JPS6213189B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continuous can printing and transport mechanisms require pre-printing prior to the printing operation to ensure complete transfer from the printing blanket to the can as well as to prevent contact between the mandrel and the transfer machine. It is necessary to seat the can accurately on the mandrel. Such undesirable contact occurs when the can is not properly seated and when the can is absent and the mandrel is exposed. Electronic sensors are provided to detect incorrect seating of a can on that mandrel or the absence of a can on each mandrel.

This invention relates to a mandrel removal apparatus for removing from a printing position a mandrel on which a can is not properly seated or a mandrel without a can. The invention also relates to an apparatus for blowing cans off a mandrel that are not properly seated.

This invention includes a printing blanket retraction mechanism such as the printing blanket retraction mechanism of U.S. Pat. This is an improvement over the malfunction correction mechanism of the prior art.

This invention relates to a high speed continuous printing machine for decorating cans mounted on a mandrel for printing operations.
In particular, this invention relates to a mechanism for moving a mandrel without a can or a can not properly seated from a printing position without either the mandrel or the printing blanket suffering harmful contact with the other.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate a mandrel that is missing or not properly seated from the printing position without disrupting the printing operation as it relates to preceding and following cans in a continuous printing operation.
Another purpose is to return the mandrel to the printing position after it has been removed and the erroneously seated cans have been ejected, allowing subsequent printing operations to continue at full capacity.

A general embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.
Cans 10 are fed through an inlet chute 11 to a pocket mandrel wheel 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the mandrel turret carries 24 pockets 13 and 24 associated mandrels 15, although other numbers may be used. Each pocket 13 receives a can 10 which is transferred to an associated mandrel 15 which supports the can for printing operations. A pocket mandrel wheel 12 rotates to bring each can into contact with a printing blanket wheel 16, which prints on the outer wall of the can as the mandrel rotates to expose the outer circumference of the can to the blanket. Belt 17 is urged by printing blanket wheel 16 into contact with each mandrel causing it to rotate in perfect synchrony with the surface of the printing blanket wheel, resulting in spotless printing of the can bodies. Following the printing operation, the pocket mandrel wheel 12 carries the printed cans to the transfer wheel 18 where they are blown from the mandrel onto the suction cup 20 and into the transfer zone 2.
At 1, the suction cup guides the cans onto the pinch chain conveyor 22 as the pins 23 are moved through the transfer zone 21 by the chain drive 24.

The invention includes a mechanism for rejecting mandrels with no cans or cans not properly seated so that the printing blanket 16 is not contacted by exposed mandrels or cans not properly seated. The displaced mandrel is moved far enough out of the line of rotation for printing that neither the mandrel nor a properly seated can will contact the printing blanket.

In FIG. 2, mandrel 15 and pocket 13 and their associated mechanisms are mounted on a disc 30 of pocket mandrel wheel 12, which disc is keyed to a shaft 31 supported on bearings 32 and 33. ing. The shaft 31 is driven by a gear 34 via a suitable drive and is continuously rotated.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each mandrel 15 is mounted on a mandrel arm 35 that pivots about a center 36. The rotational movement is guided by the guide device shown here, such as a cam follower 37 mounted on the same mandrel arm 35 and operating within a grooved cam 38. The center 36 is supported in a pivot arm 39, which is pivotally supported on the disk 30 via a pin 40.

In operation, when pivot arm 39 is moved (i.e. pivoted about pin 40), pivot center 36 is displaced and thus mandrel 15 is also displaced. At this time, mandrel arm 3
5 pivots substantially about the cam follower 37 and as shown the distance 37-36 is approximately equal to 36-15, so that the displacement of the mandrel is approximately twice the displacement of the pivot center 36. . The preferred mandrel displacement is about 0.180 inches (0.457 cm). The normal position of pivot center 36 holds mandrel 15 in a position to accurately track blanket wheel 16 for printing.

