveyed but are held back in the lid feeder. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in diagram 4B, the lid 21 rests on the destacking screw 10, but not on the sickle chamfer 15. Once the production interruption is lifted, the drive 12 of the destacking screw 10 must be restarted. This occurs during the engagement step. Here, the drive 12 begins to drive the destacking screw 10 so that a lid 21 can be provided in time. The start command for the drive 12 is issued one division earlier, i.e., at the first pocket 35a, so that a lid 21 can be provided in time for the subsequent second pocket 35b. By the time the destacking screw 10 is positioned above the second pocket 35b, it has already reached the required speed.

[0059] In Fig. Figure 4C schematically shows the synchronous position of the drive 12 of the destacking screw 10 and the drive 31 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. The drive 12 accelerates, as shown in Fig. As described in section 4B, the process continues until the synchronization position is reached. At this synchronization position, synchronous operation is established between the destacking screw 10 and the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. Here, a lid 21 is separated from the lid feeder 16 via the sickle chamfer 15 and the separating knife 14.

[0060] In Fig. Figure 4D schematically depicts the synchronous operation of the drive 12 of the destacking screw 10 and the drive 31 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. During synchronous operation, the discharge speed of the lids 21 from the destacking screw 10 corresponds to the intake speed of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30. The destacking screw 10 therefore rotates at precisely the speed necessary to ensure that exactly one lid 21 is provided for each pocket 35 in a timely manner, i.e., delivered from the destacking screw 10 to a pocket 35 by means of the separating knife 14. The synchronous operation continues until a production interruption occurs, i.e., until lids 21 need to be provided in the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 30.

[0061] In Fig. Figure 4E schematically depicts the disengagement position. Disengagement means that the destacking screw 10 is slowed down and stopped in the event of a production interruption, while the downstream transport and / or processing unit 30 continues to be driven. If a production interruption occurs, the signal to stop the destacking screw 10 is given one division earlier, i.e., at the first pocket 35c, so that no cover 21 is dispensed into the subsequent second pocket 35d. The destacking screw 10 is therefore slowed down in the area of ​​the first pocket 35c, so that it is already completely stationary in the area of ​​the second pocket 35d and thus does not dispense a cover 21 into pocket 35d, but instead resumes its function as a stop device, as shown in Figure 4E. Fig. 4B explained, fulfilled.

[0062] Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic, partially cutaway side view of a device 100 for feeding lids 121 to a can seamer 143, wherein a destacking screw 110 is mechanically coupled to a downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130 and lids 121 are conveyed to it. The lids 121 to be conveyed are fed via a lid feeder 116, which is arranged directly above the destacking screw 110. The lids 121 are conveyed either downwards towards the destacking screw 110 by gravity alone or by a corresponding drive (not shown). A transport and / or treatment unit 130 downstream of the destacking screw 110 is also shown, which has a drive 131. The downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130 rotates in the direction indicated by an arrow 132.The downstream transport and / or treatment device 130 has a mechanical coupling device 133 with a coupling area 134. This mechanical coupling device 133 is detachably connected to the destacking screw 110 via the coupling area 134 such that the destacking screw 110 is driven, i.e., rotated, by the drive 131 of the downstream transport and / or treatment device 130 in the direction of arrow 113.

[0063] The destacking screw 110 therefore has no drive of its own, but is detachably coupled to the drive 131 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130. The destacking screw 110 has a spiral groove 111 which can receive a single lid 121 from the feeder 116 and deliver it to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130. The spiral groove 111 is shaped such that it can receive a single lid 121 from the feeder 116 and, through the rotational movement 113 of the destacking screw 110, convey and deliver it downwards towards the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130. After a single lid 116 has been delivered to the subsequent transport and / or treatment unit 130, the destacking screw 110 continues to rotate and can again pick up a single lid 121 from the feeder 116 and convey it to the subsequent transport and / or treatment unit 130.

