Apparatus for resisting rotation of can ends in a downstacker and method regarding same

An apparatus for resisting rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker is provided, that includes a housing having a bore, a ring having a bore that is disposed within the housing, a second ring having a bore that is disposed within the housing and a sleeve having a bore that is disposed within the housing wherein the bores of the ring, the second ring and the sleeve are in substantial alignment relative to each other. A method of resisting the rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for handling can ends, and more particularly relates to an insert that restricts the rotation of can ends in a downstacker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with the handling of can ends in a downstacker that restricts the rotation of the can ends in a downstacker that feeds can ends into a compound liner apparatus, a conversion press, an end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment for further processing. Can ends can be lids in a two piece can, lids and bottoms in a three piece can or bottoms of a two piece can with a screw cap on the other end. Typically, can ends are supplied in sticks consisting of a stack of can ends that are placed in a downstacker and are individually fed from the bottom of the downstacker onto a starwheel of the compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment for further processing. An example of a downstacker that contains a stack of can ends can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,362.

A continuing problem that can be encountered in the handling of can ends in a downstacker is that rotational movement of the feed screws in the compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment can cause the can ends in the downstacker to rotate. Rotational movement of the can ends relative to each other can cause abrasion on the surface of the can ends. Abrasion of the can ends could lead to the build up of wear debris from the abraded can end that could contaminate the contents of a beverage or food container and lead to the accumulation of wear debris in the compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment. The accumulated debris in these machines must eventually be removed in a time consuming cleansing operation of the machinery that would cause production line down time. Additionally, abraded or scratched can ends are not aesthetically pleasing to an end user customer purchasing a beverage or food container because end user customers expect a beverage or food container to not be damaged. Abraded or scratched can ends are particularly unattractive in the case of colored ends. Thus, a need exists in the art to provide an apparatus that restricts the rotation of can ends in a downstacker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus that provides resistance to the rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for resisting the rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker.

Certain objects of the invention are achieved by providing an apparatus for resisting rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker that provides a housing having a bore with a flange at one end of the housing and a step at a second end of the housing. Also, a ring having a bore is provided that is disposed within the housing, the ring having a one end and a second end, the second end of the ring located by the step of the housing. Additionally, a second ring having a bore is provided that is disposed within the housing, the second ring having a one end and a second end, either the one end or the second end of the second ring is located by the one end of the ring. Also, a sleeve having a bore is provided that is disposed within the housing, the sleeve having a one end and a second end, the second end of the sleeve located by the one end of the second ring wherein the bores of the ring, the second ring and the sleeve are in substantial alignment relative to each another.

Other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a method for resisting rotational movement of can ends in a downstacker that comprises providing a ring with a bore adapted to provide an interference fit between the ring and the can ends, and restricting the rotational movement of the can ends in the bore of the ring by applying an interference fit between the ring and the can ends.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

InFIGS. 1-3, the first embodiment of an apparatus10for resisting rotation of can ends in a downstacker is shown. The principal components of the apparatus are a generally T-shaped housing12that has a flange14at one end and a step16at a second end and a cylindrical bore18that extends through the housing12that is adapted to receive the remaining components of the apparatus10.

Threaded bores20are disposed in the flange14that are adapted to receive throaded screws to secure the housing12to a conventional compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment. A ring22with a tapered bore24is slidably disposed within the housing12. The ring22has one end that is flat and a second end that is flat that is located by the step16of the housing12.

In certain embodiments, spacer rings26and27are disposed within the housing12. Spacer rings26and27are commonly referred to in the industry as shims. The function of the spacer rings26and27is discussed below. A flexible ring28with a lip30at one end is disposed within the housing12. The lip30of the ring28is located by the one end of the ring22or by the spacer ring26when a spacer ring26is disposed above ring22. Preferably, as shown inFIG. 3, a plurality of flexible fingers32is provided along the entire circumference of the ring28as an integral component of the ring28. A bore34of constant inner diameter extends through the flexible ring28.

A cylindrical sleeve36with a smooth cylindrical bore38is slidably disposed within the housing12. The sleeve36has a flat surface at one end and a second end of the sleeve36. The second end of the sleeve36is located by the lip30of the ring28or by the spacer ring27when a spacer ring27is disposed above the ring28.

The apparatus10is inserted below a downstacker rod cage that holds a stack of can ends. The T-shaped housing12along with the other components of the present invention are affixed to a downstacker assembly in a manner that is well known in the art. An example of a T-shaped housing that is affixed to a downstacker assembly is shown inFIG. 5of U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,629. Basically, the T-shaped housing is affixed to a compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment by threadedly engaging screws through threaded bores20in the flange14of the housing12and threaded bores located on the machines. Another feature of the apparatus10is that it is retrofitable to existing machines that are used in the industry.

In operation, with the components of the invention in an assembled relationship as shown inFIG. 1, a stack of can ends is disposed within the apparatus10. Rotational movement of the can ends is restricted because the can ends have a slight interference fit with the bore34of the ring28. Gravity or slight pressure applied to the stack of can ends urges the can ends through the bore34until the can end is expelled from the ring28. In the preferred embodiment, gravity or slight pressure urges the can ends through the plurality of fingers32such that the fingers32extend outwardly until the can end is expelled from the ring28and is transferred to a compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment for further processing in a manner that is well known in the art. Rotational movement of the can ends can also be restricted by redesigning the separating knives, splitter knives or feed screws that are typically found in a conventional compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment. Such an approach would require the components not to all turn in the same direction. Modifying the rotation of these components would be more labor intensive and costly than the approach developed in the various embodiments of the present invention.

