EP0753464A1 - Stacking aid for container lids - Google Patents

Abstract

The device consists of an L-shaped metal ring (3) with foot (7) and leg (8) engaging lid edge (6,4). Catches (10) are located on the free edge (9) of the axial leg (8) of the ring, to project radially inwards from that edge. The catches are open axially downwards, to engage under the free edge (5) of the lid foot. When seen in circumferential direction, there is a sharp junction from the normal part of the leg to the catch, and then back to the normal leg of the L-shaped ring.

Description

The invention relates to a stacking aid on lids or for lids made of sheet metal, which are used for closing buckets. These lids are particularly widespread for larger, bucket-like containers and generally consist of a section with one or more profiles in the mirror area with an outwardly bent edge to form a downwardly open channel into which a seal can be inserted. The attachment is carried out with the aid of a ring with an L-shaped cross section, which, with its horizontally aligned foot, engages over the lid edge in the radial direction and with its vertically aligned leg, the lid edge in the axial direction. The lid and L-shaped ring are usually preassembled and processed further when the containers are filled. For this purpose, many pre-assembled lid units are transported in a stack and kept ready for further processing.

Most of the time, the covers and also the L-shaped rings are made of sheet metal, and the rings can be divided for reasons of saving and provided with a closure at the point of division.

Practice has shown that such lids cannot be stacked together with the L-shaped rings, either individually or in the preassembled state. This makes reliable transport to the bottler difficult and prevents trouble-free automated handling during further processing. Therefore, in the prior art, the lids and the L-rings are still removed from the respective stack by hand and placed one after the other on the container or individually placed in a closing machine in order to be closed with the lower part of the container (bucket).

It is an object of the invention to provide a stacking aid (as a method and device) with which the indicated disadvantages are avoided, the stacking is made more uniform and the handling of the lid and L-rings for closing can be automated.

This object is solved with claim 1 or 11.

Due to the position of the radially inwardly projecting cams on the free edge of the axial (vertical) leg of the L-shaped ring, the downward-facing edge of each cam sits on the top of the horizontal foot of the L-shaped ring below when the preassembled units are stacked lying unit securely.

Characterized in that the cam is open downwards in the axial direction, it is achieved in a simple manner when shaping the cam that the free edge pointing downwards in the axial direction runs slightly arcuate over the entire length of the cam in such a way that in the stacked state one on the cam region of limited line support contact is obtained (claim 7). This circumferentially limited line support contact is a segmented support path. In addition, the outline of the cam is shaped so that when the ring and the cover are preassembled, the L-shaped ring pushes uniformly (outside) over the cover hook of the cover and engages under the free edge of the cover hook in the (pre) assembled state, to extend the lid hook there (claim 11).

The different dimensions of each cam and the number of cams distributed in the circumferential direction depend on the nominal diameter of the cover. If the circumferential length of the cam is too short, the secure seating of the ring on the cover and thus the stackability for automatic processing in the sealing machine is impaired. Too long cams make it difficult to attach the L-shaped ring to the edge of the lid for pre-assembly. Too small a number of cams on the one hand and an excessive number of cams on the other hand have the same effect.

The cams can be evenly distributed around the circumference as a segment support (claim 10). Spaced parallel (radially further inwards) there is a full-length support in which the lower end of the inner channel wall of the lid edge rests on the sealing unit made of lid and L-ring stacked directly underneath (claim 12, claim 13).

If the cams are formed at their circumferential ends with sharp transitions, the position of the L-shaped ring after the preassembly on the cover is designed to be particularly reliable, since the cam hooks securely behind the edge of the cover hook.

This achieves a stable unit consisting of lid and ring ("closing unit"), which is a great advantage for stackability.

Figur 1

zeigt im senkrechten Schnitt zwei übereinander gestapelte vormontierte Deckel-/L-Ring-Verschließeinheiten 1a/3,1b/3.

Figur 2

veranschaulicht im Ausschnitt mit Blick in radialer Richtung von außen nach innen den Randbereich des Deckels 1a mit einem am Ring 3 eingeformten Nocken 10.

