Seaming-shaft device for a seamer

Abstract

The invention relates to a seaming-shaft device (1) for a seamer (14) comprising a seaming shaft (3, 3A), which is rotatable about a seaming axis (X), a seaming means (2, 10), which is arranged detachably on an end of the seaming shaft (3, 3A), and a fastening mechanism for fastening the seaming means (2, 10) on the seaming shaft (3, 3A), wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a locking element (4) and a fastening element (5) that can be arranged between the locking element (4) and the seaming means (2, 10). The locking element (5) and the seaming means (2, 10) are movable in relation to one another along the seaming axis (X) in such a way that the seaming means (2, 10) can be brought from a locking state into an unlocking state, and in the locking state the fastening element (5) is clamped in between the seaming means (2, 10) and the locking element (4) in such a way that the seaming means (2, 10) is fixed on the seaming shaft (3, 3A), wherein, by bringing the seaming means (2, 10) from the locking state into the unlocking state, the fastening element (5) can be unclamped, and so the seaming means (210) is arranged detachably on the end of the seaming shaft (3, 3A).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a folding shaft device for a closer. The invention further relates to a closer with a folding shaft device according to the invention, as well as a method for replacing a folding means.

[0002] When filling beverage cans or food cans, after being filled with the beverage or food, the cans pass through a can seamer, where the filled can bodies feed in via one feed path and can ends feed in via another feed path. The can seamer usually has several similar stations arranged in a carousel, in each of which a can is sealed with a can end. The can ends are guided onto the can bodies and held to the can body by a holding plate of a seaming head. This holding also serves to fix the cans and prevent them from breaking out of the circular path followed by the cans in the can seamer due to centrifugal force. In the can seamer, the can bodies and can ends are seamed at the edges by a seaming roller and thus sealed.Typically, the can and its end are also rotated around their own axis of symmetry by the seaming head. The seaming rollers and heads are arranged on a respective seaming shaft for rotation.

[0003] A generic can seamer is described in DE 749636 and DE 4234115 A1. The can seamer comprises a clamping device for holding a can to be sealed. In operation, the can to be sealed is inserted into the clamping device and secured by it in the axial and radial directions. Likewise, a can end is centered over the can opening of the can to be sealed. The can has a circumferential can flange in the area of the can opening, and the can end has a circumferential can end flange. To close the can opening with the can end, the can seamer additionally comprises two seaming rollers, each rotatable about an axis, which press the can flange and the can end flange together using a substantially radial force. The pressing takes place by continuous rolling in the circumferential direction along the circumference of the can opening.Another can seamer is known from GB 2098899 A. The can seamer comprises a clamping device for holding the can to be sealed and a seaming roller. In operation, the can to be sealed is inserted into the clamping device and secured axially and radially by it. A can end is also centered over the opening of the can to be sealed. The can has a circumferential can flange in the area of the can opening of the can body, and the can end has a circumferential can end flange.

[0004] Different container shapes can be sealed with a single seamer if the seaming tools (sealing roller and seaming head) are adapted to the corresponding container dimensions. To do this, the seaming tools must be removed from the seamer and reattached to it.

[0005] A major disadvantage of the devices known from the state of the art is that changing the folding means is time-consuming and complicated.

[0006] US 2011 / 033265 discloses a folding shaft device with a folding shaft rotatable about a folding axis.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a folding shaft device for a seamer that avoids the adverse effects known from the prior art. In particular, a folding shaft device and a seamer are to be provided that significantly reduce downtimes due to tool changes.

[0008] The object is achieved by a folding shaft device according to the invention, as well as a closer comprising the folding shaft device according to the invention and by the method according to the invention for exchanging a folding means.

[0009] According to the invention, a folding shaft device for a closer is proposed, comprising a folding shaft rotatable about a folding axis, a folding means removably arranged at one end of the folding shaft, and a fastening mechanism for fastening the folding means to the folding shaft. The fastening mechanism comprises a locking element and a fastening element that can be arranged between the locking element and the folding means.

[0010] The folding shaft device according to the invention is characterized in that the locking element and the folding means are movable relative to one another along the folding axis in such a way that the folding means can be brought from a locking state into an unlocking state, and the fastening element is clamped between the folding means and the locking element in the locking state in such a way that the folding means is fixed to the folding shaft (in particular is axially fixed with respect to the folding axis, i.e. is arranged on the folding shaft and is axially secured), wherein the fastening element can be unclamped by bringing the folding means from the locking state into the unlocking state, so that the folding means is removably arranged at the end of the folding shaft.

[0011] The folding axis is the axis around which the folding device rotates during operation when closing a container. The folding device can be a folding roller, which is guided to a fold of the container during operation to close the container by folding. The folding device can also be a folding head, which clamps and rotates the container to rotate the container (around the folding axis).

