Can product manufacturing apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a can product manufacturing apparatus capable of easily discarding a conveyance portion of a medium to be printed and taking out a can product. A can product manufacturing apparatus 10 is provided with: a printing unit 20 that prints an image on at least a first portion of a medium W to be printed including a first portion and a second portion; a connection unit 30 that manufactures a can product C by connecting a front member A covered with the first portion and a back member B; a first container 90 that accommodates the can product C; a second container 100 that accommodates the second portion; a conveyance unit 80 that conveys the medium W to be printed from the printing unit 20 to the connection unit 30 and conveys the second portion separated from the first portion in the medium W to be printed from the connection unit 30 to the second container 100; and a device body 11 provided with the printing unit 20, the connection unit 30, and the conveyance unit 80, and having a front surface 15b to which the first container 90 and the second container 100 are attached.

Description

Can product manufacturing equipment

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a can product making machine.

[0002] A known example of a conventional can product manufacturing device is the can product manufacturing device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. This can product manufacturing device has an assembly chamber inside its housing. A user opens the door to the assembly chamber and places a transparent film with an image printed on a front cover placed in the assembly chamber. When the user then closes the door, the back cover is joined to the front cover so that the peripheral portion of the transparent film that protrudes around the front cover is sandwiched between the front and back covers, thereby producing a can badge. The produced can badge is ejected from a can badge ejection port and provided to the user.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-136210

[0004] In the above-described conventional can product production device, the user manually places the printed transparent film on the top lid. However, when automating the feeding of the transparent film onto the top lid, the transparent film may be provided with a feeding section for feeding the transparent film in addition to the section to be placed on the top lid. In this case, there is a problem in that the remaining feeding section of the transparent film must be disposed of after the can product is produced, along with the removal of the can product.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a can product manufacturing device that can easily discard the conveyed portion of the print medium and remove the can product.

[0006] The can product manufacturing device according to the present disclosure includes a printing unit that prints an image on at least the first portion of a printing medium including a first portion and a second portion; a connection unit that connects a front member covered on the first portion to a back member to manufacture a can product; a first container that accommodates the can product; a second container that accommodates the second portion; a transport unit that transports the printing medium from the printing unit to the connection unit and transports the second portion of the printing medium that has been separated from the first portion from the connection unit to the second container; and an apparatus main body that is provided with the printing unit, the connection unit, and the transport unit and has a front surface on which the first container and the second container are attached.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the first container and the second container are attached to the front of the device body, so that both the canned products contained in the first container and the second part, such as the conveying part, contained in the second container can be easily removed from the front of the device body.

[0008] 4A is a perspective view showing a can product manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4B is a block diagram showing a control device of the can product manufacturing apparatus and drive sections of each unit; FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of a can product; FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a front member; FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a backing member; FIG. 4C is a top view of a print medium; FIG. 4D is a top view of a backing sheet; FIG. 4E is a top view of a can product manufacturing apparatus with the cover removed; FIG. 4F is a cross-sectional view of a conveying unit and a first container; FIG. 4G is a perspective view of a can product manufacturing apparatus with the cover opening opened by the movable part of the cover and the conveying unit removed from the housing; FIG. 4H is a perspective view of a part of a can product manufacturing apparatus with the first container and the second container attached to the front of the apparatus main body; FIG. 4I is a perspective view of a part of a can product manufacturing apparatus with the upper part of the first container cut away, viewed from below; FIG. 4J is a perspective view of a first container of a can product manufacturing apparatus according to a first modified example;

[0009] <Can Product Manufacturing Apparatus> As shown in Fig. 1, a can product manufacturing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an apparatus main body 11, a first container 90, and a second container 100. As shown in Fig. 3, the apparatus main body 11 manufactures a can product C using a print medium W, a front member A, and a back member B. As shown in Fig. 1, the first container 90 contains the manufactured can product C. The second container 100 contains the second portion of the print medium W, which has a first portion and a second portion.

[0010] In the following description, a case will be described in which the first portion is the second covered portion Wb that covers the front member A, and the second portion is the second transport portion Wa of the print medium W other than the second covered portion Wb. However, the first portion and the second portion are not limited to this. Details of the device main body 11, the first container 90, and the second container 100 will be described later.

[0011] Furthermore, the can product manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a control device 13, as shown in FIG. 2. The control device 13 is, for example, a computer, and includes a calculation unit such as a CPU for processing data, and a storage unit such as a memory for storing data. The control device 13 is electrically connected to the drive units, such as motors, of each unit of the can product manufacturing apparatus 10 via drive circuits 14a to 14g, and controls the operation of these units. This unit includes a connection unit 30 that connects the front member A, which is coated on the print medium W, with the back member B, and a transport unit 80 that transports the print medium W to the connection unit 30.

[0012] <Can Product> As shown in Fig. 3, this can product manufacturing apparatus 10 manufactures a can product C by connecting (e.g., crimping) a front member A, which is covered with a backing sheet F and a print medium W, to a back member B. The can product C is a product that uses a can member, such as a can badge. The front member A and back member B are can members, and are formed of a magnetic material such as a tin-plated steel sheet.

[0013] As shown in Figure 4A, the front member A has a front plate portion A1 that is circular when viewed from above and an annular front edge portion A2 that protrudes downward from the outer periphery of the front plate portion A1. As shown in Figure 4B, the back member B has a back plate portion B1 that is circular when viewed from above and an annular back edge portion B2 that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the back plate portion B1.

[0014] 3, a first covering portion Fb of a backing sheet F is placed on the surface of the front member A, and a second covering portion Wb of a print medium W is placed on the first covering portion Fb. Of these covering portions Fb and Wb, the portions that extend beyond the surface of the front plate portion A1 are folded downward from the outer periphery of the front plate portion A1 to cover the surface of the front edge portion A2.

[0015] Furthermore, the portion extending beyond the surface of the front edge A2 is folded upward from the lower end of the front edge A2 and sandwiched between the back surface of the front edge A2 and the surface of the back edge B2 of the backing member B. Then, with the covered portions Fb, Wb sandwiched between the opposing front edge A2 and back edge B2, at least one of the front member A and the backing member B is deformed (e.g., crimped) to produce the can product C. Note that the backing sheet F may not be used for the can product C, and the front member A may be covered by the print medium W without being covered by the backing sheet F.

[0016] <Printing Medium> As shown in Figure 5, the printing medium W is, for example, a rectangular transparent sheet. The printing medium W has a transparent resin film and an ink-receiving layer formed on one surface of the resin film. The printing medium W has a downstream end We1 and an upstream end We2 in the first transport direction D1 in which it is transported to the connection unit 30 by the transport unit 80. The printing medium W has a second covered portion Wb that covers the front member A, and a second transport portion Wa that is the remaining portion of the second covered portion Wb.