[0064] Fig. Figure 6 shows the device 100 of the Fig. 5, wherein the destacking screw 110 is decoupled from the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130 and no lids 21 are conveyed. In contrast to Fig. 5. No lids 21 will now be dispensed from the destacking screw 110 to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130. This is the case, for example, if no cans 23 to be sealed are conveyed in the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130 and therefore no lids 21 need to be provided. As in Fig. 5 The transport and / or treatment device 130 downstream of the stacking screw 110 is driven in the direction of arrow 132 by means of a drive 131.

[0065] As opposed to Fig. At position 5, the destacking screw 110 is stopped. The destacking screw 110 is decoupled from the coupling area 134 of the mechanical coupling device 133. In the decoupled state, the destacking screw 110 is no longer driven by the drive 131 of the downstream transport and / or treatment device 130. The coupling or decoupling of the destacking screw 110 and the mechanical coupling device 133 can be effected by a vertical or horizontal movement of the destacking screw 110 or the coupling device 133, as indicated, for example, by an arrow 114. The downstream transport and / or treatment device 130 thus continues to rotate, while the destacking screw 110 remains stationary.

[0066] Because the destacking screw 110 can only convey lids 21 via the spiral groove 111 when it is driven by the drive 112, i.e., when it is rotating, no lids 21 are conveyed when the destacking screw 110 is stationary. The destacking screw 110 thus functions as a stop device when it is not driven. As in Fig.As shown in Figure 6, the stationary destacking screw 110 of the feeder 116 stops, storing lids 21, thus preventing any lids 21 from being conveyed to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130. Because the destacking screw 110 can be stopped independently of the drive 131 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 130, i.e., decoupled from the drive 131 of the downstream transport and / or treatment unit 131, it fulfills the function of both a conveying and a stopping device. Therefore, no additional holding device is necessary to retain the lids 21 in the event of a production interruption.

[0067] Where applicable, all individual features shown in the exemplary embodiments can be combined and / or exchanged without leaving the scope of the invention. Reference symbol list 1, 100 Device for feeding lids to a can sealer 10, 110 Stacking screw 11, 11 spiral groove 12 Drive of the destacking screw 13, 113 Direction of rotation of the destacking screw 14 cutting knives 15 sickle-shaped 16, 116 Lid feed 20 cans 21 lids 22 filled cans without lids 23 cans with loose lids 24 sealed cans 30, 130 Transport / Treatment Facility 31, 131 Drive of the transport / treatment device 32, 132 Direction of rotation of the transport / treatment device 35 bags 40 transfer stars 41 can fillers 42 conveyor belt 43, 143 sealers 44 Outlet star 114 Direction of movement of the destacking screw 133 mechanical coupling device 134 Coupling area

Claims

[1] Device (1) for feeding lids (21) to a can seamer, comprising a destacking screw (110) for conveying lids (21) fed via a lid feeder (16) and for transferring the lids (21) to a downstream transport and / or treatment unit (130) in a division-appropriate manner, further comprising a stop device for interrupting the feeding of the lids (21) to the downstream transport and / or treatment unit (130) in the event of a production interruption, wherein the stop device is formed by the destacking screw (110), characterized by , that the destacking screw (110) is mechanically coupled to the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130) or a can filler or a capper (43) and is driven via the drive (131) of the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130) or of the can filler or capper (43), wherein the destacking screw (110) can be decoupled from the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130) or of the can filler or capper (43) in the event of a production interruption. [2] Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the stopping device is formed by the stacking screw (10) so that the conveying of lids (12) is interrupted by stopping the stacking screw (10), whereby the downstream transport and / or treatment device (30) continues to run during the interruption of production. [3] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the downstream transport and / or treatment facility (130) is a fumigation star for fumigating the can lids (21). [4] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the downstream transport and / or treatment facility (130) is a can sealer. [5] Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130) has a mechanical coupling device (133) with a coupling area (134), wherein the mechanical coupling device (133) is detachably connected to the stacking screw (110) via the coupling area (134) such that the stacking screw (110) is rotated via the drive (131) of the downstream transport and / or treatment device (130).

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