[0012] A radial direction runs orthogonally to the folding axis, in which radial direction clamping forces in the locked state mainly act through the fastening element between the folding means and the locking element for fastening the folding means to the folding shaft.

[0013] The invention further proposes a method for exchanging a folding means in a folding device according to the invention. The locking element and the folding means are moved relative to each other along the folding axis, so that the folding means is moved from a locked state to an unlocked state, thereby releasing the fastening element. Once the fastening element is released, clamping forces are no longer exerted, allowing the folding means to be easily removed from the end of the folding shaft and replaced / exchanged with another folding means.

[0014] The relative movement of the locking element and the folding means preferably increases the distance between the locking element and the folding means such that the fastening element no longer exerts sufficient clamping forces between the locking element and the folding means, thereby bringing the folding means into the unlocked state. Alternatively, the relative movement could also change the orientation of the fastening element such that sufficient clamping forces are no longer exerted between the locking element and the folding means.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the relative movement (the relative mobility) of the locking element and the folding means along the folding axis relative to one another occurs in that the locking element is movable along the folding axis (and the folding means is fixed relative to the folding shaft until it is transferred into the unlocked state), so that the folding means can be brought from the locked state to the unlocked state by the movement of the locking element along the folding axis. In this case, the locking element can be moved along the folding axis via a corresponding mechanism, for example triggered by a button / switch. For this purpose, the mechanism exerts an axial force (in the direction of the folding axis) on the locking element. The axial force can be applied, for example, via a pneumatic, hydraulic or mechanical mechanism such as a spring.

[0016] The fact that the folding means is arranged removably at the end of the folding shaft can be understood within the scope of the invention in such a way that the folding means is fixed to the folding shaft via the fastening mechanism for the operating state (closing a container / folding a can) and can be removed from the folding shaft for replacement by loosening the fastening mechanism (bringing / transferring from the locked state to the unlocked state).

[0017] In a particularly important embodiment, the locking element is designed as a cone. The cone is (comprising) preferably a right circular truncated cone, which is arranged with its cone axis along, in particular in, the fold axis. The cone axis is the axis that runs through the centers of the circular surfaces of the truncated cone. The truncated cone therefore has a first circular surface and a second circular surface. A first radius of the first circular surface is smaller than a second radius of the second circular surface. When changing from the locked state to the unlocked state, the truncated cone is moved along the fold axis such that the first circular surface is moved in the direction of the fastening element. As a result, the distance between the cone and the folding means is increased by the movement from the locked state to the unlocked state such that the fastening element is unclamped.

[0018] The first radius can be 0.1 to 0.8 times, in particular 0.2 to 0.6 times as large as the second radius.

[0019] In practice, the folding means may comprise a groove, in particular a circumferential groove, in which the fastening element is arranged in the locked state. This groove additionally stabilizes the folding means in the axial direction in the locked state.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the fastening mechanism can comprise a spring mechanism with a compression spring. The spring mechanism can be arranged on the locking element in such a way that the locking element can be moved from the locked state to the unlocked state by an expansion of the compression spring. Particularly preferably, the compression spring can act on a cone / truncated cone as described above.

[0021] In practice, the fastening mechanism can comprise a plurality of fastening elements. Furthermore, the fastening element can be configured as a sphere, an ellipsoid, or a cuboid. In a further embodiment, a surface of the cone / truncated cone can be straight or curved. If the surface is curved, this can preferably be combined with the sphere / ellipsoid as the fastening element, as this allows for a fluid movement (easier movement) of the fastening element when transitioning from the locked state to the unlocked state.

[0022] The folding shaft device may comprise a sleeve arranged between the locking element and the folding means, wherein the sleeve comprises a recess in which sleeve the fastening element is arranged in the locked state.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the folding shaft device can comprise an ejection element arranged in the folding shaft. The folding means is the folding head, which fixes the container in place, and the ejection element is arranged so as to be movable along the folding axis that the container can be ejected in the operating state.

[0024] According to the invention, a closer for closing a container comprising a folding shaft device according to the invention is further proposed. The closer is preferably designed as a can closer.

[0025] The container can be a can with a can lid, which are folded together by the can seamer.

[0026] To close the can, the can seamer preferably comprises one or more seaming rollers (as known from the prior art) and a seaming shaft device with a seaming head as the seaming means. In operation, the seaming rollers, with their respective seaming profiles, are brought into contact with a can end flange of the can end and a can flange of the can. By rotating the can, the seaming roller is then rotated in the circumferential direction of the can, seaming the can flange with the can end flange. To rotate the can, the can is preferably clamped between the seaming head and a support, with the seaming head rotating with the seaming shaft around the seaming axis.

[0027] In the context of the invention, a can can be understood as a rotationally symmetrical container that is sealed by means of the can seamer and the associated seaming roller. A can can preferably be made of a metal, in particular aluminum or steel.

