Sequa Corporation

Sun Chemical Corporation

Other

Cmb Foodcan Plc

Sequa Can Machinery, Inc.

Robert M Williams

John P Skrypek

Robert F Fokos

Orfeo J Salvucci

Enn Sirvet

James W Dominico

Albin Rohr

Arnold Peters

Richard A Gabel

Chester Chrobocinski

Russell Di Donato

Albert L Wright

David J Burke

Mario Gary Padilla

Andre Christopher Rodums

Samuel P Wieme

The output end of a very high speed continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with unloading apparatus in the form of a continuously moving closed loop suction belt supplied by first and second continuously rotating, parallel axis, suction applying conveyor wheels. Cans held on the second wheel are on two concentric circular tracks and are transferred by suction to the belt. The first wheel carries cans along a single row circular path. In a region where the first and second wheels overlap partially, alternate cans on the path are delivered to one track of the second wheel and the remaining alternate cans on the path are delivered to the other track of the second wheel. Alternate cans supported on the first wheel may be moved radially so that the cans on the first wheel are in two rows which intersect the two tracks on the second wheel at respective common tangents of each row and the respective track.

Can transfer rotating plate system

In a can decorator, substituting one inking arrangement by another inking arrangement to facilitate reconfiguration of each inking arrangement with minimal down time while the other inking arrangement is inking cans being decorated. First and second inking arrangements are supported on and spaced 90&deg; or 180&deg; apart around a rotation axis of a plate, which is rotatable to bring each of the inking arrangements to a position radially inward of the can handling apparatus of the can decorator. Each inking arrangement is shiftable laterally inward on the plate away from the can handling apparatus when the plate is to be rotated and laterally shifted outwardly toward the can handling apparatus after the plate has been rotated and the new inking arrangement is positioned laterally inward of the can handling apparatus. In one alternate embodiment, the inking arrangements are on a plate that is reciprocated laterally to bring each inking arrangement in turn to the can handling apparatus. In another alternate embodiment, the inking arrangements are on respective tracks on a Y-shape arrangement to bring each inking arrangement in turn to the can handling apparatus.

Replaceable inking arrangement in a can decorator

A continuous motion can decorator includes a plurality of mandrel subassemblies mounted on a rotating carrier with equal angular spacings between adjacent subassemblies. The assemblies reciprocate radially with respect to the carrier axis as a center. Each subassembly includes a radially extending support arm that mounts a radially extending mono rail which extends through guide bearing units on the carrier. The mandrel of each subassembly is mounted on an axis that is parallel to the rotational axis of the carrier. An eccentric type mounting is provided for the mandrel axle on the reciprocating arm so that there is an individually operated means to adjust spacing between the carrier rotational axis and the mandrel axis. Vacuum and pressurized air are fed selectively to each mandrel subassembly through a flexible hose having a single loop that is formed by curving virtually the entire length of the hose.

Mandrel carrier for high speed can decorators

A mandrel/spindle disc for a continuous motion can decorator includes a plurality of relatively lightweight mandrel assemblies mounted on a rotating carrier with equal angular spacings between adjacent assemblies. The assemblies reciprocate radially with respect to the carrier axis as a center. Each assembly includes a base and two guide rods that extend radially inward from the base and are received by sleeve bushings that are disposed in radial holes extending inward from the carrier periphery. A plurality of relatively small grease pools are formed by small transverse holes, each of which extend forward from the rear of the carrier disc to engage the inner ends of four bushing holes. Vacuum and air pressure are fed to each mandrel assembly through a flexible hose having a large loop therein. The base of the assembly is made compact so that when decorations are being applied to a particular can the mandrel supporting that particular can moves relatively close to the radially outward end of the bushings thereby reducing bending moments acting between the assembly guide shafts and their bushings. These bushings extend radially outward of the carrier periphery, being received by undercuts in washer-like retainers that are piloted on the bushings to help position sealing rings that are mounted under the inside of the retainers.

