Can manufacturing device

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a can manufacturing device that has an air supply pipe structure in which piping that supplies compressed air to a plant is simplified.　This can manufacturing device in which processing units are linked is characterized by having two air supply pipes that extend in parallel across the plurality of processing units, wherein air is supplied to one end of each of the two air supply pipes, said one ends being on the same side, the other ends of the two air supply pipes are connected, the two air supply pipes form a loop, and at least one of the air supply pipes has branch pipes for supplying air from said air supply pipe to each processing unit.

Description

Can manufacturing equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a can manufacturing apparatus, and more particularly to a can manufacturing apparatus that uses air.

[0002] Conventionally, the can body forming process in can manufacturing involves drawing and / or drawing and ironing using a press, trimming the edge of the can opening with a trimmer, and then performing a drawing process (necking) to gradually reduce the diameter of the opening and a flanging process to form a flange for tightening the can lid (Patent Document 1). These necking and flanging processes are performed using a necker flanger machine 1. Because the necking process requires multiple steps to form the desired shape, the necker flanger machine 1 is a long plant in which multiple necking units 2, flanging units 3, etc. are connected (see Figures 3(a) and (b)). The multiple necking units 2 then gradually draw the opening of the can body to form the shape of the neck (see Figure 3(c)).

[0003] During necking, the necking tool (insert IS and centering CL) slides as the main turret rotates using the cams on the trim side (opening side) and bottom side of the can body C, and necking is performed while the bottom chuck BC adheres to the bottom of the can body C. During this necking, compressed air is blown into the can body to pressurize it and prevent buckling or deformation (see Figure 4).

[0004] Special Publication No. 2022-546245

[0005] As shown in Figure 5, a single internal air supply pipe 4 is installed as the piping (air supply pipe) for supplying compressed air to each necking processing unit 2 from the front side (can loading side) F to the rear side (can unloading side) R of the plant, and branch air supply pipes 5 are connected to this internal air supply pipe 4 to supply compressed air to each necking processing unit 2. In order to supply compressed air evenly to each of the multiple necking processing units 2 connected to a long plant, a front air connection port 41f and a rear air connection port 41r are provided at two locations on the front side F and rear side R of the single internal air supply pipe 4, respectively, to supply compressed air from outside the plant. In addition, compressed air is supplied to each of the front air connection port 41f and the rear air connection port 41r from an internal building air supply pipe 6 installed in the building that houses the plant. In this piping structure, air connection ports are provided at both ends of the long plant, so it is necessary to install an internal air supply pipe 6 inside the building to supply compressed air to these two air connection ports located at a distance, which poses the problem of high costs for installing and maintaining the internal air supply pipe 6.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a can manufacturing apparatus having an air supply pipe structure that can simplify the piping for supplying compressed air to a plant.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the can making apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration: A can making apparatus having processing units connected thereto, the can making apparatus having two air supply pipes extending in parallel across a plurality of the processing units, air being supplied to one end of the two air supply pipes on the same side, the other ends of the two air supply pipes being connected together to form a loop, and at least one of the air supply pipes having a branch pipe that supplies air from the air supply pipe to each of the processing units.

[0008] By installing two air supply pipes that form a loop, the present invention allows two air connection ports to be placed close to each other, thereby simplifying the piping structure within the building that houses the plant.

[0009] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the installation structure of an internal air supply pipe 4 of a necker flanger machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a perspective view. FIG. 1C is a diagram illustrating the installation structure of an internal air supply pipe 4 of a necker flanger machine 1 according to a modified example of the present invention. FIG. 1D is a schematic diagram of a conventional necker flanger machine 1, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a perspective view, and (c) is a diagram illustrating the necking process. FIG. 1D is a schematic diagram of necking, where (a) is a view before processing and (b) is a view during processing. FIG. 1E is a diagram illustrating the installation structure of an internal air supply pipe 4 of a conventional necker flanger machine 1, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a perspective view.

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings denote parts with the same functions, and duplicated descriptions in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0011] [Embodiment] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a necker flanger machine 1 as an example of a can making device using air. Note that the can making device using air is not limited to a necker flanger machine, and may be a body maker, a trimmer, or the like. It may also be a necker machine without a flanger.