[0028] In principle, the seamer according to the invention can be analogous to the can seamers already known from the prior art, but differs in the folding shaft device. This offers the advantage that known can seamers / seamers can be modified with the folding shaft device according to the invention, thus avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0029] In practice, the can seamer, as in the prior art, comprises a clamping device consisting of a seaming head and a support with which the can is fixed in the axial and radial directions for closing and can be rotated in the circumferential direction.

[0030] In principle, the seamer can preferably use at least two seaming rollers, preferably with different seam profiles, so that cans can be sealed according to a double seam principle, in which the cans are generally sealed in two stages. Each seaming roller is responsible for each stage. The first seaming roller creates a pre-seam, while the second seaming roller completely seals the can / container.

[0031] In the following, the invention and the prior art are explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a can closer according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of a can closer; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a folding shaft device according to the invention.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a closure arrangement 1000 according to the invention.

[0033] The closure assembly 1000 for closing a container 100 comprises a lid supply device 11 for supplying a lid 101 to the container 100, a gassing rotor 15 for supplying gas to the container 100, and a closure device 14 for closing the container 100 with the lid 101.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the closer 14 is preferably designed as a can closer 14. The container 100 is a can 100, which is seamed in the can closer 14.

[0035] In the operating state, the lid 101 is introduced into the closing assembly 1000 along the arrow C by the lid feed device 11. The lids 101 are arranged on the gassing rotor 15. The rotation of the gassing rotor 15 transports the lids 101 further. The containers 100 are then introduced into the container receptacles 17 of the gassing rotor 15 by the container feed 12. There, the container 100 is gassed with a gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen in region D and combined with the lid 101.

[0036] The gassing takes place along the arrow B with the gas supply 16. After the gassing, the container 100 with the lid 101 is passed through the container discharge 13 from the gassing rotor 15 to the closer 14 and closed there.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows a side view of a can sealer 14 according to the invention with a can 100 to be sealed and a can lid 101.

[0038] According to Fig. 2 The can seamer 14 comprises a clamping device, which includes a can support 22 and a seaming head 2, and a seaming roller 10 rotatably mounted about the seaming shaft 3', with a seaming roller profile 111. The can end 101 is arranged centered above the opening of the can 100. The can 100 has a circumferential can flange in the area of the can opening, and the can end 101 has a circumferential can flange.

[0039] During the closing process, the seaming roller 10 is brought into contact with the can flange and the can end flange via the seaming roller profile 111. The can flange and the can end flange are pressed together by means of a substantially radial force via the seaming roller 10. The pressing takes place by continuously rolling the seaming roller 10 in the circumferential direction along the circumference of the can opening. By seaming the can 100 with the can end 101, a double seam is preferably created.

[0040] For seaming, the can 100 is rotated by the clamping device by rotating the seaming head 2 with the seaming shaft 3 around the seaming axis X.

[0041] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a folding shaft device 1 according to the invention.

[0042] The folding shaft device 1 comprises the folding shaft 3 which can be rotated about the folding axis X. The folding head 2 is arranged as a folding means removably at one end of the folding shaft 3 and is fastened to the folding shaft 3 by a fastening mechanism for fastening the folding head 2.

[0043] The fastening mechanism comprises a locking element 4 and a fastening element 5 arranged between the locking element 4 and the folding head 2.

[0044] The locking element 4 and the folding head 2 are movable relative to one another along the folding axis X such that the folding head 2 can be moved from a locked state to an unlocked state, and the fastening element 5 is clamped between the folding head 2 and the locking element 4 in the locked state such that the folding head 2 is axially fixed to the folding shaft 3. The fastening element 5 can be unclamped by moving the folding head 2 from the locked state to the unlocked state, so that the folding head 2 can be removed from the end of the folding shaft 3. In addition, the folding head can be secured to the folding shaft in a rotationally fixed manner by means of a pin arranged between the folding head and the folding shaft (not shown here).

[0045] The locking element 4 is designed as a cone 41, so that a distance between the cone 41 and the seaming head 2 can be increased by the movement from the locking state to the unlocking state such that the fastening element 5 can be unclamped.

[0046] The cone 41 comprises a right circular truncated cone (section), which is arranged with its cone axis along the fold axis X. The cone axis is the axis that runs through the centers of the circular surfaces of the truncated cone. The truncated cone thus has a first circular surface and a second circular surface. A first radius of the first circular surface is smaller than a second radius of the second circular surface.

[0047] When moving from the locked state to the unlocked state, the cone 41 is moved along the fold axis X in the direction of arrow Z, and the truncated cone with the first radius is brought to an axial height (position along the fold axis X) with the fastening element 5. This increases the distance between the cone 41 and the fold head 2 such that the fastening element 5 is unclamped.

