US 5,206,054 A · Apparatus and method for applying a coating to a can body

Abstract

Apparatus and method for applying a coating, such as a lubricant, on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can body wherein a turret having a plurality of pockets formed in its outer peripheral surface is mounted for rotation about a relatively fixed axis and during the rotation thereof a can body is fed into each pocket. The can body in each pocket is held against the outer peripheral surfaces of a pair of rotating rolls having a space therebetween by a vacuum acting through the space so that the can body is rotated thereby and while rotating is moved against a heated arcuate wick located in a heated arcuate support and having a supply of lubricant therein so as to form a coating of lubricant on the at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface. The peripheral velocity of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating can body about its own axis is the same as its peripheral velocity imparted thereto by the rotation of the turret about its own axis and is rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the turret so that there is substantially no relative sliding movement between the at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface and the arcuate wick as the coating of lubricant is applied.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Apparatus for applying a coating of material on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can body comprising:

a fixedly mounted support frame;
feeding means for continuously feeding can bodies to a feed station, each of said can bodies having a bottom end and an integral sidewall having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface;
a main drive shaft which is mounted for rotation on said support frame;
drive means for rotating said main shaft around an axis of rotation;
a turret mounted on said main drive shaft for rotation therewith;
a plurality of pockets formed on said turret between radially outwardly projecting members for rotation therewith and wherein each of said pockets removes a can body from said feed station as said pocket moves through said feed station;
can body holding means in each of said pockets for holding each of said can bodies in each of said pockets so that at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface is freely exposed;
can body rotating means for rotating each of said can bodies in said pockets as said turret rotates;
and
coating material applying means mounted on said support frame and positioned so that said at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface of said rotating can body contacts said coating material applying means as said turret rotates for applying a coating of material thereon.

7 more elements

Apparatus for applying a coating of material on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can body comprising:

a fixedly mounted support frame;
feeding means for continuously feeding can bodies to a feed station, each of said can bodies having a bottom end and an integral sidewall having a generally cylindrical peripheral surface;
a main drive shaft mounted for rotation on said support frame;
drive means for rotating said main drive shaft around an axis of rotation;
a turret mounted on said main drive shaft for rotation therewith;
a plurality of pockets formed on said turret between radially outwardly projecting members for rotation therewith and wherein each of said pockets removes a can body from said feed station as said pocket moves through said feed station;
can body holding means for holding each of said can bodies in each of said pockets so that at least a portion of said cylindrical peripheral surface is freely exposed;
can body rotating means for rotating each of said can bodies in said pockets as said turret rotates;
coating material applying means mounted on said support frame and positioned so that said at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface of said rotating can body contacts said coating material applying means as said turret rotates for applying a coating of material thereon;
feeding means for feeding said coating material to said coating applying means;
and
said coating material applying means having heating means for heating said coating material.

9 more elements

A method for applying a coating on at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a can body comprising:

mounting a turret for rotation about a relatively fixed axis;
forming a plurality of pockets on the outer peripheral surface of said turret;
feeding a can body having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface into each of said pockets as said turret is rotating;
holding each of said can bodies in one of said pockets by applying a force thereto using holding means within each of said pockets so that at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface is freely exposed;
rotating said can body about its own axis as it is being held in said pocket;
moving said at least a portion of said outer peripheral surface of said can body into contact with a coating applying means so as to apply a coating thereon;
and
applying heat to said coating applying means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for applying a coating to a can body

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for applying a coating to a can body

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20