US-20260124632-A1 - Machine and method for manufacturing closures, closure and pattern roller

US20260124632A1US 20260124632 A1US20260124632 A1US 20260124632A1US-20260124632-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a machine for manufacturing closures. The machine comprises a conveyor device configured to provide a metal sheet; at least one storage storing a coating; at least one pattern roller, wherein the pattern roller comprises a plurality of first areas and at least one second area, wherein the first areas are configured to take up the coating from the storage; and at least one transfer roller. The pattern roller is configured to transfer the coating in the first areas to the transfer roller and the transfer roller is configured to transfer the coating to the metal sheet such that the metal sheet is provided with the coating in areas corresponding to the first areas of the pattern roller.

Inventors

Tomasz Adam Gorczyca
Tomasz Sylwester Flis
Franz Otto Holger Reissig

Assignees

SILGAN HOLDINGS INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251103
Priority Date: 20241106

Claims (15)

1 . A machine ( 100 ) for manufacturing closures ( 200 ), the machine ( 100 ) comprising: a conveyor device ( 60 ) configured to provide a metal sheet ( 50 ); at least one storage ( 10 ) storing a coating; at least one pattern roller ( 20 ), wherein the pattern roller ( 20 ) comprises a plurality of first areas ( 11 ) and at least one second area ( 12 ), wherein the first areas ( 11 ) are configured to take up the coating from the storage ( 10 ); and at least one transfer roller ( 30 ), wherein the pattern roller ( 20 ) is configured to transfer the coating in the first areas ( 11 ) to the transfer roller ( 30 ) and the transfer roller ( 30 ) is configured to transfer the coating to the metal sheet ( 50 ) such that the metal sheet ( 50 ) is provided with the coating in areas ( 51 ) corresponding to the first areas ( 11 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ).
2 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the first areas ( 11 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ) comprises a plurality of dimples and/or wherein the surface of the second area ( 12 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ) is smooth.
3 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the second area ( 12 ) is configured to take up the coating from the storage ( 10 ), wherein the pattern roller ( 20 ) is configured to transfer the coating in the first areas ( 11 ) and in the second area ( 12 ) to the transfer roller ( 30 ), and wherein the transfer roller ( 30 ) is configured to transfer the coating to the metal sheet ( 50 ) such that the metal sheet ( 50 ) is provided with the coating in areas ( 51 , 51 a ) corresponding to the first areas ( 11 ) and the second area ( 12 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ).
4 . The machine of claim 3 , wherein the second area ( 12 ) comprises a plurality of dimples, preferably wherein the transfer volume and/or transfer weight of the second area ( 12 ) is smaller than of the first areas ( 11 ).
5 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the first areas ( 11 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ) has a substantially circular shape or area and/or wherein the second area ( 12 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ) surrounds the first areas ( 11 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ).
6 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the first areas ( 11 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ) has a diameter between 10 mm and 250 mm, preferably between 35 mm and 135 mm.
7 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the machine ( 100 ) is configured to apply at least two layers of coating ( 51 , 52 , 53 ) to the metal sheet ( 50 ), preferably wherein the layers of coating ( 51 , 52 , 53 ) overlap each other, preferably wherein at least one of the layers of coating ( 51 , 52 , 53 ) covers substantially the entire metal sheet ( 50 ) and/or at least one of the layers of coating ( 51 , 52 , 53 ) only partially covers the metal sheet ( 50 ).
8 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the first areas ( 11 ) comprises a first subarea and a second subarea, wherein the first subarea is configured to take up a different amount of coating per area than the second subarea per area.
9 . The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a counter roller ( 40 ), wherein the metal sheet ( 50 ) is positioned between the transfer roller ( 30 ) and the counter roller ( 40 ) when the coating is transferred from the transfer roller ( 30 ) to the metal sheet ( 50 ).
10 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the transfer roller ( 30 ), preferably the surface of the transfer roller ( 30 ), comprises a plastic, in particular an elastomer.
11 . The machine of claim 1 , wherein the pattern roller ( 20 ) comprises at least one third area ( 13 ), wherein the third area ( 13 ) is configured to transfer at least one marking ( 59 ) to the metal sheet ( 50 ) for verification of a correct positioning of the coating areas ( 51 ) on the metal sheet ( 50 ).
12 . A method for manufacturing closures ( 200 ), the method comprising the steps of: Providing a metal sheet ( 50 ); Transferring a coating from a plurality of first areas ( 11 ) of a pattern roller ( 20 ) to a transfer roller ( 30 ); Transferring the coating from the transfer roller ( 30 ) to the metal sheet ( 50 ) such that the metal sheet ( 50 ) is provided with the coating in areas ( 51 ) corresponding to the first areas ( 11 ) of the pattern roller ( 20 ).
13 . A closure ( 200 ), the closure ( 200 ) comprising: a metal support ( 210 ); and at least one coating ( 51 , 52 ), wherein the coating ( 51 , 52 ) does not cover the entire metal support ( 210 ).
14 . The closure of claim 13 , wherein the closure ( 200 ) comprises at least two different coatings ( 51 , 52 , 53 ), wherein one of the coatings ( 51 , 52 , 53 ) is the coating ( 51 , 52 ) that does not cover the entire metal support ( 210 ) and the other one of the coatings ( 53 ) covers the entire metal support ( 210 ).
15 . A pattern roller ( 20 ) for transferring coating to a transfer roller ( 30 ), the pattern roller ( 20 ) comprising: a plurality of first areas ( 11 ), wherein the first areas ( 11 ) are configured to take up the coating from a storage ( 10 ); and at least one second area ( 12 ), wherein the second area ( 12 ) is configured to take up the coating from the storage ( 10 ), wherein the transfer volume and/or transfer weight per unit surface area of the second area ( 12 ) is smaller than of the first areas ( 11 ).