[0017] The print medium W further includes a second connecting portion Wc connecting the second covered portion Wb and the second transport portion Wa, and a second linear weakened portion Wd extending linearly from the second connecting portion Wc to the downstream end We1. The second covered portion Wb includes a second circular portion Wb1 that covers the surface of the front plate portion A1 of the front member A, a second annular portion Wb2 that covers the surface of the front edge portion A2, and a second annular sandwiched portion Wb3 that is sandwiched between the back surface of the front edge portion A2 and the back edge portion B2 of the back member B. The second connecting portion Wc and the second linear weakened portion Wd are weak portions, such as perforations, that are weaker than the second covered portion Wb and the second transport portion Wa.

[0018] <Backing Paper> As shown in Figure 6, the backing paper F is, for example, a rectangular white sheet. The backing paper F has the same shape and size as the print medium W and, except for the material, has basically the same configuration as the print medium W. Therefore, the backing paper F has a downstream end Fe1 and an upstream end Fe2 in the first transport direction D1, a first covered portion Fb, a first transport portion Fa, a first connecting portion Fc, and a first linear weakened portion Fd. The first covered portion Fb has a first circular portion Fb1, a first annular portion Fb2, and a first clamped portion Fb3.

[0019] The downstream end Fe1, upstream end Fe2, first covered portion Fb, first conveying portion Fa, first connecting portion Fc, and first linear weak portion Fd of the backing sheet F correspond to the downstream end We1, upstream end We2, second covered portion Wb, second conveying portion Wa, second connecting portion Wec, and second linear weak portion Wd, respectively, of the print medium W. The first circular portion Fb1, first annular portion Fb2, and first clamped portion Fb3 of the first covered portion Fb correspond to the second circular portion Wb1, second annular portion Wb2, and second clamped portion Wb3, respectively, of the second covered portion Wb. Hereinafter, the backing sheet F and the print medium W may be referred to as sheets F and W when, for example, both are included without distinction.

[0020] <Device Main Body> As shown in Fig. 9, the device main body 11 has a housing 15. The housing 15 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a top surface 15a, a front surface 15b, and an internal space. The top surface 15a of the housing 15 is covered by a cover 12. The cover 12 has a fixed portion 12a and a movable portion 12b. The fixed portion 12a is detachably attached to the housing 15 and has a cover opening 12a1. The movable portion 12b covers (Fig. 1) and opens (Fig. 9) the cover opening 12a1.

[0021] 7, the device main body 11 further includes a first supply unit 40 that supplies the front member A to the connection unit 30. The first supply unit 40 is disposed on the upper surface 15a of the housing 15 and includes a first stocker 41, a first slider 42, a first pusher 43, and a first pusher motor 44 (FIG. 2). The first stocker 41 is cylindrical and accommodates a plurality of front members A stacked vertically. The first slider 42 extends from a position below the first stocker 41 to the first lower mold 31 disposed at the first unit position P1 of the connection unit 30.

[0022] The first pusher 43 is disposed on the first slider 42, and is driven by a first pusher motor 44 to move back and forth along the first slider 42. The driving of this first pusher motor 44 is controlled by the control device 13. As a result, the front member A descends from the first stocker 41 onto the first slider 42, is pushed by the first pusher 43 toward the first lower die 31, moves on the first slider 42, and is supplied to the first lower die 31.

[0023] Furthermore, the device main body 11 includes a second supply unit 50 that supplies backing members B to the connection unit 30. The second supply unit 50 is disposed on the upper surface 15a of the housing 15 and includes a second stocker 51, a second slider 52, a second pusher 53, and a second pusher motor 54 (FIG. 2). The second stocker 51 is cylindrical and accommodates a plurality of backing members B stacked vertically. The second slider 52 extends from a position below the second stocker 51 to the second lower mold 32 that is disposed at the first unit position P1 of the connection unit 30.

[0024] The second pusher 53 is disposed on the second slider 52, and is driven by a second pusher motor 54 to move back and forth along the second slider 52. The driving of this second pusher motor 54 is controlled by the control device 13. As a result, the backing member B is lowered from the second stocker 51 onto the second slider 52, pushed by the second pusher 53 toward the second lower die 32, moved on the second slider 52, and supplied to the second lower die 32.

[0025] The device main body 11 also includes a printing unit 20 that prints an image on at least the second covered portion Wb of the print medium W. The printing unit 20 is disposed within the interior space of the housing 15 and is, for example, an inkjet printer, including a print head 21 (FIG. 2) and a first conveying motor 22 (FIG. 2). The print head 21 is an inkjet head that ejects ink droplets by driving a piezoelectric element or a heater. A paper outlet 24 (FIG. 1) for the sheets F and W is also provided on the front surface 15b of the housing 15. A first tray 23 that accommodates the backing sheet F is provided on the rear surface of the housing 15, and a second tray 25 (FIG. 1) that accommodates the print medium W is also provided within the housing 15. The second tray 25 can be inserted into or removed from the housing 15 through an opening provided on the front surface 15b of the housing 15.

[0026] The print medium W is transported by the first transport motor 22 from the second tray 25 through a position facing the print head 21 to the paper discharge port 24, and is then discharged from the paper discharge port 24. At this facing position, the print head 21 ejects ink onto the print medium W. This causes an image to be printed on at least the second covered portion Wb of the print medium W. This image is inverted so that it appears normal when viewed by a user from the side of the print medium W opposite the side on which the image is printed.

[0027] Furthermore, the printing unit 20 does not print an image on the backing sheet F, but instead drives the first transport motor 22 to eject the backing sheet F from the first tray 23 through the paper discharge port 24. The driving of the print head 21 and the first transport motor 22 is controlled by the control device 13. Note that the printing unit 20 is not limited to an inkjet printer, and may be a printer such as a laser printer or a thermal printer, as long as it prints an image on the print medium W.

[0028] In the above configuration, of the mount F and the transparent film covering the mount F, the transparent film is used as the print medium, and the printing unit 20 prints an image on the transparent film, which is the print medium. However, the print medium is not limited to this. At least one of the mount F and the transparent film may be used as the print medium. For example, the image may be printed on the mount F without being printed on the transparent film. This image is a normal image that is not inverted.

[0029] Furthermore, as described above, the device main body 11 has a transport unit 80 that transports the print medium W from the printing unit 20 to the connection unit 30. The transport unit 80 is detachably attached to the front surface 15b of the housing 15. As shown in FIG. 8 , the transport unit 80 has a second transport motor 81 ( FIG. 2 ), multiple rollers 82, and a support portion 84. The multiple rollers 82 rotate forward or reverse when driven by the second transport motor 81. The drive of this second transport motor 81 is controlled by the control device 13.

