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(11) | EP 2 703 302 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Feeder for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines |
| (57) A feeder (1a, 1b), particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines, comprising
a passage channel (2) adapted to guide lids (3) to a crimping station (4) contained
in a vacuum chamber (5). The passage channel (2) has a closed profile and passes through
a wall (50) of the vacuum chamber (5) so as to connect the environment inside the
vacuum chamber (5) to the outside environment. The peculiarity of the invention resides
in that it comprises means (7) for pushing the lids (3) which are accommodated slidingly
along the passage channel (2) so as to push the lids (3) along the passage channel
(2). Advantageously, a hermetic seal is provided between the inner walls of the passage
channel (2) and the pusher means (7) so as to prevent the air of the outside environment
from filtering through the passage channel (2) into the vacuum chamber (5).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a feeder particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines.
[0002] The present invention is within the field of crimping machines and particularly of crimping machines that can also work in vacuum for example to crimp cans for the canning industry.
[0003] In this field, the problem is particularly felt of introducing the lids of the cans in the vacuum chamber in which the crimping machine works while maintaining as much as possible the vacuum conditions inside the chamber without damaging the lids themselves due to the suction effect generated by the difference in pressure between the inside environment and the outside environment of the vacuum chamber.
[0004] The known and most widely used method of feeding the lids in crimping machines that operate in vacuum consists in introducing the lids, stacked one on top of the other, by means of a hole provided in the upper part of the vacuum chamber.
[0005] In this case, the lids are then separated by means of an adapted separator inside the vacuum chamber and are then fed to the crimping machine.
[0006] However, this method of feeding from above entails considerable drawbacks. In particular, due to the dimensions of the crimping machine and of the vacuum chamber that contains it, it is necessary to feed the lids from heights that often exceed three meters. Moreover, the difference in pressure between the outside environment, from which the lids arrive, and the internal environment of the vacuum chamber causes a strong suction of air through the upper hole obstructed by the lids. This suction tends to accelerate the lids in an uncontrollable manner.
[0007] Additional technical solutions, such as the adoption of adapted brakes, constituted for example by pneumatic pistons actuated transversely to the direction of the fall of the lids to reduce their falling speed, are therefore indispensable. The braking systems, in addition to being economically expensive and technically complicated, also increase the risk of damaging the edges of the lids.
[0008] Another drawback of the devices of the known type resides in that they do not ensure good airtightness of the vacuum chamber and therefore cannot ensure a good degree of vacuum.
[0009] The aim of the present invention is to provide a feeder, particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines, that overcomes the limitations and obviates the above mentioned drawbacks, enabling to feed lids to a vacuum crimping machine simply and efficiently.
[0010] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a feeder that makes it possible to ensure vacuum tightness in the vacuum chamber constantly during the operation of the feeder and of the crimping machine.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a feeder that protects the lids during their insertion in the vacuum chamber.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a feeder that can work at high operating speeds and is capable of operating with the most disparate types of lid (both tinplate and aluminum).
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a feeder that is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide a feeder that is easy to provide and economically competitive if compared with the background art.
[0015] This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a feeder, particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines, comprising a passage channel adapted to guide lids to a crimping station contained in a vacuum chamber, said passage channel having a closed profile and passing through a wall of said vacuum chamber so as to connect the environment inside said vacuum chamber to the outside environment, characterized in that it comprises means for pushing said lids which are accommodated slidingly along said passage channel so as to push said lids along said passage channel, a hermetic seal being provided between the inner walls of said passage channel and said pusher means so as to prevent the air of said outside environment from filtering through said passage channel into said vacuum chamber.
[0016] Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a feeder particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a feeder according to the invention, shown in combination with a vacuum crimping machine;
Figure 2 is a different perspective view of the feeder of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a detailed perspective view of the feeder according to the invention, showing in phantom lines the walls of the vacuum chamber;
Figure 4 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the feeder of Figure 3, illustrating in particular the placement of a lid between two pushers;
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the feeder of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the feeder shown in Figure 5, taken along the line VI-VI;
Figure 7 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of part of the sectional view of the feeder of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the feeder of Figure 3;
Figure 9 is an external front view of the vacuum chamber of the feeder of Figure 3;
Figure 10 is a front view, from the inside of the vacuum chamber, of the feeder of Figure 3;
Figure 11 is a detailed perspective view of a variation of the feeder according to the invention, illustrating in phantom lines the walls of the vacuum chamber;
Figure 12 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of the feeder of Figure 11, illustrating in particular the placement of a lid between two pushers;
Figure 13 is a top plan view of the feeder of Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a sectional view of the feeder shown in Figure 5, taken along the line VI-VI;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a detail of the feeder shown in Figures 11 to 14;
Figure 16 is an external front view of the vacuum chamber of the feeder of Figure 11;
Figure 17 is an internal front view of the vacuum chamber of the feeder of Figure 11.
