System for plugging paint cans

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for plugging paint cans, which system is arranged to press a hollow, cuplike, elastic plug ( 3 ) provided with a protruding circumferential rim ( 5 ) into a hole ( 2 ) made in a paint can lid ( 1 ) in a sealed manner by means of the plug's ( 3 ) shape, whereby the circumferential rim ( 5 ) of the plug ( 3 ) mounted in place is supported to the surface of the paint can lid ( 1 ), the system comprising a storage container ( 6 ) for plugs ( 3 ); a picker ( 7 ) for picking one plug ( 3 ) at a time from the storage container ( 6 ); a gripper ( 8 ) for gripping the plug ( 3 ) picked from the storage container ( 6 ) and for carrying it above a container lid ( 1 ) to be closed; and means for performing a mutual vertical movement of the gripper ( 8 ) and the paint can in order for thereby pressing the plug ( 3 ) into place in a sealed manner in the lid ( 1 ) of the paint can.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A system for plugging paint cans, which system is arranged to press a hollow, cuplike, elastic plug provided with protruding circumferential rim into a hole made in a paint can lid in a sealed manner by means of the plug's shape, whereby the circumferential rim of the plug mounted in place is supported to the surface of the paint can lid, wherein the system comprises:
 a storage container for plugs;   a picker for picking one plug at a time from the storage container;   a gripper for gripping the plug picked from the storage container and for carrying it above a container lid to be closed; and   means for performing a mutual vertical movement of the gripper and the paint can in order for thereby pressing the plug in place in a sealed manner in the lid of the paint can;   wherein:
 the picker is arranged to move vertically through the storage container and the upper part thereof is shaped to receive a cuplike part of the plug such that the circumferential rim of the plug rests against the upper surface of the upper part of the picker; and 
 at least the upper part of the picker is tubular. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a vertical spring system arranged in the picker. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the storage container has a substantially flat bottom. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the storage container comprises a conical lower part, the picker being arranged to move through a lowest extending area of the conical lower part. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a downwardly pointing tubular extension which protrudes from the conical part, through which downwardly pointing tubular extension the picker is arranged to move. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the gripper comprises a vertical structure that is movable in a lateral direction and which in turn comprises a frame and a sleeve-type annular part arranged in a lower part of the frame, an inner side of a downwardly-pointing end of which ends in a downwardly-widening, conical inner rim, whose smallest inner diameter is inferior to an outer diameter of the circumferential rim of the plug, the inner diameter of the annular part thereabove being at least equal to the outer diameter of the circumferential rim of the plug for the height of the circumferential rim of the plug, the lower part of the frame, whose lower surface substantially corresponds in shape to that of the upper surface of the plug, extending inside the annular part for mutual vertical movement of the annular part and the lower part of the frame in order for pressing the plug into the paint can lid. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a spring system located between the lower part of the frame of the gripper and the annular part arranged thereto, the spring system being configured for vertical elasticity between the lower part of the frame and the annular part. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising means for detecting the plug and its location arranged in the lower part of the frame of the gripper. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the detecting means comprise a detecting probe arranged in the lower part of the frame and moving in the vertical direction into and out of the frame, the head of the detecting probe being provided with a sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the detecting means comprises one of an optical sensor, a capacitive sensor, a distance-measuring laser, and compressed air. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sleeve is provided with a sensor for detecting the can lid. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the means for performing the mutual vertical movement of the gripper and the paint can comprise a vertically movable base of the paint can.