EP2626151A1 - Apparatus and method for machining the surface of cylindrical bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (10) for surface processing of cylindrical bodies, comprises: a first cleaning device (30) for removing residues of a coolant and lubricant during ironing of cylindrical body which is prepared by the drawing and wall ironing such that a cleaned and roughly dried cylindrical body is present; a surface processing device (50) for processing at least one surface of the cleaned and roughly dried cylindrical body; and a second cleaning device (70) for cleaning the surface-processed cylindrical body. Independent claims are also included for: (1) surface treating the cylindrical bodies, comprising providing a cylindrical body, removing residues of a coolant and lubricant from cylindrical body cylindrical body, processing at least one surface of the cleaned and roughly dried cylindrical body and cleaning of the surface-processed cylindrical body; and (2) a computer program comprising computer program means which causes a computer to control a device for performing the above mentioned method when the computer program is run on the computer.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for surface treatment of cylindrical bodies in connection with an ironing.

By a process referred to as "ironing", for example, in the manufacture of cans in the beverage sector, a cylindrical body generally made by deep drawing from a sheet is produced which is subject to trimming and deformation (eg, necking). has essentially the dimensions of the final product to be produced.

The ironing (also called DWI process, "draw-wall-ironing") reduces the wall thickness and the outer diameter of the cup to the created cylindrical body. For process engineering reasons, ironing is performed "wet" (e.g., unlike extrusion molding) using a coolant and lubricant.

In a conventional processing, following ironing, the free sheet edge is trimmed and a complex cleaning and drying of the created cylindrical body takes place.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for surface treatment of cylindrical bodies in the context of ironing, which allow at least one further variant of the surface treatment without too much extra effort.

In order to achieve this object, there is proposed a device for surface-treating cylindrical bodies having surface treatment in a plurality of process steps, comprising first cleaning means for removing residues of a coolant and lubricant used in ironing from a cylindrical body produced by ironing, so that a cleaned and coarsely-dried cylindrical body is present, a surface treatment device for processing at least one surface of the cleaned and coarsely-dried cylindrical body, and a second cleaning device for cleaning the surface-treated cylindrical body.

So far, a surface treatment such. As a brush is avoided in the known manufacturing processes that use ironing (DWI method), if possible, since with such a treatment of the released material and the coolant and lubricant results in a very difficult to remove sludge, the one Timely and costly cleaning of the processing machines makes necessary, as otherwise would be expected in a short time with a failure of the machines. Although a surface treatment such as brushing could be carried out even after a complete cleaning and drying of the cylindrical body substantially at the end of the conventional process (before a possible coating), but then a re-cleaning would be necessary before painting or similar Finishen.

The invention has the advantage that it avoids a hitherto usual, complex cleaning with the least possible additional effort or at least substantially reduces the required effort.

Also proposed is a method of surface treating cylindrical bodies, comprising the steps of: providing a cylindrical body made by ironing, removing residues of a coolant and lubricant used in ironing from the cylindrical body so as to have a cleaned and coarsely dried cylindrical body , Edit at least one surface of the cleaned and coarsely-dried cylindrical body and cleaning the surface-treated cylindrical body.

In addition, a computer program with computer program means is proposed, which cause a computer for controlling a device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention, when the computer program is executed on the computer.

The invention is based on the finding that, in order to avoid or reduce the problems mentioned at the outset, it is sufficient to partially bond (in the sense of not yet conclusive) a cleaning to a subsequent rudimentary drying in order to enable a desired surface treatment. It can be said that the surface treatment (with prior limited drying) is inserted between a first and a second part of a divided known washing process. It should be noted, however, that the first and second cleaning means are not limited to performing only respective sub-steps of a conventional washing. It is possible that operations performed by the first and second cleaning means overlap with each other, so that certain steps are performed twice.

In practical implementation, in addition to the surface treatment device, the invention includes an additional drying device (which, however, has to meet lower requirements) compared to a conventional process line and an overall increased space requirement. However, the advantages associated with avoiding or at least reducing the problems mentioned at the outset justify this comparatively low additional expenditure.