[0017] With reference to Figures 1 to 10, the feeder, particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines, generally designated by the reference numeral 1a, comprises a passage channel 2 that is adapted to guide the lids 3 to a crimping station 4 contained in a vacuum chamber 5.
[0018] In greater detail, the passage channel 2 has a closed profile and passes through a wall 50 of the vacuum chamber 5, connecting the environment inside the vacuum chamber 5, at a pressure that is lower than the atmospheric pressure, to the external environment, at atmospheric pressure.
[0019] According to the invention, the feeder 1a comprises means 7 for pushing the lids 3, which are accommodated so that they can slide along the passage channel 2 so as to push the lids 3 along the passage channel 2.
[0020] Advantageously, a hermetic seal is provided between the inner walls of the passage channel 2 and the pusher means 7 so as to prevent the air of the outside environment from filtering through the passage channel 2 into the vacuum chamber 5.
[0021] Conveniently, in order to provide the hermetic seal cited above, the passage channel 2 comprises, in at least one of its portions 20, at least one longitudinal channel 21 which has, in a transverse cross-section, a profile 25 that corresponds substantially to the profile 75 of the transverse cross-section of the pusher means 7.
[0022] In this manner, the pusher means 7 engage slidingly in the longitudinal channel 21 so as to close substantially the longitudinal channel 21 to the passage of air.
[0023] The coupling between the pusher means 7 and the longitudinal channel 21 is in fact such as to hinder the flow of air from the outside environment to the internal environment of the vacuum chamber that is generated by the difference in pressure established across the wall 50 of the vacuum chamber 5.
[0024] A play between the pusher means 7 and the longitudinal channel 21 comprised in the range between 0.05 mm and 0.1 mm is such as to ensure a good hermetic seal and at the same time allow the sliding of the pusher means 7 within the passage channel 2, without creating an excessive heating due to the friction between the pusher means 7 and the inner edges of the hole 21.
[0025] Preferably, the passage channel 2 comprises two longitudinal channels 21, 26, so that the pusher means 7 engage slidingly respectively the first channel 21 in input to the vacuum chamber 5 and the second channel 26 in output from the vacuum chamber 5.
[0026] The pusher means 7 in fact enter the vacuum chamber 5, pushing the lids 3 toward the crimping station 4 through the first channel 21, and exit from the vacuum chamber 5, once the lid 3 has been abandoned, through the second channel 26. In other words, the pusher means 7 slide along a closed loop that is defined by the passage channel 2 in its central part.
[0027] The pusher means 7 preferably comprise a plurality of pushers 71, each adapted to push a lid 3, and an actuation chain 72, which supports the pushers 71 and is adapted to move them along the passage channel 2.
[0028] Advantageously, the pushers 71 are alternated with the lids 3 so as to retain each lid 3 between two consecutive pushers 71, which are thus arranged at a mutual distance that is substantially equal to the diameter of a lid 3.
[0029] If there is also a device 6 for separating lids 3, it can be arranged outside the vacuum chamber 5, since the passage channel 2 is adapted to receive the lids 3 from the external separator 6 and only then introduce them in the vacuum chamber 5.
[0030] In output from the passage channel 2, proximate to the crimping station 4, and in particular at the point where the lids 3 are passed to the guides of the crimping machine, means 11 for containing the lids 3 are advantageously provided, which are adapted to contain the movement of the lids 3 and prevent their fall during passage from the feeder 1 to the crimping station 4.
[0031] With reference to Figures 1 to 10, the containment means 11 comprise preferably a plurality of pads 12 actuated by a chain 13, which can slide in a direction that is integral with the advancement direction of the lids 3 in the passage channel 2.
[0032] Differently, in a variation of the feeder 1a, generally designated by the reference numeral 1b and shown in Figures 11 to 12, the containment means 11 comprise a plurality of pads 112, which are actuated synchronously with the advancement of the lids 3 and are provided by a cam that acts on the individual lids 3 by means of a kinematic chain that is connected to the pusher means 7.
[0033] As regards the pusher means 7 and in particular the actuation chain 72, they are preferably actuated by a motor 73 of the brushless type, which is provided with a reduction unit 74 to actuate the ring gear that drives the actuation chain 72.
[0034] The first longitudinal channel 21 advantageously has a length that is at least equal to the distance that separates two consecutive pushers 71, so that such hole is always occupied by at least one portion of a pusher 71. Likewise, the second longitudinal channel 26 also can have a length that is at least equal to the distance that separates two consecutive pushers 71.
