How Does a Can Seamer Work
The demand for packaged products has been on the rise. Companies are taking this opportunity by improving their services, including efficient packaging of products, especially in the food industry. Can seamer machines are being used to seal these packaging tins. Over the years, these machines have undergone changes and advancements to become more effective. Many manufacturers around the globe are developing these machines to serve various industries.
They are very beneficial when incorporated into your company processes. Curious to learn more about these machines? Then let us dive into how they work.
Table of Contents
Can Sealer Parts and Functions
A can seamer/sealer is a machine used for sealing cans. The sealed cans are made out of tin, paper, glass, aluminum, and many other materials. The machine can possess several heads, increasing the speed of the process. Each seaming head is regarded as a machine on its own. The seals are usually leak proof, making the whole process very efficient. The can seamers are classified according to how they operate.
The categories are automatic can seamers, semi-automatic, contact, and non-contact. Their design and composition differ depending on the type of machine and the sealing rate. The sealing machine has various parts, with each part having its specific function. The parts are as follows;
- Chuck: The chuck is the seamer head. It functions as a support system to counteract the roller’s pressure and also holds the lid tightly. The chuck’s diameter varies to fit the diameter of the sealed can.
- Base plate: it is referred to as the seamer turntable. It gives support to the can body while spinning freely. It moves vertically.
- Vacuum chamber(room): this is the space in the can seamer machine where oxygen is released under vacuum pressure. The process protects the product’s quality. The oxygen is removed before the sealing process begins.
- Seaming rollers: every machine has a pair of rollers, and they function by connecting the can to the lid while the other tightens the seam.
- Sealing chamber: this is the location where the sealing process takes place.
- Feeder caps: these components are normally present in automatic machines. Their work is to transfer lids to the sealing station before the process. The lids are taken from a stack of closures.
- Transport: these are the conveyor belts that transport full cans to the sealing machines to be sealed. It does not have to be conveyors only; other machines use other means to facilitate transport.
- Ejector: it is a rod situated at the chuck center and has a disc towards its end. It is used to ensure the accurate alignment of the lid to the can.
The Can Seaming Process
The can seaming process begins with the transportation of the can into the seaming machine using a conveyor for automatic machines or manually for the semi-automatic machines. Before this, machines fill the cans with products. The process of can seaming is the double seaming process. It is done in three stages;
Compression(Stage I)
This is the stage where the required force is provided to hold the can stand firmly to the seamer head. The chuck holds the lid in place while the base plate moves the can upward towards the chuck. Vacuum or nitrogen flushing may be used in specially configured lines, but neither is an inherent step in double seaming. Double seaming occurs here by interlocking the curl and the flange. The curl is the end part of the lid, while the flange is the top of the can. After completing this, it ushers in the two roller stages.
First Roller Operation(Stage II)
It is the most crucial stage as it impacts the success of the whole process through the quality of the seam. The first-operation roll forms the initial interlock between the end curl and the can body flange. The first roller pushes the curl resulting in a turnaround. The curl is normally wider than the flange. From here, the flange follows while the roller is moving closer to the seamer head. Lastly, the lid and the can are now interlocked. The attachment must not be too tight or too loose.
Second Roller Operation(Stage III)
The second-operation roll compresses and tightens the interlocked seam. Sealing compound, when used, is applied to the end curl before seaming and is distributed within the seam as it is formed.
How to Check and Optimize the Can Seaming Process
Can seaming process optimization starts with the specific can body and end being used. Before startup or a size changeover, confirm that they are compatible, the flange and end curl are undamaged, and the chuck, seaming rolls, and base plate are set according to the container supplier’s specifications.
Run sample cans under the intended production conditions before releasing the line. Check the finished seams for visible defects, then perform the seam teardown and measurements required by the plant’s inspection plan. These checks may include seam thickness and width, countersink, body hook, cover hook, overlap, and cover-hook tightness. Record the results by seaming head so a developing problem can be traced to the affected station.
Continue checking seams during production and after a jam, adjustment, or changeover. If a seam falls outside the applicable limits, hold the affected production and identify the cause before changing machine settings. Check the container materials, end placement, lifter support, chuck condition, and seaming rolls. Increasing second-operation pressure cannot correct a poorly formed first-operation interlock.
Conclusion
Many people use canned products, but only a few are aware of the processes to seal the products into cans without any leakages. Can seaming is an important operation, especially for the packaging industries. Several companies manufacture these machines, and the leading one is Lavepack. We are a renowned can packaging machines manufacturer offering a complete line of these machines. Contact us today for more information on our high-quality machines.
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