For the sake of linguistic simplicity, this application speaks of a coolant and lubricant in connection with ironing. It should be noted that this does not have to be a homogeneous or a one-component agent, since it is quite possible to use a mixture of different agents (in particular liquids). In addition, the term "coolants and lubricants" is not always to be understood as being limited in such a way that the agent serves equally for cooling and lubrication purposes. Finally, the term "coolants and lubricants" means the aid (s) that assist or facilitate the process of ironing and / or, if necessary, a process upstream of ironing, such as Deep drawing is used to create a cup as a precursor for ironing.

In this application, the term "cylindrical body" first refers to a cup-shaped body having a bottom and a side wall, the cross-section being circular. However, the application is not necessarily limited to such a configuration. It is also possible in the context of the present invention that the cylindrical body is either created without soil from the beginning or that the soil is removed in the course of the overall process. Deviations from the circular cross section of the wall are also not excluded in principle. It should also be noted that the floor does not necessarily have to be flat and can certainly have a shaping.

In an advantageous embodiment, the surface treatment device is configured for roughening and / or optical matting of the at least one surface, preferably for brushing the at least one surface.

The use of a brush for surface treatment is known, for example, in connection with extruded cans, the occurrence of abrasion associated with "wet" ironing and the resulting "sludge" previously unattractive to brushing after ironing for process engineering reasons made. In the context of the present invention, however, brushing can be used while largely avoiding sludge formation even after ironing.

The present invention is not limited to a brush here. For example, laser processing or plasma processing can also be used as alternative and / or supplementary methods.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device further comprises an abrasion removal device for preferably dry removal of surface abrasion resulting from abrasion of the cylindrical body, in particular by means of an air flow or air blast, prior to cleaning the surface-treated cylindrical body.

Thanks to the (coarse) drying preceding the surface treatment, the abrasion generated during processing also remains in a dry state, which allows easy removal, for example, by the action of air. It is to be understood that the removal can also be done using another gas or gas mixture.

In an advantageous embodiment, the first cleaning device has a prewash unit for removing residues of the coolant and lubricant and a dryer unit for drying the freed of coolant and lubricant cylindrical body.

If, for example, the coolants and lubricants include light soaps and oils, they can be removed with a suitably adapted prewash unit, followed by drying at this distance. The agents used in the prewashing can be easier to remove for drying of the surface than would be directly the case with the coolant and lubricant.

In an advantageous embodiment, the prewash unit is configured for etching the cylindrical body, in particular by an acid treatment and / or a base treatment.

The "washing" of the cylindrical bodies known from conventional processes sometimes involves etching with acid and / or base, whereby, for example, an acid treatment can be carried out by the prewashing unit.

It is also possible in the context of the first and second cleaning means, different treatments, e.g. one with acid and one with base, to provide in the different cleaning devices to better separate the different treatments from each other.

In an advantageous embodiment, the drying unit is designed for drying at least the surface intended for surface treatment up to a first degree of drying, preferably up to a second degree of drying, wherein in the first degree of drying, at least at the surface intended for surface treatment no longer form droplets and wherein the second degree of drying characterized in that no moisture would be sucked into a downstream vacuum system.

Complete drying of the surface, as typically intended to prepare a paint or coating, is not necessary to prepare the surface finish. It has been found that, in general, even a first degree of drying is sufficient to significantly reduce the problems mentioned at the beginning, in which no drops are formed on the cylindrical body. A stronger drying could mean, for example, at a second degree of drying, that even in a hypothetical downstream vacuum system no or only insignificant moisture would be sucked. A third degree of dryness is a dryness, no longer stick together with removed particles (ie the abrasion) as a result of van der Waals forces.

In practical implementation, a balance, adjusted to the specific conditions, between the desired or required degree of drying (and an associated simpler abrasion removal) and the effort required to achieve this degree of dryness can be found.

In an advantageous embodiment, the dryer unit has an oven and / or a fan for drying.

The dryer unit may thus cause drying by a combination of an air or gas flow and a furnace action (e.g., convection, radiation and / or induction) or even only the individual means.

In an advantageous embodiment of the cylindrical body is a one-piece, closed at its bottom body made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

Although the invention is not limited to a cylindrical body having a bottom made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, this constellation represents a preferred realization.