[0036] A column of stacked lids arrives at the separator 6, which is external to the vacuum chamber 5. The separator 6 separates each lid 3, placing it on adapted external guides 61, where each lid 3 is gripped by a pair of consecutive pushers 71. The pushers 71 push the lids 3 into the first longitudinal channel 21 of the passage channel 2, thus guiding them into the vacuum chamber 5.
[0037] Proximate to the crimping station 4, in output from the passage channel 2, the lids 3 are stabilized by the containment means 11, and in particular by the pads 12 or 112 that press slightly on the lid 3 to prevent it from moving from its own seat before being accommodated in the guides 41 of the crimping station 4.
[0038] The pushers 71 that have abandoned the respective lid 3 at the crimping station 4 are guided again to the passage channel 2, where, through the second longitudinal channel 26, they return to the separator 6 to grip a new lid 3 and repeat the above mentioned operations.
[0039] The longitudinal channels 21 and 26 of the passage channel 2 are advantageously always occupied by at least one portion of a pusher 71, so as to hinder the passage of air between the external environment, at atmospheric pressure, and the environment inside the vacuum chamber, at a lower pressure, during the entire operation of the device 1b.
[0040] In practice it has been found that the feeder, particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines, according to the present invention, achieves the intended aim and objects, since it makes it possible to feed the lids to a vacuum crimping machine in a simple and efficient manner.
[0041] Another advantage of the feeder according to the invention resides in that it ensures pressure losses, between the inside and the outside of the vacuum chamber in which the crimping machine operates, on the order of 2-4 mmHg, even with degrees of vacuum inside the vacuum chamber of not less than 800 mmHg. Accordingly, the operation of the vacuum pump used to maintain the desired degree of vacuum inside the vacuum chamber is reduced substantially, with a consequent increase in the efficiency of the crimping process and a reduction in consumption.
[0042] Another advantage of the feeder according to the invention resides in that it can ensure very high feed rates, even higher than 600 lids per minute.
[0043] Another advantage of the feeder according to the invention resides in that it makes it possible to place the separator outside the vacuum chamber.
[0044] Another advantage of the feeder according to the invention resides in that it prevents unwanted damage of the lids and of their edges during their feeding from the separator, which is external to the vacuum chamber, to the crimping machine, which is internal to the vacuum chamber.
1. A feeder (1a, 1b), particularly for feeding lids in vacuum crimping machines, comprising
a passage channel (2) adapted to guide lids (3) to a crimping station (4) contained
in a vacuum chamber (5), said passage channel (2) having a closed profile and passing
through a wall (50) of said vacuum chamber (5) so as to connect the environment inside
said vacuum chamber (5) to the outside environment, characterized in that it comprises means (7) for pushing said lids (3) which are accommodated slidingly
along said passage channel (2) so as to push said lids (3) along said passage channel
(2), a hermetic seal being provided between the internal walls of said passage channel
(2) and said pusher means (7) so as to prevent the air of said outside environment
from filtering through said passage channel (2) into said vacuum chamber (5).
2. The feeder (1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized in that said passage channel (2) comprises, in at least one portion (20), at least one longitudinal
channel (21, 26) which has, in a transverse cross-section, a profile (25) that corresponds
substantially to the profile (75) of the transverse cross-section of said pusher means
(7).
3. The feeder (1a, 1b) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said passage channel (2) comprises two longitudinal channels (21, 26), said pusher
means (7) being accommodated slidingly respectively in a first channel (21) of said
two longitudinal channels (21, 26) that enter said vacuum chamber (5) and in a second
channel (26) of said two longitudinal channels (21, 26) in output from said vacuum
chamber (5).
4. The feeder (1a, 1b) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pusher means (7) comprise a plurality of pushers (71), each adapted to push
a respective lid (3), and an actuation chain (72), which supports said pushers (71)
and is adapted to move said pushers (71) along said passage channel (2).
5. The feeder (1a, 1b) according to claim 4, characterized in that said pushers (71) are alternated with said lids (3) so as to retain each one of said
lids (3) between two consecutive pushers (71).
6. The feeder (1a, 1b) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said passage channel (2) is adapted to receive said lids (3) from a lid separator
(6) arranged outside said vacuum chamber (5).
7. The feeder (1a, 1b) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one longitudinal channel (21, 26) has a length at least equal to the
distance that separates two consecutive pushers (71).
8. The feeder (1a, 1b) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (11) for containing said lids (3) which are accommodated in said
vacuum chamber (5) at the outlet of said passage channel (2) proximate to said crimping
station (4) so as to contain the movement of said lids (3).
9. The feeder (1a) according to claim 8, characterized in that said containment means (11) comprise a plurality of pads (12) which are actuated
by a chain (13) that can slide in a direction that matches the advancement direction
of said lids (3).
10. The feeder (1b) according to claim 8, characterized in that said containment means (11) comprise a plurality of pads (112) which are actuated
synchronously with the advancement of said lids (3).