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a machine for manufacturing closures, a method for manufacturing closures, a closure and a pattern roller for transferring coating to a transfer roller. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Metal closures for bottles or jars are usually made from a metal sheet. A portion of the metal sheet is cut out, for example by stamping, and the closure is formed from the cut-out portion of the metal sheet by known techniques. A portion of the closure comes into contact with the filling of the bottle or jar when the closure is applied to the filled bottle or jar. Often, the filling is foodstuff. To prevent or reduce corrosion of the metallic portion of the closure one to three layers of coating are applied to the inner surface of the closure. However, thick coating layers cause problems during the closure manufacturing process, mainly during the cutting process. For example, leftovers of coating created during the cutting process on the cutting machine (for example on the press) called “hairs” are a problem. These leftovers are contaminating not only the machine but also the closures and consequently create defective closures (visually or mechanically defective closures). SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It is an object of the present disclosure to reduce the number of defective closures during manufacturing of the closures. It is another object of the present disclosure to reduce coating consumption during manufacturing of closures. It is another object of the present disclosure to improve recyclability of waste material produced during manufacturing of closures. One or more of the above objects are solved by the combination of features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are provided in the respective dependent claims and the description. Features of an independent claim may be combined with features of one or more claims dependent on the independent claim, and features of one or more dependent claims can be combined with each other. Also, features of independent claims may be combined. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a machine is presented. The machine may be a machine for manufacturing closures. The machine may comprise a conveyor device configured to provide a metal sheet. The machine may comprise at least one storage for storing or storing a coating. The machine may comprise at least one pattern roller. The pattern roller may comprise a plurality of first areas. The pattern roller may comprise at least one second area. The first areas may be configured to take up or to absorb or to pick up the coating from the storage. The machine may comprise at least one transfer roller. The pattern roller may be configured to transfer the coating in the first areas to the transfer roller. The transfer roller may be configured to transfer the coating to the metal sheet such that the metal sheet is provided with the coating in areas corresponding to the first areas of the pattern roller. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method is presented. The method may be a method for manufacturing closures. The method may comprise the step of providing a metal sheet. The method may comprise the step of transferring a coating from a plurality of first areas of a pattern roller to a transfer roller. The method may comprise the step of transferring the coating from the transfer roller to the metal sheet such that the metal sheet is provided with the coating in areas corresponding to the first areas of the pattern roller. Any one of the herein disclosed methods may be performed by any one of the herein disclosed machines. Any one of the herein disclosed machines may be used in any one of the herein disclosed methods. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a closure is presented. The closure may comprise a metal support. The closure may comprise at least one coating. The coating may not cover the entire metal support. Any one of the herein disclosed closures may be manufactured by any one of the herein disclosed machines. Any one of the herein disclosed closures may be manufactured by any one of the herein disclosed methods. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a pattern roller is presented. The pattern roller may be a pattern roller for transferring coating to a transfer roller. The pattern roller may comprise a plurality of first areas. The first areas may be configured to take up the coating from a storage. The pattern roller may comprise at least one second area. The second area may be configured to take up the coating from the storage. The transfer volume and/or the transfer weight per unit surface area of the second area may be smaller than of the first areas. In other words, the transfer volume and/or the transfer weight (per unit surface area) of the first areas may be larger than the transfer volume and/or transfer weight (per unit surface area) of the second area. If both, the first areas and the second area, are confi