Apparatus and method for processing container ends for controlling dust

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for conditioning metal container ends and for removing particles and accumulated dust. The apparatus, in a preferred form, comprises a minimum of two and preferably three shafts, each shaft being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and each shaft having a helical groove extending around the shaft at an outer surface thereof. A drive rotates the shafts about their axes of rotation. The shafts are aligned and positioned to receive therebetween container ends introduced into the apparatus from an entrance and convey them to an exit with the peripheries of the container ends engaged in the grooves of the shafts such that rotation of the shafts causes the grooves to release particles from the peripheries. Associated dust removal equipment then removes the particles so that dust is not generated in downstream equipment for the utilization of the container ends.

1 . Apparatus for treating container ends to remove loose particles therefrom, comprising: an enclosure having a hollow interior; at least three shafts positioned at least partially in the interior of the enclosure, each shaft being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and each shaft having a helical groove extending around said shaft at an outer surface thereof; a drive for rotating said shafts about said axes of rotation; an entrance into the enclosure for container ends; an exit from the enclosure for said container ends; and a airflow-generating device communicating with said interior of the enclosure adapted to remove particles from said interior; said shafts being aligned and positioned to receive therebetween a container end introduced into said interior from said entrance with a periphery of said container end engaged in said grooves of said shafts, such that rotation of said shafts causes said grooves to produce particles at said periphery while conveying said can end from said entrance to said exit from the enclosure. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a separation device is positioned at said entrance, said separation device being adapted to separate a lowermost container end from a stack of container ends to allow said lowermost container end to pass through said entrance into said interior while temporarily restraining other container ends of said stack. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said separation device comprises a part-circular rotating blade having an edge that enters a side of said stack above said lowermost container end to separate said lowermost can end from others of said stack, and a gap in said blade that allows said stack to move towards said entrance in a stepwise manner by a distance corresponding to a thickness of one of said container ends. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , having at least one brush within said enclosure positioned to contact said periphery of said container ends to remove particles therefrom as said ends proceed from said entrance to said exit of the enclosure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a source of gas under pressure and at least one nozzle communicating with said source and positioned within said enclosure to direct a jet of said compressed gas onto said peripheries of said container ends as said container ends proceed from said entrance to said exit of the enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said groove of one of said at least three shafts has a pitch that differs from said grooves of others of said at least three shafts at least over a part of said surface of said one shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said drive is adapted to rotate one of said shafts at a different speed of rotation than other of said shafts, at least for part of a period of time during which a container end passes from said entrance to said exit of the enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said grooves has a surface treatment along part of its length adapted to modify friction at a position where said container end engages with said groove. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said surface treatment has different at least two sections along said length and said sections differ from each other in surface abrasiveness. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said groove of at least one of said shafts has a profile modified to accommodate tilting of said container end within said groove along part of its length. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of said groove of at least one shaft is adapted to condition said periphery of said container end. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of said groove of at least one of said shafts is adapted to shape said periphery of said container end. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said grooves of said shafts are adapted to condition and shape said periphery of said container end. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of said groove of at least one of said shafts is adapted to remove particles of coating from a perhiphery of a container end having a non-metallic coating provided thereon. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for treating container ends to remove loose particles therefrom, comprising: a enclosure having a hollow interior; two shafts positioned at least partially in the interior of the enclosure, each shaft being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and each shaft having a helical groove extending around said shaft at an outer surface thereof; a drive for rotating said shafts about said axes of rotation; at least one positioning element adapted to contact said container end to maintain said container end in contact with said shafts, an entrance into the enclosure for container ends; an exit from the enclosure for said container ends; and a airflow-generating device communicating with said interior of the enclosure adapted to remove particles from said interior; said shafts and at least one positioning element being aligned and positioned to receive therebetween a container end introduced into said interior from said entrance with a periphery of said container end engaged in said grooves of said shafts, such that rotation of said shafts causes said grooves to produce particles at said periphery while conveying said can end from said entrance to and through said exit from the enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for treating container ends to remove loose particles therefrom, comprising: at least three shafts, each shaft being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and each shaft having a helical groove extending around said shaft at an outer surface thereof; and a drive for rotating said shafts about said axes of rotation, said shafts being aligned and positioned to receive therebetween a container end entering said apparatus with a periphery of said container end engaged in said grooves of said shafts, such that rotation of said shafts causes said grooves to produce particles at said periphery while conveying said container end through said apparatus, wherein said apparatus includes a source of gas under pressure and at least one nozzle communicating with said source and positioned to direct a jet of said compressed gas onto said peripheries of said container ends to remove particles as said container ends are conveyed by said shafts. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for treating container ends to remove loose particles therefrom, comprising: at least three shafts, each shaft being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation and each shaft having a helical groove extending around said shaft at an outer surface thereof; and a drive for rotating said shafts about said axes of rotation, said shafts being aligned and positioned to receive therebetween a container end entering said apparatus with a periphery of said container end engaged in said grooves of said shafts, such that rotation of said shafts causes said grooves to produce particles at said periphery while conveying said can end through said apparatus, wherein said apparatus includes at least one brush positioned to contact said peripheries of said container ends to remove said particles as said container ends are conveyed by said shafts. 
     
     
         18 . A method of treating container ends to remove loose particles therefrom prior to subsequent processing, which method comprises passing container ends having loose particles through an enclosed volume, engaging the container ends with at least one solid moving element, at least at peripheral edges of the container ends, to break off and remove said loose particles within the enclosed volume, removing accumulated particles from the enclosed volume for disposal, and removing the container ends from the enclosed volume for said subsequent processing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said accumulated particles are removed by passing a current of a gas through said enclosed volume. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said peripheral edges of said container ends are brushed to remove said loose particles therefrom. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said peripheral edges of said container ends are impinged with gas jets to remove said loose particles therefrom. 
     
     
         22 . In a process for producing and utilizing container ends involving several mechanical handling stages, the improvement which comprises treating said container ends to release loose particles therefrom in an enclosed volume prior to a first of said mechanical handling stages, and removing said released loose particles from said enclosed volume for disposal at a location remote from said mechanical handling stages, thereby preventing contamination of said handling stages with said loose particles.