In certain embodiments, it has been found that one or more spacer rings26placed below the ring28raises the height of the ring28when it is disposed within the housing12. Raising the height of the ring28assists the plurality of fingers32to extend outwardly when can ends are engaging the bore34of the ring28. Also, in certain embodiments, one or more spacer rings27placed above the ring28raises the height of the sleeve36when it is disposed within the housing12. Raising the height of the sleeve36ensures that the edge of the sleeve36is flush with the edge of the housing12.

InFIGS. 4-6, the second embodiment of an apparatus110for resisting rotation of can ends in a downstacker is shown. The principal components of the apparatus110are a generally T-shaped housing112that has a flange114at one end and a step116at a second end and a cylindrical bore118that extends through the housing112that is adapted to receive the remaining components of the apparatus110.

Threaded bores120are disposed in the flange114that are adapted to receive threaded screws to secure the housing112to a conventional compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment. A ring122with a bore124is slidably disposed within the housing112. The ring122has a beveled edge125at one end of the ring122and has a flat portion on a second end of the ring122. The second end of the ring122is located by the step116of the housing112.

A flexible ring128is disposed within the housing112that has a beveled edge129at one end and has a recess131at a second end that is adapted to receive a beveled edge. The recess131engages the beveled edge125of the ring122. A bore134extends through the flexible ring128. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of fingers can be provided along the entire length of the ring128as an integral component of the ring128in the manner shown in the embodiment of FIG.3.

A cylindrical sleeve136with a smooth cylindrical bore138is slidably disposed within the housing112. The sleeve136has a flat surface at one end and a recess139at a second end of the sleeve136that is adapted to receive a beveled edge. The recess139of the sleeve136engages the beveled edge129of the ring128.

The apparatus110is inserted below a downstacker rod cage in the same manner as described above for the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-3. For the sake of being concise, that description will not be repeated. The apparatus110is retrofitable to existing machines that are used in the industry. In operation, with the components of the invention in an assembled relationship as shown inFIG. 4, a stack of can ends is disposed within the apparatus110. Rotational movement of the can ends is restricted because the can ends have a slight interference fit with the bore134of the ring128. Gravity or slight pressure urges the can ends through the bore134until the can end is expelled from the ring128and is transferred to a compound liner apparatus, conversion press, end seaming apparatus or offline test equipment for further processing in a manner that is well known in the art. In an alternate embodiment, gravity or slight pressure urges the can ends through the plurality of fingers provided along the entire length of the ring128such that the fingers extend outwardly until the can end is expelled from the ring28for further processing.

In certain embodiments, it has been found that one or more spacer rings140placed above the sleeve136increases the height of the sleeve136to ensure that the edge of the sleeve136is flush with the edge of the housing112. Spacer rings140are commonly referred to in the industry as shims.

In the embodiments disclosed inFIGS. 1-6, the housings12and112, the rings22and122, and the sleeves36and136were manufactured from aluminum alloy. Alternatively, the housings12and112, the rings22and122, and the sleeves36and136could be manufactured from steel alloys, other metallic alloys, thermoplastic materials or urethanes as well. Also, it has been found to be an ergonomic improvement to manufacture such components from lighter weight aluminum alloys, thermoplastic materials or urethanes because the lighter weight components reduce strain to an end user inserting the apparatus10and110under a rod cage in a downstacker. In the embodiments disclosed inFIGS. 1-6, the rings28and128were manufactured from urethane. Alternatively, the rings28and128could be manufactured from other suitable thermoplastic materials as well.

While the embodiments disclosed inFIGS. 1-6have been designed to restrict the rotation of can ends in a downstacker used in the manufacture of beer, beverage or food containers, the invention would be equally applicable to the manufacture of any can end. Also, while the embodiments disclosed inFIGS. 1-6have been designed to restrict the rotation of can ends made from aluminum alloy, the invention would be equally applicable to restrict the rotation of can ends made from steel alloy or other metallic alloys as well. Additionally, while the embodiments disclosed inFIGS. 1-6have been designed to restrict the rotation of202diameter can ends, the invention would be equally applicable to other diameter can ends as well. The number202refers to a industry standard designation. A202diameter can end is equivalent to a 2 and {fraction (2/16)} inch diameter after the can end is seamed onto a can body. A204diameter can end would be equivalent to a 2 and {fraction (4/16)} inch diameter after the can end is seamed onto a can body. These dimensions are nominal and not precise measurements.

InFIGS. 1-6, the rings28and128all provide a contacting force or interference fit with the can ends to restrict the rotational movement of the can ends. The contacting force or interference fit with the can ends may be relatively small when gravity provides the urging force on the stack of can ends. Alternatively, the contacting force or interference fit with the can ends can be significantly greater when the urging force is applied to the stack of can ends by a mechanical pusher device.

Having described the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied within various functional equivalents disclosed within the scope of the appended claims.