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:
a conveyor (21) which transports can bodies from an upstream supply; a rotatable mandrel wheel (10) which receives each can body in a pocket on the circumference of the wheel; characterised in that the can bodies are supplied undecorated; and the apparatus includes one or more infeed turrets (22, 23; 25, 27; 28, 29, 30) having a circular pitch and a separator turret which separates each can body received from the conveyor, whereby linear can pitch on the conveyor is changed to a circular can pitch on the infeed turret(s); and a transfer turret for transferring can bodies to the mandrel wheel; whereby can pitch between conveyor and mandrel wheel is changed in one or more stages and handling of the undecorated can bodies is controlled.