[0030] The support portion 84 rotatably supports the rollers 82. As shown in Fig. 9, the support portion 84 has a vertical portion 84d extending in the up-down direction and a horizontal portion 84c extending rearward from an upper portion of the vertical portion 84d. When the transport unit 80 is attached to the housing 15, the horizontal portion 84c is disposed on the top surface 15a of the housing 15, and the rear surface 84b (Fig. 8) of the vertical portion 84d faces the front surface 15b of the housing 15.

[0031] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8 , the transport unit 80 has a supply path 83c and a recovery path 83d. The supply path 83c and the recovery path 83d are transport paths for the sheets F and W, whose transport portions Fa and Wa are sandwiched between pairs of rollers 82, and are provided in the support portion 84. The supply path 83c is provided between the paper discharge port 24 of the printing unit 20 and the first lower mold 31, which is disposed at the first unit position P1 in the connection unit 30. The pair of rollers 82, sandwiching the transport portions Fa and Wa of the sheets F and W between them, are rotated forward by the drive of the second transport motor 81, thereby transporting the sheets F and W along the supply path 83c. As a result, the sheets F and W are transported (supplied) from the paper discharge port 24 to above the front member A of the first lower mold 31 along the first transport direction D1.

[0032] Then, when the coated portions Wb, Fb of the sheets F, W are supplied onto the first lower mold 31, the conveying portions Fa, Wa become unnecessary and are conveyed (recovered) to the second container 100 as discarded portions. This recovery path 83d is provided between the first lower mold 31, which is disposed at the first unit position P1 in the connection unit 30, and the second entrance 101 of the second container 100. The pair of rollers 82 sandwich the conveying portions Fa, Wa, which have been separated from the coated portions Fb, Wb, between them, and are rotated in reverse by the drive of the second conveying motor 81, thereby conveying the conveying portions Fa, Wa along the recovery path 83d. As a result, the conveying portions Fa, Wa are conveyed (recovered) from above the first lower mold 31 to the second container 100 via the recovery path 83d along the second conveying direction D2, which is the opposite direction to the first conveying direction D1.

[0033] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 , the device main body 11 includes a cutting unit 60 that cuts the sheets F and W. The cutting unit 60 is disposed on the top surface 15 a of the housing 15 in front of the second supply unit 50, and includes a pressure head 61 and a pressure motor 62 ( FIG. 2 ). The pressure head 61 is driven by the pressure motor 62 to move between a pressure position where it presses the coated portions Fb and Wb of the sheets F and W and a spaced position away from the pressure position. The drive of this pressure motor 62 is controlled by the control device 13. The pressure head 61 moves from the spaced position to the pressure position and presses the coated portions Fb and Wb of the sheets F and W. This causes at least a portion of the connecting portions Fc and We between the coated portions Fb and Wb and the conveying portions Fa and Wa to be cut.

[0034] Furthermore, as described above, the device main body 11 is equipped with a connection unit 30 that connects the front member A coated on the print medium W with the back member B. The connection unit 30 is arranged on the upper surface 15a of the housing 15, and has a first lower die 31, a second lower die 32, a rotary table 33, an elevating device 34, and an upper die 35. The first lower die 31 supports the front member A supplied by the first supply unit 40 from below, and the second lower die 32 supports the back member B supplied by the second supply unit 50 from below. The first lower die 31 and the second lower die 32 are arranged on the rotary table 33.

[0035] The rotary table 33 has a rotary motor 33a (FIG. 2), which rotates the first lower mold 31 and the second lower mold 32. The drive of this rotary motor 33a is controlled by the control device 13. As a result, the first lower mold 31 and the second lower mold 32 move between the second unit position P2 and the first unit position P1. When the first lower mold 31 is positioned at one of the first unit position P1 and the second unit position P2, the second lower mold 32 is positioned at the other. The second unit position P2 is a position facing the upper mold 35 in the vertical direction. The first unit position P1 is a position different from the second unit position P2, and is, for example, positioned in front of the second unit position P2 and between the first slider 42 and the second slider 52. As a result, the front member A is supplied from the first slider 42 to the first lower mold 31 positioned at the first unit position P1, and the back member B is supplied from the second slider 52 to the second lower mold 32 positioned at the first unit position P1.

[0036] The lifting device 34 also has a lifting motor 34a (FIG. 2), and an upper mold 35 is disposed on the lifting device 34. The lifting device 34 raises and lowers the upper mold 35 at the second unit position P2 by driving the lifting motor 34a. The driving of this lifting motor 34a is controlled by the control device 13. As a result, the upper mold 35 descends toward the first lower mold 31 on which the covering portions Fb, Wb and the front member A are disposed, thereby coating the front member A with the covering portions Fb, Wb and holding them. Then, while holding the covering portions Fb, Wb and the front member A, the upper mold 35 descends toward the second lower mold 32 on which the back member B is disposed. As a result, the upper mold 35 crimps (connects) the front member A and the back member B to produce a can product C.

[0037] The device main body 11 further includes a take-out unit 70 that takes out canned products C produced by the connection unit 30. The take-out unit 70 is disposed on the upper surface 15a of the housing 15 in front of the first supply unit 40 and includes a moving device 71 and a first inclined surface 72a. The moving device 71 includes a swing arm 71a, a take-out motor 71b ( FIG. 2 ), and a magnet 71c. The swing arm 71a has a magnet 71c attached to its tip. The swing arm 71a is rotated by driving the take-out motor 71b so that the magnet 71c moves between the first unit position P1 of the connection unit 30 and the first inclined surface 72a. The driving of this take-out motor 71b is controlled by the control device 13.

[0038] Further, the second lower die 32 is disposed at the first unit position P1 of the connection unit 30, and a can product C is supported by the second lower die 32. In this case, the magnet 71c at the tip of the swing arm 71a adheres to the can product C on the second lower die 32 at the first unit position P1.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 10, the first inclined surface 72a is provided with a recess 72a2. The recess 72a2 is larger than the tip of the swing arm 71a and smaller than the canned product C. Therefore, when the tip of the swing arm 71a moves toward the recess 72a2 with the canned product C attached to it, the canned product C remains on the first inclined surface 72a, but the tip of the swing arm 71a is inserted from the first inclined surface 72a into the recess 72a2. As a result, the canned product C separates from the swing arm 71a on the first inclined surface 72a.