Figur 3

ist - im Ausschnitt gesehen - der Bereich von Figur 2 in senkrechter Aufsicht.

The invention is explained below with reference to schematic drawings of an embodiment example .

Figure 1

shows in vertical section two pre-assembled cover / L-ring sealing units 1a / 3,1b / 3 stacked on top of each other.

Figure 2

illustrates in a detail with a view in the radial direction from the outside inwards the edge region of the cover 1a with a cam 10 molded onto the ring 3.

Figure 3

is - seen in detail - the area of Figure 2 in vertical supervision.

In the exemplary embodiment it is assumed that it is a cover with a nominal diameter between 200 and 250 mm. As can be seen from FIG. 1 , the lids 1 a and 1 b stacked one above the other are profiled in the region of the lid mirror 2. The profile stabilizes the lid mirror, but is not absolutely necessary. The axially rising edge region 4a of the cover is formed into a U-shaped channel 6 which is open at the bottom and which is delimited on the outside by the cover hook 4, which in turn ends in the free edge 5 which points axially downwards. The edge region 6 (with 4 and 4a and 5) is surrounded by an L-shaped ring 3, which radially overlaps the top edge of the edge region 6 with its foot 7 and the cover hook 4 in the axial direction with its axially pointing leg 8. The leg 8 ends in the axially downward free edge 9.

In the area of the free edge 9 of the leg 8 of the L-shaped ring 3, five cams 10 are embossed in the circumferential direction at regular intervals in the cover of the size shown here. Each cam is elongated in the circumferential direction and protrudes radially inward from the leg 8 in the view according to FIG. 1, the cam depth in this direction in the example shown being approximately 1 mm and the axial height for this cover size being 2 mm. The cams are dimensioned such that, in the preassembled state, the upper contour edge 12 as a sharp shoulder grips securely in segments under the free edge 5 of the lid hook 4 and thus stabilizes and secures the preassembled unit 1a, 3 when you click on a further unit 1b / 3 is placed (stacked).

It can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that when the cam 10 is molded in, the edge 13 of the cam 10 pointing downward in the axial direction is displaced slightly upwards relative to the free edge 9 of the leg 8 and merges into the edge 9 in an arc. This is achieved during molding and enables the edge 13 in the stacked state according to FIG. 1 to have a linear contact with the foot 7 of the cover-ring unit 1b / 3 underneath. The edge 13 thus nestles against the rounded course 3 'of the transition from the foot 7 to the leg 8. One can see in the figures the relatively sharp-edged transition 11 from the normal course of the leg 8 to the impression 10 and from this back to the normal course of the leg 8.

With the lid size shown here, the circumferential length (the support segment) of the cams is approximately 10 mm. A significant deviation from this dimension or from the number of cams given above leads to the difficulties mentioned at the beginning. This means that the number of cams and the length of their circumferential extension should be matched to the diameter of the cover if optimal conditions are to be guaranteed.

In the diameter range specified here, the length of the cams can vary between 8 and 12 mm, without significant impairments occurring. The depth of the cams in the radial direction also depends on the size of the cover; the reliable support in the stacked state can thus be optimized.

While the cams 10 with their lower edge 13 form the outer support as circumferentially distributed segments, the inner leg 4a, the circumferential U-bead 6 lies radially further inwards at 9a on the U-bead of the cover stacked further down. Parallel spaced supports are formed, which have approximately the radial distance of the width of the U-bead 6. The cam 10 extends in its limited circumferential segment the lid hook 4 (shoulder 12 takes edge 5 of the lid hook 4), so that both channel walls of the channel 6 can rest with their lower edges or ends on the top of the lid edge 6 of the lid 1b stacked underneath , either directly at 9a or indirectly via the lower edge 13 of the cam 10 and the foot 7.

The invention describes a stacking aid for lids on bucket-like containers with the aid of a ring 3 with an L-shaped cross section, which overlaps the lid edge in the radial direction with its foot 7 and the lid hook with its leg 8 in the axial direction. A number of circumferentially distributed cams 10, which are number-wise and with respect to their circumferential extent, are formed on the free edge of the axially extending leg of the L-shaped ring 3. The cams 10 protrude inward from its free edge 9. In the axial direction downwards, the cams 10 are open in order to be able to reach under the free edge 5 of the cover hook 4 in the assembled state.

