In-feed system and method for supplying can bodies to a decorator

摘要

An infeed system for a can body decorator in which undecorated can bodies are transported from an upstream supply in a conveyor (21). In the conveyor (21), the can bodies have a linear pitch as they are touching each other. One or more infeed turrets (22, 23; 25, 27; 28, 9, 3) separate each can body and change the pitch to the circular pitch of a separator turret and, ultimately to that of the mandrel wheel (10) in the decorator assembly.

主权项

1. An infeed apparatus for supplying can bodies to a can body decorator, the infeed apparatus comprising:
two or more conveyors for transporting undecorated can bodies from an upstream supply, each of the two or more conveyors defining a linear can pitch, respectively, each of the two or more conveyors having an accompanying separator turret for changing the linear can pitch of the respective conveyor to a first circular pitch of the respective separator turret, each of the two or more conveyors and respective separator turrets being adapted for providing an independent supply lane; each independent supply lane further including an infeed turret having a second circular pitch, the second circular pitch being different from the first circular pitch and the infeed turret being adapted to change the can bodies from the first circular pitch to the second circular pitch; a combiner turret on which the independent supply lanes are combined, the combiner turret configured to transfer can bodies to the mandrel wheel, the combiner turret having a third circular pitch; and a rotatable mandrel wheel for receiving each can body in a pocket on the circumference of the mandrel wheel, the mandrel wheel defining a fourth circular pitch, the fourth circular pitch being identical to the third circular pitch, such that each conveyor of the two or more conveyors is adapted for supplying a specific sequence of can carrier pocket of the mandrel wheel, whereby can stability is improved for loading and whereby can pitch between the two or more conveyors and mandrel wheel is changed in one or more stages and handling of the undecorated can bodies is controlled.