[0040] The first inclined surface 72a is inclined downward toward the first inlet 91, which is the top opening of the first container 90, so that the canned products C slide down to the first inlet 91. For example, the first inclined surface 72a is inclined obliquely downward and forward from a portion of the edge of the recess 72a2 that is forward of the recess 72a2 toward the first inlet 91 of the first container 90. Therefore, when the canned products C leave the tip of the swing arm 71a at the recess 72a2, they slide down the downward inclined first inclined surface 72a to the first inlet 91 of the first container 90 and are stored in the first container 90 through the first inlet 91.

[0041] <Method of Producing Can Product> In the can product producing apparatus 10, the first supply unit 40 uses the first pusher 43 to push the front member A on the first slider 42. As a result, the front member A is supplied to the first lower die 31 arranged at the first unit position P1 of the connection unit 30.

[0042] Furthermore, the printing unit 20 moves (supplies) a backing sheet F, on which no image is printed, from the first tray 23 through the paper discharge port 24 to the transport unit 80. When the transport unit 80 rotates the rollers 82 in the forward direction, the first transport portion Fa of the backing sheet F is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 82 and transported through the supply path 83c from the printing unit 20 to the connection unit 30. As a result, the backing sheet F is transported above the front member A arranged on the first lower mold 31 of the connection unit 30.

[0043] The cutting unit 60 then moves the pressing head 61 from the separated position to the pressing position, whereby the first covering portion Fb of the backing sheet F is pressed by the pressing head 61, and at least a portion of the first connecting portion Fc between the first covering portion Fb of the backing sheet F and the first conveying portion Fa is cut.

[0044] Next, the transport unit 80 reversely rotates the rollers 82 with the first covered portion Fb of the backing sheet F being pressed by the press head 61. As a result, the first connecting portion Fc and the first linear weak portion Fd of the backing sheet F are entirely cut, and the first covered portion Fb and the first transport portion Fa of the backing sheet F are separated. Then, with the first covered portion Fb remaining above the front member A of the first lower mold 31, the first transport portion Fa is sandwiched between the pair of rollers 82 and transported from the connection unit 30 to the second container 100 through the recovery path 83d. As a result, the first transport portion Fa is stored in the second container 100.

[0045] Next, the printing unit 20 prints an image on the print medium W and moves (supplies) it from the second tray 25 through the paper discharge port 24 to the transport unit 80. Then, like the backing sheet F, the print medium W is transported by the transport unit 80 above the front member A placed on the first lower mold 31 of the connection unit 30. The second covered portion Wb of the print medium W is then pressed by the pressing head 61 of the cutting unit 60, and at least a portion of the second connecting portion Wc is cut. Next, when the roller 82 rotates in the reverse direction while the second covered portion Wb is pressed by the pressing head 61, the second connecting portion Wc and the second linear weakened portion Wd are entirely cut, and the second covered portion Wb and the second transport portion Wa are separated. The second covered portion Wb then remains above the front member A of the first lower mold 31, while the second transport portion Wa is transported to the second container 100.

[0046] Next, the rotary table 33 of the connection unit 30 moves the first lower die 31 from the first unit position P1 to the second unit position P2. As a result, the front member A loaded in the first lower die 31 and the covering portions Fb and Wb arranged above the front member A are positioned at the second unit position P2. In addition, the second lower die 32 moves from the second unit position P2 to the first unit position P1.

[0047] Next, the lifting device 34 of the connection unit 30 lowers the upper mold 35 to the first lower mold 31. This upper mold 35 presses the coated portions Fb, Wb on the first lower mold 31 against the front member A. As a result, the front member A is covered by the coated portions Fb, Wb, moves from the first lower mold 31 to the upper mold 35, and is held by the upper mold 35 in a state covered by the coated portions Fb, Wb. Then, the lifting device 34 raises this upper mold 35.

[0048] Furthermore, the second supply unit 50 pushes the backing material B on the second slider 52 with the second pusher 53. As a result, the backing material B is supplied to the second lower mold 32 arranged at the first unit position P1 of the connection unit 30.

[0049] Next, the rotary table 33 of the connection unit 30 moves the second lower mold 32 from the first unit position P1 to the second unit position P2. Then, the lifting device 34 of the connection unit 30 lowers the upper mold 35 holding the front member A toward the second lower mold 32 supporting the back member B. As a result, the front member A covered with the covering portions Fb, Wb is pressed against the back member B. With the sandwiched portions Fb3, Wb3 of the covering portions Fb, Wb sandwiched between the front edge portion A2 of the front member A and the back edge portion B2 of the back member B, the front member A and the back member B are crimped (connected) to produce a can product C.

[0050] Next, the rotary table 33 of the connection unit 30 moves the second lower mold 32, on which the can product C is placed, from the second unit position P2 to the first unit position P1. The take-out unit 70 then moves the tip of the swing arm 71a to the second lower mold 32 placed at the first unit position P1, and causes the magnet 71c at the tip to attract the can product C. The take-out unit 70 then moves the tip of the swing arm 71a from the second lower mold 32 to the first inclined surface 72a, thereby moving the can product C attracted to the tip to the first inclined surface 72a. The can product C separates from the tip at the recess 72a2 of the first inclined surface 72a, slides down the downwardly sloping first inclined surface 72a into the first container 90, and is stored in the first container 90.

[0051] <Second Container> As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the second container 100 is attached to the front surface 11a of the device main body 11. As described above, the device main body 11 has the housing 15 and the transport unit 80 attached to the front surface 15b of the housing 15. A portion of the front surface 15b of the housing 15 faces the rear surface 84b of the support portion 84 of the transport unit 80, and the front surface 84a of the support portion 84 appears in front of a portion of this front surface 15b. Thus, the front surface 11a of the device main body 11 includes the front surface 15b of the housing 15 and the front surface 84a of the support portion 84 of the transport unit 80. The second container 100 is attached to the front surface 84a, which is part of the front surface 11a.

[0052] The second container 100 has a generally box-like shape with an open top and is detachably attached to the front surface 11a of the device body 11. For example, an opening 80a is provided in the front surface 84a, which is the front surface 11a, and the second container 100 is attached to the front surface 84a by inserting the rear portion of the second container 100 into the support portion 84 through the opening 80a. The second container 100 is removed from the front surface 84a by removing the rear portion of the second container 100 from the support portion 84 through the opening 80a. In this way, because the second container 100 is detachably attached to the front surface 84a, which is the front surface 11a of the device body 11, the second container 100 can be easily attached and detached from the front of the device body 11.