Spindle disc for high speed can decorators

The output end of a very high speed continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with unloading apparatus in the form of a continuously moving closed loop belt and a continuously rotating disk. Decorated cans are delivered to the disk, with rearward facing open ends of the cans engaging the front face of the rotating disk and being held against the front face, preferably by rearward directed suction forces. Cans are moved by the disk into close proximity with an upward moving flight of the belt, and are transferred to the latter by forward directed suction forces which act through the upward moving flight to draw the closed ends of the cans against the upward moving flight. The rearward acting suction forces act through the disk and are applied at those portions of the disk that are at angular positions which are selected to assist transfer of cans to the disk. Application of the rearward acting suction forces are discontinued at those portions of the disk that are at angular positions where cans are transferred from disk to the belt. When the decorated cans are constructed of ferrous materials, suction transfer and holding forces which act on the cans may be replaced by magnetic forces.

Dual can rotating transfer plate to conveyor belt

Face valve apparatus having a plurality of valve stations each of which includes a replaceable pad that is behind and in contact with a planar face of a continuously moving valve section having a plurality of inlet ports in a circular array about a rotational axis for the movable valve section. Each of the valve stations are removably mounted to a fixed support by a plurality of fasteners that are accessible for operation from behind the support. Each pad defines an inlet port disposed in front of said support and operatively positioned so that for part of each revolution fo the movable valve section, each of the inlet ports communicates directly with the outlet port. When operation of certain of the fasteners releases a selected valve station from the fixed support, the selected valve station is removable from the support through an opening therein so that the pad is rearward of the support, where such pad is accessible for replacement without disturbing mounting of any of the other valve stations to the fixed support.

Face valve apparatus for continuous motion can decorator

An off-line web finishing system performs plural functions on a pre-printed and rewound web at a series of pieces of equipment arranged in a line. Tension in the web is set at a variable infeed at a substantially constant value that is sufficient to facilitate handling of the web. A common web-transport system drives all draw rolls in the line in unison, at substantially the same speed, and without slippage between the web and the rolls. A second drive system, preferably one using a second drive shaft, rotates the function cylinders of one or more registration sensitive pieces of equipment in unison. A continuously adjustable variable transmission is operatively connected between the secondary line shaft and a main line shaft for the web transport. A control system adjusts the variable transmission. It includes a central microprocessor, an optical scanner associated with each function cylinder, and an encoder to measure the speed of rotation of the function cylinder. Each scanner senses adjacent registration marks on the web that define each impression. Control logic compares the sensed speed in the time interval T for one impression to pass on and produces an output control signal if the proper speed is not sensed and if the misregistration is less than a predetermined limit.

Off-line web finishing system with splice and missing mark stability

A continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with mandrels that receive undecorated cans and a deco chain that carries decorated cans through a curing oven. The mandrels are mounted along the periphery of a continuously rotating carrier. Chain speed is much slower than linear mandrel speed and spacing between pins on the chain is much less than spacing between mandrels. Interposed between the chain and the mandrel carrier is a continuously rotating transfer carrier having a plurality of suction holding devices thereto. As the holding devices move through a transfer region they are in single file and receive cans that are blown from the mandrels. In the transfer region mandrel linear speed is substantially greater than linear speed of the holding devices, and spacing between the latter is much less than spacing between mandrels As the loaded suction holding devices move downstream through a pickup region cans thereon are loaded on two rows of pins carried by the deco chain. Linear speed of the holding devices while moving through the transfer region exceeds chain speed, and in this region the holding devices are spaced apart by a distance that exceeds pin spacing. By the time the holding devices reach the pickup region they are arranged in two rows, are spaced apart and are moving at a speed such that they essentially track the moving pins while the latter are being loaded.

Apparatus and method for substantially reducing can spacing and speed to

An off-line web finishing system performs plural functions on a pre printed and rewound web at a series of pieces of equipment arranged in a line. Tension in the web is set at a variable infeed at a constant value that is sufficient to facilitate handling of the web. A common web-transport system drives all draw rolls in the line in unison, at the same speed, and without slippage between the web and the rolls. In the preferred form, a second drive line rotates in unison the function cylinders of pieces of equipment that are registration sensitive. The second line is driven by a main line shaft of the web transport system via a variable transmission that is adjusted in response to at least one optical scanner that senses misregistrations between the printed pattern on the web and the function cylinders. The registration sensitive function cylinders operate on the web only intermittently. Each function cylinder preferably has an associated scanner that operates a variable transmission between the second line and the associated function cylinder to further control the registration of the equipment to the web.