The pivot center 36 is held in place by a retaining device acting on the radially inward extension of the pivot arm 39. A preferred retaining device is an adjusting screw 41 carried on the end of the pivot arm 39 and usually resting on an intermediate block 45. A resilient device, shown here as a spring 46, holds the adjusting screw 41 against the intermediate block 45. As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate block 45 has a 3/16 inch
(0.476cm). Normally, adjusting screws 41 are arranged on all intermediate blocks 45. If the intermediate block is moved to the right, the adjusting screw rests in the concave part of the block and
The end of arm 39 will be moved 3/16in. In Figures 3 and 5, this 3/16 inch movement is the movement made by arm 39, which is 3/16 inch at point 36.
The movement from 6-a to 36-b thus corresponds to the movement of the mandrel from 15-a to 15-b. When center 36 is so displaced, mandrel 15 still tracks blanket wheel 16 but is 0.180 inches away from it. Therefore, the cans seated on the mandrel will not be printed.

In order to ensure free movement of the intermediate block 45, the pressure on the adjusting screw 41 is released to the right just before displacement of the block in the following manner. That is, the adjusting screw 41 is lifted out of the intermediate block 45 by means of a device which overcomes the pressure of the spring 46. In FIGS. 3 and 5, the mandrel arm 35 carries a contact device, such as a screw 49, which is positioned such that it remains out of contact with any part of the machine during most of the rotational movement of the mandrel 15. There is. Just before the purge cycle, cam 38 rotates mandrel arm 35 clockwise to drive screw 49 into contact with pivot arm 39 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Since the cam action lasts several quarters of an inch and the mandrel arm 35 can no longer freely pivot, this cam action causes the mandrel arm 35 as well as the pivot arm 39 to rotate only a few degrees around the pin 40. Adjustment screw 41 and intermediate block 45
A gap 50 is created between them. In FIGS. 2 and 4, after the intermediate block has moved to the right, the cam action is reversed and the action is applied by the pivot arm 39 to the adjusting screw 4.
1 rests on the concave portion 47 of the intermediate block 45 in the opposite direction.

Each mandrel has a series of internal grooves and hoses 52
It is connected to the manifold 53 via. These manifolds provide vacuum or air as needed during the working cycle. Manifold 53 is used to blow out the cans. If the can is not properly seated on the mandrel, the mandrel is removed and the can is blown to avoid possible damage to the blanket from a slightly deformed can and to eliminate disruption during the next load cycle. Released by expelled air.

In overall operation, the electronic sensor 55 detects cans on the mandrel in positions where all cans must be fully seated on the mandrel. The sensor is directed to the end of the can and will thus detect the absence of a can as well as cans that are not properly seated. The signal from the sensor is relayed by an electronic system which energizes one of the two solenoid valves 56, 57 at the appropriate time. These valves actuate air cylinders 58 or 59 which actuate displacement cams 60 or 61. The evacuation cam displaces the intermediate block 45 by being supported on rollers 62 mounted on the intermediate block to displace the appropriate mandrel. Only those mandrels that do not have cans properly seated are rejected; the preceding and trailing mandrels remain in the printing position if they have cans properly seated.

After the purge action, the signal from the sensor is relayed to one of two blowout solenoid valves 63, 64 which supply air through holes 65 or 66 in manifold 53, thereby blowing out cans that are not properly seated. Mandrel is printing blanket wheel 16
but before reaching the can-feeding position the interposer block is returned to its initial position by a resetting cam 67 which is actuated by its own air cylinder 68. Intermediate block 45 acts on mounted rollers 62. Prior to the reset cycle, the cam 38 contacts the pivot arm 39 with the screw 49 as described above, and the adjusting screw 41 is moved from the intermediate block 45 to the intermediate block 45.
raised to a distance that allows the non-concave surface of the adjustment screw 41 to be placed under the adjustment screw 41 by the action of the reset cam 67.