[0053] The second container 100 has a second wall 102 that surrounds the storage space of the transport sections Fa and Wa, and an outlet 103 for the transport sections Fa and Wa. The second wall 102 has a second front wall 102a, a second rear wall 102b, a second left wall 102c, a second right wall 102d, and a second bottom wall 102e. These walls have, for example, a rectangular, flat plate shape. When the second container 100 is attached to the front surface 84a, the front portions of the second wall 102 (the second front wall 102a, the second right wall 102d, the second left wall 102c, and the front portions of the second bottom wall 102e) are located forward of the front surface 84a of the transport unit 80. The removal opening 103 is located forward of the front surface 84a and is surrounded by the upper end of the second front wall 102a, the upper end of the second right wall 102d, the upper end of the second left wall 102c, and the front surface 84a of the transport unit 80. Because the removal opening 103 appears forward of the front surface 84a, the user can easily remove the transport sections Fa and Wa from the front of the device body 11 through the removal opening 103.

[0054] The second container 100 also has second inlets 101 of the transport sections Fa and Wa. When the second container 100 is attached to the front surface 84a, the rear portions of the second wall 102 (the second rear wall 102b and the rear portion of the second lower wall 102e) are inserted into the support section 84 through the opening 80a of the front surface 84a. The second inlets 101 of the transport sections Fa and Wa are provided in the support section 84, forward of the rear end of the second rear wall 102b. The second inlets 101 are positioned lower than the discharge outlet 83d1 of the transport unit 80 in the vertical direction. The discharge outlet 83d1 is located at the downstream end of the recovery path 83d and between a pair of rollers 82 that are closest to the second inlet 101 among the multiple rollers 82 that make up the recovery path 83d. Therefore, the transported portions Fa and Wa are transported along the recovery path 83 d , discharged from the discharge port 83 d 1 at the downstream end of the recovery path 83 d , and passed through the second inlet 101 to be reliably accommodated in the second container 100 .

[0055] Furthermore, a first guide 102f is provided within the support portion 84 to guide the transport portions Fa and Wa to the second inlet 101. The first guide 102f is connected to the rear end of the second rear wall 102b of the second container 100 and has an inclined portion 102f1 and an extending portion 102f2. The inclined portion 102f1 is inclined obliquely upward and forward from the rear end of the first guide 102f. The extending portion 102f2 extends forward from the front end of the inclined portion 102f1 and is connected to the rear end of the second rear wall 102b, extending horizontally between the front end of the inclined portion 102f1 and the rear end of the second rear wall 102b. For example, the extending portion 102f2 is disposed between the discharge port 83d1 of the recovery path 83d and the lower end of the lower roller 82 of the pair of rollers 82 that form the discharge port 83d1, and is preferably disposed at the same height as the discharge port 83d1. As a result, the transport portions Fa and Wa move forward from the discharge port 83d1 along the extension portion 102f2 of the first guide 102f, pass through the second entrance 101, and are reliably accommodated in the second container 100.

[0056] Furthermore, the first guide 102f is disposed in the front-to-rear direction between the discharge port 83d1 of the recovery path 83d and the storage space of the second container 100, which is located forward of the second rear wall 102b. As a result, the first guide 102f guides the transport portions Fa and Wa discharged from the discharge port 83d1 of the recovery path 83d into the storage space of the second container 100. The height of the extension portion 102f2 of this first guide 102f is the same as or approximately the same as the height of the discharge port 83d1 of the recovery path 83d. Therefore, the second container 100 can store the transport portions Fa and Wa up to the height of the extension portion 102f2 of the first guide 102f.

[0057] Additionally, a second guide 85 is provided within the support portion 84 to guide the transport portions Fa and Wa to the second inlet 101. The second guide 85 extends forward from above the first guide 102f, passes above the second inlet 101, and is connected to the upper end of the opening 80a in the front surface 84a. The second guide 85 is inclined diagonally downward from above the first guide 102f. This allows the transport portions Fa and Wa to move forward from the discharge port 83d1, pass between the first guide 102f and the second guide 85, and be reliably contained in the second container 100 via the second inlet 101.

[0058] The second rear wall 102b of the second container 100 has its upper end connected to the front end of the first guide 102f and inclined obliquely downward and forward from the front end of the first guide 102f. The rear end of the second lower wall 102e is connected to the lower end of the second rear wall 102b. The second lower wall 102e is inclined obliquely downward and forward from the lower end of the second rear wall 102b relative to the second rear wall 102b. The inclination angle θ1 of the second lower wall 102e relative to the second rear wall 102b is an obtuse angle. This allows the transport portions Fa and Wa to easily slide down the second rear wall 102b and second lower wall 102e in sequence from the first guide 102f through the second entrance 101 within the second container 100, thereby allowing them to be easily accommodated in the second container 100.

[0059] The upper surface of the second lower wall 102e, which is the bottom surface of the second container 100, is inclined downward and forward from the lower end of the second rear wall 102b. The second lower wall 102e is inclined downward in the horizontal direction from the lower end of the second rear wall 102b toward the front. The inclination angle θ2 of the second lower wall 102e relative to the horizontal direction is, for example, 22.5°. The front end of the second lower wall 102e is connected to the lower end of the second front wall 102a. The second front wall 102a extends upward from the front end of the second lower wall 102e. Because the bottom surface of the second container 100 is inclined downward toward the front, the transport portions Fa and Wa slide down on the second lower wall 102e within the second container 100, and the front ends of the transport portions Fa and Wa abut against the second front wall 102a, causing the transport portions Fa and Wa to be stacked vertically in succession on the upper surface of the second lower wall 102e. This makes it less likely that the transport sections Fa and Wa will bend, reducing wasted space within the second container 100 caused by bending of the transport sections Fa and Wa, and allowing more transport sections Fa and Wa to be accommodated in the second container 100.

[0060] Furthermore, the size of the upper surface of the second lower wall 102e is larger than the size of the transport portions Fa and Wa. For example, the longitudinal dimension of the transport portions Fa and Wa is 127 mm, while the longitudinal dimension of the second lower wall 102e is 130 mm. The longitudinal direction of this second lower wall 102e is, for example, the front-to-rear direction. The transport portions Fa and Wa are stacked on the upper surface of the second lower wall 102e so that the longitudinal directions of the transport portions Fa and Wa and the second lower wall 102e are parallel to each other. As a result, the entire transport portions Fa and Wa rest on the upper surface of the second lower wall 102e, allowing more transport portions Fa and Wa to be accommodated in the second container 100.

[0061] Furthermore, in the left-right direction, the dimension (width) of the discharge opening 83d1 in the support portion 84 is equal to or greater than the dimension of the transport portions Fa and Wa, and equal to or less than the dimension (width) of the second container 100. The width of the discharge opening 83d1 is the distance between the left surface 84e ( FIG. 10 ) and the right surface 84f ( FIGS. 8 and 9 ) of the support portion 84. The width of the second container 100 is the distance between the second left wall 102c and the second right wall 102d. As a result, the transport portions Fa and Wa move forward from the discharge opening 83d1, passing between the left surface 84e and the right surface 84f of the support portion 84, and are received in the second container 100 through the second inlet 101. Misalignment of the transport portions Fa and Wa in the left-right direction is restricted by the left surface 84e and the right surface 84f of the support portion 84. This reduces wasted space within the second container 100 due to misalignment of the transport sections Fa and Wa in the left-right direction, allowing more transport sections Fa and Wa to be accommodated in the second container 100.

