In our daily work routine we have to deliver our products together meeting all production indicators. Safety is paramount, product quality, minimal waste, equipment availability and more. All with due importance, taking care to meet the goals and objectives determined by each indicator.

In particular, let’s talk a little about equipment maintenance, without going into methodologies. The intention is to make it clear that we must carry out the maintenance determined by the can manufacturing plant and the machinery manufacturer. Many companies make the mistake of not stopping their production line at the expense of delivering products on demand. This must be managed very carefully because the specific maintenance issue we are going to focus on in this article must be followed and executed with a scheduled shutdown, as a delayed maintenance shutdown can be costly for the company.

It is important to note that we can not save on maintenance of sub-assemblies, they need special attention and can be worked on in an external workshop without a machine off. These sub-assemblies must be serviced with quality parts. Remember, it is recommended to use original spare parts and if you want to use Parallel suppliers, you need prior approval from the engineering, maintenance and processes area to validate these suppliers. Mixing parts from different suppliers is not recommended. Quality parts will guarantee the stability of the equipment and its availability for production.

Each subset of equipment and its maintenance is the ultimate responsibility of the technicians. They must be properly trained to perform the task. A tip: always have spare subassemblies so that maintenance can be carried out without excessive machine downtime. With the external configuration of this subassembly, we were able to significantly reduce equipment downtime for maintenance shutdowns and we will have equipment with reliability and a subassembly ready to deliver the can.

Subset: Decorator’s inkwells.

The decorator is of great importance in the can.

She is the one who shows the product and has the function of conveying your message to the customer, along with a beautiful impression. The maintenance of the Decorator must be carried out in a methodical way, especially of the subset that is directly linked to the image and the label.

Los Tinteros.

Ensuring the maintenance and proper functioning of the Tinteros is synonymous with a quality printed can.

The preparation and training of the technicians for the maintenance of the Tinteros is fundamental.

It is a piece of equipment that deserves special attention, due to the amount of details and parts to be replaced. It is essential, at the time of assembly, to finish what you have started to assemble, so as not to run the risk of forgetting any loose screws or nuts.

It is recommended to assemble by axes, preferably starting with the main axle. Then we go up, passing through the axles of the oscillating rollers, fixed steel roller, transfer system and the fountain. Original parts or parts from rigorously qualified suppliers make all the difference when it comes to servicing the Tinteros. Avoid wasting time mixing parts from different suppliers in the same subassembly.

As an example, let’s take the compensation gear subset below.

This is an example where a mix of suppliers can lead to wasted assembly time and rework, with the risk of blocking the assembly. This set is coupled to the main gear of the Decorator and through it we have the traction to rotate the Inkwell. In addition to traction, this assembly compensates for gaps in the BullGear main gear, ensuring perfect image registration.

Checking the lubrication points and grease injector system is essential to maintain the life of the inkwell. Each injector has its exact point and the amount of lubricant to be injected. Through an automated system, Decoradora receives lubrication through programmed cycles.

Once the assembly is done, we come to the crucial point of the Inkwell. The adjustment.

Rubber rollers require parallelism and pressure adjustment to ensure good ink transfer. Each roll must be adjusted and bench tested. Visually, we were able to identify the need for adjustment and where we should act to ensure good parallelism.

The pneumatic and cooling system must be properly serviced.

The pneumatic system guarantees the operation and activation of the transfer and forming rollers. The ink presses are driven by a mechanical cam or pneumatic transfer roller, which can be programmed through the ink quantity display panel.

When purchasing the equipment, it is optional to choose the system in which you want to work.

The cooling ensures the necessary heat exchange to keep the cTintero at the ideal working temperature. New swivel joints, revised hoses and tubing are of utmost importance to ensure the heat exchange of the assembly and maintain the integrity of the Inkwell.

Ensure a cooling system where the water temperature enters the Decorator between 20 and 25 ° C.

In summary, here are these tips to give you an idea of the importance of equipment maintenance. Each company following its control methodology and ensuring the execution of maintenance, as a result, will have excellent results in its operation.

André Malta Alves

WiseMap Consulting.