Off-line web finishing system

A continuous motion cylindrical can decorator is provided with mandrels that receive undecorated cans and a deco chain that carries decorated cans through a curing oven. The mandrels are mounted along the periphery of a continuously rotating carrier. Chain speed is much slower than linear mandrel speed and spacing between pins on the chain is much less than spacing between mandrels. Interposed between the chain and the mandrel carrier is a continuously rotating transfer carrier having a plurality of suction holding devices thereto. As the holding devices move through a transfer region they are in single file and receive cans that are blown from the mandrels. In the transfer region mandrel linear speed is substantially greater than linear speed of the holding devices, and spacing between the latter is much less than spacing between the mandrels. Valving that controls application of pressurized air to unload the mandrels is positioned by a servo such that the valving opens automatically at a more upstream position for the mandrels as mandrel carrier speed increases.

Apparatus and method for automatically positioning valve means

An off-line web finishing system performs plural functions on a pre-printed and rewound web at a series of pieces of equipment arranged in a line. Tension in the web is set at a variable infeed at a constant value that is sufficient to facilitate handling of the web. A common web-transport system drives all draw rolls in the line in unison, at the same speed, and without slippage between the web and the rolls. In the preferred form, a second drive line rotates in unison the function cylinders of pieces of equipment that are registration sensitive. The second line is driven by a main line shaft of the web transport system via a variable transmission that is adjusted in response to at least one optical scanner that senses misregistrations between the printed pattern on the web and the function cylinders. The registration sensitive function cylinders operate on the web only intermittently. Each function cylinder preferably has an associated scanner that operates a variable transmission between the second line and the associated function cylinder to further control the registration of the equipment to the web.

A rotary die cutter includes an anvil roll and at least one die roll. One or more sheet metal dies with raised cutting edges are carried on the die roll to cut patterns in a web of material passing between the die and the anvil roll. The die cutter has a pair of rigid side frames spanned by a very rigid spreader. While the anvil roll is end-mounted between the side frames, the die roll is mounted from the spreader. A drive shaft rotatable in the side frames and driven from a lineshaft by a gear system transits rotation to the die roll, while allowing the die roll freedom of movement for independent vertical, axial and circumferential adjustments. This mounting and drive of the die roll can accommodate a full width press web using die rolls having a small diameter, typically a single repeat roll, and one whose length is comparable to its circumference. A pair of mutually slidable wedges acting against a spring clamping force adjusts the vertical position of bearing blocks that rotatably mount the die roll. The mounting structure also preferably includes slide rails that extend parallel to the die roll and a threaded shaft to adjust the axial position of the die roll. Adjustably rotating only the gear system, or a portion of the gear system directly associated with the die roll, adjusts the circumferential position of the die roll.

Rotary die cutter

A fishing lure is disclosed having the capability of being selectively operable between a plurality of different modes of operation. For example, the lure may be arranged to remain on the surface of the water while trolling or it may be arranged to dive below the surface. The body of the lure is of one piece unitary construction having a selectively positionable band or ring captive about its approximate midpoint. An angled deflecting surface is formed on the front of the lure and cooperates with the onrushing water and the weight of the hook which is attached to the movable ring to determine the mode of operation. By selectively moving the ring, and thereby the hook, to one position or another with respect to the deflecting surface, the lure will be made to remain on the surface of the water, dive below the surface, or move to one side or the other with respect to the path of travel of the trolling boat.

Fishing lure

An adjustable encoder includes a source generating a first signal and transmitting it to a transducer element for generating an electrical signal responsive to the first signal. An object is rotated between the source and the transducer element so as alternately to block and to permit or unblock the path of the first signal from its source to the transducer element. The transducer element and the source are simultaneously movable parallel to the plane of rotation of the rotatable object, so that the exact timing of interruption of the first signal can be adjusted while the encoder is in operation.

Adjustable digital encoder

Apparatus for applying a plurality of color images to cylindrical or frustoconical articles includes a turret mounting radially extending angularly spaced shafts, each of which mounts a mandrel. The turret is fixed vertically and is moved in angular steps so that each of the mandrels is alternately positioned at printing stations and drying stations. The mandrels are rotated in synchronism with printing rolls located at each of the printing stations. Each printing roll is mounted on an individual auxiliary frame which in turn is mounted to a subframe on a horizontal pivot axis so that the printing roll may be adjusted pivotally to a position wherein its outer surface is aligned with the outer surface of a mandrel. The subframe is vertically movable relative to the turret for simultaneously moving all of the printing rolls relative to the mandrels.

Growing community of inventors

Norton, MA, United States of America

Robert M Williams