Liner system, and unload stacking assembly and method therefor

#The disclosed concept relates generally to machinery for container closures and, more particularly, to liner systems for container closures such as, for example, can ends. The disclosed concept also relates to unload stacking assemblies and methods for liner systems.

#It is known to apply sealant material, commonly referred to as compound, to the underside of container closures, for example, to facilitate subsequent sealing attachment (e.g., without limitation, seaming) of the closures to containers such as, for example, beer/beverage and food cans.

#A liner machine, such as for example and without limitation, a rotary liner machine, is used to line (i.e., apply sealant or compound) to container closures, commonly referred to as can lids, shells, or can ends. Traditional liner machines (sometimes referred to simply as “liners”) generally include a base having a processing assembly. In a rotary liner for example, the processing assembly may include a chuck assembly having a number of rotatable chucks, and a pivotal upper turret assembly disposed over the chuck assembly and including an electrical tank assembly, a rotary compound tank assembly, and a number of peripherally disposed fluid dispensing apparatus (e.g., sealant or compound guns) each being associated with a corresponding rotatable chuck of the chuck assembly. In operation, the can ends or shells coming into the liner are delivered into a downstacker in “stick” form (i.e., nested together in a vertical column or stack). The liner machine peels the bottom can end or shell from the bottom of the stack and deposits it into the aforementioned processing assembly where lining compound is subsequently applied.

#A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a liner system and unload stacking assembly therefor in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the disclosed concept;

#FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the unload stacking assembly of FIG. 1;

#It will be appreciated that although an unload stacking assembly in accordance with the disclosed concept is shown and described herein as used with respect to a rotary liner for applying a sealant or compound to container closures, e.g., without limitation can ends, it could alternatively be employed to convey container closures with a wide variety of other types of equipment and machines (not shown) in other applications.

#Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, up, down, clockwise, counterclockwise and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein.

#The specific elements illustrated in the drawings and described herein are simply exemplary embodiments of the disclosed concept. Accordingly, specific dimensions, orientations and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting on the scope of the disclosed concept.