[0062] Furthermore, the width of the second container 100 in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the discharge opening 83d1. In the left-right direction, the left surface 84e and the right surface 84f of the support member 84 are disposed between the second left wall 102c and the second right wall 102d of the second container 100. This prevents the movement of the transport sections Fa and Wa from passing between the left surface 84e and the right surface 84f of the support member 84 from the discharge opening 83d1 and being accommodated in the second container 100, making it difficult for the second left wall 102c and the second right wall 102d of the second container 100 to interfere with their movement. This prevents the second left wall 102c and the second right wall 102d from misaligning the transport sections Fa and Wa, thereby reducing wasted space within the second container 100 due to the misalignment of the transport sections Fa and Wa, and allowing more transport sections Fa and Wa to be accommodated in the second container 100.

[0063] The second container 100 is attached to the front surface 84a of the transport unit 80, which is disposed in front of the connection unit 30. Therefore, the second entrance 101 of the second container 100, the transport unit 80, and the first lower mold 31 disposed at the first unit position P1 of the connection unit 30 are arranged in this order from front to rear. The recovery path 83d of the transport unit 80 extends in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, when the transport portions Fa and Wa are separated from the covering portions Fb and Wb on the first lower mold 31, they are transported forward from the first lower mold 31 along the recovery path 83d by the transport unit 80 to the second entrance 101 of the second container 100. In this way, the transport unit 80 can transport the transport portions Fa and Wa from the first lower mold 31 to the second container 100 without changing the transport direction of the transport portions Fa and Wa.

[0064] The second container 100 is disposed so as to overlap with the center in the left-right direction of the front surface 11a of the device body 11 when viewed from the front. In the example of Fig. 1, the center in the left-right direction of the second container 100 overlaps with the center in the left-right direction of the front surface 11a of the device body 11 when viewed from the front. However, the arrangement of the second container 100 is not limited to this. It is sufficient that a position other than the center in the left-right direction of the second container 100 overlaps with the center in the left-right direction of the front surface 11a of the device body 11 when viewed from the front.

[0065] In this way, by arranging the second container 100 at the center of the device body 11 in the left-right direction, the connection unit 30, which is arranged behind the second container 100, is arranged at the center of the device body 11 in the left-right direction. Therefore, it is possible to arrange, around the connection unit 30, a first supply unit 40 that supplies the front member A to the connection unit 30, a second supply unit 50 that supplies the back member B to the connection unit 30, and a transport unit 80 that transports the sheets F and W to the connection unit 30. Therefore, these members can be efficiently supplied to the connection unit 30.

[0066] The second container 100 has a size that can accommodate a predetermined number or more of second transport portions Wa of print media W. For example, the first stocker 41 ( FIG. 9 ) of the first supply unit 40 has a size that can accommodate a predetermined number of front members A, and the second stocker 51 ( FIG. 9 ) of the second supply unit 50 has a size that can accommodate a predetermined number of back members B. A predetermined number or less of can products C are produced using a predetermined number or less of front members A accommodated in the first stocker 41 and a predetermined number or less of back members B accommodated in the second stocker 51.

[0067] Furthermore, by using a predetermined number or less of print media W together with these front members A and back members B, second transport portions Wa of the predetermined number or less of print media W are generated. The second container 100 can accommodate the predetermined number or less of second transport portions Wa. This prevents a situation in which the second container 100 cannot accommodate the second transport portions Wa and the second transport portions Wa must be removed from the second container 100 during the production of can products C using the front members A and back members B accommodated in the stockers 41, 51.

[0068] When the front member A covers the backing sheet F as well as the print medium W, the first transport portions Fa of the backing sheet F are also contained as waste portions in the second container 100 in addition to the second transport portions Wa of the print medium W. Since the number of first transport portions Fa is the same as the number of second transport portions Wa, the second container 100 has a size that can contain at least a predetermined number of second transport portions Wa and at least a predetermined number of first transport portions Fa.

[0069] <First Container> The first container 90 is attached to the front surface 11a of the device main body 11. As described above, the front surface 11a of the device main body 11 includes the front surface 15b of the housing 15 and the front surface 84a of the transport unit 80. The second container 100 is attached to the front surface 84a of the transport unit 80, and the first container 90 is attached to the front surface 15b of the housing 15. In this manner, the first container 90 and the second container 100 are attached to the front surface 11a of the device main body 11. This allows the user to easily both remove the product from the first container 90 and remove (dispose of) the transport portions Fa and Wa from the second container 100 from the front of the device main body 11.

[0070] When viewed from the front, the first container 90 is disposed between the second container 100 and the left end or the right end of the front surface 11a of the device body 11. In the example of Fig. 10, when viewed from the front, the first container 90 is disposed on the front surface 15b of the housing 15 between the right end of the second container 100 and the right end of the front surface 11a of the device body 11. By disposing the first container 90 in this manner, the removal unit 70, which removes canned products C from the connection unit 30 to the first container 90, can be disposed around the connection unit 30.

[0071] The first container 90 is generally box-shaped and has an open top, a first entrance 91, and a first wall 92. The first entrance 91 is an opening at the top of the first container 90 through which the canned products C pass, and is surrounded by the upper end of the first wall 92. The first wall 92 surrounds a space that accommodates the canned products C. This allows a user to easily check the canned products C inside the first wall 92 from the first entrance 91.

[0072] The first wall 92 has, for example, a first front wall 92a, a first rear wall 92b, a first left wall 92c, a first right wall 92d, and a first bottom wall 92e. Each of these walls has a flat plate shape. The first bottom wall 92e covers the opening at the bottom of the first container 90, which is surrounded by the lower end of the first wall 92, and forms the bottom of the first container 90. A handle 90a is provided on the front surface of the first front wall 92a.

[0073] When viewed from above, the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a of the dispensing unit 70 is located inside the first wall 92 that surrounds the first entrance 91 of the first container 90. This area within the first wall 92 includes the first entrance 91 within the first wall 92 and the top of the first wall 92. The front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a has a linear portion extending in the left-right direction and a curved portion that curves obliquely rearward to the right from the right end of the linear portion. The left end of this front end 72a1 is located on the first left wall 92c of the first wall 92. The right end of the front end 72a1 is located between the first left wall 92c and the first right wall 92d of the first wall 92 of the first container 90 in the left-right direction.