[0012] [Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the installation structure of the internal air supply pipe 4 of a Necker flanger machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The machine bodies of each unit are omitted, and only the machine base 11 and the internal air supply pipe 4 are shown. The Necker flanger machine 1 of this embodiment is similar to the conventional Necker flanger machine 1 shown in FIG. 3 , except for the piping structure of the internal air supply pipe 4. Unprocessed can bodies are loaded onto the front side (can loading side) F of the Necker flanger machine 1 and transported to the first necking unit 21. The first necking unit 21 performs the first stage of processing. The second necking unit 22 then performs the second stage of processing. The necking units 2 (necking devices) then perform the second stage of processing, and the final stage of processing is performed in the final necking unit 2n. After necking is complete, flanging is performed in the flanging unit 3. After flanging is complete, an inspection unit connected to the Necker flanger machine 1 may inspect the results of the necking and flanging processes. When all the processes are completed, the processed can body is carried out from the rear side (the side where the can is carried out) R.

[0013] [Internal Air Supply Pipe] As shown in FIG. 1 , the internal air supply pipe 4 includes two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b (air supply pipes) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the long necker flange machine 1. The two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b are arranged within each necking processing unit 2 so as to extend in parallel across the multiple necking processing units 2 from the front side F to the rear side R. The front side F ends (one end on the same side) of the two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b are provided with air connection ports 41a, 41b that receive air supply from the building internal air supply pipe 6. The rear side R ends (the other end) of the two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b are connected by a connecting pipe 42 to form a loop. With this configuration, the two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b function as a single air supply pipe with air connection ports 41a, 41b at both ends.

[0014] The two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b are each connected to a branch air supply pipe 5 (branch pipe) for supplying air to each of the necking processing units 2. In this embodiment, the branch air supply pipes 5 are connected so that the two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b alternately supply air to each of the connected necking processing units 2. That is, the branch air supply pipes 5 are connected to the internal air supply pipes 4a and 4b so that air is supplied to every other necking processing unit 2, such that air is supplied from the internal air supply pipe 4a to the first necking processing unit 21 and from the internal air supply pipe 4b to the second necking processing unit 22, and so on alternately thereafter, from the internal air supply pipe 4a to the odd-numbered necking processing units 2 and from the internal air supply pipe 4b to the even-numbered necking processing units 2.

[0015] The air supplied to the internal air supply pipe 4 is discharged to the outside after being used by each necking processing unit 2. Therefore, the air in the internal air supply pipe 4 is constantly being consumed. In this embodiment, in which air is supplied to all necking processing units 2 via two internal air supply pipes 4a and 4b, the capacity of the internal air supply pipe 4 is larger than the conventional structure shown in FIG. 5(a) in which air is supplied from both ends of a single internal air supply pipe 4 and air is supplied to all necking processing units 2 via the single internal air supply pipe 4. Furthermore, since the two internal air supply pipes 4a and 4b each supply air to half of the necking processing units 2, the two internal air supply pipes 4a and 4b can be used evenly to supply air to each necking processing unit 2. In other words, in this embodiment, the pressure and amount of air supplied to each necking processing unit 2 can be made more uniform.

[0016] [Variation 1] Fig. 2(a) is a diagram illustrating the installation structure of the internal air supply pipe 4 of a necker flanger machine 1 according to Variation 1 of the present invention. Note that the flange processing unit 3 is omitted from this figure. In the above-described embodiment, the branch air supply pipes 5 supplying air to the multiple connected necking processing units 2 are configured to be connected to two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b, every other one. However, this is not limited to this. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the branch air supply pipes 5 supplying air to half of the connected necking processing units 2 on the front side F may be connected to one internal air supply pipe 4a, and the branch air supply pipes 5 supplying air to the remaining necking processing units 2 on the rear side R may be connected to another internal air supply pipe 4b. In this Variation 1, as in the above-described embodiment, air can be supplied evenly to each necking processing unit 2 using two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b, thereby making the pressure and amount of air supplied to each necking processing unit 2 uniform.

[0017] [Variation 2] Figure 2(b) is a diagram illustrating the installation structure of the internal air supply pipe 4 of a necker flanger machine 1 according to Variation 2 of the present invention. The flange processing unit 3 is omitted from this figure. In the above-described embodiment and Variation 1, air is supplied to all of the necking processing units 2 using both of the two internal air supply pipes 4a and 4b. However, all of the branch air supply pipes 5 may be connected to only one internal air supply pipe 4a so that air is supplied to all of the necking processing units 2 from one internal air supply pipe 4a. In this variation, since the branch air supply pipe 5 is connected to only one internal air supply pipe 4a, it is sufficient to provide a structure for connecting the branch air supply pipe 5 only to the internal air supply pipe 4a. Since the other internal air supply pipe 4b is not connected to the branch air supply pipe 5, a simple pipe without a connecting structure can be used. Furthermore, since the internal air supply pipe 4b does not supply air to the necking processing unit 2, it does not need to be placed in close proximity to the internal air supply pipe 4a, and the two internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b may be installed at a distance from each other, which increases the freedom of placement of the internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b.

