The Ultimate Checklist for Weekly Can-Seamer Maintenance

Can-seamer maintenance is top of mind for a reason. It’s the best, most efficient way to keep your production line up and running. With more than 70 years of collective experience on the seamer line, our team knows a thing or two about keeping your can seamer in top shape. In this blog, we’ve outlined a detailed list of what to check each week to ensure your can seamer runs efficiently.

Weekly Maintenance Tasks

Inspection of Transfer Chains and Drive Belts  

Let’s start with the transfer chain: 

Clean Transfer Chain: Begin by cleaning the transfer chain to facilitate an easy inspection a clean surface allows for an effective assessment and helps maintain the seamer’s performance. 

Inspect Wear Strips: Carefully inspect all wear strips for the transfer chain. Any signs of wear or damage should be noted, fasteners should be  present and secure, and replacements should be made promptly to maintain optimal function. 

Adjust Transfer Chain Tension: Ensure that the transfer chain is adjusted to the proper tension. Proper tension is crucial for smooth operation and accurate seaming. 

Assess Transfer/Chain Fingers: Check the transfer/chain fingers for sharp edges or damage. Any issues found should be addressed immediately to prevent potential problems during the seaming process. 

Verify Synchronization: Verify and record the synchronization at the filler transfer and at the can make-up in the seamer . This step ensures precise operation and optimal seam quality. If you need parts or have questions about specific chain tolerances, feel free to reach out to us. 

Now, let’s move on to the drive belts: 

Assess Belt Condition: Examine the belts for any signs of stretching or cracking at the filler and lid separator, if applicable. Damaged belts should be replaced to prevent unexpected breakdowns and maintain consistent performance. 

Synchronize Driven Assemblies: Ensure that all driven assemblies are synchronized properly. Proper synchronization enhances the can seamer’s efficiency and reliability. 

Align and Tension the Belt: Align the belt and adjust its tension to the manufacturer’s specifications. This step is important to achieve consistent seams and optimal results. 

Chuck and Rolls

Let’s address the chucks and rolls. By now, your seaming technician team is probably following our daily maintenance checklist for your can seamer. If any chucks or rolls showed premature wear or are trending towards failure during the daily check, it is crucial to replace them promptly. By taking proactive measures, you can prevent further damage and maintain the machine’s performance. 

Now let’s focus on your weekly maintenance check for chucks: 

Use a Dial Indicator: Use a dial indicator to record the current plane of all machine stations. This consistency and tight tolerance are critical for achieving consistent seams.  

Does your team need can-seam analysis training? We’ll teach them how to identify can damage and how to prevent it. Schedule your training today. 

Verify and Record chuck plane: Using your dial indicator, verify and record each station starting with 1, indicating the amount of variation between each station. Optimal setup should be +- .001 .  Accurate records allow you to track changes over time and address any issues promptly. 

Verify Knockout Pad: Asses all K.O. Pad conditions for any type of damage. Then using your RSS MACLIN Pin Gauge record all machine stations and adjust the height if outside of OEM Specification. Note: If any chucks are replaced, verify that the KO pad is seated and secured properly. Take care not to over-torque, as it can lead to potential problems during operation. Then set to proper height. 

For rolls:  

Assess Roll Rock: Using your dial indicator, assess the roll rock on all remaining first and second operations to ensure it is less than .002. If the roll rock exceeds .002, it’s important to replace the roll to maintain precise seaming. 

Assess Roll Condition: Assess the coating of the roll. While performing this inspection confirm there are no cracks, chips or grooves on the profile

Lubrication 

During your daily maintenance check, did you find any signs of leaking lines? If you find leaks, confirm that all unions are tightened and secured properly. Proper lubrication is crucial for smooth operation and extended machine life. 

Ensure Lubrication Block Functionality: Verify that the lubrication block is functioning correctly(confirm the cycle pin and sensor.) If there are any faults, it might indicate a blockage or failure in the distribution block.  

Assess for Blockage: Assess whether the blockage can be cleared or if a replacement is needed. 

Audit the Condition of Oil: Regularly audit the condition of the oil, especially for signs of contamination, such as sugar, water, or product.

Importance of A Can-seamer Audit: A can-seamer audit can indicate potential machine failure leading to a decrease in its lifespan. If you don’t have an audit on your calendar this year, reach out to RSS MACLIN to learn why so many large food and beverage companies and microbreweries trust us for their can-seamer audits.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance  

Keep your can-seamer machine operating at its best by scheduling preventative maintenance for your can-seamer line. Don’t wait for issues to arise. When you choose RSS MACLIN for your maintenance, we’ll create the parts list, procure the parts and repair your seamer. Reach out to RSS MACLIN today, for a full-service solution to can-seamer maintenance.