Alternatively, however, it is also possible, for example, to provide a surface treatment by means of laser and / or plasma processing in the case of a cylindrical body made of steel or tinplate. A brush of tinplate is only up to a depth that ensures that the tin is not removed from the surface.

In an advantageous embodiment, the second cleaning device is designed for washing and drying the surface-treated cylindrical body, in particular for washing and drying in preparation for further processing of the cylindrical body.

By dividing the cleaning steps in a first and second cleaning device, it is possible to prefer the cleaning steps that are necessary or desired for preparing the surface treatment, the remaining or possibly additional cleaning and drying steps in a final step in the second cleaning device are provided.

In an advantageous embodiment, the second cleaning device is designed for a base treatment of the cylindrical body.

As already explained above, the provision of the first and second cleaning means can be used to separate different treatments from each other more strongly (for example acid treatment in the first cleaning device and base treatment in the second cleaning device). In this way, a carryover of agents used, which can occur in a conventional cleaning device, can be even better avoided.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device further comprises a trimming device for trimming the cylindrical body, wherein the trimming device is designed in particular for trimming the cleaned and coarsely dried cylindrical body before the surface treatment.

The trimming device for the desired trimming of the cylindrical body may be provided at different points in the process flow, with trimming preferably being carried out before the surface treatment.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device has a plurality of first cleaning devices and / or a plurality of surface processing devices and / or a plurality second cleaning devices, which are each set up for parallel operation.

The individual process steps can take different times in the different elements of the device per cylindrical body, with an optimal utilization of the entire process chain can be achieved by a corresponding operation of several elements side by side.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises an ironing device for producing the cylindrical body.

The invention can be used both in a separate prefabrication and supply of the cylindrical body and in a context in which the cylindrical body are made directly before further processing on site. This also applies to the manufacture of a cup (e.g., by deep drawing from a sheet) preceding the ironing.

Fig. 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und

Fig. 2

ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zeigen.

The invention will be explained below with reference to illustrative embodiments and the attached figures, of which

Fig. 1

an embodiment of a device according to the invention and

Fig. 2

show an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Fig. 1 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 comprises an ironing device 20, a first cleaning device 30, a trimmer 40, a surface treatment device 50, an abrasion removal device 60 and a second cleaning device 70.

The ironing device 20 is configured to accept a blank (also called a "cup") and to form from this blank a cylindrical body by ironing. The thus formed cylindrical body (sometimes called "pre-form") is supplied from the ironing device 20 to the first cleaning device 30.

The first cleaning device 30 comprises a prewash unit 32 and a dryer unit 34. With the aid of the prewashing unit residues of coolant and lubricant, which has been used in ironing, removed from the supplied cylindrical body, this removal also includes a treatment with an acid. The thus sufficiently freed of coolant and lubricant cylindrical body is then dried with the dryer unit 34, which here comprises an oven and a fan (not shown), to a desired degree of drying, which no longer form droplets on the dried cylindrical body , After passing through the first cleaning device 30, a cleaned and coarse-dried cylindrical body is present, which is supplied to the trimming device 40.

The trimmer 40 serves to trim the cylindrical body to a desired degree, the trimming in particular ensuring that ironing resulting in deviations in the height of the cylindrical body are eliminated. From the trimmer 40, the trimmed cylindrical body is fed to the surface treatment device 50.

By means of the surface treatment device 50, machining is carried out in the form of brushing at least one of the surfaces of the cylindrical body, so that the cylindrical body has a roughened and / or optically matted surface at least on the machined surface.

The abrasion particles released by brushing with the surface treatment device 50 are removed by the abrasion removal device 60 in a dry manner using an air stream, and the cylindrical body thus removed from abrasion is finally supplied to the second cleaning device 70.

The second cleaning device 70 comprises - similar to the first cleaning device 30 - a washing unit 72 and a drying unit 74. However, unlike the first cleaning device 30, the second cleaning device 70 is provided for a final and complete cleaning of the cylindrical body, wherein in particular the drying unit 74 a molecular Drying of the cylindrical body makes, so that the finally cleaned and dried cylindrical body coated and / or can be painted (not shown).