[0074] Furthermore, the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a is disposed between the first front wall 92a and the first rear wall 92b of the first wall 92 of the first container 90 in the front-rear direction. Since the front end 72a1 is located inside the first wall 92 when viewed from above, the canned product C can slide forward down the first inclined surface 72a and be more reliably accommodated in the first container 90 from the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a through the first inlet 91. Note that the entire front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a may be disposed within the first wall 92. In this case, for example, both ends of the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a in the left-right direction may be disposed between the first left wall 92c and the first right wall 92d.

[0075] Furthermore, the first inclined surface 72a is disposed above the first rear wall 92b of the first container 90. In contrast, in the vertical direction, the upper end of the first front wall 92a is located higher than the upper end of the first rear wall 92b, and the first front wall 92a extends higher than the first rear wall 92b. Therefore, even if the canned product C is positioned higher when it slides forward along the first inclined surface 72a, the canned product C will hit the first front wall 92a of the first container 90, and will be more reliably contained in the first container 90.

[0076] The first container 90 is detachably attached to the front surface 11a of the device body 11. For example, the first container 90 is attached to the front surface 15b below the removal unit 70. The removal unit 70 has an inclined plate 72 and a first protrusion 73. The inclined plate 72 has an upper surface serving as a first inclined surface 72a, which protrudes forward from the front surface 15b. A portion of the inclined plate 72 forward of the front end of the recess 72a2 is located above the first inlet 91 of the first container 90.

[0077] The first protrusion 73 extends downward from the edge of the first inclined surface 72a. The edge of the first inclined surface 72a has a front end 72a1 and a right end 72a3. The right end 72a3 extends rearward in a straight line from the right end of the front end 72a1. The first protrusion 73 has a flat portion 73a extending downward from the straight portion of the front end 72a1, a curved portion 73b extending downward from the curved portion of the front end 72a1, and a flat portion 73c extending downward from the right end 72a3.

[0078] The right surface of the first left wall 92c of the first container 90 faces the left end of the first protrusion 73. As a result, when the first container 90 moves to the right, the first left wall 92c hits the first protrusion 73, restricting the movement of the first container 90 to the right.

[0079] A first slit 92b1 is provided in the first rear wall 92b of the first container 90. The first slit 92b1 extends downward from the upper end of the first rear wall 92b. The lower part of the flat portion 73c of the first protrusion 73 is inserted into this first slit 92b1. As a result, the first protrusion 73 is supported by both ends of the first rear wall 92b that sandwich the first slit 92b1 in the left-right direction, limiting the left-right movement of the first container 90. Furthermore, when the first container 90 moves upward, the lower end of the first protrusion 73 abuts against the first rear wall 92b, limiting the upward movement of the first container 90.

[0080] As shown in Figure 11, a plurality of second protrusions 74 are provided on the underside of the inclined plate 72. The plurality of second protrusions 74 are provided at intervals in the left-right direction. The second protrusions 74 are flat, protrude downward from the underside of the inclined plate 72, and extend in the front-rear direction. The front end of each second protrusion 74 is connected to the rear surface of the flat portion 73a of the first protrusion 73, and the upper end is connected to the underside of the inclined plate 72.

[0081] The upper part of the rear end of the second protrusion 74 is connected to the front surface 11a of the device body 11, and a second slit 74a is provided at the lower part of the rear end of the second protrusion 74 below this connection. The second slit 74a extends upward from the lower end of the second protrusion 74. The upper part of the first rear wall 92b of the first container 90 is inserted into the second slit 74a. The upper part of the first rear wall 92b of the first container 90 is sandwiched between the second protrusion 74 and the front surface 11a of the device body 11 in the front-rear direction, thereby restricting the movement of the first container 90 in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, the upper end of the first rear wall 92b abuts against the second protrusion 74, and the upward movement of the first container 90 is restricted by the second protrusion 74.

[0082] The first container 90 is disposed on the cartridge housing portion 16, which houses an ink cartridge. This ink cartridge (not shown) is a container that stores ink, and is detachably attached to the cartridge housing portion 16. The ink cartridge is in communication with the print head 21 of the printing unit 20 via an ink flow path, and supplies ink to the print head 21. As a result, the print head 21 ejects ink onto the print medium W, thereby printing an image on the print medium W.

[0083] The cartridge holder 16 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, has an ink cartridge storage space therein, and protrudes forward from the front surface 11a of the device body 11. The first container 90 is disposed on the upper surface of the cartridge holder 16 and is supported from below by the cartridge holder 16. As a result, the first container 90 is sandwiched between the cartridge holder 16 and the first protrusion 73 of the ejection unit 70 in the vertical direction.

[0084] The user holds the first container 90 by the handle 90a or the like, tilts the first container 90 so that the first rear wall 92b faces diagonally upward to the rear, and inserts the upper part of the first rear wall 92b into the second slit 74a of the second protrusion 74, and also inserts the first protrusion 73 into the first slit 92b1 of the first rear wall 92b. Then, the user rotates the first container 90 while abutting the upper end of the first rear wall 92b against the second protrusion 74, and places the first container 90 on the cartridge accommodating section 16, thereby attaching the first container 90 to the front surface 11a of the apparatus body 11.

[0085] Conversely, the user holds the first container 90 by the handle 90a or the like, lifts the first container 90 from above the cartridge storage section 16, and then tilts the first container 90 so that the first rear wall 92b faces diagonally upward toward the rear. The user then removes the upper portion of the first rear wall 92b of the first container 90 from the second slit 74a of the second protrusion 74, and also removes the first protrusion 73 from the first slit 92b1 of the first rear wall 92b. This allows the user to remove the first container 90 from the front surface 11a of the device body 11. This installation and removal of the first container 90 can be easily performed from the front of the device body 11, similar to the installation and removal of the second container 100.

[0086] The first container 90 has a size capable of accommodating a predetermined number or more of can products C. For example, as described above, the first stocker 41 of the first supply unit 40 has a size capable of accommodating a predetermined number of front members A, and the second stocker 51 of the second supply unit 50 has a size capable of accommodating a predetermined number of back members B. A predetermined number or less of can products C are produced using a predetermined number or less of front members A housed in the first stocker 41 and a predetermined number or less of back members B housed in the second stocker 51. Because the first container 90 has a size capable of accommodating a predetermined number or more of can products C, it can accommodate the produced can products C. This prevents a situation in which the can products C must be removed from the first container 90 due to insufficient space during production of can products C using the front members A and back members B housed in the stockers 41 and 51.