When the supply of cans to the pocket mandrel wheel 12 is stopped, the machine is at a slow idle speed and the mandrel continues to eject because there are no cans on the mandrel. The resetting cam is then retracted in response to a signal from a proximity sensor at one or more points on the can feed track, as is well known in the art, thereby preventing unnecessary resetting and removal of the mandrel. To prevent.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, intermediate block 45 includes two grooves in which rollers 62 are guided. Similarly, there are two slots 65 and 66 for blowing out the can. This feature is designed for high speed operation and allows significant resetting time for electromagnetic systems.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a can printing or decoration machine embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially diagrammatic vertical cross-sectional view of the pocket mandrel wheel of FIG. 1 showing one of the similar mandrels, the mandrel arm and the pivot arm forming part of the mandrel removal mechanism. 3 is a front view showing the three mandrel arms of FIG. 2 in different positions; FIG. Figure 4 is 4 in Figure 2.
- front views of the intermediate block in three positions relative to the adjusting screw on the mandrel pivot arm of the mandrel along line 4; FIG. 5 is a front view of one of the mandrel arms and rotating arm showing the movement of the mandrel and its mandrel arm during the displacement movement of the mandrel. 10...can, 11...feeding chute, 12...
Bottled mandrel wheel, 13...Pocket, 15...Mandrel, 15a, 15b...Line indicating the center position of the mandrel, 16...Printing blanket wheel, 17...Belt, 18...Transfer wheel, 20... Suction cup, 21...transfer area, 22...pinch conveyor, 23...
Pin, 24... Chain drive device, 30... Disk, 31... Shaft, 32, 33... Bearing, 34...
Gear, 35... Mandrel arm, 36... Yanter (center of rotation of the mandrel arm).

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A mandrel exclusion mechanism for preventing contact between a can or a mandrel without a can not properly seated on the mandrel and a printing blanket wheel, the mechanism comprising: (a) an axis; (b) a disk keyed to said shaft for rotation therewith; (c) a pivot arm pivoted on said disk; and (d) a pivot arm pivoted on said pivot arm. (e) a mandrel mounted on said mandrel arm not coaxial with the attachment point of the mandrel arm on said pivot arm; and (f) said mandrel about its pivot point on said pivot arm. (g) a cam device for guiding the rotation of the arms; and (g) a device for retaining a plurality of said pivot arms at their radially inner ends about said disc, the device being adapted to ensure that the can is properly seated on the mandrel. a resilient device for pressing said pivot arm against a slidable stop member when the mandrel is seated; the second stop member
and a device for moving the mandrel into a corresponding second position by means of the resilient device to isolate the mandrel from the outer periphery of the printing blanket. 2. The cam device for guiding the rotation of the mandrel arm comprises (a) a cam follower mounted on the mandrel arm, and (b) a groove cam that engages with the cam follower and guides its movement; Claim 1, wherein a cam follower guides the rotation of the mandrel arm and releases the radially inward end of the pivot arm from the stop member prior to removal of the mandrel. Mandrel exclusion mechanism as described. 3. The apparatus for retaining a plurality of pivot arms at their radially inner ends, further comprising (a) an adjustment screw mounted on said pivot arms, and (b) said slidable stop member adapted to an intermediate block slidably mounted on the disc at a position contacted by the adjustment screw during rotation of the pivot arm about its pivot point on the disc; (c) 2. A mandrel removal mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said elastic device is a spring pressing said adjustment screw against said intermediate block. 4. A device for retaining a plurality of pivot arms at its radially inner end, comprising: (a) said intermediate block having a recessed portion and a non-recessed portion on the surface contacted by said adjustment device; (b) said intermediate block; (c) means for moving the intermediate block in its slidable mounting portion to a position where the adjusting screw contacts a concave surface of the block; 4. The mandrel removal mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a device for moving into contact with a non-concave surface of the block. 5. The device of claim 3, further comprising a device for reducing the holding force of the elastic device against the intermediate block. 6. Claim 5, wherein the device for reducing the holding force of the elastic device includes a device mounted on the mandrel arm that responds to the guide device and comes into contact with the pivoting arm during the rotation of the mandrel arm.
Mandrel exclusion mechanism as described in section. 7. The mandrel removal mechanism of claim 6, wherein the contact device is a screw mounted on the mandrel arm. 8. A mandrel removal mechanism for a can printing press for preventing contact between a mandrel on which a can is not properly seated and an associated printing blanket wheel, the mechanism comprising: (b) means for disabling said resetting device to prevent repeated ejection and resetting after the supply of cans to said mandrel wheel has ceased; A mandrel removal mechanism for a can printing press according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by comprising: 9. The patent wherein said resetting device and overriding device include: (a) a resetting cam for mechanically adjusting the position of said mandrel; and (b) a pneumatic cylinder for retracting said resetting cam from an operative position. The mechanism according to claim 8.