In the in Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, trimming with the trimmer 40 is preceded by surface finishing with the surface finishing device 50. It should be noted that this process order is not mandatory and the trimming can be done immediately after the surface treatment or even at an even earlier time (eg before the first cleaning) or at a later time.

Some process steps, which are shown as sequential in the exemplary embodiment, as is the case with the surface treatment in the surface treatment device 50 and the abrasion removal in the abrasion removal device 60, may well be carried out in parallel or may be combined in one device. In a combined surface treatment and abrasion removal device, the abrasion released during surface treatment would also be removed at the same time.

It is also possible that different devices of the device according to the invention jointly fulfill certain functions. For example, abrasion removal may be accomplished to some extent by the abrasion removal device 60, thereby eliminating the residual abrasion from the second cleaning device 70.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a method according to the invention. The method comprises providing 110 a cylindrical body formed by ironing, removing 120 residues of a coolant and lubricant used in ironing from the cylindrical body to provide a cleaned and coarsely-dried cylindrical body, processing 130 at least one surface of the cylindrical body cleaned and coarsely-dried cylindrical body and a cleaning 140 of the surface-treated cylindrical body, which follow one another in this order.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

contraption

10

Abstreckzieheinrichtung

20

First cleaning device

30

Vorwascheinheit

32

dryer unit

34

trimmer

40

Surface machining device

50

Abrasion remover

60

Second cleaning device

70

washing unit

72

drying unit

74

Provide

110

Remove

120

To edit

130

Claims (15)

Device (10) for surface treatment of cylindrical bodies with a surface treatment in several process steps, comprising: a first cleaning device (30) for removing residues of a coolant and lubricant used in ironing from a cylindrical body produced by means of ironing, so that there is a cleaned and roughly dried cylindrical body, - A surface treatment device (50) for processing at least one surface of the cleaned and coarse-dried cylindrical body and - A second cleaning means (70) for cleaning the surface-treated cylindrical body. Device (10) according to claim 1,
wherein the surface treatment device (50) is designed for roughening and / or optical matting of the at least one surface, preferably for brushing the at least one surface. Apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising abrasion removal means (60) for preferably dry removal of surface working wear from the cylindrical body, in particular by means of an air jet or air blast, prior to cleaning the surface treated cylindrical body. Apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first cleaning means (30) comprises a prewash unit for removing (120) residues of the coolant and lubricant and a dryer unit (34) for drying the coolant and lubricant released cylindrical body. Device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the pre-washing unit (32) is designed for etching the cylindrical body, in particular by an acid treatment and / or a base treatment. Apparatus (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the dryer unit (34) for drying at least the surface intended for surface treatment up to a first degree of drying, preferably up to a second degree of drying, is configured, with the first degree of drying at least at the surface intended for surface treatment no longer form droplets and wherein the second degree of drying is characterized in that no moisture would be sucked into a downstream vacuum system. Apparatus (10) according to any one of claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the dryer unit (34) comprises an oven and / or a fan for drying. A device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cylindrical body is a one-piece, closed-bottom body of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cleaning means (70) is adapted for washing and drying the surface-treated cylindrical body, in particular for washing and drying in preparation for further processing of the cylindrical body. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second cleaning device (70) is designed for a base treatment of the cylindrical body. Apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising trimming means (40) for trimming the cylindrical body, said trimming means (40) being particularly adapted for trimming the cleaned and coarsely-dried cylindrical body prior to surface treatment. Device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a plurality of first cleaning means (30) and / or a plurality of surface treatment means (50) and / or a plurality of second cleaning means (70), each adapted for parallel operation. Apparatus (10) according to any one of the preceding claims including ironing means (20) for making the cylindrical body. Process for the surface treatment of cylindrical bodies, comprising the steps of: Providing (110) a cylindrical body produced by ironing, Removing (120) residues of a coolant and lubricant used during ironing from the cylindrical body, so that a cleaned and coarse-dried cylindrical body is present, - Processing (130) at least one surface of the cleaned and coarse-dried cylindrical body and - Cleaning (140) of the surface-treated cylindrical body. A computer program comprising computer program means for causing a computer to control a device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 for carrying out a method according to claim 14 when the computer program is executed on the computer.

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