[0087] <First Modification> In the can product manufacturing apparatus 10 according to the first modification, as shown in FIG. 12 , the first container 90 may have a second inclined surface 93 a that is inclined downward toward the front below the front end 72 a 1 of the first inclined surface 72 a.

[0088] For example, a sloped base 93 is provided within the first container 90. The sloped base 93 has a triangular prism shape and has an upper surface that is a second inclined surface 93a. The sloped base 93 is fixed to the first rear wall 92b and the first lower wall 92e of the first container 90. The second inclined surface 93a has a triangular shape and is positioned so that its dimension in the left-right direction decreases toward the front. The second inclined surface 93a is also inclined diagonally downward toward the front, and has a downward slope toward the front.

[0089] As shown in Figures 9 and 12, the second inclined surface 93a is located between the right and left ends of the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a is located between the rear and front ends of the second inclined surface 93a in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the second inclined surface 93a is located below the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a, and the front end 72a1 crosses the second inclined surface 93a in the left-right direction when viewed from above. Therefore, the canned product C slides forward down the first inclined surface 72a, passes through the front end 72a1 of the first inclined surface 72a, and falls onto the second inclined surface 93a through the first inlet 91. The canned product C then slides forward down the second inclined surface 93a and moves forward or left-right along the second inclined surface 93a. This prevents the can products C stored in the first container 90 from becoming unevenly distributed, thereby preventing a reduction in the number of can products C stored due to uneven distribution, and allowing more can products C to be stored in the first container 90.

[0090] Although the second inclined surface 93a is inclined downward toward the front, the inclination of the second inclined surface 93a is not limited to this. For example, the second inclined surface 93a may be inclined downward toward at least one of the right and left in addition to the front. This allows the canned products C to slide down a wide range along the second inclined surface 93a, thereby suppressing uneven distribution of the canned products C in the first container 90 and allowing more canned products C to be stored in the first container 90.

[0091] <Other Modifications> In all of the above embodiments and modifications, a first slit 92b1 is provided in the first rear wall 92b of the first wall 92 of the first container 90. The first protrusion 73 of the removal unit 70 is inserted into this first slit 92b1, and the first protrusion 73 is supported by both ends of the first rear wall 92b that sandwich the first slit 92b1. However, it is sufficient if either the first wall 92 or the first protrusion 73 has a slit into which the other is inserted. For example, the first protrusion 73 may be provided with a slit extending upward from its lower end, and the first rear wall 92b of the first wall 92 may be inserted into this slit. In this case, the first rear wall 92b is supported by both ends of the first protrusion 73 that sandwich the slit.

[0092] In all of the above embodiments and modified examples, a second slit 74a is provided in the second protrusion 74 of the inclined plate 72. The first rear wall 92b of the first container 90 is inserted into this second slit 74a, and the first rear wall 92b is sandwiched between the second protrusion 74 and the front surface 11a of the device body 11 and supported thereby. However, it is sufficient if either the first rear wall 92b or the second protrusion 74 has a slit into which the other is inserted. For example, the first rear wall 92b may have a slit extending downward from its upper end, and the second protrusion 74 may be inserted into this slit. In this case, the second protrusion 74 is supported by both ends of the first rear wall 92b that sandwich the slit.

[0093] In all of the above embodiments and modified examples, the backing sheet F is stored in the first tray 23 and the print medium W is stored in the second tray 25, but the method of storing the backing sheet F and the print medium W is not limited to this. For example, the backing sheet F and the print medium W may be stacked alternately and stored in the second tray 25. In this case, by driving the first transport motor 22, the backing sheet F and the print medium W are transported alternately from the second tray 25 to the transport unit 80 via the paper discharge port 24.

[0094] It should be noted that many modifications and other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present disclosure. Details of the structure and / or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0095] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Can product manufacturing apparatus 11: Apparatus main body 11a: Front surface 15b: Front surface 16: Cartridge storage section 20: Printing unit 30: Connection unit 41: First stocker 51: Second stocker 70: Take-out unit 71: Moving device 72a: First inclined surface 72a1: Front end 73: First protrusion (protrusion) 74: Second protrusion (protrusion) 80: Transport unit 83d1: Discharge port 84a: Front surface 90: First container 91: First inlet 93a: Second inclined surface 100: Second container 101: Second inlet

Claims

1. A can product manufacturing device comprising: a printing unit that prints an image on at least the first portion of a print medium including a first portion and a second portion; a connection unit that connects a front member covered on the first portion to a back member to produce a can product; a first container that houses the can product; and a second container that houses the second portion; a transport unit that transports the print medium from the printing unit to the connection unit and transports the second portion of the print medium that has been separated from the first portion from the connection unit to the second container; and an apparatus main body that is provided with the printing unit, the connection unit, and the transport unit and has a front surface to which the first container and the second container are attached.

2. The can product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first container and the second container are detachably attached to the front surface of the apparatus body.

3. The can product manufacturing device according to claim 1, wherein the device main body has a first stocker capable of accommodating a predetermined number of the front members and a second stocker capable of accommodating the predetermined number of the back members, the first container has a size capable of accommodating at least the predetermined number of the can products, and the second container has a size capable of accommodating at least the predetermined number of the second parts.

4. A can product manufacturing device as described in claim 1, wherein the first container is arranged between the second container and the left or right end of the front surface of the device main body when viewed from the front, and the second container is arranged so as to overlap the center in the left-right direction of the front surface of the device main body when viewed from the front.

5. The can product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removal unit that removes the can products from the connection unit, wherein the first container has a first inlet at an upper portion through which the can products pass, and the removal unit has a first inclined surface that slopes downward toward the first inlet of the first container, and a moving device that moves the can products from the connection unit onto the first inclined surface.

6. The can product making apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when viewed from above, a front end of the first inclined surface is located inside a wall surrounding the first inlet of the first container.

7. A can product manufacturing apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein the apparatus main body has a cartridge storage section that stores a cartridge that stores ink used for printing by the printing unit, the first container is placed on the cartridge storage section and has a wall that surrounds a space that stores the can products, the removal unit has an inclined plate that includes the first inclined surface as its upper surface and a protrusion that extends downward from the inclined plate, and either the wall or the protrusion has a slit into which the other is inserted.

8. The can product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first container has a second inclined surface that is inclined downwardly toward the front below the front end of the first inclined surface.

9. The can product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit is disposed forward of the connection unit, and the second container is attached to a front surface of the transport unit.

10. The can product making apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the conveying unit has a discharge port through which the second portion is discharged, and the second container has a second inlet at its upper portion that is disposed below the discharge port and through which the second portion passes.

11. The can product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the width of the second container in the left-right direction is greater than the width of the discharge port.

12. The can product making apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the bottom surface of the second container is inclined downwardly toward the front.

Images