Claims (13)

Stacking aid for lids made of sheet metal (1a, 1b) for bucket-like container with the aid of a cross-sectionally L-shaped ring (3), preferably made of metal, with its foot (7) has a lid rim (6.4) of the lid in the radial direction and with its leg (8) overlaps the lid hook (4) of the lid edge (6, 4) in the axial direction, characterized by a plurality of cams (10) distributed in the circumferential direction and coordinated in number and in terms of their circumferential extent with the lid diameter - Are formed on the free edge (9) of the axially extending leg (8) of the L-shaped ring (3); - protrude radially inwards from the free edge (9); - Are open in the axial direction downwards in order to be able to reach under the free edge (5) of the cover hook (4) in the preassembled state of cover (1a, 1b) and L-shaped ring (3). Stacking aid according to claim 1, characterized in that (a) seen in the circumferential direction, a substantially sharp transition (11) from the normal course of the leg (8) to the cam (10) and back to the normal leg course of the L-shaped ring (3) is provided; and or (b) seen in the radial direction, a sharp transition (12) from the leg area (3 ') in which a respective cam is arranged to the inwardly drawn cam (10) is formed to a support shoulder (12) for the free lid hook ( 4) to have. Stacking aid according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that - when looking in the radial direction towards the center of the cover - the outline (12) of the cams (10) elongated in the circumferential direction is rounded at least at the edge (FIG. 2). Stacking aid according to one of the above claims, characterized in that - with a cover diameter in the range between 200 and 250 mm - five cams (10) are distributed in the circumferential direction. Stacking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - with a cover diameter in the range between 200 to 250 mm - the circumferential length of each cam (10) is between 8 mm and 12 mm. Stacking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - with a cover diameter in the range between 200 and 250 mm - the radial depth of the cam (10) is approximately 1 mm and the axial height is approximately the distance between the free edge (5) of the cover hook ( 4) corresponds to the foot (7) of the underlying L-ring (3). Stacking aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axially downward-pointing free edge (13) of each cam (10) is slightly axially opposite the free edge (9) of the leg (8) of the L-shaped ring (3) until it is offset slightly upwards, in particular opens out in an arc shape into the edge (9) in the radial and in the axial direction. Stacking aid according to claim 7, in which (a) the arcuate mouth is adapted to the curvature of the U-shaped channel (6) of the cover; and or (b) the leg transition area (3 ') between the leg (8) and the foot (7) of the L-ring (3) is slightly bent and adapted to the curvature of the channel (6). Stacking aid according to one of the mentioned claims, in which the depth of the cam in the radial direction is selected such that the cam edge (13) lies in the region of curvature (3 ') of the L-ring (3) stacked underneath. Stacking aid according to one of the mentioned claims, in which the cams (10) are substantially uniformly distributed over the circumference. Method for the safe stacking of preassembled closing units from sheet metal cover (1a; 1b) and L-shaped closing ring (3), in which (a) on the ring edge (9) of the L-ring (3) pointing to the underside of the cover, grip several circumferentially distributed cams (10) with a sharp transition shoulder (12) directly under the cover hooks (4, 5) pointing to the underside of the cover and extend them supported; (b) the radially outer cover hooks (4, 5) extended over the cams (10) and the radially further inside wall (4a) of the cover edge channel (6,4) in the area of all the circumferentially distributed cams (10) simultaneously on the the capping unit stacked underneath. A method according to claim 11, wherein the outer (extended) lid hook (4,10) on the underlying L-ring (3,7) and the inner channel wall (4a) on the inside of the lid edge (6), in particular the upper side of the stacked channel-shaped lid edge (6) rests (9a). Method according to Claim 11 or 12, in which, in the stack of sealing units in the lid edge region (6, 4), the lid is simultaneously supported (9a, 13), spaced in parallel, by the upper sealing units on the lower sealing unit, in particular the inner support (9a ) and the outer support is segmented (10, 13).

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