[0018] [Variation 3] In the above-described embodiment, Variation 1, and Variation 2, the internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b are each a single pipe extending from the front side F to the rear side R. However, this is not limited to this. At least one of the internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b may be formed by connecting a plurality of pipes, each divided into separate pipes for each necking unit 2. That is, at least one of the internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b may be formed by connecting the same number of internal air supply split pipes as the number of necking units 2. For example, in the above-described embodiment, two types of internal air supply split pipes may be prepared: one for one unit that has a structure for connecting a branch air supply pipe 5, and one for one unit that does not have a structure for connecting a branch air supply pipe 5. These two types may then be alternately connected to form the internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b. Furthermore, in the above-described Variation 1 and Variation 2, these two types of internal air supply split pipes may also be connected in accordance with the arrangement of the branch air supply pipes 5 to form the internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b.

[0019] The necker flanger machine 1 has different numbers of necking processing units 2 connected depending on the type of cans to be manufactured, and in the embodiment, variant 1, and variant 2, it is necessary to prepare internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b with lengths that match the number of connected necking processing units 2. However, in variant 3, it is possible to configure internal air supply pipes 4a, 4b with lengths that match the number of connected necking processing units 2 simply by changing the number of internal air supply division pipes that are connected.

[0020] Furthermore, the internal air intake division pipe is not limited to one corresponding to each necking unit 2, but may be one corresponding to a plurality of necking units 2. Such internal air intake division pipes corresponding to a plurality of necking units 2 can reduce the number of steps required for connecting the internal air intake division pipes, reduce the possibility of air leakage from the connection between the two internal air intake division pipes, and contribute to reducing the maintenance work required for the connection. For example, internal air intake division pipes for two units each having one section with a structure for connecting a branch air intake pipe 5 and one section without a structure for connecting a branch air intake pipe 5, internal air intake division pipes for two units each having two sections with a structure for connecting a branch air intake pipe 5, and internal air intake division pipes for two units each having two sections without a structure for connecting a branch air intake pipe 5, etc. The number of internal air intake division pipes is not limited to two units as described above, and it is also possible to prepare internal air intake division pipes for three or more units. However, since preparing too many types of internal air intake division pipes is disadvantageous in terms of cost, it is preferable to prepare air intake division pipes taking various circumstances into consideration.

[0021] [Interior air supply pipe] As shown in Figure 1(b), only one interior air supply pipe 6 is installed, located on the front side F of the Necker flanger machine 1. Air can be supplied to the interior air supply pipes 4a, 4b simply by connecting two air connection ports 41a, 41b arranged side by side to this single interior air supply pipe 6. It is clear that the piping is simpler than the conventional interior air supply pipe 6 shown in Figure 5(b).

[0022] Although the embodiment, modification 1, modification 2, and modification 3 of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention also includes design changes and the like that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment and each modification can be combined by utilizing each other's technology as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in the purpose, configuration, etc.

[0023] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Necker flanger machine 11 Machine base 2 Necking processing unit 3 Flange processing unit 4, 4a, 4b In-machine air supply pipe 41a, 41b Air connection port 41f Front side air connection port 41r Rear side air connection port 42 Connection pipe 5 Branch air supply pipe 6 In-building air supply pipe C Can body BC Bottom chuck CL Centering IS Insert F Front side R Rear side

Claims

1. A can making device having connected processing units, the can making device having two air supply pipes extending in parallel across a number of said processing units, air being supplied to one end of the same side of the two air supply pipes, the other ends of the two air supply pipes being connected so that the two air supply pipes form a loop, and at least one of the air supply pipes having a branch pipe that supplies air from the air supply pipe to each of said processing units.

2. A can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two air supply pipes have the branch pipe.

3. A can making apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that each of the two air supply pipes has a branch pipe that supplies air to every other one of the processing units, and air is alternately supplied to the processing units by the branch pipes of the two air supply pipes.

4. A can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only one of said air supply pipes has said branch pipe.

5. The can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air supply pipe is disposed within said processing unit.

6. The can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air supply pipe is divided for each of the processing units.

7. A can-making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the processing unit is a necking device.

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