Rotary seamer

Abstract

A rotary seamer ( 1 ) comprises a seaming turret ( 2 ), a seaming station pivotally associated to the seaming turret ( 2 ) to set in rotation around its own axis ( 8 ) a container ( 6 ) to be seamed, a shaft ( 11 ) having a first end ( 13 ) hinged in the seaming turret ( 2 ), a seaming block ( 9 ) also called lever, defining a cavity ( 15 ) with longitudinal development, shaped complementarily relative to a second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) in such a way that it can be coupled thereto by inserting the shaft ( 11 ) into the cavity ( 15 ), and means ( 16 ) for anchoring transversely the seaming block ( 9 ) to the shaft ( 11 ), acting in a predetermined transverse direction ( 17 ) in such a way as to create at least one contact surface ( 20 ) between shaft ( 11 ) and cavity ( 15 ), said second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) and said cavity ( 15 ) being so shaped that said contact surface ( 20 ) has at least one oblique portion relative to the direction ( 17 ) in which said means ( 16 ) act. Currently, there are mainly two types of shaft ends for mounting the seaming block on the related shaft: the bevel one with disc shaped tongue and the grooved one. Both solution entail complicated mountings, with poor precision.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A rotary seamer ( 1 ) comprising:
 a rotating seaming turret ( 2 );   a seaming station pivotally associated to the seaming turret ( 2 ) to set in rotation around its own axis ( 8 ) a container ( 6 ) to be seamed;   a shaft ( 11 ) having a first end ( 13 ) hinged in the seaming turret ( 2 );   a seaming block ( 9 ) defining a cavity ( 15 ) with longitudinal development, complementarily shaped relative to a second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) in such a way that it can be coupled thereto by inserting the shaft ( 11 ) into the cavity ( 15 ), in order to rotate integrally with the shaft to interact with the container, seaming it;   means ( 16 ) for transversely anchoring the seaming block ( 9 ) to the shaft ( 11 ), acting in a predetermined transverse direction ( 17 ) such as to create at least one contact surface ( 20 ) between shaft ( 11 ) and cavity ( 15 ), said second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) and the cavity ( 15 ) being so shaped that said contact surface ( 20 ) has at least one oblique portion relative to the direction ( 17 ) in which said means ( 16 ) act,   
     characterized in that said means ( 16 ) for anchoring transversely the seaming block ( 9 ) to the shaft ( 11 ) comprises:
 a first thrust element ( 18 ) associated to said seaming block ( 9 ) and movable in said predetermined transverse direction ( 17 ) between a position of non interference with the shaft ( 11 ) and a position of tightening, in which it presses on a surface ( 19 ) of the shaft ( 14 ) that is orthogonal to said transverse direction ( 17 ); 
 a second thrusting element associated to said seaming block ( 9 ) and movable in said predetermined transverse direction ( 17 ) or parallel thereto between a position of non interference with the shaft ( 11 ) and a working position, in which it presses one of its ends having rounded shape on a surface of a countersink ( 24 ) defined by the shaft ( 11 ) on said surface ( 19 ) orthogonal to said transverse direction. 
 
   
   
       14 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) and the cavity ( 15 ) are so shaped that said contact surface ( 20 ) defines a first oblique portion and a second oblique portion, mutually opposite relative to the direction ( 17 ) in which said means act. 
   
   
       15 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the direction ( 17 ) in which said means ( 16 ) act intersects a straight line defined by the intersection of said first and second oblique portion or of their extensions. 
   
   
       16 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) and said cavity ( 15 ) have triangular or trapezoidal section. 
   
   
       17 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) and said cavity ( 15 ) define between them a predetermined play, to facilitate an insertion/extraction of the shaft into and out of the cavity. 
   
   
       18 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) and said cavity ( 15 ) have substantially constant section along their longitudinal development. 
   
   
       19 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ) and said cavity ( 15 ) are so shaped as to require a predetermined relative angular position to enable said insertion of the shaft into the cavity. 
   
   
       20 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said countersink ( 24 ) is cone shaped. 
   
   
       21 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the direction in which the second thrusting element acts is parallel but positioned at a predetermined distance relative to an axis of symmetry of said countersink. 
   
   
       22 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said thrusting element comprises:
 a ball ( 22 );   a threaded element ( 21 ) movable in said transverse direction and interacting with the ball to thrust it against the surface of said countersink ( 24 ), when the second thrusting element is in the working position.   
   
   
       23 . Seamer as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the first thrusting element ( 18 ) defines internally a threaded cavity with a predetermined pitch and externally a thread having the same pitch, said first thrusting element ( 18 ) being inserted in a through hole drilled in the seaming block ( 9 ) and containing in said internal cavity the threaded element ( 21 ) and the ball ( 22 ) of the second thrusting element. 
   
   
       24 . Method for mounting a seaming block ( 9 ) on a shaft ( 11 ) having a first end ( 13 ) hinged in a seaming turret ( 22 ) of a seamer ( 1 ), said seaming block ( 9 ) defining a cavity ( 15 ) with longitudinal development shaped complementarily relative to a second end ( 14 ) of the shaft ( 11 ), 
     characterised in that it comprises the following steps:
 inserting the second end of the shaft ( 14 ) into the cavity ( 15 ) to couple the seaming block ( 9 ) to the shaft ( 11 ); 
 operating a second thrusting element associated to the seaming block ( 9 ) in a predetermined transverse direction ( 17 ) or parallel thereto, such as to press an end having round shape of the thrusting element on a surface of a countersink ( 24 ) defined by the shaft ( 11 ) on its own surface orthogonal to said transverse direction, in order to obtain the elimination of the plays; 
 operating anchoring means associated to the seaming block ( 9 ) and active on the shaft ( 11 ) in a predetermined transverse direction ( 17 ) such as to create two contact surfaces ( 20 ) between shaft ( 11 ) and cavity ( 15 ) that are oblique relative to the direction ( 17 ) in which the anchoring means act, said anchoring means comprising a first thrust element ( 18 ) associated to said seaming block ( 9 ) and movable in said predetermined transverse direction ( 17 ) between a position of non interference with the shaft ( 11 ) and a position of tightening, in which it presses on a surface ( 19 ) of the shaft ( 14 ) that is orthogonal to said transverse direction ( 17 ), in order to obtain a locking of the seaming block.