Apparatus for coating can barrels

An apparatus for coating paint on the inner and outer surfaces of a joined area of a can barrel produced by forming a square-shaped blank into a tubular shape with opposite edges joined linearly, said can barrel having two open edges, said apparatus comprising:

• first conveyor means for conveying a plurality of can barrels of uniform diameter from a can barrel forming device, said plurality of can barrels being successively coaxially conveyed by said first conveyor means in spaced relation at a first speed while the joined areas of the can barrels are directed upwardly;
• second conveyor means disposed downstream of said first conveyor means for conveying the can barrels therefrom at a second speed, said second speed being slower than said first speed such that the open edges of the can barrels are coaxially spaced with gaps left therebetween;
• coating means for continuously applying paint to the inner and outer surfaces of said joined areas while the can barrels are being conveyed at said second speed with the open edges of the can barrels being spaced by the gaps;
• and
• a paint receptacle disposed below said coating means and within can barrels being coated by said coating means, said paint receptacle receiving excess paint ejected by said coating means for preventing contamination of the second conveyor means and smearing of the can barrels by excess paint.