[0048] The folding shaft device 1 according to Fig. 3 is in the locked state. The fastening element 5 is a ball 51 and is partially arranged in a circumferential groove 6 of the seaming head. The fastening mechanism preferably comprises a plurality of balls 51.

[0049] The folding shaft device 1 further comprises a spring mechanism 8 with a compression spring. The spring mechanism 8 is arranged on the cone 41 in such a way that it can displace the cone 41 in the direction of arrow Z by an expansion of the compression spring. In this process, the folding head 2 is moved from the locked state to the unlocked state. For this purpose, the spring mechanism 8 can be triggered by means of a button.

[0050] Furthermore, the folding shaft device 1 comprises Fig. 3 an ejection element 9 arranged in the folding shaft 3. The ejection element 9 extends to the folding head 2, where it ends with an ejector pad 91. The ejection element 9 is arranged to be movable along the folding axis X, so that a container can be ejected in the operating state by moving in the direction of arrow Z.

[0051] In addition, the folding shaft device 1 comprises a sleeve 7 arranged between the cone 41 and the folding head 2, wherein the sleeve 7 comprises a recess 71 in which the ball 51 is arranged in the illustrated locked state. If the cone 41 is moved along the folding axis X in the direction of arrow Z, the ball 51 is unclamped as described above and can exit from the groove 6 of the folding head 2 and the recess 71, whereby the folding head 2 is brought into the unlocked state and can be removed from the end of the folding shaft 3. A new / different folding head can then be attached.

Claims

1. A seaming shaft device for a sealer (14) comprising a seaming shaft (3, 3A) rotatable about a seaming axis (X), a seaming means (2, 10) detachably arranged at one end of the seaming shaft (3, 3A), and a fastening mechanism for fastening the seaming means (2, 10) to the seaming shaft (3, 3A), wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a locking element (4) and a fastening element (5), which can be arranged between the locking element (4) and the seaming means (2, 10), characterized in that the locking element (5) and the seaming means (2, 10) can be moved relative to each other along the seaming axis (X) in such a way that the seaming means (2, 10) can be brought from a locking state to an unlocking state, and the fastening element (5) in the locking state is clamped between the seaming means (2, 10) and the locking element (4) in such a way that the seaming means (2, 10) is fixed to the seaming shaft (3, 3A), wherein the fastening element (5) can be unclamped by bringing the seaming means (2, 10) from the locking state to the unlocking state so that the seaming means (2, 10) is detachably arranged at the end of the seaming shaft (3, 3A).

2. A seaming shaft device according to claim 1, wherein the locking element (4) can be moved along the seaming axis (X) so that the seaming means (2, 10) can be brought from the locking state to the unlocking state.

3. A seaming shaft device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seaming means (2, 10) is a seaming roller (2).

4. A seaming shaft device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the seaming means (2, 10) is a seaming head (10).

5. A seaming shaft device according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (4) is designed as a cone (41) so that a distance between the cone (41) and the seaming means (2, 10) can be increased by the movement from the locking state to the unlocking state in such a way that the fastening element (5) can be unclamped.

6. A seaming shaft device according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the seaming means (2, 10) comprises a groove (6), in particular a circumferential groove (6), in which the fastening element (5) is arranged in the locking state.

7. A seaming shaft device according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a spring mechanism (8) with a compression spring, and the spring mechanism is arranged on the locking element (4) in such a way that the locking element (4) can be moved from the locking state to the unlocking state by an expansion of the compression spring.

8. A seaming shaft device according to anyone of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of fastening elements (5).

9. A seaming shaft device according to anyone of the preceding claims, comprising a sleeve (7) arranged between the locking element (4) and the seaming means (2, 10), the sleeve (7) comprising a recess (71), in which recess (71) the fastening element (5) is arranged in the locking state.

10. A seaming shaft device according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening element (5) is a sphere (51), an ellipsoid or a cuboid.

11. A seaming shaft device according to anyone of the preceding claims, comprising an ejection element (9) arranged on the seaming shaft (3, 3A), wherein the ejection element (9) is arranged movably along the seaming axis (X) in such a way that a container (100) can be ejected in the operating state.

12. A sealer comprising a seaming shaft device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims.

13. A sealer according to claim 12 designed as a can sealer (14).

14. A method for exchanging a seaming means (2, 10) in a seaming shaft device, comprising: a) Providing a seaming shaft device (1) according to anyone of the claims 1 to 11; b) Moving the locking element (4) and the seaming means (2, 10) relative to each other along the seaming axis (X) so that the seaming means (2, 10) is brought from a locking state to an unlocking state, whereby the fastening element (5) is unclamped; c) Detaching the seaming means (2, 10) from the end of the seaming shaft (3, 3A).

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the locking element (4) is moved along the seaming axis (X) so that the seaming means (2, 10) is brought from the locking state to the unlocking state.

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